A/N: Well, a friend e-mailed me saying there wasn't much action and adventure for my action/adventure genre rating. That is the direction I was planning on going anyway, and will be more obvious soon. In the mean time, this should help set you up for what's to come. So to my friend, you know who you are, consider this your shout out. NOW AT LEAST LEAVE A REVIEW YA BUM! ^-^

To the rest of the readers and reviewers, please disregard the above ranting.

Love Hina: Healing Hearts

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina. Well, not unless you count the manga and DVD's in my cabinets. But definitely don't own the rights, so don't sue me. I got no money anyway. (rider opens his pockets and flies fly out. -_-  I'm going to need to get another job…)

Chapter Six: New Beginnings

"You let her get away!?" The tall form in black backhanded the smaller form that stood before it. "You are worthless! How could you fail such an easy mission?"

The smaller form raised a hand and fended off the full force of the second blow, but was struck all the same. The voice of a woman was heard grunting in pain as she struck against the far wall. "I'm sorry, but someone else interfered!"

The tall figure stopped. "Someone?" He snarled loudly. "Him?! He dares betray me further?!" He turned away from the girl. "Get out."

The girl ran from the room.

Another shadow emerged from a hidden recess at the other side of the room.

"Was it he?" The leader asked.

The other figure nodded. "Unquestionably. Apparently he has taken the events of 'The Incident' very personally. He lashes out at you now."

"Have we found a way to track him?"

"No."

The leader growled again. "What about the girl from the paper?"

"Our little informant says there has been no contact." Replied the second figure. "It gets worse I'm afraid."

The leader turned. "And how is that?"

The second figure paused a moment. "I believe that the ancient alliance may still be active."

***

Outside the room, a young woman listened intently. She rubbed her cheek lightly, and traced a finger across her lips. When she pulled it away, there was a faint trace of blood on her black gloves. She walked away slowly disappearing into the shadows. 'The Incident' weighed heavily on her mind, maybe it was time for her to take similar action.

***

Tsuruko sat at one side of the small table in her dojo. "Thank you for agreeing to see me on such short notice."

The man at the other side of the table nodded. "To be honest, I was surprised that you call me out here. Your note made it sound like the situation was of the life or death variety."

"I'm afraid that it may be." Tsuruko slid a small item across the table, a shinobi-style throwing star. "This was left after our home was attacked a week ago." She handed a letter to the man. "As was this."

The man took the letter. "The ancient clans are in danger?" He paused and rubbed his chin. "Then I assume you're asking me to honor the ancient pacts forged by our ancestors."

Tsuruko nodded.

The man sighed heavily. "A lot of time has passed Tsuruko. The bloodlines are thin and scattered, what makes you think that the pacts and the alliance will make any difference in the situation?"

"Because one of their own left those instructions." The samurai replied.

"It may very well be a trap." He warned.

Tsuruko looked out her window. "That thought had occurred to me, but I don't believe it to be the case." She turned back to the man. "I realize that I am asking a lot, and I will understand if you do not wish to assist my family and I."

"Hey!" The man snapped. "Don't try to throw a guilt trip on me!" He sighed and relaxed. "I can not guarantee that the rest of my kin will rally to this cause, the history between our clans after the last time we worked together will interfere. I will speak with them, but I can make no promises." He smiled. "My sword however, is ready if you require me."

Tsuruko smiled and nodded. "Arigato."

The man stood. "I will attempt to contact representatives of the other clans and see if they will aid us."

Tsuruko shook her head. "I should…"

"No, you need to see to your wounded and help your family." He sighed. "You may also have to retrain yourself as you have been training Motoko."

Tsuruko's anger flashed across her face. "You dare!"

The man also raised his voice. "I dare! Your family's skills have weakened considerably over the centuries! You know it as well as I! Motoko is the only one of your clan who has the potential to rival your ancestors! To long has your family lived in the limelight, living off the name of Aoyama!"  He softened his voice. "I don't mean to be rude, but it is the truth. For all your treasured skills, your arm is still broken and in a sling."

The leader of the Aoyama dojo bit back her words. She knew her friend and ally was right. "Motoko may well be the strongest in our line, but she has not yet reached her full strength. Will you watch after her until this is settled?"

The man nodded. "Of course I will, you shouldn't even have to ask that question." He turned and walked away. "After all, I am her kanrinrin."

***

Shinobu woke up to smell of breakfast cooking, and immediately bolted upright. If she was still in bed, then someone else was in the kitchen, and that prospect made her nervous. If Su was cooking, no one would be able to eat at all with all the spices that would be used. If Motoko was cooking, they might end up having to call the first aid department again for all the cuts she gave herself. If it was Naru, well…it might be edible, but just barely. So who could possibly be cooking?

