Day 06 - Manager and Power Ranger!
Keitaro woke up with a yawn and proceeded to knock the soil out of his ears… only to discover there was no soil in his ears to begin with.
"This time loop sure is strange getting used to." he mused.
After getting himself ready, Keitaro thought through a lot of things when he walked into the corridor. He took a large step over the skateboard and contemplated what to do next. For some reason… Motoko popped into his head. Motoko was certainly the more reserved one of the bunch, and her personal hatred of all things masculine did not help matters at all, for Keitaro's well being anyway. Keitaro remembered the early days staying at Hinata-Sou. The moment Keitaro stepped out of line (usually unintentionally), Motoko would force her blade millimetres away from his neck, threatening the man with venom dripping from her lips. Back then, the swordswoman was an extremely cold person to deal with.
At least now… she tolerated Keitaro's company, albeit barely, but Keitaro thought of all the attacks Motoko unleashed on him. They were almost on par with Naru.
Maybe it was time to teach the kendo girl a lesson?
No. Teaching her a lesson would be too boring for Keitaro. Maybe it would be better just to harass her like he did with Naru. The sheer thought of bewildering Motoko almost caused Keitaro to giggle like a little girl. Was it even possible?
-0-0-
"Good morning!" Keitaro greeted the tenants, joining them at the table for breakfast.
"Hiya oniichan!"
"M-morning."
"Hey Keitaro."
"Morning hon!"
Keitaro looked at Motoko. She was the only one not to respond.
"Morning Motoko-chan!" Keitaro said.
Since they sat closest to the kendo girl, Kitsune and Naru shot a concerned glance towards her.
"Morning." Motoko said at last, though her eyes remained on the plate in front of her.
Once again Naru grew frustrated as she tried to solve the anagram. The piece of paper travelled in its usual circle, but when Shinobu timidly offered the puzzle to Keitaro, he just simply waved his hand, indicated he couldn't be bothered. The lack of Keitaro's interaction made Shinobu feel a little sad, but she returned the puzzle to Naru nonetheless.
"Hey Motoko-chan!" Keitaro said.
Motoko didn't reply. Kitsune and Naru were giving Keitaro quick frowns, but Keitaro didn't care about their facial expressions.
"Motoko-chan…"
Still nothing.
"Moootoookooo Aaaaoooyaaamaaa-chaaaaan…"
"What? What is it?" Motoko asked, now facing him with irritable eyes.
Keitaro gave her an eyesmile. "Nice day, isn't it?"
"… …yes." Motoko answered, and went back to her food… doubling her eating speed until she emptied the plate. She thanked Shinobu for breakfast, got herself ready for school and hurried her way outside.
"Alright, do you mind explaining us what that was all about?" Naru sternly asked Keitaro.
"What? Aren't I allowed a simple conversation with Motoko?" countered Keitaro as he shrugged.
"It's just that… well you know how she is with men…"
"I know, but we have lived together for a short while you know. I thought she would have gotten used to me by now."
There was a short pause before Naru resumed the conversation again.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Me? Yeah I'm fine!" Keitaro answered.
Naru made a 'hmm' sort of sound before concluding with, "Well… whatever…"
-0-0-
The journey from Hinata-Sou to the train station was a short lived one, thanks to the blinding speed of her long athletic legs. She wore her summer uniform that consisted of a white top and a blue skirt that reached to her knees in length. She took this opportunity to look at other girls wearing the same uniform. Some of their skirt sizes were much too short for her liking, becoming more of a fashion statement, or worse, a magnet for perverts.
Speaking of perverts…
"Why was Urashima speaking in such a… a kind hearted way? I hope he wasn't trying to make friends with me. He would be a fool to even think that."
A good ten minutes later, Shinobu and Kaolla joined the quiet one. They panted the moment they stopped running.
"Are you okay Motoko-senpai?" Shinobu softly asked, "You seemed to be in a hurry."
"Shinobu-chan, Kaolla-chan. Sorry, I just… needed to get some exercise." Motoko lied. She only wanted to be away from the talkative manager.
