The Weaver festival went as fast as it came,as it does every year.

The people of Hinata-Hotsprings soon went back to their usual schedule,including our dearest residents of the Hinata-sou.

Soon there would be tests and tutoring school again.

Therefore most of the residents were too busy studying to have fun or the slightest time off.

Motoko still insisted that she and Brendi should keep up their training,even if they had upcoming exams.

They both thought the situation was surreal,but now someone new seemed to have entered the arena of love.

Suu had always been watching Motoko train,but when Brendi had started to train with her Suu had suddenly stopped.

Now however Suu was back on the rooftop again on her stomach watching the two squaring it off.

When Brendi thought about it Suu was always with them studying,not with Shinobu like she usually was.

He couldn´t resist thinking of her cuteness at times,even though Motoko was sitting on the other side of the table.

Motoko had something along the same on her mind.....

She thought about why Suu always was with them,not that she didn´t like it.

On the contrary,having Suu around created a cheery and comfortable atmosphere,quite the opposite of how it was when she was alone with Brendi at times.

Motoko was fond of Suu,and lately she was starting to look upon Suu as a young woman,instead of the little girl she had always seemed to be.

Then it happened one night.

Motoko had woken up in the middle of the night,feeling parched she dislodged Suus limbs from her and went down to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water.

When she came back Suu was whimpering and softly crying by herself in the futon.

Knowing that Suu once in a while cried when she was asleep Motoko took this in stride and went over to the futon to start her normal way of comforting Suu,by drying her tears and softly calling her name.

But before Motoko could lie down again Suu gently cried out.

"Motoko.....Brendi.....don´t leave me....don´t leave me all alone......don´t leave me......"

Did she just call for Brendi?....And myself?......´

Another wimper from Suu shook Motoko out of her thinking.

Without pause she lied down beside the petite girl and softly embraced her.

Wiping a tear of her cheek Motoko started singing in a comforting voice.

Just like speaking of scenery
You speak of the day we met
Here is the gateway
To the evening summer

On the slopes you dash on when flipped by the chimes
Because when you feel the wind
You can laugh away even the things you worry about
Tomorrow will be sunny day yeah

The days of dreaming and loving
Are precious treasures

Chatting on and on
After school
I came across a painful
Unknown premonition

Even at times when the feelings aren't the same
It is all okay
You'taught me
That being yourself makes you shine

I gaze up the sky
And reflected upon my emotions there

I want to tie our hearts together
So it will not be carried along the rush of people
Never lose what you desire
Even when you grow up

The days of dreaming and loving
Are precious treasures
In the pieces of time that passes by
That are forever sealed.

It was a song she remembered her mother had used to sing her into sleep with.

The words spoke of those sweet blue days of ones youthtime of life.

As she sang on Motoko remembered how Keitaro had helped her so many times.

And as she comes to:

Even at times when the feelings aren't the same
It is all okay
You'taught me
That being yourself makes you shine

She remembers those days.....and now she was also crying.

Tears flowed down her cheeks as she remembered the pain she had been experiencing that time,and how Keitaro had healed that pain...only to leave a much worse scar on her soul.

Motokos body started shaking heavily as the old loneliness rose from the back of her mind.

Rapidly everything seemed to fade into black,the room got darker and those evil things lurked in the shadows of her room.

Just as she was about to sink back into that hollow shell she had been for so long something tugged her out of it.

Suu had stopped crying,instead she was now calling Motokos name out in her sleep.

She kept saying : "Don´t cry Motoko you´re not alone,you have Suu and Brendi, I promise we will never leave you,we three will always be together."

As she said the words Suu gently kept kissing away Motokos tears.

Not knowing why Motoko answered by kissing Suu back on her lips,for along while they laid there kissing and in the end Motoko fell asleep with her lips still on Suus.

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At 05:00 am,Brendi woke up,or tried to.

Yawning so much his jaw was creaking,Brendi went out to the bathroom in his

boxers,scratching his head.

As the water ran freely from the tap,he splashed water in his face to clear his head.

Looking up he sees straight into the mirror.

The three day old beard and a tired face staring back at him,water dripping from his chin.

Damn,I need a shave........on the second hand I look like I need plastic surgery...´

Catching himself being slow,Brendi hastily got on his training clothes and got his bokken and with no further ado he walks quickly,but stealthily as to not wake up the other tenants.

