Notes: I wrote this while sick, and it is more depressing than the rest of the fiction. It also focuses more on Tenshin than the others. While I realize this is a Love Hina fanfic, not a Tenshin fanfic, I must admit I enjoy fleshing out his character more than the others, who are already well developed. More notes on him are at the end, as well as any new Japanese words and historical notes! (More brief notes: Since I first wrote this, I edited it to improve the POV changes and make Tenshin less…pitiful in some scenes. I also removed the brief reference to Moe. New readers…you didn't miss anything ^_^)
Chapter 7 – Thoughts in the Attic
Motoko pushed herself to keep up with Tenshin's rapid pace. "Motoko, you'd best stay close to me. This isn't the safest neighborhood we're passing through."
Motoko walked on, resisting the urge to hit Tenshin. 'Stay close, indeed! This from the man who wanted to 'create a closer alliance' with me.'
Tenshin smirked at Motoko's angry expression. "You remind me a lot of Keitaro."
Motoko's head snapped up. "What?"
"You both try to hide your feelings from your friends, and push yourselves to protect them from reality. You hold yourselves responsible for them."
Motoko's pace slowed for a moment before resuming. "I do. Keitaro doesn't. He merely cleans the Inn and stares at the girls." Inwardly Motoko admitted this wasn't the complete truth; Keitaro had proven on several occasions that he cared for his tenants, and wanted to make sure they were happy. Like Naru, however, Motoko had little intention of ever admitting the fact. Tenshin shook his head.
"There's another thing. Neither of you ever confide in me. Nobody ever trusts me." 'Who can blame them? After what happened to my only friend…'
Motoko refused to look at Tenshin. "I never confide in anyone, Tenshin. But I do trust you. To an extent."
Both looked up as rain began dropping from the sky. Tenshin whispered something under his breath. 'She loved the rain…always smiled during a storm.'
"What was that, Tenshin?" Tenshin blinked suddenly and looked around, confused. He quickly regained his bearings, however. Had he truly slipped so far that his struggle was noticeable? If that was so, he had best hurry back. The only way he knew to control the affliction was through solitude…
"Nothing you would ever understand. Drop it." He stalked angrily ahead of Motoko.
Motoko stopped at the sudden venom in Tenshin's voice. 'Have I done something to offend him? He looks angry…'
"Tenshin, wait!"
Tenshin plowed straight into the storm, cursing his stupidity under his breath. All of his mental barriers broke down the instant he felt her presence. The sooner he lost her, the better! "I told you, drop it!"
Motoko reached Tenshin and caught his shoulder. "Not until you tell me why you're acting so strangely."
Tenshin turned. "Unhand me!"
Motoko lost her grasp on Tenshin's shoulders at the sight of his eyes. 'His eyes weren't brown anymore…they were golden.'
Gritting his teeth, Tenshin locked down his emotions. Yelling at Motoko would accomplish nothing. 'The logical thing to do would be to leave the Inn before I lose control of …no! I swore that part of myself dead forever.' He turned slowly.
"Sorry. I drank more than I should, and said more than called for."
"It is nothing. I did not mean to pry." As the two resumed their pace, Motoko glanced over at Tenshin. He appeared to be in control of himself once more.
"What is it now?" Motoko shook her head mutely and started walking again. The memory of Tenshin's abrupt change gave her chills.
"Nothing." Tenshin felt a twinge of guilt at the cold tone. 'Of course she's angry, after I yelled at her like that. Poor girl doesn't know what she's doing to me…'
She felt something soft and warm cover her, and looked over to see Tenshin's jacket on her shoulders. "That better?" His brown eyes shone warmly.
"Ye-yes…thank you."
Meanwhile…
"Thanks for the jacket, Keitaro. I didn't expect it to rain this early in summer." Keitaro shrugged.
"Just…brr…a shower, that's all." He shivered as another blast of frigid air raced through his threadbare shirt.
Naru shook her head and slipped an arm around his waist. "Mou! Are you trying to catch another cold?"
"Atchoo! No, of course no-atchoo!"
Chapter 8 – Sleep Like a ChildTenshin grabbed his pillow and held it over his throbbing head. 'Gods, the pain!' He whimpered miserably to himself.
"Hahaha-atchoo! Afternoon, Ojiisan!" Tenshin's bleary gaze settled on his nephew. 'Cheerful people are so depressing…'
"Mmrrfgh…mghts temshimn-smm." Keitaro blinked and moved closer to his uncle.
"Huh?"
"Mighfts temshimn-smm" Keitaro crept over until he was directly above Tenshin.
"Um, one more ti-ACK!!"
Tenshin throttled his nephew. "I SAID its TENSHIN-SAN!!! Is that so HARD to understand?!?"
"N-no! No, Tenshin-san!" Tenshin released his nephew, unaccountably exhausted by the activity.
