Ahhh it's in one *big* chapter now... :) hehehe
As always PLEASE send your replies to ysis@hotmail.com
Oh and my sister's name is Angeline... we share an account, that's why it's
angel... it was not done *that* way to imitate Wedding Peach.
Does that answer your question Tin? :)
Ysis
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-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: Rend 6.txt
Special Thanks to: MJ and Maurice Phillip
Disclaimer: I own nothing :)
~ Chapter 6 ~
_...That first...ball was a disaster, *everything* went wrong! It was
so frightening... I don't think I ever want a repeat of the situation
again..._
What quarrel, what harshness, what unbelief in each other
Can subsist in the presence of a great calamity,
When all the artificial vesture of our life is gone,
And we are all one with each other in primitive mortal needs?
~ George Eliot ~
It has been a week since the family has come together. The day after
they met, they were brought furnished with a palanquin, and they were
heading to the Kanto Mountains. One of the samurai always scouted ahead
to prepare the inns where they were sleeping for the night. When they
did arrive at the Kanto mountains, they were herded towards the donjon
too quickly that Akane didn't notice the details of the old Japanese
castle.
Her husband didn't see her for three days, and Akane was left under
constant samurai guard, and frankly she felt insulted. She would have
actually fought her way out if the swords they carried didn't look too
much of a threat. She sighed.
On the morning of her fourth day, Ifuku came in not with food but
with the kimono that has been settled for her, and she set about doing
her work with Akane's dress and hair. A few hours later Akane stared
back at the mirror. Hard. She blinked at the image that blinked back at
her. She had never dressed so elaborately before, at her previous life,
her hair was too short to be pulled up and piled on top of her head --
Shimoda(40) style, some which artfully fell over her face.
The dress which Yofuku-san(2), Kodachi's seamstress, made was
absolutely beautiful, and fit her nicely, unlike the others she
currently owned. The color, though subdued, proved a nice contrast to
her dark wavy hair. She looked down at her waist and placed her hand on
it ... it was hard earned after all, it was good that she wasn't in a
European country... surely there they would insist on an impossible
corset.
"You look beautiful ma'am." Ifuku complemented her, Akane was not
sure if she meant it, or if she was just saying it to please her. She
never could read people very well.
"Thank you, Ifuku." She twisted a little in her seat, wondering
about Ranko. Jealousy was a very wicked thing, of course, Akane never
thought about it that way, her feelings for Ranma she never truly delved
in. "Tell me Ifuku, did you happen to see Ranko-san?"
The woman looked startled, she was one of the few who knows Lord
Ranma's curse. He had told her not to speak of it, so she hadn't, she
was loyal to her lord.
People's speculations were so far off the mark sometimes she wished
she could tell it in their face, but she had been ordered to secrecy.
She didn't think much of the order, after all if she *did* tell, which
was already a very minute possibility, who would believe it?
It was certainly something that bended the laws of reality, it was a
strange occurrence. Still, Lady Kodachi rarely wanted to talk about Lord
Ranma's other half, it was highly unusual she bring it up now. "Yes, my
lady."
"Do you think my husband would dance(3) with her instead of me?"
She whispered softly, not noticing she clutched the soft fabric of her
dress. She looked conscious of the way she spoke, and to some degree
Ifuku thought that since the accident her lady had been trying to act
normal so much.
Ifuku pitied her to an extent, she was scared witless, either from
her first meeting with the society, the prospect of meeting Ranma's
relatives, or something she did not know entirely. If it was truly loss
of memory, which ailed her, she could not possibly ready her for what
was ahead, not to meet her husband's ex-fianc�es. And even though she
felt pity towards her mistress, she could only remain silent, for she
held a greater loyalty to her husband. "Lord Ranma would not dance with
Ranko-sama, lady. I'm very sure of it."
Ifuku almost saw the wave of comfort that passed through her, but it
lasted only for a moment. When she pinned the last pearl and announced
that she was ready Kodachi jumped out of the chair and turned slowly in
front of the full-length mirror. She smiled, pleased at what she saw,
then turned to Ifuku and hugged her warmly. "I couldn't have done this
whole get up without you, thank you."
Almost against her will she smiled at that, she was starting to like
the lass, she seemed to try so hard, "Lady Akane, your husband is
waiting for you." She reminded her, and she hoped fervently that her
mistress would not be distressed too much.
~~~
The well worn path that lead to the donjon in the Kanto plains was
filled with kaga and people walking, which signified the enormousness of
the even that was about to take place.
There was a particular palanquin that was rather unusual than the
rest, notable for the Chinese silks it used for curtains. Inside this
palanquin sat two women facing each other.
Kuh Lon, the gnarled old woman, and elder of the Amazon tribe, was
staring at the young woman who sat dejectedly in front of her.
"[Great-grandmama, do you think Ranma will be glad to see me?]" Xian
Pu asked Kuh Lon, her aggravation grew as they neared Happosai's donjon,
she had not seen him for seven years. His marriage had been hard on her.
Too Hard
"[He would not faithfully send out invitations every year for you to
come, if it was not so.]" Kuh Lon answered looking at her straight in
the eyes, then patted her clenched hands, it seemed to soothe her "[Do
not worry overly, child. He is not a vengeful sort. I think he
understood what you did and why you did it.]"
"[There is only so much one can take.]" She whispered staring out the
kaga towards the setting sun.
Kuh Lon looked at her great-granddaughter, then shifted placed her
gnarled hand on her shoulder, she still had to fully understand why Xian
Pu had wanted to set out and see Ranma after such a long time, she had
fully thought Mu Tsu had captured her attentions, apparently it was not
so.
She sighed as she looked at her great-granddaughter and resolved to
talk to her when they returned to the village, 'Maybe it's time to set
her to a more rigorous training schedule.' Hopefully her duties will
keep her occupied enough and stop thinking of Ranma.
But Ranma was a man that was too hard to forget, and to a girl such
as Shampoo, who by law was actually betrothed to him, and a girl who
loved him dearly, it was hard to take that he had chosen someone other
than her. His choice came to haunt Cologne.
The fool Happosai had forbidden, *forbidden* Ranma to tell her the
reasons of his choice of Kodachi, which makes her think it was more of
his doing than Ranma's actual like for the girl. It seemed that at
twenty-two, Ranma would be a bachelor forever.
Their departure had been more than abrupt, with only a note for good-
bye and a meeting with Nabiki. Their return would take the twins by
surprise. It has been nearly seven years of absence.
She would see what had happened to her most prized students.
~~~
Ukyo bit her lip as she spread her skirts about her, she had planned
hard so that she would leave and arrive early, in order to she could
attend Ranma's mother's birthday.
She had accused Ranma of torturing himself, she was a hypocrite, she
did so as well. And though he went to visit her because of her daughter,
she visited him because of her own selfish reasons. Because his marriage
had not stopped her from loving him, because she will always love him.
Even though he had continually told her to find herself a husband,
even though he had a daughter whom she had never known about, even
though he had married a harridan. A tear escaped her eye as she looked
past the trees, and she quickly wiped it away, it was no good if he will
see her tears, he would only offer comfort she did not want to have.
Because pain was what she had chosen to live with so long ago, on that
day he married her. Because it was that which reminded her that she
lived only because she could give comfort to him.
She sighed as she moved about the donjon's many gates, two samurai
flanking her. As she looked at the gay trimmings of the donjon, she
wondered about their last conversation with each other. Maybe it was
truly the time to see if she could still be his daughter's foster
mother.
That role she had accepted because of their friendship, and maybe now
that she knew that he could never love her, and that she would always
love him... maybe it was time to set a little distance between the two
of them.
'Tonight...' Ukyo thought, 'Tonight, I decide.'
~~~
As Akane went down the stairs she searched the crowd for a friendly
face, there was none she could find. When that failed her she tried a
familiar one, but none of the faces apparently liked her. All looked at
her with pointed looks of hatred. It was obvious with their whispering,
and the quick snap of fans to hide their mouths. It was going to be the
longest and hardest night she had to live by yet.
She schooled her face into a smile and tried to gracefully walk down
the stairs. Grace was not one talent she had in her. She didn't know if
it was good or bad luck that graced her when she saw Ranma walking
towards her, he was certainly not the familiar face one would be looking
for in the sea of people that was presented to her.
She almost made it to the bottom of the stairs, when she tripped on
her dress, she was certainly not used to wearing the geta (4) nor the
kimono. She had plummeted straight down to Ranma who had, gracefully
caught her. 'It isn't fair,' She thought stubbornly, 'Why would my
husband be more graceful than I am?'
He did save her from an embarrassing tumble, she smiled when she
looked up, to give her thanks, but he had cast her a very angry look,
her smile faltered. "Ranma, what's wrong?"
