Repercussions Chapter 7, a love hina fanfic

Chapter 7 time.

Thanks to all those who reviewed, I appreciate each and every one. Special thanks go out to Tezza and life song – I really enjoy your writing and appreciate that you've taken time to appreciate mine

I'll get around to leaving reviews at some point I hope...

And as for the proposal, well, I'm kinda semi taken. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate the sentiment though!

Anyways, time for the next chapter.

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Repercussions – Chapter 7

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Mutsumi stared at the wintry sky outside, wishing the snow would stop. A fresh fall had come overnight, and had persisted into the morning, ruining the work that had been done to bring the city back to normal. Normally the Okinawan loved the snow, but today…..

She'd give anything to be able to escape the cauldron of dark emotion that was the Hinata-sou, even if just for a few hours.

The fate of Keitaro and Naru became obvious from the moment she'd heard the sound of breaking masonry, and seen Kanrinin's ashen face as he slipped quietly back into the Hinata-sou following his last unscheduled flight. Breakfast had only served to confirm her suspicions – Keitaro had attended looking surprisingly fresh, but bearing a smile so plastic she expected it to melt when it came into contact with his teacup.

Naru hadn't arrived at all.

Mealtimes, in Mutsumi's experience, gave a good idea of how the house as a whole was faring. Today had been uncomfortable to say the least. The only cheery face was Shinobu, something that she could tell grated slightly on Keitaro's nerves. To take any kind of happiness out of the day before…..it wasn't only Naru's heart that had been broken. It was a sign of Shinobu's immaturity that she didn't realise no-one had really benefited from the break-up, least of all her Kanrinin.

Su on the other hand seemed acutely aware of the gravity of the situation, something that surprised Mutsumi a little. The Molmolian's only action of the morning was to give Keitaro a genuine hug – not a glomp – and rub her face cat-like against his before placidly beginning her breakfast. Motoko had been implacable as usual, but her dark eyes never left the only man at the table. Haruka wore her typical stoicism like an overcoat, obviously hoping no-one noticed how her cigarette trembled in her fingers as she tried to light it.

Mitsune was the interesting one. Her line of sight had consistently flickered between Keitaro and Motoko, spending quite some time on each of them. Something was obviously on her mind, but even the normally bullish girl had deduced that now was not the time to air dirty laundry.

Keitaro had only spent enough time at the table to be considered polite before excusing himself. It seemed Shinobu was going to go after him, but a subtle hand on her wrist accompanied by a tiny head shake from Motoko had stopped her in her tracks. The Kendoist was right; the last thing Keitaro needed was someone celebrating the fact he had given up on his promised girl.

It was a good twenty seconds before anyone said a word.

"I heard hammering yesterday evening. Was Keitaro repairing his door?" Shinobu asked, pouring herself another cup of tea.

"Yes he was, Shinobu-chan." Motoko answered evenly, sipping at her own drink, obviously keen for the subject to change.

"The hammering went on for a long time….." Motoko set her cup down, and gazed levelly at the younger girl.

"I know what you are truly asking. Why not come out and say it, and cease dancing around the issue?" Shinobu flushed slightly, and Mutsumi felt her eyebrows rise. Motoko being short with Shinobu? Perhaps it wasn't only Keitaro that disliked the way the youngest resident was taking the news.

"O-okay. Was he boarding up the hole in his ceiling?" Everyone around the table froze, food suddenly forgotten. All attention shifted to Motoko, who was staring down at the table. Eventually, she simply nodded.

The cigarette fell out of Haruka's mouth.

Everyone sat in the circle exchanged wide-eyed looks, excepting Motoko who was sat perfectly still, eyes closed. Predictably, it was Mitsune who broke the silence.

"Shit, he's serious." Whilst not exactly eloquent, it summed up the situation perfectly.

"Ara….." Mutsumi felt herself growing faint, and put her head down on the table. That was a declaration of finality beyond measure.

"He requested my assistance once he returned yesterday. Informed me he had something important to do, but needed my help." All eyes shifted to the swordswoman, who was sat statuesque with eyes firmly shut. "I acceded, only to find the request somewhat unusual. He desired that I hold him a swords-point until he had completed a task, one he would otherwise surely fail to accomplish. You may say I was…..surprised…..by the task he had in mind." A tiny tremor passed through the rigidly posed girl, and her normally sharp and concise voice became thick as treacle. "I will not express what passed in that hour, need me only say it was an experience I would not wish to endure again." Mutsumi and Haruka suddenly understood the Kendoist's expression, and both felt a pang of sympathy.

