I don't own Love Hina. Love Hina belongs to Ken Akamatsu. The story though is a pigment of my weird imagination. I apologize in advance for all spelling and grammar mistakes.
The U Project: Identity
02
'I fear that one night, I might wake up not knowing where I am, that when I look into a mirror, there I might find staring back at me is a complete stranger,'
'He usually walks with a smile. Fear him, stay away from him. They say he is demon incarnate. Beware of the honky tonky man,'
---
"Who did it?"
A muffled whimper.
"Black Arrows,"
It was a deserted warehouse. A small light bulb shining in the middle of an empty wide space and underneath the eerie glow was a man tied in a wooden chair. His mouth covered with gray tape, hands bound behind him, feet on each wooden leg, whimpering, shaking with fear, tears on his eyes, pants soaking wet. Several men in black suit are standing a few meters away, on every door, in the dark, nondescript, waiting and ready.
The executioner, tall, clean-shaven, elegant in his expensive suit, long black shiny hair, left hand holding a sheathed sword, was pacing around his victim. A trial of death.
"Black Arrows," the executioner repeated, his voice terrifyingly cold, his manner deliberately slow.
"Ten units. Special ops organized by the CIA and JNS," a man in the dark, few feet away, replied again, unemotional, unafraid, unattached to the scene.
A muffled whimper.
"You know what this means," the metal designs of the sheath, a dragon circling a templar cross, shone against the light, blinding, "It's a challenge,"
The man in the dark did not answer. The lost of the precious cargo has aggravated the high council, especially the old man. The project that they have been preparing for almost four years now has been set back for another two years. He could understand their fury. The old man does not want his calculated timetable compromised; he's probably blaming everybody, even his own son. Now they have to find a way to cope with this horrendous delay. Their enemies have done well.
A muffled whimper.
The executioner's face suddenly came into view, staring directly at him, menacing, ruthless eyes, hissing with murderous rage.
A muffled whimper.
"I want them dead," the executioner said, jabbing a finger on his chest, forceful, loosing control, "I want them dead, I want them dead, I WANT ALL OF THEM DEAD!"
It happened in a flash. The executioner suddenly disappeared. A hissing sound was heard, sword being unsheathed with tremendous speed and deadly accuracy. Sword metal glistened in the dark, a perfect arc.
Then silence.
A thud. Something dropped on the floor, rolled and stopped. Splattering noise. The man in the dark watched, unconcerned, never moved a muscle. The executioner came back. His face calm, refreshed, walked closer to him and whispered, "I want all of them dead. Fail me and it will be your head next time,"
---
Motoko woke up with a start.
The sun was shining brightly inside. The sky, cloudless, blue and eternal. The windows were wide open; cool morning summer breeze gusting through. There was a calming silence in the atmosphere with occasional chirping of birds, smell of luscious grass dew in the air. A promise of a beautiful day.
Motoko stretched her legs, felt the wonderful release of her tensed muscles. Smiled, deliberately lazed for a full minute before looking around. She found herself in an unfamiliar room. A bookstand on the far corner with study guides and encyclopedias neatly arranged. Opposite, a small table with an open notebook and a pencil. The cabinets were open, clothes lying on the floor. Then it dawned to her where she was: Keitaro's room.
Sleeping soundly beside her is Mutsumi, inside her single futon; Naru and Shinobu comfortably snuggled under a blanket by the wall, and Kitsune by the door. Rolls of bandages littered the room. Bottles of medicines everywhere.
It has been a surreal night for her; for all of them. Keitaro is here.
That night, with Kitsune's help, they managed to carry Keitaro to his room. Mutsumi, the only one among them with medical experience, started cleaning and bandaging Keitaro's wounds, paying special attention to his head. She found a concussion that worried her and did her best to provide first aid. Shinobu phoned Keitaro's parents and by midnight, his mother and father arrived with clothes, more medicines and bandages. A few hours later, they left, after making sure that Keitaro was safely settled inside his futon, they would come back to see him the next day. Then the girls stayed by Keitaro's side and faithfully waited.
