A/N: Ok, I think I got my act together for this one. Sorry again for the last chapter.

To MaDeR: Sorry you didn't like the last few chaps. I was trying to lighten the mood before the s hit the fan, but it clearly didn't have the desired result. Hope you like this one better.

To kendogirl15: Thanks for the reviews! And yes I did go back find a few typos in my work, but that's bound to happen when you write more than four words at a time. Unlike cough cough you cough cough.  Oh, well. At least that crap story of yours was removed.

To he who reported kendogirl15: (I'm not sure if they notify people of who reported them and don't want to out you just in case) You have done the world a great service. I didn't realize she flamed so many people so many times or I would have reported her. I thought she just hit me and didn't really care. (riderofdragons bows humbly) Thank you much for your actions.

As always, thanks to readers and reviewers who have stuck around and thanks to all new comers. That's all, enjoy!

Love Hina: Healing Hearts

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters. Love Hina is Ken Akamatsu's.

Chapter Fifteen: The Storm – Part 1

She pulled the old and tattered book from where it sat on the shelf and gently brushed the dust from its cover. She sat down and opened the book until she found the page she was looking for. She read the words written by her ancestor centuries ago.

Our clan has at long last been forced to make a decision. The Ashura Clan, who compose the left hand of the warrior, has become increasingly violent as of late. The Aoyamas have called a meeting to try to peacefully resolve this issue, but we know that it will fail. Our position as the heart of the warrior gives us the gift to see into the hearts of others and know their deepest desires. Though I myself abhor violence, I fear there is no alternative but to strike the Ashura Clan down, and the other clans know it as well. If this should come to pass…the Ashura will not go quietly into the night to die. They will remain and lie in wait to exact their revenge. They will fester like an open wound upon the warrior they were once a part of. We must try to prevent this, we cannot allow them to walk that path or we will all be destroyed. The Ashura must either be brought up to see the light and renounce their dark ways, or their lines must be ended completely. These are the only two paths that ensure the safety of us all. Not only the clans, but also all of the people of Japan. I can only pray that the gods and goddesses will guide us to the proper path, and give us the strength to travel it.

The woman continued to leaf through the pages until she came to a more recent entry. The date listed it as eight years old.

Our greatest fears have come to life this day. The Ashura Clan has returned to end our bloodlines as we attempted to do to them so many years ago. They call themselves the Kokuei now, but they are the same demons that the legends of old describe. Not only have they returned, but the method by which they attempt to kill us is utterly terrifying. The practice of pooling bloodlines together in order to have the child's ki take the form of an aspect of nature has be revived. This practice was outlawed because the concentration of a single element within the child can cause them to become mentally unstable. In the time of my ancestors such beings were known as Avatars. We faced two of them today, the Avatar of Earth and the Avatar of Spirit, and were nearly destroyed for it. Though both were incredibly young, they fought with the strength of demons. Were it not for the fact that one was thrown from the roof to the street below, and the second so overcome with grief at losing his brother, we may never have escaped.

 Even with our hasty retreat, our losses were heavy. Lord and Lady Aoyama were the first to fall to the blades of these assassins. Next was the eldest Urashima. I can only hope that Haruka can help her widowed mother carry on. Although not of the clans, the blonde woman with the Noriyasu leader was slain when she attempted to protect her friend. My dear friend's husband was killed as well. I can only pray that young Naru never learns of the way in which her father died. As I hope my own daughter never learns of how my husband died.

The writing tapered off as though the writer could no longer hold the pen in her hand. The woman reading the old book trace her fingers over the pages feeling the water marks of the tears that her mother had cried while writing this entry. The writing then continued.

Despite the losses we have suffered I know that it is not the end of this fight. If two Avatars were able to do this much, I cannot imagine the damage that will follow in their wake when joined by the Avatars of Wind, Water, Fire, Wood, and Lightning. Our only hope to defeating these…demons, lay in the hands of the next generation of our clans, our children. Please forgive me daughter, only you and your friends can see this through now. Please forgive your mother for not being able to protect you against the destiny you must face.

