BROKEN WINGS-A NEGIMA/LOVE HINA CROSSOVER
The characters in this story are not related to me but to their respective creators.
Act 6-Twist of fate
Today, Setsuna woke up three hours before dawn. She went straight to the dojo. The dojo is still sparkling clean after all these years. She held her wooden sword and started practicing her kendo.
Her practice woke up Tsuruko and she came into to the dojo. She kept quiet as Setsuna took her practice seriously.
"She is getting better all these years." Tsuruko spoke to herself.
Ever though she and Motoko have taught her the basics of Kendo and some of the Shin Mei Ryu sword arts, Setsuna never slack any of it and had mastered with such grace and timing.
Setsuna finally ended her practice and took a breather. Tsuruko clapped her hands for her.
"Good morning, Tsuruko Nee-chan!" Setsuna greeted her.
"Good morning, Setsuna." Tsuruko held a towel and passed it to her.
Setsuna started cleaning off the sweats in her face with Tsuruko looking at her gently.
"You're grown a lot, Setsuna." Tsuruko spoke.
"No, Tsuruko Nee chan. You and Motoko Nee-chan are much better than me and I still have much to learn from both of you." Setsuna replied.
"Well, when Motoko come back, we can have a little sparring contest to see who is better." Tsuruko placed her hands on Setsuna's shoulders and Setsuna looked her with a small smile.
"You better wash up. You have a busy day ahead." Tsuruko used Setsuna's towel and rub Setsuna's hair with it.
"Hai, Tsuruko Nee chan." Setsuna then walked out the dojo and into the house.
Setsuna took a quick shower and wore her white gear and red skirt in her room. She dries her hair with a dryer and tied a bundle of her hair on the left side.
She looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath.
"Okay, Setsuna. Don't screw up today." She said to herself in front of the mirror.
She then looked at her traveling bag that is placed next to her bed. She paused for a second and went to open her bag.
She searches the contents and pull out a small sword with the sheath still with it. She looked at the sword and remembers what Tsuruko told her six years ago. Her biological mother gave the sword when she was still an infant.
She hoped that someday, she could find out who her parents were and where are they now. She brought it along during her stay with Konoe Eishun as a sole reminder that she is different from normal people.
Someday, she will have to leave them.
She placed the small sword into her waist belt and then took her long sword, Homura, a gift by Motoko before she left to Tokyo. She proceeds to the main gate where Tsuruko was waiting outside in her dojo gear.
"What are you doing here, Tsuruko Nee-chan?" Setsuna asked.
"I'm seeing you off. Take care of yourself." Tsuruko answered.
"Don't worry. Konoe Sama has his other bodyguards with him too." Setsuna smiled at her.
"Well, get moving. You're going to be late." Tsuruko pat her shoulder.
"Thank you, Tsuruko Nee-chan. See you!" Setsuna waved to her and then she walked out of the main gate.
"Be careful, Setsuna." Tsuruko whispered to herself as she watched Setsuna took off.
Ten minutes later, Setsuna arrived at the foot of Yamaichi Shrine. She looked around the surrounding to make sure that no one is snooping in the forest. Then she heard footsteps. Not one or two but a group of footsteps.
She turned to where the footsteps are coming from and could see a familiar group approaching her. She went towards the group and bowed down to them.
"Good Morning, Konoe Sama." Setsuna greeted the group.
The group stopped and a man dressed in white walked up to Setsuna and spoke.
"Good Morning, Setsuna." Eishun greeted back to her.
Setsuna stood up and looked at the people with Eishun. There were four of them. She was able to recognize three of them, namly, Fujimaru, a top spear fighter, which Setsuna spar with him sometimes.
Kimiko, a Jyufutsukai who assist Eishun in certain matters which Setsuna had no idea what it is and Daisuke, a big burly man with a heart of gold carried a large broad sword on his back. He gave a lot of advice to Setsuna about combat experience.
Setsuna looked at the last man who was with Eishun. The man had short sharp hair and some unshaved beard on his chin. He was smoking a cigarette and looked kind of tired. She never meets this person before at Konoe Mansion and wondered who he was.
