Reforged

by MakKeiUra

A collaboration by Y-PenDraig and MakKeiUra. Happily Ever After was all that Tsuruko ever wanted, but in the battle of good versus evil you do not get what you want unless you grab it. An old and tremendous evil has other ideas; an old artifact may be the key; is Tsuruko capable of balancing the battle and a new love?

6. Chapter 6

"Reforged Chapter 6"

By Y-PenDraig and MakkeiUra

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Love Hina, Ken Akamatsu does. This is a not-for-profit work of fanfiction with no monies or profit being made from it. No copyright infringement is intended.

AUTHORS' NOTE ON CONTINUITY: This story uses a mixed manga/anime continuity that starts to branch off majorly from the Burning Blades arc/TV series episode 25. Simply stated, Keitaro's initial arrival at the Hinata Inn and the order he meets the girls is the same as it is in the TV series, as well as Granny Hina's departure from the same. The increased presence of Shirai and Haitani as well as Kentaro Sakata is also as it was in the TV series, as well as Mei, and Moe-Chan. Beyond that, events that occur in the manga should be considered completely canon unless otherwise obviously superseded except for ages; we'll keep to the TV series there unless noted.

INTRODUCTION: Y-PenDraig and I welcome you, the reader, to this story. It grew out of discussion between the two of us about Tsuruko Aoyama and a shared desire to tell a good, long story involving her. The regular rating will be T for Teen for the story proper, but owing to the naughty idea that kind of inspired this madness, you will see omake side-stories posted independently that are rated M for Mature

000

They were hardly anonymous hired guns.

They were known as Garr, Acwel, and Ryce. Much better than any old name like Tom, Dick, or Harry.

The three men were dressed in black suits could have been anyone, anywhere, and at almost anytime. Whether a member of a religious sect, a cult, political liberation front, secret government organization, or an organized crime syndicate of any stripe. They were trained, talented, and determined. Most of all, they were devoted to Him. The equipment they used were swords, but evil corrupted ones charged with malevolence.

By the time they caught sight of their targets at the condemned shopping center in Wales they built over the adversary's Tree, they had been waiting for days. As if fortune had provided for them, it was just past 3:00 am in the morning when their targets arrived. Their previous identities had been wiped from their consciousness years ago, while He was in slumber in that blade in Japan. These three were one of his projects and use of power after his corruption and ruination of the life of the lesser King in Japan and those around him using a childhood promise and setting the tides of fortune against him.

But He needed soldiers; his prison sharply limited who and how many. Fortunately for Him he knew just how to encircle the minds of those who could serve His purpose the best.

The lead one, from a secluded spot in a high growth of shrubbery next to a ditch, mentally signalled to his comrades: First the tall one with the glasses, then immediately the Woman of Water using the poison and the cursed bracelet to trap her, and finally the young woman with the large glasses on. If it was not possible to terminate and drain all three targets, then the main two would do. The three men also knew they may not survive this task, but no matter. Stop the main two and they have served the purpose of their existence.

"They have destroyed the Tree and built a market place-now they have decided they do not want it!?" This was the Woman of Water and she was furious.

"Tough break," the woman with the glasses observed. "I thought the United Kingdom *cared* about historical preservation."

"Yeah, saying you care and actually doing it are two entirely different things, Naru-chan." The tall man with glasses carefully inspected the sign announcing the shopping center's closure and imminent demolition, courtesy of a notice from the local council speaking highly of a new urban renewal program.

The lead gave the signal to draw swords.

His two comrades did so.

All three charged out from their hiding places.

000

The head portion of Morgana's water form snapped up. "Down, now!"

Seta obeyed, immediately hitting the pavement and taking Naru with him before the brunette had a chance to react.

Three red flashes crackled over them, hitting a parked bulldozer, immediately setting it into flames.

"Looks like we've got company!" Naru shouted.

"Seal your lips, harridan," Morgana's water body 'gurgled' at her from their place on the ground.

Seta had his gun out of its holster from his lab coat in a flash, he cocked the revolver.

Three more red flashes, impacting into the empty store with a crash, followed by a hot sizzle of flame.

Seta heard them before he saw them, he made a quick calculation and let the light of the moon reveal who was attacking them. He soon saw the light on the steel of their assailants' swords.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The bullets hit the lead one in the right arm, another hit the other in his side, and finally the other found himself shot in the left knee.

Naru heard cries of agony but could still see the charging shapes in the night.

Morgana sent three orbs of shimmering earth blue energy crackling at the three attackers. She and her charges were rewarded with three cries of pain but the footfalls, the shapes and their weapons were almost right on top of them.

Naru saw the raised weapon, the blade now illuminated with its own evil energy and how it was directed at Seta. 'He's- he's gonna kill Seta!' the thought took up her entire existence at that moment.

The lead had the tall target with the white coat in it's sights. All he had to do was slice him with the blade and the hateful energy would do the rest.

"ATOMIC PUNCH!"

The lead assailant in black found himself airborne, his sword clattering to the ground, and he was flying end over end. Soon he crashed into the sign proudly announcing the shopping center's demolition.

Morgana's aquatic face wore an expression that could pass as amazement.

