A Different Life

by crosseyedbutterfly

AU that starts before the anime or manga. A forced engagment, random turtle demons, throw in some new characters, plus an explination of several people's pasts...well... guess you'll have to read it and see...CHAPTER 23 UP. Fini.

3. Home Again

Chapter 3, just for you! ^_^ Thankies for the reviews, if there were questions or something and I saw 'em, I'll post the answers at the end of this bit.

**IMPORTANT** One thing I was wondering, how is everyone getting to my fic? Because, for me, the link is literally not showing up under the Love Hina section. . Please let me know if this is the case, or if you've had this problem in the past and can tell me how to fix it.

Enjoy.

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The new couple sat side by side as the scenery flashed by along behind them, glad for the peace and quiet after the interesting ride there in Kenjou's truck with all the seven kids piled in the back and then the barrage of sticky kisses and promises to come back and visit soon that had followed. Keitaro couldn't get Motoko's smile out of his mind, the tender and caring look that had practically made her eyes glow as she'd kissed each child on top of their heads one last time. She was beautiful to begin with, but that one small change of a heart-felt smile that reached her eyes…the difference was unbelievable. Whoever said the eyes were the window to one's soul was right, for the ronin felt she'd learned to mask every part of herself, except those. Something stirred, deep in his gut, and Keitaro hoped that, maybe someday, he'd find himself the receiver of that smile, as the kids had been.

"Looking forward to returning home?" he asked out of the blue, sitting there in his usual jeans, shirt, and sweater and her in her kendo uniform.

"To seeing everyone, yes," came the simple reply. "The explanations, though…" She glanced up at him cautiously, her eyes giving him a guardedly concerned look. "They could prove to be difficult."

"I'm here with you, every step of the way," offered Keitaro as he put his hand over hers hesitantly, relaxing and squeezing it slightly when she didn't pull away, but instead intertwined her fingers with his own. "Whatever help I may be."

"Please don't take offense if I'm not as…open with you here as I was at my home," she whispered as the rail cars slowed down, announcing their arrival at their station. "I'm not sure how this…all of this…is going to be taken."

"I understand things will be different here," replied Keitaro as he rose carefully, helping her to her feet and making sure her wound was fine before they each picked up their bag and Motoko tucked the box containing the remains of her shattered blade under her arm. "I can't promise that everything will be fine, or that it'll even be easy. All I can guarantee is no matter what happens, I'll always stand beside you."

She glanced at up him, her face completely serious, yet still calm.

"And I, you."

Together they left the station, hand in hand for support as Keitaro felt should either let go the other would turn and run in fear rather than face the group back at the Inn alone. As it was, he really didn't want to. Naru had been down right scary, and he could do without another round of Kitsune's teasing as well. Soon the Inn loomed into view, both of them pausing at the bottom of the steps as the sound of others voices drifted down to them from the top.

"Are you ready?" asked Keitaro as he watched her survey her long time home, almost as if she was weighing it for any changes that might have occurred in her absence.

"I..."

"HANDS OFF HER PERVERT!"

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*back a few moments in time*

"They're here," announced Haruka from the top of the steps of Hinata-sou, everyone else piling out to stand there and watch the pair who stood at together at the bottom of the steps, conversing quietly. Naru noticed the linked hands first of all, though, and charged down the steps of the Inn with her fist ready to send Keitaro into L.E.O.

"HANDS OFF HER, PERVERT!!!!"

Keitaro watched in slow motion as her hand drew nearer and nearer, it would be so easy to just simply move to the right, just out of range…so that's what he did.

"Naru-sempai!"

Keitaro looked to the side, both he and Naru equally surprised at her first shot by his head instead of through it and she was sent toppling forward from the loss of impact. Holding his hands out, his luck seemed to be with him for once as he caught her by the arms and righted her quickly, moving before she could regain her senses and put Motoko between himself and her.

Motoko herself was in a state of partial shock. She should've know and expected it, after what he told her in their room, however…seeing him this way still surprised her none the less. Her bag and the box lay at her feet where she'd dropped them, hands reaching for her side where her sword would normally be and finding them empty.

Composing herself quickly, she glanced at Keitaro who begged her to step in with a single look and cleared her throat. "I appreciate your concern, Narusegawa-san, but Keitaro-kun has done nothing worthy of punishment…"

"Keitaro-kun?!" Naru stepped back, a suspicious frown coming over her face. "This can't be real. I'm dreaming…" She reached down and pinched herself on the arm. "Ow!!"

"This isn't a dream, Naru-chan," said Hina merrily as she shuffled down the steps with Haruka by her side. "Welcome home, grandson and granddaughter-in-law! I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of moving both of your things into Motoko-chan's room…it is more private than the actual Manager's room, after all!"

"You can't be serious!" cried Naru as her mind went into overload-mode. "Hina-san, Haruka-san, please tell me this is just a joke…"

"It is no joke," stated Motoko as she schooled her face into a cool mask. "Our families…betrothed and married us in a few day's time."

"Tsuruko-san wouldn't do that for no reason at all," argued Naru quickly. "She's to level-headed to do something like that. Besides, why him of all people…?"

"There were…extenuating circumstances," replied Motoko as she knelt to retrieve her bag and box, running a hand along the polished surface for a moment as she winced from the movement. "Many things that were beyond all participants' involved control."

"Motoko-chan!!" A flash of tan and blonde came hurtling down the steps, leaping from halfway down to Motoko's shoulders where the small girl attached herself around her middle. "You're back! You're back! You're back!!"

"Su, wait, I...aaah...!" Keitaro immediately helped Motoko remove the younger girl as Su allowed herself to be moved in confusion. "Su-chan....mmh...gomen, but you're going to have to be more careful than that..."

"Did Su hurt Motoko-chan?" asked Su sadly, backing up a step as Motoko breathed deeply, deft hands checking to make sure the slice had remained closed this time. "Gomenasi, I didn't mean to..."

"Oh, I know, Su..." Motoko stepped forward and gently hugged the small foreigner, showing her where to be careful on her side. "It's alright, you didn't know..."

"Are you ok, Motoko-chan?" asked Naru as she frowned in concern, Keitaro having already satisfied himself that she was fine from the look she sent him. "This PERVERT here hasn't done anything to you, has he?"

"No, I'm fine," replied Motoko quickly as she continued to comfort Su. "It is nothing serious, merely a scratch attained during a...duel of sorts. I shall just have to be careful for awhile..."

"We missed you," offered Su as she snuggled into Motoko's good side with far less strength than normal, back to her usual happy self.

"I missed you too, and I'm sure you were perfectly behaved while I was gone?" Kitsune groaned as she winked at the kendo girl.

"Of course I was!" replied Su with a grin as she gave Motoko a peck on the cheek before bouncing off again. "Su's a perfect angel!"

"Angel of pain and destruction, maybe," muttered Kitsune as she cracked her back. "Anywho, so this is the lucky guy…congrats on the marriage, hun! As well as the demon-slaying thing, I understand it was your first solo run."

"Wait, how did you know?" asked Motoko hesitantly as Kitsune pulled out a bottle of sake out with a ribbon behind it from behind her back.

"Oh, I have my many, may ways," replied Kitsune secretively. "They are quite informative…some of which include tapping the phone line...."

"Which explains a lot," muttered Hina out of the side of her mouth.

"Why didn't you tell me about it?!" demanded Naru as Keitaro backed another step away from the overly violent girl in fear.

"What? And miss your reaction to all this? Yeah right!" Kitsune laughed as Naru face-faulted, the newlyweds creeping off to the side in hopes of escaping the group for awhile. Those hopes were not to be, though, as Kitsune appeared between them and grabbed their arms. "Where do you think you're going? This maybe short notice, but we should celebrate this anyways with a few good drinks and some time together!"

"Kitsune, I do not think…"

"Come, I'll go make my famous noodles and sauce," cut in Hina as she ushered them up the stairs and into the house itself. "And Haruka-chan can run down to the Tea House for some drinks."

"It's Haruka-san," muttered the aunt as she turned and left with a slight grin on her face.

"I suppose a little time couldn't hurt," said Keitaro hesitantly as the pair was shooed into the living room, seated at the window and told not to move.

"If you insist."

"That went better than I'd hoped," admitted Keitaro as he sighed with a wry grin.

Motoko rolled her eyes, other than that showing little emotion at all. "How so?"

"I'm alive and unarmed, you've been accepted back in as if nothing happened at all, and tomorrow will be a new day," replied Keitaro with a grin as a set of wine glasses and the bottle Kitsune gave them were set between them.

"Let's party!" yelled Kitsune as streamers and confetti appeared out of nowhere, Hina bringing out some trays of food and Haruka a pot of rare tea with cups. Su danced about the room as agile as a monkey. Their luggage disappeared upstairs, Naru disappearing with it along with a bottle of sake from the table, the later two which weren't seen again that night.

"What's marriage? It is good to eat?" asked Su as she popped up in front of Motoko, putting her forehead to the elder girl's with a smile. "Cuz Kitsune-chan said you're the first one to get it among us!"

