Retro's thoughts: Numero dos por favor. Level 1 a little attempted murder! Oh no I just gave something away. You must read on to find out!
Chapter 2
The Chinese sky. It is a gorgeous thing to sit back and watch the stars dance across your eyes. To see the trees tower gently over you, offering you protection from ever falling into the sheer massive abyss known as the night that threatens to swallow you whole. Few these days appreciate the stars more than Ryouga Hibiki does. Never have they abandoned him to the harsh world, and always have they welcomed him with openness that nothing in this world or the next could offer.
Ryouga laid down on a soft piece of grass along the edge of a mass of trees. A valley separated him and several tall hills off in the distance. His fire had long since died, but his restless mind would not allow him any sleep. He had lied there for what seemed like an eternity. His mission to return home and defeat Ranma was still clear, but for right now, in this place of beauty, he decided to give his mission and himself a rest. He made pictures out of the stars in the sky. He did not know how or why, but using several stars from Andromeda and Perseus and texture from the Milky Way, he could discern Akane's smiling face. It truly is the face of an angel, he thought.
"No wonder I can see it so clearly in the sky," Ryouga said aloud to himself allowing a small smile to crease his face.
Ryouga was thinking pleasantly to himself when he heard a rustle from behind him. He turned around quickly, but not quickly enough for the arrow that was now right in front of his face. The small piece of wheat he'd been chewing fell out of his mouth and onto the ground. Ryouga raised his hands slowly, while looking at his attacker for the first time.
His eyes came to rest on a female of average height, and a well built, but still feminine body. He looked her over and saw that she had curves in all the right places and an amazing face. Her dark red hair stood out in the moonlight and her deep green eyes told a story which Ryouga would die to know.
Ryouga's mind returned to the present and realized that she was speaking to him. She was speaking a type of Chinese, which he had never heard, but could follow without too much trouble.
"What are you doing here spy?" She asked harshly. Her hands never wavered, and her feet were in a position that told Ryouga, if he were to charge her and manage to dodge the arrow she would be able to step back and reach for the old, but still threatening dagger at her side.
"I'm no spy. I'm just passing through on my way back to Japan. Might I inquire as to who you are?" Ryouga asked stalling her while trying to lead her into a false sense of security at the same time.
She furrowed her brow trying to discern where he was getting at. He was not of her land, and the way he carried himself was that of one who trained well in the martial arts. If she were to attack with her blade, she would have a larger advantage over him.
"My name is Tong Kun. Why are you this far west Japanese?" she asked stalling him while trying to lead him into a false sense of security at the same time.
Ryouga let his hands fall on top of his head and rested them there in a relaxed manner. "I was looking for something important, but I never found it. Tong Kun eh? I don't see many Chinese with red hair." He slowly undid the knot on one of his bandanas, and using a special technique began to slowly make it sharp as a razor.
"My parents were Russian," she answered him with a hint of malice at mentioning her parents to him. Ryouga nodded slowly taking it in.
Ryouga was fast as lightning as he sprang from where he stood into the air, leaping towards Tong. He withdrew his sharpened bandana and cut her bow and arrow in half before she had a chance to shoot it. She had foreseen this event and so therefore abandoned her bow and arrow paying them no attention and instead withdrawing her dagger. She tumble rolled backwards feeling Ryouga's bandana pierce the ground where she just was. Her blade, now drawn and ready, sprang forward with her hand and reached Ryouga's throat. At the same time, however Ryouga had recovered from his miss and his bandana now rested at her throat as well.
The two stayed like that, each staring into the others eyes waiting for the execution of a move. Both watched the others eyes for several minutes until both surrendered knowing that each of them would die unless they yielded. Ryouga adorned his bandana back to his head and Tong replaced her dagger in it's sheathe.
"You are a formidable warrior Japanese. Perhaps I will show you to my village and from there you may find a safe passage back to your home," she said gesturing to the woods behind her.
Ryouga smiled gracefully and began packing his things. "How far away is this village of yours?" he asked, hoping that this wasn't a ruse of some sort to lower his defenses.
"It is not far Japanese, but we must hurry if we are to beat the morning sun. Do you think you can keep up?" Her question didn't leave much room for a no, and it gave the feel of a challenge.
"We shall see Chinese. We shall see."
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(Tokyo Port)
The Tokyo Port was a bustling center of activity, even at night, as people from all over the world came and went over boat to their destination. Four such companions were there for departure on a liner that would take them over the Sea of China and land in the port of Beijing.
Radagast led the three others through the thick crowds, cutting through it like a knife through butter. He spotted the liner and proceeded onboard. Once on the ship the captain who showed them to their quarters greeted him and the others.
"Yes we hold Ms. Nabiki Tendo in the highest regards so, of course, we have reserved you the best cabin on the ship. I hope you all have an enjoyable trip." The captain smiled to three teenagers and looked suspiciously at the short man who carried a staff that was more than two times his height. Radagast caught the look and did nothing more than smile up at the man.
Radagast began unpacking the contents of his bag onto the shelf and into the drawers, which was nothing at all. His pack contained things for the others including food and supplies, but he brought nothing for himself.
