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
V
---
Naru Narusegawa, daughter of the most illustrious and honoured advisor of the imperial family, sighed in frustration as she watched the odd spectacle before her.
She watched the young man who called himself Keitaro, who looked worst than the average street beggar, carrying the little girl from Molmol on his back, look around and chat happily like a village idiot. She felt dirty just staring at him and she could not understand why the young foreigner liked him so much. She felt even more disturbed when they decided that morning that Keitaro should travel with them.
That cool windy morning, Naru started the day with a meeting to hear everybody's plans and destinations.
Motoko bowed and spoke with indifference, "Kaolla Su and I are on our way to the emperor's castle to deliver a personal message…"
"A personal message for the emperor? I assume that such is a very important one… then tell me why your clan has let you travel on your own," Naru inquired; this simple fact perturbed her. A personal message could not be allowed to fall on wrong hands. And she could feel that this was no ordinary message.
"We weren't alone. We were ambushed… my men were all killed…"
Naru did not speak but let the revelation hang in the air. She nodded knowing that her suspicions were correct. Although she could not bluntly ask for the message's contents for such impolite and ill-mannered act towards the emperor's personal effects was punishable by death, she could feel an unseen heavy significance. The message simply needed to be delivered as soon as possible and the emperor's enemies would not make it any easier.
Naru then turned towards Mitsune who answered gently, "I have a personal grievance that I would like to impart the emperor,"
Then it was settled. Naru needed to return to the emperor's castle to reunite with her father. And so everybody agreed that they would travel together and would use the open road that would lead them to the palace.
That was when Keitaro spoke. He was sitting on tree branch above the women and was busy cleaning and counting arrows. He was working leisurely with a careless smile on his face. He wasn't missed when the council started without him and that did not surprise or bother him at all.
"Bad idea…"
Naru frowned, "You're still here… I thought Mitsune has already paid you… why are you still here?"
At that Mitsune blushed furiously. Lucky for her nobody noticed her reddened face.
"All I'm saying is that you can not use the open road… it's true that it's the easiest and quickest way… but it's also the dangerous one…"
"What are you talking about slave? The open road is guarded by a battalion of the emperor's finest samurais…" Naru retorted with annoyance.
"That's right… but the battalion line would not start before two more villages… between here and those small villages, you might run into shogunate samurais… lots of them…"
There was a pause.
The wind was breezing through and the heat of the sun was slowly warming the shady forest.
"My father would know that I would be using the open road and I am certain that he would send scouts to aid us against the shogunate samurais…"
"I am confident that your father would have thought of that… but so would the shogunate… and I know that the emperor – no matter how many samurai he has – cannot allow a great force away from his territory and into an open ground…"
"And why is that?" Naru almost screamed impatiently.
"Because it might trigger unrest with opposing clans nearby… because it might be misunderstood as a 'challenge' or a misplaced 'taunt' to exercise power… and that would inevitably result into an untimely civil war… and the emperor would not be able to afford that… well, not yet anyway…"
That stopped the argument.
It was true. The open road would lead them directly to the emperor's castle. But from where they were now, two connecting villages were on the way. Although those small villages were neutral or does not side with any of the two opposing powers, it was predictable that a number of shogunate samurais would be waiting, ready to spring a trap.
They thought about deviating through the rocky hills and forest then walking towards the open road only after they passed the safety of the imperial picket lines. But that would make their journey twice longer. There was also the possibility that the shogunate samurais might be waiting behind the forest trees of the open road which would be harder for them to detect if a trap was being laid. Atleast the villages were an open ground with the comfort of likelihood that there might be hidden imperial scouts and spies ready to aid them. Most of all, there would be no surprises because villagers talk. If there was any hint that the shogunate samurais were lying in wait they would easily hear it directly from the locals.
For a while nobody spoke.
Then Motoko looked up to Keitaro who was now busy stretching his bow, and spoke with a cold tone, "You're coming with us,"
"Huh?"
"You will assist us in reaching the emperor's castle,"
Keitaro paled, "Er? I'm sorry… but I don't actually have any problems that I would like the emperor to be aware of right now… and to tell you the truth I feel a little bit uncomfortable meeting anybody from the castle… I mean it's not that I hate anybody from there but you see---"
"SILENCE!"
There was a sudden flash of metal, a gush of wind then a loud crash, bathing everybody in a cloud of dust.
Naru sat agape. She watched Motoko drew her sword in a straight line upward releasing a hissing wind and cut the tree branch where Keitaro was sitting cleanly in half, sending him crashing into the ground.
There was a moment of silence as the dust floated then finally settled.
Motoko gracefully sheathed her sword and walked towards Keitaro's crumpled form.
"That was quite a fall…" Mitsune said while squinting up at the tree branch where Keitaro has been, "And it was really high too…"
"Is he alive?" Kaolla knelt close to Keitaro with a stick and started to prod him with a clueless smile, "Hey… are you alive Keitaro?"
