I do not own Ranma ½ or any characters part or parcel of that great work, nor lay claim to any of the incredible ideas expressed by Rumiko Takahashi, or Viz video. This is just a labor of love from one fan to the rest.
Like Fallen Leaves, the Willow Weeps. A Ying, Yang, Yakuza story (Y3)
Chapter 11, The past rears its head, like a dark horse.
Kotori hurried along behind the Mikai, amazed at how quickly they were moving without the girl in front of her seeming to be moving all that quickly. She envied her the grace, then shook her head as she focused on what was important, seeing Qiang Pu to make sure that her friend was okay. She knew that it wasn't good when she distracted herself when she was upset, or felt uncomfortable for that matter. It wasn't the proper way to deal with things, as Tachi would say. Better to keep yourself rooted in the present, and aware of your surroundings.
She was led to a room, and after a gentle knock, allowed to enter by the Mikai. Once she was in, she saw Qiang Pu with her back to the door, hunched over a low table. She hesitated, then took a quick step in as the door was closed behind her, granting them as much privacy as anyone had in the Teahouse.
"Whoever is, Qiang Pu no want to talk right now." Qiang Pu said in broken, strained Japanese as she seemed to hunch over even more. Her head hung down, and her hair, now loose, hung over her face like a shroud.
Kotori felt an ache in her chest as she stepped forward, and impulsively rested a hand on Qiang Pu's shoulder. The Joketsuzoku warrior turned angrily, and for a moment Kotori stared into the eyes of someone who had certainly had to kill before, before Qiang Pu quickly averted them and hunched back over the untouched teacup that was held tightly in her hands.
"If you don't want to talk, that is fine. But no one who is hurting as much as you obviously are right now deserves to be alone. I know that you and Rei wouldn't let me sit alone like this, so there is no way I will allow it. That is, if I can sit?" Kotori finished lamely.
Qiang Pu looked up at her for a moment, and Kotori felt her heart lurch in her chest anew. She looked away quickly and with a jerky motion nodded as she went back to hunching over her teacup.
Kotori sat down with as much grace as she could, and smiled at her friend gently before she poured herself another cup of tea from the kettle, noticing that there were three more teacups on the tray. She arched an eyebrow, as she wondered once more at how things worked at the Teahouse before she took a sip of the tea, and almost immediately felt herself calm slightly.
"It really is good tea, it would be a shame if it went cold, this One thinks." Kotori said as seriously as she could, and watched with a bit of joy as Qiang Pu's head lifted and they locked eyes for a moment, before Qiang Pu looked down with a touch of a smile ghosting over her lips.
"You have been hanging around Tachi too much." Qiang Pu said softly as she lifted the cup and took a sip.
"I don't think that is a bad thing. I think it's a good thing that I have been spending my time with good, wonderful people. Miss Tachi, Mother Konatsu, Rei, and you." Kotori said earnestly, and she noticed how Qiang Pu's hands tightened a little around the teacup and she once more reached over and placed her hand over her friends. "You are a good person, Qiang Pu. One of the best I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. You befriended me instantly. Me, a trans streetwalker who was living with a bunch of other runaways and misfits. You gave me a chance, when almost no one else would. You are a wonderful person, and I think I am lucky to have you as a friend."
Qiang Pu sighed and tried to shrink in on herself a bit more. "Qiang Pu no think you think same if knew what did. What has done. Will have do again." She said bitterly, then jerked when the hand on hers gave a gentle, comforting squeeze.
"And I know that everything you have ever done is because you either had to, or it was the right thing to do. They could have killed her, or sold her, or any number of horrible things. Instead, they made her forget. And all she forgot is the things that she should never have known, if she was going to betray the trust of all of those that live here. And… I know that it hurt you, I could see it. See how much you hated doing it, but you did it because the alternative would be worse." Kotori leaned down so that she could meet the startling blue eyes of her friend. "You are a good person, and I am so glad you came into my life."
"Even if one day, Qiang Pu might have to make Kotori forget." Qiang Pu said softly.
"Even so. As long as you promise me to be my friend again. I say that, because I will never do anything that will get me thrown out of the House, not if I can help it. And, because for some of us, we wish we could forget." Kotori sighed and took a sip of her tea. "I wish I could forget how my parents reacted to me coming out, and all the things I had to do to live afterwards. I wouldn't mind, if all I knew was this place, and the people that live here. The people that belong here, like you do." Kotori said softly, as she met the gaze of her friend once more.
Qiang Pu smiled a soft, vulnerable little smile as she could tell there was no fear or rejection in the open, honest eyes of her friend. A friend, something she had thought she might never have again, after everything that had happened. Yes, she had Rei and a few others, but Kotori felt different somehow. Like she could truly open her heart to her. It was, to be honest, a bit intimidating and scary. But, at the same time, she couldn't help but yearn for it somehow. She wanted to let the pain out, to let herself grieve again. It wasn't a very Japanese thing to do, and certainly was not befitting a warrior of the Joketsuzoku. But maybe it was a Qiang Pu, daughter of Ranma thing? Was it okay for someone raised for the last five years by the Ice Queen, the Elder Nabiki? Taught by people like Akane and Ukyo, trusted by Mother Konatsu and Elder Tachi?
Maybe, just maybe, it was okay for her.
They sat in silence for a time, just drinking their tea and finding comfort in the presence of the other, before Qiang Pu looked up and met the eyes of her friend. "Thank you, Kotori. I… I guess I probably shouldn't have been alone, right?" She asked as she bowed her head a little.
