Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Ten Mixed Spirits
Sunday Afternoon.
Keitaro stares at Motoko, trying to understand what she just revealed to him.
"But, you're here! You're alive! You're . . ."
Motoko interrupts him.
"I am Moe. I sensed that Motoko-san was in peril and, well, the distance was too great to prevent my fall. It took the remainder of my power to heal the damage she suffered. But alas, I am all that maintains this form now. And yet I falter, and do not know how long I can prevail."
Aoyama looks from Motoko to Keitaro.
"This is the reason that you were summoned here. She feels that the same bond that you shared with Moe may preserve her. However . . ."
Tsuruko continues when her mother pauses.
"Keitaro-san. You must remain near to Motoko-san if she is to survive. A parting of too great a distance or for too long a time may cause her to fail, and what is left of her shall be lost to us."
He lifts his glass and sips the sake.
"Let me see if I understand this right. Motoko-chan fell after the separation. She, or at least her body, is alive because of Moe-chan's power. But, she needs to stay near me or she'll really die."
Aoyama, Tsuruko, and Motoko look at him and nod. He sips the sake again.
"I still don't get it."
Motoko looks at him with her green eyes.
"I am sorry, Urashima. I feared to place this burden upon you. However, I do not wish that what is left of Motoko-san to pass from this world."
Aoyama looks at Keitaro.
"It is obvious that you are worn from the trials of the last few days. I have prepared a room for you, that you may rest. Tsuruko will call on you when the evening meal is ready. We will continue this discussion later after you have had time to ponder what has transpired. In the meantime, I ask that you not relate anything that you see here to anyone outside of the Shinmei School."
Tsuruko shows him to a room farther back up the hallway. He sets his backpack next to the kotatsu table and sits on the floor. He sighs and then falls backwards and looks up at the ceiling.
"I'm still not sure that I understand. She looks and sounds like Motoko-chan. If not for her eyes, she is Motoko-chan."
A light knock at his door causes him to sit up.
"Come in, please."
Motoko slides the door open and looks at Keitaro.
"May I speak with you, Urashima?"
Keitaro nods his head and she enters the room. Sliding the door closed, she moves and kneels at the opposite end of the table.
"I can only imagine how disturbing this must seem to you. I am truly sorry."
He smiles at her.
"Don't worry, Motoko-chan, or, should I call you Moe-chan?"
"Motoko-chan will be fine, Urashima."
She bows her head for a moment.
"I know that my, mother, wishes to discuss this after the evening meal, but I need to speak with you now."
Keitaro rests his hands on the table.
"What's wrong?"
Motoko shakes her head.
"It is really nothing, but it means a great deal to me. As I said earlier, I do not want what is left of me to be lost."
"What can I do for you? What do you need?"
She glances down at her hands folded in her lap.
"If you are willing, Urashima, It would please me to form a bonding with you."
Keitaro pushes himself away from the table.
"Y-you mean like Maru?"
Motoko looks up at him and smiles at the expression on his face.
"Please do not be alarmed. I am not suggesting a melding of our forms. The bonding of which I speak is more, well, traditional."
He blinks a few times.
"I don't think I quite understand what . . ."
Motoko rises and stamps her foot on the table.
"Urashima! Why must you be so obtuse?"
"Well, I uh, that is I don't . . ."
Clenching her fist and shaking, the swordmaster closes her eyes and slowly counts to ten. She relaxes and lets out a gentle breath.
"Urashima, I want you to . . ."
She looks around the room, but Keitaro is nowhere to be seen.
"He ran away?"
Motoko runs into the hallway and looks back and forth.
"Urashima!"
To the right, running up the north hallway, Keitaro desperately searches for an exit. Motoko leaps into a sprint as Keitaro looks over his shoulder. He turns and runs.
"Oh spitting heck!"
He throws open the next door on the left and charges through. The large room is a training area, full of straw targets, poles, kendo equipment, spears and various other training instruments. In the center of the room, a large ceramic raccoon-dog sits.
(AN: Raccoon-dog, also known as Tanuki. See http://www3.u-toyama.ac.jp/kihara/flr/etc/images/tanuki.jpg for a picture of a tanuki.)
A few seconds later, Motoko enters the room. Once again, Keitaro is nowhere to be seen. The swordmaster walks over and draws a kendo stick from its stand. She moves to the tanuki and smiles as she taps its head in a repetitive manner with the stick.
"Urashima, if you do not come out of there in five seconds, I will compel your egress."
Five seconds pass. Then ten. She sighs and raises her weapon. With a quick sweep, she shatters the tanuki, sending ceramic shards scattering across the training room.
A slight sound causes her to spin round. As she intently scans the room, a heavy blow crashes down upon her.
A few seconds earlier . . .
Keitaro, clutching to a rafter, watches as the swordmaster shatters the tanuki. A drop of sweat falls from his cheek and plops on the floor. As Motoko spins and looks about the room, he loses his grip and plummets earthward.
The swordmaster presses a hand against her left temple as she lies on the floor.
