Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ K2: A View to a Truth ❯ Chapter 6

... and there I was. Stranded in the island, clutching notes of all the tenants who all wished me luck. I let them down. I let myself down. I had one chance to get to Tokyo U… I promise Naru I'd make it with her… but here I was… under the hot blazing sun.

 

I thought everything was over until I was almost run over by Seta's van. It seems…

 

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Keitaro chuckled as he closed the book.

 

The pungent smell of disinfectant matched perfectly with the white walls of the hospital hall. K2 had been there for a good hour, reading on Keitaro's journal to help him along dealing in this world… he found it very funny that Seta of this world and of his were not all particularly different.

 

His last encounter with Kitsune was a success of his plan, and it seems for the past few days, the tenants have more or less accepted his slightly eccentric (to them) act. Keitaro could now move more freely around them, and be more at ease, though he significantly kept trying to avoid Kitsune and Mutsumi, especially if he was alone.

 

The latter had kept visiting, and was quite friendly to Keitaro, and never pushy… but the young man knew she was not there as a friend. She was slowly trying to get together with him, much to Naru's understandable jealousy… but Mutsumi here was smart. She went for the really slow and subtle approach as not to garner any potential showdowns between the two at this early stage.

 

And because of Mutsumi's actions, Naru has now continually avoided Keitaro especially when she's around. While this was a welcoming change, the price was rather high. Kitsune was now looking for ways to seemingly separate Mutsumi and him, and Motoko kept an awful close eye on both, citing it was `protection' for the anemic girl.

 

Anemic… how odd, Keitaro would think after reading the journal's description of Mutsumi, but like a job, he readily accepted it with a stride, knowing full well this isn't his world, and no matter how he would complain, it wouldn't change for him.

 

“The doctor will see you now…” a female voice called from the door in front of him.

 

Keitaro stood up, and nodded. He had come to the general hospital to have a check-up, though not only for his legs.

 

For the past few days, he noticed there would be times he'd suddenly freeze up for absolutely no reason. It had happened first during his conversation with Kitsune, where his freezing act had caught the woman unawares, and landed them both on a rather embarrassing situation. She never spoke of it again, thank goodness, but the memory seemed to stay with her. Her eyes kept trying to catch with his for the past few days.

 

Keitaro entered the doctor's room, and greeted the elderly man with a small smile.

 

“Good morning, Mr. Urashima,” the doctor greeted. “How's everything?”

 

“Fine,” Keitaro replied, still thinking if he should bring the problem of him freezing up at times.

 

In the end… he didn't bother.

 

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The sun was bright on the afternoon. Keitaro had walked out of the hospital grounds using his aluminum crutches as aid for his broken and cased leg. His thoughts were heavy on, briefly wondering if he should have brought up his mild freezing condition.

 

It might not have been neurological since his movements were not hampered in anyway… but then again, he is no medical doctor. It could have been anything… and it could have been nothing.

 

He knew he was risking a rather lot by not getting any professional opinion for his condition, but once he thought about it, it was a good move, especially since he was still trying to stave off suspicion. There was already a lot of tension going on in the dormitory without his medical problems adding to it.

 

Keitaro walked back home, and was surprised to see Naru. She wore a plain brown shirt with matching pleated skirt that almost reached her ankles. Her eyes behind those rather large circular glasses went wide with surprise.

 

“Hey…” she greeted in a low tone.

 

“Hey Naru-san,” Keitaro greeted back with a slight smile.

 

“Long time no see eh?” she asked.

 

“Happens when you avoid people,” Keitaro replied well naturedly. She had the decency to blush, but didn't pursue the subject. “I just came from the hospital. Had a slight check-up.”

 

“About your leg?” Keitaro nodded. “How long until they'll take the cast out?”

 

“About two to three weeks,” Keitaro replied truthfully.

 

Naru smiled, slightly looking at the cast.

 

“It won't be long before you finally get to Tokyo U, eh?”

 

“Yup. What are you doing here?” he asked.

 

Naru took a moment to compose her thoughts, and looked towards the group of people behind her. One of them called her name, and she waved back. Keitaro looked at her with a curious glance, his eyes seemingly asking a silent question which Naru understood and replied.

