Ranma & Kaneda
By Ron Dow75
From an idea by James M. Zema,
Unauthorized, but allowed.
09: May the Goddess Bless
Nabiki said in a serious voice, "As interesting as the
thought of Kaneda getting engaged to Akane is, let alone
married, I don't think you can do that, Uncle Saotome."
"Uncle" Saotome said as seriously, "The girl Akane claims
to be a Saotome. I am the eldest Saotome, and therefore
head of the clan. I and the head of the Tendou clan have
agreed to the engagements of Ranma Saotome and Kasumi
Tendou, and Kaneda Tendou and Akane Saotome."
Soun Tendou nodded, "That is correct. All in accordance
with the ancient tradition of arranged marriage." He said
it with a renewed purpose in life.
Redheaded Kaneda yelled, "In case you didn't notice, this
ISN'T ancient times! Japan has a constitution--With
rights!!"
Standing behind him, Ranma-kun said, "Yeah!" Then he
asked, "What kind of rights?" He was eating a prawn he'd
taken from the tray of supper dishes he held in the other
hand.
Nabiki gave Kaneda a "shut up" look. Little Brother had a
talent for going off on the wrong track, "Actually we
should respect traditions." Kaneda thought, What!?!
NABIKI said that??
Uncle Saotome got a pleased look on his face. He had
gained another ally. The numbers were in his favor.
Nabiki said, "If everybody will sit down, I can mediate
this before there is any expensive property damage."
A sullen Ranma-kun asked, "Whose side is she on?"
Kaneda answered, "Her own."
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The two fathers sat on the side of the family table
nearest the still open garden door; the two sons sat
opposite; and Nabiki sat at the end her father had just
left. She said, "Daddy isn't the head of the clan. But
that's not important, since Kaneda and Kasumi ARE his
children. What he says goes up until Great-Granddaddy
gets involved.
"And we DON'T want to involve Great-Granddaddy." And Soun
Tendou heartily agreed. Kaneda, though, thought, If all
else fails....
Nabiki now addressed "Uncle" Saotome, "You, as Ranma's
father, can also arrange a marriage contract for your
child. But you cannot arrange one for Akane, because...."
She allowed a short pause for dramatic effect. "...you
are not the head of her Saotome clan."
Genma Saotome said incredulously, "What!?!"
Her arms crossed on the table, she leaned forward. "Akane
Saotome comes from Fukuoka. Are YOU one of the Fukuoka
Saotome?"
Genma Saotome said, " "Fukuoka"?? But she's really...."
He looked at his friend Soun sitting next to him. He
remembered Wednesday night, the day he and Ranma arrived
at the Tendous. He had left with Soun. He then spent the
whole night trying to talk some sense to him about Kaneda
wanting to be RANMA'S fiance! Tendou had been a father
first. He said it was understandable Kaneda could be
fooled by a [Genma felt sick] "kawaii" face. He said the
teenager would soon realize the truth about Ranma.
But most frustrating of all was when Genma even MENTIONED
that the Kaneda became a girl. Tendou wouldn't hear of
it: Literally! And when Tendou was in his trance, he
COULDN'T hear anything! Worse: When he was brought out of
it, Tendou wouldn't remember anything he didn't WANT to
remember!
Fuming almost visibly, Genma Saotome told Nabiki, "If
Akane Saotome WERE from Fukuoka, she would not be my
responsibility."
Nabiki smiled as if she'd caught somebody in one of her
snares, "Exactly. The only responsibility you would owe
her is same any Saotome would owe to another Saotome."
Ranma-kun said, "*Hmmf* I don't remember any Saotome
helpin' US the times we were in Fukuoka."
Soun Tendou the patriarch said, "Still! The social norms
DO say one should extend aide and hospitality to one's
own kind."
Nabiki said, "I'm glad to hear you say that, Daddy."
That was Kaneda's dad. Sigh! Dad just doesn't think
things through. Then when it comes time to face reality,
he's so afraid of losing face he doesn't. That's probably
how he ended up in that agreement to marry one of his
kids to Saotome's.
Kasumi entered the room; she announced, "I think I've
found a temple that can help us."
Ranma-kun asked, "Why do we need to go to a temple?"
Genma said, "Well, I could use some advice from the
goddess of ideas."
Soun said, "Yes, of course. But before we have a formal
engagement ceremony, we need to finalize the marriage
contract."
Nabiki said, "I could prepare the contract."
Genma told her, "I would prefer to have somebody ELSE
draw it up."
Kasumi didn't blink, " "Marriage contract"? Oh, my! Have
things progressed that far, that quickly? Who is to be
the bride?"
Her father smiled, "You are, Kasumi! Ranma here has
agreed to be your fiance!"
Ranma told him, "I have not! I haven't agreed to get tied
up to anybody, even temporary."
Genma smiled wickedly, "And KANEDA will marry Akane. (Ha!
Ha! Ha!)"
Kasumi cried, "Oh, My! Poor Kaneda. ...and Akane."
Kaneda produced a mallet, "We just established Akane
WON'T marry me!"
Kaneda's dad looked disapprovingly at his mallet. (Kaneda
put it under the table.) His dad said, "That hasn't been
established. All that's been determined is that Genma has
little authority to compel her to marry." His tears began
to flow, "But if you truly wish to honor your father, you
WILL marry Akane!!"
Kaneda groaned. His dad's passionate crying was not an
act. Why do I have to look so much like Mom!? I should
just tell him Akane his daughter and.... He hung her
head in defeat, And have him go into complete denial. A
daughter-in-law, he can fantasize about. Sick.
Kasumi approached her father, "And, you wish me to show
the same deference, as well, Father? And marry, Ranma?"
Soun said, trying to compose himself, though no less
ardent, "Yes. I wish to see all of my children in
appropriate marriages. You are from a family with a proud
martial arts tradition. THAT is your station and mission
in life: To carry ON that tradition!"
Nabiki refrained from bringing any attention to herself.
Kasumi knelt down. Placing her hands in her lap. She said
in a formal manner, "If that is your wish, Father, that
is my wish."
Kaneda felt himself being swept up in a whirlpool of
despair. He'd lost Ranma!
