Before I start, i will make a few statements and thanks. First, this is my first story with the Dark Icon, and yes i am a member. I'd like to thank Dimitri Pablato for proofreading and helping with this chapter.
And the general Disclamer that will aply for all the chapters i post in this fic. I don't own anything, except for the original ideas i am including.
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'Why did I bother to do this?' The thought ran through our favorite dorm keeper, Keitaro Urashima, as he finished a form that withheld his problems in life. He sealed his letter, and copied the address he obtained from his friends internet connection, down onto the blank, front part of the envelope. 'I mean sure, it's a good idea to let my frustrations out, but to a stranger? I must be out of my mind!'
Keitaro traveled down the stairs, the letter in his hands. He was thankful that no one was home currently, but he knew that it never lasted for long. 'Day after day, a punch, or a slice for no reason at all. I wish it would end soon. Kami-sama, why am I in this place! Can't I have some peace at all?'
He closed the door behind him, and headed down the stairs, unaware of the barreling bird, soaring towards him, at least not until too late, as he gave a cry of anguish. Swooping up, the bird rounded and tackled him again. Keitaro sprinted back inside, wanting to get away from the kamikaze bird and unwittingly leaving the letter on the ground.
Keitaro slid to the floor, scratches over his arms, and an unfortunate one across his face. His glasses had been shattered, the prescription lenses useless. And above all the problems, he heard the back door open, and two pairs of feet approach him. Hearing some muttering, and a quite argument, he was left in peace.
Without warning, a sharp pain made its appearance on his head as he lost consciousness.
No one knew what happened to the letter lying outside.
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Keitaro awoke to a headache, a comfortable bed, strange clothes, and new surroundings. The place smelled fresh, and his room was fuzzy. Trying to make sense of a few things, Keitaro eventually deducted that he was in some strange place he had never been before.
He sat up, and felt something in the room move. A voice broke into his ponderings on why, where, and what time it was. "You're awake! After an attack and a knockout like the ones you just recently ran into, I'm surprised."
Keitaro looked in the general direction of the voice and saw the blurry outline of a figure sitting on a chair. "Where…"
"You are at a privet resting facility belonging to the Shinmeiryu kendo dojo." A pang of fear made its presence known as it registered in his brain. "Have you heard of it? You seem to recognize the name."
Keitaro just nodded nervously, and then asked one question. "Who are you?" Impressively, he didn't stutter as he asked the figure her name. However it was put to shame as he once again lost consciousness at her answer out of fear.
"Tsuruko. Tsuruko Aoyama."
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He awoke slowly to the slight shifting of movement as he was moved on a stretcher that was held up by four women, and another trailing just behind the procession, chanting in an unknown language. Slowly his eyes opened to more blurred sight, however from the texture of the blurred colors, he was in some underground chamber. He tried to move, but found his body would not respond due to some unknown reason. He moved his head, and soon felt a hand on his head gently press down, and a soothing voice in his ear.
Relaxing to the voice, he started to pick up a few background disturbances, such as people rustling clothes as they moved to select positions and a jar being filled with a liquid.
The stretcher was put down gently, and the people retreated. Keitaro started to assume the worst, and started to make strangled cries for help as he panicked. His cries fell upon deaf ears though, as three pair of feet approached him, and the sound of sloshing water in a jar was faintly heard. He felt himself being picked up by his arms and carried to some place just a little further, before he was lowered into cold liquid. Panicking, he tried to free himself of his movement stopping bonds. Then he felt the faintest trickle on his head, before an assault blared in his head, then nothing.
The vase was emptied.
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Hinata Inn
"Where the hell is he?!"
Naru fumed as she spent the afternoon storming around, looking everywhere for her favorite punching bag. He had not answered her summons, or even appeared around the inn. The first anyone knew he was missing was when Shinobu went to his room and intended to ask him what he would like for dinner. That led to a search and more inventions by Kaolla Su, the resident inventor/food vacuum/genius.
