Love Hina: Battles of the Heart
A/N: Hey all... not much to say here but thanks to all the reviewers and hope you enjoy. Read and Review. A bit of a warning, if you are a fan of Momo from Bleach then there is a slight dig at Momo, nothing major though, but you have been warned. I still haven't worked out why there are a few Bleach Cameos in this chapter; guess I had a case of Bleach on the brain.
Oh and a fun fact for all you readers (that explains the cameos) you may already know, but in Japan it is believed if someone is talking about you behind you're back, you sneeze. Kind of like where I come from only it's your ears that burn if someone's talking about you. I wonder where that superstition came from...
Disclaimer: I still do not own Love Hina or Bleach. Just so you know.
Chapter 14: Clash of the Urashima Family
Motoko watched as Keitaro and her sister fought. Both of the fighters had been at it all day and Motoko couldn't drag her eyes from the two fighters. Whether it was her sister's unearthly grace as she always managed to be where Keitaro wasn't expecting her to be, or the sight of the muscle's on Keitaro's chest rippling, after an initial attack by Tsuruko cost him his shirt, Motoko found herself enjoying watching.
Tsuruko smiled as she chained several basic Chi attacks together and nodded approvingly as Keitaro managed to counter them all. Keitaro in turn unleashed several Kaze Shuurai, although the only true defence against that technique was to keep moving so that the user couldn't target you effectively.
"His stamina has definitely improved." Kanako commented. She, along with all the Hinata girls (except Naru) and Seta sat watching the fight beside Motoko.
"Kei-kun is so manly!" Mutsumi fanned herself.
"Keitaro is ripped!" Sara nodded.
"My, he could probably even be a match for me." Seta nodded.
"And coming from you that are something," Haruka removed her cigarette briefly.
"He is definitely a different person than the one who first walked into the Hinata all that time ago." Motoko recalled her first meeting with Keitaro.
"I bet him and Naru have a very physical relationship." Seta nodded, and then flinched as Haruka struck him. "What?"
"Physical relationship?" Kanako turned to face Seta.
"Yeah, with stamina and technique like that he must be..." Seta caught Haruka's expression.
The audience returned their attention to Tsuruko and Keitaro, oblivious to Kanako's nosebleed as she combined the idea of a new, more physical Keitaro with her age old fantasy of being with her brother. She had also started to drool.
"I envy Naru." Motoko sighed sadly.
"Don't we all." Kitsune chuckled. "If I could call that hunk mine I would make sure he never had strength after sleeping together."
"Kitsune!" Shinobu squeaked as Kanako fainted from blood loss.
"What's up with her?" Haruka frowned.
"Brother Fantasies." Ryukon landed on the floor beside Motoko.
"What? Where did you fall from?" Motoko span to face the boy.
"Keh," Ryukon shrugged and focused. The amber colour in his eyes slowly faded back to their usual colours.
"May I ask what you are doing here?" Motoko frowned, "Are you spying on Keitaro's training?"
"Huh?" Ryukon looked puzzled then he realised what the swordswoman was talking about. "Oh yeah, he's facing me tomorrow. How long has he been fighting Tsuruko?"
"About four hours now." Motoko's voice carried a hint of pride.
Ryukon sat down and watched the battle. If any of the others had paid attention to anything other than the fight, they may have noticed the almost identical expressions on Ryukon and Motoko's faces. The only difference was their focus.
"He is quite a hunk..." Motoko whispered to herself.
"I forgot how beautiful she looks when she is serious." Ryukon muttered more or less to himself.
"Are you talking about my sister?" Motoko snapped around.
"Are you talking about my cousin?" Ryukon retaliated.
"My sister is already married."
"My cousin already has a girlfriend."
"... I know." Motoko looked down at her feet.
"Besides," Ryukon grinned, "It's not as if I actually consider myself a contender for Tsuruko, but it never hurts to dream. You and Keitaro on the other hand..."
