Chapter 9

Reinventing Souls

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.

I would like to first personally thank all of those reviewing my stories. I enjoy reading your comments, and try to correct the grammatical errors I miss with my final read-through as well as my spell checkers. The suggestions you all make will help make this story better for everyone to enjoy, as well as allow my to fix some plot holes I may unintentionally leave. If you find any, let me know, and I will correct them and repost the chapters.

I find that if I let thinks sit for a while in my head; I can play them out farther. Plus by trying and keeping my chapters between 2500 and 3000 words, it helps keep me from making the story slide out of control, turning a diamond to a pile of shit.

Please feel free to review, and make comments. If you find a spelling or wordage mistake, feel free to let me know. Thank you.

Also, please check out my other stories. I try to keep a constant level of dedication to all of them.

Words done in bold like this are the spoken words of the Hina sword.

Words like this are for the sword's inner monologue.

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It is a weird feeling to wake up one morning and feel a moment of pure happiness, but to feel that emotion in a complete and pure state, at any moment, is weird, often far and in-between if you ever feel it again.

But imagine if you will. Your mind awakens, but you don't open your eyes. For some odd reason, you feel at peace, calm, as if all is right with the world and you have just found yourself in paradise, where no pain can ever touch you, where you are bathed in the purest moment you have ever felt.

That is how Keitaro felt now. For the moment, he was not thinking of Naru's reaction to the wedding, he was not thinking of how Motoko would deal with today, of how Su was currently between the now married couple, he was not even thinking of how the other girls would react to this new day.

All he was thinking was of this feeling that now encompassed him; that for the moment, everything felt right, like he had found a heaven of sorts.

But moments like this do not last forever, and soon we must once again enter the waking world.

He slowly opened his eyes to see the peaceful look on the face of Motoko, still asleep to the world. Angling his eyes lower, he noticed Su was clinging to him more than Motoko, her face buried in his chest with Motoko's hand separating Su from himself. I guess this is what being a family is supposed to feel like. I mean, I am in bed right now with my wife, holding onto a young girl who in a way could be considered our daughter.

It must be making Kaolla feel very safe and very happy. I mean, I didn't wake up once to her trying to turn my backbone into a diamond or hear her have a nightmare. Come to think of it, she didn't have any nightmares that first night either. Could it be that I and Motoko together make her feel so safe, that the nightmares can't get her anymore?

And Motoko, Motoko seems happier than yesterday. Her hand is only lightly touching me, not with the near crushing pressure of yesterday or even during the train ride, but with a gentle reassurance that she isn't alone.

I know today will be rough for her. She'll have to go to school today, probably explain to everyone why the role call now says her last name is Urashima instead of Aoyama. She will have to deal with the girls who thought of her as the warrior. She will need strength today.

Keitaro rolled slowly to his side, careful not to disturb either of the two women currently asleep in his bed. He brought his hand out to touch his sword, wishing to awaken it and give it its daily requirement of life force. He watched, not amazed that the sword was too far for him to reach, but that a weird white energy glowed around his hand, leaping to the sword's handle. The tingling sensation he once felt yesterday returned as the sword absorbed the energy its master gave it.

Morning my lord, I take it you are feeling better after the fight?

Yes. I am feeling much better thank you. I could not have won without your help.

You could have, but it would not have been quick and as precise. We still need to work on your decision making skills.

Not today my friend. Today, I want you to go with Motoko when she goes to school. She'll need someone to support her, and I fear my presence will just make her more nervous about that. Can you do this?

I will do as you have asked, besides, it will keep you from trying to practice with me instead of doing your chores and your studies, though I could simply give you the information to pass the entrance exam twelve times over. You would be amazed at how smart some of those who held me were.

But I guess for the moment that is of a second importance. I surmise that you will need to talk with your sister again, as well as with Mitsune to discover how Naru has taken things. I am surprised she hasn't popped through that hole yet.

Keitaro quickly turned towards the hole, a rising fear inside him predicting that the simple fact that the sword had mentioned such an event was enough to make it happen; a fact Keitaro had seen proven dozens of times.

But the lid stayed shut, the hole sealed. Naru didn't make an appearance.

For a brief moment, Keitaro thought he could hear the gods of fate having an argument, saying someone had rigged their game.

Thankful for small miracles, he removed himself from Su's lethal grasps, nudging her over to Motoko, and watching as the young princess latched on to her 'mommy'. He slowly raised himself from the bed, dressing for the day that would wait for him, strapping Hina to his back, though vowing that Motoko would carry it today after breakfast. Noticing the time, he decided he would help Shinobu with breakfast, deciding he really needed to spend more time with her, as he began to feel sadden by the fact that he had missed all of her attempts to get him to notice her. He needed to be her true friend, to help her over the power of the first crush.

He decided he wasn't doing it out of guilt for not noticing her interests. He wasn't doing it out of a feeling of responsibility for her current upheaval in her young life.

He was doing it to help out someone he cared for, even if he couldn't return the feelings she desired of him. Shinobu was as much a younger sister to him as Su was. And for those he cared about, he could do no less than his best.