Ranma, fully expecting she was drunk, was taken a back when he
smelled no alcohol from her breath. "Nothing," He answered as he looked
back to the doorway where Nabiki stood, watching giving him a feint
shrug. "I just wanted to tell you that you're on your own here, Kodachi.
You're not liked and certainly not welcomed." He left her alone at the
stairs, left to her own resources.
She stared at his retreating back until Nabiki pulled him aside to
talk, people were a lot more free with their tongues, and she heard a
question of her presence. For all that she had wanted to shout that she
was invited there. That she had more right to be here than they, but she
had been the outsider there.
Nabiki led her brother to the nearest room without any people. She
looked at him sternly tapping her fan against her shoulder, "You invited
Shampoo along? And Ukyo is here with Kodachi? Do you truly seek
trouble?"
"I've always invited Shampoo, Ukyo always comes, Kodachi's just here
because Happosai demanded our presence and she took that she was invited
too. Now she refuses to leave," Ranma answered flippantly, "Besides,
Shampoo has always turned down the invitation."
"Surprise, she's here." Nabiki said dryly her hand seeking the sake
the maid had given her, "I'm going to need this." She drank it down in
one gulp, she didn't even bother to ask him if he wanted any. "That's
all three of your most enthusiastic former fianc�es Ranma, and do you
remember what happened the *last* time they were all in one room
together? Do I actually need to tell you *all* your former fianc�es are
here? Is the hand of god moving against me?"
"All *your* former fianc�s are here too, Nabiki." Ranma reminded her
lightly.
"Yes, but mine are all very easy to handle." Nabiki pointed out
ruefully, rubbing her shoulders lightly, "Yours always give me a
migraine."
His brow furrowed as he remembered the details but waved Nabiki's
concern off, "They'll be more behaved this time Nabiki, I'm married
remember?" He reminded her softly as her hand threatened to snatch down
another wine bottle.
"*That's* what I'm worried about!" Nabiki almost wailed, well, at
least the small rise in her voice Ranma took for wailing on any normal
person, "Your so-called-wife is here, you know!"
Someone politely knocked on the door and Sasuke stepped in shortly
afterwards, "The children are asleep, Lord Ranma, Lady Nabiki. The
honored Cologne is on the ballroom, Miss Shampoo is out somewhere in the
house, she has slipped me, and Miss Ukyo has been looking for the Lord
Ranma." He delivered all of this while bowing and in a very precise
manner.
Ranma looked at Sasuke surprised then at Nabiki, "You made him keep
track of everybody?" He looked incredulous after he thanked Sasuke.
Nabiki didn't take any offense in this but smiled.
"Not quite, it seems Sasuke still holds some loyalty to the Kuno
house." Nabiki smiled, she secretly respected people who didn't obey her
for some uncanny reason. Of course, they had to have the right reasons
to do so, "It seems he won't be bribed."
"Few of the servants can be." Ranma reminded her when Sasuke
disappeared to do his duties after the dismissal wave of Nabiki's hand.
"Which is the way you want them to be."
If Nabiki was negating the statement or agreeing to it, Ranma didn't
know she just looked at the empty porcelain cup in her hand, thinking
hard. "Look, Shampoo is out somewhere, I'm going out to look for her.
*You* keep track of your lovely wife and try to invent something
feasible when one of Shampoo's doors pop up this time."
After she finished giving orders she hurried out of the room in
search for the woman, Ranma stared after her. Nabiki had always been
bossy, she wanted a firm grasp on things and control everything. He
didn't know if she was scared of the imbalance the women brought about
them, or was just plain worried about their mother's birthday. Still,
this is turning out to be a very uncontrollable situation.
Ukyo looked about at the walls. How long has it been since she had
walked these halls? She couldn't recall, for even though she had been
welcomed inside the halls, and welcomed warmly, she had never wandered
past the banquet, never shown any interest in the halls. This was
Happosai's domain, and the perverted freak had asked her to be his
consort once, she shuddered at the memory. It seems the old man would
ask any girl out.
Today was different, for the first time, she got to see the rooms,
wander around a little, the samurai a little lax on their duties inside
the donjon, their skills centered outside. She saw the guest room where
Hanae slept soundly on the futon.
She somewhat regretted that she was only a part-time foster mother to
the child for she loved her dearly. It seemed everything in the girl's
life was transitory. The impermanence of life was so impressed on Hanae
that it was a complete mystery to how the child remained unchanged.
And yet... the child loved Rose Brier, more than Ukyo's residence...
even if her stamp at Ukyo's was not as easily removed as it is in Rose
Brier because of Kodachi.
She almost laughed at herself, here she was wishing that she was more
than a foster mother to Hanae when she was contemplating on leaving her
forever. She was a walking contradiction. Her brain dictated something
and her heart entirely another.
'Maybe I've listened to my heart far too long.' Ukyo thought as she
brushed back Hanae's unruly red hair. She watched the shadows the
lighted gas lamp made on her face. And she left. In that moment, Ukyo
felt very alone, amidst the happy songs trailing from the ballroom, the
halls felt very much alone. That was when she stumbled upon Shampoo -
outside the garden of black roses the donjon had promised Kodachi they
would keep.
One of the promises along a string of promises that kept Kodachi
happily married to Ranma.
Her eyes glittered with anger, how long was it since she has heard
from the girl? Her mind flew back to their last meeting, long
enough...but still not that long that she would forget.
Her former rival never looked up from her staring at the roses, she
didn't move although Ukyo knew sure as the sun rose that the Chinese
woman knew she was standing there. Shampoo took a black rose from the
bush and brought it up to her eyes.
"Is beautiful, ne?" She asked softly. Her Japanese was still bad,
although it was better than seven years ago and certainly would've been
perfect if she exerted effort on trying to learn it. "So beautiful,
forget thorns -- there."
A trickle of blood ran down her delicate hand, she didn't bother to
wipe it away, dark crimson meeting the pitch black of the rose, it
created such an intricate picture that Shampoo was fascinated with it
for a while then her eyes turned to Ukyo seeking the other person for
something familiar, "When last time we see thorns in roses, Ukyo?"
Ukyo didn't know what to answer, she didn't know what the Amazon
meant by that. Didn't know if she meant Kodachi, Ranma, or something
else all together, but she had felt obliged to talk to the girl.
"Kodachi will not appreciate you in here."
Shampoo let out a small laugh, a laugh choked out by a sob, "When has
spatula girl started to regard lunatic woman's thoughts?" A glimmer of
laughter passed her eyes for a moment, "You and Shampoo can beat crazy
woman."
"It's different now, Shampoo," Ukyo murmured looking at Shampoo's
hand, a web of blood had already spread through it, she couldn't look up
to her eyes, "She's married to Ranma now."
"Yes..." Shampoo trailed off, it was not comfortable to talk to Ukyo,
but she was thankful it was her who found her and not Kodachi. There
were small miracles. "Shampoo would been happier if ai -- Ranma married
spatula girl. Rose girl no good for him."
Airen -- Ukyo pondered on Shampoo's slip, she would have called him
airen. After all this time, she still thought of him as her beloved
husband. Not so much different as she did.
Her heart reached out to her, they both experienced the same pain,
they both longed for something they could never have. Yearning -- they
say it is more purifying than loving. The seven long years have been
hard on the both of them.
The rustle of her skirts was their only warning when Nabiki walked in
on them. She smiled congenially. Ukyo was reminded of a fox finding her
prey. "Shampoo, Ukyo, what a pleasant surprise, what are you two doing
in this desolate garden of Kodachi's?"
Both knew Nabiki hadn't stumbled but looked for them, no doubt not
trusting them on their own. She was about to give Nabiki a piece of her
mind when Shampoo beat her to it, "Is sorry, Nabiki, looking at roses."
She nodded, "Yes, Kodachi does have a natural knack for making her
flowers bloom beautifully, doesn't she?" She asked as she took note of
the bloody rose on Shampoo's hand. Nabiki rarely missed the details, it
was one of the things the twins had been forced to learn when they
acquired Nerima.
"Yes, sorry Nabiki, just looking around." Ukyo answered nonchalantly,
turning to leave conservatory she watched as Shampoo started followed
quietly, but turned back suddenly.
"Nabiki, question." Shampoo said solemnly as she stood in front of
Ranma's formidable sister. "Do you complain on why roses where made with
thorns or do you thank whoever did that they created roses amidst
thorns?"
There was a long pause before Nabiki could answer, "Often, they're
just the same thing." She looked at Shampoo then nodded, "You're
different than the Amazon I last saw seven years ago."
