Chapter nine
Keitaro stepped off the bus, feeling a little spring in his feet that he'd not felt for months. Three months, to be exact. He didn't know if it was kissing Motoko that caused it, or simply the realization that life could go on without Naru. The world still turned, air was still breathable, and food didn't turn to poison in his stomach, and it had taken Motoko's kiss to realize that. So he pondered: was it her kiss, or the realizations that kissing her brought?
He stopped. He was about twenty or thirty paces away from Aunt Haruka's tea-shop. Soon, he'd have all kinds of people jumping at him, wanting to know how his test had gone, wanting to talk to him about his day, wanting to "play" with him, in Su's case (read: torture and mutilate). He had precious little time to think about that, and something told him that the difference was immense.
"It... It was her. Her kiss, yes, but her in general. Ah, Motoko... I don't think I've ever felt that good before." A blush crept up from his shirt collar and ran around his face twice as he realized two things. One, that he'd spoken aloud, and two, that his aunt happened to be right behind him.
"Never felt that good before, eh?" Keitaro spun around to face his aunt, and he saw that she was grinning hugely. "Sorry, Keitaro, I couldn't resist. I'd always thought you had a thing for Motoko. I guess now with N... with things the way they are, we'll all get to find out whether or not that's true, ne?" Keitaro blushed even deeper, the redness now running a marathon from his face to his toes. He felt like he was being boiled.
"Haruka-obaasan, I—"
/WHACK/
"Haruka-san, baka. How many times must I tell you?" She said that in a stern tone, but her eyes were still smiling.
"Sorry, Haruka-san." Keitaro rubbed his head where Haruka's paper fan had struck it. All of a sudden he felt vaguely nostalgic. Visions of past Naru-punches flashed through his traitor mind like bolts of summer lightning; brief, beautiful, and painful when they hit you. He sniffled, not even aware that he was doing so. Haruka, being the observant one she always is, picked up on it at once. (Aiii, that poor guy. Still consumed by his guilt over the whole thing. I wonder if I should tell him... It might do him some small comfort to know where she is, if nothing else. It's not like he can contact her, anyway.)
"Keitaro..." Haruka began.
"Yes, Haruka-o...san?" Keitaro replied, flinching just the tiniest bit at his near-mistake. Haruka looked at him for a moment longer, then turned away.
"How... How was your test today?"
"Oh, it wasn't bad. I mean, I've been doing nothing but studying for the past few months, so I didn't really expect it to be. It was a tough test, but I think I did quite well." Haruka smiled at the news, but inwardly felt saddened again. She knew why he'd done nothing but study for months, and even though it was really his own stupid fault, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Maybe that would change now, though. He and Motoko were talking again, and from the way Keitaro had been speaking when she overheard him, the kiss he was talking about wasn't from all that long ago.
"That's lovely, Keitaro," she said finally, tilting her head slightly to the side and giving him a wink, "Go on up to the Hinata-sou and tell the others. They'll be anxious to hear how it went." She shooed him on with the broom she held, then returned to the sanctity of her tea-shop. Keitaro continued up the steps towards the main building, but was met halfway there by a tan-skinned, blonde whirlwind.
"KEITAROOOOOO!!" He heard the yell, and saw the tan-blonde-and-blue blur whipping towards him at lightning speed, but he couldn't really do anything. Kaolla Su jumped into the air when she reached the top of the steps, sailing downwards on a collision course with Keitaro's head. He feebly tried to cover himself, but was bowled backwards and all the way down the steps anyway. Kaolla landed on his head, and Keitaro ended up face down in the gravel.
"Aiii! Su! Get OFF!" This came out sounding rather muffled by the gravel Keitaro was now eating, and Su giggled.
"Kei-TAH-ro, you sound hilarious when you do that, yes you do." Su jumped off his head and put her face down really close to his. When he extracted his face from the ground, spitting out chunks of gravel in the process, he was startled by her proximity. "So!" she said suddenly, causing him to further jump, "How'd yer big test go, Mr. Hotshot Toudai student? Huh? Tell me!"
"My test? You jumped me to ask me about my test? Not to demand that I play with you?" Keitaro pretended to eye her suspiciously, but in reality, he was playing a game already.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot 'bout that! Silly me! Wanna play, Keitaro?" Su grinned, and pulled out what looked to be a small, motorized rabbit from behind her back. "This is my latest invention, the Keitaro-chaser four thousand!" Keitaro face-vaulted. (Well, at least I thought I was playing a game there. I guess I shouldn't have pushed my luck, ne?)
"Let me guess what it does, Su." Keitaro grinned himself. "It chases Keitaros?"
