AN: Hello people, how are you all? Now that everything has finally settled I can start writing again, and if you're wondering, yes, I've received my exam results and well… never mind. Any how, that aside I guess I should've started writing again last week but for the previous week I was in Turkey 18/6/05-26/6/05, you know the European country and I've just came back a day or two ago and I've gotten use to the time zone again and I can finally sleep again. Some of you might have noticed that this author note seems slightly weird, I've just noticed it now myself, sorry it's due to shock, lack of sleep, sun stroke…but I'll do my best not to affect my writing. So, let us begin.

Disclaimer: I do not owe Love Hina

Chapter 10: The flame burns

"Guns aren't lawful;

Nooses give;

Gas smells awful;

You might as well live.

Dorothy Parker 1893-67: 'Resume' (1937)

"Mein Gott!" Edison slams the keyboard in front of him hard as he leans back in his chair staring at the ceiling of his office. "After all that work I'm sure I had it!" He throws his arms in the air and mutters in German.

"Something wrong, Edison?" A voice asked him

"Wargh?" He girlishly cried before falling out of his chair on to the hard floor.

"Hmm?" Kisaragi leaned over him

"Kisaragi, I really wish you'd stop doing that." He got up picked up his chair and returned to the desk he was at earlier.

"What are you doing?" She peered at the screen he was looking at "Are you still at it?" she looked at him smugly with a neutral expression if possible.

"I've almost got it, give me more time." He typed at the keyboard.

"I can help." She told him in her usual monotone voice

"I want to do this by myself. No, I need to."

"So be it."

"What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to see what you were doing."

"Malachite give you the slip again, huh?" there was no response "I thought so, I think you give him too much freedom."

"He's not a child, I trust his judgement." She narrowed her eyes

"I suppose but make sure he doesn't disrupt our masters' plans. He's good, the best we've ever seen I'd say but he tends to let his emotions take over a lot, he's too attached to the people of his past."

"And you're not?" Edison stopped typing "He's here in the name of vengeance and so are you."

"But I've managed to not let it cloud my thoughts, he hasn't. I mean someone just has to mention 'her' and he jumps at them… it can be dangerous if he keeps this up, not just for him but all of us." He spoke solemnly.

"I know."

"Have you told him?"

"I don't know if I should."

"You're worried about how he'll react, how you've been deceiving him all this time."

"I haven't!" She yelled out with more emotion than intended "It's just that I don't know how to tell him." She quietened down as something seemed to flash in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Kisaragi." He turned his chair around. "I've shouldn't have said it like that. I can understand how you feel, you always thought of him as your son, you would always look after him and he'd always need you. You're worried that that relationship will end once he finds out and he'll leave you or worst, hate you as he hated 'her'. I lost someone too and the pain is still there." He placed his hand on his heart. "And I wish that pain would never befall upon you, my dearest friend." He looked directly into her eyes.

"Thank you."

"Hah, just advice from a parent to another parent." He turned back to the screen and his eye brows furrowed looking at the image on the screen.

"Advice, hmm? Let me give you mine." She moved him aside and typed on the keyboard.

"!" Her friend stared at the screen in amazement "How?"

"It was simple really." She turned to leave "I have to go home now, I need to cook dinner for Malachite. Maybe I'll use that new experimental uranium core oven, I'm sure it'll make a nice lamb roast." She stopped for a second and turned back to her serious self. "When the time is right, I'll tell him." She faded into nothing leaving Edison staring at the spot she once stood.

"I know it'll be fine, he's not like that. He will forgive you." He looked at something he took out from his pocket clutching it tightly in his hand he closed his eyes and smiled at something in his mind, returning the item back into his pocket he turned around and looked over the image with a critical eye "If I knew I was suppose to aim for the legs I wouldn't have spent two days on this boss. Can't believe I started this FPS game to get a break from work but now I'm more stressed than before…" he stared at the screen "Is that the rocket launcher? Maybe I'll play a bit more, work can wait." He sat back up and typed at the keyboard again smiling as he enjoyed firing off his new toy.

-Hinata Sou, some time later-

"Thanks Shinobu-chan, that was a great meal as usual." Keitaro complemented the young chef a goofy smile present on his face.

