Chapter 10
It was decided to have a party that night, Shinobu and Mutsumi started cooking in the kitchen. Su wanted to help badly, because she felt quite left out of Keitaro's recovery process. Shinobu finally consented but she instructed Su "You can help, but you have to promise No Missiles, No Explosives, and no Electronics at the dinner table."
"Awe your no fun, um... are hammer's allowed?" Su asked. Shinobu shook her head in a "no".
"Flame throwers? Guillotines?" to which Shinobu would shake her head more vigorously with each question. Finally after several min of banter, Su caved, and helped set the table.
Meanwhile Tsuruko and Motoko had finished their shopping and had returned. Motoko's face was very flustered 'Sis didn't answer one single question of mine the whole time we were shopping.' The main question Motoko had asked several times, was "Why have you come."
The response was always the same, "why to visit you," to which she would then give off a shrilling chuckle that sounded like she was up to no good.
Keitaro had finally gotten out of the bath when he was sure it was safe. After drying himself he went to his room to put on his clothes. He put on his last pair of clean boxers and the rest of his clothes. Then gathered up his dirty clothes, and Motoko's robe, and went down the stairs to do laundry.
While he was loading the washer Kitsune entered the room.
"Did you dream anything strange?" Kitsune asked.
"Umm...No, why do you ask?"
"Oh no reason, I just thought perhaps you might remember something while you were asleep," Kitsune slyly said.
Keitaro couldn't help but notice the fox's grin and said, "Kitsune what are you hiding, or planning? If you think you're going to get out of rent this month you have another thing coming to you."
Kitsune couldn't believe how easy Keitaro walked right into this one. She couldn't help it and said "You promise?... Just be gentle please."
Keitaro was flustered, and he said "That's not what I meant, something is up and you know what it is. Tell me what's going on?"
"Oh and spoil the surprise? Nope, I won't do it, because it wouldn't be any fun otherwise."
Keitaro shrugged his shoulders. He had once again been defeated in a battle of the wits against the master. Changing pace, he then asked "Um... Kitsune, what did you want to talk to me about the other night?" She stopped grinning, Keitaro continued, "You said it was important, and it was about Naru. Have you seen her today?"
They stood there together for about thirty seconds, till Kitsune finally said, "I think the issue may have found its own solution, however, other developments have begun to shed new light on the situation." She then cleared her throat, and said "I think Naru just stepped out for a few days, she will be back in no time, I am positive" With that, she turned and left the room before Keitaro had the chance to ask her any more questions.
He finished loading his clothes and pressed start on the machine.
Kitsune breathed a sigh of relief. She was treading on thin ice and she knew it. Her curiosity was driving her insane, 'I have to find out what happened between Keitaro and Motoko. Whatever it was enough to drive Naru off, but what did Motoko do?'
'I can't go to Haruka, she is too shrewd to ask anything from, she would figure me out quicker than I can say saki,' she thought.
'My only hope, is to pester Motoko maybe she will slip something to her sister or someone else.'
She made her way to the door outside of Motoko's room and stood outside to listen to see if she could hear anything. Nothing could be heard. She dared to crack the door just a little, to peek inside. She saw nothing but the window on the far side of the room.
"What are you doing?" a voice said standing behind her.
Kitsune panicked... 'Am I getting that old that I am getting caught this easily?' She turned and saw the tall beauty of Tsuruko standing behind her.
Kitsune rubbed her head with her hand, "Oh, I was looking for Motoko, but I didn't want to disturb her in case she was sleeping" and she quickly dodged around Tsuruko and went down the stairs to her own room.
'Damn,' thought Kitsune, 'I need a plan B.'
The dinner was exceptional; everybody complemented Shinobu and Mutsumi on preparing such a wonderful meal. There were only three people couldn't enjoy the meal to its fullest. Kitsune because she was busy plotting something, Keitaro was worried about Naru, and Motoko, she was petrified that her sister might find out something, or that Keitaro might find out something.
After the dinner Kitsune brought out some of her stash, and everybody started to really party. Mutsumi started to act silly and began to take her clothes off. Haruka deciding that both she and Mutsumi had too much to drink walked Mutsumi home, and then went home herself.
Keitaro had had a bit more to drink than Mutsumi and had fallen asleep on the floor. Su and Shinobu had been sent to bed hours earlier; Motoko insisted that they do so. This left only Kitsune, Motoko, and Tsuruko in the room with a very sleepy Keitaro. Everybody had quite enough to drink. Tsuruko was on the verge of going to sleep.