Seta grinned as he turned his attention and revolver to the remaining two attackers.

Naru cracked her knuckles for another right-hook and mentally made her legs ready. That punch had felt… different than any other punch she had thrown in her life. She breathed deep, for some reason it seemed the punch had also knocked a lot of energy out of her.

The two attackers leapt into the air, swords aiming down when the report from Seta's revolver knocked each sword from the attackers' hands. The weapons landed on the ground, instantly starting to sizzle against the pavement.

The attackers landed. One next to Morgana, one next to Seta and immediately tried to wrap their hands around their necks. The one targeting Morgana had in one hand a vial of some kind of green luminescent liquid and in the other hand a bracelet with a large green jewel on it.

Naru saw this and knocked back the one aiming for Seta's neck with a left hook and the one aiming for Morgana's "neck" with a skull crushing kick to the head. "Assholes!" Naru snarled. The vial and bracelet fell to the ground with a clatter.

The leader recovered enough to stand up from the wreckage of the demolition sign.

"You don't know when to quit, do you?" Naru hissed.

No response.

Seta fired a shot directly at the leader's head. Blood and brain matter clearly sprayed outward from the bullet's impact.

The leader staggered a bit, but started confidently advancing towards them again.

"Demon!" Morgana declared loudly amidst the liquid gurgling. "I cast you back into the abyss!"

'... isn't that a movie Keitaro tried to watch with me once?' Naru thought abstractly.

Morgana's hands glowed blue and large spinning orbs issued forth, hitting the leader and knocking him several feet up into the air. He landed with a thud. Again, he staggered back up and now his two companions joined him.

Naru's eyes widened. 'They want to corner us!' she thought. Immediately she leapt into the air and drop-kicked first the leader and then the other two. "Seta! This is getting lame!" Naru felt her breathing get more labored.

Seta nodded in response as his fingers danced along the revolver as he put fresh bullets in.

Morgana's attention was on the green vial and the bracelet with its matching jewel that had been dropped. Her watery lips curled into a smile. "Harridan!"

"Huh?" Naru asked.

"Kiss the ground and roll away!" Morgana shouted.

Naru did so. She rolled through a puddle and then out of the pavement into a shallow ditch.

Seta aimed his revolver, but found out what Morgana had in mind. With one watery hand, the apparition picked up the vial of green liquid and threw it on the ground between the three attackers. A green plume of noxious smoke immediately arose. With the other hand, Morgana whispered an incantation and threw the bracelet to a place in front of the spreading cloud of green mist and the three attackers.

A loud crackle of lightning flashed green and in an instant the three attackers were gone, leaving only residual green smoke and the glowing green jewel on top of the bracelet. An acrid sizzling scent was all around it.

Naru stood up from the ditch she had rolled into, brushing off cold mud. Her clothes were already wet from the shrine water back in Kyoto.

"Na-chan, you okay?!" Seta called.

"Yeah, a bit filthy but okay." Naru replied.

Seta turned to Morgana. "... and you?"

"... I am undamaged," she said for Seta's benefit. The water woman strode towards were Naru was still brushing off mud from her clothes. "You!"

Naru looked up. 'Great, do I have to fight her now too?' Naru thought.

Morgana stopped. "You… you used your fists to save me and someone close to you…"

Naru blinked. "Yeah it's exhausting work… but is there something wrong with that?"

"... you used the same fists on my descendant… in anger." Morgana whispered.

For a moment Naru thought to try and rationalize her treatment of Keitaro, but stopped when she felt instinctive revulsion at the sheer amount of effort such lying would have required. "... I have done wrong," Naru's shoulders slumped.

That gurgle of water again and that play of light from Morgana again. "I will intercede on your behalf before my teacher, perhaps there is forgiveness and growth available to you."

Seta came up then. "Looks like you made a friend, Na-chan." Seta smiled.

Naru went to Seta's side. "You okay?"

"Yes, thanks to you. You saved my life, Na-chan." Seta reached out and squeezed Naru's shoulder lightly. She did not recoil, just smiled back at him. Naru wondered just how much energy she had left; it had been years since she's had such sustained physical activity, on top of all the hiking she had done.

Naru looked over to the bracelet, it was still sizzling, though the color had died off somewhat in the early morning darkness. The illumination from the few construction lights and parking lot lamps provided was just enough. "I don't think we should be leaving that just laying around."

"I know," Seta said gravely, following Naru's gaze. "I will have to be very careful picking it up-"

"-you stay right there!" Morgana water-yelled at Seta.

"Okay. Staying right here." Seta froze.

Morgana moved over to the bracelet and extended a tendril of water. The tendril expanded, becoming a box of green and blue that soon contained the bracelet. The box moved to Morgana's side, connected to her left arm.

"-we do not have a moment to lose," Morgana said. She outstretched her right arm. There was a glow of blue and green and a gust of wind from a whirlpool that appeared before them. "If we cannot stand before the Tree and receive its blessings and strength for the task ahead, we shall go directly to my teacher's resting place. This has just gotten much more difficult."

Seta and Naru nodded to Morgana, who gave a short nod of her aquatic head. All three jumped into that whirlpool and were whisked away once more.