"I thought you had the runs!" beamed Kaolla.
Motoko sagged her shoulders. "No, I didn't have 'the runs'."
Kaolla showed that infectious smile of hers, infectious enough for Motoko to smile back. The three girls waited for a further four minutes.
"Train must be delayed." Motoko said to herself.
It was not long afterwards when Motoko detected the sound of footsteps becoming rapidly closer. This was later followed by the dog like panting of Keitaro Urashima. The three girls turned around with surprised faces.
"S-Senpai!" said Shinobu, the more alarmed of the three.
"Hey Keitaro! Are you coming to school with us?" asked Kaolla with eagerness.
Motoko gave Keitaro a look which, if translated into words, would read 'Urashima, what on earth are you doing here?!' Actually to hell with it, she decided to speak her mind.
"Urashima! What on earth are you doing here?!" she demanded.
"You… dropped… this…" Keitaro said in between pants. He handed her a book.
"Hmm?" Motoko thought as she accepted the book, "I do not recall leaving a book behind…"
"Wow, Senpai ran all that way just to give Motoko-senpai her book? How thoughtful and caring." Shinobu daydreamed.
But as Motoko looked at the book, her curiosity was quickly replaced with absolute confusion.
"Urashima…" she began to say.
"Yeah?" Keitaro asked.
"This… this is your diary…"
The title of the front cover did not lie. Shinobu blinked out of fantasy land. What in the love of God was going through Senpai's mind? Even Kaolla couldn't think of a single thing to say.
Keitaro rubbed his neck and laughed. "Oh? Oh so it is! Ha ha! How silly of me…"
Motoko turned around and was about to walk away, when Keitaro said…
"…wait Motoko-chan! Stand still! There's something on your back!"
Motoko stopped moving. "There is?" she replied, "I don't feel anything."
"Just… stand there and I'll brush it off." Keitaro told her.
Motoko sighed. Knowing Keitaro was only trying to help, she did as she was told, just this once… but suddenly her senses kicked in. Her instincts told her something was deeply wrong.
Too late.
Keitaro's glasses glimmered white. He dropped to his knees, grabbed the sides of Motoko's skirt, and pulled the whole thing down with one merciless tug. Her skirt had now dropped down to her ankles, which revealed her pure white panties for everyone to see.
Motoko was now the main attraction for all middle aged workers, for they stared long enough to give themselves nosebleeds. Witnessing Keitaro's deplorable action, Shinobu's eyes turned into white dots and her mouth hung largely agape. Kaolla stood there with a bemused open smile. She was mildly entertained, but mostly confused.
As for Motoko… she turned white. Her clothes, her hair, her skin and her rucksack turned white. She even had an aura of whiteness. Her facial expression suggested she just lost her virginity with a cactus.
Every cell in Keitaro's body exploded with excitement, but he wasn't quite done yet. He raised his right hand… and with it smacked Motoko's rear end. Her right cheek to be precise.
Motoko trembled with mass insanity.
Shinobu looked like she was going to pass out any given second.
-0-0-
Back in Naru's room…
"So… let me guess this straight," Naru tried reasoning with Keitaro, "you went over to visit Motoko because you thought she left a schoolbook behind… only to discover it was your diary instead… and then you just tripped, fell over and pulled Motoko's skirt down?!"
"And then Motoko-chan gave me the 'air shattering fist'!" Keitaro complained, rubbing his massive black and purple bruise on his face, "Can you believe the audacity of that woman?"
"Well… YES!" Naru answered with force, "Of course Motoko is going to react like that, accident or not! I mean, come on, a train station full of pervy old men?!"
Keitaro gave up and resumed his studying. "Well I still think she went too far…"
Naru sighed and resumed studying as well. "Knowing Motoko, she isn't going to take this lying down."
-0-0-
Time passed by and the three girls returned from school. Keitaro was about to open the main door to greet them, when instead he found himself greeted with a violent wave of ki energy. He propelled to the far side of the room before making contact on the wall.
