Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina

Chapter 5: Conspiracy

Anyone can stop a man's life, but no one his death; a thousand doors open on to it.

Seneca ('the Younger') c.4 BC-AD 65: Phoenissae

-SWRC-

"That will do." Kisaragi informed Yuki after she had finish applying the bandages. "The injuries are minor, the bandages are there just in case."

"Thanks, Kisaragi-san." Yuki rolled down her shirt and hoped off the table. "When can I take them off?"

"As soon as tonight."

"That's good." Yuki twisted her head slightly working the cramps out.

"Where's the paper work?" Yuki stopped and slowly turned to her.

"Do I have to?" She asked her expression showing unwillingness.

"You know after each operation you must hand over a report and since you're the only survivor, I would say you must. Hand it to Edison when you're done."

"Fine, what better way to spend the day than filling out paperwork." She said sarcastically.

"Don't be like that." Kisaragi sat down in front of her computer "If you don't mind I have work to do."

"Tch, alright. The sooner I start the quicker I finish." She walked to the exit.

"That's the spirit, no pun intended." The door closed shut. After making sure that Yuki's footsteps were no longer audible Kisaragi pushed a button causing the left wall to open up and green light illuminated the lab, the wall had revealed a massive glass container with Keitaro's body and green bubbling liquid inside of it. "You're a exquisite specimen, just like the Urashima before you, I never thought I'd get the pleasure to work on a Urashima body again." She walked up to the tank and placed her hands on the glass surface "You two are so much alike…but no, I shall make you better." She placed her cheek on the glass "With so much liquidised SE fusing into your body you will become much more powerful, my ultimate creation, the pinnacle of science, the perfect fusion of technology and spirit." She sharply took in a breath and immediately steeped back placing a hand on her cheek realising that she was blushing, the red on her cheeks soon faded. "Soon, very soon." She typed in a command and the liquid bubbled more.

-SW Residence District Northern Apartments –

"I hate this!" Yuki laid down a stack of paper on the table.

"What is that?" Keitaro pointed the mountain of paper.

"Paper work." She stared at it distastefully. "I have to make a report about what happened this morning."

"Oh."

"Hey, Kei this will take a while so go out and do whatnot." She waved her hand.

"Erm, OK I've been meaning to go to the library anyway." He put on his coat and took his board.

"Have fun."

#-#-#

-SW City Centre-

"Hey, Megumi." Keitaro waved to the junior librarian, whom timidly waved back. Quietly approaching the history section Keitaro picked out a book and sat himself on a nearby chair, not long into his studies someone called out his name.

"Keitaro-san?"

"?" He looked up to see tall silvered haired man standing in front of him. "Ed, what are you doing here?"

"It's Edison, if you don't mind. Why does everyone call me that? Anyway I'm here on break, kind of sad really even during my own time I can't bear to be apart from data. I guess that's what happens after being the head of systems administration for so long… how long has it been? 50000 years? I can't really remember." Ed ran a hand through his silver hair. "And what about you?"

"Studying." He showed him the cover of the book he was reading.

"Ah, for Toudai?" Keitaro nods.

"Did Yuki-chan tell you?"

"No, I already knew that, I am the head of systems administrations after all I process all data."

"That must be quite a job." Ed sighs.

"By the way that's quite an old book, why don't you buy the latest edition?" Ed examined the book again.

"I know but it's kind of expensive. I mean my wages as a Grim Reaper isn't exactly the best."

"Hmm, why don't you use your ID card?" Ed stuck his hand out and Keitaro gave him his card. "You see these dots at the bottom of the card? Since you work directly for the SWP you get a discount depending on the number of dots and because you're a reaper you get a 20 discount, the higher your rank the higher the discount. Take me for example, my rank is so high I can get into any fancy restaurant I like without a reservation and I also get freebies, ok I admit I'm abusing my power but hey, those are the perks."

"Thanks." Keitaro took his card back and grinned like an idiot.

"Hah, keep up the hard work and remember 'laziness pays off now but hard work later!' See ya." He left smiling, looking down at his book Keitaro resumed studying.