Motoko don´t like latecomers,with a shudder Brendi remembers what she did last time he was late by 2 minutes.

The training had been hell.....

Muttering to himself as he pass up the stairs Brendi hopes he made it.

"Argh,I hope I made it....if not she´ll kill me!"

As he runs up the last few steps he looks around the roof.

Nothing is there to greet him,except a clear,late night sky,lit with stars and a crescent moon.

"Is my clock wrong?....I´ve never been first before.."

Scratching his itchy beard he tries to recall any message about this day being an exception.

Suddenly his eyes lit up with a look of panic.

"Hmm.....maybe something has happened to her!"

With that thought Brendi runs down the staircase and steps up to Motokos door.

Putting his ear up to it he can´t hear a thing.

Hmm,if this is just me screwing up and I open the door she´ll be furious....and I don´t want that....,but if she´s hurt and need my help......´

With a little more thinking Brendi decides that Motokos safety is the most important matter at hand (and of course the possibility of an eyeful of Motoko herself) and with

that his action is decided.

Carefully he draws the door to the side and looks into the dark room.

In the middle of the room, on the floor, lies a futon with two people in it,both lying quite still.

Taking a few steps inside,silently, Brendi goes closer for a better look.

When he´s a few feet away he sees that the two people are Motoko and Suu.

Oh,it´s just the two of them, I guess she´s just sleeping in.´

A few seconds pass,and Brendi can´t help but keep staring at the two.

They´re lying pretty close aren´t it be that the nights go by like this? (Mental image removed for the sake of younger readers.)´

As his imagination runs amock for a split second it is all Brendi needs to blush furiously.

Suddenly a familiar pressure builds up behind his nose.

Oh no,if I squirt it here there´ll be no end to the questions!´

Without any further ado Brendi makes a run for it down the hallway to a bathroom,closing the door behind him.

After having cleaned his face once more Brendi decides that if Motoko would sleep in,than he certainly would as well.

A few minutes later Brendi was happily sleeping in his bed.

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Outside the birds are singing their good mornings to the world as the sun decided to take a look inside Motokos window.

The sunlight falls upon the her eyes and gently calls her from her slumber.

Her mind being dragged into half-consciousness Motoko slowly starts to gather a few thoughts.

Oh......how nice....this feeling on my lips,in my mouth.....it´s so soft....warm....huh?.....on my lips?Soft?Warm!?´

With a startle she withdraws from Suu and opens her eyes.

Her mind not being just slightly disoriented,Motokos senses as well go into red alert.

A small sting of pain shoots into her chest as she unknowingly ended their kiss,but still Suus arms and legs are wrapped around her.

Suu-chan?.....kiss?.....´

And then she remembers the nightly event.

Her eyes taking on a new focus she gazes at the sleeping beauty,and as she does her mind is lulled by the sight of the

round,open face.

No tears are running down those cheeks now,something Motoko is glad for.

For a few seconds all she does is lie there,her mind not wanting to think of other things than this beauty in her bed.

However,certain rutines kick in.

Training!.......Brendi!´

Hastily she undoes Suus embrace,gets up and dresses herself.

As she leaves through the door the sun is lighting up Suus face,causing the face of the young princess to twitch gently.

Not caring for proper stealth Motoko runs down the stairs and up to Brendis door.

As she throws up the door she sees Brendi lying in his futon,drooling on his pillow, sleeping like a spoiled little baby.

"Hey! We´ve overslept!Get dressed and come out in the hallway."

With that Motoko close the door with as much force as she used to open it and stands with her back against the wall,impatiantly waiting.

Not really having realised the full matter at hand Brendi decides to shut up and be obedient.

Within a minute he´s fully dressed and as ready as one can be within a minute after waking up.

He grabs his bokken and opens the door with a big yawn.

What greets him is a slap over the face.

It isn´t a halfhearted slap either. It´s a slap with the blow of a gun and it snaps Brendis face right out of the yawn and into the door.

Now feeling abit more perceptive,Brendi straightens up and regards Motoko.

Her face was dead-serious and her stance told him that if he didn´t act properly an even harder slap was right behind the previous one.

If I do anything wrong now.....I´m dead....´

"C´mere!We missed our training this morning and there´s no excuse.We´ll have to train twice as hard for the rest of the day in addition to our punishment."

