Naru hung up the phone and sat down at the kitchen table.
"How was Kitsune?" Keitaro asked, running a finger around the rim of his teacup.
"She sends her love, and says to say if you're not home soon that she's taking your chequebook."
"Sounds like Kitsune. Home." He took a sip and drummed against table. "We're going to have to talk about it soon, aren't we?"
She met his uncertain gaze, knowing he meant more than just when they were returning to Hinata. "Yeah. I told Kitsune we'd be back in a couple days. I hope that's all right."
He shrugged. "We couldn't keep going like this forever anyway. And I kind of miss things back home anyway." He smiled. "Even if we didn't make it in, those study sessions were kind of fun."
"Yeah, even at your worst you manage to be pretty amusing." She smirked. "Especially then, actually."
"You know, you get scary when you channel Kitsune."
"Soon, I'll be stealing your wallet too."
"Oh, God spare me."
They laughed.
"Are you going to try again?" she asked.
"A third year?" One of the privileges of fishing was that it gave him something to think about besides his future. Nothing was as clear as it had been a week and a half ago.
Taking his silence for an answer, she shifted her chair toward him. "It's not an easy question, is it?"
"It seemed easier to answer the last couple times. Of course I had nothing else to look forward to, then."
"And now you do?"
"Well, I have you guys now. I mean, if you want me to stay."
She thought of what it would be like to study alone, what it would be to lift the trap door in her room and and find only darkness beneath. She reached for his hand. "Yes, very much. I don't think I realised how much I missed you until I saw you in that hotel room." Her voice cracked. "Yumi…" She shook herself. "I'm sorry."
"No, tell me about her. Who is this woman?"
Naru was torn. If she went through the story, she wasn't sure she could keep from bursting into tears; but he was there. If anyone could keep her from despair it was him or Mutsumi.
"May I come in?" Mutsumi asked, from the doorway.
Keitaro gave Naru a questioning look, but she smiled. "It's your house, after all," she said.
Mutsumi clapped her hands. "Yay! What are we talking about?"
Having both of her supports near her gave Naru the strength to try. Neither said anything as she told them about how she had met Yumi on the train and started touring the city with her. Mutsumi reached for her hand and she squeezed it back as she recounted the phone call to the hospital, her voice shaky. As she came to the hospital, the tears that had been threatening for five minutes (days, really) finally began to fall; and then they were both holding her hands, gripping tight, keeping her safe with them as she finished the last of her story.
The silence hung in the air, heavy as lead, while Naru reluctantly freed her hands to wipe her eyes as she shuffled toward the sink to wash her face. She sighed in relief as the warm water caressed her skin and washed away the signs of sorrow. As she stood upright, her shoulders felt less heavy than a moment ago. She sat down, staring at the table. None of them said anything, until Keitaro cleared his throat. Both girls' eyes shot towards the sound and he wilted at the sudden attention.
"Well…I'm sorry," he said. What else could he say?
Naru smiled at him for his effort. "I'm glad we came here."
Keitaro nodded, smiling back.
She sighed. "But it is time for us to go back, isn't it?"
Keitaro's smile faltered. He nodded again.
Naru got up from the table and patted Keitaro on the shoulder.
"Will you be all right?" Mutsumi asked, coming around to give her a hug.
Naru nodded. "Just going for a walk before bed." She felt Keitaro's concerned eyes follow her to the door. She turned to him and gave him half a smile. "I'll try to have an answer for you soon," she said, and went out.
Her feet took her to the stairs and down the steps to the shore. The tide was high, and the wind and surf whipped through her hair as she stared out at the crashing waves.
I'm going to do it, Yumi. You'll see.
It took the better part of half an hour for Naru and Keitaro to pry Kitsune, Shinobu and Su off. The moment they had walked in the door, the trio had ambushed them like tigers lying in wait.
"Keitaro!" Su sang, legs wrapping around his neck. "You're home. It's been so boring here without you!"
