Disclaimer: see part 1.
Steel Rose
Part 2
By Random1377
Kitsune yawned and scratched her stomach, wandering down the hall from the bathroom and stepping absently over a miniature tank Su had left lying on the floor. Kid's gonna be the death of me, she thought tiredly, thankfully grasping the handrail on the staircase and making her way towards the alluring smell of breakfast. I'm the only girl I know that's been attacked by a swarm of mechanized turtles in my own house – or anyone's house, when you get down to it.
"Morning," she said, waving to the people gathered in the kitchen before collapsing into one of the chairs. "Coffee… must have… coffee…"
Almost immediately, a mug was pressed into her hand. She knew better than to ask for a bit of sake first thing in the morning, of course – partly because the person that served breakfast was underage, but mostly because of the disapproving stares it would earn her.
Kitsune hated disapproving stares.
"Thanks, Shinobu."
As she lifted the mug to her lips, a rather reserved voice replied, "I'm not Shinobu."
Kitsune looked up so fast she nearly poured the coffee all over her shirt. "M-Motoko…?"
Staring neutrally back at her was, indeed, the swordsman Kitsune knew, only instead of her usual gi, the dark-haired girl was wearing a rather plain looking ankle-length skirt of some off-white color, and rather than the sword she was never without, she held a rather sharp butcher knife in her right hand. Her long hair was tied back at the nape of her neck, and she wore a kerchief on her head… though if pressed, Kitsune would have said that the biggest shock was the apron tied around the girl's waist.
"What are you doing?"
Motoko, her voice supremely toneless, replied, "Cooking."
Before Kitsune could comment on this, Motoko turned back to the counter and returned to the task she had been working on before Kitsune came in – namely, chopping green onions to add to a large stewpot on the stove.
"Ok," Kitsune said, wishing suddenly that she had not gotten out of bed. "Can anyone here tell me what's wrong with this picture?"
"Shinobu's got a fever," Naru said calmly, dipping her chopsticks back into her rice bowl. "Keitaro went into town to get some medicine for her, and Motoko…" she gave the gray-haired girl an unreadable look. "Motoko's helping with breakfast."
Motoko scooped some of the onions off the cutting board and slipped them into the pot. "Tell her the rest," she suggested. "She's going to find out eventually."
"The rest of what?" Kitsune wondered. "Why she's wearing that skirt? I mean, don't get me wrong, it looks fetching," she looked at Naru, "fetching is a good word, isn't it?"
"Yes," Naru agreed, taking great pleasure in watching Motoko's hand convulsively crush a bundle of onions, "fetching fits quite nicely."
"But you have to admit it's a little outside of the norm," Kitsune went on. "I mean, the whole French Maid thing was cute," she flashed Motoko's back a huge smile, "it was mine, after all, but-"
"Are you quite finished?" Motoko asked, setting the knife down and drying her hands on her apron as she turned around. "Honestly, do you need to be this childish?"
Grinning, Kitsune replied, "Absolutely."
Motoko glowered, but Kitsune simply stuck out her tongue.
"Maybe you should just explain what's going on," Naru suggested.
"Well, you see," Motoko said after a moment, "there comes a time in every swordsman's career when he or she must decide what is more important – going over the same katas, or progressing to the next level, and he or she must consciously choose to proceed, or stagnate. Are you with me so far?"
Looking at Naru, Kitsune whispered, "Is she on drugs? I swear she's not using real words…"
"Drink your coffee," Naru suggested dryly. "Better yet – drink some sake… understanding her reasoning isn't possible with a hangover, and maybe if I was tanked, I'd get it myself."
Before anyone else could speak, Su poked her head out from under the table, making them all jump. "Motoko is Keitaro's slave," she said helpfully. "See? Simple!"
It was fortunate for Kitsune that she had not yet started to drink her coffee, or it would have ended up sprayed everywhere. "Say what?"
Motoko frowned at the MolMol native. "I am not his slave," she said severely. "I am simply… learning from him."
Kitsune was starting to regain her mental balance… but this comment made about as much sense as if Naru had said there was a wooden robot living in the basement. "Learning what?" she said, arching an eyebrow. "Groping? Peeping? Underwear thievery? And where's your sword? I thought you loved that thing."
