Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina

Chapter 3: Learning to cope 

I care not; a man can die but once; we owe God a death.

William Shakespeare 1564-1616: Henry IV, Part 2 (1597)

"You seem to be getting quite good at this." Yuki smiled as she sat by the road watching her assistant sending a soul off.

"Nothing really." Keitaro walked up to her side and took the towel she offered him. "Is that it for the day?"

"Mmm, yeah for today." She flips through her black book. "Fancy a drink at Mike's before we get back?"

"Why not?"

"OK, hope on." She thumbed her staff. Getting on the staff the two and Seeker fly off into the sky. "How's your flying?"

"Not very good, I keep crashing into things or lose control and fall." He rubbed his head and remembered the bumps. All of this had started four days ago when Yuki suggested that he should consider flying as a means of transport not only was it fun, economical and convient it would save Yuki a lot of time and energy offering him lifts. So after a short shopping spree at the spirit world department store he picked out a snowboard instead of a staff, in the end though it didn't really matter as long he was comfortable with it it'd be fine. For all Yuki cared he could've picked out a vacuum cleaner and she say it'd be OK as long as he can use it.

"How about we try again tonight?"

"Sure… I just hope I don't fall into the lake again." She laughed a bit and begins lowering themselves to the old abandoned district of Hinata. Walking down the slums they end up at an old worn out shack, opening the front they revealed that the interior was very much the opposite of the exterior. Inside the shack was a large spacious bar where various people sat at various tables' talking and laughing, many of them dead like themselves.

"Mike!" Yuki called out at the front bar and a tall man walked over to her. "The usual for me and something light for him." He nods and fetches them their orders.

"This place is amazing. Who would've guessed that this place is the gateway to the afterlife and nobody alive can see it." Keitaro looked around the bar "I'm still not use to it."

"I'll say kid!" Mike returned with their drinks. "I remember the first time I saw you Yuki-chan here carried your unconscious ass on her back and then later that night Seeker was dragging you by the ankles through the front door, and you looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a speeding truck." Mike patted Keitaro hard causing him to choke on his drink. "God! You sure make an impression kid!" Mike laughed.

"Thanks." Keitaro horsed recovering his breath.

"Say kid, how long have you been dead now?"

"10 days?" He thought for a moment before replying.

"That ain't long. Not like Yuki-chan here, 500 years and still young!"

"!"

"We spirits don't age, even when we die of old age our soul's appearance reflect the time we had the most memories of."

"I'll leave the two of you alone I got other customers, you two ain't the only reaper of souls." With that he left.

"He's a nice guy isn't he?" Keitaro nods rubbing the spot that Mike patted him. "Shame how he died." She answers him before he asked, "He was murdered. I harvested him"

"Ooo." He looked at Mike talking with his customers. "Hey, Yuki-chan how did you die?"

"Sorry Kei, but that's a rather personal question." She gulped down her drink.

"I'm sorry."

"That's OK." She absentmindly stared at her empty glass. " You done? We need to get you flying." Gulping down his drink he a bit dizzily follows her to the back where a large metal gate is situated. Sliding a card through the card reader attached to the side the large gates open and a bright blue light shines through and once it stopped a portal stands behind the gates, in the blink of an the two disappeared in to the portal.

#-#-#

"Keep it steady." Yuki flew next to Keitaro a hand on his shoulder. "Don't think about the ground."

"I'm trying." Keitaro wobbled on his snowboard spreading his arms out for balance.

"That's good." She let him go. "Now lean forward slightly." He did as he was told. "Not too much!" She corrected him. " That's right, keep your focus. Lean to the side when you want to turn." She followed him as he turned left.

"Achoo!" He sneezed and he began to plummet.

"Kei! Pull up!" Yuki dived after him. Just as he was about to fall into the lake Keitaro readjusted himself and stopped just on the surface on the waters. "That was close your concentration breaks too easily." She wiped her forehead. "Let's call it a day."

"I want to try a bit more." He levitated higher into the air.

"Suit yourself but don't over do it, we need to get up early tomorrow." She flew by his side.

"I thought it was our day off." He waved his arms a bit.

"It is but I wanted to do something." She winked at him.

"OK." He blushed slightly and then started swaying left and right trying to find his balance.

"I'll see you back home and watch out for other flyers, we're in the spirit world and you're not the only one who can fly. See ya!" She soared off into the night city.

