It has been a while huh? Sorry, it took so long but I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.
Takes place a little over a week after the last chapter.
**** means a new setting.
If this story gets popular enough I will add the honorifics. If not I won't bother.
01110011 01110100 01100001 01110010 01110100
It had been an interesting past couple of days for Kitsune. Shortly after she and the other campers had been cured of the kid-a-fication (name work in progress) Motoko and Keitaro had gotten back. The two of them looked like they had been through quite an ordeal, with cuts, bruises, burns, and no sword.
Motoko and Keitaro had not said too much of what had happened on their trip, just that the trail had gone cold after almost being killed by a crocodile, gorilla, quicksand, and lava. So they had decided to come back to camp and heal.
Oddly enough Motoko didn't seem too worried about finding her sword now, even opting to build herself a bokken. And she seemed to be more friendly with Keitaro talking to him a lot more and asking his opinion on stuff. Kitsune had asked if something had happened on their trip, even teasing them that they were starting to look like a couple in love. However, all this ever yielded from Motoko was lines like "Keitaro proved himself to be a calm and level-headed individual on our trip and I respect his opinions." and "Don't be stupid our relationship is strictly professional,". What was she, a tsundere?
Well, these changes had been a surprise for Kitsune; she had bigger things to worry about, like finding herself some alcohol. She had searched all over the wreckage of their boat, but it seemed all her sake had been lost at sea. She had combed a couple of the beaches near camp hoping that they might wash ashore but to no prevail.
"Hey Kitsune," Haruka shouted at her, "You can go on break now,"
Kitsune set down the pole she had been carrying and sighed, she had been roped into helping work on the hut. Sure the work was easier now that Keitaro and Motoko were back to help, but manual labor was just so dull, that is why she bet on horses never a dull moment.
She had been working on making her own sake or any alcoholic beverage. But trying to ferment fruit had just given her diarrhea. Talk about a shitty outcome. So she was going to try a new approach.
"Su?" Kitsune asked as she reached the makeshift workshop the small girl had set up, (it is where she had developed the cure for the kid-a-fication).
"Hi ya Kitsune," Su answered. "Are you here to see my new invention?"
"Actually hon, I am here with a request." Kitsune explained.
"Oh, do you want my help pulling a joke on Keitato again? Or are we trying to amend a fight between Keitaro and Naru because of a joke we pulled?" Su asked.
"Actually it is a new type of request." Kitsune explained. "I want you to create me some sake or alcohol." (Author's note: do not ask minors to make alcohol; it is illegal on many levels. And besides a minor would not know how alcohol tastes so recreating would be difficult)
"Is that the funny-smelling stuff you always drink?" Su inquired.
"Yes, that's the stuff," Kitsune confirmed.
"Have a seat, I will whip up a batch right now!' Su exclaimed excitedly.
Kitsune sat cross-legged in the sand as Su began collecting up ingredients.
Kitsune sighed to herself, life is so dull here on the island. Between all the work and lack of Sake the minutes had been passing like decades.
"Su? Have you been finding life here on the island dull?" Kitsune asked.
"Not particularly," Su answered. "Keitaro is always fun to be around, he makes funny noises when I kick him."
"That's not quite what I meant," Kitsune informed Su. "Ever since we got shipwrecked we have spent all our time on chores and not fun things like bathing in hot springs or my joke and pranks,"
"Are you sure Keitaro likes your jokes?" Su asked. "He seems to get mad when you get him in trouble."
"I could say the same thing about your inventions," Kitsune countered. "And it is not like he can get hurt, with how easy his life is I bet he enjoys the help I give him and Naru. Sure it doesn't always work out as planned but it is just harmless fun. Everyone at the inn likes my jokes."
Okay, homemade funny-smelling drink version 1 is done Su interrupted as she slid a cup to Kitsune.
Kitsune was slightly nervous because Su's inventions had a habit of exploding. But this was a drink so it couldn't be combustible, right? She set a determined look on her face. Anything would be better than more fruit-filled diarrhea. She threw back her head and took a big swig.
The taste hit her tongue and she was instantly spitting and coughing.
To sour Kitsune wheezed out as she tried to expel the taste from her mouth. She even tried licking the ground in desperation to remove the taste.
"So how was it?" Su asked innocently.
"Well, it made me gag with a taste so awful that I almost threw up and even had to lick sand to get rid of the taste," Kitsune said in between spitting sand out of her mouth.
"But you didn't get diarrhea. So it sounds like a pretty successful first test." Su exclaimed.
"Su, sake is more about not getting diarrhea, if that was the case I could drink water or tea. I am after the taste and feeling high."
If you want to feel high, couldn't you climb a ladder or a tree? Su asked.
"Not that kind of high," Kitsune told her.
"But anyway I'll keep working on perfecting the drink," Su told Kitsune. I will pop by to see you when the next version is ready,"
As Kitsune left she had made up her mind she was going to brighten up life around here with some jokes.
**one hour later**
Kitsune got back to the hut just as it finished.
"So nice for you to rejoin us," Haruka said. It was hard to tell if she was being mean or not because of her deadpan voice.
Kitsune decided not to respond.
"Okay," Haruka announced "The hut is done so the next step is to move all our supplies in it. Kitsune and Keitaro are going to make the first trip to salvage supplies from the boat. Who wants to go with them?"
"I will go," Shinobu and Kanako volunteered.
"I better go too, that crocodile that may be lurking around. Motoko answered.
"I guess I will go too," Naru added.
Since when has Shinobu been so assertive? Kitsune wondered.
So they took off to see what they could salvage.
***later***
Motoko took the lead surveying for danger as they went. Keitaro followed behind her with Kanako and Shinobu to either side of him with Naru and Kitsune taking up the rear.
"I am surprised you came, Naru" Kitsune chatted with her best friend as they went. She smirked, does that mean you and Keitaro made up when I wasn't looking.
"No," Naru instinctively responded before catching herself. "I just decided pretending he doesn't exist wasn't going to help," Naru admitted. "So I decided to be neutral with him. I will work with him if necessary but with no school and therefore no studying to worry about. I will not be spending spare time with him.
