Well, many thanks to those of you who left reviews! I was a wee bit worried at first that this series wouldn't receive any readers, so it felt nice to be proven wrong. Anyhow, hope you all enjoy this new chapter!

As always, Love Hina and its characters belong to Ken Akamatsu.


Lineages

Chapter 2: A fight to be free

"But..." Motoko stammered. "I'm not ready yet..."

The visiting Aoyomas seemed to exchange knowing smiles, before each took one of Motoko's arms and began dragging her away from the living room. Their intent was clear - To take Motoko back, be it willingly or not.

Not good at all...! Motoko thought, struggling against her sisters' iron grips. Once those two set their minds on something, it's like talking to a brick wall! She then blinked. There is one way, but... Sorry Keitaro, but you'll just have to bear with it...

"But sisters, you can't take me from here now!" Motoko's voice carried a surprising conviction which made the two pause, then let go of her arms.

"And why do you say that, Motoko?" Kanako blinked.

Taking advantage of the sisters' confusion, Motoko leapt out of their grasps and latched onto Keitaro. "Because, I am already engaged to Keitaro!" She then snuggled her head against his neck, trying to make her lie sound more convincing.

The moment of silence which followed was deafening. While the Aoyomas merely raised eyebrows in mild surprise, the tenants of Hinata-sou was in various states of shock. Naru and Kitsune sat slack jawed at Motoko's proclaimation, while Shinobu was struggling to hold back tears. Kaolla merely watched on with a curious expression, while Keitaro was silenced from a death glare by Motoko to prevent any contradictions.

"Well, congratulations on your engagement then, Motoko." Tsuruko smiled, causing the tenants to drop their jaws even further at seeing her believing Motoko's words.

"Joyous news indeed, sister." Kanako smiled as well. "You won't mind if we get to know you future husband-to-be, would you?" Shaking her head with a nervous smile, Motoko quickly retreated out of the living room, taking the female tenants with her as well.

"What in the world is going on here, Motoko?" Naru asked, after the whole group had cleared out of the living room and into the dining room. Everybody's expression ranged from confusion to anger at the swordswoman's deception to her own siblings, but all were willing to hear her explanation.

Taking a deep breath, Motoko looked at everyone as if she had gone through a week without sleep. "I'm perfectly content where I am right now, and I am sorry for lying and putting you all through this..." She then looked over her shoulder, and frowned at seeing Keitaro's flushed face and her two sisters happily questioning him. "I just can't go back with them, at least not yet..."

"Well, you've always been watching out for us..." Kitsune smiled. "...I guess we can play along until you sisters leave, right girls?" Seeing everyone nod, Motoko's spirits lifted slightly, and the group rejoined the others back in the living room.

"Your husband-to-be seems to be quite the catch, sister dear." Tsuruko smiled as the group joined them, causing Keitaro's flush to flush redder, Motoko's nervous look to worsen, and Naru's eyes to twitch at the mentioning of the two being a couple.

"Yes, he has." Kanako smiled, then stretched. "I hate to intrude, Motoko. But I do distinctly recall Granny Hina mentioning that you have a hot spring here." She then popped her neck and shoulders. "I was wondering if we could partake in its use before we head back to the school?"

Eager to be rid of her meddling sisters, Motoko nodded happily. "Of course! We can all go in and talk about everything!"

"Oh, silly Motoko, we can't do that!" Tsuruko smiled, causing everyone in the room to pause and for Motoko to give her sisters a confused look. "If we all were to go, poor Keitaro would be left out, and that wouldn't be fair!" This comment made all the tenants drop their jaws once more, but Motoko was the first to recover.

"But..." The resident swordswoman tried to come up with an excuse.

"Go in with him first, Motoko. We insist." Kanako's smile and tone was friendly, but carried an authoritive undertone that brooked no arguement. Motoko gulped nervously, and decided to drag a baffled Keitaro with her away from the group, much to the tenants' surprise...