"H-Hello M-Motoko-chan!" Keitaro said with a few missing teeth.
Motoko remained in a poised offensive stance, her sword tightly gripped with two hands. Shinobu and Kaolla were still unsure how to greet their manager.
Naru and Kitsune ran to Keitaro's aid.
"Hey come on!" Kitsune told Motoko, "Keitaro only greeted you!"
Motoko ignored the older girl, her eyes still fixated on Keitaro. "URASHIMA!! WHAT YOU DID TO ME WAS UTTERLY INEXCUSABLE!!"
"Wait! Wait!" Naru said as she tried to take control of the situation, "I know Keitaro is a careless klutz, but he always does these kind of things by accident! Right, Keitaro?"
"Yeah!" added Kitsune, "You should… just let bygones be bygones!"
Motoko's mouth opened before she reformed her anger. "ACCIDENT?!? LIKE HELL IT WERE AN ACCIDENT!!"
Motoko had everyone's attention.
"HE DELIBERATELY PULLED DOWN MY SKIRT AND… AND THEN HE SLAPPED MY BOTTOM!!"
"Eh… ah ha ha! No I didn't!" Keitaro lamely denied.
One could tell from Shinobu's expression that she lost all known respect for the manager she knew and loved. It was this time that Kaolla would normally say something daft, but even the tanned girl kept quiet this time.
Now it was Naru's turn to freeze. No, Keitaro would never do such a thing. That would be disturbing and wrong on so many levels. Anyway, whatever she thought, it was too late now. Motoko pointed her sword at Keitaro's throat and challenged him to a duel. Motoko stated if she should win, then Keitaro would be thrown out of Hinata-Sou for good.
"I… um… accept your challenge!" Keitaro said, a little too proudly for anyone's liking.
Motoko did a double take. "You… you do?"
The rest of the girls were enveloped in confusion.
The living room was cleared out to make space for the duel to come. They stared at each other without giving an inch nor quarter. Motoko was about to draw her sword when…
"WAIT!" Keitaro shouted, causing everyone to fall on the floor.
Motoko, surprised from Keitaro's loudness, readied herself back up. "What?!"
Quickly, Keitaro said, "What happens if I win?"
"You won't win." Motoko stated.
Keitaro continued staring at Motoko. Motoko was taken back by this. Why wasn't he cowering in fear?
"Okay…" Motoko said again, "…if you win, then… I am yours to command until the end of this day!"
The tenants gasped. Even though Motoko was sure to win, it was still pretty bold of her to say something like that.
"Right, now are we ready?" she asked.
"Um… yes."
Motoko raised her sword again…
"WAIT!!" Keitaro shouted. They all fell over again.
Motoko snarled as she got off the floor. "What is it now?"
"I… I get to choose what kind of match we have!"
Motoko thought this through for a second. "Fine… you can choose whatever match you want. We can fight with daggers, kendo sticks… we can even fight with broomsticks if you so desire, but I will succeed regardless of your choice. Urashima, I will defeat you, and you will be at my mercy."
"Be back in a few minutes!" Keitaro said as he rushed upstairs.
Motoko patiently waited with a cruel smile.
"Make your choice count, for it will determine the length of your fate."
-0-0-
Motoko… was now kneeling on the floor opposite Keitaro, who had also lowered himself to Motoko's level. Between them was a plastic barrel with a miniature toy pirate placed on top of it. The other girls stood around them with puzzled faces.
"How does this work?" asked Motoko, "Are we meant to attack with these tiny swords?"
"Erm, Motoko, I think it's a game, not a weapon." Naru answered.
"Yeah." agreed Kitsune.
Shinobu hung her head low, feeling deeply ashamed of Keitaro's recent behaviour.
"Cool! Does the barrel have candy inside?" asked Kaolla eagerly.
Keitaro ignored the foreign girl and instead gave Naru a sheet of paper. "Naru, you have the honour of explaining the rules to everyone!" he told her.
"Uuummm… okay?" Naru said.
