The carefree life of a child.
Ryo sat before the elder counsil a few days later, they all stared down
at her angrily. She had been thrown back into her cell, this time Torako
was with her; the tiger skin cloak had also been returned to her. Life
had been a little easier on her since that day, Talcum would come and
stare at her between the bars angrily awaiting her chance to face her in
battle every day, she would impatiently pace back and forth by the prison
waiting for the counsil to finally get around to the desision. Now, at
last, it would all be decided.
"How is it you claim to be this girl's father?" asked Cologne from her
seat at the head of the counsil. Her eyes told Ryo that she already knew
the answer, but Talcum smirked. Apparently she was unaware of Jusenkyo
and it's powers; she was seated just under Cologne's seat on the dusty
floor with Ryo; The elder's seats where all up on a raised platform
behind a large wooden table.
"Jusenkyo." replied Ryo calmly.
The elders murmured amoungst each other and Talcum looked confused. "So
you are cursed as I suspected; stummbled into the springs like a fool."
said one of the old women to Cologne's right.
"I don't call it a curse, I entered the spring of my own free will so
Torako would live." snarled Ryo at the woman's suggestion, it was a
decision she was proud to have made.
Cologne frowned and eyed Ryo. "You say you entered the spring of your
own free will, to support the life of this child? Where is the mother?"
Ryo looked unsure for the first time since the whole affair started, she
did not like the look Cologne had given her; it wasn't hateful, but it
told her the answer may have changed things. "She, died during
childbirth." said Ryo as she regained her composure.
"I see, we will return with our decision shortly." said the head elder
as the counsil withdrew from the room. Faint murmurs and whispers could
be heard throughout the crowd.
Talcum rushed forward and snarled at Ryo, "What is the meaning of this?
What is this Jusenkyo?"
"You don't know?" asked Ryo in surprise.
"How should I know of this thing, what has this to do with our fight?"
the Amazon looked angry and confused.
"Talcum, I am a man who has been cursed with a woman's body. I wasn't
born as the person you see before you, and neither was Torako." Ryo
watched the girl turn away in frustration as she stormed away, she could
see her age in her now; she looked young and wild. It worried her
slightly.
It was only a half hour before the counsil returned to the room. "We
have made a decision." said one of the women near the end of the table.
It has been decided that since Ryo has entered Jusenkyo of her own free
will; and did so for reasons deemed worthy by the counsil, not for
personal gain or status within the tribe. It has been desided that Ryo be
seen as a woman within the village and therefore be subject to the laws
as a female member of the tribe. She may not however govern over our
tribe at any time in an office of power, her vote will be counted as with
any other member of our peoples. Special consideration will be given upon
the implimentation of our marrage laws as well, a meeting between the
honorable Talcum and ourselves shall decide the actions of this counsil.
Now have I left anything out of out chairmaiden?"
Ryo stared at the woman in a sort of uncomfortable uncertainty. "What?"
"I believe that is everything my dear." said another old woman who sat
beside Cologne. "It goes against my recomendation, but congratulations
Ryo; you and your daughter seem to have beaten the odds and been allowed
membership within the Amazon tribe."
"What about Talcum?" said Ryo with a glance at the confused girl.
"That is up to her, she may wish to persue her goal and face you, but
only after her meeting with us is over. She will have time to decide on
her course of action on her own; after she knows all the facts." Cologne
stared Talcum down as she said this with a gaze that told her to be
paitient.
"No! I gave her the kiss! I must finish this!" snarled the Amazon in a
rage.
Two days later Ryo sat in a small hut with a cradle on the opposite wall
near the edge of the village. She sighed and glanced at the pot that hung
over the now cold fireplace for a moment. "It's almost too much trouble
to become male now." she frowned as she stared at the pot looking
dejected. "If I want hot water I have to make it, that kind of sucks."
She stared into the cradle and smiled as she realized that the girl would
have at least a semi normal life for a baby now. "I'll stay until your
old enough to travel again." he said to the cooing child.
A dark shadow loomed over her shoulder and Ryo turned with a frown
towards Talcum in the doorway. "Yes?" A scalding hot sensation slammed
across her face and she fell to her knees screaming as the burning shot
daggers of pain through her eyes.
