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.

8. Of Festivals and Pre Exams

Chapter 8! Chapter8! Chapter 8!

THANK YOU once again for all your wonderful reviews. All comments/questions will be addressed at the end of the chapter, so look there if you had something of relevance, or had a comment you think I might've replied to! (And really, that usually turns out to be quite a few of you...)

I would like to apologize for the wait. Seems things would slow down after AP testing, right? But NO! They give you MORE homework after it ends, just to fill in all that 'freetime' you apparently now possess. I wish.

And now for all my wonderful and loyal fans: Chapter 8

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Keitaro avoided the rest of the residents by remaining in his room for the rest of the afternoon after having grabbed a quick lunch with Motoko in the kitchen, letting his fingers run free for awhile with his sketch pad in front of him at his desk. His wife had pulled a disappearing act of her own, and though she had moved out beyond his usual sensing range he could feel she was in no present danger and didn't question the others as to where she had gone.

Using one of the photographs he'd taken as his guide, the Manager wiled away the hours in complete relaxation for once. Hopefully, he thought as he let his pencil move of its own accord and easily traced the lines he say in his mind's eye, everything would go back to normal, now that the fortune had been dealt with. Motoko had said it was neutralized, and he wouldn't be plagued by its curse anymore.

Or at least that's what he hoped.

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Motoko paced through the sacred grove by herself, partially in a meditative trance as she searched. For what, she wasn't sure, but if whoever had 'attacked' Keitaro was still hanging about by that time she would find them. Scouring the place with her senses, she realized it was completely empty and the trail long cold. Not that it mattered, she would merely have to be on her guard from now on.

She wanted to believe it was only a low prank, but the odd feeling in the pit of her stomach led her to think otherwise. The curse hadn't been a particularly potent one after its initial formation, but...given time it would have had a tenacious hold that little could have rid her husband of. Such spoke of a malice more than that of a joke, even a mean one, but she had no desire to worry Keitaro and so kept it to herself, for what he didn't know couldn't hurt him. Or at least he wouldn't lose sleep over it, and as Manager and trying to get into Toudai he had enough on his mind.

"Hey there!" called Su suddenly, dropping out of one of the trees next to Motoko and latching onto her hand. "We gotta go get ready for the festival, remember? Come on, we gotta hurry!"

Motoko frowned. "But I have always simply worn this..."

"Not if Haruka-san and the others have anything to say about it!"

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Keitaro was a little worried when the time rolled around for Motoko and he to leave and she hadn't appeared, so he left the refuge of their room and went searching for her. Already dressed in his formal wear, without his glasses and his hair a little messy from his earlier exertions, he cut a more handsome figure that he'd ever allow himself to believe. Coming across Su, Shinobu, Haruka, and Kitsune seated in the hallway in their formal dress outside Kitsune's room, he paused and frowned.

"Guys, shouldn't you be..."

"C'mere and see what we've been up to!" cut in Kitsune with a wink, grabbing his arm and pulling him down between herself and Shinobu.

"But I have to go find-" The door slid open right then, revealing his wife in a full formal kimono that fit her perfectly. "...Motoko-chan?"

"Our kendo girl cleans up nice, don't she?" commented Kitsune. Keitaro was only able to nod dumbly in reply, his mouth hanging open ever so slightly and his eyes big and round.

The main robe was of a deep maroon, the under one of a deep blue that seemed to fade to black at times. Flowers of all varying shades imaginable were scattered up and down the hems, a silver clasp holding half her hair back with some shorter strands still framing her face.

"This is not appreciated!" she growled, narrowing her eyes in a glare that made Keitaro sweat nervously, though the rest just laughed in off. "I am perfectly capable of dressing myself, and I will ask should the day come that I am in need your assistance. Incase you were wondering, today was not one of those days."

"Is it really that bad?" asked Haruka lightly, rising to her feet with an ease that made even Keitaro jealous. "I have an idea, let's get a second opinion on how you look. Keitaro?"

"Eh?!"

Both froze as their eyes met, Motoko blushing and looking away self-consciously as Keitaro flushed with a shy grin. "You look great," he offered timidly, not even realizing how well the outfit matched his own robe and belt of dark blue and olive green. "You really, really do..."

"Outside opinions approves, therefore it stays," decided Haruka, nudging the swordswoman so she stood beside her husband before giving them a light push towards the front door. Keitaro offered her his arm, smiling all the more when she carefully accepted it and let him lead the way down the front steps.

"When do you think she'll notice that we still have her sword?" asked Naru, holding the weapon in both hands. She was actually shocked at how heavy it seemed, and wondered how her friend could wield the blade as easily as she did.

"She already knows, and it would have come up if Keitaro hadn't for once shown up at the right time and distracted her enough to get them out the door," replied Haruka, lighting her cigarette with a puff of smoke with her trusty old lighter. "You'd best drop that in their room."

"Alright."

"Oi, I feel like a girl..." Ami and Austin stood at the top of the stairs, both in their new formal robes and the female looking decidedly more comfortable than her male counterpart.

"You don't look like one," replied Kitsune under her breath, giving him appraising look. "Our swordsgirl may not know jack about modern fashion, but her sense for the old formal stuff is amazing..." Ami noticed Kitsune's wandering gaze and gave her a searing glare in return which the foxy lady just shrugged off with a wink.

It was true, though, for the shade of light green Motoko had chosen set off his eyes perfectly, and the rust red dragons that wound their way over his arms and up his back seemed to fit him just right. Though it hung open a little loosely, none of the girls were complaining. Austin worked just as hard as Motoko when it came to his training, he was a talented soccer player and was rather handsomely toned for all his hard work.

Shinobu blushed brightly as she realized she'd been staring, bowing quickly to hide her red cheeks. "You are both looking very nice today, Ami-san and Austin-san!"

"So do you," replied the young American with a kind smile.

"See, I told you it looked fine," admonished Ami teasingly.

"Festival time!" yelled Su happily, skipping around them all in circles though she was slightly more reserved than usual so as to not mess up her brand new, bright yellow kimono.

"She's right," added Haruka as she led the way out the door in a kimono of muted grays and dark reds of her own. "Let's get a move on, folks!"

"What about Motoko and Keitaro?" asked Austin suddenly. "I could've sworn I heard their voices just a minute ago.

"Oh, they went on ahead of us," replied Naru, the rest of the girls exchanging secretive grins amongst each other. The present couple exchanged looks with a shrug, as long as whatever it was that'd caught the pair didn't affect them, they'd leave it alone.

"Ok, then, if everyone's present and accounted for, let's go!"

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Keitaro led the way through the crowded streets, suggesting they stop at different booths from time to time along their path and her always agreeing with the same slight nod of hers. They hadn't spoken much since they'd left the Inn, but while the silence wasn't entirely comfortable it wasn't strained either. Watching his wife glance wistfully at one of the stalls out of the corner of her eye, he looked in that direction and saw and old woman he remember from his own days as a boy with her leather bound journals of all shapes and sizes and special decorated brushes for the more artistic forms of writing.

"You wanna go see what she's got?" asked Keitaro, motioning with his free arm in the general direction of the booth.

Motoko nodded. "Only if you do not mind..."

"No, I actually need another sketch book, and a leather cover would last longer than a cardboard one. She might have some reusable ones too!"

Watching them curiously, the old woman smiled kindly as they explored her hand-tooled wares. "See anything you like?" she asked lightly as Motoko hesitantly picked up a purple-dyed leather journal with crossed swords on the front.

"This is a new color, is it not?" she asked.

"Aye, and a richer tone than the one you looked at last year," cackled the old lightly. "Oh yes, sword-bearing one, I remember you very well, but where is your weapon? Have you traded your loyal blade for the wiles of a man?"

"Our families betrothed us," explained Keitaro quickly, looking up from his own search with a flush as his wife looked away embarrassedly. "But as for her blade...?"

"Naru has it," she replied quietly. "They took it with the rest of my things this afternoon, to be returned later on."

"The ladies of Hinata-sou are known for their independent and at times conniving nature," chuckled the booth owner mirthfully. "But I know you, boy, and of your marriage to this lovely lady already, your grandmother Hina-san was kind enough to inform me of it last time she was in town. You are Keitaro Urashima, are you not?"

"Uh, yeah." Keitaro grinned, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Seems everyone knows my grandma around here."

"She's well-known, and for a good reason too," she laughed with a wave of one gnarled hand. "She, as well as your raven-haired wife, have been customers of mine for many years, though this one has neglected to come visit my shop as of late, is that not right missy?"

"My apologies," replied Motoko respectfully. "Things have been rather chaotic most recently..." Her sideways glance at her new husband sent the old crone off on another round of laughter, her frail form shaking with humorous joy.

"Impudent young thing as ever," she accused Motoko teasingly. "But in light of your relatively recent nuptials, a gift I have for you." Hopping from her stool, the old woman came shuffling around the front, two wrapped packages in hand. "Here you are...and you may have these as well." Taking their choices from their hands, she snapped off the tags with ease and added them to the top of the stack.

