AN: It's been a while since I updated but I've been working full time so, nutta and the fact I've been lazy. There's nothing much to say this time so I'll just cut out the blah blah blah and start the fic.

Disclaimer: I do not owe love hina

Chapter 12: An offer

In the midst of life we are in death.

Book of Common prayer 1662: The Burial of the Dead

-SWRC patients' room-

Quietly observing the young man lying in the hospital bed Yuki wondered what was going through his mind, deciding that he might want to talk Yuki approached him. "Kei, you ok?" there was nothing physically wrong with him but mentally…

"I killed someone…" he replied his voice filled with guilt, he had his forearm across his eyes.

"It had to be done."

"Why do I feel like this?" He lifted his arm to look at her

"It's only natural to feel like the way you do … I hate to say this but this is something that gets easier the more you do it, kinda sad really." She stared at the floor.

"Did I do the right thing?" he asked hoping that her answer will ease his guilt.

"Yes." She firmly told him, no hesitation what so ever "Anyone who doesn't hesitate to destroy another soul should be wiped out, that includes me."

"But you do it to protect others."

"Exactly and so did you." She pointed out.

"…" Before either of them spoke someone else did.

"Inspector Kagura?" Yuki turned to her left and saw a bandaged man lying on a bed several beds away from Keitaro "It is you!" the man got off and hobbled towards her.

"Hey, calm down." Yuki went up to him and helped him sit down on the empty bed next to Keitaro.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to thank you that's all." The man said joyously. Yuki stares at him quizzically "I was one of the armed troops from the incident against Malachite and Reptile."

"Oh, right."

"Thank you, Inspector. If it weren't for you more of my comrades would passed away." He took her hand and shook it hard.

"But I wasn't able to save everyone…" her voice lowered slightly

"It wasn't you're fault, you did your best. It was that bastard Malachite, I can't believe a 'soul master' would be working with 'The Prophets'! It's just not right, if I was stronger I swear I'll…"

"Excuse me?" a gentle tap of his shoulder caused him to turn around "I'm taking you for another check up." It was a nurse "Dark flame wounds are harder to treat you know." She gestured for him to sit in the wheel chair.

"Oh." The man sat down but before he was pushed away he thanked Yuki again.

"You seem rather popular." Keitaro sat up

"Well, there aren't many soul masters around." She shrugged.

"Yuki-san, I've been meaning to ask you." She sat on the bed telling him he had her attention "Since I joined the SWP I keep hearing three things being mentioned 'soul eater', 'the prophets' and 'soul master'. I know what a soul eater is but what's the other two?"

"I'm surprised no one told you…" she thought for a moment "Alright, I'll explain. As you know by now soul eaters are dangerous criminals that should be exterminated on sight, 'the prophets' are mainly composed of these beings. They're exact date of establishment is unknown but rumour has it is that they've been around since mortals decided to record history, although the members are wild they follow a strict hierarchy led by a high priest/priestess who recites from some book… the details are a bit sketchy but they're like a cult basically. The prophets follow the teaching of that book and believe that all souls are impure and one day all shall be returned to the 'promise land of light' but that's just an excuse for them to do whatever they like, they're criminals no matter how they portray themselves."

"Were those soul eaters from a while ago 'Prophets'?" Yuki nods

"The SWP have been trying to find their base of operation for centuries but with no luck." She leans back on her hands staring at the ceiling "That's pretty much about it for them, there's more but that's not important." She turns her head "Now on to 'soul masters' but how should I start?" she looked around trying to find an example and she did when she saw the TV mounted on the wall for the patients, it was showing a wild life documentary about how African lions hunt on in the wild "Ah! Kei, you know how everything in nature has a natural enemy? Well, soul masters are the natural enemies of soul eaters. Soul masters are people who have a high level of mastery over a certain skill, they're very powerful in combat but what makes them distinct from other souls is that only soul masters can use 'void' skills."

"What's a 'void' skill?"

"Void skill is unlike other skills, they have the ability to distort time and space, they're very difficult to use properly even for a soul master, I can barely use them myself. But not everyone can become a soul master they need a 'key'."

"?"

"They need a 'spirit weapon'." She nods knowingly "These are special weapons of unknown origin that respond only to certain individuals, it's as if they had a will of their own. A person if recognised by the weapon can merge with the weapon and become one and at that point the person will have the basis of using void skills and their original capabilities increased"

("Why those it sound like me and the hina blade?")

