‘Consequences'
	by
	Trom

	It had all started out all so well.  I mean after all these 
years I finally got to meet Nasuko's family.  It took a while for me to 
earn enough money to get the flight from the US over to Japan, still she 
was worth it.  
	We had met when I was stationed on the east coast, doing a year 
long tour.  I was in the Army and pretty much bored with my life.  I had 
already started getting into the martial arts, one as a way to pass the 
time and two, well it helped me to keep in shape.  It wasn't actually a 
form of martial arts but a combination of things that work in the real 
world and not just tournaments.  You know the kind boxing, wrestling, a 
little judo, karate, and basic street fighting.  I was taught by an 
ex-navy-seal who offered lessons to any who wished to learn.   It was in 
a local multi- purpose gym/martial art studio.   
	It was after a class that I first met Nasuko.  She had already 
been training with Master Brown for a few months by that time.  I didn't 
think much of her at the time, just another student, and I was more 
interested in learning than being social to people.  It was during a 
period when I didn't have a class and was just practicing.  As  we were 
the only ones not involved in a class at the time we paired off against 
each other.  That was when things took a turn for the better.  It was 
during a grappling drill that, for the first time, she amazed me.  At 
first I didn't know if she could even do the drill considering she was 
only 5' 3" or something weighing in about 100 lbs if not a little more. 
 I myself was 6' 2" and weighed over 200 lbs.  To say that there was a 
difference between us was an understatement.  Of course keep in mind 
that we were studying two different forms at the time.  But not only did 
she throw me, but a considerable distance at that. At first I was really 
disturbed at that, but I soon got over it as it being part of the  
learning experience.
	 Anyway I wasn't really paying attention to her because usually 
when I'm either training or fighting, everyone is the same no matter 
what their sex.  I'm a nineties kind of guy, and if a woman attacked me, 
I would treat her the same as if a man attacked me, meaning I don't hold 
back for nobody.  It wasn't until after a few classes that I began to 
really notice her outside of training. She was attending the local 
collage, and I was taking classes payed for by the military, a kind of 
continuing education kind of thing.  It was a Botany science course 
dealing with plants and flowers.  We were both very interested it, for 
separate reasons, but we enjoyed it just the same.  Well having two 
common interests we started hanging out together.  We started sharing 
class notes and our different perspectives on our martial art classes.  
In a few weeks we became close, or as close as I ever get to anyone.  
	She told me about her life, her dreams, and her family over in 
Japan; her father, mother, and little sister.  She started me out on the 
basics of Japanese, and I worked on it on my own time, so as to surprise 
her with my development.  I love language tapes.  
	Well things were going good between us.  Oh sure we got upset 
with each other over some things, but not enough so that we would split 
up.  I extended my tour on that base so that I wouldn't have to leave 
her, and both our skills in the art grew as well.  We were now helping 
out the less experienced members of our various classes get over the 
harder techniques.  I thought it was time to take this relationship to 
the next level.  Unfortunately, I would have to go to Japan to do it.  
Or so I thought from reading a book on Japanese traditions.  So that 
during summer break for school I arranged to take a two-week leave pass, 
and go with Nasuko to her home in Japan.  She first seemed reluctant 
about the idea wondering what her parents would think about me.  I asked 
her if she loved me, and if she was ashamed to be seen with me.  She 
quickly answered no, for she knew how guarded I kept my feelings, and a 
blow like that would have caged them up all over again.  She then gave 
into my plan.
	After making a quick pick up at a local store and the Company HQ 
to fill out the proper paperwork a few days before our plane flight, I 
made the final readiness for our trip.  The plane ride was long and the 
movie was pretty good as was the meal (hey, if you can live off military 
rations for weeks, just about anything tastes good).  The plane flight 
was about ten hours long, although with all the time zones that we 
passed through we were got there a day before we even started.  Being a 
country boy, the Tokyo airport was very intimidating, it was so big that 
I was sure I would have been lost if it wasn't for Nasuko.