 

“I'm going to Kyoto for a few days,” Naru replied. “I've joined a discussion group and we're going to have our general assembly.”

 

Keitaro smiled. “How long?”

 

“Three days and two nights.”

 

“I'll pass the message to Shinobu, unless you told her already,” Keitaro paused for a moment, and looked towards Naru. His eyes smiled slightly with his face, and he gave her a friendly nod. “Take care of yourself Naru. And… I think you ought to go now before you miss the train.”

 

Naru nodded, and turned, dashing towards her group. At the last minute, she looked back towards Keitaro, and gave a slight wave, before she finally joined the group, and they slowly disappeared in the crowd going into the train station.

 

Keitaro thought for a moment what life would be in Hinata-sou without Naru. He was quite sure the tension would lessen, as Naru tended to have some sort of pull around the dorm, and around the tenants. Kitsune is Naru's best friend… and for Mutsumi, she is a friend as well. Motoko and Naru share a similar view about men around the dorm while Shinobu looks up at Naru as an older sister. Su… well, she's too eccentric to even be pulled anywhere without her consent.

 

The street wasn't too busy and there were not much people around, which is probably why Keitaro suddenly noticed a particular woman. She was the odd one out, as one would say, walking around the streets with a hakama and a straw hat. She also held a long blade.

 

At first impression, the young man thought it might be Motoko, but he noticed the woman was slightly taller, and walked differently than her. Keitaro also noticed, slightly quicker though, difference in the hips and size of the woman's breasts compared to Motoko. The last bit he studied was her long black hair… this woman took care of hers better than his tenant as it shone radiantly.

 

By the time Keitaro concluded that the woman was not one of his tenants, she had already passed by. She had the slight scent of perfume, not very strong, but quite subtle enough to catch his attention… and as he looked back at her, he noticed every other man she passed by looked twice. He chuckled silently, and shook his head.

 

A woman like that would probably be married… or not interested for a relationship. The way she walked lacked sensuality or warmth; her gaze wasn't low, just hidden in the straw hat, and the way she held her long sword with a steady grip on her hand showed she was not someone to mess with… but Keitaro couldn't blame for men looking at her way.

 

Like Mutsumi, she gave an aura of a mature woman, and usually, it is an allure that would affect many younger men… Keitaro included, though not as much because of his… escapades. The thrill of having an older woman teach you was one of the fantasies of regular young men… and change as they get older. At a certain point… they'd want a younger woman to teach on.

 

There was a slight noise along the streets. Keitaro's ears were quick to pick it up, and his eyes darted towards the sound. A big box of metal was dashing towards him at full speed… the driver seemed out of it, and with his expression, Keitaro could almost smell the imaginary alcohol in the air. The black tires were spinning fast, and the thread couldn't be seen on detail.

 

He might have been traveling a good eighty… speeds quite lethal especially in such mass. Keitaro quickened his pace, get to the other side, and report to the police… but suddenly, his body disobeyed him.

 

Keitaro's eyes widened suddenly. He regretted a bit now that he didn't bring this up to his doctors… but now was not the time to get angry at himself. He gritted his teeth, and thought hard in trying to order his body to move, but no avail.

 

Keitaro wondered if he was fated to die like this. He could have been done in by the neko-lycans… the vampires… heck, a bullet shot by the Golden Maiden's army… but a speeding truck? Incomprehensible!

 

Death didn't come for him… and he welcomed the absence, along with a sudden strong ki coming from right behind him. He saw the shiny blade on his side coming upwards, its surface reflecting the sunlight, slightly glaring him… but the movement was fast… too fast that he didn't even know what he was staring at until it stopped as it pointed upwards.

 

The attack was devastating. From what he witnessed, the blade directed the direction of the ki blast, and sliced through the truck cleanly in half. Physics took its course, and the truck split, and moved on both sides of Keitaro, and exploded once the two parts came behind him.

 

Zanmaken… Keitaro thought.

 

He turned, and looked towards the woman who was sheathing her long sword. She then held her straw hat.

