Love's Redemption: Chapter 6
Jake stared into space, listening to the sound of his heavy breathing and his heart pounding in his chest. He was sure he was dreaming again, but a sharp pinch to his arm verified what he had just seen was real. "She was…smiling at me?" he asked himself. Still in a daze, Jake decided to strip off his clothes and enter the shower.
Kitsune, lost in her own thoughts, was snapped from her reverie by the sound of the water turning on in the bathroom. She shook her head and laughed at herself. "What am I thinking? He may be good-looking and somewhat charming, but I'm not about to fall for an American like some stereotypical school girl." A smirk crossed her face as she pulled up her slacks and fastened them. She walked to her closet, fished out a turtleneck sweater and pulled it over her head.
Running a hand through her hair and feeling its dampness, Kitsune searched around for a brush. "You've got to be kidding me," she said aloud after realizing she had several, but none were in her bedroom. Sighing fervidly, she glanced at the closed bathroom door. After a moment of pause, she shrugged her shoulders and approached the door.
Jake reveled in the heat of the shower; his cares and worries washing away like the soil on his body. He reached for the shampoo, thinking, "I'm sure she won't mind." He opened the cap and dispensed a small amount in the palm of his hand.
Just as he had lathered the shampoo into his hair, he heard a knock at the door. His back stiffened, the hairs on his neck rose and his muscles locked in place. "Oh, God, You have got to be kidding me."
The door opened with a creak and Kitsune poked her head in. "Jake?"
Jake recovered enough composure to squeak out a response, "Y-y-yeah?"
"Sorry, I just need to get a brush."
"Oh, okay, no problem."
Kitsune opened the door wide enough to slip in and fish out a brush from a drawer under the sink. She glanced over noting Jake's immobile silhouette. A fiendish grin crept over her face. She leaned in closer to the cloudy see-through shower curtain and muttered, "Nice butt." Kitsune watched in amusement as Jake's figure jumped at the remark, but her demeanor changed to shock when Jake's foot caught a slippery spot and he crashed flat on his back inside the shower.
Without thinking, Kitsune rushed over and pulled the curtain open to make sure Jake wasn't injured. "I'm so sorry Jake, it was just an accident!" Kitsune's eyes widened and a sharp gasp stole her breath. She snapped the curtain closed, suddenly realizing his compromising position.
Jake lay prone, with pain shooting up his back from the fall and his eyeballs from the shampoo running into them. He tried desperately to cover whatever virtue he had left by curling into a fetal position.
Kitsune covered her mouth with both hands, her face now totally flushed in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, Jake. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" she asked from the other side of the curtain. She tried to sound sympathetic, but she nearly laughed out loud while she spoke.
In a raspy voice, Jake replied, "Ouch!"
A loud snicker escaped Kitsune's mouth and she again covered her mouth with a hand, trying in vain to keep from laughing at the embarrassing situation. Softly, Jake began laughing at himself. It was his only defense. Gradually, both Jake and Kitsune found themselves laughing mightily at what they had both done.
"Ow, ow, ow," Jake whined, getting his feet back under himself.
Between laughs, Kitsune asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be all right. What did you see?" Jake asked.
Kitsune replied, "Nothing big," and started laughing out loud again.
"Ha, ha, very funny, Kitsune." Jake quickly rinsed the shampoo out of his hair and eyes.
Kitsune's namesake-worthy grin returned. "I guess I need to show you mine sometime."
Jake, as if on cue, slipped again, landing on his back. They both shared another laugh before Kitsune left Jake to finish his shower. Twenty minutes later, they both left the teashop and headed towards the inn. Neither could find words to strike up a conversation. Walking side by side, they merely listened to the sounds of the rustling trees and their own footsteps on the cobblestone.
"There," Keitaro said as he finished fastening the very large banner to a beam in the ceiling of the grand hall. He stepped down and looked at it with a satisfied look. It read in English, "Welcome New Manager".
Naru approached Keitaro, wrapped an arm around his waist, kissed him on the cheek and said, "It looks nice. Good job." Keitaro nodded in appreciation.
The front door, directly behind the couple, suddenly threw open, revealing Su, decked out in military fatigues with camouflage paint on her face and a black beanie covering her bright golden blonde hair. "They're coming, everyone," she exclaimed. Everyone then rushed to put the finishing touches on all the decorations.
