A/N: Hey, thanks for the input. I have a storyline in mind, but I won't give up the details. It might change, if I can think of something better. Once again, thank you all for the reviews, I really do appreciate the support. By the way, for those of you who don't know, I don't own Love Hina.
Chapter 16: Do you not know?
The summer nights offered little relief from the sweltering heat of the sun-drenched day. Motoko had opened all the windows in the house, allowing some of the breeze to flow though, carrying with them the droning sounds of the cicadas outside. The full moon hung low in the sky, flooding the house with its gentle presence, allowing the occupants to keep the lights off and maintain the illusion of cool relief.
When they finished their dinner, Motoko and Keitaro settled down in the living room - the coolest section of the house.. They sat together on the couch, where the breeze could be felt. Motoko excused herself and a few minutes later brought back a tray with two cups and a bottle of sake. She had also changed from her long-sleeve shirt and sundress combo into a pair of shorts and a loose fitting tank top. Keitaro's gaped as his eyes made contact with Motoko's stunning body, her new attire revealing the gentle curves that aroused a deep primal urge in him.
Keitaro quickly recovered his composure as she neared him, thanking the gods that he was partially hidden by the shadows and thus escaping the potentially embarrasing situation. Motoko, not noticing his reaction, began to pour the chilled sake into their cups. They toasted in the western tradition and hoped for a relief from the summer heat. As the night and the sake flowed, they began to reminsce on their favorite Hinata memories. "Remember when Su blew you up," laughed Motoko. Keitaro, laughing along, replied, "You have to be more specific Motoko, Su had a tendency of blowing me up at least once a week."
As they journeyed together through happy memories, their path began to lead them to darker places. The mood grew somber as Motoko recounted the days after Keitaro's hospitalization and of Naru's devotion.
"Naru loved me," he repeated, barely comprehending the significance of this simple statement of fact. He felt Motoko's hand tightening around his own, trying to comfort the maelstrom of emotions that was evident in his expression. He responded by tightening his own grip, then he looked into his eyes and barely above a whisper, asked, "What happened to Naru?"
Keitaro could feel her hands trembling as he spoke those words, the same hands that had once split boulders with a steel blade. Keitaro looked and saw only pain and anguish in Motoko's delicate features. The memories of her tears flooded his mind. She was hurting, the sharp edge of the past had not dulled for Motoko, much as she professed otherwise. He wanted to know everything, but not at this price. Haitani and Shirai were gone. Naru and the other girls were on the other side of the world, living their own lives, but Motoko was sitting before him - straining under the weight of the past. He couldn't do anything for his other friends, but for Motoko, he could help her - be there for her. It was in this moment, when he realized how much he wanted to rescue Motoko from the emotions that was tearing her apart, that he became aware of something that was as plain as day to any other man - "Motoko's beautiful."
Motoko had always been pretty, but now, she was almost angelic. Her pale skin glowed with an ethereal light, accentuating the sheen in her lustrous raven colored hair. Her supple body finally registered, stirring his passions. It was nott lust creeping into Keitaro's consciousness, but a rising feeling of something more profound.
He had seen her soul lay bare, a side he knew no one on Earth had seen, not even Tsuroko. He broke down in tears in her arms, and felt her warmth as she comforted him. What was it that Granny Hina use to say, "To trust is to expose one's vulnerabilities to another, to love is to reciprocate." A bond was formed between the two, that much he was certain. They had grown closer in the last three days – could it be?
His heart skipped a beat.
Keitaro then saw in slow motion her lips parting. His brow began to sweat, his heart beating faster in his chest, the intense emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
Keitaro reached his hand out.
Motoko compelled her lips to form the words she had hoped she would never have to say, but she was startled to feel something pressing against her lips, preventing her from speaking. Her eyes shot open and found Keitaro's palm resting over her mouth.
He could feel her lips moving along his palm, electrifying his skin. For a moment, their eyes locked and Keitaro could see the haunting loneliness gripping her soul.
