Darkened Images

Chapter 6

By David Farr

Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi and are used here without permission.

Warning: Darkened Images contains themes that are definitely NOT FOR CHILDREN. If you are a child and reading this, sorry, go read something else, I don't want to get in trouble if you have nightmares about this stuff.

*****

Scarlet led the way down the cellar stairs, her feet touching lightly on the wood lightly as she hugged the wall. Three steps up and against the opposite wall came Shadow, his dark aura swirling around his figure, but not the sword he held outstretched. Finally Kuno followed, taking each step with exaggerated care, his katana held before him.

At the bottom of the stairwell was a thick oaken door, barred from within they were sure. Scarlet came to a halt before it and gave it a quick look over. "Shadow, can you remove this?"

"Simply. I doubt they'll even feel me casting the spell, there's so much mana floating around down here."

"Good." Scarlet turned to Kuno. "Look, leave Shadow and I to fight whoever is in there. You just grab Akane and get her to the top of the stairs. No further."

"I will not run from battle."

"I don't want you in the battle because Shadow and I are better at it. Plus we need someone to look after Akane."

"If I am unable to engage our foes, should I not carry the fair damsel clear of the battlefield?" Kuno inquired.

Shadow shook his head. "No. The wards are still active, if you go stumbling out there before we kill these bastards you'll get yourself and Akane killed."

Kuno nodded. "Then I will retrieve Akane Tendo and await your victorious return."

"It's nice to know someone's confidant," Scarlet murmured as she turned back to the door. "Okay Shadow, d--"

The door exploded outwards.

Scarlet and Shadow both brought their weapons up to protect themselves even as a jagged tongue of lightning ripped apart the stairs between him. The bolt struck Kuno, sending him flying back up the stairs. The blast died suddenly, leaving the ninja and sorcerer standing with their ears still ringing in the silence.

It didn't last long.

A bestial female scream filled with searing agony tore through the air. Before either could act the room beyond the doorway was lit again, and immediately more explosions muffled the scream.

"My darling AKANE TENDO!" Kuno shot past the surprised pair, diving into the evil lair.

"Id--" Scarlet started, but was cut off as Kuno was thrown back past them.

Shadow glanced at the still smouldering Kendoist, then at her partner and friend. "Cross and to the sides?"

The ninja nodded. Blurring she shot through the door, running at full speed along the wall. Behind her Shadow dove through, mirroring her action. Time slowed about them as they took in the scene as they ran.

Four men in black hooded cloaks cowered at the far end of room, hidden behind the charred remains. The room had been some kind of magical laboratory, flasks and shattered jars of esoteric ingredients were testimony to that. However those four were not the ninja's main problem.

The screaming girl floated in the centre of the room, hovering over the remains of a heavy metal table like some kind of horrific angel. A crackling field of electricity surrounded her body and the static charge had lifted her hair aloft, splaying about her head in a halo. Even as the pair finished their first quarter circle more tendrils of lightning licked across the room, leaving a trail of smouldering destruction behind them.

Scarlet watched as one of the forks struck the wall behind Shadow. In response his dark aura leapt out and wrapped around the energy. The sorcerer gasped and fell to his knees.

'Too much free mana,' Scarlet realised, 'his spells are running wild!'

She continued her dash, and the girl's face came into view. Attracted by the movement she turned to look at the ninja.

'Akane!'

The once cute face of the youngest Tendo daughter was twisted into a mask of fury and pain. Scarlet locked eyes with the her, and found herself looking deep into the crazed soul of one who was suffering unimaginable pain.

'She's channelling too much mana, it's burning her spirit. What the fuck have they done.'

Another scream of fury emerged from Akane, and a bolt of lightning jagged out at the ninja. Scarlet's blade swung up and parryed the electricity, it's enchantment hungrily consuming the magic.

Both scream and lightning continued, forcing Scarlet to turn her head to shield her eyes. Scarlet took a step forward, forcing her blade into the crackling energy. She felt like she was fighting against a destructive gale. Each step came grudgingly, and required all of her strength.

Step. She could see the wizards or warlocks were now staring at her, their eyes fixed on her every move.

Step. Shadow's aura continued to seethe wildly and it was taking all of his concentration to keep it under control.

Step. Her foot slipped, and only Scarlet's intense training kept her from a disastrous fall.

Step. A still smouldering Kuno fell against the door frame, his eyes fixing on Akane.

Step. Every muscle screamed in agony as the ninja pushed on.

