Chapter 18: Under the moonlight

Keitaro sat up quickly, gasping to escape the dream world of Motoko's rejection that was plaguing him. He looked around, seeing if he'd upset Seta, and found that the older man wasn't anywhere to be found. Keitaro checked for his alarm clock, which hadn't served a purpose since he and Motoko had begun training, and saw it was only three in the morning.

"I know he said he'd leave early, but there's no way he meant that early."

Keitaro got dressed and slipped on Motoko's medallion, feeling the pleasing wave of calm wash over him. He decided he would go for a short walk and get the blood flowing through his veins. He hadn't gone far when he saw Motoko, wearing her long white robes, at the bottom of the stairs, staring out into the night.

"Hello Keitaro," she said softly.

"Hey there."

He went down and rested his arms on the window next to her.

"You're up early," she said.

"Yeah, some bad dreams, you?"

Motoko shook her head, saying, "I couldn't sleep a wink last night."

He put his hand on top of her's. He didn't know exactly what their relationship even was, let alone what it would be. He knew he probably shouldn't push her. After all, she was probably still afraid of love in general, but he knew he definitely felt something for her, and couldn't just let it go that easily.

"Motoko… Haruka and Seta… They waited a long, long time before Seta tried to do anything. If they had tried earlier, do you think they would've been happy?"

"I think they may still be happy," said Motoko pointing out the window.

Keitaro looked where she indicated and saw Seta kissing Haruka tenderly.

"What the fuck?!" he exclaimed. "She hit him in the face earlier."

"She was mad at him," Motoko said. "But she still loves him."

"Women."

"And men are so simple?"

"Yes! Well… ok maybe not. I don't know. All this love stuff is just frustrating."

"I am beginning to understand that," she said, turning to look right into his eyes.

Keitaro met her gaze. This was it! All he had to do was open his cowardly mouth and tell her. He tried to and his throat dried up. What was wrong with him? He could go with the most insane archologist in Japan for days, no problem. He had helped defeat the most talented Kendo user in a hundred years. He had even broken his intellectual barrier by getting accepted by Tokyo U, and he couldn't simply say 'I like you'?

"M-Motoko…"

"Yes?" she asked gently.

"I… I mean… Before we defeated Tsuruko… we talked about… us," he said, and the words began to come to him. "I know you're still a bit confused on what you want. I know you probably don't want to be in a relationship at all, but if you ever decide that you did… or do… or whatever… I like you Motoko, and I want to see if there's something deeper between us."

He closed his eyes, waiting to be hit, or for her to leave, or for…

"Idiot," she said softly.

"Huh?"

He opened his eyes and she suddenly moved forward in a flash, and kissed him. It was sweet and careful. He reached up out of instinct and placed a hand on her hip and one on her face. He could feel that her skin was incredibly smooth, which he'd never really noticed before. She wrapped her arms around him, and then broke their kiss, leaning into him.

"I already told you, that I wanted to be with you. It goes against everything I believe in to feel like I do about you, but I still feel it. Before my sister came I was trying to convince myself that I could master my feelings and overcome them, but I can't. I'm not that strong."

"But… Motoko."

"I can tackle anything," she said, clutching his shirt. "I can overcome demons, challenge my sister and your boss. I can outclass a hundred would-be warriors and still make it back before lunch. What I can't do, is change what I feel like when you come in a room. It's so stupid. It's like everything stops and it's just you for a second."

"I thought you said you didn't want a relationship."

"I don't want one," she said, thoroughly confusing him. "I'm afraid a relationship will make me weak. If something happened to you I would go into a panic and couldn't think straight. However, that isn't going to change whether I'm in a relationship with you or not, as much as I don't want to be made open like that, I want to be with you more."

Keitaro wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. This was exactly what he'd always wanted from a partner. She wasn't a weak, quivering girl, she was still strong, and he knew she didn't need him to keep going, but she wanted to do this with him.

"Motoko. I never thought I had a chance with someone like you," he said, holding her tight. "You're strong, smart and really pretty, don't hit me for it, it's true."

"Idiot," she said again.

"You're an amazing warrior and an even more amazing woman. I really care for you Motoko, I want to try and make a go at this relationship."

She pulled away from his embrace and lead him up to the roof without a word. As they sat on the roof of the Hina apartments together, Keitaro looked at her, marveling at the way the moon and stars caused her skin to reflect in the night. She was pale, despite spending all her time in the sun, and her skin was so soft, even though she spent all her time training.

"Motoko," he whispered, just enjoying the way if felt to say her name.

It made his very being shiver in pleasure, because attached to that name was a feeling of belonging, love and acceptance.

"Could you hold me?" she asked, moving into him slightly.

Keitaro did and they watched the stars together, not talking, just enjoying the view. It was easily the best night Keitaro had ever had. After a while he turned to her a little.

"I guess it's a good thing neither of us could sleep."

"Very good," she answered. "I actually thought you weren't asking me out because you'd changed your mind about us."

"Never," he said, meaning it. "I was just being stupid. I didn't want to force you into a relationship I wasn't sure you wanted."

"So, you didn't do something that would make me happy, because you weren't sure if it would, and decided not to ask me? Yeah, you were being stupid, but that's what I'm here for, to be the logical one."

"Well that's not fair."

"Why not?"

"If you're logic, beauty, the warrior and bravery, what exactly am I?"

