Disclaimer: I DON"T own Ranma and the rest of the gang, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I DO own Suiren and Keimara, and whoever else I make up.
Author's Notes: Chapter six. I can't wait until I'm done this story, because I've got at least 10 more stories waiting in storage until I'm done this one! Not much to know about this chapter, just some more action, I hope! (I'm winging this chapter.)
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Suiren's week continued almost uneventfully. She met Ukyo, and that meeting was nowhere near as dramatic as her meeting with Shampoo. Ranma had obviously told Ukyo about his sister at school. Suiren had a little trouble with that pain in the ass (as she put it) Happosai. He kept bugging her, and wouldn't ease up, no matter what Ranma said. He finally stopped when Suiren hit him with Dragon Rage.
Suiren busied her day helping Kasumi and her mother with the household chores. She wore the ring and the necklace, even though she knew they were fakes. Keimara was smart, he would suspect something if there was no movement from her. She told no one about her dreams, which visited her more often now. Keimara's 'visit' would be soon, no doubt about it. Suiren would confront him, once and for all, and end this madness.
~
Keimara sat in the warehouse, alone with the silence. His chest hurt more often, and the pain was more intense than usual. He was going to meet up with Suiren once again, soon, and he would have his revenge.
A soft jingle came from the shadows. Keimara looked, and saw his pet, a huge, all-white cat. Its green eyes glowed softly in the darkness, the red collar around its neck sporting a jingling bell. The cat began to purr. The rumble echoed all around the room, startling the watchmen outside. Keimara smiled.
"Come here, Kei." It seemed vain, yes, but he had named his cat after him. Only because the cat was ruthless and merciless, the same as him. Kei jumped onto his master's lap. Keimara stroked the huge feline. The cat purred louder and rubbed against Keimara. No matter how affectionate the cat seemed, Keimara knew, beneath the fuzzy exterior, was the heart of a fighter, who fought fair or foul. That's why Keimara loved the cat so much. Keimara smiled.
~
Suiren walked around the garden. She enjoyed the tranquility, the fragile beauty of the Tendo's garden. Each plant had been raised with extreme care, and in return, blossomed with an abundance of flowers. The fish swam lazily in the koi pond, not knowing or caring about what went on in the outside world. But Suiren's mind was far away from the beauty of the garden.
'Keimara's going to strike soon, but when, and how?' She trailed her fingers along the wall. 'What has that bastard got planned for me?' Suiren sighed and sat at the edge of the koi pond. 'Damn fish. They don't have a care in the world, while I'm stuck up here, reliving my childhood through my dreams and wondering about Keimara. I wish that I were a fish. Then I wouldn't have anything to worry about, except when I would be fed next.' Suiren sighed again. A larger fish attacked a smaller one, but then went back to swimming slowly around the pond. Suiren dabbled her fingers in the water, then flicked the droplets from her fingertips.
Nodoka had been watching her daughter for quite some time. Suiren hadn't smiled since she had gone into the garden. She seemed to be concentrating on something. When She sat at the Koi pond, her thoughtful look turned to misery. Nodoka walked over the Suiren. "Is something wrong dear?"
'Oh, no! I'm trapped! What can I tell Mom? She can't know about Keimara or my dreams!' "Um, nothing's wrong Mom. I was just… thinking."
"But you looked so sad a moment ago."
"Well, um…I…uh…I was thinking about… a pet cat I had once. He was run over by a car."
"Oh, that's so sad, Hon."
"Yeah, I know. I miss him."
"What was his name?"
"Um, it was, uh, Kei."
"Hmm. Well, as long as nothing's wrong. I'm going to help Kasumi with dinner. Would you like to help as well?"
"No, that's alright. I don't think the three of us will be able to move about in the kitchen." Suiren smiled up at her mother. Nodoka smiled back. Nodoka nodded briefly, then turned and went into the house. Suiren looked back into the Koi pond. The fish were still swimming, never stopping. Just swimming in circles, dizzying, endless circles…
Suiren shook her head. If she watched the fish any longer, she would fall into the water. She stood up, brushing dirt from her shorts. She walked over to a tree, and traced her fingers over the rough bark. She stiffened. Someone was watching her!
~
The man in the tree watched Suiren as she walked around the garden, as she stared into the koi pond, as she talked with her mother. When Suiren moved to the tree he was in, he froze, not daring to breathe. He noticed as Suiren stiffened, detecting his eyes on her. He focused his chi, making it unnoticeable.
~
Suiren still had her hand on the tree. She could have sworn she could feel someone's chi. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her, mentally recording her every movement and word. But the chi was gone. Whoever was watching her was a strong martial artist, able to control his chi at will.
~
'Time to make my escape. Keimara will be awaiting my report.' The man left the tree, unnoticed by Suiren, or so he thought.
