Disclaimer: why do they require these things all the time? I mean, when you put the chapters together it is all one story, just cut into little pieces, do real authors actually put congratulations and dedications on every chapter?
Next Step
Motoko sat in a medative position on the roof of the inn, her guilt sinking in as she looked at the piece of paper her sister had left for her. It mentioned about how she had to travel to their dojo and would be gone for a few days. This brought both confusion and relief to the young woman. Sighing she delved into her own thoughts about how she should go about handling the situation, as well as how she was going to correct her mistake.
'I can't do this on my own. Maybe I should tell the others? But how would they react. I know that most of them would reject me after all, I did a horrible thing. Still, I can't go on like this. I must tell them all, if I confront them one on one I'll be all alone and it will be harder with each one. It would be easier if I just told them all at once, but that only happens when we eat, or when there is something going on, the only time I can confess is at a meal.
'Tonight at dinner, everyone will be there and the sooner I do this, the sooner I can start making reparations to Urashima for what I have done.' Setting her plans aside Motoko stood up, unconsciously placing a hand over her midsection in doing so and then began to perform her usual practice routines so that she would be ready both physically and mentally for what she was going to have to do tonight.
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Everyone was finishing up eating and talking about their day. Motoko had hardly joined the conversation at all, and slowly ate her food without paying too much attention to how much or what she was eating. The conversation had died down enough and she figured that it was the best time to speak with the others, looking up she cleared her throat while calming her nerves about what she had to do.
"Everyone, listen, I have something I need to tell you…" her voice was so quiet it went almost unheard so she swallowed and started again. "I… I have something to tell everyone." That did the trick; everyone was now looking at her. "Last night, I…"
"Shinobu, this was an excellent diner, here let me help you clean it up ok?" Keitaro busted out interrupting Motoko.
Shinobu just nodded and he quickly very noisily cleaned up the table. Motoko waited until he was back on in the room to start again.
"You see, I…" Motoko started again only for Keitaro to sneeze loudly.
"Ewww, cover your mouth." Naru yelled before pushing him on his side. "Sorry about that, please Motoko continue."
"I…"
"Oh wow, look at the time. Hey Naru, Mutsumi is supposed to be here soon for our study lesson right?" Keitaro interrupted again.
"I almost forgot, sorry Motoko but I've got to go, you can tell me another time. Alright?" her and Keitaro then left the room together.
"I've got homework to do as well. Sorry." Shinobu said getting up herself and leaving the room fallowed by Su.
"Hey, what's homework? Is it yummy?" Motoko sighed and looked at Kitsune.
"Well, you can tell me." The fox grinned at her mischievously.
"Umm, it's nothing." Motoko said while looking up towards the stairs. 'Maybe I should talk with him first.'
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Keitaro had just gone in for a bath in his personal area and it was the first and best opportunity Motoko had gotten all day and probably the last to talk with him, so she quickly snuck up to the door and checked that no one knew what she was doing, then opened the door and ran in, closing the door behind her.
"Gah, um, hi Motoko, umm, what… What are you doing in… here... with me." Keitaro blushed furiously but she could tell that he was ready to run at the slightest sign from her. "I mean um… the hot springs are downstairs and um…"
"We need to talk, about the other night." Motoko blurted out while at the same time rubbing her stomach out of remembrance. "Listen, I know that what I did was wrong… and that I'll never be able to make it up to you. I'm not here to hurt you, but to ask you, was it really that bad?" Those weren't the words she wanted to say, and he was looking rather confused, she liked that look but quickly shook herself out of that trail of thought and corrected herself. "I mean, that you don't want it even brought up, even if I were to take all of the blame for my actions?"
"Listen, Motoko, saying that it didn't feel good would be a lie, but it's not what I wanted or how I wanted it. Every second that I think about it rips me up a bit more. To be honest, I'd rather just forget about it and move on, thinking about how you… how you…" she knew he couldn't say it and was relieved when he just skipped the word "just makes the hole that much bigger." Motoko was now looking at the ground by the time he was finished.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me, I just wanted something to remember you by. Something special that I would always remember and share with you and only you, a bond that goes beyond the physical and that that was the only thing that I could think of that would give us that kind of bond."
"You should have saved it, for someone who truly deserves it." Keitaro started out only for Motoko to firmly press her lips against his, and she wasted no effort in making it as emotional and passionate as she could before having to stop herself and pull away before she does something else she would regret.
"There is no one else Urashima. You are the first and only man that has won my heart. I had looked to other guys, even girl to get my mind off of you, even chastised myself for thinking of you that way. But I always judged the others by comparing them to you, and wondering how it would be if you were at my side.
"I already know that if you were to marry someone else that I could never find another like you, and I would grow old and live my life without ever trying to replace what I had lost. The same goes for many of the others in this house, we all love you and many of us would rather die than live without you." Motoko was almost in tears now and held Keitaro close to her, his head right next to hers and the sudden feeling that if she ever let him go, he would vanish forever.
