Love Hina: New Dreams and New Promises
Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina in any form or fashion.
Ch1 The Broken Promise
Keitaro was flying once more trough the air. He frantically tried to undo his arms but the rope wrapped around his body was done tight enough to prevent his escape. He cried as he felt his trajectory change as he slowly began to plummet back to Earth. Why didn't they listen to me? I told them nothing happened but they refused to listen. I love Naru! Why would I sleep with Mutsumi? It was a mistake. Why don't they ever listen?
As he rocketed towards the ground he saw that he was going to strike a large dojo that was tucked into the mountainside.
Wincing he closed his eyes hoping this hit wouldn't kill him. A split second later he opened his eyes again as his mind realized that he wasn't going to hit the building, just clip the roof.
As his body snagged the edge of the roof the rope snagged slamming him into the roof, and caused him to bounce up. The rope was released and he began to roll down the roof. Frantically he tried to stop his roll but the rope was still tight enough that he couldn't move his arms. He saw open air as he rolled off the edge. He grimaced as his body fell three floors and impacted in the waster below.
Keitaro frantically stood up hoping the water wasn't deep enough to drown him. Thankfully he found it only waist deep. Turning slightly he found that his view of the surroundings were obscured slightly by a rising steam. As he looked about his mind clicked and Keitaro realized in terror where he was. AN ONSEN! I AM SO SCREWED. Knowing my luck it will be the women's bath. Frantically he began to look for an escape route, dread upon him.
The sliding door to his right had other plans. The sound of several girls laughing caught his attention as the door was thrown open. Three girls jumped out leaving the third girl standing in the entrance bare to the world as one of the other three was holding her towel laughing as she skipped away.
"Sanko give me back my towel!" The girl cried as she frantically gave chase.
"Not till you spill. Tell us who your crush is then we will give your towel back."
She laughed again as they rounded the Onsen. The laughter soon died out however as one of the girls caught sight of Keitaro. who had passed out with the usual spray of blood from his nose.
The laughter died instantly as the three girls turned to regard the fourth nude girl.
"Well that is an interesting way to start the day Tsu-chan." A voice called from the door. The girls looked quickly to see Santsu step out into the Onsen. The nude girl burst into tears as she saw her mother walk into the Onsen. Santsu glanced at the three girls still holding the towel. "What's wrong?"
One of the girls pointed into the steam and as Santsu peered into the steam she saw Keitaro passed out. She looked from the shocked expression frozen on the young mans face to her crying daughter.
"He saw you didn't he." Her voice was level, but her eyes where very serious.
The young woman nodded, and found herself wrapped in a warm embrace from her mother. Surprise was etched across her face as she stared at the young man still floating in the warm waters of the Onsen. Santsu glanced at the young man. "Well we had better get him out of there or he might drown."
Gently the girls moved and pulled Keitaro from the Onsen and undid the ropes binding him. Puzzled they set the ropes aside and carried him to one of the guest rooms.
Placing him on the futon Santsu summoned the other elders, and as they filed into the room glancing nervously at the young man sleeping on the futon Santsu waited patiently till her daughter arrived dressed in a comfortable kimono. She moved to the side of the futon and settled herself next to the young man and gazed at the sleeping face of Keitaro.
What is happening...and why this is happening to me... Her eyes were sad, tough her face was calm.
She sighed inwardly and turned to address the Elders awaiting in the room.
"This morning as some of the students and I prepared to bath one of my friends grabbed my towel as we entered the onsen. She only meant it for a joke but the consequences of her acts were that this young man who was standing in the onsen was able to observe me as I was..." She hesitated for a moment before she continued. "Exposed to him. So in keeping with the tradition, stating that any male who observes a student on these grounds with no clothing shall be wed to her on the spot I tell you what happened between me and this young man here. He may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time but the results are none the less that we will have to be wed as soon as he wakes."
As she finished a small tear ran down her check. I'm sorry Tamen it seems fate must be cruel to us, I'm sorry. As she turned her back on the assembled elders she couldn't hold back the tears that fell.
