Chapter 9
Disclaimer and Overdue Disclaimers
Ranma ½ remains the property of Rumiko Takahashi.
Bun Bun belongs to Pete Abrams and appears in Sluggy Freelance.
Kuno's arresting officers came from Mobile Police Patlabor.
Miyuki and Natsumi are from You're Under Arrest
9 9 9
If you stepped off the beaten path in the central park in Nerima and kept stepping you would find yourself moving deeper and deeper into the park than the park had any right to be deeper than. This of course was all part of the grand scheme of the Nerima council martial artists solution or to be more precise the solution provided by that ancient shaman when he provided the street plan to the village elders all those years ago.
The meandering streets of Nerima were a huge magical symbol and though the magical force used to originally scribe the street plan into then open countryside of Nerima had long since faded the after effects still linger. Though there had been minor changes to the original street plan the crowning achievement of the original concept still remained and martial artists still found themselves wandering towards open parklands. Once through the dense undergrowth the parklands opened up into a stunning vista of open plains and scattered outcrops of primeval forests stretching almost as far as the eye can see.
Now most people would consider that if there was a vast untapped amount of real estate such as this in the centre of Nerima developers would be falling over each other in an attempt to build apartment blocks and shopping malls. But neither did you have to venture far into this untapped real estate to discover why this untouched land remained, well untouched.
Scattered through this primeval landscape were villages devoid of the ravages of internal plumbing and microwave ovens. These were the homes of the Neolithic martial artists.
Half-naked children rolled in the dust outside primitive lean-to shacks cobbled together from whatever materials caught the eye of their owners, between the cut branches you could make out chocolate wrappers and soft drink cans woven into the roofs and walls as decoration and one industrious individual had constructed his entire home out of takeaway boxes. The adults clad mostly in animal skins went about their business unmindful of the children at their feet and modern dental hygiene struggling to make do in their modern Neolithic world.
One village however was not the site of Neolithic domesticity, this was the village of the leader of the Fluffy Bunnies. Here a vast number of Neolithic martial artists gathered clad in their ceremonial head-dresses chanting as they worked themselves into a frenzy ready for their assault on the Nerima beyond the park.
They chanted the name of their lord in unison and clapped at the appropriate points.
Bun-Bun Bun-Bun BUN-BUN CLAP BUN-BUN CLAP
Anyone listening would have recognised the tune and considering that they were Neolithic martial artists would have found 'We Will Rock You' a suitable anthem.
Now as the chanting reached a crescendo and the teeming throng had driven what few thoughts remained in the minds they burst from the village and ran screaming towards Nerima proper.
9 9 9
Ranma was surprised at how easy it was to get Mousse and Ryouga to join him on his quest to defeat the Neolithic martial artists and secure thirty-two divorces for Akane.
Mousse, he only had to ask and Mousse replied that "he was only too glad to help a friend."
Ranma couldn't help but smile at that, it had felt like forever since he had any friends and now he had both Nabiki and Mousse. He supposed he could count Sayuri as a friend. Ukyou as well, though she was also a fiance. Ukyou he was still worried about since he gone to visit and found Ucchans deserted.
'Kasumi too' he thought as he waited for the Neolithic martial artists to appear 'though she is more of a big sister.'
Mousse, like Ranma was amazed at the speed at which Cologne had pushed Ryouga out the door to join them. They were also amazed at how anemic Ryouga looked and neither could ever remember Cologne drinking so early in the morning.
Ryouga, for his part, seemed to be poised between depression and anger, which was hardly unusual for Ryouga and though he stood in a pose he thought would imply stoicism and heroism and tried to keep a look of grim determination on his face, Ranma and Mousse could not help but wonder if Ryouga was constipated. But Ryouga had problems, problems up until a short time ago he never thought about.
Marriage for one.
He supposed that this was the logical conclusion of the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing. But that was something missing from his relationship with Shampoo. They had gone from opponents in a fight to the, well not quite death, but at least the 'golly that hurt, I give up now', to wild animal sex amongst the pastries.
Though Ryouga would admit it was Shampoo who was the wild animal, the barking still upset him for some reason, he was more the terrified object being used for the satisfaction of unrestrained amazon urges. He did feel that he was becoming more used to the incessant demands being placed upon him by Shampoo and he even felt he was beginning to become relaxed enough about the whole situation he could even enjoy some of her attentions. But becoming used to Shampoo also meant he was making realisations about where his life was heading.