She cleared her throat before stating the rules.
"Ahem! You must take it in turns to push the plastic swords inside the slots of the barrel. One randomly determined slot will cause the toy pirate to pop out of the barrel, causing the player to automatically lose the game…"
"It's called 'Pop-up Pirate!'" added Keitaro, "the incorrect slot will cause the pirate to 'pop up', get it?"
Motoko had a look of horror on her face. "So… this is just a game… AND A GAME OF CHANCE NO LESS!! URASHIMA YOU COWARD!!"
"Sorry Motoko, but you agreed on me choosing whatever match I want, and the match I have chosen is Pop up Pirate!"
Kitsune stroked her chin. "Well Naru, you have to admit, that's pretty smart play coming from your boyfriend!"
"He's NOT my boyfriend!" Naru protested, "And it's pretty cheap if you ask me!"
Motoko tried her best to compose herself, but given the stipulations, it wasn't very easy to do. "I… I can't believe a master swordswoman such as myself has been reduced to playing this… this children's party game!"
"It all comes down to this!" thought Keitaro, "If I lose, I get thrown out, well until the next day that is… but I really want to win! If I do, that means I'll have complete control over Motoko!"
Motoko sighed. Already she felt her respect being cut in half. "You go first."
"Okay!" said Keitaro.
"Actually come to think of it… maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." mused Kitsune, "Knowing Keitaro's bad luck, he'll probably wind up losing on the first turn."
"And then he'll get kicked out by Motoko." added Naru, "I still can't believe what Motoko said to us earlier! Is it really true?"
"Let the games begin!" cheered Kaolla, waving a pair of red pompoms.
Keitaro grabbed a plastic sword and pushed it into one of the slots. He waited with anticipation, but breathed a sigh of relief when nothing happened. Now it was Motoko's turn. She placed a sword in the slot opposite Keitaro. Nothing happened.
"Okay, here goes nothing!" said Keitaro.
He picked up a second sword and placed it inside the barrel. He waited. Nothing happened.
Motoko made a face as he lucked out for the second time. She then picked up a sword and placed it inside another slot. She waited. Nothing happened.
…
So far the game lasted three nail biting minutes. Plenty of swords have now filled the barrel, but still the pirate refused to escape. With each sword pressed inside, Naru, Kitsune and Kaolla inched themselves closer to the game, whilst Shinobu walked upstairs into her room, probably to sulk over the completely transformed manager. As for Motoko and Keitaro, they were sweating profusely. There were not many vacant slots left. Something had to give. This wasn't Pop up Pirate anymore. This was Russian Roulette.
Keitaro examined the barrel very carefully. There were three slots to choose from… and he was shaking. He closed his eyes and pressed a sword inside. Naru's eyes told it all. Much as she disliked the man, she would hate to see him leave over a (in her opinion) misunderstanding.
The pirate remained in place, and Keitaro let out one gut retching sigh. Motoko made an annoyed noise. Why wouldn't that bastard pirate pop up?
Two swords remained.
No doubt feeling the effects of frustration, Motoko hastily shoved a sword in one of the two vacant slots. The girls and Keitaro had all practically pressed their noses on the barrel.
Motoko stood up and shouted, "HA! I WIN! THERE'S ONLY ONE SLOT LEFT URASHIMA! YOU LOSE! NOW PREPARE TO BE-"
Pop!
The pirate popped out of its hole, flying high in slow motion for all the girls to see. No one could believe their eyes, least of all Motoko.
"I… I win?" said Keitaro in surprise, "I… win! I win! Oh wow! I can't believe I won!"
"THAT WAS A DELAYED POP!!" screamed Motoko, "I… NO! THAT MEANS! OH GOD! THAT MEANS…"
"…until the end of the day, you have to do everything I tell you to!" announced Keitaro.
"Oooh! Ask her to do something reeeally kinky!" cheered on Kitsune, "Man, when did Keitaro grow a pair of balls?"
"Ask her to play computer games with me!" said Kaolla as she bounced all over the place.
