Okay, for those of you who have been asking, here it is :)
I'm sorry it's one month late :) hehehe, with the holidays coming up... who
knows I might just release Rend next month :)
As usual c&c would be most welcome.
iCe
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-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: Rend 9.txt
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Special thanks to:
JM Bickham
Byookie Desu
Here's the long list of places to get the fic:
Chapter 8:
http://24.163.53.26/cgi-bin/RetrieveStory.exe?StoryID=151889
Revised 3-6 this August:
If you want it in one big bulk P-7 Mr. Phillip has provided space at:
http://members.tripod.com/the_packrat/anime.html (THANKS)
If you want it by chapter it's archived at http://www.fanfiction.net
The formatting of 7 is already fixed at Mr. Phillip's page and at
fanfiction.net :)
Our motto here is reader satisfaction ;) (With a smile)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~||-----------^_^-----------||~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Creep home, and take your place there,
The spent and the maimed among;
God grant you find one face there
You loved when all was young.
~~ Charles Kingsley
Young and Old
~ Chapter 9 ~
_... Remember the start? I didn't do much of anything... by the end, I
was too deep in doing things I'm not even sure I *know* how to..._
||-----------^_^-----------||
After dismissing Hanae and Sei, Akane stalked off to take a bath.
Sending off Ifuku telling her that she did not need her help, Akane
fumed as she began to strip off her sweaty kimono and violently upended
a pail of water on top of her head. From experience, Akane wasn't a
sore loser, but she was a rather inexperienced one.
All throughout her high school years she had been second to none,
the unbeaten champion in competitions. If Akane Tendo fought, she won.
Akane Tendo *always* brought home the gold.
When Ryoga had wandered in to her life, she had never once been
beaten. Her husband had qualms about sparring with her but he was a
good teacher, a patient and lenient one at that.
In time she would have taken on the mantle of Anything Goes. She
shook her head as she scrubbed herself clean, she had not expected time
travel to be her downfall.
It didn't help the matters that someone had just beaten her. As she
played the fight out thoroughly in her mind's eye, she grimaced
repeatedly over Nabiki's criticism. It was her scathing words that had
proven to be her undoing rather than her precise blows.
'Is there anything worse than being given advice you haven't even
asked for?' Akane thought bitterly as she remembered the way Nabiki had
humiliated her in front of the children. Akane winced again, 'Yes,
being given advice by someone who's just beaten you.'
And Nabiki had beaten her. Badly. 'Damn.'
After rinsed herself of the soap she sighed, her anger washing away.
It had been mostly her fault in the first place. She had expected she
was still the best, she wasn't. Her father's words came back to her,
"Don't get too cocky, Akane. Remember that there's always someone out
there who's better than you are."
She just didn't expect to face that person so late in her life.
Akane sighed, after she made sure all the soap was washed away, she
sank into the hot furo. The warm water easing her muscles, already she
could feel her bruises forming from Nabiki's jabs. Kodachi was a person
who bruised far too easily for Akane's tastes.
Rubbing a sore spot in her side Akane looked up at the ceiling, "I
have serious training problems." She wondered how on earth she was
going to coerce -- err -- convince the people living with her to help
her.
Nabiki watched as Ranma initiated the next lesson he was going to
teach the children. The Raging Waters attack was one of the attacks of
the Anything Goes School that linked two people into a fight.
When they were younger, both Ranma and Nabiki had been trained to
fight independently and with each other, a unique training that Genma
had passed on to them. Usually twins were trained to depend on each
other to the point that when one was disabled, the other would be hard-
pressed to continue.
They had to admit that it was one of the things that was worth
thanking Genma for, their training. Nabiki watched the moves
critically, they were back to back and hands linked towards each other.
The last time the cousins had tried to do this, they hadn't even
managed to walk towards the entrance. The move depended on the ability
of the two to second-guess what they needed to do next, one misstep by
either can make them loose momentum and get hit.
As it was, Sei had taken on the mantle of leading. Hanae simply
followed. It wasn't a very successful habit. She wondered how they were
going to fare when they were placed on those isolated rocks in the
beach, with the waters pressing hard against them... and the
instructions for them not to get wet.
She could almost see Ranma's exasperation towards the two and she
smiled a bit. Ranma was an exceptional student, but he wasn't that
patient a teacher. Both of them weren't.
Nabiki mused that the reason for this was that they had learned so
quickly in such a small amount of time, that they became irritated at
anyone whose performance rated below than what they had done. That
encompassed every other person they met up with.
"Don't be too hard on them Ranma, few can learn it in two days."
Nabiki smirked at Ranma's imperceptible frown, they had learned it in
less, "Has your students told you anything about my fight with Kodachi
yesterday?"
Without taking his eyes off the children Ranma shrugged, "What else
is new? She shouts, you infuriate her, she gets her ribbon, you dodge
it all, she laughs that enraged laugh, you give her one of your smirks
and walk off."
"Everything about it was new." Nabiki quipped as she walked to stand
beside her brother, "She managed to challenge me."
"She does that every time."
"She used Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu." Nabiki smirked as she watched
Ranma's reaction to that piece of information, he did not expect that
one. "I can recognize our style anywhere."
For that brief moment Ranma took his eyes away from his students and
looked at Nabiki thoughtfully, then turned back to the children, "How
much does she know?"
"I'm not sure. I think the best way to find out is for a sparring
match, although I have a rough idea of her skill." Nabiki gazed at the
cousins who were starting to try to jump, after all the principle of
the attack was to evade all projectiles from a cyclic direction... just
as the flow of water. "I still think you shouldn't be lax on your hold
on Kodachi. She's watching right now."
He spared a glance outside and sighed, "I'll make her go away.
Please watch the children for a while." With that he disappeared
towards the entrance of the dojo.
The match between herself and Nabiki opened Akane's eyes a bit. She
may be a practitioner of the Anything Goes School, but Nabiki had
enough skill not only to beat her, but also play with her while doing
it.
Truthfully, she hadn't been keeping up on her training. She had been
a sensei, that much was true but her father had taken more of the
mantle of a teacher in the dojo than she did. And since her marriage to
Ryoga, her father had been left alone to manage the big house by
himself. She did travel everyday since her marriage from the apartment
to the Tendo Dojo, which was a few blocks away from their house, but
that had stopped as soon as she was informed she was having a baby.
Sure, she still dropped by the halls to see her father every other
day... but the training had not been as intense, just enough to
maintain the level she was at. The thrusting back into time complicated
her training a bit.
Still, her only work out involved a pack of bricks and a daily jog
and the basic drills and exercise, just enough to be a sensei but not
enough to improve. She wasn't as serious as Ryoga who went into
training trips. It seemed to her that even her former husband would be
no match for someone like Nabiki, especially if Hanae is accurate in
her description of how her sister-in-law handles a sword. Ranma, it
seemed was even better than Nabiki.
Strengthened by her resolve to learn more about the art her newly
acquired husband practices, she donned the kimono Ifuku offered to her
and left the bathing house.
Akane dismissed her maid, and she bowed to retreat to someplace.
Walking towards the dojo, Akane decided she should probably watch Ranma
train the children, it was early morning, and she found out that he
usually trained them before he left for whatever purposes for the day.
What she found in the dojo made her smile, Hanae and Sei were going
through in perfect unison the katas they have just been taught. She
found out that after half a year of not teaching, she truly missed the
job.
Something nagged her about the moves that the children were doing
and scrutinized them carefully. When she finally found out what it was
she gasped for it came from some of the more advanced katas of the
Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu.
The two pupils were initiating moves from the Duo Jet Ski Raging
Water Attack(85), although how they were going to achieve it without
things flying towards them and how they train for it without the
aforementioned jet ski, she didn't know.
Her watching the two stopped suddenly when her vision was impaired
by red. She looked at the shirt, then at the owner of it and sighed,
"Do you mind, Ranma? I was watching."
"You know the rules, Kodachi," Ranma said as he lead her away from
his students, "You don't watch my children train."
"Well, fine." Akane humphed, as she crossed her arms. Fact was, she
didn't know, but that information might have just aggravated the
situation. If her husband wasn't going to teach her, she'd be just as
stubborn about it as he was. "So would you mind explaining to me why
you're using Indiscriminate Grappling? I was told only one house
practiced it."
Akane noted that Ranma's temper seemed to go up a notch. What
worried Akane was that there wasn't anything physical that indicated
this shift, more of a feeling in her part. "I don't know how you
determined that from watching them practice only a few moves, much less
put a name on it but I don't think it's your business to know what I
teach my students."
"As the heir of the Tendo School of Martial Arts, I am *making* it
my business." Akane pointed out. His temper went up another notch
higher. She seemed to be saying all the wrong things.
From her fight with Nabiki she should have known better to start
shooting her mouth off. The wisest thing to do was shut up and find out
how all of them were connected. Whatever entity sent her back must have
had a deeper reason for making them all inter-connected.
But Akane wasn't at all a rational person when she was angry, and
her temper got the better of her that day, she hoped she could reign in
her temper now. Nabiki said that Ranma was better than she was, and
Akane had just received a beating from Nabiki, she didn't know if her
body could handle more from a better opponent.
Ranma was silent. She had startled him. Good. She wasn't angry, just
curious as how a Saotome could've gotten hold of such a specialized
form. Of course, now that the words were out of her mouth she regretted
it. She wasn't heir now. Just her luck if someone challenges her out of
the blue. At least she hadn't said Anything Goes, it would have brought
more trouble than it was worth.
"Her style is very... shall we say specialized?" Nabiki said as she
walked towards them in a slow deliberate manner. It seemed that she had
exited the dojo as soon as the move was finished, and since Akane
failed to spot her initially, she was taken by surprise when she
finally spoke. "Although how she managed to learn it is beyond my
comprehension."
"Who trained you?" Ranma demanded.
"My father." Akane answered a bit uneasily looking at Ranma then at
Nabiki, "What's wrong with that?"
"Your father." Ranma echoed as he turned to Nabiki, "My sister tells
me you want to train Hanae in martial arts?"
Akane's eyes lit up, she might finally get away with not teaching
Hanae swimming... "Yes."
"How much do you know?"
"Enough."
Ranma turned back to look at her weighing her down, "Enough? How are
those bruises of yours healing?"
"What?" Akane took a step back, her bruises were hidden, and Nabiki
couldn't have known she had them through her blows. She couldn't have
told Ranma anything about her physical state after the fight.
"Nabiki tends to hit pretty hard." He explained as if he was talking
to one of the children, "How are your bruises?"
'Nabiki tends to hit pretty hard. In the right places, and in more
ways than one... and they say Ranma's better?' Instinctively she rubbed
one behind her back. "They're... okay..."
"They'll heal completely within a week." Nabiki offered Ranma, she
shrugged, "It was a test of her defenses, I didn't have to go as hard
as Cologne or even pops did." Akane winced, what would have an all-out
fight brought? And she had been giving her all.
"I'll give you two weeks. One week to heal, one week to train. If
you can beat me in a fight, I'll let you handle Hanae's training."
Akane didn't know if she should be happy at the prospect or completely
give up.
"What do you get if you win?" Akane asked tentatively.
"I don't want anything from you." Ranma turned to go.
"That doesn't sound right, you're giving me something but you won't
get any." Akane wondered why she was doing it, the odds of her winning
against Ranma was not enough for what she was about to do. She had
nothing to offer him.
"My, how noble," Nabiki answered in the most pleasant voice Akane
has ever heard her use. Although it matched something of a friendly
note, Akane couldn't deny that there was a sadistic intent behind those
pleasant tones. "If you don't give one brother, I'll be happy to think
up of your reward."
"If it's okay with Kodachi?" He expected her to protest, but she
conceded quietly. Akane almost gulped at that. It was blatantly obvious
that her sister-in-law did not like her. Akane's claim of being heir
might be something that will manage to get her thrown out. It worried
her.
"I'll think of something up, Kodachi." Nabiki smiled pleasantly,
bowed her head and walked with Ranma towards the waiting children.
As she watched the twins retreat she looked around for support and
only found one of the stone lanterns, she leaned against it and sighed
as she replayed the confrontation in her head. 'Oh boy, what have I
gotten myself into now?'
~~~
Normally, Nabiki just stayed behind while the company went to the
border and she watched things at home. Today, she had decided to
finally check out the discrepancies at the border. It was doing more
harm than good and she was worried for the meeting.
She glanced side-ways at Ranma, he had a frown plastered across his
face and was determined to get to the border and finish with it.
'First things, first.' Nabiki didn't know if it was Ranma's temper
or the hot day, but it seemed like the walk was taking longer than
expected. Even at the break-neck pace that they had set, it seemed they
were spending more hours than usual.
It would do well if she would lighten up his 'wife-induced' mood,
before they dealt with whatever attacks were happening at Hase. His
mind was troubled, and troubles cannot bother someone who's going into
battle, 'Well, there's no other time better now to bring this up,'
Nabiki stopped at one of the trees, her hand holding against its trunk.
Noticing her stop, Ranma turned to look at her a few trees ahead.
"What's wrong, Nabiki?" He asked, jumping towards her.
Nabiki smiled as she sat down at the branch she was standing on and
looked up to his looming form, "Come on, let's talk a bit before the
samurai catch up with us." Their usual escort was lagging; they hadn't
quite taken to the trees as the twins had.
