The Second to LAST CHAPTER:)
Enjoy!
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Though the days began to shorten as they began to edge into the winter months, to Keitaro and his wife they seemed to lengthen as things began to pile up in their lives much like the fallen leaves along the lanes. Though the baby wasn't due for some time, with Motoko continuing to grow around the midsection and the emotional and mental changes being wrought within her it was impossible to forget its presence. Most days she would nap for at least an hour after returning home from school, and then easily fall asleep again for the night far earlier than she had before, giving Keitaro only a few moments after dinner to spend with her most nights. The kendo team continued to perform well, which took up even more of her time on the weekends, and between her normal classes and the extra pressure the teachers were putting on the seniors to pick out their juku and begin to study for entrance exams she was nearly overwhelmed.
Keitaro wasn't faring much better. With his first semester exams right around the corner, and the Inn his to run without his wife's usual helping hand but with the added financial burden of finding ways to support their new baby in the future, he was somewhat nearing his rope's end. He knew Su was not intentionally trying to give him a premature shock of white hair when she blew things up, and that Kitsune couldn't be entirely blamed for the messes she left when in a drunken stupor. Neither pushed him to fix or clean up immediately, he just felt like it was always his duty to do so as quickly as possible. That's what managers were for, right?
So it was little wonder that late one night, when the exhausted couple was fast asleep in bed, that they were rather sluggish to react when their bedroom window slid open and a dark figure slid through.
Motoko was the first to notice, her hand immediately reaching for her sword when a strong hand caught her wrist, familiar eyes peering at her from the darkness.
"Shh…"
"Sister!"
"Who's there?" asked Keitaro as he sat up quickly, freezing in surprise as he clutched the covers to his chest (they weren't exactly decent under the covers as they had never had a night visitor before) when he recognized the woman kneeling next to his wife. "Tsuruko! What-! How-!"
"Shh, we mustn't wake the others," she replied in a whispered, getting up to listen at the door, about to speak further when her eyes fully took in her sisters figure, Motoko having risen to pull on a loose robe. "Motoko-chan…!"
"I am sorry, for not having told you sooner," replied Motoko sheepishly, handing Keitaro a robe so he could get up as well. "It was wrong of me, but we wanted to surprise you, and we were planning on telling Keitaro's parents around the same time…"
"I'm just happy to find you pleased with such an event," replied her sister warmly, gathering her up in a gentle hug. "You must be near the middle, yes?"
"Three months until he or she arrives, give or take a few days."
"Do you know the sex yet?"
"No, we are deciding whether or not we want the doctor to tell us on our next visit."
"Ah, I see. There is something I seem to need to remember…" Motioning for her sister to wait, Tsuruko pulled a sheaf of papers from her sleeve, filed through them, and yanked one out quickly. Cutting out a small square, she circled something on it with a red marker, then shoved it in an envelope and marked it with Kitsune's name before handing it to Motoko. "Please see Kitsune gets this, it's of the utmost importance."
Motoko nodded, though incredibly puzzled. "Of course…"
"Excuse me, but people bursting into our room at 2:00 a.m. isn't exactly normal," coughed Keitaro as he sat himself at the table, motioning for his wife and sister-in-law to do the same. "You would have called ahead or shown up during the day if this were just a visit. What's wrong?"
"You have grown very perceptive, brother-in-law," she replied dryly, smoothing her dark clothes as she did. "I am afraid I do bring very bad news, and I do not quite know how to present it other than as bluntly as possible…our family grounds are gone."
"What!" Motoko almost rose out of her seat, fear and anger obvious as she tried to sputter out a coherent response. "What-? Gone! How-! But I…!"
"We were attacked two weeks ago by a masked force," explained Tsuruko quickly as Keitaro put a comforting arm about his wife, holding her close to his chest. "There is no proof, but I believe it is the Turtle Clan. No was killed or seriously injured, it was very well planned with a great deal of smoke bombs and timed explosions so everyone was herded to the front. All of the newer facilities were destroyed, leaving only the shrines and some of the ancient architecture intact. It created quite a stir, though, and the authorities got involved. There was not even a trace of others having been involved by the time they arrived, and so they claimed we have been using poorly manufactured buildings, and seized the property as punishment. We still have the city dojo, buildings, and properties, but everything on the mountain is gone. They were planning to turn it into a tourist attraction, last time I heard, the famous 'Ancient Training Grounds of the Aoyama Swordsman'."
"Can we do nothing to regain them?" growled Motoko through clenched teeth, her hands white-knuckled around her blade. "The lawyers, the elders, are our hands truly that tied?"
"With no proof, and only the oldest of our buildings, some of which were in need of renovations, still standing, they can claim as they please. It is not so bad, seeing as we have retained most of our monetary resources. However, that is not all…upon arriving at the city dojo, and settling my family there, I have felt myself being watched. I left as soon as I was able to, and since then I have been moving from place to place. They left the family alone as soon as they saw I was no longer with them, and have since then seemed to show up always days after leaving any area. I am sorry if I lead them here as well, but I believe I have sufficiently covered my trail that as long as I am gone by dawn they will not suspect I was here at all."
"Do we know what they want?"
"No, just that they are watching, constantly. There is something that perhaps you have not realized, little sister, something that worries me greatly."
"What is that?"
"We two are the only ones still able to utilize a blade that carry the full knowledge of the Aoyama secrets of the sword and body in our minds. Most of the elders who reached our point of perfection in the technique have either passed on, or are so old that it is difficult for them to move on their own, let alone display their full talents as they once could. This may be why I am being watched, to wait for an opportune moment to strike. If both of us died before passing all of the secrets along to a student, only a diluted form of our sword would survive, never to be seen in its awesome totality again."
Motoko put a hand to her chin, mentally scrolling through family members as she spoke. "None of the distant cousins have reached that point? There have always been at least one or two promising candidates…"
Tsuruko shook her head with a hint of disgust. "None of them have qualified as such! A few were close, they nearly made an exception for that distant relative named Megumi a few years back, simply because we needed more people to carry on the tradition, but she failed the preliminary testing to such a degree that they banned anyone under qualified from taking the tests ever again."
"Are there any close to such a point currently?"
"Unfortunately, no, the closest there might be is my eldest daughter, and that is based upon pure talent. Though our swordsmen and women are strong, obedient, and self-disciplined, with the last three generations of the main line bearing two children or less, our overall gene pool has declined."
The kendoist listed through the generations on her hand, murmuring more to herself than the others. "Mother bore you and I, her mother bore only her, and her mother's mother bore her and one brother…it would seem you are correct, sister."
"Such periods of dry spells are not unusual," put in her elder sister quickly. "But it comes at a most inopportune time. Were we at full strength, I would not hesitate to ask you to rally our people and fight against this injustice. But as we are currently…I fear we would lose many to gain only a short-term peace."
"Come to us should you find yourself in trouble, and send me word if the family needs help," replied Motoko, rising quickly to open their closet. Pulling out a small chest, she quickly dialed in the code to the ancient lock and opened it to reveal three brass crests. Pulling out two, she held it out to Tsuruko. "I'm reinstating you as a full council member, complete with my authority through the seal should it be necessary. Can you get one to Councilwoman Kari?"
"She said you'd do this," sighed Tsuruko, making a face as she accepted the first one, placing it inside her dark hamaka, before taking the second one and storing it inside a small pouch. "The elders won't be happy…"
"I'm not there, and I really can't be for some time," replied Motoko simply with a shrug, holding her hands out helplessly. "My duty is here with my husband, in our home, to my kendo team, and to our residents. You are in a much freer position to help at this time than I. Besides, to have me run to my family's aide is exactly what they want me to do."
