New scenes from Spreading Wings for those still following the story.
C&C more than welcome and thanks to all who have written me. Your help
has been invaluable.
Regards,
Don Granberry.
Most of the characters in this piece and the setting for it, were
conceived of by Rumiko Takahashi for her Ranma1/2 series of Manga. All
such characters and the setting are the property of Takahashi-san and
her licensees. All other characters in the piece are purely fictional
and any resemblences to actual persons living or dead are purely
coincidental.
Spreading Wings
Part I: The Burning Ring of Fire
Scene 21 thru 23
Two men and a Panda sat in the living room of the Tendo domicile,
drinking tea. One of the men was Dr. Tofu Ono. The other was Soun Tendo.
The panda was actually Genma Saotome who had foolishly gotten caught out
in the yard as the cold north wind suddenly squeezed moisture from the
sky. The men were joined by two young women, Ranma Saotome and Akane
Tendo.
�Bath!� The men heard Akane say emphatically as she and Ranma entered
from the front of the house.
�Akane...�
�Now!�
�All right already! I'm goin�!�
The two men and the panda were quite taken aback by what they saw next.
It was not the shivering and soaked to the skin young Saotome who
alarmed them. She trooped right past them towards the bathroom without
a word. It was the feverish Akane Tendo who made their hair stand on
end. Fortunately for them, her elder sister got her attention before she
noticed their presence.
�Is that you Akane?� Nabiki called down from the top of the stairs.
�Yes!�
�Come on up and look at Kasumi�s new dress.�
�Coming!�
�By the way, Akane! The dress shop had your dress finished so they
asked us to bring it home for you.�
�Oh, good! You did put it my room, didn�t you?�
�Of course, silly! Go put it on! I want to see what you look like in
it!�
�Rrrr!� The panda noised after Akane flew up the stairs.
�Did you see that?� Tofu asked in awe.
�The last time I saw her look like that was at the Doll Inn,� Soun
said. �I hope she hasn�t been possessed again!�
�What happened at the Doll Inn?� Tofu asked.
Soun told him the story. By the time he finished, Ranma, the male Ranma
that is, walked into the living room looking oddly frazzled.
Tofu looked up at him and smiled. The younger man�s physique had
improved considerably in the past two years. His muscle definition was
better than that of a good many weight lifters Tofu had treated. Just
standing around perfectly relaxed Ranma had cuts that rivaled the best
of them.
�Hello, Ranma!� Tofu said.
�What happened out there, son� Soun Tendo asked.
�Aw it was nothing serious, Oji-san.�
�Nothing serious?� Soun asked incredulously, �How do you explain that
look on my daughter�s face?�
�Oh, she�s just excited about what happened at Ucchan�s today.�
Soun jumped to his feet and immediately began to leaping to
conclusions. Ranma was still trying to make him understand when Nabiki
called down to them.
�Oh, boys!�
Three men and a panda looked up to find Hera, Aphrodite and Athena
descending the Tendo staircase.
�I think...� Tofu squeaked as his glasses fogged up.
�I�ll faint...� Soun rasped as he felt his heart come to a complete
stop.
�...now...� Ranma whispered as the blood drained from his head.
�Rrrr!� the panda noised as all four masculine forms collapsed heavily
to the floor.
�You see, Kasumi? I told you they wouldn�t be able to handle it.�
The three women looked at each other and giggled.
�And just think,� Nabiki said happily, "we haven�t even tuned up our
act, yet!"
The doorbell rang and a voice at the front door called, �Delivery!�
�I�ll get it, Kasumi!� Nabiki said, �You and Tofu go on and have a good
time!�
Tofu somehow managed to get to his feet and offer his arm to Kasumi.
Akane rubbed the naked sole of her right foot across Ranma�s chest.
�I�m going to go change,� she said ominously as a deep fever burned
behind her eyes, �but I�ll be back.�
Then without another word she turned, jammed her tight little butt down
into low gear and strolled up the stairs. Her father was still in the
first faint stages of recovery thus did not see her departure. He
otherwise would have suffered a severe relapse. Genma discovered that he
had fallen into a nice warm spot and had closed his eyes for a nap,
thereby missing the show. Ranma on the other hand, watched each and very
little gyration she made until his blood began to boil. He leapt to his
feet.
�I�ll be in the dojo!� He called up the stairs, �We�ve still got some
cleaning up to do!�
�Be there in a few minutes!� Akane called back down to him with a happy
lilt in her voice.