 

A moment later… a beautiful exotic bird squawked, and perched on her shoulder. He looked at her for a moment as she raised her head, lifting the straw veil off her eyes.

 

Her cheeks were smooth and spotless. She had a heart shaped face, and her lips were nice and sensual. There was a dab of lipstick in them, and her eyes were had a touch of eyeliner, but all in all, her make up was very minimal, and Keitaro thought it was such a good decision. She was very beautiful, and she knew it. She didn't need cover up anything, but used small amounts of cosmetics to highlight her features.

 

Her smile was warm, but very professional. Her expression was not someone who just halved a truck in half… her form was rigid, yet flexible, ready to strike again at moment's notice. Keitaro felt a sort of fear emanating in the back of his head as he looked at this woman. He shook it out of his system before it could show on his face.

 

“Excuse me, mister…” she asked, her eyes opening, and looking straight at his. “Do you know where Hinata-sou is?”

 

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The moment Keitaro brought the woman to Hinata-sou caused a sensation never matched in his eyes. The one who came close was Narusegawa of his world, where she protested vehemently at his appearance and stay, and almost tried to punch him.

 

Kitsune's mouth was agape. Shinobu looked like someone slapped her emotionally. Sarah (yes, Keitaro got her name a few days ago. She was actually Seta's adopted daughter, and hates him) did a very accurate description of a goldfish sucking in water. Su didn't particularly care.

 

After some explanations (Keitaro was cornered by the tenants) which Kitsune did most of the questioning (ranging from serious to downright silly), the girls bade the woman the warm Hinata-sou welcome.

 

“So you're Motoko's sister eh?” Kitsune asked, studying the woman.

 

“I'll get some tea,” Shinobu stated, going towards the kitchen at once.

 

The kids just let Kitsune do the interview while Keitaro just sat on the third couch facing the two women who seemed to engage in small talk naturally. It seems the woman had come here from Kyoto to discuss something of importance with Motoko (who was probably on her way home). She wouldn't say what was important, and was quite close lipped about even after numerous attempts done by Kitsune to extract the information.

 

She just accepted the fact that Tsuruko (she introduced herself to Keitaro, who introduced her to everyone else) was not going to speak about her interest with Motoko, and left it at that. But the two continued to talk with a different subject.

 

It wasn't long until Motoko had finally arrived. And judging by her sudden horrid shocked expression, she didn't seem glad to see her sister. Everyone stared incredulously as the teen who always kept an image of a noble samurai took multiple steps back, tripping on the floor, and hitting the wall behind her in a second flat.

 

A small part of Keitaro found her action a bit comedic. Another part found it a bit fearful.

 

Whether he'd admit to or not, Keitaro knew that she is one of most skilled tenants in Hinata-sou. She had sword and unarmed skills, not to mention she was also trained to take care of supernatural creatures… it was in her family line. No amount of her bias against men could discount those facts.

 

If she was this deathly afraid of her sister… how much more skilled would the woman be? He'd rather not find out… especially when the answer is short of fighting her.

 

“Sister!” Motoko's voice was strained. She didn't seem to speak… but spat out words without thought. “W… what… I mean… you… here…”

 

Keitaro swallowed his laughter. It was rude to laugh out like that, but her face was so shocked and scared, it was a very new experience for him.

 

“Kami… she's lost it…” Kitsune whispered.

 

“Her tongue… or her wits?” Keitaro asked.

 

“Both!”

 

Kitsune sat beside Keitaro for a moment, and both watched the spectacle continue right in front of them. The kid Sarah also joined in, along with Shinobu and Su. Tama-chan went towards the bird beside Tsuruko.

 

“Si… sister, what are you doing here?” Motoko finally got out. She was still keeping an arm's reach away from the woman.

 

“As agreed… I've come to take you back,” Tsuruko declared.

 

Her words took time to sink, but when they did, Keitaro looked at Motoko with surprise. And judging by the looks of the other tenants' faces, it seems they have not expected it either.

 

Questions suddenly popped up, but no one could even find their tongue to ask them. The only thing came out of their mouths was a loud “WHAT!” which Tsuruko ignored completely. She stood up, and walked towards the still stunned Motoko with the same professional smile she wore.

