"We have a winner!" Keitaro took the offered bear and handed it to Mutsumi. A month had passed since they had gotten together and during the time they had gone out to get to know one another better. During this time Keitaro had felt lighter and happier than ever before. The tickets for the fair had come to him from Mistune who just said make good memories. Now after riding multiple rides and watching numerous events Mutsumi had asked Keitaro to win her a bear. Now he carried the bear in one arm and held onto Mutsumi with his other. The sun had set and slowly the various stands were closing for the day, it was only when Mutsumi yawned cutely that Keitaro had decided it was time to leave. That is until Mutsumi called out, "Moto-chan, Moto-chan over here!"
Looking towards were Mutsumi was waving, Keitaro turned to see Motoko acting as a deer in the headlights while the raven haired lady besides her whose hair formed antenna as a cockroach just acted confused. Allowing Mu-chan to drag him along Keitaro couldn't help but feel he saw this female before. Keitaro snapped back to reality when Mutsumi gently pushed him away stating that this was a girl's only talk and he should go get the car. Confused Keitaro walked to the car thinking, how he would never understand females.
Back with Girls
Mutsumi waited till Keitaro was out of ear shot then asked, "How long have you two been together?" While Motoko struggled out a reply the girl behind her offered her hand out and replied, "My name is Kanako and have been with Motoko's girlfriend for three years, and you must be Mutsumi girlfriend of Keitaro Urashima."
Instead of taking the hand offered Mutsumi pulled the two into an embrace whispering silently to them, "There now nothing to be scared of Motoko nobody would think less of you and if they did then they aren't real friends."
Motoko was frozen in shock that Mutsumi was able to straight to the heart of the problem but spoke back to Mutsumi with a tremble in her voice, "It's not them I'm afraid of, it's my sister and school I'm afraid of. As the only female capable of birthing children I am required to procure a heir." By the end of her confession light tears were streaking down her face with Kanako tightening her embrace around her. She felt Mutsumi release her only for her to hit her none to gently on her head. Shocked that the normally peaceful girl would do that she looked up to see an angry Mutsumi.
"Since I met you you've always preached how you would one day take over your sister's job as head, but is that what you really want? All your life you've been groomed to take over but is that what you truly want? Do you want a safe, pre-chosen life or would you rather break free and live your own life," Seeing Motoko's confused face with a hint of understanding Mutsumi pressed onward, "You preach about honor and loyalty to your school but if they don't bother asking if that is what you want to do then they don't deserve your loyalty."
Numbly Motoko nodded in agreement, unconsciously leaning onto Kanako as she spoke softly, "Since I was able to walk I was always being trained to uphold the family honor and how to wield the blade. When I saw other kids being able to play with dolls or running around, I was forced to learn the rules of etiquette. When a child was hurt or scraped their knee they could run to their parents for comfort. When I was hurt I was forced to wear a mask of indifference and continue fighting. My sister could do nothing lest she be cast out for going soft and for showing favoritism. The sad thing is that my happiest memory of her and of my childhood is when I broke my spine. For nearly a year I could do nothing other than lie in bed, moving only my eyes. When my sister came to visit me she would read to me or just talk to me about how things have been going. I actually was hoping that I had total paralyzes and I would never have to train again. However I got better and when I returned the training was three times as harsh in an effort to regain my original level of skill and to make up for the lost time. By the time I was fifteen I was considering offing myself just to escape it all. But then I met my tenshi. She helped me and then two years later we fell in love." By the end of her tale Motoko was sobbing into Kanako's shirt.
Mutsumi felt horrible, she had unintentionally forced Motoko to talk but she had been acting more withdrawn recently. Tentatively she reached to touch Motoko's shoulder, mumbling out an apology. However Motoko brushed it off saying how she needed to get that off of her chest. The sound of a car horn dragged their attention to Keitaro who had brought the car over to where they stood. "Care for a ride back?"
Before Mutsumi could respond Motoko spoke, quickly but surely "Tenshi I think it's time I told the others about our relationship," Surprise flickered across Kanako's face at Motoko's declaration, "First thing in the morning during breakfast we will tell them." Kanako embraced Motoko in a bone crushing hug refusing to let her go. Mutsumi gave a polite cough and smiled at the embarrassed expressions on the two lover's faces as she motioned towards the car as she herself got in to shotgun. As they drove off with extra passengers Keitaro asked Mutsumi, "What did I miss?" Mutsumi didn't reply but allowed a 'I know something you don't smirk' to appear onto her face.
