Disclaimer: I own no part of Love Hina, but Sean and Shonoko are mine.
On with the show!
* * * Chapter XV: Dreamers * * *
"No, don't kill them!" Sean struggled to say.
"You're in no position to make demands, weakling." Shonoko said as she readied her attack against the girls, who were huddled together in fright.
Sean was lying on the ground. His body was battered, bruised and bloody; apparently he and his nemesis had been engaged in an intense battle, and he didn't look like the winner.
"Secret Dark Technique: Life Draining Blade!" Shonoko made a horizontal sweep with her sword and a wave of pitch-black energy shot towards the scared group.
"NO!" Sean yelled as he reached out with his hand in a futile attempt to reach his friends. The wave hit, engulfing all that he held dear to his heart. When the energy faded, there was nothing left; not even ashes. "Why did you have to do that?! It wasn't them that you were after! Why couldn't you have just killed me and spared them?!"
"Because I enjoy watching you suffer," Shonoko said, approaching him. "You have been a thorn in my side for far too long; I wanted to see your spirit broken before I finally destroyed you."
Tears flowed from Sean's eyes. "I can't end this way; it just can't…"
"You have no say in the matter," Shonoko smiled as she stood above him, sword poised to strike. "I'm going to love this." She brought her blade down to make the final blow.
---
Sean woke up with a start, clutching his neck. After catching his breath for a moment, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Damn it," he thought. He looked at the clock: 2:48 AM; he had been asleep for almost three hours. "I guess this is about as good a time as any," he muttered to himself as he got out of bed and changed. He knew he wouldn't be getting much more sleep that morning.
Monday, 8/20 2:56 AM
Sean walked out into the hot springs, mop and bucket in hand. He knew this was the best time to clean there, since nobody ever used it this early in the morning. He scrubbed about as hard as he was able without snapping the mop in two in an effort to force the unpleasant images of his recent nightmare from his mind. He was so involved in his work that he didn't notice someone approaching from behind.
"Is everything alright, Sean?"
Sean quickly turned around, holding the mop like a staff, ready to defend himself to the last. He soon recognized Naru, a bit frightened, backing away. He lowered his improvised weapon and his gaze. "Sorry. I guess I'm just a bit jumpy this morning."
"Is something the matter?" Naru asked, slowly walking closer. She was wearing a nightshirt and by the look of her hair, just got out of bed a minute ago.
"I just had a… bad dream, that's all."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, I don't want to bother you with my problems. Besides, you should be getting back to bed; don't you have that entrance exam today?"
"Yeah, I do."
"You need to get as much rest as you can, then. I hear those tests can be murder."
Naru could have sworn she saw Sean's eye twitch when he said that, but she didn't want to press the issue. "Yeah, they can. I guess I'll see you later, then." Sean nodded, then went back to work cleaning the hot spring.
"I wonder what his dream was about," Naru said to herself as she walked back to her room, "that could make him act that way. He almost jumped out of his skin when I spoke to him. I should ask him about it after I get back from the exam today."
---
"I can't believe what I almost did just now," Sean thought, angry with himself. "To think that I would ever raise a mop in anger against anyone, much less Naru. I need to find a way to calm down before I hurt someone."
--- 8:47 AM
Everyone gathered at the front door to wish Keitaro and Naru luck in the coming test as they left.
"I just know you will do well," Shinobu said.
"Thank you," Keitaro said. "I'm sure I'll get in this time around."
"You had better," Naru added. "I wouldn't want all the time we spent studying together to be for nothing."
"Oh come on," Kitsune said, elbowing her. "Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it."
Naru blushed a bit. "Um, well--"
"Kitsune, leave the poor girl alone," Sean said. "She has enough on her mind as it is without you badgering her."
"Hmph," Kitsune muttered, crossing her arms.
"Anyway, do your best, you two; that's all anyone can expect from you."
"Yep, we're going to knock 'em dead!" Keitaro said, raising him arm as though he had already passed.
