Message-ID: <330A24E7.74D1@geocities.com> Date: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 13:53:43 -0800 From: Lisa Prior Reply-To: lprior@geocities.com X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win16; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: fanfic@fanfic.com Subject: (FF)(RANMA)Sins of the Father, part five Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by andrew.cais.com id QAA24843 Hello, I'm back. For those of you waiting with baited breath for the next chapter of my story (I knwo there has to be at least one of you)here it is. I'm sorry it took so long. Lots of crazy problems with weather, power outages, lose of internet access, sickness, etc. I hope that this comes off ok. It is very beta. You folks are the first to see it. No proof readers so please be kind. As always C&C gratefully accepted and responded to. ************************************************ All characters copyright of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Inc. and Viz Communications. The character of Suteko Saotome is mine. SINS OF THE FATHER CHAPTER FIVE Brother an Sister Talk or Suteko=92s history by LPrior Ranma turned back to Akane. He started to ask her if she minded but she looked at him for a moment and then shook her head. She wasn=92t going t= o leave Ranma with an unknown young woman, even if they were related.=20 They had been through too much together, plus she wanted to hear this girl=92s story. Suteko may have said that she didn=92t want to challenge him, but with Ranma=92s luck she would just wait until Akane and Ryouga had left. She stepped closer to Ranma and spoke to Suteko. =93I=92d rat= her go with him.=94 It was short and simple but Suteko understood the tone.=20 This girl was going to stay close to her fianc=E9. =93OK, Akane,=94 Suteko smiled. All right, she could talk to him with t= he girl around. It wasn=92t as if she was going to tell him any big family secret. She looked around, she still wasn=92t quite sure were everything was in a city this size. =93Um, which way is it to the airport? I left my pack there.=94 Ryouga spoke up first, stepping away from the others. =93We go this way.=94 As usual he was facing the opposite of the way they needed to go. Ranma snorted and grabbing his arm turned Ryouga around the right way. =93Wrong again, lost boy. The airport=92s this way.=94 Ranma stepped aw= ay quickly as Ryouga took a quick swing at him. Akane snorted and started to say something when Suteko cut in. =93Let=92s not start up again, boys. I need to get my stuff,=94 she look= ed around at the devastation around them. =93Besides, this part of town looks like it can=92t take much more damage.=94 Ranma and Ryouga looked around in a bit of amazement. There wasn=92t a wall anywhere within sight without a hole punched through it. =93She=92s right, guys.=94 Akane said to the two. She turned back to Suteko, =93th= e best way would be to take a bus to the airport. We can pick one up a couple of blocks from here.=94 Akane proceeded ahead of the guys and Suteko fell in next to her. Akane=92s natural friendliness was tempered = a bit by her caution with this unknown, but she was trying to be polite.=20 So she asked, =93Suteko?=94 =93Hmmm?=94 =93Are you here all by yourself?=94 Suteko walked without speaking for a minute. Then she sighed. =93I=92ve been traveling alone for a year, now.=94 Akane was amazed. Traveling all alone for a year. A girl, alone?=20 Sure, Ryouga ends up traveling alone all the time, but he was a guy.=20 Girls had dangers that guys didn=92t have. Suteko was small and delicate= , like Ranma in girl form. She must be tougher than she looked. =93Must have been lonely.=94 =93At first it was an adventure, you know. No grownups around telling me what to do, but after a while I just wanted to find him and get it over with.=94 Suteko spoke to Akane without looking at her. Her attention focused on where they were going; her mind only half on talking with the girl next to her. Memories of the past year and the troubles of traveling alone in a part of the world that considered girls too weak to take care of themselves had been a real trial. In America, Suteko had had enough trouble with guys wanting to take care of the tiny girl.