"No it's not something you can eat," replied Motoko slowly as she searched for words the foreign girl would understand. "It's something you share with another person."

"Could you share marriage with me, then?" asked Su as she jumped up and down happily.

"No, I already share one with Keitaro," replied Motoko quickly. "With you, I share friendship remember?"

"Well, then how're they different? Isn't he your friend too?"

"Well, in a way, but…I…you see…"

"Come along, Su-chan! I've got a lovely banana pie baking just for you!"

"Whee!! Coming, Hina-san!"

"She's very curious," commented Keitaro as his wife looked away, trying to gather her scattered wits once more.

"She's always been that way," came the quiet reply. "It gets her, and the rest of us, in more trouble than you could imagine."

"Oh, I'm sure…how's your side, though? Su is notoriously strong, I was told..."

"Nothing than I can't handle," she replied with an ever so slight smile, one that curled the edges of her lips but never reached her eyes. "Arigato for asking."

"You two seem to be getting along alright," commented Haruka as she appeared beside them, leaning against the wall as she took another drag on her usual cigarette that hung from her lips, the smoke curling up into a thin reef above her head.

"It could be worse," said the pair as one, quoting Hina's most famous phrase on cue without even realizing it. Glancing at each other, they blushed and looked away again.

"Yeah, it could," she admitted with a wry grin. "Gomen, for missing the ceremony, I wasn't exactly invited…however, I wish you luck and happiness none the less. Also," she took a long drag on her death stick and coughed politely. "Some nieces or nephews would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath…"

Keitaro paled, then blushed in about a three second span. "Oba-san!!"

*thwap* "Haruka-san to you."

"Oi…yes ma'am…" Keitaro rubbed his head gingerly, Motoko covering her mouth as much to hide her grin from Keitaro's 'beating' as to hide her blush. She would have to speak with Haruka-san about that later on…

"Speaking of family," she said quickly, trying to change the subject. "Will we be visiting your parents anytime soon, Keitaro-kun? I was not given the honor of meeting them during their...visit to my family's dojo."

"Not for a year at least…" came the reluctant reply.

"That's a very long time," puzzled Motoko, giving him a look that pierced him straight through most likely without meaning to. "Surely, they would want to see you before then…?"

"There is an ultimatum upon my return," admitted Keitaro with a wince.

"Really? What is it?" Motoko frowned as Keitaro refused to look her in the eyes. "Whatever it is, we could find a way to accomplish it…"

"There is a way, and it would take both of us," coughed Keitaro as his cheeks turned a flaming red. "They want grandchildren."

"…oh." Motoko slowly reached down and picked up her sake, taking a long sip before she went on. "If you wish, I…uh…we, um…"

"Then again, visits home are generally very boring at the best of times, so not seeing them for a few years would be fine with me," stated Keitaro quickly, scratching the back of his head as he chuckled nervously. Picking up his own glass, Keitaro took a sip and glanced at her shyly. "Believe me, you're not missing much there."

"I'm thinking it would not be wise to visit my family unless under similar conditions for awhile, either," admitted Motoko slowly. "I'm assuming Kenjou told you about the…eh…traits of my family?"

"Oh, hai, he did."

"Then, they'll know. Or they'd guess, either way."

"Great…"

"Yep."

Several hours, bottles of sake and wine, trays of food, and rounds of random toasts later, the couple stood in the middle of the devastated room together and watched as the rest dragged themselves on up to bed. Kitsune lay passed out on the couch with Su wrapped around her waist, whimpering incoherently whenever the vise-like grip got a little too tight.

"Leave it," advised Motoko quietly as Keitaro reached for some of the trash that covered the floor. "Because it was in your honor, all of this will 'magically' disappear in the morning. I would take advantage of this opportunity were I you…it's not likely to happen again."

Keitaro glanced at his watch and yawned, chuckling carelessly. "I suppose. It is midnight, after all." Taking her hand in his own, Keitaro let Motoko lead him up the stairs to her room. Seeing as they'd both, once again, had a few more sips (cups....bottles...it's all the same after awhile ^_~) of sake than they should've, they leaned on one another for support as they went.

Opening the door, he found it to be very similar to the one they'd shared with Motoko's family in Kyoto, being practically decorated but still having a homey feel to it. A double futon lay across from the door tucked in a corner, a window over it and another near the other corner with a low desk under it. A set of shelves occupied the space at the foot of the futon, and on the third wall was the closet with the changing screen beside it. In one corner sat a small shrine with a single, ivory comb on it with the ashes of past burned incense in the bowl before it.

"So...this is your room?" asked Keitaro as he looked around, stepping in nervously as all his past experiences in entering female territory had ended in A: a bloody nose B: a black eye or C: an unplanned trip into Lower Earth Orbit.

"It's yours as well, now," his young wife reminded him hesitantly, pausing behind him as if to wait and see what he would do first. "If...if it does not please you, you may change it as you wish..."

"No, it's fine, really! Go ahead and change," offered Keitaro in an attempt to ease the tension in the air, turning his back on her to open his bag. "I'll stay out here while you do."

Motoko hooked her bag with one hand and slipped behind the screen, Keitaro quickly stripping to his boxers and an undershirt, pulling on a comfortable pair of pants out of habit and laying down on the side nearest the door. Rubbing his forehead with a sigh, he looked around as the lights went out, Motoko slipping around him wearing a loose shirt that went to her thighs. Reaching over impulsively, he caught his hand in her own and brought it to his lips gently.

"Motoko-chan…?"

"Hm?" She sat there beside him with her silk-like, raven hair falling over her shoulders to obscure her face from his sight. Gingerly, he brushed away the strands with his free hand, then caressed her cheek with the tips of his fingers. Leaning into his touch, she sighed as she intertwined her fingers with his own and squeezed slightly. She hesitated as he tugged her towards him gently, but followed his lead none the less. He was her husband, and she owed him her life, beside the fact it was expected of her...

Memories of the night of the wedding feast sprang to her mind, the same warmth and passion she'd felt that night spreading through her veins once more. She knew this must happen, and in some ways wanted it was, yet…His hands tightened around her possessively as she rested her weight on his chest, the kiss deepening even as her hands began to massage his chest. His own hands began to wander, fumbling with inexperience as he reached instinctively for the hem of her shirt.

It was too much to fast. She was losing control, being overwhelmed in a way she'd never experienced before. Breaking away with a gasp, she turned her head to the side. "Stop."

Keitaro paused, letting go to brush the hair away so he could see her face. "Is something wrong?" he asked tentatively.

"I…I can't…" She trailed off, sighing in frustration as she tried to still her shaking hands and failed. "Please...I just...."

"Then...you don't have to." Keitaro lay back down and gently took her hand, tugging her beside him as she reluctantly curled up against him, mindful of the wound. "Gomenasi...it's your choice, I shouldn't push things along..." Firmly shoving all thoughts of the perfect body that had been almost fully pressed against him moments before, his arousal slowly died as he forced his attention entirely on comforting his wife rather than the previous alternative. "Shh…it's alright, just relax," he whispered as he ran a hand through her hair, trying to think pure thoughts even as her scent almost set him off again. "I....I didn't hurt you, did I? Motoko-chan, please, I..."

"Gomen." Motoko wrapped her arms about herself as his eyes began to grow heavy, sleep overcoming his senses as exhaustion from the day's events set in. "I've failed you, as your wife."

"You've failed me as nothing." Keitaro yawned as he went on, his words fading as he drifted off into dreamland. "We can talk about it…in the…morning…hm…" Motoko sighed as she listened to his breathing level off, one arm curled loosely about her waist and the other tucked behind his head. Sleep was something she did not think she'd find that night, but before long she too had drifted off safely in the arms of her husband to the lands of nod.

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Naru yawned as she opened the door, shuffling out into the hallway tiredly as she noted the thumping from above had stopped for awhile. Good, that meant Motoko had finished her morning warm-up and would be taking her bath soon, which means they'd be able to corner her in the hot springs. Besides, she had a slight hang over from her indulgence in the night before in attempting to convince herself it was all a dream, and a soak before classes would do her good. Obviously, though, it hadn't worked.

Apparently Kitsune had the same idea, as she and Su were already in the hot springs, sidling up beside a zoned-out Motoko. Whatever Kitsune said next remedied that problem, though.

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me, have you had mad passionate sex with this Keitaro guy yet?" repeated Kitsune with a foxy grin as Naru slipped into the water, Su coming over to give them an enthusiastic greeting before swimming off to play some more.

Motoko sank in the water up to her nose, her hair floating around her as she gave Kitsune a masked glare. Coming back up slightly, her glare intensified as she crept closer in a way that made the foxy lady back up slightly.

"Get your mind out of the gutter," was all she said rather forcefully, settling back down a moment later with an unusual look on her face. "Which reminds me, though, I meant to ask you something last night…"

"Advice for you and your lover? Sure thing, hun. I'll do the best I can!" Kitsune grinned.

