Black Cat OST Daia No Hana, sung by Yoriko
Hajimari wa itsumo sou (The beginning's always the same)
Keitarou stands on top of the Hinata Sou and looks up at the moon as thousands of sakura petals fly up into the sky.
Gunjou no sora no shita (promises beneath the blue sky)
Shinobu and Nodoka are seen from behind, wind whipping around them, their clothes flying with the wind.
Chikai wo tatete ima boku wa (for the promise, I am now)
Silhouttes of a boy and a girl turn around at the end of a street
Aruki dasu (walking ahead)
The camera turns around 180 degrees to show Keitarou, Nodoka, and Shinobu walking down the street
Interlude 1
Keitarou spins around with his SOCOM in one hand. The title screen starts to fly across the screen
Interlude 2
Nodoka and Shinobu reload their guns as they run beside the title screen.
Interlude 3
Above, a number of silhouettes leap over the title screen and land running beside Nodoka, Shinobu, and Keitarou
Interlude 4
A few more silhouettes join them as the title screen shows the title 'Love Hina Alternative'
Kin iro ni hikaru sabaku (at the desert that glitters like gold) moeru kaze (burning wind)
Three silhouettes stand on top of a store in Market Street, the full moon behind them, their clothes flowing with the wind.
Daiyu no hana wo sagashite (I'm looking for a diamond flower) samayoi tsuzukeru (wandering on and on)
Rayce walks down the street, a shadow across his face. Two other silhouettes follow closely behind him.
Hajimete dareka no tameni(this is the first time that)
Keitarou stands with his back to the camera. He looks around and raises his hand towards the screen. Nodoka and Shinobu stand in the shadows, looking out at him.
Ima boku wa ikete iru(I am living for someone)
The twins run up to Keitarou. Meanwhile, three other silhouettes watch them.
Mamoritai mono ga arunda(There's something I want to protect)
The scene shows Market Avenue seen from the sky. Makie winks an eye at the screen and throws out a blazing ribbon as she free falls down towards the city. Tsuroko and Motoko follow after, slashing their katanas at the screen. Mana follows, spinning around before firing a shot at the screen. Ku Fei follows, throwing her two chakrams at the screen. Kaede follows close behind, with a flurry of shurikens.
Mou nido to nido to ushinai wa shinai(That I never, never want to lose again)
Sarah falls down from the shining sun, followed closely behind by Suu (with her usual heavy launcher), Shana (with katana blazing), Fumika and Fuuka (with machine guns out) Mutsumi (with a battalion of Tamas), Yuna (with sakura petals orbiting around her), Yotsuba (with frying pans), Akira (with water bubbles floating around her) and Zazie (with a battalion of phantoms)
Narihibike dare yori chiisaku hakanai(let the beat of your heart carry on)
(Camera flies across Market Avenue as if blowing with the wind, showing each of the following characters) Haruna with a book (the pages flipping rapidly), Misora (with her two guns out), Ako (with her hands shining bright), Chao (throwing a salute), Ayaka (with a rose in one hand), Yue (with her back to the camera, her head turned to the camera), and Shiina (winking).
Dare yori tafu na kono kodou(though only once and fragile but stronger than anything)
(Camera pans across characters standing on a moonlit rooftop) Naru (hands crossed), Grandma Hina, Seta (hands in his pockets), Takamichi (hands in his pockets), Haruka (smoking), The Gothiloli Kamens (hands on their hips), Mitsune (leaning back on a chimney), Shirai and Haitani (throwing casual salutes), Chizuru (looking up at the sky), and Natsume(smiling at the screen).
Ending 1
(Camera pans across characters) Fate, and a number of silhouettes move across the screen.
Ending 2
Keitarou, Nodoka, and Shinobu sits atop the Hinata Sou, with the sun setting before them. The other Market Avenue characters appear behind them.
Ending 3
Scene shows all the characters standing before the sunset.
Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina or Mahou Sensei Negima.
My apologies for any spelling or grammarmistakes. I didn't have time to check through the whole thing. I'm seriously short on time, so sorry.
Chapter 7: Fox Hound?
Yabureta yakusoku sae mo chikai ni kaeta nara….ano basho de deau toki ano koro no futari ni nareru kana? "Yasashisa" ni nite iru natsukashii omokage…
I've been living here in Market Avenue since…well…let's say a really long time. Many things have happened…Grandma Hina took us all in…provided us with education and jobs…and I could still live with everyone, here in this small, beautiful community. I still don't know why I took up my job as a nurse here in the Market Avenue Clinic…but everyday I continue to search for that reason.