The woman closed the book and sighed heavily. She looked down into her lap at the small animal that rested there before lovingly patting its head. The small turtle looked up and cooed at her owner. "Yes, I suppose that we should go see them soon, shouldn't we?"

The turtle made another remark.

"You're right, they are in trouble. The Clan of Dark Shadows, the Clan of Fighting Demons, is growing close around them. Yet, as long as we remain here they won't be in immediate danger." She smiled down at the little turtle as she removed a stray brown hair from her vision. "After all, we can't have a Gathering without all the clan representatives being gathered." Suddenly she bolted to her feet staring off toward the direction of the Hinata-sou. She didn't even notice when her pet turtle flew up and landed on her head. Her voice filled with fright, she was only able to voice one word. A name. "Shinobu."

---

            A woman watched as the water flowed around her. She frowned as the cold water hit her skin and splashed up against the portions of her body that were not already submerged. This water was gentle and kind, completely lacking in power and force. She released her energy into the water.

The transition was slow at first as the tendrils of ki and chi intertwined and merged with the running currents of the river. Small whirlpools formed and grew larger in moments. As the whirlpools touched they merged into each other becoming larger still. In but a few minutes the multiple small whirlpools had become a single massive whirlpool that revolved around the woman.

"Having fun are we?"

The woman turned, her concentration diverted slightly causing the maelstrom about her to waiver almost imperceptibly. "Hello onii-san. Is there word from father?"

The black clad figure separated himself from the shadows of the forest that surrounded their home. "Indeed. Clothe yourself sister, and follow. We have much to prepare."

The woman leapt from the center of the whirlpool she had created on to the bank beside her brother. "The clan grows restless as The Gathering nears. And so do I."

"Father does not, nor do I, care if you and the others grow restless." The man turned and began walking back into the forest. "The Gathering cannot be rushed, as you well know, if we are to claim our rightful place as the most powerful clan and the new rulers of Japan."

The woman smiled as she followed close. "Why stop with just Japan? Why not the world?"

"You understand so little, because you know nothing." The man stated with out emotion. "One who knows nothing, can understand nothing. You are a power hungry fool because that is all that you can comprehend. Follow your orders and do not allow your idiocy to jeopardize our plans."

The woman gritted her teeth against the biting remark she wished to release. "As you wish."

"Good." The man pointed to were the other members of the clan were training. "Supervise them. I want them ready when I need them."

The woman nodded. "You mean when father needs them, don't you?"

"That's what I said."

The woman smiled. "Of course, my mistake." Her smile disappeared quickly as her brother walked off towards their father's study. "Are you ready?"

A shadow at the edge of the training facility stepped forward and nodded. "Hai, onee-san."

The woman smiled. "Good. I intend to bring in the New Year with a bang."

---

Naru blinked. "I've never seen her like this."

"I know." Keitaro agreed. "Something must have happened last night to make her this way."

Motoko nodded in agreement. "We should try to figure out exactly what it is that has lead to this state."

Kanako sighed. "You are all so incredibly dense it's nauseating."

The other three turned to face the younger Urashima.

Kanako sighed again. "They did go off together last night, it probably didn't go that well for them."

Su came bounding into the dinning room ready for breakfast. Before she sat for her meal she wrapped an arm around both Motoko and Kanako. "Good morning lovers!"

Motoko and Kanako both blushed deeply.

The rest of the inn soon came in as well, and all eyes turned to Ken.

Ken's eyes went wide. "Hold it. Whatever you're thinking, stop. I didn't do anything to her."

Shinobu opened the kitchen door and began to lay out the food onto the table.

Everyone looked at the food she prepared and gasped.

"You've outdone yourself Shinobu." Kitsune remarked as she reached for the platter before her.

Shinobu dropped a cup of instant ramen in front of the older woman and walked away.

Kitsune hung her head and took her breakfast to the kitchen to boil some water.

Everyone turned to stare at Kitsune as she left and then to Shinobu as she sat impassively eating her breakfast.

