Harmony of One
Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina, any of its characters, or any thing Love Hina-ish. Ken Akamatsu does. So thank him for creating this awesome manga series.
A/N: Well, I've decided to focus on this story for a while – just because I feel like it. Oh well, nothing much to say here, except that if you're waiting for Keitaro's stalker (as Innortal is) she won't be back until the next arc/chapter. Please enjoy this one, though! Please R&R!
"…" Denotes speech
Italics Denotes thought
Bold Denotes sound effects
Certain Sounds:
GOOMPH! Means Fainting
DOOONG! Means Shock
:blah: Denotes time/time change
Denotes scene/scene change
Denotes daydreams and sleeping dreams
Chapter 9: The Difficulty of a Harmony of One Part I
"I…HATE…HIM!" Motoko muttered to herself very loudly as she walked down the hall. She clenched her sword that still remained unsheathed tightly. "Ooh, the nerve!" She swung randomly and scraped a hole along the wall. If anyone had approached her at that moment, they would have suffered the same fate as the poor manager.
"Coming on like that, I thought we were trying to come with a solution," she muttered again. Her teeth started to ache because she had been clenching that as well for a long period of prolonged time. She kept them clenched, however, because she was still furious. Her eyes blazed and would have scared any demon into submission. "Stupid!" she exclaimed. She reached her room and flung the door open, banging it against the wall and cracking the frame. She didn't care. She slammed it closed as well, and sat on the floor, still angry and still fuming.
"Stupid stupid Urashima!" she exclaimed once again. "Stupid ne-chan!" This was the first time she had thought or said anything about her sister and she momentarily flinched. She realized she still clenched her sword tightly in her hand, and raised her arm to throw it against the wall in fury. As she did, she a moment of sanity graced her and she realized that she would have to fix it and lowered her arm. What was she so angry about anyways? It's that stupid Urashima's fault! Ooh, so perverted and spineless! She thought, the anger in such an elevated state that she felt her temple throbbing. Her rage was uncontrollable, and she was almost ready to get up again to smite Urashima in her righteous fury. Dare he call me "kendo girl" too! Wait! Motoko instantly was taken aback and suddenly like the end of an explosion her fury died off. She reverted to being the calm, composed, Motoko everyone knew, though now she was pensive. Was I so angry because he called me "kendo girl?" Motoko thought. Her brain's gears turned and the cogs caught and began to turn. Why? He called me it before, though when I didn't know him very well. I am a kendo girl of sorts, and other boys call me that without me blowing up at them? Why when Urashima calls me that I get so angry? There must be something…else. Yes, if he were to call me that again right now I would lash out in fury. Her skin tingled and she almost lashed out anyways to an imagined scene of Keitaro insulting her. But if someone else, from my school like Hisaki or his stupid minions, for example called me that, I would not lash out, only ignore them.
Okay, not exactly true, but it would be a hit for the sake of my honor instead of anger. Perhaps I had expected Urashima to be more caring…Her brain froze up, almost not allowing her to think her last thought. Perhaps she had overreacted, but Urashima had no right to say that as well.
"And that's what I think about it!" Motoko finished, nodding her head and sheathing her sword.
"Motoko-sempai! Dinner time!" Shinobu cried out from the bottom floor. Motoko stood up, stretched and went downstairs.
Kitchen
: 6:15 PM, still February the 20th:
CHOMP! Su took a giant bite out of a the chicken that Keitaro had gotten Shinobu to buy.
"Yum yum!" Su said, mouth full as usual without any respect for table manners. "Tis is good, Shionbuf!"
"Thank you," Shinobu said, smiling falteringly. She always did this, no matter how many times people thanked her, which was everyday. The residents were really thankful – they always helped pay, of course, well, Kitsune didn't but Keitaro was too nice to not let her eat.
"Yes, this is very delicious compared to the food I make my husband eat, ho ho," Tsuruko commented.
'Ne-chan, I'm sure your husband appreciates your efforts," Motoko said, trying to reassure her.
"No, he actually always complains and says we should hire a cook so his life won't be shortened by my cooking," Tsuruko said. Everyone stared and didn't speak, the silence engulfed the room; it was oppressive.
"Um, well, I could teach you…" Shinobu offered, breaking the silence.
"Really? Hmm…then maybe my husband might become too amorous…" Tsuruko mused.
"Ne-chan!" Motoko said, blushing red. Tsuruko suddenly chuckled.
"Oh ho, so embarrassed are we? You know, you should be thinking about these things with your landlord—"
"Ne-chan!" Motoko said again. She had not said or looked at Keitaro since coming down, but now she threw a glance in his direction. He also had a slight flush in his cheeks barely noticeable. He back into her eyes, and she saw her own deep pools that made her very uncomfortable. She turned back to Tsuruko. "Ne-chan, I already told you that—"
"Blah blah, yeah, you don't want to have Keitaro's children," Tsuruko said. Shinobu dropped the chopsticks she had been holding in her hands. They clattered on the floor while Kitsune raised her eyebrows, as she was prone to do when juicy bits of information like this was revealed. The "evil or at least mischievous plot" system was turned on, and Kitsune smiled slowly.
"Ch-children?" Shinobu stuttered.
"Oh, don't worry, Shinobu-chan, it's all very easily explained," Tsuruko said.
"It is?" Shinobu asked.
