Darkened Images
Chapter 1
By David Farr
Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi and are used here without permission.
Author's Notes:
This story is inspired at least a little by Syithe's "Shadow Reality." Read it, its dark, but good.
Darkened Images is a little darker than the normal Ranma stories, but not enough to warrant the [Dark] tag. Any C&C is appreciated.
*****
The panda ran through the streets of Nerima with a laughing teenaged girl on resting on the large pack on its pack. Long red hair that matched the colour of her shirt streamed freely behind her as they travelled. It should be pointed out that this was not normal for Nerima, after all the Panda bear isn't native to the area, and that hair colour was not normally found in people of Asian descent, which she obviously was.
"Wow, that girl must have trained that panda well," one of the passerby's commented, totally misunderstanding the scene.
The panda whipped out a sign and held it up for the girl to see. [I'm still not happy about this!]
"Live with it, old man." She took the sign and whapped him over the head. "It's the way I am!"
A second sign appeared in the panda's hand. [He won't like it!]
"He'll have to live with it!" The girl leaned to the side as the panda skidded to a stop, sending up a wave of water, and then shot around a corner.
[His daughters won't like it!] The sign read when it was raised again.
A groan escaped with from the girl. "Then they'll have to live with it." She hit him again with the first sign.
Ahead the pair could see a woman standing calmly before a gate, sheltering from the rain beneath a deep red parasol. She was wrapped in a formal kimono that left her looking like a regal woman of the nobility, not reflecting the many thousands of miles of travel for which it had been worn. Taken from a distance she appeared to be nothing more than a harmless, if little eccentric, lady. The silk wrapped sword hung by a strap over her shoulder might make the more paranoid question just how harmless she really was, especially if they saw that drawing the sword was not as difficult as it appeared.
The panda skidded to a halt, careful not to get the woman wet as it did, then stood blinking for a moment. [Hello, dear.] It signed meekly. [How did you get here so fast?]
The woman smiled. "I didn't have to flaunt my reflection." She raised her head to look at the girl. "Ranko-chan, you shouldn't play with Mr Panda in the rain."
The girl lowered her head in shame. "Yes, mum."
"Now come," she turned and placed a hand against the large gates, "I'm sure Genma's friend is waiting for us." Barely straining she pushed open the gate slightly and slipped inside.
Rolling her eyes, the girl slid off the panda's shoulder then followed her mother through the gap. Finding the space the two women had used too thin for it, Mr Panda was forced to heave at the gate. The hinges squealed in protest as they swung open, revealing the two women standing looking aghast at the house.
"This is not good," the girl murmured, glancing around. The front lawn was a mess of rotting leaves, tangled weeds and grass that hadn't been cut in months. Worse still, the front door hung open, having been wrenched violently from its railings.
"Kaaaassssuuuuummmmiiiiiii!" A man's voice wailed from inside. "Naaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbiiiiiiiiiikkkkkiiiii! Aaaakkkkkaaaaannnnnneeeeee!"
Girl and mother shared a glance, the later adjusting the silk bag hanging at her side. The panda pushed past them both, sending the door the rest of its way off its hinges as he bustled into the house.
Ranko rolled her eyes. "Moron," she grumbled.
"Your reflection is slipping," her mother muttered as she followed the bear inside.
Inside the house was no better than out. The small table just inside the door had been shattered, and to the pair it looked like by a fist. Even a few paintings lay flat on the floor, having been knocked from their hangings. Most disturbing was the thin layer of dust that had settled on much of the rubble and floor, although there were footprints - other than the panda's - that moved from the door and back many times.
Advancing further into house, following the sounds of sobbing, the pair cautiously swept their eyes over the hallway. The door to the mainroom lay open, letting them see the huge panda trying to comfort a weeping man. The pair were seated by a rickety looking table.
Ranko glanced at her mother. "I'll go get some hot water." She slipped off to find the kitchen.
The woman settled down on the other side of the man. She batted off the panda and covered the weeping man's hand. "Soun, calm down. We're here now."
She continued to utter soothing words. Just as the man was calming down a young man walked in, swinging a steaming kettle. Shrugging, he poured the kettle over the panda, turning it into a large balding man in a white gi.
"Saotome, my old friend!" the crying man swung on the newly ex-panda. "They've taken my daughters." He broke down again.
"WHAT?!" The three cried.
"Who did this?!" the woman demanded, outrage showing on her face.