=20 They always seemed to think that if they acted macho she=92d fall all ove= r them. But after a while, they got the message. Suteko had been training with her staff since she was old enough to walk. =93Do you hate him?=94 Akane asked. She could understand if Suteko did.= =20 To have been a child grow up knowing her father would never be there had to be terrible. Suteko shot a look over at Akane. =93Hate him?=94 She thought a moment.= =20 =93Not really.=94 =91em Ranma and Ryouga were following closely behind the two girls. Each boy was deep in thought. Ramna was thinking about Suteko. Having a sister -- he wasn=92t sure if he liked the idea or not. On one hand, it meant h= e wouldn=92t be an only child anymore. On the other hand he wasn=92t alone anymore. They could spend time together and talk. A girl who wasn=92t interested in him as a fianc=E9. That itself was amazing. Plus she was = a marital artist. They could train together. That staff work she pulled on Pop earlier looked different. He hadn=92t seen anything quite like it in his travels. But on the other hand, she was here to challenge Pop and get revenge for what he did to her mother: for causing her to be born. She grew up without a father, just like he had grown up without his mother. He continued to ponder these thoughts as they walked toward the bus stop. He only interrupted them when he caught what Akane had asked Suteko.=20 =93Not really.=94 She didn=92t hate Pop? =93Wait a minute.=94 Ranma pushed up next to Sute= ko=92s other side. =93You challenged the old man and you don=92t hate him. I=92= d think after chasing us around for so long you=92d want to waste the old man.=94 Suteko just gave Ranma a cold look. =93I don=92t hate anyone. Genma had his reasons for dumping my mother, I=92m sure. Anger and hatred have no place in true revenge.=94 =93What!=94 Ranma was shocked. Anger had nothing to do with revenge?!=20 =93Try telling that to Ryouga here.=94 He pointed his thumb over his shoulder at the other boy. Ryouga just glared at him. =93He always seem= s to mad about something.=94 Suteko stopped walking for a moment. She looked Ranma straight in the eye and explained her clan=92s view on revenge. =93Little brother, the Fukushuu clan has made a fine art out of revenge. All members are taught at a young age that anger and hatred can cause a warrior to lose focus and take the revenge beyond that which is truly due.=94 She turned toward the lost boy and spoke directly to Ryouga. =93Anger can make a warrior do things he would regret upon later reflection. In modern times, revenge is best if the focus of the act is left alive to suffer with the knowledge that they were bested. To remember that what happened to them was true justice.=94 She then took Akane=92s arm and walked on. Akane took a quick look at Suteko=92s face, she was surprised. Once Suteko was facing away from the boys, she broke out into a big grin.=20 Suteko shot a quick glance over at Akane, her eyes dancing with merriment. She leaned over to whisper in Akane=92s ear. =93That little speech was one I heard from great uncle Tanto every first day for sixteen years. Pompous wasn=92t it?=94 Akane smiled and repressed a giggle. Suteko was pulling her brother=92s leg. Ranma looked shocked at the tone and speech. The girl had sounded just like an elder priest. =93You=92re certainly confusing Ranma. He wasn=92t expecting that at all.=94 =93Well, never give them what they=92re expecting. That=92s my motto.=94= With in moments they came to the bus stop. Suteko looked at her watch. It was just after one in the afternoon. =93When do the buses usually run, Akane?=94 =93There should be one along any minute, now.=94 =91em Ryouga was stopped in his tracks by what the strange girl had said.=20 =93Anger and hatred make a warrior lose focus.=94 Why didn=92t he think = of that before? He thought back to all his battles with Ranma, each ending with Ranma besting him when he lost his temper. Maybe she had something there. Ryouga still wanted his revenge on Ranma for all he had done, but he wasn=92t doing so well getting it. *It can=92t be that easy. How could anyone not get mad at Ranma? He=92s arrogant and cruel, calling Akane uncute and hurting her all the time.