His hand slowly retreated, much to Motoko's disappointment. She wanted to say something, but Keitaro's eyes told her to remain silent and let him speak. She noticed his demeanor had changed. He seemed more confident. Keitaro spoke, "I can't turn back time, Motoko. So no more about things that can't be changed, just answer me one question. Are they happy today?"
Motoko reflected on his question. There had been much pain, but from what Haruka had informed her, the girls were getting on with their lives, renewing old dreams and finding new paths to take. Yes, there was still sadness, but they were all finding happiness as well – happiness built on a lie she helped create.
"Yes, Keitaro, I think they are happy, but…," Motoko tried to explain, but Keitaro cut her off with a gentle caress of her cheek as he brushed back the strands of hair that had hid her eyes from his view.
He then gently asked, "Answer me another question Motoko, why are you here with me? Why do all this?"
His gentle expression did not betray the confusion that was unleashed in his mind. "That's not what I was going to ask," he thought, "why did I ask that?"
It was all a dream for Motoko. His gentle touch, the warmth of his smile, it was everything that she had ever longed for. She had struggled with her heart's desire ever since he entered her life with almost lethal consequences. She would not make the same mistake again.
"Do you not know, Keitaro," she replied in a hushed voice. She seemed almost demure to him. Motoko then slowly approached him, leaning her head against his chest. She could feel his heart beating – beating faster with her touch. She breathed in his scent, luxuriating in the moment. Her ephemeral voice spoke once more, "It is because I love you Keitaro."
The words had momentarily struck him deaf and dumb. Keitaro had never known what it was like to be loved by a woman, especially one so beautiful. He loved Naru, and she apparently loved him, but it was only made clear after he had gone into a coma.
It had always pained him how lopsided their relationship had been. She led and he followed, seemingly around a never-ending circular path.
Motoko was already in his heart, along with the other residents of the Hinata Apartments, but the time they had shared since his awakening had changed something within him. She had revealed to him her dark secrets and exposed her frailty without hesitation.
Even now, he could feel his shirt dampening by her tears. The same guilt and shame she felt the first night when he had awoken still continued to burden her soul. His mind opened to an awareness that had escaped him during his stay at Hinata. Though she had never ventured her true emotions, Keitaro could feel what she was feeling. Motoko was ashamed of the happiness she was experiencing - the happiness of being with someone you love.
It was at this realization that the final resistance gave way to a new feeling in his heart – love. He could love this woman who sacrificed everything to be with him. He could forget the past and live for the future if she stood by him. This was the answer that came to him as he caressed the back of her head, as she silently wept into his chest.
His arms draped over her deliciously warm body, his lips gently landing on top of her head. "Whatever happens Motoko, I want you to know, I won't live my life in the past anymore," then he gently lifted her face to his own, and whispered, "I'm going to live for the here and now – with you." Motoko died in those words and was reborn.
"Is this happiness," she asked herself, engulfed in the warmth that was blazing in her soul.
Their lips met under a cascade of moonlight. Motoko breathed in his breath, consuming his passion with her own. The concept of time was lost to the two lovers as the radiance of their love washed over them in gentle tides.
"So this is what love does," thought Keitaro as his kiss sunk deeper into Motoko's.
"Yes, this is what love does," thought Motoko.
In the west, across the continent and over the great expanse of the Pacific Ocean, a dial on a long forgotten console lit up in a brilliant red. In the crimson glow, a symbol of three opened eyes could be seen. The long dormant computer began to hum with activity. The monitor flashed and fizzled until a line of code emerged. A series of zeroes and ones streaked across the monitor; the processors computing the telemetry data it was receiving from a satellite launched over four years ago.
Ten minutes later, the computations ceased – the computer had finished its calculations. A single sentenced blinked onto the screen.
Energy signature of Urishima Keitaro detected. Location: unknown.