Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina.
-oOoOoOo-
"As for what happened next, I spent the better part of the day, wondering about how I felt about Narusegawa and Motoko. A part of me wanted to apologize for everything to Narusegawa, but things happened and I kept getting interrupted," Keitaro explained. "After Seta talked with Haruka, Seta left Sarah with us, as his job was lacking in the stability he thought she needed.."
"Oh yeah. I tried to get you and Naru to go to that old shipwreck around that time," Sarah muttered, lost in thought. She giggled for a moment before she said, "Before I could do anything-"
"I decided to intervene," Motoko interrupted.
-oOo-
Motoko had walked away from Haruka's beach teahouse, intent on training. As she looked around for a good spot, she spotted Naru and Keitaro wandering together. A twinge of jealousy shot through her as she narrowed her eyes. Looking off to the side, she spotted Kitsune talking with someone. Seeing that Kitsune was gesturing to some nearby Jetskis, Motoko smiled.
'Perhaps training can wait...' Motoko thought as she quickly walked over to Keitaro and Naru. However, Sarah was also running to speak with Naru and Keitaro. However, before Sarah could speak, Motoko appeared between her and the couple.
"Urashima, Narusegawa, Kitsune is procuring some Jetskis. Perhaps we could-" Motoko said before she was shoved by Sarah.
"Back off! I was talking to them first!" Sarah yelled as she stomped her feet.
"Well, I didn't see or hear you," Motoko replied, looking unperturbed.
Keitaro was about to say something, but Naru beat him to the punch. "We'll get to you in a second, Motoko. What did you want to speak with us, Sarah?"
After flashing Motoko a self-satisfied smirk, Sarah pointed to a far off island and said to Naru, "Well, Haruka told me that there's an old shipwreck on that island. Can you take me there?"
"That far?" Keitaro muttered as he, Motoko, and Naru looked at the island.
"Well, my pa told you to take care of me, didn't he?" Sarah asked.
"Perhaps the jetskis that Kitsune is trying to procure might be of help? Of course, you could try to use a raft, but I suspect that even after all the training I put you through, you'd be exhausted once we reach the island, Urashima," Motoko stated as she pointed over to where Kitsune was, getting the others to look in the direction.
At the moment, Kitsune seemed to be flirting with the jet ski owner, most likely trying to get a discount.
"Yup, barely had to pay anything!" Kitsune cackled, remembering the event quite fondly. "but don't mind me, continue!"
Motoko then said, "As I was saying…"
A part of Keitaro felt a bit incensed at what Motoko had commented. He said, "I dunno. I might be able to make it over without getting tired with the training you gave me."
"I doubt it, but let's try it.," Motoko muttered. Keitaro let out a confident huff as he began to lead them to the area with the rafts.
"However, it seems that Tama had followed us and was hungry. The moment that Keitaro had paid the rental for a raft, Tama had bitten it and we watched the deflating raft fly into the waters," Motoko explained.
"Who is Tama?" Tsuruko asked, tilting her head a little.
"A hot springs turtle, flies around for some reason. he likes Motoko, but…" Keitaro trailed off, as he looked over at Motoko, who seemed bothered by him talking about Tama.
"But Motoko is still afraid of turtles,' Tsuruko said, before she covered her mouth to giggle a little bit.
"It's not funny," Motoko pouted.
"But it is fairly cute," Tsuruko replied. "But we're getting off track. Please continue."
Keitaro nodded before he said, "Right…"
Kitsune was pleased as punch. She looked around for Shinobu and Su, but spotted a morose Keitaro, with Motoko and Naru trying to cheer him up. Sarah was facepalming, grumbling something about 'stupid turtles'.
"What happened with you guys?" Kitsune called out as she waved her arm at the four.
"Perhaps we can ask her if she'd be willing to let us use the jetski she got, like I suggested?" Motoko said, as she lightly shook Keitaro.
"Couldn't hurt," Keitaro muttered as he began to walk towards the self-proclaimed fox.