"Let's go, Mr. Happy, before you jinx us or something," Naru said, pushing Keitaro out the door and closing it behind her.
"What was that for?" Keitaro asked, confused.
"Keitaro, can I ask you something?" Naru asked.
Keitaro was surprised by Naru sudden change in tone. "Sure, what is it?"
"Um, have you seen Sean acting a bit strange today?"
"Not really. Why, do you think something's wrong?"
Naru had to choose her next words carefully. She didn't want him to know she was with Sean earlier that morning. "Maybe. When you said 'knock 'em dead,' I saw him flinch. I'm beginning to wonder if something's bothering him."
"I don't think you should worry. If something is disturbing him, it's probably not that important or else he would have told us. He has solved our problems so often, I think he also solve his own. Trust me, when we get back, he'll be just fine."
"Thank you," Naru said, a smile appearing on her face. "But I can't help but wonder just how bad his dream was," she thought.
---
"She has the hots for him, I can tell," Kitsune said.
"Tell us something we don't know," Sean said as he started to leave.
Shinobu noticed Sean in deep thought. "Is something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I just have something on my mind right now."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Why not?"
"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with."
Back near the door, Motoko said, "Well, I'm going to go train. See you later."
Upon hearing this, a light went on in Sean's head. "Yes, that's it," he said, barely audible. He then started to run for his room.
"I wonder what that was all about?" Kitsune wondered, scratching her head.
--- 9:01 AM
Motoko walked out to the roof to find Sean standing there. Seeing the blue kendo outfit he was wearing brought up some unpleasant memories. "What are you doing up here? Are you going to try to become my student again?"
Sean looked all business. "No. I just want to spar with you for a while."
"May I ask why?"
"I'll explain the whole thing later. For now, I just need to let off some steam. Don't expect me to hold back."
"Alright, then." Motoko said as she readied her fighting stance. "If that's what you want."
"Just don't use any of those ki moves," Sean added as an afterthought. "I wouldn't want a repeat of the disaster from last time." Sean remembered the incident only all too well.
"Agreed." Motoko saw Sean charge toward her, bokken in hand and a look of pure hatred in his eyes. "Why is he acting like this?" she thought. "He's usually not prone to violence." Her thoughts were interrupted by Sean swinging his sword at her almost like a man possessed… um, maybe there's a better way of putting that…
"I have to keep Shonoko in my thoughts," Sean thought as he hacked and slashed at his sparring partner. "I have to think I'm tearing her to bits."
Motoko was able to put up a defense pretty easily, mostly due to Sean's lack of focus. "I just have to keep him from hitting me," she thought. "He's putting all of his strength behind these attacks, and if I should be hit by one of them, it would definitely hurt."
After almost ten full minutes of non-stop combat, Sean's muscles were aching. "No," he thought. "I can't let up now; I can't let Shonoko beat me again…" By this time, he was already down on his hands and knees, gasping for air.
"Are you alright, Sean?" Motoko asked; she had barely broken a sweat during the onslaught. Sean looked to be in his own little world, completely ignoring her. She cautiously approached him, going down on one knee. She could hear him muttering something.
"I can't give up; I won't. I can't let her beat me again; she has to be stopped somehow…"
Curious as to who he was referring to, Motoko decided to try to bring Sean back to planet Earth. She picked him up so he was sitting on his knees and started shaking him violently.
"NO! Don't hurt them! Kill me if you want, but leave my friends alone, PLEASE!!" A slap to the face finally brought Sean around. "Wha-- what's going on?"
"What were you talking about just now?" Motoko asked, concerned about his well-being.
Tears appeared in Sean's eyes. "I'm sorry I had to do all this, but I had to before I… I…"
"What's wrong? Who can't you let beat you again?"
Sean was hesitant to say what he needed to so badly. "I had a nightmare last night; Shonoko was in it. She killed you all mercilessly and I could do nothing to prevent it."