The man's tears quickly vanished as he turned to look at the woman. "Do I know you?" She recoiled at his words, blinking.
"Ah, Soun, old friend." Genma leaned forward. "You remember my wife, Nodoka. I introduced her to you last time we saw you." He turned to indicate the boy. "And this is my son Ranma."
"Hey." Ranma waved casually as he dropped to kneel beside the table. "What happened with your daughters?"
Soun turned to face Genma once more. "It was Happosai!"
"Happosai." Nodaka hissed, her voice merging with the sound of her sword sliding out of the silk. She held the katana before her, an angry glare in her eyes. "My blade still thirsts for his blood."
Soun fell backwards, his eyes wide in fright. "Scary."
"Mother, your reflection is slipping," Ranma murmured.
"Oh, sorry." Her blade vanished almost as her hatred. "My apologies, Soun, the memory of the old pervert still disturbs me."
"I'm sure." Soun turned back to the large man next to him. He gripped the front of the front of the still quivering man. "Don't get me wrong, Happosai hasn't come back, but one of his old crimes has."
"Tell us about it," Nodoka suggested, simply because someone needed to say it.
Sitting back, Soun's face clouded as he remembered. "It all started when a man calling himself Moromao came to visit me, along with a couple of his friends. Nabiki and Akane were at school, and Kasumi had just left to do some shopping. I believe now that he had waited for this, so we could have our discussion in private.
"He seemed like a gentleman and said that he wished to discuss matters pertaining to the dojo and the anything goes style. Not knowing better, I invited him in and we started discussing my training. Somehow we got onto my standing in the local community - I'm on the local council - and said that it would be terrible if my connection to Master Happosai was brought to light." Soun paused and frowning in thought.
"I was rather shocked, I had never mentioned him to anyone, not since you and I got rid of him all those years ago. Moromao produced some very old photos of you and me helping Happosai on a few of his raids. After assuring me that there was no way I would be able to stop him - he had other copies that would go out even if I killed him - he told me his demands.
"He told me that Master Happosai once stole, with our help, an idol from a church. You know what he was like, if it looked magical, he'd grab it. Moromao was the young man assigned to guard the idol, but he never had a chance against us. Because of his failure he was thrown out of the church and disowned by his family.
"As the Master's pupil he was sure I knew had some idea where the idol was. He gave me three months to fetch and return it, before he released the evidence he had linking me to our Master's crimes. I had no choice, I had to go and see if I could find it. For the entire three months I searched all the master's old hiding places that I knew, but failed to find the idol, so I returned to beg more time from him."
A sob escaped from Soun and for a moment he was unable to continue. "I returned to an empty and wrecked house. Moromao had taken my daughters and left only a note behind. It explained that he had no desire to return the idol, it wouldn't get him back his life. Instead he wanted revenge. With the Master dead and you off to parts unknown with your entire family, I became his only target." He burst into tears. "He's selling my babies!" His voice dissolved into sobs.
Genma leaned forward to comfort his crying friend, then looked up past him at his wife. "Nodoka?"
In reply she glanced at her son, who was scowling deeply, then turned back and gave a simple nod. "I will see what I can do. Ranma, go search the house, see if you can find any clues."
The young boy nodded and leapt to his feet. "I'll see what's left. Want me to do a study on the girls too?"
"It'll be good practice for you."
For a moment Ranma just stood there, eyes darting about the room, then he twirled and paced out. Nodoka sighed and looked at the two men folk. "So, who would like a cup of tea?" she inquired brightly. Both men responded positively, so she stood and swept out, leaving them to talk.
"Saotome, my old friend, what are your son and wife doing?" Soun asked, staring after them and wiping the tears from his eyes.
A look of worry passed over the larger man's face, but was quickly replaced by a sickly smile. "Well, Tendo, you see, ummm, Nodoka is somewhat the shadowy figure. That is to say she is very familiar with criminals and their ways. It's kind of the family business."
"Oh, her father was in the police?" Soun paused. "I don't remember you mentioning anything like that."
"Well it's not the police, not really," Genma replied uneasily, although this went unnoticed by Soun. "And well, it didn't really come up much back then. Anyway, she'll be able to help, I assure you. She's as good as any police detective, and if she can't find your daughters herself, she knows many people who can."
"And Ranma?" Soun prompted.