The elders each nodded and moved into the hall. Each of them felt their hearts strain since they knew of her love for a young man that was studying at another school. As they moved down the hall one of the elders spoke. "Oh what a cruel twist of fate this must be to separate young lovers like this."
Naru and Motoko where sitting in the common room waiting for Keitaro to return so that they could apologize for their mistake that morning.
Naru was feeling especially guilty since she was the one who jumped to conclusion first. When she saw Mutsumi in bed with Keitaro she assumed that they had slept together. The ditzy turtle girl didn't help spurting off strange things in such a way that when Naru heard them she only felt she was justified about the whole incident till after she had socked Keitaro with a punch hard enough that he took out nearly the entire section of roof as he went through it.
That is until she talked with Haruka about Mutsumi sleep escapades.
Naru felt guilty that she had hit Keitaro so hard, and now she was hoping to say she was sorry and move on. Motoko on the other hand didn't wish to apologize she just wanted to make sure the resident pervert didn't take advantage of Naru's weakened state. The day was creeping by and Naru was getting upset. She wanted to apologize but she wasn't going to wait forever on the stupid baka. Finally they were about to leave when the phone rang. Motoko walked over and picked it up
"Hinata Sou."
"Moto-chan how are you doing."
"Okasan!"
"Well at least you haven't forgotten us but it seems you have forgotten how to write or call"
"I'm sorry okasan I have just been really busy." It was a lie, and Motoko knew that.
"That's all right daughter I have good news. Your aneue is getting married today and we wanted you here."
"NANI!" Naru stopped walking towards the stairs when she heard Motoko yell. Turning she watched as Motoko seemed to slump.
"I said your big sister is getting married and she would like to have her sister here with her." Santsu sounded annoyed now.
"Very well Okasan I will leave immediately." Turning she saw Naru looking a little puzzled. "Okasan can I bring a friend of mine as well?"
"I don't see why not. We will be expecting you so don't' take to long."
CLICK
Motoko hung up the phone and turned to Naru. "My sister is getting married and she wants me to be there. And I don't want to face her like this." Naru moved down off the step. "So when do we go?"
"As soon as possible. Thank you Naru- sempai for coming with me."
Naru nodded and moved to her room to pack.
Keitaro finally came to and looked around rather surprised he was still alive. He figured as soon as he had seen that raven haired beauty in the buff he was going to die. Curious he stood and moved around the room. The room was sparse and seemed to just have the basics needed. Probably a guest room.
I wonder what happens now. He felt unneasy, but not sure why.
His question was answered by the opening of the door. Keitaro felt his jaw drop as he saw a man dressed in samurai battle armor standing in the doorway. His jaw dropped further when the man stepped aside to let in a stunning woman who placed her hand gently on the armored mans arm. She stepped forward and Keitaro felt his heart rate increase ten fold. "Hello my name is Santsu Aoyama, and this is my husband Kioshi Aoyama." She pointed at the armor-clad figure behind her.
Keitaro bowed. "My name is Urashima Keitaro. I hope I haven't offended anyone with my inappropriate entrance." He remembered his flight...and felt annyance as to why he was flying in the first place.
I think I may reached my limit here...I better end this once and for all, or else I will end up in big trouble. Lucky me, it must be some dream my last memories, but this is enough! I may end in deep trouble unless I stop all this from Naru and Motoko!
The Aoyamas looked at each other before Santsu walked up to Keitaro's side and gently took him by the arm. "Actually there is a problem that we must discuss."
Keitaro immediately reacted wrenching his arm free of her grasp.
It came in full to him. It was not a dream, and they come to exact what all women do to him, be him at fault or not.
He dropped to the floor and placed his arms defensively around himself. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to it was an accident please don't hurt me anymore. It is always like this! I did nothing on purpose!"
Keitaro was not a coward, nor a real weak man...but he was tired, and his body was already marred with scars to testimony that his previous experiences were enough to affect him deeply.
