Darkened Images
By David Farr
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi and
are used here without permission.
Warning: Darkened Images contains themes that are definitely NOT FOR
CHILDREN. If you are a child and reading this, sorry, go read something
else, I don't want to get in trouble if you have nightmares about this
stuff.
Find other parts at:
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/
*****
If there had been any observers that night, standing on the
street, watching the Tendo dojo, they would have seen a single figure,
dressed entirely in form-fitting black, swing itself out of the second
story window. It paused only for a second before running smoothly across
the rooftop and easily leaping across the space to the next house before
vanishing into the darkness.
Now the most interesting thing about this statement is not the
figure, well not at the moment, she comes later, but instead the actual
observer, for he did exist. His presence was almost invisible as he stood
in the darkness beneath a street lamp whose bulb had burnt out.
Kakuei Aoki was not a family man and he was proud of it. He had
no wife or children waiting for him at home and that meant he didn't have
to worry about making up stories about his work and the strange hours he
kept. Of course, the hours weren't the only thing strange about the work.
Why he was standing in the shadows watching a normal looking house - okay
it had a dojo, but that wasn't too strange - was beyond him.
But then many things were beyond him.
Like knowing not to light up a cigarette while standing in
darkness on a stakeout. This is why he was almost invisible.
After watching the ninja leave, he dropped his cigarette and
rubbed it out pavement. He reached into his jacket to pull out his
cellphone, but was stopped when an arm wrapped about his chest and
something cold and thin came to rest across his throat.
"This is a sword," a woman hissed in his ear. "I am good enough
with it to be able to silence you before you can finish drawing the
breath for a scream."
Kakuei tried to swallow, but having an extremely sharp object at
his throat convinced him that was not a good idea. "Wh-what do you want?"
"Who sent you?"
"I-if I tell you that they'll kill me!" he replied, his voice
shaking.
"Then I'll make you a deal, if you tell me I won't kill you in a
long, drawn out and painful manner."
Kakuei decided he really hated Catch 22s. He also, for the first
time, wished he had some family so he could plead for their sake. It
never occurred to him to make them up. "Look... they'll find me no matter
where I go. "
"Yakuza then," the woman murmured.
"H-how did you know?"
The woman snorted derisively. "I didn't. Till now. Thank you.
You've been very helpful. I'll give you your reward now."
"R-reward?" Kakuei stuttered.
It turned out to be the last word he would ever utter. In a
single swift movement the blade slipped through his throat. An instant
later the cut was wrapped with material held in the other hand. Kakuei
gurgled as the blood filled his lungs. He struggled for a few seconds
before his life expired.
Nodoka Saotome smiled in satisfaction. The watcher had been dealt
to, and not a drop of blood had spilt. With her free hand she whipped out
a long black sheet. Skilfully she wrapped the now empty shell of the man
in the material, knowing that no blood would seep through it, and
vanished, corpse and all.
*****
Unaware of the events behind her, Scarlet continued across the
rooftop highway, darting between the shadows. It hadn't been hard getting
the address of the Kuno estate. Mr Tendo had known of it, and even
managed to give understandable directions.
It took only a short time to find the sprawling grounds of the
Kuno ancestral home. Scarlet circled the compound three times before
finding herself a nice tall to tree to settle into. Carefully she tucked
her pony-tail into a pouch on the back of her outfit, rending herself
invisible against the darkness.
She ran a careful eye across the grounds. 'Hmm, someone likes
setting traps,' she thought, glancing from cunningly disguised pitfalls
to net launchers and mantraps. 'All low-tech though, so this isn't a
class act, unless...' Concentrating she used a trick her mother had
taught her, shifting her vision so to examine the surface off which the
compound's reality reflected.
'Nothing. Just a few ancient spirit wards. Good shape to the
grounds, probably why they can act like loons and not get suffer for it.'
Returning her vision to normal, Scarlet settled in to watch the grounds.
It wasn't long before the young master of the house made his
appearance, still dressed in Samurai robes and carrying his wooden sword.
"SASUKE!"
A small man in black scampered around the corner. He was rounded
and looked very comical. Well, he would have to anyone another than a
real ninja.
Beneath her mask Scarlet frowned at the Kuno family servant.
'THAT is supposed to be a ninja? I should kill him to put him out of my
misery.'
"Sasuke," Kuno repeated as the ninja knelt down, "where is my
sister?"
