A GIFT, AND A CURSE
Love Hina is the property of Ken Akamatsu, all other characters belong to me.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: What's up? I know it's been a while since I updated. I've just been lazy lately, that and I couldn't stop playing Mega Man X7&8. Damn my addiction to the blue bomber, but anyway it's like Cheech Marin said in Ghostbusters 2 when he sees the ghostly Titanic dock, better late then never. As for those that gave their thoughts on the basis for the organization that will appear later on were all pretty good. However the answer is they will be based on the Sarafan brotherhood from the Legacy of Kain series. I think I've talked enough so here's the next chapter.
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE TRUTH REVEALED
It is a quiet walk back to the Hinata for Keitaro and Kitsune. As they walk Keitaro thinks to hinself about the events that have just transpired.
"What am I going to do? I knew they'd eventually find out about my being a vampire, but I didn't want it happen like this. Once it gets out to the others I'll be screwed. I just know Motoko will want to kill me for real, and she might not be wrong in trying to do so. Why do these things always happen to me?" thinks Keitaro to himself.
Before long the reach the steps of the Hinata and begin the ascent to the apartment. Once at the top of the steps the two enter and head to Keitaro's room to await Lucien.
However Lucien is not rushing to return to the apartments just yet. After he disposes of the bodies of the three Yakuza lackies he walks around a little thinking of how best to handle the current situation.
"This is a somewhat unexpected turn of events. The most simple solution would be for me to erase Kitsunes' memory of what happened, but that probably won't matter in the end. I know Keitaro would eventually tell them about what he is, so erasing her memory would do little good. Revealing ourselves to humans never turns out good in the end. Even if I told him not to he would do it anyway, because he can't stand lying to those girls. He'll have to learn this for himself." thinks Lucien as he looks up to the moon with a rather sad look on his face as if remembering a painful memory. He ignores the thought and makes his way back to the Hinata. When Lucien returns to the Hinata he heads straight for Keitaro's room. He enters the room and it's two occupants turn to him.
"All right. Now do you two want to tell me what is going on?" asks Kitsune. Keitaro looks to Lucien and then to Kitsune and finally to the ground. Lucien simply closes his eyes and lowers his head before he speaks.
"It is not my decision to tell you it is Keitaro's. Well Keitaro, do you want to tell her?" says Lucien as he raises his head and looks at Keitaro.
"Yes, I want to tell her the truth." says Keitaro with a hint of fear in his voice. Lucien says nothing, he only nods.
"Well then Keitaro, tell me the truth." says Kitsune.
"All right, but you may want to sit down first." says Keitaro as Kitsune sits down.
"For the past week I've been keeping a secret from the rest of you." says Keitaro.
"Does this secret have something to do with what happened in the alley?" asks Kitsune.
"Yes. You see a week ago I was attacked by three guys and held at gunpoint for my money. One of them shot me and I was going to die. Until Lucien came along and saved me, by turning me into a vampire. So you see I've been dead or rather undead for a week now. " says Keitaro as Kitsune takes in all the information.
"Well that would explain why you've been sleeping all day, and how you overpowered those two men so easily. After seeing all that happened in the alley my mind was leading me to the conclusion that you were a vampire. Even though the very idea was rather unbelievable, it was what made the most sense." says Kitsune.
"So now that you know. What are you going to do about it?" asks Keitaro in a worried tone.
"I don't know. You haven't drunk any of the others blood have you?" asks Kitsune.
"Just one, yours." says Keitaro as he looks away from her. As she hears this Kitsune touches her neck as a look of shock comes across her face.
"You, drank my blood? So what I dreamt really happened, but why Keitaro?" asks Kitsune. Before Keitaro has a chance to respond, Lucien speaks.
