Chapter 8

Naru walked for hours, that small voice haunted her non stop. "Please, don't. ... No, stop talking, and just hold me..." She had cried many times, and gotten angry many times a few times she even started yelling at pedestrians "THAT PERVERT!" and storming off. She had caused a few commotions in a few places as innocent male bystanders would get whacked with a few purses. Naru would just keep walking.

'What is going on' she thought. 'This morning, I finally felt like I had got it all out of my system, but then I find Motoko's trashy lingerie along with Keitaro's boxers, what am I supposed to think? I wanted to go catch that pervert sneaking into Motoko's room. Except he wasn't there, neither was she.'

She turned left, her mind really didn't know where she was going, and she just kept walking. She recalled the scene she saw this morning when she peeked into the room. There was Keitaro and Motoko in his futon, holding each other. She even saw Keitaro's and Motoko's bare shoulders peeking out from the covers. 'Its one thing to sneak up to her room, and do perverted things to her, its another to seduce her into your room, and an entirely new thing to get her to take all her clothes off!'

"Please, don't. ... No, stop talking, and just hold me..."

She started crying again. 'But he's my pervert!' she said to herself. 'Are they all taking him away from me, or does he want to get away from me? Doesn't he love me any more?'

She turned right down another street. "That Stupid JERK" she said out loud.

A little girl and her mother happened to be walking by, and the little girl was tugging at her mothers shirt "mommy mommy look at the crazy lady" she said.

The lady said "shush... you might make her come talk to us" and she grabbed her daughters hand and quickly led her away.

Naru hadn't even noticed, she was so busy lost in thought that she didn't even know if it was day or night.

As the afternoon turned into evening her feet began to burn from all the foot traffic. She stopped and found herself at Tokyo U's gate by the clock tower.

Once again, she burst into tears. 'We were supposed to come here together.'

She looked around for a place she could be alone, and found a secluded shaded grassy corner by the stone wall... It had a small flower bed on one side, and a cherry tree on the other. She sat down on the grass to wait for the waterworks to stop. Her sobbing soon quieted down into the peaceful rhythm of sleep.

Shinobu had worked hard all day, she and Motoko had switched spots a few times, but for the most part Motoko watched over Keitaro. For dinner she cooked something Keitaro would like, and after she ate, she dropped a tray off outside Naru's door, and then took two trays in for Motoko and Keitaro. Once again, she and Motoko had finished that one off as well.

"Motoko?..." Shinobu asked.

"Yes?"

"Is sempai going to wake up soon?"

"He should any time soon. The lump on his forehead has gone down quite a bit. You can hardly tell he has one from certain angles."

"That is good, I am glad." Shinobu was soon lost in thought recalling several of the crazy events earlier in the day.

Kitsune had spent most of the day in her room, trying to drink away her hangover, and her worries. Shinobu was worried about her, and she had asked "Are you ok Kitsune?" Kitsune reassured her that she was O.K., she just needed some time to think.

Around the after noon Su had brought by a crazy looking device with missiles mounted on it, and said she was ready to remove Keitaro's bump. With Motoko's help she was able to convince Su that that might not be enough, his bump was pretty big. With that Su ran off to make some more improvements.

Shinobu and Motoko had also finished all of the chores earlier in the day. Motoko had even done all the laundry, and carried up what was hers to her room. It had been kind of a fun day.

"I'm ready" said a voice at the door, Motoko and Shinobu looked up to the voice. At the door was a large meter tall fuzzy banana, with a pair of tan feet standing behind it.

"You are ready for what Su?" Motoko asked trying to play innocent, 'I know darn well why she is here,' she thought.

"For bed of course, Silly!" Su said.

Shinobu looked at Motoko, and back at Su, and then down at Keitaro. She then thought, Motoko will take better care of him than I can, so I guess I will have to go,' a frown appeared on Shinobu's face.

Motoko saw Shinobu begin to get up, but she had a frown on her face. She felt a little guilty so she said "Thank you Shinobu, you have been a great help today, I am sure Keitaro will appreciate all we did for him."

