A/N: Just about done.

Thanks to walkswithwraiths for his help in all this. And for the reviews too :)

Thanks to my friend in bio: Just be warned, Dave saw your review and is quite mad you used his real name on this site. (Looks around nervously) Lock your door when you go to sleep, that dude's crazy. :-P

Thanks to anyone who has read and reviewed thus far! With out the support I may not have every continued with this.

Alright, I guess that's everyone. On with the fic! Enjoy everyone!

Love Hina: Healing Hearts

Disclaimer: I do own Love Hina. (pulls out the boxed anime set and the movies along with all the manga) See, I do own it. Just not the rights, so don't sue cause I'm broke anyway from car bills…TT

Chapter Twenty: The Gathering

Keitaro and Ken watched as the girls chitchatted with Mutsumi.

"You realize what this means right?" Ken asked.

Keitaro nodded. "I do." Keitaro sighed. "I had thought that she would just stay clear of this place until this went away, but it seems that she wants this to be done with once and for all as well." He turned to the younger man. "When do you think they'll come?"

Ken shrugged. "No way to tell exactly, but knowing 'Ichi…it won't be long."

Keitaro swallowed hard. "Do you think we have a chance?"

Ken reached down and tapped the Hina Blade at Keitaro's side. "I saw you reading the journal left by your ancestor, the one your grandmother was named for. You know how this has to end." He sighed. "As do I."

Keitaro shook his head. "I don't accept that! There has to be another way!"

"It is not for you to accept K-man." Ken smiled sadly. "But for me too, and I do."

Keitaro glared at the blonde haired man. "And what about Shinobu? Does she know about what you have planed?"

Ken turned away. "Iie, and you aren't going to tell her."

"The hell I'm not!"

Ken grabbed Keitaro by the collar of his shirt. "You do that and I may not be able to do this! Then everyone will pay! So keep quiet and follow what your ancestor wrote!"

Keitaro stared at the man holding him. Ken's face was a mixture of pain and fear. "I see…alright then."

Ken released his grip. "Arigato."

"So how do you intend to do this?" Keitaro asked as Ken got control of himself.

Ken sighed. "I'm working on it…"

---

Mutsumi smiled as Shinobu brought out the tea and snacks to the group. "I'm glad to see that you have recovered so nicely."

Shinobu blinked. "How did you know about that?"

"Same way she knew about everything else that concerns Hinata-sou." Naru answered as she took her drink. "As the representative of the final clan, she has the unique ability to sense when others are in danger."

Shinobu shook her head. "But I'm not from the clans."

Kanako sipped her drink slowly. "But you have spent a great deal of time here at the Hinata-sou, so its energy has been tied to you as well."

"Oh." Was all Shinobu was able to reply with.

"I'll get you yet! Come back here!" Su came bounding through the room in hot pursuit of a small flying turtle. "Come back Tama-chan! You're to be the main ingredient of my stew!"

The seated women sweat dropped as they watched this familiar scene yet again.

"Myuh!" Tama-chan put her flippers back and her speed increased as she attempted to escape her pursuer.

Moriko was not far behind Su. "Holy crap! A flying turtle! Don't eat it! We can sell her to a zoo or something and make some crazy money for something like this!"

"No way!" Su yelled back. "She's my dinner!"

Hotaru plucked the tiny reptile out of the air. "I don't like either of those choices." She gave the turtle a pat on the head. "She's to cute to be anything else but a pet." She turned and sat down with the other tenants. "Anyway, now that all members of the warrior clans are here, what do we do next?"

Motoko leaned back into her chair. "We wait I suppose."

"That's stupid." Hotaru pointed out. "If we wait, we're going to be caught with out pants down like we were last time."

"No pants?" Su flopped down on the couch. "In that case we'll win no problem!"

The others turned to the young girl in confusion.

Su continued. "If they attack with no pants on, then Naru and Motoko will go into 'pervert killing mode' and be totally unbeatable!"