This was Motoko at the end of her tether.

"It's okay, Motoko-chan." Su repeated her earlier actions on Motoko, looking more morose than anyone at the Hinata-sou could remember.

"Thank you, Su-chan." Sensing Su's ministrations having destructive effects on her self-control, the young woman quickly excused herself and just as quickly fled upstairs.

"Poor Motoko." Haruka murmured, finally remembering to stub out the smouldering cigarette that now resided on the floor.

"Yeah." Mitsune replied, pushing her plate away gently. "I think I've stomached enough for this morning. See you later, girls." With a not-so-casual wave, the fox eased herself up and left the table herself. Shortly after that, the others excused themselves one-by-one, until Mutsumi had recovered enough from her faint spell to leave herself.

And hence the brown-haired girl was sat in her room on her own, feeling thoroughly woebegone. Despite Haruka's reassurance the day before that this was an inevitable event, she couldn't help but feel guilty. Especially each time she remembered the face of the man she loved at the table.

He looked like someone who had learned heaven was nothing more than a dream.

A soft knocking startled the girl. Who could be coming to see her?

"Come in." The door slid sideways, and a figure cloaked in a steel blue kimono bowed slowly.

"Mutsumi-san." The Okinawan was surprised. Of all the people she'd expect to see, Motoko was probably footing the list.

"Motoko-san. Please, come in." The slender woman complied, shutting the door behind her. Pausing a moment, the Kendoist took in the décor of the room. Each occupant had their own taste it seemed – and whilst her chosen colour was white and Shinobu's blue, it seemed Mutsumi liked green.

Taking a seat on the edge of the plush chair the other girl indicated, Motoko took a deep breath. She had no idea why she'd chosen Mutsumi to talk to – it just seemed like the right person. The only other one at the Hinata-sou that felt the same way she did about the whole affair. Motoko could see it mirrored in the other girl's face, manifested in her aura. Sadness and regret in equal measure, at the end of an era, and at her part in it. But just there, alongside these overriding feelings, was a tiny sliver of the guiltiest pleasure. Pleasure that the torrid cycle was over.

Pleasure that the Kanrinin was now free. Available.

"Thank you, Mutsumi-san." Motoko arranged herself properly, before continuing. "I wish to state my admiration at your bravery in bringing matters to a conclusion. I was not there late that night, but I have heard enough honest reports to deduce your part in the events." Sensing Mutsumi beginning to respond, the black-haired girl raised a polite hand. "Do not worry. You bear no guilt in the proceedings; your only action was to bring about a much-needed ultimatum." The brown-haired girl was cheered by Motoko's words, but at the same time puzzled.

"Well thank you Motoko-san, but I feel I still have a weight to bear. I can't say that I didn't add pressure, which may have affected how matters played out." The woman opposite nodded slowly in acceptance at her admission, before grimacing slightly.

"None the less, I feel I hold greater blame for the events of yesterday." Motoko seemed to steel herself, visibly stiffening her posture. Mutsumi, her own guilt temporarily forgotten, looked on in bafflement.

"What do you mean, Motoko-san?"

"I mean, I am at least partially responsible." The swordswoman adapted the position she assumed whilst at breakfast. "I sense that you feel guilt at the happenings of yesterday, hence I wished to visit you to alleviate you of yours whilst admitting my own."

"What responsibility do you have?"

"Keitaro asked me for advice, how to decide once and for all if he could trust Naru to give him a fair hearing. I advised him on a course of action, one that led to the events of yesterday. However, I did so knowing that Naru was unlikely to react well." The black-haired girl took a heavy breath. "You see, I understand Naru's reasoning. Hence, consciously or not, I selected a plan that would almost doubtless end in failure….."

Motoko explained the meaning behind her words as Mutsumi sat and listened, engrossed in the story, whilst the snow fell peacefully outside.

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Mitsune had slunk around the Hinata-sou for much of the day, growing gloomy at the lack of company. Motoko had almost vanished, and everyone else seemed content to just vegetate in their respective rooms. She had tried to see Naru, but the girl had been asleep when she called – whether she was faking or not, the fox knew the time wasn't right for deep conversation. Hence the consumption of a fair few bottles of alcohol, in a vain attempt to ignore the massive mess she was an unwilling part of.

However, the naturally gregarious girl grew bored, and the combination of sake and anxiety bolstered her curiosity. She didn't intend to question Naru or Keitaro as to whether she should cancel the wedding invitations just yet.

It didn't mean she couldn't bring up other matters.

