AN: Sorry for the long delay. I've been rather busy. So as you know, this story is sad, and will most likely get more miserable and tragic. Keep the reviews coming, I find them helpful and a boost to the ole ego.

Chapter 26

The cold lingers in dark places. For the inhabitants of the Hinata Apartments, where the light had always shone, the deep chill of winter had always been kept at bay. But on that day, so many years ago, Motoko Aoyoma felt entombed in ice, the darkness finally settling in. The chill had seeped into her body slowly at first, draining her of feeling. Soon, she felt nothing but the emptiness of the frost.

After placing the final box into the moving truck, Motoko motioned the driver to go. She watched the U Haul sped away, carrying with it all the possessions of her beloved Keitaro or as she thought of it – his hopes and dreams. From across the courtyard, Haruka could hear the roar of the engine as the truck drove off into the distance. Being a hard woman, Haruka refused to shed tears, but even she was vulnerable to the same frailties that affect the species. Alone in the sanctuary of her room, she had wept for Keitaro after his "accident," and again when she lost Shirai to the willful folly of madmen. On that day, she was resolved to never shed tears again, since the last meaningful thing in her life was soon to be gone. The Hinata apartments had stood tall and proud for nearly five generations, but on that day, it would have to die to save its occupants. A fitting end for a home so imbued with love and affection.

Dusk was settling in, leaving only a dim glow to light Motoko's path up the stone stairs that led to the Hinata estate. As she traversed the stairs, Motoko replayed the days that she had spent there in the hills above Hinata Springs. They were good and happy memories. But she could also remember the sirens blaring from that terrible day. She could still hear his words, garbled by the blood filling his throat.

Slowly, Motoko reached the top of the stairs where Haruka stood in wait. Years ago, it was Haruka who had greeted her when she first arrived. On that day, she had worn a light brown turtleneck sweater and tan colored slacks. Her apron read "Hinata Tea House." She was sweeping away the leaves that had fallen onto the courtyard floor. Motoko, feeling anxious so far from home, was put at ease by Haruka's gentle smile, greeting her to her new home. But there was no smile on Haruka's face now. There was no warmth in her eyes, only the cold look of a person bereft of feelings.

Feeling her resolve slipping, Motoko took a moment to gather her strength. "It is done," she informed Haruka, trying hard to keep her voice even. Motoko had hoped that somehow, a miracle would happen and that Keitaro would wake up in time to stop them from doing what they were about to do. Haruka, also hoping for the same thing, nodded her head in response. The two stood silently, waiting for a miracle that would never come.

"Maybe there is another way, Haruka-san," Motoko offered, trying to stop the inevitable. Haruka lit her cigarette in response. Deep in thought, Haruka took one long drag from her Parliment, allowing the cancerous cloud to bathe her lungs. "They won't be able to move on, even if we kicked them out by force. It's the only way to give them a chance to live their lives," Haruka concluded. Motoko knew that to be true. The girls had slowly descended into a miserable existence, oscilatting between depression and apathy. Naru was the only one who would not cave in to the oppressive atmosphere that filled the house, always holding a smile for the man she cared for. It broke Motoko's heart when Haruka told her to leave him for only a short while.

"Never," Naru yelled out, clenching her fists menacingly. Haruka had just finished telling the girls that they needed to vacate the premises to allow the workers to rennovate the house. Though Kitsune, Su, and Shinobu were uneasy about leaving their beloved manager, it was only Naru who was vehemently against the idea. Motoko stood in th corner, concealed by the shadows. Tears began to form as she heard the desperation in Naru's voice.

"I'll never leave him again, you got that Haruka, I don't care what you do to me!" Naru bellowed. Haruka, her left eye twitching, knew that her tenent would not back down easily. "Please Naru, it's only for a short while, just until the repairs are complete," she assured the enraged teenager. Haruka, feeling the heat of Naru's fury, steeled herself for a battle. "The wiring in this place can't handle all of Keitaro's equipment, so we have to get it fix, but we can't have it fix if you're in the house," said Haruka, her voice strained and exhausted from the emotional toll the conversation was taking.

"Why can't I just stay with him and you?" Naru cried out. Feeling the dam burst within her, Haruka shouted, "because I can't stand seeing you like this anymore. Going around smiling like nothing is wrong while everyone is dying inside. It's like you gone crazy and just gave up on your dreams, on Tokyo U. God, do you think Keitaro would want you to be this way?"

The air in the room had become stifling. The girls were stunned by Haruka's outburst. She had always shown nothing but restraint. To see her so emotional suprised, maybe even frightened them. Only Naru was unafraid of the Urashima lioness. There was no monster terrible enough to deter her from her pact, but the thought of making him unhappy nearly crippled her.

