Here's a little more of that last idea thingy I posted.
@@@@@
ôIt seems that some of the residents decided that he should go as soon as possible. Though, that was after causing him sufficient harm to injure his brain and send him to the hospital,ö the smoker added angrily. She stubbed out her cigarette. ôAs you can imagine, IÆm not too happy about that.ö
ô¼No, I can see why. I think that itÆs time for me to visit my sister. I would like to have words with her about her treatment of non-martial artists,¼ö Tsuruko said with no hint of anger in her voice. ô¼I shall be there tomorrow morning, Urashima-san.¼ö
@@@@@
It was 9.37 am when Tsuruko Aoyama arrived at the Hinata Teashop. The raven haired swordswoman sat at the counter and waited for service.
ôIs there anything I can get you?ö a young man asked with smile.
ôI would like some tea and I would like to speak with a Haruka Urashima, do you know where I can find her?ö
ôYes, I do, please bear with me one moment, IÆll go get her. Who shall I say wants to speak with her?ö
ôTsuruko Aoyama,ö the visitor said with a small, polite smile.
ôAh, there you are, IÆm Haruka Urashima,ö a smoking woman introduced herself. ôThank you for coming all this way on such short notice.ö
ôWhen it concerns the actions of one of my clan, then I make time,ö Tsuruko replied in a serious tone. ôDo you have any evidence that Motoko was involved in this mess?ö
ôI saw her strike him with my own eyes. Though I will admit that it wasnÆt unwarranted,ö Haruka added hastily. ôKeitaro has a habit of getting himself into awkward situations. And that generally means him falling on top of women or walking in on them while theyÆre changing.ö
ôHmm, well, IÆm sure that Motoko-chan has her reasons for acting in that fashion. I shall make some enquiries to determine her role in this æconspiracyÆ.ö
ôMaybe,ö the smoker replied.
ôPlease describe the situation for me, Urashima-san. I want to know as much about this as I can. IÆd rather not act in too hasty a manner and cause distress to an innocent party,ö said the swordswoman.
@@@@@
The doorbell at the Hinata Sou rang out, causing Motoko to grumble slightly at the interruption to her training.
Opening the door, the young kendoist blinked than panicked slightly. ôAneue! What are you doing here?ö
ôIÆm here to find out how my sister is doing, what with her staying so far from home and all,ö Tsuruko explained with a smile that sent a shiver down MotokoÆs spine.
ôIàIÆm doing well, Aneue. Why donÆt you come in and I can show you around?ö
ôYes, IÆd like to see what sort of accommodation keeps my sister here and not with her clan in Kyoto,ö the elder Aoyama said as she stepped inside and changed out of her shoes.
ôLooks like it could do with a new coat of paint her and there,ö Tsuruko mused as she was given the tour of the inn. ôDoesnÆt the landlord deal with the maintenance? Is he shirking his duties?ö
ôNo, weÆre between landlords at the moment,ö Naru answered walking up to the pair.
ôNaru, this is my sister, Tsuruko. Tsuruko, this is Naru Narusegawa, sheÆs studying to get into Tokyo University,ö Motoko introduced the pair.
The senior kendoist bowed politely. ôI see, what happened to the last one? Did something unfortunate happen to him?ö
ôNo, he just left the other day,ö the bespectacled girl replied evasively.
æShe knows more than sheÆs letting on,Æ Tsuruko noted. ôMost oddà Oh well, who knows what personal problems may have come up. Shall we continue the tour, Motoko-chan?ö
ôYes, Aneue. This way leads to the womenÆs bathing area.ö
ôWhy is that fence damaged like that? It looks like someone was thrown through it,ö the married woman said with a frown.
ôàö the Hinata SouÆs resident kendoist was struggling to come up with a plausible excuse.
ôIs the inn used as a movie set? That must be disrupting your studies, Motoko-chan.ö
ôWe manage.ö
Tsuruko turned to her sister and transfixed her with a look that promised much anguish should she not get the whole truth about the situation. ôWhat happened to your landlord, Motoko?ö
ôàö
ôI want the truth or youÆre coming back to Kyoto with me.ö
ôWhat do you mean, Aneue?ö Motoko asked nervously.