"WAIT!" shouted Naru suddenly. Playing games is one thing but doing what Kitsune suggested irked her to no end, "No! Haha! I mean… this is Keitaro's choice, right?"
Naru turned to face Keitaro.
"I have an idea!" she suggested, "Why don't you… …hey I know! Maybe you should make Motoko… behave… more womanly! Dress her up in… well, dresses! Put on makeup! That sort of thing! What do you think Keitaro?"
Naru remained staring at Keitaro, whereas Motoko stood there with a frown.
"Come on Keitaro! Prove to me that you're not the pervert Motoko thinks you are!" thought Naru.
Keitaro looked at Naru for a good five seconds.
Then he started to laugh.
"HAHAHA! You gotta be kidding me, right?! That has to be the most dumbest thing I have ever heard in all my entire life! Seriously, are you on crack or something?!"
"K-Keitaro…" Naru murmured.
"Okay! I've decided!" Keitaro said, earning their attention, "I want to go out on a movie date with Motoko-chan… and of course, she has to do everything I say!"
Every cell in Motoko's body turned into frozen spheres. She had a very bad feeling about this.
"I… I understand." the swordswoman complied, bowing with hesitance.
Naru was in near shock. Did Keitaro just say the 'd' word?
-0-0-
Keitaro decided to make a bit of an impression for his 'date', so he wore a red shirt and blue faded jeans in favour of his usual ancient styled clothing. Currently he was waiting outside Hinata-Sou.
But not for long.
The main door slowly opened. Stepping outside were Kitsune and a very transformed Motoko.
"There ya go hon!" Kitsune said with pride, "One pink power ranger, just as you promised!"
One had to see it to believe it. With the exception of a mask, Motoko's entire body was compromised with a pink space outfit, much like the one shown in the Power Rangers series. She also wore white leather gloves and matching boots. It looked extremely tight and uncomfortable.
It was amazing what sort of outfits lurked inside Kitsune's closet.
"Well, I'll leave you two lovers to your honeymoon!" Kitsune said as she waved herself back inside.
"IT'S A DATE!" Motoko corrected, but covered her mouth. She couldn't believe what she was saying.
"Yeah, yeah! Whatever!"
Keitaro made a happy eyesmile towards Motoko. Motoko looked like she wanted to maim something.
"You do know the others will probably intervene, right?" Motoko said, "Kitsune is leaving us at the moment, but later may follow our progress with a disguise! I just know it!"
"Hmmm," mused Keitaro, "I didn't think about that! In fact, I'm glad you told me Motoko-chan… because I want you to do something before our date!"
Motoko sighed.
"What?"
-0-0-
Naru sat down on the living room couch, hugging her knees, recalling what Keitaro said to her. "Why… why was Keitaro so mean to me? And making her wear that… that costume was really cruel. What's more, Motoko took her oath pretty seriously."
"Ah, don't sweat it girl!" Kitsune reasoned, walking to where her friend was, "Keitaro's just having a little fun is all!"
Kaolla was tapping a finger on her lips. When Keitaro said if Naru was on crack, she wondered if he meant a crack on an egg, or something along those lines.
Suddenly Motoko re-entered the house, wielding her trusty sword.
Kitsune was puzzled as she looked at Motoko with foxy shut eyes. "Well that was quick!" she stated, "You didn't send him to the stars already, did you?"
Motoko lowered her head and sighed. "Forgive me everyone… SECRET TECHNIQUE: BOULDER CUTTING BLADE!! MULTIPLE STRIKES!!"
Shinobu walked down the stairs at the worse possible time. Ki waves were launched everywhere around the room, striking everyone except the executioner. Motoko then carried the unconscious bodies into Shinobu's room and closed the door behind them.
-0-0-
"Wow! I can't believe you attacked your own friends!" Keitaro said, when Motoko walked outside to join him.
"My 'attacks' did not harm them," argued Motoko, "they have merely lost consciousness for a few hours… besides… aren't they your friends too?"
Keitaro shrugged. "Meh, whatever."