"What struck . . . "
She then notices a familiar hand stuck in the opening of her gi.
"Urashima! You vile, lecherous, deceiving, perverted male! Remove you hand from my shirt this instant!"
"M-m-motoko-chan! I'm innocent! AAAAAIIIIIEEEEE!"
Sunday Evening.
After the evening meal, Keitaro is once more meeting with the three women of the Shinmei School. Aoyama pours some tea as the others sit at the table. Motoko takes her glass and bows her head to Keitaro.
"Forgive me for striking you earlier, Urashima. It was just instinct."
He smiles at her and waves his hand.
"That's okay, Motoko-chan. It's not like it's any different than before."
She returns his smile.
"It is so difficult to get you to understand things, sometimes. You never gave me the chance to properly ask if you would allow me to become your wife, Urashima."
Keitaro drops his glass and stares at the swordmaster.
"W-w-w-w-w-wife?"
The room is silent for many moments. Tsuruko looks at her mother with an uncertain expression. Motoko sits silently and looks at Keitaro, her green eyes slowly growing moist. Aoyama releases an exasperated sigh and places her hand on Keitaro's.
"I beg your pardon, Keitaro-san. This is an unexpected development. Even in normal circumstances this is a matter that should not be undertaken without considerable contemplation."
"I think we should do it."
"Furthermore, while I do not wish to lose what remains of Motoko-chan, I would not wish to impose upon you in such a . . . Huh?"
Aoyama's mouth drops open and she stares at Keitaro.
"Wh-what did you say?"
Keitaro looks from Aoyama to Motoko and back.
"I don't want to lose Motoko-chan. I feel the same about everyone. If it wasn't for me, none of this would have happened anyway."
Motoko reaches over and touches his other hand.
"Urashima, what of the others? Even though this gladdens me, will they not be angered? What will you do?"
He smiles at her.
"I'm sure everyone will understand once we explain it to them."
He laughs and scratches his head.
"It would be silly, but we could save some trouble if we got married before we went back to Hinata-sou. But the others might not like it."
Motoko stares at him intensely.
"I accept, Urashima!"
He jerkily turns his head to her.
"Huh? That was just a . . ."
She stands and looks at Aoyama.
"Mother is the Priestess of this shrine, and as such can perform the ceremony"
Keitaro hangs his head.
"My big mouth will get me killed some day. I just know it."
Thirty minutes later, a still dazed Keitaro stands before the oldest shrine of the school. Tsuruko had found a suitable haori jacket and sandals for him to wear.
"You look quite handsome, Keitaro-san. I am sure that Motoko-chan will be very pleased."
"Tsuruko-san, do you think we're doing the right thing?"
She tilts her head as she adjusts the folds on his jacket.
"I cannot answer that for either of you. However, this pairing is pleasing to me, for it will be a great boon to my sister. Do you have doubts as to proceeding with the ceremony?"
He shakes his head.
"Not really. I'm glad that this will save Motoko-chan, or at least what is left of her. I feel fortunate in some ways. I never expected someone like Motoko-chan to ever be interested in a ronin like me."
Keitaro thinks for a few moments and then laughs. Tsuruko smiles at him.
"What do you find so humorous?"
"Well, it really isn't funny, but just inevitable; Motoko may end up a widow when we get back to Hinata-sou. Something tells me Narusegawa won't like this at all."
"Then we shall meet that challenge when we return home, Urashima."
Keitaro turns at the sound of Motoko's voice and his jaw drops open. The swordmaster enters the shrine dressed in a pure white kimono. She places each step gracefully in front of the last; gliding like a swan over a mirror-smooth pond. Aoyama follows her and takes her place in front of the shrine. The swordmaster looks at Keitaro.
"I, I am ready, Keitaro."
He swallows the lump in his throat and nods his head. Motoko takes her place next to him and they face Aoyama. After a brief ceremony, Keitaro and Motoko become husband and wife.
Monday Afternoon.
Keitaro and Motoko walk up the steps to Hinata-sou. The swordmaster is still blushing slightly while sweat drips from the manager's temple. Keitaro scratches his head.
"I still think that we should have called first."
"Do not be afraid. Everything is as it must be, Keitaro."
He shivers.
"It's gonna take me a while to get used to you calling me that Motoko-san. . . I mean Motoko."
They continue to the shattered entrance of the inn.
"I'm going to have to get this fixed soon."
As they enter the foyer, all the girls leap up from their seats and run to meet them. Naru hugs Keitaro.
"Why didn't you call and tell us Motoko was alright? We've been worried to death!"
Shinobu grabs Keitaro's hand.
"I'll make a welcome home feast for everyone!"
Mutsumi claps her hands.
"Oh my! Don't they look like a couple?"
Amalla holds up her cast and smiles.
"Ya forgots to sign this before ya left, Jack!"
Su, hanging upside down from the rafters, waves at them.
"I fixed Moe up and she's as good as new. Keitaro!"
Kanako tries to push her way between Naru and Keitaro.
"Don't hog Oni-chan all to yourself!"
