Love Hina

Chapter 8

Ruined Hopes

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 like, please review, as well as let me know of any spelling errors. I will then re-upload this chapter when I do my next upload.

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I also plan to start sending these out to have someone else proofread them before I post them. Volunteers are welcome.

Now, on with the show.

They began to draw the circle, formalities forgotten. The miko and the monk began a ritual both had been planning for months, making certain every grain of sand; every intricacy of the design was perfect.

Akiri kept flashing back to every attempt by her and Hideki to purge the demon from Keitaro. In her mind, she could see every ritual, every spell, every summons…

She could also hear every scream of his, see every tear fall down his face, every momentary surge of a parent wanting to rush and stop their son's cries of suffering…

But if this one worked, it would almost be worth it. It would almost be worth the pain and suffering that Keitaro had been forced to go through, the indignation of being what he had become, what…problems…he had been forced to go through because of what he was.

She wondered what he would be like if they had never met that day, if the demon had been sealed? Would he be in college? Would he be married?

She almost laughed when she wondered if he would be a father.

But they refocused their activities to final preparations. While the two finished the circle, Tsuruko was talking with the other girls, including a very scared Motoko.

"Sister, why have you not called? One would almost think that you are avoiding me."

"W…w…w…what would every give you that impression, sister?"

And so the two groups battered back and forth. The two religious fighters taking their time to make certain their preparations had no flaws while the Hinatasou girls looked on as Motoko nearly pissed herself while her old sister was questioning her.

"Sempai?"

Keitaro, through all of this, had been sitting down, his back against a tree, mentally preparing himself for the expected pain that any ceremony like this had generated. He raised his eyes to see Shinobu standing there; outside of a circle he had drawn to indicate safe distance. "Yeah, Shinobu?"

"Sempai, are you certain you'll be okay with this?" Shinobu was nervous. From what she had heard so far about this exorcism, it would be extremely painful for Keitaro, almost to the point of death. As his friend, she didn't want to see him die.

"Don't worry, Shinobu. I don't really think this will work, so my hopes aren't up. I just need to do this for them."

"How so?"

Keitaro smiled. She's so innocent. I hope she never loses that. "Akiri blames herself for what happened to me, and has made it her life work to help me. Now, if I told her no, then she would feel like a failure. But, even if this is painful to the point where death would be a blessing, she will feel justified and slightly less burdened with her attempts. It gives her purpose for the moment."

"O…kay, Sempai. I think I understand."

She didn't, of that much he was certain. How was he to tell her that he had long ago given up, but did this for nothing else then to make Akiri live on. The only person who really understood this was Rei, and she had sworn on her life not to tell anyone.

But how much longer would he be expected to go on? How long before he could tell Akiri she needed to move on?

Things continued on. Shinobu talked with Keitaro in hopes that he could alleviate her fear. Tsuruko tried to steal the group against interfering in the ritual, and Akiri and Hideki finished the circle. When they were ready, Keitaro took his place in the center while the three new arrivals took their positions

Hideki turned towards the group. "Now, I will not lie to you. This procedure will hurt him more than anything ever. You will undoubtedly, if for no other reason, try to run to him and stop it to end his pain. You must not. He has to go through this to remove the demon. If any of you make a move to try and either stop us or comfort him before we are finished, you will be attacked by one of us and you will be responsible if we fail."

"Damn it, Hideki." Keitaro shook his head, removing a mouth guard from his pack. "Listen, I don't care if my arms are thrown off. I don't care if my head looks like it's about to explode. I don't care if I am on the ground, begging for it to stop. None of you are to get near me. If you do, I will kill you, no matter what. Do I make myself clear?"

The others nodded, but none would move or leave him, even when Tsuruko offered the suggestion that perhaps they should go inside.

The replies were all the same: "We will stay and support Keitaro."

It almost brought a tear to the eyes of those involved. Keitaro would have cried, but he was already mentally preparing for the pain, trying to shut out the outside world.

So he did the only thing he could: he smiled at them all and took his place inside the newly drawn sacred circle.

"Are you certain about this, Keitaro?" Akiri asked once again. She remembered how he had screamed during the previous attempts, how he had described the…sensations…of the purification attempts.

Keitaro merely took out the mouth guard one last time. "Hit me!"

And thus the procedure began.

And Keitaro felt pure hell.

There isn't a word to describe what he was feeling. He would have tried to liken it to when the demon took over, but he couldn't. When the demon took control, it was only the pain of being helpless.

This was a pain that proved you truly did have a soul. Only it could hurt this much and not kill you.

He could feel the demon's soul clawing, scraping against his own soul to try and stay bonded, try and stay attached to his essence. He felt it scream at him, refusing to relinquish its hold on his life. Keitaro had felt this before on earlier attempts, but there was no getting used to your soul being assaulted. Unlike skin and bones, a soul did not become thicker to protect you from such pain. A slice felt the same, no matter how many times it occurred.

