Darkened Images
By David Farr
Chapter 2

Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi and
are used here without permission.
Author's Notes: This story is inspired at least a little by Syithe's
"Shadow Reality." It's a little darker than the normal Ranma stories, but
not enough to warrant the [Dark] tag.

*****

        The red-haired girl glared at the figure still wrapped in the darkness
before him. Whoever he was, he was carrying some form of weapon. Its
shape was hidden in the night, but earlier she had seen the gleam of
metal. She knew that his eyes were fixed on her, looking her over, trying
to read her plans.

        "Come, come, my young Sliver, is that anyway to greet visitors." The
speaker had arrived with the red-haired girl. Like her the taller woman
wore only black, but while the child wore a skin-tight outfit, the
adult's clothing hung about her, stirred only by the soft wind. "Tell the
Shard that we two are here to discuss a distortion with him."

        "A distortion?" the boy in the shadows shifted slightly. The woman noted
a slight breaking in his voice, as if he was just passing through
puberty. "I will return in a moment." He slipped up to the door, and
soundlessly vanished through it.

        "Interesting fellow that," the woman noted. "Although I believe he
hasn't been told the true nature of his job."

        "Yeah, I noticed he took himself a little too seriously," red-hair
noted. "I'd have thought my legend would proceed me."

        "A little too much ego there, my dear. It's unlikely someone set to
guard duty would have heard of your adventures in China."

        "Sorry mum," the girl bowed her head.

        The door cracked open again and the guard emerged once more, keeping to
the shadows. "You may go in, the Shard will see you."

        If the red-haired girl had been able to show a smug smile, she would
have. Wordlessly they passed the shadow and descended down into the large
police station. The upper floor was silent, not even the sounds of the
city outside penetrated the absolute stillness.

        In the corridor at the foot of the stairs they found an open door and a
tall, shapely woman wearing a dark green, yet tight, robe. Her garment
was loosely tied at the front, revealing a form hugging leotard beneath.
A thin vale, the same colour as the rest of her outfit, hung over her
face.

        "Come, the Shard awaits within." Her voice was rich, and strong, but at
the same time held a humble tone to it. She bowed to the two and stepped
aside, letting them pass.

        Beyond was a simple room containing a desk and a monitor that showed the
roof-top, devoid of shadows except for the form of the guard. The large
man behind the desk rose, smiling broadly, and raised his arms, hands
outstretched to the black cloaked woman.

        "Nodoka, it's been too long since I last saw you," he stepped forward
and embraced her. "I see you still favour that overly mystical look."

        "Of course," the black cloaked woman nodded her head, and the man could
feel the smile beaming out from the folds of the hood. "It is a family
tradition."

        "I still shudder each time I try to look your father in the face," he
grinned, then turned on the girl. "And who is this sexy little thing? At
first I thought it was your child, but then I remembered you had a son.
So I thought on it some as you dealt with my guard and realised I had
heard of a similar Sliver in china, where you've just come from. So, what
is the story, hmmm?" The man was talking almost non-stop, and seemed very
unprofessional.

        "Have you heard of the path of the second mask used by the Chinese
amazons?" Nodoka asked calmly.

        "My lord! It's true? Even with all I've seen, that seemed a little
unbelievable. So this is but a magical form," he looked over the girl.
"What is your name sweety?"

        "I call this reflection, Scarlet," the girl answered, a hint of contempt
in her voice.

        "Ah, excellent." The man settled back down into his chair. "But you came
here with a distortion. Major or minor?"

        "Personal," Nodoka replied. "My husband was planning to marry my son to
one of his friend's daughters, three girls by the name of Kasumi, Nabiki
and Akane Tendo. Unfortunately a man calling himself Moromao was
kidnapped them. Obviously we cannot allow this to pass without acting."

        The Shard nodded. "Of course, I'll see what I can do. Certainly I can't
put my resources to it, but I will see to it that the police will be a
little slow to respond to calls about a red-haired ninja or a black robed
mystic."

        "Thank you." Nodoka nodded and moved to look into the monitor. "We have
reason to believe he had a force of men with him and that he will be
selling, or has already sold, the girls."

