AN: Thanks to everyone again for the reviews, and for pointing out my mistakes to make me feel like dirt... (chuckles) But it helps make me a better writer, so many thanks!
Anyhow, hope you enjoy!
As always, Love Hina and its characters belong to Ken Akamatsu. Original characters belong to me and may be used with permission.
Bloodstained Heritage
Chapter 10: Truth
"Urashima!"
Looking up with tear filled eyes, the landlord of Hinata-Sou saw the Chairman of the Syndicate glaring down at him. Filled with rage, he began to stand to confront the one responsible for all his grief and misery, but was held back by the other tenants. Looking up from Keitaro, Michael Blade narrowed his eyes at seeing Kanako standing before him.
"You would stand against me, little one?" Blade asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"I would, like I've told you..." Kanako replied, her eyes and voice unwavering. "Especially if you threaten my brother and friends..." The two continued to glare at each other, with both sides waiting for the seemingly inevitable blows to be exchanged. With a heaving gasp, Motoko suddenly sat up with wide eyes, much to everyone's surprise.
"Still alive, hmm?" Michael Blade mused, despite being just as surprised as everyone else at the swordwoman's apparent return from death. He then straightened his tie and smiled. "Pity, such a strong individual like yourself... wasting your talent and life by opposing us..."
"It still hurts, but I expected that after finding out what you are..." Gritting her teeth, Motoko rose to her feet despite everyone's protests. "Leave now, monster..." She growled, leveling her sheathed katana at the Chairman. "...Lest you find out what a determined Shinmei-ryu swordmaster can do..." Smiling at the swordswoman, Blade turned and began walking away with his fellow Syndicate members, before looking over his shoulder...
"By the way, Urashima..." The landlord met the Chairman's gaze. "...The offer still stands, if you're willing to avoid bloodshed..." With one last smile, Blade and his group exited the arena with no opposition. As the group disappeared from view, Motoko fell to her knees, breathing hard as the others rushed to her side...
"You're late..." A calm voice spoke as Michael Blade entered into a dark room, and the Chairman knelt before a shadow shrouded chair. Seated was a figure dressed in a dark business suit which melded in with the darkness of the room, and was a sharp contrast to Blade's outfit.
"My apoligies, Master..." Michael Blade spoke, keeping his eyes to the ground. "It would appear that the Aoyoma heir did her homework, or she would not have dodged the final strike of the seventeen dragon talon..." Seeing the figure raise an eyebrow, the Chairman continued. "Yes, Master... She is still alive, furthermore, I believe she knows of my true nature..."
"Pity..." The figure stood and smiled down at the kneeling Chairman. "A lot of good her knowledge will do, if she cannot even hold out against a single flame..." Blade raised his head then, a questioning look on his face. "Yes, my servant... I will take this hunt personally now... Join me and your brethren once more..." Bowing once more, the Chairman erupted into a gigantic ball of fire, before being absorbed into the figure's hand...
Clenching his gloved hand close, the figure brushed his hair from his face back into a long tail. Smiling, the figure exited the room to see the other council members waiting, and Tsunari chuckled as the figure stood where the Chairman once stood in the council circle...
"There's a rare sight for us..." The spirit grinned. "You must be annoyed to hell, if you're rejoining this council..."
"Indeed..." Michael Blade's eyes narrowed, his eyes and voice no longer as cheerful as before. "I will pay a personal visit to the Hinata-Sou to 'persuade' Urashima..." He then gritted his teeth, while his ponytail twitched as if it had a will of its own. "...Failing at that, I will simply erase them all... This has gone far enough..."
Naomi sat in the living room, gaping at the televised tournament in silent shock. She watched as the media move like locusts onto a crop as they tried to swarm the Hinata tenants with questions, as well as periodical replays of the extremely short kenjutsu duels which resulted in devastating losses for the Aoyoma sisters. As she continued watching, the front door opened and Rei walked in, her fatigue apparent from the award ceremony and subsequent parties.
"Hmph, at least the Chairman put the brat in her place..." Rei spoke after watching the news coverage for a moment. "But it's also a sign, we should dispose of our target soon. He's growing impatient..."
"I don't know..." Naomi replied quietly. "It seems... wrong..."
"Wrong?!" Rei blinked at her sister, then steeled her jaw and narrowed her eyes. "Oh good heavens, don't tell me you've fallen for him..." She gripped Naomi's shirt collar and glared at her. "He's the target, there's no mercy for those targeted by the Syndicate!"
