'A Dragon's Disciple'
Disclaimer: Ken Akamatsu wrote 'Love Hina' and he owns the rights. This tale written for fun, and I seek no re-dress from it.
Writer's note: This chapter will deal with two specific events in Keitaro's life, as well as their life-altering aftermaths.
The timeline here is just a few months, from just after school begins until right after the new year's holiday.
Arc One- The early years, Part 3.
-Chapter 3-
-The 1st week of September-
The news of how Keitaro had destroyed the crumbling school building spread it way throughout the Aoyama Council like wildfire. It made a number of the members extremely nervous as soon as they learned more about his emerging powers and abilities.
On the weekend after his punishment had ended, the Council met in Kyoto and wished to examine Keitaro's emerging powers. Many wanted to see what his limits were.
Personally, Aoyama-sama came up with many of these trials, but only with Granny Hina and Keiichiro's permission.
It seems that what Great-aunt Mariko had predicted was now coming into fruition.
It annoyed Narumi with what the Council wanted to subject her son to. When she told Keitaro, he becoming quite irritated with the bother. Be it exasperation or boredom, he would rather spend his time with Haruka or Kanako. Having the ability to move faster than the human eye or bend steel rods might grow old very fast.
His mother shook her head as she understood his attitude.
She noticed other changes in her son which caused her to smile.
On the cusp of becoming a teenager, his Haru-chan caused Keitaro certain reactions that he has never experienced before in his young life. He knew it was bound to happen, but having it happen at this time was very disconcerting.
'My dick gets very hard now,' thought Keitaro when around the woman who meant everything to him.
Narumi thought that some of the things that the Council wanted to subject her son through were stupid and insipid. Never had she seen Keitaro curse or get angry about anything before in his young life other than when he destroyed the derelict school. But the situation had started to change, and not for the better.
As a bright and intelligent boy, she still wanted him to be a fine man who would help run the family businesses.
For his sake, Narumi was going to insist that his trial be short. She still wanted her son to become a normal teenager now, if that was at all still possible.
In agreement with his wife, Keiichiro reflected upon her feelings about the matter of the Aoyama Council testing their son. He too saw that Keitaro could become very angry and no one wanted that.
"I will tell Oka-sama that we will only allow this one test," he said to Narumi.
She nodded and kissed him.
-Resolution-
On the family jet as it flew down to Kyoto, Haruka was also far from happy as she had not consented to the trial that the Council wished to subject him to.
She had heard that he could experience things that could kill or at the very least cripple an ordinary man, not the least a normal healthy twelve-year-old boy.
Providing a lap pillow for him so he could rest, she knew that he did not sleep very well last night. Haruka remembered him as he tossed around angrily while they had slept together in her bed. When she pulled him close, his eyes seemed to glow with anger.
This was a first for her to see that particular phenomenon from him.
Now convened, the full gathering of the Council, but there is one notable absence marking it.
Not present was Urashima Yoko as she was now confined to her bed under hospice care.
Seated with Keiichiro and Narumi, was quite a large contingent of the Urashima clan, and not a one of them was in a very agreeable mood right now.
The Council members, as well as Aoyama-sama, saw that Narumi was on the verge of withdrawing her permission, because of the demands that they were making on her son.
It also upset Kanako after Keitaro told her about what some of the adults had suggested as tests for him, which irritated her to no end.
With both of her children upset, Narumi had almost called the whole thing off.
Sensing reluctance, Hina had to do a lot of mollifying to get her daughter-in-law to agree in allowing Keitaro to go down to Kyoto on this occasion.
Only if Haruka and Kanako could come would Keitaro agree to go. With everything that will be going on down there, Haruka was not about to let him out of her sight. Neither was little Kanako, and she was only eight.
With a promise to Keiichiro, Mariko said that she would hold her tongue when the meeting began. That was unless someone said or did something unacceptable to his son. The boy had already atoned for the sin of destroying the dilapidated school building. Her last comment was that this test was in her opinion 'nothing but a load of bullshit'.
Many of the most important Urashima clan members were present as witnesses, and none were in a very good frame of mind.
For many years and since anyone could remember, it was the first time so many were here at a meeting such as this or of this importance.
Before this particular gathering however, Hina and Mariko had put the word out to the rest of their clan. When they so, it came to the notice of the other families.
Their actions heightened an already thick atmosphere here in Kyoto.
Especially when Urashima Daisuke flew in all the way from New York just to support his grandnephew. This dour and plain looking elderly man was the financial wizard of the clan, as well as the second youngest of Hina and Mariko's siblings. In another vein, he also worshipped the ground that Hina walked on, so a request from her was as a command to him. Normally, he wore a business suit, but on this solemn occasion, he donned the Urashima colors just as the rest of the family had for this occasion.
Furthermore, seated with the Urashima was Tsuruko. Marked as the Aoyama heir, she bore the clan's Katana and its equally ornate Wakizashi. Having them ensconced in her Uwa-obi, these were very recognizable to all present, as she wore them with intent.
During this gathering of the Council, she defied the ban on weapons. Outside of her own family, Tsuruko did so to protect the two most important people to her. It did not matter to her if Keitaro needed protecting or not, she did it for her love of the boy.
The Urashima accepted her reasoning and allowed her to sit with them, no one else though dared to suggest that the weapons be kept outside the chamber.
Seated next to the boy she loved, Tsuruko detected much anger as his aura turned a bit crimson when she took his free hand. She also saw it in his eyes when he turned and nodded to her.
With Tsubasa were the other children, this included Mutsumi, Motoko, Kanako and other young children of the membership. Included in the group were two that Keitaro would become very intimate with in the future.
Before the meeting began, Kanako got angry because she could not sit with her beloved brother during the proceedings. The young girl just about threw a tantrum when the elders would not allow her to sit with him.
Giving the elders a look that spoke volumes, Keitaro went to see his precious Imouto-chan so he himself could calm her down.