Twilight settled over the sky as Jake and Kitsune reached the final set of stairs leading to the inn. Jake asked Kitsune, who was still bounding up the stairs leisurely, "Man, I'm beat. How do you go up and down these steps so much everyday without getting exhausted?"
Kitsune shrugged, "I still get tired, I'm just used to it I suppose. It looks like we missed it." Her last sentence was spoken as if at random, and a look of longing crossed her brow.
Jake peered quizzically at Kitsune. "What do you mean?"
"It's gotten dark already," Kitsune replied.
Jake returned, "Ah, I see," realizing she was referring to the sunset. A nagging thought tugged at Jake's conscious. "What's with her and that?" He resisted the growing urge to ask her about it, however. It was none of his business.
Reaching the top of the stairs and stepping onto the cobblestone leading to the entrance to the inn snapped Jake back into reality. Kitsune paused, placing her hands on her hips. "That's interesting. All of the lights are off."
Jake broke out in a silly grin and cackled, "The oldest trick in the book."
"Eh?" Kitsune asked.
Jake smirked, "Don't take me for a fool, Kitsune. I know what you all planned."
Jake then acted out the scene, "We walk into the darkness, then the lights go on and you all yell 'surprise' or something to that effect."
Kitsune chuckled, "I told them you were probably too smart for that. Oh well, I have a better idea anyway. Come on!" Kitsune grabbed Jake by the arm and pulled him toward the side entrance to the left of the main entrance.
The contingent of residents crouched in the dark, waiting to spring into action. Five minutes passed. Then another five. And another. Naru, annoyed and in pain from a leg cramp, whispered to Su, "I thought you said they were coming?"
Su replied with a shrug, "They were." Keitaro suggested Su check again, and Su complied. Thirty seconds after sneaking back out the front door, Su returned. "They are gone!" she exclaimed.
The four hiding in the shadows stood up simultaneously and screamed all at once, in stereo, "WHAT?"
The lights in the room suddenly turned on, and two voices screamed out from opposing corners, "SURPRISE!" All hell broke loose as a loud scream reverberated in the great hall from five distinct voices crying out in unison. When the dust settled, Su was hanging from the ceiling, Motoko had her sword drawn in a defensive position, with Shinobu tucked into a ball behind her, and Naru was latched onto Keitaro, who was clinging onto Mutsumi.
"Ara, ara, Kei-kun," Mutsumi giggled.
Kitsune and Jake were soon rolling on the floor laughing raucously at the chaos they had created.
The chaos finally died down after several moments. Keitaro sheepishly released his grip on Mutsumi and ducked his head, apologizing profusely. Naru, astonishingly, merely laughed. Su dropped from her extremely high perch, landing gingerly on her feet. Motoko sheathed her blade and Shinobu laughed at her own insecurity.
Jake stood and gazed at his surroundings. Balloons were everywhere, confetti littered the ground, several trays of finger foods were laid out, an icebox lie next to him, overflowing with all sorts of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and an enormous banner hung from the ceiling.
"This is all for me?" he asked as a grin grew on his face.
Shinobu's face beamed. "Yes! Please enjoy it," she said, bowing deeply at the waist.
"Thanks, guys," Jake said, awestruck.
Kitsune clapped her hands. "Alright, let's get this party started," she declared, turning on the stereo.
The party mostly consisted of everyone sitting around telling embarrassing stories, including the now infamous lingerie gifts, which were Jake's idea, earning him a few tosses of popcorn in his direction. About an hour later, Motoko approached Jake, holding a small, gift-wrapped box behind her back. "Excuse me, Jake?"
Jake, seated on the floor, quickly stood up. "Yes?" he asked politely, unsure why she had approached him.
"I realize I have been, well, a pain in your neck since you got here," Motoko stated.
Jake, attempting to deflect some of the now obvious guilt Motoko was displaying, replied, "No, you haven't." waving his hands dismissively.
Motoko persisted, "No, I really have. After talking to everyone today while preparing everything here, I realize I've been a little…unapproachable."
Jake nodded in agreement apprehensively, but once again tried to save face for her, "I understand though. It's hard when you try so hard for something and end up failing."
