Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Aftermath: Loss and Redemption 2 ❯ Coping, Rumination, and the Coming of Trouble ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: See Chapter Two

 

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“X” Spoken words

`X' Thoughts

 

Love Hina

 

Aftermath: Loss and Redemption 2

 

Chapter Four: Coping, Rumination, and the Coming of Trouble

 

By: hawker_748

 

The sounds of explosions reverberated through the air, shaking Naru where she sat. The thundering faded away, along with the smoke and dust, revealing Tsuruko. She looked none the worse for wear, in spite of having been hit with a case of Su's special grenades.

 

“Ho ho ho… Now it's actually beginning to get interesting!” Tsuruko chortled.

 

“How high is that lady's hit point level?!” Keitaro shrieked in disbelief.

 

Motoko and Tsuruko resumed their battle, as Keitaro, Naru, and Tama-chan watched from the sidelines. Keitaro was focused intently on the sibling duel, while Naru simmered, jealousy flowing through her. She remembered how she felt when Keitaro had hobbled onto the battlefield, cast and all, plucked Motoko from Tsuruko's grasp and let fly with an arm-load of ordinance. The sight of Motoko in Keitaro's grasp stirred feelings of envy she would die before admitting to.

 

With a mixture of frustration and jealousy, Naru regarded Keitaro. For someone with a broken leg, he was certainly trying hard to help Motoko. Something had to have happened between the two of them, she was sure of it. She confronted him with this, and he'd simply tried to brush her off.

 

Her frustration reaching the breaking point, Naru leapt to her feet and went to grab the sword Keitaro was wearing on his back. She wasn't sure what she was going to do with it, but she believed she might just shove it down Keitaro's throat.

 

At the last second, Keitaro saw her reach for the sword, and he swiftly moved it out of her reach. “Don't touch that!” he warned.

 

Naru stopped cold. “What?” she asked softly, in a voice dripping with danger.

 

“Motoko says it's cursed, don't touch it!” Keitaro re-iterated.

 

Naru couldn't believe what she was hearing. “You aren't using it because of a goddamn CURSE?!” she bellowed.

 

“Hey, Motoko says it's dangerous, and I believe her,” Keitaro replied hotly.

 

Naru's temper flared up spectacularly. “Fine! Marry her if you trust her so much!”

 

Keitaro looked like he was about to shout back, when they both suddenly realized that it had just gone dead quiet; the sounds of battle had ceased. With a stricken look, Keitaro turned back around and saw Motoko, her head down in supplication, with Tsuruko standing triumphantly over her.

 

“You are defeated Motoko,” declared Tsuruko, a sense of finality in her words. “You are hereby banished from this dojo, and you will now marry Urashima. Come Keitaro, your bride awaits.”

 

Keitaro stood there in abject shock, completely frozen. He glanced at Naru, a desperate look in his eyes, hoping to see her object, react, to do anything. She just stood there frozen and silent, not saying a word. His last hope seemingly gone, he turned around and slowly hobbled towards Motoko, having no option but to pay the price for his attempt at deception.

 

XXX

 

Naru awoke with a start. She hadn't dreamt about the apocalyptic duel since…since…well, never. She shook her head ruefully. `Figures. I only dream about that after they come back.'

 

Naru didn't want to dream about that; the memory was too painful even now, without having to relive it again in her sleep. These nocturnal revisitations didn't make moving on with her life any easier. `Wish I could stop thinking about that. And if wishes were horses…'

 

With a short, humourless bark of a laugh, the love-lorne young woman got out of bed and tried to put aside the memories that sleep had dredged up. `Put it behind you, dammit! Reminiscing isn't going to help, or change anything now.' She gathered up her things for the hot springs, and had one last thought as she opened her door.

 

`What would have happened if I'd grabbed that sword anyway?' Naru pondered. `Probably nothing. Cursed. Right. Like it would have made much of a difference.'

 

XXX

 

Morning came far, far too early for Mitsune Konno. She opened her eyes and immediately slammed them shut, wishing that she hadn't. She felt like there were ten thousand howler monkeys inside her skull performing an opera. Or perhaps all the jackhammers in the world working in her brain was a more accurate description. Either way, her head was throbbing in perfect time with her heartbeat, and Kitsune would have been willing to cut out her own heart to put an end to that agonizing pounding.