Why am I searching for a reason? Well…I've always thought…it might finally give me an answer for my life…why I continue to live, despite my past. Perhaps to atone? Is this feeling…am I feeling remorse? Regret? I don't know. Perhaps I'll never find that reason…it doesn't matter anyway…nothing about me ever matters. They've always said I'm just another small pawn, tossed about in the big picture of things. I'll never be the main character of any story, even my own…
We tried to run away…all of us…from our pasts. But we knew it was futile. We knew our pasts would catch up with us someday…and that day finally came. If I were to look back now, I guess it really started on that day.
It started out as yet another normal day. I had just come back after delivering Urashima-san's usual morning bandages to Makie-chan. Chao-chan and Mitsune-sempai had come over for a chat as I swept up the front of the clinic. Rayce-kun came by later on, a fishing rod in one hand, a fishing bucket in another. He said he was off to catch some lobster (errr…lobster?) in the river nearby for his winter food store (!) …or something like that. He asked for a bit of info while he was there as well. Some things regarding the street…er…dispute yesterday. Shirai and Haitani stopped by as well as they came by the clinic on their usual morning patrol.
Rayce-kun came over later on to ask what I, Chao, and Mitsune knew about the little dispute that happened in the street yesterday…he wasn't very happy with what he heard and left with a sigh after a fake cheerful thank you and goodbye.
Me, Chao, and Mitsune chatted a bit more until they had to leave for opening hours. There wasn't much to do. After watching the goldfish in my bowl for a few moments I decided to pick up and read the morning newspaper (which Sarah had dropped off a while ago).
Suddenly, an explosion shook the street. I slowly peered around the window and took a look outside...a whole truckload of people in black were disembarking and forming a perimeter around an alleyway. Three helicopters hovered over the street as more people in black rappelled down into the alleyway. And I thought…well…this was a bit overdoing it, even for Market Avenue standards….and someone might get seriously hurt.
The cops…well…it was only Shirai-san and Haitani-san, thankfully arrived on the scene a few seconds after. Haitani-san went berserk with his gatling gun while Shirai-san stood back holding up his riot shield. I guess, in between the maniacal laughter and the strain of trying to hold onto a 50 kg heavy machine gun that was spewing hot lead, Haitani-san didn't have any time to…well…aim. As I picked up my first-aid kit and kevlar helmet (standard issue safety equipment here in Market Avenue, even comes with optional sun umbrella, product of Hakase laboratories), I had a final glance at the soldiers in front of Haitani-san as they looked at one another before looking at Haitani-san, while red hot bullets shredded everything around them.
When I came back to the door and cautiously looked around the edge, I saw that the soldiers were retreating. Did Shirai-san and Haitani-san manage to scare them off? The helicopters were suddenly once again ascending into the sky…well, two of them did. One of them fell with a crash as a few gunshots and a wave of energy turned it into a blazing fireball…errr…wave of energy?
I gulped and looked around…I knew it was my job as the local make-shift paramedic to heal everything from minor burns to positron laser blast wounds, but still, fear can do a lot, even in the face of duty. Focus Ako…Focus…I said to myself, as I crept around the edge of the door and ran headlong towards the other side of the street. I peered around another corner into an alleyway…it was empty. Nothing but bullet casings strewn all over the floor. I crept cautiously to the end of the alleyway and again peered around the corner…only to receive the shock of my life.
Shinobu-chan…limp in Urashima-san's arms…there was blood everywhere. I shuddered as I stood there, paralyzed, at a loss...Urashima-san was calling out Shinobu-chan's name while trying to keep a pressure on Shinobu-chan's wound.
I finally found my feet and ran over to the two…there wasn't much I could do right there, other than make a few attempts at stopping the bleeding before trying to get Shinobu-chan to the clinic. It seemed to me a hopeless situation, as we ran towards the clinic. Shinobu-chan's blood was dripping everywhere…I was panicking as the blood on my fingers caused them to slip all over the buttons on my handphone as I tried to dial up the nearby local hospital for immediate help.
…it was depressing, watching the cardiogram. All I could do throughout the surgery was try and help by passing over equipment. I felt so helpless, just watching the cardiogram, beeping, beeping. Every moment, there was a chance for that weak pulse to go flatline…I could only pray that it won't.
Finally, after 3 hours of surgery, the surgeons sighed a breath of relief and announced the surgery a success. Everything else depended on God and Shinobu-chan's body. We finally mover her into an ICU room as we waited for her conditions to stabilize.
