Hey-Hoo!!
I have decided to repost what I have written so far for Project Rift
Asunder...
FYI, things are VERY slow going, mostly because I don't know if people are
reading this or not! So send something to be, good OR bad, I don't care!
^_^;;
**********
Knight_Hawke
E-mail: knight_hawke22@yahoo.com
ICQ UIN: 9124852
'Live Life, Don't Let Life Live You.' - Words to Live By
'If Violence is not solving your problems...
You're just not using enough of it.'
-- Misato Kitsuragi, NGE
'No Excuses, No Mercy, No Remorse, No Regrets.' - Words to ponder
'If you dont' STAND for SOMETHING...
You'll FALL for ANYTHING.'
-No idea where I found this, but it sounds good! ^_^
**********
Begin Prologue!
**********
In the beginning, there was chaos�
�Never-ending, Unrelenting chaos�
Born from that chaos�
From the greatest power ever known to only an elite few�
The Event.
The source of all power known�
Born from the event, the greatest elemental Gods ever�
The greatest Creators, and the greatest Destroyers�
The Four Draken Elements�
Born from the dragons, the gods themselves.
In times untold, there was only one dimension�
>From the one, spawned infinite others�
Infinitely more Gods�
Both Benevolent of the greatest order and Malevolent of the worst�
Both seek the power of the Event, through the Draken themselves�
But the Draken have their own minds, their own motives�
Their own feelings�
To protect and safeguard the power: They have created the greatest Fighting
Art and Power and introduced it to the Gods� creation�
The Draken have chosen the best representatives of themselves among Man and
Woman�
For countless millennia the Chosen have protected the Power, used it in both
creation and in destruction�
Now it is time for the new generation to join in the Cycle�
This is their story�
Chapter One:
**********
Flipping over another body of a bug-like humanoid creature and wincing at
the extreme wounds it took before dying, �My My�What could have caused all
this?� A man asked himself.
Standing tall, the man, dressed in slightly tattered black and brown robes,
his ears perked a bit upon hearing a muffled sniff somewhere in the
distance, �Sounds almost like a�child�� The man, in a swift move,
unholstered an almost plain looking metal rod. With a push of a button, a
simmering green glowing bar emerged, extending for nearly a meter.
Eyes flitting over the devastation, �No child could have caused this�� He
mumbled to himself but trailed off when he felt an eruption in the powers
beyond. The Force he called it, but it felt to be so much more than just
that alone.
Clutching the �saber in both hands, the man slowly trudged over every one
of the dead and vivisected bodies, all of them inhuman in origin.
Nearing an overturned All Terrain Vehicle, the man heard �Shhh�It�ll be
okay�� Sounded like a young man, but he also heard a pair of other sniffles,
both younger and definitely female.
Staying right where he is, �Come out children!� The man called out, his
eyes and senses stretching out around him, �I will not harm you.�
�You�re lying!!� The young man snapped back from somewhere, �You�re gonna
take us back to the camps!!�
Bristling slightly under that accusation, but can also understand the boy�s
frame of mind, �I can assure you, I will not be taking you back to�Them.�
The man began, �All I wish is to find any survivors and see what I can do to
help!�
The man�s attention snapped to the rear of the vehicle when a white
glowing, translucent blade poked into view, �A Psi-Sword? At such a young
age?� The man thought with much incredulity.
The boy, shirtless, with only tatters for pants and covered with whip marks
about his torso, brandished the blade in front of him with a simmering rage
and clearly without much experience in handling such a weapon.
The man had to keep his face entirely neutral as the wave of sheer power
wash over him, and it was not from the Ley Line Storm brewing nearby, but
from the boy in front of him.
Holding his one free hand up in a peace gesture and then extinguishing his
own sword and placing it onto the ground some distance away from him, �I
mean you no harm, boy.�
Not wavering an inch, the boy�s sizzling stare never let up.
Attempting to put on, he hoped, a soothing smile and look on his face, �My
name�s Ji-Quan Yii.� He began, �I only wish to help.� Hearing a pained moan,
female, �Someone obviously needs to be cared for before they get dreadfully
sick.�
That cracked the mask the boy put up, �Kiwi�� The boy blinked, allowing a
tear to fall, �She�s hurt��
�May I make the attempt to heal her? Make her better?�
The boy reluctantly nodded, his Psi-Sword disappearing into a shower of
sparkling light as he let go of it, he then waved to the older man and
pointed behind the ATV, �She and her sister are back here.�
Nodding as he picked up and then holstered his saber, Ji-Quan nearly wanted
to cry at the mess the girl was in. A Near Human, the only things different
on her are just cat ears, tail and an odd deep-green hair color.
She is holding her stomach and thigh, valiantly trying to be brave and not
cry out in sheer pain.
