Minna-san,
Here's the first half of Part 7. I expect it to go
two sides, then we're on to Part 8 and Aria-chan
finally getting the Genesis Wand.
Enjoy!
Fred
=====
<P><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Courier New">Fred Herriot AKA P'yeknu OR Gorgo</FONT></EM></STRONG></P>
<P>**** **** ****</P>
<P><A href="mailto:fherriot@yahoo.com">fherriot@yahoo.com</A></P>
<P>**** **** ****</P>
<P><A href="http://www.livejournal.com/~pyeknu/">http://www.livejournal.com/~pyeknu/</A></P>
______________________________________________________________________
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: LoneS-07A.txt
-- Desc: LoneS-07A.txt
Dawn...
"Hina really doesn't understand it, Bou-san..."
Standing on the roof of the old shrine, Hinako cradles the Staff
of Gihan in her arms. Tears trickle from grief-filled eyes; her
cheeks damp from hours of crying. Sniffing back another bout of
painful sobs, the youngest sister gazes heavenward. "Hina knew
Bou-san could help Akane-san after what Akari-san's big piggy did."
Another deep sniff, then she gazes on the Staff. "But why didn't
Akane-san want Bou-san to help her?"
***It was her choice in the end, Hina.***
"Didn't she care about how her sisters or Shinshi-san'd
feel?"
***Don't forget, Hina. At the time she slipped into the Very,
Very Bright Place, Akane believed her family had abandoned her.***
Hinako shudders, then sniffs back more tears. Oh, yes, she knew
what the pain arising from THAT was like, having frequently
experienced it since her mother and step-father left her at Welcome
House. "They didn't really mean to do that, did they...?" she gazes
into the morning sky.
***That isn't relevant to the issue at hand, Hina. What
mattered at that moment was what Akane's feelings were at the moment
she chose to go to the Very, Very Bright Place, not Kasumi's,
Nabiki's or Shinshi's.***
Hinako considers that, then slowly nods. "Yeah, that's true..."
***Besides, remember what Akane told you at the end?***
Silence falls as the youngest sister considers that, then the
faint hint of a smile crosses her face. "Hai, Hina remembers..."
***And Akane DID want to be with her mother, Hina,*** the Staff
reminds her. ***You can certainly understand that, can't you?***
"Hai..." Hinako nods again, the smile widening a bit.
"Akane-san's with her mama now in the Very, Very Bright Place.
But..." the smile fades. "What happens with all of Akane-san's
friends, Bou-san? What about Kasumi-san, Nabiki-san and Shinshi-san?
What about Ryouga-san?" A pause as she pulls the Staff closer to
herself. "What about Onee-tama...?"
***They will have to resolve their feelings on their own,
Hina,*** the Staff extends a field of warm energy around her
controller, chasing away the last of the early morning chill.
***There is nothing you can do to help them in that regard except
tell them how sorry you feel about Akane's passing into the Very,
Very Bright Place.*** A pause, then, ***And you also did much to
defend Ryouga's actions as 'P-chan,' didn't you?***
Hinako blinks, then her smile returns. "Hai, Hina did!"
Silence falls as a gentle wind flows past the youngest of the
sisters. Hinako then pulls the Staff away from her, staring directly
on the ancient Sagussan device's focusing crystal. Sensing what she
wanted to see, the Staff forges a three-dimensional mini-hologram
of Akane Tendou for Hinako to gaze on. "Hina wishes you would've
stayed here instead of going to the Very, Very Bright Place,
Akane-san. But..." she sniffs. "Hina knows what it's like to not be
with your mama, Akane-san. Hina misses her mama very much. Maybe
one day, Hina'll be with her mama again..."
* * *
"Lonely Souls"
by Fred Herriot
fherriot@yahoo.com
**** **** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2" created by Rumiko
Takahashi; and "Sister Princess," created by Naoto Tenhiro and
Sakurako Kimino. This story is set after the end of the "UY" and
"Ranma" manga series.
**** **** ****
NOTE: The writer's notes are at the end of the "A" Side of the
Prologue.
**** **** ****
THE SEVENTH PART, "A" SIDE - EMPTY CHAIRS
"Captain, we've established orbit over Earth."
"Status report?"
"Retrieval systems are at the ready," the technician reports.
"We've locked in on the transporter guide beacons Agent Rose set into
place at Tomobiki High School. We can seize the targets at any time
we desire."
"Splendid," the captain of the "Rose Emperor" nods. "Does Rose
need assistance when it comes to *inviting* Mr. Groom's sisters
to join us?"
"No, ma'am," the technician shakes her head. "Agent Rose
reports she can use her own scout's sensors to locate them via the
traces of their father's DNA we obtained from scans of Mr. Groom
himself, then their coordinates will be automatically relayed to us
for transport."
"Excellent!" the captain grins. "The Queen will be very
pleased. Alright, then," she gazes on the other women controlling
the bridge. "Let's look sharp, people! The quicker we do this, the
better!"
"Yes, ma'am!!" the crew chant...
* * *
Oogi frowns as he gazes on the "Rose Emperor's" image. The
bodiless present of Phentax Two currently stands in one of the
cloaked bioroid factory ship's primary control centres. As soon as
the Ellsian patrol monitor had come into orbit over Earth -- moving
to a geosynchronous position directly over the Holy Citadel itself!
-- Oogi had ordered the factory to skirt northward, putting its
centre of axis over Urawa.
"Mister President?"
Oogi glances over his shoulder to see Otako standing at the
site-to-site transporter unit which connected the control centre
with the rest of the vast starcraft. "What news about those missing
bioroids, Otako?"
"No further information about them has been obtained, sir,"
Otako, a replica of one of the Church's more passionate leaders
who had died when Phentax Twelve was destroyed two weeks ago, shakes
her head, then perks. "There is an update concerning Operation
Hashish, sir. The bioroids you require for that are a day from
emerging from gestation."
He perks, then nods. "Excellent. When they are ready, have the
substitutions take place right away. No delay on that, Otako."
Otako nods. "It will be done, sir. Do you desire to
communicate with any of the observers in the Holy City?"
Silence falls over the bridge, then he shakes his head. "No,
not yet. Certain more critical matters have to be resolved first
before we seek to re-establish control over those people. Don't
worry about it."
"As you wish, sir."
"What of the Great Evil? Have you located him?"
"No, sir," Otako shakes her head. "Even with the data you
brought with you when you came here from Lumukyou, all attempts
at locating Ataru Moroboshi have proven unsuccessful. We are still
looking, though."
Oogi trembles, then gasps suddenly as a feeling akin to a
billion thumbtacks pressing into his skin overwhelms him. To Otako's
point of view, the ghostly president seems to fizzle, the colour
of his astral "body" fading. A hand darts to the communicator
affixed to the collar of her jumpsuit as she barks out, "Gestation
Unit Six!!! Have...!!"
"NO!!!!"
Otako stops as Oogi seems to curl in on himself for a moment.
The former is frozen in place, ignoring the concerned query from the
woman in charge of the gestation unit, as she watches the president's
body blaze with new energy. Another minute passes, then he
straightens himself, looking somewhat more healthy for a living
spirit without a physical body to presently inhabit. "I...!" he
automatically pants, though it is impossible for his astral form to
take in oxygen. "I'm alright...!"
Otako blinks, then nods. "Stand down, Unit Six," she taps her
collar, then walks up to gaze intently at Oogi. "Sir, you can't keep
depending on the energy of those who died on Phentax Twelve
forever..."
"I know!!" he grunts, then taking a couple steps away from
Otako, fully straightens himself as a hand points to the Ellsian
patrol monitor hovering off the factory's starboard quarter. "Have
sensors probe the other ship. Find out who's aboard and why they're
here!"
"Yes, sir," Otako nods, then heads out.
Oogi's vision remains locked on the "Rose Emperor." "No doubt,
you've come to claim your precious 'Honey' now that the Goddess
Herself no longer stands in your way, Elle," he mirthlessly
smiles. As President of Phentax Two, it was his business to know the
habits of all his counterparts in the Galactic Federation, including
the infamous Rose Queen. "But I've business with him that will not
wait! And if you get in my way...!"
Howling laughter soon echoes through the factory...
* * *
"Ohayou, Shirayuki," Chikage steps into the kitchen.
"Ah, Chikage-chan, ohayou gozaimasu desu no," the chef gazes
up from what appears to be pancake batter, then taking a deep breath,
turns back to prepare breakfast. "Hime's not really in a mood to
cook today..."
"Understandable," Chikage walks over to gently take the mixing
bowl out of Shirayuki's hands, then places that on the counter before
turning to stare once again at the chef. "We all survived very well
before you came to live with us at the House, Shirayuki. I think
we can go out to make our own breakfast this morning. Besides,
I personally think very few of us are going to be that hungry today
after last night's events."
Shirayuki blinks, then sighs. "Why did she do that,
Chikage-chan?"
"Akane?"
"Hai desu no."
The sorceress crosses her arms. "Many reason, I suspect.
The love she expressed for her late mother certainly weighed into
it." A pause as Chikage purses her lips, then she leans against
the refrigerator. "We should also keep in mind what Ane-kun told us
about her. Akane was never forced to apologize for any of the
previous times she grossly overstepped her bounds concerning
interacting with other people, especially Ane-kun. To have everyone
from her family to Ane-kun to near-strangers tell her that she was in
the wrong after assuming for so long she was in the right..."
"It's all her father's fault, you mean?"
"That's where it started, pretty much," Chikage nods, then
blinks as someone else enters the kitchen. "Ohayou, Ani-kun."
"Oh, Nii-sama!" Shirayuki brightens a bit on seeing Ataru.
"Ohayou," he nods, walking up to embrace the chef from behind.
Feeling his strong arms wrap around her, Shirayuki turns,
allowing herself to sink deeply into his warm embrace. A hand
reaches up to gently thread her hair as his nose bats back and forth
across her forehead, his beard tickling the end of her nose.
Finally, he gives her a tender kiss on the bridge of her nose.
"Don't worry about breakfast today, Hime-chan," he whispers to her.
"Not that many people're hungry right now."
"Hime knows," Shirayuki's cheeks instantly redden on Ataru's
calling her "princess." "Hime's not really in the mood to cook
today."
"That's understandable," he sighs.
"How are you feeling?" Chikage asks.
Ataru considers the sorceress' question, then pulling away from
Shirayuki, gazes on his other sister. "Hard to say," he shrugs.
"I guess I've seen too much in the way of premature death over the
last while to really be stunned by this. Though I AM somewhat
upset at that woman for putting Hinako-chan through what happened
last night," he holds up a finger in addition, then takes a deep
breath. "Not as angry as Ranma is."
"Is Nee-sama okay?" Shirayuki asks.
"Hopefully, she'll get over it," Ataru grimaces. "It's a good
thing that we got Jay and Kay to escort the Tendous back to their
house. After seeing what Akane did to Hinako-chan, Ranma was ready
to tear into Kasumi and Nabiki for what they did and didn't do
concerning Akane..."
"They can still come to the House, can't they?" the chef probes.
"Hai, hai, they can. In fact, getting away from the loons in
this place'll be the best thing for them," Ataru nods, then holds
up a finger. "What we have to do now is keep Ranma isolated from
those who'd want to put the blame for all this on her shoulders.
Given how mixed up her feelings now are concerning Akane, that is the
LAST thing she needs to deal with!"
"Soo desu no," Shirayuki nods.
"We should have Negako-anekun keep an eye on Ane-kun for the
time being," Chikage closes her eyes. "Are we still going to the hot
springs?"
"Yeah, we'll head out tonight," Ataru nods, then rolls his eyes.
"Barring any other unforseen interruptions. Anyhow, Chikage-chan,
would you come with me? I need to talk to you, Haruka and Sakuya
alone."
"Hai," the sorceress falls in behind her brother as they head
out.
Shirayuki watches them go, then turns back to what she was
doing. "Hime should make breakfast for Nee-sama at least..."
* * *
"'Morning, Haruka."
"Oh!" Haruka perks as Jay steps through the front gate, closing
the door behind him. "Good morning, Jay-san," she nods before
turning back to her morning naginata practice. "Did the Tendous
make it home last night?"
"Yeah, they did," the young SCAA agent nods as he watches the
young martial artist go to work with the bladed polearm. "No
problems there. I think this whole mess'll be wrapped up long before
lunchtime." Taking a glance around the property, a hum escapes
his lips. "Where's Hibiki?"
Haruka stops herself, then sighs. "I believe Hibiki-*san*..."
-- the honorific is coated with a tidal wave of disgust, Jay notes
-- "...left the property sometime after Unryuu-san and her pet
departed. As to when he might be forced to grace our property
with his presence again..." she moves to begin another kata,
"...personally, I hope it will be *never!*"
Jay gazes on her, then glances up to see a hunched form sitting
on the roof. "Your little sis up there won't agree with you."
Haruka pauses, glancing up to see Hinako gazing at the morning
sky; the youngest sister had shifted herself away from staring
directly into the dawning sun. Remembering the harsh words Hinako
had said to everyone else about the whole Ryouga/P-chan situation,
the martial artist closes her eyes. "It should not have happened
either which way, Jay-san," she turns back to continue with her kata,
her face a mask of steely resolve.
"Right," Jay nods, then perks as the front door opens to reveal
Ataru, Chikage and Sakuya. "'Morning, guys."
"Hi, Jay," Ataru waves back. "What's the scoop?"
"All pretty well taken care of," the former New York City
detective lieutenant walks around Haruka to step onto the porch.
"Nothing'll happen to that big porker Miss Unryuu owns since he DID
act to defend his mistress AND your sister from an unprovoked
attack also witnessed by four other people. Though I suspect that
after this, that kid'll make sure her pigs don't go hog wild (pardon
the pun!) on anyone like that again."
"What about Hibiki himself?" Sakuya growls.
"Nothing really can be done about that," Jay shakes his head.
"First of all, according to Kasumi Tendou, the guy normally passed
out whenever Akane stripped down to the bra-and-panties
stage." A chuckle escapes him. "Man, I've heard of shy, but THIS
is ridiculous!" He then shrugs. "And, unfortunately, during the
times he was playing 'P-chan,' it was happening with the tacit
approval of the head of the Tendou household, namely..."
"Akane's father," Ataru finishes.
"Right," Jay drawls. "Ranma can't be charged with anything
since she was, in effect, deceived into believing that a person's
honour and word mattered more than an invasion of privacy, even when
it concerned, at the time, her then-fiancee. Souun could be charged
with allowing this to continue, but right now, he's locked up in a
sanitarium for what he did that wound up with Shinshi Tendou's
creation. Kasumi can't be charged since her father forbade her from
mentioning anything about this to Akane. Nabiki never knew anything.
And the only other adult involved in this whole mess, Genma Saotome,
is dead. So, save for Akane dying..."
"The issue is a closed book," Chikage crosses her arms.
"Save for the mourning," Jay nods. "Not to mention the fallout
from that, according to Nabiki. When news of this gets to their
school..."
"When will the announcement be made?" Ataru asks.
"Lunch. Just before I left their place, Kasumi promised me she
was going to make a call to Akane's homeroom teacher about it this
morning," the young SCAA agent stretches himself, then glances past
Ataru into the old shrine's living room. "How's Ranma taking it?
And Marie?"
"Marie-chan's still asleep, thank heaven," Sakuya takes a deep
breath. "Onee-sama's having a hard time of it, but if we keep the
riffraff away from her for the next while, things should be fine."