Ukyou dropped her bag on the ground and hopped onto the springy mattress, bouncing up and down. She let out a sigh and said, "Wow. It feels nice to lie down again. I thought I'd die from all that walking we had to do." She removed her shoes and began to massage her feet, working out the sores and knots.
Mousse inspected a picture of a small ship in a storm on the wall. A huge wave threatened to swallow the ship whole leaving no chance for the ship to make it out safely. "Oh my. I had no idea we were already out to see. I sure do hope that boat makes it out of this storm okay." Mousse said shaking his head.
Radagast looked out the small round window and saw the lights of the city still shining brightly, and the bustle of the late night crowd still occurring. He turned to the boy and sighed. Shampoo walked over to him and slapped him upside the head, while pointing in the direction of the true window.
Ukyou leapt up from her bed forgetting her sore feet and gaining a brand new and sudden passion to explore the ship. She slipped her shoes back on and walked out the door.
"I think Ukyou has the right idea. I'm not yet tired, and I would like to know this ship better," said Radagast as he adorned his hat and began to walk outside the small door heading topside.
Ukyou had found the hatch leading to the top and moved to the stern of the boat taking in everything she saw with a bright and able mind. The liner was not one of exceptional size, but was still big for her. She had never been on a boat before, and she was feeling rather exhilarated by it. She leaned over and looked at several Chinese symbols painted across the back of the boat. Her eyes were dreamy as she thought of what they meant, and wondered if their was some heroic story behind the name of it.
That was however very unlikely. Heroic stories and tales of chivalry don't exist anymore in modern society. The knight, the samurai, the crusader; all had become extinct faster than they had become famous. She let her head rest on her hand watching the stars and looking at the name still trying to discern as to what it meant.
"It means The Red Whale," a voice came from behind her. It was a sweet, yet deep voice, which carried the air on its wings perfectly.
She turned around and saw the welcoming eyes of Radagast, now at his full height. He walked up to her and leaned on the rail as she did, his wild brown hair billowing in the wind. He looked at her gently and turned back to the starry sky, watching them perform their dance across their dark stage. She was a little startled by his sneaking up on her, but found peace and serenity in his eyes, and she couldn't help but smile.
"Let me ask you something if I may Ukyou," he said keeping his gaze on the sky.
"Shoot."
"Why did you decide to come along with us? I had intended to ask you to come, but you asked me first and I wanted to know why that is." This time he turned to face her looking down at her with a quizzical expression on his face.
She studied his face looking for signs of lying, but found none. He truly did want to know why she came. She shrugged and broke the eye contact returning to the railing and the stars, the lights of Tokyo now far in the distance. "I don't know," she said, "Ryouga is my friend and all. I'm sure that he, and anyone else for that matter, would do the same for me if I were lost. Besides we need to find this ring, and put a stop to it before it hurts anymore people."
Radagast nodded content and satisfied with the answer. Radagast knew the struggles and turmoil that awaited them all, but for this single moment chose to forget it all. He also knew that Ryouga, with the ring, far outmatched the other three, maybe even himself. The power of Ryouga might even be unmatched, but he knew that he chose correctly, when he picked friends of Ryouga rather than warriors trained to kill. It might possibly be the power of friendship that will see this whole expedition through to the end. That was certainly the case back then, and it still is now.
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(China)
Ryouga had been running for what seemed like an eternity, but he wouldn't falter. Not in front of a female warrior. It wasn't the running that was bothering him so much; it was more the direction they were running. He had seen these trees and hills before, when he came this way through the woods. Now Ryouga was royally confused as to which way they were going, so if anything were to happen he wouldn't know where to go at all. Although he never knew where to go at all, he didn't mind it so much until now. His female companion, Tong Kun, stopped at the edge of the tree line.
"This is it," she said, her pride swelling, "my home." Ryouga gasped in awe at the tiny city that lay before, because in all actuality that's exactly what it was, a tiny city. The city must have been at least a square mile and it bore a crude moat about four feet deep, and filled with water making it evem larger. It was surrounded by an outer palisade wall, complete with a walkway where he could see guards dressed in leather, studded with pieces of metal. The city was encircled by tall mountains with jagged rock, which turned away all but the most skilled invaders. The only entrances he could see were through the forest he was in and a small river that cut through the side of the rock opposite to where he was, all the way on the other side. The small river flowed until it reached a lake. He marveled at the strategic advantage these people would have over any attacker.
If anyone were to come through the mountains, they would have to travel over ten yards before they reached the moat, and by then archers, which he could also see patrolling the walls, would shoot them dead. The same distance existed with the trees, although he didn't think any enemy would dare try to traverse through that tightly packed and confusing forest. He would have been assuredly lost had it not been for Tong.
"It's perfect," said Ryouga marveling at the large village. "How big is your village?" Ryouga asked beginning to trek down the hill, the trees falling farther behind him.
"We have over five hundred warriors," she said proudly. Ryouga was awed at the number. Five hundred was a lot for a village in China. Why would they need so many warriors, he asked himself.
"Are there any other villages around? Ones that neighbor yours?" Ryouga watched as her mood darkened and her fists clenched and un-clenched themselves.