She suddenly looked around her surroundings. "How'd I get here? The last thing I remember was sitting with Ken on the roof." She smiled and blushed. "I must have fallen asleep, and he brought me back inside." Shinobu looked down and saw that she wasn't wearing her clothes from last night, but rather her pajamas. Panic surged through her as she rushed down the stairs to the kitchen, realizing now that he had to be the one in the kitchen. In her rush, she crashed into Motoko sending both girls to the floor.

Motoko recovered first. "What's the matter Shinobu?"

"Um, nothing, I just have to talk with Ken about something." She responded nervously.

Sensing the other girl's apprehension, Motoko pushed forward. "About what?"

Shinobu began fiddling with her hands as she spoke. "Well, I think I fell asleep with him, but I don't remember what happened after that, but I was wearing different clothes when I woke up this morning."

"Ken!" Motoko stormed off toward the kitchen with her sword waving wildly. "You vile pervert! You will pay for your actions against poor Shinobu!"

Shinobu winced as the dorm shook with Motoko's ki blasts. "Maybe I should have been a bit more careful the way I said that…"

"For the love of all that is holy! Someone stop her before she kills me!" Ken cried as he went running through the dorm in search of an escape route. "I don't even know what I did!"

"There is no escape from my wrath! I knew it would be a mistake to have you live here!" Motoko followed close behind Ken firing off multiple ki blasts at him. "Now stop running and take your punishment for defiling Shinobu!"

"Defiling?!" Screamed Ken. "What the hell have you been smoking? I didn't do that!" He jumped to avoid another blast, but wasn't fast enough. "Gahhh! My legs!"

Motoko smiled evilly. "Now I have you! Evil Cutting Sword Second Form!"

Ken screamed as the blast hit him and sent him through the roof.

"What are you guys doing?" Demanded Naru as she emerged from her room looking completely exhausted. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Motoko replaced her sword to her side. "I'm sorry to wake you Naru, but Ken had to be punished."

Naru raised an eyebrow. "Ok, what did he do this time?" Naru listened as Shinobu quickly filled her in on the story. "Oh that. Ken brought you in after you fell asleep and asked me to look after you since he couldn't wake you up."

Motoko looked at the hole in the roof and felt a wave of guilt hit her. "So you were the one that changed Shinobu's clothes?"

Naru nodded. "Yeah, Ken asked me to since he figured Shinobu would be upset if he did that."

Motoko didn't feel so guilty now. "So he did consider it."

The girls looked up towards the roof as a loud crash was heard.

Naru sighed. "You two deal with him, I'm going back to bed." She shut the door to her room leaving the hallway silent.

Motoko and Shinobu exchanged glances.

"Maybe you should go first." Motoko suggested. "He might start running again if he sees me."

Shinobu nodded and began to walk away. "Maybe I better change out of my pj's first just incase Motoko gets jumpy again." She thought silently. She returned to her room and put on her school uniform and then headed for the roof.

Motoko watched as the younger girl walk away, and turned to look at Naru's closed door. "I wonder what's wrong with Naru? She looks terrible, and I heard her fighting with Keitaro last night. I'll ask her at breakfast I suppose." She turned and went downstairs to her waiting breakfast, doing her best to ignore the slight feeling of guilt that she may have killed the man who made it for her.

***

Ken hadn't moved since he landed. He remained in a sort of headstand with his head buried beneath floorboards and his arms folded across his chest. "I must have done something really bad in a past life." He muttered. "Or perhaps that demon in there just gets off on beating people senseless." He shivered as the image of Motoko in an S&M costume flashed through his mind.

"Are you ok?" Called Shinobu's voice.

Ken finally pulled himself out of the hole he had created. "Yeah, nothing a few aspirin won't cure. Mind explaining to me what the kendo girl was ranting about." He listened to the explanation and began to laugh.

"It's not that funny." Despite her saying so, Shinobu laughed a bit as well. She was relieved to see that despite the beating he had just taken, Ken seemed no worse for wear. In fact, his injuries from last night seemed to have healed almost completely.

Ken continued to laugh. "Yes, it is. Motoko's so uptight about everything, but at least her heart is in the right place." He glanced down at his watch. "Hey, shouldn't you be getting ready for class?"

Shinobu looked at her own watch. "Auuuu! I'm going to be late!" She ran off to the lower levels of the apartments. She grabbed her book bag from her room and rushed towards the front door where Su and Hotaru were waiting.

"That's what happens when you spend the whole night with your new boyfriend." Su teased.

Hotaru blinked. "Shinobu and onii-chan? A couple?"

Shinobu blushed deeply. "We're not a couple. We're just friends."

"Yeah right." Su continued to tease.

"Oh, go away." Shinobu playfully pushed her friend out the front door. She gasped as she saw Ken waiting outside on his motorcycle.