Everyone in the room sweat dropped.

"Anyone else think that we should revoke Su's speaking privileges?" Commented Hotaru.

Sarah shrugged. "She does have a point though."

"Hey!" Motoko and Naru responded angrily.

Keitaro entered the room. "Something wrong?"

Kitsune turned to face the new arrival. "Well, hey there, Mr. Landlord! What's the word on getting our home sweet home fixed up?"

Keitaro shook his head. "The insurance people won't give me an answer yet. Say they need to see the amount of damage to rate everything."

Haruka shook her head and took another drag of her cigarette. "I hate that damn company." She turned to her nephew. "Once this is all done with, find a new company ok?"

"Yeah, cause another company will take us with our repair history." Keitaro relied sarcastically.

Haruka pulled a paper fan from somewhere and smacked Keitaro in the back of the head. "Did you say something?"

Keitaro shook his head. "No Aunt…"

Haruka smacked him again. "Just Haruka."

Shinobu turned around. "Sempai? Have you seen Ken?"

Keitaro nodded. "He went back by the waterfall, but he said he wanted to be alone for a while."

"Oh. Well, I suppose I'll go start lunch then." Shinobu stood and walked off to the kitchen.

"Where is Ken really?" asked Naru.

"I was telling the truth Naru." Keitaro looked out toward the waterfall. "He's trying to find peace."

---

Shinobu sat on the roof alone. Ken hadn't come in for lunch, nor dinner. She couldn't help but get the feeling that something was bothering him. She watched as the sun began to set over the ocean in the distance.

"Something on your mind?"

Shinobu turned to see Moriko coming up the stairs.

"I can leave if you'd like."

Shinobu smiled. "That's alright, I was actually hoping for some company."

Moriko returned the smile. "I know what you mean, I was kind of hoping to find onii-chan up here too."

Shinobu sighed. "You haven't seen him either?"

Moriko shook her head and sat beside the old girl. "I saw him, but I didn't get the chance to talk to him." She looked out to the sea. "He's been sitting in meditation under that waterfall for hours now." She glanced sidelong at her friend. "Any ideas on what's bothering him."

"I think discovering that his brother was alive and betrayed him really tore him up." Shinobu whispered softly. "But then, I can't always read him very well."

Moriko smiled. "Well if you can't read him, none of us can. You're the only one I think his has ever really opened up to." She sighed. "Shinobu can I ask you something?"

"Hai."

"When this is all over," Moriko paused. "Will you take care of Ken?"

Shinobu blinked. "I don't understand."

Moriko bit her lip. "Onii-chan is very important to me, but you are very special to him in a way I never can be. He loves you Shinobu."

Shinobu blinked, then blushed. "And you want to know if I love him." She smiled. "I think that I do." She turned to the younger girl and smiled. "Yeah, I'll take care of him."

---

Ken slowly opened his eyes. His heart weighed heavy in his chest and his spirit wept, but he had to be strong. There was only one way that this could end.

He stood and stepped out of the freezing cold water that poured down upon his body and striped down out of his gray training garb. He raised he ki just enough to fling off the last of the water that clung to his body and felt his temperature begin to rise to what most would consider a normal level.

He stood still for a long time looking between his choices in clothing. The clothes themselves would neither aid nor harm him in the fight that was to come, but the meaning behind those clothes could.

To his right was his entirely black ensemble he had worn when he was the Avatar of Spirit of the Ashura Clan, and also what he had worn under the guise of Noman that night he had helped her. These were symbols of the powers he had discovered and honed in the shadows; Powers and skills that allowed him to do things that no man should be able to do. Those skills could very well give him the strength to defeat his enemies and keep his friends safe. "But perhaps cost me my very soul…"

To his left, a simple pair of jeans, his worn sneakers, and a long sleeve shirt that Shinobu had given him as a present for Christmas. Long sleeved because she knew that he'd wear nothing else given the scars that covered his body. A symbol of her dedication she gave in response to the trust he placed in her when he shared that secret with her. She believed in him as Ken, not the Avatar within. She had given him hope again, helped him regain a part of him he had thought lost forever. Such strength would keep him fighting long after his body should have given out. "But will it be strength enough to stand against my brother and sisters and to keep her safe?"

