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
IV
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Tokimune Hojo, the current Hojo regent of the Kamakura shogunate, regarded the young promising warlord kneeling before him. He eyed the young man with both disdain and approval for he knew that the shogunate needed such men of flagrant confidence born of high privilege. They could both inspire and cause hate among liege lords. Either way, they still needed him, a great addition to an ever increasing shogunate army.
"Kentaro Sakata of the Sakata clan… you surprise me," the regent said finally after several heavy moments.
The young man bowed even lower, pressing his head on the ground as a sign of deep humility and acknowledgement of a great power before him. His light brownish hair was combed neatly, but unlike the traditional shaved pate of the samurai, he had arranged it just above his eyebrows with a single strand sticking out on the side. The heavy metal armour he wore has the Sakata code engraved across the chest. His long sword with silver and gold coated hilt was placed an arm's reach before him.
"Tell me… how is your father faring?" the regent asked cagily, watching the young man's reaction.
"He is getting old, my lord," the young man replied without hesitation. His voice was cold and unemotional.
The Sakata clan was a known imperialist. The head of the clan gave their allegiance to emperor Go-Toba during the rebellion of the imperial family against the Kamakura bakufu and he was among the generals defeated at the third battle of Uji Bridge that led to the collapse of the imperial family's attempt to seize complete control over Japanese political power.
And now, the one and only Sakata heir, kneels, pledging loyalty before the very government his father persistently fought against. A very interesting and sudden change but not uncommon as warlords shift allegiances everyday gauging the best option presented before them, the imperial family or the Kamakura bakufu.
Keep your friends close… but keep your enemies closer, the regent mused as he considered the young man's request.
The regent stood, "So you are asking me to let you lead the shogun's 'effort' to provide 'gracious' protection for the imperial family's relatives,"
The Hojo regency has been installed after the destruction of the Hiki clan for the guardianship over the Kamakura shogunate that started with the death of the first shogun, Yoritomo Minamoto. Ever since then, Hojo descendants reigned true power over Japan, ruling through a puppet shogun and a titular emperor.
The young man lifted his head slightly and spoke with cold indifference, "I became aware of the shogun's generals' incompetency to accomplish such menial tasks…"
"Silence! Your insolence will cost you your head!" an adviser stepped in quickly, a hand on the hilt of his sword ready to strike the unarmed young man kneeling on the floor, his emotions raging over him.
The regent watched this spectacle with amusement then unconcernedly waved the furious adviser down, "Perhaps you're right Kentaro Sakata… maybe I should let you lead this 'menial task', although it is needless to say that our current 'objective' is very important to us if we are to succeed… and I guess you already know who it is…"
"Yes, my lord… her name is Naru Narusegawa of the Narusegawa clan, daughter of the emperor's advisor for advanced military tactics. She escaped captivity this morning and nobody knows where she is right now,"
"Very good… it seems you know a lot about her… if we are to 'contain' the might of the emperor and his army… we need an 'assurance'… we need her!"
Kentaro stood calmly and stared straight ahead. A smirk formed in his lips, "Yes, my lord… I know everything there is to know about her… I assure you, I will find Naru Narusegawa,"
---
Motoko was confused.
Although she did her best not to show it, she still could not hide her wonder. She watched Keitaro start a fire with the few branches he gathered along the way. And to Motoko's disappointment, he stepped away from the growing flames then collapsed heavily on a nearby tree letting out a piercing whistle.
It's not there anymore… now… he's different somehow. The cold eyes, the straight face, and the frown of deep concentration… it's all gone. It's like he changed into a completely different person. Motoko grimaced when Keitaro yawned noisily and scratched himself in places where others should not see, unabashed by the surprised if not curious stare of the other women settled opposite the low bonfire.
"My… such a callous and ill-mannered man! There is a law against indecent behaviour like that!" whispered Mitsune who was gaping with mild astonishment, sitting close to Motoko.
"What do you expect? He's a slave… untrained and barbaric…" Naru said loudly, almost pointedly, as she drew closer to the comfortable heat, the night getting colder and darker.
"Even so…" Motoko mused as she remembered how they managed to escape the rampage of their pursuers.
That afternoon, under the blazing heat of the sun, Keitaro led them deeper into the forest to slow the horsemen who were very close on their trail. They used the trees to confuse directions then after a few moments of agonizing chase they climbed a steep rocky hill that finally discouraged the hunters.
And all that time Motoko observed the young man in silence. She was amazed to see the cold confidence in his actions, the hard decisiveness. It was as if he was trained in such brutal life and death situations or maybe he has experienced the same dilemma before or maybe it was extreme self-preservation. Even so, Keitaro did not act like a slave or a mercenary. He acted like a real samurai. More so if she dared to compare him with other samurais she has met before.
Simply put, he was a remarkable sight in battle.
The way he charged down and annihilated half of the oblivious samurais with only his bow and arrow were either inspired insanity or absolute valour. He followed the basics of ambush right to the book.
And now, after being close to imminent death, he suddenly turned into a carefree beggar; one would seriously doubt what he could really do if they had not seen it for themselves. Very unlike the samurais they were all used to. Samurais with high dignity who acted with refined behaviour and guarded temperament in and out of the battlefield.
"Pardon me Aoyoma-san… is it alright if I take a little wash?" Mitsune bowed slightly towards Motoko, who suddenly snapped back into reality.
The women have agreed to resolve pressing matters the next day as they made themselves comfortable for the night. Su has already made herself a soft bed made of leaves, and was fast asleep. Naru has gently fallen asleep near the bonfire. And Keitaro was propped on the tree, snoring loudly.
