Chapter 15: Tsuruko
Keitaro sat among the Hina girls as they congratulated him again on finally getting into the university. He was happy that he'd managed it. It had been a lot of hard work and effort, and he had finally proved that he could beat his own Moby Dick.
"So what are you going to study in?" asked Kitsune.
"Oh, I'm not."
"What?!" Naru shouted. "We worked day and night to get in, and now you're going to just drop out?"
"Yep!" he said. "I wanted to prove to myself that I could get in, and I did. However, I have no idea what I would want to go for, or what I would want to do if I did go. I already have Seta's permission to become his assistant, which is as good a job as I could want. I have a pretty solid place here, unless you're all so edger to get rid of me.
"I think it'd be good!" Naru said. "We don't need you here."
"But I don't want Sempai to leave," said Shinobu.
"Yeah, Keitaro is too much fun!" shouted Su.
"He hasn't been so bad recently Naru, so what if he doesn't want to go? He did prove himself," said Kitsune.
"I would prefer he stay," said Motoko simply. "There is nothing wrong with wanting to chose your own path, Narusegawa. However, I do have favor to ask you, Keitaro."
"A favor? Sure, anything!"
"I intend to try for the college myself soon, and I would appreciate your help in my studies."
"You… want my help?"
"You do have the most experience with the exams after all."
"Oh… sure!"
Naru stormed out the room, muttering angrily. Keitaro shrugged. He was done trying to fix things between Naru and him. If she wanted to be pissed because he didn't do what she wanted, that was her problem. Keitaro decided it would do him some good to get out of the apartments and Shinobu needed to get some food, so he agreed to go with her. They boarded the train into town and smiled at him softly.
"Congratulations again on passing the exam, sempai!"
"Thanks, Shinobu, but honestly I'm glad it's over. It'll be good to me to have some time to myself without worrying about the exams. Maybe I'll go next year, but right now, I'll enjoy the break!"
Shinobu nodded and laughed lightly as they got off the train. They went through the stores and shops at a good pace, with Shinobu being so used to what she needed and wanted for the apartments. It was as Keitaro was helping her towards the train home that his old curse decided to announce that it was, in fact, still alive and kicking.
He saw a car suddenly swerve horribly off the road and head right for Shinobu. She was busy focusing on the train and couldn't see it, so he knew he had to act. He quickly throw Shinobu onto the train and out of the way and checked on the car. It was too close for him to do anything but brace for impact.
He closed his eyes and waited for his abrupt and horrifying death… only death didn't come. He wasn't even in pain. He opened his eyes and saw a woman with long black hair and a kendo uniform in front of him. Keitaro looked closer and saw she had used a spirit attack to split the truck in two, and still had her blade drawn.
"Motoko?!"
No, he realized. Motoko is tall, but not that tall. This woman is older… more experienced…
"Hello there," she said turning around. "Are you Keitaro Urashima?"
"That would depend on whether or not you're here to kill me."
"I am not!" she said, laughing. "I'm here to see my sister."
"Your sister doesn't perhaps look a lot like you, does she?"
"So you are the owner of the apartments."
"Well, manager… but you know, the owner's away… so I take care of them. I take it that you're here to see your sister?"
"I am."
"Well follow Shinobu and I, we'll take you to the apartments."
He got on the train with this new comer and Keitaro thought over what Motoko had said about her sister. It wasn't much. It was clear this girl was still a warrior and a kendo expert, but she was also supposed to be married.
Is this what Motoko would be like if she fell in love? She doesn't seem so bad, and she did just save my life.
When they arrived at the Hina apartments, Keitaro offered the traveler a spot on the couch and prepared some tea.
"Ah," she said. "She said you don't take coffee, which is fitting."
Soon, the door opened and Motoko stood on the other side of it, a look of confusion and anger on her face.
"Why are you here?"
"I am pleased to see you too," said the older sister, sipping her tea. "I have come to take you back."
"What?!" Keitaro yelled.
"This is the point when you receive the dojo, as we agreed."
"This is not the date we set!" Motoko called.
"Hold it!" Keitaro called out, angrily. "I am the manager here and you can't just drag someone out of here! Not her!"
"And why not her?"
"Because," said Motoko softly. "Keitaro and I are getting married."
Keitaro's mind went blank. Everything in him just shut down for a second. Married? Of course, Motoko had some other alternative in mind here, but he needed that second to adjust to what she'd said. The hard and cold sword mistress had essentially just proposed, albeit in a fake way.
"Right," said Keitaro, trying to compose himself. "We're engaged."
This caused confusion and outrage on the part of the other girls, expect Motoko's sister.
"Well then," she said. "I certainly can't take you home with me."
Haruka came over and started chating softly with the older sister and Keitaro used to moment to whisper urgently to Motoko.
"What the hell was that about?!" he hissed.
"I'm so sorry!" she said. "Really! She wasn't supposed to come back this early. If we get married we don't have to inherit the dojo, and I'm not nearly ready for it. So please, I beg you, help me through this."
"Ok, Motoko. Oh, quickly, I should know your sister's name… if we're acting like we're actually engaged."
"Tsuruko."
"You're name is much cooler."
"We are in the middle of something!" she hissed.
"So, Keitaro," said Tsuruko. "How is your relationship with my little sister?"
I can actually answer this honestly, he thought.
"Very well actually. We're getting closer each day and spend at least every morning together!"
"I see… are you really my sister's boyfriend?"