Ranma�s blood flashed to seven-fifty steam as he beamed himself into
the kitchen to fetch the mop, broom and bucket. He stopped briefly to
make sure his nose had not begun to bleed, then loaded up the cleaning
gear and nearly collided with Nabiki as she returned with a stack of
boxes.
�Big treat tonight, Ranma!� Nabiki said happily, �Sushi!�
�Uh, maybe later, Nabiki.� Ranma answered, �Akane and I sort of snacked
in town.�
�There may not be any left, later!�
�I�ll take my chances.�
�Where are you going with that?�
�Gonna clean up the dojo a little.�
Nabiki watched in wide eyed shock as Ranma calmly walked down the hall
to the back door and out to the dojo. She made her way into the living
room and place the boxes on the table.
�Akane, come eat!�
Akane came down the stairs lightly touching every third step with the
balls of her feet during her breathtaking descent. She was wearing a
sweat suit and unless Nabiki�s eyes were fooling her, Akane had not gone
to the trouble of putting on a brassier.
�Later, One-chan. I�m not hungry right now,� Akane said as she flew
down the hall and out the back door.
�But...�
There was still one hungry man and a singularly hungry panda in the
room.
�Here you go, boys!� Nabiki said cheerfully, �I�ll go open the beer.�
�Thank you, Nabiki!� Soun said.
�Rrr!� The panda noised gratefully.
Nabiki came back with the beer and the three of them dug in. She
decided that whatever was going on with Ranma and her sister could wait
until after she had gotten her share of the sushi.
---------
At Ucchan�s the late afternoon to evening rush began a little early.
Shortly after the rain began in earnest people began showing up in her
shop. More than she could ever cook for. Thankfully, most of them had
the good sense to order a small okinomiyaki or she would have simply run
out of anything to cook. She thanked the little pizza man for bringing
Ranma�s note. She put it in the register and forgot about it. There
wasn�t an empty seat in the place and people were standing around the
walls and squatting on the floor. She had never seen anything like it in
her life.
�Here ya go, handsome!� She said cheerfully to Biru-san. She was
pleased that he showed up. Flirting with him was enormous fun.
�So, you gonna hang around until...Ack!...� She squawked at the end
because Xian Pu had reached around and squeezed her left breast right in
front of the big American�s face.
�...quitting time?�
�Nah! You�re gonna be wore out by quitting time tonight. The night I
stick around is the night I want you to remember for the next hundred
years.�
"Yeah, yeah!" Ukyo said, "Big talker!"
She blew him a kiss then went to work on the next order. The place was
noisy to the point of roaring. She had a sneaking hunch she was selling
more beer than she was food.
�Konatsu?�
�Yes, Ukyo-sama?�
�How are we holding out on beer?�
�The supplier just brought us another ten cases.�
�Bless his heart! You are charging for it, right?�
�Yes, Ukyo-sama! Full price! You will be rich after tonight.�
So far, so good Ukyo thought to herself as she surveyed the dozen
okinomiyaki she had on the griddle. So far she had not burned a one nor
had anyone sent one back because it was not done.
So many gifts had piled up behind the counter that she had to get Ryoga
to start carrying them upstairs. They had become a trip hazard. Suddenly
it got very quiet. So quiet that the wind and rain could be heard from
outside. Ukyo looked up into to see the crowd part from her front door
to the register, revealing Kasumi Tendo glowing on the arm of Tofu Ono.
�Hmmph! She buy one dress become whole new Kasumi.� Xian Pu said
sounding envious.
As Kasumi and Tofu proceeded forwards the crowd closed behind them. The
big gaijin gallantly surrendered his seat to Kasumi and one of the other
men quickly offered Tofu his stool. They both sat down.
�What�ll it be Kasumi-chan?�
�Something simple, Ucchan!� Kasumi said, �You don�t have time to do
anything elaborate.�
Ukyo promptly went to work on two large seafood specials.
�You my dear sister, get the best of the house, on the house! What
would you like to drink?�
�Tea would be fine.�
�All I have is oolong tea over ice.�
�That�s fine!�
Two tall glasses of tea appeared in the hands of Kasumi and Dr. Tofu as
though produced by magic.
�You do realize that your restaurant is the only place left open
tonight?� Kasumi asked.
�What?�
Kasumi nodded.
�Everyone else closed so they could come here and help you celebrate
your great honor," Kasumi said. She raised her tea glass.