...And all he got in return was, herself.
Kasumi said, "I have only one request of you, Father."
Feeling that his fondest wishes WERE coming true, Soun
Tendou said, "Of course, Kasumi, my daughter. Whatever it
is, it is yours."
She bowed her head modestly. "I wish to visit the temple
I mentioned. We should consult with the gods. If they
have no objection to the marriage, I will agree to it at
the engagement ceremony."
Kaneda did his best to hold back his tears, "Well I won't
agree to it!!"
Ranma-kun was about to agree with him, when Kaneda's
voice became loud enough to drown all others out: "I
won't agree to anything!! Marriage contracts!!
Engagements ceremonies!! Marriage ceremonies!! YOU may
arrange our lives--But WE have to agree to them!!! You
can't do ANY of those without our consent!!"
Kasumi said in a quiet voice that broke through her
brother's scream of pain, "And if we do not agree, we
become outcasts without a family."
Nabiki was unmoved by anybody in the room, "Kaneda, my
slow-witted sibling. You don't have to go through the
melodramatics. Trust me." Then she smirked, "In the
meantime, why not go with Kasumi to her temple. Humor
her. Who knows, it might even do some good."
Kaneda said in torment, "Since when do you believe in the
gods and blessings!?!"
Nabiki said, "I don't. But I do believe in people who
believe in gods and luck." Said the bookie.
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Kaneda skipped supper. He could not face the people who
had ruined his life--No: DESTROYED his life!
He had to hit something!!!
He went to the practice dummy out beside the arena. In
the last light of the day, he punched, chopped, jabbed,
clawed, thrust, and pummeled the sawdust-filled bag
wrapped around the post. When those weren't enough, he
started coming up with new hitting techniques.
He was on the verge of bringing out his biggest mallet
when Ranma-kun came out of the house. Out of habit, Ranma
stood by and casually studied Kaneda's abilities. Kaneda
was so upset he didn't care if Ranma DID learn anything.
At last Ranma-kun said, "I ate your supper."
Kaneda kept striking his opponent who wouldn't fight
back, "Then you lost the challenge. You were supposed
begin eating after me."
Ranma-kun asked, "Yeah!? And what's the penalty?"
Kaneda paused to tell him, "You have to serve--" He
stopped. "Aw, what's the use." And he lashed out with the
Tendou Upper Body Whip Crack: He broke through the canvas
bag, and deep into the sawdust.
Kaneda then just stood there, trying to feel something
other than rage. He was not focusing on the Ranma beside
him.
Ranma-kun raised his foot. In seemingly one kick, Ranma
splintered the post nearly in two.
Bringing his foot back down, Ranma-kun said, "That's
right. You can't make me pay any penalty."
Kaneda turned away. The idea of honor was bitter, now.
Ranma and Kasumi were duty-bound to respect the wishes of
their fathers. He walked over to the cinderblocks. He
asked, "Why didn't you beat the stupid fiance-idea out of
me?"
Ranma-kun said, "Because I don't want to be hooked to
anybody. Geez! It's bad enough to be on Pop's chain. Like
I need somebody else tellin' me how to live my life!?"
Kaneda thought, But you do need somebody to tell you how
to live. That's all you've known. Until you decide to
change, you'll be unable to make the boring decisions.
Poor Kasumi: You'll both be stuck in an empty, unhappy
marriage. Each of you will want the other to tell them
what to do when it's beyond what you're good at. But he
said, "So you thought your dad might give up the idea, if
the only one who'd agreed to marry you was me!"
Ranma-kun ambled over, "That's about the size of it." He
almost smiled, "AND it got under Pop's skin." A bonus.
But then he had to frown, "Your sister fouled up that
idea."
Kaneda smashed the cinderblocks to pieces. He then
straightened up, "I guess it was a doomed idea. Kasumi
was always the weak link. She just likes to please
people." He wished he had the strength to crush the piece
he'd brought up with him. "Especially Dad. You know:
Filial Duty!" Even if it means she looses the one she
really loves.
Kaneda called, "Here!" and tossed the piece at Ranma at
full force.
Ranma-kun caught it. And broke it between his thumb and
finger. "She's not pleasing me."
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Kaneda enter the dojo, leaving Ranma-kun outside. He
looked around, Maybe I can take my mind off of it. What
new traps can I add in here? He had gotten the idea back
when he had a thing for American comics. Turning the dojo
into a "Danger Room" would set the Tendou apart from
others. I wish I knew something about electronics or
could afford something fancy. But all of my traps are
just things a good carpenter can make. It helped that
there were a few times that the dojo had to be entirely
rebuilt. Don't think about that, either: You're
discouraged enough!
He stopped trying, his anger replaced by despair. "I
can't kid myself any more. Ranma's going to inherit the
dojo." He shuffled about blindly. "Kasumi deserves that.
This is HER house. This is her neighborhood, with friends
and acquaintances she grew up with. She wouldn't be happy
living any place else."
He realized at last he was near the shomen/the main wall
of the dojo. He drew himself up in the proper position,
and bowed to the kami of the dojo. It wasn't a god; it
wasn't even strictly speaking a being. It was the spirit
of the dojo, one rank above ANY martial arts master who
would enter the training hall. He showed the respect the
idea of a dojo deserved. "May Ranma bring you the proper
honor."
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Kaneda reluctantly woke up when he heard somebody
knocking at his bedroom door. Kasumi said, "Kaneda. It's
time to get ready for the temple. Breakfast is waiting."
Kaneda grumbled something to let Oneesan know he was up:
"On a Sunday!? That's my day off."
Kasumi asked, "Are you getting out of bed?"
He threw the covers off; he then just lay there.
Kasumi asked, "Kaneda?"
Kaneda asked, "Kasumi, why did you agree? You don't
honestly think going to this temple will solve anything,
do you?" He was ashamed to think that Kasumi might
actually want to marry Ranma...because of love. Being a
married woman, she would never have to recognize Dr.
Tofu's love for her.
Kasumi asked, "May I come in?"