#-#-#

16th century:

Around the start of the Kyoto Renaissance:

1540 Southern Edo

#-#-#

"Here you go Yuki-chan and I'm really sorry to hear about your Great Grandfather." An old man said to a younger looking Yuki whilst handing her a bag full of supplies.

"It's alright Shigeru-san, it was his time anyway he's lived a long and full life." Yuki took the supplies from the old man.

"Sighs… true, he was a very close friend of mine but what will happen now?"

"You mean our family shrine? Well, mother and grandfather will take over and so will I eventually." She began to tick the items off of her list.

"When will be the funereal be? I'll probably attend to pay my respects."

"Within in 3 days time at our shrine, half the town will be there. We plan on using these supplies for that occasion."

"I see. I'll be there." Shigeru nodded. "You leaving now?" She nods and saddles her horse "I'm still worried a young girl like you going to Nagoya alone." He strokes his chin.

"Hey, I got here by myself didn't I? Besides, if I do meet any thieves." She reached for the side of her saddle and took out a Yari Yari: a traditional Japanese spear, if you look up volume 11 of the manga the chapter in which Kanako wages war on Hinata Sou she, along with Mutsumi and Naru were dressed as soldiers that spear like object Naru is holding is a Yari "I'll give them a jab with this!" She thrusts the Yari then skilfully twirled the Yari over her head before following it up with a downward diagonal slash.

"You're very skilled with that." He clapped.

"Thanks, I've been training since I was young. I mean after all thieves tend to go after shrines so we must defend it, you can't depend on the city patrol." She secured the Yari and took the reins of the horse. "Same time next week?"

"Yes, fare well Yuki-chan and be safe!"

"You too, heya!" She taped her ankles on the side of the horse and dashed off. She quickly came to a halt just after she reached the town centre due to a large crowd, she disengaged from the horse and lead it to the outer rim of the crowd standing on her toes she tried to see what was going on. "Excuse me, sir." She tapped the shoulder of the man in front of her.

"Yes." The man turned to her.

"What's going on?"

"Don't you know girl?" She shakes her head and told him she's not from Edo "I see, you know about the civil war right? You know, those warlords fighting for land again. Well, you see that man over there?" He points to the man at the centre of the crowd shouting this and that but she couldn't make it out due to the hustle and bustle of the crowd. "He's a messenger from the Urashima nobles of Northern Edo, he's recruiting soldiers to fight on behalf of the Urashima family and the Shogun to fend of those land mongers."

"You mean the Urashimas? Wow. Must be some war." She stared at the messenger.

"Hmm, they're offering to pay in gold to any able warrior to fight. But that's not all, I hear the capital's also got they're own people."

"You mean Kyoto?"

"Mmm, they got the Aoyamas to help defend the capital."

"The Aoyamas of the Shinmei Ryu?" She whistled, "Must be some war." ("Strange, I thought their elder was dead? Hmm, must be the decision of the new elder.") The crowd began to disperse as the messenger handed out papers to everyone. Picking up a piece she sat down and read it unaware that she was being watched. "That's some amount of gold." She stroked her chin "But my parents will never let me fight, they raised me to be a priestess… sighs." She crumpled up the paper and tossed it aside and that's when she noticed someone sitting opposite staring at her with a pad in hand. The man looked down at the pad and when he looked up again Yuki was gone.

"Where did that young lady go?" He looked around and then felt a sudden chill pressed against his neck.

"Why were you staring at me?" She stood behind him a dagger held against his neck.

"Er… miss." The man held up his hands dropping his pad. "I'm, I'm painter you see and couldn't help but draw you." He pointed to the pad on the floor, a half complete portrait of Yuki on its page. She studied the man in front of her average height, short black hair, medium build and brown eyes nothing out of the ordinary in her mind.

"So, you're just a pervert?" He scuffled away and turned to face her.

"It's not like that! I just think that…" A fist connected with his jaw.

"Pervert! Patrol!" She called out and two men came over.

"What is it, miss?" one of them asked.

"That pervert was molesting me with his eyes and that so called work of art!" The two men picked him up and began questioning him. During the commotion a second crowd had formed and using the opportunity Yuki got on her horse and left for her home in Nagoya but unknowingly she dropped a small wrapped item.

