"Reforged Chapter 5"
By Y-PenDraig and MakiUra
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Love Hina, Ken Akamatsu does. This is a non-for-profit work of fanfiction with no monies or profit being made from it. No copyright infringement is intended.
AUTHORS' NOTE ON CONTINUITY: This story uses a mixed manga/anime continuity that starts to branch off majorly from the Burning Blades arc/TV series episode 25. Simply stated, Keitaro's initial arrival at the Hinata Inn and the order he meets the girls is the same as it is in the TV series, as well as Granny Hina's departure from the same. The increased presence of Shirai and Haitani as well as Kentaro Sakata is also as it was in the TV series, as well as Mei, and Moe-Chan. Beyond that, events that occur in the manga should be considered completely canon unless otherwise obviously superseded except for ages; we'll keep to the TV series there unless noted.
INTRODUCTION: Y-PenDraig and I welcome you, the reader, to this story. It grew out of discussion between the two of us about Tsuruko Aoyama and a shared desire to tell a good, long story involving her. The regular rating will be T for Teen for the story proper, but owing to the naughty idea that kind of inspired this madness, you will see omake side-stories posted independently that are rated M for Mature
000
The creature thought it had successfully tempted its adversaries to their combined dooms when it enlarged its area and cleared the Sagami Parkway. It had enjoyed toying with the little mechanical aluminum and steel boxes as the pathetic ki-users and the ridiculous little king tried to lure him away from hiding, waiting, and marshalling his energies in the sky. The humans it had possessed were scarcely aware of anything being the least bit out of the ordinary as the creature had great sport operating their contraptions. It thought that a large dark cloud of stone would be a fitting end for his three annoyances; the terror and pain would be absolutely delectable.
The only indication that anything might go wrong with the plan was when the van turned to head for the exact center of it. It only realized once the van had crashed into the cloud wall and it exploded that a ki blast and shockwave, compressed inside the van itself, rippled throughout the fiery explosion and tore a large hole in its center of power. It immediately decided a much less accessible area would be safer to recoup its energies before utterly annihilating these threats.
The creature never noticed the three small blue orbs that had escaped.
000
"... ow… oh, so the afterlife has Tsuruko-san, Motoko-chan and trees in it… so at least it's not hell," Keitaro rambled as he regained consciousness.
Tsuruko giggled and Motoko even smiled a touch in response.
Keitaro leaned up on his elbows and tried to look around and was immediately rewarded with a splitting headache and almost unbearable pain from his leg. "Ow! Is that damn cloud gone?"
"Its malevolence has retreated for now, Keitaro-san," Tsuruko nodded.
"Okay, good, so now what?" Keitaro asked as his hands found the crutches that were resting at his side. "Thanks for saving these, by the way."
"Our pleasure, Urashima-san." Motoko replied as she looked over at the gradual sloping grade of grass and weeds that led back up to the Sagami Parkway. "Though this will be a tough walk for you back up to the road."
"Awh, that's nothing compared to what else has happened today." Keitaro stated, a bit evenly that Tsuruko through one eye and her ki kept composure and watch on Motoko's reaction.
"I find myself unable to argue with you there, Urashima." Another small smile from Motoko.
'Good word choice and composure from Keitaro-san,' Tsuruko thought as she inwardly groaned at the marriage agreement Granny Hina had surprised them with contained within the employment contracts. The elder Aoyama was not looking forward to the coming disclosure of this development to the other tenants of the Hinata Inn. She made a mental note that when she had a moment in private with Keitaro to tell him there is no point whatsoever in trying to keep what his grandmother had sprung on them a secret while it is dealt with. Even if Haruka wanted to go along with being discrete (and she had sincere doubts about that, given the level of scorn in Haruka's voice once the documents were signed and sealed), Tsuruko knew that such a thought was foolhardy when it came to secrets and the Hinata Inn.
Tsuruko looked at her little sister. 'Once things calm down, Motoko-han will likely be the one challenging *me* to a duel.' She sighed, motioning to Keitaro. "On your feet, Keitaro-san, the long road home awaits. At the very least when we reach the top if any piece of your grandmother's vehicle remains we can be good citizens and clear it off the roadway."
Keitaro held up his hand, smiling a bit. From his pocket he took out his mobile phone. "Sorry ladies, but I doubt any one of us is up to walking or hitch-hiking back to the Inn today."
"I was actually thinking of going to a public call box along the road, Urashima-san." Motoko deadpanned. "We can call the police, or at least a taxi."
"That'd take hours, Motoko-chan," he dialed a number, a moment later it picked up. "Hey, Sakata-san, it's Keitaro."
Keitaro nodded once, twice, three times. "... it's been an eventful day. Can't say I can go out for a drink with you, Shirai and Haitani, though. Sorry."
Tsuruko gave a quizzical look to Motoko, who only shrugged.
"Are you, by any chance," Keitaro looked around at their surroundings, "near the exit by the train station that leads up to the Parkway? Westbound?"
Keitaro smiled. "Look, this is going to sound crazy, even from me, but I'm stranded by the side of the road with Aoyama-san and her elder sister. My Grandmother's old van finally met its demise."
Another two nods from Keitaro. "You got a quad-cab? Outstanding! Thank you, Kentaro. I owe you a case of beer if Kitsune doesn't get it first." He laughed. "See you and the guys soon, man."