An animalistic growl emanated from the nearby brush, clearly warning him of
possible consequences.
Ji-Quan tried to ignore what ever it was that growled like that as he
placed his hand onto the girl�s head. Her breathing almost instantly became
better and easier as pain seemed to wash away from her face.
Digging out a small kit from the depths of his robes and then setting it
onto the ground after opening it, Ji-Quan gently pried the girl�s hand away
from her leg, �This may hurt a little bit, but you�ll feel better
afterwards.� He stated and with the kit he began cleaning and dressing her
wounds.
After dressing the wound on her leg, he nearly grimaced at the type of
wound it was, �It was almost like someone inflicted it just to see her in
pain and bleed�� He thought to himself, but he nearly lost control of his
own stomach when he saw what lain underneath the girl�s other hand.
�She�s VERY lucky�� He thought grimly, but glanced at the boy who is
standing stoically and vigilantly over Kiwi, ��Or maybe not.� But the
profusely bleeding wound needed far more than what mundane medicine can
provide, no matter how advanced it is.
Pulling his hands back, he held up one hand flat and it flared a slight,
green aura about it. Glancing at the boy, who is looking quite stunned, �She
needs something far more than the kit can give.� The man said softly. Seeing
the boy�s slow nod, Ji-Quan placed his powered hand upon the girl�s abdomen.
Whatever pain she was feeling quickly faded as she opened her eyes.
As soon as her reddish-green orbs fell upon Ji-Quan�s tired looking face,
she let out a shriek of sheer fright.
Scrambling up to her and enclosing his arms around her, �It�s okay, Kiwi!�
The boy said, glancing over to the older man with a small and relieved
smile, �He�s a friend.�
With a tired sigh, Kiwi rested her head against the boy�s shoulder, her
hands loosely clenching his arm around her own.
Looking about, �You can come out Shi-Shi!� The boy called out.
With a rustle of underbrush, a feral looking, light violet haired, younger
girl padded out on all fours. With her ears still laying flat against her
head, the younger girl growled like a cat much larger than herself.
Waving the smaller cat-girl down, �Easy, Shi-Shi.� The boy said soothingly,
�He�s a friend�� The boy cracked a smile when he felt the girl in his arms
fall asleep, �He saved your sister.�
Cocking her head to the side, Shi-Shi mewed, leapt at the boy and clutched
at his torso as if he were a life preserver. A moment later, she began
crying quietly.
Settling himself onto the scorched earth, Ji-Quan brushed his snarled light
brown hair back, �Well, boy�� He began with a tired sigh, �You have done
something worthy of a true warrior.�
Wrapping his other arm around the other girl, �Warrior?� The boy blinked.
Nodding, �Yes, a warrior�� The older man shook his head slowly, �I cannot
call you �boy� forever.� He chuckled to himself, �What is your name?�
The boy�s face took on a harsh visage, �Terry�Just Terry.� The look on his
face told Ji-Quan a good portion, but still left questions.
�You know how old you are, Terry?�
Looking at him crossly, ��Course I do!� Terry squeaked, showing clearly
that he is just entering puberty, �Last time I checked, I am thirteen!�
Gesturing to the girls clutching at him, �What about them? How old are
they?� Ji-Quan asked.
Visibly relaxing, �Kiwi�s eleven.� Terry said, then rubbed at Shi-Na�s
back, eliciting a purr from her, �Shi-Shi�s eight I think�� He trailed off
when his eyes crossed while thinking too hard.
Chuckling at his face, then turning deadly serious, �But one thing bother�s
me: What happened to you to be in a Splugorth Slave Camp?� Ji-Quan asked
warily and as smoothly as he could.
Nearly snarling, �I don�t want to talk about it.� Terry growled, giving
Kiwi a squeeze.
Bringing out his saber and then rolling it in his hands, �Then I suppose
that you do not want to be trained in the ways I am then.� Ji-Quan smiled
slyly.
Narrowing his eyes, �That would be?� Terry said slowly.
Smiling again, this time warmly, �You�re a bright boy!� The older man
quipped, �The way that I am a master of is called �The Way of the Jedi.��
Gaping at him, �Jedi? They are nothing but a myth, like the Cyber-Knights
that are suppose to come to the rescue�� Terry trailed off when the man
began laughing, �What�s so funny?�
Coughing down the laughter, �The Jedi and the Cyber-Knights are not myth, I
can assure you of that myself, since I have met Lord Coek of the Knights
myself at one time.� Seeing that he got Terry�s interest piqued, �In order
to protect these two�� He gestured to the two girls that are holding onto
the boy, �In order to harness this power that you have within you, you need
to be trained.� He said softly.
Nodding slowly, ��And all you want to know is how I came to the Camps?�
Terry asked warily.
