Love Hina Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Twine Hearts and Blades ❯ Twine Hearts and Blades Chapter 03 ( Chapter 3 )
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
By: Ruisu 
Little weirdness ongoing...
Anime/Manga: Love Hina Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 02.27.2002 | Updated On: 03.05.2002 | Pages: 1 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 574 | Status: Work In Progress
Little weirdness ongoing...
Anime/Manga: Love Hina Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 02.27.2002 | Updated On: 03.05.2002 | Pages: 1 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 574 | Status: Work In Progress
Twine Hearts and Blades
Motoko could see from her window her sister and her brother-in-law under the pale moonlight. They seemed to be talking, but after a while, they just sat there. The way they held each other while looking up at the stars, expressing a bond only they could share stirred something deep within her. "That warmth...it is not passion...I don't know that warmth...I...want to feel..." her voice trembled, and her mind refused to finish that sentence. "NO!" she yelled, but quickly lowered her voice to something that resembled a fearful whisper. "I...I can't become weak...n-not like her...Ane-ue...why did you...why should I..." All Motoko did for the rest of the night was sit on her bed and ask herself over and over again what was wrong. She was supposed to be strong, as the true heir of the Shinmei Ryu should be, yet here she was, trembling at the face of an unknown opponent. She knew that if she gave in, the only path for her would be to get married and become just another weak woman. 'I can't be like her! I must remain strong!' Even as she told herself that, her body did not cease to tremble, for her heart was yearning for that something, even if she refused to believe it.
Chapter 3: The longest day in Kyoto!?
The commotion that emanated from the Aoyama Dojo started very early. The training hall was in the process of being remodeled into a meeting hall for the coming family reunion. "Hah!" exclaimed one Kuno Tatewaki as he helped set the last piece of furniture into place. "To think that my strength is being called forth to move furniture around! 'Tis a waste of my power!"
Out of nowhere, a katana smacked him on the side of the head. Said katana was in the hands of Oogami Kazuya. "Think of it as training, boy. We have to make up for all that we missed yesterday." At his comment, Tsuruko blushed and quickly walked into the house to finish preparing the meals, while Motoko let out a low growl before setting the tables.
Soon enough, the dojo was completely remodeled, waiting for the first family member to arrive. Kazuya quickly produced two backpacks and grabbed Kuno, then turned to leave the dojo. "Come, boy. We have to start your training for today." Without another word, both teacher and student left to the surrounding wilderness, finding a nice spot to train until the reunion was over.
Not long after they left, Motoko went into the house to help prepare the food that was to be served during the dinner hours of the reunion. As she walked into the kitchen, she noticed that a lot of the dishes were already finished. After setting herself next to her older sister, she began chopping vegetables, assuming it was simple enough since she had used weapons that resembled a kitchen knife. She turned disdainfully to catch sight of her sister happily humming to herself as she looked over one of the meals. 'How could she be happy with this? Does she not know that only weak women submit themselves to this? We are supposed to be warriors!'
As if reading her thoughts, Tsuruko turned to her younger sister, who at the moment was unconsciously mutilating an unsuspecting carrot. "Motoko-han, isn't it nice to be useful in something outside of fighting?" The younger girl looked at her older sister and blinked at the question. To Motoko, the skills of the Shinmei Ryu were all that she needed, so the thought of needing skill in something outside of kendo never came to her.
Tsuruko couldn't help but giggle at the puzzled look on her younger sister's face. "Not all of life will be about the Shinmei Ryu. I know you have a responsibility as the successor of our school, but there is more to life than just our art of the sword, Motoko-han. I'm sure that you're learning many things in school that will serve for that purpose. Have you considered what you plan to do with your future?" Before Motoko had a chance to answer, Tsuruko caught sight of one of the foods burning.
Motoko sighed in despair as her older sister yelled 'Disaster!' over and over while running around the kitchen trying to figure out how to fix the currently burning food. "I might as well start a replacement dish. They should not mind something simple." As she began thinking of what dish to make, more flames burst in the kitchen, with Tsuruko trying to tame them. Motoko would have helped out if she wasn't now trying to figure out how Tsuruko had been able to set sushi on fire...
