D.F. Roeder wrote:
YAY! More. :)
We aim to please. :)
Thunder growled in frustrated hunger and impotence as
Shukumaru's kitsune-borne litter sped from the storm and
into the swirling snows above Nagano. Here, in the bitter
ice-bound peaks, was the realm of the ally she sought. The
litter touched down softly on the rocky slope, held steady
by the four kyubi-kitsune
This nearly heretical for me to say, but you might want to include
"kyubi" in your glossary. I'm going to have to go look it up. /me
waves at Doug. :P
Sorry. It's actually in one of the past chapters, but I'm so used to
using the words as I write that I forget how readers might see them.
I'll alter this, but in the meantime, look for an updated list of demon
characters to explain things.
bearers despite the harsh wind.
"Come, Raiha. Shall we see if she is in the mood to play?"
Shukumaru asked, running her fingers through his warm blue
fur. The Thunderbeast was in the semblance of a normal-
sized wolf and he sank against the cushions to allow
Shukumaru a larger surface area to scratch.
Raiha grumbled his discontent in reply as her long fingers
soothed him. "The chill is bitter enough, Shukumaru. No
need to be funny, as well."
Shukumaru mock pouted at the demonwolf, before lifting the
filmy cover of the litter. She emerged to stand on the thin
layer of icy snow. What a dismal place, she thought,
staring at the surrounding mountaintop. It was entirely in
character though, for this realm belonged to the sister of
Yuki-Onna - the Ice Maiden, Kori-Otome, lived here.
This last set of punctuations is confusing, and I can't suggest an
alternative because I don't know which name "Ice Maiden" is
referring to. My guess is Yuki-Onna because of the dash. If not,
then use something other than dash, as it makes it look like Ice
Maiden is Yuki-Onna's name, not Snow Woman or whatever.
Kori-Otome means Ice Maiden, while Yuki-Onna is Snow Woman. It is
confusing here and I'll try to clarify it in my revision. This was meant
as a homage to Hearts of Ice by Krista Perry, but I forgot to mention it
at the beginning as I originally planned (Doh!).
"Shimoyake! Shimoyake!" Shukumaru called out the Ice
Maiden's given name, filling her lungs with sharp, cold
air. Her breath steamed in the frigid atmosphere. "Where is
your legendary hospitality to visitors, Kori-Otome?!"
A sudden blast of wintry wind heralded the arrival of the
Ice Maiden. Shukumaru had white hair and pale skin, but
Kori-Otome was bleached a near albino. She was tall, nearly
six feet in height, and waspishly thin. Only her face -
coldly beautiful with sharp, chiseled features - and her
white kimono, tied with a large azure bow, denoted her
feminine gender.
Suggest either dashes or commas, but not both for the set-off text.
Nods.
She brushed back locks of light blue hair
and regarded the intruders with a bored expression. "Would
that be before or after I froze them to death, Shukumaru?"
"Well met, Shimoyake," Shukumaru said, completely unfazed
by the lack of welcome. "Are you going to let guests freeze
on your doorstep?"
"Come in if you must, Shukumaru. And your retainers as
well," Shimoyake added grudgingly. Raiha poked his nose out
of the litter at this bit of news, and the Ice Maiden
rested her gaze on the exposed and shivering snout for a
brief moment. "Oh, look. You brought along your flea-ridden
dog."
"Frigid bitch," growled the Thunderbeast in return.
Heh.
:)
Shimoyake ignored his sally, looking over to Shukumaru.
"Are you here to challenge me, Shukumaru?"
"Why yes, I believe I am."
The Ice Maiden laughed lightly and smiled in anticipation.
"Perhaps you'll give me more of a match this time. Or has
eighteen years of being locked away rusted your skills to
nothing?"
Shukumaru flexed her claws and returned a predatory grin.
"Oh, I'm certain my heart of ice will match yours this day,
Shimoyake. I have forgotten nothing. The past still lies
within me... and it strengthens me." Yes, Shukumaru thought
bleakly, eighteen years in that empty realm has made me
strong--
--Ranma, you know not what you have done to your mother.
Hmm, that doesn't bode well for Nodoka.
