Love Hina

Disclaimer: This episode of Love Hina is of my own creation. I do not own any portion of Love Hina. 'Love Hina' and all related characters, names, etc. are ©1999-2004 Ken Akamatsu/Mixx Entertainment Inc. Love Hina is a trademark of TOKYOPOP®. All rights reserved.

Family Affairs
Prologue:
Love Lost...and Found

Haruka Urashima lounges back on her favorite chair, a cigarette hanging from her lips. A light sigh escapes her as she gazes out at the dark, silent town around her. Her view from the top of her Café Hina is actually a lot better than one would think, especially at night when it gets dark and the lights of all the stores and homes around the small building shine in all their brilliance. Despite the beautiful view and the calmness of the warm early fall night, Haruka feels unusually cold and empty, her mind wracked with fear and doubt. Though she is still very beautiful, owns and runs her own small business successfully and is only around 27, making her quite the eligible bachelorette, there has only been one man for her, one man who she has always loved with every fiber of her being, and therein lies the problem and the source of her inner turmoil.

The café owner was never much of a social person when she was a young girl and because of that and her stoic nature, she had very few friends while growing up. She was never bothered by this though for in her mind for as long as she could remember, she knew that one day, one magical day, something special will come her way, something that will change her life forever and make her into a better person because of it. For Haruka, that something special came to her in the most unexpected of places...or to be more precise, the most unexpected of people.

She was only 7 when she met him for the very first time, but when she first laid eyes on him, she knew everything would change. He was only a baby, no more than a few hours old, but something about him stirred something deep down inside of her, something she has never felt before. Her mother brought her in to see the baby and his proud parents at the hospital after she heard the good news. The young Haruka leaned over the bed and took her first look at the little baby boy, just as he opened his eyes. She gasped lightly at him, his small chocolate brown eyes already so soft and inviting, showing off a deep warmth and love that will only increase as he grows older. As the two gazed at each other, Haruka made a silent vow to herself to watch over the little boy and love him always.

As the years passed, her feelings for him began to grow, yet she was oblivious as to how much so. Even though they lived a good distance from each other, Haruka always kept in contact with him, calling to see how things were going with him or occasionally sending letters. It would always upset her when he would call her by a formality, and she would usually scold him for doing so and let him know that she wasn't that much older than him, so just calling her by her first name would suffice.

Haruka began to realize how deeply her feelings for him went when a young girl about his age began to innocently dote on him whenever she was around him. As she witnessed this occurrence, she became exceedingly jealous, shoving the girl aside and causing her to fall down and scrape her knee. Before anyone could say anything, Haruka ran away up to her room, horrified at what she just did. "Why...why did I just do that?" she muttered out loud. "When I saw her hugging and touching him...I got so angry...why?" She looked in the mirror, gazing at her reflection. I care more about him than I thought I did?" She shakes her head vigorously. "No...that...that couldn't be."

Even to herself, Haruka sounded unsure.

In the next few years, she came to realize that she had fallen in love with the young man, though she was far too afraid to admit her true feelings for him, residing to just watch by as he grew, interfering as much as she could when a young woman showed interest in him. It became increasingly difficult as she started high school and someone who was even closer than she was to him fell in love with him. Her jealousy grew to even greater heights, but she knew that nothing would really come because of the young girl's unfounded love. It could never be returned.

When Haruka was leaving her teens, the young man was entering his, as well as an important experience at that age, puberty. Unfortunately for the now adult Urashima, she spent her next few years overseas with a close friend, Jessica MacDougal, her young daughter Sarah and a somewhat romantic interest she had at the time, Seta Noriyasu. Being on this trip meaning she missed most of the years when the young man matured and slowly became the man he is today, something she still regrets to this day.

While overseas on the excavating journey, she began to become more interested in Seta, who reminded her a lot of her one and true love back in Japan, but alas, it was not meant to be. Seta had been interested in both Haruka and Jessica, but he could never truly decide which one he wanted to be with more. He made a promise to the two of them that by the time he reached 30, he would decide which one he wanted to marry, but then tragedy struck.