"Keitaro-san," Tsuruko said evenly. "How will we all fit in another one of Sakata-san's sports vehicles?"
"Oh, that won't be a problem, Tsuruko-san." Keitaro said as he returned his mobile phone to his pocket and gingerly got himself up with his crutches for the slow walk up the small hill.
000
By the time Keitaro, Motoko, and Tsuruko reached the shoulder of the parkway, it was now three o'clock and late mid-day traffic was proceeding fairly normally. Keitaro imagined they made a completely ridiculous sight along the road way; him with his broken leg and battered crutches, Tsuruko in her gi and hakama and Motoko in her school uniform. They did not need to look far to see the remnants of the van sitting in the grassy median, still smoldering but with the four wheels still intact save for the rubber which had melted. The van was now only a third of its original length. It looked like it had assumed the shape of one of those cube-shaped compact cars that Keitaro had read about that were gaining popularity in Europe; only with more height.
"It seems the tides of fortune have ensured that Hina-sama's vehicle ended up not blocking a public roadway," Tsuruko's hands clasped in front of her.
"Well, that's some good news, isn't it, Motoko-chan?" Keitaro chuckled.
"It would seem so, nothing else looks or feels amiss. Though I wonder why the highway patrol has not responded yet," Motoko looked around.
"Very likely they themselves are not quite sure what is going on," Tsuruko commented.
The trio only had a few minutes to admire the absurd spectacle of destruction when a wrecker with an extended cab beeped its horn and pulled onto the shoulder ahead of them.
Keitaro looked at Tsuruko and Motoko, smiling. He waved his free arm. "Over here, guys!"
Three figures exited the truck and hurried over to them. The first thing Motoko noted was their shapes (one athletic, one slender, and one short and rotund), and the second thing was them all being dressed in dark green shop uniforms. Once they got closer, Tsuruko gasped.
"Sakata-san!" Tsuruko bowed. "You also work for an auto garage?"
Now standing in front of them, Sakata returned the bow. "My Uncle found out about what happened to my car and said I had to do this for a month so he wouldn't tell my Dad. But he pays me a bit extra, allows me to schedule around my days off from class and Haruka-san, and he allowed me to hire some help."
Motoko groaned. "You two perverts?" She shook her head. This day was getting worse and worse.
"Good to see you again too, Aoyama-san," Shirai gave a short bow to Motoko and a longer one to Tsuruko. "Madame!"
Tsuruko gave a short smile.
"Such lovely women in need of transport have nothing to fear from Sakata-Geogoro Towing," Haitani put out both of his palms and two flowers appeared.
Tsuruko gave a short clap. "Very charming, gentlemen."
"Big sister," Motoko pointed at Shirai and Haitani. "I will have you know, these two are unreformed womanizers!"
Sakata chuckled. "Not on my watch, Aoyama-sama. I've picked up some anti-pervert fans from Haruka-san."
"Besides," Keitaro said, "why do you think I said quad-cab over the phone?" He gave the two ladies in his company a knowing look.
Haitani nodded over to the black, smoking metal on wheels in the median. "Keitaro, you said you had a van, all I see is that charcoal sports car… what's up?"
"Well it *was* a van," Keitaro said.
Shirai scoffed, "don't ask, man. Easier job this way."
"And we'll have you back at Hinata Inn in no time," Sakata grinned.
000
What remained of the van was secured on the wrecker. Keitaro, Motoko, and Tsuruko rode back to the Hinata Inn in the rear cab. Keitaro winced more with pain from his leg every time he had to move. For getting into and out of the wrecker both Motoko and Tsuruko had to help. He thanked them profusely for this. The ride back to Hinata Inn wasn't all unpleasant. Sakata, Shirai and Haitani took great pride in knowing all the lyrics to a song in English called "No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn."
Once Keitaro, Motoko and Tsuruko were standing in front of the Tea House, he gave Kentaro all the cash he had on him. It was enough plus a generous tip for his friends along with the extra yen for that case of beer Keitaro promised over the phone. Tsuruko tried to offer to give some money but Keitaro simply shook his head.
"Just like when I bought you the beef bowl, Tsuruko-san." Keitaro said, a bit breathlessly from the dull pain in his leg.
Tsuruko blushed just a touch, then nodded.
"Beef bowl?" Motoko asked, confused.
Before she got a response, Sakata leaned out the window of the wrecker. "Say, Keitaro, do you know anything about unusual weather phenomena today, or instances of bizarre driving?"
His eyes widened. "...well, you mean anymore than usual?" Keitaro glanced at Tsuruko and Motoko; their eyes telling him to practice discretion.
Kentaro gave him a look. "Come on, man. Tell me."
Keitaro swallowed. "Well, um, just taking Motoko-chan's sister for a tour of Hinata CIty by van when it just overheated and blew up once we got out."
Shirai and Haitani, now riding in the rear back of the wrecker, peeked their heads out.
"Bull-" Shirai started.
"-shit," Haitani finished.
Seeing the dumbfounded and panicked look on Keitaro's face, Sakata chuckled. "It just came over the police scanner. "They're looking to speak to 'Special Deputy Wolf' for clarification on all the shenanigans around town today."
Keitaro gulped audibly.
Motoko and Tsuruko both shared a pained sigh.