* Ryouga=92s thoughts started their usual spiral. The more he thought about Ranma and revenge, the more angry he got. This girl may be able to hold her anger at Genma down to a tolerable level, but then he hadn=92t shamed her repeatedly in front of someone she loved. Ranma watched Akane and his sister talking quietly. They were giggling over something. Sheesh, even his sister was girly. After traveling alone for a year you=92d think she would be more adult. Just as this thought came into his head the two looked over at him. =93So, Ranma, Akane tells me you train with Genma everyday.=94 Suteko as= ked with a glint in her eye. =93Yahhh...every morning before school. Why?=94 Suteko smiled. =93Got any pointers?=94 Ranma stood there shocked. Coul= d she be asking for help in defeating Pop in an honor battle. Suteko took pity on him after a moment. =93Just kidding, Ranma. I wouldn=92t a= sk for help in an honor battle. I was raised right.=94 Ranma let out his breath in a whoosh. =93Besides, I think I can take care of myself.=94 =20 That came out a tad smug. She sounded just like Ranma. After a few minutes the bus arrived. The teenagers piled aboard and headed for some open seats. Akane and Ranma sat together, leaving Ryouga to sit with Suteko. Suteko took the window seat and sat staring out the window. She was amazed at just how big Tokyo and the surrounding area was. This much land covered lots of towns back in New England. Why the eighty miles of the city proper would have included Boston, Lowell, Nashua NH and all the way down to the Cape back home.=20 How did anyone get from place to place here? She turned back to face her brother. =93So, what was it like growing up with Genma?=94 Ranma started to make a snide answer but the look on Suteko=92s face made him change his mind. =93Well it was an adventure.=94 =93An adventure?=94 =93Yep,=94 Ranma went on to tell about some of the places his father had taken him in their years of training. Suteko nodded as she listened.=20 It was interesting to hear his side of the Ukyo story. Not too different but just enough. Occasionally Ryouga would break in, adding depth to the story but also causing Ranma to start arguing and Akane to join in. Suteko smiled. This seemed to be a normal part of their day.=20 Maybe their fighting wasn=92t what it seemed on the surface. They were getting loud though. =93Hey, guys. It=92s not that important. I just wanted to know what it = was like to grow up with a dad.=94 =93Akane would have been the better one to ask. Her father was more a normal father,=94 Ryouga said. =93You know, I agree,=94 added Ranma. He turned to face Akane. =93Why d= on=92t =91cha tell her about growing up with Mister Tendo, Akane?=94 This lead = to more conversation about families until the bus pulled up to the airport. They got out and Suteko led them to where she stashed her pack. It looked much like the one Ryouga usually carried with him.=20 They headed back out toward the buses but got separated from Ryouga in the crowd. =20 =93Ryouga!! Where are you!!!=94 Akane called out, trying to spot him in the crowd. Ranma shrugged as he leaned against a nearby wall. =93You know that ain=92= t goin=92 to work. He=92s lost again. Probably won=92t see him for anothe= r week.=94 =20 =93Well, your no help. Why didn=92t you keep an eye on him anyway? You know he gets lost so easily.=94 =93Aww, Akane, why should I? He can take care of himself.=94 Akane took out her mallet and prepared to bonk Ranma on the head.=20 =93Because he was your responsibility! That=92s why!=94 Ranma moved away, holding his hands up. =93Since when is he my responsibility?=94 =93Since you were standing next to him at the time!=94 Her battle aura w= as coming up now. Suteko couldn=92t believe the size of the mallet Akane ha= d pulled out of no where. =93Um, Akane?=94 She tried to get the girl=92s attention before she comm= itted some dire act on Suteko=92s newly discovered brother. It must have worked because Akane turned and politely asked, =93What is it, Suteko?