Rubbing his cheek,Brendi manages to stutter out.

"P...punishment?"

Instantly Motokos look hardens, if that is possible, and Brendi never sees any movement.....and a punch,not a slap, a punch hits him square on the jaw and

knocks Brendi on his back into the room.

Not quite realising what just happened Brendi lies there without being able to see her as Motoko makes her response.

"Yes,punishment,now if you talk back to me again during training I won´t hold back my punches."

Sitting up Brendi carefully searches his jaw.....after a few seconds he flinches as he touches a loose tooth.

With wide open eyes he stares at Motoko.

S..she won´t hold back?.....´

Not wanting any more punches ,Brendi decides that he should just shut up and do what Motoko says.

And with no further delay he rises and the two leave Hinata-Sou.

The two of them climbs the slopes behind Hinata-Sou and runs into the forests behind.

After about 20 minutes the two enter a glade,dominated by a huge,dark pond.

The trees around it make it look abit eerie in the morning light,as if there´s no telling what might be waiting in the deep.

As he enters the grove an ominous feeling fills Brendis mind,and all he wants to do is run away from the place.

Motoko sets her bokken aside and walks up to the pond, crouching she makes a cup out of her hands and splash some water in her face.

Some of the water sprays unto her black hair and create little sparkles in the crisp,morning air.

Brendi,not quite knowing what to make of the situation, walks up behind her.

"Err,Motoko-sensei, just what kind of training will we be doing here? I don´t like the look of that pond.."

Turning her head Motoko looks back on Brendi with steely eyes.

"I don´t like it either....and there´s a reason..."

Intrigued,Brendi can´t help but be drawn by the mystery in Motokos answer.

"What´re you talking about?"

"This pond is quite deep, as you might see."

"Yes,that´s kind of obvious."

"Well,this pond is considered haunted by the local townsmen."

"H...haunted?"

"Yes,it is said to be the home of several kappas and other such creatures.The worst part is...........it´s true."

A part of him tells Brendi that this is rubbish,but he can´t shake that ominous feeling away.

"Aye.....something isn´t right here......"

With a newfound interest in her eyes Motoko regard Brendi.

"Something isn´t....right?"

"Yes....it´s this feeling I have,like something is watching me,just waiting to pounce on me, and every sense I have screams out that I should run from this place.

I´ve experienced it numerous times before.....I´ve always ran so far..."

As he stands there,talking, Brendi can´t help but imagine that just outside sight, it´s there,just waiting for him to make his move.

Whatever his move will be it will be a wrong one.

Every cell in his body urges him to flee.

"...W....we.....we ,Motoko..p..p..please.....Something´s here and it is evil....It´s going to get me.....it wants me.....it wants us....p...please...l..lets...go.."

Now Motokos eyes are filled with something else than just steely seriousness,sympathy....and abit of understanding.....but then they become hard again.

"I am sorry,but this is what we have to do........."

As she utters the words Motoko takes out a length of rope from her gi.

She stands up and walks over to a pile of big stones.

"M..M...Motoko....l...lets.....d..do..this quick....p..please...."

"Yes."

Came the reply.

With no further delay Motoko walks up to Brendi and in a blur of motion she takes off his clothes,leaving his boxer.

For a second Brendi forgets his fear as he finds himself stripped,but as Motoko decks him she lays a big rock on his back and firmly ties it to him.

"W..what are you doing?!"

"Just swim once over the pond and back."

A second pass as Brendis brain works the info.

In a split second however his eyes bulge almost out of their sockets.

That second is everything Motoko needs before basically picking him up and throwing him to the base of the pond.

"NO,WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?"

Suddenly the icecold water surrounds Brendi and instantly he feels the weight of the rock pulling at him.

With a struggle Brendi manages to get his head to the surface.

Of course Brendi at once starts to move towards the bank,but as he reaches the edge of the pond he sees Motokos sword.

"WHATRE YOU DOING!?"

"I am sorry.....I won´t let you up untill you´ve swimmed once across and back over the pond."

Holding unto the edge Brendi turns and look over towards the other bank.....no way up.....except through Motoko....

Looking up he sees nothing but the steel in Motokos eyes and hands.

With a whimper Brendi braces himself and kickstarts off the edge.

The pond itself couldn´t have been further across than 25 metres,but for Brendi it seems like 25000 metres.