"Speaking of which, we were just going out for a walk to talk
about what we're going to do now," Ataru adds, then glances at
Haruka. "Haruka-chan, do you think you can set that aside for the
time being?"
Haruka pauses, then gazes on her brother, the sharp end of her
naginata hovering over the ground. "Is there a problem,
Anigimi-sama?"
"We need to talk."
"Hai!"
"Is there something else, Jay-san?" Sakuya asks as Haruka moves
to secure her weapon, then store it inside the living room.
"Well, we need to get some more information out of that
firecracker Miree gave to your sister Hinako," Jay shrugs. "It's
not that we're going to try to take it away. According to Negako,
it can't happen. But given what that thing's capable of doing, it's
better to be safe than sorry."
"Good point," Ataru nods...
* * *
"Where am I...?"
A moan escapes her as she finds herself staring at a bright,
clear sky. Blinking several times, she looks left, then right. She
is quick to recognize where she is. "Hikarigaoka Park...?" she sits
up, then looks down at herself. Seeing nothing wrong with her body,
she grunts, then gets back to her feet, her hands automatically
brushing her buttocks clean. "How on Earth did I get here?" she
takes another look around.
Her eyes fall on a pond about ten metres away. She is quick
to recognize that particular feature of the park; it was here, not
more than a week ago, that she had that awful fight with Ranma which
resulted in a broken arm, severe chi burns and, for the first time
ever from Ranma's side of the argument, a total renunciation
of the engagement between them.
A shudder warps through her as those events a week ago warp
through her with crystal clarity. Gods, to believe that in the space
of five weeks -- only FIVE WEEKS! -- things had become so sour
between her and Ranma. And to think that a simple thing like P-chan
nearly choking on her...
P-chan...?
P-chan...
"Ryouga-kun...!"
Her eyes widen as more recent events come back to her.
Nighttime in the park. She facing her family down. Ryouga and Akari
Unryuu were there, too. Kasumi demanding that she apologize to Ranma
and Ataru Moroboshi for words she had blasted at them when she had
gone to beg Ranma to come back and live with the Tendous, be part of
their family again. Then came Nabiki with her own words, warning
that THIS time, she wouldn't be allowed to get away with that. It
even got to the point where Kasumi threatened to no longer recognize
her as part of the FAMILY anymore! And then...
Marie...
She pauses, walking towards the pond. Her eyes quickly pick out
two police officers standing guard over something near a street lamp.
A chill of haunting familiarity seems to warp through her as she
finds herself walking towards the scene. What had happened here?
Did someone die?
That's funny. One of the police officers now looks her way, yet
there wasn't any sign that he had taken notice of her. She stops,
staring directly into his eyes, then she blinks as he looks away,
turning to gaze on his partner. "Sure hope they'll get this over
with right away."
"Hai, you said it!" the other officer nods, then thumbs towards
the south end of the park. "Don't worry. The guy who runs the
hamburger yatai over by the gate'll be open soon. I'll get you some
coffee when he does."
"Thanks, man!" he grins, then gazes down at the scene. "Man,
to believe some huge sumo-pig could do something like THIS!"
The other officer grunts. "Yeah..."
Sumo-pig?
Were they taking about Akari's yokozuna rikibuto, Katsunishiki?
Pig...
She jolts as another flash of memories rip through her. Marie
Susumu, one of Ataru Moroboshi's twelve half-sisters from Promised
Island. Frail girl physically, but possessing a sharp mind. And an
even sharper tongue as she remembers the torrent of accusations
Marie sent her way last night. She wasn't the only one to suffer
from that girl's tongue. Kasumi and Nabiki both got a broadside
of their own, but it was unto her that Marie had focused her rage,
right up to the point where...
Where she...
Then...
Ryouga-kun...
He stopped her from using Mallet-sama on Marie.
Then she...
No...
She hit him into the pond...
...and P-chan emerged.
And Marie called him "Hibiki-san!"
P-chan...
Ryouga...
A shudder warps through her as she remembers the volcano of rage
that had exploded from her heart as the sheer SCALE of that
honourless bastard's betrayal finally sank in. All the times she
allowed him to SLEEP with her whenever he wandered into the Tendou
compound. To watch her UNDRESS. All the times she confided in
P-chan, especially when it came to Ranma...
Ranma...
Ryouga hated Ranma. Fervently blamed Ranma for everything
that had gone wrong in his life. Had vowed the very day he first
confronted Ranma at Furinkan that Ryouga would do everything
to destroy Ranma's happiness.
And Akane...
He had USED her!
Pretended to be her friend while listening in on her, then
justifying his attacks on Ranma by trying to "honour" that
friendship!
Even worse, Kasumi KNEW about this. And Souun knew about it,
too! Even better, Souun ALLOWED it to continue out of some hope that
Ryouga's behaviour would force Ranma to openly admit her "feelings"
for her.
They had all used her...
Used her...
"You know, some people say that girl was psychotic."
She jolts, staring at the two police officers; the one farthest
from her had said those words. "Psychotic?!!" she screams, quaking
indignantly as she feels something warp around her. "Who says I'm
psychotic...?!"
"Yeah, both those other girls said that," the other cop nods,
acting as if he hadn't heard a single thing she said. "Jeez, can't
blame them if that girl..." he points to a spot on the ground,
"...decided to attack someone who WASN'T a martial artist from BEHIND
of all things!"
She stops, another chill warping through her, then a cloud of
guilt descends on her like Damocles' sword ready to pierce her
through the skull.
No...! She...!
Marie...
Not a martial artist. Yes, she was normally protected by a very
big golden retriever. What was his name again? Michael? But
still...
"Marie-san..."
Tears well in her eyes as she sinks to her knees, hands flying
to her face as a shamed sob escapes her. She remains in that
position for what seems a hateful eternity, then through the slits
between each finger, she sees one of the police officers walk right
at her. Gasping, she moves to dodge, her eyes automatically
turning to stare on her feet...
...just as his legs pass THROUGH hers as if she isn't even
there.
Silence falls as she watches him walk on ahead for several
more paces, then he turns around to walk back. By then, she has
regained her footing, her eyes now locked on her hands. As the
police officer seems ready to pass her, she sticks her arm out, then
cries out as he walks through her appendage. Again, as if she is not
there.
"No...!"
Her eyes shift left, then she walks closer to whatever the
officers now guard. Glancing at the low stone fence ringing the park
pool, she quickly notes several shattered bricks scattered on the
pathway beyond the fence. And the pathway itself is marked with
white chalk, forming the outline of a human body. And there is
blood. A lot of blood.
HER body...
HER blood...
"I'm..." she sinks to her knees. "...d-dead...?"
* * *
"Akane-san..."
A downcast Ryouga Hibiki trudges down the street. Not bothering
to look up beyond what was needed to ensure he didn't bump into
anyone, the weary wanderer tries not to let the darkness clawing
at his heart and soul overtake him. But, then again, would it really
matter now?
Really matter after...?
* * *
"***HINAKO-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!***"
A flash of light blinded everyone as Yotsuba's shout faded away.
The light itself immediately melted into a young girl welding the
ultimate in "magical" weaponry. "Hai!! What's wrong, Yotsuba-chan?"
Hinako asked as she stared on the would-be detective, then seeing
her point off to the youngest sister's right, turned to look.
"EEEEWWWW!!!" she instantly recoiled on seeing Akane Tendou's
shattered body. "What happened?!"
"Never mind, Hinako-chan!!!" Shinshi snapped. "Help her!!"
Hinako jolted, then blinked as the Staff whispered something
into her mind. "Oh, Hina understands! Hai, hai!!" she raised the
glowing weapon, then pointed the focusing crystal at Akane's head.
"Hina'll fix it..."
The Staff's crystal flared as a bolt of energy lashed out to
wrap protectively around Akane's body. As the Tendous, Ryouga,
Akari, Marie and Yotsuba watched, Hinako became icily still as the
Staff's energy then moved to embrace her. Time seemed to stand still
for the fretting onlookers.
Then, after what seemed like forever, the energy around Hinako
dispersed. Eyes locked on the youngest of Ataru Moroboshi's
sisters. At first, there seemed confusion. Then, it instantly
melted to heartbreaking sadness as a whispered "Bye-bye..."
escaped her. Before anyone could say anything in response, Hinako's
voice faded into a pained scream as she dropped to her knees, her
arms keeping the Staff close to her.
"Hinako!!!" Marie bolted to her feet, she and Yotsuba instantly
racing for their sister's side as the energy encompassing Akane's
body dispersed, not a single change having been done. "Hinako-chan,
what's wrong?! Hinako!!" the bespectacled teen shook her sister's
shoulders hard to try to get her to say something, ANYTHING that
could explain this.
For the next couple of minutes, all anyone could get out of the
poor girl was a pained wail. Watching this, the others took time to
gaze once more on Akane's broken body. They were quick to note that
the blood had stopped flowing, it forming a blackening puddle under
her back. Seeing this, Ryouga, still cradled in Akari Unryuu's
arms, began to shudder.
No...
No, this...
Akane-san...
It just...
No!
Akane...
"Hinako-chan...?"
The transformed wanderer oinked as he turned, immediately
realizing that Hinako was trying to say something. Marie held her
sister close to her as Yotsuba squeezed Hinako's shoulders in
reassurance. Finally, taking a deep sniff, the youngest of the
sisters gazed on Kasumi. "G-gomen n-ne, Kasumi-s-san..."
she spoke in a pained whisper. "B-but A-akane-san..."
"Couldn't you move her...?!" Nabiki blurted.
That was enough to send Hinako into another crying fit. Hearing
that wail, Ryouga's heart shattered as Kasumi, who had shifted
herself to gaze at Hinako, staggered to her feet. Turning away from
the weeping Hinako, the eldest of the Tendou sisters spared the
transformed wanderer a brief, icy look, then whatever control she had
over her own pain shattered. As she staggered away from Hinako,
Shinshi and Nabiki quickly moved to support her with their hugs.
Ryouga didn't notice as Akari drew him closer to herself; his eyes
had again locked themselves on the weeping Hinako.
Akane...
No...
"Hinako-chan, please..." Marie gently probed, gently stroking
her sister's hair as tears welled up in her own eyes. "Tell us..."
A hand landed on the bespectacled girl's shoulder. "Kinda easy
to figure out, Marie-chan," Yotsuba hoarsely whispered, glancing
on Akane once more. "She tried to help Akane-san..." her eyes turned
down to the weeping Hinako, "...but Akane-san decided to get on the
Last Checky instead..."
* * *
"Akane..."
Ryouga stops at a street corner, sparing a glance heavenward
before another arc of pain surges through his heart. "Gomen nasai,
Akane-san..." he whispers, his eyes absently noting that it was safe
to walk across the street. "Gomen nasai, Akari-chan..."
he squeezes a fist over his heart.
"Ryouga-sama!!"
He stops, looking wildly around for a moment, then screams
out as a hand lands on his shoulder. A car horn blares. Before
he could try to ascertain what is happening, two strong hands snare
him by the shoulders and he is literally dragged off the street.
Crashing into the sidewalk on the other side of the road, the
wanderer grunts as dizziness overtakes him for a moment, then he
looks up to see who now knelt next to him.
"Kanami-san...?"
Kanami Kurosu grunts as she helps Ryouga get back to his feet,
then her hands move to dust him off before she fixes him with a
concerned stare. "Ryouga-sama, what's wrong?!" she squeezes his
hands in both of hers. "You were about to get run over by a truck,"
she points behind him.
Ryouga looks, then gulps on seeing a large food delivery truck
stopped at the corner, the driver giving him a very annoyed look.
Before any sort of altercation could begin, Kanami moves to guide
the wanderer down the street. "I'm back in Tomobiki...?"
he absently asks.
"Hai, Ryouga-sama, not too far from the apartment where I live,"
the tall Avalonian nods, moving to wrap an arm protectively
around one of his. "You look like someone just died, Ryouga-sama.
What happened to you?"
"I..." the wanderer stops himself as Kanami's question rolls
through his mind, then his head dips down in a pained nod. "Hai,
Kanami-san."
"Ryouga-sama...?"
"Someone did die."
Silence falls over the pair as they head down the street, then
Kanami gently nods. "It'll be alright, Ryouga-sama," she leans up to
whisper in his ear. "I'm here for you now. We all are. It'll be
alright."
A shudder quakes him, then he feels a strange warmth surge
through him. "I..." he blinks, then gazes briefly at Kanami. Seeing
the concerned smile on her face, Ryouga pauses, then looks away. "I
hope so..."
* * *
"Ohayou, Minako-chan!"
"Ohayou, Shinobu-chan! How're you today?"
"Pretty okay," Shinobu takes her seat. "How about you?"
"Well, we got some good news," Minako sits beside her as
students stream into the classroom. "Kyooko-chan and Tomomi-chan
met Ataru-kun last night and told him about the bioroid factory.
He'll help us."
"Eh?! Really?!" Shinobu gazes on her new friend, then claps
her hands delightedly. "Oh, that's wonderful! Is he planning
something now?"
"Not really," Minako shakes her head. "He doesn't even know
what's really going on up there. All he does know is that Oogi
fellow's up there now. But what sort of shape's Oogi in? What sort
of control does he have over the factory or the bioroids aboard?
They gotta figure all that out first," she shrugs. "So he told us to
act normally for the next while. You know, try not to draw any sort
of attention on ourselves."
"That makes sense," Shinobu nods, then blinks as Tomomi and
Kyooko step into the room. "Oh, Tomomi-chan, Kyooko-chan,
ohayou!"
"Ohayou, Shinobu-chan!" Tomomi replies as the other Avalonians
relax to Shinobu's right. "I take it Minako-chan told you the good
news."
"Hai, she did!" Shinobu nods. "How soon do you guys think
Ataru-kun might do something about Oogi and the factory ship?"
"Not for a few days," Kyooko shakes her head. "Actually,
it'll be his sister Negako-san who'll deal with the whole mess at the
start of things, probably helped by Chikage-san and Hinako-chan.
Not to mention those refugees from Phentax Two who came to Earth via
the factory."
Shinobu perks. "What refugees?!"
Tomomi and Kyooko quickly explain about Miree and her daughters
to their new friend. Shinobu takes that in, then gapes. "They had
a Church of HOLLYWOOD on that planet?!" she tries not to fall over
laughing. "What sort of 'gods' did they end up worshipping,
anyway?! Cary Grant?!"
"Actually, Miree-sama seems to have a thing for Humphrey
Bogart," Kyooko politely covers her mouth as Tomomi snickers,
then sighs. "Still, hearing about what the Lumites did to the
Hollywoodites after they became the 'one true faith'..." she shakes
her head. "Such a sad thing."
"Hai, that's true," Minako nods.
"Agreed," Shinobu nods, then blinks as something else Kyooko
said comes back to her. "Wait! You said that Negako-san and
Chikage-san were going to deal with this at the start. I've heard
of both of them. Do you guys really think they can do something
about all this."
"Negako-san and Chikage-san? Bet on it!" Tomomi readily nods,
her eyes sparkling with admiration on speaking the sorceress'
name.
"Oh, Buddha help us!" Kyooko rolls her eyes.
"What?" Shinobu stares at the blue-haired Avalonian.
"Chikage-san," Kyooko thumbs Tomomi. "After we were done with
Ataru-kun, Chikage-san came to our apartment and helped clear out a
whole slew of monitoring devices Oogi's people had scattered about
the place..."
