Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Fallout ❯ Fallout: Reunion ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2

Reunion

 

 

Remembering well the total lack of parking for cars in Hinata District, Shinobu opted for a scarf, sunglasses, and an anonymous ride on the train with her son. Wearing the fake wedding ring she kept for camouflage purposes, Shinobu rode out from Akihabara, noticing a certain tall woman bearing a sword wrapped in a fine silk bag slung over her shoulder. Passengers automatically gave her additional space, sensing someone with power. Motoko walked right up to Shinobu and stood over her friend, smiling.

 

“Aren't you going to say hello?” she asked.

 

“Hello,” said Shinobu, trying to smile but not in the mood for it. It crumpled in the face of her friend of many years. She hadn't seen her for some time, years now. Motoko seemed happy.

 

“I see I'm not the only one. Does he know?” Motoko asked, indicating the little boy, always direct with her friends. Shinobu supposed this was some kind of sign of respect, but it felt tiresome instead.

 

“Keitaro is going to meet his father today, aren't you Kei-chan?” prompted Shinobu. He giggled at the tall fashionable woman standing over them like a guard.

 

“I'm sorry he won't meet mine today, if that's the case,” said Motoko quietly, noting the housewives listening for gossip. The train reached their stop and they left together, Shinobu carrying her son through the crush, though he was heavy. The morning was cool and damp, like any summer morning in Hinata District.

 

“Don't you want to take the street car?” asked Shinobu, seeing Motoko turning towards the narrow streets instead.

 

“Nah, I want to talk and we will have more privacy if we walk up the hill,” she said, indirectly pointing at the snooping women eyeing the two of them suspiciously.

 

“OOF!” said Shinobu, putting the little boy down.

 

“I'll carry him when he gets tired. I don't mind,” offered Motoko. Despite her hundred thousand yen suit, she was still a friend when it came down to it. Shinobu sighed.

 

“You look angry. What's on your mind?” asked Motoko as they walked. The narrow whitewashed walls, the curved roof tiles and uneven pavement much as they remembered it from their years of living there.

 

“How can you forgive him so easily? Look what he did to us,” complained Shinobu.

 

“Aren't you being unfair?” accused Motoko.

 

“Why? Don't you know that the rumors about me being a vicious bitch are true? I throw temper tantrums and yell at my staff. I climbed up the ladder on the backs of others.” Shinobu was defiant despite her shame. “I would never have done that if I was a good person.”

 

“And yet, your little boy proves you are a good mother, doesn't he? You didn't have to keep him. You knew what would happen, or at least suspected. You must have read those books, same as I did, while you decided,” pointed out Motoko.

 

Shinobu sighed. She could see the Hinata Inn above the trees in the distance. Sometimes the walk through Hinata District seemed so short, other times so very lengthy. She knew it was an illusion, but life there was illusive anyway. Things changed. People changed. You can't hold onto the past.

 

Keitaro Junior slowed down. Motoko easily lifted him up to her shoulders and gave him a ride. He cheered. Shinobu stared at the scene before her: a woman, a sword, and a boy smiling.

 

“I'm still surprised he didn't pick you,” Shinobu said quietly. Motoko turned, eyes wise beyond her years.

 

“You should trust in him more. He had good reasons. She needed him most, and it was the right choice. When you see her you'll see,” said Motoko gently. “Don't resent anyone for their love, or how they show it, little sister.”

 

“What do you mean? Have you seen them already?” asked Shinobu, suspicious.

 

“In a manner of speaking. Su allowed me to visit him sometimes, in secret. We have some children, though neither he nor Kitsune knows of it. My sister is raising them as her own. This is my Big Secret, you see. A proper International Law Attorney should not write romance novels and should absolutely not have a child out of wedlock, much less children,” she said, clearly mocking someone she'd known.

 

“He cheated on her?” asked Shinobu, shocked.

 

Motoko thought carefully before answering. “Not exactly. I begged and he gave. It was a hard time in my life and I don't think I'd be the person I am today if not for what he did for me. When I was younger, when we first met, I never thought anything could be more disgusting than needing a Man. After the Twins were born, I realized how much I missed his cheer, his compassion. I never met another man who could make me feel complete the way he did in just a few minutes. He's always himself, clumsiness and all.”

 

“Twins, huh? I wonder what Kitsune would think of that?” pondered Shinobu out loud, wondering herself.

 

“Twice. My third and fouth children were also twins. You know, if you'd asked Su, she probably would have arranged something. It wouldn't have been frequent, or even often, but you could have spent time with him again. Why did you shut us all out of your life? We could see from the news you needed help, a moral compass. Your studios are a short train-ride from my offices. What stopped you?” asked Motoko.