Oogami Kazuya sweat dropped when he noticed the smoke that was coming from the direction of the house. 'She must be trying to make sushi again', he thought to himself, remembering her first try. It had taken a while to pay for the repairs of the kitchen that time. It was funny, in a way, since she had been able to learn every other dish perfectly. Yet for some reason, sushi always blew up in her face, literally. "I hope there's not much damage when we come back", he mumbled as he watched his student perform his last assigned kata. The boy seemed to have actually practiced his katas this week rather than waste time trying to find shortcuts to beating his opponents. It was disappointing to hear that Tatewaki had been using rather underhanded strategies in fights. The bigger letdown was that it seemed that all his student would think of was battle, not the whole spiritual aspect of learning the art. 'When he discovers the true meaning of the art, he though, Tatewaki will finally be ready to carry on the school...'
Back in the Dojo grounds, the reunion had already started. Many of the guests present were obviously martial artists, most of them in formal attire and few in gi. Tsuruko was rather relieved that Motoko had actually made a dish to replace her combustible sushi, while Motoko was having trouble facing one of the latest arrivals.
"My! Is this little Motoko-chan?" asked a woman in her late thirties. She tried to remain as formal as possible, but after laying eyes on her youngest niece, all formalities left her head. "My, look at how beautiful you've become! I bet the boys never leave you alone, and I wouldn't blame them! Just look at you!" The woman then expectedly hugged Motoko, who tried her best to smile for aunt Nodoka.
"I-it is nice to see you again, Nodoka-obasan." The older woman smiled, yet couldn't help but feel some reluctance in Motoko's voice. "Motoko-chan, please call me auntie. Everyone does these days." The two sat down and started to talk, though it was mostly Nodoka speaking about how much she missed her son and her husband, who were still on their ten-year training trip. While Motoko wasn't very happy to hear that her aunt was married to such an inconsiderate man, it was nice to not have to think about all the expectations and pressure she had put on herself most of the time.
Time flew by, and it was becoming dark quickly. Kazuya and Tatewaki had not come back yet, which worried Tsuruko, since the dinner hour was approaching. "I'm sorry for the interruption, Motoko-han, but could you go bring anata and his student back here? Dinner is about to be served, and I can bet both of them are hungry." The younger girl nodded and left the dojo, taking her sword and then leaving the grounds. Finding them should not be hard, since there were few places nearby that were suitable for training.
As Motoko neared the training site, her vision found Tatewaki in the middle of a kata. The kata itself was unknown to her, but she could tell his movements needed some work. Some of the footwork also needed improvement, since he nearly tripped in the middle of the routine. Even so, his movements somehow showed complete devotion, unrestricted movements, and most of all, calmness. Not the type of calmness as in focus and control, but just a complete lack of tension in his being. This is what made her keep watching as Tatewaki continued the kata. She stood mesmerized, her eyes so focused on his natural movements that before she knew it, the kata was over.
Shaking off the odd feeling that enveloped her, Motoko walked into the site and searched for Kazuya. 'Neither the fool nor his student is in sight. Where is he when you need him around?'
"Sensei is not here."
In surprise, Motoko turned around and nearly bumped noses with Tatewaki. Realizing how close she was to his face, she quickly backed away, trying her best to not show the blush on her cheeks. Much to her relief, he was looking indifferently at her, but her heart was beating rapidly. 'What? No....I cannot...will not feel this way!' She tried to shake off the feeling, but to no avail. Her palms were beginning to get clammy, and she could feel her face turning red again. Worst of all, the thought of him seeing her in this state caused her to shake in anger. Unable to take any more of it, she unsheathed her sword and attempted to whack him upside the head.
Unlike Urashima, who would always get hit by this type of attack, Tatewaki successfully blocked. This action took Motoko into a state of near shock. She suddenly started to her a voice calling her a failure in her head. The voice made her cringe, but her resolve wanted to overcome it. Her mind now saw Tatewaki as an enemy; someone she must slay, and with that mental image, she began her attack.