Shinobu bolts to her feet. "MONITORING DEVICES?!?!"
"Yep!" Minako nods. "According to Chikage-san, the whole town's
been bugged. Here, see for yourself," she reaches into her skirt
pocket and draws out one of the spheroid devices found in her
bedroom.
Shinobu takes that, then gives it a closer look. By then,
Ryuunosuke and Mie Seikou have arrived. "Ohayou, minna...!"
the tomboy waves, then blinks. "Hey, Shinobu, what the heck's
that?!" she points.
Mie walks up, then gently takes the device from Shinobu's
hand. "Some sort of audio/visual sensor, I think," she gives it a
close look.
"Audio-only," Minako augments. "This was in my bedroom."
Shinobu spins on her. "Did Chikage-san find out if these people
learned anything about you and..." her voice trails off.
"She says it's very doubtful," Minako shakes her head.
"Besides, given that three billion of the very people they serve are
now dust in the atmosphere of Phentax Two, the chances are pretty
good that whoever's here in town aren't feeling really good right
now." She then holds up her finger. "Oh, just in case you want to
know, Chikage-san is pretty sure that the whole town's been littered
with these things EXCEPT here!"
She points down. "The school?" Shinobu blinks, then nods. "Oh,
I get it. This place is their 'holy citadel.' To actually 'sully'
it with devices like this..." her eyes fall on the device in Mie's
hand.
Ryuunosuke blinks as she tries to put together what everyone
else is talking about. "Are you sayin' this was put in your bedroom
by those Church of Lum jerks, Minako?" she gazes on the rose-haired
Avalonian.
"Yep," Minako nods.
"I think the first priority here should be to gather all these
things up and destroy them," Mie notes, handing the device back to
Minako.
"Chikage-san says it's not the smartest thing to do it wholesale
now, especially with Oogi over our heads," Kyooko warns. "After
all, what would be his reaction if his eyes and ears on the 'holy
company' was suddenly cut off just like that?" she snaps her fingers.
"Last night, she went out and cleaned up sections of the town outside
our apartment. She didn't tell us where she was going to do that,
but she said that when things seem safe, she'll get Hinako-chan
to clean the rest of them up right away."
"Hinako-chan..." Shinobu blinks confusedly. "Who's she?"
"The little girl that was with Ataru-kun yesterday when his
daughters came," Minako provides. "She's the baby of the crowd."
Shinobu blinks. "But she's only...! What? Seven?!"
"Turned eight in August," Tomomi provides.
"So how can someone that young help out?!" Ryuunosuke demands.
The Avalonians take a deep breath. "Ryuunosuke-chan,
the people who created the factory also created some things that
normal folks wouldn't want to have ANYTHING to do with," Minako
explains. "One of them is a device called the Staff of Gihan. Think
of it as a cosmic version of Sailor Moon's wand and you'll get the
right idea of how powerful it is." A pause, then, "Recently,
the Staff was given to Hinako-chan to use."
Silence.
"And that's in the hands of a girl THAT young?!" Shinobu gapes.
"That does sound a little dangerous," Mie warns.
Kyooko shakes her head. "Hinako-chan was chosen because of the
purity of her soul, because she's still a child who hasn't dealt with
all the wonderful things puberty forces on people. Miree-san
hopes that by allowing the Staff to remain in Hinako-chan's
hands, whatever 'dark' programming might still be within the Staff
will eventually be deleted."
"And from what I could sense of what's going on between
Hinako-chan and the Staff, that assumption's right on the money,"
Tomomi nods.
"Do you think they'll go find that second device for Aria-chan?"
"Probably."
"Who's Aria?!" Shinobu and Ryuunosuke demand together.
"Turned ten in November, comes from France," Tomomi provides.
"A real spoiled princess, but believe me, Ataru-kun doesn't mind a
bit."
"Really?" Shinobu's eyebrow arches, then she sighs, gazing on
her desk. *Ataru-kun, what in God's name have you got yourself
into...?!*
"Ohayou, minna-san."
"MENDOU-SAN!!!!"
Eyes turn to gaze on Shutaro Mendou, now at the doorway...
* * *
"Shutaro Mendou is there now?!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The "Rose Emperor's" commanding officer nods. "Excellent!
Here's an extra present for the Queen! I'll inform her of this at
once!!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
* * *
Sometime later...
"Send Hinako-chan and Miree-san out NOW?!!"
Ataru sighs, gazing across the pond in Hikarigaoka Park at the
very spot where Akane Tendou breathed her last several hours before.
"Yes," he nods, then gazes wearily on Sakuya. "I don't want another
incident like this to happen again, Sakuya-chan. Especially
not to Hinako-chan."
"Perhaps we should consider giving this second device to someone
other than Aria-chan, Anigimi-sama," Haruka proposes.
"Miree-san was pretty adamant on the idea of giving that second
device to Aria-chan, Haruka-chan," Sakuya warns.
"Sakuya-chan, surely you must realize that Aria-chan may not be
the right sort of person to deal with a device like Bou-san!"
Haruka returns her sister's look. "Even more so, I don't, for an
*instant,* believe that Guenevere-san would approve of this idea
whatsoever!"
The others nod. Even if Aria's mother and step-father
didn't seem to want to personally concern themselves with the young
Parisian's upbringing, that Guenevere Rochelles still lived on
Promised Island, ready to serve Aria at a moment's notice, spoke
volumes in and of itself. "Regardless of what Guenevere-san
thinks is right for Aria-chan, I think that after what just happened
to Akane..." Ataru points across the pond, "...none of us would want
to see Aria-chan TOO sheltered from the outside world. Ne?"
"Agreed," Chikage nods. "Besides, look how well Hinako held up
to last night's events. Did any of us imagine that a girl Hinako's
age was capable of doing something like THAT? I believe that with
the proper encouragement -- which we all can give her, especially
Hinako herself, not to mention Jonna, Orin and Miree-san -- Aria
might turn out the same way."
The others consider that, then Sakuya sighs. "Well, we DID take
a chance with Hinako-chan. We might as well do the same with
Aria-chan."
"We should ensure all precautions are taken first," Haruka
warns.
"Right," Ataru grimaces...
* * *
"Ataru...?!"
She gazes across the pond at the four people standing on the
path leading to the park's main gate. After it finally sank into her
that she was no longer among the living, she had walked away from the
scene of her demise, seeking out a park bench so she could put her
thoughts together.
Was this what death was like?
Wasn't she supposed to go to Heaven?
Or was she...?
A sob escapes her as fear surges up her spine.
Was she not seen as worthy...?
Did this mean...?
*Well, well, well. THIS is interesting.*
She jolts, then looks wildly around. The voice that just spoke
to her seemed to come from every direction on the compass. Who...?
*Behind you.*
She turns. Her eyes quickly detect Ataru and two of his sisters
walking away from the pond in the direction of the front gate.
However, the third one -- Chikage? -- was now staring directly
AT her!
"Who...?!"
Even from this distance, she could quickly see the other woman's
lips quirk into a smile. *Fate is truly a strange thing at times,*
Chikage's bemused voice echoes deep in her mind. *Wouldn't you
agree, Akane?*
Akane blinks...
* * *
"Hey, Onee-chan, you okay?"
"Should I be?!" Kasumi snaps, her voice choking on a sob, then
seeing Nabiki rear back a bit from her outburst, relaxes. "Gomen..."
"Hey, hey, it's okay!" Nabiki sits beside her sister, a hand
reaching out to squeeze Kasumi's shoulder. The older Tendou is quick
to notice that despite the mask of self-control Nabiki now projected,
the younger woman's cheeks are still damp with tears. "Can't blame
you for that."
"Akane-chan...!" Kasumi squeezes her eyes shut, then she gazes
at the ceiling. "Oh, why, Nabiki-chan?" she shakes her head.
"Why...?"
"Loads of reasons," Nabiki whispers, tucking her legs into her
arms. "But the big one, I think, is that none of us here ever took
any time to make Akane-chan face up to her responsibilities."
Sniffing back a fresh bout of tears, she stares at the sitting room
table. "You remember how it was like, don't you? Akane-chan
thought Ranma-chan did something wrong, then smacked her around for
it? Even when it turned out that Ranma-chan WAS innocent about it,
Akane-chan never apologized for it. And we..."
"We just sat there and let it happen again and again and again,"
Kasumi shakes her head. "Even worse, when Ranma-chan tried to show
some sort of anger over what Akane-chan did, what did we do...?"
Nabiki closes her eyes. "We let Souun and Genma gang up on
Ranma-chan..." she sharply exhales, "...and let Akane-chan get away
with it."
Silence falls as the surviving Tendou sisters consider what to
say next. Footsteps herald the arrival of their newborn brother's
girlfriend, she now draped in a khaki cardigan sweater and a pair of
faded blue jeans. Gazing on Yotsuba, Kasumi and Nabiki are quick
to sense the faint afterglow on the younger girl's skin that could
only result from one act.
"Hey," the would-be detective wanly smiles. "You guys okay?"
They gaze on her, then Kasumi lowers her eyes. "Thank you for
not keeping the whole house awake last night, Yotsuba-chan."
Hearing that, Yotsuba pales, then snaps up her hands as a denial
automatically surges up her throat. "Hey, that's enough!" Nabiki
rolls to her feet, then walks over to place a reassuring hand on the
younger girl's shoulder. "People aren't themselves when they lose
someone close to them, Yo-chan. Believe me, Onee-chan and I know
that VERY well."
"I..." Yotsuba pauses, then nods. "Hai, that's true. It..."
she shrugs as they sit down beside the table. "All Yotsuba wanted
to do was sleep with Shi-chama, let him cry over what happened
to Akane. Then..."
"I hope you used protection," Kasumi gazes concernedly
at her.
The would-be detective pauses, then sighs. "Didn't have much
time to think about it," she admits, then shrugs. "Then again,
Negako-anechama knows lots of ways to stop conception if it's needed.
Yotsuba'll take care of it today. But..." she sniffs, staring at her
future sisters-in-law. "Yotsuba's place is here now. Shi-chama's
taking this really bad."
"Is he asleep?" Kasumi asks.
"Hai. He finally dozed off about an hour ago," Yotsuba nods,
then perks on hearing footfalls echo from the front porch.
"Oh, Ojii-san's home!" Kasumi rises. "Ohayou, Ojii-san!"
The women watch Happousai step inside. They are all quick to
note the tired look on the aged grandmaster's face. The empty bag he
normally used to stuff newly-acquired underwear speaks volumes,
too. Pausing to gaze intently at the Tendou sisters and Yotsuba,
Happousai then closes his eyes. "I..." he begins, then making his
way to the table, bows his head. "I'm truly, deeply sorry about what
happened to Akane-chan, ladies. You've my sincerest condolences.
Not to mention Cologne-chan's."
"She sensed it, Ojii-chan?" Nabiki asks.
"Hai, she did. She told Shampoo-chan and Mousse to keep quiet
about it. When are you going to make the announcement to the kids
at school?"
"Today at lunch," Nabiki reports. "Hinako-sensei'll
keep the Horde and Kunou-chan in line this morning. The rest of the
staff'll keep this hush-hush from the kids, not to mention
Kunou-kouchou."
"That's good. Heaven only knows what that pineapple-crazed
moron might end up doing," Happousai looks around. "Where's
Shinshi-kun?"
"Asleep," Yotsuba reports.
Happousai glances at the would-be detective, then a smirk
crosses her face. "It's good that you were there for him,
Yotsuba-chan."
She acks, then flusters. "Oh, this is definitely NOT checky..."
"No, no, dear! Relax," the grandmaster chuckles, then draws
out his pipe. "Shinshi-kun needed the emotional support. You were
there for him, child. Don't worry about what other people think.
If they don't want to take the time to understand things, that's
their problem."
"Agreed," Kasumi nods. "Yotsuba-chan, can you call your sisters
and ask how Ranma-chan is? Heaven knows, once this gets out,
there're going to be many people who'll automatically turn around
and blame this on her."
"Not to mention Ataru-kun," Nabiki closes her eyes.
"I'll call them in a bit," Yotsuba nods.
"Nihao!!"
Everyone turns as Shampoo walks in, a delivery box in hand.
"Oh, Shampoo, ohayou!" Kasumi rises. "Oh, you didn't have to...!"
The warrior-maiden wags her finger. "Kasumi no talk about
that!" a sad smile crosses her face. "Kasumi, Nabiki and Nabiki's
new brother need time to mourn Akane. No need to worry about small
things."
"I..." Kasumi stops, then bows deeply. "Arigatou,
Shampoo-chan."
"Yotsuba'll wake Shi-chama up," Yotsuba heads to the master
bedroom.
Shampoo moves to unload her delivery box. As she does so, more
footfalls herald the arrival of another would-be rival of Akane's.
"Hey, is there anyone home?" Ukyou calls out before peeking inside.
"Oh, Ukyou-chan!" Kasumi flusters on seeing the okonomiyaki
chef bring in her own delivery box. "Please, you don't..."
An objecting finger stops her voice. "Not a word outta you
today, Kasumi-chan," Ukyou, her eyes glinting with tears, sets her
box down before walking over to embrace the eldest of the Tendous.
"Shampoo called and told me what happened to Akane-chan," she kisses
Kasumi's cheek, then moves to unload. "Right now, you don't need to
worry about small things."
"Thanks, U-chan," Nabiki nods, taking a bowl of ramen from
Shampoo. "Just keep quiet about it if you plan to go to school
today. I want to make an announcement about it at lunch and I DON'T
want the rumour mill to go to work before everyone gets the
information they need to hear, okay?"
"What are you planning to tell them, Nabiki?"
Shampoo and Ukyou look as Shinshi steps into the room, Yotsuba's
arm wrapped around one of his. "Holy...!!" the okonomiyaki
cook whistles in admiration, then she glances at Nabiki. "This is
YOU after Jusenkyou?!"
Shinshi and Nabiki both blush. "Hai, dearie, that he is...!
Oh, thank you, Shampoo-chan," Happousai takes a plate of fresh
nikuman from Shampoo as Shinshi and Yotsuba take their place at the
table.
"Aiyah!!" Shampoo breathes out. "Shinshi lucky clan-sister
Yotsuba already moving to claim him! Shampoo might want Shinshi
for herself!"
Eyes lock on the warrior-maiden. "I take it Elder Cologne
told you about what happened to Ranma-chan," Kasumi notes.
"Hai, Shampoo was told," Shampoo pauses, then sighs as she draws
out some sweet-and-sour pork. "It hurt Shampoo bad, but Hibaa-chan
say it for the best. Besides, Ai-...!" she catches herself, her
cheeks reddening for a moment, "...er, Ranma now can become Shampoo's
blood-sister. When Ranma marry Ataru, Nyu-che-zuu and Tiger-Spirit
shadow warriors form blood alliance. It what Hibaa-chan and the
Council want for long time."
"Yotsuba thinks if she can, Shampoo should go see Ane-chama
today," Yotsuba takes up a plate of fried noodles. "Ane-chama'll
probably need to have all her friends, not to mention future family,
with her today."
"Don't worry about that, Yotsuba-chan," Ukyou winks.
"Negako-san called and told us to whip up a big delivery for the
people at the shrine. Your sister Shirayuki ain't in any real mood
to cook today."
"No blame clan-sister Shirayuki for that," Shampoo notes.
"Indeed," Kasumi nods. "Ukyou-chan, when you go see her, tell
Ranma-chan that I'll come to visit her sometime this afternoon."
