Disclaimer: All Love Hina characters belong to Ken Akamatsu as their creator. But the ones you've never seen in Love Hina before (Shinsei and the cast of TR) are no doubt made up by me.
A mysterious man, about 20, walked through a
very sophisticated looking hallway, carrying something flat with a display on
it. The display showed some very complicated lines. He seemed to be reading it
as he walked. He finally reached a door of some sorts. It opened sideways with a
soft hiss as he came nearer. He went through into an even more sophisticated
room.
Three comfortable looking chairs faced a huge screen, backing
the entrance door. Panels were on each of the chairs' armrests. The mystery man
went around the chairs and sat on the right one. More like he threw himself on it.
Another door on the right side of the room opened with a soft
hiss. A long, blonde-haired girl about his age walked into the room. She noticed
the man and went to him. "So, how's it going?" she asked.
The man turned to her. "Pretty well. She just received
our package, although that turtle just has to insult my handwriting." the man replied as he ran his free hand through his nearly-shoulder-length jet-black
hair.
The girl chuckled. "Excellent." she said. She went to
sit on the left chair. She sighed. "I wonder why the General asked us for
this mission." she said.
"Because we're the best." the man replied with a
grin.
The girl chuckled. "I just can't stop wondering. The
headquarters are full with those who're specialized for situation like
these."
"There's only one possibility." The man turned
serious. "Some very dangerous situation is to follow her."
The girl nodded. "I suppose you're right." he
agreed. "I mean...trying to find her grandfather with only a rowing
boat...She's got to be either brave or insane."
"Probably both." the man replied. "And if we
didn't help her then, she's sure be dead by now."
LOVE HINA: Super Duper Special Episode! #7
The Empire Underneath III: CONCLUSION
Chapter 2: Rash Decisions
Nyamo was sitting with her back on a wall,
facing the door. On her lap was the strange device that was in the package. An
earphone was connecting her ears to the device. She seemed to be fully
concentrating.
Naru walked in and was shocked to see Nyamo suddenly tried to
cover the strange device from her view. "What's the matter,
Nyamo-chan?" she asked.
Nyamo took off one of the earphones. "N-Nothing. Ha, ha,
ha...Anoo, please leave me alone for a moment." she said.
Naru nodded, still not understanding why she would be that
groggy. "Sure...I just wanted to take this." she said as she took a
book. She then went out, still wondering.
Nyamo returned to the device.
Naru closed the Kanrinin's room's door behind
her with a concerned face.
"Doshite?" Keitaro asked her.
Naru looked up to Keitaro as she went to sit opposite him on
the study kotetsu. "Nyamo seemed a bit weird, don't you think?"
Keitaro shook his head. "She's been weird since we met
her." he stated.
Naru's concern face was still intact. "Demo..."
Just then, sounds of someone running down the stairs was
heard. A second later, the Kanrinin's room's door flung open, showing a very
excited Nyamo.
"Nyamo-chan?" Keitaro addressed the tanned girl.
"I got a lead on my grandpa's
whereabouts." said Nyamo. "They said he is underground."
"They?" Keitaro looked confused. "Who're they?"
"Its a secret. Gomen..." Nyamo bowed. "But they
are very trustworthy. I must be going now. Sayonara!" Nyamo turned around
in a flash and went on her way, almost bumping on Mitsune.
"Ne? Nyamo-chan? What's the rush?" the foxy lady
asked.
"They've found my grandpa!" Nyamo replied excitedly.
"I'm going to look for him!"
"Calm down, Nyamo-chan." Keitaro said, already
behind her with Naru.
"Nyamo-chan, did they tell you exactly where
underground?" Naru asked.
Nyamo nodded. "Um, they said he's under
Hinata-sou."
Keitaro, Naru and Mitsune gulped. Under Hinata-sou..."Masaka...The
Empire?"
Shinsei shook his head. "I don't know. I
have disconnected any contact with the Supreme Computer when I chose this
form." he said. "I don't know if they're still exist or not."
He, Keitaro, Naru, Nyamo and Haruka was gathering at Haruka's
tea house.
"Supreme Computer?" Keitaro wondered.
"It's the main AI that do all decisions and gave out
orders to everyone." Shinsei explained. "It's like the Boss'
boss."
