Motoko sat quietly in Koichi's room as he tied the on the black sash that would hold the top of his white Gi together. They had decided that using his training outfit would be best. The lack of sleeves ensured the slightest hint of extra manoeuvrability that wouldn't be afford by his regular clothes, and he needed every edge.
Koichi walked silently to the closest and removed the blade she had learned was called the Sword of Two Souls, and held it contemplatively.
Without saying anything, he sat down in front of Motoko and held it out towards her.
"…Koichi…I can-", she began, but he silenced her with a slow shake of his head.
"I'm not asking that of you Motoko…If I lose this duel", he held up a hand to forestall any argument, "If I lose…I want you to hold on to this, at least that way part of me can remain behind".
Motoko looked into the serious features of the man she had come to love…had loved since she was a child. That hardness was almost painful. His was a face for smiling and carefree laughter, not this.
"You won't lose", she said, "I know you won't".
He smiled wanly in the face of her confidence in him.
"Besides", she continued, "You will need this to fight. My sister won't be satisfied with using training blades in something so important".
Koichi blinked as if that had not occurred to him, and glanced sadly down at the sword she cradled gently in her slender hands.
"I can't use it", he admitted, "I can't even draw it. That's why it's so special to the Oni's Bane School, this blade holds a secret that only the one who can wield it will ever know…and that person isn't me".
Motoko clasped the handle of the blade and pulled. It remained in its sheave as though nothing was happening.
Grunting, Motoko put Ki enhanced muscle behind the movement…it still refused to budge.
She looked down at the sword angrily; if Koichi didn't have a weapon then he couldn't take part. They would lose by default.
Motoko stood and left without a word, returning a few minutes later with the Sword of Two Souls tucked into the sash of her robes and the Hina under one arm.
"If you need a blade, take mine", she said, understanding the look of shock that crossed his face. For a swordswoman to offer another her blade was a serious matter.
Koichi reached up with shaking hands and took the proffered weapon, bowing his head deeply as he did so.
Motoko knelt down in front of him, lifting his head with her hands and kissing him as passionately as she dared, not willing to release him even when asphyxiation threatened to take hold.
"I think I just remembered why I plan to win this", he joked, panting shallowly.
"Baka", she murmured affectionately, hitting him lightly.
His smile faded, and his eyes assumed a far away expression, his face contracting and reassuming the serious mien that was so foreign to it.
"She's here", he whispered, barely loud enough for Motoko to here. There was no need to ask who he meant by 'She'.
Motoko wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. She knew he wasn't mistaken, the Oni's Bane school had focused on the subtler aspects of the Art, Ki reading being one of them. Motoko had been able to confirm what he said a few seconds of active searching later.
"Let's do this", he said, that heartbreaking hardness still dominating his features.
Rising, they walked at a subdued pace toward the source of that Ki. For better or worse toward the future.
Tsuruko stood in the courtyard of the Hinata Sou, she could sense Motoko's flame next to the smaller spiritual signature that she knew belonged to Koichi. He was masking, that much was clear, the Oni's Bane School was famous in certain circles for their reliance on that tactic, luring less experienced fighters into a false sense of superiority.
She sincerely hoped Koi-kun wasn't relying on such cheap trickery to defeat her.
Tsuruko sighed. Why was it always she who ended up delivering her younger sister's hardest lessons?
She would battle Koichi with everything she had, no quarter given, but she held a small hope that he would prove equal to the task. She did not want to be the one who broke Motoko's heart.
Shinobu was staring at the dish in her hand. She had been in fact, for the past half an hour. Today was the day that would either grant Motoko-sempai's fondest dream, or seal her in her worst nightmare.
The blue haired girl felt an empathic tear run down her face. They had all felt hurt when Keitaro chose Naru-sempai, but she could imagine the pain Motoko would feel if the only other man she loved were ripped out of her life.
Koichi had informed her of the duel that was scheduled to take place. She had a hard time believing Tsuruko-sama could be so cruel.
She thought back to her conversation with Koichi the previous night, when he had been helping her clear away and wash all the dishes from the evening's meal:
"Thank you for offering to help me with this Koichi-sempai", Shinobu said, smiling a smile she would never have managed before moving into the Hinata Sou.
