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
IX
---
A stunned silence permeated the vast magnificence of the imperial convention hall.
The collected advisors and liege lords of the ruling imperial family were grouped into two different factions, sitting on their cushions, facing each other with similar expressions.
Not long ago the imperial line was officially divided into two branches, the juniors and the seniors. This decision has been approved unappreciatively by the Kamakura bakufu to curb the almost continuous political in-fighting over succession issues. So many emperors were either evicted or murdered as relatives of various imperial bloodlines fought for the right to rule as the next emperor of Japan.
And now, at this dire and urgent times, Kameyama has managed to convince even the most disapproving and bitter relatives of both factions, to be present at this gathering.
And their reaction has surpassed all of Kameyama's expectations.
For the source of this unbelievable astonishment that has momentarily quelled the extreme hatred between bloodlines was standing in the middle of the cavernous hall.
And it wasn't because of the shimmering shoulder length golden hair.
Nor was it her glowing smooth silky brown skin.
Nor was it her slim and well built body under her strange foreign clothing.
Nor was it her red cheeked stunning beauty with matching green round eyes like rare sapphire jewel.
It was her calming presence.
It was her presence that drew attention… devotion.
Everyone was holding their breath as they anticipated their guest to speak, expecting her voice to be as soothing as her gentle facade. And so they waited… patiently and willingly.
Kameyama was smiling as he watched his congregated relatives fell into a trance, giving his guest, a very useful and effective gift from Tsuruko, a fleeting glance. He had surmised that Tsuruko knew it would be very difficult for him to convince the imperial advisors and liege lords to take the threat of the Mongol invasion seriously without any seemingly magical assistance. And for the eighth time that night, Kameyama whispered a quiet appreciative prayer for Tsuruko's guile and wisdom.
And sitting next to Kameyama was a collection of confused and dazed women completely separated from the imperial factions.
Naru whispered, "Is that…"
"I believe it is the same Kaolla Su that has travelled with me since we left our village," Motoko finished with a controlled breathing, fighting hard to keep her face straight and impassive.
Shinobu was staring wide-eyed and open mouthed, "I don't understand… I have never seen anything like this…"
Mitsune has a confused frown etched on her face, her right hand on her chin, almost completely convinced that what she was witnessing right now was an elaborate prank, "BY KAMI! NOBODY HAS SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!"
"Well… I've had my share of seeing odd and stranger things when I was assisting my parents, treating patients, visiting the sick and the like… but not something like this… I mean… how could Kaolla-chan grow up so fast? She's so… so…"
"She's so stunningly beautiful," Mitsune nodded with a blush.
"No… she has become…"
"She has become into a fine… very fine looking woman," Motoko finally admitted.
"There's no arguing that!" Kameyama nodded approvingly.
Then Motoko turned towards the emperor and bowed low, pushing her head on to the tatami floor and said, "I apologize for this unexpected turn of events… I did not realise that she would-,"
The emperor shook his head with a smile and replied, "Motoko-san… you need not apologize for this… I was expecting this from Tsuruko-san… but I didn't expect that she would send her own younger sister…"
"Her own younger sister?"
Kameyama smiled, "Amalla… Kaolla-san's Amalla's younger sister… it seems Amalla and Tsuruko have kept in touch all these years… and they knew all along that we would need help… Amalla must have seen it and Tsuruko had anticipated it… Japan has been saved by the incredible instincts of women living thousands of miles apart… simply incredible…"
Naru settled herself beside the emperor and bowed, "My lord… would you be so kind as to help us understand…"
The emperor nodded, "Seta… Tsuruko… Amalla… when we were young we used to play at the temple of the Gods at the northern mountains. The future of Japan is nothing more than a fantasy on our minds… we never thought that we would spend our intertwined lives protecting this land of Gods…"
Motoko bowed, "My lord… it seems to me that you knew my elder sister very well…"
Kameyama smiled, "We all have skills unique to each one of us… skills that have been passed down… bloodlines untainted… directly from ancestors who helped shape Japan to what it is now… like Kaolla," Lifting a hand towards the woman in the middle of the room, "Amalla has the skill to shift her body to calm her audience…"
"Is it sorcery?"
"No… it is in her blood… just like you, Motoko-san… Tsuruko and her use of ki through her sword… Seta and his brute strength, strategic mind… and…" Kameyama's eyes darkened and trembled lightly, "Haruka… Haruka and her foreseeing eyes… those beautiful brown eyes…"
"Haruka?"
Kameyama smiled again, composed himself quickly and glanced towards Motoko, "A friend… one of us… one I consider the most gentle and kind person I have ever met… she has the incredible gift of seeing the future… Haruka-chan has once predicted that I would become the emperor of Japan…"
"Haruka… what… what happened to her my lord?"
Kameyama looked away, "A tragedy no one could have seen except her… but…" then sighed and faced Motoko with another beaming smile, "But that's another story for another time Motoko-san… you are indeed like you sister… very inquisitive!"
