Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Great White Hunter: Keitaro ❯ GWH:K Motoko At Dawn ( Chapter 5 )

GWH:K Chapter 5

Motoko At Dawn

 

 

“Keitaro, it is time to wake up,” said Motoko firmly, rousing him from a sound sleep. A startled Keitaro waved his arms around, one immediately caught after a bounce off something soft.

 

“OOF, wake up now,” she repeated. He found his glasses and looked up in the predawn chill at her leaning over him.

 

“Beautiful,” he said without thinking. Motoko fought the blush that suddenly flared on her cheeks.

 

“Come, get dressed. It is cold this morning and there is mist upon the river,” she said. It was 4:45 AM and there was just enough light in the sky to make out the silhouette of things without turning on his lamp. She was in her traditional gi and red hakama, her long hair unbound. She had grown it back out again, though she often wore it up when in modern clothes. Motoko was becoming a more complicated woman, but in a good way. Dressing in front of her, the two of them meandered down the hall, Keitaro using a cane now, until they reached the cold and slippery rooftop. She carried a pad for them to sit upon, unfolding it on the damp wood. They sat, staring out towards the sea. Someone was in the onsen, the sound of occasional splashing a reminder of what a busy household they lived in.

 

“You were right, you know,” he admitted after a few minutes of silence. She waited patiently for him to continue.

 

“I'm still hurting from the attack. I'm not… being myself,” he continued.

 

“Last night you went a long way to restoring the Wa of this household with Naru. I felt the change as you spoke. I applaud your effort. It was not wasted. She is still hurting, but it is no longer resentment but regret she feels,” she explained.

 

“Uh, thanks, I guess. How can you…?” he started to ask then stopped.

 

“Just part of the training. Hinata is magical, you know,” she pointed out, nodding to the town below them, and the sea in the distance. Glowing lights seemed to flow and shimmer from one spot to another. “Dreams live here. I came here hoping to escape my fate as leader of my clan's school. My sister has asked for my return on many occasions, until she met you. Thank you for helping me defeat her, Keitaro. You were brave and selfless, and I gained greater affection for you then. I also despaired ever having the chance to develop our relationship beyond that tenuous bond, with Naru always pulling at you. Not all your changes have been in vain,” she finished.

 

“Uh, thank you, Motoko-kun,” he said.

 

“However, you are still in shock over the lion attack, and your hospital stay. Would you like to talk about your feelings, privately with me?” she asked. And he realized she was right. This WAS the right thing to do. Bottling up his fears was making him crazy. He'd already hurt Naru, who was closest to his heart. What if he hurt the other girls with more harsh outbursts? He couldn't go on blaming his trauma forever.

 

“Yes. Thank you for being here for me, Motoko,” he said. He held her hand as he began to talk. He described the events themselves. She asked about his feelings as he told his story again, this time leaving out no details. She was a warrior, but despite this her grip clenched his painfully from time to time as he talked. Part of him observed her, noting her compassion seething beneath her reserved exterior. Her normally placid face revealed emotion in the pre-dawn glow. It was a side of her he wasn't used to seeing. When she caught him staring after a long pause in his story she asked why.

 

“You are so beautiful, Motoko-han,” he said. “Like porcelain. So fragile, yet I know you are strong as a river. I swore that I would spend more time with you in that hospital bed. I've lived with you for four years, yet I barely know you,” he admitted without shame.

 

“You make this so hard for me, Keitaro-kun,” she swore. “How am I to retain my reserve when you say such things to me?” she asked, tears flooding her eyes. “Do you know that I write romance novels?” she confessed.

 

“No, I didn't. I knew you had a computer and I've heard you typing sometimes but I didn't know why. I thought it wasn't my business.”

 

“Its your fault, you know,” she accused. “How is a young woman supposed to feel with such a lengthy and unrequited crush… love as I have?”

 

“I do plan to do something about that. I will choose, eventually. That's part of the reason I'm spending more time with you, each of you,” he said. The light of dawn was much brighter now. The sun would soon rise from the fog on the sea. A breeze blew it towards them, slowly encroaching on the distant shoreline, then working up the hill towards the town and finally engulfing them in mist.

 

“That is honorable, if taxing,” she admitted.

 

“Can I read them?” he asked. There was a pause in Motoko's breathing.

 

“Your novels?” he asked again. A tiny yelp and her hand shivered in his. She sagged against him suddenly. This reminded him of something recently. He smelled her perspiration despite the cold of the fog.

 

“Forgive me,” she finally gasped, wrapping her arms around him, turning her head up and kissing him with all the passion she could muster. Keitaro found himself pushed back onto the pad, her passion rising with his own. LK came to full salute again, a fact she noticed with a savage grin in the predawn light. She wrapped her hand around his bulge, gripping his through his sweats.