=94 =93Ranma was talking to me when your friend wandered off. I=92m sorry. = I didn=92t know he had such a bad problem.=94 Akane calmed down a bit. =93That=92s OK, Suteko. It=92s hard to belief = just how lost Ryouga can get without meaning to.=94 Her aura changed back to normal and she stowed her mallet away, without using it for once. Ranma breathed a sigh of relief. =93Does he know how to get back to the dojo?=94 Ranma and Akane looked at each other and smirked. Ranma answered, =93Oh, yeah. He should show up sometime next week. He always seems to.=94 =93Well, let=92s go catch a bus back to Nerima. It=92s getting late and = your family must be wondering where you two are.=94 Akane looked down at her watch. It was now half past four. =93Plus I told Ukyo I would be back for dinner at her place. Don=92t like being late.=94 =93Ranma, why don=92t you and Suteko get the tickets and I=92ll call Kasu= mi and tell her when we=92ll be home?=94 =93OK, Akane.=94 He smiled at his fianc=E9e. It was nice to avoid being= hit by the mallet just once. =93Meet you by the Kiosk.=94 The teenagers parted. **************************************** Suteko was glad that she got Ranma alone for a moment. She studied him while he talked with the ticket agent. She could she a faint resemblance to her uncle Tanto around the chin. She really missed him and even though she would be glad that her quest was over she didn=92t think she=92d be seeing him soon. Mother wanted her to stop by the famil= y estates before leaving Japan. Something about meeting her great-grandfather and telling him that the family honor was restored.=20 She was a bit afraid of that moment. Uncle had told her all about his father and he sounded very intimidating. She was lost in thought when Ranma finished with the tickets and spoke to her. She jumped and pulled out her staff in reflex. =93Whoa! Easy Suteko it=92s just me.=94 Suteko pulled her staff back from Ranma=92s face. She hadn=92t touched h= im, due mostly to Ranma=92s speed. He had ducked back, just out of range of = a close attack. =93Sorry Ranma. I guess I wasn=92t paying attention.=94 Ranma pushed the end of the staff to the side. =93Did I surprise you?=94= =20 Suteko nodded. =93What where you thinking about so hard?=94 =93My great-uncle Tanto.=94 =93He must be important, you where out of it there.=94 =20 Suteko smiled, =93Yes, he is.=94 =93Your pretty fast with that stick there. Where=92d you learn that?=94 =93Uncle Tanto taught me the style and technique and traveling this past year has built up my reflexes. I=92m sorry I swung at you. I didn=92t h= ear you and my reflexes took over. Too much time alone I guess.=94 She fiddled with the leather wrapping the end of the staff. =93Uncle always said that my single-mindedness would cause problems. I tend to focus too tightly on one thing at a time.=94 Ranma understood. He had that problem once. That and Ryouga had that problem bigtime. =93This Uncle sounds like a smart guy. He live back in America?=94 Suteko got a pained look on her face for a moment. She took a deep breath and spoke. =93Uncle Tanto died just before I left to find Genma.=94 Ranma felt a wave of sympathy wash over him. He barely knew this girl but to see the pain in her eyes he knew that the man had been someone special to her. He moved forward and awkwardly put an arm about her.=20 =93I=92m sorry. I didn=92t mean to make you feel bad.=94 Suteko wiped a single tear from her eye and straightened. =93It=92s all right. I should be over this by now. Uncle would think I was acting childish to let it bother me this long. He had a long life and he enjoyed almost all of it. Thank you for being concerned, though.=94 Akane came around the corner then and saw Ranma with his arm around a girl. Her first reaction was to blow up, like always. She pulled her mallet out and said, =93Ranma=94 in her deadly voice. As she got nearer = she realized it was Suteko and she cooled down but not before Ranma saw her. He pulled his arm away from Suteko and raised his hands to defend his head. He was amazed to see Akane back down for a second time this afternoon. Maybe having Suteko around was going to be better than he thought. =93What=92s going on?