Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Legacy ❯ Chapter 56

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The clicking of keyboard keys filled the office as the doctor typed up his lecture for the upcoming psychological care professionals association meeting. Glancing at the three cases he had chosen to base his lecture off of, he flew through the lecture, silently moving his lips as he mentally gave the lecture, editing and re-doing sections as necessary. Pausing, he sat back in his chair, sipping some now-cold tea.
 
Grimacing, he got up to prepare some fresh tea. As he exited his office, he found his secretary preparing to go home. “Oh, are you still here?” she asked, surprised.
 
“Oh, yes, I'm preparing my lecture for the conference. I tell you, I have never had such great cases to delve into!” he excitedly shared. His secretary gave him a tolerant smile, like a mother would when her kid got excited about being a super hero when he grew up.
 
“I'm sure you will knock their socks off, sir,” she said. Seeing his tea cup in his hand, she held out her hand. “Let me make you a fresh cup before I go,” she offered.
 
“Oh! Of course,” he handed her the cup. Turning to the small end table where the tea and supplies were, she quickly prepared him a fresh cup. “So, what cases are you going to be using?” she asked him casually.
 
“I'm going to be using that teacher's case for the core example,” he shared. “And to highlight the issues, I will use some of Narusegawa's session notes. To counter-balance the issues at play, I have the case of the executive of the trading firm. When you look at the interplay of the cases, you can clearly see…”
 
“I'll take your word for it, sir,” the secretary waved off the impending full-on lecture on psychology and abnormal psychology. “But are you sure you should use those cases?” wondered the secretary. “That teacher was ordered here by court order, and there are still investigations involving him, so there might be a legal issue to using his case. As for the Narusegawa case…” the secretary trailed off, glancing at her boss. “Her bill was paid by the Urashima family, and didn't you say that you weren't keeping any notes on her sessions?”
 
The doctor blinked. “Well,” he said slowly, “so long as I don't use any identifiable information in the lecture, it isn't a breach of confidentiality,” reasoned the man. “And the court order didn't expressly forbid discussing the case with other mental health professionals, so I don't see how that could be a problem.”
 
“Should I call the firm's lawyers, sir? Just in case?” asked the secretary. She liked her job, after all, and didn't see the attraction to being unemployed due to her boss getting his license pulled. The doctor considered that.
 
“I guess I should cover my bases,” he mumbled. The secretary handed him his cup of fresh, hot tea.
 
“I'll have them call you with their opinion tomorrow morning between your ten and noon sessions,” she said, picking up her light jacket. “See you tomorrow morning, sir,” she bowed before exiting the office. The doctor waved to her several heartbeats after she was gone.
 
“Uh, yeah, see you then,” he mumbled, moving back to his office. Sitting back down, he sipped the tea as he stared at the legal pads laid out on his desk. Before he knew it, he was looking at the bent steel tube frame of his couch. Swallowing tightly, he set the tea down and swiftly flipped through a business card ledger he kept in his top right hand drawer. Spotting the one he wanted, he paused, eying the card.
 
After a moment, he picked up his phone and dialed the contact number on the card. On the third ring, the line connected. “And why are you calling me, doc?” came an amused voice.
 
“Urashima-sama?” he asked, seeking confirmation.
 
“One of them, anyway,” laughed the other party on the line. “Any particular Urashima you meant to call, sonny?”
 
“Urashima Hina-sama, please,” he replied politely.
 
“Guilty,” came the cheerful reply. “Any reason you're calling, or are you just bored?” wondered Hina. The doctor shook his head slightly, ordering his thoughts. It was rare for him to be caught off guard, but the white-haired head of the Urashima family had blindsided him like a rookie.
 
“Would it be all right if I used Narusegawa's case notes in a lecture at the conference of the Association later this month? I would, of course, not use any information that could be used to indentify her specifically, just her therapy case. I recall what you said about not keeping any records, but her case is very unique, and it could prove to be beneficial to treating other people with similar issues. With this in mind, do I have your permission to use her case notes in the manner I have described?” he asked.
 
“Hmm,” Hina hummed. The playful tone was gone from her voice, and he didn't need to see her to know that she was dead serious now. “I had been meaning to pick up those notes, but have been so busy lately…” she mused calmly.
 