Hence her knocking the Kanrinin's door, trying to fend off the feeling she was bothering someone who really didn't need it at present. Seconds passed before the door slid open slightly, revealing a pair of blank eyes peering back. The staring match lasted a few seconds, before the door was fully opened.

"Kitsune-san." Keitaro stated blandly, waving her into the room. "I was wondering when you would come by." The silver-haired girl frowned slightly, walking past him.

"Yeah, why?" She plonked herself down on the footstool, drawing a tiny wince from the Kanrinin as she did so.

"Well, I reasoned you would be dying to get the news from the horses' mouth. Or perhaps to chew me out for upsetting your best friend. No?" Keitaro took in the confused look from the girl in his room, and then scanned the floor, obviously thinking.

"Actually-"

"Ah!" Keitaro pounded a fist into his palm, seeing the bottle clamped in the fox's hand and coming to a conclusion. "It's been a few days, you're after more Sake money, right?" Seemingly oblivious at the expression forming on Mitsune's face, he paced over to his closet. "We'll forgo the whole flirting business and move straight to the transaction okay? Let's see….." As the man set to rummaging, the girl found herself temporarily unable to protest. Sake money? He thought she was coming to see him for booze funds? Unthinkingly the girl swigged from her bottle, and made a face.

Oh, and why on earth would he think that, Mitsune? Except for the fact you turn up looking half-cut and smelling like a brewery?

"Here we are." From somewhere deep in the closet the man had withdrawn a small stash of banknotes, and handed some of them to the stunned fox. "I was saving up for – well I won't be needing it now, so get yourself something nice, right?" Wordlessly Mitsune rolled up the notes and slipped them down her cleavage, somehow unable to get her brain running again. Shock had frozen her to the spot.

He really thinks that little of me? That I'd rob him blind after yesterday?

"Well, I guess I'll see you later, Kitsune-san." The silver-haired girl realised that Keitaro had her by the arm and was leading her towards the exit, false cheer well and truly in place. "If you need anything, feel free to give me a shout. It's what I'm here for, being Kanrinin and all." Mitsune was almost in the hall before she woke up enough to slam on the brakes.

"Keitaro-kun….." The man posed a polite smile, and responded in a pleasant tone.

"Yes, Kitsune-san?" It was pleasantness that chafed like ground glass against the fox. He was far too clean cut, far too proper for someone who had recently had his heart broken.

"Kei-kun, I know." Pulling the door closed behind her as she turned, Mitsune continued in a level tone. "I know what you've been doin'."

"Doing?" The man replied, this time not quite so cheerfully. "I don't recall doing anything special, Kitsune-san." The fox didn't bother replying, instead brushing past the Kanrinin and striding over to the supposedly innocent footstool.

"Then whadaya call this?" Keitaro's face fell, and he said nothing. "I knew you were up to somethin' with Motoko, but I never expected….." With that the fox quickly flipped the catch and opened the hidden compartment. Reaching inside, the young lady pulled out several small brushes, and an array of other equipment normally not seen outside a girl's dressing room. "Sorry Kei-kun, but cosmetics? What the hell d'you need these for?"

"Ah….." Keitaro watched stonily as the fox pulled out yet more items. Foundation, creams, even a neutral lipstick.

"Care ta elaborate?" Mitsune pushed, curious. "Look, unless yer a transvestite or a clown, I can't think a' any damn reason you'd need all this stuff. Hell, it's more make-up than I've had since I turned twelve!"

"Why do you care? Just want to crow it for the rest of the world to hear?" The fox winced despite herself as Keitaro's tone dropped to something akin to Motoko on a hunt for blood. It hurt, but Mitsune couldn't help but understand. When had she really shown anything but mercenary intent to the man?

"Kei-kun, I'm sorry. I know I'm not the one ya would want ta know." The silver-haired girl looked up into the stormy brown eyes gazing at her. "But all the same, I do. Believe it or not, I care for ya, Kei-kun. There's gotta be more to it than just some kinda Channel number five fetish." A half-smile almost escaped after the last comment, as the man regarded her evenly. Eventually he came to a conclusion.

"Well, I doubt the whole caring bit." Mitsune's heart sank as the man continued. "But if I don't tell you, you'll just end up spreading your suspicions around. And there are people I don't want to know about this." Keitaro turned away from the fox and reached for a towel. Spraying clear fluid from one of his numerous bottles onto it, he proceeded to scrub his face thoroughly. Eventually, the scrubbing stopped, and the slim figure spoke with a quiet resignation. "Well, ready or not Kitsune-san, here it comes."