"Urashima Keitaro, would you please… Do me a favor?" Motoko pleaded with him. "Please, just this once and then if you want, I'll never ask it from you again." It came from the depths of her heart and she knew that if Keitaro refused, it would shatter her heart and soul.
"What is it, Motoko?" he could feel it as well, and no matter how much he fought with himself or would come to regret doing whatever she was going to ask of him, he would regret turning her down and destroying her like that.
"Please, let me finish what we started, let me know how it feels to be loved by you the way a man can love a woman." She was hugging him tighter now, desperate to have this wish of hers granted.
"Alright." She could almost hear a but in there, she knew that he was doing this so that she wouldn't be hurt. Releasing him she walked over near the door and began to remove her clothes.
Motoko then joined Keitaro in the barrel and looked at him with all the love she had for him in her eyes. Reaching out she ran a hand along his face before her hands landed on the scar on his chest, her scar. Leaning against him she ran her hand along the scar opposite the one on his chest, reaching for a washcloth she then started washing him. Keitaro was a bit nervous at first, but he also started to wash her body, avoiding all the parts she wanted him to touch of course.
Getting irritated with this she gently took his hands and guided them to her breasts where she then leaned in against his hands and reached for him under the water. They both continued like that for a while, no words being exchanged until Motoko adjusted herself and gently pushed him inside of her. The feeling came back to her, the feeling of being one with someone you love, the physical pleasure she felt was nothing compared to what she was feeling right now.
Then she felt it, he was at her barrier, squeezing herself around him she pushed herself down and felt a sharp pain, but then was quickly rewarded with the feeling that they were now completely one. They stayed like that for several minutes, even past the point where he had released himself inside of her again and they slowly kissed each other, finally Motoko gave into her bodies urges and started moving against him, and before long felt her own release coming. Just before she could have hers she felt it as Keitaro released again then clung to him as she had her own.
"Urashima, thank you" Motoko mumbled in his ear as she felt exhaustion claim her.
Keitaro held onto Motoko in the bath, feeling deep down the betrayal he just made to Naru and the others. They stayed like that for several minutes, until she knew that they couldn't stay that way any longer without being found out. He felt her move in his arms and her lips touch his in a long and passionate kiss as well as her taking one last and very long feel of them being together in this way before standing up, wrapping one of the robes he kept in his bath around her and gathering up her clothes. Before she left through she stopped and looked back at him, returning to the barrel and kissing him deeply again while pushing the pair of panties she had on into his hand before leaning over to his ear and whispering into it.
"A gift, to remember this moment. Thank you. Keitaro Urashima." Motoko said with a mile while walking out of his bath.
Watching her leave he felt the pangs of regret return to him but he couldn't go back now, all he could do is hope that if they ever found out, they would either be merciful or forgiving.
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A week had passed since that day and Motoko lived up to her end and gave way for Keitaro and Naru, watching as the two of them would study and even go out for the occasional date. As much as her heart ached to be the one in her friends' shoes, she had her promise to keep. She had often meditated about her actions the week before but found herself oddly distracted whenever she thought about them.
Standing up from her current medative position Motoko began to practice her katakanas in quick succession, strengthening her body and forcing her mind off the subject of Keitaro and onto the motions of her fighting style, sharpening and honing it to an almost perfected art. A presence made itself known behind her ready to strike. As if on reflex she ducked out of the way as the reverse end of a sword swiped down where she was standing, after landing she brought the edge of her own sword up in the direction of her attacker and caught a glimpse of her sisters' face before she dodged the strike.
"So, you've returned." Said Motoko taking a defensive position with the tip of her blade held close to her body and the tip pointing towards the ground. "Now what did you have to go to Kyoto for?"
"I went to seek information, and I found what I was after." Tsuruko said from the balcony rail on which she was standing as if it was nothing. "I see that you have sharpened your skills a bit, so how have things been here between you and the man of your heart?"
"I don't know right now. And I'd rather not fight or spar while talking about it right now." Motoko motioned to Tsurukos drawn sword. Smiling her sister put the blade away and shortly after Motoko sheathed her own sword. "Things got messy while you were away. But in a way, I am happy because I at least got to know what it is like, to be loved by a man you also love." Motoko sighed as a slight blush came to her cheeks.
Tsuruko slid up next to her sister as she was blushing with an innocent look on her face. "Was he any good?"
"Au, Aunee-ue. That's none of your business." Motoko yelled at her older sister who only grinned.
"Well, if he is that good maybe I should give him a try. With all that has gone on it's been a while since last time." Tsuruko teased her sister.
"Like hell you are. Besides, you're already married." Retorted Motoko.
"Now come on. You can be so selfish. Maybe he can give me a little "present" as well. You know, something to remember our time together." Tsuruko smiled slightly.
"You're not being any help at all." Motoko huffed before sitting down.
"Now, now. I'm being more helpful than you think little sister. More helpful than you think." Tsuruko said as she turned on her heal and calmly walked down the stairs.
(I don't really have much intention of turning this story into a lemon despite earlier depictions of sexual activity which I tried to make as obscure as I could. I hope this chapter is more up to par than earlier chapters were. I will write another and update as soon as it is finished.)