Ken smirked and sat down beside her. "Guess you know already?"

Shinobu nodded. "I heard her talking to herself as I came down from Su's room."

Ken nodded, a small grin on his face as Kitsune came back with her ramen cup. "Well played Shinobu."

Shinobu allowed a small smile to cross her face.

Sarah looked around at the other tenants. "Nani?"

---

Keitaro walked out to the old waterfall at the rear of the grounds. He was still worried about the conversation from yesterday. Things were happening to quickly for him to control. He wouldn't be able to protect everyone at this rate. "Three Avatars plus an unknown number of soldiers." He let out a frustrated yell and punched the nearest tree. There was a deafening crack as the tree snapped in two. "Damn it!"

"Ohhh! You're kind of on the skinny side, but you have some good power there."

Keitaro spun toward the sound of the voice and saw a woman in a black trench coat. Her hood was thrown back revealing that she had short black hair and her eyes were as blue as the deepest ocean waters. At her back rested a long staff with a large crescent blade attached at the end. Her slight movements caused the staff to make a clinking sound. There was only one weapon that Keitaro knew of with a chain inserted into a hollow staff, a shakujou staff.

The woman followed his gaze. "I see you've noticed Uzumaki." She grinned. "She hasn't had a good drink in a while, but if you tell me what I need to know I might let her go dry a bit longer."

Keitaro's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

The woman twirled her staff over her head. The crescent blade whipped out at the end of the chain toward Keitaro. "I'm the one asking the questions." She smiled. "I guess Uzumaki will get a drink after all. She loves the taste of fresh, wet, blood."

Keitaro easily sidestepped the attack. As he expected the blade buried itself into the tree trunk behind him. What he had not expected was that the blade continued on cleaving the tree into two clean pieces. This woman was no one to trifle with. "You want info? So do I. Fair trade?"

The woman gave her chain a small tug and blade whipped back towards her. She laughed as Keitaro rolled out of the recoil attack. "I don't trade, I take. Now, who is the other man in your facility?"

Keitaro grinned. "I still haven't caught your name."

The woman's smile disappeared. "Fine, I'll kill you and interrogate the women." She whipped the chained blade forward again.

Keitaro caught the blade in one hand and grabbed the chain in the other. "Kind of a one trick pony huh?"

The woman smiled. "Not at all."

Keitato watched as her ki washed down from her arm along the length of chain. It flowed as water and struck him full in the chest. He gasped from the force with which he had been hit and the water-like ki rose up and entered his mouth. Suddenly Keitaro couldn't breath.

The woman's smile grew larger. "Seeing as your going to die, I guess you can know my name. I'm Amaya, the Avatar of Water." She laughed as landlord suffocated under her watery attack. "And you, Urashima heir, are dead." Without warning a shinobi throwing star severed her ki wave causing her to cry out in pain.

Ken stepped out from his hiding spot behind the tree. "You alright K-man?"

Keitaro fell to his knees and vomited. Although the water wasn't real, his body thought it was. "I'll live."

"Not for long you won't!" Amaya screamed and charged the fallen man. She stopped cold as another throwing star whizzed past her nose.

Ken smiled. "Good girl, stay."

Amaya growled.

The three fighters stared at one another in a tense stand still. They turned as a loud explosion was seen coming from the direction of the Hinata-sou.

Amaya smiled. "Took you long enough Saburo."

Ken gritted his teeth. "Keitaro! Go protect the girls! I deal with this one!"

Keitaro nodded and ran off.

"Like I'm going to let you get away!" Amaya leapt high into the air and chased after Keitaro.

Ken turned and followed her. "Damn! She's gotten faster!"

---

Shinobu looked up into the new hole in the ceiling. She hurt in places she didn't know she had. Her vision was doubled; her ears were ringing as well as bleeding. "Na-nani?" A black clad figure walked in and stood over her. The memories of the alley flowed back from months ago. "Noman?"