A smile appeared on Shinobu's face, and she said to Motoko "Please take care of sempai tonight, I am sure with your help he will wake up soon." With that, she grabbed Su's hand and pulled a giant banana with tan feet off to her room.

Shinobu and Su laid out her futon, and Su jumped right in under the covers. Shinobu paused long enough to clasp her hands together, and say "please let sempai get better soon" and climbed into bed too.

About an hour later, Shinobu was dreaming about her and Keitaro, and blushing quite red with Su clutching her around her middle.

"Are you sure Shinobu? It will be kind of rough for your first time; it may even hurt a little."

"I am sure Sempai, I am not afraid." Shinobu cried.

"ok here goes"

"Is it too rough? Does it hurt?"

"No sempai, it doesn't. You are pretty strong sempai!"

"Well I am going to do something to you now, and I want you to be brave."

"I'll be brave" she said.

He then let go of her hands that he had been holding and gave her a big tight hug, and he held her in his arms while they watched the sunset. "I'm Glad that my rough hands didn't hurt your soft delicate hands. Mine aren't exactly soft from all the hard work I do around here. I just want you to know Shinobu, you are very important to me."

Motoko soon found her self alone after Shinobu left with Kaolla. After about an hour she went over and grabbed an extra blanket for her self, and wrapped the blanket around her. She sat down on the floor next to him all wrapped up in his blanket. A few minutes later she was beginning to dose off, and she woke with a start.

'Woah, I almost fell asleep.' She looked at Keitaro and then reasoned, 'I can't leave him, what if he wakes up.' She then thought 'or someone takes my spot by his side.' Her face got all flush again, 'Aack, why am I thinking that ... well its not that I don't care if someone else takes my spot, but I am the one with the most medical skills out of anyone,' she said, trying to justify her thoughts.

'It is late, I could just lie here beside him, I will wake up if anything happened' she thought. She laid down beside him and turned a few times to try to get into a comfortable position, and found that her clothes were soon tightening around her as she wrestled with the blanket. 'I guess can't really sleep in my clothes. They are pretty uncomfortable.' She thought about sneaking upstairs and putting on some of her own night clothes, but decided against leaving. 'I guess Keitaro won't mind if I borrow another one of his shirts to sleep in.'

Walking over to Keitaro's closet she pulled out a large white button up shirt for herself. For a few seconds she thought about modesty. 'I guess it will be ok, I can change here. Besides if he wakes up and sees me.......' Her thoughts were running wild again, and she desperately fought them away as the blush crept across her face.

She changed out of her shirt, then unbuttoned and took off her cargo pants. She folded her clothes into a neat pile the foot of his futon. As an after thought Motoko removed the lacy bra that she had been wearing. She then placed her bra on the pile. She put on Keitaro's shirt and buttoned up the front.

Motoko lay down on the blanket next to his bed. Her eyes were once again watching over him, but this time from a much different perspective than before. Her eyes then wandered over to his dresser. She soon found her self, out from under the blanket, and standing in front of his dresser holding a pair of his boxers. 'I wonder if these are much more comfortable than what I am wearing.' She thought and then blushed so much that her face felt like it had been sun burned.

She once again reclaimed her position, wrapped up in his extra blanket, near his bed side, and a lacy blue panty was added to the top of her clothes pile. Soon the steady rhythm of his breathing matched hers.

10:00 is what it said on the digital clock in the tea house's office. She picked up the phone and dialed granny Hina's number.

"Hello?" the voice on the other end of the phone said.

"Granny, it's me Haruka." She paused, "this isn't another stupid answering machine trick is it?"

"No Haruka, its not another stupid answering machine trick, it's me" said granny Hina.

"Well I did what you told me, and I checked on Keitaro, Naru had punched him and launched him off the second floor down onto a large rock in the hot springs. He hit it with such force he split the rock in half!"

"Oh my!" said granny, "Go on!"

"Anyway Motoko saw the whole thing, she has been taking care of him since he hit his head. She says she thought she saw him glowing before he hit the rock. I am a little worried about him granny, do you think he is ready?"

