The first part in a three-part series of the gang's trip to Hawaii.
Feel free to C&C, or point out logistical errors.
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#8: Doco in Hawaii, part 1: The Big Island
The Very Long Night of Ukyo Kuonji
The Wheel of Fire, Part 3: Doco-- Turning Point
Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@hotmail.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. And
all that other good stuff. Proper licenses belong to respective properties
and characters. The manga has precedence over material in the anime.
This file can be freely distributed so long as it appears in its complete
form and proper credit. No part may be reproduced for monetary gain without
permission from the author. (to which the answer is probably "no")
Fanart inspired by this story can be found at:
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranfa2.html
Author's note: This series takes place after the final manga story, Vol.
38. It follows after my previous fics, "Moments of Transition," "Team Ranma
vs. the Orochi Assassins," "End of the Beginning," "Descending Spiral,"
"Specters," "The Law of Amazons," and "Doco in the Battle of the Bands."
Knowledge of the previous stories helps in understanding the minor details
of the story (see "Plot Points"). This is the second story of Part 3:
Turning Point, where the ramifications of Doco become apparent. Part one of
a three-part story in Hawaii.
Plot Points (from previous stories)
==================================
1. Ranma and Akane are married.
2. Mousse and Shampoo have reached an understanding in their 'relationship.'
3. The so-called 'Kiss of Death' law has been forcibly-repealed by Cologne.
4. Mousse is now an outsider of his tribe (banished by Cologne). He's now
living and working at Ucchan's, since Cologne's still mad at him for defying
traditions.
5. Ryoga is looking for his mother to get permission to marry Akari.
6. Kodachi and Tatewaki have reached an understanding.
7. After being possessed by a malevolent spirit, Ukyo discovers she has
potential to manipulate chi to heights greater than Ranma. She later
realizes she'd been using chi in making okonomiyaki, echoing words of a
monk who once told her that her fighting spirit manifested in her cooking.
In other words, it's a discovery of something she didn't know she had.
8. Both Kunos know that Ranma and the pig-tailed girl are the same person.
As a result, Kuno's hatred of Ranma was intensified, since the sorcerer
Ranma toyed with his fragile heart. Kodachi sees the curse as an 'added
incentive' to give up on Ranma and look for 'more perfect' guys.
9. The Nerima crew (Doco, consisting of Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, Kasumi,
Tatewaki, Kodachi, Shampoo, Mousse, Ling-ling and Lung-lung, Ryoga, Akari,
Ukyo, and Konatsu) have won an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii.
10. The ex-Ranma-fiancees have reached an understanding. Now they treat
each other like old friends, as there's no reason to fight anymore.
11. Ranma notes that Ukyo's been behaving more aggressively recently. This
level of aggression matches the time she attacked at the first wedding. In
reality Ukyo's been suppressing her anger for the past months, and it's
only now beginning to surface.
12. Kuno and Ranma's latest battle ended in a draw. Both itch for revenge.
------------------------------------------------
Opening: Earth Orchestra (aka the Principal's song)
(with the Ranma Guys: Ranma, Mousse, Ryoga, and Kuno)
(a jazzy, upbeat tune that sounds like a celebration)
(Ranma) If you listen closely, far out of sight
you can hear singing voices.
In this city, somewhere,
the machine sending those voices,
you can't see it, not at all!
Those voices never reached
as far as here;
since they were wiped out,
you can't hear that clear song.
(horns blow)
Listen there! A little sound--
next to your eyes and
the tip of your nose
The verdant sound starts to overflow,
so long as no one obstructs it.
You too, are a single sound
born on this wide world.
Let's return! Into that sound!
(Ryoga) Fondly-remembered --
(All) If you mark the rhythm
with the rumbling mountains
you can see the dancing earth
resound vast, blue, and high,
Earth orchestra.
(Ranma) By that well-loved song,
I want to be enveloped.
(Kuno) Look --
(All) If you mark the rhythm
with the rumbling mountains
you can see the dancing earth
resound vast, blue, and high,
Earth orchestra.
(Mousse) You too,
(All) If you mark the rhythm
with the rumbling mountains
you can see the dancing earth
resound vast, blue, and high,
Earth orchestra.
* * * * *
The hotel was called 'Uncle Billy's.'
The group from Nerima, consisting of Ranma, the Tendo sisters, the Kunos,
Akari, Ryoga, Shampoo, Mousse, the twins Ling-ling and Lung-lung, Ukyo, and
Konatsu, stayed in the cramped building on the Big Island of Hawaii. It
was only the beginning of their tour of the islands, in the wake of winning
the grand prize in a battle of the bands.
The impression of the travelers of the place sank to new lows as they
discovered there were only two rooms available for all fourteen of them.
The desk clerk did say each room could hold up to six people, and they were
double rooms anyway. Of course the six people counted in this manner: two
double-beds and a double-sofa-bed. It was agreed that Ranma, Kuno, Ryoga,
Mousse, Ling-ling and Lung-lung, and Akari would stay in one room, and the
others in the second. Of course Mousse and Konatsu ended up sleeping on the
floor in their respective rooms after arrangements were made.
Nabiki couldn't help but reflect on the events that occurred since
coming to Hawaii.... It was a wonder any of them were still in one piece.
After making the connecting flight from Honolulu to the Big Island of
Hawaii, the group exited the plane only to be greeted by the security
magnets at the terminal. Nabiki passed through first, then Akane, Kasumi,
Kuno (after setting his bokken on the conveyor belt), Kodachi, Ranma,
Shampoo, Ling-ling, and Lung-lung.
When Ukyo tried to pass through the security alarm blared, then she
realized it was the spatulas on her bandoleer. It did likewise for Konatsu,
who had to hand over his sword to the security guard.
Then Mousse stepped through. The security beeped like crazy.
Stepping back, Mousse was approached by the security guard. In English he
instructed Mousse to put his metallic belongings on the conveyor belt, as
Konatsu and Ukyo had done before him.
The security guard's expression was priceless as Mousse produced, one
after the other, weapons of various kinds, and set them on the conveyor
belt: knives, darts, spears, a halberd, chains, an executioner's ax, three
swords....
"Is that all?" the security guard asked when Mousse stopped.
"No, there's more," Mousse responded in English. He proceeded to take off
his sandals, the ones with the spiked nails, but the security guard stopped
him.
"Nononono, you can't go barefoot here," the security guard said hastily.
Finally, with a sigh, he instructed Mousse to pass through anyway. The
security alarm beeped as usual.
He even let Mousse have his weapons back, and relinquished Konatsu's
sword, explaining, "I didn't see anything, did you?"
The man was obviously scared of Mousse. Nabiki laughed at the thought.
The next incident happened just after the group retrieved their luggage,
when Kuno rented a van. Belongings and people barely fit together in the
extra-long van, but that wasn't the worst of it, not by a long shot.
As soon as the van hit the road, Kuno turned on the left side of the
road, against traffic.
"Aaaaggghhh! English drivers!" Kuno spat as he'd swerve out of the way
of oncoming cars, those seated in the back screaming wildly at the mad
driving. It went as such until Kodachi pointed out, "This is America, not
England, you idiot! Americans drive on the RIGHT, not on the left!" At
the time Nabiki was almost certain vacation in Hawaii wouldn't last much
longer.
The final obstacle in the group's path was the drive to a vacant hotel.
Kuno would drive down the street, until someone would shout, "There's one
over there!" Kuno would respond with, "Where is 'there?!'" And the one who
voiced directions earlier would say, "That way!" pointing in a certain
direction, oblivious to the fact that Kuno had to keep his eyes on the road.
Oh, how many GOOD hotels had they passed?
But now they were in the confines and safety of a hotel room. What could
go wrong? Nabiki thought to herself. Picking a twin bed, she dropped her
bags and threw herself onto the mattress.
Only to be greeted by the biggest hole possible in a bed, the bed sheets
following.
It was approaching midnight on the day of their first stay at the hotel.