"Mitsune-san… you need not be proper with me, please call me Motoko," Motoko bowed in return, speaking quietly so as not to disturb the others, "I believe there is a stream close to us a few steps west… I suggest that you take extra care, you might get lost… would you like me to escort you?"
"No… there's no need for that… we have a bonfire here and I think I can find my way… Keitaro," Mitsune shook her head almost in disgust, unused to casually using his name, "did choose this place for us because of the stream…"
"If you think you can… then it's alright… but please be careful,"
"Thank you Motoko… I will only be away for a moment,"
---
Keitaro opened his eyes the moment he heard the crunching noise of broken twigs and dried grass. He slowly moved his head and found one of the women stood and preceded towards the stream. He gave the surrounding trees a quick look making sure that there were no unseen eyes in the dark. He did this on impulse, acting on mere habit.
"You do not need to worry … I already inspected the area… it is quite safe,"
Keitaro looked up and found the swordswoman standing over him.
"I did not expect you to quickly find a secluded place like this one, easy to defend and hard to penetrate without being seen…" Motoko has her lips pursed, unable to fully and openly accept the young man's sound judgement.
Even in the dark, Keitaro could see the great confusion in Motoko's face. The frown on her eyes and the way she held the hilt of her sword. He could feel neither danger nor anger, just extreme bewilderment, but that did not stop him from moving his unseen hand slowly and cautiously towards the handle of his short blade.
For a long while, Motoko just stood there, looming over Keitaro.
Then suddenly almost completely unprepared, she spoke with uncertainty, "Who are you? What are you? You told me before… you're not a samurai… not a mercenary… you're masterless… homeless by the looks of it… you don't want to fight yet you have the skills and the insight… then… what are you?"
Keitaro let the question hang in the air before answering.
"I'm not really sure,"
Then silence.
Then a splash.
Keitaro was alarmed. He jumped, acting on quick reflex and found himself buried on… Motoko's breasts.
A pause.
Then the sound of pure hatred.
"You. Lecherous. Disgusting. Idiot!" Motoko reddened as Keitaro fumbled grabbing what ever soft flesh he could to take his head out of the soft mounds. Her sword came out in a flash.
Keitaro withdrew and found the swordswoman advancing with murder written clearly on her eyes, crying out, "NO! WAIT! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! I DIDN'T MEAN TO…"
"THIS IS THE SECOND TIME YOU DID THIS TO ME YOU PERVERT!"
Waaaaa! I'm really going to die this time! Keitaro was crying his eyes out as the sword came slashing down, and even though he was able to avoid the deadly blade he was thrown viciously back by the force of impact.
He disappeared deeper into the dark forest.
---
Naru was awakened by a loud noise and she found herself staring at a very enraged swordswoman, with the young man buried right in the middle of her chest, his hands groping wildly all over her body. She blushed as she watched the young man finally extract himself from her after few embarrassing touches then quickly scampered out of the way. And she was astonished with what the swordswoman screamed as she sent the young man shooting into the dark abyss.
"The… second time?" Naru reddened even more.
---
Keitaro prayed to Kami for a quick and painless death. But he painfully crashed on the low stream, skidding on the hard ground, sending pebbles, rocks and water all over.
He finally stopped at the deeper end.
He floated for a while then he heard a shout of exclamation.
By Kami! Why? Why are you doing this to me? Why am I still alive? Keitaro paddled his way to the shore, unmindful of extreme pain that was starting to crawl all over his body. I better stay away from that swordswoman! She'll be the death of me!
He felt hands touch his shoulders and so he tried to stand, he grabbed… something soft… a breast.
Keitaro went cold. Even in the dark he knew what he was touching.
Then he heard a giggle.
"So that's what it was… so that's why you don't want to accept my payment this afternoon… you don't want me to pay you with coins… how very forward of you to ask for payment this way..." Mitsune's face suddenly focused before Keitaro.
He could see the smile, the teasing eyes. And he could definitely see that she has been washing… naked.
Keitaro hurriedly withdrew his hand, stepped backward and bowed.
"I haven't met a man like you before. All men that I met before wouldn't even look at me let alone touch me at all… well… it's not out tradition to be this 'close' … but I think the real reason was that they're all afraid because I'm a Konno," there was a hint of sadness in Mitsune's voice that made Keitaro look up to be greeted with her wet dripping naked body, "but you… you're different… you're so brave… you knew full well that you'd die an excruciating death if anybody sees us now… Konno traditional laws are recognised all over Japan… they severely punish anybody who violates a Konno woman… but still… you're here…"
I'M GOING TO DIE! Keitaro's mind screamed.
Mitsune walked towards the shaking young man. She smiled then slowly reached for his hand. She kissed it then gently placed it over her breast and cooed, "This is your payment… Keitaro-kun,"
"WAAAAA!" Keitaro screamed after a massive nosebleed then he passed out.
Hei there guys and gals! I'm sorry for the delay. Er… I hope no one's upset with this chapter, it was intended as filler and I wanted to put a lighter feel to the story as it gets darker along the road. I'm not even sure if I did a good job on it. I can feel a total flame coming my way.
Thank you so much for the kind words Saiyan… I'm in your debt. I'm not sure I deserve it but I can tell you one thing though…I intend to finish this fanfic. Like all the other fanfics… it is my belief that if a reviewer is good enough to spend a time to leave a note, then the writer should be grateful as to finish the story. I owe it to the reviewers.
And yes… everybody's going to be here. I'll introduce them one by one for all of them have a part in this weird history of mine. I have a surprise in the end that would make everyone say – aaaah… that's why!
Catch u all later! Cheers!
nivremous