"Congratulations, Kuonji -sensei!�
Ukyo wanted to cry but fought the tears back. She didn�t have time if
she was going to meet this, the greatest challenge of her career. Tofu
and Biru-san had begun talking. Ryoga and Akari had voluntarily pitched
in to help bus tables and even the crowd had begun to help by bringing
dishes to the nearly overwhelmed Xian Pu, who some how managed to keep
up both a smile and her elaborate juggling act.
The crowd fell silent again when Tattoos showed up and elbowed his way
through them to the register. He said nothing, just stood waiting. Ukyo
handed him a brown paper sack. He opened the bag, counted the money and
turned to leave without saying a word.
�Excuse me,� Ukyo called out to him, �I�d like a receipt for that
please.�
Tattoos just sneered at her and turned back around to leave.
�The lady asked you for a receipt!� Kasumi said sharply. Her words
sliced through the thick atmosphere of the restaurant like ice cold
steel. No one could ever remember her speaking in that tone of voice
before. The place fell completely silent. Outside, the wind howled and
rattled a warning on the window panes.
Tattoos turned to face Kasumi and started to sneer, but then every man
in the place stood up simultaneously. The sound of chairs being pushed
back was almost deafening. Then the growls from twenty male throats
filled the room. He felt someone move from behind and when he turned, he
found himself being looked down upon by a red-faced Ryoga in a towering
rage. When he turned back around he found himself being looked down upon
by one very tall and angry Marine. Clearly, the Marine was a practiced
killer.
�Sign the lady�s receipt, asshole!� The American gritted through his
teeth, �Or I will have your skull for a night jar.�
Tattoos walked back over to the register took the receipt from Ukyo and
signed it, then he started to leave again.
�You forgot something, baka!� Ryoga said pointedly.
Tattoos turned back around and bowed to Ukyo.
�Arigato, Kuonji-san.�
He turned to leave again.
�Nope! Not yet, heel-fly!� The American told him, �Now you apologize to
Kuonji-san for being rude.�
Tattoos looked around the room and saw that he had no choice. He turned
back to Ukyo and a bowed again.
�Gome!�
�Now you apologize to Tendo-san for breathing in the same room with
her!� Ryoga told him.
Tattoos turned to Kasumi and bowed.
�Gome, Tendo-san.�
Kasumi did not bow back. Tattoos knew he dare not try to leave until he
satisfied her.
�Gomen nasai, Tendo-sama.� He said with a very deep bow.
Kasumi returned his bow, but just barely.
This was too much for Tattoos. He bolted for the door. Ryoga and the
gaijin let him go. The crowd cheered. Biru-san and Ryoga traded hi-fives
and surprised each other with their grips. The crowd went wild with
laughter and applause. After some of the noise died down, the gaijin
bowed to Ukyo.
�Good night, fair lady. Thank you for a wonderful time.�
Ukyo offered her right hand and Biru-san kissed it. Not to be left out,
Xian Pu offered her right hand while keeping half dozen plates in the
air with her left. Westerlake took his time kissing her hand. As quickly
as he released he hand she spun and added another three plates to six
she was already juggling. The crowd cheered.
The gaijin then turned to Tofu.
�Good night, sensei. I do hope the rest of the evening goes well for
you.�
�Thank you, Biru-san.� Tofu said as they bowed and shook hands.
�Konnichiwa, Tendo-san.� The American said, bowing to Kasumi.
�Biru-san?�
�Hai, Kasumi-san.�
�Could I ask a small favor of you?�
�Name it my lady! Shall I bring you the moon? Or will a single star
do?�
Kasumi blushed and giggled.
�Would you drop this bracelet off at my house? The clasp is broken and
I�m afraid I�ll loose it.�
�Of course, M�lady.�
�I�m sorry to put you to such trouble, Biru-san.�
�It is no trouble at all, Tendo-san! I pass your house on the way home.
I would be pleased to see it safely home for you.�
�Thank you most kindly, Biru-san.�
The American took the bracelet and left.
Ukyo slid plates laden with food before Kasumi and Tofu, then leaned
over to Kasumi so that they could speak without being heard.
�You sent him over to see Nabiki, didn�t you?�
Kasumi giggled.
�Don�t tell anyone.�
�I won�t.�
�My poor sister is stuck at home with Father and Mr. Saotome this
evening. I�m sure she would enjoy a few minutes with Biru-san.�
"But will he enjoy a few minutes with her?"
"Some men like pain," Kasumi whispered back.
Ukyo enjoyed a good cackle with Kasumi before she had to again give the
griddle her full attention.
---------
Following Tattoos without being noticed was child�s play for Happosai.
