Author's Note:
Short Episode today, neh? Kinda neat how after a year of inactivity, I crank out the next chapter two nights later. Sorry it was so long.. but Chapter 6 was hard to write... it felt then.. and still feels now.. not good enough. But it was a hump I had to get over.
Twisted Prophecy Chapter 7
"We just want to dance here; someone stole the stage." 'We Built This City (On Rock and Roll)' - Jefferson Starship
Kabal dashed down the streets of the Azabu-Juuban district of Tokyo. He was headed towards a holo-entertainment center called The Crown of Tokyo. Stupid name, but then he was told to go there by a talking cat. He was accompanied upon this errand by a Shinto Priestess who could change into a superhero and fling fire-based attacks at her enemies. That was no less stupid. But, all considered, this kind of chaos was not foreign to him. After all, he had grown up in the Nerima district himself... which to this day (over 80 years later) was STILL famous for weird occurances and ridiculous battles fought by equally ridiculous combatants. From what he saw in the paper, now lurking in Nerima was a band of roving women who protested Japan's all male government. Not a bad idea, considering they were in the majority; but the method they went about it was patently ridiculous. They would strip the men down and put them into women's clothes; then dip them in honey. Kabal did not get it. It was stupid. Life had once been ideal for him, tending to his land and family, then it was terrible for him... bloody, violent, in surroundings that seemed to have no good future. Now things were back to stupid. Full circle.
As he passed a group of schoolgirls, he took noticed in lower peripheral vision that his crystal suddenly glowed a blazing brown color. Not pulsing, not throbbing, steady glow, and it almost seemed to pull towards them. He continued running and the light faded, the pull stopping as well. He'd check it out later.
He approached within a block to the scene of battle to witness more "stupid". Indeed, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury were lying on the ground, entangled in some obviously incredibly sticky but undoubtedly harmless glue. Sailor Moon was posing at and threatening what appeared to be a bipedal, mutant human/black widow. However, it was pink, furry, it's fangs didn't look particularly sharp, and it was VERY female. It lacked nipples, but it was female. Behind it, obviously directing the attack, was a blonde woman in a semi-military outfit, demonic wings, sitting on a chair in the air that was not there. .Several steps closer, Kabal wondered exactly what his place in this battle would be. Should he puff out his chest and threaten the beastie while Sailor Moon finished whatever it was she was about to do?
Instead, he pulled his pistol from it's hip holster and emptied the clip into the creature. The first two shots missed, causing the creature to turn towards him in shock. The third struck it just under the right cheekbone, shattering much of that side of it's face and leaving the jaw almost comically hanging. the rest of the bullets struck with wet thuds into the creature's thorax, blowing green guts and white insect blood all over the pavement. Continuing at his full run, he holstered the pistol and approached the woman sitting, looking quite stunned at him, in the air. Spreading his arms into the full Kenpo battle charge, he picked up the pace even more, closing the distance before the woman could react. His fist looped out and socked her square in the nose, with the driving force of his muscles and the speed of his dash behind it. She flew off her invisible perch and smashed into the metal wall 10 feet behind. The woman pried her left arm out of the dent her body made and felt her nose, which was bleeding quite freely.
Kabal was mostly shocked that his blow had not outright killed her. The woman pulled herself out the rest of the way; still shocked looking, and she raised her hand and pointed it at him. Kabal could feel her Chi and anger gathering... and he allowed his body to go cold, to accept the anger and her energy. Finally he felt her gathering her attack into a coagulation... it was not any different from the energy blasts practiced by Herb. He knew exactly what to do about it. She launched the attack, and he waved his arms about in a circular motion, catching the tip of the stream in his own field of Chi. He danced with the stream of her energy for a few moments, spiraling inwards, then when the energy peaked, his motion stopped and he swung his arm back around...
"Hiryu-Shoten-Ha! Revised Horizontal Blast!"
The Dragon's head formed about his fist as he began the words and as he completed, it lunged forwards as a real striking serpent, energy spiralling out behind it. His opponent was totally taken off guard, and she took the Dragon Hurricane right in the chest, driven back into the hole she had just pulled herself out of. She screamed out in pain, and Kabal pressed the attack. "I don't know who the fuck you work for, but tell them this: The Sailor Scouts aren't fucking around anymore. We've had enough of your shit. It ends NOW!" With his last word, screamed of the anger absorbed from his opponent, caused one final burst of energy to pound into her; slumping her to the ground. He turned around to see Tuxedo Mask standing behind him; a rose in his hand, and a stunned look on his face. "See? That's how you do it!" And passed dead out on the concrete, his body crumpling as if he had no bones at all.
