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Comfort in the Eye of Chaos
By Troy Thomas <Silentnova@go.com>
Ranma 1/2 and its characters are the creations and properties of Rumiko Takahashi. Tenchi Muyo and its characters are the creations and properties of Masaki Kajishima. Excepting flames, if you have any comments or criticisms, feel free to send them my way.
***
Chapter Four
The sun, misleadingly quick and cold, began its ascension over the district of Nerima in the city of Tokyo.
Up with the sun, Katsuhito Masaki sipped green tea, which had been prepared surprisingly earlier by Nodoka, Katsuhito's niece, and Kasumi, the eldest daughter of Soun Tendo, who was sitting beside Katsuhito watching the sun warm the frigid earth.
"It's a wonder." Soun said. "Ranma resembles his father, and continues the grace of his mother." Smiling, he sipped his own tea, savouring its taste, as it began to warm his body.
"I never had the pleasure of meeting Ranma's father." Katsuhito said.
"He wasn't a bad man." Soun offered. "And he was my greatest friend." Turning towards the elderly man, Soun asked, "Were you the one who continued Ranma's training?"
"Yes. And it was a pleasure to learn the School of Indiscriminate Grappling, myself."
Soun turned his gaze towards the guestroom, occupied by Ranma and Tenchi. "Ranma seems a very competent warrior, and I'm quite certain the same can be said of young Tenchi." He looked at the elderly priest. "I have a question. I noticed something about the two boys...Almost as though the Saotome School..."
"Yes, the two were also trained in my family art, which, I am sure you know, Nodoka also practices." Katsuhito leaned back, and then began to breath deeply the morning air. "The two schools flow well together, Masaki and Saotome."
A moment passed, and then Soun slowly began to speak, "I'm grateful you continued Ranma's training, and I'm happy you've expanded on it. I believe Genma would feel the same."
Soun sipped his tea, and then continued, "Genma and I were friends for a long time, ever since childhood. When I heard of his death, it broke my heart." He looked at his tea. "Only months earlier, my wife had died. The deaths of those two, my closest friends..."
He looked at Katsuhito, who sat still and open. "I was a complete wreck. My state was...I cried for days, weeks. I was nothing, felt nothing, and this state of absence was ended by only a miracle."
He pointed to the gate, to the road outside, to the horizon. "My youngest daughter, she was the most active of the three." Soun smiled. "Still is, in fact. Anyway, she had gone to visit her mother."
Frowning, Soun folded his hands. "She told me, she had prayed to her mother, and her prayer was answered with a warm and gentle wind." Beginning to fidget his hands, Soun gripped his cup in both to stop.
"We took a family trip, due to the advice of a doctor, and the initiative of Kasumi. It was the legendary forest, Ryugenzawa."
Katsuhito's face remained blank. However, he knew of the forest.
"Akane...became lost. Nabiki and Kasumi looked in the forest as long as they dared, but due to the monstrously sized animals there, they didn't dare venture too far away from me."
Soun laughed, a sound bitter and reflective. "Of course, I wasn't any help, and I doubt I would've done anything if we were attacked."
A silent moment passed, and then Soun added, "I'm a fool."
Katsuhito looked at the man, who had tears in his eyes. "Would you believe, young Soun, that I too am a fool?" he gently asked, his voiced slowed and hushed by concern for his companion's fragile spirit.
Soun laughed, his voice cracked, but he continued with his story, "It was too many hours, and there was no sign of her. There was no hope in my heart to give up either, since I had formerly given it all to Death."
He closed his eyes. "However, the girls were stronger than me. They kept me walking, and they kept looking. Day turned to night, and then everything returned to day."
Eventually smiling, Soun turned toward Katsuhito. "We came to a cabin, where we found a grandfather and his grandson. Asleep, in the young boy's bed, was Akane. She was safe."
"It is a miracle." Katsuhito offered.
"It was, but let me let you know, I was ashamed of myself. I did not deserve such beautiful children. They continued believing in me, while I had no hope for them, the future, me...Yet, something...My dear Akane was alive, and she continued to love me."
Soun clenched his fist, and released it a moment later. "Love is a miracle, Katsuhito. The first thing Akane told me when she woke was she loved me, and the two golden stars said I wasn't to neglect them by forgetting myself."
"A vision?" Katsuhito asked.