"Th-thank you!" stuttered Keitaro in surprise, registering on his and his wife's face as the woman trundled her way back behind the counter.

"You are too kind," added Motoko belatedly as she went into a low boy. "It is really not necessary to add our purchases as well..."

"It is bad luck not to bless a marriage," chuckled the hag lightly. "Go now and enjoy the rest of the festival! Though do not wait so long to visit, young one, I do miss your intelligent conversations. My books are pretty things, but they cannot speak back to a woman and after speaking to tongueless things for awhile one begins to sound a little crazy."

"I will come," promised the samurai with a wave. "Until then."

"I look forward to it!"

"Sweet little lady," commented Keitaro as he inspected his new sketchbook, and then looking at the wrapped packages before putting them under his arm for later. "How do you know her?"

"As she said, I used to come to her shop quite often, for I went through her notebooks constantly with little stories of mine," she murmured lightly. "Hina-san and her are closer friends and she used to come often to visit before her arthritis became too much for her to move very often."

"Do you still write?"

"I was considering taking it up again for awhile, but...many things came up at once."

Keitaro understand immediately she was referring to the marriage but for once had the sense to not mention it aloud. Instead, he said, "I hope you can get back into it again, it was obviously something you enjoyed!"

"Yes, it was..."

"Hina-san, your meddling has always had rather interesting results," murmured the old woman to the shadows in the back of her booth as she watched them disappear into the crowds. "But I do not think even you could have set that up on your own. Still, they will be good for each other, ne?"

"Of course they will," replied the said woman from the back, completely hidden in the darkness. "Thank you, Tomo-chan, I just wanted to check on them without intruding on their lives before heading out to Africa."

"Another hot spring?"

"Oh yes, and supposedly an ancient fountain of youth! At my age, you simply can no longer afford to ignore legends such as that anymore."

"I know, old friend. How is your traveling companion, the boy's adopted sister?"

"Well enough, though upset with me that I did not let her return with me to see her brother. She shall get over it though."

"She does not know, does she?"

"No, but she will in her own time."

"If you think it is best, then so do be it. I'll keep in touch and let you know if I find something out of interest," replied the other, clasping hands with her in a friendly manner before the globe-trotting granny took off once more on another of her travels. "Goodbye, old friend."

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Haruka stood at the firing range, Su and Shinobu on either side as she easily sighted the two stuffed creatures they'd pointed out and knocked them from their perches.

"Auu!! You're so good at that, Haruka-san!"

"Yeah!! Really REALLY good!!"

"Sorta," she admitted with a shrug, giving each a pat on the head before spotting Kitsune at a sake stand and deciding to go and join her for awhile. "You two stick with Naru and behave."

"Can we go look at the other games?" Su asked Naru, who was the pairs designated 'chaperone' for the evening with Motoko and Keitaro having been sent off and Kitsune not trusted to not give them too much to drink. Ami and Austin had disappeared somehow on the way to the festival and no one was sure where they had gotten off to. Not that they were worried, they just hoped there wouldn't be any little Ami's or Austin's running around anytime soon as a result.

"If you want, though I'm not as good at them as Haruka-san so you may not win as much," replied the elder girl honestly.

"That's ok, just playing is half the fun!"

"Are you ok with that, Shinobu-chan?"

"Yes, I don't mind at all as long as we get to see the fireworks later on."

"There's not a chance we'd miss it! Since we're in agreement, let's go!"

Together the trio wandered about, trying to hit balloons with darts, put balls through the hoops, and knock the targets down as they cheered each other on. Buying them all some roasted pork on a stick, Naru was about to suggest they visit the haunted house when Su spotted Motoko and Keitaro at one of the games they'd already been through. Racing over immediately, the other two could do nothing but follow as the foreign girl latched herself about her usual companion's waist and gave her a warm hug.

Hanging back a bit, Naru watched per Haruka's orders as the couple openly welcomed the younger pair, Keitaro giving both gentle hugs in a brotherly fashion and Motoko returning whatever affections they first bestowed upon her. They were happy to see them, but not relieved to be distracted from the company of the other. Haruka would be glad to hear that, though why she had such a vested interest in the pair's doings was beyond Naru's understanding.

"How're you two doing? Enjoying yourselves?" she asked as she came to a halt beside them.

"Very much so," replied Keitaro with a smile. "Shinobu here tells me you've been playing the games."

"Yeah, or at least trying to," came the wry reply. "Playing and winning are two different things."

"You do not have to win to enjoy yourself," put in Motoko with a nod.

"Such as this game." Keitaro motioned to the shooting game behind him. Handing the owner a few yen, he picked up the gun and went on. "I've never won this game in my life, but I still try every time I see it at a carnival or festival. Now watch." He sighed along the barrel, pulling the trigger twice before turning back to them with a shrug. "See? I missed again, but that-"

"Congrats sir," cut in the booth manager, handing Keitaro two gangly-legged green aliens.

Keitaro gave him an odd look. "Huh?"

"You knocked these down, congrats," repeated the man still holding them out. "That is the way it usually works, bud."

"I did?! I mean....uh...thanks." Keitaro picked up the pair, handing them to Motoko who discretely removed the wooden hand darts from between their eyes that he'd missed in his usual obliviousness. "Gees was that a double-lucky shot! I didn't even AIM at those two..."

Su snickered as Shinobu hid her grin behind the stuffed bunny she'd won earlier. Naru blinked in surprise, then broke out into a light laugh that completely set of the other two as well.

"What's so funny?" asked Keitaro in puzzlement as his wife just barely managed to keep a straight face as she shrugged innocently.

"Perhaps you should give these to Su and Shinobu?" she suggested lightly, winking at the other two in a conspiratorial manner. "I'm sure they would enjoy them."

"Would you guys like these?" he asked with a grin. They nodded, and the fuzzy creatures quickly changed hands. "Oh well, that's never going to happen again."

Picking up the gun, he fired off the last round, barely giving himself time to aim and no time for any 'intercession' as the shot flew onwards. "See? Totally-"

"Nice shot, sir!" The man running the booth set down a floppy tiger in front of Keitaro, an adorable thing with big eyes and a bow around its neck.

"But I..." Keitaro stared at the tiger in gape-mouthed wonder. "That's three times in a row!"

Naru glanced at Motoko, about to give her a reproachful look when she realized her samurai friend was just as surprised as she was.

"Gonna give it another go?" asked the booth manager, offering Keitaro a freshly loaded gun. "3/3 is pretty good odds in your favor."

"No thanks," said Keitaro quickly. "I think I'd better quit while I'm ahead."

"Suit yourself..."

"You are to be congratulated on your success," said Motoko with a slight smile.

"Thanks," he replied embarrassedly. "I still don't know how I managed it, though!"

"Hey, look, the parade!" cried Su, pointing to some floats a few rows away. "Come on, we gotta go see it!"

"Ohh! I hope they have the clowns this year!!"

"You two coming?" asked Naru, pausing for a moment as the pair dashed ahead.

Noticing the way Motoko froze as a giant, green hulk with beady black eyes and  shell suddenly came into view, Keitaro shook his head. "Maybe later," he temporized after a moment, waving as she turned to follow her charges. "Don't worry about us, we'll be fine!"

"Oh, I'm sure you will."

"I do not think I will ever be comfortable around such images again," she muttered darkly, tearing her eyes away from the float when he touched her shoulder gently.

"You were before?" he inquired curiously, turning them so it was out of her line of sight.

"It was only a distant memory, something of my childhood. While I was not at ease with them...unless it was a live specimen I did not fear them usually."

"It's alright, we don't have to go watch," he assured her with a grin. "I actually never liked it as a kid, the clowns were a little too happy for my taste."

"I should hope I am never belittled to such a low station," she murmured with a shudder. "Humor and mirth are not among my strengths."

"You don't have to be funny to make people smile," he reminded her as they started to walk again. "And being able to make someone smile is often a lot more important than making them laugh."

When his wife didn't reply, Keitaro shrugged and steered them in the general direction of where to best view the fireworks. They wouldn't start for another 30 minutes, but that was alright and he figured they could both use a quiet rest before continuing in the festivities of the evening.

"Do you have a particular spot you usually watch the fireworks from?" he asked quietly after awhile, unsurely placing his arm around her waist and being pleasantly surprised when she moved a bit closer to make it more comfortable for the both of them. "I certainly can't remember where the good spots are."

"There is a hill Hinata House members generally make use of for as long as I have been here," she admitted thoughtfully, considerably more calm with the floating turtle out of sight. "But I am usually not with them there."

"Where do you watch them from, then?"

"A ridge above and a little to the east of the hill. The climb is not easy in these cumbersome robes, but you are able to sit and enjoy the show without hurting your neck."

"Sounds good to me," Keitaro replied gamely. "Lead on, and I'll follow."

Motoko had been right, the trek wasn't easy trying to push their way through the brush and heavy foliage, and it seemed his wife didn't get stuck half as many times as he did but they soon reached their destination. The view alone was enough to convince Keitaro that the climb was worth it, besides the quiet privacy. They were high above the festival itself, and rather isolated from it as well. Where the hill just a little below and in front of them was open and easily seen, the ridge was covered in the trees and bushes that had blocked their ascent and now blocked them from view of most other people. The fireworks were being stet up along their right in a low field, the majority of the townspeople filling the hills and slopes to their right.