Silently, Ji-Quan Yii just nodded his ascension.
To him, the boy seemed to wrestle with his inner turmoil for many a moment,
�My Mother�� Terry choked out, �After my father, James, died somehow, she
sold me off to fatten her purse that made up the Roanoke fortune.� He grated
out harshly as he hid his eyes from the light.
�She only had me to keep him within arm�s reach�� The emotionally scarred
boy spat.
At hearing Ji-Quan�s sharp intake of breath, he continued on, �She told me
herself.� Terry snarled, �She told me every bloody day that she couldn�t
care less about me, that she is just only showing that she cared when Dad
was around.� With a sigh, a few tears trickled down his chin, �Dad wouldn�t
listen to me�And when he got on inkling of what she is doing, she KILLED
him, I know she did, but I cannot prove it.
�She made it look like some freak accident in one of the plantation
factories.� Terry looked up as he wiped his eyes, �Oh yeah�She sold them
too, not even a day after he was buried�� He took a shuddering breath and
stopped speaking when he rested his cheek against Kiwi�s head and promptly
fell asleep.
Ruffling his robes and cloak, �Such a rough beginning�� Ji-Quan thought as
he made himself comfortable against the rubble of the ATV.
He gazed long and hard at the trio snuggling together, seeing the palpable
power rippling off the young man, �I sense much potential in you�� He
thought, then looked at the girls, ��They can give you much reason to
protect the innocent�And to have a better life ahead��
With that in mind, Ji-Quan Yii fell asleep.
**********
Begin Part One!
**********
�How can I repay you, Sensei? For bringing me back from the RAGE�The Rite��
�That I do not know, my son�� An aged man sighed, patting the dejected
Terry on the back while the both of them sat on the wooden porch of the
Dojo.
Sensei began to ponder on the question his student proposed of him, but his
thoughts slowed when he heard him choke back a sob.
�I miss her so much�� Tears trickled down Terry�s face as he shuddered to
hold his rampant emotions inward. He nearly broke completely when he felt
the hand of Sensei slowly grasp his shoulder, �I never knew how much I loved
her�Until�Until�� He trailed off, shaking his head slowly in denial of his
loss.
�You just need time.� Sensei began, �Time away from this place�� He waved
his hands to the mountainside that makes his home, �Time away from the
Rifts�� Both his hands clenched the younger man�s shoulders, �Time to train
in the art that you have been Chosen. Time to find yourself again�To
remember the good times you had with her, the accomplishments you both have
made�� The old, grayed man cracked a smile in seeing the dawn of recognition
of hope being born in Terry�s eyes.
Shaking him slightly in a tighter grip, �Do not dwell on the Past, Remember
it! Live in the Present and Forge a new Future for yourself�� �And to those
that can reside in your heart later in Life.� Sensei thought to himself, not
having the heart to say it himself, despite his many millennia of experience
over Terry.
Looking back down from his new Master�s face to his hands. He clenched then
into tight fists while he screwed his eyes shut. Never before in his life,
even after his liberation from the Slave Camps, did he ever feel so
powerless and helpless.
He closed his eyes to the onrush of memories.
Memories of his wife, Kiwi, being pawed all over her beautiful body.
Her clothes being ripped off forcibly for all the world to see.
But they didn�t care, they molested and raped her, right in front of him.
When they just finished pummeling her loins�
Her crying for him, to help her�then the blaster fire, taking her head and
life away�
Terry can remember clawing at the ground where they held him, the image of
Kiwi�s beaten, broken and headless body burned into his eyes and psyche. All
on the grounds of the home they have built in the few years they have been
married. His own cries of anguish falling upon deaf ears. The mocking, far
worse than the downtown beatings they gave him.
The ones in heavy powered armor, since it proved ineffective that the
standard grunts, no matter how strong, could faze him�
Then they held him down again, beating the living daylights out of him
after they gave Kiwi Final and Everlasting Peace�
But Nanaki�His little girl�His ONLY little girl�Barely four years old�And
so full of energy and spirit�
Their little miracle child�
Born from the love and the years of trying�
He ignored the beating after that, watching in muted horror of the most
adorable child he ever knew, being beaten with such a ferocity, it made him
remember how cruel and malicious human beings can be�
Terry knew he could heal her physical wounds easily, despite his struggles
to get to her�To make her hurting stop�
But they did something similar before he could get the chance�
There was nothing left but a bloody, blackened smear on the ground when the
Lieutenant leveled his plasma cannon at her and pulled the trigger�
Laughing at his pain�His loss�He couldn�t barely remember anything after
that�
Shaking his head again, Terry cried, no amount of comfort from anyone could
massage the pain away from his being. Burying his face into his hands, his
frame became more racked with sobs and choking coughs�
Seeing Terry stumble off onto the dusty training grounds, Sensei did not
follow, �He needs to get it out before it tears him apart from the inside
out.� He thought to himself sadly as he folded his hands in his lap.