"Yes, at least I think so." Soun's anger was turned aside by a smile. "I forgot myself. When I did that, I neglected everything. I lived in the past, which only offers memories, which I dwelled in." He shook his head. "But that's unfair to those who are gone, because they still love you, and you're neglecting that in favour of their love when they were alive, and because love is now..."
Soun looked up, and saw the sun shining down. "I couldn't sleep that night. Too many thoughts, too many fears. But the next morning, I never felt better, so I began to train again." His smile grew larger. "And Akane, being the most active, wanted to learn."
"You taught her well."
"It was the best I could give her. I feel especially proud she fought Ranma to a standstill last night. It was her greatest test, and she passed it wonderfully."
Standing, Soun turned around and gestured towards the door. "I think I just heard Kasumi say breakfast is ready..." He slid open the entrance to the inside. "After you."
***
Akane blinked her eyes, but they wouldn't stay open. She rolled over, and felt a yawn travel its way up her back to her mouth.
It was breakfast, but her body didn't care.
Rolling over again, her face ending up on top of her pillow, she then pushed up and sat on her knees, her feet under her bottom. However, she simply fell onto her bed backwards, her body having its own ideas about being awake. Gripping her blanket, she rolled over bringing it over her body.
As she was about to fall back asleep, a pillow hit head.
"Little sister, will you wake up?" Nabiki asked. "You can't lie around and miss breakfast, simply because you were up late last night."
"Nabiki...I was trying to sleep."
The pillow hit Akane's head again. "I know. That's why I woke you up, so you wouldn't be sleeping." Leaving the pillow on her sister's head, Nabiki walked away from the bed. "Auntie Nodoka and Kasumi cooked a wonderful meal. You'll want to get to the table as soon as possible."
Akane's head jerked up, causing the pillow to fall off. "Auntie helped?" Unfortunately, her question was unheard, since Nabiki had already left the room.
Moments later, after dressing and preparing for the day, she was downstairs, mouth watering staring at the food on the dining table. She swallowed, and then smiled at Kasumi and Nodoka. "It looks wonderful!"
"Man, I'm so hungry, it feels like my stomach's trying to eat itself!" Ranma said.
Soon, the food was gone, and only Akane, Ranma, Tenchi, and Nodoka remained at the table.
"Boys, you two should go to visit Akane's school today." Nodoka said. "I've put some though into this...We'll probably end up moving here for some time."
"Pardon?" Ranma asked.
"I said it'd be a good idea for you and Tenchi to visit Akane's school today." his mother replied.
"No, I mean, what you said after that."
Soun walked into the room, beaming at Akane. "Akane, I'm very proud of you. I heard from Master Katsuhito how you fought Ranma to a draw last night."
"Really?" asked Tenchi. "Not too many people who can do that..."
"You're a fine martial artist Akane. My son is talented, and for you to fight him to a draw..." Nodoka stood, and began to walk towards the entrance of the house. "Anyway, I should phone the school and tell them you'll be taking a couple of visitors." She looked at Soun. "Do you have the phone number?"
"It's written somewhere near the phone, Nodoka."
"Thanks." Smiling, Nodoka walked out of the dining room.
"Mom." Ranma called.
"Oh my!" Akane said, almost shouting. "It's almost...Darn it!" She looked at Ranma and Tenchi. "We're going to be late unless we hurry!" She ran out of the room, to the surprise of Ranma and Tenchi.
A minute later, she returned. Glaring at the two, she growled, "Didn't you hear me? We can't just sit around here all day! Let's go!"
Running, she was quickly followed by a pair of bewildered boys.
***
The gate to Furinkan, Akane's school, was crowded when the three approached it. Slowing, they watched a young man climb onto a podium.
Tatewaki Kuno, the young man standing on the podium, smiled at Akane as he watched her approach. "Young Maiden, today I must swear by Aphrodite how you are the most enchanting sight I've ever seen." His smile grew. "Mine eyes, captivated. Mine heart, beating to the music of love." He extended his hand. "Might you come stand with me?"
"Um..." Akane answered. "Maybe some other time?"
"Of course. I am too forward this morn." Kuno turned his eyes away from Akane, towards the audience, which was blocked from entering the school by the podium, large and wide. He raised a bullhorn to his mouth, and began to speak, "My fellow students, today I must proclaim how tomorrow I shall triumph at the first Nerima Martial Arts Mixed Tournament."
"Who are you?" Ranma asked, hollering over the murmuring crowd.
