Okay, I know I said there would be another chapter before Christmas. Obviously, things didn`t work out like that. The holidays went by a lot faster than I thought they would, but I managed to get some writing done. So you lucky people now get two new chapters for the price of one. How `bout them apples huh? I own nothing and I write this because I want to and the ideas won`t leave me alone otherwise. Stupid pesky imagination.
Chapter Eight
As Nabiki and the Saotome family walked away from the Nekohanten they each became absorbed in their own thoughts. Nabiki and Ranma were both trying to digest the information they had been given in the past few hours. Nabiki`s thoughts were mostly on the egg that Ryoko had apparently stolen from the Amazon village. She had seen enough in the past year and a half to know that Amazon artifacts rarely led to good things happening, and most involved some sort of trouble for Ranma and everyone around him. As his friend now she was fair game for any chaos that seemed to follow Ranma like a magnet. She had already been kidnapped once on that stupid island, although that was hardly an unpleasant experience. She just didn`t want to end up being tied up in pantyhose, cursed to turn into a duck, or drowned in a magic pool of water.
Ranma`s thoughts were more along the lines of adjusting to the idea of being a half-demon and having an older sister. His mother had said that the seal on his demon side was active until he turned eighteen so he decided to practice the same strategy with this as he did for everything else that went weird or wrong in his life. That strategy being, ignore it until he couldn`t anymore, and he could ignore problems for a very long time. It was the sister part that was really throwing his mind for a loop.
For as long as he could remember it had only been him and his Pops. For ten years he wandered from place to place and learned various martial arts styles and techniques. Genma and the art was all he had. Ucchan had been part of his world for a little while, but he barely remembered those days. There was also the time at the old middle school where he met Ryoga, but he was barely there for a month before they had moved on and were heading to China. Coming to Nerima he had been exposed to a whole new world of friends, rivals, fiancées and nutcases. It was exciting and not anything like the years he spent wandering with his Pop, but at his core he was still the same loner he had been when he first came.
His friends, mainly Daisuke and Hiroshi, he wasn`t really close to. The rivals like Ryoga and Mousse were really more of his friends than Hiroshi and Daisuke as he spent more time with them, and knew them better than the other two guys who just hung around with him to get a peek at his girl side every now and then. The fiancées were a stress he didn`t want. He had never known a girl before coming to Nerima (in his mind little Ucchan still existed as a good guy friend), and having four them all trying to get him to settle down and get married was terrifying. The nutcases he could deal with. They were stress relief in a way. It was just the women that terrified him, almost as much as those horrid four-legged furballs, and that`s why he was hesitant to embrace the idea of a sister.
Oblivious to her brother`s discomfort with women Ryoko walked along behind Ranma. Walking on something as thin as the top of a fence was difficult for Ryoko, but she managed to balance herself when she needed to with her wings. Her own thoughts, despite the sudden appearance of Shampoo and Cologne, were more or less happy thoughts. She finally got to meet the brother she had read so much about, and the Father she had read about once or twice. She was quite excited about getting to know Ranma, and was very curious about all the girls he claimed he was engaged to. Shampoo she knew. She had practically grown up with Shampoo, and the years between their last meeting and their most current one had not dulled her desire and ambition to be a powerful warrior. Shampoo was still as strong as she was years ago. The dull ache in Ryoko`s wing served to remind her of Shampoo`s skill as well. She was just glad her demon side allowed her to heal faster than a normal human, otherwise her wing would still be broken. Of course, if she was a regular human she wouldn`t have wings.
That was an idea that just made her sad. She couldn`t imagine life without wings, but she hid them when she had to. It was tricky and uncomfortable, but doable. Just after they left the Nekohanten Ranma had told her she could probably keep her wings out, and she was okay with that because she really didn`t want to hide them when one wing just finished healing after Shampoo broke it. He said people in Nerima were used to odd sights, but she didn`t really believe him. Who wouldn`t question seeing a girl with wings coming out of her back? However, the people who passed by the group gave no notice or simply politely greeted Nodoka without acknowledging the flailing panda being dragged behind her. Ryoko silently decided that she could leave her wings out.
