Disclaimer:
Megaman X character designs belong to Capcom. I=E2=80=99m just borrowin=
g =E2=80=98em,=20
guys. I=E2=80=99ll have =E2=80=98em power washed before I bring =E2=80=98em=
back. Yeah, yeah,=20
I=E2=80=98ll even hot wax =E2=80=98em. Ranma characters belong to Rumiko Ta=
kahashi. I=E2=80=99m=20
just borrowing =E2=80=98em, Rumiko-san. I=E2=80=99ll have =E2=80=98em power=
washed before I return=20
=E2=80=98em. Yeah, yeah, I=E2=80=98ll even hot wax =E2=80=98em. There=E2=
=80=99s a character design that I=20
borrowed from the Sonic anime, but that should be it. He=E2=80=99ll be waxe=
d and=20
washed too.
Warning: This chapter has a sailor in it. If you can=E2=80=99t handle t=
he=20
swearing of a sailor, you probably haven=E2=80=99t entered high school yet.=20=
If you=20
don=E2=80=99t care about sailor speak, then please disregard this warning.
Flashfyre5 Presents
A Flaming Amarant production
In association with Digital Wizardry Studios, Minnesota
The Opening Bet
Chapter Six: The Death of Ranma Saotome, part 1
=E2=80=9C =E2=80=9C =3D speech
[ ] =3D panda board
< > =3D thought
/ / =3D written
=20
* * * * * *
=E2=80=9CI must thank thee, goodsir. Verily, I have never felt quite th=
is=20
capable,=E2=80=9D Tatewaki Kuno said, admiring his new body. It was less sm=
ooth than=20
his old one, but it was much more heavily armed. His wings were no longer=20
like a bird=E2=80=99s; they were definitively mechanical, angular and sharp-=
edged. =20
There was a sword jutting from each of his gauntlets, and his right hand was=
=20
equipped with a beam emitter. His armor was heavier too, but his new wings=20
could handle the load.
=E2=80=9CIt was nothing, really,=E2=80=9D Inferno Phoenix said, admiring=
his work. He=20
felt no particular pride in this one; it was reasonably powerful, but nothin=
g=20
truly special.
=E2=80=9CNow, what is the service that your master hath requested of me=20=
in return=20
for your diligent work?=E2=80=9D Kuno asked, turning to face Inferno.
=E2=80=9CJust some easy stuff. First, swallow this,=E2=80=9D Inferno in=
structed,=20
handing Kuno a large, purple pill.
=E2=80=9CWhat be this for, I inquire?=E2=80=9D Kuno asked, examining it.
=E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s a spin-sealed gas that some of your systems need t=
o work at=20
optimum efficiency,=E2=80=9D Inferno lied smoothly, smiling. Kuno, unquesti=
oning,=20
swallowed the pill and forgot about it.
=E2=80=9CWhat acts of greatness shall we now endeavor upon?=E2=80=9D Kun=
o asked. He had=20
a sick feeling in his gut, but he ignored it.
=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t know. We=E2=80=99ll have to wait until Lord Si=
gma decides to come tell=20
us,=E2=80=9D Inferno said, leaning against a wall.
=E2=80=9CVery well, then,=E2=80=9D Kuno agreed, sitting down. The sick=20=
feeling was=20
intensifying, but he still said nothing. Time passed at a crawl. Inferno=20
watched Kuno with an unwavering, unblinking stare. Kuno refused to allow th=
e=20
growing feeling of illness affect him, even though it had passed beyond his=20
gut. Finally, he forced himself unsteadily to his feet. =E2=80=9CI believe=
that=20
there may be something wrong...=E2=80=9D he choked out before his legs faile=
d him and=20
he fell to the ground in a heap. Inferno walked slowly over and watched=20
Kuno=E2=80=99s twitching, convulsing body.
