I own none of this, of course, and this story is written purely for
pleasure. I thank Ms Takahashi and the various owners of the Ranma ½
characters for their indulgence.
The Harada Spirit
Prologue:
It was a typical morning at the Tendo Dojo. Genma was a panda, Nibiki was half asleep, Kasumi was cheerful, Soun was reading the paper, Akane was fuming in her room after finding it necessary to send Ranma to the koi pond for the second time, and Ranma, at present Ranko, was wringing out her shirt. Kasumi was bringing in the breakfast in when a knock came at the front door. Putting the breakfast dishes on the table, Kasumi hurried to answer it. She found an old man standing there, a gentle smile gracing his ancient face. He was a little below average height and thickly built, with shoulder-length gray hair and a beard to match. He wore a light brown, hooded cloak, now thrown open with its hood down; a dark brown, thigh-length tunic; and matching trousers, the latter being stuffed into black boots. The lines on his face placed him somewhere over eighty years old, but there was strength in the body still and an aura surrounded him that Kasumi could actually see.
"Good morning, Kasumi", the stranger said, bowing to her, "I've not seen you for over ten years now. You've grown to be a beautiful, young woman: not surprising for a daughter of Kimiko. I am Master Ryuho, if you've forgotten me, and I have business with your father and sister this fine morning."
"I'm pleased to meet you again, Master Ryuho. Please come in. You do look familiar. My father and sisters are at breakfast. Please join us." Kasumi's smile blazed forth in answer to his.
"Your kindness is exceeded only by your graciousness, Kasumi, and thank you. I do not hunger but would like some tea." The man followed Kasumi into the house, stopping to remove his boots. Following Kasumi, he entered the dining room and sat down where she indicated. Soun was startled, then jumped to his feet and began to wail.
"It's not time...not time. You promised to stay away until she was older. You promised my wife." The tears flowed like fountains.
"Calm yourself, Soun. Sit down, please", the graybeard admonished.
"But, it's not time, "Soun cried.
"What's going on here, Oneechan?" Nabiki was now fully awake.
"Master Ryuho is a friend of Father's, Imotochan. Please, everyone, sit down so we can listen to what he has to say. Sit down, Father, and listen. Master Ryuho, please have some tea." Kasumi's voice seemed to calm the nerves of all present and even Ranko and Genma gathered at the table. The old master smiled at her.
"Yes, you are your mother's daughter, Kasumi. Kimiko is so much in you. Thank you." Turning to the distraught father, "Soun, I did try to keep that promise, but problems are finally coming to a head in the West and a man to whom we owe much has called in all of the favors due him. She is needed. I'm sorry. Things in her relationships are not where I'd hoped they'd be and I wanted to give her more time, an entire childhood, but I cannot. She has to take up her responsibility now."
"What responsibility?" Akane paused in the doorway, having just come down again for breakfast and drawn by the earlier commotion. At her words, the old master stood, turned to Akane, and bowed low, "Lady Akane, keeper of the Harada Spirit, I am Ryuho, your chief retainer. Welcome to your inheritance and your future."
For once, total silence reigned at the Tendo Dojo.
The Harada Spirit
Prologue:
It was a typical morning at the Tendo Dojo. Genma was a panda, Nibiki was half asleep, Kasumi was cheerful, Soun was reading the paper, Akane was fuming in her room after finding it necessary to send Ranma to the koi pond for the second time, and Ranma, at present Ranko, was wringing out her shirt. Kasumi was bringing in the breakfast in when a knock came at the front door. Putting the breakfast dishes on the table, Kasumi hurried to answer it. She found an old man standing there, a gentle smile gracing his ancient face. He was a little below average height and thickly built, with shoulder-length gray hair and a beard to match. He wore a light brown, hooded cloak, now thrown open with its hood down; a dark brown, thigh-length tunic; and matching trousers, the latter being stuffed into black boots. The lines on his face placed him somewhere over eighty years old, but there was strength in the body still and an aura surrounded him that Kasumi could actually see.
"Good morning, Kasumi", the stranger said, bowing to her, "I've not seen you for over ten years now. You've grown to be a beautiful, young woman: not surprising for a daughter of Kimiko. I am Master Ryuho, if you've forgotten me, and I have business with your father and sister this fine morning."
"I'm pleased to meet you again, Master Ryuho. Please come in. You do look familiar. My father and sisters are at breakfast. Please join us." Kasumi's smile blazed forth in answer to his.
"Your kindness is exceeded only by your graciousness, Kasumi, and thank you. I do not hunger but would like some tea." The man followed Kasumi into the house, stopping to remove his boots. Following Kasumi, he entered the dining room and sat down where she indicated. Soun was startled, then jumped to his feet and began to wail.
"It's not time...not time. You promised to stay away until she was older. You promised my wife." The tears flowed like fountains.
"Calm yourself, Soun. Sit down, please", the graybeard admonished.
"But, it's not time, "Soun cried.
"What's going on here, Oneechan?" Nabiki was now fully awake.
"Master Ryuho is a friend of Father's, Imotochan. Please, everyone, sit down so we can listen to what he has to say. Sit down, Father, and listen. Master Ryuho, please have some tea." Kasumi's voice seemed to calm the nerves of all present and even Ranko and Genma gathered at the table. The old master smiled at her.
"Yes, you are your mother's daughter, Kasumi. Kimiko is so much in you. Thank you." Turning to the distraught father, "Soun, I did try to keep that promise, but problems are finally coming to a head in the West and a man to whom we owe much has called in all of the favors due him. She is needed. I'm sorry. Things in her relationships are not where I'd hoped they'd be and I wanted to give her more time, an entire childhood, but I cannot. She has to take up her responsibility now."
"What responsibility?" Akane paused in the doorway, having just come down again for breakfast and drawn by the earlier commotion. At her words, the old master stood, turned to Akane, and bowed low, "Lady Akane, keeper of the Harada Spirit, I am Ryuho, your chief retainer. Welcome to your inheritance and your future."
For once, total silence reigned at the Tendo Dojo.