Prologue – "Oh, sweet memories"
Although the early hour kept even the most devoted worker asleep, one Keitaro Urashima sat on the roof of his residence, the once well-known girls-dormitory Hinata. His residents and friends had long since moved away, along with someone he held very dearly.
He fingered on the cane that lie beside him. Staring into the eerily quiet morning. The sun had not even taken a peek over the horizon yet.
His eyes glistened with nostalgia and the faint smile that kept tugging at the corner of his lips is of someone who is reminiscent of all good times, his mind harkening back to the "good old days".
"How long has it been now? Ten, eleven years maybe…", he mumbled in a low voice to himself.
He would often do this; sit on the roof and remember all the good times.
Motoko, Shinobu, Kaolla, Kitsune, Mutsumi, Kanako and Naru. Where could they all be now? His thoughts inquired.
After his and Naru's marriage, it seemed like everything was going to be perfect. But…
His gaze lowered and his eyes turned sad. How he missed them. It had been such a long time since he had seen any of them. So much had happened and so much had changed…
With a heavy sigh he grabbed his cane and held it firmly as he dragged himself up from sitting to standing. The sun was still nowhere to be seen.
He leaned heavily on the stout oak cane he held in his left hand, the hand was missing the little finger and only half his middle finger remained. The years hadn't gone easy for him. His face was pale and scarred. His right hand had white splotches.
He slowly climbed down the roof. Limping badly on his left leg. He had plenty of work to do today.
Still, he missed them so much…
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Motoko Aoyama was seated on the shinkansen running from Kyoto to Tokyo. On her left sat Kanako Urashima with her cat Kuro sleeping soundly in her knee. Motoko's gaze was fixed on the scenery that the bullet train sped by.
She is one of the most well known lawyers in all of Japan. Her clients ranged from the poorest peasant to the richest troll. As long as she could deduct that her client was a good person she would represent him or her. She had helped out many a soul in need.
And she still held true to the teachings of the Shinmei-Ryu and bushido. As the head of the Shinmei-Ryu she dutifully trained every day.
But at the moment she was remembering. The memories that always made her smile. It was a long time since she left. She had kept in contact with everyone. But Keitaro…
No one had heard from him since that day. It didn't matter how much they searched or even if they used Su's gadgets. He couldn't be found.
She often wondered how things would be if she saw him again. She really missed him…
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Kanako kept petting Kuro. Swallowed by her own thoughts she kept, somewhat absent-mindedly, stroking Kuro. The black feline purred with its eyes closed.
Kanako was a little surprised when she heard from Motoko that Shinobu and Kitsune was gathering everyone for a reunion. Motoko had told her that they both were invited. When Kanako asked about where it would be held Motoko answered that it was going to be in a hotel not to far away from the former Hinata girls-dormitory.
Kanako had heard from granny Hina that the old Hinata inn/dormitory had been sold and that it was now a private resident. It bothered her that not only had a valuable heirloom passed out of the hands of the Urashima family, but it also held many of her dearest memories.
Granny Hina had stunned her when she said that it had been Keitaro's decision.
She hadn't heard from her beloved brother in years. She wasn't aware of why Keitaro had sold it, but she suspected why…
She wanted to see him again. She missed him so much…
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Author's notes: It is almost two years since I joined and I finally wrote a fic that I deemed good enough to submit. As you can see it's only a prologue as of yet but I am working on it.
It is slightly AU and I will not reveal any pairing because I have yet to decide on one. Suggestions and constructive criticism are always welcome! (Though I do not expect much seeing how short this is. ; )
The story shall be updated as soon as possible.
/ I the Antagonist