=94 Akane looked from Ranma to Suteko and back agai= n. =93Nothing Akane. Ranma was just being nice. I was telling him about someone I lost recently.=94 Suteko smiled weakly. Akane sure got mad a lot. She slid her staff back into staff-space and shook herself. =93We should probably go meet the bus back to Nerima now. Yes?=94 Akane nodded. =93Kasumi said she=92d hold dinner until we got back, Ranma.=94 She turned to Suteko. =93She also told me to ask you to dinne= r.=94 Suteko looked surprised. =93I don=92t think that would be a good idea, Akane. Genma would be there and I shouldn=92t see him again until the time of our challenge.=94 =93I told Kasumi that but well....=94 =93She=92s a bit different.=94 Added Ranma. =93She doesn=92t seem to un= derstand battles and the like, right Akane.=94 =93Yes. I told her that you probably wouldn=92t come but I promised her = I would ask. Have you found a place to stay the night yet?=94 =93Ukyo offered me crash space at her place. So I=92m taken care of for = the night.=94 She leaned up against the wall as they waited for the bus. =93= I never did get that explanation about the fianc=E9e thing. Ukyo told me you have four?=94 Ranma looked stricken. He had hoped she would have forgotten that.=20 =93Um....=94 But before he could say anything Akane broke in. =93He only has three =91official=92 ones. Me, Ukyo and Shampoo. Kodachi= just latched on to him for no reason.=94 Akane send a viscous look Ranma=92s way. =93Hey, it wasn=92t my idea. Besides she=92s no worse than Kuno.=94 =93Oh, that=92s right.=94 Akane turned to Suteko with an evil look on he= r face. =93Then there=92s Kuno. He has a real thing for Ranma.=94 =93Akane!=94 The two started to toss insults at each other again. Suteko could see that Akane was enjoying making Ranma squirm so she broke in. =93Does he want Ranma as a guy or a girl?=94 The two broke off and looked at Suteko. =93As a girl, of course. What kinda guy you think I am?=94 =93Oh, don=92t worry I understand. Must be tough having a guy fawn all o= ver you when your a guy.=94 =93You don't know the half of it. Besides he loves Akane.=94 =93Kuno is such a jerk. He couldn=92t make up his mind...=94 =93If he had one.=94 Ranma snorted. Then Akane and Ranma got to explain= ing just exactly who was or thought they were engaged to Ranma. There explanation was just short of an all out war but Suteko got the gist of the story. =93So, Akane, you have first claim on Ranma, right?=94 =93Yes, not that I want to.=94 Akane answered with disgust. =93He=92s a pervert, girl chasing pain.=94 =93How=92s he a pervert, Akane.=94 =93Well, he=92s a cross dressing, window peeping......=94 =93Akane!=94 =93Does he dress in women=92s clothes when he=92s a guy?=94 Akane thought a moment. =93No....=94 =93Then he=92s not a cross dresser.=94 Suteko said smugly. Sounded like Akane just wanted to find something wrong with Ranma. She knew she shouldn=92t jump to conclusions but Suteko trusted this younger brother o= f her=92s for some reason. She turned to Ranma. =93So do you have a favorite?=94 Ranma didn=92t answer that one. He was still torn. Beside= s he didn=92t want to say anything in front of Akane. After a moment Sutek= o continued. =93Do either of you have a problem with me staying at Ukyo=92= s?=20 If you do I can find somewhere else to sleep.=94 Ranma told he didn=92t = and after a quick thought Akane didn=92t either. =93OK. Look I don=92t know anything about this Shampoo but her claim doesn=92t sound as valid as Akane and Ukyo=92s and this other girl, um, what=92s her name?=94 =93Kodachi,=94 answered Akane. =93Thank you. She sounds like a real problem. We had someone like her back in Boston. She finally got put away for her own good. Poisoned the boy she had her crush on. Better watch out for that one.=94 Just then their bus pulled up. The three got on board and took the back seat since it would sit three. Suteko took the right side of the seat next to the window. Ranma sat between Akane and his sister. =93So have you avoided that fianc=E9e thing?=94 Asked Akane. =93They don=92t do things that way in America. Forced engagements feel o= ut of fashion a century ago. Besides Grandfather Mikado said that I wasn=92= t worth engaging to anyone being an illegitimate child.