Motoko's lips curved into a devious grin, her eyes glinting with a strange light. "It's some information, actually…"

"Information?" Kitsune leaned forward eagerly. "Go on…"

"Yes, in regards to some pictures that just happened to find their way into my sister's hands…" The grin became far more predatory that before and Kitsune gulped nervously as Motoko advanced on her slightly. "You wouldn't know anything about it, would you?"

"Can't say that I do. Oh, look at the time! Gotta go do, uh, stuff! Later!" Kitsune backed out of the spring and then into the changing room faster than any of the other residents hand seen her move in awhile.

"Do I want to know?" asked Naru as she edged away slightly, Motoko going back to leaning against the edge of the hot spring.

"Kitsune-san sent the photos from your birthday to onne-san," explained Motoko as she watched over Su in the distance. "Needless to say…she was less than appreciative of them."

"The first one was nice enough, though I can see where the second and third might've caused you a problem." Naru chewed on her nail, shrugging after a moment's thought. "Gomen, just the same..."

They lapsed into silence, Naru fidgeting with her towel as she tired to think of something to say. "So…I…"

"I'm making you uncomfortable," murmured Motoko as she focused her intense gaze on Naru suddenly. "I'm the person I was before all this, Naru, just with a new…attachment."

"He was a total pervert during his first visit," argued Naru in concern. "Motoko-chan, I am worried about this…"

"He explained things to me," came the even reply. "And there is an a very good and reasonable explanation for it, as well."

"He's a guy, and a perverted one at that, what other explanation is there?"

"You'd be surprised." Motoko rose quickly, calling to Su. "Though I'm not sure you'd believe me…"

Naru shrugged her shoulders as she rose. "Try me."

The swordswoman paused, the shrugged with a nod. "He was possessed by a demon of sorts, and cursed with clumsiness, poor eyesight and ill luck, all of which were laid on him by his family."

"You're right, I don't believe you." Naru crossed her arms, still frowning. "There's absolutely no way, demons are only things of legends…"

"I would never lie about something like that!" replied Motoko sternly, holding Naru's eyes with her own. "I may have been forced into a marriage I am not ready for, but I will not dishonor my mother's memory by failing my duties!" She paused, turning away again. "Even if I must defend my husband's honor against one who was my friend…"

"…you really are serious." The elder girl got out of the water, circling around to face her long time companion. "Gomen, I just…a demon? But how did…?"

"I…dealt with the situation as it occurred," came the quiet reply, Motoko shuddering even as she spoke.

"How did it happen? And when? I mean, demon's don't just appear out of nowhere…"

Motoko froze for a moment, a faint coloring covering her cheeks as she coughed nervously. "I do not think I should divulge that information at this time…"

"Naru! You're going to be late for class!!" yelled Kitsune from one of the windows, disappearing back inside as Naru glanced at her watch and scrambled for her clothes when she realized how late she was.

"Gomen, Motoko-chan!" She glanced back, a dissatisfied frown on her face. "We'll talk more later…"

"It's fine. Sayonara!"

"Bye!"

"I'm glad you're back, Motoko-chan," said Su sweetly as she nuzzled her cheek affectionately, getting a ghost of a smile out of the elder girl as she randomly popped out of the water behind her. "It's Sunday, so you can play with Su-chan, right?"

"Not this time, Su-chan," replied Motoko reluctantly as she sat the young girl aside, patting her on the head. "I have many things that need to be attended to…"

"Aww. Su go find Kitsune, then. She's fun to play with too!"

"Ok, I'll see you this evening, then."

"Bye!"

Motoko slowly dressed herself, taking care as she had even before her marriage that everything was in order before she walked out into the hall and back upstairs to her…their room. She reached for the handle, images of the night before making her pause before calling carefully.

"Keitaro…?"

"Right here!"

"Eh?!" Motoko spun around, surprised to find Keitaro literally right behind her. Taking a step back to put some space between them, she bumped into the door and felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment of being surprised like that. She hadn't even heard him walk up. "Ah…I trust you slept well, Keitaro-kun?"

"Hai, very well," came the hesitant reply. "Say…can we talk for a minute?"

"There is something we need to discuss," admitted Motoko slowly as she stepped aside to let him enter.

"No, no, ladies first." Keitaro reached past her and slid the door open, grinning shyly as she gave him an odd look, but went inside none the less. He'd made sure to tidy his things up before he'd gone down to eat as she'd left her things completely spotless and didn't want to seem like a slob. He'd woken not long after she had, but in mad scramble to figure out why he was in a female room and how he'd gotten there he'd made more than a bit of a mess.

She knelt by the low table by the door, and waited for him to do the same. He did so, fiddling with a pencil as she hooked some stray hair behind an ear.

"About last night…"

"It's ok," cut in Keitaro as he looked away, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I…uh…" he trailed off, blushing as Motoko bowed her head to hide her own flushed face. "We never really had a chance to talk about it…and I know what your sister expects of us, but…I don't want anything from you until you're ready and willing to give it to me."

Motoko cleared her throat nervously. "I…offered already…"

"It was an offer of duty, not of…want." He looked away, not meeting her eyes as he fiddled with the pencil again.

"…oh."

Keitaro shook his head slowly. "Do you hate me?" He suddenly felt himself flush as she gave him an odd look, one that reminded him of the night before, as well as the night of their wedding feast. "Ok, stupid question, I know. But...how do you feel about me? About...us? Really?"

"I…" Motoko shook her head slightly, as if trying to shake something from her mind. "I don't hate you, for as you mentioned....you know...." She blushed brightly, clearing her throat before she continued. "I don't even dislike you. I just…like I stated once before, you confuse me…"

"What is it that I do that confuses you?" asked Keitaro openly as he held his hands before himself. "I'll try to explain my actions as best I can if you'll explain to me what it is you need to know."

"In my eyes, you are a paradox," came the slow, steady reply. "On one side, you are a male, which usually automatically gives you the titles of pervert, lecher, stupid, lazy, dishonest, untrustworthy, uncaring…in other words, someone to be punished every time the chance presents itself." She frowned as she looked at some point in the distance, Keitaro sweating as he heard the conviction come through her voice. Her eyes softened considerably then, alighting on him for a moment before they moved to her hands as her face flushed. "Yet…on the other, you are Keitaro, my....husband. A person who had proven to be none of these things, ever. When I was vulnerable, you helped me and protected me rather than taking advantage of my situation, though it would've been to your…benefit. You've never lied to me about who you were, nor what it is you thought. My sister trusts you, as do the children…and of any, I trust their judgment most of all. You've given me my life back, demanded nothing of me in return when you have every right to, and only asked that I do what makes me happy…even when for all you know that could be to your harm or disadvantage.

"So this is where I am at. You are two things to me: a male, and Keitaro, both of which are the opposite of each other in everyway…can you see why it confuses me?"

"Hai…it would probably confuse me as well, if I were in your shoes," admitted Keitaro with a lopsided grin. "Is there something you want me to do? To change? I-"

"No! I don't! You are-..." Motoko paused, lowering the hand she'd raised as if to reach out for him. Catching it before she could retract it completely, he held it in both of his own gently. Sighing, she looked away as her face colored even more. "And then you do something like this…"

"Have I offended you?" asked Keitaro as he began to let go. "Gomen, I just…"

"You didn't," she replied quickly. She hesitated then, thinking carefully as she spoke the next part. "You never do. And, often times it pleases me when you are…affectionate in your own way." Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I…enjoy it…but it is new to me, and in some ways the control it could and does give you over me…it is something I have never dealt with before. I do not like giving up my control. It makes one...weak. And vulnerable."

"I would never use what we share against you," promised Keitaro as he squeezed her hand. "You are my wife, and though it was not our choice, I will still honor you."

"I know," she replied with a slight smile, still refusing to meet his eyes. "You've proven that to me, in ways that cannot be ignored, yet…the proof is at war with the past and I do not know how long it will take for them to reconcile. Until then I…don't know what I feel for you for sure. It's unusual, I suppose, for me to be this way. Had we met under different circumstances, I am not so sure that I would have given you the respect and…kindness you deserve."

"I'm sure you would've come around eventually," he reasoned with a grin as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "But chances are, had you not taken care of my 'demon problems'….between my bad luck and clumsiness it wouldn't have been long before I got kicked out permanently."

"Still, that worries me…that I might have misjudged you so wrongly. And if I might have misjudged you, who else might I have wrongly accused of actions and deeds in the past? It is something I shall have to think about later on…" Motoko drew back her hand, Keitaro letting go reluctantly as she folded them in her lap.

"You have a very good reason for thinking the general male population is scum," he pointed out in a low voice. "It would explain-"

"That does not make it right!" Leaning slightly forward, she went on. "All my life, since Tsuruko gave up her claim as heir, I've worked to protect those weaker than myself, to distribute justice where it was needed, and to use all my abilities to become a warrior my family would be proud of…that my mother would be proud of. To think that I might have been doing the opposite of that all these years is something that disturbs me far beyond even what I can understand!" She looked over at the shrine in the corner with its single ivory comb, a strained look coming over her face.

