OK, I think I ripped off someone's name in this one.  If your
name happens to be in this and you don't want it there - let me know.
I just can't shake the feeling that I've seen it someplace before and
used it because it was convenient.  My apologies in any case.  All
previous parts are available on my anime page (URL below) or by email
from me.  C&C welcomed and I suppose I'll be trying out the synopses
thing very soon if the list is back in full.


			Twisted Destiny 9

{All disclaimers regarding Ranma 1/2 and 3x3 Eyes go HERE!}


The bus ride appeared uneventful to Kuno's and Akane's fellow 
passengers.  Akane was still asleep and Kuno was staring out the window.

'Akane Tendo.  Whatever shall I do?  Your safety is more important than 
anything, but to you I am nothing.  I don't know how long I can go on 
like this.'  He was lost in his thoughts.

"You can, and will , do whatever it takes to keep her safe.  Do you not 
understand that her death means mine, which means yours?"  Kamiko's 
forceful whisper.

Kuno looked at Akane, who was still asleep.  "What?" he said aloud.

"There is no need to speak out loud."

He stared wide-eyed at Akane.  "I don't..."

The person in front of him turned and gave him a funny look.

"Simply think, you fool.  Or is that too much for you to do?"

'Like this?'  It felt like he was having a conversation with himself.

"Yes.  And we would both be dead if I had ended up in your body."  He 
thought she sounded angry.  "I am angry.  You endanger my life with your 
unthinking."

He blushed, bowing his head.  'I know.'

"Is that all you have to say?"

'Yes.  What should I say?  I wish no harm to come to Akane Tendo.  Or 
you.'  He touched one finger to Akane's cheek.

"You love this girl?"

'With all my heart.'  Well, half of it.  There was always the pig-
tailed...  No!  There was no pig-tailed girl.

"Who is this pig-tailed girl?  You mean the girl Ranma transforms into?"

'Yes.'  Alone, confronted with the truth, he was ashamed.

"You are ashamed?  I do not see anything to be ashamed of."

'You don't?  I know they all laughed at me.  They thought I was an utter 
fool...'

Kamiko laughed.  "Why, my dearest guardian...  You ARE a fool.  But I 
see nothing to be ashamed of.  I knew many sanjiyan who simply ignored 
that which they did not care to know."

Kuno felt something, realized something.  'How did...'

Kamiko chuckled.  "I know everything about you.  There is nothing you 
can hide from me; I know all your thoughts and feelings, even your 
memories.  They have proven most interesting."

"But I am curious.  How can you love her when she cares nothing for you?  
You don't suffer from her lack of affection?"

That was the nail in the coffin.  'Nothing?  I am truly nothing to her?'

There was a moment of silence.  "No.  Not nothing.  She thinks of you as 
the barking dog on her way to school.  You are incessant and your 
barking is irritating, but if you were not there, things would not be 
the same."

He didn't say anything, but ran his finger down her cheek and touched 
her chin.  He couldn't get over how achingly beautiful she was.

"There are no others you find equally as fair?"

'None like her.  She is fair to behold, but her fighting spirit and 
physical prowess are unmatched by any other.'  He sighed.

Kamiko knew, of course.  The entire conversation was totally for his 
benefit.  She knew what he was thinking before he did.  "Your obsession 
over her weakens you.  You would serve better if you gave up on her.  
Did you not say you had nothing left to live for?"  Five hundred years 
gave her a little experience in manipulation.

'Yes, I said that.'

"So if you regain your humanity, what will you do?"

He shrugged.  'I may follow in father's footsteps.  He seems to care for 
only Hawaii.  If I care for nothing, then maybe my days will pass 
quickly.'

"How can you care about nothing?  Your lives are so brief you should be 
grateful for everything you have."  Humans were so difficult to 
comprehend sometimes.  "For 500 years I lived with very little to care 
for.  Our lives were peaceful, we wanted for nothing.  After the 
emergence of Kaiyanwang, after I was forced to leave my home, I 
discovered what it meant to care.  That was when I took my guardian..."

Kuno was hit by a wave of sorrow and mental anguish.  He couldn't help 
the tear rolling down his cheek.  'You had a guardian before me?'

