Love, Hate, And Honor
By Leigh Berlin
Once long ago there was a family named the Tendo's. They were a close nit family: first there was Soun Tendo, the doting father who had lost his wife shortly after his youngest daughters birth. Next was 19-year-old Kasumi, the oldest of the daughters. Married to a young healer Kasumi helped around the home, she was a mother to her sisters and stayed to look after her father. The second daughter, 17-year-old Nabiki was a sharp girl, intelligent and sassy she earned the money that paid for food with her business, shifty as it was. Finally there was Akane, at 16, was strangely out of place. She had practiced martial arts ever since she learned to stand and later went on training trips across Asia. She had suffered an unfortunate accident on one of these trips and fallen into a magical lake, now she was forever cursed.
Soun was proud of his three daughters. Kasumi was tall and slim with long light brown hair, motherly curves, and dark brown eyes; she emanated a gentle prettiness that made you smile. Nabiki was medium height with average curves, and a slim yet stocky build, she wore her hair short with bangs in the front and had cold dark brown eyes; she had a beauty that could very easily be compared to that of a snake: gorgeous yet deadly. Akane on the other hand looked nothing like her sisters, she was short, thin, muscular, and extremely curvy. She strapped down her breasts though, so that she would be unhindered if a fight should arise. Akane was very proud of her long navy blue hair that reached the insides of her knees, and considered it her best feature. Her smile lit up her face and was extremely attractive; her eyes were a light chocolaty brown. Though they were slightly on the large side, her eyes suited her well-constructed face. Akane, unlike her sisters and father had her mother's aristocratic appearance.
Life was always a bit rough for the Tendo family; they ran a humble dojo that paid for the property that it and the home took up but just barely. Unfortunately Soun could no longer handle as many classes as he once had and without a son he had no one to follow in his footsteps. Akane could easily have taught if anyone would take her seriously. She was extremely talented and had surpassed her father in skill at the age of 7, for the next nine years she had trained under and surpassed every Martial Arts master that she could find in Asia. She was a skilled young woman who wanted nothing more than to fight. But she was not taken seriously and so the Tendo family was poor and could no longer afford what they needed. A glowing ray of hope emerged from the clouds as the prince of Japan decided to hold a competition, one that would decide who he would marry. Every eligible girl who was the same age as the prince must enter the competition, it was a royal decree and so punishable by death. And so Akane must enter the competition, if she won the money might very well save the family. This is where our story starts...
"FATHER!" Akane raced through the halls of her home to reach her father, "Why have you entered me into this competition? Well answer me!"
Soun coward before his raging daughter, she didn't look in the least bit pleased, "Well... you see..."
Akane glared darkly, "I see what father?"
"Err..." Soun cleared his throat and a determined look spread across his face, "Akane, you are 16 and so must enter this competition as is the law. I thought of denying your age but as you know we no longer have as much gold as we used to. If you were to win the competition we would no longer be drowning in poverty..."
"What are you trying to say?" Akane asked her father, concern had replaced her anger.
Soun looked down, "I mean that if you do not enter this competition we will run out of food within the month and the royal guard, should they discover you didn't enter, will kill you... and us."
Akane's face paled and she felt sick, she nodded faintly to her father and then returned to her room. She wanted to die just then but she knew that wouldn't save her family.
Her father called down the hall to her, "You leave tomorrow, the escorts will arrive at sun up..."
This was too much for Akane and she collapsed in sobs.
Soun called Nabiki, Kasumi, and her husband Dr. Tofuu to the dining room, "Kasumi please prepare the most fantastic feast you can possibly afford, Nabiki take the remaining extra pocket money and buy Akane a nice dress... tomorrow you lose your sister to the palace."
"What are you saying father?" Kasumi looked fearfully up at her father, "She is not leaving forever is she?"
"She enters the Prince's competition tomorrow," Soun shook his head, "We may lose her to the harem..."
Kasumi and Nabiki gasped audibly and Tofuu had to hit a pressure point on Kasumi to keep her from fainting. The family separated to go about their duties. Soun went to the dojo to prepare for his next class, Kasumi to begin cooking, Tofuu to get what little he could to help Akane, and Nabiki to get the dress Akane would wear tomorrow, as she couldn't wear her old worn Gi or even her traveling clothes. In her room Akane dressed in her training clothes and went out by the koi pond to practice.
~
Akane sat up in bed; it was just before sunrise. She smiled before the memories of yesterday returned to her. Last night they had eaten a fancy dinner and received a fancy dress, Dr. Tofuu had given her acupuncture and she had taken a long soak in the furo. All to prepare her for what was coming next... Damn it all! Akane glared at her room and grabbing the first thing she could reach she threw it against the wall. It was the first day of the end of her life.
