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Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
Bonds and Connections
Chapter 9
Genma was beginning to have severe doubts about the structural
integrity of the building.
Kuno had just taken his fifth flight through a support column,
and this time he didn't look like he was getting up. Sasuke was limping
his way over to his fallen master, and Soun was still out. Genma didn't
feel that great, either. He'd managed a couple of hits to the old hag,
but she'd given him quite a beating in return.
At this rate, it would take a miracle to win.
"POPS!" came Ranma's voice.
Genma nearly burst out laughing. [When in need of miracle, get
a miracle worker.] He couldn't count the number of times his son had
done the impossible, and here was, arriving in the nick of time as
usual.
Zhao Len growled as Ranma leapt up through the hole in the
ground and surveyed the scene. "Well, I was planning on getting to you
sooner or later, boy. It might as well be now." She just wished she had
Kae here to help. Of all her opponents, Ranma was the most dangerous,
having beat her before. "Don't think you'll get me with the same trick."
Ranma dropped into a ready stance and cracked a grim smile.
"Won't need to. You're goin' down for the last time so you won't bother
my friends and family no more."
Zhao Len cackled, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a
ruby. "I've just given the command for my ally to kill the hostages. If
you surrender now, I'll countermand the order."
"Don't listen to her boy," the elder Saotome called. "Konatsu's
probably already saved them by now."
"Or else my sister and Tendo Nabiki have," Kuno added, sitting
up, and holding his swordarm. "You cannot just give in, Saotome."
Ranma hesitated. Give up and save the hostages? Or fight and
have faith in his friends? Phrased like that, he had his answer. "You
better cancel that order right now, ghoul. If any of my friends are
hurt, I'm gonna tear you apart."
"Try me, boy," Zhao Len retorted.
Ranma did, springing forward almost faster than the eye could
see. Even to Genma's sight, the boy appeared faster and more agile than
he ever had been before, and his father wondered what had changed in his
son.
Zhao Len blocked the strike and countered, but that was also
parried, and then the two were bouncing all over the place like a pair
of hyperactive jumping beans. Like the first match between them, Zhao
Len seemed to hold the advantage, but this time Ranma was coming in
fresh, while the ex-Amazon had already been fighting for awhile. Even
she had her limits, and she knew she wouldn't last long.
Instead, she launched into a intricate pattern of ki-blasts and
breaking points, hoping to throw the boy off just enough to find in
opening. Ranma, having fought both her and Cologne before, was starting
to pick out the patterns and styles, complex though they were.
"Pops, you gotta get everyone out of here!" Ranma yelled, coming
to the same conclusion as his father. The building was beginning to
shake badly, having lost one too many walls and support beams, both from
the current fight and the one happening downstairs.
The survivor persona in Genma had no problem with that. "You
can count on me, boy!" He hauled his frame up and grabbed his old
friend, noting Sasuke helping his master.
"No one is leaving here alive!" Zhao Len shrieked, then aimed a
ki-blast over Ranma, destroying another pillar with a brilliant yellow
bolt.
"No!" Ranma yelled, but it was too late. The whole area began to
tilt, ripping the room in two and sending Genma, Soun, Tatewaki, and
Sasuke tumbling through the hole to the first floor.
Ranma managed to grab onto the edge, trying to haul himself up,
but Zhao Len was suddenly there, preparing to give the final blow.
At that moment, a support beam above them gave out.
Yuri flipped away from the thing with her brother's form and
glanced wearily at the shifting and teetering walls around them. She
wasn't the only one who had taken notice of the impending demise of
their battlezone.
"Uh, guys," Ukyo said. "I think getting out of here might be a
good idea."
"Heh, I actually agree with you," Kae added. "If you make it out
alive, we can finish this." With that, she leapt straight up, slicing a
hole in the ceiling with one of her blades, and disappearing from view.
"I agree as well," Kodachi said, preparing to follow.
Yuri laid a hand on the gymnast's arm. "Hold it! What about
Nabiki, Konatsu, and Selah?"
Ukyo slapped her forehead. "Almost forgot about 'em! Come on!"
The three girls took off back the way they came, finding Nabiki
struggling with both bodies. Yuri quickly grabbed Konatsu, Kodachi held
Selah, Ukyo threw an arm around Nabiki, and the sextet began to sprint,
leaping up through the hole Kae had made. Moving as rapidly as possible,
they busted their way through every obstacle in their path as the
building began to come down around them. With a final spatula cleave
from Ukyo, the group found themselves outside.
Only to find Kae standing there waiting for them
Ranma swung himself away as Zhao Len struck, at the same moment
the beam came down.
The old woman screamed as it trapped her beneath it's
considerable weight, her staff spinning away into darkness. Try as she
might, she couldn't get any leverage and she had already exhausted all
her energy in the fight.
Ranma, seeing this and not being able to bear someone in
trouble no matter who it is, called out. "Hold on! I'm coming!"
"Help me!" Zhao Len cried, her frail visage trembling in fear.
Despite the rickety nature of his footing and the fact that the
building was literally coming down around him, Ranma leapt from wall to
beam to perch, trying to reach the trapped ex-Amazon. A final leap
brought him to rest on the pillar ensnaring the old woman, so he swung
down and tried to lift the heavy beam off of her. What he didn't see,
was her face suddenly change from terrified, to burning hatred as she
reached a hand out to touch him.
"DIE!" she hissed, and Ranma was suddenly struck by a burning
sensation in his chest, forcing him to let go of the support beam as he
stumbled and fell backwards.
Then, the building finally released all of it's fearsome built-
up power.
As any construction worker will tell you, when you build any
size of structure, the floors and ceilings store what is called
'potential energy.' When you remove the supports, this potential energy
is released and the building comes down. This type of energy is a good
friend of demolitionists, as it means all they need minimum of
explosives to bring the structure down.
Now, the Nikaze Office Complex was releasing all if it's stored
potential energy, and letting gravity take it's long neglected and very
brutal hold.
"Now who could that be?" Kasumi wondered she went to answer the
knocking on the front door. Opening it revealed a frail-looking
gentleman, a monk of some sort she assumed, complete with near-bald head
and draped in a simple, dark brown robe. "Hello. Can I help you?"
The man smiled. "No, but I believe I can help you. If I may be
so foreword, may I come in?"
Kasumi blinked, but felt strangely compelled to oblige. "By all
means, come on inside."
The elderly gentleman smiled, and as he walked inside, his
right eye twinkled mysteriously.
Kodachi screamed as Kae yanked her arm back, but was unable to
do more as Yuri landed a jumpkick to her brother's backside. Kae
stumbled forward and released the gymnast roughly, but managed a hard
kick to the back of Kodachi's leg. The injured Kuno girl floundered for
a bit, then tripped and fell.
Kae turned to face the sister of her host's body, a feral and
hungry grin forming on his face. "What's the matter? Can't bring
yourself to really injure this body?"
Yuri knew she couldn't do more than punches and kicks. A large
part of her still believed there had to be something of her brother left
in that body, so any more lethal moves were out of the question. She had
tried wrapping him up in her yo-yo string, but Kae had just cut through
it. All she could do, was hope to tire him out, or distract him long
enough for one of the other girls to get a hit in.