"Yes. There are three others. They too have as many warriors, but not such a great village as us." She said her mood rising at the mention of her village. She made it to the drawbridge and signaled the tower guard. The bridge lowered, and she stepped out of the way giving it room to drop.
After the bridge had dropped, Ryouga and Tong walked in, and Ryouga was amazed at the simplicity of the village, yet was also touched by the culture it held. The people's houses were made not for comfort purposes, but for strategic defense, as if every house was made to be its own fortress. These people whoever they are must be a very war stricken community. He walked down the street, and watched as the commoners gave him weird looks. One was beating his mat, caught one glance of Ryouga, then ran inside his home.
He turned to Tong to ask her why, but she cut him off and said, "Here we are. The Great Hall. The King will wish to speak with you." She led him up the stone path to the biggest and by far the most grandiose building of them all. The carvings on its stone pillars told stories of brave heroes dying in battle and a great war. Ryouga had traveled around the world enough times to recognize an old culture when he saw one.
She opened the two large doors and light flooded into what could only be described as a great hall. The hall must have been about a hundred feet wide and about two hundred feet in length. The floor was littered with wooden tables covered with old food and golden goblets which looked like they were recently used. The wall seemed to be a mosaic depicting an even deeper history than the pillars outside, and had candelabras on them and a stained glass window in the shape of a star was at the top of the wall on the far side of the hall providing light in the great hall.
A man sitting in a large ornate chair got up the moment he saw Ryouga and walked across the way to meet him. The man stopped in front of him and looked Ryouga up and down. He was dressed in ornamental armor and had a bushy black beard and hair. He turned to Tong.
"Who is this man you bring to us Tong?" he asked scrutinizing her now.
Tong did not falter under the man's gaze and instead answered him with clarity and precision. Ryouga was surprised, because the man's eyes were quite intimidating. "He is a Japanese from over the ocean. He was looking for something, but did not find it. We battled and he proved a formidable opponent. He is well trained in the martial arts father."
Ryouga realized they were related seconds before she said 'father,' but did not show it. The two were similar in appearance, and had the same deep eyes.
"We do not get many Japanese in this part of the world. Might I ask what you were looking for?" The voice came from a shadow hidden from the light the large stained window produced. A man stepped out from the shadow and revealed to Ryouga the same deep eyes of the Kun line with the exception that a scar traced his eyebrow above his left one. His hair and skin were dark from obviously being out in the sun far too long. The man was well built and Ryouga was sure that by any woman's standards he would be very handsome.
"I was looking for a..cure. A cure to a disease I have." Ryouga was only half lying. He was looking for a cure, he'd been looking for one all his life, but for right now, he wasn't. "I have a Jusenkyo curse."
The room darkened and the man, outraged all of a sudden, spat at Ryouga's feet in anger. He turned around and walked back into the shadows talking to several of his friends that were there in an inaudible whisper, throwing Ryouga glances now and again. Ryouga gave Tong a look of confusion and she explained it to him.
"Our people are few and divided Ryouga. The three other clans I told you about were once joined with us. We were once a powerful people whose empire, in its hay day, reached from the plains of Tibet to the coast of the ocean. Even the latter days of the Khans feared us as well as all of China. We were so feared that none would write about the black plague that came in the shape of humans and spears, but were anything but human. Our armies were great, and so was our civilization, until the Amazons came."
Lord Kun stepped forward and began to fill in the rest for her. "The Amazons were once spies. Lethal spies who were, in fact, under our control once. Most of those spies were women, because women excelled in the arts of diversion and amatory, which they so finely honed. No male enemy was safe from an Amazon."
"One day an Amazon made a mistake and killed a top rank general of our once great army. Our king would not have it, and so he had the Amazon and her family murdered. Ironically the Amazon was a child of one of the elders, and therefore they declared a secret war upon us."
"One by one our armies and cities fell to ruin and death. None could match the secret and stealth power of the Amazons even though they were few and we were many. We had turned the tide of the war and were even winning when the King died of a knife in the back. His four sons, arrogant and lacking the wisdom of their father, abandoned their kingdom and each other for four villages. The four villages today are descendants of those in the story. The Amazons, no longer seeing any threat in us as a whole, abandoned their methods for the ways of the warrior so that they may destroy us, if we were to ever rise again. So you see the name, Amazon and Jusenkyo are forever cursed in this realm, and I would be very happy if you never mentioned them again."
Ryouga listened to the story intently, feeling rage for what the Amazons did to these people. They ruined their way of life over the justified death of one of their own. His fury was interrupted as the sounding of a trumpet was heard. Everyone in the room was busy in an instant throwing on armor and withdrawing their swords.
"Father!" The man with the scar threw a sword over to the elder Kun and grabbed his own.
"To the gates!" the King yelled unsheathing his new sword and running out the door with the rest. He stopped and turned to Ryouga and said, "Japanese, if you wish to go you may, I will not bind you with us, but your power would be welcome in this fight."
Ryouga had to think about it for a moment, contemplating whether it was worth it, when an idea sprang into his head. An idea so grand in nature and so demanding, that their was little chance it would work. Normally Ryouga would never had come up with such an idea, but recent events and a mysterious entity forming quickly in his mind led him to this. This was what he was waiting for, the chance to change everything that ever was and ever will be.