"I know that often times we think ourselves to be one thing, and then find we are not at all what we imagined ourselves to be," offered Keitaro slowly as he attempted to put what he was thinking into words. "And when we're forced to face the true image of ourselves it can be…disconcerting. But here's the way I see it: Only you really know how far from your imagined image that you really are. Therefore, here's a chance to start things anew. Your family has rarely seen you all these many years, so I doubt they would know. The girls here at Hinata-sou seem to accept you no matter what is it you're like. You have been given the perfect opportunity to change your self to the way you think you should be."

"And a husband to help me along the way, who seems to be wiser than myself," murmured Motoko as she rose slowly, Keitaro watching in confusion as she made her way to the door. Sliding it open, Kitsune and Su fell into the room, sheepishly muttering some insane excuses about termites in the walls before they scrambled off again.

"Please don't tell me that was who I thought it was," winced Keitaro as the two disappeared down the hall.

"Oh, get used to it, we are going to be the latest attraction until something new happens around here," replied Motoko with a sigh as she took her practice bokken and headed for the door. "You've given me much to meditate on, Keitaro-kun…arigato for your time and patience. Do you require anything else of me at this time?"

"No...ah...you may leave." He watched her walk away down the hall before reaching for his books and forcing himself to focus on them rather than on her shapely figure from behind. "Oh, this is so unfair...I get a hot wife and she's afraid to even TOUCH me...focus now, focus on the books..."

+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+Ä+

Naru bounced up the steps of Hinata-sou, a grin on her face as she slipped in the front door and tossed her shoes with the others in the closet. "Hello, Kitsune-chan! Su-chan! Motoko-chan!"

"Well, someone's in a good mood today," teased Kitsune from where she sat on the couch, beer in one hand and the remote in the other. Su suddenly came racing by, a banana sticking out of her mouth and a box of bolts on her head as she galloped up the stairs and into her room. A series of cranks, drills, and muffled explosions followed that made the other two girls wince.

"Do you know what she's doing?" asked Naru nervously as Su appeared again, taking another box of random parts from under a random table and heading for her room with an innocent grin and a banana clenched between her teeth.

"Does anyone ever know?" replied Kitsune with a shrug. "She's been at it since Motoko asked her to leave her alone on the roof. I asked her earlier about it, and all I got was a promise that it wouldn't blow up the place like last time. Or she doesn't think it will, anyways. Her exact words were 'highly unlikely.'"

"...well, I guess that's somewhat comforting." Naru took of her coat and book bag, setting them on a chair. "How's everything going? Did I miss anything?"

"If that's a subtle way of asking how the lovebirds are...they haven't even touched each other. Motoko's been on the roof since they had some conversation this morning -yes, Su and I were spying, and no we didn't hear a bloody thing- and he's been holed up in his room studying like a maniac." Kitsune snorted. "Some marriage, I know what I'd be doing if I were married to him...he's actually kinda cute now that he's lost those dorky glasses, too." She grinned broadly, a sly look on her face.

Naru blushed horribly. "Kitsune!!"

"What?" The foxy girl winked suggestively as her friend squirmed uncomfortably, an enraged look coming over her face. "Come on, I know you want a piece of the action..."

"With a perverted loser like him? Hardly! If anything, I feel sorry for Motoko, that she has to be married to that waste of human flesh!" spat Naru vehemently, setting her face in an unpleasant frown.

"Nice to know my nephew is held in such high regard," commented Haruka as she stuck her head out of the kitchen.

"Oh! Gomen, Haruka-san, I-"

"Yeah, yeah," cut in the elder woman with a shrug and a noncommittal look on her face. "I know he's not your dream guy, Naru, and he had some 'issues' during his first visit, but would it hurt to give him a chance? For Motoko's sake? You don't have to like him, or be nice to him, I mean I'm his aunt and I'm not..."

"He's done something to her!" argued Naru weakly. "Motoko would never let anyone, let alone a guy, get that close to her. He has to be controlling her somehow!"

"Keitaro couldn't pull that off if his life depended on it," replied Haruka lazily. "He's too soft hearted, which is why, I suppose, things turned out the way they did..." Her eyes clouded, as if remembering something from not long ago.

"The demon part sounded kinda freaky, but I understand Motoko was enjoying herself very much before it reared its ugly little head," commented Kitsune, taking a sip of the beer that had made her tongue so loose. When Haruka shot her a surprised look, she added, "It's amazing what you can learn when there's only one phone in the house and you got it bugged..."

"Remind me not to use that phone anymore," coughed Naru as she rolled her eyes.

"Kitsune, tampering with Inn property might suddenly end in an increase of your rent," came the low threat, Haruka turning the phone over and locating the bug in a heartbeat, crushing it in the palm of her hand. "And I'd hate for something to happen to your sake collection as well..."

"You guys have no sense of humor," sighed Kitsune with a shrug as she heaved herself up and headed for her room.

"No, just a sense of privacy." Haruka crossed her arms lightly.

The foxy lady waved indifferently over her shoulder. "Same difference..."

"You know," said Haruka as Naru gathered up her things as well, pausing when she heard the elder's voice. "Keitaro's trying for Toudai too, if he's not in it already. You might want to ask him to study with you."

"I've studied well enough on my own, and I've got some of the highest scores on the practice test," came the haughty reply. "I don't need a loser like him dragging me down!"

"Suit yourself, it was just a suggestion..."

"Hello Narusegawa-san, oba-san," said Keitaro as he came jogging down the stairs with a grin.

"Haruka-san," came the low growl, Keitaro ducking with a grin as she attacked him with a paper fan as he passed by. "Where are you headed for?"

"To the library, and my juku," he replied as he stuffed his shoes on and shoved on a jacket, flipped his bag over his shoulders when he was ready. "If Motoko-chan asks, I'll be back in time for dinner. Is she still up on the roof?"

"Hai," replied Haruka with a short nod.

Keitaro paused, a worried look on his face. "I wonder if I should check on her before I go..."

"I'll check on her, just to make sure she's not pushing herself too hard, alright?" offered Haruka lightly.

"Ok, thanks oba-san!" Keitaro slipped out the door and was down the steps before Haruka would protest again, heading towards the library to do goodness knows what (probably studying) with his time.

"I suppose that means I'll be heading for the roof," said Haruka as she passed Naru, who'd paused outside her door.

"Who's watching the Tea House while you're up here?" asked Naru curiously out of the blue.

"Hina-san. She said she'll stick around for a day or two yet, before she heads on." Haruka caught Naru's eyes with her own, and added, "I'd suggest you keep certain opinions about her grandson to yourself until she's left."

Naru nodded reluctantly as Haruka turned and walked away. "Hai..."

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Motoko could feel Haruka long before she heard or saw her, sensing her strong, steady presence as she walked up the stairs to the roof. The familiarity of it curved her lips into a small, barely perceptible smile as she turned slowly, her eyes meeting that of the elder woman as she opened the door.

"You were just meditating, then?" asked Haruka as she closed the door behind her.

"I attempted to go through some exercises...but my concentration is unusually poor." Motoko glanced up at Haruka, who gave her a knowing smile. "I've allowed my mind to wander free since then."

"Has it shown you anything, niece-in-law?" Haruka grinned wryly as Motoko shifted uncertainly under her gaze.

"Only that it is going to be awhile yet before I am truly reconciled, and comfortable in my new roll," came the low reply. "Keitaro I trust now, and will treat him as an equal and a friend, but I hope he wishes for nothing more for the time being."

"Other than Hina-san, you are probably his only source of 'affection'," replied Haruka with a shrug. "I doubt he'll be asking for more than you give him. Heck, I'm not affectionate with him..."

"Hai, so I've noticed," admitted Motoko wryly with a nod. Her face turned more to a confused and embarrassed frown as she inquired hesitantly, "Eh...Haruka-san, can I ask you something?"

The elder woman shrugged, rolling her eyes. "You're family, you can ask me anything you want."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's policy..."

"How...how do you know..." Motoko blushed as she stumbled over her words. "Is there a sign? How can you tell when it's ok to...eh...?"

Haruka held up a hand, Motoko falling silent as the elder woman took and elongated drag on her cigarette. "If you're asking if you'll know when it's 'your time' to 'complete your duty' with my nephew, well, you just will. It's different for each person, and there isn't some magical formula I can teach you so it happens the 'right way' because there is no one right way. When the time comes...you'll just know."

"I still feel like a child stumbling around in the dark," replied Motoko dourly.

Haruka shifted uncomfortably. "I hadn't planned on a lecture of the birds and the bees, but if you need one..."

"No, no, no...you don't have to explain to me how it works!" Motoko felt herself blush even more as Haruka visibly relaxed. "My sister was informative enough about that. It's just knowing when it's going to lead up to that and you should let it that I'm lost on."

"Well, Keitaro is every bit as lost as you are," Haruka reminded her lightly. "Why don't you take his hand, so at least you're stumbling about in the dark together? Believe me, it's easier to be lost along with someone else, rather than by yourself."

Motoko blushed. "Perhaps." She paused suddenly, cocking her head to the side as she looked at Haruka curiously. "Wait...how would you know?"