"Motoko...?" Keitaro began, wearing a blindfold over his eyes.

"Not a word, Urashima." Motoko sighed, covering herself up with a towel as much as possible and sinking into the waters across from him. After a long moment of awkward silence, the swordswoman bowed her head. "I'm sorry about bringing you into this whole mess... I'm really thankful that you played along..."

Keitaro inclined his head with a smile. "It's okay, Motoko. I know Hinata-sou is special to you, it is to all of us." He then sunk lower into the waters, resting the back of his head against the edge of the springs. "I kind of guessed what was happening when your sisters was visiting, and decided to see what I can do." He then smiled again. "Besides, I'd miss having you around."

The landlord's last comment made Motoko snap her head up and look at him in surprise, and unable to control herself any longer, began sobbing quietly.

"Motoko?" Keitaro sat up quickly, concern evident on his face at hearing the swordswoman's tears. Any thoughts he had came to a screeching halt as he felt Motoko's arms wrap around him, with only her towel separating their bodies from touching each other. His face flushed furiously, and his arousal quickly became evident against Motoko's legs, who quickly uppercutted him into a nearby decorative rock with a scowl.

"How dare you take advantage of me like that?" Motoko growled, advancing on the stunned landlord. "Even though we're putting on an act, you still are a perverted male through and through!"

"An act, you say?"

The voice froze Motoko to the spot, and the resident swordswoman looked back slowly over her shoulder to see the other Aoyoma sisters standing at the entrance. Though they watched Keitaro slide from the rock and into the water face first, their attention was solely on Motoko alone.

"Sister, I..." Motoko began, but stopped at seeing the fires of rage in their eyes.

"You lied to us, Motoko..." Tsuruko's eyes blazed with anger. "You lied to your family, of all people..."

"And these test scores..." Kanako added, brandishing Motoko's test results in front of her. "If this is any indication of what has become of your martial skills as well, then you must return home for much needed training!"

"NO!" Motoko replied angrily. "This is my home now! Unlike you two, the people here treat me like a human being, not as a living weapon to be trained as the next Shinmei-ryu heir!" She then balled her fists as she glared at them. "Go home, or I will force you two to."

"You can try, Motoko." Tsuruko sighed, all signs of her cheerful attitude from earlier gone as she crossed her arms. "But know that if you fail, you will come back to us, and forsake your life here permanently."


Crashing hard onto her back, Motoko rose despite bruises covering all over her arms. Moments before when the residents heard of the challenge, they stood off to one side to cheer on their friend and fellow tenant. Everyone thought Motoko had the duel in the bag when the smaller Kanako declared she would be the one to 'test' her sister, and even moreso when the quiet Aoyoma went into combat with her sword sheathed, vowing not to draw it.

But now, seeing that Kanako had not even broken a sweat, and Motoko's training gi becoming ragged and torn, the tenants had become quiet with fear and doubt. With a roar, Motoko charged towards her sister once more, her sword flashing with lightning. Kanako stood with her arms crossed, watching her sister calmly. At the very last moment as Motoko unleashed her attack, Kanako dodged into her guard away from the energies which upturned rocks and trees alike, and crashed into Motoko's chin with a vicious kick, sending her sprawling onto her back once more.

"Stay down, Motoko." Kanako spoke calmly, not even appearing winded. "You have been proven wanting, we'll be taking you home so you can resume a proper training regime." As much as Motoko wanted to, her body was far too battered to even allow her to sit up, let alone continue fighting.

"No!"

Raising an eyebrow, Kanako turned to see Keitaro break from the group of onlookers. "Motoko enjoys her stay here at Hinata-sou, and we're all glad to have her here." He then shook his head. "As the landlord, I can't in good will let you take her from here in force."

Kanako seemed to study the young man for a moment, before smiling slightly. "You would care for my sister so much, that you're willing to face me?" She then glanced to Tsuruko, who nodded. "Interesting, normally it would be suicide for someone outside of our school to challenge me, but I sense you've had some type of training." She then gestured with one hand. "Come then."