"That's a good idea, Keitaro," said Narumi as she acknowledged that her son would be the best person to send.
Going off with Tsubasa quietly afterward he spoke to her, Keitaro promised to spend more time with her after this trial concluded.
"Urashima-sama, do you agree to the final trial before a judgment is rendered," said Aoyama-sama as he spoke to end the tension.
From her spot on the dais, Hina looked over at Aoyama-sama and replied, "We have agreed to this test and that this will be the only one. Afterwards, we of the Urashima, along with his Okā-san, will accept no more challenges for him. They will cease, or we will know why."
Even though Hina is the senior elder of this conclave, to hear her address the Council this way shocked all of the non-Urashima seated in the room.
"Do you challenge the wisdom of what we are about to do here?" asked Aoyama-sama who looked askance at her.
"No! I do not challenge the wisdom of what you wish to do, just the necessity, as it is such a big waste of time," she answered rather directly and a bit curtly.
No one outside the Urashima's close circle could believe that she even doubted these proceedings. However, she is a grandmother who loves her only grandson dearly.
With the opening words said, she nodded to the boy.
Wanting to get this crap over with, Keitaro released Haruka and Tsuruko's hands, then jumped up to his feet rather quickly. He wanted to get this nonsense as he saw it over with and rejoin his beloved Haruka.
Determined and filled with resolve, he walked over to the middle of the floor.
When the boy stopped, Aoyama-sama climbed down off the dais and stood next to him.
A door slid open at the end of the Dojo, twelve fully-armed Samurai of the Aoyama clan walked into the room to join them.
As she watched the spectacle play out, Haruka knew that her beloved Kei-kun could handle them with no problem. A smile crossed her face.
Looking at Keiichiro, she said derisively, "Oji-san, I believe that he has nothing to worry about."
Nodding in agreement, he almost laughed.
On the other hand, Narumi seethed. She did not care what the elders of her family have said about his legacy, Keitaro was still her son.
She calmed a bit when her husband placed his hand on hers and smiled confidently. Only a bit though…
…until.
Raising her hand, Granny Hina had called for silence.
"All will be well just as you said, Haruka-chan," said Hina confidently to her granddaughter.
The smile on her face widened, Haruka began to feel a bit smug.
The clamor around the room also ceased, as Aoyama-sama also raised his hand for quiet.
"This will be a test between one who would be 'the master', and twelve of the finest warriors that this Dojo has ever produced," said Aoyama-sama, "When I raise my hand, Keitaro and his opponents will stand ready. When I lower it. the contest will begin."
While they looked at the boy who stood in front of them, the modern age Samurai understood what was required of them. Walking around the edge of the floor, they form a circle to surround Keitaro, and then stop when equidistant apart.
Aoyama-sama looked at Keitaro for a moment and saw no fear or nervousness in him. It was something he has come to expect from him.
In a mere moment however, he would witness an event in that would surprise even him.
Keitaro, not bothering to look around, began to power up.
Those who were sensitive to changes in Chi levels, blanched at his output.
The strongest adepts noticed that he was emitting more energy than at any time in the past. Involving no anger as at the school, he discharged just sheer raw determination to get this over with quickly as returning to his Haru-chan was too much on his mind right now.
The Samurai took their stances and readied themselves to fight.
They too sensed his massive aural output, but none were fearful. Maybe they should be.
As one, the clicks of their Katanas ready to be drawn was most audible.
No one had a clue of what would happen next.
"Stand ready, Keitaro," said Aoyama-sama who winced slightly at the output of the boy's power.
Knowing that the boy was set, he raised his right hand.
The tension in the room was now palpable as everyone sat and leaned forward, even his family.
As Aoyama-sama's hand started its downward path, Keitaro waited for the proper moment.
'Now,' instructed Master Ryu.
Faster than the eye could follow, Keitaro dropped the twelve men like stones as Aoyama-sama's hand reached the bottom of its descent.
Smiling, Haruka had to prevent herself from laughing at the spectacle when Keitaro re-joined her.
Tsuruko too gave him a flabbergasted stare.
The shock of seeing the boy seated and holding hands with the two from before, was almost too much for some on the Council. Those who have not seen Keitaro before, demanded that he be taken from his family and become a ward of the Council.
When the Urashima heard those words, they formed a defensive ring around the pair as Narumi balled her fist.
In sync with Haruka, Tsuruko joined with them.
Keitaro scoffed with a noise loud enough that everyone heard him.
Haruka and Tsuruko giggled at his non-verbal comment.
His attitude riled some of the members seated nearby.
Trying not to laugh herself, Mariko said, "Damn it to hell, will everyone calm down! Sit the fuck down before we have a damn war on our hands."
Knowing that Keitaro's attitude towards what has just happened was not helping matters, Hina took her grandson and the two closest to him aside. She then said, "Haru-chan, you and Tsuruko take Kei-kun outside now so we can get this mess straightened out".
Unlike her grandson, she knew that the situation in here was about to spin out of control.
Haruka nodded, then she and Tsuruko quietly led him out of the building.
Still smug, Keitaro tried his hardest not to laugh.
Narumi mouthed her thanks to her mother-in-law.
Aoyama-sama motioned for calm and silence, as others assisted the downed Samurai.
Narumi looked at her husband right then and said, "Kei-kun, why did I know this was going to happen?"
Off to the side, she then heard some murmuring about her son.
Keiichiro never got a chance to respond.
"That's it!" screamed Narumi, "I have just about had it with you crazy fucking people. That is my son, you bunch of assholes are fighting over!"
Shocked that this seemingly mild-mannered woman would explode and curse them in this manner, the Urashima elders believed that someone may have crossed the line.
Narumi then turned into her husband arms and cried.
All order had been lost and no one had a clue of what to do until...
Picking up her purse, Hina opened it and pulled out a western-style billy club.
After she walked over to the edge of the dais, Hina pounded the noggin-knocker on the edge of the raised platform. That sound quickly quieted the room as it got everyone's attention.