Unfortunately, Kae was adept at turning aside most of their
attacks, and Ukyo seemed as reluctant as Yuri to inflict permanent harm.
Only Kodachi appeared to be willing to fight to her fullest, but even
that wasn't enough, as the gymnast now appeared to mostly out of the
fight.
As Ukyo moved in to duel Kae, Nabiki watched from the
sidelines, wondering if there was something she could do as the last of
the building collapsed in on itself. The call of the sword intensified
for a moment, but she shook it off. Not being well versed in it's use,
having a sword would only make her a target, and it would take too long
to return to the dojo to retrieve it.
Yet she was convinced there was something she was forgetting,
some important detail. Studying Kae from a distance, it suddenly came to
her.
She glanced down at the two unconscious people she was watching
after, noting which one would help the situation most, and proceeded to
shake them. "Come on, wake up, kiddo! You're 'fiance' needs you." Selah
groaned and turned over, but showed every sign of continuing her
slumber. "Oh for the love of..." Nabiki sighed, then figured there was
no help for it. She reared back her hand and slapped the girl.
"Ow!" the little girl exclaimed, her cheek reddening. Then her
eyes opened and she focused in and glared at the one who struck her.
"Why'd you do that!?"
"Sorry, kiddo, but I believe they could use your help." Nabiki
pointed out the battle raging several dozen meters away, then looked
back to see an expression of fright on the girl's face. "You don't need
to fight, just hit Kenji with enough water to trigger his curse."
Understanding and relief lit the girl's face, followed by an
expression of despair. "But... I don't know if I have the strength! I've
used too much magic already..."
"You've got to try, or else Kenji's going to get hurt real bad,"
Nabiki urged. "You're not going to let that happen, are you?" She felt a
little guilty about pushing the girl's buttons like this, but saw no
other way at the moment.
Determination replaced the previous emotions on the young
girl's face, then she brought her hands up and began to concentrate.
"Alright, enough of this!" Ukyo snarled. "You're being a real
jerk, Kenji, or whoever you think you are!" She twisted away from a spin
kick as her left arm flashed out.
"What!?" Kae gasped in surprised, finding his right side bound
by several strands of sticky noodles.
Ukyo smirked and gave a mighty tug, pulling her snarling
opponent forward while bringing her battle spatula down. Kae grunted in
pain as he took the blow on his free forearm, then spun and sliced,
wakizashu appearing in his hand long enough the sever his bindings.
Completing the turn, Kae lashed out with his now-free left hand and
struck the chef's right wrist, causing Ukyo to yelp and drop her weapon.
Ukyo suddenly found herself weaponless and vulnerable, as Kae
moved in with a lightning fast blurry of punches and kicks. Ukyo tried
to block and dodge, but never having had much training in unarmed
combat, she was quickly overpowered.
"No!" Yuri screamed, rushing forward to save her friend, but her
panicked charge left her open to spin kick that caught her in the gut
and sent her tumbling away. She twisted her ankle as she landed badly.
Kae barely let that slow his momentum as he slammed an elbow
into the side of the chef's head. Dazed, Ukyo dropped like a sack of
potatoes. Dimly, she heard the sound of a blade being drawn from it's
scabbard. Cracking open her right eye, the non-swollen one, revealed Kae
kneeling down and bringing the sword up to her neck.
"I've been looking forward to this," Kae told her. "I'll make it
quick, so you'll at least die a warrior's death."
Ukyo could barely feel her body as she tried to wrack her
cloudy mind for an idea, when she noticed the arm holding the weapon was
beginning to shake, badly. Curious, she watched as the smirk on Kae's
face was replaced by surprise. The ninja grabbed the shaking arm and
tried to steady it, to no avail.
"Stop it!" Kae hissed.
Ukyo blinked, while a short distance away, Yuri and Kodachi
were watching with wide eyes.
"It's mine, you can't have it!" Kae shrieked as the trembling
increased, spreading to the rest of her body. She stood up slowly and
took a step back, dropping the weapon. "NO!"
Ukyo was confused; who was Kae talking to? He almost looked
like he was losing control of his body. As her dazed mind began to
clear, she sat up and studied him, and that's when all the pieces came
together.
[He's not talking to us,] Ukyo realized. [What if Kenji is not
as gone as 'Kae' would like us to believe?] She tried to recall what she
knew of possession, and remembered the cursed spatula that had attached
itself to Ranma's hand. It had a will of it's own, but that never
replaced Ranma's.
"Kenji, fight it!" Ukyo yelled suddenly. Across the way, Yuri
switched her stare to the chef. "Don't you see? He's not really gone!"
If possible, the ninja girl's eyes widened even further. Then
she understood and joined in. "Come on, 'niichan! You can do it!"
"STOP IT!" Kae screamed, his whole body trembling. [You can't
win, boy! My will is stronger, having grown much more powerful through
the passage of several hundred years!]
[But this is my body!] Kenji countered, his mental voice finally
breaking free of the psychic bonds she had placed on him. [And these are
my friends! I won't let you hurt them anymore!] "I WON'T LET YOU!!!"
Yuri and Ukyo started at the voice change, back to one they
both recognized. They both struggled to their feet, though Yuri
collapsed in pain as she put pressure on her twisted right ankle.
Despite the pressure he was exerting, Kenji's consciousness
slowly found itself being forced back into the void that contained him.
[No!]
[I told you as I was stronger!] Kae yelled in triumph.
"Now!"
Ukyo, Yuri, and Kodachi jerked sideways at Nabiki's shouted
command.
"Haaa!" A horizontal geyser of water burst forth from Selah's
hands and engulfed the trembling boy, sweeping him into the stone wall
surrounding the building. The geyser cut off a second later, leaving a
small, wet dog laying motionless on the ground.
Selah, exhausted by the tremendous amount of magic she had used
this evening, collapsed into Nabiki's arms. "D-did I...?"
Nabiki nodded and smiled. "You got him, kiddo. Good job."
"Is everyone all right?"
"Over here!" Nabiki waved to the approaching Genma, who had Soun
flung on his shoulder in a fireman's carry, while Ukyo hauled herself
over to the unconscious wolf. "And you're a little late," she said,
frowning at Tatewaki and Sasuke appeared behind the bigger man. Nabiki
gave the kendoist a dark glare.
"I didn't even know you were here until I spotted that water
blast," Genma replied, setting Nabiki's father down beside her. "He'll
be fine, he's taken worse," he assured her.
Nabiki nodded, then both turned to see the other three girls
approach, Ukyo carrying the unconscious lupine form of Kenji, while
Kodachi and Yuri supported each other, limping along. "How about him?"
Ukyo shook her head as she laid the small animal down. "He's
out for now, but I think he'll be okay. The real question is: How is he
mentally?"
Yuri knelt by her brother and gently started to stroke his fur.
"My poor 'niichan," she whispered. "What's happened to you?"
"Well, at least everyone's okay," Nabiki said at last, standing
up and stretching.