"OK Keitaro, concentrate! Concentrate!" He took a deep breath and began going over the basics.

-Else where in the spirit world-

"Hurry Dr, my patience runsss thin!" A large figure hissed at a petite man seated over a table working on some sort of machine.

"I cannot work under these conditions. Please, I have not had a moments rest in the last few days." The figured trembled. The large figure reached forward and wrapped its large hand around the man's neck.

"You will rest when your work is done!" The figure spat frightening the man "I had to go through a lot of trouble to get you! That woman put a bullet through my arm and almost 'Over-Souled' me! Those dogs at the SWHQ hasss caught wind of our little operation, now do your job or I'll 'Over-Soul' you!" The figure raised its other hand and was about to strike the man but a third hand out of nowhere stopped him.

"Stop this." Said the owner of the third hand who stepped forth to reveal himself clad in a long black trench coat, western hat and a mask that was half black and half white attached to his waist was a silver western 6 shooter and a long sheathed katana.

"What are you doing here?"

"To give you a warning." The masked man placed the Dr down. "It's no longer safe here, the Spirit World Police [SWP] knows of this location."

"How!?"

"Because of this." He masked man pulled out a small device from the man's clothing. "It seems our good Dr has been wearing a tracking device."

"What!? You deceiving…" The masked man stopped the large figure's rant.

"Perhaps we can use this to our advantage." He mused.

"What do you have in mind?"

"You'll see."

"What shall we do with the Dr? Can I eat him?" The figure drooled.

"Hmm, why not? There are other Drs out there that we can use. Bon-appetite my reptilian friend."

"Finally. It seems you do have your usesss Dr." The man watched in horror as the figure opened its mouth large enough to swallow him whole. Screams of pain soon followed, then by silence and the sound of a hollow object fell to the floor.

"I wish you had more manners, Reptile." The masked man said picking up a pale green orb lying on the floor of where the former Dr once stood.

"Like I need you to tell me how to absorb soulsss, you haven't even tried it. Why don't you? It'sss good." Reptile belched.

"Like I said, manners." He pocketed the orb. "Now, we need another Dr but who?"

"I have a person in mind but what about the SWP?"

"I'll take care of them." The man examined the tracker "You worry about getting our person." Reptile snickered knowing the carnage that will soon follow stepping back he allowed the shadows to swallow him and faded away.

"Hmm. I wonder if I'll see you again inspector Kagura? Ha ha! I can't wait!" His cheerful voice died suddenly and was replaced by one of sadness and regret. "But before that I have personal business to attend to."

#-#-#

"Woof!" Seeker barked into Keitaro's ear.

"Ow! Seeker, stop that!" He sat up from his futon. "What is it?" He noticed a note attached to Seeker's collar.

"Kei, since I couldn't wake you up I decided to head off first. On the table you'll find a card key, that's your pass that you can use to get around. Another thing there's also another card with it read the instructions carefully and I'll meet up with you. P.S. feed Seeker."

After he finishes reading the note he looked down at Seeker who was pawing at his bowl.

"OK, I'll feed you." Heading into the kitchen he fetched some food for himself and Seeker. "Let's see." He sat down at the table and read the second note whilst he ate.

"Kei, what you have in front of you is a 'Telepathy Card [TC]' think of it as a cell phone but with a twist, you'll notice that there are two in front of you. One of them has my picture on it and the other is blank the reason for that is because the one with my picture has my SE in it so you can call me but only me, the other one I want you to put some of your SE into it, it's the same principle as flying." He read the first bit of the note.

Picking up the cards he examined them holding up the blank one he inputted some of his SE into it and moments later his pictured emerged on the card. "Cool, now how do I use it?" He picked up the note and read the rest.

"To use the card put my card to your forehead and think of me and try to talk in your mind, only one of us need to have a card in order for a link to be established. Try it, Yuki"

"So, I just do this." He put Yuki's card on his forehead. (" Yuki-chan?")

("Kei, is that you?")

"Wow!" He almost fell of his chair (" I mean, wow!")

("Hey, you figured out how to use the card! Handy isn't it?")

("Yeah, where are you?")

("I'm at the HQ right now.")

("I'm almost done where do you want us to meet?")

("Meet me at Mike's and bring your board and the cards, I'm not giving you lifts and it's only a short journey. Bye!") Putting the cards away he cleared the table, gathered his items and headed off with Seeker close by.