"Indeed my liege, I will join you on the battlefield."
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(Nerima)
Ranma awoke with a start. He shot up from his comfortable position on the couch and looked around. The morning light was not due for another hour or so, so Ranma laid his head back on the pillow. He looked down at himself and he saw some sheets that someone must have laid over his body. Unable to sleep, and requiring a trip to the men's room, Ranma got up and made his way to the bathroom.
Done with his business and in the middle of washing his hands he looked into the mirror and looked at himself with those deep gray eyes. His face had started to mend from the ring. The ring's removal had caused a withdrawal on his physical features, leaving him weak and his skin looking aged, but he was better now. He felt much stronger and more alive, and his face looked better.
Ranma finished washing his hands and stepped out of the furo and back into the living room. He took one look around and, deciding he was hungry, walked into the kitchen and made himself a sandwich. He leaned against the counter and began eating his sandwich along with drinking a glass of milk.
Ranma was halfway through his sandwich when he heard someone else come downstairs. He watched as Nabiki wobbled into the kitchen and grabbed something to drink from the refrigerator, taking no notice of Ranma's presence. Ranma watched her intently wondering what could be going through her head. Does she really hate me that much to ignore me? Maybe she doesn't see me.
Nabiki was about to walk back upstairs when the telephone rang, and she, already being awake, decided to go answer it. Ranma heard her pick up the receiver and walked over to the desk listening intently to what Nabiki was saying.
"Yes who is it? Oh. Are.. are you sure, maybe...Yes. Yes, I understand. Thank you." Ranma heard the click of the phone and was surprised to see Nabiki walk back into the kitchen. Nabiki was evidently just as surprised, as she gave a little chirp at seeing him. Her mood darkened as Ranma registered in her mind. "What do you want?"
Well she's on talking terms with me, Ranma thought happily. "Who was that?"
Nabiki's look darkened even more, if that was possible, and she crossed her arms while leaning against the doorway. She looked outside when she started speaking to Ranma. "That was the hospital if you must know. Kuno is dead. You have murdered him. Congratulations."
Ranma's heart stopped for a second. I...killed him? Memories flooded into his mind. He remembered his weakened state of mind that day.
You are the cause of my problems, and after you are purged of this world, everything will be better.
Did I really think that, he asked himself. His mood worsened tenfold as his mind chose this moment to replay every happy moment that involved Kuno. His boat falling apart on that island. The time he had that chicken thingy on his head. Even though he was annoying and the guy was in love with my girl side, I still kinda miss him, Ranma said to himself putting his arm against the doorway and then resting his head on his arm. He groaned to himself.
Nabiki nodded and proceeded upstairs. "Pleasant dreams Saotome," she said to him before reaching the top and going back to her bedroom.
"Nabiki," said Ranma resting his hand on the banister. She turned around and looked at him. Hey now she's even listening to me! "I just want to say that I'm sorry, and wait listen. I know Kuno meant a lot to you, more than just money, so I just want to say I'm sorry. I know it won't bring back Kuno, but it will make him feel better knowing that you cared for him."
Ranma thought he saw Nabiki smile at him for a moment before turning around and heading back to bed.
Ranma sighed taking in his and her words. He knew she didn't believe him at all, but he was truly sorry. He probably didn't deserve it, but he did need some consoling as well. Kuno was my friend too! Who does she think she is? Does she think I liked it? Does she think I like killing people? Ranma's anger escalated as he made up excuse after excuse in his mind. Forgetting his apology and his judgment, he walked back into the kitchen and opened a drawer. He ruffled through the things in it and pulled out what he wanted.
The knife gleamed in the darkness like a pillar of light beckoning to Ranma. He turned it over in his hands, getting a feel for it until he gripped it hard and exited the kitchen.
His footsteps were quiet as a kitten when he walked up the stairs, the knife down at his side. He could hear the remnants of a shadow in his head, something that told him what he was doing was right. He could hear it urging him on, letting him know that he was the good guy here, not her.
He walked down the hallway avoiding the board that would always squeak when someone stepped on it. He reached Nabiki's room and opened the door just a crack, and peered in. After seeing her asleep, he opened the door completely, and walked in. His feet were soft and silent as they crept across the floor. He looked at her, so serene and so peaceful dreaming of happy events soon to come probably.
He stopped right next to her bed and raised the kitchen knife above his head, putting two hands on the handle. He was ready to strike when he heard her mumble something. Snapped out of his reverie he lowered the knife and listened to her closely.
"Thank you, Ranma."
Ranma no longer filled with the need for blood but instead with utter disgust with himself, dropped the knife to the floor. He brought the sheets back up to Nabiki's neck hiding her from the cold. He grabbed his knife and placed it in his pocket. He moved to the door silently and began to close it behind him.
"Sleep peacefully Nabiki Tendo," he whispered behind him as he closed the door. He went back downstairs and returned the knife to its rightful position. He moved back to the couch and laid down on it. He let sleep come back to him, taking in all the events of the day, and thinking of what tomorrow will bring him.
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Retro's thoughts: Wowsa. I dunno about you guys, but this was a good chapter. Lemme tell ya if you liked this one, your gonna LOVE the next one. I'm also thinking of adding a deleted scenes at the end of the book. What do you think???