Tatewaki was rather surprised when she suddenly sliced at him. "What are you doing? Do you aim to injure me?" He continued to block her strikes, since she gave no answer. He knew his bokken wouldn't last long against her katana, and his only hope was to pick up his teacher's extra sword, which was currently leaning against a tree. After dodging a slice, he rolled to the side, dropping his bokken and then making a grab for the blade. As he unsheathed the sword, yet another strike came at him, which he promptly blocked.
Motoko continued attacking with a possessed look in her eyes. 'I can't be weak! I won't be weak! I can't become like her! I...I am the heir of the Shinmei Ryu! Weakness is NOT allowed!' She then aimed to slash at him, but Tatewaki quickly stepped to the side, picked up his bokken and tapped the side of her neck.
"Point: Neck" he calmly said. Both fighters maintained the same pose for a couple of minutes, with only Motoko's heavy breathing to be heard along with a soft breeze that passed them by. Her shoulders slumped as she dropped her sword, and the look in her eyes displayed both shock and sadness. She tried to be angry about her defeat, but nothing other than disappointment inhabited her mind. "You have won. Do with me as you wish...even if it is seppuku, I shall abide..."
Kuno was known for his lack of tact and intelligence, as well being an all around pervert. At least, that's how those in Nerima though of him. Yet here in Kyoto, all personality aspects, even his way of thinking, were very different. That image was to be shattered real soon. "So be it, woman...you shall date me!"
Author's notes:
Heh heh heh...3y3 4|\/| 3\/1l...feel free to face-fault. -_-;
I know I'm gonna get mega-flamed for having Kuno beat her like that, but I think it was fitting, since insecurity has been Motoko's greatest weakness from the beginning. Of course, knowing Kuno, he will ask for something that'll be quite entertaining to watch, IMO. Also, YES, the woman Motoko was talking with was none other than Saotome Nodoka, AKA Ranma's mother. Now, for those curious, Kazuya's whole thought about the meaning of the art belongs to the actual principle behind the Hokushin Ittou Ryu, which is a real school of martial arts. The whole point of the school is to look at kenjutsu (art of the sword) as a spiritual discipline rather than something made for combat. Please direct all questions and comments to Ruisu7@hotmail.com.
Motoko could see from her window her sister and her brother-in-law under the pale moonlight. They seemed to be talking, but after a while, they just sat there. The way they held each other while looking up at the stars, expressing a bond only they could share stirred something deep within her. "That warmth...it is not passion...I don't know that warmth...I...want to feel..." her voice trembled, and her mind refused to finish that sentence. "NO!" she yelled, but quickly lowered her voice to something that resembled a fearful whisper. "I...I can't become weak...n-not like her...Ane-ue...why did you...why should I..." All Motoko did for the rest of the night was sit on her bed and ask herself over and over again what was wrong. She was supposed to be strong, as the true heir of the Shinmei Ryu should be, yet here she was, trembling at the face of an unknown opponent. She knew that if she gave in, the only path for her would be to get married and become just another weak woman. 'I can't be like her! I must remain strong!' Even as she told herself that, her body did not cease to tremble, for her heart was yearning for that something, even if she refused to believe it.
Chapter 3: The longest day in Kyoto!?
The commotion that emanated from the Aoyama Dojo started very early. The training hall was in the process of being remodeled into a meeting hall for the coming family reunion. "Hah!" exclaimed one Kuno Tatewaki as he helped set the last piece of furniture into place. "To think that my strength is being called forth to move furniture around! 'Tis a waste of my power!"
Out of nowhere, a katana smacked him on the side of the head. Said katana was in the hands of Oogami Kazuya. "Think of it as training, boy. We have to make up for all that we missed yesterday." At his comment, Tsuruko blushed and quickly walked into the house to finish preparing the meals, while Motoko let out a low growl before setting the tables.