"Thank you, sempai." Shinobu blushed as usual

"Narusegawa, can I get the notes that I missed…" before he could finish asking the brunette she left hastily "…from this morning." He finished before he slumped his shoulders in defeat.

"Ah, don't worry yourself Keitaro. Naru will come around, she's just annoyed that you left her hanging this morning." Kitsune patted him on the back.

"Kei," Yuki wiped her mouth with a napkin "Can I talk to you for a second?" She got up and indicated for him to follow.

"I wonder what they're up to? Keitaro sure is friendly with the new girl, maybe… heh heh heh…" Kitsune smirked whilst rubbing her chin thinking how she can profit from this.

"Bragh…" Keitaro felt a chill run down his spine as he shuts the door of his room. Yuki who was sitting at the table didn't notice this, she pointed to the opposite of her and gave a simple nod.

"Where did you disappear off to this time?" She went straight to the point.

"It's like this…" he began

"Do you know how dangerous it is for you to wonder out there by yourself?" Her voice began to rise in volume

"Yuki-san it's just that…"

"For some unknown reason Malachite has some twisted interest in you."

("I really can't tell her where I was now.") "Yuki-san, why do you hate Kensuke so much?"

"Why? I've told you before he's a criminal and he seems to enjoy invading my personal life."

"?" He looked at her perplexed

"Never mind, it's not about me right now but you."

"Err…" a mechanical jingle interrupted him.

"Wait a sec." Yuki took out her cell phone and looked at the number "Who's this?" she flipped the phone and answered "Hello?" The volume being rather low Keitaro could not hear the speaker "It's you Kisaragi, how did you get my number? Oh, from Fran. Yeah, he's with me now… so he was with you… OK, thanks." She hung up and began saving the number under Kisaragi's name. "Kisaragi said you were with her the whole time getting your shoulder sorted."

"Err, yeah." Keitaro was rather glad and suspicious about Kisaragi's call ("How did she know?") He didn't dwell on it though.

"Stupid thing." Yuki continued to push the buttons on her phone "This is why I hate technology…" she continued to struggle with her phone "Oh, I just got this by the way so I'm still trying to figure it out… there." She flipped her phone and put it away "By the way Kei, do you have a cell phone?"

"I do." He reached to his side and produced one.

"Hmm" she reached out and took it "Looks pretty normal. I'll get Fran to get you a new one."

"Why?"

"This one only works in the living world, you'll need one from the spirit world that way you can use it in other worlds."

"What's wrong with telepathy cards?" He took his phone back

"Not everyone has a card of you or you have one of theirs and it's easier with a phone, another thing when you get calls from the non living worlds only those with high SE can hear the phone go off. Technology in the spirit world is very different."

"I see."

"I almost forgot. I contacted the cable guy to install cable for us so that we can get channels from other worlds that way we can receive spirit world news." ("Not to mention my favourite shows.") "And just like the phone only those with high SE can see the images those who can't see static."

"You seem to have everything planned." Keitaro smiled

"Hey, technically I'm your sempai and I wouldn't be a very good one if anything happens to you."

"Thanks."

"Feh, don't worry about it." She waved it off got up and left.

"I feel so tired." Keitaro laid on his back and drifted of to sleep

#-#-#

-Unknown location-

The cathedral has not changed since its mistress awoken from her sleep it remained as dark and depressing as it was before, void of life where only hungry souls reside. Currently the mistress of the cathedral sat by herself in a room lit by the two moons in the dark cloudless sky there were candles as well but they flicker as the strong gusts threaten to blow them out, shadows danced on the walls as the flames flicker again and again creating the illusion that there was someone else in the room.

"Reptile!" She called out.

"Yesss, mistresss." Reptile appeared before her in a kneeling position.

"Where is Malachite?"

"He isss off gathering SE malady."

"Again?" she raised an eyebrow "For the new guy he sure works hard." She stretched out her arm and tapped the empty cup in front of her. Bowing Reptile stepped forward and poured liquid into the cup once done he handed her the cup before stepping back into his kneeling position. "It was a good idea recruiting him after all, 'Malachite-The eternal dark flame' has a nice ring to it. Maybe I should see him."

"Mistresss, he is unworthy of your presence and he doesss whatever he wantsss." Reptile protests

"And he produces results. Wish I can say the same for you." She looks down on him taking a sip from her cup "I remember you telling me that you'll find another scientist to get the spirit bomb completed but how long has it been?" she paused a moment her eyes narrowing slightly.

