Ok, this time I have a title, doesn't make much sense. Thanks
goes mostly to Hitomi, White Wolf (cause I love her so), and Andrew.
BTW, was washing dishes that I had stole from our colleges dining
hall and noticed that on the bottom side of it was written, "Made in
China." I laughed, don't ask why.
Prelude
"It is said that in time of turmoil, nature's horrors come out."
The men occupying the serving hall of the inn were of
the usual low class warriors, hardly better then the
stinking peasants who toiled and wasted on the fields. The
man who entered, although not wearing any form of armor,
hardly would have caused a stir. His clothes were raggy and
torn, unfit for the coming winter, but his strong arms and
stern face kept the innkeeper from daring to turn him away
from a table. The man was bald and his thin face told of
many hardships. He had a companion, and this turned many
heads.
A woman, no, hardly a woman. She was wearing a
tattered cloak that partially hid her thin figure and the
hood draped over her head. Large clear eyes looked out from
it, her beauty fighting through despite the dirt. Many
snickered as they whispered amongst themselves the possible
relationship between the two. Many could also feel the
desire rise amongst themselves, but they too noticed the
strong arms and rough face of the man. But a little more
than few recognized the twitching fingers of a drunk. They
only need but wait.
They watched the man and the girl sit down, placing
their small belongings besides them, the men snickered again
as the girl placed a huge bamboo umbrella beside her
belongings. She took off her cloak and more than a few
gasped, she seemed to ignore them. None had ever seen a red
haired girl before, her hair long, and loosely twirled
together into a long braid. There were rumors though, of a
great warrior up north, who had red hair too, and they
whispered amongst themselves that it could be possible, then
snickered again as one commented on the rare "treasure" they
had come upon.
The girl leaned over and whispered something to the
man's ear and he whispered something back. They seemed to
argue, their hands and gestures making it plain even though
one could hardly hear a word. The girl sighed and she
yelled in a tired voice with a strange accent to the
innkeeper what they wanted and also what the men in the room
were waiting to hear. The men also recognized the accent.
The innkeeper demanded to see if they had any means to buy
anything and was satisfied as the girl opened a small sash
and showed him the insides. The innkeeper nodded and left.
A few minutes later, the innkeeper brought out food and
sake. The men in the room nodded to each other smiling and
smiled even broader as they noticed that the first thing the
tired man reached for was the sake. The girl gave a nervous
glance around the room and eyed the sheathed swords randomly
placed around the room, then began to eagerly stuff food
into her belly, quick and unceremoniously. When she was
done she whispered again to the man, who shook his head and
took another giant swig from the bottle. The girl got upset
and brought her mouth closer to the man's ear and nearly
shook him, but he pushed her away and took another drink and
then shook the empty bottle toward the innkeeper who nodded
and brought another. The girl gave another nervous glance
around the room.
The men waited another hour and then nodded toward a
particular large man, who seemed to be the most respected
amongst them. He got up and walked toward the table and
pulled up a chair and sat down next to the girl and placed
his arm casually around her. The rest of the men snickered
as he did so.
"So, little one, where are you coming from?"
The girl shoved his arm off and humphed. The man
smiled and placed his arm around her again, more tightly.
The girl's face flushed and this time moved her chair away
after taking the man's arm off her.
"Haha," another man laughed, "Kyoushiro definitely
wants this one!" The other men laughed too.
The girl gave a vicious stare to all the men that
nearly silenced them. She gave them a gaze that was so full
of hate and pain it nearly frightened them. But they were
men, and why should they be frightened of a girl? They
shifted around in their seats and checked the girl's
belongings with their eyes and were satisfied when they
didn't see any signs of a hidden sword or other. Some of
them smiled back.
"So, little one, why are you with this drunken sot?"
The man named Kyoushiro brought his chair closer to the
girl.
"Eh?" The rough man, now drunk, looked up from his
bottle. "Luanma, what's going on?"
The girl moved closer to the drunk man. Kyoushiro
suddenly reached across the table and grabbed the girl's
arm. He brought his other arm up over the table in front of
the drunk man and dropped several coins.
Silence in the room, even these men were shocked.
"Old man, I wish to take this girl off your hands.
Here is some money to give more life to your drinking."
"Wha..." it took some time for the drunk man to
understand. Then as if waking a sleeping bear, the drunk
man's face filled with anger and he grabbed the coins and
threw them at Kyoushiro's face. "Dare...dare you to think
of such...my son...no..." then almost as fast, the man's
face lost it's rage and fell once more into a lost
drunkeness.
"Ha, ha!! Kyoushiro, teach him a lesson!!" The other
men laughed at such sport and goaded him on. Kyoushiro was
the strongest amongst them and these men backed him in
everything.
The girl, apparently named Luanma, stared around the
room in panic and realized the danger. She got up from her
chair and tried to lift the drunk man off the chair. She
felt herself pushed back down in the chair.
"What, old man, you don't want more to drink?"
Kyoushiro said with a cruel smile, "let me take this
troublesome girl off your hands." At this, he bent down as
if to take a kiss from the girl.
The men were about to laugh but instead gasped as they
saw the drunk man knock Kyoushiro over the table. "Dare!!
Dare!!" The drunk man shouted and then lost his balance and
fell into his chair. The girl dropped her fists as she
looked at the drunk man.
She could hear swords being drawn.
"Stop!!" Kyoushiro shouted as he got up. The men
sheathed their swords. "So, got some strength in you yet,
old man?" Kyoushiro stood above the drunk man, who shivered
in fear as his arms spasmed drunkenly. Kyoushiro grabbed
the drunk man by his shirt then threw him, the man slammed
into and knocked over a table.
"Ba-Ba!!" The girl yelled and ran to the drunk man who
was now slightly bleeding across his cheek.
Kyoushiro walked over, unhidden viciousness across his
features as he said, "So, you care so much for that old man,
eh? OOOFFFF!!!!"
The men on the far wall dodged in time as Kyoushiro's
body smacked into the wall then fell down to the ground,
knocking over chairs.
"What!!" The men stared, they had hardly seen the girl
get up, rush over, pick Kyoushiro above her head, and then
toss him several yards across the room.
"You!! Don't bother us!! I am warn you!" The girl
had hurried over to her table and began grabbing their
stuff.
The men surrounded her and the drunk man, swords out in
the open. The innkeeper yelled behind them in panic.
The girl stared at all the men, teeth bared.
"Wait!!" Kyoushiro had gotten up. "Let me." He had
his sword out and walked through the circle. "Pieces of
shit, dare to hit me!! You will now be punished."
"Who's the piece of shit!?" The girl yelled back.
"You bitch!!" Kyoushiro attacked, his sword raised
above his head and rushed the girl.
The girl met him and stopped both his arms from
swinging the sword down with one hand, kicked him between
the legs, grabbed his sword, then stabbed the sword into his
leg. Then she picked him up again and Kyoushiro flew across
the room again and crashed into the far wall.
This was no ordinary girl!! All the men rushed her.
"Luanma!!" The drunk man had gained some clarity and
tossed her the bamboo umbrella.
The men had surrounded her and all attacked with their
swords raised and dropped them on top of the girls head.
The girl caught the umbrella, opened it above her, and split
her legs as she dropped to the ground. The swords were
impossibly stopped by the umbrella. Then the umbrella spun
as the girl underneath yelled and spun her leg out and
tripped all the men surrounding her.
