Ch 16
V 1.0
A/N – This chapter takes place after Motoko gets knocked out by Kanako, but before she wakes up with Tsuruko in her room.
The three Urashima had just come to the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor when Kanako came to a stop. Since she was holding the unconscious Motoko under her shoulders, this cause Haruka, who was holding Motoko's feet, to come to a halt as well as Keitaro who was behind her.
"What is it, Kana-chan?" Keitaro inquired of his younger sister, who looked to be in thought.
"Is it really a good idea to put an unconscious kendoist who just attacked you in a room full of weapons?" Kanako asked, looking down at her burden with a frown.
"Guest room then," Haruka replied, shifting the legs she was holding. Keitaro did not say anything, but passed beside them to be in front of Kanako, then led them to an empty guest room on the other side of Kanako's own room. Unlocking the door, he pushed it open and went in, watching as the two other Urashima carry Motoko in and place her on the futon.
"Haruka, pat her down please, I know she carries weapons concealed," Kanako requested. Haruka raised an eyebrow, but after receiving a nod from Keitaro, knelt down next to Motoko and started running her hands over her clothing, reaching in when she felt something. After a couple of minutes, Haruka had pulled out a kaiken knife from her waistband under her gi, two kunai style daggers, one taped to her upper left arm and another taped to her lower right leg, and a miniature tanto style blade tucked into her chest wrappings.
"OK, someone was definitely a Girl Scout," Keitaro cracked. Seeing his two relatives look at him quizzically, he continued, "Be Prepared?" Seeing their expressions not change, he shook his head and changed the subject. "Haru-chan, check her for a concussion again." He tossed her his key ring, which had a miniature flashlight on it. Meanwhile, he picked up the formerly hidden weapons and put them on top of the dresser against the wall, along with the bokken now leaning against it.
After taking Motoko's pulse, looking at her eyes with the light, and checking her nose, ears, and scalp for bleeding or bruising, Haruka looked back up again. "As far as I can tell, she's fine. No signs of internal or external bleeding or bruising, pupils are equal and reactive. She just needs to sleep it off. (1) Hell of a job knocking her out, Kana-chan." The younger sister merely smiled slightly as Haruka tossed the key ring back to Keitaro.
"So the question is what do we do now? She attacked Kei-kun with the intent to do great bodily injury at the very least, maybe even attempted murder." Kanako scowled at the unconscious kendoist.
Keitaro shook his head. "If Aoyama wanted to kill me, she would have used her katana or one of her ki attacks. No, I think she just lost her temper when she saw me and attacked."
Kanako's scowl deepened. "So I take it you don't want to turn her in to the police? She can be charged with assault with a deadly weapon, you know."
Shaking his head again Keitaro replied, "I wasn't really in danger, so I don't want to call the police into this. It would cause too many problems with the Aoyama. Let's keep this one between the families for now." (2)
"Surely you can't be serious? Aoyama was swinging a bokken at you full force, it would have done serious damage if it had connected, nii-chan!" Kanako was looking at him with an incredulous look on her face.
"I'm serious. And don't call me Shirley." Keitaro replied in English. Seeing the joke go high over both their heads, he switched back to Japanese. "Motoko isn't as good as she thinks she is, I would have disarmed her if you had not knocked her out."
"And how much you want to bet that she would have then started using the real weapons she had hidden on her? Were you ready for her to pull one of those kunai and throw it at you?" Kanako demanded. Taking her brother's silence as an answer, she continued. "She's gone too far this time, Kei-kun, this is a major violation of the rules. We can't let this go and maintain credibility with the other tenants."
Keitaro sighed and nodded, his sister had a point. "Speaking of the tenants, did any of them see what happened?" he inquired.
Haruka was the one to shake her head now. "Naru-chan might have, but she's so punchy right now you could dance past her in a tutu and she wouldn't realize it." Smiling slightly at the look on Keitaro's face, she continued. "She was ahead of us when we brought Motoko in, so I guess she's in her room. I'll go check on her right now." Rocking back on her heels, Haruka smoothly came to her feet and moved toward the door. "I'll be back in a couple minutes."