Beep…beep…beep…
The cardiogram was the only thing that broke the silence in the cold white room. We still weren't sure whether or not she would survive…but…
Beep…beep…beep…
After 8 hours of waiting with still no sign of stabilization, I sighed and finally left Shinobu in the ICU and went out into the corridor to announce Shinobu-chan's conditions to the others. Urashima-san, Narusegawa-san, and Asuna-chan got up from their seats. Everyone held their breaths…
"Her condition's more or less stabilized…." I smiled, though I realized there was a shadow of doubt on my face, which I quickly wiped away. The internal bleeding hadn't stopped…how could I say her condition's stabilized? "…We think she'll be fine…it'll take a few weeks for her to recover, otherwise, there isn't anything to be worried about." I tried to sound optimistic, though I was mentally punching myself.
"Thank you Ako! Thank you ever so much!" Urashima-san leaped up and hugged me...he seemed beyond joy with relief….it makes me want to slap myself for lying.
"Ah…umm….you should thank the doctors. I didn't do much…" before I could stop myself, I blushed. It made me feel even more guilty.
"Are you kidding me! You just saved little Shinobu-chan!" Asuna-chan shouted, giving me a big hug as well. "Can we go in and see her?"
"I think so…she'll be up soon, I think…" I said, trying to sound confident. "The wound wasn't too deep and fortunately it didn't penetrate any internal organs…though the blood loss was immense. It's still amazing she survived. …She's extremely lucky." I tried to explain her condition as positively as possible as I pushed open the heavy ICU door.
"We'll…just be on our way…" Narusegawa-san smiled, waving as she got up. I paused and looked around. "It's good to know that's she's all right, but I think it's best to not overcrowd her tonight. Me and Asuna'll just take our leave. Please tell her we wish her a speedy recovery." She dragged Asuna-chan by the arm. "Come, Asuna, we've got to tell the others…"
"B…but…fine…" Asuna-chan muttered as she let herself be dragged away by Narusegawa-san.
"Oh…ok, thanks guys…" Urashima-san said. "Where are the surgeons? We've got to thank them too…"
"Ummm…unfortunately they had to leave. The main hospital just called them in for another emergency." I explained as I held the door open for him. "It was a wonder they could come all the way out here to this tiny clinic. We were really fortunate."
"That's too bad…" Urashima-san said, walking over to the small form under the blankets. "Shinobu-chan…" A bag of blood hung over her bed. The small cardiogram in the corner was beeping periodically…a symbol of hope. A respirator was humming beside the bed. Part of her face was taken up by the oxygen mask.
"Do you know when exactly she'll wake up?" Urashima-san asked.
"Well….I can't say for certain, but I think she'll wake up pretty soon…" I said, though I unconsciously allowed a trace of hesitance into my words…I felt despicable. "By the way…where's Nodoka-chan? Is she all right? She wasn't hurt in the incident too, was she?" I tried to change the subject. There were sounds of people outside the clinic. There seemed to be a gathering out there in the street.
"She's…" Urashima-san lapsed into silence for a moment. "…to be honest, Ako-chan…I don't know. She disappeared right after…"
"Ok, Shinobu-chan's fine, people." I heard Narusegawa-san announce to everyone outside. There were cheers and claps, followed by a few hushes and whispered hisses of reproach. Then a quiet whispered agreement was reached to just visit Shinobu-chan in the morning, followed by the sounds of disappearing footsteps.
"I guess we made everyone worried again…" Urashima-san sighed. "I…I couldn't get to her…I couldn't get to her when she needed me most…" Urashima-san looked down at Shinobu-chan's peaceful face. "I…I let her down…" it pained me so much to see the trio like this…
I gathered my courage and blurted out…it almost came out as a stream of incoherent babble, "Th…that's not true, Urashima-san!" I tried to frown introspectively, as grown ups do. "You did your best out there… we all know you did. I'm sure Shinobu-chan knows it too…better than anyone in fact."
"She…she needed me…she called out my name…She was all alone there…trying to protect Tamada…that was my job, Ako, my job!" Urashima-san slammed a fist into the wall. I've never seen him this upset, "Shinobu-chan and Nodoka-chan…they shouldn't have to live such dangerous lives with me…they shouldn't even be wielding guns…they shouldn't even have to live in that cramped warehouse I call my DA office…not to mention work part-time most of the day just to cover meals…I…I'm so useless…"
"I think…" I whispered. "I think…there couldn't be any children happier than Nodoka-chan or Shinobu-chan…" I looked at the cardiogram. "I think…no one could be happier…knowing there was someone as caring as Urashima-san looking over them…worrying for them…caring for them…" I looked over at Urashima-san. "They are happy…Urashima-san…that's why they wield their guns…that's why they work as detectives and continue to live at your DA office…because they want to protect that happiness…that happiness that can only exist when the three of you are together…"
I finally decided to leave the room to give the two a little privacy…Urashima-san could only stare at Shinobu-chan. As I closed the door behind me, I heard a few sobs…I sighed as I leaned back against the closed door. When will I ever find that reason?
