<insert cursing line about email program here>
*************
"Oh great! Where on earth am I now!?" Ryoga muttered as he surveyed his
surroundings. He’d landed from being punted into the stratosphere by Ran-ko
half an hour ago. The last 30 minutes was spent wandering around the back
outside the Tendo Dojo. "I must be somewhere in China! Yeah, that’s it!"
Ryoga looked pleased with himself at discovering his whereabouts, until he
looked up and saw the sign reading ‘Tendo Anything Goes Training Hall - Back
Entrance’.
"So much for that…At least I’ll be able to find Akane without much
trouble…All I have to do is walk around to the front! She’ll be so glad to
see me!" Ryoga took a step in the opposite direction and was about to
continue when he heard voices coming from inside the dojo, in addition to
yells and the sounds of a general fight. He found a crack in the wood panels
and peeped in, seeing Ranma and Akane sparring.
"Ranma! What were you…Hyah!…thinking?" Akane dodged a low-to-high kick
combination from Ranma, twisted aside and snapped a fist toward the right
side of his face. Ranma promptly dodged and, ducking in low under her guard,
aimed an elbow toward her midsection.
"About…Yah!…what?!" Akane side-stepped the attack and crouched low to
attempt a Dragontail as Ranma’s momentum carried him onwards. Ranma, at the
last moment, flipped onto his hands over her extended leg and landed in a
crouching position. Before Akane could recover he lashed out with a
Dragontail of his own. Akane, her weight all on her front foot, couldn’t
recover in time and Ranma neatly clipped her ankle, putting her flat on the
floor again.
"Damn! I have to quit falling for that trick!" Ranma smiled at Akane as he
helped her up. "As I was saying, what were you thinking?"
"About what? Ran-ko?!" Akane nodded. "Come on Akane! It’s like we’re going
to do anything! She’s my sister, in case you’ve forgotten!" Outside, Ryoga’s
eyes widened in surprise.
"Sister?!? Ranma has a sister?!?…Since when?!?" He continued listening,
hoping to learn more.
"I know that! But you didn’t have to look so guilty about it!" Ranma smirked
at the thought that Akane would be jealous of him and Ran-ko.
"Heh, Akane…You don’t gotta be jealous about this you know…" Akane’s face
twisted into something unpleasant.
"What?!? What would I be jealous about?!?" Ranma chuckled at her, avoiding
her reverse spinning kick as he countered with a low step-in kick that Akane
swept aside and stepped in with a flurry of punches which Ranma blocked with
ease before slapping her arm aside and, trapping her right leg with his
left, swept it out from under her with a deft slide into a drop toe-hold.
Akane found herself on the floor again.
"Come on Akane, I mean look at her…There’s no comparison really, you’re a
dead weight in the water, you’ve got no figure…You’re as violent as a
gorilla and co-ordinated as a whale!" Ranma acked and took off as Akane
chased him around the dojo swinging her mallet. They ran right past Ran-ko
who stared at them with a puzzled look on her face before taking off after
them. Outside the dojo, Ryoga seethed with anger as he heard Ranma's words.
"Why that!!!!..." Ryoga tried to find the words but none came. "...I'll make
him pay for talking to Akane like that!" Ryoga, not looking where he was
going, ran right into a barrel used to trap rain water, tipping it all over him.
"BU-KEEE!, Kweee!!!!" P-Chan yelled in piggy.
"Come back here Ranma!! I’ll make you pay for that!!" Akane chased Ranma out
of the dojo and around the house for the better part of five minutes.
Moments later a resounding smash could be heard followed by a splash as
Ranma landed in the carp pond.
"Uhh…" Ranma moaned, rubbing the back of his head. "…I gotta learn to keep
my mouth shut…" Ran-ko, who’d been watching the incident, was having a fit
of giggling. She was trying not to laugh with no success.
"Hey! Whatcha laughing at?!" Ranma, climbing out of the carp pond, demanded
of his sister in mock anger.
"You look so funny with a fish on your head!" Ran-ko gave up trying not to
laugh and cracked up, tears streaming down her face. Ranma blinked a few
times before brushing the carp off his head and back into the pool. He
turned toward her with a mock snarl on his face. Ran-ko backed off slightly,
still snickering.
"So…laugh at me will you?…" Without warning, Ranma lunged out of the pool at
Ran-ko and tackled her to the ground. "…I’ll make you pay…" Ranma bellowed
in mock outrage as he slid both hands up Ran-ko’s sides began to…tickle her.
