Okay, I know it's been awhile, but I finally blew the dust off this
one <looks around and sneezes at the particles still hanging in the air>.
Anyway, I'd like to thank my prereaders; Brian Payne, Arthur Edwards, and
Gary Kleppe for their insights. Also, if you want to find earlier chapters,
just to go http://www.sofaspud.org
Ranma 1/2 used without permission
Spiderman used without permission
====================================================
Ranma 1/2: Amazing Spiderman
Issue Eight: Lessons (part one)
====================================================
Pao Leung stared at his daughter's sleeping form, which was lost amidst the
thick down comforters of the bed. Her face was a study in the innocence of
sleep, like an oriental angel in slumber. The darkness was scarcely held at
bay by the small lamp that rested on the night table beside the bed, bathing
Lan in its soft glow.
The relief he felt was palpable, as if the weight of the universe had been
lifted from his shoulders. Even the fact that he now had both cases paled in
comparison to having his daughter returned to him unharmed. He could have
reclaimed the cases at any time, but he would never have been able to get
his daughter back.
"How is she?" said a quiet voice from behind.
"She's sleeping well, Wu Long." Fixer stepped up beside him, his feet
treading silently on the carpet. Leung could feel the other man's relief
over the gap between them, though whether it was from having Lan back safely
or from having been able to accomplish his task successfully he was uncertain.
"That is good news. Doctor Octavius reports that the contents of the cases
are undamaged, and that his experiments should be completed within the month
at the earliest."
"Anything else?"
"Yes. Doctor Ping reports that construction on the Black Widow is complete.
It is ready to launch at any time."
"That can wait."
"Sir?"
"I want to wait until Lan is safely out of the country before I renew my
efforts to exterminate Spiderman," Leung replied. "I do not know if he is
indeed working for Raizo Yamata, but I do know that the damnable man is very
unpredictable. I will not take any more chances with my daughter's life."
"I understand, sir. But will sending her back to America be such a good
idea? She would be safer here, with you."
"No, here she will be directly in the line of fire. In America, at least
she will be out of the Yakuza's reach. They will not expend the effort of
trying to pull off an international kidnapping. The resulting shitstorm
would be too much for them to even consider it."
"As you wish, sir. I will increase the bodyguards, and replace those old
failures with our best men."
"Very good, Fixer. Is there anything else?"
"No, sir."
"I want to be alone with my daughter, now."
"Yes, sir." He heard Long turn on his heel, the sounds of his footfalls
barely audible in the shadows.
"Wu Long."
"Sir?" he replied, stopping just before the door.
"Thank you for bringing Lan back to me safely."
"Of course." With that, Long stepped out of the room, quietly closing the
door behind him.
===========================================================
Hikaru stood before the open furnace door, the cloying heat thickening the
air and threatening to choke him. Sweat beaded on his brow, unable to
evaporate and making the stuffy conditions even worse. The lone bare bulb
which hung from the ceiling did little to banish the shadows that made the
furnace room home, shadows that the light of the sun would never touch.
He raised his right hand, holding a red and blue bundle of cloth toward the
roaring fire. It would be so easy, just a quick toss and his life as
Spiderman would be officially over. End of story. Simply cast it to the
flames and be done with the whole business. Sure. Easy.
Then why was he having trouble doing it? As he stared into the fire, his
brain shouted a hundred different reasons not to throw it all away. What if
he needed it? How would he win Akane's heart? What if...
Gosunkugi violently squelched his mind's ardent protests. If he hadn't
started putting on the costume, then he would never have gotten mixed up
with the mafia. He wouldn't have gotten Nabiki sniffing around for some
juicy secret she would then use to milk him for everything she could. His
life was far simpler when he was just a geek that nobody knew or cared
about. He didn't have to worry about anyone aside from himself.
But what about Nabiki? his mind returned. You know that they'll still be
after her!
So? Let Ranma handle it. He can take a bunch of Yaks.
Are you kidding? Ranma's as dumb as a rock! Do you think they'll really
bother attacking HIM? They're after Nabiki, and they'll take her when she's
alone. They've done it before!
If Nabiki's even half as smart as she acts, then she'll be looking for them
to try again.
Will you listen...