He gave her a puzzled look, but he didn't question her intent and
sat complacently at a branch opposite hers. The branch swayed lightly
but held him, "I have a feeling this is about this morning." He smiled
ruefully waiting for her questions.
"Why didn't you think up your prize? You could've had anything."
Nabiki looked at him, Kodachi would never contest the prize he would
say and he could easily beat her. She didn't need to ask the question,
she knew the answer, she just wanted to hear it from him, "You know you
could've."
He looked away, "It didn't feel right."
Nabiki stared at her brother, after more than twenty years with him,
it still surprised her that he tended to act like that. In between all
the screw ups Genma managed to teach them, Ranma's honor is one of the
real gems. It wasn't a startling revelation, she had known all along...
but she only just now realized why he treated wife so kindly.
She finally realized what it was all about. It had struck her as
strange that he would not pick out something he would clearly have at
the end. He didn't want anything from Kodachi, not because she was
Kodachi, but because he knew he could beat her. It was an arrogant
thing to do, but it had always been Ranma's way. She should have known.
Nabiki frowned, her brother's sense of honor, although touching was
irritating at times like this. It was the honorable way but sometimes
she wished he'd just break that to show up someone like Kodachi, "You
know, I never could understand why you'd do such a pig-headed thing.
It's an advantage."
"You can take whatever she gives if you want." The finality of the
way he said it stated clearly there was no room for discussion. He
would never take what he felt was wrongfully given.
'Well that throws anything material out the window,' Nabiki thought
as her mental list got shorter, Ranma would never even consider taking
it. Thinking she won't get any more from the discussion she changed the
subject, "Are you still worried about her claim on being an heir?"
"I'm more worried about the fact that she doesn't think before she
enters a fight." He stopped to think for a moment then looked at her,
"Yes, she said she was heiress of something... what was it? Tano,
Tenda..."
"Tendo... the Tendo school of Martial Arts." It sounded familiar to
Nabiki. She didn't know where she heard the name, but it was something
she'd encountered before. Looking it up was a wise move, "I'll put our
people on it."
"You sure the house would be okay with only Kodachi there to
manage?" Nabiki didn't know if he was worried for the house or for
Kodachi, "I've never left her alone without you to supervise."
The crackle in the bushes got Nabiki on her feet, she turned to look
down, "It looks like the samurai have finally caught up with us." She
brushed her black pants but before she jumped towards the next tree she
gave her brother a knowing smile, "Don't worry about Kodachi. I left
her with some things to do. I never actually *believed* she'd fall for
Martial Arts of Wife in Good Graces."
~~~
Akane brushed her sunny yellow kimono that complimented her mood
that day as she tipped her bonnet up into the sky and smiled, then
picked up another flower in her path and placed it in her already
accumulating pile. It promised to be a very sunny day.
"Lady 'dachi, what are we doing picking a lot of flowers?" Hanae
asked taking a few of the flowers she fancied as she passed by them and
added them to Akane's basket.
"It's Akane." Akane reminded Hanae wrinkling her nose with distaste
as she remembered the *exact* words Nabiki had used to describe her
cooking abilities. She promptly dropped another flower into her half
filled basket. "Oh, well, Nabiki suggested that I try some ikebana
arrangements since I can't cook."
"Uh... dontcha think that's too much?" Hanae asked eyeing the basket
carefully. There was only one takonama that needed an ikebana
arrangement, and that was the one at the dojo... and it didn't need
much of the flowers Kodachi was picking.
"Don't worry about it, Hanae." In the past few weeks, Akane had
grown to like the girl. The girl obviously wasn't her daughter, and
maybe Ranma had cheated her, but she was all too nice for her to stay
*too* mad at something that was her parent's faults.
To Akane's way of thinking, who the girl was born to wasn't Hanae's
fault. Rather, the disregard the parents had towards their... uh...
relationships. She still didn't know what to teach her though, and as a
foster mother she was obliged to teach *some*thing. And she simply had
nothing at hand to teach.
"Uh... what does Sei's foster mother teach him?" Akane asked as they
continued the walk, it was a pleasant day, and it seemed both Ranma and
Nabiki had some *more* business to attend to at the border. She was
happy at that, at least she didn't need to explain *why* she had just
claimed *his* title. 'At least I won't be fighting him... not yet
anyway'
"How not to listen when you're not spoken to," Hanae answered
jumping along to a tree branch, Akane frowned, it was much too high to
suit her liking, yet Hanae seemed to like the place far too much. "Um,
Confucius's _Four Book of Morals_, _Book of Great Lineage_, _Ancestries
to the Mikado_, _Three Character Book Morals_, gener'lly books like
that. But 'Nty 'kyo already taught those things to me.(86) Oh and how
to read and write, but I know that too."
"How many years older are you than Sei anyway?"
"About a year." Hanae smiled promptly then shrugged, "But he's a
better learner than I am, I don't need to learn much 'cuz I'm a girl.
I'm just suppose to get an omiai."
"And this is okay with you?" Akane asked disgusted. Medieval Japan.
Figures.
"Well, I already know more than most girls." Hanae answered as she
smiled, plucking some leaves of the tree then letting it fall gently to
the ground "What I *really* want is the train under the Amazons. Just
like 'Nty Nabiki and daddy."
"Amazons?" Akane asked incredulously, the child had to have a wild
imagination, weren't the amazons some remote tribe in Greece? Wasn't
that mythological? "I thought Ranma and his sister trained in China."
"Hmm... well, yah, under 'der Ko'lon and some 'peror." Hanae
answered proudly, although Akane certainly didn't understand the words.
Hanae scanned the trees in front of her and smiled as she called to her
foster mother, "Hey 'da -- 'kane-san, I'll race you to the water!"
Akane sighed, as she followed in pursuit. For a girl, Hanae could
easily outrun her, and she was more than ten years her junior. She was
actually very happy she had been keeping fit for the past few months.
She frowned at the sight of the water, not wanting the implications
it brought, and gulping down the impending doom that loomed over
Hanae's want for the water. She ran towards the girl wishing Hanae
could find some other person to ask to learn to swim.
Out of her kimono, Hanae took out a well-hidden cat and set it free.
She smiled at Akane as she patted the small creature, and waved it
goodbye.
"You like cats?" Akane asked as she watched the girl look out
longingly at the feline creature, who was scampering away at the
moment.
"Hmm... oh yes. From what daddy tells me, 'Nty Shampoo makes the
cutest cat you've ever seen." Hanae answered impishly gazing out into
the horizon, "She has purple fur like 'Nty Shampoo's lav'nder locks and
has these sort of bells in her hair. Daddy tells me lotsa stories..."
Akane took that Hanae's Aunt Shampoo was a doll maker or something
and left it at that. She nodded as she looked at the wistful girl,
"Don't you want to keep that cat?"
Hanae whirled around suddenly, but shook her head solemnly, "Daddy
and Aunt Nabiki have this aversion towards the cat-like species. It
leans t'wards the safer side for us not to keep the little darlings."
"Oh?" Curiously the girl didn't mention Ranko who seemed deathly
afraid of them, surely neither would punish the children for bringing a
cat home just because they hated the things. She dismissed the thoughts
because Hanae had managed to persuade her to finally teach her how to
swim.
Akane shook her head as Hanae walked beside her towards the beach,
she wondered exactly how Hanae had cajoled her to teach her the
rudiments of swimming, when she *can't* for the life of her move an
inch in water.
~~~
Ukyo's aunt, just as her father, was in the okonomiyaki business.
Just as her grandfather, and great-grandfather before them. It was what
the Kuonji line excelled in, and it is what the Kuonji line was known
for.
Another thing they were known for was the unique style of martial
arts they possessed. She had heard that her forefathers -- or rather,
the women -- had created the style because of the need to defend
themselves and they could not rely on the brute strength the men had
and they sorely lacked.
Of course... since only men could sell food, Kuonji women were
forced to use other methods. Pretending to be men for one, at least the
Saotomes just cast a blind eye to this. This was what Kuonji Ukyo was
thinking while she was cleaning the small white plates the last
customer her aunt had served used.
Ranma and Nabiki Saotome had thought she was a boy the moment they
stole that okonomiyaki from her grill (87) all those years ago. It had
been a wonder that Genma Saotome had thought to offer to her father the
proposal for her hand, and her father -- because Kuonji women were hard
to marry off -- had agreed.
It had been a foolish thought -- no -- a *stupid* thought to think
that any samurai would consider her to be wifely material. But Genma
Saotome had thought her to be fit... along with the hundreds of men and
women he stringed along for his two wards.
Ranma Saotome had been a fairytale. He had been the prince that her
father talked about in his stories in the deep of the night when she
was about to sleep. And just like those fairytales... he was an
illusion she could never hope to have.
'I don't love Ranma, damn it.' Ukyo thought scrubbing the plate with
a vengeance, not really for want to clean the already immaculate plate,
but to relieve her of the stress that had settled on her shoulders.
'If you don't love him... then why do you pine for him?' Ukyo looked
up at the clear sky trying to stop what she knew would be tears. With a
battle against her heart... she was sure she was going to fail. And she
was going to fail miserably.
Any further brooding from her was interrupted by her aunt's call
from the counter, "Ukyo, dear, come here please."
Thankful for the interruption of her thoughts, Ukyo wiped her hands
on the cloth beside the tub of water she was using. She took a deep
breath to try to calm herself, determined not to let her aunt see her
distress.
She ducked under the small curtain that separated the back of the
restaurant from the small garden outside of it and smiled for the
benefit of her aunt. It was an ordinary business day... and a pointedly
dull one at that.
Days like this, Hanae walked up the grill and asked Ukyo to teach
her how to make okonomiyaki... and they'd laugh over the distorted food
she managed to whip up... She hadn't quite realized how much Hanae had
added into her life until she was gone. 'Get a grip, girl,' Ukyo
scolded herself pulling her bangs out of her eyes and to her ears, 'You
make your own decisions, Hanae was one of them.'
And yet she missed the time she spent with the girl. Hanae had the
most energetic attitude that was entirely too infectious for her own
good. She always made a slow day worth something. Hanae had taught her
things in life that made every day bearable. Ukyo's days seemed to be a
lot bleaker without the carefree laughter she brought and the beaming
smile she carried wherever she went.
In the past few days that she had managed to distance herself from
Hanae, she wondered why she hadn't stopped being her foster mother
before. The kami knew she could have done so a long time ago. But she
didn't.
Hanae was a headstrong character and self-reliant. She could take
care of herself pretty well, she was a fast learner, maybe not as fast
as everyone hoped Ranma's daughter would turn out, but quicker than
most. The truth was, it was more of Ukyo needing Hanae than the other
way around.
Ranma wasn't the type of person to force a friend to do something
she didn't want. Ranma had the resources and enough vassals to find
another foster mother for the child. In all truths, there was nothing
forcing her to stay. Nothing but her own heart.
"Yes, Aunt Kashiko(88)?" To everyone other than family, it was queer
to address such a masculine looking person as an aunt. If anyone
wondered where Ukyo had learned how to disguise her femininity during
her younger years, they had but to look at Kashiko to understand. "Is
there something you wanted?"
"Oh, Ukyo dear," The woman smiled pleasantly as she handed her a
parchment. After Ukyo scanned it, she took it as an invitation of sorts
and a tall order, "I know you've always wanted to try and cook for a
clan meeting."
Ukyo looked at the parchment, uncomprehending, it looked like some
old samurai wanted her aunt to cook for some sort of a party in the
Yuigahama area. She wondered what clan meetings had to do with the
invitation she held. "It seems like a good job order, Aunt Kashiko...
do you want me to help out?"
"Oh, no Ukyo-chan, I don't want you to do anything of the sort," The
old woman said, flipping an okonomiyaki at just the right time, she
turned to smile towards Ukyo again. "I want you to go there and do it
for me."
Kashiko was a woman in her mid-fifties, and a Kuonji 'till the end.
Just as most Kuonji women -- she had never married and had remained in
the Sagami since god knows when. She was still strong and worked
diligently; it was uncharacteristic of her to pass down work of this
magnitude. Her skills have not waned over the years and she was just as
good now as she was ten years ago... maybe even better.
Ukyo frowned, the job order was a good one, and her aunt could still
whip up for a gathering. It was hard to hold money, and samurai paid
well for their services. At least their wives did. "If you wish so,
Aunt Kashiko."
Kashiko was the closest person Ukyo could call as mother since her
own had passed away when she was a child, and her concern towards her
niece spurted up in all occasions, "You still don't understand me do
you, child?"
Ukyo nodded her head in agreement, folding the order into her obi.
Obeying her aunt's wishes, to get to Yuigahama on time she would have
to leave soon. Maybe punctuality wasn't a prize treasured by samurai,
but she abided by its rules. "No, Aunt Kashiko, I don't understand."
The old lady smiled as she placed the fresh okonomiyaki off the
grill, she was far slower than when she was young, but her age had not
affected the quality of her food. "My dear Ukyo, the Yuigahama event is
one that *only* the most elite of the Clan are invited along(89)." She
gazed into her eyes meaningfully, then repeated the last part of her
sentence to stress her point, "Only the most elite."