She dropped to the floor, tears in her eyes. For a long time, no one said anything, as if a heavy blanket had muffled any and all sound. It was Naru who broke the silence. "Do you really think he's upset with me Haruka, for giving up on Tokyo U.?" Haruka wanted to burst out into tears. Naru had sounded so small and pathetic, it pained her to see the young woman this way.

"No," Haruka answered, "he could never be upset with you Naru, but he wouldn't want you to be like this. Take some time off from here and go see your parents. He'll be here waiting for you, I'll keep him safe - promise."

And that was how Haruka was able to convince Naru and the others to leave - she told them a lie so terrible that she had damned her soul. "He'll be here waiting for you." Motoko felt guilty for the charade and the subsequent pain to follow, but she had made an oath to Haruka, and she meant to keep it. Realizing that there was no other recourse, Motoko moved towards the entrance of her former home. As she drew closer to the house, Motoko felt the waves of nostalgia growing in strenght until she felt like she was reliving the past. She could feel the awe rising up as it did when she first laid eyes upon the place – it was so huge and imposing, and yet it felt so warm and welcoming at the same time. She had been happy there, perhaps more so than in her days spent on the ancestral grounds, but the pain and tragedy she experienced afterwards were almost unbearable. Her scars were a testament to that.

Haruka's gaze upon the house never wavere as the tears began to bead down her face, the lit cigarette trembling in her lips. In her mind, she could hear the screams of her conscience, imploring her to stop, but Haruka had no intention of stopping. She watched as Motoko entered her home to place the charge. "This is the only way," Haruka reminded herself.

Ten minutes passed before Motoko returned. Without a single exchange of words, she handed over a small device to Haruka. For a moment, Haruka hesitated. Seeing this, Motoko felt hope stir in her – maybe they wouldn't have to pursue such madness. Her hope was short lived

With tears still streaking down her face, Haruka pressed the button on the hand-held. It first came as a small rumble. The explosive charge placed in the electric socket of Keitaro's room had blown. The heat from the explosion ignited the accelerant that had been spread throughout the house, creating rivulets of flame that began to consume the structure.

The Hinata Apartments would not die so easily. The conflagration raged for hours before the inner walls collapsed, bringing down the once mighty home of the Urashima clan. Motoko and Haruka watched on from the distance, weeping at the loss of their home. Haruka, giving in to the pain, collapsed onto her knees. Motoko, trying to console her, was pushed back. "Don't touch me!" screamed Haruka, "it should be you in there!" Motoko could not respond. She knew that Haruka was right. It should have been her that was sacrificed and not their home.

But what was done was done.

For the longest time, Motoko dared not hope for happiness or forgiveness. She lived in the past, allowing the old demons to torment her – a means of atonement. But Keitaro had returned and she was now his wife, the mother of his son. She was alive again.

She had taken from him everything: his dreams, his love, and almost his life. In return, he had given Motoko the happiness that she had believed would be denied to her forever. So when she saw the images of him in the arms of his promise girl – Naru Narusegawa – flickering across the television screen, Motoko could not fault him.

Her heart was broken, but there was no anger or resentment, only a profound sense of loss. "He's never coming back," she thought, too despondent to cry. She saw the tanto lying on the side table, and reached for it. She had struck down her love, burned his home to the ground, and taken him from his destiny. She was guilty of terrible sins. The blade would be her atonement – her absolution.

Motoko unsheathed the tanto and wrapped the blade with the cloth from her sheet. She then placed it to her throat, its tip piercing the skin. The tears began to flow as the images of her past began to cascade in her mind. She remembered all the smiles and the laughter, as well as the tears and angry cries. "I love you Keitaro," she whispered, clenching her eyes shut, amassing the strength for the final stab.

"Stop that," Sakura shouted as she slapped the blade from Motoko's hand. Motoko eyes went wide, shocked at the sudden intervention. Wiping the sweat from her bow, Sakura sighed in relief, "I'm glad I made it here in time." Motoko, stunned from the intrusion, could not speak. Sakura, seeing this, smiled and cocked her head at a slight angle. "Remember me, I'm Sakura, Shirai's sister," she beamed, giving her a smile and a victory signal.

"Shirai's sister," Motoko echoed, struggling to regain her composure. It took a moment, but Motoko recognized the girl, "Yes, I remember now, we met before at Haruka's." The mention of her deceased mentor wiped away the smile and gleam from Sakura's eyes. Taking hold of Motoko's hand, Sakura began to speak.