Chapter 2
The Chinese sky. It is a gorgeous thing to sit back and watch the stars dance across your eyes. To see the trees tower gently over you, offering you protection from ever falling into the sheer massive abyss known as the night that threatens to swallow you whole. Few these days appreciate the stars more than Ryouga Hibiki does. Never have they abandoned him to the harsh world, and always have they welcomed him with openness that nothing in this world or the next could offer.
Ryouga laid down on a soft piece of grass along the edge of a mass of trees. A valley separated him and several tall hills off in the distance. His fire had long since died, but his restless mind would not allow him any sleep. He had lied there for what seemed like an eternity. His mission to return home and defeat Ranma was still clear, but for right now, in this place of beauty, he decided to give his mission and himself a rest. He made pictures out of the stars in the sky. He did not know how or why, but using several stars from Andromeda and Perseus and texture from the Milky Way, he could discern Akane's smiling face. It truly is the face of an angel, he thought.
"No wonder I can see it so clearly in the sky," Ryouga said aloud to himself allowing a small smile to crease his face.
Ryouga was thinking pleasantly to himself when he heard a rustle from behind him. He turned around quickly, but not quickly enough for the arrow that was now right in front of his face. The small piece of wheat he'd been chewing fell out of his mouth and onto the ground. Ryouga raised his hands slowly, while looking at his attacker for the first time.
His eyes came to rest on a female of average height, and a well built, but still feminine body. He looked her over and saw that she had curves in all the right places and an amazing face. Her dark red hair stood out in the moonlight and her deep green eyes told a story which Ryouga would die to know.
Ryouga's mind returned to the present and realized that she was speaking to him. She was speaking a type of Chinese, which he had never heard, but could follow without too much trouble.
"What are you doing here spy?" She asked harshly. Her hands never wavered, and her feet were in a position that told Ryouga, if he were to charge her and manage to dodge the arrow she would be able to step back and reach for the old, but still threatening dagger at her side.
"I'm no spy. I'm just passing through on my way back to Japan. Might I inquire as to who you are?" Ryouga asked stalling her while trying to lead her into a false sense of security at the same time.
She furrowed her brow trying to discern where he was getting at. He was not of her land, and the way he carried himself was that of one who trained well in the martial arts. If she were to attack with her blade, she would have a larger advantage over him.
"My name is Tong Kun. Why are you this far west Japanese?" she asked stalling him while trying to lead him into a false sense of security at the same time.
Ryouga let his hands fall on top of his head and rested them there in a relaxed manner. "I was looking for something important, but I never found it. Tong Kun eh? I don't see many Chinese with red hair." He slowly undid the knot on one of his bandanas, and using a special technique began to slowly make it sharp as a razor.
"My parents were Russian," she answered him with a hint of malice at mentioning her parents to him. Ryouga nodded slowly taking it in.
Ryouga was fast as lightning as he sprang from where he stood into the air, leaping towards Tong. He withdrew his sharpened bandana and cut her bow and arrow in half before she had a chance to shoot it. She had foreseen this event and so therefore abandoned her bow and arrow paying them no attention and instead withdrawing her dagger. She tumble rolled backwards feeling Ryouga's bandana pierce the ground where she just was. Her blade, now drawn and ready, sprang forward with her hand and reached Ryouga's throat. At the same time, however Ryouga had recovered from his miss and his bandana now rested at her throat as well.
The two stayed like that, each staring into the others eyes waiting for the execution of a move. Both watched the others eyes for several minutes until both surrendered knowing that each of them would die unless they yielded. Ryouga adorned his bandana back to his head and Tong replaced her dagger in it's sheathe.
"You are a formidable warrior Japanese. Perhaps I will show you to my village and from there you may find a safe passage back to your home," she said gesturing to the woods behind her.
Ryouga smiled gracefully and began packing his things. "How far away is this village of yours?" he asked, hoping that this wasn't a ruse of some sort to lower his defenses.
"It is not far Japanese, but we must hurry if we are to beat the morning sun. Do you think you can keep up?" Her question didn't leave much room for a no, and it gave the feel of a challenge.
"We shall see Chinese. We shall see."
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(Tokyo Port)
The Tokyo Port was a bustling center of activity, even at night, as people from all over the world came and went over boat to their destination. Four such companions were there for departure on a liner that would take them over the Sea of China and land in the port of Beijing.
Radagast led the three others through the thick crowds, cutting through it like a knife through butter. He spotted the liner and proceeded onboard. Once on the ship the captain who showed them to their quarters greeted him and the others.
"Yes we hold Ms. Nabiki Tendo in the highest regards so, of course, we have reserved you the best cabin on the ship. I hope you all have an enjoyable trip." The captain smiled to three teenagers and looked suspiciously at the short man who carried a staff that was more than two times his height. Radagast caught the look and did nothing more than smile up at the man.
Radagast began unpacking the contents of his bag onto the shelf and into the drawers, which was nothing at all. His pack contained things for the others including food and supplies, but he brought nothing for himself.
