Chapter 23: White Wedding

Motoko reached the top the second flight of stairs and peer around her, willing the Annex to show her what new challenge awaited her. Keen though her eyes were, and lighted as they might be by her spirit, she could see no threat in this giant room. Carefully, Motoko moved forward, ready to strike out if need be.

Suddenly, the room flashed before her, and she could see Keitaro in front of her. However, this was not her Keitaro, nor was it another shadow that meant to hurt her physically. This was something else.

"Motoko," he said, gazing down on her sternly. "You didn't really think I would leave for America for a year and still come back for you, did you?"

"What?"

"I left because you are a burden," he said, wearily. "I always have to rescue you, and you call yourself a warrior."

This was the trap of the room. It would conjure up illusions that would pray upon her greatest fears. However, she knew this wasn't real. This wasn't real…

Not that it wasn't true.

"Shut up," she said, slowly striding past this vision.

"I am only what you know is true in your heart. You need help beating Seta, you needed help beating your sister, you needed help passing the exams. Why would I ever fall in love with a weakling like you?"

"Shut up!" she said, more firmly.

"All you've ever done in this relationship is take, take, take. You got scared and ran off, so I retrieved you. You got angry with Naru, so I had to fix it. I'm tired of cleaning up after you."

That felt like she'd been shot in the heart. Of course, this wasn't real… she knew that, but didn't feel like it was fake. It felt real, even if she knew logically it wasn't.

"SHUT UP!"

She dropped to one knee, glaring up at the figure.

"That's right," he said, leering at her. "You belong on your knees like the dog you are! Dogs should learn to obey their masters!"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" she shouted, throwing her fists forward and calling upon her wind technique.

The attacked passed harmlessly through the illusion, and blasted a hole in the wall behind it.

"You aren't angry with what I say!" it yelled at her. "You are angry because I am right. You have done nothing for me and yet expect I should be there for you! You expect me to be your man-servant. You are no better than Narusegawa."

That couldn't be true… could it? Logic battle doubt in her mind, and her thoughts rapidly tore themselves to pieces. Keitaro loved her.

"I also loved Naru."

She loved him.

"Naru would say she loved me too, yet she used me and abused me constantly."

"I didn't understand you when I did that," she protested meekly.

"You know that's not true," it said, bearing down on her. "You knew I was innocent from the start and attacked because you were jealous. What a meek little girl you really were."

That wasn't true, it couldn't be the truth. She would never have been like that. Not to anyone, and especially him.

"You know I speak the truth, Motoko."

She thrust out with another wind attack, determined to hit this beast this time. Again, it passed through him harmlessly. She swung out at it, lashed out with a flurry of kicks and punches. Nothing connected, but just passed through the ghost harmlessly. She did shatter the beam in the middle of the room in half, causing the Annex to creak unsettlingly.

She knew that this was just Kanako, trying to get her to quit moving forward. Then why wouldn't her feet move? Why couldn't she summon the strength to move forward? It was as if the very life was being drained from her body, bit by bit.

"I… love him," Motoko muttered softly. "I love him, and you will not keep me from him!"

She just needed to take one step. It was simple! Move forward, just one step! For Keitaro, and for everything that could have. And that was when it hit her. Not only did she trust him, not only did she love him, but she wanted a future with him.

She wanted to be there for him when he was tired and take care of him until they both got old together. Nothing would make her happier than to be with this man until she died. She thought of a general man, and the idea disgusted her. Men were vile rapists who would whisper sweet nothings to a girl just for sex, but not Keitaro.

She knew he, she trusted him, she loved him, and she wanted to be with him… forever.

"I'm coming Keitaro!"

She took one step… and then another… and another… and one more… and then broke out into a full sprint, desperate not to stop, not to be held back. She would reach her man. Finally, she found the stairs, and began to move up them. About halfway up the black stairs, she was thrown backwards.

"Damn you Kanako!"

"You are rather persistent aren't you?"

"For what I am fighting for, there is no price you could ask that I wouldn't pay!"

Motoko drew her fist back, channeling her natural energy through her fist, and punched straight through the wall that Kanako had erected. She noticed, almost without thinking, that she was performing feats that she would never normally be able to do. After all, she'd never even managed to channel Ki without her blade before. Was this was being in love did to you? That you grew stronger just because of them?

Could it be that she was wrong for all these years? That being in love didn't have to make you weak? Was this how her sister had gotten so strong, despite being retired?

Questions spun around in her head as she continued towards Keitaro, knowing that there was nothing the black-haired bitch would be able to conjure up that could stop her.

"Hello there, Motoko."

It took Motoko a long moment to realize that Kanako was not speaking through the Annex, but was talking to her from within this very room. Slowly, light began to fill the room around her and she could see they were in a room similar to a chapel, altar and all.