He threw his blanket back over himself and said she
could. Kasumi entered, giving a little bow at the
threshold, and closed the door behind her. There she
stayed, "Kaneda, I found my zen years ago." she briefly
left her oneness with the moment for a sad one in the
past, "...shortly after Mother died. Dr. Tofu helped me
find it." She returned to her usual state, "I enjoy the
serenity. Part of that peace is to believing goodwill
will get back goodwill. If not in this lifetime, in
another."
Kaneda frowned, " ' Very fatalistic." He had heard
variations on the confession before. Kasumi's idea of Zen
wasn't orthodox, but it WAS how she lived her life. He
still couldn't understand the sense in it. Calm, peace,
serenity was just not in his nature.
Kasumi smiled, "I also believe in magic." It said she had
a secret.
Kaneda-the-Cursed couldn't argue against magic. He sat up
in his bed, "What's the name of the temple?!"
Kasumi said, "You'll see," and let herself out.
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Nabiki, on the other hand, preferred the theory of
probability. That she understood from Western media COULD
be cheated: Logically. The tales of magic always seemed
to have hidden conditions that the user didn't find out
about until it was too late. If there were going to be
conditions, SHE wanted to be the one setting them.
But Nabiki agreed to walk with everybody until they got
to the local business district. "I am NOT going to miss
out on my first chance for a date Kuno-baby since *I*
broke up with the idiot." She, too, had a secret behind
her smile. The unraveling of her fantasies (both
financial and sexual) was still fresh. Whatever else she
had planned, a little petty payback was also on her
agenda.
The date was for noon, so she dressed casually. She wore
a white-red-striped pullover, and pleated green slacks.
Kasumi asked, "What will you do until your date, Nabiki?
It is over an hour away."
Nabiki smiled and waved as she left them, "Window shop!"
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Kasumi wore a colorful kimono decorated with a pattern of
cranes. While her attire was traditional, the pumps on
her feet weren't.
Still frowning somewhat, Kaneda said to her, "You're
really doing it right. You usually don't wear anything
but skirt and blouse." Kaneda had merely put on a clean
Furinkan boys' uniform Kasumi had laid out for him.
Kasumi said in a relaxed fashion, "This IS to petition
the traditional gods on something that will effect the
rest of our lives."
Kaneda looked down at her shoes, but made no further
comment on the matter.
Soun Tendou nodded. "How true. It's best to present
oneself in a way that reminds the gods of a time when we
mortals were in terrified awe of them." He wore a white
kimono that was typical for males, but he had insisted on
wearing a haori/half-coat over it that matched the brown
do-gi he usually wore. Kaneda noted that his dad DID have
on traditional getas/clog sandals.
Ranma-kun groused, "I don't see why you have to make a
big deal of it. Me and Pop always go to religious places
with whatever we have on." They were in the same, though
laundered, clothes they were wearing the first day they
arrived at the Tendous. They were wearing the only
clothes the Tendous had seen them in for the past five
days.
Genma told him, "Quiet, Boy! That was only because we
were travelers who had limit what we carry on our backs."
Ranma glared at him, "Oh, yeah!? Kasumi offered to lend
you something else, but you wouldn't do it!"
Genma looked for his face, and found it with, "Ha-rmph!
That's because the gods wouldn't recognize me in anything
else. THIS is all they know me to wear."
Ranma shifted his glare to the Chinese outfit he was
wearing, "Then *I* shouldn't go at all! They're not gonna
recognize me in this thing." Then he muttered, "I wish I
didn't have to wear stuff like this." A guy who changed
into a girl DIDN'T want to stand out by wearing clothes
nobody else wore around him...her.
Kaneda's ears pricked up at that. But then he dropped the
question. What does it matter to me, any more: Ranma can
be in low-cut dress slit up to BOTH hips and I'd have no
right to ask her why! He groaned to himself. All I
could do is let myself be tortured.
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Soun Tendou asked, "How much further is it, Kasumi? We're
nearly in the next town."
Kasumi smiled patiently, "We're almost there. Actually,
we're not much further than it is from our home to
Furinkan High School."
Having been automatically taking notes on the terrain,
Ranma said, "Except instead of going east, we're going
south."
Kaneda asked, "How did you find this temple, Kasumi? In
the telephone book?"
Kasumi said, "Well, actually--"
Kaneda had to interrupt her when he saw the high, genuine
fortress walls of a huge compound ahead of them: "Oh-wow!
Why didn't I know a temple like THIS was in Nerima!?!"
Saotome said, "It IS impressive."
Ranma said, "Ha! ' Just a bunch of plastered stone."
Kasumi said, "Oh, my, no. This isn't the temple. That's
around in back."
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They had to go all the way around the compound that
covered hectares/acres. It took up at least the same area
as all of Furinkan High did!
At last they came to a high, wooded hill. The long
stairway up had a torii gate at the zag in the middle.
There was no sign to be seen telling the name of the
temple.
It was only when they reached the top did they see the
temple walls. The compound appeared to be about the size
of the Tendou compound, though far older looking.
The thick wall's high, thick wooden door was closed.
Ranma asked, "Now what!?! Do we knock? Do we kick the
gate down? I could just jump over the wall and let us
in."
Kasumi fretted, "Oh, my! I hadn't counted on this! This
temple must be private." She opened her cloth sachet
purse, and looked inside it, as if she would find the key
there.
Soun suggested, "Why don't we just see if knocking will
bring an answer?"
No sooner had Genma raised his fist than a voice yelled
from inside: "Go away! You're not welcome! This is NOT a
public temple!"
Kasumi found what she was looking for in her drawstring
purse, "Mister! I believe I have a pass!"
The old man answered, "I am not a "Mister": I am a
priest!"
Kasumi held up her "pass", "If you will just look at it."
Kaneda recognized it, "That's my talisman!" It was the
small rectangle with two holes for a loop of red string.
On its pink silk was a gold emblem, and writing in black
kanji that read [By grace of Benten, let Amaterisu have
the ears of the Kamis of Water.]
Their father became gravely concerned, "The omamori
that's supposed to remain UNDER your mattress and never
taken out!?!"
The priest behind the gate yelled, "And why should a
simple charm give you leave to enter a place best erased
from the memory of man!!?!"