"Sometimes, to prove that you love something, you must give it up."
"Thank you, Missus Fortune Cookie," Kitsune said dryly. "Naru, can you tell me what's going on?"
"Nope," Naru said bluntly. "I don't get it. I think it's stupid. So I can't help you on this one, because if I try to explain it, you'll just end up confused."
"Keitaro has Motoko's sword," Su piped up. "I saw it when I went to wake him this morning… and Motoko put all of her sword things in a box and put it in her closet."
Motoko's hands clenched at her sides. "You were in my room again, weren't you?" she demanded. "I've asked you not to go in without my permission, Su."
Su gave her a sunny smile. "You told Keitaro this morning that he could see you any time he needed to, since you were his slave," she said brightly. "I heard you this morning."
"Not slave," Motoko corrected, gritting her teeth in frustration, "apprentice!"
"Yes, slave," Su agreed happily. "My translation book says they mean the same thing – a person who serves another person in exchange for learning a skill or having shelter and food."
Flushing brightly, Motoko gasped, "They aren't the same at all!"
"None of this explains why you're letting Keitaro into your room," Kitsune pointed out, finally sipping her coffee.
Motoko threw her hand up in defeat. "It's too complicated," she said, turning back to her onions. "Let's leave it at this – I will be spending all of my time with Keitaro, and giving up the blade for one year… that is all you need to know."
Kitsune smiled from ear to ear. "And you think I can 'leave it at that' do you? …how cute."
Compressing her lips to a thin line, Motoko offered no reply.
( 0 0 0 )
As gently as he could, Keitaro slipped his hand under Shinobu's neck, carefully elevating her head and pressing the tiny plastic measuring cup from the medicine bottle against his lips. "Here," he said softly, "drink this, Shinobu… it'll make you feel better."
Shinobu's eyes fluttered open. "Huh…?" she murmured, trying unsuccessfully to look down at the cup. "What, Sempai…?"
"Drink," Keitaro repeated patiently. "It's medicine."
"O…k…"
Keitaro tipped the cup, dismayed as nearly a third of the thick, sugary glop ran down Shinobu's chin. "Let's clean that up," he said, taking a washcloth from the small pile next to the girl's futon and dipping it into the basin of water he had filled to help cool her down.
Shinobu managed a weak smile as he cleaned the sticky medicine off of her. "Sorry," she managed, "just so… tired…"
"It's ok," Keitaro said warmly. "Just rest and get better, ok?"
"Alright."
Changing the compress on her forehead, Keitaro sat next to the futon to wait. Poor kid, he thought sadly. She worked so hard yesterday she gave herself a fever – and she had strep like, three weeks ago. She can't get a break…
"Too… nice to me…" Shinobu murmured deliriously.
"Shh," Keitaro said gently. "I'm just-"
"S'why… s'why I love you…"
Keitaro was taken aback for a moment, but he slowly smiled. "I love you too, Shinobu," he said gently, resting a hand on her burning skin. "Get some sleep, ok?"
Shinobu's lips curved up in a smile. "…k."
After several minutes, Keitaro checked her temperature with the digital thermometer he had purchased in town, sighing with relief as he found her just under a hundred degrees.
As the girl was asleep, Keitaro rose to his feet and stepped out into the hallway, nearly running headlong into Naru, Kitsune, and Motoko. "How is she?" Naru asked quietly, gesturing for everyone to move away from the door.
"Her fever's breaking," Keitaro said. "I think she's going to be fine, but I'll keep checking on her." He shook his head ruefully. "She's pretty out of it, though," he mused. "She told me she loved me."
The three girls exchanged glances, but forced laughs as Keitaro looked confused by their silence.
"I feel bad for her," Naru mumbled, quickly changing the subject. "When I came to check on her while you were buying medicine, she said her whole body hurt."
"She'll be fine," Kitsune said confidently. "She's almost as tough to kill as Keitaro here." She cast Motoko a sideways glance. "Though I guess there'll be one less person kicking his ass all the time, huh?"
"Oh," Keitaro said with some relief, "you told her?"
Kitsune's eyes were wide and sparkling as she said, "No, Su told me – and I think it's wonderful that you two are comfortable enough to be that open about your… unusual relationship."