Kitsune thought 'Plan B is going well, maybe now I should drop the bomb.' "Say Motoko, Haruka says you saw Naru leave this morning, do you know why she went away?" 'Blunt is sometimes the best approach,' she thought.
Motoko suddenly found her self holding her breath, as she sat on the floor on the other side of the table from Kitsune. The only sound in the room was coming from a gently snoring Keitaro, and Tsuruko quietly joining him in the same happy chorus.
Motoko waited, and then finally answered. "I can't say as if I know exactly why she left, but she was really upset with all of us." She paused again, and then added "I suppose me more than most because I did something to hurt her I guess. She said that if we went looking for her, we would defiantly regret it."
"What did you do?" Kitsune asked.
Motoko's eyes began to water, and she looked at her sister to make sure she was asleep. Tsuruko's deep breathing seemed to confirm it.
Motoko said "Something horrible, I am ashamed to tell anyone, so please don't ask me that." She then quickly added "Please you have to help me, if Keitaro starts asking questions, he is going to find out that Naru left, and he will want to go looking for her. We can't let him do that, if Naru gets a hold of him again, who knows what would happen. This time he may not wake up." She couldn't stop the tears that had been brimming in her eyes from running down her cheek. She quickly wiped them with a nearby napkin.
Seeing Motoko like this Kitsune didn't know how to react. Her curiosity was eating away in the pit of her stomach, and at the same time, her heart was bleeding for Motoko.
Motoko then added "Please, no one must know that I did something horrible. If the others find out, I may be kicked out of the Hinata apartments. This is my home. I don't want to have to go away."
Kitsune caved, she knew what it was like to be lost without a place to stay. She had done so on many occasions when she was far away from home, and she had spent all her money a large bar fine. No way to get home and no place to stay the night. "Alright, I will help you, but soon you are going to have to tell me what happened. Dry your tears, and let's put Keitaro and your sister to bed."
Motoko could only nod her head, and wipe the tears. She helped Kitsune rouse Keitaro, and kind of walk him into his room and onto his futon. They covered him with a blanket and left the room. Tsuruko had been a lot more resistant, somehow she had managed to cling to the leg of the table and her death grip wouldn't let go. Motoko and Kitsune gave up, and put a blanket over her, and then they both went to bed. As soon as they had left the room... Tsuruko's grip loosened from the table she had been holding onto, and she sat up.
'My my sister, you can't even admit it to your friends? You did nothing really wrong, yet you hide it as if you had actually had done something evil. Yet I see no evil in your heart, and yet you won't even protect yourself from that violent red headed devil accusing you of evil? Is that what is in your way? She may be a friend, but on the battle field for love, there is no truce between women. Where is your strength, and resolve that you showed me when I was here last. I will help you find that resolve again.' Tsuruko smiled, and then nodded at a pair of eyes that were now in Motoko's room watching over the young warrior sleep.
Motoko dreamed of snow falling all around her, as far as she could see. She was lost, and she couldn't find her way. It was cold, and the snow was getting deeper. She was looking for something, but she couldn't find it, nor could she identify it. She sat down and cried in the snow.
Motoko woke with a start. It was very cold in her room, and she pulled out another blanket and climbed under it. Several more times she would wake, shivering from the non existent cold. She didn't understand why her dreams were so full of snow, and why she was lost in the snow. She just wanted to be warm again. She cried herself into a fitful sleep.
The wind was cold, and the snow had quit falling down, it was now falling sideways. She trudged her way through the snow, till she found a hollow of a snow bank. Using her blade she carved out a small shelter for herself. It wasn't much, but it would keep her alive for tonight. It was exhausting work, and she was soon ready to collapse. When it was finally done huddled down in the shelter, and cried. She was lost, cold, and alone, but mostly she didn't know where else to go. So she stayed there, and huddled in the dark, out of the wind.
Outside, seemingly unaffected by the wind or cold, there were two eyes watching over a precious samurai girl cower in her snow shelter and they seemed to be waiting for something. The eyes blinked, and opened to spy a large pile of blankets with a girl wriggling around under it. It settled once more, and blinked again, to once again watch over a girl in a snow bank trying to keep warm.
"Come back!" he cried.
The girl just kept running away from him, he couldn't understand why she was running. "Come back! Don't leave me!" he cried.
He tripped, and fell. "Damn my clumsiness" he said. He picked himself up and looked around on the ground for his glasses. They should have been right in front of him, but they were no where to be seen. He looked up and scanned around him he could no longer see the girl that he had been chasing. He cried once more in vain, "Come back! Don't leave me!"