"Shampoo forced to change." She answered as she turned around. The
silence that followed ringing on her ears just as loudly as any gong
could've produced. It was then Nabiki knew there would be no catfights
starting from these two, their sad faces told her too much.
Although Ranma had *not* been looking for Kodachi, he had found her
anyway. Just after he had talked with Cologne. She seemed the most out
of place person in the whole party. His eyes were drawn to her
unwillingly, her tread brought forth raised gloves, spread fans,
whispers. He should have been happy, after all this was the wife who
had, after all, betrayed him every step of the way.
But he wasn't.
He was sorry for her, which wasn't what any normal human being should
feel towards Kodachi Saotome. He was disgusted because of his attitude,
and when she sat down over at one of the solitary chairs, he almost went
to her to comfort her. The only thing that prevented him from truly
going was the fear that she would laugh at him falling for something
like that. He didn't think his pride could take it. 'The things we
destroy with pride... the things we could heal without it...'
After all that was said and done, though he didn't love his wife,
though he tolerated her because he must, he still didn't want her hurt.
He was an idiot.
Then he watched as Hikaru Gosunkugi, a rake who had the reputation of
sleeping with other men's wives, including his own, walked up to her.
And she smiled.
"I'm an idiot."
Nabiki who had come up from behind him raised an eyebrow then gave a
mocking frown, "Did you just call me an idiot?"
"What?" He pulled his gaze away from the two and turned to Nabiki,
"No, I'm an idiot."
Looking over his shoulder, Nabiki's smile dimmed, she recognized the
man Kodachi was associating with far too much, "It's Gosunkugi... you
know, I never did figure how that wimp turn out that way."
A look of pain crossed Ranma's eyes which was gone immediately.
Nabiki was sorry she brought it up, and decided not to follow it up. A
memory trickled in the back of her mind but she could not call it forth.
"It was my fault." Ranma sighed as he looked down, "I think Kodachi
concocted a potion, he got it before me ... instant Gosunkugi."
Placing her hand on her brother's shoulder, Nabiki sighed, there were
far too much incidents like this one, most of it was Kodachi's fault.
"You can't blame yourself for something like that. With things
concerning Kodachi, no one is really to blame ... sometimes, not even
her."
Nabiki walked her brother a bit farther from where Kodachi was, they
didn't turn to look back.
Akane looked up at the first face that had come to talk to her, he
looked ... tired ... that was the only word that came up to mind when
she saw him. He was a scrawny looking man with these big eye bags that
she wondered if he got enough sleep and nutrition. She didn't know what
to say, after all, she did not know anything at all.
"You look edible, my dear Kodachi," He said flourishing a rose he
held in the back of his hand. It looked suspiciously like the roses
grown in the backyard she had spied moments before. For one thing it
*was* black, and how many black roses did you see? The second, well, it
was broken off not cut.
"Do I?" She answered, she didn't want to be rude, after all this was
the first person who spoke to her. She couldn't just turn him away, even
though she found herself immediately disliking the man.
"I thought you'd be in Nerima by now," He looked over the crowd, a
bored gaze swept over him, making Akane wonder if her bored tone just
managed to encourage him, "You did say you would stay for Rose Brier
only for a short time."
"Why does everyone want me in Nerima?" Akane answered with a tinge of
humor in her voice.
"I don't know about everyone, but I am glad that you're here. Though
this would be the last place I thought I'd find you. Your in-laws are
one tough crowd."
An image of Nabiki superimposed with the older one of Nodoka's
brought a shiver down her spine. They were pretty hard to live by.
"We could make our own fun, what do you say?"
Akane let out a grimace, "Look, you obviously haven't heard, but I
have had a serious knock on the head and am currently suffering from
amnesia. I currently have no memory of you."
"What? Amnesia?" He looked momentarily confused then he smiled at
her, he had caught on to her game then, or so he -- just like everybody
else -- thought. "Ah well then let me introduce myself, I am Gosunkugi
Hikaru. It's very hard to think that you have forgotten me...but ... let
me enlighten you anyway."
And he continued to describe, very explicitly, to Akane's complete
disgust, what they have done.
Because Nabiki had trusted the former rivals, she left them alone at
one of the rooms unused by the guests. She only gave a piece of cloth
for Shampoo to wipe her bloody hands and walked off to the other things
that she should be doing at the moment.
There was a pregnant pause in between them, before Shampoo broke the
silence. She pointed towards a painting of Hanae hung on the wall, along
the other line of paintings of the Saotome Clan. At the far beginning
was Happosai's picture when he was really young. His looks had not
changed all too much. Except for his balding white hair and the addition
of wrinkles, there wasn't much else difference to spot.
"Is Ranma's child, yes?" Ukyo merely nodded. Shampoo studied the face
of the child for a few minutes before she commented, "She look like her
father in curse form."
"Don't let the hair deceive you, other than it's red, her features
are very far from that of Ranma's." She touched Ranma's picture
fleetingly, Nabiki's and his were done on the same canvas, both were
wearing their red Chinese shirts and smiling. It was probably painted
when they had just arrived from China. The artist had captured them
totally up to their eyes. "Though she does move just like her father.
She might have inherited a talent for the art."
"Features of painted girl far from Kodachi's." Shampoo stated as she
watched Ukyo's muted actions. If her rival had not been there, Shampoo
would surely have done the same thing as well. From where she stood, she
could see the twins similarity, it wasn't apparent, and needed the
critical eye, but it was there.
"She isn't Kodachi's daughter." Ukyo whispered, wondering if she did
the right thing telling Shampoo a secret that wasn't hers to share.
"Would honorable man, Ranma, wrong lunatic girl even if he doesn't
love her?" Shampoo asked looking at Ukyo and searching her for the
answer.
Although she would receive none, for Ukyo did not know what to say
and Shampoo had asked the wrong question. They would have stayed that
way again if Cologne hadn't walked in on them.
"You two look like you've seen ghosts." Cologne said as she pogoed
around them. She then looked at the painting her great-granddaughter was
studying and pogoed a back a bit. "What a beautiful child!"
She hopped around for a few minutes and then frowned, at the
appearance of the child, she stared at it for a few moments before she
turned to Ukyo, "Child, whose girl is she?"
Ukyo frowned, the matriarch showed an uncanny interest towards Hanae,
this could mean either bad or good. She reminded herself to choose her
words carefully, "She's Ranma's."
She turned towards the picture then frowned again, "Is she Kodachi's
child?"
Twice she thought that she was stepping her line by telling Cologne
the secret, "No... no..."
"Do you know her mother?"
"Details are sketchy at best, but no one knows." By this time Ukyo
was shifting, she didn't know what the matriarch wanted to achieve by
asking the questions.
"She is Hanae?"
Ukyo nodded.
Shampoo looked at her great-grandmother with interest, "[Grandmamma
is something wrong?]"
"Shampoo, it's impolite to talk a language that someone in a room
cannot understand." Her reprimand was light but she wanted her heir to
learn, "But to answer your question, no there's nothing wrong, but I may
need to talk to Ranma about the girl."
Akane was a modern girl... in a very unmodern situation. She wasn't
aware that if a man cornered you like that, it wasn't proper. The best
way a samurai of Kodachi's caliber to go on with this was take
Gosunkugi's head. That is of course if it was any other samurai than
Kodachi -- after all Kodachi played these seductive games.
But then she didn't, she didn't even wound him, and since this was
proceeding, Gosunkugi continued, after all... he did not believe her
amnesia story. Akane trying to be nice to this man -- this person who
had talked to her, but he seemed to be more interested with her anatomy
rather than conversation. She had had enough when he pulled her closer
to him up against the wall.
"I think you should stop." Akane said firmly, but lightly enough not
to be heard by the milling people.
He smiled and continued to do what he was doing. All things damned,
Akane didn't care about the consequences she shinned him and punched him
in the face. Her hand flexed Kodachi's delicate hand wasn't used to the
breaking bricks she was accustomed to... that had hurt.
Hikaru Gosunkugi doubled over, he was so much in pain that he didn't
even let out a whimper. He fast lay on the ground clutching his nose and
his groin. He was moaning. Akane was so mad that she didn't notice the
world around her, she blindly stumbled out to find air, any fresh air.
She was just about to fall into an unknown samurai when Ranko caught her
deftly with her left arm.
She raised a questioning eyebrow at her and at her muddled up state,
"Next time you do this kinda thing. Kick that guy out of the party
grounds." She was past caring what she did, 'To hell with these people,
I'm doing what I think I should be doing.'
Nabiki appeared swiftly bending over Gosunkugi, more because she
wanted to know what happened than concern over the man. She knew him
enough to know the grief he caused her family. This Gosunkugi was
different from what she knew years ago... Kodachi had changed him.
