-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Love Hina is property of Ken Akamatsu. And yes, I am a dreamer. XD This story is purely fictional.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note:
Wha? XD Anyways, another chapter because I've been absent recently. Weee...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kokoro no Tsubasa
Wings of the Heart
Chapter 7
"Motoko?"
"Kei.. Urashima! What is it?"
The voice laughed, softly. "I heard you were beginning to study for the Toudai entrance exams, and I came to tell you, that if you need any help, don't be afraid to ask me."
"Actually, I do have some problems, would you mind?" I asked.
"No, I wouldn't."
He came and sat down beside me on the floor in the living room, attempting to analyze a passage written in English. Keitaro's breath was soft against the skin of my neck, gently tickling the sensitive area there. I did not bother to say anything though, and only re-doubled my attempt to understand the two paragraphs on the page.
"Now, what is it?" He asked, almost touching me as he tried to get a better view of the book in my hands. He was so close I could feel the heat coming from his body. But there was no contact. Otherwise, I would've froze.
"I can't pronounce the sentence here..." I pointed, directing my own attention from the closeness of Keitaro to the matter at hand.
"Well, sound it out carefully, then put it together. Here, repeat after me..."
And we had stayed in that position for so long, him sitting behind me, gently guiding me as I tried my best to practice the poor English I possessed. It became inevitable that our bodies would finally touch, as he moved forward to point out some things on the side margin. At first, he apologized profusely, and tried to find some other place to assist me from, but I didn't mind.
I allowed myself to lean back slightly, pressing his chest against my upper back.
'It's so comfortable...'
"And that's it, Motoko, you've got it." He smiled, standing up and stretching his legs. "At this rate, you'll pass the test on the first try, and you can laugh at me when it happens."
But my mind hadn't been on the subject of study. Somehow, I managed to answer his questions subconsciously, as I asked myself why I hadn't refused to let him sit so close to me... Bodies touching as he sat behind me. But I could find no answer. Not even a rebuke from that inner voice that I possessed. I felt tranquil, surprisingly calm as I finished the work for the day.
I thanked him and proceeded to stay in my room for the rest of the evening. I fell asleep with words on my lips, and dreams in my head.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Oh... I'm happy for you, Urashima. Finally none of us have to worry about your perverted actions." I attempted to cover my own vulnerability, undecided between screaming in his face that I held the deepest feelings for him, and simply becoming the woman of steel I was so used to staying as.
He smiled, somewhat sadly. "I know... You most of all would be glad you didn't have to worry about me doing a stupid thing now, would you? So I take it that you'll help me?"
I swallowed the words in my throat, and merely nodded.
"Thanks, Motoko! I'm so glad you're here to help me at a time like this... You know, I'm glad we came to know each other as friends, instead of you as the ice princess and me as the perverted fool." By then we had both finished our meals, mine had been ate without consciously knowing it.
Together we found ourselves outside, wandering through the night time city together. I was surprised when he placed his outer coat over me, the dress providing meager protection when it came to the cold.
I was surprised at my own lack of words, understanding that forever I would be regretting my own stupidity.
Eventually we found ourselves at a little park close to Hinata-sou, where we both found a place to sit on a bench. I was staring at the evening sky, the stars finally unobstructed by the light from the city streets, when two arms enveloped me in a warm embrace. I felt Keitaro's breath on the back of my head, warm against the chilly air.
"I just want to thank you for this. I know everyone would've accepted, even you, but I know you have your own life to attend to. This means a lot to me, and if a few days could finally solve the chaos and tumult within me, then I could come back to who I once was."
So he has been thinking about Naru... Always. I felt oddly betrayed, as if he had led me to believe that he wanted to hold me in his arms as someone he loved. But it was my own fault. I finally let the tears come to my eyes, their final drop ending on the clothing I wore. The dark shadows of trees swished from side to side, everlasting in their long lives. Now I realized the true extent to which I had been wrong, misunderstanding and foolish in my naivete.
Finally, I felt his arms taken away, and I heard the rustle of his clothes as he stood. Standing myself, I looked at him.
"I'm leaving tomorrow..."
I nodded, unable to say anything. I hoped he wouldn't notice my tears.
"Motoko... I know some of the girls back at Hinata-sou say I don't understand anything about you all. But... Gomen... Gomen nasai. This is something I have to do, something inside of me that needs to be answered. Right now, I can't answer anything that you might ask me, or tell me. I need to calm what's inside of my own heart first.
"I've been called dense before, but I've long since realized the feelings that peopel can hold. I understand, Motoko, you don't have to say anything. I'm just glad, despite this all, that you're still willing to help me..."
He turned away from me, finding himself almost collapsing emotionally. I never knew if he saw into the shadows of my eyes, and saw the watering of my own dark orbs.
We finished our evening out together in silence, taking the last few steps of stone to reach the now quiet dorm. I reached the safety of my own room, and sighed, collapsing ontop of the futon I slept on. Su had given up on waiting for me, and proceeded to find another place to sleep.
At least I could cry openly. Without being afraid of anything seeing my weakness.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well well well, it seems like Keitaro isn't so stupid when it comes to feelings at all. Let's see what happens next!
Also, remember to R&R! -Ky