Ukyou dropped her bag on the ground and hopped onto the springy mattress, bouncing up and down. She let out a sigh and said, "Wow. It feels nice to lie down again. I thought I'd die from all that walking we had to do." She removed her shoes and began to massage her feet, working out the sores and knots.
Mousse inspected a picture of a small ship in a storm on the wall. A huge wave threatened to swallow the ship whole leaving no chance for the ship to make it out safely. "Oh my. I had no idea we were already out to see. I sure do hope that boat makes it out of this storm okay." Mousse said shaking his head.
Radagast looked out the small round window and saw the lights of the city still shining brightly, and the bustle of the late night crowd still occurring. He turned to the boy and sighed. Shampoo walked over to him and slapped him upside the head, while pointing in the direction of the true window.
Ukyou leapt up from her bed forgetting her sore feet and gaining a brand new and sudden passion to explore the ship. She slipped her shoes back on and walked out the door.
"I think Ukyou has the right idea. I'm not yet tired, and I would like to know this ship better," said Radagast as he adorned his hat and began to walk outside the small door heading topside.
Ukyou had found the hatch leading to the top and moved to the stern of the boat taking in everything she saw with a bright and able mind. The liner was not one of exceptional size, but was still big for her. She had never been on a boat before, and she was feeling rather exhilarated by it. She leaned over and looked at several Chinese symbols painted across the back of the boat. Her eyes were dreamy as she thought of what they meant, and wondered if their was some heroic story behind the name of it.
That was however very unlikely. Heroic stories and tales of chivalry don't exist anymore in modern society. The knight, the samurai, the crusader; all had become extinct faster than they had become famous. She let her head rest on her hand watching the stars and looking at the name still trying to discern as to what it meant.
"It means The Red Whale," a voice came from behind her. It was a sweet, yet deep voice, which carried the air on its wings perfectly.
She turned around and saw the welcoming eyes of Radagast, now at his full height. He walked up to her and leaned on the rail as she did, his wild brown hair billowing in the wind. He looked at her gently and turned back to the starry sky, watching them perform their dance across their dark stage. She was a little startled by his sneaking up on her, but found peace and serenity in his eyes, and she couldn't help but smile.
"Let me ask you something if I may Ukyou," he said keeping his gaze on the sky.
"Shoot."
"Why did you decide to come along with us? I had intended to ask you to come, but you asked me first and I wanted to know why that is." This time he turned to face her looking down at her with a quizzical expression on his face.
She studied his face looking for signs of lying, but found none. He truly did want to know why she came. She shrugged and broke the eye contact returning to the railing and the stars, the lights of Tokyo now far in the distance. "I don't know," she said, "Ryouga is my friend and all. I'm sure that he, and anyone else for that matter, would do the same for me if I were lost. Besides we need to find this ring, and put a stop to it before it hurts anymore people."
Radagast nodded content and satisfied with the answer. Radagast knew the struggles and turmoil that awaited them all, but for this single moment chose to forget it all. He also knew that Ryouga, with the ring, far outmatched the other three, maybe even himself. The power of Ryouga might even be unmatched, but he knew that he chose correctly, when he picked friends of Ryouga rather than warriors trained to kill. It might possibly be the power of friendship that will see this whole expedition through to the end. That was certainly the case back then, and it still is now.
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(China)
Ryouga had been running for what seemed like an eternity, but he wouldn't falter. Not in front of a female warrior. It wasn't the running that was bothering him so much; it was more the direction they were running. He had seen these trees and hills before, when he came this way through the woods. Now Ryouga was royally confused as to which way they were going, so if anything were to happen he wouldn't know where to go at all. Although he never knew where to go at all, he didn't mind it so much until now. His female companion, Tong Kun, stopped at the edge of the tree line.
"This is it," she said, her pride swelling, "my home." Ryouga gasped in awe at the tiny city that lay before, because in all actuality that's exactly what it was, a tiny city. The city must have been at least a square mile and it bore a crude moat about four feet deep, and filled with water making it evem larger. It was surrounded by an outer palisade wall, complete with a walkway where he could see guards dressed in leather, studded with pieces of metal. The city was encircled by tall mountains with jagged rock, which turned away all but the most skilled invaders. The only entrances he could see were through the forest he was in and a small river that cut through the side of the rock opposite to where he was, all the way on the other side. The small river flowed until it reached a lake. He marveled at the strategic advantage these people would have over any attacker.
If anyone were to come through the mountains, they would have to travel over ten yards before they reached the moat, and by then archers, which he could also see patrolling the walls, would shoot them dead. The same distance existed with the trees, although he didn't think any enemy would dare try to traverse through that tightly packed and confusing forest. He would have been assuredly lost had it not been for Tong.
"It's perfect," said Ryouga marveling at the large village. "How big is your village?" Ryouga asked beginning to trek down the hill, the trees falling farther behind him.
"We have over five hundred warriors," she said proudly. Ryouga was awed at the number. Five hundred was a lot for a village in China. Why would they need so many warriors, he asked himself.
"Are there any other villages around? Ones that neighbor yours?" Ryouga watched as her mood darkened and her fists clenched and un-clenched themselves.
"Yes. There are three others. They too have as many warriors, but not such a great village as us." She said her mood rising at the mention of her village. She made it to the drawbridge and signaled the tower guard. The bridge lowered, and she stepped out of the way giving it room to drop.