"But the reason why soul masters are referred as soul eaters' natural enemies is not because of the void skills but the soul master's ability to use the spirit weapon to return the soul eater back to they're original state before they started eating souls." He takes it all in quietly "And that's everything!" she finished her lengthy speech.

"Hmm." Keitaro sits on the bed thinking for a moment ("There are still a few things I don't get but that'll do for now, I guess.") "Thanks, that helped."

"No problem." She patted his leg "I need to go to the firearms department to get another gun, my old one is good for small stuff and all but I need more fire power. See you back home." She waved over her shoulder leaving through the door. Looking around the room a bit Keitaro noticed that majority of the patients were from the incident earlier, he shook his head as he saw how badly injured they were, some still unconscious.

("How can Kensuke do something like this?") He looked up to the TV and saw that it was changed to the spirit world news

"…this incident took place at 11:34am spirit world time." The news anchor reported monotonously "Members of the Prophet Reptile and Malachite were reported to be involved which led to mass causalities. These activities are said to have been steadily escalating and the public have concerns regarding the SWP's capabilities in handling these situations. We now take you to our live correspondent." The scene changes from the news room to the central park a man in a raincoat coming into view.

"Yes, we are now live at central park and as we can see the destruction is immense." The camera man pans to the right past the reporter surveying the destroyed park. "We confirmed that the destruction caused was indeed by Malachite." The camera returned to him and screen then split into two one of him and the other the news room.

"The destruction is clearly evident, what do you think of the public's view of this latest incident." The anchorman asked.

"Well, I managed to interview a few people and ask their opinions and they said they were severally disappointed in the SWPs incapabilites to handle one single man, from the eye witness' statements they claim that an entire attack team was incinerated by Malachite, they clearly did not stand a chance against him!" The reporter spoke with a hint of worry.

"But from what we were told this incident could've been far worst if it wasn't for Inspector Kagura Yuki." Some of the men in the patients' room cheered

"Yes, indeed." He replied quickly and happily "Inspector Kagura confronted Malachite and single handily repelled him."

"It is due to the inspector that the majority still have some confidence in the SWP?"

"Yes, many would agree, even though she was offered the chance to be promoted to be in one of the highest ranks in the SWP she refused and remained to be an Inspector to help people personally."

("She turned down a promotion?") Keitaro thought to himself.

"… yes, it's true that we can't always relay on Inspector and it was said that a new team will be established to specialise in countering soul eater incidents but it has yet to be confirmed…" the reporter drone on but Keitaro didn't listen.

("I shouldn't stay around too long.") Keitaro got up and informed the nurse of his departure ("I don't get it, one moment he's so friendly and the next he's destroying everything in sight… what's going on?") He wondered down the halls.

"Young man!" Keitaro looked around

"Dr Iowa?" he recognised the person that stopped him

"Yes." The man stopped next to him catching his breath "Thank goodness that I found you, I just wanted to thank you." He hugged Keitaro

"It's OK." He winched "But can I ask why they were after you?" The doctor let go.

"I don't know, I mean I may be a renowned physicist but I don't know what good that'll do them but recently I hear the Prophets have been targeting scientists." He pondered.

"…" both men were at a lost

"Well, I've just finished talking with the police and anyway, may I treat you to a drink while they assign me with new body guards." Keitaro didn't refuse "You know, maybe I'll talk to them and ask for you and inspector to be my body guards, that way not even Malachite will come near me." Keitaro felt a pang as the doctor mentioned Malachite "What do you say?"

"I don't think Yuki-chan will do something like that." He honestly replied and the doctor sighed in disappointment. The two carried on to the cafeteria talking small talk but Keitaro's mind was else where.

#-#-#

-SW city centre, cafe-

"You mean we were tipped off?" Yuki asked Fran

"Yeah, out of the blue some guy just phoned SWPHQ and told us Reptile was after Dr Iowa at that point we sent someone to check on the Dr at his place when there was no reply and they reported the window was smashed and the guards over souled." Fran told Yuki.

"Hmm, was it a neighbour or something?" Yuki looked bothered at the news.

"You and I both know the Dr lives in an isolated place. The informant left no traces what so ever even his or her voice was masked with a voice changer." Fran placed a piece of cake in her mouth. Yuki stayed silent "You still bothered about that rain?"

"Of course I am!" Her sudden burst startled Fran "Sorry, it's just I'm worried and curious about what could possibly put out Malachite's Dark Flame like that…" she snapped her fingers.

"Maybe it was a group of people, I mean, no one person could've possibly done all that." Fran had a knowing grin on his face "Then again, the press seem to think you were the one who used your skills to put out that fire. You're a hero again!"