He knew for instance why Shampoo was ill most mornings. Cologne had finally been indelicate and straightforward enough that even Ryouga had been unable to misunderstand the explanations. Ryouga was not ready to be a father.
This preyed heavily upon his mind. He knew for instance that he would have trouble supporting a wife and child. Waiting on tables was not a job he was suited for, an inability to navigate from one end of he restaurant to the other was a prerequisite for that sort of work, a prerequisite that Ryouga was sadly unable to fulfil. Likewise most other jobs were beyond his abilities, principally his ability to find his way to work.
If only Ranma had waited for him to show up for their duel, if only Ranma just once had done the right thing and admitted that he, Ryouga, was the better fighter and not insisted on winning when they fought.
If only he knew the first thing about fathers. He'd only met his own father eight times and all of those time were by accident.
Ryouga looked across at Ranma and Mousse.
'One of them' Ryouga thought 'has a father that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, the other is from a village run by women. I'm all alone aren't I.'
Ranma and Mousse were unaware of the many thoughts running through Ryouga's mind and if asked would have admitted that they did not believe thinking was Ryouga's great strength.
Instead occupied by there own thoughts they waited.
Ranma was unsure as to how many opponents they would face and so didn't really have a plan, though he was sure that if he did have one, it would be impossible for Ryouga to follow it anyway. So he opted for the most simple plan he could.
Ranma thought that the Neolithic martial artists would charge them en-masse when they spotted them after emerging from the undergrowth and so he instructed Mousse and Ryouga to wait for his signal before leaping to attack. The challenge letter Mrs Yoshikawa had had delivered specified that this was the place for the battle.
All they could do was wait.
9 9 9
Genma thought once they arrived in Japan things would be easier, he also thought once they had a car things would be easier.
'How wrong I was' he thought to himself 'first it took me ages to pass that idiot on Mount Akina last night.
'Tofu delivery' Genma snorted remembering 'tofu is not fit food for man or beast and I should know I'm both.'
But now the police were after them. Again.
They should have lost this police car miles ago, but unfortunately the driver of this police car was nearly as crazy as he was. Genma spared a quick glance at Frank who was currently a pasty green colour.
'Obviously' Genma thought 'he still hasn't recovered from our sea voyage.'
To say that Genma was surprised when they had again crossed paths with the Mini would have been an understatement. That said Mini would be driving itself and actively seeking their company was even more surprising. That is not to say that Genma had not heard of this sort of thing before.
He had heard stories of motor cars being affected by the ki flows of their owners, especially when performing martial arts driving techniques. There was a car in America, though where you'd find a practitioner of martial arts driving in America was a question that he could not answer. If he remembered the American car was Harold or Bertie or something like that.
Genma smiled as he squeezed the Mini between two trucks, turned into a warehoused and scattered a group of workers enjoying their lunch. Glancing back he could see the police still close behind.
Genma braked hard and slid around another corner passing beneath a container suspended by a forklift before accelerating again and then with the judicious use of the handbrake double back on their previous path and passed the police car underneath the container.
By the time the police car had managed to turn and convince the forklift to move, the small green Mini and the two pandas were nowhere to be seen.
"Miyuki?" Natsumi asked looking across at her friend "How do we write this up?"
9 9 9
Nabiki was angry.
'No' she decided 'I'm worried. Worried and angry.'
The cause of both worry and anger was of course no other than her fiancé. This she realized was part and parcel of being in a relationship with Ranma. This however did not make it any easier.
Nabiki leant back on the lounge and sighed deeply and cast a glance over to where Akane was currently trying to browbeat Kasumi into submission.
Nabiki had long harboured suspicions that Kasumi was more aware of what was transpiring in the Tendo household than she ever let on and now as she watched Kasumi skillfully deflect Akane and continue with her oblivious façade she started to wonder if perhaps Kasumi was even more oblivious then previously thought. Or possibly even more aware.
"It's all Ranma's fault!" hissed Akane.
"Oh my! Kasumi gasped holding her hands to her cheeks in shock.
"He arranged all these marriages, I know it."
Kasumi smiled blissfully and her eyes took on a distant wistful quality "I'm certain he was just looking out for you, he must have known you would be lonely with him now engaged to Nabiki."
