Without warning, Keitaro felt Motoko's lips on his.
The dream had become reality.
Shit!
Her soft lips had such a sweet taste, and her kiss felt as a polar opposite to her external personality. Keitaro became paralyzed under her kiss, yet felt himself becoming aroused with her legs wrapped around his own. He didn't want it to stop, but he didn't know how to continue. He could feel every bit of Motoko's passion for him, which he finally began to suspect this morning. This was no ordinary kiss. The lovely young swordmaster from Kyoto really did love him. But this sudden display of emotion terrified him. He knew he couldn't run. He couldn't kiss her back, either. But for a moment, a small, frozen moment in time, there was Motoko, plainly and very truly expressing her love for him.
A memory flashed into his mind aboard the Amallan Kaollan, the mammoth zeppelin flagship of Su's homeland, the Kingdom of Molmol. Motoko had confronted him, and had tried to deliberately steal him from Naru. They fought. Motoko had failed on both counts.
He remembered her words…
"And I don't care! I also told you…"
Her kiss in the present seemed to linger forever.
"…that I love you! I'm not like other
girls! I can't just walk away and find someone else! It's not
FAIR!"
He remembered her crying.
At last the kiss broke, his memories became a haze, and he returned from his sleepy daze to find a pair of green-brown eyes staring down at him. The beautiful eyes pleaded, with hunger, for some kind of response.
The irony of all of this was…Keitaro had chosen to come back to the dorm and just go back to bed instead of go to the waterfall to purge himself of these impure thoughts as Motoko had taught him to do.
At last Keitaro found his voice. "Um, Motoko, I…uh…" His voice sounded absolutely petrified. Her eyes glazed over with what looked like shame.
Keitaro actually had something to say, but his heart leapt to 180 beats per minute when he noticed at last…
…the courtyard lights were on. And the sound of footsteps approaching rapidly were in his ears, despite the additional ringing in his head and the lingering daze. Why am I dazed? What was this he felt from her kiss? What did she do to him? It was after all, just a kiss…wasn't it?
And then there she was, eyes aflame, a red burning aura surrounding her body, standing over him with one fist balled up in one flat hand.
"NARU! I…"
"Just what do you think you're DOING, buster?"
Her fist reared back. This would be the first time Naru had sent him rocketing into the sky since it was all resolved months ago.
§ § § § § § § § § § § §
Motoko watched in horror as Naru reared up. She was going to send Keitaro to the moon this time.
Wait a minute? Why should I let her do this to
him? I did this.
Having gotten up moments ago, Motoko shut her eyes and focused, standing between Naru and Keitaro. She did NOT wish to hurt Naru, but this was not Keitaro's fault.
"Naru, don't…"
Naru did not listen, so Motoko had no choice. Keitaro would not suffer again for her actions, no matter how pathetic she thought he was at times. With the punch cocked, Naru's arm slid forward. Motoko could feel it cut the wind, and time slowed down.
As the punch gained its speed and velocity to connect with and knock Keitaro out of the atmosphere, Motoko's hand shot out, palm flat and turned down.
Her palm caught Naru's punch by the wrist at full velocity, and simply carried with it, but at the same time knocked Naru's arm to one side. Naru missed Keitaro only marginally, by literal millimeters. Whipped by the wind in Naru's missed punch, Keitaro's glasses simply fell harmlessly to his nose.
Naru stumbled forward, eyes agape in shock. Motoko's deflection had caused the energy behind her missed punch to haul her forward a few feet. Instead, she landed, red-faced, in Keitaro's arms, who had caught her to prevent her from falling.
Ignoring the fact that Keitaro was even touching her, much less propping her up to help her get her balance back, Naru looked at Motoko, her eyes trembling.
"M-Motoko…what the…just …um…what the…"
Motoko sighed. Not her too. Am I going to have to fight with everyone in this house?
Naru must have seen the sigh, because she snapped out of her shock and raised her voice. But her tone was more deadly than shouting. "Just what in the hell do you think you were doing, Motoko?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Motoko replied, very non-chalalantly.
"You were...kis-…what were you DOING, Motoko?" Naru asked again, her anger breaking into a sad voice.
"I stopped you from hitting him. He should not be punished by you for my own actions."