"What the hell!? You You!! I'll..." stammered Ryo as he stood up and
wavered for a moment before realizing he was male again.
Talcum stood and stared at him in shock. "It can't be." she whispered.
Ryo stopped cold and glared at her before calming down visibly. "Well, I
can see they finally exsplained things to you; it's not like I didn't
try."
"I..I..." stammered Talcum as she backed out of the home.
"I am legaly a woman you know, nothing has to come of this." said Ryo
coolly.
He croutched over the crib and smiled at Torako gently, Talcum watched
him caught between shocked horror and wonder. "I didn't think you'd
be...so big." said the Amazon quietly.
Ryo smiled slightly, he was pretty large compaired to his female
counterpart, almost three times larger now in fact. The year he had spent
in the jungle fighting the tiger had made him almost massive, he looked
quite intimidating now he realized. He also noticed his scars were much
more pronounced and bold across his face and chest now. He pulled his
hair back in a ponytail and tied it back with a nearby piece of cord.
He turned to face Talcum and frowned as he looked down to find she was
standing in front of him staring up into his face angrily. She tackled
him to the floor and shoved his arms to his side. "You are my husband.
Understand?" the girl snarled as she glared into his eyes directly. She
removed the loose silk shirt from her body and threw it roughly aside
before tearing at his robes violently. Ryo looked perplexed, this was his
first sexual exspirience and he didn't know what to make of it; Then
something deep inside him stired.
He jumped up violently and slammed his fist into the ground as he forced
himself on top of Talcum. She froze instantly as he gazed at her like a
hungry animal. A low growl escaped his throat and he eyed her cautiously.
"What's happening?" she gasped, this wasn't in her plans; she wasn't too
sure she liked it just yet.
Ryo sniffed at her body gently and growled again, he sounded remarkably
like a wild animal at the moment and Talcum was becoming petrified. He
sounded just like a tiger, and the looks he was giving her told her she
was really happy or really in trouble right now.
He pawed gently at her face and snorted in confusion, she was on her
back sending him the signals, but she hadn't moved yet. Was something
wrong? He snorted again and licked her face in an attempt to arouse her.
Talcum froze and looked more confused than ever.
"What are you doing?" she wondered out loud.
He nudged her side gently while walking around her in circles on all
fours, occasionally he made a rough mewling sound and nudged a little
more forcefully.
"He's acting like..." it hit her like a ton of bricks. She glanced over
to the tiger skin he always wore and frowned. "Does he think I am an
animal?!" she thought angrily while she glared at him and scooted back
away from his tight circle.
He roughly pushed her back into the circle with his head, Talcum let out
a frightened cry as she fell forward on her stomach. This was what Ryo
had been waiting for, he jumped forward and forced her down by her
shoulders. Talcum slashed about angrily and fought for a moment before
relaxing. "I could get used to...." she gasped in passion.
A half hour later Ryo stared at the ceiling in confusion, he remembered
what happened of course; but he still wasn't sure what had caused him to
act that way. At the moment they where in bed toghether wrapped up in his
heavy cloak. Talcum rubbed against him purring softly as she forced her
lips against his own and rubbed her face across his chin. He was having a
hard time thinking at the moment, still it forced it's way into his mind.
"Maybe it's how I react to instinctual situations or something? I wasn't
sure what to do, so the tiger in me took over?"
The Amazon girl wasn't interested in thinking in the dark at the moment,
she slid up his body and bit his chin gently signaling what she wanted.
Ryo smiled, this time his reaction was more human.
A few hours later just before daybreak, Ryo was rewarded for his long
night's work as Torako started screaming. Talcum rolled over and kicked
him, "See to your child." she muttered as she wrapped the cloak around
herself tighter. Ryo groggily woke up, he walked over to the crib and
smiled.
"Thanks for waiting this long kid, I think I needed a night off. Let's
see now, dirty, hungry, or both? What luck both, gotta find some damn
water if you want to eat kid."
Three years came and went peacefully, Torako grew strong and fast, each
day she grew into a healthier child. Talcum however was a different
story, her health was deteriorating at an alarming rate. Ryo knew it
would not be long and that's what made it worse, he had found out that
she was unable to bear children the day after their first night. No one
was sure why, but now it was dangerously clear, she had cancer. Ryo
spent most of the last few nights at her bedside clinging to her hand
desperately clinging to each moment and waiting for the moment to come.