"But I didn't! Sure I can use a few water skills but they're not that strong, I did my best but they're so hard to control. I had hoped I could use them against Malachite but Malachite would just turn it to steam… why are water skills so hard to learn?" Yuki slouched.

"Don't be like that, water skills are one of the hardest skills to learn, that's why there aren't any water skill masters." Fran patted her downhearted friend.

"But I can't beat Malachite with just ice skills." Her mood worsened even more.

"I can't help you there." The two did not speak

"Thanks for trying to help Fran, but I should be going."

"…sure." They waved and Yuki headed towards the busy crowds.

-Latter that night, Hinata Sou laundry deck-

"…" Yuki looks up at the full moon and sighs heavily

"Penny for your thoughts." The hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood up as Yuki recognised the voice.

"You!" She quickly turned and drew her gun at Malachite.

"Rather quick aren't we?" Malachite said indifferently as though the gun wasn't even pointing at him. "Hmm…" He looked at the sky.

"I should shoot you now! I'm warning you, these bullets don't just damage the body they damage the soul too!" She locked her sights on his head. "How did you find me?"

"Calm down, I'm only here to talk." He stretched his arms.

"I didn't tell you to move!" She readied herself

"I just want to talk, please, put the gun away."

"Like hell I will!" She fired he dodged and drew his own gun. The two were at a stand off.

"Inspector, I'm using a Smith & Wesson Model 29.44-cal Magnum revolver and you're using a Sig Sauer P245 both loaded with the same type of soul/body damaging bullets, but in a contest of power my gun far surpasses yours. Please, Inspector put the gun away, I wish you no harm." He told her kindly.

"You expect me to believe you?" She retorted remaining firm but she knew about the differences in their guns however she also knew his gun was slow so if she was able to dodge in time she could fire a few rounds at him.

"Is that how it's going to be?" Her glare intensifies "So be it." He fires and she quickly dives to the side rolling on the floor firing a few rounds, Malachite dodges to the right firing another shot not bothered that a bullet gazed his arm.

("Damn") Yuki didn't expect him to dodge the shots, as she readied to pull off another few shots she felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder ("?") she looked at her shoulder ("I've been hit?") The pain caused her to lose her grip on the gun, she tried to get up but a gun pointed at her caused her to stop on her knees. "Go on, over soul me like you did to the others." She showed no fear.

"Is this the only way in which I can talk to you?" She doesn't respond "You know, Keitaro is much more pleasant."

"Leave him out of this!" she snapped

"Heh heh." He rose a hand and Yuki was pulled towards a pentagram of fire

"Damn you! Argh!" The pain in her arm was getting the better of her.

"Don't worry, Hono Kuruma flame wheel doesn't burn, it just restrains." He walked up to her side and inspected her wound "I went for a ricochet, if I had shot you dead on I would've severed your arm."

"You want me to be thankful?" She struggled.

"You're not a very nice person." He removed her jacket

"Now you're gonna have your way with me! You pervert!" She head butted him hard

"!" He stumbled back clutching his cracked mask "Where do you get these ideas?" He looked at his palm to see if there was blood "I just wanted to patch your wound!"

"Don't you dare come anywhere near me!" She screamed

"Please, just relax." He approached her again this time more cautiously

"…grr." She struggled some more but the pain became even more unbearable so she relented. "If you tell anyone… I swear."

"Ok, ok… geez, so touchy." He tore open the top section of her shirt and applied some medicine to it now and then his eyes wondering elsewhere ("I shouldn't look! She's an injured woman but I'm still a man! Why do these things always happen to me? At least that bra is modest.") His eyes darted back and forth but his mask hid this from Yuki.

("That medicine, it's the same one that Kisaragi makes. Where did he get it?") He looked at her assailant ("And why is he doing this? Now that I think about it, I've known him for about 400 years and the way he does things is a mystery, what is he up to?")

"There, that should do it." Malachite placed Yuki's jacket back on to her "You feeling better?"

"…thanks." She whispered to the side.

"Excuse me?" Malachite leaned in pretending not to hear.

"…"

"Never mind. Anyway, the reason why I came hear was not to fight you but rather to deliver a message." He turned his back to her.

"What message?"

"I'm sure you're aware of the prophets being a little… 'rough' as of late, do you know why?"

"Why should I care, you're all criminals and I should over soul every single one of you!" She tried to gather her SE to break free but found it difficult.