Her demeanor was grim when she rose and ordered the samurai under
Ranko's house to throw the peasant out of the donjon. As soon as the
orders left her mouth samurai moved in on Gosunkugi.
Nabiki walked towards Ranko watching the other samurai drag the limp
body aside. "It seems he got out of hand, Ranko. Kodachi kneed him."
Ranko dragged Akane to one of the rooms which were unoccupied, Nabiki
followed quietly behind, she forced Akane on her knees, "I'm sure
Gosunkugi hadn't done anything he hadn't tried -- and succeeded before.
You've had your fun. You've had your most coveted scene, now I order you
to stop this."
Akane looked up at him with wide eyes, 'Damn her. After I'm molested,
she takes HIS side of the argument.' She snatched her hands from the
woman's grip, "It was not at all fun, Ranko."
"Well then, I suggest you end this whole thing."
"I want to see my husband." Akane demanded, 'And where the hell is
he? Seeing such fun in this whole thing and he just lets his sister and
his consort take care of the situation.'
"He is otherwise occupied." Ranko bit out, consciously wiping the wet
drops of water against her face. Akane fleetingly wondered why she got
wet so much. "Ranma has more things to think about than following his
unruly wife, which is my job. He is currently..."
"Having an audience with Lord Happosai?" Nabiki asked hiding a smile
with a fan she had taken out from her obi, she fanned herself lightly.
Ranko let out a curse, Akane wondered how women generally cursed at
this time when every time she did it, she was taken in with a stern
gaze. She stopped to think what was so important with the meeting with
Happosai -- she didn't come up with any conclusions.
Ranko moved and called out to a guard, "Kodachi is not to leave her
quarters," she turned to Nabiki, "Nabiki, stall Happosai, I have to do
some things. Do whatever you think is best."
Nabiki nodded as she moved outside, a mention of water was heard and
an order for a kettle for Ranko and then she was gone through the
endless maze of the donjon.
Again, Akane wondered who this Happosai was, then she realized Ranko
was keeping her to the room, "I am *not* going to be confined in the
four walls of this room, Ranko. I was invited here. As a *guest* I ask
for my right to be let out."
"And as your MASTER--"
"As my *nothing*. I can acknowledge only *Ranma* as my master--"
"I don't care!" Ranko was up to her in a second shaking her
shoulders, "You *will* obey my orders as if spoken by *Ranma* himself.
Do you understand?"
"No, I *don't*!" Akane said forcefully pulling her shoulders away
from the girl's grip. It did not budge. Akane looked at Ranko in awe,
the girl had hands of steel. Either Kodachi was more out of shape than
she thought, or Ranko really was one powerful girl...
The hot water arrived and Ranko took it out of the samurai's hands,
"I've got to go, Kodachi--"
"It's AKANE!"
"Fine, Akane, I've got to go, don't make any trouble for the guards."
With that she too disappeared over the donjon's maze. Akane knitted
her brows then looked at the shoji opposite her, in Ranko's haste, she
had forgotten the rooms had two entrances. Quickly she moved towards the
other shoji then looked up, she found herself in the ballroom again in a
short while. People were dancing.
She found Ranma cordially dancing with his mother, she smiled
remembering a bit of what Sasuke had told her about the norms, 'Then
this is the first dance,' the dance ended slowly, his eyes turned to
her, and she wondered how he had found out that she was there but he
did.
After holding her gaze for a second Ranma smiled cockily then moved
to a girl with brown hair, they bowed and he twirled her around. The
next girl was this purple haired Chinese girl, whose dress seemed to
stop circulation... he didn't stop to dance with her after those and not
after ten tries.
At this snub people who had ignored her, turned their backs at her
and she was miserable. Even she knew there had to be some weight at this
action and she turned around to blink. Her tears threatening to
overwhelm her.
She moved towards the balcony, the one farthest from the ballroom,
she lost herself in the maze that the donjon. And finally she found a
balcony far from the noise of the party.
"Where is Ranma, Nabiki?" Happosai asked as Nabiki-kun danced around
the halls with each of Ranma's former fianc�es. Nabiki-kun smirked that
long-suffering smirk that was identical to the siblings.
"Lord Happosai, I know my sister and I are twins but the gender
difference is distinct enough. I have promised all my former fianc�es a
dance." Nabiki-kun flicked her pigtail as she moved the girl expertly to
her right hand and smiled at Happosai's diminutive figure.
"Nabiki, you should not treat me this way, I am your liege lord."
Nabiki smirked, "Where are my manners? Lord Happosai, meet Daikoku
Kaoru(5), Kaoru, my lord Happosai."
The woman bowed abjectly as would any woman in presence of a daimyo.
Happosai acknowledged her with a nod then turned to Nabiki, "Well?"
"Excuse me, Kaoru it seems my liege lord is persistent." She bowed
and followed Happosai when they were out of ear shot Nabiki-kun smiled,
"I'm only following orders from Ranma-san, Lord Happosai. He doesn't
want the other fianc�es bothering him."
"Was the snub for his wife his doing as well?"
"Partly," Nabiki acknowledged, "I have never danced with Kodachi, she
repulses me, Ranma-san said all his former fianc�es, Kodachi was never
his fianc�e, he just married her."
That just irritated the old man ever more, "Well, where is the boy?"
"I don't really know, my lord. He didn't tell me." Nabiki-kun smiled
again, smiles that don't quite reach her eyes. Just like her brother...
so much like each other.
On the contrary, Nabiki knew where exactly Ranma was, and she wished
he wasn't doing what he was doing at the moment. She couldn't afford to
see him break his heart over Kodachi again.
Because Ranma was following Kodachi around, he was trying to do what
would normally be Sasuke's job, keeping Kodachi in line. And the snub,
one thing that might set Kodachi off will give them a clue to Kodachi's
mind.
'Please, don't fall in love with her.' Nabiki-kun prayed earnestly as
she went back to Kaoru.
Cologne looked around the halls perplexed, that child looked so much
like one of the Amazon's lost ones...
The Lost Ones (6) were the banished of the Amazon tribe, the women
and men who for some reason or the other had forsaken the Clan. The girl
resembled one of heirs, Xian Pu's cousin in fact, one that had equaled
or quite possibly surpassed Xian Pu's fighting prowess and who was an
extremely bright student.
She was infrequently within the tribe, and she had been banished at
least eight years ago. She even doubted it Xian Pu remembered the girl.
She had been banished because she had returned pregnant, with a Japanese
husband, who held loyalties different to the tribe. This was fine,
except for the fact that she had already defeated a warrior in combat
and foreign man had not defeated her, and could not defeat her husband.
She was faced with a Jusenkyo trial, along with her husband, both did
not fare well, and both were banished.
Hanae looked hauntingly like the girl she had started out to train
and had set out to the ends of China and Japan, Rian Tan(7) also had
one thing in common with her cousin, she had met a certain Ranma
Saotome.
Ranma and Nabiki Saotome had been two of the students Japan had sent
to learn from the Chinese Empire, Rian was the lucky Amazon who was
chosen to apprentice along with them in the Emperor's palace.
She looked around she had forgotten Ranma's ability to seemingly melt
into the shadows, even though it was commonly known that samurai despise
the use of ninja, the Saotome Clan is one of the few who learned from
the art and reformed it into their own style of martial arts -- Anything
Goes. Indiscriminate Grappling.
Still, Happosai's clan still cannot compete to 3,000 years of Amazon
history, she found the boy in one of the rooftops, in a second she could
see Kodachi by the balcony of the donjon, she shook her head.
She was beautiful, that Cologne could acknowledge, Kodachi had the
ability to charm almost anyone out of anything. Before she had the
palest of skin, now the golden tan shone through the low dim lights of
the lanterns. Cologne smiled, Japanese women seem to prioritize their
porcelain skin too and yet Kodachi threw that out the window.
She had the most immaculate eyes, and the gracefulness of movements.
Kodachi had even managed the lotus gait(8), a fool harded swaying of
movement acquired by Chinese women by binding their feet since childhood
-- Kodachi had managed to master it without hurting or breaking her
precious feet. She seemed to lack all of these tonight... and she walked
in a brisk manner... more like one of her trainee amazons. 'Has Kodachi
started to train again?' She pondered briefly.
Saotomes seem to lead tragic life styles, all of them. She had
thought Ranma, at least, had learned to hate his wife. But tonight,
seeing him gaze down at her ... it seems as his barriers were slowly
being pulled down. Even now she could see the yearning in his face. The
stubborn Japanese may deny the need for love, but Ranma was in love with
his wife, even though it was so obvious she did not share the same
sentiments for him.
