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
07
'I've been hurt so many times, I couldn't stay in touch with myself anymore, but they say it's better to have loved and lost rather than not love at all, and it's killing me inside,'
'Do you hear that? It's the wheel of fate, slowly rotating, clamps rolling, teeth locking… it's the sound of destiny'
'The circle opens,'
---
"Is the line secure?"
"Yes,"
Silence. A tapping sound at the background.
"Where are you?"
"Japan,"
A pause. Dials being wound, clicking noise, buttons pressed.
"Have you made contact with him?"
"Yes,"
"Was it a black-out?"
"It could be,"
A sigh.
"I have unfortunate news for you Karen,"
"What is it?"
"They killed Father Piyad,"
Surprised. Karen tried her best not to show any emotions. It could be a trap. The listener seemed reliable. She could not trust anybody. The Black Arrows were annihilated. CIA was crumbling from within.
"Karen… I'm sorry about what happened to your team. The agency is trying its best to recover. We need you here. You are in great danger. We can't afford to loose you,"
If you're ordered to kill me… will you?
"Listen to me Karen. Our two best spies inside the Council have been terminated. We are basically blind. We cannot move further without setting atleast a single point of reference. Our last report indicates that the Council agents are running amok, killing everybody on its path,"
A pause.
"It will upset him,"
"I know… but if it's a black-out… then there's nothing we can do… he's been expecting it,"
"What do you mean?" perplexed, Karen pressed on.
"I have a written order in here… signed… that in the event of a black-out, you are to return to the headquarters for further instructions. He's handing you over to General McGrath's special ops,"
"WHAT?" That was totally unexpected, "Who signed this paper?"
"He signed it himself,"
"I WON'T LEAVE HIM!"
"Lt. Col. Keyu Unetvicesima orders you to return to headquarters… on this day Black Arrows is officially disbanded, surviving members are to report to General McGrath… direct violation of this order signed and approved by the CIA directors and Operations chief officer Lt. Col. Keyu Unetvicesima will result to court Marshall…"
"Jail me when I get back…"
"KAREN LIST---,"
She hanged up.
You fool! You stupid idiot dick-head! I won't leave you… if you did have a black-out, I'll bash your skull until you remember!
---
The phone rang.
"Uhm! Hello?"
"Hi Su! How are you?"
"Hello! It's the turtle lady! How are you Mutsumi-san? We haven't seen you for a while! You didn't come home last night… Shinobu-chan prepared soba noodles… it was really tasty!"
"Oh! I'm so sorry to have missed that… how is everybody?"
"They're alright… Seta-san, Haruka-san and Sara went to Tokyo University to meet with some professors; Naru at the moment is at Kitsune's… and uhm… Motoko is with her sister… I think,"
"Oh! So Tsuruko's there too?"
"Yeah… she came in yesterday…"
"How about Kei-kun? Is he okay?"
"He's busy repairing the wooden floor on the open balcony… Shinobu-chan is helping him,"
"I see…"
A pause.
"Well… I just called to let you know that I won't be back for a while… I'd appreciate it if you let everybody know,"
"Huh? It's still vacation time! Can't you stay here longer? Are you going back home to Okinawa now? Where are you? Kitsune is planning a special party for tomorrow night… we're not supposed to tell Keitaro though… hehehehe… you should be here Mutsumi-san!"
"Well… I'm really sorry… but I have… something to do…"
A sigh.
"Where are you Mutsumi-san?" A more serious tone, "Tell me… what's going on?"
"Well… nothing really… don't worry about it Su… at the moment I'm here at the northern beaches,"
"Huh? What are you doing there?"
"Well… I'm just…" Unsure and uncertain, whispered, "I'm on a research… I'm just looking into something…"
"Huh?"
"Well… I better go… I'll try to return before the party… okay! Bye…"
Then the line went dead.
---
Keitaro wiped his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand. The sun shining, clear blue sky, summer breeze, carpentry tools by the side, strips of broken wood on the other.
It's going to be a hot day, Keitaro sighed. Stretched his arms wide, flopped onto the floor and surrendered into the warmth of the morning.
"Sempai?"
Keitaro turned and found Shinobu sitting next to him with a tray. A glass of juice.
"Oh… hi there Shinobu… didn't hear you come up here…," Sat upright and placed his right hand at the back of his head, Keitaro smiled.
"It's okay…," Shinobu blushed, smiled back, looked around the open balcony, "I see that you've almost finished the repairs,"
"Yep… it took me quite awhile though… some areas are badly wrecked, it's a good thing we bought enough wood strips to replace them,"
"Sorry 'bout that Sempai… I never did have time to mend them… Seta-san, Haruka-san and Sara stay only once in a while during summer to help me with the apartment's maintenance… and…,"
"No Shinobu… I didn't mean that… you did a very good job of managing the Hinata Apartments…,"
Silence.