"She has left for the night, master Kuno." The fawning tone he
used sickened Scarlet.
Kuno nodded. "Good, then you may watch over my beautiful guest
while I fetch her food."
"Yes, master Kuno," Sasuke bowed his head.
The young man stepped forward and offered something to the ninja.
Scarlet clambered forward to get a better view. She watched as the pair
passed each other, then the small ninja headed back to where his master
had come from.
She watched as he stopped at a door, pausing, she guessed, to
unlock it before slipping inside. Moments later Scarlet heard the shouts
of an angry woman, which were cut off suddenly.
'Two doors,' she guessed. 'Leading into a soundproofed room. Both
have to be locked, or else the prisoner would just break out. But what
was that about his sister? If they're worried about her being about to
hear that outburst she can't know.' The figure nodded. 'Good, that means
the conspiracy doesn't span very far.'
She settled back and allowed herself to fall into a trance that
would keep her alert enough to see if anything unusual happened, but also
would make up for the missed sleep.
*****
Nodoka found getting into the Shard's office was easier now that
the shadowy guard knew her. The Shard sat, as he had the night before,
behind his large desk, hands crossed before him. He was watching the door
as she entered, a warm smile on his face. Nodoka simply nodded her hello.
It didn't come as a surprise that the woman Shard had named Rose
was also present. She sat in a chair amidst the shadows of the corner
behind and to one side of Shard, calmly observing.
"I took care of a Yakuza watcher," she said simply, "he was
outside the Tendo dojo."
"You disposed of the body?"
"Of course. No blood, he's just vanished," she turned her head to
look at Rose. "And before you ask, no he won't ever show up."
The girl's started. "You didn't?!"
"Destroy his soul? Of course not. But there are ways of
destroying the shell just as efficiently."
"That's well and good," the Shard stood, deciding that the
subject really needed changing. "But you didn't come here for that. Come
to think of it, where is that pretty little shadow of yours?"
"Scarlet is following a lead. The same one I am here to
investigate, a boy named Tatewaki Kuno."
The Shard raised an eyebrow. "I know the name, but I doubt that
family would be involved with something like this."
"Be that as it may, he already knew of the kidnapping, and I wish
to know how." She paused, a glare coming from the darkness of her hood.
"Unless you have informed him for some reason."
"I have no reason to, he is not one of us. And the only way he is
extra-ordinary is in his delusions." He frowned. "What else can you tell
me about him?"
"He has an obsession with Akane Tendo." The answer had not passed
Nodoka's lips. Instead it was Rose who had supplied the information.
Nodoka turned to look at Rose. "And how do you know of that?"
Rose shrugged. "To be honest with you, Shard Nodoka, he is my
brother."
*****
Sasuke slowly spooned another mouthful of food into the girl's
mouth. "There we go, chew that mouthful." Mechanically she did so, her
mouth working the food. When she had first arrived only a week ago he had
thought she could handle it from there, but after a couple minutes of
working on the same mouthful, he realised his mistake. "Now swallow." She
did so.
It was understandable that Master Kuno wouldn't want to see such
a pretty girl like this. It was pitiful, turning someone into a vacant
eyed mannequin. He didn't know what had been done to her to make her like
this, and some part of him insisted he didn't want to know.
The flash of life in her eyes was his only warning. He dove to
the side as she lashed outwards, screaming obscenities at him. This was
the other side of the girl. Rage and anger, the reason she remained
looked up.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" she seethed at him, her whole body moving as she
breathed. Her whole body shook and heaved as she breathed. Fists clenched
and unclenched at her sides, but she continued to stare at him.
He squirmed under that gaze, hatred burning in her eyes. Arrogant
disgust he could live with, the master and mistress looked at him with
that in their eyes all the time.
"I'M NOT SOME PET!" she screamed again. "LET ME OUT!" She grabbed
the bowl he had abandoned and threw it at him. The throw was wild, and
the bowl shattered on the wall, spreading the contents across the
wallpaper. "LET ME GO!"
"I'm sorry miss," Sasuke said in soothing tones. It always seemed
to work. "This is for your own good."
"Let me go!" she screamed. The fires in her eyes were starting to
dim again, and Sasuke knew that her outburst was fading. "Let me go." Her
voice was quiet. "I just want to go home." She collapsed to the ground
with a sob, and then was still.