Well, no - but she's pretty strong in character, so who knows? :)
---
An Awakening of Demons
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
By Kagami
Chapter 8b: The Red Game
'When men, gods, and demons play
The red game, perchance to slay,
Only death shall be sown and reaped
In light's glory or shadow's sway.'
--"The Red Game"
---
Muketsu the Fleshless wore a semblance of humanity as he
strode through the front door of Zaisan Finance in Osaka.
It wasn't a terribly good semblance, quickly cast and
lacking in certain respects - the nose was too sharp and
the eyes overlarge - but it would serve. Zaisan was one of
the largest demon-controlled complexes on the side of the
Demon Lord of the South, and thus, it represented a prime
target to inflame the nervous tension that permeated the
region.
Osaka was an unsettled city. Located at the base of Honshu
island's curve, it stood poised between the Western and
Southern Thrones,
Suggest no comma here.
Right.
and was currently claimed by both sides.
Traditionally, Osaka had been held by the West, but demons
serving Masakado, the Demon Lord of the South, had made
inroads into the city over the last century. It was a tense
situation; ripe for exploitation.
The use of semi-colon doesn't seem warranted. Suggest: It was a
tense situation, ripe for exploitation.
Whups. I think I went overboard with semi-colons in this chapter.
The service desk directed him to the offices of Shibo
Nobasu, one of the few Managing Directors for Zaisan with
an
a
Ick. Phil quickly pulls out a gun and rubs out the extraneous -n. :)
true understanding of the underlying forces at play in
the city. He was a human serving the Southern Throne, and
his death would move things along nicely for Shukumaru's
plans.
A young receptionist looked up from her computer screen as
he entered the outer office. Her hands paused in mid-
stroke, poised above the keyboard. "Yes? May I help you?"
"Certainly. I am Mikake Itsuwari. I'm here to see Nobasu-
san on a matter of mutual interest; I made an appointment
with him yesterday at the golf course." The name he gave
was real enough, an alias of a powerful demon serving the
Western Throne. It would not take long for the Demon Lord
of the South to piece together all the clues that directed
him westwards.
"Ah," the receptionist sounded a little worried.
Suggest: "Ah." The receptionist sounded a little worried.
Right.
She rose
to bow apologetically. "I'm afraid the Director is still
out at lunch, Itsuwari-sama. But I'm sure he will return
shortly. Please take a seat."
Muketsu hid a small sigh. Bureaucrats! They were the same
in every century, sacrificing their integrity on the altar
of incompetence. He would bet anything that the Director
was off screwing his blond gaijin mistress along with
lunch. Well, Nobasu's lusts would keep him alive for a
little while longer yet.
:)
He nodded his agreement to the receptionist and sat down
on one of the waiting seats. She responded to his
acquiescence with a slight smile of relief. Idly, he
wondered how her soul would taste. Transforming into a gaki
upon the death of his rapacious soul was more of a blessing
than a curse to Muketsu. Five centuries ago he had been a
mortal warlord, causing torrents of blood to flow, but
never fully satisfied. He had been hollow at his core,
seeking sustenance from the fear and pain of others. Death
had merely stripped the illusions of flesh from his
ravenous spirit.
Jigoku, the Empty Frozen Wastes of the Afterlife, had been
a horrid taste of eternal hunger - a proper punishment, the
Shinto priests would have said - but he had escaped that
torment and returned to the world of life and the living.
Here, he was able to feed for all eternity; aiding
Shukumaru was a small price to pay for that freedom,
especially after she had saved him from that Devil Hunter.
He whiled away the wait with a magazine until Nobasu
bustled in self-importantly half an hour later. The
Managing Director's florid face was still slightly red from
his lunchtime exertions, but he had an eager and
anticipatory look in his eyes. Nobasu's greed for profit
was the second most important vice in his life.
Smiling, Muketsu the Fleshless stood up to bow to the dead
man.
---
The Gokuraku-Cho, the Paradise Birds, were strong allies
of the Western realm. A flock of the birdmen wheeled
through the air above the lower reaches of the Hiei
Mountains. Feathered wings extended behind thin
outstretched arms as they swooped back and forth, riding
the rising warm air currents. One Gokuraku-Cho plummeted
down after a fleeing rabbit and his dreadfully sharp leg
talons sank into the flesh of the fugitive. The birdman
flapped furiously to rise into the winds once again,
bearing his prize and cawing his triumph.
