Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is intellectual property of Rumiko Takahashi. No copyright infringement is intended, this fic is for entertainment purposes only.
Bonds.
Chapter 1. Pride is in The Way.
A seventeen years old boy, with his dark hair tied up in a ponytail, walked on a stone pathway towards the dojo, under the blinding light of a summer sun at noon. He stopped before the panel door and opened it slightly. There was a man inside the dojo, sitting down and facing opposite to the young man; the man in the dojo was wearing a black hakama and a yellow judo jacket; had messy, shoulder-length black hair, among the mass of hair, a yellow and black bandana was visible. The boy cleared his throat and opened the door wide.
"I came here to challenge you, sensei Hibiki."
"For the last time, Higashikaze," the man spoke without turning to face the boy "this is pointless."
"Don't give me that! Saotome Senpu!" Higashikaze ran and made an awesome leap aiming for the man's head with a devastating whirling kick. However, the man, still his back turned to Higashikaze, blocked his kick with an arm. That wasn't the end of the famed and feared Saotome Senpu, though; Higashikaze used his amazing speed to alternatively kick several points of the grown man's anatomy… or at least, tried his best to do so, for the man kept blocking every attempt.
After the tenth missed kick, Higashikaze saw the man avoid the hit and attack him with his index finger, aiming for his head.
"Slow learner." That was the last thing Higashikaze Saotome knew, the man's attack knocked him out.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hibiki."
Higashikaze Saotome was sat down at the table of the tea room of the Hibiki family; he was wearing a bandage around his head. Next to him was Ryoga Hibiki, the creator and sensei of the Shishi Tsume style, the man who had just beat him; serving him some tea, was Ukyo Hibiki, Ryoga's wife and the best cook Higashikaze knew; she wore an dark blue kimono and her long, brown hair was tied by a small white ribbon; and across from him, smiling with her elbows on the table, was the reason why he had challenged sensei Ryoga in the first place. It was Hikari Hibiki, Ryoga and Ukyo's daughter. She had the exact same looks of her mother, except for her hair, which was black and was tied by a yellow and black ribbon. And boy, how much Higashikaze liked her.
"Now, tell me, Higashikaze, how are Ranma and Akane?" Mrs. Hibiki said, smiling while she sat next to her husband.
"They're fine, arguing all the time," the boy said, taking a sap of tea.
"Do they know you are here, sweetie?"
"Where else could he be? He always comes here, looking for trouble," sensei Ryoga said. Ukyo narrowed his eyes at her husband; she opened her mouth, but before she could scold him, as Higashikaze often heard it happen, someone else came to the room.
"Ah, there you are, you little slime, prepare!" The assailant was a boy, the exact replica of sensei Ryoga, except for the color of his hair, which was brown; the boy had a round pendant hanging from his neck: a compass. The boy launched himself at Higashikaze, but was stopped midair with a powerful blow by Hikari.
"Don't even think about it, bro'," she said, while placing one foot on the boy's back to keep him from getting up.
"Screw you! I want to fight him!" The boy struggled to get up, but sadly for him, his sister was better at fighting than him.
"Hold it, both of you!" Mrs. Hibiki interjected. She stood up and parted brother and sister. "How many times have I told you not to fight inside the house? And you, Toramaru, can't you see Higashikaze is hurt? You can't attack him like that."
Toramaru Hibiki blinked to his mother and then turned to face Higashikaze, then bowed slightly. "I'm sorry, Higashikaze, I didn't notice the bandage on your head."
"I can still kick your ass."
"You little—"
"BOYS!" the voice of Ryoga-sensei broke the younglings' conversation. "Be quiet, please. And Higashikaze, you should go back home as soon as you are in proper shape—"
"I'm in the best of shapes already!" the boy protested and tried to stand up, but after doing so, he felt dizzy and he came crashing down, the world turning black.