No answer, so he sat down on the ground. He looked back behind him to see what he tripped over, and it was a sword. Something in him keyed a memory, but he could put the pieces together. It looked familiar but he couldn't remember where he had seen it. It was bright, and glorious, and shown with its own light.
Holding the sword and using its light, he searched around in the fog. 'Perhaps the owner was somewhere near by,' he thought. He found a cobble stone path in the fog, and began following it. He soon found himself at the bottom of some steps. They looked just like the steps going up to the Hinata Inn. He started to climb the steps, and found a weight pressing against him keeping him from going forward.
Three shapes formed in the fog in front of him. They also seemed familiar, but he couldn't place who they were.
One of the shapes said "You are the one preventing your own progression."
Another said "You must awaken the sleeper."
The third said "She will be your guide you must learn to trust her."
The first said "She is your destiny and your survival."
With that they pushed him down the stairs.
Keitaro woke with a start, he was falling. He scrambled to catch onto something, anything, and found his pillow.
He suddenly sat upright in his bed. He realized that he wasn't falling, but he was safe in his own room. 'What was that?' he thought. 'A girl of my destiny? .... My Survival?'
"Naru!" he exclaimed. He quickly jumped out of bed, and realized he was still dressed. 'Oh yea, I must have fell asleep at the party.' He put on his house slippers, and looked for his glasses. 'Oh yea, I broke them,' he thought. He opened the door to his room, and made his way up to Naru's room. He opened the door, and burst inside. "Naru I have to talk to you." He waited for a response, there was none. He made his way to her futon, and found her. He could barely make out the details in the dark. Her skin was very pale in the faint moonlight coming into the room, and he could see that she wasn't wearing hardly anything save something that barely could be considered modest. He put his hand on her cheek, and said "Naru, please wake up, I have to talk to you"
Her eyes opened, and she gently grabbed his arm, pulling his hand away from her face. She began to speak but he interrupted her.
"Wait, let me speak. Listen, you are very important to me, I don't know why you have been behaving like this recently, but I can't let you run off, because I need you. I know that you're my density, I mean destiny. I just had a dream that I was chasing you, and you wouldn't wait for me. I tripped and fell, and you went away. I followed a path that I found, and found this Inn. Three voices in my dream told me that I needed you. I don't know what it all means, but I know that you are very important to me, and I can't live without you."
With that he leaned to give her a kiss, and was interrupted by a voice. "First of all, I am very flattered, and I can see why Motoko likes to live here. Second, if you treat all the girls here with that kind of smooth talking, I can see why they all care for you like they do. But lastly, although very tempting, I must insist you not do that, after all, I am a married woman." There was no mistaking who that voice was.
Keitaro melted back a few feet, and cleared his throat. He tried to speak, but couldn't find any words.
"I bet your looking for answers," she said as got up from the futon, and put on her robe. Keitaro could only nod his head as she turned on the lamp on the desk.
She then came and sat down beside him, and waited.
After a few moments, he decided to break the silence, "Umm where is Naru?" he asked.
"From what I gather, she left by plane somewhere. She was very upset with everybody, not just you. From what I gather is she is not in a mood to see anybody. I don't know what else to tell you. Although I do know this, it was something that you were doing with someone that upset her most."
"But I didn't do anything," he said, and then he added. "She wouldn't even give me the chance to explain what happened with how she saw Kitsune 'n me."
"Oh my you do get around," she said. When she saw the puzzled look on his face she added, "Well then explain to me what happened then, maybe it will help you feel better."
He began to tell her the story of how Kitsune had said she needed to talk to him, and how she had been crying. He continued to tell her how she came in his room rather tipsy. How she dropped a bottle, stepped on it, lost her balance, and they knocked heads. He described how when he woke up, he could see Naru through the hole looking down, and the hatred on her face. And he described how incriminating Kitsune was positioned and dressed that could give Naru the impression that she had. He explained how he helped Kitsune to her room, and went up to talk to Naru.
'... and the last thing that I remember of that night was a burning sensation in my chest thinking that I was going to die. I hit the rock, and everything went dark, but I felt the warmth of the hot springs as I submerged under the water, thinking that I was going too drown if the rock hitting my head wasn't enough." He finished with a sigh, and then added "I suppose Naru has the right to run off like that, but I wish I had a chance to explain. She probably wouldn't have believed me anyway."