While those in the 'men's' room wanted to sleep, the girls were too excited
to sleep. Akane, Ukyo, and Kodachi sat in a circle on the floor. Nabiki
lay in her bed, reading a book, while Kasumi watched the local news, trying
to improve her ear for English, she'd said. Konatsu lay on the floor near
the window, fast asleep with a jacket as a makeshift pillow. Obviously a
deep sleep, considering the noise the other girls made.
Shampoo entered the room, carrying a medium-sized bag, the contents
clinking with every step. "Shampoo back!"
Akane, Ukyo, and Kodachi shifted positions as they allowed Shampoo into
the circle. Kasumi seemed oblivious to Shampoo's arrival, absorbed to the
television set. Nabiki closed her book, then rolled in bed so as to face
the girls on the floor.
"So you really did it, didn't you?" Nabiki guessed.
"Aiyah!" Shampoo replied, producing a couple bottles of wine.
"Well, it is all-expenses-paid, after all," rationalized Ukyo, "so no use
in putting it to waste. I've never tasted wine in my life." The last time
she'd been offered some was at Ranma and Akane's wedding, to which she
flatly declined.
"You don't know what you're missing," Kodachi said. Passing glasses
around, she warned, "Just remember not to take in too much."
Shampoo unsealed one of the bottles, then poured into the cups of Akane,
Ukyo, Kodachi, then her own.
"Well, bottom's up," Kodachi said, raising her glass.
As soon as the wine reached Ukyo's lips, she spat it out in a spray. The
other girls winced, but Nabiki caught the full brunt of the attack. "Ugh,
is THAT what this stuff tastes like?!"
"It's not too bad," Kodachi noted, "but I've tasted better. What do these
Americans know about fine wine anyway? Should've gotten French." Of course,
Kodachi knew French wine was unavailable in this part of the world.
"I don't know, it kinda tastes like carbonated grape juice to me," Akane
said, comparing with memories of the wine served at her own wedding.
"Shampoo think village wine taste better than this."
"Must be the alcohol content," Kodachi commented, "only Americans would
put so much in their beverages...."
"So, what'll we do now?" asked Ukyo.
"I got one: truth or dare anyone?" suggested Kodachi.
"What's that?" asked Akane.
"It's certainly not a Japanese game, so you shouldn't know it. Each one
of us asks another a question, and the questioned must either answer the
question in truth, or perform a dare of the questioner's design."
"Well, I'm game, I suppose," answered Ukyo.
"Can't hurt to try," agreed Akane.
"So who go first?" asked Shampoo.
Nabiki groaned. "I can't believe I'm listening to this." She rolled back
to her pillow, covering herself under the sheets. "Good-night."
Kasumi turned off the television set and joined her sister in the same
bed. So now it was just the four girls alone, awake.
"I'll go first, I guess," Ukyo volunteered. She looked at her three
companions, then, turning to Shampoo, asked, "Do you like Mousse?"
Shampoo looked at Akane and Kodachi, then back to Ukyo. "Yes. But Shampoo
not say she love him!" Sometimes Mousse was tolerable, sometimes even
admirable, but whenever he'd go on his love-sick crazes Shampoo hated him.
"Only Mousse the warrior," she added.
"Well, that was a bit too easy," commented Kodachi. "My turn." Turning to
Akane, she asked, "Tell me, darling, have you 'done it' with Ranma yet?"
Nabiki rolled over in bed and covered her ears with her pillow.
Considering how the pillows were as stiff as bricks, that did little to
remove the noise from the middle Tendo sister's ears.
"That's none of your business!" Akane shouted hotly.
"Well, you still have to answer!" Kodachi replied. Oh, sure, deny it all
you want....
"Oh, give it a rest!" Ukyo said. "She's not going to tell you either
way."
"Shampoo's turn," the Chinese girl said. She told Kodachi, "Tell Shampoo
if crazy-girl on medication, what it is, and for what."
"I'm not crazy!" Kodachi said, trying to suppress screaming. "There you
go; I've no mental illness, I take no medication, and I'm not insane. Are
you happy now? How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Shampoo think crazy-girl lying," Shampoo replied, then shrugged.
From her location on the twin bed, Nabiki sat up and shouted, "Go to
sleep or get out!"
It wasn't long before Nabiki ended up kicking-out the four girls. Akane,
Shampoo, Ukyo, and Kodachi relocated their conversation to one of the
lounges adjacent to the hotel lobby. Shampoo made sure to bring the bag of
wine along as well.
Akane said, "Okay, my turn. Ukyo: truth or dare. Do you love Ryoga?"
Ukyo gave Akane a stern look and flatly said, "Certainly not!"
"Well, I mean, people see you two together a lot, and, well, before Akari
came along, I thought, maybe you two were good for each other. Don't you
remember the Tunnel of Lost Love?"
"She's right, darling," Kodachi said. "I've heard the stories. What about
then, hmm?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Ukyo replied. "I don't want to think
about it, and neither should you." Just where did that stupid rumor start,
anyway?! Ryoga, that jackass! couldn't find his way out of a paper bag.
Ukyo was GLAD, VERY GLAD, most people accepted Ryoga and Akari as a
couple instead. Only dried-up old widows with nothing else better to do
would try to 'pair-up' young teens, like herself, like that!
"Well, I guess you don't, since that wasn't a proper question," Kodachi
noted.
"Well, that turn was uneventful," commented Ukyo. To Akane she asked,
"Okay, truth or dare. Just what do you think of the three of us, Akane? I'm
serious, the truth."
Akane thought for a moment. "Well... I'm not quite sure, really. I mean,
we've all changed a lot, you know? Like Kodachi, now there's a side of her
I've never thought of because I couldn't get pass her bizarre behavior. A
really 'interesting' person. And Shampoo... hey, I'm jealous of your
strength, and how much better a martial artist you are, but you've had your
moments." Especially when Shampoo caught Akane from falling once. "And
Ukyo... well, what can I say? After things got sorted out between you and
Ranma, you've been a really good friend, to me and him. Sometimes I wish I
had your looks, and I sometimes wish I had your cheery personality; you
just can't find the worst in people. And I wish I could cook like you,
too."
"'Interesting' is a rather neutral word," Kodachi teased.
"And Shampoo still better than tomboy."
Ukyo cringed at Akane's words. "No, really, that's not me at all...." No
way was I like that, especially since I should be hurting you right now....
Ukyo shook her head, trying to banish such thoughts from her mind. Yet the
hate boiled within.
"My turn," Kodachi announced. To Ukyo she asked, "Tell me the truth: if
there was one person in the world you could kill, who would it be? There's
no way you can't hate anybody!"
"Ahhh.... I think I'll take a dare instead," Ukyo replied nervously. Now
wasn't the time to get Akane mad at her, after what she'd said about her.
Neither the right time or place.
"Are you sure?" Akane asked. I thought it might've been Tsubasa, but....
Kodachi reached for the unopened bottle of wine, and passed it to Ukyo.
"I want to see you drink the entire bottle. Don't you even think about
spitting it out!" Sometimes alcohol loosened the lip anyway.
Ukyo accepted the wine bottle. Eyes watching her, Ukyo broke open the
seal, and stared down the bottle's neck. "Well, here goes," she announced,
lifting the bottle to her lips.
In the meantime, it was Shampoo's turn. "Akane, truth or dare: tell
Shampoo why you not sleep with Ranma in same bed!"
"Very interesting...." muttered Kodachi, eyeing Akane suspiciously. Could
it be that I'm wrong...?
Akane shot a dirty look at Ukyo, who was too busy to notice the stare.
Geez, Ukyo, did you just go ahead and tell these two that behind my back?!
Then again, the fact that I'm not sleeping with him now might have said a
lot, too. Finally, she answered, "I told you, it was none of your business!"
"Oh, come on!" Kodachi protested. "We let it go the first time, and I
myself really DO want to hear this." She jabbed a thumb in Ukyo's direction,
who still had the bottle in her mouth. "Your friend's too busy to save you
now! Ah-hahahaha!"
"Tell Shampoo truth now," Shampoo insisted.
"You could take the dare," Kodachi added, trying to be helpful. That is,
if that was helpful.
Akane stole another glance at Ukyo, who continued to drink down the wine
bottle's contents. She didn't care to discuss her life in bed. "Ummm...
dare, please?" Whatever it was couldn't be as bad as Ukyo's dare. Could it?