Sasuke didn't understand what was wrong with her, but he knew
that she had reverted to the blank state she had been in not long before.
He breathed a sigh of relief, then glance at the food on the wall. He
would need to get some more, and this time hopefully she would stay
asleep until they were finished.
*****
Somewhere, in the darkened allies of Nerima a lone figure
wandered. His steady steps carried him onwards purposefully. A light
above him flickered into life, revealing his massive form.
His clothes were warn and thickly covered in the dust of travel,
although it was hard to tell. Neither the mustard yellow jumper and brown
trousers hid the dirt well. About his forehead he wore a yellow and black
chequered bandanna, tied off behind him. The pack he carried on his back
was straining it's seams, it also supported a large tent roll. From one
of the straps on the back hung a cage, inside a duck slept, its beak
under its wing.
The young man cut an impressive figure. Beneath his loose fitting
clothes was a muscular frame, but more impressive was his skills at the
martial arts. It was just a pity he had all the sense of direction of a
dead homing pigeon.
Ryoga Hibiki was not a happy man. He had been through HELL. First
his old friend had run out on a duel of honour. Of course Ryoga had
followed him, chasing him around the world. It wasn't until he arrived in
China that he had caught up.
Well, he had almost caught up. If it wasn't for the myopic moron,
he would have finally settled his grudge with Ranma. Of course Mousse,
the half blind Chinese boy, had run into him, and the pair had fallen off
the cliff into the pools.
Now Mousse hung in a cage on Ryoga's backpack while they
travelled searching for a cure to their curses. Something about using the
forbidden springs with permission.
Of course the curse wasn't all bad. He wouldn't have met his
darling Akari without it.
The thunderstorm had been serve, and a pig and a duck did not fair well
in that kind of weather. They had both been swept into a river, and were
clinging to a piece of wood, when she had spotted them. Braving the
rushing waters the over kind girl had rescued the two animals, and pulled
them back to her farm.
Both boys were rather shocked to be woken by the splash of hot
water, but not as shocked as the girl who was suddenly confronted by two
naked, and handsome, young men. It took some explaining, but all three
had settled down.
Ryoga and the pig-obsessed Akari had hit it off well. And for the
first time in his life his direction sense wasn't much of a liability.
Strangely if he wandered off, he always ended up back at Akari's pig
farm.
But one day all that changed.
*****
In the tree next to the Kuno estate, Scarlet snapped out of her
trance as Sasuke opened the door. She watched as the ninja servant closed
and relocked the door. He stood for a few moments, staring out across the
yard and then wiped his forehead before heading off along the porch.
The moment he vanished, Scarlet was out of the tree and over the
wall. Her landing was soundless, and she immediately darted into the
bushes. Once again she scanned the garden between her and the house.
There were a couple of groves of trees that would work well as
cover. In all likelihood they were packed with snares and pit falls. Even
in the small set of bushes just before her she could see a couple of
sharpened stakes.
'What is it with this family?' Scarlet wondered. 'Are they crazy?
They certainly don't have any real treasures to protect with this lame
security system!'
Picking herself up she started darting forward, flitting between
the shadows, but keeping her eyes open for traps. She dodged over a few
traps before she realised that most of them were remotely trigger. 'This
isn't a security system! It's a training ground.' Made cautious by this
realisation she slowed her pace a little, but arrived at the porch
without event.
Quietly, she padded along the porch to the door she had watched
Sasuke enter and leave. First step in unlocking a door like this,
especially in a household that loved traps like this one did, was not to
pull out your lockpicks. Instead Scarlet ran her hands around the frame
of the door, feeling for irregularities that might suggest a trigger
wire. None were found, thankfully.
Two long bent nosed needles appeared in the ninja's hands. And
she bent down to stare into the keyhole. It was an old lock, but well
cared for. No challenge for her skills, it would just take some time to
unlock.
With that thought she started her work.
*****
"Your brother," Nodoka repeated, staring at Rose. This was not
turning out well. That the young man they suspected turned out to be
related to the Shard's apparent favourite was not good.
"Yes." Rose bowed. "I am Kodachi Kuno. Tatewaki Kuno is my older
brother."
Nodoka turned to glare at the Shard. "And when were you planning
on telling me this information? Before or after Scarlet attempted to
break into their house."
The Shard spread his hands in a symbol of helplessness. "It
wasn't mine to say so."
