Hey, this MotxKei version is starting to become lots of fun. And so far people have been urging me to continue it so I think I'll try and write this chapter. Remember, if anyone else comes to me with a pairing idea, I'll consider making another version. Submit your pairing idea (along with possible plot plans, if you have any) ASAP before I decide to continue a particular version. Which version I'm going to decide to continue will also depend on readers' opinion, so please help by telling me which version you prefer.

By the way, I finally decided, I guess I'm going to need proof-readers. If anyone's interested, please tell. I'm offering positions for two proof-readers. If possible, proof-readers who are willing to proof-read Soul Requiem, Love Hina Alternative, and Project Gundam Hina Eternity (if you don't want to do all three, just one or two, no problem, just apply). Please tell me if you're interested, as well as the stories you're interested in proof-reading. Also, as an added offer, anyone who agrees to proof-read will get the chance to guest-star in Omakes, 'Behind the scene' episodes, intermissions, and perhaps even in the stories themselves from time to time. Thank you.

Now, to reply to reviews!

Ransumi: Thanks for the review. It's good to know that some people actually like MotokoxKeitaro fics. Thanks again!

Annoying Assassin: Thanks for the review: Fate/Stay Night? Well now that you mention it, it does seem similar. I didn't realize it before. Thanks again.

Meirus: Thanks for the review. It's good to know someone likes it. I wasn't too sure about the whole idea myself. Thanks again!

Berreta Pakin Mailman: Thanks for the review. It's good to know someone likes the pairing. I'm still not too sure about continuing thisversion yet, but so far, the reviews have been in favor of the MotxKei version, so we'll see. Thanks again!

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina, Mahou Sensei Negima, or anything else here that might belong to someone else.

Chapter 4: Darkness Within (MotxKei Version)


Soul Requiem Opening Theme (MotokoxKeitarou version)

Hishoku No Sora (Shakugan No Shana OST)

Intro

(A large clock twirls rapidly around as cards zoom across it and fall into an orbit around it.)

Soshite kono sora akaku somete (and stain this sky red)

Takato looks up at the sunset staining the pale grey skies blood red. He looks back to see Motoko standing behind him.

Mata kuru toki kono mi de susumu dake (just rely on yourself to walk through the approaching times)

(Takato and Keitarou lean one another's backs as the background shows their faces looking upwards in opposite directions. Motoko appears out of the shadows between them and walks towards the screen)

Interlude 1

(Scene shows Hinata Sou with everyone playing and laughing in front of it. Keitarou had a little girl in a hakama and gi on his shoulders as he ran about, Motoko beside him. Everyone was laughing and smiling. The sakura trees were in bloom around them. Everything was green and colourful. Scene cuts by flying up to the blue sky and fading out to white)

Interlude 2

(scene fades in from white and descends to a desolate, ruined Hinata Sou amidst gently falling snow. A lone boy, Takato, stood in front of the inn, a few cards in his hands. A sharp wind blew the cards out his hands as the scene fades out into the title screen: Soul Requiem: Return to Hinata Sou)

Sure chigatte yuku hito mo magire nakushita mono mo itsuka ha kie yuku toki (people that walk by you and everything that was lost in the chaos will someday disappear)

(One by one, the story's characters appear moving across the screen)

Atsuku yuruganu tsuyosa (passionate unwavering strength)

(Keitarou looks behind him)

Hakanaku yureru yowasa (transient and wavering weakness)

(Motoko looks behind her)

Shosen onaji mirai (in the end, it's the same future)

They join hands as an orbit of cards fly around them.

Sonna ni chijyou kouka wo tokashi (melting down the rock hard earth)

Takato slams his fist into the frozen earth. Hikari and Himari's faces loom up in the background.

Arawareru hi kureru sekai (as days start and the world ends)

(all the other card masters in the story stand facing away from the screen, looking back at the screen as darkness falls upon the world. A violent wind blows from behind them.)

Kaze ni nabikase sen wo hiite (draw a line as the wind blows spurs you on)

(All the characters run across the screen, executing their signature attacks)

Nagareru yon a kamisaki teki wo sasu (flips of paper, gently flowing like water, strike down the enemy)

(a small obscure figure in flowing clothes rise up from a flash of light. Magical streaks of manna fly around her as she smiles up at the screen as Motoko's transparent figure comes and embraces her from behind)

Fumi ikitta omoi minagiru yone (the determination wells up within me)

(Takato and Keitarou stand back to back, cards in their hands. They both start running in opposite directions as all the other characters join them in the background)

Subete ha ima kono te di shimei hatashite yuku dake (all I have to do at this moment is to complete the mission with these hands of mine)

(Motoko and the other characters look up as the darkness looms up in the horizon. They look behind them, their gaze following Takato as he walks up towards them and takes his place in front of them. They all leap into a charge)

FLASH…

"Hold on…Motoko!" The sun was setting in the distance. A sharp gust of wind blew by. "No matter what, don't let go!"

"You baka! Let go! Let go!" The raven haired swordswoman screamed. "I won't accept it! I won't!"

"No matter what…I'm not letting go…" The hand slipped slightly. "Crap…"

FLASH…

A bright light was drawing near….

"You baka…" Motoko muttered.

"I guess…I am a baka…" Takato said, taking hold of Motoko and shielding her from the train. He knew it was useless, but that was just as much as he could do.

Something flashed bright…accompanied with an explosion and the sound of metal painfully twisting.

"H…Holy…" Toji was at a loss for words as he sat sprawled against a wall, regarding the carnage before him.

