hecreation and possession of the brilliant
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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
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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 = Mu Sz
*******************
Yellow Dragon, Black Tiger
Chapter 3
part 2
******************************************
Hanging upside down by his heels outside her
window Ranma waited until Akane's soft even
breathing indicated she was asleep. Flipping back
onto the roof he stretched hugely. Who'da thunk the
tomboy could do something like that. She'd been
. . .pretty good . . . in the doujou. Not as good as him
of course. Absentmindedly doing a few kata he
replayed the mock battle. A _hell_ of a lot better than
she'd ever been before . . .good enough to suck him
into replying to her 'attacks'. By the time his mind
caught up to what his body was doing he realized she
was completely in control of the situation.
It had been fun. But doing forms, even very
advanced forms, was a lot different from going
against someone who wanted to kill you. Akane was
going to be pretty mad at him for what he was about
to do. He could live with that.
A movement in the shadows caught his eye.
Just the blind duck-boy he wanted to see.
"YO! Blind Du----errr Mu Sz, how ya doin'
pal?"
"What do you wish, Saotome?" Mu Sz
replied sourly. He was stuck with guard duty while
the devil Saotome was free to roam at will. Perhaps
even now planning some salacious activity with his
beloved Shan P'u. Visions of Shan P'u being
salacious clouded his vision. He was just getting to
the good bits when-----
"HEY!" Ranma shook the drooling Amazon
by the shoulder. "I asked you, where's this Oda guy
hang out?"
"Hmmmm . . .?" Mu Sz responded dreamily,
shaking himself out of his favorite fantasy. Well,
second favorite. His favorite involved olive oil,
spandex and the Chinese National Ballet. "Oda? Why
do you----" He stopped himself. It was better not to
ask. After all, he couldn't be blamed for something he
knew nothing about.
"You may find Oda at this address."
Producing brush, ink and paper from his robes Mu Sz
quickly drew a map and handed it to Ranma.
"Thanks. You're a pal." Ranma scanned the
map before stuffing it into his pocket. "Hey, what's
this Oda guy look like, anyhow?"
"He is unmistakable," Mu Sz replied. "Just
look for the fighter with the strongest battle aura."
He hadn't actually lied thought Mu Sz as Ranma
vanished into the night. Oda most certainly would
have strong c'hi. And Saotome _might_ just find Oda
at that address. He would certainly find trouble. The
thought warmed Mu Sz against the chill night air.
******************************************
"All is in readiness for tomorrow, Oda-sama.
A formal challenge has been dispatched by trusted
messenger." Juzo hesitated briefly. "Oda-sama, is
this wise? To risk so much in a direct confrontation
with the Tendou family?" Oda turned a languid gaze
on his henchman who swallowed a sudden lump.
"Do you doubt me Juzo-ch-an?"
"No master!" Juzo pressed his head against
the floor. "I have no doubts that you will win against
the Tendous. I am only concerned that the authorities
may become involved. I wish only to prevent any
inconvenience to you." He said in all sincerity.
"Your loyalty is commendable." Oda
smoothed a wrinkle from his dressing gown. "We
have friends in high places do we not? Friends who
own me favors . . .?" At Juzo's nod Oda smiled
sweetly. "It is good to have friends. And it would be
churlish not to allow them to repay their . . .debts."
Oda stroked Juzo's head, as one would a favorite
dog. "Always remember that Juzo-ch-an. Debts must
be repaid."
As soon as Juzo had departed Oda settled
himself comfortably in his chair. Steepling his fingers
Oda contemplated the city lights, the bedlam from his
night-club reduced to a faint vibration by several
millions of yen worth of sound proofing.
The old man and the bitch had cheated him.
He'd been counting on the doujou to pay his debts all
those years ago. It was a nice piece of property and
during the huge Japanese real-estate boom had been
worth hundreds of millions. And the two youngest
daughters would have brought a nice piece of change
in Tailand. He'd had a buyer all lined up when . . .a
familiar sour-acid taste twisted his stomach.