She closed the umbrella and knocked three of the swords
out of the three men on the floor in front of her. Then
with another giant swing of the umbrella, smacked all three
across the head. She did the same to two others on the
floor behind her. The others had managed to stand however
and were grouped together blocking the way to the door.
The men attacked and the girl desperately blocked their
attacks, realizing at the same time that they weren't trying
to kill her, just hurt her. She blocked another sword
coming for her head but the large man kept pushing and they
were at a deadlock. She saw the sword coming and knew there
was nothing she could do about it. It slashed her shirt.
Her face flushed in anger and she kicked the one, who
cut her shirt, across the face then the one she was
deadlocked inbetween the legs. She swung her umbrella so
hard against the man's head he crashed into the other one
and both went flying into the crowded men.
"Ma de!!" She yelled then suddenly grabbed the drunken
man around the waist and threw him above the heads of the
men towards the exit and as they were distracted, crashed
into them, swinging her umbrella left and right. "Ma de, Ma
de, Ma de," she damned in Chinese slamming her umbrella left
and right, then grabbed the drunken man's hand, who had just
gotten up, nearly broke the door off it's hinges, as she
slammed through it to the dark outside.
It had begun to rain.
Ranma 1/2 Fan-Fic "The War of Leaves"
They ran not knowing if they were being chased or not,
the huge umbrella easily covering the both of them.
"Damn it!" Luanma held onto her father's drunk arms
yelling at him in Chinese. After running frantically for
thirty minutes, they finally stopped to rest for a little
bit. She shook the drunk man. "Ba-Ba!! Why can't we have
one day of rest!! Why!!"
The drunk man just groaned and took a swig of the
bottle he had managed to carry. The girl grabbed it from
him.
"Why are we here! As if we didn't have enough troubles
living back at China!"
The old man groaned. "But Luanma, this is your home!!
Here is where you were born!"
"I don't care!! At least we found people kind enough
to let us in!! Here they all think we're thieves!! And
back there, what if we didn't have the umbrella!! What if
we lost the umbrella!"
"But Luanma," pain was clearly in the man's eyes, "this
is your home, not China."
"Aaarrrggghhh!" Luanma fell to the ground, she could
almost feel herself weeping. For as long as she could
remember, her father had been a miserable drunk. There were
nights when he slept, sick from alcohol, she heard him
talking in his dreams. Of his home, Japan. To her, it
sounded so wonderful!! A giant home, people who served
you... So when father had suggested returning, not only had
she hoped it would help his drinking, she had hoped, hoped
with all her heart, that her life would finally find
happiness. But not only had her father's drinking got
worse...
She held it in, staring at the ground, no longer able
to look at her pathetic father. At least she got to eat,
she thought to herself. "Ba-Ba, I don't remember Japan. I
don't want too, I don't like it." Luanma knew she was
whining and hated it, but she couldn't stop. "But you...you
said..." Luanma paused to recover, "you said you wanted
to..." Luanma couldn't get the rest out, she knew her father
couldn't survive without her, especially if he changed.
Genma too, stood silent, holding the umbrella
unsteadily, crying freely, pride lost long ago.
From seemingly nowhere, a low singing voice sneaked its
way through the rain.
"Ah, the jewel-like camellia, and the jewel-like willow
that grows in Takasago, Upon Saisago Hill---" at this, the
voice held out the word then stopped abruptly as if the
singer had forgotten the rest.
Had one of the men followed them? Luanma jumped up and
turned around and yelled behind herself. "You are who!?"
The man jumped as if she had surprised him and then
said, "Oh, just a traveller, like you," Luanma could see the
outline of the man's body. The man walked closer and as he
did, Luanma saw him clearly despite the half hidden moon.
An odd-looking man with a low forehead, a common mistake to
be a sign of dullness, a flat wide nose; almost as large as
his mouth, and a wide chin. He was smiling and wore the
garments of a warrior. His teeth shone. "Where are you
headed?"
There was something wrong with this man. Something
that frightened Luanma. "Hmph," she stood in front of her
father, "a left over from the inn."
At that, the man looked confused then said, "What inn?"
He smiled a toothy smile and Luanma gasped as his eyes began
to glow red. "I think you're a stranger to our country,
no?"
"What!?" Something else had changed and Genma and
Luanma stepped back. They stared around them. It was no
longer cold. Luanma held out her hand and felt the hot
rain. "Hot!?" Luanma looked back at the man and nearly
screamed in fear, but that same fear froze her, her mouth
hanging open.
The man was changing, a horn grew from his head as his
mouth stretched out and formed jaws like that of a dog's,
his forehead already low his ears need but stretch up and
out to complete the picture, his arm's grew longer and
thinner until they nearly touched the ground and from his
back grew black wings like those of a bat, his legs grew
long and lanky and bent like a wolf standing on its hind
legs. It howled like a wolf too and before Luanma recovered
from its change from man to monster, it charged toward them.
"Ba-Ba!" Desperation broke the fear as Luanma pushed
her father to the side and jumped out of the umbrella as the
creature swished past them. She could feel the change as
her clothing tightened around her and the strange hot rain
soaked her.
The creature turned around in a malicious smile then
that ugly grin turned into shock. "Man!?" it growled
through saliva that dripped to the floor. It seemed to grow
angry and howled again and rushed Luanma. "MAN!!?"
Luanma jumped over it and as he passed over the
creature, kicked with both legs into the back of its head,
then flipped and landed closer to his father, who had
realized it was now safe for him to drop the umbrella.
"Ba-Ba!! What is it!!?" Luanma breathed heavily, his
knees shaking.
Genma shivered despite the steam around them. "I don't
know! Luanma, quick, remember what you learned!!"
The thing stared at them and then giggled, a nasty,
gurggling giggle, the kick seemed to have calmed its
surprise and anger.
Luanma tried to concentrate, tried to forget his fear,
but everytime the creature looked at him, his concentration
failed. "Ba-Ba, I can't!" The creature seemed to eminate
fear, a strange almost locking fear, unnatural as the
creature was.
The creature lunged again, claws reaching out to both
of them. Genma and Luanma barely dodged, the claws
scratching at Luanma's clothing. Luanma slipped on the mud
and fell on his back and flipped backwards in a panic, not
knowing if the creature was attacking him or not. He looked
desperately around and saw his father fighting the monster.
Genma ducked underneath the creature's swing and kicked
out one leg beneath it, and as it fell, he kicked out again
into its stomach and sent it flying back. He turned and ran
towards Luanma but then felt something smash into him.
Luanma felt his heart skip a beat as the creature got
up, totally unaffected by Genma's kick, and smash Genma's
head against the tree. "BA-BAAA!!!" Luanma couldn't see if
his father was bleeding or not. "BA-BA?" No reply. The
creature giggled again.
Luanma felt cold inside.
The creature sensed the change in its prey. Its prey
was no longer scared. The creature howled and shook its
head and opened its jaws showing its clear teeth. Its prey
was still not scared.
Luanma stared at the creature calmly that had so easily
beaten his father. He raised his hands and breathed deeply,
easily. He could feel the coolness within turn to burning
heat. He was no longer scared. He would destroy this
monster. Luanma forced all that heat into his arms and
could feel it waiting to be released.
The creature howled again, it was furious. It didn't
understand why its prey was no longer scared. Once more it
leapt in rage.
Luanma opened his palms, bent them a little, then
pushed out and let go.