Motoko was surprised by what Sean said. "Why not?"
"I was too injured by my fight with her to move. I saw you all die, then she went for me. She was about to finish me off when I woke up."
"Wow. So that was why you attacked me so fiercely."
Sean nodded. "But I wouldn't have been so worried if it just the one time, though."
"You mean you've had this dream before?"
"Every night for the last three weeks. The exact way Shonoko kills is different with each dream, but the ending is the same. I finally snapped today when, while cleaning the spring, I almost attacked Naru with a mop. It was then that I knew I had to do something before I went off the deep end." Sean hugged Motoko close to him. "Thank you for letting me do this. I just didn't want to something I would regret."
Motoko was a bit taken aback when Sean embraced her, but quickly recovered and returned the favor. "Anytime, Sean."
"Why am I having these nightmares? We've already beaten her once before; I don't want to have to do it again, and again, and again…"
"Sean, calm down. Everything's going to be fine. It was all just dreams; nothing more."
"I know, but they were all so real; you just kept dying over and over, and I couldn't do anything but watch. I don't want to lose any of you; ever."
Motoko was stunned. "To think he's so torn up about not being able to save us in his dreams," she thought. "Of course, if I kept seeing my friends die each and every night for weeks on end, I'd probably be acting the same way."
Her thoughts soon turned to other things. "This feels so… wonderful." Motoko started to experience certain feelings she's never had before. She began to blush as certain thoughts made themselves known in her mind. "Why am I thinking like this?" her thoughts continued. "Could I be…"
"Uh, Motoko?"
This startled Motoko out of her thoughts. "Yes, Sean?"
"Is something troubling you?"
"Um, no, why do you ask?"
Sean's voice seemed a bit strained. "Well, your feel a bit tense all of a sudden. Plus, I'm having a bit of difficulty breathing right now, so if you could just loosen up a bit--"
"Oh, sorry." Motoko quickly released him from the embrace.
Sean noticed Motoko's face was a deep shade of red. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm not sure if I could tell him," Motoko thought. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her cheek and couldn't help but look at the source.
Sean looked concerned. "You shouldn't hold back your emotions. I know from experience that it isn't a pleasant thing and you'll probably feel better if you get it off your chest. Besides, being afraid doesn't suit you."
Motoko was inspired by Sean's advice. "It's just that I started to have thoughts about us being… together."
"Together like me and Kitsune?" Motoko slowly nodded. "Don't be ashamed. Everyone has feelings like that at some point in their lives."
"I just don't know what to do. This feels so strange to me right now."
"It can be a bit tough a grasp at first, but you'll get more comfortable about it as time goes on."
"I hope so. I wouldn't want to feel this awkward all the time."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Motoko blushed again. "Well, there is one thing…" She wrapped her arms around his waist and slowly pressed her lips against his.
"I'm glad she's feeling more comfortable showing emotion," Sean thought, after a few moments with a complete lack of rationality.
"Oh my god," Motoko thought. "This feels so good. Now I know why Shinobu and Kitsune enjoy this so much."
Eventually, they had to separate so they could catch their breath. "Did you enjoy it?" Sean asked.
"You have no idea." Motoko had a smile Sean had never seen on her before.
"Then perhaps we will meet like this again sometime--if you want to, that is."
"I would like that very much."
"It's good to see you open up to new experiences. You won't regret it. For now though, we should probably get back before they start to wonder where I'm at."
"You go ahead. I still have some exercises to do."
Sean chuckled a bit. "I guess our little battle didn't give you much of a workout, did it?"
"Not really, but you were blinded by rage, so it was an easy task to defend myself."
"If I keep having these nightmares, I may have to call on you again."
"No problem." Motoko watched Sean magically change into his normal clothes and walk inside. When he was out of sight, she sighed happily and continued her practice without outside interruptions.
--- 1:24 PM
"…So that's why you were so worried about him," Keitaro said as he, along with Naru and Mutsumi walked up the front steps. Naru had just told them about her run-in with Sean in the hot spring that morning.
