Chapter 4
Trials of the Soul Part 1
Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.
Special note: Please read the bottom letter. I am trying to gauge a response on if I should expand my workload.
Words done in bold like this are the spoken words of the Hina sword. For the moment, I will not give it the ability for inner monologue.
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Last time...
With that done, Keitaro left and headed out of town, through the woods.
Once he was certain he wasn't followed, and far enough from the city so as to not be disturbed, he drew the cursed Hina sword. "We need to talk about your future, now!"
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The aura around the sword began to grow black, the evil inside it pulsing, sensing someone had once again drawn it. It sought control over this new avatar, seeking to use it to engorge itself on more life force energy.
But the soul holding it now was familiar, yet different. The sword pushed with all its power, trying to gain control over this individual. But its power was not only blocked from gaining any control, it was actually pushed back. Who dares try and impede my power?
"Now listen here you piece of scrap!" cried an angry Keitaro, hearing the sword, but not really certain if the voice was in his head, or if the sword had spoken out for all to hear. "Because of you, people I care very much for are suffering. Because of you, one woman has lost her entire past, and another one has lost the chance to be with someone she loved. Because of you, the lives of my friends will never be the same, and always tainted with the consequences of your actions."
"Now you have two options. The first is that you help me defeat Tsuruko so that Motoko can have her past back, or I destroy you here and now and have you turned into a weather vane. What will it be?"
No one controls me. I control them. Do you really think you have the power to stop me?
"I don't need the power. I can use yours." Keitaro then raised the sword over his head, bringing it down as he had seen Motoko do against him so many times, and watched as a powerful ki blast left the sword, striking the trees and hillside, resulting in a small explosion. "I knew you used your own energy for those attacks against use. And without any life force to replace your energy, you will soon cease to exist."
How are you doing this, how are you striking without my permission?
"I don't need your permission, I just need a target." To punctuate his remake, Keitaro once again performed one of the moves that Motoko had often practiced on him, sending another ki blast into the hillside, causing another explosion. "If you won't help me, I will drain your energy like this all day. You might not like it, but I bet it will help me feel a whole lot better."
No! You cannot do this. You shouldn't be able to release my energy without my permission.
Another blast leapt from the sword, striking the ground under Keitaro. "This is starting to get fun."
This war of words continued for several minutes. Each time the sword verbally attacked Keitaro for being able to draw upon the swords energy without its permission, Keitaro would launch another ki attack into the ground, the hillside, whatever was nearby. By the time the sword finally begged him to stop, the area around Keitaro looked like a group of bombs had gone off.
No...no...no more. I yield. What is it you desire of me to aid your quest?
"Finally, you start to be a good sword." Keitaro went over to a stump and sat down, holding the sword in front of him. "Now, tell me, when you take a person's life force, do you take anything else, memories perhaps?"
Yes. My first master was an excellent swordsman, one of the best in his time. But as he grew old, he feared that the knowledge of his techniques would die with him. So he had a sorcerer enchant his trusted sword, to hold his memories, so that he could pass it to his oldest son, a boy of merely 8, so that he could learn from it and continue in his father's place.
However, as you can guess, the sorcerer screwed up. I can now hold the memories, but I also drain the life force from those who hold the sword. When the swordsman unsheathed me, his life was instantly drained, as have been all those who tried to control me afterwards. Though the emotional significance fades over time, the memories of the techniques stay with me.
Keitaro thought of this for a while, placing the sword next to him. I shouldn't have been able to control it, yet I can. I guess even I changed after that battle. Could it be that my heart is now stronger than the hunger of the sword?
Placing the sword back before him, Keitaro ponders what to ask it, before settling on what he should do now. "Then you will teach me these techniques, and help me become a warrior to help those I care about. In exchange, I shall give you a portion of my life force daily. You will continue to exist Hina Sword, but no more as a destructive force, but as my ally to help my friends."
"But be warned, spurn me in any way, and I will make certain you end up as a lawn ornament. I remember a certain neighborhood dog that just loves to run around our lawn, and I am certain he would love you. Do we have a deal?"
Yes.
Seeing that the sword had agreed, Keitaro released his block, and allowed the sword to feed. The sword pulsed, and Keitaro watched as the formally pure black aura began to lighten, eventually become a pure white aura.
But almost as soon as the tingling in his arm began, it immediately stopped.
I agree and will help you. But first, you will need two good legs before we begin.
Light surged from the formally cursed sword, striking Keitaro's cast. After a few seconds, the cash shattered off his leg. Keitaro was shocked at first, but as he began to put pressure on the leg, he noticed how it no longer hurt. In fact, it felt healed.
"You repaired my leg? Why?"
I cannot train you if you are injured.
"Why is your aura now white?"
Your life force has corrected the imbalance of the sorcerer. I now am as I was intended. Are you ready to begin training?
"Yes."
Then Keitaro passed out, the images of all the techniques of the first swordsman flooding into his mind.
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The train passed speedily through the country area. Inside one of the empty compartments, a lone girl with long black hair sat, a black cat with a bell on his tale purring idly on her lap; trying to gain some sleep as its master stared out the window, deep in thought of the information she had heard last night that sent her on this trip.
Onii-san, did you really get married? If Aunt Haruka is right, you were forced into it. I will not let whoever did this to you, get away with it. Nobody hurts my onii-san!
Just hold on for a few more hours onii-san. I will come and save you.
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"OW! OW! OW! Stop it, you are hurting Kaolla!"
Motoko and Naru both woke up with a start, looking at the person between them. Each one knew it was Keitaro they had fallen asleep next to, but now they saw that each one was pulling on Su's arms, the little foreign girl looking to be in quite a lot of pain. As each of them released her, they began to apologize.