"You three have a good night. Tell Tama-chan no hard feelings, too. I'll call you later with the name of the junkyard we're taking your auto biscuit to. We won't talk to anyone except if Haruka tortures us-which Shirai would just *love.*" Sakata laughed. "It was a pleasure to help, but if I may be so bold as to give you all my observation that you, Motoko-san, and Aoyama-sama are completely-"
"-totally-" Hatani sing-songed.
"-screwed!" Shirai finished. Lilting musically as Kentaro started up the wrecker and the three drove off into the late afternoon of Hinata City laughing like hyenas.
"Well, at least they watched their mouths," Keitaro groaned.
"Their hands as well," Motoko commented. "Perhaps they are learning."
"What charming friends you have, Keitaro-san." Tsuruko remarked dryly.
"Thanks, I made 'em myself," Keitaro sighed.
000
The second night camp site was in a forest clearing in a mountain valley that, in Naru's opinion, put to shame any tourist post-card or travel book she had ever seen. The clearing was cut down the middle by a small creek that Seta and her followed to the location. It was a cleared space with gravel and some old wooden logs around where other campers had built their fires. After they both set up their tents, and Seta had started a fire, Naru took a closer look at their immediate surroundings. Seta had said the shrine site was not far from where the camp was, but other than them being in the middle of nowhere (while beautiful) there was nothing to indicate any kind of archeological site was nearby. Not that Naru expected a sign with an arrow on it, but other than the goat trail they had been following there had been no real changes since they started out. Just peaceful splendor and nature as evening overtook the Kyoto wilderness.
"Don't go far, Naru-chan," Seta called out as he again was studying his map.
"I won't, Seta-sensei." Naru waved with a smile.
About twenty minutes later, she returned with two water bottles she had had on her belt that were previously empty. "Seta! I found the source of that creek, seems to be a small fresh water spring."
Seta took the water bottle that Naru was offering. He took a long, deep drink. The water was cold, clean, and smooth. "Great job, Naru-chan. You seem to have taken well to camping."
Naru took a drink. "I feel somehow I'm leaving the past behind, you know?" She smiled.
Seta nodded slowly, looking around at the natural beauty of the rural Kyoto region. He had to admit he was really enjoying hiking and camping with Naru. Other professors, graduate students, and others involved in archeology always seemed to find some inane reason to complain about extensive travel to a dig site. Even Julia and Haruka never quite understood Seta's fondness for just striking out and letting the journey and the thoughts and insights he got from it help how to approach the actual dig.
Seta chuckled, "still thinking about Majoring in Education?"
"Well, someone has to elevate young minds," Naru raised a finger up to the sky for emphasis. "Got any other ideas?"
Seta shrugged, a rogue-ish smile on his face. "Geology?"
Naru face-palmed.
Seta laughed.
"Very funny, Mr. Rockhead," Naru recovered. "We better get dinner started," she yawned, "want to get to sleep early tonight."
"Good deal," Seta said, still chuckling.
000
Tsuruko and Keitaro looked out at the assembled residents of the Hinata Inn. Shinobu, Sara, and Su had come home and had varying reactions to the destruction. Naturally, Shinobu was shocked and worried. Sara seemed fascinated, and Su felt like she had missed out on all of the fun. Keitaro, Tsuruko, Motoko, and Haruka had tried to clean up and rope off the destroyed areas of the third floor and sweep up the larger pieces of shattered glass. Motoko and Tsuruko had also attempted to salvage what was left in Room 302. They were at this until Shippu signalled that he saw the youngest tenants arriving home from school.
Now, along with them in the common room before Tsuruko and Keitaro were Kanako, Motoko, Haruka, Kitsune, Shippu, Tama-chan, and Kuro. Other than the animals, all the girls were still wearing their school uniforms who were enrolled students.
Tsuruko mentally composed herself for a fraction of a second. Her phone call to her contacts with the National Police had calmed things down for the time being, but she knew that would not last long as it was only a matter of time before the creature attacked once more. Those in her former line of work were placed on high alert and the authorities were notified to be wary. She wondered if her former husband Ko would be notified of this incident.
Tsuruko sighed, her private conversation with Keitaro in hushed whispers about the marriage contract his grandmother had sprung on them was… memorable.
"I agree with you, Tsuruko-san," Keitaro had told her. "We should just tell them Granny tricked us. I know there's no point in keeping a secret in this house. We both have to be firm, loud, and repeat we will yell at Granny Hina until she fixes this."
Tsuruko had nodded sagely. "I will make certain you are not attacked, Keitaro-san. However, I cannot make any promises regarding the furniture or the walls."
Keitaro had just chuckled. "That's fine, we're due for some new furniture and walls anyway. Think nothing of it, Tsuruko-san."
Now here they were, standing before their tenants in their formal roles as manager and housemother which according to Granny Hina also meant they were now civilly married.
"Now, I know what happened today here and around town is disturbing to say the least." Keitaro put his hands up in a plaintive, defensive gesture. He looked specifically at his youngest tenants. "It also seems to have something to do with the ancient prophecy and the Hina blade that my grandmother also wanted Tsuruko-san and Kana-chan to look into while they are here. I just wanted to tell all of you that we will make sure nothing evil walks past these doors ever again."