"Yeah. He didn't want to tell me what the dream he had was about, but I knew it must have been pretty bad to cause such a burst of aggression from someone as nonviolent as him."
"Why didn't he want to tell you?" Mutsumi asked.
"He thought it would distract me from today's test."
"Well," Keitaro said, "you know probably better than I do that the last thing he wants is for us to be upset because of him."
"Your right, but I plan to ask him about it when we get back."
"Well, here's your chance," Keitaro said, pointing out Sean leaning against the front door.
"Welcome back," Sean greeted. "I haven't seen you in a while, Mutsumi. How have you been?"
"I can't complain; and you?"
"I'm good."
"What about that nightmare you had last night?" Naru asked.
That seemed to spark something in Sean's brain. "Oh yeah, that. I figured out a way to vent, so you don't have to worry about me wielding a mop against you again; unless you're feeling dirty or something." Sean couldn't help but laugh as Naru blushed uncontrollably as she apparently thought of ways Sean might use a mop aside from being a weapon.
"How did you do that?" Mutsumi asked after Sean's laughter died down.
"I became Motoko's sparring partner for the day. Afterwards, we agreed that if I kept having these dreams, we would meet again." He decided to keep the other plans the two may have hidden for the time being. "Well, enough about me, how well do you think you did today?"
Keitaro gave him a thumbs up. "I'm pretty much a shoe-in for Toudai."
Naru responded by slapping Keitaro on the back of the head. "You know damn well that there's still another day of tests left."
"Yeah, but if tomorrow's tests go as well as today's there won't be any problems."
"Well," Sean interrupted, "that's Keitaro, but how about you two?"
"I did just fine," Naru said, still glaring at Keitaro.
"I also did well. It looks like all three of us will get in at the same time."
"That's wonderful. I'd like to celebrate, but you three probably want to study for the next exams."
Naru nodded. "Yeah, we'd better get started before we're distracted for too long." She grabbed both Keitaro and Mutsumi by the arm and started to lead them to her room.
"In case you were hungry, I had Shinobu make you something in advance. You want me to bring it to you?" Sean called out to them.
"Great, thanks!" Naru called back just as the three went out of sight.
"I wonder if Keitaro knows how lucky he really is," Sean said to himself.
--- (That night,)
"You can't stop me!" Shonoko yelled with malicious glee. "You will never stop me!" She walked over to where the girls were shackled to the floor. "You will experience ever-lasting torment as I snap their necks one by one."
"NO!" Sean screamed. "I will not let you do this to me again!!"
"And what do you hope to do about it?" Both of Sean's legs had been broken.
"Just watch." Sean knew this had to have a different outcome in order for his life to return to normal--or at least as close to normal as it would ever get.
Shonoko looked on in horror as Sean lifted himself by unknown methods and ended up actually hovering a few inches above the ground, his now useless legs dangled below him. "But how--that's impossible!"
"In the world of dreams, nothing's impossible; nothing except you having your way for any longer!"
"Try as you might, you can't stop me from--" Shonoko turned around to find the business end of Motoko's sword just inches from her face.
"Can't stop you from what, exactly?" Motoko said. She, along with the others had mysteriously been released from their chains.
The laugh emanating from Sean sent a chill down Shonoko's spine. "I think it's time you found out just how it feels to be tormented."
---
Sean smiled evilly in his sleep as he dreamed himself and the girls doing things to his most hated adversary that could only be described as cruel and unusual punishment.
---
Motoko smiled as well, but in a pleasant way as her dreams depicted what she hoped Sean and herself might do in the future.
---
Keitaro, Mutsumi and Naru had fallen asleep together while studying in Naru's room. All three of them saw themselves getting into Toudai together. Granted, there were a few discrepancies from person to person, but the basic idea was the same.
* * * End of Chapter XV * * *
That's another one in the books. I've already got an idea for the next chapter and I believe you will like what I intend to do. See you then! Please review!