"Yes," Tsuruko said, smiling. "If Motoko and Keitaro have children together, then they will switch back and all their problems will be solved!" DOOOONG! Everyone's mouth dropped open, even Naru and Su who had heard this before. Is she…doing this on purpose? Naru thought. Motoko and Keitaro recovered first, and they both exclaimed at once,
"Sister!" Tsuruko turned with a genuinely confused face.
"What?" she asked.
"Don't phrase it like that, sister!" Keitaro said.
"Please be more considerate!" Motoko begged.
"But that's what usually happens," Tsuruko said.
"Don't worry, Shinobu," Naru said, putting on a smile somehow. She laughed nervously. "All Tsuruko ne-chan meant was that if they can put aside all their differences then they can switch back." Shinobu finally moved again and breathed in relief. "She just meant that by that time the two are in such harmony that they are up to that stage." Shinobu froze again, then started to cry.
"Au!" she cried. She jumped up from her chair and ran outside crying.
"Wait, Shinobu!" Keitaro cried, jumping up from his own chair and dashing outside to follow the weeping Shinobu. The girls remained stared at the door, except for Su who stared while eating. She swallowed.
"So Keitaro's going to get married?" Su asked. Motoko flinched and immediately started to shout.
"NO!" she said, firmly and settling the matter. "That will NEVER happen!"
"Like how you were never going to take a bath with him?" Kitsune asked. Motoko twitched again and almost fell out of her chair.
"That…I mean…it was unavoidable…" she stuttered.
"So little sister has already decided to go "that" route? Oo," Tsuruko said, her hand over her mouth in embarrassment, though to Motoko it seemed fake.
"I…NEVER DID!" Motoko suddenly burst out.
"Then what's this?" Kitsune asked, turning on a TV she had obtained from somewhere and switching it on.
"There, watch out and lower yourself slowly into the water," Motoko's, or to be more accurate Keitaro's voice came from the TV.
"Ah…this feels good, the water I mean," Motoko, really Keitaro said.
"KITSUNE! STOP THIS TRAVESTY AT ONCE!" Motoko roared. Kitsune felt the awesome battle power emanating from Motoko and quickly raised the remote and pressed stop.
"Hey, I wasn't done watching!" Su interjected.
"Su!" Naru exclaimed. "Don't be like that!" Tsuruko seemed pensive and she crossed her legs and put one hand on her chin, all the while making a "hmm" sound. Motoko turned to her sister, beet red, and saw her thinking about…something. Oh no, does she think I am "loose" because I was forced to do that? Motoko thought worriedly.
"It's quite interesting," Tsuruko said after a while. Her voice indicated no anger, nor embarrassment, but Motoko was wary. Something was up, and Motoko really wanted to know.
"What is so, ah, interesting, dear sister?" Motoko asked.
"Perhaps it is possible," Tsuruko said, completely ignoring Motoko. "But it will take a while…unless…I'll be back, Motoko." With that, Tsuruko left.
"So…what is this thing about?" Kitsune asked slyly.
"Older sister already told you!" Motoko said huffily. She got up, pushed her chair in, then left as well.
"Well, that turned out well," Kitsune commented.
"Kitsune, that type of joke is not funny right now," Naru responded dryly. Kitsune only giggled.
Motoko's Room
Motoko was fuming again in the middle of her room. She sat in a meditation pose, unaware of anything around her. What was ne-chan talking about, quite interesting! Motoko thought. And talking about making babies like that! Jeez! Does she have no tact? Motoko knew, though, this was unfair, and Tsuruko only said things like that to have fun. Of course, she loved to have fun at Motoko's expense, and even though as little children she was her idol and still is. Except for the married part.
"Ne-chan always does that," Motoko muttered to herself. Most of the time she thought it was just playful, out of love, but this time it struck to her very core that had caused her anger to flare up. She couldn't believe she had talked like that, even though it was impossible to do anything about resolving their differences. It was impossible.
"Urashima is an impossible man to get along with," Motoko murmured to herself. She felt a twang of guilt as she said this – Urashima did try to be kind to all the residents, to the point of overdoing it. But it was a fleeting moment and Motoko resumed her fuming.
"Plus he's perverted and constantly does things that are offensive," she told herself again. The door opened, and Motoko glanced towards the motion.
"Motoko?" Tsuruko said. "Oops, it's the landlord…"
"No, it's me, ne-chan, remember?" Motoko said.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," Tsuruko said. She came in and sat down. "So what were you thinking about little sister?" Motoko pondered upon the answer she should give. Should she admit that she had been thinking that Urashima was a dirty useless man?
"I bet you were thinking that your landlord is a dirty useless man," Tsuruko said, after gazing at Motoko's face. Motoko twitched in surprise and she opened her eyes.
"Ah…err…how did you know?" she asked. Tsuruko chuckled in her off-hand way that was so maddening.
"Little sister, you are really bad at hiding things. Anyone could tell what you were thinking," Tsuruko said. "You virtually had it written on your face!" Motoko instinctively started to look for a mirror, but then she realized she was being ridiculous and turned back to her sister.
"Um…older sister? C-can I ask you…a personal question?" Motoko inquired. Tsuruko raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?" she asked. Motoko was sweating slightly, and she wiped it from her eyes. Swallowing she began to speak.
"Ah…" she began, "How did, err, you know that, you had the one?"
"One? What one?" Tsuruko responded. "What does that mean?"
"Well, you know, the one," Motoko repeated. She looked down, embarrassed.