Rose pulled herself up off the ground again, feeling severely weakened. And also wondered why she thought of herself as Rose all the sudden. And who was that man? She... knew him. Well, whoever he was, he had put up a fight the likes of which she had not seen in thousands of... but she was only 22? She shook it off and came to a complete standing position. She must have made some noise, because Tuxedo Mask whirled on her and appeared ready to throw his rose. Rose... Azurite.. yes, that was her name... shook her head rapidly, as much a negation of anything Tuxedo Mask was about to do as an attempt to clear her own head. "No. I'm done for now. You've won the day. Tell that guy he won't catch me off guard like that again." With that she snapped her fingers and was gone.
Serena finally dropped her arms from her Sailor Moon pose. "Darien.... what...?" she said, stopping as she realized she had no idea what she was about to say. Lita was already up and around, and she placed one hand on Serena's shoulder. "Well hey it worked didn't it?" Serena turned towards the vanquished monster, and all at once smelled the sulfuric odor left by Kabal's pistol, intermingling with the sour milk smell that was coming from the vanquished monster. She looked at the monster's inside splayed across the pavement and say that it's arms were still twitching. There was no life in it's eyes but the body did not know it was dead yet. She fell to her knees, vomiting until her throat hurt. Tuxedo Mask approached her quickly and cradled her in his arms, shielding her form the mess with his cloak. "Would someone go check if Kabal is OK?" Ami looked almost as bad as Serena, and Rei was standing in the same spot she was when Kabal fired off the first shots. So Lita went over to check on him, saying "This isn't any more gross then those zombies we fought a coupla days ago." Darien made an affirmative grunt, then said, "No but somehow I think his actions just raised the ante and the Negaverse is about to get a lot more violent in pursuit of energy." "Or run like scared little bitches, " Lita shot over her shoulder, "I always thought we were taking it too easy with them anyway."
Kabal's eyes opened and he slowly focused on the figure in front of him. For a few moments he saw her in some kind of breastplate... with Faerie wings to boot. She wore a demure crown of... no. It was just Lita. "You doin OK?" she asked. "Yes," he responded, "Just a bit tired." Lita turned from him and screamed, far too loudly for his still sensitive ears, "Yeah he's gonna live!" Tuxedo Mask, still clutching Serena, gave a thumbs up from the distance. Lita kneeled down Japanese style next to Kabal. She produced a pack of cigarettes from somewhere and tapped one out, lighting it up. "That was pretty fuckin cool." she said while exhaling her first puff. Kabal laughed lightly as he pulled himself over to a nearby telephone pole and leaned against it. He usually couldn't stand women who smoked, but when he saw her take the next puff, he immediately.... pushed that thought down. "Seriously," Lita said, "That was amazing. You come flyin down the street like a bat outta hell and all the sudden you're throwing out enough firepower to take on the whole Negaverse singlehandedly." "Yeah well, " Kabal said, "She used a sloppy attack and I turned it against her. Course as you can see it took just about everything I had. Even sloppy that woman is a powerhouse." Lita actually looked embarassed for a second, then reached out and... quite unlike the rest of her demeanor, placed her hand very gently on his knee. "Well.. uh.. I still thought it was-"
Kabal rolled himself away from the spot he had been, as a wooden katana struck the area he had been sitting. He rolled up, muscles aching but taking his stance anyway. Looking his present opponent over, he couldn't honestly admit to being surprised at seeing him. "Saotome thou art TRULY a cad! What spell have you cast upon this-" Kabal placed his finger upon his opponent's forehead. "Kuno. Shut your damn mouth. I'm not in the mood." "What is this? Cursing in front of the virgin ears of-" Lita gave Kuno a very hard thump on the back, knocking him several steps forward and causing him to drop his Bokken. "And who the fuck are YOU?" she asked. Kabal rolled his eyes and took a step back as Kuno hastily retrieved his weapon and posed with it. "I am known to many as the Blue Thunder. Grace and speed, with the strength of a hundred lesser men, I am First Lieutenant Tatewake Kuno!. Age 21." Kabal actually was interested in that change of spiel. "You're an officer of some kind?" he asked. "Yes knave. Before reality was torn asunder from within my grip, the Colonial Marines saw that I am a natural-born leader of men." Kuno responded. "Ah," Kabal said, "So you came with Ryoga and Akane and all those people? Kuno lowered his blade, "No. A small contingent of us followed one of the lackeys of the adversary through a hole in the fabric of reality shortly after our mass defeat." His eyes snapped up and the blade pointed at Kabal again, "Defeat brought about by YOU, I might add!"