Her sister was not in the mood for games. ôIÆm talking about the previous landlord, Keitaro Urashima. I heard from someone, someone whom I have no reason to doubt, that he was hospitalised shortly after being forced to leave here. Is that the case, or are you calling Haruka Urashima a liar?ö
ôWe didnÆt want a man here! He was always peeping on us and trying to molest poor Shinobu-chan!ö the younger Aoyama blurted out.
ôI see. So you didnÆt call the authorities, you just decided to dispense summary æjusticeÆ? Did anyone defend him or did you do away with anything resembling a trial because it would be inconvenient?ö Tsuruko asked as she advanced on her sister.
Motoko squirmed as she tried to word an answer that would satisfy the clearly upset woman in front of her.
ôI see,ö the visiting swordswoman said with narrowed eyes. She sighed sadly. ôAnd that is why you fail.ö
ôF-f-f-f-f-fail?ö Motoko stammered as she sank to her knees.
ôYes. You fail to understand what it means to be Shinmeiryu. We thought that maybe you needed a change of scenery to expand your horizons, which was why we allowed you to leave Kyoto. But it seems that we wrong, Imouto-chan,ö Tsuruko said as she shook her head.
ôWrong? What have I misunderstood?ö the resident kendoist asked. ôI thought that our clanÆs role was to slay evil. You yourself said that evil takes many forms. And what do you call perversion?!ö
ôWhat would you call someone who acts in an unjust manner? You do know that your attacks on Urashima-san caused more damage to his brain, therefore increasing the likelihood of him having an accident?ö
Motoko was surprised when her sister enveloped her in a hug. ôA-aneue?ö
ôMotoko-chan, youÆre my sister and I love you dearly. If someone had done to you what you and your friends did to Urashima-san, I would skin them alive,ö Tsuruko said in a comforting tone. ôHowever restitution must be made. What would you want if you were in Urashima-sanÆs position?ö
ôI-I donÆt know,ö the younger sister answered in a quiet tone. ôI think that perhaps I should return with you to Kyoto after I apologise to Urashima-san.ö
ôAnd what of Keitaro-san?ö
ôà What do you mean, Aneue?ö
ôIÆm referring to the man you injured. Apologising to a family member is a start, but what would you want if you were in Keitaro-sanÆs place?ö the married woman asked. ôIf Keitaro injured me as much as he has been, you would demand his death, would you not?ö
ôI-I would,ö Motoko nodded. ôWould you be my Second, Aneue?ö
ôNo. IÆm told that Keitaro would not want such a thing. His goals seem to be getting into Tokyo University and marrying his æpromise girlÆ.ö
ôYes, we think that Naru-san maybe the girl he prom-!ö the Hinata SouÆs resident kendoist blanched as the realisation hit her.
ôAnd Naru is a part of your scheme, is she not?ö Tsuruko asked with an unhappy tone of voice. ôIÆm most displeased with this situation. If Keitaro-san recovers, then you and your co-conspirators will cater to his every whim until his aunt feels that amends have been made.ö
ôButàö
ôIf you do not do this, I will see to it that you and your friends all suffer the consequences together. You acted as a group so you can all deal with the outcome as a group.ö
ôBut he could force us to do who knows what!ö Motoko protested.
ôMotoko-chan, the clan elders are unhappy about the use of Shinmeiryu techniques for such a dubious cause. So much so that there are voices that are suggesting that you are exiled from the clan.ö
ôYou canÆt be serious!ö Kitsune said a little too loudly from the doorway, revealing her presence.
ôAh, you must be the third member of this scheme,ö Tsuruko said with a harsh tone. ôI want to speak with all of you about that youÆve done.ö
ôYou canÆt kick Motoko-chan out for what we did!ö the ash blonde girl protested.
The elder Aoyama smiled evilly, causing her targetÆs knees to weaken in fear. ôThatÆs not all we can do. My father plays golf with some of the senior management at your publishers, Miss Konno. You should be careful, lest you find yourself blacklisted.ö
@@@@@