Folding her arms across her chest, she showed a face that spoke volumes.
The noise soon ceased.
When Narumi went off as she did, Hina knew it was time to take matters into her own hands.
No one fucked with her family.
"The next person in here who opens their fucking mouth, gets their damn skull bashed in. Do you understand me, mina?" asked Hina whose eyes now blazed. An angry Urashima Hinata was not a sight that you ever want to see. (Writer's note: mina- everyone)
Like a shelf full of bobble-head dolls, they all nodded and did not dare to say a word. Included in this were Aoyama-sama, and Mariko who was duly impressed.
Narumi sobbed quietly, but Hina let that go.
"Okay then, now that I have your attention, sit your asses down," said Hina as she tapped the dais to emphasize her point, "Aoyama-sama let us call a meeting right now to discuss this situation calmly and rationally, because I have had it with you sons-of-bitches. Remember, I have this and know how to use it."
As a master of the Urashima style of fighting, she would gladly give the first person who crossed her a personal demonstration if they wanted one.
Once they restored order, Aoyama-sama asked that everyone take a few minutes to calm down before the discussions begin. He needed to calm down himself after his finest pupils dropped like flies.
-Meanwhile outside of the Dojo-
Haruka and Tsuruko lead a visibly upset Keitaro into some of the back glades of the estate.
If he just got through this little test, Keitaro thought people would just calm down and leave him alone. He just wanted to be with his Haru-chan, Kanako, family and friends.
"Are you going to be okay, Kei-kun?" asked Haruka as they walked along. Right now, there was nothing in heaven or hell that could separate her from him because he needed her right now.
Nodding, he did not answer with words.
Just wanting to be a steadying presence for the she loved, Tsuruko said nothing. The tall young woman understood where her place was at the moment, her time to interact with them would come at a more appropriate time.
For the present, all three just walked among the fall colors and the sand gardens.
In the midst of pruned back garden, they found a stone bench and sat down.
"You didn't help things back there, sweetie," commented Haruka who faced him.
While Haruka took his right hand with both of hers, he replied, "I couldn't help it, Haru-chan. (Looking over at the other woman) Gomen, Tsu Nee-chan. When I saw what your Tou-san had planned as a test, it struck me as rather odd.
Tsuruko cannot argue with his logic, and said, "They were really good too."
"Now, what is going to happen back there?" asked Keitaro rhetorically looking at both of his companions.
"Who knows, and I could care less too," responded Haruka as she endeavored to prevent a giggle.
The three then looked at each and laughed loudly.
"At least I know that no one can beat me," he hissed before Haruka and Tsuruko rose with him so they could continue their walk.
Even Master Ryu laughed at the results.
-Back at the Council chambers-
"I do not offer any apologies for anything that was said by me or my family just a few minutes ago," said Hina as she had watched with everyone else as the now semi-conscious Samurai stumbled away from the Dojo floor.
After they departed, she continued, "You saw with your own eyes, what my grandson is capable of and the power that he used to accomplish this feat. Some of you would like to take him away from us, his family, and from his Okā-san to raise him as what pray tell. Some kind of symbol!"
A long pause so she could control her anger…
"Bullshit, I say."
Another long pause to allow this short phrase to sink in…
"Here is the funny thing, as it could have been very dangerous if someone had tried. Does anyone in this room have the courage to try and take him from his Okā-san, pray tell?"
It was both a rhetorical question and very sarcastic, but she wanted to see if anyone is stupid enough to answer it.
After a minute, someone in the back said something that actually caused Hina to smile.
"Urashima-sama, do you think that for the boy's own good that he at the very least should continue to be overseen by the Council?"
There was, at the very least, one person in the room who summoned up the brainpower to ask an intelligent question.
"Overseen is something we Urashima, and even his Okā-san can live with, Hamza-san," answered Hina as she peered over at the man who asked, "However, we will not tolerate anyone suggesting to Narumi that she hand Keitaro over to the Council against her will ever again. Does everyone understand me? That shit is over with, as it could get very messy if anyone ever attempted to use force with him. You should have seen what Keitaro did to a large rock back on top of Hinata Hill. But I leave that one to your imaginations."
The veiled threat was quite blatant.
"What do you propose then, Hina-sama?" asked a clearly bewildered Aoyama-sama.
For once, he had no solutions or answers after witnessing what Keitaro had just done to his best warriors and pupils.
A lot calmer now, Harumi released her husband and made her way over to Hina.
Stepping aside, the Matriarch allowed her to speak.
"I know that I am not a member of this Council, but I am his Okā-san and that should count for something," said Narumi emphatically, "If you want to keep an eye on him, go ahead, I do not care. But as I have always said, I will have a normal son. My husband and I will raise him. There will be no more tests, no more trials or anything else. He is my son and not some pawn on a Go board to push around. I know how much my family cares about us and they have my permission to do whatever is necessary for Keitaro to be a normal teenager. This is my final word on the matter, end of discussion."
Promptly, she went back to her husband and both sat down.
Keiichiro hugged his wife.
With a smile, Mariko gave her a supportive pat on the back.
"You all have heard her declaration for yourselves, and speaking for our whole clan, she has my full backing," said Hina as she nodded to Narumi.
"I concur, Urashima-sama," said Aoyama-sama acquiescing to Hina's demands, "Everything will continue as before. There will be no more tests or trials. (A pause) Just a personal word if I may. Keitaro is always welcome here to study the blade if he ever wished to train with me. I believe others would agree that if he ever wanted to learn any other style present here, he would also be welcome. This would be strictly on a voluntary basis and with his Oka-san's consent."
Looking to Narumi, Hina saw her nod in return.
"Then, with this done, the matter concerning Urashima Keitaro is hereby a closed matter. You are all dismissed," declared Aoyama-sama who needed a drink.
The Urashima was very happy with the outcome.
That night, the clan celebrated with the Aoyama, the Otohime and their allies. They asked everyone else to join them and reconciled with the others so as to not cause a feud.