"How is your side? You haven't strained it with any 'extracurricular activities', have you?" came the random change in subject, Motoko being distracted enough to forget about it entirely. Haruka grinned as the younger girl blushed even more, then turned serious once again.

"It's sore," admitted Motoko with a puzzled frown. "And it is slow to heal, despite my limited movements. At times, it bleeds as if it is freshly opened, and I know all is not right. There's nothing I can do, though, but wait. It will get better with time, the healers told me that much before I left. I suppose, in light of that, I am fine."

Haruka nodded in understanding. "Come on, it's a little windy up here, and Hina-san is down at the Tea House with a pot of hot tea that has our name on it. Famous Urashima blend and everything."

She grinned in reply. "Hai...oba-san."

"Hm...I guess coming from you, it's ok." Haruka winked at her, and Motoko allowed herself a shy grin in reply. It was strange to think of herself as actually related to this older woman now, even if she had practically lived with her for a greater part of her life. "As long as it's not in front of the others."

"Arigato, oba-san."

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Keitaro wandered the streets of Tokyo, a look of complete and utter shock on his face. He held the results of his last test in one hand, which he'd failed miserably, and his retest in the other. That's what had stunned him beyond belief, it was a near perfect score! The teacher had accused him of cheating and had gone through his pockets and everything...and came up with nothing at all. He'd then pushed it off as luck, and told Keitaro whatever it was he'd done in the last 24 hours he'd better keep doing before every test and maybe his scores would finally improve

Keitaro wasn't so sure Motoko would agree to that. Or, at least not willingly at the moment. He didn't mind, but he had promised never to push it...

Remembering something the Council had told him, Keitaro suddenly shoved the tests in his bag and headed for the nearest train station. Boarding the next one out, he got off at his 'home' stop and sat down on a bench to reorganize his cluttered thoughts. Considering his options, he pulled out a notebook and began to sketch randomly as he usually did.

Motoko probably knew what he needed to prove his thesis about this...phenomenon. But...should he ask her? He had no idea what it might involve, and he didn't want to ask if it was anything...intimate. She's was already unsure of herself around him as it was, he didn't want to add to that. Not that he was any better about her, but that wasn't the point.

Glancing up as his thoughts continued to circle back along the familiar trails of uncertainty and self-doubt, Keitaro noticed a young girl sitting across from him who was sadly staring at her hands. His pencil moving of its own accord, he'd drawn her face with the same despairing frown she wore now, a tear trailing down her cheek. Looking at what he'd drawn, he shook his head as if to himself. Starting anew, he turned the frown into a smile and added a sparkle to her eyes rather than the shadow of tears. It suited the cute little thing far better than the doom-and-gloom look she wore at the moment in his opinion.

The sketch was snatched from his hands as a group of old men in temple robes surrounded him. Jumping up, he reached for it only to have it pulled just out of reach time and time again. Seeing it flying overhead, he leapt for it with all this might...and fell short as two of the old men latched onto his legs and went tumbling to the ground as the notebook landed neatly in the girl's lap.

"Eh..?!" She picked it up as Keitaro scrambled to his feet, apologizing profusely as she just stared at the two pictures he'd drawn.

"Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Really, I'm so sorry, my hand has a mind of its own sometimes. See? Bad hand! Very bad hand! I...uh...Miss...?"

She sniffed, standing up suddenly with the notebook still clutched in her hands. Turning around, she ran away as fast as she could. "How could you?!"

"Miss, I...!!" Keitaro reached after her, but she'd already disappeared into the crowds. "Man, I didn't mean to offend her..." Scratching his head, he adjusted his bag and headed back for the Inn reluctantly. Regardless of the loss of his notebook, he had made up his mind in the moments before the insanity had broken out. Potential for embarrassment or not...he needed to speak with Motoko as soon as possible.

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Motoko was just in the process of preparing herself for the next day's classes when Keitaro walked into the room, a curious expression on his face. Switching from foot to foot in his barely contained nervousness, she waited for him to speak as she wondered in concern what it might be that had set him in such a state.

"Hi," he said with a nod as he sat across from her. In an attempt to be polite, he asked, "How was your day?"

Motoko raised and eyebrow, and replied frankly, though with respect, "You are going to give me a headache if I have watch you dance about whatever it is that is making you nervous. My day was fine, but you are not here to inquire about that...what is it that you require of me, husband?"

"Eh..." Keitaro felt his heart stop at that, and flushed in embarrassment. Was he truly that transparent? "Well, something happened today, something that has never happened before, and I have reason to believe there may be other factors behind it."

"Go on," coaxed Motoko more patiently than she would've given herself credit for. Feeling slightly more relaxed, Keitaro explained about the tests, showing them to her and swearing he'd done nothing different in his study patterns, or life besides his marriage to her. "That is most unusual..." she admitted after he'd finished. "What is it that you need me for, though?"

"Kairi, the Councilwoman, said something about going back through your memories, that there were ways to control people through them," replied Keitaro slowly as he tried to once more sort out his jumbled thoughts and put them into words. "I was thinking you might know something about it...?"

"Hai, but why would you have reason to suspect that your memories had been tampered with?" asked the swordswoman in confusion.

"My reason for going to Toudai was a memory of an old friend," he explained carefully, wondering how his wife would feel if she knew he'd pursued the goal of meeting the same girl and marrying here all those years later for most of his life. "But it's always been fuzzy...and incomplete. With the curse and the demon...well...is there someway for me to know for sure?"

"Hai..." Motoko considered his request carefully, then nodded to herself slowly. "Hai, it can be done. Do you truly want me to show you how? You may not be pleased with the results..."

"Show me," replied Keitaro firmly. "Even...even if it proves once again that my family is truly against me, at least now I would know."

"As you wish." Motoko motioned for him to rise and led him over to the bed, motioning for him to sit on it cross-legged as she took a seat similar to his own across from on the floor.

"Why did we move?" asked Keitaro nervously as he watched her let down her hair and remove a flat, silver disk from inside her gi top. "This isn't going to require anything...uh..."

"All I'm needed for is to start you along the paths of your mind," Motoko assured him quickly, a hint of a blush staining her cheeks a light pink. "Once you are set, my presence will no longer be necessary. Also, doing this for the first time has been known to drain the user, and should I not be here when you come back I would prefer that you not split your head on the table when you're unable to catch yourself from falling."

"Oh...ok." He took a deep breath, mimicking her relaxed posture as best he could. "I'm ready."

"For your sake, I hope so...now...watch the disk in my hands. See the way the light reflects off of it? Pure, and white...bring yourself into the light, reflecting back off of the disk and into your mind where the farthest of your memories lie..." Motoko kept her voice low and calm, the words sliding from her tongue in a smooth stream of confidence. His eyes became focused, and then slowly glazed over, the lids lowering until they were almost completely closed with only a slit showing they were not. He suddenly tensed, then frowned. Motoko wanted to slap herself on the forehead, his ki! She's forgotten all about it!

Reaching over lightly, she touched his hands, murmuring his name softly. "Keitaro-kun....Keitaro-kun....can you feel me?"

Sighing slightly, he replied, "Hai..."

"I'm going to do something, ok?" she said carefully, uncertain of what terms to use so he'd understand. "I can't show you, just...when you feel something, don't tense up. It's just me, and you're going to have to trust me if you want to complete this..."

"Hai..."

"Good." Motoko sat herself beside him and went into her own trance, quickly sending herself into her center ki, and using the physical connection of their linked hands to find her way to Keitaro. Coming to him, she attempted to surround him and was suddenly met with a fact that startled her when she found she couldn't.

He's more powerful than I am...

His ki was nearly half again that of hers. Switching tactics instinctively, she put that nugget of information away for later and instead merged herself directly with him, putting them in much closer contact that she'd originally wanted. It was only on the edges, their cores remaining entirely separate, but it opened a channel that had not been there before none the less. Carefully guarding her own thoughts, she did her best not to listen as surface thoughts began to reach her from the inner core of Keitaro's being.

"Can you feel me?" she felt more than heard her physical self say quietly, Keitaro nodding once in reply. "Just follow what I do...ok?"

"Hai..."

Gathering herself together, she dropped from the conscious world to that of the deepest parts of her mind with a deft twist of her ki. Coming out of it quickly, she watched as Keitaro copied her, using much more energy and wasting a great deal of time going in between, but he made it none the less. Quickly removing herself from him, she caught one last thought of his that she couldn't ignore before fleeing back to her own body.

I do WHAT to him?!

Opening her eyes back in the physical world, she quickly stood and distanced herself from him, blushing profusely as the last bit she'd caught would not get out of her mind. In fact, her mind was wrapped quite firmly around it and refused to let go. She hadn't known he was that attracted to her. And while it had originally repulsed her, now that it had whirled around her head a few times she wasn't so sure she wouldn't take him up on it should he offer other than it may not be possible with her side...

Enough! She shook her head resolutely, turning away from him and heading out the door. Find some work, in the kitchen perhaps...something. Her side twinged sharply, scolding her almost for her quick movements. Impure thoughts are not for those who bear the mark of a warrior...

