(Author's Notes: Wow guys. It's been six months since I last updated this fiction. I feel really bad, but do hear me out on this one. You see, I got way overly burnt out and stressed over what to do next with this story, mainly due to the whole Keitaro/Shinobu marriage thing. The very suggestion of that made me feel like I had written myself into a corner. So I have spent various times over the past six months rewriting this chapter, and I think I am finally happy with it. At first I was going to do the marriage arc in chapters eight and nine, but the more I thought the more I figured it was going to really derail the whole story in my opinion. Looking back I have made a share of errors in this fiction thus far, the nitrous car of chapter four, the various misspellings of names throughout all chapters, and most the chronological order of events in regards to the manga. These came to bother me and almost let me ignore this fic for good. But in the interest of bringing back a story so many enjoyed, I give you Chapter Eight of The Eternal Saga Of Lost Spirits, entitled, A Promise. And as a last note, I do hope that all the old fans of this fic come back to read it again after so long!)
(Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina, it is the property of Ken Akamatsu.)
The Eternal Saga Of Lost Spirits
Chapter Eight: A Promise
/I am seriously going to kill him/
Ninamori took control of the body and said. "Damn it Atsushi! Just what exactly are you trying to pull here?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Oh no, don't give me that. I know exactly where this is going. You're trying to complicate an already complicated situation."
"How so?" asked Atsushi.
"How so?" repeated Ninamori. "For one, Shinobu is not of legal age for marriage, Second, last time I checked there are very few places that allow same sex marriages!"
"Given the circumstances I am sure somebody would be more than willing to perform the ceremony. As you know I can do it myself."
"Maybe we can't get married but at least we can make a promise!" added Shinobu.
"There you go! That's a fantastic idea!" said Atsushi.
"Yes, much better than yours." Added Ninamori. "At any rate, Atsushi. We will discuss this further. Don't think I am going to forget either. Being dead gives you a lot of time to think and remember."
Ninamori gave Keitaro back the body.
"A promise?" asked Keitaro apprehensively. "I don't know Shinobu, I mean I always try my hardest to keep promises, but in truth, I did break the promise that has so ruled my life this far. I'm not to sure if another one is a good idea."
Shinobu looked Keitaro in the eyes. "Come on now, Keitaro. I have faith that you won't break this promise. You couldn't help breaking the last one, and the last one, no matter how significant really has no more bearing on your life anymore."
"I guess your right. But…"
"If it makes you feel better, you can always try to keep both your promises. The outcome just might be different." Shinobu took Keitaro's hand in hers.
"Okay." Keitaro got to his feet, pulling Shinobu up with him. He held both her hands in his and looked down in her eyes. "Shinobu, will you promise me that in a few years, regardless of what state I am in that you will join me at the altar so that we can be married?"
Shinobu began to cry and looked up into Keitaro's eyes. "Yes. It is a promise." Shinobu leaned up and the two shared their first kiss.
Atsushi started to cry while observing the kiss. "I can feel it. So tender and loving." He sobbed. "Just like it used to be between Ninamori and I."
/A promise it is then. It is now my duty to make sure you two end up happy together/
After they had broken the kiss. Shinobu looked up in Keitaro's eyes. "I love you, Keitaro."
"I love you too, Shinobu."
"So…" asked Atsushi. "What is your next course of action?"
"Umm…" sighed Keitaro. "I don't know."
/I know/
"Enlighten me." Thought Keitaro.
/It's time we sought help from an old friend. Tell Atsushi its time we went to see Darthen/
"Ninamori says it's time to go see Darthen."
Atsushi gasped. "Da…Darthen? Darthen, the assassin?"
/Yes/
Keitaro nodded.
"Ninamori has gone off the deep end!" shouted Atsushi. "Sure, he can help you out, but at what price? He could kill me before I could finish saying hello! And if your not forgetting, he was not my biggest fan!"
Ninamori took control. "It's not like we have a choice, Atsushi. You saw what just happened. If we don't fix this and try to get these two together, it'd denying two people something wonderful. Something we both had to privilege of sharing. Can you really sit here and do that?"
Atsushi thought for a moment and shook his head. "I can't."
"Exactly. Besides, things might be different now. Last I heard, he settled down with a nice woman after leaving Lexus' PMC."
"Your right. A beautiful woman from a old and glorious family of demon slayers… What was her name? Aoyama?"
"Yeah, that's it. Tsuruko Aoyama."
"That's Motoko's sister!" said Shinobu.
"You know her?" asked Atsushi.
"I know of her. She's the sister of one of my housemates."
"Well Atsushi, I am going to give Keitaro his body and I am going to contemplate exactly how to deal with Darthen… Till then, lead the way."
Atsushi sighed. "Right then. Time to find Darthen. Onward, to Kyoto!"
"This will be interesting…" sighed Keitaro.
"Indeed." Nodded Shinobu, taking Keitaro's hand in hers.
The three set off for a boat to bear them to Kyoto.
"Ninamori, can Darthen really help us?"
/Probably. Then again he might not have what he used to. Just have faith, don't lose hope, or you will be seriously screwed/
Back In Hinata…
The girls where at an impasse. Kanako had stolen Su's latest Mecha-Tama and had set out on a violent rampage across the land. With no real plan and no real means of stopping Kanako, the Hinata crew had stuck to home and decided to wait this one out. And when Kanako showed back up, they where about to be even more confused.