Ukyo nodded, trying to pass a semblance of understanding while
trying to plan what she would do. She would need to go to her aunt's
shanty then backtrack to Yuigahama. Something was vaguely familiar
about that setting that seemed to nag at her but dismissed the thought
as trivial.
Her aunt, satisfied at her nod, dismissed her with a wave of her
hand to prepare. She backed out of the room gracefully as her aunt
turned to the newly cooked okonomiyaki.
Kashiko sighed as she looked at it. She had wished to give it to her
niece since she seemed too dejected, but had completely forgotten.
She turned to one of her help, gave it to her, and told her to catch
Ukyo. Looking at the grill with a determined set of eyes, she started
to make another batch of the okonomiyaki batter.
She had noticed Ukyo's dreary mood since her arrival at her
restaurant, and it was certainly a mood that Kashiko had never
associated with the girl. It was as if life was robbed out of her the
way she was constantly on the verge of tears and in a perpetual state
of anxiety.
Something was troubling the girl, and Kashiko had solved it the only
way she could. Give her something else to work on. The events the
Saotomes held at Yuigahama will keep the child from her dreary
thoughts.
Sometimes the samurai graced them with a fight or two. A spar or
two. Not those duels fought to the death, but rather the test of skill.
It would serve as a wonderful night for Ukyo.
There are things that the Saotome Clan has managed to hide from most
of the other clans, and one of it was their fighting style. Another was
the Jusenkyo curse, although she had yet to see what this curse
*really* does.
She was one of the more trusted vassals, which is one of the reasons
she had been the one set to cook. As she had said, it was a meeting
held in the strictest secrecy. But then... she wasn't young forever.
And Ukyo could be trusted. Besides, the girl was far too desolate to
sit and watch an old woman do her chores. She needed young boys to play
with.
Yuigahama would be the best medication she could give her niece, she
just knew it.
~~~
The moment Nabiki arrived on the small camp the samurai were holding
at the border, the scent of blood overwhelmed her. It was as if she was
twelve again leading that stupid little troop just to prove that she
was worthy of being samurai to the Saotome clan.
One of the samurai came forward and bowed, "Lady Nabiki, Lord Ranma
--" whatever he was going to say was cut short by the shout of one of
the samurai. Nabiki and Ranma's head shot up in perfect unison.
"They're here." Ranma muttered as he held his katana while he took
to the trees. Nabiki shook her head as she followed, her brother still
went head on to a fray.
Still -- aerial combat was the specialty of the Saotome school of
martial arts. If their opponents took to the trees, Ranma'd get them
all. When he killed the first man, Nabiki landed on the ground, "Come
out, come out, dear boys... time to play."
She closed her eyes, blocking whatever noise Ranma made throughout
his fight, she was out today and she might as well have some fun, her
sword was out the moment a branch snapped towards her.
Instinctively she raised her sword to block, and opened her eyes to
one ninja, "Well, dear, I never expected you to actually play..." She
smiled as both of them jumped away from each other.
And Nabiki remembered why she hated dealing with ninja. They were so
hard to fluster, they didn't even react. Her sword was sheathed again
as she dodged the small throwing knifes, one cut her cheek, the other
cut her hair. She was thankful it didn't cut the dragon whisker.
She thumbed the small cut in her cheek and frowned, maybe she
shouldn't have worn her white shirt today. "I'd hand it to you if that
was poisoned." Nabiki said sarcastically.
Before she could draw her sword again, Ranma landed beside her, and
his opponent hit the ground with a sickening thud, Nabiki winced as it
broke the ninja's neck and elbow, "Now *that* has *got* to hurt."
She turned towards her enemy again and almost cursed when she
couldn't find him, "Damn, I hadn't even landed a blow yet, Ranma."
"Save your energy, they'll attack again." Ranma answered then gave
her a flask of water he had carried for good measure, then he jumped up
towards the trees to see if he can spot the enemy. "Change." Nabiki
almost forgot, she should have changed before she left, if those ninja
ever let it slip she was out of Nerima, Happosai was going to giver her
hell.
Nabiki cut the white bonds in her breasts swiftly, just as the
change completed, she sighed as she shrugged on her shirt. A second
longer and she would have had trouble with the restrictive bind.
Walking back out of the trees that had shielded her, she turned towards
Ranma.
Due to the apparent likeness to Ranma the curse gave Nabiki, she
had mainly used his name, just as Ranma used the name Ranko to hide
his girl-form from everybody else. When they appeared together,
however...
"Shizukama(90), did you see something?" Ranma called on top of one
tall trees. He had not sheathed his sword yet.
"No." Nabiki-kun answered curtly as he offered the silk he brought
along to Ranma, so that he could wipe his blood soaked sword. "Even in
the trees, I could not see where they disappeared to. It was far too
fast for me to trace. And I had to change."
Jumping down from the trees to get the proffered cloth, Ranma didn't
respond as he cleaned the red liquid out of his katana, in deep
contemplation of the events. Nabiki-kun knew he wouldn't be able to see
where these ninja retreated to, but he had to try at the very least. As
he had foreseen, he had not even spotted them.
The situation was starting to look bad, each attack was closer to
Rose Brier, closer to Nerima. If they managed to reach that part of the
border, they *would* be able to reach Nerima. Possibly the Tokai.
What was frustrating was that the ninja were attacking at their
weakest points. This shouldn't even happen in the first place. Samurai
have been places strategically some meters apart starting from the
beach near Rose Brier towards the road to Zushi, and the roads to
Enoshima up to the point where the Edo met with the Sagami. Samurai
have also been placed on each city in the border. Hase has been
attacked and the temples Gokurakuji and Anryuuji as well. It clearly
signified that they could at least break though the border guards.
The deep flaw of this plan was that it worked when you were battling
straightforward samurai warriors, but simply didn't work with ninja.
Ninja who took to the dark and could slip past the keenest of eyes. The
only reason the ninja have not achieved whatever they wish to achieve
is that Saotomes aren't your ordinary samurai and that Nabiki and Ranma
have been working to keep the ninja off their backs.
In all aspects, they should've beaten this ninja months ago, but no
matter how they revised and re-revised their plans, they always seem to
anticipate their moves. Nabiki had started to suspect a leak inside,
but she couldn't point her finger on anyone.
The problem was, they didn't know what the ninja were after. They
attacked just enough to hold them back, and disappeared just as
quickly. They didn't even finish their fights and never returned for
their dead. They appeared, tired everyone out and disappeared. They
could see no motive.
Ranma and Nabiki walked back to camp just as the leader of the
particular troop entered.
"Return to your posts." He ordered as he too wiped his sword.
Nabiki-kun looked at Hiroshi, he was one of their farther cousins. Not
direct blood, so he hadn't been trained in the art, but was a semi-
competent leader and could be trusted with his life.
"I think I should start sleeping in the border, Shizukama." Ranma
frowned thoughtfully at his sword, then re-sheathed it carefully.
Nabiki-kun recalled it had taken him a lot of time to actually remember
to call him that when he was cursed. Now it came almost naturally.
"We're loosing too many samurai. I can't afford anything closer to
Yuigihama. Old man Happosai's not going to like it if this attacks
costs him *that* gathering."
Nabiki-kun frowned, it wasn't possible, Ranma was needed in Rose
Brier as well, as it is, it was their *weakest* spot. It was attackable
from both Zushi *and* Enoden. The rest of the Sagami might be safe, but
Rose Brier was still on the border. He said so.
"I know, but this is crazy!" Ranma said looking around him, "<I
*should* be in Hase, in case of a second attack. I may be a daimyo,
Nabiki, but I'm just a vassal of the old lech. I *should* be in the
front of the lines.>"
"<Then let me stay here.>" Nabiki-kun answered, he had thought about
this a lot and it would be a good solution for both his worries and his
brother's.
"<No. Much as that would be a good solution as my presence, you know
I can't run the house. You're the only one who can. There's no way you
can leave for that long a period without the house going to shambles.>"
Ranma answered frustrated, but then gave him a small teasing smile,
"<Besides what am I supposed to do, sit there and tolerate Kodachi
while you have fun?>"
"<Okay... how about a compromise?>" Nabiki-kun drawled, light smile
playing on his face. When Ranma didn't answer his smile grew wider,
"<Okay... here's what we do...>"
~~~
Kodachi Saotome steeled herself for the convulsion that came as her
muscles regenerated itself. She wished she could retch out the muddy
taste in her mouth, but the worms that came out extremely sickened her.
She watched in fascination as muscle clung to the bone and settled.
In a few minutes, the second layer would cling out. She had worried
about her hair not growing, but it seemed to regenerate as well.
She had consoled herself with the fact that her face had not yet
decomposed. When she had accepted the offer, she had expected a full-
functioning body... not a half body of months-dead woman. At least
Gosunkugi hadn't made a fuss about her first appearance. He just
fainted. If he had screamed she would have been forced to knock him
out, and she barely had muscles back then.
She needed to recover fully, but their hideout completely disgusted
her. If she didn't need Gosunkugi, she would have scrapped the entire
idea of putting up with the place altogether, but she needed to heal
and the eta village was the place to do so. Hardly anyone steps foot in
the eta village, no one would try to seek her out there. It was foul
grounds, and whatever happens that may seem queer will be left alone.
'I swear if I get a single louse on my kimono I'm going to burn this
damn house.' She stopped as another convulsion passed and inspected her
right hand.
The regeneration was taking longer than she had expected, but at
least she was regenerating, in a week she could get out and meet with
people. When she had first opened her eyes, she thought she'd had gone
to hell. It had taken her a complete day to break out of the coffin.
Of course it would help if the person who's body she's currently
invading is actually a samurai, but the girl who sent her down wouldn't
even give her that. She had to settle for a degenerate peasant.
'I've lost time already.' Kodachi thought as she wrapped her hand
with a white cloth she had managed to acquire in the village. She hoped
Gosunkugi could get all those mercenaries ready, because the Yuigahama
meeting only happens once a year. The ninja attacking the border
wouldn't last long without the leaks she was handing to them, and they
were so close to the meeting.
'Let Nabiki think what she wants from those attacks, I don't care.'
The only purpose she had continually sent them the attacks was to
startle them, make them unstable... and to keep all their resources at
the borders, the cities would be virtually defenseless with all the
samurai there, and she would be able to make her move. 'After all...
nobody knows their enemy is *inside* their cities themselves, do they?'
First she needed to take out the Akane girl, and that wasn't going
to be easy. Bringing out the special quill for the pigeons she started
to write to her brother. 'I wonder if brother still searches for that
girl he has devoted his soul to?'
Maybe her brother has heard of her supposed amnesia, but she was
smart enough to use the exact codes their father had entrusted to them
when they were children. Tatewaki would recognize it was from a trusted
Kuno source
Then again, Tatewaki was a maniac and would go wherever his love
was, regardless of who sent it. He was still dumb enough to search for
that woman blindly. Even in Saotome territory.
Her brother can bungle up this one all he likes. He's made her life
a living hell, let's see if he can do so now, with her in someone
else's body. Finishing the small note she brought the pigeon closer to
her, and inserted the small note to the cylinder in her leg.
"Now let's see if my brother can still use all his resources when
he's trying to get something he wants." She smiled as the bird flew
away, "Go my pretty, find my brother for me."
Kodachi watched as the bird flew and she laughed. Back in Nerima
Akane shivered as she turned to look at the sky.
~~~
Akane leaned against the bark of the tree as Ifuku handed her a soft
towel for her perspiration. Akane gave the woman a weak smile as she
slumped down, she had run her farthest and fastest today, and Ifuku
seemed to be less ruffled than she was.
If Nabiki or Ranma found out about it, she'd die of humiliation.
Being outmaneuvered by her own maid was not a comforting thought. "Do
all the servants run as fast as you do, Ifuku-san?"
"No, Lady Akane," Ifuku answered taking back the cloth and giving
her a comforting smile. Akane suspected Ifuku was just trying to make
her feel better. "When I was young, I wanted to be samurai so much, I
tried to train as they did."
"They grant samurai status?" Akane whispered as she sat down on the
soft ground for a rest. From all the history books, she knew it was a
handed down title.
Ifuku smiled wistfully, she had not worn the kimono for the run and
had dressed up in one of Akane's... creations, "I was a child. Children
tend to dream." Akane wondered how Ifuku got over that particular wish.
"It's nice of you to offer to run with me, Ifuku, but it wasn't all
that necessary." Akane said kindly as she took out a small fan, "I dug
myself into this trouble, and I have to get myself out."
"Won't you consider giving up Lord Ranma's challenge? He is very
skilled." There was concern in Ifuku's eyes and she wondered what were
the odds of winning against her husband, "Lord Ranma is trained to
kill. You have not picked up a ribbon in five years, and you've had
amnesia. You must reconsider."
"Wait a minute! You think he has *won* already with the way you're
speaking. Well I'll show Mister High and Mighty Ranma Saotome. We'll
see who wins in two weeks." Akane shook her head, it was a matter of
pride. She didn't want to back down now. Her husband would think she
was a coward, and Akane was not a coward.
Ifuku got up from the ground and offered her hand. "Then you must
drive yourself to the limits, Lady Akane. Lord Ranma is honorable, and
he will not take unnecessary shots at your body, but he is stronger and
faster than Lady Nabiki. He has not fought you in a sparring match for
seven years, he will not know how to pull his punches."