Motoko knelt next to the seemingly unconscious young man and whispered impassively, "You will help us reach the emperor's castle and when we get there… we will pay you… then you can do whatever you want… you can leave anytime… but not until we reach the emperor's castle… do you understand?"
"Ooooof… I can't feel my legs," slowly came the choked words underneath the heap of dirt on the ground.
"Do you understand me?" Motoko repeated threateningly.
"Ooooof… if I wasn't buried on the ground you would see me nodding…"
Naru sighed.
With Naru's supervision, ignoring Keitaro's plea to help him bandage his broken body while crying out in pain, Motoko laid out the simple plan of slipping into one of the village's house then buying a commoner's clothes. Both Naru and Mitsune's clothes have the royal signage of the imperial family next to their clan's emblems that clearly shows status and royal privilege. They have to travel incognito in between the villages. And when they reach the open road under the protection of the imperial guards, they would immediately change back into their normal dresses.
Naru turned towards Motoko. She could see the coldness in her face, her back rigid, her head held high. She could see the pride under the delicate finesse of a growing woman. She felt envious. She wanted the same strength and the same skills but she knew deep inside that there were more to strength other than brute force. She approached Motoko.
"It was the ancient air-splitting sword technique… was it?" Naru said suddenly after falling in line with Motoko.
Motoko did not reply but kept her stride. She was looking beyond the trees. Her eyes and ears were ever vigilant of any sudden sounds or movements.
Then Motoko nodded.
"I mastered the technique last season… and since then… I have been honing it to my own preferences,"
Naru was silent for awhile then she whispered, "It's incredible… the skill to concentrate your ki into a devastating matter powerful enough to explode like a bomb and lethal enough to pierce like a deadly needle… I have never seen such power from a sword wielded by woman,"
Motoko faced Naru and said, "Your wide knowledge is quite impressive Naru-sempai…"
Naru smiled then nodded, "I believe that in the future… women will be given a chance to act according to her own free will and that we will be able to do as men would… just like you…"
Motoko smiled in reply.
"Is that it?" Kaolla pointed atop Keitaro's shoulders.
"I believe that's it Kaolla…" came the young man's reply.
Naru looked up and saw the first shelter emerge behind the thick trees.
They have arrived at the first village.
---
Motoko and Keitaro were the first to emerge from the trees to scout the closest house, leaving the others behind, instructed them to wait and be ready for anything.
The house was made of wood and thick bamboo stalks. It was a small but decent shelter made for a single family. It was clean and tidy and the earthen ground was wet with morning dew. There was a small vegetable garden on the side close to the house wall and it was being tended by a young blue haired girl. She looked as young as Kaolla Su.
The girl was busy uprooting weeds from her little vegetable patch that started to grow after days of cold winds and misty mornings unaware of two visitors from the forest trees.
Then Keitaro accidentally stepped on his own foot, tried to regain his balance by flapping his arms around then finally fell on the muddy ground splattering muck everywhere.
The girl was slightly disturbed. She looked up from her work and found a filthy black muck covered face staring straight at her.
She screamed in terror.
---
"I'm so sorry…" Keitaro repeated, a hand at the back of his head, bowing all the while, "I didn't mean to scare you… I apologize… I'm so sorry…"
"It's alright… I was just shocked… I mean… you did look… scary you know…" the young girl said blushing furiously as she placed set of clothes on the clean tatami floor.
Keitaro suddenly felt a pang of pain causing him to double over with his hand over his head as he received another blow from Motoko's sword handle.
"Owwww!" Keitaro hissed.
"Serves you right! Your carelessness will get us all killed!" Motoko said in extreme annoyance for a countless times now while pacing around the room, pausing only to hit Keitaro again.
"Are you telling me he tripped on his own foot?" Naru asked incredulously while selecting from the different dresses presented before her.
"How can anybody be careless enough to trip on his own foot?" Mitsune piped in as she came out from an adjacent room wearing plain brown clothes, then she faced the blue haired girl and spoke endearingly, "Thank you for the clothes Shinobu-chan… it fits perfectly,"
Shinobu Maehara blushed and said timidly, "It's my mother's…"
Naru, Mitsune and Kaolla joined the two when everything has been properly calmed down. They found a fear-stricken blue haired little girl clinging onto Motoko's legs and a muddy Keitaro apologizing fervently when they arrived.
Shinobu Maehara was the daughter of the village's resident doctor. The house was stocked with herbal medicines, herbal plants, paper inscriptions and instructions.
Two days ago, Shinobu's parents were called to assist the shogunate's wounded samurais that survived an ambush. And they were expected to return after three days.
The visitors became silent when Shinobu started talking about the afternoon her parents were called. A samurai drenched in blood arrived shouting hysterically at their doorstep asking for help. He was screaming about a big explosion and samurais being thrown bodily in to the air. Although the Maehara's were neutral by nature, they could not stand idle by and let people die, not if they could still do something to save lives. And so they were given fresh horses and let the samurai lead them to the location.
Then Shinobu sighed.
Motoko has her lips pursed; Naru and Mitsune both have dark shadows over their eyes, shadow of guilt, while Keitaro and Kaolla on the other hand were playing hand wrestle.
