Sorry for this chapter's shortness, folks. RL is tough for me right now, but I have no intention of abandoning this fic since it's been so well-received so far (more than I ever expected, I'll put it that way :P ). All remaining current reviews will be commented on soon, I promise. I just wanted to get the chapter out there for now!

Chapter 5 -- The New Journey's Beginning

"I'm impressed, Motoko!" Seta congratulated. "Your sister fights with the veracity worthy of the God's Cry School!"

The stalemate had gone on for at least 15 minutes, but it seemed more like an hour. After their first collision, Seta and Tsuruko had held firm in their positions but not budged an inch. White fire blazed all around the collision point in the sky, the ki energy spilling out of control from the two combatants, burning everywhere.

Finally, they had agreed to break and come back at each other again, no 'ultimate' techniques utilized next time.

Seta and Tsuruko had made a blur of themselves at first. Tsuruko's katana had repeatedly tried to find its mark, with Seta offering the perfect counter to every precise strike.

The two broke apart again, still weighing each other up. Oneesan had then struck her sword to the ground with massive power, causing a great earthquake. Motoko could already see that attempt had been futile, as Seta had leapt into the air to avoid the bone-rattling damage of the small but powerful ground shudder. He rushed down at her from the air, ready to throw his entire weight and velocity behind the next punch.

Tsuruko had been sharp, though. Casting an immediate aerial counter, she had slowed his pace. Seeing this, Seta had regrouped and stole himself away for another attack. Tsuruko again countered. Neither seemed to be able to gain a definitive advantage.

This went on until now, when the two stopped about 30 feet apart, to catch their wind and refocus. Seta had then given his compliment to Motoko regarding her sister.

Smiling, Motoko felt someone standing behind her. She looked back to the back porch of Seta's house to find his wife, Haruka, standing on it, with a look on her face in the early morning mist that read: "What in the hell?"

She offered Haruka a nod, and Haruka waved back, sleepy and confused. No doubt the noise of the morning's events had rudely awakened her. Chuckling, she turned back to the two combatants.

Seta was extremely focused on something. Motoko knew what it meant, having trained for a time under him so long ago. The look meant he had found a path. One possible path.

It was then that Seta rushed Tsuruko, head-on. Naturally, Tsuruko reared up and readied herself. Surely he isn't going to just collide with her head-on while on the ground like this? Motoko thought.

Tsuruko's blade came twirling forward and up in a graceful arc, meaning to strike the Jeet Kun Do Master in two. It was at the moment the blade would have made contact that Seta feigned and jumped. Everything seemed to slow down to Motoko.

Seta executed a perfect backflip over Tsuruko as her blade missed. She tried to recuperate her tactics, but it was too late. Motoko grinned to herself, because now, she could clearly see what was coming. After performing a perfect, ice skater like twist, Seta landed in a standing position behind Tsuruko, who had turned to face him, but who had not turned in time to draw another attack. Tsuruko stopped in defeat. Seta's hand, balled into a tiger's claw, stood at the killing distance, a mere inch from her throat.

Seta had taken an incredible risk himself, and not escaped unscathed. There was a bloody trail leading down his forehead. He had been nicked by the tip of Tsuruko's blade. Seta looked like he had everytime he stepped out of his van.

Not moving, but speaking in the most polite voice as possible, Seta said, "Do you yield, m'lady?"

Tsuruko looked shocked, but her shock quickly turned into that of someone highly impressed.

She nodded and lowered her sword. "I yield, kind sir."

Blushing as they stood up, they both resounded the sentiment together, rather unexpectedly.

"You fought with honor," they both said, bowing.

Seta invited them inside for some tea and breakfast. Motoko accepted and asked for a moment alone with Tsuruko.

Her older sister approached her, and regarded her with a wise look.

"You did well, Motoko-chan. I always knew there would be someone out there better than me – well, besides you, of course – but Mr. Seta is certainly not the kind of opponent I expected. Even the lessons I taught you in life still reverberate throughout my own life, and I learned something new about myself today."

"What is that, Oneesan?" Motoko said curiously.

"To never underestimate even the most ordinary-looking opponent, of course!" Tsuruko laughed.

"I, too, underestimated him once, dear sister." Motoko had to acknowledge this fact to give her sister confidence in spite of her defeat. "It was a lesson in pride and reverence. Yet, Seta-san wishes for none of these things. He demands respect from no one, yet because he doesn't demand it, his presence commands it."

"Indeed, Motoko." Tsuruko said. "And you say this man is merely an archeologist?"

Motoko chuckled. "That, and a lot more, Oneesan."

Keitaro Urashima looked at the departing Hinata Inn as the train pulled away from the station. He couldn't stand it anymore. Whatever force was driving him away from the Hinata could now no longer be ignored.

Getting past Naru to go alone had been the hard part. Giving her the position of a stand-in manager had finally sated her and given her something to do. It was her that had actually come to him about what had him so down all week.

Finally, he had conceded that it wasn't right for Motoko to feel like she was no longer welcome at the Hinata Sou. She had agreed that her problems were bad, but what could they do about it?

"I need to go after her, Naru."

"Well, I could try…"

"NO. I mean, I think as the manager of this building that it's my job to do it."

Having overheard the comments, Kitsune had stepped into the room.

"You know, Naru, Motoko isn't likely to listen to you after that fit you threw. Let's just trust Keitaro to do this, okay?" Kitsune remarked.

"You can manage the girls while I'm gone, Naru. As my fiancée, you also have some managerial entitlements in my absence under Granny's contract," Keitaro had said.

"That's right!" Kitsune had exclaimed. "You can keep the girls in line, especially Kanako. I don't want a repeat of what happened the last time you went away. Do you want her trying to manage this dorm again?"

Naru had gritted her teeth. "Over my dead body, Kitsune. All right, Keitaro. Bring her back. Please."

And that was settled. Hopefully, Naru would keep herself and the girls busy. But if he knew them, the girls would all likely worry about him. But he couldn't stop worrying about Motoko, no matter how hard he had tried. It was just too much to bear. He had to do something.

Where to start certainly hadn't crossed his mind yet. Kyoto was one possibility. But where else would she go? Maybe try and get an apartment near Tokyo-U? Keitaro was already shuddering at what Motoko was going to do to him if and when he caught up with her. He had certainly chased her enough times to know that she didn't tolerate being chased as much as Naru did. She fought back, viciously if necessary. And with her sister being with her, it was definitely double jeopardy.

Keitaro settled himself into his seat and looked at the trail ahead blazing past him as the train picked up speed. He felt this might be another adventure ahead, but why did he always dread it at the beginning?

Maybe it's getting started that I always dread, because deep down we all fear the unknown.

Trying not to think about it, Keitaro shut his eyes and pushed his seat back.