Well here's the next (first) instalment of Urashima Chronicles. This is given on a treaty of appeasement – do not (over exaggeratedly) ask for updates...I'm busy now. I don't know why you'd bother asking for an update though – it's not really great.

I left the first chapter/excerpt still there for thos of you who haven't commented yet. I need to know if the fight scenes work, or how to alter them to make them work. R&R.

Yeah, well, this is my first fanfic, and I apologise in advance...I'm currently failing English at school and I've only proof-read it once, so bear with me. Think of Ralph (from the Simpsons): "Me fail English? That's unpossible!"

Here it goes:

Words – narrative

Words - thoughts

[Words] - actions

Disclaimer: Love Hina and its characters are owned by Ken Akamatsu, and anything that isn't his, is probably crosseyedbutterfly's. [puffs up chest, looking proud] Anything left is probably a figment of my imagination. [looks away miserably as nothing is left.]

The Urashima Chronicles: Prologue

Two men in dark, brown robes stood at the entrance to the temple, discussing matters that seemed to be in the deepest of secrecy considering all the whispering and fervent looks over each others shoulders even as they conversed. Conversing in such a state at the darkest hour of the night didn't make the scene any less suspicious. The two were fairly distinguishable, though their identity could not be discerned from a distance. The two figures huddled together differed greatly in physical stature. However, there faces seemed veiled by the strange way the shadows seemed to cling to the pair, especially the shorter of the two. The darkness seemed to coalesce into a solid barrier that dampened sound making it near impossible to hear what was said even at their close proximity. Straining to hear the other larger figure had to bend to listen as the smaller talked in a quiet, but with a raspy voice that seemed to reek of command. No other sound can be heard except the incessant drone of crickets in the night and the periodic screams of a woman that filtered through the dense cloud of shadow - barely audible through it, but quite deafening without.

Through the claustrophobic cloud of darkness, the taller, and more built figure could just make out some features of the other's face, though it too seemed shrouded by the dark that surrounded them. A face that belied any relation to the raspy voice that it spoke with, the smaller figure seemed to be no older than a boy of eight – weak and innocent, unaccustomed to the harshness and cruelty of life. However, the larger knew that none of that was true. He knew better than to judge by appearance alone – doing that tended to create fatal errors, especially this close to a Gate.

"You'll do as you're told, Shoji. I do not accept insubordination," the smaller rasped quietly. "You will follow your orders to the letter. An offering is needed soon, and you better be able to supply one or be ready to face not only my wrath."

The shrieks of the woman seem to increase in volume, pitch and frequency, filtering through the shadows even more clearly than before, making it even harder for Shoji to hear the words of his companion.

"Indeed, master, it shall be as you have ordered," Shoji replied in a voice that seemed full of conviction, though he couldn't help but feel repulsed at being this close to the smaller being. "An offering is being created even as we speak. Leave the small details to me. I can handle this small, menial task, master."

"I am confident in your ability, Shoji, and feeling generous, I offer to you the title as Master of this martial art school," the boy offered, knowing full well it wasn't his to give, but was very certain he could 'convince' the right people to do so. "You have yet to make a blunder, Shoji, though you better do this correctly or you know the consequence. And it won't just affect you, but everyone you ever cared about - just as the previous Master of this school found out. And I promise this to you: fuck up and I'll kill you personally."

The woman's scream suddenly stops. The uneasy silence is furthered by the lack of noise from the crickets that also stopped at the sudden loss of the screams. However, unlike the screams, they started again in full force a few seconds later.

"No, no I don't intend to," Shoji replied, unintentionally letting some of the nervousness show through in his voice as he remembered the freak deaths of the previous Master and his family, causing him to falter ever so slightly. "I, I must make some preparations beforehand though..."

"You will do fine, Shoji...Master of the Turtle Clan."

"Oto-san, oto-san..." a shrill, enthusiastic voice cut across to the two huddled figures through the dampening effect of the deep shadows surrounding them. The owner of the voice steps into view through the dense darkness, running to the larger of the two figures after recognising his face. Embracing him full of joy and exuberance despite the late hour, she continues to speak.

"Oto-san, I have a sister, I have a sister!"

Shoji looks down at her daughter fondly and smiles, though anyone could tell it was fake – he just hoped she wouldn't notice. Picking her up, he looked up to see that the 'boy' had left. Letting out a breath he did not know he was holding, he turned from the front of the temple carrying his daughter back to the only house with lights still on.

"Come on then, Tsuruko-chan, let's go see your new sister, eh?"

"Hai."