"But it isn't like that! All the capable scientistsss are guarded by the SWP so we can't do anything without being noticed." He fearfully replied hoping that it would be enough to spare him from her wrath.

"Really? Well, we'll just have to cause them trouble then, won't we?" he quickly nodded his head.

"Then I will begin the hunt immediately." He was about to leave when suddenly froze in place.

"Reptile, I do not tolerate failure. You know the consequences."

"Of course!" he answered without hesitation.

"Good" He fell to the floor, quickly scurrying away she was once left alone. "Sigh. It's so boring here, maybe I should go out for a walk or something… I have been asleep for 200 years or so. Why not?" she got up patted her cloths and took leave through the door.

-Next day Hinata Sou-

"Kei, I'm off to work." Yuki shouted through the door of the manager's room "You rest up and take it easy on that arm of yours."

"Mmm" was the reply

"I'll be back late and I'm taking Seeker with me, see ya!" he heard the retreating sound of soft footsteps

"What time is it?" Keitaro felt around his futon for his alarm clock, when he found it he brought it to his face "I should really get up." As he sat up he noticed that the pain in his shoulder was no longer there curious he lifted his shirt to inspect his wound. "It doesn't hurt." He removed his shirt and carefully touched the bandaged area, deciding to investigate further he began to remove the bandages. What he found surprised him instead of a deep bullet wound there was now merely a scar and by the looks of it that to will soon fade, putting his shirt back on he disposed the bloody bandages in to the bin. "I need something to eat, and then I'll the hot springs." He proceeded to the kitchen

-Spirit world-

"Mmm, so warm." Malachite mumbled as he turned in his bed the covers only covering the lower half of his body the rest of the cover trailed down onto the floor. Completely unaware of the person in the room Malachite continued his blissful slumber that is until the bright sunshine shone onto his face, "Aragh!" he buried his face into his pillow.

"Must we do this every morning?" Kisaragi asked standing next to the window blinds.

"Haven't you heard 'Let the dead rest'?"

"Fine." She walked up to him pulled off the covers exposing his back she sat on the bed and rubbed his back.

"!" Malachite went rigid and he knew what was coming. Leaning closer Kisaragi laid onto his back and wrapped her arms around the waist of the young man beneath him.

"This is nice." She rested her head on top of his. In an instant Malachite was standing right next to the bed leaving Kisaragi laying face down on the bed arms crossed in front of her stomach.

"Do you have to do that every morning?" Malachite yelled pointing at her his other hand holding on to the rim of his shorts.

"Only when you refuse to wake up."

"Sigh. Don't you have work?"

"Someone can cover for me." She turned her head to face him "What about you? Now that 'The Prophets' high priestess has awaken I thought you'd be more preoccupied."

"Not really. All she wants is SE this and SE that." He looked around for something "And I've gathered enough SE for them to keep them off my back."

"Have you met the high priestess yet?"

"Rakil? No, they don't trust me enough."

"When the time comes be careful." She spoke with a voice of concern.

"Have you met her?" he was intrigued

"Only from the things I've heard." She snuggled against the pillow "What about the spirit bomb?"

"That? Don't worry, the person or rather thing in charge of finding scientists to make the bomb is Reptile and quite frankly he's not very good at it. But what I'm worried the most is that he might get desperate and kidnap scientists regardless of the SWP's protection."

"If that's the case the SWP will just have to complete the bomb first."

"I suppose so" he sounded uncertain and Kisaragi picked up on it.

"What's troubling you?" He stopped his search and looked directly at her

"Is this right? Using one bomb against another, you should know how dangerous these things are I mean it completely destroyed a world."

"I know but it's the only way we can cover our own plans." Both remained silent until Kisaragi reached to the side and pulled out a pair of pants.

"I was looking for that." He took it from her

"How old are you? 519? And still such a messy boy."

"At least I'm not as old as human civilization and still single." He struck back and she promptly silenced herself "heh."

"You are off to see that Urashima again?" the way she said it didn't seem like a question but rather a statement.

"Yeah, now that his powers have awoken he needs guidance just like when you taught me." He slipped on his pants.