The man turned slowly around to face the fox.

A sake bottle rattled to the floor as both of the girl's hands came up to her mouth.

Keitaro's face was a mess. Bruises of various ages and sizes strewn across it, one looking viciously fresh. Two or three scars, one particularly long one along his jaw which looked suspiciously professional. All topped off by a blue-black eye, florid as a blooming flower.

"Happy?" Came a bitter voice, and Mitsune realised she was staring. All the same, she couldn't draw her horrified gaze away.

"Kei-kun, what the fuck?!" She suddenly realised that the man was looking haggard as well as beaten, as if the make-up had been more than just to conceal his bruises.

"Seems my immortality isn't quite what it used to be." Keitaro took a seat at the table, staring at its surface. "I still heal fast, but it takes time now. It's been getting steadily worse for the last nine months to be honest." The fox slumped down opposite him, aghast.

"So every time ya got one from Motoko or Naru….."

"Did you really think that a strike hard enough to send someone into the stratosphere wouldn't leave a mark?" Feeling suddenly foolish, not to mention guilty as hell, Mitsune shrugged.

"Sorry, never really thought about it." Keitaro chuckled slightly.

"Well, it used to be that I'd have healed up within minutes, easily before I managed to walk back. But things changed." The silver-eyed girl gazed at her Kanrinin with a puzzled expression.

"Was it back in September? Before Motoko went off on vacation? Ya went missing for a couple of days, sayin' ya were helping Seta with a project." Keitaro nodded slowly.

"Yeah. I was actually having my jaw wired." Ignoring a startled gasp from the woman opposite, he tapped the clean scar on the left side of his face. "It looked like my natural abilities needed help. So, I took out some health policies to cover the medical costs. But the visible evidence was more difficult to deal with, and you can guess how amateur my own efforts looked. So, I contacted someone for advice."

"Motoko?" Mitsune shook her head at the look Keitaro gave her. "Sorry, stupid idea."

"At the time she would have said 'just desserts'. No, I contacted someone else. Motoko once mentioned that the Shinmei-ryu insisted on a flawless public appearance, and had developed techniques of injury concealment to always appear pristine. But Motoko would never have given them to me, so I went for my only other option." The young lady puzzled through the story, and came to a conclusion.

For the millionth time in a few minutes, her jaw dropped.

"Not Tsuruko?!" Keitaro slowly nodded.

"Yes. I sent her a letter stating my predicament asking for advice. Her reply was informative and, shall we say, angry at the actions of her little sister." The Kanrinin shrugged gently, looking suddenly awkward. "This was only days before Motoko went home. I have no idea what happened whilst she was there, but she came back a completely different person and has been helping me ever since."

"……." Unusually for her, Mitsune had absolutely nothing to say. To think of it, she used to set up the man opposite at least once a week for her own amusement. To receive such injuries, and then go on as if nothing was ever the matter……

"Hang on Kei-kun, why the hell didn't ya just leave it all on show? I reckon knowin' what they were actually doin' to you would have stopped 'em in their tracks." Keitaro went back to studying the table, his hand reaching up to take off his glasses.

"Well, Motoko wouldn't have cared, doubt it would have mattered much to you either. But Su and Shinobu would be really upset; I think that Mutsumi would be too. And Haruka, I reckon she would have physically thrown Naru and Motoko down the stairs and chucked their bags after them. As for Naru….."

Despite the ache from Keitaro's blunt assessment of her behaviour towards him, Mitsune still had the awareness to reach out a gentle hand as the man broke off, suddenly finding the ceiling an object of intense interest. The pain in the fox's chest throbbed as the brown-haired Kanrinin jumped as her palm made contact, before giving it a squeeze in thanks.

"…..Naru wouldn't be able to forgive herself. I hoped that if I just kept coming back, one day she would stop lashing out, and everything would be fine….." Keitaro's head dipped, straggly brown fringe concealing his face, but Mitsune knew perfectly well what she couldn't see. Feeling utterly hopeless, the silver-haired girl meekly patted the hand she still held.

Oh Naru, you fool! I warned you, but you've gone and let the best thing that could ever happen to you go…..

"Kei-kun, I'm sorry. I've always been a heartless bitch to ya. Ya deserve better than any of us." Mitsune slowly stood and slunk around the table, before gently glomping the man around the shoulders. "But since we're all ya got, we're at yer service. Any time, sugar." The response was a sniff and a brief squeeze of the enveloping arms.

"Thanks, Kitsune-chan." Sensing the Kanrinin wanted some privacy; Mitsune slowly released her grip and got up again.

