Love Hina: Battles of the Heart
A/N: Is this really happening? Have I actually finished a story? Amazing! And I couldn't have done it without all you guys out there! Your reviews helped encourage me to finish the story! The sequel has been planned out (seeing as it won the poll). Thanks to all of you who voted and I hope you all decide to read the Sequel, Scars of the Heart! To give a brief summary:
Keitaro and Motoko are living in the Hinata together, but it seems like there are others who have other ideas about their relationship. Ryukon also appears to have lost more than just the sight in his left eye in his fight with Jadoku and Tsuruko reveals the mystery about her husband.
There will be more pairings (see my forum and post a pairing that you want to see. Afterwards I will set up a poll for you to vote for the most commonly suggested pairings to decide which will earn a place in the story) and more Original characters (Although I wonder if they will be received as well as Ryukon, I was pretty amazed at the results for the kill or save. The Poll alone was a clear Save, with only one person voting to kill him and about 20+ Saying save him!)
I am actually quite pleased Ryukon was well received. (Before anyone asks, No he is not based on me).
Chapter 21: Happy Endings and New Beginnings.
"And in other news, the damage caused by the several serious gas explosions in Kyoto a couple of days ago has reached an estimate 30 Million Yen. There are many badly injured still being treated in hospital as we speak." The reporter shuffled the papers in front of her. "Let's go to our on the scene producer. Hello Yuusen? Are you there Yuusen?"
"This is Yuusen Clasp, reporting live for TV 4, I am here with a young person caught in the blast. Hello Keitaro."
"Hey Yuusen," Keitaro grinned weakly.
"Can you tell me what you were doing when the gas line exploded?"
"Well me and my friends were in a Dojo in Kyoto, having a party when the garden we were in exploded. I and my girlfriend got away with minor injuries but my cousin was sent comatose. That and another one of our friends was impaled by a gas pipe… it was truly a tragedy."
"Truly was," Yuusen smiled at Keitaro and turned to her cameraman. "And that's all from here, back to you guys in the studio."
Tsuruko turned the television off. She was sat in her room, with Kanako and Mutsumi sat beside her.
"They think it was a Gas explosion?" Kanako raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Tsuruko smiled. "Maybe I should go and pay Keitaro a visit."
"Yeah, Kei-kun looked a little down." Mutsumi frowned.
"That's because I told the competition him and Ryukon were forfeiting all their matches." Tsuruko took a sip of tea.
"You're not going to make him pay you, are you?" Kanako asked.
"I never had any intention of claiming that money." Tsuruko smiled, "But if Keitaro thought he had something to lose, he would try harder and he and Motoko would spend more time training together."
"Wow, you are smart!" Mutsumi smiled.
"Not really." Tsuruko sighed, "If I was I would have foreseen all the troubles."
"I must apologise… it is my fault that Jadoku…" Kanako bowed her head.
"I know… but it is not me who you need to ask forgiveness from. Ryukon had to kill him and was the one who was worst injured." Tsuruko sighed.
"Are you sure Ryu-kun will pull through?" Mutsumi sniffed. "It would be so sad if he were to die."
"There, there." Tsuruko smiled at Mutsumi, "If I know Ryukon, he'll be up and about in no time."
"I hope you are right." Mutsumi got up and left the room, followed by Tsuruko and Kanako. They sat in the small area of the garden that had survived unscathed.
"Oh, hello everyone," Motoko bowed as she walked into the garden. She was smiling and practically glowing.
"Man if that is what being in love makes you look like, sign me up." Tsuruko chuckled.
"Aren't you married?" Kanako cut in.
"How about you Mutsumi, would you like to fall in love?" Tsuruko pointedly ignored Kanako's comment.
"Yeah, I felt wonderful when I was with Kei-kun, but I guess that someone out there has to make me feel as good as Motoko seems to feel right now." Mutsumi nodded with a smile.
"I'll sign up for that as well." Naru chuckled as she joined the others in the garden in watching Motoko humming happily picking flowers.
"I am going to pay a visit to Keitaro again," Motoko smiled, "The doctors say they are planning to release him soon."