“Please, Urashima-sama, this could help others who are dealing with the same issues she has. I can't imagine that you would want another person to destroy their life like she almost did,” he threw in.
 
“There is that,” agreed Hina neutrally. “Tell you what,” said the old woman suddenly. “You call my granddaughter up, and if you can convince her, it's ok with me,” Hina decreed. “You have her number?” Hina asked. The doctor swiftly flipped pages on the pad.
 
“Yes, I do,” he confirmed.
 
“Then I suggest you be persuasive,” Hina said, her tone dry and slightly cool to the ear.
 
“I appreciate this,” began the doctor.
 
“Don't get carried away,” Hina cut in firmly. “She might not agree, you know. And I'll be seeing you about those notes - soon.” The line went dead. The doctor slowly cradled the phone.
 
That woman is a monster, he thought idly, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Mentally reviewing the conversation, he realized that he had been led down a path of her choosing without even realizing it. Smiling wryly, he picked up his tea, sipping it thoughtfully.
 
Several minutes later, his arguments and tactics decided and reviewed, he picked up the phone again and dialed the number in his notes. It was time to see if he could reason with a patient who had been anything but reasonable when he had first met her. It has been a while since our last session, he realized, seeing the date and time notes in the margin of the pad, I wonder how she is managing?
 
-
 
“Are you sure you don't want us to come with you?” asked Kanako, seeing Keitaro put some clean clothes in his worn travel pack. “After all, if you are going to get involved in Aoyama business, it's likely to turn violent, and you…”
 
“Can't fight, I know,” Keitaro shrugged. “But I doubt anything will happen beyond some screaming anyway. Besides,” he said cheerfully, “Mo-chan and Tsu-chan will be there! If anything happens, I am sure they handle it!”
 
“Isn't that a little backward?” Haruka laughed softly. “Usually, it's the man's job to protect his women,” she playfully sniped, absently caressing his neck and shoulders.
 
“Well, I'll try, of course!” protested Keitaro, “but…” he shrugged.
 
“I know,” Haruka said, glancing at Kanako. “But I still think at least one of us should go with you,” added his cousin.
 
“I appreciate the thought, Haruka,” came Tsuruko's voice from the door to Keitaro's room. Glancing over, Haruka saw that Tsuruko and Motoko were both ready, dressed in their familiar hakamas and gis. In their left hands, they each held a bokken. Glancing at their packs, she saw the familiar shapes of their wrapped katanas. “But I believe it would be best to limit the number of Urashima going; for now, at least,” she added softly.
 
“More reason for us to accompany you, if they are reckless enough to resort to violence,” Kanako said, her tone dark and eager.
 
“Kana-chan,” Haruka said, her other hand coming to rest on the younger sister's shoulder. “Instigating a fight is not in our best interests,” Haruka reminded her future co-elder of the family.
 
“If it is violence they want, we can accommodate them,” Motoko said, her right hand snaking back to briefly touch her wrapped sword. “But, I am sure they will not be so rash,” she added, glancing at her sister.
 
“We should still come with you,” Kanako insisted. “If we go to Kyoto, and wait at the station, or near-by, we can rush to support you before anything happens to you,” she insisted.
 
“You both have my word that no harm will come to Keitaro,” Tsuruko said, smiling a little.
 
“But what about you two?” Keitaro cut in. “I don't want you two to get hurt!” He blinked when the four women in the room shared a strange kind of smile with each other before mass-hugging him.
 
“That's so sweet of you!” came a highly-amused voice from behind the group. None of them had to look to know that Granny Hina had turned up once more. “My brave grandson protecting his wife and concubine from their vicious, vicious family…”
 
“Why do I get the feeling you are being sarcastic, Granny?” mumbled Keitaro. The old woman just cackled.
 
“Better yet, why don't you go with them, Granny?” suggested Kanako. Hina shook her head.
 
“No, better that I don't,” said the old woman. “Besides, this is a matter for the Aoyama to deal with themselves,” she added, sighing softly. If Yayoi were the head of that family, this wouldn't have been necessary, but… she shook those thoughts aside. There was, she knew, no changing what had happened.
 
“And if they cannot?” Haruka asked softly, her gaze on Tsuruko.
 
“We'll discuss that if it should come to pass,” Hina said. “Now,” she crisply turned the topic, “you three best hurry to make your train. And I have business to discuss with the two of you,” she added, almost leering at her two granddaughters. Both Haruka and Kanako bit back a groan.
 