"Setsuna?" Eishun asked.
"Yes, Konoe Sama?" Setsuna answered to her master.
"Is everything ready?" Eishun asked again.
"Yes. Midori Sama is expecting you already." Setsuna replied.
"Good. Let' s proceed." Eishun ordered his followers.
They walked up the stairs and arrived at the main gates. A group of female priestess waited in front of them with Yamaichi Midori in the center.
They bowed to Eishun and greeted "Welcome, Konoe Sama!"
Midori approached Eishun and greet him.
"Welcome to Yamaichi Shrine, Konoe Sama."
"It's been a while, Midori San." Eishun answered.
"Come in and please, your men can rest at the guest room." Midori welcome the group and they walked into the main hallway.
Eishun and the tired looking man entered the main hall while Setsuna and the others entered the guest room that is two rooms away from the main hall.
Setsuna then asked Daisuke "Daisuke San, who is that gentleman with Konoe Sama?"
"He is an old friend of Konoe Sama. Heard that he came on behalf of Kantou Magic Association to visit Midori Sama on some important matters." Daisuke answered.
"Kantou Magic Association." Setsuna remembered Eishun mentioning this association.
His father-in-law is the head of this association which will made Konoka his granddaughter. Setsuna's mind is wondering what Konoka is doing now at Tokyo.
"Excuse me." A voice broke her concentration.
Shoko entered the guestroom holding a tray with some cups and a pot. She placed the tray on the table and started pouring tea into the cups.
"Please, enjoy your tea." Shoko presented the tea to the guests.
She saw Setsuna and greeted her. "Good Morning, Setsuna San."
"Good Morning, Shoko San." Setsuna greeted back.
The bodyguards began to take their drinks and went back to their seats. Setsuna took her drink and started to slip a bit. Shoko looked at Setsuna again and she looked back.
" Is there something wrong, Shoko San?" Setsuna asked her.
Shoko was taken aback by Setsuna's question.
She asked "Huh? Can I ask you something in private, Setsuna San? "
Setsuna looked at the rest of the bodyguards and they were just minding their own business. She felt that it would be all right to leave the room for a while.
"Okay." Setsuna replied.
The two girls went out of the room and they walked near the balcony of the shrine.
"What is it?" Setsuna wondered.
Shoko began to ask, "You look very familiar. Have I ever meet you before?"
Setsuna couldn't remember seeing Shoko before. Furthermore two days ago was the first time she meet Shoko.
"I am sorry but I never meet you before in my life." Setsuna kindly told Shoko off.
Shoko apologize to her "I see…maybe I mistaken you as someone else."
"It's okay." Setsuna accepted her apologizes.
Shoko felt disappointed but she wants Setsuna to answer one more question.
"Can you tell me what is your family name?"
Setsuna was surprised that Shoko will asked that question. She doesn't want to reveal much about her past and furthermore, the Aoyama family had disallowed her to use their family name.
Setsuna answered softly to her "I am sorry but I don't have a family name. I don't ever know who my parents were."
"I am sorry to hear that. For a moment, I thought you are Konoe Sama's daughter." Shoko could also felt the sadness from Setsuna.
Setsuna smiled a bit "Konoe Sama treated me like family. His only daughter is now in Tokyo with her grandfather."
Then Shoko saw Setsuna's small sword on her waist belt. She looked at it and felt something very familiar about it.
"That small sword…" She pointed at it.
"Setsuna told her " This sword…actually my mother…my biological mother give it to me when I am still an infant."
Shoko then remember something tragic from the past. She began to feel nervous and started shaking in her hands.
Setsuna looked at her and was worried.
"Are you okay, Shoko San?" She asked.
Then like a reflex, Setsuna saw something moving near the forest behind them! A shadow is moving! But not one! But a group!
"Intruders!" Setsuna spoke to herself and quickly ran back to the guestroom!
"Everyone! We got company!" She shouted to her comrades! Fujimaru and Daisuke took their weapons and asked Setsuna.