"Oh dear…I hope no one got hurt…" Makie said as she tried to stand up.

"De gozaru?" Kaede asked in wonder. Before them, the train lay derailed, all its coaches thrown far and wide across the huge underground station. Apparently they were empty.

Takato slowly lowered his hands from his face.

Black Sakura blossoms were floating across the station, carried forth in a sharp breeze. Motoko stood in front of Takato, a jet black katana held in an outstretched hand.

"That's….that's the…" Toji whispered.

"The legendary blade, Hinata…de gozaru" Kaede said, standing up.

"I…I really did it…this time…" Motoko chuckled. "I…I don't…I don't have enough…power…to hold it in…" She winced as she fell to her knees. "I'm…sorry…"

"Kaede! Makie! She's down! Get her!" Toji shouted.

"I'm sorry, master, but our first priority is to get out of here, alive, de gozaru…" Kaede said, retreating towards Toji. "Makie! We're retreating, de gozaru!"

"What…what's happening!" Takato shouted. "Hey, are you all right!" He grasped Motoko by the shoulders.

"Get…away…from…me…" Motoko gritted her teeth. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" She tried to push Takato away. Takato held onto her tight. Whisps of darkness were gathering around, swirling around Motoko. The entire station was shaking dangerously, threatening to crumble at any time. As the whisps of darkness came closer, a wave of darkness blew outwards from Motoko.

"Stay away from her!" Takato shouted at the darkness while holding tightly onto Motoko. "I said, get away from her!" The whisps of darkness gathered around and went straight for Takato.

"I'm…sorry…" Motoko whispered.

FLASH…

"No matter what…if you put your mind to it…you'll be able to achieve it."

"Baka…you always say that…." Motoko frowned at him. "But I guess that's why you're Keitarou…"

FLASH…

"Takato!" Motoko screamed, raising a hand and flipping aside his coat, reaching for his pocket. She grabbed one of the blank cards. "You're a card master!" Everything flashed bright as she slammed the card into Takato's hands.

Suddenly, a wave of light blew outwards from the flash of bright light. There, amidst swirling smoke, right in between Takato and the whisps of darkness, stood a figure in a pair of black casual jeans and a shirt. It turned around as time slowed down and looked at Takato.

"Holy crap…who was the bastard who summoned me here…!" The figure shouted as it extended a hand outwards. Again something flashed.

"What…happened…?" Takato lowered his hands from his face and looked around him. He gasped. "What the…"

"Yes…that's what I want to ask…" The figure before him said, its back towards him. It was clothed in a long black leather coat, a scythe in one hand. "Were you trying to kill me! Summoning me into a place like that!" The figure looked around at Takato. The first word that came to Takato was 'wanna-be cool'. A cold wind blew by, raising his coat.

"Who're…you…?" Takato asked, as he noticed they were out in the pale sunlight again.

"That's not important right now…the important thing is, you're a card master, and one of your cards have gone out of control." The boy said, looking down.

"Huh?" Takato looked down and noticed they were standing on a tall building overlooking the crumbling subway station. "Hey…what about that girl! Motoko!" He shouted, suddenly panicked.

"Well…she should be fine…physically. Though summoning the Hinata blade without an ample supply of manna energy is the worst idea imaginable…" The boy said, spinning his scythe and admiring the effect of the sunlight on the blade.

"But…why…why would she do that?" Takato asked. The subway station below was crumbling down, sending smoke and dust into the sky.

"She…I guess she was out of manna energy or the manna energy you were supplying her was so teeny there was no other way to save your scrawny ass. To wield the Hinata, one must have a strong resolution and a Godly amount of power to handle the seal, otherwise the darkness within would consume the wielder." The boy explained, throwing his scythe over to Takato.

"H….hey?" Takato cried out as he caught the heavy blade. "Wh…what am I supposed to do with this!" He sagged under the weight. "Ughh…and how on earth were you…ugh…twirling it around like…aghh…that?"

"It's between the card master and his card. I have nothing to do with this." The boy said, turning around. Suddenly, something below exploded. Takato looked over the parapet and saw that darkness had engulfed the remains of the subway station.

"Wh…what am I supposed to do by myself!" Takato shouted trying to heave up the scythe.

"Your problem…" The boy said as his black coat disappeared, leaving him in his black jeans and shirt.

Suddenly, the building Takato was on crumbled. "WHOAAAH!" He screamed, as gravity took its toll on him.

"Good luck!" The boy shouted at him as he leaped up into the sky, off the crumbling building.

Takato looked before him as he fell. Something was leaping up from debris to debris towards him. Then it appeared, its blood red eyes flashing menacingly.

"Motoko!" Takato shouted. The raven haired swordswoman screamed and slashed down with the jet black blade.

"Aaghh…" Takato raised the scythe and countered the slash, though the shock from the sword impact threatened to break his shoulders apart as the sword and scythe made contact. "Motoko! Please! Snap out of it!" Darkness was swirling around Motoko. There was pure darkness behind her blazing eyes. She smirked as she raised her blade again as they both fell towards the earth amidst the crumbling pieces of concrete.

Takato raised his scythe to counter the slash again and winced as the blades made contact. He grunted as he tried to push away Motoko's blade. Motoko leaped backwards onto another falling piece of rubble and shouted, "Zan Gan Ken!" as she slashed the katana downwards, sending out a wave of ki at Takato. Something flickered in his mind as he saw the ki wave. He knew it…he knew this attack…and he knew exactly how to counter it. He raised his scythe and slammed it into the piece of rubble he was standing on and slashed upwards at the ki wave, effectively neutralizing it, before leaping forwards towards Motoko.