000

Merlins Hill Abergwili, Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)...

000

They emerged from the whirlpool on a hill, shrouded in darkness with only the moon, the stars and the soft glow from Morgana to guide them.

"I sure hope this teacher of yours is receptive to guests at this early morning hour," Seta commented lightly.

"If you are expecting a feast, you will be disappointed," Morgana grumbled in her watery way.

"I feel a bit bad, I should've brought a gift. Cookies, cake, tea, or something." Naru sighed, wishing she could just sit down.

"I am afraid the teacher would have preferred wild boar or fresh tobacco," Morgana replied offhand, she was looking around in all directions.

"I still got some smokes," Seta laughed sheepishly.

"You're not helping, Seta-sensei," Naru rolled her eyes.

GLUSH! THUD!

"!" Morgana jumped.

Seta and Naru's eyes trained down to the ground.

The water box that contained the bracelet was simply laying there.

"Morgana," Seta began, then stopped when he saw the expression on the water woman's face in the dark.

"Huh?" Naru looked from Morgana, the water box on the ground, to Seta. "...I think we're in trouble."

"Start running!" Morgana shouted. She pointed ahead of them. "That way!"

It turns out they only had about seventeen and a half seconds before the water box had been breached and the bracelet (now glowing a furnace red) began shaking violently on the ground.

Naru's legs put her ahead of Seta and Morgana at first, but the burning and the pain from the drop-kicks she had utilized earlier was rapidly depleting her energy.

If Morgana noticed, she gave no heed to Naru's fatigue. The water woman had her task set, and she would see it through.

If they had worried about not being able to see adequately out on the countryside of the Welsh hill country, those worries were soon dispelled. Unfortunately, they were dispelled by an orange-red fire glow that erupted from the location where the bracelet sat. Seta spared a look back, and his suspicions were confirmed; three figures now were pursuing them.

"Morgana! Are those the same three?!"

"Yes, now be silent and run!" Morgana answered back.

'So much for sealing them away,' Naru thought. Another funny thought edged its way into her consciousness; perhaps their three assailants were so powerful they cannot be easily sealed and the atomic punches and kicks she laid on them were only draining *herself* of energy?

Seta noted Naru's faltering stride, and lessened his pace, bringing him up beside her. He did not need to even ask. "I've got you, Na-chan!"

Naru's wheezing and panting was all Seta could hear as he pulled Naru along by the arm as they attempted to escape from their pursuers across the fields in the direction Morgana had gone.

"S-S-Seta, please..." Naru looked at him as he guided her through the fields.

"I know," Seta stole a quick glance at her and searched for their pursuers. "But we're almost there, Na-chan, just a little bit further!"

CRASH!

"Seta!" Cried Naru as she stumbled over an uneven surface in the turf and face planted. She released the man's hand with her rather nasty fall. Bizarrely, the first thought Naru was aware of after her fall was wondering how her glasses stayed on.

"SHIT!" Seta ran back to Naru.

Morgana looked back and saw where Seta was assisting the fallen Naru. "You two have to run! NOW!" she shouted back to them.

Seta turned his head to where he heard Morgana's voice and saw her form in the early morning darkness. "Just shut up and find where this teacher of yours is!"

Morgana simply turned and ran for a mound Seta noted was up ahead some distance.

Looking around Seta could see no sign of their pursuers, but using his training he knew they were close and closing in on the two. Fumbling around in his lab coat inner pocket he brought out the silver Knight chess piece that had been sent to him and wondered how it fit into the exact location Morgana seemed intent on finding and this "teacher" of hers.

Seta looked at Naru, seeing the fear in her eyes and how weak she was now.

Naru tried with all her might to get back up but her body gave out beneath her; she ended up in a heap on the ground.

Seta kneeled down, he knew he had no choice but to fight where they stood. The situation was dire enough as it was and Naru's energy was completely used up.

"Naru," Seta said cooly, mentally preparing himself for he *knew* their attackers were upon them. "Stay down."

Seta finished speaking just as instinctively (almost as a reflex) he lifted his hand to catch the foot of one of the pursuers as the strike almost hit his temple, in response the professor threw a mighty flying uppercut to set some distance between their foes.

"Awwwww!" The previously silent assailant mocked him as he landed on his feet several yards away. "You know, I think I'm going to enjoy this workout before I sit down for dessert." He turned his eyes towards Naru on the ground. The voice sounded like it had tingling vibrations to it; like it had been cobbled together from other sounds.

"I thought you three dipshits were silent," Seta cracked his knuckles.

"We-and our master-are a bit tired of you three's antics, we will admit." The attacker took a stance strangely matching Seta's. "And He is *so* hungry right now."

"You're about to be a whole lot more tired," Seta commented, placing a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it. He intended to be done with them once and for all; he just hoped the water guide woman knew what she was looking for.

"Come on boys, I don't have all morning!" Seta exhaled an intentionally large cloud of smoke in the general direction of the opponent he was facing. He spied the other two attackers closing in on the pair from either side, and took up a ready Jeet Kwon Do stance.

