Love Hina – Forgotten
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Three – Darkness Rising
Friday Night
Keitaro grabs the Hina Sword and runs outside, partially out of fear, but mostly to move the coming conflict away from his friends. Tsuruko pauses a moment and unleashes a delaying attack.
"SHINMEI SCHOOL SECRET ARTS! AIR SPLITTING SWORD!"
The vortex of power flies from her blade and tears into the dark spirit, sending it spinning through the wall without damaging a single panel. Outside, Keitaro leaps into the hot spring and wades out until the water is up to his waist. Holding the sword awkwardly, he turns around and looks for any sign of the being that was once Aoyama Motoko. Shinobu, close behind him, leaps into the water and places herself next to Keitaro. Tsuruko exit the inn and looks up into the night sky. Keitaro follows her gaze and spots a spinning vortex above them that blots out the stars. The sword master yells at him as the vortex gathers itself.
"You must strike at its heart! It must be drawn back into the sword!"
The vortex collects itself and forms an ellipse. Slowly, it solidifies into a human shape. Keitaro stares at it.
"Motoko-chan."
The figure floats to the ground and looks at Keitaro. Its eyes are as dark as night, with wisps of black vapor rising from them. Teeth, jagged as daggers, are revealed as snarling lips pull back. Naru and Kitsune rush out the changing room door and halt, shocked into immobility at the sight of the demon. The spirit looks sideways at Tsuruko.
"Dear sister, you should not have done that."
Motoko raises her right hand and instantly sends waves of dark power rolling towards Tsuruko. The sword master lifts her blade to fend off the attack, but is thrown backwards. Her sword falls from her hand as she crashes into the wall and slides to the ground. Keitaro starts to move towards her.
"Aoyama-san!"
The spirit turns back to Keitaro.
"Do not concern yourself with that one. She will live longer than you, but not by much!"
She holds her hands out to her sides and her nails grow, becoming razor-sharp daggers. Keitaro lifts his sword as the spirit leaps over the water. At the last moment, it slips to his left and drives its dagger-nails into Shinobu. Rising above the steaming waters, the demon's claws shred the physical form of its light half and the power is absorbed back into itself. The being laughs, a hideous cackle that echoes across the grounds. Motoko smiles as she rubs her hands up her arms.
"Ah, to be complete once more! No, not quite complete, there is something else. A wasted gift that I now reclaim!"
Keitaro staggers forward.
"Narusegawa! Run, please run!"
The spirit's eyes turn and bore their gaze at Naru. She floats into the air and moves to Motoko.
"Wh-what are you?"
The demon frowns.
"Naru-sempai, I am displeased that you do not recognize me."
Motoko plunges her claws through Naru's body.
"I am your death!"
Blue wisps of life flow from Naru's wounds and mouth, mixing with the dark tendrils circling Motoko. Her head rolls forward and the demon savagely withdraws her talons. Naru falls to the ground, the power that preserved her life stripped away. Blank eyes stare past Keitaro as her body rolls to a stop. The manager of Hinata-sou screams as two years worth of death and putrefaction destroy the loveliness of what remains of Naru.
"NO!"
The spirit floats over the water, an evil smile on its lips.
"I have reclaimed all that rightfully belongs to me! Let the rotted corpse of that vile female be a sign to all that oppose me!"
She looks up into the sky and rages to the night.
"Do you hear me, Kappa? I claim this land! Everything that you desired will now be mine! The master of the sword is long dead and a weakling male is all that remains of his lineage! I shall destroy him and that wretched school!"
Motoko flexes her claws and looks down at Keitaro.
"Let us play a game, Urashima. Let us see how much agony your body can withstand before you die. Unless, of course, you wish to beg for a quick death. I may be merciful and finish you quickly if you grovel sufficiently."
Keitaro splashes through the water and leaps onto the rocks at the far side of the pool. Panting, he runs around the corner of the inn. The spirit throws its head back and laughs.
"Even better! I shall enjoy this chase more than any other we have had, Urashima!"