Motoko blushed, bowed and whispered, "I apologize, my lord, if I seem to be intrusive… I did not mean to be rude…"
"No you're not Motoko-san… no you're not…"
I missed her… I missed her so much.
---
And Kaolla spoke.
She spoke of an evil that would swarm from beyond the Chine Sea. An evil that would burn and pillage their houses, destroy their crops and kill those who dare oppose the rampage.
She spoke of a possible future where their way of life would be nothing more but a distant memory. A possible future ruled by a different emperor, a different imperial family, a land in the hands of a foreign empire.
And they listened to her.
And for the first time… they all feared for their lives.
They all feared for Japan.
They all feared that the Mongols would come… soon.
---
"Kaolla-chan you surprised me!" Shinobu said with a smile as they all left the convention hall towards another well decorated wide room led by the emperor.
Kaolla Su, who, to another astonishment of her companions, changed back to her younger, livelier form, as she started jumping around the corridor with a carefree smile plastered across her face.
Naru was very confused, "Kaolla-chan… how do you do it? How could you easily change into an adult form?"
Kaolla glanced towards Naru with a silly smile, "I dunno… I just do it… but changing into an adult form is very taxing… I mean… I get tired very easily…" and with another jump she raced towards the door held open by a servant.
Mitsune shook her head, "Well… if you think that's tired for her… I could only imagine what it would be like if she's NOT tired… she would probably start hanging on to your neck asking you to play with her…" shivered, "that would be very exhausting on OUR part,"
Motoko walked past the three, "Atleast we managed to convince the advisors and liege lords that the Mongols are coming… and now they will start arming themselves and evacuating villagers close to the coastline of China Sea… I should prepare to leave as well… I need to return to my village as soon as possible and-,"
"Not quite yet Motoko-san," The emperor announced as soon as they entered the room.
"Huh?"
"I have a very important task for you…"
"A… task?"
Shinobu and Kaolla settled by the wide window that oversees the forest trees beyond west. Naru and Mitsune sat on cushions lying on the floor close by a well painted wall.
And then suddenly the door opened once more.
A boy entered the room, followed closely by a little girl, and towed in his little hand was a man.
Everybody gasped.
"Look who I found father!" the boy said with delight.
"KEITARO!" the women shouted in unison.
"Keitaro?" the emperor whispered as he stood in his own surprise.
Naru stood and ran quickly between Keitaro and the emperor, "My lord! I apologize for this… this man… this… this man…"
Motoko did the same. She bowed deeply before the emperor, "My lord! Please do not be offended by this slave's presence inside the sacred halls of the imperial family… he is our retinue and he does not mean to be rude. He must have lost his way looking for food or for payment… he is quite mad my lord… please… please I ask for your kindness… be gentle with this slave's punishment…"
And for a moment nobody spoke.
The wind breezing through the halls as the night grew older.
Then a grunt.
The emperor was not impressed.
There was an angry scowl etched across his face. His intense glare towards Keitaro made Shinobu shook with fear for her sempai's life.
"A slave?" the emperor spoke through gritted teeth, "Rags… for your clothing?"
Keitaro bowed.
The emperor turned his glare towards the women and shouted, "This man is not a slave. This man is my younger brother!"
A collective shout, "WHAT!"
Then the emperor walked towards Keitaro and shouted, "What in Kami's name are you doing Keitaro-kun? Have you forgotten who you are?" pointing at the clothes, he continued, "And what's this? Rags? And what happened to you? Your left arm is bleeding?"
Keitaro smiled sheepishly and bowed again, "I apologize, my lord,"
The emperor shook his head, "COME WITH ME!" then he turned towards a servant, "I WANT A DOCTOR RIGHT NOW!"
And without another word, ignoring the open-mouthed dumbfounded look of everyone present at the room, Keitaro and the emperor walked towards another room.
---
It was a long while before anybody moved.
And it was Naru who made the first step. Shaking her head, hoping that all the events that have happened a moment ago was nothing more than a bad dream. But she knew that it wasn't.
And what made her feel even worst was that all those times they have been travelling together she was hoping desperately that Keitaro would be a well placed connected man, a man of power and of privilege. And whatever feelings she has felt before no matter how hard she tried to ignore it due to Keitaro being a slave and a beggar, has now only increased a thousand fold.
"Then that would mean… Keitaro's a prince?" Mitsune asked the obvious as she tried to grasp the reality that slapped her like a new born baby.
"By Kami… by Kami…" Motoko said as she tried to accept the impossible.
"Sempai's a prince!" Shinobu giggled.
Kaolla kept herself busy by tying her loosened foot wear humming carelessly at the background, whispered, "Yep… that's Keitaro-kun for you!"
Then Naru stood and walked towards the room where Keitaro and the emperor entered. Motoko placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "Naru-san… I don't think it's proper to intrude…"
Naru only glanced at Motoko for moment before shrugging the hand away.
And five steps away from the door, she heard the emperor screaming.