Kitsune frowned at this a bit. But quickly shook it off, with a bit of help from her and her jokes would have the two of them friends again in no time. She turned their conversation to something else.
What do you think is going on with Shinobu? She seems to be putting moves on Keitaro. Kitsune noted that Shinobu chatted vigorously with Keitato and held a good deal of his attention despite Kanako's attempt to control the conversation.
Before Naru could respond Motoko announced. "We have arrived."
There on the beach in it, hole-filled, glory was the ship.
"It's in shambles just like we left it," Kanako confirmed.
"Okay I will stand watch on the deck well you guys salvage what you can," Motoko instructed.
"As if you could handle this alone, the only one fit to guard my big brother is me,'' Kanako exclaimed.
They left the two of them on deck. They could hear banter like you call that guarding and other things from the top deck.
Kitsune began rummaging through a box to see what was useful. Moldy bread? Yuck. Cigarettes? Like Haruka needs more of those. Broken pencils? Pointless.
She moved the box she was looking in aside to try the next one. It was nailed shut so she had to pry it open. Almost losing her fingernail it finally popped open. She began pulling stuff out of it. A can of bug spray? Gross. A ball and jacks? Cool. Then she came across something unexpected. A pair of handcuffs. Who the heck brought these? She glanced around the room trying to picture who would bring something like this. Could Shinobu or Keitaro have a secret naughty side? But when she glanced up the hole to the deck it clicked. It's probably Kanako's. Actually, it seemed too mild for Kanako.
But sure enough, Kanako's name was written on the box. As well as the word private in all caps, oops.
While she was looking around she noticed Keitaro glancing over at Naru. Come on go for it, Kitsune silently encouraged him.
Keitaro looked away from her and started looking in the box again.
"Come on man, where is your courage?" Kitsune thought, balling her hand in frustration.
Keitaro was looking back at Naru again, looking like he wanted to go over to her.
"Yes, that's it." Kitsune thought.
Keitaro shook his head and turned his back to Naru.
Why are you hesitating? Kitsune thought-shouted.
Keitaro suddenly turns and starts walking right towards Naru. He is doing it! Kitsune thought. But he suddenly lost his nerve and went to a different box to rummage.
Arrgh! Kitsune's brain screamed, this was physically painful to watch. Wait no it was just she was clenching her fist on the Jacks. If only there was a way to force them to spend time together Kitsune thought as her eyes drifted downward in defeat.
Her eyes finally fell on her hands, the ball and jacks in one and the handcuffs in the other.
Wait, she suddenly had an idea! She could organize a doubles ball and Jack's torment to get them together! It would be epic Naru and Keitaro would start as a dysfunctional team only winning by accident but slowly and surely they would learn to cooperate and trust each other allowing them to rise through the ranks and become the champions. And like all male and female leads, they would fall in love despite a total lack of chemistry. It was perfect…
No, wait a thought just occurred. Naru probably wouldn't willingly be on a team with Keitaro,... also none of them knew how to play Jacks. She needed a way to force them to be together.
Her eyes wandered to her other hand and she suddenly had a new idea. But she would need a way to sneak the handcuff into the camp unseen. She quickly turned around and crammed the box, she had found the cuffs in, back shut. Then she set a box no one would look through, Keitaro's stuff, on it for good measure.
She then started looking around the boxes for somewhere inconspicuous to stash the cuffs, and the ball and jacks.
Meanwhile…
Motoko was in a good mood, things had been very calm since she and Keitaro got back from their trip. No perverted accidents from Keitaro, she had been getting plenty of training in, They had plenty of food and roof over their heads. It seemed like things might finally be settling down.
"Gah," came a voice behind her Motoko whipped around to see Kitsune struggling with a box.
Motoko quickly dashed over, grabbing the other side of the box. "Careful, you don't want to harm yourself,'' she warned as she helped Kitsune up the stairs onto the boat's deck.
"Y-yeah thanks," Kitsune mumbled as they set the big box down for a moment.
"This is a pretty big box," Motoko commented. "What's in it?"
"O-oh, nothing important," Kitsune said hurriedly.
"Well, we are only supposed to salvage important items." Motoko reminded her. "And knowing you this might be a bunch of betting tickets."
"I would really prefer it if you didn't look in it," Kitsune pleaded.
"Sorry but I have to check it, Kitsune," Motoko said firmly. She pried off the lid and was met with "Books?" Motoko asked, confused.
"Y-yeah I am a really big reader and I was just embarrassed to let anyone know, you know it might ruin the sexy image I have going," Kitsune explained hurriedly. "So can you keep this a secret and let me pass?"
"I suppose so,'' Motoko replied. "We might be stuck here awhile so books will be an important part of staying entertained. Do you need help carrying it back or an escort through the jungle?"
"No, I got it now,'' Kitsune assured her as she lifted it and carried down the plank to the beach. Extremely glad Motoko had not looked under the books.
Motoko watched her waddle off towards camp with the crate. She then resumed her post guarding the boat. A bit later Shinobu came up with a box of medical supplies so Kanako went with her as an escort back to camp. This left Motoko guarding alone.
Motoko continued patrolling looking for any side of trouble. Pacing from one end of the ship to the other back and forth. But as she passed the latch down into the ship she caught some of a conversation.
"Naru, can I talk to you," Keitaro asked.
Naru sighed "I guess,"
Motoko stopped pacing intrigued at what this exchange could be about.
"I was just wondering if you were still mad at me?" Keitaro probed. "It's okay if you are. I know I make clumsy mistakes but I just wanted to say sorry." He continued hurriedly.
"Keitaro," Naru interrupted. "I know you're sorry. I know it was an accident. I am just very tired of getting caught up in your accidents again and again. So I think it would be best if we stay out of each other's way a least for a while"
"But-," Keitaro stammered out. "What about our study sessions we can still do those right?"
"Keitaro, we have no idea how long we are going to be here. Why would we need to study for the tests back in Japan we won't be able to take."
"Well what if we do get off the island in time to take the test we will want to be able to pass them still and not wait another year right."
"Look, that's possible But I still don't want to be a part of your perverted antics-" Naru started.
"What if I promise to behave myself I will be extra careful and avoid any problematic situations and take extra care to look where I am going," He said well bowing.