"Of course!" Su began to activate the small, yet ominous-looking, mecha.
"Nononono! Su, please, not right now, okay? I promise, after supper we'll play. Oh, and in case you really are curious as to how I did on my test, I think I did really well." Keitaro said all of that very fast, trying to get in as much as he could before Su ignored his request and started the toy anyway.
"Oh, that's GREAT, Keitaro! Wheee!" Su happily spun around in circles a few times and then gave Keitaro a huge hug. "We should SO test out this new invention to celebrate!" Before Keitaro had a chance to reply, she'd finally located the activation switch. When she pressed it, the rabbit turned into something that looked like half-cheetah, half-dragon. It emitted a terrible, metallic shriek, and spitting out blue flames as it went, tore off after the fleeing Keitaro. Su giggled at the sight. It was nice to have the old Keitaro back for a while. She wondered how long it would last.
Later that day...
"Pass the rice, Keitaro!" Kaolla Su stretched out her empty bowl for perhaps the sixth or seventh time since supper had started all of twenty minutes ago. Keitaro looked over at the bowl, and to his complete lack of surprise, it was empty.
"Su-chan, there isn't any more! Couldn't you curb your appetite at least until one of us has finished their first helping?"
"Aww, Keitaro, I would, but I'm HUNGRY! Now fetch, before I warm up the Keitaro-chaser four thousand again!" Kaolla smiled as she spoke; sweet and demure, but for Keitaro, that smile meant doom. He sighed, and got up to refill the rice bowl. Shinobu, being as accustomed to Kaolla's mad eating frenzies as everyone else was, always made lots. As soon as Keitaro had left his chair, however, the phone rang.
Ring, ring. An innocent enough sound, at most times. Nobody had the least suspicion of it, and indeed, why should they have? It's not as if any of them knew what enormity was contained within that simple noise.
Ring, ring.
"I'll get it, don't worry everyone." Keitaro raised his hands to still Shinobu, Kaolla, and Haruka as they all seemed to begin rising to answer. They sat once more. Keitaro walked out of the dining room and over to the common area. He grasped the receiver, and paused for a second. The sound began again.
Ring, ring. He answered. Heard a faint static, like the connection was
(long distance)
bad. He heard slow, soft breathing from the other person. He felt a strange pushing sensation on the back of his head, and he started. What strange forces were at work here? He had to know. He spoke.
"H... Hello?"
(hinata-sou common area, four hours earlier)
"Hello, Kitsune?"
"Yep, s'me. Who are you, hon?" Light giggling could be heard by whoever it was. The voice paused, and spoke again.
"It's me, Naru."
"Oh, right! I totally forgot you were calling today! So, how's England been? Meet any good-looking boys yet? I've heard a lot of stories about English men, and most of them say that while they're generally really bland, they've got huge—"
"Kitsune, can I get a word in edgewise here?"
"Oh, right, sorry. Talk. I'll listen."
"Well, I got here about a month ago now, and let me tell you, this beats trying to do Tokyo University courses without the benefit of lectures of professors. The exchange program really saved my ass."
"It's really great that you got the chance to do that. Who do you have to thank for the acceptance?"
"Well, it was mostly based on my grades, but Seta-san put in a recommendation for me that I think really tilted the scale in my favour, so to speak. I told him... about what happened between K... Those two and I, and he was really sympathetic. Told him I had to get away, and he told me about the exchange program."
"Seta always was the helpful type. How long are you there for?"
"Until the summertime, at which point I go home."
"Home as in home home, or home as in the Hinata-sou? You know, K... We all really miss you, here." She paused, the dreaded K-word balanced on the edge of her tongue again, begging to be said. She plunged. "Keitaro misses you most of all, I think. He's done nothing but bury himself in his books since you left." There was a long pause. Kitsune thought she could hear Naru's breathing change pace for a brief moment, becoming higher and slightly frantic.
"I don't care about how he feels. He deserves every pinch of it." It was Kitsune's turn to pause. She really didn't want a fight. What should she say? Her decision was made unnecessary by Naru's next words.
"Look, I've got to go for now. My classes start in a couple hours, and I need to study for a test. Why do you think I'm up at seven-thirty in the morning? I'll call back around eight-thirty your time. My classes start at noon, so that'll give us a little more time to talk. Beyond that, I'll call you on my next day off. Okay?"
"Sure, Naru. Good luck on your test, hon. I really hope you'll consider returning here when your school year's finished. Disregarding anyone else, I miss you so bad that it hurts." Naru paused again, shorter this time.