Higashikaze felt his head heavy; however, he could tell he was lying on a comfortable bed. He opened his eyes, blinking at the soft light of a candle. He tried to scan the room, to see where he was, but something made him recollect the latter events. It was a soft warmness closing on his hand. He turned to the right and saw Hikari smiling at him while holding his hand, her cute fangs pointing out of her lips.
"I'm glad to see you are awake," she said; then proceeded to touch his forehead, checking on the bandage; even this slight touch made Higashikaze's blood boil.
"It seems you are alright, still, you should drink this." She held a cup with some green steaming liquid in it. Higashikaze sat up and took the cup to examine the content for a moment; he then took a sap of it.
"Yuck! It's bitter."
"I know, but it will help you."
Gathering guts, Higashikaze drank the whole thing in a single gulp. After sticking his tongue out in a sign of disgust, he put the cup on the nightstand.
"Father said you can stay here, if you like. You can return home in the morning." She stared at the floor while saying this, and Higashikaze thought, in the dim light of the candle, that he had seen her blush while saying so.
There was nothing Higashikaze would have liked more than to stay there, but he knew he couldn't. Not that his parents would be upset, since he had stayed over the Hibikis a lot of times before. But something kept him from doing that which he had desired for so long; it was an oath taken long time ago.
"Sorry, Hikari, but I need to go." He started to get up, and despite his legs still trembled a bit, but he was much better after that rest… No, I guess not. Higashikaze tripped and fell flat on his face.
"Higashikaze!" Hikari was next to him instantly. Well, it might do me good to stay near her for a little longer. Higashikaze abandoned himself to her deliciously intoxicating scent and the dazzling bright of her eyes as she helped him to get up and back to the bed.
Ryoga was in the dojo again, doing some meditation to help him relax. The smell of the tea made him open his eyes. In front of him, the main banner of his dojo read:
The Shishi Tsume style is meant to help you protect your loved ones.
Ryoga turned to the right and silently read the dojo rules:
1.- Always address to sensei and fellow students with respect.
2.- Do your best in every exercise, success comes from hard work.
3.- No cold water allowed in the Dojo.
It was a bit sad that he had never managed to get rid of his Jusenkyo curse. He had been able to come to peaceful terms with Akane after the true about P-Chan had been revealed, though. It had taken some time, but finally, a strong bond of friendship had surpassed the initial estrangement.
Ukyo opened the door to the dojo, sat behind Ryoga and started serving the tea for both of them. Ryoga glanced at Ukyo and rejoiced in the beauty of each of her movements. It was so normal now, but if twenty years ago someone had told him that he would establish himself as sensei of his own dojo, would marry Ukyo and had healthy twins for kids, Ryoga would have laughed bitterly at the comment. Such wonderful events did not occur to him, not to Ryoga Hibiki.
Sometimes it felt so marvelous to be proven wrong.
Ryoga turned around to face a smiling Ukyo, who offered him a cup of tea. Ron took it, and after a small drink, he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
"You are in a good mood tonight," she said, smiling after they parted.
"With you at my side, it can't be any different."
They both took another sap of tea. Then Ukyo spoke.
"Do you think Higashikaze will be alright?"
"Sure he will. He is as hard-headed as his father." Both of them laughed slightly. Higashikaze had turned out to be exactly like Ranma. Aside from a great fighter, he was overconfident, a bit cocky, stubborn, loyal to his words to whatever end, and never backed out from any challenge.
"I already called Akane; I think it's better if he stays tonight. You nailed him pretty hard this time."
"I know, and I'm sorry. I was holding back, still…" Ryoga really felt bad, he hadn't meant to hurt Higashikaze, but that boy was surely persistent.
"I sent Hikari to give him a look." Ryoga looked briefly at Ukyo before smiling to her, and then his wife took his hand.
"Those two are so unlike… all of us," Ryoga said, as Ukyo placed her head on his shoulder. It was no secret that Ryoga's daughter and Ranma's son were madly in love with each other. They had grown up together, practiced together, and, as was usual in Nerima, fought their own formidable foes together; and at some point, they had fallen in love. However, Higashikaze had one bit of personality that seemed more of Ryoga than of Ranma: A few years ago, in Christmas time, Higashikaze had declared that, in order to be truly worthy of Hikari, he should be strong enough to defeat Ryoga.