 

“Based on our agreement… it's your time to take the dojo,” she stated.

 

“B… but… the assignment…” Motoko looked around unsurely. “It… its not arrived yet… has it?”

 

The last part of her question got a very wicked smile from Tsuruko. Keitaro's stomach turned rather queasy at the site, and he wasn't the only one. Motoko looked like she was punched through the wall. In a blink of an eye… the older woman's hand suddenly went towards Motoko's and without much effort, began to drag her away.

 

“Let's go…”

 

“No!! Sister! Wait!” Motoko tried unsuccessfully to release her sister's grip. “Wait a minute!”

 

Keitaro and the others watched with morbid fascination as Motoko's usually calm act turned a complete 180. She looked like a kid being dragged away from her favorite candy stand, and it wasn't exactly a pretty sight.

 

Keitaro would have thought it was funny, if the situation wasn't confusing at best.

 

“Uh… Isn't it a bit rushed?” he had to ask. “You guys didn't even pack her clothes.”

 

But his inquiries were ignored, and the older woman just continued to drag Motoko away. The tenant looked at everyone desperately, and her eyes were scrunched closed, probably thinking of an idea.

 

Her eyes opened. She stared hard at Keitaro, which gave him some sort of dread. What did she have in mind now?

 

“Sister… wait! I have something important to announce!” Motoko declared. “Very important! It concerns my taking of the dojo!”

 

Tsuruko looked at her sister, intrigued, and let go of her grip. She gave a slight nod, and slowly went back to the couches. She watched as Motoko went up, and goes towards Keitaro, who suddenly felt his gut instinct right telling him something was going to go wrong.

 

“And what is this important announcement, my sister?” Tsuruko asked.

 

Keitaro watched as Motoko looked at her sister, and briefly towards him. Her arms suddenly went to his, and before he could even move, he found himself clasped together with her.

 

“Keitaro and I… are engaged to be married!”

 

The stupefied look on everyone's face was antagonized by Keitaro's own shocked face. He suddenly wished he had his gun. What was the damn girl thinking!?

 

“Ah… then I won't have to bring you back,” Tsuruko declared with a thumbs-up. “Congratulations my dear sister!”

 

Keitaro couldn't take it anymore. Pinching Motoko a bit, getting her attention, he gave a very fake smile towards Shinobu.

 

“Shinobu… please get our guest some tea,” Keitaro muttered in a cold kind of way that got the shy teen out of her stupor.

 

“Huh…?” she asked.

 

“Please… get some tea,” Keitaro looked towards Motoko seriously. “Motoko and I need to talk.”

 

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“Are you out of your mind!?” Keitaro demanded in a whisper.

 

Kitsune, Su, and Sarah joined in with the new `couple' while Shinobu entertained (distracted is a better term) Tsuruko for a while.

 

“Please…” Motoko begged. “Play along with me… and you guys too!”

 

“This is very unusual,” Kitsune stated, her hands on her chin. “What's going on?”

 

“The day comes when I have to take over the dojo… but…” Motoko looked at the ground with a defeated face. “I… I'm not good yet at all!”

 

“Then tell her that!” Keitaro muttered, and almost moved away.

 

Motoko grabbed the back of his shirt hard before he could go anywhere, hurting him.

 

“Ouch… what the hell…”

 

“Please… please…” Motoko begged towards Keitaro. “Just pretend with me until she leaves. If I marry, or supposed to, I don't get the dojo… and when I'm ready, I'll just say we broke up… so… please, Keitaro!”

 

There was a silent growl that came from his throat. He shook his head.

 

“This is a bad idea,” he whispered to her. He looked towards the woman, and gave a sigh. “Just until she leaves. Fine.”

 

“Thank you…” Motoko said, relieved.

 

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The group came back, with Kitsune calling towards Shinobu to explain what was going on. Motoko and Keitaro both sat across Tsuruko, whose eyes went from hers to his. She studied Keitaro a bit, and gave a small smile.

 

“How long have you two been going out?” Tsuruko asked.

 

“Six months…” he replied.

 

“Eight…” Motoko replied, the same time with him.