Soon enough, the dojo was completely remodeled, waiting for the first family member to arrive. Kazuya quickly produced two backpacks and grabbed Kuno, then turned to leave the dojo. "Come, boy. We have to start your training for today." Without another word, both teacher and student left to the surrounding wilderness, finding a nice spot to train until the reunion was over.
Not long after they left, Motoko went into the house to help prepare the food that was to be served during the dinner hours of the reunion. As she walked into the kitchen, she noticed that a lot of the dishes were already finished. After setting herself next to her older sister, she began chopping vegetables, assuming it was simple enough since she had used weapons that resembled a kitchen knife. She turned disdainfully to catch sight of her sister happily humming to herself as she looked over one of the meals. 'How could she be happy with this? Does she not know that only weak women submit themselves to this? We are supposed to be warriors!'
As if reading her thoughts, Tsuruko turned to her younger sister, who at the moment was unconsciously mutilating an unsuspecting carrot. "Motoko-han, isn't it nice to be useful in something outside of fighting?" The younger girl looked at her older sister and blinked at the question. To Motoko, the skills of the Shinmei Ryu were all that she needed, so the thought of needing skill in something outside of kendo never came to her.
Tsuruko couldn't help but giggle at the puzzled look on her younger sister's face. "Not all of life will be about the Shinmei Ryu. I know you have a responsibility as the successor of our school, but there is more to life than just our art of the sword, Motoko-han. I'm sure that you're learning many things in school that will serve for that purpose. Have you considered what you plan to do with your future?" Before Motoko had a chance to answer, Tsuruko caught sight of one of the foods burning.
Motoko sighed in despair as her older sister yelled 'Disaster!' over and over while running around the kitchen trying to figure out how to fix the currently burning food. "I might as well start a replacement dish. They should not mind something simple." As she began thinking of what dish to make, more flames burst in the kitchen, with Tsuruko trying to tame them. Motoko would have helped out if she wasn't now trying to figure out how Tsuruko had been able to set sushi on fire...
Oogami Kazuya sweat dropped when he noticed the smoke that was coming from the direction of the house. 'She must be trying to make sushi again', he thought to himself, remembering her first try. It had taken a while to pay for the repairs of the kitchen that time. It was funny, in a way, since she had been able to learn every other dish perfectly. Yet for some reason, sushi always blew up in her face, literally. "I hope there's not much damage when we come back", he mumbled as he watched his student perform his last assigned kata. The boy seemed to have actually practiced his katas this week rather than waste time trying to find shortcuts to beating his opponents. It was disappointing to hear that Tatewaki had been using rather underhanded strategies in fights. The bigger letdown was that it seemed that all his student would think of was battle, not the whole spiritual aspect of learning the art. 'When he discovers the true meaning of the art, he though, Tatewaki will finally be ready to carry on the school...'
Back in the Dojo grounds, the reunion had already started. Many of the guests present were obviously martial artists, most of them in formal attire and few in gi. Tsuruko was rather relieved that Motoko had actually made a dish to replace her combustible sushi, while Motoko was having trouble facing one of the latest arrivals.
"My! Is this little Motoko-chan?" asked a woman in her late thirties. She tried to remain as formal as possible, but after laying eyes on her youngest niece, all formalities left her head. "My, look at how beautiful you've become! I bet the boys never leave you alone, and I wouldn't blame them! Just look at you!" The woman then expectedly hugged Motoko, who tried her best to smile for aunt Nodoka.
"I-it is nice to see you again, Nodoka-obasan." The older woman smiled, yet couldn't help but feel some reluctance in Motoko's voice. "Motoko-chan, please call me auntie. Everyone does these days." The two sat down and started to talk, though it was mostly Nodoka speaking about how much she missed her son and her husband, who were still on their ten-year training trip. While Motoko wasn't very happy to hear that her aunt was married to such an inconsiderate man, it was nice to not have to think about all the expectations and pressure she had put on herself most of the time.
Time flew by, and it was becoming dark quickly. Kazuya and Tatewaki had not come back yet, which worried Tsuruko, since the dinner hour was approaching. "I'm sorry for the interruption, Motoko-han, but could you go bring anata and his student back here? Dinner is about to be served, and I can bet both of them are hungry." The younger girl nodded and left the dojo, taking her sword and then leaving the grounds. Finding them should not be hard, since there were few places nearby that were suitable for training.