The figure looked down at Shinobu. "Noman? That is the name he uses? He's as pathetic as sister has told me." He raised his hand, holding a nunchaku, and gave it gentle spin.

Shinobu flinched as the weapon came toward her, but the blow never struck. Shinobu looked up to see why. Moriko had stopped the falling rod with her white katana.

"You stay away from her Saburo!" Moriko spun and kicked the attacker in the chest.

The figure in black toppled backward and fell to the ground. His hood fell back, revealing a boy who looked as though he should still be in elementary school. His hair was a dark brown with golden streaks zigzagging through out. "Moriko?! You're siding with them?"

Moriko shook her head. "The only side I'm on is my own, but this one is not a target to you. She's off limits."

Saburo stood. "I'm well aware that she is not of the clans." He smiled. "But I don't care. This girl is some how connected to our prey and I want to draw him out. I will prove to father that I am strong. I will prove that I am worthy to take the name of our dead brother."

 A light breeze brushed through the rooms, and Sora entered. She wore a black trench coat as well and was carrying a large bo staff. "I agree little brother." She turned to Moriko. "Cease this foolishness sister. We must obey father's orders if we are to take our right full place as the head of the warrior."

"Head of the Warrior?" Moriko scoffed. "You're going to kill the other clans, the rest of the warrior will be dead. Congratulations! You're the leaders of a corpse!"

Sora cocked her head to one side. "You speak as though you are no longer part of us."

Moriko nodded. "I'm not, I quit. Just like Kenji did."

Saburo twirled his nunchaku threateningly. "And the weakling died for his betrayal."

Moriko shook her head. "I don't believe that onii-chan is dead. Genseiri's handle still pulses with his presence. He is alive somewhere, and I will find him."

Saburo made a rude sound. "You're as crazy as the baka that said he'd protect me." He charged toward Moriko, his nunchaku crackling with electricity. He never got the chance to strike the blow. A small blonde haired girl landed a flying kick to his head that sent him flying through the wall and into the next room.

"Listen dork!" Sarah landed on her feet and pointed a finger at the fallen boy. "I don't know what you're issue is, but Shinobu is my friend! And you are not getting to her with out going through me!"

"That goes for all of us." Motoko agreed as she entered the room followed by the remainder for the Hinata-sou.

Sora smiled. "Very well Aoyama. We were going to kill you all sooner or later any way."

Everyone turned as Keitaro came crashing through the wall. "Run! You can't face them! They're too strong!" He rolled to a defensive crouch as Amaya and Ken came in behind him trading blows.

Amaya was breathing hard, her thoughts jumbled. "Who is this guy? He fights with detailed knowledge of our fighting style, yet he is not one of us." She turned and glared at her siblings. "Grab the girl and go! Leave the other's for later!"

The Hinata-sou residents formed a defensive perimeter around Shinobu.

"No." Hotaru stepped forward with her kodachis drawn, and pointed one at Sora. "This one's mine." She frowned. "You came into our home and now you do this. These people are family to me, the only one I've known. You get no closer to them than where you are now."

Moriko stepped forward. "Hotaru you can go one on one with her. She'll kill you!"

Hotaru glared at her friend. "You're one of them."

Moriko faltered. "No, I…"

"Pick a side, them or us!" Hotaru's ultimatum shocked the room into silence.

Moriko spun her katanas and sided with Hotaru. "Screw it. If I'm going to die, I'd rather be on the good side."

Amaya frowned. "So be it." She nodded to her siblings. "Kill them all, but keep our target…" She looked over the other people in the room. "And the Aoyama heiress alive." She smiled. "Father will want them see them both, before he kills them."

Ken and Keitaro exchanged glances, and nodded.

It was time.

Good? Bad? Other? Drop a review and tell me what you think.

Name meanings:

Ashura – fighting demon

Kokuei – dark shadow

Amaya – night rain

Uzumaki – whirlpool

Also, for those of you who couldn't picture Amaya's shakujou staff, it's the staff that Sha Gojyo uses in Saiyuki. Just in case you want to look it up.