Santsu looked down in disbelief at Keitaro then over at her husband. The look in his face told her that he was startled by this reaction as well. They were both used to other men blushing and being nervous when they were around Santsu but they never cringed in terror.
Santsu knelt next to Keitaro. "Why are you afraid? If it was only and accident, there's nothing to fear." Keitaro slowly glanced up at her. "Really?" Santsu nodded. "Come with me and tell us why you reacted that way and what happened till this moment."
Keitaro nodded and he hesitantly stood up and followed Kioshi as he led the way down the hall while Keitaro began to tell his life at Hinata Sou.
He was tired and his heart was heavy. His body was marked and tired, already too much abuse taking its toll.
This was a catharsis for him...a much needed release of all pent up frustration against so much aggression when the only thing he wanted was to be useful...and to be loved.
He told them all...names, situations, actions. All in great detail.
Naru and Motoko were enjoying the train ride to Motoko's home. They had left quickly barely even leaving a note and giving Haruka a quick run down on what was going on before making a mad dash to the train station. Now as the excitement wore off Motoko sobered up quickly as she realized the implications of her sister's marriage.
Naru noticed the change in her companion. "Motoko what's wrong?"
"Well if my sister is getting married then the leadership of my families school will have to be decided upon. They could leave it to my mother or they could decide it is time for me to take over the school. I hope they give it to my mother since I don't feel ready to take on the challenge though"
Naru nodded and turned back to the window. "Wouldn't be horrible if your sister was marrying someone like Keitaro?"
Naru never lost an opportunity to bash Keitaro.
Naru looked back at Motoko who stared at her. Then they both started laughing so hard it hurt their sides.
Keitaro gave a mighty sneeze as he finished his story. He was shaking a bit. He held himself for so long and only now he was realizing it.
Husband and wife were sitting across from him shocked by the actions of their daughter. Not really sure of what to make out of the situation they just waited.
Keitaro blushed slightly realizing how foolish he sounded constantly being beaten up by a couple of girls. With out raising his head he spoke trying to keep hid voice somewhat stable. "What is going to happen to me now?"
Santsu reached across the table. "When you saw our daughter naked within the school walls it did cause a slight problem. You see we have a ritual or custom if you will. When a young man such as yourself manages to enter the school walls and sees one of our students as you saw my daughter then they will have to be wed by the end of that day."
Keitaro looked up at her. "So let me get this straight because I saw your..." He paused to clear his throat. "Daughter, I now have to marry her? Heis eyes went wide at this.
Santsu and her husband both nodded. "What happens if I don't marry her?"
Kioshie didn't say a word just unsheathed his sword and placed it on the table. No explanation was needed as Keitaro saw his reflection in the highly polished blade.
"Heheh" Was all Keitaro could think of saying.
"Well lets go introduce you to your new wife." Santsu said as she gracefully rose from the table.
Naru and Motoko walked the remaining distance to the Shinmei Ryu School.
As they rounded the last corner Naru felt her jaw drop as she saw the school. Nestled in a small canyon it was surrounded on three sides by the neighboring mountains the front was walled off with only a massive set of gates allowing entrance. Awestruck she followed Motoko as she walked to the gates.
She rapped on the small door built into the gate and waited a moment. The door opened and Motoko stepped inside. Naru quickly followed suit as she gazed at the immaculate courtyards and training areas.
Students were busy practicing katas and moving from one building to another for training. Motoko kept moving till she stopped outside a large building nestled in the center of the school. Naru stopped next to Motoko unsure of what was going on. But she didn't have to wait long.
"Motoko you're back."
Naru turned to see the speaker and was surprised to see a stunning young woman walking towards them.
"Tsuruko, it's good to see you again." Motoko stopped as she glanced at her sister's side and saw the young man walking with her. The young man looked up and a look of pure terror as Motoko pulls her sword free. "Keitaro you pervert! What are you doing alongside my sister!" She cried releasing a massive ki attack directed at him. The attack never reached it's target, being decimated by a massive attack that ripped between them.
"THAT WILL BE ENOUGH AOYAMA MOTOKO!" The yell was enough to freeze Motoko's and Naru's blood.
