Yakusoku
Introduction
"Make sure that you're not blooming when someone tells you to bloom, and that you're realizing your potential at your own will."
- Megumi Hayashiraba
Yakusoku is the Japanese word for promise and that is exactly what the story of Love Hina is about, a promise. And because of promise, it is the guiding point for one man's life. How seriously do we take promises in our lives, promises made between ourselves and others, the promises that we make to ourselves, the promises that lay shattered and broken around us and the promises that remain unfulfilled. But those promises that become reality are what promises are about, the road of dedication and adversity we take to make them come true.
I have completed the entire series of associated Love Hina anime and manga, but I always wondered what if. The what if is the most important question in any fan fiction. An author always asks the question what if; it is the driving force behind this style of writing and life. There are so many possibilities that can occur in a great story; Ken Akamatsu has written the story through what he wants the answer to what if to be. But I what to take his story down a different road by asking, what if? The story seems to be writing itself, and I have no idea where it will go, how long the story will be (hopefully at least ten to fifteen chapters of the same length), or where Keitaro will finally be, but I'll do my best (Ganbarimasu!)! Besides I think it'll be fun to find out where this road finally ends.
Disclaimer:
All characters and story arcs of the Love Hina manga are property of Akamatsu Ken, and the associated publishing house.
Prologue:
This story is based completely on the manga. In most chapters, it is written from the perspective of the male protagonist, Urashima Keitaro. The sequence of events up to chapter eighty-five of volume ten in the manga have occurred. However, it is at chapter eighty-six that my story takes the road not taken in the original manga.
To further recall the scene, this story begins around June 2000. After failing three times, Keitaro had finally been admitted to Tokyo University, but he missed my first semester because of a broken leg. Just as his leg heals and he is ready to return to school, summer vacation begins, once again delaying the start of his university career.
Because Keitaro did not attend any classes during my first term due to the left leg fracture that he suffered during the Tokyo University, he was informed that he would have to repeat his first semester. It took him four years to get in, and with all the support Keitaro received from everyone, he feels responsible from further delaying the start of his university career and disappointing the residents of Hinata Sou.
Chapter One: Memories from the Past
This is no better than when I first arrived at Hinata Sou. I had done it again; I had lied to the residents of the dormitory about my position at Tokyo University. Here I was standing in the middle of downtown Kanagawa, dipping into my savings to buy rackets, shoes, school supplies, and dumplings to cover up the lies that were told about Tokyo University. Instead of confessing that I had failed my first term, to avoid the angst that it would cause, I had told them I had made many friends; I had joined the tennis team and was doing well in the classroom. I felt so guilty.
I had finished all my purchases and had hoped to get home before I ran into any of the tenants at Hinata Sou. I had not gone a few feet outside the door of the sporting goods store before I had a familiar voice calling me.
"Keitaro, why are you in such a hurry?"
I glanced back to see Narusegawa and I began to get nervous. Before I had time to utter a response, it was as if she had read my mind and she had already discovered the reason behind my anxiety.
She wagged her finger and said in a playful accusation, "Ahh...I get it now. You failed your first term, right?"
My mind quickly raced, coming up with a response to that accusation, but then realizing that Narusegawa could not have possibly known that was exactly what occurred. Her guess was just a guess. My voiced stuttered as I vocalize my answer.
"No, that's not it at all. I've been to classes and joined clubs and..."
"Oh, I guess it's not too late then."
Somehow I knew she didn't believe me, she knew the truth and she was waiting for me to admit. I had learned from the time I first came to Hinata Sou that I could not keep a lie for long, and most of all from Naru.
"Na...Naru, forgive me...! I...I lied to everyone again." The desperation and pity in my voice was unmistakable.
In a panicked voice, Naru said "Hey, okay, okay, just tell me what happened" because I had fallen to my knees and had wrapped myself around her waist in between my desperate pleas.