#-#-#

-One-week after-

"Sighs." Yuki slumped.

"Why the long face, Yuki-chan?" Shigeru asked "Is this because of the funeral?"

"Yes and no, you see I lost my favourite comb a while ago and I can't seem to find it." Yuki dug through her kimono sleeves "Nothing." She slumped.

"Hmm." He shook his head but looked up when he noticed someone coming over "Oh, it's him again."

"Who?" She turned to where his vision laid and cringed upon seeing the person "It's that pervert again." She turned around and pretended not to notice him.

"Well, I think the young man has taken quite a shine to you." She looks at him sceptically "He's been coming here for the past week looking for you."

"Probably because I got him arrested." She got up and stealthily snuck past the man whilst he was questioning a man at a table. "That was easy."

"Miss!" A familiar voice called out.

"Damn." She turned her head to see the man coming at her.

"Please, wait." He stood next to her.

"Listen, if you're here because of last week I'm sorry, perhaps I got a bit carried away." She secured the straps on her horse.

"That's alright, I suppose I was in the wrong drawing you without permission." He smiled.

"Really?" She raised her eyebrows

"Yes, I think I should apologise." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "It's just that I wanted to show you the picture I painted of you." He quickly got out his pad and showed her the picture.

"!" Yuki was amazed at the picture in front of her.

"Do you like it?"

"It's…" She was at a lost for words, the picture in front of her was herself on paper drawn to every exact detail as if it was a photo. She was holding a parasol in the picture and some Sakura petals by her feet. "How did you?"

"This? I have quite a talent when it comes to art. Oh!" He realised something "I was suppose to give you this." He shoved her the picture.

"I can't accept it." She refused.

"Don't worry about it. I'm a painter, I can easily replicate it."

"If you say so." She hesitantly took the picture "I wish I can give you something."

"That's perfectly fine, by the way miss would this be happen to be yours?" The man searched his pocket and took out a jade comb.

"Yes! That's mine! Where did you find it?" She snatched it from his hands.

"After the incident with the patrol I found it laying on the floor and it smelled like your perfume so I thought it was yours."

"Thanks…erm, why don't you keep it?" She handed it to him.

"No, I can't it seems too expensive and aren't you quite attached to it?"

"Think of it as payment for this picture." She dropped it into his hand.

"Thanks." He blushed ("I can't believe such a beautiful woman would give me something like this, I hope she doesn't get the wrong idea.")

"Are you OK?"

"Fine, I just feel really happy that's all." She blushed slightly.

"Maybe we got off on the wrong foot, my name's Kagura Yuki." She bowed.

"Oh, I'm… my name is… Kobe Ryoichi."

#-#-#

Present day

#-#-#

"Ha!" Yuki woke up with a start, lifting her head from the papers she placed a hand on her sweaty forehead and collected her thoughts. ("It was that dream again. Damn, it's been days. The same dream over and over again, what does it mean… him… why?") She snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a tug at her leg. "Seeker." She picked up her canine companion who looked at her with concerned eyes. "Don't worry boy, I'm OK." She looked at the time and then at the papers in front of her. "I can't believe I've been asleep that long. I just gotta finish this last page." She picked up her pen and read over the last sentence. "Maybe I should leave Kei out of this." She thought looking at the last sentence "If I say that Malachite held back his fire due to Kei and the two seem to know each other boss will ask questions… I'll just." She crossed out the sentence and wrote in something else. "There, ' startled by Keitaro's sudden appearance Malachite thought he was a part of the reinforcements and so left the battle using the rising sun as cover.' That'll do." She stacked the papers together. "Now, where's Kei?" She picked up a telepathy card and contacted Keitaro with it informing him to meet at the SWHQ.

-SWHQ-

"Here you go Ed." Yuki slammed the mountain of paper in front of him. "Enjoy." She smiled noticing the displeasing look on his face.

"I've told you before, it's Edison!"

"Ok, ok, Ed it's both the same." She grinned.

"I don't expect this from my Kohai opposite of sempai." He tapped his desk irritably.