"Good morning Akane! Breakfast is ready!" Kasumi's sweet voice echoed up the stairs to Akane's room.
"Coming Kasumi..." Akane put on her new dress and tied her hair back in a loose braid as always. She was ready, this was just another battle to be won, and she would win it. With that in mind and her heart tightened in the icy grip of pre-battle armor she hurried downstairs to eat before her "escorts" arrived.
Kasumi had gone all out once again and the breakfast set before her was a delicious feast; Akane ate as much as her stomach would allow before standing and watching the door. When the three hollow knocks were issued from outside Akane strode forward, she didn't look back nor did she allow a single tear to fall, "Good-bye. I love you all."
And then she was gone, sweeping out the door and vanishing as it closed.
~
Akane eyed the two palace guards standing outside her door; both were tall, bulky, and built like an ox. Akane chuckled scornfully; neither of these two muscle happy oafs were capable of taking her. In fact Akane was sure she could take them both at once.
"Come on," The first of the guards offered her a hand and when she ignored it his eyes narrowed, "Come quietly little lady or we'll have ta force ya."
Akane just brushed by him, "Like that would ever happen, you couldn't force me if I laid down on the street hogtied."
The guards grumbled angrily but as Akane suspected they were instructed not to physically harm her unless absolutely necessary. She grinned, "So we're headed for the palace at the center of the city?"
When a growl of "yes," reached her ears Akane smiled and leapt to the rooftop of the nearest building, "I'll see you there then..." and then she was gone, leaping from rooftop to rooftop she arrived at the palace gates rather quickly.
"What is your business here?" The guards at the gate were staring rather lecherously at the borderline indecent dress Nabiki had bought for her.
Akane despised it and she made it perfectly obvious, "I'm here for the competition, now put your eyes back into your heads before I tear them out! Got it?"
"Where are your escorts?" One of the guards asked moving forward; he was talking down to her. So he thought she was a helpless street girl, she'd show him.
"They got slow so I left them behind, what's it to you?" She stared him straight in the eye, daring him to try anything.
The guard grinned maliciously, "Well then I guess we'll just have ta search ya an make sure ya don't got no weapons or dangerous sort a things..." He laughed, "all a ya."
Akane raised her hand to physically shut his mouth when a black haired young man entered the scene, "What is going on here?"
"Nothing sir!" The guards fell into line and looked at their boots.
"Well that's good, because it sure seemed as if you were giving this young lady trouble, and all the ladies here may very well end up your queen," The black haired boy glared daggers at the bunch, "So you might watch your step."
Akane turned her eyes to the boy and spoke in an even if dangerous voice, "This 'young lady' can look after herself, though she thanks you graciously for your efforts. Sir?" She smiled at the guard who'd been bothering her, "Can I shake your hand sir? I want to congratulate you on a good job."
He grinned and held out his hand, Akane smiled and taking it squeezed snapping every finger on his left hand, "It's a good thing you didn't offer your sword hand or the prince would be short a guard. Maybe the next woman who passes you won't find your disgusting paws down her dress." Then Akane turned and left leaving a humiliated guard and the boy who had been watching the whole thing laughing hysterically.
With her anger barely under control she entered the palace leaving her fears and doubts behind, if she was going to avoid being chosen for the prince's bride as well as the harem she would have to be strong. Somehow she would find a way to help her family but it would not be through a loveless marriage.
~
Ryoga, advisor and best friend to the prince approached the laughing boy, "Ranma? Ranma are you ok?"
Ranma Saotome, Crown Prince of Japan, smiled at his friend, "That girl's got attitude, she seems like she can handle herself. I wonder if she's any good at fighting?"
"No one is as good as you, Ranma," Ryoga grinned, "It's a good thing too because if any one defeats you in the final task you have to marry them. You know your father is a moron Ranma, was this the only thing he could think of to save you from all of your fiancées?"
"That would be correct..." Ranma tilted his head to the side, "That girl... her hair was blue was it not? Last I checked there aren't many people with blue hair... in fact I've never seen one and I travel a lot."
Ryoga nodded thoughtfully, "She did appear to have had blue hair sir, but I'm sure it was some fancy new berry dye they are selling in the city, there's no way it's natural..."
Ranma just smiled at Ryoga before heading into the palace, "So pig boy... care to spar?"
~
A/N: So there's the first chapter of Love Hate and Honor... hope it's to your liking. N e ways C YA!