…
I told her I wasn't ready to go back and face the people that I had lied to. Naru and I decided to take a long walk back to Hinata, to let me clear out my thoughts. In earnest, I agreed to the idea that the walk would be good for me. The walk back was extremely uncomfortable as not a single word was exchanged, as I tried to understand the situation. Naru knew what I was going through and went along with the silence, but sensing my apprehension; she reached out her hand and held mine. Deep in my thoughts, the soft touch of her hand sent a feeling rushing through me, melting the tension that was inside. The tension inside me blended and melted with the soft embrace of her hand upon, like the amber ambience melting away into the blue sky with the sunset. I looked at Naru and smiled, my eyes telling her my feelings. And with a simple blush, she returned a smile.
And then I looked around, realizing where we were. It was the same playground outside Hinata Sou that my journey to Tokyo University first began.
...
A young girl leaned over Liddo-kun and looked into his eyes.
"Did you know...if two people who love one another can enter Tokyo University together, they will live happily ever after? So when we grow up, let's both go to Tokyo U."
Then she pushed herself forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
...
He had to catch her - but the moving truck was just going too fast. What was her name again? It was like all this memories of the past week, the details, were leaving along with her. "Don't go! Stop!"
She gazed back at Kei, forlorn, her short brown hair whipping around her face. "Bye-bye Kei-kun. When we grow up, we must meet again at Tokyo U! Promise me ok!"
Kei stumbled and fell, then clambered back up and resumed running... but it was too late. She was too far gone now. He stopped, and gazed at the truck as it disappeared into the mist.
"I...
...
promise."
That last word hung in the air like the sweet scent of the sakura blossoms. And there I stood alone, once again lost in my memories. Suddenly, I almost stumbled as I felt Naru pull my hand, leading me towards the sight of a Liddo-kun sitting beside a round pile of sand. The sandbox of seventeen years ago. I kneeled in the sandbox as I had so many years ago and around I looked, my mind lost, and I then saw Naru. There she was sitting in the sand box across from me, across the light of dusk and the swirling sakura blossoms around her, illuminating her already radiant face that had entranced me when she first confronted me with the weight of truth. My memories fluttered and mind shuffled back between the face I saw now, and the face of the promised girl.
As the wind blew the sakuras around me, the sweet scent of the blossoms were enough to intoxicate me, and the I was overcome with the feeling of deja vu, finding myself in the same spot I was when I made the promise years ago, and hoping, dreaming that the girl across from me would be the promised girl.
Naru reached out and grabbed my hands, caressing them, bringing me out of the trance. She reached out to my face, slowly sliding the glasses off my face. She then stood up, and began twirling amidst the snow of blossoms as she stared at the city of Hinata sprawled out below, the soft yellow glow of lights seeming to resemble tiny fireflies amid a cloud of black. The golden light of the full moon glinting off of the smoky blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and shining against the indigo sky. She drank the scene below, turning around to face me, placing my glasses on her face, the soft light of the full moon gave her face the ambience of a tenshi (angel) and then she smiled.
"Keitaro, your dreams and promises are like the sakura blossoms. Even if the cherry blossoms go out of season, it can bloom again the year after; even if the blossoms seem beautiful now and all is well, the cherry tree could wither. It is akin to keeping that seed inside yourself. Just because things aren't going well, it doesn't mean you should give up; conversely you can't let up even when the flower inside you is blooming nicely, as unseen obstacles may lay ahead. It's alright to reflect on yourself, imagine what kind of cherry blossom, to make sure you're not blooming when someone tells you to bloom, and that you're realizing your potential at your own will. The effort is all that matters. So don't give up and keep trying! Promise me ok!"
She then slowly took my glasses off, walking back, kneeling across from the spot in the sand across from where I sat fixated, and affectionately placing the glasses back on me. Then she pushed herself forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
At that time, the mist began forming on the earth like a soft blanket covering a tender child, the soft wind whispering through the trees, singing a sweet lullaby and the night sky twinkled with stars, each one like a diamond in the sky. It was the perfect night; I wished that Naru and I could always be together like this.
"It's getting late, Keitaro. We should head back to Hinata Sou."