Shampoo's lips curved into an evil smile.
The four girls stood just outside the hotel lobby in the open night air.
It was around midnight. Shampoo and Kodachi stood waiting impatiently, while
Ukyo continued to take swigs from her wine bottle, letting some of the
liquid spill over her sweatshirt without care. Already her behavior became
erratic, as Kodachi had to help her through the lobby as she made babbling
threats toward Akane. Kodachi had no intention of taking back her dare for
Ukyo's health.
"Obviously, you can't hold your liquor," noted Kodachi, holding Ukyo's
wavering arm.
"Akane must drop pants for next passing vehicle," Shampoo dared.
Kodachi slapped herself on the forehead. "THAT'S IT?!" She shook her
head disappointingly. "You REALLY don't know how to play this game, do you?"
Ukyo was laughing uncontrollably now. "No fair skipping out now, sugar!"
"Well, Ukyo," returned Akane, "at least I'm still sober."
"That's what happens when one drinks to excess!" Kodachi proclaimed,
pointing at the still-laughing Ukyo. "Not only that, but one's guard is
down. We'll soon learn the truth from her."
"That dirty trick!" Shampoo exclaimed. "Truth or dare, crazy-girl get
truth!"
Kodachi smiled slyly at Shampoo. "Am I good, or what, darling? Ehee...."
"This game stupid!" complained Shampoo. Kodachi laughed even harder.
"That's it, I'm quitting," Akane announced. To the roaring Kodachi she
said, "You and your stupid cultural games!"
Ukyo continued to laugh. Suddenly, the okonomiyaki chef started coughing
violently.
"What's wrong?" asked Akane.
Ukyo dropped the wine bottle, letting it shatter on the ground, as she
bent to her knees and continued coughing, clutching her stomach with both
hands. Her facial expression was such that it looked like her eyes were
trying to force their way out of their sockets.
"She's not choking or something?" Kodachi asked.
"Probably laugh too much," commented Shampoo.
Akane squatted next to Ukyo, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Take it
easy, it's okay...."
It was then when Ukyo's eyes seemed to crystallize, seemingly fixed on
something that wasn't there. Then, she fell forward, face-first on the
ground amidst the loose wine and shards of shattered glass.
"Ukyo!!" all three girls cried at once.
Kodachi leaned over Ukyo's body. "She couldn't have passed out so soon!
Half the bottle was left!" Unless, of course, Ukyo couldn't hold her liquor.
Akane rolled Ukyo's limp form over, away from the shattered glass. Among
the stains from wine about her face were small cuts from the glass on the
ground. It seemed her eyes were spared from harm. Blood streamed down her
face in numerous areas.
Shampoo picked up the okonomiyaki chef in her arms and was ready to
run back inside the hotel when Kodachi stopped her.
"What are you doing?" Akane cried. "She needs help!"
Kodachi pointed at the blood trailing down Ukyo's face. "Take a look at
that."
Akane and Shampoo gasped. The blood was purple.
The desk clerk immediately led the four girls to a comfortable bed in an
auxiliary room (which appeared to be in much better shape than the actual
rooms), then left to make a call for a doctor. Akane cleaned the wine and
blood stains from Ukyo's face and started bandaging the cuts. All the while
Kodachi and Shampoo stood behind her, backs to the wall.
"Shampoo think it black magic," the Amazon reasoned.
"It's my fault, I shouldn't have forced her to drink that awful wine,"
Kodachi said, hanging her head low.
"Stupid, it can't be wine!" Shampoo replied.
Akane finished with the bandages. She turned to the other two girls. "I
don't know why this is happening...." She told Shampoo, "You'd better get
the others, they should know what happened."
Shampoo nodded, then exited the room, leaving Kodachi behind with Akane.
Something terrible has happened, Ranma knew.
But it took form in a way he never thought possible.
From the darkness around him, Ranma could hear the sneering voice of his
enemy, sounding as if from the depths of a deep chasm: "You are dead."
Ranma watched as eight columns of clear crystal, once standing silent in
the darkness, illuminate, the source of light coming from above. He gasped,
as he recognized the shapes of those encased within each of the eight,
prism-like crystals. From left to right, there was Kuno, Ryoga, Ukyo,
Kodachi, Shampoo, Mousse, Konatsu, and Akane. Each and every one of Ranma's
acquaintances showed no signs of pain or suffering-- they looked quite
serene.
"Where am I?" Ranma shouted into the darkness.
A presence appeared next to Kuno's crystal prison, the shape and form of
which Ranma couldn't distinguish. It replied, "The end of the road."
"What is this?!"
"Your death."
The being seemed to circle Kuno's crystal as it ranted on, devoid of any
emotion. "Tatewaki Kuno, your longtime adversary, possessing the heart of a
warrior and the spirit of a samurai. Unfortunately for him, those days are
long gone-- the world no longer appreciates such qualities. No matter, for
only his ancestors matter; soon he will meet them because his life is over."
With a loud *CRACK!* the crystal which held Kuno shattered. No trace was
left but the shattered fragments of the crystal. No body parts or signs of
blood. It was as if Tatewaki Kuno simply ceased to exist.
"Stop!" Ranma cried. He tried to lung at the monster that tormented him,
but found he couldn't move. No one, not even Pantyhose Taro, would dare kill
fellow martial artists in this manner.
"Ah, you see, you do care."
"Me? No way!" Ranma tried to force himself to fold his arms, but found he
couldn't. Why should I care about what happens to Kuno?
The presence seemed to shrug, then proceeded to Ryoga's crystal. "Ryoga
Hibiki, whose strength is surpassed only by the power of his heart. Your
greatest rival, yet one of your closest friends. And now, his life is over."
And with the same noise and proceedings as with Kuno, Ryoga's crystal
shattered.
"Show yourself, coward!" Ranma shouted at the darkness. "Fight me!" But
the only response he got was his own echo.
It was then the presence seemed to focus its attention on Ranma once more.
"You will watch as, one after another, your closest friends and enemies die,
one after another, harsh, cruel, cold. All of them are as much a part of
your life as they are part of you. For, by removing them from your life, a
part of you goes with them, as they are the ones who define who you are. Bit
by bit, you will be destroyed."
The presence turned its attentions back to the crystal prisons. "Ukyo
Kuonji, okonomiyaki chef extraordinare and your oldest friend, who loved her
cooking as much as life itself. The trials of life have tempered her into
the strong warrior she is today-- yet, there is so much more. And now, her
life is over." Shattered.
"Ucchan...." whispered Ranma. A deathly chill seemed to crawl up his
spine; goosebumps sprouted on his exposed arms, even though it wasn't cold
nor was there a breeze. He wanted to shed a tear, but found he couldn't. No,
I can't let her go like this....
Beyond the darkness, someone... lots of someones, laughed maniacally.
"Kodachi Kuno, whose sheltered life prevented her from experiencing the
true meaning of living-- she is indeed an island unto her own. Had she been
treated as a person, perhaps her life may have been a happy one. Her dear
brother, the only one who truly cared for her, is gone; now her life is
over." Shattered.
"Shampoo, heir to her tribe's ways, the greatest of her village. How
fortunate she was to have found true love that agreed with her tribal
tradition. And now, her life is over." Shattered.
Even though he told himself he could live without either Kodachi or
Shampoo, Ranma wanted to scream, wanted to lash out, wanted to DO something,
but found he couldn't. All he could do was watch.
"Mousse, an equal, if not greater, match for Shampoo. His love and blind
devotion for her is his life. Without her, his life is over." Shattered.
"Konatsu Kenzan, raised from childhood as a girl, trained in the kunoichi
techniques. His life grew in meaning when you and Ukyo entered his life,
yet, his world depended completely on Ukyo. Now that Ukyo is gone, his life
is over." Shattered.
No one, not even Mousse or Konatsu, deserved to die like this, Ranma
thought. True love was something to be experienced, and yet, it was beyond
either of their grasps.
"How fitting, that you have a sudden change of heart."
Ranma wanted to lash out as the presence reached Akane. "No...!"