"I'll leave ya be for now, Kei-kun. Come an' see me when ya want a chat." Receiving a gentle nod, the girl drifted to the doorway, and after casting one quick look back, left the room.

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Ten seconds later, the fox was stumbling back in her own bedroom, feeling more perplexed than ever before.

"Damn, wish I'd never found out." The girl muttered, draining the rest of her sake bottle and reaching for her fourth of the day. "Curiosity killed the fox an' all." The top was screwed off and Mitsune took a long swig, enjoying the distraction the burn gave her.

The girl didn't know what was disturbing her most – the knowledge of what her actions had done to the Kanrinin, or the view of her that the actions had created.

Well Motoko wouldn't have cared, doubt it would have mattered much to you either…..

Mitsune couldn't hold back a grimace. Yes she used to play him, often for only a few yen, but was she really so heartless?

A hundred images of a certain individual stepping into occupied springs or interrupting dressing residents flashed before her eyes, and the fox took another mouthful of alcohol with a shudder.

Heartless didn't quite sum it up really. The real question was when did it start to matter?

……Maybe it was when she realised that Keitaro was more like her than either of them would like to admit.

Both surrounded by loved ones, yet both somehow alone. Something that made her heart go out to him, that let her love for him grow.

Hang on a minute, love for him?!

"Ohhhhhh, bugger." The fox began drunkenly banging her head against the wall she'd slumped against, punctuating each thump with an expletive.

She was falling for the boyfriend, or should it be ex, of her best friend.

The one situation she had wanted to avoid at all costs. Did it count as a betrayal to love a single man, albeit only recently single? Mitsune suspected Naru would see it as such, and she couldn't really blame her.

But she had warned her friend.

Warned her she was making an awful mistake, a warning that was either forgotten or ignored. And now it was too late.

Leaving the fox stuck between the two.

Feeling something lodged between her breasts, Mitsune reached down her shirt and withdrew a rolled-up bundle of banknotes. The fox stared at them blurrily, unfolding them to take a better look. When the value of the notes was revealed, her eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hair.

The Kanrinin was sure as hell not saving up for a Chinese take-away.

Mitsune snorted with disgust, both at the fact that she had taken the money and that she couldn't bring herself to give it back. Feeling misery welling up she tipped her head back and drained the rest of the bottle, before letting it clatter to the floor. It wouldn't matter what she felt for Keitaro anyway, it was quite clear what he thought of her.

And, in all alcohol-drenched honesty, Mitsune couldn't blame him.

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The next few days passed quietly, the residents all occupying themselves with their own business. Naru and Keitaro both studiously avoided one another, with the honey-eyed girl preferring to spend all her time in her room 'studying'.

Shinobu's exuberance had eased after a quiet word from Haruka, and the girl divided her time between housework and spending quiet time with her beloved. Since the hole in the ceiling had been closed, she had few reservations joining Keitaro in his room. After Haruka's cautions, the young housekeeper had been content to enjoy the company until the weather cleared enough or her school to re-open. Mutsumi regularly joined them, keen as the younger girl to help Keitaro through the tough time.

Motoko had become distant, stating that she wished to focus on solo-studies being so close to the centre exams. However, much of her time was spent in endless katas, seeking mental balance through her martial arts. Whilst Su would normally have joined her, the worried princess busied herself by tweaking her outlandish creations.

The one who seemed to have gone off the rails was the fox. Having procured a large supply of good quality liquor from funds apparently unknown, Mitsune's main focus in life now seemed to be demolishing it. Fortunately for the silver-haired girl, Haruka seemed quite oblivious.

After several days the snow cleared enough for normal activities to begin, and all of those with an excuse gladly took the opportunity to vacate the Hinata-sou. This included Haruka, who was keen to finally catch up with the man in her own life over a cigarette or ten. The result was the raven-haired ronin and the curious fox together in the empty house.

In one of her rare alcohol-free moments, Mitsune couldn't help but give in to temptation.

Knocking on Motoko's room was not something she would do without good reason, but she counted her discovery a pretty good reason.

"Yes?" A calm voice called out.

"It's Kitsune." For a moment there was no reply, and the fox wondered if she was being ignored. The sudden opening of the door quelled the notion. Motoko stood occupying in the entrance dressed in a long black kimono, clearly suggesting she wasn't going to invite the other girl in.

"Yes, Konno-san? I am most busy, so I trust you do not intend to waste my time." Mitsune got the message – messing around was not an option.