"Why, my name is Tatewaki Kuno, the Shooting Star of Furinkan High!" Ranma felt Tatewaki Kuno's eyes centre on him. "However, I am Upperclassman Kuno, to you."
"Never mind any of that!" somebody in the audience shouted. "Get this stupid stage out of the way! We're going to be late!"
Ranma stared defiantly at Upperclassman Kuno. He slowly and deliberately repeated Kuno's answer, "'However, I am Upperclassman Kuno, to you.'" Clenching his fists, he turned away from the stage, crossing his arms. "If I meet him in the tournament tomorrow, he's going to be sorry!"
Behind him, he heard a crash. Turning about, he watched as the students ran through the gates where the podium had stood. "Where'd it go?" he asked.
Nabiki walked towards the gates from the school. "Your three should hurry into the school, or you'll be late." She looked down at her feet. "Good grief, Kuno." Stepping off of him, she then reached down and grabbed him by his collar. "Any of you feel like helping me?" she asked, looking up.
***
Tatewaki Kuno sat upright in his desk, rigid and calm. Bringing his hand to his chin, he quietly said, "The girl this morning...Her hair long, her walk confident." He smiled. "My goodness, I do believe I am in love."
Beside him, Nabiki frowned. "Kuno, that girl is my sister."
Kuno turned and faced Nabiki. He raised his brow. "Surprising. To her you are related?"
Ignoring the question, Nabiki stared at her classmate. "She's in the tournament tomorrow as well, in case you were wondering."
"A warrior? She seems too fair and fragile though." He rubbed his chin. "But I mustn't look only in one dimension, else I'll look the fool." Returning his attention to Nabiki, he asked, "Might you spare some information, Miss Tendo?"
***
"Akane Tendo!" Kuno shouted.
The teacher looked outside his class, and saw Kuno holding a bouquet of red roses to his chest. He sighed. "Kuno, would you return to your class? I am trying to conduct a class."
"Sir, I must beg you to let me in the class!" said Kuno, walking into the class. "Mine heart cannot wait! It must be given to the most beautiful lady in existence, whom I would follow till Time's end."
"Kuno, leave."
"Akane Tendo! Where do you sit?"
In the middle of the class, Akane cringed. She looked side to side, silently telling her classmates, "Speak, and you die."
"Excuse me, Upperclassman Kuno?" Tenchi raised his hand. "Could you leave? Class is in session right now."
"Silence fool! My heart knows no obstacle!" Kuno brought forth a bokken. "Obstacles are nothing! Only nothing stands in my way!" He looked at Tenchi, who looked confused. "Who are you? Wait." Kuno let his bokken down, holding by his side. "Firstly, I am Upperclassman Tatewaki Kuno. Captain of the Kendo Club."
Standing, Tenchi looked at Ranma, who shrugged. He returned his eyes onto Kuno, and nervously smiled. "Um, my name is Tenchi Masaki. I am visiting, with my cousin Ranma Saotome," he gestured towards Ranma, who waved, "the Tendo family."
A cold silence descended on the class, emanating from Kuno. "A fool, and his disrespectful cousin...Only today do I learn the name of a true maiden, and already I find not one, but two dogs hounding her!" he slowly said. "It is to be my day, but instead I find two mongrels begging at her heels!"
Ranma looked at Akane. "I'm hounding you?"
Akane nervously smiled. "Not to my knowledge..."
"How dare you even speak with her!" Kuno bellowed.
The teacher tossed an eraser at Kuno's head. "I want quiet!"
"Oh the gods mock me!" Kuno's head was tilted to the side, the eraser stuck in his hair. "It is idiotic, this day!"
"Kuno..." Tenchi began.
"Upperclassman Kuno!" Kuno bellowed. "My lonely heart...The disrespect...Tenchi Masaki, I am Upperclassman Kuno!" He pointed the bokken at Tenchi. "Mine honour, mine dignity, I shall protect." Straightening his head, the eraser fell onto the floor.
He swiftly rushed Tenchi, swinging his bokken over the heads of the other students towards Tenchi's chest.
Tenchi brought his hands up, blocking the strike. However, after kicking Kuno in the midsection, which caused the Kendo Captain to back-pedal away from Tenchi, he gripped his hands, which stung and burned.
"No fighting!" the teacher ordered. "No fighting in the classroom!"
"He's right, you really shouldn't fight here, Tenchi." Ranma commented.
To his right, Tenchi saw Akane slide open a window to the hallway. "This way!"