Genma glanced around. "What about my son? Has anyone seen him?"
"Ranchan was here?" Ukyo asked incredulously, then turned to
stare at the rubble that used to be an condemned building. "If he's not
out here, then..."
"Don't even think it, Ukyo," Nabiki warned. "Even he's not dumb
enough to get caught in that."
"He went to save that old crone..." Genma stated, then shut his
mouth.
"He WHAT!?" came the stereo reply from multiple girls.
"Dear Ranma-san..." Kodachi whispered in a reverent tone.
Genma said no more, but suddenly sprung forward and began to
dig through the rubble at a frantic pace. Ukyo lumbered over to help,
her ribs protesting, but she ignored them. When Kodachi joined her, Ukyo
thought she should be surprised, but merely gave a slight nod.
"Ranma!" Genma called, heaving a large piece of mortar off to
the side. "Speak to me boy!"
Ukyo began to despair as they dug. There was just so much
rubble and Ranma could be anywhere. [Come on, Ranchan! After all we've
been through, you couldn't have bought the farm now!] She rubbed her
eyes with her arm, clearing the tears forming out of them.
"We will find him, Kounji-san," Kodachi's stated with near-
certainty.
"I know we will!" Ukyo shot back, a littler harsher than she
intended.
Kodachi merely nodded, as both girl's continued to clear what
debris they could from in front of them, secretly dreading finding
Ranma's broken body underneath the wreckage.
Which was why they were taken completely by surprise when Ranma
burst out from the pile of rubble, looking none too worse for wear, if a
little haggard. They were further confused as he jumped into the air
wearing a gleeful expression.
"Yatta! I finally got it!" He turned to the group and bounded
over, now staring at him as if he were a ghost, out of his mind, or
both. "How's everyone?" he asked curiously.
"Never mind us, how are YOU?" Ukyo exclaimed, finally finding
her voice. "You just had a building dropped on you!"
Ranma shrugged, then went on to roughly explain how he had used
falling pillars and support beams to rapidly construct a support
shelter, chestnut speed, that shielded him from the falling debris. "It
was just another technique, I realized. After being buried like that a
coupla times, I finally figured out how to survive it."
"That's m'boy!" Genma said proudly.
Ukyo shook her head, while everyone else decided to continue
staring.
Ranma blinked. "Well, shouldn't we be goin'?"
"Is she dead?" Soun asked in an even voice, finally waking up
and holding his head. Everyone turned to look at him, then followed his
gaze to the huge pile of rubble.
Ranma shrugged. "Don't know. She was trapped when a support
beam fell on her. I just barely survived that, and in her condition, I
don't think she coulda done the same."
The Tendo patriarch nodded grimly, apparently satisfied.
"Well, I for one am quite satisfied this evening is over,"
Kodachi declared. "If there is no more danger, I believe we should
leave."
Nobody had any argument to that idea.
It was an exhausted group that arrived back at the Tendo Dojo
that night. Not a word had been spoken since they departed the ruined
office building, with the exception of a few good-byes as each group
separated to head back to their own homes. The Ucchan group took Kenji's
lupine form back with them, saying that they would secure him until they
could determine if he was alright.
Soun Tendo was especially quiet, his face holding the same
serious expression. There were quite a few problems that tonight had
made him see, although some he wasn't ready to deal with yet. However,
maybe there was one he could confront, and he realized it was a long
time in coming.
Genma's attention kept switching back and forth from his son to
his old friend. From pride at the former, to confusion for the latter.
But not knowing what to do about it, and more than ready to call it a
night, he pushed all thoughts out of his mind.
Nabiki was more than a little annoyed and upset. For the first
time in a long while, she wasn't in total control, and it shook the very
core of her being. She felt vulnerable, exposed, scared, and hadn't a
clue as to what to do about it.
"We're back!" Ranma called as the quartet entered the front door
and slipped off their shoes. The youngest Saotome didn't know what to
think of this latest conflict, so he dealt with it the same way he
always dealt with things he didn't know what to think; by ignoring it.
"Akane? Kasumi?" He shared a confused look with Nabiki, when he received
no answer to his hail.
"Kasumi!" Soun called.
"She was here when I left..." Nabiki trailed off.
"You don't think..." Soun started.
"That this was all ruse to draw us off so someone could capture
Kasumi?" Genma finished.
"You can't be serious, Pop!?" Ranma asked, incredulously, though
even he was having his own doubts.
"That does seem a bit far-fetched," Nabiki reasoned. [Still....
Things have been weirder lately.] "I'll check her bedroom," she called
while dashing up the stairs.
"I'll check the kitchen!" Genma declared. In the face of two
lidded glares, hastily added, "For Kasumi, of course." While the elder
Saotome went to check his intended location, Ranma dashed out to the
dojo while Soun sprinted down the hall to check the rest of the house.
Upstairs, Nabiki had finished going through the rooms, not
finding any sign of her older sister. "Kasumi?" she called again. [Where
could she be?] Nabiki wondered, frustrated. As she closed the last door,
she heard her father yell from downstairs.
"YOU!"
Turning quickly, Nabiki dashed back downstairs, nearly running
into Ranma as he came back inside, obviously hearing the same shout.
Together, they ran into the living room, but halted in their tracks at
the scene that greeted them.
Soun was angrily holding a bald, elderly gentleman aloft by his
collar, pressing him against a wall. Nabiki was quite startled, never
having seen her father so angry. But the other surprise was Kasumi,
sitting on a cushion several feet away, astonishment written across her
face. A tipped over teacup leaked its contents over the table.
"So good... to see you again... Tendo-san, ack!" the old man
commented, but made no move to defend himself.
"Alright, what's going on?" Nabiki asked. "Father, who is this?"
Soun's voice was low and even. "Oh, we go way back, don't we?
He's the reason I had the honor," Soun let considerable venom into the
word 'honor', "of apprenticing under Master Happosai. How can I ever
thank you for that?"
"You too, Tendo?" Genma asked, shocked.
Ranma blinked, trying to make sense out of what was going on.
"Whoa, wait a minute! What has this got to do with the old freak?"
Soun's grip, which had lessened a bit with the surprise
announcement from Genma, tightened back up with Ranma's mention of the
master.
The short, monk-like figure gasped. "Please calm yourself,
Tendo-san!"
"I am calm," Soun replied evenly. "The real issue, is what you
are doing here? What were you trying to do with my daughter?"
"Father, please don't hurt him!" Kasumi implored. "He's a nice
gentleman."
Nabiki sighed noisily when her father showed no inclination of
letting the man go. [Why am I the only logical thinker in this house?]
"Look, it's obvious he's no threat at the moment, and I doubt he can
escape from three highly skilled martial artists, so why don't we find
out why he's here first, what he wants, and then you can beat him up if
you still feel like it?"
A few moments of silence went by as Soun appeared to be giving
his daughter's words some thought. "I should throw you out into the
garbage right now," he practically growled, then dropped the man by the
table. "But I want to know why you're here, as well as find out why you
felt the need to send me to Happosai for training. You obviously knew
his reputation."
"As do I," Genma added.