"It's 'cause I like you Ed-sempai." He rolled his eyes and waved his hand telling her to leave.

"Are you done?" Keitaro got up from his seat as he saw Yuki walk towards him.

"Yeah, we should get going Fran's waiting for us." She opened the window and grabbed her staff.

"Can we really just jump out like that?" Keitaro readied his board.

"Hey, these windows were designed in case of emergencies." She jumped out.

"But this is the 30th floor, what are people suppose to do? Just jump out and splat?" he jumped after her and within seconds he was right behind her.

"You're getting good. Can you do any tricks?" She stood up side ways on her staff performed a perfect summersault and landed on her staff flawlessly. "Hmm?"

"No." He shook his head.

"Heh heh. Still a newbie." She recognised the streets below them and began descending.

"I don't recognise this place."

"You might've been past it before but not have known it. It's closed in the mornings but really picks up in the night, this is 'Neon district', the nightlife of the spirit world and home to my favourite bar, the 'Black Ball'. We're meeting Fran there."

"Who?" he dodged another flyer speeding his way "Crazy drunk!"

"Yeah, you get a lot of that in this area." She slowed down when someone flew towards her. "That way." She pointed to the direction of the drunk.

"Thanks." The man said and took off.

"Who was that?" He landed.

"That was Aso, he's part of the SWP like us. He and others patrol this area for drunk flyers and such." She walked up to a man guarding a door, seeing her the man nodded and let her past but stopped Keitaro "Hey, relax. He's with me you know, we work together." Apologising the man stood aside and let Keitaro in.

"Nice place, it's kinda like Mike's but a bit quieter."

"Most people come here to relax after a hard days work, so it's somewhat peaceful." She waved back to a woman waving at them. "Fran!"

"Yuki!" the blonde flagged Yuki down.

"Sorry I'm late, I had a report to fill." Yuki seated herself.

"I was beginning to worry you forgotten then." She then turned her head to Keitaro. "So, this is Keitaro, eh?" She eyed him up and down "Damn, why do you always snag the cute ones." She inched towards him.

"Erm…" Keitaro moved back uncomfortably.

"Kei, this is Francine Waterstone: telecommunications operator in the SWP, she keeps me informed in and out of the field."

"But you can call me Fran, sweetie or even tonight if you want." She laughed seeing Keitaro's reaction blushing and spluttering. "Don't talk to girls much do you?"

"No, it's just that you remind me of someone."

"Oh, girlfriend?"

"Not quite."

"Heh heh, so you two are living together? Done anything yet?" Both Yuki and Keitaro slam their heads on the table.

"It's not like that!" they said in unison.

"Just joking."

"Erm, Fran… you don't look Japanese, where are you from? You speak with a slight accent." He stared into her baby blue eyes.

"Yeah, I'm American. You know after WWII ended the Americans began coming to Japan more frequent right? I was one of those people but unfortunately the boat I was on was crossing on rather… how should I say this? Unfriendly waters. The boat ran into a mine that was left over and well lets just say I went down with the ship." She shrugged.

"Sorry to hear that. Everyone I know so far seemed to have met a rather unhappy end, I'm kinda depressed."

"Hey, don't worry. We're all spirits here." Fran patted him. "He's so cute. You and all your luck, I wish I could get someone like him." See circled an arm around him. "You got a girlfriend sweetie?" she whispered in his ear.

"Argh!" He backed off and fell off his chair. Yuki just shook her head where as Fran just laughed at him.

"Er, hey Fran can I call you Kitsune?" She looks at him strangely. "It's just that you really remind me of someone."

"Oh, isn't it cute!" she flung her arms around him "We've only met and you've already got me a pet name! Sure you can call me that but I get to call you Darling." She kissed him on the cheek and laughed even more at his reaction.

"Fran, stop that!" Yuki turned to Keitaro trying to stop the blood from completely gushing out of his nose. "Kei, why don't you go get us some drinks?" He nodded and quickly went to the front bar. "Fran, I can't believe you did that to him!" she scolded her.

"I'm sorry." She said in between fits of laughter "I couldn't help it, he's such an easy target."

