Love Hina – Where Silent Gods Stand Guard
Chapter 1 – Funeral Bell(Don't Fear The Reaper)
"Seasons don't fear the Reaper, nor do the winds, the sun, or the rain...We can be like they are."
Valo Urashima stood at the bottom of the steps leading up to Hinata-sou. He stood there trying to force himself to hurry up and do his job and get the hell out, but he wasn't in any hurry to climb those stairs, either. However easy this job was, is wasn't, in reality. The objective was clear, but the process was not. It was simple...tell the residents of this house that their dearly beloved Grandma Hina had, in fact, passed away. The information given to him about the residents gave him a good idea that his news wasn't going to be taken very well. But he HAD to do it. He had no choice. The old lady in her last moments alive had chosen him personally. So he had to. He looked up from his downward glance to gaze upon Hinata again before he ascended. And as he walked the stairs slowly, but with purpose, it began to rain.
Haruka heard the raindrops falling on the ceiling as she was beginning to leave Hinata on this late Wednesday night. As she approached the door, she stepped over to the nearby window, took her hand and opened the blinds a bit. It was raining, indeed, and getting worse by the minute. She barely noticed the shadowed figure heading up the stairs in this horrible rain, but as she let the blinds go she did a double-take looked again to see who her visitor was.
'It CAN'T be! Unless Keitaro grew an extra foot and let his hair grow out a bit...NO! It IS him!'
Haruka quickly threw open the door and welcomed in her visitor. Valo was soaked from head-to-toe from his walk. He didn't seem upset about it, but naturally he didn't want to catch cold, so he removed what clothes he could, and Haruka got him a few towels. Valo sat on the couch across from Haruka in his black slacks and blue long-sleeve dress shirt, attempting to dry himself off. Haruka knew he always tried to dress nice. He was a formal dresser, and a quiet, formal person. Most times. But only to those who didn't care to get to know him.
They sat chatting for awhile, exchanging news and a bit of gossip. As it got closer to midnight, Haruka realized the young man was not here for just a friendly visit. Indeed, hardly anyone in the family saw him much. She knew something was up. She grew silent, then told him what was on her mind.
"Valo, what's the reason for you being here? You don't usually pop-in for the occasional get together. What's up?"
Now it was HIS turn to be silent for a minute. He closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, and told Haruka the news.
She acted as he expected. A bit surprised, a little shocked, but all in all, he knew Haruka well enough to know that the middle-aged woman wasn't prone to emotional outbursts. Plus, they BOTH knew the old lady was exactly that, old. And she had lead a full life, a few times over, actually. As the morning came closer, their conversation slowed to a halt.
"So, where are you staying, Valo?"
"Dunno. I thought I would stop by a Motel or something."
"Nonsense! Stay here with us. But, in case anyone wakes up, I don't want any of the girls freaking out, so we'll get you set up in the Teahouse."
Author's Notes: Just a nice beginning chapter. Not long, not short. Well, a little short, heh-heh. So yeah, more to come, if you guys and gals like. Also, this chapter, as well as the story, is dedicated to 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott of Pantera, and Quorthon of Bathory.