The mysterious man dusted himself off and sat up, appearing
unperturbed. "You both wanted a strong sensei to train under, someone
who had great power. I gave you that."
"You gave us to a monster!" Soun countered, thrusting a finger
at the short fellow.
"This is getting us nowhere, daddy," Nabiki cut in. "Maybe if
you started at the beginning and explained how you know him, and who he
is?"
Soun sighed, but sat down next to the man, Genma on the other.
Ranma sat down next to his father while Nabiki joined hers. Kasumi took
the opportunity to fill a few more teacups. She had a near-certain
notion that they would be needed.
"This goes back a long time, before any of you children were
born," Genma said slowly, his eyes closed, when it appeared Soun was
unlikely to start. "At that time, I was a young lad around Ranma's age.
My father was a good fighter, but he had never formally trained in
martial arts, and my mother was a poor farm girl. My family had no money
and, with very little prospects, I left home when I was young to seek my
fortune. I had to steal to survive, snatching up any scraps of food
here, or a few coins there. At least that's how it was until I stole
from a monastery in Osaka. The monks caught me and, as punishment, made
me work to pay back what I stole. When they discovered I had nowhere
else to go, they offered to feed, clothe, and teach me, if I worked for
it. Naturally, I accepted."
Never having heard about his father's early life, Ranma didn't
know what to say, but paid rapt attention to the story. Soun had heard
some of it before, but not the part that the monk across the table
played in it. Genma never spoke of him before, and Soun realized,
neither had he.
"I ended up staying there for quite awhile, learning the martial
arts," Genma continued. "In under a year, I was able to beat all of the
students and fight most of the monks to a draw, at least. But I was
arrogant, and with no further challenges, I sought to become master of
the monastery." His eyes flicked over to the mysterious monk. "That's
when a monk by the name of Ochiai, him, told me that if I wanted higher
training, to seek out an old master name Happosai. When he told me how
great the master was, I foolishly accepted." Genma folded his arms
across his chest. "The rest, as they say, is history."
"Was that the same for you, daddy?" Nabiki inquired, finding
this little revelation interesting, but not entirely useful. Yet.
Soun nodded. "Indeed. I, too, was the top student at the dojo
where I trained, and when my parents died in a train wreck, I became
resentful, in addition to being homeless." His eyes took on a far away
look, as he was now seeing an entirely different time. "Having nothing,
I attempted to claim the dojo as my own. I fought the master of the dojo
several times, but was defeated handily each time. As they threw me out
into the street and laughed at me, I swore I would return to take it, by
force if necessary. But as I picked up my sore and battered body, I knew
it would take more advanced training before I would be successful."
Soun came back to the present and pointed to the man Genma had
named as Ochiai. "That's when I met him, but he called himself Hidenori
Taga. He taught me a little as I traveled with him, taunting me, telling
me he knew a great and highly-skilled martial arts master that could
teach me to be the best. I begged and demanded and threatened him to
tell me. After a month he finally did, and a short time later I managed
to track down Happosai. Genma had apparently become Happosai's pupil
shortly before, and that's when we first met."
Nabiki had a sudden thought. "Uh, daddy, this dojo you're
talking about..."
"You're in it now," he told her. "Five long years of training
under the Master, and I returned here to claim it. It was run down and
had no students, and I beat the owners easily. In exchange for leaving
the dojo intact, the couple that owned it let me have it, and moved
away. I don't know what happened to them."
"You took our home from someone else!?" Akane yelled in outrage
as she stormed into the room. "I thought you built this house!"
"Akane, I thought you were in bed?" Kasumi asked.
She snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. "I woke up
when I heard dad's shout. I've been listening."
Ranma was well aquatinted with the fury on his wife's face, but
now it was directed at someone else. "Akane..."
Soun closed his eyes. "I make no apology for my actions. I had
nothing, and my parent's death left me with much anger." He grimaced.
"Five long years of humiliation under Happosai did help matters, either.
All I wanted was to settle down, raise a family, and teach the art to
them. But Happosai kept coming back, again and again. Most girls were
scared off by him, or scared away from me because of him. Only one was
brave enough to stick with me: Kimiko."
The Tendo girls inhaled at the mention of their mother's name.
Hidenori or Ochiai or whatever his name was, felt the glare of
the Tendo patriarch, and when Soun spoke again, his words dripped with
venom-laced sarcasm. "And that's why I thank you. You took advantage of
an emotionally unstable boy and introduced him to a demon in human form.
I never forgot your face, hoping I would see you again. Because of the
grief you put me, my wife, and my children through, thanks to Happosai."
Akane huffed, but relented her glare, and sat down between
Kasumi and Ranma.
The monk closed his eyes. "I make no apology for my actions,
either. But it had to be done. I can only hope in time you will be able
to see that."
"Wait a minute," Nabiki said in near-disbelief. "You're telling
me this same guy directed you both to Happosai? Why? And why come back
now? So much here doesn't make sense." She rubbed her temples, the day's
activities having put a damper on her mental capabilities.
"I understand it is confusing, but everything will soon be
explained," the old man replied, then glanced at the clock and sighed.
"However, it is late, and the tale I have to tell is long and
complicated. I believe coming here tonight was a mistake. I think it is
better that I come back tomorrow when everyone is more rested and level-
headed." He glanced at Soun, who's glare never wavered.
Ranma pounded the table with his fist and frowned. "You ain't
goin' anywhere until someone starts explaining what the hell is going
on! Just who are you?"
The old monk ignored him and turned to the eldest Tendo
daughter. "Thank you for the tea, Kasumi-san. I regret I have caused
disharmony in this house, but it was unavoidable, unfortunately.
Hopefully, I will be able to explain the reasons for my actions
tomorrow."
Kasumi smiled. "It was a pleasure! I enjoyed your company."
Genma rose to his feet, as it appeared the mysterious gentleman
was about to leave. "The boy is right. You aren't leaving until we get
some answers."
The elderly man sighed. "I'm terribly sorry, but you will just
have to wait. The time is not quite right." With that said, he reached
into his robe and pulled out several small white pellets, which were
immediately tossed at his feet.
"Look out!" Ranma called the warning, but it was too late.
There was a bright flash and a billowing of thick, opaque,
white smoke where the man once stood. When it was gone, so was the
mystery monk.
"He got away!" Soun slammed his right fist into his left palm.
"I knew I should have dealt with him when I had the chance!" He felt a
hand on his shoulder, and turned to see Genma looking at him.
"We'll get him later," the elder Saotome told him. "He said he'd
be back tomorrow."
Nabiki yawned suddenly. "Well I, for one, am not going to worry
about it. I'm too tired to worry about it." She stood up and headed for
the stairs. "I'm going to get some sleep. Good night."
Kasumi followed Nabiki up, while Soun saw Genma to the front
door. That left the newlywed couple all alone.
They glanced shyly at each other, before Akane stood up. "I
guess I'm going back to bed, too." She took a few steps towards the hall
while Ranma stood up.
"Ummm..."
She stopped and said over her shoulder. "Well, are you coming
or not?"
Ranma quickly followed.