Motoko walked off, carrying the small bundle of flowers.
"I should go and see Ryukon; he did stop a sword with his hand to save my life and all." Tsuruko smiled faintly.
"I am surprised you haven't already." Kitsune walked in to join the others.
"I… am scared." Tsuruko sighed, "He was always so happy and youthful when he talked… but he had to kill someone and is badly wounded all because he ended up getting involved in my schemes… I daren't face the damage I've done to him." Tsuruko sighed again.
"I feel so loved!"
"Huh?" Tsuruko span around to see a grinning Ryukon crouching on the dojo roof.
"Aren't you supposed to be comatose?" Tsuruko smiled; glad to see her fears were unfounded.
"Bah!" Ryukon jumped down. His whole upper body was covered in thick bandages, with only a small opening for his face. His left eye, though open how, was still the silver colour it was when Ryukon took the hit in Kongou Ryuujin Sukedachi. His right eye was a piercing green. "I'll be fine after a quick nap."
"Can you see out of the left eye?" Kanako asked.
"Nope… blind as a… very blind thing in that eye." Ryukon noted Kanako's pained expression through his one good eye. "Don't think anything about it though; you learned y' lesson about trying to earn someone's heart using methods that could hurt someone."
"Yes, don't do it." Kanako bowed her head, "My actions caused you…"
"Ah, quit it Kanny." Ryukon waved a hand. "I don't care 'bout that, after all TsuTsu said she cares 'bout me!"
"So you are telling me, getting nearly killed was a price you were willing to pay, just for Tsuruko to say she cared for you?"
"Yep," Ryukon grinned happily.
"Ryukon, you are an idiot."
"Kanny, you have a brother complex."
"Just as long as we are clear on that," Kanako nodded.
"Yep," Ryukon grinned and patted Kanako on the head, "You're a good girl really."
"Go to hell." Kanako slapped his hand. "Now if you excuse me, I am going to find a way to get Keitaro without killing anyone."
"She never gives in…" Kitsune chuckled as Kanako walked off.
"It almost makes you glad you lost Keitaro huh?" Naru smiled at Mutsumi.
"Hey! Where's Motoko-chan!" Suu came bounding into the garden.
"She left to see Keitaro." Tsuruko smiled at the younger girl.
"Oh," Suu looked downcast.
"There is Ryukon for you to play with though." Kanako's voice came from somewhere inside the dojo.
"Yay!" Suu leapt onto Ryukon's back, crushing him in her death grip.
"AH!" Ryukon collapsed, "Bring back… Murderous Rage… rather take him on again than face this little girl!"
"Really Mo-chan, you don't have to visit me everyday." Keitaro blushed as Motoko kissed him on the cheek.
"Of course I do. Remember what I told you at the tournament, if you were mine I would never leave you." Motoko smiled as Keitaro kissed her back.
"Well I didn't think you would be so literal…" Keitaro chuckled.
"Ah, quit you whining." Motoko crossed her arms. "Or would you like us to unleash Suu on this ward?"
"Ah," Keitaro grabbed his ribs. "So much agony can't move."
Motoko had to laugh. Out of the entire battle, the only ones with a serious injury were Keitaro the Indestructible and Ryukon the 'If I can still move it then it is alright' (Mutsumi was also admitted to hospital but only for a couple of hours. This had nothing to do with the fight though, and was merely Mutsumi being Mutsumi). Even Naru's wound from the Houmen Kon was little more than a cut on her arm.
"So… when we get back to the Hinata." Motoko smiled.
"I still have to find a way to pay off Tsuruko…" Keitaro groaned.
"She has said, since you took that injury to defend me, she would forget your debt." Motoko smiled as she traced the scar on Keitaro stomach where he had taken Jadoku's Ki strike.
"Thank Kami-sama." Keitaro breathed out. "Oh should I thank my little 'demigoddess'."
"Shut up." Motoko blushed. After Keitaro was told by Tsuruko about Ryukon's description of Motoko, it had become her pet name.