"HAHA, I fooled you again Haruka, yes, this is the answering machine so make it quick BEEP "

The veins started to pop out in Haruka's forehead, but she took a deep breath getting ready to speak into the answering machine, "Keitaro hit his.."

Haruka was cut off by granny Hina again, "silly girl, I got you again, this time it's for real, I hope Keitaro is ok, please let me know what is going on." BEEP

Haruka put her hand on her forehead, and proceeded to retell everything. As a final note, she said "That wasn't very funny granny Hina" and set down the receiver.

"I really hope he is ready." Haruka said, and then locked up the tea shop and went to her apartment, and went after getting into bed, and lying awake for a few hours, she fell into fitful slumber thinking about powerful demons crushing the city.

Naru woke up from the cold night air. The heat that was absorbed by the large stone wall of Tokyo U was cooling off, it had been keeping her warm in her slumber. She went to put on her shoes, and found her feet were swollen and had a couple of blisters on them.

'How long was I walking,' she thought. She checked her watch, 11:59 the last train that would have got her home would have stopped an hour ago. She picked up her shoes and picked her way out the gate of the college campus. She spotted a phone booth down on the corner. After a few painfully slow steps she made it to the phone booth, and she picked up the receiver to call for a cab.

Motoko was sitting in a very familiar environment, she looked around, someone had built a fire and its call beckoned her. She approached the fire carefully calling out to make sure its owner wasn't going to chase her away. Sitting by the fire, she felt so alive, so warm. She deiced to take off her winter coat, it had been wet from all the snow, and it was making her cold unlike the warm happy fire. So she undid the buttons on the front of her coat. For some reason they were all backwards from normal. She took off her coat, and sat near the warm fire, and let its happy dance warm her body as well as her soul. Her eyes closed as she let the heat envelope her body.

A large bird hidden beyond the light of the fire closed its two eyes in happy unison with the person sitting at the fire.

The taxi pulled up, and Naru paid the driver. She then climbed the steps painfully slow. When she finally reached top she quietly opened the door, and entered. After quietly closing the door behind her she set her shoes down on the ground, and put on her pair of comfy house slippers. Her feet felt instantly relieved to finally be standing on something soft.

She made her way to Keitaro's room just so she could peak in and satisfy her curiosity. Her eyes went wide open with horror and her jaw went slack, as she was crushed with what she saw. Motoko's clothes lay in a neat pile with a bra and panty on top. Snuggled up next to Keitaro was Motoko. His arms were holding her, and she was holding him. She could clearly see that Motoko wasn't wearing anything, because the blankets they were under only covering them up to their ribs. He had something covering his shoulders, but his chest was entirely exposed. Suddenly Motoko shivered and then pulled the cover up past her shoulder.

Naru closed the door, and then went up the stairs. She found a tray outside her door, and pulled it inside her room with her. She didn't feel like eating, but her stomach defiantly was. She swallowed the tasteless cold food, and then climbed into her futon. She would have cried herself to sleep, but her eyes had no more tears to shed that day.

The eyes opened and looked around, someone was approaching.

Motoko suddenly looked out beyond the fire. She could sense the presence of someone out in the snow, but she couldn't see who it was. A gentile breeze started to stir the snow softly, and she gathered her blanket up over her shoulders. Waiting for the presence to show itself, Motoko's hands found her weapon and she was now ready to guard the fire. After a few moments, the presence left and the soft breeze died down. No longer feeling the presence she sat down, and she once again enjoyed the embrace of the fires warmth.

The eyes that were watching didn't close peacefully this time. They were watching something in the distance with great curiosity. They finally seemed satisfied, and settled down to watch over a Samurai by a fire.

Haruka woke in the middle of the night, it had been a rough night, and she had been tossing and turning all night in a fitful sleep. She looked at her alarm clock. It said 3:14.

'I guess it's because I am worried about Keitaro. I don't think he is ready. They may try to push something on him without him being ready.' She thought.

