Disclaimer: Nope.
A/N: Wow, thanks for the reviews! Hot damn, I thought I was onto something but the reaction was more than I hoped for! Well, I'll post up a bit at a time, since I'm way behind compared to most. Things will run a little slow since I want to do this right. But I ordered the rest of the volumes I'm missing (10 to 14) and I'll be up to date in two weeks! But anyway, enough about me and onto the good stuff!
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It was the hour of dinner, usually everyone's favorite time of the day since Shinobu often cooks up a feast for dinner. By that time everyone was sitting down with lively and happy expressions on their faces. Su was hoarding food away like it was the end of days while Sarah calmly ate hers while cracking jokes with Su. Kitsune was already a little tipsy, and as always, finding ways to cause Keitaro to flush several shades of red at once. Naru was already over whatever incident had occurred that afternoon and was already joining in the teasing. But when it was done, Keitaro and Naru were enjoying each other's company like best friends, which was when Mutsumi had decided to join in as well. Even Shinobu was acting more carefree than she had ever been.
Throughout all this Motoko kept a careful eye on everything. Normally she'd be content to be somber but at the same time, at peace, as she ate dinner with the others. But today she couldn't keep her eyes off the Ronin Trio, consisting of the founding third year ronin Keitaro, the newly made Naru, and the fellow third year ronin Mutsumi. Looking at them she couldn't understand how is it that everything goes back to normal.
Every time Urashima acts up, Naru sees fit to punish him accordingly. Motoko thought to herself. Yet things go back to normal. She still trusts him and they end up the best of friends! I don't understand it!
As Keitaro prepared to launched a defensive to protect his masculinity from Naru he felt an odd sensation on the back of his neck. As he turned his head slightly he found Motoko staring oddly at him. Having been found out, she quickly resumed eating, her chopsticks never lingering on the bowl or her lips for more than a second as she ate at the speed of Su. He turned back to Naru and dismissed the situation, be it because of his fear of her wrath or his usual denseness in matters of the heart and all social etiquette, he returned to his conversation. Naru however noticed this immediately. Once the top scholar of the nation, Naru Narusegawa, she was by no means soft in the head despite being a ronin. What was that all about? She briefly pondered the situation but returned to teasing Keitaro once more when he had picked up where she had left off.
"Shinobu, that was wonderful as always, thank you. I should be going now." Motoko hastily retreated. She did not want to have to answer any embarrassing questions. As she stalked up the stairs she had more time to think about Naru and Keitaro. If she could forgive him in a matter of hours, then maybe Keitaro wasn't sneaky or underhanded. Maybe the things that he had been guilty of, Naru had only made some fuss due to etiquette. Maybe even deep down, she liked it in some weird, perverse fashion. With all this insight, she still did not dismiss the fact that Keitaro was just clumsy. The thought of them engaging in this nauseating display of… of… whatever the hell it was, it wasn't right.
Yet, Urashima was… agreeable tonight. Motoko opened her door and stepped in. As she closed her door, she locked it and searched through her drawer. Is this what they call love then? This sickening display of hurting the ones you love? Every time… how could I have not notice it? Motoko gathered several candles and began to light each and every one of them and proceeded to shut off the lights. The combination of mediation and aromatherapy did wonders, and now was the time for such a miracle. She needed to understand the situation before her.
So what does it all mean? He attacks Naru in 'perverse ways' and she in turn attacks him, and rightfully so… Yet she accepts him as time lingers. This means that… it's expected. She knew he would come back to her in the end and he does so with a smile on his face… Keitaro is clumsy by nature. I can't ever forget that, nor shall I. Calling him a pervert due to that… it's offensive on more than just one level. And Narusegawa… What of her?
These thoughts rolled around in her mind and as the minutes passed away into hours, she found herself still awake and alert. To her surprise she found that it was already past midnight when she checked her alarm clock, hidden discreetly from prying eyes since it would ruin the décor.
Have I really been in meditation for that long? Then again, I don't think that should have counted. She remembered clearly everything's she seen and experienced when Keitaro had first moved into Hinata-Sou. She rose from her kneeling position, she had to talk to him, apologize and—
Suddenly the only thing Motoko saw was the infinite void of unconsciousness. Having to stay in that pose for so long, she didn't realize that her legs had went numb for quite a while. When she had thought she had successfully stood up and began to 'walk', she didn't even realize that she was falling, since her thoughts were preoccupied with a certain ronin.
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Motoko groaned as she heard the everyday sounds of morning come through her window. For once in her life she had hated the sound of chirping birds. Suddenly her eyes snapped open as she realized what had happened the other night. After realizing the answers to the Urashima question, she had went to seek a few words with him, only to trip over her own legs and fall unconscious. A streak of pink graced her cheeks. To call it embarrassing was an understatement. She quickly stood up, against a wall this time, and began to shake out her legs. Stripping with the speed that would shame Japanese boy bands, she slipped into an identical ensemble of her regular hakama and training gi. She checked the time on her alarm clock and found it only an hour before breakfast. The only person that would be awake at this point would have been her and Shinobu. There were always the exceptions but now was not the time to split hairs.