"Keitaro-san is quite correct," Tsuruko bent down to emphasize the point to Shinobu, Sara, and Su. "Between ourselves we will stop at nothing to protect you all."
"Th-thank you, Sempai!" Shinobu's eyes were wide and full of tears. The bluenette was almost quivering with worry.
"Big Brother!" Su reached out for a crushing hug towards Keitaro.
"I want this in writing, dork!" Sara shook her fist.
Keitaro held up his hand again, stopping Su in her tracks. "Tsuruko-san and Kanako-chan have set up spirit wands around the Inn's grounds to alert us if that… evil thing… even comes close to the Inn."
"Everyone can rest easy tonight," Tsuruko said calmly.
"Though it cannot be elaborated upon due to its sensitive nature," Kanako raised her hand. "There are *other* eyes looking out for our safety right now as well."
"That there are. Thank you, my servant." Tsuruko acknowledged.
Motoko nodded at these statements and gave comforting smiles to the youngest girls in the house, she also reached out to put a comforting hand on Kitsune's shoulder. She knew it would be an uneasy night for the fox.
"Thanks, sugah." Kitsune replied softly, patting the hand on her shoulder.
"Everything will be fine, Konno-san. I assure you," Motoko said firmly.
Keitaro sighed, clearing his throat. Once he had everyone's attention again, he continued: "After we eat dinner, I think we are all ready to wash up and go to bed. Before that, I feel I should let you all know about what happened this morning after you all went to school and before the… creature… attacked us."
Silence. Keitaro gulped. It was now or never.
"During the finalization of employment contracts with our family's attorney," Keitaro took a deep breath, "his appointment as a Justice of the Peace by the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture became final-"
"-good for him?" Kitsune ventured cautiously.
"I fail to see how your family now being without a trusted attorney really merits our notification or pertains to current events, Urashima-san." Motoko crossed her arms in clear annoyance.
The younger girls' eyes simply glazed over. The animals seemed interested, however.
Tsuruko nodded for him to continue, as well as Kanako and Haruka.
Keitaro wet his lips with his tongue. "Okay, I'll just tell you; my Grandmother Hina Urashima put a contract clause inside the employment contracts which also included a civil marriage contract."
Kitsune eyed Keitaro. "So… Granny married you to the Inn, the property, or one of the old cherry trees, sugah?"
Everyone blinked, turning to Kitsune.
"What? I've always heard there is no greater love than a tree's." Kitsune shrugged.
"That's Douglas Firs," Sara snorted.
Keitaro shook his head, exasperated. "No!" he looked to Tsuruko and Kanako. "Look, she sneaked a civil marriage agreement in there between me and the new housemother and assistant manager."
Shinobu blushed sharply. "B-b-but wouldn't *that* be bigamy?" She had *not* been processing the events of that day well ever since she got back home from school.
Su giggled. "Sounds tasties! Who's that agains?" She licked her lips while throwing a look over to Tama-chan.
Tama-chan made a somewhat rude gesture back to Su before Shippu and Kuro gave him a look that told him to pipe down.
Motoko's eyes twitched as Kitsune looked from Motoko to Tsuruko. Keitaro's jaw hung open. "Girls, it's Tsuruko-san! Granny tricked me and Tsuruko-san into signing a marriage document together," Keitaro sighed.
"Awh, shit." Kitsune shook her head, burying her face in her palm.
Shinobu simply sat absolutely shocked, her eyes large. Sara seemed shocked, too, with her mouth gaping open.
Su proceeded to produce two bananas and promptly consumed them.
"Yeah, Kitsune." Haruka exhaled a cloud of smoke from her newly lit cigarette, "my reaction exactly."
"Obviously, Keitaro-kun and Tsuruko-sama had no idea Granny Hina would do this." Kanako stood up and took her place next to Tsuruko, trying to placate and de escalate. "And they are going to be, at first opportunity, making certain the legal civil marriage documents are rescinded and destroyed."
"That is quite correct." Tsuruko nodded emphatically, making certain to look straight at Motoko. "I had no idea this was Hina-sama's plan, and neither did Keitaro-san."
Haruka started to laugh, slapping the armrest of the couch she was seated in hard.
Keitaro and Tsuruko gulped in unison, both suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
Motoko's lips quivered, curled, then snarled into a rictus. Suddenly, it seemed that she had coughed. She seemed to cough once, twice… then no, she was actually trying to stifle laughter. The kendo girl tried again to compose herself and failed. Too late, Motoko began laughing loudly as she looked straight into Tsuruko's eyes. "So it has happened to you now, Big Sister, has it not?"
Tsuruko put out her palms at her side, open towards Motoko. "Motoko-han, you have every reason to express scorn towards me."
"I thank you for your understanding," Motoko continued laughing harshly. "What will mother think?"
"Perhaps something similar when you have to inform her of your need of *another* katana?" Tsuruko's mouth thinned.
"Touche," Kitsune muttered, wishing she was drunk or already passed out for the night.
Motoko reverted to her favored "face" when dealing with her sister while agitated with her. The plastic, toothy school yearbook photo smile. "To think for a moment I was beginning to consider sharing a room with you while mine is repaired-against my better judgment-I might add-"
Tsuruko simply held up her hand and sighed loudly. "To get into this kind of petty argument with you any further would be beneath me, Motoko-han."
"Still *not* sharing a room with you, Big Sister." Motoko bit out.
