Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina

The Last Chance (Part I)

"BAKA!...BAKA!...SOB...BAKABAKABAKABAKA!" Haruka cradles Seta, and rocks him gentily, as if he might fall apart before her eyes. "You can't leave me like this!" She rubs her cheek against Seta's blood stain forehead.

Shinobu and Su rushed to the pair. Shinobu was in tears, but she quickly grabs a first aid kit and rushes to Haruka's side. "Can you...let me take a look at Seta-san?"

Haruka hugs Seta closely, hiding her face on his chest.

Trembling, Shinobu reaches out. Then lets out a small scream at Seta's bloody face. Her hands shank back. Gulp! She closed her eyes and reaches out again. One slim finger reaches under Seta's nose. 'He is dead! He is really dead!' She cringes as her finger felt a warm wet sensation. "Haruka-san..." Then another wave of warmth. 'Huh?' Cracking her eyes open just alittle Shinobu was just in time to see Naru and Motoko broke through the debris. Motoko quickly feels for Seta's pulse. A flash of emotions appeared across her face. Tama-chan pokes her head out from underneath haruka's shirt. The Kendo girl and the turtle meets eye to eye. Motoko's eyebrows starts twitching...Tama-chan cranes her head, and took off. Motoko let out a huge breath. Sweat poured down her face.

After a moment she liftes her finger and shakes her head.

Tear began flowing freely. "Bakaaaaa! Setaaaaa!!!!" Haruka screams.

Shinobu feels herself tearing up. Naru was hugging Haruka.Mutsumi was out cold. Su was not in sight. Kitsune is facing Motoko with a pale face. 'No! I must be strong like sempai. I must be a support for everyone.' She shake her tears way. "Ano..." Shinobu saw out of the corner of her eyes: Kitsune is giggling at Motoko. 'Naaa?!' She looked at Motoko, who is lifting one finger to her lips. Shinobu stare until Motoko glanced at her. Motoko has a small smile, a finger put up to her lips, and a mischeivious glint in her eyes. 'I don't get it...' Motoko arch her eyebrow a few times and winked. 'What?!' Stunned, Shinobulook back and forth between Kitsune and Motoko, then at the grieving Haruka. "Huh,...when did...who's...why..." Shinobu's face went red, her head steamed like a piece of hot with two mega swirlies. 'THAT WAS JUST SO MEAN!!!!!!' "Ano...Haruka-san." Shinobu breaks the ice very delicately.

Haruka sobs. "Hmmm?"

"I don't know...how to put this..." She looked at Seta's tear streaked shirt. "I think Seta is still alive."

A moment of silence.

Naru explodes. "WHAT! But Motoko and Kitsune..." She looks at the pair. Kitsune was rolling with laughter. Motoko still had her impressive face on, but there is a tiny grin. "I am going to kill you guys!" Kitsune and Motoko dash out of Hinata-sou with Naru on their backs.

"Run! Motoko!" Kitsune laughs as she ran. "Naru really will kill you if she catches you now!"

Motoko giggled loudly. "I know. Naru-sempai can be quite formidable in this state, and besides I can really defend against her when I don't have my sword."

"Wait! YOU don't have your sword?!" Kitsune shouts fearfully.

"Didn't you know? Haruka has it since I woke up!" Motoko mused. "I thought she was just been cautious." 'I was going to beat the hell out of Keitaro afterall.'

Kitsune yells. "Then why are you running so slowly! Do you have a death wish?" She grabs Motoko and shift gears. "Fly! Motoko! Fly!"

"Come back here you two!" Naru tores up ground behind them.

After two minutes, Kitsune askes. "Is it that bad?"

"I don't want you to know too clearly." Motoko answered abruptly.

"I see..." Kitsune said with some steel in her voice. "Should we circle back and check..."

"I don't think they can do much, for his condition..." Motoko replies.

Kitsune stops completely. She turns around and looked Motoko in the eye. 'Right!' She gave a small smile at Motoko's grave face.

Naru slides in carrying a cloud of dust. "Just what were you guys thinking! That was the cruelest play you ever conceived Kitsune! Playing with Haruka's feelings?! And you! Motoko! I don't know what to think! You are suppose to be..."

Kitsune grab her friend in a bear hug and starts to brawl her eyes out. "I am so sorry Naru!...I am...I really ammm!"

"What? I am not going to fall for that Kitsune! You are not going to get away from this so easily! I know Seta is actually okay, isn't that right Motoko?" Naru clap on her friend's back. 'Geez! I was only going to yank on you cheeks a few times. I leave the real punishment to Haruka. She is going to have a field day when you guys get back.'

Motoko faces away from her and maintained her silence.

"Motoko-chan?"

Motoko turns her face and gave Naru a sad little smile. "Sorry sempai..." Tears streams down her face as well.

"I...I don't understand..." Naru holds onto Kitsune. Her eyes were blanked. 'What is happening?'

"Seta-san is still alive...that I know for sure..." Motoko looks away. "...but he won't be much longer." She then turns around and bows to Naru. "I am sorry Naru-sempai. For this I can not ask for your forgiveness."

Cloud travels with the changing wind. Breezes plays with Naru's long strands. Standing absolutely still, Naru slowly pushes Kitsune away. 'Why?' Tears blur her vision. She turns toward Hinata-sou. "I am going back."

"Naru-sempai!" Motoko shouts.

Naru paused.

"You are an important person to him, and he is an important person to you. But there is another person...a person who needs him as desperately as he needs her...please don't make him choose between the two of you at the last moment." Motoko stares into Naru's back.

Naru began walking, slowly.