Kanako began to walk towards her from the altar, clothed in a pure white dress, adorned with several gems and rings, save for her wedding finger.

"I do not think that dress suits you," Motoko hissed. "White is used for the beginning, and purity. Black would be a better fit, or perhaps blood red."

"A bride should always wear white upon her wedding day."

"I am afraid I have some objections."

Kanako pulled out a long, thin blade from behind her back.

"Are you really going to make me dirty my gown?" she asked. "My husband will not like it."

She gestured with the weapon to Keitaro, standing in chains at the altar. He had a stoic look on his face, as if he was drugged. Which, Motoko realized, he probably was. Motoko knew she had no weapon and no real hope of beating this girl. After all, even on equal ground, Kanako had gone toe-to-toe with her. However, she couldn't give up and leave Keitaro to this bitch.

"Burn in hell!" she shouted, striking forward with all the speed she could muster.

Kanako dodged her blow, and swung out with the weapon. Motoko ducked under the attack and kicked out, missing by inches.

"Persistent, aren't you?" shouted the girl in white.

Kanako struck out at Motoko again, catching her in the thigh with the weapon. The blow was shallow and she used the attack to hit the abductor in the chin with an uppercut. As Kanako fell back, she dashed forward and planted a solid kick in her kidneys. Kanako landed and coughed up blood. Regrettably, she bounced right back up, sword at the ready.

"You will not keep me from my husband!" she shouted.

"You sadistic bitch! I love him! Something you aren't even able to understand!"

Kanako swung with the blade held high over her head, attempting to cleave Motoko in two. She knew, no matter how fast she moved, no matter how hard she struck, she wouldn't be able to stop this attack. As if in slow motion, she looked over at Keitaro. Thinking, hoping he could hear her.

Keitaro… I love you.

She closed her eyes, ready for the inevitability that was death, and waited… and waited… carefully she opened her eyes, looking for the blade and Kanako. They weren't there. Something had knocked Kanako to the side so hard the blade had been knocked from her grasp.

"What the hell?" the white-clad girl yelled. "What was that?"

As if in answer, the Annex shook angrily. It was then that Motoko considered something that Kanako had said earlier. The Annex obeyed all true Urashimas… She looked over at Keitaro, just as Kanako seemed to get to the same thought. He was still standing there, in chains, but his eyes were burning fiercely, as if battling something internally.

"Keitaro… did you…" Motoko couldn't even finish her question.

"How?!" yelled Kanako. "It was supposed to lock your mind down for several hours yet!"

It was at that moment Motoko saw the medallion around his neck… He'd worn it here to meet her, of course. Never in her life was she so happy to see it around his neck. It may not have enough power to allow him to move, but he could interfere with the Annex.

"The ground's been evened Kanako!" shouted Motoko.

She moved forward in a flash. Of course, on any normal day, Kanako was vastly more experienced than he was in hand-to-hand combat. However, this was not normal. Motoko was filled with love for her man, and red-hot fury for the woman who had cheated to get him.

She was barely even keeping track of how many times she hit the girl or where. Punch in the face traveled to a kick in the shin and became a double palm strike to either ear. Kanako fell over, writhing in pain. Motoko stood at the ready, gasping from weariness.

"Why would you do this to us?" asked Kanako. "Why would you stop us from marrying our true love?"

"He isn't your's! You understand no more than Narusegawa about what he really wants. You deserve no more than her!"

"I have always been there for him, always!"

"No, you have been there for yourself. I will not make your mistakes."

"No," agreed Kanako. "You will not have the chance because I am going to kill you!"

Kanako lunged for her blade and halfway through dive, she was slammed into the wall, as if by a huge gust of wind. Of course, they were still in the Annex and if nothing else, Keitaro would keep Motoko alive.

"I love you, Keitaro."

However, she did not have the time to rush to the man she loved. Kanako was up and moving again. Her breathing was labored, and harsh, as if she'd come to a last resort. Perhaps she had.

"I am come to understand," said Kanako. "That you love her?"

The Annex trembled in response, something Motoko couldn't really understand.

"Very well… I thought that might end up being the case. Do not worry then, I shall make sure she joins you."

Motoko stood eyeing her carefully. There was no chance in hell that Kanako was just going to give up, no questions asked. The other girl suddenly thrust her hands forward, and obey her will, the Annex released Keitaro's chains.

Motoko felt overwhelming joy flood through her. However, it did not last long. For the moment her man was freed, he was sent spiraling across the room. Motoko looked at Kanako, confused, only to see her deliberately sending him flying.

"What are you doing?!"

"Giving him what he wants!" she yelled. "You can join him in the afterlife!"

With that call, Kanako sent Keitaro flying out of the large glass-stained window, plunging several stories down to his death…