"Give it up…weakling…" Motoko said in a harsh, sharp tone. Her voice echoed and reverberated menacingly. She slashed out a wave of ki at Takato which blasted him into another large chunk of concrete.

"Never! If I put my mind to it, I can accomplish anything! I'll save Motoko!" Takato shouted, as he struggled to regain a footing. Motoko's eyes flickered at that exact moment.

He knew he had to do something…but what! Then everything before him flashed bright once again before lapsing into complete darkness for a brief moment.

FLASH….

"Motoko! Help! I'm being chased by a zombie!" There was the sound of rapid footfalls, erratic breaths, and occasional screams. A light brown haired girl was running madly, heavy footsteps following in her wake. There was the sound of a blade madly swishing around in random slashes.

"Then…I'll just have to distract it for a bit…" A raven haired girl in a senior high sailor uniform murmured, grasping the hilt of a pure white katana. A light breeze blew through her hair. "SORRY!" She shouted as she leaped up into the air in a flip. Time froze, everything went silent, as their lips met. The darkness subsided slightly.

"Nani?" the bells on the blade rang clear. The blue sky above flashed bright.

"Now! Shinmei-ryu! Ougi! Zan Ma Ken Nino Tachi!" With one slash of her blazing blade she severed the darkness within him and returned it to whence it came.

"I've…I've done it…I've sealed it…" The girl murmured as she regarded the jet black blade as it fell with a clatter onto the earth.

FLASH…

"Huh!" Takato looked into the fiery bright red eyes and saw…sorrow…anguish… but …no hatred… "Motoko…" He closed his eyes and murmured. "Sorry…" He leaped forwards

As they made contact…Takato looked deep into Motoko's eyes and saw everything…all the pain and sorrow pent up within…everything flashed bright before fading into darkness.

Takato found himself floating in darkness, sinking in an abyss deeper than oblivion. He continued to sink through the darkness…until he finally saw something…something far down…deep inside the oblivion he was delving into. It was a small circle of light, besieged from all sides by darkness. He tried to move towards it, semi-consciously attracted to the dim radiance, the only thing that broke the gloom of the oblivion. As he got closer, he finally made out what it was…

It was Motoko…shivering as she hugged her knees, all alone, surrounded by pure darkness. She suddenly looked up as she noticed Takato's presence and gasped. "Kei…Kei-kun…Get out of here! Get out of here, baka!" She shouted, while holding out one arm to tell him to halt. "Leave! Now!"

"Motoko!" Takato shouted. "And for the last time, my name's Takato!" Takato shouted, as he tried to move forwards towards Motoko, reaching out his hands.

The darkness suddenly started to sweep over Motoko and consume her slowly.

"Motoko!" Takato shouted.

"It's futile…" Two dark eyes flashed in the darkness behind Motoko's shoulders. The whisps of darkness gathered together to form a face…reminiscent of Motoko, but with eyes blazing with darkness. "…I…shall consume her soul…and yours as well…"

"You can go ahead and be as cryptic as you want, but stay away from her!" Takato shouted, stretching his hand out for Motoko. "Motoko! I'm not leaving without you!" A tear ran down Motoko's cheek.

"Then…you shall drown in oblivion…" The darkness behind Motoko said, as a jet black blade slashed out at Takato from the darkness. In one last minute maneuver Takato managed to prevent himself getting fricasseed, but the sword managed to graze him. A chaotic swarm of slashes ensued, grazing him and cutting him all over the place, and yet he persevered.

"Motoko!" Takato shouted, as the darkness started to consume him from behind. "Ughhh…" He gritted his teeth and reached out his hand in one last desperate lunge. "Motoko!" He grasped Motoko's hand…at that very moment, everything flashed bright.

The black blade fell with a clatter onto the frozen earth before it started to dematerialize into whisps of darkness. The scythe blazed a bright white as the pale sunlight filtered through the gently falling dust and smoke.

"Gasp...sigh…" Takato blew a sigh of relief as he dug his way out of a pile of plaster and debris. "Th…That's…over…"

"I…what happened…?" Motoko sat up and pushed aside a few pieces of wood that was covering her. She found that there were tears running down her cheeks. "Wh…why?"

"Hey, are you all right?" Takato asked.

"I…" Motoko looked around, wiping her eyes. "H…hey? Where's the Hinata blade?"

"It's gone…" Takato smiled.

"You defeated it!" Motoko gasped. "And…did you just…" She touched her lips. "You…didn't…you…baka…"

"Ehehehe…off course I didn't…" Takato laughed uneasily, scrambling up. "Uhh…I've got to return this now…" Takato looked down at the scythe. "Huh?" The scythe started to dematerialize into whisps of light. "What?"

"D…don't tell me…" Motoko muttered, shuddering. "Of all the cards I could've pulled out…I pulled out his…" Motoko looked around.

"Hiya, Hime-chi…" Rayce laughed, walking up behind them.

"Y…you…" Motoko pointed a shuddering finger in his direction. "N…no…"

"hey, it's been a long time since I've been out. What good food have they got to offer here?" Rayce asked, shielding his eyes as he looked around.

"Takato…quick…de-summon this idiot before he destroys us all…" Motoko looked around at Takato. "Wait…you didn't just tell him to fight me all by himself, did you?" Motoko stood up and looked at Rayce. "There was a reason why I pulled out your card…"

"Why? It was card master 'business'…the last thing I'd want to do is to interfere…" Rayce smirked, emphasizing the word 'business'. "You wouldn't want me to do the deed, would you?"

