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
05
'Excuse me… you look familiar… have I seen you somewhere before?'
'The safest place to be in a raging storm is right in the middle of it,'
---
The stranger screamed into the harmony of the music, "My God! You're supposed to be dead!"
Keitaro's eyes were looking at something else. His eyes were focused beyond the stranger's figure. The face means nothing to him or his words. He felt danger slithering in the air. Then he heard what he fears the most in a crowded area like this. Guns. Four nondescript men in a column, strategically positioned, small holes like darts protrudes from within their long coats.
Keitaro quickly dropped onto the floor, dragging a shocked and confused Motoko with him.
They open fired.
---
It all happened in a split second. As Keitaro dived to the floor, Motoko on his arms, he caught a glimpse of the stranger's reaction. It wasn't what he expected.
A sudden realisation dawned on the stranger's face. He knew what was happening the moment Keitaro grabbed Motoko to the ground, and instead of following suit, he turned, raised both his arms. Four consecutive spits was heard, shots muffled by silencers mounted on each of the assassin's weapons. The stranger reeled, pushed back by close-range shooting, but managed to keep himself on his feet.
Nobody else noticed the murder. The surrounding people danced to the jive of soothing music, tambourines beating, saxophone ringing into the air, unaware and oblivious.
Keitaro gave himself a few seconds then he quickly rose. He knew that it would take a few minutes before anybody become aware of what just occurred. And that's all the killers needed to disappear.
"Keitaro… what's going on?" a slightly dazed Motoko said, looking up, somewhat bewildered.
Turning west, Keitaro quickly checked the girls left on the table: Kitsune was busy chatting with Amalla, a glass of white wine on her hand, Mutsumi, Naru and Shinobu were in deep conversation, a bottle of sherry half empty at front, a little redder than before he left them with Motoko. Turning east Keitaro then checked on Haruka and Seta who were on their way to the balcony door, Sara and Su trailing behind them.
Keitaro then gently inspected Motoko, running his hands on her shoulders, waist and the small of her back.
"Motoko, I want you to be calm and focused," staring straight into Motoko's eyes, Keitaro whispered, his voice cold steel, "A man behind me is seriously hurt, he is going to need medical attention, I want you to help him go to the bar and ask for help, and please do this as discreetly as possible,"
Forty seconds has passed. He's running out of time.
"Keitaro, what are you going to do? Where are you going?" Motoko pulled Keitaro down, about to dash away, extreme anxiety on her voice.
"No time to explain, I'll be back," And he was gone.
---
The operation wasn't a success but it wasn't a failure either. The target has been staked, thoroughly scrutinized, everything about him has been laid open and understood by every team member. They were on time and so was their target. The plan was to eliminate him with the clan's notorious signature, execution in public vicinity.
But they didn't expect another one of their target to be present. Him.
Priority rapidly changed. To effectively use their current manoeuvre he should be taken out as well. He's here. And that's all they needed to know, nothing else. The leader of the group hastily devised a trap as they wove their way into the unsuspecting crowd. Towards the green light shining by the door: EXIT.
A pack is much powerful than a lone wolf.
---
Motoko's previous shock was nothing compared to what she's feeling right now. The stranger kneeling before her was fighting for his life. Blood pooled around him. Life flowing out of him. The silver and golden colours of the chandelier shining above them and the silver flooring only made the scene more horrifying but everybody was busy having a good time.
Then somebody tripped.
And before Motoko could do anything else, the distressed dancer found herself beside a dying man, her pink dress soaked maroon. She screamed.
---
Keitaro saw them pass through the exit door. He knew that it was a trap. But he doesn't have any other choice, his only option was to face them head on. Looking around, he grabbed anything he could use as a weapon to aid him – a bread knife.
Keitaro then slowly sidestepped towards the door and kicked it open; revealed nothing. The hallway was riddled with doors, a singular low blue light in the middle of the semi-darkness. Walking slowly, headed for the last door at the end of the hall, a scream shrilled behind him.
---
It was so easy. The hallway was cramped and unsuitable but in times of extreme planning they have to improvise. The leader knew that their next target was capable and so he methodically analysed possible outcomes. But the idea of one man against four armed men was too humorous – he could be cautioning himself too much for nothing.
Then somebody screamed. Their handiwork finally appreciated. There's no turning back this time. Authorities will soon be notified. They have to move fast. They have to eliminate this target now or never.
---
The man was dead before he could fire his gun. He suddenly appeared by the door on the right, his gun levelled on Keitaro's chest, but before he could pull the trigger, Keitaro swiftly deflected, right hand holding the bread knife swung by the throat, blood sprayed upwards.
Keitaro completed his turn and buried his right foot on another's groin who unexpectedly came out from the left door, his gun flying into the air.