Naru sighed inwardly "Okay if you behave yourself better I guess we can have a few study sessions together to stay in practice. But if I find you responsible for more perverted things I will not be happy."
And with that Naru picked up a box and started to carry it out.
Motoko moved off to the side of the boat to make it look like she had not overheard their conversation.
As Motoko watched Naru walk off she couldn't help but feel sorry for Keitaro. He always tries to be nice to everyone, especially Naru. But between his perverted tendencies and bad luck, it never seemed to work out. But now that she thought of it Keitaro hadn't had any prevent incidents in over a week. Could it really have been all accidents and coincidences like he claimed? Or was he up to something? For once Motoko was unsure. But she did know she would be observing Keitaro closely to find out his true nature.
The rest of the day passed without incident. After the long hours of hauling things they all quickly tired out and were happy to settle into their hut for sleep.
But in the night Kitsune set in motion her plan. That would cause lots of change in the following days.
***the next morning***
Keitaro's eyes slowly opened. At first, he was surprised to see a roof over their heads but he soon remembered that they had finished the hut yesterday, they hadn't made any beds yet so they were still using the leaves. But being inside was nice all the same.
Keitaro attempted to stand up but found his left hand stuck so he attempted to yank his hand free. This however only managed to pull him to the ground.
Ugh, he thought as he shook off not just sleepiness but the daze of falling to the ground. He had landed on something soft but what was it. As his mind cleared of the morning fog his eyes focused to see he had landed on; Kitsune's chest.
"What are y'all doing so early in the morning?" Kitsune asked.
"Gah, I'm so sorry," Keitaro sputtered as he attempted to get up and run but his caught hand once again pulled him back on top of Kitsune.
"What is going over there?" Naru shouted as she pulled aside the curtain separating the boy and girl's side of the hut. Okay, "side" was a bit of an exaggeration. Keitaro got a small corner but he was the only boy.
Shinobu, Sarah, Mutsumi, and Naru came to the sight of Keitaro on top of Kitsune.
"You filthy pervert," Naru seethed out of clenched teeth. "After that big promise, you turn around and do this."
"Stop Naru, you don't want to accidentally-" Shinobu tried to warn.
"Kablam" Naru punched Keitaro who, as you have guessed, is handcuffed to Kitsune. The two of them went flying.
"-Hit Kitsune," Shinobu finished.
"You also just ruined the wall of the hut we slaved to finish," Sarah drawled.
Naru's mind was a storm of thoughts. That filthy pervert after I was starting to forgive you, and after that big promise, you go and jump on Kitsune. I will not forgive you as easily this time. But as the seconds passed and what the others had said fully sunk in her anger turned into horror as the full realization of what just happened dawned on Naru. "Quick someone, catch that Kitsune," Naru shouted in anguish.
Luckily Motoko was out doing her morning exercise routine. And Kanako was out there trying to show her up.
Hearing the call for help she quickly sprung into action, scanning for the airborne human.
"There they are," Kanako shouted pointing them out in the sky.
Motoko took off running after them. She chucked her bokken at a nearby tree lodging it into place. Then she ran and jumped, skillfully landing on her bokken she used it as a springboard to launch herself in the air catching Kitsune and Keitaro. But they weren't out of the woods yet as they were still free-falling through the air.
"Su" Motoko called out "deploy emergency protocol inflation."
"Roger that!" Su exclaimed, as she appeared from nowhere, she promptly pulled out a Scalpel and some sedatives.
"No, no protocol inflation, not castration," Motoko shouted.
"Oh, Roger that," Su called out. She whipped out a large rubber inflatable and started filling it with air.
Come on hurry Motoko thought as they got closer and closer to the ground.
"Done," Su exclaimed as Motoko and the others landed safely on the inflatable mat.
"Thank you Motoko," Keitaro panted out.
"Yeah," Kitsune agreed.
***loading***
Okay, Kitsune reflected on the accident that almost just happened. So maybe handcuffing myself to Keitaro while everyone was asleep wasn't the safest idea but it will be worth it. As I am Naru's best friend, whenever we hang out it will force them to be together too. It will be dangerous but it is necessary to get them talking again. Also, I can not let anyone know it was me who handcuffed us together or they might catch onto my scheme.
"Kitsune focus," Haruka scolded her. The castaways had gathered to piece together what happened.
"Okay so what we know is someone handcuffed Kitsune to Keitaro, and Naru hit them almost injuring Kitsune in the process," Haruka explained. "So well it was very reckless of Naru to punch Keitaro." She said passive-aggressively "We will give her some leeway as she had no clue they were attached when she hit Keitaro."
Naru said nothing, she could not believe what she had almost done to her best friend.
"So the question is who handcuffed them together and why?" Motoko said with a nod.
"I don't mean to interrupt this fascinating detective work," Sarah drawled sarcastically. "But why do we even need to find out who handcuffed the doofus to Kitsune?"
"We need to get the handcuffs off them and the best way to do that is to use the key. But in order to use it, we need to find the person who handcuffed them together." Motoko explained.
"Well it can't be me, why would I intentionally put myself in harm's way," Kitsune supplied quickly.
"And I would have never hit Keitaro if I had known you were stuck to him," Naru added defensively.
"Yes, I agree," Haruka said calmly.
"I think we can also rule my sister out, if she were to handcuff anyone it would be me and her," Keitaro suggested.
"I can also confirm it wasn't Motoko," Kanako explained. "During my early morning check-up, on my brother, he was still clearly not handcuffed. And afterward, I was with Motoko right up to the punch.
"Does anyone else have any alibis?" Motoko asked.
"I know, twinkle twinkle little banana," Su answered.
"No Su, alibis not lullabies," Haruka told her.
"Oh, I left the hut early in the morning to work at my lab," Su explained.
"And can anyone verify this?" Motoko asked.
"What does verify mean, is it yummy?" Su asked.
"I'll take that as a no." Motoko decided.
"What about Sarah?" Haruka asked, "She seems like the type to pull this kind of prank."
"I can vouch for Sarah," Shinobu interjected. "She, Mutsumi, and I all went to gather food early this morning. We got back just before Keitaro got punched."