"Oh! Well, Motoko, when you find the one then you'll know!" Tsuruko said. "It's hard to describe the feeling."
"Could you, ah, try? I just want to know the feasibility of switching back," Motoko said.
"Because you don't think you can get rid of all your differences if Keitaro-kun is not the one for you?" Tsuruko suggested. Motoko looked around nervously before giving her answer.
"Sort of…" she said. "It just that…well, I'm wondering how hard I should try." Motoko fell silent.
"Okay, since you're my little sister I have no qualms about this…although it does seem weird because your Keitaro too. Perhaps I should turn around…" Tsuruko chuckled lightly. Motoko waited, and Tsuruko got the point. She cleared her throat.
"So when I met my husband I didn't fall in love at first sight. It wasn't one of those, though I can't discount that that never happens. It was more of a general friendship that deepened into love. This is what I believe true love is, when two friends spend a long time together, have fun together, then realize they really care about each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together." Motoko's face suddenly brightened like a bulb turning on. Her next line spilled out very fast.
"So that must mean Urashima and I can't be like that!" Motoko said. "I don't consider him as a friend and don't spend time with him!" Tsuruko waved her finger.
"Uh uh uh, you see, this is what true love is, but it can develop from a short time with each other. You see, sometimes it is fated that two should spend the rest of their lives together, protecting one another, and the attraction is sprung almost immediately," Tsuruko said. "I have seen this happen several times over and over."
"Really ne-chan?" Motoko asked, crushed that perhaps Urashima was fated with her after all. "Is it possible to predict it?"
"Well, you could go to a divination woman, but who knows if they're actually real or fake," Tsuruko said. "Though from the signs, anyone could guess that maybe you are fated to be with Keitaro-kun.
"What! How did you come up with that conclusion!" Motoko asked, worried and sad at this declaration by Tsuruko.
"Well, it stands to reason that by the events occurred that maybe Kami-sama himself wanted it this way," Tsuruko said. (A/N: I believe – correct me if wrong – that Kami-sama refers to God) "And," she continued, "Thus this "cursed body switch" you find yourself under is only the way that you shall meet and learn to love Keitaro. Almost every and any prophet, real or fake, could tell you this. The switch was meant to happen; you are meant to be with Keitaro."
Motoko didn't know what to say to this…this fate. Was it, after, fate? Could she be destined to love, cherish, and hold dear forever that…that…she couldn't think it. Why Urashima? She asked herself and whoever was up there. Don't they have anything better to do than mess with my love life? For a moment, she was appalled and astonished that she was actually was talking about a love life. If she had been told that she was destined with Urashima, no, with being married, she would have laughed or perhaps she might have taken offense. She didn't want marriage; she didn't want kids; she didn't want a love life to think about at all.
"Why?" she murmured more to herself than to Tsuruko. Tsuruko answered anyways.
"Motoko-chan, some things in life cannot be explained. When I was your age, I dreamed of continuing the dojo forever and maybe handing it down to you when I passed on, but then I met my husband and I was truly content to let you have it. If you had asked me about this before, I would have laughed you out of the house," Tsuruko said. "Think about it some more, then get some sleep. We have to train early tomorrow, eh? Five in the morning?" Motoko was slightly dazed and there was a slight pause before she answered.
"Yes. Yes, of course," she said. "And I will get Urashima too, and perhaps Komachi will come."
"Oh yes, I've heard of her," Tsuruko said. "Well, that will be wonderful, perhaps I still have a trick or two to teach you." Tsuruko chuckled and stood up. "Good night, Motoko-chan." Motoko nodded and Tsuruko left.
"Is Urashima the one?" she asked herself. It was a long time before she got any sleep.
Keitaro's Room
Naru sipped her tea. She and Keitaro were having a rare moment together studying. Keitaro had cajoled and guilted Naru into helping him, saying "You've haven't helped me for a long time, and I need help now!" Naru was credulous that Keitaro was so worthless – his long time was only since the 15th, which was only five days ago. Just like the old Keitaro, Naru thought. This simple thought cause a revelation – Keitaro had changed. Well, obviously he's changed by becoming Motoko, Naru thought ironically, but she knew it was more than that. His personality hasn't changed for the worse, because he's the same stupidly over-kind manager. No, what has changed is his reliability, which is a very good thing indeed. She sipped some tea. Keitaro was busy studying and scribbling down stuff, math stuff.
"Ah, Narusegawa, can you check this?" Keitaro asked, and handed her the notebook he was writing in. Naru took it and started to check it.
"Oh man, it's already this late?" Keitaro said to himself. "Oh well, can't help it. Don't even know why I'm bothering," Keitaro grumbled. Naru paused and looked up from correcting Keitaro's mistakes.
"Bothering with what?" Naru asked. "What are you talking about?"
"With this. I can't get it and I can't do it, and it looks like Motoko's going to have to take the test for me anyways," Keitaro told her, and he scratched his head. "Though if she gets in, it'll be a real problem for me." Keitaro's face suddenly was wrought into a frown and he almost started crying. "What if I'm forever like this and never get to go into Todai? Then I'll never meet that girl! Wah! Narusegawa, you have to help meeeee!" Naru backed away as Keitaro began crawling forward in pathetic whimpering.
"What are you crazy!" Naru shouted. She slapped Keitaro on the head with the notebook she was holding. "Don't be so stupid!" Keitaro rubbed his head where the book had made contact.