A strong evening breeze blew through the almost silent street. As the first growls of thunder signaled the arrival of the impending storm, a lone girl stood by the Market Avenue gates. "Shinobu-chan…" Nodoka murmured under her breath, before slamming her fist into the wall behind her. "Damn! Why! Why can't I protect her! Why can't I protect my own sister!" She screamed. Her clothes were stained and worn with use, souvenir of her daylong search for the elusive helicopters. She sighed and looked up at the cloudy sky. "And now I can't even get revenge…I…I hope she's all right."
"If you really need to know….I guess I can tell you she's fine." A voice said above her. Nadako looked up and saw a small figure shrouded in darkness.
"Huh? Who're you!" Nadako reached for her gun.
"No need for that. I know you want revenge, and it seems you've lost them. What if I told you I can tell you where they are…" The figure said. It was definitely a female voice. Her face was obscured by the shadow under the hood she wore. She threw down a small object which Nadako neatly caught with a quick swipe.
"Huh? What's this?" Nadako asked, looking down at the strange compass-like device. It was a bit over-gilded to be a regular compass though. Strange ornate symbols adorned the sides. Needless to say, it WASN'T pointing north.
"Let's call it a tracer and leave it at that, shall we? It will point in the direction of the group you're after." The figure said, turning around to leave.
"Wait! Why are you doing this!" Nadako shouted after her.
"Well…let's say I've got unfinished business with that man, Tamada, as well as Kaolla Suu…and let's also say I've got a…quarrel…with Fate Awelnks…I would go out myself. Problem is, I'm a bit occupied at the moment." The figure said. "Just tell him…the Mistress of the Night is out for him…" The figure leaped off into the darkness.
"Strange…" Nadako murmured, tossing the object in her hands. She looked down at the object and checked the direction the needle was pointing. "Well…it's worth a try. It's not as if I have any other leads…I'm gonna make that albino freak pay….dearly…" She grasped the object tightly in one hand while clenching her other fist. She leaped onto a nearby bike parked just beside her and zoomed off into the rapidly approaching storm.
Meanwhile, the owner of the bike, a certain Lee Davis, turned around the corner just in time to see a bike that looked strikingly similar to his zoom off into the gathering darkness.
"errr…that's my bike…" He mumbled, as a strong wind blew by him.
"Shinobu…" Keitaro whispered, sitting by her bed. Ako had left the room to give him a little privacy. Keitaro was cradling his forehead in his hands. His ears suddenly perked up when he heard traces of a conversation going on outside the door.
"…regarding Tamada and Suu, things are not going as planned, Farelle. If they get their hands on that program, we're done for." One voice said. Judging by the sudden cease in footsteps, the people outside the room had conveniently stopped right outside the door.
Another voice said, "Not to worry. We could easily retrieve them. Thanks to the efforts of two of our agents…"
"Haaatchooo!" Fuuka sneezed.
"I told you this wasn't a good idea, Oneechan." Fumika moaned. The wind was whipping through their hair and clothes, threatening to dislodge them at any moment.
"Just…hang on…Fumika-chan…our mission…no, our lives depend on it." Fuuka laughed.
"But…Oneechan…Fumika's getting airsick…" Fumika moaned again.
"Since when do you get airsick, Fumika-chan?" Fuuka laughed. "Our destination is near, our future looks bright, we're almost there!"
"Oneechan…what's this?" Fumika asked, gesturing at something above her. They were hanging onto a small crevice usually used to airlift objects underneath the Chinook.
"Oh, that? How should I know…ah…Fumika-chan…don't…DON'T TOUCH IT!" Fuuka shouted.
"…we've got a trace on their whereabouts. Not only that, we could find out who's behind the cyber heist. Two shirts with one boulder, right?"
"I think, Farelle, you're referring to two birds with one stone. Anyway, the director would like the program on his desk by tomorrow morning. We're counting on you."
"Right, right, no problem. I'll get your program." The other voice said. Keitaro could almost be certain it was Rayce. The two voices began moving again as footsteps once again filled the corridor. "Anyway, make sure you place a few guards around Market Avenue. If they do activate that program, there's no knowing what they'll target. I'm only worried about the fact that the Order might be behind this…."
"Tracers hmm?" Keitaro wondered. "Interesting…" He walked over to Shinobu's bed. "Shinobu, I'm going to have to leave for a bit. I'll be back before you know it." He smiled down at her as he tucked her in a bit. "I promise." He picked up his coat and left.
"Fuwa…Fuwa…Fu-rrari…O-mo-i…no-sette…" A figure on top of a rooftop softly sang.
