Ranma 1/2 used without permission
Spider-Man used without permission
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Hikaru Gosunkugi: The Amazing Spiderman Issue Nine: Lessons (Part Two)
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Daylight broke over Nerima Ward, carrying with it the most dreaded of all
things: Monday morning. Students filed grudgingly into the halls of Furinkan
high, nearly all of them looking as bad as they felt.
The only exception was Nabiki Tendo. While she liked Monday no more than
anyone else, she at least appeared unpreturbed as she stalked her prey
through the addled throngs.
Okay, Kuno, she thought with mild irritation, where are you? A sea of heads
stretched as far as she could see, none of them conforming to Kuno. Usually,
he wasn't so hard to find. Okay, so he hadn't been waiting for Ranma
earlier, but at the very least he should be hunting her down for another
picture fix.
So, where was he? Nabiki continued her tactical scan of the crowd, eyes
seeking any sign of Tatewaki Kuno. She just knew all that yen was burning a
hole in his pocket. Nabiki rounded another corner of the hall and finally
spotted him before his locker.
What's this? she silently asked herself when she got a better look at him.
A black uniform replaced his usual blue hakama, the fabric doing wonders for
his admittedly impressive physique. Also gone was his trademark bokken, a
leather schoolbag in its place. Nabiki couldn't remember the last time Kuno
had worn a uniform to school, and the sight was nothing short of jolting.
Oh, well, men change their clothes and not their natures.
"Hey, Kuno-baby," she said jovially, sidling up next to him.
"What is it, Nabiki Tendo?" Kuno didn't even look at her, merely continuing
to rummage in his locker. Aside from the new outfit, he still seemed the same.
"You know, a lot's been going on the past week." Nabiki knew she could have
just whipped out the pictures and quoted a price, but she preferred building
up to the sale. Every good Japanese businessperson started off by feeling
out the other party, usually through meaningless small talk. It was how they
determined their gut feelings about the deal. Many a careless person could
tank a near shoe-in deal by ignoring such steps as this, even though Nabiki
knew full well just how this was going to go.
"Indeed."
Something about the way Kuno spoke that one word unnerved her.
"Anyway, I've managed to come across some more pictures of that pig-tailed
cutie you love so much, not to mention Akane..."
"I am not interested."
"If you... WHAT?!" Nabiki gaped at the man across from her, who had closed
his locker and stared directly at her. There was a certain presence, a
feeling of wrongness about Kuno when those eyes met hers, yet it was gone as
quickly as it had come. "What are you talking about?"
"I did not stutter," Kuno replied in a cool monotone. "I no longer wish to
purchase photos of Akane Tendo or the Pig-tailed girl."
Nabiki was helpless to do anything but stare at Kuno's stony visage.
"Who are you, and what have you done with Kuno?"
"We are Tatewaki Kuno."
"Huh?" What was with this we stuff? Before she could ask, Kuno turned and
left, brushing her off as if she were a fly. Too stunned to react, Nabiki
stood rooted in place as Kuno weaved through the now-thinning groups of
lingering students.
Now what the hell was THAT all about?
Hikaru Gosunkugi treaded through the hallway, decidedly less than eager to
get to class. He had overslept, something he was not prone to do, and had
wound up late.
Of course, he could have easily swung here through the city, felt the wind
ripping at his clothes as he sailed far above the rest on a cord of spider
silk...
STOP IT! he mentally shouted, ripping his thoughts away from his former
life as the Amazing Spiderman. Those days were through! Finished! Okay, so
he missed the freedom using his powers granted him, but so what? Better to
use the train like everybody else than to get any more involved with the
Yakuza or Doctor Octopus. Yep, the ground was good enough for him.
Without warning, his spider-sense flared to life. The sensation brought him
to a halt, Gosunkugi's eyes squeezed nearly shut at the murderous pounding
in his head. Something was here... something powerful... something
DANGEROUS! And it was close!
His eyes opened of their own will, locking onto the passing form of
Tatewaki Kuno. The raging need to run beat at his skull as Kuno filled his
vision, occupying his entire focus. Whatever it was, it was coming from him!
The feeling of danger ebbed as Kuno receeded into the hall, breath coming
more easily into Gosunkugi's constricted ribcage. He tried to gather his
wits, looking about to see if anyone else was staring and finding a few
heads indeed turned toward the path Kuno had took. Relieved, Gosunkugi
continued his trek to class.
