Ryoutou
By: Lord Strife
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma½ or Love Hina! I wish I did so I could finally skip this part.
Book of Water
Chapter 2: Daini no Katana
At the same time as the beginning of chapter 1…
A girl long black hair sat in meditation up on the veranda w/c they used often for drying their laundry. She received a letter from her elder sister earlier that day and she nearly had a heart attack on what she read. Their mother apparently engaged the heir of the Shinmei Ryuu to that of the heir of Hiten Misturugi-Kamiyaa Kashin Ryuu. With her sister married and title of heir passed down to her it only seemed natural that she was the one to marry this Ranma.
'Sister needn't threaten me though…' She sighed, somehow that event back when she had Keitaro pretend to her husband apparently made her sister somewhat cynical. 'At least mother engaged me to someone who knows the art of swordsmanship.' She was then thoughtful, 'I wonder if sister knew about this…perhaps, that's the real reason for her naming me next successor even though she could have carried the title even after her marriage…meaning, she knew that the heir is supposed to marry in agreement with the Himura Clan!' Yep Motoko knew, her sister managed to get away with the engagement by naming her next heir and purposely left out the part of any engagement.
"AAIIYEEEEEEE!"
Her silent reverie was broken as she spots Keitaro fly off towards low earth orbit, courtesy of Naru no doubt. Keitaro has recently returned from his exchange program from America and in less than a few hours it seems everything in Hinata Sou was back to normal. Except for the part that Keitaro's sister has been staying at the inn for quite sometime. Though she would deny it vehemently, she did have some feelings for the poor klutzy fool. Especially after she saw that kind-hearted side of his that goes to any length to help his friends but she knew that Keitaro and Narusegawa were an item and may heaven help the idiot that would dare separate them.
The question she had asked once herself is: "Am I THAT idiot?" She laughed a bit at that. She would have probably been, but no doubt it wouldn't be just her. She knew Kitsune or probably even Mutsumi would have chased after him as well. But reading the letter once again, she knew that little fantasy of hers is over…now she'll have to decide whether this will be a dream come true or an endless nightmare.
"WAAAHHHHHHH!"
Motoko glanced up and noticed Keitaro's trajectory was directly towards her and she barely managed to dodge before he impacted the spot where she was meditating a while ago.
"Ouch that smarts! Naru needn't hit me that hard." He fixed his glasses before noticing he wasn't alone at the veranda. "Oh Motoko-chan, didn't see you there."
She shook her head, then chuckled slightly, "What did you do this time Urashima?"
Keitaro scratched the back of his head in nervous laughter, "Hehe, well I was about to help Kanako clean up the table when I slipped and well, I landed on Kanako…though it was Naru who hit me. Strange though I thought she wasn't in the room at the time."
Silence, then both teens laughed. "You sure are a klutz Urashima-san."
"Well you should have seen Seta-san. He tripped on dead branch, barely the size of my index finger; he then tumbled towards the cliff and fell into the river fifty feet below. And all he said was 'I knew I shouldn't have worn my tie today.'"
Motoko couldn't stop laughing at the image of dripping wet Seta complaining his tie has gotten wet when an ordinary man would have died already. "I often wonder if you two are related."
"Sometimes I do wonder, too. Anyway I better get back inside before anyone gets worried."
"Somehow I highly doubt that Urashima-san."
As Keitaro stood his right foot got caught up with left leg and cause him to fall on Motoko where his hands landing on her chests.
"AHHH! URASHIMA YOU PERVERT!" POW!
"AAAAIIIIIEEEEE NOT AGAINNNNNN!"
After venting her anger a little, a small smile crept onto Motoko's face. Somehow she felt a little happy for the little time she has just spent with Keitaro. Soon she'll be engaged to another man. A man that she was honor bound to marry. After tonight, she could no longer entertain thoughts of what could have been her life with Keitaro.
--- The next day (I think you might have guess that already) ---
Motoko stood at the reception of Hinata Inn, already her suitcase has been packed and at her feet. The residents of the inn were assembled and were anxious to hear what Motoko was to say as she was apparently going somewhere.
She cleared her throat to get everyone's attention, "As you can see, I'm going to be away for a few days. Maybe even a couple of weeks. And no, it's not a training trip. Something has come and it's a matter of family honor and I'm the only one capable of…upholding it."
Naru spoke up, "Has this something to do with being the heir of your school? Has someone issued a challenge?"
"Yes and No Naru-sempai. Yes it's about something about being heir to my school and no because there is no issued challenge. It has something to do with the future of my school and my sister can no longer carry out that duty because I am now the heir to the ryuu." 'And also because she is already married, though I won't tell them about that part until I'm sure that agreement has already been cemented.'
