Assassins of the Hinata
'Love Hina' is by Ken Akamatsu

Chapter 12: Destined for nothing

On one side of the open Hinata teahouse sits Hina Obaa-san, Yoko-Oba-san, Haruka and Kanako. The latter three have the implement to which they are most accustomed.

Sitting opposite, the six who are the most feared assassins on the planet. Four have their weapon of choice close at hand, with one never needing one and the other powers down her wrist pad.

For some reason, the tension here is non-existent, as those in attendance know what this meeting was called for.

"Let's cut to the heart of the matter, Hina-sama," says Kitsune neutrally, "You are going to allow your daughter to live here with us even though you know what our current living situation is with your grandson." Purposely, she had worded this as a statement-of-fact and not a question.

"Right. It is good to cut through the bullshit, Mitsune," replies Hina nodding, "It is a most delicate situation because of what we are bringing to this table. My lack of foresight when it comes to my own flesh-and-blood has us all where we are now, as much as I never had wanted to admit it. Circumstances, being what they are, dictate that we must all compromise our feelings and discuss a possible solution."

She then stays silent and allows those with her to air their feelings without restriction. Violence is the only things she will not tolerate.

"Personally, I am open to hearing what you and Yoko-sama have to say in this matter," says Mutsumi straight-faced, "however, we… I will not allow you to take Keitaro from us. Also, we have other concerns that need addressing because the volatility level of this matter is quite high."

"My daughter with Keitaro is something I do not regret," states Yoko out-of-the-blue, "I have killed many men to insure that she would one day be able to see her Otō-san. Marriage to him, though impossible by law because of blood ties, is only a dream for me. With that said, Keika-chan will get to be with Keitaro."

The air seems all sucked out from the open-air covered gazebo.

The tension dissipates when Kitsune says, "His bed is open to you, Yoko. You know that he can handle all of us with little effort. That said, you will understand that we have our arrangements concerning both the pleasuring of, and spending the night sleeping with Keitaro. The rules are quite strict and flexible enough with exceptions if you are willing to abide by them. Personally, I will tolerate no one insinuating themselves in his bed when it is my night with him." She leaves the rest open-ended and pats her Sweetie without any show of emotion.

"That goes double for me," interjects Shinobu, "Besides allowing Kitsune to show some passion once-in-a-while, he has also allowed me to be free to love someone without reservation. The offer is there if you want it."

Naru takes a different tack when she adds, "Don't ever try to bring out his old side. After what Haruka-san told us, I would not want to kill the only man that I have given myself to without an ulterior motive. You know what I am capable of and can feel the changes in someone's aura or personality".

"He is the only man I have ever loved," says Kaolla, "Before him, I only cared for my 'toys'. Do anything to cross us, and those toys will be the least of your worries." Her tone is almost as icy as the Foxes' is.

"I have to concur with the others," says Motoko softly resting her left hand on the Saya of the ancient Aoyama Katana.

"I, as well," says Kanako looking intently at her Oba-san.

Smiling, which surprises those around her only slightly, "Not being foolish except for when it comes to my nephew, I willingly accept your terms. To allay any other concerns, I myself am glad to see a new Keitaro as his old persona was always so tiresome. If it comes down to it, I would personally dispatch him if the old personality were to ever return because I love him too much".

All nod, as they feel the same way.

"Will that satisfy everyone now?" asks Haruka. Those seated here already know her frame of mind concerning the matter, so she will not re-iterate them at this time.

"Here is the proposed changes then," says Kaolla handing a tablet over to Yoko showing the new arrangements. The others, it seems had already re-written the sleeping accommodations here even before the older woman had agreed to their terms.

Prescience is not lost on this group…

"May I also have fun with you as well," says Yoko with a wide smile.

Knowing what she means, the others smile in return. Even Kitsune…

'No bloodshed,' thinks Hina breathing a sigh of relief.

Shortly after arriving home from Toudai, Keitaro…

Mission #15

Some considered throwing a Shinai through someone's eye while running impossible. However, having that weapon go out the back of a skull and embedding itself into a wall behind it made retrieving difficult at best.

Smiling, Naru wrenches the knife out while the victim still twitched. Yanking hard holding the man up, the now dead body falls to the ground.

Taking the Shinai and wiping off the grey matter, Shinobu says, "Thanks, Naru. I threw it a bit too hard".

"I'll take it from here," says the brunette hoping not to return to this place.

Going up a flight of stairs, Naru walks down a familiar hallway that she knows very well. Upon turning a corner, she sees Hana sitting in repose reading a tablet and scrolling over pages on the screen.

Looking up, Hana says, "You could have called first, good help is so hard to find after the mess you made last time." She knows the person coming towards her does not intend to harm her, if she was here for that she would never see it coming.

"PMS is a terrible thing, wouldn't you say," responds Naru enigmatically. She has only a few questions of her old crony.