The battle raged on for some time yet for all of his abilities and prowess Seta had never felt so weak and drained. As Naru had just experienced with only a few hits landed on their opponents, it seemed *any* contact with them just furthered the power drain on them. Seta knew he stood no chance against them but he could buy his companion some time to get away as he fought the three.

Morgana located the correct mound and she was carefully scrutinizing the ground; looking for the right place.

His left eye bloodied, his right arm hanging limp at his side; Seta refused to give in as he stood between the pursuers and Naru.

"Here," said the archaeologist as he tossed the Knight chess piece to his companion.

"Y-Yes," reacted Naru fearfully as she reached for the piece he handed her.

Seta sighed raggedly as he tried to regain some composure for what would probably be his final push; Seta spoke down to Naru in a way that left no room for refusal. "Take the piece and run for *that* mound," he pointed where Morgana had retreated.

Naru merely nodded in reply as she forced herself onto her knees.

"Good," whispered Seta. He leapt towards their assailants. "Go… NOW!"

"Give up already," said what seemed to be the leader of the three. He easily dodged the flying kick aimed at him from Seta.

"Yes, the lord desires his nourishment." Jeered one of his companions.

"Do not speak without my permission, Acwel." Retorted the leader sharply. Seta noted it was the one with the head wound from his gunshot back at the shopping center.

"Yes, Garr." Then Acwel noticed Garr glaring at him. "I mean, commander," as he lowered his head.

Ryce, the third attacker sniggered at the antics of his comrades, easily catching the professor's foot and swiftly throwing him over his shoulder to the other two servants to finish off.

Eyeing the mound that Seta pointed towards, Naru attempted to get away from the attackers. Naru tried as she may but just couldn't get up to her feet, the last year of almost constant studying had left her endurance diminished. Opting instead to crawl as best as she could toward the mound. Naru panicked that she could not quite make out Morgana's shape in the darkness.

A crash of thunder was all Seta could hear at this point as he felt rain starting to hit his now sore and battered body. 'Now it's raining, absolutely-fucking-fabulous,' he thought miserably.

Then to Seta's horror he heard a loud CRUNCH, followed by a cry of pain and sheer terror from Naru.

Naru felt something sharp stomp on the back of her lower leg as she was crawling.

Laughing in glee at the young woman's pain, Ryce hand easily chased and ensnared the worn out girl in her attempt to crawl away. "If you think it hurts now girly, just wait a few minutes; a broken leg will mean jack shit!"

Feeling her assailant climb upon her prone form Naru fought harder, kicking her legs and crying out. "GET….OFF…..ME!"

Ryce merely looked at the girl in amusement as he reached down to unzip his pants.

The sound of cloth tearing could be heard as the goon continued his assault by roughly tearing open the top half of the travelling sweater she wore; revealing the plain white cotton undershirt she wore underneath. "Wow," Ryce exclaimed. "Hey commander, you have to *feel* how this girl fights with the body she has! It's a shame we have to drain the energy from her!"

"Yeah, yeah." Garr replied as he and his cohort continued to stomp upon Seta. Constant attack was the only way to keep their target down due to his sheer skill and persistence. "Make sure to get as much terror out of her as possible, the lord needs the energy from her right *now*!" Garr exclaimed.

"No… please!" Naru cried as she was forcefully rolled over onto her back so roughly that the chess piece she had been holding was flung through the air landing at the base of the nearby mound.

Morgana sensed where the chess piece had landed. She knew if she tried to help her companions directly it would almost certainly end in disaster. But she knew just what to do next. Due to the darkness, the rain, and their focus on stomping Seta and attempting to violate Naru, the three servants never noticed anything that was not right in front of them. Morgana extending a long tendril of silent silvery water and picked up the Knight chess piece. She brought it to the exact right spot on the mound that she had been frantically hunting for (a small stone circle with just the correct runes etched into them) and dropped it in...

...And heard a sound that had not been heard on the Earth in over fifteen hundred years.

000

Meanwhile…

Hinata Inn, Kanagawa Prefecture…

Lunch time...

Shippu, Kuro, and Tama-chan keeping watch...

000

As events were unfolding on the other side of the world, mid-day meal was being consumed at the Hinata Inn. It was agreed that morning the school age girls should stay home for safety reasons. Their assistance was also needed to clean up the mess from the day before. There was some complaining from Sara but one combined hard look from Tsuruko, Motoko, and Haruka told the American girl to shut up and get to work picking up debris.

Now, it was time for a well earned break. Kitsune took a sip of sake as she levelled a look at Motoko across the table. The fox of Hinata was feeling a little better that day but still sometimes felt a chill run down her back. Kitsune was immensely grateful to the younger girls for keeping her company last night in Shinobu's room. The fox was also grateful to Motoko for her vigilance in wanting to sleep close to where the monster attacked. But Kitsune felt the need for some light pot stirring, as was her nature. Motoko had certainly asked for it last night with the little secret she had revealed to them in the baths.

Motoko sat silently finishing her tea. She seemed almost to be meditating.

It was just Motoko, the fox, and the younger girls in the dining room as Tsuruko, Kanako, and Haruka were in the kitchen cleaning up. By silent agreement, everyone wanted to give the petite chef as much of a break as possible in the kitchen due to the shock of the past couple days. Keitaro was in his mini "office" on the phone with repair contractors and also Kentaro Sakata about Granny Hina's old van.