Keitaro stood up, "Well I don't see any problems with that Motoko-chan. You can oooppsss…" Unfortunately he happened to stumble as he hit the table and fell directly into Motoko, with his hands of her chests, again.
"KEITARO! PERVERT SMASHER, ASCENDING DRAGON SLASH!" STRIKE! POW!
"WWWAAAAAHHH!"
And with one fluid motion, she sent Keitaro through the roof and into LEO using her sheathed katana. "Sorry about the hole…"
Naru dismissed it, "The pervert deserved it anyway. Ouch!"
"Ooofff"
Apparently, Kanako doesn't take lightly that his brother was just insulted and catapulted into who-knows-where and whacked both Naru and Motoko with a bokken. "My brother is not a pervert! I'll have you two pay for that damage!"
Naru and Motoko sighed. Things weren't the same with Kanako around. "Fine I'll fix it later…I'll cover for you Motoko so need not worry over that." Naru said as she rubbed the backside of her head.
"Thank you Naru-sempai." Motoko said as she rubbed her own bump.
Haruka gestured towards the clock. "If you want to catch your train Motoko, you need to leave now."
Shinobu gave Motoko a little boxed lunch, "It's when you get hungry at the train."
"Ara, and you can have this for dessert Motoko-chan." Mutsumi said as she handed her a watermelon.
Suu and Sarah also gave a goodbye hug to Motoko (in Suu's case it was more of a glomp), while Kanako simply glared at her.
Motoko gave her thanks, bowed one last time to the inn's residents before departing for the train station.
---
Motoko was almost to the station. Passing by her were the steam-powered cars. Although most Japanese could still not afford such luxury, mostly it was the well to do or the super rich who rode that mechanical contraption. The best an ordinary girl like her can do is ride on either a steam-trolley or taxi. Though taxi would cost a small fortune especially to students like her.
She was nearing her destination when she could swear she was hearing the sound of something rapidly loosing velocity. She noticed several of the pedestrians have stopped to look at the source that's when she looked up and saw a familiar figure heading her way. "Urashima-san?"
She jumped backwards just as Keitaro landed on the streets. You could hear several of the people whispering "Oh it's just that guy that keeps falling from the sky." Or "I want to know how he survives that." Or "It's a fallen angel mama!"
Motoko sighed, as she spots Keitaro dusting himself as he got up. "Don't tell me you just landed after I hit you. That was quite a while ago Urashima."
Keitaro turned his head towards Motoko, "Ah Motoko-chan! Hehe…actually it was Naru. I just got back to the inn and saw you already left before I could give you a little going away present, so Naru decided to send me the fastest way to catch-up with you."
Motoko could imagine that, "And you agreed…you must be an idiot."
"Guess I am. Well here you go. It's a little charm I got back in America. Hopes it gives you good luck in your voyage." Keitaro hands Motoko a little rabbit's foot key-chain.
"Thanks." She said after accepting the little offering. "But I must really get going; I don't want to miss the train."
"I'll walk you there Motoko-chan. Got nothing better to do anyways. Besides it's not far from here anyways."
Motoko blushed a little. "You need not to, but thanks."
They spent the walk relatively quiet…err, well at least Motoko did. Keitaro on the other hand kept on blabbering about some things. She didn't even listen to what he was saying as she was studying his face. Basking one last time in that innocent yet handsome face of his.
"Here we are Motoko-chan. You better get in fast. Your train leaves in ten minutes." Keitaro gestured towards the large locomotive seeing the conductor shouting for all passengers to board their ride.
"Do me favor Urashima-san?"
"If I can, what is it?"
"Please take good care of Narusegawa-sempai. Goodbye."
Keitaro was a little taken back but nodded his head, "Take care of yourself Motoko-chan and see you in a few weeks alright?"
With a small nod she entered the station in a rush to catch her train. Keitaro stayed there until he could no longer see the train from the horizon. "I wonder why she said that. It's not as if her world is going to end." He shrugged as began to walk back towards the inn before Naru or anyone gets too worried.
AN: Just as with Sakura Taisen, I'm going to screw around the time lines for Love Hina. I'm placing this sometime when Keitaro returned from his US trip though obviously set in the Taisho era. And I'm placing Motoko at around age 18. I think it should coincide with manga. So who's it gonna be? Ranma/Sakura or Ranma/Motoko? Basing it on the author's detrimental mindset I think you should have guess at the opening of the chapter. Nodoka would be so proud of me!
AN: The title translates into "The second sword"