“We are cutting it close,” Tsuruko said, glancing at the clock on the wall. The three hurried off, pausing briefly to speak with Shinobu and Kitsune, the fox in the living room, the domestic by the door. Assuring them that they would be fine and back shortly, the three exited the Hinata.
 
“Shinobu-chan,” Hina said, hugging the girl briefly, “isn't today the deadline for entering to take the Todai entrance exam?” asked Hina. Shinobu frowned, glancing at the calendar tacked to the wall of the kitchen. Seeing the date, she blinked.
 
“Ah!” gasped the girl. “I almost forgot!” she exclaimed, her apron vanishing as she dashed out of the kitchen and toward her room.
 
“Where are you going, wife?” wondered Kaolla, who was just coming down the stairs as Shinobu ran up them.
 
“I have to go confirm my entry to take the Todai exam!” Shinobu called back over her shoulder. Kaolla grinned.
 
“Okies! I'll come with!” giggled the girl. Mere moments later, Shinobu exited her room, still zipping up a short skirt, her top in her hand, along with the purse Hina had bought for her. Su appeared, dressed in a one-piece dress a moment later, her hands busy tying back her hair in a ponytail. Shinobu wiggled into her top, swiftly smoothing it and her skirt before slinging her purse.
 
“I will be back shortly!” promised Shinobu as she and Su hurried down the stairs and out the door.
 
“Take your time!” Hina called after them, waving. “That girl reminds me of Yoko sometimes,” Hina mused fondly.
 
“Really?” Haruka asked, surprised. Hina nodded.
 
“Back when Yoko was about her age - before she met your father - she was a lot like Shinobu, though our Shinobu-chan is a bit less extreme in her personality than Yoko was,” smiled Hina.
 
“I don't know,” Kanako opinioned, “Shinobu's personality can be unexpectedly extreme at times.” Hina snickered.
 
“She had you all fooled, didn't she, the little hard-case,” gloated Hina. “You all thought she was so timid and delicate…heh! I love that girl,” the wrinkled granny proclaimed delightedly.
 
“I'm glad I didn't have to see you when you were younger,” Haruka grunted sourly. Even at her age, Granny is an instigator. Can't even imagine what she must have been like as a teenager!
 
“I was a proper daughter of the Urashima clan,” Hina piously proclaimed. Her two heirs snorted derisively.
 
“I doubt that,” Haruka replied blandly.
 
“You as a proper daughter is an impossibility,” Kanako retorted.
 
“You don't believe me?” Hina asked, her tone hurt. “Kit-chan, you believe me, don't you, sweetie?” implored Hina, giving the lounging fox woman her very best innocent look.
 
“You're giving me the creeps, talking like that,” Kitsune said.
 
“Does no one believe me?” Hina implored the heavens. “Oh, the tragedy!”
 
“You going to keep playing the martyr or what?” Haruka shook her head.
 
“What did you do to get kicked out Todai, Granny?” Kanako asked.
 
“I was framed,” Hina immediately answered.
 
“Likely story,” Kitsune muttered. Hina grinned.
 
“Anyway,” Hina said, dismissing her fun, “let's head down to the tea shop,” she said to Haruka and Kanako. “Might as well be comfortable while we talk,” the old woman said. Kitsune glanced at the three, wondering if she could manage to sit in on the meeting, but she saw Hina watching her. Smothering a sigh, she lay back on the couch, fishing around with one hand for her laptop.
 
“I'll keep an eye on the place while Shinobu-chan's out,” the fox volunteered. Give me some time to work on my next article, too. Editor is getting a little pushy about that, the woman thought, frowning slightly. Bringing up her word processing program, she frowned when she saw the time stamp of her last work. Guess I have been pre-occupied with other things, she thought. Recalling what those `things' were, she grinned. Swallowing, she shifted a little, feeling heat build between her legs as her nipples hardened under her shirt. Oh, I like being pre-occupied like that that…
 
As Kitsune began to type up her next column for her newspaper and magazine clients, the Urashima women were unlocking the tea house. Entering, Haruka opened the blinds as Kanako started the small water heater. Hina flipped the small sign over, a move that Haruka noticed. “Not a private talk?” she asked, a little surprised.
 
