Chapter four, chapter four...oh how we love chapter four! Dying to know what happened? Like I said, it wasn't much of a cliffie, so it shouldn't be that bad ^_~ but here it is. Enjoy!
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Naru fumed as she paced her room, angrily shoving on her sweatshirt and braiding her hair for her practice test that morning. It had been three weeks since the new 'couple' had reached their agreement with Kitsune. Three weeks, and still she couldn't find a reason other than his previous visit for him to leave. It wasn't like he was lazy or anything. He'd worked his butt off around the place, no one could disagree with that. The floors shone, the furniture gleamed, the hot springs positively sparkled. Several odd jobs that they'd been avoiding doing for months (like fixing the hole between hers and Hina-san's old bedroom that had been converted into an office for him) were completed without flaw, and he'd managed tasks with a monkey wrench that most others could only dream of.
And then the willingness to help with each and every little problem around the place...he'd won Kitsune over after he'd personally helped her go through her sake collection and get it reorganized, even adding a few extra bottles on his own as an impromptu gift. Su had loved him from the moment he let her sleep with her precious Motoko-chan, besides the fact he also played with her whenever he had the time. Shinobu, well, she had accepted his presence, and was shyly cautious about him most of the time, but she too had asked for his help concerning her homework more than once and allowed him to assist her in the kitchen when few others were.
She'd taken her concerns on Motoko and Su sharing a bed with Keitaro to Haruka, but once the elder woman had questioned the pair about it she'd decided everything was fine and could be left as it was. Su would shift back and forth between them and Kitsune every week or so, and in return Kitsune would receive a bottle of sake every time it was her turn again. Apparently, Keitaro was 'keeping so far away there might as well be a brick well between them', and thus it was all cool.
Naru didn't think so. Someone had to protect the innocence and chastity of their youngest resident, even if Motoko had ceased to care.
Last, but hardly the least, were the drawings. She'd confronted Motoko about it the next morning, and been surprised when her queries were simply waved aside with a light assurance that all had been taken care of. And last time she checked, Keitaro was still alive and breathing (or at least short one good beating) which wouldn't be the case if Motoko were truly as concerned as she should be. It was true, she must grudgingly admit, none of the sketches were perverted in nature really, but that wasn't the point! He couldn't just sketch whatever he felt like using as his subject without even asking, it was just wrong!
Hearing some shuffling feet in the hallway, she peeked out her door and saw Motoko carrying a sleepy Su back to her rooms so she could get dressed and ready for the day. Trying to frown in disapproval, she couldn't as Su looked quite adorable with her mussed hair and a fuddled look in her eyes. Settling for a neutral look, she shook her head ruefully. While she couldn't bring herself to blame Motoko for what had happened, she could and would punish this Urashima fellow at every opportunity that presented itself.
Prepare yourself, Urashima! she thought as she pulled out her glasses and set them on her nose, turning to stomp down the stairs and out the door. Your days here are numbered!
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Keitaro woke to an empty bed as he usually did, rolling over and sitting up slowly. He could still smell her presence from the night before, feel the warmth of where she'd laid. Rising quickly, he changed and splashed some cold water on his face before his thoughts could wander the paths things like that usually brought on. Being married certainly hadn't protected him from his male instincts, and the fact that his wife was a 'classic beauty' didn't help either. Then again, it's not like he'd been able to 'relieve' himself of his feelings either...
Seeing a third pillow on the bed, he was reminded of their room's new occupant every other week, the incorrigible Su who slept on the other side of Motoko with her arms wrapped tightly about the elder girl. She was so cute sometimes...he didn't mind having her there, not when he'd woken more than once to find Motoko rocking the crying preteen back to sleep, something that warmed his heart considerably. If that little girl needed his wife more than he did, then he wasn't going to do anything to hamper their times together.
Grabbing his bag and jacket, he jogged downstairs and into the kitchen, greeting everyone with a bright smile. "Morning!"
"Someone's happy this morning," muttered Kitsune from where she sat at the table, head resting on the palm of her hand and nursing a hot tea Shinobu had kindly made up for her headache. Or hangover, depending on who you asked.
"I have another practice test, and hopefully I will do as well on that one as I did the last," explained Keitaro as he accepted the plate and chopsticks Motoko handed him with a smile. Helping himself to the food on the table and a cup of tea, he added, "If I do as well as I hope, I've decided to take the test a third time. The one to get into Tokyo U, I mean."
"Wonder what Naru-chan's gonna say," commented Kitsune, barely on the edge of coherency.
"It doesn't matter," replied Keitaro with a shrug around a bite of miso soup. "She can think me a fool all she likes, but I'm going to make it this time! I can feel it!"
"Su-chan, Shinobu-chan, we must go," said Motoko as she rose, putting her dishes in the sink. Pausing behind Keitaro, she put a hand on his shoulder, one of the few times she had ever voluntarily came into physical contact with him in public. "Good luck on your test, Keitaro-kun. I look forward to hearing the results of your hard work."
Keitaro grinned as he caught her eye and winked at her, his face flushing just as hers did. "So do I!"
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Keitaro walked into the juku, two of his friends walking over and greeting him enthusiastically, one punching him on the shoulder and the other pounding him on the back.
"Long time no see, Urashima," said Haitani as he crossed his arms over his chest lightly. "We thought you might've given up on us."
"No, not yet," replied Keitaro sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "Gomen, I ...well..."
"Urashima, come see me for a moment," called the sensei suddenly, the two time ronin dropping his books at his desk and coming forward obediently.
"Hai, Sensei?"
"Your grandmother called and vouched for your absence," said the teacher quickly. "So you're cleared, just don't miss anymore days, ok? Especially not for any 'fun time', if you catch my drift. No student of mine is going to be missing class just because he's having playtime with his wife! "
Keitaro blushed hotly. "Hai, Sensei! Arigato!"
"Yeah, yeah...and congratulations, I suppose."
"Arigato, I will be sure to relay them on to my wife."
"I'm sure you will...return to your seat."
"Wow, whatever you were out for must've been good," muttered Shirai as Keitaro sat back down beside him. "Sensei's not even upset you were gone."
"Things were way far beyond my control, so he can't blame me for them," replied Keitaro, sweating slightly. "I'll explain everything after class."
"Put away your notes and have only a pencil on your desk, it's time to start your test!"
"Hai, Sensei."
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Naru sat patiently at her desk, nibbling at the sandwich she'd bought while waiting for the test scores to be posted and the tests handed back out. They weren't required to wait, but those who were serious about their rank or didn't have a life always did. Hearing the teacher re-enter the room, she quickly stowed all her things away and pushed among the others around the list that was posted by the door. It was in rank order, and her eyes flew to the top where she'd been in the top two or three if not the very first during the entire time she'd been at that juku.
Jiro's number was first, and that wasn't surprising considering he had an older brother already in Toudai that helped him study. O2635...that was Kuno, and considering he'd had private tutoring since he was 5, she didn't horribly mind being beat by him either, as long as he kept his snide comments to himself. That just meant she'd have to try all the harder next time around.
"Looks like you got shoved out of your usual 3rd spot," commented Kuno as he pointed at the list, and sure enough she'd been pushed down to the fourth slot, the lowest spot she'd gotten yet.
"By who?" asked Naru as she looked over the numbers, one she didn't recognize as one of her usual rivals.