Kabal had little patience for this. "I dunno what the fuck that guy did, but I'm not HIM." He slapped Kuno's blade down with contempt, "_I_ went through a similar opening. They're officially called 'Rifts', shortly after high-school ended. Akane was with me. I married her. We had a kid! I had nothing the fuck to do with whatever happened with you guys and the only Tatewake Kuno _I_ know in the first place is one who died in a car accident in his freshman year of college." Kuno digested this a moment appeared calm, then snapped the blade up again. "Then why were you interacting with that girl inappropriately if you are wed to Akane Tendo?" Kabal drew his boot knife in a flash and had it at Kuno's throat. "You are NOT worthy to so much as speak her name and don't you DARE imply that I would cheat upon my wife." He felt a surge of anger and suddenly could nto stop the rest from coming out, "Akane is DEAD now! And so is my son!" The knife faltered from Kuno's throat a bit, and he felt the rest surging up. Unable to stop the tide... why was he telling this to KUNO of all people? "I.. damnit I couldn't save her.." and then he knew why he was telling Kuno. Because Kuno knew and loved Akane also. He guessed Rei was right... he still needed to let some things go. "The beast came and I... I fought.... but he was too strong." He dropped to his knees, knfie clattering to the street as well. Rei was there instantly, taking his mask off, cradling his head in her bosom and stroking his hair. Kabal composed himself and turned to his rival, "So I wasn;t man enough ta save her. Never thought you'd hear me say that didya?" Kuno replaced his Bokken into it's sheathe.. and amazingly proved to be true to the principles he had merely pretended to espouse when Kabal knew a version of him. "There is no shame in defeat if the battle was fought with honor, and thou art no less a man for that you fought to your limits." A full minute of silence occured as Kabal looked upon Kuno with a dawning sense of respect. And also noted Kuno was speaking the local dialect of Japanese perfectly.
"But i have also noted that two women here have showed affection to you Saotome. Do you intend to misguide all the women in town, enchanting them and leaving them in the dust?" Kabal's respect receded a bit. "Kuno," Kabal said, "In this world, the women outnumber the men nearly 10 to one, there's enough to go around so don't already start with all that jealousy bullshit." Kuno turned about and looked a bit.. happy, "Surely you jest Saotome. Such a situation could surely only exist in the afterlife if one earns it." A wry smile crossed Kabal's face, "Not shitting you Kuno. You're good looking, honorable man, go get laid. I can say with assurance you will have an easy time of romance." Kuno tilted his head, "Ah but for love to be true-" Kabal cut him off, "In fact, why don't you go to old Nerima?" he said, trying to hide the mischief in his voice, "look for a group of women that wear pink motorcycle jackets. They're out hunting for a traditional honorable man like yourself, probably as we speak." Kuno raised his hand to his forehead and posed dramatically again, "Then I, Tatewake Kuno, shall show them the true ways of a romantic!" as he turned and walked off, looking every bit like a Samurai from an old movie striding into the sunset. And also giggling somewhat maniacally.
"Did you just send him to go after the Pink Ladies?" Tuxedo Mask asked. "Yes, that's exactly what I did." Tuxedo Mask could not help but laugh, "That's mean. They'll eat him for breakfast." "Yep." Kabal said, "Wouldn't have it any other way." As he pondered the even deeper level of stupidity his life had returned to. All he needed to complete the picture now was.... his heart became cold again. Why did he always get like that whenever he thought of his father?