If only she could convince her mind of that as well.

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Shinobu dried her face after splashing it in some cold water, looking in the mirror as she tried to erase all signs of her sadness. The others mustn't know, they already had problems of their own and needn't worry about hers as well. Slipping on her coat, she exited the public washroom and quickly maneuvered through the streets to her adoptive home.

Glancing down at her hands, she saw she still held the notebook that had landed in her lap not long ago and had been the cause of her tears to finally come, though she'd known she couldn't hold them in much longer at that point. Opening the cover, she scanned it for an address or something that would be of help to finding the young man who it belonged to. She really should apologize for first running off with his notebook, and then for reacting to his drawing like that. It was a very nice picture, really, she couldn't help but admire yet, yet the last thing she'd wanted to think of was what it would take for her to smile like that again anytime soon.

Tucking it in her bag, she resolved to take it to Naru and see what she thought. Coming to the steps, she lightly jumped up them to at a time before quietly slipping in the door and heading for her room.

"Shinobu-chan, you're back!" cried Su as she came bounding down the hall. "Did'ja have a good trip?"

"Uh, yeah," replied Shinobu, forcing herself to smile slightly. "It was fine..."

"Great! Wanna play? I got a new Mecha-Tama that's about ready to be launched..."

"Thanks, but no thanks," replied Shinobu with a shake of her head and a wry grin. "I have to unpack and get ready for school tomorrow."

"Oh, ok! Well, see ya round!"

"Bye, Su!"

"Is that you, Shinobu-chan?" called Naru as she appeared at the top of the stairs, meeting the younger girl halfway with an enthusiastic hug that the resident chef accepted shyly. "It's so good to see you again! How was your trip? Did everything go alright? We would've met you at the train station, but you didn't tell us when you were getting in..."

"Oh, that's alright, I enjoyed the walk just fine by myself," replied Shinobu with a small smile. Her eyes suddenly lit as if with a revelation as she brought the notebook into view. "Something interesting did happen though...I, eh, found this and would like to return it to whoever it belongs to as quickly as possible."

"Found it? Well, let's take a look..." Naru began to flip through the pages, noticing in surprise not only the reasonable talent with which all the pictures were drawn, but also with the varied pictures there were. Everything, from manga characters, to street people, to students, to animals, to mini-cartoons... "Wow, this guy's not bad, whoever he is...WAIT A SECOND!!"

Shinobu backed up a step as Naru suddenly trembled with rage, stiffly handing the book back to the younger girl as she held back the round of rants that threatened to explode from her mouth. "Are you sure you don't know who it belongs to?"

"No..." replied Shinobu quietly, backing up another step. "Is something wrong, Naru-sempai?"

Naru pursed her lips, having not spotted a name anywhere on the cover. It wasn't something she'd be able to handle, but she knew who could. "Take that...thing to either Haruka-san or Motoko-chan. They'll know what to do with it better than I would."

"Oh, ok...is something wrong?" Shinobu carefully took the notebook back, flipping through the last few pages Naru had gone through. "I don't see...oh." There, on both sides, were random sketches of all the Hinata-sou girls besides herself and Motoko, and all in accurate positions they normally assumed, too. Naru was running towards the viewer, fist raised to rocket someone to the sky in her school uniform and horns on her head, Kitsune lounged on the couch with a bottle of sake, and Su was jumping up in the air excitedly. There were other side sketches, but only partially finished ones that were messily done at best. "I don't understand, Sempai," admitted Shinobu as she closed the cover slowly. "The pictures aren't perverted, they're just drawings..."

"Shinobu, the fact is someone couldn't have drawn those pictures unless they'd somehow GOTTEN INTO THE INN," growled Naru as her eyes narrowed considerably and her mind entered 'kill all offending males' mode. "That or been watching us really closely for a really long time, which means we have a stalker to deal with here!"

"Oh..." Shinobu frowned, lines of worry creasing her brow as she thought about the young man who'd apologized so humbly to her, wondering if it could be he. "I suppose that's possible...I shall go see Haruka-san right away." Shinobu dumped her things in her room and went trotting on down the stairs, pausing by Motoko's room to greet her as well, but deciding not to when she heard low voices coming from it.

She's probably got a few friends over studying with her...it would be best for me to leave them alone.

She found Haruka at the Tea House, Hina taking a nap in the back for the afternoon and leaving her younger relative to mind it as she usually did. Showing her the notebook, and explaining most of what had happened that afternoon -omitting the fact she'd been crying and such- before asking what she should do about.

Haruka, taking a drag on her cigarette, turned the notebook over and immediately handed it back, a wry smile coming over her face. "Give it to Motoko," she told the younger girl reassuringly. "And tell her I said to give it to you after you explain everything to her. She should know what to do with it from there."

"Are you sure?" asked Shinobu in concern.

"Very sure," came the firm reply.

So, Shinobu did as Haruka had suggested immediately. Heading into Hinata-sou, she found the swordswoman hurrying for the kitchen, a most unusual look on her face.

"Motoko-sempai!"

"Hm? Oh, Shinobu-chan! When did you arrive?" The look on the elder girl's face softened a trifle, making the younger one warm up to her slightly as she usually did.

"Not long ago. I need to speak with you, though..." She quickly recounted her story, adding Naru and Haruka's parts as she came to them. "...and so, here it is and I hope you can return it for me," came the short finished, Shinobu handing it over as Motoko scrutinized the cover carefully. "Naru-sempai and Haruka-san seem to each think something different should be done with it, and I hoped you would know for sure."

"I do not understand that which upset Naru-sempai so," commented Motoko as she opened it up and flipped through a few pages, stopping and going back suddenly. "Ah...I see..." Her eyes narrowed, though not quite as much as the other girl's had. Flipping it over, she found something on the back that seemed to suddenly quell the girl's hidden anger in one swoop.

"Is everything alright?" asked Shinobu as Motoko sighed, closing it quickly and tucking it into her wide sleeves.

"Everything is fine, though somewhat complex..." replied Motoko carefully as she continued along her original course from earlier towards the kitchen. "I will explain everything to you very soon, I promise. But for now I will go prepare this evening's meal for everyone, and it would probably be best if you went and settled back into your rooms right now. Do not worry about the notebook, it shall be...handled in a way that is beneficial to all parties involved."

"Oh..." Shinobu frowned slightly, unsure of what to make of this odd reply from her housemate. "Ok. Are you sure you don't need my help?"

"No, I will be fine," replied Motoko, giving her a very slight smile as her put her usual mask back in place, concealing her emotions once again. "You must be tired and eager to settle back in. Please, go, for after tonight you'll probably not get another break for a very long time, and at least one night without having to cook is something we owe you for your services here. You save the rest of us from our plain and unappetizing culinary skills."

"Auu, you are not so bad, you're meals are very good, Motoko-sempai!"

"When compared to that of fast food, perhaps..."

"Hai, but...ok. Arigato!"

"Your mail is on the table by the television," added Motoko over her shoulder as she entered the kitchen, Shinobu going over to it immediately and sorting through it. Letters from friends, a bill for the new pot she'd bought, an official document of her parent's divorce, a couple of notes from school, a....wait, they had what?! Hiding the document among the others, the youngest resident fled to her rooms and locked the door behind her, biting her lip in an attempt to stop the tears that threatened to flow down her face.

I knew it...they'd told me...but I hadn't thought it would be this soon...

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Keitaro woke staring up at the ceiling, everything he'd learned all too clear now that he was coherently operating again. Sighing, he ran a hand through his messy hair and sat back up slowly, feeling strangely refreshed and drained at the same time. It was as if he'd run miles on end...and felt all the better for it.

Sighing to himself, he stood carefully and straightened his clothes, running a hand through his hair once more before he headed for the door to go find Motoko. He'd seen a lot, heard even more, and his brain was going into overload with all the newly added information. Hopefully, Motoko would be willing to discuss it with him, because he was fairly sure she'd be the only one who'd understand.

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Shinobu emerged from her room after having finally gotten herself under control, padding back downstairs in hopes of finding solace in her usual place, the kitchen. Motoko wouldn't mind her help, no matter what it was she was trying to make. And even if she wouldn't let her help with the food, the least she could do was set the table or even perhaps clean up a little where the others had neglected to in her absence.

The sound of pots and pans clanging together gently and the smell of simmering sauces beckoned her as she slipped in the door with a content smile on her face. The sight before her froze her in her tracks, though, as she watched the scene unfold before her.

Motoko stood at the stove, keeping a careful eye on the rice, soup, and fish with the sauce she was preparing. Keeping her hands busy chopping vegetables, she conversed in low tones with a young man she recognized from earlier that day as he set the table. Though they refused to look at each other, there was an air of ease between them that confused the young girl all the more.

"What does this mean?" asked Motoko, putting the finished vegetables in the soup before placing the knife and cutting board in the sink.