"Dunno," he replied with a shrug as he checked the scores. "Whoever it is made a great score, though, they were only a point under me and there's usually a couple point difference between spots. Also, your score was one of your better ones, so it's like this guy just came out of nowhere..."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Found his last score," said Jiro as he came up behind Kuno with the last posted list in his hands. "Though I don't think it's right...whoever heard of someone going from second to last in line, to third from the top in one try?"
"Some sort of lazy genius?" suggested Kuno. "No one can get by with cheating in here, you know. Sensei sees to that."
"Yeah, it's like he's got eyes in the back of his head or something..."
Naru shrugged, chewing on a nail as she tried to placed the names or a face with the number and failed. "Feh...oh well. Whoever it is won't beat me again."
"Oh come on, just because you ranked first for most of the year on your first try doesn't mean you're any better than the rest of us," scoffed Kuno as he turned away towards the door. "It takes more than a little skill to get by the real deal! And that's only a few weeks away!"
"Hey, don't worry about me, I've got this one in the bag!" replied Naru firmly as she glared at his back, heading for the other door towards the street. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was that she was as ready as she was ever gonna be for that test, and she would make it into Toudai!
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"You're what?!" Shirai stopped Keitaro with his hand, turning to look him in the eye. "Keitaro...you're not making this up, are you? I mean, you've lied about some pretty lame things before but this would take the cake..."
"What?! No! My parents arranged it...sort of...and it was all carried out very quickly," replied Keitaro as he tried to explain himself without giving a lot of it away. One just didn't mention life-or-death duels with father-in-laws and wives, plus random turtle demons and scary sister-in-laws that threatened to emasculate you to one's friends unless one wanted to remain in a mental facility for a very long, long time. "I wasn't given a choice, at ALL."
They'd left right after the test, having arranged to have the results emailed to them all along with a copy of their test itself. It had begun to rain lightly about the same time, and Keitaro pulled up his hood to keep the worst of it off though he could feel his jacket getting damp as they stood there none the less.
"You mean like Raku's parents?"
"Yeah...only mine wasn't over finding another source of wealth so my dad wouldn't get thrown in jail for his gambling debts."
"I don't believe it," said Haitani with a shrug. "No offense, man, but you're not exactly a looker and your parents are way too level-headed to spring something like that on you. Besides, you're not even wearing a ring..."
"Yeah, so I thought..." muttered Keitaro as he smacked himself in the forehead. "Believe me guys, I'm married, ring or not."
"That maybe true, but he's also the world's worst liar, Haitani," pointed out Shirai bluntly.
"Ok, yeah, but he could be telling the truth and just fudging the lines slightly. Like last time he tested and got that really bad score..."
Keitaro stood between them feeling like he was getting shot through the heart with a crossbow every time they mentioned another of his faults. What truly wonderful, kind, and caring friends they were, right?
"Oi..."
"...Keitaro-kun?"
Keitaro looked up as his friends froze and turned, their jaws hitting the ground as Motoko walked up, flanked on either side by a young girl carrying a kendo bag on her back. Her own hung from her arm, holding an umbrella over herself with the other. Dressed in her school uniform, and her hair flowing freely down her back, Keitaro was reminded once more of just how beautiful she was even if her face was calmly masked from all emotion as usual.
"Motoko-chan!" he greeted her cheerfully. "How was your day at school?"
"It was satisfactory, and your test?"
"I won't know until I get home," admitted Keitaro with a shrug. "I think I did really well, though...are you heading for Hinata-sou now? I would be honored to escort you back."
"Hai." Motoko glanced back at the two girls following her. "Gina? Leiko? We will part ways here."
"Are you sure that is wise, Sempai?" asked Gina as she reached for the handle of her bokken, eyes flashing with suspicion. "They could be vile, lecherous beings waiting to prey upon your innocence once we two are gone."
"You will treat my husband with more respect than that, for he has never done anything of that sort," replied Motoko sternly as she moved towards Keitaro's side, bringing the dripping ronin under the protection of her umbrella. "I do not require that you like, or associate with him, simply that you accept him as a part of my life that is not going to disappear. As I said before, here we will part ways. I will see you both again in the morning."
"Very well, Motoko-sempai."
"As you wish, Sempai."
"Shall we go?" she asked quite simply, looking at Keitaro with her brows raised.
"Sure. See you tomorrow guys! Hope you did well!" He waved over his shoulder, walking beside Motoko down the road.
"....uh...yeah...later..."
"...bye..."
Both guys came out of their daze, blinking rapidly as they watched the pair disappear around a corner.
"So he really is married!" exclaimed Haitani as he finally remembered to breath again.
"And his wife is HOT! How the heck did he catch a babe like her...a bit of a stoic, but you know what they say about the quiet ones!! *wink**wink* Do you think she'd hook us up with those two girls that were with her if we asked?" wondered Shirai aloud.
"Dunno...hey, they're right over there! Hey, you there! The cute one with the bag, wanna go out for some-"
*WHACK*
"...mommy....!" *thump*
"Shirai?! Hey, you can't-"
*SMACK*
"Lecherous, perverted beings," muttered Leiko as she put her bokken away quickly, watching in disgust as Haitani slumped over with a huge knot on his head, Shirai laying at their feet whimpering as he held his crushed manhood. "They've done something to Sempai, that she would go with one of their kind so willingly..."
"She did say it was a legal marriage...and the one whom she went with looked so weak, how could he have gotten so close to her unless it was with her consent?" puzzled Gina unsurely.
"Sempai swore she would never touch a man, let alone marry one such as he! They must have done something...we need to gather the rest. There may be time yet to save her." Leiko turned and walked back towards the school and slipped a cell phone out of her pocket, dialing a number quickly.
Gina paused, watching the pair disappear in the distance before she turned and followed her friend. "If you insist... I'm in."
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Keitaro sneezed as they paused at the front door, Motoko frowning as she looked over at him in concern. "You need to go change before you catch a cold," she said hesitantly as he took the umbrella from her hands and shook it out quickly. She took it back from him, her hands brushing against his accidentally as she did to place it on the rack. "Your hands are freezing..."
"No, I know you want to change out of- *ACHOO*...eh, excuse me..."
"Go, now," said Motoko more firmly as she shed her shoes and turned towards the kitchen. "I don't have time to get sick and you no longer have the luxury of...eh...living alone."
Keitaro blushed just as she did, still not entirely used to the fact that they shared a bed every night, Su or no Su. "Hai, I know." He nodded and headed for the stairs, leaving her to go about her business downstairs.
"Konichiwa, anyone home?" called Motoko as she entered the kitchen, setting her school bag just outside the door.
"Just me," replied Naru from where she sat by the stove, waiting patiently for some water to boil. "Kitsune took Su with her to the movies, and Shinobu is down helping Haruka-san for awhile."
"How did your testing go today?" asked the swordswoman as she got out two cups and two more packets of tea.
"I ranked fourth," muttered Naru as she put the sheets she'd been studying to the side and took the pot off the stove. Pouring what she needed into her own cup, she offered the rest to Motoko, who accepted it with a grateful nod. "You're making two cups...?"
"Keitaro is upstairs changing, and will need it when he returns," came the simple explanation. "He got rather damp on the way home, and might catch a chill if not careful."
"Hm...he takes advantage of you even when he doesn't realize it."
"He takes advantage of nothing, Narusegawa. I would do the same for any of the others here." Motoko frowned and stirred the tea, shaking her head as she changed the subject. "Fourth is an honorable rank. You must be proud..."
"I'm annoyed," admitted Naru roughly. "It's the lowest I've ever ranked, and I got beat out of third by some idiot who hasn't passed a practice test the ENTIRE YEAR. Except this one, of course."