        "Ah, I'll have a few of my contacts take a look. There's little more
that I can do." He paused. "Speaking of favours, will you and your son be
available for other distortions? I find myself with a lack of good
Slivers with actual experience."

        "What of this one?" Nodoka indicated the blotch of darkness on the
monitor.

        "The ability to wear a cloak of shadows is useful. He's been trained,
but has no actual experience. The same goes of my other guard.
Unfortunate, but true." He shrugged and spread his hands.

        "Lot's of retirements?" Scarlet asked, drifting over next to her mother.

        "I had to transfer a lot of my personnel to Juuban, they have a major
distortion in their locale. All I was left with is my informants and a
couple of rookies. The boy is actually here on loan."

        Nodoka turned to face him. "I'm sure Scarlet would be glad to help out,
but I'm too old for that type of adventure."

        The Shard turned to look at Scarlet. "Well my boy, I'll be sure to
contact you if I need your services."

        "And I'm sure you'll be watching me to see what exactly I'm capable of,"
Scarlet returned.

        "I am the Shard of Nerima, boy."

*****

        After Scarlet and her mother had left another figure slid into the room.
The Shard looked up to see his tall statuesque guard slide up to the
desk. He gave her one of his smiles while his eyes took in the view left
by the slit in her robe. "So, Rose, what do you think of them?"

        "They knew I was watching," the woman replied, "and they weren't hiding
that they knew."

        He gave a curt nod. "Nodoka is the daughter of the Juuban Shard, and was
once his best operative. I am not surprised that the boy is well trained.
He could easily inherit his grandfather's place if his uncle doesn't
produce a heir." There was a slight rustling as the Shard sifted through
some papers on his desk.

        Rose paced over to the corner and lowered herself into a chair. "Will
you aid them?"

        "I told them I would, and I will. We will need them soon enough,
especially if the problems in Juuban ward boil over."

        "And you hope if Ranma marries into a local family he will remain in the
area," the veiled woman surmised sagely. "Of course that'll fall apart if
his other family ties start pulling."

        "True. I'm surprised you haven't asked why I started calling her boy."

        Beneath her veil, Rose smirked. "I too have heard of Jusenkyo."

*****

        Morning broke quietly over the huddled buildings of Nerima ward.
Darkness flew before the first rays of the sun, leaving only the shadows
of the alleys and the roofs high above as refuge for the walkers of
night. Quiet morning bustle replaced the stillness of night, as milkmen
and newspaper boys set about their work.

        Few without work were up and about that early, yet one young man,
wearing a black gi and spectacles, was hurrying along the streets. In his
arms he carried a basket, which he carefully kept from swinging.

        "I really should have gone to see him last night," the young man
muttered. "That poor man still isn't up to feeding himself."

        He turned the corner, and quickened his pace as his destination came
into view. In a matter of moments he was slipping through the gates of
the Tendo dojo and into the ruined front lawn. In his hurry, he didn't
notice that the front door had once more been set onto its rails as he
thrust it open.

        The scents of a cooking breakfast, however, did make its way past his
worry. For a moment he looked about in confusion, wondering if he'd
entered the wrong home. "Mr Tendo?" he called, recognising the house.

        "Doctor Tofu, is that you?" There was the rustling of paper, and after a
moment Soun Tendo emerged from the living room.

        The young doctor removed his spectacles and wiped them off, then
replaced them and peered at the man standing through him. "Ummm, you look
good, Tendo-san. Has something happened?"

        "Yes, yes, there is hope once more!" Soun beamed brightly. "My
darling daughters may be returned."

        Tofu opened his mouth, but his question went unvoiced as it was
interrupted by a splash from outside.

        "WAAAAHH!" The cry was distinctly that of a young girl in distress.
"Papa's so mean!"

        Both Soun and Tofu spun at the sound and dashed across the living room
to the porch beyond. A large man Tofu didn't recognise stood over the Koi
pond, in which a drenched teenaged girl with red hair sat. Her hands were
raised before both eyes and fountains of tears streamed out of her eyes.
For a brief instant Tofu felt a strange ache in his teeth.