The blast lit up the night.
Luanma watched the creature's body fly toward the
forest, he wasn't sure if he had killed it. He walked
towards his father's body.
Only when she saw her father change into a panda did
she realize that the rain had turned cold again.
"Ba-Ba," whispered Luanma checking over her father.
She felt a large bruise on the side of Genma's head, but
other than that, there didn't seem to be anything wrong.
Luanma sat her father up against the same tree that his head
had smashed into. "Ba-Ba," she whispered and fell asleep on
the ground.
The panda woke up and blinked toward the sun. It felt
ill. It stood up on its hind legs, not knowing how it
could, then went back down on all fours. It looked around,
wimpering, noticing that it was standing underneath a tree
amongst a field of grass. It then noticed the girl. It
walked toward the girl and nudged her slightly across the
cheek and then grunted slightly. The girl woke up.
Luanma shivered, her clothes were wet. "Ba-Ba," she
whispered and pushed the panda slightly away then checked
the bag next to her. Her back ached but she was used to it
and rummaged through the travel stained bag, pulling out her
other set of clothing, and began to undress.
"Was it a nightmare," Luanma asked the panda then she
shook her head, "but of course you wouldn't understand,
would you?"
The panda just whimpered.
She sighed and shivered then put on the dry pair of
clothing. The weather was getting colder and colder. The
panda whimpered then pressed its large warm fuzzy body next
to her. She pushed it slightly away, a look of annoyance on
her face. She packed everything back up, placed the
umbrella on top of the bag, through the loop, tied it in
place, then placed the bag across her back. She turned
toward the panda, "C'mon, Ba-Ba, let's see where you've
taken us." She began to walk, the panda following her, not
really understanding.
Tendo Akane burned the letter, as she always did with
Kuno Tatewaki's poems of love. She had sent her maid away
so she could be left alone in private and enjoy the recent
writing and honor that Kuno had given her. Its been several
months since Kuno had noticed the youngest daughter of the
Tendo estate and had already had many dinners with her
father to arrange a deal.
"Why wasn't I born a man," thought Akane, staring at
her sword which lay across the wall. "Oh Shikiri, why did
you have to die?" She remembered the old man, who had
fought in so many wars, but his career ended when he lost
the use of his right arm. He use to laugh at her tears and
take her into his one good arm and tell her not to worry.
That some day a prince would come and take all her troubles
away. When she had gotten older, her father had allowed
Shikiri to teach her the Warrior's Path, unlike her other
two older sisters, one who had married and already left
their father's estate and another, who stayed home, behind a
curtain all day.
A year ago, Shikiri felt his death approaching early
and had given her the sword and told her to hide it, before
he went back to his bed and breathed his last.
Shikiri knew she was good and had told her on many
occasions that even with both his arms, Akane would have
beat him, despite her young age. That was why he had given
her the sword. Tendo Akane was Shikiri's dream, he was
hoping she would be his path to greatness.
But in wars, women weren't allowed to fight!! What was
the use of teaching her the sword?
Akane sighed. She had so many dreams but she also
realized how futile it all was. No matter how much she
wanted, no matter how much she dared, she knew father would
force her to eventually marry Kuno, who is reknown
throughout the Honshu province. "Father always wanted the
best for you," she said out loud mockingly deep.
Kuno Tatewaki was the head of the Kuno clan and ruled
Ise Taira, a large district only a few miles west of her
father's estate. Her marrying Kuno would gain her father
more power and respect. She also knew that Kuno was
hopelessly in love with her and would never harm her if she
was his wife and that was why her father was finally giving
her up. "But why to such an idiot!! All he wants to do is
die honorable and stupidly fighting barbarians some day."
Akane needed air and called her maid in.
The maid helped her undress out of the many many layers
of her dress, careful not to entangle her long shiny black
hair. Then the maid took out a simpler, if not as
beautiful, dress and helped Akane into it.
After preparing her, the maid opened the door and
walked in front of Akane, slowly. They approached the main
door of the surrounding house walls, across the garden, and
walked out. For her rides about the land Akane preferred to
wear a simple one layered dress that allowed her to sit
comfortably for hours. It was a red dress however, and died
silk was expensive, straight from the T'ang dynasty, but to
this, Akane hardly gave a thought.
Outside many men strode about, some wearing swords and
practicing, some not. Recently the surrounding wall of the
estate had begun to deteriorate and Tendo Soun had ordered
it rebuilt. Currently many men were on ladders, the din of
hammers could be heard all over. Akane held her ears and
told her maid to get the carriage. She wished to travel a
little bit. The maid nodded, Tendo Akane was known to do
such.
The maid had gotten a carriage and two horses and after
getting the men to rig the horses up, got a driver, and had
him bring it to Akane.
Hibiki Ryouga was sweating a little, he had just put up
several beams for the wall, the other men awing at his
strength, as he pounded nails into the wood in one stroke of
the hammer. He was called down and asked to drive the
horses for Tendo Akane. He smiled in joy and jumped from
the top of the wall and landed lightly on the bottom and
sprinted across to the stables.
Akane looked up and smiled. Her maid had chose well.
Her father's favorite roto would take her around her
father's lands. Akane told the maid to take the day off and
that she'll be back in an hour if father got worried. She
then turned towards Ryouga's offered hand. The quiet man
smiled amiably back and helped her up onto the carriage and
then with a slight move of the reins, got the horses into a
light run, and out of the entry.
Hibiki Ryouga was well known on her father's lands,
word of his great strength had spread quickly. Tendo Soun
was quick to grab him and make him into a roto, when the
time to fight came, Ryouga would be great assistance in
carrying many items of war. Also, Ryouga's strength helped
in many things within the protecting walls of Soun's grande
estate.
Tendo Soun was regarded as the most kindest of estate
owners and many people were often shown his kind hand, none
would ever think of harming Akane. Hibiki Ryouga, too,
loved the man and would die for him. Tendo Soun had given
him the money to pay for his sick mother's medicine, and
would give him leave from time to time to visit her.
Tendo Soun, in his turn, felt something akin to a son
toward Ryouga, but the best he could do for the poor boy was
make him into roto, since he had no noble blood. He would
make a great warrior too, Tendo had thought often, but only
nobles were allowed to war. But Soun did prefer having
Ryouga with Akane, whenever she was hit with an urge to move
about, it was ensured that Akane would not get hurt.
Akane breathed in easily as the cart finally left the
walls of her confining home. "Ryouga-kun," she said as if
to a friend, "How are you? I hear father has you very
busy."
"Oh, its nothing! I'm just glad that Tendo-sama has
ordered the wall fixed."
"You're so busy, I never see you!" Akane laughed a
little.
"Heh, heh!" Ryouga blushed, thankful that his back was
toward her. "You're too kind, Tendo-san."
"Ryouga, I have an idea!"
"Yes, Tendo-san?"
"Let's go to Ishigi, you know, that town towards Ise
Taira?"
"Ishigi!! But that's off your father's lands!"
"Oh, who cares, Ryouga-kun! No ones going to find out.
Besides, your pants have all these holes in it, I'll buy you
a new one."
"Tendo-san!" Ryouga's found it hard to breathe. "A
present from you! But we can buy one from one of the many
cloth stores on your father's estate, within even the walls!
I'm sorry, Tendo-san, I can't. Your father would be upset!"
"Don't worry, c'mon, Ryouga-kun. If anything happens,
I'll tell father its my fault."