"Ummm…Motoko-san…who is this?" Takato asked.

"You don't want to know. Now, I need a weapon! Quickly! To strike down this bozo!" She extended a hand in Takato's direction. She was hit in the head by a flying metal pipe.

The boy in black just stared.

"What was that for, you baka!" Motoko shouted, holding Takato up by the collar.

"B…but…you said you wanted a weapon…" Takato stammered. "Anyway…you should rest…you don't look too good…"

"Are you implying I'm ugly now, you baka! I meant my katana, you retard! Why'd I fight with a metal pipe! Summon my katana, you dolt!" Motoko shouted. "And I'm going to seriously pound you for kissing me!"

"It's not my fault!" Takato shouted. "I'm new to this whole card dealer thing!"

"Card master!" Rayce and Motoko corrected him.


"You serious! Is this all the cake that's left!" Rayce shouted, looking in the refrigerator.

"I do live here with two little girls…" Takato said. "Any sweets would vanish instantly." They were back in the apartment. The fog outside was thickening, obscuring the city underneath a blanket of rolling white.

"Does it ever stop snowing here?" Motoko looked out the window. "ah…can you just let me do that by myself?"

"Sorry, I know it stings a little, but I think I should do it. Some of this first aid equipment might not have existed in your age." Takato said, applying some disinfectant on the cuts and bruises on Motoko's arm. They were sitting at a kotatsu by the windows that were now a solid pale white.

"Why don't you just use a manna charge to heal her? You are a card master, after all." Rayce suggested from behind the refrigerator door.

"He can't. He doesn't know how to regulate his manna properly yet. The manna he's supplying us with is barely enough to keep us existing." Motoko said, her eyes closed. "H…hey! That's my eye, you dolt!"

"You suck…Hey, I remember back when they were advertising these as new products….hmmm…since 2013, Aesop bubblegum…cool. Hey! What year is this?"

"2113…" Motoko and Takato said in unison. There was the sound of a spurt from behind the refrigerator followed by a dull clonk as something hit a refrigerator shelf.

"2113!" Rayce emerged from behind the refrigerator door, a bump on his head, soda all down his front. "You mean…you mean…"

Takato and Motoko looked at his anguished face.

"I missed the entire season of 'Next Door'!" He shouted.

"What's that?" Takato asked, picking up a bandage. Motoko sighed with exasperation.

"A corny daytime soap opera series featuring a star he had a huge crush on." Motoko said. "Typical…he finds himself thrown a century into the future and that's all he cares about…"

"Oh…must be tough for you guys…finding yourselves in a completely foreign world." Takato said. "Anyway, I was wondering, were those two other girls in the subway station guardian souls as well?"

"Who?" Rayce asked, rummaging through a few cupboards. "Hey, have you got any real food here? Like crisps?"

"Sasaki Makie and Nagase Kaede…yes, they were our close friends. They were there alongside us during what was called the 'Black Wars'." Motoko said, ignoring Rayce's retarded questions.

"But…if they were your allies…why were they…?" Takato wondered out loud.

"Oh, simple. It depends on the card master." Rayce said, coming into the room with a ton of snacks in his hands. "Every card must follow the orders of their card masters. For example, if you had commanded me to pick up the scythe and fight Motoko, I would have…but it never occurred to you, did it?" Rayce asked, sitting down at the kotatsu and opening a can of crisps.

"You idiot!" Motoko was about to leap over the kotatsu and attack Rayce. She already had one foot on the table.

"So…Toji really wants me dead…?" Takato asked, holding onto Motoko's gi. "Anywhere but my house, please."

"Fine…" She sighed. "Seemed that way…I guess he really did want you killed." Motoko said, sitting back down. "Remind me to kill you later when we're outside, Rayce."

"But…he's my own classmate…how could he?" Takato looked down at his hands.

"These cards…they hold an amazingly great amount of power…." Rayce said, picking up his own card, which had a picture of him carrying a scythe. "In the hands of one with dark ambitions, it could turn into a source of evil. People with hidden dark ambitions and a weak resolution would find themselves turned to the dark side immediately…such was the curse the darkness placed upon these cards of light."

"Which was why the cards were entrusted to one card master and one card master only, a man of strong will and heart who is capable of vanquishing the darkness." Motoko said.

"Where is Keitarou, anyway?" Rayce asked, biting through a ton of candy. Motoko picked up a can of soda and flung it at Rayce's head. Bullseye.

"You idiot…you know what year it is. If the war didn't end back then, that means something happened…and whatever happened, he can't be alive now…not after a whole century." Motoko said, looking down.

"So I guess there IS a limit to Keitarou's immortality." Rayce said, nodding sagely, before another soda can made contact with his skull.


"So this is…the ancient land of Japan…" A brown haired girl in a long purple overcoat smiled as she looked up at the grey sky and took in a deep breath. Behind her were two other girls. A pair of bell-shaped hair ornaments jingled in one of the girls' hair as a breeze blew past them. The breeze picked up the long blonde hair of the other girl who had the figure of a 10 year old but the eyes of one who had lived far longer.

"Come, Asuna-chan, Eva-chan, we have a mission to complete." The girl in purple said, looking at the two girls behind her. A plane roared over them as it prepared to land.

"Hai." The girl with the bell shaped hair ornaments said, nodding. The other girl, who was dressed in a pure black coat and barrette, just nodded.

A black limousine pulled up in front of the airport. The cheffeur got out and greeted the girl in purple with a bow. "Mistress Marivel, your car is ready."

"Thank you." Marivel smiled as she got on the car, followed by the two girls. "To Tokyo-6, please."