A short sharp bark of laughter escaped from Nodoka. "I know
better than that. Do not forget that I am not some inexperienced
splinter."
"That is my fault, Shard Nodoka." Rose came to her superior's
defence. "Last night after you left, I informed the Shard that my brother
had our family servant pay this man Moromao. I also asked if he could
hold off on informing you of this until after I had investigated."
"I thought you were seeking my aid." Nodoka hissed. "And yet you
keep information like this from me." Her sword silently slid out of her
robes, then arced around to point at the girl. "Do not protect your
family at the cost of mine, girl, you will find that I am more than
willing, and able, to take extreme measures."
"Ladies, ladies," the Shard intervened, pushing aside the sword.
"Please, this is getting us nowhere." He looked at Nodoka, his face lost
it humorous cast. "And don't ever draw your weapon in my presence again!"
The katana vanished, and Nodoka swept away from the pair. "So,
Rose, and what have you found?"
The Shard nodded to his number one and retreated back to his desk.
Rose retreated to the corner, and took her seat again. "One of my
mother's old friends had somehow learnt of my brothers obsession of Akane
Tendo. I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that they would let go of a
family such as ours."
"Your mother is the one who introduced you to the Looking Glass?"
Nodoka inquired.
"Yes. She introduced us just before she passed away," the Shard
interjected. Wistfully, he sighed. "Ah, now there was a great woman. If
only she hadn't married your father."
Rose turned to look at him. "I've often wondered if you and her
were having an affair. There are times when I'm sure I'm more your
daughter than his."
"That would probably have something to do with him being in
Hawaii for the last ten years."
Nodoka cleared her throat. "As fascinating as this little
side-trip down memory lane is, could we get back to the matter of
Tatewaki Kuno."
"My apologies, Shard Nodoka."
"And do stop calling me that. Just Nodoka will do."
Rose inclined her head in thanks. "Of course. Anyway, this
contact of my mother's informed Tatewaki that Akane Tendo was not just on
holiday, as rumour suggested, but had been kidnapped. I did not know this
at the time, understand."
"How did you find out?"
Rose shrugged casually. "Sasuke is more scared of Kodachi and
Tatewaki. Anyway this man managed to locate Akane, and offered to make
the exchange for him. My foolish brother agreed, and had Sasuke deliver
the cash, a fair amount of yen I might add."
"And?"
"Well, let's just say he didn't get what he paid for..."
*****
The last tumbler fell into place with a satisfying click, and
Scarlet slipped her picks back into their hiding places. Slowly she eased
down the handle, and was glad when the door swung silently open.
The room beyond was one of the nicest jails Scarlet had ever
seen. It was larger than she expected. Light by a small chandelier on the
roof and numerous ornamental wall lamps. There were no windows, not even
a skylight, and Scarlet wondered what had possessed such a noble family
to build such a place. Of course, she realised, that pretty much answered
itself.
The furniture of the room was no less impressive. The bed resting
against one wall was western style, a four poster queen size with a
hanging silk canopy. Silk sheets as well, if she was any judge. On either
side of the bed sat bedside tables. Strangely both were empty.
Running her eye across the room she noticed that there were lots
of empty spots where she'd have expect to see knick-knacks. Both of the
mahogany chests of draws held nothing, and the same went for the two
small table and the desk. In fact the only piece of furniture that held
anything was the chair at the larger table in the centre of the room.
There was a girl sitting in the chair, her head hanging so as to
obscure her face. She hadn't moved, not so much as a twitch, since
Scarlet had moved. As confident as Scarlet was in her sneaking ability
she knew she couldn't have entered unnoticed.
Slowly she inched across the floor towards the girl, sliding up
next to her without getting a reaction. Her hand reached out and she
gripped the girls chin, raising it to look into her face.
Her eyes were unfocussed, and she stared blankly up at Scarlet.
The ninja girl had a fair idea what had happened to her, but there was
one thing she was absolutely sure of. 'This is NOT Akane Tendo.'
At that moment the door slammed open behind her. Scarlet let the
girl's chin go, and spun about. Standing there, a katana in hand, was the
young master of the house.
-----
Author's Notes:
Another part and another cliffhanger. Ain't I annoying?
Anyway thanks go to Sunlord and H Packrat, who came up with
suggestions and kept bugging me until I finished this.
-----------
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.