"Well, when I suggested taking Ranma on the ten year training trip, Nodoka was all for it. We've spent the time training Ranma in our respective skills. I trained him in the Saotome School of Anything-Goes of Martial Arts, taking him to all the training grounds we heard of in our youth. At the same time Nodoka took him to meet with instructors in her ways. We've travelled all over the world searching out the best teachers for the boy." Genma puffed up in pride. "Ranma is on his way to becoming one of the best Martial Artists ever!"
"And what of Nodoka's ways, how is he progressing at becoming a..." Soun trailed off, confused. "What is Nodoka teaching him?"
"How to be a ninja," Nodoka replied, coming through the door, tea-tray in hand. "That is what I would say is the crudest way of putting it. Of course Ranma is not an assassin for hire, nor honorless as a warrior. Still a few of his skills do resemble the ninja of the pulp media."
Genma nodded slowly. " Of course, he only uses those skills to do good."
Nodoka's eyebrows raised at this. "This coming from the man who tried to sell our son three times before he realised I wasn't going to let him sully our honour in that manner."
"A ninja, Saotome? Is that wise?" He paused for a moment. "I mean, dealing with things in such an underhanded manner is hardly the path of true martial artist."
Nodoka shrugged. "The path of the martial artist is true and noble, but there are many reason to hide in the shadows. Some do so that their crimes go unpunished, others so that their enemies have no course for revenge, and a few so that they can do what must be done without disturbing others."
Soun leant forward and peered at her out of the corner of his eyes. "And for which reasons do you walk in the darkness?" he inquired quietly.
"There are some questions, Tendo-san, that you just don't ask," Nodoka whispered back. She gave him a conspiring wink and smiled. "Now tell me, do you still have the note this man Moromao left?"
"Ah, yes." He glanced about. "It's somewhere about here. Um... maybe upstairs."
"Found it already," Ranma's voice floated down from above.
Soun blinked, surprise on his face. "Good ears on that boy."
"Sharp hearing is an advantage no matter what path you're following," Nodoka answered sagely. "Are you enjoying your tea, dear?"
Genma, a panda once more, held up a sign. [It's cold. And I'd like another cup please.] He patted at a tea stain on his fur.
"A-a panda?" Soun gave a quiet sigh and collapsed backwards, ending up sprawled on the floor.
"Oh my," exclaimed Nodoka, "he's fainted."
*****
The sweet smell of home cooking was the first thing that greeted Soun's senses. It didn't smell like a dish he knew, there was the aroma of chicken mixed in with a myriad of other scents. For a brief instant he wondered where Kasumi had learnt it, before he remembered that she had been sold into slavery and burst into tears.
"Aww, I'm soaked," complained a girl's voice next to him.
"That is what the hot water is for Ranko-chan," Nodoka murmured. "Now help Tendo-san sit up."
A pair of strong hands gripped his shoulders. "Tendo-san," the voice sang sweetly. "Need some help?"
Slowly Soun opened his eyes, to find a vision of cuteness hovering over him. She smiled down at him and her eyes shone like rays of sunshine filtered through the purest sapphires. Locks of pure red fire topped the entire picture.
"Thank you, my dear," Soun murmured, allowing the girl to effortlessly pull him upright. As she sat back, she revealed the table, set out for dinner complete with a few steaming dishes, and Nodoka and Genma sitting watching him.
"You see dear, it always works," Nodoka commented to her husband, smiling happy. "So, Soun, do you want some tomato and herb chicken breasts." She indicated the pot in the centre of the table. "Maybe some boiled potatoes or steamed vegetables."
"Please," he nodded, and watched as she started serving. Then something occurred to him. "Excuse me, who is this young girl?" He turned, only to find Ranma putting down a kettle, his damp hair still up in his pig-tail. "What happened to her?"
"Ranko?" Ranma inquired as his mother handed the plate to Soun. "Oh, she comes and goes like the wind," the young martial artist smirked, "or maybe the rain."
"Ranma," Nodoka admonished as she moved on to serve her husband. "Tendo-san has had a stressful enough day already. Please, just tell him."
"Sorry." He bowed slightly. "Actually I'm Ranko. It's happened a year ago at a training ground called Jusenkyo..."
*****
The small man in the communist uniform came running along the jungle trail towards the trampers. He seemed agitated and was still fastening the buttons of his jacket. "Mr and Mrs Customers, please be waiting for a second. I was no expecting you."
The small withered old woman on the staff sniffed. "We hardly need your services," she commented. "My great-granddaughter and I are from the Amazon village."
"Yes, ancient elder," the guide bowed deeply, "but it part of agreement that I give tale of tragic springs to all visitors."
