Chapter 12

It had been hours since he had gone to his room to study, and now it was almost 2:00 P.M. He was still having difficulty studying. His mind kept wandering over his worries. He kept thinking about Naru, and his promise to get into Tokyo U with her. He also couldn't help but let his mind wander to what had happened earlier that morning. It had been a shock, but Motoko was very cold, she could have had some flu or something. Her sister had said some quite embarrassing things. It had been very difficult to keep his thoughts from wandering what he was feeling, especially with a beauty like Motoko naked and practically glued to him.

He stared at his math studies again, and tried to force himself to concentrate. A sudden thought drove through his mind like a hot knife would go through butter and it ruined his concentration again. 'Where is she, how long has she been away?! Why did Naru leave without giving me a chance to explain? If she doesn't come home soon, I may have to go get her."

There was a soft nock at his bedroom door. "Keitaro, are you in there?" He recognized Haruka's voice.

Desperate for a distraction he called out "Yes, you may enter."

She slid the door open and entered in his room, and sat down opposite of the table from him. After several minutes she finally broke the silence. "Keitaro, I'm worried."

He raised an eyebrow and asked her "about what?"

"I am worried about you and the other residents of the inn. I know you are really worried about Naru, and probably want to go looking for her," Haruka said.

"I might, I didn't get a chance to talk to her before she left. I know she is mad at me, but she wouldn't even give me the chance to explain. I just want to make things right with her."

Haruka face frowned, unless you had known her a long time you wouldn't have noticed. She then said "She did leave partly because of you, but I know there is something else bothering her. She just needs some time, please don't worry about her."

"But I am worried about her. I don't want to loose her, I ... I know I love her, I feel like I am destined to be with her. I just have to figure out how to calm her down so she will understand what happened between Kitsune and me."

Haruka's stone face slightly changed from a slight frown to a slight inquisitive look. "Kitsune?" she said.

"Well... you see...." Once again he began to retell the same story he had repeated to Tsuruko last night.

"... and when I went to go explain, I found myself flying out the window. That's the last thing I remember before waking up in my room. I really need to find her to explain the truth to her."

Haruka had sat there letting him get it off his chest. He acted like he was admitting that he had done something wrong in explanation of what had happened. It probably made him feel better just getting it off his chest. 'If you only knew the whole story Keitaro, but it is too soon to tell you anything,' Haruka thought.

They sat there for a moment after he had finished in silence, until Haruka said "That's probably going to be a difficult pill for Naru to swallow. I know you didn't make it up and your luck always kind of turns out that way anyway. But maybe you might need to let these things work out on their own. Women need time to figure things out by themselves or with their friends. However Kitsune being her friend, it has made things more difficult. Naru just needs some time. I will let you in on a little secret though. Something else happened between Motoko and Naru also. When Naru comes back, I will speak to her on your behalf."

"What happened between Motoko and Naru?" he asked.

"It was a disagreement over your treatment while you were out cold from splitting a boulder with your head. I wouldn't worry too much about it." Haruka wasn't exactly telling the truth, but she knew Keitaro was pretty soft hearted and gullible that way.

'He seemed satisfied with that, maybe now I can keep him around her incase anything should happen,' Haruka thought.

"Besides, I think you might need to stay here while Tsuruko is here, you know how Motoko really counts on you to help her with her older sister. Motoko may need your help again before too long. As manager you really need to stay here, and help her out if she needs it," she said. 'He always a sucker for duty obligations, this should buy some time.'

He frowned. "I suppose your right. I haven't thought much about it like that, but I guess your right. I wonder what Tsuruko has planned for Motoko this time. Do you think I need to talk to Motoko?"

'It was like shooting fish in a barrel, he didn't stand a chance. That was one good thing about Keitaro, his everlasting good guy side,' thought Haruka. "No I don't think you need to just yet. However, just be watchful of Tsuruko and Motoko. Try to pick up on things for once. You're usually so clueless about things like that."

"What do you mean clueless? I usually pick up on a lot of things, like when someone is feeling sad or happy," he said.

"Yea, you always were like that, able to pick up on the obvious emotions of others, but you need practice with their thoughts and feelings." She winked and then stood up. She walked to the door and then as she was about to leave, she said "If you think that something is up, come talk to me, maybe I can help you figure it out." She then quickly exited and closed the door behind her.

She quickly made her way down the long stairs to the tea house to check on her customers, and the one guest that was waiting for her.