On with the show!
* * * Chapter XV: Dreamers * * *
"No, don't kill them!" Sean struggled to say.
"You're in no position to make demands, weakling." Shonoko said as she readied her attack against the girls, who were huddled together in fright.
Sean was lying on the ground. His body was battered, bruised and bloody; apparently he and his nemesis had been engaged in an intense battle, and he didn't look like the winner.
"Secret Dark Technique: Life Draining Blade!" Shonoko made a horizontal sweep with her sword and a wave of pitch-black energy shot towards the scared group.
"NO!" Sean yelled as he reached out with his hand in a futile attempt to reach his friends. The wave hit, engulfing all that he held dear to his heart. When the energy faded, there was nothing left; not even ashes. "Why did you have to do that?! It wasn't them that you were after! Why couldn't you have just killed me and spared them?!"
"Because I enjoy watching you suffer," Shonoko said, approaching him. "You have been a thorn in my side for far too long; I wanted to see your spirit broken before I finally destroyed you."
Tears flowed from Sean's eyes. "I can't end this way; it just can't…"
"You have no say in the matter," Shonoko smiled as she stood above him, sword poised to strike. "I'm going to love this." She brought her blade down to make the final blow.
---
Sean woke up with a start, clutching his neck. After catching his breath for a moment, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Damn it," he thought. He looked at the clock: 2:48 AM; he had been asleep for almost three hours. "I guess this is about as good a time as any," he muttered to himself as he got out of bed and changed. He knew he wouldn't be getting much more sleep that morning.
Monday, 8/20 2:56 AM
Sean walked out into the hot springs, mop and bucket in hand. He knew this was the best time to clean there, since nobody ever used it this early in the morning. He scrubbed about as hard as he was able without snapping the mop in two in an effort to force the unpleasant images of his recent nightmare from his mind. He was so involved in his work that he didn't notice someone approaching from behind.
"Is everything alright, Sean?"
Sean quickly turned around, holding the mop like a staff, ready to defend himself to the last. He soon recognized Naru, a bit frightened, backing away. He lowered his improvised weapon and his gaze. "Sorry. I guess I'm just a bit jumpy this morning."
"Is something the matter?" Naru asked, slowly walking closer. She was wearing a nightshirt and by the look of her hair, just got out of bed a minute ago.
"I just had a… bad dream, that's all."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, I don't want to bother you with my problems. Besides, you should be getting back to bed; don't you have that entrance exam today?"
"Yeah, I do."
"You need to get as much rest as you can, then. I hear those tests can be murder."
Naru could have sworn she saw Sean's eye twitch when he said that, but she didn't want to press the issue. "Yeah, they can. I guess I'll see you later, then." Sean nodded, then went back to work cleaning the hot spring.
"I wonder what his dream was about," Naru said to herself as she walked back to her room, "that could make him act that way. He almost jumped out of his skin when I spoke to him. I should ask him about it after I get back from the exam today."
---
"I can't believe what I almost did just now," Sean thought, angry with himself. "To think that I would ever raise a mop in anger against anyone, much less Naru. I need to find a way to calm down before I hurt someone."
--- 8:47 AM
Everyone gathered at the front door to wish Keitaro and Naru luck in the coming test as they left.
"I just know you will do well," Shinobu said.
"Thank you," Keitaro said. "I'm sure I'll get in this time around."
"You had better," Naru added. "I wouldn't want all the time we spent studying together to be for nothing."
"Oh come on," Kitsune said, elbowing her. "Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it."
Naru blushed a bit. "Um, well--"
"Kitsune, leave the poor girl alone," Sean said. "She has enough on her mind as it is without you badgering her."
"Hmph," Kitsune muttered, crossing her arms.
"Anyway, do your best, you two; that's all anyone can expect from you."
"Yep, we're going to knock 'em dead!" Keitaro said, raising him arm as though he had already passed.
