Art Attack
Art Attack
By Lord Raa
@@@@@
Disclaim-me-do: There are no pies at the Nou Camp.
@@@@@
Part 5
@@@@@
The meal Tsuruko had treated Keitaro and Haruka to had been delicious, but expensive. Keitaro had seen the look on HarukaÆs face when sheÆd seen the total for the bill.
When heÆd tried to get a look at the figure, Tsuruko had waved him off.
ôI told you, Keitaro-san, this was an apology for my sisterÆs behaviour earlier.ö
ôBut still-ö The roninÆs protests were cut off by Haruka.
ôIf you still insist on paying for something, Keitaro, you could buy us a drink.ö
ôOk, itÆs the least I can do for you.ö
ôThen shall we move on?ö the swordswoman asked with a smile on her face.
@@@@@
Back at the Inn, Naru was questioning KitsuneÆs logic.
ôI hate the concept of the æChristmas CakeÆ as much as the next woman, but that still doesnÆt mean that just because most men arenÆt interested in them, theyÆre going to become lesbian lovers, Kitsune-chan!ö the auburn-haired girl insisted.
ôOh, and what do you know about adult relationships, Naru-chan?ö Kitsune asked. ôYou canÆt seem to get beyond the childish æhitting the boy you likeÆ stage.ö
ôThatÆs not true!ö Naru insisted.
ôOh really, do you like Keitaro?ö
ôWellà Ià erràö
ôThen you donÆt mind if someone else goes out with him?ö
ôI wouldnÆt say thatàö the Toudai-bound girl said, suddenly finding her fingers rather interesting.
ôNot exactly disproving my point, Naru-chan, are you?ö Kitsune asked, a triumphant smirk on her face. ôStill, you donÆt just treat someone to a meal in a restaurant like AmaterasuÆs Garden on a whim.ö
ôYeah, but unless we can talk to Keitaro, Haruka-san or Tsuruko-san, weÆre not going to know why they went out.ö
ôDo you think Motoko-chan knows?ö the ash-blonde wondered aloud.
ôShe might, but sheÆs gone to bed,ö Naru added. She yawned herself. ôSpeaking of which, I think I might get an early night, too.ö
ôOk, see you tomorrow.ö
As she sat alone, Kitsune started to have a serious think about why Haruka, Keitaro and Tsuruko would be out together at a fancy restaurant. She hadnÆt picked up any hint that Haruka was a lesbian, but what did she know much about Tsuruko?
Tsuruko was MotokoÆs older sister, sheÆd been married and she was someone who intimidated Motoko.
It was hardly enough information to fill out a personality profile.
Besides, Tsuruko and Haruka were grown women. If they wanted to have such a relationship, it was their business and no-one elseÆs. But if they were having such a relationship, why would they bring Keitaro along?
What purpose would they have for bringing him along? There were other places in Tokyo for them to get to know each other better; places that didnÆt require a dress code and a small fortune to settle the bill.
So unless Tsuruko was asking for KeitaroÆs permission to date Haruka, that wasnÆt the reason for their dinner date.
The next possibility was that it was an apology for something. But this was the first time Tsuruko had come to visit Motoko at the Inn, at least as far as Kitsune knew. So what could Tsuruko be apologising for?
Well, perhaps it was something Motoko had done? But Keitaro never held a grudge against anyone; in fact heÆd started to smile at her again, despite the lies about blackmail!
NaruÆs suggestion that Tsuruko and Haruka were planning to kill Keitaro and split his inheritance was just so unlikely, it was laughable. Sure, Haruka smacked Keitaro around the head when he accidentally called her ôAunt Harukaö, but it wasnÆt even close to being in the same league of violence that Naru and Motoko had unleashed upon him.
That brought her to the final option: Tsuruko was interested in Keitaro. If Tsuruko was indeed single, why invite Haruka along? Keitaro wouldnÆt have tried anything improper with Tsuruko, and if he did, MotokoÆs tales of her sisterÆs martial prowess would have quickly put a stop to things.
The only reason to invite Haruka along was to have an omiai in the restaurant.
And now that she thought about it, Kitsune had recalled that Haruka thought that Keitaro was good husband material.
But all evidence pointed to today being the first time that Keitaro and Tsuruko had met. So that didnÆt make much sense to her.
Not that love ever made much sense to her. Some of the boyfriends her school friends had gone out with were proof enough of that.
Kitsune let out a loud yawn. Maybe there just wasnÆt an ulterior motive? There were people who took their friends out to dinner, after all. Not everyone had an agenda.