~
Suiren felt the wind blow her hair. The feeling of someone watching her was gone. Then it clicked. That wasn't the wind. Keimara had someone watching her every movement! 'Shit. Keimara's smarter than I thought. This is proof that he's found me, and he's planning something. And he's going to put that plan into action soon. Very soon.
~
Back at the warehouse, the man spoke into the shadows. "Sir, I have a report on Suiren's movements."
"Proceed."
"Sir, I believe she is starting to suspect something. Perhaps we shouldn't have sent the package so soon."
"I have my reasons for sending the package when we did. If she runs now, we'll be able to follow her with ease. Suiren's a smart girl. I knew she would figure it out sooner or later." A rumbling purr filled the large room. "Now go. We shall put the plan into action soon, for she is now expecting us."
"Yes, Sir." The man left the warehouse.
"Well, Kei? What do you think? Will Suiren open the door and greet us warmly, or shall we… make our own entrance?" The cat stopped purring and looked into his master's eyes, pure evil glinting in them. "My thoughts exactly." He stroked the cat's head, and Kei began to purr again. Keimara smiled, white teeth glinting in the darkness.
~
'This is not good. I need to find out what Keimara's got up his sleeve.' Suiren just kicked at the air harder.
Genma entered the dojo and saw his daughter practicing. "What's the matter, girl? You look thoughtful." Genma walked over to his daughter. Suiren wiped away a bead of sweat that was rolling down her cheek.
"Oh, nothing much, just practicing."
"I can see that, but you're thinking about something. You've been acting differently all week."
"Um… nothing's wrong, Dad. Not that I know of." Suiren forced a smile. From what Ranma had told her, her father would believe anything.
"Alright then. Do you want to practice against me?"
"Uh, sure Dad."
Genma took up a strange stance. 'What's he doing? I can't feel his chi… this must be Umisen-ken! I thought Ranma said Dad had sworn not to use it!' Genma moved quickly. Suiren barely had time to prepare for his attack. Genma's hands moved with blurring speed.
"WHITE SNAKE VENOM RELIABLE FIST!" Genma was right behind Suiren. She moved by instinct, and lay flat on the floor. Genma lost his balance and almost fell on top of her, but she rolled away and hopped up onto her feet. Genma got up on his hands and knees. "Heh, no one's ever moved fast enough to dodge that attack. Your brother included. How did you do it?"
"Purely instinct. I've had to move faster on other occasions, but it's quite difficult for me to do so."
Genma stood up. "I don't know who trained you, but they did a good job of it. I don't know if I could have done it any better myself."
Kasumi popped her head into the dojo. "Dinner." Genma hurried out of the dojo. Suiren hung back.
'I can't stay here much longer.' She left the dojo and headed for the dining room.
~
Ranma and Suiren were sitting on the roof that evening, watching the sun go down. Ranma turned to look at his sister. "Suiren, um…who…I mean, how did you move so fast to dodge Dad's attack? It's almost impossible."
"Ranma, remember when I told you about Keimara? I never told you why he kidnapped me. He took me so that he could get Dad to give him the secrets to Umisen-ken and Yamasen-ken. But I escaped when I was eleven, and I only escaped but speed." Suiren looked at Ranma. "Ranma, you know what this means, don't you?" Ranma shook his head. "Keimara is coming back, soon, and he's going to take one of us. And the most likely person he's going to take is…"
"Mom," Ranma whispered. "The rest of us are strong martial artists. Mom's the easiest target. We have to protect her!"
"I know, but I don't know what Keimara has planned. I don't know to what lengths he'll go to to get those secrets! There's nothing we can do now, except keep an eye on Mom."
Ranma sat back on the roof shingles. "If only we could do something more…"
~
The man in the tree strained his ears to hear their conversation. He was rewarded with Suiren's voice telling Ranma more about Keimara. He smiled and left the tree once more. He ran to the warehouse.
"Sir, Suiren has told her brother more about you."
"Get everyone ready. The plan commences tonight!"
"Yes Sir." The man left to recruit the troops.
"At last, Kei, I shall have the perfect army of martial artists! Tokyo will crumble in my grasp, and then Japan shall fall! I shall be the strongest, the most feared man in all the world!" Keimara laughed, his laughter scaring the watchmen outside. Kei jumped onto the floor and ran to the shadows. Keimara stood and laughed. A staggering pain shot through his chest, halting his laughter and cutting off his air supply. Keimara crumpled to the ground in pain. The watchmen hurried inside, and carried Keimara to the cot in the back corner. The doctor was called in.
~
That night, Suiren tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She stared ant the ceiling, she closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. When she was about to drift off, A loud sound from the next room startled her. 'No no no! Not now! Not so soon!' She ran out into the hallway. Throwing open the door, Suiren was greeted by a disaster. The room was trashed. Ranma was slumped in the corner, barely conscious. Genma was crumpled on the floor, unconscious. Nodoka was nowhere to be seen. The curtains fluttered in the faint night breeze coming in through the open window. The Tendos were running from their own rooms.