Kotori smiled at her friend, and gently lifted her chin with a finger. It was an act that Miss Tachi did often with her, and she thought she understood why a bit better now. "Well, you aren't anymore. And I am not going anywhere. I heard that your parents are on the way? Do you want me to leave when they get here, or…?" She trailed off, as she realized she didn't want to even say that she would or could leave.
Qiang Pu blushed and smiled back. "Stay, please. I want you to meet them. Elders Nabiki and Ranma are… Something else. And, I guess, a doorway into some of the deeper secrets of the Teahouse." She pondered that for a moment, then nodded. "And I would guess that Mother Konatsu is considering letting you know, since she obviously arranged all of this." She shook her head fondly. "She always has to meddle with the people she cares about."
Kotori blinked at her, as she wondered exactly what she meant by all of that when a gentle knock on the door interrupted her chain of thoughts. A few moments later, the door slid open, and the same Mikai as earlier bowed two women into the room.
The first one to enter was a short, buxom redhead dressed in a tight fitting but comfortable looking Chinese cheongsam that was slit almost to the waist. It was in black, with red accents and a golden dragon curling around the ample curves of the shorter woman. Kotori stared into the startling blue eyes of the woman, knowing very well she had seen those same eyes many times before.
The second woman to enter, who trailed just a bit behind the redhead was a taller, more severe looking brunette. Her dark eyed gaze locked onto Kotori for a moment as the trans girl shivered at the icy look before it changed into one of quiet contemplation before she moved her gaze to Qiang Pu. Her eyes softened instantly as she walked over, now with the redhead in tow, and hugged the Joketsuzoku warrior tightly.
Qiang Pu stiffened for a moment, then seemed to just melt into the tight hug, as she started to softly sob. The taller woman just slowly stroked the back of the young warrior as the redhead settled down near Kotori.
"Sorry about interrupting. My name is Ranma, and that is my wife, Nabiki Tendo. I was told that you have been taking good care of our daughter. Thank you, we are in your debt." Ranma said before she bowed formally from where she was sitting across from Kotori.
Kotori blushed awkwardly even as the wheels ran rapidly in her head. The very obviously female person had introduced herself as Ranma, Qiang Pu's father. So, either Qiang Pu was adopted, or maybe Ranma had had only top surgery done? If so, it was impressive.
Qiang Pu broke away from Nabiki as she wiped her eyes and scooted over a spot so that she could sit next to the befuddled trans girl while Nabiki settled across from Kotori. Qiang Pu chewed on her lip for a moment as she almost automatically served tea for the other two while she thought about what she could or would say. After a moment, she nodded as she looked at her currently female father.
"Elder Nabiki, honored father Ranma, I would like to introduce you to Kotori. She has recently been accepted into the Teahouse under the tutelage of Elder Tachi, and has not yet been made privy to many of the secrets of the House. Including the ones that you are involved with, Father." She said pointedly, causing Ranma to blush and rub the back of her head nervously.
"I imagine I will have to have a talk with Konatsu, then." Ranma said as she laughed nervously.
Nabiki sighed and nodded as she took a sip of her tea, already sure she knew what blend it would be. As she confirmed it, she nodded and took another sip as she gave Qiang Pu a pointed look at her own mostly untouched cup.
Qiang Pu blushed at the silent admonition and dutifully took a sip of her tea. "Yes, it… would probably be for the best, yes?" Qiang Pu said nervously.
Kotori looked around, feeling a bit lost until the stern gaze of Nabiki settled on her. Kotori almost instinctively shrunk back before the stern gaze softened and Nabiki bowed to Kotori as well. "Thank you for taking care of our daughter. She might not be of my flesh, but she has my heart and soul in her hands." She sat back up and gave the trans girl an appraising look before Ranma cleared her throat and Nabiki blushed. "Sorry, bad habit. So, why don't you tell us a little about yourself, dear." Nabiki said, knowing that right now Qiang Pu didn't want to talk about what they had both heard about. The previous incident still bothered the young woman, even if it was really the best possible outcome, considering the mess that it had all become.
But, perhaps those wounds were healing and the scars were fading, if their daughter had befriended someone who was from outside the sheltered walls of the Teahouse. With Rei and the other younger residents of the Teahouse, it was almost a given that Qiang Pu would bond with at least a few of them. They were together most of the day when Ranma and herself were away, after all. This was a place she could be herself, and never have to worry about being judged. A place filled with women she could model herself after, and respect.
Kotori did not fit that mold, and that alone interested Nabiki. What was it about this young trans girl that drew in Qiang Pu, and set Konatsu to thinking about allowing her into the inner secrets of the Teahouse? What made Tachi, who was even more withdrawn than their own daughter could be, reach out and take an outsider under her wing? These were questions that she would get answers to. Nicely, though, if the look she was getting from her beloved told her anything.
"I… I don't know what to say, or where to start…" The nervous trans girl said shyly, unable to meet the eyes of the two older women sitting across from her. Kotori jerked a little in surprise, then relaxed as she felt Qiang Pu take her hand and give it a little comforting squeeze.
"Start at the beginning, my dear. Tell us who you are, and how you found yourself here." Nabiki supplied much more gently, seeing how skittish Kotori was, and already guessing at some of the causes.
Kotori took a few slow, steadying breaths as she realized that the tables had been turned. She had come here to comfort and help Qiang Pu, and here she was the one that was getting the comfort and help from Qiang Pu. She sighed and then looked at the older women as she tried to smile. "Okay, The beginning."
The gentle nod she got from Nabiki encouraged her, as she began her tale.
"Well, I guess it started when I came out to my parents…." Kotori began.