"But what if I'm stuck as Motoko forever? Nobody wants that!" Keitaro moaned again. Naru put on a very calm and reasoning tone.
"Keitaro, of course Motoko's sister will have a plan to help you switch back. In fact, right now she's probably thinking up some elaborate scheme that will help you change back into your rightful body!" Naru exclaimed over-optimistically.
Tsuruko's Room
ZZZZZZZZZZ! Tsuruko was sound asleep in her futon.
Keitaro's Room
"You're probably right," Keitaro said.
"As always!" Naru said cheerfully. Keitaro scowled at this comment, but knowing it was true didn't say anything. "Anyways, you didn't do too bad on this one." She handed him back the notebook.
"Yes! I got it right!" Keitaro cried in joy. He started on the next problem. Naru sipped some more tea and gazed at Keitaro working hard. It's difficult to say why he's so hard working, but it's a good manly feature to have, Naru thought. She then smiled as she remembered and recounted to herself the "unmanly" times in her head. Why were they so funny? Naru suddenly thought, and laughed at herself.
"What's so funny?" Keitaro asked, spying the smile and slight chuckling coming from Naru.
"Oh…nothing," Naru denied.
"Give it, you were laughing at me, weren't you?" Keitaro accused. Naru was about to deny it when she realized she was indirectly doing exactly that.
"Not…really," she said unconvincingly. Keitaro didn't believe her.
"Why? Did I fail horribly on this problem?" Keitaro asked. He looked again at his work. "No, I'm pretty sure I got it…"
"You…fool!" Naru said. "Am I not allowed to laugh?"
"No," Keitaro said. "Not when I'm the subject and not informed." Naru almost got angry, but this was so pathetic she started to laugh again.
"Why? What did I do!" Keitaro asked, desperate for an answer. He got up, then tripped and landed you know where. SQUISH!♥
"You…" Naru said. Keitaro tried to recover by pushing himself off, but instead Naru fell to the ground and Keitaro was over her. It was the classic "man attacking women" pose, but as usual it was an accident. "OFF!" Naru shouted, and punched Keitaro in the face. BAM! BAM! He hit the opposite wall while Naru climbed back down through the hole in the room. "Good night!♥" she said sweetly to the smoldering wreck on the wall that had once been Keitaro. She covered the hole back up and left. THUMP! Keitaro landed on the floor.
"I…I don't get it at all," he said to himself, wondering what the heck was up with Naru. Down as she prepared for bed she though, That was fun.
Motoko's Room
:4:45 AM, Saturday February 21st:
TAP! Motoko heard a sound and twitched in her futon. Is it…is it morning? TAP! She had a feeling it was, but refrained from looking at the clock. TAP! What is that noise? She wondered. She ignored it. TAP! She knew that as the sound was annoying her, she could never sleep and she might as well take a look at the clock. 4:45 AM. Okay, time to wake up…and practice kendo. Did I ask Komachi to come over? Will she come over at five o'clock in the morning?
"Motoko!" someone hissed. Motoko guessed that it was Tsuruko; who else would be up and wanting to practice as much as her sister would? The door opened silently and closed silently as well. Perhaps I should pretend to be asleep. I don't need to do anything for fifteen minutes at least, Motoko thought. She could change quickly that it didn't take much. She felt footsteps near her body. Multiple footsteps. Is it Tsuruko and…probably Komachi, after all I do remember asking her if she wanted to come train. Motoko kept her eyes closed.
"She's still asleep," someone whispered. Yup, there are two people here, Motoko thought.
"Good," the other said. Good? Motoko thought worriedly. "Go and do it." She heard some shuffling, then it stopped.
"Do I have to?" was whispered back.
"If you want to ever get what you want," the other said. Motoko almost felt a sort of shudder, but she now was curious at what was happening. She kept her eyes closed and breathed normally. Suddenly she felt the cover being lifted and someone got in with her! What is this? Motoko thought worriedly. Even worse, she felt an arm lay over her and felt breathing over her face. Her eyes flew open, but it didn't help because it was almost pitch black. She moved.
"Oh…ah, are you awake, Motoko…err…chan?" Keitaro asked. There was no more mistaking it now, it was clear Urashima had gotten in bed with her. She clenched his fists in rage, and if she had gone to bed with her sword nearby then Motoko would have lashed out. "Um, good morning, and, err, it is time to practice, um, train," Keitaro said. She suddenly smelled sweat – no she felt sweat that was pouring off of Urashima. Suddenly he stood up, and shouted.
"I can't do it! She'll kill me! Save me! Save me ne-chan!" Keitaro cried, whimpering. "I tried, but she'll just hate me more!" Keitaro continued to mutter gibberish as he hid in a corner of the room. Motoko stood up slowly and started to growl.
"Urashima…how dare you defile me!" she shouted. "You even put…your arm around me!" She articulated each word with a menace that had Keitaro whimpering even more. Motoko raised her fists.
"Save me! Tsuruko ne-chan asked me to do it!" he cried, and as Motoko lashed out. BAM! "Huh?" Keitaro asked, noticing the lack of pain. A hole in the wall was present next to his head and he looked up to see Motoko's back.
"Sister! How could you!" Motoko asked. "Is it true?" She now saw her sister who chuckled lightly.
"Ah, Motoko, I was just trying to tell Keitaro-kun that it would help your relationship and make you change back quicker," Tsuruko said. Motoko gritted her teeth and saw through this obvious lie that Keitaro she knew was too innocent to doubt.