 

The sake she had consumed the night before had left her with a couple of souvenirs; a five-alarm hangover, plus her mouth was as dry as cotton and felt absolutely vile. The sour aftertaste of sake made her want to gag. Along with the dizziness and nausea, these feelings were threatening to make her vomit. A hot, flushed feeling had her perspiring profusely, soaking the blankets and the clothes she was wearing with cold sweat.

 

`Wait,' thought Kitsune, her mental properties, hampered by the misery she was experiencing, were finally rebooting. `Where'd these blankets come from?' she wondered. The answer came to her after a few moments, when a few more of her neurons managed to fire correctly. `Naru. Had to be Naru. Who else woulda helped me?' Her conclusion reinforced her feelings of depression and self pity, the same feelings that had started her on her binge the day before.

 

Kitsune didn't really want to get up, but since she was unable to sleep on a futon in such disreputable condition, the self proclaimed slacker reluctantly got to her feet, stripped out of her soaked clothes and slipped into a robe. She debated on whether or not to use a little `hair of the dog' to make herself feel better, before deciding on simply recharging herself in the hot spring.

 

Kitsune gathered up her bathing supplies and headed through the hallways towards the woman's bath, years of practice at concealing how awful she felt allowing her to walk with a steady gait. Upon reaching the changing area she found the other Hinata House regulars already there, and to her relief, there were no signs of an Aoyama anywhere. Nodding an unspoken thanks to Naru, she quickly headed out to the bath, missing the concerned look Naru had given her. Naru had wanted to talk to her earlier about her drinking, but had decided that this sort of issue was best discussed in private.

 

After hanging up her robe and grabbing a towel, Kitsune walked outside and made her way to the bath. She braced herself for the initial heat and slipped into the water, ready to let its liquid warmth ease her troubles and provide her with some relief. But as she sat there, she realized that something wasn't quite right.

 

“What the hell's wrong with this bath?!” she bellowed, in no mood to be subtle or discrete.

 

Drawn by the force of the fox-eyed girl's blast, the other residents rushed outside. “What's wrong?” asked a concerned Naru.

 

“The water's absolutely frigid!” Kitsune snarled, her nerves frayed, pissed off, and in no mood to mince words.

 

Curious, Shinobu walked up to the water's edge and dipped her foot into the bath. “It's…warm.”

 

“So why isn't it hot like normal?!” snapped Kitsune, her hangover killing all traces of good humour. “Somebody go tell that useless landlord of ours that he forgot to turn up the heat!”

 

“Kei-kun didn't do this, I turned it down,” Mutsumi interjected sweetly, immune to Kitsune's hostility.

 

Kitsune sat there nonplussed, a puzzled look on her face. “What the hell'd you do that for?” she asked after a moment's contemplation.

 

“So Motoko-chan can use it,” replied Mutsumi.

 

“So why'd you have to turn it into an ice-bath?” growled Kitsune.

 

“Don't be silly Kitsune, it's not that cold,” responded Naru, who had moved down to the bath to check the temperature. “It's still nice and warm.”

 

As if to prove Naru's point, Tama-chan alighted off of Shinobu's head and landed in the water. The turtle seemed to contemplate the reduced temperature of the water it was soaking in, before it shrugged it's flippers in acceptance and began to relax.

 

`What's with you Kitsune?' Naru wondered silently, as she absently watched Tama-chan floating contentedly. `Why are you so irritable?'

 

“Naru-san is correct; the water is just under 100 degrees, a safe temperature for an unborn baby,” Mutsumi continued.

 

“Safe temperature?” inquired Sarah.

 

“A bath or shower over 100 degrees can hurt a baby's development,” lectured Mutsumi. While Keitaro and Motoko had been on their date, she had given the pregnancy book a through read, and had learned why Motoko couldn't use the hot springs. After deciding that no woman enduring pregnancy should be without a hot spring, she had concluded that the appropriate course of action was to lower the thermostat.

 

“Really?” asked Shinobu.

 

“Yes,” answered Mutsumi. “It wouldn't be fair for Motoko to have to use Keitaro's little bathroom now, would it?”

 

The other residents mentally considered this and started nodding to themselves in agreement. With one clear exception.

 

“What good is a hot spring that isn't hot?” groused Kitsune.