Find my stories at: www.geocities.com/kaiphantom2000
Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
Bonds and Connections
Chapter 9
Genma was beginning to have severe doubts about the structural
integrity of the building.
Kuno had just taken his fifth flight through a support column,
and this time he didn't look like he was getting up. Sasuke was limping
his way over to his fallen master, and Soun was still out. Genma didn't
feel that great, either. He'd managed a couple of hits to the old hag,
but she'd given him quite a beating in return.
At this rate, it would take a miracle to win.
"POPS!" came Ranma's voice.
Genma nearly burst out laughing. [When in need of miracle, get
a miracle worker.] He couldn't count the number of times his son had
done the impossible, and here was, arriving in the nick of time as
usual.
Zhao Len growled as Ranma leapt up through the hole in the
ground and surveyed the scene. "Well, I was planning on getting to you
sooner or later, boy. It might as well be now." She just wished she had
Kae here to help. Of all her opponents, Ranma was the most dangerous,
having beat her before. "Don't think you'll get me with the same trick."
Ranma dropped into a ready stance and cracked a grim smile.
"Won't need to. You're goin' down for the last time so you won't bother
my friends and family no more."
Zhao Len cackled, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a
ruby. "I've just given the command for my ally to kill the hostages. If
you surrender now, I'll countermand the order."
"Don't listen to her boy," the elder Saotome called. "Konatsu's
probably already saved them by now."
"Or else my sister and Tendo Nabiki have," Kuno added, sitting
up, and holding his swordarm. "You cannot just give in, Saotome."
Ranma hesitated. Give up and save the hostages? Or fight and
have faith in his friends? Phrased like that, he had his answer. "You
better cancel that order right now, ghoul. If any of my friends are
hurt, I'm gonna tear you apart."
"Try me, boy," Zhao Len retorted.
Ranma did, springing forward almost faster than the eye could
see. Even to Genma's sight, the boy appeared faster and more agile than
he ever had been before, and his father wondered what had changed in his
son.
Zhao Len blocked the strike and countered, but that was also
parried, and then the two were bouncing all over the place like a pair
of hyperactive jumping beans. Like the first match between them, Zhao
Len seemed to hold the advantage, but this time Ranma was coming in
fresh, while the ex-Amazon had already been fighting for awhile. Even
she had her limits, and she knew she wouldn't last long.
Instead, she launched into a intricate pattern of ki-blasts and
breaking points, hoping to throw the boy off just enough to find in
opening. Ranma, having fought both her and Cologne before, was starting
to pick out the patterns and styles, complex though they were.
"Pops, you gotta get everyone out of here!" Ranma yelled, coming
to the same conclusion as his father. The building was beginning to
shake badly, having lost one too many walls and support beams, both from
the current fight and the one happening downstairs.
The survivor persona in Genma had no problem with that. "You
can count on me, boy!" He hauled his frame up and grabbed his old
friend, noting Sasuke helping his master.
"No one is leaving here alive!" Zhao Len shrieked, then aimed a
ki-blast over Ranma, destroying another pillar with a brilliant yellow
bolt.
"No!" Ranma yelled, but it was too late. The whole area began to
tilt, ripping the room in two and sending Genma, Soun, Tatewaki, and
Sasuke tumbling through the hole to the first floor.
Ranma managed to grab onto the edge, trying to haul himself up,
but Zhao Len was suddenly there, preparing to give the final blow.
At that moment, a support beam above them gave out.
Yuri flipped away from the thing with her brother's form and
glanced wearily at the shifting and teetering walls around them. She
wasn't the only one who had taken notice of the impending demise of
their battlezone.
"Uh, guys," Ukyo said. "I think getting out of here might be a
good idea."
"Heh, I actually agree with you," Kae added. "If you make it out
alive, we can finish this." With that, she leapt straight up, slicing a
hole in the ceiling with one of her blades, and disappearing from view.
"I agree as well," Kodachi said, preparing to follow.
Yuri laid a hand on the gymnast's arm. "Hold it! What about
Nabiki, Konatsu, and Selah?"
Ukyo slapped her forehead. "Almost forgot about 'em! Come on!"
The three girls took off back the way they came, finding Nabiki
struggling with both bodies. Yuri quickly grabbed Konatsu, Kodachi held
Selah, Ukyo threw an arm around Nabiki, and the sextet began to sprint,
leaping up through the hole Kae had made. Moving as rapidly as possible,
they busted their way through every obstacle in their path as the
building began to come down around them. With a final spatula cleave
from Ukyo, the group found themselves outside.
Only to find Kae standing there waiting for them
Ranma swung himself away as Zhao Len struck, at the same moment
the beam came down.
The old woman screamed as it trapped her beneath it's
considerable weight, her staff spinning away into darkness. Try as she
might, she couldn't get any leverage and she had already exhausted all
her energy in the fight.
Ranma, seeing this and not being able to bear someone in
trouble no matter who it is, called out. "Hold on! I'm coming!"
"Help me!" Zhao Len cried, her frail visage trembling in fear.
Despite the rickety nature of his footing and the fact that the
building was literally coming down around him, Ranma leapt from wall to
beam to perch, trying to reach the trapped ex-Amazon. A final leap
brought him to rest on the pillar ensnaring the old woman, so he swung
down and tried to lift the heavy beam off of her. What he didn't see,
was her face suddenly change from terrified, to burning hatred as she
reached a hand out to touch him.
"DIE!" she hissed, and Ranma was suddenly struck by a burning
sensation in his chest, forcing him to let go of the support beam as he
stumbled and fell backwards.
Then, the building finally released all of it's fearsome built-
up power.
As any construction worker will tell you, when you build any
size of structure, the floors and ceilings store what is called
'potential energy.' When you remove the supports, this potential energy
is released and the building comes down. This type of energy is a good
friend of demolitionists, as it means all they need minimum of
explosives to bring the structure down.
Now, the Nikaze Office Complex was releasing all if it's stored
potential energy, and letting gravity take it's long neglected and very
brutal hold.
"Now who could that be?" Kasumi wondered she went to answer the
knocking on the front door. Opening it revealed a frail-looking
gentleman, a monk of some sort she assumed, complete with near-bald head
and draped in a simple, dark brown robe. "Hello. Can I help you?"
The man smiled. "No, but I believe I can help you. If I may be
so foreword, may I come in?"
Kasumi blinked, but felt strangely compelled to oblige. "By all
means, come on inside."
The elderly gentleman smiled, and as he walked inside, his
right eye twinkled mysteriously.
Kodachi screamed as Kae yanked her arm back, but was unable to
do more as Yuri landed a jumpkick to her brother's backside. Kae
stumbled forward and released the gymnast roughly, but managed a hard
kick to the back of Kodachi's leg. The injured Kuno girl floundered for
a bit, then tripped and fell.
Kae turned to face the sister of her host's body, a feral and
hungry grin forming on his face. "What's the matter? Can't bring
yourself to really injure this body?"
Yuri knew she couldn't do more than punches and kicks. A large
part of her still believed there had to be something of her brother left
in that body, so any more lethal moves were out of the question. She had
tried wrapping him up in her yo-yo string, but Kae had just cut through
it. All she could do, was hope to tire him out, or distract him long
enough for one of the other girls to get a hit in.