Ran-ko squirmed about on the floor, squealing with laughter and trying to
escape from her brother's hold on her with little success.
"Oniichan....stop...stop it...." Ran-ko managed to get out between bouts of
laughter. Ranma didn't let up, an 'evil' smile on his face as he watched his
sister squirm. Neither of them noticed Akane walk up to stand in front of
them. Akane watched them play for a moment, a half-smile crossing her face.
Ranma, pausing a moment to throw out a speech, finally noticed Akane
standing in front of him and he face-faulted, a large sweatdrop running down
the back of his head. Ran-ko turned to see what her brother was looking at
and grinned weakly at Akane, trying to look innocent.
"Um...Akane...I..." Ranma began intelligently. Ranma suddenly became
conscious of the position he and Ran-ko were in. He was nestled
'comfortably' between her legs which were spread around him as he'd
attempted to pin her down. Their hips were almost touching. Ranma gulped as
he realised his predicament. He dearly hoped that Akane didn't notice the
slight bulge that was growing in his pants. Apparently Ran-ko had noticed
though, as she was blushing slightly, trying not to show her own arousal as
she felt her nipples start to harden and push through the front of her
dress. "...I....err...we were just playing...that's all...We weren't doing
any of *that* or anything!" Ran-ko quickly nodded.
"Yeah, we were just playing..." She smiled up at Ranma.
"So! Smile at me will you?!" Ranma said in mock anger as he began to tickle
her again. Ran-ko squealed with laughter and tried once again to
unsuccessfully make her brother stop. Akane relaxed when she saw the
innocence of the situation. It was nothing more than play-fighting. However,
deep down inside her, she was jealous. Jealous because Ranma had never
played with her like that. Jealous because she'd never recieved as much
attention from Ranma as Ran-ko was getting and jealous because Ran-ko was
actually enjoying herself.
"Ranma! Stop it already, can't you see she's given up?" Ranma continued for
a moment longer then stopped, much to Ran-ko's relief as she wiped tears of
mirth from her eyes and, pulling herself out from under Ranma, sat up beside
him. Akane looked at the two sitting together and felt the pangs of jealousy
rise in her again. They looked so alike, made for each other even. Even
though Ranma had confessed his feelings for her, she still felt that she was
missing out. She forced a smile.
"Have you seen P-Chan anywhere? I've been looking all over for him." Ranma
shook his head.
"P-Chan?" Ran-ko looked up at Akane, puzzled.
"Yeah, my pet pig. Have you seen him anywhere? He's black with a funny
yellow and black bandanna around his neck." Ran-ko shook her head.
"Sorry, haven't seen a pig anywhere." Ran-ko turned to look at Ranma.
"Pig?!?" She whispered. Ranma nodded at her.
"Yeah, I'll explain later." Ran-ko nodded and stood up, followed by Ranma.
"Why do I have this funny feeling that if I go out here..." Ranma walked
outside for a moment. "...And do this..." A wet smack was heard from beside
the building, then moments later P-Chan came flying into the room, landing
right into Akane's arms. "...Damn I'm good! " Ranma smirked. Ran-ko's eyes
widened when she saw P-Chan, that yellow bandanna was strangely familiar.
"Bweeee!" P-Chan said in piggy. Akane yelped when she saw the bruise on the
left side of P-Chan's snout.
"Ranma!!!" She said in a low, dangerous tone. "I TOLD you not to pick on
him!" Akane then began cooing at her beloved pig, petting it and rubbing
it's snout. P-Chan sighed.
"Hmmph, all I did was smack him once with a baseball bat, no big deal..."
Ranma muttered to himself. P-Chan snarled at him, jumping out of Akane's
arms and onto Ranma's arm, sinking his sharp teeth into the flesh.
"OUCH!!!" Ranma yelled, throwing P-Chan off and mashing him into the floor
with a well-placed stomp. Akane promptly flattened Ranma with her mallet.
"Ranma! You jerk! When are you going to leave P-Chan alone!?" Akane
‘hmmphed’ and picked up a cut and bruised P-Chan, cooing to it like one
would a baby.
"Ran-ko, hold him for me will you? I'll be a moment" Akane passed P-Chan to
Ran-ko and went off looking for some antiseptic. P-Chan blinked. He looked
down at Ranma who was still on the floor, then turned to look up at Ran-ko.
He looked back and forth at the two for a moment, then face-faulted.