"Don't worry about it", he said. Shinobu frowned slightly, his voice was much quieter than she had come to expect from the boisterous older man. Had he had a fight with Motoko-sempai? They hadn't seemed angry with each other at diner.
"Is something wrong sempai?"
He was quiet for a while before putting down the dish he was washing and answering.
"I might have to leave the Hinata Sou soon…"
Shinobu blinked in confusion, "Why? Did something happen between you and Motoko-sempai?"
"No", he said shaking his head sadly, and proceeded to tell her all about Tsuruko's visit and her proclamation.
Shinobu was shocked to find out just how long Koichi had really known Motoko, and that he had made a promise to wed her as a child, a promise that he and Motoko's elders had caught rumour of and twisted to their own benefit.
She felt angry when he told her the conditions of the duel, and sad for both him and Motoko.
"I just wanted to let every know, that way no one has to be shocked when I disappear…"
"Don't say things like that sempai!", Shinobu said, scolding him, "Motoko-sempai would be devastated if you lost, you have to win for her sake".
Koichi looked at her stunned. In all the time he had been there he had never seen her act anything close to forceful.
Reaching out he ruffled her hair the way he would Su's, smiling appreciatively, "Thank you Shinobu-chan".
The younger girl blushed slightly and murmured something in reply.
Koichi bowed to her, making her blush worse, "Motoko is lucky to have friends like you, I only hope I won't let you all down by hurting her".
His face became more serious.
"I want you and the others to stay away from the fight tomorrow", he said, dismissing any protests, "I know you want to cheer me and Motoko on, but if I'm to fight at my best, I can't do that worrying if I'll hit any of you guys…"
Shinobu placed the unfinished dish back amongst the pile of dirties. Could they really just stand by while their friends futures were decided without them?
Su was lying on one of the branches of her favourite tree. Most people would have found it strange to have a miniature jungle in ones room, but for Su it was perfectly normal, it reminded her of her childhood back in Mol-Mol, sneaking out of the palace at night to sleep under the stars, and consequently driving her caretakers and older sister mad.
Amala. Strange that she hadn't thought about her elder sister since receiving word that she had married big brother. Of course he wasn't really her elder brother, he was a cousin but he, Amala and she had been raised together, so they thought of each other as close siblings.
In some countries it might be considered strange to marry ones cousin, but Amala was happy, so who were they to judge, besides, the marrying of cousins occurred in most royal families around the globe.
The thought of marriage and couples brought her back to the subject she had been trying to forget. Koi-kun was to battle Motoko's elder sister today, and if he lost he would have to leave them all behind…and she had been forbidden from interfering.
Knock knock.
Su dropped from the branch she had her legs wrapped around, setting down the machinery she was tinkering with and spitting the spare screwdriver out of her mouth.
"Coming!", she shouted, skipping over to her door and throwing it aside. Motoko and Koi-kun stood there, both wearing sombre expressions.
"What's wrong with you two?", Su asked cheerfully, hoping that would bring her friends out of their bad moods, and adding with a sly wink, "Run out of ideas already?".
Motoko didn't even blush. This scared Su a little; it meant something was seriously wrong.
"We need to talk to you Su", Koi-kun said slowly, "do you mind if we come in?".
Su shifted around on to her back. They had told her that Koi-kun would have to leave if he lost the duel with Tsuruko…and that they wanted her and the others to stay clear of the duel, so that they weren't hurt.
The young Mol-Molian girl felt tears building in her usually clear green eyes. If Koi-kun left she would lose one of her favourite playmates. Not only that but it would tear her best friend, Motoko, apart.
Kaolla lay there for a few minutes, when a slow smile began to spread across her face. Since when had Kaolla Su ever listened to what others told her to do? Now, just where was that proton cannon?
Kitsune was leaning back against the counter of the Hinata Teahouse.
It should be happening any time now. The duel that determined whether or not Motoko ever smiled again.
The fox girl shook her head ruefully at that rather melodramatic thought, but unfortunately it was probably closer to the truth than any of them would like to believe.
Koichi had filled her in on the details and she had been worried he'd have a breakdown then and there, but he'd forced himself to stay strong.