"I love you, Kitsune. You've been my best friend for years upon years, so I hate to do this to you, but I have to. I'll think about coming back in the summer. I have to go now."
"Okay, Naru. 'Bye."
"'Bye."
(click)
"Hello, is Kitsune there, please?"
"Yeah, just one... Wait... M-may I ask who's sp-sp-speaking, please?" Keitaro's voice trembled against his best efforts. By the time the voice had said "Kitsune," he'd felt all but completely sure that he knew who it was, but didn't want to trust anything to fate in this case. This could be the moment he'd wanted most all these months.
"Oh, it's Naru. She knows that I'm supposed to be c..." She trailed off abruptly, and there was a long silence. Neither side spoke. They sat on opposite sides of realization, both knowing who the other was and neither brave enough to tempt the veracity of their knowledge. Somewhere into the third minute of this silence, Naru bit her lip and spoke.
"Kei... Keitaro?" Keitaro was inwardly jubiliant, outwardly consumed by nervousness. His chance was extended to him, but what was he going to do with it? He realized now that he had no clue what to say. He tried anyway.
"Yes," he began, "it's me... How are you doing, Narusegawa?" He felt himself blush even over the phone at how stupid that sounded. He hoped against hope that she wouldn't just hang up on him.
"I've been better." She sounded all of a sudden sad, like she was fighting off tears. He was struggling with a few of his own, too. Damn! Her voice was all it took to do this to him, too. How would he deal with seeing her again, were it ever to happen? Naru continued. "Keitaro, I... I wasn't intending to speak to you yet." Keitaro winced.
"Oh, I understand, N-Narusegawa. I'll go fetch K-K-Kitsune for you." Keitaro lost the fight with his tears. He focused his effort on not sobbing and let them pour down his cheeks. He started to call for Kitsune. "KI—"
"Wait!" An exclamation came from London, England, traveled through the telephone wires and satellite links between there and Hinata city, and fell into Keitaro's ears. It froze him entirely. "I wasn't finished yet. I wasn't planning on it, no..." she sniffled. "However, that doesn't mean that I won't, now. It won't be for long, I've... I've only got half an hour before my classes start, but I'd like to know how things are going with... with you." Keitaro gaped at the piece of plastic in his hands. Was this really happening? His mouth went into action without any input from his frozen brain, running at paces that would make most people pale.
"Oh, well, you know, it's been kind of lonely around here lately. I've been studying a lot, yes I have, more even than we used to back when we were ronins together. Oh, I'm sorry Narusegawa, you probably don't want me to be going on about the old days, you'd rather hear about now. Well, I think I did really well on my test yesterday, that's a good thing, and I'm on speaking terms with the girls again, just in case you're wondering. Enough about me, though. What's new with you?" He stopped himself from babbling any more than he had to. His stupid brain still wasn't working right.
"Well... I'm not in Japan, as you might have guessed. I left a month ago after trying correspondence courses. I'm not... ready to tell you where I am yet, though."
"Oh, no, that's fine, totally all right, I completely unders—"
"Keitaro, just let me speak, baka." She said baka with a touch of silkiness to it, like a term of endearment. Indeed, in the early days of their relationship, it had been. Keitaro thought he could hear a smile behind those words, but dismissed it as wishful thinking.
"Oh, of course. Sorry!"
"Well, anyway, I'm finishing the third year of my teaching degree here, and then I'm returning home. Now before you ask which home, stop. I don't know yet. Just... Just understand that it's not as if I don't miss the Hinata-sou, and
(you, you, I miss you more than anything)
everyone there, but you know... It'd be pretty strange, seeing you again."
"I... I understand, Naru. I'd like to see you again, though. I... I can't begin to express how terrible I've felt since you left. The guilt has been gnawing at me something terrible, and I know that I deserve it, but—"
"Keitaro, you don't deserve it. Nobody deserves to feel like that. I believe I understand your actions a lot better now than I did at the time. I still think you were wrong, of course, but... I think I can forgive you, given enough time. I just don't know how long that'll take. I promise you, you'll see me again." She stopped, now breathing very heavily. A sigh escaped her, catching at the end. Almost turning into a sob. He steadied himself to speak again.
"I... I'd like that a lot."
"Give it time is all I can tell you, Keitaro." Another short pause. "I've got to go now, my bus is leaving soon."
"Okay, Narusegawa. Goodbye."
"'Bye, Keitaro."
(click)
Keitaro sat there. He didn't know how long he sat there for. Nearly an hour later, when the supper dishes were all washed and put away, when every last person seated at the table had left to do other things, Shinobu approached him.
