Disclaimer:

I do not own anything from Love Hina or any copyrighted material. Any other characters used in this fic are mine, however.

Chapter 9 – Bonds of Friendships

It had been nearly two weeks since Kitsune had been released from the hospital. Though she had healed physically, it was unclear to anyone if she'd be able to heal mentally. Everyone was worried about how she acted, so they had arranged a therapist to see her every other day. She's been making some progress…but not a lot.

Kitsune sat outside of the Hinata Sou in deep thought. It was late in the afternoon, and she just returned from therapy at Dr. Mikashi's office in the same depressing mood she had since coming back home. Lying on her back, she stared straight up at the blue sky and clouds. She couldn't help but dwell on what she has been through – every time she closed her eyes, the images of death and destruction haunted her. All she wanted to do now is forget.

Just a short distance away Keitaro, and the rest of the girls stood watching Kitsune from afar. All of them could tell that Kitsune's having a hard time adjusting to being back home. Keitaro sighed as he motioned everyone to head back to the dorm.

"Well, what do you think we should do now," Keitaro asked as he and the others walked.

"I know what we shouldn't do," said Naru. "We shouldn't avoid Kitsune…Dr. Mikashi said that the best way to help is to talk about what happened."

"I agree," said Motoko. "It's unhealthy for her to bottle up her emotions like this. Sooner or later the pressure will be too great for her, and she may lash out…or worse."

"Maybe we should just asked her flat out," suggested Su. "I don't see what the problem is to do that."

Shinobu turned to Naru. "Do you think that's a good idea?"

Naru shook her head. "I don't think it is…I mean I don't want to give the impression that we're trying to pry into her life."

Keitaro thought for a moment as they neared the dorm. "That's true…but this must be eating her up inside. I wish we could do more for Kitsune."

~~

Darkness – that was all Kitsune could see all around her. She moved forward, the sounds of her own footsteps echoed all around her. Gradually light began to reveal her surroundings as if someone was turning up a dimmer switch. Soon her vision cleared, and realized she was back inside the farmhouse. Her ears picked up voices from outside – familiar voices. Picking her way through the debris, Kitsune peered out the window…what she saw sent a chill down her spine. The voices belonged to none other than everyone at the Hinata Sou. They were all out in the field enjoying what the day has brought – they were unaware of what was to happen in that very same field.

Kitsune banged on the window desperately trying to warn them. She screamed, but was shocked when no sound came out.  Artillery shells began to land all around them sending metal shards and earth in all directions – gunfire erupted as the sounds of war intensified into an unbearable din. Everyone outside frantically tried to find cover, screaming for help. Kitsune was aghast as they fell to the earth one by one – their blood spraying into a fine mist as they succumbed to the shrapnel and lead saturating the field. Another explosion shattered the window sending shards of glass into Kitsune's face, promptly knocking her to the ground. She struggled to get to her feet, all the while hearing her friends beg for help, crying out in agony and pain until their cries faded.

As Kitsune pulling herself up to the window once more, she saw the torn-up bodies of her friends, bright pools of crimson began to seep into the ground. Tears began to stream from her eyes; her close friends…her family was dead. The ones that she cared for more than ever were gone.

~~

"Ahhhhhhhh! No, please don't let them die! Please!" screamed Kitsune.

She thrashed all about in her room until she shot up in a cold sweat. Kitsune breathed heavily as she held her head in her hands, tears streaming down her face. Her door slid open, revealing a concerned Keitaro and Naru followed by Motoko, Su, and finally Shinobu. Seeing Kitsune crying bitterly made them all rush to her side.

"It's alright Kitsune," said Naru. "We're here."

Kitsune looked up to see her friends around her. Seeing the look of concern in their eyes made her feel guilty.

"I'm…I'm s-sorry," she sobbed. "I didn't…I mean…I – "

"Kitsune," said Keitaro, "it's okay. Listen, why don't we all head downstairs and talk about this…is that okay with you Kitsune?"

Kitsune nodded solemnly and was helped up by Naru and Keitaro. Soon enough they all were seated in the living room and made themselves as comfortable as possible. Motoko was the first one to speak.