"Bullshit, Naru," says the beautiful woman putting her tablet down, "you want something and you know that I may have it."

"It seems you took to heart what I said on my last visit," says the brunette stopping just a few meters away and watches as the woman shifts to face her.

"You can also ask Konno to stop aiming at my heart," says Hana slightly annoyed, "A .50 caliber round would do irreparable damage to my new dress."

Smiling, Naru clicks a button on her wrist device. A click in reply signals that the two can talk in private.

"It seems that you and your associates have pissed off some high-level players," says the info broker without filibustering, "Pao, the Russians and the sanction in Rome upped the ante of those who want to have a conversation with you."

"That is old news, Hana-chan," responds Naru derisively.

"Not really, this time someone is not just 'shuffling the deck chairs'," interjects Hana annoyed with her attitude, "This time someone is not being naïve about the skills that you possess. The set-up that Hina caused threw them, but only for the 'blink of an eye'."

"Are they that good?" asks Naru remembering how the old woman got this whole situation going.

"Except for the five males you dispatched recently, those who are after you now are exactly like you," says Hana feeling that she may finally have one-upped the woman standing here.

"How's that?" Naru asks genuinely interested. She knows that Hana is enjoying this, but chooses to ignore her contempt.

"The new players in our little game are all women this time," announces Hana, "from the top all the way to the bottom."

She then waits for a reaction.

Not giving the one she expects, her former associate and lover smiles.

"It has been way too long since I have gone bitch-on-bitch with someone," says Naru as her smile widens, "Mutsumi and Kanako will love this piece of news."

"How is my favorite Goth slasher by the way?" asks Hana, who suddenly feels another presence in the room.

"I am good, Hana-san," says Kanako appearing as though from thin air.

"Shit," hisses Hana. The woman, frightened by the newcomer's psychopathic tendencies, freezes and dares not move.

"Except for you needing to change your panties," says Kanako stepping into the light, "I am not here to have any fun today." Without her fearsome makeup, the younger woman looks less scary than what her other persona purports to be.

The two guest kiss each other ignoring their host. Only until the kiss breaks…

Hana realizes that no matter what she thinks of the woman she used to work and sleep with, the depths of where she is willing to go never ceases to amaze her.

Two hours later…

During the return trip in Kaolla's turtle craft, Kitsune says, "You two really know how to reward someone for their help." She was a voyeur using her scope, and when the kink became too intense, she looked away.

"At least I didn't skin her," says Kanako smiling.

"She likes women and seems to have enjoyed herself," rejoins Naru smiling, "Hana has always tasted good."

Kanako nods with Kitsune just slowly shaking her head.

Up front, Kaolla laughs and Shinobu cringes.

A few days later…

Lying with Yoko and Haruka who are sleeping soundly in his futon, Keitaro quietly gets up and decides to confront his continuing nightmare.

Looking at the two women he had pleasured, it was one for the record books.

Noiselessly, Keitaro grabs his glasses and steps out into the hallway. Using the incoming moonlight to guide his way, he heads downstairs to be alone.

Leaving all the lights off, Keitaro walks over to the common room and sits down on the big couch.

Closing his eyes, Keitaro concentrates. For the first time since he can remember, he is not afraid.

'Miss me?' asks a voice in the background. It stays in the shadows where it thinks there is safety.

'No, not really,' comes a response surprising the first speaker. This voice has a smile behind it.

Silence…

'I could have my old life back if I wanted it,' says the first voice petulantly. It did not appreciate the attitude it was not supposing the other to have.

'No, you can't,' says the second voice, 'I enjoy my new life now too much to turn back into an asshole again'.

'I am strong where you are weak,' says the first voice. The growing confidence of the other was unforeseen, and that was the failing of the former guise.

'Not really,' says the first as a gentle retort, 'that bullet killed you five years ago and the woman lying in my bed assured me that I could live a renewed existence.'

'No,' screams the first as the persona begins to fade.

'Goodbye,' says Keitaro watching the part of him that everyone hated finally dwindle from his mind.

Opening his eyes, the sun is filtering light into the common room. Tears form and fall down Keitaro's cheeks, he stands and sees Yoko come down the stairs.

"Kei-kun," says his Oba-san with a look of concern on her beautiful face.

"He's gone, Oba-san. I'm free," says Keitaro crying and stepping into the main hall.

Understanding what her nephew is saying to her, Yoko comes up and hugs him. She has longed to hear these words.

"Was it difficult, Kei-kun?" asks a voice coming from the top of the stairwell. Kitsune walks downstairs followed by everyone else in the house. Hina Obaa-chan holds Keika's hand and brings the girl to her parents.

"Yes, but for once I wasn't afraid," he answers releasing Yoko and picking up his daughter.

"It would be," says the Fox, "because losing a part of yourself is always difficult."

"However," says Keitaro gearing up, "my old self left me one gift before leaving. I can remember everything now."

End of Part 1