Even Sensei knew the virtue of Patience.
**********
Seeing that the explosions have stopped in the quarry, a few hundred yards
south of the Village, Sensei walked slowly, taking his time, to the stone
pit. Knowing full well that this is one thing that cannot be rushed.
Toeing the edge into the pit, he fingered the stone that he enchanted
earlier. A lovely, pure blue sapphire, with hints of marble white veins
rippling through it. Destiny, he called it. �The future of one of the
greatest powers known to Gods and Man alike�� He thought, ��And the key to
begin the healing of a broken man.�
Sliding down the pebbled wall with ease, he spotted Terry just a short
distance away, crushing melon-sized rocks with ease in his hands, and
laughing madly, �Tis not the Beginning of the End�� Sensei began calling
out, getting the despondent man�s attention, ��But merely the End of the
Beginning !� He finished, tossing the gemstone to him when he got onto his
haunches.
Catching the stone with ease, Terry glared at Sensei, not even bothering to
look at the stone, �What?� He broke into another fit of giggles.
He didn�t even see Sensei fly at him with a speed that FAR belied his age
and spin kicked him onto the back of his head, �Look at yourself!� Sensei
barked, �You are falling apart at the seams!�
Shaking the cotton out of his head as he got up and out of a gravel mound,
�So what?� Terry roared back, �What good is this power NOW if I cannot
protect the most basic of things in MY life!� He didn�t bother wiping the
tears running down his dust covered face when he pounded the mound with
incredible force, shaking boulders from their perches in the quarry walls,
�Add to the most INSULTING fact is that this POWER came to me AFTER the
FACT!� He growled through his teeth, not seeing the massive hail-maker
coming at his face that sent him flying into the stony wall, imbedding him
far into it.
Absently dusting the sleeve of his Gi off as he stepped up to Terry, �You
are the Chosen of Fire! The power would have come to you eventually as you
trained!� Sensei snapped into the younger man�s face, then grabbing his hand
that still held the Destiny Stone, �You now have a new mission in life!�
Blinking his eyes, �What�s the point?� Terry groaned, �I have nothing to
live for now�� His moaning stopped when Sensei�s fist exploded a portion of
the wall.
�Even protecting another Chosen�s LIFE?�
�What?�
Pulling his fist slowly away from the destroyed portion of the wall next to
Terry�s head, �I have discovered the whereabouts to the Chosen of Wind.�
Sensei stated, �And a way that you can repay your debt of honor to me.�
Terry glanced at his fist holding the stone and looked back at Sensei�s
face, which nodded, �Yes, your mission is to get the Chosen here to the
Dojo. The first will be Wind, the next�� Sensei just shrugged as he let go
of the younger man�s fist, complete with a light grin on his face.
�But first�� Sensei pulled Terry out of his impression, �You have to pull
yourself together. Live for the sake of just Living.� Patting out the dust
in Terry�s shirt, �You wouldn�t want to disappoint *HER* by not being able
to join her in heaven if you suicide, no?� He asked.
Gaping at him, �Sensei?� Terry squawked, �How did he know? I have been here
in years�� He blinked and began shaking his head slowly as it bowed,
chuckling half-heartedly, �I still do not know how you do that, Sensei�� He
trailed off when the support from the older man suddenly left.
Looking back to the younger man, stopping in his walk away, �I wouldn�t be
your Master if I didn�t have something over you, didn�t I?� Sensei quipped
back, �You feeling better?�
Seeing the man nod slowly, but quickly getting more sure, �Good!� The aged
man clapped the other heartily on the back, �You have something else that
you must do before you go to find the Chosen of Wind.�
Clapping off his hands and absently wiping his face, ��And that would be,
Sensei?� Terry asked tiredly.
�Training! Lots and Lots of Training!�
**********
Stepping out of the crackling tear in Space/Time itself, a tall man,
wearing a loose-fitting, long, leather trench-coat and a �ten-gallon� hat.
Looking around the vacant lot that he stepped into, �Sensei told me that I
should find a Chosen near here�� The man trailed off to the sounds of a
small child screaming�
Snapping his head around to where he heard it, �Shin-chan, there�s going to
be a bit of a delay in setting up in this universe.� The man projected his
thought to a star faring vessel high above.
�I heard, we can miss a day or three.� She replied in the same manner.
�Please, Daddy!! Don�t throw me back in there!!� The child wailed between
choking sobs.
�Stop your whining, Ranma! Take it like a man and LEARN the Neko-Ken!!� A
man roared back.
