A GIFT, AND A CURSE
Love hina is the property of Ken Akamatsu, all other characters belong to me.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hey people what's up? Bet you didn't think I'd update again so soon did you? Well I had I big creative surge for this chapter and it just poured out and here it is. Plus since I got the Ordo Dracul covenant book for Vampire the Requiem I'm getting even more ideas. Life is good sometimes. Oh yeah I had a question from a reviewer so I'll answer it.
VoidHawk You know I'm a fan of Keitaro/Motoko pairings and am seriously leaning towards that. I also agree about Naru she has got to be one of the most immature people I have ever seen. To be honest there is just something about her that makes me dislike her. Oh wait. It's because she's a total bitch. Any way I'll let you all get on with reading this chapter. I suggest reading this with some nice moody music for some parts, and fight music for the fight.
CHAPTER NINE: MEMORIES OF THE PAST
"So, you want to know how it is I know of your family. Well the truth is...I am the patriarch of your entire family." Lucien says with a smile on his face. This causes quite a reaction from Motoko.
"What? That is not possible! What kind of sick joke is this?" says Motoko as she reaches for her sword.
"Tricked you!" says Lucien.
"It was a trick?" asks Motoko.
"Yes it was. Sorry I just couldn't resist. You know you should learn not to take everything so seriously. You'll die of stress my child." says Lucien with a small laugh.
"Not funny." says Motoko.
"I do apologize again. I will tell you what you want to know now." says Lucien.
"Your word this time." says Motoko.
"You have my word I assure you. Now your family as well as the Shinmeiryu, let us say that we have history. Some of it is good, while some of it is bad." says Lucien.
"Some good and some bad? I don't understand?" says Motoko.
"I'm getting to that. You see as I'm sure you're well aware I am quite old, 568 years old to be exact. It was about 150 yers ago that I came to dwell on this island. Why i did so was many reasons, but mostly this land had a strange appeal to me. I lived in peace for the most part of my early existance here save for the ocasional revolt. Seeing as how shortly after my arrival here that the Meiji Era began. Of course the occasional monster hunter did discover what I was because they were exceptonally skilled at their job. The hunters in question were members of the Shinmeiryu. Though none were ever able to defeat me I allowed most of them to live. So they of course told their superiors of the terrible gaijin vampire that had bested them. Which of course made me somewhat of a wanted man among the school much to my annoyance. Of course my encounters with the Shinmeiryu happened over the course of some 30 years." says Lucien
"After a time I moved to Kyoto. Strange isn't it that I would chose to dwell were your school's dojo is located. Oddly enough they never seemed to notice my presence. Perhaps it was the strong spiritual powers present in the city that hid me, perhaps not, but it matters little. To make it easier to walk amongst the people that lived in Kyoto I used potent illusion powers to appear as a native Japanese. Since if I went about as I do today I would stick out like a sore thumb. It was while I lived here that I came across a young woman who was battling a group of demons. They were too much for her so I intervened and destroyed those she could not. It was to my surprise that I discovered that she was a student of the Shinmeiryu. Her name was Yuriko Aoyama, she was their first female disciple. You do know of her don't you Motoko?" says Lucien.
"Of course I do. She was the first woman to learn the ways of the Shimeiryu. She slew many demons and was almost taken by a, vampire. You were the vampire they spoke of in the story, weren't you?" says Motoko.
"That is correct the vampire that tale speaks of is indeed me. However I'm not the evil monster it portrays me as. You see when I assisted Yuriko in her battle with those demons my illusion droped if but for a moment and she saw what I actually looked like. Once the battle ended she asked me who I was, who I really was. For no man could be so strong that they could decimate a group of demons that easily. So I revealed who I was to her since she knew I was no normal man. Unlike any other member of the Shinmeiryu she did not call me monster or abomination, she thanked me instead. Hear was one sworn to destroy creatures like myself and instead of attacking me she thanked me." says Lucien.
"So you were her friend?" asks Motoko.
"It started out that way at first, but as time went on we found ouselves falling in love. I know what your thinking. How can a vampire feel love for a human? Well remember that I was first a human, and a part of my human nature will always be with me. I'm not some emotionless creature you know I can love and feel sorrow just as a human can. As I said we feel in love. We spent a great deal of time together. Something those stories about Yuriko don't tell you is that I was by her side when she fought many of those demons. We shared much with one another. I shared with her my knowledge of the world, and she some of the techniques of your school. The one thing we never had the chance to share was, well I think you can guess what that is Motoko. Of course nothing lasts forever." says Lucien as Motoko blushes at his last few words.
"So what happened that caused you and Yuriko to not be able to be with each other?" asks Motoko.
"Your family happened. They found out about us, and they were less than thrilled about it. They believed that I was trying to corrupt both their school and the Aoyama bloodline. So they did everything that they could to destroy me. It of course failed as you can see since I'm standing before you. There final attempt to be rid of me was somewhat more successful they asked for the assistance of the wizards that lived in Kyoto to help them create a ward over the city to keep me out forever since they could not destroy me. Well it worked alright. Once they had finished the ward did it's job well and I was forced to flee the city. Their actions to keep Yuriko and myself apart angered me like few other things had. I swore I would find a way through their ward and reclaim the one I love. Of course the wizards and members of the Shinmeiryu that were pesent to this only laughed at me. But out of those assembled walked Yuriko." says Lucien.