"Huh?" Lee turned around and looked up at the figure silhouetted against the moon. He was standing on the rooftop of his garage, a soda in one hand.
"Oh, it's Lee-kun." The figure turned round and leaped across the rooftops and the Market Avenue gate until it got to Lee.
"Oh, Makie-chan…you haven't sang that song in quite a while…" Lee said, taking out a can of soda. "Soda?" He offered it to Makie.
"Thanks." Makie took the soda, shook it, and pulled open the pin by her mouth. Her maid costume slowly rippled in the evening breeze. "Gasp…sigh…nothing like a soda after a long song!" Makie cried out happily.
"Hmm…" Lee looked down at the moonlight flooded empty street. "Quiet, isn't it…"
"Just a few moments ago there was yet another battle here…quite hard to believe, isn't it…" Makie giggled, as she wiped her mouth. "Have you seen Rayce-kun, yet? He was in town today."
"Nope, and I'm not planning to." Lee said, taking a sip from his can.
"Well, you were good friends…you could at least greet him." Makie pouted. "For old times sake."
"Is Shinobu-chan all right?" Lee asked.
"Her condition's stabilized. I went up and asked Ako-chan." Makie leaped up the roof and balanced on the very tip. "By the way, Tsuroko-san and Motoko-chan are on the warpath."
"And no wonder…the man they're supposed to protect has gone missing." Lee looked up at the Hinata Sou. "That program…what exactly is it…?" Lee mused.
"Huh?" Makie looked around.
"It's called the Alpha-1, prototype Detached recon A.I." a voice said from behind them. Both Lee and Makie looked around. Chiisame was leaning on a chimney, her usual mini-notebook open in her arms. A cat was lapping up milk from a saucer by her foot.
"Hasegawa-san…?" Lee asked. "Do you know anything about it?"
"Konbawa!" Makie greeted.
"I'm not sure about the details…hi Baka-pink…but I know that that man, Tamada, was the lead programmer some time before his software company was bought by Neldzen corp." Chiisame said. "I'm pretty sure you two, in particular, should know this."
"Neldzen corp…tell me, Hasegawa-san, what exactly can this program do?" Lee asked.
"Sigh…there's no chance of being normal, living in a street like this, is there? Fine…it's an independent recon A.I., capable of hacking through the net independently without a source server. It could basically steal information in secure databases without anyone being able to track down the source." Chiisame said.
"Oh…" Lee looked up at the moon.
"It also has the ability to hack into any system and hijack its functions." Chiisame added.
"Oh?" Lee looked down at her, a sparkle of interest in his eyes. "Hack any system…nano-machine systems included?"
"Yes…" Chiisame said. "Does that mean anything to you?" She asked with knowing eyes.
"Neldzen corp…a system capable of hacking nanomachine systems…why have I got a bad feeling about this…" Lee said, leaping off the roof.
"Demou…how do you know that much about Alpha-1, Chiisame-chan?" Makie asked, leaping back down onto Lee's rooftop.
"Because…" Chiisame showed Makie a disk. "I've got the original from Suu."
"Konbawa, Sasaki Makie…" A voice from the computer greeted.
"Oh wow…" Makie looked around at the screen.
"And he's promised to help me find Kaolla Suu and Tamada-san too." Chiisame said, smiling. Suddenly, a few drops of rain fell down through the pitch black night. "I'll have to shut the com, Alpha."
"It's…raining…" Makie said, looking up at the sky.
"Better get back inside then." Chiisame said, shutting the laptop.
"G'night!" Makie said, leaping away over the rooftops in the rain. Chiisame waved a salute before disappearing into the darkness.
"This is just great…Fumika…" Fuuka grumbled.
"Sorry, neechan…how was I to know?" Fumika wailed.
"Simple…don't touch levers, big red buttons, or any other obvious plot device prop, especially when we're just additional characters the author decided to put in for fun!" Fuuka shouted.
"B…but…that was a bit too harsh and accurate, Oneechan…" Fumika sniffled.
"Face the facts…" Fuuka sighed. "I mean…at this rate, I think I could pretty much predict what's going to happen next. Since we're dangling by an extended winch rope right under a low-flying Chinook, I'd say we'd bash into a few tall billboards…" Fuuka said…yes, the billboards were there. SMASH…
"…Then we'd get tangled in a few advertisement balloons…" Fuuka added, spitting plaster out of her mouth. The plot device balloons were also present. TANGLE…
"Then, for some idiotic reason, these balloons would be filled with hydrogen instead of helium, and we'd pass over a refinery with a tall flare tower…" Fuuka said. Sure enough, the balloons were filled with 100 hydrogen, and there happened to be a convenient flare tower smack dab in the middle of the Chinook's path.
