A/N: You read right. This is it people. The final chapter. I can't believe that this story became as big as it did. Or that so many people were so kind in their reviews. So at this time I will to thank everyone who has encouraged me once again.

As for my sporadic updates as of late, as a few of you who have asked may know, my uncle has been fighting cancer for the last few months, and I have been going to visit him quite often. As a result writing time took a backseat most of the time.

He has at last found peace.

This chapter is dedicated to his memory.

Now and forever in my heart Uncle Eddie. 3

Love Hina: Healing Hearts

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina. If you think I do, put down the crack pipe and check the name on the manga cover, it ain't mine!

Chapter Twenty-one: Coming Full Circle

Naru woke and looked over at the window. As she expected, Keitaro was standing there looking out towards where the Hinata-sou used to be as he gave Aijou her bottle. Naru rolled out from underneath her covers and went to the bathroom to wash up a bit.

She turned on the shower and began to bathe as she thought back to that day. Keitaro had come through the fires that consumed the apartments looking scared and haggard. He held the hilt of the Hina Blade, but the sword itself had been shattered. He had told them that the clan war was over, and then had never spoken of it again.

With the Hinata-sou destroyed, everyone had been forced to go there separate ways. For what they had thought would be only a short time until the restoration was completed, but the insurance company had ruled the fire as arson and refused to pay for the repairs. There was no way to rebuild their home out of pocket and without the buildings to make the needed money, it wasn't long before they couldn't even afford to keep the property with the rising taxes. They had been forced to sell the land to the city not long after that.

"Onee-chan? Are you nearly done?"

Naru wrapped herself in a towel and opened the door. "Hai, sorry for taking so long Mei."

The younger girl nodded as she looked up at her big sister nervously. "You were thinking again, about that day, weren't you?"

Naru nodded.

Mei looked on as Naru walked away. "I think that you and Keitaro should go out somewhere tonight. I can baby sit Aijou."

Naru smiled at her sister. "Maybe, I'll talk to Keitaro about it." She closed the door to the room she shared with her fiancé. He was still in the same place, gently rubbing their daughter's back until she hiccupped.

Keitaro turned as Naru entered the room. He knew that he worried her when he didn't sleep through the night, but he didn't sleep well anymore. After the Hinata-sou fell, they had moved in with Naru's parents to make sure she was comfortable until Aijou was born. Her mother wasn't happy that Naru was pregnant before married, but she wasn't about to turn her daughter away, especially after they told her what had happened. But he still hadn't told anyone what had happened after they left. Maybe it was at last time.

"Naru! Called a voice from the lower floor. "There is a package here for you and Keitaro!"

Naru nodded and took her daughter from her husband to be. "You go ahead and get cleaned up. Aijou and I will see what the mail brought."

Keitaro smiled as Naru walked down the stairs while making various little noises at their daughter. His smile widened as the infant giggled back in reply. He collected his clothing for the day and headed toward the bathroom, his mind on the day the Hinata-sou fell.

---

Keitaro completed his lunch and excused himself from the table. From there he casually traveled the grounds, until he came to the waterfall at the rear of the property. Ken sat beneath the waterfall in a gray hakhama and gi. His skin looked as though it was nearly blue in tone. "How long do you plan to sit here?"

Ken didn't open his eyes, in fact he didn't move at all.

Keitaro nodded. "Fine, so you're just going to do this blindly, based on what has come before." He glared at the man in the water, knowing Ken could feel the intensity of his gaze. "So, how do you intend to take care of Hotaru once you're gone?" His eyes narrowed. "What about Shinobu?"

Ken's eyebrow twitched, but otherwise didn't move.

Keitaro turned and walked away. "You should at least tell her good bye then. She deserves that much at least."

Ken didn't move as Keitaro walked away. He was happy that his face was already wet from the waterfall. It helped to hide his tears.

---

Keitaro watched as Ken crashed though the front door of the dorm. He chased Ken'ichi as he ran through the door with inhuman speed. He stopped at the entrance to the bath. Ken spit blood from his mouth, and Ken'ichi was standing above him with his sword raised.

Then Shinobu ran past Keitaro. He tried to stop her but she was too quickly out of his reach. He watched a moment more before he tried to run after her and felt someone gently hold his arm.

Mutsumi smiled, but shook her head. "She'll be ok."

Keitaro watched helplessly as the young girl threw herself between Ken and the falling four feet of steel. It wasn't until Keitaro saw the blood on the ground that he realized that it wasn't Shinobu's. After only a second she was on her feet and running toward them again. Keitaro yelled for her to duck as Ken'ichi's ki blast raced toward her.