"Do not be too angry with him Kitsune. He was not trying to harm you. He simply could not control himself. In truth he showed great restraint when he feed from you. He took no more blood from you than you would lose from a blood donation. You and I both know he would never intentionaly try to harm you or anyone else." says Lucien
"I'm sorry Kitsune. I never meant to hurt you or anyone. Can you forgive me?" says Keitaro, but as his eyes close he feels a hand touch the side of his face and he looks to see Kitsunes' face just a few inches from his, a look of understanding on her face.
"You don't need to appologize Keitaro. You protected me from those men. That more than makes up for you takeing some of my blood. Even if you're a vampire you're still the same old Keitaro to me." says Kitsune with a smile on her face.
"Thank you Kitsune. You don't know how much this means to me." says Keitaro with a look of relief on his face.
"Keitaro are you going to tell the others this?" asks Kitsune.
"Yes, I can't stand lying to them like this. I think I'll tell them tomorrow after dinner. So if you would not tell any of them yet, especially Motoko I would really apreciate it." says Keitaro.
"Sure it's the least I could do. My lips are sealed." says Kitsune.
"Well now everything is settled for the moment. If you plan on doing this I'll be there to keep things from getting out of hand Keitaro." says Lucian.
"Thanks Lucian. I have a feeling I will need it." says Keitaro.
"In the meantime why don't the both of you take some time to think over tonights events." says Lucien as he leaves the room.
"Sounds like a good idea." says Keitaro.
"I agree. Oh and Keitaro if you ever need a donation I'll be more than happy to oblige. We could have some real fun." says Kitsune in a seductive manner as she leaves the room.
"Even after all that's happened tonight she still teases me like that. Oh well that's our Kitsune." thinks Keitaro. Tomorrow would definately change the lives of all the residents of the Hinata, that was certain. How much though remains to be seen.
The next day comes all too soon but the sun has yet to set. For some of the day Lucien slept only to rise an hour or so before three o'clock. His reasons for this are simple. Not wanting the coming evenings situation to get too out of control he has decided to ask for some assitance from a rather unlikely source. All he must do is wait for his assitance to arrive home from school.
As Motoko makes her way up the long stairs of the Hinata after getting out of school for the day, she notices someone is waiting for her at the top of the stairs. She recognizes this person as Lucien. Even though he has not yet done anything to seem like a threat to herself or the others, she still does not completly trust him and simply glares at him as she gets closer to him.
"Ah, good afternoon Motoko. It is a lovely day is it not?" says Lucien in an attempt to start a peacfull conversation with the resident swordswoman.
"What do you want Lucien? I have things to do so I can't have my time wasted." says Motoko in a cold tone.
"Very well I need to speak with you on a certain matter, but I wish to do so in private. I promise not take up much of your time." says Lucien.
"Fine. Where do you want to talk?" says Motoko.
"Where we sparred before. We'll have all the privacy we'll need there." says Lucien.
"Very well let's get this over with then. I need to train." says Motoko as she walks off behind the apartments followed closely by Lucien. When they arrive to their destination Motoko turns to face Lucien.
"Now what do you wish to talk about?" says Motoko.
"It is about Keitaro. Tonight he is going to reveal to you all the truth about his being a vampire." says Lucien.
"He's going to tell us everything? Why though, has he not thought about how the others will react?" asks Motoko with a look of surprise on her face.
"I believe he has. However he also no longer wishes to lie to them about it." says Lucien.
"I see. That can't be the only reason you wanted to talk." says Motoko.
"Very perceptive. No that's not all I wanted to talk about. I would like you to do me a small favor." says Lucien
"What kind of favor?" asks Motoko.
"I want you to not try anything against Keitaro when he speaks with you all tonight. That is all I ask and in return when it's done you may ask me for anything you wish. As long as it is within reason of course." says Lucien.
"Anything I wish?" says Motoko.
"That is correct." replies Lucien. Motoko thinks for a moment on the offer before giving an answer.
"Very well I accept your offer." says Motoko.
"Excellent. Then I will see you this evening."says Lucien as he turns and leaves.