"Let's go, Mr. Happy, before you jinx us or something," Naru said, pushing Keitaro out the door and closing it behind her.
"What was that for?" Keitaro asked, confused.
"Keitaro, can I ask you something?" Naru asked.
Keitaro was surprised by Naru sudden change in tone. "Sure, what is it?"
"Um, have you seen Sean acting a bit strange today?"
"Not really. Why, do you think something's wrong?"
Naru had to choose her next words carefully. She didn't want him to know she was with Sean earlier that morning. "Maybe. When you said 'knock 'em dead,' I saw him flinch. I'm beginning to wonder if something's bothering him."
"I don't think you should worry. If something is disturbing him, it's probably not that important or else he would have told us. He has solved our problems so often, I think he also solve his own. Trust me, when we get back, he'll be just fine."
"Thank you," Naru said, a smile appearing on her face. "But I can't help but wonder just how bad his dream was," she thought.
---
"She has the hots for him, I can tell," Kitsune said.
"Tell us something we don't know," Sean said as he started to leave.
Shinobu noticed Sean in deep thought. "Is something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I just have something on my mind right now."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Why not?"
"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with."
Back near the door, Motoko said, "Well, I'm going to go train. See you later."
Upon hearing this, a light went on in Sean's head. "Yes, that's it," he said, barely audible. He then started to run for his room.
"I wonder what that was all about?" Kitsune wondered, scratching her head.
--- 9:01 AM
Motoko walked out to the roof to find Sean standing there. Seeing the blue kendo outfit he was wearing brought up some unpleasant memories. "What are you doing up here? Are you going to try to become my student again?"
Sean looked all business. "No. I just want to spar with you for a while."
"May I ask why?"
"I'll explain the whole thing later. For now, I just need to let off some steam. Don't expect me to hold back."
"Alright, then." Motoko said as she readied her fighting stance. "If that's what you want."
"Just don't use any of those ki moves," Sean added as an afterthought. "I wouldn't want a repeat of the disaster from last time." Sean remembered the incident only all too well.
"Agreed." Motoko saw Sean charge toward her, bokken in hand and a look of pure hatred in his eyes. "Why is he acting like this?" she thought. "He's usually not prone to violence." Her thoughts were interrupted by Sean swinging his sword at her almost like a man possessed… um, maybe there's a better way of putting that…
"I have to keep Shonoko in my thoughts," Sean thought as he hacked and slashed at his sparring partner. "I have to think I'm tearing her to bits."
Motoko was able to put up a defense pretty easily, mostly due to Sean's lack of focus. "I just have to keep him from hitting me," she thought. "He's putting all of his strength behind these attacks, and if I should be hit by one of them, it would definitely hurt."
After almost ten full minutes of non-stop combat, Sean's muscles were aching. "No," he thought. "I can't let up now; I can't let Shonoko beat me again…" By this time, he was already down on his hands and knees, gasping for air.
"Are you alright, Sean?" Motoko asked; she had barely broken a sweat during the onslaught. Sean looked to be in his own little world, completely ignoring her. She cautiously approached him, going down on one knee. She could hear him muttering something.
"I can't give up; I won't. I can't let her beat me again; she has to be stopped somehow…"
Curious as to who he was referring to, Motoko decided to try to bring Sean back to planet Earth. She picked him up so he was sitting on his knees and started shaking him violently.
"NO! Don't hurt them! Kill me if you want, but leave my friends alone, PLEASE!!" A slap to the face finally brought Sean around. "Wha-- what's going on?"
"What were you talking about just now?" Motoko asked, concerned about his well-being.
Tears appeared in Sean's eyes. "I'm sorry I had to do all this, but I had to before I… I…"
"What's wrong? Who can't you let beat you again?"
Sean was hesitant to say what he needed to so badly. "I had a nightmare last night; Shonoko was in it. She killed you all mercilessly and I could do nothing to prevent it."
Motoko was surprised by what Sean said. "Why not?"