"Then we think the Turtle Clan may move against us, here, at Hinata-sou?" put in Keitaro, having listened patiently to the exchange thus far.
"I do not believe they will do so openly, the perimeter has been reestablished by Haruka around the estate, and it appears to be well cared for. Besides, to do so here would be to possibly invite trouble. You are in a much more open position to outside interference such as the police than we were up in the mountain," explained Tsuruko quickly, one hand going instinctively to the blade at her side. "If they try anything, it will be subtle and cruel, that is their way."
"We will be careful," promised Motoko, putting a hand on Keitaro's shoulder as he looked up to her with a firm nod. "This is our home, and it is filled with loved ones, we will not give it up easily."
"Good. I must leave, they cannot know that I was here, for your sake." Tsuruko took a step towards her sister, putting her hands on the unborn baby. "Be blessed, child, with the fortitude of your father, and the beauty of your mother. Be careful, sister and brother-in-law, I hope to see you soon."
"You too, sister."
And like a shadow in the night, Tsuruko was gone, their window shut, and the moonlight trickling through an off-kilter curtain being the only sign anyone had been there at all.
"I'm sorry to hear about your land," offered Keitaro as they embraced simply for the comfort of it, running a hand through her hair gently. "It was a wonderful place…"
"The lands are not as important as the people," replied Motoko with a sigh of resignation. "And those we have not lost. We had best get some sleep; this week promises to be very long indeed."
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Kitsune's cry of bloody murder brought everyone at a run the next day around midmorning, Keitaro and Motoko bursting into her room to find a broken young woman beside an empty sake rack.
"Gone, all of it…" she moaned, eyes bloodshot from her indulgence the night before and still wearing the shirt and shorts she slept in. "Every single drop…!"
"It wasn't us!" cried Keitaro when she gave him a suddenly accusatory glance, Motoko adding her support when the vengeful gaze what turned on her. "We may joke about taking it, but we'd never do something like that…"
"Naru didn't take it, the girls are two young to even care, and Haruka's got car better stashed in the back of the Tea House…why would someone do something like this!" she asked helplessly, putting herself to sit at her small table, head in hands.
"We will help you look for it, perhaps it is merely a prank being played by one of your housemates," offered Motoko, putting a comforting hand on her back while motioning for Shinobu to bring the tea and aspirin. "Though it was certainly in poor taste…"
Kitsune's head came up quickly, though she obviously regretted the action a moment later. Still, she retorted loudly, "My sake tasted very good, thank you!"
"That is not quite what I meant…" Motoko quickly gave the suffering young woman the pills and drink the moment they arrived, and rose to her feet to leave again.
"Come on, guys," said Keitaro as he took that as his cue. "Spread out and check the hidden passages we know about, maybe it was left there…"
"Before I forget," said Motoko just before she left. "My sister asked me to give this to you."
"What?"
Kitsune looked at the neatly enveloped note, tearing it open out of curiosity to reveal a bit of paper that had been cut from a larger sheet. The typed writing looked familiar, and as Kitsune read over it she felt the blood drain from her face.
'Is there any chance the female of the marriage would be expecting?
Hell no. I'll give up sake if that happens sometime before the next few years are up I find it so unlikely to occur'.
Kitsune's second wail was so loud it even reached Haruka in the Tea House, and by the time Keitaro and Motoko reached her side again, she had completely passed out.
"What do you think that was about?" asked Keitaro after they'd tucked her in bed, closing the door behind them softly.
"It is likely the shock of realizing she will be forced to be sober for the next few days until Haruka gives her the next paycheck, she spent the rest of her last one on the races last week and lost it all on some new horse," his wife explained with a shrug, heading back towards the roof.
"Ah, that would do it…"
Of course, within the next two days the foxy lady had once again found a way to sate her sake addiction, even replacing several of her bottles rather quickly. And if she wandered around occasionally grumbling about 'damned swordspeople and their bloody honor' it was chalked up to her unusual level of sobriety until it passed like all things do.
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If the residents noticed their manager and his wife being particularly alert for the next week its, it was assumed it was probably because of Motoko's being pregnant, especially since they choose that week to begin to purchase anything that they had not yet begun to collect that the baby might need. Kitsune did remark once upon the fact that Motoko had seemed especially anxious when she had stressed the importance of being careful when out alone at bars, but Naru had immediately pointed out that Motoko had been growing more and more motherly the last few weeks and the issue was dropped after that. Haruka carrying around both fans in the back of her apron went unnoticed as well, except by Seta, but he assumed that if the reason was important he would be informed of it, and so that went by without remark as well.
The doctor's trips went well, all tests pointing to an incredibly healthy baby and mother, but at the last second during the ultrasound Keitaro decided they would wait to find out the gender of their child and Motoko agreed to go along. Dr. Nori had been amused, but she agreed to cooperate, and other than telling Haruka (one just can't keep news like that to one's self!) who swore not to tell a soul it was kept a secret for the time being. Because of that they decided to go with a bright blue and red as the baby's color scheme for the room, as the combination didn't really denote one gender over the other and the colors had close ties to the parents since they were their ki colors.
"What do you think the chances are of his or her ki being purple?" asked Keitaro as they sat together on the train for the trip home, Haruka across the isle since she had come to say hi to her dear friend.
"Ki doesn't work like that, in being transferred from parents to child, so it is highly unlikely," she explained with a shrug. "I believe the most usual corresponding factor is temperament. If they favor their father's temperament, they will have the father's color in some variation. It is the same if they favor the mother. If they are more like a grandparent, aunt, or uncle related by blood their colors will occasionally correlate more with that person's than a parents, but it is rather unlikely. It usually only happens when the parents are similar in color, and therefore are highly similar in temperament."
"Oh…"
"You're one of those unlikely cases," commented Haruka from across the way, a bemused smirk on her face.
"How so?" asked Keitaro, somewhat confused by her remark.
"You're a blue, your dad's a green, and your mom's gotta spark of pale yellow. Hina and I are both blue's too, so you could say you take after both of us more than you do your parents."
"A fact which I for one am very glad of," added Motoko, giving his hand a soft squeeze. "Mine follows in direct descent from my mother, as usually happens with the Aoyama women. We are all the bright red that we so proudly wear as warriors."
"Which explains why they all have scary as hell tempers," snorted Haruka with a soft chuckle.
"Then do colors mean something in ki?" asked Keitaro, somewhat confused by that reference.
"It can be taken to mean something, red can easily be used to symbolize most of my family's famous tempers," his wife replied, giving her aunt an amused look. "And perhaps certain shades of green in your line can represent a bent towards…certain extensions of your kin. But the only certainty with ki is that it will be a color."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Black and white aren't actually colors," explained Haruka with a shrug. "They're technically all colors mixed together, or the absence of color completely."
"Which is which?"
"Depends, are we talking about light or pigments?"
"What!"
"The important part to understand is that black and white are not shades of ki," put in Motoko quickly, sharing another amused glance with Haruka. "The details are inconsequential otherwise."
"Oh, ok…I can do that."
"I think this is our stop," commented Haruka as the announcer called the next stop. "Ready to go home?"
"Absolutely."
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The weeks continued to pass, until was close to the American holiday of Thanksgiving, Sarah insisting they celebrate with all all-out feast that everyone was invited to come and participate in. The table was packed, the extension having already been added to the end, with everyone seated around it. Haruka presided at one end of the table and Keitaro at the other, with a range of people in between who laughed, ate, and fellowshipped together in a way they had not been able to do for some time.