"Great news!" cried Keitaro as he suddenly popped into the kitchen, waving a slip of paper over his head. "I got my best score ever!"
"Congratulations," replied Motoko calmly as she pushed him firmly into a chair and set the warm mug before him. Though one might not be able to tell from her lack of reaction, he knew she was pleased with him by the twinkle in her eyes. "Drink this, it will ward off any illness you might otherwise succumb to."
"Aren't you being a little over-concerned about a couple of sniffles?" asked Naru dryly as she picked up the list Keitaro had printed off and looked it over as she had nothing better to do. Might as well see where she ranked against the idiot...
"You don't have to share a close living space with him," replied Motoko curtly, fighting the blush that threatened to stain her cheeks as she shot a pointed look in her direction. "Eh...what was your rank, Keitaro-kun?"
"Third," he replied proudly as he drank down the rest of the tea. "I even beat the smartest person in class, this high school girl who studied so much she ruined her eyes and has to wear these coke bottle glasses..."
*smash*
The couple looked over at Naru, who stood there with her mug in pieces at her feet. Shaking slightly, she crumpled the list before she shredded it into nothing and glared at Keitaro with a burning hate.
"Narusegawa-san? asked Keitaro as he rose slowly, taking a small step back as she began to advance on him. "Is....is something wrong?"
"Narusegawa, what's going on?" asked Motoko quickly as she interposed herself between the two. "Naru-san!"
"Everything's fine," replied Naru steadily as she slowly rolled up her shirt sleeves. "Or it will be...once I permanently rid us of all of HIM!!"
"Eiii!!!!"
"DIE!!"
"Narusegawa, don't-!" Motoko's words were drowned out as the elder girl shoved her aside and leapt at Keitaro, a hideous war cry springing from her lips as Keitaro turned and dashed out the door, ducking and dodging around all the random missiles sent at him from behind that she could get her hands on. Up the stairs they went, the noise echoing around the relatively empty Inn.
Motoko just sighed as she removed her bokken from her bag, running after them when she'd regained her breath from having it knocked from her with the shove. Finding them on the second story, Naru had Keitaro cornered in a dead end, and with a large lump on the top of his head. Considering the number of pots, lamps, pencils, books, and other random objects scattered around him, she was surprised that was all he had. Keitaro was rather agile, yes, but he wasn't a Neo come to life from the Matrix.
"Hold still, now," said Naru as she crept up on him once again, holding a bat over her head. "It'll only take one shot, and I'll knock you someplace far enough away to start a new life altogether..."
"Forgive me," the kendo girl whispered as she snatched the bat from Naru's hands and rapped her lightly on the back of the head with her bokken. Dropping the bat, she held out her arms and caught the school girl as she dropped suddenly.
"Auu!! What happened?!" cried Shinobu as she appeared with that day's laundry in her hands.
"Naru had some problems, and tried to take it out on the wrong person," explained Motoko carefully as she picked up the said person and put her over her shoulder, grunting as her wound protested with the extra weight.
"Is she going to be alright??"
"Hai, she should wake soon," came the calm reply as Motoko stepped up to Naru's doorway, sliding it open with her foot and glad she'd at least decided to corner him here rather than on the other side of the Inn, she might have not had the strength to carry her that far. She sat the 'sleeping' girl on her pallet before walking out again and hurrying to Keitaro's side. "Would you watch over her for a few moments, Shinobu-chan?"
"Hai, Motoko-sempai."
"Are you alright?" she asked as she knelt by him, all the random missiles having miraculously disappeared as they usually did.
"Oh, I'm fine," replied Keitaro with a wry smile as he felt his heart speed up from her close proximity. He touched his head gingerly, wincing as his hand found the bump less gently than he'd hoped.
"She gave you a nice knot," murmured Motoko as she removed his hand and gently felt along the top of his head. Keitaro just shrugged, too tongue tied to say anything at all. She hadn't touched him this much willingly since their first night back, and he sure as heck didn't want her to stop now. "What did she catch you with?"
"A...a book,...I think," stuttered Keitaro as she fussed over him for a moment longer before standing and offering her hand to him. He accepted it, and let her help support him as he got to his feet. "Dang, she's got a good arm...where is she now? Last I remember she was towering over me with something very much like a bat, and threatening to knock me far enough away to start a new life, or something like that..."
"She's...resting," came the judicious reply. "As you should be."
"I said I'd clean the hot springs today," countered Keitaro as they slowly walked down the hall towards their room. He breathed deeply and caught more than a hint of her scent being this close to her, and blushed as he felt a strange twinge in his heart.
"The hot springs can wait, you need your rest," insisted Motoko as they reached their room, opening the door and stepping aside so he could enter. "Study if you won't stay still, but don't leave this room until one of us comes and gets you for dinner."
"Who's going to clean up, then?" asked Keitaro hesitantly as he paused in the doorway. "I have responsibilities, Motoko-chan, being the manager and all...*ACHOO*...eh...excuse me...still I-" He was surprised when she put her finger on his lips, silencing him effectively at the impulsive contact.
"And I am the manager's wife," she replied in a low voice, looking slightly lower than his chin, rather than his face. "I say you are sick, as well as possibly injured. Rest, and I'll take care of anything that comes up. If you don't truly need it, then the worst that has happened is you've gotten more studying in, and I have learned some of your job as the Manager. I can handle things for one day." She glanced up at him, setting her jaw firmly as he removed her hand with his own and was about to argue again, but stopped with a sigh. "Don't quarrel with me," she advised, almost teasingly. "You won't win."
"So I see," chuckled Keitaro shyly as he took the hand he still held and covered it both of his. Kissing it gently, he said, "Arigato for caring. I'll go and rest, if that's what you want."
Motoko didn't reply, but for Keitaro she didn't have to. He bit his lip as he turned around with a wave, noting just how cute she was with her eyes all big with surprise and a light blush on her face...She didn't give him many openings to leave her flustered most of the time. He wondered if she knew she had the same effect on him at times, as he had been told by Haruka he had on her.
Snapping himself out of his daydreams, Keitaro reached for his textbook and began to read through it again, lounging on their futon in a relaxed position. Just because he'd gotten such a high score didn't mean his studying times were over with just yet!
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Shinobu knelt quietly beside the 'resting' Naru, her small hands tugging anxiously at the edges of her apron. She wasn't sure what to think of all this, but it only convinced her once again that there was too much going on for the others to be bothered with her own problems.
"Shinobu-chan?"
The said girl looked up quickly, standing when she realized it was Motoko in the doorway and bowed respectfully. "Motoko-sempai!"
"Arigato, for your time," she said distractedly, a light blush across her cheeks and an odd look on her face. In her hands she held a steaming mug of tea, which she set carefully on the low table by the bed. "I took you away from another job, did I not? Gomenasi."
"It's alright, I'll go now." Shinobu took one last look at Naru before she padded over to the doorway, about to slip back down the hall when Motoko stopped her with a firm, but gentle hand.
"Wait."
"Did I do something wrong?" asked Shinobu immediately, fear seizing her small body as she glanced up and saw a small frown on her face. "Gomenasi, I didn't mean to..."
"No! You have done nothing wrong," Motoko assured the young chef hurriedly. "I am upset with myself for having neglected to come speak with you before this time, not with you. Is everything alright, Shinobu-chan?"