"Missed you!" Kitsune cried, wrapping her arms around Naru. While Shinobu buzzed between the two prodigals like a fly unsure where to land. "Do you have any idea how boring it gets without the two of you here?"
Naru sighed, sinking into the hug. For all its wildness, it was good to be home.
"Where's Motoko?" Kitsune asked once she released both of them from her clutches.
Keitaro and Naru shared a look. Naru answered by unspoken agreement. "Motoko has decided to return to Kyoto for a few weeks."
"Kyoto?"
Keitaro nodded, thinking back to the ferry ride back to Kansai. They had been planning their route over coffee when Motoko said, "I have decided not to return to Tokyo." Her eyes had been downcast, as if she were ashamed to even be saying it.
"What do you mean?" Naru had asked, unnerved by the nervous girl.
Motoko bit her lip, threading her fingers together over the map on the table. Even Keitaro was leaning forward then. It had been on the top of his mind to ask if she were sick; but then she had seemed to come back to herself and she became straight-backed and placid-faced. "You will be gratified, Urashima. I have decided to return to Kyoto for a time. I have been away from my family for a long time, and there actions I must atone for."
Unsure of whether he was being credited or blamed, Keitaro only stammered and then said, "I'm sure you're doing what you think is best and your room will be ready for you when you come back."
She nodded and her lips flickered upwards for half a second. "First, I must convince my family that I have not come to Hinata House merely to hide from them."
Then she had gotten up from the table. Keitaro hadn't seen her until later that evening as he had walked about the main deck. Naru was waiting for both of them in the cafeteria, he knew, but he wanted the air and the exercise, having gotten used the fetch and carry of fishing day after day. There she was at the bow of the ship, gazing out at the setting sun just off to the left. He had watched her for a time before making his approach, watched her hair fluttering in the wind, the pensivity of her expression as she gazed out on some unknown point. When she wasn't trying to kill him, Keitaro had been unable to shake the feeling that, wherever Motoko Aoyama went, there was art. She seemed to be made to pose as every artful gesture of her well-trained body called forth its own sense of drama. Every moment with her, even the dangerous ones, seemed pregnant with possibility, for if there was anyone capable of almost anything it was she. Not that he would tell her this. He feared, too much, the sputtering of her embarrassment followed by an overwhelming desire to kill him as the source of it.
Then, at last, he had had his fill and made his approach. As he did, he saw that it was not the sunset she was gazing out at, but a piece of paper in her hands. She stared at it with rapt attention as an archaeologist would a Dead Sea Scroll; but, sensing his approach, she turned, stuffing it into the folds of her gi.
"Urashima?"
He scratched the back of his neck, squinting at the sun. "It's time for dinner," he said.
She nodded and they walked together towards the door along the starboard side of the boat. They were out of the sun here, and he could see her face clearly now.
Unable to stop himself, he asked, "What made you decide to go home?"
She stopped. "Many reasons. You helped, actually."
"Did I?"
She nodded. "You have been a strong influence these last few days, Urashima." She gave him a sly smile. "But if anyone asks, I will deny it."
He laughed but nodded, understanding he was being sworn to secrecy.
Then she leaned back on the railing and craned her neck to look out on the sea. "We are all misfits in a way, aren't we, Urashima?"
He said nothing, expecting she had an answer; and she gave it.
"Shinobu is shyer than anyone I have ever met, but longs for her own restaurant. Mitsune drinks, gambles, and foregoes real work in favour of her dream of being a writer. Su's strangeness is obvious, but I suspect there is some reason she holds to it the way she does." He cocked his head and she smiled. "She talks in her sleep. Su misses home as well. For myself, my mannerisms and way of life come from before the Meiji Restoration." He sputtered to deny this, but she held up a hand. "I am old-fashioned, perhaps too old fashioned at times. But I am unashamed of it because I feel I represent the best part of something even if time has moved on."