'So he has no idea that Motoko's heart is growing for him, and that her body is yearning for him also?' she thought. 'Shippu is pretty thorough in her report to me but she forgot to mention a few things, but one thing she did not forget to mention, is his ki buildup right before hitting the rock. His family powers might be manifesting in him, and he is on the verge of breaking loose. Not to mention that Motoko is already feeling the side effects of his powers, I can't let him leave if he is going to put Motoko in jeopardy. Most of all, I can't let him leave if he is going to put the entire world in jeopardy.'
"Humm... well that is a very interesting story," she said. "I think it may be wise to wait a few days around here, maybe by then she will come back. We may even find out somehow where she went. She might call us and let us know where she is at. In the mean time, I think you really need to concentrate on the people here at the inn. They probably need your support right now because a few of them know what happened, and they are upset over why Naru left."
Keitaro sighed, "I need to speak to Naru as soon as possible, but I suppose your right, I can't just run off looking for her, she could be anywhere."
"Go back to your room and get some rest, but do me a favor. Quit trying to hit on older women, Although I approve of your taste, I really insist that you not try to swoon me away from my husband, you never know, I might be in a state of weakness" With that she winked, and helped him stand up.
"One last quick question, why are you in Naru's room?"
"Oh that's easy to explain, everybody went to bed after the party, and no one saw it fit to give me any blankets for my room. So I used Naru's instead knowing that she wouldn't need her room for a few days. Tomorrow I will move back into my own room when you guys get me some blankets." She gave him a gentle push towards the door. "Please shut the door on your way out" she said.
He walked to the door, and looked back. Tsuruko had already disrobed again, and was reaching for the light. In the soft light of the desk lamp she looked very sexy. She was still dressed in what anyone would barely call modest. He found it very hard not to stare, and wishing he had his glasses so he could see more details. She turned the lamp off, and his stare was broken by the sudden change. So he turned around, and held his breath. He finally made it to the door, which seemed farther away than he remembered it. He closed it behind him as he left the room, and finally let out the breath that he had been holding.
He then thought 'Wow, if Motoko looks like that in a few years, she would probably be able to marry anyone she wanted to.' He made his way back to his room, and climbed into bed. He couldn't really sleep the rest of the night, because Naru was gone. He also knew something was eluding him or missing, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
Tsuruko smiled, 'I can see why Motoko likes him, he has a hard time breaking his eyes off of a pretty girl' then felt her cheeks get warm. 'Oh my I am blushing' she could hardly stifle her girlish giggle. She quickly put back on her clothes, and went out into the night. She made her way down to the river at the bottom of the hill, and waited sitting upon a stump by the river.
After a few more minutes passed, she finally called out "Come out! I want to know what are you trying to do? What game are you playing now?"
"What are you talking about? I'm not playing any games" asked a feminine voice.
"I wasn't talking to you Haruka, I was talking to those three that seem to meddle in peoples lives around the Hinata springs area."
Haruka walked out from behind her to sit on another stump near her at the river's edge.
"I am worried," said Haruka.
Tsuruko looked at Haruka and asked "about?"
Haruka then began to explain, "You know about the history of your family and my family? How you sealed away the spirit of one of my ancestors in the sword that belonged to him? You probably saw it when Keitaro brought it to help Motoko the time you made them almost get married. I believe you call it the Ominous blade?"
Tsuruko nodded her head, and Haruka continued "what you may not know is it has happened several times in our history. There is something special about this place but I don't know everything. Only that our ancestors were warned that our family would die out if we did not maintain the Hinata holdings in our linage forever. I believe it may be those "three" that you are referring too that warned our family."
She continued, "About every few hundred years since our family became care takers of the Hinata estate, a male member of our family would find him waking a power within him that was freighting. Eventually as karma or fate would have it, each one would find the blade, and proceed on a rampage. No one knows if it's the power that corrupts him, or the blade, but the blade is indestructible. Believe me, we have tried. Every time that it happened our family would call on the help of another family or ourselves, and seal the spirit of the owner away. Each time the spirit is harder and harder to seal away. Were not sure if it's the power of this place, or the additive spirits that resides within the blade that makes it harder, it maybe both. It may even be that each family member that it happens too is more powerful than the last one."
"When Keitaro was a child, he had some friends that he used to play in the sand box with. They were always together, I believe Motoko even came and visited for a while, I believe you were about ten at that time. Fall came, and all of Keitaro's friends had to go back home, and he cried for days. Without anyone to play with he explored the Inn, and stumbled upon the sword. How he found it, we can only guess that our "three meddling friends" helped him find it."