Kasumi held up the side opposite the one with the kanji
spell, "Because this temple made this special omamori. It
says so on the back." As the old priest thought it over,
she added, "It even has a map. From our house to here."
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Behind the gate was a typical, if dilapidated, main
temple hall. It was set in a sea of stone weathered
flagstones, with grass growing between their cracks. Only
here and there were there spaces for grass, flowers and
trees to deliberately find sunlight. But they, too, were
untended and overgrown.
Ranma sniffed disapprovingly, "All the temples *I* seen
are better kept up than this one."
His father agreed, "...Even the poorest."
By the time the old priest with the long gray hair had
opened the heavy gate with the creaky hinges wide enough
to allow them to enter, an equally old woman was
approaching them. She, like the man, was dressed in the
typical white gi shirt, red hakama/pleated trousers, and
zori sandals of a Shinto priest. Her long, loose white
hair nearly touched the ground she was stooped over so
much. And though she walked awkwardly, she didn't use a
cane or staff. She greeted them, "What can my husband and
I do for you...guests?"
Then her bright eyes spotted the omamori Kasumi held. Her
attitude changed, "Ah! Come this way: Around to the
back."
They followed her; and the old priest followed them.
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The flagstone theme continued all around the temple. In
back, at the edge of the courtyard, there was a small
building about the size of a bedroom. Beyond that, tucked
away in back almost hidden among the corpse of trees, was
the caretakers' residence.
The old priestess at last turned to them, and said, "Our
name is Ryoushin. We welcome you as our guests to the
Temple of the Nine Abilities."
Saotome was interested, "..."Nine Abilities"?"
Mrs. Ryoushin said, "You have heard of the goddess
Benten, I assume?"
Kasumi said, "Benten is one of the seven lucky gods.
Soun Tendou elaborated, "She is the goddess of reason
ability, wisdom, knowledge, music, the arts,
eloquence..."
(The old priest said, "And love! Do not forget she is a
goddess of love!")
Ignoring her husband, the old priestess said, "Would not
you say that Benten, being the goddess of all of that,
makes her the goddess of at LEAST nine abilities?"
Saotome nodded enthusiastically, "That it does!"
Kaneda conceded, "Well, "nine abilities" IS the literal
meaning of ideograph for "capable"."
The old priest raised his voice as he insisted, "And
LOVE! Do not forget Benten is also the goddess of love!!"
The old priestess said, "Quiet, you old fool! Is that ALL
you think about!?"
The visitors TRIED not to think about it.
The old priestess said, "Excuse my husband. He gets other
gods of love confused with Benten."
Soun said in as dignified manner as he could, "That's
quite understandable. Their, uh, 'myths' often have
surface similarities."
The old priestess said, "Benten is FIRST a goddess of
enlightened love."
The old priest said, "And THEN physical love!" He
addressed them newcomers, "...Inspired love makes for the
best kind, you know." And he insisted, "It's been PROVEN
by science!"
Again everybody had a giant sweatdrop, with Kasumi
blushing the most.
Everybody but Ranma-kun who didn't seem able to make the
connection, "So that's why we're here. But I don't see
what love's gotta do with an arranged marriage."
The old priest cried, "Didn't you HEAR what I said about
love!!" He took out a meter-long bamboo blowgun, and hit
Ranma in the back of the head with a pebble.
Ranma put his hand over the area, "Hey!" He glared over
his shoulder at the old man.
Mrs. Ryoushin said, "Arranged marriages fail, or SHOULD
fail. Love can make any hardship easier to bear. And the
goddess can inspire love." Her alert gaze narrowed on
Kasumi, but she addressed the others, "If that is why you
are here, we the priests of Benten can help you find the
path towards enlightened love."
The old priestess asked Kasumi, "Is this omamori yours?"
Having still not lost her blush, Kasumi said, "Oh, my,
no! This is my brother's."
Seeing the family resemblance, the old priestess asked
Kaneda, "You object to the marriage?"
Kaneda said, "You bet!" But he looked at his dad, and
backed down from giving a full display of his anger. The
matter was settled as far as his parent was concerned.
The old woman gave the once over to Mr. Saotome. "I can
understand why you would not want to marry this ugly,
middle-aged man."
Though feeling offended, Genma Saotome was more concerned
about pushing Ranma-kun forward, "Madam! It is my SON
that is to marry Tendou's daughter, there!"
Ranma-kun yelled, "Hey! I haven't agreed to anything!"
The old priestess asked Ranma, "Do you wish to marry
another of Mr. Tendou's...children?"
Ranma-kun told her, "I don't want to marry anybody; I
just want to go back to China!"
Ranma's pop told him, "And complete what happened there!?
You will first produce an heir."
His arms crossed and looking away, Kaneda commented, "You
could still produce an heir."
Ranma-kun threatened, "How would you like to produce an
heir!?"
Kaneda's face said he didn't.
The old priestess asked, "Juusenkyo?"
Ranma-kun paled, "You, you know about Juusenkyo!?!"
The old priestess said, "Oh, this IS a problem." She said
to her husband, "Mr. Priest, while I consult with this
young woman, you prepare for the Contest of the Corset."
The old man cackled, "Corset! Corset! The Contest of the
Corset!!"
Ranma-kun cried, "I ain't puttin' on no corset!!"
Kaneda cried with equal force, "Me neither!!"
The old priest told them, "You don't WEAR the corset!"
And used his blowgun on Ranma-kun again.
Ranma-kun cried, "Hey! Why'd you only hit me!?!"
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While everybody but Kasumi's father was distracted by
Ranma yelling at the old priest, and the old man pelting
the boy with pebbles, the old priestess led Kasumi away.
She led her into the room-sized house.
The sliding wooden door was kept open only by Kasumi's
body; she was a little fearful of the darkness beyond. But
she put her trust in her understanding of Zen. As the old
priestess lit an ancient oil lamp, she said, "In here is the
reason why the temple was built. Because of its terrible
power, it is kept secret and apart from the main hall."
As the light from the lamp revealed its shadowy form,
Kasumi said, "Oh, my!"
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Genma Saotome cried, "OW!" as he slapped the back of his
neck. He turned away from the door that had closed behind
the two women. He scowled at the old man with the
blowgun.