She snuck quietly down the stairs, careful not to wake the others, especially Kitsune. She had the ability to blow this meeting out of proportion. Motoko felt a hint of crimson reach her face. Yes, this situation does seem distasteful and can be seen as something it's not… But it's nothing like that! Deciding not to take any chances, she quietly knocked on the door. A little part of her begged Keitaro to leave this alone, not answer the door, and let her do it another time. In retrospect Motoko realize it was a little awkward and not something she would know how to deal with. When Motoko heard nothing on Keitaro's side of the door, she shrugged mentally, and began to walk out to her beating dummy, the clothes-drying stand, and work off some stress. Suddenly, as she was about to turn the corner, Keitaro's door creaked open, letting some sunlight shine through. Her eyes widened at the strange turn of events… Priding herself on a policy of pure determination and grace under fire she quickly gathered her arguments and prepared herself as she opened the door and walked in, getting straight to the point as well.
"Urashima?" Motoko's voice came out meeker than she would have liked but there was no changing that now. "Are you awake?" Her eyes searched the room until she spotted him sitting on a chair by his balcony. There were several study books and past exams littered about him. His glasses were placed on a sturdy pile of books as he snored away, the right side of his face tucked into the nook of his right arm that was placed on the banister. His left hand was dangling from his body and his hand still clutched a review book.
A small grin replaced the steely look of conviction. Glancing at the various piles of books and empty food containers as she looked about his room she couldn't but feel a twinge of admiration for this ronin. After failing three times in a row he was now studying his heart out, determined to get into Tokyo University at all costs. Deciding to let him rest she turned around but vowed that this issue will be settled. She made mental note to herself to be more forgiving when Naru cried out pervert, aiming it at Keitaro. However if anyone else should do the same, well, she'd have to investigate further if anything…
As she took a small step, she didn't realize she had stepped on a very thin sheet of paper. Seconds slowed to a crawl as Motoko was falling at a rapid speed towards the floor. Suddenly something stopped her descent. Once she had realized this, she was suddenly pulled away from the floor and into Keitaro.
He was still groggy but his eyes were alert. Just as Motoko had slipped, she had alerted Keitaro to her presence. Deciding to take his chances, he leapt from his seat, and grabbed her by the arm. Since she was a little further away from him since he had first anticipated, he had grabbed her wrist, but was barely able to fall flat on his face from that action. He steadied himself and all the while his momentum pulled Motoko to him, but it was too much for him to sustain the both of them, thus landing him in this situation:
He now held her wrist in his hand, her other arm placed upon his chest, her body was smashed into his, and out of instinct, his right hand ended up on her right hip. He was up against the wall and Motoko suddenly got a very good look at Keitaro's eyes. Motoko, out of her element much like a fish in the middle of the desert, could only try to open her mouth and speak. No words could be said, which meant Keitaro had to take the first step.
"Not that I should be complaining…" Keitaro spoke slowly and deliberately. "… But it's not often I get dropped in on at this time of the hour." He had expected a response but nothing came. Motoko only looked embarrassed, only much more so now that Keitaro pointed out the obvious weirdness in him finding a girl drop in on him while he was asleep. Motoko's mind was stuck but her instincts were on overdrive. She pushed herself off of him and practically threw herself all the way to the door. Her hand right hand moved over to her left, ready to draw her sword, and draw blood…
But after noticing the lack of substance in her left hand, and the air that was in her right, not to mention the puzzled look on Keitaro's face, did she realize she was unarmed… And that she was about to strike once more. Her mind flashed the answer as to why, but she would analyze this later, if she had the time. "I-- err… I just came to retrieve… this!" She grabbed a review book lying on his desk and backed out. "Well, after seeing so much hard work on your part as well as Narusegawa's part, I too should try to achieve higher aspirations! See you at breakfast!"
Before it had even sunk into his head, she was out the door and running back into her room, shamefaced at her initial reaction. Perhaps her instincts for survival proving to be too much for her to handle, she ran up to her room with her feet pounding on the wooden planks. It was obvious that alerting the others to her whereabouts was not on her mind at all. Had she been more careful, she would not have alerted a certain specter that now stood in the shadows, eyes twinkling with mischief, and a mind filled with ideas that would be… harmful to say the least.
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What in Kami's name was that?! Motoko was safe inside her room now, with her precious Shisui in her hand. The feeling without her weapon gave her a feeling of nakedness that she didn't like one bit. Some have blankets and teddy bears as comforters; she had a sharp piece of metal made for killing and the like. How was he able to do that? How in the name of all that is Just and Holy was I not able to go through with what I wanted to say?! Have I become weak? Her mind raced as she went to work on the current problem. She was not weak, but she was definitely confused. She was not in her element and her becoming flustered is a natural reaction she will have to obliterate from her working systems.
As she processed this, the concept of strong and weak once again popped up. She was not weak, but neither is he at this point. He dedication and focus is one example. He must have been up studying all night, preparing once more for his yearly battle. He was strong enough to catch her as well, she admitted to herself. Clutching her face with her hands she tried to chase that thought away. But a nagging voice that sounded much like Kitsune only egged her on. This wasn't the first time he had done something like that. He caught her once before. Although she may have been sick, it didn't really show or take effect until she got into the hot spring.
That feeling, it was good… Him holding me… Her eyes widened and a certain gleam shone in her eye that was akin to either rage or insanity. Placing Shisui down she quickly grabbed a pillow and placed it over her mouth… and screamed with all her might. She screamed and screamed until she could feel the rawness in her throat. She slowly placed the pillow down and grabbed her bokuto and was out the door for a nice wholesome breakfast, and several hours of extra vigorous training to 'purify' her mind.
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A/N: Read and review!
Japanese boy bands – Fun fact I read in a volume of the Galaxy Angel manga. Japanese boy bands are notorious for taking off their shirts during a performance and changing on stage really quickly. It also seems that a certain agency trains their boys to change fast.