	Her parents were waiting for us by the exit.  Her sister was in 
school and wouldn't be out until later in the afternoon.  While they 
were very welcoming to Nasuko, her father was very formal with me, at 
the time I had no idea why.  Her mother was very open to me, to my 
embarrassment. I'm really not the touchy feelly type, heck it took me a 
couple months before I started showing Nasuko my true side, and not the 
one I showed the world.   It seems that she has learned quite a bit 
about me from Nasuko's letters.  How much I never really know, but 
probably too much for my own good.   When we got to their home I was 
pretty surprised.  Oh sure, it wasn't the largest or the smallest house 
around.  It's just that it has a feeling of ‘home' about it. Like those 
people that lived there, left a little of themselves in their passing.  
I was put in a spare room while Nasuko was given her old room.  I didn't 
even get a chance to settle in when Shin, Nasuko's father, came and got 
me to help him with the family's business.  They raised fish in ponds 
behind their house.  To someone who fished in lakes to catch three to 
four foot salmon, these fish were tiny.  Well it seems that it takes a 
lot more than I thought to raise fish, for he had me cleaning out a few 
of the tanks for hours.  It was just near diner time that when I finally 
finished.  Being in the army for a couple years made me used to sharing 
a latrine with others but I never shared a bath with another man.  I'm 
used to taking quick showers, that one is supposed to wash before 
getting into the tub and then just soak for a while is kind of a new 
experience for me.  So it was that we passed the time making small talk, 
then got dressed and then went to supper.  
	Dinner was very good.  I got to meet Natsuki, Nasuko's little 
sister, who just giggled a lot and made fun of her sister's new hair 
style.  After dinner we had tea, everyone was quiet as if expecting 
something at least Natsuki and Mrs. Kowayia were, Mr. Kowayia just read 
his paper.  Working up the nerve I quietly cleared my throat and sitting 
up strait, spoke to Mr. Kowayia.  I told him how beautiful his home and 
family was, and how much I cared for Nasuko.  
	After babbling like that for a few minutes, I asked for his 
permission to marry her.  None of them were surprised at all, well 
except for me.  How did they know I was going to ask that?  It seems 
that Nasuko could read me like a book and knew that was the reason for 
my interest in coming here.  I think Mr. Kowayia wanted me to sweat for 
a while, for he didn't answer me right off, he just stared at me.  He 
asked how I could support her and any children that we would have, and I 
told him how the army was very generous to a soldier with a family.  
Nasuko could continue school, for the army would help pay for it as well 
as for me.  I had also saved a bit a of money, you don't really have 
much time to spend money on things when your out at the field.  So that 
after a long speech on how I could take care of his daughter, he 
interrupted me with a laugh and agreed to my suit.  To my surprise, the 
ceremony was to be held in a few days, in the family home.  It seemed 
that everything was already set in motion even before I knew I could be 
come here.  Have you ever felt like you were led into something and made 
it to seem like it was your own idea?  It seemed that Nasuko was a 
little impatient to wait for me to get the nerve up and was giving me 
hints for months now.  I didn't even realize that until just before the 
ceremony.   
	The next few days were spent getting the home ready.  Not really 
knowing what to do, I spent some time with Natsuki learning about her 
school and her friends.  She was a good kid and we got to know each 
other pretty well.  Ever since the OK was given on the wedding, she has 
been calling me big brother, so in all fairness I called her little 
sister.  The ceremony was very beautiful, the kimonos we wore were very 
nice.  A few friends of the family were also there, their family not 
mine, since we tend to keep our distance from each other.  Not from 
spite of each other or nothing, it's just that we tend to leave each 
other to their doings.  The next reunion was not for a few years so I 
was in no need to worry about them.  
	It seemed that we had to sip from three saucers filled with saki 
and speak words of love and oaths to each other.  The guests gave us 
money as a wedding gift, I guess it was better than some blenders.  That 
night was very interesting and I won't bore you with the details.  The 
next day I sent out the proper paper work for the marriage and just 
spent the rest of the time getting to know my new in-laws, and learning 
about their family history.  Part of this history was an old cave were 
the ancestors of their family were laid to rest.  It was very majestic 
in its serenity.  It was that trip was changed my life for the worst, 
where I was looking forward to a life with my new wife, I only found 
despair.