When Keitaro looked bewildered – and Motoko looked furious – Kitsune threw her head back and laughed, skipping off to her room and leaving Naru and Motoko to explain her parting comment.
( 0 0 0 )
Mokoto stowed the last of the dishes in the cupboards and stretched her back, trying not to scowl around the spotless kitchen as a voice in her mind whispered, Well, what were you expecting? You've committed to a year, Motoko… this is just the first day.
One day… out of three hundred and sixty five.
"I don't think I can do it."
Untying her apron, Motoko draped it over the back of one of the kitchen chairs. Had Shinobu not been sick, Motoko would have been able to spend more time observing Keitaro… and observing Keitaro was the key to moving up in her art – she was sure of it.
Certainly, Tsuruko had not come out and said he was, but she had planted enough hints that Motoko was positive that he was part, if not the entirety, of the solution to her problem.
Now if she could just stomach him.
He's not a BAD person, I suppose, she thought, pretending that she had never felt the stirrings of feelings for the clueless young man. Maybe there is another way…
She frowned as she pushed the door to the kitchen open. "What is that… noise…?"
Listening for a moment, Motoko paled, the sounds of pain becoming clearer as she rushed through the building, skidding to a halt in the entryway as she found Shinobu lying on her side in the middle of the room.
"Shinobu!"
"Uhh…"
The younger girl groaned, trying to sit up as Motoko cautiously approached her.
"Shinobu," Motoko called, kneeling at the girl's side and putting a hand on her head. "Oh you're burning up! Why did you get out of bed?"
Instinctively, Motoko reached for her blade, thinking that if she could cut away some of the girl's clothes, she could cool her down. She cursed as her hand closed on empty air. Another way, she thought suddenly, find another way – you don't have to cut what can be untied.
Quickly, she unbuttoned Shinobu's shirt, pulling it halfway open to get more air to the girl's core.
"I was thirsty," Shinobu moaned, sounding a bit more coherent than the last time Motoko had seen her. "My throat hurt… I couldn't call anyone to get me a drink…"
"Silly thing," Motoko muttered, fanning the girl with the halves of her shirt and clucking like a mother hen. "You should have knocked on Kitsune's door – or even Urashima's… you're still sick, you could have fallen and gotten hurt."
"Sorry," Shinobu whispered. "Sorry I'm… such a nuisance."
Motoko sighed, crouching down to scoop the younger girl into her arms. "You're not a nuisance," she said patiently. "Let's get you back in bed. I'll get you a drink."
As they mounted the stairs, Shinobu rested her hot forehead against Motoko's cool shirt. "Sempai…" she whispered, "sempai I did something stupid…"
"Yes," Motoko agreed, "you did – so next time stay put. I'll get you a bell to ring, or something, just don't-"
"I said I loved him, sempai," Shinobu sobbed, clutching weakly at Motoko's shoulders.
Pursing her lips, Motoko murmured, "That's very… bold of you."
"I couldn't help it," Shinobu whimpered. "He's so sweet, sempai…"
Motoko kept her voice neutral. "Well there's no accounting for taste."
Shinobu fell silent, saying nothing as Motoko carried her into her room and laid her back on her futon, pulling the covers up to Shinobu's chin.
"I'll get you a drink."
"Thank you, sempai."
As Motoko turned to leave, Shinobu spoke one last time.
"He said he loved me too, sempai… do you think he meant it, or was he just trying to make me feel better…?"
Plucking at her skirt, Motoko chose her words carefully. "I'm sure he loves you in his own way, Shinobu," she said, keeping her back facing the younger girl as she spoke. "I doubt it's the same as what you feel, though, so I think it would be best if you didn't throw yourself at him or get weepy when he looks your way."
"Mm…"
Motoko waited for a moment, but Shinobu didn't say anything else. Without another word, she went to the kitchen and got the younger girl a drink… though when she came back, Shinobu appeared to be fast asleep.
( 0 0 0 )
Things were relatively quiet for several days – a fact that surprised Keitaro to no end. Kitsune, who he expected to ride both he and Motoko unmercifully about their arrangement, kept to knowing smiles and a few offhand comments, which simply led Keitaro to believe that she was biding her time and waiting for an opportune moment to strike, perhaps when there was a lot of company over and Motoko had a mouthful of food, for example.