"Try not to get too carried away." She pulled the covers over herself "Make breakfast yourself, the vegetables are in the toaster making them nice and crunchy, the eggs, uncracked are in the microwave and I've left the bread to fry in he pan go check if there's still oil in there."

"I think I'll eat out." He cringed at her cooking style his mind returning to last night's dinner no one alive or dead had to suffer such a fate.

-Hinata Sou-

"Hah, the hot springs sure has gotten a lot dirtier, does anybody else but me do the cleaning?" Keitaro complained scrubbing one of the rocks "I rather be on patrol with Yuki-san… or maybe not." He stopped remembering what happened yesterday "I know its wrong but like Kensuke and Yuki told me I have to do it."

"Do what?"

"Hah?" he turned to the voice and saw Naru and Kitsune standing by the door wearing only towels "Er, nothing!"

"Well, if it's nothing shoo! Some of us need to take a bath!" Kitsune waved her hands at him escorting him to the door.

"I guess I should take a bath myself." The door slammed behind him, he scratched his head and went to his room to pick out a few bath items. When he got to his private tub he didn't expect he'd have a visitor. "Kensuke?" He exclaimed at the wanted criminal leaning over the balcony.

"Hi." He waved over his shoulder "This is a great view you know." He peered down at the hot springs below.

"Get away from there!" he pulled him away from the balcony.

"Keitaro, are you spying on us again?" That was Naru's voice she had heard the commotion "You pervert!"

"It's not what you think!" He leaned over to try and explain.

"Argh!" Naru grunted and there some noises from below.

"What the?" A massive racoon statue struck him on the head.

"Serves you right, pervert!"

"Does this happen often." Malachite looked at Keitaro laying by his feet then at the girls down at the springs ("Was that who I think it was?") His thoughts were disrupted by a moan coming from below "Let me help you."

"Thanks." He managed to sit up thanks to Malachite's help

"Don't you know how to use a barrier?"

"You mean this?" he formed a barrier around him just like the one he formed in front of Yuki

"That it, why don't you use it? It'd protect you from a lot of things and by the looks of it you need it!"

"I can't concentrate." He rubbed his head slightly amazed that there were no serious injuries "What are you doing here?" he finally remembered that Malachite shouldn't be here.

"I came to check up on my second favourite Inspector, Kagura-san being my favourite." He sat next to him and examined his shoulder "Just as I thought."

"It was all better this morning."

"Good, then you're ready to begin training."

"Huh?"

"You know how to use skills!" He over exaggerates his point by making elaborate hand gestures, ones that remained Keitaro of the masked super heroes on TV he used to watch when he was younger. "Then…" he stopped mid sentence and jumped off the balcony.

"Keitaro!" Kitsune, now fully dressed opened the door not caring if he was 'decent' or not to meet people "You really screwed up this time, Naru's a fuming." She reached out a hand to him, he placed his hand on hers thinking she was offering a hand "Not that silly." She slapped his hand away "Money!" she jabbed her hand out again

"What for?"

"For the show of course." She struck a pose

"?" He learned not to argue with her and just gave her a few thousand yen to get her to leave.

"Does she do that to you all the time?" Malachite asked when he was sure Kitsune was no longer in hearing range.

"Yeah." He depressingly answered

"Hmm." Malachite flipped over the railing he was hanging on and landed next to Keitaro "Aren't you the manager though?"

"She black mails me." His depression sank a bit more.

("Poor guy. Hmm, I should be able to dig up dirt on her but for now…") "Hey, like I said, want to train? It'll help take your mind off of things."

"Why not?" He nodded

"Then, let's go!" he picked up Keitaro carried him on his shoulder and jumped off the balcony towards the forest regardless of the screams of the young man on his shoulder.

-Moments later Hinata Forest-

"Finally." Malachite landed in a clearing and placed the manager down.

"Huh?" Keitaro shakily stood up

"We're here." He circled on the spot his arms held aside. "Now we can start your training." A burst of dark flame erupted in Malachite's hand and soon it formed into a dark blade, so dark was the blade it looked as if the darkness itself captured and made solid "Your turn. All you need to do is concentrate."

"All right." Keitaro held his hand out and after a while fire began to burn it was small at first but it eventually grew into the Hina blade.

"Good. Urashima Keitaro." Malachite points his blade at him "I, under the name Kensuke, will now teach you the sword arts that my sensei taught me and the skills of a 'Fire skill user'. It will push you to your limits but in return it will grant you the power to protect the ones you love, do you want this?"