She pointed at him. "You act ineffectual and have no art for speaking. Deny it if you dare," she said when he started frowning. He said nothing. "At the same time," she went on, "you pursue your dreams with the single-mindedness of a warrior or sage. The more impossible they seem, the harder you try. It is" – she paused – "admirable. Foolhardy, but admirable."
"Couldn't resist that last part, could you?" he asked with an exasperated smile.
Motoko paid no attention. "Naru is probably the most normal out of all of us, and even she has her moments. Were it not for you, I am sure she would have spent much of this year barricaded in her room, studying from morning until night. The point is, for so long I thought I was the only person bearing with my kind of pain, but I've been watching Naru and you the last several days."
Her features softened and she looked down at him with an expression almost tender. "You have been hurt too." It wasn't a question. "The point is, this last week has given me something I have never had: the realisation that I did not have to endure alone. I suppose I should thank you for that." She turned and they continued along the deck.
Misfits: Keitaro turned the word over in his mind. No one could argue that life at Hinata House was normal; and he was pretty sure that any other landlord would have turfed someone like Su or Kitsune long ago. She was right, when he thought about it: each of them had come to Hinata House seeking something. Perhaps, none of them had found it or knew what it was. Perhaps, they never would; but the house on the hill gave them one thing that they did not have before: a family to search with. Maybe that was the most important part, he thought as he remembered something that Ritsuko had told him once as they shared a meal together, many months ago: the greatest feeling on earth is the feeling that someone else understands you; to feel their arms around you and know that they embrace everything about you, including the broken bits you try so hard to hide. The feeling never lasts forever, but while it's there you feel like anything is possible.
Maybe, he wondered as he followed Motoko inside, they could be that for each other. All of them, together.
"The Island of Misfit Toys," he said, remembering an American cartoon he'd seen as a child.
"What?" Motoko asked, turning.
He shook his head. "Nothing. It's just" – he bowed his head in respect – "you're a very wise girl, Motoko Aoyama."
She flinched at the gesture, but as she looked into his eyes, she began to smile. "Not yet," she said, "But with everyone's help, I believe I am learning."
Motoko would not return to Hinata for a month and, for that entire month, they heard nothing from her. Yet, she lingered on, as everyone does when they leave a place that loves them. She was in the extra place that Shinobu accidentally set for her; and in the sigh Kitsune made every time she passed the samurai's room; and in the times Keitaro went to the roof to think and found it empty. Still, life carried on Hinata House. For a week, Keitaro had to contend with being Motoko's replacement while Su snuck into his bed at night, leaving souvenirs that would be slow to heal. The first time it happened, Naru broke a long dry spell and launched him to the moon for the first time in months.
Keitaro and Naru spend most of the month helping Shinobu prepare form her end of semester exams. Much to his chagrin, Keitaro's answers proved to be more of a cautionary tale than actual help; but, as Naru told him with a teasing grin, "You wouldn't be you without mistakes." Neither said anything to the other, but both felt good about helping someone else study for a change. It helped them stay sharp, but also helped them avoid having to make the decision they both knew was coming, and not just about whether to try for Tokyo U again. In the end, their teaching paid off and Shinobu spent her last day of school skipping home to show her tutors her score.
"I never could have done it without you," she said, forgetting to be shy as she hugged them both in turn.
The hug surprised Keitaro and he found himself blushing under praise he wasn't sure he deserved. He looked up to see Naru smirking at him.
"Careful," she said, cracking her knuckles. At that point, Keitaro decided not to let the hug linger too long.
Kitsune landed a good paying job at a bar for several weekends, and for the first time since he'd known her, she was flush. She even paid her rent on time without any fuss. The end to unemployment seemed to do wonders for her spirits and began spending the hours of 10:00 to 3:00 every day working on her writing. Whenever she was asked about it, all she would say was that it was a novel.
Then, a strange change came in the form of a letter. Naru found it among the morning mail and handed it to Kitsune at the breakfast table a week before Motoko would return. The Fox turned a distracted gaze towards the envelope and then her eyes widened as her hand hovered over the letter.
