Tsuruko Arc - Chapter Four: The Start of Something

"Our plan is going to proceed as planned." said Tsuruko. "We're going to be handing you over to our anonymous employer and that'll be the end of it."

"Over my dead body." Keitaro stood up to his full frame in front of the Duchess. His reaction was well within her calculations. Reina was already behind him, holding a dagger at his neck.

"Sit down, my knight." the Duchess said casually.

"I'm not sending you back to certain death. I'll send you to heaven before damning myself to hell."

"The latter can be arranged." Reina pressed the flat of the blade against his neck. The coldness of the steel just reflected off Keitaro's icy demeanor.

"If they wanted me gone, they would've done so without even telling me." The Duchess grabbed Keitaro's hand. "Calm yourself, Sir Galahad."

"Is she going to take that knife off my neck?" he didn't even bother to look behind him. Keitaro looked directly at Tsuruko as if she was holding the blade. Tsuruko motioned her head slightly to the left and back. Although Reina already knew, she waited to show Tsuruko's authority. Reina stood back in the corner.

"I may consider an alternative course, if your man is willing to be cooperative." Keitaro immediately stiffened. The Duchess took notice of this.

"I can speak for myself, but not for him."

"That's too bad..." Tsuruko shook her head. Keitaro tsked with disgust.

"What do you need me to do?" he said impatiently. Hook, line, and sinker. Tsuruko now had him where she wanted him. That part of him would never change. Faced between his own safety and someone else's, he would always put others before him.

"That depends entirely upon you, Keitaro. A while back, I received some disturbing information about Motoko. I'm quite sure that you know why."

"Then you should also know that I left the Hinata Apartments half a year ago. I haven't a clue what's become of it since I've been gone."

"But you are the sole reason that she's been acting in a self-destructive manner."

"I fail to see how. When she drove me out of my home, she was absolutely euphoric. Along with the rest of them, I can't possibly imagine what she's brooding about."

"Really? You were the only man she had ever come to trust. You don't think that would have a negative impact on her?"

"And look what happened with my misplaced trust."

"Then you acknowledge that it affected her as well?"

"You already seem to know all the answers. Why are you even asking these questions?"

"Because!" Tsuruko shouted. "Because... Motoko loved you Keitaro. Knowing that, do you still believe that she hasn't regretted her actions? She would die for just a glimpse of you."

Keitaro rubbed the back of his head, averting his eyes from Tsuruko's. A few seconds passed before Keitaro regained his composure. "What happened to Naru?"

"You're asking about your ex-lover when Motoko is pain? How dare you?" Keitaro was unabated.

"Motoko's pain is of her own choosing. She chose Naru's side over mine. Now she's dealing with the consequences. That's life. She wanted to believe so badly that men are always in the wrong."

Keitaro grinned darkly. "But I guess she realized she was wrong? Good for her. It's not something you want to hear, Tsuruko. But don't you think she's become a better person now after I've left?"

Letting go of the Duchess's hand, Keitaro stood by Tsuruko, shoulder to shoulder. "I was well aware of Motoko's feelings for me, but she'd never admit to that because of her prejudice towards my gender. So, I forced her hand. I wasn't expecting a complete turnaround, but it was too much to hope for I suppose." Keitaro and Tsuruko's eyes locked over their shoulders. "I gave her a chance to return my love, but she didn't and that's the simple fact. She tore through my heart before I did hers. Did you ever think about that," His mouth leaned right to her ear. "My sweet?"

She quickly took a step back. Tsuruko's cheeks were a bit flushed. She was disturbed, in more ways than one. To begin with he called her my sweet. Was he trying to put the moves on her? Not only that, but he was so relaxed saying it. Has this guy become a womanizer? She was embarrassed that his mere presence disturbed her. The fact that Keitaro had known about Motoko's feelings should concern her more.

"Did you play with Motoko's heart?"

"I'm sure you'd like nothing more than for me to say that I did, but I didn't. I was deeply in love with Naru. The fact that Motoko was leaning towards me, I had no control over. In hindsight, that might have been a factor in her reasoning to break away. I'm sure that for a smart woman like you, that's not hard to figure out."

Sadly, Tsuruko did understand Motoko's emotions because she's experienced it before. Love is purely fragile, easily shattered under the weight of jealousy... and jealousy comes in many deceptive forms. Instead of resenting Naru, she directed her detest towards Keitaro. She wanted to get his attention in some way. How sad that she chose the unrewarding route... But Motoko needed him more than ever. This just wasn't about her feelings, but her life.

"Come with me to the Hinata Apartments, Keitaro." A grim expression masked over his face, but his gaze turned to the Duchess. His features softened.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, my knight." the Duchess returned an equally sympathetic expression.

"I swore to keep you safe. How can I call myself yours if I can't even protect you?" he looked to Tsuruko. "If I do this, you'll let her go?"

"Yes, I'll see to it." Keitaro dropped down to his knees in front of the Duchess. He cupped her hands with his. "My lady, it seems that like you, my past has caught up to me."

"Hardly..."

"If we are to be together, this is how it must be. It pains me to be apart from you, but my soul is where you are. I'll be back soon." Keitaro kissed her on the lips, lingering there for a moment before turning away. "Let's get this over with."

"We'll be leaving now." said Tsuruko. Keitaro marched out of the room. She looked at her captive and saw the longing in her eyes.

"You'll keep him safe from harm?" she asked. Tsuruko was going to state that she isn't going to battle, but for Keitaro, it probably was.

"I don't promise anything. Some wounds need to be opened before they can heal properly."

"His wounds aren't something you can open with a blade. Opening them again may finish him."