"Au, I hope I got everything right," fussed Shinobu as she put more dishes on the table, Keitaro already carving up the second of their two turkeys and Motoko stopping Su from secretly adding hot sauce to the gravy.
"But it'll make it good!" the foreign girl protested, pouting for a few seconds before Sarah shoved a straw up each nostril and made her laugh with the way she mocked her cousin behind his back.
"It's good already, Su," Motoko pointed out, bringing her back to the subject at hand.
"Yeah, I know, but this'll make it super-good!"
The swordswoman snorted in return. "You mean super-hot."
Su just grinned back, shrugging enigmatically. "Same thing, really."
"It's perfect," Seta assured Shinobu when the young girl passed him on a trip around the table. "Especially the mash potatoes, you nailed those."
"It feels somewhat strange to be eating mushy potatoes with a thick, soup-like covering," commented Kitsune as she poked hers with a fork, another thing that they were having a hard time adjusting to. Forks and knives just didn't come naturally to people who'd used chopsticks their whole lives. You could easily tell those who had never held a fork in their life compared to those who had by how often they let a bite drop back to their plate or occasionally fumbled in cutting something with the knife. "And the stuffing's just weird."
"Spoken like a true Japanese woman," laughed Koshi with a grin. "Did you know there's people in American who hate sushi and cringe at the idea of eating something like squid? I even met a young woman who couldn't stand anything sea food or freshwater-ish other than tuna!"
"No fish at all? That's crazy!"
"But I love sushi!"
"Shrimp's good too."
"Mmm…calamari made just right…"
"Ara, I hope they don't dislike watermelons…"
"I know that sounds crazy," Koshi went on with a shrug. "But for some of them, deep-fried turkeys with tons of gravy and other southern 'fixing's' is normal."
"Fix-ens? Is they good to eat?" asked Su as she always did, trying to hang a spoon off the tip of her nose the way Sarah showed her until Motoko got them to settle down a firm look.
"Au, Su, you always ask that question!" replied Shinobu, shaking her head with a smile.
"But for once, the answer is yes, they are good to eat," replied Koshi, putting his chin in his hand as he chuckled to himself. . "Potato casseroles, green beans a la south, fresh corn on the cob, steamed carrots, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy of course, and you can't forget the freshly baked apple pie and homemade ice cream for afterwards!"
"That just sounds strange," said Naru, making an odd face.
"Yeah, well, we live on opposite sides of the globe, what'd you expect?"
"Maybe we should try deep frying our turkey sometime," commented Keitaro, sucking on his chopsticks thoughtfully. "It might be good…"
"Au, I wouldn't even know where to begin," added Shinobu, eyes opened wide. "A whole turkey…"
"That's not the only thing they fry, either," added the Toudai student, beginning to list things off his fingers. "There's Twinkies, snickers bars, onions, jalapeños, zucchini, squash, bell peppers, okra, fish…you name, it's probably been friend by them at some point in time."
"You think they've ever fried turtle?" asked Su suddenly, perking up as she spied Tama sharing some tidbits from Naru's place.
"Dunno…"
"We'll do a little research later if we decide we want to try out this frying thing," Keitaro said quickly as he tried to divert Su's attention from trapping their reptilian friend at least for the moment, finding himself with an empty plate and a hunger for dessert. "Who's ready for the cake?"
"Oh, me!"
"Cake sounds good."
"I'm gonna need to wait to make some room…"
"Shouldn't've eaten so much, hm?"
"It was good! I couldn't help myself."
"Right…"
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"How much longer do we have?"
"A month, perhaps two. The drug has worked better than expected, for now."
"Good."
"Shoji?"
"Has been dealt with."
"I see."
"Has the way been prepared?"
"Most craftily."
"And the sacrifices made?"
"Followed to the letter in honor of the old rituals."
"The final sacrifice?"
"Shall be presented when it is time."
"I see…"
"And the scattering of the enemy?"
"Finished. They are lost and disorganized."
"Good."
"We proceed?"
"We proceed."
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Time passed yet again, as it has that irritating tendency to do, and one day Shippu came wafting down towards the Inn, interrupting Motoko in her daily stretching and mediating before breakfast.
"You are looking very good," she murmured to the bird as she scratched him on the neck, getting a satisfied hum in reply. "Haruka is in her Tea House, your treats are stored there. She will make sure you are given proper rest before you continue on your way."
The note that she had detached from the leg she took inside, waiting until she was closed up inside her room to open and read it.
Sister,
It seems perhaps we have worried for naught. The watchers are gone, and I have returned home safely. Do not consider this an all clear of epic proportions, but I believe any immediate danger has passed.
Elder Sister
Motoko breathed a sigh of relief, noting with a wry grin that neither of the seals had been returned to her at this time, but that could always be done later on. Her reports from Kairi had indicated that so far so good, everyone had managed to adjust fairly well into their new lives and quarters. They had lost some members, a few of the branch families had decided to split themselves off completely and move elsewhere, but she would not begrudge them a desire to see their people somewhere safe and prosperous. So long as they did not parade themselves as true Aoyama Swordsmen or women, she had no issues with their departure.
Keitaro met this news with a sigh of relief and a smile of pleasure, happy to know it seemed their lives would be settling down once more. It was just a week before Christmas now, and Motoko was well along in her pregnancy. The school had given her a grant in regards to her uniform, and she wore a somewhat modified version to accommodate her growing child. So pleased with the news was her husband, though, that he told her to wait for him after school, and they would go and have a small treat together in town.
When he came and picked his wife up, it was among a few sweet 'Aww's from her kendo team and one of the other married girls who was also waiting for her husband. Together, they walked the streets until they found and ice cream vendor and each decided on a small cone, double chocolate cherry for Motoko and rainbow sherbet for Keitaro. Seeing a bookstore up on their left, they decided to stop there before making their way home.
"Dr. Nori did suggest we find something to read so we would know what to expect leading up to and then following the birth of our firstborn," commented Motoko as the browsed the isle. "It is just very difficult to choose the one I believe will help the most."
"We could go with the tried and true 'Pregnancy and Birth for Dummies'," said Keitaro with a teasing grin. "They seem to be willing to teach people like me just about anything."
"You are not a dummy," retorted Motoko dryly, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You simply have little to no experience in this field. It is not your fault you have never fathered a child before."
"Well, it is my fault," he chuckled with a shrug. "But it is a fault I gladly accept."
"True…"
"Perhaps we should ask Dr. Nori instead which she would recommend, we might choose based upon mere guessing and find ourselves with incorrect information," his wife suggested wisely, feeling more than a bit overwhelmed with the selection available to them.
"Good idea."
Deciding to come back later, they left and began to head home, Keitaro leading his wife proudly down the street with their arms linked and him holding her things for her.
"Shinobu-chan is the one cooking dinner tonight," Keitaro said aloud as he mentally went through the list of things he had yet to do. "That means we have clean up, the hot springs I cleaned earlier, our bathroom needs a quick scrub, though…"
"I need to finish the last of our laundry," added Motoko with a wry grin. "We are going to run out of sheets if I do not."
"I suppose we could be a bit more careful about getting them dirty," coughed Keitaro with a blush.
"That would only make it all the worse when we forget," she teased him gently, getting a knowing look in return. "Do not worry, love, we have not yet run out of sheets. We have merely come very close."
"Let me know if you need help carrying something, I don't want you to strain yourself going up and down the stairs," he cautioned her as they reached the steps of their beloved dormitory, finding an unfamiliar car parked in front and two figures barely visible way at the top of the steps.