They'd cheated him . . .he'd been forced to
leave Japan one step ahead of some very unfriendly
people. He'd dedicated himself amassing power and
position----perfecting his Black Tiger.
But they'd cheated him again ----the old man
with a cerebral hemorrhage while playing mah-jong,
the bitch with cancer. Calming himself Oda stared out
over the city . . ._his_ city soon. He had money,
power . . . and even better, powerful _friends_. The
old man and his bitch daughter had escaped . . .but
they'd left behind their children. And he still had
buyers in Thailand . . .for the survivors.
******************************************
"Saotome Ranma!"
Oooops----busted. Ranma flinched slightly,
wondering if he had time to execute the Saotome
Final Technique.
"You need to get ready," Nodoka opened the
door to the bath-room. "have you been fighting
again?" She continued without pause, looking at his
torn and bloody clothing. She gently touched the
yellow bruise under his eye, now shading to black as
it aged. "You're a martial artist----you shouldn't be
fighting."
There was only one reasonable answer to this
Mom-logic.
"Yes mother."
"Now let's get you cleaned up." Deftly she
stripped off Ranma's torn shirt and reached for his
pants.
"MOM!!!"
"Now dear," She depantsed him with one
smooth motion. "you don't have anything I haven't
seen before. Why I remember when you were two
years old and you had an accident while we were out
shopping. There you were with your little . . ."
Smiling gently she upended a bucket of cold water on
Ranma.
"Mamaaaa!" The shrill soprano of the
embarrassed protest was not entirely due to his
changed gender.
"Close your eyes dear." Ranma winced
slightly as Nodoka vigorously scrubbed a dollop of
shampoo into his hair. "I learned early on to always
carry dry pants when we went . . ."
"Aunt Nodoka have you seen----" Nabiki
popped into the bathroom just at that moment.
Ranma wasn't sure if it was possible to die of
embarrassment; but he could always hope.
"Oh, good----you're back." Nabiki seemed
oblivious to the fact that Nodoka was scrubbing
Ranma like an infant. "Here's Ranma's stuff," she
dropped a bundle on top of a shelf. "Uncle Genma's
helping father and I've got to get back to Kasumi
. . ." She bit her lip in thought. "Ummm. Do you
have time to help Kasumi? I really need to talk to K'e
Lwun----and Shan P'u hasn't shown up yet. Should I
ask Mu Sz to go look----"
Ranma gaped at Nabiki. He'd never seen her
flustered before . . .never imagined she _could_ be
flustered. He gasped as soap ran into his eyes.
"Be careful of the soap dear," Nodoka
dumped another bucket of water over his head. "Of
course Nabiki-chan, I'll be glad to go help Kasumi."
She hauled Ranma off the low bath stool and pushed
him toward the furo. "Does Akane-chan need any
help?"
Ranma slid into the steaming water,
shuddering slightly as he always did at the slithering,
twisty feeling of _The Change_; like standing naked
in a barrel of excited eels while someone pushed ice
water through your bones. It didn't hurt . . .exactly.
"Please hurry Ranma, you don't have time for
a soak."
Ranma started to get out, then froze as he
realized Nabiki was still there. "Ummmm . . .uhhhh
. . ."
Nabiki smirked at Ranma in an almost normal
way that Ranma found oddly comforting. "Akane's
fine. She's in her room meditating. I'm going to see
K'e Lwun. We'll be in the kitchen if you need us."
She pulled the door shut behind her and
Ranma scuttled over to the bundle Nabiki had left.
He pulled it apart, then froze in confusion.
"Here, let me help." His mother came up
behind him. "Now I want you to be on your best
behavior," She slipped the short-fundoshi around his
waist and tied it. "I know you didn't have much
opportunity to attend formal functions while
traveling," The long-fundoshi fastened bib-like
around his neck and he slipped his arms into the
shitagi Nodoka held out for him. "but it's very
important you present yourself well in front of
company." She fastened the obi around his waist with
a complex knot.