The night it happened was almost too perfect for the tradgedy, it was
late summer and the village was having a festival. Torako was out with
Shampoo and her mother waiting for the fireworks with her friends mother
watching them.
"Ryo, go out and watch the damn fireworks with your daughter." said
Talcum as she lay on the bed in their home. She was thin and frail now, a
shadow of her former self.
"I can't do that, you know better." said Ryo as he clutched her hand a
little tighter.
"Fool, you'll regret that one day." said the woman with a smile that
faded quickly.
"I doubt it." said Ryo quietly.
"You always where a stuborn husband, I hate you." said Talcum with a
small laugh.
"Yea, I know, but at least ko-neko is enjoying herself, I'd rather be
miserable here with you." said Ryo as he gazed into her eyes again. They
still shone with her life, they reminded him of who she really was.
"My beautiful tiger." said Talcum as she lifted her hand to caress his
face. "Even your eyes look like tiger's eyes, golden and beautiful. Most
who see them only get death; I found love."
"When did my eyes turn this color?" he wondered to himself, they hadn't
always been the way they where. He imagined it was in the jungle during
the long months with the beast; Torako's where that way naturally, but
his eyes had changed.
Talcum smiled wider, "I knew this day would come, you will leave the
village won't you?"
Ryo gazed at her, he wanted to say "Don't talk like that!" or "You'll
always be here." but that would be something that wasn't true, he knew it
deep in his heart. He faced her and gazed into her eyes. "I will leave
this village after you are gone, but I will carry you in my heart always
my love. I swear I won't ever forget."
"I just wanted to hear that one last time my love..." said Talcum.
A look of worry crossed Ryo's face as he leaned forward, he stared at
her laughing eyes as she looked at him with total adoration and realized
the flame was gone, She was gone.
Ryo hung his head and wept silently.
"Are you certain of this course?" said Cologne as she watched Ryo lift
his cloak over his shoulders and face away from the village with Torako's
hand in his own.
"Yes, I promisied myself I would leave once Torako was old enough, with
Talcum gone...there is nothing to hold me." his face hardened as he said
these words. "Goodbye honored elder, I will never forget what I have
learned from you or this place."
"I hope you will return to see us from time to time." said one of the
other elders. "We will be most interested in young Torako's training."
"Of course, I will let you know how she is progressing and how we both
are doing." said Ryo with a smile.
"If things do not fair well for you in the outside world..." said
Cologne with a deep frown.
"We won't hesitate to return should the need arise Cologne, I swear it."
said Ryo as he started off away from the village.
"Pop, where goin?" asked Torako with a smile.
"Just a little trip, it'll be and adventure! OK?" replied Ryo as he
lifted the child up into his arms.
"Ok." replied Torako cheerfully.
Ryo smiled as she walked into the small home, it was very exspencive to
buy real estate in Japan, but Ryo had recieved a large sum of money from
the village when she left. That along with various precious stones and
jewlery she had managed to sell she ended up with a surprising amount of
money. The home was in Nerima and she enjoyed the life thus far, it was
near to a few important area's for later in her life. She smiled as she
filled a kettle with water and placed it on the stove. Toranko was seven
now and she was a beautiful and spirited child. Ryo was making a meager
but comfortable living as a teacher in a nearby highschool known as, what
else? Furinkan high. He had easily passed several of the countries exams
and earned passage into a college as an English major with a Phys. Ed.
minor. He scored very well on the English and Japanese portions of the
test. He had just finished his internship at Furinkan and was now taking
up the position of English teacher.
He had kept up the pretext of a happy household for some time using his
curse. A working mother and father, and one happy child, even though
there where only two people living in the home. His college days where
happy ones, that was where he met two of the best men he would ever know.
Even though he was quite familiar with the both of them, Soun Tendo and
Genma Saotome. Neither of them where in school at the time and he had
only met them when he started college, immediately after they had rid
themselves of the evil demon Happosai.
Soun lived right down the street from him in a large home with his wife
and three children. Genma he met through his collegate job working at a
Yakatori place, he had helped him escape and gone out for a few drinks
with him. Eventually he found himself sparing with the man and going off
on rediculous crusades within the city whenever he returned to the area.
