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: Ultimatum
06
'They say that the devil's greatest achievement is convincing people that he does not exist, well, I just talked to him a few minutes ago,'
'Of all the thing's I've lost, I miss my mind the most, where has it gone?'
---
A scream was muffled by a black-gloved hand. The body crumpled onto the floor, lifeless, full red moon shining on the clear cloudless night sky.
Four shadows silently sauntered in the dark vast hallway decorated with large portraits and painted glasses. They moved with unspoken murderous intent like ghouls creeping into the night. Face hidden, shadowed and unrecognizable, hands inside their long robes, fingers on the trigger of their guns. The route was outlined and planned, every corner, every table, every single vase. Their prey will die tonight.
The wind blew, leaves scattered, the courtyard, empty and quiet.
He was waiting.
When the intruders picked the lock of the door of the last room with mahogany colored door, they came face to face with a man standing by the window, his glasses glaring in the dark room, illuminated by a single lamp placed on the table by the far corner.
For a moment nobody spoke. Hunters gazing on their quarry.
Then the man by the window slowly raised his arms as if in defeat but his face showed no fear, calm and unafraid, whispered, "What are you waiting for?" his silver cross gleaming.
One by one the intruders bowed and stepped aside. Another man entered the room.
"You know why we're here," the newcomer said. His long hair neatly parted, face clean shaven, sheathed sword on the right hand.
"May God forgive you of all your sins,"
"God helps those who help themselves," the newcomer walked towards the defenseless man, "You have been sentenced by the council to die, your traitorous acts against the will are unforgivable, your small ploy is cunning, I should say remarkable but nonetheless a failure,"
A sneer.
Silence.
Drawing closer to his ears, the newcomer whispered, "We know who he really is,"
Then a jeweled knife drove into the man's chest. The victim repressed the pain, fought hard not to bend; he would not show defeat in the face of evil, not until the very last of his breath.
"Unetvicesimani is no more," the newcomer snarled, "Unetvicesima will die by my hands… there will only be one project…"
The newcomer withdrew, walked towards the door and turned for the last time, "I will give him the sincerest regards from you…" then the intruders left the room and disappeared into the night.
The dying man finally fell to the floor. Blood pouring out of him. His hands clasped onto the silver cross. His last prayers.
I'm so sorry my dear child. Please forgive me… I can no longer protect you. I did what I could. I hope that you find true happiness. As I have always wished for you… live… Unet… vice… sima… Kei… t… ro.
---
"Where are you going Shinobu?" Su was especially energetic today. Her usual energy returned.
"I'm actually planning to go do the groceries today," Shinobu smiled, "We don't have much food left and I have to get some new materials to repair the old broken pipes of the hot springs bath,"
"Wow, Shinobu, I never thought you'd be able to manage all that on your own,"
"Well… I got the hang of it,"
"Can I come along with you?"
"Sure…"
Yes. I have managed somehow. Passing by Keitaro's room Shinobu paused and stared at the closed door for a moment wondering if she should talk to him. Sempai… are you alright?
It has been two days since their night out. And for the nth time she asked herself what has happened. And it seemed Motoko was the only one who has a vague idea but she refused to say anything. It was a very strange night. Shinobu could still feel that lingering fear. It was the first time she saw her sempai like that. It's almost like he was a completely different person. And what really scared her the most are his eyes… they were of different shade… blacker… darker.
You saved us all… that was what the stranger said to sempai… what does it mean? Why does it have such a profound effect on sempai?
"Shinomu… can you add more bananas on your list… huh? Shinomu? Are you alright?" Waving her hands in front, Shinobu started.
"Oh. Sorry about that Su. What were you saying?"
"Are you alright Shinobu? You seem… uhm… worried… is there something wrong?"
"It's nothing really… I'm just thinking,"
"Oh? What were you thinking?"
"Well… I'm just thinking of… what to cook for lunch today… that's it,"
"Really…"
"Really…"
Silence.
Then the door slid open.
