Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina, nor am I making money from this.

WARNING: The story is ending now! NOOOOOOO!!!

Author's Note: 'tis the end! For some, it will be finally, and for others it will be unfortunately. However, this is not the end of my work on this site... not by a long shot! But alas, let us get on with the fic!

Epilogue: Four Years and Then Some

"KYAA!! Pervert!!"

Explosions echoed throughout Hinata-sou, amidst screams and shouts from various members of the inn. From her space on the roof, Keika could hear every word, and she couldn't help but chuckle to herself in sheer awe at the actions of the other girls. It appeared that Shinobu, once a shy, easily embarrassed little girl, had become the much more open and outgoing girl that somehow managed to cause problems like these. Personally, most of the girls thought that she reminded them of Naru… minus the short temper.

The controlled, if you could go so far as to call it that, explosions were, of course, Su's handiwork. Apparently, not too much had changed over the years; she'd simply found more effective, focused, and efficient ways to channel her inner 'evil genius'. The same as Mutsumi and Naru, though their relationship was, at this point, no real secret. Kitsune, on the other hand, was now in charge of the Hinata-sou tea shop, since Haruka had given it to her after she, finally, married Seta. Having work finally began to shape up the once lazy fox, it seemed. Sera hadn't changed much, except fall into a bit more of a rebellious attitude due to being a teenager now, and Kanako, the third of the co-owners of Hinata-sou… well, she had begun to open up around people more.

As for Keika and her Motoko… well…

"…I should probably stop them before somebody gets killed…" Keika mused aloud, getting up from her spot on the railing.

If one were to compare the Keika of now and the Keika of six years ago, then they would see a tremendously different woman. There were simple things, such as her ponytailed hair and bangs growing down to her waist and breasts respectively. There were some obvious things, like the fact that her body now was noticeably more toned and fit, giving her a more athletic sort of beauty. Likewise, the clothes had moved from men's shirts and slacks to blouses and comfortable pants and shorts, such as now with her loose pants and sleeveless blouse with a light jacket. Still, if one were to look closely, they'd see a difference between the two pictures that wasn't so clear, and that one could likely not quite place. If you met her though, you'd know immediately what it was: she came across as a completely different woman, one who was stronger, more confident…

…and obviously more courageous, as few would jump off of the roof of a three story building only to land on the top of a human-sized mech.

Keika flipped off the mech a moment later, just as it's head was blown out through the front of it's body without any apparent attack, effectively dropping the robot before Keika had even hit the ground without any apparent effort. As Keika moved, smiling, through the smoke and flame, she was graced by the sight of a younger… girl… with long black hair and a clear look of panic. Keika then realized that her particular entrance could have been a bit better.

"Oh, don't worry: I won't hurt you." Keika said with a grin, only to be met with the sight of the young girl fainting, naked, in the grass.

'Well, I guess I won't have to calm her down now…'

"Oh, you should have seen her face! That girl was cute when she was overreacting!" Keika stated amongst laughs, leaning against the back of the seat in the tea house "If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought I'd gone back in time and met myself!"

"That bad, eh?" Kitsune replied from her place behind the counter, taking a sip of her drink as she went about working "Kinda got the ol' gears goin' 'gain, right?"

"Heh, I guess you could say that." Keika replied a she stretched her arms, which were bare due to her coat being shed as she entered the warm establishment "It actually got me thinking of the first time I met Mo-chan."

"Ya mean when y' caught tha' ki thing a hers?"

"Hai; I can kinda remember the look on her face when she saw me do that… wish I had a camera then."

"Shouldn't ya be thinkin' 'bout t'morrow?" Kitsune asked, raising an eyebrow as her smile grew ever so slightly "'The Big Day', y'know?"

"Yeah…" was all Keika could muster before her eyes seemed to lose focus on anything in the real world… for a moment "Speaking of that, have you heard anything from Kanako-chan or Haruka-oba-san?"

"Nah, not a thing, but nobody's seen 'er for years, y'know." Kitsune replied as she continued about her business, though a bit more serious than before "Still, ya sure ya don't want any security?"

"No. Besides, Mo-chan and I can take care of anything that comes our way, and that's excluding Haruka, Seta, Tsuruko, Su's Mecha-Tamas…"

"Alright, I get it. Sheesh…" Kitsune said with a bemused laugh "Jus' makin' sure it ain't gettin' to ya none."

"Not even a concern."

"Alright then, now don'cha got somewhere t' be?" Kitsune said with a sly grin ever fitting to her nickname "She's still the punctual one, y'know."