Now, thanks to Higashikaze, Ryoga felt himself somewhat thrown to the past, back when his only goal in life was to beat Ranma. Now, Higashikaze's goal was to defeat him. So, maybe some things had changed over the time, but other seemed to just bounce back, as in a cycle.
Such issue complicated things a great deal. Ryoga knew how much his daughter cared for Higashikaze, and since he wanted nothing more than to see her happy, he wished Higashikaze hadn't taken that stupid oath. Since that night three years ago, Higashikaze would come and challenge him nearly twice a week.
First, Ryoga thought that such short period of time between face offs was ridiculous. After a while, though, he thought that maybe he would have fought Ranma at an even higher rate if it hadn't been because his pathetic sense of direction had kept him away so much longer than planned every time.
The thing was that Higashikaze was no stupid, and would know if Ryoga lost on purpose. The boy was so proud that such thing would only make things worse. So, Ryoga had no choice but to fight him every time. And Higashikaze didn't seem to be able to stand over three minutes with Ryoga as opponent. Ryoga wondered when, and how, such vicious cycle would end.
"Where is Toramaru?" Ryoga asked, wanting to get into conversation to clear his mind.
"Closing the Okonomiyaki shop," Ukyo said. Her voice gave away that she was tired. It was quite late, after all. And Saturdays were always busy on the okonomiyaki shop. Ryoga and his family lived on his Family House; he had inherited it after his parents had stayed to live in Okinawa, when age had become a major impediment for them to keep traveling. Ryoga and Ukyo often visited them, as well as Ukyo's family at Osaka. The house was surely unique: it contained the house, the dojo and the relocated Ucchan's. So, not only did Ryoga and Ukyo live relatively peaceful, but also with a nice source of income. And their kids would do too. Hikari was exceptionally talented in martial arts; she was Ryoga's top student. And Toramaru had proven to have a lot of Kuonji genes in him, he was great at cooking. And Ryoga was very grateful that none of his children had inherited his Jusenkyo curse, and Toramaru's sense of direction, although visibly affected, was not nearly as bad as Ryoga's. Toramaru would at least know when he was leaving the town and immediately turn back, and unlike Ryoga; Toramaru could find his way, he only needed a map, a compass and a couple of hours. Ryoga thought, more than once, that what Toramaru had, was not a problem with direction, but a problem related to memory of places.
"It is late," Ryoga said "I think we should get to bed already." He got up and offered a hand to Ukyo. By the time they reached the dojo door, Ukyo spoke.
"What did you mean when you said Higashikaze and Hikari are unlike all of us?"
"Oh, you know. They got along well since the day they met, and it's no secret what they feel for each other. It's all so smooth and easy. You do remember all the trouble that was for Ranma and Akane to come into the open? Or us?"
Ukyo giggled. "Yeah, you are right. I'm a bit thankful that they didn't have to go through such problems, as we did when we were their age. However, we did have a good time at Atami, I must say."
Now, Ryoga guffawed. "Yes, we did. In fact, I think that was the time in which the proportion between spatula blows to my head and time spent together was at an historic lowest."
CLANG!
"See my point?" said Ryoga, rubbing his head but laughing with his wife. And they laughed all the way across the garden as they made it for their house.
"Jackass," Ukyo said, smiling as well and clinging stronger to Ryoga's arm as she placed her spatula on her back again.
What should I do?
Higashikaze was having problems to sleep. He didn't get to spend much time alone with Hikari after she had helped him to get back to bed. Toramaru had appeared at the door and called for his sister, since it was bedtime. After she had smiled to Higashikaze as goodbye, Toramaru had thrown him an aggressive look. Things were very complicated. Toramaru and Higashikaze were the best of friends, however, every time Higashikaze's feelings for Hikari surfaced in Toramaru's presence, he would morph into his over-protective-brother-mode, and it only caused tension, between them; as well as between Hikari and his brother. Higashikaze was worried that his idiotic oath not only would deny him the joy of finally taking Hikari on a date, but that it might bring estrangements between the Hibiki family.