"Ok…so my task is to go out and gather the other cards?" Takato asked. "Uhh…why?"

"The more cards you have, the larger your fighting force, thus the stronger you are." Rayce said. "That simple."

"It's not exactly that simple." Motoko said. "Having many cards and summoning many people at the same time would mean having to spread the manna drain, resulting in more people with weaker fighting powers. Off course, Keitarou was able to summon everyone with maximum fighting power, so it really depends of the card master's own ability."

"Then…why was it we had to gather the cards again?" Rayce asked, smiling as he scratched the back of his head.

"Idiot, don't open your mouth if you don't know anything." Motoko said. "The thing is, we mustn't let any of the cards fall into the hands of the darkness. Otherwise, it would mean complete disaster. And no, Rayce, this is one thing you shouldn't try out." Motoko said, as Rayce reached out for a card.

"And, off course, gathering the cards would mean less freaks like that friend of yours, Toji, who'd go out and kill other card masters just to get his hands on more cards." Rayce said.

"That too…" Motoko nodded.

"Hmm…I guess it's rather complicated." Takato said, scratching his head. "But we have absolutely no leads on where to go to find these cards…I mean, I found your cards in an antiques store."

"An antiques store, huh? That's pretty sad." Rayce said.

"Just be happy it wasn't a vending machine or a pawn shop…now that would be truly pathetic." Motoko said, sipping her tea. "Though for you, some sort of carnival fortune teller's stall would have sufficed."

"Ok, plan of action, card master?" Rayce asked, looking up at Takato.

"Sleep. It's getting too dark and foggy outside to go out. The temperatures outside could drop dangerously low at night, even with the biodome." Takato said. "I don't know if you guardian souls sleep or not, but if you want, Rayce, you can sleep in that room over there. That's the guest room." Takato gestured at a room at the far end of the corridor. "And Motoko could use that room over there. That's supposed to be my sisters' room, but they hardly use it. They normally sleep in my futon cupboard." Takato said, gesturing at the room. "The futons are in the cupboard, and I suppose you guys know where everything else is."

"Thank you." Motoko said, getting up. "But I think I will stand guard for tonight. We never know…there might be more card masters out there and they might be out hunting for cards."

"But you should rest. The alarms are all in place, and no one can enter the building without going through the security doors downstairs." Takato said.

"Security doors?" Motoko asked, scoffing.

"Downstairs?" Rayce laughed.

"Knowing people like Kaede, they'd just go straight for your bedroom window." Motoko said. "They don't bother with things like security doors. And you can forget downstairs…"

"Yeah, I mean, freaks like them never bother with conventional things like stairs." Rayce nodded.

"Look who's talking." Motoko closed her eyes and sipped her tea.

"As I said, the fogs down really thick and no one would be crazy enough to venture out into the cold. It could drop as far down as -7 to -12 at night." Takato said. "Not to mention, there have been more occurrences of wasteland monster break-ins during the night…apparently the biodome weakens during the dark hours."

"I'll stand guard." Motoko said, resolutely.

"Very well then, have it your way." Rayce said, walking away. "I'm hitting the sack. Night night."

"Motoko…" Takato said, reaching out.

"Get some sleep…" Motoko said, in a stern and final voice. "NOW!"

"Y…yes ma'am!" Takato stammered, before running off to his room.

Motoko sighed and looked up at the rising moon through the thick layer of fog and clouds. "Keitarou-kun…Nata-chan…"


"Motoko-san, tea?" Takato offered. The living room lights had automatically dimmed itself at exactly 10 PM. Motoko sat on the carpet in the half-light, looking up at the moon.

"Why haven't you gone to sleep yet?" Motoko asked with a frown as she took the cup of tea he offered.

"I…can't sleep…thinking about all this." Takato said, sitting down beside her. "It's such a big thing…such a big responsibility." Takato closed his eyes.

"I understand…not everyone would be ready to risk their lives for something so unsure." Motoko sighed.

"But…I really…I really feel that I must go out and accomplish this task." Takato said, looking at Motoko.

"Huh?" Motoko asked.

"I'm…I'm afraid…yes…the whole idea is frightening. But…my parents used to tell me, Hikari, and Himari stories about the world before it froze up…stories about forests, fields of flowers under the bright blue sky…dandelions flying up in the spring breeze, the beautiful sparkle of the rain…all stories past down from their parents. Hikari and Himari wanted to see all that…see it all for themselves. And I promised them, Motoko-san, I promised them I would show them all that someday. I want to let them live in a bright, warm, and beautiful world. You said that if I could end this war, warmth and light would return to this world, right?"

"Yes…or at least, that's the theory." Motoko said, taking a sip of tea.

"But…when I look at myself…I start to think…can I really do it? I've never accomplished anything in my life…always the worst of my class…never achieved any academic or athletic acknowledgements…" Takato looked down. "I start to think…am I the right person to undertake such a grand task? To save the world?"

"A man once told me…" Motoko said, closing her eyes. "If you put your mind to it, you could accomplish anything."

"Oh?" Takato asked.

"Yes…that man saved my life so many times…whenever I was down, ready to give up, he would come and cheer me up. I always prided myself in being strong and independent…but…I had so many weaknesses…I feared myself and feared those around me. But he came and cured me of those weaknesses, and gave me the strength to…well… live. I mean, live for real…" Motoko said, looking up at the moon. "I miss him so…"

"It was…your husband…wasn't it?" Takato said.