	The cavern walls were painted with names of those who went 
before us, their ashes were then placed on the family alter.  Candles 
littered the wall, one for each family member down the ages.  Only four 
were still lit for they were the last of their line.  I was very honored 
when they placed a candle for me next to Nasuko's, we, along with 
Natsuki were the hope for the future of the family.   Natsuki and I were 
the first to learn, for Nasuko and her parents had to do something in 
the cave before leaving.  So it was that we waited by the field before 
the cave.  Natsuki asking me questions about what I did in the military. 
 I tried being as vague as possible. 
	 The sounds of fighting drew my attention to the cliff above.  
It seemed that two individuals were fighting, they were very good, a lot 
better than I was at the moment.  One of the figure's arms seemed to 
blur as he struck his opponent, were his opponent just took it. Talk 
about speed and endurance.  They went on like that for a few minutes 
before one of the fighters suddenly struck the ground with a load cry.  
"BAKUSAI TENKETSU!"  The ground beneath then suddenly exploded upward, 
engulfing them both.  The explosion didn't stop there, for then the 
cavern started shaking.  
	Natsuki and I could only watch in horror as the cavern collapsed 
upon it self.  Just as soon as it settled down I ran to it, quickly 
throwing boulders and rocks out of my way as I searched for my new 
family.  Adrenaline giving me a strength I didn't know I had.  It took 
me two hours to finally reach them, my hands bloodied from the sharp 
rocks, but I continued. Thankfully Natsuki went for help so that she did 
not see what I saw, there were only two candles burning now.  Tears of 
rage flowed down my face and I let out a load scream of death for the 
whole world to hear.  Who ever did this was going to pay, pay with their 
lives.   The authorities questioned us on what happened and offered 
their condolences. When the coroner gave his report, it stated that 
Nasuko was a few weeks pregnant with my child. I called my unit to 
request emergency leave, then laid the bodies of my wife, unborn child, 
and her parents to rest.   It seems that their home was mine since I had 
married the eldest daughter.  I made arrangements to have Natsuki 
transferred to my home on the base, and I got someone to look over the 
home while I had to return to the base to continue my tour of duty.  As 
I was leaving the house, I made a silent promise to those who lived 
here.  Then holding out a piece of clothe I bit my tongue and spit blood 
on it, sealing the oath.  It was a bandana that I had found among the 
wreckage, it had fallen from the battle above.  It was yellow with black 
spots on it.  The owner of this bandana and his partner, wether they be 
friends or enemies of each other did not matter.  Before I die, I'll 
make them wish they were never born.
    
Part II

	The first few months were ruff, fortunately I had Natsuki with 
me to make the suffering bearable.  She was now going to a local 
international school and was making new friends.  I helped her with her 
English and she helped me with my Japanese.  She soon became known to 
everyone on base as my sister, and that they were not to play any pranks 
on her while I was in the field.  So it was that, like all children she 
adjusted to her new environment quickly enough, the pain still there, 
but behind her.  My love for her grew with everyday, not the love of 
someone of the opposite sex but the love of a family member. It was kind 
of strange since I didn't even feel this way for my brothers.  I guess 
it was kind of a shared hardship kind of thing. 
	I still had two years on my tour before I could get out of my 
commitment, so I stayed at that base.  It was a hard, long two years, 
emotionally that was.  When I wasn't working, I was either in the gym 
working out or at class perfecting my techniques.  I needed to get a lot 
better in a short period of time, so that I practiced with such an 
intensity that made Master Brown proud.  Though I always made sure that 
I spent plenty of time with Natsuki and did not neglect her.  She was 
very worried about me and took care of the house hold chores, although 
we cooked dinner together.   My coworkers were very worried about me.  
They knew I was getting married but were surprised when I brought back a 
young girl instead of my wife, I refused to talk about it.  So it was 
that I worked in a stony disposition getting the job down, but without 
the friendly joking around that we used to do.
	Two years is a long time, and a lot can change in that time.  
Natsuki was going to high school, getting excellent grades which made me 
proud of her.  Sure we had our shaky times, like when my unit was 
deployed for a "police action" and she had to stay home by herself for 
two whole weeks.  All the time worrying if she was going to lose me as 
well, or so she said.  I didn't worry, I wouldn't die until I kept my 
promise.  Even then everything was taken care of so that everything of 
mine would belong to her, so she would be fine.  I have been making 
investments of the money that I have been earning, setting it aside for 
a rainy day and that kind of thing.  