        "Tendo-san, who are these people?"

        "My old friend and fellow student of Anything-Goes Genma Saotome and
his, ah..." Soun trailed off.

        "Daughter," finished a strong voice behind them. Tofu jumped away in
shock, and spun to find a woman in a kimono standing there. Behind her
the table was set with a steaming breakfast. "And I am Nodoka Saotome."
She nodded her head. "You must be the nice Doctor Tofu that Tendo-san
told us about."

        "Ah, yes, yes, I am." He gazed at her for a few moments wondering how
she'd managed to sneak up on him and set the table without him noticing.
'She must be an excellent martial artist.'

        "Ranko, dear, go get some hot water before breakfast!" Nodoka called.

        "Yes, mum!" the girl was out of the pond in a second and vanished into
the house.

        "Hot water?" Tofu was quickly finding himself on unstable footing.

        "Ranko is the result of a curse my son is under," Nodoka replied,
smiling. She then swept aside and gestured at the table. "Do you wish to
join us for breakfast?"

        "Ah, that would be good, thank you."

        The four were kneeling at the table when Ranma returned, his hair once
more in its normal pigtail. He greeted Tofu easily as he dropped into the
extra place his mother had set and started shovelling food as the others
ate.

        "Umm, sorry, I don't think we've met." The young doctor returned. 'The
son obviously, but...'

        "Ranma Saotome. You've already met my other half, Ranko," he grinned at
the doctor and picked up his chopsticks.

        Tofu frowned for a moment, something has tickling the back of his mind.
Something about hot water and curses. "Tell me, Ranma, have you ever been
to a place called Jusenkyo?"

        "You know of it, Doctor?" Nodoka raised her eyebrow.

        "I've read a few legends and a couple of old scrolls that mention the
cursed springs," he paused and grinned. "There was also a tourists
pamphlet in the latest marital arts monthly."

        Nodoka groaned and covered her eyes. "I think the guide is going a
little too far in his efforts. I'll have to write a letter to Cologne."

        Meanwhile Tofu was examining Ranma closely. The youth shifted uneasily.
"You know, you're making me feel like Ranko when she's being ogled by
boys."

        "Sorry." A frown appeared on the doctor's face. "You consider your girl
form a separate entity?"

        "She is, isn't she? I mean she's just me, and she knows she's a curse
and all, but she does see things differently."

        "I see. I wonder if all the curses work that way. Spring of drowned
chicken for example."

        "Would that turn someone into a bird, or a coward?" Soun mused.

        Ranma rolled his eyes, then leapt up to his feet. "Mom, shouldn't we be
off to school now?"

        "Of course Ranma." Gracefully she stood, her own meal finished. "It was
nice meeting you doctor Tofu."

        Tofu nodded his head. "And you Mrs Saotome."

*****

        Over the years Furnikan High had earned a reputation. Unfortunately it
wasn't a good one. More fights broke out in the grounds of the
educational institution than in an American jail during a riot. In most
towns in a country as civilised as Japan this meant that only the dregs
of society would be attending. In Nerima nobody cared, for that ward
could be called martial arts mad.

        Of this the Saotomes had little clue, so they were extremely surprised
when they turned into the courtyard to find a mob already engaged in
battle.

        "That doesn't look like a brawl or a gang fight," Ranma observed calmly.

        Nodoka nodded. "I believe they are all fighting the same person."

        "YOU JERKS!" A young man being rocketed out of the centre of the mass
followed the girl's cry.

        "Think I'll see if I can help," Ranma said, starting forward.

        "Don't forget to ask first," Nodoka called after him.

        Ranma skidded to a halt at the edge of the melee, then cupped his hands
to his mouth. "Hey in middle, need some help?"

        "It'd be nice!" The shout, definitely issued by an angry girl, was
accompanied by a flying sumo wrestler.

        Grinning wildly Ranma leapt into, or more appropriately onto, the fray.
There was a bunch of complaints as he dashed along the heads of those
beneath him, then kicked away a few combatants to drop down beside their
target.