"You should because their goal involves the destruction of everything we know." He gravely told her.

"What do you mean?" she stopped and decided it was best to listen

"They intend to gather scientists to create a weapon that can destroy the barriers between the worlds opening up a rift to the void."

"Why the void? It's nothing but a waste land inhabited by monsters."

"Yes but I'm sure you've been to the void now and then and couldn't you feel the SE in the air, it's at least a thousand times stronger then that of the spirit world and that is what the prophets want, that energy."

"But to tear open a rift like that you would need a very powerful weapon…"

"And they have it!" he cut her off "But not yet completed, they lack the scientific knowledge."

"Why are you telling me this?" The abduction began to make sense

"Because, the SWP have the same weapon as well."

"You lie! Boss would never authorise something that dangerous to be created!" Her anger suddenly exploded at Malachite's words.

"But its true, both SWP and the prophets are dabbling in forbidden technology of the void both seeking ultimate power. If you don't believe me, why not ask your boss?"

"I don't need to, I know you're lying."

"Such blind obedience, fine, have it your way. There's also another thing." He turned to her.

"What?" right now she was sick of him and if it weren't for the restraints she would've showed him a thing or two.

"It's about Keitaro." He enjoyed seeing her sudden change of expression "I and my comrades have expressed an interest in recruiting him into our ranks."

"I won't let the prophet or you get a hold of him!"

"The prophets? I never said anything about the prophets." She looked at him peculiarly "True, it may seem that I am a member of the prophets but that's merely a façade but in reality I work for someone else." He placed his hand on her head "There is a third player, one with power that neither you nor or I could possibly comprehend. This player has seen the destructive power of this weapon first hand and wants to put a stop to it but first we need man power." He stepped back "Keitaro is an excellent candidate he displayed excellent combat skills this morning and that was just the tip of the iceberg."

"You tipped us off." she just realised

"Yes, it was me who suggested the idea of kidnapping Dr Iowa to Reptile. We wanted to see if he was capable soul master and he passed."

"?"

"Didn't you know? Keitaro, like us is a soul master his abilities are beginning to awaken." Dark flames being to burn at Malachite's feet "Oh, inspector the invitation also applies to you, it'd be nice to work together for once rather than against each other. Don't worry about Hinata Sou, I won't tell anyone. Bye!" he vanished with the flames.

"Wait!" The flame wheel flickered out and she was dropped to the floor. "He got away again!" she looked around trying to pin point his location.

"Is someone up here?" Yuki dove for her gun and aimed for the stairs "Don't shoot!" Keitaro held up his hands.

"It's you, Kei." She lowered her gun

"What happened?" he saw blood on her

"We talk in your room." She dragged him along looking over her shoulder. Once in the manager's room Yuki locked all the doors and window and made sure the room was secure before sitting down.

"What's going on?" Keitaro asked obvious concern about her strange actions.

"Malachite knows we're here!" She checked the bullets in her gun.

"So that means your shoulder…" he leans in and lifts her jacket, he immediately went for the medical kit in his closest when he saw the blood seeping through the bandages.

"Stay still." Even though it was pretty much taken care of Keitaro felt it was safer if he added a few more layers.

"Just put more dressing on it, Malachite took care of most it." He stopped and looked at her confused "He wasn't out to get me, surprisingly. He fixed me up before he left." She looked around the room paranoia seeping in her mind "Where's your Mateba Autorevoler?" He pointed at his closet "Go get it."

"Is it really necessary? If he wanted to kill us he would've done it by now." He took out his gun and loaded it.

"…" she knew that was the case but would not admit it so she pretended to put load her gun

"…"

"Kei, I want to ask you and be honest, do you know Malachite?"

"No… but it's strange, it's like I've met him before."

"Maybe you have in your past life, whenever you're reborn you forget your past life, sort of like a 'clean slate' per se but there are things you can't get rid of like strong memories. I want you to think as hard as you can, do you remember?" She needed the answers because she didn't like being in the dark.

"I can't… it's just a feeling." He shook his head "Yuki-san, there's something I should tell you."

"Hmm?" He took in a deep breath and told her about how over the past month or so he's been meeting with Malachite in the woods and he saw the range of expressions on Yuki's face shock, anger, confusion and then nothing "Yuki-san?" he tried to look at her face.

"I can't believe you kept that a secret." She spoke through gritted teeth

"I'm sorry." He retreated into the wall.

"Sigh" she ran a hand through her hair "I should give you a sound scolding but it explains this morning's incident." ("So he knew about this place all along.")