Bursting through the open window, Tenchi landed and then turned left seeing Kuno run through the classroom door. "If we're going to fight, let's fight outside." he said, defensively bringing his red hands up. "Ouch." he said, quickly and quietly rubbing his hands together.
Ranma called out to Tenchi. "Akane says no fighting in the halls either. This way, Tenchi!"
Turning, Tenchi saw his cousin loping down the hallway towards a flight of stairs. Grimacing, he began to chase Ranma, who he was sure was following Akane.
After flying down hundreds of stairs, and passing hundreds of bemused heads looking out of classroom windows, Tenchi found himself outside, on a large green field.
He watched Kuno, who was running towards him, gripped bokken trailing by his side.
Foot digging into the earth behind, he braced for Kuno's attack.
Kuno swung low, and Tenchi jumped.
Bringing the sword up, Kuno tried impaling the airborne Masaki. Unfortunately, for Kuno, Tenchi landed on his sword, and back-flipped away. Charging forward, Kuno tried catching Tenchi unawares, who was still recovering from his landing.
However, a fist connected with his stomach.
Tenchi leaned forward into Kuno and tried pushing him away with his hand, which was pressing against the swordsman's midsection.
The base of Kuno's bokken crashed into the back of his head though, and Tenchi stumbled forward. Before hitting the ground, and fighting to stay conscious, Tenchi grabbed one of Kuno's legs and pushed it away tripping the Kendo Captain, causing Kuno to also begin falling forward.
Putting a hand on the ground, stopping his fall, Tenchi lurched up and brought an uppercut into Kuno's chest.
The blow forced Kuno high into the air, flipping him over and over, and ultimately, he landed on his back, his bokken falling out of his hands.
"He isn't half-bad." Tenchi commented, before falling face forward into the soft grass, into a waiting darkness of slumber.
***
"Wow. Who would've thought someone dedicated strictly to Kendo would be that good?" Ranma looked at Akane, who was looking at him. "Not me, that's for sure."
"Well, he is the Captain of the Kendo Club..." Akane offered. "And from what I understand, all he does is practise, practise, practise."
"He could've been a challenge tomorrow. Pretty glad I watched." He began walking over to Tenchi, who'd crumpled forward into the grass, his bottom sticking up in the air. "Man, I wish I could get a picture of this..." he smirked.
"They look pretty banged up." Akane said, walking beside him. "Maybe we should bring them over to the local clinic."
Looking at Kuno's prone form, Ranma frowned. "It's a shame. It would've felt great to fight him. And I still need to get him back for being such a jerk this morning."
"Doctor Tofu should be able to fix him up. That's my family doctor, and he's really good too!" Akane beamed. "But it's going to be a little hard getting them both over there... "
"It won't be a problem." countered Ranma, smiling.
***
Sitting beside Tenchi, who was lying still, Ranma watched Doctor Tofu, a gentle young doctor, examine Kuno, who was lying in a bed on the room's other side.
Doctor Tofu adjusted his glasses, and turned towards Ranma and Akane. "The bruises will be fine, and I trust he'll be okay in the tournament tomorrow." He gestured to Kuno's head. "I thought you said he was only hit in the chest and stomach though. There are a lot of strange bruises on the back of his head..."
"He hit his head on a couple of curbs on the way here." Ranma answered.
"I thought he was unconscious the entire way here though. Akane said you and she carried him over here."
"Dragged." Ranma said. "We dragged him."
Tofu frowned.
"Your name is Ranma Saotome?" he asked, after a moment's reflection. "I was shocked by your sudden appearance..."
"Yup, Ranma Saotome."
"And you've just moved to the area?"
"He's visiting with his family." Akane answered, cutting off the conversation between the two. "For the tournament tomorrow."
"Really? So you two are both participating?" Smiling, Tofu walked past the two towards Tenchi. After waking the young man up, who simply blinked his eyes in confusion, Tofu said, "I think I'll go watch it then."
"You will?" Akane smiled, and shyly folded her hands over her lap. "We'll see you tomorrow then!" Joyfully, she bounded out of the room.
Standing, Ranma looked at Tenchi. "You okay?"
"I feel great!" Tenchi said, sitting up, looking at his hands, which had been bandaged.
"Well, if you're alright, then let's go." Ranma turned about. "I don't feel like being around when he wakes up." he said, nodding at Kuno. He walked out of the room.
