Disclaimer: I don't own squat.
A/N: To the anonymous reviewer, you know who you are, if you want to insult my work and my personal beliefs as portrayed on my profile; leave a signed review you F***ing D***head! That way I could respond to your colorful language. I appreciate creative criticism but you stepped over the line with what you wrote. And for anyone who is against same sex relationships, keep your opinions to yourself and don't try and insult people who are in those relationships. Some of my closest friends are gay/lesbian, and they are some of the nicest people I've meet so far. Hell, I'm bisexual and it's because of people like you that make our life hell just because of how we swing.
A/N2: Sorry for the long wait but I lost interest after above mentioned reviewer wrote what they did. I have nothing against flames but for one to criticize MY PERSONAL BELIEFS was something that made me seriously consider leaving this site. I am only on this site still because of the few people I've gotten to know have asked me to update.
A/N3: As far as Haruka's age goes, I made a mistake and as what should've been typed in was that she was 18 when gave birth to Keitaro, 24 when she gave birth to Sara, and is now currently 38 years old. Thanks to all the people who pointed this out.
A/N3: For the people who have something against me portraying Kanako as crazy in my pervious fics, well it just too easy to do so and odds are I will write more crazy Kanako stories. However in this one she as sane as can be.
-Inner Thoughts-Naru was in a bad mood, she had pulled an all nighter last night for the upcoming exams and she was exhausted. All she wanted right to do was to eat then hit the sack, but no Shinobu had to ask her to go wake up Keitaro. If it had been anyone else she'd have ignored them but when Shinobu gives you the puppy eyes you can't resist. Grumbling Naru headed back upstairs to wake their worthless manager. Yanking open the door Naru said, "Come on get up time for breakfast!"
Sara was having a wondrous dream when she was awoken by a high pitched screeching noise. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she turned to the general direction of the noise. "Why the hell are you sleeping with your sister? I have half a mind to beat you black and blue Urash-"
That rant woke Sara up with, and she told Naru what she thought of her words, "Shut up. Keitaro isn't even in this room at the moment." Sadly Naru's pea sized brain couldn't comprehend the steel behind Sara's words, "That pervert taking advantage of a young innocent girl like you. When I get my hands on him-"
Again she never finished her sentence because Keitaro had returned to the room, damp hair plastered against his topless skin. He had apparently been in the springs; Keitaro shut then locked the door in Naru's face before she could do something stupid. Naru stood in shock that he'd do something like that to her. Huffing Naru headed downstairs, determined to use this as an excuse to get rid of him. Twenty minutes later Keitaro and Sara arrived downstairs only to be shocked, because the girls were there standing in the way to the kitchen. Motoko spoke first, "Is this true Urashima?"
Blinking Keitaro and Sara asked at the same time, "Is what true?"
"Don't play dumb! I know ya'll slept together last night." A rather peeved Naru snapped. The Urashima siblings glanced at each other and burst out laughing. This wasn't what Naru had expected; Keitaro was supposed to be exposed as a pervert and kicked out. Wiping the tears from her face Sara spoke, "So? It's comforting to sleep with someone."
"Sara, don't make excuses for the pervert. I don't know what he told you but it is all a lie, he is just using you, so he can get off. Now come over here and tell us where he groped you." Amazingly Naru said this, anyone surprised? Several things happened; the smiles disappeared from the siblings faces, Keitaro froze up muttering to his self and only Mitsune saw how pale he became. Sara's small hands clenched into fists, and through gritted teeth she hissed at Naru, "SHUT UP! Not another word from you Narusegwa! Never speak like that again or I swear I will rip you're arms off and shove them so far up your-"
Some color returned to Keitaro's face at his sister's words, he covered her mouth with one hand and picked her up with his other; ignoring Sara's attempts to wriggle out of his arms and jump Naru. Keitaro took advantage of the confusion and ran between Mitsune and Su; into the woods he ran not noticing someone was following him. Keitaro carried Sara till they came to a grove, the grove Sara had shown him when he had been freed from Kingdom Hospital. Shaking off less than pleasant memories, he set Sara down onto her rock. Huffing Sara turned away from him, chuckling at her behavior Keitaro walked to his tree stump which had been worn smooth by the countless times he sat on it. In silence they sat; Sara angry that she was stopped from teaching Naru her place and Keitaro was simply taking in the splendor. The trees created a natural dome over them, allowing the perfect amount of light in. He ran a hand over the markings he and Sara made into the stump; K+S Forever.
So caught up in reminiscing the past Keitaro didn't hear Sara till she trough an acorn at him. Looking up Keitaro had the grace to be guilty about ignoring her. Rolling her eyes Sara spoke, "Why did you stop me?"