"Yes…Keitarou Urashima…" She took out the photograph and showed it to Takato. "That's him…and my daughter, Hinata." She pointed out the smiling figures. "I remember you said, back when I was possessed, 'if I put my mind to it, I could accomplish anything.'" She smiled. "That reminded me so much of my husband."

"Really?" Takato asked.

"I must…thank you…for saving my life today…twice…" Motoko said, quietly.

"But…it was my fault you ended up wandering around outside in the first place. And it was my fault you ended up drawing out that sword without enough manna energy to control the seal." Takato said.

"Stop blaming yourself, for stupid things like that. I chose to do all those things…jeez, you're so similar to him." Motoko huffed. Suddenly, the phone rang.

"Huh? At 2 AM at night? Who could that be?" Takato asked walking over to the phone and picking it up. "Hello?"

"Takato…Takato, please…th…there's someone or something trying to b…break into the store…grandpa's out tonight and…and…" a panicked voice whispered from the other side.

"Sakura?" Takato asked, recognizing the voice. "Sakura, stay in your room and lock it. Call the police, I'll be there right away. Don't worry and stay quiet."

"P…please hurry…Takato…" Sakura whispered. Takato replaced the receiver and ran to his room to get a change of clothes.

"Motoko-san! Please wake up Rayce-san, I'm going to need his help, and put on something warm from the coat cupboard!" Takato shouted, pulling on his active thermal coat. "It's going to be really cold out there, so wear one of my active thermal coats." Motoko immediately did as he said without any questions.

"H…hey…is it breakfast time already?" Rayce asked, absent-mindedly pulling on a coat at random. He struggled as he tried to zip it up. "Hey…this is a kid's coat…not only that…it's a girl's…"

"Hurry! I'm sorry, but I'm going to need to ask for your help, guys." Takato said, going out the front door.

"Urusai, baka. Get moving! Motoko shouted, pushing Rayce out the door and closing it behind her. She opened it again a few moments later and reached for the metal pipe stored in the umbrella stand before closing the door again.


They ran down through the thick, choking fog, their own breaths rising into stifling white clouds in front of them. The snow was thick and heavy under their feet, slowing them down significantly. "Stay behind me." Takato said. It went without saying, getting lost in the fog in the dark would be seriously unpleasant, especially at this temperature. Takato had checked the thermometer before leaving. It was -5 degrees Celsius outside, barely tolerable, even in their active thermal coats.

"There it is." Takato said, pointing before them at the Corner Antiques store. It was dark inside, but Takato could already see that the door had been broken into. "Hurry!"

As they crept up to the front door, they heard a few faint footsteps and the sound of glass breaking and things being overturned. A voice asked, "where are those cards?"

Takato gestured at them to remain quiet and follow him as he crept through the front door. He used the tall counter by the door as a cover as he tried to look around. A tall figure stood in the darkness, holding onto another figure. Another figure seemed to be rummaging through the items in the room. A faint light was floating around the second figure.

"I'm asking you, where are those cards!" The first figure asked, raising his voice slightly. Apparently it was a he.

"I…I don't know…we don't stock such cards…" Sakura's voice came from the direction of the figure being held by the first figure. "Please…I don't know anything…"

"…liar…" the man said, slamming her into a wall. "I'll ask you nicely just one more time…where are those cards…"

Takato gestured at Rayce and pointed at a collection of bamboo spears. Rayce sighed as both he and Takato grasped one each and crept around the store in the direction of the two figures. Rayce went for the one who was holding onto Sakura while Takato went for the other.

As they approached they raised their weapons, ready to bring hell down on…nothing? Their targets suddenly re-appeared behind them, smirking. Takato and Rayce slowly turned around…Sakura just slapped a hand to her face in exasperation.

SMASH…

"Oh my…glass shards do look beautiful in the moonlight…" Rayce remarked as a multitude of razor sharp glass shards clustered around him, following him in his short flight over the snow laden street.

Takato's flight, meanwhile, was a lot shorter. It was a one way trip into the wall…and a short slide down into the pile of junk (which Sakura stubbornly regards as antiques…well, she did. Now it's just junk). A large tanuki doll fell on his head as a whole shelf tumbled down on him.

"Well, well, well…another card master…and this one seems to have plenty of cards…" A young man strode over to Takato's upside down form amidst the junk. "And you've even taken the trouble to come and hand them over to me…how nice…"

"Get back!" Takato shouted, raising his weapon…a white moth-eaten squirrel doll…

Both Takato and the man stared at the doll for a moment.

"Oopps…excuse me…" Takato dropped the doll and rummaged around while still staring into the man's eyes. "Ah ha…" He shouted in triumph as he raised his weapon…which went 'myuu'…

Both he and the man stared at the waving turtle for a moment…before the man lost patience and picked up Takato by the collar.

"Stay away from him, foul fiend, or I'll…!" Motoko shouted, raising her…metal rod.…

"Or what, Urashima-san?" A dark-skinned figure stepped in front of her…the same figure who had sent Rayce on his short low altitude aerial tour.

"Tatsumiya!" Motoko gasped, taking a step backwards.

SMASH….SMASH…

"Hey, how nice of you guys to join me…" Rayce said, spitting out a few glass shards from his horizontal position in the snow as two more bodies smashed out in a shower of glass shards and skid into the snow beside him. "Hey…check this out…if you just take a little snow and put a little of this here chocolate syrup on it…" Rayce said, taking out a bit of chocolate syrup in a bottle.

"Hey, that's Hikari and Himari's!" Takato shouted, getting up from his bed of glass and snow.

"Enough of that now…" Motoko said.