He closed his eyes and opened his senses to the forested land that surrounded the Hinata-sou. Instantly the music of the spirits filled his ears, trying to help him find the answer he searched for. He opened his eyes after discovering that there was no more time left. He picked the clothing up from where it lay on the ground and dressed unhurried. He picked up a small object that had rested between the two outfits and tucked it behind the shirt, right next to his heart. "I suppose it really doesn't matter what I wear. You helped heal the scars in my heart, and allowed me to be close to yours. The rest is just background noise."

He smiled as he strapped Kedou and Akkanka to his back. He paused as he passed the waterfall and saw his reflection. He pulled his white sword from its scabbard and placed it at the base of his ponytail, in one deft motion the lump of hair fell into the pool below. Ken made a few more cuts and placed Kedou back into his sheath. He wet his hand and ran it through his hair, giving it a messy spiked look. He watched as his golden locks flowed down the stream and out of sight. He smiled sadly at the song the river sang.

He turned and headed for the Hinata-sou. His green eyes turned up toward the moon. The last night was a hunter's moon, not a true full moon, but very close. Tonight was as a full moon, but it would be special tonight. The moon was passing through the Mars sky. He sped up his walk to a light run as he sensed the gathering ki. "Time to end this."

The forest was quiet now, quiet but for the sound of cloth ripping and humming.

---

Haruka calmly walked toward the upcoming crowd of people. She puffed out a cloud of smoke and pulled out her paper fan. She gave it a powerful swing and the first wave of the Ashura Clan foot soldiers were sent flying back into their kinsmen. She rested her fan on her shoulder and took another drag of her cigarette. "Why don't you all just go home already?" She sighed.

Keitaro stepped forward, the light of the moon reflecting off his Hina Blade. Beside him stood Motoko and Kanako. Behind them stood Seta, Sarah, Su, Kitsune, Shinobu, and Mutsumi.

Keitaro glanced up towards his bedroom window. He knew that Naru was watching from that window, as was Nyamo. Keitaro had managed to convince Naru that staying there would be best, given the baby, and Nyamo had agreed to make sure that Naru stayed there.

"What are you looking at, baka?"

Keitaro turned, only mildly surprised to see Naru standing at his side. "I thought you were going to stay out of harms way."

Nyamo ran up to Keitaro mumbling her apology for not keeping Naru in her room.

Keitaro waved off her apology, smiled, and rested a hand on her shoulder. "No worries, we'll just make sure that she stays safe down here." He turned as four figures in black trench coats stepped to the front of the Ashura line. Then he turned to the voices behind him.

"Were you going to start this party with out us?" Teased Moriko as she stepped out of the door.

Hotaru hopped down from the awning over the door. "That isn't very nice, trying to leave us behind."

Sarah looked around. "So where is the other dork now?"

One of the black coats stepped forward and removed his hood. His skin was pale to the point one would think that it had never seen sunlight. His hair a satin black color and tied of into a very short tail ending at his shoulders. His eyes a cold steel gray. "The Gathering is here. For it to be of legal standing before the histories all parties must be gathered and announced." He drew his sword, Jihibiki, from his sheath. "I am the Avatar of Earth, Ashura Ken'ichi."

Amaya, Sora, and Saburo stepped forward one at a time and removed their hoods before similarly introducing themselves.

Keitaro nodded. "Urashima Keitaro, of the right foot of the warrior." Kanako and Haruka similarly introduced themselves.

"Noriyasu Seta, of the left foot of the warrior."

"Sarah McDougal, successor to Noriyasu-ryu."