Unfortunately, Kae was adept at turning aside most of their
attacks, and Ukyo seemed as reluctant as Yuri to inflict permanent harm.
Only Kodachi appeared to be willing to fight to her fullest, but even
that wasn't enough, as the gymnast now appeared to mostly out of the
fight.
As Ukyo moved in to duel Kae, Nabiki watched from the
sidelines, wondering if there was something she could do as the last of
the building collapsed in on itself. The call of the sword intensified
for a moment, but she shook it off. Not being well versed in it's use,
having a sword would only make her a target, and it would take too long
to return to the dojo to retrieve it.
Yet she was convinced there was something she was forgetting,
some important detail. Studying Kae from a distance, it suddenly came to
her.
She glanced down at the two unconscious people she was watching
after, noting which one would help the situation most, and proceeded to
shake them. "Come on, wake up, kiddo! You're 'fiance' needs you." Selah
groaned and turned over, but showed every sign of continuing her
slumber. "Oh for the love of..." Nabiki sighed, then figured there was
no help for it. She reared back her hand and slapped the girl.
"Ow!" the little girl exclaimed, her cheek reddening. Then her
eyes opened and she focused in and glared at the one who struck her.
"Why'd you do that!?"
"Sorry, kiddo, but I believe they could use your help." Nabiki
pointed out the battle raging several dozen meters away, then looked
back to see an expression of fright on the girl's face. "You don't need
to fight, just hit Kenji with enough water to trigger his curse."
Understanding and relief lit the girl's face, followed by an
expression of despair. "But... I don't know if I have the strength! I've
used too much magic already..."
"You've got to try, or else Kenji's going to get hurt real bad,"
Nabiki urged. "You're not going to let that happen, are you?" She felt a
little guilty about pushing the girl's buttons like this, but saw no
other way at the moment.
Determination replaced the previous emotions on the young
girl's face, then she brought her hands up and began to concentrate.
"Alright, enough of this!" Ukyo snarled. "You're being a real
jerk, Kenji, or whoever you think you are!" She twisted away from a spin
kick as her left arm flashed out.
"What!?" Kae gasped in surprised, finding his right side bound
by several strands of sticky noodles.
Ukyo smirked and gave a mighty tug, pulling her snarling
opponent forward while bringing her battle spatula down. Kae grunted in
pain as he took the blow on his free forearm, then spun and sliced,
wakizashu appearing in his hand long enough the sever his bindings.
Completing the turn, Kae lashed out with his now-free left hand and
struck the chef's right wrist, causing Ukyo to yelp and drop her weapon.
Ukyo suddenly found herself weaponless and vulnerable, as Kae
moved in with a lightning fast blurry of punches and kicks. Ukyo tried
to block and dodge, but never having had much training in unarmed
combat, she was quickly overpowered.
"No!" Yuri screamed, rushing forward to save her friend, but her
panicked charge left her open to spin kick that caught her in the gut
and sent her tumbling away. She twisted her ankle as she landed badly.
Kae barely let that slow his momentum as he slammed an elbow
into the side of the chef's head. Dazed, Ukyo dropped like a sack of
potatoes. Dimly, she heard the sound of a blade being drawn from it's
scabbard. Cracking open her right eye, the non-swollen one, revealed Kae
kneeling down and bringing the sword up to her neck.
"I've been looking forward to this," Kae told her. "I'll make it
quick, so you'll at least die a warrior's death."
Ukyo could barely feel her body as she tried to wrack her
cloudy mind for an idea, when she noticed the arm holding the weapon was
beginning to shake, badly. Curious, she watched as the smirk on Kae's
face was replaced by surprise. The ninja grabbed the shaking arm and
tried to steady it, to no avail.
"Stop it!" Kae hissed.
Ukyo blinked, while a short distance away, Yuri and Kodachi
were watching with wide eyes.
"It's mine, you can't have it!" Kae shrieked as the trembling
increased, spreading to the rest of her body. She stood up slowly and
took a step back, dropping the weapon. "NO!"
Ukyo was confused; who was Kae talking to? He almost looked
like he was losing control of his body. As her dazed mind began to
clear, she sat up and studied him, and that's when all the pieces came
together.
[He's not talking to us,] Ukyo realized. [What if Kenji is not
as gone as 'Kae' would like us to believe?] She tried to recall what she
knew of possession, and remembered the cursed spatula that had attached
itself to Ranma's hand. It had a will of it's own, but that never
replaced Ranma's.
"Kenji, fight it!" Ukyo yelled suddenly. Across the way, Yuri
switched her stare to the chef. "Don't you see? He's not really gone!"
If possible, the ninja girl's eyes widened even further. Then
she understood and joined in. "Come on, 'niichan! You can do it!"
"STOP IT!" Kae screamed, his whole body trembling. [You can't
win, boy! My will is stronger, having grown much more powerful through
the passage of several hundred years!]
[But this is my body!] Kenji countered, his mental voice finally
breaking free of the psychic bonds she had placed on him. [And these are
my friends! I won't let you hurt them anymore!] "I WON'T LET YOU!!!"
Yuri and Ukyo started at the voice change, back to one they
both recognized. They both struggled to their feet, though Yuri
collapsed in pain as she put pressure on her twisted right ankle.
Despite the pressure he was exerting, Kenji's consciousness
slowly found itself being forced back into the void that contained him.
[No!]
[I told you as I was stronger!] Kae yelled in triumph.
"Now!"
Ukyo, Yuri, and Kodachi jerked sideways at Nabiki's shouted
command.
"Haaa!" A horizontal geyser of water burst forth from Selah's
hands and engulfed the trembling boy, sweeping him into the stone wall
surrounding the building. The geyser cut off a second later, leaving a
small, wet dog laying motionless on the ground.
Selah, exhausted by the tremendous amount of magic she had used
this evening, collapsed into Nabiki's arms. "D-did I...?"
Nabiki nodded and smiled. "You got him, kiddo. Good job."
"Is everyone all right?"
"Over here!" Nabiki waved to the approaching Genma, who had Soun
flung on his shoulder in a fireman's carry, while Ukyo hauled herself
over to the unconscious wolf. "And you're a little late," she said,
frowning at Tatewaki and Sasuke appeared behind the bigger man. Nabiki
gave the kendoist a dark glare.
"I didn't even know you were here until I spotted that water
blast," Genma replied, setting Nabiki's father down beside her. "He'll
be fine, he's taken worse," he assured her.
Nabiki nodded, then both turned to see the other three girls
approach, Ukyo carrying the unconscious lupine form of Kenji, while
Kodachi and Yuri supported each other, limping along. "How about him?"
Ukyo shook her head as she laid the small animal down. "He's
out for now, but I think he'll be okay. The real question is: How is he
mentally?"
Yuri knelt by her brother and gently started to stroke his fur.
"My poor 'niichan," she whispered. "What's happened to you?"
"Well, at least everyone's okay," Nabiki said at last, standing
up and stretching.