@@@@@
Keitaro was trying to keep a respectful distance from Haruka and Tsuruko as they rode on the train. He thought that they were both attractive women, but felt that heÆd been riding his luck all evening. Experience had taught him that an incident was going to happen sooner or later. Luckily, nothing had happened in AmaterasuÆs Garden û heÆd even managed to keep his shirt clean.
No, something was going to happen soon, he could feel it in his gut.
That was why he kept both of his hands on the handle, in plain sight of his two companions.
The train pulled into the station, catching Haruka unprepared. She ended up leaning against Keitaro.
ôOh, sorry about that, Keitaro,ö she said. She looked down, and saw where heÆd caught her. æIf only his hand was just a little higheràÆ
Tsuruko, under the influence of the wine, looked on, feeling slightly envious. It had been a long time since sheÆd last been held by a man. The fact that it wasnÆt their stop put an idea in her head.
As the swordswoman watched Haruka right herself and smile at Keitaro, she repositioned herself so that she could fall against Keitaro the next time the train stopped.
æMaybe this time, his hand might catch him a bonusàÆ
@@@@@
Lying on her bed, Motoko was thinking about her sisterÆs evening out with Keitaro and Haruka.
While at first glance it seemed unfair that she was being ignored, she understood her sisterÆs decision to leave her at home. It was something that she might have done in TsurukoÆs place.
In her defence, she hadnÆt meant to lie to her sister, it sort of just happened. A bit like how KitsuneÆs situation had resulted in her sitting on Keitaro while wearing nothing but an open kimono.
But her mind kept going over why Tsuruko would take Haruka and Keitaro out to a restaurant as fancy as AmaterasuÆs Garden.
The Tokyo metropolitan area was hardly lacking in eateries, so it wasnÆt a dearth of alternative options. Almost all of these alternates were cheaper, too, which fitted right in with KeitaroÆs modest tastes.
So it was either the simple fact that she was friends with the manager or it was an ulterior motive that made Tsuruko decide on AmaterasuÆs Garden.
While Tsuruko was capable of terrible acts, she wasnÆt the sort of person to concoct elaborate plans as part of a punishment or revenge.
Motoko let out a soft chuckle. ôI guess that itÆs really just a case of the simplest answer being the case.ö
@@@@@
As the train pulled into the next stop, Keitaro was surprised to find himself somehow cushioning Tsuruko Aoyama from a fall.
ôOh, sorry, Keitaro-san,ö the swordswoman apologised. ôIÆm not normally this clumsy.ö
Haruka sighed softly. She could see what Tsuruko was doing, and she couldnÆt blame her for it. The thought of Keitaro holding her in his arms was becoming increasingly appealing. She glanced down to see that KeitaroÆs left hand was barely two centimetres above TsurukoÆs butt.
ôPerhaps we should skip the drinks if some of us are a little unsteady?ö the smoker suggested as Tsuruko woman righted herself. ôIt has been a long day, after all.ö
ôYeah, IÆm a little tired,ö Keitaro agreed.
ôYes, perhaps itÆs for the best,ö Tsuruko nodded.
The next stop was the one for the Hinata Sou, and the trio disembarked. The two women cast glances at KeitaroÆs backside, idly wondering if how much theyÆd enjoy giving it a quick squeeze.
It was then that Tsuruko made a decision. She liked Keitaro enough that she was going to pursue him, etiquette be damned!
As they exited the station, Tsuruko gave Haruka a look that the smoker couldnÆt decipher. Was she seeking approval? Was it a challenge? An invitation?
Haruka looked away, coughing to compose herself. ôAnyway, letÆs get going.ö
@@@@@
Over the last few days, Kitsune had spent a fair amount of time thinking about her situation at the Hinata Sou. If she had just lost her job, things would be ok in that she could probably put off paying the rent until she got a new job. If she still had a job, she was sure that sheÆd be able to work out a payment plan with Keitaro for the rent arrears.
However, the fact of the matter was that she had no income and rent arrears of three months. Fortunately, Keitaro had agreed to let her stay rent free until she found another job if she helped with the cooking and cleaning.
It had been a second choice option, one that she had found forced upon her.
The first option was that Kitsune got married to Keitaro in order to avoid paying any more rent or board. It had started off sensibly enough, but in order to speed things up, a series of lies had been told and Keitaro had seen through them a lot sooner than sheÆd expected.
But why pick Keitaro? There were plenty of rich men in Tokyo; she could have been a kept woman.
But would she have accepted being the mistress of an older businessman?