Motoko walked a number of paces, but suddenly stopped and turned around. Keitaro wasn't moving.
"Well, are we going or what?" asked Motoko.
Keitaro kept looking at her.
"Carry me." he said.
Motoko's throat became dry. "You… you want me to… carry you?!"
"Yes."
"You… you can't be serious?!"
Keitaro pointed a finger on his face.
"Note. Serious. Face."
-0-0-
The distance to the cinema complex was approximately half an hours distance (ten minutes to the station, fifteen minutes via train, and a further five minutes to the cinema itself). During this journey, Motoko had carried Keitaro all of this time, earning curious looks from many city onlookers. Naturally, it was an extremely rare sight to see a pink power ranger carrying a geeky looking guy in her arms. Some children even thought Motoko was some kind of celebrity, but when they rushed over for an autograph, Keitaro harshly shooed them away, causing them to run away crying. Motoko could not believe Keitaro's audacity. He had never showed vicious and uncaring behaviour towards anyone, much less innocent children.
"Alright you can put me down now." Keitaro instructed, noticing they were near the cinema.
Motoko put down the dead weight and gasped, rubbing the feeling back in her arms when she did so. The manager and the power ranger looked at the poster displays shown on the large window. In ten minutes time, they had the choice of watching 'Freak Zombie Apocalypse' or 'The Rocky Road of a Lone Samurai'.
"So which one to you want to see?" asked Keitaro.
Motoko contemplated the choices, forgetting for a second she was dressed in a pink power rangers outfit. "Well I wouldn't mind seeing the samurai one, if that's okay with you."
"Two tickets to see Freak Zombie Apocalypse please!" Keitaro told the ticket seller, causing Motoko to fall over.
"WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ME ASKING?!" shouted Motoko.
Keitaro shrugged as he exchanged the money for tickets.
Growling, Motoko followed Keitaro inside.
-0-0-
Motoko and Keitaro found a couple of seats around the centre row, before sitting down next to each other. They watched the advertisements on the large lit screen. Keitaro was eating a large plastic bucket of popcorn, whereas Motoko was contempt with a small cup of milkshake with straw. Once Keitaro (rather hastily) munched all of his popcorn, he had the nerve to place the empty bucket on top of Motoko's head. Motoko felt herself boiling inside. She lifted up the bucket and placed it on the floor, though she secretly wanted to ram the whole thing down his throat.
At last the two relaxed, but a quiet dread filled the swordswoman. Was Keitaro just going to let it be, or was he planning something else?
Motoko could hear the sound of Keitaro scribbling with a pen, but she tried her best to ignore him and just enjoy the film, even though it wasn't the one she wanted to see.
It was five minutes later… when Keitaro prodded her left arm. Motoko turned around sharply and whispered, "What?"
Keitaro said nothing but instead gave Motoko a cue card; a smallish white card with words written on it. Motoko gave Keitaro a confused stare before taking the card from his hand. She looked at the card. It read: 'From now on you must do exactly what is written on these cue cards.'
Motoko did not like the sound of that one bit.
More scribbling was heard.
Keitaro gave Motoko another cue card.
Motoko read the cue card.
It read: 'Kiss me on the cheek.'
Motoko nearly shrieked. She looked worryingly at Keitaro. Did he seriously want her to kiss him on the cheek?! Keitaro turned his face slightly to the left, as if to say 'what are you waiting for?'
He was so serious.
Motoko closed her eyes and mouth. She looked as though she sampled a two litre bottle of vinegar. It wasn't a kiss kiss but it was close enough to the real thing. Just get it over with, she thought. Just get it the hell over with.
As quick as a flash, Motoko delicately pressed her lips on his cheek, making Keitaro all light hearted and giddy inside. Seriously, controlling people was so much fun, he thought to himself.
After the opening credits, the film had finally began.
Five minutes into the film… Motoko received another cue card from Keitaro. Motoko looked at the card.
It read: 'Make a sound like a crow.'