=94 She said the last part with loathing. It was obvious that there was no love lost between Suteko and her grandfather. Akane was shocked. How cruel for a grandfather to say such things to his grandchild. It wasn=92t her fault that she was conceived outside of marriage. =93Is he the reason your mother moved to America?=94 Suteko pulled her legs up and rested her feet on the seat. =93Mother tol= d me that she left Japan to get away from sad memories but I think that what you said is closer to the truth. Uncle Tanto always told me that his brother, Grandfather Mikado was a real hard line, old fashioned kind of man. He never forgave my mother for her slip but he never said anything to me the few times he visited his brother.=94 =93Pop caused a real mess of trouble, didn=92t he?=94 =93You don=92t know the half of it. After Grandfather died, we came to Japan for the funeral. She and Uncle Tanto were allowed to go but I had to stay away.=94 Her voice became very flat. =93No non-family members allowed.=94 =93But you were family. You were your mother=92s daughter.=94 =93Not in Grandfather Mikado=92s eyes. But that doesn=92t matter. He di= ed three years ago.=94 =93I=92m sorry.=94 Suteko stared out the window at the gathering rain clouds. =93Looks like rain.=94 Ranma shivered a little. =93It rains a lot around here.=94 =93Must make life interesting, what with being cursed to change and all.=94 Ranma answered. =93Yeah.=94 He thought for a minute. =93Suteko?=94 =93Hmmmm?=94 =93You seem awfully calm about my curse. Why?=94 Suteko looked a bit sick for a minute. =93I told you about how I followe= d you and Genma around for a year, right?=94 =93Yep.=94 =93Well, I found Jusenko.=94 She added, a slight blush creeping up her throat. Ranma looked at Akane and she looked back. Together they said, =93You didn=92t?=94 =93Pool of drowned boy.=94 =93Oh, boy.=94 Suteko winced at the pun. Ranma apologized. =93So when = you get wet you turn into a boy?=94 =93Look just like you with blonde hair. Should have guessed you were related when I saw you but I wasn=92t paying attention to anyone other than Genma when we met. Took Ukyo to tell me I had a little brother.=94 =93How=92d it happen?=94 Asked Akane. For a minute it looked like Suteko wouldn=92t answer but she took a deep breath and told them how she stupidly jumped in. Stunned Akane and Ranma just sat staring at her with their jaws open. Suteko smiled weakly, =93I know but we get claims of amazing things in America all the time. And the motto of every good New Englander is seeing is believing.=94 She chuckled. =93I was being a bit of a stupid, arrogant jerk but well shit happens.=94 She turned back to staring out the window. Ranma and Akane just sat stunned. =93You jumped in?=94 Ranma asked incredulous. =93Yep. Stupid, I now know. So we have something else in common, little brother.=94 For most of the trip back there was silence. Suteko sat staring out the window as the rain came down. Ranma and Akane just sat quietly next to each other. For once not arguing, a small miracle in itself. After a long while Suteko started to talk quietly again. =93Ranma?=94 Ranma looked up. =93Yeah?=94 =93What=92s your mom like?=94 Ranma was a bit taken aback. He hadn=92t seen his mom in a long time. =93= I haven=92t seen mom since Pop decided to take me on his training missions= , why?=94 =93Sorry. I was just wondering.=94 Suteko traced the path of a drop dow= n the window pane with her finger. =93I was wondering if she was anything like mine.=94 =93I remember her cooking and how she smelled.=94 Akane stiffened at the mention of cooking but didn=92t do anything. Ranma wasn=92t talking abou= t her. =93She always had a hug for me and stuff like that. You know she was mom like.=94 =93My mom was too, once.=94 =93Whatcha mean?=94 =93Remember I told you we came to Japan three years ago for Grandfather Mikado=92s funeral?=94 =93Yeah.=94 =93After the funeral Mother went to talk with great-grandfather Ito. She left me with Uncle Tanto since he was the only one who would talk to me. She was gone for a long time.