"So, the emotion gathering command came from it
too?" Naru asked.
"Supposedly." Shinsei nodded.
"What about my grandpa?" Nyamo asked.
Shinsei turned to her. "I'm sorry. I did not see a
single human in the Cave since I was manufactured until we decided to capture
Kaolla."
Nyamo frowned. "B-But they said he was
underground."
Keitaro turned to Nyamo. "Are this...they...that
trustworthy?"
Nyamo nodded. "Yes. They are. If they said
he's underground, then he is!" she insisted.
"Perhaps he's not in the Empire at all." Haruka
stated one of her usual calm-but-hits-the-spot sentences.
"Underground, but not in the Empire?" Naru frowned.
Shinsei seemed to remember something. "Ah, right. The
hidden tunnels that lie deep under Hinata-sou. We haven't gone that deep
yet." he said.
"You mean, like where we found Moe-chan?" Keitaro asked.
That sparked up memories within each of the Hinata-sou
residents (well, except Nyamo and Shinsei). "Moe-chan...I wonder how she's doing
right now." Naru said.
"I've put her back there when she...collapsed."
Haruka replied.
"Tonikaku," Keitaro tried to get the conversation
back on track. "Exploring that means we're going to need either Su-chan,
Sarah-chan or Mutsumi-san to know exactly where we're going."
"Su-chan seems still tired after fixing Shinsei. She's
been sleeping for 3 days straight. Sarah-chan went with Seta-san just yesterday,
while Mutsumi-san...well, who knows where she is now..." Naru sighed.
"Or you can just use this." Haruka gave another
alternative as she put a small blue notebook on their desk. It was the map Sarah
and Kaolla drew when they went 'exploring'.
"Where did you get this?" Keitaro asked in shock.
"Moreover, how do you know we're going to need it, obaa-san?"
"That's Haruka-san!" Haruka exclaimed as she had
her fist on Keitaro's face.
Nyamo took the book and opened it. "Wow! This is
thorough. Come on! We've got to go!"
"Calm down, Nyamo-chan." Naru tried to calm the
tanned girl, but she didn't seem to want to wait any longer.
Nyamo jumped from her seat and dashed outside the tea house
with incredible speed.
Shinsei rose from his seat. "I'd better get her before
she do anything foolish." he said. He then flickered a bit before going out
of the tea house with even more incredible speed.
Naru shook her head. "Heh, I sometimes forgot that he's
still a Mecha-Tama inside." she said. She then turned to Keitaro. "Ja,
shall we get the others?"
Keitaro nodded.
Haruka watched them leave as she laid her back on the tea
house's wall. She moved her trademark unlit cigarette as she thought of
something. 'He's right...How did I know that they're going to need the
Map Book?'
"You are inheriting..."
Haruka turned in a flash and found three old people of the
Chonaikai inside her tea house, without her noticing them enter.
"Inheriting...?"
"Inheriting..."
"...our..."
"...power."
With that, a gust of mist blurred Haruka's vision for a
second. And when she got it back, the old men were nowhere to be seen.
'Inheriting...?' Haruka thought. She then remembered that Grandma Hina also
seemed to 'understand' the Chonaikai people. 'Masaka...' Haruka stopped her
thought right there, since she really didn't want to know what they meant.
Love Hina: The Empire Underneath III: CONCLUSION - Not For Sale or Rent :)
Keitaro ran his hand on the pages of the
blue Map Book. "These tunnels are so complicated." he muttered.
"Not to mention Sarah-chan's awful kanji..." Keitaro looked closer
onto the awfully small writings. "Or is this Roman...?"
Shinobu-chan entered the living room where Keitaro was.
"Senpai, lunch is ready." she said.
Keitaro turned to her. "Ah, arigato, Shinobu-chan."
he said, smiling.
Just then, Nyamo and Shinsei arrived at the top of Hinata-sou's
stone stairs. Shinobu noticed them and was about to tell them that lunch is
ready, but she noticed something weird on Shinsei's look at Nyamo. He was
staring at her intently as they walked to the front door, chatting cheerfully. A
new, strange feeling surfaced in her heart.
Keitaro noticed Shinobu staring outside and turned to follow
her stare. His eyes landed on the casually chatting Nyamo and Shinsei. He was
silent for a moment, then turned to Shinobu. "They're just chatting,
Shinobu-chan. Don't worry."