Her sweet voice awakened from what was a seemingly a dream that I hoped would never end, and I saw only long auburn air flitter in the lullaby of the wind, moving away from me, getting smaller and smaller. It was like all this memories of the past, I stood doing nothing as the girl I loved walked away from me, disappearing into the mist. They were becoming reality before my eyes. I could not let myself repeat the mistakes. I stumbled to walk after her and then I dropped to my knees and I reached out, my hand reaching as if reaching for this dream to end, as she almost disappeared over the horizon.
"Don't go! Stop!"
She stopped and then gazed back at me, forlorn, her long auburn hair whipping around her face. "Keitaro, I can wait for you at Tokyo University, for a year or so..."
Naru twirled around with her arms spread, soaking in the moment. A single cherry blossom floated from the heavens and landed into her outstretched palm. She then laughed, blowing the sakura gently from her hands, and it floated tenderly right into my open palm, cupping it and placing my closed fist to my heart. And with that she was gone, disappearing into the mist, just as the girl of my promises did.
End of Chapter One
Notes:
This is my first dramatic story that I have even written. I have always written poetry that explores the human experience and essence, capturing it in a few lines. But this is my first story in which I intend to do the same thing. I hope I can reproduce the same quality in this story as I do in my published poems. Hopefully those who read this story enjoy it and I hope to receive feedback whether you like or dislike my story.
I write this story, trying to keep the dates, details, and characters as true to the original creations of Akamatsu as possible. I also intend be describe accurately the Japanese culture on the portions of the story that include it, while also keeping as much of the original language as possible, not "Americanizing" the product, which should not be a problem for the fans of this series and any other Japanese media entertainment, and including quick reference for those "illiterate".
The long response by Naru is actually a response given by Megumi Hayashibara during an interview given by her and Ken Akamatsu in a portion of the series of "Love Love Talk!" questions. This anwser was given during "Love Love Talk!" on September 13, 2000 at Koudansha celebrating over five million copies of issues of Love Hina sold. It was a response given to a question asked to Hayashibara about how she feels about the intro song to Love Hina, "Sakura Saku" and how it ties to Love Hina.
"The promise that was tied up in our hearts, even now, even now, I embrace it with all my might. There will be a day when I'll meet you and then (that promise) will be fulfilled. For that day, as I believe in it, I will be idling away."
- Love Hina Trilogy Vol. 1 ~ Naru, Shinobu, Mitsune
Track One - Yakusoku (Yui Horie)
Introduction
- Megumi Hayashiraba
Yakusoku is the Japanese word for promise and that is exactly what the story of Love Hina is about, a promise. And because of promise, it is the guiding point for one man's life. How seriously do we take promises in our lives, promises made between ourselves and others, the promises that we make to ourselves, the promises that lay shattered and broken around us and the promises that remain unfulfilled. But those promises that become reality are what promises are about, the road of dedication and adversity we take to make them come true.
I have completed the entire series of associated Love Hina anime and manga, but I always wondered what if. The what if is the most important question in any fan fiction. An author always asks the question what if; it is the driving force behind this style of writing and life. There are so many possibilities that can occur in a great story; Ken Akamatsu has written the story through what he wants the answer to what if to be. But I what to take his story down a different road by asking, what if? The story seems to be writing itself, and I have no idea where it will go, how long the story will be (hopefully at least ten to fifteen chapters of the same length), or where Keitaro will finally be, but I'll do my best (Ganbarimasu!)! Besides I think it'll be fun to find out where this road finally ends.
Disclaimer:
All characters and story arcs of the Love Hina manga are property of Akamatsu Ken, and the associated publishing house.
Prologue:
This story is based completely on the manga. In most chapters, it is written from the perspective of the male protagonist, Urashima Keitaro. The sequence of events up to chapter eighty-five of volume ten in the manga have occurred. However, it is at chapter eighty-six that my story takes the road not taken in the original manga.
To further recall the scene, this story begins around June 2000. After failing three times, Keitaro had finally been admitted to Tokyo University, but he missed my first semester because of a broken leg. Just as his leg heals and he is ready to return to school, summer vacation begins, once again delaying the start of his university career.
Because Keitaro did not attend any classes during my first term due to the left leg fracture that he suffered during the Tokyo University, he was informed that he would have to repeat his first semester. It took him four years to get in, and with all the support Keitaro received from everyone, he feels responsible from further delaying the start of his university career and disappointing the residents of Hinata Sou.