 

“Kitsune, I think we can all put up with this. Motoko's the one who's going through a lot right now.” Naru gave her friend a look of disapproval, with a little bit of disappointment mixed in as well.

 

Kitsune didn't miss the look, and was hurt that her best friend seemed to be siding against her. From the looks of the others, she was on her own. She'd expected that, but she'd figured that Naru would've at least made a token effort to back her up. `You're siding with HER against ME? But I thought friends were supposed to be there for each other.'

 

Feeling a sense of betrayal, Kitsune acknowledged the will of the majority and muttered a half-hearted approval of the temperature reduction. She slunk over to a more secluded area of the bath and sulked, causing her feelings of resentment towards the Aoyamas to increase slowly, like a locomotive gradually building up a head of steam.

 

The remaining residents waded into the pool and concluded that while it wasn't as nice as it was when the water was near the scalding point, it wasn't too bad either. If it would help Motoko and her baby, then it was an acceptable sacrifice. Consequently, the level of chatter in the bath was soon up to its usual norms.

 

Mutsumi surveyed her handiwork, and was pleased with the results. Now Motoko-chan and Naru-san would have more opportunity to talk to each other, and maybe they'd be able to work things out between them. She was so pleased with how well it had been accepted, that she didn't notice the aura of resentment that Kitsune was now emitting.

 

XXX

 

Almost unwillingly, Motoko opened her bleary eyes and rejoined the waking world. Her appreciation of her situation was further hampered by the nausea that she was experiencing. She closed her eyes and remained motionless, hoping that she wouldn't have to run like hell for the toilet this morning.

 

To her great relief, on this particular morning the nausea eased up without her having to get up and vomit, which meant she could stay where she was most comfortable, in Keitaro's warm embrace. Motoko rolled slightly, allowing her chin to rest on his chest, and she tightened her hold on him, smiling to herself when she felt him unconsciously increase his own embrace. She contented herself with laying there, her head rising and falling with his every breath, feeling his heartbeat, and gazing at the smile upon his face.

 

`You should be smiling Kei-kun, especially after last night,' Motoko thought to herself with a placid and contented smile. `Then again, you always seem to smile in your sleep.' On occasions when she wasn't able to sleep, Motoko enjoyed watching Keitaro while he slept. Throughout most of their marriage, Keitaro had slept the sleep of the righteous, usually untroubled and unburdened by anything that life threw at him. Unlike his time as landlord of Hinata House, in which all of the problems and experiences he had gone through rested heavily upon his troubled brow, their life together, forced marriage not withstanding, had been relatively care-free.

 

True, there'd been some difficulties, but nothing that they couldn't handle together. This life of no real worries or concerns had allowed Keitaro to regularly sleep with a smile. And the mornings after nights that they had made love, such as this one, his smile was even wider. `Kei-kun seems to have that smile an awful lot of mornings,' Motoko mused internally. Not that she minded. On some occasions, when she couldn't fall back asleep, she'd wake Keitaro. The first time she had roused him from a well-earned slumber, after a particularly difficult day of training, he'd bemoaned the loss of sleep.

 

But only that first time, and only for a few moments.

 

Thinking about that caused Motoko's smile to widen as well. But she wondered yet again if it was normal for a married couple to be so sexually active. `Why do we make love so often?' she asked herself yet again. She didn't mind it at all, far from it. She and Keitaro enjoyed their couplings, but she was just a little curious.

 

In the past, she'd theorized that she was just trying to keep Keitaro happy, so that he wouldn't stray, but she'd later rejected that idea as ludicrous. After what they'd been through to be together, infidelity wasn't in either of their vocabularies. Besides, it wasn't as if sex with Keitaro was some tedious chore she had to do, she genuinely loved and relished every moment of the experience. It wasn't uncommon for her to initiate intimacy, and Keitaro wasn't one to turn her down if she asked. `Who knew I was so hot-blooded, given what I believed before?'

 

In the end, Motoko had come to understand that the primary reason for their frequency in lovemaking was simply that they deeply loved each other, and they wanted to express it as much and as often as possible. As for her, she was an active participant for the additional reason that it was the only time that she could cast aside the role in life and society that she'd chosen. When people saw her, they usually saw a strong, regal, independent swordswoman, which she would acknowledge being with pride. But Keitaro, and only Keitaro, saw her as a woman, his soul mate, the love of his life.