"I know about you and Keitaro." Sensing the inevitable denial, the fox shook her head. "The concealment techniques. I know about them." Piercing emerald eyes narrowed, and Mitsune swallowed cautiously, concerned she may have over-stepped the line. However, after a few moments, the swordswoman seemed to relax.

"I imagined it was only a matter of time." Leaning lazily against the door frame but keeping one hand on her katana, Motoko gave Mitsune a measured look. "So, why do you choose to confront me with this fact? I have no doubt you already made Keitaro aware of your knowledge."

"Well, I guess I kinda wanted to know somethin'. Why? What do you get outta all this?" The fox shrugged gently. "I kinda get why Kei was keen to keep it quiet, he don't want to upset no-one. But you……I know ya promised an' all, but all the same it's a heck of a secret to keep."

"I have told you before, my word is my honour."

"Yeah, yeah. But how'd he get ya to swear on that? It's not somethin' you give away easily." Motoko sighed, an unusual action for the girl to make.

"I will not tell you of the reasons at present. Suffice to say that, after receiving education of my actions and their consequences, I felt it was correct to swear on my honour to protect and serve Keitaro. Until my debt has been paid, or I am released from servitude, I will continue." The kendoist sighed again, scuffing at the floor with a stocking-clad foot. "It is a shock when you learn that actions have repercussions, no? I felt it was my responsibility, both as a master of an art and a person, to make up for my errors. I am fortunate the man I owe debt to is both kind and charitable. Another may have taken advantage of the position in ways I dare not contemplate, and bound by my oath I would have been compelled to comply."

"Ya mean….." Mitsune's silver eyes widened at the tiny nod.

"Yes. Should he have demanded my body, by the code of my clan it would be his right after the abuse that has befallen his own." The swordswoman gave a throaty chuckle, olive eyes misting. "He is a kind man, Konno-san. One I will never be worthy of. I would be content to be in his debt from now to eternity if it will allow me to be close to him, even in the presence of another."

"…….." The fox digested the fact slowly as Motoko momentarily drifted into some other reality. Motoko wanted to be in debt?

"Ah, pardon me, I was somewhere else for a second." Reality slipped back into the scene, and the kendoist suddenly realised what she had told one of her housemates.

The redness of her face was only accentuated by her normal pale countenance.

"Don't worry, Motoko-san." Mitsune waved the spluttering girl into silence. "I can keep a secret, y'know." The fox leaned in closely, mouth to inches from the other girl's ear. "'sides, I can't think of a single resident 'round here who wouldn't jump at the chance to spend all 'o time with the guy. Me included for sure. Mebbie for different reasons, but we all love the guy to bits. No shame in that." Leaning back, silver eyes met green, and understanding passed between them.

"You speak the truth. For once." The two women shared a tiny smile, before Motoko stepped back into her room. "I'm afraid I must take my leave. Feel free to call by for some tea later, should you desire."

"We'll see, Motoko-san." With a wave the fox-girl strolled off down the corridor, deciding that the horses demanded her attention now the snow had finally cleared.

Motoko meanwhile sat back at her table, wondering why on earth she'd admitted what she had.

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Naru held her hand lazily above her head, staring at the white plaster encasing it. A constant reminder of her mistakes, and a painful one. Without it, she would be back at Tokyo University right now, using work to get her mind off things.

No point going to tutorials where you can't make notes.

After a couple of days her tutor had advised her favourite student that such dedication was admirable, but that recuperation at home would be a much better idea. She hadn't had the desire to inform the woman why this might not be the case. Hence a further period of enforced exile at the Hinata-sou.

Although her tutor had furnished her with topics and upcoming discussion points, there was only so much studying that could be done without a deadline to focus the mind. So the girl lay lazily on her back, killing the evening by trying to find interest in a bland piece of plaster.

It was better to do something dull and banal when the alternative was stew on the state of her love life. It had been several days now since everything had come to a horrific, devastating end. The main constant in her life had gone, and even Mitsune seemed a little distant. Normally by now she'd be expecting the girl to burst through the door with a bottle of sake in one hand and drag her out to a bar, but it seemed that the fox was laying low as well.

The other residents seemed content to leave her in peace. Whilst that was all well and good to begin with, it was quickly becoming tiring. Naru couldn't help but feel slightly stung by the apparent lack of interest. Sure, it may have been her fault, but she'd been expecting at least a couple of residents offering her a shoulder to cry on. But nope, her solitude had been very…..solitary, to the point where her only companion was her own thoughts echoing around her head. Without a person to say them to.