Now closer to hear things better, �The Fu�� The man started.
�Please�.NO!!� Then the crying suddenly became muffled after the wooden
bang of a door being slammed shut.
The man could hear the crying of the child plainly, the same child banging
on the wooden door�
�I will�NOT�STAND�BY�FOR THIS!!� The man thought, reaching into an inside
pocket of his trench as he stomped toward the sound. Feeling the coolness of
the metal of some sort of rod, he clenched it and pulled out.
He could still hear the child screaming ringing in his ears�Nearly relative
to his own when he was much younger; when he was sold to the Slave Markets.
Biting down the RAGE, the man marched into another vacant lot, though much
more under cover than the last he was in. He spied a man squatting on a
wooden plank, that man turned to him, sparing him only a glance.
The Trench wearing man walked over to the plank and calmly lifted the board
and the fat man along with it.
�HEY! What are you doing interrupting a SERIOUS training session!� The fan
man barked loudly.
The trench wearer stayed silent and still except to hold up the ornate rod
he took out earlier, then push a button on it; Igniting a meter plus long
bar of hissing and thrumming red energy.
The fat man scrambled away and pressed himself against the wall before the
�blade� vivisected him as it hissed by his last position, the plank. The
board fell into several pieces, all of them smoking at the ends, �Back off.�
The man hissed, then PULLED the entire wooden assembly off of the ground,
treating it so roughly, it fell apart at the joints.
The fat man watched warily as the other man jumped into the pit, still with
that �blade.� The yowls of a hundred cats filled the air as they clawed
franticly out of the shallow pit and then running off to fill their long
neglected stomachs.
But the deep, animalistic snarl. That in itself, nearly set the man running
for the hills.
Gathering whatever will he could muster, the fat man toed over to the pit
and was just about to look within it when the other man leapt out of the pit
so fast, he didn�t see the kick coming at his jaw, knocking him out cold.
Watching the fat man hit the dirt in a large cloud of dust, the Trench
wearing man cradled the small child in his arms, letting him cry out in pain
and anguish.
With a loud snort and hack, the man spat on the face of the unconscious fat
man, �If you only knew what you could have done, you simpleton.� The man
growled. Patting the child on the head, slowing the sobs considerably,
�There, there�The bad man is not going to have you again.� He whispered into
the child�s ear, �Uncle Terry�s not going to let him.�
Hearing the crying slow to a stop, Terry loosened his grip enough to get a
good look at the, now sleeping, child, �Good god�� He whispered to himself,
seeing all the damage that has been done to the child, lots of it,
especially around the face, but not too near the eyes. Everything, all full
of deep scratches and in some, gouges�
He didn�t need anymore prompting to head off to the nearest hospital.
**********
�You brought him to us in the nick of time. He�s lost a lot of blood.�
�Is he going to be okay, doctor?�
Flipping of papers, then a sigh, �Yes, he will be if given time to heal
properly.�
Nodding, �Good. Is he alright enough to visit?�
Smiling, �Seeing the man that brought him in and then terrified the nursing
staff half to death�� The both of them laughed ruefully, ��OH YES!� The
doctor laughed, then opened the door behind him, �Go right on in.� He said
to the man, then turned to the room�s sole occupant, �Ranma�The man who
saved you is here to see you.� He finished softly, then bowed out.
Padding over to the bed, taking off his wide hat and setting it on the
table nearby, �Hello, Ranma.� Terry said in a deep, rumbling whisper.
The child didn�t answer, but his eyes turned over to him as they opened. He
opened his mouth to speak, but found that he couldn�t.
Patting him on the head and finishing with a slight nudge to the cheek, �No
need to say anything�� Terry began, but trailed off when he felt a surge of
power emanate from the child.
Looking back up to the eyes, he watched them change from a deep cobalt blue
to a light sky-blue with wisps of white. �Don�t need any further proof of a
Chosen than that�� He thought to himself, thinking of back when his own
hazel eyes turned a flaming red and burnt orange�
Clasping one hand on the child�s arm and holding the other in the air in
front of him, �Watch.� Terry said simply with a beaming smile, opening and
closing his free hand for emphasis. Switching his attention back to his open
hand, a small globe of heatless, oily fire emerged.
Eyes widening, �Wow�� Ranma whispered, his hand slipping into Terry�s own
as he got into a seated position.
With a slight grunt, the ball of fire expanded and swirled, then split,
forming a ring of sorts, another split at the top and most of the fire
massing at the bottom. With a grunt from Terry, his eyes still planted on
the fire, the flames died out with a snuff, revealing a plain looking
necklace.
Letting it fall into his hand, then using said hand to wipe the sweat off
of his brow, finally opening it and handing it to the child, �Here.�
With his free hand, Ranma tentatively reached out to the gemstone, a
slightly glowing red oval.