Next Morning
As they all gathered at the table for breakfast the girls were surprised at the new face but otherwise said nothing. Halfway through their meal Motoko cleared her throat and spoke, "This is my girlfriend Kanako."
"Well it's about time!" the silence was broken by a jovial sounding Mitsune. Seeing the confused and surprised looks she elaborated, "What I got Naru as my girl friend it's about time you had someone of your own to tell your deepest darkest secrets."
"No Mitsune she is my girlfriend." Motoko stressed the last word. Realization dawned onto Mitsune as she looked back and forth between the two lovebirds, an offered a sheepish smile. "What's a girlfriend? Is it yummy?" asked Su innocent as ever. Her childlike innocence broke the awkward atmosphere as everyone laughed.
"What did I miss?" asked a now entering Haruka who had arrived only to find everyone laughing. "Motoko has a girlfriend and now The Su wants to know what one is and if it is tasty!" stated the always hyperactive Su.
Haruka stared at Su then at Motoko and finally onto Su. "I'm not explaining this to her. Anyway what is her name?"
"Oh where are my manners, my name is Kanako Lesjhorolo."
A/N Tempted to end chapter here.
Those who knew of Keitaro's story froze while the others just asked questions but quickly caught onto the change in atmosphere. "Keitaro, Sara, Mutsumi, Motoko and Kanako," Haruka spat the last name out as if it were a curse, "Tea shop now." Her fierce glare destroyed any questions or resistance from the others.
Tea Shop
When they arrived at the shop which again was empty, Haruka said, "Sit," While she went to the back. As they sat Motoko was thoroughly confused and kept looking at Keitaro as it was his mother, however his body was pale and lightly shaking. In a weird silence they sat and waited till Haruka returned with a box and folder. With a thunk she set them down, without asking grabbed Kanako's right hand, Haruka slathered it in ink and slammed it down on a sheet of paper. Once done Haruka compared the prints to another paper, her face grew tighter as her eyes darted between the two. "Get out," the words were barely audible, "Get out and never return or I will kill you."
Motoko was too in shock at Haruka's words to grab a hold of her lover as she held back the tears and attempted to run away only to be grabbed by Keitaro. Ensuring a strong but gentle grip on the trembling Kanako, Keitaro raised his sunglassed eyes to his fuming Mother, "Explain the meaing of this Haruka."
Flinching slightly at his artic tone Haruka explained, "When you were taken there was a single set of prints, this one had broken into the apartament earlier and had spiked the food and drinks." By now Kanako was full out sobbing, she had researched her father after they had separated. For the better part of a yearsXXyears she had searched. It wasn't till yearsXXyears later that she found information on him and she was truly sickened by what he had done, surpisinly their were no names mentioned preveting her from doing penance. Her move to Japan was an effort for a fresh start and to get away from her past. As time went on she had allowed herself to forget her past, burying it in cement and tossing it into the ocean. Then she had met Motoko, while not love at first sight it evoloved into love. Now her past had finally caught up to her and she waited for Keitaro to toss her aside, instead he lifted her face upwards to meet his.
The tear streaks glistened on her cheeks as the light hit them, sparklying as small diamonds. Softly Keitaro asked, "How old are you right now Kana-chan?"
Shocked at the chan suffix, Kanako responded even softer, "26".
Nodding slightly Keitaro said in a loud voice, "Motoko please take Kanako upstairs to soak in the springs. Mu-chan, Sara-chan please make sure no one bothers them," Senseing their hestionation he added, "Please this is between myself and Haruka only." Again with the cold tone at her name, Haruka wondered what the problem was. Relcantly the girls left all throwing curious glance at Keitaro. When they left Keitaor stared at Haruka, "Why? Why are you doing this to her?"
"Because Kei-kun is that because of her that he was able to take you away. Out neighbors said how they heard your cries, you know how light of a sleeper Seta is. If it weren't for the drug we would've been able to stop him."
"Haruka that happened close to twenty years ago, she would've barely been six years old. I'm guessing that was the norm for her, breaking and entering. I can't not and will not hold her responsible for something were her crime is listening to her father."