"Keitaro, who is that?" asked Motoko when the pair spotted them and both waved quickly, one in a short, constrained manner and the other with long, broad sweeps.
"I think…" He swallowed hard, turning to give her a deer in the headlights look. "I think that's my parents!"
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Kitsune had been more than slightly miffed when an older man and woman showed up at the front, asking for Keitaro and demanding entrance like they owned the place when she said he was out for the time being. But what had really taken the cake was when they had inquired whether she knew where Haruka was and had immediately dispatched her to fetch the elder Urashima like a servant upon getting a positive response. That had been added to by a comment to dress herself decently for when male guests visit, and Kitsune had been about ready to hit the roof.
Haruka, who generally was quick to act when stupid people intruded into their lives, had paused, though, when Kitsune had come to her with the tale.
"What'd they look like?" she asked carefully, one hand drumming against the counter as the other ground out the cigarette she'd been smoking into the tray.
"Medium-sized guy, average all around, bald as a cue, and coke bottle glasses. He was wearing a business suit that looked a bit shabby. The lady was small, very thin, small nose, with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing traditional kimono and sandals."
Haruka's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Did they say who they were?"
"Nah, I left before I asked, figured Keitaro wouldn't want me Naru-punting any of'em out without his blessing," came the dry reply. "How's Mister Bastard and his wife The Bitch sound?"
"Heh, cute…That was a good idea, not sticking around…and I don't think they'll be leaving soon, either. Stay here to keep an eye on things for me, and lay low until they leave, you're not their favorite kind of person."
"You know them?"
"Unfortunately, I think."
"Who are they?"
"The worst kind of guests: family. Call Seta for me, he's gonna need to cover for me tonight…"
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"Good to see you, son, and finally meet your lovely wife," said Keitaro's father as they sat around the living room table, Motoko serving the tea that Shinobu had been kind enough to bring from the kitchen. It was an odd, uneasy meeting, with most of the uncomfortable vibes seeming to come from Keitaro instead of his completely relaxed parents. They seemed perfectly happy with the news, and were smiles about everything they had seen thus far.
"I am sorry for keeping our good news secret this long," said Keitaro sheepishly, ducking his head as he thankfully accepted the cup Motoko handed him. "We had hoped to surprise you…"
"Word came through the family grapevine that you're wife might have a bun in the oven, and we dropped everything to come over and see," his mother added with a sweet smile. "How wonderful, we're going to be grandparents!"
"This is excellent tea, you say that young girl does most of your household cooking for you?" commented the father as he sipped from his cup, sighing in pleasure. "Extraordinary!"
"Shinobu-chan is very talented," added Keitaro, trying to calm his racing mind as his wife discreetly put a hand over his under the table. "We are very lucky to have her with us."
"I trust that she is not present because of a lack upon your wife's part…?" asked Keitaro's father, still smiling though his eyes seemed to take on a slightly meaningful cast.
"Motoko is a very good cook as well," Keitaro replied a bit sharply, immediately toning it back when his father raised one brow slightly, though he continued to smile. "Shinobu-chan is unable to afford the rent, so we have come to the agreement of allowing her to take over these chores, that Motoko-chan and I would find ourselves more free to help our residents in other ways in return for a reduced rent fee."
"Ah, then it is an act of charity, how kind! She seems to be a very well-mannered child!"
"She is," Keitaro agreed carefully, his lips growing thin at the though of Shinobu being a charity case.
"I trust the rest of your residents are as polite, modest, and helpful," said his mother with her pearly white teeth gleaming in the sunlight. For some reason, they suddenly reminded Motoko of fangs.
"Well, we have a wide variety of personalities here, and they can all be polite, modest, and helpful in their own ways," Keitaro hedged, giving Motoko a knowing look out of the corner of his eye.
"I must say, Keitaro, I greatly approve of this wife of yours, she does not speak unless bidden to, silent and beautiful as all young wives should be."
"A wife should not be heard until her husband has taught her how to use her mind," added the mother quickly with a doting smile to her husband. "We won't hold it against you, son, if you are unable to train your wife in the art of fine conversation as quickly as your father was able to train me. You always were slow at things that required a brain."
Motoko's hands suddenly tightened into fists under the table, though on the outside she looked as calm and serene as before and continued to do so though she had a feeling this only the beginning of her list of dislikes with Keitaro's parents. Haruka saved her and Keitaro from being forced to formulate a response by appearing just then, giving her brother and sister-in-law a short bow before joining them at the table with a blank face. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light, but the swordswoman could have sworn that the smiles plastered on their faces were suddenly just a touch less friendly, the eyes more calculating, and the tinge to their words perhaps even cruel.
"It seems you have kept yourself well, Haruka, though I see you still lack a positive male presence in your life," her brother said with a hint of disapproval, settling back in his seat like a father about to lecture a small child. "Running away from duty, are we?"
"My duty is to the Tea House, which I have served well," she responded simply, giving him a flat look. "According to the reports, I have served it better than you have the Confectioner's Shop, for my profits are double that of yours."
"We both know our elder brother runs the money on that shop, and he's probably the worst suited as such to do so," he replied with a vague shrug. "And profits are not all that is necessary to ensure a strong family line. Progeny…" He waved a hand in Keitaro and Motoko's direction. "Now there is a necessary ingredient. Perhaps I have only born one child to secure the family line, but he is already in the process of continuing the tradition, something you will never be able to do. The least you could do is marry to cement an alliance with one of the other strong families in the area, that would be doing your duty to the family."
Haruka just looked at him, eyes showing nothing as she folded her hands in her lap. "That is unlikely."
"Then you have failed your duty, little sister, correct?" He continued to smile, but it was a sight Motoko was growing to hate by the second.
"If that is what duty is, then yes."
"That is what duty is."
"So you say, brother."
"Motoko-chan," put in Keitaro's mother, suddenly diverting everyone's attention elsewhere. "You must be very uncomfortable in that uniform. Perhaps you would wish to change into something more comfortable and traditional? I know Haruka spurns such notions, but then again most of the family considers her very odd, even perhaps degenerate with her negative views of the old ways…" The hand she smoothed along the sleeve of her kimono was blatantly obvious to the swordswoman, and she inwardly sighed at this new predicament.
"I could not leave my husband's parents unattended to serve my own comforts," she replied carefully, unsure with these latest events as to how to treat her in-laws. The hidden insults…the hidden orders…were they to obey, like sheep, or make a stand against tradition?
"Haruka-chan I'm sure will show us to our rooms while you change, and Keitaro will accompany you to be sure you make it up and down the stairs safely. One cannot be too careful when pregnant!"
"Of course."
Keitaro did smother a smile at the ridiculousness of the idea of him helping Motoko anywhere when she was as physically capable as he was, but it was short-lived when he saw his aunt's jaw tighten just ever so slightly. "Do you need any help settling them in?" he asked quickly, trying to speak low enough to escape his parent's hearing. "The room towards the end of the hall by the bathroom is fairly well set…"
He failed.
"Haruka-chan used to practically have the run of this place, I'm sure she remembers where everything is, even if there is nothing prepared already," cut in his father with his ever present smile. "And we're actually kind of tired, so I think we might rest until dinner. Is that ok with you?"
"Please, go right ahead," replied Keitaro with a hint of relief. "We'll send someone to get you when its time."
"Very well, we'll see you then!"
"Yes, sir."