"Anyone need a ride?" He asked.

The girls all looked at each other, trying to decide who should go with him.

"Guys," called Ken. "I have room for all of you."

Shinobu glanced at the other two girls, and saw the same look in their eyes. She broke into a sprint towards the bike. The few seconds jump that she got was all she needed and reached the second seat just before the other two.

"But now where do we sit?" asked a disappointed Su.

Ken nodded to the opposite side of the bike.

The two girls quickly ran around the other side and, upon seeing the newly added side cart, jumped inside.

Ken laughed at their enthusiasm. "There are some new helmets in there as well. Put 'em on." He waited until the three girls were ready. "Here we go!" He took off down the steps and down the streets of Hinata towards the girl's school.

"How did you get down stairs so fast?" Asked Shinobu as they picked up speed.

Ken laughed. "I jumped off the roof."

The four teenagers speed past the teahouse and waved at Kitsune as she open shop for the day. From there they headed through the city towards the school the girls attended. Although Ken kept his hands on the handles, the girls were more animated. They waved to the casual passer by and called out to their friends causing much commotion. By the time they reached the school, there were few people who hadn't seen or heard them.

"Last stop." Called Ken as he came to a stop. "Everybody out."

Shinobu climbed off the motorcycle and removed her helmet.

Ken stared as she knocked her clip out of her hair causing it to fall in a shimmering cascade. Without realizing it, he stopped breathing.

"Ken? You ok?" Shinobu asked concerned.

Ken shook himself out of his daze. "Um, yeah, just fine." He cleared his throat. "So you guys going to need a ride back home later?"

Su shook her head. "I have a club meeting."

"Me too." Seconded Hotaru.

Shinobu looked down at the ground. "I was going to go shopping after school…"

Ken nodded. "Alright, I'll give you a ride." He paused. "That is if you want one."

Shinobu nodded. "That would be nice."

"Oh this is just dumb already!" Hotaru teased. "Why don't you two just do it already and move on?"

Both Ken and Shinobu stared slack jawed. "Nani?!!"

Su and Hotaru ran off towards the school, singing in tandem. "Ken and Shinobu, laying in a tree, F-U-…"

"I'm going to kill the two of you!" Shinobu yelled as she chased after her friends.

Ken revved his engine. "And if she doesn't, I'll run you over!"

"Hey! Get that vehicle off of school property!" Yelled the security guard.

Ken looked back. "Guess that's my cue to leave." He revved the engine again sending dirt and debris toward the guard. "Sorry, never had much respect for authority figures!" He laughed as he tore off down the street.

Shinobu watched as Ken disappeared into downtown Hinata. Torn between feeling bad for the security guard, and laughing at Ken's carefree actions. Finally she went into her classroom as the other students began to disperse.

"Hey!" Whispered one of the boys in her class to one of his friends. "Did you see who it was on that motorcycle?"

The second boy nodded. "Yeah, who'd have thought that Maehara would've turned into a biker girl."

"Biker girl?" Shinobu wondered as she took her seat. She smiled slightly and giggled. "It does seem a bit weird for me, but its kind of fun too."

***

Ken returned to the dorm and found it to be completely empty. He parked his bike and raided Keitaro's repair supply closet. He headed up to the roof and spent the next few hours fixing the hole that he had created during his unexpected flight this morning. "You're good. You know that?" He called to no one in particular. "I was barely able to sense you." He looked over his shoulder to where Keitaro was now standing.

"We need to talk." The apartment manager stated coolly.

Ken stood. "Yeah, I figured we would have to have words sooner or later."

"You have to know that I won't let you hurt her." Keitaro stated.

 Ken raised his eyebrow. "Sorry, I'm not sure I follow you."

Keitaro stepped forward and hopped the deck railing. He walked up the roof until he stood even with Ken. "I know that you're here for Motoko. I won't let you hurt her."

Ken scratched at his head. "Well, you're sort of right at least." He glanced over toward the trees at the edge of the roof. "However, before we discuss this, what do you say we deal with the big, pink elephant hiding in the trees?"

Keitaro nodded.

For a moment neither moved, simply watching the trees. Then one branched twitched for no apparent reason and both boys dashed forward.

"Don't let him get away!" Yelled Keitaro.

Ken laughed. "You worry to much!" He grinned wolfishly as he whispered. " You aren't going anywhere 'Ro. Not when the game is just getting started." He dropped into the trees with Keitaro close behind. Before them, a lone figure in a black trench coat ran in search of escape.

Good? Bad? Other? Drop me a line on what you think. Not to sound like a review junkie, but I was hoping I would have a few more reviews by now. (Hint hint, please leave one ^-^) 'Till the next, live well all!