After Haruka left, Keitaro and Kanako looked at each for a long moment before she stepped up to him put her arms around him, laying her head on his shoulder. Sighing, Keitaro wrapped his arms around her as well, feeling her heartbeat against his chest.
"Gods, Keitaro, I was studying when I suddenly felt all this anger, all this hatred. I knew someone was in danger, so I ran outside to see what was going on. Then I saw that bitch attacking you with her bokken, and I just wanted to take her head clean off." Kanako squeezed him a little harder as she spoke.
"So why didn't you?" It was not an idle question; Kanako had had problems with the amount of force she used in spars, and that was when she was not emotional.
"I knew you would not be happy if I did take her out like that. But if she had her katana with her, I would not have held back, Kei-kun. I'm not going to lose you again."
Keitaro sighed again. As bad as it was to hear that his little sister was prepared to kill someone, he was proud that she had made the correct choice in the precious little time she had between seeing what was happening and when she had to make a choice. Turning his head slightly, he gave a kiss to her temple and squeezed her slightly. "You did good, Kana-chan, I'm proud of you."
Kanako purred in response, and stayed close to him until Haruka reentered the room and raised an eyebrow at the display. She did not say anything about it though, instead stating, "Naru's in bed, so are Shinobu and Su, and Kitsune is working on a new story." Seeing that Kanako was not letting go of her brother, she finally asked, "Are you planning on letting him go anytime soon, Kana-chan?"
"No," came the muffled voice from Keitaro's shoulder.
"Well you have to, there's other stuff to do." Haruka held a piece of paper up in the air. "We can't just boot Motoko, we have to do it by the book. Which means we have to notify her family."
Seeing the slip in Haruka's hand, Keitaro reached over and took it. Still feeling Kanako's arms around him, he finally declared, "Cuddle time is over, Kana-chan. Time to go to work." Kanako actually pouted slightly as she let her arms drop from around him, but stayed standing close to him. Looking back at Haruka, he asked, "Phone?" and took the mobile phone she held out to him.
Looking at his wristwatch after dialing the number and holding the mobile to his ear, he saw that it was 10:05 PM. "Never a good thing to make a call late at night," he muttered to himself. Hearing someone on the other end pick up the phone and give the standard greeting, he began to speak. "I'm sorry to call this late, but this is Keitaro Urashima, manager of the Hinata-sou Dormitory. I need to speak to Michiru Aoyama regarding her daughter Motoko." A few more moments passed before he spoke again. "I am sorry to have bothered you at such a late hour, Aoyama-san, but there has been a major disciplinary incident here at the Sou involving Motoko-san. Since she is still a minor, Motoko-san needs an adult family member here with her at the meeting we will be holding to determine her continued tenancy at the Sou." Keitaro fell silent for a few moments again.
"I am sorry to say that Motoko-san misheard a conversation and physically attacked someone some time later as a result." Silence for a few moments. "That person was me, actually, and I had done nothing to warrant an attack on myself." A few more moments passed. "I could go into further detail right now on the phone if you want, but I would prefer to do this face to face if possible."
After a few more moments, Keitaro spoke again. "I see. If you prefer for her to act on your behalf, I do not have a problem with that. You will contact her and let her know what is happening? Very well, we will be expecting her tomorrow morning. Once again, I am sorry that this occurred and that I had to call you so late. Have a good night." Keitaro pulled the mobile away and ended the call, looking up at Haruka's and Kanako's expectant faces.
"Motoko's older sister Tsuruko is on an overnight train to Tokyo right now for family business. Her mother will contact her and let her know what is going on, she should be arriving tomorrow morning. She will be serving as Motoko's family representative in the disciplinary meeting."
Haruka gave a sigh. "Keitaro, Motoko had a falling out with her sister, it's the reason why she moved to Tokyo in the first place. You sure this is a good idea?"
Keitaro shrugged. "Don't have a choice, it's what Motoko's mother wants."