"Kitsune what's wrong? What could've disturbed you so much?"

"I…um…had a bad dream," she started. "In it…I was back there – back in Kosovo. All of you were there…amongst the fighting…the killing."

They all knew what happen next in the poor girl's dream. After she finished, Keitaro asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

"Kitsune…what happened to you over there?" Keitaro asked. "Please…tell us."

The fox girls saw the concern in all of there eyes. Taking a deep breath, she told them her story of what had happened. The shelling of the village…the farmhouse…the death of her friend Sandy…she told them everything. When she finished, it became all too clear that Kitsune had seen too much at her age. It pained each and every one of them that they couldn't relate to her experiences.

"I-I don't know what's wrong with me," Kitsune said. "But…every time I think about what happened there…I'm afraid."

"What are you afraid of?" asked Shinobu.

"I'm afraid…I'm afraid that I've changed," she answered. "I'm scared that I may lose all of you."

"Kitsune," sighed Naru. "You know that we'd never do that."

Keitaro moved closer to Kitsune's side and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Naru's right," he said. "No matter what happens to you or anyone else here in the dorm…we'll never abandon you."

Those words struck a deep chord within Kitsune. Gradually, her deepest fears began to fade within herself as the truth revealed itself – through good times or bad, they'd be there for her. For the first time in a long while, she felt secure – she was around those who truly care for her.

She began to cry once more as everyone moved to her side. The tears however where not tears of sorrow…they were tears of relief and joy.

~~

One month later…

Kitsune fumbled with the rolls of film in her hand, remembering what was stored within the film. She rolled them around as if they were dice, contemplating the images that she had captured. Although she had a good reason why she took those pictures, it still made her feel a bit uneasy. Her first impulse was to throw the film in the garbage along with her notebook, but something else prevented her to do so.

'It's important to show the people back home what's happening in the world,' she thought. 'That's what Sandy told me.'

Thinking about those words, Kitsune closed her hand around both rolls, and put them in her pocket.

"I have to let people know," Kitsune said to herself. "I still have a job to do."

Pulling out pencil and paper, she opened her notebook and began to write her story. She wrote about what had happened…her personal experience…all the things that the public needed to hear. Working for more than an hour, she finished her work. With great care, Kitsune slipped her article in an envelope along with the rolls of film. Sealing it up, she set it on top of her desk along with another important item – a plane ticket to the States. Just then Naru walked up to her friend.

"Finished your article?"

"Yeah…finally."

Kitsune picked up her coat and slipped it on. Walking over to her desk, she picked up the envelope and stuffed it in her pocket.

"After I drop this off…I'm gonna get my things together for my trip tomorrow," Kitsune said.

Naru turned to her friend. "Are you sure about this?"

"It's important that I go see Sandy's family," came her reply. "I mean…I just want to tell them about how important her work was."

"Well, I hope that you'll have a pleasant trip Kitsune. I'm sure it'll mean a lot to her family."

Kitsune flashed a genuine smile at her friend as she gave her a hug. As she made her way to the front of the Hinata Sou, she caught a glimpse of all the people that had a huge impact on her life. Keitaro, Su, Shinobu, Motoko, and Naru – all of them mean more to her now than ever before.

Taking her first few steps outside, Kitsune turned and gazed at the Hinata Sou. The fox girl realized how lucky she truly was, and she never forgot how close she was to losing it all. Her inner fears no longer plagued her with feelings of depression – she was free of the demons that had haunted her since her time in Kosovo. Kitsune Konno, free spirit extraordinaire did change. Fortunately this change was for the better.

Reaching the street below, she made her way to her publisher to submit her work.

***

A/N – Sorry for the late update, but I really want to make the final chapter really bring my fic to a close – I hope I did a good job doing so.

I want to give my thanks to i won't tell and Gotenks01013 for reviewing chapter 8, and to all of those who have read my work and left reviews before. You really helped motivate me to become a better writer in many ways!

And that's it for 'Through Her Eyes' ladies and gentlemen! I hope that all of you enjoyed reading it as much as I had writing it. Take care!      ^_^