As it would turn out, true to Keitaro's luck in many facets of his life, the auto salvage costs of totaling the van would exceed any amount of money the scraps could sell for. So that was another unexpected expense Keitaro had to factor into the Inn's budget.

An unavoidable expense as Hinata City environmental ordinances prohibited the storing (garage or lot) of any junked vehicles in residential zoned areas for longer than thirty days consecutive per vehicle. Which, as a dormitory, the Inn was classified as residential and the ordinance made no exceptions for where said junked vehicle was stored. Keitaro grumbled loudly to himself as he wrote the note to himself not to forget this and posted it on his oversized maintenance and expense calendar.

"So, kendo girl," Kitsune chuckled, "about what you said last night in the hot spring…"

Shinobu, Su, and Sara were sitting discussing what to watch on television that night. The moment they saw Kitsune had Motoko's attention the conversation was dropped.

"Yes, Konno-san?" Motoko asked, with an air of indulgence. She knew where this was going.

"So you had to come down here when you were fourteen because of distractions at home," Kitsune drawled.

"Yes."

"But you still failed year three of Junior High and had to repeat it…" Kitsune took another swig of sake.

Motoko nodded in the affirmative.

"Then when us esteemed ladies began moving in, Hina-sama went along with you acting and presentin' like you too had only *just* arrived and you were only fifteen when you were actually sixteen." Kitsune snickered.

"Your point, Konno-san?"

Another sip of sake. "Just funny, that's all. 'Ya think you know someone," Kitsune tittered.

Motoko glowered at Kitsune. "As I stated last night in the bath, I apologise I am not as perfect or as academically gifted as I wish to present to the world. What else do you wish for myself to do to show my contrition?" Motoko's question was directed at the younger girls.

Kitsune smiled big and wide. "Can I keep teasing you about this? I mean, like long term and in public?"

"Absolutely not," Motoko shook her head in the negative emphatically.

Sara raised her hand. "Get me out of school early someday. Please?"

"No," Motoko shook her head again.

"Sheesh, you're no fun." Sara said.

Shinobu blushes. "Um, Motoko-sempai?"

"Yes, Shinobu-chan?"

"W-w-would you consider co-signing so I can get a credit card?" Shinobu's eyes were large and her hands folded politely on the table in front of her.

Motoko blinked, taken aback. "I apologise, Shinobu-chan. I will not do that."

Shinobu sighed and nodded, a bit disappointed.

Su jumped up in her chair, tittering. "Motokos signs for hazardous materials; Su loves yous!"

Motoko groaned.

Tsuruko giggled from the doorway to the kitchen.

Motoko turned to face her sister. "So pleased you are enjoying this, Big Sister."

"Oh yes, indeed I am." Tsuruko gave a thumbs up before going back into the kitchen.

Motoko and the other girls were about to stand up and take their plates into the kitchen when Haruka peeked her head in.

"I was wondering how long it would take for your little secret to come out, Motoko-chan." Haruka laughed and retreated back into the kitchen but not before thoroughly enjoying Motoko's scowl.

000

He never fled from Hinata City, really. After he had been weakened all that needed to be done was make his cloud form able to move into and through rocks and earth. He knew from his long residency in the Hina blade where his next strike should come from. It was not a first option or a second, but He was running out of time due to events starting to spiral out of control on this side of the world and the other side. While this next option would remove from its arsenal a source of sufficient power that, honestly, He wanted to save until later just out of prudence, enough was enough.

000

Motoko was assisting Tsuruko with raking up the remaining fine shards of glass in the Inn's courtyard. Keitaro, Kanako and Haruka were wrapping up placing tarps over the holes in the Inn's third floor wall. Kitsune and the younger girls were inside the third floor hallway sweeping up. Work was progressing smoothly, when Shippu flapped in.

-Mistress,- Shippu landed on Tsuruko's shoulder. -There has been a sudden increase in crows around the old structure on the yonder mountainside.-

"Did you try and converse with them, my pet?" Tsuruko asked, setting aside her rake.

-Affirmative. The answers were vague and it seemed not even the crows knew why they were there.- Shippu flapped.

Tsuruko looked to her sister. "Motoko-han, I believe you will get your welcome party."

"The Inn of Fateful Unions," Motoko nodded, dropping her rake now as well. "Of course, it would attempt to go there next."

-Kuro and Tama-chan are conducting the others to a place of safety.- Shippu nodded his head.

Right then, Keitaro, Kanako, and Haruka ran out of the Inn. Tsuruko did not even need to ask, as Keitaro blurted out: "I *know* something's up at the Annex."

Kanako's worried eyes met Tsuruko's. Both of them knew there would likely be a time during their employment at the Inn that they would need to deal with the power of the Annex and its hold on Kanako; but it was something they both had agreed should only be tackled much later. Obviously now, it appeared that their adversary had other plans for the famed Inn of Fateful Unions.

Haruka stamped out the cigarette that she had been smoking. "Looks like that thing doesn't know when to give it a rest," she sighed, looked to Tsuruko. "What's the plan?"