"Sure thing," the okonomiyaki chef nods...
* * *
"I'm NOT Akane?!!"
Chikage and Akane stand together in the woods of Hikarigaoka
Park, far from prying eyes. To ensure an extra level of security,
the sorceress keeps to psi-speech. *Exactly,* she gazes
dispassionately on Akane. *Last night, after your template's
body was crushed by Akari's pet, her spirit took immediate flight
into the next life to be with her mother.*
"But...!!" Akane stammers, then blinks. "How can you be
sure...?"
*Easily enough. There is a witness to what happened, even in
the last seconds of your template's time in this life. Hinako.*
Silence falls as Akane's spirit calls up images of the youngest
of Ataru's sisters. The girl with the magical -- was it "magic?"
-- wand. The one who helped Nabiki and Shinshi live separate lives
after Souun's reckless actions cursed Akane's older sister to have
a "brother" live in her very own body. "Hinako-chan..."
she whispers, then stares wide-eyed at Chikage. "Th-that's right!
Y-yotsuba-chan called out to her when..."
*When Katsunishiki-san crushed your template, defending his
mistress, Marie and Ryouga when your template lost control of herself
and moved to crush all three of them with her mallet,* Chikage
finishes.
Akane shudders as the hidden accusation in the sorceress'
words make themselves apparent. "I...!" she looks down at the
ground. "Oh, gods, I can't believe...!!" she shakes her head. "I
actually tried to..."
*No, not you exactly,* Chikage shakes her head.
Akane sighs. "Chikage-san, you don't have to...!"
*Look for yourself.*
A crystal ball appears in the sorceress' hand. Akane stares
at it as a dark image forms within the scrying sphere. A point of
light appears in the middle of the ball, that point soon morphing
into the image of a young woman lying on her back. Akane shudders
on recognizing her. "Me...?!"
*Your template,* Chikage emphasizes. *Now listen carefully.*
Akane braces herself as a second point of light appears above
the first. It too morphs into the image of a woman, this one much
younger than either Akane or Chikage. "Hinako-chan..."
Akane whispers.
HINAKO: Akane-san!!! Are you okay?!
A groan escapes Akane as a hand shifts up to feel her forehead.
AKANE: What happened...?
HINAKO: It's okay, Akane-san!! Akari-san's big piggy just jumped
all over you when you tried to hit Marie-chan with that mallet of
yours!
Akane is quick to sense the annoyed tone in Hinako's voice.
HINAKO: Mou! Why'd you try to do something really, really stupid
like that, anyway?! Didn't you know about Ryouga-san's curse?!
AKANE: Curse...
Silence falls for a brief moment as Hinako seems to ready the
Staff of Gihan to capture Akane's spirit in a preservation
bubble.
AKANE: Why...?
HINAKO: Huh?
A pained sob seems to escape Akane.
HINAKO: Akane-san, are you okay...?
Suddenly, another beacon of light appears BELOW Akane.
VOICE: Akane-chan...?
"Okaa-san...!!" Akane pales.
HINAKO: Huh?! Who're you?!
AKANE: Okaa-san...
VOICE: Akane-chan...
The new beacon of light grows bigger. Akane turns towards
it, acting as if Hinako isn't there. Seeing her template's image
in the crystal ball, Akane's replica shudders, tears spilling down
her cheeks as her soul seems to grasp that treasured voice, that
beloved memory, in a hold of steel.
HINAKO: Hey!! Akane-san, what are you doing?!!
AKANE: Okaa-san...
Hinako's face then shifts from frustration to confusion,
then to a sad understanding. "Did she lose her mother, too...?"
Akane asks.
HINAKO: Akane-san's mama...
AKANE: Okaa-san?! Is that you?! Okaa-san!
KIMIKO: Hai, it's me, Akane-chan.
AKANE: OKAA-SAN!!!
In a move that surprises the viewer, Akane lunges towards the
light. Hinako jolts as she remembers what she is presently trying
to do, then she reaches out with her hand to stop Akane and pull her
back.
HINAKO: Akane-san, wait!! Don't go!! Why are you going?!
Akane spins on the youngest of the sisters. Her face literally
shines with a joy that no one has ever seen on her before.
AKANE: Why not?! She my MOTHER!!
Hinako stops, her eyes sparkling with tears.
HINAKO: But what about your sisters?! What about your brother?!
What about your friends, Akane-san?! You can't leave them!!
Silence.
AKANE: Yes. I can.
HINAKO: Akane-san...
As the very young girl with the power of Eternity Itself behind
her starts to cry, Akane turns again, reaching out for the beacon
that would reunite her with the one person whose life and death
influenced so much. Then, as Akane seems to melt with the light,
her voice rings out again.
AKANE: Don't be sad, Hinako-chan. I want to do this.
HINAKO: Akane-san, don't go...!
AKANE: I have nothing to go back to, Hinako-chan.
HINAKO: What about your family?!
AKANE: No family...
HINAKO: What about your friends?!!
AKANE: No friends...
HINAKO: Akane-san...!
AKANE: Except you, Hinako-chan...
HINAKO: Akane-san...
Another voice, this one sounding almost like Hinako though with
a divine theatrical boom, then seems to thunder all around her.
VOICE: ***The choice is hers, Hina.***
"The Staff...?" Akane stares at Chikage.
Chikage nods.
HINAKO: Bou-san...
AKANE: Sayonara, Hinako-chan...
Akane fades fully into the beacon of light.
AKANE: Tell Marie-san...
HINAKO: Akane-san...?
AKANE: She was right...
The beacon disappears, leaving Hinako alone in the darkness.
HINAKO: Akane-san...!
The youngest of Ataru's sisters bows her head.
HINAKO: Bye-bye...
"No...!!"
The image in the crystal ball vanishes as Chikage watches Akane
sink to her knees, her hands flying to her face as pained sobs escape
her. The sorceress remains silent as the disembodied spirit before
her weeps, she slipping her crystal ball back under her cape.
Finally, Akane's hands drop from her face as her moans fade into
several deep breaths, then she gets back to her feet. Taking another
breath to steady herself, she then stares at the sorceress.
"Chikage-san, I...! Oh, gods..." she hugs herself.
"In a way, I can understand why she did that," Chikage crosses
her arms, uncaring that she now is using physical speech. "Ever
since Kimiko Tendou died, no one ever attempted to discipline
Akane whenever she did something wrong. Souun was too wracked with
grief over his wife's death to ever again act as a proper parent.
Kasumi couldn't make herself fully assume her mother's place in the
household when it came to dealing with Akane's anger. Nabiki was too
busy trying to keep the house over all their heads. Then when
Ane-kun and Genma came, things got even worse..."
"Ryouga-kun..." Akane quakes, a fist squeezing over her heart.
"Why, Chikage-san?! Why on Earth would he do something like THAT to
me?!"
"Because he was alone."
Silence.
"His direction curse?" Akane blinks. "His whole family...?"
"Save his father," Chikage cuts in. "They all have that curse;
it's been the bane of the Hibiki family for some generations.
Could you imagine what it must have been like for Ryouga? To never
know where his mother, his brother or his sister might be at any
given moment in their lives? Any one of them might've died and the
chances were good that the others might NEVER learn the truth for the
rest of their lives! Imagine growing up in a situation like that,
Akane. Then add to it the dearth of real friends."
"All alone..."
"Hai, all alone. Then, out of nowhere, comes someone who offers
him warmth, kindness, friendship, even the first hint of love,"
Chikage gazes knowingly on Akane. "That was you, Akane. And since
he was a piglet at the time, he concluded that the only way to hold
onto what you gave him..."
"Was to keep up the illusion," Akane finishes. "Is that why he
made Ranma make that promise? Because he just wanted to be with
me...?"
"Partially. You'll know, of course, of Ane-kun's view of honour
at the time when it came to those with such a grave disability
as what Ryouga now possesses. Add to that the fact that Ane-kun
did, by accident, curse Ryouga the day he accidentally stumbled
onto Jusenkyou..."
The disembodied spirit nods. "No wonder he got so mad," she
sighs. "And it's no wonder Ranma always called him 'P-chan' all the
time. He made a promise on his honour, then Ryouga-kun turned that
against him..."
"Hai," the sorceress nods. "To further compound the matter
was Ane-kun's own feelings for Ryouga. On the one hand, she saw
someone taking very gross advantage of the personal privacy of
someone Ane-kun deeply cared for," she points to Akane. "On the
other hand, she saw someone she looked on as one of the few friends
she possessed, a friendship she wanted to see restored in the wake
of what Jusenkyou had forced on them both. There were times Ryouga
did want to reveal himself to Akane. And..."
"Ranma was afraid that if that happened, I'd blame it on her..."
"Yes. So she stopped him whenever she could and if that
particular fear overcame her desire to see the truth come out,"
Chikage replies.
Akane takes that in, then turns away from Chikage as she gathers
her thoughts. Gazing upon the mid-morning sky, she then asks, "What
am I?"
"To be technical, a memory/personality replica," the sorceress
walks up to stand beside her. "Created by the Staff of Gihan
automatically just milliseconds before your template's spirit slipped
into the next life. Totally beyond Hinako's knowledge, I should
also add."
Akane considers that, then closes her eyes. "A clone, you
mean?"
"Yes."
"What happens to me now?"
"That depends on what you decide to do," Chikage gazes on her.
"You could, if you desire, allow yourself to discorporate into
nothingness. In fact, that WILL happen to you by late tonight,
twenty-four hours after the Staff created you. Unlike a real ghost,
you would not eventually enter the next life since your template
has already proceeded you." A pause, then, "However, if you wish,
you could assume corporeal existence -- with Hinako's help, of course
-- then proceed to live your life."
"As Akane Tendou?"
Chikage nods. "If that is what you wish. I can tell Toofuu-kun
to not prepare a death certificate for you. With the help of the
Special Committee on Alien Activities, your school records could be
whisked away from Furinkan and you could, as was planned for your
template, come attend school at Stargazer West College on the Island.
While your existence could then not be hidden from Kasumi, Nabiki
and Shinshi, not to mention my own siblings and Ane-kun, to all in
Nerima, you would still be dead."
"Someone's going to announce that?"
"Nabiki will at lunchtime."
"Soo ka..."
* * *
"Aneue-sama...?"
Ranma looks up from the work table in hers and Ataru's room to
see a bleary-eyed Marie standing at the doorway. "Marie-chan..."
the redhead whispers, then walks over as the younger woman steps
inside. Both slide immediately into a comforting embrace. "How're
you feeling?"
"A little numb," the bespectacled teen whispers as she lays her
head on Ranma's shoulder. "Are you alright, Aneue-sama?"
Silence falls as the transformed martial artist considers
her future sister-in-law's question, then she takes a deep breath.
"Hard to say," she reaches up to stroke Marie's hair. "Part of me
feels so mad right now..."
"At Akane-san?"
"Yeah," Ranma nods, gently guiding the younger woman to sit down
by the work table, then she relaxes on her futon. "I mean..."
she halts as a moment's confusion overtakes her, then she relaxes
herself. "Damn..."
"You're also angry at yourself, aren't you?" Marie wonders.
"Yeah..."
"I suppose that is understandable," Marie wanly smiles. "For
over a year, Akane-san was the primary influence on your life and how
it might have evolved hadn't you met Kamekichi-san and embarked
on the path that led you to come together with Aniue-sama and all of
us. Whenever she was in trouble, regardless of her feelings about
such things, you were there for her. Anyone, man or woman, would
certainly welcome having such a dedicated protector be part of their
lives. Believe me, if it was I who you worked so hard to protect,
I would be terribly loath to let you go. However..."
"It's my life in the end," Ranma mutters.
"Hai, it always was, regardless of what others might've felt
about it," Marie nods. "In fact, given how strongly those others
felt about your life and the way your life's journey should have
unfolded, I guess..." she pauses as if to find the least wounding
way to say this, "...that what just happened to Akane-san shouldn't
have come as such a surprise."
"What do you mean?"
"Well..." the bespectacled teen adjusts her glasses. "I was
thinking of the time Aniue-sama left Tomobiki and how that reflected
on those people who saw him as nothing more than an unwanted tool so
they could continue to associate with Lum-san. His classmates
at school and especially..."
"His so-called 'parents.'"
"Hai. Reigi-san helped keep us appraised of events in Tomobiki
right up to when the news came of Lum-san's 'death,'" Marie reports.
"Naturally, to better ensure things went as smoothly as possible
when Aniue-sama's memories were restored, Negako-aneuesama
temporarily crippled Mendou and Megane's small group, ensuring
they wouldn't be able to leave their own bedrooms until a day or two
after Lum-san was deported to Uru."
"I bet they automatically blamed the whole mess on Ataru."
"Hai, they did. Not so surprising, ne?" Marie smirks. "Anyhow,
the instant he was appraised of how and why the United Nations had
come down so harshly on Lum-san, Mendou immediately lobbied the Diet
to have the doors reopened so Lum-san could return to Earth." A
pause, then, "It came as quite a shock to the poor fellow when the
Diet turned his request down."
Ranma blinks, then chuckles. "I bet that didn't go over too
well."
"It did not," Marie shakes her head. "Naturally, Mendou
threatened to have the dietmen who were directly involved in the move
to expel Lum-san from Earth eventually forced out of their positions.
Well, those esteemed gentlemen didn't like the idea of such a spoiled
brat like him trying to influence their very lives so, through
Reigi-san, they appealed to Mendou's father to discipline his child."
A pause. "The discipline came in the form of the final decision
to force Mendou to marry Asuka Mizunokoji."
"But he loves that girl!" Ranma quickly points out.
"True, which made it all the more easier for them to force this
on Mendou," Marie holds up a finger, winking. "Even more so, it
preyed on Mendou's most vulnerable point: his personal sense of
honour. If he publicly tried to stand up to his parents, he would
be dishonoured. And even if there are those women at Tomobiki
High School..."
"Not to mention Himiko and Mikiko," Ranma winks, nodding to her
right to indicate where Himiko Kawamura and Mikiko Serizawa had been
sleeping since their return to Earth from the Avalon bioroid factory.
"...not to mention Himiko-san and Mikiko-san," Marie nods, then
continues. "Well, even if he has many friends, he would still lose
all access to the Kuromegane, his clan's armed forces and everything
else." She winks. "Not to mention his monthly allowance."
"Oh, poor boy," Ranma mockingly croons.
Both gaze on each other, then laugh. "As for Megane and his
so-called 'friends,' they were far easier to deal with," Marie
continues. "With Mendou dealing with all his family problems,
Megane couldn't rely on him for any intelligence support, such as
using the Kuromegane to track down Aniue-sama. Yes, there were small
teams dispatched by Mendou to try to locate Aniue-sama, but they
never came anywhere close to the Island."
"You mean he never thought of checking out Muchi and Kinshou?"
"No, Mendou didn't," Marie shakes her head.
"What an idiot!!"
"Agreed."
"Did Megane's crew ever think of that?!"
"Oh, no, they never really got an opportunity to try to track
Aniue-sama down," the younger woman states. "You see, they also had
to worry about their parents. None of them EVER approved of their
interest in Lum-san. Even more, Megane's mother is the spokesperson
for the area PTA. When Lum-san was sent home, Ms. Megane, on behalf
of the PTA, released a statement denouncing Lum-san in some pretty
harsh terms. I can tell you now that what she said took even
Aniue-sama by surprise; until then, he always believed that everyone
in Tomobiki liked Lum-san."