�Go ahead. This is for you�As a memento to remember me by, and a promise.�
Terry smiled when the child finally took hold of the gem.
Looking up at him with wide, bright eyes, �Promise?�
Nodding and messing the boy�s hair, �Yes, a promise for me to come back to
you and take you from this place.�
�Why?�
Placing the rest of the necklace into his hand, �Good question.� Terry
stated, �I guess it is that you are destined for something far greater than
any person. I saw it in your eyes.�
Blinking, �You did?�
�Yes, I did�Remember the fire I brought about?�
Ranma stayed silent, but nodded.
�With the right training when you get older, you can do something similar,
if not more grand.�
Looking at the gemstone, then up to Terry�s face and back again, �I can?�
Ranma asked himself.
Taking the necklace and fastening it around the child�s neck, �You can and
much more�� Terry said soothingly. �Beeping� Ranma on the nose, making him
giggle a bit, �And no-one can take that treasure from you, no one but myself
and you can take it off�� He trailed off to Ranma�s fervent shaking of his
head.
�No, No, No, No�!� The child denied, �I�m not going to take this off! Not
ever!�
Chuckling a bit, �Good to hear�� Terry began, pushing the child into the
pillows, �Now, you need your rest, okay?� He asked, running his hand through
the thick mop of hair on the boy�s head and tousling it further.
Nodding, Ranma closed his eyes and curled up under the covers, his little
hand clenching at the gem of, now his, necklace.
Standing up from the stool he was sitting on, �I�ll see you in about twelve
years time.� Terry whispered.
�Why so long?�
Turning back to the bed-ridden child, �You need to grow up, healthy and
strong for the Journey that lies ahead of you.� Leaning over the foot of the
bed, �All that you need to remember from me is �To Just Live, Live Well,
Live Honestly and Live Honorably to Yourself and those around you.� All
better than your Father, so just remember those words.� The boy nodded
before curling up again, this time, falling asleep as the older man watched.
Holding out his hand, palm down, �Remember this gift unto you: The gift of
Health and of Knowledge.� Terry chanted into something, but he mumbled it to
himself. A slight flare and mist of light came from his hand, then floated
down to the bedridden child, circling around him until it disappeared.
�I can only hope that you gives you peace.�
Stepping out into the hallway of the hospital, not seeing the child wake up
for a moment before he left the room, Terry did an about-face and marched
down it, feeling rather good about himself for once. He patted the doctor
that worked on Ranma on the shoulder as he walked out of the door.
He spared one glance back, with a frown, putting on his hat and walked
away.
**********
Years Later:
�Here�s is something in the mail for you, Father.�
Putting down his paper, grasping the envelope, �Ah, thank you, Kasumi.� The
black-haired, mustachioed man smiled. Watching his eldest daughter pad away
silently, �She reminds me so much of you, Kimiko.� He thought with a sniff.
Shaking his head and then taking a deep breath, �Now who�s this from?� He
wondered out loud as he saw no return address on the envelope.
Arching his brow, he opened it and found a rather sizable letter.
�Soun,
I hope this letter finds you well as since the boy has compelled me to
write this�
The trip to China was a success! Ranma has picked up more skill and power
than I could ever hoped! To prove it, he has pummeled me soundly several
times when he challenged me to the Mastership!�
Soun�s eyebrows arched to his hairline on reading that line.
�But the bad news is that we crossed into Jusenkyo��
He furrowed his brow at trying to read the smudges, it was as if someone
has attempted to erase them.
�We will have to show and explain things to you when we arrive��
�And the date is today!� Soun exclaimed.
**********
Begin Part Two!
**********
Sitting in a rather plush office amongst many in the tallest high-rise of
Tokyo, clad in a wrinkled, but expensive looking suit, Terry spun around in
his chair to gaze wildly out the window, �No-No-NO!! She can�t be here!!�
As if the skies were answering him, dark, thundering clouds rolled in from
the horizon, covering the noonday sun.
Standing up and walking toward massive expanse of glass, �So the war begins
anew.� Terry said softly and then rubbed the bridge of his nose, �I just
hope this world can survive it.
�And all that myself and mankind has built.�
**********
�Will you slow down, Baka-Oyaji? There�s no hurry.�
The massive panda slowed to a stop to glare and growl at the red-head, the
pulled a sign out, �Will you stop calling me that?� Flip, �Did Ranma put you
up to that?�
Shaking her head, �No, he didn�t, I just found the name appropriate...� The
girl said with demure cheerfulness, �So, where are we going?�
<As if we didn�t already know.> A male mental snort came from the back of
her mind, but it was so fast, the red-head completely missed it.