Landing on the ground, Motoko runs to the end of the inn. As she reaches the corner, she halts. Poking her head around, she sees Keitaro kneeling with his sword pointing forward in preparation for a finishing thrust.
"Foolish human! That trick will not work on me twice!"
Knocking the blade aside with her daggers, she slashes out at Keitaro. Knives rip through his sleeve as he tries to spin out of the way. Scrambling away from the demon, he runs along the side of Hinata-sou. Motoko laughs as he retreats, licking the blood on her fingers. Following him, she closes the distance as he rounds the front of the building. Expecting him to try another feeble attempt to surprise her, she leaps into the air. A Mecha-tama, flames gushing from its mouth, crashes into her as she clears the corner, sending her careening into the trees. Timbers crack and splinter as they tumble through the woods. Planting her feet on the ground, she drives both hands into the mechanical turtle and rips it apart. An immense explosion rocks the hill.
Stepping from the flames, she whispers.
"Su-chan, you just raised your place on my list of mortals to kill."
Motoko leaps into the air and sails over the trees. A minute later, she returns to the inn and spots Keitaro on the roof of the building. She lands a few yards in front of him.
"So, you wish to make this your final stand? I had hoped to toy with you a bit longer. However, if you crave death that much, I will be more than happy to give it to you, Urashima."
Keitaro, sword held in front of him, braces himself.
"Motoko-chan, you don't have to do this!"
"You know not of my needs, mortal!"
"Listen to me!"
"You have no words that I wish to hear! Prepare to die!"
At that moment, a vortex of power erupts through the roof beneath Motoko's feet. Tearing into her, it shreds her corporeal form and flings the darkness into the sky. Howls of rage echo through the night as she brings her tattered powers together. Keitaro runs to another part of the roof and waits for her. She flies down and hovers a few meters above him.
"Foolish mortal! Do you believe that I would fall into your trap a second time?"
Keitaro shakes his head.
"No. But I still want to talk to you!"
"The only words I wish to hear from you are when you scream for death!"
Keitaro makes a small motion with his hand. Motoko raises her claws to deflect the vortex, but it does not come. Tama-chan lands on her head. Instantly, she screams in terror and drops from the air.
"Turtle! Get it off me! Get it away from me! AAAAAIIIIIEEEEE!"
Motoko crashes to the roof, unable to dislodge her carapace-covered foe. After a few moments, Tama-chan leaps aside and Keitaro places the tip of the Hina Sword to her chest, prepared to thrust it through her bosom.
"Motoko-chan! Listen to me or, or I'll finish you now!"
Fear in her dark eyes, she stares up at Keitaro.
"Speak, vile male!"
"I want to make a deal with you. You can be Motoko-chan again, Shinobu-chan can be herself again, and I want Narusegawa to be restored. In exchange, I promise never to use this sword to re-imprison you. Everything can be as it was! Please, it's the only way, Motoko-chan!"
"Urashima, do you speak truly? You would accept me, knowing my true form?"
Keitaro nods his head.
"I don't care if you are a spirit or a demon. I just want everyone to be happy and live the way we were."
Motoko nods her head and smiles.
"I, I accept your terms, Urashima."
Keitaro sighs and steps back. Motoko launches herself and rips at him with her claws, sending him pitching over the side of the roof.
"Fool! Do you think I would be content with your paltry promise? I will not rest as long as the threat of imprisonment in that wretched sword remains! I will destroy anyone that wields it!"
The demon leaps over the side of the building, claws driving downwards to rip Keitaro's heart from his chest. He lies on the ground, blood seeping from the cuts across his chest, panting for breath. He looks up as Motoko plummets towards him.
"Sh-Shinobu-chan. Help me!"
The claws of Motoko's right hand plunge through his shoulder, pinning him to the earth. She holds her left hand above his chest, but hesitates. The darkness in her eyes fades for a moment.
"S-sempai?"
Motoko raises her hands to her head and screams. She leaps up and disappears into the night sky.