Kitsune slaps Motoko on the back, causing her to double over and place a hand to her face.
"It's good to have ya'll back, Motoko!"
Motoko straightens up. A green contact lens lies in her right hand. The swordmaster smiles sheepishly as she looks around.
Keitaro, not noticing the fallen contact lens, takes a deep breath and then makes his announcement.
"Everyone, Motoko and I were married last night! This is the only way that she can survive!"
He turns and looks at his wife. Then at the green contact lens in her hand. Then at his wife. Then at the other girls. Then at his wife. Then at the contact lens. Then at the other girls. Then, finally, at his wife. He takes another deep breath.
"Oh heck!"
He points out through the front entrance.
"Look! A twenty meter firefly squid!"
As Naru's knee catches him in the groin, his only thought before darkness overtakes him is that he should have said it was a twenty-five meter firefly squid.
At the Shinmei School Tsuruko looks up at the clock on the wall of the room.
"They should be arriving back at Hinata-sou anytime now. Do you think that Keitaro-san will harbor any ill-will towards us for this deception?"
Aoyama sips her tea and sighs. Tsuruko stares at her.
"Mother, do not tell me that you regret our actions."
"Not at all, it is just that I was thinking that Keitaro-san was quite handsome in his formal wear."
Tsuruko shakes her head and lifts her tea.
"I thought that Keitaro-san would die when you kissed him after the ceremony. It was all Motoko-san could do to withhold from using the arts upon him."
Aoyama licks her lips and smiles demurely.
"Come now, that was just a little snack."
"A snack? Mother, when they come to visit, you are going on a strict diet!"
"But, I get hungry too!"
"Mother!"
Monday Evening.
Three hours later, Keitaro slowly opens his eyes and immediately wishes he hadn't. Not because of the pain in his groin, but from the looks he is receiving from the girls as they stand around the couch. Slowly, he pushes himself up into a sitting position and looks around.
"Wh-where is Motoko?"
Kitsune looks to her right. The manager follows her gaze and spots Motoko tied up against a support beam.
"Isn't that a little extreme?"
Motoko calls out to him.
"Keitaro, do not be deceived! They are being controlled by Moe! Free me and let us flee!"
Naru frowns and crosses her arms.
"You fooled him once with that trick. Do you think that he'll fall for it again?"
Motoko smiles and tilts her head.
"Well, it is Keitaro after all."
Mutsumi pats Keitaro on the cheek.
"Oh my, you really did marry Motoko-chan. That was so sweet of you Kei-kun!"
Kanako points a finger at the swordmaster.
"You will annul this marriage with Oni-chan before you defile him!"
Motoko turns her head away and blushes bright red. Kanako looks at her stepbrother and sees a similar reaction. She runs into the dining room and slams the door shut behind her.
Su looks at the closed door.
"What is a deaf isle? Does it taste good?"
Kitsune leans over and whispers in Su's ear. The young woman from Molmol turns bright red.
"Oh, that deaf isle!"
Shinobu blushes and covers her face with her apron.
"Aaauuuuu! Sempai, how could you?"
Naru lowers her head and places her right hand in her coat pocket.
"Pervert! Scum! You dirty, lowlife scoundrel!"
Keitaro goes pale and reaches down to protect himself.
"N-n-n-n-n-narusegawa!"
Naru lifts her head and points at Motoko.
"I was talking about her!"
Naru moves to stand in front of the swordmaster. Before Keitaro can do anything, she pulls her hand out of her pocket and thrusts at Motoko.
Keitaro's wife screams as a bright flash causes her to shut her eyes.
"Keitaro!"
A moment later her eyes open again as confetti falls on her face. Su cartwheels around the room as the other girls pull the strings on their party poppers. Kanako pushes a cart full of food from the dining room. Haruka and Hikari follow her carrying drinks and a large cake. Haruka smiles at her nephew.
"Congratulations to both of you!"
Hikari sets the cake on the coffee table.
"When the time comes, I will be happy to provide maternity services at no charge, if you will allow me to use the hot spring on occasion."
The party starts and all of the girls take turns kissing the groom. Keitaro falls to the floor under the assault, blood gushing from his nostrils.
After a while, Naru walks over and refills Moe's glass.
"You a rather quite tonight, Moe-chan. Is something wrong?"
Moe shakes her head.
"No, I am fine. I have realized that my original threat has come true. There is one less person that is a threat to him. As Keitaro's wife, Motoko-san will protect him with all her heart."
Naru smiles ruefully.
"You have no idea what a wife can do to her husband."
"What do you mean? Will she not protect him?"
Naru nods her head.
"Yes, but she'll be absolutely territorial where he is concerned. She'll never let women close to him if she can help it. Also, she'll beat Keitaro to a pulp if he so much as looks at another woman."
Moe nods in understanding.
"I did not realize that about humans. So, that is why Motoko-san is still tied to the pole?"
Naru sips her drink, grabs Moe's hand, and heads back towards Keitaro.
"Yep!"
The End.