The third managed to shoot but it went array when Keitaro's bread knife buried itself on his chest. He staggered, stepped backward and fell to the floor.
Then Keitaro found himself face to face with the leader. The last man standing, his gun pointing on Keitaro's head, his face impassive.
A pause.
"You're good," the leader said.
Silence. Sound of sirens abruptly pierced the background.
"Who sent you?"
The leader's eyes slowly turned wide. That voice! Hatred painted his expression. Disgust and ghastly realisation overcame him like a typhoon. He gritted his teeth in fury, shaking with uncontrollable anger.
"Ulciscor damnari inter umbrae sicarius, I know you…" the leader's voice was ruthless, his twisted face was shadowed in the darkness, "Death is too good for you… Unetvicesima!"
Then a gun shot broke into the night.
For a moment, the leader and Keitaro stood there, facing each other. Then the leader fell forward. And behind him was a woman.
---
The medics came after a few excruciating moments. Motoko was the only one composed enough to help the man. He was shot four times. A bullet tore through his chest, his right arm, his right and left legs. But he was conscious all that time, refused the sedative. Trying hard not to pass out. Murmuring words Motoko could not understand. Keyu?
Keitaro! Motoko's world suddenly hazed. She felt fear. Looking around she could not find him. WHERE ARE YOU KEITARO?
---
"Karen?" Keitaro was surprised to know her name.
Her face somehow familiar to him. Her short brown hair, round clear glass, cold blue eyes, her petite body, the way she's holding her gun, pointing directly at his chest.
"What happened?" her voice was colder than her eyes.
Silence.
"They are killing off each and every one of us. Black Arrows. We're the last survivors,"
A pause.
"I was ordered to kill you if I found you working with them but I can see that they're after you too. Then I received an alarming report when I arrived this morning. We need to leave this country now. We're in great danger,"
"I… I don't understand,"
"KEITARO!" Motoko came out of the door.
Karen slowly hid her gun and walked towards Keitaro, whispered into his ears, "I knew you'd find them… but you have to get them out as soon as possible or else… they'll kill them all," then she disappeared into the hall.
Motoko failed to see the woman; she rushed herself to Keitaro and wrapped her arms around him. "My God! I thought something happened to you!"
But Keitaro wasn't listening. His face turned towards the darkness of the hall.
---
The medics was about to lead the stretcher towards the ambulance when Keitaro and Motoko caught up with them. The stranger quickly raised his arm. Keitaro held it.
---
"WE HAVE TO ABORT SIR! WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE MINES!"
The ship leered into the storm. Waves after powerful waves smashed into the hull. The team was desperately holding into anything that could keep them in the ship, ropes, metals, gears. They were all shivering, fighting coldness that threatens to smother them.
"I ORDER YOU TO ABORT. ALL OF YOU LISTEN UP! WE WILL GATHER AT POINT B! GOT IT!"
And so the team went. Swimming along with the waves, fighting hard not to smash their body with the brute metal of the ship. But somehow they managed safely back to the beach. Point B.
"WHO ORDERED THE FUCKING CALL OFF NUMBER 8!"
"THE TEAM LEADER CALLED IT OFF MA'AM!"
"WHERE THE FUCK IS THE TEAM LEADER?"
Nobody answered. They were together when the command was issued. And after a few seconds they all understood what had happened, they were all stunned. Instinctively, they turned towards the sea.
There was a tremendous explosion. Red fire suddenly erupted beneath the water line and then quickly rose, pushed high into the air. Black smoke emerged as it fought its way towards the blacker sky. Then the noise was quickly muffled by the crashing waves. The red light that can be seen from miles away suddenly disappeared. The sea finally catching its prey left nothing. It was over before it even started.
"He did it,"
---
The stranger was smiling despite his pain. Staring into Keitaro's eyes. Blood spilling from his mouth.
"It's an honor sir… to server under you… you saved us all…"
The U Project
Identity: Closed
Next
The U Project: Ultimatum
Sorry about that guys and gals. This is just mere continuation of the 04. Basically 04 and 05 is one big chapter halved. I also apologize if you waited that long for this to come out. I was too busy. I hope nobody got confused with the turn of events. I find that this is the only way I can tell the action thingy. Well hopefully I'd learn more with this.
It has been a long journey for everyone and I hope the earlier chapters have been a bit illuminating about Keitaro's past. The next chapters will be more action-packed and emotional so – get ready for a roller-coaster ride!
Thanks once again for all those who reviewed…
is this the same as Bourne Identity movie? Well, in a sense it is, but Bourne Identity is pretty straight forward… I hope that this fanfic gave you enough clues and questions to think that there's more in Keitaro's past that just your average – er, you know – anyway… don't want to spoil it. Read more and you'll find out. Confused yet?
Cheers!
nivremous