After the bridge had dropped, Ryouga and Tong walked in, and Ryouga was amazed at the simplicity of the village, yet was also touched by the culture it held. The people's houses were made not for comfort purposes, but for strategic defense, as if every house was made to be its own fortress. These people whoever they are must be a very war stricken community. He walked down the street, and watched as the commoners gave him weird looks. One was beating his mat, caught one glance of Ryouga, then ran inside his home.
He turned to Tong to ask her why, but she cut him off and said, "Here we are. The Great Hall. The King will wish to speak with you." She led him up the stone path to the biggest and by far the most grandiose building of them all. The carvings on its stone pillars told stories of brave heroes dying in battle and a great war. Ryouga had traveled around the world enough times to recognize an old culture when he saw one.
She opened the two large doors and light flooded into what could only be described as a great hall. The hall must have been about a hundred feet wide and about two hundred feet in length. The floor was littered with wooden tables covered with old food and golden goblets which looked like they were recently used. The wall seemed to be a mosaic depicting an even deeper history than the pillars outside, and had candelabras on them and a stained glass window in the shape of a star was at the top of the wall on the far side of the hall providing light in the great hall.
A man sitting in a large ornate chair got up the moment he saw Ryouga and walked across the way to meet him. The man stopped in front of him and looked Ryouga up and down. He was dressed in ornamental armor and had a bushy black beard and hair. He turned to Tong.
"Who is this man you bring to us Tong?" he asked scrutinizing her now.
Tong did not falter under the man's gaze and instead answered him with clarity and precision. Ryouga was surprised, because the man's eyes were quite intimidating. "He is a Japanese from over the ocean. He was looking for something, but did not find it. We battled and he proved a formidable opponent. He is well trained in the martial arts father."
Ryouga realized they were related seconds before she said 'father,' but did not show it. The two were similar in appearance, and had the same deep eyes.
"We do not get many Japanese in this part of the world. Might I ask what you were looking for?" The voice came from a shadow hidden from the light the large stained window produced. A man stepped out from the shadow and revealed to Ryouga the same deep eyes of the Kun line with the exception that a scar traced his eyebrow above his left one. His hair and skin were dark from obviously being out in the sun far too long. The man was well built and Ryouga was sure that by any woman's standards he would be very handsome.
"I was looking for a..cure. A cure to a disease I have." Ryouga was only half lying. He was looking for a cure, he'd been looking for one all his life, but for right now, he wasn't. "I have a Jusenkyo curse."
The room darkened and the man, outraged all of a sudden, spat at Ryouga's feet in anger. He turned around and walked back into the shadows talking to several of his friends that were there in an inaudible whisper, throwing Ryouga glances now and again. Ryouga gave Tong a look of confusion and she explained it to him.
"Our people are few and divided Ryouga. The three other clans I told you about were once joined with us. We were once a powerful people whose empire, in its hay day, reached from the plains of Tibet to the coast of the ocean. Even the latter days of the Khans feared us as well as all of China. We were so feared that none would write about the black plague that came in the shape of humans and spears, but were anything but human. Our armies were great, and so was our civilization, until the Amazons came."
Lord Kun stepped forward and began to fill in the rest for her. "The Amazons were once spies. Lethal spies who were, in fact, under our control once. Most of those spies were women, because women excelled in the arts of diversion and amatory, which they so finely honed. No male enemy was safe from an Amazon."
"One day an Amazon made a mistake and killed a top rank general of our once great army. Our king would not have it, and so he had the Amazon and her family murdered. Ironically the Amazon was a child of one of the elders, and therefore they declared a secret war upon us."
"One by one our armies and cities fell to ruin and death. None could match the secret and stealth power of the Amazons even though they were few and we were many. We had turned the tide of the war and were even winning when the King died of a knife in the back. His four sons, arrogant and lacking the wisdom of their father, abandoned their kingdom and each other for four villages. The four villages today are descendants of those in the story. The Amazons, no longer seeing any threat in us as a whole, abandoned their methods for the ways of the warrior so that they may destroy us, if we were to ever rise again. So you see the name, Amazon and Jusenkyo are forever cursed in this realm, and I would be very happy if you never mentioned them again."
Ryouga listened to the story intently, feeling rage for what the Amazons did to these people. They ruined their way of life over the justified death of one of their own. His fury was interrupted as the sounding of a trumpet was heard. Everyone in the room was busy in an instant throwing on armor and withdrawing their swords.
"Father!" The man with the scar threw a sword over to the elder Kun and grabbed his own.
"To the gates!" the King yelled unsheathing his new sword and running out the door with the rest. He stopped and turned to Ryouga and said, "Japanese, if you wish to go you may, I will not bind you with us, but your power would be welcome in this fight."
Ryouga had to think about it for a moment, contemplating whether it was worth it, when an idea sprang into his head. An idea so grand in nature and so demanding, that their was little chance it would work. Normally Ryouga would never had come up with such an idea, but recent events and a mysterious entity forming quickly in his mind led him to this. This was what he was waiting for, the chance to change everything that ever was and ever will be.
"Indeed my liege, I will join you on the battlefield."