One such adventure, to find the best nudie club in Tokyo, is a fine
example of such feats. Neither was aware that he knew the other and
Soun's daughters where all good friends with Torako.
It was an odd arrangement really, often when Ryo was off with Genma he
would have Soun's wife watch them under the pretext of going out with his
wife. Kimikio was also an aquaintence of 'Talcum' Ryo's wife, even though
they didn't hang around together Ryo would often watch Akane, Nabiki, and
Kasumi. While their parents 'played' so to speak.
Ryo slyly kept this going for years, he would often visit Soun for a
game of Shogi, and then go out with a few beers with Genma.
Around the time Torako was Ten, it was around 1979, Ryo had another
interesting exspirience. He ran into a small boy who was in tears in the
street, the boy seemed strangely familiar to him and Ryo stopped. "What's
wrong kid?" he asked the boy.
The boy looked up at him. "Nothin." he grumbled. "I wasn't cryin."
"Don't lie to your elders kid, it ain't nice." said Ryo in annoyance.
"What ever." grummbled the boy.
A small red-headed ball of lightening shot from the home and tackled the
boy in the street playfully. "You smell like pork." said Torako as she
sniffed at the air around the terrified boy's head.
"What do you think your doing Ko-neko, you can't just tackle people in
the street that way." said Ryo as he grabbed her by her shirt and put her
down.
"Sorry pop, but he does." said the little girl, she grinned at the other
child showing off a pair of fanged teeth and a missing front tooth.
"What was that?!" screamed the boy in shock.
"Sorry, this is my daughter Torako. Don't worry she doesn't bite." said
Ryo with a laugh.
"I do to!" said Torako as she bowed at the boy politely. "I'm a vicious
animal."
"I'm Ryoga Hibiki, please ta meet ya." said the boy akwardly as he
returned the bow.
"You move around like that stupid Ranma." snorted Ryoga casually; It was
painfully obvious he wasn't used to dealing with other people.
"Well, Ryoga, it sounds like you've got yourself a bully. Maybe I can
help a little, have you ever tried to...confront this person?" asked Ryo
even though he knew the answer.
"Yea lots! But he moves around to much and he can jump really high! I
can do martial arts, but he's too fast!" said Ryoga as he punched at the
air.
"What would you say if I could make you stronger? Real strong?" said Ryo
as he gazed into the boy's eyes. He knew he probably shouldn't be doing
this, but he figured he was already disrupting things the way they are
now.
"Really?" asked Ryoga looking sceptical.
"Really." said Ryo with a smile.
"Pop, you gonna train him?" asked Torako.
"Why not? I think he's got what it takes to be a great martial artist."
said Ryo with an evil grin.
"Good does that I get to beat up the smelly pig boy?" asked Torako.
Ryo smiled at the irony of her words. "No Torako, I don't want you
fighting other people for no reason."
"I had pork buns for lunch and I don't stink!" cried Ryoga angrily.
Akane Tendo smiled as her best friend rolled through the grass and bat
at a small white butterfly. She watched intently as the young red head
watched the insect land and reared back wagging her behind in the air as
she prepaired to pounce on the happless creature. Torako looked confused
as she missed.
"Tora-chan your so weird." muttered eleven year old Nabiki Tendo.
"I think it's adorable Nabiki." said Kasumi cheerfully as she emerged
from the kitchen.
"I'm not cute though, I'm vicious!" exclaimed Torako as she pounched on
Akane and iniciated a light hearted wrestling match. Akane met her charge
and the two girls tumbled through the grass laughing together.
"You know she would have loved a day like this." said Soun wistfully. It
had been almost two and a half years since his wife passed, he did not
take it well.
Ryo had a hard time of it as well, but for his own reasons; It was
remarkably similar to his own exspirience. He had to control himself more
than once during the funeral service.
"Ko-neko, go play in the dojo if your going to do that! Your getting
dirty!" called Ryo as he watched the girls play.
"Ok pop!" squeeled the girl as she popped her head out of a tall patch
of grass opposite of Akane, who was searching for her at the time.
"How do you do that?" cried Akane in frustration.