"Oh well." Haruka turned and looked at the still sleeping Motoko. "We going to keep watch on her tonight?"
"Yeah, probably need to. But I don't think I should do it, she sees me first thing when she wakes up she's going to freak out and attack me again." Keitaro did not want to look like he was trying to get out of watch duty, but having another brawl in the middle of the night was not a good idea.
"I'll do it. I don't need to sleep tonight, and I can sit in here and study. She wakes up and gets out of hand, I'll call for help if I need it." Kanako looked like she was looking forward to that though, and would almost certainly not ask for help in dealing with Motoko.
"Leave the door cracked open, and call me if she wakes up, do you understand?" Keitaro was looking sternly at his sister, and she gave a reluctant nod. "Haru-chan, it's time for you to get going, thanks for your help tonight."
Haruka stepped up to Keitaro and gave him a brief hug and kiss on the cheek, noticing the quick look of annoyance flashing though Kanako's face. "No problem, nephew. See you tomorrow morning, Kei-kun, Kana-chan." Turning, she left the room.
Keitaro turned to Kanako and said, "Go ahead and get your books and stuff, take Motoko's weapons with you. I'll hang out at the door until you get back." Kanako nodded and left, leaving Keitaro standing in the doorway and leaning against the frame, looking thoughtfully at his sleeping tenant.
"Hello, I am looking for Keitaro Urashima. I am Tsuruko Aoyama, Motoko's sister."
The lady standing at the door of the Hinata-sou was obviously Motoko's sister, even without the announcement. Even though she was dressed in female business attire, her long straight black hair and classical porcelain features were almost identical to Motoko's, except for the widow's peak that formed out of the fringe across her forehead. But the most noticeable difference was the expression on her face; while Motoko had a look of anger or distrust on her face most of the time, Tsuruko had a look of inner calm that did not take away from the coiled readiness that was the hallmark of a trained martial artist.
"Good morning Aoyama-san, I am Keitaro Urashima." Giving a deep bow, Keitaro still kept his eyes on her, a fact that she did not fail to notice, as the twitch at the end of her mouth showed. "Please come in, do you need help with your luggage?" Along with a small purse hanging from one shoulder, there was a roller suitcase beside her and a long narrow case slung across her other shoulder of a type that looked very familiar.
"No thank you, I can manage. However, if you can find a place where I can leave my luggage while we speak, it would be appreciated." Following Keitaro into the house, Tsuruko took off her shoes and put on some of the generic house slippers left at the landing inside the doorway for that purpose. Pulling her roller bag to the closet Keitaro had just opened, Tsuruko placed it inside, and without any hesitation took off the sword case she had slung across her back and placed it beside her bag. Stepping back and smiling slightly, Tsuruko watched as Keitaro closed the closet door and turned back to her. "May I offer you some tea, Aoyama-san?" he inquired politely. He had heated a kettle as soon as he had gotten up this morning at 6:00 AM, but the doorbell had rung just before he could pour himself a cup.
Tsuruko's smile widened. "If it is not too much trouble. And please call me Tsuruko."
"If you call me Keitaro as well." The manager gestured to the side. "If you can follow me?"
Keitaro showed Tsuruko to a small room off the living room, but close to the kitchen. The tea room had no furniture except for a low table, as well as some flat cushions to sit on if necessary and the floor was covered in tatami mats. Showing Tsuruko to the guest side of the table, he stepped out for a moment only to return with a tray loaded with cups, tea containers, strainers and spoons, as well as a small kettle of steaming water. Setting the tray on the table, Keitaro quickly set up the table and a short while later the two were sipping on their tea, green for Tsuruko and very strong black for Keitaro.
"I am sorry that I could not do a regular tea ceremony for you, Tsuruko-san. It is an honor to receive you today, even if the occasion for this meeting is not a happy one." Keitaro set down the tea cup and bowed his head slightly toward her.
Tsuruko returned the head bow. "I am not happy my sister has required this meeting in the first place. And this tea is quite tasty, may I ask where you bought it?"