Motoko's mouth hung agape. She looked at Keitaro in disbelief, but Keitaro retaliated by slowly nodding to her. Motoko really wanted to die.
"C-Caw!" she said, imitating a crow as best as she could.
Another cue card was given to her. The cue card read: 'Louder'.
She couldn't believe she was doing this.
"CAW! CAW!" she shouted.
"SHHHHHHHH!!" came the sounds of people around her.
Keitaro had to wrap his arms around his chest, just to stop himself from laughing.
…
Time passed by.
For a moment, Motoko thought it was all over. Perhaps Keitaro realised he had gone overboard with his pranks, not that she would show him any mercy the next day. Luckily for Keitaro, there was no next day.
But Keitaro plopped another cue card on her lap.
It read: 'Stand up.'
Motoko exhaled a single breath of air. She slowly rose from her seat and just stood there, no doubt pissing off the middle aged woman who was sitting behind her. Motoko felt really embarrassed. Just how long did she have to stand up for?
With his trusty right thumb and index finger… Keitaro pinched her behind. Her left cheek this time.
Motoko reacted like a volcano.
"YOU ARE REALLY PUSHING YOUR LUCK URASHIMA!!" she bellowed, raising two fists high into the air.
"SHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Motoko turned red and wilted back into her seat.
It took her a good few seconds to realise another card was placed on her lap. There was a lot of writing on this one.
It read: 'When it gets to a scary scene, hug me and say "WAAAGH! Zomigod! Zombies are so scary, Keitaro-sama!" in a squeaky distressed voice.'
"You… must be kidding me." Motoko thought with a blank face.
It was only a matter of time when a scary scene would grace the screen. After all, this was Freak Zombie Apocalypse. There were already lots of scary scenes, even though Motoko never regarded them as scary. But that was all going to change.
Suddenly, a zombie wolf dived out of nowhere and decapitated an unsuspecting human.
Motoko shook her head rapidly. It was now or never. Even her code of honour had its limits.
"WAAAAGH! Zomigod! Zombies are so scary, Keitaro-sama!" Motoko squealed, latching herself onto Keitaro's arm. Eight out of ten for acting.
"Oh for goodness sake! Will you be quiet!" the woman behind told her.
Keitaro forced Motoko's head on his lap and slowly stroked her long dark hair.
"It's okay Pink Ranger," he said in a soothing voice, "I'll protect you from those nasty zombies."
Motoko managed to squirm out of this position and resumed watching the film.
Motoko hated life.
…
…
…
It was nearly over now. A few minutes later and the film will fade to black, and be replaced by the closing credits.
Much to Motoko's surprise, Keitaro promptly stood up and proceeded to walk to the exit… but not before leaving a final cue card on Motoko's lap.
Motoko looked at the cue card. It simply read: 'follow me'.
-0-0-
Keitaro was standing just by the door leading to the woman's restroom, waiting for his date to meet him. When Motoko arrived, she wondered what was in store for her next. Her thoughts varied from wild to absolute repulsiveness.
Then… two items in his hands immediately caught her eyes. Keitaro was carrying a red playboy bunny outfit in one hand… and a pogo stick in the other. Heaven knows how he managed to acquire such items.
"Put this on." he told Motoko.
Motoko nearly choked to death as she looked at the bunny outfit. It looked even tighter than the power ranger one.
-0-0-
The film reached its conclusion, and the audience were about to lift themselves off their seats… when they all heard the sound of somebody speaking through a megaphone. That somebody… was Keitaro Urashima.
"May I have your attention please!" Keitaro said with the megaphone, "We all hope you enjoyed the film… even though I thought it sucked, but whatever! Now here's a little something extra to whet your appetites! Let's hear it for the fabulous bunny girl, Motoko Aoyama!"
Everyone was looking at the person next to them. That all sat back into their seats, and were confused beyond belief. There wasn't anything mentioned about a special feature after the film.
Keitaro plugged in a CD player, (again, God knows how it acquired that… or the megaphone) inserted a CD, turned the volume up to its most highest setting… and finally pressed play. After a short while of loading up the CD… plinky plonk piano music filled the room. Keitaro then made a hand motion, signalling Motoko's time to appear.