Ranma turned to look at the purple-haired girl standing next to him. He was first to admit that she was cute, especially with the two pony-tails flowing either side of her head, but he also would never let his guard down. Their entire purpose here was to train with her people, and she was just as deadly, if not more-so, than Ranma himself.
"Did that make sense to you, Shampoo?" he asked.
The girl shrugged, and grinned back at him. "Is ancient compact. Amazons protect guide and guide keep secret of special amazon path of the second face. He make whole valley seem less magical by using tourist trap marketing techniques."
"Jeez, spoil the atmosphere why don't you."
"...over one hundred springs," the guide was saying, "each with own unique tragic tale. Once great martial arts training grounds, but now not used. Is much dangerous, certainly not for smart customers such as you."
"Are you finished?" the old woman snapped. "We don't have all day."
"Really, Cologne-sama," Nodoka murmured, "I was enjoying his obfuscation."
Cologne gave her an exaggerated roll of her eyes, then pogoed over the rise. Genma and Nodoka followed after her, walking arm in arm, the picture of a loving couple. Shampoo and Ranma trailed along last, falling into step with the guide.
"How Plum?" Shampoo inquired as they walked.
"She fine, thank you, Miss Customer. Is just starting her drawing phase. Pictures everywhere. On walls, on floor, on clothing. I spend much time cleaning."
"Ah, Shampoo remember being like that. But I stop very quickly, mother no like much."
"Same here," Ranma offered. "Nothing like drawing on the curtains for getting her angry at you."
A small sigh escaped from the guide. "I no find it easy to tell off Plum. She so cute."
Shampoo snorted. "Weak man."
"Ya got that right," commented Ranma, to which Shampoo nodded and grinned smugly. "That's not what I meant!" Ranma snapped in reply.
The group crested the rise, revealing the springs of Jusenkyo. Hundreds of pools spread across the plain, each glistening in the sunshine. Thin bamboo poles of varying length rose from the water amidst the spider-web of banks. Beyond the edges of the springs the lush Chinese jungles sprouted like a wall.
"Looks impressive," Ranma commented. "I can see why it was used as a training ground. Just keeping your balance would be enough of a challenge, let alone leaping about and fighting."
"Is more than that," Shampoo commented. She turned to look towards the old woman balancing on the staff. "We fight here now great-grandmother?"
"That's right, just the two of you, your skills," Cologne smiled slyly, "and the judgement of Jusenkyo."
Ranma gazed out across the springs, his eyes flicking from pole to pole. "What are we fighting to? First strike? First fall?"
"When I say stop," Cologne replied. "Now go!"
Both youths dashed forward, leaping onto the poles, then continuing to bounce out over the springs. After spreading out they both turned to cautiously watch the other. A quiet breeze played with the ruffles of Shampoo's short dress and Ranma's braid, but otherwise the scene was as still as a painting.
"A little too well trained," Nodoka murmured to the old woman hovering next to her.
Ranma was the first to move, cautiously hopping sideways to another pole. His leap was the spark that lit flames of combat. Shampoo crossed the distance between in a couple of bounds. Her fist struck out, barely missing as Ranma continued leaping sideways.
Quickly Shampoo brought her arm around as he launched a counter attack, kicking upwards as he flew behind her. His attack blocked, Ranma touched momentarily on another pole and continued away, carrying himself beyond another strike. Growling softly, Shampoo followed.
The merry chase continued, and Shampoo found herself catching up. Just as she pulled up next to him she realised something; Ranma had always faster in the air than her during training. As Ranma lashed sideways in a low sweep that would have knocked Shampoo from her pole, the amazon cartwheeled sideways. Her hands gripped another pole and she threw herself sideways, flipping to another perch.
Ranma had never expected her to fall for his ruse, instead his kick was aimed at the pole Shampoo had ended up upon. As his right foot struck he felt the satisfying crack of bamboo breaking. Quickly he kicked away with his left foot and grabbed for another pole. Behind him he heard Shampoo strike the surface of the water, so he took his time recovering his standing.
"Oh, poor Miss Customer," the guide mumbled, sounding bored, "she fall in 'spring of drowned cat'. There is tragic legend, very tragic, of cat who drown in spring eighteen hundred years ago. Now whoever fall in same spring take body of cat."
A small, bedraggled cat with purple highlights pulled itself out of the spring. Cologne nodded approvingly as it shook itself off then turned to glare at the boy still balancing above.