"Well, not sure where else you're gonna crash, kendo girl. Unless you want to bunk with me," Kitsune chuckled, absently.
Motoko shook her head, then looked back at Tsuruko. "This is *not* the way of a warrior!"
Tsuruko gave Motoko an even look. "Motoko-han; stand down."
"... um," Keitaro raised a finger.
"Again, enlighten me as to how this is bringing order to the Hinata Inn, Big Sister?" Motoko nodded upward to where much of the Inn's third floor was in shambles.
"...Ladies…" Keitaro raised his voice, he balled his fist.
"I fail to see how you could do better, Motoko-han." Tsuruko's eyes glinted.
"Perhaps we should just see about *that*, Big Sister." Motoko's eyes bored into Tsuruko's, not backing down.
"EVERYONE BE QUIET!" Keitaro screamed.
Tsuruko raised an eyebrow, impressed. 'Such command,' the thought came as natural as an instinct.
Kanako kept her eyes trained on Motoko and the set of the younger Aoyama's shoulders; at the ready in case she needed to stand between elder and younger sister.
All eyes were now on Keitaro as he steadied his breath. "That's better, thank you. I'm… done for today. My leg is absolutely killing me and I wasn't able to pick up a refill of my pain pills today. I love you all, you're like family to me, but we have been attacked in our home today and Kitsune needs all of our care and concern while she recovers-I'll manage through my pain but I'm *over* *this* for tonight." He looked to Motoko. "Motoko-chan, you *do* know I have two rooms on each floor that are clean and ready at all times, right? Even after I gave two to your sister and my sister?" Keitaro shifted where he stood, his leg agonizing him to no end.
Motoko pursed her lips, looking down a bit. "... no, Urashima-san, I confess I did not."
Keitaro shook his head. "What does everyone think I do all day when I'm not cleaning up or flying through the air?" he muttered darkly.
If anyone in the room had thought to drop a pin in the common room then, everyone could have heard the exact make and model.
Keitaro sighed. "Which floor do you want the room, Motoko-chan?"
"Same floor," Motoko replied. "If that creature comes back to a familiar location I want to give it my *own* welcome party," she gripped her favorite bokken at her side.
"Thank you," Keitaro smiled at her.
"You are welcome, Urashima-san." A tiny blush colored Motoko's cheeks that she told herself was just flush from today's emotions and exertions.
"Girls," Keitaro sighed, "there's bento boxes in the refrigerator I had Auntie bring-sorry, sorry Haruka-san!"
Haruka exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "I'll let it pass this time, nephew." She winked.
Keitaro gave a small smile back and shrugged. "Let's all just have a quick bite to eat and try to go get a good night's sleep. Okay?" He nodded, trying like hell to sound reassuring for his youngest tenants.
Silently, everyone nodded. Sensing a need for some herding, Haruka stood up, clap-clapping her hands. "Let's get dinner, girls."
The younger girls left along with Haruka helping Kitsune to the dining room. As they exited the room the younger girls said they were going to sleep with Kitsune in Shinobu's room; a slumber party and Kitsune immediately promised candy. Once they were gone, Keitaro looked from Tsuruko to Kanako to Motoko.
"Okay, now I have to figure out how to tell Granny her joke wasn't funny or appreciated while dealing with a monster that wants to kill us all." Keitaro felt like miserably crawling into a hole.
"Shh, Keitaro-san," Tsuruko smiled pleasantly. "Remember 'leave tomorrow for tomorrow'?"
Motoko, remembering that night before her and Keitaro's fateful duel in Kyoto against Tsuruko, certainly did. Her back also remembered when she fell asleep in that tree after she spied on Tsuruko's private audience with Urashima. Her eye twitched minutely.
"Yeah, yeah," Keitaro yawned. "Thank you, Tsuruko-san."
"Aoyama-sama, is there something else?" Kanako looked straight at Motoko.
Motoko exhaled slowly. "Yes," she raised her eyes to Tsuruko. "Big Sister, I apologize for my rash words earlier."
"Apology accepted, Motoko-han."
"I also have a curiosity about the duel back home," Motoko's voice lowered.
"Oh?" Tsuruko asked. "Well, you and Keitaro-san were victorious."
"If… *if* we had *not* been victorious," Motoko took a steadying breath, "would you have enforced my marriage to Urashima?"
Keitaro found himself really looking and hoping for that hole to hide in at that moment.
"Absolutely," Tsuruko replied without hesitation.
'I wonder if I could manage to slip into one of those secret tunnels without them noticing me,' Keitaro wondered inwardly.
"Why?" Motoko asked, taking a step forward.
Tsuruko smiled sweetly down at her little sister, speaking as if the younger Aoyama was still eight years old. "Because a promise is a promise," Tsuruko raised a hand gracefully and a hint of that demon look was in her eye; but not too much. "Mind you, I would not have required proof of a bona fide emotional and physical relationship."
"Gee, thanks." Keitaro remarked, unbidden images came to his mind of how some cultures in the past verified a bona fide marital relationship. Keitaro instantly blushed then immediately clammed up. He hoped he did not offend his new housemother.
Tsuruko only giggled, genuinely amused. "It would have lasted for a year and a day to give you both time to just consider the idea."
"I see, like a no obligation trial period." Motoko's tone was dark.