"His small rampage already destroyed half the annex section of the Inn. It took all of my strength, and Seta, and another woman to seal the blade away from Keitaro. The little blonde girl you know as Sara that sometimes stays here, her mother was that woman. At the time she received a blow that eventually caused her life to be cut short. She never fully recovered from the injury she sustained. We were all about seventeen at the time if I remember right."
Haruka paused for some time, as if the memory was too painful. "Keitaro's family moved far away just incase he should stumble upon the sword again, but for some reason, Granny Hina thinks that Keitaro was ready to accept his fate. I think that Motoko and Naru living here had something to do with her decision to have him move back and take over as manager, but I am still worried that it may be too soon for Keitaro"
"It looks like our "three meddling friends" think Keitaro is ready now also. Although I am fearful for you see over time, our family has come to learn that if one of our males is successful in the transformation, it will cure the blade of its evil, and he will be able to change into something far beyond our understanding. What that means, we know not, but it gives us hope, which is why we have stayed diligent in taking care of the Hinata springs and we even allowing the occasional rampaging to happen. We know there is a high risk, but one day the risk might be worth it. I am sorry that now it involves more than just our family, Motoko seams to be in the thick of it right now."
"I will say one thing, Keitaro seems to be nearly indestructible, past family members that this has happened to, have had similar indestructibility, but by far Keitaro seems to be ten times as strong as the last male member that this happened to. I am sure that he will try to protect Motoko at all costs."
Haruka got out one of her poison sticks to light it up. It had been a lot of talking for a person who rarely ever spoke more than necessary.
"That would explain a lot, it may also explain what is happening to Motoko. She is being drawn to him like a moth to a flame. If you say this is happening again, I believe you and I think you have a right to be worried. I was right to leave Shippu watching my sister. She has the ability to see inside the dreams of people she spends time with. She has been informing me of quite a few surprising developments lately. Alas now I am worried about Motoko's well being. I think the energy in Keitaro is affecting her. I assume you know about them spending time together."
Haruka nodded, "I do, but she hasn't confided in anyone yet, I think the only other person that knows besides you and me, is Naru. I believe she left because of catching Motoko in bed with Keitaro." She paused, and then added "I know they weren't doing anything besides sleeping, but they both looked so happy when I saw them myself. Motoko is a strong person. She may be just the right person to have around for Keitaro. Not that I approve of them spending the night together, mind you, but something about seeing them together makes me feel much better about my worries."
"I am glad we have had this talk, I think between the two of us, we might be able to watch out for Keitaro and my dear sister. It has been a very enlightening conversation. If I notice anything happening I will make sure to give you a report, likewise I would hope that you would let me know if something has slipped my awareness."
Haruka coughed, and then said, "There is one more coming to watch out for Keitaro."
Tsuruko looked at her with a quizzical face.
"Kanako is coming, I don't know if it will be trouble or not, but she is quite powerful in our family's mastery in weapons and martial arts. She will also be coming to watch out for him. She may not like the fact that Keitaro is spending too much time with Motoko. Her reaction will be something we both need to watch out for, especially in Motoko's behalf, although she may surprise us with out right acceptance also. I don't know what to expect from her."
Tsuruko nodded, and then said, "I will watch out, however I have met her before, and I believe she will grasp things quickly, and she may be able to help Motoko more than she will help Keitaro. Shippu has told me some of the things Kanako have already done for my sister to help her make Keitaro notice her."
Haruka let out a long sigh of smoke filled relief and said, "I am glad, if you're confident in her reaction. She has always been saying how she was going to be the one for Keitaro, but if you say Kanako is helping Motoko, it may be a good sign that she has finally accepted that Keitaro will never see her as anything but a little sister."
Tsuruko gathered herself up from the stump she had been sitting upon, and helped Haruka off hers. And they walked to the tea house. Haruka opened the door to her apartment and invited Tsuruko inside for a cup of something after tamping out her cigarette.
"No, thank you. I appreciate the offer. However I have much to ponder about for tonight. Another night would be better, when we both have something more to discuss, or perhaps there will be three for tea next time," said Tsuruko.
"Oh, one last thing, watch out for the foxy one, she has a tendency for mischief." Haruka continued "She also has a tendency to try to exploit anything for money. She may try to use this to get something out of it for herself. She has a good heart, just sometimes goes in the wrong direction. Her main fault is she only sees instant gratification, she has a hard time planning for the big picture, so to speak."
Haruka then closed the door to her apartment and went in to bed. Tsuruko was smiling as she was climbing the steps. And soon also found her bed.
Both women went to sleep soon there after, and they somehow seemed satisfied that somehow things would be alright.