He blinked in surprise as Ken stopped the blast with a single hand, and gasped again as he realized what made that possible. "He's…"

Shinobu came up to the group badly shaken. "K-ken says w-w-we need to run…"

Keitaro nodded. "You should all go somewhere safe." He placed a finger to Naru's lips as she began to protest. "Please."

As everyone began to head for cover, Shinobu paused. "Sempai, Ken also said…"

"I know."

Shinobu blinked, but didn't have the chance to ask how Keitaro knew what Ken had said since Su and Hotaru grabbed her and ran out of the bath.

Keitaro stood and watched as the two brothers faced each other. Suddenly Ken struck his brother down, and quickly fell to the ground. Keitaro rushed to the younger man's side.

"Do it…" Ken stated weakly.

Keitaro shook his head. "There has to be another way."

Ken began to convulse. "No time…barriers breaking…"

"You held it together though, you can control it fully!" Keitaro insisted as he realized that Ken was talking about his rei about to go wild.

Ken fought back his convulsions. "Can't control use…control burst while I can…"

Keitaro was desperate now. "But you saw what my ancestor wrote! My line can't end yours!"

Ken pointed to the sword in Keitaro's hand. "But he can…"

The full scope of Ken's plan now seeped into Keitaro's head. "If I do that, you'll not only die…your soul may be eaten away totally."

"Maybe…" Ken's convulsion began to intensify. "Hurry…remember…" He coughed again and his eyes began to burn brighter and darker all at once. "Remember your words from the other night…"

Keitaro could hear the pain in the blonde's voice as he fought against his own spirit energy. "I will fight along side Ken." He whispered. "If only for the fact that I don't want to see my friends hurt. Or my child living a life looking over its shoulder for all time."

Ken nodded. "This will ensure both, this will end it…"

Keitaro swallowed and nodded. He raised the Hina Blade high and brought it down into Ken's back. He was thrown back as the black steel shattered against Ken's powered up flesh, and the spirit of the ancient Ashura was released. Keitaro watched in terror as the black form of the spirit entered Ken and then triggered the massive explosion of rei energy. "It will be as it was in Kyoto…"

That would not come to be though, as the energy went predominantly into the sky. Keitaro watched as the energy dissipated into its target point, and continued to watch as the smoke rose in the same direction. He would never again be able to look at the red moon with the awe he once had.

---

Keitaro was startled from his thoughts as he heard a young woman scream.

"Hentai!"

He abruptly went flying down the hall and through the luckily open window as Mei Narusegewa gave him a very savage uppercut for walking in on her in the bathroom. "Must be in the genes…" He muttered as he lay on the cold sidewalk.

"Hey, baka, you still alive?" Naru asked as she opened the front door.

"Yes, for the moment." He replied aloud. "Though I have a feeling that may change soon." He thought silently. However, the beating from Naru didn't come.

"Good, cause there's something in here I think you're going to want to see." She turned and bounced Aijou playfully. "Look at daddy, isn't he being silly?" She cooed to the infant.

The little girl laughed and clapped her hands at the game.

Keitaro walked inside after his two most special girls and saw the notice on the table. He picked it up and read it aloud. "Please join us for the grand reopening of the Hinata Hotel and Tea House. Your complimentary room for two adults and one child has already been booked. All expenses are paid. Train passes are enclosed with in. We look forward to seeing you soon." He tossed the note back on the table and walked away.

"Keitaro?" Naru came up behind him. "I was kind of hoping that we could go."

Keitaro sighed, he wasn't sure he could go back to the place he had killed a man, even if it was his ancestral home. He looked back at Naru, and saw that she really did want to go. He saw also his daughter, seemingly also insistent on going to the place could have called home. He nodded. "Ok, let me take a shower first though."

Naru smiled and tickled her child. "Good girl, you're going to have him wrapped around your finger in no time aren't you."

The baby giggled again.

Naru smiled. "Just don't try that with me." She raised a concerned eyebrow as Keitaro flew out the window again.

"Hentai!" Mei screamed. "Now I know why onee-chan beats you up so much!" She closed the door. "Honestly, twice in one morning."

Keitaro sweat dropped as he lay in the street this time. "It's going to be a long day…"

---

"Well look who it is!" Kitsune waved as Naru and Keitaro came into view. "And look at this little one!" She tickled Aijou under her chin. "What are you two feeding this girl? She twice as big as the last time I saw her!"