"On the other hand?" Motoko urged him to continue.
"You both care deeply about each other. The only problem now is Keitaro is torn between the girl he made a promise to all those years ago... and his new found love." Ryukon sighed loudly. "So just give him the time he needs and I guarantee he will choose you, Motoko."
"Really?" Motoko frowned, "I don't know... Ryukon?"
"Yeah?"
"Why don't I have a nickname?" Motoko looked at Ryukon.
"What?" Ryukon grinned, "Well... I was going to do the same to you as I did to TsuTsu... but Momo sounds like the name of someone who is a little... easy to fool?" Ryukon tried to find the right words to explain...
Meanwhile, a small girl with her brown hair in a bun, wearing black robes with an armband around one of the sleeves sneezed loudly then glanced around.
"What is it Vice-Captain?" A tall man with brown hair and glasses turned to face her. He was wearing a white cloak over his black robes.
"Oh… nothing Aizen-taicho." The girl smiled weakly and followed her captain; glad she had the kindest and most not evil captain as her own.
"And then I thought of Moto, but that sounds like the make of a car or something." Ryukon shrugged, "and the Moko didn't sound much better so I gave up trying to think of a nickname for you."
"What kind of a complete idiot would assign people random nicknames anyway?" Motoko was silently grateful she hadn't got one.
"ACHOO!" A small pink haired girl wiped her nose and regained her grip on the giant, scarred man she was riding on. He too wore a large white cloak over black robes, although his were torn as if the wearer had been sleeping in a bed full of razor blades.
"What's up with you?" The large man growled.
"Nothing Ken-chan!" The pink haired girl smiled.
"So which way is it to this special store again? The one with all the strong guards?"
"That way!" The pink haired girl pointed to her left, completely oblivious to the sign saying Soul Society Special Sweet Store, Right at next Junction. As was the man apparently as he followed her directions without questioning.
"Not bad Keitaro." Tsuruko sheathed her Katana. "I call that session a draw."
"Thanks..." Keitaro gasped. "You are simply incredible."
"I do try." Tsuruko turned to face her audience. "Oh hello Ryukon, spying on the competition?"
"Nope, if anything I'm here to help him out." Ryukon stood up and pulled another scroll from his pocket. "I heard you had got a decent understanding on the scrolls I gave you, so I figured you might like this one."
"Nuku Namani?" Keitaro read aloud.
"A very useful technique in the right circumstances." Ryukon winked and turned to leave before adding, "See y' tomorrow Katie, y' better not disappoint me. I've heard you're pretty good at fighting. I'd hate for you to let me down."
"I won't." Keitaro nodded. There was no trace of doubt in his voice.
"Good." Ryukon smiled.
"WHAT?" Naru shrieked. She felt the last verges of her self control start to ebb away. It had taken all of her willpower to hold back, and now after all Kanako had told her, she was not allowed to attack?
"I said I do not want you to fight her just yet." Kanako sighed.
"You said that this tournament would prove my ability to Keitaro! You said it would bring us closer together so long as we kept it a secret until I had faced him in the tournament! Now you're telling me Motoko is taking advantage of my absence to get close to Keitaro and I CANNOT INTEFERE!" The last words were delivered in a scream.
Kanako waited before replying. Now naïve can you be? This girl actually believed that while she was gone, no one would make a move on her boyfriend. I can't believe how easy to manipulate she was. "That is right. The master plan requires you to strike at the right moment. Do not worry; all Motoko's efforts will have been in vain if you follow the plan." Kanako left Naru alone and walked away thinking to herself, She truly is naïve… she believes anything I tell her. Kanako smiled to herself. She was glad her lies about Motoko seemed to actually affect Naru.
Naru meanwhile was punching craters in her living area. Unlike Keitaro, she had been giving a luxury apartment, although judging by the damage Naru was doing to it in her rage, it probably would not be able to be used again in a hurry. Blinded by tears, she found Kanako's comments filling her ears.