Akane's eyes widened with suddenly dawning realisation. "He planned it all in advance" she gasped.
"Such a thoughtful young man!" Kasumi beamed.
"Thoughtful?" snarled Akane "conniving and perverted more like!"
Kasumi blushed and giggled 'Oh it's just like in Meiji Passion where a wandering ronin becomes engaged to a beautiful….."
Akane tuned Kasumi out and glanced across at Nabiki who sat back wearing her patented smirk, she pondered on what could be a suitable response for a moment and finally settled on a withering glare.
Finding it impossible to find sympathy with her sisters and unwilling to risk talking to her father, who seemed to be overcome with the realisation that the families were to be joined and was currently off in his own world, Akane slumped into a chair in defeat.
Teri would have been a little put out if he had known that Akane had not considered going to him for sympathy. So Teri rolled quietly on the floor practising his 'I'm only a six month old baby I can't possibly speak act' while blowing bubbles.
Akane would have remained slumped in the chair indefinitely had there not been a knock on the door, Akane glanced first at Kasumi who still seemed lost in a world of heaving bosoms and throbbing manhoods, if Akane was hearing correctly.
This disturbed Akane greatly, she didn't understand this throbbing manhood thing at all or why Kasumi seemed so interested in them. How was the material strong enough to contain them, was there special manufacturing, extra stitching and the like that goes into boys trousers to contain them and what happens if they get loose? Horrible visions of throbbing manhoods roaming the streets unchecked ran through her mind and for a moment
Shaking her head to clear it of these disturbing visions and possibly hentai thoughts Akane noted that Nabiki seemed unwilling to move and her father was still sitting with an idiot grin on his face, lost in his happy place. She looked at the door and decided that here at least might be someone who would share her misgivings and recognise the unfairness of the whole situation.
This lasted until she opened the door to see Nodoka Saotome standing smiling at the threshold.
"Akane-chan" Nodoka smiled a particularly vacant smile "how good to see you. Is my manly son in?"
Akane shook her head and noticed that Mrs Saotome was carrying a book, the title of which appeared to be 'Desire Among the Sakura Blossoms'. The cover was particularly lurid, a bare-chested samurai with almost ludicrous pectoral development and defined abdomen which reminded Akane of an overstretched and distorted ballon. The samurai was gazing intently into the eyes of a beautiful woman with matching overinflated breasts whose kimono was being held in place only by good intentions, and badly at that.
Akane looked at her sisters, then back at Mrs Saotome 'I'm all alone aren't I.' she thought sadly 'Am I the only sane one here?'
She could have cried.
9 9 9
If Ranma and his companions thought the battle would start with a trickle of Neolithic warrior strolling into the clearing they were mistaken. Neolithic martial artists burst forth from the undergrowth in a torrent.
Not pausing the Neolithic martial artists at the sight of Ranma and his companions let loose with a cry of "BUN-BUN" and charged.
Ranma heedless of the onrushing enemy or the looks of his companions remained motionless. Marsalling the power that Wu had told him resided within him Ranma reached out and touched the chi, the lifeforce of the planet. Being unsure of the etiquette for using chi Ranma thought it best to ask politely and tried when reaching out with his ki to infuse a little of this question into his touch.
Ranma seemed to feel a response from the park around him, a willingness to help. So Ranma put a little of his will out into the air around him.
'Just a little nudge' Ranma thought and pushed.
Mousse and Ryouga had been waiting for a signal. They waited until their opponents were ten feet away, then nine, eight….
At four feet without consultation they decided Ranma had forgotten to signal them and prepared to defend themselves.
They were possibly, if it was possible even more unprepared than the Neolithic martial artists for what happened next.
It was kind of eerie in a way. There should have been sound. In fact it was disappointing that there was no sound, it would have been so much more impressive if there was sound. No doubt a quack would have just been silly, but a satisfying boom, a crash or full bodied whoosh would have added to the drama.
Instead without a sound the attacking Neolithic martial artists were picked up and flung as if by an invisible hand and hurtled back into the undergrowth and on top of the second wave incapacitating them as well.
Unfortunately, though Ranma's attack had accounted for the 100 in the first wave and the 115 in the second the third, fourth and fifth wave came on heedless.