"Who's that?" asked Keitaro when he saw a figure wind their way up the hill and spread out a blanket at the very top before sprawling on it carelessly.

"Kitsune, she was in charge of the blanket this year," came the immediate reply. "And there is your aunt, Haruka-san, to make sure she made it on time." The second figure stood beside the blanket, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Turning towards the place they stood, she waved it twice as if expectantly.

"What was that for?" asked Keitaro, stepping back slightly as if to hide when his aunt continued to look in their direction.

"Do not worry, she is merely asking if I am here," she replied lightly, pulling out the same silvered medallion she'd used the first time Keitaro had gone into a trance and skillfully used it to flash twice back at the elder woman. "This is to be sure I have not been hurt or delayed some how, if they do not see me sometime during the night that is."

"Does she know I'm with you?" inquired Keitaro curiously.

"It is likely she assumes it, for it would be unusual for us not to be together," came the easy reply. "And were we given a reason to part she likely would have heard of it by now."

"Oh...news travels fast around here, huh?"

"Exceedingly so."

Keitaro glanced about himself, settling down in the trimmed grasses there propped up on his elbows and setting the tiger and other packages aside for the moment with a contented sigh. "Mmm...very comfortable here. Do you come here a lot, other than during festivals?"

"No, only when I need to escape the chaos for a few hours," she chuckled in a low voice. "And I am so used to it after living here so long that I hardly even notice it anymore."

"Come and sit," he offered with a grin, patting the grass beside him. "It's not exactly comfortable craning my neck like this to see you." She did so silently gracefully folding her legs up underneath herself in a manner that she was close enough to rest her weight on his chest should he so desire but was able to support her own weight otherwise if not.

A natural silence stretched between them, the only sound being their breathing and the faint sounds of the festival below with mingled voices reaching their ears occasionally only to drift away with a single puff of wind.

"Keitaro-kun?" Motoko's voice broke the silence gently.

"Yes?"

"What was your original promise to get into Toudai, if I may ask. Why did you make it?"

Keitaro blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the random question. "Well, I...uh....why?"

"I was simply wondering," came the honest reply. She didn't look at him, but stared at the sky with no sense of suspicion of accusation about herself. "You had said it was a promise, a dream you had been chasing since you were very young. I was curious to know what sort of promise would drive a person like that their whole life."

"Oh..." Keitaro breathed deeply, having no idea how this would be taken, but unable to lie to his wife who trusted him so much and told the truth anyways. "My promise was made with a little girl I met at the Inn while it was still being used as one when I was five or six years old. Mom used to take me there for months at a time before I started school, and it was during one of those trips. We met playing in the sandbox at a park nearby, and she was the one that told me about the Toudai legend. That if you meet someone there that you knew before, and you got together your love would last forever. I was convinced of three things with this girl: that I'd make it into Toudai and meet up again with her some day, that afterwards we'd get married and live happily ever after, and she did and would always love me like no other...I couldn't even remember what her face looking like or what her name was, only that I'd known her for a summer or so, that we were best friends, and we'd made that promise before she moved away."

Motoko nodded, her reply in the form of a question that held no malice or anger, only a quiet inquiry. "Do you ever wish that dream had not been taken from you?"

"No. Not after everything that's happened." Keitaro shook his head slightly. "That was all it was...a dream, and a fake one that could never come true at that. A shadow in a reality that would never exist. Besides, when I'd first met you I'd just gotten off failing the entrance exam for the second time, and after the 'warm welcome' I received at Hinata-sou my first day there...Let's just say life in general was pretty close to shaking me out of that dream as it was."

"Still, you could have found someone to fulfill it," she countered. "Once you had made it in, perhaps someone in your juku that you had become friends through studying with them, or someone you met on the campus itself..."

"They could never have fulfilled my dream because no one could ever be as perfect as I imagined her," snorted Keitaro lightly. "And that's assuming I ever made it, demon-ridden as I was. In a way, what happened between us was a good thing. I'll never look at you and wonder if I married you only because you resembled the girl of my dream. I'll never regret not having searched harder and supposedly settled for less because there was no real standard to begin with and I'd never have known that without your help. What you and I share may not have been set up under the best conditions, but it's so separate from what I imagined that I can never even try to compare the two..." Keitaro pulled a surprised Motoko into his arms timidly. "I don't think, even if my memories were erased, that I could go back to just a dream after having been with you. This is more real that I have ever imagined."

"And if this were just a dream?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, her face hidden from his sight by a curtain of raven strands.

Keitaro held her closer, breathing in her scent as he did. "Then I don't ever want to wake from it."

"Now you are being foolish," she rebuked him gently, though she leaned into his embrace. "To trade one groundless dream for another is ludicrous...Though, if it is just a dream, I hope we never wake as well..."

Keitaro reached inside his robe pocket for the small black box he'd brought along on a whim, licking his lips nervously as he glanced at the faintly smiling Motoko beside him with her eyes on the gathering group of residents below. Ami and Austin were there, seated side by side and eating something that they shared from a bowl. Su and Shinobu showed everyone their prizes, Naru plopped down beside Kitsune tiredly as Haruka watched over them as solid as ever with a cigarette hanging from her lips and a haze of smoke around the crown of her head.

Looking up at the stars, the ronin took a deep breath to steady his nerves, then began to speak again. "Do you remember when they married us?" he asked hesitantly, his face completely serious when she turned to look at him in concern at his tone.

"It is vague," she admitted in a low voice, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "But that which I do I doubt I shall ever be able to forget, no matter how much I wish to. I am sorry if you are offended that I feel that way, but I cannot change the circumstances that our marriage was born of."

"I know, but... this isn't going to be easy to understand, but hang with me a sec. Our marriage wasn't our choice, yes, and everything happened way too fast," went on Keitaro disjointedly. "And even though we were just kinda carried along with everything that followed after you lost to him, we made the best of it when things finally settled down again....together. At your family's grounds, before the feast and even afterwards when the demon attacked...we were there together. I know this probably doesn't make much sense, and I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say, but...here."

The ronin held his breath as he presented his wife of just about 5 months with the black box, opened to show what was contained inside. She went motionless at the sight of the simple gold ring, nothing adorning it other than its polished surface.

"It is beautiful," she breathed, her hands cupping his as she gave him a bewildered look. "But...why...?"

"You know how much I care about you," he replied in a shy whisper as he looked away in embarrassment. "How much I want this to work, us to work...I never gave you a ring for our engagement, or even at our wedding...it just seemed like the right thing to do. Especially on today, the day of new promises..." Keitaro paused, making a face. "Listen to me, I sound like a babbling idiot."

"Yet you are not," she murmured, turning to give him a smile that made his heart skip a few beats. "You never have been, just a bit...absentminded at times."

"Yes I am, you're just too nice to day so," he replied in a low voice. "But...you'll wear it, won't you?" Taking it from the box, he carefully slipped it on her left hand, his own hands trembling even as he did from the tension he bore. "Please?"

"I will, always," she promised without hesitation, pausing as another thought crossed her mind. "Though...I shall not be able to wear it while I practice, for it would quickly be bent out of shape."

"I know, that's why I also got you this." Keitaro pulled out a simple silver chain, just the right length to hand under her gi without getting in the way. "Haruka suggested it when she saw me in the jewelry shop..."

Keitaro's words died in his throat as Motoko kissed him gently, their lips lingering together as her hand with the ring became intertwined with his own. He could feel many things as time seemed to pause just for a moment, things inside himself and some even from his wife. Caring, thankfulness, perhaps even love and some desire...?

They pulled back, Motoko blushing at her forward move and moving aside a bit. "She's a very wise woman most of the time. If you would..." Motoko held back her hair, Keitaro quickly complying and slipping the necklace in place for her, unable to think of anything intelligent to say. His fingertips gently brushed the back of her neck, making the short hair there stand up on end as she stifled a squeak in her throat.

"Something wrong?" he asked in surprise, pausing in his work.

"N-no..." she replied quickly, a blush spreading across her face. "Please, continue..." She bit her lip slightly, vowing not to let it get to her this time as he did so.

"Ok." Keitaro fumbled with the clasp for a moment, finally getting his fingers to cooperate and letting the glinted chain rest on her porcelain skin. Licking his lips nervously, he impulsively pulled her close and placed a kiss right above where it rested.

Motoko squeaked again, louder this time and pulling away as she did leaving a confused and worried Keitaro hanging.

"Motoko-chan...?" His voice held a note of fear and embarrassment. "Look, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"It's nothing you did," she cut in quickly, reaching back to squeeze one of his hands gently. "Or nothing you meant to do. I am...ticklish. Unbelievably so."

"You are?" Keitaro sat there for a moment, torn between laughing at the absurd notion that his wife, the swordswoman, would be vulnerable to such a common thing, wondering why it hadn't come out before, and possibly testing it out to be sure. "Erm....I never would have guessed...how did you manage to keep it from me for this long?"