"Akane, your wife! I should savor the torment that wells within you, to
all eternity. Alas, that cannot be. Her heart was as big as the world. And
now, her life is over!"
"NOOOOOOO!!!!"
The echo of Ranma's scream only served to shatter Akane's crystal prison,
as the presence had neither flinched nor moved after completing its speech.
"Ha!" cried the presence in triumph. "By your hand, you die."
Ranma's knees sank to the ground, his hands clutching the sides of his
head in agony. All he could do was scream.
"Ranma, wake up!"
The sound of Shampoo's voice broke Ranma's nightmare. He sat up suddenly,
sweating heavily in the twin bed of his room, shared with the rest of the
guys. Quickly, he scanned the room, assuring himself that this was indeed
reality.
Why do I keep having these terrible nightmares? Ranma wondered, shaking
his head.
"Shampoo?" Ranma stared at the Chinese Amazon, dumbfounded.
"Spatula-girl need help!" she replied, trying to keep the panic from her
voice.
Kodachi sat next to the bed, and squeezed Ukyo's hand. Tears welling in
her eyes, she said, "I didn't mean to do this... please forgive me. It's
different to be hurt in battle, but like this.... It's simply not fair. Now
I'll never know the answer...."
You had me there for a moment, Kodachi, thought Akane.
Akane waited, and closed her eyes. Why the odd blood pigmentation?
Kodachi turned to Akane. "This feeling... I don't know what it is. It's so
new to me...."
"It's called 'guilt,'" Akane replied bluntly, still not buying the Kuno
girl's sympathetic mood.
Kodachi nodded. "So, this is what it feels like to have guilt. It's...
awful!"
"That's why most people try their hardest to avoid it," explained Akane.
"Ucchan?!" someone called from the doorway. Ranma.
He turned to Akane. "What happened?"
Kodachi answered, "I got her drunk." Obvious remorse was evident in her
voice.
"Ucchan doesn't drink...." Ranma started, then caught himself. "WHY?!"
"We were playing a game," Akane answered.
"And that's not the worst of it," added Kodachi. She handed a stained
tissue to Ranma. "Notice something wrong?"
Ranma studied the tissue. "What's this, grape juice?!" Peering closely,
his jaw dropped. "Is this... blood?"
Kodachi nodded. "Her blood. Cut from glass."
"Blood's supposed to be RED!" Ranma cried in confusion. "What the hell is
going on?!"
"Perhaps I can answer that," someone said.
All eyes turned to the stranger. A woman, dressed in a white blouse, with
long, droopy sleeves, and black pants, stepped inside. Long black hair
draped behind. She wore a white headband, and white earrings that were
shaped as stars. To Ranma she looked about Kasumi's age, maybe a bit older.
"Who're you?" asked Ranma.
"That's not important," the woman answered. "Let's just say I'm the
doctor, as the real one won't be coming anytime soon." Especially if the
desk clerk never made the call. "I know what ails your friend here, and
that's why I'm here. For a time I've watched you and your friend, and I
believe now is the time to act. It is too dangerous for the evil blood to
inhabit normal humans."
"Hey, what do you mean by 'normal?'" voiced Kodachi.
"Evil blood?" echoed Ranma, even more puzzled.
The woman produced a strange rod from her sleeves. She handed it to
Akane. "There isn't much time before the demons reawaken. You, and you
alone, must travel into her mind and help purge the evil within her
directly."
"Why me?" asked a confused Akane.
"I want to go!" complained Ranma.
"Wait, go WHERE?!" Akane voiced loudly.
"No, you alone must go," the woman answered, pointing toward Akane. "The
demons within your friend are rooted in you."
"Me? Why?" Akane studied the rod. Made of a single piece of bamboo, it
had the character of 'Yata' etched into it. Otherwise, it was just a stick
to her.
"You will soon find out," the woman assured her. To Ranma and Kodachi she
said, "You two must leave this room, or the ritual will fail. No
interruptions."
"Hey, why should we trust you?" demanded Ranma.
"You have no reason, but if you value your friend's life you will."
"I think we should listen to her," Kodachi told Ranma. "I don't know if
you can feel it, but her aura...."
"Yeah, I feel it, too," Ranma replied. The woman's aura was pure and
somehow-- serene. He shook his head. Perhaps this woman had some control
over her aura, and....
Grudgingly, Ranma lead Kodachi out of the room, and shut the door behind
him. Akane was left alone with the strange woman.
"I'll show you the ritual. After that, you're on your own. Beware, though,
what you see within might not be pleasant."
"I need to do this to help Ukyo, right?" Akane told herself. Somehow she
felt that this was the right thing to do. The aura the woman emitted was
full of good intentions, she could tell. It felt right.
"You will be traveling to the mindscape of your friend," explained the
stranger. "There, you will meet your friend, and aspects of your friend
you never knew existed. Don't let them overwhelm you, but you must help
them as well if you want to save your friend. The overall goal is to
eliminate the source of Orochi blood, the Bloodseed."
"Orochi blood...?" Akane asked in confusion, but got no answer.
"Hold on to the rod," continued the stranger, "for it will contain the
evil essence of the Orochi blood. Never let it go while you're in the
mindscape."
Akane nodded. "I'm ready."
Five minutes after Ranma and Kodachi exited the auxiliary bedroom, the
stranger emerged, then sealed the door behind her with a talisman. Kodachi
wandered back to her room, leaving Ranma behind in the lobby. A part of
Ranma hoped that Kodachi would be all right, too, as it wasn't good to have
guilt hanging over your head like that. Strangely, the desk clerk was
nowhere to be seen.
"What'd you do to Akane and Ucchan?" demanded Ranma.
"Have faith, Ranma Saotome, and you will have your answers soon enough,"
answered the stranger.
Ranma was taken aback with surprise. "How'd you know my name?! And the
only faith I've got is in myself!"
"Faith in yourself is only the first step to the ultimate strength,"
explained the stranger, ignoring Ranma's question. "You need to have faith
in your friends, as ultimate power is drawn from others. Pity, you don't
recognize that. Your nightly troubled thoughts should have told you as
much; unfortunately, that is beyond my power."
"Why you...!" Ranma shouted, losing his temper. How the hell did she know
about my nightmares, and what is this crap she's talking about? Entering a
fighting stance, he called, "Prepare yourself!"
The stranger nodded, placing her right arm behind her back, and her left
outstretched, stepping outside into the open for more overhead room that
the lobby failed to offer. "If this is the way things must be... so be it.
Shall we start?"
Ranma charged. He leaped, throwing a left jab at the woman, who seemed
unconcerned, neither stepping out of the way nor moving to block. But then,
the woman reacted. While the woman remained in place, it seemed like another
'her' leaped out of her body. Right-arm scooped from the back and arcing
from below, backed by a strange force, catching Ranma in a rising punch.
The stranger spun around in mid-air as she completed her attack, the same
force in the initial blow seeminly slapping the young Saotome.
Ranma fell back to the ground, watching in shock as the one that leaped
into the air vanished from sight. The real body of the woman stood in her
original, uncaring position. She relaxed her left arm a bit.
"Care to try that again?" taunted the stranger. "It's not over yet."
Ranma rubbed his sore back. "You haven't seen nothing yet!" Ranma got up
and charged once more, throwing a flying kick.
The stranger failed to move, to Ranma's surprise, but the reason became
apparent to Ranma too late. He passed through yet another illusion, as the
stranger stood several feet behind the image. Ranma clearly missed and
landed angrily on his feet.
"Stop doing that and fight!" Ranma shouted, raising a fist in anger. The
open night sky echoed the threat.
Ranma threw ideas around in his mind: the hiryu shoten ha won't work, as
the stranger kept herself cool, so far. How in the world could I make her
angry? No, not a chance of that. Physical attacks may as well be met with
more mirror images. Well, perhaps the direct approach, even though it
wasn't full-strength.
Ranma threw his pride-chi at the woman. "Moko Takabisha!"
The stranger responded by twirling around in a strange dance. As the chi
shot approached, her left hand sliced the air, arcing downward, forming
a counter-force of chi. Ranma's chi bolt collided with the stranger's shield
and washed over it. Ranma was suddenly aware that his own bolt was heading
back in his direction.