"C-c-CAT!" Ranma screamed, and started back-pedalling away. His foot met with thin air and he too tumbled down, sinking into another spring.
"Oh, poor Mr Customer, he fall in 'spring of drowned girl'. There is tragic legend, very tragic, of girl who drown in spring one thousand five hundred years ago. Now whoever fall in same spring take body of girl."
A head burst through the surface of the spring, only it wasn't Ranma. Instead a cute girl, the same age as Ranma, with flame red hair was treading water.
*****
Ranma finished his tale, smiling, and started in on the meal sitting before him. He seemed to be enjoying the meal, despite it having cooled slightly as he talked.
"But wait, how did Genma become cursed to change into a panda?" Soun asked, pausing in the middle of his fifth helping.
Nodoka and gave him a knowing nod. "Ah, there is a small story there. While Ranma and Shampoo were getting used to their new bodies, there were a few questions being asked back on solid ground..."
*****
Cologne looked askance at the tall Japanese woman beside her. "Why is your son deathly afraid of cats? It does not strike me as something you would approve of."
"It was one of the events that convinced me that my husband should never be allowed to train him without guidance." Nodoka replied then sighed deeply. "He wrapped my son in seafood and threw him into a pit of starving cats." She didn't notice Genma sliding away, looking uneasy.
"Nekoken?" Cologne asked simply, to which Nodoka gave a simple nod. "Excuse me." She pogoed off after Genma, who had, wisely, started running. Only a moment passed before there was a cry and splash.
"Deserving Mr Customer thrown in 'spring of drowned panda'," the guide piped up. "There is tragic legend, very tragic, of panda who drown in spring two thousand years ago. Now whoever fall in same spring take body of panda."
*****
"She knocked you into a spring," Soun asked in disbelief, stabbing the last morsel resting on his plate. Genma simply grunted in reply, although for once it wasn't because he was a panda.
"Enough of our reminiscing," Nodoka interrupted. "We have more important matters to discuss. Ranma, now that Soun is awake, and we have all finished our dinner, why don't you tell us what figured out? Start with the girls."
Ranma smiled and laid down his knives and forks. Soun blinked and realised that despite his telling of the tale, the boy had finished his meal only moments after Soun.
"Okay, I'll start at the top and work my way down. The eldest, Kasumi, prefers to dress in dull clothes and presents a quiet facade to the world, kinda like a young housewife. After the death of her mother she took over the cooking and cleaning chores around the house, even forgoing university to take care of her family. Outside of the house she is well known, but has no boyfriend. There is someone she is interested in, but she doesn't think he returns her affections." He turned to look at Soun, and smiled. "I guess by the look on your face I hit pretty close there."
Soun nodded, dumbfounded. "How?"
A smug grin appeared on the boy's face. "Her wardrobe gave me the start. Lots of grey and browns, the only dress that appeared even slightly revealing still had the purchasing tags on it. Unlike Nabiki and Akane she had well used cook books on her shelves, although they hadn't been touched in some time, suggesting that she had become good enough not to need them. In the kitchen, laundry and storage areas, I confirmed that everything was set out for someone of her height. There was no evidence of her going to university, although she is continuing her education by borrowing medical books from a Doctor called Tofu (his name was inside the front cover). There was a screwed up letter in her rubbish tin, a simple thank you note, but the o in Tofu was written as a heart. There was a lot more, but that would bore you."
"Stop showing off, Ranma, dear," Nodoka murmured, "and tell us about Nabiki and Akane."
"Sorry, mother." Ranma hung his head a little in shame before continuing. "Okay, Nabiki is very cool and orderly, somewhat the lone wolf. She is an efficient businesswoman and enjoys working with figures. Her only major flaw in these areas and that is that she writes everything down, although she does have a personal code so I could not gain a lot of information. An examination of her room showed few things not directly related to her money collecting activities, so it is obviously an obsession, I would guess born of a controlling desire left by a feeling of insecurity." This time the whole time he spoke he watched Soun, observing his reactions.
"Akane is obviously big on fitness and training. She has weights in her room and breaks cinderblocks out in the dojo. At school she's the centre of attention, certainly she throws away enough love-letters. Strangely her admirers seem violent, promising to beat her so she could go out with them. I would guess she either goes out on lots of dates, or is very good at martial arts. Her only other interest seems to be acting, more appropriately in the play Romeo and Juliet. From the highlighting in the copy of the play I found, I'd say she wants to play Juliet."