-At Mike's-

The gate at the back opens and two people walk out. "Yuki-chan, where are we going?" Keitaro waved to Mike amazed that the bar never seems to be empty.

"Somewhere you know." She walked out the front door and saddled her staff. "Do I need to give you a hand?"

"I'm OK." He took out his board and attached his feet to it. "Ready!"

"Then let's go." The two lifted off. Flying through the skies Yuki and Seeker enjoys the view below them while Keitaro lags behind trying to stay in the air.

"Yuki-chan! Slow down a bit! Ouff!" He bumped into her but managed to stay airborne. "Ow! Why did you stop?"

"Because we're here." She pointed to their building in front of them.

"Hinata Sou!"

"Yep, we're just in time for your funeral." She landed by the front door but stopped again.

"What's wrong?" Keitaro asked.

"Kei, is there anyone in here that you know of who posses a strong SE?"

"Erm, I think Motoko-chan because she uses Ki attacks. Why?"

"Then we should be careful not to be seen by her it's true that the living can't see us but there are exceptions, especially ones that high SE." He nods understanding that they must be cautious. Walking through the front door Keitaro sees that no one is around, following Yuki to the back yard he sees everyone else was gathered there and all dressed in black, it seems that they opted for a western funereal. Taking cover the two spectres watch they procedures take place, one by one the Hinata residents and guests walk past the open coffin and shed tears of grief, some silent, some great outbursts.

"I never knew they cared." Keitaro stared on, hurt apparent in his face.

"Mm, sometimes people often have difficulties expressing their feelings and so they rather not show it at all but in the end they're only fooling themselves." They continued to look on and see the next phase of the funeral taking place as a priest stepped up to the podium and said his piece, again tears were shed. Next was the eulogy, which was given by Haruka.

"Is that boss?" Yuki stood up and saluted.

"No, that's my aunt." He pulled her back down

"My God! I could've sworn… no wonder you got confused when you first saw boss. They can pass as twins." He nods to himself. Now Haruka was pointing to the coffin her blank expression now fading replaced by tears causing her to stop.

"I've never seen her like that. Aunt Haruka, crying? I would've never thought possible."

"She's a woman too, ya know." Yuki snapped at him somehow feeling insulted. When Haruka was asked if she would like to stop she refused and recomposed herself, redirecting the audience to the coffin she continued. "What do you think of your body?"

"What do you mean?" He blushed

"Not like that! Just what do you think?"

"I don't really know what to say, I mean it's pretty strange looking at your own dead body and all…"

"What if I told you that isn't your body?"

"Then what is it?" Keitaro pointed to the coffin.

"It's a fake made of flesh and bone but not your body, your real one is back at HQ."

"What's it doing there? Ow!" He rubbed his head from where Yuki just smacked him.

"To be repaired, remember? The first day at boss's office?"

"Oh yeah but when did they make the switch?"

"Right after your body was brought into the hospital, we have people working in the living world as well."

"Hey, if they're burying my body now how will I get revived? Pop out of the coffin whilst 6 feet down under?"

"You don't have to worry we've already got that covered, all you have to worry about is how your body is doing."

"Specking of which, how is my body?"

"Well, Kisaragi should be working on it as she's the head of the entire biological science department and…" The two sweat drop as they imagine Kisaragi shouting 'it's alive!' over the sounds of thunder and a hunched man limping around carrying various body parts. "Let's not think about that right now and have faith that it'll turn out OK." She smiled nervously and a sudden shiver came over the two.

#-#-#

SWRC

"Argh!!" A woman's voice screamed in the dark.

"More power." Said a feminine figure wearing a wielding mask, extending her hand she pushed a button on a console making electrodes appearing from the ceiling and firing electricity at the metal table.

"Argh!!" The voice screamed again.

"More." She said again and increased the power causing a large explosion. "I've done it." She removed her mask and twisted a dial which had the options such as 'woman's scream', 'man's cries of agony', 'maniacal laughter', 'rattling chains', 'Barney', '80's disco' and 'off' to the 'off' position and walked up to the charred table "Compact instant lunch Version 1.1." She picked up a metallic box on the table and opened it to reveal what seemed to be charred sardines? "Still needs work." She plainly stated and moved over to another table on the opposite end of the large dim room, the only light source following her movements "What do we have here?" She ate one of the sardines and ran her gloved hand across the body on the table. "Urashima Keitaro." She read from the toe tag "What a sample." She then turned on a screen and read the note sent to her.