	In the Art I had already surpassed Master Brown in my skill 
level and worked with him to get it to an all new level of power and 
skill.  My weight training and my combat training bulked me up a bit, so 
that I had to get new issues of clothes to fit my new, more muscular 
body.  During weekend passes I went out to the city to look for fights 
to test myself, earning even more money in the process of doing street 
fights.  My superiors thought my new interest in perfecting my skills 
implied that I would be trying out for the ultra fancy force that had 
just been formed.  So it was that when the re-up drive came around, that 
they were very surprised when I declined re-upping.  Even with the extra 
money they were offering it wasn't enough to make me stay, I had other 
commitments.  Until that time I worked constantly to improve myself, 
only on the anniversary of day that my new family died, did I stay home 
to morn them and repeat my oath.   
	When my tour was up I left the service, heading to Japan.  
Natsuki was happy to be going home but would miss her new friends, it 
was time for the next part of our lives.  The house was in good shape, 
and the caretaker, Kenya did his job well, so I decided to keep him on 
to take care of the fish, leaving me to my vengeance.  First thing to do 
was get Natsuki into the local high school, then begin my scouting of 
the territory.  Even with all my skill I was no where near the match for 
those two, one at a time, a very, very good maybe, but together I would 
have no chance in the lower regions of hell.  Besides I wasn't here to 
challenge them, I was here to destroy them.  Still it would be good to 
make them sweat.  It didn't take long to find the two, it seems that 
they have left a trail of destruction, when ever they get together.  
Fortunately no one else has been seriously hurt, still for all the 
anguish that they have caused, they will pay. 
	I couldn't spy on them myself, for they would have noticed me 
right away.  A large individual with obvious fighting skills would 
immediately draw attention.  Especially when the people being spied upon 
said individuals were regularly challenged.  It wasn't hard to find 
someone to do that for me.  In fact it was ridiculously easy. It seemed 
that one of the woman who used to live with one of the targets, 
regularly sold information on them, even if it was a little old.  Ranma 
Saotome and Ryouga Hibiki, both eighteen years of age.  Good that would 
mean I wouldn't be killing some kids, not that it would have mattered.  
Saotome was attending the local high school as a senior, he has yet to 
be beaten in a one on one battle, and was a very powerful martial 
artist. Hibiki, well all that I knew was that he was constantly lost, 
but it was a good bet that he would be at the Tendo training hall 
eventually.  Now it was time to start my vengeance.
	So it began.  For the next couple of months each of them 
received notes, stating ‘murder' ‘slayer of innocents' and others alone 
those lines.  A letter was given to them, a challenge letter.
******************************************************************************
To the slayer of innocents
I challenge you!
When? That's for me to know and you to not realize it until too late.
Where? You will never know until its too late.
This promise I have made:  
For the death of my family, you will wish that you were never born.
You will never know my name until its too late.
 
*****************************************************************************
	From what the girl I hired to watch over that house told me, 
they were visibly disturb.  It was obvious they had no idea of what I 
was talking about, they didn't even know what they had done, or to whom. 
That made it even worse.  They would find out what crime they would be 
punished for, that I was certain.  But first I would prepare for them.  

	A lone field over looking a running stream: This is a regular 
resting place of Hibiki when ever he was in the area.  It's time make my 
first move.  This Hibiki fella was very strong as well as tough, still 
this should do a lot of damage to him without killing him, that would 
have been too quick.  Just as he was getting up in the morning I set off 
the clamor mine loaded with rock salt, positioned just behind his tent. 
 It took him completely by surprise, his tent was obliterated and he was 
thrown into the river.  The pig that emerged got to the river bank 
before passing out.  There was blood all over him, but he would live 
after a little first aide.  It was now time to visit my targets and get 
to know them a bit.  
	I appeared before the Tendo's gates just before sun down.  
P-chan as Hibiki was called in this form has still not revived.  That 
was good it only would have made things more difficult.  The eldest 
daughter answered the door, I hoped I won't have to hurt anyone else, 
but if they get in the way, I would if I have to.  I told her that I 
heard that the pig I had found belonged to someone of this household.  