"Listen to yourself!" Naomi exclaimed, as she slapped her sister's hands away. "Hasn't Keitaro proved he's unlike other men?" She then stood to face Rei at eye level, wincing in pain as she did so. "Look at me! Not only has he not even thought about taking advantage of me, but he's also been taking care of me!" She stopped, nearly in tears as she looked away. "We really should just abort the mission, I can't do this to him..."
"You're aborting nothing." Rei replied coldly. "I'll finish the whole lot of them tonight."
"I won't help, sister..." Naomi shook her head, dropping back to the couch in tears. "I just can't..."
"Weakling." Rei sneered. "Don't get in my way, then..." As she turned and walked away, Naomi broke down and cried into her own hands...
Grumbling and looking worse for wear, Lady Fang walked slowly through the office halls towards her destination. After a flirting comment which resulted with a man's head being splattered over a five feet radius, most Syndicate members decided to give her a wide berth. As she entered the council chambers, she looked to the other three occupants and blinked in surprise...
One man wore a simple white tanktop and a jean jacket, he also wore a pair of jean shorts and combat boots. A pair of cautious blue eyes peeked out from under unruly black hair and a baseball cap, and watched the new arrival as a predator would his prey.
The second man wore a dark leather trenchcoat which seemed far too long, despite the fact that the man stood over six feet tall. The man had his arms crossed before him, with his gloved hands clenched into fists. He raised his head slightly, peeking at the pit fighter with steel grey eyes from under a curtain of long black hair.
The final man wore a white business suit and black tie, with one hand holding a wine glass as he smiled. His brown eyes flashed a crimson hue as he took a sip of wine, then ran a hand through his short black hair as he rested against the wall.
The Lady Fang frowned. There is little to nothing in existance which drew fear or could defeat her in combat, and yet she was standing in the same room as three beings which could do both individually...
Worse yet, they all looked the same as Michael Blade...
"Good afternoon, milady." The businessman greeted the pit fighter with a smile. "The day not going well for you, I take it?" Fang merely deepened her frown as she walked up to the businessman and studied his face, to which his smile merely grew bigger.
"I knew it, you were too cheerful to be him..." Fang sighed, then looked at all three before addressing the businessman once more. "So where's the Chairman? I have new information for him." Smiling, the businessman opened a door and motioned her to enter, as she did she noticed the darkness of the office, as well as the figure half hidden in the shadows...
"Hello, Akiko." The figure spoke in a calm and quiet voice. "Are you hurt badly?" The pit fighter smiled despite herself, as only Blade could address her by her real name without retribution, as well as the fact that he cared for her as a brother would with their younger sister.
"I'm alright, thanks..." Fang replied, then glanced back towards the door. "Those... things..." She then looked back at Blade. "Are those monsters your creations?" To her surprise, the Chairman laughed as he walked over and ruffled her hair.
"Monsters? Monsters can still be killed, my dear Akiko..." The Chairman chuckled, his ponytail twitching lightly by itself. "No, those are nightmares... nightmares which I will unleash on Urashima and anyone who sides with him..." He then smiled, his teeth gleaming in the shadows of the room. "...Nightmares from which no one can wake from, and cannot be killed..."
The tenants of Hinata-Sou was relieved when the hospital released Motoko and Tsuruko, though they only had light injuries, the hospital staff were adamant that they are not to strain their bodies for the next three days to fully recover. Grumbling about wearing a sling for her sword arm, Motoko was escorted out of the hospital alongside her sister, who had similar complaints about being restricted to a wheelchair.
True to his overcaring nature, Keitaro not only insisted that Tsuruko spend her time recovering at the dorm, but was adamant about keeping both of the Aoyoma sisters from straining themselves. While Naru fumed at the landlord at his 'suggested' attempts of pervision, Motoko began seeing past her deep rooted hatred of men and began to appreciate Keitaro for his caring heart...
When the group arrived, they found a distressed Haruka waiting for them. As if the sight of the teashop owner being shaken wasn't disturbing enough, her story of her brush with death put everyone on edge. Unable to persuade them otherwise and vowing to keep the tenants safe, Keitaro and the Aoyomas decided on a watch rotation, and even Kaolla volunteered 'defense machines' to be set up around the dorm.
Despite everyone laughing and praising over Shinobu's awesome cooking, the landlord couldn't help but notice that the Giovanni sisters were taking effort to avoid each other. Even more puzzling was that he could've sworn that the sisters shot each other hateful looks when their eyes did meet, but shrugged it off and chalked it up to his eyes deceiving him...