He bent over to give Kaolla and Motoko a kiss on their exposed foreheads, glad that they both seemed to smile a little at his jester before he left the room.

Even if my best isn't good enough to make their dreams come true.

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Usually, Shinobu was the first person up, aside from Motoko when she was practicing her katas on the roof. She took pride in her work, as it not only made her feel important, but feel like she was serving a purpose. Unlike the other girls currently living at Hinatasou, she had no way of paying her rent other than this, an opportunity that Keitaro had pointed out to her so she could stay here and not feel like she was useless.

Sempai always cared for me; always treated me with a kind smile and an open ear.

I just wish he could have seen me as something more.

Her internal monologue was interrupted by sound coming from the kitchen. She slowly made her way to the door, at first fearing that someone or something had broken in

To see Keitaro already preparing breakfast was not what she expected to see, nearly screaming at him in fear when she saw him. "Sempai, what are you doing here?"

He turned; a pot full of broth still in his hands. "I woke up early, so I thought I would help out a dear friend with her usual morning routine. Is that OK?"

Shinobu blushed, quickly trying to make herself appear normal, before she found herself being hugged by Keitaro. "Shinobu, I want you to be happy, never feel like you don't deserve to be happy, to have someone help you. If me helping you in any way offends you, just tell me and I'll let you be. I would hate to inconvenience you in any way."

"No sempai, I would enjoy your help."

The two continued to prepare breakfast, chatting about how each was doing in their respective schools. For Shinobu, it felt nice to have Keitaro taking an interest in her life, complementing her on her skills, even mentioning he felt sorry for all the boys she would have to turn down in a few months. She had no idea why he had mentioned this, as their conversation hadn't included anything about her possible romance life. But it did improve her spirits that he thought she was beautiful enough to have to choose the man she would spend time with, even though the man she wanted the most was beyond her abilities to get now.

While Shinobu was setting up the table, Motoko finally made her way down into the kitchen to prepare her usual breakfast, a chore she asked to do from Shinobu as part of her training to be a woman, having woken up with Su and sent her to her room to get ready for the day. To see Keitaro there was a surprise, as she had expected him to disappear again today, for whatever training he had done yesterday.

He walked up to her and embraced her in a strong hug, kissing her on the forehead. She was stunned as he pulled back from her, noticing he had placed the Hina Sword in her hands. "Motoko, I want you to go to school today and take the Hina Sword with you. I'm certain it can help you make it through the day."

Motoko was blushing. Her hands were wrapped around the sheath of the blade, with Keitaro's on top of her own, ensuring she couldn't release it or let it go. "But I am…"

"No buts, you need to go to school today, and I want you to take the Hina Sword. I doubt you would enjoy me following you all day but I will if you don't take the sword; it will help you. It can even hear your thoughts, so you can talk to it."

Motoko was still hesitant to take the sword. She considered herself no longer a warrior and the blade Keitaro wanted her to use today was only a blade a warrior would use.

She finally relinquished to her husband's will, deciding that fighting him on it would hurt him. He meant well, the sword was to remind her she wasn't alone in this mess, make her know that she had someone who cared for her, not out of pity or a sense of honor, but someone who really cared for her.

That is what matters most; that my master cares for you.

She nearly dropped the sword, finally remembering what Keitaro had said about it.

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Motoko stood on the train, glad that she had beaten the early morning rush. The train was barely full enough to justify its departure, but empty for people to have a seat to themselves if they desired.

She still had her hand on the handle of the Hina Sword, not really believing that Keitaro had convinced her to take it with her for the day, saying that tomorrow, she wouldn't need to.

Why the hell do I need this sword? I can't be a warrior anymore.

That is a false statement. A warrior can be many things. Just because you dedicated your to one aspect of the samurai life, doesn't mean you were a warrior then. Your training was simply incomplete. You can chose to either complete it, or run from this battle. Those are your choices.

She stared at the sword again, barely restraining herself from answering the sword out loud. What do you mean?

The samurai I knew of were masters of many talents so as to balance themselves in this world. They were not only masters of their own body and weapons of choice, but often masters of music, poetry, botany, even the raising of animals.

You have chosen only the skill of the weapon. Your reactions to my master before your sister's arrival showed you had little mastery of your mind. The very fact you were afraid of your femininity showed your weakness in that area as well.

Motoko did not know how to take the sword's comments. She had always seen herself as a warrior, as someone following the traditions of such as the samurai, but the sword was saying she had failed these as well. Her confidence took another dramatic hit, nearly making her start crying again, grabbing the seat to wish that Keitaro had come, instead of sending her off with the lunch he made and the sword that could only insult her. Am I really that bad at everything?

No. You have much potential, but you hold yourself back. It is both my hope and that of my master that you can exceed these limitations you have placed on yourself, that like a phoenix, you can be reborn into a new form, a powerful warrior for good. But until you let go of old ways, of old restraints that bind your soul, your ways of thinking, you will be nothing more than you are now, and no amount of work from anyone will change that.

So Motoko, can you look beyond what you have done to yourself? Can you face the demons you yourself have been enslaved to? Can you break free of your own misconceptions and become a warrior who not even your sister could hope to match?

