Before we begin her are a few minor notes.
1. This is a sequal of sorts to Gary Kleppe's story Cat's Prey. While
reading that story is not really necessary it does explain what happen
just before this story.
2. Any and all construtive comments are welcome although I ask that
any comments sent to the list are also sent to me privately.
3. If anyone wishes to offer a suggestion for a better title or would
like to preread the story please feel free to contact me.
***************
Cat's Hunter Part 1
by: Matthew Start
***************
Many people call me cold and uncaring. They do it
behind my back.
God how I wish that was true. How I wish with all my
heart that I was truly as much of an ice-queen as everyone
thinks because then I could approach the hell I now call home
without experiencing the anguish I feel. What makes it worse is
the fact that none of our usual solutions is possible now. We
have handled kidnapping, monster-attacks, crazed fiancees,
perverted martial-arts masters, and true lunatics. But now my
money, Kasumi's kindness or Ranma and Akane's skill are not
enough to stave of disaster. But now Ranma and Akane believe
themselves to be cats; Kasumi's god-like calm, or is it
cluelessness - I can't really tell anymore, is starting to crack; and
all of my skill in blackmailing, manipulation and economics is
totally useless since I can't even tell what the problem is.
The only good thing to have come out of the situation
so far is the fact that the many fiancees Ranma has are no longer
actively pursuing him. I guess after he came close to shredding
Ryouga the last time he showed up most of them have been
scared off for now. Good thing Ryouga's so tough. Other wise
he would probably be dead. I guess Ranma's finally gotten his
revenge for P-chan. Looking at the clock I see that school
ended an hour ago. Guess I can't delay my return home any
longer.
It's funny really, if someone had told me a week ago
that I, Nabiki Tendo, Ice-Queen of Furirikan High would be
walking down the street trying to avoid going home, I would
have laughed in his face. Now here I am doing just that and -
Wait a minute did I really say what I just think I said? Yes, I
did. Great I use Kuno as an excuse to avoid the house and his
mannerisms start rubbing off on me. I definitely have to find
some more friends, or at least different business associates.
Well here it is.
Home sweet Home.
God, how I hate that term. With the way Ranma and
Akane are acting, home is anything but sweet. Speaking of
Ranma and Akane where are they. Normally they try and get
me to pet them at least once between the front gate and the
door, but this time I see no sign of them. Could whatever was
affecting them have finally worn off? Somehow I doubt it.
My doubts are confirmed when I slide open the door.
There lie Ranma and Akane in a heap snoozing away as if they
don't have a care in the world. Well time to head in to see if
there is anything I can do to help Kasumi and - -. I pause in
the foyer to change my shoes and see if I can figure out what is
going on.
" and then there was that challenge issued by Tatewaki Kuno.
Akane
ended up fighting all of the boys in the school every morning for a
few
months. But once Ranma arrived, things changed. Now Ranma, he
is the
boy lying out there with Akane, he certainly has lead an unusual
life."
I wonder who Kasumi is talking to and why is she
explaining the last few years to them? I hope she at least
remembered to charge them. As I move toward the living
room I prepare my self for the disappointment I know I would
soon face In all probability this person Kasumi was talking to
was another crackpot who had made some bogus claim about
being able to remove curses. Now that he is faced with the
reality of the situation he makes up some lame excuse and
vanishes as fast as he can. At least Ranma and Akane can
protect Kasumi --?
Wait a minute Kasumi is talking to a stranger and the
cat twins aren't guarding her. Something is seriously wrong
here and I don't like it. I sacrifice my ladylike entrance
and go storming into the living room to have it out with this
crackpot of a wizard who would put my sister to sleep and
promptly stumble over my own feet when I notice the woman
sitting in the chair across from Kasumi. After all it isn't often
you see a woman with a sword strapped to her back. Especially
one that flickers from the appearance of a plain woman into
such beauty that I can't even begin to imagine the contracts and
their value, not to mention a whole host of other interesting
possibilities. If this person is a new fiancee for Ranma, I think I
might just consider asking him to share.