"I don't want him to pull his punches!"
Ifuku bowed, she had angered Akane, "I'm sorry, my lady. But if you
don't want Lord Ranma to pull his punches, then I don't think I can
help you. Lord Ranma's skill can match against any Saotome trained
samurai and he wins. He always does. I don't think you can *survive* if
he turns all out, and I'm sure you've never seen a chi blast."
"What?"
"Lady Akane, Lord Ranma surpasses every trained *Saotome* samurai in
speed and agility which makes up for his strength. He's not that
strong, but he's stronger than most. In one punch he can break your
bones, I'm not joking. Saotome samurai use the sword to kill not
because they need it, but because they want to underplay their
abilities. In all truth, the clan detests the use of any kind of
weapon. All they need are their hands."
"How... how do you know all of this?"
"I'm a loyal servant of the household, I have served the Saotome
house for years. One of the reasons I guard you is because I am
trusted." Ifuku paused, she was telling the truth, but telling the
naked truth to Kodachi Kuno tended to get you killed. Still... she
seemed to have revamped her personality... "I am here because I can
protect myself if necessary."
"Where do your loyalties lie Ifuku?"
"There can be no question towards my loyalties." Ifuku bowed her
head even lower than Akane could have thought possible, "I am loyal to
the Saotome clan, and I am loyal to you."
"It's a direct clash, your loyalties."
"No, Lady Akane, because I was never loyal to Lady Kodachi." Akane
was surprised to hear that, "I can't promise your victory, Lady Akane,
but I can train you to survive. If I learned anything when I was
young... I will teach you how to survive."
Akane placed her hand on Ifuku's shoulder, "Get up, Ifuku-san. You
don't need to apologize. My temper got away with me. I'm sure you can
help me."
Then adopting the bow Ifuku had used towards her, Akane said
reverently, "Ifuku-san, please train me."
In the trees, Hanae watched silently. Ifuku would keep Kodachi from
being killed in a fight against her father, although she was sure her
father would never try to hit a girl... he had since revised his
philosophy regarding Kodachi. She didn't know whether that was bad or
good news. She stroked the cat she held silently. It looks like she
might not learn swimming or gymnastics from Kodachi at all.
She set the cat down silently, another one cast away from Rose
Brier. She wondered how long it was before an accident happened with
the sudden population of the little critters.
As it scampered away, Hanae turned to go towards the house when Sei
appeared and dropped another kitten at her side. "You know..."
He fell silent as he watched Ifuku and Akane run, then turned to
talk to his cousin, "I didn't know Ifuku-san could run as fast as she
did."
"I didn't know she could run at all." Hanae answered as she turned
towards the house, she paused for a minute, wondering, "Should we tell
what we saw?"
"Kodachi learning to fight from Ifuku?" Sei thought about it for a
moment then looked at Hanae inquiringly, "Does Ifuku-san know anything
at all?"
"Apparently she has a great deal more endurance than Akane, and
judging from the way she runs, a great deal faster too." It was the
only assessment she could give, other than that, Ifuku's skill was a
mystery.
Peasants did not train in martial arts, what they know was just
enough to keep them safe from robbers. If they were attacked by even
low-class samurai, Hanae was sure that samurai would win. Of course...
there were exceptions to the rule.
"Would Ifuku-san training Kodachi help in any way?" Sei asked, he
was like his mother in that. He asked questions, and rarely gave
answers.
"Probably not. Ifuku-san doesn't know the style... and daddy is very
skillful." There was worry in her voice, although Sei was sure it
wasn't for their father.
"Father will beat Kodachi regardless of training Ifuku-san gives.
Will warning father accomplish anything but betraying the trust Kodachi
has given to you?" Kodachi would never know who would have said it, and
Ranma would never have told her, but it was all the same to them. "But
we should probably tell father, just so he knows Kodachi is training
and her bruises are healing nicely."
Hanae nodded, she gave her complete trust to her cousin regarding
matters that needed to be thought out. "Come on Sei-chan, before Sasuke
finds out we're skipping Kyudo practice."
"We had to get rid of cats." Sei grumbled as they turned to walk
towards the house, "That's a good enough excuse for him."
~~~
Ranma walked back to Rose Brier late at night, he stumbled into the
first steps of the house, barely slipping off his Chinese slippers and
thoroughly exhausted from the fights of the border and his trip back.
All he wanted to do was rest.
Of course, there were still things that were left unattended to, and
Sasuke's sudden appearance at the entrance reminded him of this. The
ninja bowed and smiled as he began on a detailed report on what has
happened since his leave. The ninja's first attempts to do that had
startled Ranma, not expecting anybody to welcome his arrival. Now it
had become more natural, just as the people calling him lord and all
other idiosyncrasies that came with Rose Brier.
"Sasuke, are the children still awake?" Ranma asked in a hushed
tone, although the answer was already obvious. If the house had been
sleeping, within five minutes of his arrival at the boarder of Kamakura
city, samurai would have already gone ahead to rouse whoever was asleep
at Rose Brier, it was a custom he was sure he would never understand.
"They have been waiting for your arrival, Lord Ranma." He answered
in the same hushed tones Ranma used, "The Lady Ko - Akane is waiting
for the Lady Ranko, lord. It's the latest my lord has arrived since the
attack at Hase."
"Yes, I had some trouble, Shizukama had to be left at the border."
For being a ninja, Sasuke *still* hadn't found out about their curses.
It was uncanny and Ranma admitted to himself that he was sometimes
scared of the seeming incompetence of the ninja. Still... it was an
added bonus to the twin's part, "It's probably going to get worse. I'm
going to leave for a few months. Ranko is going to stay here in my
place until she switches place with Shizukama at the border."
"And Lady Nabiki?" Sasuke asked noticing Lady Nabiki's absence,
"Where will she be?"
"She's doing something for me. We're trading places before the
Yuigahama gathering." Ranma stated, wanting Sasuke to know the surface
of his plans, so he would not dig for more. Hopefully, that would keep
his curiosity for a while. "Thank you, Sasuke."
The ninja bowed and disappeared into the night to do his other
duties.
Hanae was the next person who found him, with a glass of water and a
change of clothes, she smiled impishly, "Daddy, you should change
before you see your wife."
Kneeling down beside the girl he smiled, patting her head, "I don't
think the hallway is appropriate, Hanae. Come here, Sei."
The boy, who was slightly behind him, was not surprised at Ranma's
beckon, it had been obvious that Ranma had already sensed his presence
the second he had stepped to hide behind him, which was exactly when
Hanae had smiled.
The boy bowed first then ran towards him, to stand beside Hanae,
"Good evening father. Is mother coming home?"
"Good Evening, Sei. I'm afraid not." Ranma smiled, not regretting
that he told the boy to continue to call Nabiki mother even after the
adoption, "Nabiki-chan has been detained for a while. I'll be handling
most of your lessons while she's gone."
"Will the Yuigahama party still cn'tinue?" Hanae asked worriedly. It
was something she had always liked, even though she only heard stories
of the happenings through her father and her aunt.
Ranma nodded as he stood up, carrying the two children in his arms
easily, Hanae was still holding the kimono and glass, "Yes, Lord
Happosai would be extremely disappointed if something happened to
prevent it."
"Father, how long has Lord Happosai been head of the Saotome clan?"
Sei asked curiously, Ranma smiled it was a reasonable question,
although Happosai looked like a venerated figure, he certainly was not.
"It seems he has held that position for a thousand years and yet he has
so few political ties."
"One hundred years, possibly more. The title is hereditary. Lord
Happosai has made a lot of enemies, Sei." Ranma explained patiently to
a boy who would be experiencing the old man's beckon soon enough.
Especially if he were to be Ranma's heir, "A long life does create time
for ties, but long enough to break them, too."
"Then I wish I would never live as long as Lord Happosai." Sei
wished fervently, "If I ever hold the Clan I wish I won't be cursed to
live as long."
"Me too." Hanae piped up, just as Ranma reached the front of their
rooms, "Daddy, are we sleeping alr'dy?"
"Yes," Ranma answered as he put the children down in the hallway,
patting the children's head he smiled as they tried to stifle identical
yawns, "You two are tired and *I'm* the one training you tomorrow."
Both scampered to their rooms, Ranma went to visit Hanae first, as
she pulled up her blanket towards herself, he blew out the light of her
lantern and stroked her forehead gently, "Good night, Hanae." He did
the same thing to Sei as well.
He sighed as he headed for the furo, he certainly needed another
bath, the trip had been dusty, and far too long. The blood and his
sweat had mixed into his skin that he was sure a long scrubbing would
be hard to take.
'Nabiki was right, we should switch places, it's the wisest thing to
do.' He just hoped he could pull of the part where he had to stay as
Ranko most of the time. The curse simply didn't follow any wish to curb
it.
Sometimes he even wondered if it was sentient. Maybe it willed water
to touch him. He had been lucky thus far. But for how long?
He also had to deal with Kodachi. Anything Goes martial arts should
remain to the Saotome name only. Such were the rules that Hanae and
Nabiki, being women, are not allowed to show any part of the art to
their husbands or their children.
Any ordinary adopted child was not allowed to learn the art as well,
but being Nabiki's son, and being re-stated into the Saotomes though
Ranma's adoption, made Sei special.
Hanae was that too... but Rian was an Amazon, and was entitled to
the art, he couldn't very well give her back to the Amazons when his
friend had entrusted her to him. Besides, her record showed that he is
her official father and only Cologne, Ranma and Hanae herself knew
otherwise.
'When did my life start to get complicated?' He wondered, it
certainly hadn't seemed so when he had been younger, learning the art
with Nabiki.
Maybe it had been when he had married into the Kuno family, wasn't
Kodachi the root of all his problems? Maybe it had been when he
returned from China, wasn't that when the fianc�e wars started? Maybe
it had been when he and Nabiki had won that battle, wasn't that the
whole reason they were sent away? Maybe it was when they were trained
in the art, wasn't that training a curse and a blessing as well.
Maybe it was even before that. Before he was born. The past has a
way of searching you out. It is only a matter of time until it caught
up. It was his time now. He was probably paying up for some past life.
'Karma,' he thought, then shook his head ruefully, for a Christian, he
still thought back to his Buddhist and Shinto beliefs. He really didn't
believe in Christianity that much, it was more of an order from
Happosai that kept him from converting back rather than faith.
"Why do we have to wake up when he arrives anyway, Ifuku? It's not
like he wakes up every time *we* come home."
Kodachi's firm but almost groggy voice startled him out of his
reverie, he was surprised to hear her. He looked over his shoulder and
saw the rope Kodachi tied. The long line was still there, he had passed
it and had barely noticed, 'I must really be tired.' His actions were
never automatic unless he was thoroughly exhausted.
There was irritation in the voice. Ranma sighed, Kodachi in her best
mood was hard to handle. Irritation was one of the many things that
made her even more incorrigible. He did not want to deal with an overly
distraught wife, not now. He wouldn't know how to handle her. "Would
you *please* explain all of this? I'm confused enough as it is."
"My lady, it is customary that the lord arrive to an alert home."
There was a sigh. Ranma, because he was already there, decided to enter
the room but changed his mind, leaning against the paper-thin doors and
listening to the conversation instead.
The shoji made listening in a joke, and watching them, a farce. The
lantern that projected their shadows made him visualize the room to its
exact detail, and for someone who was trained to watch details, it was
not a hard task, "It has been that way for our ancestors, as it is for
you, as it will be to your descendants."
"My mother waited for my father to arrive, but it wasn't strict. He
let her sleep when he arrived and she was tired waiting up for him
coming home from work!" Kodachi retorted indignantly, Ranma thought she
must not have come from a very close knitted family. "Honestly, when do
we get to sleep? I'm not much of a night person myself."
"When my lord sleeps, the whole house may sleep, except for the
samurai that guard the night." Ifuku explained, the shadows against the
shoji suggested that Ifuku leaned to give Kodachi some tea, "We must
wait 'till Sasuke tells us that the lord is asleep."
"I just wish that he'd sleep soon," There was a yawn that followed.
Slightly exasperated, "I can't imagine how I'm going to teach Hanae how
to swim. Why can't Nabiki believe me when I tell her I can't even tread
in water!"
"My lady will find a way to teach Lady Hanae," Ifuku reassured her,
Kodachi fidgeted. Ranma looked at the shadows wearily, he knew Kodachi
was an agile swimmer, and even if she cannot teach any martial art
technique with swimming, she will be able to teach Hanae its basics. "I
have my faith in my lady."
"Is... Is Ranko Hanae's mother?" It was a tentative question, and
there was a tinge of... something in her voice that Ranma couldn't
place. There was a pause, and Ranma waited expectantly for Ifuku's
answer.
Ifuku was one of his most trusted servants, which was the reason he
had let Kodachi keep her for a maid. She was an invaluable vassal, a
loyal girl. She was also one of the few people who knew about Ranko and
Shizukama. Her answer would be interesting.
There was a pause as Ifuku regarded her lady's question and worded
her answer carefully. "Is my lady not Hanae-san's mother?" Ifuku asked
gently, "Is Ukyo-san not Hanae-san's mother?"