"Hai," Ryouga sighed and turned the horses toward the
road that Akane pointed out that would lead them to Ishigi.
He could never disappoint his mistress.
They entered the town which had several stalls outside
with men shouting their wares, people walking about, and
other such happenings were occuring. Once in a while,
someone visiting Ishigi, familiar with Ryouga, would shout
out his name and wave and Ryouga would wave back. Akane
would smile each time, glad to see her friend being known so
well.
She looked about and began to daydream what it must be
like living here, on her own. Away from her father's estate
and her worries, and especially Kuno. She did not realize
that Ryouga was letting the horses run on their own as he
glimpsed around him, wondering where he was but trusting his
mistress.
They came upon an odd sight. There was a throng of
people oohing and gasping at something. Akane told Ryouga
to stop the horses which he did. She stood up on the
carriage as did Ryouga. They looked over the heads of the
excited people and they, too, gasped.
A young lady with red hair, was doing acrobats on and
around what appeared to be a bear. A white and black bear.
"A panda," whispered Akane, "that's a panda!!"
"Tendo-san, what is that?" Ryouga asked in a loud
voice over the cheers of the crowd.
"A panda, Ryouga-kun!! They're for real!! Shikiri
used to tell me about them!! They're only found in China!!
I used to laugh at Shikiri, how angry he would get that I
didn't believe!" Akane watched some more as the slight girl
danced about, kicking and flipping while the panda strode
about, allowing her to use its back once in a while.
The girl finally stopped, breathing easily, and landed,
then bowed. "Thank you, everybody," she yelled in a loud
voice. "Money need for me and father."
"She's from China," said Akane excitedly to Ryouga, she
recognized the accent from some of her father's visitors
from that giant land.
The girl went on, "If you would so kind some coins?"
The girl gave a brilliant smile and went around with a bowl
accepting coins from the people who surrounded her. The
panda seemed upset that so many people were too close to her
and gave a growl, but the girl patted it harshly on its head
and pointed toward the wall which they had performed in
front of. The panda whined and walked over to the wall and
sat down.
Akane jumped down from the cart, uncaring to get her
dress dirty. She prodded her way through the crowd. Ryouga
shouted, "Wait!!" then followed after her.
Akane approached the young girl who held her bowl out
towards her. Akane dropped an obscene amount of money in
the bowl. The people around her gasped. But instead of
being grateful, the girl gave her an insolent stare and
humphed.
"Thank you," the girl said bowing but gave Akane the
feeling as if the girl was looking down her nose at her.
The girl made as if to turn away.
"Wait, are you from China?" Akane grasped the girl's
arm.
The girl whipped her eyes at Akane's and Akane took a
step back letting go. "Yes," the eyes seemed to forgive and
Akane felt as if she had just escaped death.
Ryouga did not miss that stare.
"Um...uh..." Akane couldn't speak for some reason.
"Well?" The people around them gasped, to talk to such
a noble lady was unheard of.
Akane felt her confidence return, along with anger.
Who was this girl to talk to her like this. "I wish for you
to accompany me to my father's estate."
"Why I do that?"
"Because I order you to."
"Hmph," the girl turned away.
Ryouga grabbed her arm and the two faced each other,
glaringly. "Tendo-san was speaking to you," Ryouga managed
to get out through his teeth.
Ryouga felt them being covered with a shadow, he looked
up and nearly screamed in terror. The panda had its mouth
open, teeth slightly yellow, and its arms raised above its
head towering above them.
"Ba-Ba!! No!!" Luanma pulled her arm out of his grip
and pushed the panda back.
Ryouga shivered.
Akane had froze too, so preoccupied had she been with
how cute the panda looked, she never realized how dangerous
it could be. She quickly went into her speech mode that she
only used during formal occasions and with Kuno. "We did
not mean to upset you. We are sorry but we would still like
you to come with us if it pleases you."
"For what?"
"I would like you to give a show to my father's men, it
would raise their morale."
The girl seemed to think this over then turned back
towards her with an unfriendly smile. "We get food and
home?"
"If you please us."
"Sound good."
Luanma had refused to ride in the carriage besides the
noble lady, at this the driver seemed to approve of probably
because he didn't want her sitting next to his lady. Luanma
saw the stares he kept giving his lady and couldn't help but
smile. "Stupid fool," she said to herself, "falling for her
fake beauty." But Luanma couldn't help but feel jealous of
the beautiful silk dress that the lady Akane was wearing,
"but why should I feel that? I'm a man!" thought Luanma to
herself then consoled herself that she was looking at the
dress because of the rich material it was made from, "Better
to wear what the driver was wearing, I still have my pride."
The driver's clothing, though simple, was infinitely better
than her own. Luanma forced herself from picking at her
clothing as she rode on top of the panda's back.
Tendo Akane kept herself from picking at her dress.
She felt nervous around this strange girl, whom she knew was
looking at her but everytime she turned to face her, the
girl was looking away. "Or maybe I'm imagining it. But
what a surprise it'll be for father!" At this, she couldn't
help but smile. It was the ninth month and there hasn't
been a festival for over a month. She looked over at the
girl again, who was looking straight forward riding the
panda along the cart, and her smile turned to a frown. It
was getting cold and the girl was inappropriately dressed.
Akane was going to have to get her some new clothing, "and
this will also be better for the performance." Akane smiled
again.
Ryouga kept the horses from trotting too fast. These
rides with Akane were precious to him, only then did she
ever talk to him like a friend. "But only as a friend," he
sighed to himself. To share this ride with someone else,
however...He looked over at the girl. He had decided on the
outset not to like her, to despise her, but he couldn't help
but notice her simple beauty either. Then the girl suddenly
turned to him and gave a malicious smile, darting her eyes
toward Tendo Akane. Ryouga's face flushed, "Why that...
How did she..? When... Humph!!" Ryouga turned away and
stared at the road, even though he had no idea where they
were going.
Akane turned to the girl, "So when did you come to
Honshu?"
The girl just looked straight.
Akane grimaced then said, "Where did you learn how to
do those flips?"
The same.
"Answer me, damn it!!"
"Gou pi," said the girl.
"What!" Akane was getting angry, "What was that!?
Tell me what that was!"
The girl slammed her eyes upon Akane and said, "You all
time talk so much?"
Akane was taken aback. "How...how..."
"How dare you!!" Ryouga stopped the horses. "Don't
you dare talk to Tendo-san that way!"
"Hmph, why should I care how I talk to *Tendo-san*?"
Luanma and the panda kept walking further.
"Ryouga, please, calm down. Miss? Miss?" At Ryouga's
outburst, Akane realized that her anger was getting the
better of her and that she was not acting like one of her
class.
"Yes," Luanma stopped the panda and turned around.
"Please, I'm sorry to have offended you. But I need to
know some information if I am to show you to my father."
"Hmph. Hao. Ask."
Ryouga started the horses again.
"Where are you from?"
"China."
"No, I mean specifically," Akane wondered where women
were allowed to do such things. She knew from Ishigi that
in some parts of China, women were allowed to do certain
things.
"China."
"Eh..." Akane gave up, "So when did you arrive to
Honshu?"
"Week ago."
"Do you know anybody in Honshu?"
"No. Wait...you know somebody, Saotome?"
"No."
"Hao, then, no, know nobody." Luanma smiled sadly.