Genma glanced around. "What about my son? Has anyone seen him?"
"Ranchan was here?" Ukyo asked incredulously, then turned to
stare at the rubble that used to be an condemned building. "If he's not
out here, then..."
"Don't even think it, Ukyo," Nabiki warned. "Even he's not dumb
enough to get caught in that."
"He went to save that old crone..." Genma stated, then shut his
mouth.
"He WHAT!?" came the stereo reply from multiple girls.
"Dear Ranma-san..." Kodachi whispered in a reverent tone.
Genma said no more, but suddenly sprung forward and began to
dig through the rubble at a frantic pace. Ukyo lumbered over to help,
her ribs protesting, but she ignored them. When Kodachi joined her, Ukyo
thought she should be surprised, but merely gave a slight nod.
"Ranma!" Genma called, heaving a large piece of mortar off to
the side. "Speak to me boy!"
Ukyo began to despair as they dug. There was just so much
rubble and Ranma could be anywhere. [Come on, Ranchan! After all we've
been through, you couldn't have bought the farm now!] She rubbed her
eyes with her arm, clearing the tears forming out of them.
"We will find him, Kounji-san," Kodachi's stated with near-
certainty.
"I know we will!" Ukyo shot back, a littler harsher than she
intended.
Kodachi merely nodded, as both girl's continued to clear what
debris they could from in front of them, secretly dreading finding
Ranma's broken body underneath the wreckage.
Which was why they were taken completely by surprise when Ranma
burst out from the pile of rubble, looking none too worse for wear, if a
little haggard. They were further confused as he jumped into the air
wearing a gleeful expression.
"Yatta! I finally got it!" He turned to the group and bounded
over, now staring at him as if he were a ghost, out of his mind, or
both. "How's everyone?" he asked curiously.
"Never mind us, how are YOU?" Ukyo exclaimed, finally finding
her voice. "You just had a building dropped on you!"
Ranma shrugged, then went on to roughly explain how he had used
falling pillars and support beams to rapidly construct a support
shelter, chestnut speed, that shielded him from the falling debris. "It
was just another technique, I realized. After being buried like that a
coupla times, I finally figured out how to survive it."
"That's m'boy!" Genma said proudly.
Ukyo shook her head, while everyone else decided to continue
staring.
Ranma blinked. "Well, shouldn't we be goin'?"
"Is she dead?" Soun asked in an even voice, finally waking up
and holding his head. Everyone turned to look at him, then followed his
gaze to the huge pile of rubble.
Ranma shrugged. "Don't know. She was trapped when a support
beam fell on her. I just barely survived that, and in her condition, I
don't think she coulda done the same."
The Tendo patriarch nodded grimly, apparently satisfied.
"Well, I for one am quite satisfied this evening is over,"
Kodachi declared. "If there is no more danger, I believe we should
leave."
Nobody had any argument to that idea.
It was an exhausted group that arrived back at the Tendo Dojo
that night. Not a word had been spoken since they departed the ruined
office building, with the exception of a few good-byes as each group
separated to head back to their own homes. The Ucchan group took Kenji's
lupine form back with them, saying that they would secure him until they
could determine if he was alright.
Soun Tendo was especially quiet, his face holding the same
serious expression. There were quite a few problems that tonight had
made him see, although some he wasn't ready to deal with yet. However,
maybe there was one he could confront, and he realized it was a long
time in coming.
Genma's attention kept switching back and forth from his son to
his old friend. From pride at the former, to confusion for the latter.
But not knowing what to do about it, and more than ready to call it a
night, he pushed all thoughts out of his mind.
Nabiki was more than a little annoyed and upset. For the first
time in a long while, she wasn't in total control, and it shook the very
core of her being. She felt vulnerable, exposed, scared, and hadn't a
clue as to what to do about it.
"We're back!" Ranma called as the quartet entered the front door
and slipped off their shoes. The youngest Saotome didn't know what to
think of this latest conflict, so he dealt with it the same way he
always dealt with things he didn't know what to think; by ignoring it.
"Akane? Kasumi?" He shared a confused look with Nabiki, when he received
no answer to his hail.
"Kasumi!" Soun called.
"She was here when I left..." Nabiki trailed off.
"You don't think..." Soun started.
"That this was all ruse to draw us off so someone could capture
Kasumi?" Genma finished.
"You can't be serious, Pop!?" Ranma asked, incredulously, though
even he was having his own doubts.
"That does seem a bit far-fetched," Nabiki reasoned. [Still....
Things have been weirder lately.] "I'll check her bedroom," she called
while dashing up the stairs.
"I'll check the kitchen!" Genma declared. In the face of two
lidded glares, hastily added, "For Kasumi, of course." While the elder
Saotome went to check his intended location, Ranma dashed out to the
dojo while Soun sprinted down the hall to check the rest of the house.
Upstairs, Nabiki had finished going through the rooms, not
finding any sign of her older sister. "Kasumi?" she called again. [Where
could she be?] Nabiki wondered, frustrated. As she closed the last door,
she heard her father yell from downstairs.
"YOU!"
Turning quickly, Nabiki dashed back downstairs, nearly running
into Ranma as he came back inside, obviously hearing the same shout.
Together, they ran into the living room, but halted in their tracks at
the scene that greeted them.
Soun was angrily holding a bald, elderly gentleman aloft by his
collar, pressing him against a wall. Nabiki was quite startled, never
having seen her father so angry. But the other surprise was Kasumi,
sitting on a cushion several feet away, astonishment written across her
face. A tipped over teacup leaked its contents over the table.
"So good... to see you again... Tendo-san, ack!" the old man
commented, but made no move to defend himself.
"Alright, what's going on?" Nabiki asked. "Father, who is this?"
Soun's voice was low and even. "Oh, we go way back, don't we?
He's the reason I had the honor," Soun let considerable venom into the
word 'honor', "of apprenticing under Master Happosai. How can I ever
thank you for that?"
"You too, Tendo?" Genma asked, shocked.
Ranma blinked, trying to make sense out of what was going on.
"Whoa, wait a minute! What has this got to do with the old freak?"
Soun's grip, which had lessened a bit with the surprise
announcement from Genma, tightened back up with Ranma's mention of the
master.
The short, monk-like figure gasped. "Please calm yourself,
Tendo-san!"
"I am calm," Soun replied evenly. "The real issue, is what you
are doing here? What were you trying to do with my daughter?"
"Father, please don't hurt him!" Kasumi implored. "He's a nice
gentleman."
Nabiki sighed noisily when her father showed no inclination of
letting the man go. [Why am I the only logical thinker in this house?]
"Look, it's obvious he's no threat at the moment, and I doubt he can
escape from three highly skilled martial artists, so why don't we find
out why he's here first, what he wants, and then you can beat him up if
you still feel like it?"
A few moments of silence went by as Soun appeared to be giving
his daughter's words some thought. "I should throw you out into the
garbage right now," he practically growled, then dropped the man by the
table. "But I want to know why you're here, as well as find out why you
felt the need to send me to Happosai for training. You obviously knew
his reputation."
"As do I," Genma added.
