Typical disclaimers: all Ranma characters are owned by the glorious empire that is Rumiko Takahashi. In fact.... the idea for this story is also not mine entirely..... the ninja bend came from a forum posting that started with a joke about the Nin Tendous. O_o
The poor writing, on the other hand, is all mine. -_-
from the get go... this is something of a pro-Akane fic. Please don't read it if you don't like her and you plan to just flame me. I'm sure there are myriad other ways to better spend your time. Thanks much.
[thoughts] b/c I'm a piss poor writer :o(
so. on with the show.
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The Other Birthright
It had started innocuously enough. It had been a typical day at the Tendou household. Ranma and Akane had bickered, Kasumi had serenely served breakfast, and Nabiki had made snide remarks. However, a minor detail in the expected response of the fathers threw every thing off, JUST enough.
"The houses will never be joined!" Soun sobbed.
"Oh my dishonorable son!" Genma chimed in.
"Ranma will never take over the dojo at this rate!" Soun wailed as his turn came around again.
"Oh the shame of our ungrateful children!" Genma continued. In fact, the two men commiserated loudly for another good half an hour or so. But really, it was the third in the series that changed things.
It had barely registered as something new in the long list of grievances that the fathers aired. In fact, Akane was concentrating mostly on throwing Ranma into the koi pond at the time. She did, nonetheless, hear it. And in fact, so did her older sisters.
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"Akane-chan," Nabiki called. It was after school of the same day and Ranma and Akane had finally returned home after the usual disruptions and distractions. "We need to talk."
Akane popped in to the living room, curious over her older sister's unusual tone of voice.
"Ah, Ranma-kun!" Kasumi said, stopping Ranma as he trailed after his fiancee. "Our father's have gone out for the night and I was thinking of having a sisters-only night. If it isn't too much to ask.... " She trailed off demurely and held out a single man (1 man = approx $100) note.
"Oh, I... gee, thanks Kasumi..." Ranma accepted the bill awkwardly and glanced hesitantly at Akane. She had a bemused expression on her face, but stayed silent.
"Wonderful!" Kasumi cheered sweetly. "Thank you so much for being so understanding, Ranma-kun. Hopefully, that will be enough to keep you busy for a few hours. I just thought it would be so nice for just us girls to have a little time alone for a change. If you could give us maybe five hours or so.... " She smiled again and took Ranma's school bag from him as she gently guided him back out the door.
The three Tendou sisters watched him from the entrance until he had disappeared around the corner. Kasumi had waved softly. Nabiki had stared rather impassively. And Akane had stood there quietly, looking at the ground as she tried to read the strange feelings that she was getting from her sisters. All three waited a moment more once Ranma was out of sight.
"Well done, Kasumi," Nabiki finally said, breaking the silence with a chuckle. "I had thought that you'd at least let him use the bathroom before kicking him out."
"Nabiki!" Akane cried, rather scandalized, "he might still be able to hear you!"
"No...." Kasumi answered musingly, "he's out of range by now. I can feel it."
Startled, Akane looked at her eldest sister and blinked slowly. She turned toward Nabiki to see how she was taking Kasumi's strange behavior. But Nabiki had her head cocked slightly to side and her eyes stared unfocused off into the distance. [what on earth....?]
"Yeah," Nabiki said abruptly, coming back to herself. "We're alone. I'm going to set some things up. I'll join you in a bit. Get started without me." With that, she turned and went back into the house.
"Nabiki....? Kasumi...?" Akane was a bit lost.
"Ah well.... that's that, I suppose." Kasumi said. There was a slightly strange note to her voice, regret perhaps. "Well, you heard her, Akane. Let's get started. Go upstairs and change into a formal kimono please. Call me if you need help. Otherwise, I'll meet you in the tatami room in front of mother's shrine." Then, like her sister before her, Kasumi also went back into the house, leaving Akane alone and confused as ever.
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Having finished with the formalities of honoring their mother, the three kimono clad Tendou sisters were sitting in seiza, ritually drinking tea. The highly ceremonial atmosphere kept the youngest Tendou silent, despite her burning curiosity. Sipping the last of her tea, Akane finally placed the bowl back down and exchanged bows with Nabiki. She sat motionless as Nabiki carried the bowl back to Kasumi, who then gracefully finished the ceremony and left the room with a bow. She glanced then at Nabiki, who rose effortlessly and beckoned Akane to follow her into the other room. With a sigh, Akane painly lurched to her feet out of seiza as pins and needles shot through her sleeping legs.
"So, Akane," Kasumi began as Akane hobbled awkwardly into the room. "I'm sure you must be curious about what's going on. Please, have a seat." She gestured to the kitchen chair opposite herself at the table. Nabiki stood silently behind Kasumi and a bit to the side. Akane took in their positions and then sank into the indicated chair wordlessly. The feeling of formality still hung heavy in the air and Akane reigned in her emotions, unsure of herself.
"Do you recall," Kasumi said after a long moment, "mother's former occupation?" Akane shook her head, confused about the direction of the conversation.
"Mother was originally a kunoichi," Nabiki supplied softly, "She came from a clan of shinobi and was of the highest rank. Shortly after she retired from active duty to marry father and raise us, she made a pact with the clan. While we would live normal lives outside of the village, we--her daughters--would also return and be raised as kunoichi."
Akane searched her sisters' faces. She opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Her right hand stole to the back of her neck to rub at it awkwardly as Akane dropped her gaze to the table before her. [I don't understand....]
"You have always taken after father," Kasumi picked up. "You are emotional, guileless, and persistent. You were mother's one exception. Although you were also meant to be trained by the clan, you were the heir to father's branch of Anything Goes, so an allowance was made. However, father's intentions were made clear today." Akane looked up with a jerk.
"When the schools are joined, there will again be only one master. And it will not be you." Nabiki finished. "The clan demands your return."
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I'll get back to this when I can. It may take me a while. :o\ Feel free to spin off from it.