Pain washed over Ranma as he took the full brunt of his own reflected
attack, almost as if someone punched him in the stomach-- hard. For a
moment Ranma felt like throwing-up. He lay there, lying on his back, on the
cold, unforgiving ground, and stared at the stars above, clutching his
stomach each breath he made.
The stranger stood over Ranma, her left arm at her side. "I have no wish
to continue fighting you. You must learn to put faith in your friends,
otherwise you will lose your battles in the future." She offered a hand to
Ranma, who graciously accepted.
"I've never seen such power in my life...." Ranma muttered as he got to
his feet. "How'd you do that?"
"Your friends are fine," the stranger assured Ranma. "Both have great
strength to draw upon, strength which lay in each other. That is what
assures victory against the evil." Turning her back toward Ranma, she
added, "You must learn this lesson if you wish to survive in this world:
you may be strong, but there's always someone much stronger. But, faith
endures; faith manages."
"I don't suppose you're going to tell me what this is all about?" Ranma
commented, hoping nobody saw his defeat at the hands of the stranger.
Already ideas of countering the woman's attacks and techniques formulated
in Ranma's head, yet, right now, he wasn't in the mood to fight again, as
he continued to clutch his pained stomach.
"It's much wiser not to know the specific details, but know this: the
danger in your friend is but a small part of a larger picture."
Akane woke up in a dark place. She could see nothing but her own self,
staring at her hands in reassurance. One hand still held the bamboo rod.
She seemed to stand on nothing, yet she wasn't falling. Was this the
mindscape?
"Well, well, well," echoed a voice Akane recognized to be Ukyo's. "If it
isn't the one Ranma chose."
Appearing out of nowhere was Ukyo, dressed in the Furinkan's boy school
uniform, and her bandoleer of spatulas. "He said this day would come."
"Who?" asked Akane.
"My new master, of course," Ukyo answered. Fire glowed in her eyes. "He
knew someone would try to stop him. He's helped me see the light, the true
path."
"W...when did this happen?"
"After I'd made my decision to abandon my emotions, of course. They are
mere crutches, after all. The only one that has done me any good was...
hatred!" Ukyo unstrapped her combat spatula.
"Ukyo, wait! I can help you!"
"Help? Me? Don't make me laugh!" Ukyo's knees bent as she circled around
Akane. "I will enjoy ripping you apart, piece-by-piece."
"This doesn't make any sense," Akane reasoned. "You can't be mad at me!
I thought we settled our differences. I'm your friend!"
"Maybe, at one point," Ukyo said. But the one standing before her spoke
no words.
Akane turned around and saw another Ukyo, this one clad in her chef's
outfit, lacking her bandoleer. "It's really too late for me."
"Ukyo?" Akane looked at both Ukyos, confused. "Is this really you?"
"Hardly," answered chef-Ukyo. "Merely an aspect, and that one is me," she
said, pointing to boy-Ukyo. "That's my aggression, my anger, my hatred.
The true me."
"And what does that make you?"
"The shield of lies. The Ukyo that you know is a lie."
"That's not true!"
"Isn't it?" chef-Ukyo glared at Akane. Her eyes betrayed weariness beyond
belief. "It's dominant...."
"You don't understand how much I want you to die," said boy-Ukyo. "You
have the nerve to call me a friend after taking Ranma away from me! You
even press it in my face every day, with all your talks and kisses and
hugging and all that other tenderness! After I'm through with you, Ranma
will pay as well! I should've killed him before I fell in love with him;
he's caused me too much pain to stay alive. Love is a commodity I can't
afford!"
"But you loved him since you were six... and never stopped loving."
"That's me," chef-Ukyo said, pointing at the other Ukyo. "My true colors,
the vengeful, hating one. I'm the only thing keeping it at bay, and I
can't do it for much longer. It's getting stronger, helped by the evil
fermenting in my blood."
Akane walked to Ukyo. "How did this happen? What's going on?"
The darkness around Akane shifted to a familiar scene. Surveying the
scenery, this was the park where Ukyo challenged the Orochi assassin in
a battle to the death. From Ukyo's point of view, she guessed. She watched
as the assassin's blade descended, then suddenly, Ukyo jabbed a kodachi into
the evil man's belly. Purple blood oozed from his wound as he died.
"The purple blood...."
"Yes, don't you see?" sneered the boy-Ukyo. "You're the root of all the
torment I went through. I fought for your life, despite my own tormenting
feelings. Yet I should thank you at the same time for introducing me to my
new master...."
"I've touched the blood as it seeped down the blade," chef-Ukyo explained.
"Some of it absorbed itself into my skin, and later, into my bloodstream.
I sought help from a Shinto priest, who informed me that my blood has been
tainted with the blood of Orochi."
"Orochi blood?" Was this what the stranger was talking about?
"The blood of Orochi enhances chi-manipulating powers. It flows through
the veins of the Cult of Orochi and the Orochi Family, making them stronger
by enhancing negative emotions, like my hatred you see over there." The
chef-Ukyo pointed at the boy-Ukyo. "The Orochi himself can feel the heart
and soul of the tainted. I suspect he never knew about me until one of his
ghost spirits possessed me. Only now is Orochi stirring from his domain, I
can hear him.... Right now the pieces are moving into place...."
"Wait a minute," Akane started, "Kuno got blood splattered on himself
when he fought his Cult assassin, too. Why isn't he affected?"
The scene shifted to the death duel between Kuno and the Orochi assassin.
As Kuno sliced off his opponent's arm, blood splurged on him. But, when
Kuno initiated the Phoenix Sword attack, his chi, manifested as Phoenix
flames, consumed burned away the evil blood.
"As you can see, the Phoenix fire spared him the torment."
"Couldn't the priests purify your blood?"
"No, it was beyond their power. To banish the tainted blood, I need to
find a focus from which to drive out the Orochi influence. It's getting
harder by the second as most of my untainted blood is long gone."
The boy-Ukyo cried, "Orochi has made me stronger! You can't protect the
Tendo-bitch much longer! The truth will shatter the lies you hold dear!"
Akane winced. "What's she talking about?"
The chef-Ukyo sighed. "Akane... I've buried my true feelings for a long
time. Most of my life I've always had hate on my side, my most dominant
emotion. Thoughts of revenge, of killing Ranma and his father. I subdued it
after the truth was revealed; I thought I still had a chance with Ranma. It
remained so for a while, until the wedding fiasco. Hate took control that
day, surpassing all my reasoning power. After it was revealed to me that
Ranma... couldn't love me, I decided to bury my hate for good, as it was
the same force that drove me to ruin the wedding. I tried so hard to
suppress it, but the blood of Orochi intensifies hatred a hundredfold,
almost beyond control.... It started to overwhelm my control. Only recently
its begun to surface."
"No, hate and anger never were your dominant emotions," corrected Akane.
The chef-Ukyo image seemed to fade. "Tell her that." She pointed to the
other Ukyo.
"Ukyo, what's happening?" asked Akane.
Ukyo forced a weak smile. "This part of me is dying, silly. More of my
essence is in possession of the other. Soon I won't have any more essence,
and hate takes over. As it should be."
Akane turned to the other Ukyo. "You! Why do you hate me?"
The boy-Ukyo laughed malevolently. "Bitch! You knew Ranma was mine! I'm
not going to let you have him! I've spent a good ten years of my life for
Ranma, and I don't intend for those times to go to waste. You call yourself
my friend, then you marry him before my eyes, leaving me with a less-than-
a-man named Konatsu. After you, Ranma will be mine.... I'll kill him too!
How DARE he reject me, his friend? The one who loved him for who and
what he was? I'll make you and him pay, with ten years interest!"
The manifestation of hatred pointed at the other Ukyo. "That, kindness, is
weak, because her very being is shaped around a lie! The real Ukyo Kuonji is
ready and willing to die for her family's honor that was torn so long ago,
one that has yet to be avenged!"
"But it was a misunderstanding!" protested the other Ukyo. "It wasn't
Ranma's fault...."
