Allrighty, this is the start of a story I'm working on. I decided to post
it now for a few reasons. 1. I wanted to post this part to get some
preliminary feedback. 2. To see how confused I can get people. ;-p
Hopefully I'll post some more tomorrow. All feedback is appreciated.
Please tell me what you think of it.
-Josh
The rains fell on Tokyo, turning what could otherwise have been a very
nice day into something very much different. Instead of sun there was
only dark clouds and rain which gave physical form to the gloom that
gripped the city. Through the city a small procession moved. It was a
group of no more than 16 people, dressed in dark multilayer uniforms,
silently marching in time. 4 marched ahead of the rest, 8 more followed
them, carrying a large polished wood casket between them. Finally, 4 more
bring up the rear. Each of the group look somber as they carry the casket
towards thier destination. Overhead, a single dragon can be seen flying a
slow escort for the group.
***
Shian Publications proudly presents...
***
For a moment, the alley stands silent and cold, as if completely oblivious
to the world around it. With a sudden blur of silvery motion two swords
slam together as two men fight in the shattered silence of the alley. The
two men clash again and again, l ocked in a dance of death from which
there can be only one resolution. Finally one man, dressed the same as
those in the funeral procession, is disarmed by the other man. As he
watches his sword fly of into the shadows with a trace of fear in his eyes,
the other man slams his sword through his chest. As the dead man slumps
to the ground, the survivor yanks out his sword with a savage jerk and
walks off with a small smile on his face, cleaning the blood off the sword
with a small silk cloth.
***
A story written by Josh Holmstrom...
***
The earth spins slowly through the vastness of space, moving, as it has for
millenia in a slow orbit around Sol. For those with the ability, the Earth
appears as much more than a multicolored orb held only by the invisible
strings of gravity cast by a far away sun. Rather, the Earth appears as a
glowing sea of energy, shouting out to all who can see: "I am! I am alive!"
For the Earth, like all other planets with life on them, is surrounded with
chi-the life energy of a planet. For one brief moment on March 10, 1990
the chi flared to brilliant life. In that one brief span of time, 6 centuries of
history vanish from everything but the memories of afew people. This is the
story of one of those people. This is the story of a legacy.
***
L E G A C Y
Part I
Rebirth
Based on concepts developed by Rumiko Takahashi, Jose Garcia, and Robin D.
Laws. All Ranma 1/2 characters copyright Rumiko Takahashi. All Feng
Shui/Shadowfist characters copyright Dadaelus Games. Any other characters
used are copyright their respecive owners. Character used without
permission.
***
"RANMA NO BAKA! DIE!" "Akane, wai*" WHAM! Akane watched as Ranma
once again made a new door for the dojo the hard way. *Hrrumph. Idiot.
Will he EVER grow up?* Akane looked over at the Ranma shaped hole in the
wall and saw that she had launched him in a trajectory close to the
family shrine. *Oops, better go check and make sure he didn't damage
anything.* Quickly Akane walked to the small room next to the dojo that
held the Tendo family shrine. Looking around the room, she saw that
Ranmas violent passage through the room had indeed knocked over several
candles, as well as knocking over a small box that had been sitting
unobtrusively on a table next to the shrine. *Odd. I've never seen this
before, I wonder whats in here?* She thought as she picked it up.
Looking at it, she saw it was made of cherrywood inlaid with thin silver
tracings and gold lined edges. It was latched my a simple golden hook.
Curious, she undid the latch and carefully opened the lid.
***
In the kitchen, Kasumi was quietly humming to herself as she prepared
the nights dinner for the family. Abruptly, she stopped humming and
looked around with a confused look on her face. *What was that? I'd
swear I just felt _something_ happen.* Kasumi looked around her again and
shruged. *It's gone now, maybe it was just a sudden breeze. Ah well, on
with dinner.*
***
The box, Akane discovered was lined with deep red silk and there was
a small sphere of glass, maybe 1 inch across, resting on the silk. When
she looked closer, she could see very faint kanji etched into the glass.