"Your 'actions' are what I'm talking about, Motoko!" Naru's scream pierced the morning air. The sun was beginning to rise now. "You KNOW how I feel about Keitaro! How could you DO this to me? To us?" Tears began to fill her eyes. Apparently, the punch was the least of Naru's worries…at least she had gotten to the point now.
Motoko's face turned down in an awkward frown, her face reddening. Yep, she'd finally done it. Exacty as Oneesan had said she would do. She had let her feelings get the better of her. And now, feeling lonelier than ever, she had done the unthinkable. She had betrayed a friend. 'Dirty old ronin', indeed.
By then, Sarah, Su, Kitsune and Kanako had come out. All of them had confused and sad looks on their faces…except for Kanako, who was wearing the most fiendish grin on her face Motoko had ever seen. Bitch, Motoko thought.
"I…I'm sorry, Naru. I don't expect you to forgive me. I will do the only thing I can to fix this problem."
There was no more avoiding this. Motoko looked up into the morning air, up at the Hinata Apartments. The sunrise reflected a symbolism of new beginnings. Yes, it was time. She caught a glimpse of her sister, who had awoken and was staring down at her, neither smiling nor frowning, looking down at her little sister with pride in her eyes.
"Urashima…I'm sorry. I guess maybe I don't even deserve your friendship."
"Motoko…" Keitaro said softly, attempting reassurance. His thought was snuffed out by Naru throwing him a sideways glance of contempt, who proceeded to grab him by the ear and drag him inside.
Motoko called after her. "Learn to trust him, Naru. And believe in his love." Naru stopped at these words, her eyes wide again as she turned to face Motoko.
"Motoko...what do you mean by that?" Naru asked, with sudden worry in her voice.
"You will have to figure that out for yourself." Motoko looked back up at Oneesan. Yes, the time had indeed come.
One single tear ran down her face and she looked back down again to all of them, to face them, bravely. "My friends, the time has come for me to go. I'm nothing but a burden here. I am holding back both myself, and you."
"But Motoko!" Naru started, completely forgetting her grip on Keitaro's ear.
"Motoko, don't!" Keitaro added, walking back towards her.
"I must, Urashima. If I am ever to become more than I am, I have to get away from you for awhile. This is for the best. I am being completely forthcoming with you about my feelings. Please do not try and find me."
"But MOTOKO!" Kitsune cried, rushing for her, but it was too late.
Oneesan had executed a perfect dive from the balcony. She landed gracefully alongside her little sister, her arm around her. A positively mischievous smile was on her face.
"A little help, dear sister?" Tsuruko said. Motoko nodded. "To all of you, I suggest you respect Motoko's wishes."
Motoko's look softened. "Everyone, I'm not running away. I will return when it's time for me to. I do not how long that will be, but you have my promise that I will come back."
And with that, Tsuruko waved her chipped katana in a perfect circular motion in front of them both. A smokescreen was created that had everyone immediately coughing and covering their eyes.
And when it had cleared, Motoko Aoyama, Successor to the Divinity School of Swordsmanship, Heir Inheritor of the God's Cry School and Master Swordswoman, and dear friend to all the Hinata residents, had vanished like a dream, her sister with her.
"She….she's gone!" Kitsune was completely amazed, standing there in her morning bathrobe.
"No…Motoko…" Naru said, her hand reached out in a very futile gesture.
Shinobu had just come out to join the party. "Wh-…where did Motoko go? I noticed her sister wasn't in the guest room. What happened?"
"Something awful." A voice pierced the air with a sudden an inexplicable confidence, and anyone that lived in the Hinata knew precisely who that voice belonged to.
It was Keitaro, and he was very pissed off. It was very rare for him to be. The angriest they had ever seen him before now was the day he had pulled the car over on Kanako demanding his engagement ring to Naru back from her. He was almost…dreamy to most of the girls when was like this, yet someone to definitely be respected.
"So…Keitaro," Naru started, then she let loose on him. "WHAT exactly do you think you were doing, you perv-"
Naru found a hand in her face. It was his. His face looked back at hers with sincere disappointment and anger as he raised his hand indicating he didn't want to hear anything she had to say right now.