"NO!" Gosunkugi started at the sound of his own voice echoing through the
tiny chamber. How much of that had he been saying aloud? Feh, one more
reason to get rid of the damn costume once and for all. With an angry shout,
he tossed the bundle of clothing through the small cast iron door to the
furnace.
"That's right," he muttered, "burn to ashes you son of a bitch. And let the
wind carry you out of my life the way it carried you in." He stared
transfixed into the flames for a few moments after, feeling an inexplicable
sensation of... loss?... as the costume burned into ash to drift out of the
exhaust with the rest of the debris. Gosunkugi closed the door to the
furnace and turned toward the stairs leading to the exit. This was the right
thing. He had to get rid of it.... didn't he?
====================================================
Ranma basked in the warm sunlight that blanketed the earth, the sweet scent
of sakura blossoms ticking his nose as he strode casually toward the gates
of Furinkan. Spring had just gotten underway, bringing the promise of an
unbearably hot summer to come. Ranma, however, simply enjoyed the mild
weather. Summer could wait.
"Ranma, what are you smiling about?" Akane asked from the ground below.
"That Kendo Club trip," he replied. "Man, a whole week without Kuno." The
thought alone was enough to make him grin like an idiot.
"Yeah, no more of him trying to date us all the time, no more of him making
us late for school..."
"No more wastin' my time kickin' him around. Too bad he's only gonna be
gone for a week."
"Don't worry, the others will probably pick up the slack."
"Whaddaya talkin' about?!" Ranma exclaimed, his ire rising from the teasing
accusation in Akane's voice.
"Let's see," she said, ticking off names on her fingers, "there's Ukyo,
then Shampoo, let's not forget Kodachi..."
"Aw, whydja have to go an' bring THEM up for?"
"Because none of them are off on a training trip," she said sarcastically.
"I think that you actually LIKE having so many girls chasing after you."
"Well, what am I supposed to do, tell 'em all to take a hike?!"
"You have to do something, Ranma. The only reason they keep after you is
because you leave them hanging."
Ranma bit off the flaming retort mere microseconds before it passed his
lips, instead growling in growing frustration. The day had started off SO
well, and now this. Well, there was no way he was gonna let that uncute
gorilla spoil his mood.
"I ain't gonna have this fight with you, Akane. I got a week with no Kuno,
and I'm gonna enjoy it! Understand? I'm gonna LOVE it!" And he would, too...
===========================================================
"HA! HA! HA!" The shouts of his underlings echoed throughout the pristine
wilderness with each strike. They all moved as one being, every thrust and
parry executed with exact timing as the drill went on. Tatewaki Kuno stood
motionless as he surveyed those under his wing who wished to learn the noble
art of Kendo.
The early afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of leaves high above,
casting slivers of gold on the leaf-matted earth. A light breeze whispered
through the trees, billowing his hair slightly as he studied the members of
the Furinkan Kendo Club finishing their practice drills. With a final,
decisive strike, each bokken was held in the position of a downward swing.
With a grunt of approval, Kuno gave a short bow to his ranks, which was
promptly returned.
"Very good, my soldiers," he said in his most stoic tone. "You have learned
well."
"HAI, SENSEI!"
"We shall continue thy training with one-on-one sparring. I have some
matters which demand my immediate attention."
"HAI!"
Kuno turned and strode purposefully into the forest, visions of Akane and
the Pig-tailed girl dancing rather provocatively in his head.
"Wonder what the hell he was talking about?" one student asked as he bowed
to his sparring partner.
"Maybe nature was calling?"
"Yawright," a third chimed in, "you saw the look in his eyes. He's got
Akane and Ranma on the brain."
"Oh, did you HAVE to put that image in my head?!"
=============================================
Ranma felt the rough bark of the tree against his back through the thin
material of his shirt as he leaned back against it, the cool grass
cushioning his legs. He took a deep breath of the sweet air, letting it out
with a contented sigh. Life was good.
"What are you so happy about?" Akane asked across from him.
"Listen. Hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Exactly! It's quiet! No battle cries, no fighitng, just background stuff!"
"NIHAO!" The saccharine sweet voice shook him to the core as a purple blur
materialized next to him with a soft thump accompanied by the smell of fresh
ramen. "Shampoo make special deluxe ramen just for Ranma!"