 

Keitaro tried not to look like he made a mistake. He could feel Motoko slowly turning white beside him as Tsuruko's eyes narrowed, though her smile stayed the same. He quickly thought of a way to salvage the situation.

 

“She counts when we first met,” Keitaro reasoned. “I count the time we first spent the night together.”

 

“Oh… you gone that far,” Tsuruko's eyes smiled. “I'm proud Motoko. You're a real woman now!”

 

Her face was so red, Keitaro wondered whether she was embarrassed or absolutely beside herself… but bless the girl, she kept her mouth shut. He just wished the other tenants didn't look so shocked. They do know this is a pretend, don't they!?

 

“Keitaro-san…” Tsuruko's eyes suddenly narrowed towards him, as if challenging him. “Since you both have gone that far, you have kissed, right?”

 

Keitaro looked towards Motoko, who just nodded.

 

“Of course sister!” she replied, rather strongly.

 

“Countless times,” Keitaro lied smoothly. “She's a very good…”

 

He was elbowed by Motoko, who looked red again. Keitaro smiled. Whether she knew it or not, what she did was an act of a couple, and he felt a bit optimistic that they had averted another disaster.

 

“May I… see your kiss, I mean?”

 

Keitaro felt his optimism vanish. The woman knew this was a fabrication. She was testing the limits to how far the two were going to go for this… he hoped Motoko would wise up and just admits the truth before things get complicated.

 

“B… but sister…!” Motoko looked towards Keitaro, who at this point in time, was no help. “We… we can't kiss in public!”

 

“You cannot kiss?” Tsuruko asked, her eyes narrowing.

 

Keitaro was now sure the woman knew. Motoko was slowly digging a hole deeper to get away… and the woman just kept going after her. He looked towards Motoko, hoping to send a message that her plan didn't work… until he saw her looking at him in the eyes.

 

She looked at him, then closed her eyes, and slowly approached his lips with hers. Keitaro almost backed away for a moment, shocked by her action. She actually wants to go through with this? He looked towards the others, and they seemed to give a slight nod.

 

He approached her carefully, as with any woman he had come very close with. Her lips were quivering, awaiting for his touch, but her whole frame showed that she was not ready for this. Her eyes were tightly closed, like a kid hoping the boogey-man would go away by closing her eyes.

 

Any other girl, he'd have touched her shoulder in an assuring manner… but he didn't dare touch Motoko. Motoko was high strung, almost in a breaking point. Keitaro kept his eyes open when he slowly approached her. She might suddenly explode, and everything would have been over. He'd even be injured.

 

His plan was just one small pat on her lips… it wouldn't even be called a kiss. He just hoped that after he did the deed, he could give another lie (“Oh, I'm too embarrassed to do it seriously”) but it seemed that Motoko had other ideas.

 

“I… I can't…” she whispered with her quivering lips, and her eyes suddenly went open. Keitaro knew she snapped… and so did Kitsune and Tama-chan.

 

With quick thinking, Kitsune suddenly covered Tsuruko's eyes, and Tama-chan followed suit with Tsuruko's bird as Motoko's fist suddenly came to view. Without blinking, Keitaro dodged the punch, only for Motoko to follow through… and fall right into Keitaro's arms, her lips locking his.

 

Kitsune was so shocked at the end result, her hands fell away at the sight, allowing Tsuruko to witness the body to body kiss of Motoko and Keitaro, who both looked like someone pushed them to it. Shinobu and the others, who were beside Kitsune, had their jaws wide open.

 

Keitaro and Motoko stayed in position. While he could slightly taste her, it was the heat her face was emitting that he concentrated on. She was blushing like mad, and separated from him once her mind cleared.

 

Kitsune looked around, unsure. It seemed everyone, except for Tsuruko, was quite shocked, so she did what she could to dispel the situation. She clapped.

 

“What a ROMANTIC KISS!” she exclaimed, clapping. Keitaro could see her straining smile as she did this… she might have been hoping the others would follow suit, but no dice. “Um… sister! Clap for them!”