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(Nerima)
Ranma awoke with a start. He shot up from his comfortable position on the couch and looked around. The morning light was not due for another hour or so, so Ranma laid his head back on the pillow. He looked down at himself and he saw some sheets that someone must have laid over his body. Unable to sleep, and requiring a trip to the men's room, Ranma got up and made his way to the bathroom.
Done with his business and in the middle of washing his hands he looked into the mirror and looked at himself with those deep gray eyes. His face had started to mend from the ring. The ring's removal had caused a withdrawal on his physical features, leaving him weak and his skin looking aged, but he was better now. He felt much stronger and more alive, and his face looked better.
Ranma finished washing his hands and stepped out of the furo and back into the living room. He took one look around and, deciding he was hungry, walked into the kitchen and made himself a sandwich. He leaned against the counter and began eating his sandwich along with drinking a glass of milk.
Ranma was halfway through his sandwich when he heard someone else come downstairs. He watched as Nabiki wobbled into the kitchen and grabbed something to drink from the refrigerator, taking no notice of Ranma's presence. Ranma watched her intently wondering what could be going through her head. Does she really hate me that much to ignore me? Maybe she doesn't see me.
Nabiki was about to walk back upstairs when the telephone rang, and she, already being awake, decided to go answer it. Ranma heard her pick up the receiver and walked over to the desk listening intently to what Nabiki was saying.
"Yes who is it? Oh. Are.. are you sure, maybe...Yes. Yes, I understand. Thank you." Ranma heard the click of the phone and was surprised to see Nabiki walk back into the kitchen. Nabiki was evidently just as surprised, as she gave a little chirp at seeing him. Her mood darkened as Ranma registered in her mind. "What do you want?"
Well she's on talking terms with me, Ranma thought happily. "Who was that?"
Nabiki's look darkened even more, if that was possible, and she crossed her arms while leaning against the doorway. She looked outside when she started speaking to Ranma. "That was the hospital if you must know. Kuno is dead. You have murdered him. Congratulations."
Ranma's heart stopped for a second. I...killed him? Memories flooded into his mind. He remembered his weakened state of mind that day.
You are the cause of my problems, and after you are purged of this world, everything will be better.
Did I really think that, he asked himself. His mood worsened tenfold as his mind chose this moment to replay every happy moment that involved Kuno. His boat falling apart on that island. The time he had that chicken thingy on his head. Even though he was annoying and the guy was in love with my girl side, I still kinda miss him, Ranma said to himself putting his arm against the doorway and then resting his head on his arm. He groaned to himself.
Nabiki nodded and proceeded upstairs. "Pleasant dreams Saotome," she said to him before reaching the top and going back to her bedroom.
"Nabiki," said Ranma resting his hand on the banister. She turned around and looked at him. Hey now she's even listening to me! "I just want to say that I'm sorry, and wait listen. I know Kuno meant a lot to you, more than just money, so I just want to say I'm sorry. I know it won't bring back Kuno, but it will make him feel better knowing that you cared for him."
Ranma thought he saw Nabiki smile at him for a moment before turning around and heading back to bed.
Ranma sighed taking in his and her words. He knew she didn't believe him at all, but he was truly sorry. He probably didn't deserve it, but he did need some consoling as well. Kuno was my friend too! Who does she think she is? Does she think I liked it? Does she think I like killing people? Ranma's anger escalated as he made up excuse after excuse in his mind. Forgetting his apology and his judgment, he walked back into the kitchen and opened a drawer. He ruffled through the things in it and pulled out what he wanted.
The knife gleamed in the darkness like a pillar of light beckoning to Ranma. He turned it over in his hands, getting a feel for it until he gripped it hard and exited the kitchen.
His footsteps were quiet as a kitten when he walked up the stairs, the knife down at his side. He could hear the remnants of a shadow in his head, something that told him what he was doing was right. He could hear it urging him on, letting him know that he was the good guy here, not her.
He walked down the hallway avoiding the board that would always squeak when someone stepped on it. He reached Nabiki's room and opened the door just a crack, and peered in. After seeing her asleep, he opened the door completely, and walked in. His feet were soft and silent as they crept across the floor. He looked at her, so serene and so peaceful dreaming of happy events soon to come probably.
He stopped right next to her bed and raised the kitchen knife above his head, putting two hands on the handle. He was ready to strike when he heard her mumble something. Snapped out of his reverie he lowered the knife and listened to her closely.
"Thank you, Ranma."
Ranma no longer filled with the need for blood but instead with utter disgust with himself, dropped the knife to the floor. He brought the sheets back up to Nabiki's neck hiding her from the cold. He grabbed his knife and placed it in his pocket. He moved to the door silently and began to close it behind him.
"Sleep peacefully Nabiki Tendo," he whispered behind him as he closed the door. He went back downstairs and returned the knife to its rightful position. He moved back to the couch and laid down on it. He let sleep come back to him, taking in all the events of the day, and thinking of what tomorrow will bring him.
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Retro's thoughts: Wowsa. I dunno about you guys, but this was a good chapter. Lemme tell ya if you liked this one, your gonna LOVE the next one. I'm also thinking of adding a deleted scenes at the end of the book. What do you think???