"[Are the stars beautiful out here?]" Cologne finally asked the boy,
odd, he was in his late twenties and the matriarch still thought him as
one... still a lot of people would seem too young if you've lived even
half her life.
"[Matriarch Kuh Lon,]" He didn't turn around, it was obvious who it
was, still he tried not to show he was startled by her appearance, "[I
wasn't looking at the stars...]"
Walking towards the boy... something she did not usually do (for she
preferred the pogoing of her staff), she stood next to him, putting her
staff down at the cold tile of the roof. She joined him for a moment
looking at Kodachi, noticing something present in her that she had not
seen before, "[She looks sad, boy, your wife looks extremely lonely.]"
"[Wives jobs are not to be pleasured, (9)]" Ranma smirked, a little
of his boyishness showing through, "[Here in my country wives tend to
their husbands and then do all the necessary things as we see it fit.]"
She shook her head at the obvious stupidity of the Japanese, to each
his own... "[Not to people who are in love.]"
"[Love is a triviality Matriarch, it does not help you win a war or
serve your liege lord. What is love anyway? It is a foreign word, a
foreign thought. There is no such thing as love... only duty, honor,
respect, loyalty... these are all we need... all we have. Love is a
weakness. Love is for the fools.]"
"[Then to a fool from a fellow fool, Kodachi isn't worth your time,
Happosai's a stupid old man who doesn't know better.]" Cologne didn't
know truly if Kodachi was Happosai's doing, but she had surmised that
much, and from Ranma's reaction, it looked like it was true.
Ranma turned to face Cologne and stared, "[Why are you looking for me
Cologne, I doubt it's to talk about Kodachi.]"
"My ever so wise son-in-law. Nabiki's keenness is rubbing off you."
She laughed, she had not called him that in ages, not since his farce of
a marriage anyway, "Well then, I have to know, is Hanae Rian's
daughter?"
"It's been a while since I've seen Rian, granny." His face was
distorted to a mask that Saotomes had broken down to a skill, "Why do
you ask?"
"Because I am her direct superior, because she was my heir." Cologne
said in a manner that allowed no further discussion.
"You dissolved that right when you banished her."
"I am still her great-great grandmother."
"Not anymore."
"I still care for the child, Ranma. She may have been banished, but
that was law, and me being matriarch does not help me." She paused as
she looked at the cane, it was the symbol of power among the Amazons,
sometimes she didn't know if she hated it or loved it. "The laws bind us
Elders more than anyone, for a ruler who doesn't follow the rules is no
ruler at all."
There was a long pause, neither taking their eyes away from the
other, finally Cologne let out a resigned sigh, "Fine. At least tell me
how the girl came into your possession. Tell me that much."
There was a slight frown upon Ranma's features then he sighed, "I
will tell you, but only because I respect you and that Nabiki is an
Honorary Amazon. And you promise that you will not take my daughter
away."
Cologne promised and she settled into the cold roof tiles listening
to what Ranma was saying carrying her back to the last time Ranma and
Rian met, almost seven years ago... everything wrong in his life had
started back then anyway.
~~~
Ranma winced as he entered the paper house leaving his geta outside
the doors and bowing politely to Rian, this was not good. He wished he
was not the one to make this but Happosai insisted he do this... more
like demanded to do this.
Rian smiled at him slowly, she was not the demure Japanese wife you
expected in a house such as this one, the formal bows were not
exchanged, "Tell me why has the great Ranma come to our abode?" Her
voice was light and teasing.
He winced again, explaining things were not his forte. His eyes
traveled to her stomach, she was seven months pregnant. His thoughts
traveled to his new wife... it was stark obvious from the beginning of
the marriage that she will not be providing him an heir.
She noticed the two winces and turned to him, she tried not to show
her concern, "How is your wife? I can't believe you'd leave her so soon
after your marriage... shouldn't you be busy doing things like...
producing your heir?"
She stopped possibly because she realized she was not in the Amazon
village anymore, and because she realized that maybe some people were
not as fortunate as her. "Is something the matter Ranma? You're acting
odd."
He winced again, this time the worry broke through Rian's face, "It's
not like you to... Ranma?"
"Where is Hikome?"
There was a pause a visible tensing in Rian's body, a samurai walked
to her quickly asking if she would like anything at all, which was
quickly negated, "He is out..."
"Ranma?" A man got out from the central shoji -- Ranma recognized
Ummei Hikome(10) immediately. Rian cursed and quickly lifted up two
bonbori... her family's weapon of choice. She used herself as a shield
from her husband. "You can not have him."
"Rian?" There was bewilderment... then understanding, he raised his
left hand to Rian's shoulder... his arm was but a stump "I'm sorry, but
I told you there would come a time when this would happen."
Ranma took out the scroll from his kimono, official documents to the
order of Hikome and all of his clan's death(11), he was not happy to
deliver such dire news to someone who he had known since he was a child.
The man had been born without a left arm, and though his family was a
line of samurai, this stripped him off of this rights, but his family
had been trying to produce an heir for such a long time and so much
failing that they did not want to kill him off or send him to the eta
village.
He was named Hikome because he was fled from the overlord's
overseer... Hikome meant Flight from the eye... Ummei meant destiny...
Flight from the eye of destiny... what an appropriate name.
"The old bastard Happosai has finally found out our secret?" He was
smiling as he tore open the scroll, there was no doubt about what it
contained and yet he was still acting happily. He read slowly, "Will you
act as my second, Ranma?"
"I would be honored." Ranma answered, "When?"
"I have escaped the eye long enough, neh?" He smiled then he looked
at his wife then patted her belly, "Good bye, I wish I would be reborn
in pleasanter times."
The man ordered one of the samurai to bring him the white robes, it
was for the ritual, when it was brought to him, he smiled and told them
of what was happening, offering them either seppuku or becoming a ronin.
They were dismissed and he was alone again with Ranma and Rian, but
Rian had other ideas, she pushed her husband aside and brought her
bonbori to his nose, "[I challenge you, Saotome Ranma, vassal of the
Lord Happosai, Heir of the Anything-Goes-Martial Arts, Lord of the
province Nerima, and apprentice to the Matriarch Kuh Lon of the
Joketsuzoku ... to a duel of honor.]"
For marrying an Amazon, Hikome certainly knew no Chinese and was
bewildered at his wife's sudden act, "Go Hikome, I am going to talk to
my friend." He stayed there a helpless look in his face, "GO!"
He stood there and he held her arm but she didn't heed him.
"[Rian... you're pregnant...]"
"[Have you acquired the knack for stating the obvious in China or
from Happosai?]" She did not waver her stance, and yet as sure as the
sun set, she knew she was going to die, she could not beat Ranma when
she was in top form... much less with a baby on the way, "[What is it to
you, Saotome? You have orders to kill his descendants... my child will
not live this ordeal as well, and with the only important things in my
life gone... what reason is there left to live? Surely none.]"
Ranma swore as he moved aside, Rian would rather kill herself than
let him reach Hikome. He drew his sword out of the scabbard, the blade
glistening in the afternoon light...
There was no clashing of swords, Ranma sliced the bonbori into two
and shoved Rian aside to get to Hikome. Hikome offered no resistance. In
a flash it was all over... Rian knocked to one side and Hikome
decapitated in another. Rian blinked clutching her belly and shouted her
pain, "[Ranma... damn you... come here...]"
He carefully wiped the blood off his sword sheathed it and was beside
Rian in a flash, she clutched the edges of his kimono held tightly in
her hands, "[... I'm loosing my grip on this world already and I want by
child to live.]"
There were several moments of gasping and wheezing, there was a lot
of blood, "[Help me get him out of my body... take care of him and rear
him as your own. Forty days after my death, I hope I be reborn as your
vassal to look after my child...(12)]"
"Rian I just killed your husband -- and you want me to--"
Rian lifted her fingers to the lips of her friend, pained expression
in her face, "[Duty is a heavy burden Ranma... You did what you had to
do and I did what I thought I ought to do. We both saved our honor. I
want my son to grow up with you Ranma, you are the closest thing to
family now, you and Nabiki... now help me deliver!"
He shifted back to Chinese, he was talking treason, "[Rian! I'm not
qualified to deliver your baby! I'm not a damned doctor and even if I
was one I'm honor-bound to kill him.]"
"[He's not Ummei any longer... he's Saotome. Tell them that you were
alone with me in China... we were *engaged* after all... and we were the
same age... and you did beat me in combat as well... and--]" There was
an agonizing groan from her lips.
He set her down and tried to help her deliver the seven month old
baby... it took them a long time before Ranma finally got the girl on
his hands, "[It's a girl Rian... you were wrong.]"
Rian smiled weakly, cradling the too small baby in her hands, "[And
Hikome was so sure it was a boy.]"