"Hello Kitsune. If it isn't a problem, Could we borrow the jet ski you procured?" Motoko asked.
"Why?" Kitsune asked not wanting the jetski involved in anything that might get it destroyed. Flirting can only go so far, after all.
"Seta left Sarah with Keitaro, and she asked to go see a shipwreck over there," Naru said as she pointed to a far off island. "But when Keitaro-baka tried to get us a raft, Tama bit it and it popped."
"I don't see how blaming Keitaro for what Tama did is gonna help matters," Kitsune muttered as she rubbed the back of her head. "But, yeah, We can use the jet ski to check out the island."
A smile crossed her face as she then said, "But after we have some fun with it. Since we have too many people, we're gonna have to split into groups. Regardless of who else is in the group, I'll be in charge of the Jet Ski, since I paid for first group will be-"
"Me, Motoko, and Keitaro!" Su exclaimed. Kitsune looked disappointed for a moment, but shrugged.
-oOo-
"Careful now, Keitaro! If I didn't know better, I'd say you were falling in love with me!" Kitsune playful said as Keitaro held her a bit tighter as she made the jetski go a bit faster. She was steering the Jet Ski, while Keitaro sat behind her. Motoko was holding onto a cord attached to the back of the Jet Ski while she was on a wakeboard. Su was currently sitting on Motoko's shoulders.
Keitaro didn't quite hear Kitsune's remark, as he was looking behind himself and was too focused on Motoko. It wasn't often he had more than a second to see the figure that Motoko had under her Hakama without getting attacked. He was mesmerized by her long sculpted legs, her excellent figure, and the gentle smile she had on her face. A part of Keitaro's mind compared to to some depictions of the goddess, Venus, with how the water broke into waves behind her.
'If I didn't know better, I'd say she was trying to flirt with me...' Keitaro thought, barely registering Su's smile getting bigger.
"Indeed, I was," Motoko stated as she rubbed her head against his shoulder.
As for Sarah, Shinobu, and Naru, they were waiting at a pier for the jetski to come back. Shinobu was jealous of Kitsune being so close to Keitaro. So was Naru, but she was convincing herself that she was getting upset at Keitaro having a chance to be a pervert with Kitsune.
Sarah grumbled, getting Naru's attention. seeing the young girl was getting annoyed, Naru put her hand on Sarah's shoulder and said, "Don't worry. After we get our turn, we'll go check out that shipwreck you wanted to go see."
Sarah merely grunted in reply.
After a while, Kitsune came back to the pier.
"Alright, now it's Naru and Shinobu's turn." Kitsune cheerfully said. "Then I'll take Sarah, Naru, and Keitaro over to that island she wanted."
As Motoko and Keitaro got onto the pier, Sarah thought with a frown, 'There has to be some way to be really naughty and get kicked out.'
Sarah barely was able to hide her cackle, merely making Su a bit curious. After all, Su knows an evil cackle when she hears one
"Everybody ready?" Kitsune called out.
"I am!" Naru replied with a smirk.
"Here we go then!" Kitsune cried out as she started up the jetski. Unlike Motoko, Naru was having some problems with staying on the board at first, but was able to get used to it fairly quickly. As with Motoko, Keitaro enjoyed the sight, but being from a distance, it wasn't as good and for some reason, he felt a bit guilty.
'The reason for that was because there was that matter where I had yet to apologize to Narusegawa," Keitaro explained.
"When were you able to?" Tsuruko asked.
Keitaro smiled before he opened his mouth.
"I think I know what happens next," Kitsune said as she gestured to Sarah. "Sarah managed to convince me to make Keitaro look like a fool. Since it wasn't hard, I did so."
Motoko and Naru both watched as Keitaro did his best to hold onto the line. Kitsune and Sarah were on the jet ski. A wicked smile crossed both their faces. In mere moments, Kitsune began swerve a lot. The more trouble Keitaro had staying balanced, the harder Sarah laughed.
"Of course, eventually all of us forgot about visiting the island where the shipwreck supposedly was," Motoko said.