“The regulars know not to get into my business,” Hina dismissed the question. Haruka dismissed it as well. The tea shop had a small core of clientele, all locals, all older, and if Hina said they wouldn't pry, there was no reason to doubt that statement. And with it being only a little past sunrise, it wasn't likely that their regulars would be here for while anyway.
 
As the three sat down at a table, Haruka recalled something else she needed to check on. “Kanako, you did remember to sign up for the entrance exam, too, right?” she asked.
 
“Of course,” replied Kanako. “I have already confirmed my application and have my exam ticket. Motoko likewise has her exam ticket. If Granny hadn't said anything, I had planned to remind Shinobu myself.”
 
“That's my granddaughter,” Hina approved.
 
“You suppose Su is really going to try for Todai?” Haruka wondered aloud.
 
“She has the brains,” Hina noted.
 
“But is she emotionally and mentally mature enough?” questioned Kanako.
 
“Kaolla is a very special girl,” Hina said quietly. “Even among Molmolians, she is different. Part of your job as the future elders of the Urashima will be to protect and nourish her growth and development. Same goes for Nyamo,” Hina said.
 
“Since we are speaking of Nyamo,” Haruka said, “what do you know about her?”
 
“What do I know?” Hina asked rhetorically. “I know she is special like Kaolla is special. I know that she has a very strong bond with Keitaro and Shinobu, and that it appears she has a deep connection to the Turtle Cult ruins as well, given her ability to find the ruins.”
 
“What is her connection to the Otohime family?” asked Haruka. Hina shrugged.
 
“I'm not sure, actually,” admitted the old woman. Seeing the looks her granddaughters were giving her, she repeated herself. “I really don't know for sure, girls.”
 
“Very well,” Kanako said, staring at Hina. “What do you suspect, then?”
 
“I don't know enough yet to have any opinion of the connection - if it exists,” Hina replied. “Have you asked Natsumi about it?” prompted Hina. The two glanced at each other.
 
“Um, not yet,” Haruka said. “I got sidetracked talking about…other things,” admitted Haruka.
 
“I bet you did,” lilted Hina. Kanako frowned slightly.
 
“Other things?” she asked. A moment later, the frown disappeared. “Oh, I understand.” Haruka gave her formal nemesis a small smile.
 
“Speaking of that, you have told him, right?” Hina asked. Haruka nodded. “Good.”
 
“Granny, are Mutsumi and Naru pregnant?” Kanako cut right to the heart.
 
“Yeah,” Haruka answered instead. “They are.”
 
“I see,” mused Kanako. Hina heard the water heater begin to whistle, signaling that the water was hot and ready for tea. Rising, she moved to prepare some tea for them. “Any other girls pregnant?” asked the younger sister of the man doing the knocking up.
 
“Why ask?” teased Hina.
 
“Just like to know what we dealing with,” Kanako replied.
 
“Tsuruko probably is,” Haruka said after a moment of silence. Kanako turned to stare at Haruka.
 
“Probably?”
 
“She has the signs, but I don't know if she has tested herself or not,” Haruka explained. Kanako digested that bit of information.
 
“You allowed them to go, even when you suspected that Tsuruko was pregnant?” said Kanako at last. “We need to intercept them,” said Kanako firmly, “because if whatever is happening in the ranks of the Aoyamas turns violent, Tsuruko will be under-strength.”
 
“Even under-strength, she and Mo-chan are of Yayoi's line, and that means that they - and not their extended family - hold the advantage,” Hina cut in firmly. “Does Motoko know that her sister is likely carrying Keitaro's child?” Hina asked Haruka, setting cups of tea in front of the two.
 
“I think Tsuruko would have told her,” Haruka considered the question. “But I can't say for sure,” she warned.
 
“Why do you ask that?” Kanako wondered.
 
“Because if you want to see the kind of swordsmanship and mastery of the Shinmei-ryu style that Yayoi had, you need look no further than Motoko if she is protecting something precious to her. Say, for example, her sister's unborn child?” hinted Hina.
 
“She's that good?” Haruka wondered. “Yeah, Tsuruko said that Motoko's abilities were greater than her own, but so far, Motoko hasn't been showing it,” pointed out the older Urashima heir.
 