Shinobu looked back up in surprise as Motoko shifted uncomfortably. Generally she would have taken a matter such a this to Narusegawa, and allowed her to handle it, for emotional confrontations was not her strong point. However, she did not think doing such would be a good idea right at that moment.
"Alright? Why, have I been...weird or something, lately?"
"It's not that I've been watching you," she explained quickly. "However, when I spoke with Keitaro-kun regarding the sketches he'd drawn, he mentioned you'd been crying. Did something happen, Shinobu-chan? Should any have hurt you, I will do what I can to avenge it...any of us here will always be here for you, all you have to do is ask and we'll help."
Motoko stiffened involuntarily as Shinobu threw her arms about her middle impulsively, a muffled sob escaping the small body that was huddled against her. Hesitantly, she embraced the young girl in return, holding her close as she automatically made soothing sounds as she would to a young child and rocked her back and forth where they stood.
"Shinobu-chan...?"
"I don't ever want to leave!" she whispered fiercely as she just held on even tighter, almost matching Su's strength to Motoko's surprise. She winced as one thin arm held her still-wounded side a tad too tightly, but she said didn't mention it for she feared it would chase the younger girl away even more.
"And you will never have to," replied the kendo girl in confusion. "You will always be welcome here, you know that, right?"
"Hai, I know," came the soft reply as Shinobu sniffled just the same, pulling out a handkerchief with which to wipe away the remainder of her tears. "Arigato, Motoko-sempai...though, gomen for getting your uniform wet!"
"It will dry. Will you be alright, though? If there's anything you wish to speak to me about..." Motoko scrunched her nose wryly, making Shinobu chuckle as she went on. "I know I am not the easiest person to approach and speak with, but I will do my best should you ever need me to."
"I think I understand why Su likes you so much," offered Shinobu as she drew back entirely, looking up at her comforter with a shy smile.
"Why's that?" she asked in reply, slightly confused with the sudden change in subject.
"Because, even though you're big, strong and tough on the outside, inside you have a heart that cares, even though you don't show it to many," came the simple reply. "I guess that's why, when we do see it, it makes it so special."
"Eh...?"
"Arigato, again! I think I'd better go get my laundry started, or there may be nothing left for me to wear tomorrow." Shinobu lifted the burden as it if weighed nothing, trotting down the hall and up the next flight of stairs before her tongue-tied companion could reply at all.
Motoko sighed as she turned and walked back into the room, trying to remember all that had been said and perhaps also what had not. Why had Shinobu been afraid of leaving the Inn? They had done nothing that she could recall that might evoke such a feeling. It had been on her return trip from her parent's house, though, and she'd been found in such a sad state...
"Hm....?"
The kendo girl turned in time to see Naru open her eyes. Bringing her the tea she'd prepared, she sat down carefully, bidding her to drink it so as to give her time to collect her thoughts.
"I'd like to know what you thought you would accomplish, behaving as you did not long ago," she asked simply, wincing as she realized how much she sounded like her sister.
"He doesn't belong here," replied Naru flatly. "He's a male, in an ALL GIRLS dorm."
"If he leaves," Motoko reminded her carefully. "I must leave as well. I'm bound to him until one of us dies, regardless of whether or not you wish to acknowledge that."
"That could be arranged, for a price..."
"Narusegawa!" She paused, gingerly touching her companion's arm. "Please, Narusegawa-san...I know we have never been very close, but we have lived together for many years. If you will not accept him, will you at least leave him alone?"
"You're going through a lot of trouble to convince me to like that perv," countered Naru in annoyance. She rubbed the back of her head where there was a slight bump, one that would most likely disappear before the end of the day. "As well as to protect him, protection he doesn't deserve!"
"It matters little if you like him or not," came the hard reply. "You can hate him, and there is nothing I can do to stop you. However, I do not like having to stand against one I count as a friend, as I did today. You are my friend and my elder, and I respect you greatly not just for that but also for the person you've become in these last few years. That does not mean I shall stay my sword if you continue with this injustice. I owe him my life, I would repay him with such if it were required of me."
Naru froze, then slowly looked over, shock written across her face. "Did you...threaten me?!"
"Please do not give me reason to act in such a way from now on," came the calm reply, Motoko rising and leaving quickly with a short bow.
Naru just stared after her, the cup resting warmly in her hands.
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The rain and stopped, and the foxy lady was very glad of it for while her young companion may not mind getting wet, she did. Su skipped along beside Kitsune, sucking on her frozen banana while expounding upon the sets and props of the movie. "And the huge eye at the top of the Tower. Not quite what I thought the bad guy should look like, but that's ok...and did you SEE how the elf dude fought those orcs? If bows weren't less practical than guns and rockets I might be tempted to take up archery!"
"Heh, I could care less about the bows," replied Kitsune with a wink. "Elfboy was cute, though I think I prefer the King-fellow, Aragorn. He was very easy on the eyes, you know..."
"What's Eazy-onda-eyes?" came the immediate inquiry as Su did some random cartwheels with her usual bountiful energy. "Is it good to eat?"
"Hm, well, not quite in that way, but I think he's pretty tasty..." Kitsune chuckled to herself as Su just smiled giddily.
"Oh, yum! Su's gonna catch her an elf now and make elfystew!"
Kitsune rolled her eyes with a shrug. "You do that, Su...
"DEATH TO ALL LEACHEROUS MALES!!!"
Both tenants paused as several dark-clad figures dashed from one side of the road to the other, disappearing back into the brush and trees on the other side.
Su blinked, then shrugged and went on with her skipping and nonstop monologue on the movie and how good elfystew would taste. Kitsune paused and watched the figures before shrugging and catching up with Su. Whoever it was, as long as they didn't mess with her sake it didn't really matter who they were and what they were up to.
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Motoko set the table as Shinobu skillfully prepared the evening meal, both working in a comfortable silence they preferred to an incessant chatter. While, had she not been distracted, she may have questioned the young cook what she'd meant about never wanting to leave, her mind was heavily burdened with thoughts of Naru and their confrontation of sorts. How she had a loyalty to Naru as well as Keitaro, the way it was tearing her apart in ways she had not thought possible.
Naru was her longtime roommate, albeit a distant one, and a stanch ally in the beginning of their high school years when the 'Peeping Tom Brigades' had been formed. She was her elder as well as a respected student in general, and up until now they'd never had a serious disagreement over something that truly mattered.
Still...she'd just threatened that same young woman without really thinking of what her words truly implied until afterwards. Was that what being with a man did to you? Turn you against your friends until the only one you could go to was he?
No, Keitaro hadn't done that...had he? Su and Shinobu had accepted him, and even Kitsune was friendly with him though she wisely kept her distance most of the time. 'Wisely?' questioned her warrior self mockingly. 'you've allowed yourself to be lowered to the role of a jealous housewife? How ever weak and sad you've become.'
"I'm not weak, I just....hm...."
"Did you say something, Motoko-sempai?" asked Shinobu as she paused in her work, Motoko realizing she'd spoken that last part aloud to her chagrin. First the doubts, then arguing with herself and on top of that letting part of it slip out...she seemed to be losing her constant control of herself.
"No, nothing of importance."
"We're home!!" called Su suddenly, bursting into the kitchen with Kitsune a few steps behind her.
"How was the movie?" asked Shinobu as Motoko got out the cups and began to prepare everyone their usual drinks (she'd gotten quite good at martinis, according to Kitsune) for supper.
"Great!! Very good effects," replied Su with great enthusiasm.
"Some hotties in it too," added Kitsune with a broad grin. "I'm not one for American guys, but that Orlando Bloom with his blonde hair was something else..."
