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Disclaimer:

I don't own Love Hina. Love Hina is property of Ken Akamatsu.

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Kokoro no Tsubasa

Wings of the Heart

Chapter 1

"Motoko-chan?" There was a moment taken to register the words as I opened my eyes.

"Urashima? What are you doing at the door? I swear, if this is some sort of perverted joke... You will find yourself floating in space!" I knew my threat had fallen of ears that did not listen.

"Gomen nasai, Motoko-chan, but I could not sleep. I was wondering if we could train longer today?" Keitaro's voice was monotone.

I'm still afraid of that voice with no feeling, even after almost a year of his lethargy. I couldn't help but shudder in in my bed.

"What is the time, Urashima?" My eyes were closed again.

"Three in the morning." He replied from somewhere beyond my door.

A light turned on, and I could see the minute amount of light that peeked from below the door. Unable to supress a sigh, I pushed myself off the futon I slept on, and stood to dress myself for the morning's training.

Ever since Keitaro had been abandoned by Naru, he's had only a few hours of sleep at night, as well as no energy for anything. Anything but kendo. It had been a week after his pain had begun when he approached me one morning as I came downstairs for breakfast. I remember the way he had asked me to guide him through the techniques of kendo. I had to comply. I could not say no to the man who had both saved my life.

"Motoko-chan?" There was no impatience in his voice.

"A minute, Urashima." It took me no waste of energy or time putting on my garments. I had done this every day for so long now, I could choose the right clothing to wear blindfolded.

Keitaro stepped back as I opened the door, shinai in hand, and waiting to follow me to the roof of Hinata-Sou.

'Can he be rid of his demons?' I wondered, heart beginning to pound with a dull ache.

'Perhaps if he would stop thinking of Naru, I would be able to reach him as he did me, when I needed aid.'

"Motoko-chan?" Once again, his voice broke my thoughts.

I found myself standing still on the rooftop, eyes blankly staring at the sky in front of me. It was time to begin the day with exercises.

Keitaro began the same time I did, moving as slow and steadily as was needed of the starting warm-ups. No matter how much we practiced, I was surprised he could wield the wooden practice sword so well. When he began his lessons, there was no miscommunication, no clumsiness. He had changed. No longer was he the shy, perverted and a bit naive boy from over a year ago. He had long since changed.

It had began with his work with Seta, and it was continuing now. Flowing movements of power manifested him, eyes closed, feet always landing perfectly in correspondence with one another. There was a fire in his eyes, something that came to him only when he was dreaming of her. For some strange reason, he seemed to find the art of swordsmanship comforting in the continual repetition of exercises.

I watched him, my own feet able to work together well enough that I could focus my attention on the man nearby. I could not feel that usual ache in my chest, but I knew it was there. Every time I thought of Keitaro, there would be a dull pounding from within me, and it would eventually become painful.

'I'm in love with him, but I could never tell him. I've always been jealous of Naru. I would never come close to her beauty and intelligence. I was undoubtably one of the women farthest away from feminity. I-'

My train of thought ended as my blade fell onto the roof, clattering to a stop somewhere close. My eyes widened, horrified at the site of the ground. The roof's edge was visible, showing that I would come to a crushing end due to my own sorrow and pain. I had only one reaction.

"Keitaro!" The scream echoed, piercing the night in its strength, backed by surprise.

There was no expectation of anything, except for the pain that hit me when my legs were bruised upon the gutter at the edge of the roof, and then the air that rushed past me. I merely dropped... And dropped...

But fate would have its mark upon everything. My eyes snapped open as I felt something grab me around the waist. Strong arms encircling me in a protective embrace.

'So this must be a messenger ready to bring my soul to the gods,' I thought briefly.

And then the impact came. My eyes were shut again.

There was no darkness, there was no rock solid resistance to me. Only a very strange, soft landing. But the softness ended as I felt my body's force meet some solid below the softness. And only a strange sound reached my ears as I could hear two small cracks from within the thing that I had landed upon. And that strong feeling of something wrapped about me stayed, not losing its strength and protectiveness.

My eyes opened, wishing to examine what object I broke. but to my surprise, there was only a hakama and gi, gray in color, as well as black hair. My eyes went wide.

The black hair I saw everyday.

The kendo practice clothing I saw every morning.

The feeling of something wrapped about me.

I had landed on none other than Keitaro Urashima, the man I loved. Now his arms were weakly holding me. My face was on his chest, listening to nothing.

Nothing.

It registered finally. my head shot up, arms propelling me upwards immediately. I found myself swaying upon my feet, barely able to keep my vision straight, I collapsed onto the short grass and hard packed dirt. Several failures brought success. I managed to stand on my two feet, almost tripping towards the fallen body of Keitaro.

"Keitaro! Keitaro!" I hoped my cries were loud enough to rouse the other residents of the house.

Checking for a pulse, and finding a faint, slow beat, I began hoping. My shins began to hurt, as well as a stiff pain in my knee. I collapse by Keitaro, now becoming angry. Angry at only one thing.

Myself.

This was the second time he had saved her, this time a physical death rather than an emotional one. And I could do nothing to help.

I pushed myself up, sitting on the green grass. Sakura blossoms all around the house began to gently float down. A breeze had started, causing the beautiful petals of the Sakura to fall. A beautiful death. And it was all my fault.

Nothing could be felt after - my world had darkened into oblivion.

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Author's Note: Gomen! I'm sorry for the short chapters. I just wish to put thi story up and have some reviews to guide my along the way. Be nice, now!

-Ky.