No, she definitely didnÆt want to be touched by a balding Salaryman in the stationery cupboard after working hours. Older men wereà well, she couldnÆt say that they were creepy or uninteresting as she did have a crush on an older man when she was younger.
ôSetaàö the ash-blonde said as she looked up at her ceiling. æThereÆs a name I havenÆt thought about for a while.Æ
Seta Noriyasu: archaeologist, terrible driver, unreliable and former boyfriend of Haruka Urashima.
Why had she been attracted to him? She had no interest in old bones and broken pottery, and heÆd often stated that he wasnÆt in it for the ancient treasures.
He had a car, well a van, but so did Kentaro. That was another name she hadnÆt thought about for a while.
Kitsune quickly returned her attention to the reason for her crush on Seta. His unreliable nature had been the reason why Haruka had broken it off with him and Haruka was pretty forgiving.
She smiled, thinking about all the good times sheÆd had with Haruka: a few practical jokes and some serious teasing of their other friends. Kitsune did look up to Haruka; the smoker was so much more worldly, sophisticated and independent after all.
It was then that KitsuneÆs eyes opened wide.
ôDidàdid I like Seta because Haruka did?ö
Sure, sheÆd joked about finding where HarukaÆs soft spot for Keitaro was, but that didnÆt mean she wanted to sleep with her. Did it?
Well, maybe a few years ago, when Haruka and Seta were dating, it might have. But that was just a combination of a girlÆs hero worship and a girl-crush. It was a phase, part of growing up.
But the ash-blondeÆs mind flitted back to how forgiving the smoker was. A few slaps and stern words had cut short the teasing and games, but Haruka had always gone along with them until she felt that they had stopped being funny.
If Haruka hadnÆt liked it, she would have told her not to do it again; just like how sheÆd broken it off with Seta and how sheÆd told Su not to take parts from her fridge without telling her.
ôHang on,ö Kitsune closed her eyes tightly as she tried to recall the first discussion about the marriage plan with Haruka. ôDidnÆt Haruka-san sound a bit different when she mentioned getting married to Keitaro?ö
Now that she thought about it, Kitsune was beginning to be convinced that Haruka had certain feelings with regards to Keitaro. Feelings that hinted that there could have been company in the bedroom if cards had been played right.
ôCrapà if only IÆd told Haruka-san earlier, I could have made this work. And then I could have found out about KeitaroÆs jobàö
@@@@@
Art Attack
By Lord Raa
@@@@@
Disclaim-me-do: There are no pies at the Nou Camp.
@@@@@
Part 5
@@@@@
The meal Tsuruko had treated Keitaro and Haruka to had been delicious, but expensive. Keitaro had seen the look on HarukaÆs face when sheÆd seen the total for the bill.
When heÆd tried to get a look at the figure, Tsuruko had waved him off.
ôI told you, Keitaro-san, this was an apology for my sisterÆs behaviour earlier.ö
ôBut still-ö The roninÆs protests were cut off by Haruka.
ôIf you still insist on paying for something, Keitaro, you could buy us a drink.ö
ôOk, itÆs the least I can do for you.ö
ôThen shall we move on?ö the swordswoman asked with a smile on her face.
@@@@@
Back at the Inn, Naru was questioning KitsuneÆs logic.
ôI hate the concept of the æChristmas CakeÆ as much as the next woman, but that still doesnÆt mean that just because most men arenÆt interested in them, theyÆre going to become lesbian lovers, Kitsune-chan!ö the auburn-haired girl insisted.
ôOh, and what do you know about adult relationships, Naru-chan?ö Kitsune asked. ôYou canÆt seem to get beyond the childish æhitting the boy you likeÆ stage.ö
ôThatÆs not true!ö Naru insisted.
ôOh really, do you like Keitaro?ö
ôWellà Ià erràö
ôThen you donÆt mind if someone else goes out with him?ö
ôI wouldnÆt say thatàö the Toudai-bound girl said, suddenly finding her fingers rather interesting.
ôNot exactly disproving my point, Naru-chan, are you?ö Kitsune asked, a triumphant smirk on her face. ôStill, you donÆt just treat someone to a meal in a restaurant like AmaterasuÆs Garden on a whim.ö
ôYeah, but unless we can talk to Keitaro, Haruka-san or Tsuruko-san, weÆre not going to know why they went out.ö
ôDo you think Motoko-chan knows?ö the ash-blonde wondered aloud.
ôShe might, but sheÆs gone to bed,ö Naru added. She yawned herself. ôSpeaking of which, I think I might get an early night, too.ö
ôOk, see you tomorrow.ö
As she sat alone, Kitsune started to have a serious think about why Haruka, Keitaro and Tsuruko would be out together at a fancy restaurant. She hadnÆt picked up any hint that Haruka was a lesbian, but what did she know much about Tsuruko?
