A/N: Takes place 18 years after the events of Blademasters, ages etc will be listed at the end of the next chapter.
Love Hina: Children of Ice and Fire
Prologue: The Wind and Change
The Sword of Two Souls…
Considered by the majority of the Clans to be a myth, much like the cursed blade known as the Hina.
Of course the discovery of the Hina under the patient guard of the sub-family known as the Urashima's, by the heir of the time to the Gods Cry school of swordsmanship, shattered all illusions and wishful thinking on behalf of such people, but the threat was rapidly contained and in time forgotten.
However, the Sword of Two Souls remained a mystery to all but a few. The Sagura Clan refused to acknowledge or deny the existence of such a perplexing weapon, one that some dismissed as a fanciful tale upon hearing the rumoured conditions for its use.
Still, to those few who knew of it, and the power it possessed, techniques seemingly inherent to the blade not the wielder, it became an obsession.
There are many for whom a thirst for power drives them to many strange places, and into many strange circumstances.
This is one such story…
A cool spring wind blew high over the small town of Hinata, much like many others had before with each gentle passing of the seasons.
This particular wind was special. It had seen many things in its ancient life, if such things can be thought of as possessing such capacities, or indeed the desire to implement them on the meagre workings of man.
It had seen change after change sweep through this place. It had started with the arrival of a young man, high in hopes, but low in everything else, searching blindly for something he could no longer remember, drawing others, likeminded, to him in one place.
Hinata Sou.
The wind swept gracefully across its rooftops like an elder brother teasing its younger sibling with a fond tousling of their hair.
The structure was old, but it held just as many memories though not as expansive as those of the wind.
Carefully protecting those who dwelled within, even if they did have a tendency to repay that kindness by blowing up small parts of itself or launching each other through its roof or walls, the old inn had watched each of its tenants grow and mature. Some had inched closer and closer together, while some had drifted apart, in time leaving entirely either alone or with new people while others came to fill their place.
There was only one of what you might call the 'old' generation of tenants remaining, the youngest of the group.
A woman by the name of Ema Maeda. At thirty-three years with waist length brown hair still adorned with a number of girlish ribbons in the forelocks no one had the heart to tell her looked out of place nowadays, small round spectacles and warm brown eyes, she was now the matron of the building…or rather, had she not fluster more easily than some of the guests she would have been.
Ema's only respite from the shame came in the fact that people no longer mistook her for an effeminate boy…though she still didn't get many dates either.
How she had become the manager the Hinata Sou would never quite understand, but maybe it was better that way. After all, what is life and indeed, any story, without a little mystery?
However I digress. There will be more than enough time to meet the new residents and learn of their faces and personalities. The realities of their present, and the trials of their past.
For now only one such resident need be highlighted other than our nervous landlord.
In one of the outer corridors which ring the floors of the Hinata house, a girl stands, bent slightly so that she can rest her weight on the uncomplaining rail that guards the guests from accident.
The wind, tired of its high vantage point, descends in a tight spiral as she releases her long tresses from the single thick braid that keeps them out of her face, and is instantly delighted as it encounters this new plaything, tossing it carefully about her as it sweeps by, having just enough time to notice the light grey highschool blazer she wears before continuing on its unending path, as is the fate of the wind.
As it rushes out across the courtyard, still straining to catch one last glimpse of the beautiful face hidden by strands of hair as the girl eases one bang behind her ear, it almost collides with another, similarly dressed, walking up the last of the steps.A small case clutched timidly between her small hands.
Realising its error, the wind vectors low, sweeping between her legs and rustling her skirt in its passing, chuckling lightly to itself as she makes a sound that can only be likened to a squeak of embarrassment while clutching at the rebellious garment.
Spotting her, the first girl laughs good naturedly to herself and waves to her blushing friend, smiling apologetically when the other girl blushes brighter upon realising someone saw her embarrassment.
Whatever she did next, the wind would never know. Everything became a haze of pink as it rushed amongst the cherry blossoms before finally emerging at the foot of the stairs in a hail of petals and continuing on its way.
It skirted the townsfolk, repeating its trick on a few more of the young ladies who had decided it was to hot not to wear skirts, or who like the first girl, didn't have a choice in the matter.
Finally, after toying with the toupee of an elderly gentleman until bored, it wound its way more sedately to the edge of town, to the bridge that contented Hinata to its train service, and thus the rest of Japan.
As it contemplated returning skyward, it discovered a lone boy sitting calmly on the sturdy stone rail that warded the sides of the crossing.
Despite his simple red shirt, worn open to display the white t-shirt beneath and the slightly faded blue jeans, all of which practically screamed "Non-descript", there was something about him the wind couldn't place.
It could have been the unnaturally bright blond hair that subtly clashed with his otherwise elegant features, or the piercing blue eyes that were degrees cooler than surrounding air.
It could even have been the relaxed pose that was completely at odds with those icy orbs, but what most people would have found odd, would be the large black carry case left leaning against the barrier next to him.
Many people carry guitars and other such instruments in such things, but it rattled oddly as the wind prodded it, and this boy did not seem the musical type.
He didn't even blink as a gust shot over his head, mussing the short blond spikes and causing his eyes to lightly water.
No, his gaze never left his target as he held up the small photograph he had been given next to the image his eyes beheld.
A perfect match.
Even the wind, old and jaded as it was, wavered as the smallest smile the human mouth can produce crossed the young man's thin lips.
"I've found it", his voice wasn't the almost animal hiss the wind had been expecting, but it lacked some of the characteristic warmth of the average human speaker.
The smile vanished as if it had never been and he swung off his perch with the grace of a dancer, landing lightly and hefting the guitar case over one shoulder along with the small duffle bag that had been hidden behind it.
Unable to dawdle any longer, the wind returned to its path, watching the young man's back as it retreated into the distance.
When your memory is measured in centuries, few things stand out for long, and this case was no different. Soaring high above the clouds the young man was soon forgotten.
Would those others he encountered be able to say the same thing?
The blond held up his hand as he walked to block out the sun as he eyed his goal one final time.
The Hinata SouOnly time would tell…
---Author Notes---
BOO-friggin-YA boys and girls, I'm back, man that was a boring week. Its nice to relax but if I don't get ideas out when they come I feel like I'm going stir-crazy lol. A short prologue I know, but I wanted to keep it fairly mysterious, yet interesting. Hope I succeeded.
Anyways, stay tuned for Chapter One: Girls. Girls! GIRLS!; the current generation of tenants meet the newest guest. He's a little closed off but its not like this is the first time the Hinata Sou has been co-ed. So what's the worst that could happen?
Till next time, Betweenheavenandhell