"It means the dream I've been chasing since I was 5 is a joke," replied Keitaro flatly, his tiredness showing through his voice. "Just my luck, of course. You'd think cursing me, impairing my vision, plus putting a demon on my back would be enough, but no...they have to screw with my memories as well!"

"I know you're upset," offered Motoko quietly, glancing worried at him as she took the rice off the stove and drained it of water. Shinobu's eyes widened a little more, Motoko showing concern for a guy?? What was the world coming to?? "But this isn't the end of your life..."

"Fifteen years I've spent dreaming and planning my life attending Toudai," went on Keitaro as he put down the last set of chopsticks and stood there dejectedly with his arms crossed. "It's the one thing I've held on to all these years. I wasn't brilliant in school, I couldn't play sports, I couldn't be 'cool' and naturally social like the others, in fact most of the time I was a clumsy loser, but that was ok because someday I was gonna make it into Toudai...it was my safety net for my sanity. Now that my dream is gone, what else do I have?"

"You have this place, don't you? And Hinata-sou has an unusual way of building a new life out of one that was lost." Motoko's face softened as she looked at him standing there. Setting the rice on the table, she put her potholders aside and reached out to his hesitantly. He took the offered hand, sighing as he enclosed it in both his own. "And even if something happens, and you lose all of this as well...I'll always be here."

Shinobu ducked out of the kitchen and ran into Naru, who was just about to open the door. "Auu!! Gomen, Naru-sempai!"

"It's ok," replied the older girl with a warm smile. "What's wrong, though? You look like you just saw a ghost!"

"Remember the notebook?" asked Shinobu nervously. "I took it to Haruka-san, like you said, and she sent me to Motoko-sempai with it, who said she'd take care of it. But Motoko-sempai is now in the kitchen talking with the guy I think it might belong to saying he'd always have her and I don't understand what's going on!"

Naru lifted her brows suggestively. "Wait...that was HIM? Hm...that could work to my advantage...perhaps. Anyways, there's nothing to worry about for the moment, Shinobu-chan. Urashima's a new 'addition' to the apartments." She cracked her knuckles, a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "Whether or not he stays is yet to be seen..."

"Everyone- oh!" Motoko stopped herself before she ran into the pair, who still stood in the doorway. "Gomen, I didn't realize you two were right there. Dinner is almost complete, if you would go and inform the others for me, Naru-sempai. There's someone I want Shinobu-chan to meet."

"Sure. Keep your distance from him, Shinobu-chan! He's a pervert!"

Motoko sighed as she rolled her eyes, waiting until Naru had left before she opened the door into the kitchen for her small companion.

"He's not really a pervert, is he?" asked Shinobu in a whisper as she hesitated to enter.

"No," replied Motoko with a reassuring look. "Just a man who's often very misunderstood."

"Oh..." She walked in, watching Keitaro as he carefully spooned the noodles from the pan to a serving bowl without spilling a drop.

"Motoko-chan," he said slowly as he kept his eyes on the dishes and set the food out to eat. "I believe I've made up my mind, but I'm still not sure..."

"Keitaro-kun?" He looked up, brightening when he realized there was someone else there.

"Oh! Gomen, Miss...?"

"Shinobu-chan, I'd like you to meet Keitaro Urashima." The swordswoman paused, considering her next few words. "He is the new manager of Hinata-sou, Hina-san's grandson, and my husband..."

"Husband?!" squeaked the younger girl, a lot of things falling into place. So that's why....and the drawings...oh! "Gomen, Urashima-san, for my rudeness...I am Shinobu Maehara."

Keitaro gave her a blank look, his eyes suddenly widening in recognition. "Just Keitaro, if you please... But, you're the girl from the train station, aren't you? Say, you don't still have my notebook, do you? I'd really like to get it back..."

"I have it," Motoko answered quickly, catching his eyes with her own. "You shall receive it after dinner..."

"Hai, Haruka-san told me to give it to Motoko-sempai, when I didn't know how to find you," added Shinobu quickly. "Gomen! Had I known, I would've returned it to you right away! I apologize for having run off like that, you startled me at the time."

"No, it's fine," replied Keitaro with an easy shrug as he turned back to his earlier job. "It's a pleasure to meet you, though..." He frowned suddenly, looking up at her in concern. "Is everything alright, you-"

"Shinobu, hun! You're back!"

The cook turned quickly, almost in relief, to accept the affectionate and somewhat intoxicated greeting from the foxy lady. Keitaro paused, about to go after her, but decided against it, concentrating instead on finishing getting the food out.

"Is something wrong?" asked Motoko quietly as she passed by him, bearing a pitcher with which she poured the drinks from.

"No, I...well, I'll tell you later." Keitaro gave a half shrug and put his dish back in the sink, taking his seat next to Motoko with Hina, who'd appeared out of nowhere with Haruka, at the head of the table.

"As you wish."

Gathering around the table, everyone else quickly took their seats and dug in with a will, the food disappearing into hungry bellies at a speed that surprised Keitaro, considering it was an all-girls dormitory. For once, though, as he was eating himself, he kept his mouth shut.

"Mmm...very good, Motoko-chan! Though there's not banana's in it..."

"Not everything has to, Su," Shinobu reminded the eccentric student teasingly. Relaxing into her normal, shy self, she sat back and enjoyed the meal immensely. Everything would be alright, for now. As long as she was here, she was safely among friends.

"However, it'll be good to have you back in the kitchen, Shinobu-chan," commented Motoko lightly. "If I had had to suffer through another morning of Naru-san's attempts at those so-called 'pancakes', I might have been forced to take over all together."

"Which, as a newsflash, Naru did make a successful batch while you were gone..." said Kitsune with a wink as Naru flushed at the mention of her not-so-great cooking skills.

"Really, how were they?" inquired Motoko, leaning forward slightly.

"We're not sure," replied Kitsune with another wink. "One of Su's Mecha Tama's kinda barbecued them to a crisp accidentally. They looked alright, though. There weren't any random green spots this time, and they were in an actual circle, too."

A round of laughter followed, Naru grumbling about the blasted mechanical turtle as Su rattled off the adjustments she made to the robot. Keitaro watched the group in awe, the way they fit together so perfectly it seemed. Even Motoko, with her serious nature, loosened up and interacted lightly with the group. While her humor had a dry edge to it, and her smile generally remained small, and contained, it was a smile that reached her eyes none the less and one he saw very rarely at that.

"So, Haruka-san told me you were trying for Toudai," commented Naru randomly during a lull in the conversation, all eyes centering on Keitaro who sat there with his chopsticks poised to eat and mouth open to feast upon the bite of rice and fish he'd selected.

"Hai," he replied, lowering his chopsticks with a hint of reluctance. "I am."

"This can't be your first year, you being 20," went on Naru as she watched him with the eyes of a hawk. "What've you been doing since you graduated from high school, hm?"

"I've taken the exam for two years," admitted Keitaro slowly. "And yes, I failed them both years. I've worked some odd jobs here and there, trying to help at least some with the expenses, but I'm not sure that I'll be trying for them again this next year with some things that've come up..."

"Failing twice, I can see why," coughed Naru flatly. "Personally, I'd be embarrassed to show my face after failing twice..."

"Oh, don't be so hard on the boy," chided Hina gently, a merry twinkle in her eyes. "He's a good kid at heart."

"Yeah, at least he tried, ya know," added Kitsune, completely at ease as she reclined back in her chair. "So what if he failed? Who cares?"

"Uh, I do, actually," mumbled Keitaro as he sweated nervously, rubbing the back of his neck as his cheeks burned with shame. Motoko, who'd remained silent as she'd noted the sly look in Naru's eyes, just twitched in annoyance and centered her attention on her cup, carefully taking small sips so her annoyance would hopefully not show.

The phone rang just then, Haruka excusing herself to answer it as Su-chan bounced off to go work on another of her projects and Hina headed back for the Tea House with the announcement she'd be leaving in the morning. Conveniently, she was able to slip off before the others registered her words and was nowhere to be found afterwards.

"Naru, phone's for you," Haruka called suddenly, sticking her head back into the kitchen. That ended the meal, Motoko rising slowing and reaching for some dishes as you usually washed the same night you cooked at Hinata-sou except when Shinobu cooked, and then everyone pitched in a different night.

"I'll take care of the dishes," offered Shinobu quickly, taking them from Motoko's hands as she began to clean up. "It's the least I can do for having been gone so long."

"You don't have to," started Motoko, reaching back for some of the others.

"But I want to." Something in the younger girl's gaze made her nod and back off, heading for the stairs instead.

"Very well, I must continue my training from earlier for I have let myself slip in my discipline. Arigato, Shinobu-chan, and welcome home."

"You're welcome."

"Wait up!" said Keitaro as he wiped his mouth and followed her up the stairs. "About my notebook...?"

"Time to sit back," comment Kitsune as she grabbed a can of beer and sat on the couch, flipping on the TV with the remote. "And enjoy a two hour special of Cowboy Beebop..." She giggled as she pulled out a random chibi Spike plushy and gave it a hug. "I just love his hair!"

"Can Shinobu-chan play with Su?" asked Su as she jumped on the other girl and gave her a warm hug. "It's been a very long time since we've played!"