Tsuruko pursed her lips for a moment, stealing a glance to make sure Kanako's resolve was holding out.

Kanako shook minutely. She was more frightened than she had been for a while.

Motoko turned to Kanako, sensing her unease. "Kanako-san? Are you all right?"

Tsuruko reached out her hand to Kanako's shoulder. "Remember your oath; you are stronger than that place and what lies within it."

Kanako nodded, steadying herself. "Y-yes, My Lady."

Tsuruko looked back to Haruka. "The plan is for myself, and Motoko-han to take point position. You and my retainer will assist Keitaro-san in the rear. We must attack directly, and we need Keitaro-san's Urashima arts for this. Shippu, join your cohorts and protect Konno-san and the girls."

-At once, Mistress.- Shippu flew off inside the Inn.

Motoko's eyes were trained on the treeline and the mountain towards where the old Annex was located. "There you are, coward!" Motoko shouted, pointing at where she saw a dark wisp of cloud.

"To the battle!" Tsuruko unsheathed Ikazucki and began running.

000

By the time they arrived at the Annex, the structure itself and much of the surrounding hillside was covered in thick black mist. The odor of burnt motor oil hung heavy. Even the crows decided to flee at this point along with any other living creatures in the vicinity. Glowing red light was in the half-buried structure of the Annex and lightning bolts arched back and forth between it and the dark cloud.

Tsuruko and Motoko reached the outer band of the cloud; Tsuruko with her katana upraised and Motoko her bokken. They never had a chance to issue a verbal challenge or a ki attack before feeling themselves being bodily pushed back. Motoko and Tsuruko had to use all of their combined ki's to avoid being knocked to the ground.

For their part, Keitaro, Kanako and Haruka found themselves rooted to the spot they were standing in when Tsuruko and Motoko first encountered resistance. Everyone tried to speak but found that their thoughts could not compel their vocal cords to make a sound. As panic began to set in for Keitaro, he noticed that Kanako was trembling harder than he was.

'I remember when I promised to always be there for her here when we were kids,' Keitaro's thoughts raged against the power that was holding them at its mercy.

A laugh issued forth. A harsh, mocking guffaw.

000

Success!

He knew he was rolling the dice on using the power of the Annex to disable his troublesome opponents. So far, it had seemed to have worked. He could drain the Annex of its power completely while focusing on proper disposal of the lesser King and his compatriots while his servants prevented the reawakening of the troublesome sorcerer.

Now, which one of his prisoners to kill and drain first?

000

Merlins Hill Abergwili, Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)...

000

As the sound issued around her and the mound began to rumble, Morgana quickly kneeled to bow in the ultimate show of loyalty and respect. Even after all the years in her form now she still held her teacher in the highest regard. Morgana only prayed it would not be too late. Her own energy assuming her form was almost completely spent...

Marshalling her energy, Morgana looked up and watched as the air immediately above the mound and the stones that dotted the surface of said mound began to glow brighter and brighter. Then suddenly the runes began to levitate out of the ground. They glowed bright blue as the rain from the thunderstorm covered them in a bright sheen. The stones moved into a circular form, surrounding just above the mound of earth. Then a large beam of amber light shot up from the mound and into the stormy clouds above.

Ryce' head snapped up from his focus on Naru, and narrowed his eyes at the mound before him and watched as the thunder and lightning intensified to a point where a bolt shot down and hit upon the mound and then… nothing.

"That's it?" Ryce snorted as he struggled with pinning Naru's arms to her sides. He took a look at the crying girl laying before him as he moved his hand down to begin tearing at Naru's undershirt.

"STOP! NO!" Cried out Naru as she saw Seta's condition; laying on the ground next to her in a pool of his own blood as his attackers kept up their onslaught.

A massive crash of blue tinted thunder blasted from the mound outward and into the sky, completely exploding the ancient earth-work into a cloud of packed ground and dust.

Seta's attackers looked up and were immediately caked in mud, but they held their stance and did not let Seta gain an inch.

Ryce caught a Naru-punch during the distraction with his palm and returned Naru's arms to being pinned. "What was that?!"

Almost in response to her attacker's query, Naru's eyes-fixed to the stormy early morning sky above her-widened as what could only be described as a pair of massive wings attached to a body (which she would later swore resembled a large dragon with a long tail and mighty head) took up the entire sky.

An almighty roar was all that could be heard and the light quickly dissipated leaving more muddy soil scattered everywhere, and a seemingly awkwardly moving decrepit old man in tattered blue rags awkwardly hobbling toward them at a surprisingly high rate of speed.

Sputtering out the debris that landed in his mouth, Ryce couldn't tell what was happening as he felt a sudden dizzying impact on the side of his head; sending him several feet away from his prey as he landed on his back, the wind knocked out of him.

Acwel and Garr had stopped their stomping upon the professor, knowing they were under attack. Ryce tried to lift himself onto his feet but quickly found himself falling back down as the leg he tried to step up on was seized and torn from his body with a sickening crunch, snap, and gush of warm blood leaving his body.

