The characters of the Ranma « universe are
thecreation and possession of the brilliant
Rumiko Takahashi. They belong to Rumiko
Takahashi and her licensees (Shogakukan Inc.,
Kitty-Fuji TV, Viz Communications Inc.) No
copyright infringement is intended.
I would like to thank my pre-reader Angel, without
whom this would be a much poorer story, if it existed
at all.
This is a much expanded and revised version of a
story originally posted to FFML and submitted to
AnimeFEST as Chapter One, Yellow Dragon, Black
Tiger. The original Chapter One is _now_ Chapter
Two and contains an additional 1500 words.
Chapters One, Three, prologue and epilogue are
entirely new and never before seen on FFML.
The original, {award winning ^_^}, version of
Chapter Two YD, BT may be found on:
http://www.iguild.com/homes/kazama/
We soon hope to have _all_ of the winning stories
from AnimeFEST posted on this site. Currently we
have permission from two of the authors to post or
link their stories and are searching for the last two
authors.
Please sign the guest book. ^_^
******************************************
Due to mail problems I'm posting
Chapter 3 in Byte-sized chunks.
*****************************************
On advice from Gary Kleppe-sama I'm changing
the spelling of Cu Lon = K'e Lwun
Shan Pu = Shan P'u
Mu Tsu remains Mu Tsu for the time
being. I got this spelling from
friends of my wife at the Chinese
Baptist Church. According to them
this means Wise Man. However there
may have been a communications problem
so I am going to try and check with them
after the holidays. In the meantime I hope
this is not too disturbing a usage.
*******************
Yellow Dragon, Black Tiger
Chapter 3
part 1
K'e Lwun looked at the calender and sighed
softly.
"Mu Tsu, please close the restaurant. Shan
P'u, we should leave now."
"Great grandmother," Shan P'u sounded
distressed. "can't we wait a little longer? Just until
tomorrow?"
"No. It is past time. She should have been
back two days ago. It is not fair ---- or safe ---- to
wait any longer." Slipping a slender envelope into her
pocket K'e Lwun moved toward the door. "Come
along Shan P'u."
"Is this wise?" Mu Tsu moved to block their
exit, remembering his glasses for once. "The
Tendou's are not going to take this news well. And
Saotome is unpredictable at best. He ----they---- are
likely to blame you for Akane-san's disappearance,
whatever the truth of the matter. Let me go. I can
give them the news just as well."
"Mu Tsu," K'e Lwun favored the blind boy
with a wintery smile. "never say that you are worried
about me?"
"You old bat," he hissed. "If they skinned you
and nailed you to the doujou wall I wouldn't shed a
tear. But you have no right to endanger Shan P'u."
"Much better." She rapped him sharply over
the head, sending him reeling back. "I thought you
were going soft. Never fear. I will allow nothing to
happen to Shan P'u." She thought for a moment.
"However if you wish to be useful . . ."
MuMu-chan squawked angrily at the sudden
splash of water.
" . . .keep to the air over the doujou. Watch
for Oda, or any of his men."
MuMu-chan glared at K'e Lwun before
angling skyward. At least he could watch for danger
to his beloved Shan P'u.
******************************************
"We are sorry to intrude." K'e Lwun bowed
slightly to Kasumi. That in itself was unusual enough
to raise the hackles on Ranma's neck. K'e Lwun was
polite when it suited her, or when she wanted
something. And Shan P'u was unnaturally subdued.
She hadn't broken anything or tried to grope him
once.
"I have something for you." K'e Lwun slid a
slender envelope across to Soun. With a puzzled
frown he cracked the seal and began reading
"This is from Akane!" He glanced briefly at
K'e Lwun before resuming.
"No," his hands began to shake. "No, oh no!
Akane . . .my baby."The letter slid from nerveless
fingers. "My baby, my baby . . ."
"What th' hell?" Ranma snatched the letter as
Kasumi moved rapidly to comfort her father. Stone
faced, Nabiki plucked the letter from Ranma's hands.
"HEY! I'm readin' that."
"Shut up Ranma." The unexpectedly terse
command silenced him. "I don't have time for you to
pretend to be literate." Rapidly Nabiki scanned the
brief missive. She read it over twice, examining the
paper carefully."
"Alright," She looked back and forth between
K'e Lwun and Shan P'u. "what's going on?"
"I believe everything is explained in that
letter."