That look on his face, that out of place hardness had scared her a little, but she'd been unsure what she could to help, so she had just wished him well, not saying anything when he requested that she and the others stay away from the fighting.
It just didn't seem right to the fox girl. Being made to go through something like that.
If Tsuruko won, Kitsune wouldn't be the only one who had lost Koichi, and that just didn't sit well with her.
Tossing her apron over a handy chair, Kitsune made her way towards the Hinata Sou.
Koichi and Motoko stood in front of the door to the courtyard, neither moving to open it. Once they did, there was no way back from that moment.
Koichi was the one to break the stillness.
Placing a shaking hand on the handle, he drew the door aside and stepped out into the suddenly blinding sun.
"What took you so long Koi-kun?", a vibrant voice asked as his vision began to clear.
Koichi looked down uncomprehending at the blond haired girl standing in front of him with a cheerful expression.
"Su?", he looked around, not believing his eyes. Everyone from the Hinata Sou was gathered out in the courtyard. Shinobu, Su, Naru and Keitaro, and even Kitsune. They were all there.
"What are you all doing here, we asked you to-"
"To stay away for our own safety blah, blah, blah", Kitsune cut him off, "Did you really think we were gonna sit around while our friends went through something like this sugar?".
Koichi watched as one after the other, the rest of the tenants voiced similar statements.
"Thank you all", Motoko said for him, smiling at everyone in turn.
"I hate to interrupt", cut in Tsuruko's voice, "But I believe we have business to attend to".
Koichi stepped away from the crowd, the Hina clasped firmly at his waist, "You're right. I'll be back in a minute guys".
"Confident that you'll win?", Tsuruko said sounding amused as she walked to stand opposite him, her hand resting on her own blade.
"Yeah", he said, tightening his own grip and adding under his breath, "I have to…".
"Very well, I admire your spirit Koi-kun…now", she said widening the set of her feet, "Come at me".
Koichi obliged.
"Serpent's Strike!"
Tsuruko smoothly drew her blade, lifting it almost casually and batting away her opponents Ki strike. She quickly stabbed the sword over her own shoulder and there was the clash of steel on steel as a surprised Koichi blurred into view behind her.
Moving like a viper, Tsuruko drove her blade around in an arc, pivoted and delivered a powerful blow to his face with her free hand.
Koichi staggered for a second, barely bringing up is blade in time to stop a flurry of lightening fast cuts from his opponent.
He blocked high, moving a fraction of a second to slow and receiving a gash across his arm for his inattention.
Koichi imagined that he could hear Motoko gasp.
Leaping backward to gain distance and unleashing another attack that was knocked aside as easily as the first.
His figure blurred again and he reappeared at Tsuruko's side, vanishing again as she began swinging in his direction. He materialised above her and chopped down, only to find her blade already set to defend, stopping him in midair.
How is she doing that!, he screamed in his mind, he knew that she couldn't be following his movements, yet she was always ready to intercept whatever he tried. He recalled the last minute advise Motoko had given him. How her sister liked to judge the skill of her opponent before unleashing her own power, so he would need to go all out and finish things quickly.
He drew deeply on his Ki, for a second moving so fast he seemed to be either side of his opponent simultaneously.
Let's see her block this!, he thought, "Serpent's Strike!".
Koichi reappeared some distance away as the two snakes of spiritual energy hurtled toward Tsuruko from the two points he had momentarily co-existed in.
"Block that", he wheezed, realising how much strength he had used up already in that little stunt as sweat dripped into his eyes, blinding him at the moment the two attacks converged on his opponent's position.
Swiping a hand across his eyes he tried to peer through the dust and debris kicked up upon impact. Had he won?
He got his answer when a shadow formed inside the dust cloud, and Tsuruko shot at him. He tried to accelerate his body again but couldn't. He could only look on in horror as she closed the distance, his Ki already spent.
Motoko watched the battle tensely, something was wrong. She had know Tsuruko outstripped Koichi in terms of raw strength, and had the slightest edge in skill, but she shouldn't have been beating him this easily!
He was moving too fast to follow, and yet Tsuruko was there and ready to block every time he reappeared.