"Haruka will be attending, of course," added the mother suddenly, a hand on Haruka's shoulder in a way that one might in patting the head of a young child. "Change into something more suitable for the meal, dear. Do you spend much time with Motoko? I think you should, perhaps some of her habits and respectability would rub off on you."
"Now, dear, you know how my sister feels about advice from others," chuckled the father, putting an arm about his wife. "Lead the way, little sister."
Haruka felt her pasted on look begin to crumble at the edges as she nodded and rose to her feet, motioning to the room Keitaro had indicated. "Right this way…"
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Seta bounded up the steps of the Inn, wondering about Kitsune's ambiguous call until he opened the front door and saw Haruka coldly glaring at her brother's retreating back. "So, I'll be watching things for awhile," he guessed quickly as she strode past him down the stairs, heading for her one last haven: her home. "Is there anything I can do…?"
"Yeah, leave a bottle of bourbon on the counter for me," she snorted, throwing a disparaging look over her shoulder that he guessed was meant for her brother. "Damned honor, damned family, damned duty!"
"I'll call up and say you've taken sick, if you want," he offered quickly, hurrying to keep up with her. "Keitaro would understand…"
"Thanks," she muttered, "But no thanks. The boy doesn't know what he's getting into, even if that bastard did father him. Kami only knows how you put two snakes together and get a wonder like Keitaro."
"Hey…" Stopping her with a hand on her arm, he made her look at him as he added, "Be careful, and don't listen to what they say. They're wrong."
"That's a nice thought," she sighed, squeezing his hand before pushing away and going inside. "But it doesn't do much good at the dinner table."
The archeologist watched her leave him, knowing that as much as it hurt to be brushed aside right now, she would still need him later on. It was tempting when she acted tough like that to let her try it on her own, face her awful brother who was damnably older than her and able to use that automatic respect factor to his advantage alone for the next however long they were visiting. Then come to the rescue when things were at their worst, save the day right at the very end... But that would not be doing his best by her, something he would never be able to forgive, and so he went into the Tea House and joined Kitsune at the counter, donning an apron.
"You might want to go warn the other residents to find somewhere else to eat tonight," he advised after checking to make sure things were under control. "The dinner table's gonna be a mine field, with anyone and anything open to the worst kind of criticism."
"Is that so? I think I'll go and do that, then…the fewer involved with those jerks the better." She practically snarled as she thought about the demanding pair, and unusual look to see on the generally cheery foxy one's face.
"Had a run in your self already?" noted Seta, wiping down the counter as he listened attentively.
"Yeah, met them when they first came in, apparently I don't meet the standards by their book." Her added snort let it be known how ridiculous she found that, even offensive.
Seta laughed bitterly, fixing himself a cup of tea. "I can see that being the case…" It was going to be a long, long night.
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Motoko was just finishing tying up her kimono when there was a soft knock at the door, Keitaro getting up and answering it to find Koshi and Naru standing outside.
"We heard dinner might be…different," she said carefully, glancing back and forth between the two as Koshi nodded in agreement. "So we're all clearing out. Shinobu's coming too, as soon as she finishes cooking."
"That's probably for the best," agreed Keitaro with a firm nod, giving his wife a sympathetic look. "We'd join you if we could…but you guys have fun, and don't stay out too late, there's school tomorrow."
"Yes, dad, I'll have them in on time," chuckled Koshi with a wink. "C'mon, Mutsumi's waiting for us downstairs."
"Ok."
"I'm sorry you have to go through this," said Keitaro as he suddenly put his arms about his wife, holding her as close as he could with the baby between them. "If you want, I'll say you're not feeling well, they seem to think you're just a delicate flower of a woman…I'll play up on that if you want."
"No, I believe for Haruka's sake I need to be there as well," she replied with a sad smile. "Regardless of what they may…assume about me, it seems their opinion of your aunt is far worse. Any support we can give her…I believe it would be a great help."
"You're probably right…" Letting go, he sat down by the table, pushing aside the ledgers he'd been studying only moments before as she joined him silently. "They're so…argh! I'm male and first born, so it's never been bad except when the demon-thing was putting overtime for making my life miserable, but everyone else…especially anyone who's not exactly like them. Any friend I had who wasn't from a mom and dad family that had a respectable business and looked to the 'old ways', if they came over it was like watching someone slowly roast another person over a bed of coals."
"Surely they would…be more cautious of their words should our residents actually be present…"
"No, they might be worse," he snorted, rubbing his forehead slowly. "Shinobu's about the only one that would pass their standards."
"Even Naru?"
"She's older than you, therefore she should already be married, they'd probably try and arrange a marriage contract at the table with Koshi, or worse some distant cousin of ours. Also, they don't encourage further education for women past the required high school, so that's another strike against both her and Mutsumi. Koshi would be ok up until they knew he was related to Seta, it'd be all over then…"
"They heavily disapprove of him?"
"Most of the family blames him for 'taking Haruka away from her roots'. I heard my uncle, the eldest brother, say that if not for him, Haruka would've settled down with an arranged contract years ago…"
"If your family did arrange a marriage for your aunt, would she not be required to obey regardless? She seems to be obedient to her brother, or at least gives and outwards appearance of it in his presence." Motoko suddenly considered that and added, "Which I find odd. She once said that you were a family that did not truly stand on decorum, yet she seems to give way before her elder brother without question…"
"Well, Hina doesn't stand on tradition so much, and so neither does Haruka or my sister who are sort of her protégés, but technically, yes, she does have to give way before her elder brothers. They were raised like that by their father, and he passed away when Haruka was still fairly young (she was one of those 'surprise' kids towards the end) and so she would have to agree to a married contract, but there's the Tea House…"
"What about it?" asked Motoko, not really seeing the connection.
"Hina is technically the head of the family so long as she lives, and she gave Haruka the Tea House with her blessing to remain there alone for as long as she wished. As long as Haruka keeps the Tea House…"
"Her brothers cannot force her to marry, period. The Tea House is her lifeline," his wife finished for him, understanding finally dawning on her.
"Exactly, which is probably why she takes such good care of the place, if it goes down she looses her independence with the first willing male my brothers can find for her. And I can guarantee you it won't be Seta, or anyone nearly as nice as him."
"I once believed the politics involving my family's elders and the council was complicated," she murmured quietly, putting a hand to her mouth as she considered what she had learned. "But now it seems they are simplistic compared to yours…"
"The key is not to argue, because it only makes things worse. They'll probably be coming out to see when we will eat in a few minutes; we should be down there waiting when we come."
"You go; I will make sure our residents have managed to steer clear, at least for now."
"Ok."
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Shinobu was just finishing up the meal when most of her housemates plus Mutsumi and Koshi came hustling into the kitchen, offering to help her with whatever else she needed done just to get them out of their quicker.
"Is something wrong?" she asked as she watched Su and Sarah whisper and watch the door carefully, obviously plotting something.
"We ran in Keitaro's parents out there," explained Naru, unsure of how much the young girl already knew about the couple.
"I met them earlier," she replied with a small smile. "They seemed very kind."
"Eh, yeah…anything else I can?"
"Au…could you carry that to the table?"
"Yep."
"Is everyone alright?" asked Motoko as she appeared in the door, carefully closing it behind her.
"We only lost a patch or two of our skin, not the whole thing," replied Kitsune sourly, tossing a glare towards the door. "Damned idiots…"
"I can finish setting the table, thank you for your generous cooperation," Motoko told Shinobu kindly, taking one of the bowls from her hands and setting it on the table. "Go ahead and go, but leave through the back so you do not have to pass through the living room again."