Shrieking in pain as he rolled onto his back as he tried to escape; Ryce looked at his adversary with shock and fear as the decrepit old man held his detached lower leg in his hand, peered at it with brief curiosity and then lazily tossed it over his shoulder.

"N-N-NO, PLEASE!" cried Ryce, but received no reply as he started to crawl away while keeping an eye on the old man.

Naru closed her eyes in fear as the new individual stalked towards her swiftly; expecting death as she feared this was the master their three attackers had talked about earlier, or another more fearsome servant of said monster. Naru's terrified imaginings ceased suddenly as she could have sworn she saw an amber glow. She opened her eyes only to feel nothing; gone was the pain in her leg and all of her other injuries.

Naru looked up in wonder as she followed the old man's now graceful movements as he stepped over her and towards her would be attacker. The blue-clad old man suddenly stopped in front of the man now missing one leg as he seemed to stare down at his blubbering target with a glint in his eyes, as if he were toying with him.

Glancing over at the other two fearful attackers, the old man let a small smirk reach his lips as he raised his knee, aimed, and began to effortlessly stomp down hard upon Ryce's abdomen.

A sickening SQUELCH, SQUELCH, CRACK, was all that could be heard as Ryce howled in agony, then slowly stopped moving as his life was extinguished. Acwel and Garr were shocked to see their companion defeated so easily.

Stopping his assault, the old man looked at the other two who were moving away from Seta. He sneered at the two in pure disgust.

Watching this both Garr and Acwel took another step back as the unannounced new arrival suddenly disappeared leaving a white cloud where he once stood.

"QUICK! Find him!" Garr barked, panic creeping into his tone.

"I'm trying, but I don't sense anything!" Replied Acwel in a rather more terrified voice.

This was the last thing Garr heard his only remaining companion utter as he watched Acwel's head snapped at a sharp angle and then roll from his shoulders and splash into the mud, with nothing but a white cloud behind him as Acwel's decapitated body slumped to the dirt.

"SHIT!" yelled Garr. "COME OUT AND FIGHT ME!"

"PAH!" Garr heard curse at him from seemingly nowhere and everywhere. "HERE I THOUGHT YOU AND YOUR ILK WOULD PROVE AN INTERESTING CHALLENGE AFTER SO LONG ASLEEP. HOW DISAPPOINTING!"

Deciding he only had one good chance to execute one of his targets before being eliminated himself, Garr made a lunge towards Seta, intending to drop kick down on the prone professor's head; killing him. Then, Garr screamed as he felt a sharp pain in his arms… or what used to be his arms. All that was left was stubs, gushing blood.

"The master will get you in the end…!" Garr yelled as he felt sharp, unbearable pain as he slipped into darkness and died.

"Not likely," the old man chuckled as the white cloud resolved itself back into his form.

"Seta!" Naru cried as she made her way to the professor's bloodied form.

The old man soundlessly moved over to Seta.

Naru was about to try and examine his wounds when the new arrival simply held up his palm in the girl's face.

She gave the old man a quizzical look, and was met by a stern gaze that pointed down to her old tutor.

"What the…?" Naru gasped.

The brunette looked down and saw Seta's body enfolded in a warm, amber glow as she could *see* his body rapidly heal. Almost as quickly as it started, the glow was gone.

Seta sprang up, blinking, and helped Naru to her feet after giving her a quick comforting hug.

"... I'm sorry, Na-chan," Seta whispered to her.

"You did your best," Naru whispered back.

"Children," the old man clapped his hands together. "Our means of conveyance will arrive soon."

"Huh?" Seta asked.

Morgana's form appeared now before them, seemingly aided by the rain which had started to taper off. "Teacher!" The aquatic woman bowed.

"Morgana," the man waved his hand. "It is good to see you again, you have done well."

Morgana nodded. "Your tree is surfacing."

"Tree?" Naru asked, confused.

"Surfacing?" Seta also asked, looking around them.

About a minute later, as Naru and Seta looked at the large oak tree rising into the predawn darkness, they had decided they had enough with bizarre events for one day.

"Now see here," Seta said to the old man. "Thank you for saving us, but you cannot expect us to walk into a tree."

"It's completely nutty-cuckoo," Naru crossed her arms.

The old man favored them with a look for a moment, as if not quite sure what to make of their reluctance/disbelief. He turned to Morgana. "Morgana, how are you on this plane?"

"I must return, I am so weary… but the girl here shows remorse for her actions towards the King, and resolves to change her ways." Morgan nodded towards Naru.

Naru looked down, feeling the shame again on top of all the trauma she had just endured.

"Then go, with your teacher's blessing and gratitude," the man smiled. "May we meet again."

Morgana nodded, a ghost of a smile on her face, then her form glowed blue once and her water form simply drained into the ground, leaving no trace.

"That's it!" Seta yelled. "Where did she go, and who are you?"

"We need answers!" Naru pointed a finger at the old man.

"And I need you two to be silent and hold still!"

Naru and Seta never saw the sudden clap of the old man's hands, but they saw the flash and felt themselves sink into a dreamless sleep as their bodies heaped down to the ground.

The old man hoisted their two unconscious forms onto his shoulders as he took them into his tree, muttering about them being ingrates.