"I was too injured by my fight with her to move. I saw you all die, then she went for me. She was about to finish me off when I woke up."
"Wow. So that was why you attacked me so fiercely."
Sean nodded. "But I wouldn't have been so worried if it just the one time, though."
"You mean you've had this dream before?"
"Every night for the last three weeks. The exact way Shonoko kills is different with each dream, but the ending is the same. I finally snapped today when, while cleaning the spring, I almost attacked Naru with a mop. It was then that I knew I had to do something before I went off the deep end." Sean hugged Motoko close to him. "Thank you for letting me do this. I just didn't want to something I would regret."
Motoko was a bit taken aback when Sean embraced her, but quickly recovered and returned the favor. "Anytime, Sean."
"Why am I having these nightmares? We've already beaten her once before; I don't want to have to do it again, and again, and again…"
"Sean, calm down. Everything's going to be fine. It was all just dreams; nothing more."
"I know, but they were all so real; you just kept dying over and over, and I couldn't do anything but watch. I don't want to lose any of you; ever."
Motoko was stunned. "To think he's so torn up about not being able to save us in his dreams," she thought. "Of course, if I kept seeing my friends die each and every night for weeks on end, I'd probably be acting the same way."
Her thoughts soon turned to other things. "This feels so… wonderful." Motoko started to experience certain feelings she's never had before. She began to blush as certain thoughts made themselves known in her mind. "Why am I thinking like this?" her thoughts continued. "Could I be…"
"Uh, Motoko?"
This startled Motoko out of her thoughts. "Yes, Sean?"
"Is something troubling you?"
"Um, no, why do you ask?"
Sean's voice seemed a bit strained. "Well, your feel a bit tense all of a sudden. Plus, I'm having a bit of difficulty breathing right now, so if you could just loosen up a bit--"
"Oh, sorry." Motoko quickly released him from the embrace.
Sean noticed Motoko's face was a deep shade of red. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm not sure if I could tell him," Motoko thought. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her cheek and couldn't help but look at the source.
Sean looked concerned. "You shouldn't hold back your emotions. I know from experience that it isn't a pleasant thing and you'll probably feel better if you get it off your chest. Besides, being afraid doesn't suit you."
Motoko was inspired by Sean's advice. "It's just that I started to have thoughts about us being… together."
"Together like me and Kitsune?" Motoko slowly nodded. "Don't be ashamed. Everyone has feelings like that at some point in their lives."
"I just don't know what to do. This feels so strange to me right now."
"It can be a bit tough a grasp at first, but you'll get more comfortable about it as time goes on."
"I hope so. I wouldn't want to feel this awkward all the time."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Motoko blushed again. "Well, there is one thing…" She wrapped her arms around his waist and slowly pressed her lips against his.
"I'm glad she's feeling more comfortable showing emotion," Sean thought, after a few moments with a complete lack of rationality.
"Oh my god," Motoko thought. "This feels so good. Now I know why Shinobu and Kitsune enjoy this so much."
Eventually, they had to separate so they could catch their breath. "Did you enjoy it?" Sean asked.
"You have no idea." Motoko had a smile Sean had never seen on her before.
"Then perhaps we will meet like this again sometime--if you want to, that is."
"I would like that very much."
"It's good to see you open up to new experiences. You won't regret it. For now though, we should probably get back before they start to wonder where I'm at."
"You go ahead. I still have some exercises to do."
Sean chuckled a bit. "I guess our little battle didn't give you much of a workout, did it?"
"Not really, but you were blinded by rage, so it was an easy task to defend myself."
"If I keep having these nightmares, I may have to call on you again."
"No problem." Motoko watched Sean magically change into his normal clothes and walk inside. When he was out of sight, she sighed happily and continued her practice without outside interruptions.
--- 1:24 PM
"…So that's why you were so worried about him," Keitaro said as he, along with Naru and Mutsumi walked up the front steps. Naru had just told them about her run-in with Sean in the hot spring that morning.