The weather hindered his quarry�s ill-trained senses so badly that
Happosai hardly bothered to hide at all. Ko Lon was already waiting at
the yakuza�s hideout. Her bag man had not experienced as much trouble
making his collections.
�Took him long enough, didn�t it?� Ko Lon asked.
�I thought I was going to have to go in and rescue the arrogant fool
from Ryoga and that big, ugly gaijin at Ukyo�s.�
Ko Lon smiled.
�I think the gaijin has to watch himself. His temper is quick.�
�Mmph!� Happosai noised.
�Nabiki is sweet on him, you know,� Ko Lon said.
�Yeah, I know. He�s got money. What�s the surprise there.�
�I think it goes a little beyond money.�
�Think so?�
�Mmph!� Cologne noised. �Their auras melded the first day he came to
the dojo.�
�Oh, shit!� Happosai said in an amused tone.
�Sometimes it works out.�
�Like it did for us?�
�Happy!�
They shared a moment of embarrassed silence. Their relationship had
been a stormy one at best.
�Ranma is never going to marry Xian Pu, you know.�
Ko Lon gave out an exasperated sigh.
�I know. It doesn�t matter now anyway. My tribe has more serious
problems to worry with at the moment.�
�Oh, really?�
�You remember when the Chinese government began persecuting the Falun
Gong?�
�Yeah, so what? Silly religion anyway.�
�Perhaps, but they did not stop with the Falun Gong. Now they are
persecuting anyone and everyone they think could possibly become a
threat to their hold on power.�
�And now they are after your tribe?�
�Not yet, but all the signs of a coming purge are there. China is going
through another cultural revolution. Not as bad as the one under Mao
was, but almost.�
�So how are you getting them out?�
�Smuggling them into Japan one and two at the time so far.�
�Where are you settling them?�
�Northeastern Shikoku.�
�Mmm! Pretty country, that part of Shikoku. Ehime Prefecture isn�t it?�
�Hai.�
�Even the name fits.� Happosai said with a poorly suppressed cackle.
�Trouble is, we can�t keep smuggling people out in ones and twos. It
isn�t fast enough. Those lunkheads in Beijing will figure out what is
going on before we can get everyone out at that rate.�
�Hmm. What are you thinking about doing?�
�I need to work a really big deal. I need to gain political asylum for
the members of my tribe from the Japanese government, and I need to find
a way to get them all out quickly.�
�Why are you talking to me about this? That sort of thing isn�t my line
at all.�
�I thought you might know who to talk to.�
�Sure! I know to talk too, but you won�t believe me.�
�Who?�
�Nabiki Tendo. If she can't get it done herself she can find how who
can.�
Ko Lon smiled.
�I believe you. She is an amazon at heart, that one.�
�Hmmph! She�s almost as good a conniver as you are, you mean.�
�Shh! Looks like the party is breaking up!�
Men came swarming out the tumble down building the yakuza were using
for a meeting place. Ko Lon and Happosai counted fifteen. They waited a
little longer until yet another man came out. He opened the door to his
car and threw a heavily laden briefcase into the front seat.
�We need to check and see if he goes to some other place in Tokyo or if
he goes to Kyoto.�
�Why?�
�Because the Tokyo mob will keep coming if we just knock these few off.
I don�t think it is though. They gave up on Nerima years ago. The last
couple of tries have been by that bunch out of Kyoto. I�ll bet it�s them
again.�
Ko Lon and Happosai leaped to the rooftops so they could move along and
keep an eye on the car. It got onto the freeway heading out of town for
Kyoto.
�Well, that settles it. How about this same time and place next Friday?
Happosai asked.
�Sounds good to me. The sooner we strike the less money we�ll lose.�
�Okay. See you next Friday. Come dressed to party. You bringing any
help?�
�I�ll bring a couple of my more experienced warriors. You aren�t
planning to involve those two fools of yours are you?�
�Soun and Genma aren�t quite the fools they let everyone think they
are. Soun was an out and out tiger before his wife died. Besides, all we
will really need them for is to help dump bodies into the canal.�
�You better be right about this, Happy. This kind of thing can go wrong
very quickly.�
�Don�t worry about it! I�ll see you Friday.�
�And leave Xian Pu�s underwear alone!� She said allowing her
aggravation with him to show in her voice, �I�m tired of buying new
ones.�
�Ha! I can tell! They get skimpier every time!� Happosai said as he
disappeared into the dripping gloom.
Ko Lon growled at him even though she was amused. The girl did in
indeed have a penchant for sexy undergarments. Too bad the Saotome boy
so steadfastly ignored them.