"I did not mean to," she replied quickly, turning even redder than before. "But...it is not triggered unless purposely done so or when it is done directly on my skin in certain spots..."

"I see....just...wow. I never would have guessed it..."

"Why?" Motoko gave him a slight frown. "I am not so different from the rest of the human race. I am just as susceptible to the same illnesses and weaknesses, such as being ticklish, I am merely trained to ignore most of them."

"I know, I just never though...I mean, being ticklish is such a COMMON thing..." Keitaro's eyes suddenly took on a mischievous gleam, shifting so he sat directly behind her rather than slightly to the side with his legs on either side of her. "Is it just on your neck?"

"As if I should be so lucky to have it confined to only one place," she replied wryly, eyes turned towards the sky as the first of the fireworks began to go off.

"Perhaps I should check for myself..." Keitaro's hands shot forwards eagerly, dancing along Motoko's ribs through her kimono. Bending his legs quickly he blocked her escape route from side to side and she was unable to escape to the front the way her legs were folded underneath herself.

"Wait....no!!" Motoko gasped laughingly as his fingers easily found her sensitive patches of skin and dug into it gently. Thrashing about helplessly as her formal gown hindered her from easily defending herself without at least removing the outer robe, her defenses had already been knocked aside before the wonderfully torturous onslaught. "Ahahaha!! Please....hehahah....stop it! Ohhaaahha!!"

"You're not having fun?" replied Keitaro innocently. Getting a dry look in return as she managed to twist around enough to finally grab one of his wrists, he sighed and pulled his hands away regretfully. "Alright...if you really don't like it that much I won't do it again."

"No, you do not have to do that," she chuckled lightly, leaning back against him tiredly as she carefully adjusted her now-rumpled kimono. "I do not mind it that much, but...in this it may not be the wisest of choices, they are our formal clothes after all. It is also not fair..." Her eyes took on a teasing glint as she caught his gaze with her own. "For I am not able to defend myself in these cumbersome things and I doubt you immune to such attentions as well..."

Keitaro just blinked, going into his usual jerk and squeal-like-a-girl reaction as she suddenly tickled him gently around his hips. "Hey, hey, hey!!" He quickly took hold of her wrists, and she unresistingly let him move them back to her own lap.

"I would say you are as susceptible to it as I," she laughed lightly. "And you are right...it is a great deal of fun."

Keitaro just laughed with a nod. "Yeah, been like that since I was a kid..." His eyes were drawn down her front as he noticed her kimono had fallen open more than before, exposing her cleavage that was visible through the layer of bandages she still wore. Turning away quickly, she noticed the movement and glanced at him in away that let the robe fall even farther open.

"Is something wrong?" she asked as he continued to look away, training his eyes on the sky above as the first of the fireworks went off.

"Your...kimono..."

She glanced down, flushing as she quickly drew it closed and then fussed with her sleeves for a moment as she regained her composure quickly. "I shall have to retie my obi before we head back..."

"Is that a problem?" he asked, relaxing now that the temptation was less available than it had been a moment before. "Will the others notice?"

"Haruka will, but she notices everything and rarely tells what she sees," she replied in a hushed voice. "Naru might, for she tied it the first time and the styles we use are different."

"What will she do if she sees?"

"Perhaps check to make sure neither of us bear grass stains upon our clothes, give us one of her reproachful looks...I think she prefers it when our relationship together is not one that is obvious."

Keitaro quickly stuffed his sleeve up his nose with the nosebleed that followed the implications of that comment, especially the first part. He felt his face heat up even more as she snuggled into his embrace, smiling in contentment as another set of colorful bursts bloomed overhead. Remembering their parcels, the ronin picked up the tiger he'd won earlier. Putting in in her lap, he just grinned when she glanced up at him questioningly and felt his heart warm when she picked it up and held it to her chest with one arm with the other resting lightly on his shoulder. They really were a couple, albeit a strange one. But there was something undeniably there that connected them other than the vows they'd spoken those few months ago.

As comfortable and happy they were, lying there in the grass together, the show eventually came to an end and the crowds below began to disperse. The late winter night chill had spread over the land, and both shivered as they moved a little closer together. "We should go back to the Inn," commented Motoko lightly, though she made no apparent move to do so.

"We could stay here," suggested Keitaro jokingly. "Sleep under the stars..."

"As nice as it sounds, the others would question our absence," she sighed regretfully, rising to her feet as her hands went to the wide cloth about her waist. "And it would get more than a little cold, it would seem."

"Does it really matter what they think?" replied Keitaro as he rose as well, gathering their things back up as she finished straightening her clothes. "What happens between us isn't really their business."

"Try telling that to Kitsune," snorted Motoko shortly. "I doubt a day goes by when she does not manage to meddle with someone else's business."

"I know, but in light of that she doesn't really count, does she? Are you ready to rejoin the others?" Keitaro extended his arm to her, pleased when she took it with the ring on her hand shining gently in the moonlight.

"As much as I have ever been." The way down was a lot easier than going up, the pair taking a side branch in the faint path that led them out behind the old Inn, the lights inside a blaze showing the other residents were already home.

"Do you want to go around the front or go in the back here?" asked Keitaro as they walked on, still arm in arm and quietly enjoying the company of the other.

"The back, for there is a chance we might slip upstairs unnoticed," she replied. Seeing him give her an odd look, she added hastily with a flush face, "It has been too wonderful of a time to let Kitsune's teasing or Naru's looks to ruin it, hm?" She kissed the corner of his jaw.

"You're right, as always." Keitaro blushed, watching his wife out of the corner of his eye as she stared at the house contentedly.

"This has been the best New Years Eve festival for me," she told him softly, turning to look him straight in the eyes as she did. "You are...very special to me, Keitaro. More than even I could have ever imagined. I do no wish to forget anything of this night, ever."

"Then I'll try to help you remember..." Feeling more confident than ever, the manager pulled his wife into his arms and rather warmly planted his lips on her own. Catching her slightly by surprise, she practically melted in his embrace as her arms snaked around his neck, pulling them closer than before as the leather bound books and stuffed tiger fell to the ground forgotten. Lips parted, tongues tentatively seeking the other before gently dueling back and forth in a time-honored dance.

Keitaro became aware of a growing warmth below his belt as he pressed her closer to himself, among other growing things, and was pretty sure Motoko had noticed as well when they broke apart for a moment. She stared at him, face flushed and eyes searching his own only to be pleased with whatever it is they found there.

Motoko did know what was happening to him, and was beginning to feel the effects of it herself. There was a peculiar tingling down there...one she was quite sure he could and would satisfy given the right prompting. Her mind whirled with the possibilities, surprisingly eager to explore perhaps a few with her obviously willing husband very soon.

"Our room?" he asked hoarsely, resting his forehead against her own as they clung to each other still.

"Yes."

He held onto her hand as they quickly gathered everything up, not wishing them to be damaged by the dew the next morning or any unexpected rains. Motoko's heart raced as she led the way inside, easily getting past the chatting Naru and Shinobu in the kitchen though there was no door between it and the back hallway. A peek in the main room showed Kitsune on the couch nursing one last cup of sake, so she turned back and went up the back staircase instead. Hearing someone coming down from the opposite direction, she pulled Keitaro into a darkened alcove off one of the landings and stood perfectly still in the dark shadows as Ami came scampering by with a thoughtful look on her face.

Waiting until she was gone for sure, they continued their way up, seeing not a single other soul as they opened their door. "That was close," murmured Keitaro as he closed the door behind them, pulling her back to him from behind after setting the things in his arms on the table. He had brushed her hair aside and was just going to start a trail of kisses down her exposed neck when a soft whimper caught their attention.

"Oh no..."

"Who was that?" Keitaro looked up, letting reluctantly go as she moved away from him towards the bed.

"Su-chan..."

He followed her, seeing an exhausted Su already fast asleep in the middle of the covers, whimpering softly. "Ahhh....you have to be kidding..." he sighed as he rubbed his forehead, letting his frustration show only for a moment before he shrugged and forced himself to let the warmth of only a few moments before die away.

"I had completely forgotten we had one day left with her," replied Motoko, something along the lines of regret coloring her voice. Kneeling to comfort the young girl, Motoko felt herself relax as well, the need and quiet passion of outside tapering off quickly.

"I'm gonna go find something cold," he replied simply, giving her an understanding grin as he tried to hide his disappointment. "Very, very cold."

"I am sorry," she added just before he left the room, turning towards him with a wistful look.

"It's not your fault," he assured her with a shrug. "Duty always comes before your wants and that's the way it should be."

"Do I not have a duty to you as well, though? Perhaps...one that comes before mine to her...?"

"No," he replied, though his body was kicking him in the head for not agreeing with her. "Because that shouldn't be a duty...it should be a choice." The unspoken reply of what if her choice was him hung between them, though each knew it was one that could not be brought into the play with the circumstances. "Don't worry, I'll be back in a few minutes, ok?"

"Alright."