The mindscape shifted to the Tendo dojo. A party, no, a wedding. The
first wedding. Ranma was running for the jug of water containing the water
from the Spring of Drowned Man when Ukyo threw an okonomiyaki. Shampoo,
beside her, threw a nikuman toward Akane. The two foodstuffs exploded on
Ranma.
"That was but one time I failed to kill you, Tendo bitch," the hatred
spat. "One of the few times I took control... it was so easy then. Now
let's see what the other Ukyo tried...."
Scene shifted to what appeared to be the Tunnel of Lost Love. Akane
watched the scenes replay themselves, listening to old conversations, of
Ryoga collaborating with Ukyo to make sure Ranma and Akane went through
the cave together... and in result would break up. The desire to break the
two up was foremost in Ukyo's mind at the time, and was amplified much
greater now.
Akane turned to the fading Ukyo. "Why?! I thought you were my friend!"
"Always convenient how you never found out my little schemes, isn't it?"
chef-Ukyo replied. "Plans so subtle, that my hand only acted indirectly, and
with no harm to all parties. It really beats physical harm, doesn't it?"
"Who asked you?!" shouted boy-Ukyo. "I should've attacked her, I've had
plenty of chances to remove her, but you had to get in the way! You were
strong then, but now it's payback; I'll destroy you and Akane."
"Ukyo, you tried to break us up!" Akane accused.
"It was for the best for Ryoga, and myself, at the time," admitted chef-
Ukyo. "He loved you, and still does, sugar."
"You're lying, Ryoga doesn't love me!" Akane shouted. "How could he?!"
The image of chef-Ukyo faded further. "Ah, what do you know... I've been
living a lie too long anyway. If I lied about myself, who's to say I lied
about this matter? No chance I'll get Ranchan now, I suppose, all married
and all...."
"You'd better listen to her," warned boy-Ukyo. "That weak part of me is
trying to save your hide, because I certainly won't! If I had it my way, you
and Ranma would be together in death!"
Akane looked at both Ukyos, then thought back for a moment. Images of
Ryoga helping Akane throughout the months they've known each other flashed
through her mind. "Ryoga loves me? How... long, and how do you know?"
"You won't believe what else you don't know, honey," replied chef-Ukyo.
Akane walked closer to the fading Ukyo. "You've kept your feelings
bottled-up inside you for a long time, haven't you?" She didn't wait for
an answer. "You thought you'd be my friend so you could have a chance at
Ranma, and to keep an eye on me. You thought there were other ways besides
violence to get your ways, as it didn't help you before. You thought you'd
kept your negative emotions in check, only showing positive emotions to
others to compensate. Are you really a facade?" Akane pointed to the boy-
Ukyo. "Do you truly believe that's what you're really like, your true
nature? I can't accept it, not the Ukyo I know."
"Of course it is!" shouted boy-Ukyo, becoming more agitated by the second.
"Hurry up and die so I can kill you!"
The chef-Ukyo sighed. "I'm torn between my kindness and my hatred, what
can I do? Hatred will win, it has Orochi blood on its side now."
"Ukyo, anger never governed your actions. Despite what you've tried to do
to me over the months we've known each other, I can't accept the bad part
of you as the real you. Violence was never your way."
"But it IS me!!" protested the other Ukyo, waving spatula high. "Stop
hanging on a thread so I can finish you!"
The chef-Ukyo stood up and shouted, "Enough with your prattling! How I
wish I could bury you even farther in my mind! Before the blood, you'd wish
you'd never said those things!" Then a thought occurred to Ukyo. "You can't
attack us, that's it. If you're so powerful, then you would've attacked by
now. You're losing your power, but how?"
The other Ukyo was taken aback. "But I have the blood! I am the dominant
force! I will kill you both!"
"Stop lying, you're becoming weaker! All you can do is throw insults."
As the two bickered, realization struck Akane. The pieces before her
seemed to fall in place.
She said, "Ukyo, that other-you isn't really you. It's a PART of you,
just as your kindness isn't really you, only a part of you. You've come to
accept your kind side, but not your hatred. You need to accept that part of
you, or you'll never be whole, and hatred will take over. There's no other
way. Please, you have to do this... you have to take control!"
"Stop that!" commanded the hatred. To the kindness she shouted, "Don't
listen to her! She's trying to save the hides of herself and Ranma!"
"How can you say those things, Akane?" asked the kindness. "I'm the same
Ukyo that tried to break up you and Ranma."
"But you're also the same Ukyo that cooks the best okonomiyaki in the
world," started Akane. "You've devoted your life and art to make people,
even complete strangers, happy, whether that be through your cooking or
your acts of kindness. You're the same Ukyo Ranma asked to be his best man
at his wedding, despite what you've done in the past. You're the same Ukyo
that took in Konatsu from his step-mother, even when you thought he was a
girl. You're the same Ukyo that stood by Ranma when Happosai made him weak;
even if your intentions were selfish, you were there, something neither
Shampoo nor Kodachi can claim. And you're the same Ukyo that's my friend.
Despite your bad points, you have to realize that you have plenty of good
points as well. Everybody does."
"But... I let myself get involved with Mousse...."
"Your intentions were good, even if the results were less-than-pleasant,"
argued Akane. "Ukyo, you were the only one he could turn to, after being
abandoned by his tribe. You can't blame yourself for being yourself."
"Maybe," replied Ukyo carefully.
"The bottom line is, you care," concluded Akane.
Ukyo nodded, unsure whether to believe Akane or not.
Akane pointed at the hatred. "That is the Ukyo that wants to hurt me.
That is the Ukyo that wants to hurt Ranma. That is the Ukyo that has no
need for friends. But that is also a part of you, you can't deny it. That
is the Ukyo that holds her family obligations so dear, the Ukyo that trains
as a martial artist, the Ukyo willing to die for what she loves and holds
dear. Don't give in to hatred, don't suppress your hatred, work with it."
"The Orochi blood makes her powerful...." replied chef-Ukyo. "But I
can't let the evil blood grow any more.... My hate, my other self, is a
part of me, the part I've been denying for too long.... I must embrace it.
It's the only way."
"Wait, what are you doing?!" boy-Ukyo exclaimed in confusion, watching as
a soft white light bathed the other Ukyo. "We have to kill her!!"
After realization must come acceptance, Akane thought.
Ukyo's image ceased fading, then solidified. "What's this 'we' stuff? I
thought you wanted to destroy me as well. As I thought, you ARE getting
weaker." She extended a hand to Akane and smiled. "I'm going to need your
strength to help overcome my hate, my friend."
Akane reached for Ukyo's hand. Suddenly, she could feel a warmness in
herself, as Ukyo's form began to glow. The light faded, revealing a new
Ukyo in the chef's place, this one wearing a white kimono, hair up in a
bun. Two jade-dragon earrings hung from Ukyo's lobes. The fires of
determination glowed in her eyes.
"Such is the nature of true friendship," the new Ukyo said. "Friends draw
their strength from each other as well as within. The power from within is
augmented tenfold, maybe even more. The strength of the one is nothing
compared to the strength of the many."
"You dare draw strength upon the one you hate?!" cried boy-Ukyo. "What
are you doing?!"
The kimono-Ukyo rose into the air, levitating. "You've forgotten one
thing: the Orochi blood flows in me as well. We're the same person. I
possess Ukyo's cooking ability, and by extension, chi-manipulating powers.
You know just as well as I that Ukyo's fighting spirit goes into the hands
that make okonomiyaki. With the chi-heightening properties of the Orochi
blood, these hands are far-more powerful than before. I have the will, and
the way, to challenge you!"
"Impossible! Hatred is far stronger! Such is the nature of Orochi!"
Ukyo spun in the air, throwing two volleys of chi-balls at her other
self. The other leaped out of the way and tossed several spatula-darts
in retaliation. The darts bounced harmlessly against an invisible chi
shield surrounding Ukyo. Raising both her arms high into the air, Ukyo
raised high-crested water waves from the ground, seemingly out of nowhere.
Pointing both arms toward her opponent, the waves were sent crashing down
on the hateful one, pounding her as ocean waves would.
"What is this power?!" the hatred howled, struggling to stand in the midst
of the water wave attack.