"What about you Haruka?" Motoko asked. "Where were you earlier today?"
"That's none of your business, And I am insulted you would even suspect me," Haruka said defensively.
"Well, that leaves one suspect, Keitaro himself," Sarah concluded.
"Why would I handcuff myself to Kitsune?" Keitaro asked.
"You're a pervert aren't you? Handcuffing yourself to her would allow you all sorts of opportunities you could right off as accidents." Sarah suggested.
Naru said nothing but Sarah's suggestion got her to glare at Keitaro.
"Keitaro would never do something like that," Shinobu interjected.
But even as Shinobu said that doubts were rippling through the group.
Motoko was particularly conflicted. This seemed exactly like the perverted nature Keitaro had consistently shown in the past. But Keitaro had seemed well behaved and supportive in their search for her sword and the week after. So was he really the nasty pervert he always seemed to be or was this not his fault?
"Enough," Motoko interrupted the debate. "I shall take it upon myself to solve this mystery and unearth the truth of what happened." And find out Keitaro's true nature Motoko thought to herself.
"I guess that works," Shinobu said unsure.
"Yeah, if anyone can find the truth it is Motoko." Su agreed.
"I trust Motoko to find the truth too." Keitaro agreed.
Naru just nodded silently.
"Okay, then it is settled Motoko will investigate the mystery so until further notice this is still a secure crime scene." Haruka decided.
"Does that mean none of us are allowed to leave the island?" Mutsumi asked.
This idea is turning out worse all the time, Kitsune thought nervously.
And with that, the group broke.
***author: I am going to grab a sandwich let me know if I miss anything***
"Any luck?" Keitaro asked. Since finding the key might take a while, Keitaro had had the idea to see if Su could break the cuffs off.
"Let me check," Su replied as she lifted the hand saw off the chain. "Good news we broke all the teeth on the saw," she announced.
"Su we wanted to break the chain, not the saw," Keitaro informed her.
"Oh if that is the case you're out of luck. That chain is made from stainless steel. It would be easier to cut off one of your arms" Su told them.
"Lets not do that," Kitsune answered.
"Well thanks anyways Su," Keitaro said as he stood up.
"Whew, it's warm out today,'' Kitsune complained as they walked away. "We should go relax in the hut."
"No Kitsune, we have chores to do," Keitaro told her.
"Come on Keitaro, surely those can wait until we are no longer handcuffed?" Kitsune attempted to dissuade him.
"Sorry, but they are necessary if we want to survive here on the island," Keitaro told her.
Kitsune tried all sorts of things to convince him otherwise but nothing worked. So in the end Kitsune agreed to the chores. I mean how much could Keitaro have to do?
First on the list was fixing the hut.
"I can't believe we have to fix the wall Naru punched us through," Kitsune complained.
"Well, I have to repair damage like this to the inn all the time," Keitaro told her.
Kitsune had never really thought about it before, but Keitaro being the inn manager he would be in charge of fixing it. Suddenly she kinda felt bad for all the damage to the inn she had caused. Talk about adding insult to injury. She shook her head dispelling the pity, no she was just making sure he earned his keep. How much extra work could running the inn have caused him?
After fixing the hut came cleaning the hut, then fishing, then laundry. In the end, Kitsune was lying on the ground exhausted. "I don't think I have ever worked this much in my life." She complained. But at least we are done, she thought.
"Come on Kitsune get up," Keitaro encouraged her. We still have to collect firewood,"
Kitsune groaned. "How do you put up with so much work," She asked.
"Actually I have had to do a lot less since we got shipwrecked here," Keitaro explained. "I used to have to clean the hot springs, and the entire inn instead of just one hut, and most of the other chores since I was the manager of the inn. But since we are not at the inn the others have pitched in more on the chores."
Kitsune was starting to wonder if getting Naru and Keitaro together was worth the effort.
***Motoko***
Motoko was determined to find the culprit and to prove what kind of person Keitaro was once and for all. And the first place she was going to search was the boat.
She emerged from the shrubbery to her first investigation scene. She quickly made her way up onto the boat to search for the handcuff's origins. There was still lots of stuff in here that was yet to be moved out and would stay that way until this mystery was solved.
She started with a box labeled as Keitaro's stuff. Not that she was interested in proving Keitaro innocent; he was just the most likely suspect.
Her eye caught on something odd. It appeared to be a book but something about it was off. She lifted it feeling it, it was way too light to be a book. She decided to open it.
Several small pieces of paper spilled out and scattered on the floor. The book was actually a box holding this inside.
She slowly reached down for one of the paper bits, what could it be? Inappropriate pictures? Blackmail to get sexual favors? The secret plans to the death star? Okay, maybe not that last one.
She grabbed the paper and turned it, revealing it to be study notes? She had a brief flashback to before they had left on the boat how Naru had insisted they take this as a time off and relax from studying. But here were secret flashcards Keitaro had packed to practice anyway. It was kind of lying to Naru, but Motoko had to admit she was surprised Keitaro was so committed to learning the info to get into Tokyo U. Come to think of it, she had seen him with this book a bunch before this trip. Was he really studying all that time when Motoko had thought he was goofing off not taking it seriously? It was a thought for another time she decided as she refilled the fake book and set it back in the box.
She rummaged around in the box some more but it yielded nothing of interest, not even a perverted book. So she moved on to the next box. It was labeled as "Kanako's private" in all caps.
,
Motoko was about ready to pry the lid off with her bokken until she noticed it had already been opened and hastily crammed shut to appear like it wasn't. She easily opened it to see bug spray as well as ropes, disguises, and several pairs of handcuffs. This is where the handcuff had been taken from all right, but by whom was the question.
Suddenly Mokoto heard something fall, she whipped around to see a shadow duck behind a box.
The criminal Motoko thought as she rushed forward to intercept. Motoko smashed the box into pieces as she pinned the intruder to the ground with her bokken.
"Shinobu?" Motoko exclaimed in surprise as she recognized the person. "Why are you here? Are you the culprit? They say they always return to the scene of the crime."
"No," Shinobu spluttered out. "I just wanted to find evidence to prove Keitaro was innocent. Keitaro is really kind and I do want him to continue to get the blame."