When it stopped twitching, he commanded, =E2=80=9CGet up.=E2=80=9D Slow=
ly, Kuno=E2=80=99s body=20
rose from the floor, using its wings to steady itself in a way that no human=
=20
being could know. When the silver Reploid was finally upright, Inferno=20
sneered,=E2=80=9D Is this what you call military respect and honor? You=E2=
=80=99re facing a=20
commanding officer!=E2=80=9D Kuno=E2=80=99s body immediately snapped to att=
ention, losing=20
its unsteadiness. =E2=80=9CBetter,=E2=80=9D Inferno granted, looking him ov=
er. =E2=80=9CWhat=E2=80=99s=20
your designation?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI am Sword Angel, Milord. At your service, naturally,=E2=80=
=9D Kuno=E2=80=99s body=20
said, its voice deeper and more respectful than it had ever been. Inferno=20
Phoenix smiled, finally satisfied.
* * * * * *
The cargo freighter Yuki-o sailed through the choppy waters of the Sea o=
f=20
China. At first look, nothing seemed out of order with the ship. It had a=20
full cargo hold. It was so full, in fact, that there were boxes tied down o=
n=20
the foredeck. No damage was apparent on the freighter, and its tank was=20
quite nearly full of diesel gasoline. However, if one were to examine it=20
more closely, the facts would quickly become alarming. The first thing that=
=20
became apparent was the smell of the boat. It reeked of spoiled fish, the=20
smell emanating from the cargo hold and the crates on deck. Secondly, all=20
the crates were labeled in Mandarin, and dated for export over a week ago. =20
Finally, the deck itself had traces of blood on it.
Something was not right with this ship.
There were no crew members moving about on the ship. It had, in fact,=20
been recently listed as stolen property by one Hiro Shikata. Further=20
investigation would reveal that he was the owner of the ship, and that there=
=20
were six murders under investigation in connection with the ship=E2=80=99s t=
heft. =20
Hiro himself was laid up in the hospital, having suffered severe lacerations=
=20
and a collapsed chest cavity caused, the doctors had concluded, by the=20
application of almost 500 kilograms of force.
At the wheel of the ship, though, was the most alarming thing of all. =20
Crammed into the tiny cabin, Ryoga grasped the wheel of the freighter with=20
his single hand. Checking his heading, he nodded. Another four hours would=
=20
bring him to the shores of China. After that, it was a two-day trek to the=20
Jusendo area, where Phoenix Mountain stood. The whole while, he was=20
muttering to himself, his face twisted into a mask of rage.
=E2=80=9C...red devil gonna kill her and Ranma, can=E2=80=99t forget Ran=
ma, no, he=20
started this whole thing damn him, own family won=E2=80=99t accept me now go=
tta kill=20
them both...,=E2=80=9D Ryoga growled as he drove himself into a downward spi=
ral of=20
ever-decreasing sanity.
* * * * * *
Soun looked up as Genma walked out of the basement doorway. His=20
expression was stoic, but Soun knew his best friend well enough that he coul=
d=20
tell that the big man was hurting. His jaw was a bit too tightly clenched,=20
his walk a little stiff, his eyes too fixed on something off in the distance=
.
=E2=80=9CWhat=E2=80=99s wrong, old friend?=E2=80=9D Soun asked, concerne=
d.
=E2=80=9CNothing that you can help with, Tendo,=E2=80=9D Genma said soft=
ly, closing the=20
basement door. He stood silently for a moment, then said, =E2=80=9CTendo, i=
t has=20
been a true honor to know you, but I=E2=80=99m afraid that I must now leave,=
=E2=80=9D Genma=20
finally declared.
=E2=80=9CWhy, Saotome? Did I do something wrong?=E2=80=9D Soun asked, d=
ismayed.
=E2=80=9CNo, Tendo, you did nothing. In fact, your family has done noth=
ing more=20
than make me feel at home,=E2=80=9D Genma shook his head, moving away from t=
he door.
=E2=80=9CThen why are you leaving?=E2=80=9D Soun asked.