Ranma sprang forward to the attack.
Then stopped to look back at Mousse and Ryouga who had not yet moved.
"Well" he asked.
Mousse and Ryouga swallowed nervously and leapt to the attack.
9 9 9
Nabiki had drug herself out of her funk in the midst of her explanation of where Ranma was, why Akane had 32 husbands and the change in Ranma's situation vis a vis fiancé-wise.
Nodoka took all this in her stride, she even congratulated Akane on her nuptials, commenting that she didn't think Akane had it in her, and cast an admiring smile Akane's way. This did nothing to improve Akane's mood, fortunately for Akane any further congratulatory comments from Nodoka were cut short by the arrival of Sayuri who found herself unable to relax at home knowing Mousse was out risking life, limb and pinfeathers in defence of Nerima.
This set Nabiki off into a tirade about martial artists, problems and hammers, none of which Akane understood.
"Akane" Nabiki spoke slowly as if talking to an particularly slow child "if the only tool you have is a hammer every problem is a nail."
"Oh" said Akane wondering whether this was a dig at her mallet or golf cubs.
'In fact' wondered Akane 'I wonder where my mallet went? I haven't seen it in weeks.'
If smiles were measured in wattage, and there was a corresponding measure of the inherent evil of any smile the smile that Nabiki suddenly produced would have gone off the scale.
"Sayuri?" asked Nabiki sweetly "does your father still work for the council?"
"Yes" Sayuri responded puzzled "why?"
Nabiki chuckled nastily "I have a cunning plan."
Sayuri, Kasumi and Nodoka sooned joined in the chilling laughter as Nabiki described her plan to defeat the Neolithic martial artists.
Akane and Soun cowered in the farthest corner of the room, for today they witnessed something scarier than an angry Nabiki.
Kasumi with an evil grin and an icy cold laugh that chilled them to their very bones.
9 9 9
A-chan found that having a flying and talking duck for a friend a great advantage. Now using Brunhilde as her trusty steed and sidekick she could cover twice the area she used to patrol before on her never-ending quest for perverts to punish.
She had even managed a stop in at Juuban where she gave those sailor suit wearing pervert encouraging little strumpets a piece of her mind. That her lecture had gone for three hours and necessitated her punctuating her discourse with blows from her mallet, primarily upon the head of the blonde-headed bimbo, had provided A-chan an opportunity to further discourage perverts everywhere.
A-chan was also very pleased that the blue haired one was so taken with her lecture that she was actually taking notes on a small computer. She only hoped that the blue haired sailor suited pervert promoter passed on her notes and they all took heed of her warning or else she would be back to mete out punishment commensurate with their crimes.
"Groper at five o'clock" A-chan called out to Brunhilde as she spotted a pervert in the street below "time for some pervert polo!"
As Brunhilde opened up with another operatic aria A-chan summoned her mallet and the two plummeted towards the unsuspecting pervert.
9 9 9
Kaoru Matsushima was dying. Pain wracked her tiny body. A body that had turned against her. Each breath she took caused pain to lance through her and though the doctors had attached her to a drip that fed a steady flow of painkillers into her system it did little to ease her suffering.
A visit to the doctor for what she thought was only hayfever had revealed a deeper problem, a problem which required consultation with several specialists over a few short days. The diagnosis was unanimous. She only had days to live.
'How cruel' she thought as she lay in her hospital bed, the sheets drawn up to cover the body that was wasting away, eaten away by an insidious disease the name of which she could not even pronounce.
With a weak and trembling hand she reached out and clutched her mother's hand. Kaoru's eyes in these the last few hours she would spend in this life had become peaceful with acceptance of her fate, only a slight narrowing of her eyes when the pain became to much gave any clue to her suffering.
A tear ran down Mrs Matsushima's cheek as she knelt by her daughter's bed, it was only her husband's arm around her shoulder that kept her from falling and she could feel him tremble as he held her as if it was only the need for him to be strong that kept him strong.
The last few days had destroyed them both, heir only child taken from them before she really had a chance to live. The hopes and dreams that they had cherished, come to nought by the whim of some uncaring deity. That Kaoru was able to bear her suffering with such dignity gave them a sense of pride in their daughter and mad their loss even greater.
