Disclaimer:......I don´t own Love Hina
"Ugh,where am I?And why is everything black?Why can´t I see anything?"
"Hey,look guys she is waking up.Yeah,you´re right."
A slit of light opens in the black,several people are standing beyond it.
"Hey Motoko,how´re ya feeling,huh?"
"Ugh,like Urashima looks after a Narupunch."
Her eyes now open,Motoko sees the whole Hinata-crew standing before her.
"I had the weirdest dream.....Urashimas brother had come to stay at Hinata-Sou and he was as despicable as Urashima was at the beginning.and then I challenged him and..."
"Hey,Motoko-chan,that was not a dream.My brother did come to Hinata-sou and you did challenge him.That is why you´re in your current condition."
"Oh?.....Then why has he not come with you to gloat at my defeat?"
"Because he is already here.....he is lying right next to you Motoko-chan.Look to your right."
Looking to her right she see him,looking like he had tried to ride the lightning.His hair heavily burned and his leg in a cast.
"What-what happened to him?He defeated me,didn´t he?"
"No,Motoko......you defeated yourself.You used your lightning move and it rebounded on ya ´cause of all the water."
"Yes,I remember now.That moron insisted on that place for the fight,something to do with his ancestors....But,but.....then how did he get hurt,did he accidentally slip and hit his leg and head while gloating?"
"Uhmm....no,Motoko-chan.You don´t remember that do you....no wonder you were passed out.Motoko.....Brendi got hurt when he saved you from your own move.He probably got alot more hurt than you did.Firstly he grabbed your blade so that he got hit instead of you,then he tried to connect it with the ground,but instead he was thrown into the electrified water and was underwater for several minutes."
"H-he did that?For me?"
"Yeah,he seemed very concerned about you,the few seconds it took him to save you that is."
Motoko looks at her saviour....and for the first time she looks upon him without expecting him to act like an idiot."Maybe I was wrong about you....Brendi-kun?"
"Well,now it is time for us to leave.You have been out of it for a few days and now you need your sleep.The doctors say you can come home tomorrow,but you gotta stay overnight."
"W-we brought you your writing stuff and a some fruit Motoko-sempai."Exclaimed a worried Shinobu.
"That is ok,Shinobu.....I think I need to sleep now,so...."
"Yeah,yeah get the picture big on people lets let her get her beauty sleep."
As the gang leave her to get some sleep and wave their goodbyes Motoko thinks about how foolish she has been."I have been nothing but rude to Brendi-san,I will have to change that when......."Looking over at Brendi in his bed,seeing his injuries,hearing his rasping breath."....If I get a chance that is.....I guess I´ll have to....."and with that train of thought Motoko let the warm,promises of sleep get to her.
åØAs he plunges into the cold water,the only thing on his mind.Did I save her,is she alive?Oh,Gaia....let her live........I do not know why I sacrificed myself for you,but....I will die if that means you shall live on......Do not die from me......Motoko.....
In the dead of night a storm is raging,black clouds hide the silvery light of the moon and the stars.No ciccades can be heard,only the drumming sound of rain upon the hospital roof and the thunder on the horizon.
In a certain room with two beds,lie to figures.One of them seems to be dead while the other tosses in an uneasy sleep.
Why?why?.....you didn´t.....you shouldn´t......whyy?
Suddenly on of them sits up,the one on the left......."Oh,it was just a dream......"sighs Motoko.Looking to her right.....reminds her that it was not only a dream.With tears in the corners of her eyes,Motoko states "Why did you have to save me?I was the one who should lie in danger of dying,yet I am fine and going home in the morning.Now I no longer cannot resent your presence,you should have let me die in your place.....I didn´t even care for you and still........I don´t want to fall in love again.....it only hurts me....can´t you hear that???
Don´t die.....You must live.....Motoko.....
B,brendi?I am alive Brendi,I am ok....you can come back now!
Y-you live?That is good.....now...now I can finally rest,I don´t have to fight for anyone any longer.......i don´t have to fight.......goodbye.
At that moment everything seem to fade into black for Motoko.....the storm has cleared and now shining in on Brendi is the moon,highlighting his features making him look like a beautiful,young man.....a dead,young man....
Suddenly all the machines connected to Brendi start beeping and everything lights up red.His pulse having stopped beating the line goes -------------.
Wha-what?No,NO NO! getting to herself Motoko gains the selfcontrol to start hitting the button that will summon the doctors.
Taking few seconds several staff members come into the room."Oh,my God!!Nurse I need 10 mg of adrenalin stat.
Motoko now standing,clawing at the back of the nurses trying to get a look at Brendi.
What,what is wrong?What is happening to him.Can´t you tell me?Tears starting to well up in her eyes,Motoko is getting desperate. TELL ME!! What is wrong???!
Nurse get this woman out of here,I need calm to do this.
Ok,sir.
As she is forced out of the room the last thing Motoko sees of Brendi is when the doctor injects him with the shot.
BRENDI!