=E2=80=9CI have disowned Ranma this evening,=E2=80=9D Genma stated flatl=
y. Soun=20
breathed a gasp of surprise, shocked to his very core. =E2=80=9CMy son is d=
ead to=20
me, now. It is not the place of the living to see the dead walking.=E2=80=
=9D
=E2=80=9CI... see,=E2=80=9D Soun said, once he could gather his wits eno=
ugh to speak. =20
=E2=80=9CDo you want your things?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CNo. I=E2=80=99ll leave them as an offering to my son=E2=80=99s=
spirit,=E2=80=9D Genma=20
decided, slipping into his outdoor shoes. =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m going to go=20=
back to my home,=20
to face my wife. I will tell her that Ranma died at Jusenkyo. Perhaps I=
=E2=80=99ll=20
have a chance to father another son.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI...,=E2=80=9D Soun began, not knowing quite what to say. =E2=
=80=9CGood luck, old=20
friend,=E2=80=9D he finally decided on, bowing deeply to Genma.
=E2=80=9CYou too, old friend,=E2=80=9D Genma replied in turn, bowing jus=
t as deeply. =20
Without another word, he opened the front door and left the Tendo household.
=E2=80=9CFather?=E2=80=9D Kasumi=E2=80=99s concerned voice intruded upon=
Soun, shattering the=20
moment. =E2=80=9CAre you all right? You haven=E2=80=99t moved for the last=
five minutes.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ll be fine, Kasumi. I think I=E2=80=99ll just go to=20=
bed a little early=20
tonight,=E2=80=9D Soun replied. Keeping a tight hold on his emotions, he ma=
de his=20
way to the stairs. Ignoring Kasumi=E2=80=99s concerned look, he ascended th=
em and=20
entered his room, the room that he had once shared with his wife, Kimiko. H=
e=20
slowly, deliberately, closed the door, then leaned against it, finally=20
allowing his tears to flow. Crying softly, he changed out of his gi and int=
o=20
a pair of pajamas. Then, he laid down in his large-enough-for-two bed and=20
cried himself to sleep, mourning the loss of his best, and only, friend.
* * * * * *
=E2=80=9CPop...=E2=80=9D Ranma choked out, smashing a fist against the c=
oncrete floor,=20
sending a slim crack shooting a few inches forward. =E2=80=9CDamn it, Pop.=20=
Why=E2=80=99d=20
ya hafta go and do something like that? Why...=E2=80=9D From his capsule, D=
r. Light=20
looked, speechless, at the pain he=E2=80=99d wrought. After a few painful m=
inutes,=20
he put the capsule on standby, shutting off the sight and sound of the=20
hurting boy.
=E2=80=9CRanma...=E2=80=9D Akane said, slowly approaching his kneeling f=
orm. She had=20
emerged from her hiding place as soon as the door had closed. She wanted to=
=20
comfort her friend, but wasn=E2=80=99t quite sure if he wanted to be comfort=
ed.
=E2=80=9CI just wanted him to respect me again,=E2=80=9D Ranma said, to=20=
nobody in=20
particular. =E2=80=9CHe treated me like dirt, but at least he respected me.=
Is that=20
really so much ta ask?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CMaybe, for him...=E2=80=9D Akane said, kneeling next to Ranma.=20=
=E2=80=9CYou remember=20
how my dad used to treat me when you got here?=E2=80=9D she asked.
=E2=80=9CYeah,=E2=80=9D Ranma said, looking at her.
=E2=80=9CIt was just too much for him. He couldn=E2=80=99t handle it,=
=E2=80=9D she said anyway.=20
=E2=80=9CThen you came along. You treated me like a person, not a machine.=
You=20
showed him how to do it too. You even gave me the one thing that would=E2=
=80=99ve=20
solved this whole mess.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CYeah...=E2=80=9D Ranma said softly, looking away.
=E2=80=9CRanma, you can=E2=80=99t let him beat you. You=E2=80=99re bett=
er than he is!=E2=80=9D Akane=20
said, leaning towards him.
=E2=80=9CYeah, right,=E2=80=9D Ranma sneered. =E2=80=9CHe didn=E2=80=
=99t get disowned, despite the=20
fact that he=E2=80=99s a thief, a liar, and a deserter.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CSo, what? He=E2=80=99s a moron. What=E2=80=99s his opinion ma=
tter?=E2=80=9D Akane asked,=20
pulling backwards.
