I don't own Love Hina. Love Hina belongs to Ken Akamatsu. The story though is the nagging idea inside my head that caused me so many sleepless nights. By the way you might find some other familiar anime characters in here that I crossed over, so sorry for those! And of course they are owned by their own creators respectably.
First of all, I'd like to thank the reviewers albeit there's only a few of them but I'm still glad that somehow somebody read and commented on my work. It's not that I care about it but I'd really like to hear what my readers think about the story. In any case – thanks again!
It will be a bit bumpy from now on. The story started a little bit slow coz I like to keep my readers on the edge. And by the way, the story is organized into books rather than big episodes or chapters. This first book as you have seen in the chapter 1 – "The day after tomorrow", follows the event that occurred at the Hinata Apartments. The second book will explore the girls' feelings after such incredible event, their personal thoughts and the like – and of course, Seta's explanations.
For all the spelling and grammar mistakes, I apologize in advance. For all the readers, I'd really like to hear what you think – any improvements perhaps? Thank you. Read on!
5
1057. Sat. Hinata Apartments.
A momentary summer breeze briefly rustled the trees. Everybody was frozen in shock. Motoko's mouth open, astounded, standing naked, towel dropped on the floor. Naru was shaking. Kitsune's eyes wide open in astonishment. Su's face in complete concentration.
Keitaro on the other hand is calm. Staring right into a Motoko's eyes. His right arm extended, his hand drenched in blood, holding the Hina blade.
Naru's world was in chaos. The moment she delivered the punch, she quickly wished she hadn't done what she just did and hoped that somehow Keitaro will survive. But when she saw Keitaro walking back to them, despite his obvious wounds and broken bones, she finally realized that something is wrong. Keitaro? What is it? What is going on? Naru has decided that she'd confront him again, and when she saw Motoko charge, she couldn't do anything but hold back for a minute. If there's one place she doesn't want to be, it will be between Motoko's sword and her prey.
Something's up! Kitsune has been watching the whole incident with a slight amusement. She had seen so many of these to worry about it and most of the time everything goes back to normal like nothing happened. But this is different. The instant she saw Keitaro coming out of the wreckage, his determined face, bleeding shoulder, scratches all over his body, the way he fought the pain, she believed whatever Keitaro is trying to tell them.
What is it Keitaro? Su pondered. She watched Keitaro fly and sighed in amazement when he came back. She knew that Motoko will charge and she expected Keitaro to run and escape and survive another death-defying attack. But when she saw Keitaro make a stand, facing Motoko's attack without a single hint of fear on his face, Su held her breath. She watched Keitaro reach out, stopping the sword with his single bare hand and time then seemed to stop.
I don't believe it! Motoko was in shock. She is holding her sword with both hands while Keitaro is holding the blade with his right bloody hand, the picture is as bewildering and astonishing as it is.
"Motoko," Keitaro finally said after what seemed to be an eternity, "I don't care what you do to me, you can even cut off my head! Be my bloody guest!" his voice was harsh, emotionless and frightening and it cut through all of the girls' hearts. What have we done? They all thought. It's not Keitaro.
Naru stepped forward, her hand reaching out, "Keitaro… I'm ---,"
"Naru," Keitaro interrupted, his voice was so cold that it froze Naru's blood, "you can do whatever you want with me, punch me senseless... I DON'T CARE!"
The summer wind breezed through. Birds chirping happily under the cool morning sun.
"I WANT ALL OF YOU TO LISTEN AND LISTEN CAREFULLY!" Keitaro never left Motoko's eyes, he's still holding the blade, more and more blood is dropping on the floor, creating a red pool. He has everybody's attention now. And everybody seems to be holding their breath.
"THERE IS A BOMB IN THIS PLACE! THE POLICE ARE WAITING FOR US OUTSIDE! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE AND WE HAVE TO MOVE NOW!"
Nobody said a word. Keitaro has already made a decision. He will only give them a few seconds to decide, no matter what happens he will grab the nearest girl he can take with him and just run. And for a moment they stood there looking stunned.
Kitsune was first to move. Without another word, she quickly grabbed Su who seems to have frozen. This is all the signal Keitaro is waiting for, he let go of Motoko's sword and carried Shinobu on his arms, all in one motion. Where he got his strength, he could only guess, at that minute, he felt a sudden rush of adrenalin, all pain forgotten, his muscle tension released, all his senses are at their peak, sensitive to the surrounding. Naru moved as well and grabbed Motoko's arm, who snapped out of her own shock and followed Keitaro through the door.
1058. Sat. Hinata Hotel. Top Floor. Next Door.
"It's time,"
The young man on the corner almost jumped. The woman on the bed rose, slow and without haste. The young man gave her the phone. She dialed; the phone on the other end rang. There was a brisk, "Hello".
"Your time is up,"
1058. Sat. Hinata Apartments. Front Door. Front Steps.
Keitaro, carrying an unconscious Shinobu, Kitsune carrying Su, Motoko and Naru finally came out of the apartment front door. Ten minutes has passed since Keitaro broke through the police barricades, and Keitaro is expecting the building to just suddenly explode behind them and all the while his praying to give them a few more seconds to get out of harms way. Nobody spoke a word. All senses are open. And when they reached the stairs they saw Haruka waiting for them a few steps below with a couple of Motoko's friends carrying what seems to be a bundle of blankets and behind them are a group of men wearing protective body pads.
Thank God Aunt Haruka, Keitaro thought as they stepped down. But something came into his mind and he felt a pain like an arrow shot through his heart. A sudden realization. His eyes went wide in shock. And at that instant Naru paused. Keitaro turned, looked back at the Apartments and then to Naru. Both have the same thing on their mind.