“Hmm,” Hina hummed, sipping her tea. “The main issue with Motoko is that she has yet to be in a position where she is forced to use all her skill and power,” Hina lectured. “Much like you, Kanako, she has been able to get along with only using part of what she is capable of, and thus, her true ability remains unseen.”
 
“But if her own family threatens Tsuruko, she will go all out?” surmised Haruka. Hina shrugged.
 
“Something like that is possible, I suppose,” Hina shrugged.
 
“But against her own family? I wonder, could she do that?” countered Haruka.
 
“The `family',” Kanako's tone was cold, “that removed her name from their registry within hours of her wedding? Who barred her from her own dojo? Who tried to refuse her the right to practice the family style because she resorted their oh-so-precious honor by marrying Onii-chan? Yes, I think she would enjoy showing them what she can do,” summed up Kanako.
 
“She and Tsu-chan did take their katanas with them,” Hina observed before sipping her tea. Haruka's tea cup met the saucer with a distinct chink! sound. To both Hina and Kanako, that said very clearly that Haruka was growing irritated.
 
“Did you engineer this, Granny?” demanded Haruka.
 
“Engineer what, Haru-chan?” the old woman asked innocently. Haruka's tea cup shattered in her grip.
 
“Answer me, old woman,” growled Haruka. “If you set up this show-down, so help me, I will beat some common sense back into you!”
 
“Could be fun to see you try that, dear,” Hina grinned, unimpressed by Haruka's anger, “but to address your concern,” her tone turned serious, “there was no need to engineer anything. This was inevitable when the scroll surfaced and the Aoyama's realized that their secret was out. For too long, the actions of our ancestors have forced the Aoyama line into stagnation, and like stagnant water, their purpose and identity have become cloudy and poisonous.
 
“No,” Hina continued after a moment of silence, “this show-down has been breeding for a long time. Yayoi and discussed this more than a few times, and we had even discussed ways to force this confrontation decades ago. In that scenario, I would have been the triggering issue, and she would have stood where her granddaughters will now stand, but the results, I am sure, will be the same.” Hina smiled a sharp-toothed smile. “After all,” she almost purred, “those two have her blood in their veins.”
 
“You know,” Haruka drawled, “I am getting very curious about just what kind of relationship you and Yayoi Aoyama shared.”
 
Hina cackled. “That, little girl, is just none of your business,” she snickered.
 
“Tsuruko said you gave her your old wedding ring, right before Motoko and Keitaro were married,” Haruka said, getting herself another cup and some more tea. “And Motoko seems to have been given Yayoi's ring - by you.”
 
“You have some kind of point, Haru-chan?” was Hina's unimpressed reply.
 
“Do you have to meddle in everything, Granny?” Haruka demanded sourly.
 
“Well, now that you mention it, I just might,” Hina concluded. Haruka grimaced slightly.
 
“What is the purpose of this showdown you believe they are heading toward?” Kanako spoke up.
 
“The purpose, Kana,” Hina answered her, “is to prepare the Aoyama for the curse being broken.
 
“Prepare them? What do you mean?” asked an intrigued Haruka. Hina studied the two.
 
“For generations, the curse choked the lineage of the Aoyama. More than once, the bloodline hung by but one woman. Because of this, their power was diminished and their reach constricted. This is also what drove them to teach those of the Aoyama name by marriage or adoption more advanced abilities - such as happened with Dai-kun - but the highest abilities they kept for those of pure blood, because some part of them realized that outsiders didn't hold to their belief system. Now, the curse will vanish away, and they will be in a position to resume their status as one of the top families of the empire.
 
“However, they have the problem of less-principled family members seeking personal gain and standing in their ranks. While it is not a new or unique position for a family of their linage to be in, they are ill-practiced to handle that, given the effects of the curse. Also, they have the added problem of those in their ranks like Dai-kun who can't let go of the past. To prevent those whose ambitions eclipse their discipline, it will be necessary for the family to once more clean its own house,” finished Hina.
 
“And you propose to allow Tsuruko and Motoko to do this?” Kanako asked. Hina nodded.
 
“It is their right, duty and responsibility to do so,” said the woman firmly. “And that is what I wanted to talk to you two about,” she said, fixing them both with a level gaze. “When I hand over the reigns of this family to you two, you will have the same responsibilities and duties as your Aoyama sisters do. Maintaining our house and its order will fall to you, and you must be equal to the task.”