There was something off about his movements as well. They seemed forced, awkward, like he was focusing more on them than on completing his goal.
He wasn't like this in training, Motoko thought critically, trying to figure out what was wrong. An image of cold grey eyes flashed up and she ruthlessly fought it down. Now was not the time to be lingering on her boyfriends finer attributes.
The image refused to go away, it taunted Motoko as if she were over looking something of vital importance.
Suddenly it clicked. Those eyes. They were not the eyes of Koichi Sagura, they held no life, no laughter…
He was fighting without enjoying the thrill of the battle, and it was sapping his strength.
She heard Kitsune scream, and looked up as she saw Tsuruko flash by a stunned Koichi, a faint trail of red clinging to her blade, linking it for a second to the gash in the top half of his Gi near his stomach.
Motoko's scream joined Kitsune's as he began to fall backward, looking to her apologetically.
She reached him as he struck the ground with enough force to bounce up again before coming to a rest.
"Koichi!", she said lifting his head carefully onto her lap and examining his wound. She almost wilted with relief when she saw that is was not serious, just a little bloody.
"Sorry Motoko", he wheezed, "She's to good for me…Guess I screwed up huh?".
"Baka", she said affectionately, "You were trying to hard".
"What?", he asked, clearly confused.
"That's not the way you fight? There were no jokes, no laughter…"
"But this is serious"
"But you aren't. Like you said, you can't put your heart into something you don't enjoy…You need to fight as yourself Koichi"
"But if I-"
Motoko put a finger over his lips to silence him, "Just fight as you Koichi, I know that man can win… Ready to try again?".
Koichi looked uncertain again for a second, before allowing her to help him to his feet.
"You wish to continue", Tsuruko said. It was not a question.
"Sure thing old lady", Koichi said, drawing a raised eyebrow from his opponent, "You think a little flesh wound like this would keep me down?".
He slapped his stomach for emphasis, whimpering slightly as he did so but trying not to show it.
He waited for Motoko to move back over to where the others stood before speaking again.
"Bring it on, I ain't got all day".
Tsuruko nodded and shot forward again, her Katana sweeping back in preparation for a swift finishing strike.
Koichi grinned at her merrily and pointed at the ground, "Your shoe's untied".
"What?", she asked, this rather unconventional tactic distracting her long enough that Koichi was able to parry her thrust and riposte, almost scoring a hit along her ribs as she sailed by.
She stopped her momentum dead with the tiniest application of Ki and rocketed back in his direction, trading blows while he grinned like an idiot, commenting on the unseasonably hot weather.
Tsuruko broke off her attack, gaining some distance. This was more like the challenge she had expected from one of the Oni's Bane School's top pupils. She wondered what Motoko had said to the boy.
She swept in again, her katana striking sparks along the ground as she swept it up toward his face. She was quite impressed when he somehow dodged.
"Close", he congratulated her as though she were a novice.
Tsuruko narrowed her eyes. She admired the younger man's spirit, but she would not stand for idle mockery.
Pivoting on her left foot she swept her leg out at his feet, slamming the tip of her blade out toward where his shoulder should be. It encountered nothing but air. Instead of trying to leap over her foot or away from it, he had rolled over her leg as she made to sweep him.
"Oh, so very close", he commented as he rolled back upright, blade held in a confident guard.
Tsuruko was forced to nod her head in respect for the young man's talents, she hadn't realised that there was anyone close to her and her sister's level.
But now this must end, for Motoko's sake I will not drag this on any longer"Stone cleaving sword!", she yelled, a wave of spiritual energy that dwarfed the woman it came from, ripped from the air her blade bisected, streaking toward her opponent.
I'm sorry Motoko, she thought, ready to sheave her blade, when something quite unexpected happened.
"Oh Tsuruko-sama", Koichi called in a sing song voice, causing her to turn her attention back to him, "Soul mirror!"
The elder Aoyama watched in stunned disbelief as her opponent jammed his blade into the ground in front of him.
As her attack neared the blade flared with white light and her Ki…rebounded. That was the only way to describe it, it was like watching a ball thrown at a brick wall returning to its owner. Only in this case the 'ball' would likely cause serious injury if caught incorrectly.