"Nothing is explained. If you expect me to
believe that Akane just _gave_ you the doujou----"
"WHAT!" Genma roared, rumbling forward
like a beer keg with legs. "That's MY . . .errrr . . .
RANMA's doujou. She can't----"
"And gave Ranma to Shan P'u," Nabiki
continued as if there had been no interruption. "then
you----"
"Are you crazy!" Ranma snatched the letter
back and began reading, his lips moving rapidly as he
scanned the page.
"It is not that simple," K'e Lwun began. "I
want you to know that this is not the outcome I
wished."
"I bet it ain't," Ranma crumpled the letter
angrily and threw it on the ground. "I just bet it
ain't." He stalked around the table and stared down
at the ancient Amazon. "Ya got about three seconds
to tell me where Akane is," he cracked his knuckles.
"or I'm gonna beat the spit outta you."
"Ranma, stop."
Ranma and the others turned at the weary
sounding voice.
"I believe her." Tendou Soun was staring
blankly at the table top. "I believe she is telling the
truth."
"Yeah, right!" Ranma snorted. "Like some
guy showed up outta nowhere, smacks Akane
around, takes Ryouga down without breakin' a sweat
AND then the tomboy goes off to some secret place
to train in a unknown style so she can come back an'
beat this guy for the family honor?" Ranma took a
deep breath. "I don't think so. I think the old ghoul,"
he jerked a thumb at K'e Lwun. "did somethin' to
her. Maybe one o' her mind tricks or a mushroom or
somethin'." He paced agitatedly back and forth. "She
pro'ly attacked Ryouga . . .blew up the wall herself.
Then she----"
"Oda is real enough." Soun said wearily. "I
haven't thought about him in years. Not since . . ." he
looked at his remaining daughters. "Not since your
mother died."
"Dammit, who is this Oda guy? And why
would Akane care about him?" Ranma stopped
pacing long enough to glare at Soun.
"Oda . . .Kuronuma Oda. He was my senior
student, heir to the doujou and . . . Kasumi's
betrothed husband."
"Oh my." Nabiki sat down with a thump.
"How exciting," Kasumi rose gracefully and
headed for the kitchen. "I'll make everyone some tea
and snacks while you tell the story." She left the door
open so she could listen while she worked.
Soun looked after his eldest daughter, regret clear in
his eyes. "Your mother's father died without a male
heir. Your great grandfather----"
"Arranged a marriage," Ranma glared at his
father and Soun. "Geez, you think you'd 've learned
from that mistake . . ." Ranma flinched as he felt
many pairs of eyes upon him. "Uhhhh, what I mean is
ya should a known it would never . . ." He swallowed
hard. "I think I'll see if Kasumi needs any help."
Quickly he vanished into the safety of the kitchen.
"It wasn't just an arrangement. I wanted the
marriage," Soun looked at Nabiki. "More than
anything in the world I wanted your mother. And she
. . .she wanted me." The wonder at that was still
evident in his voice. "Her grandfather wasn't too
sure, but he doted on your mother and allowed the
marriage."
Kasumi, followed by Ranma returned with
tray of snacks and a pot of tea. As gracefully as any
martial arts kata she placed cup and plate before each
guest.
"I loved your mother," Soun explained. "but I
always felt . . .inadequate. Everything was hers, the
doujou, the school, even the Tendou name." He
bowed his head in shame. "It was only worse after
you were born. Not that I didn't love you," he added
hastily. "You were each a small miracle from god."
"What does this have to do with . . .with
Oda?" Nabiki took a sip of the hot green tea. "And
with Akane giving," She glared at K'e Lwun and
Shan P'u. "the doujou away?"
"I wanted to prove myself. To your mother,
to her grandfather."I was a good martial artist."Soun
replied in an apparent non sequitur. "Not as good as
your mother . . .not any where near the level of her
grandfather." He smiled wryly at K'e Lwun. "You
might have been his equal, or perhaps the
master----" Soun broke off with a grimace. "I
shouldn't mention Happosai in the same breath. He
was Happosai's superior in every way."
"That was part of the problem." Soun rubbed
his temples. "I was good . . . just not good enough.
And I was afraid of your great grandfather. Not that
he would hurt me." He answered the looks of his
daughters. "Afraid that I would never measure up."
"So what's the deal with this Oda guy? And
what does _any_ of this have to do with Akane?"
"I was afraid . . ." Soun bowed his head in
shame. "Afraid of the training, afraid of failure.