*What is this? Maybe Kasumi will know.* With that thought, Akane closed
the box and left the room, heading off to the kitchen to find Kasumi.
"Kasumi? Can I ask you something?" Akane said as she popped her
head into the kitchen.
Kasumi turned away from the stove where she had been working and
looked at Akane. "Sure Akane, what is it?"
"I found this next to the shrine, but I've never seen it before, do
you know what it is?" Akane handed the box to Kasumi.
Kasumi regarded it for a second then said "I haven't seen it before
either, it was by the shrine you said?" As she said this she fliped the
top of the box open. "What a beautiful little sphere. I wonder what it
says?" Kasumi touched the spheres surface, intending to pick it up. As
she did so, there was a small flicker of light inside of the sphere and
Kasumis' vision went white.
***
"Blood. It is in your blood Kasumi. It is in your blood, as was in the blood of your
ancestors to fight and to spill that blood for what you belive to be right. For justice.
For honor. Now it is time to fight again." Said an ancient, rumbling voice.
***
Kasumi blinked and suddenly the white was gone, but the voice still
echoed in her head. "What? Who said that?"
"Said what, Kasumi? I didn't hear anything." Akane asked, confused.
"I don't know Akane, I guess I'm hearing things. Never mind."
Kasumi touched the sphere again, and when nothing happened, she carefully
lifted the it out of the box and brought it close to her eye. "I can't
read what it says, Akane. I'm sorry." Kasumi looked at it for a second
more, then returned the sphere to the box and handed the box back to Akane.
"Thats all right Kasumi, I was just wanted to see if you knew
anything about it. Thanks!" With that, Akane turned and left Kasumi to
her cooking.
***
Stanley Fort, Hong Kong island.
"Sir, reconsat 4 just picked up something odd. It was over Japan when it
registered a sudden change in the chi flows in Tokyo. It looks like a
new feng shui site just formed."
"In the middle of Tokyo?! Thats impossible. Somethings wrong with your
gear. We'll check again when a different satilite passes over the area.
Ignore it for now."
"Yessir."
***
Later that night.
Kasumi stood in front of a full-length mirror and regarded herself.
Slowly, she ran one hand over her stomach and wondered for the thousandth
time where the the thin tracery of white scar tissue came from. Although
barely visible, they were there, crisscrossing her body. She had
absolutely no idea where she had gotten them. She just remembered having
them for a long time. Kasumi sighed. *What WAS that voice I heard? Why
didn't Akane hear it? What's going on?*
***
That night, Kasumi dreamed. She dreamed of places and things she had
never seen before, places she hadn't even dreamed of before, and yet, she
felt she knew the places. She dreamed of a massive castle made of ice,
suspended over a great expanse of water. Of skimming over forests, and
between mountains on the back of a dragon. She dreamed of fighting with
with both a sword and with magic against monsters. Of living on a planet
that was Earth, and yet, was alien to her. And Kasumi dreamed ever more.
***
"Happy twenty first birthday Kasumi!" Cried a smiling Akane, jolting
Kasumi from her dreams. "Hrmmm?" Came Kasumis' not so coherent reply.
"I decided to get up early and cook you breakfast for your birthday! I
hope it's OK, I tried really hard to get it right."
"Umm, thank you Akane, I'll admit this was a little unexpected."
Kasumi eyed the food Akane had brought. It looked all right. Actually,
it looked pretty good. Maybe Akane was getting better at cooking after
all.
At that point Ranma walked by and saw what was going on. "Akane!
What are you trying to do?! Poison your sister?! You know you can't
cook, you uncute tomboy!"
Akane whirled to face her fiancee. Unfortunately, in her anger she
had forgotten that she was still holding a tray full of food. Said food
promptly discovered Newtons laws of physics and went slinging off the
tray and right at Ranma.