"Hai, hai, and that's just one of the things I love about her." Keika replied with a slight blush, which got Kitsune's mind going just a bit as she watched the other woman stand up and get ready to leave.

"Yeah, jus' one a th' many, many things y' love 'bout the gal. From what ah've overheard, y' really 'love' her nice, big, firm-"

"Kitsune!"

"What about how much y' enjoy her long, shapely-"

"Kitsune!!"

"Oh, and let's not forget that rear you could bounce a-"

"KITSUNE!!!"

"Alright, alright, ah'll lay off ya fer now." Kitsune said as she allowed herself a good chuckle, seeing as the older woman was now fully red-faced and evidently still easily embarrassed on the subject.

"Ugh… why did you have to bring… that…" Keika began, but trailed off as her blushed brightened "…oh… yeah… can I ask you a question?"

Now officially intrigued, Kitsune could only manage to quirk an eyebrow and nod.

"…do you know where I can find another… um…" Keika then leaned in a bit more closely as she threw her black jacket on, eventually resorting to whispering right into Kitsune's ear.

Kitsune's eyes actually snapped all the way open, and she could only manage to stare, gaping, at Keika for several long moments.

"Ya have got t' be kiddin' me! Y' need another one?!" Kitsune finally exclaimed as she threw her hands about in exasperation "What is Motoko doin' t' you when y' wear it?!"

"Well-"

"Nevermind, I really don't think I wanna know now…"

Motoko sat, eyes closed as she took in the world around her through it's natural menagerie of sensorial effectors. She could smell everything from lacquer on the wood to the sweat and blood that lay in the various rooms of the dojo from the intensity of the students' trainings. She could hear the sounds of sparring and footsteps, as well as the breathing of those in the same room as her. She could feel the vibrations of the earth beneath her feet, caused by those around her with their feet upon the earth. Then, just when it appeared as if she were in a state of pure, utter tranquility…

She was up in an instant, her blade drawn in a deafening, echoing ringing of steel only to clamor into the blade of another in a sharp, echoing crack. The sight of the swordswoman was truly something to behold, with her waist-length hair and hime-style cut, which only served to strengthen the beauty she had been naturally gifted with. She had the body of an athlete, the grace of a dancer, and the strength, both of will and of body, that few in her position could rival… yet if one looked less closely, they'd see a completely different story.

She wore not the normal training garb that the others around her did, not even clothes in the same century in which they were designed. Instead, she wore blue jeans, which were loose on her legs so as to not hinder her movement, and a long-sleeve white shirt. Evidently, she had also stepped away from her previous chest bindings, opting for a sports bra in it's stead, by the look of things. Over all of that was a black jacket with fur along the collar; her gift from her wondrous lover on her last birthday. Yet somehow, in spite of the modern, civilian look, she still managed the proper form, the proper finesse, and still wore her black and red Koikokoro at her waist.

At this particular moment though, the blade was sitting comfortably in her right hand, with her left hand on her sheath, as she threw her attacker back with enough force to actually lift him off his feet. In the few seconds that she had before another attack came, Motoko managed so slide her left hand back through her sleeve, then adjusted things so that her elbow rested in her sleeve, with her hand gripping onto the hem of the jacket on the right side of her body. (1) She finished just in time to parry an attack from behind, catching the blade near the hilt and using her ki to throw the blade out of her opponent's hands. With a continuation of the motion, Motoko spun and let loose a blast of ki, catching two more opponents and throwing them backwards into the wall before throwing her arm back and laying the blade down the length of her body, catching one more attack just as it would hit her body.

"Good. You staggered your attacks just enough to prevent me from taking you all out at once." Motoko said with a grin, evidently pleased "However…"

In a flash, several more of the new opponents were sent flying into, and in one case through, the walls of the training room. In the center of the mess of bodies of Shinmei-ryu deshi was Motoko, who, with one arm still held in a sling-like fashion with her coat, deftly sheathed her blade with effortless, practiced grace. Clapping began to resound from the doorway, and Motoko looked up to see both her dear sister and someone else who was practically family already.

"Very good, imouto!" Tsuruko congratulated as she clapped "It's nice to see that, even though it is your last day as the shihan of the school, you are not slacking off." (2)

"Way to put them in their place 'aneue'." Kanako said with a smirk "I'm sure these 'bad apples' won't forget this particular disciplinary action anytime soon."

"No, they shall not." Motoko responded as she slowly made her way over to the doorway where the other two stood, slipping her left arm back into where it was supposed to be in the jacket.