"She stood at the edge of the ward and spoke to me. She told me that she would always love me but we could never be together because we both knew it would only cause more pain. I knew she was right but that did not mean I liked it. Before we said our final goodbyes she asked me to not seek vengance against the Shinmeiryu or her family for what they did, as it was born of ignorance. So I swore to her that I would never kill a member of the Shinmeiryu or the Aoyama family even if it was within my right to do so. And so I left Kyoto. As the years passed I never forgot about Yuriko." says Lucien as a blood red tear falls along his cheek.
"So that's how you know about my family. Why did they write all those things about you being a monster when you are not?" asks Motoko.
"It is not that they were per say making up lies to cover the truth. From their point of view I was a monster trying to ruin their school and family. Truthfully if things had gone differently your family would have been made much stronger if I had been able to marry Yuriko. Our children would have been the strongest members of the Shinmeiryu ever. Just think Motoko you could have had vampire blood running through your veins." says Lucien.
"I think I understand now. I have a few more questions I want to ask you Lucien." says Motoko.
"Go ahead, I have all the time in the world." says Lucien.
"Have you ever been able to break the ward that was put up to keep you out of Kyoto? Also could you show mesome of thetechniques Yuriko taught you?" asks Motoko.
"Yes, actually after enough time went by the ward became weak enough that I could break it, but I only returned to the city for one reason, to pay my respects to Yuriko and leave flowers at her grave. As to showing you the techniques Yuriko taught me it would be my pleasure. Come with me child" says Lucien as he places his hands on Motoko's shoulders and the two vanish only to reappear were they had their previous duel.
"How did you do that?" asks Motoko.
"That was just one of the many powers that I have developed over my centuries of existance. Now I believe you wanted to see what Shinmeiryu techniques I know." says Lucien.
"If you need a sword you may use mine." says Motoko as she extends her blade to the elder vampire.
"Thank you, but I have my own sword." says Lucien as he places his hand out as a red outline begins to form in the shape of a sword with a jagged blade covered in strange symbols that seem to glow.
"That is a peculiar sword you have. What do the symbols mean and why do the glow?" asks Motoko.
"The symbols are called runes they imbue the sword with mystic properties determined by the one who made them. This sword called Blood Rage has been endowed with elemental fire and lightning. Also because I am a vampire this is a vampiric blade it drinks in the blood of those it wounds and has its overall damage output increased temporarily, or it can give the blood to me for the purposes of sustenance." says Lucien.
"It seems a fearsoum weapon. Do you use it much?" says Motoko.
"No I don't. I seldom have need to use it's power. My hand to hand skills are more than enough for whoever or whatever I fight. Now which technique to use first?" says Lucien.
"Do you know the Rock Splitting Sword?" asks Motoko.
"Why yes I do. That will do very nicely for a demonstration. Now watch carefully and you will see. Rock splitting Sword!" says Lucien as a massive wave of energy is unleashed from his sword and shatters a nearby boulder apart. Motoko only watches with her eyes wide and mouth agape. Never before has she seen anyone not even her older sister use the Rock Splitting Sword with that much power. She has little need to see anymore.
"You truely do know the techniques of the Shinmeiryu. Your technique surpasses even that of my sister's, and she is the best fighter our school has ever prodused." says Motoko.
"Your sister is the best the Shinmeiryu has ever produced. I somehow doubt that Motoko, I can see great potential in you. I'm sure you can surpass you sister easily with more training." says Lucien.
"What do you mean? I could never be as strong as her." says Motoko trying her best to hide her feelings of inferiority.
"Oh, but you can. You can be stronger than she is. You just need to take your training to the next level." says Lucien with a smirk.
"Next level?" asks Motoko.
"Tell me. Do you spar with anyone when you train?" asks Lucien.
"No I don't." says Motoko.
"That is why you are at your current level of ability. You're not improving, but you're not getting worse either. I will help change this." says Lucien.
"What do you want in exchange?" asks Motoko in a warry voice.
"Nothing. You see this eternal existance becomes boring and dull eventually, and helping you improve as well as training Keitaro are excellent ways to pass some of the time. Besides I like you Motoko you remind me a lot of Yuriko. Don't go thinking I've fallen for you child, for I have not. I won't fall in love with a mortal ever again, because it causes to much pain. Think of me as a mentor of sorts. I will help you become strong Motoko. You will surpass your sister and all other practitioners of the Shinmeiryu to date, that I can promise you. So what do you think of my proposal?" says Lucien. Motoko thought on Luciens offer before she gave an answer.
"Alright we'll see if you can really help me become stronger." says Motoko.