Now I know I prefer guys, heck I even seriously
considered trying to land Kuno before deciding that the
investment wasn't worth the reward. But I think this lady could
have gotten the Pope off the celibate, straight and narrow and I
most certainly am not the Pope. I think I kind of startled them,
although I have this funny feeling that the newcomer was
startled for another reason.
Kasumi introduces our visitor as Valana Shadowdancer.
She says, "Hello," and I realize it would be prudent to stop
drooling over the monetary possibilities and actually try and
hold a conversation. I start off really smooth-like. I introduce
myself. "Hi, my name's Nabiki Tendo and do you need an
agent?" Apparently the fates have decided that since Ranma
isn't around to eat his shoes I am to take his place. Of course
the look I am getting from her is distinctly odd not to mention
the fact that my sweet sister Kasumi has this look of utter shock
on her face.
She quickly hustles me off to the kitchen where she
demands angrily "Have you lost you mind, Nabiki? I know you
are worried about Akane and Ranma. I also know that you are
disappointed at all of the other mystics who have tried to help
them. But I didn't realize the stress was getting to you. I don't
see how you can serve as an agent for someone who actually
makes a tree trunk attractive looking. But I will admit it looks
like she can help us. When she arrived today, she actually
proved she can really cast spells."
Ever the skeptic, I ask "So what did she do to prove she
possessed so-called magical powers? Did she perhaps cause
various flashes of light to appear or lightning to strike from a
clear sky."
"No actually she did something much simpler, and far
more necessary. It all started late this morning. Ranma and
Akane were taking their normal morning nap while I was
cleaning the yard. But unlike most mornings they were both
very restless. Then they both got up and started prowling
around the house like they were looking for something. At first
I thought they were just bored then I got a good look at their
eyes. They both had this unnatural malevolent gleam in their
eyes. By the time I finished preparing lunch I was actually
annoyed at their constant prowling about. So I took their meals
into the dojo and left them there hoping to get some peace and
quiet. I did get some peace for my lunch but they were kind of
loud out in the dojo. Just as I finished lunch, the doorbell rang.
As I got up to answer it, all of the noise from the dojo stopped.
I thought they just fell asleep after all of their playing this
morning. When I opened the door, I saw a young lady standing
there."
"Let me guess, the woman sitting in our living room
now."
"No actually it was our new mail person, with a package
for you. She was leaving when the stranger opened the gate
and started up the walk. I called out a greeting to her, as I put
the mail on the side table, when this loud howling suddenly
started up behind me. The mail person apparently has been
warned about this area because she took off rather quickly. The
lady just moved toward the front door while muttering
something under her breath. As I started to ask her who she
was, her eyes flashed some sort of silver color and she grabs
and throws me behind her so whatever was attacking us would
have to go through her first."
Well at least she is willing to risk her own life to help us, I think.
"All the while, she kept chanting in some weird musical language.
Since Father did train us all in the basics of the Art I was able to
roll with the fall and land safely behind her and saw what was going on.
Ranma and Akane where both charging down the hall with this sickly green
glow in their eyes. I think they were planning on killing the stranger
for some reason. But she had other plans. I heard her stop
chanting with one final word of command. Then this strange
bluish-gold mist started to rise from the floor and surround
Ranma and Akane. As it enveloped them, they both started to
slow and their eyes slid shut and they ended just like
they are now, in a very deep natural sleep."
Not being a great believer in magic I prepared to laugh
at Kasumi's claims until I heard a musical voice coming from the
living room.
"Miss Tendo, if you would please summon your Father
and the parents of the one known as Ranma Saotome I will
explain all that I can to you."
Well, a reasonable request. But you know, I wonder how
she managed to hear us in the living room. I have been trying
for years to figure out a way of listening in on Kasumi while she
is preparing meals but I haven't found a single way to do it with
out being seen.