 

“I thought you'd feel like I do, angry and bitter. How can you be so calm? You can't even live with your own children,” accused Shinobu. They finally reached the bottom of the stairs. The Inn sat stoically over the district like a lazy samurai who'd drunk too much sake. Shinobu grinned. “I needed him more than once in a while. I wanted him around me always, like he was when we lived here. I loved him with all my heart for four wonderful years,” she said.

 

“And how does that make you feel?” asked Motoko carefully. Climbing the stairs was slow and long.

 

“Happy. Empty. Those memories and my son are all that's sustained me. My success means nothing to me anymore,” admitted Shinobu, breathing hard on the stairs. She was out of shape. Clearly she needed to spend more time on the stair climber.

 

“Then I understand your pain and you have my pity. I hope seeing him now will help. Will you keep the peace?” asked Motoko carefully as they reached the top of the stairs. Keitaro Junior wriggled, wanting to play with the boys and girls his own age. Motoko put him down and steadied him before releasing the boy to play.

 

Tsuruko and her husband Kenjou stepped out of the Hinata Sou entrance, bowing to the visitors politely. Shinobu followed Motoko's lead and they both returned the bow politely.

 

“Sister,” stated Motoko gracefully. “It is good to see you.”

 

“Whee!” yelled Grandma Hina, stubby legs moving quickly under her Kimono, her grandkids chasing after her giggling. More children spilled out of the entrance, a boy and girl in traditional dress, squealing at the sight of Motoko.

 

“Ma… Auntie Motoko!” they remembered at the last moment.

 

“It's okay. This is Auntie Shinobu, one of Mommie's oldest friends. She knows all about my favorite babies,” she teased, seizing up her twins and spinning them around.

 

“Sister, Shouja wants to say hello too,” reminded Tsuruko. The two year old cautiously approached, peering from behind her aunt's kimono hem.

 

“Mama?” asked the little girl.

 

“Yes, darling. Come say hello,” smiled Motoko, extending her arms, her twins holding to her legs, smiling at their little sister. She peered a moment longer, then ran as fast as her little legs could carry her. Motoko lifted her middle child into the air and burst into a brilliant smile.

 

Shinobu felt strangely embarrassed, unsure why.

 

“Goodness… you sure have many children, Motoko,” exclaimed Mutsumi, who had just crested the stairs with a small boy holding her hand. He looked tired by happy.

 

“Is there where Daddy lives, Mamma?” asked the small boy.

 

“He used to live here, Kei-kun,” she answered. One of the children ran over and stopped.

 

“Are you my brother?” asked the little girl.

 

“Mamma?” he asked, and looked up at Mutsumi, who beamed before bending down to greet the little girl with dark hair in a childs gi.

 

“What's your name?” she asked of the adult in the green and white dress and the big hat.

 

“I'm Mutsumi. Is Motoko your mommy?” she asked. The girl looked to Motoko, who smiled gently and nodded approval.

 

“Yes. Mommy is Motoko. But it's a secret,” she stage whispered. Her twin brother came pelting over across the courtyard and looked at the boy who looked similar enough they could be related. Tsuruko and Kenjou, her husband, watched their children playing and meeting the others. It was surreal, to say the least.

 

“And to think I used to tease them,” murmured the swordswoman, idly counting the children and matching their ki signatures to their father's and its relationship to the children she and Kenjou had raised as their own. Motoko's womb was fertile enough to make up the fact of her own lack, and having provided the first son to the Aoyama name in over a century since the curse, her lack of marriage to the father was overlooked. It all worked out in the end, after all.

 

“My name is Keitaro,” said the little boy holding onto Mutsumi. He had a big grin.

 

“Really? My name is Naru-chan!” said the little girl. “This is my brother Kenji. Do you want to play?”

 

Little Keitaro Junior looked at his mother, hope in his eyes. “Can I mama?” he pleaded. Mutsumi nodded.

 

“Don't go far. I'm going to talk to the other mommies and daddies,” she warned. The little kids ran around chasing one another.

 

“Can I play too?” asked Shinobu's son Keitaro, perturbed that there was another boy with the same name. He didn't question that they looked alike.

 

“Yes, go on and play. Go meet your brothers and sisters,” she urged. Shinobu watched him race off, and then inside the inn briefly before being chased back out by a slender but very attractive woman, the innkeeper and Keitaro's adopted sister, Kanako. Her cat clambered onto one of the ornate beams and observed all the activity. Kanako gave him a look before slithering outside. She was tireless and eerie as ever, silently counting all the children.

 

“He had every one of them, by the look of things. All of them but not me,” she sighed. “Why brother, why couldn't you keep it in your pants? Or take it out for me? Did I ask so much?” Kanako muttered to herself.

 

A limo arrived at the side entrance. After a moment the side door was opened from the inside and out poured Kaolla Su, a whole slew of kids, then Amalla Su and Prince Lamba Lu joined them.