Motoko jumped as she saw her father step out of the shadow of the nearby training hall, his blade drawn. His face was a mix of sadness and anger.
Santsu was looking disappointedly at her youngest daughter as she stood beside her husband. Motoko looked stricken as she glanced from Tsuruko back to her parents. Keitaro was hanging his head in shame as he stood beside his future wife. Santsu moved to Keitaro's side and looked at him, sorrow clearly evident on his face. "Keitaro Urashima I am ashamed of the actions of my daughter. Can you find it in your heart to forgive her? I might have doubted some of what you told me, but this simple reaction of my young daughter speakes volumes!"
Keitaro glanced at the elder Aoyama then taking a quick glance at Tsuruko who was standing by his side with a curious look on her face. "Yes I do forgive her. I may be tired of being accused of things I neved did, but I do understand Motoko never did any of that with an ill intention."
Santsu bowed. "Thank you Urashima-san your kindness is refreshing to see in today's world." Keitaro blushed under the compliment. He turned and wandered off in the direction he had just come from. Tsuruko only watched as he walked off unsure of what just happened. "Mother what was that all about?"
Santsu glanced up at her oldest daughter. "I will tell you. Come with me." She turned and followed Keitaro's direction towards a small garden set back away from the rest of the school.
Keitaro walked through the garden till he came to a small bench nestled under the shade of a Sakura tree. His mind was so preoccupied that even when he sat down he failed to notice the two women standing off to the side until they were sitting on opposite sides of him. His first instinct was to bolt but a soft hand on his arm stopped him. Tsuruko had placed her hand on his arm and was looking at him her eyes pleading to know the truth.
"Is it true Motoko would attack you even when it was an accident?" She asked in a soft voice.
Keitaro didn't reply he only stood up and pulled up his shirt so that the two warriors could see his chest and back. Both women gasped at the scars crisscrossing his body. They also noticed the large bruises where Naru had hit him. Tsuruko couldn't believe it her own little sister had hurt an innocent young man for absolutely no reason.
However before they could react Keitaro bowed to them and bolted. Tsuruko was still in shock after finding out her sister was so abusive that she failed to catch him. Santsu was very upset. One of her daughters was breaking every rule the school held claiming that she was doing right. She shook her head. Tsuruko caught the movement and stood before meeting her mothers gaze.
"How long has he had to suffer?" Tsuruko asked.
Santsu shed a tear for the young man. "Over a year and the abuse started the first day he arrived. Relentless...neverending." Her heart was heavy. ...and one of my precious daughters is playing a hand on this young men nightmare!
"And he never fought back. He just took that level of abuse day in and day out?"
Santsu just nodded.
As mother and daughter left the garden they saw Keitaro disappear into the room given to him. Tsuruko wanted to follow him but first she wanted answers and she knew where to get them. She saw her younger sister watching Keitaro's door.
Tsuruko moved to her sisters' side. "Motoko, we need to talk. Now!"
Her voice was cold, and Motoko did not fail to notice it.
Walking a short distance away Tsuruko rounded on Motoko. "What do you think you're doing?"
Motoko seemed a little shocked. "I am making sure that that baka doesn't try and take advantage of these girls."
Tsuruko felt he anger surge. "Like you protected them against him at Hinata sou." it was not a question...
Motoko smiled smugly. "Yes."
Motoko wasn't sure what happened next. One second she was starring at her sister the next she was lying on the ground with a sharp stinging sensation coming from her burning cheek.
Looking up she saw Tsuruko drop her arm. "I want to know what right you think you have to inflict pain and suffering on him. "
Motoko calmly got to her feet. "He is always peeping at us in the bath and always grabbing us and looking up our dresses and down our shirts or always jumping us."
Motoko said smugly, though her voice was unsteady.
Tsuruko laughed, and Motoko felt a bit of concern rise up.
"Let me ask you this, did the girls of hinata sou have a set bathing time or did they bath when they wanted to?"
Tsuruko remembered what her mother told her of Keitaro's story.
