The Beast

Ch 3

Disclaimer: I don't own it and I am to poor to pay for it.

Healing.

Motoko looked up surprised at the change in Keitaro's voice. As she looked into his eyes she saw the fire that raged behind them. She was startled when he moved his hand from under her chin and caresses her cheek with his fingertips. His touch was so tender and loving that Motoko realized that the fire in his eyes was for her.

She couldn't take it.

Just a few days ago she had run him through in a confused rage. Now here he was showing her tenderness and love. She struggled to her feet her mind reeling in chaos.

'How can he love me after what I did to him? I have ruined his life. He will be scorned because of his inability to move quickly. No woman would find herself attracted to him like this. Because of my stupidity he will never find love.'

She looked at him as he stared at her with concern clearly evident on his face.

'What a fool I have been. Not to see the love he had for me. I only believed him to be perverted and evil. I have hurt the only person who has ever cared for me outside o my family. I hope I can make up for my mistakes. Perhaps in time he can forgive me.'

Motoko turned her back to him during her private resolution. Keitaro stared for a moment before he started to remove his cloths. He reached over and grabbed a nearby towel and placed it so that his modesty was covered. He nearly jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up he saw Motoko had finally wrapped a towel around herself. She moved his chair closer to the water and placed the brakes in place. She stepped in and stood so that she could help Keitaro into the onsen.

Keitaro hated this with every fiber of his being. He had to clumsily fall into the water to maintain the appearance of his invalid state. As he used only his arms he propelled himself to a ledge along the wall. As he sat down he reached for the floating basket of shampoo and such only to find that it was snatched from his grasp. Startled he looked over at Motoko who was removing the bottle of shampoo. She moved over and gestured for him to turn his back to her. AS he did so wondering what she had planned he was startled to feel her hands run through his hair. As she started to scrub his head Keitaro relaxed under her fingers. Well until she dumped a bucket of water over him to wash away the suds. Keitaro was gagging as he turned to Motoko.

"Motoko a little warning next time ok." His grin disappeared as he saw Motoko's face.

She was crying. "I'm sorry." Her voice was strained like someone trying to hold back a flood of pain.

She looked at him and before he could react she whirled and with a cry of apology she tried to bolt from the onsen. She made it only two steps before Keitaro caught her hand. She collapsed in the water chanting, "I'm sorry." over and over again.

"Motoko." She heard her name called so softly at first she thought she had dreamed it. Until she felt something pull her backwards. Realizing that Keitaro wasn't this strong she spun around and stared as Keitaro stood up and pulled her closer to him.

When she was close enough he reached out and grabbed her pulling her into an embrace. She couldn't resist as the tears fell she cried as she clung to him like a person clung to a life preserver in the middle of the sea.

Keitaro moved to one of the benches while maintaining his grip on Motoko. As he sat down he pulled her so that she sat across his lap and was leaning against him. She stayed there holding him until she finally looked at him again.

"Keitaro I do not understand I was told that you would never be able to walk again." Keitaro grinned softly.

"I was given a choice. I could remain the way I was or risk everything to be with you. I am sorry about deceiving you. It was a request of your sister but that doesn't matter any more."

She was stunned. "Why would you risk yourself for me?"

Keitaro reached up and removed one of her arms and held it so that her scars were visible. "Because I love you, and I don't want to see you hurt yourself because of a mistake."

With that he gently placed a kiss on one of her scars that made her gasp. He kissed another one slowly making his way up her arm. Motoko felt short of breath as he neared her shoulder. Her heart started to hammer away as he reached her neck. Keitaro gently entwined his fingers in her long raven hair and pulled back and as she tipped her head back revealing her neck he placed a kiss under her chin in the spot where it curves into the neck. Motoko gasped and wrapped her arms about him. He released her hair and she dropped her head back down only to find Keitaro's lips pressed to hers. Sparks exploded behind her eyes as she mentally fought to keep conscious. And as she succumbed to his advances she found herself encouraging him. The two remained completely oblivious to the bystanders who had moved out into the bathing area.