Step. Scarlet was halfway to the lightning throwing female. Some intellectual part of her mind wondered about the paradox of half-distances.

Step. Kuno started towards Akane, only to be blasted out of the room again. Scarlet briefly wondered what the Tendo girl had against him.

Step. Akane was just out of arm's reach.

Step. Scarlet vanished.

The stream of energy smashed through the empty space and burrowed into the stone wall beyond only to gutter out moments later. Akane's scream died on her lips, leaving the room in silence.

Moments passed and Akane seemed to hang in mid-air, Scarlet's black clad form now apparent just above her. The long silver blade the ninja carried extended up from Akane, its butt hard against the back of her neck. The pause ended, and Akane fell forward, only to be swept up by the ninja.

"Kuno! Get in here!" Scarlet snapped.

The Kendoist emerged from the doorway again, smoking rising about him like a veil. "That did not hurt." He hurried over to the ninja. "What have you done to her?"

"I knocked her out." She handed the unconscious girl to him. "It was the only way to stop her Raiden impression. Look after her, she needs serious help."

Knuo nodded. "Do not fear," Akane suddenly sparked, sending a charge through Kuno, "I will protect," another charge shot through the Kendoist, "the fair Akane," bzzt, "Tendo, even if," bzzt, "it costs me," bzzt, "my life." So saying he turned and, still receiving shocks from Akane, strode towards the door.

Shadow joined Scarlet watching as the now afro bearing samurai left. "He's tougher, and crazier, than I thought."

Scarlet snorted an acknowledgement. "You okay now?"

"Fine, mana's down now she's out."

"Good." With a decisive nod Scarlet spun to face the warlocks.

The quartet, although dressed in the same all-encompassing black cloak, were varied. One was rotund, looking more like a giant black beachball than a minion of evil, but the largest of the lot in height. The next tallest appeared lanky, to such a degree that if the hood was removed, it looked like the robes would simply slide down his frame. The third, more appropriately a witch, had added a few ties to her robe, revealing her curves. The last, and smallest, was currently leading a tiptoeing escape towards the door.

"You left, me right," Scarlet murmured before raising her voice. "Hold, corrupt ones." The four froze, knowing they were caught. "In this place you have warped nature with your foul arts, eternally staining your souls. We, the guardians of Reality's Mirror, must, for the sake of all who have lived, all who do live and all who will live, deny you your absolute right, and enforce the final judgement!"

The small warlock spun, eldritch fire leaping from his hands. Moments later his two larger brothers launched their own attacks. Shadow and Scarlet blurred out of the way. They crossed the distance to the quartet in a flash and shot past, their blades cutting cloth, skin and bone as easily as air.

Behind them the robes collapsed into piles on the ground.

"It is done," Scarlet intoned. "They will never again distort the image."

A loud groan echoed through the room, followed by the sound of timber breaking. The pair straightened, sliding the two blades into the respective hiding places. Scarlet glanced about, concerned, while Shadow simply concentrated.

"Damn!" the sorcerer swore. "The dimension spell is collapsing."

"And that means?"

"The Victorian mansion will soon occupy the same volume of space as the Japanese hut!"

Scarlet didn't need more explanation, but instead leapt to a run. With Shadow on her feet she reached the stairs. "KUNO! GET OUT!"

As they ran up the stairs two at a time, Scarlet could see the walls starting to close in. They were squeezing in threatening to crush the life from those caught inside.

Skidding slightly, Scarlet cornered at the top of the stairs. She dodged sideways as a section of the wall shattered under the strain of the rapid constriction.

Floorboards buckled and exploded upwards, forcing her to weave as she ran for the rapidly shrinking doorway. Kuno was through it already, Akane in his arms.

Behind Scarlet, Shadow leapt over newly created holes in the floor. A ringing of crystals striking warned him to dive, and the chandelier shattered behind him. He rolled onto the ground and stumbled back to his feet on the unsteady floor.

Scarlet dove through the door, spinning as she did, to see her friend still inside and stumbling. The sorcerer moved fast, but the doorway was almost gone, filled with the wood inside the house. As the last space vanished Shadow emerged from the doorway, and crashed down on top the ninja.

The two lay there for a few moments, Scarlet acutely aware that she was a woman and, despite appearances, so was Shadow. She stared into the darkness that covered the others face, and wondered what she would find there if it wasn't.

"Would someone like to explain what just happened?" Kuno inquired.

Shadow raised himself off his ninja friend and looked at the Kendoist. "It's very simply. They used a spell to pack more than was possible into the house. Now the spell isn't there anymore, everything was squashed down so that is fit inside the Japanese house." He eyed the building carefully. It looked like it was bursting at the seams.

