Disclaimer: Nope, not at all.

A/N: Thanks again for all the kind reviews! And as for Samurai Demon-God Sekikage, I remember reading about something like that. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but either Tsuroko taught it to him, or he learned it from someone else and ended up dying. Something about him and Viking mythology. In any case, I can't say I can do that in good conscious. Someone else's idea, and if I'm mistaken, it would be yours and in total an idea belonging to someone altogether, not mine. I can't do that. But there will be action; I can guarantee that. Also, I finally have all the volumes so I can see the full extent of the Urashima arts as they are, and Motoko's new prowess in hand-to-hand combat and all the other cool stuff! Awesomeness! (Something I've been saying a lot) Well anyway, enjoy, read, and (most importantly) review!

----------

Breakfast was your average and very typical breakfast. In Hinata-sou, it was average, chaotic to say the least, rather rushed, with a side of destruction to go. It's actually tame compared to the other meals made during the rest of the day within this girls' dormitory, but compared to most households it was pretty lively. Motoko closed her eyes as she chewed slowly; purposely trying to drive away the hormone induced feelings from her mind. At the same time she planned a counter for Kitsune. Somehow she had a feeling Kitsune might draw attention to her. As she speculated things, it was obvious she was not so quiet going up the stairs as she had went down. She must have been alerted. She always was a light sleeper. She thought with certainty.

"Hey, Keitaro! Wanna help me out today? We're gonna build something extra nice for you if you do!" Su prodded Keitaro. If it were anyone else Keitaro would have conceded, especially with those looks girls give that demanded attention and submission. However he knew the extent and the content of her projects.

"Am I going to explode? Do I have to run from laser-guided missiles again? Should I worry about my hair falling out?" Keitaro asked in rapid-fire manner. Su shook her head and he observed her body language and found nothing incriminating. What he didn't see was Sarah's obvious snickering. What Su forgot to mention was that Sarah was going to be her assistant, and that they were going to play a game of doctor that would result in a very traumatic experience for Keitaro. The aim for her experiment was to find out the secret to Keitaro's immortality by any means necessary.

"Do I have to remind you that you need to study with me for the exam? You said you were going to work your butt off! What happened?" Naru asked accusingly. As she said this, Motoko took this opportunity to listen in for a bit and to ignore the voice of Kitsune inside her head egging her on with sordid fantasies. "That exam is important to you isn't it?"

"Yeah, of course it is! Sorry, Su, maybe some other time okay? I have to study today." Keitaro replied. As he finished his soup, he wiped his mouth, and allowed Naru to lead the way up the stairs to her room for a study session. Motoko couldn't but help throw a glance in that direction. It wasn't unusual that they were to study in her room. It had been a daily exercise for the two ronin. Mutsumi would normally join the two, which was usually sometime in the afternoon, and she would proceed to stay until after dinner. She quickly looked back down and away from their general direction. Suddenly a voice spoke up and Motoko prepared for the oncoming attack.

"Is something the matter Motoko?" Shinobu asked as she began to clear the table of dishes, surprising the young swordswoman.

"No, nothing. I must be going now." She threw a look at Su, a look that meant to ask her to not tag along as she usually might.

"Hey, you're not upset about this morning are ya?" Su answered in reply to Motoko's message. "If you need to talk to him, wait until Naru leaves!" That simple and yet very casual statement somehow caused her to stay in place for several seconds. Her blood froze. What did she mean? No, she couldn't of have—

"Hmm? She needs to talk to Keitaro about what?" Kitsune asked; her voice genuinely puzzled. For the first time in a while she was actually in the dark about a tenant's struggles of the heart.

"Motoko was in Keitaro's room this morning! I saw her leave!" Su shouted in glee as Motoko chased the hyperactive girl around the table. When she had finally caught Su in her grasp, Kitsune's interest was peaked. "What is dear Su talking about?" she asked slyly. Motoko quickly slapped her hand over Su's mouth as her mind tried to process the events that were happening too fast for her to just ignore.

"Nothing! She means nothing, really! I wanted to ask if I could borrow some books from Urashima! I have decided that I should explore my options on the subject of college!" she back-pedaled her way out of a minor incident that would've become a major disaster (for her) and did it with the precision of a sniper within a feet away from his target. Suddenly she felt something wiggling on her hand coming the same hand that covered Su's mouth. It was slobbery to say the least. Motoko was surprised enough that her hand was released a fraction away from Su's mouth. Taking the advantage she slipped out of Motoko's grasp.

Laughing all the while she added in her two cents, "Then why were you blushing?" Su laughed at Motoko's reaction, which was a combination of rabid insanity and embarrassment, and ran back to her room with Sarah following closely behind, a slightly disgusted look on her face. With her understanding of the adult world and their fragile relationships, she would never understand why anyone would want to visit that dork in the morning, for romantic reasons or not.