The old priest cried, "You are not allowed in!! A curse
upon any who go in without the blessing of the goddess!"
Genma said, "I was just..." He fell to his knees, and
then to the ground. He was quickly snoring.
Ranma-kun cried, "Why you--Use a drugged dart on MY Old
Man!!" He lunged--And got beaned with a pebble in the
forehead hard enough to stop.
Kaneda commented, "He certainly has a lot of breath for
an old man."
The old priest said, "It's the power of LOVE!" Then he
cackled, "...And a LOT of exercise."
Kaneda said, "I think I'm going to be sick."
His dad felt just a LITTLE queasy, "It's all a matter of
perspective, I guess."
The old priest directed Ranma with his bamboo blowgun,
"You: One square over, there." Then to Kaneda, "And you,
over on that flagstone!"
Kaneda said, "And if I refuse?"
Kaneda got a pebble bounced off HIS head.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Inside the building, Kasumi said, "It's a well." The pit
was hidden behind a waist-high, moldy, solid wooden
fence.
Carrying the lamp ahead of her, the old priestess walked
toward it, "Are you aware of the story of the goddess
Benten and the orochi?"
Being polite, Kasumi followed the old woman. "Oh, my! I
probably do, but I can't remember which is her story. It
seems so many stories about water gods involve dragons,
...or serpents."
The old woman nodded, "That is true. For THEY are at the
heart of waters of magic, like Juusenkyo, and
Ryugenzawa."
Kasumi asked in wonder, "...and this well?"
The old woman looked down into the pit, "Here sleeps one
of children of Benten and that fresh water dragon."
Kasumi said, "Oh, my, he must still be a small child. It
doesn't look wide enough to let an adult dragon rest
comfortably."
The old woman smiled. She turned the lamp towards Kasumi,
"Do you wish to know you why I have told you all of
this?"
Kasumi said, "Only if you wish to tell me, Mrs.
Priestess."
The old priestess nodded, satisfied with the answer, "I
believe you are somebody who CAN be blessed by the
goddess!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In position on his flagstone, another pebble struck
Ranma-kun's head, "Ow! I just wanted to know WHAT the
idea of this stupid game is!?!!"
The old man had brought a teapot and two cups from the
temple's porch. He was now kneeling between Ranma-kun and
Kaneda. Putting down the blowgun, he started pouring hot
water from his ancient teapot into two teacups, "You
know about the Japanese tea ceremony?"
Ranma-kun still resentful, said, "Yeah!"
The old man said, "This isn't anything like that!" and
splashed the water from the cups on both Ranma and
Kaneda.
Kane-chan cried, "What did you do that for!!?!" She was
wearing a mid-length white dress with a few bows and
ruffles.
The same water that was hot enough to make Kaneda change
was cool enough to change Ranma.
Ranma-chan threatened, "I'll break THAT bamboo peashooter
of yours, too!" He had broken it on his way to the
square.
Getting up with his tea set, the old priest said, "I have
plenty more where they came from."
Soun Tendou stood on the sidelines. His eyes were now
wide open. Or not: "A, Akane?... How did she get here?"
The old priest handed the man the tea things to hold;
"She is here to partake in an engagement ceremony."
Ranma-chan yelled, "I don't want to get engaged!"
The old priest said, "Then you had better win the
contest. The winner will prove to the goddess of reason
and inspiration WHO she should favor. With those
abilities, the winner can tie the loser to him as closely
as the sides of a corset."
Soun Tendou told the old priest, "But Akane is going to
be part of the TENDOU family!"
The old priest said, "She still may be: If she loses." He
held up his blowgun, ready to bring it down as a signal,
"May the goddess of the seven lucky gods show the better
man the winning card!" And the contest began!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kasumi didn't blink, "Me?? Blessed by the gods?"
The old priestess returned their gaze on the still water
of the magic well, "Each of the dragons have a different
magic. The waters of Juusenkyo have transformation magic.
The waters of Ryugenzawa have curative magic." She lifted
her lamp, "Here we have the magic of ability!"
Kasumi thought she understood, "As in the "nine
abilities"."
The priestess smiled, pleased, "You do understand."
Kasumi asked, "Are you going to push me in the well?"
The old woman asked, "Do you wish to be pushed in the
well?"
Kasumi said, "No. But Ranma's father pushed him in a
spring at Juusenkyo."
The old priestess nodded, "Ah, yes! It is always better
that the magic be placed on a person accidentally." She
shook her head sadly, "Far better. If a person
intentionally tries to claim the magic of a dragon, then
he becomes TWICE cursed!"
Kasumi asked, "Oh, my, twice cursed?"
Looking as if she had bourn a great burden all of her
life, she said, "...They become a curse to others, as
well."
But she brought her lamp up to illuminate Kasumi's face,
"But if it is done by somebody pure of heart, then the
curse becomes a blessing."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kane-chan stood on his flagstone, waiting for Ranma-chan
to make her move. Ranma-chan waited for Kane-chan to make
HERS.
The old priest cackled, "Step on the wrong square, and
you lose!"
Kane-chan's eyes darted over the worn flagstones, trying
to see something...the tiniest mark...anything that made
even ONE different. All she saw was erosion. She began to
sweat.
Ranma-chan had her own ideas how to win, "Ha! I don't
HAVE to step on any! I know the Saotome Mid-air
techniques: I can jump onto the porch of the temple!"
The old priest laughed, "Go ahead! But you'd LOSE. The
idea is to step on the CORRECT squares!"
Kane-chan almost tore at her long black hair, What ARE
the correct squares!?!! I can't figure this out!!! Being
distracted by this STUPID dress and bra doesn't help!!
Not allowed to "cut the Gordian Knot", Ranma-chan was
having even more of a problem coming up with an idea:
"Aaar!! I'm starting to get a head-ache!!"
But, then suddenly, Ranma-chan cried, "You know about
Juusenkyo: You know about magic!" She looked around the
flagstones, surveying them. "AND you have traps hidden
under the stones." She brought up her hands into martial
arts position, "All of that means danger! I just have to
use my trained senses."