"Ooooh," Ranma winces, then winks at Marie. "I bet things got
really cool between Megane and his mom after that happened."
"Probably."
A curious concern then crosses the marital artist's face. "But
what about Muchi and Kinshou, Marie-chan? I mean, they knew
everything..."
"True, they did," the younger teenager nods. "And yes, right
away, Kinshou made it a point to confront Reigi-san about that. But,
when one is backed by a decision from the Court of Special Appeals,
one doesn't really have to worry about potential challenges,
especially from someone like Kinshou. After all, when
Negako-aneuesama approached the Court to have Muchi's and Kinshou's
parental rights taken away, she made it a point to demonstrate
how greedy Kinshou really was concerning getting control of
Grandmother's fortune. You know about the time when Kinshou tried
to swindle Mrs. Mendou and Lum-san's mother of their money, don't
you?"
"Yeah, Ataru told me about that. He also told me about the time
on the 'Kashin' when Lum's parents promised those two good jobs on
Uru if Ataru married Lum. Did Negako tell the court about that?"
"Hai, she did..." Marie blinks. "But how did Aneue-sama
know of that? That particular meeting happened outside our solar
system...!"
"Don't question Negako's ways, Marie-chan. I don't!" Ranma
smirks.
Both laugh, then quickly sober. "Well, it doesn't matter now,"
Marie notes. "In many ways, you're very lucky, Aneue-sama.
You at least got to fully reconcile with many of those who saw you as
a mere commodity. That is something I don't believe will ever happen
with Aniue-sama."
"Do you think he should try to mend fences with them?"
The younger woman sits back in her chair, then sighs. "I really
can't say, Aneue-sama. I mean, yes, Aniue-sama did do some awful
things to those people when he was living there. In my eyes, he does
owe people like Shinobu Miyaki, Ryuunosuke Fujinami and Sakura
Sakurambou an apology for all the times he tried to force himself
on them. But..." she pauses. "Would they accept an apology from
him, Aneue-sama? We know Aniue-sama would never do those things
again. But would they believe that?"
"Is he afraid they'll want to do something worse?" Ranma
wonders. "Like try to drive some sort of wedge between him and you
girls?"
Marie blinks, then her blue-grey eyes, normally very deep and
warm, turn ice-cold. "If those twits believe they can try something
like that to us, they can think again," her voice is tinged with a
threatening growl. "When he came to Promised Island, Aniue-sama
came looking for a quiet, peaceful place so he could put his life
back in order. We acknowledged his desire by welcoming him to the
House and acknowledging our family ties. And given how much he's
suffered since he came to the Island, especially when it comes to all
those delightful aftereffects of his 'relationship' with Lum-san,
those fools will not find a sympathetic ear with any of us."
"That's good," Ranma nods, then shrugs. "Then again, with
Megane and his crew gone, Mendou on the way to the altar and Lum
herself changed into Seiko Izumo -- not to mention what happened
last week at the school -- there's little left in Tomobiki who could
really hurt Ataru."
"Save those Niphentaxians who spy for that so-called 'church.'"
"Hai, true," the redhead stands, walking to the doorway to gaze
out a window at the grounds around the old shrine. "Sure ain't true
at Furinkan, though," she whispers before sensing Marie's hand grip
her shoulder.
"How do you think the people there will react, Aneue-sama?"
A grimace crosses Ranma's face. "Hard to predict. I never
really paid much attention to all the rumours people were passing
around about me, much less Akane," she shakes her head. "I can bet
that Akane's friends, people like Yuka and Sayuri...! They'll take
it really hard, that's for damn sure. The only other real worry is
that nitwit Kunou."
"What might he do?" Marie draws her hand back.
The older woman shakes her head. "Damn hard to predict that
one, Marie-chan," she sneers. "With the way that idiot loves to
twist things around so he feels he's on top of things..." a shrug
rolls her shoulder, then she breathes out. "It all depends on
Nabiki, I think."
"Could she try to make people see reason?"
"Maybe. When it comes to information control in that place,
she's the one who holds the tiller," Ranma nods, closing her eyes.
"I wonder if she'll let information about Ryouga's curse get out into
the public."
Marie gives her future sister-in-law a perplexed look.
"Aneue-sama, how could you POSSIBLY forgive what that man did to
you...?!"
Ranma fires her a very annoyed stare, causing the younger woman
to instantly wilt. Seeing that reaction, the redhead curses herself
before turning once more to gaze out the window. "Marie-chan,
please, I CHOOSE to let it go, alright? Yes, what he did with Akane
when he was 'P-chan' was wrong. No doubt about that. But..." she
pauses, then closes her eyes. "I have as much a responsibility
concerning that as Ryouga did..."
"Aneue-sama, it was an accident!" Marie crosses her arms. "And
if you personally ask me, the real culprit behind what happened
to that man is your father. If that monster hadn't taken you to
China in the first place, Hibiki-san wouldn't have got the urge to
follow. If he didn't follow you to China, he wouldn't have been
cursed, for heaven's sake!"
Silence falls. Marie takes a deep breath, resting her hands
on the windowsill. Ranma gazes briefly at the younger woman, then
turns once more to gaze outside. "Hinako-chan was right, you know."
Marie blinks, then a slow nod tilts her head. "Hai, she was,
wasn't she," she pulls off her glasses, then uses the fabric of her
sweater to clean the lenses. "Look how quick we're all willing
to lay blame for this damned affair on one person. Rather foolish,
isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is," Ranma nods...
* * *
Mid-morning...
"Chikage-chan!! Hina's here!"
"Ah, Hinako, there you are!" Chikage waves the youngest of the
sisters into her bedroom. "I've a little surprise for you."
"Eh?! A surprise for Hina?" Hinako walks into the darkened
space, then her eyes fix on the figure seated in the guest chair
across the sorceress' work table from Chikage herself.
"A-a-a-Akane-san...?!"
"Ohayou, Hinako-chan," Akane gazes on her.
Silence falls as Hinako stares at the body-less memory copy of
the youngest of the Tendou daughters, then she slowly turns to gaze
on Chikage. "Chikage-chan, Hina d-doesn't understand...!"
she shakily points at Akane.
***Actually, Hina, I can explain it.***
"Bou-san?!"
Hinako falls silent as the Staff whispers an explanation
into her mind. At the end, the young girl then waves her hands in
exasperation. "***BOU-SAN NO BAKA!!!! TELL HINA ABOUT THIS NEXT
TIME!!!***"
If the Staff could sweatdrop, it would. ***Sorry...***
Chikage and Akane jerk at Hinako's ranting, then exchange
a look. A smile then cracks across the latter's face. In a moment,
both women are giggling. Hinako gazes quizzically on them, then
starts to laugh herself. Finally, everyone relaxes as Akane waves
Hinako over to stand beside her. "Well, now that's been cleared
up, we have a decision to make," Chikage sits back in her chair.
"Rather, Akane has a decision to make."
"Akane-san...?" Hinako gazes on the disembodied spirit beside
her.
"I..." Akane closes her eyes as she considers what to say, then
she gazes questioningly on Hinako. "Hinako-chan, would you...?"
she pauses, then looks ashamedly away. "Want me to be real? To...?"
Hinako blinks, then her eyes tear. "Akane-san..."
Sensing the younger girl's sorrow, Akane winces. "Gomen..."
***She has as much right to self-determination as her
template.***
"Agreed," Chikage cuts in before Hinako could retort to the
Staff's observation. Rising, the sorceress walks around the table
to place a hand on Akane's shoulder. "In fact, one might say that
you presently have far more greater freedom to choose your destiny
than your template ever did."
"Because of everyone's interference in her life, you mean?"
Akane gazes up at her host, then on seeing Chikage nod, breathes
out. "True."
"Hina wants Akane-san to be like Akane-san."
Akane perks, then gazes on Hinako. "Well, not EXACTLY like
her!" she flusters, then sighs. "I don't think anyone might
appreciate the idea of me whipping out chi-mallets to hit people
who can't physically defend themselves, like what the other me nearly
did to Marie-san last night."
"Yeah, that was really, really dumb!" Hinako ruefully chuckles.
"Hina doesn't want to think of what Onii-tama or Negako-oneetama
would've done to Akane-san if Marie-chan really, really got badly
hurt!"
"I can hear the Inquisition Excommunication March right now,"
Chikage shakes her head, drawing her hand away from Akane.
Akane shudders; while she had no idea what Chikage had meant
by that, the tone in the sorceress' voice spoke volumes. Taking
a deep breath, she gazes anew at her host. "So what might happen
if I do go back as Akane?"
"The 'pros' are several," Chikage sits down. "Your identity
is already established, with a life history to support it. As I told
you already, your school records can be switched to the College
with ease. In that respect, you ARE Akane Tendou, no different
than the original. From there, you can proceed ahead to chart your
life's path with little or no hindrance whatsoever." A pause, then,
"The 'cons' will be considerable, however. First point is your
template's family and their reaction..."
"They've already been hurt because of this," Akane sighs.
"Hai, they have," Chikage nods. "Since they witnessed the
parting scene between your template and Hinako here last night when
the police came to Ane-kun's home to investigate what happened
-- that was facilitated by the Staff, of course -- Kasumi, Nabiki
and Shinshi will need very little persuasion to make them understand
what exactly you are. And there lies the potential trap. Would they
accept you into their family, as Akane, no different from the
original? Or would they keep you at arm's length?"
"They seemed pretty hell-bent about it last night," Akane notes,
then gazes on the table. "Then again, the other me's behaviour
when it came to Ranma and your brother last night certainly wasn't
stellar by far."
"Agreed, it wasn't," Chikage nods. "But given the inordinate
amount of leniency by which your template's always been treated
by family and friends alike, is it really so surprising to you,
Akane?"
Akane gazes on the sorceress, then nods. "Yeah, that's true,
isn't it?" she gazes heavenward. "Before she died, Mom was the
disciplinarian in the family. She was pretty firm when she had to
be, too..."
"Did she spank you?" Hinako wonders.
"Iie," Akane shakes her head. "Mom didn't need to do something
like that. She was very persuasive when it came to scolding us. I
always hated that. But..." she closes her eyes. "Mom was kind about
it, too. When it was all over, she tried to explain what I did wrong
and why it was wrong." A shudder runs through her. "Oh, gods, I
miss that so much..."
"She was the real backbone of your family," Chikage notes.
"Hai, that she was," Akane nods. "Then when she was gone..."
she gazes once more on the table. "It's a wonder that we survived
that at all. Dad just became a crying wreck. Kasumi threw away her
whole life to keep the house in shape. Nabiki became the breadwinner
of the family..."
"And your template was allowed to do whatever she wanted,
without any guidance, either positive or negative, from those who
should have helped her through that time," Chikage finishes, leaning
on the table. "That is where this all began, Akane. Last night,
it finally came to a head."
Silence.
"And that other me ran away from it," Akane sighs before gazing
on Hinako. "Even with someone there ready to make a miracle happen."
"Akane-san said she had no friends or family left," Hinako
sniffs.
"That she did," Chikage nods, drawing out a handkerchief
for her sister to use. "And because they know that, I believe the
others of your family will work extra hard to welcome you back into
the fold, Akane."
"I hope so," Akane nods. "What other problems might come up?"
"My family is the other major problem," Chikage sighs. "Now,
as with your family, it will be easy to persuade mine of what you are
and how you came to be. However, given your template's behaviour
towards Marie and Hinako, many of us, including Ani-kun, might treat
you with indifference if not hostility for a considerable period
to come. You'll have to work to earn their respect, Akane. For some
of them, that will be difficult."
"I can guess that. What about Ranma?"
"Ane-kun? The same thing. But I believe you will slip back
into Ane-kun's good side if you acknowledge what exists between
her and Ani-kun and vow to leave them be. That is what Ane-kun
wanted in the end, Akane."
Akane gazes on Chikage for a moment, then she sits back in the
chair. "That's a tall order, Chikage-san. I mean..." she stops for
a moment, then sighs. "Okay, Ranma's a girl. If that's what she
wants, I suppose I could go along with it. I..." another pause,
then, "I guess that after she found out what that stupid panda did to
her before their training trip, actually electing to go totally
against what Genma wanted WAS the perfect revenge to take. And..."
another longer pause, then, "And if..." she shudders, then sniffs
back her tears. "If she's come to love your brother, then..."
her hands squeeze. "I can only wish her -- and him, too -- the best.
But..." a hand shifts to hover over her heart. "Why wouldn't she
come back to us?"
"What do you mean by 'us?'" Chikage gently probes.
"My family!" Akane blurts out, causing Hinako to falter.
Sensing that, she pauses, then gazes intently at Chikage.
"Chikage-san, she lived with us for over a year. We gave her the
first home she had in a DECADE! And now she says she doesn't want
anything to do with us again?! WHY?!!"
"Did your family really offer her a home?"
Silence.
"I...!" Akane shudders.
Chikage takes a deep breath. "Hinako, why don't you get Bou-san
to create Akane's new body? Have it placed in your room when it's
ready."
"I..." Hinako blinks, then nods. "Okay!"
She vanishes in a flash of light. Akane watches her go, then
gazes once more on her host. "Akane, I have something of a
confession to make to you," Chikage places her hands on the table
between them. "And in doing so, I hope I can make you better
understand Ane-kun's feelings about a lot of things, including
her interaction with your family. And mine."
Akane blinks...
* * *
"Oh, Ryouga-sama, that's horrible!!"
A cup of tea is placed before the wanderer. "Thanks," he nods
at Kanami, then takes a sip before new pain hoods his eyes.
"Akane-san..."
"We deeply grieve for you, Ryouga-sama," Yukimi Kitahara
squeezes their guest's shoulders. The only ones now with Ryouga
in the apartment block's kitchen are the five Avalonians who
presently called this place home, plus Yukimi's lover, Miruko Narumi.
The Izumo sisters had taken Ten and the four bioroid replicas who'd
brought the young boy to Earth downtown to have them fully registered
with the United Nations. "I pray that wherever in the Te'a she is at
this time, Akane-sama is at peace."
"She's with her mother at least," Ryouga blinks as a surge of
empathic warmth floods his body from Yukimi's fingers. "But
still..."
"It's alright, Ryouga-sama," Namie Kashima lightly smiles.
"No, it's NOT alright...!!"
"Hey!" Yukimi squeezes his shoulders, then sighs. "Yes,
Ryouga-sama, what you did while you were playing 'P-chan' WAS wrong!
No doubt about it. But who was there to tell you what was wrong and
what was right?!"
"I..."
"Yukimi-chan's right," Hiro Kodama reaches over to give his hand
a squeeze. "And so was Hinako-sama when she stepped up to your
defence last night after Akane-sama died. We..." she points to
herself, then indicates her fellow Avalonians, "...know what is
normally accepted as 'right' and 'wrong' because we were PROGRAMMED
to acknowledge that fact! Most other people, people like Miruko-chan
here..." she waves to the crippled girl, "...well, in a sense,
they're programmed, too! If it's not by their parents or legal
guardians, it's by their siblings, peers or teachers." She then
gazes on Ryouga. "Where were your teachers, Ryouga-sama? Where were
your siblings and your parents? In effect, you had none."
"I knew enough..."
"No, you didn't," Yukimi shakes her head. "You never were given
any sort of proper guidance when it came to controlling your anger.
Thanks to that direction curse of yours, you couldn't stay still long
enough to have those life lessons others take for granted implanted
into you. And without that control, all that was needed was a person
or object for you to fix your anger onto and *boom!* You became
a runaway bullet train!"