Thinking about Keitaro made Motoko warm inside. She never thought she would feel this way again. The world seemed to have gone brighter. She can feel. The numbness vanished. The heaviness in her heart that she carried for a long time suddenly disappeared. For the first time in several years, Motoko felt alive. Keitaro is here, my God, he is truly here!
After Keitaro's departure, Motoko did her best to forget him. Like Naru, the sadness that tore through her was too much to bear. She took the Tokyo University entrance exams to keep her mind busy, but the yearnings of her heart proved stronger. She never thought that the man she hated, the man she thought a weakling could make her feel this way. Just when she's starting to know him better, when she's beginning to see him more than a friend, he has to leave. And staying in the Hinata Apartments felt like living in a frozen world. Everything that she sees, everything that she does, they all remind her of his smiling face, his funny ways of apologizing, the good times. After several months of silence, she finally gave up: Keitaro is not coming back. She won't see him again. And so she left.
She helped her sister manage the Aoyoma School, worked part time as a clerk at several law firms while studying at Tokyo University. She dated a few men, met new friends and did her best to avoid the Hinata Apartments. But in the end – who does she think she's fooling? It has been the longest years.
Now, all that became nothing. All that whisked away the moment she saw his face again.
Motoko moved slowly towards Keitaro's futon lying in the middle of the room; she felt an astonishing anticipation. I just want to see him. Please, just this one time. And when she reached, pulled the blanket down, she found – nothing.
The futon was empty.
"Keitaro?" Motoko whispered, frantically searched, threw the blanket out.
It was completely empty.
"Oh no!" panic rising through her, she quickly scanned around, snatched her sword and dashed outside, sliding the door so hard that it roused Kitsune.
"What the…" Kitsune muttered groggily, then quickly focused, eyes red, "Motoko, what's going on? You're up, is he awake?"
"No! No! No!" Motoko was beside herself, pacing the hallway, frantically looking for clues, shouting, "HE WAS JUST HERE!"
"Huh? I don't understand? What's going on Motoko? Are you alright?"
"KITSUNE! KEITARO'S GONE!"
Kitsune's face ashened. "No,"
Motoko could not handle it anymore. She ran through the hallway and searched the rooms; all empty.
Please. Please. Please Keitaro… be here! Not again! Not again!
Tears welling in her eyes as she desperately searched around, the hot springs, the kitchen, the lounge area, the entrance hallway. She ran outside and quickly inspected the surrounding; nothing, not a single trace.
DON'T DO THIS TO ME KEITARO! NOT AGAIN! NOT AGAIN! NOT AGAIN!
---
"Motoko, there is no need for that," Keitaro said, clutched his carry bag tightly.
Motoko's eyes blazed with silent fury. She slowly unsheathed the Hina sword, blocked the way and dared him to come forward.
"Motoko, hear me out, please!"
Motoko stood her ground, her intent clear, she won't give in easily, "You will not leave your tenants!" Motoko shouted, "You will not abandon your duty,"
Then Keitaro sighed, turned serious, his face a mask of determination. He slowly bowed, stood straight then walked towards her. His manner calm, unafraid, unfazed. Motoko quickly went into a stance.
"Keitaro, don't get any closer or I WILL NOT HESITATE!" a warning, her voice passionate, her hands shaking, her whole body tensed. Don't do this Keitaro. Please.
But Keitaro did not stop. Every step drawing him closer and closer to Motoko. To the sword.
"KEITARO! I'M WARNING YOU!"
Keitaro stopped a hairline away from the sword point, gazing directly into Motoko's eyes.
"Please, don't make this hard for me as it already is," his voice firm, pleading, "I'm doing this because… I want to be stronger, just like you. I want to prove myself. I want to be a man you can rely on, someone you can look up to,"
Motoko was trembling. Her mind and her heart in absolute chaos. There were so many things she wanted to say, so many things she wanted to do, if only he could stay. But she felt incapable, useless. Her pretense melted. Then her anger crumbled. She dropped the sword and knelt, wept with sadness she could not comprehend. Sadness she could not control. That gnawing fear of living alone. Don't go, please, don't go, don't leave us.