It was obvious Rian was dying, but she held on to dear life for a few
more minutes, just to say goodbye, her baby was in perilous health as
well. She was an Amazon, she will manage to survive a few more minutes.
"[Don't give her an Amazon name or a Chinese one, Ranma. It is my honor
if you name her.]"
"[She reminds me of the frail blossoms in the Imperial palace, the
one we observed in spring, fleeting memories we have Rian.]" Ranma
whispered softly. It was also after Hikome's name, he thought he will
honor his friend, 'The bud has grown Hikome, you've made a fine flower.'
"[Hana(13)... isn't it a custom to add the horse to your names?]" She
asked still intent on the little girl in her hands. "[Even your central
ward... Nerima... training horses, has the kanji 'ma' in the end.]"
"[Happosai named Nerima, Rian. It was a constant reminder that we are
supposed to practice our skills for him.]" Ranma smiled at her ruefully.
"[Even Nabiki has a second name so the 'ma' could be incorporated...
Shizukama... Serene Horse... wasn't it?]" Rian looked up to him to find
out if he would confirm it.
"[Yes... but she is still your child, and I want her to be special.
She will *not* be under Happosai.]"
"[Then... her name shall be Hanae. Saotome Hanae. Take care of her
Ranma.]" She handed the girl to him and as he leaned closer she
kissed(14) him fully on the lips, "[That was for old times sake... and
my good bye to you. Promise me you'll tell her about her father and I.]"
He swore his oath. Rian died a few moments later a smile on her lips,
she never told him her death poem(15), although Ranma heard the distinct
whisper of blossoms.
Cologne nodded, she had suspected some of it... Happosai could be
cruel at times. She had expected no less... the disfigured were also put
to death or banished in the Amazon Tribe, theirs were a pure blood of
warriors.
"[Did you love Rian, Ranma?]"
"[As I would Nabiki. She was a friend, and friends are rare in what
we do.]" He whispered. She laughed. "[What is so funny old hag?]"
His disrespect was probably brought on by the laugh, she was not
offended, "[You have had all kinds women falling in love with you
deshi(16), and you fall in love with someone who does not even
comprehend its power. Rian was a good child, skilled and smart... had
you beaten her betrothed after you did her... you would have been her
legal husband. She would have not been as so heart broken to leave China
without permission and get herself in love with your friend Hikome.]"
"[Rian... it's my fault that she got banished then?]" He steeled he
was sick and tired of people blaming him for what he did not do. He has
taken the blame for far too long and he could not take it if his
friend's death was his fault as well.
"[No... no... it's her weakness to have shared a bed with someone she
wasn't married to while she was affianced by Amazon Law to another.
Actually... it was wrong to share her bed when she to someone she wasn't
married to, period. Xian Pu had a prior claim and you didn't challenge
her initial fianc�, but it doesn't change the fact that she was engaged
to you. It's an ironic world we live in.]"
"[What will you tell the Council of Elders in the village?]"
"[I don't see any reason why the Elders should be made aware of a
Lost One's whereabouts.]"
Ranma was relieved, the Elders were a nasty bunch of women that he
really did NOT want to deal with, "[Then what do you think?]"
"[That Rian died honorably protecting her husband -- she had died
fighting, that she had a child... the child's father is Ranma Saotome.
Ranma Saotome, who was one of her legal fianc�s at that time.]"
He was thankful, the old crone was very generous. Still her
generosity had its limits. She could easily hand him over to Happosai
now, he had directly disobeyed his order, and she knew it. "[You seem to
be very different from the young boy that I said goodbye to.]"
"[The world changes Matriarch, and surely I must change with it.]"
She looked at his eyes and noted a sadness she has never encountered
before, and she was a very perceptive woman.
And she did acknowledge one fact about the siblings, they had very
expressive eyes... though they do try their best to hide it beyond their
walls, one as old as her would know this much.
And though they were fraternal twins and looked nothing a like in
their uncursed forms, their eyes linked them together. Her sad brown
eyes and his dark blue ones were so much alike... not in color yes...
but there were things that went beyond physical appearance. After all,
their eye colors change... oh not from blue to brown... but the
deepness, the intensity... they have very intense eyes the twins.
They were truly alike in that aspect... so changed from the carefree
youths that had studied under her. She mentally shook herself, it would
not do to delve into the twin's eyes... they were useless now... they
told her nothing of what she wanted to see,"[You have matured...]"
"[How so?]"
"[A wise man once said that a rate a person can mature is directly
proportional to the embarrassment he can tolerate.]"
Ranma let out a bitter laugh, "[What embarrassment? I have nothing
more to be embarrassed about for I have nothing left. Everything I have
in this world is already Happosai's even my honor... even that I have
already surrendered to him. He holds me in the palm of his hand... just
as he holds every goddamn thing in the Kanto region!]"
"[Do I hear a touch of resentment, deshi?]" Cologne let out a laugh,
that rankled Ranma's nerves... not one like Kodachi... no, of course
not, nothing could be like Kodachi's demented laugh.
"[No... I just wish that I wasn't under him, you know... I want to be
by myself... under no man's orders... but I stopped wanting that a long
time ago.]"
"[Yes, I wish you had an eternity to stay in China,]" She laughed at
the look on his face, "[Both of you were so good students that I wasn't
willing to let you go, you see... you know deshi, you're always welcome
at the village. You and your sister both, we do not turn away our own.
Even the Lost Ones are admitted to the village for some dire reasons,
and your reasons are as dire as they come.]"
"[Thank you...]" He turned to look at the stars and sighed, "[But I
must refuse your kind offer. Honor demands that I stay here and follow
my lord Happosai until he dismisses me. Duty demands I protect my land.
Honor and Duty are such heavy burden.]"
Cologne nodded, it was this that made her admire the twins so much
after all, but honor and duty were not the most lenient of companions in
a warrior's heart... they called at the most inopportune time in the
inconvenient of all moments... and in a moment's mistake... they leave
you with the scars, that will almost never heal.
She didn't not know what possessed her to say it, but she rose to
tell Ranma the goodbye she and her great-great-granddaughter failed to
do seven years past. "[May your hands block the sword that greets you,]"
He recognized the Amazonian blessing, his eyes widened, it had been
such a long time since someone had told it to him.
"[May your wits always guide your back,]" Cologne continued, her
staff was now firmly in her hands. She would need it for the last part,
"[May your wounds leave untouched your soul,]"
"[And your weapon meet your intended foe.]" She turned the staff
around, so that the symbol of authority would touch Ranma's hand,
"[Until we meet again, May your gods hold you in the palm of their
hands.(17)]"
Ranma grasped her staff and bowed, offering the staff back again,
with it raised above his head, Cologne nodded in approval, her pupil had
not forgotten his lessons.
"[It is my honor that Matriarch Kuh Lon leaves me with her
blessing.]" He intoned deeply, trying to remember what was the response
befit of an Amazon elder, "[But it will be my hands which I use to
block. I am a warrior, I do not rely on any weapon to deal my fight.]"
Cologne took the staff... "[My intellect shall always guard me, but
my skill I must always sharpen.]"
She motioned for the boy to rise. "[In my wounds I shall always learn
from, each scar a history, not of failure but a lesson.]"
There was a small pause, Cologne wondered if she should help him
remember the next part, but he continued on after a moment, "[I shall
begrudge no one, for I am their equal, I shall degrade no one for I am
the comrade...]"
"[My enemies I respect for to loose it, my life I may forfeit. The
Kiss I reserve to those who reserve the right to it. Until I meet again,
my promise I will not forget. I am Joketsuzoku. I am a Saotome. I am
Ranma.]"
The last was the barest of the whispers with his fist on his chest,
Cologne's face broke out to a smile, "[Ahh... I'm not one for
formalities child... you did pretty good.]"
"Well, I've memorized almost *every* ritual I had to go through
here," Ranma smiled a bit, "[Happosai is one tough old ghoul.] He
wouldn't make me heir unless I memorized the oath to him, bushido and
the vow of the Saotomes."
"Rituals sometimes hold a deeper meaning than what they present."
Cologne then turned to leave, Ranma was back, but his attention now was
diverted to the stars. Maybe the reason she had gone out to do that was
to remind him he was still an Amazon. Maybe it was because it was to
show him that she held no grudge against him... maybe it was because she
wished him well... too many maybes, she truly didn't know. But somehow
the formality made her feel good. She may have lost her son-in-law, but
she found her pupil.
"[I suggest you turn back to your wife now... I believe she is in
one... hard situation.]" She commented before she left, he was too much
engrossed in the stars to see what she saw.