You know, these guys are awfully conspicuous. How are you dealing
with all this visibility? A spell? A glamour?
Er, yes. This is an important point - look for some answers in Chapter
9; I have some explanations about demons in modern day Japan.
Lord Niwatori clacked his beak in disdain as he witnessed
the kill. The Gokuraku-Cho had truly fallen over the
centuries if they considered mere rabbits to be their
rightful prey. Abruptly, he felt a lessening in his pride
at being chosen for this mission and he spat his disgust.
There was little glory to be won facing such weak foes.
Still, they might prove more able in battle than he
thought. He unlimbered his heavy bladed weapon from its
strapped position on his back.
The hawk-headed oni caressed the twin steel blades that
protruded from either end of the central hide-bound handle,
creating a deadly weapon nearly six feet in length and with
many uses. Niwatori called the killing blades Kazekiri, the
Windslicer. Strong and dexterous hands began to casually
turn Kazekiri over and over, until the steel hummed in a
blurring circle, singing a high-pitched hymn for death. He
brought his arms back above his head, then hurled forth the
spinning weapon.
Shades of Ninja Scroll. :) I always wondered what that thing was
called. I applaud your research efforts.
Thank you. Ninja Scroll was the influence there. Kudos for catching it.
:)
Kazekiri shot forward like a demented disc, cutting
through the air toward its target. The birdman carrying the
rabbit never knew the moment of his demise. The Windslicer
cleaved his body into two parts which fell in a shower of
blood and gore. Niwatori caught hold of Kazekiri as the
spinning blade completed its arc and returned to his hands.
The hawk-headed oni lord screamed out his primal bloodlust
in a challenge to the surviving Gokuraku-Cho.
"Come and die for the glory of Niwatori!" he shouted as
the birdmen wheeled in shock and surprise. They lunged to
attack the revealed intruder in their domain. Their shrieks
of rage blended with his own laughter to produce a
cacophony of hideous sound. Kazekiri blurred and sang in
his hands as he launched the blade to smash his foes from
the sky again and again. Niwatori howled his joy as he slew
and slaughtered, until his mind and the land were both
awash with black blood.
---
The Eastern Court hushed as the Southern Ambassador padded
into the room. Many anticipatory eyes and ocular
pseudopodia
O_o
What can I say? I like the word. :)
followed his path to the front of the court
where Yami-no-Tsume awaited on the Eastern Throne. Whispers
of gathering conflict between the Western and Southern
Quarters had touched the ears of each and every one of the
demons present in the room. The Ambassador's request for an
audience looked likely to turn rumour into fact.
"Yami-no-Tsume-sama, I bear the lastest messages from
Masakado-sama," Heizen-To-no-Kamaitachi said brightly into
the silence of the court. The silver-furred sickle weasel
appeared entirely at ease, his tail-blade held still rather
than lashing about uncontrollably. It was a very unusual
demeanor for the demon
demon,
Right.
whom many privately considered
completely insane, and likely the result of the importance
of his news.
"Go on," Yami-no-Tsume commanded imperiously from his
throne. The Thunderbeast Raiha sat by his side and stared
somberly at the Ambassador of the South. He had debated
long and seriously with the Demon Lord over the previous
night about the likely and unwelcome message from Masakado.
Shukumaru was also present, seated on her father's left.
Her eyes glittered with hate as the killer of Hikaru
resumed speaking.
"As you know, Lord, the sputtering conflict between the
Western and Southern realms has flared up once again. Their
petty ambushes and sneak attacks have been the cause of the
war's resumption; we but defend ourselves from the
minuscule threat posed by the West. However, it occurs to
Masakado-sama that a unified response from both the South
and our great allies, the East, should serve as a powerful
deterrent to the ambitions of the Western Throne. To that
end, Masakado-sama has instructed me to expedite the
forthcoming wedding between himself and Shukumaru-sama."
Heizen-To deeply bowed his vulpine head and shoulders in a
gesture of respect. "As my Lord's humble voice, I must
request Yami-no-Tsume-sama's advice on this matter."
"I see," said the Demon Lord of the East in a noncommittal
tone. He beckoned to the Old Woman, standing near the front
of the court, and the ancient crone slowly walked forward.
"What say you, Obaba?"