"Sister! What is the real reason?" Motoko asked. Tsuruko, though no one could see it, lifted her eyes and faced Motoko.
"Why, nothing than what I just said, Motoko-chan," she stated. Motoko knew that something was wrong, but Tsuruko wasn't giving anything up. Someone else entered the room.
"Komachi-chan?" Keitaro asked.
"Hey, it's a party! Hello, Keitaro-kun!" Komachi said, waving. She bowed to Tsuruko.
"Why, how respectful! No need for that, it's not like I run the dojo anymore!" Tsuruko said.
"Um…excuse me, Tsuruko ne-chan, but don't you still run it?" Keitaro asked, putting a fake smile on his face.
"Well, one day Motoko will…or maybe not, if she gets you," Tsuruko said, slyly like with an unreal imitation of Kitsune's smile. Is Motoko's sister this devious? Keitaro asked himself while sweat-dropping. An uncomfortable silence passed while Komachi was confused.
"Let's go!" Tsuruko said happily, and she dragged Motoko and Keitaro out to the roof while Komachi followed.
Roof
"HYAH!" CLACK! A block!
"Go Keitaro-kun!" Motoko and Keitaro were sparring, while Tsuruko watched, commented, and made suggestions. Komachi was cheering. "Go Motoko-chan!" Motoko made a series of attacks – to the left, the right, and from below, but Keitaro managed to make a pathetic defense. CLACK CLACK CLACK!
"Keitaro-kun, you have to go on the offensive sometime," Tsuruko said. Motoko kept on pressing down.
"I…trying!" Keitaro managed to squeak out. He wanted to, but it was very difficult because Motoko never let down, and wouldn't lose on purpose, and always used her full strength. It was amazing that Keitaro managed to block anything, considering that he had been so pathetic a while ago. BAM! Motoko scored a hit and Keitaro went down like a sack of potatoes. He got up slowly as Komachi cheered.
"Good hit, Motoko-chan!" Tsuruko moved towards Keitaro.
"Keitaro-kun, come here…" she said, and started to work with Keitaro. Which left Komachi and Motoko by themselves.
"Want to spar?" Motoko asked. Komachi nodded.
"Heh, let's go!" She grabbed a sword and swung. The two started to spar heavily, swinging and clacking swords, dodging this and hitting that.
:6:00 AM, an hour later:
Motoko and Komachi were still sparring.
"Komachi, you've gotten better," Motoko said, breathing heavily. Komachi smiled.
"Of course," she said. She aimed for a vital point, but Motoko blocked it.
"This is, though your limit," she said, and Motoko blasted Komachi with an ultra special combo. "Lion Million Claw technique!" The blade moved so fast that Komachi had no time to block any of them and she fell down. She breathed heavily when Motoko reached her arm out.
"It looks like you win again," Komachi said. Motoko smiled when suddenly Keitaro came flying into the middle of them and knocked Motoko out.
"Motoko-chan! Keitaro-kun!" Komachi cried. Tsuruko also rushed over, but suddenly Keitaro got up. "Wha-?" Komachi asked. Keitaro gave a thumbs up sign to Tsuruko.
"Um…what's going on?" Komachi asked.
"We were just training," Tsuruko said. "But we focused on Keitaro's specialty, so I think he can even beat Motoko." Komachi opened her mouth in surprise; beat Motoko? Is that possible? Will it ever be possible? She voiced her concerns to Tsuruko.
"Ah, Tsuruko ne-chan, how is that possible? I mean, sure, Keitaro-kun has some skills, but can it be that good?" Komachi asked. Keitaro, meanwhile, was poking on Motoko to see if he could get her to wake up.
"We shall see," Tsuruko said as Motoko rose and slapped Keitaro on the head for knocking her out.
"Stupid!" Motoko said. Keitaro apologized in his usual manner.
"Sorry, sorry, Motoko-chan," Keitaro said. Motoko stood up without the help of Keitaro, who had his arm out for that purpose.
"Since when do you get to use the "chan" suffix anyways?" she asked. Keitaro scratched the back of his head with on arm.
"Well, Tsuruko ne-chan said I should," Keitaro answered. He shrugged. "That's why, I guess if you're really offended…" Tsuruko butt in at this point.
"Motoko is not offended at all," she said.
"What! How do you get to decide whether I'm offended or not?" Motoko asked incredulously. Tsuruko suddenly turned and gave a look that only Motoko understood. She often gave that look when they were younger, for example when Tsuruko had something drastic that if Motoko didn't follow her command, something bad might follow. "Ah…I'm not offended, Urashima," Motoko said.
"Motoko-chan, Tsuruko ne-chan says that Keitaro-kun can beat you now!" Komachi suddenly put in, and Motoko raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? I'd like to see that happen," she said. Tsuruko chuckled heartily.
"Why don't we see?" she said, and stepped back with Komachi leaving Motoko and Keitaro left to spar. The sun had began to fully shed its light, and the rays were displayed over the roof like a landscape painting with two fighters in the middle on the brink of destroying one another. Motoko heaved her sword into the ready position as did Keitaro.
"Go," Tsuruko commanded. Neither moved. If Older sister showed Urashima something…tricky, then it might be dangerous, Motoko thought. She wanted to see it first. I hope I don't die, was what flashed through Keitaro's brain. Suddenly in a split-second Motoko gave up the idea of seeing what Keitaro would do and attacked. A quick blow from below was blocked safely, but Motoko changed and pressed on. She struck from the side, the other side, the top, diagonally downwards from left to right and every other direction. It was like repeat of their first session. Keitaro only managed to block every blow and could not push the offensive.