"When we finished having fun and began to head back, Narusegawa wanted to speak with me about something," Keitaro explained.
"Well, that was fun!" Kitsune said as she put her hands behind her head. "Can't shake off the feeling we forgot something, though.
"Keitaro, I kinda want to tell you something," Naru said, getting everyone's attention. Naru quickly glared at them before she said, "Alone!"
Kitsune covered her smiling mouth for a moment before she began to drag Motoko away.
"C'mon, kids! Leave them be!" Kitsune called out, making Shinobu and Motoko a bit worried. When Sarah and Su sighed in annoyance, Kitsune then quietly muttered, "We can interrogate Keitaro and Naru later about what happened."
Both Sarah and Su looked pleased at that, Shinobu was a bit more calmed down, and Motoko merely got a bit more worried. But they left Keitaro and Naru alone.
"Your friends spoke with me today, Keitaro. They told me that it was their fault for the stuff that happened the other night ," Naru said, bowing a little.. "So I'm sorry for being so hard on you."
"It's okay, Naru," Keitaro replied. He would have said more, but he was interrupted.
"Now that's out of the way, let's catch up with the others before they get bored enough to try something," Naru quickly said before she turned around and began to walk away.
Keitaro sighed before he followed after her.
'And then on the 29th, we all were back at the Hinata and getting ready to go back to our usual routine. So Naru and Keitaro began to study once again. I began to go back to training," Motoko said.
"Are you sure you want to talk about this?" Keitaro asked, looking a bit worried.
"Yes, as it shows how honest you are," Motoko said.
In Naru's room she and Keitaro were doing their best to study and practice quizzes. However, the lethargy that comes when one returns from vacation was hard to shake off.
Naru put down her pencil and papers and began to stretch, unwittingly giving Keitaro a good look at her body. Not wanting to get punished, Keitaro quickly put down his pencil and papers and stood up, looking away from Naru.
"Keitaro?" Naru asked.
"I'm just taking a bit of a study break, Narusegawa. I think I need to stretch my legs," Keitaro said before he headed towards the door..
Naru frowned a little bit before she looked at some of the old papers. Seeing the mistakes that she and Keitaro both made, she muttered, "He might have a point."
Keitaro left her room, closing the door as he did so.
"I wonder if Motoko is up for an impromptu training session?" Keitaro muttered before he heard a small explosion. Keitaro then ran to where he thought he heard it. When he go there, he was greeted with an unusual sight.
Su kissing a surprised Motoko. Su even had one foot popped and was moaning a little.
After a few seconds, Su let go of Motoko. Motoko fell to the ground and began to take deep breaths.
Su merely giggled for a few moments before she said, "I kissed Motoko."
"What did it taste like?" Sarah asked as she leaned in closed to Su.
Su looked off to the side for a moment before she said, "Kinda like soy sauce."
Keitaro warily took a few steps closer to Motoko before he asked, "Are you alright, Motoko?"
Motoko's head shot up at him. A wild, panicked expression was on her face as she asked, "How much did you see?!"
"Uh... Su kissing you," Keitaro nervously answered. Motoko stared at him for a few moments before she… ran off. Keitaro muttered, "Huh…"
"Later, he and Naru spoke with Shinobu on the roof," Motoko said. "I had decided to follow him. I still don't know if it was to force him to train while I felt like punishing him or to threaten him into silence, though."
"Umm, have either of you…" Shinobu muttered. "Uhh, kissed before?
"Kiss?" Keitaro and Naru uttered. From her hiding spot, Motoko almost did the same.
"I was wondering what it tastes like," Shinobu explained as she looked at Keitaro who flailed a little as she did so.
"T... Taste?" Keitaro exclaimed. He paused for a few seconds before he said, "I guess… Mutsumi did a long time ago, but she seemed the type to be really over-affectionate."
Motoko froze in place as she thought, 'He actually kissed someone?!'
