BROKEN WINGS-A NEGIMA/LOVE HINA CROSSOVER
The characters in this story are not related to me but to their respective creators.
Note: The year now is 2001. Setsuna is 12 years old, Motoko is 19 years old and Tsuruko is 27 years old. Love Hina has just ended it's run.
Act 5-Acquaintance
Tsuruko took a deep breath. She looked around her. There was nothing but trees and more trees. The night skies are taking advantage of the surroundings making the entire area like a maze.
"Damn!"
Tsuruko was cursing herself for losing a demon that is on the run. Just an hour ago, Her husband, Kenji and herself were doing extermination for a local village. It was supposed to be a routine job.
But when the demon ambushed the couple, Kenji took a bad fall and sprained his ankle. Kenji kept saying it was all right but Tsuruko ordered him to stay put while she went looking for the demon by herself.
Now, Tsuruko is at a loss. She could feel an evil presence lurking around her, waiting the chance to strike on her. Tsuruko felt the trees are playing tricks on her but kept her cool. One wrong move and she can say good-bye to this world.
"Where are you?" Tsuruko spoke to herself.
The evil looked at Tsuruko from a corner. Its breathing was heavy and staring at Tsuruko with lustful eyes. The urge to kill Tsuruko was strong and without a doubt, waiting for the right moment.
Tsuruko faced right and took a deep breath. Somehow, the evil is very close to her. She closed her eyes and concentrates her energy on finding that one strike to finish this.
Seeing Tsuruko has turned her back around, the evil knew this is the right moment and with all of it strength, ran towards Tsuruko!
Tsuruko felt the evil's presence and pull her sword out of the sheath slowly. She turned swiftly with the sword almost out of the sheath when suddenly, she felt another presence coming from the left!
The presence is fast but yet familiar.
"Tsuruko Nee-chan!" She heard her name being called!
"That voice! Could it be..." Tsuruko wondered.
Within a split of a second, a familiar figure with a small bundle of hair tied on her head appeared! She chanted a spell with a talisman on her left hand and a small red flame ignited on the talisman!
The evil is heading toward them with a shrinking scream but Tsuruko and her mysterious ally stood their ground.
Her ally threw the fire straight at the evil and the evil was engulfed in flame! The evil let out a horrible scream that shook the forest!
"Now! Tsuruko Nee-chan!" Her ally ordered Tsuruko to use her final blow.
Tsuruko know this is her chance!
"Shin Mei Ryu Ohei! Zan Dan Ken!"
Tsuruko slashed her sword horizontal at the evil and in a flash, the evil's upper body shifted to the left and fell to the ground.
The evil's body was still in flames and struggling to move but it couldn't and within moments, it stops moving and the flame consume it totally.
Tsuruko approached her mysterious ally and wondered if she is the one she is hoping to see.
"Setsuna, is that you?"
Her ally turned around and gives out a small smile to her.
"I am back, Tsuruko Nee-chan."
"It's good to have you back, Setsuna." Tsuruko smiled and hugged Setsuna in her arms while the flames continued to burn into the night...
Two hours later, Tsuruko and Kenji brought Setsuna back to Shin Mei Ryu Dojo. Kenji's leg was bandaged up from the fall and is now resting in the master bedroom. Tsuruko passed a glass of water to her husband.
"Thank you, Dear." Kenji took the glass and drank it slowly.
"You know you should be more careful next time." Tsuruko advised Kenji as she held his hand tightly.
"I am okay but if it wasn't for Setsuna, you will be the one getting hurt." Kenji told Tsuruko.
Tsuruko was a bit insulted but held her pride. " Well, I can handle that demon myself ever without Setsuna's help"
Kenji let out a little giggle " Yeah...right. But you are glad that she came back, don't you?"
Tsuruko know her husband too well. Her face was red in embarrassment and playfully punched her husband's face.
"Baka Kenji."
Tsuruko came out of the room and went to look for Setsuna. She knows that Setsuna will return to her own room and truth enough, there she was.
A twelve year old girl looking at her personal belongings in her room. Setsuna held a small photo frame. A younger self with Tsuruko and Motoko in happier days.
She smiled to herself and remembers the times they had. But now the dojo seemed quiet with Motoko and she moved out of the dojo years ago.
Setsuna remembered one night, three years ago, Motoko and Tsuruko had a heated argument. She wasn't really sure what actually happened but Motoko was upset that Tsuruko married Kenji and she is giving up Shin Mei Ryu sword arts.