There was silence, and presumably a nod, then Ifuku continued, "In a
sense Lady Ranko is Hanae-san's mother. It does not matter who birthed
her into this world, Lady Akane, it is who cares and loves her."
That was a surprise, it seems Kodachi has won Ifuku's trust as well,
she had started to call her Akane, and Ranma had not said anything
about anybody calling her in that name. If Ranma had been truly honest
with himself, he knew he was beaten, he was loosing the war that he had
pitted against his wife. Kodachi was slowly winning everyone.
"I guess you're right..." She sighed, then let a tinge of irritation
in her voice as she was reminded of the other girl, "Where *is* Ranko
anyway?"
"Maybe with the Lady Nabiki." Ifuku offered. She had managed to tell
Kodachi his supposed whereabouts without revealing the curse.
There was small lag in their conversation and another yawn, "I
really wish Ranma would sleep, I'm getting tired of waiting for him."
"Uh... my lady, forgive me if my question sounds impertinent..."
Ranma tensed, Ifuku never asked for forgiveness before she did
something. It must mean that she saw it as something wrong.
"Ask me, and I'll tell you." Kodachi answered her answer suddenly as
guarded as Ifuku's.
"Does my lady really feel nothing for my lord?" Ifuku asked her
hands reaching out for Kodachi's. Ranma frowned, his sudden softness
regarding Kodachi must have been so evident for someone to comment on
it.
"Oh, I do feel something for him," Kodachi answered lightly, Ranma
stood there shocked, it was not the answer he had expected from someone
like her. "I *detest* him."
Now *that* was the answer he was expecting. So why did his heart
feel so heavy all of a sudden? He looked at the room disgusted; this is
what he got for listening in to people like Kodachi.
He eyed the kimono and the water that he held in his hands. He
turned towards his room, his want for the furo gone. He could take his
bath in the morning, it was not needed at the moment.
He didn't *need* to sleep in Kodachi's room in the first place.
Ranko was the one who had sworn, and he wasn't Ranko at the moment.
The Lady Akane, Ifuku sensed, was in a foul mood. She had been
roused from her three-hour sleep because of the late arrival of Lord
Ranma and was feeling rather distasteful that Lady Ranko was nowhere to
be found. All of this she blamed on their Lord.
So rationally, now was not the time to ask the Lady Akane for her
feelings towards Lord Ranma. She was obviously angry and such a
question would only provoker her. But Ifuku had wanted to know and she
would not get a better opportunity than that night.
Thinking she had calmed the lady enough, Ifuku tensed as she asked
the question that she had wanted to be answered for so long, "Oh, I do
feel something for him," Ifuku's heart soared, because it could only
mean that her Lord had hope and that... "I *detest* him."
Ifuku's high spirits plummeted almost immediately. Apparently, she
was wrong. Either Lady Akane *wasn't* calmed down enough or... she
*didn't* love her lord. She was wishing it was more of the former
rather than the latter.
Her soft ears picked up a small rustle in the shoji, a sound almost
muted to silence, that she had not been sure if she had imagined it or
not. Her heart skipped a beat, there were only a few people in the
whole household whose footsteps she could hear through the tatami.
A good number of those she could sense were servants as herself, but
from the lightness of the tread, she was sure it was samurai. There
were few reasons why samurai would mis-step like that.
One reason would probably be her lady's declaration of hate towards
the lord.
"What is it Ifuku?" Akane asked sensing the abrupt silence from her
maid. "Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing, my lady. It's probably the wind... Would my lady excuse
me?" Ifuku whispered when Akane nodded she stood up, going over to the
shoji peering at it closely, "I see something near the shoji."
Ifuku moved towards the door, certain that she would find nothing of
importance, sliding it noiselessly aside. She stifled her gasp when she
saw what was there, bending over she picked up the items left by her
lady's door.
"What is it, Ifuku?" Akane asked.
Turning around slowly Ifuku showed her the sleeping kimono that
Ranko usually wore folded neatly in her hands and a cup of cool water.
Akane frowned at this, not understanding what the items meant.
"I thought Ranko was with Nabiki."
"She is." Ifuku answered, knowing then for sure that the Lady Ranko
would not be sleeping at Lady Akane's room that night. "It must be
Sasuke, his signal for the Lord's sleep."
"His... signal?" Akane repeated.
Sasuke appeared shortly then nodded to her, and bowed to Akane.
"Yes, Lady Akane, Lord Ranma has retired to his quarters." Ifuku
whispered, Akane nodded as she greeted her a cheery good night and for
the second time, retired to her futon.
Ifuku bowed slowly to her lady then moved out of the room to her
adjoining quarters, but sleep would be longer in coming than that of
her lady. Because she knew something her lady had not known. She knew
the truth behind those items.
'Lord Ranma has heard the worst from my lady...' Ifuku thought as
she stared at the dark ceiling, 'It could be the only reason why he
left that.' She frowned, sure that Ranko would not step the rope Akane
had divided the house into.
But the implications on Ranma's part was also clear to Ifuku, her
lord would not have been hurt if he felt nothing for her lady. And her
lady would not have protested so vehemently if she truly loathed her
lord.
To her eyes, the two led such a tragic love that was almost as
painful to watch.
Ifuku sighed, every time Lord Ranma and Lady Akane seemed to find
something to bring them closer to one another, something drove them
infinitely apart. 'Karma, maybe theirs truly was destined to be a
arduous love.'
~~~
Ifuku went about cleaning the room, humming in a pleasant tone that
her mother had sung to her when she was a child. Two of the younger
servants were cleaning the shoji. Their happy chatter distracted her,
but brought her memories of how she had had learned to be what she was
now.
"Lady Akane had a fight with Lord Ranma and Lady Nabiki yesterday,"
The smaller one said in a hushed tone. Ever since Lady Akane's amnesia,
everyone has had their gossip, even the young ones enjoyed whatever
they saw.
"Well, Lady Nabiki won against her," If Ifuku wasn't mistaken, the
older one was Sara. She didn't mind their loose tongue, every one had a
right to speculate, "I think Lady Akane wanted to redeem herself. Lady
Nabiki did manage to humiliate her in front of Lord Sei and Lady
Hanae."
"How can she redeem herself if she claims the name Tendo? It doesn't
really make sense."
Ifuku's head shot up at the name, dropping the blankets that she had
been preparing to store away. She turned to look at the children who
had peeked in to find out what was wrong.
"What did you say?" Ifuku asked in the calmest manner she could
muster. The children just stared at her blank eyed, not knowing what
she was referring to. "What was that name Lady Akane said?"
"Tendo, Ifuku-san. It was Tendo."
Ifuku paled at the words. She had not misheard. 'What could she
know?' Ifuku thought as she stood up murmuring an excuse to the
children and asked them to finish cleaning Lady Akane's room for her.
When she was sure the children were busying themselves with the
task, she went towards Lady Nabiki's room and took the inkwell and
brush, while swiping some paper as she scribbled a note.
She wondered how Lady Akane could know of the house, but if the
Saotomes didn't know if it by now, they would try to learn of it later.
The Tendos... they were far from the sphere of influence. How could
they possibly hear of the house?
Rolling the paper quickly, she stole out of the room quietly praying
that she would have a chance to send it in time.
~~~
Cologne walked back to a place she never thought she'd visit again.
For all the bad blood between her kind and the twins, she'd never
thought that she would come back to Japan to seal an alliance with the
Saotome Clan for the Joketsuzoku.
It was desperate times, and for them to need outside help to survive
-- it was desperate times. She needed a place for her great-
granddaughter to learn. Only the Saotomes came to mind. They were the
only ones who could wake Shampoo up. It had been a long shot, but she
needed her great-granddaughter back.
Already the girl looked dejected, the nearer they were to Rose
Brier; the more she frowned. She looked down at her feet rather than
straight ahead which was a sign the girl was still demoralized. Cologne
didn't know if the trip towards Japan made matters better or worse
regarding the girl.
Expecting Nabiki to greet her by the gates of Rose Brier, it came as
a surprise when it was Ranma -- in his cursed form who bowed and
welcomed her in. It was unnatural for the man to be the one who
welcomed such visitors and it wasn't much of a shock that he did so as
a girl.
"Good day, Matriarch Kuh Lon," Ranma-chan gave her a deep bow, which
she returned, then turning to Shampoo she bowed again, "Good day, Xian
Pu. Welcome to Rose Brier. What makes you venture to these parts?"
"Is there any other reason why we would go to Rose Brier, Ranko-
chan?" Ranma-chan would not find out the reason of their stay, and she
just left the answer to the girl's imagination.
"Could I offer the ladies... something?" Ranma-chan just shook her
head as she entered the house with Cologne. It was apparent to Cologne
that even though he had time to get used to his girl from, he did not
train much in how one should act, especially when receiving guests.
It looked like Nabiki still did most of that for him. He has some
more ways to learn in the arts of hospitality, Cologne declined
graciously and so did Shampoo, "And how is your lovely wife?"
"I don't have a wife," Ranma-chan answered lightly guiding them
towards a room where they could talk, "Though if you are asking of Lord
Ranma, he is by the border of the Sagami, by Yuigahama shore."
'So they had decided to keep the curse from the household of Rose
Brier, just as what they had done in their house in Nerima. The twins
traded places. Who else would be at the beach if not for Nabiki? Ranma
wouldn't tell me something like that if one of them wasn't there.' The
information was of some significance. "And the Lady Kodachi?"
"Sick with a mild cold," Ranma-chan opened the shoji that lead to
the garden for some of the fresh air to come in, taking some of the
zabuton(91) she offered it to them, "She seemingly forgot how to swim."
"It would be of great pleasure if Hanae and Nabiki's son grace us
with their presence." Cologne answered as she looked at Ranma-chan
closely, gauging his expression. It didn't change.
Taking a small bell from inside the folds of her obi, Ranma-chan
raised it and rung it several times. The moment she stopped a young
girl had arrived and bowed once towards her then at the two guests,
"What is it Lady Ranko?"
"Please call Sei and Hanae."
The girl bowed and left, only to return in a short while with the
two children, then bowed again to leave. Cologne turned her attention
to the new arrivals.
Sei held a distinct resemblance to his mother and a small
resemblance to his uncle, at five, he was already an charming lad.
Although from what she had learned Sei took more of his appearance from
his father's side.
Hanae, as she had expected, was the exact image of her mother,
except for the long red locks she had so neatly tied in a pony-tail,
Cologne could just imagine staring at her lost heir. Her resemblance to
Shampoo could not go unnoticed as well, and she wondered how long it
would take for her heir to notice that the young girl in front of her
was an Amazon.
"Elder Kuh Lon, Xian Pu, the young Lord Sei and Lady Hanae of the
House Saotome." Ranma-chan said as both bowed to each, "Sei, Hanae, I
would like you to meet the Honored Matriarch Kuh Lon and her heir and
great-granddaughter, Xian Pu from the Joketsuzoku."
Hearing this Hanae's eyes widened in surprise and delight, but
refrained from clapping. Sei remained as passive as he had been, just
like Nabiki when she had been introduced to Cologne the first time, the
boy really did take up after his mother after all.
"Great-grandmother... she..." Shampoo's voice trailed off. Cologne
nodded, the girl had not noticed the similarity to Rian from the
portrait, but upon seeing her close, its implications dawned on her. A
hurt look crossed her face as she stood up, "May I be excused?"
She didn't wait for a yes and fled down the hallway, leaving Ranma
and the two children confused at the sudden departure. Cologne just
gazed off after her, a soft and rare frown appearing on her face as she
thought about Shampoo's departure.
"Uh... was it something I said?" Ranma-chan asked uneasily switching
her gaze from Shampoo to Cologne. "I--"
Shaking her head, Cologne sighed, she had thought Shampoo was better
than this. Jumping to conclusions was one thing an elder of the Amazon
Village needed to put away... "She thinks you betrayed her."
"What?"
Through the years, Ranma's denseness towards the other sex became an
amusing show that she indulged in but at times like this, it was a
rather painful task of explanation. It was a wonder that his sister was
so keen at it. "<She thinks you're Hanae's father.>"
There was a moment of confusion, and then understanding dawned on
Ranma-chan's face as she stood up to go after her friend, but Cologne's
outstretched staff stopped her in an instant. "What? I have to go after
her, she doesn't understand..."
"Let her think first," Cologne said withdrawing her staff from
Ranma's path, "Then talk to her, she might be more receptive to the
truth then. For the moment, I want to see your students perform, neh?"
~~~
Sobbing, Shampoo ran, she found solace in the forest, the only place
in Japan she could picture as her home. Even a few months off mainland
China brought a heaviness towards her heart that she knew was from
homesickness.
She missed China already. Yet she had missed Ranma most of all, no,
she had missed their times together when they were young. Those were
carefree times where she sought his hand or his sister's head.
She jumped up to one of the trees and sat on its branches, pouring
her heart out. Her nails clinging on to the soft fabric of her dress,
her tears making dark splotches against the beautiful red silk, not
minding that she would probably get reprimanded for ruining such a
prized gift from her cousin.
All this years she had thought that even if Ranma hadn't loved her,
even if he didn't believe in the laws, that he had at least been honest
with her. That he had told her the truth.
She had fast learned that Ranma Saotome's word was worth nothing at
all.