Motoko stared at the floor, pondering what the sword had told her. First, it had ripped into her newly formed confidence, taunting her about her lack of skills, something she had only been able to stop herself from doing last night when Keitaro talked to her.

Now, it was saying that she could surpass any warrior that is or ever was, but was stopped by her own bindings, her own inability to grow. Can I really become a true warrior? I mean, I can no longer practice the God's Cry School so what is left for me?

There you go again, limiting yourself. There are literally hundreds of schools out there. I myself house the techniques and skills of hundreds more, many of which are either no longer practiced as their warriors died in battle, or because they have reverted to family only teachings, thus ensuring their own slow demise.

Besides, if I can teach my master, a man whose own skills are often negated by his own clumsiness, think what I can do for you, if you are willing to learn from a formerly cursed sword.

Motoko laughed a little at the comment the sword made. She knew it was possible that she would forever be banned from the school she was raised in, more than likely she would even be threatened under a more severe punishment if she was even found to be practicing the God's Cry Style anymore. Not that I am afraid of what the school might do, but what more twisted ideas my sister may come up with for punishment.

Ok then, suppose I wish for this training. What would be required of me?

Only that you open your mind, allow me to show you the possibilities, to show you the other styles you may wish to learn, to chose from. Though I simply give you the knowledge, it is up to you to make the skills your own, as you have seen when my master used the Solar Cut technique. I can only show you how it is done, you must decide if you can do it.

You expect me to believe that Keitaro pulled off a high-level chi attack and all you did was simply show him how it was done?

That is exactly how it was done. The original intent of my first master was to make me a sword of education so that his skills would not be lost. That is the only original intended purpose I had that carried with me throughout these many years as a demon blade.

Now what is your decision? Are you willing to grow beyond what you have been?

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Story ideas are here again, as I will in all likelihood wrap up some stories, or add others to keep my mind unfocused. If they give you an idea for your own story, go ahead; just give me the heads up.

Idea #1.) The What If Chronicles: The Love Hina Editions: These will be stories of how things may have been different if certain things had happened, such as what if Shinobu had latched onto Keitaro in the beginning instead of scaring him away, or if Kanako had arrived shortly after discovering what Grandma Hina had done, or what if Mutsumi decided that Naru had her chance with Keitaro and decided it was her turn, what if Motoko had decided to find out if what she felt for Keitaro was first love, instead of losing her temper and trying to 'remove' the offending parts, or what if that cloud had not covered the red moon the first time Keitaro saw adult Kaolla.

Idea #2.) Love Hina: The Contract of Lies: During the battle against Tsuruko, Motoko won. But she and Keitaro should have read the older sister's contract, which promised that an Aoyama would marry Keitaro, win or lose. Now that they won, Keitaro must now marry Tsuruko; whose husband either died two years ago or decided to come out of the closet, haven't decided which. How will Keitaro deal with this turn of events, especially when Tsuruko returns with them, to help her new husband?

Idea #3.) Love Hina: Of Turtles and Programs Gone Bad: After a nasty flu has apparently set up roots at Hinatasou, a remote control has been discovered for controlling Su's new army of Nano-mecha-tamas. Kitsune discovers that these creations are the reason she can no longer stand the smell of alcohol, but is even more shocked to see a listing of all the girls' names in the remote's screen, indicating that Procedure 167 has been completed. When she confronts Su, she discovers what the NMTs have done, and the real reason every girl at Hinatasou has the flu, or to be more precise, morning sickness.

Idea #4.) Love Hina: Potions: When Naru once again breaks up with Keitaro; Kaolla decides it is her time to make him hers. She invents a potion that will allow her to be an adult outside of the red moon, so that she can compete for his heart. But upon seeing Su's potion, Shinobu takes it as well, only to discover that she is now made a permanent adult by it, as Su's magic allows for her to switch back and forth. How will Keitaro handle the two formerly youngest members (not counting Sara as she would rather make Keitaro a eunuch) both vying for his love and will Naru be able to handle the fact that they aren't pulling their punches in the fight for Keitaro's heart?

Idea #5.) Love Hina: The Albino Banana: It was supposed to be a ceremony to cheer up Shinobu. But Su forgot to mention that it was also a traditional Mol Mol wedding ceremony as well. As a result, Keitaro is now married to Shinobu, Kaolla, and Sarah, as she didn't want to leave the two friends alone with the dork. How will the girls react to this news, will Keitaro survive their wrath, and how will he deal with the arrival of Su's family, who wish to make certain the marriage between the new prince and princesses will last, at any cost?

Vote on what you want during the reviews, and please do review as the more reviews I get, the more I want to add to the story (as seen by the fact that Take 2 has 11 chapters and all the others are barely updated first). Also, make suggestions for how you want this and other stories to evolve, whether you think certain suggestions won't work, or whether you think certain characters are really wrong. This prevents writer's block, as well as keeps my mind flowing.

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.

By the way, if you need any help with your stories or would like a fresh idea on what to write about for Ranma or Love Hina, let me know. I would be glad to help in any way I can.