"Company?" Ranma squirmed a little bit at
the unfamiliar feel of the garments.
"Oda-san has issued a formal challenge to the
Tendou school. And you don't want to embarrass
your fiancee in front of company."
"Heh . . .I don't think that'll be a problem."
He rubbed a bruised rib. "In fact Oda . . .san might
not even show up."
"Well that would certainly be very rude," his
mother commented, settling the embroidered
kataginu in place. She brushed a piece of imaginary
lint off the winged jacket and turned Ranma to face
the mirror. "Now don't you look nice?"
"AaaaaGeeeez Mom. Whyda I hafta wear----"
Ranma stared into the mirror . . .a young samurai in
typical court dress of the fourteenth century stared
back at him. His normal careless pigtail had been re-
fashioned into the froward swept topknot of a
samurai. The mon of the Saotome clan, the kanji for
horse splitting a stylized Mt. Fuji, had been stitched
on the left shoulder of his jacket. He started as his
mother knelt before him, sliding katana and wakizashi
into his uwa-obi on the left side.
"Mom?"
"These are the Saotome family swords,
passed down the generations for four hundred years.
You are a man now, and they are rightfully yours.
Wear them with pride, use them with honor."
"I . . .I will mother. I promise."
"And don't run with them. You might fall and
put your eye out."
"Mommm!"
****************************************
"Where IS she?" Nabiki pounded her fist
against her thigh as she paced.
"I am quite certain Shan P'u will be here in
time to support our efforts." K'e Lwun said calmly.
She took sip of tea, then indicated the steaming pot.
"Sit, have some tea and calm yourself."
"Tea! How can you----" Nabiki broke off
under K'e Lwuns placid gaze. "Oh, all right." She
plumped herself down in a chair and poured a cup of
tea with a short angry gesture. She started to raise
the cup, then banged it back with a clatter. "Maybe I
better go look---" K'e Lwun snagged her as she
started for the door.
"Sit," She pushed Nabiki firmly back down
and pressed the tea cup into her hands. "I don't want
to have to go looking for you as well. Shan P'u is
unlikely to avoid meeting Mu Sz." She grimaced
slightly. "Goodness knows it didn't do any good to
tie him in a sack and ship him to Tibet when he was
seven."
"What?" Nabiki said distractedly, getting up
to look out the window. "What did you say?"
"I said that if anyone can find Shan P'u it's
Mu Sz." She sighed as Nabiki continued to pop up
and down from her seat like a cat with one kitten and
that one sickly. K'e Lwun was considering a discreet
tap to a pressure point when Shan P'u bounced into
the room, a polished sandalwood chest about the size
of an old fashioned hat-box under her arm.
"Ni hao, great grandmother. Ni hao Nabiki-
san"
K'e Lwun's left eyebrow twitched
infinitesimally at the cheery greeting.
"Where have you _been_?" Nabiki snapped,
wanting to shake the infuriatingly cheerful girl. "We
need to get everything ready _before_ Oda shows
up."
"No worry, Nabiki-san. Plenty time get
ready."
"No worry," Nabiki mimicked nastily. "Plenty
time get ready. Well excuse the hell out of me if I
don't agree with you. You need to go get cleaned up
and changed---- sometime this century would be nice.
And what hell is _that_?" Nabiki thrust a finger at the
box under Shan P'u's arm.
"Is present for Akane-chan." Shan P'u
burbled happily. K'e Lwun's eyebrows disappeared
into her hair line on hearing the affectionate modifier.
"My sister is getting ready to fight a
murdering psycho and you're out buying her
CANDY?"
"Is better than candy!" Shan P'u huffed.
"Shan P'u get present Akane-chan really like. Every
person like _this_ present."
"Go get cleaned and changed." K'e Lwun
directed sternly.
"Yes, great grandmother." Shan P'u
answered, slightly deflated.
"Shan P'u." K'e Lwun stopped her great
granddaughter as she was leaving.
"Great grandmother?"
"Your gift is . . .leaking."