"I can't stand violence, and didn't want to run the risk of you getting hurt." Features softening, Sara accepted his response though she wished she had at least managed to get Naru. Sara left her spot and jumped onto her brother's lap. Keitaro's arms wrapped around her protectively, as she snuggled into his warm embrace.
"Why did you send him there? Look at him; is this your idea of treatment? I thought you cared for your son! Don't worry brother I'll protect you." Keitaro looked down his post-hospital self in all his beaten, burned, and bloody glory.
"Kei what's wrong?" Blinking Keitaro looked into the worried face of his beloved younger sister. His skin had paled as a ghost, and his shirt was slick with sweat. Looking into concerned eyes, Keitaro hugged her tightly, giving Su a run for her bananas squeezing wise. He allowed the pent up tears to flow down his face, casting aside the mask of 'joy' he had taken to wearing around strangers. He never allowed tears to flow, because he was then subjected to more punishment. Sara did the only thing she could do and held him throughout it all. In the shadows the follower's heart broke at the tender moment. She so wanted to go out and talk but just couldn't bring herself to intrude on the moment. Slinking back into the shadows she left the siblings, intent on getting answers.
Tea House
It was another slow day at her shop and Haruka wondered why she even bothered opening. Hearing the door open she went to greet the customer. Upon seeing that it was Mitsune, Haruka's face turned to barely repressed fury. She knew it was wrong to take her anger out on her but she wasn't in the mood to see any of the girls. Turning on her heels, she made as if to head back to the kitchen only to hear, "Haruka, I need to ask you something. It's about Keitaro."
Freezing Haruka mentioned towards a table, she and Mitsune taking a seat. "Well what happened to my son?" Haruka noted how fidgety Mitsune was, who was squirming in her seat; open fox eyes darting around.
"Yesterday he started freaking out and kept saying, Master don't hurt me. Keitaro acted like I was going to kill him or something. I had no idea what to do but then Sara came in and took him away. Then this morning Naru said how he was groping Sara as they slept and he paled. Sara on the other hand had actually threatened bodily harm to Naru if she continued. Keitaro grabbed her and left into the woods. So my question is what happened that made him act that way?" For the second time Haruka wished for a smoke; opting instead to pull a jug of sake out. Ignoring Mitsune's wide eye stare at where the bottle came from, Haruka poured them both a generous portion into a saucer.
"Mitsune I'm going to tell you something that only our family knows. If you tell anyone without permission, I will personally make your life a living hell." Gulping in fear Mitsune nodded in agreement wondering what she had gotten herself into. "When I was 18, I was pregnant with my son, Keitaro. It was a wonderful day for both Seta and I. We were in America at the time, on a dig when I gave birth. That night in our apartment he was taken from us. For 11 years we searched for him, with no success. Then on his 12th birthday we found him, while at an employee's house. He-he was in a small cell, with recant whip markings all over his frail, malnourished body." Bile rose in Mitsune's moth at the thought. She wanted Haruka to stop talking, but she had to hear it all. "He was raped, tortured and was a personal punching bag for that fucking bastard. In his cell, he had carved on the wall with his own nails how worthless he was. When we got to the hospital, the doctor said it was a miracle he even lived past the age of five. If only he wasn't of the Urashima blood, his suffering would've ended sooner."
Mitsune gagged on her sake as Haruka said it. "Haruka why did you say that? He's your son for crying out loud!"
"You think I don't know that he is my own flesh and blood, he is my son and I would do anything if it meant changing his past!" Haruka snapped through teary eyes. "The Urashima family has always been fast healers, to the point that even scars heal. Kei sadly has it the worst. His body won't scar and bones heal in minutes! If it weren't for that he would've did long ago!" Taking a deep breath, Haruka attempted to calm herself down.
Before Mitsune could ask, Haruka plowed on; she had answered Mitsune's question but she had to tell someone the full story. "But that's not the worst of what did happened to him," Seeing Mitsune's skin turn ghostly pale Haruka let out an emotionless laugh, "Yup his life gets even shitter. He came back with us and five years later I sentenced him to hell. He might've been saved but it damaged him mentally and he was slowly but surely losing the will to live; so I hospitalized him in the hope he could heal. There the mad doctor subjected him to not only reliving his past, but it was a hundred times worse. The doctor believed that if you could overcome something worse than your original fear, then you'll be 'healed'. He suffered a month in there before we finally found out what was going on, and got him out. It took him three years just to be able to talk and just in the past few months was he able to talk to his father, without being scared."
Mitsune was shaking so much at the telling she didn't acknowledge the fact sake was being spilt everywhere. That's what he had meant when he had spoken last night! When she had heard him she thought he misheard him, blaming it on the sake. It wouldn't have been the first time she hallucinated because of the alcohol. What happened that morning cinched it, proving she wasn't crazy. So much information was coursing through her brain, Mitsune did the sensible thing. She stood up and walked back to the dorms, intent on draining her stash.