Saturday Morning.
Keitaro opens his eyes. He tries to sit up, but Haruka's hand gently presses him back down. Pain lances across his chest and through his left shoulder. He opens his eyes again and looks around. He rests on the couch in the common room, with Su, Kitsune and Tsuruko standing around him. Guarding the room are a half dozen Mecha-tamas, weapons at the ready. A body lies on the table, covered with a white sheet. Kitsune kneels next to the couch.
"Keitaro-san! Thank goodness you're alive! We thought that ya'll was a goner for sure! That, that thing killed Naru and Shinobu-chan! What are we gonna do?"
Su, her remote control in her hands, turns and looks at him.
"Was that the Motoko ya was talking about yesterday? I don't think she likes you too much."
She looks at the body on the table.
"And she really didn't like Naru, either."
Tsuruko, her sword in her hand and a bandage across her forehead, scowls at him.
"Why did you deviate from our plan? You had her and could have ended this! You may have doomed us and thousands of other innocent people!"
Keitaro looks up at her.
"I had to try. They are my friends! I thought that she would listen to reason, considering that she knew we would try to destroy her is she refused."
The sword master sighs.
"It was a valiant attempt, if a foolish one. The demon will not allow you to parley with her again. When she returns, it will be for your death."
Keitaro, with Haruka's assistance, sits up on the couch.
"We know that she has some weaknesses. Tama-chan is the one thing that she can't fight. How did you know that she would still be afraid of her?"
Tsuruko sits next to him and tells the history of the demon they know as Motoko.
"Centuries past, when the demon first appeared, it challenged the Turtle Demon, Kappa, for domination. The conflict nearly destroyed her, as Kappa overmatched her in everyway. She was forced into its servitude, given meaningless and unsatisfying tasks. Her existence became a nightmare of torture and degradation. She attempted to rebel on a few occasions, but was crushed each time. After the rise of the Shinmei School, we fought and eventually defeated Kappa. The demon, thinking to destroy us in our weakened state, attacked without mercy. Many of our school fell to her before we drove it away. The demon fled, nursing her wounds and her hatred of our school for doing the one thing she could not. Decades passed, and there was no sign of her until one day, using the guise of human form, she entered our school as a novice seeking training. To our dismay, she learned many of our techniques and secrets before we discovered her deception. Using her new knowledge, she unleashed a rampage that nearly destroyed us and almost burned Kyoto to the ground."
She pauses and sips some tea before continuing.
"Our salvation came when a sword master of unparalleled power arrived. Sensing the evil of the demon, he sought us out and offered his sword in our service. He, along with a dozen of our best, went out to do battle with the demon. She slew most of the followers during the days that followed, but the sword master continued his pursuit, driving her to a location of his choosing for their final encounter. That location was what is now Hinata-sou, and the sword master's name was Kotaro, Urashima Kotaro. Your ancestor."
The girls stare at Keitaro as Tsuruko finishes her tale.
"A tremendous battle ensued, neither one giving any quarter to the other. Using his marvelous sword, Kotaro-san unleashed his ultimate power, tearing an opening into the earth and causing a geyser to erupt, enveloping the demon. Leaping into the boiling fountain, he drove his blade into the demon's heart and captured her essence. Sadly, a final strike of her power grievously injured Kotaro-san. He lingered for a few weeks, but was able to pass instructions that we followed to ensure the demon remained imprisoned. This inn was built to his specifications; its form providing a cage for the spirit of his foe and strengthening the ability of the Hina Sword to hold its prisoner. We of the Shinmei School have devoted much of the time since trying to find a way to destroy the spirit utterly, forever ending the threat it poses."
Keitaro rubs his injured shoulder.
"You never told me how we're supposed to eliminate the spirit. What do we have to do?"
Tsuruko looks at him with steady eyes.
"As the master of the sword, you must recapture the spirit in its blade. Then, by destroying the prison and cage simultaneously, the spirit will cease to exist. Hinata-sou must be destroyed."