Before Keitaro could respond, he obsereved someone jumping out from a low flying plane. "Hey isn't that…gyahhhhh!"

"Heyas people! Su's back in da house!" She blinked as she realized that she had landed on Keitaro. "Opsies…" She turned. "Oh, Naru what's that? A new kind of snack?"

Naru pushed the girl away as she began to sniff Aijou. "No…"

"It is good to see you all again." Motoko walked up from the stairs. "I trust that everyone is well." She looked down to see Keitaro twitching from Su's kick. "Well, almost everyone."

"Hi there everybody."

Everyone turned to see Shinobu come up behind Motoko.

Keitaro swallowed nervously. Shinobu had gone back home after the Hinata-sou had burned down and Ken died. They hadn't heard from her since. She looked much like the girl that he had known almost a two years ago, but there was a part missing, the light behind her eyes.

Shinobu smiled. "I'm happy to see you all again."

"Yo people!" Moriko bounded up the steps. "What's everyone doing out here? Let's get inside and party! No sad faces or seriousness at this reunion!"

Everyone turned as three shadows appeared behind Moriko.

"It seems that we are fated to meet again." Stated the woman in the wheelchair.

The young woman pushing the wheelchair bowed politely. "Greetings."

A boy came around from behind the first two and nodded. As he raised his head you could see the scar over his left eye. "We got the invitation too."

Keitaro nodded. "Amaya, Sora, and Saburo." He looked over the three people that had once been his sworn enemies. When Ken had died, his blast had sent a lot of debris flying. In the rush to escape, the Hinata-sou tenants had left the Ashuras where they had fallen. The unconscious Avatars had endured the brunt of the blast.

They had found Amaya pinned to a tree with two by four crossbeam in her belly. The doctors said she had fractured three vertebra and would never walk again.

Sora may look as though she had escaped unscathed, but Keitaro had seen her during her therapy. Her left leg had been broken in four places, and her right knee had been badly torn up. The rehabilitation had taken months, and Sora still had a slight limp.

Saburo had caught a metal pipe to the head and glass to the eye. The glass had left him blind in the left eye. The shot to the head had stunted his mental growth slightly.

Keitaro paused a moment. "I don't suppose you've heard from Hotaru have you?"

Amaya, in her wheelchair, shook her head sadly. "She stayed just long enough to send the clan back to their normal lives, then vanished."

"I looked for her until a few months ago…" Sora began. "But the trail went cold."

Saburo shrugged. "She'll come back when she's ready I'm sure."

Moriko stepped forward. "And Ichi?"

Saburo shook his head. "Same old thing, still sleeping."

Sora nodded in agreement. "He hasn't moved since we put him into the hospital just after the Gathering."

Moriko nodded. Seidaku was Ken's ultimate technique. It didn't kill the person it hit, but seemed to trap the soul and forced the person to confront his worst fears and acts without causing harm to the person affected. It was much like sending someone to purgatory, neither truly good nor truly evil. "Ken couldn't kill Ichi, but he couldn't save him either." She whispered. "So he did what he could to try and give Ichi the time to save himself."

The front door to the new Hinata Inn slid open, revealing a young woman with short red hair and hazel eyes. "Good, I see that all of our honored guests have now arrived."

Keitaro looked around. "Actually I think we're still missing some."

The woman smiled. "Not to worry. Haruka-san, Seta-san, Sarah-san, Mutsumi-san, and Nyamo-san are indeed here. They are down in the tea shop right now. Haruka-san said she wanted to see it for herself."

Keitaro nodded. "Makes sense."

The hostess nodded. "Now then, if you'll all follow me, I can get you registered and have things put into motion for you." The others followed her inside and gasped at what they saw.

Everything was as it had been before the fire. It was as though nothing had been touched. The woman had them sign in and handed each of them their room assignments. Everyone separated briefly to put their luggage away into their rooms.

The woman smiled as she watched them disappear up the stairs.

Keitaro entered his old room with Naru close behind. "Place looks just like we left it, except less patch worked from all the holes my body created."

Naru nodded as she lay down on the fluffy, new, king-sized futon with Aijou. She watched as Keitaro began to unpack their clothes. "Yeah, the contractors must have gotten the original building plans from the city. Still, there were certain things that made the Hinata-sou ours that they can't have possibly re-created." Naru rolled onto her back and lifted her baby above her in play. "Like the…" She stopped as she stared at the ceiling.

