Motoko Aoyama: I'm back and I'm tired...so sorry, this might be one of the shorter chapters. Really, I think I've exhausted myself by writing my new "Inuyasha" fanfic that I will soon post up, and racked my brain thinking of an idea to write the Spring Special for the "Promise series" for "Love Hina," so really sorry to those who have waited so long for this chapter. Hope it at least satisfies some of your demands! Here are my thanks for the wonderful readers of this fic!
Wonderbee31 – thanks for your Naru punch idea. Maybe I'll put it in later. Thanks for your review!
Atlantis-rob – thanks so much! You have supported my "Inuyasha" fic too! (tears of gratitude streaming down my eyes) DOMO ARIGATOU!
MasterSweets – thanks for reading. The sword thing will come up this chapter, so hopefully it'll answer some of your questions!
FormoriCompletion – thanks for your review! I hope to write longer chapters too, but I feel like writing a short chapter today due to my exhaustion. I'll try to make my next chapter longer!
Sci-Fi Raptor – thanks for reading! Cute? You really think so? Thank you very much!
Innortal – thanks for your review! Loved your joke about Kei, he is really...dumb at times! Hehe!
Disclaimer: Everyone is not listening, but I'll just say this just in case somebody sues me in hopes of taking away my stinky socks...I don't own Love Hina!
FORGOTTEN PROMISE
Chapter 5
Motoko's hand gripped tightly on to the handle of the katana as the blinding green light burst out of the scabbard, flooding the entire inn with its unusually strong aura. The silvery blade was rattling within the wooden sheath, Motoko's hand shaking as the sword's ki whipped through her fingers, and with a last burst of energy, she managed to reveal an inch of the blade before it slid abruptly back into the scabbard, leaving Motoko shocked, eyes wide open watching the sword fall back onto her lap.
" I saw it," Motoko whispered.
" What is it? What did you see?" Keitaro asked.
" The carving of a dragon. I just caught a glimpse, but I'm sure of it, because it was glowing like the green light that escaped the sheath," Motoko answered.
Keitaro nodded, and finished bandaging himself while Motoko pondered through her memories to try and figure out what was this sword. The dragon carvings, the green light, so familiar that she knew she had heard about it somewhere, some time long gone in her past. As Keitaro got up to leave, Motoko realized that she had been silent all this time, his cracked head forgotten in the back of her mind, so she quickly caught up with him as they ascended the stairs to their room for a much-needed rest.
Kenichi flicked the switch, turning on the lights of the room to reveal a rather old, but nonetheless neat and tidy room. Framed calligraphy works with elegant swirls of kanji characters contrasting with the pure blankness of ancient paper greeted them as they hung silently on the beams and the wooden walls. Antique samurai armor stood perfectly upright in front of them upon the polished floorboards, guarding the small altar to its side, where incense was burning peacefully. A rack of weapons lay quietly in another corner, cherry bows and quivers of perfectly shaped arrows, lines of katana standing on guard within their dark scabbards, battered shinai and bokken used in countless practices, spears and staffs leaning lazily on the walls. Yuri's eyes stared in awe, forgetting to blink until Kenichi waved his hand in front of them. She dropped her futon and walked instinctively towards the wonders as if caught in a trance, and Kenichi narrowed his eyes in annoyance, put up with the show her young friend had put up.
" This used to be my mother's room until she moved into the kanrinrin room with dad. Your father practices kendo too, so you've probably seen stuff like this before, no big deal to be all surprised about," Kenichi said in an arrogant tone.
" He never let me into the weaponry room. I've never even touched a sword in my whole life," Yuri said, his legs drawn to the weaponry rack.
Yuri's eyes moved from side to side to gaze at the different weapons, taking note of the different carvings on the sheath, the different scratches on the blades. Her attention shifted towards a short staff standing on her side, just about her height, with three dimensional sakura patterns running down its wooden length.
" Oh, that. It is said that they found a fallen cherry tree branch near the dojo, and so they made a mould out of it and used it to shape this staff. If you want to, you can use it during your stay here. I'm sure okaasan would be willing to teach you how to wield it," Kenichi said, handing over the staff to Yuri.
The little girl stood dumbfounded with the staff in her hands, feeling its weight resting on her palm. She was near tears again, but not tears of sadness, of agony, but of gratitude and happiness.
The calm morning sunlight shone through the white curtains of clouds, resting onto the red canopies of autumn trees. Leaves fluttered noisily in the hostility of the winds, their noise awakening the residents of Hinatasou. Rubbing her blue eyes with her small hands, Yuri woke up to see the shafts of light entering Kenichi's room through the windows, telling them that a new day was due to begin. Beside her in another futon lay the young swordsman, still sleeping soundlessly under the cotton covers. Yuri smiled, and slid out of her futon amidst soft rustles of the sheets rubbing against one another.
" You're awake," Kenichi commented, awakened by the sound.
" Yup! Are you going to show me the roof?" Yuri asked, her voice so cheerful that it surprised her.
" Ah...alright, alright. I might as well get okaasan to teach you how to use that staff too. Follow me," Kenichi bid.
As the two walked along the quiet halls on their way towards the roof, Motoko stirred from her light slumber upon hearing the noises of the morning. Opening her grayish green eyes, she saw Keitaro's tanned arms resting on her shoulders, holding her in an awkward embrace that nearly seemed like he was a murderer trying to strangle his victim from behind. Motoko chuckled slightly at the thought as her rough, yet gentle fingers wrapped themselves around Keitaro's wrist, placing his arm back by his side with care so that he wouldn't wake up from the motion.
" You must be really tired, Keitaro," Motoko commented as she slid out of the futon. She changed into her white gi and red hakama, and then headed towards the roof, not knowing that she had picked up the wrong sword for her practice.
" Okaasan!" Kenichi greeted as he saw his mother emerging from the stairs onto the rooftop.
" Ohayou, Motoko-san," Yuri said as she bowed to the incoming swordswoman.
" No need to be so formal, Yuri-chan. We're going to be one big family for quite a while," Motoko replied, kneeling down to Yuri to see the sakura staff in her hands.
" Will you teach Yuri how to use that?" Kenichi asked. Motoko nodded and both Kenichi and Yuri's countenances lit up with joy. However, Yuri suddenly widened her eyes in fear, gazing behind Motoko.
" Otousan..."
Motoko Aoyama: Hope you liked it although it was a bit short. Thanks for your support, please continue to be so kind as to leave a review behind! Next Chapter: Which sword did Motoko take along with her to the roof? Why did Yuri's expression turn from that of joy to terror? Otousan...does that mean...another battle? Up next, "Aoryuken"