That did seem like something Shinobu would do but, "How did you sneak out of camp with no one noticing?" Motoko asked.
"Kanako is pretending to be me, in return she asked me to get her ball and jacks from her private box," Shinobu explained.
Motoko was slightly confused at this. "I just went through that box and saw no ball and jacks,"
"Maybe she forgot to pack them?" Shinobu guessed.
Motoko helped Shinobu to her feet. "Look I know you care about Keitaro, but you're a suspect and I can't risk you tampering with evidence behind my back, no matter how improbable you are as a culprit."
"Please Motoko," Shinobu begged, "I want to help prove Keitaro innocent. He is always so kind and helpful to everyone, yet is given a bad rap as a pervert. I want to help prove how kind he is. I will do anything you ask if you let me help."
"Calm down, Shinobu," Motoko tried to soothe her. Her intentions were noble, but would she be a hindrance or a help? She sighed. "I guess if you stay in my sight the whole time so I know you're not doing anything suspicious, then you can help."
"I will, thank you,'' Shinobu answered.
The two of them finished searching the boat but turned up nothing.
"The culprit must have sneaked the cuffs out in a different box," Motoko theorized "Which means it is time for some interrogations."
***Kitsune***
By the time they had finished all the chores, Kitsune and Keitaro were slightly late for dinner and arrived to find everyone else already at the table.
Kitsune sat down at the table with a thud. Thank goodness they were done with chores, she never wanted to work that hard again in her life.
"Come on Kitsune it wasn't that bad, was it?'' Keitaro asked as he sat down next to her.
"Wasn't that bad? I can feel calories leaving my body. If this keeps up I will lose my voluptuous figure." Kitsune fretted.
"Actually exercise makes you healthier and more attractive," Kanako (still disguised as Shinobu) said.
"Yeah right, like anything this painful and exhausting could be good for you." Kitsune ranted. "Next you'll tell me that vegetables are good for you, despite tasting terrible."
"Anyway, who is making dinner today?" Keitaro asked.
"Here's the food," Haruka announced drily as she dropped the plates on the table.
A cloud of cigarette ash flew into the air as the plates hit the table.
After a couple of seconds of coughing and waving the ash away, they could see why.
Haruka had prepared fish and fruit salad, but she had refused to stop smoking while making them, so they were coated in ash.
"Yum," Su exclaimed as she started piling food onto her plate.
"Haruka you seriously need help, like do you even take that cigarette out of your mouth when you sleep," Kitsune asked.
"If you are not happy with the food you are more than welcome to make it yourself,'' Haruka scoffed.
"Shinobu, would you please make something edible for us? You're like the only one of us who can cook." Kitsune begged.
Kanako suddenly felt all the eyes on the table turn to her. Why couldn't Shinobu have been back by now? She needed a way out of this. What would Shinobu say? "Come on guys you're being mean to aun- I mean Haruka-senpai. I am sure she put a lot of hard work into this, I'm sure a woman that runs her own tea shop can make food." She lied through her teeth as she brought a spoonful up to her mouth to demonstrate.
She couldn't keep it in her mouth for a second before spitting it out and going into a coughing fit, and if that wasn't enough she passed out too.
"I think Haruka just gave Shinobu food poisoning,'' Sarah commented.
"As well as knocking out our best replacement chef," Kitsune added.
"Well clearly this food is inedible so someone else will have to replace it." Keitaro reasoned.
"I know how about you Keitaro!" Mutsumi suggested. "You cook for us as the inn manager all the time."
"Yeah, make us more ashes Keitaro," Su cheered.
"Might as well, it is better than food poisoning." Sarah agreed.
"But," Kitsune started to protest.
"Then it is decided,'' Naru declared. Keitaro and Kitsune were rushed over to the cooking area.
"How did we get roped into more chores?" Kitsune pouted.
"Come on Kitsune," Keitaro encouraged, "think of it as one of your horse races, only your betting on which ingredients would combine to make the best meal."
"Hmmm, okay,'' Kitsune said doubtfully as she gathered up some spices. She then lined them up in a row. "On your mark, get set, go!"
"What are you doing?'' Keitaro asked.
"I am testing the ingredients out in a race to find out which ones are the best like you said," Kitsune replied. "All of these ingredients are really bad; they won't move an inch."
"Kitsune?" Keitaro asked, "have you EVER cooked before?"
,
"No, why would I ever need to know how to cook?" Kitsune replied.
"Because knowing how to make food is an essential skill," Keitaro told her.
"Oh please, it's not like knowing how to make food ever saved someone's life,"
Keitaro rolled his eyes and decided to change the subject. "Okay, I meant the horse race comparison as more of a loose connection. They don't actually compete for you to determine which one is best. You try them and use prior knowledge and cookbooks to know which is the best to use."
"Well, I knew that, I was just testing Su hadn't tampered with them to make a mecha Tama 4," Kitsune said defensively.
Keitaro was about to say that didn't make sense, but honestly, with Su, it wasn't that far-fetched. "Whatever just help me cut these vegetables," he instructed.
"Okay, I will hold the carrot while you cut it," Keitaro explained.
Kitsune picked up the knife with her unhandcuffed hand. While Keitaro held the carrot in place with his unhandcuffed hand.
Kitsune attempted to cut down on the carrot but found it not moving much. "Come on" she complained as she wiggled in place but it only moved a fraction more. "I think this knife is busted"
"Kitsune, you are holding it the wrong way," Keitaro explained.
"Are you sure it looks like I would cut myself if I held the shape metal end? And how would the plastic cut any better?" Kitsune asked.
"No, I meant you were holding it upside down,'' Keitaro explained patiently.
"Oh," Kitsune said as she turned the knife around. She cut into the carrot it slid through easily and gave a satisfying clunk as it hit the table.
Ooo, Kitsune thought that was really satisfying. She began cutting the carrot at breakneck speed.
"Wait" Keitaro shouted as he tried to move his hand out of the way.
But it was too late the knife went down and both were met with the sight of the knife blade through Keitaro's fingers.
Gahh, Keitaro shouted as he retracted his hand "you cut my fingers off. I can't feel my fingers." He cried as he clutched his hand.