Shinobu groggily looked down. "Ah, I...I'm not
worried...I...I mean..."
Keitaro went to her and gave a firm pat on the shoulder.
"You've grown, Shinobu-chan." he said. He then went towards the dining
room.
Shinobu turned back to the front door. 'Grown...?' she
thought as Nyamo and Shinsei entered Hinata-sou. "Ah, anoo, lunch is
ready."
Nyamo and Shinsei turned to her. "Ah, arigato,
Shinobu-chan." Shinsei said. He then turned to Nyamo, "Ja?"
Nyamo smiled as she nodded. "You go on first." she
said.
"I don't eat, Nyamo-chan." Shinsei reminded her.
"Just go. I need to do something first." Nyamo
insisted.
Shinsei nodded. He then smiled at Shinobu before proceeding
to the dining room. Shinobu followed him with her stare. She then felt a hand on
her shoulders.
"You've got a great friend there." Nyamo said as
she took her hand back.
Shinobu turned to her, smiling. "Yeah. Shinsei-kun's so
nice."
Nyamo kept her smile as she stared on Shinobu's face, making
her a bit uneasy. "Shinobu..., netanda desu ka?"
Shinobu turned bright red in an instant. "A-Anoo...What
do you mean, Nyamo-chan?"
"I noticed your stare towards Shinsei's a bit...oh, how
do I say it...romantic?" Nyamo said with a teasing tone.
Shinobu's blushed even redder.
Nyamo chuckled a bit as she began to walk towards the dining
room. "Relax, Shinobu. We're only friends. I'm not going to 'steal' him
from you or anything like that." She left Shinobu glowing red towards the
dining room.
'Jealous...? Am I...jealous?'
After lunch, Keitaro and Naru told the others
that they're going to go 'down-under' again.
"Are you sure?" Mitsune asked. "I mean...what
if we get lost or something?"
"We have Sarah-chan's Map Book. We should be
alright." Keitaro replied. He pressed the word 'should'.
"We are going to look for Nyamo-chan's grandfather,
right?" Motoko asked. "Not some underground turtles."
Keitaro sweatdropped. "Yes, Motoko-chan. We're looking
for Nyamo-chan's grandfather."
Motoko nodded. "I will assist, then."
Mitsune clapped her hands. "Count me in as well."
she said. "Never know if there're still treasures down there."
Keitaro turned to Shinobu. "Shinobu-chan, are you
coming?"
Shinobu looked away for a moment, particularly towards
Shinsei, who was standing near the window, facing the sun. A part of his
hologram was gone, revealing the Mecha-Tama inside, with a solar panel. He was
recharging. 'Shinsei-kun would surely be going with them.' Shinobu thought.
'And...Nyamo-chan would no doubt come too...And...they'll be together, and...'
"Shinobu-chan?" Keitaro asked again.
Shinobu woke up from her deep thoughts. "Ah, I'm in as
well." she replied a bit reflexively.
Keitaro nodded as he smiled.
Shinobu thought of what she just decided. 'What am I doing?
I'd only be a burden to them...But...'
'Shinobu, netanda desu ka?' Nyamo's words came back to
Shinobu's mind, making her blush again. 'Maybe...maybe I am, a bit...jealous...'
Shinobu thought.
'You've grown, Shinobu-chan.' Keitaro's words began to make
sense to her, making her blush again.
"Ja, let's start." Naru said.
Keitaro nodded. "Right. The last time we go there, we
were 'forcedly' pulled by Sarah-chan and Kaolla-chan." Keitaro consulted
the Map Book. "Seems that the entrance is...here!" he pointed to
Naru's study desk.
Naru sweatdropped as she remembered how they squeezed
themselves into the secret tunnels. "Do we really have to go through
here?" she asked.
"Come on! I'm not waiting!" Nyamo exclaimed as she
jumped into Naru's table's lowest drawer.
"Ah! Matte!" Keitaro tried to catch her. He managed
to get her ankle, but her momentum carried him with her.
"Keitaro!" Naru exclaimed as she grabbed on the end
of his trousers. But the momentum carried her as well.
With a scream, they went into the hole. Shinsei, Mitsune, Motoko and
Shinobu watched with a sweatdrop.