She slipped on her robe, and padded up to the Inn. She quietly slid the door open, and went inside. She went to Keitaro's room and slowly slid the door open, and looked inside. 'Well well' her brain thought. This is a bit unexpected. There lay Motoko's and Keitaro's head poking out from under the covers. She then noticed the neat pile of clothes that Motoko had been wearing, and then her eyes opened wide to see a pair of panties and a bra on the pile. 'I can't say that I approve, but he may need someone to care for him instead of launching him out of windows. Those three old men may try something, and if he doesn't have support of a few of the girls here, he may not survive'

She closed the door, and went out of the inn, making sure to close the door behind her. She padded down to her apartment, and went inside and climbed into bed. As she fell asleep a smile appeared on her face, 'She probably doesn't even know else you can do with a naked man besides cuddling' she thought 'if she did, she probably is too embarrassed to try it.' Her rest was much more relaxed and she didn't have any more fits in her sleep.

The eyes of a great bird watched this latest curiosity come by the Samurai and her fire.

Motoko looked up, sensing a presence again out in the snow. This time however she girl was not at all worried about the presence. She once again returned to watching the fire intently.

The eyes looked carefully down at the samurai girl and her fire, and then they looked at the curios presence. It soon left without leaving a trace.

It then closed its eyes, and waited. It wouldn't be much longer before it would need its full strength.

Motoko felt like she belonged. It was the first time since leaving home she felt like whatever happened it would be ok. 'Its like when mother held me when I was little,' she thought. She smiled as opened her eyes. Keitaro's face was so close to hers, and he looked so calm and peaceful. She looked at the bump on his forehead, it was nearly gone. 'I'm glad it is nearly healed' she thought. She then felt the gentle embrace of Keitaro's arms. Her heart started to race, as she was quite surprised at her predicament. 'AAck! How come I am naked again' and then she sighed with relief when she realized she wasn't entirely naked. 'I'm am still wearing his boxers.' What she didn't understand is how come she wasn't wearing her night shirt. 'How did I get here?' she wondered. She noted that he was still wearing her robe, but it was open and she was inside it with him!

His arms suddenly gave her a little squeeze, and suddenly all her worries she vanished like they never existed. He felt so warm, and his bare skin felt so good against her bare skin, that she no longer cared. She snuggled a little closer, and let his warmth wash over her.

Her breathing once again matched his, as they lay there in each others arms.

Naru finished packing her bags, she knew that she needed to get a way for a few days or she might end up killing some tall raven haired samurai. 'I deserve someone better than a cheating lying pervert named Keitaro Urashima.' She thought.

Her eyes once again filled with tears, and she collapsed down on her knees. 'Why. Doesn't he love me anymore?' she cried.

After a few minutes after much effort she was able to control her emotions again, except for the sniffle here, and sob there. She finished packing and closed the suitcase. She put on her straw hat, and carried her bags down the stairs. She set it outside the door, and went to the phone and dialed the number for a taxi.

"....... Where do you need picked up miss?"

"The Hinata tea house, I will be waiting out side."

"O.K. we will send a driver right over."

She went out picked up her bags, and walked to the top of the stairs.

She stopped, and then set down her bags. With quiet resolve she went back to the Inn, and opened the door to Keitaro's room. She knew quite well what to expect, as she went over and stood over Keitaro and Motoko.

She waited for a few seconds, and then cleared her throat. Motoko opened her eyes, and then was startled by Naru standing over her and Keitaro. She went to move and sit up, but Keitaro's arms were holding her stead fast. The blanket slid down just a little in her struggling and exposed her naked breasts to Naru. She ceased her struggling but in her attempt at modesty she just pressed her breasts against Keitaro's naked chest.

"umm..." began Motoko

"Save your excuses tramp, you don't have to explain anything to me. I am leaving for a few weeks, and if you or this lying cheating perverted bastard even gets within ten meters of me, you will regret it. That goes for anyone else too."

With that she turned, and walked out of the room and shut the door behind her. She went out into the foyer and closed the front door behind her. She swooped up her bags and proceeded to calmly go down the stairs. She saw Haruka standing in her tea shop's apartment window, and instead of acknowledging her presence continued on the long trek down the stairs to the bottom.