Motoko blamed Kenji for ruining her sister's life. After that, Motoko moved out to Tokyo and according to Tsuruko, she stayed in a place called Hinata Inn that apparently, the landlord was a guy who is a total weakling but single-handed caught hold of Motoko's sword with his bare hands.
Motoko's sword skills were fast and swift that only a few in Shin Mei Ryu could see her sword's movement. For an outsider to catch Motoko's sword, that landlord must really be someone.
"Maybe I could learn something from Motoko's landlord." Setsuna giggled to herself.
"Setsuna." Tsuruko called out to her.
She turned around to see Tsuruko entering her room.
"Tsuruko Nee-Chan." Setsuna greeted her and place the photo frame on her desk.
Tsuruko looked around Setsuna's room and proudly told her "I kept your room just like you left it."
"Arigato, Tsuruko Nee-Chan. it's good to be back home." Setsuna smiled back at her.
"Well, let's have a girl's talk. I haven't spoken to you in ages." Tsuruko told Setsuna.
"Sure." Setsuna was happy to hear that and both of them sat on Setsuna's bed.
The two young ladies sat on the bed, facing each other in their nightgowns.
"So, how's Konoe Sama?" Tsuruko asked.
"He's fine. He helped me a lot these few years, teaching me how to control my powers, practicing Kendo everyday, studying for my exams and learning some simple Shikigami skills from Konoe Sama." Setsuna replied.
Setsuna's training amazed Tsuruko. "That's amazing. I guess that fire you created was taught by Konoe Sama."
"Yes. It's quite a simple trick really. I'll teach you some other time." Setsuna modestly told Tsuruko.
"Since when did you start being the master to me? Huh?" Tsuruko teased Setsuna and started tickling her.
Setsuna laughed from Tsuruko's tickling.
"Hahaha! Stop it, Tsuruko Nee-Chan!"
The two girls laughed and playfully teasing each other. After five minutes, Setsuna asked, "Tsuruko Nee-Chan, how is Kenji-San?"
"Oh, he is fine. Can't believe that my husband sprain his ankle when chasing a demon. If this come out, he will be the laughing stock of Shin Mei Ryu...but he's still my husband and I still love him." Tsuruko say in a bashful manner.
Setsuna could feel that Tsuruko really love Kenji. She then asked, "Why did Motoko left us? She say you are giving up Shin Mei Ryu for him."
Tsuruko smiled at her "Setsuna, there'll come a time when a woman will do anything for the person she love. Motoko felt that I betrayed her and will leave her forever. But the truth is, I will always be there for her no matter what, cause she is my sister. Motoko has never experienced falling in love with a man before...if she did, she might think likewise."
"I don't really understand, Tsuruko Nee-Chan." Setsuna scratched her head.
Tsuruko answered back " You are still young. When you are much older and find someone you like, you will understand."
Setsuna give a nod and lazed on the bed. The pillow was soft and cozy behind her head, unlike the one she had at Konoe mansion that is hard like a rock.
Tsuruko then asked "So why did you come back?"
"Oh, Konoe Sama is visiting the Yamaichi Shrine in two days time and he know that I missed home so he allowed me to return home first. I'm overseeing the preparation for his arrival at the shrine before the actual day."
Setsuna was glad that Konoe Eishun was a reasonable man. After Tsuruko got married and Motoko left home, Setsuna was like a lost sheep. Tsuruko know that Setsuna has a lot of potential and if she want to know more about her past, she needs to have the skills to prepare herself in the future.
She requested Konoe Eishun to take Setsuna in and he agreed. Konoka had already went to Tokyo to stay with her grandfather after the attempted kidnapping on her.
To Eishun, Setsuna is like a second daughter to him. Setsuna's first year was tough, training everyday and studying for her exams. Ever though she doesn't go to school like normal kids do, she had a private tutor, Mayumi-San.
Mayumi was a nice lady with a lot of hearts and patient. By the end of the first year, Setsuna had two A and three B in all her subjects. She was quite proud of herself and gives Mayumi a present as a gratitude for her effort.
Unfortunately, Mayumi died in a car accident two years ago and Setsuna was really upset but she always remember Mayumi's teaching. At the end of that year, she scored four A and a Bs on her own. She was happy that she didn't let Mayumi down.