He had told her he wouldn't marry, because he didn't and couldn't.
His *honor* demanded that he marry all the girls he had been engaged
to, and he never wanted that... which resulted to the fianc�e wars. Yet
he had married Kodachi Kuno in a blink, someone who he wasn't *engaged*
to in the first place.
It was a slap in the face she could not and would not take. That was
the reason she had gone to China, because of the humiliation he had
forced her to endure. She had tried to attack Kodachi Kuno, blindly
tried to kill the woman who had stolen her love from her, but Ranma had
defended her to the last minute. Even if he showed nothing but contempt
towards Koachi. Even if he loathed her being.
Then he swore that he had not broken the law, that she had as much
chance as Rian in his heart. Then he had slept with Rian. How else
could the child look so much like her cousin? She was convinced Hanae
was indeed her cousin's daughter, and the red hair proved that she was
her father's daughter.
He had twisted the knife that was already sticking out to her back
and it hurt her far more than she wanted to admit. Because after all
this time of loathing Ranma, the most terrible realization came with
her tears... that she still loved the man.
Damn him, Ranma was a liar... and yet she still loved him. He had
betrayed her... and she still loved him... 'What am I going to do?'
'I'm nothing but a lovesick puppy.' Shampoo thought, her sobs
racking her whole body and moving the branch she was sitting on
violently, 'I'm no better than that idiotic Mousse who pines away for
me. At least he lives in his own dream world. I don't even have the
comfort of that.'
Her crying seemed to last forever, until someone tapped her
shoulder, sitting down beside her in the branch. She didn't turn to
look who it was, she knew for certain it was *him*. Who else could it
be?
"Hey, Shampoo..." He murmured softly... he had changed back to his
male form.
"Hey..." Shampoo's voice broke off, she couldn't think of anything
else to say. Anything more threatened to spill more of the tears that
were lurking behind her eyes, and she had vowed not to let him see her
pain. For the moment silence seemed to be enough.
He smiled at her, just as she remembered back when they were young.
He was still as handsome as he was six years ago. Her heart shot up the
unmistakable pain of longing through her body that she hoped to squelch
but could not. "Did Cologne tell you anything... after I got married?"
"No..." Shampoo's eyes traveled to his shirt, a small chain with a
cross was imprinted through the thin wet top. It was an unfamiliar
object that Shampoo had not seen him wear before, and it bore
implications she did not want to think about at the moment. "Grandmamma
chooses to tell things when thinks Shampoo is ready."
Her Japanese was better, but still not flawless.
"What you follow me here for?"
"It's getting late..."
Shampoo turned to look at the sky, indeed the sun had set; she must
have been out longer than she thought. But she had all the time in the
world, she needn't hurry back to the village, no one was waiting for
her there, and she needn't go back to the house, for the only one she
wanted to have did not want her. "I no need your concern."
It was one of those times that Ranma had wisely decided to keep his
mouth shut opting to watch her silently and Shampoo just stared on the
grass below her stoically. Finally, deciding that the conversation
would go nowhere she breached the topic she did not want to discuss.
"<Is my cousin Hanae's mother?>"
"She is."
Shampoo's slap rang across the night, it was the first time she had
ever tried to intentionally hit him in his boy form, and the first time
she had ever meant it. This was no longer a game of two sixteen year
olds, they were adults, it was time they came to the real world.
Accusation was laden in her cool eyes, "Why?"
Ranma asked his eyes not leaving Shampoo's. His hand didn't even
come up to his defense, and Shampoo knew that he had let her slap him.
It troubled her to no end. Ranma had never let anyone intentionally hit
him before, no one. "Why what?"
"<Why did you do it?>"
"<Because Rian was a friend.>"
"<I'm your friend too and you don't see me sleeping with you!>"
Shampoo looked at him, tears streaming down her face. Her resolve not
to cry broken by his confused state, and she desperately wanted to
believe that he had not betrayed her, but knew that he had.
The last she had heard of her cousin was that she had married a
samurai... too many coincidences, "<How is she?>"
Ranma averted his gaze. There were some things too much bound by
secrecy that cannot be parted with, even with close friends. "<As best
as she could be... I guess.>"
"<How is your consort, then?>" There was steel in her voice,
"<Great-grandmother talked to Nabiki before we went home, I never got
the chance to see her. To know her. All I know is that you have one.>"
There was a puzzled look in Ranma's face that Shampoo grew to
despise, she had not known that he was *that* good at manipulating,
maybe he had learned from his sister. "<I don't -- oh... you must be
talking about *Ranko*.>"
Ranko? Who the hell? Wasn't this where he was supposed to admit that
he had taken Rian in, "<No! I mean my cousin!>"
"You think I took Rian as a consort?" He asked perplexed.
"<Isn't she?>"
"<No!>" The denial was too vehement and automatic to be fake.
"<Then Hanae's father...>"
"<... is dead.>"
"<Then who-->"
"<I'm not allowed to tell anybody too much,>" Ranma sighed as he
looked at her, "<The fact that you know I'm not really Hanae's father
will already get me into too much trouble...>"
"<You don't have to tell me anything.>" Shampoo said as she turned
to watch the scene below. It was not much and merely foliage, but she
found it interesting at the moment. It was better than to look at
Ranma's pleading eyes, because she knew that if she looked at him, her
resolve would break, and she'd find herself desperately wanting to kiss
him just as she had when they were young, "<Please leave me.>"
He seemed like he wanted to say more to her, but he didn't continue
past his open mouth. He nodded and left her to her thoughts. His
departure was almost as silent as his arrival, leaving her to ponder
on her thoughts once more.
How did Rian's hate for him turn to love? How did hers? They had
been mere children, she had been twelve and Rian fifteen when they
met... and far too young...
"<Do I sense a touch of resentment, cousin?>" Shampoo asked as she
walked along the palace gardens. Rian had been sent under the Imperial
Palace to train when she was twelve, and had been staying there for
three years, she has never been defeated, and it smarted for an
outsider to do so. The fact that Ranma really was a *man* rankled even
more.
And to such as Rian, who prided herself as heir, to be beaten by a
man with such a handicap as Ranma at that time... the implications did
not sit well with her, and Rian found herself in a constant irritable
mood that Shampoo exploited every chance she got.
Rian's dagger was pointed at Shampoo quickly, not a threat, but a
warning nonetheless. Rian seems to think Shampoo had overstepped her
boundaries. "<Do not insult me again! I am the best of *our*
generation! The only reason you won that tournament is because I am
here. I do not think a match will yield you good results.>"
Rian also had no sense of humor. It was probably because she had
been so young when she was taken away, and so driven by her mentors to
be the best that she had forgotten the basics: How to laugh and be a
child. Rian had been forced to grow up so soon, so quickly. Shampoo
pushed the dagger away. "<I was merely joking.>"
Rian sheathed her dagger quickly, it was one of her most prized
possessions and she guarded it as jealously as she did her honor.
Shampoo noted her cousin liked to put the weapon in her hair. The
thickness and her hair color hid it well, "<Jest all you like, I do not
like to be defeated by a man!>"
"<You do not *want* to be defeated, period.>" Shampoo stopped then
turned to face Rian. Asking understanding from her cousin, "<Do you
think *I* like being beaten by the lower class?>"
"<Maybe. I don't know, I've been away from the village for far too
long.>" She continued to walk even though Shampoo just stared at her,
they needed to tell the events to their great-grandmother "<Maybe the
time has robbed you of your warrior's pride.>"
Pride was something that was dominant in all Amazon women...
especially undefeated champions. But then, they were undefeated
champions no longer. Nothing lasts forever. Defeat has always been
something that loomed in the future. Amazons just didn't train to
loose, that's why it came as such a hard blow -- but then again... who
did?
It was then that the person she previously known as the red-haired
girl-- now appropriately dubbed Ranma -- walked across the garden, with
a girl, presumably his twin sister, by his side. It came as a surprise
to the two Amazons that it was the boy of the two that wore his hair
long rather than the other way around.
Rian watched them through guarded eyes, "<Is that Ranma's uncursed
form?>"
"<Yes.>" Shampoo thought looking at them, there had been no formal
introductions, the emperor had thought it wise for the Amazons to call
off for a bit. She had to admit though, Ranma was good looking and his
sister seemed a strong enough warrior...
"<I don't think I'll manage to fall in love with him.>" Rian said
disgusted then turned towards the gates of the palace, the roads that
would lead to the end of the city and the trail to the village, "<I'm
thankful he bested you first.>"
Shampoo looked at the two walk towards the garden, they were
laughing, at something they saw by the cherry trees. "<You don't know
... maybe he'll manage to surprise you... I'm starting to like him,
and that's just by looking.>"
"<I will *never* love him.>" With that Rian turned to report to the
village, jumping from roof to roof. Shampoo looked at her for a while
before she followed.
'Oh, Rian.' Shampoo thought as she closed her eyes, they had been
cousins, friends and rivals at the same time, and she had watched Rian
fall in love with Ranma, watched her change her attitude towards him.
How could she not? Ranma was a man easy to love.
He had been a na�ve, sweet and terribly uncouth boy that had
certainly endeared him to both of their hearts. He had his share of
faults but no one was perfect.
They had lived in a village where every woman was above any man, he
lived in a country where every man was superior to women. They had been
so different, and yet on the fleeting moments they had trained they had
been the same. They had been on equal ground... and the moment they
parted everything had changed.
Both Rian and she actively pursued him, but had different reasons
for doing so, Rian had always wanted to bash him more than hug him, and
Shampoo was the one who constantly tried -- and succeeded -- to kiss
him.
Somehow... in the middle of the frenzy, Rian's barrier of hate
crumbled. They said there was a thin line between love and hate, Rian
had crossed the final lines and her growing love for Ranma had hurt
Shampoo more than she cared to admit. Rian had increasingly tried to
kill him more because it kept her on the edge, knowing that she will
never win, rather than truly maiming him. Ranma had been a great
sparring partner, and so was his sister. Both were extremely
challenging on their own fields.
Then... Rian disappeared... with only minuscule clues to her
whereabouts.
... And now ...
'You lied to me too.'
~~~
Ifuku walked past the samurai, her hands almost shaking. If anybody
ever found out what she was doing, she would die. The would kill her
regardless of what she reasons out and of her longstanding loyalty to
the clan.
She was sacrificing her life for a secret that she had never wanted
in the first place. She entered the pigeon house without question from
the samurai; they had let her in easily. The pigeons fluttered
restlessly at her entrance.
Bringing out the small rolled parchment she had kept beneath her
robes she placed it on one of the cylinders and set the bird free.
Sending out a small prayer for its safety, Ifuku closed the windows and
leaned against its frame.
From the moment she had heard of the fight that morning between the
lords, she had been in a perpetual state of worry. She knew how these
people worked... If he did not get it in time... they might have no
chance at all.
"What did you send out?"
Ifuku didn't turn quickly, now her life depended on her ability to
stick to the truth without revealing too much... to lie if necessary.
To lie to the people who had taken care of her since her childhood. She
took a deep breath to compose herself, "A letter, what else?"
"I'm not playing games, Ifuku-san. What did you send out?" If Ifuku
had not been sure who it was before, she had known now. She turned
slowly around to look at Omokage. She cursed for her incompetence.
"Can I not send a letter to my husband?" She needed to retain their
trust, because most of all, she needed to survive.
There was uncertainty in Omokage's eyes. That would buy her some
time, but would that time be enough? "I did not know you had a
husband."
"No one has ever asked." It was the most subversive voice she had
ever used towards anybody. 'Sohin, Be safe. I just need some more time
before he can warn any other samurai. A few more minutes before that
pigeon flies free.'
"No one needed to ask. You grew up here!" His accusation was as loud
as any slap her mother could have given her. She had made a mistake,
she should have known to tell more people about her wedding, but it was
a ruse and she was a peasant.
She heard the faint sound of running and she knew this could only
end with her death. Her jailers have come to arrest her. A samurai
barged in, the dead bird in his hands. It was her last chance of
survival.
Omokage got the bird and opened the small cylinder with the letter
on it, he read it aloud, "Sohin, Lady Nabiki searches for answers
regarding the Tendos. Please tell her what you know -- your wife,
Ifuku."
"Is there something in my letter that displeases you?" Ifuku asked
as she watched him, she dare not let a smile play on her face. She was
not out of trouble, yet.
"Do you know what would happen if this falls in enemy territory?"
Omokage demanded as he threw the dead bird at her feet, "You're lucky
our archers were astute. Lord Ranma and Lady Nabiki always informs
samurai if they send out anything. Lady Nabiki handles the letters, and
she isn't home at the moment."
"Gomenasai, Omokage-san. I was not thinking." Ifuku proceeded to
kneel in the most abject manner possible and bowed before him, "May I
ask who the Lady Nabiki has asked for information for the Tendos?"
"Why do you wish to know something that is not of your concern?"
"Because my husband would be the perfect spy for her." Ifuku
answered, murmuring her words through the tatami. 'Please let him agree
with me.' "Let my husband look into the matter."
"Why have you not told Lady Nabiki of this yourself?"
"I was afraid that she might not agree."