"Keitaro-kun, go!" Komachi cheered. Motoko spoke as well.
"Urashima, I thought you had something special to show me," she said through clenched teeth as she swung again and again.
"Keitaro-kun, why don't you show it?" Tsuruko said.
"Hah, like I'd let you! Lion Million Claw technique!" Motoko said, using the combo from before and striking Keitaro. Suddenly in the middle of the technique Keitaro burst through and swung at Motoko, hitting her clean in the stomach and causing her to fall backwards down onto the ground.
"Motoko-chan!" Komachi cried. She started but Motoko held one hand up in a "stop" sign.
"I (pant) am (pant) okay…" Motoko gasped, as the wind had been hit out of her. She sat on the floor of the roof gasping.
"Ah…I'm sorry, Motoko-chan, I didn't mean to swing that hard," Keitaro said. He came over along with Tsuruko who squatted down.
"Do you want to know how Keitaro did that?" she asked. Motoko was still panting, but slowly the feeling of her loss came like a meteor. YOU LOST! She couldn't take it, and she became even more stressed, panting more. No…how…when? I don't want to know! I don't want to know how pathetic I am! I don't…yet…knowing is the only way to defeating it! Motoko's brain played like this and she didn't reply her sister.
"Ho ho ho, Motoko-chan, it looks like you're confused," Tsuruko said. She put her hand on her chin.
"Tsuruko ne-chan, I want to know how Keitaro-kun does it!" Komachi asked enthusiastically.
"It's nothing that special!" Keitaro said, but Komachi asked again, tugging on Keitaro's sleeve.
"C'mon, Keitaro-kun! I want to know!" she whined.
"Maybe Tsuruko ne-chan can explain…I'm not too sure myself of what I do, Komachi-chan," Keitaro said.
"No!" Motoko shouted. "Again, Urashima!" She had gotten her breath back and lunged forward.
Kitchen
:7:00 AM:
GOOMPH! Motoko fainted as she entered the kitchen and Keitaro rushed to grab her and lend himself as support. As angry as Motoko was at Keitaro, she couldn't do anything to stop him from supporting her. Komachi grabbed the other arm.
"Rough training time?" Naru asked, already eating. She waited for Motoko to summon up enough energy simply to nod. Keitaro and Komachi lowered her into a seat. Tsuruko now entered into the kitchen and sat down next to Naru.
"It was actually quite taxing on my dear little sister," Tsuruko said. "No matter what she may say," she added. Motoko only threw a half-hearted stare at Tsuruko that tried to pierce her soul and give her a fright. The look never even reached Tsuruko who had picked up a pair of chopsticks and had gratefully started to eat the food that was laid out for her. The group around the table was normal – that is, Su was stuffing her mouth, Kitsune was trying to hold the chopsticks steady after waking up with a hangover, and Shinobu was eating quietly in her own little way while glancing to see if anyone was saying anything about the food.
"Why?" Naru asked.
"Naru-san, you shouldn't ask such questions," Komachi admonished. But she answered it anyways. "It's because Keitaro-kun was defeating Motoko several times. Well, actually how many times did you spar?" Keitaro rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't remember," he said. It was partially true; he knew the general number but didn't want to make Motoko feel bad that she had lost. Alas, Motoko was more tired from the mental fatigue of losing each time to Urashima than actually losing. Why? What makes him like that? How does he do it? ARGH! This hurts my brain! Motoko thought. She stared at the food in front of her.
"Eat, sister," Tsuruko said. "Plus, it's very good as usual." She gave a thumbs up to Shinobu who nodded in return. Komachi had begun eating but Keitaro, worried, hadn't eaten his portion yet.
"I can't," Motoko stated simply. She was too angry, too irked, too darn annoyed to eat! What was Urashima doing that was so…good? Tsuruko still hadn't explained and Keitaro didn't even really know what he did, only that something worked. Suddenly there was food hanging in front of her face. The stringy clump of noodles dangled in front of her and she looked to see Keitaro holding food for her.
"Hungry?" Keitaro asked. Motoko scowled at him.
"I can feed myself," she said. "No thank you." Keitaro still refused to take away the delicious smelling food from her face. She realized rapidly how hungry she was, but after rejecting Keitaro she wasn't going to admit it. And she could feed herself. "No, I don't want your food," she said, or would have said if Keitaro's hand hadn't been bumped and the chopsticks stuffed in her mouth with the food. Everyone froze for a second as Motoko nearly died. She swallowed and turned to face Keitaro who was shrinking away in morbid fear, fear that soon he might become another passenger on the train to death.
"Care to explain what that was about?" she said with such a menacing undertone that Keitaro wished he hadn't even thought about feeding Motoko. What was he thinking, anyways? Motoko almost drew her sword, but the memory of her recent loss—scratch that, her recent losses burned through her mind and she didn't unsheathe her blade. Yet Keitaro still shrank back as small as possible.
"Uh…someone bumped me," he said. Motoko waited for someone to confirm Keitaro's statement, but no such declaration was uttered. "I swear!" he cried as Motoko drew nearer. Motoko felt a violent urge to lash out with all she had, slicing this insolent male down this instant. She felt the rush of anger, boiling like a volcano ready to exploded.