Keitaro smiled slightly. "I am afraid that I don't know the answer to that. My aunt Haruka is the one that supplies the tea from her teahouse business. I can ask her for the name and a tin if you like."
Tsuruko bowed again. "Thank you for your consideration, Keitaro-san."
"May I ask the original reason for your coming to Tokyo today, Tsuruko-san?" Keitaro picked up his cup and sipped at it again.
"There are some businesses that the Aoyama family have a partial interest in here in Tokyo, and every three months or so I come down to look things over. I also visit with some friends from school while I am here before I return to Kyoto." Tsuruko took a sip from her cup.
Keitaro nodded. "Then I truly regret that I had to interrupt your trip today, Tsuruko-san. Unfortunately, there was a major rules violation involving your sister, and that has to be dealt with."
Tsuruko sighed and put her cup down on the table. "What can you tell me about what occurred?"
Keitaro proceeded to give a condensed account of what had happed on the train and then the train platform. When Tsuruko asked about detail of the fight itself, Keitaro described the injuries the two thugs wound up with, and how they sustained them, in a even tone of voice that nonetheless showed some regret.
Keitaro then described how he and Naru had to give their statements to the police at the prefecture station and he called Haruka so as to let her know where they were and what happened. His aunt had come over to the station and once she had gotten the full story, she had called the Sou to let them know that they were going to arrive later that night. Keitaro explained that the phone call was how they presumed Motoko found out about Naru's assault, but that she had only overheard Kisune's side of the conversation and that was how she had gotten the wrong idea about the incident.
Finally, Keitaro recounted how Naru, Haruka and he had arrived home to find Motoko waiting outside for them, and that she had lost her temper upon seeing him and attacked. Tsuruko was surprised to hear that Keitaro had only dodged Motoko's bokken attacks, and had not struck back at her sister. That Kanako was able to take out Motoko completely by surprise and with one attack was a surprise as well, although it should not have been, having heard from Motoko herself how skilled the younger Urashima was.
"…So, given how Motoko-san has previously attacked me, and that she was presented with the revised house rules that forbid physical attacks and signed off on it, there really is not much I can do now. By the house rules, Motoko-san will come before the executive committee of the Hinata-sou, which consists of myself, Kanako-chan, and Haruka-chan. Motoko-san will be given an opportunity to explain herself, and present any mitigating circumstances and to show remorse for her actions. I have to tell you, given what I know of Motoko-san, I doubt she will chose to do so. In that case, we will have no choice but to ask her to leave the Hinata-sou," Keitaro finished up by saying.
Tsuruko stayed silent for a long moment before she spoke. "Keitaro-san, there is nothing I can find at fault in your actions. Motoko-chan's actions alone have brought her to this unfortunate circumstance. In doing so, she has tarnished the reputation of our family, and I feel it will be necessary for the Aoyama clan to make reparations to the Urashima family."
Keitaro stiffened slightly. A family making reparations to another family had all sorts of connotations to it, most of them not pleasant to consider. In the old feudal days, it could involve the offending family giving something of value – money, properties, land – to the family that had been offended. Sometimes it had not been a thing that had been given, but a person, usually in the form of a daughter given in marriage. If things had gotten really nasty, the person that had caused the dishonor had to wipe out the offense with their own blood, usually in the form of seppuku, ritual suicide. In modern times, things were not that different, except for somewhat less bloodshed.
The bad part about this was that Keitaro could not just say that there was no need for reparations; for Motoko to be evicted or asked to leave the Sou was by definition very serious. And given the look that was on Tsuruko's face, Keitaro realized that she was aware of this, and that she was as trapped by the situation as he was.
"I believe it may be better if we discuss reparations later, Tsuruko-san. We have to first deal with the disciplinary meeting," Keitaro replied after a moment. There was no way he was going to make a decision on something like this without talking to Haruka and Kanako.
"Very well, Keitaro-san. May I ask when the meeting will be held?" Tsuruko looked down at her tea cup, which was now empty.
"Motoko-san should be waking at any time now. Once she does and if she feels well enough, she will be given time to eat and get ready. I also have to contract my aunt and sister and give them enough time to make it here. So chances are that it will be at noon at the earliest, and probably this afternoon."