"Sempai, you've been sitting there for quite some time now. Is everything okay?" He turned to face her, slowly. She started slightly at the sight of his tear-traced face, but was instantly appeased by the sight of his beaming smile.
"Of course, Shinobu-chan. Just doing some thinking. What do you wish of me, milady?" He jumped to his feet and performed a comic bow for her. She laughed, and gave him a hug.
"Oh, sempai, you're laughing! It's really been a long time since I heard that sound. I was getting worried that you might never snap out of it." Keitaro smiled and messed up her hair like he used to when she was a kid. It still made her shiver.
"I've just been feeling... oddly good of late. Compared to the usual, I mean. What can I do for you?"
"Actually, I have some homework problems that I could use some help with, if you've got time..."
"Sure, Shinobu. Let's head to your room and take a look at them, ne?" Keitaro took her hand and led her towards her room. She banished the dirty thoughts forming in her mind as Keitaro opened and held the door for her, and set to concentrating on studying.
(roof of the hinata-sou, four hours later)
"Urashima, where are you?" Motoko spoke aloud, to noone except the moon. It stared down on her, blazing orange in the colours of your typical harvest moon, like a glowing eye of some malignant
(turtle)
demon. She sat down in a meditative position again and closed her eyes. The man was only twenty minutes late, and already her annoyance with him was visible in that she had reverted to the formal version of his name. She sighed, forcing herself to be patient. She was rewarded.
"Motoko? Motoko-chan, where are you?" She heard his voice, and now that she was sensing, she could feel his Ki, too. Gentle, vaguely reminiscent of aquamarine. Shifting and unsure, but very strong and resilient. Everyone's Ki resembled them in some ways. Keitaro's was almost a mirror image. She stretched out her legs and relaxed. She called to him.
"Keitaro-kun, I'm over here. By the clothesline, on a mat." She heard him start to jog at a decent pace. He veered towards her. He had also misjudged her position.
"Aiii!" She cried out softly as he tripped on her outstretched legs and fell neatly on top of her. His face was now inches from her own. The dim moonlight now shadowed his, making it all but invisible, except for the eyes. They peered out of the blackness above her, reflecting her own eyes back at her. They sent a shiver up her spine, and she suddenly pressed her lips to his. It just felt right.
The two kissed. They kissed for the purely animal comfort that stems from animal contact. They kissed because they were in love. They kissed because there wasn't anything else they could have done at that point. They progressed beyond kissing, rolling onto their sides on the mat Motoko had been sitting on, and peeling off each other's layers of clothing, piece by piece. Soon they lay there, naked as the day they were born, just looking. For minutes, they dared do nothing else.
"Motoko-chan..." Keitaro began.
"Shhh. This is not a time for words, Keitaro-kun." Motoko silenced anything further by taking his hands and putting them on her breasts. She leaned in closer to kiss him, and they pressed against his hands. Ecstasy. He fought with all his might to not get a nosebleed, and for what was perhaps the fourth time ever, he was successful. He returned her kisses. They progressed. They visited distant planets that night. Stars, galaxies and nebulae exploded inside their heads. They were drunk with natural, beautiful chemicals as they feasted on each other's bodies.
...
It was later. Their love was over. They lay on the mat, still naked, panting with exhaustion. They had nothing left. Motoko knew that she'd be asleep soon, so she stood up. This had to be said now. Otherwise, she'd never get up the nerve to do it.
"Motoko-chan? Where are you—" He yawned. "—Aah, going?" Keitaro said quizzically from his relaxed position on the floor.
"Keitaro, that second thing I needed to tell you..."
"Oh, right! I'd forgotten all about that!"
"...I should hope you did."
"Hah! You're getting to be a regular comedian, Motoko-chan." Keitaro smiled, and then stood up. He took her hands in his. He stared into her eyes. "Shoot. I can take any information at this point." Motoko closed her eyes. (I hope, for both our sakes, that you mean that, Keitaro Urashima.)
"Keitaro, I'm pregnant."
End Chapter nine
((Well, now that was a hell of a long chapter, in this story. 3,500 words all by its lonesome! That's because, dear listener and reader, that this story is now going to split in two. One ending will be KeiMoto as my summary promises, and the other will be KeiNaru, like one of my reviewers (thanks, HinaGuy! :D) suggested. I can assure all of you that both endings will work, and the clincher for that is one decision that Keitaro and Motoko will make in the next chapter. You'll see how it works out, in any case. VOTE! Which ending do you want me to write first? Post your vote with your review. When I get ten, or when the supply dries up, whichever comes first, then I'll write the new one. :P Cheers, please review!))