"If you insist..." Keitaro replied, then suddenly shot forward at a nearly blinding speed, surprising the young Aoyoma. As Kanako sidestepped his fist, she found herself quickly on the defensive as the landlord followed through with a blur of punches and kicks.

"You amaze me, Urashima." Kanako smiled despite herself, speaking between each dodge and block. "Noriyasu taught you quite well."

"You know my mentor?" Keitaro blinked, then realized he had been tricked, as in replying he had slowed slightly in his attacks. The moment was one Kanako had been waiting for, as she reversed their roles and began attacking, leaving Keitaro to defend against her onslaught of blows. Seconds seem to pass as hours as the two exchanged punches and kicks, amidst the cheers of the tenants and a bruised Motoko watching from the side.

When did a spineless wimp like him become so manly...? Motoko thought to herself with a faint blush on her face.

Sweat began dripping from the two combatants, and Kanako found herself beginning to lose her calm. Just who in the world is he...? Kanako thought to herself as she dodged a fist, letting it shoot past her face by mere millimeters. What drives him to defend Motoko with such strength and determination? Knowing she needed to end the duel, she batted Keitaro's hands aside, and with a roar, a bolt of lightning struck down from the skies, sending Keitaro sprawling onto his back, his face and clothes charred into a greyish-black.

"You fought well, Urashima." Kanako spoke between gasps of air. "But you cannot win against a disciple of Shinmei-ryu without proper training..."

"I didn't need to win..." Keitaro sputtered with a weak smile, then collapsed. Confused, Kanako turned to her older sister, who had watched the whole fight from under the shade of a tree.

"His intention was never to defeat you, Kanako." Tsuruko crossed her arms with a small smile. "He outsmarted you into disqualifying yourself." With a start, Kanako looked down to see that she had indeed drawn her sword in the heat of combat, and thus broke her vow on not drawing her weapon.

"So be it." Kanako sighed, sheathing her sword. "Let us see to the two, then..."


"I want to apoligize again for the inconvience we caused..." Tsuruko bowed to Keitaro, who bowed back despite the bandages covering his head and arm. "And we thank you for continuing to care for my sister in my absence."

"It's nothing, really." Keitaro smiled. "We're happy to have her here, and rest assured that she'll be in good hands." This caused Motoko to blush slightly, forcing her to hide her face behind her bandaged hand. Both parties turned to Kanako, who seemed to have kept her eyes on Keitaro the whole time, causing him to shift uneasily.

"Landlord." Kanako spoke. "Is it possible for me to rent one of your spare rooms?"

"WHAT!" The tenants stared at Kanako, their surprise evident. Even Tsuruko raised an eyebrow, but remained silent.

"I believe that I can achieve a new level of training here that I would not be able to at the dojo." Kanako exclaimed. "Plus, it allows me to monitor Motoko's training as well, to make sure she stays in shape." Motoko merely frowned at the last remark, while Kanako smiled and turned to Tsuruko. "Your permission, sister?"

"I don't see why not, provided the landlord doesn't mind." Tsuruko shrugged.

Everyone then turned to Keitaro, who seemed to mull over the idea before extending his uninjured hand with a smile. "I can't seem to break your sister of the habit, but if you'll stop being formal and just call me Keitaro, you've got a deal." Kanako smiled and shook his hand, but watched in surprise as the landlord slipped on seemingly nothing and landed face first into her chest.

"Get your damn hands off my sister, pervert!" Motoko roared, kicking him clear through the ceiling in anger.

"Seems like you'll never have a dull moment here, Kanako." Tsuruko smiled.

"Looks that way..." Kanako nodded, a small smile gracing her face.


Like? No like? Please review!

This chapter took a little less time to churn out and is longer due to me having a rough idea of what I wanted, I hope you've enjoyed, and stay tuned as more is on the way!