Tsukuko nodded in agreement. "And what will the dress code be?" she asked
Keitaro blinked for a moment at the seemingly odd question. This was a formal meeting, not a formal dinner. "I don't understand what you mean, Tsuruko-san."
"I have business attire and a haori (kimono jacket) and hakama. I doubt that Motoko has any other clothes besides gi, haori, hakama and school uniforms. Would that be acceptable to wear to the meeting?"
"Haori and hakama would be acceptable, Tsuruko-san." Keitaro's mind was now racing; he had been planning on just wearing a dress shirt and slacks, but now he and the ladies had to dress up as well. Thinking hard, Keitaro could remember coming across some traditional clothing in storage when he had done his inspection tour. He would have to go look as soon as he was done with Tsuruko.
"If you will excuse me, I would like to see my sister and how she is doing. Could you please show me to her room?"
Keitaro carefully rocked back on his heels and came to his feet. Tsuruko came to her feet more gracefully and followed him to the hallway where she retrieved her luggage, leaving the long case in the closet. Following Keitaro down the hallway to the guest room, she watched as he softly tapped on a door that was partial open before opening it all the way and entering.
Walking in behind him, Tsuruko could see that her sister was asleep on a futon. There was another person in the room however, and this one drew Tsuruko's full attention.
A young girl about Motoko's age was sitting at a desk reading what looked to be a textbook while taking notes. But while the girl looked like a normal schoolgirl, the feeling of chi was heavy in the air, and when the girl turned to look at her, Tsuruko could see why. Emotion roiled behind her dark eyes, under tight control, but present nonetheless. Once her gaze fixed on her, Tsuruko could feel a minute spike of hostility, unnoticeable to all but a chi adept like herself. This could be only one person.
"Kanako, this is Tsuruko Aoyama, Motoko's sister. She's going to stay with her until she wakes, so you can go back to your room now." Keitaro turned back to Tsuruko. "Aoyama-san, this is Kanako Urashima, my sister and assistant manager here at the Sou."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kanako-san. You don't mind if I call you that, do you?" Tsuruko gave a head nod and a smile to the girl who was now standing from her chair.
"It is good to meet you as well, Aoyama-san. You may call me by my given name if you wish." Kanako returned the head nod, but her face stayed expressionless. "If you will excuse me, I have to go get something from my room." Picking up her study materials, Kanako gave another head nod, and walked out the door, moving almost silently.
Keitaro gave a slightly nervous smile and scratched the back of his head. "I hope you were not offended, Tsuruko-san, Kanako has trouble warming up to people."
"It is not a problem, Keitaro-san." Tsuruko placed her bag next to the dresser, then kneeled down next to her sister on the futon. Gently touching her forehead, she sighed and whispered softly, "Little Sister, it has been so long."
Keitaro took a step toward the door. "I'll leave you with your sister now. If you have any questions or need me, my room is down the hall. Please don't hesitate to ask." Tsuruko looked up at him and smiled and nodded. Keitaro smiled back at her before walking out of the room, leaving the two sisters in silence.
1 - concussions - I know that any head injury leading to unconsciousness like the one that Motoko sustained in her attack against Keitaro would mandate a hospital exam and stay, but for the sake of the story I am just having Haruka, the resident medic-type person, check her out and seeing that she was OK.
2 - police - Japanese culture is very reluctant to get the police involved in disputes unless someone is actually injured, and even then sometimes not until it is serious. They believe that to call the police shows that you have failed in the cultural expectations of acting according to societal norms, especially if it involves dishonorable behavior between families. They tend to want to keep it quiet and settle it by themselves with minimal loss of face/honor. Also, Motoko is still a minor in Japan, and prosecuting her as one would be an entirely new kettle of fish/trouble.
A/N 2 – As of 0100 16Sept11, this story has received 44,865 hits, 99 reviews, is on 11 C2 lists, on 180 Favorites lists and has 165 Story Alerts. Thanks again for reading, guys.