A/N: Another string of sleepless nights, another chapter.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Love Hina or any of its characters. I own all original characters
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Motoko charged at Rob at full speed, he didn't move until the last moment. Rob shifted his weight forward and brought his blade up across his body, blocking Motoko's attack and forcing her back a few paces.
Rob jumped forward cutting with his katana, but Motoko parried it easily and swung her own in a wide arc. Rob stepped back, Motoko's blade missing him by inches.
'He's fast' thought Motoko; she lunged at Rob and for a moment their blades locked, the clash of steel rang out louder than the persistent rain.
"We haven't been properly introduced" said Rob "The name's Rob, Rob Steel" He broke the lock and they both took a few steps back widening the gap between them.
"I'm Motoko Aoyama" she spat "and I'll make you regret ever hearing that name"
Motoko and Rob circled each other warily. They both lunged, their blades met in mid-air with a noise like a cat sliding down a pane of glass.
Rob jumped back, bringing his sword round in a too-slow arc that Motoko easily deflected, turning the parry into a low sweep that Rob avoided only by a standing jump.
Motoko advanced her katana raised. Rob stepped back, flicked her sword aside and lunged, his blade cut into Motoko's left shoulder and she gave a gasp of pain.
"Are you alright?" asked Rob.
"You bastard" Screamed Motoko. She noticed his guard was down and swung her katana in a wide arc, the blade slashed across his stomach. His blood soaked his shirt in seconds.
"Just a flesh wound" said Rob.
'I have to take him down now' thought Motoko. She gathered her ki for a last attack.
"ZAN-GAN-KEN!" yelled Motoko, a blast of energy ripping across the rain soaked ground towards Rob, towards another energy blast coming the other way. Motoko closed her eyes
Motoko opened her eyes; she was lying in a puddle where Rob's attack had left her. She rolled onto her side, and saw Rob pick himself up off the ground and slowly make his way over to her.
"Draw?" asked Rob. He lent down, hand extended and helped her to her feet.
Motoko nodded, she didn't think she could live with losing, but she thought she could live with a draw.
"Right" said Rob "Now lets get your shoulder looked at"
Keitaro, Naru and Mitsune, who had watched the battle from the shelter of the front door, came out and helped the two inside
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"Who are you?" asked a puzzled Haruka; she'd found most of the residents of Hinata-Sou sat around Rob whilst Shinobu bandaged him up. Naru was upstairs helping Motoko.
"I'm Rob Steel" replied Rob; he winced in pain as Shinobu finished tending to him. He gave her a smile "Thanks Shinobu-Chan"
"This is aunt Haruka" said Keitaro introducing Haruka to Rob.
"Call me Haruka-San" said Haruka as she hit Keitaro. She noticed Rob's ripped and blood stained shirt "What happened to you?"
"Motoko happened to me" said Rob grinning "She's got a lot of spirit"
"Yeah it was an amazing fight" said Sara jumping up from her seat
"Rob nearly beat Motoko" said Su
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" asked Keitaro.
"That is what I would like to know" said Motoko as she silently descended the stairs, Naru followed fuming "It looked as though you'd never fought with a sword before, but you fought like an expert"
"Your right Aoyama-San" answered Rob "I'd never fought with a sword before, but I learnt to fight like that about five years ago" he frowned "I think I did anyway my memories from then are a bit fuzzy"
"Why are you still here anyway" said Naru flatly "thought you'd try and take advantage of the rest of us"
Rob frowned "Actually I'm here to invite all out somewhere" he turned to Mitsune "You thought of anywhere yet Mitsune-San?"
"Yeah there's a new restaurant downtown I wanted to try" Mitsune said slyly, she hadn't tried it yet because it was expensive.
"Ok then I'll be here at 7pm tomorrow then" He pulled his shirt on and stood to leave
"Ah Rob-San what about your jacket?" asked Mitsune holding his jacket out to him
"You'd better keep hold off it, I'd only get blood all over it" he gave her a wave and walked out into the rain
Mitsune walked to the door to watch Rob go, she frowned he seemed to have disappeared, she became aware of Motoko standing beside her
"You're testing him" stated Motoko "You're seeing how far you can push him before he snaps"
Mitsune nodded
"How's he doing so far?"
"So far..." Mitsune paused "So far he's got full marks"
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"So which one do you think will get Rob's attention more?" Mitsune asked Naru while holding two dresses; a long red one and a short black one
"I don't know why you want to get that perverts attention?" replied Naru
"To see if he is a pervert or not" said Mitsune, Naru gave her a blank stare "I'm testing him to see what his response is" she explained
Naru nodded "If you really want to get that perverts attention I think you should wear the black one"
"That's what I thought" said Mitsune "Are you going to wear anything to get Keitaro's attention?"
"Now why would I want his attention!" shouted Naru, she stood up and stormed out the room
A bewildered Motoko walked in with Su on her back "What was that about Mitsune?" she asked wondering if Keitaro had anything to do with Naru's mood
"I just made a suggestion that she might like to wear something nice for Keitaro tonight" said Mitsune grinning "What are you wearing" tonight?"
"Eh, I'm wearing this" she pointed to her normal clothes, Su jumped off her back and started jumping around the room
"No your not" Replied Mitsune with her foxy grin "I'm sure I can find something to suit you" she grabbed the protesting girl's arm and dragged her upstairs, Su ran off to tell the others
After much shouting and screaming Mitsune finally found something that Motoko liked or at least wasn't complaining about. It was Haruka's old dress, the one she'd been forced to wear when she had nothing to wear, it got an approving gasp from Shinobu, Keitaro and Naru
"It looks cute" remarked Shinobu
Keitaro nodded "Hai I agree" and got Naru-punched for his opinion
Su and Sara ran in chanting, "He's here. He's here" before running out; they followed and found Rob downstairs in the entrance hall talking to Haruka who had given him his jacket back. He was wearing black jeans and a grey shirt in an attempt to look smart although his hair was still as wild as ever. He looked up and smiled when he saw Mitsune and walked over to her
"Mitsune-San you look wonderful" He kissed her hand and she blushed "You look cute when your blushing" he added just loud enough for her to hear. He turned to Motoko "Hey Aoyama-San you look great also and how's your arm"
"It's fine" replied Motoko
"Letch" Hissed Naru
Rob turned to Naru frowning "You don't have to come along if you don't like me"
"I'm not leaving my friends alone with a sex-crazed pervert" spat Naru
"I am NOT a PERVERT!" said Rob nearly shouting
"How about sex-crazed?" whispered Mitsune
"Only in the right company" he whispered back grinning, there was the barest hint of blood trickling from his nose, she blushed again
'This isn't like me' thought Mitsune 'I'm blushing like a school girl, I've not done that since... Seta'
"Lead on Mitsune-San, you know where we're going I haven't a clue" said Rob bringing her out of thought, he held the door open and gestured for her to go through
It was cold outside, Mitsune shivered slightly as she walked along; she jumped when Rob silently draped his jacket over her shoulders
"Looks like you'll be needing this again" whispered Rob, suddenly he tensed, wrapped both his arms around her and threw to the ground. Just as suddenly a van appeared from nowhere, flipped and bounced over where Mitsune and Rob were lying
"Are you ok?" he asked, she nodded and he helped her to her feet
"Is everyone ok" asked a figure emerging from the van
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A/N: Here is the second chapter. Please R&R