"Haruka is dead. She was killed. I believe whoever had killed her knows the truth about the fire and about Keitaro. That's why I'm here – to protect both of you. Haruka knew that the truth would one day come to light and feared the repercussions, which is why she began training me. I saw parts of the video feed. I'm sorry that you had to see that, but it confirms our suspicions. Someone is here and is trying to kill you and may even try to harm the baby."

For a moment, Motoko wanted to break down. Someone – perhaps one of her friends – had arranged for her husband's infidelity and now may be setting out to harm her child. The images of him enthralled in Naru's body shook Motoko to the core. Then suddenly, as if a massive boulder had landed on her chest, the news of Haruka's death finally struck her.

"Haruka is dead," Motoko gasped.

Sakura's expression turned hard and cold. She replied, "Yes, butchered like some animal." Something in Motoko snapped. The woman who had mentored her as a youth, the one who had given her a chance for contrition, was murdered. The honor instilled in her since childhood cried out for justice – demanded it. All thoughts of suicide and doubt were banished from her mind. Saruka saw the resolve in Motoko's face and was relieved. "She'll need to be strong to endure the trials ahead," she thought to herself.

Motoko looked up and met Sakura's eyes with an unflinching gaze. "I will avenge her death, this I swear," declared Motoko, feeling the passion burning its way through the malaise of her sorrow.

Saruka replied, "Hai." After a moment of silence, Motoko spoke. "We must retrieve my baby and find Keitaro." But before she could muster the strength to leave her bed, Motoko felt a crushing blow against the back of her head. With her last few moments of consciousness, she looked up only to see Sarkura pleading with her eyes for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry Motoko, but this is the only way," Sakura whispered, placing her back into bed.

They had found Shinobu, lying unconscious on the lobby floor, bleeding from gunshot wounds. Naru felt the world crumbling around her. She had just talked with her friend only a few hours ago, and now, she was hovering above her, watching her die. Keitaro rushed to the fallen Shinobu, and inspected her wounds. "Dammit, she's losing a lot of blood," he cursed under his breath. Pressing down on the wounds, he shouted to a nearby bellhop, "Call the ambulance, someone's been shot!" As the room became animated with the sounds of gasping and mumbling, Naru managed to crawl to where Shinobu was lying.

"Naru, press here," Keitaro instructed her, placing her hands over the wounds. Naru wanted to pull away, feeling the slick warm blood drenching her hands. Feeling her anxiety, Keitaro looked into her eyes and spoke with a booming voice – "She needs you."

Having reality shoved down her throat, Naru felt her strength returning. She cradled the tiny girl into her arms, pressing hard against the wounds, trying to stem the bleeding. "She looks so pale," Naru whispered. This was not the first time Naru had seen blood or the pallor color of dying flesh. She had hoped that she would never have to see such a sight again, but it was not to be. Why had fate been so cruel to them?

It was the same thought that had tormented Naru on her wedding night. The ceremony had been small, attended by only close friends and family. Still, it was a happy time for the newly minted couple. It was only when they were left alone in the stillness of the night that her pain resurfaced.

She cried all that night, wailing in his arms. Her husband, deeply hurt that the one he loved was still so devoted to a dead lover, said nothing, but held her tightly to let her know that he was there for her. It was that moment that had dispelled any doubts of her love for her husband. He had been so caring and patient with her.

But the love she shared with Keitaro transcended any and all of those considerations – she was his promise girl. "Let's go," Keitaro shouted, lifting Shinobu into her arms. Snapping out her thoughts, Naru could only blink in response. She watched him running towards the entrance way. Finally banishing the fog that had seeped into her mind, Naru ran after them, managing to jump into the car just before Keitaro sped off.

"What are you doing Keitaro, shouldn't we wait for the ambulance?" cried Naru. Keitaro, his eyes blazing with determination, replied, "There was a traffic accident a few blocks away. All ambulances were diverted there." The car veered to the left, narrowly missing a pedestrian. Naru hit the side of the car hard. Realizing that he was a man possessed, she fumbled to get her seat belt on.

"Click," the buckle went when fastened.

"I won't let anyone die," Keitaro screamed in his mind. He had stayed out of their lives, because he did not want them to be burdened with the past. He wanted them to live their lives and be happy, but as he raced towards the hospital, he realized that because he stayed away, he could not protect them.

He was their manager, charged with the honor of safeguarding their lives. But the one that needed his protection the most was dying in the back of his car. "Please, Shinobu, don't die on me," he pleaded, weaving in and out of traffick like a man possessed.