Not everyone had agreed with the decision. There was some grumbling from the newer members, but not much else.
After a few bottles of Kyoto's finest Sake, all enmity was forgotten.
-Early December-
Since the late spring, Yoko had not been at all well. After a battery of tests by the best doctors in both Japan and American, they told her that the diagnosis was Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer.
"Oh," was all Yoko said after she read the final report.
When her father informed her, the news almost devastated Haruka.
A once active and very vital woman rapidly wasted away as she becomes bedridden by late fall. All activity around Yoko ground down to a slow crawl.
Being the supportive husband that he always was, Ruka did what he could for her. But felt helpless while he watched his beloved wife slip away.
This was where it all began…
BRRRR! BRRRR!
From his belt clip, Keiichiro's new smart phone rang. Having grabbed it, he looked and saw the number. He ran his finger across the screen.
"Moshi, moshi. Keiichiro here," he said as he had expected it for a while, and lamented that it had finally come.
"Hey, Kei," said Ruka in a broken, hesitant voice. He tried not to cry as he continued, "Yoko-chan is doing poorly and does not have very long. Your Kaa-san is here and is doing her best to keep her as comfortable as possible. She had dismissed the hospice nurse as would look after her daughter herself in Yoko-chan's last few days. Plus, Haruka-chan is on her way over from her apartment near Tokyo U."
"We will be over there shortly, Ruka-kun," said Keiichiro who too attempted not to cry, "Just hang in there until we do."
Checking on the progress of his family, he looked over at Narumi. She was helping Keitaro and Kanako get their shoes and jackets on.
Finished, she nodded quietly to him.
"Thanks, Kei," said Ruka, "See you soon." The line went silent.
When Yoko told him of her diagnosis, it overwhelmed Keiichiro because he could do nothing for beloved Nee-chan.
Along with Otohime Natsumi, Harumi spent a lot of time with her sister-in-law. Both women saw to it, along with Hina and Ruka, that everything was in order before Yoko passed from this life.
A family emergency called Natsumi away, so she gave the woman she loved a kiss goodbye.
As Keiichiro pulled out of his driveway, he knew that the call only confirmed that his sister Yoko would soon be gone.
Across Tokyo, a heartfelt conversation…
"Promise me, Kaa-san," said Yoko rasping as she sat up in her large bed, "That you will look after Ruka-kun and Haruka-chan for me after I am gone. I know that my only child is an adult now, but I still wish to know that she will be well looked after." Many soft pillows propped her up as she was as comfortable as her husband could make her. In her present state, Yoko was only a shadow of her former self.
"I promise to take care of them both, Yoko-chan," said Hina seated in a chair as she held her daughter's emaciated hand, "Plus, if anything happens to Ruka-kun, I will take Haruka and adopt her as own my daughter."
"Arigato, Kaa-san. Is Kei on his way?" asked Yoko who winced slightly. The pain meds no longer worked as they once did, as her system had built up a tolerance to them.
With the bedroom door ajar, Hina heard the kerfuffle of guests as they arrived downstairs.
Speaking of her only daughter, Haruka had already spent much time up here with her mother. She could not stay up here for very long, because memories of her vivacity caused too much distress.
"I think he has just arrived with Narumi and the kids," said Hina who stood up and turned her head towards the door, "You rest sweetie and I will see you after you wake up." It is her hope that she does…
After she said that, Hina released her hand and leaned in to kiss daughter's forehead. Placing her hand under the warm coverlet, she smiled wanly on the way out the door.
Once again, Yoko hit the pain pump, and hardly sensed any relief.
"Shit," she muttered as a fevered sleep overtook her.
-Downstairs-
"Kaa-san," said Keiichiro after he took his coat and shoes off, "How is Yoko Nee?" He puts on some house slippers and prepares to go upstairs, but...
"She is sleeping right now, Kei," said Hina coming downstairs, "I do not want her to be disturbed right now".
Narumi helped the children with their jackets and shoes alone, because of how distressed her husband was. Just as she was when her brother's wife had died, he had supported her through that time and now she reciprocated that support.
Alone on a loveseat to the right of the main staircase, Haruka saw Keitaro as he made a straight line towards her. After he sat down, she took him into her arms and hugged him very tight. Since she had arrived home, Haruka had been crying and needed the comfort of his arms.
Also, Kanako came over and hugged Haruka, because she knew something was wrong here. After that, she went over and gave one to Hina Obaa-san. Seated with her mother, the adults all made small talk and endeavored to bring comfort Ruka.
Under the circumstances, Ruka held up well, as his beloved wife slept upstairs.
The lighting in the living room is very subdued and somber, like the mood of the people in it.
Bolstering Haruka in his arms, Keitaro thought about the wonderful aunt who had helped him learn how to draw. It was her, who on his eleventh birthday, gave him his first easel and artist pencil set as a gift. That memory thread also spiraled out to all the times that she took him, Haruka and Kanako out to eat, to the zoo or the times they had had fun at the amusement parks around Tokyo and Yokohama.
'I do not like seeing everyone so sad,' thought Keitaro as the grim mood began to affect him, 'I have to do something to help my Oba-san.'
With all of the power which welled itself deep inside him, Keitaro no longer wanted wished to sit idly by and do nothing. With all of the gifts he had surely one at the very least could help his aunt feel better.
'I believe you have many gifts, my son,' responded Master Ryu reassuringly, 'the greatest is the love you have for her.'
'I do love my Oba-san,' responded Keitaro as he searched his eidetic memory.
He knew that he was capable of doing things that no one else could ever hope to, so maybe if he went upstairs, he could help her.
Inside his mind, Keitaro sensed a new gift as he sensed a renewed hope for his aunt
'Go to her my boy,' said Master Ryu reassuringly.
Keitaro knew his mentor was smiling at him.
While he thought, Haruka had her arms around his neck, and laid her head on his shoulder for comfort.
Then Keitaro whispered to her, "I have to go help Oba-san, Haru-chan. I cannot sit here anymore and do nothing."