By Leigh Berlin
Once long ago there was a family named the Tendo's. They were a close nit family: first there was Soun Tendo, the doting father who had lost his wife shortly after his youngest daughters birth. Next was 19-year-old Kasumi, the oldest of the daughters. Married to a young healer Kasumi helped around the home, she was a mother to her sisters and stayed to look after her father. The second daughter, 17-year-old Nabiki was a sharp girl, intelligent and sassy she earned the money that paid for food with her business, shifty as it was. Finally there was Akane, at 16, was strangely out of place. She had practiced martial arts ever since she learned to stand and later went on training trips across Asia. She had suffered an unfortunate accident on one of these trips and fallen into a magical lake, now she was forever cursed.
Soun was proud of his three daughters. Kasumi was tall and slim with long light brown hair, motherly curves, and dark brown eyes; she emanated a gentle prettiness that made you smile. Nabiki was medium height with average curves, and a slim yet stocky build, she wore her hair short with bangs in the front and had cold dark brown eyes; she had a beauty that could very easily be compared to that of a snake: gorgeous yet deadly. Akane on the other hand looked nothing like her sisters, she was short, thin, muscular, and extremely curvy. She strapped down her breasts though, so that she would be unhindered if a fight should arise. Akane was very proud of her long navy blue hair that reached the insides of her knees, and considered it her best feature. Her smile lit up her face and was extremely attractive; her eyes were a light chocolaty brown. Though they were slightly on the large side, her eyes suited her well-constructed face. Akane, unlike her sisters and father had her mother's aristocratic appearance.
Life was always a bit rough for the Tendo family; they ran a humble dojo that paid for the property that it and the home took up but just barely. Unfortunately Soun could no longer handle as many classes as he once had and without a son he had no one to follow in his footsteps. Akane could easily have taught if anyone would take her seriously. She was extremely talented and had surpassed her father in skill at the age of 7, for the next nine years she had trained under and surpassed every Martial Arts master that she could find in Asia. She was a skilled young woman who wanted nothing more than to fight. But she was not taken seriously and so the Tendo family was poor and could no longer afford what they needed. A glowing ray of hope emerged from the clouds as the prince of Japan decided to hold a competition, one that would decide who he would marry. Every eligible girl who was the same age as the prince must enter the competition, it was a royal decree and so punishable by death. And so Akane must enter the competition, if she won the money might very well save the family. This is where our story starts...
"FATHER!" Akane raced through the halls of her home to reach her father, "Why have you entered me into this competition? Well answer me!"
Soun coward before his raging daughter, she didn't look in the least bit pleased, "Well... you see..."
Akane glared darkly, "I see what father?"
"Err..." Soun cleared his throat and a determined look spread across his face, "Akane, you are 16 and so must enter this competition as is the law. I thought of denying your age but as you know we no longer have as much gold as we used to. If you were to win the competition we would no longer be drowning in poverty..."
"What are you trying to say?" Akane asked her father, concern had replaced her anger.
Soun looked down, "I mean that if you do not enter this competition we will run out of food within the month and the royal guard, should they discover you didn't enter, will kill you... and us."
Akane's face paled and she felt sick, she nodded faintly to her father and then returned to her room. She wanted to die just then but she knew that wouldn't save her family.
Her father called down the hall to her, "You leave tomorrow, the escorts will arrive at sun up..."
This was too much for Akane and she collapsed in sobs.
Soun called Nabiki, Kasumi, and her husband Dr. Tofuu to the dining room, "Kasumi please prepare the most fantastic feast you can possibly afford, Nabiki take the remaining extra pocket money and buy Akane a nice dress... tomorrow you lose your sister to the palace."
"What are you saying father?" Kasumi looked fearfully up at her father, "She is not leaving forever is she?"
"She enters the Prince's competition tomorrow," Soun shook his head, "We may lose her to the harem..."
Kasumi and Nabiki gasped audibly and Tofuu had to hit a pressure point on Kasumi to keep her from fainting. The family separated to go about their duties. Soun went to the dojo to prepare for his next class, Kasumi to begin cooking, Tofuu to get what little he could to help Akane, and Nabiki to get the dress Akane would wear tomorrow, as she couldn't wear her old worn Gi or even her traveling clothes. In her room Akane dressed in her training clothes and went out by the koi pond to practice.
~
Akane sat up in bed; it was just before sunrise. She smiled before the memories of yesterday returned to her. Last night they had eaten a fancy dinner and received a fancy dress, Dr. Tofuu had given her acupuncture and she had taken a long soak in the furo. All to prepare her for what was coming next... Damn it all! Akane glared at her room and grabbing the first thing she could reach she threw it against the wall. It was the first day of the end of her life.