And now it's time for Beyond's Chemistry Classes…
"Pay attention, please. Yes, settle down." Says Beyond. "Today, we shall learn about the amazing properties of the gas, Hydrogen, an element that exists as a diatomic gas." Beyond lifts up a sample of hydrogen in a jar. Behind him were a few stacks of barrels marked with the words 'hydrogen' and 'for plot device use only'. "It is a highly flammable gas that is lighter than air. That's why you must never expose it to an open flame."
"Like this." Suu leaps onto the stage, unscrews the jar, and dips a flame into the jar. KABOOM…
Back to the story…
"But…since we're cool enigmatic secret agent characters, the author wouldn't allow us to just blow up for no plot-involving reason…" Fuuka said with a smile.
"Oneechan…I don't like that smile…" Fumika moaned.
"Hang on tight, Fumika!" Fuuka disentangled herself from the balloons, stuck a frag grenade to one of the balloons, took hold of Fumika, and let go of the winch.
"IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!" Fumika screamed as they suddenly entered freefall.
"Daijoubu, Fumika-chan!" Fuuka shouted as they fell. Above them, the plot device hydrogen filled balloons, on cue, exploded, along with the well placed grenade, sending frags in all directions. Fuuka timed their descent until she judged them to be outside the frag radius before taking out her grapple gun. Fumika meanwhile, was still screaming with all her might.
One well aimed grapple shot later, they were once again dangling underneath the helicopter. Fire was coming out of the helicopter's engines, a sure sign that one of the grenade fragments had punctured it.
"Right…now they'll be forced to land somewhere. Then it'll be our cue. Let's retract upwards before they notice us." Fuuka smiled as she hit the switch to retract the cable, sending them straight towards the bottom of the Chinook.
Meanwhile…in the Chinook…
"You idiot! How can you forget to raise the winch!" A man was bearing down on the pilot. "Damage Report!" The din of the damaged rotors was threatening to tear apart the nerves of every single passenger aboard.
"Rear rotor engine damaged severely sir! Will have to land!" The pilot reported, frantically trying to maintain control.
"Gah…very well. Set a course for the mountain hideout. It's our only chance." The man sighed. "You're lucky we need you to pilot this thing…otherwise, I'd have thrown you overboard."
"Good evening…" The doors to the bar slammed back shut as the bell violently rang. "Sorry about that, it's rather chilly out there." There were very few people in the bar that night. In one corner, by the old jukebox, sat Chao in her rainjacket, Mitsune, Evangeline in her traveling cloak, Mana in her overcoat, and Tsuroko, all speaking in hushed voices. They looked up as the figure entered the bar before returning to their conversation.
"Oh, Irashaimase. What will it be?" Mitsune asked, standing up from her seat and walking over to the bar.
"A glass of milk please." The figure in the long, drenched black coat said, climbing onto a bar stool with some difficulty.
"Ahahaha…walk into any ordinary bar and people'd laugh at ya for ordering that. But this is Market Avenue and ya wouldn't believe how many such orders I get." Mitsune laughed, taking out a milk carton from the fridge and pouring out a glass. "Here." She slid it down the counter.
The figure had to scramble a bit as he missed the glass and had to flatten himself against the counter to catch it before it slid off the counter. "Ah…quiet night, isn't it?" The figure lowered its coat collar to reveal his face. He was a brown haired boy with a small pair of specs and a generous smile. The girls on the other table looked up for a moment as the boy revealed his face.
"Yeah…there was a bit of a ruckus earlier and I guess, coupled with the rain, that's enough to keep customers away, at least for tonight…" Mitsune sighed. The old television set in the corner buzzed away to the silence. "Yer new here in this part of town, ain't ya? I've never seen ya around before."
"Ah, yes." The boy said, putting down his glass of milk and wiping off the white moustache. "I'm just passing through. I'm looking for someone."
"Oh, who might it be?" Mitsune asked, with some curiosity. "I might be able to help."
"Well, I've got a whole list of people, actually. But first and foremost, I must find these two men, two people by the names Noriyasu Seta and Takahata Takamichi." He said. The girls at the table stopped talking for a just the hint of a second as they heard the names.
"Oh?" Mitsune got up and picked up a glass and filled it up with beer. "Ain't yer lucky day, pal, we haven't heard nuthin from Takamichi here for ages. As for Seta, he's gone out on another artifact hunt." She took a gulp of beer. "Anyone else, Mr….?"
"Oh, forgive my rudeness." The boy said. "I'm Negi Springfield. I'm…well…more or less a wanderer, actually. I'm searching for some people that are involved in an incident a few years ago…do you know Maehara Shinobu or Maehara Nodoka?"