"Su, would you run upstairs and tell Naru and Keitaro it is time for us to eat?" asked Motoko lightly while carefully brewing tea for herself.
"Whatcha gonna give me for it?" asked Su as she popped up in front of her so close their noses were touching.
"I convinced Shinobu to make banana pie for dessert," replied Motoko in a low voice, Su doing a back flip and whooping happily. "Get going, before the food gets cold!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Su skipped up the stairs, whistling to herself happily. Stopping in front of Naru's room, she stuck her head in to find her seated at her desk with a contemplative look on her face. "Naru-chan!"
"Su-chan, how was the movie?" The said young woman rose quickly, accepting her energetic hug with a grin and a wince.
"Good! But the food's ready, and they's all waiting for ya downstairs! I hafta get Keitaro, so I'll see you down there."
Naru frowned, one of her usual retorts on her lips when she recalled Motoko's words, and it died before she could even start.
"Are you alright?" asked Su as she glanced back, seeing her standing there with her mouth slightly open as if to speak and no works coming out.
She sighed, twisting her face up into a torn look between a grimace and a smile that didn't fit her very well. "Oh, don't worry about me. I'll see you at the table, ok?"
"If you say so..." Su continued to skip her way down the hall, letting herself into Keitaro's room quietly in hopes of surprising him. It looked like someone had beat her to it, though.
"Whatcha doing here?" asked Su as six dark-clad people looked up from their work of tying up the gagged, blindfolded, struggling Keitaro on the floor, four others moving in to block him from her view.
"We're...borrowing him for a while," replied one that stepped forward uneasily, looking beyond Su down the hall to make sure she was alone. She did not wish to attack such a young girl, but should she prove difficult to rid themselves of... "You'd best go back to where you came from and forget what you see."
"Why come? Are you doing something to Keitaro? Huh? Huh? Look out, cuz Motoko-chan may not like that very much." Su suddenly snapped her fingers as if in a revelation. "I know! You're spies aren't you? WOW! Keitaro's being borrowed by SPIES that's so COOL!!"
"Let me handle this," murmured one of the strangers, pulling something from her pouch and tossing it down the hall. "Hey, look, a banana!"
"Ohh! BANANA!!!"
"Hurry up," ordered the one obviously in charge, standing guard by the doorway in the shadows. "It won't keep her for long."
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The swordswoman shifted uneasily as she felt something prick at the back of her mind, frowning when she poked her head into the main room and saw Su descending the stairs by herself munching on a banana.
"Lookie what I got!!"
"Su, where's Keitaro?" asked Motoko as she crossed to the stairs quickly.
"Keitaro? Oh! Uh..." Su frowned, turning to look back over her shoulder. "They tricked me! Those scandalous, blue-blackish wearing fake spies -and I know they were fake cuz they weren't wearing cool sunglasses-...they shall pay! Right, Motoko-chan??" She looked around, catching a flash of a green school uniform as the said person disappeared into her room at a full charge.
Catching sight of the perpetrators as the last one jumped through the trees nearby with a wriggling Keitaro-shaped bundle in tow, Motoko grabbed her bow, arrows, and bokken before launching herself after them into the night.
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"She's spotted us."
"Drop the lecher and start interrogating him."
"How?"
"Whatever means you feel are necessary, whether it be force, threatening, torture, or even shedding his blood if you can find one to do so and have no other alternative, just make it fast. We may not have much time."
"You're sure, ma'am?"
"Whatever it takes, find what it is he uses to control her, and destroy or counter it some how."
"Yes, ma'am."
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Su fired up her latest invention, opening the roof somehow out of her jungle-like room and bringing it to hover just outside the kitchen. "Kitsune!! Naru!! Shinobu!!"
"Su, what the heck are you doing?!" cried Kitsune as she ran out into the yard, worry etched on her face as the last of such inventions had ended in the destruction of most of her sake collection and she'd just recently gotten it back to a decent selection.
"Helping Motoko save Keitaro from the fake spies that are borrowing him, wanna help?" came the cheery reply as a rope ladder extended from the bottom of the flying contraption.
"Eh...sure! Why not?"
"Where are you going?!" cried Naru as she and Shinobu came running out into the yard in time to see the pair fly off.
"To help Motoko sake Keitaro..." came the faint reply as they disappeared from sight.
"Come on!" yelled Naru as she got her shoes and went back outside, running after them. "We're going too!"
"But, the food..."
"Forget the food, we have to go make sure the others don't get hurt!"
"Oh, right...let's go!"
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Motoko watched attentively as the fleeing 'enemies' (she wasn't sure what she should label them as) suddenly fanned out, a small side section bearing Keitaro splitting off to the side. They wouldn't trick her that easily, though. Coming across a boulder, she leapt atop it and used it as a spring board to shuttle herself high into the treetops, jumping from one branch to the next in the shadows where they couldn't see her.
Taking her bow off her back, she grabbed an arrow and sighted along its straight shaft, seeing one of the captors below her and letting it fly. The tips were blunted wood, but the force of the shot was still enough to send it piercing through the person's shirtsleeve and pin them to the tree they were passing by.
Hearing the individual sound an alarm, she descended from her hiding place with the speed and accuracy of a hawk on its prey. She loosed a few more shafts before tossing the bow over her shoulder and drawing her wooden bokken, wishing more now than ever that she'd taken the time to replace her sword. Her side protested as she hit the ground at a run, but she ignored it and kept moving, shutting out the pain from years of practice and hoping she wouldn't tear it open again too badly when this was all over.
The first assailant to come at her on the ground wielded a metal-shod staff, but it was little use against her. Easily dodging around the slow, clumsy blows she slipped under their guard and delivered a sharp blow to the sternum, leaving them gasping for air as she moved on. It didn't take long for the rest to regroup and come at her as a team, rather than as individuals as their first teammate had done, but it still wasn't enough. Coolly, she blew through their ranks, entirely focused on one thing and one thing only: get to Keitaro as quickly as possible. Why they were trying to take him, and what their objective was didn't matter. Once he was back under her protection, they would be able to handle things from there, she was sure of it.
'under your protection?' prodded her warrior side out of the blue, and rather sarcastically as well. 'getting more than a little territorial there, aren't we?'
"Oh, shut up..."
Turning towards where she'd last seen them drag him off, she was confronted by more than a few of the fighters she'd already knocked out, winded and sore but more than willing to give it another go. Narrowing her eyes, she actually growled in frustration as she shifted her stance out of habit. This was going to take forever if she had to keep knocking them down. She hadn't been aiming to kill, or even maim, to do so without knowing one's enemy was foolish and showed a lack of mercy for warriors with less ability than yourself. However, she did not particularly feel like being very merciful right at that very moment...
A sudden rain of banana peals came from above, Su guiding a hover-craft of sorts with spot-lights above the trees as Kitsune manned one of the guns with a crazy glint in her eyes.
"Need some help there, sugar?" yelled the foxy lady as she took aim and knocked down one of the rising fighters.
"Su to the rescue!!" added Su as she brought the craft to hover in front of her dearest friend.
"Don't worry about these suckers!" advised Kitsune with a wink. "You just go save your man!"
Motoko rolled her eyes with a faint blush. "Be careful!"
"We will, just go!!"
"Yeah!! Su gonna beat you down, you faker spies!"