The Old Woman's face was grim and forbidding. "I fear the
omens are inauspicious at this time, Yami-no-Tsume-sama. I
would suggest a delay of six months. At that time, the
planet Mars will enter the constellation of the Dragon and
favour the match between East and South," the Obaba said,
before bowing low and retreating into the crowd of demons.
Yami-no-Tsume nodded solemnly. "As you have heard, Heizen-
To, it does not seem auspicious to hold the wedding so
early. Inform your master that six months hence is my
decision on the matter."
Heizen-To's jaws gaped slightly, revealing sharp fangs and
a flickering tongue. The kamaitachi's tail began to swish
slowly from side to side. "I understand Yami-no-Tsume-
sama's decision, and I am certain my Lord will also
understand the East's position. Masakado-sama remembers
both his allies and enemies well." He bowed for a final
time and backed away.
Shukumaru hid a small frown as other matters were raised
in the court. While the stay of marriage was welcome, it
also meant that her father was reconsidering his alliance
to the South. It was clear to everyone that Yami-no-Tsume
was with-holding
withholding
Oops. My bad. :)
his aid, allowing the South to sink or
swim on its own in the war against the West for the next
six months. Possibly it was a test, but more likely it had
to do with the Demon Lord's personal interest in the human
bitch he was seeing. She fought off a twinge of mental pain
evoked by the thought and considered the issue further.
The poorly concealed courtship had been ongoing for three
months, and it had become significant, judging from Yami-no-
Tsume's reversal of policy. That meant something momentous
had occurred; for all his faults, her father would not
alienate Masakado without good cause. Even a fat slug could
be dangerous, especially one with such a vindictive spirit.
Suggest: That meant something momentous had occurred. For all his
faults, her father would not alienate Masakado without good cause;
even a fat slug could be dangerous, especially one with such a
vindictive spirit.
That does sound much better. Thanks.
Her reasoning led to a particularly unpalatable conclusion;
Suggest , instead of ;
Yes, another case of:
"I choose you, Comma! Huh?! Semi-colon? Why did you come out?"
And later: "All right! Semi-colon has evolved into Colon!"
"Colon: a powerful Pokegram with psychic abilities such as Barrier."
one that threatened to unleash the bitter hatred and anger
stored within the ice-walled temple in her mind.
It mattered not if her conclusion proved correct; she
still had to move quickly. If her father chose not to act,
then she had to force him to action. Her hidden frown
transformed itself into a bitter smile of anticipation.
It was time to begin the second part of her plan.
---
The small group of oni patrolling the nighttime border
near the unsettled West for the Eastern Throne never
recognized their impending
extra space
"Space has evolved into Extra-space..."
deaths. One moment they were
running and hunting for any signs of foreign interlopers,
and the next instance, two of their number stumbled and
fell. The brutish ogres bellowed their shock and anger as
they crashed to the ground. Others of the band quickly
stumbled to halt, and unwittingly achieved their own dooms.
Their momentary inaction allowed more skeletal claws to
rise from the ground and seize their ankles.
Yelling harsh and horrified cries, the oni attempted to
pry and bash the claws away, but even more erupted from the
earth to clutch at any exposed body part. The two fallen
ogres were already firmly held down by several dozen
skeletal limbs.
Lord Honeshi smiled in the distant darkness as he
witnessed the painful demise of the oni patrol as they were
slowly ripped to bloody chunks of flesh and bone. That they
belonged to the same realm as himself did not matter to the
Dancer of Bones. Only their lingering deaths mattered to
him. Ah, it was such a pleasure to work with Shukumaru, who
understood his needs and was more than willing to unleash
him.
Niwatori joined him on the small earthen mound. The hawk
lord's lip curled in mute disdain, but Honeshi ignored him.
The hawk-headed oni's presence was due to his earlier
victory over the Gokuraku-Cho and the prizes gathered from
that battle site. Two birdmen corpses were his burdens, one
dangling over each of his broad shoulders; their bodies
were being kept fresh through the application of a minor
seal. They were to be planted at the site once the band of
oni were dead, to provide evidence of an attack by the West.