Akane smiled back, now she was getting somewhere. "Oh
look!! There's my father's estate!"
Ryouga yelled at the gate guards who yelled back a
friendly greeting. The gates were already opened and the
group was let in.
Luanma held in her awe, forcing her jaw shut. In front
of her loomed a giant wall made of wood, easily defendable
if it had to be.
As they entered, all work stopped.
They rode through the main road a bit, passing by small
shops and houses. Luanma stared at everything, all this
belonged to that girl's father, she thought. Everybody
first stopped to stare at her and the panda, then turned to
give a friendly greeting to Tendo Akane.
They went down the road a bit and stopped in front of
another walled area, like a smaller version of the first one
they had passed into, except more elegant.
Ryouga stopped the cart at the end of the road in front
of the main house. He jumped off and helped Akane down.
"Ryouga, I'll go in and tell father what's happening,"
Akane took out some coins and held them out to Ryouga. "Use
this to buy pants for yourself and an outfit for the girl.
OK?"
"Yes, Tendo-san," Ryouga bowed.
"Yes, Tendo-san," mouthed Luanma breaking into a smile.
The two walked in silence down the street then Ryouga
turned toward a small shop that sold clothing. Luanma told
the panda to stay still outside.
"Ah, Ryouga-kun, how are you?" A friendly large woman
with rosy cheeks walked up to them. "What brings you here?
And who is this young lady!" She elbowed Ryouga gently.
"My Lord!" The woman noticed the condition Luanma was in,
"What happened to you! Oh, you poor girl!!"
"Ms. Wasabe, Tendo-san and I picked her up and..."
"Why don't just stand there, Ryouga!! Go get a large
bucket!!"
"Huh?"
"Baka!! She needs a bath!"
"No...," said Luanma backing up.
The large woman enfolded her and grasped her to her
chest, her flabby sides engulfing Luanma. "Now don't you
worry, deary, let old Ms. Wasabe take care of you. Ryouga,
go!"
"Umph!!" Luanma tried to breathe through the woman's
chest.
"Uh, Hai!" Ryouga went to the back of the store the
woman following, literally carrying Luanma.
"Now stand right here, my dear, I'll be right back.
Ryouga-kun, fill the bucket with hot water, ok?" The woman
left as Ryouga went out the back door with a couple of small
buckets.
"Ryouga! Wait!"
"What! What do you want!" Ryouga didn't look too
happy.
"Cold water."
"Why would I," Ryouga started.
"Do!!"
"Fine," Ryouga mumbled as he left, "Who does she think
she is talking like that?"
Soon the large wooden tub was filled and the woman had
returned.
"Ryouga-kun, why cold water?"
Ryouga shrugged and pointed toward Luanma.
"Oh, I like cold water."
"Ah, deary, I know, I know. I like cold baths myself.
Keeps me looking young. Well now, don't just stand there,
take those old clothes off!! Ryouga-kun, go to the front,
you said you needed some pants?" Ryouga left. "There
should be a couple just right for you. Girly, what are you
doing standing there?" The woman began to pull off Luanma's
clothing. Luanma blushed but let her. "Well, in you go!"
Luanma slowly entered the tub, shivering as the water
touched her crawling up her leg. She got the other one in
and stood there shivering, naked. Holding her breathe, she
sank quickly down.
After the woman made sure she was settled in she began
to show Luanma some clothing.
"See this one, this one my young one used to wear
before she off and got married. Ah, poor girl. She never
visits."
"But Ms. Wasabe, its too nice! Can I have something
simpler? I need pants. Boy pants. Tendo wants me to do
acrobats with panda."
"Acrobats!? Bread? Ahhh, you're an energetic one,
aren't you? Well, let me see what I got..." the large woman
left then returned with some pants. She frowned. "They
seem a little large for you? But I can cut them down..."
"No, Ms. Wasabe, Hao ba. I can fold bottoms."
"Don't worry, deary, won't take more than a couple of
minutes."
"NO- I mean, it OK. I like loose pants, makes it easy
for me when I do acrobats."
"If that's the way you want it, deary. But at least
let me give you two more since you remind me of my little
one."
"Th-thank you, Ms. Wasabe." Luanma finally felt
something loosen up inside her. For days on end she felt as
if she had been constantly hated, by everyone, everything.
Plus that thing last night did nothing to help. But this
woman, so kind to her, who seemed to have nothing evil in
her heart, reminded her of something, but Luanma wasn't sure
what it was.
"Now, out you go!" The woman helped Luanma out then
soaked a soft clothe in the water and lathered it with soap
then began to scrub hard as Luanma stood there naked.
"AI! AIYA!" Luanma squirmed.
"No, no, deary, stand still, we have to get all the
dirt off." The woman continued to scrub as Luanma continued
to squirm. Then the large woman easily picked up the huge
bucket and dunked it over Luanma's head.
"Gwrglephah..." Luanma felt relieved that the scrubbing
was over. She looked at herself, everywhere was pink, but
she felt good.
Ryouga watched the girl as she hugged Ms. Wasabe,
slightly blushing, then nearly laughed at Luanma's broken
Japanese as she tried to appropriately thank her. The need
to laugh, though, stopped as the girl turned to him,
smiling. He almost smiled back, she was pretty after all,
but then grimaced as she frowned when their eyes met.
"Well, Ryouga-kun, tell me, how is Tendo-san?"
"Oh, she's fine, Ms. Wasabe. Here."
"Oh, I'll take only for your pants. The rest, for
Luanma-chan, is for free." Wasabe gave Luanma some shirts.
"There you go deary, now don't forget, if you ever need
anything else, old Wasabe is here."
"Thank you," said Luanma bowing and began to get on her
knees to kow tow.
"Deary!! What are you doing!? Now, now, now, get up!!
Get up!!" Wasabe picked up Luanma. "Ryouga-kun, use the
rest of the money to get Luanma something to eat, then keep
the rest to yourself, ok?"
"Hai, Ms. Wasabe."
Luanma noticed some other pants and shirts. "Oh, Ms.
Wasabe, I buy these?"
"Oh, but those are way too big for you unless you plan
on getting as big as me!"
"I need, please?"
"Oh, sure, sure. But I refuse to make you buy them."
"Thank you."
Ryouga saw the girl slip some coins next to the window
as they left.
The two sat in silence on the wooden floor as they ate.
The girl eating fast as if someone was going to reach out
and take it away from her. Ryouga ate slowly, as Tendo's
roto, he ate well compared to most.
Their chopsticks met as they reached for the chicken.
Their eyes met then Luanma slowly withdrew hers then scooped
some rice up to her mouth, a little more slower than before.
"I guess I thank you too," said Luanma none too loudly.
"For what," said Ryouga.
"I eat no meat for days," said Luanma.
Ryouga was surprised then noticed how skinny she was.
"Why, she looks Japanese," and he told her so.
"I am," admitted Luanma.
"But..."
"I long live in China," Luanma had no idea why she was
telling him this.
Ryouga had never heard of anything like that. They
continued eating in silence.
"I am sorry that I am rude before, I hope you tell
Tendo-san that."
Ryouga no longer found her strange broken Japanese
funny any more. Ryouga nodded then smiled at her.
Luanma wasn't looking up anymore.
Ryouga was going to say something, then stopped as he
realized that she might be crying.
Ryouga had ordered a lot of food, expecting her to eat
more, but she seemed to stop for a little bit, still eyeing
the food.