Before long dinner time rolls around and during the meal it is very quite as almost no one speaks. After the meal Keitaro asks for everyone to gather in the main room and if someone will go fetch Haruka, as he wants her present for what he is about to say. Once everyone is gathered they all have a seat, save Keitaro and Lucien. As they wait for Keitaro to speak an aura of anxiety can be felt by all.
"So what is it you wanted to tell us Keitaro?" asks Haruka in her usual calm tone. Though she has the feeling that whatever it is is important.
"Well as I'm sure you've all noticed over the past week ther have been some changes, mainly with my new schedule." says Keitaro as everyone simply nods in agreement.
"The truth is that I have been keeping a secret from you all, and I can't keep lying to you all about it." says Keitaro as he pauses and awaits a response. And get a response he did, though not one he was wanting and it came from Naru.
"So you've been keeping things from us Keitaro! All right then out with it!" says Naru in a very upset tone.
"You see a week ago I was mugged, shot, and killed. Then I was turned into a vampire by Lucien." says Keitaro in a very serious.
"You were turned into a vampire. You called us in her just to play a very poor joke on us? Well I am not amused Keitaro!" says Naru.
"He speaks the truth, he is a vampire." says Lucien.
"You even have him helping you with the joke. Fine then I'll play along. Prove you're a vampire Keitaro." says Naru.
"Why don't you do some shapechanging that should be proof enough." says Lucien.
"Allright if this will make you believe me then I'll do it." says Keitaro as he concentrates for a moment and begins to transform into a wolf before the assembled group. The look on their faces is one of amazement.
"Sempai is that really you? It's not a trick is it?" asks Shinobu. To give further evidence Keitaro walks up to Shinobu and lets her pet him. The young cook new somehow that what Keitaro had said was true she could tell by the look in the eyes of the wolf that stood before her.
"I believe that is proof enough. Keitaro you may turn back now." says Lucien. Hearing this Keitaro starts to resume his human form but as with the other times he retains the ears and tail of a wolf. Keitaro then notices the looks on the others faces and touches the top of his head.
"Let me guess I have wolf ears and a tail, am I right?" asks Keitaro. The others simply nod as Keitaro lets out a sigh.
"Perhaps that wasn't the best idea." thinks Lucien.
"So that was your proof? It was a nice trick but nothing more." says Naru.
"It wasn't a trick Naru. Why don't you feel the ears or the tail and then tell me if you still think it's a trick." says Keitaro in an annoyed tone.
"Even now you're being a pervert! I think it's time you went into orbit!" says Naru as she prepares to punch Keitaro but before she even comes close she finds herself unable to move, and floating several feet in the air with a very shocked look on her face. Everyones attention turns to Lucien who is holding his hand out towards Naru as it is surrounded in energy.
"That's quite enough. Keitaro has given proof to you that he is a vampire, and yet you refuse to believe him. Perhaps my display of power will make you believe." says Lucien.
"Lucien let Naru go please." says Keitaro.
"Not just yet. I will give her all the proof she wants. Now Naru you will watch and be silent is that understood." says Lucien as his body begins to transform into a mixture of man and bat. The others in the room act as one would expect at the sight before them, with fear.
"Is this proof enough for you Naru?" asks Lucien in a raspy voice before he returns to his human form. Naru doesn't speak but nods.
"Well that is proof enough for me. So could you tell us why you turned Keitaro into a vampire in the first place?" asks Haruka still with a hint of fear ion her voice.
"Of course I can. Though I'm rather surprised that someone asked this before Keitaro himself did. As for you Naru I advise you to keep your temper under control and not try and attack either myself or Keitaro. Is that understood?" says Lucien as he finally releases Naru who falls to the ground with a thud.
"Why did Lucien turn me? What could have been so special about me that would make him do that? I never asked him at all about this but now I'm about to find out." thinks Keitaro.