No matter how hard I try… it'll always come back to that same question… where have I been? Oh… Shinobu, if you only knew what I'm going through right now… it's so hard to pretend like nothing happened. Everywhere I go everything I do… things that I missed… I should've been here with all of you. I should've been here to help you. I could've spared you all your hardships and grief. It's like being stuck in a place where I'm not sure whether I can move on or not… yet… I feel so incomplete… and all I can do is hang on to you… I don't know what else to do… I'm so sorry Shinobu.
"Uhm… Tsuruko-san's a bit happy to see you again sempai," Shinobu started.
"Oh. Yeah… she's… I mean… she's become prettier than I remember,"
Shinobu reddened, "Yes… she is,"
Tsuruko stayed for dinner that night. She formally met with Keitaro on the lounge room. They were silent most of the time. Perhaps because Tsuruko could not find the proper questions for a man who has lost part of his past… the part everybody was eager to know. The part everybody tried to ignore nonetheless could not completely forget. It was very awkward. But Tsuruko was good enough to let Keitaro go, she didn't pressed him instead she told him what happened to Motoko during his absence.
"So… Motoko is a law graduate huh?"
"Yes sempai, she is currently working for a small firm somewhere in Tokyo specializing on women's rights,"
"That is so like Motoko. And she's also teaching at the Aoyoma Shinmeryu School," Keitaro looked up the sky, watched clouds pass by, "I always knew that Motoko would follow her dreams… good for her,"
Naru is a professor at Tokyo U. Mutsumi is a psychologist. Su is a chief engineer. Seta, Haruka and Sara have already circumnavigated the world, found a number of hidden treasures and artifacts. Everybody has moved on. Everybody…
Except me.
I feel so… empty.
So useless.
Silence.
"How about you Shinobu? You will be graduating soon… right? What do you want to be?"
A pause.
Shinobu turned maroon, "Well… actually… I've been thinking about owning my own restaurant…,"
"Really? Well… that's great Shinobu!"
"Well… I don't want it to be a small restaurant like what my mom and dad used to have before… I want something big… like… uhm… the Ocean's Best restaurant we dined in two nights ago…"
A pause.
Then Shinobu turned, stared deep into Keitaro's eyes, timidly whispered, "And… uhm… I also wanted a family… a loving husband… two children… uhm… a boy and a girl would be nice… just a regular family of my own…,"
For a moment they stayed like that. Gazing into each other's eyes.
Then Shinobu looked away.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to say something foolish like that… it's only a dream of mine… and… I know it's impossible and all…,"
"No… it's not foolish and it's not impossible,"
Shinobu gingerly glanced towards Keitaro, "Sempai?"
But Keitaro was staring at the swaying trees, deep sadness in his eyes, an unfathomable regret; everybody has moved on… everybody… "I know… that one day you'll find a man that will make you truly happy… you'll find a man who won't make you cry… a man who would take care of you… a man who would always be by your side…,"
"Sempai?"
Silence.
"You know… sempai… when you left us… I always knew you'd be back. I never lost hope. It was hard… very hard… but somehow I knew… deep in my heart I knew that you'll come back for us, day and night I prayed for your return…,"
"Shinobu… I…,"
"Now that you're here… all that seems worth it… sempai. It doesn't really matter to me where you've been… as long as you're here… that's all… to be here sitting next to you… I'm happy… I'm truly happy… I guess what I'm really trying to say is that…,"
Please Shinobu… don't.
"I love you sempai. I still do,"
Silence.
A pause.
A gust of cool wind.
"I can't,"
Silence.
"I'm sorry. But I can't,"
A pause.
"I see…," Shinobu tried her best not to cry. But somehow she felt nothing. She reveled at the thought although she knew that once she's alone that pain would bore through her heart. Nothing has changed… it's always the same… I have waited for so long, "Was it Naru-sempai?"
Keitaro was taken aback, "Huh?"
"I guess I should've known… no matter how long… it will always be Naru-sempai… right," Shinobu's tone was different. Contemptuous, "And no matter how hard I try… I will never be good enough for you… I will never be as good as your Naru-sempai… but… its okay… I guess I have to work harder… I can always wait… although I'm not sure for how long,"
Keitaro felt that familiar pang of guilt. That unbearable ache in his heart. Nobody understands… How can I explain this to you Shinobu?
Then Shinobu rose. Kept her back towards Keitaro. Her heart torn and broken, seething with confusion both the elation of freedom and pain. It was a miracle she could hold on like this. She could not hate her sempai nor could she like him more. She broke into a run.
"Shinobu wait! Please! Let me explain… it's not what you think!" Keitaro quickly stood and dashed after her, shouting, "It's not Naru… please… understand… it's not Naru at all,"
And turning by the stairs below Keitaro bumped into… Motoko.
For a moment nobody spoke.
Motoko's eyes were different. Her expression a mixture of hate and relief.