Motoko looked confused. "We could bath whenever we wanted! Some of us rather enjoy a bath in the afternoon sun."
Tsuruko smiled. "When I spent the morning with him I found he is quiet clumsy and off balance when he gets nervous, and considering how you two treat him I am not surprised why."
Motoko opens her mouth to speak but before she can say anything Tsuruko speakes again.
"You really need to get over your hatred of men. Just because one boy tried to see you naked while on the training grounds doesn't mean all boys are like that. Keitaro I have found to be a very honorable and caring soul."
With that she turned and walked towards Keitaros' room. As she neared the room she heard him gasp from behind the door. Tsuruko thought that was rather odd and so she cautiously opened the door a bit.
She slammed it the rest of the way open when she saw what he was doing. She screamed for help as she saw Keitaro leaning against the back wall his arms laying in two large puddles of blood. She rushed to his side and grabbed one of his arms trying to perceive where the blood was coming from. Her questions was answered by when she felt blood oozing between her fingers.
Motoko and Naru came charging inside the room believing that Keitaro was attacking Tsuruko. Their battle cry was cut off by the sight of Keitaro and Tsuruko sitting in a large pool of blood.
"DON'T JUST STAND THEERE! GO GET HELP!" Tsuruko screamed .
Motoko and Naru dashed outside to get help while Tsuruko frantically worked to stop the flow of blood. She grabbed a nearby T-shirt and ripped in two and tried placing it over the wounds, only to have Keitaro pull his arms back.
"no" He gasped.
She was trying not to cry. "Why not?"
Keitaro smiled softly at her. "You deserve better than me."
Tsuruko smiled. "As far as I can tell you can barely take care of yourself don't presume to think you can decide anything for me."
Her tone was warm, despite her words.
She finally managed to grab his arms as she placed the cloth to the wounds she felt him pull them free again. She was getting upset now.
"Leave me be your better off without a wimpy, worthless, and perverted guy like me. Go find someone who is worthy to be your husband! Someone you LOVE." With that he hung his head.
Tsuruko felt her anger rise again like it had when she confronted Motoko. Without thinking she slapped him.
He cried out as he was thrown halfway across the room. She saw the shocked look on his face his eyes filled with pain and suffering before he pulled himself into a ball.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry" He kept repeating over and over. His defensive instance taking over him.
His emotional conditioning was complete. Naru and Motoko were a step of their aparent goal of demolishing utterly and completely the young man in front of Tsuruko, and she could see that clearly.
My...what has been done to him...
Naru and Motoko returned then with a healer who rushed in and went to work. A second healer soon joined them.
Santsu walked inside and gestured for the girls to leave so that the healers could do their work uninterrupted. Once outside Motoko and Naru walked off quietly trying to figure out what Tsuruko meant in their earlier talk. Tsuruko was standing just staring at the door so intently that she jumped when a hand was placed on her shoulder. After willing her fluttering heart to slow she turned to see her dad with a worried look on his face.
Without asking he wrapped his daughter in a hug. Tsuruko didn't need any more coxing as she wrapped her arms around him and cried into her fathers shoulder. Her heart was saddened to see a innocent soul so hurt.
Darkness fell across the school grounds as students went to and fro finishing their duties and preparing for the evening meal. However in one small building preparation for an entirely different event was taking place. Tsuruko sat staring at the dress the elders had brought her. The wedding dress was beautiful she admitted though after all of today's events she was exhausted.
A knock on her door roused her from her thoughts. Standing she moved to answer it only to find her mother standing outside. She gestured for her to enter and sliding the door shut behind her.
"Tsuruko, today has undoubtedly been the most bizarre I have ever lived through." Tsuruko laughed since it was true. Turning she saw her mother gazing at the dress. "The last time I saw that dress was on the day I married your father." Tsuruko smiled. "I know the story mother about father's slip when visiting granddad and falling outside and into the onsen where he saw you."
Santsu laughed softly. "Ah, but that is only part of the story. At the time I was in love with another boy. I wasn't to happy about Kioshi falling into the Onsen with me."