"As for how it tasted… I guess like a watermelon, but it's been a long time. So I might be wrong," Keitaro said as he rubbed his chin in thought.
Shinobu then looked at Naru. Before Shinobu could ask, Naru nervously said, "Yeah, I guess Keitaro-baka might be right in Mutsumi being over over-affectionate, as she kissed me too. But I was too shocked to remember what it tasted like."
Motoko barely could hold back her surprised squeal as she thought, 'Mutsumi kissed Naru as well!?'
Shinobu let out, "Huh… Well, thanks for answering my question."
"And that's how I learned Urashima had kissed someone before me," Motoko said.
"While cute, I fail to see why you would tell me this," Tsuruko replied as she rubbed her chin in thought.
"I'd rather have someone who would admit he kissed someone before me than someone who would lie about it," Motoko answered as she rubbed herself against Keitaro's arm "As for when our relationship had started, there was something that happened… a few weeks later, I believe…"
"You know, you've become a lot more feminine than you used to be," Kitsune said.
"Yeah, cute dress, too," Shinobu uttered.
'"I think you've become more approachable," Naru commented.
"Cuter too," Shinobu remarked.
Naru then said, "A year ago, you were really intimidating."
Kitsune rubbed her chin in thought as she said, "A year? That was right around when Keitaro came."
"What, what does Urashima have to do with this?" Motoko exclaimed as her face began to blush.
"Don't be so shy. It's a good trend," Kitsune playfully said. A mischievous grin appeared on her face as she said, "But… Your swordmanship may have suffered in return."
Before Naru could comment, Keitaro quickly said," Stop that, Kitsune! Motoko's skills haven't suffered at all!"
"Sure they have," Kitsune replied. "She's been training you, so it's probably a bit of your fault, Keitaro, if not all of it."
'Could Kitsune be right? Could my training of Keitaro be the cause?''Motoko thought as her blush took a brighter shade of red.
"Yeah, it probably is," Naru muttered, slightly glaring at Keitaro.
"If Motoko hadn't spent time training me, could she have beaten Seta-san, Naru?" Keitaro asked.
Everyone's eyes went to Naru, who froze for a moment from all the attention. After a few moments, she began to blush as she muttered, "N-no, he's too strong and skilled... "
"After that, I grew angry and attacked Keitaro in a fit of childish rage. However, Tama appeared on his head and caught Shisui with his flippers," Motoko explained. "I then decided to leave the Hinata. However…"
"Su, Sarah, Tama, and I followed after her. We even found the cabin she had planned on living in," Keitaro continued."
"It was later that night, I woke up alone and looked over Urashima," Motoko said, sounding a bit cheerful. "and came to a decision…"
Motoko looked over Keitaro as she thought, 'Sleeping so innocently, you weakling. Come to think think of it, I never cared about my approach-ability nor femininity. The more I think about it, the more it seems like he's the prob-'
She paused as a pain hit her heart when she thought about getting rid of Keitaro.
Two ghostly mini-Motokos appeared on her shoulders. The one on her right was in her usual Hakama, the other on her left was dressed in a tanktop and shortshorts.
."You serious?" Kitsune asked.
"No, I wish to make things more entertaining," Motoko explained. "Or do you wish to hear about me talking to myself for awhile?"
Kitsune sighed before she said, "Continue…"
"As I was saying…" Motoko said.
"Your skill hasn't decreased at all! In fact, training Keitaro has allowed you to review the basics once again! After all, remember the advice that Tsuruko told us that Bruce Lee once said, 'I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times'," The Chibi-Motoko on the left said.
"Tsuruko was at her strongest when she was not with that that man! You will grow weak, like she did!" The Hakama-clad Chibi-Motoko exclaimed with a stomp.
"I disagree. Her skills did get shot for a time when she met with him, but when she got over her nervousness, she began to train with him and got even stronger than we thought she could be!" The casual outfit Chibi-Motoko replied, pointing towards the sky.
"What about the incident?" The Hakama-wearing Chibi-Motoko asked as she raised an eyebrow.