"Of course!" he responded, trying to show absolute sincerity. "She makes me a better person and I do my best to honor her in that. She's tough and caring, in a true blend unseen by any other woman today! I do my best to make her happy… she's in good hands."
"Keitaro…" said Motoko softly.
"Ah, I see. So you have no problem kissing her, then?"
"Kissing her?"
"Yes," said Tsuruko. "You are engaged, after all."
"Well yes," he said, thinking quickly. "It's just that Motoko and I aren't big on public displays of affection. We don't want to try and force our relationship on others, you know?"
"This is hardly public or forced…"
Keitaro turned to Motoko, searching in her face for some clue of what to do. He needed something, so answer or clue on how to get out of this. Anything would work. Naru could come down and punch him, a lightning storm could destroy the ceiling or Seta could burst his doom van through the front door, anything!
Motoko closed her eyes solomly and leaned forward. Keitaro struggled for another full second to think of something… anything that would get Motoko out of this, but nothing came to him… He closed his eyes and leaned forward, gently putting his lips on her's and it was almost like time stopped.
Keitaro still to this point hadn't had a real kiss. Not one like this. This wasn't hard or forced like Naru had kissed him, and it wasn't an accidental bumping of lips. This was a true moment of passion between two close people, even if it was all just for a show. She had a distinct taste to her, which was sweet and slightly addictive. Despite the fact this wasn't real, he felt pleasure flood through him. He broke it after a moment and did what came naturally to him. He placed his forehead gently against Motoko's, feeling her shiver slightly.
He thought about trying to apologize, but couldn't think of how to do it with Tsuruko still in the room. Motoko opened her eyes slowly, seemingly in a bit of daze, while Keitaro just silently hoped she wasn't pissed off.
"Very well done," said Tsuruko. "Now you two could probably use a bath together!"
"Excuse me?!" said Motoko.
"We don't do that! Even if we did, you defiantly wouldn't be watching!"
"I won't actually watch you bathe, but if you intend to marry my sister, you should be comfortable at least bathing with her."
Keitaro hung his head, looking towards Motoko for guidance.
"I suppose we have very little choice in the matter," she said, angrily, heading for the springs.
Keitaro paused slightly. This was wrong. He couldn't do this to Motoko, not with how highly she prided her innocence and purity… But what was the alternative? Tell Tsuruko the truth? That would only end in Motoko leaving and it really up to her which one she would rather suffer through.
He went into the spring a few moments later, squinting so as to not see anything he shouldn't.
"Keitaro… thank you for this," she said. "I know you don't want to do this."
"I don't want to make you do these things," he said. "I know you're hating this right now… Can I ask why you fear your sister so much? I mean, she seems nice for the most part."
He faced away from her, so as to preserve her modesty.
"She is only that way now that she is married. When she draws her blade, it is as if the samurai in her never left. She gains god-like strength and becomes a death machine. I never came close to beating her."
"But you're amazing!"
"In over a hundred years of our history she is considered to be one of the best… It is I who disgrace her abilities… not the other way around. I came here because I had hoped I could one day become a greater swordswoman than her… but that just seems like a dream now."
"So did getting accepted by Tokyo U," he said simply. "So did matching you in hand-to-hand. I can do things I never thought I would do and you can do them too… You're amazing Motoko."
"Thank you Keitaro… I just hope this little show will be enough for her."
"So this is all a show!" shouted Tsuruko, appearing from the air. "Motoko, you will have to be punished most harshly!"
Keitaro moved to intercept the attack, and tried to do his patented accidental sword stop. Sadly, this didn't work as well as it did on Motoko, and he was sent spinning back into the fence. He sprung back up and saw Motoko start battle with her sister.
In all the time Keitaro had ever known Motoko, he had never seen her like this. This was pure agility and speed and power. Her attacks were faster and more furious than anything he'd ever seen. He couldn't interfere, he'd only be in the way. Instead, he sat back, waiting to see if he could find an opening.
Suddenly, Tsuruko grew furious with her.
"Has your sword fighting gotten so poor here?" she asked, and struck.
Whatever was in that attack, it had enough power to rip Shisui in half. Keitaro watched along with Motoko as her beautiful blade was ripped in two.
"Motoko, good news," said Tsuruko. "You don't have to inherit the school… You'll be staying here as a normal student from here on out… I couldn't be more disappointed in you."
Motoko fell to her knees and Keitaro ran to her, throwing his hands over her shoulder.
"Wait just one damn second!" he shouted. "Motoko trains every single day for hours on end. She dedicates herself completely to her swordsmanship and bettering herself. What right do you have to say those things!"
"She has become weak."
"She is beautiful and graceful!" he yelled angrily. "Even as a normal student anyone would be the luckiest man alive to marry her!"
Tsuruko didn't say another word, merely turned around and walked off. Keitaro covered Motoko in one of the large drying sheets and held her, hearing her sobs rock the night air. He couldn't think of anything to say or anything that would undo what had just been done. To a warrior, having your weapon broken was a sincerest form of defeat… How could you fix that?
"I'm so sorry, Motoko," he said. "She's wrong about you. I know it, and you should too. You're strong, and you always have been."
"Keitaro," she said gently, holding his hand. "Did you mean what you said… about me?"
"Of course I did," he said, trying to comfort her.
"You meant that anyone would be lucky to marry me?"
"You bet I did," he said, smiling.
"Would you actually marry me?"
Chapter end
Secret technique: Evil cliffhanger of doom!