Wait a moment he felt his hand again his fingers were still there. He moves his other hand out of the way to reveal a still fully in tack hand. The knife on though had 4 big indents where it had hit Keitaro's fingers.
"I guess your immortality includes cuts." Kitsune suggested.
"Well, it still hurt like crazy,'' Keitaro complained as he looked over his fingers to make sure there were no cuts of any kind.
The rest of the cooking went about just as well. With Kitsune attempting to light the fire to cook the soup and almost lighting Keitaro on fire, to spilling the hot soup on Keitaro.
By the end, Keitaro was a nervous mess and Kitsune was even more annoyed she had been roped into doing this. She needs to do something exciting, something fun. Maybe she could alter the soup as a joke? She glanced down at the table and noticed some very hot sauce. Who had brought that along on the boat? Anyway, it gave her an idea.
Motoko and Shinobu arrived back at the camp to a very interesting sight: all the other castaways were passed out. Some of them were clutching their throats or cups of water.
"What happened to everyone?'' Shinobu shouts in concern.
"Perhaps they were cursed by an evil demon?" Motoko theorized.
Suddenly a head rose off the table, sticky and distorted by soup covering it. The head groaned out "adding the hot sauce was a mistake."
Mokoto and Shinobu spend the next hour getting everyone plenty of water and coconut milk.
***Motoko***
Motoko watched Shinobu put bandages and disinfectants on Keitaro (for his wounds caused by Kitsune's well cooking like burns from hot soup spilling on him etc.). Shinobu stepped away from Keitaro. "Okay, Urashima and Kitsune" Motoko addressed them "What can you tell me about the incident."
"Well, It all started when Kitsune and I were asked to make food in place of Haruka…" Keitaro began.
"No, I meant the incident of you two being handcuffed." Motoko corrected him. "And please speak clearly and slowly so my assistant can take a written record." Motoko gestured to Shinobu with pencil and paper ready.
"Oh, right. Well, I went to bed like always and slept the whole night. And when I woke up the next morning I was handcuffed to Kitsune. But I did not know this, so I tried to get up and realized my hand was stuck to something. So I yanked my hand towards me thinking it would free it. Instead, it pulled me onto Kitsune, I panicked and tried to get up and run but only fell on Kitsune again. That is when Naru and the others found me. Next thing I knew I was flying through the air." Keitaro explained.
Hmm, he didn't sound like he was lying, but he never sounded like he was lying during the past perverted acts he claimed were accidents either. "What about you Kitsune?" She asked.
"Me?!" Kitsune asked, "I couldn't be the culprit, why are y'all asking me?"
"I never said you were a suspect, but I need all accounts of what happened to solve this. Including yours." Motoko explained.
Kitsune had not been ready for this. She would have to come up with a story on the spot. "Well, after dinner I started getting ready for bed, you know brushing my teeth, bathing, changing my clothes. And then I went to bed and slept the whole night. Never got up once."
"And do you have any theories of who would do this to you, like grudges or unpaid dues?" Motoko asked.
"Nope, no ideas, no grudges, no unpaid dues," Kitsune said quickly.
"What about your rent for the inn you never pa-" Keitaro started to question.
"Nope, nothing of importance." Kitsune quickly interrupted Keitaro.
Motoko did find Kitsune oddly nervous or possibly drunk? But, Kitsune was always playing pranks so she was probably just hiding one of those. Or maybe her last DIY Sake had gone wrong again. Thank you for your time, Motoko told them.
***Kitsune (and Keitaro)***
Kitsune was sitting with her head laying on the table in front of her exhausted. Okay so maybe the hot sauce prank had been a bad idea. But no harm had come of it, right? But as soon as that thought entered her head she couldn't help but notice all the bandages on Keitaro. All form injuries she had caused well helping him cook. And once again she felt the twinge of pity and guilt for what she caused him. She shook the persistent thought loose. She would make up for it by helping Keitaro get back with Naru.
"Hey Kitsune, are you doing well?" Naru came up and sat opposite of Kitsune and Keitaro.
"Yeah! Are you digging a well?" Su asked as she sat next to Naru, and began chowing down the bananas on the table. (snacks left out for in-between meals)
This was her chance Kitsune thought. "Oh, I'm doing fine, you know, keeping busy with Keitaro. We have been doing lots of chores together." Kitsune tried to lead Keitaro into the conversation.
"Huh?" Keitaro went. "Oh, yeah, you know gotta keep up with the chores like cooking, laundry, cleaning. Just the usual stuff like back at the inn."
"Right," Naru said slowly. "How has having so many chores been for you?" Naru asked Kitsune, trying to direct the conversation back to just them.
"Yeah, it has been interesting for us," Kitsune tried to bring Keitaro back into the conversation. "Because of our hands being restricted we often have to act like two halves of a body, just ask Keitaro."
Keitaro surprised again, started to open his mouth to chime in from Kitsune's leadoff when he was cut off.
"That's okay, I can imagine what it must be like." Naru deflected Keitaro again. "What about you Kitsune you haven't been harassed by any pervert antics have you?" She said well, eyeballing Keitaro furiously.
Was Naru trying to avoid talking to Keitaro? Kitsune wondered. Well, she will have to try better than that to beat the ultimate matchmaker, me.
Kitsune was about to launch off a bunch of her "impossible to beat" couples topics when Mutsumi interrupted them.
"Hey guys, does it seem unusually warm today to anyone else?" She asked.
Keitaro, Kitsune, Su, and Naru all looked at each other a moment before they all answered some variation of no.
"Well, I am sweltering, especially under my skirt," Mutsumi complained as she fapped her skirt in an attempt to air it out.
Gah, Keitaro responded as he immediately went to cover his eyes from any accidental pantie shots.
But, it was too late he got a full view of... his boxers?
Crap, Kitsune thought she had forgotten she had planted one of Keitaro's boxers in Mutsumi's drawers the other day.
"Keitaro? Naru's voice said darkly. "Why is Mutsumi wearing your underwear?" Her head slowly creaked around to face them, the vein on her pulsating with annoyance.
"I swear I wasn't doing anything perverted," Naru Keitaro fumbled over his apology. "Mutsumi must have just gotten my underwear out of the laundry by mistake, or something?"