Shinobu recovered and reclaimed the kitchen from Motoko, thanking her almost embarrassingly for taking such good care of things while she was sick. Since she had been down for so long, she quickly threw herself into catching up on all her missed homework and chores, somehow arranging it so she almost never saw Keitaro.
He did not even notice at first, and thought it no more than coincidence when he did.
And Naru… Naru spent her time rolling her eyes at him and muttering under her breath whenever she saw him. They still studied together, but as Motoko insisted on joining them – she was still a year away from tests, but said that she needed the practice, and to stay near Keitaro – their study sessions were awkward and quiet.
One afternoon, Keitaro stood leaning against the railing on the Hinata's porch, watching Shinobu sweep the front stairs. It was chilly, so she wore a thick jacket, and several snowflakes were drifting lazily through the air, occasionally falling on her rosy cheeks. The image was so idyllic that Keitaro quietly pulled out his sketchpad and began to draw, losing himself after only a few moments.
"Whatcha doin'?"
Keitaro nearly drew a line through the picture of Shinobu's face as someone walked up behind him and rested their chin on his shoulder.
I smell sake, he thought immediately, shivering as he felt two soft somethings pressing against his back, and whoever it is isn't wearing a bra, so I'm guessing it's…
"K-Kitsune?"
"Mm, I like it when you say my name," Kitsune teased, throwing an arm over Keitaro's shoulder and peering down at the sketchpad. "Wow, you're getting good," she said appreciatively, pressing herself a bit more firmly against his back. "Great lines… good shading… it's perfect."
Keitaro sighed. A bit tipsy and rubbing herself all over me, he thought uncomfortably. This can only mean one thing.
"What do you need, Kitsune?"
"Oh, now why do you assume I need something?" Kitsune asked innocently, her breath tickling Keitaro's ear and making him go bright red as she turned to nuzzle his neck. "Maybe I'm just finally expressing the feelings I've tried to hide for so long…" After a moment of patient silence, she added, "…though if you could help me out with my chores so I could go see the Megumi concert tonight, I sure would appreciate it."
So that's it.
"What do you have left to do?" Keitaro mumbled, knowing that no matter what it was, he would end up doing it.
He never could say no to Kitsune… or any of the other girls.
"Just a couple things," Kitsune said innocently. "Mostly, just… all of them."
Keitaro shook his head in wonder. "All of them?"
"Uh huh."
His shoulders slumping, Keitaro muttered, "Ok – but just this once."
It was a lie. They both knew it was a lie… but they both let it slide right past.
"Thanks Keitaro," Kitsune grinned, giving him a rather wet kiss on the cheek, "you're a lifesaver."
"You mean like a piece of candy?" Keitaro ask wryly. "The kind with a hole in the middle?"
Kitsune patted him on the shoulder. "Stick to your day job," she said warmly. "A life of comedy would only lead you to heartache."
"You mean like managing a girl's dorm?"
"Ooo getting better!" Kitsune laughed. "Ok, I'm going to get ready… thanks again, KeiKei."
"Aw, don't call me that!" Keitaro groaned. "That makes me sound like a puppy!"
Winking, Kitsune retorted, "I know, KeiKei. If you're lucky, I might just be drunk enough to give you a little… treat when I get home." When the young man blushed, Kitsune threw her head back and laughed out loud. "Thanks again, Keitaro."
"Sure…"
She's so wild, Keitaro thought, turning back to his sketchpad and trying to find his place. Now, I wouldn't MIND getting a 'treat' from her… I just doubt I'd be able to keep up with… hey, where did Shinobu go?
The stairs where the young girl had been cleaning were conspicuously empty.
Sighing as he looked at his incomplete work, Keitaro whispered, "Guess I'll have to finish it by memory…"
( 0 0 0 )
"You know you should have told her no."
Keitaro nodded as he dusted the last corner of the television screen. "I know," he said, "I know…"
Motoko followed as he moved into the kitchen, her brow drawing down as she folded her arms over her chest, uncomfortably aware that her bra collection needed updating. She only had two sports bras, and regular ones never supported her as well. After so many years wearing bindings, nothing felt as comfortable, though the sports bras came close.