"Do I need to be back to help clean up?" asked Shinobu as she put her coat on, taking the shoes Naru was holding for her.
"No, Keitaro and I will manage for tonight. Goodbye, and be careful."
"We will!"
Motoko finished setting everything out, taking care of a few small details before she reentered the living room, finding her aunt had arrived and was seated to one side of Keitaro, wearing her formal maroon kimono and as blank-faced as she had been earlier. Keitaro, she could tell, was beginning to be upset, but about what she couldn't see until she realized what his parents were saying.
"I find it very strange that you allow a foreign girl to live among the residents so openly, she doesn't corrupt them with her strange ways, does she?" said his father with the same smile as before, though his eyes had a disapproving glint. "She doesn't rattle on in some foreign tongue, does she? You wouldn't want the neighbors saying you harbor geishan in your home."
"She only speaks Japanese, which is also a common tongue in her land," Keitaro replied stiffly, the bottom of his jaw beginning to protrude slightly.
"Forgive my interruption," said Motoko with a respectful bow. "But dinner is ready, if you wish to eat."
"We can't let Shinobu's cooking get cold," said Keitaro, jumping on the chance to change the subject as he quickly got to his feet, moving to hold the door for everyone. "Right this way, please."
His father insisted his son take the position at the head of the table, he and the mother taking both positions to the right and Motoko and Haruka remaining to the left. Keitaro quickly pushed them into the meal, telling them to feel free to serve themselves as they wished and hoping the conversation would be left behind as they concentrated on the food.
Apparently, his parents had other plans.
"That boy, Koshi, he looks strangely familiar, as did the youngest girl. She told me to mind my own business when I asked her who her father was," his dad commented as he tried the beef and vegetables. "Ah, this is delicious…"
"Sarah-chan is quite spirited," replied Keitaro quickly, giving them an apologetic nod. "Her enthusiasm can be a bit much at times…"
"She wouldn't be Seta's child, would she?"
"His only child," replied Haruka when Keitaro hesitated, earning herself a disparaging smile.
"Of course, she is not yours, that would be impossible," her brother stated dryly, "But I imagine you know who the mother is, as twisted as your relationship is. Perhaps you were even friends…tell me, Keitaro, do you understand the sort of negative influence she could be with your other residents? Even the geishan, and it seems she has enough bad habits as it is, perhaps it would be best to ban the girl from this place, her and that Koshi because he is of the same get as that Seta or I am blind."
"Koshi is a very respectable young man," Keitaro defended his friend carefully.
"He may seem so, but I guarantee no free young man can wander the halls of this place and keep his mind pure for long. Can you imagine the thoughts he may have had about some of your residents, perhaps even your wife? You will be better off without him, and the girl, if you only look at it in the right light…"
"I prefer to trust people until they prove themselves unable to be trusted," replied Keitaro evenly, though Motoko could see the way the hand in his hand tightened momentarily about his cup.
"You see how trusting their kind has treated your sister, and she has only received her just desserts for being so foolish," his father pointed out, motioning towards her as though she couldn't hear what he was saying.
"It is foolish to be a successful business woman?" replied Haruka aloud, taking a slow sip of her tea. Her plate remained mostly untouched in front of her, though her brother and his wife both ate heartily.
"You should try and do something more becoming with your features," put in Keitaro's mother suddenly, studying her across the table. "Your skin has held up well, even if you haven't been taking care of it. Those fine lines wouldn't be nearly as noticeable with a little make up to blend things in and a more feminine cut to your hair would help as well…something less utilitarian."
"You also can't catch a man if you don't smile," murmured her brother around a mouthful of rice. "This truly is wonderful, Keitaro, you will have to pass my compliments to that wonderful, proper young girl for me."
His reply was somewhat forced from the effort of keeping his features clear of what he truly felt, an exercise that was far more draining that he remembered it being. "Of course."
"You should also consider wearing a kimono everyday in your Tea House, and being friendlier with your male costumers. Perhaps one of them would be suitable to marry you…not the cream of the crop, of course, even someone as young as Seta would be wasted on a woman who can't produce offspring, but an older gent whose good fortune from long years of work could be added to the family treasury after his passing in ten or twenty years. Perhaps less, if his health is a bit fragile." The father paused in his lecture to sip from the tea cup Motoko had refilled for him.
Haruka just let the corner of her mouth twitch slightly, continuing to sip her tea slowly.
"Sit up, Haruka, slumping in your seat will only ruin your posture and figure in one blow," commented her sister-in-law, adding in the same breath. "And could you pass that delightful dish by your elbow? It looks simply delicious."
Motoko laid down her chopsticks, unable to eat another bite as her stomach roiled unpleasantly. How had Keitaro's parents developed such acidic, unforgiving tongues? Almost everyone she cared for, and some she greatly admired like Haruka, were being belittled like the worst criminals. And yet, were she not pregnant and therefore in the good graces of Keitaro's parents she would be scrutinized as such as well, even more so than the very small bit she had endured earlier.
"How long do you believe you will be staying?" asked Keitaro in another desperate attempt draw to the conversation to something, anything, other than his aunt.
"Unfortunately, we must take our leave in the morning, the 6 a.m. train back home. I don't trust your uncle to look after everything for more than a day on his own, and your mother has a new recipe for a chocolate gauche that I've been wanting to try," his father explained quickly, reaching over for his second helping of the finely sliced fish.
"Would you like us to pack you a breakfast for your trip?" asked Motoko, wishing to honor her husband's parents in any way she may while still secretly hiding her desire to send them through the wall with the strongest blast she could summon.
"No need, we will get something to nibble on while on the train, and your uncle knows to have a brunch waiting for us at the shop," he replied with a wave of his free hand.
"If you a sure…"
"Look at how kind she is, trying to see to our needs for us," said her mother-in-law brightly, leaning over to lay a hand over Motoko's gently. "You are too sweet, dear. Haruka, are you paying attention? This the way a proper wife behaves. Perhaps if you can convince a man that you can do this as well he could consent to taking you as his bride."
"I am curious as to what your business is," said Motoko suddenly, seeing the way Keitaro shifted in his seat. He would not be able to tolerate such talk much longer, and a glance in Haruka's direction revealed much the same in her as well, though for a completely different reason. "Keitaro has never explained to me exactly what you do."
"It is quite complicated, but I will try and simplify it that you might begin to grasp the expansive business of making sweets," her father-in-law replied magnanimously, Motoko holding back the desire to retort that she had learned swords combination attacks as a 12 year old that made his silly recipes for sweets look like addition next to complex algebraic equations. "There are so many subtleties in the art of sugar, levels of sweetness, the tastes that go with sweet better than others, different flavor combinations…and of course finding the perfect way in which to present them. Some people would prefer theirs on a stick, like pocky, others something they can eat with a spoon…"
Motoko pretended to be interested as the older man rambled on for a good hour about the many things he could make in the kitchen that were sweet, and while it was an impressive amount the way he spoke to her as one might to a small child soon began to grate irritatingly. Towards the end she nearly interrupted him time and time again to explain that he needn't act like she had never cooked anything before in her life when explaining how things were made, but refrained always at the last possible second.
"Oh dear, look how late it is," fussed Keitaro's mother suddenly when her husband had paused to wet his throat with some tea, finding it to be around 8:00 p.m. according to the kitchen clock. "Perhaps we had best retire, dear, we have a long ways to go in the morning."
"That we certainly do," she agreed, taking a final, dainty sip of her tea. "Haruka, have you quick smoking? I noticed you haven't lit up at the table…"
"I refrain from smoking around Motoko for the baby's sake," the Tea House owner explained simply, nodding in her niece's direction slightly.