"I had several reasons for giving Keitaro the dark gift. I came across him by complete accident while hunting. When I saw him I felt something from him. He had an aura of importance about him, so I couldn't let him die. That though wasn't the only reason before I turned him I made contact with his mind and learned a number of things about him. He reminded me of me when I became a vampire. He excepted becoming a vampire for the same reasons I did." says Lucien.
"When you say sempai excepted becoming a vampire for the same reasons you did, what did you mean by that?" asks Shinobu.
"Simple Shinobu, he chose this existence for you all. Because he cares for you all so much. I did the same thing for my wife and daughter." says Lucien.
"You said they died a few years ago. That means you haven't been a vampire for very long." says Shinobu.
"Not quite while it's true they died it was not a few years ago. It was over 500 years ago. Had I told you all the truth you would have thought I was either lying or crazy." Says Lucien.
"Even if sempai is a vampire, he's still the same person he always was. So I don't mind at all, and if he ever needs blood I'll gladly give him some of mine." says Shinobu as she blushes a deep red.
"Shinobu's right he's still Keitaro, and he can have some of my blood as well when he needs it. I could even study him and learn alot about his new condition." says Su. This causes both Lucien and Keitaro to worry about what she may try.
"I can't believe Shinobu and Su don't seem to mind at all that I'm a vampire. I know Kitsune dosen't mind, but what about Haruka, Motoko, and Naru." thinks Keitao.
"Well I can live with my nephew being a vampire. Just don't do anything stupid alright Keitaro." says Haruka.
"Yes maam." replies Keitaro.
"I can't believe you all! We have proof that Keitaro and Lucien are vampires. They probably plan to kill us and drink our blood!" says Naru. Her words obviously effecting Keitaro pretty hard. Naru's words have a slightly different effect opn Lucien though.
"You are begining to annoy me Naru. Your accusations are unfound and insulting. I nor Keitaro have any plans to kill anyone here. And just for the record if it was my intention to kill you all, you would have been dead a long time ago. However I don't want any of you dead. So next time why don't you stop and think before you open your mouth. You are like so many of your kind." says Lucien.
"And just what do you mean by me being like so many of my kind?" asks Naru in an angry tone.
"What I mean is you are like most humans. You fear what you don't understand, and you hate what you fear." says Lucien. Naru does not respond at all, she only lowers her head.
"Is that what Naru thinks that I want to kill them all. She was the one person I hoped would understand and she's afraid of me." thinks Keitaro.
"Urashima, though you are a vampire and it is my sworn duty to destroy such creatures. Since you became one you have not done anything to those that live here. Perhaps my school's teachings aren't completely correct in saying all supernatural creatures are evil, for you are not." thinks Motoko.
"So Motoko what do you think about all this?" asks Haruka.
"As long as Urashima dose nothing to the others there shouldn't be a problem." says Motoko.
Later on that night Motoko goes to Keitaro's room to speak with him but before she knocks on his door she is stopped by Lucien.
"Motoko come with me for a minute if you would please?" says Lucien in whisper. Motoko follows him outside to the laundry deck.
"What do you want Lucien?" asks Motoko.
"Well since you kept your promise to me I will fullfill my end of the deal. You may ask one thing of me. So what do you want?" says Lucien. Motoko thought about what she wanted for only a moment.
"I want you to tell me about how you know my family. I've been wondering this ever since you first came here." says Motoko.
"Very well then it shall be done" says Lucien.
END CHAPTER 8
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Well that's all for this chapter. Now the others know Keitaro's secret, and next chapter I'll reveal the history between Lucien and Motoko's family. I'm also going to do a couple of Negima fics alongside the one I'm doing right now I'll be putting them up in the Love Hina section since won't make one for Negima despite the fact that there are quite a few in the Miscellaneous section. Any way catch you all later and remember to read and review.
"Vampires meddling in the affairs of men...Look where it has brought us." Vorador, Soul Reaver 2