"Are you sure, Setsuna?" Daisuke asked the young sword lady.
"I saw a group moving near the forest! We got to warn Konoe Sama!" Setsuna confirmed to the group.
Himiko then ordered Daisuke and Fujimaru "Setsuna and I will go and protect Konoe Sama! The two of you will go and intercept the enemy!"
"Okay! Let's goes, Daisuke San!" Fujimaru told his big ally.
"I'm itching for some exercises!" Daisuke held his broad sword firmly and both of them proceeded out to the main entrance.
"Setsuna! We have to protect Konoe Sama!" Himiko ordered Setsuna.
"Hai, Himiko San!" Setsuna followed behind her, leaving Shoko behind.
Shoko wanted to ask Setsuna something very important about the small sword and stop Setsuna.
"Setsuna San!"
Stopped by her call, Setsuna turned around.
"I am sorry, Shoko San! But it have to wait!" Setsuna then headed towards the guestroom.
Shoko could not do anything but see Setsuna's back moving away from her. Setsuna and Himiko entered the main hall and saw Eishun, Midori and the gentleman together.
Eishun was surprised by their appearance and asks, "What happened?"
"Intruders, Konoe Sama! We got to get out of here!" Himiko replied.
Midori was shocked and ordered her followers "Order our women to take positions!"
The followers knew what Midori meant and ordered the rest of the followers to take arms!
"Who could it be?" Eishun wondered.
"We don't know yet, Konoe Sama. But it's very dangerous for you to stay here!" Himiko told her master.
The gentleman then spoke "Eishun, we can't stay here. Is there any way out?"
"Yes, the secret exit through the rear garden." Midori answered. She looked around and saw Shoko who just ran into the same room.
"Shoko San!" Midori ordered her follower.
"Yes, Midori Sama?" She responded.
She ordered Shoko "Lead Konoe Sama and the others through the secret exit through the rear garden!"
"Understood, Midori Sama! This way, Konoe Sama." Shoko went in front of Eishun and the others and through another door at the end of the main hall.
The gentleman then ordered Himiko and Setsuna "Himiko San and Ojou chan to take the rear. I cover the front!"
Setsuna looked at the gentleman and wondered who he is giving orders like that. But now it is not the time to ask.
Shoko took the front with the gentleman behind. Eishun is in the middle with Himiko and Setsuna at the rear. As they entered the rear garden, they did not encounter any interference.
Shoko went to a giant boulder at the rear end and next to it, was a stone statue of a lion. She placed her hand into the mouth of the stone lion and a click sound could be heard. The boulder began to move and a secret entrance is revealed!
"This way! It will lead you out of the shrine and into the main path back to town!" Shoko told the group.
"Thank you, Shoko San!" Setsuna thanks her and Eishun and the others begin to enter the secret entrance.
Shoko looked on as Setsuna and the others went in and pray for their safety.
The group kept running along the secret tunnel and finally saw a light at the end of it!
"We are almost there!" The gentleman shouted to the rest. They finally came out and looked around them. It was a path leading back to the town.
"Keep your eyes peeled! There might be an ambush here!" The gentleman ordered Setsuna and Himiko.
The group walked slowly with Setsuna looking in all direction while still advancing. Himiko held her talismans firmly while the gentleman cracked his fists and loosed it again.
The gentleman then stop moving and the rest followed.
"What's wrong?" Eishun asked.
The gentleman took out a cigarette and began to light up. Setsuna was shocked by the gentleman's action!
"What are you doing?" She shouted at him.
The gentleman took a puff and then in an instant, he throws the cigarette like a knife straight at a nearby tree! There was a scream!
"AHHH!" A black figure fell off the branches and landed on the ground!
"An assassin!" Setsuna shouted!
Then out of nowhere, eight figures dressed in black surrounded them! All of them held swords and spears!
"Stay close with me, Konoe Sama!" Setsuna told Eishun and he was pushed behind Setsuna's back.
The assassins jumped at them! Himiko threw her talismans at two of them. A red flame ignited from the talismans and hit the assassins! They were burning up in flames and screaming in pain!