Naru's ball fist started to rise from her side. Seconds passed like hours. Finally, Naru took a deep breath, turned on the spot, and stormed away.
Drat, Kitsune thought, another prank backfired. She was going to have to try a lot harder to get them together.
***I'm back with my sandwich. Did I miss much?***
Kitsune sat at the breakfast table with a thud.
"What's wrong Kitsune?" Mutsumi asked in concern. "Did you not sleep well?"
"You could say that," Kitsune groaned.
"What happened? Did Keitaro try to make some perverted move on you or something?" Naru questioned.
"No, it felt more like I slept on a pile of rocks." Kitsune explained.
"I tried to warn you Kitsune you should've slept on the left side then you would not have had to sleep on the chain." He said while gesturing to the handcuffs.
"Either way, I am glad we finished all of our chores yesterday," Kitsune said with a sigh. "I just want to rest and lay around today,"
"Isn't that what you would normally do anyway?" Sarah asked.
"Ummm," Keitaro asked unsure how to break it to you but chores are a daily thing if we want to survive.
This gave Kitsune the energy burst she needed as she shot up like a cork and grabbed Keitaro's shoulders. "You mean we have to do it ALL again?"
"Only if we want to continue being alive," Sarah drawled at her.
"Come on Kitsune it won't be that bad." Keitaro tried to coax her.
"No, I refuse to move," she said as gripped the table.
"Come on, Kitsune, we can do whatever you want after we are done. Well, anything not inappropriate."
Kitsune was about to tell him no way. But she caught Naru out of the corner of her eye.
"Hmmm, okay," Kitsune said reluctantly. It might be tough but she was going to get them together.
***Motoko (and Shinobu)***
Motoko had made very little progress. She had interviewed Haruka, Naru, and Su and turned up no results.
Next on the list was Kanako.
Okay, Kanako we have deduced the handcuffs were swiped from your box. Do you know who might have taken them?
"I am afraid not," Kanako answered. "But when I find out who did this to my brother I am going to make them pay"
"For torturing Keitaro?" Shinobu asked.
"No, for not handcuffing me to him instead," Kanako answered.
"Moving past your brother obsession. You always seem to have a contingency plan. Did you put a tracker in their cuffs, or spray them in some kind of radiation we can track?" Motoko probed.
"I am afraid not, getting those handcuffs into Japan was hard enough," Kanako answered. "The only reason the airport let them through was that they were too focused on my whips and shampoo"
Motoko sighed another dead end. "Thanks for your time."
"Wait, Shinobu, I didn't get to ask yesterday." Kanako interrupted. "Did you bring me my ball and jacks as agreed?"
"Oh, sorry, you must have forgotten them, they weren't in the box," Shinobu told her.
"No, you must be mistaken. I know I brought them." Kanako returned.
"Kanako, Shinobu is right. I searched the box from top to bottom myself. There were no balls or jacks in it."
"That just proves your incompetence. I specifically remember packing them right after the butt pl-"
"Wait Motoko, interrupted. What if the handcuffs weren't the only thing taken from the box? What if the reason the balls and jacks weren't in there was that they were also stolen?"
"That would mean if we find the balls and jacks," Shinobu started.
"We find who cuffed Keitaro and Kitsune together." Kanako finished.
***Kitsune***
With one final heave, Keitaro got Kitsune to the bench.
"Thanks, Keitaro, I don't think I could move anymore." Kitsune panted out. They had finished their chores for the day.
"So, what did you want to do?" Keitaro asked.
"Well," Kitsune started as she fished something out of her pocket. "I found these balls and jacks on the ship and want to play with Naru."
They found Naru and Su at the dinner table.
Naru glanced at them, but upon seeing Keitaro she immediately looked away.
"Hey Naru, guess what I found," Kitsune greeted.
"Did you find more bananas?" Su asked excitedly.
"I found a ball and jacks," Kitsune answered, ignoring Su. "Want me to teach you to play?"
"Do you even know how to play," Naru asked?
"Well, not technically, but I made up some rules that vaguely reusable a game," Kitsune told her. "And best of all we can play it as doubles,"
Naru narrowed her eyes and stared at Keitaro for a long minute, finally, she said "okay,".
"So Naru," Kitsune probed as she set up the game "how is moving into the hut going?"
"Fine, I guess. I think I lost some things in the storm though," Naru replied.
"I know what you mean," Kitsune said chattily." I lost all my Sake. What about you Keitaro did you lose anything?"
"Well, I" Keitaro started.
"Let's not dwell on the past, it will only make us sad about what we have lost," Naru dodged the topic.
Kitsune would not be deterred so easily. "What about your studies have you been keeping prepared for the entrance exam?"
Naru seemed to stiffen up at this question. She then spoke slowly and deliberately. "I have no reason to study until we get off this island."
Keitaro's head fell but Kitsune didn't notice. "Sure you need to study, don't you still want to get into Tokyo U? Sure you didn't pass the last time but that doesn't mean hope is lost just ask Keitaro he failed 3 times and is still trying,"
Before Keitaro could say anything Naru replied. "A person that's failed 3 times? Even if I was going to study, why would I ask help from someone who has no idea what they are doing?"
Keitaro's head fell further, this time Kitsune noticed.
Kitsune was silent for a moment as the stress on her was building. She had not suffered through 2 days of chores to be stopped now. "So Naru, have we been on the island for a while, anything or anyone you have missed since we've been here?"
"I miss a lot of things. Hot baths, fancy meals, males that don't try to sexually assault me. You know the bare minimum stuff."
Kitsune's brow furrowed. "Naru isn't that too harsh?"
"Not for this perverted lair," Naru returned.
Suddenly all the stress and chores from the past few days welled up in Kitsune's mind. "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM NARU?" Kitsune asked. I have been working like crazy for the past couple of days, not just my usual job of fixing the problems you two can't seem to work out but also mountains of chores. What he did wasn't even that bad, why can't you forgive him?
"I had already forgiven him but then he turned around and spit on his promise and my forgiveness by handcuffing himself to you. And I want nothing to do with him and his lustful actions, even if that means I have to avoid you too. Naru shouted, then she turned to storm off.