"What is it then Keitaro? If Shinobu is not good enough… if… if I'm not good enough… what is it then?" Motoko finally asked.
"Motoko… I…,"
"What is it? If it's not Naru… then what is it?"
You don't understand Motoko. I can't. I really can't.
Silence.
Keitaro lowered his head. A sign of defeat. Of desperation, "It's not you… it's not any of you… it's me,"
Motoko then reached out and embraced him. Planted a kiss on his forehead. Felt his body shake with misery, whispering, "I'm so lost Motoko… I'm so lost…,"
All I ever wanted was to find myself again. I feel nothing but pain and confusion. Don't you understand Motoko? Can't you see that I'm lost? 'So afraid of what I've been… of what I've become! I'm just half the man I used to be… I can never deserve any of you… I have nothing.
---
"So… are you planning to tell me anything?" Kitsune said with exasperation, busy cleaning set of clear glasses neatly lined by the bar table.
The sun was setting. Bar lights a pleasant orange gleam. A few customers have already gathered at the bar. Drinking happily by group. A few tables filled. Naru came in that afternoon. Sat at the end of the bar. She told Kitsune that she just wanted to be alone for a while and so she drank on her own solitary world. Away from everybody.
"Huh?" Naru looked up. Found the concern face of her friend staring down on her. A glass of champagne on the side.
"You've been like that for a while you know… and it's really not a good idea to drink alone… especially if there's something bothering you,"
Naru glanced down. Avoided Kitsune's questioning look, whispered, "I… I just want to stay away from him… I just can't stand it anymore…,"
"Oh… and when you say him you meant Keitaro… right?"
Naru nodded.
Kitsune sighed, "What is it this time? Did you two end up in a fight again? I mean… you didn't get into an argument with him while I'm not looking are you?"
"No… it's not that,"
"Well… what is it then?"
Silence.
Finally, Kitsune gave up. She threw her cleaning towel on her shoulders, raised a hand and started to walk away.
That's when Naru looked up, "Kitsune wait…,"
Kitsune turned, her face a mask of irritation, crossed her arms and waited. But there's nothing. She then placed her hands on her waist and fought hard not to shout, "Naru… listen to me… I've been your friend for a long time. I've been here for you… I always have… but you know sometimes you act like a spoiled brat. I'm tired of having to clean up your own mess. I've been patient enough back then when we were young… but for crying out loud we're supposed to act like adults now…," A pause, "Okay… I'll go and serve other people, alright? Just call me when you're ready to treat me like a real friend," And with that she left Naru on her own melancholy.
Geez Naru… sometimes you're such an idiot. With all the brain you've got… you sure are stupid when it comes to people who care about you. I hope Keitaro's alright… I hate to find him in a bad situation again. Damn… after six years… we've all come back to this… it's almost like nothing has changed at all. What the hell is wrong with you Naru?
Then Kitsune saw him. A lone figure sitting at the table by the far corner of the bar room. His face hidden by the shadow of his long black silky hair. Dressed in a long black robe his appearance shows obscurity, unappealing, unwelcoming.
Dangerous.
But what really caught Kitsune's attention was the long sheathed sword placed on the table. Probably the one reason why everybody kept their distance away from him. Kitsune haven't seen him in the bar before. A new customer perhaps? For a moment she hesitated. Then she smiled, prepared her most engaging facade and approached the stranger.
"Hi there!"
The stranger didn't move. Kept his left hand hidden, right hand by the handle of the sword.
Kitsune smiled even wider, "I'm sorry but I haven't seen you here before… uhm… I'm just thinking… are you by any chance a friend of Motoko Aoyoma?"
That's when the stranger looked up and gave a very cold, "No,"
His face was strikingly good-looking, strong jaw, eyes lustrous like green jewels, clean-shaven but his temperament was lifeless, blasé. It was like speaking to a dead man.
"Oh… okay… it's just that you're carrying a sword… and…,"
"Does it bother you?" The voice was so icy, heavy.
"Oh… not really… I got a friend who uses them and I've given a fair share of being on the receiving end… 'you know what I'm saying… well… the thing is… it bothers a lot of my customers, I mean, we're all friends here… there's no need for such weapon inside the bar… if you don't mind that is…,"
"I see," The stranger stood, prepared to leave, placed a few notes on the table, "I'm looking for someone…,"
"Really? Maybe I can help? Who are you looking for?"
"You already have… tell him that I'll be waiting,"
"Huh?"
The stranger left and disappeared into the darkening road. It was odd. The bar suddenly became brighter. The heaviness in the air vanished and it felt warmer. That strange menacing feel in the atmosphere departed along with the stranger out of the door. Looking towards the table, Kitsune found something lying on top of the money.
It was a silver templar cross. A dragon snake wound around it.
Confused yet? See ya next chapter!
Cheers!
nivremous