Keitaro closed the door and hurried down the hall, sighing one last time as he walked into the bathroom and ducked behind one of the dividers he and Austin had set up. Not that they didn't get along, but unlike the girls they preferred their privacy when bathing or dressing. Stripping down to the pair of shorts he always wore under such garments, he filled a bucket with cold water from the tap and dumped it over his head with a shiver. The shock of the frigid liquid easily killed off the last of his desire, and he leaned back against the sink in frustration. Not that he wasn't willing to wait, he'd said she could make the decision and so it would be, but four months married was a long time to be together and not together in the same bed and his body was very aware of it.

Especially with the cuddling most nights, and the occasional kissing when they happened to find a moment alone during the day like today. Not that it happened often either, but when it did he enjoyed it. Alot. Her skin was so soft, and her body just so perfectly formed...there was no way she knew just how hot she was. And then tonight being the first time in a long time she'd shown any, well, sexual interest in him...

"Keitaro, that you?" Austin stuck his head in the bathroom as the ronin toweled off his dripping hair and skin before pulling on a clean shirt and changing his shorts for the sleep pants he usually left there incase he needed them like today. Coming up from behind the screen, he gave his friend a short nod.

"Yes," he replied. "Can I help you with something?"

Noting his wet hair, the American shook his head ruefully. "No, I'm guessing you already found out. I tried to find you to warn you, but you and Motoko somehow got past me and Ami when we were coming down from the roof."

Keitaro flushed. "You...saw us?"

His friend grinned widely. "Only vaguely, but the intent was obvious enough. Ami was going to offer to take Su for the night without letting the others know, but somehow we just missed each other." Austin shrugged helplessly. "She probably still would if you want..."

"Ami went right past us," admitted Keitaro regretfully. "She just didn't know we were there. And Motoko's probably already settled with Su for the night, so...no thanks. "

"Sorry about that, then." Shrugging, Austin left, calling over his shoulder as he did. "Night, Keitaro."

"Yeah, night. And thanks for the offer..." Keitaro hung the towel to dry and draped robes he'd worn over one arm, making it back to his room without seeing any one else though he could hear Austin and Ami talking in her room as he passed their door.

Motoko was already in bed, as he'd predicted, when he closed the door behind himself, looking up at him with masked eyes as he put away his formal clothes beside her own. She would make sure nothing was encouraged, for while she hadn't blocked him out entirely there was the feeling of a barrier between them that hadn't been in place before to keep things in check for the night.

In a way, he was glad she had the training of suppressing her emotions as she did, for he couldn't say he could do the same in her place. With Su-chan present no physical closeness between them would be appropriate, and at least with Motoko as she now that wasn't even a possibility. Nothing was worth taking Su's innocence by having her witness their physical attraction, or pushing her off to the side so he could satisfy himself, no matter what his body might say.

"Are you alright?" she asked as he laid down, taking his hand though she held it more loosely than normal as he arranged himself so they were close without actually touching.

"Yeah," he replied, giving her a reassuring grin as he settled on his side facing her. "Don't worry about it." His grin grew as he noticed the ring still on her hand. "It's not like tonight is the only night we'll ever have, right? It'll be fine."

"If you insist..."

Keitaro ran a hand through his hair, watching as his wife quickly drifted off from years of training before turning to stare at the ceiling still painfully awake. It was going to be a very long night.

)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(/)--(

Motoko woke before dawn as usual, going through the motions of her morning practice and taking Su to her room to get dressed before rushing around their bedroom to get changed and grab her school things. Running out the door, she managed to nip into the kitchen and grab a bite to eat so her stomach was sated for the moment before hurrying off towards the school. But even though she didn't see Keitaro from the moment she woke until she left, he was still first and foremost on her mind the whole time.

He'd give her a ring, and with it a commitment she'd been afraid to hope for before. He'd found out she was ticklish, which no one else had known outside of her immediate family besides Hina-san. And on top of all that, he'd kissed her. Yeah, they'd kissed before, but not quite like this. Those had been mutual warmth, mutual comfort, mutual thankfulness...but last night had been none of those. Even of the night of the wedding feast couldn't be compared, for she couldn't recall most of the details before the fight. She wasn't sure what the distinction was, but she'd been willing to surrender far more than ever before last night for the first time ever.

Coming to the building with her thoughts still wandering the same paths again and again, Gina fell in step with her as always. The dedicated young underclassman didn't give any sign that she noticed the ring as they made their way down the halls, but another who would not let such things lie did.

"So, you finally bear his mark," sneered Leiko, hatred for Keitaro as evident in her eyes as ever.

"Bear his mark?" Motoko drew herself up, eyes flashing dangerously. "What is it you are attempting to infer, Loki?"

"Don't say my name! It's no better than a curse on your tongue, traitor and fallen one that you've become! And I infer nothing, I say it exactly as it is. He controls you now with that vile ring!"

"How so?" Motoko narrowed her eyes slightly, bringing up her left hand to hold it in her right as if to protect it.

"By this ring, he marks that he and he along may have you!!" declared the underclassman defiantly.

"Is that not what a husband is bound by his oath in do?" questioned the swordswoman coldly. "To proclaim who his chosen one or given wife is, so that none may undertake the mistaken course of courting her?"

"He has not claimed you, he's enslaved you! Not only in mind, but also in body! As addled as you have become to wear this," Leiko grabbed Motoko's left wrist, holding it up the hand so all could see the golden band. "I'm sure he must have put your through some horrendous physical experience..."

"LEIKO!" At Motoko's indignant and outraged roar, most of the hall went silent, a few stepping closer to listen in on the possible conclusion of the on going struggle between the two over the last few months. There had been in passing tossed words full of hidden barbs and spikes in the halls, but nothing like this.

"You are wrong," Motoko stated simply, the anger in her eyes dying away to be replaced by sadness and regret. "But there is nothing I can say that will change your mind, I can see it even as you look me in the eyes. I am sorry, Leiko, that things have come to this, but here are my final words. Leave my husband alone and do not ever speak of him again for this next time my sword shall be against you and with it I will drive you to the very gates of hell before my vengeance will complete. He has done nothing to you, and been nothing but kind and good to me as well as many others, thus deserving none of this. Heed my words, for I shall not say them again."

Giving the crowd to their left a polite nod, Motoko walked through the path they parted for her leaving a trembling with rage Loki behind and Gina close at her side.

"Did I do the right thing, Gina?" asked the kendoist quietly as they entered the classroom, sitting in her usual seat with a sigh.

The reply was short and concise, though Motoko could tell the younger girl disliked having to say it. "You defended your honor ma'am, and that of your husband, Urashima-san. There was little else you could have done."

She nodded, accepting the situation though she liked it even less than her companion. Feeling the ring on her hand, twisting it slightly with her thumb, flashes of the night before came to mind again and with the faint blush came a new thought as well. Keitaro may have been about to put her through any one of a number of 'physical experiences' the night before,  but she doubted any of them could possibly labeled 'horrendous'. It truly must have been torture for him last night, especially if the one thought that had chased her back to her own mind the first time their ki had melded together was true.

These last few weeks even, one might label as rather tormenting for him, she reasoned as the sensei entered the room, her pulling out the appropriate notebook and pen as he began to write notes on the board. She only partially paid attention as she began to copy them down. I most likely should speak with him concerning this, perhaps even suggest that we separate when we sleep that it does not bother him so...it is not fair for me to have such comfort if is distracts him from his sleep at night.  She didn't want to no longer be able to snuggle with him in her sleep, he was actually quite comfortable and his presence calming and warm. But if it would make things easier for him...I will bring it up as soon as a suitable time presents itself.

[%]--[%]--[%]--[%]--[%]--[%]--[%]--[%]--[%]

"She wore the ring as she left," commented Haruka as Keitaro came by to visit her, on his way to his Juku to pick up the next packet of practice questions. "I take it she received the whole thing rather well?"

"Yeah..." Keitaro's face colored as parts of the night before were brought to mind. "She really liked it..."

"It's a good thing we put Su in your room, I imagine," snorted Haruka lightly. "She's not ready to be a mother any more than you are a father, and it's almost guaranteed that's what the first time you two's 'union' will produce. Unless you get neutered, or her tubes tied there's little you cam do to protect against having little minis of you two running around this place 9 months after. Aoyamas are fertile beyond belief, and Urashima's aren't exactly impotent either. Ever consider why you're the only biological kid to your parents while your other married relatives have huge families of 6 or 7? It's because your dad and mom got themselves 'neutered' right after having you. Something about one was more than enough."

The manager's face contorted first at having to see his parents in that light, then fell abruptly, his eyes big and round as the realization of what that meant smacked him in the face. Their relationship couldn't progress much past where it was at this point anymore until at least another year from right now, around the time she would graduate. When his voice finally returned to him, the ronin groaned deep in his throat. "Life truly must hate me..."

"You've slept in the same bed as her for 4 months without misbehaving too much, another year is only 3 times of that," added Haruka, seemingly oblivious to his face fault at the thought of remaining in his current position for 3 TIMES the length he'd already been in it. Each word was like another dart, sent cruelly and unknowingly into his soul. "Shouldn't be too hard, right? Anyways, you'd better get moving if you want to make it back before the others do."