"Oh, they live just a few stores next door at the DA's office. Though ya won't find them there tonight, I believe. Try tomorrow or the day after." Mitsune said.
"Oh, good. I've finally found two of the people I'm searching for…." Negi said. "Thanks a lot, Ms…err…"
"Name's Mitsune." Mitsune said, smiling. "I'm guessing ye'll need a place to stay, right?"
"Well, yes…" Negi said, taking another gulp of milk.
"Right-o…Natsume-chan runs an ryokan just opposite the Tatsumiya temple up the street. Just take a right as soon as you reach the end of the road and it should be on the right hand side opposite the hill." Mitsune said, gesturing in the direction of the hill. "Ya can't miss it." She ducked under the bar and came back up with an umbrella. "Here, ya can return it tomorrow." She handed it to Negi.
"Oh, thanks a lot." Negi said. "Well, I'll try the inn. Keep the change." Negi said, putting down a note on the counter and getting off the stool…and falling flat onto the floor.
"Y'ok?" Mitsune asked, looking over the bar.
"Yeah…no problem." Negi said, getting up and dusting himself off. "Thanks again." He said, as he left the bar.
"What a strange boy…" Mitsune said, picking up Negi's glass. "Hmmm?" She looked down over the counter and noticed a shining object by the counter. She went around the counter to check it out. She reached out and touched the cold metal object. "This is… wait…he can't be a…" She looked up at the door and back down at the ornately decorated gun. The other girls looked up once again with interest.
"This must be it…" Nadako thought as she looked down at the house before her. Her position up on the neighbouring hill gave her a good view of the spacious compound below. It was practically in the middle of nowhere, surrounded on all sides by dense forests and hills. The tracer she got from the mysterious girl was definitely pointing towards the compound. If that wasn't enough, the large Chinook and cobra gunship parked in the compound were obvious signs…it wasn't as if people collected helicopters for fun. "Now…where's the doorbell?"
"Well, well, well…what have we got here?" A voice said from behind her. It was your Standard Patented Russian Voice ™. She whirled around while flipping out her Desert Eagle. "I've been waiting for you…they said you'd come…" The man in the trench coat said.
"And you are…the local winner of the colonel Sanders look-alike contest?" Nodoka asked, gesturing at the man with her gun. The man's thick white moustache twitched dangerously as he reached for his belt.
"Very funny. You are…Nodoka Maehara, aren't you?" The man asked, his hand hovering close to his leather gun belt.
"Yes…I am. And you are…?" Nodoka asked, surprised that the man knew her name.
"I am…Fox Hound Special Operations…" The mans said, his hands twitching.
"Clint Eastwood?" Nodoka asked.
"N…No…"
"Errr…John Wayne!"
"NO! Listen to me for just five seconds without interrupting and jumping to conclusions, will you? I am…" As he said that, he flicked out his gun and did a number of cool revolver spinning tricks. Nodoka's face twitched with a slight twinge of frustration as she watched the man. She had a serious urge to unload the entire content of her desert eagle in the show-off's head at that moment, but then she thought, 'I'm facing a senile senior citizen with an even older handgun…I've got to show at least a bit of restrain…"
"Revolver Ocelot…" The man continued as he finished his introductory gun twirl trick. He walked towards Nodoka. "I've been waiting a long time to meet you…ojou-sama…the prized one…his daughter…hehehehe…you see this?" He dumped the bullets out of his revolver and slowly reloaded.
'This old geezer is starting to get on my nerves…' Nodoka thought as she shuddered with anger, realizing that the man was underestimating her, letting his guard down like that.
"This here's the most powerful handgun ever made…the Colt Single Action Army…Six bullets, more than enough to kill anything that moves. Hey, listen up!" He shouted at Nodoka who was casually leaning against a tree.
"You finished? Then I'll just get started, shall I?". She said, raising her Desert Eagle. 'Idiot, he's using a 1870s six-shooter .45. I'm using a 1990s automatic .45.' Nodoka thought, smiling. 'That thing should go in a museum…along with him. Who does he think he is? Willy E. Earp?'
The colonel-sanders-look-alike twirled his gun back into its holster and settled his hand over it. "Draw!" 'Idiot. I'm a master at using six-shooting .45s. She's stuck with an overglorified automatic.' He smiled as well.
When both sides are this cocky, someone's bound to look like an idiot….
To be continued…
OMAKE! OMAKE! (SPECIAL SUMMER BATTLE ROYALE EDITION)
The cast from 'Love Hina: Children of the Exodus', 'Final Hina Fantasy', 'New Mobile Suit Gundam Hina Eternity', 'Love Hina Alternative', 'Soul Requiem', and 'Forevermore', gathers around a campfire in a small summer campsite.