Keitaro stepped off the bus, feeling a little spring in his feet that he'd not felt for months. Three months, to be exact. He didn't know if it was kissing Motoko that caused it, or simply the realization that life could go on without Naru. The world still turned, air was still breathable, and food didn't turn to poison in his stomach, and it had taken Motoko's kiss to realize that. So he pondered: was it her kiss, or the realizations that kissing her brought?
He stopped. He was about twenty or thirty paces away from Aunt Haruka's tea-shop. Soon, he'd have all kinds of people jumping at him, wanting to know how his test had gone, wanting to talk to him about his day, wanting to "play" with him, in Su's case (read: torture and mutilate). He had precious little time to think about that, and something told him that the difference was immense.
"It... It was her. Her kiss, yes, but her in general. Ah, Motoko... I don't think I've ever felt that good before." A blush crept up from his shirt collar and ran around his face twice as he realized two things. One, that he'd spoken aloud, and two, that his aunt happened to be right behind him.
"Never felt that good before, eh?" Keitaro spun around to face his aunt, and he saw that she was grinning hugely. "Sorry, Keitaro, I couldn't resist. I'd always thought you had a thing for Motoko. I guess now with N... with things the way they are, we'll all get to find out whether or not that's true, ne?" Keitaro blushed even deeper, the redness now running a marathon from his face to his toes. He felt like he was being boiled.
"Haruka-obaasan, I—"
/WHACK/
"Haruka-san, baka. How many times must I tell you?" She said that in a stern tone, but her eyes were still smiling.
"Sorry, Haruka-san." Keitaro rubbed his head where Haruka's paper fan had struck it. All of a sudden he felt vaguely nostalgic. Visions of past Naru-punches flashed through his traitor mind like bolts of summer lightning; brief, beautiful, and painful when they hit you. He sniffled, not even aware that he was doing so. Haruka, being the observant one she always is, picked up on it at once. (Aiii, that poor guy. Still consumed by his guilt over the whole thing. I wonder if I should tell him... It might do him some small comfort to know where she is, if nothing else. It's not like he can contact her, anyway.)
"Keitaro..." Haruka began.
"Yes, Haruka-o...san?" Keitaro replied, flinching just the tiniest bit at his near-mistake. Haruka looked at him for a moment longer, then turned away.
"How... How was your test today?"
"Oh, it wasn't bad. I mean, I've been doing nothing but studying for the past few months, so I didn't really expect it to be. It was a tough test, but I think I did quite well." Haruka smiled at the news, but inwardly felt saddened again. She knew why he'd done nothing but study for months, and even though it was really his own stupid fault, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Maybe that would change now, though. He and Motoko were talking again, and from the way Keitaro had been speaking when she overheard him, the kiss he was talking about wasn't from all that long ago.
"That's lovely, Keitaro," she said finally, tilting her head slightly to the side and giving him a wink, "Go on up to the Hinata-sou and tell the others. They'll be anxious to hear how it went." She shooed him on with the broom she held, then returned to the sanctity of her tea-shop. Keitaro continued up the steps towards the main building, but was met halfway there by a tan-skinned, blonde whirlwind.
"KEITAROOOOOO!!" He heard the yell, and saw the tan-blonde-and-blue blur whipping towards him at lightning speed, but he couldn't really do anything. Kaolla Su jumped into the air when she reached the top of the steps, sailing downwards on a collision course with Keitaro's head. He feebly tried to cover himself, but was bowled backwards and all the way down the steps anyway. Kaolla landed on his head, and Keitaro ended up face down in the gravel.
"Aiii! Su! Get OFF!" This came out sounding rather muffled by the gravel Keitaro was now eating, and Su giggled.
"Kei-TAH-ro, you sound hilarious when you do that, yes you do." Su jumped off his head and put her face down really close to his. When he extracted his face from the ground, spitting out chunks of gravel in the process, he was startled by her proximity. "So!" she said suddenly, causing him to further jump, "How'd yer big test go, Mr. Hotshot Toudai student? Huh? Tell me!"
"My test? You jumped me to ask me about my test? Not to demand that I play with you?" Keitaro pretended to eye her suspiciously, but in reality, he was playing a game already.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot 'bout that! Silly me! Wanna play, Keitaro?" Su grinned, and pulled out what looked to be a small, motorized rabbit from behind her back. "This is my latest invention, the Keitaro-chaser four thousand!" Keitaro face-vaulted. (Well, at least I thought I was playing a game there. I guess I shouldn't have pushed my luck, ne?)
"Let me guess what it does, Su." Keitaro grinned himself. "It chases Keitaros?"