"If I hadn't had been there to separate them, Motoko and Keitaro would have been naked in a matter of seconds… Motoko French kissed Keitaro today, once again I had to separate the two… Tsuruko and Motoko were talking about you, about how much of a weakling you are and how lucky Motoko is to have such a faithful lover such as Keitaro…"
"Shut up!" Naru hissed between clenched teeth. Through her tears she could still recall the conversation on the roof top.
"Naru a samurai?" Motoko choked, "I am sorry Naru, but the image of you in this attire… it just seems so… wrong."
"I must agree with my little sister." Tsuruko chuckled, "You are not a warrior by nature, just an aggressive girl."
"I'll show them who is not a warrior." Naru growled.
"Yes you will." Kanako walked into the room. "I have decided… I have held you back long enough, here is a scroll the will guarantee your victory against Motoko." The scroll Kanako handed over was sealed with a black stamp, depicting a dagger plunging into someone's arm.
"This scroll is different to the other Zensen style scrolls you have given me." Naru noticed.
"That is because this is one of the Forbidden Techniques. It is called Houmen Kon."
"Houmen Kon?" Naru frowned.
"Basically, It channels part of the Ki you are not supposed to be able to touch, the Ki that controls your very life... The idiot mistook this Ki for the soul and so named the technique Release Soul. I will warn you, this technique was forbidden for a reason, if you use it too much, the natural Ki that makes life possible will be completely drained and you will die."
"Then I will only use it to deal the finishing blow." Naru replied coldly and opened the scroll.
"Good." Kanako smiled and left Naru alone. A single use of the Houmen Kon is nowhere near enough to take on Motoko, even in your current state Naru. You will use it several times and become comatose, crippling Motoko in the process. Then with those two out of the way…
Keitaro found himself in the silvery desert again.
"Oh great, here again," Keitaro sighed, "I preferred the Motoko dream, well at least until Naru entered it."
"So you prefer a dream with just me?"
Keitaro found he could spin around. Behind him stood Motoko, but unlike the Naru and Keitaro that sometimes stood before him, Motoko wasn't a pale imitation. Motoko appeared large as life and almost seemed to be glowing.
"Mo-chan? Should have figured you'd appear in this dream eventually," Keitaro sighed.
"Does my presence her despair you?"
"Not really." Keitaro smiled, "This is only a dream, and it isn't real."
"Isn't it a little odd you know this is a dream, but you never noticed a dream with just me in before this was a dream?"
"I guess that is a little odd." Keitaro frowned.
"Not really." Pale Keitaro walked up behind Motoko. "In those dreams you were always distracted by something you really wished for."
"... I know." Keitaro sighed. He would not deny that he had become very attached to Motoko lately and that he would not have minded if the dreams became reality. Of course Naru would have been upset with him, but then his decision would be easier. Naru would hate him and Motoko would (hopefully) love him still and accept him as her lover.
"So you admit you desire Motoko?" pale Keitaro watched his counterpart nod. "And what of Naru?"
"I thought I loved her, but now... I think I loved her like a little sister, whereas Motoko is..."
"More of a lover kind of love?" Motoko asked, hope in her eyes.
"Yeah," Keitaro nodded. "I suppose so."
"So... you accept your feelings? When will you let the others know?" pale Keitaro seemed almost happy.
"... After I have had a talk with Naru."
This met with obvious disapproval from the two others in his dream.
"So she has a chance to change your mind?" pale Keitaro sighed.
"No... She was the promised girl... it is only right that I let her know before the others."
"Before even me?" Motoko looked slightly upset, while still smiling.
"I am afraid so." Keitaro smiled weakly.
The desert started vibrating and it swirled until it formed the image of Kanako.
"Wake up brother." Kanako continued shaking her brother. She had noticed him wake up but enjoyed the sensation of her hands on his bare torso. Her cat was perched on her shoulder and sighed intelligently.