"What can you do, Kei-kun?" she quietly asked him.
"Anything I can," he whispered back as he steeled himself, "Maybe I can pour some of myself into her and take all her sickness away."
"I love you," Haruka replied and gave him another big hug, and before she released Keitaro added, "Be careful and don't overtax yourself."
As she let him go, Haruka believed that if anyone could help her mother, it was her beloved.
Ready, he leaned towards the edge of the loveseat.
Through the dim lighting, Haruka then clearly saw the determination in his eyes. They seemed to glow, but seated there, only she witnessed it.
"Keep an eye on them for me, Haru," he whispered softly.
"I will, sweetie," she responded and kissed his cheek in return, "Gambatte."
Looking over at the adults seated on the other side of the room, he spotted Kanako was also now asleep on the couch.
A good sign for both, as no one paid attention to their corner of the large living room.
Quietly, Keitaro stood up and felt Haruka pat his arm as she kept watch on their elders.
Using a catlike stealth, he silently went upstairs and took a moment to check his situation. No change.
He took a deep breath and approached a very familiar door. Having been here many times in the past, he had no difficulty in finding the right room. Grabbing the knob, Keitaro turned it silently, took another deep breath and exhaled slowly before he opened the door. So as not to make any noise, and if he needed to make a quick getaway, he kept the bedroom door halfway open.
Keitaro went past the frame and stood there for a moment to remember what he was about to do. No doubt was present as the plan made itself manifest in his mind.
A smile, a nod and a move forward.
In the large darkened bedroom, Keitaro saw his aunt as she slept relatively peaceful thanks to a very large dose of her pain meds.
'Do not be afraid, my son' said Master Ryu, 'go to her'. The Dragon Sensei was giving his pupil some extra encouragement.
Having difficulty looking at the emaciated woman on the bed, Keitaro almost went back downstairs. It broke his young heart to see her in such condition, as there was a vitality which was sorely missing from woman who had always been kind to him.
'I understand,' said his Sensei.
In his mind, Keitaro heard his master's words, so setting his resolve once more, he whispered, "For Oba-san."
He came over to the side of the bed she laid on and prepared himself. Then, Keitaro cleared his mind of all thoughts except for ones of the wonderful woman whose sickness he wanted to go away. Next, he reached under the blanket and took her thin hand. It was so frail that he almost began to cry again. However, her delicate state right now did not discourage him, as he would now pour a part of himself into her and make his Yoko Oba-san happy again.
In Yoko's unconscious state, she did not stir when Keitaro lifted her hand off the bed.
Firmly, her hand was in both of his now, he concentrated and activated his immeasurable aural power.
Slowly, he commenced to glow.
At first, it was an ethereal pale-blue light barely visible to the naked eye. As he thought about her and only her, he poured some of himself into his beloved aunt's hand.
A slight stir on the bed.
Ramping his Chi up to levels beyond anything that he expended at his trial, the glow swiftly changed from the light-blue it was to a now brilliant white light.
The intensity of it increased as well.
Lying there partially conscious now, Yoko sensed that something was happening to her.
Nevertheless, Keitaro's concentration did not break.
Awake now, Yoko felt something very odd, and that was pain not wracking her body for the first time in months. At first, she thought she was dreaming or that she had died.
For the first time in weeks, Yoko smiled.
In the meantime, the aural pressure he used slowly increased its power.
Then, through her closed eyelids, she gazed upon a brilliant white light as she at last understood what might be happening to her. In addition, she detected the powerful opiates, which had suppressed her pain quickly dissipate from her system.
"Kei-kun," said Yoko softly after she opened her eyes.
There was an intense apparition that she suddenly realized was her nephew.
'Such power,' Yoko thought as she was aware of his capabilities.
Thinking that this expenditure of power could hurt him in some way, she tried to pull back her hand.
However, he held it in a gentle grip of steel.
She too commenced to glow, as her body started to morph. It was almost as if he was making physical changes to her on the outside as well.
Never had Yoko felt so alive.
Downstairs…
Both Hina Obaa-san and Haruka detected a huge spike of Chi which had emanated from somewhere inside the house. Keiichiro sensed it as well, even with his partial Psi-blindness.
The sensation was more powerful than anything that the three had ever experienced before.
It came to Hina what the source might be. She looked over to where her niece sat and saw that Haruka was alone.
"Come on, mina," Hina said while she rose up off the large couch.
With everyone in tow, Hina rushed upstairs, and having turned a corner, five people perceived a brightly lit hallway with the main bedroom door halfway open.
Opening the door wider, everyone stepped inside. They saw Keitaro bathed in a dazzling white light as he held onto Yoko's left hand.
In the same vein, Yoko now shined just as bright as her nephew did.
The power which sloughing off Keitaro made both Hina and Haruka blanch uncomfortably, but they endured it for the sake of what was happening here.
Lucky, Keiichiro easily endured as he perceived the glowing apparition to be his son and older sister.
Befuddled, Ruka to saw what transpired in here and almost tried to stop Keitaro. Hina prevented him from interfering.
"Stop and watch, Ruka-kun," Hina commanded in a quiet tone. She believed that her grandson was in the process of healing her daughter because of how much she meant to him.
Fully conscious now, Yoko sensed major changes which were happening to her. For some reason, she felt parts of her re-grow, re-connect and go back to a state before any of her injuries or surgeries.
'I feel so alive,' she thought as the altering ceased.
After a few more seconds, Keitaro's aura flickered as both quickly faded back to normal. Releasing Yoko's hand, he collapsed in sheer exhaustion onto her bed.
Rushing in, Keiichiro caught his son before he slid onto the floor.
Someone turned on a light in the room.
Cradled in his arms, Keiichiro knew what his son just did for his sister.
Concerned, Narumi came over to see if her son is all right.
"Otō-san, Okā-san, I am very tired," said Keitaro before he closed his eyes and went into a deep sleep.