"I'm sorry" he apologised again "He seemed sincere."

"Hmm, he does things so strangely." ("Maybe he does work for someone else.") She looked at the gun in her hand ("We need a plan of action.") "Kei, don't tell anyone in the SWP about tonight, I need to call a few contacts and get some info. There are some things I need to confirm and it might get ugly." She cocked her gun.

"Then I should go with you." He got up immediately.

"Sure, I could use some help and see what you can really do." She turns serious "But you might have to shoot someone again."

"I thought that would be the case but I'll do it, I don't want you to get hurt again." Because his fringe covered his eyes he didn't see the faint smile on Yuki's face.

"We leave in a half an hour, get ready." She left to get prepared leaving him to get himself together. Quietly a board on the ceiling closes the hole to the manager's room and the person who closed the hole slowly crawled away from it her eyes wide in shock, she looked at her door and quickly ran outside down the corridor to room 302.

"Motoko!" Naru hysterically rapped on the door. "Motoko!" moments later the door opened

"Naru-sempai, what is it?" she spoke groggily but then noticed her friend's state "Naru-sempai?" Motoko snapped out of her sleep and gripped her senior's shoulders "What's wrong?"

"It's Keitaro and Yuki!" she blurted "Blood… they're going out to shoot people…" she spewed out incoherently.

"Calm down, you're not making any sense." Naru stopped and took deep breaths her composure steadying slightly "What's going on?"

"It started when I heard voices coming from Keitaro's room so I went over to the hole and was about to tell him to shut up when I saw Yuki sitting with Keitaro by the table…" She paused before continuing "But there was blood all over her shirt and her shoulder was bandaged and…"

"Urashima did that?" Motoko accused and was already reaching for her sword.

"No, I don't think so, Keitaro was there trying to help. Then I looked at the table and I saw a gun there and bullets and then they said something about getting information and shooting people again, I'm worried what they're doing something illegal." She was frightened that the two were committing crimes and that was how Motoko interpreted it as well.

"Where are they now?"

"They said they were leaving in half an hour but I don't know where to." She wiped away some tears.

"Don't worry Naru-sempai, I'll follow them and make sure nothing happens." Motoko reassured Naru and went to get dressed "You look after Su." She placed a comforting hand on her senior before leaving.

#-#-#

"Kei, hurry. The guy I want info from is going to leave soon." Yuki rushed him as he put on his shoes.

"Just who are we after?" He hoped over to her stomping his foot so that his shoe will fit.

"An arms dealer." She watched him locked the front door.

"Seriously?" He followed her down the stairs.

"Yeah but the thing is he travels with a lot of body guards, so they won't let us walk up to their boss and say 'hi'. That's why we'll be needing these." She pulled out her gun and she bobbed her head towards him, understanding what she meant he pulled out his gun as well. "Make sure you have plenty of bullets."

"I brought it all." He exhaled hard.

"Nervous?" she picked up his anxiety "That's understandable for a first raid but remember the instant you see them reaching for their guns, you open fire and don't stop until they're all dead, understand?" He slowly nods "Just repeat what you did today and you'll be fine. Let's go!" she holstered her gun and ran and Keitaro followed immediately. Silently in the bushes Motoko heard all of their conversation and persuaded them.

("Naru-sempai was right, they are up to no good. I knew the instant that I met Yuki-san there was something strange about her and now here she is leading that simpleton Urashima into this life of crime, but I won't let her do that!") She skilfully went from one shadow to another right on the tails of Yuki and Keitaro to an unknown destination.

End of chapter 12

AN: This chapter was rather rushed because of the lack of time and I wanted to update before I went back to University to start my second year. Now about the guns involved here, they all really exist some of you may have heard of them but probably not the one Keitaro has.

Mateba Autorevolver- This gun can be best described as the one Knives uses in Trigun, except the bullets don't eject when you open the chamber. The barrel is at the bottom this reduces the recoil and improves overall accuracy.

Sig Sauer P245- A semi automatic Sig Sauer overall it's very well balanced firepower, reliability, stopping power etc but not as powerful as the revolvers used by the other characters.

Smith & Wesson model 2944-cal magnum revolver-aka most powerful handgun in the world, appeared in a film staring Clint Eastwood quite a while ago, I doubt I explain anymore about it's destructive capabilities and why I chose this gun for Malachite.

Well, that's it for now, Motoko has been brought into the picture and the 'third player' has been introduced/mentioned things are moving nicely if only I can be bothered to write more often… sighs, until next time, bye.