The doctor's had asked if there was anything they could do for her, though there was nothing medically they could do. Her reply was simple, she wanted to see her Tatewaki-sempai, she hadn't seen him since Chapter Five. Though the doctors were a little confused by this they rushed to fulfil her dying wish.
That had been hours ago. Kaoru felt the strength leaving her body with every breath, the effort to keep going was more tiring than anything she had ever felt before.
As her vision faded and she knew her final moments approached a sound at the door made her her turn her had. There framed in the door, was her sempai.
"Matsushima-san" Tatewaki Kuno spoke softly as he knelt near her parents gazing at the wasted figure on the bed.
Kaoru Matsushima sighed deeply and sniffled a little.
"Damn hayfever."
She sighed again.
"If only" she whispered to herself as she pushed her trolley through the supermarket.
9 9 9
Ranma knew the battle was not going well.
The battered and unconscious bodies of Neolithic martial artists littered the ground, in some places four or five deep. But for every one that fell another two rose to take their place.
Here and there was a victim of Nerima's own Master of Hidden Weapons buried under chains, plumbing fixtures and in one case a very large collection of what appeared to be souvenirs from Beijing bid for the Olympic games. Ryouga was relying on brute strength, swinging this way and that with his impossibly heavy umbrella felling his opponents like wheat before the scythe windrowing he Neolithic martial artists.
Ranma flowed like water through the fight. More than ever before Ranma moved with a grace and speed that made his opponents look slow and clumsy by comparison. Partly his own ki, partly the chi of the world around him powered him, speeded him made all the colours brighter, the sounds sharper and each movement surer. He swayed underneath a swinging club, then seemed to float forwards and upwards where his elbow connected with the club wielders jaw. His whole body followed the elbow around and down where he somersaulted towards his next opponent and with a two handed strike ended that Neolithic martial artists participation in the fight.
It was then Ranma spotted what appeared to be the leader of the Fluffy Bunnies.
Peter had been the leader of the Fluffy Bunnies for twelve years. Scheming, plotting and clubbing his way to the leadership of the clan had taken five years. Scheming and plotting was probably a poor description for what had taken place, but for Neolithic martial artist retaining enough concentration to remember who the next person to club on your road to the top of the heap is an intellectual achievement not to be sneezed at.
Not willing to attack without some warning Ranma let loose a battle cry and leapt to the attack. It was almost an anticlimax when the Fluffy Bunnies' fell so quickly.
If Ranma, Mousse and Ryouga expected the battle to end there they were disappointed. The remaining Fluffy Bunnies gave a cry of "BUN-BUN" and redoubled their efforts.
Worse yet their cry was answered and another ave of attacker emerged from the undergrowth.
9 9 9
"Boys" Nabiki sighed viewing the carnage in the park. She glanced to her assistants gathered to either side of her. Kasumi, Nodoka and Shampoo stood quietly gossiping as if on a picnic outing, Sayuri smiled and Akane waited nervously by a Toyota Dyna truck.
"Ready girls?"
Nabiki nodded to Sayuri. Sayuri nodded back and spoke quietly into her mobile phone.
For a moment nothing happened and then without fanfare or warning the sprinklers came on.
"Ooooh bunnies" Kasumi squealed happily clapping her hands together.
Where before an epic martial arts battle was playing out before their eyes now stood a drenched redhead, a duck, a small black pig and rabbits for nearly as far as the eye could see.
"Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!" Nabiki proclaimed gesturing grandly.
"Huh?" answered Akane
"Just open the damn door" Nabiki sighed as Kasumi and Nodoka giggled.
9 9 9
Hiroto had no idea who his parents were. For as long as he could remember he had lived on the streets, gathering what food he could where he could, each day a struggle to get by, but he was happy with his lot.
He was not happy at the moment however.
Like a lot of youngsters, he was still an adolescent, he had problems with authority. He had had a few brushes with the law but he always managed to avoid being caught, unfortunately this morning his luck had run out and he'd been captured and locked up.
As the door confining him to the back of the truck opened he ignored the many rabbits his fellows were chasing instead he leapt for the biggest target he could see the girl holding a duck and a piglet.
9 9 9
It took a while for Ranma to stop laughing. Even the dog which bounded across the park growling at him couldn't dampen his spirits. With a casual swipe Ranma knocked the dog away and looked about the park.