The spider-sense was the only aspect of the power that Gosunkugi had as yet
found no way to control. He could resist clinging to walls, swinging on a
webline, or bench-pressing a Honda, yet that mysterious danger sense seemed
to act of its own volition.
But never, ever, had the feeling been as violent as that. Not when Nabiki
started staring after him, not when the occaisional Yak peeked in on him,
and not even when he had faced Doctor Octopus for the last time had it been
so intense.
But why would Kuno of all people set it off? he thought as he entered his
Trig class. Why is he after me?
No, he's not after me. That thought burst in his consciousness as he sat
down at his desk. No, it hadn't been directed at him. Gosunkugi wasn't sure,
but it had felt like a malevolent presence emanating from Kuno, aimed at
nothing, and everything, in particular.
Aw, get off it! You got more important things to do than to worry about
Kuno! Gosunkugi only hoped he wouldn't come to regret those words.
========================================================
The symbiote listened half-heartedly at the droning human before the
gathered flesh-things, feeding on the very nourishing chemicals generated by
Kuno's rampant and unstable emotions.
Biology, the humans called the subject. The study of the human body. The
symbiote found the lecture somewhat interesting, if not a tad naieve. It had
forgotten more about carbon-based lifeforms than this monotonous human would
ever learn. There were certain things they could do with their own
bio-electrical energy that would probably astound the limited twit.
It peeked again into Kuno's memory of Ranma Saotome, finding evidence of
him using that energy toward entertaining destructive purposes. Kuno was
just as capable, if improperly trained. No matter. Once it learned the
extent of human capabilities, then it would be ready.
On the other hand, this Ranma showed great promise. He already had the
knowledge, which would make its task far easier. However, it was still
somewhat weak from spawning, and Kuno's emotional state provided life-giving
sustenance on a level it had rarely seen. Perhaps, once it had gained enough
strength, it would bond with Saotome. Or, it would destroy the hideous
water-sack. Either way, Ranma would pose no problems to a being as superior
as itself.
"KUNO!"
The symbiote turned its attention back to the instructor, who was glaring
furiously at the host. What did that imbecile want?
"Hai, sensei?"
"Pay attention! What is the name of the structure of a DNA strand?"
The symbiote felt Kuno scrabble for an answer, amazed that he didn't know
even that! In human terms it was...
"A double helix, sensei."
It watched as this sensei grunted with reluctant approval before continuing
with its lesson.
Thank you for your assistance! Kuno's mind shouted.
[Do not worry about it,] the symbiote replied. [Simply leave everything to me.]
===================================================
"Nabiki! What're ya doin'?!"
Nabiki ignored the man-turned-woman's indignant question as she herded
Ranma out toward the main walk of Furinkan's courtyard. Kuno would come this
way, he always did. At least, she hoped he still did. The events of the
morning had shaken her entire sense of Tatewaki Kuno. She had to test this out.
"Never you mind that, Ranma," she warned intently. "You either do what I
say, or I call in ALL your delinquent loans on the spot. Got that?"
"Yeah..."
"Good!" Nabiki exclaimed with a sense of satisfaction and reassurance. Some
of the people around here were still normal. "Now, what did I tell you?"
Ranma heaved a defeated sigh before answering.
"I gotta make nice with Kuno. But I ain't gonna flirt with him!"
"I didn't ask you to." Nabiki saw Kuno approaching in the distance,
checking off phase one as a success. "Here he comes. Now get to it!"
Ranma muttered curses under her breath, wondering why on earth she allowed
Nabiki so much control. Really, it was only money. And why was she so intent
on having her make nice with the Blue Blunder? Ranma cast a few furtive
glances around, searching for Nabiki's camera. Blackmail material, probably.
Sometimes Ranma just wanted to throttle the conniving little sneak...
"Yo! Kuno!" she shouted when he came in range. Ranma took in Kuno's uniform
and obvious lack of bokken with mild surprise. When did he opt for a
wardrobe change? Were all his hakamas at the cleaners?
Kuno appeared to pay Ranma no mind, walking forward as if she didn't exist.
The red-haired girl found that somewhat strange, even considering that Kuno
was the subject. Why wasn't he screaming some crap about freeing her from
"The Vile Sorcerer Saotome" and going for a bearhug?
"Hey! Kuno, wake up!" He had to have heard her. Had he gone deaf?
Irritation rising by the moment, Ranma interposed herself directly in Kuno's
path. Let's see him ignore this!
Kuno came to a slow halt before her, and Ranma felt something tingle on her
skin. Like all martial artists, she had developed a keen sense for danger.