"Eh...right..." The shell-shocked ronin made his way down to the rail station, a frown on his face as he tried to come up with a solution that would please all parties and unable to come up with one that satisfied him in the least.

Life was definitely not fair.

[(&)][(&)][(&)][(&)][(&)][(&)][(&)][(&)][(&)]

Motoko shook herself free of the tired ache of her muscles from having to sit in the uncomfortable chairs of the school desks all day, Gina accompanying her to the area designated to the kendo clubs for their daily practices. Quickly they changed, the underclassman taking her place among the others as they formed up into their usual rows for the warm-ups. Dressed in her usual white gi and red hamaka, the swordswoman felt more like herself than ever as she showed off her new blade and allowed a few of the more trustworthy members to hold it for a moment to feel the balance and grace of the weapon for themselves.

Deciding it was time to get started, she quickly lined them up, having Gina lead the drills with her in front so she would be free to occasionally break form and go out among the teammates themselves to correct a handgrip or stance.

"That will be enough!" she called after several hundred different types of strikes, feeling very loose and relaxed as she began to assign them different partners for the first few rounds of sparring. "Keep your guard up, Gina!" she called sternly as she passed the underclassman facing a young man about her age who was obviously talented but lazy in his practice. "You leave your left side open far too much...ah! See? Now, adjust your stance so your weight is more evenly centered...there. Very good."

"Sempai?"

"Yes?" she turned and followed another member over to their partner, helping them work out a block-strike combination that had baffled both for sometime. After letting them go on like this for awhile, she pulled them all back to one side of the gym, beginning the rounds of one-on-one battles and letting the winners stay to fight another round while the losers were sent on home. The top twenty were selected to enter in the next day's competition, and she considered it a good day's work completed after having successfully beat the top few herself in the one-on-one matches as was fair. If they could keep it together, and not lose their cool in the matches to come in the next few days, they would do very well indeed.

[{(o)}]oo[{(o)}]oo[{(o)}]oo[{(o)}]oo[{(o)}]oo[{(o)}]

Keitaro stayed bent over his desk in the office as he heard the other residents return at their usual times, Naru the only one to bother him to ask if he'd gotten the review packet and Motoko not home yet with a late evening kendo practice. His heart and mind weren't entirely focused on the exercises laid before him, but he still moved through the equations with relative ease from years of practice. The rest of his mind was busy on his possible 'problem' with Motoko and a fax he was expecting any day now from Hina. Not that he could do something until either one communicated with him somehow, but his mind refuse to let either go.

Finding his work changing abruptly, the ronin paused as he studied the inverted equation, rather surprised when he realized he had no idea how to solve it. Panicking as he saw row after row of the same form marching down his page, Keitaro whipped out his notes and began to dig through them as quickly as he could. There had to be something here, some small clue that would give him an inkling as to what he was to do with it. He honestly couldn't recall doing one like it before, but if it was on the review it was likely on the test and therefore he couldn't afford not to figure it out.

Coming across the last page, he managed to pick up something that might come in handy and began to puzzle it out carefully. Maybe if he rearranged it and added this part on the other side of the equal sign...

"Keitaro-kun?" He looked up, seeing, Motoko standing hesitantly in the doorway with a tray in hand. His stomach growled suddenly, surprising them both into shy grins. "Ah...I see you are busy. I will leave you your dinner and go."

"No, that's ok!" replied Keitaro quickly, pushing aside his work to make room on the table. "I'm must about finished." Her stomach complained loudly right them, Motoko coloring slightly in embarrassment. "And it sounds like you're hungry too," he chuckled teasingly, reaching over to help her put the bowls and cups in place. Letting her serve them skillfully, she also poured them both tea from the small pot she brought along. Picking up his bowl, he tasted the rice as smiled as the usual flavorful experience of Shinobu's cooking filled his mouth. "Mm...how was your day?"

"Well enough," she replied, tucking into her own meal with only slightly less enthusiasm, having not eaten since lunch. "Practice went well, we shall be well prepared for our first match."

"I hope I'm just as ready for the pre-exam," admitted Keitaro with a grin. "It's less than a week away now..." The sound of the fax machine caught their attention, Keitaro leaping up and snatching the paper the moment it was done printing. His shoulders fell as he read over it, frowning in disappointment.

"Is something wrong?" asked Motoko, watching as he sat back down across from her.

"Hina-san sent me a notice that she got my message, but wouldn't send a reply until she'd finished her latest spring-search," explained Keitaro with a shrug. "That could be months!"

"What was the nature of your message, if I may ask?"

"Well, here." Keitaro pulled out the original copy, handing it to her as he went back to his food.

Motoko scanned the document, her brows raising slightly when she looked back up at him. "It is an excellent idea, I am impressed. The terms are very reasonable and completely reachable for her...Shinobu and the other tenants would be very pleased!"

"I still want oba-san's blessings before I make a huge change like that," he replied with a warm smile. "She does know more of this house and the ways of the residents and their families than I do."

"To be honest, I shall not be of much use to you in this," admitted his wife abashedly. "I absented myself on most occasions from the Inn while other's families were present."

"That's alright, we'll still find a way to work this all out in the end," he promised, taking the hand with the ring on it and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"There is something else-"

"Motoko-chan!!!" Su came bouncing in right then, hugging her dearest friend in the world with all her might as the swordswoman lifted her food out of the way so it would not tip over on accident. "Wanna come play?? Please??? With cherries on top??"

"Go ahead," Keitaro encouraged her with a grin. "I'll clean up here, since I have to finish my work anyways, you go and have some fun. We can talk later, ok?"

Motoko nodded, giving him a dry smile as she rose with Su still clinging to her back. "Very well. What do you wish to do, Su?"

"Virtual reality!!!"

({[#]})=:/=({[#]})=:/=({[#]})=:/=({[#]})=:/=({[#]})=:/=({[#]})=:/=({[#]})

Shinobu whistled to herself as she did the evening dishes as Naru had cooked dinner for once, nodding politely at her sempai as he whisked in with the tray from his and Motoko's meal and she motioned for him to leave it on the counter. Figuring he must be hard at work studying from the grateful look he gave her, she was more than happy to add them to her quickly diminishing stack of things to wash.

Boiling some water in a clean kettle, she pulled out a few teacups should anyone else show up and some packets of tea, preparing a whole pot that would probably be gone by morning by way of the other residents who came and took what they pleased when they wanted or needed to. Pouring herself a cup, she made another as she remembered what Keitaro had said to Haruka-san who had in turn told her about his intending to work late and would probably need some. Carrying it deftly to his office, she knocked politely and waited for an answer before entering.

"Yes?"

Sliding the door open, she peeked in and help up the cup ever so slightly. "I'm sorry to bother you, Sempai, but I brought you a cup of tea!" Putting it on the table before him, she bowed slightly.

"Oh, thanks!" He gave her a bright smile, feeling a tug in his heart and he hoped desperately in his heart that they might never have to let the kind, young chef go. "Could you tell Motoko-chan if you see her not to wait up for me? I'm going to be longer than I thought with my studying."

"Of course, sempai!" she chirped politely.

Skittering back out to the main room, she encountered the swordswoman with a sleeping Su on her back, both wet from their baths in the springs. "Aww...she all worn out?"

"It certainly took long enough, but she is," replied the young woman with a low chuckle. "Ahh...that is some of your tea I smell, correct?"

The chef beamed happily. "Yep, would you like me to pour you a cup?"

"Yes, please, if it would not be too much trouble. Let me drop this young terror with Kitsune, for I am sure she is eager for her bedmate to join her."

Considering the unhappy grumblings the foxy lady produced when her door was opened, Shinobu thought not and giggled in amusement. While she didn't want to sleep with Su either, Kitsune's dislike and dread was so open to all but Su that one couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

Motoko returned a moment later, sitting across from the younger tenant to sip her tea quietly.

"Before I forget," said Shinobu quickly as she poured herself some more. "Sempai asked me to tell you he would be much later than he thought, and not to wait up for him."

"Oh, thank you." The swordswoman's mouth twitched slightly, but other than that gave no obvious reaction to the news. In truth, she was slightly irked, but it wasn't at Keitaro and the younger girl mustn't know of such things. "I must say, Shinobu-chan, there is none here that prepares tea quite as you do. Such a fine blend...one should hope to never do without such tea."

Shinobu's face fell as she bowed her head, the small hands that encircled her cup clenching it tightly as a tear spattered on the table beside her. "Thank you, but I..."

Her words stopped when a pair of hands enveloped her own, strong and calloused from years of wielding a weapon but warm and comforting just the same. "Hinata-sou will never let such a find young woman go, Shinobu-chan, not without a fight. We may not be entirely sure how, but you will never have to leave this place before you are ready to. I promise, we will find a way."

Motoko had left the kitchen and was halfway up the stairs when the younger girl finally looked up. But when she did her eyes held a gleam of something they hadn't known in months:

Hope.