Instead of working to master my fear I took the easy
way. I . . .I started training under Happosai. He
promised power . . .mastery . . ." With a sour laugh
Soun looked at his audience. "He lied. I didn't find
that out until it was too late. And before I did I ran
into Oda . . .young, strong . . .talented. He just got
better and better under my training. And I thought,"
Soun looked at Kasumi. "God forgive me . . .I
thought that he would be the perfect husband for
you. That I would secure the school, the doujou for
another generation and prove myself to your
mother."
"Geee," Nabiki put in snidely. "And _that_
worked so well you decided to do it again with
Akane."
"This is not the time for recriminations." K'e
Lwun put in mildly. "Oda is a very real threat. We
need to concentrate on solving this problem."
"_We_?" Nabiki looked narrowly at K'e
Lwun and Shan P'u. "Since when are you . . ._we_?"
"I promised your sister that I would look after
you if she did not return." She answered simply.
"Father," Soun flinched at Kasumi's gentle
voice. "I vaguely remember Oda-san. He just
disappeared one day. What happened? Does it have
something to do with why he is so angry?"
Taking a deep breath Soun began to tell of
that day, over a decade past.
******************************************
" . . . your mother chased him out of the
house. He was completely humiliated and swore
vengeance on the Tendou family."
"Mama did?" Nabiki was stunned. And
fascinated by the story her father was telling. No less
so than the others.
"Your mother was very gifted in the art."
Soun smiled reminiscently.
"Man," Ranma stuffed a handful of chips in
his mouth. "who woulda thought the tomboy's mom
could kick ass like that. . .Owwww." Ranma glared
at Shan P'u. "What'dja do that for?"
"Husband show respect."
"I ain't your husband." Rubbing his head
Ranma was suddenly reminded of K'e Lwun's place
in this story. "Alright, so what's with Akane givin'
you the doujou?"
"She thought that is was her responsibility to
defend the doujou----"
"That's stupid! Why didn't she just wait for
me ta get back?"
"Perhaps she felt her honor was at stake." K'e
Lwun responded mildly.
"That's even stupider. Girls ain't gotta worry
'bout stuff like----Owwww!"Glaring equally at
Nabiki and Shan P'u, Ranma rubbed both sides of his
head.
"I still don't understand," Nabiki blew on her
knuckles. "why would Akane give away the doujou?
I can understand wanting to get rid of Ranma,"
Ranma glowered but wisely decided to keep his
mouth shut. "but why the doujou? And why give it to
you?"
"I think I know." Soun interrupted before K'e
Lwun could answer. "She didn't think I could protect
my children, did she?"
"Oda is very strong," K'e Lwun responded
gently. "I myself would find him a formidable
opponent." She chuckled at the surprised looks. "The
Amazon nation has not lasted five thousand years
without learning to judge our enemies. I offered an
. . .alternate solution," Nabiki looked at her
skeptically. "but she felt that would not be honorable.
Instead she decided to train herself to meet with Oda.
She entrusted me with keeping her family safe." K'e
Lwun speared Ranma with an iron glance. "And with
training _you_ to beat Oda if she failed to return."
"Wait a minute," Ranma frowned at K'e
Lwun. "What's with this fail to return stuff? Why
wouldn't she return?"
"She went to train in the Yellow Dragon
technique." Soun explained. "It is a secret of the
Tendou family. I did not realize she even knew of the
techniques. Let alone that she knew of the hidden
training grounds." He smiled sadly. "I should have
known better. She and her great grandfather were
always very close. He must have given the secret
scrolls to Akane's mother. But she left us," his voice
caught. "before she could train Akane."
"Are you tellin' me that Akane's gone off
someplace to train usin' some stupid scrolls her
grandpa left her?"
"Great grandfather." Kasumi gently corrected
Ranma. "Isn't it exciting? Akane always goes to such
interesting places."
Nabiki sputtered as her tea went down the
wrong pipe. "Are you crazy Oneesama?" Looking at
Kasumi's serene smile she decided _that_ was a silly
question. "Akane's gone off god knows where to
train in some idiotic secret technique----And we _all_
know how well those things work out." She shot a
look at Genma that should have instantly reduced him
to Panda-burgers.
"This is crazy." Ranma jumped up and headed
for the stairs. "I ain't gonna just sit here like this. I'm
goin' after Akane."