Shan P'u blushed and grabbed a handful of
napkins off the table. "Shan P'u sorry. Shan P'u in
hurry. No have time to . . ." Her eyes widened in
dismay and she leaned over to whisper in K'e Lwun's
ear.
"Cold water and lemon juice." K'e Lwun
said, indicating the dark stain on Shan P'u's dress.
"Try not to drip all over the house."
Shan P'u nodded, grabbed the bottle of lemon
juice that Nabiki handed her and hurried from the
room.
"What was _that_ all about?" Nabiki
demanded.
"A lesson in impatience I think." K'e Lwun
responded cryptically. "She should have talked to me
before . . . well, no matter. Her heart was in the right
place."
"What? What are you talking about?" But try
as she might to elicit further information, K'e Lwun
refused any further discussion, concentrating instead
on getting Nabiki ready for Oda's arrival.
******************************************
Some people pace when they are nervous.
Others drum their fingers or doodle. Saotome Ranma
did kata . . .standing on his hands . . .balanced on the
eve of the roof. With his eyes closed.
"What are you doing?"
Ranma's eyes opened in surprise at the raspy
voice to find an iron angel bathed in ruddy flames
staring at him.
"Waiiiiiiiiiii." With a thunk Ranma hit the
ground at the feet of the apparition. Staring blearily
up Ranma rapidly assessed the armored figure.
The intricacies of kana and kanji were beyond
him, math was a mystery and he knew less of modern
science than Neanderthal man. However---- he could
name every type of weapon made in the last ten
thousand years, who made it and how it was used. He
knew the way of steel, its forging and finishing for
every type of arm or armor and could recite the name
of every swordsmith who had ever formed a blade.
The figure standing above him was wearing
the finest example of fourteenth century armor
Ranma had ever seen, outside of a museum.
Lacquered all in gold and red the warrior held an
unsheathed naginata that gleamed in the early
morning light. There were three mon on the armor
indicating a noble house, while the sweeping helmet
crest designated an officer of the first rank.
"Get up." The figure growled, voice distorted
by the iron mempo. Light reflecting off the red
lacquer gave the illusion the beautiful iron face-mask
was bathed in flame.
"Up." The naginata twitched imperatively.
"Quickly."
The naginata was a distance weapon. If he
could close . . .Ranma weighed options as he rose to
his feet. The armor might be a problem. But if he got
inside the naginata----before the figure could draw
it's dai-tachi or the shorter armor-piercing yori-toshi
he could----
As if devining his thoughts the figure struck
suddenly; naginata flashing like summer lightening.
Ranma sprang back, gathering his chi for a Mouko
Takabisha.
"Auntie Nodoka is going to be very miffed if
you get all dirty and sweaty," the figure flicked the
still twitching halves of a wasp over the wall with the
point of the naginata. "in your beautiful new clothes.
Now I think you should go sit quietly in the doujou
until Oda-san gets here."
"Kasumi?!"
"And try not to get stung by the wasps. It will
make you all red and puffy." Swinging her naginata
back to the ready position Kasumi moved to assume
her hereditary position as guardian of the gate.
******************************************
Ranma _tried_ to be good. It just wasn't in
his nature to sit quietly. He did try though. Instead of
doing kata he merely paced back and forth just inside
the doujou, occasionally sneaking peaks out the open
doors.
"Hi Ranchan."
"Ucchan?" Ranma stopped pacing and did a
back flip off his hands so he stood facing the
okonomiyaki chef. "What are you doin' here?"
"K'e Lwun asked me to come. Where is she?"
"I am here Kuonji-san." K'e Lwun stepped
inside the doujou just behind Ukyou. "Where is
everyone else?"
"Whadya mean, everyone else?"
K'e Lwun ignored Ranma as Ukyou turned to
face her.
"There isn't anyone else. I tried," she
explained at K'e Lwun's questioning look. "but Oda
put the word out that it would be a good idea if
everyone just stayed home today."
"What's goin' on?" Ranma demanded.