"Nani?" Keitaro turned his eyes in the same direction as Naru's, and his eyes went wide. It was new and had a professional cover with a small latch. And there was also a small ladder carefully secured to the ceiling beside it with a small cord to lower the ladder for use. Despite those differences, it was there, the fateful hole that had lead to so many strange situations. A hole that was not in the original building plans. They quickly ran out to the hallway and nearly crashed into Kitsune.

"My mini-bar I kept hidden in the closet is there!" Kitsune informed them. "How would the builders know about something like that?"

Su suddenly popped her head out of the ceiling and dropped to the floor. "My room is back! They even put in all the trees and my lab!" She tapped the wall causing a panel to recess and open to a corridor. "And lookie! All the secret passages are still here!"

Motoko came down from her room. "My room is decorated in kendo equipment and I found this." She held up a paper. "Informing me that the room has been extensively turtle proofed." Her eyes narrowed. "Who built this place?"

Moriko and Sora also joined them. "Our rooms are the same as before too."

They ran for the front desk, ignoring the confused looks of the remaining two Ashura siblings. They found no hostess at the desk. They turned and ran for the front door as they heard a motorcycle engine start.

The red haired woman blew them a kiss as they came into view. She smiled, gunned the engine, and raced down the stairs. She glanced at Kanako, Sarah, Seta, Nyamo, and Mutsumi, and smiled again.

Kitsune stared in confusion. "What the hell just happened? Our hostess abandoned us."

Shinobu stepped to the front of the crowd watching as someone exited the teahouse, jumped on the motorcycle, and the two people speed off into the distance. "Sempai, look at your sign in sheet."

Keitaro pulled his paper from his pocket. "I don't believe it…"

Naru looked over his shoulder. "Nani?"

Keitaro turned the paper to where Naru could see it better. "It's a land deed, turning the ownership of this inn over to me."

Motoko blinked. "Who would just hand over a piece of property like this?"

Keitaro scanned the paper quickly. "It says the man who bought this property from the city was a developer from America named Noah Mahn."

Shinobu smiled. "Noman."

---

A few minutes earlier

"As you can see we've restored everything to what it was while also making some improvements to increase business and productivity." The tall man stated as he glanced at his watch. "Feel free to look about, I must run as I'm late for an appointment."

"This is boring." Sarah informed them as she headed for the door. "I'm going to go find Su."

Mutsumi followed. "I was hoping they would have some chilled watermelon ready to be served but they didn't. Maybe Kei-kun will have some."

"I wonder if onii-chan has even arrived yet?" Kanako followed the first two women. "I guess I'll join you."

Seta looked around. "Coming honey?"

Haruka nodded. "In a moment, go on ahead. I'd like to speak to, Noah, was it? For a moment."

Seta shrugged. "Ok, guess I'll see how the part timer is making out up there." Nyamo followed him.

Haruka waited until the others were completely out of hearing range. "I almost fell for it."

Noah sweat dropped. "Nani?"

"Oh cut the crap." Haruka pulled out her cigarette and lit up. "You're at least a foot taller, hair is pitch black, skin white as bone, and muscles too big, but you can't hide your eyes, or your voice. They're the same emerald green, and it's same soothing tone. Your Su blood was triggered by the red moon wasn't it?"

Noah smiled. "I'm amazed you saw me. I even fooled Kanako and she's the master of disguises." He paused. "It took a while, but I finally learned how to control my rei. The transformations come almost at will now."

Haruka puffed another cloud of smoke. "So, this is how you're ending it?"

Noah smiled and turned for the door. "Yeah, it has to end like this. Some of the clan still holds to Ichi's style of thinking. That means they believe I killed my old man, and Ichi himself in a way. That means I have to die too." He smiled. "Luckily, I'm already dead." He paused. "Again, come to think of it. It's just better this way."

Haruka puffed her cigarette. "Not for Shinobu." She turned her head as she heard a motorcycle rev. "Hotaru I assume?"

Ken/Noah nodded as he paused by the door. "Shinobu will find someone who will make her forget all about me. I have too much blood on my hands to be worthy of her." He left the teashop and swung up onto the speeding cycle as it passed.

Haruka ground her cigarette butt into the ashtray. "Stupid jackass…"

---

Shinobu retired to her room after cooking dinner. She pulled the large stuffed teddy bear, an exact likeness of the one Ken had won her at Neverland two Christmases ago, off her futon. As she did this, she saw the small envelope she had missed before. She had somehow known what the bear meant and ran before investigating further. She opened the envelope and three things fell out onto her futon.