Once we were all gathered, she began her tale like a
western bard of old. She stood in the middle of the family room
and waited for all of us to settle on the couch facing her. I don't
know if it was deliberate but she positioned herself so that the
shadows cast by the setting sun behind us seemed to darken
everything in the room forcing all attention in the room towards
herself.
"There are two ways I could tell the tale of how I came
to stand before you now. But in the interests of time and
privacy I will merely state that which needs to be known and
should the time become available later I will elaborate my tale
as the Bards of my homeland would. When my sister and I
were young we both chose to forge our own paths rather then
take the well-worn paths of family and tradition. My sister felt
the call of Giron the Protector and served him as a champion,
eventually earning the title of Paladin. I, on the other hand,
chose to follow my strength and began to learn the Art of the
Sword-dance. After many years we chose to go on a quest
together. That quest cost us both far too much. My sister
spent a long time trapped in a body not her own. My people
came to despise me for acts not of my own will. Because of
that I devoted my life to seeking out those who would enslave
others to eradicate them."
<<Okay that would explain why she came here>> I thought.
.
"Over time I learned that the man responsible for my
sister's problem was still on my homeworld. This angered me
since I clearly remembered killing him years before, so I hunted
him down and killed him again This time I learned of his service
to a demon much like the Shadowcat who now plagues you."
I wonder how she knows that the Shadowcat is the
entity responsible for this. For that matter who the heck is this
Shadowcat she's talking about. And is it really some demon or is it
someone a tad bit closer who is truly responsible?
"That power wasn't very happy with me for killing his
servant but could not attack me directly because of laws I do
not understand. Instead he had his servants lure me to a place
of power where he tried to banish me from my homeworld. His
attempt failed, but in the process I became aware of the war
going on between the Light and the Dark. That is why I sought
out the spells that would allow me to breach dimensional
boundaries. I have traveled to thirteen different worlds to fight
his minions as well as any other power associated with the
Dark."
That's all well and good but what does it have to do
with us.
"That is why I am here. This world was previously
immune to the attacks of the Dark because it lies far behind the
lines of battle. That such a limited creature as the Shadowcat
could get a foothold here is worrisome. In the normal course of
thing, this world's protector would awaken and she would be
the one to come here to deal with the problem. Events on this
world are not progressing normally though. Whoever is
destined to become the Planet Guardian has yet to formally
accept her powers and the limited power available to her by
sheer potential has not been drawn on for sometime. Add in the
gradually building Gateway to the Shadowcat's realm and the
risks become too great to allow."
<<Risky to whom?>> I wonder. If she is trying to instill us
with confidence in her abilities she certainly has a funny way of
doing it.
"So I was sent, since there was a rather weird feel to the
connection and of all the possibilities I have had the most
experience at dealing with this type of situation."
<<Sent by whom?>> I question silently. I really wish
these crackpots would come up with a little bit more believable
story.
"Plus it was hoped that my race's natural resistance to
mind and heart altering spells would allow me to resist the
Shadowcat's minions. I apologize for the confusion I seem to
have brought to your house. And to answer the question I am
sure you wish to ask, Miss Tendo, the flickering you see is
caused by my preference to travel with my true appearance
cloaked from the world because men, even of my own race,
which is far more reserved than humanity, tend to react to my
appearance rather badly. It is truly difficult to get a straight
answer to a question while a man is fantasizing about various
sexual acts that I probably wouldn't perform even if I was
inclined to consider them."
Now that I can understand. Although from the looks the
rest of my family and Mr. Saotome have, they have no clue what
she means.
"Apparently you, Nabiki, possess an innate talent which
allowed you to see through my illusion. I guess it doesn't matter
for now and since everyone here is a disciplined Martial Artist.
I feel positive that I don't have to worry about anyone making
unwelcome advances. Plus I can ill-afford the energy-cost of
those spells right now."
When she then dropped the illusion Father and Mr.