She didn't want to be left with her thoughts any more, she wanted to hear other people speak, hear another voice outside her own. She wanted to hear Keitaro's voice……

She wanted to hear Keitaro once again proclaim his love for her. Wanted to hear why Keitaro decided at that moment their time was over, what she could do to stop it being over.

Wanted to hear his forgiveness, hear him take her back.

She almost rolled over to reach for the floorboard, but stopped mid-way with a silent curse. Right. No hole any more.

So she had to do it the old fashioned way.

Hauling herself up onto her feet, the girl quickly scanned her figure in the lamplight. She looked a mess, despite a few nocturnal visits to the hot springs in successful attempts to avoid any company. Suddenly, an idea slipped unbidden into her mind.

Keitaro was a man. And being a man, he wouldn't be able to resist good old fashioned womanly charm. A large part of her quailed at the idea, but she set her jaw in a firm line with a nod. If physical temptation was the only way to rescue the relationship, then so be it.

Brushing a few honey-brown strands out of her face, the girl plucked her glasses off and set them to one side. This was followed by a thorough ruffling of her long hair, deciding the just-out-of-bed appearance was the way to go. The next action saw the gorgeous young woman undoing the top button of her pink pyjama top, allowing more cleavage than normal to peek from beneath it. The bottom button followed, to display just a hint of stomach. Naru peered again into the mirror, and shook her head. Not quite right. Something else needed to be changed.

Oh, maybe…..

The honey-eyed girl nearly lost her will at that very moment, but somehow forced herself to shed her top and reach a shaking hand up behind her back. A click, some reluctant disrobing and when she put it back on her shirt was resting flush on skin alone. Once again the young lady appraised herself, feeling oddly pleased with the result. Yes, she wasn't the Okinawan or the fox, but she was happy she could hold her own.

Anything else?

Reaching to her dresser, trembling fingers grasped a bottle of perfume. Two quick sprays and a sneeze later, the girl gave herself one last once-over.

Good as it was going to get.

Hurrying before her nerve failed, the honey haired girl propelled herself from her room, along the passageway and down a flight of stairs. Passing Mitsune's room she paused, only to hear very loud snoring, the kind that can only be achieved by the truly unconscious. Nodding in satisfaction, she paced to the next door along, and reached up her plastered limb.

The arm hovered inches from the door for at least a minute, as the girl fought a pitched battle with herself. Half of her screamed to turn and run like hell, whilst the other half reminded her that running would only put her back where she began.

Eventually, bravery won.

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Keitaro's head lifted at the hesitant rapping on his door. Who could be coming at this hour? Shinobu had gone to bed an hour ago, Mutsumi half an hour before that. Whilst he appreciated the supportive company, he doubted it would be likely at this hour.

Well, no point in wondering…..

"It's open." For a few seconds there was no movement, and Keitaro began to wonder if it was merely his imagination.

The door slid to one side, and the man dropped his book with a clatter.

Naru looked gorgeous. Framed in the glowing light from the hallway, angelic would be just as good a description. The Kanrinin felt his heart skip a beat, utterly overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.

"Can I come in, Kei-kun?" Pulling himself half-out of his futon, and very aware of his lack of clothing, the man replied with a stutter.

"W-well, I'm not exactly dressed for visitors……"

"Don't worry about it, Kei-kun." The girl slipped into the room, nudging the door behind her shut. With that, she seemed to square her shoulders, and advanced with purpose on the Kanrinin.

"Naru-san, wha?" Words were caught in Keitaro's throat as the honey-eyed girl carefully set herself down in front of him, and leaned forward to look him in the eye.

"No need to get up." Naru murmured, hoping that all those times she'd heard Mitsune theorising on how to seduce a man weren't just hot air. "I can come down there easily enough." Quailing internally, the young lady laid her unclad hand on Keitaro's bare chest and pushed him gently onto his back.

"Uhm, what are you doing?" Keitaro mumbled, feeling his body react despite himself.

"What I should have done a long time ago." With that the pyjama'd girl swung one leg across the prone below her and straddled the man, trying to ignore the fact their bodies were merely separated by a thick blanket. "It's only natural, after all."

"Please, Naru-"

"Shhhhhh." The girl placed a gentle finger over her ex-boyfriend's mouth, steeling herself for what she was about to do. "Just let me do the work from here. It's what you want, right?" With that the girl pursed her lips and brought her face down, closing her eyes in the hope of ignoring what she was about to do.

She was surprised when her kiss met only air.

Opening her eyes again she saw Keitaro craning his head out of the way, looking at her with something akin to sadness.

"No, Naru-san." The young lady frowned slightly at the apparent rejection.