 

When the two of them were in bed, Motoko was a woman, first, last, and always. She could lower all of the facades and emotional barriers she created for the world to see, and simply be Motoko Aoyama, beloved wife of Keitaro Aoyama. She played this part with all the passion and zeal that she put into being a swordswoman, so perhaps it wasn't so surprising that Keitaro had, on more than one occasion, referred to her as a tigress in bed. The first time he'd said that, she'd laughed, then later secretly purchased a pair of tiger striped bra and panties, and worn them to bed that night. Keitaro took one look at them and bolted from the bedroom. For a moment, Motoko was stunned and hurt that Keitaro had rejected her idea. However, these thoughts vanished seconds later when Keitaro ran back into the room, somehow managing to have scrounged up a pith helmet, hiking boots and a hoop net, and this had resulted in a game of `Wild Kingdom' which…

 

Motoko's thoughts and trip down memory lane were interrupted when she felt Keitaro stir beneath her. He blinked his eyes clear, smacked his lips a few times, and then focused his gaze upon her. “Good morning Mo-chan. Are you feeling better this morning, my love?”

 

“It wasn't too bad, I didn't have to throw up,” she replied. Motoko then snuggled tighter against Keitaro. “Do we have to get out of bed today Kei-kun?” she purred. “This is so nice, I don't want to leave.”

 

“Yes, it is,” Mr. Aoyama agreed. “But we have to get up.” Keitaro didn't sound too enthusiastic about that prospect either.

 

Sighing in resignation, Motoko reluctantly released Keitaro and stood up, eliciting a wolf whistle from her husband, who admired her stately and beautifully nude figure, before she was able to wrap a sheet around herself. “Pervert,” she scolded, with no small amount of amusement.

 

“Hm-mm,” Keitaro acknowledged.

 

Chuckling softly to herself, Motoko slipped on a robe and headed for the bathroom.

 

XXX

 

Down in the dining room, the other residents were already eating when Keitaro and Motoko entered, greeted everyone, and sat down to eat. Su was the first to talk to the late arrivals. “Hey Motoko, how come ya didn't puke today?” With the exception of Mutsumi, everyone grimaced at the reminder of the morning before.

 

“Just lucky this morning, I guess,” Motoko replied, clearly not happy at the subject being discussed.

 

“Well, I'm glad you're feeling better this morning,” said Naru.

 

Motoko nodded gratefully in response. She then turned to Shinobu and asked, “Do we have any chamomile tea?”

 

“Um, no, I don't think so,” Shinobu replied. “Why?”

 

“It's supposed to ease morning sickness. I guess I'll pick some up later today.”

 

“How's that supposed to help?” queried Naru.

 

“No idea, that's just what the doctor told us, that and spearmint aromatherapy.”

 

“Spearmint?” Naru asked sceptically.

 

Keitaro shrugged in response. “Ask the doctor, she's the one who recommended it.”

 

The residents considered that amongst themselves, as Keitaro and Motoko continued to eat.

 

“You must be happy this morning,” Kitsune spoke up for the first time that morning. “I didn't hear the `pitter-patter' of little feet today.” A malicious grin came over her face as she continued. “Of course, yesterday you sounded like a hippo during a stampede.” She felt some satisfaction at the embarrassed look that came over Motoko.

 

“Don't worry about that Mo-chan,” Keitaro reassured her. “This is normal during pregnancy.” A far-off look came into his eyes. “Soon, there will be the real `pitter-patter' of little feet here.”

 

“Along with crying, Two AM feedings, diapers…” Mutsumi added.

 

“You're not helping here,” growled Naru.

 

“Hey Motoko,” called out Sarah. “Speaking of little feet, what are you going to call the rugrat?”

 

Motoko blinked in response. “I, I hadn't really thought about that yet, it's still quite early. But I think that I'd like to call her Kimiko, or perhaps Natsuko.”

 

“I don't know, Mo-chan,” interjected Keitaro. “I was thinking of Akira, or maybe Ryu.”

 

“Those are boys names, Kei-kun,” Motoko stated. “Our daughter wouldn't like being called by a boy's name.”

 

“True, but our son wouldn't like Kimiko either.”