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Genma Saotome retracted his fist from the chest of the Renraku security robot. To his right Joshua Taylor gave him a thumbs up and plugged the 'deck he was carrying into the wall jack. Ryoga wandered into the room, looking releived that he didn't lose the rest of the group. They stood guard 5 feet from Joshua, Ryoga flipping one of the security cameras off. "Ryoga," Genma began, "Don;t mind me if I come fof sounding like a moron because this only seems to be happening to me, I asked Akane and Shampoo but nothing." "Yeah?" Ryoga asked, scanning the area and listening hard for approaching enemy. "You been gettign any... strange.. uhh dreams?" he asked. Ryoga nodded and said, "Well more like.." "Memories" Genma finished. Ryoga nodded, "I asked the girls about it too. Nothing of the sort happening to them." Genma sighed long and loud. "Are you remembering..." "Yeah." Ryoga said, "not much detail but i have vague idea of some major differences." "Yes." Genma said. "You think they happened to this Ranma?" Ryoga asked. Genma nodded grimly, "I've no doubt. An old scar I saw on his left arm matches somethign that.. was done.. in one of my memories." Ryoga gave him a sidelong glance, "Then how come he had nothing to say.. to either of us?" he asked. Genma sighed again, then shook with anger for a moment, "Probably doesn't remember. For my part, I'm only just learning it and I already want to forget." "Crap Ojisama, we were just kids, it's not THAT bad. I mean, pretty fucked up but not THAT bad." Genma thoguht for a moment and said, "Ah. Of course you wouldn't have had time to learn much. I took Ranma to China before you two had much time to talk." Ryoga turned entirely to face Genma now, "There's more to this than I'm remembering, isn't there?" "Yes," Genma said again, "But, frankly, if Ranma has forgotten about it, i'd rather we bring none of this up to him. So, not to be mean Ryoga... but you really don't need to know the rest." "I think I can guess." Ryoga said, looking disgusted. "You're probably on the right track, but... let;s just drop it, OK Ryoga?" Ryoga thought about that for a moment in silence before turning back to watch the hall, "OK. I guess it doesn't really matter, and I probably don't want to know anyway."
Joshua came out of his trance and then pulled the jack out of he wall port. "Well guys, that's that. Tina Kurosawa is booked for a concert in old Nerima. Hope you all are ready to go home." "Why'd she drop the 'Ariana Saotome' name anyway?" Joshua laughed, "It was never any big secret anyway. And besides, don't you think she won't use the last name 'Saotome' ever again unless she's married to one?" "Point taken." Ryoga said. Genma chimed in, "Was it REALLY needed to go through all this crap just to contact a booker in Japan?" Joshua nodded, "Renraku is the only company that has any lines there. Now what say we se about getting the hell out of here?" Joshua asked as he flipped on the Smartlink for his HK- 227.
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Short Episode today, neh? Kinda neat how after a year of inactivity, I crank out the next chapter two nights later. Sorry it was so long.. but Chapter 6 was hard to write... it felt then.. and still feels now.. not good enough. But it was a hump I had to get over.
Twisted Prophecy Chapter 7
"We just want to dance here; someone stole the stage." 'We Built This City (On Rock and Roll)' - Jefferson Starship
Kabal dashed down the streets of the Azabu-Juuban district of Tokyo. He was headed towards a holo-entertainment center called The Crown of Tokyo. Stupid name, but then he was told to go there by a talking cat. He was accompanied upon this errand by a Shinto Priestess who could change into a superhero and fling fire-based attacks at her enemies. That was no less stupid. But, all considered, this kind of chaos was not foreign to him. After all, he had grown up in the Nerima district himself... which to this day (over 80 years later) was STILL famous for weird occurances and ridiculous battles fought by equally ridiculous combatants. From what he saw in the paper, now lurking in Nerima was a band of roving women who protested Japan's all male government. Not a bad idea, considering they were in the majority; but the method they went about it was patently ridiculous. They would strip the men down and put them into women's clothes; then dip them in honey. Kabal did not get it. It was stupid. Life had once been ideal for him, tending to his land and family, then it was terrible for him... bloody, violent, in surroundings that seemed to have no good future. Now things were back to stupid. Full circle.
As he passed a group of schoolgirls, he took noticed in lower peripheral vision that his crystal suddenly glowed a blazing brown color. Not pulsing, not throbbing, steady glow, and it almost seemed to pull towards them. He continued running and the light faded, the pull stopping as well. He'd check it out later.
He approached within a block to the scene of battle to witness more "stupid". Indeed, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury were lying on the ground, entangled in some obviously incredibly sticky but undoubtedly harmless glue. Sailor Moon was posing at and threatening what appeared to be a bipedal, mutant human/black widow. However, it was pink, furry, it's fangs didn't look particularly sharp, and it was VERY female. It lacked nipples, but it was female. Behind it, obviously directing the attack, was a blonde woman in a semi-military outfit, demonic wings, sitting on a chair in the air that was not there. .Several steps closer, Kabal wondered exactly what his place in this battle would be. Should he puff out his chest and threaten the beastie while Sailor Moon finished whatever it was she was about to do?