Suiren placed her head against the doorframe and closed her eyes. 'Shit. Why me?'
"What happ…" Soun's words were cut off as he looked into the room.
"I'll get Dr. Tofu!" Akane ran downstairs, pulling on her jacket and her shoes.
"Wait, Akane! You can't go alone!" Suiren ran downstairs, pulling on her own shoes. "I know who did this, and he's dangerous!"
"You know who did this?" Soun was in full demon-head mode. "Tell me!"
"Wait, I'll tell you when we get back!" Suiren and Akane ran outside, slamming the door shut. They ran to Dr. tofu's house and pounded on the door.
"Dr. Tofu! Dr. Tofu, wake up! We have an emergency!" A light switched on upstairs. Footsteps were heard coming down the stairs in a hurry. Dr. Tofu flung the door open.
"Akane! What's the matter?"
"Someone broke in and attacked Ranma and Mr. Saotome, and Mr. Saotome is unconscious!"
"I'll get my bag. Hold on."
"Please hurry!"
Dr. Tofu disappeared, and reappeared a moment later, carrying a medicine bag. "Let's go!" The three ran back to the Tendo household. Akane led the way to the patients, and Dr. Tofu checked them both over. He went downstairs to where everyone was waiting. "Ranma should be fine soon, only a few bumps and bruises, nothing really serious. Mr. Saotome should come around soon. I'll check him again then for any head injuries."
"Please, have a seat, Dr. Tofu. And thank you for coming so quickly at this time of night," Kasumi said. Dr. Tofu blushed.
"Suiren, you said you knew who did this?"
"Yes, I know who did it. And I know why he came tonight."
"Please, tell us everything, from the beginning."
"Let's wait until Ranma and my father are here." They sat in silence. Dr. Tofu went upstairs to check on his patients.
"Mr. Saotome's awake," he called from the top of the stairs. "Maybe you should come up here and talk." Everyone went upstairs to the trashed room.
"Suiren, do you know what happened? The man said he knew you." Suiren looked at her father sadly.
"Yes, Dad, I know that man. And I'm partly responsible for Mom being taken." Everyone else was shocked. They had failed to notice Nodoka's absence until Suiren mentioned it. They also couldn't believe that Suiren was responsible, if she was only partly to blame.
"What do you mean?" Ranma searched his sister's eyes.
"I'll start at the beginning. That man was the man that arranged my kidnapping. He pretended to be nice, and I trusted him, not knowing any better in my young age. As I grew older, he became cruel towards me. He demanded that I give him my home address, so that he could send a ransom note. I gave him a fake address, and he grew angrier each day you didn't respond. He treated me harshly, let his soldiers treat me harshly, until I turned eleven and escaped on the boat they used to get to Hokkaido and drink. I ran and ran, then a woman found me, and she raised me. I demanded she teach me martial arts. I left when I was sixteen, to find you. I had thought Keimara ad given up on finding me, and getting the secrets to Umisen-ken and Yamasen-ken. But he found me, and sent me that package. He's been watching me all week, monitoring my movements and words. He was planning this strike for a long time. And he's finally done it."
"I still don't see how you are partly responsible for your mother's kidnapping."
"Don't you see? Because I left, Keimara had no other source to get the secrets. Because I found you, I gave him three more targets. And because I've trained so hard, and you two are martial artist, the only other person left for him was Mom. And there's something else." Suiren ran into Akane's room, and got her journal, the fake journal, the jewelry, and a rock climbing pick. She spread the items out in front of her father. Everyone else crowded around to see. "Keimara sent me a forgery of my journal, and the ring and the necklace. But there's something more about this jewelry." She grabbed the necklace and the pick.
"No, Suiren! That's the necklace your mother gave you!"
"No, it's not!" Suiren raised the pick, and brought it down on the seam of the necklace, spitting it open. A small tracking device fell out. "This was Keimara's copy, his way of tracking me." She smashed open the ring. "The same with the ring."
~
Keimara was listening to the speaker again. He heard rustling, and the pounding of feet and Suiren ran back to the other room. He heard every word spoken. He heard her smash open the necklace, and then the ring. 'This girl's smarter than I thought.' He smiled. He looked down at his feet, where Nodoka lay bound and gagged. 'She'll come to me. No doubt about it. We still have a score to settle.' Keimara rubbed a spot on his chest, wincing at the faint pain that shot through his chest.
~
Author's Notes: If I didn't stop now, this chapter would be 20 pages. It's already 11 pages long. OK, next chapter out REALLY soon, cause I'm on a roll here. I think that's pretty good for a winged chapter. What do you think? E-mail me at horsecrazy217@hotmail.com