Ranma had indeed followed his wife, no one would be able to keep her
at bay, no one but him, Nabiki, Happosai and Cologne that is, and he had
watched her from a safe distance, purposely leaving that door unwatched
as to see if she would disobey him -- and she did. That woman would
never learn.
And yet his heart still went out to her when Nabiki had snubbed her -
- an act he had told Nabiki to do. And he knew it was wrong just as he
fled after her retreating figure. He watched her move around the maze
anger towards an action that really wasn't her fault.
He was acting like a jealous man and he didn't like it. Jealousy
meant you cared and Kodachi was the last person he was willing to care
for... no not again.
Ranma turned his eyes to his wife, his attention returning after
Cologne's suggestion. He didn't like what he saw. Obviously, her show
back in the halls didn't satisfy her enough... she just had to invite
Gosunkugi to a little balcony talk. He shook his head in disgust, and he
had started to believe her lies. 'Ranma, you're as gullible as the day
you met her.' Had he stayed a moment later he would have seen her push
him off and scream.
Akane looked out the balcony, and the drops of tears fell from her
eyes freely now, she watched them fall against the railing of the palace
and she cried, frustrated at whatever force had damned her to be sent to
a past she hardly knew.
She folded her hands over the rail and leaned over, the night was
quiet, you could hear the distinct thump of the bamboo against the
stone. It was peaceful... out here you couldn't hear the bustle of the
people outside.
She could think... she could think about things going on in this life
and her last... and yet she could not mourn... no the angels had taken
her mourning from her... the damned angels.
Consciously she heard the distinct rasp of the shoji moving, she
turned around but saw no one. She shrugged it off for nothing when
someone grabbed her and forced her to the railing. "What is it with you
Kodachi? First you encourage me and then you knee me?"
Akane twisted around pain shooting through her arms, Kodachi's body
was not as strong as her usual one, "I'm sorry, but you were pestering
me and --" she whimpered at the pain, "Oww -- you're hurting me."
"Good, then maybe you realize that you still love me."
She was simply acquiescing because he was mad... and she remembered
Nabiki's orders, "How did you get in?"
"Those samurai were stupid, they left me in the last gate, of course
I can still break in." Hikaru laughed, the sadistic madman gripped her
arms tighter, she could feel a bruise coming on.
She pushed him over and let out a scream, but he was back on her
again clutching her mouth effectively silencing her, "You little witch,
you've brought the whole house down on us."
He moved to kiss (18) her with a brutality that would form into
another bruise. 'He must be mad! In a keep full of samurai... mad!'
Akane stared at him and for the first time in her life, Akane felt true
fear.
Ranma turned his back to Kodachi and rushed out to find some cold
water before he fetched Nabiki, it would be most peculiar if he
approached his exact look a like when all his fianc�es were there. Few
knew about the curse.
It was then that he heard Kodachi scream, he closed his eyes in
concentration to positively identify the sound, it was a frightened sort
which was quickly muffled with what he guessed was Gosunkugi's hand. He
bit his lip with indecision then ran towards where he saw Kodachi last.
Just to see.
When he finally saw them, Gosunkugi pinning his wife down, Ranma
didn't know what to think, he ran and pulled him off his wife, "I don't
care if it's her fault Gosunkugi, but this time... you die!"
Kodachi seemed disoriented from the fact that the sudden weight was
ripped off her and seemed to sigh in thankfulness that her kimono was
still intact. Ranma threw Gosunkugi down the balcony and he jumped after
him.
Kodachi seeing this display reached out her hand in a futile act to
catch either one, but she missed Ranma's pigtail by inches. She cursed
and in the disheveled state she was in, ran to find her way to both of
them... wishing that they would not slaughter each other just yet. If
the fall three floors down hadn't killed them yet.
Ranma landed gracefully and faced Gosunkigi's weak form, he shouted
to one of the samurai, and they threw him a sword, the samurai didn't
give the scabbard, but Ranma shrugged, Gosunkugi wouldn't need the hilt,
he wasn't practicing any form of sword arts, least of all
battoujutsu(19).
The samurai probably didn't want the saya(20) handled by an untrained
idiot such as Gosunkugi. Besides, most of the samurai in the Saotome
clan didn't use conventional methods in fastening their two swords down.
Sometimes they even left the short sword out of their attire. It made to
hamper some of the moves in Anything Goes.
He threw it down to Gosunkugi's form and waited for him to get up.
His bruised body could probably take a little more beating.
Drawing his sword Ranma smiled his feral smile, "I am Saotome Ranma,
Lord of the Kanagawa prefecture, vassal to the Lord Happosai, heir to
the Anything-Goes-School of Martial Arts." This was it then, he had
decided this and he would end this slowly... he promised Gosunkugi a
world of pain.
The formalized ritual of death would end with one of them dead, and
it was pretty obvious who'd die that night, now if Gosunkugi accepts the
challenge everything would be set, "I am... Gosunkugi Hikaru, and merely
a peasant who sells his craft."
Gosunkugi has formally accepted, 'Good,' Ranma thought, 'The
spineless coward is going to get his worth.' He didn't mind that he was
a peasant; he didn't mind that he was a stupid idiot; he didn't mind
that Kodachi probably caused this whole thing. This idiot was going to
die tonight... not only for the reason that he had disobeyed samurai by
stepping on the grounds again, but because he had touched his wife.
"Tonight... is a good night to die." Ranma commented as he stood
there loosely regarding Gosunkugi... the guards that were circling them
now wouldn't dare interfere, after all it was official... it was a duel
to the death, which only Ranma or Gosunkugi could stop. And only through
the acquisition of either one's head. When Ranma spoke those first words
he had started what he knew should end quickly...
Gosunkugi laughed... Ranma thought that the impatient man would be
the first to attack after all... he seemed like he wasn't ready. The
first blow came, it was as Ranma predicted. Gosunkugi crossed swords
with Ranma.
Ranma attacked then dodged, the fool couldn't even scratch his skin.
"That's good, for a five year old... it's still not good enough to
live."
"It's not that I've trained or anything!" It was foolish words,
useless and a waste of breath. There came a series of blows and attacks
by hand and sword. There was something eerily familiar about this fight,
as Ranma dodged all of Gosunkugi's blows and managing to bruise and cut
Gosunkugi in the process.
'Time to end this game...' He thought as he brought on one of the
first techniques he managed to learn in China, "KAACHU TENSHIN
AMAGURIKEN!!!!!!!" Ranma shouted it like a fierce battle cry.
Akane took off across the maze of shoji to look for Ranma and
Gosunkugi. When she heard Ranma's battle cry. She put some more speed in
her already fast pace, she found them not far from the balcony they had
fallen from. Finding them wasn't that hard, she just followed the
screaming cheers, the clang of metal against metal and the general flow
of the people.
When she got there she spied what seemed like Ranma's mother with a
shriveled up old man and Nabiki.
She noted the situation of the fighters when she finally managed to
push through the crowd and gasped, she assessed that Gosunkugi will
definitely not last any longer.
Though she noticed that Ranma did see her, he didn't acknowledge her,
his mind was set on the fight. He was unquestionably was going for the
kill.
"Please stop it! Honestly, there's really no point in this. I know
your reasons are noble but that's enough. PLEASE!" she shouted over the
cheers, and winced at Gosunkugi's face, it was going to be a mass of
blue in a few minutes. She turned to Nabiki who had insightfully changed
into a girl when she headed out, to ask for help.
"Please, you're his sister, help me stop them."
"Why should I?" Nabiki answered not taking her eyes off the fight,
"My brother is obviously winning."
"But he's killing Gosunkugi!"
"It's his right to kill him." Nabiki turned towards her, regarding
Kodachi with her cold brown eyes, so much like her brothers steel blue
ones. "Besides you should be honored."
"I don't think I should be honored over useless spill of blood. Why
the hell should I be honored?" She wondered at the attitude of the
people over killing, it was as if it was an everyday occurrence... and
she shuddered, it probably was.
"Because they're fighting over you..." Nabiki smiled, "And Ranma
rarely fights for anyone else other than his liege lord and his clan.
And *you* are neither."
"I'm his wife."
Nabiki looked at her with her steel brown eyes and stared her down,
"Kodachi, surely you must know that there is a difference between a mere
title and the truth. In his heart, you were *never* his wife."
Ranma just continued to ignore her, just as he usually did with her.
Those multiple punches should have Gosunkugi down by now, he was
writhing in pain, the Amaguriken technique was a lethal one after all.
He was surprised he wasn't dead. "Is that the best you can do? You
haven't even touched me."
Akane couldn't bear it anymore she just ran in between them while
shouting "STOP IT! Stop it already...please stop." She threw herself
between Ranma and Gosunkugi, her heart beating faster... it was the most
illogical thing to do after all... her husband wouldn't really stop for
her... they weren't in the best terms after all. But if she realized one
thing, her husband would not and could not kill her...