Once Shoji had left, he figure melded out of the shadows and smiled wickedly. The hood of the robe now hanging behind its neck, the black-as-night head of the figure could be seen in the moonlight. Reverting to its normal deep voice, rather than the raspy voice it had just used, the figure retreated back towards the Gate. A rich, deep laugh could be heard exiting its mouth, but was mistaken by all as thunder rolling in the clouds. It's all coming together. Soon, brother. Soon we will reunite and take back what is rightfully ours.
Entering the said house, Shoji let Tsuruko down and followed her as she ran to the second room where her ka-san and onne-chan were. Removing all traces of worry from his face, he put on a face that leaked happiness and joy, though it strained his cheek muscles to smile so broadly. Rushing over to his wife's side, he noticed the fine sheen of sweat that glistened off her forehead, neck and arms that were induced by the pains of labour. Taking his wife's hand into his own, he peered at the little bundle that was held tightly to her chest.

"She's, she's beautiful," he stammered, unsure of what to say to his wife. Nothing seemed to describe the feeling. Seeing something as beautiful as his own child, not even half an hour old, and knowing that he would be destined to send her into a life of misery. Mesmerised by her eyes – the way they sparkled with new unshed tears that were caused at birth – he almost wanted to back down from the agreement he had made. No, the agreement I was forced to make.

He held a finger over the baby's head and moved it from side to side slowly lowering it to lightly land on her nose. He almost envied it, entranced just by movement alone, uncomprehending of the forces at work around her that would make her life a nightmare.

Slowly, he broke out of his silent reverie, and looked into his wife's eyes. They seemed glazed and unfocussed, but awake. She was still recovering from giving birth, only able to perform the basic motor skills of holding the baby steady. Shoji mustered up the courage to break the silence.

"Wh, What is her name, dear?"

"Motoko, Aoyama Motoko," she replied, still unable to focus properly, but able to comprehend.

"Aoyama? Why?"

Sensing trouble, though unable to control herself, she blurted out the response before she had thought it through.

"Because all the women of this family are born into the Aoyama line"

She immediately regretted it. Feeling the baby being ripped out of her hands, she struggled to keep holding onto it, but unable as her body was still weak from the physical stress and pressure of labour.

Once Motoko was firmly in Shoji's arms, he felt himself do something that he could not believe. One hand, of its own accord, shot up and came accelerating down onto his wife's face. The resulting smack was loud enough to be heard reverberating through the house, and hard enough to cause the already semi-fatigued mother's eyes to swirl to the back of her head, momentarily losing consciousness, but back again before she could keel over to one side and fall off the bed.

Tsuruko, though eleven at the time, could not understand why her father had struck out at her mother. He had never done that before, ever. Rushing over to her mother with a startled "Ka-san!!" she helped to right her mother again in bed.

Unable to believe that he had just hit his wife, Shoji staggered backwards. He was unable to feel any remorse for his action. He felt no emotion hinting at grief of any sort. He felt nothing. He was only vaguely aware that Motoko was being taken from his arms by a small, older woman. However, once Motoko was removed from his grasp it seemed as though his mind cleared. He still felt no remorse, only anger at having 'his' daughter taken from him.

Rounding on the old woman, he was about to give her a piece of his mind – a piece that seemed to sprout expletives just at the thought of it – but died as he saw the look on her face, the look of a determined woman. The older woman, however, took advantage of his sudden loss of words, and began berating him.

"Just what do you think you're doing, Shoji, hmmm? What are you going to accomplish by hurting your own wife after delivering you with a beautiful, little girl? I hope you have not forgotten our promise on your second daughter. I can be very vindictive when I need to be."

"Don't threaten me, Hina-san! You don't frighten me. I will our traditions, if that is what you imply. Though don't ever think that you can bully me into anything!"

However, Hina just smirked the way only women can when they realise they've won, and returned to the back room where she was when Shoji had arrived, returning with a very sleepy boy of just above three years of age. His eyes seemed to droop with drowsiness, struggling to keep his eyes open, and only doing so because he was asked by his grandmother. Leading the boy to the side of the bed, and after conversing in quiet tones with mother of the child, she addressed the boy:

"Keitaro-kun, can you see the baby? Isn't she pretty?

"Hai, oba-san, she's beautiful." Though it lacked any real emotion as he just wanted to sleep, the comment would have to suffice. He was already falling asleep. In a voice that barely caught Keitaro's ears, Hina continued:

"That's good, Keitaro-kun, because she'll be your wife when you grow up."

Note: any proof-readers I may have used are not at fault for any mistakes you find...blame me.

So what did u think?

Any comments, thoughts etc.? R&R. Please don't ask for an update. I doubt I will be able to deliver for a while. Think of a prologue as a teaser for how big a flop this story is going to be, then quadruple it and add 2. Flames welcome after chapter 1 is complete.

Btw, read cb's different life if u haven't already. You're doing yourself a disservice by not reading it. I may be looking for a proof-reader though I can't say for certain. You may have to wait a while for the next update, I currently have exams for two weeks, followed by some rest. (maybe an update – just don't hold your breath...you may pass out and miss the next update) followed by more exams (yay!) [bounces around ecstatically until he sees the clock on the table]. 2:07am: Need some sleep. R&R.