Saotome drooling confirmed her opinion of men's reactions
although Kasumi's whispered comment to me made me wonder
if she ever noticed the female reaction she tended to engender. I
also wonder if she realizes the other things she can do if she
hides her true identity. I was going to ask her this but
Happousai's arrival distracted me. And I don't think he was
expecting the reaction he got.
The first I knew of his return was his cry of "Sweeto" as
he went diving for Valana's chest. How she managed to not
only duck out of the way but flip him onto the floor while
drawing that priceless long sword from her back I'll never
know. I know Ranma's speedy but I don't think I have ever
seen anyone react quite that fast before. Before the rest of us
knew what was going on Happousai found himself lying flat on
the floor looking up the blade of an all-to real sword. At the
other end, stood someone who looked like she would be quite
happy to continue her thrust straight through his throat.
But Valana seems to have some sort of code that
prevented that happy event, either that or she didn't want to
mar her sword with the pervert's blood. Instead she merely
asks who he is and upon receiving an explanation she looks
down at him and says in terms that remind me of glaciers "Sir,
you claim to have practiced the martial arts of your school for a
mere century. I can lay claim to six millennia of experience in
the ways of combat both arcane and mundane. Should you ever
attempt to touch me again like that I promise you that I shall
not leave enough of your corpse to bury."
And with that she lifted her blade, cleaned the small
drop of blood glistening at the tip from where she pressed a
little too hard, and turned back to us while calmly sheathing her
blade. And pushing her hair back, she reveals the pointed ears
that are characteristic of all the legends I have ever heard of
elves.
"Now then to answer the most probable questions you
have, as you may have noticed I am not like most humans.
Actually I am not human but of a race called the Noldur, which
I believe translates as Grey Elf. That is why I was chosen to
come here. My people have a far stronger connection between
our lifefire and our mortal shell. This connection is what grants
me such a strong resistance to the charms and enchantments
that are the Shadowcat's primary means of action. That
connection also means that nothing short of disease or
mortal blow will quench our lifefire."
Considering her skill with that blade I somehow doubt
she needed to worry about mortal injury.
"The reason I say the Shadowcat is the one responsible
for this is simple. The gateway that threatens this world has
one terminus set inside his realm. The other terminus is not yet
formed but is designed to be biological in nature. The
Shadowcat is not a very powerful demon, but what power he
does have he uses with extreme precision to cause the most pain
and anguish for him to feed on, allowing him to grow in
strength. I would guess that he intends to have Ranma and
Akane mate to produce a living gateway for him to use to enter
this world whenever he wills. I also believe he does not yet
have the power to create this gate alone since I can sense a faint
but unmistakable human lifefire in both Ranma and Akane,
something he could have easily destroyed."
At this point my father lost himself in hysterics and she
seemed taken aback by this. Once he calmed down, something
she may have had something to do with since I swear I saw her
making some sort of gestures behind his back, my father asked
if there was anything she could to help Akane. None of us
expected the answer we got.
She said "If you only care about Akane and they have not
consummated their relationship, then the solution is simple.
The Shadowcat's only gate into this world is Ranma and with
his death it would be sealed."
If I really thought that look on Father's face meant he
was considering that solution I would have joyfully helped the
Mr. Saotome put my father into intensive care. Just because
Ranma is a rude, loud-mouthed pervert, as my sister likes to
say, he is still a member of the family and if Akane had to live
without him I don't dare think about what would happen. Of
course the fact that it appears that Valanna could take
us all with one hand tied behind her back, would make stopping
her a tad bit problematic.
But Dad did us all proud. He drew himself up into a stance that
made him look far more noble then I have ever seen him before and firmly
stated "That is not an acceptable solution." And Mister Saotome
actually managed to look respectable as he stated "If you make so much
as one move toward either of our children. We will be forced to stop
you." And Kasumi decided to chime in with her comment "But isn't that
cold-blooded murder." Which spurred Dad and Mister Saotome on to say
"You would stoop to murder, and you call yourself a Martial Artist." in
their most contemptuous tones. I was standing their rather impressed.