No matter what, the pain was always the same: greatly overwhelming.

Screams, cries, cursing, all things he could hear.

But whether they came from him, the creature trying to remain buried in him, or the people both performing and watching this attempt at exorcism was beyond his capacity to know.

Let alone, beyond his capacity to care.

I WILL NOT BE FORCED AWAY!

DO YOU HEAR ME, HUMAN? I WILL NOT LEAVE!

I could care less what you want, demon. I don't even care if this attempt kills me. I will fight you to the end, preferably yours.

THAT IS TO LAUGH!

Why do you resist me? You know of the untold power I could give you. You know how much…more…you could be if you just gave in.

Like I will ever allow you to rule me! You've ruined too many lives.

Do you mean those punks who thought they could make a quick yen off you? Yes, I did enjoy making them see they are no more than shit to be wiped off my foot.

Or perhaps you mean Rei? I seriously doubt that she was too upset with your performance. She seemed to enjoy it quite much, and even now risks it happening again.

SHUT UP!

Or maybe you mean your delectable sister, Kanako? Yes, she did throw herself into that event with more than even I had ever seen. I imagine even she would be willing for another go at us.

GO TO HELL!

Too late, child. I promise you this, you and I are one: now and forever. My kind have existed before your kind even learned to stand up! Do you really think you can overcome what we are? Even those damn mikos were never able to kill us, only seal us away.

You won't win simply because you are weak. You won't win because you…can't!

Keitaro could only listen as the demon continued to laugh as the pain grew. I will win! I will be rid of you, even if it is only the separation of the grave! I will overcome!

Keep those thoughts, mortal. But I know something you do not.

And what is that, demon? I know: how to get stuck inside a human child who won't let you have any fun?

No. But what I know will come soon. Just remember to say hello to Kanako for me when she arrives.

The demon's fading laughter was the last thing Keitaro heard before collapsing.

It was a day of great celebration for the residents of Hinatasou. Their new manager, a man whom fate had cursed beyond what any might imagine, had a reason to live again. For the moment, the combined actions of the three exorcists had given Keitaro a temporary refuge from the demon sealed inside him. For the moment, no field existed.

And for the moment, he was taking advantage of it.

Now while it is true that often, when a party is thrown at the dorm, there is usually a lame reason behind it; the reason for the current party was easily accepted to be worthy of the event.

As the music blared and drinks flowed, Keitaro himself became the life of the party. He spent time dancing with all of the girls, even talking Tsuruko into a dance. While he wasn't quite willing to be forward with any of them, much to the mild discomfort of Rei, he was willing to hug, embracing people without fear of the demon raging in control and attacking them.

Kaolla, who was slightly upset that a cured Keitaro meant she would miss out on the data that would allow her to grow to adulthood on a whim, was still happy for the cursed manager. Though she had lost a valuable source of information on something that seemed to tap the same source of magic she used to grow, she still gained a happy friend, someone whose immortality would allow her to "play" with him in another way.

Mitsune was also glad. She now had a drinking partner, and had—much to the dismay of those around her—convinced a slightly inebriated Keitaro into karaoke.

It was quite well proven now that Keitaro Urashima had no singing talent. Not that this fact has ever stopped people from trying before.

A phone call earlier had alerted the residents that their new borders; now known to be Mutsumi Otohime and Kanako Urashima, would be delayed to around ten that night due to further train problems. Neither had been told that their friend and manager may have been cured, as Keitaro had wanted to wait until he was certain it had stuck, and was not some sick joke brought on by the demon.

Not that such things mattered for the moment. For now, all things were bent towards the enjoyment of happiness, enjoyment of being temporarily free to be close to other people.

Akiri and Hideki were enjoying the moment as well. They had spent many a year working for a moment like this, combining three demon combat techniques to give a young man a chance at a normal life.

So the party continued, as the sun slowly began to sink below the horizon.

"Excuse me, everyone, may I have you attention?"

The music stopped and drinks were held as the people attending stared at the manager, Kaolla still clinging to him in a hug. "I…I just want to thank you all. I…I won't lie, I am afraid this is only a temporary solution. But…but I want you all to know how much these few hours have meant to me. In this time, I…I felt like a real human, like someone with a real life." Tears began to fall down his face, eliciting a similar response from the others. "I…can't express how much I appreciate everything you've done for me."

The girls all had tears running down their faces, holding their drinks high in the air. Each one glad to have been part of this event; even Motoko. Thoughts of what Grandma Hina had forced on all were gone, even from Haruka, who had somehow managed to drink without putting out her cigarette. For the moment, they were happy, and that was all the mattered.

But the sun finally set, and everyone's happiness soon turned to sadness and fear.

They all watched; including Keitaro, as Kaolla Su slowly began to regain her adult form, surrounded with Keitaro by a red sphere that was slowly becoming darker.

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