I just HAD to go and jinx it, didn't I? he thought irritably as Shampoo and
Akane traded their best glares.
"What violent pervert girl do here?!"
"What does it LOOK like?!"
"Hey, Ranchan! I... What's goin' on here?"
"Oh, Ranma-sama, fear not for thy one true love has come!"
"Back off, flower-girl!"
"Make me, peasant!"
"Shampoo give food to husband!"
"Shut up, bimbo!"
"Who Ukyo call bimbo?!"
"You!"
"Perhaps it is time to teach you harridans some manners!"
"Ranma, what are you doing?" Akane asked, finally noticing him furiously
beating his head against the trunk of the tree.
"Ranma think he woodpecker?"
Having left a permanent dent in the wood, Ranma finally decided that he'd
had enough and felt it to be time to execute the Saotome Secret Technique;
run like hell. At least it was more useful than that whole Crouch of the
Wild Tiger crap. With a burst of manly strength, Ranma turned and ran like a
girl.
"Ranchan, wait!"
"Airen!"
"Ranma-sama!"
"You jerk, get back here!"
At least I'm still a guy, he thought mere seconds before he felt the cold
water drench him to the skin. This wasn't happening, this wasn't happening...
"SWEETO!" cried a shriveled bolt of perversion as it glomped onto his...
err, her chest.
"GET OFF ME, YA FREAK!" Ranma cried, ripping the ancient lech from her
bosom. Unfortunately, she didn't notice the sound of ripping fabric, nor the
sudden draft until the wolf whistles and cat calls reached her ears. "GAH!"
"Come to papa, babies!"
"DIE, YOU SHRIVELLED OLD FART!"
"THERE HE IS!" came a female shout from behind Ranma.
"GET HIM!" She chanced a look backward, spotting the massive dust cloud
rising skyward long before making out the shadows of a mob of extremely
angry female students falling in behind the other four after his hide, each
brandishing various pieces of sports equipment in an overly frightening manner.
"To be chased by so many nubile young girls! Bliss!"
"SHUT UP, GOAT!" Things had right quickly gone from fine to SNAFU, then to
TARFU, and then all the way down to FUBAR. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Much as
she wanted to, booting the demented dwarf into the stratosphere wasn't an
option. Running from a horde of angy girls with Happosai in one hand and the
other covering her... assets... simply made for a difficult enough time. Oh,
but she WOULD make him pay for this. Oh, yes, she would.
Hikaru Gosunkugi stared in awe at the receding storm of dust, the shouts of
the female contingent of Furinkan fading into the distance. Several boys lay
scattered across the courtyard, unconscious from nosebleeds and the
indiscriminate use of hockey sticks from the now-vanished crowd.
The chiming of the bell signalled the end of lunch for what few were still
conscious. As some students stooped to carry the more unfortunate ones,
Gosunkugi found himself thinking of a battlefield after the war. Man, all
that was missing was some guy shouting, "MEDIC!" at the top of his lungs.
Yep, things are now officially back to normal, he thought as he walked away
from the carnage. Glad to be back.
Nabiki rewound the film in her camera, an expensive Nikkon professional
model complete with a telephoto lens and an excellent feature for taking
motion photography. Those shots could get her a bundle on the net from those
drooling idiots who kept mailing her alternate account for more snaps of
their favorite redhead. If Ranma only knew how many people around the world
got their rocks off from risque pictures of his girl half...
If Nabiki had her way, he never would. Kami only knew what he'd do if he
ever found out. She stuffed the camera back into its case, casting a glance
at the scattered forms of unconscious students. Yep, Ranma definitely had a
knack for drawing insanity from all angles. Oftentimes, it proved to be
rather profitable.
Her raptor's gaze fell on the retreating form of Hikaru Gosunkugi as he
made his way back to the entrance. There was another matter of importance
for her. She still had to figure out his relationship to Spiderman, and his
constant stonewalling had become very annoying of late.
She strode toward Furinkan's doors, eyes locked on Gosunkugi's back. What
was the connection? Nabiki paused as Hikaru went rigid, his head sweeping
around as if he were looking for something. She immediately diverted her
gaze, changing direction as she focused on a rather interesting patch of grass.