Swish, �The Tendo Dojo.� Flip, �We have...business to finish there.�
Blinking in confusion, her sky-blue eyes widened after assimilating all the
information, �What do we have to do there?� She asked.
The panda stopped in his tracks, not mindful of the crowds that are forming
to watch a bear that is walking bipedal, �I can feel the pain already.� The
panda-man thought to himself as he trundled over to the girl...
...And whapped her upside the head with a road-sign.
**********
Shuffling through papers, �They are back in Japan, eh.� Terry said to
no-one in particular. Putting the papers down onto his desk, attempting to
keep his composure from what he felt earlier, �You also found where the
Saotome residence is?�
The private-eye nodded, �I did.� The man grinned for a moment, �With the
money you have been throwing around, it made things rather easy.�
Giving the man a critical eye, �I suggest that you keep such comments to
yourself, �City Hunter.�� Terry grumbled, �Just count yourself lucky that I
*do* like you and the way that the both of you work.� He said, giving
City-Hunter�s standing partner a lazy eye that left no misunderstanding to
the woman as to what ran through his mind.
�You�re excused.�
Turning in his chair toward the window after hearing the door click shut,
�I have to be ready before she �storms the castle� and destroys everything.�
He thought, steeling his hands in front of himself.
�I must find the �Lady of Wind�, the Aspect and the Purity!
I know that they are here. In Japan of all places, but where?�
As soon as they got down the hall, past the teams of secretaries, �Did you
see the look he gave me?!� The tall redhead hissed into Ryo�s ear.
�Mokori!!� Ryo�s tongue hung out of his head as he panted at the sight of
all the lovely office-ladies.
Crossing her arms, �I might as well leave you for him!� Kaori pouted, �That
should get his attention.� She thought with a mental grin.
Still panting, and not even sparing her a glance, �Fine-Fine.� Then Ryo
went off into the crowd for �bigger� game.
Stamping her foot, �MOU!� Kaori steamed a bit before marching down the
aisle-ways after her erstwhile partner.
A few feminine yelps of surprise was heard and then, �RYO NO BAKA!!�
Followed by bodily slam and a few cheers from the same women.
Dragging the now unconscious body of Ryo Saeba, AKA City-Hunter out of the
lofty office space, �I swear, if he didn�t say that there is a woman that he
is looking for... � Kaori began exasperatedly, glancing at the prone man in
the elevator, �...You wouldn�t have taken this job.�
**********
Off in some countryside within Thailand, a mountain of a man, short in
stature, but very wide and muscular stopped in his wanderings and then
turned around to look at the blackening skies off to his side.
�I feel something strange.� The man commented to himself, �A higher
calling...A higher power...�
Fingering the red strip of cloth on his forehead with a lighthearted smile
to himself, �Ken, I will fight you again soon.� In his mind�s eye, he
pictured an enormous man, clad in a red Germanic motif and with a maniacal
grin that never seemed to leave his face, �I *will* destroy you, Maxim
Bison.�
With the priorities in mind, the white clad man walked toward the east and
to the brewing storms.
�Perhaps I will find her again.�
**********
Gazing at the letter again, �It seems so far out of character for Genma.�
Soun thought, gazing at his three girls, all of whom sat in a row at the
other side of the table, �What happened to him that would make him lose the
great pride that I have long known him for?�
�Do you know who he is and what he looks like, daddy?�
�Mustn�t let them know that something is possibly wrong.� The Tendo
patriarch put on a smile for his girls, �I never met him, Nabiki.�
He almost shuddered when he saw her face to an icy mask. Even more so with
the look of confusion from his eldest, Kasumi and the absolute outrage from
his youngest, Akane.
�WHAT!?� Akane snapped at him, �You expect one of us to spend the rest of
our lives with someone that we never met!?�
�We live in the twentieth century, daddy. This isn�t the feudal era
anymore.�
All argument stopped when they heard an assertive pounding at the front
gate.
�Oh, dear...�
**********
Pushing a button on his desk, �Mariko?�
�Yes, Sir?�
�Have the boys downstairs prepare IT for a ride into town.�
�Yes, Sir!�
Stepping over to the walk-in closet, Terry hummed to himself; trying in
vain to forget the stresses of the day�s findings.
Opening the door as he shrugged off his business suit, he reached in a
grabbed a full-body, black and red, leather biker�s suit. He smiled in
remembrance of his last �excursion� across the Mirror-Wall, �I still
remember helping the �Sabers take down that gothic mega-corp, slipping
Imperia into the economy of that world.�
�...And barely saved that universe from HER.� He took a deep breath,
remembering his last acquaintance there, whom also was the last victim of
the Darkness, �Sylvie...�
Shaking his head violently as he dressed up in the padded and armored biker
gear, �Need to be here in the present to save the future.�
**********
Rushing to the door, the Tendo family crowded the large main-gate when the
eldest daughter pushed open the massive door.