Kane-chan felt her very last slim chance at victory
pulling away from her. My martial arts senses are no
match for RANMA'S!!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kasumi sighed, "Oh, my! I am sorry Mrs. Priestess, but I
am not ready to receive a blessing."
The priestess said, "What!?! You do not WISH to be
blessed by the goddess?"
Kasumi said, "If I did, I would not have a," she blushed
at even having to consider it, "...a pure heart."
The old woman sighed herself, and nodded regretfully,
"That is the problem with a pure heart." But she stepped
forward, and demanded, "But when you ARE ready to receive
a blessing!?!! You will come HERE!!?! It has been so
terribly long since anybody has been blessed by this
accursed place!!"
Kasumi felt sorry for the poor old woman. "Of course,
Mrs. Ryoushin. When there is an honest need for me to be
blessed, I shall make it a point to come back here."
With her free hand the old woman grasped one of Kasumi's.
"Thank you! Thank you, so much, my child!"
Kasumi said, "But right now, I must think of my family
and guests"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Now Ranma-chan was sweating heavily. She was using all of
the techniques she had learned over her relentless years
of training to sense something, ANYTHING beneath the
flagstones.
Kane-chan had to ask herself, What!!?! Ranma can't
detect the dangers!?!! If she can't, then I--
First came the inspiration: There ARE no dangers!!
Kane-chan looked at the simple stones in a new way:
Benten is the goddess of reason! You have to THINK to
win this contest!! She said, "But think WHAT!?!
"Clues! You use the clues to think with!"
Then came the reasoning: "Contest of the Corset"...
"goddess of the seven lucky gods"... "show the better man
the winning card"... Her brain began to hurt. What is
the idea of CARDS doing in a Shinto ritual!?!! They were
introduced by the Portuguese!! What kind of temple would
have a contest built around--
Kane-chan saw the light!! "Corsets aren't Japanese,
EITHER!!" She found the pattern in the flagstones!! It was
a magic square, 25 by 25 flagstones--With Ranma in the
middle! She looked around herself: Yes!! From where
Ranma's standing, I'M in the middle of a magic square,
too!!
Kane-chan cried, "That's it!!" and, lifting her skirt,
leaped! It was a jump Ranma could've easily made. But
Kane-chan did it on wings of the goddess: Divine
inspiration and love. She jumped diagonally to the
flagstone on Ranma's right-front. There was another flagstone
between them, and Kane-chan was JUST out of Ranma-chan's
short reach.
Ranma-chan cried, "Ah, ha! That square is safe!"
Kane-chan almost laughed for joy, "For me!! YOU have to
find your OWN squares!!" And she leaped diagonally again,
to the square at Ranma-chan's right side. All Ranma-
chan could do was stay on her flagstone and turn to
follow Kane-chan, hoping to learn what the secret was
before it was too late for her.
Kane-chan knew the secret: The winning card is the Seven
of Hearts! Ranma is the central heart, and three hearts on
each side! Think of the six hearts as the holes of a
CORSET--"And all I have to do is lace the sides of the
corset together!!"
Feeling utterly frustrated, Ranma-chan challenged that
stupid logic, "Yeah!!?! And what are you tying the corset
WITH!?!!"
Kane-chan did laugh as she jumped towards the last square
before pulling the corset closed, trapping Ranma inside,
"The RED STRING!!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The lamp had been set the rail of one of the well's
fences. With a small pair of scissors, the old priestess
cut the red string loop of Kaneda's omamori.
Kasumi looked on, concerned, "You say that this is
actually a piece of Kaneda's red string?" Folklore said
that it connected people destined to fall in love since
before they were born.
The old woman nodded, "Yes. The loop directed your, uh,
'brother' to herself, and her to him. Until the matter of
sex was decided, all that the red string could do was
find a true match in life, be they friend or foe."
She handed the string to Kasumi, "But this relationship
will not be decided by sex."
Kasumi accepted it; "You mean the one with Ranma?"
The old woman shrugged, "Perhaps. Cut off little pieces
and sew them into their clothes. You don't have to worry
about running out of enough string. This is its just the
physical manifestation. There will always be more. And
the real connection will remain unbroken."
Kasumi nodded, accepting the magic object. But she asked
in a concerned voice, "But what if Ranma isn't the one,
uh, Kane-chan should marry?"
The old priestess said, "Then the red string between the
two will get tangled with the real love on the other end
of the their red strings, and draw them those loves in."
Kasumi nodded, thinking she understood. "And this
contest? The, uh...."
The old woman smiled, " "The Contest of the Corset"?
There is no magic to it. It is just to give themselves a
reason to believe." She warned Kasumi, "You must not let
them find out that the real magic is in this red string."
Kasumi said, "Oh, my, of course not. That could spoil
everything, couldn't it?"
With a look of admiration, the old priestess said,
"Perhaps you are already blessed. You certainly seem
capable."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, it was almost time for Nabiki's 'date'.
Little did Tatewaki Kuno know that the girls he truly
wished to be with were at one of his family's private
temples. Would he ever find a girl CAPABLE enough to
remove his curse?
The End of this chapter
[Notice: fiddle with a chapter up to a week after I post
it. Anytime major changes are made, I
will let the reader know in another chapter.]
By Ron Dow75
From an idea by James M. Zema,
Unauthorized, but allowed.
09: May the Goddess Bless
Nabiki said in a serious voice, "As interesting as the
thought of Kaneda getting engaged to Akane is, let alone
married, I don't think you can do that, Uncle Saotome."
"Uncle" Saotome said as seriously, "The girl Akane claims
to be a Saotome. I am the eldest Saotome, and therefore
head of the clan. I and the head of the Tendou clan have
agreed to the engagements of Ranma Saotome and Kasumi
Tendou, and Kaneda Tendou and Akane Saotome."
Soun Tendou nodded, "That is correct. All in accordance
with the ancient tradition of arranged marriage." He said
it with a renewed purpose in life.
Redheaded Kaneda yelled, "In case you didn't notice, this
ISN'T ancient times! Japan has a constitution--With
rights!!"
Standing behind him, Ranma-kun said, "Yeah!" Then he
asked, "What kind of rights?" He was eating a prawn he'd
taken from the tray of supper dishes he held in the other
hand.