Nodoka herself was deep in thought about how to deal with the various engagements her husband had gotten Ranma tied up in. Historically, the first one would be the verbal agreement between Soun and Genma. This was the agreement that she knew of beforehand and favored herself. She had been good friends with Soun`s late wife, and would love to see the two families united in marriage. Though she thought that she might have to rethink the Tendo agreement if Nabiki`s story was true. Next came the agreement with the Kuonjis to wed Ranma and Ukyo. Nodoka had never formally met Ukyo, but had heard good things of her from Ranma. This engagement was given weight by the fact that Genma had taken the okonomiyaki cart. Ranma had said that Ukyo received full compensation for the cart during the previous year and a half, but the fact remained that Genma had accepted the dowry in the first place. This fact alone placed a certain obligation on him to uphold the agreement. At least the martial arts takeout family agreement had been dissolved by the other family. This only left the betrothal to Shampoo.
Having a certain knowledge of Amazon rules from her time living in the village she realized that the marriage wasn`t finalized until it was consummated. Nodoka highly doubted that Ranma and Shampoo had already consummated their marriage. She doubted that Ranma had gotten that far with any girl as he still had troubles peeking on his fiancé in the bath. This slight lack of manliness did concern her, but she pushed the thoughts aside. Thinking more on the Amazon engagement Nodoka realized that if the marriage had indeed been consummated Cologne would probably not waste time trying to coerce Ranma back to the village. She was quite certain that if she needed to, Cologne could physically drag Ranma back to the village. Underneath all these thoughts and feelings, Nodoka was just so happy her son was manly enough to have so many girls chasing after him.
Genma`s thoughts were mostly occupied with keeping his behind off the ground. Nodoka hadn`t stopped dragging him since they left the Nekohanten, and the friction from the pavement was doing a number on his furry hide.
"So where are we going to stay now Mom?" Ryoko asked. "The house has gaping holes in it."
Nodoka frowned at that. She hadn`t really thought of where she was going after leaving Cologne`s little restaurant. She needed a private place to give Genma a piece of her mind.
Nabiki sighed at the lack of thought from the Saotome family. She hadn`t really planned on going back home until the situation with the Kanzuki`s was cleared up, but there really wasn`t much choice. "I`ll call Daddy and Kasumi. It`ll be a little crowded Auntie, but you and Ryoko can stay at my house for a while."
Nodoka smiled at Nabiki. "Thank you Nabiki. We will accept your generous offer."
"Let me just call Kasumi and let her know we`re coming." Nabiki said pulling her phone out of her pocket. Nabiki walked a few feet off to call her older sister while the rest of the assembled group stood by to listen to Nabiki`s end of the conversation.
"Kasumi? It`s Nabiki... Yeah, I`m okay... I was at Auntie Nodoka`s place... Yes, she fed us... Yes she cooked enough. She`s used to their appetites... Listen, I`m coming home with Ranma, Uncle Genma, and Auntie Nodoka. They`re going to be staying with us for a while... Well her house was damaged in a fight... Yes, again... wait, don`t hang up yet Kasumi. There`s more. Ranma`s older sister is coming with us too... Well he didn`t even know about her until last night...ugh, is he wandering around the house in that samurai armor again? All right, do your best to calm him down and we`ll be there soon."
Nabiki closed her phone and sighed wearily.
"Something wrong Nabiki?" Nodoka asked.
"It`s daddy. He was waiting for Uncle Genma to bring Ranma home, and now he`s in full "righteous indignation" mode. He`s not going to be happy when we get back."
Nodoka smiled at the younger girl`s frustration. She well remembered how emotional Soun could get. "I suppose we should be ready for his special technique then?"
"Yeah, probably." Nabiki said and sighed again. "It`s just so embarrassing. Why can`t he act his age?"
Walking along the fence behind her younger brother Ryoko spoke up. "What`s this special technique he has?"