And she would certainly never run around unsupported like a certain, gray haired hussy she knew.
"All I'm saying," she insisted, "is that you let her take advantage of you. What do you get out of letting her walk all over you?"
"She doesn't walk all over me," Keitaro mumbled, clearing the last few dishes off of the table and getting a washcloth out of a drawer next to the sink. "I don't always do – hey Shinobu, can I get this wet? – her chores for her," he said as the younger girl stepped away from the sink. "She had concert tickets… what should I have done, let her miss it?"
"Yes," Motoko said immediately. "It would have taught her a good lesson about responsibility."
Running the washcloth under the faucet, Keitaro said, "Why are you so angry about this?"
Motoko moved out of the way as Shinobu quietly excused herself from the room. "It makes me mad because she's not doing anything! She doesn't help with housework, she's not employed, she's not a student – she doesn't do anything at all, but when she wants to go to a concert, you just pick up the slack for her!"
Keitaro turned off the water, glancing at the kitchen door for a moment with a thoughtful expression. "Is Shinobu mad at me for some reason?"
"Don't change the subject," Motoko said impatiently. "Look, I know you want people to like you, Keitaro, but you should have a little dignity, shouldn't you? I mean, how can you expect Kitsune – or any of us – to respect you if you're scrubbing the dinner table while the person that should be doing it is out having a good time?"
"Well it's not like I have anything better to do," Keitaro reminded her, shaking his head as he looked away from the door. "I've been accepted to Toudai, but for me, the term doesn't start for six months… all I've got to do is hang out with Naru while she studies to get a sneak peek of what I've got coming, and keep this place up – so if someone needs a little help with their chores once in a while, why shouldn't I help?"
Motoko's nostrils flared as she grumbled, "Because it's not just once in a while – it's all the time. Look, sensei… I said I wanted to learn from you, but so far all you've shown me is how to be a doormat. Maybe… maybe you should try being a bit more like Naru and standing up for yourself sometimes, huh?"
"Mm."
Motoko watched him clean for a moment before looking down at the floor and shaking her head.
"…hopeless."
Keitaro simply gave her an apologetic smile.
( 0 0 0 )
Black or… black? Kitsune thought, holding two sweaters up against her chest and looking in the mirror. Or maybe I should be saying… cleavage or no cleavage?
She grinned at her reflection.
It was looking to be a promising evening. Her second best friend (Naru being first, of course) Mayumi had gotten four tickets as a sales incentive from work, and invited Kitsune in a breathlessly whispered phone conversation where words like, 'he's cute,' and, 'really your type,' and, 'loaded,' had told the gray-haired girl all she needed to know about the guy Mayumi was trying to set her up with.
Her smile widened a bit. If he's cute enough… maybe my search is over.
Kitsune made no secret of the fact that she was looking for a guy with money – or at least the potential to make it, which explained her initial interest in the assumed Toudai student that was to become the Hinata's manager.
Not that she was disinterested in Keitaro, but with Naru practically salivating behind his back and Shinobu simpering at his feet, there could never be anything between them.
"Umm, sempai?"
And speaking of simpering…
"Hey Shinobu," Kitsune said, feeling marginally guilty for insulting the girl, even if it was only in her mind. "What's up?"
Shinobu came into the room, quietly shutting the door behind her.
This simple act drew Kitsune's attention because, quite frankly, anything Shinobu had to say could usually be said in front of anyone. She was the least secretive person Kitsune knew, and she doubted the girl had an ounce of guile in her, so she wouldn't be cooking up any plans to deceive anyone.
Now this, she thought, choosing the sweater with the low-cut neckline, is interesting.
"May I ask you something, sempai?"
As the door was shut, Kitsune pulled her shirt off, smiling as the younger girl averted her eyes. So timid…
"Sure, Shinobu… go ahead."
Waiting until Kitsune had pulled her sweater on, Shinobu looked up into her eyes and asked, rather bluntly, "Are you… seeing Urashima?"
Kitsune laughed, ruffling Shinobu's hair and shaking her head as she replied, "Why, are you thinking of going for it?"
"Yes."