That selfsame sense was coming to life as she stared at the taller
upperclassman. Ranma couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was
something wrong about Tatewaki Kuno.
"What is it, Ranma?"
"R-Ranma?" she stammered, mind reeling. Had Kuno just called her by her
name, not pig-tailed girl?
"Unless I am mistaken, that is your name."
"Well... I... uh..."
Kuno glared at the red-haired pseudo-woman before him, still scarecely able
to believe that in fact he was staring right at Saotome himself. The kami,
as he had come to call it, had practically shoved the revelation down his
throat. But looking at that voluptuous body, Kuno found his new realization
difficult to swallow.
[Remember,] the kami said in his brain, [this is Saotome you're looking at.
Not a helpless woman in need of rescue.]
But...
[REMEMBER!]
"If you will excuse me, I have more important things to do than waste my
time here." With that, Kuno brushed past Ranma as if he, or she rather, were
just another nobody.
Why? Why can we not crush him now?!
[Patience. After all, it will be much more satisfying to make him suffer.]
But that is not the way of the warrior! Kuno protested. It is not the way
of Bushido!
[Wait! Your time WILL come, I promise you. Just be patient a while longer.]
Ranma stared incredulously at the retreating Kuno, unable to believe what
had happened. The moron had finally gotten a clue! FINALLY! He was even
acting somewhat normal to boot! What the hell happened on that training trip?
Like I care? He finally got the hint, an' he ain't gonna hit on me no more!
But Ranma couldn't shake the feeling of her nerves standing on end, as if
something were very wrong. She had learned to trust her instincts over time,
and they told her something bad had come over Kuno. She couldn't quite place
it, but something about him seemed off and not just his sudden realization
of the truth or his change of outfits.
"Well, Ranma, looks like he's out of your hair for awhile," Nabiki said
from behind.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Something wrong?"
"It's just that... I don't know... I'm glad he finally got his brain back
in line, but something don't feel right."
"I know what you mean."
"WELL!" Ranma exclaimed, stretching her back. "How about that hot water?"
"Yeah, here ya go." Nabiki handed Ranma the kettle, which she eagerly
upended. The bell sounded once again, signalling the end of lunch and the
student body returned to their studies albeit reluctantly.
The symbiote lurked in the back of Kuno's mind, mulling over the new
development. That Ranma had ample power, true, and only a little more
intelligence than this host, but switching was not an option. Ranma Saotome
had nothing in the way of bio-energy that it could not cultivate within this
human. Besides, Ranma smelled of arrogance, with a dash of anger. Kuno, on
the other hand, was already on the verge of insanity. Cultivating this host
would be far easier and potentially more rewarding.
Besides, Ranma was the key to this one's life-giving hate. The chemicals
that emotion secreted into the blood restored its strength, far faster than
anything else. It was that whole Bushido nonsense that was the problem. That
rigid code to which Kuno claimed to abide stood in its way. No matter, it
could take care of that, too. Yes, Tatewaki Kuno would prove to be the
perfect host organism.
It was the pig-tailed girl that was the problem. For some reason,
Kuno was unable or unwilling to accept the fact that she and Ranma were one
in the same.
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Gosunkugi walked home, thoughts of his encounter with Kuno coming unbidden
into his brain. A gnawing sensation kept irritating his consciousness,
saying that he should at least keep an eye out for Kuno. Something had been
badly, terribly wrong. His spider-sense had nearly exploded his skull at the
upperclassman's mere passing, and the dolt hadn't even been looking at him!
Why should I care? he thought. It's not MY problem, after all.
Then why do I have this bad feeling that it will be?
============================================================
Akane walked out into the cool night air, the chill raising goosebumps on
her exposed arms. She had heard about Kuno, how he had changed practically
overnight. She hadn't seen him, which was unusual itself, but had heard of
his encounter with Ranma. Nabiki had confirmed it, but she still needed to
hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
"Hey, Ranma," she said, coming up beside him on the porch. Ranma, for his
part, stared out into space. He seemed lost in thought, as if something
weighed heavily on his mind. Was it true, then?
"Hey."
"I heard. Is it..."
"Yeah. Kuno finally got the hint."
Akane had expected to hear some joy in those words. At the very least, he
should have been in a lighter mood. What was with this strange funk?
"And you're not thrilled? Ecstatic? Leaping in the air, even?"
"Yeah, it's great, really, but..."
"But what?" A dawning realization came over Akane that almost made her ill.
"You can't mean you actually MISS him hitting on you?!"
"OF COURSE NOT, TOMBOY!"