"Yes."  Sorrow again.  "When I was forced to hide in this body, Benares 
had found us.  My wu held him back, but Benares was far more powerful.  
It was only a matter of time until I would have fallen to Kaiyanwang's 
lap dog."  Anger and hatred.  "It was then that I made my decision, and 
I began to cast my spell."

Kuno was assaulted by feelings.  Sadness, anger, hatred, failure, 
futility...  All things he knew intimately.  A collage of images flashed 
in his mind: red eyes, a stone temple with three eyes engraved on the 
side, a smiling young man...  Then nothing.  'What happened?'

"Benares destroyed him."

'Wasn't he...'

"He was until I left my body.  Our bond was broken and he was killed as 
I watched.  There was nothing I could do."

'You loved him?'

"Yes.  I found him when I was making my way from Konron.  I knew Benares 
was following me and I had to take a guardian.  Teizo, my wu, had been 
crushed by a fallen scaffolding.  I took his soul.  It was convenience 
and a necessity, but he served me well until the very end.  He 
understood my decision even as he was obliterated."

'How long until he... you...'

"We were together over five years.  We fought off Kaiyanwang as best we 
could in that time, but we both knew it couldn't last forever."

'How did...'

"No more.  I must rest now.  And do not worry about Akane; she will be 
fine when she awakens."

Kuno waited but there was no more from Kamiko.  He continued to stare at 
Akane, tear tracks down her face.  He could still feel the lingering 
emotions from Kamiko.  He couldn't bare to think of Akane suffering in 
that manner.  Running for years and he unable to save her in the end.  
His noble sacrifice gone to waste and all those that would grieve at 
their passing.  Slowly he leaned his head towards Akane's; there would 
be no grieving, there would be no sacrifices.

Akane cracked her eyes open.  She felt strange, tingling all over.  Then 
it registered that Kuno's face was very close to hers.  She shrieked and 
her fist lashed out, striking Kuno in the jaw.  His head smacked on the 
window.

"Ouch," he said.  He put his hand to his jaw and shook his head.

"What do you think you were doing?" Akane roared.  She was ready to 
strike again.

"I'm sorry," he said, looking away.  "It won't happen again."

"It better not!"  Akane glared at him, then crossed her arms and sat 
back in her seat.

Kuno sat sullenly, looking at the scenery go by.  His emotions were 
still in a tumult and he had just been carried by the moment.

"What a jerk."

Kuno looked at Akane.  She was glaring straight ahead, frowning.  She 
was doing her best to forget he was sitting next to her.

"I can't believe he tried that.  And I'm stuck with him.  Just perfect.  
I think I would have preferred Happosai."

Kuno continued to stare at Akane.  He had heard her clear as day but she 
hadn't said a word.  Out loud.

"He tries it again and I'm ditching him.  I don't care about 
Kaiyanwang...  He can't be any worse than Kuno."

Kuno continued to gape.

Akane turned and looked at him.  "What?" she asked angrily.  "What does 
he want now?  I wish he would just go away."

"I apologized!  Isn't that enough?  Aren't I allowed to make mistakes?  
You don't know anything about me!"  He put his head into his hands and 
leaned forward in his seat so his forehead was against the seat in front 
of him.  "I know I'm a horrible person, so why don't you just leave me 
alone?"

***

"I don't know what I said, but I'm sorry.  I don't think you're a 
horrible person."

The pair was waiting at the airport, sitting in front of the terminal 
windows.

"I know you're not sorry, so do not lie to me."  Kuno's voice was cold 
and he wasn't looking at her.  "You may want me to go away, but I will 
not.  I must ensure your safety if I ever wish to reclaim my soul and 
separate from you."

"But I never..."

"You may attempt to leave me behind but I shall follow you until you are 
human and I am no longer forced to... serve you."  He said it like he 
had just bit into something disgusting.

"But I never said..."  Akane was taken aback by Kuno's hateful tone.

"You may think of me as a dog but I have some shreds of my pride, even 
after you've laughed at me.  I refuse to take your abuse anymore."

Akane couldn't find words.  "But I...  You..."  And then her mood 
turned.  "Now you just wait a minute!" she said, her face flushed.  "You 
were the one that tried to kiss me!  I was only defending myself!"

"And your arsenal includes personal insults?"

"You know... I have no clue as to what you're talking about so why don't 
you either tell me or give it a rest!"

"You would not understand."