Ryouga slowly exhales. "Ranma..."
"Hai," Yukimi nods. "When you first met Akane-sama as 'P-chan,'
you soon realized you were caught in a horrible bind. Here was the
first person in so long to treat you with real kindness and concern.
Is it any wonder you latched onto that right away?! That's how
DESPERATE you were to have someone show you that sort of kindness,
Ryouga-sama. And then..."
"And then, you found out that this wonderful woman you just met
was also the unintended fiancee of the man you hated with every fibre
of your being," Kanami adds. "So, because you had become so
desperate to not just hang onto Akane-sama but to destroy
Ranma-sama..."
"Can't forget the doofuses who knew the whole story!" Miruko
notes.
"Agreed," Tamako Momose nods.
Ryouga considers that, then sighs. "Yeah, that's true, isn't
it? If Akane-san's father and that panda were so hell-bent on
getting Akane-san married to Ranma -- and Kasumi-san was pretty much
for it, too! -- why would they let me continue to pretend to be
P-chan...?"
The others consider that, then Miruko blinks. "They were using
you?"
"Eh?!" everyone stares at her.
"Using me?!" Ryouga's jaw opens, then he sits back in his chair.
"Damn it all..." his hands slowly clench into quaking fists.
"Why did you conclude that, Miruko-chan?" Kanami asks.
"Well, don't you remember what Ryouga-kun said about all the
fights Akane-san and Ranma-san had because of their engagement?"
The others nod, then Tamako perks. "And there were the times
Ranma-sama kept calling Ryouga-sama 'P-chan' or 'pig boy,' especially
if it was in front of Akane-sama," she turns to Ryouga.
"Ryouga-sama, weren't there times Ranma-sama stopped you from
admitting the truth to Akane-sama?"
"Um, yeah, there were!" Ryouga nods, then sighs. "I guess Ranma
did that because she was afraid that Akane-san'd blame it all on
her..." his voice trails off, then he gazes to the ceiling. "Then
again, I have to keep in mind that Ranma herself wasn't operating
at her peak."
"Why's that?" Namie asks.
"It's something her dad did to her before they went off on their
big training trip," Ryouga begins, then elaborates further to his
hosts.
At the end of that, everyone is stunned. "What an asshole!"
Miruko spits out. "Geez!! And he had the guts to call himself
Ranma's father?!"
"If that happened on the Creator's homeworld, he would've
been put to death for child abuse!" Kanami sneers. "What about
Ranma-sama's mother?"
"She stayed at home the whole time," Ryouga shrugs. "Ranma
told me when I saw her on the Island that if Nodoka was going to be
obstinate about it, Ranma wouldn't have anything more to do with
her."
"In other words, child abandonment," Tamako concludes.
"Someone want to call the Executioners?" Hiro wonders.
"The Inquisition on Zephyrus do a better job," Namie holds up an
objecting finger. "Besides, from what I know of them, Yehisrites
don't believe in sparing the cane when they raise children."
"Good point," Kanami nods.
Laughter fills the kitchen. Even Ryouga finds himself grinning
at the surprising show of camaraderie the Avalonians just
demonstrated. Yukimi then pulls her hands away from him, moving
to stand beside her lover. "Ryouga-sama, what are you going to do
with Akari-sama?"
Ryouga blinks, then sighs. "I dunno," he looks down at his tea
cup.
"Do you think she'll give you another chance?" Tamako asks.
The wanderer considers that, then shrugs. "I can't say,
Tamako-chan. I mean...!" he pauses, then breathes out. "Well, she
had a right to get upset over the whole P-chan thing, plus my
feelings for Akane-san..."
Kanami: "Did she listen to what Hinako-sama said in your
defence?"
He considers that for a moment, then shakes his head. "Iie."
The Avalonians exchange a look, then Hiro takes a deep breath
before gazing on their guest. "Maybe this was the best thing,
Ryouga-sama."
He jolts, staring in shock at the fudge-haired Avalonian.
"Hiro..."
"No, Hiro's right!" Miruko perks, holding up a finger. "After
all, what type of relationship begins when you have to beat your
prospective fiancee's prize fighting pig just to get engaged to her?"
Kanami nods. "She should've realized once she understood
about your directional curse that you wouldn't be anywhere close to a
'normal' man."
"Then again, girls her age don't feel very confident about
themselves and whatever relationships they try to make," Tamako
notes.
"True. Besides, this was started because her grandfather
insisted she locate a fiance right away before he passed into the
Te'a," Namie adds. "Why couldn't Unryuu-sama trust in Akari-sama
to carry on with the farm?"
"With his directional curse still such a problem, Ryouga-sama
would be pretty hard-pressed to help out at the farm, too," Yukimi
muses.
"Hey!!" Ryouga jolts. "What are you saying, Yukimi-san?!"
"Isn't it obvious?" the gypsy-dressed Avalonian apartment
manager gazes on him. "Given how fast she was ready to dump you last
night PLUS given the circumstances about how you two came together,
can you REALLY convince yourself now that Akari Unryuu loves you,
Ryouga-sama?"
Silence falls as the wanderer considers that, then he sinks into
his chair. "I..." he pauses, a lump forming in his throat. "I can't
say..."
"You haven't been given too much of a chance to consider it,"
Kanami leans her chin on her crossed hands, elbows on the table.
"There's nothing wrong with that, Ryouga-sama. Besides, do your
parents know about Akari?"
Ryouga is quick to note the dropping of the honorific when it
came to his ex-girlfriend. "Iie. Last time I was by my house, I was
hopeful of pressing something with Akane-san. Quite a while ago.
I..." he breathes out. "I haven't been back there since, admittedly.
It's been so hard..."
"It's okay," Yukimi smiles, then hums thoughtfully. "Maybe..."
"What're you thinking, love?" Miruko looks up.
"Perhaps what Ryouga-sama needs now is a chance to get back
together with his family," Yukimi states. "We do have some equipment
from Phentax Two that might help him better deal with his direction
curse. We've really no need of it. Once we find a way to help him
get around without taking jaunts hither, tither and yon, we can
concentrate on helping his family."
"I...!" Ryouga jolts. "Um, Yukimi-san, you really don't...!"
"Hush!!" Yukimi wags a finger at him. "I won't hear a word out
of you about this, Ryouga-sama. It's the right thing to do!
Especially given how little help you've received to date about this
mess you're in!"
"I...!" he stares wide-eyed at her, then gazes on the others
in the room. Quickly sensing their desire to help out, he then turns
back to his now-cold tea cup. "I...! Um, a-arigatou...!
I..." he blinks, feeling his eyes mist over, then he jolts on seeing
a handkerchief hovering before his face. Noting that it is Tamako
who is handing him the cloth, he gives her a grateful smile, then
moves to wipe his eyes down. "A-arigatou..."
The others exchange knowing looks...
* * *
"You FORCED Ranma to face that all at once?!"
"There was no choice in the matter, Akane."
Akane and Chikage gaze on each other, the former on her feet,
the shock and outrage she now felt at the latter's confession
shaking her from head to toe. "In the name of the gods, WHY?!" she
hisses.
"Because two lives hanged in the balance of what could have
happened if things didn't go well for Ane-kun, Akane," Chikage
sternly replies, the chill in her voice causing Akane to sink back
into her chair. "You know by now about the bond binding Ane-kun
to Ani-kun. By the time my family met Ane-kun, certain elements
of Ani-kun's personality were coming out into the open. Your
template saw one such element on Sunday evening, I believe."
Akane blinks, then pales. "The Cyborg..."
"Exactly. A creature born when Negako-anekun was forced into
Ani-kun's mind years ago, then given life, shape and purpose on
Phentax Two when Ani-kun was exposed to the Staff of Gihan and he was
forced to watch three billion people die. A creature, I should add,
who knew there was someone out there he was bonded in the most
intimate way to. A person who, in her own way, had suffered as
greatly as he did. One he intrinsically wanted to help, for he knew
very well that if she died, so would he."
"Ranma."
"Exactly."
Akane takes that in, then sighs. "Chikage-san, you and
Negako-san could've tried to explain this to all of us, you know."
"Would any of you've accepted such an explanation?" Chikage
crosses her arms. "A story that would've rocked all your worldviews
right to the very core? Especially in the wake of the events on
Mount Phoenix, the wedding attempt and Ane-kun's training trip with
Tampopo-san?"
Akane blinks as she considers that, then shakes her head. "No,"
she breathes out. "I would've had LOADS of problems with accepting
something like that, especially since it concerned Ataru Moroboshi,
too. Genma and Nodoka would've probably disowned Ranma on the spot
if Nodoka didn't decide to force the whole seppuku contract on Ranma.
And once that happened, Dad wouldn't have wanted to have anything
to do with Ranma ever again. It..." she closes her eyes. "Gods,
it could've been a disaster."
"Agreed," Chikage relaxes. "I didn't understand all the
implications of this myself until much later, but from what I did
knew at the time, I realized that the sooner Ane-kun was given the
chance to establish a new sense of family, the better. That's why,
after we learned Tampopo-san had taken Ane-kun under her wing, I
persuaded my sisters to start addressing her as 'elder sister.'
To do that, I had to tell them what Jusenkyou had done to Ane-kun,
plus what was temporarily halting that from happening."
"The Neko-ken."
"Precisely. Once that started, the next thing that had to be
done was to persuade Ane-kun to leave Nerima for a while. Get as far
clear of Genma's potential influence -- and all of yours, admittedly
-- so that the necessary changes could be done. Of course,
discovering what Genma did to Ane-kun before their training trip
helped matters considerably."
"I bet they did," Akane slowly nods, then sighs. "I still
lo-..." her voice trails off for a moment, then she closes her eyes.
"I care for her, Chikage-san. After all she's done, how can I NOT
care for her?"
"I don't blame you for feeling that way, Akane," Chikage shakes
her head. "But right now, what you have to do -- and this applies
to Kasumi and Nabiki as well -- is understand that while caring for
Ane-kun is one thing, trying to acknowledge her as part of your
family is quite another. You all have to take a detailed look at
your behaviour concerning Ane-kun, right from the day she first
walked into your home, and try to understand what you did that went
*against* fostering that sense of family with her. I don't mean to
say that Ane-kun is innocent in this matter, Akane. She knows she
did many things wrong and readily acknowledges that fact."
"True..."
A flash of light heralds Hinako's return. "It's all ready!!!"
Akane acks, then gives the youngest of the sisters a properly
annoyed look. "Hinako-chan, will you please ANNOUNCE yourself
first?!" she snaps.
Hinako jerks, then seeing the mirth in Akane's eyes, giggles,
her hand rising to cover her mouth. After glaring at her for a few
seconds, Akane's face breaks out in a grin. Chikage shakes her
head...
* * *
Before lunch...
"'MARRIED?!!'"
"H-hai," Mendou shakily nods, now facing his former classmates
in the middle of morning study hall. After spending time claiming
his personal belongings from Tomobiki High School -- which, given
Mendou's propensity for calling on the Kuromegane or his clan's armed
forces whenever any sort of trouble befell this place, was actually
quite a lot -- the scion of one of Japan's richest families had come
back to say good-bye, plus explain why he had been withdrawn from
school. Taking a deep breath as he notes all the shocked faces
gazing his way, he elaborates. "My parents and Asuka-san's
parents decided the time was right for us to fulfil our obligation
to our families. The ceremony will be this Saturday after lunch."
Silence falls. The boys in Shinobu's class are already elated
by the idea of Mendou no longer attending school here. Regardless
of the pain they presently felt because of Lum's "death," the rich
snob had been a major thorn in ALL their lives. For the more
open-minded of the lot, already noting that there were other very
beautiful women in the class, having Mendou out of their hair was a
virtual guarantee of many fun dates in the future. As for most of
the girls in the class, however...
"Mendou-san, you can't possibly marry that man-phobe!!!"
Momoe Marubeya grasps his hands, clutching them close to her heart.
"Please!! There's got to be some other way to let this happen!!!"
"Why not let Ryooko-san marry Tobimaro-san?!" Kumiko Gekasawa
adds, grasping one of Mendou's hands, then letting it rub against
her cheek. "It doesn't have to result in you living a loveless
marriage, Mendou-san!!"
"I...!" Mendou flusters as other girls in the class, those he
had freely flirted with from the day he first came here, crowd around
him.
"Hey, hey, HEY!!! That's enough!! Give the guy some space,
for crying out loud!!" Mie walks up to pull some of her classmates
back. "Geez, he's already got enough problems with this already!!!"
The force in the new student's voice is enough to make the
others back away, though some of the girls give Mie resentful
stares for cutting in like she did. Mendou gives her a grateful
nod, then that melts into a curious look. "Um, gomen nasai, but I
don't believe we've met."
"Mie Seikou, from Yame in Fukuoka-ken, Kyushu," Mie points to
herself, then gently grips his hand. "And regardless of the problems
you face now, friend, I hope it'll turn out for the best for you."
"I..." his cheeks flame, then he bows, drawing his hand back.
"Arigatou, Mie-san. Your kind thoughts are truly appreciated."
"I'll definitely ditto that thought!" Ryuunosuke pats Mendou's
shoulder. "'Sides, Asuka-chan's a nice girl!! Congratulations!"
"Ryuunosuke-kun!!" another of Mendou's fans moan before covering
her eyes with her hands. "How can you say something like that?!"
Mendou sighs as other girls in the class begin to cry. This
definitely was NOT going to be one of his better days...
* * *
"He's returned?"
"Yes, Captain. By all appearances, he was busy withdrawing
his personal belongings from the school. Agent Rose did confirm
that Mendou was no longer considered a member of that particular
class."
"I see. So he's visiting his former classmates to say
good-bye."
"I believe so."
"Fair enough! Now's the time! Stand by to beam them up!"
"Yes, ma'am!!"
* * *
"...bad enough that they're not allowing you any sort of freedom
of choice when it comes to marrying someone, but to force you to
marry NOW?!" Momoe tearfully protests. "You're only seventeen,
Mendou-san!! You still have to graduate high school and go through
university before you'd be truly ready to inherit your family's
fortune!! Don't they understand?!"
Mendou sighs. "Momoe-san, I agree that my parents and
Asuka-san's parents do have some unique viewpoints, but they ARE
doing what they believe is the best for both our clans and those
employed by us!!"
"B-but...!"
"Momoe-chan, that's enough!" Shinobu squeezes her classmate's
shoulder. "There's nothing we can do about it now."
"But...!!" Momoe stutters.
Everyone then perks on hearing a ringing noise fill the room.
"Hey, what the heck's that...?!" Shinjin Koi looks around.
"That sounds like a transporter!" Mie warns, then gasps.
"Oh...!!"
Her complaint is cut off as everyone in the classroom dissolves
in a sparkle of pinkish-white energy. Within two seconds, the room
is emptied of all students. A second later, another transporter
beams in a sheet of paper, that landing on the teacher's desk. As
the effect finally fades, the door slides open, revealing Sakura.
"What the devil's...?!" her voice is instantly cut off on seeing
the empty room before her. Standing stark still for a moment as she
takes in all around her, the nurse then focuses on the paper sitting
on the desk. Walking up to it, she balks, her eyes going wide on
seeing the pink rose insignia embossed on it as letterhead,
then she holds it close to read the message written there:
"To Whomever This May Concern,
"If you wish to know where Honey's former classmates have gone
to, you need not look further than I. If you wish to see them
returned to Earth alive and well, tell Honey that he is to surrender
himself to me as quickly as possible. I'm aware of his recent
activities concerning the Noukiites and their just-finished
war with the Onis, so warn him not to pull any tricks. His friends'
lives presently depend on it. "Sincerely, "Elle LXIV, "Queen of the
Rose Kingdom of Elle"
"Elle...!!" Sakura pales, then she races out of the room...