"What's the matter?" Naru asked.
"Nothing," her friend replied, snatching up the envelope. "I've got to go." Then she disappeared upstairs.
For the rest of the week, a dark cloud seemed to hover over Kitsune wherever she went. She hardly spoke to anyone, she no longer looked for work, and she had stopped working five hours a day on the book. Worse, she had started drinking again. Not enough that it was out of the ordinary for her; but, faced with the discipline she had been showing, the change was almost shocking.
"What the hell is bothering her?" Naru asked Keitaro as they walked home from a shopping trip.
Keitaro shrugged. "She never really confided in me to begin with. You're her best friend. She hasn't said anything?"
She shook her head. "I'm worried. It's that letter. It's got to be. Could it be a rejection letter?"
"Nah, not a chance," he said, turning the corner, "You've seen her. She just goes on about how they don't appreciate her genius and then sends the story to someone else."
"Well, what then?"
He shook his head and adjusted his grip on his shopping bags. "You got the best look at it besides her. You tell me."
Naru closed her eyes, trying to remember. "Well, the handwriting was definitely a woman's. It was more elegant." She pointed a warning finger. "Don't try and tell me there isn't a difference."
Keitaro remained silent, thinking about his own near incomprehensible chicken scratch.
"The address, I think it was from Okinawa."
"Was there a name?"
"I only looked at it for a second to see who it was for. I don't remember the name." She gave a despairing sigh. "It's hopeless."
"Hey, now" – he nudged her – "she'll tell us when she's good and ready."
"Maybe," she said, unconvinced.
They trudged along, coming up to the hill upon which Hinata sat; but Naru kept sighing.
"Is there something else?" he asked. "You look troubled."
Naru bit her lip. "There's something I've wanted to ask."
"What?"
"Did you?" She groaned, running a palm down her face. "Did you have someone you were in love with?"
That was the last question Keitaro had expected. "What?"
"Earlier, before the exam." She snuck a sideways glance at him. "Was there someone you were in love with?"
She knew! He stared at her. How the hell could she have known?
"I'm not angry," she said, leaning into his arm. "Just tell me."
Not angry. He doubted that would be the case if she heard the whole story. But he judged silence might be even worse. "Yes, there was someone. I don't know that love is the right word, but I was with someone. How did you know?"
She shrugged. "A lot of little things. You claimed to be in an art club, but when I asked those friends of yours – Shirai and Haitani – they didn't know anything about it. You always seemed more relaxed after 'art club', but never talked about how the club was going with anyone. Normally, when you're excited we can't get you to shut up. You stopped getting nervous around us girls, and then there were those strawberries on White Day."
"I made those for everybody."
"Yeah, but you made way more than you gave everyone, and yet they disappeared, and we never found out who they went to." She smirked. "Kitsune pouted for a whole day when she found out they were gone."
He laughed, and hoisted his bag a little higher as they made their way up the stairs. "So, keeping secrets and making candy, that's what gave me away." Off her nod he asked, "So why suspect a girlfriend specifically? Couldn't I have had a secret gambling problem or been running an underground porno ring, or any of the million other things Motoko's accused me of?"
She cuffed him on the side. "First of all, she's stopped making those accusations."
"True." Mostly.
"Second, if you were up to anything shady, I'd have picked up on it. You're not that clever."
"Gee, thanks. Ouch!"
"Third," she said, flicking him on the forehead, "there's the fact that you'd get those far away smiles and sighs when we studied together. I don't know who you were with in those daydreams, but she made you happy." She held up her hands. "Add in the sudden relaxed attitude and the strawberries, and it feels kind of obvious."
"Wow." He looked at her in admiration. "You have been paying attention."
"You're in my sights," she said, smiling at him. "Even when I'm trying to ignore you."