"You got beaten up, Motoko?" Rayce asked. "Hey, Takato, just check this out for a moment."

"Idiot, I don't have enough manna for proper combat. Hey, Takato, stop being stingy with manna!" Motoko shouted, grasping her….metal rod… and leaping back into a standing position. "Takato…I'm seriously getting fed up of being beaten around by an upstart mercenary, just cause all I have is a metal rod…" Takato also slowly raised himself from the snow.

"Hel…hel…hy hongue ith thuck…" Rayce cried out.

"What did he say?" Takato asked, pointing at Rayce who seemed to be slamming his head into the snow repeatedly.

"He said his tongue is stuck. That's what you get for trying all sorts of weird stuff, you idiot…" Motoko said, raising her…metal rod… for battle.

"Hahahahaha…so…it's only a little kid…hey…it's you, isn't it? Takato?" The young man asked, coming out of the store, an antique rapier in one hand. "Mwahahaha…I eat pipsqueaks like you for tea…" He laughed maniacally, licking his rapier… "Ugh…agh…hy hongue ith thuck thoo…hamn…hamn!" He cried out.

"What did he just say?" Takato asked, pointing at the man who was now bent double over his rapier.

"Let's just say…he's just as idiotic and pathetic…wait…maybe more so than Rayce…" Motoko sighed.

"…Hana! Hana! Hake Hem Outh!" The man shouted, as he tried to pull on the blade, only succeeding in slamming it into his head a number of times as atmospheric thermodynamics tested the elasticity of his tongue to the limit. "Ar huu aghing ah me! Oock huu!" He shouted, or at least he tried. He ended up biting his tongue in the process and yelled "OOCK! OOCK!" in pain.

"What did he say?" Takato asked again, pointing once more at the man who was now repeatedly banging his head onto the old rapier while gesturing Mana to go and attack. Mana just watched in a politely interested manner.

"I don't think anyone would want that last part interpreted…" Motoko said. "I think the fanfic would lose its T rating…" She crossed her arms and sighed.


Meanwhile, in an alternate dimension…

Beyond the Bounds paused as his fingers hovered over his keyboard…he spun around in his seat and pulled out a copy of the contents restrictions from fanfic .com and checked it…nope…that last part still conformed with the rules….was that a little too random though? But he decided that being an insane retard once in a while doesn't matter. After all, what can you do after 3 cups of strong coffee? He immediately turns down the aircon's temperature further in order to keep in line with story's atmosphere…


"All right…playtime's over…" Mana said, digging her boots into the snow in her usual fighting stance. She raised one arm towards Motoko and gestured for her to attack. "Come…let's settle the Tatsumiya and Shinmei temple affairs of the past right here, right now. Not that I care, but it makes a nice little dramatic backdrop to our fight."

"…it's your challenge then…it will be your shame should you lose." Motoko said, holding her metal rod at the ready….metal rod… "TAKATO! GET ME A PROPER WEAPON!" she shouted as a vein finally popped on her forehead.

To be continued….

Behind the scenes…

BTB: Konichiwa! Yoroshiku, ne! Beyond The Bounds desu! Watashiwa…er…amateur/beginner fanfiction writer…ehem…please excuse the poor Japanese. Here's my first appearance here in Soul Requiem's 'behind the scenes'. So far, I've been playing around with ideas for the MotxKei fic and the ShixKei fic, but I'm also thinking of branching out and trying other pairings…problem is, I don't know what kinds of pairings readers would like.

Naru: Hey, BTB, I want a version of my own!

Mitsune: Yeah! Me too!

Suu: Yeah! Suu-chan wants one too! A version's something edible, right!

BTB: hahaha…don't worry…er…we'll see what happens…ok?

Kanako: BTB-san…I want one… (appears behind BTB with a katana held around BTB's neck.)

BTB: eeeeep….ahahahaha…can't we talk nicely about this…

Takato: Oh…how lucky…I get to star in so many cool stories with so many cute female co-stars….hehehehehehe…

Hikari & Himari: Oniichan!

Motoko: Allow me to slash him in two and feed him to the turtles…especially for kissing me…

Mitsune: Who is that kid anyway?

BTB: Uhh…just some random character.

Lee: By the way, what are you planning on doing about all those grammar and syntax mistakes you've been making.

BTB: Ah, yes, grammar mistakes. That's why I'm going to start advertising for proof-readers…preferably proof-readers who are willing to proof-read chapters from Love Hina Alternative, Soul Requiem, and New Mobile Suit Project Gundam Hina Eternity. I'll probably take on two proof-readers…also, as an added offer, anyone who agrees to proof-read will get the chance to guest-star in Omakes, 'Behind the scene' episodes, intermissions, and perhaps even in the stories themselves from time to time.

Tsuroko: Good luck, Motoko. It's so good to finally see you achieve your dreams.

Motoko: But unfortunately the setting's some sort of futuristic waste land…where Keitarou's supposedly already long gone. I haven't even met Keitarou even once during the entire production. Even if I do meet him…

Suu: He's gonna be a zombie…mwahahaha( does a zombie impersonation)

Shinobu: Baka Suu! That can't happen. Keitarou-sempai…Keitarou-sempai…sniff…sniff…(tears well up in her eyes)

Naru: Where is he, anyway?

BTB: He's out making one of the big scenes for the next chapter of 'Love Hina Alternative'

Makie: BTB-san! Please tell us more about the next Soul Requiem and Love Hina Alternative

BTB: Well, if you're that interested, then I'll show you a preview of Love Hina Alternative chapter 7! Here we go!

Rayce: The following preview has been approved to be suitable for all ages by the motion pictures association of….