In Motoko's mind the order of retreat sounded, but her legs were clearly noncompliant. A healthy dose of mortification had sunk in, separating her legs from her mind in a classic military pincer move. "So, Motoko… never knew you were the type to ask for favors. Perhaps under the cover of night," Kitsune had a hand to her mouth and her normally closed eyes were open just a smidge as she took in the look on Motoko's face. "You felt the pangs of the lonely warrior woman? Well, pardon, you're a woman now eh? Retreating to his room for a night of unbridled passion! How unlike you!"

"Yes, exactly! It was not like that at all! I had to borrow a book from Urashima, you can ask him yourself!" Motoko replied in indignation. Kitsune smirked at her weak counter attack.

"You went to his room, that early in the morning, to borrow a book?" she asked slyly. To the random person, it sounded innocent enough; the question wasn't dangerous at all even. But Motoko knew it was a dangerous thing to underestimate Kitsune. Motoko knew she had boxed herself in but had no choice but to stick to her guns. "Yes, I did."

"But, if Su was awake at the time, it must have been late! In fact, really late… late enough to say that you've missed out on your early morning practice session?" Kitsune prodded. Before Motoko could even defend herself, Kitsune only continued. "Oh come off it! I heard all the commotion. I happen to sleep next door to the guy!" Seeing the look of defeat on Motoko's face, she quickly eased up. She grabbed her shoulders and directed her to a nearby chair. Playing the older sister routine, she quickly pulled up a chair and placed her hands over Motoko's. "So c'mon, what's this all about then? Seeing him in the morning for a book wasn't really the reason you were there, was it?"

Motoko shook her head, looking very much like an accident victim. She was in shock that she had been found out, and in shock that it had not been exploited. "No, but that does not mean that I've played a part in your strange, delusional fantasies. I have not committed such an act, nor will I ever. At least not with the likes of him." Motoko stated with the utmost seriousness. "If you must know, I was… I wanted to apologize."

This had surprised Kitsune. Apologies don't come cheap, not from Motoko at least. "Why's that?"

Motoko got up from her chair and walked away, not wanting to discuss this matter any further. It really didn't concern anyone but her. It was a matter of personal honor and it involved a violation of the code of bushido on her part, the code for all warriors who follow the path of the sword. Hers was a bit updated and it suited her needs, but it still held her responsible for the innocent, especially to those she may and have wronged. As she walked away, she felt Kitsune grab her arm. "Motoko, wait! Okay I get it; this is too serious to be made fun of. I won't stop trying of course! But can't you fill me in on what's going on? What's going on between you and Keitaro, really?"

To that, she responded in earnest, "I've had a change of heart." She pulled away from Kitsune and went about her daily routine.

----------

"You're doing much better than I expected. I guess three years of work had finally sunk in for you!" Naru said teasingly. It had been well past two in the afternoon and the day's studies were over for the moment. The ever-friendly Mutsumi had not dropped by yet, but they continued their studies nonetheless. Naru stood up and began to stretch. She turned over to Keitaro and expected to find him with his brains partially fried from all their work. Instead his face was still buried inside his books and he looked like he could go on for on for another eight hours on pure will alone. "Hey, wanna take a break? We didn't even get to eat lunch yet. I'm sure Shinobu's got some leftovers for us."

Keitaro looked up at Naru and pushed his glasses up. "Yeah, I guess." He placed his books down and stood up. "Lead the way."

Naru looked at Keitaro strangely. "You know, you did pretty well today on those old entrance exams. You got most of them right. You were really focused but you still seemed distant. What's going on in that thick skull of yours?" she asked. Although she said this playfully Naru couldn't help but feel that something was going on with Keitaro. She felt concerned for his welfare, something she didn't show on an official basis.

Keitaro only raised his eyebrows in response. "Really? Sorry about that Naru. I guess I got some things on my mind."

"Really now? Care to share?" Naru asked as they ventured down the stairs. They spoke freely by now since everyone was off on their own. They walked into the kitchen and begun to stock up on supplies.

"Well, I don't know where to begin. But for the most part, it has to do with Motoko." Keitaro scratched the back of his head as he tried to explain the nature of something that not even he had a clue on.

Naru froze as she bent forward to retrieve some containers filled with food that Shinobu had cooked for lunch. Motoko? Naru wondered. Her mind flashed back to breakfast and the look she had given him. The look on Keitaro's face flooded her mind as well. There was no doubt in her mind that he truly was confused and had absolutely no idea what was going on, but a healthy dose of paranoia had begun to sink in. She didn't want to admit it, but a sense of jealousy ran through her veins. "Oh really? How so?" she asked casually. At this point, unbeknownst to them, the topic of their discussion had just come inside from an invigorating training session. Motoko had only came in for a drink of water but had decided to come back later when she realized that Keitaro was already in the kitchen. But she had stopped cold when Keitaro spoke.

"That's the thing, I don't know!" Keitaro exclaimed. "She seems so… not herself lately. I wish I knew why."