The atmosphere felt heavy. He swallowed. "Does anyone else know about this?" If Motoko knew she'd have killed him already, and Kitsune would have named her price of silence by now.
Naru shook her head. "I never told anyone my suspicions. I'm just glad to know I wasn't" – She paused – "I'm just glad to know, that's all. Who was she?"
"Was?"
She snorted. "I think I've earned a little credit, by now. Come on, your mood dive-bombed after White Day. If she were still in the picture, you'd be with her instead of me."
"Don't be ridiculous, I'd be with you if you needed me, no matter what."
"You're sweet. So, who was she?"
"You don't know her," he lied. "I was worried about what you would think. She was, well, a bit older."
"Oh." Naru paused, not sure what to say to that. Reaching the top of the stairs, she indicated a tree by the side of the road and they stopped underneath to catche their breath. "When did it start?" she asked, sitting down.
Keitaro set down his bags and joined her. "Christmas. We met while I was out wandering."
"How'd you manage that?" she asked. Even when thinking the worst of him, she couldn't believe he had the guts to pick up a strange older woman.
He laughed. "I didn't actually," he said, scratching his neck. "She did. It was all her, right from the beginning. I mean I wanted it, but she was the one who made every first move."
Naru's throat felt dry. "What made you go along with it?"
He shrugged. "That's not an easy question to answer."
"Please tell?" she asked, not even sure why she needed the answer so badly.
He ran his hands through his hair. "You've changed," he said. "A few months ago, you've launched me to the moon for any of this."
She nodded. "I guess I have changed. Don't think you can change the subject that easily though." He hesitated. She nudged him with her shoulder. "Come on, tell me or I may forget all the changes I've made." She smiled to let him know she was joking.
He sighed. "It wasn't anything grand. We were lonely and we were better together than apart. For a while, anyway."
"What about your promise girl?"
He said nothing for a long time as all the doubts and recriminations of those months came back to him. "It, well, I don't know. I wasn't giving up on that, but she was there – flesh and blood – and she wanted me." He gave a sad laugh. "No woman has ever, ever said they wanted me before her."
"Better together than apart, huh?" She looked at him. "Kind of sounds like us."
"What does that mean?" he asked, but he never got an answer as Naru turned and let out a joyous cry. In the distance, Motoko could be seen making her way up the stairs with another woman, and laughing. The samurai, who he had alwas associated with barely contained righteous indignation, was laughing out loud. Her shoulders shook with mirth and her whole body seemed loosened by it despite the many bags she was carrying. Naru waved to them and ran up to them, but prickles travelled over Keitaro's neck, warning him to be cautious; a feeling that deepened as he squinted and saw Harumi Aoyama smiling up at him as made her way up the steps.
"Mr. Urashima," she said as she mounted the last step. "It is good to see you again."
"Yes," he said, with a frozen smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't know Motoko was travelling with anyone." He eyed the giant rucksack on her shoulder. A bokken and a sword were poking out of it. She was cradling a violin case in her arms.
"While Motoko was visiting, Satomi was sweet enough to mention your offer to visit." Her smile morphed, making her look like a tiger that had spotted a gazelle. "How could I resist?"
Please don't let Naru notice, he prayed. Fortunately, Naru was too busy fawning over Motoko.
"Will you be staying long?" he asked, wondering how long he could convince Noburo to take him fishing.
"Ah!" Motoko disengaged from Naru. "That is something I wished to talk to you about, Urashima." She stood along side her sister. "My sister is preparing for her own university exams and she thought it best if she studied closer to the schools she's seeking to attend."
Harumi produced an envelope with his name on it. "My application for tenancy. Motoko informed me you have some room available."
"Well, that is…" Keitaro gibbered, trying to find a way, any way, to escape his oncoming fate. What would happen if she met Kitsune? Two tricksters under the same roof; they'd either rob him blind or burn the house down.
"Of course you can," Naru said, stepping in front of Keitaro. "We wouldn't dream of turning away someone from Motoko's family." She turned to cast him a scornful look.