 

“Motoko?” he asked, uncertain.

 

“Please?” she begged, gripping him firmly. She was beautiful. How could he say no?

 

It was cold on the roof as she stripped her hakama off, exposing her wrapped legs but lace panties. Skimmed off momentarily, she exposed him momentarily to the chill before quickly fitting him to her, a triumphant grin across her face as she lowered around him. Keitaro couldn't stop a moan escaping his lips. The splashing of the hot spring below reminded him their privacy was limited. The feeling was overwhelming however. She paused a moment, staring at his bewildered face, the both of them enraptured. She began to move and he met her hips with his own, instinct overriding sense. Her hand rubbed at their juncture and her movements sped, hips slamming his own hard. Keitaro lost all sense of himself in her embrace, finally crying out as he came, her own YIP shuddering her body until she slowly fell atop him. Keitaro eased his arms around her, holding her close.

 

“Wow,” was all he could say. She was surprisingly light and felt very comfortable atop him, his face covered by her shoulder and hair. So, that was sex. If only they had a blanket. Keitaro felt himself drop off to sleep a short while, not caring very much. When he awoke they were covered with a blanket, her hakama and panties folded neatly atop a towel beside them. He was limp, but was still nudging Motoko's entrance. Her gentle deep breathing was very comforting. Something about the situation wasn't quite right but being intimate with Motoko wasn't wrong. He knew that with certainty. The mist surrounded him though it was getting lighter all the time. He stroked her back gently and felt her wake.

 

“Oh dear,” she said, rising up enough to look at his face, tension replaced suddenly with relief at his expression.

 

“Thank you, Motoko,” he said, holding her gently.

 

“Was that… your first time?” she asked. He nodded.

 

“Mine too. It was… what I hoped. You aren't angry?” she asked fearfully.

 

“No. It was… you were beautiful. Thank you,” he said.

 

“I know you wanted this to be with Naru,” she admitted. LK twitched at her entrance. She flinched in shock.

 

“I guess that story is true after all,” she muttered.

 

“I would rather not think about her right now, Motoko,” he said, LK rising again. Her eyebrows rose in surprise.

 

“Again? Oh, Keitaro,” she whined cutely as LK did his thing. This time he rolled on top and they struggled to keep their noise to a minimum. A few minutes later he shuddered his release into her and collapsed onto her heaving chest, heart beating rapidly. She shifted her hips, uncomfortable, unfinished.

 

“I guess that one is true too,” she sighed. Her hand wriggled between them, frustrated then finished herself off. She shuddered a moment then relaxed onto the damp blanket. A blanket.

 

“Keitaro-kun, where did this blanket come from?” she whispered.

 

“You mean you didn't…?!” he started to ask, eyes suddenly wide with fear. They suddenly split apart, looking all directions. There was nobody in sight, they were alone on the roof. A pair of footprints led to and from their position, but they were from sandals, not identifiable. They examined the towel. It was one of the house towels. They realized the consequences of their activity had made them… sticky. Motoko's expression as his generous donation leaked from within her was priceless. Quickly wiping themselves off and dressing, they folded the blanket and pad, tucking all under their arms and headed downstairs, hoping this wasn't going to turn into a bigger mess than it might.

 

Keitaro laundered the evidence, smelling the peculiar musky odor of sex on them both. He pointed to their clothes and they tossed them into the laundry as well, wrapping themselves in fresh towels before the two of them headed to the onsen to wash each other and soak, silently agreeing that if they were already discovered there was little point denying themselves the luxury. If their benefactor was willing to keep it secret the least they could do is pretend nothing had happened, publicly at least. Maintaining appearances meant onsen twice a day.

 

Keitaro realized he'd forgotten his cane on the roof and was walking normally. That was… weird. Good weird, but weird just the same. His scars looked just a bit less livid as well. His body felt at peace for the first time in his life. It was a lingering sensation that exceeded all expectation. Motoko had given him this gift, her gift, despite not being his promise girl. That was a whole nother kettle of fish. What did this mean? She was his lover. He was her lover. They would have to talk more when they got some privacy.

 

After a long soak together in the company of a morose Kitsune, looking hung over and smelling of sake, and the arrival of Naru and Mutsumi, they separately finished up, rinsed off, and returned to their respective rooms.

 

Breakfast miso was delicious, though Shinobu looked a little off. Su was especially reserved, also. The young girls rushed off for school shortly after, uniforms flapping. Mutsumi was her usual bubbly self, leaving early for lecture with Naru and Motoko, now dressed in her school clothes, a woman's business suit and attache case. He said goodbye to them, wishing he could give Motoko a kiss. She looked like she wanted one too. He smiled for her and they went out into the clearing day. The fog was burning off and it was warming up fast. Keitaro found himself looking at the doorway and pondering a walk when Kitsune cleared her throat.