"Kisaragi, I need you to repair Urashima Keitaro's body ASAP! Tell me what you need and I'll give you access to it. Shima Yumiko."

"I've already preformed a cross examination of the body and found numerous abnormalities, his body posses traits that don't seem human but the most noticeable one is super healing. Although I can repair the body the parts required are hard to come by and are all made in Heaven. Kisaragi." She typed in her reply and sent it, moments later a reply came back.

"That's OK, I'll get you clearance for the parts. SY."

"Where should I begin?" Her thoughts however were interrupted by a voice. (" Master, is that you?")

("…")

(" Yes master, the link is secure only I can hear you.")

("…")

("Yes, I have the body with me.")

("…")

("I'm beginning to repair it now.")

("…")

("Yes I will hurry but the body is complicated compare to normal people and the parts needed are made in Heaven.")

("…")

("Of course I understand, thank you.")

("…")

("I will make it better than before so that his full SE potential can be used.")

("…")

("Yes master, I know he is vital to our plans.")

("…")

("No master, Shima Yumiko does not know that I work for you nor does she know of your presence.")

("…")

("Goodbye master, Kisaragi out.") The voice left her, consuming another sardine she looks down at the body in front of her and a small smile creeps on her face, which looked very eerie on her. "Time to work." She pushed another button and various mechanical contraptions appeared out of nowhere, twisting the dial to 'maniacal laughter' she begins her work and soon the sounds of machines working vigorously echoed through the dark lab along with an insane echoing laughter.

#-#-#

-Back in the living world-

The two Grim Reapers were now in the cemetery quite far from Hinata Sou watching the final procedures as the last patch of dirt was patted into place. The number of guests beginning to decrease one by one all until one was left kneeling by the fresh grave, it was Naru.

"Keitaro…" She wept and the two Grim Reapers approached her from behind "If it weren't for me you'd still be alive, that truck was meant to hit me but instead you had to a hero and pushed me out of the way, why? Since when did you grow a spine?" She shed more tears "And I can't believe the last things I said to you were… I wish I could've said something else, I've never had a chance to tell you how I really felt, I…"

"Naru." Kitsune placed a hand on her friends shoulder "We should get going."

"You're right Kitsune, it's just that I can't believe he's really gone." Naru stood up.

"Yeah, no more pervert, hey?" She tried to cheer her friend up but instead Naru wrapped her arms around her and cried into her shoulder. "There, there he wouldn't want to see you like this." She comforted her friend and led her down the hill to the car.

"So that's Naru?" Yuki asked "She's kind of nice."

"Yeah. I wonder if I'll be able to see her again? I know you said that it'll be OK but how long?" Yuki didn't answer "Sorry, I didn't mean to send you on a guilt trip." Keitaro stared at his own gravestone. "'Loved by all, you brought us many memories and we shall miss you for that' it says, and now I realise it." He smiles slightly. "Just when will I be able to see them again?"

"I don't know." Yuki started, "It will take time but until then stay strong, the road up ahead might be rocky but you'll get there, I'll help."

"Thank you, Yuki I don't know how to repay you."

"No worries, I am kind of responsible for your death." She saddled her staff, seeing this Keitaro attached his board. "And besides, it feels as though as we've met before hasn't it?" He nods surprised that she felt the same. " Then again, it might've been because I harvested your soul in the past and I forgot. I am after all over 500 years old, I've been doing this for a long time."

"Probably, but still thank you." He followed her into the skies. Much after the two had left a figure came up the hill and stopped in front of the gravestone the light from the setting sun reflecting off his black and white mask.

" 'Urashima Keitaro, 1978-2000'" he began to read " 'Loved by all, you brought us many memories and we shall miss you for that', many memories indeed." He knelt down and placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the grave. "Why did you have to die?" He punched his fist into the ground causing the earth to rumble, "I should've been there for you… I just want to see you one more time but where is your soul? I've been looking for days tracking you down, where can you be?" He stood and stared at the sun. "I will find you, I promise." Turning around the figure left, " Good bye my fallen friend, I will see you again."   

End of chapter 3

AN: I don't really know what to say really except thanks to all those supporting me thus far, I know it's not quite getting off well but it's getting there so thank you again and er… I don't know keep reading? See ya!