Three more scenes from Spreading Wings.
C&C more than welcome and thanks to all who have written me. Your help
has been invaluable.
Now that I have proper ASCII files to work with, I am wondering if I
should repost the entire story or just send it to those that request it.
Is there an Adminstrator in the house? Would you be good enough to make
a ruling?
Scenes 22 thru 30 are now on the web site and have been touched up a
bit. Both to correct typo's and to make better use of the characters. I
have also one or two minor patches to the storyline.
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
Scenes 31 through 33
Sometime shortly after breakfast, the Tendo household returned
to its usual, Saturday morning routine. This is not to say that things
were not moving along without the usual, Nerima type weirdness. Nabiki
was on the phone, as was normal for her on a Saturday morning, sounding
like some strange cross between a ward heeler, a bookie and the CEO of
Mitsubishi. The sounds of humming along with the steady, chop, chop,
chop of an excellent mid-day meal being prepared provided the usual,
aural backdrop along with Nabiki's rapid fire conversations over the
telephone. Soun and Genma were locked in their usual contest over the
shogi board set up on the engawa. One could hear the usual clicking of
tiles, muttered accusations and satisfied grunts coming from that
indefatigable pair. Listening to them, one might almost conclude that
Shogi is a contact sport. Out in the yard, one could hear a deadly
whirring noise, punctuated by sharp cries of "Kya!"
"Not that way, Kasumi!" Soun called out, "This way!"
He made motions with his hands so that she could see what he
meant.
"Oh, yes! I had forgotten. Thank you, Father."
The whirring noise intensified considerably, terminating with a
sharp, "Kya!" The "kya" was accompanied by a painful sounding, Thwack!
"Ow!" Ranma yelled. "That's a big improvement, Kasumi."
"Thank you, sensei."
Somewhere off in the distance a bird sang.
"You managed to surprise me with that one. I haven't had that
much practice against the naginata," he said.
A huge smile spread across Soun's face.
"That's my Kasumi ne, Saotome-kun?"
"I have to admit, Tendo," Genma rumbled, "she hasn't forgotten
the basics. Check!"
Soun looked down at the board in consternation.
"How?"
"Lack of concentration, Tendo-kun."
"Well I..."
"I think I'll take a walk. Why don't you see if you can't help
your daughter? You haven't practiced with her in years."
"Saotome! They...they've grown up! I turned around once or twice
and...and they're grown!"
Soun managed to look both panic stricken and befuddled.
"Well, they are supposed to do that you know," Genma said in his
gentlest rumble.
"Yes but...but...it happened so fast!"
"I would treasure these moments if I were you, old friend," Genma
said as he got to his feet with a grunt. His legs were stiff, reminding
him of how much time had flown by, "Soon, they will all fly away."
"Where are you going?"
"I need to go talk to someone."
Without another word, Genma left. Soun watched him leave. He
rubbed his chin in puzzlement for a moment, then went out into the yard
to help his daughter with her drill.
The doorbell rang shortly after the elder Saotome left.
"Delivery!"
"I'll get it!" Nabiki called out as she hung up the phone and
made for the front door.
"Thanks, Nabiki!" Akane called from the kitchen.
A few moments later Nabiki walked back into the kitchen with a
dozen, long stemmed, red roses. Her body language was about the same as
that of an offended cat. Nabiki's face bore the special look she
reserved for those who were late making a payment for the third time in
a row. She very carefully stepped on the pedal at the base of the
garbage pail. As quickly as the lid swung up, she dropped the flowers
into can and left. Her back was ramrod straight as she walked, taking
stiff legged little steps while holding her arms rigidly at her sides.
Akane followed her for a few steps, then stopped and watched her
stalk up the stairs. Akane shuddered involuntarily.
"Somebody somewhere is in exceedingly deep do-do," Akane said
softly to herself.
She went back into the kitchen and opened the garbage pail. The
note which came with the roses was within easy reach. She gasped as she
read it. The flowers were from Tatewaki Kuno to Nabiki Tendo and were
sent with "all my love." Akane slipped the note into her apron pocket.
"Times," she said aloud to herself, "they are a changin'!"
Quite without realizing it, Akane began humming to herself again
as she washed her hands.
---------
Mu Suu cruised over Nerima hugely enjoying the calm, cool
weather. The yakuza were not making threatening moves towards anyone. He
had been watching them carefully. After a while it became obvious that
they were simply keeping a rough count of how many customers went into
which shop. Bastards! He thought. I wonder what Ko Lon is going to do to
you? Obviously she changed her mind about a fight. She would not have
sent me and Xian Pu to watch over Ukyo otherwise .
Having decided that the risks were minimal and being overwhelmed
by the exceptional flying weather, Mu Suu decided to try a barrel roll.
It felt good. He tried to do a loop, but the nervous system of his
cursed form took over near the top of it and forced him to do an
Immelman instead. Damn! He tried again, this time fighting the urge roll
feet down at the top of the loop. His cursed form panicked and folded
his wings without his willing it. He dropped in a stone for several
hundred feet before recovering just above a rooftop. Why is it I can do
a barrel roll but not a loop? He wondered.
Mu Suu spiraled upwards until he had enough altitude to try it
again. This time he started the loop by going into a shallow dive first.
The dive did the trick for him. He managed to pull off a smooth, nearly
circular loop. He had it! So long as the pressure was on the bottoms of
his wings and not the top, he could override his cursed form's
instincts. He quacked in jubilation as he did three more loops in a row.