But before Naru could, a voice rang through the area. "Nobody move".
Everyone looked around to see Motoko running at them.
Jumping over the table Motoko landed in the middle of the group with a thud. She held her bokken to Kitsune's back. "Don't try to run Kitsune," Motoko warned.
Soon Shinobu who had been following Motoko arrived too, as did the rest of the castaways to see what the commotion was.
"What in the name of cottage cheese are you doing Motoko?" Naru asked.
"I have evidence to believe Kitsune is the culprit to the handcuffing," Motoko answered.
***a couple of minutes earlier***
Motoko and Shinobu were interviewing the last suspects, Mutsumi and Sarah.
"Oh boy, an interview!" Mutsumi cheered. "But what job is it for?"
"It's not that kind of interview Mutsumi, they are trying to figure out if we are felons," Sarah told her.
"Felons, oh that's probably me then. I fall on stuff all the time. I am kind of clumsy." Mutsumi admitted well rubbing the back of her neck embarrassed.
"That's not what felons means," Sarah told her.
"It might be, who's to say," Mutsumi answered back.
"Everyone is, plus dictionaries." Sarah drawled.
"Guy aren't we getting a little off-topic here?" Shinobu asked.
"We might be," Mutsumi responded.
"According to Shinobu and your own words you were out gathering food on the morning of the incident. Did you see anything suspicious while you were doing that?" Motoko pressed.
"Well, I saw fruits hanging from trees, it is pretty suspicious that someone would go through the effort of buying and lugging fruit, only to tie them to the trees," Mutsumi replied.
"Motoko, I am pretty sure it wasn't Mutsumi. She and I were together the whole time we were collecting food." Shinobu defended her. "And Sarah only left us once to go to the bathroom bush."
Motoko turned her attention to Sarah. "Tell me did you see or do anything suspicious, well you were at the bathroom bush?"
"Well, someone forgot to flush the bush when they last used it," Sarah said salty.
"Did you see anybody on your trip?" Motoko asked.
"Let's see, I saw you and Kanako waving your swords around. I saw Haruka sneaking around the back of the hut to smoke, I saw Su stealing some bananas from the table."
"Anything else?" Motoko asked.
"Hmmm, oh I saw Kitsune trying to secretly rummage around in a big box," Sarah recalled.
That caught Motoko's attention. Kitsune had claimed she had not been out of the hut once during the night. And the mention of a large box made her recall the suspicious box of books Kitsune had hauled away from the boat the other day, well insisting that no one accompany her back to camp.
"Come on Shinobu, we need to investigate this immediately." Motoko declared as she began to dash towards the hut.
"Wait for me," Shinobu called as she failed to keep up.
Leaving Sarah and Mutsumi standing there confused.
***Back to present***
"What are you talking about Motoko, why would Kitsune handcuff herself to me?" Keitaro asked.
"That's what I would like to know, care to tell us Kitsune?"
"I don't know what y'all are talking about." Kitsune sputters out.
"Oh really? Then where did you find these ball and jacks? Motoko asked as she picked them up from the table.
"No offense Motoko but some kids' toys aren't really incriminating evidence," Haruka commented.
"But this is," Motoko said as she took out a key. "We found this in the crate of books you brought back from the boat." And I have a hunch it is not to Elon Musk's safe.
Motoko grabbed the handcuffs and put the key into it and turned. With a click, the cuffs popped open and fell off Keitaro's wrist.
Kitsune? Why was that key in your stuff? Naru said quietly. "Surely what Motoko said is not true?"
Kitsune sighed. There was no point in lying anymore. "Okay, I found the handcuffs and the jacks in Kanako's stuff. I wanted to help Keitaro and you make up. So I thought if I handcuffed myself to Keitaro it would force you to spend time and talk to him.
If that was your intent why didn't you just handcuff Keitaro to Naru directly? Sarah asked.
Kitsune paused for a moment. The blurted "Why didn't I think of that,". She quickly recollected herself. "Anyway I was only trying to help Naru forgive Keitaro,".
"I HAD forgiven him before you interfered," Naru yelled angrily.
"What?" Kitsune said, confused.
"On the boat, after everyone had left, Naru had agreed to forgive me if I was more careful. And was even going to keep studying with me. But after she found us on top of each other the deal kind of was ruined," Keitaro explained.
"Naru, is this true?" Kitsune asked.
Naru nodded, too upset to speak.
"Well, it's not like anyone got hurt," Kitsune said hurriedly. "It was just a simple prank,".
"NO, IT'S NOT. I could have killed you when I punched Keitaro through the wall and I felt so bad for almost hurting my friend. And all you can say is it was just a prank?! And it's not just this time you are always pulling these out of line or dangerous "jokes". Like when you puppeteered my unconscious body and invited Keitaro to come on to me. And to think I felt bad for hitting you. I can't stand to look at you right now." Naru said as she turned away and stormed off.
"Come on Naru, you know I didn't mean any harm, you're my best friend," Kitsune called after her.
Naru stopped for a moment and without turning around she said "You're not my friend,". And then she took off into the dusk.
Kitsune sat there dumbfounded for a moment. Then she looked at the others around her. "You guys know I didn't mean any harm right? It was just trying to help,".
No one replied to her. One by one they silently turned their backs and walked away. Shinobu tried to comfort Keitaro as they went. Only Motoko and Sarah were left.
Come on Sarah you play pranks on Keitaro too, you have to be on my side. Kitsune pleaded.
Sarah shook her head "You took it too far," she turned to leave with the others.
Kitsune's head fell, as she stared at the ground Motoko spoke. "I can't believe you were going to let Keitaro take the blame for your stunt. It makes me wonder if you were really the victim all the times I defended you and Naru or was it just more the result of your jokes. It makes me sick to think I may have punished an innocent person,".
Kitsune said nothing as she continued to stare at the ground.
Motoko spoke again. "I was going to punish you for all the harm you caused but I think losing your best friend is more than enough." She then turned and left. Leaving Kitsune all alone.
01110011 01110100 01101111 01110000
I wanted this story to be one chapter but with how many pages it has reached and how long it has been since I updated I think I will cut it here.
See you next time.