 

Tsuruko looked a bit unsure, but got into it, and started clapping. After her, the other tenants followed, clapping as well, much to the chagrined of expression of Motoko, and Keitaro's blank look.

 

Maybe everything was clear… the accident must have blessed Keitaro and Motoko. There was no way Tsuruko was going to challenge such a (rather outrageous) kiss.

 

“Now you should take a bath together!” she suddenly declared.

 

Keitaro groaned. This was going to be a long day.

 

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Keitaro sat down the wooden bench as the steam of the hot springs washed over his body. On his back, Motoko was on the water, naked. She kept giving Keitaro looks from behind her, trying to see if he's peeping on her.

 

“At least we're safe…” she finally declared.

 

“Say's you,” Keitaro muttered in a low tone. “She obviously knows.”

 

Motoko glared at Keitaro's back, and crossed her arms on her chest. Keitaro stole a glance, and sighed. He relaxed on the chair, and looked up on the afternoon sky that slowly darkened. It was just a moment ago where he had almost got run over by a truck, and now, he's pretending to be Motoko's fiancé.

 

Keitaro wondered why he even accepted such a proposal. Tsuruko did save his life, and it was rather unfair to pay back by trying to fool her… but then, when he looked at it, he owed something to Motoko as well. She saved him from vampires. But… he knew that to really pay her back, he had to help her with Tsuruko.

 

And trying to fool her is no solution.

 

He had to find out why Motoko was scared of the woman… and maybe he can have a private talk with her, and tell her the situation. Tsuruko didn't seem to be a woman who easily misunderstood or was rash… her calm reactions towards Motoko's obvious and blatant excuses of being engaged to Keitaro and the way she had not just accused her sister of lying would mean she's looking for an answer as well.

 

An answer Keitaro hoped to extract with his questions.

 

“Motoko,” he began. “Why don't you just tell her what's wrong. I'm sure she'd understand… she seems like a kind and gentle woman…”

 

“My sister may be like that now… but you don't know her like I do,” Motoko replied seriously yet nervously. “Before she married, she was serious, driven… and very intimidating. And even if she doesn't seem like it now… deep inside her, she is.

 

“Her smile turns cold when she draws her sword…” Motoko placed her knees on her chest. “And… she becomes god-like. In the hundred year history of Shinmeiryuu… she was the best the line ever had to offer. I… I can't match her.”

 

Keitaro snorted a bit.

 

“It's true!” Motoko turned her head and glared towards Keitaro, and then, her gaze softened. “I'm… sorry I dragged you in this.”

 

He turned his head and looked towards her for a moment. He gave her a small smile.

 

“I owe you,” he said as a matter of fact. “But… Motoko… you can't just run away.”

 

“I know… and don't peek!” Motoko splashed water towards the young man to turn him away. “This is only for show!”

 

“For show?”

 

Tsuruko's voice was chilling even in the hot springs. Keitaro and Motoko stiffened as she suddenly appeared in the doorway, dressed in nothing but a white top of her hakama, and her underwear.

 

Keitaro would have appreciated the view more if the situation wasn't so serious. The ki formed around the older woman quickly and powerfully, sending water and steam away from her as she held her sword, ready to draw.

 

“Everything you said, Motoko… was it only to fool me?”

 

Her voice was cold, calm and calculating. Keitaro could feel the immense tension on the bathes as Motoko cowered back from her sister.

 

“S… sister… I didn't mean to…”

 

“How can I trust your words, Motoko… when minutes ago, they were just lies!?”

 

Keitaro felt her awesome power, and stepped back as the fear crept on him. He tried to shake it out, but it lingered in his system longer than what he felt earlier. And it wasn't only her ki that got to him… but her face as well. The only way he could describe her at that point was `demonic'.

 

“Motoko… you'll be… punished!” her grin turned feral as the whole place exploded, covering everything in the mist.

 

“Keitaro… get out of the way!” Motoko suddenly shoved him away, grabbing her own sword as well, and drawing it.