"What's wrong? Why'd you stop eating?"
"Um, we can take food with us?"
"Yeah, but if you want to eat later, you just have to
ask. My masters estate is one of the richest in Honshu."
"Not for me, for panda."
"Oh."
A little later, they walked out of the small
restaurant, Luanma carrying her clothing in one bundle and
food in another bundle. The panda sniffed eagerly at the
food but Luanma pushed it away. "Later," she said then
followed Ryouga back to the main house, the panda following.
"Here is your room," the maid pushed aside the sliding
doors and led them in, careful to avoid the panda. She had
lead them to a smaller house to the side of the main house
where most of the servants live.
"Thank you," said Luanma. "You leave pots there."
The maid set the pots down and seemed to wait.
"Um...you leave, if you want."
The maid bowed and made her exit.
Luanma waited a few minutes then poured the bucket
containing hot water on the panda. A second later, her
father sat there staring at her. He shook his head and
looked back at her, his eyes trying to focus from the
change. Luanma waited patiently for the change to go from
physical to also mental.
"Where am I?" Genma stared around, surprised.
"Some noble lady took us in, Ba-Ba." Luanma opened up
one of the bundles and took out a pair of clothing. "Here
you go, new clothing!"
"Where'd you get this? And food too!! Chicken! Did
you get some sake?" Genma's face turned from pleasure to
disappointment.
"Is that all you care about!?" Luanma felt like
smacking him then decided to turn away.
"Ranma, I haven't had sake in-!!"
"Don't call me that!!" Luanma had raised a fist and
her father had flinched. Luanma stared at her father who
just looked at the floor then she put her fist down and
sighed. "Besides, you complain as much about any alcohol if
you don't get any in an hour."
Genma looked down and began to put on the offered
clothing. Luanma, without looking at him, offered him the
food.
After Genma finished eating, Luanma explained what
happened since Genma was last human.
"So we're going to perform for them?"
"Yes."
"So I guess I'm going to be a panda again."
"Well, how do I explain a stranger running around their
estate?"
"Very well, I'll stay here."
"If anyone comes, use this cold water," Luanma pointed
toward the pot then grabbed the hot one which still had some
left and poured it over herself.
"Oi, what are you doing, Luanma?"
"I feel like I need to go out," said Luanma unfolding
the bottom of his pants. "I'll try and get some sake for
you if possible." At that Luanma quietly opened the door,
checked, then slipped down the hallway.
Genma watched his son leave then closed the door. His
hands began to shake. "It must have been over a day since I
was last a man," said Genma to himself.
"Thank you, Ryouga," said Akane within the door.
Ryouga bowed, "As your lady pleases."
"Oh, could you please tell our guests that they are
expected to perform tomorrow before dinner?"
"Yes, my lady." Ryouga bowed again and turned to
leave.
It had just started to get dark as Luanma walked around
the estate, enjoying the long strides he could take. It's
been several weeks since he's had a chance to change back
into a man. He was careful, however, to avoid walking too
close to whomever was about. He began to think as he
walked.
"Japan isn't as bad as I thought, finally I found some
nice people." Luanma's steps turned lighter. "Good food,
new clothing, and a chance to make some coins!! Maybe
enough to last us for a month!! Japan's not bad at all!!"
Luanma nearly laughed. He did a cartwheel then jumped in
the air and flipped. No one was around and Luanma felt
free!! He continued, laughing softly at first, then louder
and louder. Doing flip after flip after flip, then slowly
began going into the different stances he had learned,
enjoying the cool night air that just a couple of days ago
seemed so cold. He began to think. The estate owner
sounded nice. He considered the roto, Ryouga. His job
didn't seem so bad. Maybe there was some way Luanma could
ingratiate himself to this estate? "Then no more travelling
for me!!" Luanma laughed again. "Food, clothing, and
shelter. Everything I dreamed of."
Then a memory intruded, the face of a blind friend whom
he had so easily tricked and left behind. Luanma frowned
but then pushed the memory back deep and then took solace in
his new clothes and his happiness returned.
Ryouga was about to enter the building when he heard
the faint sounds of laughter. He decided to go check on
this. At first, he thought it was Luanma, the long braid of
the figure seemed recognizable, but the laughter was too
deep for a girl's and as he got closer saw that the figure
was too tall to be her either, but the figure was doing
flips quite similar to hers.
"Oi!! Hey, you!"
The man turned around to face him then backed away in
surprise, the night partially hiding his face. The figure
turned to run.
"Hey!! Get back here!" Ryouga didn't recognize the
face and he was pretty familiar with everyone. He gave
chase.
Luanma ran, fearing for his secret. He made some
random turns hoping to outdistance Ryouga but saw that
Ryouga was easily keeping up with him. Ranma jumped to the
roofs and continued running across jumping to different
roofs. Eventually he stopped. "Whew, that was close," he
said trying to calm his heart then nearly jumped.
"Heh, thought you lost me, didn't you?"
"How can you chase me far," asked Luanma without
turning around.
"Chinese?" said Ryouga recognizing the accent from
Luanma's.
"But see how good you really are!" Luanma turned
around and gave him a kick and was surprised to see him
catch it easily.
"Hmph, who are you!?" Ryouga shouted and punched
Luanma in the stomach.
"Just traveller," said Luanma after catching his
breathe, the guy was strong!!
Ryouga attacked, his anger leading him as it did too
often. "How dare you enter the estate of my master!?"
Ryouga did several simple punches and was surprised as the
man blocked all of them and even more surprised as the man
palmed him in the chin and felt himself flying over the edge
of the roof. He grabbed the edge just in time and thrust
himself back up. The man had begun to run again. Ryouga
jumped high in the air without a sound and managed to grab
the man's leg.
Ryouga dreamed of someday becoming a warrior, to be
allowed within the fighting ranks as two sides collided and
warriors honorably fought and died. But he knew there was
no chance and sometimes, in such circumstances, when his
anger is peaked, it adds to his frustration and his strength
is unleashed!!
Ryouga yelled and picked up the leg with the attached
body high above himself, then slammed the man on top of the
roof and through it.
Luanma fell through screaming, then recovered, flipped,
and landed amidst the rubble. He found himself in an
unfamiliar room and took the chance, while the dust was
covering him, to slip out the door.
Ryouga jumped down the hole and waved his hand in front
of his face, trying to get the dust out of his eyes. He
went through the door and down the hallway. The intruder
was not in sight. Ryouga left the building and looked
around the silent night. "Humph," he said and looked on the
outside wall of the building. Several years ago, Akane-san
had suggested putting marks on the buildings pointing toward
the main building. Ryouga found the mark next to the door
and walked straight toward that direction.
Luanma slipped through the door panting. That was
close!! "He's strong!!" Luanma grabbed the cold pot and
splashed just enough water on himself to change into a girl.
His father looked at her in surprise. "You'd better change
too," suggested Luanma. "There might be some commotion."
At this, Luanma quickly dumped the rest of the water on her
father then rolled up the bottom of her pants.
"What is it!?" Tendo Soun was woken up from his sleep.
Ryouga had followed the maid to his master's room.
"There was an intruder, Tendo-sama."
"What!? When!? Is he caught?" Recently there had
been strange disappearances all over Honshu, people no
longer go out at night, only Tendo's estate has been free
from such disturbances. Too good to last.
"No, but he attacked me. The man was Chinese!!"
"What!? Chinese!?" Tendo held his head in his hand.