"The illusion is gone too, I note," Kuno commented.

"Yep, and the wards."

"Then our deal is ended. I bid you farewell." Kuno turned and started away, taking Akane with him.

Scarlet blurred into existence in front of him. "You are not taking her."

"And why should I not? I will not trust one such as you with my goddess of beauty."

"When last she was awake your goddess was doing a really great job of temping for Zeus!" Scarlet shot back. "You cannot handle her. We can."

"You struck her!"

"I did what I had to!" Scarlet snapped back. "Akane is too dangerous to leave by herself. Those bastards tied a distortion to her and now magic is running wild through her body! If the mana doesn't fry her, then she's going to kill someone the first time she gets angry."

Kuno paused, and stared at the ninja. "You are serious."

"Very." Scarlet replied quietly.

Kuno held the girl out to the ninja. "Return her to her family."

"I will."

*****

"...we parted ways there and came straight here," Scarlet replied. She was sitting in the Shard's office, giving a full detail of the nights activity. Her voice was tired and she pretty much lay within the arms of the chair.

Shadow, standing not far away nodded, wearily. "Yeah, Kuno-baby tried to follow us, but he was easy to lose."

Nodoka and the Shard both shared a glance, and then turned to look at the corner where Rose was caring for Akane. The green clad woman had administered a heavy sedative to keep Akane in a deep sleep, and was fitting a tight chain necklace. The ends of the chain met on a heart shaped pendant the hung against her throat. A dark crystal was set into the pendant, and seemed to draw in the light.

"There," announced Rose, rising from the slumbering Tendo. "That won't come off until she can go two days or more without her mana flaring." She turned to the others. "She might still give off charges, but they won't be life threatening."

The Shard nodded. "It will have to do for now." He sighed deeply. "If we can train her, she could be useful."

"But..." Nodoka prompted.

"But... I don't have the resources. If we don't find someone, she may have to face judgement."

"No!" Scarlet announced, leaping to her feet.

"Woah!" Shadow cried. "She's done nothing to require soul death!"

"Calm down, both of you." The Shard snapped. "I didn't mean the Final Judgement. I simply meant we may have to hurry her passage into her next life."

"Not an option," Scarlet hissed. "I promised I would return her, and I will."

"Then will you train her?" The Shard inquired.

Scarlet gave a quick nod. "If that's what it takes."

"I'll help too," Shadow chimed in.

"Good, that's taken care of." He looked around at them. "Tell me Scarlet, what were your impressions of the four warlocks."

Scarlet dropped back into her seat. "They were fools playing with powers beyond their understanding. What I want to know is who set them up." She paused. "You just manipulated me into training Akane."

"I did," the Shard acknowledged, "and exactly. Those four did not discover their powers, we would have known long before now if they had. It bothers me that someone or something may be giving out gifts like that so randomly."

"Could it be a spin off from the trouble in Juuban?" Rose inquired.

"Possibly, but I hope not." The Shard placed a hand on his head, as if feeling for a headache. "The odd out of place distortion from there does enough damage, if we have to start containing serious strikes, we may be in for another shattering."

Everyone in stood in silence for a while, digesting the news.

"We can hope not," Nodoka whispered. "There is no proof of the connection, and I feel that believing there is one is premature."

"I'll trust your intuition, then," the Shard stated, "but I'm going to request some information from Juuban anyway, to see if there are any parallels."

"It might be worse if this is unconnected," Scarlet pointed out. "It means we have another group out there purposefully causing trouble."

The Shard sighed deeply. "I was hoping no one would point that out." He stood, and straightened her shirt. "Okay then, Shadow, Rose, you two are out of Guard duty from now on. I want you both training as hard as you can." He turned on Ranma. "Help them when you can, but don't let your training of Akane falter, she will make a handy addition to your team."

Scarlet cocked her head to one side. "My team?"

"Yes, since you seem so capable at sniffing out trouble, I making you my head of ops. That means you don't have to worry about checking stuff through me like you did before." He smiled. "Do report in though." The Shard turned to Nodoka. "Your help I could use here."

"Of course, my child and I will aid you," inside her hood she smiled slyly, "but you must realise the girls take precedence."

The Shard's face tightened in uncharacteristic seriousness. "If you say so. Just don't risk everything for them."

"Would I do that?"