Akane fought down the urge to whack Ranma upside his head. Something was
bothering him, and she genuinely wanted to know what.
"Then what is it?"
"I don't know! I don't know, an' it's drivin' me NUTS!"
"If you don't miss the attention, then what is it?"
"You won't understand."
"Try me!"
"It's... Akane, somethin' ain't right."
"Huh?" What was he going on about? Akane recalled a portion of her
conversation with Nabiki, her older sister hinting that she felt something
wrong with Kuno. She wouldn't elaborate, as Akane knew she wouldn't, but she
had seemed really bothered by it. Truth be told, Nabiki had seemed really on
edge lately, so Akane had dismissed it. Maybe it was more than that.
"When I talked to him, I felt somethin'. You know, when you walk in a room
and just know somethin' ain't right?"
"Yeah?" She did know that feeling. Had Ranma and Nabiki felt it?
"I got it. I know it sounds weird, but I had this feeling that somethin'
was real wrong. I just don't know WHAT!"
"Maybe it's just the shock." Okay, so it sounded hokey, but it was the best
she could do on short notice. "I mean, Kuno recognizing you in your girl
body, dressing in a uniform, leaving his bokken home, it had to be a real jolt."
"No, everythin' I got's tellin' me that somethin' just ain't right. I ain't
gonna rest until I find out what."
Akane let it drop as Ranma walked back inside. It looked like she would
have to see Kuno for herself before she could be certain, but whatever had
gotten under Ranma and Nabiki's skin had to be bad news.
Girl, it's just your nerves. Relax, it's probably nothing.
======================================================
Tuesday morning dawned bright and sunny over Furinkan High, the students
returning for another day of drudgery. Akane Tendo stood rooted in place by
the front doors, waiting for Kuno to show. She would see for herself this
new and improved Tatewaki Kuno, and if she felt it, then Ranma and Nabiki's
story had merit.
She saw him approach, a clean-pressed uniform adorning his muscular
physique. Okay, so the uniform bit was true. So was the no bokken rumor, a
schoolbag in his hand instead of the wooden sword.
So far, they were right on the money. Ranma wasn't around, so she couldn't
test that, but she would still talk to him. She watched Kuno come closer,
eyes fixed directly ahead with a distracted look on his face.
He has to see me, Akane thought as he approached. Why isn't he running at
me? Kuno continued to approach at his steady pace, eyes locked dead ahead at
a point beyond Akane. He drew to within a few meters of her and halted, gaze
falling down on her.
The instant their eyes met, Akane knew that Ranma and Nabiki's suspicions
had been dead on. She felt a cool tingle on her skin, a tiny voice in the
back of her mind insisting that this picture was very wrong.
"Hi, Kuno," she said in a steady voice.
"Hello, Akane Tendo," he replied.
"I like the uniform. It really suits you."
"Thank you. If you will excuse me, I have to get to class." With that, Kuno
walked past her, eyes facing ahead once more.
Akane stood in place for a moment as she processed the encounter. Kuno
hadn't seemed himself, not challenging her or trying to embrace her. By all
rights, she should have been thrilled. Instead, she felt unnerved. She could
feel something wrong with Tatewaki Kuno, as if something else was in control.
Oh, get a grip, Akane, she mentally groused. So Kuno's trying to be normal
now. So what?
=================================================
The day passed slowly, though the symbiote didn't care much for time. It
had spent at least a millennium drifting through space. The span of a few
mere hours was irrelevant.
It felt its power growing with each day, and its hold on Kuno becoming more
concrete. The poor little twit didn't even know that he was becoming more
and more the symbiote's slave.
Out of boredom, the symbiote glanced back at the kendo and ninjitsu
techniques it had discovered in the human's library. Some were, for want of
a better term, ridiculous. Others, though, were devastatingly powerful. Why
had Kuno not dedicated himself to learning them if he so wanted to kill Saotome?
Oh, well, it was of no importance. The symbiote was nearly at full
strength. Once its power was restored it would work on increasing the
bio-energy, or ki as they called it, output of the host. Those techiniques
would help with that. Then, when Kuno was fully enslaved, it would eliminate
Ranma Saotome. Of course, at that point Kuno may outlive his usefulness...
Kami, the voice of Kuno's mind said, when shall we perfect the techniques
you have shown me?
[Soon, Kuno,] it replied. [You are not yet ready. I shall tell you when the
time is right.]
And then?
[When all is prepared, Ranma Saotome will be yours, as it has been ordained.]
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