At this moment, Master Ryu could not be prouder of his pupil.
"Would someone please tell me what is going on?" asked Ruka incredulously as he stood there with hands on hips. This event was beyond his comprehension, as he was not up to speed on the abilities of his wife's nephew.
"I believe I know Kei-kun has just done, Ruka-kun. I will tell you when we go back downstairs," said Hina smiling and added, "Go to her."
Not overly worried, Narumi looked only a bit concerned only because her son had gifts that she would never fully understand. Nevertheless, he was still her beloved son.
When she went out of the bedroom, Hina was very happy. With her own abilities, she recognized that there was a significant difference in Yoko's aura. It is so much stronger than when she sat up here with her earlier, and the changes.
"Kami," she whispered through her teeth amazed.
Out in the hallway, Keiichiro asked, "Where can I put him?"
"In my old bedroom, Oji-san," said Haruka who led Keiichiro down the hallway. When the got there, she opened the door for him.
Coming over to the bed, he gently laid his son on it.
"Will he be okay, Kei?" asked Narumi who followed them in.
"Yes, Narumi-chan," he said answering his wife's concern, "He will be. Whatever it was that he did for Yoko Nee-chan must have completely worn him out."
"I will stay with him," said Haruka now seated on the edge of her old bed with Keitaro. She brushed some stray hairs out of his face.
The two parents knew that their son would be well cared for by her until he awakened. So, they turned to leave, stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind them.
"Arigato, my little Kei-kun," she whispered and kissed his cheek. Haruka hugs the sleeping form of her beloved as tears of joy burst forth from her eyes.
Narumi stayed by the door a few minutes until she thought her son would be alright.
In the middle of the hallway, Keiichiro turned the light on out here, "that's better," he said as the gloom had departed. He heard some clamoring and saw his beloved sister as she stood attempting to shoo her stunned husband away. At first glance, she looks healthier than he had ever seen her.
"I have not felt this good in months, Ruka-kun," said Yoko still trying to brush off her bewildered husband, "so there is no way in hell that I am going to stay in that damned bed one second longer. Where's Keitaro?"
Having just risen out of a sick bed where she was not expected to last the night, Yoko walked and moved around rather spryly.
Almost not recognizing her, Keiichiro smiled and replied, "He is sleeping off the effects of what he did for you, Nee-chan. Haruka is with him."
Yoko smiled back at her younger brother and said, "I owe that wonderful boy of yours everything, Kei."
They hugged each other.
For some reason, Keiichiro had a difficult time as he held her as he had to fight getting hard.
'When was she ever that big?' he asked himself. Narumi was too concerned with their son to notice his reaction to his sister.
Then when they separated, both siblings turned to Ruka and attempted to explain to him about what Keitaro had just done.
However, for some reason the shock of seeing his darling wife as she stood there in front of him, looking healthy and walking around, was beyond what his mind could accept right now.
Sister and brother tried not to laugh, but both failed miserably as Hina and Narumi joined them.
They all then headed downstairs, and left Haruka to watch over a sleeping Keitaro.
"Right now, I am so hungry that I could eat a whole fast-food franchise by myself," said Yoko with a big smile as she sat at her own dining room table for the first time since she could remember.
Because of her cancer, Ruka has not heard her say anything like this in quite a while.
"I could use a bite to eat too," said Keiichiro as he gives his flat stomach a pat.
Laughing, Hina and Narumi go into the Yoko's big kitchen to cook a late dinner, as they all need something to eat. The shock of the events upstairs has worn off and everyone's adrenaline rush has rapidly diminished.
Five minutes later, meat as it began to sizzle was heard and soon afterwards smelled throughout the house.
Although Ruka has seen his nephew do a myriad of seemingly impossible things over the past few years, this particular deed totally escapes him. 'Damn it to hell, why am I feeling so stupid right now?' he asked himself while seated at the table next to his wife.
Another half-an-hour went by.
Throughout all of the hubbub, Kanako awakens after her elders started to talk rather loudly about something. After she rubbed her eyes, the girl got off the couch to find out why.
"Oba-san!" exclaimed a surprised Kanako at the sudden turn of events. Running over, she hugged her Aunt Yoko and cried her own tears of joy. In her mind, she knew that her older brother must have done something wonderful for her. One day when she was older, Kanako would fully understand.
"Before we go any further with this, Kei. Just what in the hell did your son do to my wife?" asked Ruka still not totally getting it.
After she released her niece, Yoko smiled at the befuddled look on her husband's face.
That was when Hina and Narumi came back into the dining room with platters of food.
Placing it on the table, Yoko ravenously dug in.
"We made plenty, so eat your fill," said Narumi trying not to laugh as she watches her sister-in-law shovel the food into her mouth.
"This is so good," mumbles Yoko who seemed not able to move her chopsticks fast enough.
"Whoa," said Keiichiro after he lost a battle to her for a dumpling.
No one made the obvious comments as the laughter continued through dinner.
After cleaning off the table and washing the dishes…
"Ruka-kun," said Hina subsequently as she sipped some fresh hot tea, "I do not know how he did it either, but I believe that Keitaro has healed my Yoko and restored her back to full health".
Then something else hit her.
"Okay," as the fog slowly lifted in Ruka's mind.
"Just look at her," added Hina. Even she was affected by her daughter's sudden change in visage.
They all did, as no one saw the emaciated scarecrow of a woman who was in her deathbed as she was dying of a horrible disease less than an hour before. She positively glowed and looked more like a twenty-something college co-ed, not as a woman who was in her mid-forties.
"Where is that small mole on your jaw line, Yoko?" asked Ruka. The gist of what Keitaro had done for her had finally sunk in far enough that he noticed many other changes in her as well.
"Are you serious," said Yoko surprised.
'Wow, she is absolutely gorgeous,' Ruka thought after he re-assessed what is before him. There was an actual stirring between his legs
Normally, it never had taken him very long for anything to sink into his skull, but there was a first time for everything.