Then she felt Keitaro's arms went around her. She resisted, tried to push him away, but Keitaro held her until she finally gave in, cried helplessly on his shoulder.
"I won't forget you Motoko. You've been an inspiration to me. Your strength, your courage. I know you will fulfill all your dreams. And I hope with all my heart that one day I will deserve the honor of being your friend,"
Keitaro left. Motoko cried. She never felt the same ever again.
---
Motoko found Keitaro standing in the open balcony, looking towards the bay, summer wind blowing his hair.
Thank God.
Once, a long time ago, Motoko dreamt of this meeting. Standing here, looking at her prince, wind blowing around them, under the blue cloudless sky. Like a scene in one of her novels. It surprised her that in the end, she would see Keitaro. It has been Keitaro all along. Nobody has made her feel the way she feels right now. She felt tranquility. She's finally free.
You're here.
After catching her breath, pain in her legs faded, Motoko bowed and walked towards Keitaro, leaving her sword by the floor. A few steps away, Keitaro turned, his face blank, met Motoko's steady gaze. For a while they stood there, facing each other, eyes locked. Then in a split second, Motoko's right hand flew, blurred across, hitting Keitaro hard in the face, a deafening slap echoed.
"Don't you dare," her voice hard, bitter, sorrowful, all her bottled emotions, all her fears and demons flowing out of her as sinuously as her tears, "Don't you dare leave us again,"
You're finally here. And I would never ever let you go again.
Keitaro was still recovering from the slap when Motoko suddenly reached out for him, embraced him tight like her life depended on it, unashamed, unbothered for the world to see. She buried her face on his chest and cried, lost herself in his arms, close to his heart. For her, it felt right, the only place she's been longing to be.
"Don't you dare leave me again," she said through her heavy sobs, "You've been gone for so long. Where have you been all these years? It doesn't matter… you're here, that's what matters,"
The wind blew. Hair waving in the air. A flock of birds flew over them.
"Motoko, I…," there was confusion in Keitaro's voice, an evident pain, unsure and frightened, looking up the endless sky he whispered, "I… I can't remember,"
---
"Hey, we're going back,"
"Huh?"
"I just received a call from Sara. She's been talking to Shinobu a few minutes ago,"
Seta's head popped out of the earthen whole. He and Haruka were on an excavation on the barren part of the Amazon searching for an artifact that can provide a small evidence of the turtle civilization. A questioning look met Haruka.
"Keitaro's back,"
It took Seta a full minute to fully understand what Haruka had said. Of what it means to them.
Haruka was on the edge of breaking down, she did her best to hide her concern but time took its toll. Back then, it has been more than a year after Keitaro flew overseas and he never left a word of where he is or what has been happening to him. It's like he disappeared in the face of the earth. Keitaro's parents were frantically searching, all in vain. And Haruka could not take it anymore. She pushed Seta, calling him everyday. Seta on the other hand, spent his time sleeping on the streets of New York looking for his former assistant. The university where Keitaro studied confirmed that he has successfully finished his course but could not give any further indication of what has happened to him after the graduation day; it only took him eight months to complete it.
During these years of depression, Seta returned Japan with nothing. Haruka was lost in her own despair, along with the whole Urashima family. Seta could not take it to see her like this. And so he married her. Together, they went into expeditions, searching for artifacts and clues of Keitaro's whereabouts. They never gave up.
"Finally," Seta said, climbing out, dusting his pants, his face muddy, "We need to get to the airport,"
"Seta…,"
"We can get to the main highway by two; we pick up Sara at the hotel then leave for the airport,"
"Seta…,"
"Then hopefully, we can get a plane to Japan before six tonight,"
"Seta…,"
Haruka grabbed Seta while he's busy bagging their tools. She kissed him passionately. Then released him after a few minutes. Seta leered. Completely taken aback. There was a glow in Haruka's eyes, a certain shine. Something Seta had not seen for a long time.