He got up and the maid helped him dress and soon he was
outside. Waiting in his hall were a couple of his men
waiting his command excitedly. Tendo pointed to the first
two, "Check our guests, see that they're not up to
anything." The two men quickly ran down the hall. "The
rest, come with me!" Tendo quickly strode down the hall,
Ryouga placing various armor on him. Recently too, there
had been rumors of a large Chinese army, not sure from which
province, resting in northen Honshu, their goal unknown.
The Chinese were respected in all of Japan but why should
such a large group of men be on Honshu? The possibility of
war was too great to ignore.
They got outside and Tendo began to assign different
men to search different areas of his estate. "My sword?"
Ryouga handed Tendo his sword and followed him to the stairs
to walk on top of the walls.
They spent two hours searching then Tendo called a halt
and doubled the night guards on the walls and went to sleep.
Luanma had spent the morning stretching and practicing
in an open space behind the servant's building. Her
performance tonight had to be perfect. She didn't know that
Ryouga was secretly watching her.
"Hey!" Ryouga walked out from the corner.
"Ah!!" Luanma was in midflip and fell on her back.
"Don't do that!!" She yelled in Chinese.
"Huh?"
"I said you no do that!!" Luanma got up, red faced.
"Sorry, but did you know about the intruder last
night?"
"Um...no...intruder?" Luanma stepped back as Ryouga
stepped foward.
"I fought with him, he was from China, I could tell
from his accent, like yours. I was up all night thinking
about it."
"So? I alone."
"Anyway, I was watching you just now...I could tell
that some of those kicks are for fighting, right?"
"Fighting, they could be..." Luanma said.
"Well, I want you to teach me."
"What?"
"That guy, last night, he was good. Real good. I want
to learn how to fight, not with swords, I'd never be allowed
to carry one, but with fists and legs. You can teach me."
Luanma looked dubious, "Master back in China not happy
find out that I teach boy when I not full master." Luanma
had recovered from her shock.
"Come on. Your master is in China, right?"
"I no teach you."
"You're on my master's estate, eating his cooking,
taking his shelter, and all you're doing is giving a show.
Teach me, or else I'll persuade Mr. Tendo to kick you out."
Luanma thought about it, then smiled.
Luanma spent the rest of that morning teaching Ryouga
different stances, punches, and kicks, then after lunch,
spent part of the afternoon lecturing him on exercises and
stretches, resting for her performance. Her voice was dry
and to the point, Ryouga was a slow learner and her patience
was wearing out. The day had not brought the two any closer
but a strange mutual acceptance came between the two,
despite the many times they come close to yelling.
At last the time had come. Tendo Akane had spent part
of her day overseeing the center of the main lot in front of
the main building being set up and having servants bringing
out mats for the soldiers to sit on. She was in a very good
mood. Apparently the girl had apologized and not only did
this soothe her anger, but even brought about a certain
respect from Tendo Akane, who always found it so hard to say
the words, "I'm sorry."
The many men not on duty began to drift over to the
center and chose their seats, as the men on the wall turned
around to watch too. Tendo Soun himself sat at the front to
watch, not caring that his men weren't paying attention to
the outside, it was still bright afterall.
Luanma sat on top of the panda as it strode through the
rows of men, who were cheering loudly and happily. The two
reached the center and Luanma immediately went into a form
to start with something simple but interesting to watch.
Then slowly went into small flips and rolls and began to use
the panda as part of her act. At one point she had jumped
high off the panda's back, did a flip, then landed into a
split, which had some of the men groaning in pain.
At one point, she had some volunteers come up, and had
asked them to try their best and hit her. The first one
laughed and did a light punch which she easily avoided and
she smacked him playfully on the chest and told him to try
harder. He did, then tried again and again. Soon Luanma
had him sweating and his peers were laughing and making fun
of him as Luanma continued to just avoid being hit. He was
just getting angry when Luanma gave him a small kiss on his
scruffy cheek and lead his shocked face back to his seat.
His peers cheered.
Luanma asked another man to hold some logs, which she
broke with a kick. Then another with a punch. Then for
some comedy, had the panda break a log with his teeth.
Then with a series of complicated dives and flips, then
grabbing a pole and doing a form with it, Luanma finished up
her act and bowed. The men were on their feet, including
Tendo, laughing and cheering, throwing lots of coins at her.
Tendo himself tossed a stuffed bag at Luanma, who caught it
and bowed.
Akane smiled, she hadn't seen her father smile like
that in a long time, ever since her mother died. "Thank
you, Luanma," she said. "Thank you," she said from outside
of the circle watching as Luanma picked up all the coins.
"UGH!!!" The yell made everyone turn toward the south
wall, a man dropped from it, an arrow stuck in his head.
Akane yelled but was muffled by thunder. It began to
rain.
Storm clouds covered up the sun, much, much too quickly
than normal.
"An attack!! An attack!!"
"Ryouga!! Get my gear!!" Tendo Soun stood straight
up, "Men, get up there with some arrows and help."
Ryouga strode with Tendo as he headed toward the wall,
helping Tendo put on some more armor as the men rushed about
around them. Ryouga blinked at the sky, something didn't
feel right. The rain. The rain was warm!!
Akane headed toward the main house, where she would be
guarded with her other sisters. She saw Luanma and her
panda heading toward the servant's house and she ran after.
The rain was getting heavy and warm. "Warm?" asked Akane.
"What the hell is going on," said Luanma to herself,
looking back as they ran away towards the monsters. She
could think of only one thing, to save her father and
herself, but she had to grab their few belongings first. A
small thought of protecting Mrs. Wasabe came to her, but she
crushed it and pushed the panda faster.
All of the sudden, the south gates burst open, and
creatures out of nightmares and stories ran through. Ugly
demons with green skin, bulging muscles and white hair
carrying large axes began to strike down men, cutting limbs
apart from torsos. Strange creatures that looked like part
wolf, part bat, flew down and tore at men's faces with long
claws.
The men of Tendo estate were in a panic, they had never
fought such things. Some nearly turned and ran away but
Tendo called them together. "Men!! To MEEE!!!" And with
that, Soun, all by himself, began to slice into the main
body of monsters, sending hot red blood flowing high. His
men, trained to follow his every command, strode in too,
uncaring for their lives.
But the swarm of creatures were too much and eventually
some got past them and began to raid the rest of the estate.
The rain turned hot. Akane couldn't believe it!! She
looked all about her and screamed. A large pack of what
looked like nightmares were heading towards her. She turned
around to run then stopped, too shocked to move.
Luanma held the umbrella over her head on top of the
panda, they were rushing toward the servant's house.
Something landed in front of them. The panda roared in a
mixture of anger and shock.
The same creature Luanma had met before stood in front
of them.
"How lucky," spoke the creature in an alien voice, "to
meet you again." Half of the creature was missing fur and
there were ugly black burns on it's skin.
Before Luanma could do anything, the creature had
knocked her off the panda. Luanma lost the umbrella.
Akane watched in fear as the creature attacked the
girl. Akane couldn't move, fear had her locked so bad. She
watched as Luanma scraped along the ground and stopped. She
watched as Luanma stood up. Then Akane watched as Luanma
turned into a man. She screamed.
Luanma turned towards the scream. It was Tendo Akane.
Luanma jumped towards her, grabbed her, and jumped out of
the way of the green giant that was about to slam her with a
club. Luanma jumped to the roofs.