"WHAT IN KAMI'S NAME ARE YOU DOING KEITARO-KUN? HAVE YOU TRULY FORGOTTEN WHO YOU ARE? IS THIS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS?"
Silence.
Naru edged herself closer to the door. Knelt on the floor and listened.
---
"AND ALL OF THESE WOMEN THOUGHT YOU ARE A SLAVE! I CANNOT HAVE IT LIKE THIS! I WILL EXECUTE ALL OF THEM AND I-," the emperor was shaking with anger.
"You will do no such thing Kameyama…" Keitaro answered calmly.
"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT I WILL LET IT PASS? YOU ARE A GO! YOU ARE PART OF THE HONOURABLE IMPERIAL LINE! ANYONE… ANYONE WHO DARE INSULT A GO WILL DIE!"
"They did not insult me… and I have never told them who I am… and I'm sorry to say this… but… I am not a Go… no matter what you do or anybody does… I am not part of your family… I will never be part of your family,"
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? YOU WERE SELECTED TO BECOME THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN! IF YOU HAVEN'T DISAPPEARED TWO YEARS AGO YOU SHOULD BE SEATING AT THE THRONE RIGHT THIS MOMENT!"
"I'm sorry Kameyama but I do not have the blood of Go… you have it which makes you the rightful emperor… not me…"
"BUT YOU HAVE THE HEART! THE STRENGTH!"
The emperor shook his head again trying to compose himself.
"My existence will destroy your family Kameyama… someone knew who I really am… that I'm nothing more than an orphan… a boy destined to die but was saved by the kindness of our late father… Saga-sama… your brother Fukakusa would be extremely disappointed if he ever discovered that an impostor has taken the throne…"
Kameyama walked towards Keitaro and whispered, "Fukakusa is an idiot. He abdicated the throne because he felt that he couldn't do anything to save Japan. He has given up all hope of taking the power from the Kamakura bakufu. But you… father wanted you to become the emperor because he knew that you'd be able to regain the honour that the imperial line has lost against the might of the Kamakura shogunate…"
Then Keitaro smiled, "But you have done so well Kameyama… you managed to gather an army that was supposed to be completely controlled by the Kamakura bakufu… you put fear into the hearts of the shogunate generals and more importantly the Hojo regents!"
Kameyama shrugged the compliment off and walked towards an open window.
Silence.
A breeze of cold night wind.
"Why did you run away Keitaro?"
A momentary pause.
"I did not run away Kameyama…"
"Then what did you do Keitaro? Tell me… why did you disappear from us? Did we do anything to displease you? Ever since the night father died… you just disappeared… without even a single word,"
Keitaro sighed.
"Saga-sama was the kindest man I have ever met Kameyama… I owed him my life… and I… I killed him… and I can't live with that…"
Kameyama shook his head with anger, "For two years… for two long years you still blame yourself for something you haven't done nor could have stopped… he was assassinated because of the bloodline conflict… he was assassinated by his own relatives!"
Keitaro shook his head, "No… Saga-sama should have lived if I haven't asked him to meet me at the temple of the Gods… if only I asked him to stay that night… he would have lived… I sent him to his death Kameyama…"
Keitaro shivered.
Kameyama became silent.
"There's nothing you could have done to prevent his death Keitaro… Kami has already decided his fate… and no matter what would have happened… he would still be killed… and his death is important, because of this… his line was ensured… the idiocy of royal blood lust… it's nothing more than legalized murder…"
Keitaro turned towards Kameyama, his sad eyes begging him to understand, "I just wanted to know who I really am Kameyama… I just wanted to know where I came from… and… and Saga-sama was supposed to tell me everything that night at the temple of the Gods… and…"
Kameyama nodded, "And his last words… what were his last words to you?"
"Hina… that's what he told me that night… as I cradled him dying in my arms, while he gasped for air… he told me one word… and that was… Hina… then he died… for two long years I searched for an answer and I couldn't find anything… I don't even know what it is… a name? A village? A place? It doesn't make any sense…"
"You are carrying a guilt that was not yours to carry alone Keitaro…"
"I just wanted to know… who I really am… and I killed him…"
Then suddenly the doors opened and Naru came running towards Keitaro. And with one movement she wrapped her arms around Keitaro. She held pressed herself against him. Her softness engulfing him.
Then Keitaro cried.
I'm sorry Keitaro… your guilt is my fault.
Hei there guys and gals! How you all doing? This is just a filler chapter… I have included some bits and pieces for you to hang on with the story and I guess you're pretty confused as to what in the world is going on… right? Well… I tell you they are interconnected somehow, there is a bigger mystery coming your way… well the royal court is always ingrained with scandalous mysteries … and as I said… I'll leave no character out of this story.
Thank you so much for those who are kind enough to leave a note of what they think about the story! And I hope I don't disappoint you! And I guess this time it'll be a longer story for everyone to enjoy!
Catch u all later! Cheers!
nivremous