"Bwee?" P-Chan asked in piggy. Ran-ko smiled and petted him.
"You are cute, aren't you?" P-Chan blushed. He was about to jump off and run
after Akane when he realised what those *soft* things were that were
pressing into his back. He blushed furiously, trying to control the rush of
blood to his head that was threatening to burst out from his snout. Ranma
eventually got up and, shooting P-Chan a 'I'll kill you later when your
owner isn't around' look, began to walk off.
"I'm going to the dojo for a light workout...Get changed if u want to join
me." Ran-ko nodded after her brother.
You know...You remind me of someone..." Ran-ko said to P-Chan.
"Bwee?"
"That bandanna you have, it looks like the one on that guy who was fighting
oniichan..." P-Chan's eyes widened, a large sweatdrop running down the back
of his head.
"Bwee! Bu-keeee!" P-Chan shook his head furiously, trying not to sound
guilty. At that moment Akane returned clutching a bottle of antiseptic, much
to P-Chan's relief who 'bweed' at Akane.
"I'll take P-Chan back now, thanks Ran-ko." Ran-ko handed P-Chan back to his
owner and walked off upstairs to change into something more comfortable.
P-Chan looked up at Akane who was holding a bulb of cotton wool soaked in
antiseptic.
"Now hold still, this won’t hurt a bit..." P-Chan’s eyes widened as he
realised what Akane was about to do.
"BWEEEEEEEE!" P-Chan shrieked as Akane dabbed the solution onto his cut. So
much for that.
**************
Ran-ko walked into the dojo to see her brother flailing away at a dummy. She
watched on in awe as Ranma’s punches smashed into the dummy, one after
another. Finally, a burning right hook knocked the dummy right off it’s
stand, coming to rest after it struck the wall. Ranma paused for a moment
to catch his breath before setting up another dummy.
"Oniichan!" Ranma turned at the sound of Ran-ko’s voice.
"Oh hi, want to work out with me?" Ranma grinned at his sister’s uneasiness.
He looked her over. She was now dressed in one of his Chinese shirts and a
pair of loose fitting pants. Ran-ko stared at the floor for a few moments.
"I don’t think I can...I don’t know any martial arts." Ran-ko shifted from
foot to foot. Ranma walked over to her and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Heh, sure you don’t...How did you do what you did back at the Nekohanten
then?" Ran-ko blushed.
"I...I was just lucky I guess..." Ranma shook his head slightly.
"Luck? Nah...I think the old bat was right about you having my martial arts
knowledge...Let’s find out for sure" Ranma flashed an evil grin at his
sister. Without warning, Ranma attacked, snapping a fist at Ran-ko’s face.
At the last moment, her instincts took over and she slapped the blow aside,
counterattacking with a low side-kick to the ribs. Ranma blocked, sweeping
her leg aside and down on the outside gate, they were almost back-to-back.
Ranma turned and jabbed at her kidneys with blinding speed. Ran-ko, somehow
expecting the attack, turned so she was side-on to Ranma and lifted her knee
to intercept the blow. Ranma changed the attack halfway through and instead
of hitting low, he aimed high for under her chin. Ran-ko snapped her head
back at the last moment. As Ranma’s arm missed, she grabbed his wrist and
with a deft twist, turned and threw Ranma over her shoulder. Ranma twisted
his body in mid-air, coming to land deftly onto his feet. Almost immediately
after landing he dashed in to the attack again, throwing a high 3-2-3
punch/kick combo with dazzling speed. Ran-ko deflected the blows with ease,
matching him blow for blow. Neither of them noticed Akane, Nabiki, Kasumi,
Soun, Genma and Nodoka standing in the doorway, watching the fight with open
mouths.
"How did she learn to fight that well?!?" Akane asked, her eyes wide.
"Didn’t Cologne say something about her having Ranma’s skills?" Nabiki
replied to her sister. Genma and Nodoka looked on in pride at the dazzling
display of skill their children were showing. Kasumi put a hand to her mouth.
"Oh my! Don’t hurt each other!" Ranma and Ran-ko, even though none of their
blows were connecting, appeared to be thrashing each other half to death.
Each blow was thrown with full speed and power, the air around the two was
tinged with discharged ki-energy. Akane watched on, silent jealousy building
in her. Watching this display, she knew that she could never hope to win in
a real fight situation with either Ranma or Ran-ko. So why was she so good
at beating the crap out of Ranma?