After all the times Dad and Mister Saotome buckled under to Happousai, I
would have thought they didn't have the courage to face someone better
then him.
When Valanna stated "I have never claimed to be a martial artist. I
am a warrior, a mage and if you want to be totally accurate a
Sword-dancer but not a martial artist. And do you actually think any of
you could stop me if I decided to solve this problem in the easiest
manner possible?"
Well there goes the budget. Every time one of these "Let's save the
world and/or Akane" battles come up everything in the surrounding
area gets destroyed. Especially if Ryouga somehow manages to show
up to help out. That boy really needs to learn how to control his
strength. And to make the bills worse, I am sure Dad and Mister Saotome
are going to be hospitalized. I mean with that sword and her apparent
reluctance to pull her blows, I am sure that Father and Mister Saotome
are about to be introduced to levels of pain they have never before
felt.
"Besides I said that is the merely the simplest solution. It is true
that it is the only solution I can directly effect. But it is not the
only solution."
Or maybe not. I guess she isn't going to kill them after all. I
expect that whatever alternative she was about to suggest
would have proven a lot more satisfactory to all concerned but
Happousai decides that discretion isn't the better part of valor
and makes another leap for Valana's chest. A leap that takes her
by surprise and knocks both of them out into the yard. After
standing in shock at Happousai's actions, we all rush to the
porch to watch this confrontation.
What we saw was most surprising. Valana standing in
the middle of the yard with a look of total surprise on her face
as Happousai feels her breasts. After a few seconds the shock
on her face slowly changes to rage and I saw what Kasumi was
talking about earlier. She barked out some command and I was
again treated to a weird double vision of events. As far as I can
tell everyone else saw a flash of red light and Happousai was
blasted off her chest. I, on the other hand, saw the flash of
light and all. But I also observed a sudden outpour of some
form of - energy I guess - that formed a wall between Valana
and Happousai. Once the energy broke Happousai's hold it
reshaped itself into a hand and shoved Happousai away.
Needless to say Happousai wasn't exactly happy about this and
he started making all sorts of threats about unleashing the `Full
Power of Anything Goes Martial Arts' on her unless she agreed
to model some piece of lingerie for him.
Valana on the other hand was simply standing there,
with her eyes glowing brightly, with a strange silver hue. As he
ranted about the powers he possessed, her face just showed
more and more anger, until suddenly she smirked slightly and
then visibly calmed herself until her expression resembled that
of a guardian statue. After a few minutes of ranting Happousai
final notices the lack of attention he was getting and shuts up.
That is when she begins to chant in an odd, musical
language that seems at odds with the harshness of the energies I
see rising from the surrounding area, proving my doubts about
her spellcasting ability to be false, and making me start to
wonder about my own abilities. Then the energy began to
shape itself into some sort of dragon. Apparently this is visible
to everyone because I hear several exclamations. But still she
continues to chant. Happousai is beginning to worry when her
chant suddenly ends and she looks at him with her glowing
silver eyes. "I warned you not long ago, that should you ever
touch me like that again I would kill you. But now that the time
has come I have reconsidered, and will not kill you."
You could almost hear Happousai relax at her comment.
Then again if I had a ten-meter long western styled red dragon
with razor sharp claws looking at me like I was going to be its
next meal I would be pretty worried as well, even if I knew the
dragon was merely a construct of pure energy. When it looked
at her and nodded, you could feel the tension rise despite her
words. Then it seemed to twist in on it self and wink out of
existence, although there was a rather large blast of that weird
energy that no one else could see, everyone else breathed a sigh
of relief. Then Valana continued her statement. "To be
completely honest I think I should let my sha'kres-shar have that
honor instead."
By the looks of things no one here has a clue of what she
means but for some reason I don't think it is anything pleasant
for Happousai.