"Hm… Well you probably are a better cook than I am," she said jokingly.

"Oh ha ha, very funny."

She kissed him softly.

"I am getting tired," she said. "I should try and get a little bit of sleep before our training session. Maybe we could cut it short and go do something."

"There is an exhibit in the museum on Tomoe Gozen, if you wanted to go."

"I would enjoy that. Don't stay up all night."

Keitaro nodded and let her go back to her room. He just let the realization of what was happening wash over him. He was with Motoko… and he was pleased by that. He was actually in a relationship and happy…

"YEAH!" he yelled, not caring who could hear him. "THIS IS AMAZING!

He slid down the outside wall of the apartments, running into town as fast as he could, still yelling and cheering like an idiot. Why should he care? He had finally gotten what he'd really wanted since he was five years old. He had someone he could be with. Oh sure, Motoko wasn't a girly 'sit and pick flowers together' kind of girl, but who really wanted that? This was what being with someone should feel like, he decided.

He was young, he was with someone he really liked and he was happy.

Keitaro spent hours in the city, just wondering around and occasionally breaking into a happy cheer, earning him several disgruntled yells from people who were trying to sleep. How could anyone sleep right now? He'd confessed to Motoko and she'd returned it! Sleep was just a waste!

Keitaro looked up and noticed the sun was starting to rise. He figured he'd better get back so that they could train and then go on their… date? Outing? Whatever it was supposed to be called. However, when he arrived back at the Hina apartments, he saw a strange sight. It wasn't Motoko waiting for him with the Urashima blade at the ready. It was a huge dust cloud while two figures fought animatedly.

As part of the cloud dissipated Keitaro saw Motoko fighting with Naru of all people! He couldn't hear much of what they were shouting at each other, but he had a sinking feeling that it revolved around him. He sprinted forward, desperate to stop the fight before either girl got hurt.

"Don't be such a bitch!" Naru shouted. "I told you that I wanted him! I had him! He was mine! You said there wasn't anything going on between you two!"

"And at the time there wasn't!" said Motoko, blocking a flurry of kicks. "You were constantly using Keitaro! He was never as broken in spirit as when he was with you."

"And how would you know?"

"Because I actually was listening to him! I actually was paying attention to him instead of using him to make myself look better."

"You're so full of shit!" yelled Naru, striking at Motoko's head with her fist.

Keitaro reached them at that moment and caught the attack, re-directing it into the ground. Motoko used that moment to strike, and Keitaro stopped her blade in a perfect sword stop.

I really wish I could do that on purpose.

"Both of you, stop please!" he said.

Motoko immediately seethed her sword, shame showing all across her face.

"Keitaro you bastard! I can't believe you…"

"I won't ask what got into you both, it's pretty obvious. What is upsetting is that you two couldn't sit down and talk it out. Naru, our relationship ended because you were using me. I'd had enough and I didn't want to be in a one-sided relationship where I only every got a kiss because you wanted to show off."

"You were lucky to have me."

"No. I told you. I didn't deserve that. You want a spoiled rich kid you can use and abuse all you like, and you know what? I won't reprimand you for that. If that's the kind of relationship you think you want, go for it, but not with me."

"Fine!" said Naru, storming off, and slamming a door behind her hard enough to knock out a couple of the window panes.

"Motoko," he said embracing her gently. "I know Naru probably antagonized it. You don't openly cause conflict… at least when I'm not doing something stupid."

She smiled at his joke.

"She saw us downstairs and approached me… I confess I did provoke her… I am shamed in that."

"What did you do?"

"I pointed out that she had used you for her own means and how I would be sure not to repeat her mistakes."

Keitaro rubbed his eyes.

"Motoko, for provoking Naru, I'm a bit disappointed in you."

"I understand," said Motoko. "I shouldn't have done it. If you prefer we…"

"And for pointing out how much more you wanted our relationship to mean, I am very pleased."

"You're pleased?"

"Maybe not at exactly the end result," he said laughing. "But I am happy that you defended our relationship instead of hiding. I wouldn't have asked it of you. Naru is your friend and I know you're probably still a little afraid of this too."

Motoko put her head on his shoulder.

"I am," she said. "But I would regret not chasing after this. I once tried to run from my responsibilities at the school of swordsmanship and I regretted it. I would be in far more remorse if I didn't try and show you how I feel about you."

"And I feel the same way. I know this isn't really the ideal way to kick this off. I mean, I didn't know Naru would still be so angry, whatever her deal with me is anyway. This kinda is a downer on the rest of the day."

"I think it would be safe to say, this is one of those problems that come up in a relationship that you were telling me about."

"This would be a good example, yeah. Although at least this one is about someone else, and not between us."

"Well, for what it's worth, I would've chased after you to make this problem work."

He laughed at her phrasing, and let go of her.

"Me too, Motoko."

"Hey there!" said Seta, opening the door. "I was wondering where you went!"

"Not where you did!" shouted Keitaro.

"It certainly seems like you went out like I did!" he said, gesturing to Motoko.

"I take it this is another relationship problem. People trying to pry, I mean."

"Somewhat, but I think Seta is a specific problem to me."

"Still worth it," she said, taking his hand.

END CHAPTER

AN: OH SHIT! The moment many of you were awaiting, only 18 chapters in! Go ahead and spam my inbox with insults about the chapter and the unrealistic relationship!