"I thought it prudent to have an . . .
audience for Akane-chan's meeting with Oda." She
pursed her lips thoughtfully. "It appears he
anticipated me." She turned to Ukyou. "And you,
Ukyou-san? Are you sure you wish to involve
yourself in this? Oda is a most formidable opponent."
"Heh," Ukyou unsheathed her giant pole-arm.
"Ranma is my fianc‚e. You don't think I'm going
to----"
"Spatula girl stop drooling on husband!" Shan
P'u popped into the doujou, pushing between Ranma
and Ukyou.
"I'm NOT----
"He's NOT----
"YOUR HUSBAND!!!" Ranma and Ukyou
finished simultaneously.
Shan P'u just sniffed disdainfully in Ukyou's
direction, winked at Ranma and turned to her great-
grandmother.
"Nabiki ready. She say Shan P'u come tell
great grand-mother Soun-san, Nodoka-san, Genma,"
she wrinkled her nose a bit on announcing Genma's
readiness. "Akane-chan all ready for Oda coming."
"I don't think we gotta worry about this Oda
guy." Ranma absently rubbed his skinned knuckles.
"No worry about Oda." Shan P'u agreed,
unconsciously giving the box under her arm a little
squeeze.
"What's in the box?" Ukyou glared
suspiciously at the Amazon.
"Is present for Akane-chan."
"Akane's getting ready to fight a yakuza boss
and you're buying her _candy_?" Ukyou was
incredulous.
"Is _NOT_ candy." Shan P'u denied yet
again. She frowned, suddenly worried. "Shan P'u get
candy?" She asked her great grand-mother.
"I do not believe that will be necessary." K'e
Lwun assured her.
"Oh, Ranma . . .you've gotten your jacket
wrinkled." Saotome Nodoka came up behind him and
smoothed and tugged at this jacket.
"Moooom!" Ranma complained. "I ain't
been----" The words died as he turned and saw his
mother in the dress of a great court lady of six
centuries earlier. He had only a moment to notice the
brocaded silk kimono and elaborate makeup and hair
of a centuries lost Imperial Court before his attention
was drawn to the sight of his father in the red
lacquered O-Yori of a fourteenth century war leader.
An iron war fan was thrust through the
"great-armor's" uwa-obi. In addition to a tachi hung
from his belt in an ornate scabbard, an immense
nodachi was slung over his shoulder and he cradled a
studded iron war club in both hands. Genma's usual
expression of dissipated greed had been replaced by a
cold watchfulness.
Ranma was so startled by this change that he
almost didn't notice Tendou Soun in the Do-Maru of
a thirteenth century feudal lord. The simple battle
armor and naked blade were such a stark contrast to
Soun's general demeanor that Ranma could only
gape as Soun seated himself against one wall of the
doujou, Genma behind and to one side in the position
occupied by a chief retainer and bodyguard.
Mumu-chan swooped into the doujou at that
moment. With an angry squawk the small white duck
grew to fill his robes as Shan P'u dumped hot water
over him.
"Aaaaa. Hothothothothot." Mu Sz gasped in
shock. "The water need not be quite so warm, my
beloved." The master of hidden weapons informed
Ranma.
"Not even close." Ranma whapped Mu Sz on
the head turning him toward Shan P'u.
"Mu Sz burned?" Shan P'u asked.
"No, no." He hastened to assure the object of
his desire. "It was just a little too warm."
Shan P'u frowned at the small electric stove
used to heat the water. Twisting the heat control
back and forth her brow cleared suddenly. "Aaaaa.
Stupid American stove is _ Fahrenheit_" Muttering
under her breath she twisted the dial all the way to
the right. "Next time Shan P'u remember convert
centigrade."
"What do you have to report?" K'e Lwun
interrupted the two feuding Amazons.
"Oh," Mu Sz pushed his glasses down and
turned to face K'e Lwun. "I just wanted to tell
you----
"Kuronuma Oda is here." The loud voice
carried easily to the occupants of the doujou.
