I don't own Love Hina. Love Hina belongs to Ken Akamatsu. The story though is just a work of fiction. For all spelling and grammar mistakes I apologize in advance.
Legends
III
---
Mitsune Konno of the infamous Konno clan has been on a better predicament than where she was now.
The Konno clan has been recognized by both the Japanese imperial family and the shogunate as the best producer of well-trained and well-disciplined samurais. Most of the ancient samurai generals have originated from the clan. Several notable victorious battles have been fought by the Konno samurais who have aided several warring warlords and chiefs. A self-indicted imperialist, the Konnos has been the main exponent for the re-establishment of the imperial governance against the Kamakura bakufu political stronghold.
But unlike the men of the clan who has been trained from childhood to fight glorious battles and earn fame, the women were blatantly used as pawns to gain familial connections with other clans and imperial authorities, which would grant them closer links within the army and the royal family.
Such was the consequences of Mitsune Konno's problems that led her to be captured and detained in a bear-trap carriage that would inevitably take her to Kamakura and be presented to the shogun 'in good grace as her sole protector'.
Do we have a better word for a hostage taker? Mitsune mused.
A few weeks ago, against Mitsune's extreme protests, she was arranged to marry a promising warlord of a village far south. She deliberately cut her hair short to look undesirable to her future husband whom she hasn't even met. Her actions have infuriated several of the elders, which has become her only salvation for the men refused to even look at her at such open display of disgrace. She was imprisoned on her own house to await the judgement of the Konno elders.
Apparently, her lively and spirited behaviour was very uncommon for their view of a well-bred Japanese woman, and the elders feared that they may never find a suitable husband for such scandalous lady. So they have decided to honourably present her to the monastery; she was sentenced to become a monk.
And so Mitsune Konno escaped her captors to be captured by another.
Mitsune sighed.
What is it with this people? I just wanted to be free… is that a sin? I am loyal to my clan… but… what is loyalty?
She stood and lifted her veil for a moment, soliciting a sigh behind her. She turned and watched her younger fellow captive.
"You know that our long standing tradition is to keep our face hidden from our enemies or strangers alike… it would deem you impure to do such a thing…" the younger woman spoke tersely.
Mitsune smiled in retort, "But what are we? Aren't we nothing more than just prisoners awaiting a much crueller fate… and besides… my life hasn't improved anyway…"
The younger woman bowed and whispered behind her veil, "Atleast… we'll face that fate with honour… as everything else that we are facing…"
What is honour? What can honour do to us now? Mitsune bowed and covered her face again.
As she turned towards her seat, she saw it.
It was a lone figure.
At first she couldn't clearly see because of the harsh glare of the afternoon sun. She thought it was nothing more than an illusion as the carriage swayed side to side and the procession went on silently.
The figure stood only for a moment, then ran downhill towards the carriage.
Mitsune whispered to her companion wide eyed, "Naru!"
The younger woman ignored her.
Then came several hissing sound as one by one the guards started falling onto the ground like flies.
Yes! A rescuer! Mitsune could not hide her excitement as she stood and frantically searched the empty hill, how many are they? Who are they? Which clan?
The lone figure was still trudging towards the carriage, shooting with his bow with uncanny speed. Letting go arrows and finding its target almost too quickly as the samurais realised too late that they were under attack. Half of their strength has been disseminated into the ground before anyone noticed the crumpling and hissing sound around them. It was like they were being attacked by tens of samurai bowmen.
A samurai shouted an alarm then he dropped to the ground with an arrow on his throat.
---
By Kami! That was incredible! He managed to get almost half of them in matters of seconds! What in Kami's name is he?
Motoko rushed into the battle from the other side as few surviving horsemen faced the hill to counter attack the threat. They were baffled to find a lone man running towards them shooting with a bow. A call has been heard, greeted with several shouts and they prepared to trample their lone quarry.
Now this is where I'm good at! No one stands in my way! Motoko smiled with anticipation as she raised her sword unseen by the rallying horsemen.
"AIR-SPLITTING SWORD!"
---
What in the…? Keitaro drew his short blade and was completely astonished to see a number of horsemen, horses and riders alike, blasted high into the air after a huge explosion shook the ground, covering the surrounding in clouds of thick dust.
Keitaro used this chance to quickly cover the distance and slash his way through any survivors.
---
"Incredible!" Mitsune shouted happily as she watched a samurai after flying high into the air dropped sickeningly on the ground.