"Sorry Su, forgive me please." The both looked at each other, laughing a little at the circumstances, before noticing that Keitaro, who should have been there, was missing.
"Su," asked Motoko. "Do you know where my husband is?"
"Yeah," replied Naru. "Where is he anyway, let alone how did he get away without us knowing?"
Su was rubbing both her arms, noticing to herself how strong the two were. "I don't know, when he woke up, he put me here and said to make certain you two weren't lonely, then he put those notes on the table and left."
All the girls turned their attention to the letters on the table in front of them, each with the name of the three girls on them, each by a glass of juice. Each girl, including Su, picked up there letters, reading them to themselves, hoping Keitaro was explaining why he was gone.
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Dear Motoko,
I am sorry I could not be here when you woke up. I know you would have preferred to wake up with me still beside you, but I had pressing matters that I needed to attend to. I know you said that none of what happened was my fault, but it still will not stop me from blaming myself. But I will not run away, so do not think for an instance I have abandoned you, my wife.
I did hear what you asked me two nights ago, before you ran off into the woods. No, it would not be so bad. I care very much for you Motoko, but if we were to end up married, I wanted it to be for our own reasons, not because you were forced into it. But it did not turn out that way, but I still accept it. And endeavor a promise to you that I will be the type of husband you can be proud to call such.
Please do not be mad at Naru for being beside me last night. I know she still has feelings for me, and probably assumed I would always be there, waiting for her. I also know that she cannot continue to cling to me forever. This decision I leave in your hands my wife, to decide when it is time for her to move on, and depending on me for her strength. But be gentle with her, and please get advice from Mitusne first, assuming Su did not kill her last night in her sleep.
I will return before dinner, and hopefully bring some good news. Until then, feel free to rearrange our room however you see fit. I trust you to do whatever you judge necessary to it, to make it feel more like it is your room as well.
Know that I do not blame you at all for these events that have led us here. Know that I will treasure you with my heart. Know that I do love you.
Keitaro
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Dear Naru,
I was awake last night, and I would not have sent you away. Despite what you may believe, I did know how you truly felt about me. That is why I always chased after you; no matted how many times your punches sent me across town, no matter how many times you misunderstood my clumsiness for perversion. I forgive you for that.
But you are right; you will have to give me up. You will always hold a place in my heart, you will always be important to me. But we can be nothing more than friends right now, perhaps forever. You have been a dear friend to me Naru, and I wouldn't trade any of our experiences these past months for anything. I hope to keep you as one of my best friends, and keep my promise with you and Mutsumi to go to Tokyo U together.
But I am married now, and must think of my wife first. Please do not be mad at Motoko for what has happened. I blame myself for this, as it was my heart that led to these events. But you would know better than anyone how much I care for all of you; and how I would be willing to do anything for any of you, if I thought it would make you smile.
Please help Motoko today, as both of you have had to share this experience. I would enjoy if you two could still be friends. And don't be mad at either of us if we do something you feel is perverted. I will not do anything to Motoko without her permission, even a kiss.
Be well today. I hope you will be better when I return before dinner.
Keitaro
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Dear Su,
Sorry for placing you between them. But I know how much each of you needed comforting last night. Please look in on Mistune to make certain you didn't hurt her too bad.
When I get home tonight, I will be bringing ten pounds of bananas, so that you and I can have a little talk. I don't want you to feel left out or abandoned with what has happened. You will always be a little sister to me, and I will always be willing to listen to you if you are having any problems. Never feel for an instance that you are alone.
Soon, this mess will all blow over, and you can get back to attacking me with your horde of mecha-tamas and drop kicking me in the face. If you want to mess around with Motoko, ask her if the marriage makes her your mommy now. I know you will enjoy teasing her on this subject.
Be well my little sister. I will return with bananas and an ear.
Keitaro
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The girls each read their letters, each one tearing slightly in there eyes. It was Motoko who was the first to speak.
"Naru, would you please help me organize everything in my new room? I would appreciate the help."
Naru looked at her, not as an enemy, not as someone who had stolen the man she loved, but as a friend. "I would be honored. Would you like to help Su?"
The little girl jumped on Motoko's back. "Yeah, help Naru and mommy fix her room."
Each of the adult girls looked at each other first before looking at Su. "Su," Naru asked. "Why did you call Motoko mommy?"
"Keitaro has been like a daddy and brother to me, so now that makes Motoko my mommy. Mommy, can I have a banana, an allowance, a scooter, and a new video game system? Please, I've been good. I haven't attacked daddy with my mecha-tamas for over an hour."
With that, Naru and Motoko began to laugh, as all three made their way to Keitaro and Motoko's room.
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AN: I was thinking of adding another Love Hina story to my workload, to give me a little more time to work out these character paths, as well as how I want the stories to evolve. So far the only ideas that I have come up with that I can actually see playing out are these:
1. After all the hits delivered against him by the residents of Hinatasou, it is a fall down the stairs that sends our beloved manager to the hospital. But as Keitaro lies there, at death's door, how will the girls react to the thoughts that their Immortal Keitaro may die. This will be a little darker than what I am doing now.
2. This one is set after Su's first transformation in the anime series. Amalla managed to get away with Keitaro, instead of confronting the Hina girls. But how far will she go to keep Keitaro for herself. This will hopefully stay in line with the craziness expected for the anime series.
Let me know which you like better after you review the chapter.
If I messed anything up, then let me know including typos.
Any suggestions on how I should continue the story or improve it would also be accepted.