"Thank you," Haruka said. Her arms around Seta's neck. Her eyes tearful. Tears of joy. It's over. It's finally over.
Seta nodded.
"Thank you for being there for me,"
"Well… we better get going. My assistant and I have a lot to talk about,"
---
It has been a long day for Naru. She settled herself comfortably inside her futon.
That whole day, Keitaro refused to see any of them. He stayed in his room. Shinobu prepared food for him, leaving the tray by the door. He never ate any of them. Mutsumi came in and out of his room, checking him every now and then; she managed to get an appointment with a specialist for Keitaro scheduled the next day.
Mutsumi tried her best to explain Keitaro's condition. The girls were gathered on the living area that morning. Shinobu was busy serving food, Motoko and Kitsune talking quietly, Naru and Mutsumi by the lounge.
"Its amnesia," Mutsumi said over a plate of freshly sliced watermelons.
"Amnesia," Naru repeated. Her eyes sad. Poor Keitaro.
"Uhm. Mutsumi-sempai, is it permanent?" Shinobu asked sitting beside Naru.
"Well. Most amnesia is temporary. From what I've seen, Kei-kun can remember all of our names and what we mean to him, which I think is a good thing,"
"But then, what can't he remember?"
"He can't remember where he's been for the last six years," Motoko supplied. Her eyes closed.
"It must be hard for him. Everything has changed. He must feel very out of place right now. I can understand why he doesn't want to see any of us," Kitsune said, looking towards the stairs, hoping for Keitaro to come down and see them.
"He just needs time, that's all. Everything will come back to him eventually," Mutsumi said confidently, smiling beside herself.
"What do you think happened to him Mutsumi?" Naru asked, eating one of Shinobu's sandwiches.
"Well. I can't really say until we've finally made a proper diagnosis of the extent of his injuries, I'm certain that he suffered a head trauma,"
Silence. They could not imagine what has happened to Keitaro. They all felt sad for him.
"Uhm. Mutsumi-sempai, how come Keitaro-sempai can see without his glasses?"
"Yeah. He managed to go around the apartment without them. And I can't remember seeing them around the place where we found him," Kitsune added.
"That's true. The color of his eyes are different, I mean the shade," Motoko said. Her eyes still closed.
"Huh? How did you manage to get close enough to him to see the color of his eyes Motoko?" Kitsune teased.
Eyes snapping open, Motoko turned red, "Er?"
"Aw come on Motoko! That's too obvious, you're blushing!"
"What!"
"An eye surgery," Mutsumi finally answered. Darkness passing through her face. A hint of worry.
"Huh?" All the girls said in unison.
"I know. It's very unlike Kei-kun, really strange. But there are traces of healed knife cuts on his face. It's a first class operation I can say, it's very indiscernible," Mutsumi said, as Tama joined them and settled on her head.
"Myu, myu, myu," Tama started.
"Really?" Mutsumi asked, looking up, in deep conversation with Tama, "You don't say. That's to be expected, I think,"
"Uhm. What is it Mutsumi-sempai? What is tama-tama saying?"
"Well. Tama-tama just flew out of Kei-kun's room. She's saying that Kei-kun just sits there staring at the calendar,"
"Poor sempai,"
Poor Keitaro.
Sara called that afternoon and Shinobu shared the good news about Keitaro's return. Sara called back after a few minutes and told her that they will be flying back to Japan as soon as they can. Shinobu also received a message from Su, informing her that her flight back to Japan was delayed due to a storm, she'll be arriving the next day. Keitaro's parents visited past three. They talked with Keitaro for a little while. But Keitaro barely noticed them. They left with a promise to bring other relatives with them to help.