"I feel like we're roasting in here…and how come you're so happy?"
"Auntie said we both have colds. And I'm happy because Naru does like me!!"
Tenshin was not in the mood to share his nephew's jubilation. "Oh, great. So you two are officially dating now?"
"Not yet, no. But we're closer!"
"Thrilling. Now let me sleep." Keitaro nodded and left the room.
Tenshin feebly reached over and opened the windows, then locked the door. 'Ah, fresh air. For a moment I thought I was going to be roasted alive under my sheets. And this should keep unwelcome nephews away.'
Several hours later…
Keitaro waved at Naru. "Hey! Shinobu says dinner is almost ready!" Naru chuckled at his four layers of clothing.
"It looks like you're prepared for winter.
How's Tenshin?" Keitaro
shrugged.
"He woke up eight hours ago, but I haven't seen him since then. He locked the door."
Naru frowned. "I hope he's keeping warm. It's snowing outside, and getting worse."
Inside…
"Motoko-sempai! Please come here!" Motoko raced upstairs, finding Shinobu standing by the guest bedroom. "Listen to him…"
Even through the sturdy doors, Motoko could hear the raspy breathing from inside, interspaced with a hacking cough. "Tenshin! Open the door!"
Shinobu shook her head. "He won't answer me either! I'm worried..."
Motoko hit the door, breaking the lock. Slamming it open, she ran inside.
Tenshin lay curled on his side, shivering uncontrollably as hail blew through the windows. His face was almost blue from the freezing snow that half-covered him.
"Call Haruka-san! Hurry!"
Chapter 9 – Ballad of the Fallen HeavensTenshin struggled to wake up in a swirl of faces and memories…Shinobu, Motoko, Shishou, Keitaro, and Haruka all blended. Haruka's face suddenly lost nearly twenty years as a forgotten memory surged back into his mind. He found himself standing with her outside a humble shack.
Tenshin struggled to control his tears. At thirteen years, he was old enough to say goodbye without breaking down like this! "Sister, do I really have to train here?"
"You've talked about kendo nonstop for months now. And yes, you do."
"But why can't I stay with you?"
Haruka walked inside. "Because I'm starting college. Don't worry, you'll love it here."
"Wait for your teacher to arrive. I will come in a week to see how you're doing." He nodded and sat down to wait as Haruka walked off. Around him the small cottage disappeared, replaced by flames licking at his feet as he searched through the rubble that was once his home. The memory mixed and changed with another, deeper memory…one of death and betrayal, as the woman he loved fell to treachery. He struggled against the memory, convinced that if he could just wake up, he could stop the nightmare from ever happening.
Motoko glanced down at Tenshin as he slept. 'Tenshin certainly seemed agitated by something. I wonder what he dreams of…'
Glancing over, Motoko noticed the bag Tenshin had brought with him. The Western-style broadsword he always wore stuck out from it, in addition to several practice swords. She felt a strange attraction from the sword, as if it were calling to her. Unsheathing it, she ran her hand over the blunted edge in surprise. She had heard of sakabatou's before, but the process of creating them had been lost for years. 'Another mystery of Tenshin's…'
Kitsune slid her head inside the door. "Psst…Motoko. How's the vigil?" Motoko shook her head, discouraged.
"His condition hasn't improved." Kitsune padded inside and sat next to Motoko.
"I couldn't get any sleep either…guess I'm worried too." Kitsune glanced over at the sword.
"Ne, Motoko…is that Tenshin's sword?" Motoko hastily dropped it by Tenshin's pillow, ashamed of handling his weapon without permission. Whenever anyone touched her sword without permission, Motoko found herself wishing to demonstrate its uses on the offender.
"Yes…it's inscribed, 'the Tenken.'"
"Hmm…I wonder what else he brought." Kitsune began sorting through Tenshin's bag. "Hmm…'History of the Meiji Era', 'Leaders of the Tokugawa', 'Effects of the Kimmon Incident'…is this the kind of stuff he reads?"
"Kitsune! We shouldn't…" Motoko trailed off as Kitsune pulled out a photo book.
"Hey, that's Tenshin! And the kid he's sitting on is Keitaro!" Motoko looked over.
"Here's one of him with Urashima Keisuke. And here's Haruka in high school. And here's you, Motoko!" Kitsune pointed to a blurred picture of Tenshin sparring with someone.
Motoko stared at the picture. The resemblance between the girl in the picture and herself was so striking that if she didn't recognize the girl's stance as Hiten Mitsurugi, she would have reached the same conclusion as Kitsune. "Oh…indeed."
Kitsune winked at Motoko as she walked off and closed the door behind her. "It's too bad he likes you so much, Motoko. Guys as cool as him are hard to find."