Motoko hanged her head. He was obviously referring to her recent testing failure at Toudai. Jake saw the pain in her eyes. "It must be hard for someone of her conviction to accept failure," he thought. "I know the feeling," he said to her softly.
Motoko shook her head and looked at Jake again with a forced smile. "Anyway," she began, "I got you a little something." She revealed the box to him. "A peace offering."
Jake grinned at the little box in her hand. "You didn't have to get me anything," he said as he took it from her. "Do you mind if I open it now?" he asked.
Motoko shook her head. Jake carefully unwrapped the small present, and opened the box, revealing a silver keychain with a miniature baseball attached to it. Motoko apologetically said, "I had to ask Keitaro what you would like. Sorry."
Jake closed the box and shook his head strongly, replying, "No, it's great. That was very thoughtful of you. Thank you very much."
Motoko held out her right hand. "Friends?" she asked.
"Of course," Jake replied. Jake placed his hand in hers, half expecting another forceful handshake. However, Motoko kept her grip soft and level. "So, she can be gentle after all," Jake thought, smiling at her. Motoko returned his smile.
The party continued on without a hitch, except for the ones who were of drinking age having two or three too many. Mutsumi was the first to retire, escorted to her room by Shinobu after getting a little too touchy-feely with the two men in attendance. About a half-hour later, Naru and Keitaro stumbled and giggled upstairs together, but any naughty thoughts were dispelled by the muffled sound of Keitaro getting launched out of a window. Shinobu and Su fell asleep in the middle of the floor. Motoko fell asleep sitting on the couch, clutching a tiny English vocabulary book to her chest, leaving Jake and Kitsune as the only ones left awake.
"I guess I should get going, then," Kitsune said, stumbling to her feet. Jake tried to stand, but his legs buckled and he crashed to the floor, laughing softly to avoid waking the three younger residents. "You can't hold your liquor for anything," Kitsune slurred.
Jake found his footing, wobbling around a bit. "You need me to walk you back?" he asked.
Kitsune walked over to Jake, nearly tripping over her own feet in the process. She tapped him on the nose with her index finger and said, "I'll be just fine. I do this kind of thing all the time. You go get some sleep." Kitsune winked at him, turned and walked toward the exit.
Jake was about to turn towards the stairs when he saw Kitsune stutter-step before freezing in place. Jake instinctively rushed over to her and, showing amazing dexterity for his impaired condition, caught her in his arms before she collapsed to the floor. With a grunt, he lifted Kitsune into his arms and carried her out of the inn, his path illuminated by the full moon and a clear night sky. Kitsune drifted in and out of consciousness, thanking Jake and telling him she can make it back by herself at the same time.
When he made it back to the teashop, he tried the door, but of course, it was locked. With a whisper, he asked for Kitsune's forgiveness as he searched around her pockets with his arm that was hoisting her torso. His arms were beginning to buckle under the strain of holding Kitsune's limp body by the time he fished out her keys and unlocked the front door. He heaved and panted up the stairs, kicking open her bedroom door. Seeing his goal, he used the last of his strength to shuffle over to the bed and lay Kitsune down gently on the blanket. After resting a moment, he removed her shoes, lifted her up to pull the blanket out from under her and covered her with it. Kitsune continued to mumble under her breath the whole while.
Satisfied that she was comfortable, Jake whispered goodnight to Kitsune, moving to his feet. He took no more than one step before Kitsune grabbed his hand and with pain etched in her voice, said strongly, "Don't leave me."
Jake's heart caught in his chest. His brain swam in the fog of alcohol on his breath as he gazed at her. Instinct won over reason. He squeezed her hand and leaned towards her. "Kitsune?" he whispered as his lips approached hers.
When he was two inches away, Kitsune smiled and cooed, "Seta-san."
Jake's eyes widened in shock. His drunken brain tried desperately to decipher what she had just said. "Seta? She's in love with Seta?" He pulled away slowly and released Kitsune's hand, which fell limp. Jake wondered what he was thinking as the sound of Kitsune's steady breathing filled the room. He almost took advantage of a woman that was in love with another man.
Jake, now with a severe headache from trying to think with an impaired brain, stumbled out of the teashop to avoid further embarrassment. His thoughts haunted him for the entirety of his inebriated journey back to his room at Hinata Inn. Without even removing his shoes, Jake collapsed in a heap on his futon, immediately losing consciousness.