Tsuruko laughed this time as she imagined a very irate looking Santsu and a hunkered down Kioshi. "I can't see him as cowering before you as you have mentioned in past stories."
Santsu laughed this time. "I am being unkind, he wasn't entirely pathetic but he looked like Keitaro does. It wasn't till after he started training here that he changed into the man that is your father."
Tsuruko grew thoughtful. "Mother you said you were in love with another boy weren't you unhappy at having to marry Father?"
Santsu walked up to her daughter. "Yes I was. I yelled at him every chance I got. I tried everything to make him leave. After awhile he asked if I would be happier with someone else I told him yes I would be. He said if I wanted to I could go to the man I loved and be with him."
Tsuruko was shocked, but before she could speak her mother continued.
"I did, I went to the boy I thought I loved and when I was with him he tried to force himself upon me I screamed and Kioshi broke through the door and rescued me. I was still hurt during the fight and and I stayed in the hospital for a while. Kioshi never left my side. Not once. It was then I realized everything I had overlooked. Every little kind act he had preformed during my mistreatment of him. For the first few years of our marriage I made his life hell and all he did was try and make me happy."
Tsuruko was dumbstruck. "Tsuruko listen to me. Keitaro is just like your father. He is willing to sacrifice everything to see those around him happy first. That is how he is and why he did what he did. He believed you would be happier without him around. He even said the girls of Hinata Sou would be better off without him."
Tsuruko was a little shocked. "Is his life that bad?"
Santsu shakes her head. "No. His life at Hinata Sou has not been bad...it has been hell." Sadness was evident on her eyes.
Tsuruko listens to while her mother tells the story of Keitaro's life at Hinata Sou in detail now, unable to believe that her sister could be so blind.
There was a knock on the door of Tsuruko's room. Santsu answered it and revealed the person to be one of the healers. Tsuruko moved to join her mother at the door.
"Is he ok?" Tsuruko asked.
The healer nodded. "Yes he is in a stable condition and will be completely healed by morning. However there is something else you should see."
Turning the healer gestured for the two women to follow. Curiosity got the better of them and they followed the healer to Keitaro's room. The walk wasn't very long and Tsuruko found herself once more outside her soon to be husbands' room. Sliding the door open she stepped inside and moved to the bed where Keitaro was sleeping. Santsu joined her as the healer moved to the opposite side. Gesturing for their attention she lifted his left arm up and turned it over.
The first thing Tsuruko noticed was the heavy bandages around his wrists but as she looked at his wrists she saw other scars. Taking his arm she turned it a bit more and gasped at what she saw. A multitude of scars ran from his elbow to his wrist. Santsu gasped and Tsuruko was shaken. She gently placed his arm back under the sheets and walked quickly outside followed by Santsu.
Santsu had to pick up the pace in order to catch Tsuruko. At first Tsuruko refused to stop until her mother stood directly in front and embraced her. For the second time that day Tsuruko was completely powerless. She cried as her heart broke for the young man who did all he could and was only repaid with pain and hatred, and yet even when he would receive nothing but pain he would still help others before helping himself.
Santsu herself shed tears for the young man. She found it hard to believe someone would go through that pain again and again willingly.
She let go of her daughter when she felt her stop crying. Tsuruko slowly straightened up and looked her mother in the eyes.
"Mother what am I going to do? He probably fears me after what happened earlier. To him I may be nothing better than Motoko. what kind of image he must have of an Aoyama woman?"
"Wrong." Both Santsu and Tsuruko were startled.
Looking back they saw the healer walking towards them. "He especifically asked me to tell you that he is sorry for causing you distress he was only doing what he thought best. He only asked that you forgive him for his thoughtless acts." The healer having relaid the message bowed to the two women and walked back towards the medical hall.
Tsuruko could only stare in disbelief. Keitaro was asking her forgiveness. My dear Keitaro you have done nothing wrong it is my Family who needs your forgiveness.
Santsu smiles as she watches Tsuruko walk back towards Keitaro's room.
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