'He liked her?' Motoko looked over towards Tenshin. 'What the…?' Tenshin was gone! She stood and started to turn, when she felt Tenshin's hot breath whisper from her ear.
"One move, and you are a dead woman. Got that?" Motoko tensed at the very real blade at her throat.
"Yes." 'His voice and manner have changed. He emanates danger…'
"Good. Now, where am I? Where is Takasugi Shinsaku?"
"The Hinata Inn. I've never heard of Takasugi. Please remove your blade, Tenshin."
"I know no-one named Tenshin. What has become of the Kiheitai?" Tenshin pressed the sword closer.
"You are hurting me, Tenshin. The Kiheitai…?" Motoko's eyes flashed as she remembered where she had heard of Takasugi Shinsaku and his Kiheitai. 'How do I reason with somebody who believes he is more than a hundred years in the past?'
"Turn and look at me. Do you serve the bakufu or the Choshu clan?" Motoko turned and stared at Tenshin's face. 'His eyes…they're burning golden…what does it mean?'
"I…I serve none." Tenshin did not hear her words, as he was staring at her face, his molten eyes catching hers with their mad intensity.
"Beloved…I know you!" Tenshin threw his sword away and reached for Motoko, who backed away. "Beloved…I thought you were killed in the Ikedaya Jiken! How did you...? NO! This is a trick! A dirty Shinsengumi trick!" He pulled out a weighted bokken and charged Motoko.
"Tenshin! Listen to me!" Motoko blocked his attack, breaking the bokken. Her eyes widened as he twisted, revealing the phoenix-shaped hilt at his side. He drew it and attacked.
"Hiten Mitsurugi, Ryu Sho Se-NO! I REFUSE!" Motoko shaded her eyes from a sudden flash of light from Tenshin's hilt. When she could see again, Tenshin lay slumped on the ground.
"Motoko…" Tenshin sounded exhausted. "I am sorry. So very sorry. To think I almost…again…Gods, I'm so sorry."
Motoko kicked the sword away from him and leaned over. Her worried gray eyes searched his tired brown. "Are you all right?"
"As long as you are, I will be." He smiled at Motoko's rising blush. "Please…. do not mention this to anyone, ever. I will explain…just…not now." Motoko nodded. "Thanks. I owe you one. I ever mention you've got a heart of steel? Just like Makomi…" Tenshin tensed, and then slumped.
"Tenshin!"
End for now
Historical notes (Boy, does this chapter need them!):
Takasugi Shinsaku: Leader of a militia called the Kiheitai, which fought the government in the early 1860's.
Choshu clan: Opposed the government, the bakufu served it. So did the Shinsengumi.
The Ikedaya Jiken was an attack by the Shinsemgumi on a group of anti-bakufu.
Japanese words used:
Mou: Jeez, geez.
Sakabatou: Katana with the edge and blade reversed. Bokken: a wooden sword.
Names:
Tenshin: Ten: Sky, heaven. Shin: heart. So: "Heavenly Heart". It also has a connection to Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, which is roughly translated to the 'Singing Sword of the Heavens Technique.' So his sword, the 'Tenken', which translates directly to 'Sword of Heaven', is yet another inside joke of mine. So are some chapter titles. Hahah, I crack myself up with these bad Japanese puns…
Makomi: Mako: True, real. Mi: Beautiful. So: "Beautiful Truth." Honestly, I'm almost positive this combination is not correct Japanese grammar, but it rolls off the tongue rather nicely…and it fits quite well. So the name stays.
Author's Notes: Urashima Tenshin.
Originally I had planned for him to play a very minor role, just to get the story rolling. He was to be a simple fusion of Haitina (Keitaro's tall friend) and Hiko Seijuro (Kenshin's teacher). I also wanted Motoko to be a primary character…so I made the 2 a couple. This created a problem for me, as there had to be a logical reason for Motoko to like or even respect Tenshin. For her to like him, he can't be as perverted as Knighthawke made him. Soon I had a completely different character than whom I started the story with. Now I honestly have a difficult time trying to compare him to another character in anime. Another thing I considered was that in the beginning, he's a much better match for Kitsune than Motoko! Both are relatively immodest, same sense of humor, sake drinkers, etc, etc…so why not make Kitsune his main interest? Because LH doesn't work that way. Look at Keitaro and Naru: He and Otohime are made for each other, but he loves Naru. Also, Kitsune is a complete person. She doesn't feel the need to be loved. In my opinion, Motoko does. Other fics deal with this also (Shinji's fic pairs Motoko and Keitaro, which is a major reason I didn't). Just a reminder; Tenshin is also not a self-insert…while they're not all bad (Ken, the LH creator, did one, after all); I would be utterly boring and useless. Not everyone has the same vision of the characters, so I apologize if you think I am misrepresenting any of them (Personally, I think I make them all too sappy…especially Naru and Motoko), and thank-you for reading this far!