"I saw what I saw this weekend, and it made me realize a few things, everyone. Motoko doesn't know who she is. And I'm part the reason she acted the way she did, Naru. We've lost a good friend today. I can only hope she returns. She didn't deserve to be made to be felt she had to leave. She's a friend to ALL of us. I'm sorry she kissed me. You know I love you, Naru. But now isn't the time for any of this."
Naru stepped back with a shock. "But…what did I do to deser-….HEY!"
Keitaro was already walking away, head down and shoulders slumped. "Naru…" he said as he walked away, "…you had me from hello 17 years ago, you know that. Let's not think about ourselves right now, okay? Let's think about Motoko's feelings. I'm going to meditate and go back to bed. Please leave me alone. I don't want to talk about it anymore."
Kanako tried to follow after him, but found herself being grabbed by the collar by Kitsune. Naru just stood there, dumbfounded that he had raised his hand to her. When had he grown up so much all of a sudden? And what did Motoko do to make him so touchy about this? But why did Motoko have to leave? They always worked things out, even when they got this ugly. Was this part of what growing up meant? Naru's head was filled with so many unanswered questions that it hurt.
And yet another setback, the Hinata Inn's residents looked on with worried eyes as Motoko departed, and Keitaro, their Landlord, was obviously beginning to slip into confusion and depression.
Shinobu went about her usual routine of making breakfast for everyone. She reserved a place for Motoko out of habit, and of course, Keitaro. When neither of them showed up for breakfast, the realization hit her that Motoko was truly gone. She put her hands immediately to her face and cried. Kitsune stood up and comforted her, and invited her to sit down with everyone else before it got cold. Naru didn't eat much. Su ate less than she normally did. Kitsune spent most of her time telling Shinobu everything would be all right.
§ § § § § § § § § § § §
One week later….
The morning mist had been thicker than expected. But she had arrived at last, with Tsuruko by her side, being a friend to her for the first time in her life. She finished ascending the steps up the long hill to her first destination. Her first destination was to see a certain someone…someone whom she had never before openly admitted was a strong influence on her. Someone who Tsuruko knew nothing about until Motoko had told her. After hearing the incredible story, Tsuruko recommended they both go and see this person.
Overall, the first stage of her journey away from the Hinata felt good. Very good.
There, sitting at the doorstop of his house high in the hills, he sat, in meditation, looking like he had known of their approach. Not being dressed in his usual labcoat was rather odd for him. Instead, he sat cross-legged in a more traditional set of black robes. He nevertheless offered that smile; the one Keitaro had inherited from him.
And there, in the middle of his serene appearance, was a cigarette dangling from his mouth. It was comical, yet fitting, that despite his extraordinary skills, he would choose to accept that even he was only human. This was something Motoko had not been taught by Oneesan.
Motoko and Tsuruko approached slowly once they saw Noriyasu Seta. They both bowed to him.
"Well, Motoko, to what do I owe this honor? And who is the lovely lady accompanying you?" The smile remained on his face. But he knew what Tsuruko was about to do. Bad idea, Oneesan… Motoko almost laughed to herself. But that was okay. Let her find out for herself if Motoko's story was true. This should be an interesting match.
Tsuruko said, "Noriyasu Seta, I am Tsuruko, sister of Motoko, Master Swordswoman and one of the Heirs of the God's Cry School. I challenge you to battle."
Seta grinned. "Introduced yourself like a true warrior. You must be Motoko's sister. Very well, then. Come around back here, there's a clearing I keep just for this kind of thing. Keeps the house from being torn down. My wife Haruka is inside. I prefer not to disturb her, heh."
As soon as they had reached the clearing, Tsuruko wasted no time. She and Seta bowed without another word, then lunged straight for each other in mid-air, and a giant crash of white light filled the sky, their bodies silhouetted against the immense power released…
This is going to be good, actually…Motoko thought, very amused.
TO BE CONTINUED (AND YES THE DUEL WILL BE CONTINUED)
Magefire: Glad you're
still reading and thank you again for your detailed commentaries. I
have corrected some of the things you were gracious enough to point
out. Back at TF.N (
we have what are called beta-readers who review our work prior to
acceptance. I actually prefer the people who send fresh ideas back
to me, the ones who send tons of red-marked copies back to me. In
fact, I downright expect it. :P
Motoko's journey has just begun. But, Keitaro isn't through with her yet.