"Well," Kitsune said, stowing her laughter as she found the younger girl staring at her with a completely serious expression. "Best of luck to you then, though I think you've got some pretty stiff competition."
Licking her lips, Shinobu said, "And are you one of them? You didn't answer me."
Kitsune leaned forward, putting her hands on her knees and looking into Shinobu's eyes. "Would you give up if I was?"
Shinobu averted her eyes, but held her ground. "I saw you kiss him today…"
"Ha," Kitsune snorted. "On the cheek – as a thank you… yeah."
"I don't-" Shinobu cut herself off, taking a deep breath and forcing her eyes to come up to meet Kitsune's once more. "I know that Naru likes him… and I think… I think Motoko does too…"
Kitsune shrugged. "Probably right on both counts," she said lightly, "but you're here talking to me."
"Yeah," Shinobu said, awkwardly looking away again. "I am."
Leaning against her wall, Kitsune asked, "Why? Do you really think he'd pick me, if it came down to a choice between all of us?"
Shinobu's hands wrung together against her stomach.
"M-maybe…"
Now curious, Kitsune asked, "And why is that?"
Shinobu pursed her lips, clearly unhappy that the older girl was not taking the conversation seriously. "…because you're the only one he lets get close to him."
"Huh?"
"He doesn't let anyone get close to him," Shinobu said slowly. "If Naru's nearby, or Motoko, or Su, or even… even me, he's tense and clumsy. He stumbles a lot, and accidentally, you know, touches us… but if he's paying attention, he never lets anyone get close enough to touch him."
"Except me," Kitsune finished sarcastically. "Right."
Shinobu frowned. "It's true," she said simply. "No one… none of us has ever hugged him or kissed him on purpose."
Ignoring the wide range of jokes this comment – and really, the entire conversation – presented, Kitsune said, "Yeah, but that's only because I don't hit him, and he knows I'm playing with him."
"Are you?"
Kitsune sighed. "Yes, Shinobu, I am," she said patiently, shooting a glance at the clock and clucking her tongue as she found that she only had twenty minutes to get ready. "Is that all you needed?"
Spent too much time fooling around, she thought, but hey… that's like, my M.O.
"So, you're not going out with Keitaro?"
"No, Shinobu, I'm not… he's all yours." Kitsune snorted. "You know, if you get past the others, I mean."
Shinobu nodded as if this was no laughing matter, then, to Kitsune's surprise, extended her hand. "Will you support me?"
Containing her smile, Kitsune took Shinobu's hand… then fell to one knee, kissing the girl's knuckles before she could pull back and proudly declaring, "I will do everything in my power to help my lady win her love!"
Instantly, the heavy mood in the room vanished, and Shinobu let out a nervous giggle. "Th-thanks, sempai."
"Sure, sure," Kitsune said, waving one hand. "Now shoo before I change my mind and go seduce him. If I'm the only one he lets close to me, it should be no problem!"
"Oh, don't even joke," Shinobu begged. "I'm… I'm really serious, sempai."
Kitsune put her hand on the girl's head. "I know you are," she said gently, "and like I said… I'll support you, ok? But just so you know, it's going to be hard."
Shinobu nodded. "I know," she sighed, "but I'm still going to try."
"Best of luck, then."
"Thank you."
As the younger girl took her leave, Kitsune shook her head, turning back to the mirror to regard herself for a moment. Of course he doesn't like anyone else near him, she thought with some amusement, you and Su are kids, and Naru and Motoko always kick his ass – why would he get anywhere near any of you?
Smiling as she turned to examine her profile in the mirror, a final, wicked thought crossed her mind.
I said I'd support you, Shinobu… but I can still play with him a little bit, can't I? Sure I can…
When she left for the concert, Kitsune was smiling like cat who ate the canary.
Continued…
Author's notes: guess this means I'm officially continuing. It'll be slow going, since I haven't read all of the manga, and I'm going on mixed anime and manga continuity (weird, huh?), so I don't know when chapter 3 will be out. I do have a pretty decent direction, though, so hopefully it won't fall stagnant. Wish me luck.
Pre-read on this chapter was done by Hawker-748, who was good enough to point out that half of the original version was utter crap and needed to be rewritten. Couldn't have done it without you, man – seriously.