"You scream at me, embarrass us both and then say I wouldn't understand?  
What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing.  I have no trouble admitting my feelings, unlike some people.  
I have no problems being honest with myself.  So when you have 
discovered that you have grown up, please inform me."

Was Kuno taking the moral high ground with her?  Was he inferring that 
he was better than her?  She was infuriated.  "Look you, you don't know 
anything about my feelings!"

He looked at her, his face calm.  "I don't?"

"No.  Or you would get the point that I don't like you!"

"I know very well what you think of me.  And I know what you think of 
Saotome."

Akane froze.  "What... what are you talking about?  I don't feel 
anything for Ranma."  She was only fooling herself and she knew it.

"Why don't you just admit that you love him?  It would make everything 
so much simpler."  He didn't sound angry, just tired.

"How could I... love him..."  Akane turned away.

Kuno sighed and decided he needed a nap.

***

"How..."  Akane turned in her seat to face Kuno.  "How did you know what 
I was thinking?"

"So you admit that's what you were thinking about me?"

"Please.  I don't want to start this again.  You were right.  We need 
each other to do this, so right now I'm curious.  How did you know?"

"I could hear you."

"You could hear me?"

Kuno nodded.  He wasn't sure what had made him so angry before, probably 
a year of built up frustration, but he seemed to settle down once in the 
air.

'Can you hear me now?' Akane thought.

Kuno simply looked at her, waiting for her to ask him something else.  
When he didn't answer, Akane frowned slightly.  "So how could you hear 
me?"

He swallowed.  Kamiko could make his existence a living hell; she had 
proven it already.  "I think she... Kamiko allowed me to hear what you 
were thinking.  I believe she was still unhappy with my failure to watch 
over you."

"Oh.  Well I'm sorry you had to hear it.  I was just upset and if I 
really wanted you to know, I would have told you.  You know I kind of 
have a temper."  She gave him a weak smile.  She didn't much care for 
the idea of Kuno watching her like she was some sort of possession, and 
Kamiko seemed to be encouraging his behavior.

She settled in her seat, the drone of the engines in her ears.  Things 
seemed to be all topsy-turvy, a feeling she hated.  "Kuno-sempai?"

"Yes?"

"I'm scared.  I don't want to die."

Kuno's heart melted all over again.  "You won't."

***

"Do you think this man can help us?"  The two were in the back of a cab, 
heading out of Hong Kong.  Akane's grip tightened on the staff.

"That I can not say.  We can only hope for the best."

They passed out of the busiest part of Hong Kong and eventually out of 
the city itself.  The taxi made its way along narrow roads, dodging 
bicyclists and people on foot until it turned onto a gravel drive.  The 
drive took them under low hanging trees, up a tall hill to an old iron 
gate.  Luckily, the gate was open and the cab took them all the way to 
the top of the hill.

The trees were cleared there to make way for the immense Western style 
mansion.  A neatly manicured lawn surrounded the majestic two-story 
home.  The gravel drive looped around a small fountain in front.  The 
cab stopped at the large front doors to let them out.

They stepped out and stared at the construction before them.  "Wow," 
Akane said.  She was overwhelmed by the size, the enormity all visible 
at once.

The cab driver got their attention by clearing his throat.  Kuno tore 
his gaze away from the expansive house to retrieve the two bags and pay 
the driver.

"Do you think he lives here?" Akane asked, feeling reluctance.

"If this is the proper address, then I can only assume that he does."  
He handed Akane's bag to her as the cab drove away.

The two went to the front doors.  They were thick oak, intricate designs 
carved into them.  Each door had a highly polished brass knob shaped as 
lion heads.  Akane's finger hovered over the doorbell button.

"If you do not push it, we will never be sure."

Akane gave a small nod and pushed the button.  They heard a very faint 
*ding* from inside the house and then silence.

"Maybe I should ring again," Akane said after 30 seconds.

"Perhaps.  Or maybe they do not wish to speak with us."

"He doesn't even know us.  Why wouldn't he want to talk to us?"  Akane 
looked questioningly at Kuno.  "I'll ring again."

She started to push the button again when the doors opened.  Akane 
gasped and took a step back.  A gaunt looking man in a servant's outfit 
stood before her in the doorway.

"May I help you?" he asked in English, eyeing them suspiciously.