"Shouldn't you worry more about your own problems?" Naru asked. Keitaro immediately gave her a reprimanding look, the kind he was not used to giving, and the kind which Naru was even less used to receiving, especially from Keitaro. "Look, all I'm saying is that you're can't go snooping around other people's troubles and avoiding your workload! If you're serious about Tokyo U, then act like it!"

"What do you mean by that? Of course I'm serious about getting in!" Keitaro shouted. For the first time, he was actually angry. Normally his anger would fizzle out when threatened with physical violence, or the act of it. But his anger was beyond appeasing at this point. "I worry about her as much as I worry about you! Or anyone else that lives here for that matter! Why shouldn't I worry?"

"Listen, you retard! Do you really want to become a fourth year ronin? You could go out and save the world for all I care, after you get into Tokyo U!" Naru shouted just as fiercely as her study partner. This time she was in his face, she was breathing a little heavy, and a part of her wondered why they were fighting at all. Keitaro wondered the same but he stuck to his principles. He would not abandon his friends or loved ones for any reason whatsoever.

"I would do the same for you." He replied. He grabbed a glass of water and some bread. "You can have the rest. I don't need much." Keitaro walked out of the kitchen and made his way back to his room. Studying alone would seem more appropriate at this rate. As he rounded the corner, from the corner of his eye he spotted something move. Turning his head, he saw nothing, and quickly dismissed it. Going up the stairs he decided that he would find out what was going on with Motoko, as well as Naru, and what he should do in regards to the both of them.

Meanwhile, the two topics of discussion within Keitaro's mind were currently on two different, yet similar trains of thought. Motoko had disappeared once Keitaro had left the kitchen while Naru stood in the kitchen confused and possibly shamed. Motoko had retreated back to the clothes-drying stand for another session. As she attacked with renewed vigor, her thoughts were similar to Naru's. With each arc and slash of her sword, his words repeated in her mind…

"I would do the same for you…"

His voice rang in true in Naru's mind and she couldn't help but feel like an idiot. He worried about everyone because it was in his nature. He couldn't help it and it wasn't necessarily that bad a thing. She had even said he had done well on those past exams earlier on. Great. Now I'm just second-guessing myself. Damn it, why is this happening!? We were getting along just fine too! Even under the penalty of torture she wouldn't admit that his concern for someone else besides her did hurt just a bit. She conceded a long time ago that it was a bit selfish but that part of her also didn't really care. She grabbed several foodstuffs, mostly in the form of a few apples and some salad in case it wasn't enough, and walked back to her room, hoping to find Keitaro there. When she had opened the door, there was nothing there save her own books. Liddo-kun and the wooden plank was placed meticulously over the hole that was her main way of communicating with Keitaro, whenever she didn't want to go knock of his door, and vice versa.

Just as Motoko had her own prosecutor, Naru had hers as well, except hers seemed much fiercer in comparison:

Just admit that he means something to you! You'd hurt yourself and him much less that way.

It's not like that!

And yet the thought of Mutsumi stealing him away, how Kitsune is making her own plans, and how even Motoko has somehow come into the picture, you mean to tell me that this doesn't affect you at all? Even little Shinobu isn't so little anymore! They all have some claim on him and you're telling it doesn't mean anything to you? That he doesn't mean anything to you?

He's not mine! I never wanted him!

Yes, true, true. But you fought so hard for him didn't you? All those times you've lifted him from his fits of depression, all the times you fought to save him from his own devices. You tutored him and you were there for him so many times! That's above and beyond the call of duty.

Yes, I suppose…

Tell him. If not, then push him away to your heart's content. Feel free to send me a card from the Old and Embittered Spinster's home.

And it was over just that quickly. There wasn't much to discuss since this was a topic that was frequently brought up time and time again, more so than she'd like to deal with. There were times she wanted to say what she felt, and then there were times fate saw fit to throw him into her chest, as if to speed up the process, and then she'd deck him out or send him into orbit. He seemed to have a magical touch, one that lifted the spirits and brighten your day if you give him the chance to do so, and every time she threw a punch she had regretted it in the end. He may be immortal but there were times she had wondered if his emotions were just as invincible. All these thoughts became a torrential downpour in her mind that left her empty on the inside.

What about Motoko? What do I do? We're not… together… I can't stop him, but do I even have to? Does he even want me?

The part of her mind that reasoned out her own selfishness, came to one last conclusion. She had given her life for the dream of Tokyo U, and now she had a chance for it, and a chance to go into Tokyo U with a friend that might just be more than a friend. She had asked for the most prestigious goal, all for the affection of a man whom was blind to her feelings, she had burned her eyes out with day-to-night-to-day studying, sacrificed a social life save for a few friends, and even went as far as to make herself look like a fool so that she can become the nation's top scholar. She had a chance for happiness and she should not give it up, either to friend or foe. She can have both. She deserved both. She won't turn against a friend but she won't abandon her chance for happiness either. The first step from this point on would be to go about life as normal and stake her claims and acquire her territory piece by piece. And it would all start with Tokyo U. She grabbed an old test booklet and erased all the pencil markings and set forth on another studying session. One thing at a time…

----------