<Why doesn’t he ever hit back?> Akane thought. <Why does he always let me
win?> Akane watched on, jealous of the fact that her own skills were no
where near the level of Ranma nor Ran-ko, who she expected to be an easy
win. Soun noted his daughter’s look of envy and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Now now...Someday you’ll learn to be as good as they are..." Akane shot her
father a look of pure venom. Soun cringed and shrunk back.
"For someone...who doesn’t...huff....know how to...Hah!...fight...You’re
sure doing a...chaa!...good job!" Ranma grinned at his sister in between the
furious blows they were exchanging. Ran-ko blushed slightly.
"It’s almost...hyah!...all...yaa!...I can do..." Ran-ko smiled meekly back
at Ranma. He shot her an ‘oh yeah?’ grin and, deflecting Ran-ko’s reverse
spin kick, leapt back out of the fray. Both of them stood panting for a
moment, catching their breaths. Ranma shot Ran-ko a wicked smile, who
blushed slightly and smiled back, looking embarrassed. After a moment, they
felt pairs of eyes bore into them and turned to look at Akane, Nabiki,
Kasumi, Genma, Nodoka and a slack-jawed Soun. Both of them blushed as they
realised that the others were watching them all this time. Ran-ko’s cheeks
flushed red and she brought her hands up to her face, trying to cover them.
"...Err...We..." Ran-ko began. Ranma smiled at her.
"...Heh...That was the...best workout I’ve...had in a long time..." Ranma
said in between pants. Ran-ko blushed further. "...Though...let’s see...what
you really know...ok?" Ran-ko nodded meekly and resumed a defensive stance.
Ranma stood erect, his fists clenched at his sides.
"...oniichan...what...are you...doing?" Ranma shot her another wicked grin.
"What else? We’re pretty evenly matched in hand-to-hand combat...Let’s see
about ki-combat..." Ran-ko cringed slightly.
"Ki...oniichan...I can’t do that..." Ranma laughed, much to his sister’s
consternation.
"Yah sure you can’t...Like you coultn’t fight either heh?" Ran-ko shifted
uneasily from foot to foot, trying to look innocent.
"Come on, let’s go!" Ranma brought both arms crossed up in front of his face
for a moment, then snapped them down to his sides with a roar as a blue
flame exploded around him. Ran-ko flinched as she felt his power level jump.
Ranma smiled at her again. "Go on..." Ran-ko hesitated a moment, clenched
her fists then brought them to her sides with a yell as a fiery-red flame
exploded around her. Ranma’s eyes widened as he felt her power level increase.
<She’s got about the same ki-level as I do!> Ranma thought. He glanced over
to everyone over by the doorway. They had felt Ran-ko’s power jump too.
Akane stood with a cold gaze fixed on Ranma. <Displaying her usual level of
interest I see...> he looked over to Nabiki, who had her camera out. <Is it
just me or do I see those photos turning into dollar signs?> he then looked
over at Genma and Nodoka. <Hmmph, Pop, you made me an idiot but at least
this is something I can thank you for...Mom, watch this...I’ll make you
proud of me...> Ranma then turned back to Ran-ko, who was almost at her
maximum level like he was.
"...Oniichan...you sure you want to do this?" Ranma grinned at her and nodded.
"Yeah, come on...let’s do it!" Ranma moved his hands up and held them in
front of his chest as if he were holding a ball. Almost immediately a blue
ball of energy formed in between his palms and began to grow. Ran-ko
followed suit, a red sphere forming in her hands.
"Here we go...MOUKO-TAKABISHA!!!" Ranma screamed and cast his hands forward,
a continuous blue beam of energy flying from them directly at Ran-ko.
"MOUKO-TAKABISHA!" Ran-ko screamed back, throwing her own blast at Ranma, a
fiery-red beam shooting from her hands and meeting Ranma’s beam dead-on. The
two beams contested with each other for supremacy, lightning crackling at
the point where the two opposing forces met, each trying to override the other.
"Woahh!" Everyone cringed back and shielded their eyes from the
almost-blinding energy discharge. The battle swayed back and forth for a
while. At times it would appear as if Ranma was gaining the upper hand, then
Ran-ko would push back and gain the upper hand for a while until she was
pushed back slightly.