"Good morning Akane! Breakfast is ready!" Kasumi's sweet voice echoed up the stairs to Akane's room.
"Coming Kasumi..." Akane put on her new dress and tied her hair back in a loose braid as always. She was ready, this was just another battle to be won, and she would win it. With that in mind and her heart tightened in the icy grip of pre-battle armor she hurried downstairs to eat before her "escorts" arrived.
Kasumi had gone all out once again and the breakfast set before her was a delicious feast; Akane ate as much as her stomach would allow before standing and watching the door. When the three hollow knocks were issued from outside Akane strode forward, she didn't look back nor did she allow a single tear to fall, "Good-bye. I love you all."
And then she was gone, sweeping out the door and vanishing as it closed.
~
Akane eyed the two palace guards standing outside her door; both were tall, bulky, and built like an ox. Akane chuckled scornfully; neither of these two muscle happy oafs were capable of taking her. In fact Akane was sure she could take them both at once.
"Come on," The first of the guards offered her a hand and when she ignored it his eyes narrowed, "Come quietly little lady or we'll have ta force ya."
Akane just brushed by him, "Like that would ever happen, you couldn't force me if I laid down on the street hogtied."
The guards grumbled angrily but as Akane suspected they were instructed not to physically harm her unless absolutely necessary. She grinned, "So we're headed for the palace at the center of the city?"
When a growl of "yes," reached her ears Akane smiled and leapt to the rooftop of the nearest building, "I'll see you there then..." and then she was gone, leaping from rooftop to rooftop she arrived at the palace gates rather quickly.
"What is your business here?" The guards at the gate were staring rather lecherously at the borderline indecent dress Nabiki had bought for her.
Akane despised it and she made it perfectly obvious, "I'm here for the competition, now put your eyes back into your heads before I tear them out! Got it?"
"Where are your escorts?" One of the guards asked moving forward; he was talking down to her. So he thought she was a helpless street girl, she'd show him.
"They got slow so I left them behind, what's it to you?" She stared him straight in the eye, daring him to try anything.
The guard grinned maliciously, "Well then I guess we'll just have ta search ya an make sure ya don't got no weapons or dangerous sort a things..." He laughed, "all a ya."
Akane raised her hand to physically shut his mouth when a black haired young man entered the scene, "What is going on here?"
"Nothing sir!" The guards fell into line and looked at their boots.
"Well that's good, because it sure seemed as if you were giving this young lady trouble, and all the ladies here may very well end up your queen," The black haired boy glared daggers at the bunch, "So you might watch your step."
Akane turned her eyes to the boy and spoke in an even if dangerous voice, "This 'young lady' can look after herself, though she thanks you graciously for your efforts. Sir?" She smiled at the guard who'd been bothering her, "Can I shake your hand sir? I want to congratulate you on a good job."
He grinned and held out his hand, Akane smiled and taking it squeezed snapping every finger on his left hand, "It's a good thing you didn't offer your sword hand or the prince would be short a guard. Maybe the next woman who passes you won't find your disgusting paws down her dress." Then Akane turned and left leaving a humiliated guard and the boy who had been watching the whole thing laughing hysterically.
With her anger barely under control she entered the palace leaving her fears and doubts behind, if she was going to avoid being chosen for the prince's bride as well as the harem she would have to be strong. Somehow she would find a way to help her family but it would not be through a loveless marriage.
~
Ryoga, advisor and best friend to the prince approached the laughing boy, "Ranma? Ranma are you ok?"
Ranma Saotome, Crown Prince of Japan, smiled at his friend, "That girl's got attitude, she seems like she can handle herself. I wonder if she's any good at fighting?"
"No one is as good as you, Ranma," Ryoga grinned, "It's a good thing too because if any one defeats you in the final task you have to marry them. You know your father is a moron Ranma, was this the only thing he could think of to save you from all of your fiancées?"
"That would be correct..." Ranma tilted his head to the side, "That girl... her hair was blue was it not? Last I checked there aren't many people with blue hair... in fact I've never seen one and I travel a lot."
Ryoga nodded thoughtfully, "She did appear to have had blue hair sir, but I'm sure it was some fancy new berry dye they are selling in the city, there's no way it's natural..."
Ranma just smiled at Ryoga before heading into the palace, "So pig boy... care to spar?"
~
A/N: So there's the first chapter of Love Hate and Honor... hope it's to your liking. N e ways C YA!