=E2=80=9CA whole lot, since he=E2=80=99s the head of the clan,=E2=80=9D=20=
Ranma answered, sitting=20
back on his haunches. Akane didn=E2=80=99t have a retort to that statement,=
so she=20
remained silent.
=E2=80=9CSo,=E2=80=9D Akane asked uncomfortably. =E2=80=9CWhat now?=E2=
=80=9D
=E2=80=9CNow?=E2=80=9D Ranma asked, as if he hadn=E2=80=99t thought of t=
he future. =E2=80=9CWhat do=20
you mean =E2=80=98what now=E2=80=99? Your dad=E2=80=99ll throw me out now t=
hat Pop disowned me. I=20
don=E2=80=99t have anywhere else to go. There isn=E2=80=99t a =E2=80=98what=
now=E2=80=99 for me anymore.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CHe wouldn=E2=80=99t!=E2=80=9D Akane exclaimed, defending her fa=
ther.
=E2=80=9CWouldn=E2=80=99t he? You remember how he used to treat you,=
=E2=80=9D Ranma said. =20
=E2=80=9CHe=E2=80=99d just throw me out with all the other trash. =E2=80=
=98Sides, I might as well=20
be burakumin, thanks to my Pop. If I stayed, it=E2=80=99d screw over your f=
amily=20
reputation majorly.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CBut...=E2=80=9D Akane trailed off, not knowing what to say in r=
esponse.
=E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s okay, Akane. I=E2=80=99ll spend the night down he=
re, then leave in the=20
morning. Just forget I was ever here,=E2=80=9D Ranma said, pushing himself=20=
off the=20
floor. His face had some kind of fragile determination etched on it.
=E2=80=9CWhat are you going to do?=E2=80=9D Akane asked as Ranma turned=20=
and walked over=20
to Dr. Light=E2=80=99s deactivated capsule.
=E2=80=9CSomething I should=E2=80=99ve done a long time ago,=E2=80=9D Ra=
nma replied cryptically.
=E2=80=9CRanma...=E2=80=9D Akane said, worried. Ranma slowly sat down i=
n a corner=20
adjacent to Dr. Light=E2=80=99s capsule.
=E2=80=9CThere=E2=80=99s this really tall cliff in southern Honshu, near=
Osaka. Almost=20
three hundred feet tall. It=E2=80=99s beautiful, and plunges right into the=
sea. =20
Always was my favorite place. Pop let me train there for almost a year, whe=
n=20
I was eight,=E2=80=9D Ranma said, almost nostalgically. =E2=80=9CIt looks l=
ike the sea=20
meets the earth meets the sky. It=E2=80=98s far from civilization. Nobody=20=
ever goes=20
there. =E2=80=98Least I won=E2=80=98t cause anybody any more pain,=E2=80=
=9D he finished softly,=20
almost speaking to himself. =E2=80=9CG=E2=80=99night, Akane,=E2=80=9D he sa=
id, his eyes drooping=20
closed.
=E2=80=9CRanma...=E2=80=9D Akane said again, feeling guilty. She knew t=
hat he blamed=20
himself for not being able to help her against Ryoga. It killed her inside=20
to know that she had only added to the pain that Ranma was feeling. =E2=80=
=9CDamn=20
it, Ranma, I just want to be your friend,=E2=80=9D she finally said, kicking=
the blue=20
Reploid the leg. At the resounding *Boom* that it made, she cringed, hoping=
=20
that nobody noticed. When nobody came to investigate, she relaxed and sat=20
down with her back to Dr. Light=E2=80=99s capsule /I hope he gets better,/=20=
she=20
thought to herself, then suddenly realized something.
=E2=80=9CWhen did I start to think of Ranma as a guy?=E2=80=9D She wonde=
red aloud. =20
After a moment of contemplation, she shook her head and activated her own=20
sleep cycle.
* * * * * *
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