"Seriously, you'll over do it one day and then you'll be sorry." She waged a finger at her.

"OK, OK I'll be a good girl by the way what does Kitsune mean?"

"It means fox." She oh's in understanding. "Did you get what I want?"

"Blunt as always." She straightened herself up "Yeah, I got something but I don't know how useful it'll be to ya."

"Just say it."

"Sighs. I did some hacking in 'Judgement' and found only a few things."

"What did you find out about Malachite?"

"I don't know why you ask, out of everyone in the SWP you have the most experience dealing with him but since you asked. Malachite appeared several years after the start of the period known as 'Kyoto Renaissance'."

"That's about 1550 AD to 1560 AD, that's quite a few years after I died." Fran continues.

"Yeah, he's wanted for things like Over Souling people, theft, blackmailing etc anyway the strangest thing is even though he's done all of that there's one thing that seemed rather strange for him."

"What?" She leaned in closer.

"He's never actually killed anyone living… well, accept for a few individuals."

"Go on." She looks on curiously

"Apparently there's one thing in common among these individuals, they're all related by blood."

"What family is this?"

"That's the thing! I don't know, when I tried to hack in further I slammed into a firewall I've never seen before. That bloody thing changes it's password every 120 seconds faster than I can type and when you get it wrong multiple times it alerts the systems administrations so I had to jack out."

"So that's it? Thanks, that'll do." ("Damn, nothing again.") Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of a cell phone when she reached for her own she realised that it wasn't her phone but Fran's.

"Yeah? Oh, really? I'll be there." Fran hung up "Hey, Yuki sorry but I have to leave."

"I understand."

"Tell Darling I said bye."

"Just go!" she swatted her angrily. She turned to see Keitaro coming with their drinks.

"Where's Fran off to?" He placed the bottles on the table.

"Some personal stuff." She shrugged "Let's enjoy the night." She raised her bottle and he tapped it with his own.

#-#-#

-SWRC-

"I'm glad you can make it." Kisaragi looked up from the monitor to the tank in front of her and then back again.

"Why did you call me?" A male voice spoke from the shadows.

"As you are aware Malachite has left for America this morning and I'm too preoccupied with the Urashima resurrection, so I need you to keep an eye on Keitaro-san until it's time." She picked up a fluid filled cylinder and nodded approvingly.

"No problem but what of Yumiko?" The man folded his arms.

"She still doesn't suspect a thing and I'll keep it that way." She placed the cylinder into a slot and the liquid contents began emptying itself into tubes leading to the tank.

"Always the schemer I see." The man chuckled softly "So this is the second Urashima? By the gods, the resemblance is uncanny!"

"Mmm."

"I wonder if he'll be a powerful as the one before him?"

"More with my help."

"Wonderful, I look forward to seeing him in action." A sudden breeze blew through the lab and the man was gone but was replaced by another.

"Who's there?" Kisaragi turned to the new presence "Oh, it's you."

"Sorry Kisaragi-sama, I didn't mean to startle you." The thing spoke in muffled English it's body shrouded in wavering shadows.

"I thought you were busy." Kisaragi replied in fluent English devoid of an accent.

"Nah, nothing really. Malachite-niisan said you might need my help." The living shadows glided next to her "Anything Kisaragi-sama?" the shadow asked cheerfully.

"Nothing really but I suggest you stay incognito until it is time."

"So I blew off someone for no reason." It pouted. "Heh, fine, more time for me but if you need me, holler!" The shadow faded.

"Sighs." Kisaragi rested her chin on her palm and turned to a chessboard. Picking up a black knight she moved it forward and captured a white bishop. Looking at the white bishop in her hand she placed it aside and moved her hand onto the white queen in which she dragged in across the board to capture the opposing king. "She's in our way." She picked up the white queen and snapped it with her thumb "Better." She smiled and tossed away the queen.

End of chapter 5

AN: Well that's it for now, the endings a bit off but hey I can't concentrate right now due to certain things. BTW if any of you are wondering what's up with Kisaragi I kind of based her personality on Ritsuko of NGE so she's creepy. Until next time, c ya!