Mowing down another line of fighters with the unusual arsenal, they waved to Motoko who nodded in return, Shinobu and Naru appearing moments later to be pulled up into the craft and manning the two other guns (though Shinobu kept apologizing every time she shot someone). They would take care of the main force, and she would be left to concentrate on her goal.
She just hoped she hadn't wasted too much time as it was.
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Keitaro wriggled in fear as he felt his carriers suddenly stop, wishing he were flat on the ground rather than suspended in mid-air. The time they'd thrown him out of the window, and those below had barely caught him had been bad enough, he didn't want to be dropped while they were rushing along to goodness-knows where at whatever speeds they were running at. All he knew for sure was he was hog-tied, gagged, and blindfolded so well he wasn't sure he could get himself free even if he had a knife in his hands.
Suddenly, his support on all sides disappeared and he went plummeting to the ground, thankfully only being a few feet away so the most he got was a lump on his head next to the one he'd gained from when they'd attacked him in his room and some bruises along his back. Keitaro winced as he heard some 'thumps' and 'thwacks'. Someone was fighting someone else, he could sense it. Whether is was someone who simply decided to turn against their own kind and was staging some kind of revolt over taking him, or someone had actually figured out he was missing and had come after him, he couldn't tell. And he wasn't entirely confident about the second of the two, either.
Motoko was a very honorable, loyal, and kind girl when she choose to be. But she also had been saddled with him, a husband she mostly didn't want. His luck had been decent for a few weeks now, far longer than then it ever had been before, but what if it had suddenly run out? Who's to say that his wife wouldn't take the first opportunity given to her to rid herself of him entirely. She didn't seem like that type of a girl, but given his past experiences with women he wasn't willing to stake his life on it either. They hadn't even known each other a month yet, he couldn't truly expect her to possibly risk her life, especially still being injured as she was, for his sake. She may not admit it to his face, but he knew her wound was slow in healing and she hadn't practiced her swordsmanship for many days now because of it.
There were a few hurried shouts, and some random blasts of wind, and then it was over. Everything went completely silent as he lay there helplessly, wondering just what the heck had happened and if he'd be left lying there until he died of starvation. Come to think of it, he hadn't had dinner yet and he was getting pretty hungry...
A pair of strong hands seized his shoulder and pulled him up to a sitting position as he tried to wriggle away, thinking his captors had come back for him.
"Hold still if you want to get free."
Keitaro did so immediately, the surprise of a familiar voice forcing him to as he felt those same hands follow along his blindfold until they found the knot, quickly undoing it and pulling it off. A tired, and angry Motoko knelt beside him, ignoring the questioning look he gave her as she reached behind him and found the main knot of the web of ropes that immobilized him. The work of undoing the many knots one by one seemed to help her calm herself considerably, and by the time his hands were free most signs of her rage had disappeared entirely.
"Are you alright?" she asked in concern as she checked his hands over, making sure the ropes hadn't cut off his circulation too badly. Noticing the gag, she quickly slipped it off and pulled the wad of cotton stuffed in his mouth out. Running a hand over the back of his head, she found the new lump there and nodded to herself as if she were excepting something like that.
"Well enough," he replied after spitting the last of the cotton out of his mouth. "They hit me pretty hard, as you can see, but other than that and dropping me on the ground they didn't lay a hand on me...do you know who they are?"
"No," she replied flatly, looking down at his feet as she undid the last of the ropes. "And to be honest, I don't much care. They did NOT have the right to break into my home like that, and they WILL be punished for trespassing in such a way. They made a very grave mistake when they decided to cross weapons with one of the Aoyama Clan..."
"...oh." Keitaro frowned as he rubbed his wrists were the skin had been chaffed by the ropes, disappointed for some reason. Perhaps it had been a foolish wish, the one he'd harbored in the back of his mind that against all odds maybe Motoko would come save him just because it was HIM...but, he'd obviously been wrong about that...
"Are you sure you're alright?" she asked as she stood swiftly, reaching down to help him stand as well. He was once more surprised at her strength and grace, the way she helped him up as if he weighed nothing at all. Keitaro blushed as they stood eye to eye, her intense gaze showing more hints of worry and concern than ever before. Maybe...just maybe...? When he didn't reply she stepped closer, putting a hand on his arm. "Keitaro-kun...?"
Impulsively, the young ronin smiled and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you, Motoko-chan." The swordswoman stiffened automatically as she had when Shinobu had done the same thing earlier, feeling her heart race and her face flush. "I'm very glad you came for me."
"Ah...you're welcome." She backed away as he let go, refusing to meet his eyes as she tried to fight the blush. "It...was nothing. Only my duty to do so as your wife."
Keitaro grinned with a blush of his own. "I'm still very grateful."
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"Surround those below. They are careless in their attempts to attack, and while they surprised us once they will not do so again."
"Are you sure, ma'am? They're only civilians..."
"They stopped being outside this fight when they willing stepped in to help HIM."
"Oh...right."
"Tie them up once you've gotten them secured, and bring them forward. They may be of use to us very soon. Regroup after that and asses our losses, putting our best forward this time to go with the first strike."
"But, she decimated our ranks the first time with that..."
"She is tiring, and her wound drags at her strength, though she does not show it much. It shall not be long now."
"As you wish."
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Motoko and Keitaro crept through the woods, attempting to blend into their surroundings though it was nearly impossible to do so. She suddenly looked up, drawing her bokken in a flash as several dark-clad figures from before dropped down around them from above.
"Give him to us," called the one who appeared to be the leader as the person came forward a few steps. "Please, for your sake."
"He's done nothing wrong, why do you wish to take him?" inquired Motoko harshly. "Why have you invaded our home, and endangered those who lived there as well?"
"We did not force you, nor the others there to follow," replied the leader simply. "The only one we wanted, and thus the only one we bothered, was he."
"You still have not answered my question! Why?"
"He's a male," stated the leader firmly after a moment's hesitation. "One whom has subverted you from your original paths of life and strength somehow. We will find out his treacherous ways, and use them against him to set you free, this we have sworn to do in repayment to you!"
Considering her words, Motoko replied slowly, "Whatever debt you think you owe me, then, is canceled. Leave, for you have nothing to repay, and I'll refrain from the punishment you deserve."
"We won't." The leader motioned towards the back, a few other bound forms being pulled forward. It was Kitsune, Su, Shinobu and Naru. "And neither will we free them, your roommates and friends, until you comply with our wishes. We never wished to take such drastic measures, but the circumstances have forced us to. We hope you will forgive us for this someday, Motoko-sempai."
Keitaro sensed a change in the air as Motoko took another step forward, her bokken held loosely in her right hand and her head bowed ever so slightly. "That..." she whispered as she looked up, her eyes taking on a fiendish look very much like that of her elder sister's when she was angry. "...was a very BIG mistake. You may have abducted my husband, and that did upset me greatly," she said absently as she stood there looking at no one in particular with her fists clenched and a vein throbbing in her neck. "But my friends, they are much dearer to me than you can know...no one touches them, and escapes my wrath..."
Her last words were lost in a whirlwind of ki as she raised her bokken high overhead, several of the dark-clad figures rushing forwards to meet her head on. These were not so easily taken down as they were the first time, and the swordswoman was forced to exert more and more of her reserves to knock them out one by one. Still, she would not strike to maim or seriously injure with her wooden sword, and they merely got back up again one by one to rejoin the fray.
Feeling her instincts flare after ducking under a flashing tai-chi sword, she came back up and leapt as high as she could, using her attacker as a second springboard to launch herself even higher. Twisting midair, she brought the bokken up in an intricate maneuver that focused her ki into a powerful blast. Landing in front of Keitaro, she was pushed back against him as she used the attack to buffer another headed towards them, one that would have knocked the poor ronin out completely had she not jumped in the way.