"They are good together." laughed Soun as he relaxed on the porch and
placed another Shogi piece on the board. Ryo quickly shifted a few peices
around while the man wasn't looking.
"Yes they are, I like to think they'll be that way forever." said Ryo as
he gazed out into the sky, Soun took the opportunity to switch a few
peices in his favor.
"Well, they do grow up rather quickly." said Soun with a sagely nod.
Idily Ryo wondered if he would be here now if Talcum had not died. "I
doubt it." he muttered under his breath.
"Pardon?" asked Soun looking surprised.
"Huh? Oh, just thinking out loud; I appriciate you watching her tonight,
I'm getting together with an old friend." said Ryo calmly as he placed
another piece.
"It's no problem really." said Soun.
Three tiny screams erupted from the dojo and both men stood up with
worried looks on their faces; suddenly, a small grey creature bolted
across the yard with Torako in hot persuit.
Ryo jumped to his feet "Ko-neko! No! Leave that rat alone! You can get
sick!" he cried as he chased the little girl across the yard.
"Some times I wonder about that girl." muttered Soun.
Genma sat on a barstool next to his old friend and beamed proudly as he
told Ryo about his son. "My Ranma is turning out to be a real man."
"Where is he anyway?" asked Ryo absently. "Lately you've been dragging
him around with you."
"Oh, he's staying with this guy I know, his kid is a friend of his so I
figure he can watch him for a little." said Genma waving his hand and
dismissing the matter.
"What's the guy's name?" asked Ryo absently, looking to make
conversation more than anything else.
"Huh? Konji, why?"
"Just curious Genma-kun."
"So how ya been Kagome?" Genma downed half a beer after his question
and nodded to the bartender for another.
"Pretty good, I've got to get ready for mid-terms at school, and Torako
is doing well in her studies, I can't complain much really." Ryo took a
good portion of his beer as well. "Where ya want to go tonight?"
"Where else?" said Genma with a snort.
"Nudie bar?" Ryo smirked and finished his drink.
"Nudie bar." agreed Genma as he raised his glass.
Several hours later Genma emerged from a well lit building with a neon
sign sporting two moving female legs; Ryo followed closely behind him,
both men where resonably drunk, but not totally plastered. Ryo was a
little more sober than Genma who promply sat himself on a park bench as
soon as they came across one on the way home.
"Look Kagome-kun, I don't mean to pry, but have you considered a husband
for your daughter? I here she's turning in to a pretty good lookin girl."
said Genma as he leaned on his friend.
Ryo looked at him in confusion as he realized that sooner or later, he
would indeed have to deal with it; She wouldn't stay a little girl
forever. He frowned slightly and looked at Genma, "Not to Ranma though."
he thought to himself.
"Look I ain't sayin you gotta decide right now, but you can't just not
provide for em, see?" slurred Genma as he leaned back from a spell of
dizzyness.
"My daughter is not marrying Ranma, he's already engaged remember?" said
Ryo getting a bit annoyed.
"I know that, but I'm serious here, I'm worried about you pal. You got
married in China right? She might have a hard time finding a handsome,
available, and rich guy." Genma snorted crudely and leaned forward.
"Don't worry Genma-kun, my daughter won't ever have trouble attracting
men." said Ryo calmly as he helped his friend up. "Tell me where your
stayin."
"You can't count on that m'boy! Getter ingaged now!" yelled Genma as he
grabbed his friends shirt.
"I promise I'll look into it Genma." he said to appease his friend.
"Just not until I think it's time." he thought inwardly.
Akane lay curled up in her room while her friend slept beside her curled
up in a little ball on the mat laid out for her.
"Tora-chan?" asked the little girl quietly.
"Sup Akane-chan?" asked the unmoving form on the floor.
"Do you believe in monsters?" said the little girl.
"Daddy says when I take a bath I'm a monster cause I'm so scary." said
Torako as she stretched out on the mat and clawed her hands out. "Why?"
"No silly, like monsters that live in the closet." said Akane quietly.
"They come out and eat little girls in the middle of the night."
"Like Nabiki said?" asked the girls friend as she lazily rolled onto her
side.
"Un," said Akane as she nodded her head.
"No, I'm up most of the night so I don't think so." said Torako quietly.
"Why are you up all night?" asked Akane in confusion.