"My you two have grown close in such a short time." Said a voice.

Keitaro and Motoko both jumped. Looking up Keitaro meet the gaze of Tsuruko and Haruka as they watched from the side of the Onsen. Keitaro grinned and pulled Motoko into a tight embrace. "Yes we have."

Tsuruko looked at Haruka and they both started to laugh, as Motoko blushed crimson. Keitaro hugged her tightly and smiled down at her. "I love you my beautiful swordswoman." He reached up and brushed a few strands of hair off her face, before leaning down and kissing her once again.

Their kiss was interrupted by a collective gasp as the rest of the Hinata girls made their way into the bath, and witnessed the passionate kiss that Keitaro and Motoko shared. A voice from the changing room spoke up.

"Haruka next time you need someone to take Su somewhere get Motoko to do it. Besides it's about time she got out of bed and made herself useful. Hey are you listening to me Har…" Her speech was cut short when she walked into the Onsen and saw the other girls looking back at her. Her gaze drifted into the water where she saw Motoko occupying Keitaro's lap. Naru could only stare at her once believed friend and ally against the perverted male in front of them. Her anger rose and she felt the need to hurt Motoko. Looking about she saw the disgusted looks on the others faces and felt her anger rise to even new heights. They were siding against her. They were choosing the pervert over her. She would make them all pay. She smiled to her self as she stepped closer to the water. "Well Keitaro it looks like you have been enjoying yourself. You even managed to find a new toy to play with." Motoko's face began to burn as the meaning behind that statement sank in.

Motoko turned to look at Keitaro's face and saw disappointment cross his face. "And here I was expecting something different from you Naru, but I know now that you won't change." As he looked up at Naru from the water a look of pure anger ran across his face. "But know this Naru I will not stand any more attacks on anybody living in Hinata Sou. If you do attack them you will find your self in a world of trouble." With that he turned his back to her and resumed his comforting of Motoko.

Naru stared at Keitaro. But before she could react he stood up and carried Motoko out of the onsen. The girls stared at Keitaro. Gone was the scrawny looking boy. His body was lean and muscular. Shinobu fainted and Kitsune gave him a wink. Tsuruko and Haruka were smiling and Naru was.

Seething.

She watched as Keitaro walked past her with a blushing Motoko in his arms. As they passed her Naru stepped forward and attempted to strike Keitaro in the back of the head. A loud WHACK echoed across the onsen and the girls turned to see Naru holding her backside. Tsuruko was holding her sheathed sword like a baseball player holding a bat preparing to take another swing. Naru danced out of range still rubbing her sore backside.

Keitaro had stepped into the hall so that Motoko could change first and as she stepped past him he reached out and caught her arm. She turned to look at him and was startled to feel him kiss her on the cheek. As he stepped back inside the changing room Motoko gently placed a hand to her cheek. Her blush darkened slightly.

Keitaro changed as quickly as he could glad that he no longer had to play the invalid. He stepped out of the changing room and spotted Motoko sitting on one of the couches in the common room. Walking softly he moved up behind her. Motoko nearly jumped as she felt a hand caress her cheek. Turning she saw Keitaro standing behind her. She smiled as he held out his hand to her. Deciding she took his offered hand and let him guide her to the door. Stepping out into the sunlight Motoko felt as if she had been locked away for a long time.

As Keitaro walked he felt happy to be walking with Motoko hand in hand. He didn't care what people thought or said. He was with the one he loved and that was all that mattered to him. They walked for some time before they reached the park Keitaro had been heading towards. Guiding Motoko he began to look for the spot he had found on one of his flights. Pausing for a moment to get his bearings he spotted what he was looking for. Smiling he guided Motoko towards the quiet spot.