Wonder what wild hair just got stuck up his ass? she thought as she took a
roundabout course to the steps. It was almost like he knew I was watching him.
===================================================
They sailed through the empty vacuum of space, twin hunks of rock screaming
through the void at thousands of kilometers per hour on a journey that
seemed to have no beginning and no end, hurtling onward toward the enormous
blue sphere just ahead...
====================================================
Hua Ping studied the monitor, a frustrated breath escaping past her teeth.
Twenty red pinpricks of light danced around within the grid displayed on the
large screen, each showing the same thng; No Target Lock.
Come on, she thought irritably, where are you? Perhaps Spiderman had taken
the night off? Who knew? All that mattered to Hua Ping was killing
Spiderman. It was the only way for her daughter to walk again. For that, she
would do anything, even if it went against everything she stood for. Even if
it condemned her to the hells for eternity.
"Mother? Why are you still up?" asked Quan Ping's sleepy voice from the
left. Startled, Hua turned to look at her daughter as she wheeled her chair
up to the console.
"Just finishing some research." It was an obvious lie. She still couldn't
bear to say to Quan's face just what this research was all about, even
though the wheelchair-bound girl knew.
"You have the spider-seekers out."
"Yes, well..."
"Mother," Quan began in a pleading tone, "you don't have to do this. Are my
legs really worth another's life?"
"For me, yes." The accident in their last research lab five years ago had
been all Hua's fault. If she had only paid closer attention to the power
matrix, then...
"Stop blaming yourself, Mother."
Hua Ping heaved a weary sigh, bowering her head before the monitor and
letting her arms support her weight.
"Quan, please, I have to do this."
"Mother..."
"QUAN! I won't hear any more of this!" Hua Ping's heart clenched at her
shouted words, pain lancing her with each syllable.
"I'm going back to bed."
Hua kept her eyes tightly shut as she heard Quan's wheelchair roll across
the floor to the exit. Only when she heard the doors close did she allow
herself to cry.
========================================================
Days had passed since Tatewaki Kuno had taken his disciples on this
training trip. He stared out at the myriad stars in the night sky, wishing
on each one to be in the arms of Akane Tendo and the Pig-tailed Girl on his
return to Furinkan.
Oh, how he longed to bask in their love! To embrace thim in his loving
arms, and to sheild them from that foul Saotome!
Ranma Saotome, a sorcerer whose heart was blacker than any pit, who held
his two true loves in hideous bondage! A cur who taunted him with their
heavenly forms, only to snatch them away just before he could rescue them!
Tatewaki had vowed on that first day of revelation so long ago that he would
free them from Saotome's clutches once and for all.
Yet, alas, he had been constantly denied final justice. What cruel kami
stood against him? What vile circumstance prevented him from freeing his two
loves?
"I SWEAR, SAOTOME, I SHALL AVENGE MY HONOR UPON YOU!" His voice echoed
throughout the trees, sending sleeping birds scattering into the air with
their angered cries filling the night.
All he needed was the power, something to ensure that his righteous cause
would prevail, but what? Saotome's fortunes had constantly managed to
protect the foul cur from his mighty blade
"O KAMI, I BEG OF THEE! GRANT THIS LONG-SUFFERING SAMURAI A SIGN!"
Perhaps the kami were listening. In the sky, Kuno saw a star shining far
more brilliantly than the rest. He fixed his eyes on it, hope blossoming in
his heart that, perhaps, they had finally answered his prayers. The light
grew more brilliant still, soon outshining every star in the heavens as it
streaked downward toward the earth.
"What's this?" A shooting star! His former moniker, before becoming the
blue thunder! The gods were trying to grant his wish!
"O kami," he prayed, "I wish for the power to finally rid this world of the
accursed Saotome once and for all!"
He followed the path of the shooting star, surprised at its stubborn
refusal to disintegrate in the atmosphere. A white flash erupted from the
star, a tiny fragment splintering off to vanish eastward as the main body
continued to plunge into the earth's bosom.
Hmm... this shooting star is rather close, he thought as it lit up the sky.
He traced its downward trajectory below the treeline when a low roar reached
his ears and a final flash brightened the darkness.