She truly seemed to be worried for the pig and invited me in.  I told 
her I had found him on the side of a river covered in blood, and that I 
had healed what I could of his wounds.  She was grateful for this and 
invited me to stay for dinner, unfortunately I could not for I had to go 
home to my sister.  I told her that my sister worried when I wasn't home 
before dinner.  Still I could stay for tea.  Soun Tendo and a Panda (Mr. 
Saotome) were playing a board game, neither side seeming to be winning. 
 Kasumi told me how P-chan belonged to Akane, her sister, the fiancee of 
Saotome, and that he seemed to get lost a lot.  If only she knew, or 
maybe she did know, but did not want to hurt her sister.  She explained 
that her other sister Nabiki was away at university.  When Akane and 
Saotome arrived they were shocked to see P-chan in the condition that he 
was in.  She thanked me greatly after I had repeated my tale to her, it 
was a pity I would have to do this.  So it was that just when she had 
gotten into a fight with Saotome that I made my move.  When everyone's 
eye was turned, I "accidentally" knocked a cup of tea over P- chan.  It 
seemed that only Akane was surprised to find a naked Ryouga lying where 
P-chan was, then even she could not deny what she saw.   It was then 
that I took my leave of the house, thanking them for the tea.  The 
screams of pain could be heard from the house as I made my way home.
	My spy told me that Ryouga was seen a couple days later limping 
down the road.  For someone who heals as quickly as he does the damage 
must have been great.  Saotome was absent form school for two days and 
when he returned, he was still covered in bruises.  
	It was a couple weeks later that I received a surprise, for when 
I returned home, Natsuki had brought a guest home for dinner.  One Akane 
Tendo, it seemed that they were in the drama club together, even though 
they were two years apart.  Still I held no animosity toward her, so I 
received her at my table.  She was surprised to see me for as you know 
we did not look like we were related.  When asked about that, Natsuki 
only told her that I had married her older sister.  Not that quick on 
the uptake, she then asked where she was.  We were both quiet for a 
short while, and then I told her how she had died with her parents a 
week after marrying me.  She asked for our forgiveness for bringing up 
such a sad topic.  We told he it was alright since it was two years ago, 
but that we still morn them.  Natsuki and I then prepared dinner for us. 
 After dinner they went to Natsuki's room to go over the play that they 
were working on together.  I knew it was not good to let those two get 
close together, but I did not want to deprive Natsuki of a friend.  What 
will they do when my plans come to conclusion? I have no idea.
	Something happened a month later that I did not anticipate.  
Natsuki's drama club went on a trip to see a play in another of the more 
larger Tokyo districts and would be gone for a few days.  I thought it 
was good that she was getting out with friends, if only I could have 
foreseen what was to happen.  When she did not return at the given time 
I grew worried and called the theater.  It seemed that the group never 
made it to there.  This only increased my anxiety.  After calling around 
for information.   I borrowed Kenya's motorcycle and left for their last 
known stop, a little antique gift shop outside of the district.  I had 
arrived there to find the old Chinese woman who hung around with the 
Saotome kid was already there, as well as the two kids that live with 
her.  She was drawing a circle in the earth with her long staff, placing 
stones at certain areas around it.  When asked if she knew what had 
happened to the students, she did not answer at first she just looked at 
me for a while.  It looked like she was tempted not to tell me anything. 
 Then coming to a conclusion, she told me that a group of the students 
had picked up a magical item from the shop and activated it on the bus, 
transferring the bus and all on it to a separate dimension.  I didn't 
ask how she knew this, for I had seen her in action before.  When asked 
what she was doing, she simply stated that they were going after them.  
Why was she so interested? When asked she stated that Saotome was on the 
bus as well as Hibiki.  She didn't know why as they were not part of the 
drama club.  
	Damn it! I knew I shouldn't has let Natsuki make friends with 
the Tendo girl.  I had already figured out why the girl was going with 
her, as she claimed that she loved Saotome.  I asked Cologne, as that 
was her name when we would leave.  She just looked at me and said one 
hour.  That was all I needed know.  I quickly returned home and went 
into my private place and gathered what I might need.  When I had 
returned to the shop it appeared that they were about to leave without 
me.  When asked if they were, she just stated that she thought that I 
had fled in fear and would be no use to the group.  We just stared at 
each other before she would let me in.  Not that she was afraid of me or 
anything, it was just she could use all the help she could get.  The 
girl, Shampoo, asked why I wanted to come.  I just told her that my 
sister was on that bus, and that the other students would need help 
getting home.  When the boy, Mousse, asked about Saotome and Hibiki, I 
just looked at him and then looked away.  Cologne did not miss this 
display, but continued on with her incantation.  The world suddenly got 
very bright and then we were gone.