"Of course!" Su began to activate the small, yet ominous-looking, mecha.
"Nononono! Su, please, not right now, okay? I promise, after supper we'll play. Oh, and in case you really are curious as to how I did on my test, I think I did really well." Keitaro said all of that very fast, trying to get in as much as he could before Su ignored his request and started the toy anyway.
"Oh, that's GREAT, Keitaro! Wheee!" Su happily spun around in circles a few times and then gave Keitaro a huge hug. "We should SO test out this new invention to celebrate!" Before Keitaro had a chance to reply, she'd finally located the activation switch. When she pressed it, the rabbit turned into something that looked like half-cheetah, half-dragon. It emitted a terrible, metallic shriek, and spitting out blue flames as it went, tore off after the fleeing Keitaro. Su giggled at the sight. It was nice to have the old Keitaro back for a while. She wondered how long it would last.
Later that day...
"Pass the rice, Keitaro!" Kaolla Su stretched out her empty bowl for perhaps the sixth or seventh time since supper had started all of twenty minutes ago. Keitaro looked over at the bowl, and to his complete lack of surprise, it was empty.
"Su-chan, there isn't any more! Couldn't you curb your appetite at least until one of us has finished their first helping?"
"Aww, Keitaro, I would, but I'm HUNGRY! Now fetch, before I warm up the Keitaro-chaser four thousand again!" Kaolla smiled as she spoke; sweet and demure, but for Keitaro, that smile meant doom. He sighed, and got up to refill the rice bowl. Shinobu, being as accustomed to Kaolla's mad eating frenzies as everyone else was, always made lots. As soon as Keitaro had left his chair, however, the phone rang.
Ring, ring. An innocent enough sound, at most times. Nobody had the least suspicion of it, and indeed, why should they have? It's not as if any of them knew what enormity was contained within that simple noise.
Ring, ring.
"I'll get it, don't worry everyone." Keitaro raised his hands to still Shinobu, Kaolla, and Haruka as they all seemed to begin rising to answer. They sat once more. Keitaro walked out of the dining room and over to the common area. He grasped the receiver, and paused for a second. The sound began again.
Ring, ring. He answered. Heard a faint static, like the connection was
(long distance)
bad. He heard slow, soft breathing from the other person. He felt a strange pushing sensation on the back of his head, and he started. What strange forces were at work here? He had to know. He spoke.
"H... Hello?"
(hinata-sou common area, four hours earlier)
"Hello, Kitsune?"
"Yep, s'me. Who are you, hon?" Light giggling could be heard by whoever it was. The voice paused, and spoke again.
"It's me, Naru."
"Oh, right! I totally forgot you were calling today! So, how's England been? Meet any good-looking boys yet? I've heard a lot of stories about English men, and most of them say that while they're generally really bland, they've got huge—"
"Kitsune, can I get a word in edgewise here?"
"Oh, right, sorry. Talk. I'll listen."
"Well, I got here about a month ago now, and let me tell you, this beats trying to do Tokyo University courses without the benefit of lectures of professors. The exchange program really saved my ass."
"It's really great that you got the chance to do that. Who do you have to thank for the acceptance?"
"Well, it was mostly based on my grades, but Seta-san put in a recommendation for me that I think really tilted the scale in my favour, so to speak. I told him... about what happened between K... Those two and I, and he was really sympathetic. Told him I had to get away, and he told me about the exchange program."
"Seta always was the helpful type. How long are you there for?"
"Until the summertime, at which point I go home."
"Home as in home home, or home as in the Hinata-sou? You know, K... We all really miss you, here." She paused, the dreaded K-word balanced on the edge of her tongue again, begging to be said. She plunged. "Keitaro misses you most of all, I think. He's done nothing but bury himself in his books since you left." There was a long pause. Kitsune thought she could hear Naru's breathing change pace for a brief moment, becoming higher and slightly frantic.
"I don't care about how he feels. He deserves every pinch of it." It was Kitsune's turn to pause. She really didn't want a fight. What should she say? Her decision was made unnecessary by Naru's next words.
"Look, I've got to go for now. My classes start in a couple hours, and I need to study for a test. Why do you think I'm up at seven-thirty in the morning? I'll call back around eight-thirty your time. My classes start at noon, so that'll give us a little more time to talk. Beyond that, I'll call you on my next day off. Okay?"
"Sure, Naru. Good luck on your test, hon. I really hope you'll consider returning here when your school year's finished. Disregarding anyone else, I miss you so bad that it hurts." Naru paused again, shorter this time.
