A Love To Outshine The World
By Tycalibur
This story is a Love Hina fan fiction. All characters, dialogue, plot, etc. are the property of Bandai and Mr. Akamatsu. I just use them to have fun with my own imagination in a non-profit manner.
This story is set after the end of the Episode 14 Manga but BEFORE the Epilogue. It is centered on my favorite Hina character, Motoko, and her finishing the final steps into adulthood as she struggles with her own inner problems. She is 20 years old at the beginning of this fiction. It's mainly drama, but the classic Hina humor will be thrown in when appropriate. This is also my first heavy attempt at writing an anime fic, you will find some of the terminology is Americanized, and some of it Japanese. I apologize for neither. Let me know what you think, I would like to continue this story as I have more ideas for it. Rated MA for violence, mild language and some implied adult situations.
Chapter 1 – Bringing Demons Into the LightIt was a simple matter of perception, really. One focused mind into the inexorable splitting of the heart.
"Say, Urashima…"That is what she wanted.
"What's up?"Emotions focused themselves into a fine point. All matter around the body subjugated itself to the will and bound itself to the spirit. But it never once touched her body.
"How do you really feel about…"
The energy took form as the mind became the heart, the heart became the body, all driven by the immutable power of her spirit.
"I love her."
It could withhold itself no longer. It demanded to be released. Her piercing battle-cry echoed throughout the entire canyon as she spun a turn-and-a-half, her dark steel blade following suite. The aura surrounding the body took shape as a visible whirlwind, forcing itself outward. It traveled in a merciless expanding tornado, ever-widening its path around her. At last it reached its intended goal.
Fully realized, the ki energy split the eight boulders surrounding her with unbelieveable precision. Then all became calm. The silence that followed was as deafening as the destruction.
Sated at last (for the moment), she surveyed all around her. Every boulder was split right down the middle, a fine display. After five long months, she had at last achieved an extremely powerful and legendary move, a testament to her talent and her abilities.
Then came the inevitable applause. But she was never prepared for it.
Motoko Aoyama, 20 years old, snapped out of her meditation and finally acknowledged what was around her – mainly people. Onlookers, who sat at a safe distance by the back door of the Hinata Inn. Those whom she called friends, as well as students.
But there was one other she looked for in the miniature crowd behind the Hinata Apartments, one who had not yet shown herself. She knew this person had been there, all along, behind the courtyard oak. Confirming what she already knew, the lone figure stepped from behind the tree and offered a warm smile, but a deadly grin. She, unlike the others, had not been standing at a safe distance at all.
Oneesan.
"Well done, Motoko-chan," said Tsuruko, applauding lightly. Her sudden presence had silenced the others watching her from a distance. With her untimely arrival, they all had gone completely quiet.
Many of them knew what had happened the last time Tsuruko had shown up.
For the last few months, Motoko had been focusing her entire being into school and her kendo training to take up the mantle of a new school that her students had formed in her honor… even though her old one had been officially declared a national landmark in Kyoto. But Motoko carried on the ideals and the name to form a new brethren and fellowship within the Hinata area. The God's Cry School lived on because she willed it to. And Tsuruko had not shown herself, not once, to help or offer any advice. The last time she and Motoko met, things went rather…messily, and when it was resolved, Tsuruko had departed as quickly as she had come, leaving her younger sister even more befuddled at her strange behavior.
The old school had been abandoned when Tsuruko had left it. Some of the shamans had kept the students together, but in the end it was Motoko herself had to make a decision when her students came to her to form her own new school in the Hinata Hot Springs.
All of her students, who called her Shihan, or Sensei, were present today as well as all the residents of the Hinata Inn.
Although Motoko appreciated the support, she couldn't help but think of the things that had been plaguing her mind the last few months as she perfected her new area attack. Life was no longer just a dedication to the sword. Personally, she couldn't give a damn if she never picked up another katana again. But it was the only way she knew how to express herself without crying anymore. No one among the group watching her achievement today knew the real reasons why she was doing what she did. Her friends and her students both simply saw today's achievement as a self-affirmation of her worthiness to be the Master of the new dojo.
But they didn't know the truth. The real truth. They didn't know about her obsession. It had gone on so long, she herself had almost lost sight of what she had been pining over to begin with.
But Oneesan knows. That's why she's here. She can see it in my eyes.