"How many are they?" the younger woman was standing beside Mitsune now looking through the dust, "I didn't know Japanese samurais are already using gunpowder? But I can't smell any telltale signs?"
"Gunpowder?"
"The explosion… it could only be made by a mixture of gunpowder… like a bomb… but what else could it be?"
"I don't know what you're talking about… what is a 'bomb'?"
The two stood silent for a moment when a figure came running on their side dispatching two samurais with ease. The women tensed and observed their unknowing rescuer. He turned and met their inquisitive eyes.
Mitsune at that moment felt something inside her. She couldn't help but stare deep into his brown eyes, losing herself within. It was something she hasn't felt with all the warriors she has met before. She felt comfort on those eyes, some unrecognisable warmth. She felt a sudden unwarranted embarrassment to be seen like this. She blushed uncontrollably and in her mind she was thankful for the hazy clouds around them.
The figure bowed slightly then disappeared into the dust.
Silence.
---
Motoko slew the remaining horsemen who managed to escape the devastating attack of her secret arts. She has taken them completely by surprise as she handpicked them one by one as they routed in chaos unable to assess the situation. In their minds they were being attacked by a force greater in number and armaments.
Then soon after, the dust settled and everything went quiet.
It was over.
Motoko knelt on the edge of the road and examined what was left of their enemies.
By Kami… I'm alive! I can't believe we managed to pull this through… how many are they? Twenty? Thirty? I didn't count… there's no time to count! And we did it on broad day light too! Kami's good fortune is definitely on our side today!
"Motoko-chan! Are you alright?" Kaolla came running on her side.
Motoko controlled her breathing and spoke with indifference, "I'm alright…"
"You were great Motoko-chan! Absolutely great!" Kaolla jumped happily as she too surveyed a number of samurais lying lifeless on the ground. And then she noticed a figure kneeling before a dying samurai at the head of the party. She exclaimed, "It's him!" then ran towards the young man.
Motoko glanced towards the figure. Who are you? Twice you have come to our aid… and this time… I have seen your skills with my own eyes. And yet… you're not a samurai… not a warrior… not affiliated with any clan… then… what are you?
"Excuse me…"
Motoko looked towards the source of the voice and found the women inside the carriage unharmed. That's odd… in this melee… it's almost a miracle they are alive… their captors should have killed them when they could… but somehow… they were unharmed… they must have been protected… Motoko once again glanced on the young man; he must have protected them during the battle… very odd.
Motoko stood and approached the carriage.
She bowed then cut the strains that bound the carriage doors. Then she quickly knelt on the floor.
"Motoko Aoyoma of the Aoyoma clan your highness," Motoko shouted with pride.
The carriage door flung open and the captives walked slowly outside looking around with apprehension. They couldn't believe that they're free.
The younger woman stood before Motoko's kneeling form and regarded her imperiously, "You're a woman…"
Motoko bowed lower and shouted, "A swordswoman of the Aoyoma clan your highness!"
Silence.
"I see… yes… I've heard of your clan… you have been highly regarded by the emperor himself,"
Motoko felt enormous pride. But she kept her face passive, devoid of emotion. Such was the way of the samurai.
"My name is Naru Narusegawa of the imperial Narusegawa clan…" the younger woman announced, "and beside me is Mitsune Konno of the Konno clan,"
Motoko almost flinched. The Konnos were fierce warriors who were terribly possessive with everything they own, including women. It might take a few days of proper planning on how to return such precious woman on the hands of a very volatile clan. Although she could not hide her happiness that she has aided a Narusegawa. The Narusegawa clan were imperial advisors who have their blood mixed with the ancient lines of the emperor. It was very fortunate day indeed for a lone Aoyoma swordswoman.
Silence.
The hot afternoon wind blowing around them.
Motoko looked up and found both women watching the young man who at that moment started picking arrows from the ground with a very happy Molmol foreigner hanging on his neck talking wildly all the while. The young man doesn't seem to mind as he nods along the way with his eyes closed and a smile on his face.
"Who is he?" Mitsune finally asked after a while.
A sigh.
"A slave Konno-san…" Motoko replied coldly.
"Please… call me Mitsune… a slave you say huh… are you sure?"
"I am certain. We crossed paths this morning. And he informed us before leaving that he is neither a warrior nor a merchant, he is masterless… then he is…"
"A slave…" Naru finished.