"As soon as I finish the dishes," promised Shinobu with a grin as she gave her friend a warm hug back. "Why don't you help me? We'll get to play sooner, then."

"Ok!"

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"So, about my notebook....?" asked Keitaro as he followed Motoko into their room, leaving the door open behind them.

"I have some questions about it, actually," replied Motoko as she pulled it out from inside her sleeve, and opened it carefully. "Under the usual circumstances I would have hunted down the owner of this notebook, and punished him quite soundly. However...I made you a promise, that I would allow you to explain your actions should they even come under question. I trust you will do so, so that I will not be forced to break my promise..." Her face was completely neutral, except for a glint in her eyes that caught Keitaro off guard. Regret, perhaps? Regret for having made this promise...or the fact that she might have to break it?

Keitaro gulped as he accepted the slim book, flipping through the few pages someone had marked. Trying to ignore the flash of suspicion and the way her grip tightened on the bokken she wore in place of her shattered blade, he looked through the pages and tried to form a defense for himself. Suddenly, he grinned, chuckling lightly.

Motoko narrowed her eyes. "You find something amusing?"

"Please, I...I was just remembering something, is all," replied Keitaro as he calmed himself quickly. "Su was jumping around like a monkey, I remember, and that's why I sketched her like that, it was one of the cutest things I'd ever seen...You've only marked the sketches I've done of the residents here, though, and even you must admit there's nothing perverted about it, they're all in their natural poses! Drawing is one of my few actual talents, and since my parents hated it and refused to pay for lessons, I took to sketching whatever had caught my eye last when I'm bored as a way of practice. While I was being held at your family grounds and while you were recovering from our...experiences that first evening, I had nothing to do so I sketched what I remembered of the girls. I didn't mean anything by it, I swear! It's just something my fingers do automatically."

Keitaro paused as Motoko studied him carefully, weighing his words before she nodded carefully. "I believe you," she said simply as she turned to walk past him towards the still open door.

"Motoko?" asked Keitaro suddenly as she stopped next to him, looking at him inquisitively out of the corner of her eye. "Why did you only mark the pages with the other girl's pictures? There are ones of you as well, and I'm sure you saw them..."

"I can't stop you from drawing me, or doing what you want with me for that matter," replied Motoko immediately. "You are my husband, I will obey you in all things as my mother once instructed me. However, as for the others, should you ever hurt or seriously offend one of them, I would be very displeased..." She looked at him again, her mouth set in a tight line. "Please do not make me break my vow..."

"I won't," replied Keitaro quietly, reaching out to touch her arm as he closed the notebook with his other hand. "Not after you went against your nature keep it intact."

"You've just proven my original self was wrong, though," murmured the warrior woman as she bowed her head slightly. "Had I not made that promise, and held to it, I would have unjustly attacked you over an 'act of perversion' that never happened."

"But you didn't," protested Keitaro as he wrapped his hand around her arm and leaned in closer. "You listened to me...see, it is possible to change!"

Motoko opened her mouth to reply, but stopped as she caught a movement out by the doorway. Gently removing his hand, she strode over and opened the door the rest of the way. A guilty looking Kitsune and a disappointed Naru fell into the room, both quickly getting to their feet and scrambling away under Motoko's stern eye muttering random excuses all the while.

"I'll be up on the roof should any require my presence," she said simply as she turned to leave.

"Wait," said Keitaro suddenly. "I just want to ask you, how does Shinobu act most of the time?"

Motoko turned slightly, frowning in puzzlement. "She...ah...that is a most unusual question, Keitaro-kun." She glanced at him, getting only a shrug in reply. "She's shy, I suppose, and very quiet. She's content in her kitchen work, a decent student, a committed friend, and she's generally very happy and friendly. Why?"

"She was crying, earlier today, when I first saw her," replied Keitaro as he flipped back to the page from earlier. "See? That's why she's drawn with the tear the first time. I thought someone like her should be smiling, so I changed it a little...but it upset her when she caught sight of it and I don't know why."

"Crying..." Motoko sighed as she peered back out into the hallway, catching sight of the said young woman as she pranced around with Su further down. "Hmm...I should probably look into it, then, and make sure she is truly fine. Arigato for telling me. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Of course." Keitaro watched her as she disappeared up the stairs, flipping back to an even earlier picture, one of his first of her as she was asleep on her side good side, her hair fanned out around her and a content smile on her lips. Sighing, he set it aside and went back to his text books, deciding a few hours of studying before he went to be would be the best use of his time. He still wasn't sure if he was going to take the exam or not, but it didn't hurt to stay prepared...at least for now.

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Su crept up towards the roof where she could hear Motoko's bokken slice the air as she completed another slow kata, a hopeful look on her face. Playing with Shinobu had been fun, but the other girl had needed to go organize her books for tomorrow, as she had missed several days of school and would need to be prepared to catch up. So now, all she could do was wait. Not that she minded, Motoko looked so cool when she did her sword-stuff, especially when she did the moves with the huge leaps and flashes of her blade...

"What are you doing up here?" asked Motoko in surprise when she noticed her balancing on the rail patiently. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?"

"Su wanna sleep with Motoko-chan tonight," came the quiet reply as the young princess hopped off her perch and huggled her tightly around Motoko's middle with some care towards her wound.

"Su-chan...I..." He words trailed off, replaced by a realization as she gently tilted the young girl's head up to look her in the eyes.

"You don't wanna sleep with Su anymore?" she asked sadly as the elder girl sought the words she needed to make it right.

"No," replied Motoko quickly with just a little too much force. Softening her tone, she amended, "No, I don't mind sleeping with you, Su, but it's not my decision anymore."

Su frowned, then nodded slowly as if she understood. Reaching inside her pants pocket, she rummaged around for a moment as she muttered to herself. "He will make a worthy opponent...I shall accept this challenge whole-heartedly...where's that stun gun?"

"You are not fighting Keitaro," cut in Motoko as she caught Su by the arm and began to remove various contraptions she'd pulled out of the bottomless pits in her pants from her hands. "No, Su...let me talk with Kitsune and Keitaro. Go get changed and meet me outside in the hall, ok?"

"Hai!" Motoko sighed as Su skipped back downstairs, following at a more sedated pace. This was something she'd forgotten about all together, and hopefully Kitsune wouldn't be upset with her about it.

"Keitaro-kun?" she called as she entered the bedroom, seeing him seated there at the low table with his books spread all around.

"Hai? Oh, Motoko-chan!" He smiled at her warmly. "What do you need?"

"I failed to mention something to you," admitted Motoko slowly as Keitaro nodded for her to continue as attentively as ever. "Originally, I did not sleep alone every night..."

Keitaro tilted his head to the side like a dog, confused. "Wait...what do you mean?"

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It's not a cliff hanger. Or not really, anyways. Next chapter won't be long in coming, though, so I wouldn't worry about it. ^_^ Hmm...how would you react if your wife told you she slept with another female for the last several years every night? Should be interesting....well, review! Cuz...uh...you love me, right? ^_^ Please?

Oh, and here's some replies to a few of my reviews, again. Sorry that I don't reply to all of them, I simply do not have the time, nor the space really...these suckers are long enough as it is! ^_^;;

#1 *Pulls out random Vash-plushie* This is where Vash is, keeping the key chain of his Insurance Girl and a metal one of his gun company in my purse. ^_~ Sorry, he shall not be joining this story as this IS NOT a crossover and last time I checked he didn't belong in the LH universe.

#2 Thank you SOOO much to those of you who are suggesting my story to others, that really means a lot! ^_^;; And as he was suggested (by Gotenks01013), DennisDud my most wondrous thanks to you! *bows deeply* ^_^ This thanks is also for those who've added me to their fav authors or stories lists, that is a great honor!

#3 Rabid fans of Motoko/Keitaro fics are always welcome, somewhat caustic criticism sometimes isn't. Just saying so (and you know who you are) it's not that I'm offended, and I thank you for your help. However I'm used to it for my worst critics attend school with me and let me know daily what they think of my work right down to the smallest detailed mistakes, there are others who might take your comments as more harmful than good, as you did come off as a slight know-it-all. *shrugs* Just a suggestion.

#4 My chocolate is locked up in a special, cooled safe and Su knows better than to come near it. ^_~ *pulls out large hang gun, as well as a couple of knives the parental units don't know about from closet* She's not getting ANYWHERE near mine.

#5 In regards to Keitaro learning Motoko's Clan's style, that will be addressed soon, as in a few chapters. You have to understand, though, that while the couple don't LIKE the turtle clan, they're not expecting to see anything from them for some time.

That's it for this chapter. Oh, and this update between 1 and 2 came A LOT faster than I usually post chapters, just because I had it done before I ever posted Chapter 1. So...yeah, you will be waiting a little longer for Chapter 4. That, and report cards are coming out soon, and that might put a damper on things.....

Lot's a love to you all! And a Happy Valentines Day!!

~CB~

'Women don't have to be rational creatures, men give us FAR too many reasons not to be.'