<Woah! Her power level is almost on par with Ryoga’s ShiShiHoKodan!…I’m
impressed!> Ranma thought as he began to sweat profusely, beads of
perspiration dripping down his face and staining into his shirt. He could
see that Ran-ko was having a hard time too, her shirt was drenched with
sweat. Ranma could almost see her breasts through the near-transparent
material. His concentration lapsed for a moment and he was pushed back
almost to the point of defeat.
<Damn! Quit thinking like that and concentrate on the task at hand! You
pervert!> Ranma cursed himself and concentrated, forcing Ran-ko back into
neutral ground. <She almost had me beat that time...I’ve gotta try harder!>
Ranma vented a blood-curdling yell and redoubled his attack, a bluish-yellow
flame burning around him. Ran-ko flinched as she felt his power jump to a
new level. She was beginning to wear out, Ranma was too strong for her to
keep this up much longer. Both her and Ranma knew that his female body was
no where near as strong as his male side.
<Arrrhhh! He’s strong!...Too strong!...> Ran-ko thought as she felt her
attack slowly pushed back. Slowly, almost methodically, the blue began to
override the red, pushing it back. Then, like a dam breaking, the blue
neutralised the red and bore onwards. Ranma saw this and quickly stopped his
attack. However, he couldn’t stop all of it in time and the remnants of his
Mokou-Takibisha caught Ran-ko full in the face, sending her flying back into
the wall to land in a heap on the floor. Ranma quickly rushed to her aid.
"Ran-ko! Ran-ko! You all right?!..." Ranma shook her gently, Ran-ko stirred
and moaned from the pain of striking the wall. She nodded weakly and forced
a smile at her brother.
"Yeah...I...I’m ok..." Ranma shushed her.
"Sshh, don’t talk..." Ranma immediately regretted asking Ran-ko to match
ki-power with him in the first place "...I’m sorry, I never should have
asked you to do this in the first place..." Ranma cursed himself. Ran-ko,
her head in Ranma’s lap, smiled up at him.
"It’s ok...I...I never knew I could do that...oniichan...when did I have
such power?"
"I don’t know..." Ranma gently pushed her hair back out of her eyes. <Good
question! Didn’t the old bat say she...>
"RANMAAA!!!"
<Oh great!> Akane stormed up to Ranma and bopped him over the head. Ranma
winced.
"W...What was that for?!"
"You insensitive jerk! How can you do that to your own sister?!" Akane
glared down at Ranma, still cradling Ran-ko’s head in his lap.
"It was an accident! Ok?!" Akane stopped when she saw the look on Ranma’s
face. For once it was showing true regret. She searched his eyes for a
single sign of his old annoying attitude and was surprised when she found
none. Ranma looked apologetically down at Ran-ko.
<Was that a tear in the corner of his eye?> Akane mused as Ran-ko slowly got
up, standing on shaky legs. Ranma helped her up, supporting her by the
waist. Ran-ko shot her brother a grin.
"I guess you’re too strong for me, oniichan."
"Heh, you’re not half-bad yourself, you had me there for a while" Everyone
did a double-take. Did they just hear Ranma admit any sign of weakness?!?
Ran-ko tried to walk but staggered and fell back, Ranma quickly caught her.
"It’s ok, really...I’m fine..." Ran-ko smiled at her brother. Ranma did not
look convinced.
"Yeah right, the only guy I know who could take a Mokou-Takibisha full in
the face and still be ‘fine’ is Herb, the self-professed ‘ki master’. Come
on, I’ll help you upstairs." Ran-ko slowly walked upstairs with Ranma
supporting her. Akane slowly followed them, trying not to look jealous of
the attention Ranma was giving Ran-ko. Hell, he’d never shown such concern
for her whenever she got injured. He’d say something along the lines of ‘Oh
come on, I barely touched you!’ and expect her to get up. Ran-ko faltered
halfway up the stairs, staggering slightly as a wave of dizziness overcame
her. Ranma quickly steadied her, a worried look on his face. Akane ran to help.
"You sure you’re all right? Want me to get Dr. Tofu?" Akane asked. Ran-ko
shook her head.
"No, I’ll be ok..." She coughed slightly, causing Ranma to flinch.
"Look, you’re in no condition to walk...Here, I’ll carry you..." Ranma
scooped Ran-ko up and carried her up the stairs. Akane followed a few paces
behind, head bowed. They rounded a corner and walked into Ranma’s room.
Akane flicked on the light while Ranma gently deposited Ran-ko onto his futon.