Mousse and Ryouga did not share his good humour, though both would later admit that the sight of all the rabbits disappearing into the bushes chased by a truckload of dogs was rather funny.
Nabiki and Sayuri walked down to where Ranma waited nursing his two increasingly antagonistic companions Sayuri was talking quickly into her phone and as the two reached Ranma the sprinklers stopped.
Sayuri held out her hands and Ranma passed Mousse to her, Ryouga took the opportunity that this momentary distraction provided to bite Ranma causing Ranma to drop him. Looking here and there Ryouga spotted his now feline wife chasing a rabbit with the other dogs and set off in pursuit.
"Ouch" said Ranma holding up a thumb showing indents from porcine teeth.
"Do you want me to kiss it better?" offered Nabiki.
"Well…" Ranma blushed "I'd rather be boy Ranma…"
"You have no spirit of adventure" Nabiki smirked causing Ranma to blush even brighter. "But I suppose that's why I've got this."
Nabiki produced a small thermos flask, identical to the one Sayuri was now using to change Mousse back to his human form.
Before Nabiki could unscrew the lid of the thermos they were interrupted by a small green car launching itself from the street and into the park. It landed in a splash of mud and before anyone could recover from the shock of the sudden appearance of the car, two pandas, one of which looked a little green, emerged.
The fattest of the two pandas rushed up to Ranma and Nabiki.
In a whirlwind of motion Genma whipped a black and white soccer shirt over Ranma's head, looked quizzically at Ranma and Nabiki, held up a sign that read 'We'll talk about this' stole the thermos and was gone.
"Well I suppose I don't really need the thermos" said Ranma who closed his eyes in concentration for a moment. His wet clothes steamed for a moment and Ranma was suddenly himself again.
"That's a very neat trick" Nabiki smiled.
Ranma reached out for Nabiki.
"You know I saved you, don't you" said Nabiki.
Ranma enclosed Nabiki in his arms.
"My hero" he smiled and kissed her.
Genma was breathing hard by the time he reached Nodoka, with his stubby panda digits he fumble with the thermos lid before finally working it free and pouring the contents over his head.
Tossing the thermos aside Genma embraced Nodoka and dipped her as if dancing, he moved his lips closer to hers and whispered "Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"
Nodoka could only blush and giggle.
9 9 9
Mrs Yoshikawa was very pleased with the way things turned out. The Neolithic martial artists were rather subdued after their defeat and due to the nature of their defeat she thought it unlikely that the Fluffy Bunnies would try anything again for quite a while.
That left her one small task.
"You're kidding" Nabiki said.
"I'm afraid not" Mrs Yoshikawa replied "with Shampoo out of the running for the position of Ranma's wife a shipload of amazons are arriving to challenge Ranma."
"Really" said Nabiki in a tone that lowered the room temperature by several degrees and caused everyone but Ranma and Mrs Yoshikawa to flee the room. "Really!"
"Um Nabiki?" Ranma asked.
"Yes dear" Nabiki responded frostily.
"Um, I er."
Nabiki looked at an obviously nervous Ranma.
"Sorry" Nabiki said "it's just that things finally quiet down a bit and now this.."
"Um, I have an idea" offered Ranma.
"Really?"
Nervously at first and then with greater confidence Ranma outlined his plan.
Nabiki smiled "better than my idea"
"Your idea?"
"Uh hmmm" Nabiki nodded "I have a customer I procure Gundam models for…. "
Nabiki consulted her notebook "a Sergeant Keroro, he once promised me the greater Tokyo area after he conquered the earth or a few weapons of mass destruction in the mean time."
"You have some very dangerous friends Nabiki" Ranma smiled.
Nabiki gave Ranma a hug "just you remember that."
9 9 9
Hiroto was sure this was the place, this is where the scent had led him.
Many dogs he realised would have been unhappy with being knocked down as he was this afternoon. Hiroto however was different, instead of being angry he was happy, here was someone he could respect. Finally after so long without any purpose other than just getting by Hiroto knew what he wanted, he had found somewhere he wanted to belong.
He had avoided the patrols in the streets and followed the scent of his new master across Nerima to this gate.
He sniffed at the gate and gave it an experimental push, but the gate was shut. Opening shut gates unfortunately was not one of Hiroto's skills. Frustrated that he couldn't enter but satisfied that he had arrived Hiroto lay down in the gateway and waited.