 

“I thought we settled his yesterday, Kei-kun,” Motoko chided.

 

“Best of three?” Keitaro asked weakly.

 

“Kei-kun, you know I can't duel with you anymore,” Motoko reminded him.

 

“Why not?” inquired Su.

 

Motoko sighed. “Strenuous exercise isn't good for pregnant women,” she answered.

 

“Which means I might actually win one, Mo-chan,” Keitaro quipped.

 

“You've always done pretty good Kei-kun. After all, you've defeated me a couple of times.”

 

“Only when you made a mistake,” Keitaro pointed out. “Even then, three times at the most.”

 

“That's still pretty good. You've done well in only a year.”

 

“Only because I had a great teacher.”

 

“Why thank you, Kei-kun,” Motoko replied sweetly, smiling at her life mate.

 

“You're welcome, Mo-chan,” Keitaro returned, in an even more affectionate tone.

 

“Ugh, must…have…insulin,” muttered Kitsune, sticking her finger in her mouth and making gagging motions.

 

“I beg your pardon?” asked Keitaro.

 

“All that sweetness is making my teeth ache,” Kitsune grumbled. “You two keep that up and we'll all get diabetes.”

 

“Maybe we are going a bit overboard,” Keitaro admitted.

 

“It's no big deal Keitaro,” replied Naru, giving Kitsune a funny look, which the older woman ignored.

 

“Perhaps,” he responded. Nothing further was said as the Aoyamas continued to eat breakfast. Motoko's food intake, while not as significant as Su's, was noticeably higher than what she'd eaten before she'd become pregnant.

 

As Motoko finished her plate, Sarah asked her, “So what are you gonna do if you can't beat up the dork anymore?”

 

“I suppose we'll concentrate more on katas and running,” Motoko replied.

 

“Just a run this morning, Mo-chan?” queried Keitaro.

 

“Yes Kei-kun. You think you can handle two miles?”

 

“Piece of cake.”

 

“I know,” Motoko replied sweetly. “That's why you'll be doing five miles. I shouldn't do more than two, but you can keep doing five.”

 

“Yes sensei,” Keitaro grumped. “We start now?”

 

“Of course,” stated Motoko. “Thank you for breakfast Shinobu. We'll see you all later.”

 

“Wait Motoko-chan!” called out Mutsumi. “When you get back, you can use the hot springs.”

 

A confused look came over Motoko's features. “Didn't I tell you that I can't use it?”

 

“Yes, but now you can, it's safe now,” Mutsumi replied.

 

“Yeah, she turned the heat down,” growled Kitsune. “She just went and did it.”

 

“Th, thank you Mutsumi,” Motoko responded gratefully. She'd all but resigned herself to using Keitaro's small tub, and the prospect of being able to keep using the hot springs was a source of considerable relief to the expectant mother.

 

“It's nothing,” Mutsumi answered.

 

After giving Mutsumi a thankful look that indicated that it was much more than nothing, Motoko turned to her husband and asked, “You ready now Kei-kun?”

 

“Lead on, Mo-chan,” he said, ready to hit the road.

 

The young couple walked out of the dining room and made their way to the front door. Once there, they put on their running shoes, went outside, stretched for a minute or so, and then began their morning jog.

 

Back in the living room, everyone else finished up their meal, thanked Shinobu, and went their own ways. But Naru made a point of following Kitsune into her room, where she confronted her over her rude behaviour the previous evening and in the bath that morning. “Is something bothering you Kitsune?” she began without any preamble.

 

“Why would you think that Naru?” Kitsune responded, laying on the sarcasm thick enough to cut with a katana.

 

Naru ignored the jibe, not wanting to get into an argument with her best friend. She decided to try a different tack; keeping her voice calm and reasonable, she asked, “Why were you so upset in the hot springs? Warm water isn't that big of a deal. Even Tama-chan wasn't that upset about it.”

 

“But why do we have to go out of our way to accommodate them?” asked Kitsune. “They show up out of nowhere, without warning, and start acting like they own the place.”

 

“Kitsune, Keitaro does own it, remember?”

 

“That still shouldn't give them the right to order us around.”

 

“Kitsune, they didn't lower the thermostat, it was Mutsumi,” Naru pointed out. “For what it's worth, I think it's the right thing to do. The hot springs aren't that important, Motoko's baby is. You don't want anything to happen to her now, do you?”