Ascending the stairs and arriving in her room silently, Motoko changed with her mind still centered on the young girl she'd left behind. Hopefully, what she'd said would give her young friend heart, because it was true. They were trying to find a way, and they wouldn't stop until they'd exhausted every option.

Laying down on the bed with one of her old stories with the task of rewriting it, she was determined to stay up until Keitaro finally came upstairs. However, when he did come stumbling up around midnight, he found her asleep with the lamp still on propped up on her side on his 'side' of the bed. Taking the notebook and pen from her, he smiled tenderly and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead as he drew the covers up over her still form. Climbing over her tiredly after having stripped down to his boxers and undershirt, he simply laid down and unresistingly pulled her against himself before joining her in a deep slumber.

}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{

Motoko was extremely annoyed with herself when she woke a few hours earlier than usual the next morning, finding Keitaro fast asleep cuddled beside her. Half-tempted to wake him so they could talk then and there, she was only stopped by the fact that he looked extremely worn down even in his sleep and it was time for her practice that she so badly needed after taking the afternoon off with Su. While it had been enjoyable, it had provided her with none of the training she needed to be in her top condition for the match. Coming to the roof and finding the stars still out, she took a moment to calm her spirit and clear her mind before she began to warm up.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye, and she had a quick wash in the spring before slipping quietly upstairs and changing while Keitaro and the rest of the residents slumbered on. Making herself breakfast, she went through some of the recipes Shinobu had been secretly helping her with in their spare time lately and made an omelet with bacon and rice well enough to satisfy her own simple tastes. Most of the house was just waking when she left, the only sign she'd been there at all being a note she left on the table in her room for Keitaro that morning. It was just an explanation of where she was and when she'd been home, but it was from her none the less.

When Keitaro finally did wake and found it there, he put it in his pants pocket and kept it with him all day. Though he'd never thought of himself as a super-sappy kind of guy, he still didn't want to let it go for some reason.

][:][:][:][:][:][:][:][:][:][:][:][

The next few days passed much as the one before had, Motoko leaving before the rest woke for a practice, and returning home barely in time to catch dinner with Keitaro in his office as his studied. Their evenings were spent apart either in work for their upcoming challenges, or in other activities around the Inn that needed tending too. Usually, Motoko would try and stay awake until Keitaro finally came to bed, but as the first time she never made it and merely lay there with the light on until he came to tuck her in and turn it out. Such a frenzied pace left them with little time for speaking outside of a few hurried goodbyes and hellos, and on the final day for both of them they had both begun to feel the strain.

Keitaro was the first to wake that morning, carefully rising so as to not wake his dreaming wife. He knew she'd been waking a few hours earlier most days, and could probably use a few more hours of sleep to help her through her first round of matches. Changing and giving her a shy peck on the cheek, he then went downstairs and met up with Naru and Austin who were waiting for him, the former to take the test with him and the latter to make sure they found the right room on time.

When Motoko finally did wake, she blinked a few times in confusion as she realized the bed was empty except for her and she had some time yet before her ride would arrive. Putting on her usual kendo garb, the addition of arm guards with the school logo were put on as required to compete, a well as a band about her forehead and a wooden sword along side her real one. She wasn't allowed to battle with a real sword in the rings, but she wasn't ashamed to have trained with a live blade and would display it proudly. Packing away and extra set of clothes to change into afterwards, as well as some extra equipment, she headed downstairs and left her things in the main room by the front door.

"Good morning," she said as she entered the kitchen, bowing to those present before setting herself down and beginning to eat.

"You know, sometimes I envy you," commented Kitsune out of the blue. "Able to eat so much whenever you like, and never gain a kilo..."

"I also run several miles at least once a week as well as daily practice that is very physically demanded. Should you so desire, you could also eat as I do as long as you exercised regularly..."

"Thanks, but no thanks! I am quite comfortable with my eat-less/drink-more diet, and it require less effort to keep it up!" said the foxy lady with a careless grin.

Motoko frowned. "You shall not be able to outrun your over indulgence forever, Kitsune."

"That doesn't mean I won't try."

"Motoko, your ride is here," called Haruka from the front hall. The swordswoman rose, making sure she had everything before heading out the door.

"Thank you, Haruka-san. I shall be home before supper, good day," she called over her shoulder, trotting down the several steps to the large van that waited below. Nodding politely to her teacher, who also drove on such expeditions, she took the front passenger seat and politely greeted the others who were present as well.

"Good to see you rested and ready to go," said Mrs. Yozaki dryly, putting the vehicle into drive before heading out into traffic.

"We are well prepared," replied the Captain with a glance back at her chattering teammates. "I thank you for picking me up as usual, Yosaki-san."

"Eh, I figure you of all people deserve a break once in awhile," she replied with a twist of her lips in some parody of a smile. "Explain to me this plan of yours when it comes to choosing who enters which competitions."

"Yes, ma'am."

()()()()()()()

Keitaro fiddled nervously with his two freshly sharpened #2 pencils plus the lucky 'ronin mechanical pencil' he'd had since middle school that didn't work half the time. Taking the packets from the proctor as they were handed out, he opened the first one and put his answer sheet beside it. Glancing at the clock to check the time, he settled down to work, and so it began...

Several Hours Later

Naru stood in line in front of Keitaro, waiting as patiently as possible as the old woman behind the counter sorted through the stacks of answer sheets and self-score sheets before handing Naru the bundle with her name on it. Waiting politely for Keitaro thought only because the next train to Hinata-sou wouldn't arrive for another 20 minutes, they walked to the station together making sure both bundles were securely stowed in their bags so they wouldn't get lost or damaged.

"How do you think you did?" asked the two-time ronin, stretching his arms above his head in an attempt to get the kinks out of his back with limited success.

"Great, of course," scoffed the highschooler as she removed her glasses and let down her hair. "That was a breeze compared to the last exam in our study-class. And hopefully the real test won't be much worse."

"Oh...well, I'm glad you found it that easy."

Naru glanced at her uneasy companion. "Are you worried about your score?"

"I'm a lot more confident in my answers this time than I was last year," admitted Keitaro. "I've got my fingers crossed, but I really think I'll be able to make it this time."

They say 3rd time's a charm," commented Naru flippantly. "And I suppose your luck has been decent this last couple of months."

"Yeah, but this test doesn't have much to do with luck, if you don't know the material you're still screwed."

"Very true. Did you know the material?"

"I think I did..."

Together, they boarded the train and took seats across from one another. Taking out his sketchpad, Keitaro wiled away the time back to Hinata by drawing out the faces and forms of  few of the passengers around them. Thankfully, it passed in the blink of an eye and they were soon standing at the bottom of the steps to the old Inn.

"I'm gonna go see what I got. Later!" called Naru as she sprinted up the stairs, not even bothering to see if he was following as she disappeared inside.

Taking the stairs at a slower pace, the Manager glanced at his watch and realized no one else would be home yet and paused by the Tea Shop.

"Heya, Keitaro! Something I can do for you?" asked Ami as he walked in, looking up from the table she was busing.

"Just wanted to say hi and see my aunt," replied Keitaro with a polite smile. "I'll just go back and get her myself, since you're pretty busy, though."

"Suit your self."

Walking up the bar, Keitaro took a seat and waited for Haruka to finish with her present customers. "How'd it go?" she asked a moment later, sauntering over to lean on the counter lightly.

"Good, I hope," he replied with a tired grin. "I haven't scored it out yet."

Haruka raised her brows. "Why not?"

"Guess I'm just scared, actually," came the hesitant mumble. "At least this way there's a chance I might have passed, but I didn't, I'd almost rather not know..."

"Get up there and score it before I beat you myself!" growled Haruka testily. "And don't you dare let someone else do it for you! Be a man, damn it!"

"Alright, alright...I'm going oba-san..."

Whacking him over the head with a fan, his relative glared at him. "It's Haruka-SAN. Now get going, before the rest get home!"

"Yes, Haruka-san."

"That's what I thought."

[¬⌐]-[¬⌐]-[¬⌐]-[¬⌐]-[¬⌐]-[¬⌐]-[¬⌐]-[¬⌐]-[¬⌐]

Su and Shinobu, who'd spent the day at the park with a picnic lunch, skipped along the sidewalks hand in hand. Meeting up with Kitsune, who smelled of smoke and strong sake, at the bottom of the steps, they were also joined by Ami who'd just been let of work after helping Haruka-san close up.

"How was the park today?" asked the young American.

"Great!" replied Su, doing a cartwheel. "Weather stayed nice, and we even found some paths in the woods to explore!"

"Auu...it was kinda scary back there," added the young chef with a shiver. "You couldn't see much it was so dark, and there were lots of spooky noises..."

"Gees, Kitsune, you stink!" cut in Su, holding her nose closed tightly as the wind changed to blow the stench in her direction.

"Bugger off! I was just hanging with some old buddies..."

"Buddies who smoke cheap cigars and drink way too much," added Ami aside to the other two.

The screeching of tires drowned whatever comment Kitsune made back, Motoko calmly exiting the all-but-empty van with a slightly as the other teacher who'd offered to drive simply waved goodbye before taking off a second later in a cloud of dust.