Her students each approached her and bowed in respect. Motoko returned each bow with kindness and solidarity, but she could still feel her big sister's piercing stare. Each student left the courtyard, to depart the Hinata Inn and return to the dojo to meditate on what they had observed, and return to their daily training.
Then her friends came. Sarah and Su were the first, both jumping about and hugging her, almost embarrassing her. Mutsumi and Kitsune both offered their child-like but sincere notes of admiration. Shinobu shyly approached her and made a quiet congratulatory remark.
Then, Kanako approached. Motoko had forgotten she was going to be visiting today. All Kanako offered was a stern nod, almost a nod of defeat. Although she wasn't 110 percent certain, Motoko could have sworn she saw Kanako give her sister a look of respect as she turned to walk away, but also a look of extreme fear, something Kanako was never known for displaying.
Then, at last, hand-in-hand, Keitaro and Naru approached.
"Way to go, Motoko!" Urashima was the first to speak up, his voice sincere, but painful to hear. She didn't want to hear this from him. She didn't want to look at him. But her face remained still as stone, unfazed in appearance. Motoko offered Keitaro the same bow she had offered her students. He continued to smile at her. That smile. One definitely borrowed from Seta, the one who had trained him. This one-time dimwit had turned the tables on her. And she felt every bit of it, everytime she swung her sword or called upon her inner powers.
She was close to the threshold of a breaking point again. Thank God that Naru had spoken up by that time. It had allowed Motoko to redirect her attention towards someone else.
"We're all so proud of you, Motoko! You're amazing!" Naru had become ten times more radiant than the day she confessed her love for Keitaro. Motoko gave Naru the same bow. Refusing this action since she was the last to congratulate her, Motoko found herself in a big bear-hug, compliments of Naru's generosity.
It felt good to have them all there to see her accomplishment. But it was also painful.
However, the gathering of her friends around her was to be short-lived.
"Motoko-chan, a word with you?" Tsuruko's voice cut into the air like a knife. Motoko finally turned towards her sister, who was standing a few meters away with her arms folded, leaning against the tree. Luckily for Motoko, she could see through Oneesan's false smile. And at last, the others finally began to notice the seriousness in her big sister's voice.
The residents who had been celebrating around her had suddenly gone slack-jawed. Tsuruko had certainly been adamant in the past, but never this rude and abrupt.
"Hey guys, let's take the party inside, okay? Sake on the house tonight!" Kitsune said it as light-heartedly as possible considering the circumstances.
They filed into the dorm silently, far less elated than they had been prior to Tsuruko's arrival. Motoko watched them enter the Hinata Inn, leaving her standing with her sister. She saw something that forced her heart to ache. Keitaro let go of Naru's hand, and looked back at her.
There was immediate concern in his eyes. She could see it. But it was only concern from one friend to another. Any other day, he would simply have been gawking at Naru for walking in on her half-dressed. But not today.
She looked away from him, giving him a fleeting glance that she would have to handle this alone, and an uncaring look that said Do NOT interfere. From the corner of her eye, she saw him go inside, listening to Naru griping at him, yelling something to the effect of "Just what were you gawking at?" The muffled sound of a punch and a crash followed.
Sometimes Motoko wanted to smack Naru. But nothing she could ever say would break the spell she had over him. Things like this – things as mysterious as Keitaro's unexplained adoration of Naru – she pondered everytime she brandished her sword, everytime she called upon her power to do more and more amazing things. This final move she had mastered would be the first new move to be added to the God's Cry School list of secret techniques in hundreds of years. But this gave her no comfort.
God, she didn't need this right now. What in the hell did her sister want this time? And why would she show up now?
Motoko turned to face Tsuruko, but did not move from where she stood. She was defiant this time. Whatever her sister wanted, she would not back down, nor be cowardly. And as far as Motoko was concerned, she could get it over with then and there.
"Well, Motoko-chan, been busy, I see?" Her sister said at last.
"Yes." Motoko remained passive, her eyes not betraying a hint of emotion.
"Your regimen has become quite impressive, as has your knowledge. I must admit, even I was a bit startled by seeing you split so many boulders."
"W-well…well, thank you, Oneesan." The response came out of her more like a question.
"You know…" Tsuruko started, circling the area like a shark. "…your swordsmanship has become quite invulnerable. After talking with many of your students yesterday while you were preparing for this, I must say that even I am impressed."