"You`ll see when we get there." Ranma said from up ahead. "But Ma, I think you better let Pops walk on his own feet now. I think you scraped all the fuzz off his butt."
"Hm? Oh, I suppose you`re right Ranma." Nodoka said as she released Genma from her grip. "Come along husband."
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" These were the first words spoken to Ranma and company as they arrived at the gate to the Tendo compound. Soun had been indeed wandering around the house, acting out sentry duty while waiting for Genma to bring Ranma back. Having been kept waiting for hours Soun`s first response was to use the demon head technique. Having completely ignored Kasumi`s report beyond hearing that Nabiki and Ranma were returning home he wasn`t expecting Nodoka or a new girl with strange hair and wings to be with them.
Nabiki looked suitably embarrassed at her father`s lack of self-control. Nodoka and Ranma were fairly nonplussed at the sight, while Genma attempted to hide behind his wife. The only unexpected reaction was that of Ryoko who promptly burst into uncontrollable laughter at the sight of Soun`s monstrous demon head technique.
Speaking between breaths the winged girl attempted to explain her curious reaction to the technique. "Amazon... technique... for...scaring...little boys!"
Soun's head promptly deflated back to it`s original state, much like a balloon deflates after one lets all the air out. This caused another round of laughs from Ryoko and even a few chuckles from Ranma who couldn`t help but share his newfound sister`s mirth.
"Um, I`m sorry but who are you?" a thoroughly confused Soun Tendo asked the laughing girl.
"Come on Daddy. Let`s go inside and I`ll explain everything." Nabiki said as she navigated her father by the arm to the front door of the house.
As soon as everyone was inside Kasumi came out of the kitchen. She greeted each of the new entries into the house in her own cheerful manner. "Welcome home Nabiki and Ranma, and thank you for coming Auntie Saotome." Kasumi didn`t even bat an eye as she took in the winged girl standing beside Nodoka. "You must be Ranma`s sister. It`s a pleasure to meet you. I`m Kasumi Tendo, Nabiki`s older sister." The homemaker girl bowed low.
"I`m Ryoko Saotome. I`m sorry for intruding." The girl said while returning Kasumi`s bow.
"Not at all." Kasumi said and then looked at the last member of the group. "Uncle Saotome please wipe your paws carefully. If you would like I can have the bath ready in a few minutes. I was in the middle of making dinner, but it won`t take long."
"Thank you Kasumi, but that won`t be necessary. My husband will be eating with us as he is." Nodoka said "For now I`ll help you finish dinner and then we can talk." Nodoka ushered the oldest Tendo girl into the kitchen.
Soon thereafter, dinner was served. Ranma ate his dinner at a fast pace, but not the breakneck speeds he usually did as he didn`t have to worry about his father stealing his food while in panda form. At the table Akane refused to talk to or even acknowledge Ranma, which was not out of the ordinary after having a fight or catching Ranma in any sort of compromising situation. After dinner Nabiki explained the events of the previous night, carefully editing out details like the group that had attacked her and Ranma getting shot. Nodoka took up the story of the morning`s events, and gave a shortened version of her history and details about Ryoko to Soun.
After hearing the story of how Nodoka`s house was more or less totaled, again, he nodded his head and clapped his hands dramatically.
"Well that settles it." He said, "Nodoka, you and your daughter are welcome to stay with us as long as you need to. I`m afraid the only room available besides the spare room Ranma and Genma use is the attic."
"Father" Kasumi put in "Grandfather Happosai uses that room to store his...collections."
Soun blanched at the mention of his master and stammered out "Yes...well...I`m sure we can figure...something...out."
Disregarding Soun`s nervousness Nodoka bowed to Soun "Thank you for your hospitality. I believe I will take up the spare room with my husband. We have much to talk about."
"Ryoko can share my room." Nabiki volunteered. The sudden bout of altruism surprised Ranma and the other Tendos, but nobody decided to question it for the time being.
"Right, then it`s settled." Soun said. "Nodoka and Genma can have the guest room, Miss Ryoko can stay with Nabiki and Ranma will stay with Akane."