        "Ranchan?!" The girl, dressed in the standard girl's school fuku, was
fighting with a pair of small spatulas. She paused only a moment,
surprise on her cute - in a kind of handsome way - face. One of her
attackers grabbed this oportunity, only to receive a jab to stomach.

        "Ucchan, long time, no see." Ranma smashed a guy in a hockey goalie
mask, knocking him into a golfer.

        "What you doing at Furnikan? Last I heard you were heading for the
United States." An American footballer received a series of spatula slaps
to the face and then was launched upwards.

        "That was years ago." Ranma kicked the golfer, sending him flying
backwards, collecting two kendoists and a soccer player. "We've just come
back from China, staying at the Tendo dojo till we can get our house
together."

        "Tendo dojo?!" Ukyo slammed a spatula into the stomach of a boy swinging
a bo. "As in AKANE Tendo?!" She slashed the shirts of three more
assailants, forcing them back into a pile up with those behind them.

        "Yeah, that sounds right." Ranma gave a boxer a devastating uppercut.

        "It's 'cause of her I'm in this mess!" Ukyo growled, kicking backwards
to catch a young man in a business suit while launching another enemy
with her spatulas.

        "What do you mean? She's not about is she?" Ranma swept the feet out
from under the Furnikan high curling champ.

        "Naah, just over a month ago this jerk, Kuno, states: 'Anyone who wishes
to date Akane Tendo must first defeat her in combat.' Then she ups and
vanishes and everyone decides: 'Hey, that new girl, Ukyo, she's a martial
artist too, maybe if we beat her she'll date us.'" Forgoing the use of
her spatulas, Ukyo flipped a boy carrying scissors and a comb.

        "Sounds insane," Ranma commented, dodging a swing, then pulling the boy
over.

        "That's this place." Ukyo swung blindly at her next opponent, only to
encounter empty air. "Huh?" She glanced about. The school yard was
littered with the groaning bodies of the male population of Furnikan
high.

        Ranma calmly dusted his hands off. "Well, that's the end of that fight.
Just in time too. Mom and I still have to go get me registered."

        "Your mother?" She leaned out and looked about. Nodoka was carefully
picking her way towards them amongst the boys lying on the ground, her
silk wrapped katana still resting on her shoulder. "Hi, Mrs Saotome."

        "Ukyo." The woman smiled sweetly. "Its good to see you again, child. Are
you still training in your family's style?"

        "Yes, thank you for asking."

        "That's good to hear. Now, if you'll excuse us, we must be going."

        "Sure," Ukyo bowed to the woman. "It was good seeing you again." She
turned and grinned at Ranma. "I'll see you at lunch." Happily she skipped
over those boys that were still lying on the ground, then up the stairs
into the school building.

        "Oh, boy," Ranma muttered, rolling his eyes.

        From the second floor balcony a trio of girls watched son and mother as
they calmly walked towards the building. They were a mismatched group,
not the type you'd expect to hang out together.

        The shortest of the three, standing with the other two on her left, wore
dishevelled girl's uniform. It looked like she had simply thrown the
clothes on, or, perhaps, had slept in them. This look was compounded by
her short simple style of her black hair and the thick glasses. "Kunoji
has a new ally, this may be trouble."

        "Trouble, I doubt it. Kounji has no interests in the school, so who
cares who she hangs out with?" The girl standing on the other side of the
group flicked a lock of her long brown hair, only to have it slide back
down over her left eye. She was pretty, and knew it. Still she didn't
carry herself as if that made her any better than the others. That would
be bad for business.

        The girl in the centre frowned. Unlike the others, she was "normal" in
appearance. She wouldn't stand out in a crowd, nor win any beauty
contests. Any circle of friends would accept her as she seemed harmless
enough. "The boss would say 'I care', Maiko. He's already disrupted the
betting pool, and that's not good for business."

        "So what are we going to do, Akiko?" the first girl asked.