 

“No, but why make it easier for her? I thought you were upset at her.”

 

Naru found herself unwillingly replaying the argument she'd had with Tsuruko the previous day. She'd had to come to terms with the fact that she was as responsible for Keitaro and Motoko ending up together as Tsuruko had been. “I, I am a little upset with her,” she admitted reluctantly, “but I'm more upset at Tsuruko. Besides, even if I was pissed at Motoko, which I'm not, I don't wish her any harm. I want to make up with them, and being flexible is a good start.”

 

“Why aren't you pissed at her?” asked Kitsune, standing up and facing her friend a foot away. “She took Keitaro from you.”

 

Naru closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She still didn't like having to admit to what she was about to tell Kitsune. “No, Kitsune, I let my anger and mistrust… If…if I'd been smarter, I wouldn't have lost him. If I'd been truthful with my feelings, telling him how I felt, he wouldn't be with Motoko now. Yes, he ended up with her, but I didn't exactly do anything to keep him.”

 

Kitsune stared at Naru incredulously; she couldn't believe what she was hearing. “You were just scared, if you'd had more time-”

 

“I had nearly a year,” Naru interrupted. “I had plenty of time, I just wasted it away.”

 

Kitsune could only respond to that with silence.

 

“I wanted to talk to you yesterday Kitsune,” Naru continued, changing the subject to something she thought was more pressing. “But you were out like a light.”

 

The fox-eyed girl didn't miss the hint of accusation in Naru's tone. She quickly threw up a light-hearted front and attempted to brush off any concerns. “I just had a hard day, I needed a few drinks to unwind, that's all.”

 

“You call five full bottles of Sake a `few drinks'?”

 

“It wasn't really five bottles Naru,” Kitsune replied defensively. “I just finished up some nearly empty ones, that's all.”

 

Naru found herself being swayed by Kitsune's argument, and it was difficult to stay upset in the face of her friends upbeat, cheerful demeanour, even if it did seem a little forced.

 

“Besides,” Kitsune added with a grin. “It's not like anything bad happened. I didn't drive or anything, and I didn't fall down the stairs, I just went to bed early.”

 

Kitsune's logic seemed to make sense to Naru. Maybe she was getting concerned over nothing. Who knew how many times she would have liked a little help falling asleep herself. Besides, Kitsune was a responsible person, right? She knew her own limits, and she never did anything stupid when she was drunk.

 

“Yeah, I guess you're right Kitsune,” agreed Naru. “Those two coming back have stressed everyone out. I'm over-reacting.”

 

“Probably,” agreed Kitsune. “But I don't mind.”

 

Naru smiled in spite of herself. “Okay. You just take care of yourself Kitsune. I'll see you later.” She then turned around and walked out of the room, feeling better about things in general.

 

But Naru was bothered by the voice in the back of her head, which sounded like the one she'd ignored a year earlier, accusing her of not trying hard enough.

 

Trying to put that little voice out of her mind, Naru was lost in thought when she almost literally bumped into Keitaro, who had finished his run. His thoughts also appeared to be elsewhere. “Kei…Keitaro,” she breathed.

 

“Naru,” he replied, an uncomfortable feeling coming over him as he looked at her.

 

For a few seconds neither one spoke, a truly deafening silence. Idly Naru noticed that Keitaro's hair and shirt were soaked with sweat, and she unconsciously wrinkled her nose when she caught wind of him.

 

“Naru, have you seen Mo-chan?” he asked.

 

“I think she's in the bath.” Naru had to suppress a pang of envy for Motoko.

 

“Really? Thanks Naru.” Keitaro then made to enter the changing area, his intentions obvious.

 

“Keitaro,” Naru called out.

 

“Yes?”

 

There were so many things that Naru needed to say, wanted to say, so many questions and admissions. But as she stood there, she realized that now wasn't the time. She turned and walked away, not even looking back when she called out, “Make sure you put up the sign.”

 

Keitaro stood there perplexed, not certain what to make of Naru's behaviour, before he insured that the sign was posted, and proceeded into the changing area.