Motoko found herself suddenly enraged. Her sister, talking to her students before stopping by to say hello to her? Who did she think she was? She was still a warrior, but she was NOT the head of the school any longer. Motoko surmised it must be some kind of lack of trust, a problem her sister still obviously had with her. Still, she had no right. But Motoko did not visibly react to this. She honed her anger to a fine point. She would not strike her sister out of rage. Her sister was testing her inner mettle, she could see that now.
"….but…" Tsuruko continued.
Here it comes. Damn her!
"…I can see in your moves what has motivated you in your training. Don't you think that you've gone about this completely the wrong way?"
"Exactly what are you talking about?" Motoko interjected, her voice remaining level.
"I think you know." Tsuruko said quickly, but almost musically.
"No, I really don't." Her voice was beginning to take on a bored, impatient tone. She was indeed growing weary of the conversation.
"You can be sincere with your friends, but not with me?" Tsuruko said, sounding dejected.
Motoko snapped. How DARE she. "Damnit, Tsuruko, get to the point. You're NOT my guardian anymore. Why are you here?"
This seemed to yank Tsuruko out of the pleasantries. Her head also jerked Motoko's direction immediately.
"Just who do you think you're talking to that way, Motoko-chan?" Her voice had dropped an octave.
Motoko would have none of this. Not one bit. She had worked too hard, if for no other reason, to keep herself sane. And here was her sister again, contradicting her life, her work, and trying to drive her insane.
The floodgates opened.
"I'm talking to my older sister, Tsuruko. Someone who has failed to recognize me, to even understand me! You may be happy in your marriage, and your own life, but just who in the hell do you think you are to show up here after running off and never contacting me once for a year and criticize MY life? All you cared about the last time we met was that I gave my all to whatever I chose. And I am satisfied for MYSELF knowing that I have done that!" Motoko spat, the venom in her voice full of poison and intent on hurting.
Tsuruko stumbled backward, but regained her composure. She leveled her head at Motoko, the tone in her voice becoming deadly yet sincere. "You DARE to lecture me when I came here to help you?"
"I dare to lecture anyone who cannot see that I am now a grown person and carving my own path in life—"
"SILENCE!" Tsuruko's voice dropped almost another octave.
Motoko stood her ground. "Oh, is that it? You want to fight? Is that all you can do to confront me, Oneesan?"
In direct answer to Motoko's question, Tsuruko's form changed. The sky seemed to envelop both of them and turn black. Lightning struck the ground around them. Her big sister's head took on the form of a turtle, menacing, mangled and twisted. And evil.
It's not anything but an illusion.
Motoko stood her ground.
The hideous apparition with the face of a turtle ran towards her, until their faces were inches apart.
"YOU THINK YOUR PATHETIC OBSESSION WITH URASHIMA IS GOING TO CONTINUE YOU DOWN THE CORRECT PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT?"
Motoko stood her ground. "I'm not afraid of you, Tsuruko," she said.
"PATHETIC! YOUR COWARDICE HAS SIMPLY TAKEN ON A DIFFERENT FORM. YOU HATE YOURSELF, SO MUCH THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO SET ASIDE YOUR TRAINING TO OBSESS OVER ANOTHER. THE OTHERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT, BUT REST ASSURED THAT I CAN. HE WILL NEVER LOVE YOU. NOR WILL ANYONE AS LONG AS YOU REMAIN TURNED INWARD."
The power behind Tsuruko was immense, but it no longer frightened Motoko as it used to. Ki energy swirled around her in a violent storm, but Motoko stuck her gaze on Tsuruko and didn't let go, nor give in.
"You, my sister, are the one that is pathetic. I have learned a few things in your absence. Your rage unbalances you everytime you come here to 'teach' me a 'lesson'. I may have problems, but I am only human. Urashima taught me that. If fighting me is your wish, you will lose. If intimidating me is your wish, you have already lost."
With that, Aoyama raised her hand – without drawing her sword – and waved it in front of her casually, and the illusion Tsuruko had been projecting was blown away like a cloud of smoke in the wind, along with Tsuruko, who was sent sprawling at least 50 feet across the courtyard.
Motoko approached her fallen sister and knelt by her side. "I have lived, my dear Oneesan, because I have loved. And I have lost. Should your husband ever break your heart, you will know my pain. Until that day, you have no right to preach to me how I should feel inside."
Tsuruko did not move. Her head was turned to one side.
"Oneesan?"
Without warning, Tsuruko snapped to her feet, her sword unsheathed and raised high above her head.