Tsuruko was MotokoÆs older sister, sheÆd been married and she was someone who intimidated Motoko.
It was hardly enough information to fill out a personality profile.
Besides, Tsuruko and Haruka were grown women. If they wanted to have such a relationship, it was their business and no-one elseÆs. But if they were having such a relationship, why would they bring Keitaro along?
What purpose would they have for bringing him along? There were other places in Tokyo for them to get to know each other better; places that didnÆt require a dress code and a small fortune to settle the bill.
So unless Tsuruko was asking for KeitaroÆs permission to date Haruka, that wasnÆt the reason for their dinner date.
The next possibility was that it was an apology for something. But this was the first time Tsuruko had come to visit Motoko at the Inn, at least as far as Kitsune knew. So what could Tsuruko be apologising for?
Well, perhaps it was something Motoko had done? But Keitaro never held a grudge against anyone; in fact heÆd started to smile at her again, despite the lies about blackmail!
NaruÆs suggestion that Tsuruko and Haruka were planning to kill Keitaro and split his inheritance was just so unlikely, it was laughable. Sure, Haruka smacked Keitaro around the head when he accidentally called her ôAunt Harukaö, but it wasnÆt even close to being in the same league of violence that Naru and Motoko had unleashed upon him.
That brought her to the final option: Tsuruko was interested in Keitaro. If Tsuruko was indeed single, why invite Haruka along? Keitaro wouldnÆt have tried anything improper with Tsuruko, and if he did, MotokoÆs tales of her sisterÆs martial prowess would have quickly put a stop to things.
The only reason to invite Haruka along was to have an omiai in the restaurant.
And now that she thought about it, Kitsune had recalled that Haruka thought that Keitaro was good husband material.
But all evidence pointed to today being the first time that Keitaro and Tsuruko had met. So that didnÆt make much sense to her.
Not that love ever made much sense to her. Some of the boyfriends her school friends had gone out with were proof enough of that.
Kitsune let out a loud yawn. Maybe there just wasnÆt an ulterior motive? There were people who took their friends out to dinner, after all. Not everyone had an agenda.
@@@@@
Keitaro was trying to keep a respectful distance from Haruka and Tsuruko as they rode on the train. He thought that they were both attractive women, but felt that heÆd been riding his luck all evening. Experience had taught him that an incident was going to happen sooner or later. Luckily, nothing had happened in AmaterasuÆs Garden û heÆd even managed to keep his shirt clean.
No, something was going to happen soon, he could feel it in his gut.
That was why he kept both of his hands on the handle, in plain sight of his two companions.
The train pulled into the station, catching Haruka unprepared. She ended up leaning against Keitaro.
ôOh, sorry about that, Keitaro,ö she said. She looked down, and saw where heÆd caught her. æIf only his hand was just a little higheràÆ
Tsuruko, under the influence of the wine, looked on, feeling slightly envious. It had been a long time since sheÆd last been held by a man. The fact that it wasnÆt their stop put an idea in her head.
As the swordswoman watched Haruka right herself and smile at Keitaro, she repositioned herself so that she could fall against Keitaro the next time the train stopped.
æMaybe this time, his hand might catch him a bonusàÆ
@@@@@
Lying on her bed, Motoko was thinking about her sisterÆs evening out with Keitaro and Haruka.
While at first glance it seemed unfair that she was being ignored, she understood her sisterÆs decision to leave her at home. It was something that she might have done in TsurukoÆs place.
In her defence, she hadnÆt meant to lie to her sister, it sort of just happened. A bit like how KitsuneÆs situation had resulted in her sitting on Keitaro while wearing nothing but an open kimono.
But her mind kept going over why Tsuruko would take Haruka and Keitaro out to a restaurant as fancy as AmaterasuÆs Garden.
The Tokyo metropolitan area was hardly lacking in eateries, so it wasnÆt a dearth of alternative options. Almost all of these alternates were cheaper, too, which fitted right in with KeitaroÆs modest tastes.
So it was either the simple fact that she was friends with the manager or it was an ulterior motive that made Tsuruko decide on AmaterasuÆs Garden.
While Tsuruko was capable of terrible acts, she wasnÆt the sort of person to concoct elaborate plans as part of a punishment or revenge.
Motoko let out a soft chuckle. ôI guess that itÆs really just a case of the simplest answer being the case.ö
@@@@@
As the train pulled into the next stop, Keitaro was surprised to find himself somehow cushioning Tsuruko Aoyama from a fall.