        The central girl straightened and turned to face her. "You, Hitomi, are
going to find out all you can about him from the school records. Get his
name at least to Maiko." She swung around to the other. "You see who he
makes friends with and listen in on any rumours."

        "And during this you will be?" Maiko demanded.

        "Listening in."

*****

        Ranma knocked on the door, then pulled it open. His entrance was watched
by the entire class, and they didn't take their eyes off him as he
casually strolled across to where the teacher stood at the blackboard.
Strangely the man seemed flabbergasted, as if no one had ever knocked on
his door before. For a few moments he looked blankly at the piece of
paper Ranma offered him.

        "Ah, yes," he took the paper and read it. "Hmm, yes." Turning the
teacher looked out at the array of inquisitive faces. "Class, this is a
new student, Ranma Saotome." He started scanning the seats. "Where can
you...?"

        He was cut off by a crash a girl shouting: "Over here! He can sit here!"
Everyone turned to find Ukyo slapping the empty desk next to her.

        "Well Saotome-san, it looks like you have a friend already. Take the
seat next to Kounji-san," he turned back to the board as Ranma weaved
through the desks at high speed. "Funny, I didn't think that desk was
empty."

        "It wasn't," groaned a voice from the back.

*****

        After leaving Furnikan, Nodoka Saotome took the time to head towards the
market areas of the district. Unfortunately Soun's extended mourning for
his daughters had left the house without little food, and much of what
was left was perilously close to its expiry date. So it was up to her to
resupply the house.

        It was still early, and many shop owners were still just opening their
doors. As she stood out on the street, watching merchants setting up
displays, Nodoka realised she was out too early for her other purpose.
Most of the other housewives in the area wouldn't be out for a few hours.
That meant she would need to spend a few hours.

        A soft smile spread across her face as an idea occurred to her. 'I
wonder if that nice Doctor Tofu is busy.'

        Arriving at the clinic started a mystery. Nodoka knew he had left at the
same time as she and Ranma had, so he'd had more than enough time to
return. Which didn't explain why there was still a closed sign up.

        She wrapped lightly on the door, and was surprised when it gave
slightly. Shifting her stance slightly, she pushed open the door the rest
of the way, glad it wasn't creaking. Silently she slid across the waiting
room, glancing around at the simple room and its sparse furniture.

        Soft mumbling carried through the door lead into the examination room.
Nodoka moved up, and pressed her ear to the door.

        "...privately, of course." He sounded like a large man, also a familiar
man.

        "Someone is going to start asking questions sooner or later." Tofu, of
course, sounding slightly worried. He wasn't scared, and from the tone
knew whoever he was talking to.

        "We'll deal with it when the problem arises. It's not as if the
government is interested in peddlers of ancient remedies."

        "That's easy for you to say, you don't have to put up with the strange
looks I get when I ask for some of the ingredients. Do you know many
people that ask for five hundred kilograms of raw ginger?"

        "I thought there was ginger in that bath you dumped Kentaro in. You
could smell it."

        "It worked, didn't it?"

        "Yes, it did. He's no longer slowly withering away. However no one can
bare to be in the same room as him. That stuff reeks, and its been a six
days."

        "Well, it should wear off in about a month, according to the scrolls.
Until then, he's just going to have to live with it."

        "It makes him pretty much useless."

        At the door, Nodoka shook her head. She knew the other man, and he was
being very careless. Straightening, she gripped the door handle and
pushed it open. "You know gentlemen, if you want privacy, you should lock
the door."

-----

Author's Notes:
        First, thanks to those who sent me C&C on the first part. That includes
both those I replied to and those I didn't have time to.
        Next, in response to one persons query: Nodoka and Ranma both make
references to "reflections" in the first part, and in this part the
metaphor is expanded. Exactly what they're talking about will be
explained fully in future parts, but for the moment, suffer in suspense
(or confusion). Sorry.
        As always, C&C, MSTs and anything else other than flames appreciated.

-----------
David Farr
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/
djfarr@ihug.co.nz         katsuhito@planetjurai.com
"Die-cast construction, it's a lost art." 
     - Optimus Primal, Beast Wars.