"So instead of killing you myself I just sent a message to
let him know about you and your actions and tell him what
plane to come to. I think you can expect him to come looking
for you in about a week."And with that she turns and walks
back into the house.
Happousai actually sounded somewhat worried as he
asked what this "sha'kres-shar" look like.
Valana merely looked back at him and said "The
messenger spell I used looks just like him. Only the spell is
about a tenth of the size. Now if you will excuse me I am afraid
I most take my leave of you for a short time. Before I can
speak of alternatives, I must first make sure which ones are
truly possible." And with that she continued into the house.
While everyone else stood in shock at what she just said,
I followed her into the house to try and get some more answers
out of her. A good thing I did, because no sooner did I get inside
then I saw her start to collapse. After just managing to catch
her before she smashed through the table, I gently slid her onto
the sofa. I was planning on making some smart remark about
how truly powerful she was until I saw her face and noticed the
look of total exhaustion there.
"Ms Tendo, I am aware of the fact that you have little
reason to trust me, but I am afraid I must ask you for a favor.
My statement about having little in the way of energy reserves
is true. And while I had planned on doing things another way I
find that I am more depleted then I had thought. I must ask you
to please find me a place of safety from that demon in a human
guise and allow me to rest. I promise you, by all that I hold
dear, that should you do this I will answer all of your questions
that I can tomorrow as well as offering you the chance to learn
how potent the talent you possess is, and maybe some training
in it. This I swear by my sword, the powers I serve and
the dragons I command." And even as she said that I saw the
gemstone embedded in the hilt of her sword glow, as well as a
intricate tattoo on her wrist and I knew, although how I knew it
I don't understand, that she would carry through on her
promise even if it killed her.
After an Oath like that what else could I say but "Yes."
That being the case I carefully guided/carried her up to my
room where I laid her down on my bed and watched as she fell
into a deep sleep. I then hurried downstairs to distract
everyone else from our new guest to let her rest long enough to
regain her strength, and give me time to go through here things
undisturbed.
The funny thing is in the entire time it took me to get
her upstairs it looked like no one had moved yet even though a
good five minutes had passed. Then when I looked closer I
noticed a faint trace of a silvery-blue shape resting on everyone.
A trace that disappeared even as I saw it and everyone began
moving again. Of course everyone's first reaction was to ask
where the heck Valanna was. My response was "She collected
her things and headed out the door. With the way she kept her
hand near her sword I didn't dare try and stop her but I did
manage to arrange a meeting between the two of us for later in
the week." Happousai then started muttering something about
having a contest to judge elsewhere and so fast he actually
forgot to grab the bag he had come in with. Mr. Saotome and
Father then went back to their eternal shogi game and Kasumi
went to finish dinner. For the rest of the night things were
quiet.
Quiet enough that I managed to sneak one of the spare
futons into my room. Allowing me to move the comatose
Valanna onto it so I could use my bed. I also managed to go
through the small pack she was wearing and found its contents
to be rather boring, all that was in was clothing and a few empty
packages that were probably left over from her lunch. Although
I will admit I am going to have to find out who her tailor is.
Some of those outfits she had; I don't even want to think about
the nose bleeds they would cause. And not only do they cover
everything, they pack down in to an incredibly small wrinkle
free bundle. The only out of the ordinary things she seemed to
be carrying was her sword, which while it was exceptionally
well crafted was just a sword. And this little pouch hanging
from her belt that had all sorts of silvery-blue and red symbols
floating around it. I would have looked in it but I had this
funny feeling that if I had it would have set off some sort of
trap.
Of course the tattoo on her wrist was rather unusual but
I didn't really think studying would be wise right now. The
brief glance I got of it while moving Valanna to the futon
started to make me nauseous.
Oh well. Off to bed for me. Tomorrow promises to
be such an interesting day.
************
Visit the Plains of Shadow and discover some of the treasures
to be found.
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/4630
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