"Narusegewa Naru, of the right hand of the warrior."

"Otohime Mutsumi, of the heart of the warrior."

"Ashura Moriko…"

"And Ashura Hotaru, of the left hand of the warrior."

"Aoyama Motoko, of the head of the warrior."

Ken'ichi smiled. "Good all are here, now you can all die together."

"Hey!" Cried Su as she bounced to the front of the group.

Kitsune followed up as well. "You didn't let us say anything!"

"We're part of this too!" Yelled Shinobu.

Ken'ichi scoffed. "You are not of the clans and have no standing here, your deaths are merely collateral damage." He dropped to an offensive stance, his eyes taking on a brown-black glow. "Now die." He charged forward. A black sword hurtled down and became stuck in the ground directly in Ken'ichi's path, nearly skewering him. He looked up along the angle the blade had traveled, and his eyes narrowed.

"One more introduction is needed." The man's glowing eyes, one black, one white, fixed on the pale man. "Ken, formerly Ashura Kenji of the Ashura Clan, formerly the Avatar of Spirit, of the left hand of the warrior." Ken dropped to the ground from where he stood at the top of the Hinata-sou and retrieved his sword.

Shinobu gasped as she saw him. He wore a simple street clothes outfit, but that wasn't what caught her attention. Ken was wearing the gift she had given him only a few weeks ago, but he had cut the sleeves off, and slits part way down the side revealing his scars for the world to see. Shinobu gasped again as Ken turned and gave her a smile, his eyes fading to his normal green color for a moment before his ki overtook the color again. She smiled. "He's no longer ashamed of his scars…"

Moriko smiled. "Nope, and he's putting his faith in the strength you've given him."

Ken turned back to his brother. "Hey 'Ichi! What do you say we settle this like we did as kids?" He smiled and pulled Kedou from the sheath at his back. "Or are you afraid you'll lose to me again?"

Ken'ichi snarled. "I always left you crying!"

Ken settled into a relaxed upper stance. "I recall other wise. Maybe fragmenting your concentration to control the minds of all the clan has affected your memory?"

"So you figured it out." Ken'ichi smiled and readied himself for battle.

Ken nodded. "I can hear their spirits screaming to be free of your control. Let them go and take me on at your full power. One on one, end this once and for all." He narrowed his eyes. "Or I break the hold you have on them by myself."

Ken'ichi smiled. "You can only hear their spirits, not command them or free them."

Ken smiled in return. "A limit that has yet to be tested…'Ichi."

A sneer crossed Ken'ichi's face again. "I hate that nickname!"

Ken smiled again. "Yeah, because we both know, that I was the real number one."

Ken'ichi seethed with anger. Behind him the other members of the Ashura clan began to fall, one by one, until even the other Avatars fell. "We settle this now! You and I!" He charged forward and savagely kneed Ken in the stomach.

Ken's body bounced repeatedly across the yard.

"Is that all you have?" Ken'ichi laughed. "Ji."

Ken stood also laughing. "Damn, that almost hurt." He smiled. "But Motoko hits harder than that." He dashed forward and stopped just before his brother. "And running for my life from Naru has made me a lot faster." He head-butted Ken'ichi. "And sparing with the K-man each morning has improved my reflexes too." He watched as Ichi now bounced across the yard. "I had hoped I could save you onii-chan, both back then, and when I found you were alive again." He sighed and frowned. "But you are beyond reach, your soul sings a dirge." He readied his blades for the final blow. "I am sorry, my brother." Ken raced forward and the field erupted with brown ki.

Ken'ichi smiled as he rose from the ground, his body radiating brown ki. "I am one with the earth, you can't hope to match my power." He raced forward again and slashed younger sibling across the chest.

Ken managed to avoid the physical blade, but the accompanying ki wave hit him full force. He screamed as he hurtled backwards through the front door of the dorm, and continued on until he landed in the bath. He coughed and looked at his reflection in the blood-tainted water. "Damn…where'd he get this power." His eyes widened in fear. "Is it rei?!"