"What are you on about, Kei-kun?" Craning down to try again, the attempt only met a firm hand.

"I said No, Naru-san." Equal parts relieved and angry, Naru stared eye-to-eye with the man beneath her.

"Please Kei-kun, don't make this harder for me than it already is." A moment of silence, loud as rumbling thunder.

It then hit Naru exactly what she had said.

"Oh god, I didn't mean that, I didn't….."

"Get off me please, Naru-san." Keitaro replied gruffly, trying to get up.

"I didn't, I didn't mean it, please, I didn't." Naru sobbed gently, gripping onto the bedclothes below her in desperation. "Please, Kei-kun, let me show you I didn't-"

"Naru." The Kanrinin laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, voice soft. "Come on, stop this. Let me get up." Still weeping, the girl slowly rolled off to the side and sat against the wall as Keitaro rolled over to face her. For a moment the two regarded each other, both seeking to contain their tears. Eventually, Naru spoke first.

"I'm sorry Kei-kun. I tried, I thought if I showed I was willing to, you know….." The brown-haired man sighed quietly, propping himself up on one elbow.

"You weren't willing. I could see it in every movement you made, every time you paused before making a movement. It's meant to be natural, but you were forcing yourself." Keitaro closed his eyes, dipping his head. "You were shaking like a leaf, and not with expectation. All there was was fear. I could see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice, feel it in your body."

"But it's what you wanted isn't it? My body?" Naru answered, curled up against the wall.

"I can't deny it." Seeing the girl beginning to reply, the man held up a hand. "But Naru-san, it's not just about that. You don't trust me, and I can't face living my life with someone who can't trust me."

"……." Any reply died unsaid on Naru's lips. He was right.

"I never knew why you always assume the worst." Keitaro continued with a hollow smile, one that didn't even reach his upper lip, let alone his eyes. "But you do. You didn't come down here to make love; you came because you thought I needed sex to be satisfied. Why? Why do you think it's all I want?"

"I'm sorry." Naru whispered, for the first time feeling truly so. "It's just…..that's all anyone seemed to be after. What else would a man want from me?" The girl made a throaty noise that might have been called a laugh, if it weren't so humourless.

"What happened, Naru-san?" Honey eyes met brown, and Naru only sensed honest curiosity.

"Well, my cousin for one. He was older than me, and always used to 'accidentally' come into my room when I was undressed, or touch me somewhere personal and call it 'playing'." Naru shook her head, feeling the ghosts of nightmares past escaping their shackles. "Then a couple of tutors I had at school started doing the same. They would always tell me I was their star pupil, and invite me for study sessions just to try and look up my skirt or down my blouse." The girl sniffed quietly, dabbing at her eyes. "I think it was when my uncle started trying to grope that I gave up on men. Everywhere I look, they seemed to be undressing me with their eyes, lust so obvious that they may as well be drooling."

"Not everyone is like that, Naru-san." The girl looked up, surprised to find she still had tears to shed about something she thought long-buried.

"I know. But every time a man tries to touch me, I forget….." Keitaro laid a tender hand upon hers, one she took in her own and squeezed. "I want to trust you Kei-kun, I really do. I've tried, but I just can't."

"Which is why this is for the best." The man slowly withdrew his hand, and the two pairs of eyes locked on one another once more. "Someday you'll be ready, and find someone to spend your life with."

"But not you." Naru finished, feeling agony blossoming once again in her chest.

"Probably not." Agreed Keitaro.

For what seemed like an eternity the two stared at each other, both aware that this was the last time. Slowly, two faces leant towards each other, and lips met gently in a farewell kiss.

"I've got to go and sort things out." Naru stated, gingerly getting up and brushing the few remaining flecks of water from her face. "There are a few people who need to have their ideas, or maybe their faces, re-arranged." The young lady gave Keitaro a bittersweet smile. "Maybe once I sort them out, I'll be ready to try again."

"Naru-chan….." The honey-haired girl paused at the doorway, and turned to see her ex-boyfriend looking up at her. "Take care, okay?"

"Okay." Naru whispered, and then was gone.

Keitaro stared at the closed door, feeling oddly ambivalent. It was painful to see her go, but at the same time it set him free. Free to choose his own life, not the one a promise chose for him.

All the same, he was going to allow himself one last night of reminiscence before the dawning of the new day.

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Well, chapter 7 wrapped up.

Next chapter should complete Motoko's story, and a couple of...interesting developments.

However, that's only the plan, I'll try my best to deliver!

'Til next time.

Nodoka Miyazawa.