End of Chapter Three.
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Three – Darkness Rising
Friday Night
Keitaro grabs the Hina Sword and runs outside, partially out of fear, but mostly to move the coming conflict away from his friends. Tsuruko pauses a moment and unleashes a delaying attack.
"SHINMEI SCHOOL SECRET ARTS! AIR SPLITTING SWORD!"
The vortex of power flies from her blade and tears into the dark spirit, sending it spinning through the wall without damaging a single panel. Outside, Keitaro leaps into the hot spring and wades out until the water is up to his waist. Holding the sword awkwardly, he turns around and looks for any sign of the being that was once Aoyama Motoko. Shinobu, close behind him, leaps into the water and places herself next to Keitaro. Tsuruko exit the inn and looks up into the night sky. Keitaro follows her gaze and spots a spinning vortex above them that blots out the stars. The sword master yells at him as the vortex gathers itself.
"You must strike at its heart! It must be drawn back into the sword!"
The vortex collects itself and forms an ellipse. Slowly, it solidifies into a human shape. Keitaro stares at it.
"Motoko-chan."
The figure floats to the ground and looks at Keitaro. Its eyes are as dark as night, with wisps of black vapor rising from them. Teeth, jagged as daggers, are revealed as snarling lips pull back. Naru and Kitsune rush out the changing room door and halt, shocked into immobility at the sight of the demon. The spirit looks sideways at Tsuruko.
"Dear sister, you should not have done that."
Motoko raises her right hand and instantly sends waves of dark power rolling towards Tsuruko. The sword master lifts her blade to fend off the attack, but is thrown backwards. Her sword falls from her hand as she crashes into the wall and slides to the ground. Keitaro starts to move towards her.
"Aoyama-san!"
The spirit turns back to Keitaro.
"Do not concern yourself with that one. She will live longer than you, but not by much!"
She holds her hands out to her sides and her nails grow, becoming razor-sharp daggers. Keitaro lifts his sword as the spirit leaps over the water. At the last moment, it slips to his left and drives its dagger-nails into Shinobu. Rising above the steaming waters, the demon's claws shred the physical form of its light half and the power is absorbed back into itself. The being laughs, a hideous cackle that echoes across the grounds. Motoko smiles as she rubs her hands up her arms.
"Ah, to be complete once more! No, not quite complete, there is something else. A wasted gift that I now reclaim!"
Keitaro staggers forward.
"Narusegawa! Run, please run!"
The spirit's eyes turn and bore their gaze at Naru. She floats into the air and moves to Motoko.
"Wh-what are you?"
The demon frowns.
"Naru-sempai, I am displeased that you do not recognize me."
Motoko plunges her claws through Naru's body.
"I am your death!"
Blue wisps of life flow from Naru's wounds and mouth, mixing with the dark tendrils circling Motoko. Her head rolls forward and the demon savagely withdraws her talons. Naru falls to the ground, the power that preserved her life stripped away. Blank eyes stare past Keitaro as her body rolls to a stop. The manager of Hinata-sou screams as two years worth of death and putrefaction destroy the loveliness of what remains of Naru.
"NO!"
The spirit floats over the water, an evil smile on its lips.
"I have reclaimed all that rightfully belongs to me! Let the rotted corpse of that vile female be a sign to all that oppose me!"
She looks up into the sky and rages to the night.
"Do you hear me, Kappa? I claim this land! Everything that you desired will now be mine! The master of the sword is long dead and a weakling male is all that remains of his lineage! I shall destroy him and that wretched school!"
Motoko flexes her claws and looks down at Keitaro.
"Let us play a game, Urashima. Let us see how much agony your body can withstand before you die. Unless, of course, you wish to beg for a quick death. I may be merciful and finish you quickly if you grovel sufficiently."
Keitaro splashes through the water and leaps onto the rocks at the far side of the pool. Panting, he runs around the corner of the inn. The spirit throws its head back and laughs.
"Even better! I shall enjoy this chase more than any other we have had, Urashima!"