She opened the letter first. "Naru said she found this after 'Ro busted up the roof. I recognized the writing, it's belongs to a little girl I knew as Shinonome." Shinobu opened second paper and gasped as the memory flooded back. It wasn't her handwriting, but it was very close. She had written this as a little girl along with a drawing of her and her best friend from her summer at the Hinata-sou. "Kenji…Ken…"

She picked up the third object, a small cell phone. She looked through the features and found no numbers to call, but there were two files stored in the voice memory. She opened the first file.

Ken's voice was a bit different from what she remembered, but she could tell it was Ken as he began to speak. "Hey Shinobu. Sorry I'm not here in person, but, well, I suck at good byes and didn't want to make a fool of myself." He chuckled. "But I guess it's a bit late for that, ne?"

Shinobu chuckled as well.

"Have you ever read a manga in which the guy saves the world and loses the girl? And that girl decides to wait for him for nearly forever."

Shinobu nodded even though no one was there. Truth be told, she rather liked those stories because they showed how much the girl cared in Shinobu's opinion.

"I hate those stories. Not fair to the girl. I guess what I'm saying is, don't wait for me Shinobu." Ken continued. "I'm sorry to break the promise I made with you as a kid, when I knew you as Shinonome, and again as an adult. You were so much the same, yet so different as well, so I didn't say anything. I didn't want you to think you had to hold to that promise if you had found someone else dear to you." He paused and laughed lightly. "At least the second time around I got your real name. But then again, I gave you a fake name instead. Probably set things back a bit."

There was silence for a time and Shinobu thought that the recording was over.

Ken continued. "About the only thing I can tell you now is that I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart for all I've put you through. You asked me if you could hear the song I wrote the night we stayed at the Four Seasons in Tokyo. It's the only thing left I can give you. Good-bye Shinobu."

The message ended and Shinobu sat quietly for a moment. Then she played the second voice memory. Again Ken's voice came into being.

Walking alone, My revolution

Through oh so many encounters, I have found

Kindness…and heartbreak…

The canvas spread open in my heart

Gets torn and dirty sometimes, but

Painted on it are

Fleeting feelings

Your voice, your hair…

Even if a thousand years pass

I'll still remember them

For as many years as there are stars

That day…Tomorrow…

Please remember them more

I will not erase you from my memory

Forever full up my love

This generation has fought on and on

Hiding a rainbow-colored strength

Behind smiles, searching for something…

Your eyes, your fingertips…

Even if they were reborn, I could still search for them

For as many years as there are stars

I have love, I have dreams

But all the feelings I can't change build up

And I want to live with you

Forever full up my love

Weaving through my hair…Orion above me…

As if to deny my feelings

I can feel you in the distance…

(Instrumental)

Shinobu listened to the song and tears began to fall from her eyes. She ran from her room to the roof, ignoring the looks the others gave her along the way. The phone continued to sing its song. She climbed up to the spot she met Ken as a child, and again as a young woman.

"I don't care if you hate that kind of manga!" She yelled into the night. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled again into the night. "I'm going to wait right here until you come back!" She sang along as the song's chorus repeated for the final time.

Your voice, your hair…

Even if a thousand years pass

I'll still remember them

For as many years as there are stars

That day…Tomorrow…

Please remember them more

I will not erase you from my memory

Forever full up my love

She stayed there until the moon disappeared, leaving only the stars above. Their dim light framing her face as Shinobu smiled into the night despite the tears on her face. Her eyes sparkled once again. "I can feel you in the distance too…"

A figure in the trees watched silently until she lay down on the roof and fell asleep. Once he was certain she would be ok, he leapt and disappeared into the fading shadows. The only evidence he left of his presence were the few drops of moisture on his former perch, and even those faded in time.

End

Good? Bad? Other? Tell me what you think.

Name meanings

Shinonome – dawn or daybreak

Shinobu – to conceal one's (true) self, to remember or recollect, to endure, and the smiling dawn

Aijou – beloved daughter

A/N: Oh yeah, I don't own the rights to "Dearest" from the Martian Successor Nadesico movie, The Prince of Darkness either. That's the translated lyrics above; it sounds incredible in the original Japanese. If you haven't heard it, try to. If you can't find it anywhere, e-mail me or IM me and I'll send you a copy of it.

All finished and, well, bitter sweet ending won. But to be honest I've got quite a sweet tooth. That and I'm a Shinobu otaku. :) I know I said this was the final chapter. I know I said I was ending it here. And I am ending the story here. After all, an epilogue isn't really part of the official story, right? ;-P

'Till the next, live well all!