"Do you even know where she went?" Nabiki
asked skeptically.
"Uhhh. . .well, no. Not exactly." Ranma said
defensively. "But I know she's on an island." He held
up the letter. "It says so right here."
"Geee, that's a _real_ help." Nabiki added
sarcastically. "Now where do you suppose we could
find an island? Oh, wait----Japan is an island. That
narrows it down."
"It's off the coast of Hokkaido." Everyone
looked at Soun in surprise. "It's just a big rock,
actually. I went there once with Akane's great
grandfather. I always meant to go back . . .complete
the Yellow Dragon myself . . .show Akane her
legacy. I always meant to do a lot of things." He
looked Ranma in the eye. "Go bring her back
Ranma."
"Now you're making sense. Just tell me----"
"Have you forgotten Oda?" K'e Lwun looked
sourly at Ranma. "Or were you just going to abandon
Akane's sisters and father?"
"Now wait just a minute ya old bat," Ranma
glared at the ancient Amazon. "I ain't abandonin'
nobody. But I ain't gonna just sit around while
Akane---"
"She should have been back two days ago. I
waited to tell you. Hoping . . ." K'e Lwun shook her
head sadly. "Oda has been watching this house.
Waiting for your return." She nodded in Soun's
direction. "I have managed to keep him . . .occupied
with other concerns." She smiled grimly. "Oda's
various businesses have suffered a run of ill luck. It's
almost as if he has been cursed." She frowned
reprovingly at Shan P'u who was suddenly overtaken
by a fit of coughing.
"Heh . . .not bad old woman." Ranma grinned
cheekily. "So, you keep Oda busy while I go get
Akane."
"I do not know how much longer he will be
diverted." She seemed to come to a decision. "I too
would like to be sure of Akane-chan's fate. She was
certain that no one else knew of the secret training
grounds. But if you know . . ." Soun nodded at her
unspoken question. "then we should all leave now.
At the very least Oda will have trouble finding us."
"I should make some snacks to eat on the
train." Kasumi rose and headed for the kitchen.
"Nabiki, if you'll call the station and arrange for
tickets----"
"I'm hoooome!"
Ranma's head snapped around so fast Shan
P'u felt a breeze.
"Hey . . .takoyaki!" Akane walked to the
table and popped an octopus ball into her mouth.
"Where the HELL have you been?" Nabiki
growled as Ranma swept Akane up in a tremendous
bear hug.
"Uhhhhh . . ." Ranma suddenly realized what
he was doing and let go of Akane as if she'd burst
into flame. "I ain't huggin' ya cause I care or nuthin'.
I was . . .uhhh . . .just checkin' to see if you was hurt
. . .uhhhh . . .'cause Kasumi was worried about ya."
"Oh, how sweet," Kasumi fetched another
plate for Akane. "thank you Ranma."
"Excuse me," Nabiki pushed between Akane
and Ranma, who was still latched onto Akane. She
twisted her little sister around to face her.
"According to K'e Lwun," She nodded in the
Amazon's direction. "you were supposed to be back
two days ago."She stepped back from Akane. "So
where have you _been_?"
"Shikoku." Akane replied, scooping up some
tuna egg-custard on a rice cake. "This is _good_!"
"SHIK ----!" Nabiki's mouth opened and
closed like a mackerel. "What were you doing in
Shikoku?"
"I fell asleep in the back of the truck and
didn't wake up until----"
"What," Nabiki grated. "were you doing
sleeping in the back of a truck?"
"Well, I lost all my money when the boat sank
so I had to hitch-hike. I snuck into the back of this
truck while---."
"What boat?" Nabiki thought she was being
remarkably patient.
"The one I stole. Anyway after the Russian
gunboat shot up the engine----
"WHAT Russians!!!"
"The ones chasing me," Akane said in the
overly patient voice used to explain the obvious. "for
violating Russian territory."
"WHAT!!!"
"Russia? Did you bring back any souvenirs?"
Kasumi asked brightly. "Have some more tea and tell
us about your trip. Did you have fun on your school
outing?"
Nabiki stared at Kasumi and wondered, not
for the first time, if she were adopted.
"Well," Akane took a sip of tea. "I couldn't
rent a boat, since I don't have a motor license, so I
had to . . ."
******************************************
". . .wind was blowing _toward_ the cliffs, so
when the poles fell, they fell toward the cliff face. All
I had to do was jump for the rocks and climb a little
way to the top."