Landing on the ground, Motoko runs to the end of the inn. As she reaches the corner, she halts. Poking her head around, she sees Keitaro kneeling with his sword pointing forward in preparation for a finishing thrust.
"Foolish human! That trick will not work on me twice!"
Knocking the blade aside with her daggers, she slashes out at Keitaro. Knives rip through his sleeve as he tries to spin out of the way. Scrambling away from the demon, he runs along the side of Hinata-sou. Motoko laughs as he retreats, licking the blood on her fingers. Following him, she closes the distance as he rounds the front of the building. Expecting him to try another feeble attempt to surprise her, she leaps into the air. A Mecha-tama, flames gushing from its mouth, crashes into her as she clears the corner, sending her careening into the trees. Timbers crack and splinter as they tumble through the woods. Planting her feet on the ground, she drives both hands into the mechanical turtle and rips it apart. An immense explosion rocks the hill.
Stepping from the flames, she whispers.
"Su-chan, you just raised your place on my list of mortals to kill."
Motoko leaps into the air and sails over the trees. A minute later, she returns to the inn and spots Keitaro on the roof of the building. She lands a few yards in front of him.
"So, you wish to make this your final stand? I had hoped to toy with you a bit longer. However, if you crave death that much, I will be more than happy to give it to you, Urashima."
Keitaro, sword held in front of him, braces himself.
"Motoko-chan, you don't have to do this!"
"You know not of my needs, mortal!"
"Listen to me!"
"You have no words that I wish to hear! Prepare to die!"
At that moment, a vortex of power erupts through the roof beneath Motoko's feet. Tearing into her, it shreds her corporeal form and flings the darkness into the sky. Howls of rage echo through the night as she brings her tattered powers together. Keitaro runs to another part of the roof and waits for her. She flies down and hovers a few meters above him.
"Foolish mortal! Do you believe that I would fall into your trap a second time?"
Keitaro shakes his head.
"No. But I still want to talk to you!"
"The only words I wish to hear from you are when you scream for death!"
Keitaro makes a small motion with his hand. Motoko raises her claws to deflect the vortex, but it does not come. Tama-chan lands on her head. Instantly, she screams in terror and drops from the air.
"Turtle! Get it off me! Get it away from me! AAAAAIIIIIEEEEE!"
Motoko crashes to the roof, unable to dislodge her carapace-covered foe. After a few moments, Tama-chan leaps aside and Keitaro places the tip of the Hina Sword to her chest, prepared to thrust it through her bosom.
"Motoko-chan! Listen to me or, or I'll finish you now!"
Fear in her dark eyes, she stares up at Keitaro.
"Speak, vile male!"
"I want to make a deal with you. You can be Motoko-chan again, Shinobu-chan can be herself again, and I want Narusegawa to be restored. In exchange, I promise never to use this sword to re-imprison you. Everything can be as it was! Please, it's the only way, Motoko-chan!"
"Urashima, do you speak truly? You would accept me, knowing my true form?"
Keitaro nods his head.
"I don't care if you are a spirit or a demon. I just want everyone to be happy and live the way we were."
Motoko nods her head and smiles.
"I, I accept your terms, Urashima."
Keitaro sighs and steps back. Motoko launches herself and rips at him with her claws, sending him pitching over the side of the roof.
"Fool! Do you think I would be content with your paltry promise? I will not rest as long as the threat of imprisonment in that wretched sword remains! I will destroy anyone that wields it!"
The demon leaps over the side of the building, claws driving downwards to rip Keitaro's heart from his chest. He lies on the ground, blood seeping from the cuts across his chest, panting for breath. He looks up as Motoko plummets towards him.
"Sh-Shinobu-chan. Help me!"
The claws of Motoko's right hand plunge through his shoulder, pinning him to the earth. She holds her left hand above his chest, but hesitates. The darkness in her eyes fades for a moment.
"S-sempai?"
Motoko raises her hands to her head and screams. She leaps up and disappears into the night sky.
Saturday Morning.