Mitsune: Shut up and get going.

BTB: Action!

I'm a goofy goober yeah, you're a goofy goober yeah, we're all goofy goobers YEAH!

BTB: What the heck?

Rayce: Yeah! Sponge Bob!

Mitsune: Someone shoot him and put on the real stuff.

Black Cat OST Daia No Hana, sung by Yoriko

Hajimari wa itsumo sou (The beginning's always the same)

Keitarou stands on top of the Hinata Sou and looks up at the moon as thousands of sakura petals fly up into the sky.

Gunjou no sora no shita (beneath the blue sky)

Shinobu and Nodoka are seen from behind, wind whipping around them, their clothes flying with the wind.

Chikai wo tatete ima boku wa (for the promise, I am now)

Silhouttes of a boy and a girl turn around at the end of a street

Aruki dasu (walking ahead)

The camera turns around 180 degrees to show Keitarou, Nodoka, and Shinobu walking down the street

Interlude 1

Keitarou spins around with his SOCOM in one hand. The title screen starts to fly across the screen

Interlude 2

Nodoka and Shinobu reload their guns as they run beside the title screen.

Interlude 3

Above, a number of silhouettes leap over the title screen and land running beside Nodoka, Shinobu, and Keitarou

Interlude 4

A few more silhouettes join them as the title screen shows the title 'Love Hina Alternative'

Kin iro ni hikaru sabaku (at the desert that glitters like gold) moeru kaze (burning wind)

Three silhouettes stand on top of a store in Market Street, the full moon behind them, their clothes flowing with the wind.

Daiyu no hana wo sagashite (I'm looking for a diamond flower) samayoi tsuzukeru (wandering on and on)

Rayce walks down the street, a shadow across his face. Two other silhouettes follow closely behind him.

Hajimete dareka no tameni(this is the first time that)

Keitarou stands with his back to the camera. He looks around and raises his hand towards the screen. Nodoka and Shinobu stand in the shadows, looking out at him.

Ima boku wa ikete iru(I am living for someone)

The twins run up to Keitarou. Meanwhile, three other silhouettes watch them.

Mamoritai mono ga arunda(There's something I want to protect)

The scene shows Market Avenue seen from the sky. Makie winks an eye at the screen and throws out a blazing ribbon as she free falls down towards the city. Tsuroko and Motoko follow after, slashing their katanas at the screen. Mana follows, spinning around before firing a shot at the screen. Ku Fei follows, throwing her two chakrams at the screen. Kaede follows close behind, with a flurry of shurikens.

Mou nido to nido to ushinai wa shinai(That I never, never want to lose again)

Sarah falls down from the shining sun, followed closely behind by Suu (with her usual heavy launcher), Shana (with katana blazing), Fumika and Fuuka (with machine guns out) Mutsumi (with a battalion of Tamas), Yuna (with sakura petals orbiting around her), Yotsuba (with frying pans), Akira (with water bubbles floating around her) and Zazie (with a battalion of phantoms)

Narihibike dare yori chiisaku hakanai(let the beat of your heart carry on)

(Camera flies across Market Avenue as if blowing with the wind, showing each of the following characters) Haruna with a book (the pages flipping rapidly), Misora (with her two guns out), Ako (with her hands shining bright), Chao (throwing a salute), Ayaka (with a rose in one hand), Yue (with her back to the camera, her head turned to the camera), and Shiina (winking).

Dare yori tafu na kono kodou(strong and fragile but stronger than anything)

(Camera pans across characters standing on a moonlit rooftop) Naru (hands crossed), Grandma Hina, Seta (hands in his pockets), Takamichi (hands in his pockets), Haruka (smoking), The Gothiloli Kamens (hands on their hips), Mitsune (leaning back on a chimney), Shirai and Haitani (throwing casual salutes), Chizuru (looking up at the sky), and Natsume(smiling at the screen).

Ending 1

(Camera pans across characters) Fate, and a number of silhouettes move across the screen.

Ending 2

Keitarou, Nodoka, and Shinobu sits atop the Hinata Sou, with the sun setting before them. The other Market Avenue characters appear behind them.

Ending 3

Scene shows all the characters standing before the sunset.

BTB: As for Soul Requiem, I don't know what I'm going to do next yet…but I can promise this. If I do continue the MotxKei version, I'll be introducing another new card in the next chapter.

Shinobu: Anou...anou...what about my version? Why did I have to show up as a...

Spectre Shinobu: Schizophrenic whacko?

Shinobu: Kyaaaaaaaaa! It's here!

Spectre Shinobu: Nuhuhuhuhuhuhu...I've come for you...

Rayce: REST IN PEACE (slashes Spectre Shinobu with his scythe) errr...it doesn't work, does it?

Spectre Shinobu: Was I supposed to feel that?

Suu: NYAHAHAHAHAHA (leaps onto the scene carrying ghostbuster equipment)

Motoko: DIE DEMON!

Heero Yuy: Mission received, executing (Wing Zero lands in the studio)

Chao: (Lands in the gundam Duel) Where's the action, yo!

Naru: Can we ever have a normal ending...(sighs as the studio behind her explodes into chaos as a few Mobile Suits from Project Gundam Hina Eternity, the Hinata Garden and Ragnarok from Final Hina Fantasy, and even the Gothiloli Kamens from Love Hina Alternative with their Team Rocket Motto, show up.)

BTB: I guess...nope...(as the ohayo-maru from Love Hina Children of the Exodus bounces onto the screen, ticking, before exploding and sending the everyone's living crap to oblivion)