Bringing her hand up to where the mole used to be, Yoko now touched nothing on the side of her mouth. Then, she noticed other huge changes in her body.
'Shit,' she nearly screamed and would have done so if Kanako was not present.
Needing to investigate everything for herself, Yoko stood up and nearly ran to the large first floor bathroom.
Ruka followed her in there and closed the door behind them.
The three adults laughed, as they could not help notice but notice the changes as well. They even caught sight of the bulge in his pants.
Kanako looked totally confused.
Turning the lights on, Yoko stepped in front of the full-length mirror and looks at her reflection.
"Fuck," she exclaimed not recognizing the woman who stood looking back at her.
"By the gods," squeaked Ruka as he received a better view of his wife in here. The bulge down below grew larger.
Her hands did not feel numb when she bent her wrists, and the old ache in her right shoulder was completely gone. Moving her right arm around in a circle, Yoko found that she now had a full range of motion in it.
"Damn," she said pulling out the front of her nightie. Yoko saw a body that she has never seen before, not even when she was in University. In addition, this one seems to be superior to the one she had before her illness.
As he stood by the vanity, Ruka fought what was now a very painful erection.
"Where did these large tits come from, sweetie?" asked Yoko loudly before she covered her mouth. Stupefied, she smiled anyway.
He laughed.
Giving her much larger tits a good fondle, Yoko enjoyed it so much that she opened up her nightie to let Ruka caress them too.
Gently caressing Yoko's newly enlarged treasures, he could only stare at how perfectly round they were. Softly tweaking her erect upturned nipples, he received a gasp from his wife.
Throwing her arms around his neck, Yoko gave her husband a passion-filled French kiss. Feeling hot right now, she has not been horny for such a long time.
"Hehehe," she snickered after a few minutes of admiring the new look with her husband.
"This is so nice, Yoko-chan," said Ruka who used an affectionate honorific before he kissed her again, "I could really get used to this."
"That nephew of mine has not only healed me, but I think he has also re-built me too. Shit, Ruka-kun," she said after looking into the mirror once again. Gulping, she the thought, 'I am going to spoil that boy so rotten that Narumi just might end up killing me instead'.
"It is a good thing that Haru-chan lives close to Toudai," responded Ruka with a gleam in his eyes.
Yoko did not blush at his innuendo and nodded with a smirk of her own.
"When everyone leaves, you are going to take me upstairs and fuck me silly all night long," declared Yoko before she dropped to her knees, "I can't ignore this, you poor thing."
Not wanting to cause a ruckus by having sex in their own downstairs bathroom, Yoko wanted to relieve her husband with an unexpected blowjob.
"Oh shit," he moaned as his zipper went down.
"I am not wasting this (she placed her fingers around his cock) after so long," Yoko declared as she opened her mouth and swallowed his manhood down to the nub.
Ruka, for obvious reasons, grabbed a bath towel and bit down on a corner of it. It would be very embarrassing if he had walked out into the other room as hard as he was.
No one in the other room wondered what was happening anyway, they used their imaginations.
However, both had a big smile on their faces when they finally emerged from the bathroom.
Ruka pinched her ass.
"Hentai," teased Yoko who had her fire re-kindled.
Later on, Ruka knew he might be in for a night that he would never forget. If he survived it…
When things settled down, Haruka and Keitaro came downstairs holding hands. They both noticed a much livelier atmosphere in the dining room.
"Onii-chan," hollered Kanako running over and squeezing the stuffing out of him.
The young girl was not the only one who reacted like that as Yoko, Granny Hina and Narumi hugged Keitaro as well.
Also, Keiichiro was very proud of his son.
Deep in thought, Ruka wanted to find some way to thank Keitaro for returning his beloved wife to perfect health, and improving her too.
'Let him breathe, Kaa-san," said Haruka who saw her beloved's reaction, as she spotted a bulge in his pants.
Yoko felt it too, which caused her to squeeze him even tighter.
'It was bound to happen,' thought Haruka who had finalized her plans for them to become intimate.
Nearly smothering the boy between her newly-enlarged boobs, Yoko enjoyed listening to her daughter and the others laugh.
"Okay," said Harumi who had also figured out what was going on, "you can let go of my son now."
Reluctantly, she did, and did so with a big smirk.
Everyone in the celebrated her re-birth late into the night.
"Ruka-kun, I think you should make a doctors' appointment for her," said Hina to him in private, "this is so we can find out the extent of what Keitaro did for her. Do not say anything to anyone until we know everything for sure." For now, she wanted to keep this miracle from the Council.
"Hai, Hina-sama," said Ruka giving her a deferential nod.
A short time later, news of what had happened when Keitaro had healed his Aunt Yoko spread like wildfire throughout the Aoyama Council. Someone had overhead the conversation between Hina and Aoyama-sama, so the secret did not stay a secret for very long.
Again, calls came from certain factions to separate Keitaro from his family.
Aoyama-sama quickly quashed those demands and brooked no dissention after his ruling. The last thing Aoyama-sama needed was to unleash the full wrath of the Urashima upon the Council. With the stirring of the Fire Horse Society, he did not need that.
Nevertheless, certain nefarious persons get wind of what Keitaro has done this time.
They continue to standoff in the shadows to observe for others, nothing more.
-The aftermath and the surprise, miracle number two-
First, Yoko went to see the doctor who had earlier diagnosed her with the terminal illness. He had also been her primary care doctor for years, so the two were well acquainted.
When the doctor began to examine her, he wondered if she was the same woman that he had previously treated. Puzzled, the man sat at his desk and pulled up Yoko's chart on his computer from all of her previous visits. Looking at what was there, he was especially mystified that the scars on her lower abdomen from the hysterectomy he performed were missing. With further examination, a lifetime full of scars, tears, disease and skin abnormalities had also disappeared.
"This does not make sense," the man mumbled as he updated her chart. Looking at the chart on the screen, and then at the beautiful woman before him in his exam room, he needed to scratch his head. A silly notion entered his mind that a clone of Yoko had replaced the woman that he has known and treated for years.