 

Keitaro saw Motoko's sweat glisten on her back, and her scared yet resolute expression on her face as she scanned her surroundings. Her sword was up and ready, awaiting for Motoko to strike… but with the Tsuruko's ki flying everywhere, it was very hard to pinpoint where she was…

 

A shadow showed itself on Motoko's right side, and to her credit, she moved swiftly and decisively. Her sword traveled true and quick towards the shadow, and was uncontested. For a moment, Motoko thought it was all over until the steam cleared, and showed that she didn't hit Tsuruko, but a statue.

 

“You're too predictable…”

 

Motoko lashed out her sword behind her, only to hit steel as Tsuruko grinned. Parrying it away, she began to slash Motoko with quick succession, who in turn, blocked and tried to parry it away with no success. Tsuruko kept pushing her back with well timed slashes, and countered all the parries Motoko tried.

 

“You're swordsmanship weakened…”

 

Motoko gritted her teeth as Tsuruko began to berate her. She tried to overpower Tsuruko, but failed dismally as the older sister continued to push her back.

 

“You even resorted to lying to me…”

 

Keitaro watched in slight hesitation as Motoko began to try and get away, only for Tsuruko to attack forcing her to block the incoming attacks. If she attacked, the woman would block and parry… if she tried to run, Tsuruko's sword, which was quite long, would force her to get on defensive.

 

Motoko was cornered.

 

“Si… sister…” Motoko began…

 

“SILENCE!”

 

Tsuruko's sword suddenly went for the kill, and Motoko saw it. With all she could muster, she blocked the incoming slash… but Tsuruko proved to be more powerful as the curtain finally fell on Motoko. She fell down, her blade shattered at the force of Tsuruko's attack.

 

Tsuruko stared at her with contempt in her eyes towards her fallen sister as she sheathed her blade.

 

“I was wrong about you. You do not deserve the dojo,” she said evenly. “Starting tomorrow… you won't be a student from Shinmeiryuu, but a regular girl.”

 

Motoko's eyes went towards her broken blade, and then towards her sister. Her hand came out, reaching for her, but she just turned around, and walked away.

 

The rain began to pour… it seemed the fight had delayed the rain clouds over the sky from pouring, and only after everything was over did it start. Motoko could barely cover her naked body as she sat up on her knees. Keitaro could hear her sobbing silently, keeping her head down. She grabbed her broken blade by the hilt, and softly placed it on her chest. She still tried to hide her tears by not looking up even the slightest.

 

“Motoko?” Keitaro called.

 

She didn't respond. She stayed there for a time, and didn't look up until Keitaro had put a towel around her. She looked at him pitifully and then towards the tenants around her. Kitsune and everyone else looked worried… they seemed to have entered the hot springs after hearing the fight.

 

“I… I failed…” Motoko wallowed, trying to force her tears back. “I failed…”

 

“It's okay…” Keitaro whispered softly towards her. He looked towards Shinobu and the others… “Get some tea… hopefully it will calm her down. Everyone else… help me get her in the house.”

 

Shinobu nodded, and went in to prepare more tea, while Kitsune, Su, Sarah and Keitaro helped her up. Using her shoulder for support, Kitsune helped Motoko in as Su and Sarah walked with them. Keitaro, of course, limped.

 

“I'm worthless now…” Motoko continued. “I'm worthless.”

 

Kitsune and Keitaro looked at each other, worried. Su was looking towards Motoko fearfully, while Sarah seemed sad.

 

“You're not worthless,” Keitaro replied evenly, trying to calm her down. “You're worth a lot to people. You're a great friend, and a great girl.”

 

“Am I?” Motoko asked, looking towards Keitaro.

 

Her tears flowed freely from her eyes, and she looked at Keitaro with utter defeat. He could only nod at her.

 

“You're a great girl, Motoko,” he stated. He didn't exactly lie… but he didn't exactly mean it either. But she needed those words for now. She needed support.

 

The rain continued to pour… but no matter how strong it was, it could never hide the tears of a shattered girl.

 

To Be Continued

 

First A View to a Truth Chapter without Laharl or mention of Laharl's name. :P

 

First K2 story that actually follows the timeline of the canon Love Hina verse. :P

 

First K2 story that was updated three times a row since the creation of the SIA Docmentary. :P

 

Anyone else wanna do a trivia? XD