Tsuruko ignored this. "At any point during the stated period the marriage would have been annulled if you or Keitaro-san had presented to the clan proof of a *true* relationship with someone else."
"Still, Big Sister…" Motoko sighed, shaking her head
"Still what?" Tsuruko shrugged, bringing the right sleeve of her gi up to her mouth. "Motoko-han you are eighteen years old now and you have lived here for four years already." Tsuruko wagged a finger in a mannerism she had picked up from their mother. "It is high time for you to grow up."
Keitaro winced, wishing like hell he had the use of both feet to shuffle together at least.
Motoko paled.
Kanako stood completely still, waiting stoically. Once again, wondering if the argument would devolve into a fight. Fists or katana versus bokken, she was ready.
"You knew, did you not Urashima-san?" Motoko almost whispered.
"Yeah, I knew." Keitaro's voice matched Motoko's unconsciously. "I mean, why do you think when you claimed we were engaged I didn't drop dead of a heart attack right then and there? I knew you were eighteen..."
"How...?" Motoko tried to imagine it was just her and Keitaro having the conversation now.
"Granny left detailed dossiers on everyone in residence before she left." Keitaro replied.
"Yet, you did not tell anyone?" Motoko's green eyes looked into his brown ones.
"... it was none of my business to tell *anything* in those dossiers to anyone." Keitaro's shoulders slumped. "I've learned that lesson the hard way."
Motoko nodded. She recalled the drama involving Narusegawa's diary.
"Still a gentleman through and through," Tsuruko smirked, clapping her hands.
Motoko opened her mouth to say something but apparently thought better of it. At the moment she was just thankful that only Tsuruko, Keitaro, and Kanako had been in the room. Though Motoko was under no illusion that she would not have to confess to the other residents; honor demanded it. She closed her mouth, then nodded slowly.
"Very well," Motoko said after a moment. "Setting other matters aside; we shall see if Hina-sama views what you and Urashima-san signed today as a promise or just a practical joke in poor taste." She bowed formally to Tsuruko and Kanako.
"Urashima-san," Motoko turned to Keitaro.
"Um, yeah, Motoko-chan?"
"If you would like, I would be happy to get your bento box ready at your seat at table and I would be happy to clean it up afterwards," Motoko again felt a small blush. "I know you are in considerable discomfort due to your injury."
Keitaro blushed. "S-s-sure, Motoko-chan. Thank you!"
"I will see you at table, then." Motoko excused herself from the common room, telling herself that little blush on her cheeks was just her hurrying to help Keitaro.
Kanako and Tsuruko watched Keitaro leave the room. Both Lady and Retainer shared a brief look before falling into step to follow Keitaro, an unspoken agreement in case the young man's strength gave out.
'Motoko-han could be right,' Tsuruko thought cautiously. 'Hina-sama could be playing a longer game here.'
Kanako's thoughts were nearly identical.
Keitaro was just thankful he had not broken his glasses that day or broken his other leg. Already a nagging thought in the back of his head was that when he sees the doctor next, Keitaro will be informed his injured leg is not healing correctly and will immediately need to be broke again to be correctly set. His remaining hope for that day was to finish eating before falling asleep.
000
Seta and Naru found the shrine just before nine o'clock the next morning. It was located in a low, wooded area where another small, natural spring fed a small creek. There was a small, rusted chain-link fence around it with a sign advising no entrance granted unless on certified business authorized by the Kyoto Prefecture Department of the Interior, Historical Preservation, and Conservation.
"Fortunately," Seta laughed, producing a key from his key-chain, "I got the key when I cleared this little expedition with the authorities."
Naru nodded as she eyed the ruins of the old Shinto shrine as Seta opened the old rusted padlock. There was honestly not much left that was identifiable other than some wood with weeds growing out of it, and some stone structures. The whole site gave Naru the feeling of a forgotten graveyard, but not a haunted one. It was peaceful and she had the thought that she would not have minded camping there at all.
The padlock opened with a rusty click and soon Naru and Seta were stepping carefully across the shrine ruins. They soon came to a small portion of cleared land, hardly more than enough for a few small tents.
"Yeah, this has to be where the last dig set up." Seta nodded, contemplating.
"I'll start setting up," Naru said as she again took a glance around the shrine. Some birds chirped, the wind blew a touch, and a small animal could be heard rustling around in the trees nearby. That and the gentle sounds of the water from the creek and the spring. The light, even though it was morning, seemed dimmer somehow.
Soon their dig site camp was set up and Seta began documenting the site and comparing it to the last dig's notes. He started snapping pictures and checking the immediate grounds, the remnants of the wooden structures, everything. Naru attempted to assist as much as she could, but eventually she found herself as one hour turned to two finding herself very tired. Fatigue but not by boredom. Also, she had a great night's sleep the previous evening after she and Seta watched the stars and talked. It felt like she was somehow being beckoned to a quick nap, however, and it was not even noon.
Seta noted Naru's drooping eyes and posture, and told her to sit down by her tent where he could see her. She did, and before long she was completely asleep.
'She has put a lot into this expedition, no mistake,' Seta thought as he returned to his exploration of the ruins. 'I guess she just wore herself out.'
