This is a warning to everyone: This story is very dark, and not likely to 
become bright and happy any time in the near future. Also, this story is not 
work safe in any way, shape, or form. Herein is a story of mature subject 
matter, if you don't think you can handle the idea of sex, violence, rape, and 
other aspects of pain, put this story aside, go elsewhere, and read happier 
stories.

Disclaimer: All rights of all the characters herein belong to Rumiko Takahashi 
and the various syndicates that publish her works. I am but a poor writer that 
doesn't get paid for her work.



Shadowed Edge writing

Presents

Black Dreams Sidestory #1 - Purple Chase - scene 2

By Shadow Dancer

******

I follow my new wife throughout the day, and watch as she and her father leave 
the one who Great Grandmother believes to be the guide of Jusenkyou at the 
valley of sorrow itself. The two continue until almost dark, and stop just 
outside a town. My wife yells something at her father, and the man snaps at 
her. I watch as she snarls something else, and then starts setting up a tent 
for herself. My wife's father stands straighter and looks around, as though 
searching for pursuers. I slip back farther into the brush, and he then starts 
setting up his own tent, a few yards away from hers.

I wait until the deep breathing tells me both of them are asleep, and then slip 
into the camp. I place a peeled orange just inside my wife's tent, and then 
glide silently out again. I place my bedroll in a tree not far away, and fall 
asleep high up off the ground.

The next morning, I wake just in time to see my wife asking something of her 
father, with half the orange in her hand. I am ready to go kill the male when 
he starts trying to take the orange from her. This happens often, apparently, 
because she manages to keep a fair amount of what is left of the fruit from her 
gluttonous father.

Shortly after the food battle, my wife and her father are packed up, and 
running again. I don't think they are panicking, though, because as I follow I 
only need to fall into an easy lope. Slow enough that it doesn't take much 
effort to follow, but fast enough that I can't, quite, find the concentration 
to read the language scrolls as well.

My new wife is apparently accustomed to being chased, as both she and her 
father chew on trail rations on the run. And even then, her father attempts to 
steal the food from her mouth. If that MALE does anything to harm her, he's 
going to be very sorry.

Night falls, and unlike the night before, my wife's father makes no move 
towards the nearby village, instead setting up his tent without complaint.

Well, at least no complaint as far as I can understand.

Thankfully, tonight they stopped soon enough that I have some light to read the 
scrolls by. I immediately start my learning with some of the more disgusting 
words, so that I know what to listen for in their conversations. I stay close 
enough that I can hear them talk, and the male says two words fairly often. I 
decide to look for these words tomorrow; maybe one of them is the name of my 
wife.

For two weeks I follow at a pace that would leave many who aren't warriors 
behind. I learn that my wife's name is Wild Horse, pronounced 'Ranma'. I also 
learn that Ranma's father has no consideration for her. I am certain, now, that 
neither of them know that she is pregnant; or at least, I _hope_ that her 
father doesn't know. He aims his attacks at her stomach far too often for 
someone who does know, and cares for the well being of his child.

Then one morning, the beginning of the third week, pops says something that 
makes my blood boil.

"Ranma, today we are going to deal with that fear you have." He states in an 
authoritive manner.

"What are you talking about, Pops? I'm not afraid of nothin'" My wife's 
language is still very coarse. I think my offhand comment to my great 
grandmother two weeks ago was closer to the mark than I was thinking at the 
time. Ranma sounds like a boy, and an uneducated one at that. We will have to 
fix that, and soon.

"Why, your fear of what happened at the brothel, of course. You will go back, 
and overcome this fear of yours!" Pops declares this, as though it is the most 
obvious thing in the world.

Wait.

He said...brothel.

Red tints my vision as I realize why my wife is pregnant, and why she doesn't 
know.

He has been selling her to sex shops, after her change. And she's only been a 
girl for a short time, so she doesn't _know_ what having sex like that means.

Fury clouds my vision, and I draw my swords. I leap, screaming, upon the male, 
intent on tearing his heart out and offering it to my wife; offering it to her, 
to apologize for not saving her from THAT.

I shouldn't have screamed, as he heard me, and now dodges my furious attack as 
if I were a rank amateur. Fear is in his eyes, though, so he IS afraid, of my 
swords, if nothing else. I press forward, trying to catch him with my blades... 
I notice my wife running from the clearing, with her pack hiked up high on her 
back. That moment of inattention lets Pops grab HIS pack, and he runs away from 
my furious assault, easily reaching the forest edge before I can reach him.

I growl and swipe at the tree that Pops just dodged around, shearing it in 
half.

He is gone, with no trace of his leaving, not even a scuffed blade of grass.

I scream my anger to the heavens, being denied my righteous revenge on Ranma's 
father for his actions. I then set about shredding the offending tree that 
obscured my vision for that fatal fraction of a second, tearing it to little 
tiny chunks.

My fury spent, I collapse to my knees, crying. Crying not for myself, but for 
the pain my wife is going through, and that she doesn't yet understand.

I don't know how long it has taken me to come to my senses from my crying and 
screaming over my wife's plight. One hour, two...too many, I know THAT much at 
least. And even after that, it takes me far longer to think of following my 
wife's tracks than it should. I follow her tracks, and maybe a kilometre away 
from the clearing; I find HIS tracks paralleling hers again.

For two days, I follow the tracks of my wife at my best speed. For two days, I 
don't know if I am catching up, or falling behind.

For two days, my wife has not had any of the fruits I pick for her, and tears 
fall down my cheeks during my run, as I fear for her safety.

During the third day, I finally catch up with them. She isn't looking good, her 
skin looks pale, and her cheeks have the green tint of nausea. I was right to 
worry for her, and even the sight of HIM doesn't get past my concern.

I watch them fight over the meal, and though I don't see Ranma eating any of 
the food she grabs, she is doing her best to defend her food from the 
gluttonous male. I watch, and then realize, she may not be eating, but she is 
treating this as training. I watch closer, and marvel slightly at the speed her 
hands fly in protecting her food. Speed training, and accuracy, I decide, 
watching her fail to defend piece after piece, but even at this distance I can 
tell that the failures on her part are intentional.

Pops sits back as the last of the food disappears into his mouth, and he 
belches contentedly. How disgusting. "You're getting soft, boy! You need to 
practice more, to defend your food. Ha ha ha." How very rude, my wife may once 
have been born male, but she is that no longer. To shove that in her face when 
she most likely can't turn back is utterly cruel. My resolve to turn him into a 
wall hanging is strengthened, but I know that if I strike now, my wife will 
only run away again, and possibly fear me.

I will wait. Patience is the strength of the hunter, and the downfall of the 
prey.


******

Here is the second scene for Purple Chase. Hope you enjoy it :)

If you wish to see the previous chapters and parts, go to 
http://www.fanfiction.net/u/972853/
Purple chase starts in the middle of chapter 2, and continues from there. It 
could almost be considered a parallel storyline, if you think that way :)

Please comment, it is one of the things that keeps me posting! :)

Liath Corrine Hidson
<an' it be that the sky shall burn and the seas will disappear, and the new 
world shall be reborn as the chosen lays down her life...>

Wings of Hope:
God gave you wings,
And a voice to sing,
Although you don't know why;
Powers so fair,
Suddenly not there,
Find your own reason to fly...
(c) October 22, 1998, Liath Hidson


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