"Yes.  We are trying to locate Alexander Leung.  We wish to speak with 
him about an art theft," Kuno answered in his best English.

"Your names?"

"Tatewaki Kuno."

"Akane Tendo."

"Please wait here."  He shut the door in their faces.

"That almost accomplished something," Akane said, a bit perturbed.

Kuno remained silent, dropping his bag to the ground.  He quickly 
removed his katana from the case it was in and put the sheath through 
his belt.  He didn't want to bare his blade without clear reason, but he 
didn't want to be caught off guard either.

Akane looked more relaxed, trying to calm herself and not expect the 
worse.  She shifted her bag to her other hand and brushed her hair from 
her forehead.  She found herself more nervous than anything and gripped 
her staff in both hands.

The door opened and the servant greeted them.  "Mr. Leung will see you.  
Follow me, please."  He backed off and let Akane and Kuno, who picked up 
his bag, inside.

They stepped inside into the foyer as the butler closed the doors and 
locked it.  Akane gaped at the extravagance of the interior.  There was 
a huge crystal chandelier hanging over beautiful marble floors.  Akane 
guessed the paintings on the far wall were valuable.

"This way."  The servant walked through a doorway and down a long, well-
lighted hall.  It was wide enough for four people to walk next to each 
other with no trouble, the large windows giving plenty of light.  There 
were closed doors along the inside wall, all flat eggshell white in 
color with highly polished knobs.

The hall ended in a bright airy room, accented by tall potted plants 
placed strategically.  There were several large leather chairs and a 
sofa arranged around a low oak table.  There was a huge rug that the 
furniture sat on and that they walked upon.

Sitting in one of the chairs was a slim man that looked barely Asian and 
had very pale skin.  He smiled at Kuno and especially Akane, but did not 
stand.  The servant stood to one side to allow the three clear views of 
each other.

"Please, sit down," Alexander offered in English.

Kuno and Akane sat next to each other on the couch, not speaking.  They 
held their possessions tightly and carried themselves with formal 
politeness.  They kept their faces mostly neutral.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asked, again in English.  When 
neither of them answered, he switched to Japanese. "Would either of you 
care for something to drink?"

Akane gave him a thin smile and nodded.  "Ice water please."  She had 
understood his English but felt uncomfortable speaking it herself.

"And for you sir?"

"Nothing for me," Kuno declined.

Alexander nodded to the servant who left silently.  "Let me introduce 
myself," Alexander said, still smiling at the pair.  "I am Alexander 
Leung and I believe you have business with me."

"Yes," Akane answered, leaning forward a bit.  "We want to..."

Alexander held up a hand.  "Not so quickly.  What is your name, young 
lady?"

"Er..."  Akane blushed.  "Akane Tendo."

"And you, sir?"

"Tatewaki Kuno."

"It is a pleasure to meet two fine young people such as yourselves.  Now 
what is it about stolen art that you wish to ask me?"

Akane found herself completely at ease around Alexander.  He was 
friendly and polite; nothing what she expected him to be like.  And he 
was so hospitable.  "A statue.  The statue of humanity.  It was stolen 
while on display in Tokyo.  We were wondering if you had any idea on its 
location, Mr. Leung?"

"Please, call me Alexander.  And I'm afraid I can't tell you much about 
that statue other than it was quite a loss."  He shook his head, still 
smiling.  "It was quite upsetting, really.  That was a very important, 
if not all that pretty, piece.  A lot of historical value..."

The servant returned with Akane's water and something fruity looking for 
Alexander.  Akane sipped from her glass, looking faintly disappointed.

"But I don't think now is the time to discuss this.  I can tell you've 
had a long trip and you both look completely exhausted.  I insist that 
you remain as my guests until tomorrow."  He took a big drink of his 
cocktail.

He looked at Kuno, acknowledging him as Akane's protector even if she 
didn't.  "Is that acceptable?"

Kuno didn't like the man, but knew their choices were extremely limited.  
He gave a firm nod.  "It is."

"Excellent," Alexander said happily.  "Let me show you to your room.  
I'm sure a young couple needs their privacy."  He stood up.

"No!  We're not..." Akane said hurriedly.  Her face pinked.

"Oh.  Excuse me for making assumptions.  We'll get you comfortable at 
any rate."  He led them off into the house.

-o-o-o-o-o-

-- 
Lara

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