"Your arm's hurting today, right?" Kanako asked, slightly concerned, as Motoko finally stopped in front of her.

"Hai, the weather is changing again." Motoko explained as she rubbed her left shoulder slightly "It always aches when the weather changes."

"I know I've told you this before, but it still impresses me that you've surpassed me by so much when you can only wield a blade with one hand." Tsuruko said with a smile "Imagine how much more talented you would be with both."

"I do not think I could get any better, aneue." Motoko replied with a similar smile "It is less a measure of ability, and more a measure of effort. I have, as Keika would put it, 'worked my ass off' to get to this point."

"I know, imouto. However, it's time for you to be going now; you still have some important preparations before tomorrow afternoon." Tsuruko said simply, before bringing her younger sister in for a hug "I'm proud of you, and I know that Oba-san would be too."

Motoko returned the hug, smiling softly as she did so.

"Arigatou, Tsuruko-onee-chan."

Not too long after that, Kanako and Motoko could be seen leaving the premises of the Shinmei-ryu dojo, heading out to the van where the two Noriyasu's waited.

"…Kanako?"

"Hai?"

"Are you still alright with tomorrow?" Motoko asked softly as they walked alongside each other.

For a moment, Motoko wasn't sure if she was going to get an answer from the youngest Urashima.

"…hai." Kanako said, her face solemn "I wish it were me in your place… but that can't really be helped."

Finally, a small smile spread across the dark-clad girl's lips.

"Like I've said before, as long as she's happy, I'm fine." Kanako replied "I know you make her happy, more than I could make her, so I'm fine with it."

Motoko nodded, as no more words were necessary on the subject. However, that was not the end of the conversation.

"I do wonder why aneue hasn't let me see her dress… since you're having a western wedding and all." Kanako mused aloud, frowning slightly "I guess she wants it to be a surprise for everyone…"

Motoko could only smile; it would certainly be a surprise, alright.

"So… big day already, huh?"

"…"

"Everyone's ready out there, so we just need to hear word from Motoko and Seta."

"…"

"…you nervous?"

"Dear kami-sama yes!" Keika finally admitted, having spent the last several minutes staring at the mirror across the room from her.

Naru couldn't help but sigh, and Mutsumi seemed somewhere between amused and oblivious.

"What's the big deal? You two have been practically married the last four years! The only thing that's changing is the fact that it's official!" Naru stated as she crossed her arms "Really, you don't need to be so nervous!"

"I-I know! I just… want everything to work out alright…"

"Ara ara, it will." Mutsumi reassured as she wrapped herself around Keika in an embrace from behind "Just don't pass out at the altar; my dad apparently did that at his wedding."

Keika could only pale as Naru dragged her girlfriend off of the older woman. Keika knew both of the women were right, but that still didn't stop the nerves from getting to her. Of course, now it was worse, because she was accompanied by visual images of her passing out in front of everyone.

"We're going to go see if Motoko's ready to go yet." Naru finally announced, taking hold of Mutsumi's wrists as she made for the door "You do what you can to keep it together, alright?"

Keika nodded, and the door was shut a moment later, leaving Keika to her own devices for some time. For a while, she simply continued to stare into the mirror, carefully looking over her entire ensemble. Her hair didn't look too terribly different than it normally did, but it did have a bit more of a sheen and softness to it on this day. Glasses were there, as per usual, and she'd taken care to take as much care of her visible skin as possible.

As for clothing, she found it rather amusing that she was dressed as she was. Rather than an overtly elaborate dress with a train of some insane length, like she figured Motoko would be wearing, Keika was dressed in a fashion that reminded her of how she used to dress when she arrived at Hinata-sou… though it was actual women's clothing this time around. Slacks, blouse, and a thin white belt were worn, and fit her absolutely perfectly. A women's jacket, fully buttoned, hid most of the shirt and was evidently custom tailored to her particular figure. The entire outfit was completely white, which she found somewhat ironic given her situation (3), even down to her shoes, not heels, and silk gloves. As for why Keika was wearing this instead of a dress… well, that was Motoko's call; she thought Keika would look better, and be more comfortable, in a suit instead of a dress.

'Thank kami-sama… knowing my luck I'd trip and fall on that long dress.' Keika thought with a slight chuckle that brought some semblance of relief 'It's hard to believe this is real… even yesterday it still seemed so… dreamlike…'

A knocking at the door caught Keika's attention, and she jumped slightly at it.

"Ano, it's open!" Keika announced as she turned to the door "Is it time to start?"

"Hai, aneue." Kanako called as she opened the door "Motoko is ready to go."