The ER doors exploded open as Keitaro kicked his way in. He yelled out, "I need a doctor." Like the night before, the scene played out the same as it had with his wife. At first, the nurses could only look at him with incredulity, but one noticed the blood trickling down his arms – her blood. She yelled out an order and the rest of her team responded with lighting speed. A doctor in green scrubs took Shinobu from Keitaro and placed her on a gurney. They rushed her to the operating room, hovering above her with tubes and syringes.

Naru stood in silence when the medical team had left them behind in the ER triage center. But before she could say anything to the man she loved, Keitaro grabbed her wrist forcefully and dragged her towards the stairwell. "You're hurting me Keitaro," Naru wincing in pain.

Alone in the stairwell, Keitaro threw her against the wall. The impact rattled her teeth. "Stop, you'll hurt the baby," Naru begged, wrapping her arms around her womb protectively. Keitaro's anger, raging till that point, subsided. He had not intended to be so rough, but the rage in him clouded his judgment.

"What's wrong Keitaro?" Naru cried out, confused by his actions. Keitaro, for a moment, did not know what to say. He wanted to understand Shinobu's final words to him before she had passed out.

As he carried her to the car, Shinobu whispered into his ear, "I'm sorry Sempai. We came for you, but Kanako betrayed us." Keitaro wanted to stop and demand to know what she meant, but his mind screamed, "Don't stop fool, she's dying!" Nearing the car, Keitaro felt Shinobu shift her body weight in his arms. Using the last of her strength, she forced her body to raise her head so that they were eye level. Keitaro could see her lips trembling, the paleness of her cheeks, and the tears streaming down. He wanted to cry and lash out, but for her, he kept his composure. Shinobu had always loved him, the bumbling manager who drew his way into her heart, but she was just a child to him – a silly school girl with a crush. But she was a young woman now, dying, but still a young woman.

She was no longer the sweet and innocent youth, but a woman with passion and desires. And the one thing she had always longed for was standing before her, carrying her broken body to some distant place.

"Oh god, before you take me, please give me the strength to steal one kiss from him – please!" she prayed silently, trying to fight off the lingering cloud that threatened to consume her. And as if her prayers had been answered, Shinobu felt a surge of strength – not much, but enough to take what was hers.

Keitaro felt her cold and quivering lips pressed against his own. He could taste the sweet iron taste of blood. "I love you Sempai," Shinobu whimpered, offering him a smile that blossomed in his heart, before succumbing to her pain.

"Where's Kanako?" Keitaro demanded to know. Naru, confused by his strange question, answered, "Kanko? What are you talking about? How would I know where your sister is? What's going on?"

Keitaro, his rage rekindled, grabbed her by the shoulders. He peered into her eyes menacingly. "Don't lie to me! I want to know why Kanako did this," he barked, "tell me!" Naru could only gape at the crazed man before her. She hadn't seen Kanako in years, not since the Hinata Apartments burned to the ground.

Why would she be involved with Shinobu? They had been friends, more than friends; Kanako had been Shinobu's mentor. At first, Naru was concerned that Kanako would be a bad influence on her friend, but Shinobu grew up to be a strong independent woman, placating her fears. "Kanako would never hurt Shinobu, they're like sisters," uttered Naru, sweltering under his intense gaze.

Deep inside his mind, a voice began screaming, "What are you doing to Naru?" It sounded so distant, but Keitaro could hear the raw emotions imbued into the words. "She's your promise girl fool, how could you hurt her?"

His resolve shattered by the realization, Keitaro crumbled to the ground. His wife and son lay near death, Shinobu was shot, seemingly by his step-sister, and now he was hurting the woman that claimed his heart. The fear in her eyes was because of him, and the guilt of his crime finally made itself salient.

Naru, out of instinct, grabbed hold of him as he fell. She would not let him go – not again. "I'm so sorry Naru," he sobbed, feeling the warmth drain from him. "It's okay, Keitaro, I know that you didn't mean to," Naru whispered into his ear, embracing him with all her love.

Kanako seethed in rage as she watched them kiss from the top stair well. Though she had planned Keitaro's infidelity, she had not intended them to be so intimate afterwards. They were supposed to be distraught with guilt and shame for what they had done. Keitaro was supposed to be an emotional wreck. The guilt was supposed to take him to the brink where Kanako would swoop in and save him. He would then be ready for her.

She would be the salve to soothe his wounded soul. With Motoko gone, she would take care of his broken heart and help raise his son.. Eventually, Keitaro would forget that she was his adopted sister and accept her as a woman. They would be together, living as man and wife, but not if he has Naru to fall back on. Struggling to keep her rage in check, Kanako growled, "The bitch has to go."

"Is that what you said to my daughter," Seta asked cooly.

To be Continued...