The High Council of the Syndicate is a meeting of curious minds and dangerous individuals, as businessmen and women of Asian heritage gathered around a large octagonal table. As they knelt on comfortable cushions, many noticed that one spot among the group of eight was unoccupied as usual. Finally, the eldest of the group began the meeting, unable to wait for the member who rarely shows...
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Council..." The elder began, though his age showed in his snow white beard and lines were etched in his face, his eyes bore with determination and energy. "...One of the topics I would like to discuss with you is the current status of the project in the Hinata district."
"Indeed, an interesting topic."
Everyone gathered gasped as the room plunged into complete darkness for a few seconds, and enough light came back to show a darkened figure sitting at the previously vacant cushion. Three pairs of eyes blazed in the darkness behind the new arrival before the lights returned, revealing the Chairman of Southern Japan, who kept a neutral face at the stunned group.
"Well, if it isn't Chairman Blade..." One of the younger Council members smirked as the group recovered from the surprise entrance. "We're glad to see you can pull time out from your busy schedule and progress in the Hinata project to join the council..." The man then suddenly began gasping for air as he clutched at his throat, all while Michael Blade calmly turned to face him.
"I realize the project is behind schedule..." The Chairman addressed the rest of the Council, uncaring of the man whose body had begun steaming with heat. "But I shall not come and join the Council to suffer being addressed as a child!" He gritted his teeth in anger as he glared at the man, who was trying to undo his collar and tie, as his face was now a deep red amidst the heat and steam radiating from his body.
"...Mercy, Chairman..." The man gasped, a pleading look on his face.
"Mercy is granted only to worthy opponents, you deserve none." Blade replied calmly, before his eyes flared red as the man twitched violently before laying still, steam coming from every oriface on his body. "Perish as you were in life - Weak and unworthy." He then regarded the Council silently as everyone stared in shock, before a cough drew everyone's attention.
"Life is not always the survival of the fittest, my student..." A hooded figure in tattered brown robes spoke as he appeared seemingly from nowhere, and peered down at the still smoldering body. "...Impressive technique on boiling his blood, but a bit messy..."
"Honored sensei." Michael Blade bowed in respect, along with the others in the Council. "To what do we owe your inspiring presence?"
"I doubt the Council wishes to speak about your project after this... incident." The sensei replied, gesturing to the body. "...However, I come bearing a warning." Seeing the Chairman raise an eyebrow, he continued. "Your enemies have come into contact with an archeologist with considerable fighting skills, I recommend you proceed with caution..."
"My thanks, sensei." The Chairman bowed, then faded into the shadows surrounding the chambers.
"Do you truly believe your student can win?" The elder of the Council asked the sensei after Blade had disappeared.
"No." The sensei replied. "But it will teach him the importance of humility and discipline..."
Keitaro jolted awake with wide eyes, before looking at his watch and cursing himself. He had volunteered for the first watch, and drifting to sleep was inexcuseable even for only two minutes. As he rested back against the wall and clutched the Hina blade close, the landlord noticed that there was a thick mist which seemed to cover the entire floor. Furthermore, he noticed that the air seemed as thick as tar, and was just as difficult to breathe or move through...
Finally awake, Keitaro..?
'That voice!' Keitaro froze as the soft voice spoke in his mind, a million thoughts flashed through his head as he tried to decipher what was happening. 'But it can't be...!'
But it is, my dear landlord... The voice seemed to read his mind. Come to me...
Seeing a mental image of where the person wanted to meet him, Keitaro wasted no time in rushing through the dorm. Scrambling, the landlord rushed to the balcony and gaped in shock at the sight before him...
Rei Giovanni floated barely a foot above the top of the roof, and was dressed only in a pale blue sleeping kimono. But what really caught Keitaro's attention was the electrical energies spiralling around the young woman, as well as the mist around the dorm seemed to originate from below her feet. The moon shone behind her, casting a pale light which made her look like a ghost of some maiden in the past...
"Good evening, Keitaro." Rei's voice was gentle, yet had an underlayer of hatred as she glared down at him with ice blue eyes. "Everyone else is under my spell..." She then smiled cruelly. "Surrender, or I shall send you and the rest in the Hinata-sou into oblivion..."
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I'm exceedingly sorry for my lack of updates lately, as I've been busy job hunting. And now that I've finally landed a job, I've been busy working near non-stop! D'oh! Anyhow, I hope you've enjoyed, and stay tuned for more!