She entered the tea house and then addressed her guest, "He will stay, I am sure of it. I planted the idea that you may try to do something to your sister like your previous two visits. He will stay here because he is the manager, and he will try to look out for Motoko now. If you wanted to use this to your advantage you can now because he is worried you're going to try something."

"I don't like what you are implying about my intentions on the previous two visits. They were both for Motoko's sake, but I suppose it can't be helped. However I am a little disappointed that you would play that card," said Tsuruko frowning. "However, this might be useful some way."

Haruka topped off Tsuruko's tea and began to brew another pot when she spied something out of the corner of her eye. She came to the table and sat down opposite of Tsuruko, and then called out "You're not fooling anyone in that hat and glasses Kitsune, you may as well come over here and sit down." The figure in a hat and glasses hiding around the corner cringed.

"I thought she just could hear fine from there, why did you invite her over?" Tsuruko said in a barely audible whisper.

"She's sneaky enough that she might be of some use, besides I don't want her to think she can pull one over on me." Haruka whispered back.

"How'd ya know it was me?" Kitsune asked.

"You were too obvious," Haruka stated.

Tsuruko smiled and said, "I thought that's what you dressed like when you went out like normal."

Kitsune disappointment could be seen on her face. "Since you invited me over, what are you two up to?"

"Oh nothing, we just thought you would like to sit down, it doesn't mean you have privy to anything yet. Besides, if we were planning on anything, and needed your help, I would at least ask you if I needed your help," said Haruka.

"Stop patronizing me, like I am a child, I know you two are up to something. It involves Motoko and Keitaro, but I also have my best friend Naru involved so I believe I have a right to know." Kitsune took off her sunglasses and hat.

"Alright we will stop treating you like a child, and patronizing you. Now go to your room till we come and get you when we need you," said Tsuruko.

It was hard for Haruka to keep a straight face after seeing the frustration on Kitsune's face. She threw down her hat and walked away towards the inn.

Dinner started later in the evening than usual, because Shinobu had to prepare an extra large dinner. Mutsumi had even brought a nice big watermelon for dessert. The meal was unusually quiet, because everybody was watching everybody like they expected them to do something. Keitaro watched Motoko and Tsuruko. Kitsune was sipping sake like mad and watched Tsuruko and Haruka like mad. Motoko watched Keitaro and Tsuruko. Su was watching Tama-chan and licking her lips. Mutsumi was watching the watermelon in the kitchen, and Keitaro. Shinobu was watching Keitaro eat. Tsuruko and Haruka both were as unreadable as blank canvas.

Motoko was wondering why Keitaro was staring at her. She was blushing slightly and wondering why, because his eyes seemed worried about her, and she didn't know why. Each time she would look over at him, her hands would check her hair, and she constantly was wiping the corners of her mouth with her napkin.

Keitaro noticed that Motoko was wiping her face with her napkin far too often, thinking that he had something on his face he wiped it each time she would wipe hers.

After dinner was over, Motoko excused herself and said, "I think I will go to bed early, I haven't been feeling well." Motoko had hardly touched her food all through dinner. Mutsumi said "Don't you want any watermelon?"

"No thank you, I appreciate the offer though. She bowed to Mutsumi and walked out of the room slowly."

Shinobu and Keitaro quickly cleared the table, and then brought out plates and a serving tray full of watermelon slices. They had all feasted on what was an extra sweet watermelon, and had complemented Mutsumi for bringing over such a tasty watermelon.

Keitaro was feeling very exhausted. It had been a long stressful day. A lot had happened and he was ready for bed. So he excused himself from the table early. He went to his room changed into his robe to go take a bath in the men's bath. Sometimes he regretted having such a small tub, and not being able to use the nice large out door bath. He understood why it was his fate though, but he resigned to always use the one upstairs, just to keep everyone happy. He climbed in his small round tub after washing and decided that he needed a good long soak.

Kitsune was frustrated. It had been a very frustrating day. Each time she would get close enough to hear what Tsuruko and Haruka were talking about, one of them would call out for her. She had been quite upset all day long, and during dinner they were as cold as ice. Neither one showed any emotion. She went back to her room, grabbed a bottle of something off the shelf, and waited at the peep hole to Keitaro's room. If she was going to find out anything it would have to be done this way. Soon a very frustrated and fermented exhaustion came over her, and her eyes had closed. She fumbled around for a blanket and pillow and leaned up near the peep hole to Keitaro's room. Keitaro had not returned from his bath yet, so she waited till sleep finally found her.