"Yes… your highness… he even asked for coins…"
Mitsune was surprised at that, "Did he really? He asked for coins?"
"A penniless slave… a beggar maybe?" Naru continued.
---
Keitaro stood and wiped his sweaty brow with his right sleeves glad that the Molmol foreigner jumped off from his aching shoulders and started helping him pick up some usable arrows from the ground. He also gave a silent prayer for those who have died in the battle knowing that their fate has already been decided the moment he stretched his bow strings.
Your death will not go unnoticed. You all fought bravely…
"Hei Keitaro! Here's some more arrows!" Kaolla smiled wanly with a bundle of arrows on her hand.
Keitaro smiled and opened his arrow bag, "Thanks Su! Drop it in here…"
"What's your name?"
"Huh?" Keitaro turned and found one of the captured women standing next to him. He quickly knelt on the floor.
"I'm… my name's Keitaro…" Keitaro replied hastily knowing full well the arrogance that came with privilege and this woman seems to have lived her life at such.
A pause.
Silence.
Then a clatter of metal.
Looking up, Keitaro found a number of coins glistening before him on the ground.
"My name is Mitsune Konno of the Konno clan…"
Konno! Eeeee! Now I'm really dead! The Konno clan will skin me alive if they ever found me close to any of their women! And even though they are very fetching women… I would rather stay away from her… no amount of explanation would ever save me being this close to her.
Keitaro shuffled back with his head on the ground wanting to keep some sort of distance between him and the Konno woman. He shook with fear, glancing around once in a while making sure that there were no samurais especially Konno samurais.
"What are you doing? I have graciously given you a payment and you…"
"I'm sorry my lady… but I did not ask for a payment," Keitaro politely said.
"What are you saying?"
Keitaro sighed, it's not her fault… the swordswoman must have told her something.
"Why did you help us… slave?"
Silence.
A pause.
Keitaro looked up and stared directly into Mitsune's eyes, "Because I have to do it,"
A shadow of irritation passed through Mitsune's face. A battle of pride and compassion waged inside her head as she tried to understand the young man's curious reactions. Then why? Why do you have to do it? Don't you want to get paid? You risked your life for us and yet you don't want something in return… what are you?
Keitaro noticing Mitsune's conflict written on her face sighed and whispered with urgency, "My lady… please listen to me… we don't have much time… in a few moments the alarm that you have escaped the shogunate's samurais will be recognised… I suggest that we move out of this road as soon as possible…"
Mitsune showed her annoyance ignoring Keitaro's plea, "Why aren't you accepting my payment? Are you saying that my money's not good enough for you? Is that it slave?"
Keitaro stood, glanced towards the swordswoman and shouted, "I'm sorry my ladies… but I suggest we move out of this road quickly… a few horsemen managed to escape and by now they must have reached the closest village… they will return in greater number!"
Motoko flashed in anger, "WHO ARE YOU TO ORDER ME SLAVE?"
No use… we have been standing on this road for more than we should have… the horsemen must be on their way back and with them are more samurais… better equipped samurais! Keitaro grabbed Mitsune's hand and literally dragged her towards the hill, shouting beside him, "MISS SU… LET'S GO!"
The Molmol foreigner quickly stood and ran towards Keitaro without another word.
Mitsune tried to wriggle her hand free, "How dare you touch me slave! GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME NOW!"
Motoko and Naru followed Keitaro's lead albeit with extreme annoyance and hidden promises of endless pain to inflict the young man for his display of arrogance in the face of a samurai and royalty.
After a while they heard the unmistakable sound of trampling horses behind them, below the hill.
Then a shout and a deep resounding boom of a horn.
Motoko paused and turned. She suddenly realised the danger they were in. She gave Keitaro a questioning look as he nodded in quiet reply. Then she grabbed hold of Naru's hand and shouted, "LET'S GO! LET'S GO! LET'S GO! RUN!"
The hunt for the fugitives has begun.
Hei there guys and gals! I hope you understand the attitudes of the people in here especially their behaviour towards slaves. Actually Keitaro's not a slave but something else… and… well you better keep on reading to find out. There are heaps of mysteries in here as you should know like the other fanfics that I have written.
Once again my deepest appreciation to the readers who are so kind as to leave a review of what they think of the story. I hope you stay long enough to see what happens in the end.
Anyways, catch u all later! Cheers!
nivremous