"It's called the 'heart!'" cried Ukyo. Spinning her arms in a vertical
circle, Ukyo cupped her hands near her chest, seemingly drawing in extra
chi from her surroundings.
Akane took an involuntary step back as Ukyo released a stream of pure
chi at the image-Ukyo. Blinding light flashed for a brief instant, forcing
Akane to shield her eyes. Then, it was all over.
Ukyo descended from her levitation, and walked to the battered form of
her hatred. Akane joined her at her side.
"What will happen now?" asked Akane.
"I've found the way to purge the Orochi blood, thanks to you." Ukyo
helped her hatred up. "I couldn't do it before because I was torn between
my hatred and my kindness; it was either one or the other. Now I understand
I need both, to create a focus. My life has purpose, a focus, something
to live for." Ukyo smiled at Akane. "Hate is guided by love. I believe it
is time for me to follow the example you've set."
Kimono-Ukyo stepped into boy-Ukyo, and in a bright flash the two merged
into one. Akane shielded her eyes. The next moment the kimono-Ukyo stood
with her bandoleer and combat spatula in hand.
"It's time to finish this once and for all," declared Ukyo.
"We need to find the source of Orochi blood, the 'Bloodseed,'" explained
Akane, grasping little meaning of the stranger's repeated words. "But how
do we find it?"
"This is my mind, remember?" Ukyo replied. "I'll summon it by my will."
At that moment a large spherical mass appeared before the two girls. The
sphere rested in the center of what appeared to be an altar, shaped like
a large, twisted claw. Cable-like tentacles jutted from the sphere,
spreading throughout the empty space into infinity.
Akane gagged at the smell. "What is that stuff?"
"It's the wine I drank earlier...." noted Ukyo.
The sphere glowed as it spoke. "Do you remember the legend of the Orochi?
The thunder god Susano-O neutralized the Orochi's power by tricking him into
drinking eight jugs of wine, one for each head. It was a simple matter for
the thunder god to defeat the Orochi then." If the bound sphere could bow,
it would've done so now. "Greetings, Jade Dragon. I see you've restored
your focus."
"Who's this 'Jade Dragon?'" asked Akane. She glanced over to Ukyo, her
eyes catching the jade dragon earring hanging from Ukyo's earlobe, then
the answer dawned on her. To the sphere Akane asked, "What are you?"
"You're the Bloodseed of Orochi, the source of the Orochi blood," Ukyo
said, pointing to the sphere. "Floating in the Orochi blood are tiny
'seeds' that produce more Orochi blood when the Orochi blood isn't dominant
in the host body's bloodstream. Each seed fight for dominance in the host's
bloodstream until the strongest emerges. The Orochi's power was neutralized
by the alcohol; since you're part of the Orochi, you're affected too!"
"Correct," the Bloodseed replied. "It is the one reason why the members
of the Orochi Cult and the human children of Orochi are forbidden to drink
alcohol. Since the wine entered your body the influences of the Orochi blood
have waned. The augmented power in the hatred was weakened enough for
your... 'other power,' to subdue it. If not for the wine and the power that
is the enemy of hatred, we would've consumed you for the Orochi, as we do
other normal humans."
Akane couldn't help but note that the Bloodseed continually failed to
mention love and kindness directly. She produced the bamboo rod the
stranger gave her earlier. "The source must be destroyed to free you of
Orochi blood. This is supposed to contain the evil blood."
Ukyo, raising her combat spatula high, cried, "Prepare to meet your
maker, minion of evil!"
Ukyo threw her giant spatula. It spun by itself in the air, flying in
an arc to cut the cable-tentacles from the Bloodseed. Ukyo concentrated,
one hand outstretched, guiding the motion of the spinning spatula like a
saw blade.
The Bloodseed seemed to scream for each tentacle severed. Purple blood
spilled from the new openings, landing with a loud 'hiss' on the 'ground.'
Akane looked at the rod in confusion. How was she supposed to use this?
"Tsk, tsk," taunted the Bloodseed. "Certainly can't let you use the
Orochi's own power against the Bloodseed, Jade Dragon!" The remaining
tentacles pulsed with life, producing a soft pumping sound. The Bloodseed's
mass began to swell, as if the tentacles were draining something and dumping
it into the sphere.
Immediately Ukyo felt the effects of the Bloodseed's work. She fell to
her knees as the spinning spatula clattered to the ground. Akane ran to
her friend's side.
"What's happening?" asked Akane.
"The Bloodseed," Ukyo explained, "it's drawing the Orochi blood back into
itself. I'm losing my enhanced chi powers." Ukyo stood up and smiled
maliciously as the pumping sound died down to nothing. "Just as I expected
it to do. The Bloodseed's purging the blood for me!"
Too late the Bloodseed realized it had been tricked. "This vessel may be
the last of the Orochi influence in your body, but here it shall remain!"
No way would the Bloodseed release the evil blood back into the bloodstream
so Ukyo could use it again.
Akane showed Ukyo the bamboo rod. "We need to use this on that thing,
but I don't know how to use it."
"I don't see why physical contact wouldn't work," suggested Ukyo.
Akane ran to the sphere, and touched the rod to the Bloodseed's hard
exterior. It wouldn't stay in. "The shell is protecting it!"
The Bloodseed seemed to rumble slightly, as if chuckling. "Oh come now!
A stick? Against an agent of evil such as the Bloodseed of Orochi? Bwaaa-
hahahahahahaha...."
Slowly, Ukyo scrambled for her combat spatula, and stood. "We'll see
about that!" The Bloodseed continued to laugh, unconcerned.
Leaping into the air, Ukyo raised her spatula high, then, with the sharp
end of the spatula, brought it crashing down on the sphere.
It cracked.
The evil sphere seemed to scream, but no sound came out.
"Now, Akane!"
Akane thrust the bamboo rod into the crack. The Bloodseed seemed to
scream as its essence, and the tainted blood, poured into the rod.
At the same time, Akane and Ukyo awoke back in the hotel auxiliary room.
Akane still held the bamboo rod in her hands. Studying it closely, Akane
couldn't find the characters any more. The stick seemed to pass an odor
of wine. Oddly enough, the rod took on a slightly purplish-tinge.
Without warning, the rod crumbled to dust in Akane's hands. The dust
seemed to break into nothingness as it faded away.
Ukyo sat up from the bed, stretching her arms, absorbing her surroundings.
No, this definitely was the real world. She looked at her hands, and
thought about the power she lost-- the Orochi-augmented chi power. No, not
lost, Ukyo corrected herself. The life you put in your okonomiyaki was
there, it always was, passed down to each generation of the Kuonji family
since... who knows when? Perhaps this was for the best.
"Ukyo?" Akane said as she reoriented herself.
Ukyo stood up, and looked at a mirror. The image that she saw had several
bandages marring her face, and a wine-stained sweatshirt. A shower is in
order after this, Ukyo told herself. Gently, Ukyo undid one of the
bandages, and looked at the wound. No scars... did I heal them myself?
At which point Ukyo ripped away the rest of the bandages. No wounds....
"Ukyo, are you all right?" Akane persisted.
Ukyo started to laugh, dropping the bandage on the floor. "It's over...."
Akane picked up the discarded bandage. The blood was red.
Ranma continued to wait in the lobby when Akane and Ukyo emerged. After
four challenges to the stranger, Ranma still couldn't figure out the idea
behind his opponent's technique. All manner of strategy that should've
worked by now failed. All night Ranma tried in vain to come out on top of
the stranger, but no good ideas came to him by the time the woman left
completely, seemingly satisfied that all was well. To say that Ranma was
exhausted was an understatement; he was rather beaten and humbled at the
moment. Well, just so long as nobody was awake to watch me lose, all will
go fine... until next time, vowed Ranma.
It was the next morning.
"About time you two were done in there!" Ranma said.
"Ranma, how long did it take?" asked Akane.
"All night. That stranger left quite a while ago. She told me it would
be over soon, and to have faith." Ranma stood up and walked to Ukyo. "How
are you?"
Ukyo slapped Ranma across the face, hard. "You jackass...."
"Hey, what'd I do?" Ranma said in confusion, rubbing the affected cheek.