The door to his bath suddenly was flung open. Keitaro was surprised to see Tsuruko holding Motoko in her arms. Keitaro was mostly surprised because Motoko was dressed only in a pair of boxers. Tsuruko ran over to the tub, and dropped an unconscious Motoko in the tub. Keitaro screamed "What are you doing?"

She replied "She fainted while changing for bed in her room, she's as cold as ice again, and I didn't know you were in here. This was the closest spot to get her in some hot water to warm her up."

Keitaro went to go climb out of the tub and soon found a pair of arms latch onto him from behind. He squeaked in surprise as Motoko's arms and legs latched onto him much like Su does. Her arms had slipped under his and had locked onto each other, and her legs were completely wrapped around his mid section. Her head was resting against his neck and right shoulder. It was a good thing he had wore his towel in the bath.

"What is she doing?!" he cried in surprise.

"I don't know but it looks like you got her again, excuse me but you will have to take care of her for now, I have something I must take care of." She turned went to leave. Before going she called back "You are an excellent manager to take care of my sister like this. I will be back soon to check on you, so don't be doing anything that you would need a marriage license for," and quickly shut the door behind her.

Motoko was rather cold, against his back. He tried to unlatch her, but it only ended up in getting squeezed tighter. At this point climbing out of the tub was nearly impossible without help. With resolve he gave up and tried to think about other things then the soft delicate beautiful potentially lethal woman thing latched against his back.

He tried not to think too much but occasionally he would peek over at Motoko's face, and then quickly look away. She did look pretty cute sleeping there, and it felt kind of good to have her holding on to him. Besides the cold it felt a little comforting to be held. After about an hour Motoko had warmed up considerably. She no longer felt like an ice cream cone stuck on his back. He was wondering when Motoko was going to wake up, so he could get out of the tub. But strangely all the exhaustion he had felt all day long was no longer there.

The door to his bath opened once more, and Tsuruko and Haruka walked in. "Tsuruko said you might need our help." Haruka said.

'This is just great!' he thought.

"Um... is there a way we can get her off me so I can get out of the tub? I think she is warmed up now," he said.

"Well.. Have you tried yourself to unfold her arms from around you??"

He tried once again, and she only latched on tighter. "It would appear to be useless," said Tsuruko.

"Come on, you can't stay all night in the tub, we will help you out," said Haruka.

Tsuruko and Haruka helped Keitaro out of the tub. Haruka tried to pull at Motoko's arms, but it backfired when Motoko suddenly backhand slapped Haruka's arm away.

"Reflexes I suppose," Tsuruko pointed out.

Keitaro tried to dry himself but found it very difficult to balance Motoko and try to dry himself and he was afraid to go near Motoko's skin.

Haruka said "I guess we will need to continue to help." He was then very unceremoniously dried with a towel from his aunt and Motoko's sister. Suddenly his towel was ripped away and he squawked "No what are you doing?!"

"Don't worry, I have seen plenty, and I have changed your diaper more times than you know."

His embarrassment was very apparent in his face as he covered his manhood with his hands. Haruka quickly helped him wrap a new dry towel around him. She helped him put on a pair of clean boxers she had gotten out of the laundry room much to his embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Motoko's still wearing shorts, I dried them the best I could, but they will be damp for a little while, and my sister is squeezing so tight, I can't seem to dry in between you two."

"What am I supposed to do now? She won't let go?!" he said.

"I guess you are just going to have to take her to bed," stated Tsuruko in a matter of fact type way.

"WHAT!!!" he screamed, "NO I can't!"

"Quiet down, your screeching can probably be heard by everybody, do you want to wake them up?"

He quieted down, and Haruka draped his robe over Motoko and him.

"I guess you will just have to take her to her room. Maybe sometime during the night she will let go, and you can go to your own bed," said Tsuruko. "Don't worry. I will stay in the room with you two. Don't want you to be put in any kind of situation that you would need to fill out a marriage license."

"You're not helping!" he said.

"There's not much we can do, who knows what she may do if we try to force her off you. Look at the bruise on my arm from her lashing out a few moments ago." Haruka showed him her arm, sure enough there was a slight bruise developing on her forearm.

He sighed and said "I guess so, this is just... so embarrassing."

"What is so embarrassing about it, you have a beautiful naked woman and you're taking her to bed!" said Tsuruko.