Ifuku dared not to look up at his face, "Lady Nabiki is very
intelligent, her refusal towards your offer will have good reasons." He
was by her side in a second and he lifted her face off the mat, "You've
been here as long as I have Ifuku. Are you willing to loose everything
you've ever held for a gamble?"
"I have faith in my husband," Ifuku answered as she stared at
Omokage's eyes, he had to believe in her for her to get any chance at
all, "He will not let me down."
Omokage turned towards the samurai who shot down the bird and for a
moment she thought he was going to order her death, "Here give this
letter to her husband."
Ifuku almost cried at his words. He trusted her. She thanked the
gods. "It is fortunate that he is currently in the Temple of
Gokurakuji. He will be accompanying a boy and his foster mother. Just
ask the monks for him."
As the man left for the day's journey, he paused to look at Omokage,
when he nodded he left. Ifuku turned to Omokage and bowed again,
"Arigato gozaimashita, Omokage-san."
She could feel his gaze upon her, "Do not thank me yet, Ifuku. If
anything happens to that samurai. If that man of yours doesn't push
through with that information... I'll have to kill you."
"You don't need to do that, Omokage-san." She intended to die first
before anybody else got to her, she wasn't going to be a pawn in this
game. She didn't know if he understood her intentions or not, but he
let it rest.
"When does your husband leave the temple grounds?"
She knew where the questioning was going to lead to... but to lie
now... "A week from now."
"And when do you take your yearly leave, Ifuku-san?"
She hoped her voice would not break, "A week from now."
"And this is something you do yearly?"
"Yes, Omokage-san." She waited for the next question, but it did not
come. Omokage was intelligent enough to put two and two together. If he
ever decided to tell the Saotomes she was meeting Sohin behind their
back... she didn't know what would happen to her. The Saotomes knew
mercy, but in their point of view, would they think her case was worth
it?
He left as soundlessly as he came in. Ifuku's head shot up from the
tatami, her under kimono sticking to her sweaty flesh. That encounter
had scared her more than she cared to admit. Omokage will not tell Lady
Nabiki what she had done that evening because he had let her get away.
She just hoped Sohin would push through for her.
~~~
Ranma-chan looked back at the forest with mixed feelings. Because
of Shampoo's sudden outburst, she had been forced to think if she had
wronged the girl in any way. She had been about to go fetch her for a
second time when Cologne stopped her again, a hand on her shoulder.
'Shampoo is a young girl at heart,' he remembered her saying
clearly, 'She has not learned the value of what you have willingly
given her. She doesn't understand that when you didn't marry her, you
gave her something that she has not manage to experience through all of
her teenage life... her freedom.'
Walking slowly towards Kodachi's room, Ranma-chan sighed preparing
for sleep as silently as she can. Kodachi had already slept since Ifuku
had told her that 'Ranma' had done so already, and Ranma-chan didn't
want to deal with her at the moment.
It came as a surprise when Kodachi stirred as Ranma-chan went past
her to get a fresh sleeping kimono from the small alcove. Opening her
eyes slowly, Kodachi adjusted to the semi-dim room, her eyes still
blurry from sleep. "Ranma?"
Ranma's intake of breath was sharp, worrying that in Kodachi's
sleepy state, her subconscious managed to piece in the puzzle her
rational mind could not. The connection of the appearances between
Ranma and Ranko... no matter how implausible it may have seemed then.
"Oh... I'm sorry, Ranko-san, you look so much like my husband."
Ranma-chan let out the breath she was holding, the secret was safe
for now. And if she had any choice in it, it will remain to be.
"If you're here, Nabiki's out and I'm sick... who's taking care of
the children?" It was a rare moment of rationality that Kodachi asked
such a question, the worry breaking clean on her face, "Surely..."
"The matriarch Cologne offered to step up their training." Ranma-
chan shrugged as she turned to get the clothes, in a second she was
ready for bed, the immaculate futon laid out the opposite of Kodachi's.
"We've been very fortunate."
Kodachi followed Ranma-chan through her eyes as the red-haired woman
walked to the small basin Ifuku had left, earlier to wash her face and
hands clean. Ranma-chan dismissed her to take care of Shampoo, since
the Chinese woman had a Jusenkyo curse, few could be trusted to be her
maid. Ifuku was one of the few who fell neatly into the category.
"Umm... Ranko, do you mind if I ask you something?" To Ranma,
Kodachi seemed uneasy. Her muscles tensing visibly even in the dark
room. Ranma-chan shrugged, wondering what question could cause her such
discomfort, and was troubled and a bit startled at her follow-up. "Why
does Ranma stay married to me?"
Frowning at the question, Ranma-chan got the comb at the side of the
basin then sat on his futon, looking at Kodachi sideways, "He was
ordered to marry you, Kodachi."
There was a bit of shuffling that Ranma-chan ignored as she tried to
stay comfortable in the futon. Unfortunately, the humidity of the night
wasn't helping at all.
"Oh... does... does Ranma usually stay at Rose Brier?" Kodachi asked
tentatively at the dark room. They weren't facing each other but Ranma-
chan could just imagine the distaste showing in her face as she asked
the question.
Giving out a non-committal grunt Ranma-chan undid the ties of his
hair, combed it briskly and re-braid it again, she had found out from
Nabiki that it gave him less trouble in the morning when she did that.
"Rose Brier is at the border of the Sagami, Kodachi--"
"Akane."
Ranma-chan wasn't sure if she was just trying to make small talk or
she really was geared on irritating him, but she repeated the name
nonetheless, "Akane... and it's to be constantly protected especially
if there's a threat. He usually stays here when there are important
things to do but usually goes to the other house in Nerima to visit his
mother."
"That's what I'm unclear about, what's this Nerima house?" Kodachi
asked uncertainly, "Isn't Brier Rose in Nerima?"
"Let's get this straight okay? Rose Brier is at the border of
Kanagawa in Nerima in Sagami. Rose Brier is where the twins stay. The
Nerima house, for a lack of a better name to call it," Ranma-chan
quipped, "Is mainly where Lady Nodoka and you stay. Sometimes Odawara
Castle when Happosai calls."
"Then why is he usually here?" Kodachi relaxed against the light
chatter, it was the first time she had managed to engage Ranko in a
conversation without either of them getting into a big fight. In all
truths, she *really* wanted to be friends with the girl, "I mean... why
does he seem to love the place dearly?"
"Lord Ranma doesn't love the place..." Ranma-chan trailed off
thinking about Kodachi's questions, she certainly didn't treat Rose
Brier different than any other place she held fiefdom over, "It's just
that... maybe it's the peace and quiet... he never had much of a
peaceful life."
"Hmmm..."
Ranma-chan sighed, maybe she really should tell Kodachi the truth.
Kodachi was going to find out about it anyway. Putting down the comb
she lay down on the futon, "It's just that Rose Brier was an ancestral
home, Lady Kodachi, it actually belonged to Ranma and Nabiki when they
were young..."
"I thought Rose Brier was mine." Kodachi answered reclining into the
futon.
Ranma heard the distinct close of the shoji in another part of the
house and thought that Ifuku must have already left Cologne and
Shampoo's room to return. Her light tread against the tatami was one of
the most distinct of all the servants, and Ranma knew all the
households footsteps. It was needed for the safety of the home after
all.
"Oh, Rose Brier is yours, but the Twofold Dragons was theirs."
"Wait a minute, you lost me. What Twofold Dragons."
"It's a name okay? It's what this place was called before you got
your hands on it."
"What happened?"
Ranma-chan shrugged there were few things that could be blamed for
their sufferings if it concerned before their birth, sometimes it was
their own ancestors, often it was their liege lord, but most of all it
was their foster father. "Genma Saotome happened. He managed to gamble
the house and land away and being the fool Genma was, he lost. The
house and land was renamed."
"So he married me for the land?" She could almost see the hurt
expression her voice obviously showed, Ranma-chan sighed. She still
couldn't believe that a lot of people thought she was that kind of
person.
"He married you because he was ordered to. It has nothing to do with
the land." Ranma-chan quipped as she turned away from Kodachi, even in
the dark, he could see her form. Her eyes settled on the shoji doors.
Tomorrow, she would be at the border, tomorrow Nabiki returns. That
was the key tomorrow.
"Why did he agree to marry me then?"
"Is an order so hard to comprehend?" Ranma-chan's eyes flared, "And
because of that order he can not turn you away!"
"Why?"
"Arghhh!" Ranma-chan threw her hands up in frustration, Kodachi
simply didn't want to understand, "There are some things in the
marriage that makes it different from the others!"
"What?"
Her monosyllabic questions was starting to get to Ranma-chan's
nerves, there were simply too many clauses that their farce of a
wedding had, "Any injury to you done by a member of the Saotome clan
ordered by a Saotome clan or anything similar would be reciprocated to
Nabiki."
"Why Nabiki?"
"Because the Kunos knew that Ranma loved his sister completely and
her mind is a liability to them." Ranma-chan frowned as she rubbed the
small scar at the small of her back, "Another little quirk is that if
you are sent home, Rose Brier would be returned to them."
"So... you can't kill me unless Nabiki dies?"
"Or turns ronin." It wasn't a comforting thought.
Kodachi was silent as she digested this information, Ranma-chan
grumbled as she turned again. There simply was no comfortable position
to sleep with in a room with Kodachi Saotome. "I don't know about you,
but I need my sleep. I'm not one to answer questions you should, by all
aspects, know."
With that, Ranma-chan silenced herself and reclined to the futon,
listening to Kodachi's slow breathing.
Though they remained silent, sleep would not come to them for a
while, both lost in thought about the past and the future.
~~~
A full week later Nabiki-kun headed home and was more than
surprised to find Kodachi with a bowl of *something* -- badly cooked,
and with a small lacquered tray. Nabiki-kun gulped at Kodachi's more
than eager eyes. The last time she had managed to eat Kodachi's
cooking, she enjoyed the savory taste, but had been paralyzed for half
a day. Now it seemed she wouldn't even manage to have that small
luxury.
"Ranma! Come, I made this dish for Nabiki's return. Want a taste?"
Kodachi piped eagerly as she put the small bowl down. Nabiki-kun
flinched at the burnt smell and Ranma-chan, who was actually leaning on
one of the paper doors was languidly watching the exchange.
In the fianc�e wars, the twins have been served everything and
endured all from each one of their suitors. One of the things that
didn't sit well with Nabiki was that Kodachi was one of the best cooks
the Fianc�e wars produced and she was damned set on poisoning them as
well.
Mostly it was Ranma who was the hapless victim of the girl... but
since she had quite *conveniently* forgotten everything, her timing
couldn't have been worse.
"Maybe we should wait for Nabiki." Nabiki-kun suggested as he raised
her eyebrow questioningly at the substance. Whatever it was, prolonging
its way to her stomach seemed to him, a better idea.
Kodachi smiled pleasantly, "You and Ranko have the same idea! You
really like Nabiki, don't you?"
Nabiki-kun looked at her twin who was looking at anywhere but at
her. Right then she decided that he was getting his revenge from all
those times she had pretended to be him to one of her fianc�s and said
that she loved the taste of his food -- which actually tasted one step
lower than mud.
Kodachi pulled on his arm, "Is it such a bad idea to eat with your
wife?" There was a small plead in her eyes and her tone was so pitiful,
Nabiki-kun almost gave up.
"Actually," Nabiki-kun started as she turned towards the rooms
looking at Ranma meaningfully. "Maybe we could..."
Ranma-chan's eyes widened, not really knowing what Nabiki was
implying, then pulled her away from Kodachi's grip "Ahh... hehehe, Na -
- Ranma?" He always stammered and forgot to call her his name when he
was nervous, it was a good sign, "Can I speak to you for a minute?
Don't worry Kodachi, I'll return him to you just as *soon* as we have
*that* talk."
Kodachi started to say something, but Ranma-chan had managed to drag
Nabiki-kun away before either could protest. When Ranma-chan managed to
get them by the dojo ground he frowned at her sternly, "Really,
Nabiki."
"What? *You* started it." Nabiki-kun crossed his arms against the
dirty silk shirt he wore. What she truly wanted was a nice bath and a
long soak in the furo... a very hot furo and his true *female* form
rather than fighting with his angry brother -- currently sister.
"It *is* a bad idea to eat with my wife." Ranma-chan lectured
sternly as she walked around, "And you know it."
"I don't know, brother." Nabiki-kun drawled out rather lazily as he
noted the nice flowery black kimono Ranma was wearing. He had to admit
though, his brother could chose the drabbest clothes and still look
gorgeous in his female form. "It seems you like spending time with her,
why else wear her clothes?"
Nabiki-kun knew that retort was rather below the belt but hell would
freeze over before he backed down. Kodachi was getting closer to Ranma
every day, she was still the violent maniac -- mellowed out probably -
but still a maniac. "We already had this conversation."
"Are you sure that's the reason, brother?" Nabiki-kun murmured
softly as she looked into his troubled blue eyes that dimmed slightly
at her statement... in his female form they were so much lighter, "Or
are you just making excuses?"
Ranma-chan didn't know how to answer to that accusation, but didn't
avert her eyes from his. "You're starting to doubt me?"
"No, merely trying to question you. One doesn't necessarily mean the
other." Whatever anybody said, Nabiki was loyal to her family first,
and her brother the most... and to see him make a mistake over Kodachi
for the second time around. "It's my job."