Keitarou: We actually made it to this chapter…in a space of only a couple of months…my, you've been busy.
BTB: HAhahaha…hard work's my middle name!
Asuna: And 'grammar mistakes'…
Lee: And 'cliché'
Rayce: Not to mention 'obviously out'
BTB: Ok…what have I done wrong this time?
Lee: We're having a bit of an issue with the 6 stories you're writing…
BTB: What exactly is the issue?
Naru: The fact that there ARE 6 stories. I mean, what kind of fanfiction writer could manage to juggle 6 stories?
Mitsune: Not to mention 2 different versions of Soul Requiem…that makes it 7 stories.
BTB: Errr….I guess I did mess up a bit there…
Haruka: You'll have to prioritize. Choose one to focus on and finish it off first.
BTB: Errr…how should I decide? I mean, I like all of them just as much…
Motoko: Well, BTB, it's definitely Soul Requiem, my version, isn't it? (Unsheaths katana an inch)
Shinobu: Anou…anou…demou…can we please make it Love Hina Children of the Exodus? I like that one.
Rayce: Hey! Hey! I like my part in New Mobile Suit Gundam Hina Eternity! Let's continue that one! It's the most epic anyway!
Tsuroko: Oro…but I think BTB's got plenty of good ideas for 'Forevermore'. Let's continue that.
Nodoka: Anou….can it please be…aah…Love Hina Alternative?
Makie: Yeah, definitely. I like Love Hina Alternative! It's the best! We get to live together like that! What can be more fun!
Kaede: Zazie says she likes Final Hina Fantasy best, de gozaruyo. (Zazie stands in the background, the infamous T-rexaur beside her.)
Naru: Well…you've gotten us into quite a mess, haven't you, BTB? Now what?
BTB: I dunno. Vote, perhaps?
The votes were tabulated…
Asuna: They're all…equal…
Setsuna: What a coincidence…
Fumika: Now what?
Fuuka: Let's just fight!
Rayce: Let's decide this with a contest.
Fuuka: Yeah! A fight! A fight!
Rayce: Contest rules: Everyone forms groups according to the story they're supporting. Every group may use the abilities they have in the story they chose. For example, since Shinobu-chan has chosen the 'Love Hina Children of the Exodus', she's allowed to use her white mage abilities.
Haruka: Interesting…what kind of contest will it be? (everyone separates out into different corners of the large field that suddenly materialized according to each group. They all start preparing their stuff.)
Rayce: Yagyu Janken…(baseball janken, from Mahou Sensei Negima)
Asuna: IDIOT! (busts Rayce on the head with a paper fan)
Lee: Then let's make it a quick game of janken (rocks, papers, and scissors) and get it over with. (everyone face faults) BTB-san?
BTB: Yeah, whatever.
Lee: All right, everyone, JANKEN!
Everyone: JANKEN! (nobody wins in the end. Frustrated, everyone starts fighting. All hell breaks out as magical spells, positron laser blasts, phantoms, katanas, and even mobile suits fly about.)
Tama: mii
BTB: As Tamago said, please wait while the democratic decision making takes place. As you can see, Love Hina has a very good idea of democracy. It's power to the masses. It's especially useful when the said masses are at gunpoint. Now, since we're out of time, we'll have to skip the battle-royale scene. Sorry…
After a long and grueling fight….
Haruka: Nothing was resolved, BTB…
BTB: No worries, I've decided the story I'm going to continue anyway.
Everyone: WHICH ONE!
BTB: 'The Amazing Adventures of Urashima Hinata-chan!'
Everyone (with the exception of pacifists such as Shinobu and Nodoka): NANI!
Hinata-chan: Yatta! Arigatou, BTB-san!
Motoko: Can't be….beaten by a 7 year old!
Naru: BTB….(eyes flash)
Everyone (with the exception of pacifists such as Shinobu and Nodoka): Let's kill him instead.
BTB: Haha! I'm ready for this, this time! Which is why I brought this! Transform! (takes out a ninja scroll which explodes into a cloud of smoke. After the cloud of smoke dissipates, BTB was gone, leaving a log in his stead.
Motoko: as if we'd fall for that. (unsheathes katana)
Rayce: let's kill him. (takes out Scythe)
Naru: Yeah…(puts on gloves)
Everyone(with the exception of pacifists such as Shinobu and Nodoka): (bears down on the log, which sweat-drops. They start beating up the log.)
Lee: All right, everyone! Please have an enjoyable summer holiday and remember not to try this at home. See you after the summer! Thanks for your support so far!
Everyone: Till next time!