This morning at Hinata-hot springs is a grey one,clouds hide out the sun.And the usual bird chirping is reduced to a minimum.At Hinata-Sou there is not much difference.
Everyone had agreed that they should get breakfast before going to the hospital,and the mood at the table was not as it usually is.
The only one who looks unaffected is Kaolla Suu,who is currently happily munching away on a banana.
When everybody is done eating,Shinobu gets ready to do the dishes,when she is interrupted.
"Shinobu-chan,please let the dishes stand for now,we should go down to the hospital and get Motoko."
"Ah,Sempai.Very well,lets go then shall we?" She exclaims trying to lighten the mood.
"Ah,yes.....guess so...."
"Come on you guys!Lets get Motoko!"
Rising from the table they get ready their clothes and move out.As they walk down the stairs Suu spots Haruka and Mutsumi standing outside the tea-house.
"Hey,you guys coming too?"
"Well,yeah....she is a tenant and an accuiantence,besides Brendi is family."
"Ara-ara,I am also anxious to see Motoko-chan and Brendi-san.I wish to give them some watermelon."
"Well,you´re welcome to join us."
With that in the clear the two join the gang walking down the cobblestones which lead to the hospital.
The walk is a silent one,as everybody except Suu and Mutsumi worries if something has gone wrong the last 12 hours.Suu and Mutsumi however seem to expect nothing but a visit to their friends.Whom as far as the looks of the two,are just living another block down the street.
When they enter the hospital,they are made to wait in a small line to wait their turn for service.
"Aww,I don´ wanna wait,I wanna see Motoko!"
"You should calm down Kaolla-san,hospitals are busy places and there are more injured people here than our friends."
"But I don´ care about the other people,I wanna see Motoko!"
And after a little strenous waiting it is finally their turn,writing in as visitors only taking a few minutes they are soon on their way to the room containing their friends.
Still lying sleeping in her bed is Motoko,who was given something to help her sleep after she was shown to another room.Her sleep is blissfully dreamless,as some sleeps are.
Slowly as the medicaments give way,she awakens.
Ohh....where am I?.....ah,yes the hospital...I was given drugs....no wonder I am groggy.I need something to drink,my throat is parched.´
Sitting up in her bed she spots a glass of water to her left.She gets it and drink it all,feeling refreshed afterwards.
Then she notices.
Where´s Brendi?´
And she recalls the happenings of the night.
Hastily she finds the personell caller and pushes the button.
In a matter of moments a female nurse with short blonde hair appear.
"Was it something you needed,uh...Aoyama-san?"
"Ah,yes.I need to know how Urashima Brendi is.He suddenly went critical last night, and I was shown into this room temporarily."
"That would be the young gentleman in room 203?He is now stabile.You can see him if you want to."
At this point Motoko lets out the breath she didn´t know she had been holding.
That is good.´
"Yes,I would very much like that.But first,could you get me my clothes?I think they were left in the other room."
"Yes,I´ll go do that,just wait a few seconds please."
"Thank you."
As the nurse exits the room Motoko hears a voice she has heard many a morning at Hinata-Sou.
"Are sedatives delicous?"
Is it this late?They are already here?´
For the first time Motoko looks at the clock.
10:30???? How could I sleep this long?Damn drugs.´
"No,Suu-chan.They aren´t.Now lets see,this was her new room right?215?"
Just after the door closes behind the nurse,someone nocks on it.
And before she gets to answer a familiar looking figure bounces in through the door and into her bed.
"Hiyas,Motoko.How are ya?I missed ya in bed last night,but I could sleep with Keitaro and Naru-yan instead."
"Uhmm,I am fine,good to hear you could sleep with someone else."
"Suu! you can´t do that!What if there were some sick old people here instead?"
"Oh,but there couldn´t be any other in Motokos room right?"
Doh.....that is that well known Suu mentality for ya´thinks Keitaro.
ØNot bothering to explain Suu the whole situation,Keitaro instead turns his attention on Motoko.
"Ohaiyo,Motoko-chan"
Then from remaining ones,just inside the door. "Ohaiyo,Motoko!"
Suddenly feeling remarkably touched by these people she has lived with and known for several years,tears well up in the corner of Motokos eyes as she greet them.
"Ohaiyo,Mina-san."A single tear falling from her eye.
They all care so much for me,for eachother.It is written all over their faces´
Then Motokos attention is turned toward Suu,who is currently sitting on Motokos legs,looking worried.
"Motoko,why are you crying,huh?Does it hurt?"
"No,Suu-chan.I am just so happy that you are all here,and that none of you are hurt."
"You´re the one that is hurt,and Brendi is too."
Urashima´
"Ah,yes....Brendi-san,say where is my brother?"
"H-he went critical sometime during the night,but he is alright now.That is why I am not in the same room as he is, my presence was a burden for the personell."
"Ah,ok.....it is good to hear he is alright.Lets go see him shall we?"
At that moment the blonde nurse returns with Motokos clothes.
"Here you are Aoyama-san."