The taxi pulled up just as she placed her foot on the last step. The driver seeing his passenger had a bag pulled the handle next to his door to open the trunk. Naru placed her bags in the trunk, and climbed in the back seat of the taxi, and closed the door.

"The Tokyo Train Station please" was all she said.

Motoko heard her then close the front door as she left.

Motoko felt ashamed, more ashamed than she ever felt in her entire life. 'What have I done?' she said. Her eyes felt damp and she started to cry. She lay in Keitaro's arms getting his cheeks wet with her tears. He suddenly shifted her a bit closer and held her in a tighter embrace than they had before. Her tears stopped flowing but she couldn't stop the occasional gasp of air as she sobbed.

It seemed like an eternity, but she had finally calmed down. Keitaro had loosened his grasp of her when she had stopped sobbing. She carefully wriggled around till she could free her self from his arms. She then closed the robe she had dressed him in yesterday, and then covered him up with the blanket.

She noticed that it was rather chilly in the room, and she found the night shirt that she wore last night, and slipped it around her. She then gathered her clothes and ran up the stairs to her room. She changed out of Keitaro's shirt and boxers and opened her underwear drawer. She didn't really care at this point what she was wearing, and just grabbed what was on top. She put on one of her old cotton panties, and a bra Kanako's had given her.

She then put on a pair of Black shorts and a dark navy tank top. She threw Keitaro's clothes that she had borrowed into her closet and went down stairs to get back with Keitaro.

She quickly checked the room to make sure nothing was out of place, and then gathered up the extra blanket, and folded it a couple of times, and set it on the floor next to Keitaro. She sat on the blanket and waited. She knew Shinobu would be in to check on her soon. She noticed that it was still chilly from the morning air in Keitaro's room, and so she opened up the blanket she was sitting on and wrapped it around her as she sat there.

Quickly scanning the room for any damning evidence she thought 'Why am I acting like this? What have I done?'

Haruka had just gotten up from her rest, her dreams this night did not consist of demons and fires burning cities like it was the previous night. Her dreams consisted of things like going to the beach and watching the sunset. She didn't know quite what to think after last night, but with Motoko watching over him she felt like it would be ok. 'She could probably protect him better than I can, if those old meddlers did anything to him this time.'

She opened the window to see what kind of day today would be like, and she spied Naru walking down the steps with her large bag in tow. She waved to Naru to wait, but Naru didn't see her. She grabbed her robe and wrapped it around her, and she slipped into her shoes. She quickly unlocked her front door and went out. She ran down the stairs just in time to see the taxi drive away.

'You don't think she saw them too?' she thought. She was a bit worried, and would ask Motoko about it later.

Haruka climbed the steps back to her apartment, and went in side to start the day. She got showered, dressed, and rubbed her hair dry with a towel. She then brushed her hair the way she liked it. Haruka then put on some clothes, and then went out to go open up the tea house.

Inside the tea house was another fax lying on the floor below the fax machine. She picked up the fax and the cover sheet. The cover sheet was from a French sounding name "Café Le Deux Moulins" below there was a drawing of two windmills on a hill.

She put the coversheet behind the second page, and looked at the note which Granny Hina had sent.

"Haruka, I wouldn't worry too much if Motoko is watching him. She is from their family and if anything should happen, she would be able to counter it like her ancestors did. In the mean time I am sending Kanako, she should be arriving in a few days depending on what we can arrange for her flight. –Hina"

Below the note was another picture darkened by the fax machine, but it looked like Kanako outside the Louvre.

She hurried and got her customers favorite tea's out, and once again checked the water to make sure it was flowing properly. She checked them because there were times in the Tea house's history that the pipes had become blocked by mineral deposits, and needed to be fixed. They were flowing fine. She quickly prepared today's fresh tea assortments and coffee. A few of her regular morning customers showed up and she served them their usual. After about two hours her regular customers had finished their tea and had all gone home. She looked around to make sure she wasn't needed by anyone she got her sign out from behind the desk, and set it on top. It read "went up to the Inn, please wait, I will be right back". She filled her own mug with Coffee, and began walking up the stairs.