"Good. We will start tomorrow. I will train you from the time you return from school till Keitaro rises from his days sleep, then we will stop. After all you do have school to think about. On the weekends the training will be harder. I do hope you will be ready for it. I'm quite a harsh task master, Keitaro can confirm that." says Lucien.
"I'll take whatever you can dish out!" says Motoko.
"With a disposition like that you will do well. I look forward to this! For now though let's return to the apartments shall we?" says Lucien.
"Yes, it's getting late." says Motoko.
"Tell you what. I'll give you a taste of what training will be like. We are going to race back. I want to see how fast you can move. Just to be fare I'll go slow." says Lucien with a smirk.
"You sure I'm quite fast?" asks Motoko.
"Oh I'm quite sure. Now...Ready...Set...Go!" yells Lucien. Motoko dashes off at top speed believing she can win this race only to find Lucien is dead even with her.
"He's fast, but let's see how he deals with this." thinks Motoko as she uses her ki to become even faster and pulls ahead, but as before he is dead even with her.
"Is this as fast as you can run? I'll be waiting for you at the apartments child!" says Lucien as he passes her by in an incredible desplay of speed. When Motoko finally reaches the apartments she finds Lucien leaning against a tree.
"What took you so long?" say Lucien with a laugh.
"I can't believe how fast you moved. I sensed no ki being used at all." says Motoko.
"That's my natural speed, and it wasn't even the fastest I can go naturally, and I can go faster with a little use of my power. Your training will be something like that. I'll help you improve your skill, but I'll help make you better phisically. Think if you make yourself faster or stronger naturally, how much more will it improve with the use of your ki?" says Lucien.
"I understand. This will be some training then." says Motoko.
"Yes it will be. The benefits will pay off however. Why don't you go inside though you'll need your rest." says Lucien.
"Alright, and you?" asks Motoko.
"I'll be along soon. Now go on." says Lucien as Motoko goes inside. He then turns and looks out into the night.
"You can come out. I know your there, you pathetic demons!" says Lucien in a low growl. Out from the darkness a pair of demons step. One is around seven feet tall with red scaley skin, a pair of horns, a long tail, huge bat wings, and a pissed off expression on his face. The other is the incubus that tried to make a meal out of Kitsune, who still retains some scarring from his fight with Lucien. His expression isn't much friendlier than his companions.
"Well vampire, looks like you didn't quite kill me before. Your mistake. This time I brought a friend. Incase you can't tell he's a battle demon, so this time the outcome will be much different!" says the incubus with a laugh. Thebattle demon simply growls at Lucien trying to intimadate him. It dosen't work however as Lucien walks up to the two demons and stands about an arms legth away from them before he speaks.
"I guess I went to easy on you before. That won't happen again I promise you. This time you snivelling incubus, you won't return to hell. No this time I have a much worse fate instore for you. This time I'll annihilate your soul!" says Lucien as he blasts the two demons away from him ten feet with a burst of telekinetic force. Before either demon has a chance to react the incubus levitates into the air as dark energy envelopes his body. He struggles to get free but can not.
"Now demon you will see my most devestating power! Soul Annihilation! I will cast your soul into the maw of Oblivion! Now die!" says Lucien with a rage in his voice as the incubui's body becomes translucent and finally disappears but his cries can still be heard for a moment before they fade into nothingness. Then Lucien turns to the other demon who is now getting to it's feet. Before it has time to attack though it is lifted into the air as Lucien wraps his hand around its neck. It drives its claws into Lucien's shoulder but Lucien dosen't appear to notice. Lucien however simply gives the demon an angered look that causes it to stop it's attack.
"Listen to me demon you have two choices here. You can try to fight and defeat me, which you obviously don't stand a chance of doing even though you are a battle demon. Or you can just leave, keep your life and go back to hell and never return here again. So what will it be? I can tell you now if I don't like the answer I'll do to you what I did to the incubus, and I'm quite sure you don't want that do you." says Lucien.
"Very well vampire I will leave and I won't be back." says the demon.
"Good choice demon. You're not as dumb as you look." says Lucien in an insulting manner as he lossens his grip. The demon simply gives him a snear as he turns and leaves.
"How could a vampire be so strong?" asks the demon to himself.
"I'd tell you but a demon like yourself could never understand." says Lucien as his wound heals.
"I'll see you in the pit eventually vampire and when you come down you'll know pain!" says the demon as he disappears in a flash of fire and brimestone.
"Perhaps. But I'll be here for a long time to come so you'll just have to wait. And when I do finnaly go to hell...I'll break every last one of you, even Lucifer himself!" thinks Lucien as he turns and enters the apartments.
END CHAPTER 9
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Well that's another chapter done. Now Lucien will train Motoko to be stronger than any other member of the Shinmeiryu to date, as well as show Keitaro the ropes of vamirehood. We'll just have to see if they can last. Oh for a really good idea what Luciens sword looks like if you've played Legacy of Kain Defiance, Lucien's sword looks just like Vorador's.So till next time read and review.
"When I close my eyes I see her face it comforts me. When I close my eye memories cut like a knife." Dracula, Iced Earth