"All?" Nabiki said faintly. "Sure, piece of
cake. NO problem."
"Well, it wasn't _that_ bad," Akane
protested. "Except for the ice. I did slip a couple of
---." She stopped suddenly at a strangled sound from
Ranma. "Are you all right? You look a little green.
Did you eaaaaaa----." Akane squealed as Ranma
suddenly scooped her up in his arms and bounded out
the door.
******************************************
Ranma put Akane down in the center of the
doujou and stood looking at her in the gathering
darkness. Finally Akane broke the silence.
"Ummm . . .are you feeling alright?"
"Are you crazy? What the _hell_ do you think
you're doin'? Ain't NO way a clumsy tomboy like
you can fight this Oda guy." Panting as if he'd run a
marathon Ranma glared at Akane, daring her to
disagree.
"You're probably right."
"Don't give me that stuff. You're always
tryin' ----Huh?"
Akane's lips twitched slightly at Rannma's
dumbfounded look. "I said you're probably right. But
what choice do I have?"
"Uhhhh . . ." Ranma didn't have any
experience with someone actually agreeing with him.
"Well . . .just let me fight him." He was on safer
ground now. "Girls ain't got no business fightin'
anyway. It ain't ladylike." He paused to see how that
was accepted.
"I thought I was a tomboy." Akane
responded. "So I don't need to worry about being
ladylike."
"HEY!" It wasn't fair to do stuff like that
Ranma thought resentfully. Girls were always doin'
stuff like that . . .rememberin' stuff you said and then
usin' it against you.
"Besides," She continued. "It's not fair to ask
you to do this." Akane smiled at him and he felt his
insides get all squishy and funny feeling. "you just
saved me from a demi-god. I ought to be able to
handle this on my own."
"Don't be any stupider than you are." He
retorted, angry and defensive because of his
unfamiliar feelings. "Just let me fight him."
"What if you lose?" Akane asked.
"Hey, I ain't gonna lose!"
"But what if you do?" She persisted. "Anyone
can lose . . .even by accident. It makes more sense to
let me fight first. Then you can see his technique."
"Man, that's just stupid." Ranma paced
agitatedly. "What the hell good is that gonna do
YOU?"
"Now you know how I feel when you get in
all these fights." Akane said softly.
"What! What the hell are you talkin' about?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"OK, how 'bout this." Ranma stopped pacing
and stood before her. "How 'bout we just pack up
and leave. We can go on a trainin' trip. That Oda
guy will never find us."
"What about the doujou?"
"Th' hell with the doujou." Ranma snapped.
"I never wanted the stupid thing anyway."
"And Kasumi, Nabiki and my father." Akane
continued. "will they come on this training trip?"
"Shit," Ranma muttered, vainly trying to
imagine Kaumi or Nabiki living on the road. He could
imagine Soun all too well, and wasn't _that_ a pretty
picture. "OK, how 'bout this . . .we go to China. To
th' Amazons. You made a deal with K'e Lwun before
you left."
"I gave her the doujou in exchange for
protecting daddy and my sisters. And," she added in a
low voice. "with the promise that one of your
children would marry one of Kasumi's or Nabiki's
and unite the schools."
"MY kid?" Ranma yelped. "Where am I
gonna get a kid?"
"Yours and . . .uhhh . . .Shan P'u."
"WHAT!" Akane winced at the shrill
exclamation.
"I . . .uhhh . . .thought I needed to offer her
an inducement to go to all that trouble."
"So ya _traded_ me, like I was a base-ball
card?"
"Ummm. Yes?"
"That's th' STUPIDEST thing I've EVER
heard of. What made ya think I would agree to that?"
"Well, you've never exactly acted like she
makes you throw up." Akane retorted, starting to get
mad. "In fact, I remember you chasing her all over
Nerima, vowing to make her say 'I LOVE you,
Ranma'!"
"That's DIFFERENT!"
"OH YEAH! Well let me tell you---." Akane
broke off, taking a deep breath. "OK, maybe it wasn't
the best idea, but it was the best I could come up
with to keep everyone safe." Staring Ranma in the
eyes she continued. "Even if we did go to the
Amazons, Oda would still be here waiting. I can't
just let him run us out of our home, destroy the
Tendou name."
"Hey, it ain't that important. You don't ----."
"I can't leave him here to keep hurting people
with techniques he learned from the Tendou school."
