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Chapter Fourteen
Ky was waiting for the Anything Goes heirs as he did every morning. Only, it wasn't like every morning. As Ranma approached, he noticed a pained look in his friend's eyes.
"What's up Ky?" he asked as he dropped from the fence.
"I don't know man. When I woke up I found out the hard way that my ribs were cracked, and I was wearing my street clothes and coat," Ky answered with a wince.
He gingerly rubbed his tightly wrapped ribs.
"Sounds like you got in a fight," Akane replied.
"Impossible. I've been having trouble sleeping lately. I know I'm gonna sound like a kid, but I've been having some bad nightmares for the past few weeks so I've been using a shiatsu sleeping point to help me get some rest. There's no way I could have been out. Not even sleepwalking."
"Stranger things have happened. I was having my life force sucked dry by a demonic version of my girl-half one time," Ranma said off-handedly.
"That's a new one on me. Something I should worry about?"
"Nah, that old freak Happosai used some funky incense to pull that one off. Speaking of which, I'm surprised he's only made the one appearance lately. Usually he's around for weeks at a time," Ranma answered.
"Anyway, I'm gonna talk to Elder Cologne after school today. Maybe she could help me figure out what's going on," Ky informed his friends. "In the meantime, we better hurry before we're late. I really don't want bucket duty today."
Ranma and Akane agreed whole heartedly.
-ooo-
"Nihao, welcome to Nekohaten!" Shampoo greeted as the bell above the door rang, signaling a patron. "Oh, Brother Ky hungry? Great-grandmother make you too, too delicious raman!"
"Not right now Sister. I need to speak to Elder Cologne about something."
"Oh, and what might that be sonny? I have a little bit of time before the dinner rush starts. Come with me. We'll talk in the kitchen," Cologne said.
Ky followed her into the back, and sat in the stool she pointed to.
"So, what do you need?"
"Well, I've been having nightmares lately so I've had trouble sleeping. I've used a shiatsu point to put my body to sleep, but this morning when I woke up I was dressed and I had four cracked ribs on my right side. I was hoping you might be able to offer some insight, since I shouldn't have been able to sleep walk, let alone get dressed and get into a fight," the young Amazon said, removing his school jacket and shirt slowly to expose the wrappings on his torso.
"Hmm. Interesting. What kind of nightmares are you having?" the old woman asked.
"I don't really remember any details after waking. All I know is that they're full of pain and bloodshed, and the someone screaming a name. I just can't remember what the name is," he replied, a distant look in his eyes.
"I think you should stay here for a couple days. Maybe I can determine what is going on, but tonight you're getting some rest. I'll give you some Chinese herbs to suppress you dreams. You're looking a little haggard. You could use a shave too," she joked.
"Yeah, well I had other things on my mind this morning."
Ky rubbed his stubble with a little embarrassment, and withdrew into himself as he traced the scar on his cheek.
"Do you know how Xian Qiao is doing?" he asked as he refocused on the present.
Cologne cackled for a moment.
"She is well. She actually sent a letter for me to give you so it's fortunate that you came today," she said, handing him an envelope produced from her billowing sleeves.
Ky smiled as he say the immaculate handwriting of the girl he had saved months ago.
'Greetings Brother Ky,
Are you well? Soon I'll be old enough to join the hunting parties, since my twelfth name day is only a week away. What is life like outside the village? I wish you could be here. I miss my big brother, and my big sister. Elder Lo Xian said it might be okay for me to visit sometime after my name day. That is, if it's alright with Elder Khu Lon. I have to go now. It's time for my archery training. I'll try to write again real soon, okay Brother? Bye.
-Xian Qiao'
Ky smiled as he thought of the girl he had come to care for greatly during his short stay in the Amazon village. His eyes brightened as a thought came to him.
"Would it be possible to return to the village in a week? Her twelfth name day is coming up, and I want to surprise her. I miss the tribe. Most of the Amazons went out of their way to make me feel welcome when I was adopted into the Juketsuzoku."
"I think that would be alright. She would be very happy to have you there for the celebration. I suppose I could have a trip set up to leave tomorrow afternoon. You should probably go now. You'll be late for work. Came back here when that doctor lets you go tonight. I'll have the herbs brewed for you to drink," Cologne directed.
"Thank you Elder. I'll be here," Ky said politely.
He shrugged his shirt back on, and slipped Xian Qiao's letter into his pocket before taking his leave of the withered matriarch.
-ooo-
Three day's later found Ky in the middle of the Chinese wilderness, well on her way to the Juketsuzoku village.
"Let's see, Elder Cologne said that the first patrols should be about here," she said quietly as she poured over the map Cologne had provided.
A slight sound to her left alerted her to the band's presence, even as the party leader strode into the small clearing that Ky had stopped in.
"Greetings Sister," the warrior said, approaching casually.
Ky bowed briefly and replied, "Greetings. I am Ky, Warrior Sister and Warrior Brother of the Juketsuzoku. I have come to visit my sisters during Xian Qiao's name day."
"Xian Qiao speaks of you often, though sadly I have not had the pleasure of meeting my new sister," she said embracing Ky. "I am Sun Xiang. Come, I will escort you home."
-ooo-
"Ky!" Xian Qiao said, glomping onto the red head with childish abandon. "I can't believe you came!"
"Did you really think I'd miss this if I could help it? I'm hurt sister," Ky replied lightly as she held the girl tightly.
"I know, but Japan is so far away! You have to tell me all about what happened since you left me!" Xian Qiao announced said eagerly.
"Oh, it's not as far as you think, and I think tales of my recent exploits can wait until I get settled. Now come on, show me where I'm gonna be stayin huh?" Ky said with a laugh.