 

“It's been a while since I've set foot here,” admitted the Prince.

 

“It looks nicer. They've fixed it up a bit,” decided Amalla turning from the building to her own and her sister's children. The tide of darker skinned Su children surged to join the lighter pure Japanese kids and many greetings were heard.

 

“Greetings and welcome to Hinata Inn, your Highnesses,” offered Kanako formally bowing to the Prince and Princesses of Molmol.

 

“Its good to have you back Kaolla,” added Kanako. Kaolla squashed a scowl and plastered a polite smile as she returned the respectful greeting.

 

“It is nice to see you again, Kanako,” lied Kaolla. Amalla eyed her sister but was more polite, as was the prince at her side.

 

“Thank you for your hospitality. May we greet Miss Hina?” she asked, reminding Kaolla of that propriety. The limo retreated down the narrow drive to park below.

 

“Of course. Please follow me,” she offered, leading the way in her black dress, hips swaying in heels. Kaolla stuck out her tongue at the brother-lover's back. Amalla glared at her sister, wondering just what was up between them.

 

On spotting Shinobu and Motoko, however, Kaolla whooped with glee and bounded ahead to sling herself around her favorite human jungle gym. The kendoist caught the young woman and swung her around easily, still as strong as ever.

 

“Wow, Su, I see you're as spry as ever!” grinned Motoko. “So, how's my favorite Princess these days?”

 

Kaolla whispered into her ear.

 

“Again? Congratulations,” offered Motoko. Mutsumi giggled, pretending she didn't understand.

 

“Are all your kids here?” asked Kaolla, looking around.

 

“Yep. Tsuruko has my youngest, Shouja, over there. I still don't see them as much as I want to, but they've got a good life and they know who I am, which is more than I can say for many single mothers who have to give up their kids to adoption. At least mine are with family,” she admitted.

 

“Lady Motoko,” greeted Amalla. Motoko turned to regard the crown princess. They bowed to each other with respect, eyes measuring each other's children and their mutual connection.

 

“There certainly are a lot of children, aren't there?” murmured Shinobu, almost forgotten. Kaolla dodged in front of her friend and hugged her tight.

 

“EEP!” yelped Shinobu in surprise.

 

“Heyas!” greeted Sarah from the top of the stairs. The sixteen year old high school girl was followed by her stepparents Seta and Haruka, hand in hand in the summer heat. Haruka and Seta each turned to regard their daughters appearing at the top of the steps behind them, jaws dropping at the sight of so many 3 year olds.

 

“Wow. This is like daycare. Are they all related to us?” asked Naomi of her mother.

 

“Yes. Go find Granny and tell her we're here,” ordered Haruka of her daughter.

 

“Yes, Mom,” grumped the five year old and flapped away in her sandals.

 

“They'll be getting hungry soon. We've prepared food and a banquet table, including one suitable for the children,” announced Kanako. “I'm sure its not up to Your Standards, Miss Maehara,” stated Kanako. Shinobu's face hardened, matching Kaolla's glare. Motoko stepped between them before an obvious catfight erupted.

 

“I'm sure it's wonderful,” appeased Motoko. “Shall we lead the kids to the food?” she asked. Kanako twitched once, then led the way as a hostess should. Granny Hina sighed. Her granddaughter really needed to set her sights on someone a little less hostile to her affections. Twice that week, she'd scared Keitaro out of the inn by unwanted advances. If Kitsune found out, she'd be on the war path, probably the only reason he hadn't told his wife what happened. The other girls were well aware of the implications this family gathering, and all the children present, meant, and what that jealousy would do to Kanako. The law we clear: no marriage between siblings, even adopted ones with no blood relations. And Keitaro wouldn't see her as more than his younger sister, and that was that. Grandma Hina sure liked seeing all the children though. After coming close to seeing the Urashima clan lose her own branch, Keitaro had come through and filled the family tree in a sudden burst of… fertility she supposed. She was using this opportunity to record the names and birthdates of each of the children and their mothers.

 

“Goodness, there's enough little Keitaros around here to fill a dojo,” admitted Mutsumi, giggling as more kids ran past her feet.

 

“Indeed,” agreed Motoko. Shinobu just stared, watching the surge of children rushing one way or another, like a flock of birds.

 

“Whew. At least its easier this time,” announced Kitsune, carrying her Maya in her arms. The toddler was too little to walk around without help but she looked cute in her little orange dress and matching sunhat. Kitsune looked over her shoulder down the steps. The adults of the group all stopped talking to watch. Keitaro appeared a moment later, Kimiko riding on his shoulders, cheering some song she'd made up.

 

“Hi everyone, did we miss anything?” asked Keitaro, naively.

 

END Chap 2