"Kanako?" Keitaro stumbled out of bed. "What is it?"
"You overslept, your due to fight in five minutes." Kanako smiled.
Keitaro dived for his clothes and ran out of the room, getting dressed as he did so.
"Pupil, it is time, Keitaro will not interfere with your vengeance." Kanako whispered into a hidden microphone in her cat's collar.
"Understood," Naru's voice replied.
Motoko frowned.
"What's wrong?" Tsuruko turned to her sister.
"Something isn't right..." Motoko looked around, "I am going to the toilet, alright?"
"Fine by me," Tsuruko shrugged.
Motoko raced out of the stadium, katana at the ready. "Show yourself, Masked Avenger! I could sense your gaze in the stadium."
"You are good." The fully Masked Avenger stepped from the shadows.
"I try my best." Motoko tightened her grip on her katana.
The two fighters circled each other. Motoko knew if she wanted to get out of this unharmed, she would have to attack the mask. If it broke the Avenger would flee, as she did when Keitaro leapt between them. Even if she didn't flee, Motoko would be able to see her opponents face and tell what moves they were planning by their facial expressions. Trying to read the mask for any signs of attack was about as successful as trying to plat fog.
"You're best will not be enough." The Masked Avenger drew two Sai (see end for description) from her belt and twirled them in her fingers with expert grace.
"So you decided to raise the odds." Motoko drew her own katana. In combat she had the advantage of range. The twin Sai were barely 20 centimetres long where as her katana was at least a metre. However, a katana took far longer to swing, and the Sai were as fast as an unarmed attack, only much more lethal. Not to mention she carried two weapons compared to Motoko's one. "I don't know what grudge you have against me or the reason behind your obsession with Keitaro, but I will not allow you to threaten and insult me."
"I have reason enough to hate you and your sister." The Masked Avenger pounced.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! IT''S THE FIGHT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR... THE CLASH OF THE URASHIMA FAMILY! ON THE RIGHT, HE MADE IT PAST LAST YEARS PRELIMINARY AND NATIONAL TOURNAMENT, HE MADE IT TO THE WORLD TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINALS, HE IS THE ONE, THE ONLY RYUKON 'DRAGON SOUL' URASHIMA!" There were loud cheers from the crowd. "AND NOW, HIS CHALLENGER TONIGHT. SOME SAY HE SPITS DANGER IN THE EYE, SOME SAY HE OWNS HIS OWN PERSONAL HAREM, OTHERS SAY HE IS A LOVE SLAVE OF SOME WOMAN'S HAREM, ALL WE KNOW IS THAT HE IS THE LIGHTNING FLASH, KEITARO URASHIMA!"
"Sometimes I wonder who the people who make up these rumours are." Tsuruko frowned and looked around for Motoko, "She still hasn't returned yet... I wonder what she is playing at."
"THE BETS HAVE BEEN PLACED AND THERE IS NO CLEAR WINNER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS WHERE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FAVOURITE! NOW LET'S WELCOME THE CONTESTANTS!"
Ryukon walked out, twirling his staff around his fingers and nodding to the crowd. He was grinning and was genuinely looking forward to the fight. It had been a while since he had ever faced someone who he believed would outlast his Nuku Namani, meaning the battle was over before any of his wounds began to show. The last time he had faced someone who had outlasted his Nuku Namani was when he thought Tsuruko. Despite using everything he could muster, she had beaten him. It was the single happiest day of Ryukon's life. He had a goal now; he would get stronger and challenge Tsuruko to a rematch. When he fought her was one of the few occasions where he actually felt alive. Watching Keitaro proudly stroll to meet him in the arena, Ryukon had a good feeling that today would be added to those few occasions.
"Morning, Keitaro." Ryukon nodded.
"Morning," Keitaro replied. "I hope you are as good as you claim to be."
"Hey! That's my line!" Ryukon slung his staff into the bindings that held it on his back.
"Ryukon, may I ask you something?"