ôOh, sorry, Keitaro-san,ö the swordswoman apologised. ôIÆm not normally this clumsy.ö
Haruka sighed softly. She could see what Tsuruko was doing, and she couldnÆt blame her for it. The thought of Keitaro holding her in his arms was becoming increasingly appealing. She glanced down to see that KeitaroÆs left hand was barely two centimetres above TsurukoÆs butt.
ôPerhaps we should skip the drinks if some of us are a little unsteady?ö the smoker suggested as Tsuruko woman righted herself. ôIt has been a long day, after all.ö
ôYeah, IÆm a little tired,ö Keitaro agreed.
ôYes, perhaps itÆs for the best,ö Tsuruko nodded.
The next stop was the one for the Hinata Sou, and the trio disembarked. The two women cast glances at KeitaroÆs backside, idly wondering if how much theyÆd enjoy giving it a quick squeeze.
It was then that Tsuruko made a decision. She liked Keitaro enough that she was going to pursue him, etiquette be damned!
As they exited the station, Tsuruko gave Haruka a look that the smoker couldnÆt decipher. Was she seeking approval? Was it a challenge? An invitation?
Haruka looked away, coughing to compose herself. ôAnyway, letÆs get going.ö
@@@@@
Over the last few days, Kitsune had spent a fair amount of time thinking about her situation at the Hinata Sou. If she had just lost her job, things would be ok in that she could probably put off paying the rent until she got a new job. If she still had a job, she was sure that sheÆd be able to work out a payment plan with Keitaro for the rent arrears.
However, the fact of the matter was that she had no income and rent arrears of three months. Fortunately, Keitaro had agreed to let her stay rent free until she found another job if she helped with the cooking and cleaning.
It had been a second choice option, one that she had found forced upon her.
The first option was that Kitsune got married to Keitaro in order to avoid paying any more rent or board. It had started off sensibly enough, but in order to speed things up, a series of lies had been told and Keitaro had seen through them a lot sooner than sheÆd expected.
But why pick Keitaro? There were plenty of rich men in Tokyo; she could have been a kept woman.
But would she have accepted being the mistress of an older businessman?
No, she definitely didnÆt want to be touched by a balding Salaryman in the stationery cupboard after working hours. Older men wereà well, she couldnÆt say that they were creepy or uninteresting as she did have a crush on an older man when she was younger.
ôSetaàö the ash-blonde said as she looked up at her ceiling. æThereÆs a name I havenÆt thought about for a while.Æ
Seta Noriyasu: archaeologist, terrible driver, unreliable and former boyfriend of Haruka Urashima.
Why had she been attracted to him? She had no interest in old bones and broken pottery, and heÆd often stated that he wasnÆt in it for the ancient treasures.
He had a car, well a van, but so did Kentaro. That was another name she hadnÆt thought about for a while.
Kitsune quickly returned her attention to the reason for her crush on Seta. His unreliable nature had been the reason why Haruka had broken it off with him and Haruka was pretty forgiving.
She smiled, thinking about all the good times sheÆd had with Haruka: a few practical jokes and some serious teasing of their other friends. Kitsune did look up to Haruka; the smoker was so much more worldly, sophisticated and independent after all.
It was then that KitsuneÆs eyes opened wide.
ôDidàdid I like Seta because Haruka did?ö
Sure, sheÆd joked about finding where HarukaÆs soft spot for Keitaro was, but that didnÆt mean she wanted to sleep with her. Did it?
Well, maybe a few years ago, when Haruka and Seta were dating, it might have. But that was just a combination of a girlÆs hero worship and a girl-crush. It was a phase, part of growing up.
But the ash-blondeÆs mind flitted back to how forgiving the smoker was. A few slaps and stern words had cut short the teasing and games, but Haruka had always gone along with them until she felt that they had stopped being funny.
If Haruka hadnÆt liked it, she would have told her not to do it again; just like how sheÆd broken it off with Seta and how sheÆd told Su not to take parts from her fridge without telling her.
ôHang on,ö Kitsune closed her eyes tightly as she tried to recall the first discussion about the marriage plan with Haruka. ôDidnÆt Haruka-san sound a bit different when she mentioned getting married to Keitaro?ö
Now that she thought about it, Kitsune was beginning to be convinced that Haruka had certain feelings with regards to Keitaro. Feelings that hinted that there could have been company in the bedroom if cards had been played right.
ôCrapà if only IÆd told Haruka-san earlier, I could have made this work. And then I could have found out about KeitaroÆs jobàö
@@@@@