"How can you be so calm about this Keitaro! Its her fault that you were taken away from us!" Haruka was screaming by this point but Keitaro did nothing other than just stand there. Softly Keitaor spoke, "Haruka please you're acting irrational.."
"Me! I'm acting irrational? You're the one who is allowing the cause of you're suffering to go free!"
Raking a hand through his hair, Keitaro replied with constant calm, "Haruka I'm going back to the dorms, until you're able to hold your temper and think clearly I have no choice but to forbid you from coming to the dorms. If you do I will call the cops." Ignoring her gaping mouth Keitaro left the building, accidently bumping into a tall black haired beauty. Apologinsg quickly Keitaro hurried back to the dorms.
Tea House
Tsuruko was many things, and idiot she was not. So when she entered the tea shop and saw Haruka trying to put on she allowed her instincts to take over. Deftly switching the sign on the door from open to closed, Tsuruko embraced her oldest friend. Haruka sobbed in the gi which took Tsuruko by surprise, the only other time she sobbed this much was when she discovered what happened to her son at Kingdom Hospital. Banishing the bad thoughts from her mind, she focused on the task of comforting and finding out what happened from Haruka.
Hot Springs, While Keitaro talks to Haruka
Motoko was lounging in the springs, holding Kanako who had turned into an empty shell in an effort to comfort her, trying to ignore the oppersive atmosphere. Across from them was Mustumi, who was holding onto Sara but for very different reasons. Where Motoko was comforting Kanako, Sara wanted to do notohing more than kill her in a very slow and painful manner. All the way up to the springs, Sara glared daggers at Kanako only stopping to have Su guard all entrances to the springs. "What was going on back at the Tea House?" asked Motoko.
When no one answeared her she opened her mouth to ask again only to be interrupted by Mutsumi, "Its not our place to say but it is Kei-kun's story."
"My fault." The words which came out from Kanako were barely audible. Confused Motoko asked, "how is it your fault?" Terrififed eyes gazed upon her own and Kanako begged, "Please don't hate me."
"Yeah like any one would ever hate you." Sara's thickly coated scarsam words shocked those near her, never before had she been so outright vicous. Frowning at Sara's rudeness Mutsumi grabbed Sara by her hair and dunked her into the water. She repeated the process several times until a highly amused voice said, "May I join you Mu-chan or are you to busy dunking my sister?"
"Kei-kun!" Mutsumi released Sara and clambered out the water, lacking a modesty towel, and giving Keitaro a free show. She gave him a giant hug before pouting. Seeing her pout Keitaro asked with worry in his voice, "What is the matter Hime?"
"Aren't you going to join us in the water," Reddening Keitaro tried to voice his objections until Mutsumi started sniffling and said, "Is my body not good enough for you?"
"No of course not!" Cried out Keitaro not wanting his girlfriend think he didn't like her or appericate her assets.
"Good than change cloths and get in," Chirped an extremely pleased Mutsumi. Nodding Keiataro walked to the changing rooms while Mutsumi returned to the water and said to the unasked question, " I wanna know what is going on and he did ask me if he could join."
As Keitaro sunk into the springs Mutsumi scooted onto his lap, leaning against his toned chest. Sara responded by trying to shove her off, trying to get revenge for the earlier dunking. She stopped to listen to Keitaro as he gave a quick recount of the events in the tea house. At the end Kanako was trembling fearing rejection from Motoko. However Motoko tightened her grip on her love and spoke to her making sure she was loud enough for the others to hear, "Kana-chan I could never hate you. You were barely six years old and just following your father in an effort to please him. Anyone who hates you is shortsighted and is worse than trash." The last part was directed towards Sara who had the good grace to look sheepish.
"Urashima-san may I ask you a question," asked Kanko in a soft voice. At the slight nod of his head she asked, "Why are you wearing sunglasses in the springs especially at night?"
Mutsumi and Sara tensed, Kei's eyes was almost always a taboo even they didn't know why he was so sensitive about them. Yet they weren't prepared for him to laugh and reply "I'll do one better and show you." And so Keitaro removed his shades and showed his mismatched eyes.
"Beautiful." Whispered Motoko, so memorized by the reflecting blue and absorbing black eyes. Kanako mutely nodded her agreement. A boom and a Flying Mecha Tama V2 broke the hypnotic spell, as they turned towards the now destroyed doors. Quickly replacing his glasses, Keitaro climbed out of the water and into a denfisve position