"Guys! Guys!" shouted Su. "Kanano's home!"
"Oh this will be good." Chuckled Kitsune.
Kanako walked into the door and sighed.
"Oooh girl, you got some nerve. Going all berserk and wasting a town, not to mention you're guilty of grand theft turtle." Said Kitsune.
"Yeah! What did you do to my poor creation?" pouted Su.
"It's uh… wasted."
"Noes!" shouted Su. "You got some explaining to do."
"In due time, first get all the girls here." Replied Kanako, sitting on the couch.
After Naru and Motoko had joined everyone in the living room, Kanako began her story.
"Well… It's like this." Began Kanako. "I rolled up Okinawa in the turtle mech and started to randomly unload on the surrounding people. After a bit, I found Shinobu outside in a café, eating lunch. Instinctively, I snatched her up, because I blamed her for most of my problems, aside from my sister, who was the true cause of my anger."
"Your really mad at Keitaro?" asked Naru.
"No, Keitaro isn't my sister."
"He's your brother." Replied Motoko.
"No… Adoptive brother, but that really doesn't matter anymore."
"Gah, you're confusing me!" said Kitsune. "Just get back to the story."
"Okay." Kanako took a deep breath. "After I had used the Mecha-Tama's arm to lift Shinobu up, I was shot down by a man with a rocket propelled grenade. Atsushi Norotaku, is his name. Well after that, A massive battle engaged, where I had Atsushi cornered. Then popped up Keitaro. He attempted to calm me down which didn't work, as I was hysterical."
"How is that different from any other time?" muttered Naru.
"What was that?" asked Kanako.
"Oh nothing." Smiled Naru.
"Right…" Kanako paused then continued. "Well, after that, the spirit popped up and told me of my real parents. The spirit is my sister, Ninamori Konno."
Kitsune gasped. "I knew I had heard that name before! Ninamori! That's right! My aunt had kids before she died, but I never knew what happened to them!"
"Ninamori was put up for adoption as was I. Apparently I was born Kanako Konno, and uh, you're my first cousin, Mitsune."
"Okay… I think I need a drink now." Said Kitsune, reaching for a bottle of sake.
"You always say that… Besides, now that we know we are related, I think you should cut back on the booze, it is bad for you."
"Your joking, right?" asked Kitsune. "Are you suggesting that I have a problem?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am." Replied Kanako. "You're an alcoholic."
"Stop it you two, I have something important to ask." Said Naru. "Do you know where Keitaro and Shinobu are going next?"
Kanako shook her head. "I asked that. But Keitaro said nothing, only hinting that they are coming back relatively soon."
"Great… Back at square one." Muttered Naru.
"Perhaps not!" smiled Su, reaching into her pocket. "I gots a new invention just to help our cause. An updated Keitaro radar! It can track him anywhere on Earth with the help of satellites."
"Where are they headed now?" asked Kanako.
"Kyoto! They are heading for Kyoto!"
"What on earth are they going there for?"
"There is only one way to find out." Said Su. "Grab your stuff everyone, cause its time for a good old fashion road trip!"
On the boat
Keitaro joined Atsushi on the deck of the ship as Shinobu lay in her cabin getting some sleep.
"Tell me Keitaro." Said Atsushi. "What is it like having Ninamori inside your body?"
"It's kind of hard to explain." Sighed Keitaro. "It's like having a voice of reason in your head, except it says whatever it wants to."
"Must be weird."
"You don't know the half of it." Chuckled Keitaro. "Like when she does that cool trick of taking over the body. I get to sit there and listen to what she says. I can see what she sees. It's like being witness to your own life. Plus it also gets really weird having her talking to me."
"Your something else, you know?" said Atsushi. "You're really taking this whole thing well. Being a girl in all. I'd be positively freaked out."
"Truthfully I was at first too. But then Ninamori acted as a voice of reason and really talked me out of my insanity. Plus this sojourn with Shinobu has been greatly helpful. I guess I just have a new outlook on life now."
"Keitaro come clean with me, do you really think you'll ever be able to be your old self again?" asked Atsushi.
Keitaro thought a minute. "I really do. I figure if this happened it can be undone, or maybe it's just hope. And even if it can't be undone, who cares, you know? I've got my health, I've got my love, and I got friends. Friends who wont care one way or the other if I am a man, a woman, or what have you!"
Atsushi looked over at Keitaro. "I wish I was as optimistic as you are."
"Eh, maybe it's not optimism so much as it is blind faith and stupidity."
"Maybe blind faith and stupidity are the same thing as optimism."
/Nice Atsushi. What a profound insight that is/
The ship's intercom called that they had reached land.
"Keitaro." Called Shinobu from behind him. "We should get going. A train will be leaving soon for Kyoto."
Keitaro nodded.
/Let's just hope that Darthen can help us. If not, we might have a serious problem/
End Chapter Eight.
(Author's Note: To clear something up, PMC stands for Private Military Company. And uh sorry if this isn't as good of a chapter as it could have been guys. Chapter Nine will be better than this. So till next chapter, which will not be six months from now, I promise, Temmy out.)
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