 

XXX

 

After finishing her two mile run, and cheerfully reminding Keitaro that he still had another three miles to go, Motoko walked up the stairs to Hinata House, cooling off and letting her heart rate get back down to normal. She'd enjoyed the run, and while it couldn't compare to sparring with Keitaro, at least she could stay active during her pregnancy. Until she was too big to run, that is. Now it was time to relax in the hot spring.

 

`Or is that `warm' spring now?' wondered Motoko, with a touch of amusement. She went into her room to retrieve a change of clothes and her bathing supplies. She proceeded into the changing area, disposed of her running outfit, wrapped her herself in a towel and walked outside to the springs.

 

After checking the thermostat to ensure that the water was in fact at a safe temperature, she slipped into the water, the luxury of the surroundings more than making up for the reduced temperature. Motoko was thrilled to be able to use the outdoor bath again, as Keitaro's old bath was just too small. `Although it was nice and cozy, with just the two of us…' She smiled to herself as she remembered Keitaro washing her back, and everything else they did, fondly.

 

Motoko closed her eyes and tried to let the water ease away all of her cares and worries. A warm soak wasn't as effective as a hot soak, but it was better than nothing. She lounged there, thinking about what she was going to have to do over the next couple of weeks. Her contemplation was interrupted when she heard the sound of someone else entering the bath. “Who's there?”

 

“It's me Mo-chan.”

 

“Kei-kun!” Motoko's face lit up like a Christmas tree upon hearing her husband's voice.

 

Keitaro smiled broadly and proceeded into the bath. A few minutes went by, and the Aoyamas simply lounged in the warm waters, attempting to forget all of their stresses, relaxing themselves in each other's company.

 

“So where were you Kei-kun?” asked Motoko, after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

 

“I'm sorry?”

 

“You only had to run another three miles, you should have been back sooner, unless you weren't trying.”

 

“I made a few stops after the run to pick up a few things.”

 

“Oh? Like what?”

 

“I bought some camomile tea, and some spearmint aromatherapy thingys. Sorry, but I'm not sure how to use them, the salesgirl didn't seem to want to help me very much.”

 

A mental image of Keitaro in a small aromatherapy specialty shop, sweaty and dishevelled after his run, nearly caused Motoko to laugh out loud. As it was, a brief snicker escaped her lips, and she found it difficult to get the smile off of her face. “You could have come home and gotten cleaned up first Kei-kun.” There was no small amount of humour in Motoko's tone.

 

“Eh, why bother?” replied Keitaro dismissively. “It's not like I need to impress her or anything.”

 

“True,” murmured Motoko. “So, what shall we do today?”

 

“Why not go look at some baby things?”

 

“Good idea,” Motoko replied, after a few seconds consideration. “We can look for some toys for our daughter.”

 

“Son.”

 

“Daughter, Kei-kun. Remember, I won the duel.”

 

“As usual,” grumped Keitaro.

 

Motoko chuckled softly at that. “Okay then, we'll go window shopping. Later.”

 

“Yes. Later.”

 

No other words were spoken, or necessary.

 

XXX

 

Over the next month or so, the residents of Hinata House fell back into a routine. Despite the presence of the spearmint aromatherapy, Motoko usually felt miserable in the morning, and needed to make a frantic run for the bathroom about once every three days. The other residents became inured to this activity, no longer even grimacing in disgust. When Motoko's heavy footfalls were heard, any conversation would cease until the unpleasant sounds of her vomiting passed, after which all talking resumed as if nothing had happened.

 

Motoko made every effort to control the morning sickness; drinking camomile tea in the morning, switching to simpler meals when possible, and using the spearmint aromatherapy essential oils and candles. The aromatherapy did seem to help some, and the pleasant scent also served to mask less pleasant odours that resulted from the increase in intestinal gas that Motoko was experiencing, or on mornings after they'd made love. An unexpected side effect of the spearmint aromatherapy was Su constantly asking the two of them where they'd hidden the candy canes.

 

Motoko's strange cravings continued unabated, and although she was usually able to resist them, or substitute something more sensible than what she craved, she developed a real sweet tooth. One morning, as all of the other residents watched in fascinated horror, Motoko poured herself a large bowl of Froot Loops. No one knew where they'd come from, and no one admitted to buying them, but they were there. The sight of the expectant mother eating a bowl of vaguely fruit flavoured sugar wouldn't have been so upsetting, but instead of milk, Motoko had topped it with cola. She then proceeded to consume the sickly sweet meal, oblivious to the aghast looks that the other residents wore. Even Su, hardly an opponent of sweet things, had her gag reflex put to the test as Motoko plowed through the bowl of cereal.