"Ja, I'd be going as well." Shinsei said as he
jumped to follow them, taking Shinobu with him. Mitsune and Motoko shook their head before following them
in.
A figure was sitting in a dark room. In front
of it was a big panel. Lights of different colors sparkled on different
locations, indicating activity. "Please tell me how." the figure spoke
in a man's voice.
A mechanical voice replied. "How what?" The tone
was almost flat, but it was definitely asking a question.
"How to become truly human."
Mechanical chirps were audible before came the reply. "To
become truly human, you will need flesh and blood. Real flesh and
blood."
"How can I get it?"
"Find a donor."
After a zigzagging and bumpy ride, they
arrived in a dark hallway. They stood up and cleared off the dust that got on
their clothes. "Yeah, this is it." Keitaro said as he looked around.
Naru nodded. "I still remember this."
"Where to now?" Nyamo asked.
Keitaro consulted the Map Book. "Sarah-chan said the
exit is that way, and she haven't drawn the other way yet."
"We'll go the other way, then." Nyamo said as she
went deeper into the hallway.
"CHOTTO!" Shinsei exclaimed.
Everyone turned to him. He looked tensed. "Doshite,
Shinsei-kun?" Shinobu asked.
"K-K-Kore wa..." Shinsei went to examine a small
piece of wire stuck on the wall.
"What's that?" Mitsune asked.
"This is a Data Input Station." Shinsei replied.
"This is used to exchange data without going to the community."
"Data? Community? What are you talking about,
Shinsei-kun?" Keitaro asked.
Shinsei turned to the others. "These stations are used
by the Mecha-Tama."
"NANI?!" Everyone was surprised.
"Are you saying that they have reached this far?"
Motoko asked.
Shinsei slowly nodded. "I suppose so...AH!" he
yelped as he touched the wire. Pictures appeared in fast forward on his vision.
Messages. Sounds. Voices. Information. Shinsei's processor was almost overloaded
by the amount of information carried by the Station. He finally able to retrieve
his hand from the Station. Everyone was surrounding him in worried looks.
"Daijobu desu ka, Shinsei-kun?" Shinobu asked.
"H-Hai," Shinsei muttered. A second later his
processor had processed all the information. He gasped. "He's still alive!"
Shinsei exclaimed.
"Who is?" Mitsune asked.
"My...I mean...the Mecha Boss!"
The figure in the dark stirred as he felt
something moved behind him. "What is it, Mecha?"
"A Station had just received an unauthorized access,
Boss." a reply came from a shiny turtle-shaped thing. It was a Mecha-Tama.
"We have been trying to find out who it was, but it has ciphered its
personal information. We can only get the first 3 characters. They are
'5H1'."
The figure tensed. "5H1N-531...You're back..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Trailer for next chapter: "We have to be careful." said Shinsei. "There're traps all over this hallway." snip "5H1N-531! I finally found you!" he said. "I'm going to DESTROY you!" snip "Iie! Shinsei-kun! Don't die on me again!" Shinobu exclaimed. end
Author's Note: Anyway, here's some more translations. Anything
that had been explained in the first chapter won't be here, so be sure to check
the first chapter too. If I miss some, or you felt (or have proof) that I'm wrong, or you
need more explanation, or anything at all, do
mail me at my current address storymasterq@icqmail.com.
Sorry if it's somehow a mess. ^_~
Doshite : How
(In one word questions, can also mean 'What's the matter')
Kotetsu : An electric foot warmer with a quilt over it. (N)
Demo :
But
(Also 'datte, shikashi'. Which one to use depends on speaker's preference.)
Masaka : Could it be (An expression of
guessing, not believing, and the sorts)
Tonikaku : Anyway, Anyhow
obaa-san : old lady (N) (I suppose Keitaro was trying to
say oba-san [aunt] but always manage to say the 'a' too long...)
Chonaikai : Town Council (This translation is found in the anime episode 1 and
2.)
Netanda : Jealous (Adj.) ('desu ka' makes the sentence a
question. 'ka' itself means like a question mark so the sentence
shouldn't have another one, but...we're not Japanese ^_^)
Matsu : Wait
(V)
(Changing 'tsu' to 'tte' makes it a soft imperative.)
Chotto :
Wait
(Actually, the better translation would be 'Wait a minute' or something like
that.)