* * *
"The prisoners are secured, Captain!"
"Excellent! Inform Agent Rose that Mr. Groom's sisters are to
be targeted for transport to us as soon as possible!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
* * *
"...SHIT!!!"
Silence falls over the crowd as they find themselves standing
in a deep, white-walled circular space the size of the school gym.
Glancing around their new surroundings, Shinobu and her classmates
are quick to note one obvious exit from this place, that hovering
to her right four metres above the deck, a small balcony sighted
around it. The silence remains for another minute or so, then Tomomi
asks, "Where the hell are we?!"
"Certainly not in Kansas, Tomomi-chan," Kyooko mutters.
"That helps a lot, Kyooko-chan," Minako shakes her head.
"I think I know where we are."
Eyes fall on Shinobu. "Where?!" Ryuunosuke asks.
Shinobu gazes on Mendou. Seeing the hint of recognition
on his face, she nods, then turns back to Ryuunosuke. "We're aboard
Queen Elle's flagship, Ryuu-chan! We met her just before you came
to school."
Everyone exchanges looks, then Momoe asks, "Elle?!! You mean
that alien queen who wanted to marry Ataru-kun a year back?!"
"The very same."
Everyone's eyes spin around and up to gaze on the balcony.
Now standing there is a lovely red-haired woman dressed in an
ankle-length white cape draped over a rose-red bustier-like
bodysuit trimmed with stylized rose stems. A headband wrapped around
her hair is also embossed with a stylized white rose. Flanking
her on both sides are two female bodyguards, both carrying combat
rifles now aimed in the general direction of the Tomobiki High
students. "Elle!!" Shinobu gasps.
"Yes," the Rose Queen nods, then her eyebrow cocks as a flash
of recognition dawns. "Oh, yes! I remember you! You're Honey's
former girlfriend as I recall! Shinobu, was it? The one he finally
renounced for the Devil's Daughter after that silly Tag Race,
correct?!"
Shinobu quakes as the mocking tone in Elle's voice sinks in,
then she nods. "Yes! What's the meaning of this?! As far as I
recall, when you and Ataru-kun went back in time after Lum broke up
your wedding ceremony, you learned that he NEVER tagged your shadow
when you were kids!"
Elle makes a dismissive wave of her hand. "Yes, yes, that's
true, of course...! Ah!" her eyes lock on another familiar face.
"My dear Shutaro, is that you?!" she focuses on Mendou. "It's been
quite a while. Your place in my Refrigerator of Love is still open,
of course."
Mendou gags, his face turning sheet-white on hearing the word
"refrigerator." In a flash, he finds himself surrounded by most of
the girls in the class. "If you think you'll freeze OUR Mendou-san
like you tried to do last time, bitch, you're really mistaken!!"
Momoe vows.
Watching this, Elle politely covers her mouth in a delighted
laugh. "Oh, my, such devotion! I do admire that, really I do!" She
then quickly recovers. "Anyhow, that'll have to wait for another
time, I'm afraid."
"So why ARE you here?!" Mie demands, crossing her arms.
"Why, isn't it obvious?" Elle's eyebrow arches. "I want Honey!"
Everyone blinks...
* * *
"What's the matter?"
The technician looks up from her status board. "I'm sorry about
this, Captain, but for some reason, we can only detect ten of Mr.
Groom's half-sisters," she points to her readout. "They're all here,
in the Nerima ward of Tokyo. Agent Rose is still trying to locate
the last two."
"Who're missing?" the captain demands.
"These two," the technician calls up the applicable files.
The captain looks. "Chikage Hirosaki and Hinako Saeru," she
reads the names, then crosses her arms. "Keep scanning," she orders.
"I'm not sure what the Queen will think if we don't find all of Mr.
Groom's sisters by the time she wants them to join us. Be quick
about it!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
* * *
"Hey, if you want the guy, take him for...!!"
Shinjin screams out as Tomomi's fist smashes into his jaw,
sending him sailing across the room to smash into a bulkhead.
"Shut up, jerk!!!" she snaps, her actions making everyone save her
sister Avalonians and Mie draw fearfully back. "Who asked for your
dumbass opinions, anyway?!"
"What's this?!" Elle wonders from above. "Don't tell me Honey's
finally obtained some real fans among his former peers!"
Tomomi jolts, then inwardly curses herself. If that warped
bitch above accidentally learned of her ancestry, who knows WHAT
might happen next. "Well, what do you expect me to do?!" she turns
around, shrugging as she locks eyes with the Rose Queen. "Allow
these mindless dolts to *lie* to you like that, even if it's to save
their skins?! Get real!"
Everyone stares wide-eyed at the auburn-haired Avalonian.
"Lie to me?" Elle blinks surprisedly. "Whatever are you talking
about?!"
"About Ataru-kun, of course," Tomomi crosses her arms. "I bet
that none of your people were in Tomobiki last week when some Islamic
whackos blew up the school. Ataru-kun came by to help out with the
rescue, but afterward, he pretty well told the whole damned world
how much he HATED everyone in Tomobiki!! ESPECIALLY everyone at
Tomobiki High School!"
People blink, then Momoe grins as she realizes what Tomomi is
trying to do. "That's right!!" she turns to Elle. "Man, you
should've heard him that day! I've never heard so many swear words
in all my life from that guy than what I heard that day!! I mean..."
she shrugs. "He even insulted all the GIRLS at school, too!! Can
you believe something like that?!"
Others quickly nod, then jolt on hearing a peal of amused
laughter escape the Rose Queen. "Oh, Fates! That is simply
hilarious!!" she nearly doubles over, but is quickly able to restrain
herself. After all, queens didn't DO such undisciplined things!
"Well, well..." she fixes her ship's "guests" with a knowing look.
"Despite your exaggeration, I do sense that you are speaking the
truth about Honey's feelings for all of you."
"Then you realize taking us prisoner won't work!" Shinobu
states.
"Oh, on the contrary, my dear Shinobu," Elle holds up a finger.
"Be assured, you ARE of assistance to me when it comes to bringing
Honey back to where he belongs at my side. I'm sure your parents
back on Earth will no doubt move to persuade Honey to come to your
rescue. And before you ask, I do happen to know of his recent
activities concerning the Noukiites and how they so easily DESTROYED
the Onis over the last few weeks!"
Shinobu pales. Given the boys' reaction yesterday to Reiko's
and Kaneko's news that no Urusian would ever be allowed on Earth
again for the next century, learning that Ataru had actually fought
WITH the Noukiites against Lum's people -- regardless of the fact
that Ataru had done it for the understandable reason of avenging
his grandmother's murder during the first Tag Race! -- would be a red
flag to Shinjin and the others.
"What are you talking about?!" another boy demands.
"Easily enough," Elle purrs...
* * *
After lunchtime...
"Oh, it's so good to go for a walk these days, eh, Michael?"
Michael barks as he follows Marie down the street in the general
direction of Furinkan High School. Breakfast had finally been served
when Shampoo and Ukyou Kuonji came by with large boxes of food for
the extended Moroboshi family. At present, Ranma's former fiancees
are with her in Hikarigaoka Park, giving Aneue-sama the necessary
emotional support as she came to grips with Akane Tendou's death.
Ataru had gone to the Tendou home to speak with Kasumi, moving to
avert a potential explosion should the new Tendou matriarch try to
speak to her late sister's former betrothed before Ranma had any real
chance to come to grips with her own feelings. Yotsuba was currently
with Shinshi. Chikage and Hinako had gone somewhere, though no one
knew exactly where. The others were back at the shrine...
"Eh?"
Marie pauses on seeing a small crowd of young men and women
heading her way. Noting the white blouse and blue skirt uniforms
worn by the girls of Furinkan High, Marie blinks, then exchanges
a surprised look with Michael. "Are they letting school out early,
Michael?" she wonders.
The retriever whines, then trots on ahead. Marie stays with him
as they make their way towards Furinkan High. They arrive at the
front gate to see a small crowd standing there, their attention
fixed at something on the front lawn. "Excuse me, please," she taps
the shoulder of one boy. "Is there something going on today?" she
asks as he looks her way.
Hiroshi blinks on seeing the slender girl with the very pretty
smile and the big dog beside her, then sighs. Marie is quick to
notice the pain in his eyes. "We just found out that a classmate
of ours was killed last night. Her sister told the whole school
at a special assembly an hour ago. She got pretty detailed when it
came to explaining why it happened."
"Akane Tendou?" Marie asks.
Hiroshi perks. "Oh, you know her, don't you?"
A pause, then, "I've heard of her..."
"ARE YOU FUCKIN' SATISFIED NOW, *SEMPAI?!!*"
The solid *crack!* of lacquered hardwood hitting someone's
body causes all the viewers to wince. "Oh, shit, it's started!"
Daisuke, now standing beside Hiroshi, points. "Man, those guys are
brave!"
"Or stupid!" Hiroshi grunts.
"I don't understand," Marie strains herself to look.
"HOW DARE YOU RAISE YOUR WEAPON AGAINST YOUR...?!!"
Several more powerful blows echo through the early afternoon
air, cutting off that pompous voice. Hearing that, Marie shudders
as she remembers Ranma's harsh words about a certain kendo team
captain who had been one of the more annoying problems of hers and
Akane's lives.
"Excuse me, please..." Marie calls out, moving to wind her way
through the crowd. People quickly shift clear as Marie and Michael
step past, then as soon as they are in the clear, both shift to a
place where they wouldn't obstruct anyone's view. Once there, they
turn to look. One glance is enough. "Oh, my!" Marie covers her
mouth, her eyes going wide.
Now on his knees at the usual place where he confronted
Ranma and Akane in the past, a bruised and bleeding Tatewaki Kunou
finds himself surrounded by many members of the Horde o'Hentai.
The looks on the other students' faces all hover in the "flat-out
murderous" range. Leading the confrontation, much to Marie's
surprise, are the members of the school kendo club. "Stow it,
asshole!!" Daikun Takuichi snarls. "You ain't got no right to say
ANYTHING now after what you did to hurt Akane-san!!"
Kunou shudders, then slowly staggers to his feet. "I...!"
he sputters bloodily. "...will not tolerate this...!!"
"Takuichi-san, would you mind?!" a sumotori behind Daikun asks.
Daikun steps aside. "Be our guest, Hitomaro-san!!"
"Arigatou!" Ichinou Hitomaro drops to the "ready" position.
"Go!!"
Marie gasps as six VERY large fellows in mawashi race together
at one point, that point being Kunou! Her eyes snap closed as she
looks away just as a loud *CRUNCH!!* echoes through the air. "Hey,
save some of that creep for us, you guys!!" a member of the school
soccer team snaps as the amateur rikishi back off, allowing Kunou
to collapse like a poleaxed tree to the front walkway. "We've all
got something ta say to that jerk, too!!"
"Relax, gentlemen, relax!!!" a familiar female voice calls out
by the front doors. "You'll all get your turns soon enough!!"
Marie looks to see Nabiki standing there, several other girls
to both sides of the senior student. Taking a deep breath, the
bespectacled teen moves to walk around the impromptu battlezone
as members of the judo club come up to take their turn with Kunou.
Marie winces as hoarse cheers echo through the crowd of students
around her, she purposefully not looking in the direction of the
hapless kendo team captain. By the time the judo club finishes,
turning things over to the zen archery team, Marie and Michael are on
the steps leading to the front doors. "Nabiki-san!"
Nabiki looks, her eyes widening in surprise, then she sighs.
"Marie-chan, what the hell are YOU doing here, for heaven's sake?!"
she hisses.
The eyes of those around Nabiki widen in shock. "I was going
out for a walk around Nerima when I noticed some of your schoolmates
moving to take the rest of the day off," Marie crosses her arms, then
nods towards what is now happening to Kunou. "And what, may I ask,
is THIS all about?!"
"The Boss told all of us everything about what led to
Akane-chan's death last night," one of the girls beside Nabiki
explains, then takes a deep breath before lightly bowing to the
visitor from Promised Island. "Marie-san, what happened last night
wasn't your fault, not by far. You acted properly in defending
both Ataru-kun and Ranma-chan from what you perceived as a grave
insult to them. But..." she gazes on the crowd.
"There're those who'd like to have a word with you about that,"
another girl adds. "Not kind words, I should add."
Hearing that, Michael growls, moving to step closer to Marie.
"I think if they want to chat with Marie-chan, they'll have
Michael-kun to worry about first," Nabiki dryly notes, gazing on the
one-sided fight about to deluge Kunou. "By the way, can you ask
Hinako-chan to come here?"
"Um..." Marie blinks. "Certainly. But I hope..."
A flare of bright light blinds everyone for a second, then
Hinako's voice calls out, "Hai, Hina's here!! What's the problem,
Nabiki-san?!"
Silence falls over the crowd as eyes lock on the youngest
of Ataru's sisters. Nabiki steps away from her friends as she turns
Hinako around to face the Horde o'Hentai. By now, Kunou's hakama
has been nicely shredded by the arrows from the school's archery
team. "Ladies and gentlemen of Furinkan High!!!" Nabiki bellows
through a megaphone. "I have the pleasure to present to you the
youngest of Ataru Moroboshi's beloved and wonderful sisters from
Oomure-jima, the one and only Hinako Saeru!!!"
Gasps fill the crowd on hearing that declaration, then Daikun
slips away from the crowd now surrounding Kunou. Marching to Hinako,
he stops before her, then prostrates. "Hinako-sama, on behalf of the
members of the Furinkan High kendo club, I thank you from the bottom
of my heart for...!!"
"***STOP RIGHT THIS INSTANT!!!!***"
Everyone jolts as Marie marches up to stand protectively
beside her sister. "***WHAT IN THE NAME OF HEAVEN ARE YOU SICK
ANIMALS DOING?!?!***" she shrills, causing the Horde to nearly
scramble away in terror. "Hinako-chan's suffered ENOUGH because
of what happened to Akane-san last night!!! She doesn't need to put
up to your perverted demonstrations...!!"
"No!!" Daikun cuts her off with a raised hand. "Please, miss
-- you're Marie-san, aren't you?! -- you don't understand!!"
"You really all did care for Akane-san, didn't you?"
Eyes lock on Hinako. "Hinako-chan...!" Nabiki blinks.
Daikun stares at her. "Hai, Hinako-sama, that we did! Our..."
a distasteful look crosses his face, "...shameful actions when it
came to Akane-san were truly unbecoming of us all! Believe me when
I say this, Marie-san, but NONE of us wanted this whole mess to go
THIS far!!" Taking a deep breath, he prostrates himself before
Hinako. Behind him, the other members of the Horde do the same.
"Hinako-sama, all of us thank you so much for trying to help
Akane-san in her time of need! And we all beg your forgiveness
for our part in what made Akane-san flee this life for the next,
forcing you to face such an awful tragedy at your young age!!"
"PLEASE FORGIVE US, HINAKO-SAMA!!!" the others of the Horde
chant.
Hinako blinks, then tilts her head as the Staff whispers
something into her mind. She takes a deep breath, tears in her eyes.