Keitaro opens his eyes. He tries to sit up, but Haruka's hand gently presses him back down. Pain lances across his chest and through his left shoulder. He opens his eyes again and looks around. He rests on the couch in the common room, with Su, Kitsune and Tsuruko standing around him. Guarding the room are a half dozen Mecha-tamas, weapons at the ready. A body lies on the table, covered with a white sheet. Kitsune kneels next to the couch.
"Keitaro-san! Thank goodness you're alive! We thought that ya'll was a goner for sure! That, that thing killed Naru and Shinobu-chan! What are we gonna do?"
Su, her remote control in her hands, turns and looks at him.
"Was that the Motoko ya was talking about yesterday? I don't think she likes you too much."
She looks at the body on the table.
"And she really didn't like Naru, either."
Tsuruko, her sword in her hand and a bandage across her forehead, scowls at him.
"Why did you deviate from our plan? You had her and could have ended this! You may have doomed us and thousands of other innocent people!"
Keitaro looks up at her.
"I had to try. They are my friends! I thought that she would listen to reason, considering that she knew we would try to destroy her is she refused."
The sword master sighs.
"It was a valiant attempt, if a foolish one. The demon will not allow you to parley with her again. When she returns, it will be for your death."
Keitaro, with Haruka's assistance, sits up on the couch.
"We know that she has some weaknesses. Tama-chan is the one thing that she can't fight. How did you know that she would still be afraid of her?"
Tsuruko sits next to him and tells the history of the demon they know as Motoko.
"Centuries past, when the demon first appeared, it challenged the Turtle Demon, Kappa, for domination. The conflict nearly destroyed her, as Kappa overmatched her in everyway. She was forced into its servitude, given meaningless and unsatisfying tasks. Her existence became a nightmare of torture and degradation. She attempted to rebel on a few occasions, but was crushed each time. After the rise of the Shinmei School, we fought and eventually defeated Kappa. The demon, thinking to destroy us in our weakened state, attacked without mercy. Many of our school fell to her before we drove it away. The demon fled, nursing her wounds and her hatred of our school for doing the one thing she could not. Decades passed, and there was no sign of her until one day, using the guise of human form, she entered our school as a novice seeking training. To our dismay, she learned many of our techniques and secrets before we discovered her deception. Using her new knowledge, she unleashed a rampage that nearly destroyed us and almost burned Kyoto to the ground."
She pauses and sips some tea before continuing.
"Our salvation came when a sword master of unparalleled power arrived. Sensing the evil of the demon, he sought us out and offered his sword in our service. He, along with a dozen of our best, went out to do battle with the demon. She slew most of the followers during the days that followed, but the sword master continued his pursuit, driving her to a location of his choosing for their final encounter. That location was what is now Hinata-sou, and the sword master's name was Kotaro, Urashima Kotaro. Your ancestor."
The girls stare at Keitaro as Tsuruko finishes her tale.
"A tremendous battle ensued, neither one giving any quarter to the other. Using his marvelous sword, Kotaro-san unleashed his ultimate power, tearing an opening into the earth and causing a geyser to erupt, enveloping the demon. Leaping into the boiling fountain, he drove his blade into the demon's heart and captured her essence. Sadly, a final strike of her power grievously injured Kotaro-san. He lingered for a few weeks, but was able to pass instructions that we followed to ensure the demon remained imprisoned. This inn was built to his specifications; its form providing a cage for the spirit of his foe and strengthening the ability of the Hina Sword to hold its prisoner. We of the Shinmei School have devoted much of the time since trying to find a way to destroy the spirit utterly, forever ending the threat it poses."
Keitaro rubs his injured shoulder.
"You never told me how we're supposed to eliminate the spirit. What do we have to do?"
Tsuruko looks at him with steady eyes.
"As the master of the sword, you must recapture the spirit in its blade. Then, by destroying the prison and cage simultaneously, the spirit will cease to exist. Hinata-sou must be destroyed."
End of Chapter Three.