"Motoko, perhaps you want to consider your future," Tsuruko interjected. "Killing him now won't let you change back." Motoko froze; she knew it was true. "In fact, getting angry with him won't let you change back either."
"But sister, what can I do!" Motoko suddenly cried out, in anger and in shame. "This man irritates me so much! Everyday he does things that irk me to no end, this man!" Keitaro flinched at every attack. Am I that bad? He secretly wondered to himself.
"That is the basis of your problem," Tsuruko said. "You know that." Motoko was regretful that she had ever invited her sister. Why did she irk her as well as Urashima!
"Stupid Urashima!" Motoko uttered more to herself than to Keitaro. She turned and sat back down angry. Keitaro was just happy that he escaped with his life – in reality, his special move wasn't really something he remembered he could do all the time. The breakfast continued silently; even Su didn't talk, only ate loudly as usual.
"Tsuruko ne-chan, what is the secret to Keitaro-kun's victory?" Komachi asked out of the blue. Motoko flinched inwardly – she didn't want to know.
"Oh, it's very simple," Tsuruko explained. "He simply projects his invincibility outward using a technique I taught him. So he can not worry about being hit and just slam his opponent." Motoko had been tempted to close her ears, but she didn't and now she just felt stupid. Something as little as a tiny invincibility power had beaten her, her, the resident kendo master.
"That's cheating!" Motoko said, suddenly slamming her fist on the table and standing up. "Urashima, let's have a real fight without your invincibility!" Though it was something insignificant as invincibility, meaning that Motoko definitely had more talent and skill, she knew it is difficult to over come that. It's like trying to cut a rock with a piece of paper.
"Motoko-chan, I'd lose badly like that! What happened before? I know that I'm am weaker, in fact I admit your superiority and bow down," Keitaro said, and did so because he first of all didn't feel like sparring any more and second knew he would lose badly. He told himself, and it was true, that it was only by luck that he drew out this invincibility shield that Tsuruko had taught him. He definitely wouldn't remember to pull it out on the fly. Motoko made a "hmmph" sound and crossed her arms.
"As you should," she only said. Everyone finished breakfast and filed out slowly. Keitaro was weary of Tsuruko and Motoko. He wasn't that stupid, for his low IQ. He knew that the more Tsuruko pushed for harmony the more the giant chasm between Motoko and himself would increase. Yet it had to shrink somehow, otherwise their bodies would be stuck like this forever. Tsuruko pulled him aside as he climbed the stairs to his room.
"Manager, I would like a word with you," she asked. Fearing that Tsuruko was going to tell him to go do something he would regret, Keitaro tried to pretend he hadn't heard her, but apparently it wasn't in his control whether or not he went with Tsuruko. She grabbed his collar and dragged him to her room.
Tsuruko's room
"Keitaro-kun, we have a problem," Tsuruko said. Komachi who was there for "moral support" nodded.
"That's right, you two can't get along," Komachi said. She waved her finger in a "no no" motion. "And that means you guys will never switch back."
"I know," Keitaro said. He felt dejected, as every time he tried to help he seemed to only make it worse. He wanted so much to rid the difficulties and conflicts between himself and Motoko…
"I know how you have to fix it," Tsuruko said. "The only way is to love her." Komachi sputtered as well as Keitaro.
"Wha-what!" they both exclaimed. Tsuruko nodded her head in affirmation.
"Yes, Keitaro-kun, what you don't realize is that Motoko is a very delicate girl. I sense that she actually feels something for you, though you may not realize it. I understand her psyche, and can interpret her feelings. She was so angry about losing to you because she really deep down inside feels something for you," Tsuruko said.
"Um…isn't because she hates losing in general?" Keitaro asked, not sure about her explanation. Tsuruko tsked and shook her head.
"Keitaro, you don't understand the female brain, do you?" Tsuruko said.
"Of course not! If I did, I would write books and get millions of dollars!" Keitaro burst out. "It's like some complicated thing! I thought she wanted men to be strong?"
"She does," Tsuruko replied.
"Then what gives?" Keitaro explained. Komachi took this chance to put in her two cents worth.
"Kei-kun," she said, "a girl's feelings are deep and complex. While she wants you to be strong, she can't bear the idea of losing to you. This is what she thinks: I love Keitaro and want him to be manly and strong, yet he can't beat me because only my sister can be stronger than me. It's like that." Keitaro hadn't heard this strong proclamation that Motoko loves him. He stared at the two girls – one a women and one a high school student. Suddenly he burst out in loud laughter.
"You're joking, right? Motoko in love…and in love with me? Where do you get this stuff?" Keitaro asked. He laughed again. "It's be a cold day in hell before that happens."
Hell
"WHO THE HECK BROKE THE THERMOSTAT AND THE FURNACE? HOW CAN ANY ONE BURN IN THE FIERY PITS OF HELL IF IT'S ONLY TWENTY DEGREES IN HERE?" Lucifer roared. "WHERE'S THE MECHANIC?"
Tsuruko's room
"Keitaro-kun, you must search your feelings and see if you can love her back. This is what will decide whether you will change back," Komachi said. Keitaro still didn't believe them.
"Look, this isn't some shojo manga series," he said. "People with that much loathing for me can't be in love. I refuse to believe it! I would never get that lucky!" He froze. The clocked ticked loudly and chimed the hour. Tsuruko suddenly burst along with Komachi into smiles.