"Sure," Ryukon looked around, "Looks like the referee won't be here for a while."
"You always carry that staff, yet you only ever use it on an entrance." Keitaro frowned, "Why carry a weapon if you don't fight with it. Even you aren't stupid enough to claim it's because it makes you look good."
"I do use my staff, although only against an opponent who has proven themselves to be worth my entire array of skills." Ryukon shrugged, "Which is an incredibly small number. Only Tsuruko has ever gotten me to wield my staff."
"Really." Keitaro smiled, "Well be prepared to add me to that list."
Ryukon chuckled as the referee walked up to them.
"You know the rules," the referee looked to each of the contestants. "You both ready?"
"As ever," Ryukon nodded.
"Same here," Keitaro tightened his grip on his sheathed katana.
"FIGHTERS... BEGIN!"
"Nuku Namani!" Ryukon roared.
"ZANTETSUSEN!" Motoko yelled unleashing a spiral Ki attack against her attacker, who evaded it by leaping clear out of the way.
"Is this all the heir to the Shinmeiryuu School is capable of?" The Masked Avenger sighed disappointedly.
Motoko clutched her wounded arm. Her robes were in tatters and she had taken several cuts. Her opponent seemed powered by an inbuilt rage that allowed her to fight with skills far beyond that of the average warrior.
Time for something with a little more punch then, Motoko took a deep breath and prepared her strongest attack. "Messatsu Zanku Zanmasen!" Motoko bought her sword down, expelling a large amount of Ki.
"What the..." The Masked Avenger tried to evade, but found herself caught in the explosion caused by the massive amount of Ki.
"And that is how it is done." Motoko sheathed her sword as the prone figure of the Masked Avenger fell to the floor.
"Damn... you..."
"There is no need to continue this fight, I have beaten you. Now leave me alone." Motoko turned her back and limped away from her contended.
"No... DAMN IT YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME?" The Avenger pulled herself to her feet. "I WILL KILL YOU!"
"Empty threats have no effect." Motoko turned around. Her attack had torn the Avengers armour, revealing her bandages underneath. The small fragments of cloth and the mask were all that had survived the attack. The mask was severely dinted. "That mask must be choking you; I would leave and remove it."
"Hah... you'd like that wouldn't you. But no I will not run away. If this mask is a problem then I will remove it!" The avenger tore off her mask.
"N... Naru?" Motoko's eyes widened. "This has to be a trick... Kanako must have disguised you to look like Naru..."
"I'm the real thing." Naru scowled and pulled at her face, showing that she wasn't wearing a mask.
"But why? If this is all about Keitaro why did you do all this, Keitaro is your boyfriend?"
"But deep down, he only has eyes for you! He only ever complimented you..."
"Naru... you were going out for a couple of days or so when you disappeared. Keitaro needed at least a week to adjust."
"Oh... so you know what my Keitaro needs huh?"
"WHAT HE NEEDED WAS YOU TO BE AT HIS OPENING MATCH!"
SLAP!
Naru staggered backwards clutching her reddened cheek. In front of her Motoko was breathing heavily. She had instantly travelled the 12 metres between them and caught Naru off guard.
"He needed to know you supported him... but what do you do? Enter the same competition without even telling him? Do you know how much he worried about you?"
"Obviously not a lot considering how close you got to him!" Naru snarled.
"Naru... I will not lie. I did take advantage of your departure to try and get closer to Keitaro." Motoko sighed. "I couldn't bare to see him in so much pain over your absence... I had to do something!"
SLAP!
This time it was Motoko's turn to stagger backwards clutching her cheek.
"How dare you try and win my boyfriend!" Naru shrieked, "Your traitorous cow!"
Motoko evaded Naru's furious attacks and leapt several feet back. "Calm down Naru!"
"I will not rest until you are removed as an obstacle!" Naru lashed out with her twin Sai. "Forbidden Technique: HOUMEN KON!"