"I love you, Kitsune. You've been my best friend for years upon years, so I hate to do this to you, but I have to. I'll think about coming back in the summer. I have to go now."
"Okay, Naru. 'Bye."
"'Bye."
(click)
"Hello, is Kitsune there, please?"
"Yeah, just one... Wait... M-may I ask who's sp-sp-speaking, please?" Keitaro's voice trembled against his best efforts. By the time the voice had said "Kitsune," he'd felt all but completely sure that he knew who it was, but didn't want to trust anything to fate in this case. This could be the moment he'd wanted most all these months.
"Oh, it's Naru. She knows that I'm supposed to be c..." She trailed off abruptly, and there was a long silence. Neither side spoke. They sat on opposite sides of realization, both knowing who the other was and neither brave enough to tempt the veracity of their knowledge. Somewhere into the third minute of this silence, Naru bit her lip and spoke.
"Kei... Keitaro?" Keitaro was inwardly jubiliant, outwardly consumed by nervousness. His chance was extended to him, but what was he going to do with it? He realized now that he had no clue what to say. He tried anyway.
"Yes," he began, "it's me... How are you doing, Narusegawa?" He felt himself blush even over the phone at how stupid that sounded. He hoped against hope that she wouldn't just hang up on him.
"I've been better." She sounded all of a sudden sad, like she was fighting off tears. He was struggling with a few of his own, too. Damn! Her voice was all it took to do this to him, too. How would he deal with seeing her again, were it ever to happen? Naru continued. "Keitaro, I... I wasn't intending to speak to you yet." Keitaro winced.
"Oh, I understand, N-Narusegawa. I'll go fetch K-K-Kitsune for you." Keitaro lost the fight with his tears. He focused his effort on not sobbing and let them pour down his cheeks. He started to call for Kitsune. "KI—"
"Wait!" An exclamation came from London, England, traveled through the telephone wires and satellite links between there and Hinata city, and fell into Keitaro's ears. It froze him entirely. "I wasn't finished yet. I wasn't planning on it, no..." she sniffled. "However, that doesn't mean that I won't, now. It won't be for long, I've... I've only got half an hour before my classes start, but I'd like to know how things are going with... with you." Keitaro gaped at the piece of plastic in his hands. Was this really happening? His mouth went into action without any input from his frozen brain, running at paces that would make most people pale.
"Oh, well, you know, it's been kind of lonely around here lately. I've been studying a lot, yes I have, more even than we used to back when we were ronins together. Oh, I'm sorry Narusegawa, you probably don't want me to be going on about the old days, you'd rather hear about now. Well, I think I did really well on my test yesterday, that's a good thing, and I'm on speaking terms with the girls again, just in case you're wondering. Enough about me, though. What's new with you?" He stopped himself from babbling any more than he had to. His stupid brain still wasn't working right.
"Well... I'm not in Japan, as you might have guessed. I left a month ago after trying correspondence courses. I'm not... ready to tell you where I am yet, though."
"Oh, no, that's fine, totally all right, I completely unders—"
"Keitaro, just let me speak, baka." She said baka with a touch of silkiness to it, like a term of endearment. Indeed, in the early days of their relationship, it had been. Keitaro thought he could hear a smile behind those words, but dismissed it as wishful thinking.
"Oh, of course. Sorry!"
"Well, anyway, I'm finishing the third year of my teaching degree here, and then I'm returning home. Now before you ask which home, stop. I don't know yet. Just... Just understand that it's not as if I don't miss the Hinata-sou, and
(you, you, I miss you more than anything)
everyone there, but you know... It'd be pretty strange, seeing you again."
"I... I understand, Naru. I'd like to see you again, though. I... I can't begin to express how terrible I've felt since you left. The guilt has been gnawing at me something terrible, and I know that I deserve it, but—"
"Keitaro, you don't deserve it. Nobody deserves to feel like that. I believe I understand your actions a lot better now than I did at the time. I still think you were wrong, of course, but... I think I can forgive you, given enough time. I just don't know how long that'll take. I promise you, you'll see me again." She stopped, now breathing very heavily. A sigh escaped her, catching at the end. Almost turning into a sob. He steadied himself to speak again.
"I... I'd like that a lot."
"Give it time is all I can tell you, Keitaro." Another short pause. "I've got to go now, my bus is leaving soon."
"Okay, Narusegawa. Goodbye."
"'Bye, Keitaro."
(click)
Keitaro sat there. He didn't know how long he sat there for. Nearly an hour later, when the supper dishes were all washed and put away, when every last person seated at the table had left to do other things, Shinobu approached him.