Yami-no-Tsume would have little choice but to act and send
more demons to secure the border, even if he refused to
commit to retaliation. With luck, Raiha might be dispatched
to command the reinforcements on the Demon Lord's behalf,
providing a brief window of opportunity for Shukumaru's
rebellion. The weakened defences of Tokyo would never be
able to hold out, especially since the assault would erupt
from within. Honeshi would gain many involuntary converts
to the ranks of the dead and his eyes glittered in deadly
anticipation.
"A great feast awaits us, Niwatori," he crooned in
satisfaction, rubbing his thin, stick-like fingers together.
The hawk-headed oni nodded his agreement. In this respect,
the two demons were firmly united in their love of death.
"Indeed, Honeshi. Indeed."
---
Two old beings stood within the study in the private
apartments of Yami-no-Tsume. One was the Demon Lord of the
East himself, and the other, Raiha the Thunderbeast. The
Demon Lord was in his human guise as Makizoku Ansou and
appeared as a young and handsome man. This was an illusion;
five centuries ago, when Muketsu the Fleshless was a mere
mortal warlord, Yami-no-Tsume was already a powerful demon
serving the Eastern Throne. Raiha was even older; the
Thunderbeast having existed for nearly two thousand years.
The Demon Lord was speaking and his voice was not pleased.
"There is no choice, Raiha. We cannot become embroiled in
a war with the West at this time. That is what Masakado
desires. Give in to him, and we will be tightly bound into
the alliance." Yami-no-Tsume looked grim and troubled. "In
fact
fact,
"Missingcom?" :)
You'll only get this one if you've played the Gameboy game.
it would not surprise me to learn that the border
incident was one of his crafty ploys. It smacks of
treachery."
"There is always a choice, Yami-no-Tsume-sama. Sending me
away along with the reinforcements is most unwise. You
leave yourself defenceless,"
defenseless," (or is that a British spelling I'm not aware of?)
Defence is the British spelling (which I'm using here - all those extra
-u's in my words is a good indicator :), but I'm not sure about
defenceless - I'll check it in the dictionary.
Raiha growled, concerned. He
padded to and fro, loping restlessly as he contemplated the
situation on the border. The loss of an entire border
patrol and the discovery of Gokuraku-Cho bodies at the site
disturbed him greatly.
"Do you question me, Raiha?"
"I am uneasy," admitted the Thunderbeast. "I believe you
seek to protect one close to you by keeping the problem to
the border, but that solution merely increases the
vulnerability here." He stamped his blue-furred paw on the
ground to emphasize his point, leaving charred and
blackened stains from the overflow of electrical charge.
Yami-no-Tsume closed his eyes briefly to consider Raiha's
remark. It struck very near to home, he admitted to
himself. However, a gut reaction did not necessarily mean
it was wrong. Reinforcing the border escalated the tension,
but also reduced the chance for all-out war. No one wanted
to fight on two fronts, given the option. That made it the
right decision. Yet Raiha was also correct about the
personal issues present. "No, I have made the correct
choice in this matter, but you're quite right about
weakening the defences
defenses
Again, I'll check.
here. I have a solution to that
problem though."
"Umibouzu may not be enough," Raiha warned.
"True, and his power is greatly weakened on land. I had
another in mind as well."
"Ah," said the Thunderbeast, grinning with vulpine
eagerness, "I have always wanted to meet her."
"Don't become too hopeful, Raiha. She will not be
interested in you." Yami-no-Tsume chuckled in amusement.
"'Frigid' coins her personality precisely."
"Lightning melts ice, my Lord. Be assured, sparks will fly
between us. Still, it is a nice solution." The Thunderbeast
mused further on the idea. "Why not invite her in secret
and keep her hidden in reserve? Umibouzu should suffice as
outward presence."
"A good idea. A very good idea indeed." Yami-no-Tsume
nodded in approval. The decision made, he smiled broadly as
he contemplated the very pleasant evening before him. His
eager smile briefly transformed him into the picture of a
young and anxious human male. "You know, Raiha, I believe
my Nodoka has something to tell me tonight."
"Hah!" The Thunderbeast snorted as best he could whilst in
wolf form. "You know already, do you not?"
"Of course. There are advantages to being a cat demon,
after all." The Demon Lord clasped his hands together,
conveying his inner delight. "But I would never dream of
spoiling her surprise."
---
"I am pregnant."
Nodoka Saotome's voice was rich with both fear and hope.