	It was a jungle, that was for certain.  The bus was parked in a 
ditch.  When searched it could be seen that the group left in a hurry.  
Checking the ground around the bus, we noticed some tracks we couldn't 
identify, they weren't human that's for sure.  There were craters 
scattered about the around giving test that Hibiki had been at work.  
Still it looked like they were all taken prisoner.  They must have been 
great forces indeed if they could take out the two of them so easily.  
When commenting on no bodies on either side, Cologne just stated that 
Saotome and Hibiki did not take lives.  I just muttered under my breath 
about that statement.  Seeing such obvious uneven odds, we decided to 
take it slow and easy so as to not be captured like the others.  Shampoo 
wanted to rush ahead blindly, the fool girl.  Her great-grandmother 
quickly made her see the best approach.  About three hours afterward we 
ran across a group of natives.  They were human, so not who we were 
looking for.  Shampoo wanted to force them to tell us where her husband 
was.  I told her to shut the hell up or she could go back, we didn't 
need any hot heads here. She got upset about that, Mousse just seemed 
shock that someone other than Cologne would talk to her like that.  
After she had gotten calmed down, it took a while for that to happen, 
the natives had almost left and it took a lot of doing at that.    It 
seemed that I was the only one of the four who were dressed strangely, 
as I was wearing modern clothing were theirs could be from any age.  
When asked about the abductors, we were told that they were wizards who 
created magical monsters from people who they kidnaped.  I did not like 
that at all.  When asked when this happens, they stated at the time of 
the three rising moons.  At the moment there were only two moons in the 
sky so that they had a few days before the ceremony was to commence.  
Cologne was able to talk them into giving us a map of the area of the 
castle that they were in.  I took this time to trade a knife for one of 
the native's cloak, so as I could blend in with them.  The reason the 
others were probably taken, was because they were outsiders and they 
thought no one would miss them.  
	It had been a day since we have been in the castle.  The guards 
just took us for commoners, we hid all our weapons in Mousse.  I don't 
know how he did it, but he was able to conceal them from the guards.  We 
checked in to the local tavern and set up base camp there.  It was then 
that we started asking around about the ceremony.  The people were just 
happy to have new slaves, and were excited with the news and told us 
everything.  About how the male prisoners were down in the dungeons and 
the females were up in the tower, it seemed that the good looking 
females were going to be used as whores or something, the man we were 
talking to cackled as that.  I almost killed him right there.  So it was 
that we made our way back to our room, as we could only afford one.  
There we made our plans, we would case the place tonight and decide 
after word.  Mousse and Shampoo were to go check out the troop 
positions, while I would wonder around to find out what I could.  
Cologne would check to see if any magic would be used against us in our 
attack.  I had already decided on how I was going to deal with these 
people, so it was that I took out a small pack from my rucksack.  When 
asked what it was, I just told them a surprise for the enemy. Then 
during my search of the area, I placed small charges of plastic 
explosives in key points on the foundation.  I wired then with remote 
fuses and concealed them so that they looked like part of the structure. 
 I then put a very special present underneath the guards barracks, to 
make sure they did not interfere.  Not one to take any chances I pulled 
out a bottle from a case in one of my pouches and dumped it down the 
drinking well.  One this the military taught you was, that there was no 
such thing as over-kill.  It was now time to plan our attack.
	I agreed that we needed to free Hibiki and Saotome first, so 
that they could help with the escape.  So it was that Shampoo and Mousse 
would rescue the male prisoners while I would go after the female ones. 
 Again Cologne would handle the magic aspects of our commando unit.  I 
told them not to drink the water and to stay away from the guard 
barracks if they could help it.  When asked why, I just grinned at them, 
stating no one harms my family.  Sure there are a lot of people out 
there that state, that you sh