Ken'ichi appeared behind him. "It is indeed." He raised his sword. "Sayonara, little brother."

"No!"

Ken's eyes narrowed to pinpoints as he saw the flash of blue hair as a body tried to through itself between Ken and the falling Jihibiki. He reached up and grabbed the girl's small frame. He summoned every ounce of chi he possessed and spun her underneath him as the blade fell. He grunted as the long sword cut into his back.

Shinobu looked up into Ken's eyes as they faded from white and black to green. "I…I…"

Ken winced as the blade fell again. "Run…"

Shinobu blinked. "But…"

Ken shook his head. "I understand now." His eyes began to reassume their mismatched colors. "Go, and tell the others to run as well." He smiled as the third cut was laid into his flesh. "Tell Keitaro to be ready too."

Shinobu nodded and ran towards her friends.

Ken'ichi watched as she ran. "I see…" He smiled, a cold and unnatural sight. "She is your number one…" He raised his hand and ki raced toward Shinobu.

Ken appeared suddenly at the midpoint of the path between Ichi and Shinobu, and stopped the ki blast.

Ken'ichi back peddled. His brother's aura was different now. Black energy consumed half his body, as it flowed up past his head it turned white and flowed down to his feet where it turned black again. His swords glowed as well, standing out as tiny dots against the background of opposing color. He looked almost like a walking yin-yang. "His rei is awake, and he's in control of it." Ken'ichi realized.

Ken nodded his eyes similarly swirling between light and dark. "And yours is not." His expression and tone were neutral, as though someone else were taking through him. "The song sung by the mountains near the clan home, you've been stealing power from the earth to increase your strength. But it is not rei."

"I don't understand." Ken'ichi took another step back. "You're rei…"

Ken nodded. "You and father had the right idea, it couldn't be triggered by simply putting me in danger, you had to endanger those I cared about." He readied himself for the final strike. "That's why I didn't awaken when we attacked the clan heads eight years ago. Urashima and Aoyama attacked me, and you saved me, not the other way around." He looked over to the side and saw that the others were slowly leave the area, except for Keitaro. He turned back to his brother. "I wish I could merely offer you the chance to turn away from the life you've chosen, but I would never be able to trust that you would not try something like this again." He smiled sadly and his voice returned to normal for a moment as the tears fell from his eyes. "Sayonara…Onii-chan."

Ken'ichi watched as Kedou and Akkanka flared to life with even greater power, he felt the tension in the air. He could feel the cold sweat dripping down his back, and he felt his heart stop in his chest. "Seidaku…" He didn't have a chance to react as Ken materialized before him and grazed his chest with both blades simultaneously.

Ken fell to the ground. "Do it…"

---

The Hinata-sou tenants had just reached the street as the night sky was illuminated by and explosion unlike they had ever seen. And stared horrified from their place on the stairs.

"Keitaro…" Naru breathed worriedly.

"Ken…" gasped Shinobu.

"Onii-chan!" Hotaru screamed for her brother, hoping that he would come just as he always would. He didn't. She tried to run up the steps, but found she couldn't move. She fell to her knees and began to cry as Moriko held her close.

Shinobu also tried to run to Ken's aid but was restrained by a pair of strong, tan arms. She turned expecting to see Ken. Instead she saw Su in her adult form.

The older girl shook her head sadly.

Shinobu broke away and ran up the stairs. The others were not far behind her. They all stopped cold when they reached the summit.

Shinobu fell to her knees and began to cry.

The others watched in silence as their home, the Hinata-sou, slowly burned to the ground.

Good? Bad? Other? Let me know what you think.

Name meanings:

Ji – two, second

Seidaku – good and evil, purity and impurity

A/N: Don't worry, we're not quite done yet. Till the next, live will all.