000
A bright spring morning with sakura petals blew gently across the scene as the sound of ringing church bells rang, a beautiful woman was dressed in a flowing white western-style wedding gown as she slowly ascended the staircase before her. Every few steps the woman in the gown stopped, looked ahead and to the back of her as she ascended the stairs. She seemed to be both waiting for someone and checking for pursuit.
The said beauty slowly continued to move up the stairs then soon she smiled. She was happy because she spied her suitor-a very handsomely dressed Seta! Even with his unshaven appearance, the woman found herself surprised.
'That suit?' she wondered in her thoughts. 'Could it be?'
She looked down at what she wore, or what she could see with the white veil that covered her face. "Am I?"
And true to her musings, the woman found herself wondering if anyone had been looking in from the outside; would this look like a wedding?
"But this can't be," she felt herself speak as she began to flush. "But when did we?! What's up with all this?"
Suddenly she was right next to the man. "S-S-S-Seta?!" Naru stammered.
She watched as her groom lifted the veil to reveal her beautiful face to the universe as his bride. Naru felt herself beam in euphoria as he did this.
"Naru…" She heard as she wondered where everyone else was if she was getting married?
"Huh…?" Naru felt her lips reply, almost in a daze. Her voice was distant, though.
"NARU…" She heard again, louder this time.
Seta's face was really close to hers, and she began to lean in towards him. Seeking to claim her prize...
Naru's eyes fluttered open.
Suddenly Seta's face came into focus with a much more worried look than the one her subsconscious supplied.
"Naru, are you feeling okay?" Asked a rather concerned professor after looking at his travelling companion's disoriented state.
"Y-Y-Yeah, I'm fine S-Seta, just a little tired with all this travelling, that's all." Naru inched back from Seta, trying to hide a blush as she mentally shook the cobwebs from her brain.
"Oh okay, you had me worried. It's been several minutes and I couldn't get your attention," Seta chuckled in relief.
"W-What do you mean?!" Naru asked, probably a little more hotly than she'd intended.
"Well I found something," replied Seta, still eyeing Naru with some concern. "It is some kind of altar, though the markings it has etched on it seem a bit out of place-" The professor went on.
Naru watched and nodded out of habit as she was pleased Seta shifting the topic from her state to what he found in the ruins. 'What was that dream about?' Naru wondered. 'I need time to figure this out…'
Realising she hadn't responded, Seta asked if she was sure was feeling okay. "N-N-No Seta, really I'm fine." Naru gave him a small, reassuring smile.
Seta nodded slowly. "Alrighty, if you feel ill or exhausted just tell me, okay?"
"Gotcha," Naru stood up, wiping the sleep from her eyes, then she stretched. "What did you find again?"
Seta grinned boyishly. "Come on, I'll show 'ya!"
Naru followed him around the collapsed ruins of a wooden house to the altar he had found. And that is exactly what it looked like when Naru took a look at it. And old, weathered stone altar that had almost completely sunken into the earth.
"Well, yeah it certainly is an altar, Seta."
"Look close to the ground, along the lower base." Seta pointed with a big grin on his face.
Naru did so, bending down on her knees and looking at the markings. They were large with lots of straight, deep strokes into the stone and strikes to cross them. "This is weird. This kind of writing should not be on a Shinto Shrine in rural Kyoto at all."
Seta nodded. "I'm not equipped to do any carbon dating here, but the markings are consistent with the last field expedition-I think that was about ten years back."
"So those markings aren't some punk kids idea of graffitti?" Naru finished his statement.
"Even if it could be, what punk kids would be so motivated to scratch those markings in the middle of nowhere?" Seta laughed.
"Well, complete assholes for one." Naru offered, she stood back up. "But somehow I doubt that." She took another look at the shrine ruins. No, this place was… almost sacred, she felt. Even if someone had a mind to do such mischief, the atmosphere would seem to repel a person from committing such an awful desecretation.
Seta put on some heavy duty latex gloves, then he was on the ground with some rubbing chalk and some wax paper. He quickly made a gentle copy of the markings and carefully documented the date and time on it before securing it in a pack. His eyes were carefully scanning the top of the altar now.
"What are you trying-" Naru stopped herself. "Oh yeah, that place for the coin, right?"
Seta nodded. "The old expedition and dig report said it was hard to find," the archeologist leaned over the altar, hovering carefully, inspecting- "There it is," he whispered. Seta made a similar rubbing copy of the indentation for the coin and documented it similarly to the other markings.
Seta was breathing deeply now, sweating even though it was hardly hot. "Well, now here we are," he removed from a small packet at his side a sealed pouch.
Naru simply watched, it seemed as if Seta was in a trance.
He laid out on the altar a piece of fabric and onto that fabric he placed the coin. "This is it… oh yes… oh baby!"
"Do you two need some time alone?" Naru asked, a touch snidely.
Seta laughed. "Just be ready to run like hell if it seems like we're having an earthquake."
"You're kidding me, right?"
"I'm serious, Naru." Seta's expression turned to match his words. "If it starts shaking when I put that coin in that notch, I want you to run until you're past the gate."
Naru looked at him for a moment, finally she nodded. "Okay, fine."
Seta's attention snapped back to the coin and the notch that seemed to match it. His grin returned, and he giggle softly. Gingerly, he picked up the coin and placed it on the notch.