Setsuna held her ground and blocked an attacker's sword. Another one tried to stab her with a spear! She flip backwards at great speed and chop the spear into two! The spear assassin was shocked that his weapon was broken and retreated back.
Setsuna held her sword fimly and shouted "Shin Mei Ryu Ohei! San Fu Ken!" An energy wave slashed through the ground and blow away the two assassins off the ground!
Suddenly another assassin came from behind and wants to stab Setsuna with a knife! Setsuna couldn't react in time but at this moment, the gentleman jumped and kicks Setsuna's attacker off!
She looked at her rescuer and thanks him.
"Thank you, Mister…"
"Takahata. Takahata Takamichi!" He smiled at Setsuna.
She tells Takamichi "Setsuna."
Suddenly, a dark figure came down from the sky! He was wearing an Oni mask and dresses traditional clothing. He was holding a long stick on his right hand and his presence stopped everyone.
Setsuna and Takamichi saw their new enemy and felt that this person was different from the others.
Setsuna saw the long stick and know that there is a sword hidden in it.
She told Takamichi "Takahata San! Take Konoe Sama away! I will handle this guy!"
"Are you sure, Setsuna?" Takamichi asked her, wondering why.
"You don't have a weapon with you! I do! Now go!" Setsuna ordered Takamichi this time around.
"Okay! But be careful!" Takamichi ran off and saws Eishun is with Himiko who just taken down the last assassin.
"Takamichi! Where is Setsuna?" Eishun asked.
"We got to go! Setsuna will catch up later!" Takamichi informed Eishun.
Eishun know that there's nothing he could do but pray for Setsuna's safety.
"All right!" Eishun listened to Takamichi and they ran away from Setsuna.
Setsuna looks at her opponent and felt uneasy. The Oni mask was scary and he was very calm. Setsuna pointed her sword firmly at her opponent and he began to pull out his sword from the sheath.
Setsuna moved slowly to the left while he moved right. He showed no openings for Setsuna to attack and Setsuna was getting worried.
"Got to take this slowly." Setsuna spoke to herself.
The masked man spoke "What's wrong, young one? Afraid?"
"I am not." Setsuna told him off.
"If you are not, then prepare yourself!" He shouted at her and dashed at high speed!
Setsuna blocked the first attack! The masked man tried to attack her on the left but Setsuna blocked the next one!
The masked man moved three steps back. He jumps above Setsuna and want to strike from the rear! Setsuna raised her sword, Homura and with all her strength, swings it behind and blocks the next attack!
She immediately rolls forwards and quickly turned to face the masked man!
"You are good! But not good enough!" He told Setsuna and then with a swing of his sword "Fu Shin Ken!"
The swords became ten! No! Twenty! No! Hundred! Setsuna was shocked and tried to block the incoming swords! She knew that only one of them is real but which one?
She blocked two on her right and three on the left but they are too fast for her and then she felt a blade hit her right arm!
"Ouch!" Setsuna dropped Homura to the ground! She felt to the ground and the masked man pointed the sword at her face!
"You still have much to learn." The masked man spoke to Setsuna.
Her mind is filled with doubts. Tsuruko, Motoko, Konoka and everyone she knew all in her mind.
"Is this the end?" Setsuna wondered to herself.
"Setsuna San!" A voice broke through!
An arrow pierce between them and the masked man moved a few steps back! His Oni mask suddenly came off and Setsuna saw her opponent's face!
It was an older looking man. His face had a scar on the right cheek and his eyes had a sad look. Setsuna then wondered who fired that arrow. She saw a familiar figure holding a bow and arrow nearby.
"Shoko San!" Setsuna called out to her!
Shoko aimed at the man but then he looked at Shoko and for a brief second, Shoko was surprised by this man's face.
"It's…It's you…" Shoko lowered her bow and the man quickly grabs his Oni mask and moved back!
He shouted to Setsuna "What's your name, young one?"
Setsuna stood up and shouted her name "Setsuna!"