"STOP THIS NOW!" Everyone in the clearing froze, Motoko looking up in surprise as another figure dashed in, grabbing the leader and shaking her soundly. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
"Let go of me, I'm completing the plan we agreed on, remember?!" came the annoyed retort, the leader tearing herself away from the other's grasp angrily.
"Even if he is a perverted, lecherous male, he CAN'T DEFEND AGAINST OUR ATTACKS! To attack someone unarmed, especially someone whom is weaker than yourself, that's against our code of honor, Leiko!"
"Honor?! WE have no honor as long as our group is lead by one whom is coupled with the likes of him!" she shrieked, on the verge of hysteria.
"It was you who claimed he might be a pervert controlling her, and I believed you," said the second figure gravely. "I followed you through this, supported your plans...but I can't support the harming of an innocent man who deserves none of this!"
"He deserves all of it and more!" replied Leiko heatedly.
"Why?? Because his parents forced him into a marriage he wanted no more than our Sempai did?! You've heard the stories, Leiko, you know the truth! Why can't you accept it?!"
Motoko swayed unsteadily as Keitaro quickly stepped forwards to support her from behind. "Why...?" she whispered faintly as she bowed her head, her weapon hanging despondently from her limp grasp. "Even my school mates, my training partners...why....?"
"I'll go." Everyone went still again as Keitaro carefully let go of Motoko, stepping around her as he looked Leiko straight in the eyes.
"You're offering to come with us?" asked Leiko suspiciously. "Why now?"
"You're hurting her," he said quietly. "I can see it, and I can feel it, and I know that in some way, it's my fault simply by my being here. I never...I never wanted her to be hurt by our obedience to our parents, but it seems that is all that has happened time and time again. If you think it would make her happy, and help her to live a better life, I would leave and never return...but only if you can promise me that, and that her friends would be released immediately."
"Keitaro, you can't-!"
"If it's what will make you happy," interrupted Keitaro as he turned and gave Motoko a sad look. "I'll go, and never come back. You and your friends will be safe, and back to your lives before I ever came around. Is that what you want?"
"He's given you an interesting option," said the second one as she removed her mask, revealing a frustrated Gina. "Will you take his offer, Leiko?"
"Release the others," said Leiko with a hint of glee, turning to the shocked and torn Motoko who stared at her hands in turmoil. It was done immediately, Su growling and snapping savagely like a dog at her captors. "There, they're free! Go, and never come back!"
"Leiko, no."
The schoolgirl looked at Motoko in surprise, disbelief covering her face as she sputtered in puzzlement. "But...they're free! You're free too, you can be rid of him, Sempai..."
"No, I can't." Motoko sheathed her sword, walking towards Leiko slowly and putting a hand on her shoulder when she was within reach. "He's my husband, and I swore on my mother's grave to follow him to the ends of this earth if I must to be with him always...because it is what she would have wanted."
"He's willingly set you free!"
"He's offered me freedom if it is what would make me happy," came the hard reply. "It would not. I would die of guilt for breaking my oath, Leiko. Even death by a stranger's hands, should I break such a vow, would not be good enough for me."
"You're not making sense!" cried Leiko in confusion and anger.
"Leiko, this is my final words on this," said Motoko firmly as she drew back a step, glancing over at Keitaro who was listening to all this in surprise. "He is a man, yes, and a strong one, but not in body. He is strong in his heart, which makes him very honorable. There is no other that I have met that I would rather be in such a union with, for he has never shown me anything but a kindness and selflessness that is hard to find in our times. And even if this were not the case, I gave my word, and my word is my life. If I, one who was raised to always stand firm, cannot keep my word, who can?"
"There is not such thing as an honorable male."
"You refuse to accept him?" asked Motoko sadly as she recognized the hate that burned in the younger girl's eyes and named it for what it was, facing the facts head on.
"He's a male," came the hot reply as she melded into the shadows, leaving them alone with the rest of the tenants. "I cannot, and I never will."
"I believe my point that HE causes more problems than solves has been proven quite nicely," said Naru simply as she turned and walked away back towards the inn, Shinobu running after her mumbling something about the pans she'd left on the stove.
The rest of the dark-clothed warriors grouped either around Gina or Leiko, evenly split between the two.
"We'll leave it at this tonight," said Leiko as she motioned to those around her, melding into the shadows expertly. "But this is not over, Sempai...we will set you free once again!"
"You will be safe for tonight," added Gina as she watched them leave, giving Motoko a sad look after a moment before bowing rigidly before her. "I'm sorry, Sempai...I should have warned you! I accept whatever punishment you deem necessary for such a crime!"
"You more than made up for your mistake in the end," replied Motoko softly, touching her side with a wince and bringing her hand up to her face to see her fingers were slicked with blood. Covering the growing stain on her side with her arm, she turned away and began to head back for the Inn. "Leave, please. I just...I just want to rest now."
"Hai, Sempai!"
"Motoko-chan?" asked Keitaro as Kitsune and Su slipped away to go pick up the hover-thingy once more, leaving them alone not far from the Inn itself. "Are you alright?"
"I'm tired," she replied flatly, refusing to meet his eyes as she turned away slightly. "If you need me for nothing else...may I go and rest?"
"Go, you deserve it," replied Keitaro quickly. "I'll bring you up some dinner, alright?"
"Yes....thank you."
"Of course...."
Keitaro followed her as she wearily trudged back, noting the slight stoop of her shoulders and the slight sparkle at the corner of her eyes of unshed tears. But he didn't know what to say or do that would make it right. Besides, she'd never answered his question, really...was she happy with him or not?
If only he knew for sure...
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"Do you think that really needed to be said?" asked Shinobu shyly as she scooped what she had been able to save from the half-ruined dishes onto the plates for the evening meal.
"What do you mean?" replied Naru as she straightened the table and helped the younger girl place everything in their proper spots.
"About Keitaro-sempai causing more trouble than he helps," came the timid reply.
"He does," she snorted flatly.
"I...do not think so."
Naru looked in surprise at the chef, who was blushing furiously as she kept her head down and finished scrubbing out the unusable contents of a pan into the sink. "...eh...why?"
"He's kind, and gentle," said Shinobu softly. "And...he cares about us, all of us, even though he just met us. And...he's good for Motoko-Sempai, just as she is good for him."
"Good for her?!" Naru forced herself to lower her voice as the younger girl jumped a bit, looking at her with wide, scared eyes. "I mean...good for her how?"
"She's strong in body, and heart," replied Shinobu shakily, backing up a bit. "But can only show it with her body in the way she protects and fights for us, like tonight. He's strong in body and heart, but he can only show it with his heart in the way he cares for the tenants and this place, giving them his all. Can't you see? They are the compliments of each other."
Naru paused, looking in surprise at Shinobu who just went back to her work as usual. Those had been some pretty heavy words of wisdom from one so young. "I suppose..."
"Hey, is the food ready?" asked Keitaro as he slipped inside, a distracted frown on his face as he nabbed a dish and chopsticks from the table. "Oh! Good, I'm gonna fill this for Motoko-chan and leave it for her if she gets hungry later..."
"She's not coming down?" asked Shinobu in concern.
"No, she's tired and I think very....confused, perhaps," he replied, pausing before continuing in his work. "I will take this up to her, and see that she's alright before I come and down and eat myself. Is that alright?"