"Pity, that will go against you when you finally decide to quit pouting and look at the suitors your wonderful brothers have picked out for you…"
"Can I interest you in some coffee, or perhaps some more tea before you retire?" broke in Keitaro politely, motioning to the pot Shinobu had wisely left brewing on the counter.
"No, your mother is getting tired and the extra caffeine will only keep her up," said his father quickly. "Motoko-chan, will you be a dear and escort my wife to her room, I have some things I would discuss with my son. Haruka, you may go as well, I can see all the entreating we have done will not move your cold heart. I can only hope you will someday come back to us, as you should, to bring our family honor and glory as is your duty."
Haruka gave him half-hearted bow, standing and leaving silently as Motoko watched her go with a horrible twist in her gut. Rising gracefully to her feet as well, she held the door open for her husband's mother and politely listened as the woman began to ramble about their business some more and the many things she would have to do for taking a day off on the morrow. Giving polite replied when asked a question, and nodding her head occasionally to ensure her guest knew she was listening, she guided her down the hall until they reached the door. It took much, much longer than she had thought for the woman would occasionally pause in her slow, shuffling pace to elaborate upon some point and would have to be gently reminded of their destination before she would move again.
"Do come to us should you require anything," Motoko told her as she opened the door, allowing her to enter first.
"Most certainly, dear, but I won't keep you any longer, dishes never wash themselves! Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Moving away, she smoothed her features immediately when she saw her father-in-law approaching from the main room, bidding her a cheerful goodnight with a warm smile when they passed in the hallway. She bowed respectfully, then hurried to join her husband who still sat at the table with his hands clenched in his lap, eyes staring ahead at nothing at all.
"Keitaro…?" she asked carefully as she knelt beside him, laying one gentle hand on his arm.
"I'm very glad he asked you to leave," he said simply, taking a trembling breath as he forced his tensed muscles to relax. Putting a hand over hers, he shook his head slowly as if to clear it before rising to his feet and bringing her with him. "The only thing worth telling you is he said we might have another visitor soon, someone from my family that we are to welcome as we would him. He said they will bring with them a note bearing the family crest, which is how we will know who it is."
"I see…"
"I need some time to put what he said out of my mind," her husband announced suddenly, turning towards the sink. "Go to Haruka and make sure she's ok, will you? I'll meet you upstairs when you're finished."
"Are you sure?" she asked, noting the way his jaw clenched and unclenched slowly, and the throbbing vein in his forehead.
"Yeah," he said with a sigh, forcing himself to breathe deeply and let the tension flow out as he exhaled. "I'm sure."
"Very well." Obediently she left, heading carefully down the stairs to the Tea House to find Seta sitting outside by himself, the shop closed up except for one light on at the counter where a shady figure could be seen leaning over the counter.
"She came down thirty minutes ago, told me to close up shop and leave. She came back out five minutes later, and started on the bourbon with a vengeance," he said simply when she gave him a questioning look. "She doesn't want me in there, so I'm waiting for her to pass out before I'll put her to bed."
"I will go and talk with her, perhaps she can be reasoned with," Motoko replied softly, entering the Tea House to find her aunt in a sorrier mess than she'd ever seen before.
Her eyes were bloodshot with unshed tears, and she swayed drunkenly in her seat as she tried to pour herself another glass and spilled half of it on the counter in the attempt. "Stupid brothers…hiccup…n'always damned wrong….hiccup…jus'wanna….shoot'm…"
"Haruka, perhaps you have had enough," commented Motoko as she came even with her aunt, slowly removing the glass bottle from her reach. "Shall I help you to your bed?"
"Failed there too," came the slurred reply followed by a mirthless chuckle, Haruka squinting at her as she swayed back and forth and her eyes blinked rapidly. "Can't...have a family…hiccup…an'th'only thing that matters t'my brothers….hiccup…is kids…lil'bratz…who needs'm…" Suddenly resting her head on the counter, Haruka gave a long sigh and closed her eyes, as if too tired to even lift herself from her resting place. "Go away…go away…hiccup…my home…not yours…"
Motoko felt herself moved with compassion and gently laid a hand on her aunt's head, letting the ki flow through her and easily subduing her aunt's drunken will with her own. "Sleep," she murmured, barely stemming the flow of tears that threatened to come as Haruka began to cry softly, the wet tracks leaving glistening trails along her cheeks. "Sleep, and don't wake until morning…"
"You'n'Keitaro…" Haruka whispered as she slowly relaxed, "Thank you…"
The swordswoman wanted to gather the broken woman to her chest and cradle her as she drifted to sleep, to tell her that her brothers were wrong and she had more worth that she could ever know. Haruka had been the one she'd looked up to all those years while living at the Inn, desiring to be as strong and unmovable as her, as protective of the things she cared for and able to shrug off the insults and injuries others had thrown at her. Truly, of any relative she had gained after the initial marriage had occurred, the Tea House owner had been the one she had been the most thrilled about gaining, simply because of the respect and friendship they had shared over the years. But perhaps it was because of her own intimate relationship with her weaknesses that she didn't feel a deep disappointment or resentment in finding that the elder Urashima, the pillar of strength, the one time dorm mom, was truly as human as she was. Just as fallible and prone to moment's of weakness. Instead, she wanted to comfort her, reassure her, be there for her…but she knew that it would likely only embarrass the woman come morning.
Making sure Haruka was truly asleep, she left the Tea House, motioning for Seta to go ahead inside.
"You will make sure she is put to be safely, and that everything will be locked up correctly," she asked as he moved to enter, seeing within his eyes a desire to help the woman at the counter that far surpassed her own.
"Yes," he replied, serious for once as he nodded firmly. "Thank you."
"And thank you."
It only took a few minutes to get to the Inn, and she arrived just in time to greet the returning residents who quickly hied themselves away to their rooms for the night, tired from their evening of frivolity and ready for bed. Moments later she was in her own room, her husband waiting for her under the covers with sad eyes.
"Are you alright?" she asked as she undressed quickly, joining him to find herself enveloped in his warm embrace, one that seemed to be more for his sake than hers.
"I'm tired, and sad, but fine," he replied with a slow nod. "Haruka?"
"Resting, Seta is making sure everything is locked down right."
"He's a good man."
"Yes, he is, and so are you." Motoko kissed her husband firmly, giving him a solemn look as he slowly smiled. "Don't ever doubt that, whatever it was your father said to you."
"I won't, not so long as you're with me," he replied, holding her all the tighter. "I love you, Motoko."
"And I love you, Keitaro."
"There is one thing that worries me," he confessed suddenly, sitting up slightly so she was forced to do so as well.
"What is that?" she asked, leaning on one elbow as she brushed some of his longer bangs out of his eyes.
"They never said which part of the family they heard from," he explained, drumming one hand against the covers gently. "If Hina didn't tell Kanako we were married, I doubt she told my parents we were pregnant, and Haruka certainly didn't spill the beans…who else could possibly be left?"
Motoko's brow suddenly furrowed, her expression showing a glimmer of fear. "You do not think…?"
"I don't know," he admitted with a small shrug. "We'll just have to wait and see who this visitor is, maybe they'll tell us."
"Maybe…"
Though she was exhausted from the evenings activities, with this new information on her mind, the manager's wife was some time before she fell asleep. Tomorrow, she could tell, was going to be a long day, as was every day following until the matter was resolved. She could allow nothing to harm her unborn child, at any cost, even to herself.