=94 She kept tracing patterns on the window as she talked. =93After about six hours she came back. I was gla= d to see her. We had made plans to go to one of the bigger temples. She wanted to show me where she had grown up. But after her talk she canceled our plans. She told me it was time to go home. To say the least I was disappointed. I started to argue but she cut me off cold.=20 The look she gave me.=94 Suteko shivered. =93It was like I was an ant climbing up her leg. I shut up and went along with it. We flew home within the hour.=94 Suteko swallowed. =93I don=92t know what Great-grandfather did but she was changed. We stopped going on picnics and started training real hard. She kept at me to be the best. That and she suddenly decided that it was time to make Genma pay.=94 Ranma listened to her outpouring. Something obviously wasn=92t right.=20 =93Why the sudden change?=94 =93I don=92t know but she made me quit all my clubs and only train. I lo= st a lot of friends that way. Uncle Tanto tried to find out what she was up to but she wouldn=92t talk to him at all. Plus she started to spend a lot of time away from home. I think being home reminded her of all she had been missing. When Uncle Tanto died she told me that I had to find my father and make him pay for her dishonor. She wouldn=92t even let me mourn him for a week before she pulled me out of school and sent me to find Genma.=94 =93That=92s rough.=94 Akane looked past Ranma toward Suteko. She felt t= he pain the girl tried to hide in her words. Why was she telling us this?=20 It seemed too strange to Akane to have the same girl who had challenged Genma to a duel this morning telling her about her family=92s problems that afternoon. =93Suteko, I know this isn=92t the best time but..: =93What?=94 =93Why are you telling us all this? I mean we barely know you.=94 Suteko curled her arms around her legs and rested her head on her knees. =93I=92m not sure but well Mother plans on being at the dojo tomorrow and I thought it might be important if you knew. She got something planned and I don=92t think she=92s told me everything.=94 =93That=92s OK, Suteko, we=92re used to trouble.=94 She looked up at Ranma=92s face, so like her own in male form. =93Beside= s your the first people I=92ve had to talk to in a long time. And your family.=94 She reached out and tapped Ranma on the arm. =93Your my =91little=92 brother, right?=94 =93Hey, I=92m not little!=94 Ranma groused half-heartedly. Suteko smile= d.=20 It was good to have someone to tease. *************************************** In a boardroom somewhere in Japan. Seated at the conference table were an elder gentleman and a beautiful woman in American clothing. The resemblance is striking. =93Granddaughter, tell me how the revenge is going.=94 =93My daughter has challenged the man. The battle will be at dawn, tomorrow.=94 The old man looks thoughtful. =93That is good.=94 Placing his hands together and resting the fingers against his lips. =93Where?=94 The woman looks down at her notes. =93At the Tendo Dojo, in Nerima.=94 A slow, evil smile crosses the man=92s face. =93So he still visits his = old friend. Good. We can take out two with one blow. Very good, granddaughter. You have my approval.=94 Pause. =93The girl knows what = she is to do?=94 =93Of course! I have trained her as is required. She will do as she is told.=94 The old man flicks open a folder in front of him. =93An what of my son=92= s influence?=94 A quick flash of uncertainly in the woman=92s eyes and a quick shake of her shoulders. =93The girl will do what I say! I will have my revenge!=94 With a slow, evil smile the old man says, =93Good.=94 ********************************************************** So what cha think? Here ends chapter five. In chapter six I think(I hope) to get to the battle and just what Suteko's mother has planned.=20 Thanks again for reading and anyone who C&C's. If this is too OOC let me know. Still trying to keep them IC. --=20 Lisa ************************************************************************* check out my web page at www.geocities.com/athens/2968 writer of fanfiction, fantasy, science fiction and other wierdness