The mysterious man dusted himself off and sat up, appearing
unperturbed. "You both wanted a strong sensei to train under, someone
who had great power. I gave you that."
"You gave us to a monster!" Soun countered, thrusting a finger
at the short fellow.
"This is getting us nowhere, daddy," Nabiki cut in. "Maybe if
you started at the beginning and explained how you know him, and who he
is?"
Soun sighed, but sat down next to the man, Genma on the other.
Ranma sat down next to his father while Nabiki joined hers. Kasumi took
the opportunity to fill a few more teacups. She had a near-certain
notion that they would be needed.
"This goes back a long time, before any of you children were
born," Genma said slowly, his eyes closed, when it appeared Soun was
unlikely to start. "At that time, I was a young lad around Ranma's age.
My father was a good fighter, but he had never formally trained in
martial arts, and my mother was a poor farm girl. My family had no money
and, with very little prospects, I left home when I was young to seek my
fortune. I had to steal to survive, snatching up any scraps of food
here, or a few coins there. At least that's how it was until I stole
from a monastery in Osaka. The monks caught me and, as punishment, made
me work to pay back what I stole. When they discovered I had nowhere
else to go, they offered to feed, clothe, and teach me, if I worked for
it. Naturally, I accepted."
Never having heard about his father's early life, Ranma didn't
know what to say, but paid rapt attention to the story. Soun had heard
some of it before, but not the part that the monk across the table
played in it. Genma never spoke of him before, and Soun realized,
neither had he.
"I ended up staying there for quite awhile, learning the martial
arts," Genma continued. "In under a year, I was able to beat all of the
students and fight most of the monks to a draw, at least. But I was
arrogant, and with no further challenges, I sought to become master of
the monastery." His eyes flicked over to the mysterious monk. "That's
when a monk by the name of Ochiai, him, told me that if I wanted higher
training, to seek out an old master name Happosai. When he told me how
great the master was, I foolishly accepted." Genma folded his arms
across his chest. "The rest, as they say, is history."
"Was that the same for you, daddy?" Nabiki inquired, finding
this little revelation interesting, but not entirely useful. Yet.
Soun nodded. "Indeed. I, too, was the top student at the dojo
where I trained, and when my parents died in a train wreck, I became
resentful, in addition to being homeless." His eyes took on a far away
look, as he was now seeing an entirely different time. "Having nothing,
I attempted to claim the dojo as my own. I fought the master of the dojo
several times, but was defeated handily each time. As they threw me out
into the street and laughed at me, I swore I would return to take it, by
force if necessary. But as I picked up my sore and battered body, I knew
it would take more advanced training before I would be successful."
Soun came back to the present and pointed to the man Genma had
named as Ochiai. "That's when I met him, but he called himself Hidenori
Taga. He taught me a little as I traveled with him, taunting me, telling
me he knew a great and highly-skilled martial arts master that could
teach me to be the best. I begged and demanded and threatened him to
tell me. After a month he finally did, and a short time later I managed
to track down Happosai. Genma had apparently become Happosai's pupil
shortly before, and that's when we first met."
Nabiki had a sudden thought. "Uh, daddy, this dojo you're
talking about..."
"You're in it now," he told her. "Five long years of training
under the Master, and I returned here to claim it. It was run down and
had no students, and I beat the owners easily. In exchange for leaving
the dojo intact, the couple that owned it let me have it, and moved
away. I don't know what happened to them."
"You took our home from someone else!?" Akane yelled in outrage
as she stormed into the room. "I thought you built this house!"
"Akane, I thought you were in bed?" Kasumi asked.
She snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. "I woke up
when I heard dad's shout. I've been listening."
Ranma was well aquatinted with the fury on his wife's face, but
now it was directed at someone else. "Akane..."
Soun closed his eyes. "I make no apology for my actions. I had
nothing, and my parent's death left me with much anger." He grimaced.
"Five long years of humiliation under Happosai did help matters, either.
All I wanted was to settle down, raise a family, and teach the art to
them. But Happosai kept coming back, again and again. Most girls were
scared off by him, or scared away from me because of him. Only one was
brave enough to stick with me: Kimiko."
The Tendo girls inhaled at the mention of their mother's name.
Hidenori or Ochiai or whatever his name was, felt the glare of
the Tendo patriarch, and when Soun spoke again, his words dripped with
venom-laced sarcasm. "And that's why I thank you. You took advantage of
an emotionally unstable boy and introduced him to a demon in human form.
I never forgot your face, hoping I would see you again. Because of the
grief you put me, my wife, and my children through, thanks to Happosai."
Akane huffed, but relented her glare, and sat down between
Kasumi and Ranma.
The monk closed his eyes. "I make no apology for my actions,
either. But it had to be done. I can only hope in time you will be able
to see that."
"Wait a minute," Nabiki said in near-disbelief. "You're telling
me this same guy directed you both to Happosai? Why? And why come back
now? So much here doesn't make sense." She rubbed her temples, the day's
activities having put a damper on her mental capabilities.
"I understand it is confusing, but everything will soon be
explained," the old man replied, then glanced at the clock and sighed.
"However, it is late, and the tale I have to tell is long and
complicated. I believe coming here tonight was a mistake. I think it is
better that I come back tomorrow when everyone is more rested and level-
headed." He glanced at Soun, who's glare never wavered.
Ranma pounded the table with his fist and frowned. "You ain't
goin' anywhere until someone starts explaining what the hell is going
on! Just who are you?"
The old monk ignored him and turned to the eldest Tendo
daughter. "Thank you for the tea, Kasumi-san. I regret I have caused
disharmony in this house, but it was unavoidable, unfortunately.
Hopefully, I will be able to explain the reasons for my actions
tomorrow."
Kasumi smiled. "It was a pleasure! I enjoyed your company."
Genma rose to his feet, as it appeared the mysterious gentleman
was about to leave. "The boy is right. You aren't leaving until we get
some answers."
The elderly man sighed. "I'm terribly sorry, but you will just
have to wait. The time is not quite right." With that said, he reached
into his robe and pulled out several small white pellets, which were
immediately tossed at his feet.
"Look out!" Ranma called the warning, but it was too late.
There was a bright flash and a billowing of thick, opaque,
white smoke where the man once stood. When it was gone, so was the
mystery monk.
"He got away!" Soun slammed his right fist into his left palm.
"I knew I should have dealt with him when I had the chance!" He felt a
hand on his shoulder, and turned to see Genma looking at him.
"We'll get him later," the elder Saotome told him. "He said he'd
be back tomorrow."
Nabiki yawned suddenly. "Well I, for one, am not going to worry
about it. I'm too tired to worry about it." She stood up and headed for
the stairs. "I'm going to get some sleep. Good night."
Kasumi followed Nabiki up, while Soun saw Genma to the front
door. That left the newlywed couple all alone.
They glanced shyly at each other, before Akane stood up. "I
guess I'm going back to bed, too." She took a few steps towards the hall
while Ranma stood up.
"Ummm..."
She stopped and said over her shoulder. "Well, are you coming
or not?"
Ranma quickly followed.