"No, of course not," he echoed, suddenly aware he was in the presence of three women who could kill him with the slightest effort. Naru started leading them up the path and he fell in step. "Just, well, what does your mother say about all this?"
Harumi waved this off. "Our mother feels I ought to do whatever is best to pursue my education. Also, she seemed quite happy at the idea of Motoko staying with another member of the family." She turned so only he could see her and then that smile was back. "Though I can't think of who might have put that idea into her head."
Grandma, Keitaro thought, what big teeth you have.
Resigned to his fate, he followed as Motoko and Naru chatted about her visit.
"That was quick," Shinobu called from the kitchen once they were inside. "Oh," she said, stepping into the hallway. "Motoko, it's wonderful that you're back. Who's this?"
Harumi bowed and introduced herself. Naru excused herself to go find Kitsune and Su.
"So pretty," Harumi whispered in Keitaro's ear. "It's a wonder you can study at all."
Su appeared at the top of the stairs and descended with a back flip. "Ta da!" She sprang up again and landed on Harumi's back. "Motoko, you're home!" She sniffed. "Wait, you're not Motoko!" She leapt back and did a double take.
Harumi gave the girl a wary look that gave Keitaro vindictive pleasure, and introduced herself. "I will be staying here from now on. Please take good care of me."
All of them bowed just in time for Naru and Kitsune to descend.
"What's all the fuss?" the Fox asked. Keitaro was glad to see she had ink on her fingers. At least she was working again. She came to a stop in front of Harumi and the two women looked each other over, like two predators sizing each other up, before smiling and bowing to each other. Keitaro was sure he was the only one who saw it; but it was as if they had sensed something in each other on sight. For that one moment, Keitaro thought they might challenge each other for leadership of the pride.
"Now that everyone's here," Naru said, "Perhaps we can all get to know each other over lunch?"
Shinobu nodded. "Lunch should be ready in a few minutes." She gazed up at the newcomer through lidded eyes. "For now, would tea in the living room be all right?"
Harumi nodded. "One thing, Mr. Urashima. Satomi asked me what became of her gift to my sister."
"Gift?" Blinking, Motoko turned to Keitaro. "What is she talking about?"
For a second Keitaro could only stare in incomprehension until his mind travelled back to the Aoyama foyer and the memory hit him like a ton of bricks. It must have showed because Harumi began giggling behind her sleeve.
"You mean you've forgotten it, Mr. Urashima? How remiss of you."
Motoko's lips set together in a frown.
And she had looked so pretty before, Keitaro lamented.
"What gift does she speak of, Urashima?"
He waved his arms. "It's not what you think."
"Is this true, Keitaro?" Naru asked, crossing her arms.
Suddenly Motoko was nose to nose with him. "If you have something from my sister in your charge, I insist you give it to me, right away."
"No, you don't!"
Naru cracked her knuckles. It was beginning to feel like old times. "What's the big deal? Just give it to her."
"Yeah," Kitsune called, not to be left out.
Keitaro groaned, unwilling to fight a war on four fronts. "Fine, but when I do this there will be no punches to the moon, no rock splitting sword attacks, no blackmail, understood?" They stared him. "Do we have a deal?" he pressed.
Once each girl had nodded confused assent, he sighed. "You may want to close your eyes," he told Motoko.
She arched an eyebrow. "Why would I want to-"
Keitaro never let her finish. Wanting to get it over with as soon as possible, he gave her the quickest kiss in history.
"I'll be in my room," he said, stepping past the shell-shocked girls. Even Su was wide-eyed. On his way to the stairs he strode over to Harumi. "I'll get you for this if it's the last thing I do."
She licked her lips and he felt his traitorous body start to stir. "I look forward to it."
He moaned, pleading his case to heaven as he passed. He didn't have to look back to know that her eyes were upon as he ascended, sure that life on the Island of Misfit Toys was about to change forever.
End of Part 3