�Hello! You must be the Saotomes.� Kasumi cut in before the others could
say anything.
The easily two-meter tall young man, looking sullen and resigned when the
door opened, brightened considerably when Kasumi spoke.
Snapping straight and then bowing, �Sorry for disturbing the sanctity of
your home.� He spoke honestly; straightening up to his full height, easily
towering over the nineteen year old woman, �I�m Ranma Saotome.� His features
scrunched into distaste as he turned to the unconscious fat-man prone on the
ground, �That, is my father, Genma.�
Padding up to the large lump of man, �Saotome?� Soun inquired as he kneeled
down to his long time friend and patted a cheek. He continued calling out
and smacking.
Smile reaching her eyes, �What a nice young man!� The the young woman,
dressed plainly, thought, �...And such elegant manners too!�
A faint blush highlighted her cheeks as he eyes traveled from his oceanic
blue eyes on down.
Arching a delicate brow, �Certainly not what I was expecting.� Nabiki
thought to herself. Her eye caught a glimpse of something deep red at Ranma�
s throat, �*Definitely* not what I was expecting if he can afford a trinket
like that...ruby and gold?...choker.� Recalling the greeting he made, �A
certainly no slouch in the brains and looks department.�
A smile crept up onto her face, �I can get to like this!�
Crossing her arms indignantly, �Feh.� �A boy. He *better* not choose me!�
She arched her brow at him through her glare, �So what if he is handsome and
muscular? Kuno�s the same way! Perverts! All of them!�
Even then, she couldn�t take her eyes off the way he moved; the underlying
confidence�the way that shirt clung to every muscle in his chest.
She mentally declared to herself, �I�m *not* a pervert!�
�Gee...As if I have to wonder what Pop has got planned for me now?� Ranma
thought, a frown ALMOST coming to his face.
Shaking her head mentally, <I don�t want to be married to a GIRL!> A female
voice cried in his head; he could almost feel the tears forming on her
mental image.
�Don�t worry, Sana. Pops won�t get away with it if I can help it.� Growled
Ranma.
Sniffing, <Arigato, Oniichan.>
In somewhere else with his mind, he silently wished he could figure out a
way to separate himself and Sana, just so that he can live up to the title
she has given him. That, and he wished he could comfort her like any �Big
Brother� should with their �Little Sister�, instead of just the mental
reassurances he had been giving for the past year.
A flash passed through both their minds and Ranma heard Sana sigh at the
memory, but chose to ignore it, since he didn�t know what that meant from
her, �Uncle...� they chorused.
�When are you going to take us away from here, like you promised?�
**********
Stepping out of the private elevator from his office, Terry pulled on his
fingerless biker-gloves on as he stepped over to the massive motorbike.
Flipping a switch to turn on the lights behind the bike, he grinned a bit
at the masterpiece of engineering, �Never regretted constructing this
monster.� He thought with a tinge of happiness.
The bike, over two and a half meters long, built to look like a combination
giant highway-cruiser and sleek crotch-rocket. Low slung, forkless and
hub-less design with enormous wheels and tires, along with a sextuplet of
four inch muffled exhaust pipes peaking out from the underside of the
rear-side storage compartments.
All in all, *not* made for the Isle of Man racing competition, this monster
is made for flat outrun and out-accelerate literally anything on the road,
no matter where it is running; all thanks to the simplified fusion-turbine,
hybrid super-conductive and non electric rotors within the wheels
themselves.
Punching another switch to open the underground garage doors, Terry grinned
again, �Never did find out how fast the Highway-Star II can really go...�
Snorting, �Not likely. Not without 20 miles of clear and straight freeway in
front of me, I�ll never be able to get this girl above six-hundred
kilometers an hour.� He said to himself as he climbed onto the seat.
Seeing the light from the door opening in the distance, he swung his eyes
to the other two vehicles in the garage, both of them cars of the American
variety; sleek and extremely fast and powerful looking.
Sighing to himself, Terry pushed a central control lever a third of the way
forward, �Atomic batteries to power.� He smirked, then pushed a button with
his thumb on the handlebars and a massive sucking vacuum began, �Turbines to
speed.�
Terry chortled a bit and shook his head as a muffled howl filled the air.
Settling himself into the seat, he pushed the bike off its stand and kicked
it up.
**********
And that is it for now!!
What will happen when the Tendo Family find out about this Ranma's 'Curse'?
How will the girls react, especially Nabiki, when Terry tracks the Cursed
Martial Artist to the Tendo Dojo?
Find out in Two to Three Weeks time in Project Rift Asunder Chapter One,
Part Three!
_________________________________________________________
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