Kuno watched, stunned for a moment, when an epiphany struck him like a bolt
of lightning. The kami had not only answered his prayers, but had laid the
solution practically at his feet!
Exhilaration sang in his veins as Tatewaki charged forth into the dense
forest, unmindful of the branches tearing at his hakama. His answer was
there, he knew it, he merely had to claim it!
His feet pounded the cool earth without mercy as he raced toward his goal.
Shadows raced past him as he charged ever forward, the sounds of the forest
primeval faintly registering in his ears. This was it, by the kami, this was
it! Finally, Saotome would be crushed beneath his heel!
Minutes blended into one another as he neared his goal, time losing all
meaning at the prospect of holding his two loves in his noble arms and
confessing his love to them both. They would return his love, at long last,
and all would live in peace for all time. His fondest desire would at last
come to pass! Kami be praised!
The former glare of the light had faded to a pale glow by the time he
arrived. Taking air into his lungs with deep gasps, Tatewaki Kuno stared in
anticipation at the crater left in the soft earth before him, the source of
the light. Slowly, he padded over the leaves toward the glow.
With anticipation beating at his guts, he knelt and peered over the edge.
The luminious energy bathed his face, emanating from the split rock embedded
in the dirt.
"What wonders are encased in this heavenly stone?" Tatewaki mused. As if on
cue a bubbling mass of pitch oozed forth from the inside, flowing over the
surface of the meteorite.
He was taken aback at the sight, an involuntary gasp escaping his lips.
What creature was this?! Surely it did not come from the kami! The dark
substance erupted up from the crater, taking the form of a hideous shadow.
Holes in what may have been its head formed, somehow studying him as it
mysteriously held its shape.
"BACK, FOUL CREATURE FROM THE DEPTHS!" Tatewaki bellowed, drawing his
bokken. "KNOW THAT YOU FACE THE BLUE THUNDER OF FURINKAN HIGH! YOU FACE HE
WHO IS NAMED TATEWAKI... URGH!"
It saw without seeing this screaming pile of flesh and water, the only
remotely suitable life form around. It had been long, too long, since it had
bonded with another and its reserves of strength were fading. Spawning had
drained most of what it had stored, and it was in desperate need of sustenance.
It felt the raw emotion emanating from the carbon-based life-form that
brandished a primitive weapon, the waves of anger and fear heightening its
hunger. The carbon-thing looked to at least be a tasty morsel.
The symbiote lunged, engulfing the startled... human, it called itself?...
infiltrating its nervous system as it sought out the brain all such
creatures had.
The symbiote found it somewhat lacking. In fact, this human was more of a
madman than any other creature it had taken before! As it read this Kuno's
life, it saw the distortion of all things. Were all humans this strange?
Then it found the face of another human, one this creature called Ranma
Saotome. It probed deeper, finding a resivior of hatred as deep as anything
it had ever beheld, or helped create, in any other lifeform. Perhaps this
one would be useful after all.
The pain ended as quickly as it had begun, leaving Tatewaki Kuno gasping
for air. He opened his eyes, unaware that he had ever closed them, and saw
the forest with a clarity he had never felt before. He felt strong,
powerful! In fact, he had never felt so alive!
[Yes, Kuno,] a voice in his head whispered, [you are powerful.]
"Who speaks in mine head?!" What had happened to his voice?
[Patience, Kuno,] it replied. [I am here to grant your fondest desire.]
A hundred images lacerated Tatewaki's brain as the voice spoke seductively
of victory, of freeing his loves from the grasp of Saotome, and Kuno
understood. This truly WAS a gift from the kami!
"Verily, thou art heaven-sent!"
[Yes, Kuno. Yes, I am.] With that statement buzzing pleasantly in his
brain, Tatewaki Kuno fell into a sleep as deep as death.
==================================================
Kouchou Kuno stared at the volleyball-sized lump of rock that had
plummetted from the air to land square in his cooler.
"Hoo-hah! Wot's dis?" he asked as he plucked the rock from the now-melted
ice and shattered bottles of Corona Extra. Kouchou never managed to
determine that Mexican beer clashed with the Hawaiian motif he tried so hard
to maintain.
"HA! Don' you worry, now! Da Big Kahuna gonna give you a GOOD home, bruddah!"
===================================================