"Hina..." she sniffs, then blinks as a first year student hands her
a handkerchief. Wiping her eyes, she tries to smile. "Hina can
accept that! And..." she pauses, then points to Kunou. "Hina hopes
you guys never, never, NEVER listen to that baka-baka creep Kunou
ever, ever again!! Onee-tama told Hina and Hina's sisters everything
about what that creep's done!"
"Than, wahini, you can count on!"
Heads spin around as gasps fill the crowd. "Kunou-kouchou!!"
Nabiki calls out as Principal Kunou steps up to the crowd.
Instead of the toothy, crazed smile that normally adorns the
man's face, there is a very determined look, one similar to the look
Pauline Kunou had on his face Monday morning when he allowed Ranma
to withdraw from Furinkan High. "Relax, keiki! The Big Kahuna's
got some things ta tell ya!" he stares at Nabiki, then turns to
Hinako. Reaching up to his head, he easily pulls off the small
bonsai tree perched there, then hands it to the youngest of Ataru's
sisters. "Here ya go, wahini! You give that to your sister there,
the one who likes growin' plants and all that."
"Eh?!" Hinako stares at the small tree, then realizes the
Principal is speaking about Kaho. "Oh, you mean Kaho-chan! Sure!!"
"Kouchou..." one of the girls beside Nabiki whispers.
The Principal then faces the others on the lawn. "Okay, keiki,
listen up!!" he calls out through his own bullhorn. "The Big
Kahuna's got an announcement for you all!!" A pause, then, "After
hearin' about what happened to that poor wahini Akane, the Big Kahuna
realizes that he's got some serious thinkin' ta do about running
this school for you keiki and wahini!! 'Cause of that, the Big
Kahuna's gonna go back to Hawaii for a while ta do his thinkin'!!
While the Big Kahuna's gone, his number one brother Nanba's gonna
be the Big Kahuna!!" he points to the school's assistant principal,
Shigeru Nanba, who now stands with several other teachers by the
front doors. "Youse all listen to him, ya hear?!! 'Cause if the Big
Kahuna hears his number one brother didn't get the respect he
deserves from you keiki and wahini, the Big Kahuna's gonna be givin'
youse all his real SPECIAL haircuts when he comes back from Hawaii!!"
A tidal wave appears out of nowhere, a surfboard riding the
crest. The Principal hops on that, then he races off for the Kunou
estate without another word. Silence falls over the front lawn, then
Hinako stares at Marie. "Ne, ne, Marie-chan! Where'd all the water
come from?!"
Marie helplessly shrugs, shaking her head. "Well, I'll be a..."
Nabiki chuckles from behind them, scratching her hair.
"Never thought he'd do THAT, eh, Nabiki-chan?" Chieko Fujii
notes.
"Got that right!"
"Alright, alright, then!!" the now-acting principal of Furinkan
High claps his hands as he walks through the crowd to stand beside
Nabiki. "Now that particular matter's been resolved, I think we can
bring an end to this demonstration," he indicates the still-dazed
Kunou with a finger. "And to ensure that this sort of unnecessary
nonsense happens again, I believe that permanently removing Kunou-kun
from his position as captain of the kendo team seems prudent.
Wouldn't you agree with me, Takuichi-kun?"
Daikun looks up, then realizing what Mr. Nanba was saying,
readily nods. "Hai, Nanba-kouchou! We would ALL agree with that!!"
"Very well, then! And, to be fair to all of you, I will leave
it unto all of you to decide who your new team captain will be."
"Hai, Kouchou-san!" Daikun bows.
"WHAT?!?! I FORBID THIS!!!!"
Eyes spin around to see a VERY angry Tatewaki Kunou now on his
feet, a blazing battle aura around him as he glares on the men he
once viewed as his closest allies. "You are no longer in a position
to forbid anything, Kunou-kun!" Mr. Nanba sternly glares at the
former team captain. "Your blatant refusal to face reality has cost
this school and those who give it life and purpose dearly! And I,
for one, refuse to allow this insanity to continue! You no longer
have your father and his influence on us to duck behind, Kunou-kun!
So if you wish to continue to act like a mindless fool, I think
EXPULSION might make you see the error of your ways!!"
Kunou jolts, then sneers. "You may try..."
* * *
"Rose, this is the captain. What's your status?"
"I'm sorry, Captain. I still haven't found Hirosaki or Saeru."
"Never mind, Rose," the Rose Queen's voice cuts in. "Ten of
Honey's sisters is more than enough in this matter. Stand by to
retrieve them!"
"Yes, ma'am!!"
* * *
"Yo, Tatewaki."
Kunou screams out, then spins around to see a dark, cloaked
figure standing behind him. "Ah, Chikage-chan!!" Hinako cheers.
Allowing the hood to fall away from her head, the sorceress
glares amusedly at the defrocked kendo team leader. "I trust I've
come in time," she chuckles amusedly. "Nanba-kouchou, if I am not
mistaken, this fellow here refuses to relinquish his place and accept
responsibility for his part in what led to Akane Tendou's premature
demise last night. Am I correct?"
"Um...! Y-yes, you are c-correct, um...! M-m-miss..."
Mr. Nanba shakily nods, stunned by Chikage's startling appearance.
Chikage steps away from Kunou, slipping off her cape. "Will
one of you please loan me a jou?" she gazes on a group of aikidoists.
"H-hai!" one comes up, a smaller version of a quarterstaff
in hand.
"Arigatou," Chikage takes it in hand, then faces Kunou. "Now,
Tatewaki, I've an announcement for your ears only. It comes from
none other than your 'pig-tailed goddess,' Ranma Saotome."
Kunou perks. "The pig-tailed one?! What does she say?!"
The sorceress' smile turns icy. "She states that she intends
to marry my brother Ataru Moroboshi in the very near future. And
that you are in no position to object either which way about it.
Understood?"
Silence.
"***WHAT?!?!***" Kunou explodes. "***MY BELOVED FIRE-HAIRED
GODDESS MARRY* THAT *HONOURLESS, PERVERTED SWINE?!?! NEVER...!!!
AWK!!!!***"
The "awk" comes thanks to Chikage's jou, which snares him by the
ankle and sends him falling face-first into the dirt. "You were
saying?" the young sorceress amusedly notes as she assumes a ready
stance...
* * *
"Transporters locked on nine of the targets, Captain," Rose
reports. "One's in a house in the north-western district of Nerima.
Eight are at what appears to be a shrine in the central part of
Nerima. The last one is at a high school, but she's pretty close
to many other people."
"Are the others easy to obtain?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Alright, we'll do them first. Commence!"
"Yes, ma'am! Energizing!!"
* * *
"Ranma-chan isn't the only one who feels that way, Ataru-kun..."
Kasumi's voice fades as her inner wa, a feeling which has been
locked for years with the overall harmony of the Tendou home, flashes
a warning. Ataru, in the midst of sipping his tea, gazes quizzically
at his host. "Is there a problem, Kasumi-san...?!" his voice is cut
off as a faint ringing noise echoes from the main bedroom. "What
the hell...?!"
He turns to look just as Shinshi steps in from the dojo. "That
sounds like it came from my room," he moves to look. "Yo-chan?!"
Ataru's eyes narrow as he reaches out with his chi senses to see
what, if anything, is going on with his sister...
* * *
"THIS is your champion kendoist?!"
Chikage shakes her head disgustedly as Kunou staggers to his
feet. Nearby, Marie exchanges a look with Nabiki. "Nabiki-san,
Kunou-san there never faced a serious challenger in his time here,
has he not?"
"No, he faced Ranma-chan all the time, but he denied it to
himself every time she plastered him all over the place," Nabiki
snorts.
"You..."
Kunou recovers his footing, turning to gaze dizzily on the young
sorceress not three metres from him. As Chikage's cool yet sensuous
looks begin to register in the kendoist's mind, a familiar surge of
desire foams from his heart. "Truly impressive for one so lovely
as you, my violet-haired goddess of night! Yes!! Very impressive
indeed...!"
"Oh, shit! Here he goes again!!" Chieko groans.
"Chieko, there ARE children present!" Nabiki scolds her friend.
Chieko acks, quickly glancing at Hinako. The youngest of the
sisters stares at the older girls, then giggles. "It's alright!"
her hand rises to her mouth. "Jii-san and Mamoru-chan swear even
worse!"
Marie snickers. "...before I resoundly deal with the traitors
and backstabbers who've no doubt fallen under the spell of that
wretch Ranma Saotome and your own perverted brother...!" Kunou
growls, then a stricken look crosses his face. "Oh, the SHAME you
must feel, Violet One!! To actually be related by BLOOD to such a
scoundrel as...!!"
*CRACK!!*
Kunou gasps as the end of Chikage's jou slams into his
breastbone, sending him faltering back two metres. "First of all,
*Sempai,* my name is not 'violet one,'" the sorceress swings into a
new ready stance. "And secondly, I happen to be very content with
my relationship with Ani-kun. After all, compared to a fool like
YOU...!" -- in the flash of an eye, she is standing nose-to-nose
with the kendoist, her dark-eyed gaze boring into him like twin
amethyst drills -- "...Ani-kun is TEN TIMES more a man!"
"WHAT?!?!" Kunou jumps back. "You DARE proclaim such a lie?!!
No doubt, that black scoundrel has enchanted you to...!!"
*Tap!* Shiatsu strike to the throat to freeze his voice box.
"You were about to say I've been enchanted by Ani-kun into saying
such 'lies,'" Chikage steps back from the now-mute kendoist, allowing
the jou to rest in her hands. "Spare me. No, please! In fact,
spare us ALL with your verbal diarrhea, Tatewaki. You wouldn't
know real magic if it stripped you nude, deposited you in an
amphitheatre in the middle of typhoon season, then made you dance
the Macarena in front of a crowd of sex-starved nymphomaniacs!"
Laughter wells up from the crowd as many of their minds quickly
conceive of what Chikage's allegory would look like. Hearing that,
Kunou shudders as the sorceress turns her back to him. "Though
truthfully, it shouldn't really surprise me that you've continued
to live under the delusion that the male and female Ranma Saotome
are two separate people. You've had that curse demonstrated
to you HOW many times to date? Five? Ten? Twenty? Tell me
something, Tatewaki: do you actually become AROUSED every time you
see such a handsome specimen of adolescent manliness as Ranma-kun
transformed into a bubbling vision of womanhood as Ranma-chan?"
The laughter picks up, making Kunou quake as Chikage continues
her tirade. "Tatewaki, please!" she shakes her head, a *tsk-tsk*
clicking her voice in the background. "If you ARE bisexual, why,
there's no need at all to feel ASHAMED about it!" Hearing that,
several viewing this grip their stomachs as guffaws shake them from
head to toe. "Being such doesn't make you the victim of some moral
'poison' as some of the more narrow-minded among us would fervently
claim at the drop of the proverbial hat."
A voiceless roar seems to escape Kunou as he lunges on Chikage,
his bokken zinging for her forehead. People scream out as the
sorceress seems to freeze in place, then she disappears into a faint
blur as the jou knocks the kendoist's weapon out of his hand. The
wooden sword flips several times hilt-over-tip through the air in
Marie's general direction...
* * *
"Okay, we got the ones at the shrine, Rose!"
"Okay, ma'am! Locking in on the one at the school now!!"
* * *
Seeing the big stick fly through the air, Michael barks as he
lunges for it. "Ah, Michael!!" Marie quickly moves to restrain
her pet.
"Marie-chan!" Hinako swings to follow.
People watch as Michael leaps into the air, snaring the bokken
in his jaws. A whoop echoes through the crowd as the retriever
makes a perfect four-point landing a couple metres away. Marie moves
to catch him as Kunou leaps at the dog to retrieve his weapon. At
that moment, Hinako reaches the very spot Marie was standing at when
Seven Bake Rose, high in orbit, locked in on her bio-signature,
then energized her ship's transporter.
Instantaneously sensing the de-materializing energy focusing
on its controller, the Staff of Gihan briefly flares as it forms a
deflective shield to prevent Hinako from being taken away from her
sisters and friends. That shield deflects the sensor trace off to
Hinako's right, directly on Tatewaki Kunou. The energy fades for a
second as the sudden change of target coordinates is noted in the
transporter's computer unit, then de-materialization
begins anew. This time without interruption.
If he still had a voice, Kunou no doubt might have bellowed
something rather inspirational, such as "WHAT FOUL SORCERY IS
THIS?!?!"
People watch wide-eyed as the defrocked kendo team captain
vanishes in a shower of pink-white sparkles, then silence falls over
the front lawn of Furinkan High School. By then, Michael has turned
to give his new prize to Marie just as Hinako's confused voice asks,
"Huh?! Where'd he go?!"
"Wha...?" Marie turns to look, then blinks on seeing everything
in place save one kendoist in the midst of being humiliated by
Chikage.
Mutterings rise from the crowd as Hinako walks up to stare on
the spot where Kunou had last been on Earth, then she turns to
Chikage. "Ne, ne, Chikage-chan? Why'd you make him go away like
that?!"
***Actually, Hina, someone else took him away.***
"Huh?! What do you mean, Bou-san?!"
The Staff whispers the answer into Hinako's mind. Watching
the young girl speaking to the magic wand in her hand, the assembled
Furinkan High students and staff don't panic. After all, compared
to some of the things they'd either been witness to or been a part
of -- including the incredible and secretly welcomed sight of
Tatewaki Kunou being made to vanish before their very eyes just now
-- having kids speak to magic wands seems...
Well, seems NORMAL!
"EH?!?!"
Eyes lock on Hinako. The youngest of the sisters is wide-eyed
with fright as she turns on Chikage. "Chikage-chan!! Bou-san just
said...!"
"That someone in orbit over Earth just tried to abscond with
Marie?"
"Yeah, she...!!" Hinako stops herself, then sighs.
"Chikage-chan?"
"Hai?"
"QUIT DOING THAT TO HINA!!!!"
"Do what?"
Hinako moans.
A cell-phone rings. "Moshi-moshi, Marie desu," Marie answers
it, then blinks. "Oh, Aneue-sama, is there a...?" she stops as
Negako's voice cuts her off, then her eyes go wide. "EH?!?!" she
shrieks loud enough to make everyone stare her way. "***SOMEONE
KIDNAPPED OUR SISTERS?!?!***"
As soon as that shout fades in the early afternoon air, another
bellow echoes over Nerima from the direction of the Tendou dojo. "It
seems that we don't need to inform Ani-kun about this," Chikage
sighs...
* * *
"***ELLE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!***"
Kasumi and Shinshi, standing at the doorway leading into the
latter's bedroom, exchange a knowing look as Ataru's outraged scream
rocks the Tendou home from roof to cellar. "I take it this must be a
friend of Ataru-kun's," the former muses, sweat pouring down her
hair.
"Some friend!" the latter fearfully chuckles.
"'Friend?!'"
Both wince as Ataru spins around, then marches up to them, a
finger rising in objection. In his hand is a folded note of white
paper embossed with a light pink rose. "Oh, no, NO, my friends!
This lady's NO friend of mine!" he shakes his head and finger, then
indicates the spot where Yotsuba last stood. "No, indeed! She
happens to be a lot WORSE than that!!"
"And she is?" Kasumi prods.
Dramatic pause.
"My fiancee," Ataru turns away.
The Tendous gaze surprisedly at him as he lets loose another
scream. "Gee, and I thought RANMA had problems with fiancees?!"
Shinshi mutters.
"Oh, my!" Kasumi covers her mouth politely...
* * *
To be continued...
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