An awkward silence passed except for Keitaro and Kaolla's gleeful shouts at the background.
Then Motoko screamed in frustration, "WILL YOU TWO STOP PLAYING?"
"Huh?" was the chorused reply.
Then Motoko stormed out of the house and left everybody staring at her with utter surprise.
"I… I hope I didn't say anything to offend Motoko-sempai…" Shinobu whispered.
"Don't worry Shinobu-chan… it's not you… she's just trying to sort things out on her own…" Mitsune said calmly, walking towards Shinobu to give her a motherly hug.
"I think we should get something to eat before we continue the journey…" Naru stood and started to follow Motoko outside.
---
Motoko, Naru and Mitsune decided to buy some food from the nearest restaurant. Dressed in plain brown peasant's clothing, including Motoko who agreed that a swordswoman in a samurai's uniform was not very common, they were confident that if there were shogunate samurais waiting for them, they wouldn't be easily recognised.
They set out and blend with countless of passers-by that streamed along the village towards the open road. And they could not see any samurais at all.
---
"So Shinobu-chan… you didn't see any samurais pass by this road since this morning?" Keitaro said as he looked around the busy road.
Keitaro and Kaolla were ordered to stay with Shinobu and wait until the others return with the food.
"I hope they return soon… I'm really hungry!" Kaolla protested, hanging her head out above Keitaro's.
"Well… I can cook some for you Kaolla-san if you want?"
"Don't worry Shinobu-chan… we don't want to bother you… we've already asked so much with the clothes… it wouldn't be right…"
Shinobu blushed. For some odd reason whenever Keitaro speak to her or even look her way, Shinobu starts to redden. Keitaro shrugged this little observation and watched the road again.
The trio were huddled together on the side walk behind a used dry well under a dying tree. Their position has a good vantage point to see the countless people that were crowding the village pathways, coming in and out towards the open road.
Keitaro grunted, "Awful lot of monks around here…"
Shinobu looked up, "That's right… they said that there was some sort of a pilgrimage towards the hills of the second village… I saw them coming in since this morning when I went to buy some tea leaves from the restaurant…"
Then Keitaro froze.
His cold reaction was felt by his immediate companions.
"Are you okay Keitaro? Something the matter? Hunger finally got into you?" Kaolla inquired looking down into Keitaro's face.
"Are you alright sempai?" Shinobu added with deep concern etched on her eyes.
There was a pause.
The noise of people walking on the dried dirt road was loud at the background.
Then Keitaro slowly stood, his eyes was narrowed into a slit and spoke with a cold tone, "Kaolla… I want you to take Shinobu-chan back to her house… then I want you to hide behind one of the forest trees and keep watch… no matter what happens, stay with Shinobu-chan but don't let yourself be seen by any shogunate samurais…"
Kaolla eyes widened and searched the busy road, "I don't get it… I can't find any shogunate samurais around here… how can you say they're here?"
"It's because monks don't usually carry shogunate marked swords…"
I hope we're not too late!
---
Motoko chose the seat that was closest to the door. Naru and Kitsune started the labour of ordering food to be prepared in bowls so they could take it with them back to Shinobu's house.
The restaurant was crowded that afternoon. There were a number of monks sitting quietly on the shady corners close to the windows. Travellers came in and out, eating and taking away bowls of smoking food. Some were merrily drinking with warm sake. Shouts of greetings and acknowledgements could be heard every now and then. It was a typical busy afternoon.
Then Motoko felt something in the air.
She looked around, she saw Naru and Mitsune were still busy ordering; travellers were innocently streaming in and out of the restaurant minding their own business. There weren't any sign of threat but there was something. Something was gnawing under her skin. And years of training told her that danger was imminent.
Then she saw them.
Three nondescript travellers were approaching their table. They were similarly dressed in plain black clothes, their faces dark beneath the wide rattan hat.
Naru and Mitsune finally finished their specific requests from the attendant who walked away with a confused look on his face. And Naru found an alarmed Motoko looking past her.
So Naru turned around to see what Motoko was looking at.
Then she let out a gasp.
The strangers were now standing before the three women. Their hats were taken off and so were their gleaming swords. And one of them was smirking.
"It's been a while… Naru Narusegawa…"
Naru quickly stood, "Kentaro!"
Motoko looked around and found the restaurant suddenly quiet and empty. It was completely surrounded by shogunate samurais.
Kentaro approached menacingly, "Tell me my love… why did you ran away?"
We're trapped!
Hi there guys and gals! Sorry for the delay of this chapter. And I hope it wasn't that long enough for you to forget about this weird fic of mine. It's not writer's block… it's just that I seem to have a hard time bringing back the mood to write. Weird. I know how the story would go… but I just can't sit down and write it.
Well hopefully this chapter is enough to bring back the suspense. Well… just let me know what you think of it in the reviews! Thanks again to all who were kind enough to leave a note. I appreciate it dearly. Hopefully I could post the next chapter. I just finished half of it!
Thanks again! Cheers!
nivremous