"Oh no he won`t." Akane practically growled. "I don`t want to share a room with that pervert. Again."
"I gotta go with Akane on this one." Ranma said ignoring the pervert comment. Any attempt to defend himself would just create a big argument that he really didn`t want any part of.
Akane threw a surprised look at Ranma when he failed to speak up for himself. She should have felt happy or justified that Ranma was taking the insult. Instead the lack of a reaction on his part just made her frown.
Soun was taken aback by Akane and Ranma`s words. Surely two people who were meant to be together should be happy about having some alone time together.
"B-b-but why?" He managed to blubber out.
Nodoka interfered before Soun could completely break down into waterworks. "At present, with three legally binding engagements I also believe it would be best for Ranma to sleep elsewhere."
Soun managed to restrain himself from breaking into tears at Nodoka`s words, but still managed to look absolutely crestfallen as his hopes for joining the schools were delayed yet again.
With that dinner was over and Kasumi and Nodoka set about cleaning up the table, and Akane took that as her cue to ask the older Saotome girl what she had wanted to since she heard of the girl`s early life.
"Hey Ryoko, you said you grew up in the Amazon village right?" she asked.
"Yep, I lived there for ten years before I started going to school in Japan." the older girl answered in a cheery tone.
"So you know martial arts right?"
"Yeah, kinda." Ryoko answered hesitantly.
"Let`s spar together!" Akane suggested
"I don`t know. I`m not really very good."
"That`s okay! Come on!" Akane practically dragged the older girl to the dojo. Once there they went into a storage closet near the entrance.
"I have some old gis in here. We can change here." Akane said handing Ryoko a gi. She started to undress, but stopped and looked over at Ryoko. "You are really a girl right?"
"Um, yeah. Last time I checked. Why?" Ryoko asked suddenly very confused about being asked such an odd question.
"Never mind. It`s okay." the blue-haired girl replied.
"Okay." Ryoko said as she looked at the gi top. "Say Akane?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you mind if I cut some holes in this top? You know, for my wings."
"You can`t just make them disappear or something?"
"Well, I could pull them in, but I`d rather have them out if we`re going to spar."
"Why`s that?"
Ryoko thought for a moment on how best to express her reasons to Akane. "Imagine if you had to spar with one hand tied behind your back. You could fight like that, but it would be much harder and it would affect how you move. For me, these wings are completely natural. I grew up with them and I trained with them. They`re a part of me just as much as my arms or legs."
"I see." Akane said "In that case go ahead. It`s old gi anyway."
Ryoko produced a small knife from thin air and use it to cut two gashes in the back of the gi top so her wings could poke through. Once finished the knife disappeared again, and the two girls walked into the fighting area of the dojo.
They started at opposite ends of the room and bowed to each other. Akane waited only a few seconds to launch her attack. She charged at the older girl with a straight punch, but Ryoko turned it aside. Akane dropped into a foot sweep, but Ryoko jumped over it. Akane thought she had the upper hand since Ryoko had nowhere to go but back down. However, Ryoko slowed her descent slightly by extending her wings. Her hang time was extended just enough so that Akane`s kick, which normally would have caught a falling enemy in the ribs, was blocked with Ryoko`s leg.
Once Ryoko`s feet touched the ground again she went on the offensive. She used her wings to distract and disorient Akane. She would lash out with a wing and Akane would move to block or avoid the blow which left her open for the real strike from Ryoko. Fortunately, the force behind Ryoko`s blows was minimal as they were only sparring. Ryoko kept this up until Akane caught on to the tactic and started to anticipate the follow up blow. When this happened she switched gears and jumped up into the air.
She used her wings to keep herself in the air long enough so that she could come down in Akane`s blind spot. She managed to knock the younger girl off balance and sent her stumbling a little ways away. Akane managed to stabilize herself and quickly fought back. As they exchanged blows it was clear that Akane had the advantage in power and stamina, but Ryoko`s wings gave her a unique advantage, and eventually the older girl`s skill won out and she managed to catch Akane in a hold. Unable to break the hold Akane was forced to concede the match. Nevertheless she did so with a smile.