"See? You do like her!" they both said at once.
"What is this?" Keitaro cried, and he tried to crawl away as they held him down and tried to force a confession out of him.
"I don't mean that!" he said. "It's just…"
"Just what?" Tsuruko said. Keitaro started to blush slightly.
"Well, I mean…Motoko's a very beautiful girl and I don't think I could be the one, you know, for her. I think…I think she's destined for a better match." Komachi was in tears.
"Oh! So noble! Willing to sacrifice for her! Only true love is so noble!" she wept.
"It's not like that, confound it, I'm trying to tell you something!" Keitaro said while Tsuruko just chuckled.
"Ho ho ho, Keitaro-kun, maybe you should think about it deeper and see what lies in your heart," she said. It was deep, yet ridiculous at the same time because she was laughing. Keitaro abruptly stood up.
"I'm going," he said and left. Komachi looked at Tsuruko.
"What's your assessment?" Tsuruko asked.
"It's obvious," Komachi replied. "He's taken."
Motoko's Room
Motoko for the third time in two days was fuming in her room. The ridiculous embarrassment of having Urashima's eating utensils in her mouth had not gone away – in fact she swore she still felt the burning pain where the chopsticks had made contact. This worried her less then Urashima's prowess in battle. She hadn't had time to properly think about it, but winning still hung in her mind and refused to depart from. It infected her thinking, her being, her very soul. She just had to beat Urashima.
"And why?" she asked herself. What? Where had that come from? She answered her own question. "Why? Because he's a spineless weak man, and someone like that can't be allowed to defeat me." But didn't the victory prove that Urashima wasn't spineless nor weak? He's only relying on his invincibility, nothing else, the wimp! Motoko thought. It seemed though part of her brain was bound to play the devil's advocate. She couldn't think of a reason why Urashima wasn't allowed to rely on his invincibility; after all, you could say Motoko relied on her years of training and her control of ki.
"But it's not fair!" Motoko whined out loud. No wait, not fair? Since when was life fair? She distinctly remember the time when her parents were taken from her; she remembered the hated man taking her sister away from her; she remembered the disgusting moment when Urashima had become the manager. Why was this any different? And she had been able to overcome all these difficulties, albeit sometimes not in the best way, but she had resolved to get used to Urashima and she did. Of course, this did not stop her from hitting him, bashing him, and trying multiple times to kill him, which he survived. Life was not fair, she was forced to admit that. But of all the people it had to be that man who achieved immortality, she thought bitterly. But maybe the gods had granted him this, because he lacked so much in the other departments. If you think about it, he's dumb, clumsy, perverted, not macho looking at all, and he is weak, so maybe if anyone was going to be immortal, it would have to be him, Motoko reflected. She suddenly got irritated; what was she doing thinking about who received immortality? No one was even sure that he was immortal, though the evidence was hard to ignore.
"A perverted man like him had to come and mess up my life," Motoko said with a angry smile on her face. But why should there be a smile? Was she happy that Urashima had come? "Well, my life would be a lot more dull without him," Motoko was forced to admit. Yet didn't Motoko need dull? Isn't the life of a swordsman rough, with many trials and routine? The fact of trials still caused her to believe that it was better that Urashima had come. She remembered back to the first time she met him – the groping panty thief. Then she remembered their first battle – he was so bad yet somehow he had tied!
"I was sick, though," Motoko muttered softly. Sick, but was it from love? She shuddered at the thought of being in love. How could she even consider it, after all then no one would be alive to receive the dojo and uphold the God Cry School. "No, it was not love," Motoko said resolutely, firmly without and doubt. She knew for a fact that when she first met him, she had not fallen for him. No…but what about now? She knew that sometimes when she woke up for training and just before she went to the roof (prior to changing into Keitaro's body) she peeked into Urashima's room and gazed upon his sleeping face that was only barely distinguishable in the darkness. Half the time her training had been ruined because she either stared at him too long or was distracted while practicing.
"Why did I do that?" she wondered aloud, and realized that when she knew she could coerce Urashima into practicing with her, she had been very excited though she would barely admit it to herself. She had told herself she was glad because perhaps he would become less perverted and clumsy, and more manly and stern. She almost smiled at the thought that he was good enough to beat her. Wait, that's the reason I'm mad at him! She thought furiously, and became very confused. How did she manage to come to the same topic, and in the beginning be angry yet at the end be happy?
"It can't be…love?" Motoko asked herself once more. "I can't…I just can't be in love with…Keitaro?" This was the first time she had said Keitaro, and it felt weird on her lips. She mouthed it, but stopped for fear of being caught by her sister, or even worse Keitaro himself. Wait, she had just thought Keitaro again! "No…" she denied.
Hell
"WHAT! THE MECHANIC IS ON BREAK FOREVER!" Lucifer shouted. "GREAT, THIS REALLY IS HELL!"
A/N: I have only a couple things to say at the end of this chapter. First, I hope no one's offended by the hell reference. Second, I CELEBRATE FOR BREAKING FIFTY REVIEWS ON ONE STORY! (Goes off and plays some mad DDR in celebration). And third, I hope I had more description in this chapter (I felt it was better writing) but somehow towards section before the end it felt like everyone was out of character. Hmm…but anyways, the last part was good. Lastly, I hope you don't get mad that there was less chaos and more "mushy romance stuff, ick!" Ha ha…oh well…Please R&R!