***
Looking at his hands, falling behind Ranma and Akane, walking to the dojo, Tenchi whispered, "He's an incredible doctor!"
Ranma and Akane slowed, and let Tenchi catch up.
"Isn't he though?" Akane asked, smiling.
"You know, last night. For no reason at all, I began wondering about fate, destiny." Ranma suddenly spoke. "I think it was because my grandpa asked me about my future."
"Fate?" Akane inquired.
"Yeah, but I don't care now." Ranma put a finger to his chin. "What I'm wondering about now, is what I'm going to do. I never thought about my future before."
"I'm inheriting the family dojo." Akane said. "I'm going to be a martial arts instructor like my father."
"It's the Shrine for me." Tenchi said. "And my dad says I have the right kind of mind to be an architect, like him." He smirked. "It wouldn't be too bad, designing houses."
"Shrine?" Akane solicited.
Tenchi looked at Akane, and said, "For a thousand years, the Masaki's have watched over a Shrine, which has held prisoner a demon who caused great destruction to the nearby lands."
Crossing his arms behind the back of his head, Ranma leaned backwards resting his neck. "Word for word. You sound like Gramps."
Ignoring Ranma, Tenchi continued, "Fortunately, a great hero named Yosho, who is an ancestor to Ranma and me, appeared and defeated her." He scratched his head. "Wait a minute. How the heck does Grandfather know the demon was a female?"
"Sounds pretty neat." Akane said.
"Yeah. It's so neat that no one ever visits the Shrine. It's pretty remote, unless you like driving out of your way to it." Tenchi responded. "But it's a great place to live."
"Well, you two sound set." Shrugging, Ranma looked towards the sky. "I guess I'll become whatever I become."
"Right." Tenchi looked at his hands, and smiled. "He told you guys I can take the bandages off tomorrow?"
Ranma answered, "Yeah."
"What a great doctor!"
"Isn't he though?" exclaimed Akane.
***
Lifting Ranma's invitation up, Katsuhito read it, and then frowned. "Soun, do you know the names of all the participants?" he asked, knowing Soun was behind him.
"There's only four. Akane and Ranma, and two others."
"Really?" His frown grew. "Four competitors, hmm?" Katsuhito placed the invite back down, and turned about. His frown disappeared. "I assume the other two are from around here?"
"I would guess so."
"Well, it should be an interesting day tomorrow!" Katsuhito walked out of the living room. "I can't wait to see what happens."
***
Ranma saw his mother, Nodoka, who was waiting outside the Tendo Dojo gate. He jogged towards her, and smiled when she smiled.
"Hi Mom!" he said, joyfully.
"Son, how was school today?" Nodoka gently smiled, and then waved to Tenchi and Akane, who were still slowly walking towards her.
"It was okay. Not too much happened. A couple of guys got into a fight." Ranma scratched his head. "We met a really neat doctor after we left."
Kasumi appeared behind Nodoka, and she looked at Akane. "Oh my, Akane's home early today!"
"Really?" Nodoka frowned. "I suppose they won't mind, since she was taking care of a couple of visitors..."
"I'll phone, just to make sure. It wouldn't be good if Akane were to get into trouble." Kasumi turned around, and glided towards the house.
Nodoka looked at Tenchi, who a moment before had just stood beside Ranma. "Oh dear. What's happened to your hands? Were you burned?"
"No, someone hit my hands, so we stopped by a doctors clinic to have them looked at." Tenchi raised his hands for his auntie to see. "They feel great now. That doctor is amazing! And he said I could take the bandages off tomorrow!"
Smiling, Nodoka said, "That's good." She looked at Akane. "I trust that they behaved? Neither gave you any trouble?"
Akane fiercely shook her head. "They weren't any trouble! It was fun showing them around!" She noted the bemused smile on Nodoka's face. "Well, it was quite an interesting day!"
"I would assume." She began walking. "Anyway, let's go."
"Mom?"
"It would be a waste if we came to Tokyo, and you didn't get any new clothes. Besides, we need to get you two fitted for school uniforms." Ranma's mother continued walking ahead.
"What?" Ranma chased after her.
Nodoka turned around. "Tenchi? Akane? Aren't you two coming?"
"Mom, we already have uniforms!" her son said. "And what did you say this morning, about us moving here?"
Humming, Nodoka walked ahead without answering any of Ranma's questions, knowing he'd find out soon.
End Chapter Four
***
***
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