A moment passed before the casual outfit Chibi-Motoko coughed. she then said "That was… not something that made Tsuruko weak…"
"But it certainly made us weak!" The Hakama-clad Chibi-Motoko yelled as she pointed at her counterpart.
The casual outfit Chibi-Motoko smirked, infuriating her counterpart. She said, "No, not in the way you think. Hate has been weakening us ever since then. To be in love, and understanding that the desire to protect that which you love is the root of how the cutting evil blade works. Perhaps Keitaro, in his innocently weak ways, is-"
"He is not making us stronger! He is making us weaker!" The Hakama-clad Chibi-Motoko yelled.
The casual outfit Chibi-Motoko sighed, not wanting to bring out her trump card. She said, "Sooner or later, Tsuruko is going to come here to take us back. Most likely before we are ready. If we were to be in a real relationship, then she would let us stay at the Hinata."
The Hakama-clad Chibi-Motoko froze. After a few moments, she looked down and said, "What if he refuses to be with us? He does show a lot of attraction to Narusegawa…. and Kitsune… and Shinobu…"
"And us when we're given a chance," The casual outfit Chibi-Motoko answered. "And if he refuses, better to have tried and know we couldn't be in a relationship, than to spend the rest of time wondering if we did."
The two Mini-Motoko vanished. Motoko gently shook Keitaro awake. He began to rub his eyes as he muttered, "Huh… wha…"
"I wish to speak with you about something important, Urashima," Motoko whispered as she took Su off of her back.
"Okay," Keitaro muttered as he got up and began to stretch. When Motoko neared the door, he followed after her.
"Let's go outside, so we won't wake them up," Motoko said.
Keitaro nodded.
After the two got outside, Motoko looked away from Keitaro and studied her surroundings, seeking anything that might give her strength. Looking towards the horizon, the sun would rise within a hour or two. The air had a bit of a feeling that was a sign that there had been a storm some time ago. There was barely any sounds around them, save for the odd cricket here and there.
"Urashima, I know we haven't seen eye to eye when we met, and I apologize for my dishonorable actions," Motoko said, the last few words seemed to strain her.
"It's alright, Motoko. I apologize for my actions," Keitaro replied, feeling a bit more awake at the moment.
"You really are too kind, Urashima. I can see why we all seem to have feelings for you," Motoko quietly said.
"Motoko?" Keitaro asked, not having quite heard what she said.
"Urashima… It's hard for me to say this," Motoko said, in a tone that worried Keitaro. "But… But…"
"Motoko?" Keitaro asked, taking a step closer to her.
However, that made Motoko lose her nerve, so she quickly said, "Let's have a training match!"
"Oh… Okay… Lemme get our bokken," Keitaro said before he turned around and walked back to the cabin.
'Stupid Urashima. Stupid me,' Motoko thought, grimacing a little bit.
"The training match was nothing out of the ordinary. He showed some growth, surprised me a little by dodging my attacks a little better than before and almost hitting me, but I won," Motoko explained. " When morning came around, I asked for his help with a technique."
"I didn't say I would or wouldn't. Sarah and Su tied me up to a rock and she used… " Keitaro said before he began to scratch his head. "I think it was Zanmaken Ni No Tachi?"
"Correct!" Motoko uttered before she kissed him on the cheek.
Seeing that Naru's fists were trembling, Kitsune said, "Careful, girl. We got Motoko's older sis her and she probably stronger than our Aoyama!"
"Once the attack succeeded in not harming him, I then told Sara, Su, and Tama to head back to the Hinata ahead of us," Motoko continued.
Once again, Motoko was looking away from Keitaro. Her face was blushing red.
'Do not falter, Motoko! Do not let his clumsiness or your fear stop you!' Motoko thought. "Urashima… It's hard for me to say this, but…"
Keitaro watched as Motoko began to tremble.
"But…" Motoko said as she turned around. Her eyes were tearing up as she said, "I love you, Keitaro! I… I will await your reply, no matter how long it takes!"