What should I do? Giving up on his oath would stain his honor and make his word worth nothing; but keeping to it, in the current state of things, would only cause pain. What the hell should I do?
The next morning, Toramaru was in charge of walking Higashikaze back to his home, along with some special Okonomiyaki for Ranma and Akane. Ryoga and Hikari would start the lessons at the dojo since early in the morning, and Ukyo had to handle all the cleaning before opening the restaurant. As both boys walked in the silent Nerima streets, Higashikaze shivered at feeling the cold of the early morning getting into his bones.
"You should drop it." Toramaru's voice took Higashikaze by surprise.
"What?"
The fanged boy glared at him briefly. "Your oath."
Higashikaze felt insulted. He was a man of his word, no matter what pain it caused him. "Tell me a good reason," he said, despite he had already thought of several of them.
"Because it's unfair."
"What I do about my personal feelings is none of your business."
"Idiot!" barked Toramaru. "I'm not talking about you, you inconsiderate prune; I'm talking about my sister."
"For your information, your sister likes me."
"That's exactly my point."
Higashikaze stopped on his tracks and gave and stared at his companion, feeling confused. "What's your point, Fangs?"
"My sister likes you, and your stupid oath is making her unhappy because it won't let her be with you the way she wants, which means you are holding her from being happy, you idiot!"
Higashikaze, who never allowed an insult on him go unpunished, was left as if he had been struck by a lighting, non-moving and non-speaking, barely moving his lips like a fish out of the water. He was really an inconsiderate prick if he had so far ignored how Hikari felt about this. Toramaru was looking at him fiercely, most likely waiting for an answer.
"I… I…"
"I'll take that as an 'I'll think about it'." Toramaru then started to walk in Higashikaze's house direction; Higashikaze took a while to follow, still shocked at realization.
"Higashikaze! You had us worried, good that you're back. Welcome, Toramaru, make yourself at home." Akane Saotome gladly greeted his son and friend at the door of the Tendo household. She hugged and kissed his son, which embarrassed him to no end.
"Mum! Let go! Ouch!" His mother then pulled him from the ear.
"You better stop running away to challenge Ryoga, you heard me, young man?" Toramaru laughed at the scene, which only irritated Higashikaze further.
"Where is Dad?" Kanji asked, rubbing his ear.
"At the Dojo, you are late for your lesson by the way."
"Okay, I'll get to it. See you later, Fangs." Higashikaze then hurried to the Dojo; some sparring would definitely help him clear his thoughts.
"Delicious as always, be sure to give my compliments to your Mum," Akane was chewing on the okonomiyaki Ukyo had sent them. After getting some bites, she closed the bento box. "I'll keep the rest for when Ranma ends with the lesson."
"Sure, thanks for your appreciation, Mrs. Saotome." Toramaru made a small bow in respect. "My parents would also like to thank you for your invitation to this Saturday's welcome party for your returning sister. We will attend gladly." Toramaru was well informed on much on what had happened to the Tendo family members, they were old friends to his parents, after all. Genma Saotome and Soun Tendo kept living at the Tendo Household, or Saotome Household, now that Ranma was the Head. They were as healthy as usual, just that both had gotten a bit fatter now that there was more food and less worries to attend to. Higashikaze used to tell Toramaru that sometimes, he liked playing prank on them, like replacing their shogi pieces with explosives, or adding sand to their curry rice. Happosai was still around, as perverted as usual but, according to uncle Ranma, slower and weaker than before, which made him easier to catch and restrain. Kasumi, the eldest, had married Dr. Tofu, the best medic in town, and lived here in Nerima as well. Nabiki was now studying a major at Economics and would come home soon; it was said that she was in relationship with the local eccentric Tatewaki Kuno, but Toramaru didn't know for sure.