 

On the relationship front, the Aoyamas were becoming more accepted by the other Hinata House residents, Kitsune being the sole exception. She never lashed out, or was overtly hostile, but she would go out of her way to be inconvenient, and her behaviour could easily be considered rude. Keitaro and Motoko didn't understand her reasoning; Kitsune herself wasn't sure why she couldn't bring herself to get along with them, but she didn't bother expending much effort to figure out why. Whenever Naru tried to confront her about it, she'd dismiss her concerns as not being that big of a deal and change the subject. Since Kitsune was still behaving properly around the other residents, there wasn't an overwhelming pressure for her to change her behaviour.

 

Through all of this, Motoko's pregnancy marched on relentlessly, and all of the residents found themselves drawn into it. Whether it was helping to cook meals that would be good for Motoko, or simply making suggestions on baby names, just about everyone took part in some way, shape, or form. It seemed as though the child would have one mother, one father, and five doting aunts. Whatever problems the baby might have, lack of attention wasn't going to be one of them. Even with Kitsune's petulant streak, there were no real disturbances, until one day, about three months into the pregnancy.

 

XXX

 

Black: The absence of any colour.

 

Black clothing, in addition to radiating away heat, can make the wearer appear intimidating. For others, wearing black clothing can make the wearer appear more alluring. But few people can appear to be both alluring and intimidating at the same time.

 

Kanako Urashima was one of those people. An attractive young woman, her natural beauty was complemented by the black outfits that she favoured; she possessed a `goth-chic' that black only emphasized. It also increased her natural intimidation factor, as many men would readily attest to. Many men had noticed her from afar, and were drawn by the `bad-girl' aura she radiated. However, when they got close enough to see her face, the look in her eyes, and the sternness of her features caused any would-be suitors to realize that instead of `bad', the word that came to mind was `pain'.

 

This suited Kanako just fine.

 

As far as she was concerned, there was only one man that she would open herself up to, her older brother Keitaro. Kanako knew that she and her brother weren't related by blood, and she didn't feel any inherent creepiness at the idea of wanting her adoptive sibling. He'd always been there for her, and now she would be there for him.

 

She had learned where he was living through some family connections, and she had decided that it was time to make her move. She stood in the bushes, regarding the impressive façade of the Hinata House. She was proud that Keitaro was able to handle the responsibility of taking care of such a large building, even more because he was doing it alone.

 

Thinking about seeing Keitaro again made it difficult to resist simply running up to the house, but she held herself back, reassuring herself that infiltration and reconnaissance were the best way to achieve her goals.

 

There! An opportunity was presenting itself. An attractive young woman, perhaps a little older that she was, was walking out of the residence. The woman had long brown hair, was wearing glasses, and was cute, in an ordinary sort of way, Kanako decided. She was also of similar height and build. She would do perfectly.

 

Kanako observed the woman unknowingly walking by her, carefully making note of her facial features, clothing, walking style, and other important details. When the woman passed out of sight on her way down the stairs, Kanako began the second phase of her plan. She quickly and skilfully crafted a mask and wig that were all but indistinguishable from the real person. She pulled it over her head and then pulled on clothes that were identical to what the person she had observed had been wearing.

 

Kanako took a look at herself in her compact, smiled sinisterly at the results of her labours, and then walked out of the bushes towards Hinata House. She was now an almost perfect facsimile of Naru Narusegawa, and the only detectable difference was in the predatory gleam of her smile.

 

`Soon, oniichan, soon,' she thought to herself, as she opened the front door and walked inside.

 

End Chapter Four

 

Special thanks go out to crosseyedbutterfly, dennisud, and Kylaran Aeldin for serving as pre-readers. Without their input, I'd probably be screwed. Drinks are on me, once again.

 

I would welcome all feedback on this story, both positive and negative. Don't be afraid to let me have it if you think I've buggered this up. I've got a thick skin and I won't take negative feedback personally.

 

Hope to have the next chapter out soon, but I had to beat back writer's block for this one. I only hope I've beaten it back enough to continue promptly.