After one final deep breath, Keika allowed herself a nervous smile.

"Alright."

Keika's nerves were getting ready to collapse her body, but somehow she managed to remain standing. Even with Kanako and Seta, who was (somehow) qualified to perform the ceremony, up there with her, she felt that everyone's eyes were on her… just her. Not to mention that the anticipation in seeing Motoko in a wedding dress was really getting to her, and then add in the fact that somewhere in the back of her mind she expected something, anything, to go absolutely, horrendously wrong. Still she stood, watching and waiting, until finally the music began playing.

Her heart began to race, watching the 'exit' that Motoko was supposed to take with the full entirety of her focus. Finally the doors slid open, and Keika's jaw and eyes, literally, went wide. Never, in the six years that they had known each other, had Keika seen Motoko look as gorgeous as she did at that moment. Her dress, solid white of course, appeared absolutely heavenly as she seemed to float along the ground. The skirt portion was wide, with a comparatively short train by most wedding standards, while the top was elegantly and ornately designed, cutting off just above her breasts to reveal everything from her shoulders on up. Her arms and hands were clad in gloves of white silk, and she held a bouquet… though that was by far the least interesting to Keika. The veil was as elegant as the dress, and fell in front of her face, which Keika thought to be glowing with a heavenly light.

As Motoko walked, both confidently and proudly, down the aisle, Keika's eyes never strayed from her, not even to her sister who was filling in for the father's role. (4) In the back of everyone's mind, Keika's included, they noted that this was probably the first time Motoko had been seen without her weapon nearby. The entire ensemble caught more than a few eyes, and several were in a state similar to Keika (mostly Keika's friends Shirai and Haitani, though Ema was awestruck as well). One thing nobody noticed was the readily visible set of scars on the young warrior-turned-woman's left shoulder, and even if it had been noticed, it would have been quickly dismissed.

By the time Motoko was face to face with Keika, the two were smiling brilliantly. As the two took each other's hands as the ceremony began, neither woman was capable of focusing on anything other than each other… save for Seta as he led the ceremony. Entrapped in their own little world, time seemed to fly, and it was no time at all before vows were said, rings were put on after gloves were first removed, (5) and ultimately it came down to the grand finale.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you hu… uh…" Seta conveniently turned his near-screw-up into a cough "… I now pronounce you… woman and wife. You may now kiss the… uh… your bride."

Aside from the minute thought to inflict grave injuries on Seta for both of his slip-ups, Keika and Motoko proceeded with the kiss, their lips meeting in a, comparatively chaste, kiss (they were in front of a large group of people, after all). It was brief for those watching, but for the two involved, it was one of the most electrifying moments of their lives.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you, for the very first time… Mrs. and Mrs. Aoyama!" Seta announced loudly.

With the clapping and the cheers that ensued, neither of the two newlyweds could have been any happier, as tears began streaking down at least one of their faces. As the two newlyweds began to head back down the aisle, arm in arm, they realized that this was, indeed, the greatest moment in both of their lives. However, this was just their greatest moment so far; they still had lives ahead of them…

…lives to share openly together…

…standing with one another…

…in sickness and in health…

…in joy and in sorrow…

…in hardship and in ease…

…to cherish and to love…

…so long as they both shall live…

(1) Think Auron from Final Fantasy X, only it's using a jacket and she's holding onto the zippered area on the opposite side from where she's resting her arm.

(2) Shihan is the name for the head teacher of a martial arts school… I think

(3) White represents purity, aka. virginity. Depending on your definition of virginity, neither Keika nor Motoko would be virgins, hence the irony. Likewise, some would say this was an 'impure' union, which is also irony in and of itself as well.

(4) As Motoko's father/mother are never mentioned in the books/anime, I presumed them dead in this. Ergo, Tsuruko is filling in for the part of leading Motoko down the aisle.

(5) Remember, it's kinda hard to fit rings over gloves.

Well now, that is it…the epilogue. Not quite as long as the other chapters, but hey, it's not supposed to be another chapter now, is it? Anyway, I would like to than you, my readers, for everything. I would like to especially thank those who favorited both myself and my story, and even more specially I would like to thank those who took the time to review my story as I posted each new chapter. Input and recognition are what makes my many hours and days writing worthwhile.

As per normal, please review; input is always appreciated, even in the end. I also hope that you all will enjoy my next fanfiction, which has been determined by the responses to the poll I have on my author's page (which will stay up until January 1, 2009, if you'd like to vote).

Until next time…

-A.W.R.