A large blast of dark Ki, five times stronger than Motoko's own Messatsu Zanku Zanmasen, surged towards Motoko with impossible speed for an attack of that size. Motoko never had a chance to blink.
"KAZE SHUURAI!" Keitaro brought his katana down and blinked in disbelief as his own Ki attack skimmed by his ear.
"Heh, guess my deflection is a little off today." Ryukon grinned.
"Monosugoi Akuma!" Keitaro leapt at Ryukon and punched the ground in front of him.
The rocks beneath the sand pit exploded, filling the air with sand and chunks of rock. When the dust cleared, it revealed a wounded Keitaro and an unharmed Ryukon.
"Damn... how much longer do you have Nuku Namani for?" Keitaro coughed blood.
"About six more minutes," Ryukon grinned.
There was a large explosion from outside the stadium that caused the entire underground cavern to shake.
"What the hell?" Keitaro fell to his knees.
"... Houmen Kon," Ryukon shook his head. "Keitaro, I am going to deactivate my Nuku Namani. Use Kaze Shuurai and I will take the hit. Then you have to go out there and find who just used that technique. I fear Motoko may be in trouble..."
"You're throwing the match?" Keitaro looked worried.
"So long as we both win all our other games then we will go through into the next part of the preliminaries. Ryukon grinned, "Then we can have a real fight okay?"
"I understand..." Keitaro drew his Katana back. "URASHIMA KEITARO OUGI: SANJUU KAZE SHUURAI!" He yelled drawing a triangle.
"Huh?" Ryukon frowned. I don't remember and attack called that...
It is often remarked that leaving Nuku Namani always looks impressive. Every attack you received has its effect delayed until you end the ability, so upon ending the ability, Ryukon was propelled backwards, with several cuts exploding on his chest and as he spiralled backwards he was hit by another three Kaze Shuurai attacks instantaneously.
Impressive! Ryukon thought as he collided with the floor, I couldn't have deflected that if I had tried. He grinned as he felt his consciousness leave him. "Wow, nicely done Keitaro."
"WHAT A SURPRISE RESULT! THE LIGHTNING FLASH HAS OVERCOME THE DRAGON SOUL! AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE LIGHTNING FLASH IS LIVING UP TO HIS NAME AND IS OUT OF HERE!" The commentator chuckled as Keitaro lowered his head and sprinted from the arena.
Kanako frowned as she watched the fleeing Keitaro. Damn... he actually managed to beat that idiot Ryukon... or Ryukon took the dive after sensing Houmen Kon... but if that is the case then why isn't he getting up? I have to stall Keitaro. If he finds out Motoko and Naru are fighting it may interfere with my plans...
-
Sai: A small three pronged Dagger for Examples search for Mileena (Mortal Kombat). I also think one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles used them... can't remember if that's correct though.
Extra Info! Forbidden Art: Houmen Kon
A technique that unleashed part of the user's very life force as an attack. It was forbidden as many Zensen users viewed it as a quick way to a great deal of power. While it is true that the damage Houmen Kon can deal to the opponent is extremely high, so is the cost. Even by using this technique once will drain a considerable amount of life force, triggering serious wounds on the body. This often appears as a deep cut across the stomach that isn't deep but bleeds more than the average wound. Also, while life force is depleted, natural healing takes far longer and external Ki becomes weaker. Using this technique would earn a Zensen School member instant eviction from the school, unless they could prove without a doubt that their use of it was justified. Translation: Release Soul
Extra Info! Zensen Secret Techniques (Keitaro Urashima Ougi: Sanjuu Kaze Shuurai.
Every fighter in Zensen has a technique which is based upon a Zensen technique, but modified in such a way that it becomes there own technique. Keitaro's Secret Technique is the Sanjuu Kaze Shuurai, or Triple Lightning Strike. It allows him to channel three Kaze Shuurai attacks into one large one, making it not only impossible to evade, but impossible to deflect. It also triples its offensive capabilities.