Instead, he pulled his pistol from it's hip holster and emptied the clip into the creature. The first two shots missed, causing the creature to turn towards him in shock. The third struck it just under the right cheekbone, shattering much of that side of it's face and leaving the jaw almost comically hanging. the rest of the bullets struck with wet thuds into the creature's thorax, blowing green guts and white insect blood all over the pavement. Continuing at his full run, he holstered the pistol and approached the woman sitting, looking quite stunned at him, in the air. Spreading his arms into the full Kenpo battle charge, he picked up the pace even more, closing the distance before the woman could react. His fist looped out and socked her square in the nose, with the driving force of his muscles and the speed of his dash behind it. She flew off her invisible perch and smashed into the metal wall 10 feet behind. The woman pried her left arm out of the dent her body made and felt her nose, which was bleeding quite freely.
Kabal was mostly shocked that his blow had not outright killed her. The woman pulled herself out the rest of the way; still shocked looking, and she raised her hand and pointed it at him. Kabal could feel her Chi and anger gathering... and he allowed his body to go cold, to accept the anger and her energy. Finally he felt her gathering her attack into a coagulation... it was not any different from the energy blasts practiced by Herb. He knew exactly what to do about it. She launched the attack, and he waved his arms about in a circular motion, catching the tip of the stream in his own field of Chi. He danced with the stream of her energy for a few moments, spiraling inwards, then when the energy peaked, his motion stopped and he swung his arm back around...
"Hiryu-Shoten-Ha! Revised Horizontal Blast!"
The Dragon's head formed about his fist as he began the words and as he completed, it lunged forwards as a real striking serpent, energy spiralling out behind it. His opponent was totally taken off guard, and she took the Dragon Hurricane right in the chest, driven back into the hole she had just pulled herself out of. She screamed out in pain, and Kabal pressed the attack. "I don't know who the fuck you work for, but tell them this: The Sailor Scouts aren't fucking around anymore. We've had enough of your shit. It ends NOW!" With his last word, screamed of the anger absorbed from his opponent, caused one final burst of energy to pound into her; slumping her to the ground. He turned around to see Tuxedo Mask standing behind him; a rose in his hand, and a stunned look on his face. "See? That's how you do it!" And passed dead out on the concrete, his body crumpling as if he had no bones at all.
Rose pulled herself up off the ground again, feeling severely weakened. And also wondered why she thought of herself as Rose all the sudden. And who was that man? She... knew him. Well, whoever he was, he had put up a fight the likes of which she had not seen in thousands of... but she was only 22? She shook it off and came to a complete standing position. She must have made some noise, because Tuxedo Mask whirled on her and appeared ready to throw his rose. Rose... Azurite.. yes, that was her name... shook her head rapidly, as much a negation of anything Tuxedo Mask was about to do as an attempt to clear her own head. "No. I'm done for now. You've won the day. Tell that guy he won't catch me off guard like that again." With that she snapped her fingers and was gone.
Serena finally dropped her arms from her Sailor Moon pose. "Darien.... what...?" she said, stopping as she realized she had no idea what she was about to say. Lita was already up and around, and she placed one hand on Serena's shoulder. "Well hey it worked didn't it?" Serena turned towards the vanquished monster, and all at once smelled the sulfuric odor left by Kabal's pistol, intermingling with the sour milk smell that was coming from the vanquished monster. She looked at the monster's inside splayed across the pavement and say that it's arms were still twitching. There was no life in it's eyes but the body did not know it was dead yet. She fell to her knees, vomiting until her throat hurt. Tuxedo Mask approached her quickly and cradled her in his arms, shielding her form the mess with his cloak. "Would someone go check if Kabal is OK?" Ami looked almost as bad as Serena, and Rei was standing in the same spot she was when Kabal fired off the first shots. So Lita went over to check on him, saying "This isn't any more gross then those zombies we fought a coupla days ago." Darien made an affirmative grunt, then said, "No but somehow I think his actions just raised the ante and the Negaverse is about to get a lot more violent in pursuit of energy." "Or run like scared little bitches, " Lita shot over her shoulder, "I always thought we were taking it too easy with them anyway."