"I don't sleep like normal people." said Torako during a long yawn. "I
take lots of little naps all day. Daddy says it's cause I'm noctournal."
"Oh...that's weird." said Akane.
"Really?" asked Akane's friend as she sat up and looked out the window.
"Yea, most people sleep all night." said Akane with a shrug.
"Don't call me weird Akane-chan it isn't nice." said Torako in a
pleading voice.
Akane turned towards her friend and saw two glowing yellow eyes staring
back at her.
The entire Tendo house hold was woken up by a bloodcurdling scream.
Soun frowned at the two girls as Akane gave Torako nervous glances.
"Akane, Torako is your best friend and not a monster." he said again.
"I know that but..." said Akane as she glared at her friend nervously.
"I told you already Akane, my eyes do that cause they're gold, I can see
real good in the dark cause of it. That's what pops told me!" Torako
looked pretty upset by the whole mess and Akane would take a few more
hours to calm down.
"It is kind of cool Akane you have to admit." said Nabiki with a smirk.
She was enjoying this quite a bit, it was all her handy work to begin
with.
"I suppose." said Akane.
"Stop being stubborn Akane-chan, or I'll have to eat you." said Torako
with a completely serious look.
"Yea!? Well you'll have to beat me up first!" cried Akane with a smirk.
"Anytime!" growled Torako as she charged after Akane towards the bus
stop.
"Those two, I was hoping that it would last longer." grumbled Nabiki
bitterly.
"You know they never stay mad at each other for long, besides I think
it's sweet. Come on or we'll be late Nabiki." Kasumi grabbed her sister's
hand and drug her out the door.
"Geeze Kasumi, Is anything those two do not cute?"
Soun sighed as he finally had peace. "Looks like you had a rough night."
said Ryo as he peeked into the livingroom.
"Yes, well, you know how these things go, Akane thought Torako was a
monster for most of last night because her eyes glow." said Soun looking
exhausted.
"Well, I can see they got over it at least." replied Ryo.
"Sit down have some tea or something." said Soun politely.
"Sorry, I've got to get to work; Mid-terms and all, you know how it is.
I just stopped by to see how things went last night." said Ryo with an
appologetic smile.
"Other than the one incident everything was fine, she's an angel of a
girl." said Soun with a small smile.
"I'll let you get some rest, and then I'll come back and get you back
for yesterday's shogi match." said Ryo with an evil smile.
"See you later my friend." said Soun as he stood and made his way up to
his room for a little nap.
Ryo happily moved down the side walk and casually strolled towards the
gates of Furinkan. He casually waved to a few aquaintances, mostly women
who gave his other form jealous glares when she walked by.
He passed by a familiar clinic and frowned as the young physican stood
outside and greeted him.
"Morning Tofu." said Ryo as he passed by.
"Morning, I got a message from you the other day, your daughter seems
fine as far as the blood test go. I don't know why you would worry about
her health enough to get all this done." said the doctor quietly.
"I not only have to worry about the diseases of a human, but also of an
exotic animal and your wondering why I'm worried?" said Ryo calmly, "She
means the world to me Doctor."
"Well, there is no need for consern, it was just a little of the flu,
she just got it a little worse than usual, it's all over." said Tofu with
a smile.
"That's a relief." said Ryo as he smiled and pat the young Doctor on the
back.
"The girls stopped by on the way to school today, they said to tell you
hello if I saw you." said Tofu as Ryo walked off.
"Thanks, I'll tell them you told me!" replied Ryo as he sprinted away.
TBC...
The story turns more Towards Torako as it goes on from here, mostly
because the parents take a back seat as the manga period stories start.
Next: The students start at Furinkan, Nabiki and Kuno enroll in Furinkan,
while Torako and Akane remain friends through the years.
As for why Genma isn't seeing Soun while he's in town? Simple, Ryo is
going to him. He's in Tokyo, not Nerima, even though they are pretty
close, it's still a pretty good distance for a widower and father of
three to travel on a whim. Ryo can pretty much leave Torako alone,
especially since she is so cat like and independant, staying with Soun is
just a convinent way to let her spend time with the three girls.
If it sounds like dumping her off? Well, Ryo would watch the girls for
Soun if he ever asked, and he did while his wife was still alive on quite
a few occasions.
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