"My name is Karas! We will meet again, Setsuna!" Karas then throw a smoke bomb in front of them and disappeared into the forest.
Setsuna took a deep breath. She was lucky. If Shoko hasn't come to her aid, she will be dead now.
"Setsuna San!" Shoko came to her.
Setsuna held her injured arm and took Homura with her left arm.
"You are hurt!" Shoko looked at her injuries.
"It's just a scratch." Setsuna tried to calm Shoko down.
Then she saw Fujimaru and Daisuke behind Shoko.
"Everyone!" Setsuna called out to her comrades.
Daisuke waved back to Setsuna and came to her.
"Are you all right?" Setsuna asked them.
" We're both all right. Where's Konoe Sama?" Fujimaru asked her.
"He went off with Takahata San and Himiko San first. They should be safe now." Setsuna answered.
"Setsuna San, you are hurt!" Daisuke looked at Setsuna's injured hand.
"I am okay. Let's go and find Konoe Sama!" Setsuna used a handkerchief and wrap her wound.
They then turned around and headed to the same direction where Eishun headed…
Soon after, Setsuna's group returned to Konoe Mansion where Eishun and the others have safely returned. Eishun saw Setsuna is injured and immediately ordered his men to tend to her injury.
The bodyguards took a rest and Shoko was invited as a guest in the mansion.
Later that night, Setsuna took a rest in her room at Konoe Mansion and looked at her injured hand. Karas really showed her what fear is. She was afraid that she will die and tears begin to drop from her eyes.
A knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Setsuna asked while cleaning off her tears.
"It's me, Shoko."
"It's opened." Setsuna answered.
Shoko opens the door and entered the room.
"How are you, Setsuna San?" Shoko asked.
"I am all right. Look!" Setsuna showed her bandaged hand and started twitching the fingers.
"That's fine, Setsuna San." Shoko took a chair and sat down.
Setsuna was lucky that Shoko came to her rescue but she is confused why Shoko didn't fire at Karas after looking at his face.
"Shoko San."
"Yes, Setsuna San?" Shoko answered.
"Earlier, what was it that you want to ask me earlier?" Setsuna asked Shoko.
Shoko looked at Setsuna and smile.
"Before that, you must answer a question."
"What is it?" Setsuna wondered.
"You told me that your small sword was given by your real mother. How did it happen?" Shoko asked her seriously.
"My guardian told me that I was abandoned near a stream at the high mountains of Kyoto. This sword was together with me when I was found. There was a letter in it. In it, my mother told me to live a normal life."
Setsuna couldn't tell Shoko the rest of the letter as it contains her demon secret. Setsuna then showed the small sword to Shoko.
Shoko looked at it and suddenly tears started coming out of her eyes.
"Shoko San?" Setsuna looked at her and wondered.
"I am sorry…but Setsuna San, there is something I must show you."
Shoko placed her hand into her clothes long sleeves and presented an identical small sword to Setsuna!
Setsuna's eyes opened wide and immediately asked, "Where did you get this sword?"
Shoko explained "This pair of swords belongs to the Sakurasaki family. You are a member of the Sakurasaki family and I am your mother's younger sister."
"You are my mother's sister…that means you know where my mother is!"
Setsuna was excited about the discovery and wanted Shoko to tell more!
"Please, Shoko San! Tell me! Where's my mother?"
Shoko knew in her heart that she couldn't keep the secret from a girl who is searching for her mother her whole life.
"Setsuna San…you must keep calm. Your mother…your mother, Sakurasaki Reiko has passed away."
Setsuna's life crumbled down by the news. Her only hope to find her mother is gone. Her eyes began to filled with tears and then she cried in Shoko's arms…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's notes: Now the truth is revealed but is Setsuna's mother really gone? Furthermore the mysterious man? Who is he? I know that Setsuna's sword is called Yuunagi in the manga…don't worry! That sword will appear soon…as some of you will know, Setsuna's parents were never mentioned and furthermore she has white hair and she wear contact lens to hide her real eyes. I will figure something about her real identifies and her family's past…Until then, See u!