"I'm sure Nabiki will like what we've arranged for her."
"Thanks again for inviting us. Now, I must be on my way, I have to help Mum in the restaurant."
"Sure, be sure to give your parents our love."
"I will, don't worry. Give my regards to Mr. Saotome."
As Toramaru walked to the gate, he glanced at the Dojo where, surely, Higashikaze was training.
"You better give it a good thought to what we discussed. If you continue to make my sister suffer, I will have to do something about it." He then took out a Nerima map from his pocket and held it open with one hand as he examined his compass. "Now, let's see, the way home should be…"
Higashikaze was always told he was the exact image of his father. Still, as he was doing some after class sparring with his father, the face of Ranma looked a lot like his own… way too much.
Higashikaze Saotome aimed for Ranma's head with a side kick, but Ranma easily ducked it and tripped him. Higashikaze fell down for the millionth time that morning. Usually, he was a lot better.
"You ain't quite yourself today, son. Is anything troubling you?" his father asked kindly, offering him a hand to get back on his feet.
"There is something in your head, isn't it?" Ranma asked, smiling. Higashikaze loved and respected his father, that's why it surprised him a lot that the first answer that his mind formed was 'mind your own business'.
"I'm fine," Higashikaze said, staring at the ground.
"Come on, son. You are never this bad."
It was true. And Higashikaze knew it was somehow related to what his best friend, almost brother, Toramaru had told him earlier.
You are hurting her, you idiot.
He looked at his father again, and he saw himself there again. The weird part was that he also felt a great urge to start fighting again. So, Ranma's face could look like Higashikaze's way more than normal. On the other hand, however, the voice in his head sounded a lot like Toramaru's.
In the mist of his thoughts, only one thing was sure: his intentions had never been to hurt Hikari.
Perhaps, I ought to take a new vow.
"Son?" Ranma asked again, only then Higashikaze realized he had been silent for the whole while.
"I'm sorry, Father. I was…"
"You know I don't like you calling me that way, makes me feel old."
"Right, sorry… I was… just thinking, dad," Higashikaze sat in the wooden floor of the dojo.
"Well," Ranma said as he sat by Higashikaze's side "You know you can tell me everything. I'll always be there for you." And Higashikaze knew that, so he summoned up his courage to finally ask his father for advice about Hikari.
"It's… it's about Hikari, Dad."
Ranma seemed to rummage his memory, looking at the sky visible through the open Dojo door. "Well, son, I might not be a good reference when it comes to girls. I was a total jerk with your mother, so, maybe I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you what not to do," he finished with a smile.
Higashikaze smiled back, and prepared himself for the question that troubled his mind. Honor or love?
"This is about that vow you took, right?" Ranma asked, beating Higashikaze to the punch. A little thankful for his father's quickness to read him, Higashikaze nodded.
"Son, what I'm about to tell you might be the most important thing I've ever told you, and yes, that includes the secret of the Hiryu Shoten Ha." Ranma put a hand on Higashikaze's shoulder, looked him right in the eye and…
"Don't let anything get in they way of you being happy with the woman you love. There were many times I had been very close to lose your mother and the thought of all the wasted time due to stubbornness was painful as hell, son."
Higashikaze looked at his father. Both martial artists smiled each other honestly, with mutual understanding in their hearts. Higashikaze was about to thank his father for the advice, now he knew what he ought to-
"Ranma! Higashikaze! Lunch is ready!" Akane called loudly from the house. Higashikaze shivered in fear, his Mom cooked so bad… and to think that, according to Ranma, she had been much worse once, it made him wonder how his father had managed to stay alive.
"Guess we better go, son," said Ranma, standing up. Higashikaze did as well, but a memory illuminated his face.
"Toramaru brought Okonomiyaki today! Maybe that's what we are having!"
"I really hope so."
To be continued…