"That ain't your fault."
"It's my responsibility as heir to the Tendou
school." Akane said simply.
"Shit!" Ranma muttered as he resumed his
pacing. Lost in thought he didn't notice Akane
rummaging around in a closet until she tapped him on
the shoulder. When he looked up she handed him
two swords, one long and black, the other short and
silver; both with long red tassels hanging from the
hilts.
"Do you know the Dancing Phoenix double
sword form?" She grinned wryly at his look. "Sorry.
Of course you do."
"What's this all about?" He stared at the
swords in his hand, then at the matching set, with
blue tassels, Akane held.
"Let's do forms."
"Huh?"
There was a whistling sound as the long
sword in Akane's hand whirled around and down
toward his head with enough force to bisect a
locomotive. Automatically he countered, his short
sword sweeping under and over, moving her long
sword out of position while simultaneously thrusting
with his long sword in counterattack.
******************************************
The gathering darkness was only a minor
inconvenience to her Amazon trained senses.
Fascinated Shan P'u watched from hiding outside the
doujou as Ranma executed a blazingly fast Wild-
Horse-Leaps-The-Ravine. Akane countered the back
handed cut to the left by rolling under the blade and
coming up behind Ranma in a Shooting-Star-
Follows- Moon counter; her long black blade raised
high in defense, her short silver blade striking like a
snake for his unprotected spine.
Spinning Ranma caught the short sword
between his crossed blades , reposting with the
longer blade. Shifting slightly Akane let the deadly
steel miss her throat by millimeters. Shan P'u hissed
involuntarily as she saw Akane counter with the
elegantly dangerous Swallow-Skims-The-Water.
Dipping low to the ground, as if suddenly
boneless, Akane slid her long sword up toward
Ranma's heart, at the same time tangling both his
blades with her short sword.
The sweet copper taste of blood filled Shan
P'u's mouth as she bit through her lip. At the last
instant Ranma slid back and away from the deadly
blade, freeing his own swords. Without pausing
Ranma came back, body low to the ground. Akane
beat aside his long sword with her own, her short
sword countering Ranma's short sword, then slicing
toward his knee.
It was like watching a shadow play, Shan P'u
thought, only not as noisy. The only sound was the
faint whisper of bare feet on the hardwood floor and
the gentle kiss of steel on steel.
Amazon pleasures are few and simple; sharp
steel, fierce enemies, cold beer and a good fight.
Involuntarily her muscles twitched as she followed
the fast hard movements of the pair in the doujou.
The Dancing Phoenix combined the short linear
movements of the Southern styles with the sweeping
circular Northern wushu. The evening breeze brought
her a heady perfume of sweat, musk and adrenalin;
the ideal Amazon aphrodisiac. Trembling slightly she
drank in the sight of taught muscles sliding beneath
firm skin, bright steel whirling between strong
calloused fingers----a strong healthy young animal
delighting in sheer physical perfection. And Ranma
was looking good too.
Shan P'u silently faded into the darkness as
Akane avoided an oblique back cut, sliding past the
attacking sword in a classic Blue-Dragon-Arises-
From-the-Sea. Watching this Shan P'u was reminded
of a line from her favorite poem,
"There is a girl across the river with a bottom
like a peach."
It was time to rethink her entire strategy. The
Amazon nation constantly needed new blood. If she
could bring _two_ strong fighters into the tribe she
would be assured a seat on the council of sisters. And
if Akane proved to be a good breeder . . .visions of a
place in the Cabal danced in her head. She frowned
suddenly. This rosy future could end broken and
bleeding on the doujou floor. Akane had shown
remarkable improvement but she needed seasoning.
Ah well, obstacles were for killing.
At least that was _one_ way to translate the saying
into Japanese. She spared a brief moment to
contemplate _triple_ forms and the production of
new little warriors.
She'd never seen Oda but she knew what he
looked like from listening to her great grandmother
send her 'friends' to keep watch on him. More
importantly she knew where he would be, thanks to
her eavesdropping. Fortunately _she_ had never
made any promises to Akane to not interfere.
Besides, it was traditional to give a welcoming gift
when new members were adopted into the tribe. Shan
P'u pulled a massive Kukri from it's hidden sheath,
admiring the way moonlight glinted off the curved
steel blade. Grinning to herself she sped off into the
night toward a very exclusive night-club.
******************************************
End Chapter 3, part 1