Tsuruko braced herself as the wave of reflected power drew near. She had heard about the many strange and unusual techniques developed by the Oni's Bane School, but never really believed some of the tales, just as she knew other Schools didn't believe in the legendary strength of the Gods Cry School. A strength she was ironically about to employ against itself.
Tsuruko raised her sword above her head as the attack neared. With a mighty swing she slammed her blade down into the Ki energy, cleaving to in two and dissipating it with one blow.
She was startled to realise that she was panting, and even sweating slightly. She had to end this soon; this boy was too full of surprises.
There was another flare of Ki near by and Tsuruko attacked.
Koichi watched as his opponent's attack was reflected back at her, struggling to think clearly over the omni-present drone of the Hina's sealed spirit and its constant entreaties and threats. Whatever happen now he was going to win. This was his trump card. One of his School's most secret and powerful techniques, bar one. That one could only be preformed with a huge amount of Ki, more than he had even when at full strength, and the dregs he was currently working with wouldn't come anywhere near the requirements.
He had no doubt that Tsuruko would stop the wave of spiritual power, she was impossibly powerful, but hopefully the effort would weaken even one such as her long enough for a last ditch assault to work.
Waiting until the moment she released her power, pitting it against itself to stop the wave, he drew up every last scrap he could manage without killing himself.
Now!, quicker than a thought, he had crossed the distance, seeming to appear from nowhere behind Tsuruko as she finished stopping her reflected attack. He swung with all his remaining strength…And gasped in horror as he heard the ringing of two blades locked together.
Tsuruko had blocked his attack. Even with half or more of her power gone, and her body weary, she had still somehow been able to track his last movement and guess how and where he would attack.
He watched, detached as she forced his blade wide, circling her own underneath it and with a flick of her wrist, sending it flying out of his grasp and down the steps of the Hinata Sou.
Koichi felt cold and drained, she had won. Even before his body lost its remaining momentum and crashed to the ground he knew that she had won. He had no Ki left, and no blade to fight with, he had been out muscled and outclassed and he knew it.
I'm sorry Motoko, I tried, he thought sadly closing his eyes and waiting for her to finish it.
The blow never came.
He opened his eyes slowly. Tsuruko stood over him, a sorry look on her face as her blade began to move toward him…All in slow motion. He was still moving at an accelerated rate.
How was that possible? He had no Ki left, so how could he be maintaining this power?
He closed his eyes again, falling in toward his centre, where his spiritual power normally resided.
As he had thought, there was only the faintest of trickles there. However there was also something else. A gently pulsing light that made him feel warm and safe at the same time. A voice seemed to echo from this light, urging him to stand, to fight, to win. It was not the sinister, bloodthirsty voice of the Hina, but something more familiar, and infinitely more welcome. It was the voice of Motoko.
The light pulsed in time with his own heartbeat, as did Motoko. He touched the light wonderingly, feeling his own power being restored.
He opened his eyes, watching with disinterest as Tsuruko's blade continued it's downward path, now seeming to move even slower.
He looked over to where Motoko stood, shouting something at him in slow motion, fear but also something else shining clear in her eyes… faith.
His eyes were drawn down to the sword at her hip, and the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. He could now see a faint cord of light connected between him and Motoko via the sword.
The Sword of Two Souls, the blade that can be drawn by no one man alone, he thought, something his sister had once read to him from their families scrolls suddenly making sense.
He looked up at Tsuruko and winked, knowing that he was moving to quickly for her to register the movement, and willed himself to be by Motoko.
The world reverted to normal speed as he appeared next to her, the other housemates reacting with various degrees of shock while Su gave a loud, "Now that was cool!".
Motoko looked at him in shock and then back at her sister, who, having found her target suddenly absent, was almost glaring at him.
"You are defenceless Koichi, yield", she said.
Koichi ignored her as he turned back to Motoko.
"I need to borrow this", he said to her, putting a hand on the pommel of the Sword of Two Souls and pulling.
The blade slid free with barely a whisper and Motoko looked at him questioningly.
"I can draw it now, because I have a reason", he said, kissing her briefly and turning back to Tsuruko and vanishing.
Koichi reappeared in front of the elder Aoyama, several meters separating them.