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Christmas came and went in a flurry of brightly-wrapped gifts and loud parties, everyone happily spending as much time together as possible, though Haruka still managed to arrange one evening for her nephew alone in the Inn with his beautiful wife. Motoko continued to grow as her child developed inside of her, and soon she had to stop wearing her hamakas completely because they would not stretch far enough to cover her expanding waistline. Though she had purchased some new clothes for her maternity months, she felt it a waste to spend the money on an entirely new wardrobe when she would only be in this condition for a few months more. As a supplement to her wardrobe, she wore her kimonos, especially her older ones, on a near-daily basis, the robes being full enough to cover her completely, something Keitaro especially enjoyed as he loved the way they looked on her.
The festival came and went again as well, Keitaro and Motoko spending yet another evening watching fireworks by themselves up upon the hill, and when it was finished and they found themselves much in the same position as they had been the year before they found themselves responding without reservations. The stuffed animal he had won for her the year before suddenly had a mate beside it, a gold and black tiger with a blue bow around its neck, and another leather journal joined the others on the shelf, Motoko having filled the one previously given to her.
Still, the unresolved issue remained in the back of the swordswoman's mind, unable to shake the feeling that somehow everything was connected and she merely required a few key pieces of information to see the big picture. Knowing Keitaro had enough to worry about, though, with his second semester being far more difficult than the one before and more repairs being needed than normal with Su and Sarah confined indoors with the cold weather, she kept her worries to herself and there they stewed in the recesses of her brain, unwilling to disappear and festering irritatingly.
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Haruka was serving a familiar customer at the counter when a man entered her Tea House, dressed in barely serviceable jeans and shirt with a well-worn leather jacket. His face was unshaven, and his hair noticeably thinning with prominent gray streaks in it. He took the seat closest to the door, farthest away from the rest of her customers, somewhat off to one side and partially in the shadow. None of this, though, particularly attracted her attention, though, until Seta came by with his order, mentioning that he had a piece of paper on the table next to him bearing the Urashima crest.
Raising her brows slightly, she had been a little less rough on Seta since the incident with her brother and sister-in-law, she had ambled over to the stranger's table and tapped her fingers on it smartly to get his attention.
"Do you bring a message from the main family?" she asked, indicating the note.
"I need to see Keitaro, and his wife," he replied, unusually meek in the way he humbly hung his head and avoided direct eye contact with her.
"They're up at the Inn, any of the girls can show you the way if they don't answer the door," she stated flatly, turning away to head back to her business when he stopped her with his words.
"Please…it would best if it were alone." They were carefully, but bluntly spoken, as if he were afraid of being caught in a lie.
"Even if I were to arrange that for you, it probably couldn't happen until later this evening," she replied flatly, frowning as she turned back to give him a once over. "Much later."
"I will wait as long as is necessary," he said quickly, a spark of hope lighting his eyes. "Please…"
"Give me a good reason why I should," she said slowly, sure that he wasn't armed but unwilling to write him off as harmless just yet. "If you know anything about them, then you know there's a couple of people who are less than fond of them."
"I will follow any demands given to such a meeting, you may bind me, lock me up, check me for weapons, whatever is necessary, but I need to see Keitaro and his wife, and it would be best if it were out of the public eye." He held his hands out helplessly with a self-degrading smile that was void of true amusement. "Besides, as you can see I just a weak old man, what could I possibly do?"
"Never judge a book by its cover," was all she said as she turned and walked away. "Maybe, if you stick around."
"I will wait here for as long as it takes."
"Keep an eye on that one, and don't let Kitsune serve him," she told Seta as she passed him on the way out of the Tea House, already heading for the main grounds. "If he leaves, call me and tail him, if he stays but doesn't make trouble just leave him alone."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'm not a ma'am!"
"Well, you're not exactly a sir…"
"Seta…!"
"Alright, alright…sorry."
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Motoko was helping Keitaro clean up after dinner when their aunt entered the room, a somewhat troubled look on her face as she checked to make sure everyone else was gone before approaching them slowly.
"What's wrong?" asked Keitaro as he dried his hands on a towel, giving her a concerned look as she motioned for them to come close.
"Perhaps nothing, but…a guy came to the Tea House earlier today, asked for a private meeting with you two," she explained carefully, eyes focused on the floor as her mind flew at a million miles a minute. "Damned familiar, but I just can't place his face…I wouldn't have bothered you except he came with a note bearing the family crest, and that complicates things."
"Is he dangerous?" asked Motoko, unknowingly placing a protective hand on her protruding stomach.
Haruka snorted, shaking her head slowly. "Unarmed, worn down, bags under the eyes and all, so it's unlikely in the physical sense…barely even a hint of ki in him…probably the most broken-down bastard I've seen in my life. I checked all around town, no one knows who he is or where he came from, but as far as I can tell he doesn't have any cohorts hanging about anywhere ready to charge in and make a fuss at an inopportune moment."
"I think we have to see him," said Keitaro as he exchanged looks with his wife. They had never spoken with Haruka with what had transpired that night, period, only too glad to let it lie there and never be disturbed again. "I never told you, but father mentioned a visitor, who'd come bearing the family crest. It might be important…"
"I'll have Seta pat him down and set him up in the Tea House towards the front doors," Haruka said, still frowning as though she now looked up at them. "You guys come in through the back in a few minutes, and I'll make sure to have the safety wall behind the bar set to go off in case we need it. Wait until I tell you to come out, I want to ask him a few questions first."
Keitaro nodded, Motoko mirroring his movements quickly. "Alright."
"What is the safety wall for?" asked Motoko as they finished their tasks quickly, jumping on something else to talk about if only to keep her stretched nerves steady.
"To protect the workers if someone comes in and tries to rob the place. It's a couple of inches of steel that goes from the floor all the way to the ceiling. It was Hina's idea, when she still owned it, but Haruka always said she'd only use it to get enough time to pull up an Uzi and shoot the idiot who was stupid enough to try and rob her Tea House while she was in it," explained Keitaro with a ghost of a smile, wiping down the last counter carefully. "I guess we'd better head down there."
"Yeah."
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"Where do I know you from?" asked Haruka as she stood in front of their visitor, him sitting towards the middle of the restaurant on a chair, everything else around him having been cleared away.
"I don't know," he replied with a tired shrug. "I've been many places, seen many people, and…and done many things."
"And what is it you plan to do here, with my niece and nephew?" She crossed her arms loosely, fingers silently hooking through the loops of the fans stuck in her belt.
"Ah, so you are an Urashima, too?" he replied, giving her a distantly curious look.
She stared at him flatly. "Answer the question."
"I am here to beg for the forgiveness that I will never deserve, and yet can only hope that will be granted. That, or sweet death, for I must have one or the other, my conscious will no longer allow me to live in the gap between the two." His words were gravely spoken, without any hint of jest or sarcasm as they flowed from his mouth.
"For what?" she asked, her voice dropping nearly to a whisper with the weight she suddenly felt descend on the room.
He hid his face his hands, but his words were still clear. "For trying to kill her…"
Haruka couldn't believe it as the man suddenly knelt, looking up at her with tear-filled eyes before laying himself completely flat on the floor facing where Keitaro and Motoko now waited for the signal in the dark. "Unworthy to have born such a creature as my daughter, unworthy now to even be in her presence! I will willingly prostrate myself before one whom I deserve to die for, and beg that I might retain my life and gain perhaps a momentary peace for my eternally damned soul. My name is Shoji, and I am her father."
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Oh, I would be so dead were it not true that your next chapter, the FINAL CHAPTER is being posted a week from now, ne:)