Kabal's eyes opened and he slowly focused on the figure in front of him. For a few moments he saw her in some kind of breastplate... with Faerie wings to boot. She wore a demure crown of... no. It was just Lita. "You doin OK?" she asked. "Yes," he responded, "Just a bit tired." Lita turned from him and screamed, far too loudly for his still sensitive ears, "Yeah he's gonna live!" Tuxedo Mask, still clutching Serena, gave a thumbs up from the distance. Lita kneeled down Japanese style next to Kabal. She produced a pack of cigarettes from somewhere and tapped one out, lighting it up. "That was pretty fuckin cool." she said while exhaling her first puff. Kabal laughed lightly as he pulled himself over to a nearby telephone pole and leaned against it. He usually couldn't stand women who smoked, but when he saw her take the next puff, he immediately.... pushed that thought down. "Seriously," Lita said, "That was amazing. You come flyin down the street like a bat outta hell and all the sudden you're throwing out enough firepower to take on the whole Negaverse singlehandedly." "Yeah well, " Kabal said, "She used a sloppy attack and I turned it against her. Course as you can see it took just about everything I had. Even sloppy that woman is a powerhouse." Lita actually looked embarassed for a second, then reached out and... quite unlike the rest of her demeanor, placed her hand very gently on his knee. "Well.. uh.. I still thought it was-"
Kabal rolled himself away from the spot he had been, as a wooden katana struck the area he had been sitting. He rolled up, muscles aching but taking his stance anyway. Looking his present opponent over, he couldn't honestly admit to being surprised at seeing him. "Saotome thou art TRULY a cad! What spell have you cast upon this-" Kabal placed his finger upon his opponent's forehead. "Kuno. Shut your damn mouth. I'm not in the mood." "What is this? Cursing in front of the virgin ears of-" Lita gave Kuno a very hard thump on the back, knocking him several steps forward and causing him to drop his Bokken. "And who the fuck are YOU?" she asked. Kabal rolled his eyes and took a step back as Kuno hastily retrieved his weapon and posed with it. "I am known to many as the Blue Thunder. Grace and speed, with the strength of a hundred lesser men, I am First Lieutenant Tatewake Kuno!. Age 21." Kabal actually was interested in that change of spiel. "You're an officer of some kind?" he asked. "Yes knave. Before reality was torn asunder from within my grip, the Colonial Marines saw that I am a natural-born leader of men." Kuno responded. "Ah," Kabal said, "So you came with Ryoga and Akane and all those people? Kuno lowered his blade, "No. A small contingent of us followed one of the lackeys of the adversary through a hole in the fabric of reality shortly after our mass defeat." His eyes snapped up and the blade pointed at Kabal again, "Defeat brought about by YOU, I might add!"
Kabal had little patience for this. "I dunno what the fuck that guy did, but I'm not HIM." He slapped Kuno's blade down with contempt, "_I_ went through a similar opening. They're officially called 'Rifts', shortly after high-school ended. Akane was with me. I married her. We had a kid! I had nothing the fuck to do with whatever happened with you guys and the only Tatewake Kuno _I_ know in the first place is one who died in a car accident in his freshman year of college." Kuno digested this a moment appeared calm, then snapped the blade up again. "Then why were you interacting with that girl inappropriately if you are wed to Akane Tendo?" Kabal drew his boot knife in a flash and had it at Kuno's throat. "You are NOT worthy to so much as speak her name and don't you DARE imply that I would cheat upon my wife." He felt a surge of anger and suddenly could nto stop the rest from coming out, "Akane is DEAD now! And so is my son!" The knife faltered from Kuno's throat a bit, and he felt the rest surging up. Unable to stop the tide... why was he telling this to KUNO of all people? "I.. damnit I couldn't save her.." and then he knew why he was telling Kuno. Because Kuno knew and loved Akane also. He guessed Rei was right... he still needed to let some things go. "The beast came and I... I fought.... but he was too strong." He dropped to his knees, knfie clattering to the street as well. Rei was there instantly, taking his mask off, cradling his head in her bosom and stroking his hair. Kabal composed himself and turned to his rival, "So I wasn;t man enough ta save her. Never thought you'd hear me say that didya?" Kuno replaced his Bokken into it's sheathe.. and amazingly proved to be true to the principles he had merely pretended to espouse when Kabal knew a version of him. "There is no shame in defeat if the battle was fought with honor, and thou art no less a man for that you fought to your limits." A full minute of silence occured as Kabal looked upon Kuno with a dawning sense of respect. And also noted Kuno was speaking the local dialect of Japanese perfectly.
