The Gun & The Sword
Chapter X: Christmas Is Here! Tokyo U?
Keiranto woke up with a shock as a bucket of icy water was chucked over his face. He looked up, bleary eyed, to see the grinning face of Motoko standing over him. "Wake up, sleepy, or we'll be late!" She said with a smile. He remembered now, today was the day of the entrance exam for Tokyo U! (Author's note: I don't know when the actual test is, I know this doesn't conform to the manga/anime dates.) "Oh yeah, we'd better get going!" he said, throwing back the covers and getting up.
"Err, Motoko, maybe you had better either turn around or go out for a sec, I need to get changed."
"Oh, yes, sorry!" she said, blushing furiously and opened the door to go out. She was immediately confronted by Kitsune, who announced to the world in general that Motoko and the kanrinin had been spending the night together. Motoko eventually managed to silence her, assuring everyone that that was not the case and telling Kitsune to go take a cold shower or something.
------------------------------------ Later, at the exam hall. ---------------------------------------------
"Phew, I'm glad that that one's over," remarked Keiranto as he stepped out of the exam hall. "How do you think you did, Motoko?"
"Hmm, well, I won't be surprised if I fail, but it wasn't too hard."
"Yeah, me too! I can't wait till the results are announced on Christmas day. If we both pass, then that will be the perfect Christmas present!" He looked at his watch. "Hey, we got a couple of hours before we need to go back; you want to catch a movie?"
---------------------------------------December 24th, 11:30pm------------------------------------------
"Hey, are you coming?" Keiranto yelled. We need to hurry if we're going to get to the results at midnight in time!"
Motoko came hurrying down the stairs to Hinata house. She was wearing a pair of navy jeans, a red top and a blue scarf and carrying a white bag and black jacket. She looked positively marvellous and Keiranto felt insignificant in his tattered black cargoes, sand coloured shirt and oil-stained leather bomber. Motoko, however, thought the look suited him and that he looked handsome. She took his hand and they walked into the town.
There was a large crowd surrounding the school where the results were being announced. The principal stepped up to the stage. "First, I would like to say that even if you do not achieve your chosen university today, there is always next year, you can try again. Ok, without further ado, here are the students who have been accepted into Tokyo University. Toyoko Mituzako; Kutaro Negimaki, Akira Satsuna, Asuna Modako, Tei Pakoyari, Nodoka Mizayoki, Keiranto Urashima, Motoko Aoyama………" Keiranto didn't hear the rest of the results as Motoko leapt into his arms and kissed him, tears of happiness running down her face as the full shock of what she had heard hit her, she and Keiranto had been accepted together to Tokyo U.
-----------------------------------------Later that day. ----------------------------------------------------
"Let's PARTY!" yelled Kitsune as she signalled to Su to set off the fireworks. There was going to be a huge Christmas/congratulations party for the two students, and she wanted it to be as spectacular as possible. There was a whole table loaded with sake, tons of shinobu's magical cooking and a sea of presents under the Christmas tree. Everyone congratulated the two and then made a beeline for the food and presents. Two hours later, stuffed full of food, slightly drunk and surrounded by gifts, Keiranto still had only one present left to give. He had given Kitsune a large bottle of sake, his brother and Naru a book that was intended to "spice up" their relationship. (This earned him a comment that it proved Naru's theory that all the Urashima family were dirty minded and perverse.) Shinobu had been given a new set of cooking pans and a cook book, while Su received a large tool kit. Keiranto only had Motoko's gift left to present. He intended to do this in all the proper style. He dropped to one knee, pulled a small box out from his pocket and opened it, facing Motoko. Inside was a beautiful silver ring, embedded with a sapphire, emerald and diamond. He spoke: "Motoko, ever since I met you, I was in love. I would be honoured if you could answer me one question. Will you marry me, Motoko Aoyama, my beautiful princess?"
His presentation took the entire house by surprise, everyone froze and looked towards them, Kitsune held her bottle halfway to her mouth and Haruka and seta's cigarettes dropped to the floor. Motoko's reaction, however, was no real surprise to anyone who had seen the pair together. She looked deep into Keiranto's eyes and murmured, "There's nothing I'd rather do," and embraced him tightly. Keiranto slipped the ring onto her finger and she held it up to the light. Everyone stared in awe, the ring seemed to glow and shimmer in the light, almost as if it had its own aura. Keiranto told her that he had had the ring forged in Okinawa by a master craftsman, it was meant to symbolise love and unity. He thought to himself as he embraced Motoko again, this is the greatest, happiest day of my whole life, I have been accepted into Tokyo University, and the girl of my dreams has agreed to marry me. It don't come much better than that!