Nabiki gave Kaneda a "shut up" look. Little Brother had a
talent for going off on the wrong track, "Actually we
should respect traditions." Kaneda thought, What!?!
NABIKI said that??
Uncle Saotome got a pleased look on his face. He had
gained another ally. The numbers were in his favor.
Nabiki said, "If everybody will sit down, I can mediate
this before there is any expensive property damage."
A sullen Ranma-kun asked, "Whose side is she on?"
Kaneda answered, "Her own."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The two fathers sat on the side of the family table
nearest the still open garden door; the two sons sat
opposite; and Nabiki sat at the end her father had just
left. She said, "Daddy isn't the head of the clan. But
that's not important, since Kaneda and Kasumi ARE his
children. What he says goes up until Great-Granddaddy
gets involved.
"And we DON'T want to involve Great-Granddaddy." And Soun
Tendou heartily agreed. Kaneda, though, thought, If all
else fails....
Nabiki now addressed "Uncle" Saotome, "You, as Ranma's
father, can also arrange a marriage contract for your
child. But you cannot arrange one for Akane, because...."
She allowed a short pause for dramatic effect. "...you
are not the head of her Saotome clan."
Genma Saotome said incredulously, "What!?!"
Her arms crossed on the table, she leaned forward. "Akane
Saotome comes from Fukuoka. Are YOU one of the Fukuoka
Saotome?"
Genma Saotome said, " "Fukuoka"?? But she's really...."
He looked at his friend Soun sitting next to him. He
remembered Wednesday night, the day he and Ranma arrived
at the Tendous. He had left with Soun. He then spent the
whole night trying to talk some sense to him about Kaneda
wanting to be RANMA'S fiance! Tendou had been a father
first. He said it was understandable Kaneda could be
fooled by a [Genma felt sick] "kawaii" face. He said the
teenager would soon realize the truth about Ranma.
But most frustrating of all was when Genma even MENTIONED
that the Kaneda became a girl. Tendou wouldn't hear of
it: Literally! And when Tendou was in his trance, he
COULDN'T hear anything! Worse: When he was brought out of
it, Tendou wouldn't remember anything he didn't WANT to
remember!
Fuming almost visibly, Genma Saotome told Nabiki, "If
Akane Saotome WERE from Fukuoka, she would not be my
responsibility."
Nabiki smiled as if she'd caught somebody in one of her
snares, "Exactly. The only responsibility you would owe
her is same any Saotome would owe to another Saotome."
Ranma-kun said, "*Hmmf* I don't remember any Saotome
helpin' US the times we were in Fukuoka."
Soun Tendou the patriarch said, "Still! The social norms
DO say one should extend aide and hospitality to one's
own kind."
Nabiki said, "I'm glad to hear you say that, Daddy."
That was Kaneda's dad. Sigh! Dad just doesn't think
things through. Then when it comes time to face reality,
he's so afraid of losing face he doesn't. That's probably
how he ended up in that agreement to marry one of his
kids to Saotome's.
Kasumi entered the room; she announced, "I think I've
found a temple that can help us."
Ranma-kun asked, "Why do we need to go to a temple?"
Genma said, "Well, I could use some advice from the
goddess of ideas."
Soun said, "Yes, of course. But before we have a formal
engagement ceremony, we need to finalize the marriage
contract."
Nabiki said, "I could prepare the contract."
Genma told her, "I would prefer to have somebody ELSE
draw it up."
Kasumi didn't blink, " "Marriage contract"? Oh, my! Have
things progressed that far, that quickly? Who is to be
the bride?"
Her father smiled, "You are, Kasumi! Ranma here has
agreed to be your fiance!"
Ranma told him, "I have not! I haven't agreed to get tied
up to anybody, even temporary."
Genma smiled wickedly, "And KANEDA will marry Akane. (Ha!
Ha! Ha!)"
Kasumi cried, "Oh, My! Poor Kaneda. ...and Akane."
Kaneda produced a mallet, "We just established Akane
WON'T marry me!"
Kaneda's dad looked disapprovingly at his mallet. (Kaneda
put it under the table.) His dad said, "That hasn't been
established. All that's been determined is that Genma has
little authority to compel her to marry." His tears began
to flow, "But if you truly wish to honor your father, you
WILL marry Akane!!"
Kaneda groaned. His dad's passionate crying was not an
act. Why do I have to look so much like Mom!? I should
just tell him Akane his daughter and.... He hung her
head in defeat, And have him go into complete denial. A
daughter-in-law, he can fantasize about. Sick.
Kasumi approached her father, "And, you wish me to show
the same deference, as well, Father? And marry, Ranma?"
Soun said, trying to compose himself, though no less
ardent, "Yes. I wish to see all of my children in
appropriate marriages. You are from a family with a proud
martial arts tradition. THAT is your station and mission
in life: To carry ON that tradition!"
Nabiki refrained from bringing any attention to herself.
Kasumi knelt down. Placing her hands in her lap. She said
in a formal manner, "If that is your wish, Father, that
is my wish."
Kaneda felt himself being swept up in a whirlpool of
despair. He'd lost Ranma!
...And all he got in return was, herself.
Kasumi said, "I have only one request of you, Father."
Feeling that his fondest wishes WERE coming true, Soun
Tendou said, "Of course, Kasumi, my daughter. Whatever it
is, it is yours."
She bowed her head modestly. "I wish to visit the temple
I mentioned. We should consult with the gods. If they
have no objection to the marriage, I will agree to it at
the engagement ceremony."
Kaneda did his best to hold back his tears, "Well I won't
agree to it!!"
Ranma-kun was about to agree with him, when Kaneda's
voice became loud enough to drown all others out: "I
won't agree to anything!! Marriage contracts!!
Engagements ceremonies!! Marriage ceremonies!! YOU may
arrange our lives--But WE have to agree to them!!! You
can't do ANY of those without our consent!!"
Kasumi said in a quiet voice that broke through her
brother's scream of pain, "And if we do not agree, we
become outcasts without a family."