Haruka groaned at Tsuruko's comment, and said "It can't be helped, let's go." She gave him a firm push from behind through Motoko, as he felt a soft push from behind as a reminder of what he had on his back. With a very red face, and trying hard to think of other things he followed Tsuruko to Motoko's room. Haruka quickly excused herself and left saying something about an early morning appointment.

"Why can't we go to my room? Why Motoko's?"

"Do you know how improper it would be to have two beautiful women sleeping in your room? Are you trying to hit on me again, Must I keep reminding you that I am married??!"

He stammered again, and then closed his mouth. She continued her torment. "Well I guess you might be able to take care of two beautiful women from what I saw just a few moments ago in the bath. Oh and it looks like someone else strongly agrees," she said pointing at his towel.

"Hey! You're not helping?!" he said as he covered himself with his hands.

She quickly laid out Motoko's futon and blanket and pillows. She unceremoniously removed the robe off of Motoko's back, and took Keitaro's towel to which reluctantly gave up. She then helped Keitaro get down onto the futon and lie down with Motoko. Motoko seemed to sense what was happening and released the hold on Keitaro with her legs so they were no longer wrapped around his stomach. He took the opportunity to try put some space in between himself and Motoko as much would allow, However as if sensing his attempt to get away she entwined her longer legs with his. It was useless so he gave up. She was still tightly latched onto Keitaro, and she was pretty strong for someone who looked so delicate. Tsuruko then covered them up with the blanket.

"What about you? Where are you going to sleep?" he asked.

"There you go again, I am a married woman, aren't you satisfied enough with my sister already? Fine if you're going to be a pesky naughty boy like that?! If you think you're up to it, at least some part of you might be." She began to untie the sash on her gi that she had been wearing.

"No! What are you doing?!"

"Isn't this what you asked for? To spend the night with two beautiful naked women?" she said as she slipped out of her gi. She was wearing only a tank top type undershirt and a pair of white panties. She crossed her arms and grabbed the bottom of her tank top like she was going to remove it.

"No!" he called out, she looked his way, and he said "You said you were going to stay the night to watch over us?!"

"Now you're rejecting me?! How dare you toy with a woman's emotions like this!" with that she gathered up her gi and left the room.

"It's going to be a long night,' thought Keitaro. He tried to lay there not thinking about anything at all. The dampness on his back faded and the warmth continued to grow. He soon found himself groggy and then found himself in dream land.

Motoko sat guarding her fire, it was her fire, and someone wanted to take it away from her. She thought that they seemed friendly until she had to lash out once because someone that was trying to steal a log from her fire. She couldn't even recognize the person trying to do it. It was as if the person was shrouded in some type of fog.

After several minutes they had left, and she relaxed into a comfortable position. Watching the fire brought again a great sense of peace as she let the warmth wash through her. "I won't leave you" she said to the fire. There was no evil in the fire's heart, just warmth and love waiting to be unleashed. Motoko knew it and guarded the fire well, waiting for it to awaken.

Keitaro was running through the fog again, this time he wasn't chasing anyone, he was going somewhere, and an angel with pure white wings, and an extremely beautiful face and raven black hair was leading him. Her gossamer robe was almost transparent, and her beauty was glorious to behold. Once again they came to the bottom of the steps of the Hinata Inn. This time the angel stopped, and turned to him. "Your destiny is up there, with me. Come," she said. She let go and flew up to the top of the steps and disappeared over the top of them. He once again found himself pushing against an unseen barrier that he couldn't push past.

"You're not ready yet."

"Find the answer inside yourself."

"Learn what it is that is growing inside of you"

He looked around and it was the three old men again. They turned and walked away and disappeared in the fog.

He cried to the angel at the top of the steps "Come back?!" ... She peeked over the top of the stairs, and saw him franticly trying to get her attention. She came back down the stairs. "I can't get past... don't leave me alone down here."

She smiled at him, and his heart melted. "I will stay with you as long as you need me to. She flew around behind him and wrapped her arms around him and said "I won't leave you."

Shippu watched an angel guarding a fire. It was wonderful the way that the two acted. It was like watching two fish swim in a bowl. They seemed to move in unison to each other, and the synchronic breathing of both under the blanket laying on a futon was like listening to relaxing ocean waves.

Shippu ruffled her feathers in glee when she heard a voice whisper in the dark room of the inn, "I won't leave you."