"But i have also noted that two women here have showed affection to you Saotome. Do you intend to misguide all the women in town, enchanting them and leaving them in the dust?" Kabal's respect receded a bit. "Kuno," Kabal said, "In this world, the women outnumber the men nearly 10 to one, there's enough to go around so don't already start with all that jealousy bullshit." Kuno turned about and looked a bit.. happy, "Surely you jest Saotome. Such a situation could surely only exist in the afterlife if one earns it." A wry smile crossed Kabal's face, "Not shitting you Kuno. You're good looking, honorable man, go get laid. I can say with assurance you will have an easy time of romance." Kuno tilted his head, "Ah but for love to be true-" Kabal cut him off, "In fact, why don't you go to old Nerima?" he said, trying to hide the mischief in his voice, "look for a group of women that wear pink motorcycle jackets. They're out hunting for a traditional honorable man like yourself, probably as we speak." Kuno raised his hand to his forehead and posed dramatically again, "Then I, Tatewake Kuno, shall show them the true ways of a romantic!" as he turned and walked off, looking every bit like a Samurai from an old movie striding into the sunset. And also giggling somewhat maniacally.
"Did you just send him to go after the Pink Ladies?" Tuxedo Mask asked. "Yes, that's exactly what I did." Tuxedo Mask could not help but laugh, "That's mean. They'll eat him for breakfast." "Yep." Kabal said, "Wouldn't have it any other way." As he pondered the even deeper level of stupidity his life had returned to. All he needed to complete the picture now was.... his heart became cold again. Why did he always get like that whenever he thought of his father?
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Genma Saotome retracted his fist from the chest of the Renraku security robot. To his right Joshua Taylor gave him a thumbs up and plugged the 'deck he was carrying into the wall jack. Ryoga wandered into the room, looking releived that he didn't lose the rest of the group. They stood guard 5 feet from Joshua, Ryoga flipping one of the security cameras off. "Ryoga," Genma began, "Don;t mind me if I come fof sounding like a moron because this only seems to be happening to me, I asked Akane and Shampoo but nothing." "Yeah?" Ryoga asked, scanning the area and listening hard for approaching enemy. "You been gettign any... strange.. uhh dreams?" he asked. Ryoga nodded and said, "Well more like.." "Memories" Genma finished. Ryoga nodded, "I asked the girls about it too. Nothing of the sort happening to them." Genma sighed long and loud. "Are you remembering..." "Yeah." Ryoga said, "not much detail but i have vague idea of some major differences." "Yes." Genma said. "You think they happened to this Ranma?" Ryoga asked. Genma nodded grimly, "I've no doubt. An old scar I saw on his left arm matches somethign that.. was done.. in one of my memories." Ryoga gave him a sidelong glance, "Then how come he had nothing to say.. to either of us?" he asked. Genma sighed again, then shook with anger for a moment, "Probably doesn't remember. For my part, I'm only just learning it and I already want to forget." "Crap Ojisama, we were just kids, it's not THAT bad. I mean, pretty fucked up but not THAT bad." Genma thoguht for a moment and said, "Ah. Of course you wouldn't have had time to learn much. I took Ranma to China before you two had much time to talk." Ryoga turned entirely to face Genma now, "There's more to this than I'm remembering, isn't there?" "Yes," Genma said again, "But, frankly, if Ranma has forgotten about it, i'd rather we bring none of this up to him. So, not to be mean Ryoga... but you really don't need to know the rest." "I think I can guess." Ryoga said, looking disgusted. "You're probably on the right track, but... let;s just drop it, OK Ryoga?" Ryoga thought about that for a moment in silence before turning back to watch the hall, "OK. I guess it doesn't really matter, and I probably don't want to know anyway."
Joshua came out of his trance and then pulled the jack out of he wall port. "Well guys, that's that. Tina Kurosawa is booked for a concert in old Nerima. Hope you all are ready to go home." "Why'd she drop the 'Ariana Saotome' name anyway?" Joshua laughed, "It was never any big secret anyway. And besides, don't you think she won't use the last name 'Saotome' ever again unless she's married to one?" "Point taken." Ryoga said. Genma chimed in, "Was it REALLY needed to go through all this crap just to contact a booker in Japan?" Joshua nodded, "Renraku is the only company that has any lines there. Now what say we se about getting the hell out of here?" Joshua asked as he flipped on the Smartlink for his HK- 227.
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