Tsuruko raised an eyebrow at the bare blade now clenched in his hand and he smiled in return.
"You were able to draw it?"
"Yes"
Tsuruko smiled happily at him, confusing him.
"I see…You truly do love her don't you?"
Koichi felt himself colour a little, but his answer was firm, "Yes".
"Very well, shall we finish the formalities…Brother-in-law"
Koichi felt his trademark lopsided grin spread across his face, and he twirled the Sword of Two Souls about his body before driving it into the ground between them and closing his eyes as he stepped a little way away from it, "By all means".
The raven-haired woman looked at him sceptically before an understanding dawned on her face and she chuckled slightly.
Tsuruko raised her blade vertically, the pommel held near her left shoulder.
"Oni's Bane School:", Koichi began as she set her feet.
"Ultimate Technique", Tsuruko charged, her battle cry the only sound in the courtyard as the others watched with baited breath.
Koichi saw every moment he had spent with Motoko up until then flash before his eyes. He recalled seeing her for the first time since they were children, he remembered thinking how truly beautiful she had become. He remembered seeing her naked in the Hot Springs, moonlight reflecting off her perfect skin. He remembered their first date…their first kiss.
And he remembered a promise made to a little girl. One he had no intention of breaking.
He touched the pulsing light he felt inside, drawing power from it, filling himself till he feared he'd burst and then some.
Motoko.
An aura of pure white flared around the Sword of Two Souls and it was launched into the air.
Koichi's eyes snapped open and he blurred forward, grabbing the blade and swinging with all his strength, "Steel cutting Rose!"
A twister of energy screamed loose from the glowing blade, hurling dirt and discharges of power indiscriminately as it roared toward the charging Tsuruko.
The whirlwind of power swept over the Gods Cry Master, tossing her into the air with ease and trapping her at its centre.
Tsuruko struggled, heaving all of her strength against the impossibly strong winds, but to no avail.
It's like I'm not fighting just Koichi, it…, her thought trailed off as the obviousness of the truth hit her at the same time Koichi appeared in front of her.
She smiled at the younger man, understanding where his strength came from, it was the same strength she had, and now so did Motoko, it was just being used rather more directly than she had ever thought to do so.
Slash. There was pain across her midsection and Koichi vanished, only to reappear at her side.
Slash.
He appeared behind her.
Slash.
Slash
Outside of the raging storm, Motoko watched on anxiously. Suddenly Koichi blurred into view again, turning back to watch the twister he had somehow summoned as it began to collapse in on itself, folding in until suddenly it burst, opening like a flower.
From inside Tsuruko drifted down as if cradled lovingly by the very wind that had sort to destroy her.
She was deposited on her knees a little way from Koichi, her sword landing some distance away with a loud clang.
Her clothes were torn an bloodied and Motoko was about to rush to her side when she looked up and smiled beautifully at Koichi.
"I yield", she said, loud enough for all to hear, bowing to her opponent as best she was able.
Koichi bowed back to her and looked over to Motoko, the happiness in his eyes mirrored by her own.
His eyes rolled back and the Sword of Two Souls fell limply from his grasp as he plummeted to the ground.
"Koichi!", Motoko was at his side in an instant, lifting him gently and checking his pulse and breathing.
He was ok. He had most likely just passed out from exhaustion. Truth be told she felt a little drained herself for reasons she couldn't explain.
Motoko brushed away some stray strands of his messy hair lovingly, chuckling at the goofy smile that he unconsciously wore.
He had done it; they could now be together without fear of the Clans interfering.
"You've done well Motoko", Tsuruko said, smiling at the tender sight before her, "He will make a fine Husband for you one day".
"Yes", Motoko said absently, still stroking his face, "He will".
The rest of the residents rushed over to congratulate Motoko and to offer Tsuruko assistance with her injuries, although Kitsune seemed inclined to leave her as she was.
Through out all the well wishing and pre-celebration cheering, Koichi slept peacefully.
Motoko looked at all her friends and smiled. Her future was brighter now, and even though he couldn't express it, she was sure the man she loved felt the same.
---Author Notes---
One chapter left to bring this to a close; I hope you've all enjoyed the ride so far.
Till next time, Betweenheavenandhell