Okay, I know that it's been long since I updated and I'm very sorry everyone! ! sighs I hope you will all enjoy this chapter!

Spring's Gift

Chapter Fourteen: A State of Frustration

Naru looked at Motoko as if she was stranger to her. Was this -THE-Motoko who had always looked upon love as a childish issue? Was this -THE-Motoko who could care less about what love means? O dear, it was…

Naru was surprised beyond realm of comprehension. She gawked at Motoko and slowly opened her mouth slightly, choking her response out in disoriented phrases as she began, "What?…love?…I…err…I don't….know….Is there even a definition for love?"

Motoko stared at Naru and replied in a monotonous tone of voice, "I do not know…"

She wasn't expecting Naru to be questioning HER when she was the one who posed the question. I mean, if she knew, would she be asking her then?!

"Well," Naru said as she took a seat on one of the chairs, "I don't really know how to explain it. Love is ….such a strange concept. It can be considered as a passion or it can be considered as a type of compassion. It's an affection that you have for someone whom you feel attracted to. You would care for this person and would think about him or her before you think about yourself. It's all about selflessness."

"Oh…"Motoko said, trying to register what Naru had told her, "Then, how do you know when you're in love?"

Naru blushed at this and fidgeted a bit in her chair. "Hmm…I think that when you're in love, your heart will be your first indicator. It will pick up pace, beating faster and harder, and you will find yourself somehow almost magically drawn to that person. You will notice reactions that you display without your own knowing. It's mystifying, really.

Motoko thought about what Naru had just told her. She wondered if what she had felt for Keitaro was what one would call "love". Was it really love? Or was it just ummm….I don't know….interest maybe? For the while during Keitaro's being at Hinatasou, Motoko had felt some sort of feelings towards him, but she didn't know what it was. Her heart did beat a bit faster when he was near her…but what does that mean? And she sometimes blushed too when Keitaro makes his clumsy mistakes around her…and she actually cared for him, a bit…just a little bit…but what do all these things mean? Did she "loved" him? Oh she didn't know! It was just too confusing!

"I think I need to get away for some time, Naru…do you mind looking after Shinobu while I'm gone?" Motoko asked.

"Sure."

With that said, Motoko went to her room and gathered her bokken and left, making her way to her favorite training spot.

Meanwhile, back at Shinobu's room…(or should I say outside Shinobu's room, anyhow….)

"Look what you'd done to Shinobu!" Yukiro whispered loudly to Keitaro, pointing his finger in a menacing way that suggested that he were to take full blame for them being kicked out by Shinobu.

Keitaro just ignored his comment and knelt slowly down beside Shinobu's room.

Yukiro saw Keitaro's oblivion and cringed. It was strange how this guy didn't seem to talk back to him, like most other guys would. He wasn't sure if he really did understand this person. In the end, he decided to keep his quiet and just lean against the wall while Keitaro still seemed to be lost in his thoughts while crouching down.

"Where's Motoko?" Kitsune question as she sneaked into the kitchen for a snack, her movements like a fox's.

"Oh, she picked up her training supplies and headed out for some time a lone; I'm assuming that she's going to train," Naru replied as she slapped Kitsune's hand that was meanwhile reaching for a cookie while Naru was talking.

"Jeez, Naru, you're so mean! I'm going to go find Motoko and have her treat me to some sake and grub!" Kitsune declared as she made her way out of the inn.

Water was falling on her back, and she could feel a soft breeze against her skin. In the background, birds were chirping their usual high-pitched, what birdwatchers label as, music and here and there, a crow croaked, adding its voice to the symphony. The wind whistled a tune of its own as well and carried Motoko's hair behind her, letting them splay freely in the air. The water that fell on her back was cold like ice. These liquid spears crashed fiercely on her back, leaving no marks on her skin, only a piercing sensation of numbness on her mind. She felt her body freezing already in its attempt to withdraw from the pain; a feeling of numbness. Her body can no longer feel anymore. Her ears can no longer hear anything but the repetitive music of the chirping animals anymore. However, her mind was still thinking. She couldn't understand why her body and ears can stop feeling while her mind can't stop thinking. The atmosphere didn't soothe her senses at all! She was still as frustrated as ever. She hated it all! She hated this! Why can't there be an answer somewhere where she can get to and solve her problems!

With a thrust of her bokken, she swung violently yet carelessly at nothing in particular and started slashing at the rock cliff that she had previously been leaning against.

HIKEN ZANKUSEN!

Shards of rock pieces flew in all directions and one even made a cut on Motoko's face. When she finally stopped, her chest was heaving and her breaths came out short and ragged.

"Motoko…" Kitsune said silently, unsure of what to say, as she had seen the entire thing.

Motoko shook out of her trance and turned her head in Kitsune's direction, finding shock registered on her friend's countenance. Motoko was speechless. Kitsune had just watched her in her most disorderedly state of vexation. Not good…

Okay, that's all for now folks! Please leave a review! Thanks! I'll try to update as soon as possible k?! Ja ne!