"Sempai, you've been sitting there for quite some time now. Is everything okay?" He turned to face her, slowly. She started slightly at the sight of his tear-traced face, but was instantly appeased by the sight of his beaming smile.
"Of course, Shinobu-chan. Just doing some thinking. What do you wish of me, milady?" He jumped to his feet and performed a comic bow for her. She laughed, and gave him a hug.
"Oh, sempai, you're laughing! It's really been a long time since I heard that sound. I was getting worried that you might never snap out of it." Keitaro smiled and messed up her hair like he used to when she was a kid. It still made her shiver.
"I've just been feeling... oddly good of late. Compared to the usual, I mean. What can I do for you?"
"Actually, I have some homework problems that I could use some help with, if you've got time..."
"Sure, Shinobu. Let's head to your room and take a look at them, ne?" Keitaro took her hand and led her towards her room. She banished the dirty thoughts forming in her mind as Keitaro opened and held the door for her, and set to concentrating on studying.
(roof of the hinata-sou, four hours later)
"Urashima, where are you?" Motoko spoke aloud, to noone except the moon. It stared down on her, blazing orange in the colours of your typical harvest moon, like a glowing eye of some malignant
(turtle)
demon. She sat down in a meditative position again and closed her eyes. The man was only twenty minutes late, and already her annoyance with him was visible in that she had reverted to the formal version of his name. She sighed, forcing herself to be patient. She was rewarded.
"Motoko? Motoko-chan, where are you?" She heard his voice, and now that she was sensing, she could feel his Ki, too. Gentle, vaguely reminiscent of aquamarine. Shifting and unsure, but very strong and resilient. Everyone's Ki resembled them in some ways. Keitaro's was almost a mirror image. She stretched out her legs and relaxed. She called to him.
"Keitaro-kun, I'm over here. By the clothesline, on a mat." She heard him start to jog at a decent pace. He veered towards her. He had also misjudged her position.
"Aiii!" She cried out softly as he tripped on her outstretched legs and fell neatly on top of her. His face was now inches from her own. The dim moonlight now shadowed his, making it all but invisible, except for the eyes. They peered out of the blackness above her, reflecting her own eyes back at her. They sent a shiver up her spine, and she suddenly pressed her lips to his. It just felt right.
The two kissed. They kissed for the purely animal comfort that stems from animal contact. They kissed because they were in love. They kissed because there wasn't anything else they could have done at that point. They progressed beyond kissing, rolling onto their sides on the mat Motoko had been sitting on, and peeling off each other's layers of clothing, piece by piece. Soon they lay there, naked as the day they were born, just looking. For minutes, they dared do nothing else.
"Motoko-chan..." Keitaro began.
"Shhh. This is not a time for words, Keitaro-kun." Motoko silenced anything further by taking his hands and putting them on her breasts. She leaned in closer to kiss him, and they pressed against his hands. Ecstasy. He fought with all his might to not get a nosebleed, and for what was perhaps the fourth time ever, he was successful. He returned her kisses. They progressed. They visited distant planets that night. Stars, galaxies and nebulae exploded inside their heads. They were drunk with natural, beautiful chemicals as they feasted on each other's bodies.
...
It was later. Their love was over. They lay on the mat, still naked, panting with exhaustion. They had nothing left. Motoko knew that she'd be asleep soon, so she stood up. This had to be said now. Otherwise, she'd never get up the nerve to do it.
"Motoko-chan? Where are you—" He yawned. "—Aah, going?" Keitaro said quizzically from his relaxed position on the floor.
"Keitaro, that second thing I needed to tell you..."
"Oh, right! I'd forgotten all about that!"
"...I should hope you did."
"Hah! You're getting to be a regular comedian, Motoko-chan." Keitaro smiled, and then stood up. He took her hands in his. He stared into her eyes. "Shoot. I can take any information at this point." Motoko closed her eyes. (I hope, for both our sakes, that you mean that, Keitaro Urashima.)
"Keitaro, I'm pregnant."
End Chapter nine
((Well, now that was a hell of a long chapter, in this story. 3,500 words all by its lonesome! That's because, dear listener and reader, that this story is now going to split in two. One ending will be KeiMoto as my summary promises, and the other will be KeiNaru, like one of my reviewers (thanks, HinaGuy! :D) suggested. I can assure all of you that both endings will work, and the clincher for that is one decision that Keitaro and Motoko will make in the next chapter. You'll see how it works out, in any case. VOTE! Which ending do you want me to write first? Post your vote with your review. When I get ten, or when the supply dries up, whichever comes first, then I'll write the new one. :P Cheers, please review!))