"Mutsumi!,"
Without another thought, Keitaro carefully laid Shinobu down and quickly ran back up the steps.
"Keitaro! What are you doing?" Haruka screamed, running up to carry Shinobu.
"Keitaro! No!" Naru paused, as she watched Keitaro ran past her, his face grim with complete determination.
Motoko and Kitsune turned as they saw Keitaro ran past them. Keitaro! What are you doing?
Fujita watched the whole incident but before he can act his phone rang. The dreadful moment is upon them. Kenshin doesn't have to be told, Fujita's face shows it all, even without answering the phone, and so he ran up the stairs. Fujita answered and he received the words he's been dreading to hear – "Your time is up," he turned and started screaming, "GET DOWN! GET DOWN! GET DOWN!"
Kenshin followed by the Special Forces reached Haruka's group. Motoko, Kitsune and Naru were all given a blanket to cover their nakedness. Haruka just came down carrying Shinobu who is also covered in blanket. All the while, Kenshin is ordering everybody, "GET DOWN! GET DOWN! GET DOWN!" Then Kenshin looked up just in time to see Keitaro disappear at the top of the stairs.
Keitaro entered the Hinata Apartments.
A flock of birds flew out of the surrounding trees. For a moment nothing moved. Time seems to have paused. Kenshin felt it. Everybody turned towards the Hinata Apartments. After a few seconds, the earth trembled, a loud groaning noise was heard, then there was a deafening explosion causing everybody to drop onto the ground. Hinata Apartments ground floor suddenly burst into flames.
1100. Sat. Hinata Hotel. Top Floor.
Akito jumped out of his chair. The video camera was shaken but he managed to stop it from falling out of the window. The explosion was so strong, it cracked the windows. Megumi shuddered and hugged the floor. Her hands on her ears trying to lessen the painful noise.
1100. Sat. Hinata Hotel. Top Floor. Next Door.
"Are you ready?" the young man asked.
The woman came out of the toilet. She had cloaked herself and covered everything except her eyes. When the explosion was heard, neither moved nor show any sign of surprise. The young man opened the door as they quietly walked out of the room.
1100. Sat. Hinata Apartments.
Keitaro was running up the stairs when he felt the earth trembled. Then there was a tremendous explosion and the incredible force pushed him up the stairs, upper floors then crash into Naru's room. He painfully dropped onto the floor and for the third time he felt like he had been punched by one of Naru's fists. He felt a painful ringing on his head and everything seemed to turn red, then he realized that the whole building is on fire.
Keitaro fought very hard not to pass out. But it seems he's loosing his battle this time. He looked around, black smoke everywhere, his lungs coughing for air, his eyes stinging with his blood, his ears bleeding, his whole body numb, and then through the smoke, he thought he saw a figure a few feet away from him. Keitaro stared, concentrating hard. It was Mutsumi, lying on the floor and beside her is Tama, inside her shell, trembling.
And for the second time that day, Keitaro felt a rush of extreme energy. I CANNOT DIE YET! All pain faded for a brief moment. He got up, swaying a little bit then painfully walked towards Mutsumi's unconscious body. It seems to him that Mutsumi tried to get out of Naru's room but fainted due to extreme shock. Keitaro knelt, put Tama inside his shirt then carried Mutsumi. He felt the building shiver.
Not good. The stairs will be useless at this time. And I don't think I have much chance getting out of this place downstairs. There's only one option left and I have to do it quickly! Keitaro made a decision. The walls suddenly burst into flames. The smoke was bad enough, but the extreme heat almost melted his resolve. Hold on just a little bit more Mutsumi, I promise you we'll get out of this.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Keitaro screamed, summoning all the strength left in his body, tensing his legs and his arms, while the surrounding crash and burn, smoke became thicker, blacker, smell of death clawing at him. Its like standing in the pits of hell. JUST ONE MORE!!! GIVE ME ONE MORE!!! Keitaro's mind screamed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Keitaro continued screaming, carrying Mutsumi in his arms, Tama inside his shirt, as he ran out of Naru's room and into the hallway. The floor crumpled but thankfully Keitaro managed to jump out in time, and out of the burning Hinata Apartments. Keitaro turned in mid air so that he's back is facing the ground, and watched Hinata Apartments collapse before him.
He couldn't remember what happened after that. His mind finally gave way. He crashed on to the ground and managed to stop himself from rolling. Blood spattered out of his mouth. Lying on the ground, looking up the perfect clear morning sky.
Keitaro's vision was fading. He couldn't feel anything. His body finally gave up on him too. He doesn't know for how long he's on the ground like that but he doubts he passed out that long, because he can still hear the crashing sound of the building, but that too is also fading. Then he thought he saw an image, he tried to look, concentrating, his body numbing, and then he recognized who it was.
Looking down at him with worried and tearful eyes was Mutsumi. She's saying something, but Keitaro couldn't hear anymore, everything seemed to have faded, like somebody turned down the volume of one huge stereo. Keitaro tried to reach out and saw his bloody right hand touch Mutsumi's face. Keitaro smiled.
"Thank God... you're alright,"
Then he saw several more familiar faces. Naru, her eyes red, then Haruka, her face oddly pale, her lips trembling, then Kitsune and Motoko, all came into view, all seems to be crying. Keitaro felt happiness. He's never been this happy in his life. A tear rolled down his eyes.
"Thank God… you're all alright,"
Then everything went black.
End of Book 1 – The day after tomorrow
Tears of the Hina Sun
Authors note:
So what ya think everyone? A bit anti climactic isn't it? Too dramatic? Sorry about that. The mystery will have to continue. Depending on what everybody thinks, I'll work on the second book. Anyway, I hope everybody had fun reading this, as I have.
Thanks again for reading.
nivremous.