Her fear was obviously that the news would be unwelcome to
Ansou and her hope was for him to reciprocate her joy.
Stretching all her senses from behind her shield of
stealth, Shukumaru was just barely able to make out the
nuances to the conversation between Yami-no-Tsume and his
human bitch from her location on the roof of the opposite
house. The open window permitted her to see and hear with
near-perfect clarity.
The glow of new life pulsed vividly to Shukumaru's senses
as she looked upon Nodoka Saotome. The mortal woman showed
no exterior signs of her pregnancy, but any demon of power
would be able to detect her condition. Shukumaru ground her
teeth in annoyance and disgust.
"Really?" Makizoku Ansou's voice was the epitome of
surprise and happiness. He grabbed hold of her hands to
convey reassurance and kissed her warmly. The last remnants
of uncertainty fled from Nodoka's face and she became
radiant in her bliss. "Dear heart, you have truly made me a
happy man today. Will you complete my joy and marry me?"
"Oh, Maki-chan! Yes!" Nodoka hugged him fiercely, tears
streaming down her cheeks.
Shukumaru fought down her rising nausea as the sappiness
of the situation threatened to overwhelm her. Oh, Father,
how could you soil yourself so? she thought sardonically.
All for a half-breed offspring. How contemptible.
"Let me take care of the arrangements, Nodoka-chan," Ansou
said with a broad grin. "We shall have a wonderful ceremony
to celebrate our first child." Gently, he laid his hand on
her lower abdomen. "It is a boy, I'm sure of it."
Nodoka smiled back. "Perhaps, dear. What shall we call him?"
"Shu-- Uh, what do you think, Nodoka-chan?"
Ha! His past hopes are rearing their heads. :)
Yup. Shukumaru isn't terribly impressed, but we all know her reaction by
now. :)
"Oh, I'm sure we'll think of something by then. Besides,
it might be a girl."
[big snip - sorry, got a little caught up in the story. Great fight
scene, BTW.]
Thanks. It flowed fairly easily during writing, too. :)
There was no response.
He frowned, suddenly slightly fearful. She had to be
alive... and sane, or as sane as power-hungry would-be
power-hungry, would-be
"Ack, Level 100 Missingcom! Run away!"
Demon Lords remained, anyway. He would be present on her
rise to rulership in the present,
present:present. Suggest changing one.
Will do.
and know some measure of
power himself. A minor demon had few other available options.
"Shukumaru-sama! Please awaken!" Jakuten called once more.
Her eyelids fluttered, signaling her return to
consciousness. With a final flicker, they fully opened,
revealing naked black orbs that stared at the ceiling with
hesitant uncertainty. "Shukumaru-sama!" the small demon
servitor cried out in relief. "It is I, your faithful
servant, Jakuten!"
"Jakuten...." Her voice was soft and weak, like one reborn
from total isolation.
"Yes, Mistress! Welcome back to the world, Shukumaru-sama.
It has been a long time."
"How... long?"
"Eighteen years have past since your climactic battle with
Yami-no-Tsume."
"And... my father?"
"Dead, Shukumaru-sama. He did not long survive the battle,
but I fear he was able to pass on his power to the half-
human whelp before he died. The West and South have
contested inconclusively for many years; tensions are still
great between the two realms and neither have been able to
take advantage of our weakness."
"I see." Shukumaru closed her eyes briefly, absorbing the
news. "The bitch and her whelp... are still alive?"
"Yes, Shukumaru-sama. Both remain alive."
"Tell me... my enemy's name, Jakuten."
The demon servitor bowed low. "His name is Ranma Saotome,
Mistress."
"Ranma Saotome," Shukumaru repeated, and her voice
strengthened, consumed with the madness of eighteen years
in the night.
*************************
Very nice, Phil. Matters proceed apace. I assume we are shortly to
become aware of Akane's fate? Or will we have to feed you to demon
spiders? :)
Chapter 9, but it's never explicitly explained. I have this distinct
aversion to fully explain everything, just in case it comes back to bite
me as a plot hole. :)
"Noooo! Not the demon spiders! Anything but spiders..."
Look forward to more.
Great! Give it a week to clear things up for Chapter 9. :)
Phil.
Ja!
Dave
************************************
D.F. Roeder
Fanfiction - http://www.flash.net/~dfroeder/index.html
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