 

“Can I join you?” she asked. She was dressed in her blue jogging outfit. He suspected she wanted to talk too, which wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

“Sure. I'd like that. Ready?” he asked, holding his cane in case he needed it. She nodded so they headed out and down the steps into town. It was too early for tourist, mainly shop owners and their families about, delivery trucks carefully trundling through the narrow streets. The council were each tending their shops, muttering odd greetings and a gentle nod to his companion, which was uncharacteristic.

 

“Weird old guys,” she grumped. Her head was hurting more sharply. They stopped at a water fountain beside a playground. Keitaro looked around, noting it was THE playground.

 

“Do you remember the New Years festival where you got so drunk on free sake I had to take you home?” he asked.

 

“Ugh. Don't remind me. I think I tasted vomit for days… sorry you missed the fireworks,” she said.

 

“They weren't as important as looking after a friend in need. Sometimes you have to sacrifice so a friend can have their dreams,” he said. She eyed him sharply.

 

“What's that supposed to mean?” she said. Keitaro considered telling her. Guilt over the morning's activities, and the uncertainty of their secret warred in him.

 

“You've sacrificed a lot for Naru. You gave up on Seta, and allowed her free reign with me. Why did you do it?” he asked.

 

“Seta? He's with Haruka now, hardly worth mention, that Man,” she joked. He could hear the pain in her voice. He eased his arm around her narrow shoulders but she shook him off.

 

“Don't. I'm not easy, you know,” she said. “You apologized to Naru. I can see that you helped her. But I won't be treated like a Toy,” she stated firmly, pushing him away.

 

“Kitsune?” asked a bewildered Keitaro.

 

“Sorry. I'm hung over. And I got a shock this morning which got me drunk all over again,” she said. “You couldn't keep it in your pants, could you?” she accused. He guessed that answered that. But then why did she keep quiet? Naru. Keitaro sighed heavily. It was never easy, was it?

 

“Surrounded by beautiful girls for four years, I'm only human, Kitsune. I don't want to hurt anyone. Can you keep it secret?” he requested.

 

“For Naru's sake. I don't think she could take it if she found out. Do you think you could be more discreet next time?” she snarled as politely as she could manage, clearly jealous.

 

“We didn't plan it. And thanks for the blanket and towel,” he added. There was a look of confusion in her face.

 

“What towel?” she said. Shock registered in both their faces. “Oh my. This is going to be awkward, isn't it?”

 

Keitaro sighed, turning to regard the Hinata sou on the hillside above the town. “Yes, it certainly is.”

 

“How serious is it, are you, I mean?” she asked. May as well talk about it now.

 

“I don't know. She's beautiful and passionate and has had a crush on me for years. She told me she writes romance novels,” he blurted out, which registered a knowing smirk.

 

“Oops. I don't think I was supposed to tell that,” he realized.

 

“You're going to have to work on your secrets, Keitaro, if you want to live around a bunch of women. I already knew, though. She's actually pretty famous and popular. I've seen her books for sale at the supermarket check out line.”

 

“Really? What's her pen name?” he asked. She told him and laughed at his expression. He turned beet red.

 

“I think you did her a huge favor, though it may hurt her writing career,” teased Kitsune. “There's really nothing so sweet as unrequited love.” Her expression changed, taking in the playground sadly, clearly remembering gentler times.

 

“I didn't mean to hurt you,” he said quietly.

 

“Well it's too late now. You did,” she quietly wept.

 

“Why did you quit trying for Todai?” Keitaro asked her.

 

“What do you mean?” she asked, regarding him suspiciously.

 

“I know you took the test but quit after you failed the first time. Why?” he asked, staring at the sandbox and remembering.

 

“How did you find out?” she asked.

 

“Answer the question, please,” he pleaded with her. “It's important to me.”

 

“Some dreams fade, Keitaro,” she admitted.

 

“That may be, but you're here. You found me, after all this time. Promise Girl.” At that moment all sound stopped, like an angel passed. No voices called, no birds sang, no horns honked, no train whistles, no jet planes passed over head. There was total silence at the intake of her breath.

 

“No!” she denied.

 

“I know it was you. I asked Haruka. You stayed here as a child, played with me and Mutsumi and Naru in that sandbox. It was you I promised to meet at Todai. To live happily ever after. Why did you give up, Mitsune-chan?” he pleaded, holding her arms, tears flowing down both their cheeks.

 

“I…!” and then she tore out of his grasp and fled as fast as her feet could take her.

 

 

END PART 5