Smirking at the dazed look on the leaving Mitsune, Haruka leaned back in her chair; attempting to keep the past away. Not bothering to move she said, "I know you're there, heck I could smell you a mile away," Receiving no response Haruka continued, "Tell no one."
Haruka waited till the scent of melons dimmed, indicating Mutsumi had left. Once she was alone did she allow herself to release the flood gates. Her son had suffered so much in such a short amount of time, she sometimes wondered if he had pissed off some superior being in a past life.
If Mitsune or Mutsumi had been so preoccupied in their own thoughts, they would have noticed a stranger running down the steps; said stranger was wearing a trench coat which completely covered her figure and the deep brimmed hat covering her face. The stranger was late to meet her lover; it was getting harder to get away with the same excuse but it worked. She hurried to their regular rooms, taking care not to be seen on the off chance they found out. She had barely locked the door when she felt arms entwine her from behind. She turned and kissed her lover; deeply and full of passion. "I've missed you Kanako." Only to be cut off be another kiss. Dimming the lights, Kanako guided her still completely clothed lover onto the bed.
Hot Springs; after Dinner
Sara lowered her nude body into the warm water. She felt the hot water loosen her tense form; the blood moon casting slashes of light through the clouds. The events of the past days had stressed her out more than she dared let on. Sara was relieved that Naru was out of the dorms, spending the night at a friend's house for a study-a-thon or something like that. Motoko was on yet another of her overnight kendo camps and Su had left earlier; mumbling something about grown-up form. Sara sunk deeper into the water, allowing it to rise up to her chin. She and Haruka had thought that coming here would have been good for Kei but she wondered if it was truly worth it.
The opening and closing of the door broke her from her thoughts and her fragile tranquility. Mitsune entered the springs, surprisingly with sake. The awkward silence that ensued was broken by Mitsune, "Um Sara, I spoke to Haruka and she sort of told me everything." Mitsune watched as Sara visibly tensed, Sara's eyes narrowed as she responded in a voice that could freeze Hell, "What did she tell you." It came out as more of a command than a question.
Swallowing her fear and sake Mitsune responded, "She told me of his tragic past and for what its worth I'm sorry for what I did to him when I first met him." Mitsune expected anger or the cold shoulder, but she didn't expect a hug. Somehow Sara had teleported from the other side of the springs and onto Mitsune's lap, burying her face in the ample bosom of Mitsune. Sara didn't know why she was doing this, but Mitsune's eyes held the same haunted look in them; a haunted look that she had seen Kei and anyone else who knew of what happened to him.
Neither spoke, no words were needed. When they broke apart Mitsune asked a question that had been bothering her for a while, "Sara, why does Kei never show off his eyes?" The answer she got made her regret asking, "Whenever he talks to someone all they do is just stare at his eyes, and others have even tried to remove an eye or both of them." Shaking in both fear and anger, Mitsune tightened her hold on Sara, not caring her sake had spilled over the ground.
In her room Shinobu winced as she tried to lie down comfortably in her bed. The bruises she received had faded, but the pain remained. She wished she had the courage to tell someone, but her tormentors threatened that if she did then she won' live to regret it. She had gone to bed earlier but the pain prevented sleep. Tomorrow she left to see her parents again, maybe tomorrow would be a better day for her.
Keitaro was ecstatic, he had received his mock exam results and it showed he had a 100% chance of getting into Tokyo University. Soon he would gain happiness just like Granny had told him. He heard his door open, thinking it was Sara; Keitaro didn't turn from his desk intent on surprising her with the excellent news. Only to be yanked upwards, twisted and pulled into a SUPER-ULTRA-MEGA BEAR HUG©! Whoever it was that was hugging him was also crying softly into his shoulder. Keitaro tried to pry her off of him but she held onto him refusing to lessen her grip. Awkwardly Keitaro returned the hug, patting the girl on her back. Eventually she pulled back and Keitaro felt himself drown in the chocolate eyes of Mutsumi; eyes that were full of love and care. Cursing inwardly Keitaro tried to turn his uncovered freakish eyes, regretting he had pulled his hair back when he is alone, but the 'damage' was done. Cupping his chin in her hands Mutsumi whispered to him, "Kei-kun, don't hide, I think you're eyes are wonderful."
If he had not been mesmerized by her angelic face, Keitaro would've rolled his eyes at her remark; he had been told that so many times he could sing along with you. A handful of people actually could hold a conversation with him without staring, and out of those people only a few were actually civilized towards him; sadly those he could count on one hand and still have fingers left over. Then his brain registered that she was touching him! No one outside of immediate family were able to even hold his hand, and only Sara could successfully hug him without out a spasm. But here it was, a stranger who he barely knew was touching him and he wasn't having an episode. And when he thought about it he actually enjoyed her hand on him, soft as can be emanating comforting warmth.