"Keitaro! Good morning! You wide awake now?" Su jumped and gave a slightly dazed Keitaro a hug.
"Er… good morning Su," smiling, a hand at the back of his head, Keitaro turned towards Shinobu, "Are you planning on doing the groceries today… Shinobu?"
Shinobu blushed. She could not help it. For some odd reason… she was prone to blush every now and then. Just like how it was before, silly girl, "Actually, yes… and uhm,"
"Well, I'm already dressed, it would be a good start for the day if I have a crash course on things needed to be done on the apartment, so I'll join you so we could talk about it on the way… is that alright with you?"
Shinobu turned maroon. A whole day with sempai… my heart is racing again… "It's… it's… okay… if that's alright with you…"
"Well! It's a date then!"
"Yes! And with Su too!"
"Uhm… okay, sempai…"
---
Naru wasn't feeling particularly well this morning. The truth was… she hasn't slept decently for the past few days.
Something has been gnawing her since Keitaro's sudden arrival. She tried her best to keep it at bay. But the images that were running though her head unsettled her more than she could admit. And every time she looks at Keitaro, mixed emotions course through her whole body; she wanted to kiss him, hug him, make love to him and hit him at the same time… it was anger, frustration and deep resentment.
It was guilt.
Naru shook the thought off. The only way she knew to cope with it. She dressed herself meticulously, admired her form by the mirror and headed for the kitchen where she saw Su, Shinobu and Keitaro preparing to leave.
"Oh… going somewhere?"
Shinobu turned, her smile as bright as the morning sun, "Sempai, Su and I are off to the markets to do some groceries…" her eyes boring into Naru's, a silent message, a plea – Please Naru-sempai… just this one time.
"Oh… okay then, have fun!" Naru waved her hand.
"Huh? Don't you want to come with us?" Keitaro turned towards her, his face impassive, his voice neutral, a shadow of iciness.
Naru almost flinched but quickly recovered, Keitaro? Do you remember? "No… it's okay… you lot go ahead… I have something to talk to Kitsune about anyway,"
Shinobu breathed a sigh of relief, offered her arm and Keitaro took it – American style.
"We're off then!" Keitaro smiled and led the girls out of the door.
Naru stood by the door and watched the trio disappear into the stone steps, Keitaro lively chatting with Shinobu, Su trailing along with them, more like a chaperon than a companion.
You deserve him more Shinobu. Even if I have to live a thousand years, I won't compare with you. You've been kind to him right from the beginning… and I have done nothing but… all I ever did to him was… oh. Keitaro… why do you have to return to us like this? You may have forgotten all about it… but I haven't… I have carried it with me for a long time. Please… hate me.
---
I love you.
The shinai sliced into the air.
I said that to him.
The shinai sliced into the air.
And he said… nothing.
The shinai sliced into the air.
I love him… but does he love me?
Motoko was up early that morning and did her routine training by the open balcony. Her heart and her mind in confusion. Ever since that night out, there were things she admitted she normally wouldn't. Especially not in front of Keitaro.
I have dated other men before. And most are better than him… but why… why do I feel this way to him? Is it really love? – We were almost married years ago… but somehow… ever since that time, I've always asked myself – what could have happened if we did?
The wind blew. Birds flocked the clear blue morning sky.
"You're confused,"
Motoko quickly turned. Her stance ready to attack.
"Sister?" Motoko was surprised to find her sister watching by the corner, "How long have you been here?"
"Quite long actually," Tsuruko walked towards Motoko, a genuine smile on her face, "Then I finally got bored watching you,"
"Huh?"
"I have placed your bag of clothes on your room… nobody was around so I let myself in,"
"What do you mean? Shinobu should be downstairs…"
"Actually, I saw her with Su and Keitaro on their way to the markets…" Tsuruko turned towards the bay, "I don't think he recognized me… he has changed… a lot, I should say,"
"Oh…"
A pause.
Tsuruko then gently held Motoko's arms, stared into her eyes, whispered close to her ears, "What is bothering you my dear sister?"