All he could do was shrug his shoulders and give her a clean bill of health.
While seated in the waiting area for the final verdict, something odd strikes both Ruka and Yoko. She was receiving a lot of stares from the other patients, both male and female.
Ruka smiled at his wife and knew why.
Looking a lot younger than her real age, Yoko was now an extremely beautiful, very well-endowed woman. She maybe almost forty-five, but her looks could be more along the lines of a young singing idol or gravure model.
After the exam, Yoko waited outside by the front door for Ruka to bring his car around front. At the same time, a young man walked up and began to flirt with her. He thought that Ruka is her father because of how young she looked. After less than a minute, the young man asked her out on a date.
Looking at him with her eyes wide in astonishment, Yoko feels flattered by his invitation. Wanting to let him down easily, she said, "Young man, the man I am with is my husband and I am old enough to be your Kaa-san."
The man gasped in surprise and blushed when he saw her wedding band and the big diamond with it.
"Gomen'nasai, Oba-sama," said the man who bowed sheepishly to Yoko as Ruka pulled up.
When she climbed into the car to go home, Yoko decided to keep what happened to herself.
Ruka seems oblivious to this situation, as he knew his wife could handle herself very well.
'Shit. A couple of the guys there were really cute back there too,' thought Yoko who smiled and tried not to laugh.
Second, Yoko went through her entire wardrobe and knew that everything she owned is now either way too small up top or too big everywhere else.
Talking Narumi into a power-shopping expedition, the duo hit all of the major high-end shopping districts in Tokyo and Yokohama. They spent a lot of Yen along the way. It helps when your family is fabulously wealthy and you yourself owned many successful businesses.
Neither Ruka nor Keiichiro complained, because it was their money and the results were worth it. The dresses and lingerie alone kept both husbands motor a-humming when the two brought everything home.
Third, on Keitaro's birthday and right after that, Yoko spoiled her now teenage nephew extremely rotten just as she had promised to do. Not only did she take him out to dinner to all the finest restaurants in Tokyo, but also anywhere else he wished to go.
Spoiling a now thirteen-year-old Keitaro rotten, Yoko bought him new clothes, game consoles and any other bit of electronic hardware that he could want or need.
Not wanting her sister-in-law to go overboard too much with her son, Narumi did not want Kanako left out. She had nothing to worry about, as Keitaro shared many of the gifts with his beloved younger sister. Some of which he outright gave her.
Along with her mother, Haruka also became involved in spoiling him as well.
Nonetheless, he took everything in stride.
Fourth and most surprisingly…
Yoko's libido kicked into hyperdrive the day that Keitaro had healed her.
After everyone went home, Yoko promptly took Ruka upstairs as promised, and without hesitation ripped his clothing off. Tossing the much larger man onto the king-size western-style behind them, she jumped onto his cock and raped her husband until the wee hours of the morning.
Not having had sex in a longtime, these two had a lot to make up for as they went at it like minks.
"What the fuck," he blurted when she was ready to go for a fifth time.
"I like your attitude," responded Yoko smugly.
"SHIT!" he screamed as she mounted him again.
Now it seemed that Yoko had no off switch and Ruka had begun to look a bit haggard.
At a recent dinner party at Yoko's house…
"You have nothing to complain about," said Keiichiro to his brother-in-law.
"You wouldn't be saying that if Narumi screwed you every night until two in the morning," countered Ruka.
Keiichiro smiled at him with a grin and then added, "What a way to go."
Coming in from the kitchen, a laughing Narumi followed a beaming Yoko who both carried in platters of food.
"Good thing the kids are at our house with Haruka, dear," said Narumi who kept giggling as she sat next to her husband.
"So, what are you saying," her husband replied as her intent was not clear.
Narumi just gave him a knowing look as Yoko nearly fell out of her chair from laughing so hard.
Ruka did not want to 'touch that'.
-A few days later-
Amazingly, through all of this, her period returns after twenty-plus years.
This event shocked both Yoko and Ruka to no end, because she had to have her uterus and ovaries removed shortly after Haruka was born.
Going back to her doctor for a follow up visit, she surprises the poor man yet again.
"I do not know what to say, Urashima-sama," said the doctor as Yoko and Ruka sit in his office. This is after she underwent another battery of tests.
However, this is not the end of it by a longshot.
Her period disappeared once again just as fast as it had started
Three months later, Yoko went for a supplemental visit to the same doctor and almost gave the man a nervous breakdown.
She had originally wanted to find out why her period started up again before it stopped just as suddenly.
"Here, Urashima-sama," said her doctor as he shook his head with a bewildered look on his face, "Take this into the bathroom over there. This is something that you have to see for yourself".
Incredulous, Yoko could not believe what the nurse had just handed her right before she stepped into the bathroom.
The nurse was just as surprised.
The doctor strode up to her and said, "Wait for it."
Both looked toward the water closet.
Having followed the instructions on the package, Yoko did what the doctor had instructed her to do and then just sat there for the results.
Throughout the clinic, everyone heard…
"You have got to be fucking shitting me," she hollered at the top of her lungs as she mirrored Aunt Mariko. This is the last thing that she would have ever expected.
Both the doctor and nurse nodded together.
Later that day, in front of Haruka and the rest of the family, Yoko confessed, "I'm pregnant, about twelve weeks along."
After the initial shock wore off, she received congratulations from everyone.
"I guess I have Keitaro to thank for this, or maybe even blame," said Ruka to Keiichiro laughing.
That comment earned him a well-deserved backhanded slap upside the head from Yoko.
"You were there too, sweetie," said Yoko as she stood there with her hands on her hips, "So, I think you should thank him for this."
The husband bellowed out a huge laugh as those in attendance then joined him.
"I am very happy for them," whispered Keitaro as he held hands with Haruka.
Inside of him, Master Ryu smiled.
-End of Chapter-