Motoko was awestruck. It was like a scene from a portrait she had looked at in school. Sakura blossoms drifted around as the blooms danced on the wind. The tree limbs blocked the sun casting a small shade over the bench. The small pond under the tree rippled every time a flower landed on it. Keitaro pulled her to the small bench under the sakura tree. As she sat down she found herself entranced by the flowers that wafted around them in an aerial dance of color and delicacy. Keitaro reached out and plucked a flower from the air and held it gently in his hands. He turned to Motoko.

"Motoko I'm sorry that I had to deceive you. I hated to see you cry. I wanted to see you smile and be happy again. So when Tsuruko offered me the chance to see you smile I was all to willing to accept." Keitaro took the small blossom and placed it in her hand. Standing up he moved to the edge of the water. Turning to face her Motoko felt a wave of ki wash over her. Startled she glanced at Keitaro and was shocked to see the ki field around him ripple like an exposed flame. AS she watched Keitaro's body seemed to fade slightly as if he was being wiped slowly from existence. She wanted to reach out to try and stop him but his body seemed to grow and change which halted her movements.

She could only watch as the figure emerged from the rippling ki. It still felt like Keitaro she realized but the creature that now stood before her was nothing like the old Keitaro. Standing a full head taller than her the beast was covered in muscle. Its reverse articulated legs seemed to boast that if he wanted to he could move. His arms were thick and heavily muscled. The claws on his hands sheathed and unsheathed like a cats claws. His thick neck was long and seemed to curve as his head came into view. Motoko felt her jaw drop here she was starring at what could only be described as a dragon. She stood and took a hesitant step towards the creature.

"Keitaro is that you?" Motoko asked in a whisper. The creature nodded and stepped forward. Raising one of its massive arms he gently brushed away the hair covering Motoko's face. Motoko gently took the hand her own two hands. She could feel the muscle as he gently wrapped his fingers around her hand. He knelt down on one knee and gently pulled her to him. She followed still surprised that this massive yet gentle creature was the once pathetically weak Keitaro. She felt his ki ripple again. She watched as he slowly transformed back into Keitaro. He was still holding her hand and as she looked into his eyes she was surprised by what she saw.

Tears.

"Motoko when I was told what you had done I was so scared of losing you. I lay in that hospital bed crying because I feared that you had left me. I don't want to lose you."

Motoko was feeling her heart rate increase as she tried to understand what he was telling her.

"Motoko I may not have a ring or anything to give you. I just want to ask you if you will allow me to spend the rest of my life by your side. To be there when you need me, to comfort you, to love you and if possible, to have a family with you if you will allow me I would like to have the honor of being your husband."

Motoko could only stare at him. At first she didn't know what to say. After a few moments she reached out with her free hand and caressed his cheek. "Only if you allow me the honor of being your wife."

Keitaro broke into a smile as he stood up and embraced her. "Yes I would love to have you for my wife. To love, to cherish, and when I am scared someone I can come to for safety."

Motoko giggled at that last comment. "You scared?"

Keitaro laughed. "Yes even with my new abilities there is one thing that scares me."

"What's that?"

Keitaro gazed into her eyes. "Losing you."

Before she could answer he kissed her. And held her tightly to him trying to convey all the love all the caring he had for her to her. Motoko was swept away in the moment. She could hardly believe it here she was holding the one person that managed to break through every defense she had and kindled the fire in her heart. Now as she succumbed to his kiss she could only smile as they separated. Keitaro was smitten with an image of beauty. Motoko was standing with a soft smile gracing her lips. The wind swirled around them carrying the blossoms around them. Keitaro felt his heart stop.

"My god, your beautiful." Motoko could only blush as she heard him whisper those words. "Now then before it gets much later shall we go or they might start to look for us."

Motoko smiled and nodded. Together they left the park and moved towards Hinata Sou once more. Neither one of them saw the Sakura Tree wilting or the water in the small pond turning a foul sickly green color. A figure emerged from the now dead tree stepping forward the grass around it's feet began to whither and decay. Another figure rose from the slimy water and moved to stand next to the other.

"Soon it will be time."