"Ran-ko, I’m sorry...I couldn’t stop the blast in time, I..." Ranma said in
a regretful tone, his hand gently running through Ran-ko’s hair. Ran-ko
smiled up at him.
"It’s ok...I would have done the same thing..." Ran-ko’s smile faded for a
moment. She knew that if she’d won, the situation here would probably be
reversed. She probably couldn’t have controlled her blast any more than
Ranma could his. Ranma nodded down at her, still stroking her hair.
"Listen, if you feel sick or something, yell ok?" Ran-ko nodded. Ranma
however, looked unwilling to leave his sister alone in this condition.
Kasumi walked into the room holding a basin of water and a flannel. She wet
it before laying it onto Ran-ko’s forehead. Kasumi smiled at Ran-ko who
looked a little stunned.
"Th...thank you..." Ran-ko managed to get out. She still didn’t know who all
these people were, and why they were all so nice to her. Sure, they were her
brother’s friends, but Ranma wasn’t her ‘real’ brother. Nodoka and Genma
aren’t her ‘real’ parents either. Yet they were treating her like she was
part of the family. Well technically she was but still...
"Ran-ko...why are you crying?" Ranma asked. Ran-ko quickly wiped away the
tears that had formed in her eyes, making them shimmer.
"Oh, n...nothing...I was just thinking..." Ranma seemed unconvinced. Ran-ko
forced a smile at her brother. "...I’ll tell you later ok?" Ranma nodded and
slowly stood up.
"Hope she’s going to be ok, I can’t call Kuno-baby like this now can I?"
Nabiki grinned at Ranma who looked shocked.
"Nabiki!!" Ranma and Akane shot back.
"Hey, I’m joking ok?…Yeesh!" Akane shook her head at her sister’s attitude.
Nodoka knelt beside Ran-ko, patting her gently on the shoulder.
"Ran-ko dear, if you need anything, just tell Mommy ok?" Ran-ko started at
the thought.
<M...Mommy?> She nodded. "M...Mom..." Ran-ko looked up at Nodoka, tears
glistening in her eyes.
"Yes dear?" Ran-ko paused, she didn’t really want anything. She’d just
wanted to call her mother for the first time. Ranma, who was standing
nearby, looked at his sister and nodded slightly to himself.
"Poor girl, she probably never knew her mother when she was alive..." Ranma
mumbled to Genma, who "Hmm’ed" and nodded, adjusting his glasses.
"So tragic, I hope things will be better for her now. At least, she now
knows what it’s like to be surrounded by people who do care for her." Ranma
did a double-take, blinking a few times. Did he just hear his father say
something sensitive?!?
"Yeah, well it’s not gonna last you know..." Ranma muttered and folded his
arms, eyes closed. Genma peered at his son.
"And what is that supposed to mean?!"
"Just wait, you’ll see...You’re gonna get it into that fool head of yours to
go of engaging her to the first guy you see or something and before you know
it, she’d be wishing she’d never been born!" Genma punched Ranma into the wall.
"You ingrate! I spend the last sixteen years training you to become a man
and this is the thanks I get?!?" Ranma turned a disdainful look at his
father, smirking.
"Oh, so THAT’s what it’s called now! ‘Be a man’ he says. Ever hear about a
place called ‘Jusenkyo’?..." Genma cringed "...ever hear of a spring called
‘Nyannichuan’?" Genma cringed further. "...and ever hear of..."
"Shush! The both of you! Can’t you see my daughter’s having a hard enough
time here?!" Genma and Ranma hung their heads in shame.
"Sorry..." both muttered. Genma and Ranma shot each other looks saying ‘It’s
your fault!’ After a few moments, Nodoka stood up and walked over to the door.
"I think we’d best let her rest for a while now..." No one moved. Nodoka’s
eyes narrowed to slits and she moved to unwrap the sword-shaped bundle that
she now held in her hand. Everyone except Kasumi bolted out of the room,
jamming through the doorway and down the stairs. Sounds of people falling
down the stairs could be heard, in addition to a few muffled curses and the
one big splat when everyone hit bottom.
"Oh my! I hope they didn’t hurt each other!" Kasumi exclaimed. Nodoka simply
nodded and taking one last look at Ran-ko sleeping on the futon, walked out
the door. Even after all this time, no one had noticed the dark shadow
lurking outside the window. Even in the darkness, one could see the evil
grin on the outlines of its ‘face’.
*************
K u s a n a g i K y o
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"Kusanagi Flames, Yagami Tears, Orochi Blood"