"Aregatou.Now could you guys step outside for a moment so that I can get dressed?"
"Huh,ah yes...do you want us to wait for you before we go to Brendi-san,Motoko-chan?"
"Yes,please,just wait outside the door if you don´t mind."
"Hai!"
When they are safely out the door Motoko gets out of bed and out of that awful hospital pyjamas that show of your butt.And into her usual Hakama and Gi.
Straining abit at standing up,Motoko realizes that it will still take some time untill she get back her usual nimbleness.And as she remembers her injuries she is reminded of Urashima.Speeding up abit she gets out and meet with the other and sets off to rom 203.
Is he really alright?´thinks Motoko I do hope he will be alright,if he is crippled or worse I am not sure what I´ll do.´
Proceeding through the halls,with Motoko becoming more and more worried, they eventually reach room 203.
Let him be ok.....please....this is all my fault....´
As they enter the room,Motoko last.
Hearing the others gasp she pushes her way to the front.
Looking over the shoulders of the others Motoko sees Brendi getting into a wheelchair with the help of two nurses,and on his face a fiery blush.
As he gets seated he spots the crowd in the door.
Greeting them he says "Oh,hi....there you guys are,the nurses here said you had come to get me and Motoko today."Then he sees Motoko leaning over Keitaros shoulder."And I am glad to see you are up and going Motoko-san."
"I am sorry I cannot say the same for you Urashima....but I am glad to see you are healthy enough to flirt with these nurses,then you are healthy enough to study I assume?"
"Flirt?Uh,well yes I am.....just got a little head-ache thats all,and of course the fact that I can´t move my legs is a little unnerving."
The fact visibly shocks everybody.
After a few seconds of self-gathering Keitaro manages to ask the question they all want to ask."D-did the doctors tell you why?"
"I think so....they said something about the electrical currents of my nerves being messed up or something.....but they did say that it would probably get better with abit of time and training."
"Probably?"
"So there´s a chance ya might have to stay inna wheelchair foreva Brendi?"Asks Suu with a gleam in her eye."Then I can make ya a battlechair! I could install a compressed nuclear plant under the seat and add a rocket engi....."
Starting to look scared at the thought Brendi decides to get her of that train of thought."Thanks,Suu.But let the plan rest untill we know anything,heh?Meanwhile you could make me a normal,motorized one,right?"
"Oh.."Then she starts thinking about what she can add to it without him knowing"ALL right!"
"Now how about we get these two pasients back home for some real food.Would you do the honors Shinobu-chan?"
At the prospect of helping Shinobu openly lightens."Y-y-es Urashima-sempai.I will cook something I am sure you guys will like"
"Uhmm,not to interrupt,but could someone help me get outta here?"Asks Brendi and points to his wheelchair."I have had enough of hospitals and their smell."
"Yes,brother...I´ll help you with that."As the others move out into the hall Keitaro gets behind Brendi and starts moving him out.
Going back up the streets is now a happy little gang,one bouncing about the black-haired girl,missing her company during the night.Keitaro and Narusegawa are chatting about Toudai and their classes,while Shinobu ponders about what she should make.Kitsune seems to be thinking about another scheme or the other.Mutsumi is wandering about falling over getting hit by parked cars and lightposts.Haruka is as hard to read as ever,smoking her sigarette.Brendi is lost in thought thinking about his life.As is Motoko.
Walking up to the stairs a problem presents itself.
How were they going to get Brendi and the wheelchair up the stairs?
"Ugh.....how am I supposed to get up there?....."
Keitaro gets and idea."I know how we can do this.I can get the wheelchair and Motoko can carry you."
"WHAT!" Yells Motoko and Brendi in choir.
"Well that is a fairly heavy wheelchair,and I will have to struggle a fair bit getting it up the stairs.As for you Brendi I think Motoko is the only one strong enough to carry you of the girls."
Remembering the night before Motoko thinks to herself.He DID save my life........´"Ok,I will do it this once.....but do not think this will become common.I would rather cut off my own arm."
Feeling abit threatened and slightly offended,Brendi retorts abit ruder than he means to."That is ok,Motoko-san.....I do not plan to make this condition permanent,and even if it ends up that way I will find a way to cope on my own."
As he is about to apologise for his remark,Motoko grabs Brendi while she blushes furiously and starts walking up the stairs.Leaving the other to help Keitaro.
Well inside she seats him in the lobby."I am going to train,I will see you later Urashima!"
"W-wait,Motoko....I....I...I am sorry I said what I said.I am sorry for retorting so aggresively, you were only trying to help me. I-I should accept help more often.Now I am not sure who won the challenge,but would you still help me study?"
As he rambled on what Brendi didn´t see was Motokos eyes growing moister and moister.But he asked the question she stiffened as she remembered her boastful challenge.
Still with her back to him she says."Y-yes I will help you study Urashima,you did win after all.A-and in addition I will help you get better by helping you train.That I owe you....after my....careless move."With those last words she walks up the stairs very fast,leaving a surprised Brendi.