"No way!" Ranma bolted out of the doujou
followed by Ukyou and the others. Looking across
the courtyard they could see the beautifully armored
Kasumi blocking the gate against a small crowd.
"No can be Oda!" Shan P'u protested.
"Kuronuma Oda-sama has business here.
Stand aside." The sneering voice gave the lie to Shan
P'u's expectations.
"If Oda there, then----" Shan P'u glanced
involuntarily at the box under her arm. "Oooops . . ."
Blushing Shan P'u glanced furtively around for a
place to stash the box.
"Quit fidgeting child." K'e Lwun admonished.
"But great grandmother, what do with . . .?"
"Hmmmm, perhaps a paperweight?"
"Or a nice wine cup." Mu Sz appeared
suddenly, relieving Shan P'u of her burden. The box
disappeared beneath his robes. "After boiling and
cleaning, perhaps some calligraphy in sterling silver
. . .and gemstones for the eyes?"
"Ooooo, pretty." Shan P'u agreed. "Jade
handle look good. Dark green against bone white."
She smiled happily. "Mu Sz not so stupid as always
think."
"Dammit," Ranma rubbed his skinned
knuckles. "If that's Oda . . ."
"Announce yourself and state your business
with the clan Tendou." Kasumi's unnaturally cool
voice came to them across the yard.
"What do you think this is? A costume
party?" Sneering Voice tried to push contemptuously
past Kasumi."
The butt end of her naginata smacked his arm
away from her with a sharp crack of wood against
bone. In a flashing reverse butterfly the blade slashed
down, around and up again to rest gently against his
neck.
"Who is it that begs audience with the
Tendou souke?"
"Kuronuma Oda, heir to the Tendou ryuu and
betrothed of Tendou Kasumi wishes to see the head
of the Tendou family." Came the silky smooth reply
from the hidden center of the crowd.
"What! Why you sonnuva-----." Angrily
Ranma started forward as another voice spoke.
"That name does not appear among the clan
names nor on the rolls of the students of the Tendou
ryuu." Saotome Nodoka glided regally forward, a
brittle scroll, stained with years in one hand. "You
have no place here, Nameless, Outcast and Oath
Breaker."
With a sullen mutter the men outside the gate
surged forward, stopping suddenly as Kasumi's blade
cut through the air with an angry hum.
With an amused laugh a muffled figure moved
forward, his mere presence stilling the angry men
more effectively than the sharpest steel. "My, my
. . .still so unforgiving after all these years." The
figure moved closer to Kasumi. "If you do not wish
to see a friend," there was a soft laugh, "then
Kuronuma Oda, Master of the Black Tiger is here to
challenge the Tendou souke," he placed a caressing
hand on Kasumi's armored sleeve. "and to claim his
bride. My little Kasumi-ch-an."
"Move it or lose it."
Ranma jerked as another figure moved into
the open from the far side of the house.
"Ahh mannnn." Ranma groaned. What was
with all these stupid costumes?
Not satisfied with the eleventh century
archers armor, Nabiki was armed with a nine foot
war-bow of the ancient type that required seven men
to string. Her fifteen fist war arrow was fleched with
black and white eagle feathers reserved for the
highest ranks and tipped with the Tendou clans
special flesh-eater arrow head. Nabiki's form wasn't
perfect, Ranma noted with professional interest, and
her arms trembled under the strain of keeping the
massive bow at full draw. She'd probably lose
accuracy at any distance shooting but at this range
the broad steel tipped arrow would punch a hole the
size of a child's fist through six men and a dog.
"So war-like, little Nabiki-ch-an," Oda moved
catlike toward the middle Tendou sister. "Are you
upset that you have no one to sell tickets to or place
bets with?"
Oda chuckled as Nabiki's face went hard as
stone. Ukyou could feel the heat of Nabiki's anger
from across the courtyard.
"I'm sure some arrangement can be made."
Oda continued in reasonable tones. "Perhaps you can
profit from a video of your baby sister's defeat----
snuff films are very popular."