Genma stuttered in fear. "G-g-get away...," he managed
to crawl backwards, but luckily the creature seemed intent
on his son. The creature jumped up into the sky. The fear
seemed to lessen and Genma saw the group of monsters heading
his way and he got up and ran, naked, back to the servant's
house. Something in his memory told him that was the place
to go.
"Stay here," Luanma gently put Akane down on the roof
and turned around, below, samurai were desperately fighting
creatures.
"Get away from me," Akane screamed in fear, "Who are
you! What are you!" She began to screech.
"Shut up," said Luanma and rapped her hard on the head.
Tendo Akane fell in a small heap, not visible from the
ground looking up.
Luanma felt himself lock up in fear, he could see the
creature despite the heavy rain, up in the sky. Luanma
jumped to another roof and forced his fear down. He had to
control his emotions. Then he remembered that he had
already beat this creature, and confidence returned to
Luanma's gaze as he smirked.
The creature laughed in the sky, it could feel it's
prey's fear. "Brothers," it sent out with high squeeks,
"this is the one, this is the one!!"
His brothers squeeked back, glad to see their brother
going to get his revenge. Then they heard an even higher
squeek, their brother had been surprised!! They waited, the
ones on the floor attacking men, joined the others in the
sky. Silence.
Then one of them got smashed out of the sky by
something solid.
"You don't scare me!!" Hibiki Ryouga swung a massive
thirty foot log and knocked another creature out of the air.
"How dare you!! Monsters!!" Ryouga had lost sight of his
master and that had finally broken his fear letting pure
anger rush through. He smacked two more out of the air.
It was exhilirating!! This was as close to actual
combat Ryouga had ever gotten and he was fighting with his
master. "Who is missing at the moment, but still," thought
Ryouga eagerly to himself.
He heard a howl behind him, a creature was attacking
his back! Before he even swung, he knew it was going to be
too late! But a blue light that burned like fire, flashed
in front of Ryouga's eyes, and the creature's screams dimmed
as it got shot down the estate to crash into the east wall.
Ryouga looked to his right where the light came from and his
eyes opened in surprise. There stood the man he had fought
with the night before. He heard another howl and swung
again, this time knocking his own creature toward the west
wall, which it bounced off of and lay still on the floor.
Luanma ran up to Ryouga and said, "Hey, strong-guy,"
and ran past him into the main fray where he began to
quickly punch out many of the creatures. Twenty punches
here, fifteen there, or sometimes only ten, each creature he
punched just enough to kill, then went on to the next,
second after second, the creatures he left behind, their
bones and skins indented where he hit.
It had taken five seconds for Ranma to decide what to
do next after he had destroyed the ugly creature. He had
looked down upon the pathetic samurais and realized that the
Tendo estate was going to be destroyed and was about to
leave when he realized that this was it!! This was his
chance!! With that, Ranma had jumped off the roof and
headed toward the main fray.
There were too many of them getting past the samurai
and Ryouga turned toward the main entrance and held the log
in the middle, the top and bottom now jutting out toward the
left and right. He ran forward. "RRRAAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!"
Ryouga slammed into a whole group of monsters and pushed
them back toward the south entrance.
Luanma knocked several more of the monsters out, the
green ones were more like brutish men, then monsters to be
scared of. Luanma got more and more confident. "Hmph, what
kind of monsters are these?" Luanma kicked another in the
head, then picked up a sword from a dead samurai and began
to swing almost as fast as his punches. He cleared the
area, his last large swing slicing five creatures in half.
The area was empty around him, somehow he had let himself go
out of the main fighting. He turned back toward the South.
Luanma heard squeeks and looked up into the sky. It
had finally stopped raining. Five of the flying creatures
flew uneasily above him, looking down at him in hatred.
Then he felt it. The unreal fear pushing down upon him. It
was heavy, so heavy!! Luanma fell to his knees. Suddenly
old memories, covered by the years, came vividly before him.
His father holding a sword, Luanma in his arms. His mother,
dead!! He was crying loudly while strange dark figures
around him pointed deadly arrows towards them. The figures
shot and they fell from the boat into the cold river.
The creatures squeeked excitedly. Their concentrated
fear had won!! They all howled and swooped down on their
incapacitated prey.
Luanma watched as his mother collapsed then his eyes
were covered by the river's water. He watched it again and
again. Just before he fell, he saw those figures kick his
dead mother's body. He saw those figures kick his dead
mother's body. He saw those figures kick his dead mother's
body. He saw...he saw... No. "NOOOOO!!!!" Ranma's body
boiled as he sucked in the energy around him, then it turned
freezing cold as he sucked all the fear around him with it.
He looked up, his eyes white swirling gray, and saw the
creatures swooping down in circles towards him. The first
one had just reached him.
"NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!"
The creatures watched the first of their brother's get
struck but never had time to react, the wind, like a solid
giant fist, struck up against them, and sent them flying
high, upwards, in dizzy circles, smashing into each other,
and into other things. They howled in unison. In pain.
Tendo turned in surprise at the whirlwind that seemed
to eminate from the back of his estate. He finished off the
disgusting creature in front of him. He prayed that it
wasn't some form of magical power that the monsters made.
The creatures seemed to be scared!! Tendo watched as
they gazed in fear of the strange tornado and heard the wild
howls, then in surprise watched as Ryouga knocked into all
of them with a giant log. They turned in fear and began to
rush out of the south gate.
"Master, are you alright!?" Ryouga dropped the sword
to tend to him master.
Tendo nodded, cleaned his sword and sheathed it.
Luanma watched as the tornado dissipated. He heard
footsteps and saw samurai surround him and hold out their
swords toward him, afraid to go any closer to this wild
looking man, whose hair, like fire, stood frayed pointing at
all directions, whose clothing looked as if a hundred swords
had stabbed him, yet no injury was upon him, who stood in
middle of a large pit where the tornado had started, his arm
still raised, his eyes a glowing blue.
Luanma sighed, then fell on the floor.
Tendo Soun pushed his men out of the way and turned
toward Ryouga. "Is that him?"
"Yes," said Ryouga, "but he was helping us."
"We don't know for sure. Take him to be locked up!
Are you afraid!! Well, he's unconscious!! Lock him up!!!"
Tendo then turned to Ryouga again as his men picked up
Luanma, who didn't fight, and said, "Ryouga, you know you're
never allowed to fight amongst honorable men," Ryouga looked
down, "but those weren't honorable men." Tendo put his hand
on Ryouga's shoulder. "I don't think anyone here can doubt
Ryouga's noble blood. Strength such as his only comes from
the gods!! Welcome, `kenin,' to your rightful status."
Tendo handed Ryouga a sword.
Ryouga stared at the sword, too afraid to touch it,
fearing that his dream would turn into a nightmare and the
sword would disappear once he touched it.
"Hibiki Ryouga, take your sword, I command you."
Ryouga began to cry and accepted the sword as he bowed
down to his master. All thoughts of the injustice done to
the strange man left his head.
Tendo turned to two of his men, "Check on our guests!!"
Luanma's head dropped as the two men took him away, his
last thought before unconsciousness was, "I shouldn't
have..."
END CHAPTER ONE
Ok, what u guys think?
Hitomi, stuck with the dress, pictures I saw of female attire
during the 8th century Japan looks almost exactly like the Chinese attire
of that time, so I stuck with dress instead of kimono.