Motoko arrived on the scene… or rather, she was bouncing her way there. On one hand she was trying to control the pogo stick, and with the other hand she was carrying another megaphone. She tried her best to bounce in a straight line, but every so often she would bounce in another direction.
And then she started to sing.
"I'M A LITTLE WABBIT! FU-FU! FU-FU! I'M A LITTLE WABBIT! FU-FU-FU…!"
Everyone was staring at her with wide eyes and open mouths. Some of the teenage guys who were closest to this unusual spectacle had the fortunate opportunity to watch her cleavage jiggle up and down. It was going to take a tsunami to clean up all their nosebleeds.
"…I LIKE CARROTS! FU-FU! FU-FU! I LIKE CARROTS INSIDE MY BUNNY HOLE!!"
The song lasted a little over two minutes. It would have lasted longer, but it was interrupted by mass waves of security.
-0-0-
And so after being booted out of the cinema complex, Motoko and Keitaro began the long journey back to the train station, and then, after a short walk, they would finally be back at Hinata-Sou. Motoko had now changed back into her power rangers outfit. The bunny outfit made her feel virtually naked, so the power rangers outfit was deemed the lesser of two evils.
Keitaro had his hands behind his head, and was looking at the cloudless sky. The sky was somewhere between a bright blue and a navy colour. The perfect atmosphere. For him anyway.
"You know… I really enjoyed myself today!" Keitaro had the nerve of saying.
He walked ten paces, but realised Motoko wasn't accompanying him. Keitaro turned around… and looked at a distant Motoko. She was crushed. She had tears in her eyes.
"How… how could you?" she said sorrowfully, "Deep down… I thought you were a caring person… I never expected… you to be so cruel… I hate you…"
Keitaro felt a packet of crisps inside his right jean pocket. It was a snack he never got round to eating in the cinema. Probably because, well, he was busy having so much fun. He opened the crisp packet and thought of something truly outrageous.
Keitaro slowly walked up to the crying Motoko.
He stared at her. Eye to eye.
And then… he lowered himself to one knee.
City people were stopping to see what was going on.
"Motoko Aoyama…" Keitaro said softly and seriously.
Motoko looked at him with widened eyes.
"…will… will you marry me?"
Motoko watched with shock as Keitaro carefully put a ring over her gloved finger.
Although technically… it wasn't a ring at all.
It was a hula hoop.
-0-0-
Naru was the first to rise from her sleepy state. "Oooh, what happened?" she groaned, rubbing her forehead.
The last thing she remembered was Motoko's sword strike. Then there was black. Nothingness.
The others have also stirred themselves awake. First Kitsune, then Kaolla, and lastly Shinobu.
"Oooo… did we get hammered or something?" asked a weary Kitsune.
Kaolla stretched her arms out wide. "Wow! I had a great dream! It had bananas! And… well that's all it had really!"
Shinobu remained wordless.
Suddenly… the living room phone was ringing.
They all rushed to the living room, and Naru was the first to pick up the phone.
"Hinata Residence." she said with a formal tone.
Hysterical laughter was heard on the other side.
Naru recognised the voice straight away.
"Motoko! Is that you?!" Naru asked. Motoko must be on her mobile phone, she thought.
Kitsune, Kaolla and Shinobu looked worryingly at each other.
"KEITARO IS DEAD!!" came the sound of Motoko's deranged voice. "I FINALLY DID IT! I KILLED HIM! I KILLED HIM NARU! HE'S DEAD! DEAD!! HE PROPOSED TO ME… AND I STUCK MY SWORD INSIDE HIM! NOW HE IS DEAD! HE IS SUPER DEAD!!"
They all gasped.
"Um… ha… wha?" Naru laughed nervously.
At first, Naru thought, maybe Keitaro asked Motoko to play a sick joke on her…
…but as she heard the ambience of police sirens… she began to have other ideas…