Chapter One: Memories from the Past
This is no better than when I first arrived at Hinata Sou. I had done it again; I had lied to the residents of the dormitory about my position at Tokyo University. Here I was standing in the middle of downtown Kanagawa, dipping into my savings to buy rackets, shoes, school supplies, and dumplings to cover up the lies that were told about Tokyo University. Instead of confessing that I had failed my first term, to avoid the angst that it would cause, I had told them I had made many friends; I had joined the tennis team and was doing well in the classroom. I felt so guilty.
I had finished all my purchases and had hoped to get home before I ran into any of the tenants at Hinata Sou. I had not gone a few feet outside the door of the sporting goods store before I had a familiar voice calling me.
"Keitaro, why are you in such a hurry?"
I glanced back to see Narusegawa and I began to get nervous. Before I had time to utter a response, it was as if she had read my mind and she had already discovered the reason behind my anxiety.
She wagged her finger and said in a playful accusation, "Ahh...I get it now. You failed your first term, right?"
My mind quickly raced, coming up with a response to that accusation, but then realizing that Narusegawa could not have possibly known that was exactly what occurred. Her guess was just a guess. My voiced stuttered as I vocalize my answer.
"No, that's not it at all. I've been to classes and joined clubs and..."
"Oh, I guess it's not too late then."
Somehow I knew she didn't believe me, she knew the truth and she was waiting for me to admit. I had learned from the time I first came to Hinata Sou that I could not keep a lie for long, and most of all from Naru.
"Na...Naru, forgive me...! I...I lied to everyone again." The desperation and pity in my voice was unmistakable.
In a panicked voice, Naru said "Hey, okay, okay, just tell me what happened" because I had fallen to my knees and had wrapped myself around her waist in between my desperate pleas.
…
I told her I wasn't ready to go back and face the people that I had lied to. Naru and I decided to take a long walk back to Hinata, to let me clear out my thoughts. In earnest, I agreed to the idea that the walk would be good for me. The walk back was extremely uncomfortable as not a single word was exchanged, as I tried to understand the situation. Naru knew what I was going through and went along with the silence, but sensing my apprehension; she reached out her hand and held mine. Deep in my thoughts, the soft touch of her hand sent a feeling rushing through me, melting the tension that was inside. The tension inside me blended and melted with the soft embrace of her hand upon, like the amber ambience melting away into the blue sky with the sunset. I looked at Naru and smiled, my eyes telling her my feelings. And with a simple blush, she returned a smile.
And then I looked around, realizing where we were. It was the same playground outside Hinata Sou that my journey to Tokyo University first began.
...
A young girl leaned over Liddo-kun and looked into his eyes.
"Did you know...if two people who love one another can enter Tokyo University together, they will live happily ever after? So when we grow up, let's both go to Tokyo U."
Then she pushed herself forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
...
He had to catch her - but the moving truck was just going too fast. What was her name again? It was like all this memories of the past week, the details, were leaving along with her. "Don't go! Stop!"
She gazed back at Kei, forlorn, her short brown hair whipping around her face. "Bye-bye Kei-kun. When we grow up, we must meet again at Tokyo U! Promise me ok!"
Kei stumbled and fell, then clambered back up and resumed running... but it was too late. She was too far gone now. He stopped, and gazed at the truck as it disappeared into the mist.
"I...
...
promise."
That last word hung in the air like the sweet scent of the sakura blossoms. And there I stood alone, once again lost in my memories. Suddenly, I almost stumbled as I felt Naru pull my hand, leading me towards the sight of a Liddo-kun sitting beside a round pile of sand. The sandbox of seventeen years ago. I kneeled in the sandbox as I had so many years ago and around I looked, my mind lost, and I then saw Naru. There she was sitting in the sand box across from me, across the light of dusk and the swirling sakura blossoms around her, illuminating her already radiant face that had entranced me when she first confronted me with the weight of truth. My memories fluttered and mind shuffled back between the face I saw now, and the face of the promised girl.