"I do." Keitaro answered without hesitation

"Then let us begin." Soon pillars of black and orange fire sprouted from the forest firing in all directions despite all this no one seems to notice.

-Spirit world-

"What is that thing? A woman or a monster?" A human like creature screeched at its equally dehumanized companion.

"She's too strong, just keep running." The creature ran through the roads ignoring traffic whilst painfully clutching its frozen arm.

"Kori Habari! Ice Lancet" A female voice called out and the first creature was skewered through the chest by a spear like icicle. The creature didn't even managed a scream or a cry as its body fell to the concrete floor and began dissolving.

"Ryo!" it's companion screamed and turned to see Yuki looking rather miffed walking towards it.

"I don't tolerate Soul Eaters, especially when they ambush people like that." She levelled her Yari and took a stance.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Senior Inspector Kagura Yuki of the SWP- Soul Killer Department"

"! The famous 'Soul Master' that specialise in ice skills!" it began to retreat slightly

"Don't bother trying to run, there's a motorway up ahead the chances of you crossing it is slim and besides." She looked over her shoulder to see a few SWP officers arriving pushing people that have gathered back and the sounds of sirens can be heard in the distance.

"Spare me! I surrender!" It held a hand into the air the other hand slowly reaching to its back for a knife as soon a Yuki saw the handle she attacked.

"Kori Yowai! Ice Age" She twirled her Yari at such a high velocity everything around her began to freeze including the Soul Eater in front of her, the people behind her took cover and seconds later the area around her was completely covered in ice, the crowd looked at the scene and found that the ice stopped only about a meter in front of them. Yuki drove the butt of her Yari's handle onto the frozen floor and all the ice shattered including the remaining soul eater.

"Whoa!" The crowd cheered and applauded her.

"That was amazing!" someone yelled.

"That's Inspector Kagura!" Another yelled

"Really? That's her?" The crowd continued by now more officers had arrived and most of them were busy fending of the crowd which now included some news reporters.

"Inspector!" an officer came up to Yuki "Our men are now identifying the Soul Eaters before they completely dissolve, perhaps you should leave."

"Yeah, I should. How many attacks does this make?"

"About 5, Inspector."

"Alright, wrap things up and I'll handle the report." Her Yari froze and shattered into dust she removed the staff from her back and was about to take off when she stopped.

"Inspector?" the officer looked at the direction Yuki was looking at.

"It's nothing, it's just that… I thought… never mind."

"You should get some rest Inspector."

"I should, shouldn't I?" she hovered above the ground ("I thought someone was staring at me?") she looked to her side again deciding not to probe on further she took off in the direction of SWPHQ.

"She's a lot more skilled than that Urashima." A man appeared from the spot where Yuki was looking at.

"She has more experience though." A female rose from the shadows next to the man. "So you think I can beat her."

"I doubt it, like you said she has experience."

"You're quite frank aren't you? I can't believe you'd shatter a girl's confidence like that." The female whined.

"You're not a child, so stop whining." The man disappeared into thin air.

"Hey! Wait!" The female disappeared in the flicker of a shadow.

-End of chapter 10-

AN: Sighs, that's one more chapter down I really don't know how long this is going to last perhaps another ten chapters minimum? There are still so many things I haven't done yet… Anyhow, as I write this fic I started to get a bored feeling so I was thinking maybe I'll do another fic, a different type but then I realised that I'm lazy, shame really because I was thinking of a sequel to my first fic 'A second chance of happiness' you know at the end when Keitaro junior promised Nako that they'll go to Tokyo U together, I wanted to write about how these two young people knew who they made their promise to, unlike their parents and how they deal with it and so on, it was originally going to be called 'A second chance at happiness: take II" But I'm not too sure if I should, so, please tell me what you all think. Until next time, bye.

PS. Has anyone heard of 'Gaia on line'? It's like a cute little MMONRPG where cute little Final Fantasy like characters do things to earn money and accessorise to make themselves look cooler, kind of fun really I joined a few days ago on 6/7/05 under the name Malchia, yes, that's the name from my FF XI character who sadly went to digital heaven a few months ago so I named him in tribute to him, Malchia the first may you rest in peace, sigh.