He could just severely mutilate her.
Ranma didn't know what made him use the Amaguriken, his skill alone,
even without special techniques would be enough to kill Gosunkugi... he
had not even used chi attacks. But then, he had decided he wasn't going
to show mercy... of course the fact that he didn't even use a chi attack
was merciful enough. He knew Hikaru was beaten, his face and body was
nothing but a mass of bruises.
He pulled the short sword from its sheath, the sword designed to take
the head of the losers he had come up with, those who were to die. Ranma
didn't know why it was that way nor did he care, but he took it and was
about to shove Kodachi aside to take Gosunkugi's head when she pulled
upon the back of his kimono.
"No, Ranma, don't kill him, it's all right, I'm fine." Kodachi
pleaded with him, tears streaming down her already wet face, "He is
nothing, and he'll always be that now... barakumin (21)!"
Ranma briefly wondered over the unfamiliar word... 'village dweller'?
He thought questioningly but still stepped forward to Gosunkugi's beaten
form, "You are interrupting a duel of honor, it is my right to kill him.
He knows the consequences of failure. I will have his head."
"I will kill myself." Kodachi threatened, the distinct rasp of metal
unsheathing made Ranma turn to his wife, whom he had already walked
past... his lovely disheveled wife who was pointing a knife towards her
heart.
He resolved that once he was home he was to order Nabiki to
confiscate all her arms. His mind moved quickly he was not that near to
strike the dagger away, but Nabiki was, probably Sasuke and Ranma didn't
know if she was bluffing or not.
"Go, Hikaru!" Kodachi shouted dagger shaking visibly in her hands,
and in that moment, Nabiki-kun chose to finally intervene bringing her
katana over and striking Kodachi's dagger with it. Sasuke moved in to
catch the wildly flying projectile.
Ranma turned to run after Gosunkugi, "No, Ranma stay."
Ranma turned slowly to Happosai, "He is getting away, sir. He has
insulted me, I ask permission to hunt him down. It is my duty to see him
dead... he accepted a formal challenge!"
"I said no!" Happosai turned to Nabiki, "Make sure he obeys the
order. There are too many cats that prowl the night here in the Kanto
region, I will not waste my men searching for you, not needlessly risk
them fighting you *when* you encounter a cat. You are uncontrollable in
that state of mind."
Ranma bowed, Happosai acknowledged it with a nod, and he looked
towards Kodachi, 'Why did she protect Gosunkugi? Don't tell me she
really *does* love that bastard.'
Nabiki nodded to him, and he noticed that she had already changed
back and was very damp, already substituting her richly garbed kimono
for the hakama she had worn in the place of Ranma. He wondered briefly
if Kodachi noticed the change. If she did, she did not comment.
Happosai turned to the guests crowding the hallway, "Kodachi is a bit
ill from all the commotion and will be resting in her room. The Lady
Nodoka and I am still welcoming you here for the remainder of the night,
But I believe that Ranma, Kodachi and Nabiki need their rest."
All of them nodded, this was Happosai, he had spoken. The night of
events was still on going. But for them it was formally over, after all
Kodachi, Ranma and Nabiki were three of the most influential samurai
under Happosai's wing. What gossip it would bring.
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Endnotes:
(1) Did social gathering then have dances? Well, frankly I don't
know... maybe folk dances but I really doubt it could have the
waltz and stuff... but since I'm a fanfic author and I want dancing
I'm putting it in... call it creative license or something or the
other... hmmmm...
(2) Shimoda style. Okay, I don't know how this looks like, enlighten
me. I just found it in this Japanese handbook. I do know it is a
hairstyle favored in the olden times.
(3) Yofuku: foreign clothing, tailor. (And she's the seamstress... is
there a pattern here?)
(4) Geta: traditional wooden thongs
(5) Kaoru Daikoku: 'Sweet Smelling Flying Stand' or something to that
effect.
For those who watched the Martial Arts Take-Out Race, this is the
girl. Did I get the name wrong?
kaoru: sweet smell [nice]
dai: subject, theme, topic
stand rest rack
koku: aviation, flight
(6) Lost ones? Okay let me get this straight. NO I am not referring to
Ryoga, any part of the Hibiki clan or anything related to him,
remotely or otherwise. And NO They do not get lost frequently or
anything of the sort.
And NO they are not in any of the Ranma thingiemajigs, I invented
them. Happy :)?
(7) Rian: Hmmm I have no idea if this is a Chinese name... but Tan is
a popular Chinese surname so I used it.
(8) Lotus Gait? Yes, for a long time in China, self-mutilation was a
common enough thing in women. Little feet were among the most
sought after beauties. Men actually found this erotic. When they
bind their feet after a period of about two years the bones
hampered by the little shoes they wore broke forming all twisted
feet. This produced a very sensuous walk for the females. Of course
it was also *very* painful.
Foolish men don't actually *know* what those feet look like, they
just like the way they walked. This is such a bad idea. Kids don't
try it at home.
(Source: Ripley's Believe it Or Not!)
(9) What did Ranma mean by 'wives are not to be pleasured'? Well in
Japan (feaudal Japan anyway) wives duty were to serve their
husbands and their liege lord. That is their only happiness. Lemons
as a means of having fun were limited to the consorts. This is the
reason why Kodachi has her little trips... hehehe...
(10) Ummei Hikome:
hiko: flight, escape
me: bud or sprout can also mean eye
ummei: destiny, fate, fortune
-- flight from the eye of destiny :)
(11) Why was Ranma ordered to kill Ummei? Well that's simple, in Japan
the malformed are even lower than eta. In feudal Japan samurai were
not allowed to be malformed. When they were, they were put to
death, sometimes with a sign over their graves, 'This man was born
samurai by mistake.'
(12) Reborn within forty days? Well in Buddhism they believe that a
person's karma reflects on what he is in the next life. They also
believe that they are going to be reborn within forty days. (Until
they reach Nirvana)
(13) Hana means blossoms or flowers the e was just added to soften the
name and...make it unique :)
Also Ranma chose this name because the 'me' in Hikome also means
bud, from which a flower blooms, thus honoring his friend.
(14) So why did Rian kiss Ranma...? Hmmm... remember the Kiss of Death
and the Kiss of Marriage (?) I'm taking this as a sign that Chinese
knew the art of kissing before the Japanese... and they don't
really share the Japanese thinking about kissing PLUS she was dying
should I label this the Kiss of Death then... nahhh...
(15) What is a death poem? This poem is reserved to the Buddhist people,
and since the major religion of China is Buddhism, we're just
making Rian a Buddhist. In a Buddhist's death, she/he is required
to make a death poem (and they ponder on this before dying).
(16) Deshi: Japanese pupil.
(17) I derived this from an Irish Blessing. Ranma's answer though is my
own doing (which is probably the reason why it ain't that good :)
Here's the original, lest I be sued or something:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And rains fall softly against your field,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
(Source: Papelmerotti Gift wrapper)
(18) Why was Gosunkugi going to kiss Akane? Well... when they were on
the balcony... it was the equivalent of raping her... kay?
(19) Battoujitsu: For those of you who watch Rurouni Kenshin, you'd know
this one :) As for me... hmmm... well... I can't explain it at the
moment. Maybe you can ask a Kenshin fan out there ;)
(20) Saya: sheath, scabbard, cap
(21) What are barakumin? Well let's go back to eta (back in chapter 4
and foot note #26). In the Meiji era the eta caste was abolished,
they were re-termed as barakumin. Officially, etas don't exist,
unofficially though the discrimination is still felt. Barakumin are
less noticed to the youths of today... but more apparent when
they're married ('cuz they check for signs of barakumin).
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Author's Notes:
So... here's Chapter six... chapter seven is a bit shorter. :) And in
one file! :) *But* I'm having a bit of a writer's block here, so I
can't say for sure *when* the next Chapter is going to be out...
It has a life of its own I tell you :) C&C is appreciated, and I always
reply to any sort of comment, even the simple hello. :) Please mail me
at ysis@hotmail.com if you press the little reply button it *will not*
be seen by little ole me which kinda defeats the purpose.
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Past Chapters:
Revised Prologue to Chapter Four:
http://members.tripod.com/the_packrat/anime.html
Chapter 5a:
http://24.31.125.242/cgi-bin/RetrieveStory.exe?StoryID=150289
Chapter 5b:
http://24.31.125.242/cgi-bin/RetrieveStory.exe?StoryID=150290
So that means thanks to all those very nice people who provide people as
lazy as I am places to ... you know store the work :)
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I write when the spirit moves, and I make sure it moves every day
~~~ unknown