While digging up what appeared to be the possible ruins for an old turtle civilization, Jessica suddenly passed out, looking to be suffering from a case of heatstroke. While in the hospital, the doctors gave everyone terrible news. Jessica had somehow contracted a rare deadly virus that severely weakened her immune system...she didn't have long to live. Before she passed away, Seta swore to her that he'd watch over little Sarah and care for her as if she were his own child, as well as another promise, one that Seta didn't reveal to Haruka. This hurt the Urashima woman greatly since she felt like by not sharing something that must be very important, it most likely meant that they didn't trust her. Shortly after Jessica passed on and Seta adopted Sarah, both he and Haruka had a falling out of sorts, only more complicated than it had seemed. Since Jessica was now gone, Haruka, in a way, won over Seta's affections by default, the man now spending more time with her and bringing up the now dreaded 'm' word.

Not willing to submit to something she felt she didn't rightfully win, the Urashima left, taking the first flight back to Japan where she opened up a quaint little tea café, rarely seeing of the other man much anymore, and not really caring either.

Though she was saddened by her good friend's death and her falling out with Seta, Haruka was happy to be back in Japan, and closer to the man who had unknowingly captured her heart. She had been quite startled to see how the last couple of years had changed him, and she felt her love for him grow to even greater heights. He had just recently started his senior year in high school and was preparing to take some practice tests and preparatory tests for the college he wanted to go to. Haruka hoped that he would do well, though she feared him doing too well and getting into a very nice college overseas, meaning she'd barely ever get to see him again.

It was already tough enough that her business was starting to really prosper and her mother, who owned an old inn, which just recently was turned into an all-girl's dormitory, was talking about taking an around the world trip soon and leaving Haruka to tend for the old building and take over as house mother. This meant that she was quite busy and had very little time to herself...and even less time to spend around her beloved. Though she was terribly saddened by this on the inside, you could never tell on the outside, having her stoic poker face on at all the times, not daring to let anyone, well almost everyone, in to see her for who she really is.

Haruka lets out one last puff of smoke, putting her cigarette out on the roof. She stands up from her lawn chair and stretches her tired muscles, today having been a rigorous one in her café. With one last look at the city around her, she goes back downstairs and retires for the night.

Several hours later, the Urashima woman is sitting on a stool in her café reading the morning newspaper, the morning rush finally calming down so she has a little quiet time for a bit. Her eyes scan down the current page she is on, which has the daily horoscopes.

Gemini: The fates smile upon you today. A chance meeting will put things into perspective for you...if you act on them. Do not be afraid to let someone in, you will be eternally glad you did.

Haruka's eyebrow rises slightly after reading this, the cigarette in her mouth twitching ever so slightly. She shakes her head and tosses the newspaper onto an empty table. "I don't know why I keep on reading that crap," she mutters under her breath. "It never comes true." She pulls out a rag and turns around, beginning to rub one of the countertops, going about her daily work once more.

The front entrance suddenly opens as a young man enters, a barely contained smile on his face. Haruka would have though of the person walking in as another customer, had it not been for the scent to suddenly reach her nose. The woman's entire body freezes up in remembrance. 'It...it's him,' she thinks, her breathing becoming shallow, 'it's got to be. I know his scent.' Slowly, hesitantly, she turns back around, hoping that her rapidly beating heart can't be heard by anyone else. Her breath catches in her throat as she lays eyes on him, her beloved looking even more handsome than she remembered. "H-Hello," she stammers out.

The young man walks up to her, the smile now fully out. He readjusts his glasses a bit before responding, "Hi Aunt Haruka."

To be continued...

Author's notes: Well here is my newest Love Hina fic. Didn't expect that ending did you? Did you? Heh, well I know this chapter is short, but it's a prologue, usually they are a bit short. As usual, I've been busy, I'm surprised that I actually finished this chapter and the Ranma ½ one I posted a bit before this one. It's my first journey into that realm so please be kind!

Oh yeah, and please be kind for the pairing in this fic as well. I think I'm allergic to criticism...just like Negi, the main character in Ken Akamatsu's newest mange series Negima! Magister Negi Magi. It's pretty cool, I definitely recommend getting the first volume. - lighthawkdemon

Questions or comments? E-mail me at: lighthawkdemon at Y!