Ranma-chan sighed, "Let's not get into this whole Kodachi issue,
Nabiki. For the first time in weeks, you're home. How was Yuigahama?"
Her hand balled into a fist, "Can the old lech still hold his party
there?"
"If the old man wants something..." Nabiki-kun trailed off, there
was no need to continue, the end was apparent. They heard the discreet
shuffling of feet and turned towards the house, in a few moments,
Kodachi appeared holding out what seemed to be two identical letters.
From the wax seal outside the letters both knew exactly whom it came
from before they could even hold it. "Ranma, it seems to be an
invitation of some sort."
In the back of the letters, Ranma's name was scrawled in kanji and
Nabiki's in hiragana, both with their appropriate honorfics. Kodachi
handed them both to Nabiki-kun.
Looking at them, Nabiki-kun rolled her eyes then handed her
invitation to Ranma-chan. "Here, open Nabiki's letter for me."
"Where did it come from, Ranma?" Kodachi asked eagerly to Nabiki-
kun, Nabiki just wondered if she could point out the woman in the right
direction then and there. It was perplexing to know that Kodachi
thought of her cursed state as her husband. It was simply creepy. She
did not want to go to the point where Kodachi starts flirting. If and
when that happens, she was going to set the girl straight regardless of
their orders.
The twins sighed in an identical manner, and opened the letters that
had been handed to them, scanning down and confirming their suspicion.
In the bottom of the letter was Happosai's hanko(92) in red ink.
"Well?" Kodachi asked expectantly raising her eyebrow meaningfully.
Nabiki-kun handed her the invitation, "It's from our liege lord."
"I, Lord Happosai of the Kanto and head of the Saotome Clan, request
the presence of Lord Saotome Ranma-noh-Tetsuma(93), as acting heir of
the Musabetsu Kakuto Ryuu, on the twenty-fourth day of Hachi-gatsu(94)
to attend the Yuigahama Saotome clan meeting." Kodachi looked up from
the letter to Nabiki, "Will you be going?"
"Are you dull, Kodachi? Or do you just really like to get on my
nerves?" Nabiki asked truthfully, her patience was always lacking with
Kodachi. "Is an order something so difficult to comprehend?"
"There was nothing said about orders."
"Of course not," Nabiki-kun breathed in deeply, and began again,
"It's impolite to state that out on paper, but it's what this is.
Happosai doesn't *invite* you to somewhere, he *commands* you there."
It rang on Ranma-chan's ears, it was the same thing he had told
Kodachi just the night before. Kodachi was simply starting to forget
her values. The Yuigahama meeting has always been for further
discussion of the clan, maybe a little mingling. It's for the clan to
know the situation of the Saotome holdings. The Kanto is a large area,
and significant land is hard to protect.
"It is an honor reserved only for the daimyo of the different lands
Happosai is controlling." Nabiki-kun said as she got Ranma's invitation
from Kodachi's hands, "Few are able to attend."
"It's an order and now an honor?"
"An order can always be an honor. It is always an honor to perform
for your liege lord." Ranma-chan said quoting Cologne on one of her
lectures, "Of course, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to like it."
It was then that Cologne decided to walk in on the three of them,
holding a similar parchment on her hands, "Ahh... son-in-law, it is
good you have not forgotten your lessons, no matter how long ago it has
been taught."
The twins both grunted, Kodachi was just bewildered then Nabiki-kun
bowed, "I wasn't informed of your arrival, Matriarch Kuh Lon. Is there
something I can do for you?"
The old woman just smiled as she held out her hand to Nabiki, "You
look exactly like the day I left you... haggard and *male*." At
Kodachi's dumbfounded look Cologne turned to Nabiki-kun and raised an
eyebrow, "I take it there are some things of significance your brother
has forgotten to tell me."
Ranma-chan shifted uneasily twirling the letter in her hands
signifying the state of her nerves but Kodachi still looked bewildered
and Nabiki had to wonder when she would catch on about the curses. By
the hints the old woman was dropping, she should have at least found
out something suspicious, "It depends on what was said."
"We'll discuss it after a hot bath, proper change of clothes *and*
body parts." Cologne nodded then added a wink for effect. Had it not
been their Jusenkyo secret under scrutiny, Nabiki would have found the
mere idea of Cologne doing the said things amusing. Finally Cologne
turned to Kodachi finally acknowledging her presence, "And who is this,
son-in-law?"
"Matriarch Kuh Lon, it seems you have forgotten Saotome Kodachi."
Nabiki-kun answered for her brother. Cologne didn't bat an eyelash,
"Kodachi, meet Cologne."
"Ahh, the lovely girl my son-in-law has fallen in love with."
Cologne laughed a little as she looked at her up and down, it was a
teasing gesture rather than an appraising look, "You seem different
from the last time I saw you, Kodachi."
"Umm... I'm a completely different person, now... matriarch." From
her hesitation, Nabiki knew Kodachi had been unsure as how to address
the three-foot shriveled up woman. It was hard to conjure up respect
for someone who barely came up to your hips. Nabiki-kun noted she
didn't comment on the 'fallen in love' part.
Cologne looked at her intently and nodded, taking her time to
answer, "So it seems. At least I can rest assured my great-
granddaughter lost to a fair match?"
The unease never left the twins' faces. Cologne suspected that much
of what she was saying was striking chords. Sore ones. The two were
just too proud to tell her to back off. That or they really just wanted
to hear it.
"Umm.. excuse me? What fair match?" Kodachi seemed genuinely
puzzled.
Cologne turned to Ranma-chan. "Are you planning to tell me why our
dear Kodachi is the curious sort today, or will you keep me guessing?"
"Kodachi claims she has amnesia."
"Amnesia?" Cologne raised her eyebrow and appraised the girl. She
stopped, then searching her pockets, pulled out a shampoo labeled 110,
she threw it to Ranma-chan, who caught it instinctively. She smiled
mischievously, "You do remember the Xai Fang Gao(95) technique, don't
you? Ever since that little incident, I've always kept the remedy close
at hand."
Nabiki-kun's eyes widened at the sight of the bottle. How could they
forget?
Nabiki shielded her eyes from the sun as she touched her hair, she
felt somewhat...refreshed. As if she had just taken a bath. A
persistent voice in the back of her head told her that she was doing
something important, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't
remember what it was.
Standing up from the small forest, Nabiki decided that it was time
to get to the palace, she was sure Cologne would give another one of
those lectures for her being late and she wasn't in the mood for any
such lecture.
Someone walking beside her, following her towards the palace
interrupted her brooding. She didn't so much as mind his company, more
than that he seemed to remind her of something she couldn't put her
finger on.
He waited until they reached the city gates before he spoke, "So,
what happened, Nabiki? Did you win?"
That made her stop on her tracks, now how would someone she doesn't
know, pinpoint her name? She was sure she knew everyone around the
palace, even the maids. A commoner outside the palace couldn't possibly
know who she was. She was a palace secret. A Chinese commoner wouldn't
know Japanese.
"That bad, huh?"
There was a small click, and Nabiki remembered that what this boy
claimed was what she was trying to do. She had been fighting with
Shampoo and Rian Pu, "It was rather inconclusive, Rian and Xian
disappeared," Nabiki answered trying to place a name on that
insufferable grin and that cocky stance. "How do you know about that?"
"You don't know?" The boy said incredulously. As if knowing how he
knew was her top most priority, "You take on two challenges at a time
and you don't expect me to find out? Nabiki, I'm not your brother for
nothing."
Nabiki started walking again, in a faster pace this time; some fool
of an idiot was claiming to be her brother. Did her father have a
consort while he was with Nodoka? Possible. He did resemble some
features of her father. "So... pops sent you to look for me?"
"Hey, I went to look for you on my own. There was this strange
feeling in my gut." He peered at her closely, concern filtered through
his bluish-gray eyes, "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I do not want to be babied." Nabiki answered pushing him away from
her, starting to run. To her disdain, he was rather quick as well; he
ran along side of her without any trouble, "Is there something the
matter?"
"I want to make sure you get to Cologne."
"Really, I can get there on my own."
"I know but I'm supposed to worry about you." He gave her another
one of those smiles and she had to admit, he was handsome. "I'm your
twin after all."
She managed to catch herself before she tripped, her so-called
brother steadied her with his left hand, "Would you mind repeating
that?"
He looked confused but complied with her request, stopping right
along with her, "I'm supposed to worry about you."
"No, after that that."
"What? That I'm your twin?"
Nabiki stared at him, then turned at the small puddle in the road,
brought on by the rains that they had been having recently, she looked
at him again, "I find that hard to believe."
"What?!"
"I can take the fact that you're my brother... but my twin?" She
eyed him suspiciously, "Do I know you at all?"
It took more than pouring water over him to bring him out of his
current face-plant.
Ranma-chan hefted the small bottle in his hands, "I'll keep this in
mind, Matriarch."
Kodachi just stared at the three of them cluelessly.
"Thank you for the gift." Nabiki-kun followed up, then bowed again,
"Matriarch? Excuse me, Lady Ranko, Lady Kodachi." Such times one needed
to be formal, especially with one such as Cologne watching, "I think my
bath is long overdue."
The old woman waved her staff. "Oh yes, the cat's in the bath!"
Nabiki managed to catch herself before she tripped, she could just
imagine Ranma cringing at that. 'So... Shampoo is here too... So why
does this make me think that Ranma wants me here so he can escape them
all?'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~||-----------^_^-----------||~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Footnotes:
(yes, it really does start at 85)
(85) The Duo Jet Ski Raging Waters Attack: I don't know if it's in the
manga, but Ranma and Akane in the Anime, when they dealt with the Dojo
destroyer used this move. I don't know the Japanese term of this anyone
wanna help me out? Nabiki referred to it as The Raging Waters attack
because (obviously) there isn't any jet skis in the 17th century.
(86) Yes there are such books, and boys in Primary School learned them
in Japan. I learned that here:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html
(87) No, I don't know if there were grills back then. I don't know how
they cooked okonomiyaki without grills, and I don't know when
okonomiyaki was born :)
(88) Kashiko: Cake Child
Kashi: cake
Ko: child, baby
Arc :)
(89) There is an event in the Kamakura vacinity in the Yuigihama beach
in mid-August, they watch fireworks display and such. I'm not sure if
there are fireworks in 1600's but hey, anything's possible. Besides
let's just say that the Yuigahama meetings changed over the years.
(90) Shizukama: If you missed this earlier on (Rian's death), it's
Nabiki's second name.
shizuka: calm, serene, tranquil
ma: three guesses, the first two don't count ;)
(91) Zabuton: cushions used to sit on
(92) Hanko: this is a stamp. People in Japan don't sign (even then)
they use stamps and every individual in Japan has one. This is used in
all situations where any signature is required.
(93) Tetsuma: Horse of Steel
This is the twin's real father.
Saotome Ranma-noh-Tetsuma roughly translates to Saotome Ranma of
Tetsuma or from Tetsuma. (The connection of names after the 'noh'
part is very flexible, it could be used connecting any name in
your family with you depending on the way your name is used.)
(94) Hachi-gatsu: Eighth month, August.
(95) Xai Fang Gao: This is Shampoo's technique. Shampoo used this to
take away certain parts of Akane's memory: basically RANMA. 109 was the
shampoo to make you forget and 110 was the remedy. (I don't know the
translation, anyone wanna help out again?? :)
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Author's Notes:
Okay, sorry this took too long and I think I cut JM Bickham's editing
of this, but I really wanted to send this out already. :)
Okay... some say it's too long, others say it's too short, but since
I can't please everybody :) we'll have to settle for this.
Any speculations on the Tendos and Ifuku's and her husband's involvement
to them will be welcome.
People ask about Akane and Nabiki's fight, well to that question,
which I have failed to answer, here it is:
Why was Nabiki's fight with Akane sort of like when she fought Ranma?
She was like that when she was sixteen, didn't she get at least a
little better? Okay, Akane when sixteen couldn't land a punch at a
Ranma who wasn't trained to kill.
Akane at twenty nine, who is in another woman's body, hasn't trained
a lot, just recovering from her illness and fighting a Nabiki who is
proficient in Anything Goes and practices quite a lot *with* the
intent to kill, is just the same thing, probably even less chances
for Akane to win.
So while Akane *did* get better with the years, she doesn't *know*
any special skills. Let's try to remember that without Ranma,
Ryoga really doesn't know any special skills either, so basically,
Akane hasn't *seen* any special skills, so sees no reason to
train in them/believe in them.
Much as I like to continue on this rant, whoever wants to take
up the argument can send me a letter :) I'm very open to hear
complaints about stuff like this. Let me warn you though,
I can tolerate rants, but I want reasonable comments so
you can get reasonable answers. (Don't tell me: YOUR FIC
IS BAD YOU BITCH and leave me hanging, k??? I want reasons
so I can justify my actions... leaving out the bitch part
is good too. :)
Okay I think that this particular rant is over:) Now to turn back
to reformatting my computer :)
See 'ya
iCe
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ICQ: 51376120
Please be reminded send mail to me at: Ice-o8o@usa.net [that's an o
and not zero, both of them] and not at this address (although
you can just press the reply button :)
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I write when the spirit moves, and I make sure it moves everyday :)
~~Unknown
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