There was an immediate flash, then a sound not unlike a loud crash of thunder. There was no shaking of the ground, instead the most brilliant glow of azure blue surrounded them. The hue around the shrine took on an almost shimmering quality as Naru and Seta soon found themselves standing in about an inch of water.
"... is it flooding…?" Seta asked, looking all around them.
"And what's with the sparkles around us?" Naru instinctively took a step towards Seta.
They heard a splash, a spray of water hit them gently.
"If we wanted to go to a water park, we didn't have to come all the way out here," Naru quipped.
"Tell me about it," Seta chuckled, looking right at Naru. Then he nodded to a point vaguely over Naru's shoulder. "Or rather, tell… *them* about it."
Naru turned around and screamed in shock.
Before her stood a female figure made of water. It was literally water, completely azure blue and translucent given the form of a human woman. Long hair, breasts, hips, and intimate areas all had feminine definition in an almost clay-like representation; only in water. Naru and Seta both felt vaguely disoriented being able to see right through the "person" before them.
A gurgle of water and a spray of moisture. "Greetings, honored guests, the time has come to renew the righteous promise of the one true crown."
"... umkay," Seta nodded, looking back at Naru. "That sounds pleasant enough, doesn't it?"
"No opposition here," Naru nodded, blinking, feeling the need to check her glasses.
A gurgling from the water figure. "I am Morgana." It, or she, moved slowly… first around Naru… then Seta, then back to Naru again. The sound of rushing water was nearly deafening then. "... You have… mistreated the King, you harridan!"
"Um… come again?" Naru's mouth gaped open.
Seta made certain he smoothly changed his stance so that he was between this aquatic female and Naru. 'At least it seems able to communicate with us somehow,' Seta thought. Already he knew this was a major journal article in the making.
Seta choose his words carefully. "I am afraid you have us at a disadvantage, my name is Noriyasu Seta, a Professor of the Tokyo University Department of Archeology and this is my assistant Naru Narusegawa. We mean you no harm and we come in peace."
Naru groaned inwardly. The only thing missing from Seta's greeting was asking the woman made of water to take them to its leader.
"I know *you* mean no harm, but what about *her*?" The water being that called itself Morgana gurgled more.
"Hey," Naru laughed nervously, adjusting her glasses. "I just want to let you know I have always been a strong advocate for clean water."
Seta winced visibly.
"...I was, in life, the *wife* of an Urashima man," Morgana yelled amid the sounds of rushing water.
Naru's eyes widened. "... um… so, you're… related to Keitaro and Granny Hina?" Naru started to sweat.
Seta swallowed. He decided to take a chance by giving Naru some unsolicited advice. "Naru, you need to be humble right *now.*"
"How many punches, slaps, kicks, and harsh words will I see in your memory if I look hard enough?" Morgana took a step closer.
Seta did the same, knowing it might come down to him protecting Naru with his own body.
At once, Naru remembered the shame she felt, the regret, and the anger at herself and her actions that she expressed to Seta that night in the park not far from her childhood home. 'Show her your emotions, don't bury them!' Naru felt the thought in her mind knock into her like a rush of wind.
Naru went to her knees, heedless that she splashed down into the water. "I am sorry." Naru said simply, she had no idea what else to say in addition to that.
Morgana regarded Naru's kneeling form for a moment. "I have not forgiven you; that is not up to me. But I am charged with conducting you both to my teacher safely. He will pass judgment on your actions and tell you what you must do next. The time for your service has arrived."
Seta and Naru both shared a bewildered look as Morgana nodded over to a place off to the side.
Naru and Seta turned and both gasped. Before them was a blue and green swirling whirlpool.
"You! Harridan!" Morgana gurgled at Naru.
"Y-yeah?"
"You and your admired one will follow me through there. Do you understand?" Morgana's tone moderated somewhat.
"What's through there?" Seta asked.
"Where I came from. When I still walked the paths of the living, I escaped from my home to this land of tall mountains and rumbling earth for safety where an Urashima protected me, asked for my hand, and took me to wife," Morgana replied sadly in a hollow tone.
"If we say no?" Naru asked.
"Then I welcome your explanation to *my* descendants that you made a mockery of your quest of penance to them." Morgana sneered.
Naru stiffened. "I'm game, how about you, Seta?"
"Not doing anything better today," Seta shrugged, grinning.
"Then enough of this blather, get your arses in there!" Morgana shouted.
Seta and Naru obeyed without another word.
000
TO BE CONTINUED…
AFTERWARD: Two somewhat obscure references to films I watched too many times, Alex Cox's "Repo Man" from 1984 and "The Last Unicorn" from 1982. And yes, I just had to have Keitaro's dumbass friends know their Beastie Boys. Somehow, I think it fits.
As for changing Motoko's age a bit, I decided to do a slightly different take on "she's so tall!" and combine it with her being not as academically stellar as her kendo skills. We also know that she is capable of being creative with the truth when the image she wishes to present to the world is threatened by inconvenient realities. While I admit I am not as familiar with the manga as I should be, I am making an effort as time goes on. So yes, looking over the later manga chapters where Tsuruko comes to visit Motoko to congratulate her on making it into Tokyo U (when she actually had not) and Motoko's reaction to, well, sucking on her entrance exam made me think that maybe her grades were so bad in the past she had to repeat a year and wanted to cover it up.
Once again, thank you for your generous support and please read and review!