All in all it has been a very strange, tiring day. Lying here on her bed, Naru let her mind wander in the dark, the night getting old. It's quiet. Hinata Apartments at peace. Everybody fast asleep. As Naru drifted, sleepiness finally catching up with her, she heard a sound.
It was her liddo-kun board being moved. Sound of wood scratching. Naru held her breath, didn't move, just lied there. Apprehensive. Keitaro? Is that you? Then heavy steps followed, coming closer and closer to her futon. After few excruciating moments, she felt her blanket shift slightly; someone was sneaking inside her futon. Naru could not take it anymore, whoever it is, she's not going to show mercy. She turned and quickly grabbed the blanket away.
It was Keitaro. His back facing her. Lying in fetal position.
"Keitaro! What are you…," Naru asked breathlessly, trying to compose herself.
"I'm sorry Naru," Keitaro said without turning, his voice flat and emotionless, "I didn't mean to wake you up,"
"But… what are you…,"
"I can't sleep," his body shaking, "I just want to sleep here beside you. I swear I won't do anything weird. You can beat me up if I do. You can beat me up right now if you want, I'll be glad if you did,"
That tore through Naru's heart. She can feel his loneliness, his pain.
"Nothing makes sense anymore. I can see images in my head. I… I don't know what's going on, I've been staring at the calendar the whole day but I don't understand how six years passed by so quickly,"
Naru knelt beside Keitaro. Listening, willing for him to continue.
"I was coming back home. I… I didn't let you know that I'm coming back because I wanted to surprise all of you. It's only been eight months… it doesn't makes sense at all,"
Keitaro felt something soft press against his back. He felt Naru's arm go around him. He can smell her sweet scent. Her head close to his. He felt her lips trace the back of his neck. But he didn't turn, he didn't face her, just stayed like that.
"It's okay. You can stay here as long as you want. You're here Keitaro. That's all that matters," Naru said, warmth coursing through her body, breathing hard, "My God. I missed you so much,"
Keitaro had a strange feeling that long time ago he had dreamt of this. Lying here in bed with Naru. He should feel something. But he felt nothing. It's odd. For some reason, he has a vague reminiscence that he had done this before, on another place on another time with another woman. Its too much. He closed his eyes, tried to sleep. Ignored the warmth, her softness, her hands. Deep within himself, Keitaro saw images in his head, like a nightmare he could not run away from.
"I was flying back home…," Keitaro whispered.
---
Keitaro was excited. He has never flown first class before. And it was everything he has imagined it would be. Comfortable seats, movie screens at front, friendly stewardess and better food. It's like living in a dream.
They were early. Keitaro felt the plane lift off. He's busy thinking whether he has bought enough gifts for everybody. He can't wait to see all the girls again. Naru's smile, Motoko's sternness, Kitsune's jokes, Shinobu's eyes, Mutsumi's tenderness. He's finally going back home after eight months. He never thought he'd missed them so much, promised himself never to leave ever again. After a while, a glass of Champagne was handed to him, and chatted briefly with the beautiful stewardess.
Everything seems to be okay. Then Keitaro drifted off and slept.
The moment Keitaro opened his eyes, he knew something has gone wrong. It was dark. He felt the carriage teetered, shook violently and angled furiously down. The noise was unbelievable. Everybody was screaming, panicking, bags, magazines flying all over the place. He thought he saw a man stand and rolled all the way down. Then he witnessed something incredible, the upper part of the carriage suddenly ripped open, two seats quickly disappeared in its void, taking passengers with it, he can see the black sky as tremendous wind gushed through making it hard for him to breath.
Keitaro managed to grab a gas mask hanging in front of him as he bent down, his arms over his head.
Why now? Why? My God… Naru, Motoko, Kitsune, Shinobu, Mutsumi!
Then everything went black.
So what ya think of that? Is that shocking or what? Confused yet? Well, there are still heaps of mysteries lying around this story. Thank you so much for all those people who wrote a review. I find it rewarding to know that somebody is reading my work. I hope you don't tire reading. Well, I'll see ya later then!
Cheers!
nivremous