A tear rolled down Soun's cheek. "My dear little Akane has always wanted that part since she was made to play Romeo as a little boy, I mean girl."
Ranma gave him a long-suffering look. "I guess she's also a bit of a tomboy."
Nodoka nodded approvingly. "Now, what can you tell us about the abduction?"
"Fast and well prepared. Someone has made a half-hearted attempt to tidy up since, but there is still some evidence.
"I'm guessing it happened early evening. Akane had returned from school and gone out for a jog, which is part of her routine. Someone, Kasumi I'm guessing, had set out her gi in the dojo and readied the cinder blocks for when she got back. Nabiki was in her room working on her ledgers when someone knocked on the door. Kasumi answered as Akane jogged out to the dojo." Ranma frowned, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Akane was intercepted just inside the dojo, and put up a good fight. During the battle the cinder blocks were knocked down, but not broken and some of the practice equipment damaged. At the front door Kasumi was rushed, although she managed to get down the hall before being caught, so the attackers weren't expecting her to react so quickly. Of the three Nabiki put up the least amount of struggle, probably she realised there was no point, or maybe she relied on a rescue from one or the other of her sisters."
"Whoever it was had watched the house for some time and was familiar with their routine. They knew where each girl would be, not bothering to enter any of the empty rooms. Even if the neighbours had seen something, the police would have arrived long after the abduction." Ranma glanced at Mr Tendo. "The only question that remains is, who was the man that has visited the house since? He has come on more than one occasion." Nodoka nodded and looked at Soun as well.
"That would be Doctor Tofu," Soun replied. "He came round to check on me whenever he could. A very good man there." He stared down at the empty plate before him. "What do we do now?"
Nodoka turned to look at her son, a soft smile on her face. "Tomorrow Ranma will start going to school. There he will try to make friends and see if anyone knows anything about Nabiki and Akane. I will start making friends with the neighbours and a few of the local shopkeepers. I suggest you and Genma do whatever you would normally do, leave the investigation up to Ranma and I." She looked down and sighed deeply. Her smile shifted to a regretful frown. "Tonight, though, Ranma and I must go visit someone." She stood and swept towards the door, Ranma falling in behind her moments later.
"Who are you going to see?" Soun asked, rising from his knees. The pair left without answering.
Genma's hand fell on the thinner man's shoulder. "There are some questions you simply don't ask my wife. That is one of them."
"Secrets, Saotome?" Soun gave him a raised eyebrow.
"Ones I don't want to have to keep, Tendo." He glanced around, noticing an overturned Go board in one corner. "What say we play a game to take our minds off things?"
*****
Two women slipped over the rooftops of Nerima, cloaked in the night. The taller of the two was dressed in flowing silks as black as the darkness. She appeared to almost flow amongst the shadows as the folds and ribbons of her outfit fluttered in the wake of her passing. Matching her outfit, she moved with a fluid grace.
Her companion was also in black silk, although she was wrapped tightly, accenting her natural, and ample, curves. The tight material covered her sharp angled face as well, somehow concealing her features, leaving only a smooth front with two deep eye holes. Casting a striking contrast to her outfit, her flame red hair was tied up behind her in a long pony-tail.
The leader leapt one final gap, then hovered over to the roof-top access before turning to the other woman. "It is here."
The other slipped over to the edge of the roof and looked over for a second. "The police station?" she asked, sliding back to the other. Her voice was deep and sultry, a voice that matched her well-built body. Strangely the smooth surface where her face should have been stayed remarkably still as she spoke.
"Where better to hide but the lair of the tiger," the taller woman replied. "Come, let's enter."
"Let's not," another voice declared from the darkness. A shadow detached from the darkness and moved forward to intercept them. For a moment light glinted off something large and metal held in its hands. "Who are you?"
The red-haired girl slipped between them, her hands moving up ready for combat. "What business is it of yours?"
"I'm the guard, honey, and no one's getting past me," the shadow hissed.
Red-hair shifted, her muscles tensing beneath the silk. "Let's just see, shall we?"
*****
Author's Notes:
You'll notice that this Ranma is a hell of a lot more observant than the original, you can thank Nodoka's training for that. I never been to sure about how well Soun and Nodoka know each other, so in this version they barely met, and obviously not a lot passed between them.
Oh, and the talk of reflections, well more on that is revealed in the next part, but for the moment lets say it is the personality shown to others.