"Hai, sempai!"
Naru just turned away and refused to look at him, Keitaro about to say something to her when he decided to let it rest until later and left to go upstairs instead.
"I still think you're not entirely correct, Shinobu-chan," she said in a low voice as she turned back to face the young girl with a twisted look on her face. "Motoko-chan would still be better off without him...that Gina girl had it right all along."
☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺☻☺
Motoko knelt behind the screen in their room, her shirt beside her on the floor as she removed the lower level of her chest bindings right below her breasts as well as the soaked bandages that covered the wound. The blood had, thankfully, dried to merely a trickle but it had still dripped a fair way down her side and stained her school uniform horribly. The wound had also developed a new characteristic, one that worried her greatly. It was a set of green lines that shot off from the wound itself, little veins that twisted and molded together on the outer edges and hurt even worse than the wound itself as they throbbed with every beat of her heart.
Washing away the blood as quickly and carefully as she could, the kendo girl rebound the wound with a generous slathering of the salve she always kept in supply from her clan's stores. Making sure it was securely done, she changed and threw her clothes in the hamper, wearing only her usual overly-large t-shirt for sleep. Lying down gingerly, she sighed.
Now what was she going to do? The kendo club would be split, that was obvious. Or at least the female side of it would be. She should have realized from the beginning who it was she was fighting against the whole time, especially when they knew her name. Their styles were so familiar, but she had passed it off as a merely generalization. Now she realized the true error of her mistake.
"...Motoko-chan?"
She went completely still, forcing her breath to become slow and deep out of years of practice. Deceiving her husband was something she did not enjoy by any stretch of the imagination, but she didn't wish to speak with him right then either. Hearing him slip in the room and come over to her side, she remained as she was as he put the tray he bore on the table and knelt beside her silently. Staying there for awhile, she held her breath as he gently brushed a few stray hairs from her face, running his fingers along the edge of her chin.
"I...I'm sorry."
Motoko felt her heart twist at his voice as he rose and left, leaving her to turn over and watch as he shut the door behind himself. Bringing her hand up to where he'd touched her, she blinked back the tears that threatened to flow.
He still thought it was all his fault, when he couldn't have been more wrong.
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Shinobu washed the dishes from the meal as Keitaro cleared the table, putting the extra food away silently with the running water being the only sound between them. Wrapping up the last of the cooked chicken in tinfoil, Keitaro handed Shinobu the dish and turned to leave.
"...Sempai?" she asked softly just before he left completely, blushing shyly as he turned to look at her quizzically. "How is Motoko-sempai? You didn't say during dinner..."
"She was already asleep, I think, when I went up with her food," he replied softly as he looked away towards the stairs. "The fight exhausted not just physically, but emotionally too, I suppose..."
"Will she be alright?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't see why not." Keitaro shrugged and glanced back at her, giving her a weary smile. "Thank you for your concern, but I have to go study now, ok? Let the others know I'm in the office if they need me?"
"Don't you usually study in your room?" she asked in confusion.
Keitaro shrugged again. "Yeah, but since Motoko's asleep, I don't want to bother her...so for tonight, I'll be in the office, ok?"
"Oh, ok."
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*In a Dream*
Motoko ran as fast as she could, her legs feeling more like columns of lead with every step she took. On and on, the shadow continuing to loom behind her as it drew nearer once again. Drawing her sword, she turned and gathered her strength, drawing on her ki as she prepared her attack.
"HIKEN ZANKUUSEN!!"
Just as every time before, she let the attack fly and at that exact moment her side erupted in stabs of unbearable pain. Collapsing, she could feel it throb with every beat of her struggling heart, the blood continuing to pour from the reopened would once again. She screamed, doubling over and falling to the ground as tears began to fall from her eyes. But this time she couldn't find it in her to rise again . She lay there, paralyzed with fear as it took on the distinctive shape of another turtle demon. Still, she couldn't rise, couldn't fight, couldn't flee, and the blood continued to pour...
Motoko tore herself from the dream to find Keitaro holding her close, talking to her softly as he tried to still her violent thrashings. Her breath came in violent sobs, tears wetting her face as she slowly gained control of herself once more.
"Shh...wake up, Motoko-chan, it's just a dream, not really at all...it's going to be fine, just open your eyes..." She became motionless instantly, attempting to draw away when he paused in his gentle monologue only to feel the fire of her wound flare suddenly.
"Ahh!"
"Motoko-chan?!" Keitaro leaned in closer when he saw her eyes were open, searching them in concern as he wiped away a stray tear she hadn't even realized was falling down her face. Glancing down, he noticed the growing stain on her side. "You're bleeding again!"
"Really?" she muttered between gasps of pain. "I...hadn't noticed..."
"Hold still," he commanded her as he rose from the bed, stumbling about in the dark until he found the switch on a lamp near the window. "I'll take care of this. Bandages?"
"My....bottom drawer..."
"Ok." He had everything out seconds later, helping her sit up as she tried to hold still through her spasms of pain. Lifting her shirt up, he focused entirely on the wound, oblivious of Motoko's undressed nature as he wiped away the blood and pressed a cloth to spot where it was cracked open again. Blinking in surprise, he looked up at her face as she just watched him silently.
"Motoko-chan...why are there green lines around it?"
The swordswoman winced, shaking her head slightly. "I do not know...they appeared today after the fight. Perhaps a side effect of my battling while still hurt, I'm not sure..."
"Oh."
Patiently he waited, not going on until he was sure the blood had stopped again. Pulling away the cloth, he cleaned it again and pulled out the salve that had been beside the bandages, spreading it gently over the open wound before he bound it over with a few layers of cloth strips.
Blushing self-consciously, Motoko folded her arms over her chest and waited stiffly for him to finish. He gentleness and gentleman attitude calmed her, though, and she gradually felt the pain diminish the longer he tended to it. The throbbing green lines diminished slightly, seeming to disappear almost with his touch.
"That must've been a pretty bad dream," Keitaro commented softly as he tied the last knot, looking up at her with a small frown on his face. "You were crying, and moving like you were trying to get away from something...you want to talk about it?"
"..." Motoko looked away as Keitaro put the materials he'd used aside, hesitantly moving closer to sit behind her and put his arms around her shoulders. Sighing, she relaxed into his embrace, feeling warmer and more safe than she had before, and feeling ashamed that she was leaning upon his strength instead of her own.
"Motoko-chan...?"
"I'm fine," she whispered as she kept her head down, her long raven hair obscuring her face from view. "Please, you don't have to concern yourself with me so..."
"No you're not." Keitaro sighed as she remained as she was. "Please, Motoko-chan..."
He fell silent when she just shook her head, leaving him to reach over and turn out the lamp before laying down again. Surprisingly, Motoko stayed close to his side, not clinging to him for support but lying next to him as they had on their wedding night, the first time he'd comforted her like this. With his arm as her pillow, and the other gently draped over her ribs so as not to touch her side they lay there together, drifting off to the lands of dreams safe in each other's presence.
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And that be chapter 4. Yeah. Hoped you liked it, sucks to be you if you didn't pretty much. Please review, I would appreciate it, and if I sound a little bitter at the moment I blame it on the half a gallon of mucus that doesn't seem to want to leave my lungs or sinuses any time soon. That, and we have a snow day (whoopee?) so that's why the updates are so close together. So...yeah. Laters.
Oh, and I'll post any replies to reviews in the next chapter, just in case a few more come in, or whatever.
~CB~