"Yeah. He didn't want to tell me what the dream he had was about, but I knew it must have been pretty bad to cause such a burst of aggression from someone as nonviolent as him."
"Why didn't he want to tell you?" Mutsumi asked.
"He thought it would distract me from today's test."
"Well," Keitaro said, "you know probably better than I do that the last thing he wants is for us to be upset because of him."
"Your right, but I plan to ask him about it when we get back."
"Well, here's your chance," Keitaro said, pointing out Sean leaning against the front door.
"Welcome back," Sean greeted. "I haven't seen you in a while, Mutsumi. How have you been?"
"I can't complain; and you?"
"I'm good."
"What about that nightmare you had last night?" Naru asked.
That seemed to spark something in Sean's brain. "Oh yeah, that. I figured out a way to vent, so you don't have to worry about me wielding a mop against you again; unless you're feeling dirty or something." Sean couldn't help but laugh as Naru blushed uncontrollably as she apparently thought of ways Sean might use a mop aside from being a weapon.
"How did you do that?" Mutsumi asked after Sean's laughter died down.
"I became Motoko's sparring partner for the day. Afterwards, we agreed that if I kept having these dreams, we would meet again." He decided to keep the other plans the two may have hidden for the time being. "Well, enough about me, how well do you think you did today?"
Keitaro gave him a thumbs up. "I'm pretty much a shoe-in for Toudai."
Naru responded by slapping Keitaro on the back of the head. "You know damn well that there's still another day of tests left."
"Yeah, but if tomorrow's tests go as well as today's there won't be any problems."
"Well," Sean interrupted, "that's Keitaro, but how about you two?"
"I did just fine," Naru said, still glaring at Keitaro.
"I also did well. It looks like all three of us will get in at the same time."
"That's wonderful. I'd like to celebrate, but you three probably want to study for the next exams."
Naru nodded. "Yeah, we'd better get started before we're distracted for too long." She grabbed both Keitaro and Mutsumi by the arm and started to lead them to her room.
"In case you were hungry, I had Shinobu make you something in advance. You want me to bring it to you?" Sean called out to them.
"Great, thanks!" Naru called back just as the three went out of sight.
"I wonder if Keitaro knows how lucky he really is," Sean said to himself.
--- (That night,)
"You can't stop me!" Shonoko yelled with malicious glee. "You will never stop me!" She walked over to where the girls were shackled to the floor. "You will experience ever-lasting torment as I snap their necks one by one."
"NO!" Sean screamed. "I will not let you do this to me again!!"
"And what do you hope to do about it?" Both of Sean's legs had been broken.
"Just watch." Sean knew this had to have a different outcome in order for his life to return to normal--or at least as close to normal as it would ever get.
Shonoko looked on in horror as Sean lifted himself by unknown methods and ended up actually hovering a few inches above the ground, his now useless legs dangled below him. "But how--that's impossible!"
"In the world of dreams, nothing's impossible; nothing except you having your way for any longer!"
"Try as you might, you can't stop me from--" Shonoko turned around to find the business end of Motoko's sword just inches from her face.
"Can't stop you from what, exactly?" Motoko said. She, along with the others had mysteriously been released from their chains.
The laugh emanating from Sean sent a chill down Shonoko's spine. "I think it's time you found out just how it feels to be tormented."
---
Sean smiled evilly in his sleep as he dreamed himself and the girls doing things to his most hated adversary that could only be described as cruel and unusual punishment.
---
Motoko smiled as well, but in a pleasant way as her dreams depicted what she hoped Sean and herself might do in the future.
---
Keitaro, Mutsumi and Naru had fallen asleep together while studying in Naru's room. All three of them saw themselves getting into Toudai together. Granted, there were a few discrepancies from person to person, but the basic idea was the same.
* * * End of Chapter XV * * *
That's another one in the books. I've already got an idea for the next chapter and I believe you will like what I intend to do. See you then! Please review!