000

A horrific, dark red lighting bolt arced from the center of the cloud, dancing around the front of the Annex, and then lanced towards Motoko.

Tsuruko's ki and her eyes sensed its selection of target and raged forth; reacting. Tsuruko broke free and sprinted out and in front just as the lighting bolt was about to hit her little sister in the lower stomach. Tsuruko felt pain and hot burning as she took the hit and her field of vision and ki became distorted as she felt herself hit the ground. She never heard Motoko's or Keitaro's shouts as darkness overtook her, she only felt the taste of her own blood gurgle up into her mouth.

000

The instant Motoko saw the lightning bolt intended for her, and then seeing and feeling Tsuruko's ki fire forth to knock back the enemy's paralyzing power, freeing them all, was the longest of Motoko's life thus far. Reacting purely on warrior instinct, but knowing she could not protect her big sister, Motoko let her own ki rage itself back against the enemy; knocking it off balance.

Motoko ran over to where Tsuruko landed on the ground, immediately seeing the copious amount of blood and innards from where the blast hit. The stench of blood and burnt flesh mingled with the burnt motor oil scent. Haruka, Keitaro, and Kanako were by Motoko's side.

"TSURUKO!" Keitaro yelled in terror.

Motoko tore off her gi and immediately moved to stop the flow of blood from the wound. The first thing her hands felt was intestine matter.

Haruka followed suit with her apron.

Keitaro immediately got his mobile phone out and was attempting to dial for help.

Kanako stood between Tsuruko and the others and the dark cloud, two spirit wands aimed directly at it; her witch's powers also warring against the evil along with the Urashima protective arts with unstoppable fury.

Haruka went down on the ground, moving to prop Tsuruko's head up in her lap. Haruka knew that the samurai's injury was almost certainly fatal, she just wanted Tsuruko's final moments to have some comfort and dignity. Still, she was not going to give up without a fight as she began her own Urashima arts healing on the fallen Aoyama.

Motoko, using her own gi and Haruka's apron, was only able to slow the flow of blood.

Keitaro dialed the correct number, but glanced down and saw the phone was completely dead in his hands. He tried thumbing the power button on again, but despite him knowing that his mobile phone was fully charged, it simply would not turn on. He immediately tore off his own sweater and silently handed it to Motoko (who accepted it and added it to the effort to keep her big sister's guts intact) then made a move to try and run to get help. Keitaro then cursed his broken leg as he remembered he could not run.

Haruka reached over to roughly tap Keitaro's cast covered leg. He looked down.

"It's too late," Haruka whispered, nodding down to Tsuruko.

Keitaro knelt down too. "Tsuruko…" He reached down to her shoulder, focusing his Urashima arts healing prowess upon her. 'Kami,' he thought and prayed, 'please give her *my* healing… please!'

000

The earth started to vibrate then. Not like an earthquake, but more like the faint vibration of loud music with a lot of bass being played close by. Later on, Keitaro would recall feeling almost a static-like tingle to it.

A deafening crack issued forth. A sound very different than what they had heard from the creature before.

"Look!" Kanako exclaimed.

Haruka and Keitaro did as Kanako asked and their jaws practically hit the ground.

Just off to the side of the Annex and where the dark cloud started to thin a fissure had opened up in the ground. Out of this fissure came large, green leaves… then branches… then a large, thick trunk… the trunk continued climbing its way out of the earth growing in girth as the top of the tree seemed to disappear into the dark clouds above.

The rumbling stopped, and a small opening revealed itself in the bark of the tree closest to the ground, next to a large root. The area of the base of the trunk easily exceeded the distance across the front of the Annex at its widest point.

Motoko was only dimly aware of this as she focused on her sister. The combined Urashima arts and her own God's Cry ki healing knowledge was only slowing the ebbing of Tsuruko's life.

"... I see two people coming out of that tree!" Kanako shouted. "One shorter… one taller, the tall one is carrying two large bundles over his shoulders!"

"Who the hell are they?!" Haruka wondered.

Keitaro squinted in the gloom caused by the evil cloud. "... what? It's Granny-"

"Hina!" Kanako yelled at the top of her lungs. "She's walking with a man-"

"He's carrying two people with him," Keitaro commented distantly, trying to focus his energies on healing Tsuruko.

"Granny Hina!" Kanako shouted to her grandmother. "We need help! Lady Tsuruko is gravely injured!" In mid-sentence Kanako noticed Granny Hina and the man next to her running swiftly over to them; the burdens on his shoulders seemingly as light as feathers.

Keitaro and Haruka noticed this too, and Motoko-while occupied and distraught-did notice a familiar presence approaching with her ki.

Keitaro saw it first. No mistake, the man was carrying Seta and Naru slung over his shoulders. It was then the man and Granny Hina arrived at Tsuruko's side.

Naru and Seta's unconscious forms hit the ground next to Keitaro with a dull thud. Keitaro looked up at the man and then to Granny Hina with panicked horror and wonder.

"These yours, sire?" The man asked.

000

End chapter 6.

AFTERWARD: Chapter 7 is almost done and will be posted soon. Thank you all again for your reviews, follows, and reads.