The heavy war arrow leapt from the giant
bow like a lightning bolt from god----straight at
Oda's chest. Contemptuously his left had struck----
nothing. Startled he stepped back, only then noticing
the ancient figure balanced atop her staff, holding the
deadly shaft lightly between thumb and fore-finger.
"Now, now," K'e Lwun chided
lightly."Unruly little boys get spanked and sent to bed
without their supper." K'e Lwun smiled to herself as
she noticed the tiny tic beside Oda's left eye. Good
. . .not the perfect master of the Black Tiger after all.
"If you can't play nicely, in the name of the Amazon
Nation, I'll have to punish you."
Ukyou shuddered as she had a brief vision of
K'e Lwun in a Sailor Fuku.
There was an outraged snarl from Oda's
retainers but Oda himself was again all urbanity.
"Forgive me for my levity, honored elder."
Oda rejoined smoothly. "I thank you for pointing out
my error."
K'e Lwun sighed softly, fingering the tiny steel dart
hidden in her sleeves. She'd really hoped she could
goad Oda into attacking her. It would have looked
like death from natural causes . . .the youngest
Tendou's honor would have been satisfied
. . . things would have been so much simpler.
"I am a humble wandering fighter," Oda
continued. "here to challenge the Tendou souke in
the ancient way, to gain both a name and a place in
the world." Oda let his cloak drop to the ground.
Ukyou heard a gasp from behind her as her
heart thudded in her chest. "My god, he's----"
"Beautiful!" Mu Sz sighed.
Ukyou could only nod dumbly as she drank in
the sight of Kuronuma Oda's slender figure clothed
in tight black silk with a crimson tiger embroidered
across the chest. Long curling lashes framed eyes
the colour of warm honey. His long hair fell in soft
curls past his shoulders and perfect white teeth
flashed in a gentle smile.
"Shit," Ranma muttered at the sight. "Tsubasa
could take this sissy boy."
"Husband no be careless." Shan P'u warned,
laying a hand lightly on his arm as she moved to stand
beside him. "Oda beautiful like tiger. Kill fast hard,
no mercy."
"That little shrimp?" Ranma's skepticism that
the slight figure standing an inch or so _below_
Kasumi's height could possibly be any danger was
evident.
"Great grandmother not so big." Shan P'u
reminded him quietly.
Ranma's mouth open and closed soundlessly
as he failed to arrive at a counter argument. Before
he could come up with a good reason to explain why
Shan P'u was wrong he was again distracted by
events in the courtyard.
"So, you wish combat with the head of the
Tendou ryuu?" K'e Lwun smiled slightly. "Then step
forth and prove yourself . . .
Oda moved forward and to the right, smiling
slightly as he saw Tendou Soun standing just inside
the doujou. He licked mental lips at the thought of
what he was going to do to the old man. And then to
his daughters.
" . . .in combat with the thirteenth Grand
Master of the Junkin Ryuujin . . ."
Oda frowned slightly on hearing the old name
of the Yellow Dragon and started to turn back
toward K'e Lwun.
"Shihanke of the Tendou ryuuha . . ."
Head of the teaching house? What nonsense
----Oda's thought was interrupted as a lithe figure
stepped from the shadows, drawing all eyes to it.
". . .Tendou Yoarashi."
"Night Storm?" Ranma wondered. Then---
"Akane?!" Ranma felt as if he'd been punched in the
gut as Akane stepped into the light. Softly she glided
across the dewed grass, bare feet leaving no trace of
her passage. A sudden whimper jerked his attention
to Shan P'u. Turning his head slightly he could see
the Amazon's eyes were fixed on the embroidered
golden dragon curled protectively around Akane's
torso. A sudden breeze molded the cobalt blue silk of
her tunic to her body, proving indisputably that she
was armed only with those weapons nature had gifted
her. Ranma felt his arm go numb as Shan P'u's grip
tightened. Staring across the short distance as Akane
moved toward Oda, Shan P'u and Ranma shared a
single thought ----
**Mine!**