As the wind blew the sakuras around me, the sweet scent of the blossoms were enough to intoxicate me, and the I was overcome with the feeling of deja vu, finding myself in the same spot I was when I made the promise years ago, and hoping, dreaming that the girl across from me would be the promised girl.
Naru reached out and grabbed my hands, caressing them, bringing me out of the trance. She reached out to my face, slowly sliding the glasses off my face. She then stood up, and began twirling amidst the snow of blossoms as she stared at the city of Hinata sprawled out below, the soft yellow glow of lights seeming to resemble tiny fireflies amid a cloud of black. The golden light of the full moon glinting off of the smoky blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and shining against the indigo sky. She drank the scene below, turning around to face me, placing my glasses on her face, the soft light of the full moon gave her face the ambience of a tenshi (angel) and then she smiled.
"Keitaro, your dreams and promises are like the sakura blossoms. Even if the cherry blossoms go out of season, it can bloom again the year after; even if the blossoms seem beautiful now and all is well, the cherry tree could wither. It is akin to keeping that seed inside yourself. Just because things aren't going well, it doesn't mean you should give up; conversely you can't let up even when the flower inside you is blooming nicely, as unseen obstacles may lay ahead. It's alright to reflect on yourself, imagine what kind of cherry blossom, to make sure you're not blooming when someone tells you to bloom, and that you're realizing your potential at your own will. The effort is all that matters. So don't give up and keep trying! Promise me ok!"
She then slowly took my glasses off, walking back, kneeling across from the spot in the sand across from where I sat fixated, and affectionately placing the glasses back on me. Then she pushed herself forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
At that time, the mist began forming on the earth like a soft blanket covering a tender child, the soft wind whispering through the trees, singing a sweet lullaby and the night sky twinkled with stars, each one like a diamond in the sky. It was the perfect night; I wished that Naru and I could always be together like this.
"It's getting late, Keitaro. We should head back to Hinata Sou."
Her sweet voice awakened from what was a seemingly a dream that I hoped would never end, and I saw only long auburn air flitter in the lullaby of the wind, moving away from me, getting smaller and smaller. It was like all this memories of the past, I stood doing nothing as the girl I loved walked away from me, disappearing into the mist. They were becoming reality before my eyes. I could not let myself repeat the mistakes. I stumbled to walk after her and then I dropped to my knees and I reached out, my hand reaching as if reaching for this dream to end, as she almost disappeared over the horizon.
"Don't go! Stop!"
She stopped and then gazed back at me, forlorn, her long auburn hair whipping around her face. "Keitaro, I can wait for you at Tokyo University, for a year or so..."
Naru twirled around with her arms spread, soaking in the moment. A single cherry blossom floated from the heavens and landed into her outstretched palm. She then laughed, blowing the sakura gently from her hands, and it floated tenderly right into my open palm, cupping it and placing my closed fist to my heart. And with that she was gone, disappearing into the mist, just as the girl of my promises did.
End of Chapter One
Notes:
This is my first dramatic story that I have even written. I have always written poetry that explores the human experience and essence, capturing it in a few lines. But this is my first story in which I intend to do the same thing. I hope I can reproduce the same quality in this story as I do in my published poems. Hopefully those who read this story enjoy it and I hope to receive feedback whether you like or dislike my story.
I write this story, trying to keep the dates, details, and characters as true to the original creations of Akamatsu as possible. I also intend be describe accurately the Japanese culture on the portions of the story that include it, while also keeping as much of the original language as possible, not "Americanizing" the product, which should not be a problem for the fans of this series and any other Japanese media entertainment, and including quick reference for those "illiterate".
The long response by Naru is actually a response given by Megumi Hayashibara during an interview given by her and Ken Akamatsu in a portion of the series of "Love Love Talk!" questions. This anwser was given during "Love Love Talk!" on September 13, 2000 at Koudansha celebrating over five million copies of issues of Love Hina sold. It was a response given to a question asked to Hayashibara about how she feels about the intro song to Love Hina, "Sakura Saku" and how it ties to Love Hina.
- Love Hina Trilogy Vol. 1 ~ Naru, Shinobu, Mitsune
Track One - Yakusoku (Yui Horie)