Keitaro was stunned. When he recovered, he thought, 'Motoko loves me? Wha.. but… Wow! But if I accept, I'd be betraying Naru's feelings…. feelings for me that haven't seemed to go beyond what they were a year ago. I almost think she likes things to never change… Enough of that, Keitaro! Motoko's put her feelings on the line! She's done quite a bit for me. She started that training thing to help me get less clumsy. Sorta worked, though mostly because I'm only around her a good deal of the time. Then again, she doesn't insult me much like before. Probably the only one besides Shinobu to actually praise me, even if most of it occurs when we're alone.'
Keitaro briefly looked at Motoko's body before looking her in the eyes. 'She's also wearing casual clothes a lot more often. Still wears the Hakama, but it's important to her and she is lovely in it. Motoko's also gotten a bit more relaxed around me, so she isn't giving me the evil eye like before. The only time she does give me it is when I trip and accidentally do something like pull off her Hakama or grab her breasts.'
A small smile crossed his face as he thought, 'Then again, I believe I'm thinking of Motoko more often. When I pass by a trinket shop, my thoughts are 'I wonder what would Motoko would like', instead of 'what would Naru like'. Besides, the vacation probably proved that Naru's heart belongs to Seta-san. Motoko's definitely not the promise girl, but chances are neither is Naru. If or when I find the promise girl, I'll apologize to her."
"Motoko," Keitaro said with his smile growing bigger. Hope and a touch of fear filled Motoko's eyes. Keitaro thought, 'I just hope that no matter what happens, we'll still be friends.'
His decision was clear.
"Motoko, with some of the examples I've had in life so far, like Naru for one, I'm not sure what love is, but I have an idea of what I'd like it to be. I'd really like to see if we could find it together. I'd love to be your boyfriend, if you'll let me," Keitaro said.
Motoko's response was a smile and then hugging his head closer for a kiss. It barely lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to make him freeze in place.
"I'll go pack my belongings before I head back. I suggest you do the same," Motoko cheerfully said before she scampered away. It took Keitaro almost a minute to move from the spot Motoko had kissed him.
When he was able to move, Keitaro said, "I guess getting ready for more than an overnight stay was pointless…"
-oOo-
"And that's where we became Boyfriend and Girlfriend," Motoko cheerfully said.
Naru's response was to run away as she said, "I need to get ready!"
Kitsune sighed before she said, "Gotta go make sure she doesn't do anything stupid while she's here."
Sarah shook her head with an amused smile before she said, "Me and Su decided to stick around when Motoko began her little announcement. Su then talked me into not revealing that the idiot and Motoko were a couple. She said it'd be funnier that way once the secret got out."
"Is that true, Su?" Shinobu asked, holding back the urge to run off and cry.
Su nodded. "Kinda. We didn't have to do much to keep it a secret. Almost everyone tends to respect each other's privacy here."
"So… Urashima, when you prayed that you would still be friends no matter what, who were you refer -" Tsuruko asked before a small turtle flew in and landed on the coffee table, where it stared at her. "I take it you are Tama?"
"Myuh!" The turtle answered with a nod before it bit a cookie away from the tray and began to eat it.
Tsuruko then looked at Motoko, who was hiding her face in Keitaro's shoulder and also was trembling. Tsuruko thought, 'How cute… and probably a bit of a bad sign about certain aspects about their relationship.'
-oOoOoOo-
Author's note -
This fanfic was an idea started by Antimatter of . They are also a planner of this fic.
I wrote the latter half of this chapter while hit with a sore throat and then a nasty cold, so I apologize for my poor writing during it.
A great thanks to Threadweaver of for looking over this chapter and helping out near the end where my quality of writing was going down. Especially the part where Keitaro replies to Motoko's declaration of her feelings. I had wrote a single sentence that had little-to-no buildup. Threadweaver wrote a far superior reply.
A thanks to EagleCeres for looking this and the previous chapters over.
The chapters used for this from the Manga were 38, 39, and 40.