As Ryoko released Akane from her hold the sound of clapping could be heard from the side of the dojo. The two girls turned to see Nabiki leaning casually against a wall.
"Not bad. It`s been a while since anyone could fight Akane at her level."
"What`s up Nabiki?" Akane asked "You didn`t come here to watch the fight."
"Kasumi asked me to let you know the bath is ready." Nabiki answered. "Why don`t you take the first turn Akane? I want to talk to Ryoko for a moment."
Akane shrugged and headed out of the dojo to the main house. Once she was out of earshot Nabiki turned to Ryoko. The winged girl wore a quizzical expression on her face, but said nothing for the moment.
"I wanted to talk to you about that egg you mentioned earlier at the Nekohanten." Nabiki said
Ryoko`s expression darkened at the mention of the egg. "I don`t really want to talk about it."
"But it`s dangerous right?" Nabiki pressed
Ryoko bit her lip and looked away trying to avoid the question, but Nabiki chose to wait her out. The question weighed heavily in the air as the silence dragged on until finally, and with great reluctance, Ryoko spoke.
"I don`t know. Maybe."
Nabiki frowned at the unexpectedly vague answer. "What do you mean maybe?"
"Something is waking up inside it. I know that." Ryoko said "There`s a lot of anger."
"What`s going to happen when it wakes up?" Nabiki asked.
"I don`t know." Ryoko said shaking her head "but it`s safe for now. I put a barrier around this place, and this one goes underground. Nothing can get in without me knowing about it."
Nabiki let it go at that, but silently vowed to find out more later. She wanted to know exactly what the egg is and why Ryoko went to so much trouble to hide it. For the time being though, she couldn`t find out any more and Ryoko would only withdraw more if Nabiki pressed further. So she decided to let the subject drop and change the topic to something else.
"Let`s go inside and when Akane is finished why don`t we take a bath together?" Nabiki suggested
"Really? That`d be fun!" Ryoko readily agreed to Nabiki`s suggestion as her normal, cheery personality returned.
A short time later found both girls in relaxing in the hot water. As they allowed the heat of the water to soak in Ryoko, who had pulled her wings to allow Nabiki enough room in the tub, spoke up about something she had been wondering about since dinner.
"Hey Nabiki? Can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot." Nabiki said leaning back in the water with her eyes closed.
"Why is your sister angry with Ranma? And why did she call him a pervert?" Ryoko asked
Nabiki sighed heavily. "That`s not an easy question to answer."
"Try anyway." Ryoko pushed.
"Okay, very long story short: Akane has anger issues and boy troubles. The only thing that kept her from lashing out was her pride as a martial artist."
"So what happened?" Ryoko asked.
"Your brother." Nabiki said before elaborating, "He showed up and proved himself to be a much better martial artist, and some times even a better girl, than Akane. It was only a matter of time before the fights, the insults, the mistrust and the malletings happened."
"That sounds very...lonely." Ryoko said sadly.
Nabiki couldn`t help but notice that her tone suggested some experience with loneliness.
Abruptly the half-demon girl`s mood brightened as she looked at the girl beside her. "At least he has a good friend like you!"
Nabiki cringed a little at the girl`s words. "I`m not really a good friend."
"Sure you are!" Ryoko said "I saw how you took care of him at the park, and you volunteered to let me stay in your room."
Nabiki`s mood darkened. "I`m not a good person Ryoko. I`ve done things I`m not proud of. In some ways, I`ve hurt Ranma more than Akane ever could."
And with those words she got up and left the bathroom leaving Ryoko behind to ponder their meaning.
Sorry about the long wait folks, but hopefully you enjoyed this chapter. If you did take a moment to click that little button down below and submit a review. If you didn`t like the chapter then click that button anyway and tell me why. All reviews go towards the betterment of this fic and your continued enjoyment. Thanks for reading!
Mysterious One D