Motoko crossed the threshold, every bit mad at him as Naru was, only for reasons unknown to anyone, including herself.
"No luck?" Naru asked as politely as she could while in her current temper.
"None. Even Haruka doesn't even know where he is."
Su bounded into the room. "He hasn't been at any station or airport to go somewhere."
"And none of the bars have reported his whereabouts," added Kitsune as she too, joined in on the party.
A bird came swiftly down to rest on Motoko's shoulder, a letter tied to its leg, which Motoko started to read immediately.
"Where the blazes is he?!"
"Someplace unreachable…" came Motoko uttered quietly as she handed the letter from her sister to Naru.
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A New Hope
Chapter 1
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At Aoyama Dojo – somewhere in Japan
Keitaro slowly opened his eyes, and was immediately assaulted with clear vision, among other details. The Ceiling was bare, and a single window overlooked a courtyard below with a sakura tree in full blossom that sat next to a mini river that ran into a pond full of fish. A small bridge ran over the mini river. His room contained little; a futon, chest of drawers, a bookshelf, and a small table. On the wall above his futon was a rack designed for blades.
Moving up into a sitting position, he felt his blood rush down from his head, causing his vision to swell briefly before settling down. Noticing a set of clothes near the shoji door, he hastened toward them, not caring what about what type of clothes they were.
Stepping out the door, he came along a hallway, nicely furnished, with a few skylights illuminating the walk. Progressing quietly down one end of the hall, he heard the faint sounds of talking.
"Mother, you know as well as I do that I am sure about my decision in teaching him."
The elder next to Tsuruko merely shrugged her shoulders, as her eyes came sharply upon her daughter. "The choice has been made, at your choosing too. Are you sure this one is the right one though."
"Mother! Urashima-san has been through a lot more than you realize. I am sure you have seen the punishments he has received for nothing more than accidents. And I'm sure you know the error of Motoko-han's ways. I sure…"
"Enough! The whole reason I have given you this task is to see if," a knock sounded on the door cutting her off her sentence. "We'll continue this at a later date. It's open."
The door slid open revealing Keitaro in the hikama and gi used by the male practitioners of the Shinmeiryu style. He looked different without his customary glasses, but not unrecognizable. "Excuse me, but I seek…oh. Aoyama-san. May I enter?"
Tsuruko nodded, and Mrs. Aoyama motioned towards a small table with tea present, where the three made their way to. Sitting down, Keitaro saw his opportunity to start asking unanswered questions. "I don't mean to be rude but, why am I here? What happened to me in that cave? Do my tenants know where I am?"
Tsuruko spoke first. "You are here because…I have need of your help. What happened in the cave cannot be disclosed yet…"
"It was a ritual to make you able to learn the Shinmeiryu style and way of life." The elder Aoyama cut her off. "Each of us who have come from here is able to use chi in our moves as you have seen by my youngest daughter, Motoko. Normally, our bodies would be unable to handle the strain of wielding it, so we each make a pact with a spiritual creature. Only one's self, knows what we receive during the 'bonding', as we like to call it. However, after the 'bonding' we are able to use chi, some more powerful than the other. The reason Tsuruko had you 'bond' with a spirit was because she needs you to help her training."
Keitaro felt a little used, but reflecting upon his life, he knew that it was a common occurrence. "How?"
"Motoko, our current heir, has abused our code against you, as you well know if you explored your room for our 'code'. Tsuruko…"
"I wanted to reclaim the status of heir, but I must undergo a trial of sorts. I must prove that I am willing to teach a new student our ways to an acceptable level depending on the time till the inheritance comes into effect."
"…how long…"
"…three years…"
The silence grew in the room swiftly, its breaking point getting more unclear per second until…
"When do we start?"
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A/N: As an ending note, This is a first LH fic, yet it is my fourth story so far. All ideas are wanted please, and Reviews are extremely welcome. Any Dark Icon writers out there, sorry, i just dont like those chat rooms. R&R.
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