A feeling of… well he had no idea what it was that was flooding him; if he tried to describe it, he had an easier time telling people the meaning of life. Keitaro tried to speak only to be cut off by a pair of soft lips. The kiss wasn't a kiss of passion or innocence but it gave Keitaro an emotion he thought dead, hope. Hope that his life could possibly get better, with him finding the girl who would be his light in the darkness. If he were to die right then and there, he would go with a true smile on his face and not the mask of Joy. Sadly all good things must come to an end, and Mutsumi pulled back face slightly flushed. A very un-Keitaro whimper echoed throughout the room when the kiss ended. Amusement was clearly shown on Mutsumi's face, but before she commented she saw his' mock exam results. "Ara, are you trying to get into Tokyo University too?"
Her melodious voice broke through his kiss induced coma, Keitaro tried to turn around to grab the letter, but Mutsumi simply leaned over and read it over his shoulder. This had the side effect of her EXTEREMELY well endowed body to press against his chest A LOT. Keitaro wasn't claustrophobic but considering his past, he freaks out big time if people are close to him like this. Yet… for some reason he didn't mind it, it wasn't because of her chest pressing against him he had that done to him more times then he cared to count, but he would do anything for Mutsumi if it made her happy. "Yeah I'm trying to get in to fulfill a promise of sorts."
Mutsumi extracted herself from pressing against him, only to turn around and plop down onto his lap, leaning her head against his body; looking up at him interest evident in her eyes, "What sorta promise?" She sounded so childish at the moment Keitaro nearly laughed, but he restrained it.
"In the past Granny told me that if I managed to get into Tokyo University then I'd be blessed with eternal happiness." Keitaro expected her to laugh at something so silly; it wouldn't be the first time it happened. Instead he looked down onto a slightly crying Mutsumi. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to offend you." Keitaro was stammering out apology for hurting her, when once again those soft lips captured his.
When she pulled back Mutsumi spoke, "No don't apologize. It's just that if anyone deserves it it's you. I tried but I failed three times already. I guess I'm usle-" This time it was Keitaro who kissed her, albeit hesitantly but it turned into a more needy kiss but not a Lets-place-our-tongues'-into-each-others-mouth. When they broke apart for air Mutsumi looked up wonderingly up at Keitaro.
"Never call yourself useless Mutsumi." The conviction in his voice and fire in his eyes fueled Mutsumi's desire to succeed. Then she started to laugh, to Keitaro it sounded of the tinkling of bells. As a side note, when she laughed her melons jiggled in the most fascinating way. Looking up at his quizzical expression she elaborated, "I never kissed a boy before nor did I ever have a male tell me I wasn't worthless."
If it weren't for the fact Mutsumi was preventing him from moving, Keitaro would've moved back as far as he could. She had allowed him to be her first kiss; and he was by no means worthy of such a thing. Mutsumi was an angel in disguise, who shouldn't have been tarnished by something as lowly as his self. Fear among other emotions must've been evident on his face for Mutsumi quickly added, "When I first saw you, I had a voice shout loud and clear that you are the one. I- I think I love you Keitaro."
The joy radiating off of Keitaro was only outshone by his fear. Fear that he'd hurt her feelings or worse she learns his secrets and ends up hating him forever.
-She said she loves me, should I take this opportunity and hope for the best?-
-No don't do it kid. All it'll do is lead you to suffering and even more heartbreak; remember what you learned, Heart of Stone is never Broken but Heart of Glass is always Shattered.-
-She'd never do something like that, heck she's more dangerous to herself than us; especially with her fainting spells.-
The mental debate raged on in his mind and he barely noted the worried look appearing on Mutsumi's face; who was scared she had crossed the line with her confession or she had inadvertently forced him to remember past events. She tried to rise up to leave, not wanting him to see her tears but he had entwined his arms around her, not giving an inch.
Drip, Drop, Drip.
Mutsumi raised a hand to her smooth cheeks fingering the cool liquid which fell onto her. Looking up she saw a waterfall forming from mismatched eyes, cascading down his cheeks and onto her. Despite the flow, his eyes were radiating utter joy. "Mutsumi I've never been in a relationship before but if you'll have me-"
This time he got cut off by a very girlish squeal, curtsey of an overjoyed Mutsumi. After showing him just how happy she was Mutsumi helped Keitaro onto his futon; where they both just snuggled into the other's warm embrace gradually falling asleep.
Sara had seen the whole exchange, from the moment she heard Mutsumi's confession all the way to the new couple falling asleep. She was happy Kei had finally found someone, but she vowed if Mutsumi did wrong; she wasn't going to live to regret it. With the silent oath Sara walked the tropical paradise of Su's room to sleep.