It was a joy no other human he knew could experience. This made him a
little sad. Some things were a lot more fun if you could talk to someone
else about them. In this case, he knew of no one he could even begin to
relate his experiences too.
Just a mile or so away he could see an inviting pond. I think
I'll try a few landings, he thought. That's always fun. He beat his
wings to gain altitude, then threw himself hard over into a fairly steep
glide, his wings held out rigid, testing their strength against his
increasing speed. He was traveling better than sixty-miles an hour as he
came in over the small body of water with whistling wings. The light
reflecting from its surface seamed to gleam an invitation at him as he
circled to lose speed. He came down close to the water, still moving
fairly fast. Once within a foot of the surface, he rocked his wings back
and put his feet down with toes curled upwards. He skated along the
water's cold, smooth surface for several feet, then came to a gentle,
perfectly controlled stop as he gracefully folded his wings. He looked
around and noticed some delicious looking water weed. Oho! Looky here!
Mu Suu thought to himself, luncheon is served. Mu Suu did not noticed
that he was being watched by a human that knew a great deal about birds
in general and ducks in particular. It was the same man he and Ryoga had
encountered the day before. The man knew that very few birds could do
anything resembling a barrel roll and none that he had ever heard of or
read about could do a full loop.
---------
Genma Saotome stood on the sidewalk and regarded his wife. She
had just walked outside as he arrived. She was still as beautiful as
ever and just as deadly, he reminded himself. Never mind that, Saotome.
You haven't anywhere to run and nothing left to run for. You either get
this straight or take the consequences.
"Good morning, Nodoka."
"Good morning, Husband," Nodoka said coolly, "How is our son?"
"As I told you before, Ranma is in excellent hands."
Nodoka sniffed.
"So you say."
"Actually, I am rather more worried about us."
"Us?"
"Yes, us."
"What is there to worry about."
"Look woman, I have done as you asked," Genma said trying to keep
the aggravation out of his voice and failing, "I have brought our son up
to be a man among men."
His wife stared at him coldly. Genma suddenly realized that his
breathing was heavy and that his heart was racing. He fought down the
panic that rose in his throat.
"I want you back now," Genma said with a hard edge in his voice.
"I have lived up to my end of the bargain."
"He isn't married, Genma." Nodoka said with genuine menace in her
voice, "Nor has he taken a mistress."
"So? Those are things a man makes his up his own mind about. He
doesn't take direction from his mother or father about those things."
"Don't be ridiculous, Genma."
"Nodoka, we are about to enter the twenty-first century. The old
ways are dead."
"Why hasn't he any interest in girls?"
"Because he has had them shoved in his face since he was sixteen
years old and he is at least as stubborn as you are!"
Genma had begun yelling without meaning to.
"And what of his father's interest?" Nodoka asked in mocking
tones as her eyes narrowed.
Genma Saotome's face reddened. She had always had such ridiculous
ideas about how a "real man" should behave. It was her parents fault of
course. Her father had been a particularly hard-nosed officer in the
Army during World War II and his swordsmanship legendary long before he
died. The old bastard had kept a wife and three mistresses, the
youngest of whom had been Nodoka's mother. He had been sixty when Nodoka
was born. Genma loved Nodoka above and beyond all else but her old
fashioned beliefs drove him mad. He had taken Ranma and left shortly
after Nodoka suggested that Genma needed to take a concubine. Face was
important but good grief! Somehow he had to find a way to break her free
from the grip of a long dead past.
"Oh, I think I can clear up that little problem right now!" Genma
rumbled as he tramped across the yard towards his wife.
Nodoka reached for her sword but it was too late. Genma had her
in a bear hug and shoved the door open with his foot. She began kicking
his shins but he ignored the pain she was inflicting. Once inside he
slammed the door shut with his right foot.
"You beast!" Nodoka's muffled scream could be heard out to the
street, even though they were in the house and the house was closed
tight. This was followed by several moments of silence as Genma's
embrace became tender.
"Oh, Genma!"
"Did I tell you that I have gotten a job?"
"A job!"
"I'm working at the shipyard again."
"Doing what?
"Welding, of course."
"I'll make you some tea."
"I had something else in mind."
"Has Ranma and Akane set a date, yet?"
"No, but it's only a matter of time now."
"How do you know?"
"She cooked breakfast this morning."
Nodoka looked horrified.
"So?" She asked.
Genma sighed.
"Everyone thought Kasumi cooked it."
"Are you certain that Kasumi didn't help her out?"
"Have you ever known Kasumi to fib?"
"Remember our bargain, Genma! If you are wrong or if you are
lying to me
I'll..."
She couldn't say anything else because he cut her off with a
kiss. It was the end of their conversation for a while. Genma kept her
too busy with other things. An hour or so later Nodoka was able to speak
again.
"Genma?"
"Hmm?"
"Where did you want to take me?
"Yokohama."
"Why Yokohama?
"Because there is plenty of work there."
"When?"
"Two weeks."
"What about the wedding?"
"That's months away, Nodoka. Wouldn't you like to have the money
to..."
"Shush, dear. You are right of course. I will go with you to
Yokohama."
Genma was not at all sure that her sudden acquiescence was a good
thing. He was never sure of much when it came to Nodoka, but at least in
Yokohama she would not be worrying his son to death or ragging on Akane.
He remembered how much Nodoka changed after he and she married. He
dreaded to think what she would become after her son's wedding. Ranma
and Akane had a long way to go before they would have a stable marriage.
The boy did not deserve to be in hell his whole life. Not even I deserve
that, Genma thought. He somehow managed to lay still long enough for
sleep to come.