"Yeaaaaaaa! Watch it!" Naturally, Ranmas incredible agility and
martial arts training got him out of the path of most of airborne food.
Then the curse decided to assert itself and Ranma caught a glass of
orange juice in the face.
"Damn it! Not again! Now I've gotta go take a bath! Thanks Akane,
I really needed that." Said Ranma in a higher vioce.
"RANMA!" Akane bellowed, "now look what you did!"
"I did?! I wasn't the one who just tried to poison her sister!
What're you blaming me for you kawaiikune tomboy?!"
"RANMA NO BAKA!"
Sighing, Kasumi got out of bed and walked to the bathroom as Akane
began pummeling Ranma with the tray. *It's to early for this.*
***
Kasumi was in the kitchen, preparing the breakfast when she heard
the knock on the front door. *Now who could that be?* She thought as
she went to answer the door. When she opened it, she saw a tall chinese
man wearing a light grey silk suit standing on the porch.
As she opened the door, the man glanced at her and then bowed deeply.
"Kasumi Tendo? I have been sent by an old friend of yours. She desires
to wish you well on your birthday, and to give you this." Quickly, the
man reached into an inner pocket of his jacket and withdrew a small
envelope. With a flourish he handed the envelope to an understandably
startled and confused Kasumi, who woodenly took the envelope.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I must be going now. Good day m'lady." The
man bowed again, spun on his heel and walked briskly out the yard to the
street.
Slowly, Kasumi closed the door again, still somewhat confused as to what
exactly had just happened. *That was a bit unusual* she thought, looking
at the envelope in her hand. She saw that the envelope was heald closed
with a small wax seal, and she could feel something small in the envelope
*I wonder who this is from* "Hey, Kasumi! Who was at the door?" Came
Nabikis' voice from the stairs. Kasumi looked up and saw her coming down
the stairs from her room.
"Just someone here to deliver a letter Nabiki. Nothing important."
"Oh? Who's it from, and who's it for?"
"It's for me. I think it's a birthday card or something from one of my
old friends. Thats what the delivery man said at least."
"Oh? So open it all ready!"
With a small sigh Kasumi broke the seal and turned the envelope over to
dump whatever was inside into her hand. As the small dragon pendant and
its silver chain hit her hand her vision suddenly flashed white.
***
Kneeling infront of her was her mother. "Ok, Kasumi, I want you to
concentrate, I know the spark is there. I want you to reach into your
soul. Find the light that resides there. Can you feel it?"
Flash to white
***
"Soun! Take the children and GO! Get them out of here! I'll try to slow
it down!" Soun nodded, carrying Nabiki and Akane. "Come on, Kasumi,
HURRY! We do not have long!" The roars of the demon, counterpointed
with chanting and the sound of chi blasts striking flesh and bone thundered
through out the house. Suddenly an explosion rocked the house. Then it
was totally quiet.
"Mommy?"
***
"Kasumi, unless you want to be hunted down like a rabid dog and killed, you
MUST do this! With out the seals, the Ascended will find you! Worse, De
Leon will find you! You do not have the strength to fight both of them right
now. Youmust bide your time. Binding the chi is the only way to do that. It's
the only was for us to survive. Please, trust me in this. "
***
Kasumi felt fear. Fear and pain and confusion. Why were those people chasing
her? "Come back here kid!" One of them yelled. Kasumi ran on. Suddenly a hand
appeared on her shoulder. "Ha! Gotcha! Your coming with me. I can get a good
price for you." He sneered. "Let me go!" Kasumi screamed. In her terror, she reached
for anything that would help her. Then she felt it. Like a warm glow growing inside
her. Suddenly the man holding her screamed, then ceased to be. All that was left of him was
a thin red mist.
***
Kasumi blinked and jerked her head back. "What was THAT?" She asked.
"What was what?" Said Nabiki.
At that point, all hell broke loose. Literally.