"Ah, Ms Aoyama." The doctor smiled as he walked up to her. "Back again?"
"Yes sir." Motoko bowed politely.
"Well, I suppose you can take him home now." The Doctor smiled. "He is to be discharged."
"How is Ryukon?" Keitaro turned to the doctor.
"Fine, we think."
"You think?" Motoko frowned.
"He seemed fine when he walked out of the hospital." The doctor chuckled, "He just got up and walked out, grinning and bounding around."
"Seems normal enough." Keitaro smiled.
"Let's get you home." Motoko helped Keitaro stand and followed the doctor to the check out area.
Ryukon yawned as he walked through Kyoto with Tsuruko.
"So you have to return to the training area?" Tsuruko raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, sadly." Ryukon frowned. "I have to face my family one day or another."
"May I ask you why you ran away from home in the first place?"
"They treated me like some kind of pawn in their grand schemes, y' know." Ryukon grinned.
"You say that while grinning?" Tsuruko chuckled.
"Don't y' remember, I said I would always grin when you're around." Ryukon laughed. "I guess I'm just glad I got such a good friend and all."
"What shall I tell the others?" Tsuruko asked.
"Tell them, I'll be back, so Katie better not let his training slip!" Ryukon grinned, "And tell you mark two to keep and eye on Kanny and Katie for me."
"I'll let Motoko know." Tsuruko sighed as Ryukon walked up to the car.
"This is my ride, tell the other's I'm sorry I left like this, but I have a feeling I will be back sooner rather than later." Ryukon reached up and kissed Tsuruko on the cheek, taking her by surprise. "See y' TsuTsu." With a wink he nodded to the driver, who let him and drove away.
"What a strange guy." Tsuruko chuckled and walked off.
Thinking things through, the ride had been pretty rough on all the involved parties: Herself, Motoko and Keitaro, Naru and Mutsumi, all of the other Hina girls and Ryukon as well. But she had to admit it had been an adventure.
"Hey sister!" Motoko yelled as she escorted Keitaro to the Dojo.
"Well, if you being Keitaro will make you become loud and unruly…" Tsuruko smiled.
"Where's Ryukon?" Keitaro grinned, "We heard he left the hospital, so I bet he'll have found you."
"He is going home for a short period, but says he will return."
"Fair enough." Keitaro smiled as he looked at the horizon. "Huh, a sunset. They sure are beautiful."
"Agreed." Both Aoyama sisters nodded.
"So… how long until you two tie the knot?" Tsuruko smiled while watching the sun set.
"Who knows?" Keitaro smiled. "I guess we will just know when it is time."
"Yes," Motoko nodded as she held her Keitaro.
"But it will be a western wedding…" Motoko smiled.
"I would prefer an eastern…" Keitaro started but was cut off by Motoko's glare.
"So, shall I help you find a dress Keitaro?" Tsuruko chuckled.
"What's that supposed to mean!" Keitaro asked.
"Well, I thought it was the man who was supposed to take charge and Motoko appears to have done that so…" Tsuruko laughed as Keitaro grumbled under his breath and followed the couple to her dojo, where Kitsune would be drunk; Shinobu would be cooking a wonderful meal, Naru and Mutsumi would be talking about nothing much while Suu's robots trashed what remained of the Dojo.
There was a screech as a white van took the corner at speed and flipped, rolling to a halt outside Tsuruko's dojo.
"Ah," Keitaro chuckled, "Looks like Seta and Sara are here as well…"
"What a group…" Motoko shook her head.
"Would you every change it?" Keitaro asked.
"No chance." Motoko and Keitaro kissed once again as the sun set on another day.
The End
What a cheesy ending huh? Staring into the Sunset… Oh well. I guess I should look at the Sequel now. Still trying to decide whether to get Ryukon to have a relationship with anyone… and what to do about Tsuruko's husband so if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them on my forum for Scars of the Heart!
And once again, thanks to all of you out there who left reviews, added my story to your alerts/ favourites and above all, gave me the encouragement to finish this story. This is for you guys and gals.
- DazBoz