As Motoko neared the training site, her vision found Tatewaki in the middle of a kata. The kata itself was unknown to her, but she could tell his movements needed some work. Some of the footwork also needed improvement, since he nearly tripped in the middle of the routine. Even so, his movements somehow showed complete devotion, unrestricted movements, and most of all, calmness. Not the type of calmness as in focus and control, but just a complete lack of tension in his being. This is what made her keep watching as Tatewaki continued the kata. She stood mesmerized, her eyes so focused on his natural movements that before she knew it, the kata was over.
Shaking off the odd feeling that enveloped her, Motoko walked into the site and searched for Kazuya. 'Neither the fool nor his student is in sight. Where is he when you need him around?'
"Sensei is not here."
In surprise, Motoko turned around and nearly bumped noses with Tatewaki. Realizing how close she was to his face, she quickly backed away, trying her best to not show the blush on her cheeks. Much to her relief, he was looking indifferently at her, but her heart was beating rapidly. 'What? No....I cannot...will not feel this way!' She tried to shake off the feeling, but to no avail. Her palms were beginning to get clammy, and she could feel her face turning red again. Worst of all, the thought of him seeing her in this state caused her to shake in anger. Unable to take any more of it, she unsheathed her sword and attempted to whack him upside the head.
Unlike Urashima, who would always get hit by this type of attack, Tatewaki successfully blocked. This action took Motoko into a state of near shock. She suddenly started to her a voice calling her a failure in her head. The voice made her cringe, but her resolve wanted to overcome it. Her mind now saw Tatewaki as an enemy; someone she must slay, and with that mental image, she began her attack.
Tatewaki was rather surprised when she suddenly sliced at him. "What are you doing? Do you aim to injure me?" He continued to block her strikes, since she gave no answer. He knew his bokken wouldn't last long against her katana, and his only hope was to pick up his teacher's extra sword, which was currently leaning against a tree. After dodging a slice, he rolled to the side, dropping his bokken and then making a grab for the blade. As he unsheathed the sword, yet another strike came at him, which he promptly blocked.
Motoko continued attacking with a possessed look in her eyes. 'I can't be weak! I won't be weak! I can't become like her! I...I am the heir of the Shinmei Ryu! Weakness is NOT allowed!' She then aimed to slash at him, but Tatewaki quickly stepped to the side, picked up his bokken and tapped the side of her neck.
"Point: Neck" he calmly said. Both fighters maintained the same pose for a couple of minutes, with only Motoko's heavy breathing to be heard along with a soft breeze that passed them by. Her shoulders slumped as she dropped her sword, and the look in her eyes displayed both shock and sadness. She tried to be angry about her defeat, but nothing other than disappointment inhabited her mind. "You have won. Do with me as you wish...even if it is seppuku, I shall abide..."
Kuno was known for his lack of tact and intelligence, as well being an all around pervert. At least, that's how those in Nerima though of him. Yet here in Kyoto, all personality aspects, even his way of thinking, were very different. That image was to be shattered real soon. "So be it, woman...you shall date me!"
Author's notes:
Heh heh heh...3y3 4|\/| 3\/1l...feel free to face-fault. -_-;
I know I'm gonna get mega-flamed for having Kuno beat her like that, but I think it was fitting, since insecurity has been Motoko's greatest weakness from the beginning. Of course, knowing Kuno, he will ask for something that'll be quite entertaining to watch, IMO. Also, YES, the woman Motoko was talking with was none other than Saotome Nodoka, AKA Ranma's mother. Now, for those curious, Kazuya's whole thought about the meaning of the art belongs to the actual principle behind the Hokushin Ittou Ryu, which is a real school of martial arts. The whole point of the school is to look at kenjutsu (art of the sword) as a spiritual discipline rather than something made for combat. Please direct all questions and comments to Ruisu7@hotmail.com.