Ukyo replied, "That's for not telling me a long time ago that you didn't
love me." Then she gave Ranma a big hug, which further confused him. "But I
still love you, too."
Women....
Shampoo and Kodachi entered the lobby. "Ukyo!" they cried in surprise.
"Shampoo mad now Spatula-girl okay," the Amazon said, trying to sound
disappointed.
Ukyo turned to Kodachi. "Thank you, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be
standing here."
"Why?" asked Kodachi, confused. "I made you drink the wine in the first
place."
"Exactly," Ukyo replied. Seeing the confused looks on the other girls,
Ukyo explained, "In legend the Orochi's powers were neutralized when he
drank too much wine. The wine I drank last night helped thin the Orochi
blood within me enough to defeat it."
Kodachi blinked. "You're going to have to tell me the whole thing from
the start, darling."
After a nice, long shower, Ukyo told her story, with Akane adding a few
bits here and there. Kodachi couldn't quite buy it, however. Her brother,
Tatewaki, couldn't help but express his thanks that Ukyo was all right. Ukyo
was flattered that Kuno was concerned, even if for the wrong reasons.
Of course, Akane couldn't help but shoot odd glances at Ryoga the entire
time, debating whether or not to confront him on the matter Ukyo revealed
to her last night. Maybe some other time.
The Nerima crew walked through the parking lot to the rental van, ready
to start their first day on the Big Island. Among other gear were cameras
and video recorders-- they looked like tourists already.
Mousse, reading a map, voiced, "I say the Macadamian nut factory."
"Why? I want to see the lava that's flowing at the south end of the
island," said Ranma.
"Quiet, you," Kuno yelled from the driver seat. "I intend to find an
establishment that can provide a proper breakfast for us all before going
on our way. Both Akane Tendo and Ukyo Kuonji deserve to be treated to a
well-deserved meal after their ordeals."
Nabiki climbed into the passenger side seat in the front with Kuno as
the others bickered behind. "Well, we DO have two weeks, you know. Can't
hurt to see all the sights there are to see."
The Nerima crew piled in the van the same way they were when they came
from the airport: Kuno, Kasumi, and Nabiki in the front, the first row
occupied by Ranma, Akane, and Konatsu, the second row Kodachi, Ukyo, Ryoga,
and Akari, and the third row Shampoo, Mousse, and Ling-ling and Lung-lung.
It was jammed and cramped, but certainly beat two vehicles or a bus. Maybe.
Ukyo reached into a pocket and produced a small, plain jewelry box, about
the size of her fist. She opened the box, and peered at the pair of pure
jade dragon earrings that rest inside. The ruby-eyed earrings appeared as a
dragon coiled around a staff or stick of some sort, maw open wide. They'd
belonged to the Kuonji family for countless generations. Ukyo wondered if
the earrings had a more special meaning to the Kuonji family, since the
Bloodseed seemed to recognize it as a symbol of some sort. Only time would
tell.
Ukyo closed the box containing the 'imitation' jade dragon earrings, and
put them back in her pocket. The family insisted that the earrings were
imitation jade, but somewhere inside herself Ukyo knew they were pure jade.
Of course, it was best not to advertise such a revelation to the masses.
Kodachi faced Ukyo. "Look, I'm really sorry about last night, despite how
well it turned out in the end. Drinking isn't for everyone anyway."
Ukyo turned her head to the gymnast. "Well, you can pay me back by doing
me a favor: no more 'truth or dare.' Some things weren't meant to be heard,
I think."
"Oh, you mean like you and Ryoga as a couple?" teased Kodachi, reverting
back to her lively-natured self.
Ukyo held a spatula-dart under Kodachi's chin. Coolly, with a hint of a
threat, she said, "Like I said, I don't want to think about it, and neither
should you."
* * * * *
Closing: Friends (with Nabiki, and the tinkling sound of yen....)
(Nabiki) In a corner of a forest of as if collapsing buildings,
gulping in panting breaths, I hid.
Slipping through a secret alley,
friends going past my fingertips.
It wasn't just a game.
It decided even fate.
On the way back, even if the dropped bread
breaks on the asphalt,
the wind hitting my back carries
sweet footsteps and your voice!
At as if overflowing moondrops,
swallowing tears from coughing, I laughed.
Night in a familiar park,
why is it so vast, my friends?
Don't let go of my hand,
I know where pits are.
You're profile looks too innocent, so
I just couldn't lie to you,
leaving behind still in my palm,
a promise from long ago and your dream.
On the way back, even if the dropped bread
breaks on the asphalt,
the wind hitting my back carries
sweet footsteps and your voice!
----------------------------------------------------
Author's Rant
If you thought the trip through Ukyo's mind was confusing, then you can
give me congratulations; only someone as determined as Akane could wade
through that mess. Akane had to help Ukyo get back in the right state of
mind because she was terribly-confused about herself. By that point Ukyo
truly believed she was evil.
Ukyo, being one of the friendliest of the Ranma 1/2 cast, rarely lashes
out in anger. The Bloodseed, the agent of Orochi, divine evil dragon of
hatred, simply augmented the strength of Ukyo's negative emotions to the
point where they overwhelmed her. Since the nicer Ukyo was always dominant
the negative emotions only occurred in lash-outs, such as the event in the
last story.
As of right now, Ukyo's starting to get back to normal. There's still one
matter yet to be addressed, however. It'll be done, soon.
The presence of the Bloodseed was hinted at in "Specters." It was the
taint mentioned by Warmage before.
This means I don't believe in the Ryoga and Ukyo couple.
Reminder: Kuno refuses to call Akane 'Saotome,' for reasons obvious: he
so much hates the name and the one who bears it. He may still be protective
of Akane, but his eyes have been drawn to Ukyo as of late.
Kodachi? Showing real concern? All may be fair in love and war, but this
is neither; she was trying to get the others to spill their secrets,
knowing full-well what the others would ask her (as if she really had
anything to hide they wanted to know). Guilt is a new thing to her.
Those familiar with the King of Fighters series will know that the cameo
appearance of the stranger is none other than Chizuru Kagura, who knows
what happens when a 'normal' person possesses the Orochi power, as she
discovered in Rugal's case in KOF'95. Ranma's encounter with Kagura will
have meaning in later stories.
BTW, the earrings DO mean something. Later, please.
Razorclaw X
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
-------------------------------------------------------
Chikyuu OOKESUTORA (Earth orchestra)
"Ranma 1/2 Nettouhen" opening theme (1991)
mimi o sumaseba mienai tooku If you listen closely, far out of sight
utatte iru koe ga kikoeru you can hear singing voices.
kono machi no naka ano koe o dasu In this city, ...
kikai nante the machine sending those voices,
mienai nai yo you can't see it, not at all!
ano koe ga koko made todokazu ni Those voices never reached
as far as here;
kaki-kesareta kara since they were wiped out,
kikoenai ano suki-tootta uta you can't hear that clear song.
kikoete kuru yo chiisa na oto ga Listen there! A little sound--
kimi no tonari me to hana no saki next to your eyes and
the tip of your nose
afure-dasu n da midori no oto ga The verdant sound starts to overflow,
dareka ga jama sae shinakerya so long as no one obstructs it.
kimi mo hitotsu no oto You too, are a single sound
hiroi daichi no ue ni umareta born on this wide world.
kaero-o yo ano oto no naka e Let's return! Into that sound!
natsukashii Fondly-remembered --
* yama no jinari de RIZUMU kizameba If you mark the rhythm
with the rumbling mountains
odotte iru chikyuu ga mieru you can see the dancing earth
dekkaku aoku takaku hibike yo resound vast, blue, and high,
chikyuu OOKESUTORA Earth orchestra.
daisuki na ano uta ni By that well-loved song,
kakomarete itai na I want to be enveloped.
hora ne Look --
* Repeat
kimi mo You too,
* Repeat
Singer: KUSU KUSU
Lyricist: Jirou
Composer: Makoto
Arranger: KUSU KUSU
Translation: Theresa Martin
_____________________________________________________
<!-- End File -->
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5
"Take us into the fire."--Sheridan, Babylon 5
-- Razorclaw X