"Hello!" she called lightly, though her eyes shown triumphantly and a medal hung from the hilt of her blade.

"Did you do well??" called Ami as Su went flying down, latching onto the samurai girl who simply bore her weight as if it were naught but a mere trifle.

"Our top 10- were undefeated, including myself, and we took first over all."

"Wow, congratulations!!"

"Have any tough guys that gave you a run for your money?" asked Kitsune as they waited for her near the middle to catch up. 

"There were a few who present a temporary challenge," she admitted lightly. "But nothing more than that. Hopefully there will be some more difficult adversaries later on."

"Hey, guys, guess what?!" yelled Naru from the top of the stairs, waving a sheet of paper in the air. "I passed!" The rest hurried up the last few steps, swarming around their friend to celebrate with her.

"Wow, that's awesome!"

"Auu, you're so smart!!"

"That is very well done!"

"Way to go, Naru-chan!"

"And I scored in the top 5%, can you believe it??"

They moved inside, still chattering away excitedly in the front room when a loud cry from upstairs caught everyone's attention. Keitaro appeared a moment later, a huge smile on his face and papers in hand as he slid down the banister of the stairs. Coming to the bottom, he picking up the surprised Motoko without so much as a warning and spun her around the room as she instinctively held on tightly to his neck.

"I passed! I passed! Can you believe it?! I got an 800!!"

"That's wonderful!" she replied, laughing much to the surprise of the other residents. Several jaws dropped, though, when he stopped and put her down, pulling his wife into a deep kiss that obviously caught her off guard but she relaxed into almost instantly. Kitsune wolf-whistled, Su cheering as Naru covered the shocked Shinobu's eyes though the highschooler blushed even more than her middle school counterpart. Ami just grinned knowingly, trading looks with Haruka who happed to walk in right then.

"Get a room, you too!" she called wryly, the rest grinning at this though the couple paid no attention to it what so ever.

Motoko finally broke away, leaning her forehead against Keitaro's as she realized they had an attentive audience with a blush. "I am very proud of you," she murmured quietly as she kissed the top of his nose, deciding she didn't care whether or not everyone saw them together for once. Keitaro wasn't just a boyfriend or some 'toy' of hers as some girls were prone to collect, he was her husband so they might as well get used to it now.

"I couldn't have done it alone," he replied, letting go reluctantly when Su landed on his back for a congratulating death-grip hug. That seemed to break the tension in the room among the others, and soon everyone was in a tight little knot exchanging hugs and congratulations with Keitaro and Naru.

"This calls for a celebration!" yelled Kitsune happily. "Let's break out the sake and PAR-TY!"

"Not tonight, you're not" cut in Haruka, everyone going quiet at the sound of her authoritative voice. "Most everyone has school in the morning, Kitsune, besides you and Keitaro so you can't do that tonight. Wait until next weekend, then you can party all you want."

"C'mon, Shinobu and Su!" said Kitsune as she commandeered the pair and dragged them towards the kitchen. "We've got to make up for not doing it now!"

"Auu, that sounds like fun!"

"Hey, I could put together that new party-maker I was working on.."

"Go make sure they don't do anything too destructive, will you? Kitsune's only in it for the sake, but I am worried of what she and Su'll come up with together," murmured Haruka to Ami, the American nodding her understanding before slipping after them.

"Guess I'm gonna go back to the books," said Naru as she quickly scooted her way up the stairs with a wave, eyes on her answer sheet. "I wanna se why I missed some."

Keitaro glanced at Motoko, who stood at his side holding his hand. "I should be doing the same..."

"Before you go, what does this exam mean again?" asked Haruka.

"Since I scored high enough, I qualified to take the real Toudai exam," replied Keitaro, beaming proudly. "That's not until April, but that just means I'll have that much more time to study."

"Well, get to it then. I'm going to go restock on groceries so those three don't wipe us out with this 'party' of theirs. And if that's Austin I see heading up the stairs, I'm going to take him with me so he can carry them back instead of me. Bye."

"If you are off to study more," started Motoko in a low voice. "Perhaps I should absent myself for awhile, and go train..."

"No, I'd rather you stayed...please?" He squeezed her hand gently, giving her a hopeful smile. "Two heads are better than one, and some of this stuff is not to advanced that you wouldn't know how to do it...if you don't mind helping me, that is."

"I do not," she told him firmly. "And I will stay." Together they ascended the stairs, Keitaro carrying her band for her and opening the door like a gentleman to their room. Locking it out of habit (being caught once by Kitsune in a compromising position was enough for either of them) Motoko quickly put her things away as Keitaro tossed aside his usual buttoned shirt and flopped on the bed face up with an air of satisfaction. Wincing as his back cracked loudly, he shifted as his shoulders twinged from hunching over a desk too long.

"Ack...I feel like an old man sometimes," he sighed, stretching to relieve the tension as best he could.

"Roll over," she said simply as she sat down beside him, taking the test and putting it aside as he obeyed after giving her a puzzled look. Resting his chin on his forearms, Keitaro jumped a little in surprised when he felt a firm, but gentle hands begin to work their way along his shoulders through the thin fabric of his undershirt. Tensing at first as flashes of what his wife's 'true intentions' might be, the ronin blushed and quickly melted into a pliable pile of flesh from her masterful ministrations. The knots that had worked themselves in from hours of studying disappeared as if they'd never existed and Keitaro felt himself practically drifting away in the euphoric state her hands were creating for him. It had to be one of the most wonderful, as well as stimulating, experiences he'd ever had in his life. If he weren't so tired, he'd probably get up and return the favor, but the poor ronin could barely hold on to his consciousness as it was and merely laid there enjoying this gift that had been presented to him.

"Kami..." he murmured as she worked her way lower along his back. "Motoko-chan...where did you...learn to...hmm..." He lost all will to speak as she began to work her way back up in slower, more pronounced circles.

"You cannot perform your art if discomfort such as knotted muscles or great amounts of tension," she explained in a soothing voice as her hands began to explore his neck slowly. "We are taught to endure as well as to cure discomfort."

"Let me say, you learned to do so VERY well."

Motoko blushed, unbeknownst to him, as she reduced her actions to gentle circles  that wound their way around his spine, He wasn't heavily muscled, or even as toned as Austin was, but his months of work around the old Inn had defined his muscles more than he'd originally had. Seeing her husband as limp as a rag, Motoko was tempted to slip her hands under his shirt and explore this area more closely as he sighed deeply and settled more comfortably on his stomach.

"Keitaro...?" she inquired softly, leaning a little closer as he pillowed his head on his arms. Seeing his eyes closed and feeling his heart slow through her hands on his back, Motoko smiled as she realized he was asleep. Staying as she was, she hovered there for a moment in indecision before gently snuggling into his back from his side and wrapping her arms about his waist from behind. Basking in the warmth and calm assurance that practically radiated from his skin, she quickly drifted off into her own private dreams, carried on the wings of her imagination and the winds of restful peace.

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Erg...a little disjointed, I think. o.0;; If I'd had more time, I would've revised it more, but if I hadn't updated now you'd all be waiting another week until I return from the mountains for it, so sorry!! bows apologetically

Please, please, PLEASE review!!

Now, for the part you've all been waiting for, the replies to reviews! Please glance over these as you might have said something I found interesting!! Shall we begin?

#1. Almost 200? Man, I hadn't even realized that..##.  I had considered doing as you suggested, but I usually try and finish my stories up around 20-some chapters, and since this is obviously far from being finished I couldn't wrap it up that quick. Glad you liked it, though!!

#2. bows Thank you to all who continue to praise my work! Believe me, it adds a spot of light in my rather dark and dreary day of attempting to graduate.

#3. Yes, Ami and Austin will have an actual purpose later on, and Austin especially is necessary for some later components, I swear! When it comes, everything will be made clear to you, I swear.

#4. My updating has been slower than I'd like, but it will increase as this thing called high school is left behind. And hopefully this next chapter will not be so slow in coming.

#5. sighs Once again, people do not always make decisions that are logical. But enough with that, I'm glad you like the fic and hope you continue to read it. 

#6. LOL! No...no ninja Keitaro, at least not yet and I don't think 'ninja' will be the way to describe his skills. ;; I DO love Naruto, though, and just say down and read through the manga recently. :D

#7 ...is it not possible to review for you without having something negative as well, Mr. Know-it-all? I'm just wondering, but if you ask me I would say you are one to think the glass more half empty than half full...

#8. Congratulations to CUCHIP as the 100th reviewer!! As well as to everyone else, because this is the quickest I've ever gotten to 100 on a fanfiction story.

#9. Ahh, the Turtle Clan and Kanako showing up will be soon, as in, maybe the next two chapters or so. There's only one more big thing to get to, and then we start rolling into the REAL action. ;; Hehehe...

#10. Me? Read romance novels? Never....  Don't worry, whatever I decide to do between the married Motoko and Keitaro shall be good.

And that be it.

CB

'In the eyes of the world, a man is only worth what he provides; but in the eyes of those he provides for, he is worth the world.'