Setsuna then shyly asked Tsuruko "Tsuruko-Nee Chan, do you want to come along to Yamaichi Shrine tomorrow?"
Tsuruko declined her offer. "I am sorry, Setsuna. But Kenji will fumble if I leave him alone in the house."
Setsuna felt disappointed but Tsuruko pat her head and smiled at her "You're a big girl now. I am confident that you can handle it smoothly. Have faith in yourself."
Hearing that give Setsuna some confidence, hopefully everything will go well when she go to Yamaichi shrine tomorrow.
The next day, Setsuna, wearing her usual white dojo gear and red skirts arrived at the front gates of Yamaichi Shrine. She heard from Eishun that the Shrine is one of the most holy places in Kyoto and has a history of almost 500 years.
Setsuna entered the gates and a young priestess approached her.
"Excuse me, can I help you, young one?" The priestess asked Setsuna.
"I was sent by Konoe Eishun Sama to see the head priest. This is the proof of my visit." Setsuna presented a letter to the priestess.
The priestess read the contents and spoke "I see, please wait here, Setsuna-San."
She turned around and entered the shrine. Setsuna looked around her. The temple is filled with trees and bonsai plants everywhere. It's not as big as Konoe Shrine is but it does have it's own style.
Then an another female priestess in her twenties approached Setsuna.
She spoke "My master awaited you. This way, Setsuna San."
The priestess looked at Setsuna and for a spilt second, the priestess paused and stares at Setsuna's face.
Setsuna looked back at her and wondered what happened to the priestess? "Excuse me...Miko-San?" She asked.
The priestess came out of her trance and apologizes Setsuna.
"Huh? Oh, sorry...this way, Setsuna San."
The priestess led the way and as they walked along the hallway, the priestess kept looking at Setsuna with a strange stare.
They entered a garden and Setsuna saw a figure standing on a small bridge. The figure was looking at a small pond and threw something into the pond.
Setsuna and the priestess went nearer to the figure and now clearly see a beautiful lady on the bridge. She was dressed in white and red skirt and had long straight hair just like Tsuruko.
The lady was holding bread crumbs in her hand and threw some of it in the pond.
Setsuna could see some Koi fishes swimming around the pond and the breadcrumbs surrounding them excited them .The priestess stops in front of the lady and bow to her.
"Midori Sama, the representative from Konoe Sama has arrived."
Midori stop her feeding and face Setsuna. Setsuna bowed to her and Midori smiled back.
"Welcome to Yamaichi Shrine, Setsuna San. I am the head priestess, Yamaichi Midori."
"It's a honor to meet you, Midori Sama." Setsuna replied.
Midori approached Setsuna with grace and asked her "Konoe Sama will be coming here in two days time and he sent you to oversee his arrival."
"Yes. He will be arriving in two days." Setsuna looked at her with butterflies in her stomach.
To Setsuna, Midori is like Tsuruko. Beautiful and gentle.
"Everything is going smoothly, Setsuna San. You can inform Konoe Sama that he will receive a warm welcome when he arrived." Midori told Setsuna with a smile on her face.
Setsuna kept her cool and calmly told Midori "I will inform him. If there's nothing else, I will like to make a move."
"Very well, have a pleasant day. Shoko!" Midori asked the same priestess who accompanies Setsuna and she responded.
"Yes, Midori Sama?" Shoko answered.
"Escort our guest to the main gate. Setsuna San, I will see you again." Midori bowed to her and she returned the bow.
Then Midori turned around and continued to look at the Koi fishes.
As Setsuna and Shoko walked back to the main gates, Shoko had some doubts on her own and when they finally arrived at the gate, Setsuna turned around and bowed to Shoko
"I take my leave. Goodbye."
"Wait, Setsuna San!" Shoko shouted to Setsuna. She stopped and looked at Shoko.
"Is something wrong, Shoko San?" Setsuna asked.
"Ehhh...Nothing. Nothing at all. Have a safe trip, Setsuna San." Shoko told her.
Setsuna didn't bother what Shoko was thinking and say goodbye to her. Little did she know that her path with Shoko would cross again in the near future…
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author's notes: Sorry for the delay. But here is the continuation of the next chapter. Now the girls have grown up. Motoko is still at Tokyo and Love Hina has just ended it runs. So do you know who is the guy who caught hold of Motoko's sword in Love Hina? In the next chapter, another familiar character will appear from Negima. Make a guess...