Silence.
Motoko avoided her sister's searching eyes. She knew she could not lie to her. Then gingerly answered, her voice withdrawn, "You saw him… you saw Keitaro…"
"Yes,"
"So… what do you think? Of him I mean… I…"
Tsuruko crossed her arms. Eyes closed. Concentrating. "Well, actually, he has grown taller… as tall as you are now. He's slim, well toned… not too thick and not too thin… and he looks quite charming without his glasses," opening her eyes, she smiled, "He has grown into an attractive man,"
Motoko then sighed, her head low. It hurts… to know that someone I want is so close… yet so far… I'm so confused… if he could only tell me what he thinks about me… maybe…
"You love him," It wasn't a question.
Motoko blushed. Kept her head low. Evaded Tsuruko's amused expression.
"Well… it's bound to happen. It's an old age dilemma. Wanting something you think you can never have. That irresistible charm of forbidden love… the question is – is it really that forbidden? Have you asked him?"
"No… it's just that… I'm not really sure how to… I don't know,"
"You're afraid of what he may think of you… right?"
"Yes… I'm afraid of what he thinks of me… Naru… Mutsumi… and Shinobu… and Su… I don't think I can take it… to choose between your friends or the man you… love,"
Tsuruko smiled even more and embraced Motoko close to her. Feeling her confusion. Sharing her pain.
"It will be alright my dear sister… it will all be alright… love is both pain and happiness… I'm glad that you can feel this way again… you're healing… I'm so happy for you… what really matters is to follow what your heart is telling you to do… because if you hide it… it would only cause you pain and not only to yourself but to all the people who cares for you…"
Motoko closed her eyes and cried. She hated to be this weak. She learned to discipline herself against emotions. But with Keitaro, her world seems to fall apart. It hurts to be close to him yet it hurts not to be near him.
"It's alright. You're not just an emotionless swordswoman. You're also a girl. Inlove and confused…"
I hope it was all this easy.
---
"I came as soon as I can doctor," Mutsumi arrived early that morning at the clinic. After receiving a perplexing message from him late last night, Mutsumi prepared herself for the worst, "Was this about Keitaro?"
The doctor's face showed nothing. A professional seriousness carved on his visage. He produced a folder.
Mutsumi read the documents. It was three pages long, some details were drawn, numbers tabled and graphed. Results sent by the hospital at Tokyo. Main research facility.
A pause.
Silence.
After a few moments, Mutsumi sighed, "I don't understand doctor…"
"It's quite remarkable actually,"
"How can anybody has two different set of brain patterns?"
"I've seen such cases before but not this severe… the diagnosis, the treatment and everything else are still in debate…"
"According to this, there has been a previous injury on his head that has healed… they assume that it happened six or seven years ago… then that caused to produce a new set of brain patterns, now having another injury on the same healed wound caused the pattern to return to normal to how it was before the original injury…"
"We have ruled out Schizophrenia, the dopamine content was normal, not exceeding and his behavior says it all,"
Mutsumi closed the folder, her head bowed, her eyes screwed to extreme deliberation.
You saved us all. That's what the stranger said two days ago… does it mean anything? Is it connected in some way?
"Well… I've already researched it… made a few calls… we will need to examine his behavior Mutsumi… we need to investigate his actions… it could be the reason why he does not have complete recollection of the past six years. It's a classic DID,"
"Dissociative Identity Disorder,"
"That's right! Multiple Personality,"
Welcome to the ULTIMATUM chapters.
Hei there guys and gals! How's it going? I apologize for the delay. I've been busy for the past few days. So what do you think of this chapter? I meant it to be as informative as possible but not too revealing to keep the mystery. Motoko hasn't shown her real strength yet. Well, who could if you don't know what's going on? Right? Well… if you have any idea what's going on… ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK! There are lots more going around and I assure you, it'll be really something at the very end, I just hope the story tie in perfectly.
Thanks again to all those who gave a review. It's really something.
See ya next chapter! Cheers!
nivremous