*****

He was an artist. A very unusual artist, perhaps unique in the medium of his expression. He had, you see, taken two very different forms of art and combined them. Most would say they were incompatible, but he simply scoffed at the idea, stating that all it took was imagination, empathy and patience.

His canvas lay stretched across the stone slab before him. Few artists would work like this, preferring to be able to reach all points of the surface at the same time. But, this artist had realised, that was impossible, no matter how you hung the canvas, thanks to its two-sided nature.

He picked up the needle from the steaming pool next to the canvas and touched the point to the canvas and quick shove broke the surface. Quickly he reached out with his other hand and dabbed a bit of ink on the wound. This he continued, point by point, mark by mark, following his plan, until another line lay across the canvas' back.

"Thank you," he murmured, "for waiting until I finished."

A figure melted out of the shadows behind him. It was a woman, wrapped in tight deep red cloth. "I am perfectly aware of what an accident with that ink could do, and I do not wish to face your wrath, master."

"You came to report something?"

"The three that had Akane Tendo have destroyed themselves."

The Artist turned and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How so?"

"Apparently their house decided it was too big for itself and collapsed," the kunoichi replied emotionlessly. "I felt their power die and went to investigate, found that hut of theirs nothing but a block of wood and metal."

"I expected them to die like that," the artist replied. "But we have the data on their experiments, so nothing is lost."

"Yes." The woman looked at the canvas. "How do you keep them from screaming? Anaesthesia?"

"Shiatsu paralysis."

"A double bind then. That increases the awareness, as I understand it."

The artist smiled. "Makes the pain that much more exquisite." He reached down and touched a spot on the girl's back, and sat back to listen to the music of her screams.

*****

They were been on a picnic, all of them. It was a hill they went to often to get out of the city, overlooking a sparkling lake and forest valley. A single large oak provided shelter for his family, protecting them from the sun.

Kasumi was helping her mother lay out the blanket and the many dishes the pair had made. At nine she was showing the makings of the perfect Japanese housewife. Respecting, helpful; some lucky man would be delighted to arrive home to her smile.

Sitting against the trunk of the tree, Nabiki had her nose buried in a book. She had a strange notion that someday she would be a great business woman. It was one of her childish proclamations that she would end up owning the world. But with the focus she was putting into it, she just might someday.

But it was little Akane, running around, punching at butterflies, who was the apple of her father's eye. With the elder two sisters no longer showing an interest in the family's marital arts, it was falling to Akane to continue the school. Thankfully not only did she have a natural aptitude, but enjoyed it too.

"Tendo-san!" a girl's voice cried.

Soun looked up, wondering why one of his daughters was calling to him, and so formally too. Instead he came face to face his a cute face framed by flowing red hair.

"Wake up, Tendo-san!" Ranko cried, shaking him lightly.

"I'm awake, I'm awake," he groaned. His head felt like it was full of cotton wool.

Ranko pulled away to sit on the edge of the bed watching him. Her smiling face was shining brightly, and Soun wondered what it was that had the cute girl so happy. He sat up, about to ask, but his words were stolen when the room started to spin. 'Maybe drinking all night with Saotome wasn't such a good idea.'

"Tendo-san, you have to come see!" The red-head snatched his had and dragged him out of bed. Soun was glad she turned away as she did.

"Ranko, please, let me pull something on first."

"Oh, right." Ranko gigggled without turning around. "I'll wait for you in the living room!" She skipped out the door, closing it behind her.

The Child's enthusiasm spurred into action. Ignoring the wooziness, he moved to his closet, fetching one of his many brown gi from inside. Throwing it on he strode out of the room and down the corridor.

"Now what is it that has you so excited, Ranko?" Soun inquired as he turning into the living room.

Ranko had joined Nodoka kneeling on the far side of the Table, although neither were at the table, something else was between them and it. Whatever it was held Nodoka's loving gaze.

Nodoka lifted her eyes and smiled quietly at him. "Ah, Soun, I think you should come here."

Puzzled, Soun started across the room. As he passed along the table the slumbering form hidden behind it. The sight stole his breath and his mind went blank. One of his feet hooked behind the other and he stumbled forward, slamming to his knees beside the sleeping girl's head. "A-Akane!"

The sudden noise so close to her ear awoke the youngest Tendo daughter, and he eyes flipped open. Unnoticed, Ranko quietly sighed when she say them fix on her father's face hovering above her, recognition, and love, registering there. "Daddy?"

"My darling Akane, at last you're back," Soun weeped.

Akane sat up quickly, turning, and threw her arms around him. "DADDY!"