Clumsily and with out precision he takes each stroke faster than the other.

Ohnoohnoohnoohnoohnoohnoohno. It´s right below me,it´s reaching out for me,now,now,now,now,now.....´

Each stroke was an expectation of something grabbing his feet and drag him below,deep under the assuring membrane that is the watersurface.

The visions of the green,shell clad claws reaching for his leg fills his entire vision.

Suddenly he feels something else than the water all around him,tickling his stomach are bubbles....many bubbles..

The panick starting to take a hold on him Brendi almost bunch up,then he hear her voice.

"Brendi! the edge is just in front of you,hurry!"

With no delay Brendi grabs the edge and kickstarts to get a boost.

On the far edge he sees Motoko,worry all over her face, calling something to him,but he is oblivious to her voice as all that fills his mind is the green arm

stretching for his leg,always just behind it and grabbing for it every second of the way.

Suddenly Brendi realises that he is almost at the edge again,Motokos hand only a few metres away.

WITHDRAW YOUR LEGS NOW!´ Screams out of every fiber of Brendis being.

And instantly he obeys,just as his legs are pulled up towards his chest he feels the claws just ripping at his calves.

Panick takes over and Brendi kicks out and hit something,something so close he is able to kick it to get a boost.

As his feet connect he feels the shell underneath them, the image of a green,scaly vaguely humanoid thing grabbing him and pulling him down under the surface

fills Brendis vision and chases him up the edge and as he is about to run away from the terror howling behind him he hears her voice,that blessed,powerful voice,he loves so.

"ZANMA KEN!: NI NO TACHI!"

A wave pass by him and hits something just behind him,creating a last outworldly shriek.

Brendi hears a splash and a slight gurgling sound.

Staring at Motoko,Brendi realises that she´s terribly surprised......

She didn´t think there was anything here.´

Turning around to look what was behind him,Brendi sees nothing but the pond and what seem to be a thick, black liquid,looking like blood, floating on the top.

"I...I....I didn´t....know..." Came from behind him

"I was just.....trying to make you overcome your fears....to train your mind.....I am sorry...."

Without a word Brendi dresses,gets his bokken and walks past Motoko without a word.

Motoko is left staring at the pond.....thinking about how wrong she´d been......what the consequences would´ve been.

After a little time she gathers herself again and leaves....her entire body shaking.

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Some time on the afternoon Motoko enters through the front door of Hinata-Sou,without any pause she walks straight up all the stairs to her room and enters.

A few seconds after her entrance Suu comes crashing in through the door.

"There you were Motoko! I was getting worried."

Attaching herself to Motoko from behind Suu suddenly feels tears dripping unto her arms.

Twisting abit she gets into a view of Motokos face.

Motokos eyes are open and tears are pouring down her cheeks,her mouth is open,showing her gritted teeth

Suu gently climb off Motokos back and goes in front of her.

Motoko falls together in a heap,her eyes showing that she´s not aware of the current situation.

Taking Motokos face into her hands Suu turn it towards her own,close her eyes and gently begin to kiss away the tears pouring down.

At first Motoko is taken aback and tries to pull back,but Suu has a firm grip on her head.

After a few seconds Motoko begin to relax and close her eyes,letting Suu shower her face with gentle kisses.

After kissing her cheeks Suu kiss Motokos eyes,one after the other and she finishes with planting her lips on Motokos.

At that point Motokos hands wrap around Suu and she responds to the kiss,as Suu gets response she decides it is time to take the next step.

Without a warning Suu shoves her tongue into Motokos mouth and start to massage Motokos tongue,all the while Suu makes the embrace even tighter.

Shocked at first,Motoko flinches,but Suu grabs her firmer, and not long after Motoko relaxes....not long after that she starts to massage back with a vengeance.

New emotions fill the girls,somewhere in their bodies a fire begins to burn,and they kiss even more passionately.

The girls lie there,exploring eachothers mouth and tongue for several minutes,when at the end Suu breaks the kiss.Motoko reluctantly lets her go.

With a smirk that would look better on Kitsune Suu says.

"There,did that make you feel any better?"

Even though she had forgotten her thoughts for a little time they now returned to her,but Motoko looked on them with a renewed and refreshed perspective.

Thinking a little about it,her eyes growing more wise by each second,Motoko finally nods and says.

"Yes.....I have to go make an apology....."