Love Hina the Masquerade

Enemies revealed

By Daimyo Shi

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina, no how much I would like to. Or what I give to trade place with Keitaro.

~~~~~~~~~~~ Change of location

[thoughts]

This story was inspired by John Talon's "Research For Fangs" The vampire Lore was taken from White Wolf's Vampire the Masquerade Storytelling game, hence the title. Further material Came from kindred of the East and Mage: the Ascension both by White Wolf.

In the trees, two red points of light shine in the darkness. They study the two girls and lone man. Then there is motion with no sound.

Motoko turned just in time to see the figure leaping out of the trees. It landed on the patio in between everyone.

"You must die Aoyama Motoko!" shouts Motoko's attacker.

In the light of the roof's lamp Motoko can not make out the form of her attacker. She is near naked with only a loincloth. Her body is covered with a series of twisting multi-coloured Dragon tattoos. Her finger nails were very long almost like claws. She lashes out at Motoko with inhuman speed. Motoko takes the hit since she wasn't prepared for the speed of the attack.

[Kuso, that hurts, She must be a Kuei-jin.] thinks Motoko.

Keitaro tries to hit the woman with his bokken but in his hurry he missed. Thus far Kanako had manage to stay out of the attack range of this new foe. She now moved in between her brother and the tattooed woman. Kanako watch carefully with her sword now drawn.

[Why could this vampire want to kill Motoko for?] thinks Kanako.

The tattooed woman lunges at Motoko with her sharp nails. Motoko is quick enough to dodge this attack but it cannot save her Gi from being shredded.

[Kuso! Why didn't I bring my Katana! Stupid Yang filled Kuei-jin won't be paralysed by a Bokken through the heart.] thinks Motoko with a look of distaste on her beautiful face. [Wait, Kanako's present!] Motoko dodges another attack and then dives for Kanako's present.

In an effort to distract the vampire form Motoko, Keitaro charges forward and wacks across the back with his bokken. The vampire responds with a back hand swing that knocks Keitaro back into the railing. He collapse to the ground.

"Hey you dishonourable disgrace. Come and fight me!" says Motoko Drawing the long sword from its scabbard. As it pulls from the scabbard Motoko can see that it is covered with a slight blue flame.

"How could you have a received a Dagon Bane Sword! Their creation is lost in mists of time!" hisses the tattooed woman.

"It matter not for it shall be your death! I shall send you back to Yomi!" yells Motoko as she slashes at her foe. The woman does an impossible black flip to spring out of the way of Motoko's sword. She grabs Motoko's dropped Bokken.

"You bitch you hurt my Onii-chan! DIE!" screams Kanako as she charges the tattooed woman. The woman ducks under Kanako's attack and then spins kicks her into the roof tiles beyond the rail. Kanako slumps on the roof.

"Hey I am you foe, not them, Bitch!" yells a very angry Motoko. "Aku Soku Zan!" Motoko slashes at the tattooed woman. Motoko manages a small wound across the tattooed woman's left shoulder. The Woman give a yelp at the pain caused by the wounds. The bokken in the Woman's hand becomes surround by flame. She trust it forward, Motoko tries a dodges it but is unable to get out of the way. She Screams in pain and the Bokken impales in her body. The bokken pulls free of the woman's hands. Motoko stumbles backward with pain etched on her face. She manages to Grab the bokken and pull it from her body. Motoko throws it into the trees beyond. Motoko readies to defend from the next attack. The Woman looks like she going to leap and then the tip of a long sword appear from inside her chest just left of centre. As the Tattooed woman slumps to the ground Kanako is revealed.

"Don't Ignore me bitch!" Snarls Kanako.

"Don't withdraw you sword Kanako-chan. It keeps her paralysed" says Motoko.

Motoko takes a swing with the Long Sword and behead the Tattooed woman. The body rots away quickly.

"What was that?" asks Keitaro after pulling himself from the ruins of the rail.

"A Kuei-jin, better known as a Gaki in here in Japan. True Gaki however are spirits, where Kuei-jin are vampire like beings returned from Yomi. The feed on peoples Chi, they get it from drinking blood." explains Motoko.

"Never mind that, what the Fuck are you?" shoats Kanako.

"I am . . ." starts Motoko.

"She is a vampire, as in the western myths, Kanako-chan. Further, she is still our friend and we have accepted her as is. I forbid you from taking action against her. If you are to live her Kanako-chan you will accept this." came Keitaro's stern reply.

"Why she is a undead beast that feed of the blood of the living." questions Kanako.

"Kanako-chan that is unfair. Motoko didn't choose to be like this it was forced upon her by another vampire, dead at Motoko's hands. She is a good vampire and has done much to prove her loyalty to all of us. I refuse to hear Ill about Motoko, Kanako-chan. Either accept Motoko-chan as is or leave. It is your choice." says Keitaro sternly.

"Onii-chan. . ." Stammers Kanako.

"Kanako, I know it is difficult to trust me. I understand your hate. I swear to you that I stand to defend this house from all enemies. I would have nothing without the aid of my friends and especially without your brother. He is a man of deep feelings and I am totally unworthy of his care or friendship." says a down cast Motoko.

Kanako looks at the pennant look on Motoko's face and then the determined look on Keitaro's face. "If it is your will Onii-chan." replies Kanako.

"Good Kanako-chan, now lets get inside and call Richard. Maybe he has some idea where that woman came from." says Keitaro.

"Well perhaps . . . Kanako, the world we now live in is more complicated. Richard is also a vampire but is our friend of sorts." says Motoko.

"I see . . ." says Kanako with a downcast look of her own.

To Be Continued

Japanese Terms

Nani: what

Daisho: term for a paired Katana and Wakazashi.

Wakazashi: A samurai's short Sword.

Katana: A samurai's long sword, often referred as his soul.

Obi: a belt to a Kimono

Akuma: demon

hakama: a pleated trouser like garment. Motoko's are red.

Senpai: Upper classman or senior

-chan, honorific means small or little often used between parents and children, sometime between friends can be use between lovers too.

-kun, Sort of a male version of Chan but more masculine often used between friends and older people to boys that they know. Kei-kun is a favourite of Mutsumi for Keitaro.

San is Mister or Miss, a polite way to address an inferior or an equal. Note that both this and sama are used with a family name which in Japan come first

Oban-san = Aunt

Onii-chan = older brother

Nee-chan = sister

Kenjutsu Japanese swordsmanship, literally sword technique hence why I use it the way I do.

Yomi = Hell