Nabiki was unmoved by anybody in the room, "Kaneda, my
slow-witted sibling. You don't have to go through the
melodramatics. Trust me." Then she smirked, "In the
meantime, why not go with Kasumi to her temple. Humor
her. Who knows, it might even do some good."
Kaneda said in torment, "Since when do you believe in the
gods and blessings!?!"
Nabiki said, "I don't. But I do believe in people who
believe in gods and luck." Said the bookie.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kaneda skipped supper. He could not face the people who
had ruined his life--No: DESTROYED his life!
He had to hit something!!!
He went to the practice dummy out beside the arena. In
the last light of the day, he punched, chopped, jabbed,
clawed, thrust, and pummeled the sawdust-filled bag
wrapped around the post. When those weren't enough, he
started coming up with new hitting techniques.
He was on the verge of bringing out his biggest mallet
when Ranma-kun came out of the house. Out of habit, Ranma
stood by and casually studied Kaneda's abilities. Kaneda
was so upset he didn't care if Ranma DID learn anything.
At last Ranma-kun said, "I ate your supper."
Kaneda kept striking his opponent who wouldn't fight
back, "Then you lost the challenge. You were supposed
begin eating after me."
Ranma-kun asked, "Yeah!? And what's the penalty?"
Kaneda paused to tell him, "You have to serve--" He
stopped. "Aw, what's the use." And he lashed out with the
Tendou Upper Body Whip Crack: He broke through the canvas
bag, and deep into the sawdust.
Kaneda then just stood there, trying to feel something
other than rage. He was not focusing on the Ranma beside
him.
Ranma-kun raised his foot. In seemingly one kick, Ranma
splintered the post nearly in two.
Bringing his foot back down, Ranma-kun said, "That's
right. You can't make me pay any penalty."
Kaneda turned away. The idea of honor was bitter, now.
Ranma and Kasumi were duty-bound to respect the wishes of
their fathers. He walked over to the cinderblocks. He
asked, "Why didn't you beat the stupid fiance-idea out of
me?"
Ranma-kun said, "Because I don't want to be hooked to
anybody. Geez! It's bad enough to be on Pop's chain. Like
I need somebody else tellin' me how to live my life!?"
Kaneda thought, But you do need somebody to tell you how
to live. That's all you've known. Until you decide to
change, you'll be unable to make the boring decisions.
Poor Kasumi: You'll both be stuck in an empty, unhappy
marriage. Each of you will want the other to tell them
what to do when it's beyond what you're good at. But he
said, "So you thought your dad might give up the idea, if
the only one who'd agreed to marry you was me!"
Ranma-kun ambled over, "That's about the size of it." He
almost smiled, "AND it got under Pop's skin." A bonus.
But then he had to frown, "Your sister fouled up that
idea."
Kaneda smashed the cinderblocks to pieces. He then
straightened up, "I guess it was a doomed idea. Kasumi
was always the weak link. She just likes to please
people." He wished he had the strength to crush the piece
he'd brought up with him. "Especially Dad. You know:
Filial Duty!" Even if it means she looses the one she
really loves.
Kaneda called, "Here!" and tossed the piece at Ranma at
full force.
Ranma-kun caught it. And broke it between his thumb and
finger. "She's not pleasing me."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kaneda enter the dojo, leaving Ranma-kun outside. He
looked around, Maybe I can take my mind off of it. What
new traps can I add in here? He had gotten the idea back
when he had a thing for American comics. Turning the dojo
into a "Danger Room" would set the Tendou apart from
others. I wish I knew something about electronics or
could afford something fancy. But all of my traps are
just things a good carpenter can make. It helped that
there were a few times that the dojo had to be entirely
rebuilt. Don't think about that, either: You're
discouraged enough!
He stopped trying, his anger replaced by despair. "I
can't kid myself any more. Ranma's going to inherit the
dojo." He shuffled about blindly. "Kasumi deserves that.
This is HER house. This is her neighborhood, with friends
and acquaintances she grew up with. She wouldn't be happy
living any place else."
He realized at last he was near the shomen/the main wall
of the dojo. He drew himself up in the proper position,
and bowed to the kami of the dojo. It wasn't a god; it
wasn't even strictly speaking a being. It was the spirit
of the dojo, one rank above ANY martial arts master who
would enter the training hall. He showed the respect the
idea of a dojo deserved. "May Ranma bring you the proper
honor."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kaneda reluctantly woke up when he heard somebody
knocking at his bedroom door. Kasumi said, "Kaneda. It's
time to get ready for the temple. Breakfast is waiting."
Kaneda grumbled something to let Oneesan know he was up:
"On a Sunday!? That's my day off."
Kasumi asked, "Are you getting out of bed?"
He threw the covers off; he then just lay there.
Kasumi asked, "Kaneda?"
Kaneda asked, "Kasumi, why did you agree? You don't
honestly think going to this temple will solve anything,
do you?" He was ashamed to think that Kasumi might
actually want to marry Ranma...because of love. Being a
married woman, she would never have to recognize Dr.
Tofu's love for her.
Kasumi asked, "May I come in?"
He threw his blanket back over himself and said she
could. Kasumi entered, giving a little bow at the
threshold, and closed the door behind her. There she
stayed, "Kaneda, I found my zen years ago." she briefly
left her oneness with the moment for a sad one in the
past, "...shortly after Mother died. Dr. Tofu helped me
find it." She returned to her usual state, "I enjoy the
serenity. Part of that peace is to believing goodwill
will get back goodwill. If not in this lifetime, in
another."
Kaneda frowned, " ' Very fatalistic." He had heard
variations on the confession before. Kasumi's idea of Zen
wasn't orthodox, but it WAS how she lived her life. He
still couldn't understand the sense in it. Calm, peace,
serenity was just not in his nature.
Kasumi smiled, "I also believe in magic." It said she had
a secret.
Kaneda-the-Cursed couldn't argue against magic. He sat up
in his bed, "What's the name of the temple?!"
Kasumi said, "You'll see," and let herself out.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nabiki, on the other hand, preferred the theory of
probability. That she understood from Western media COULD
be cheated: Logically. The tales of magic always seemed
to have hidden conditions that the user didn't find out
about until it was too late. If there were going to be
conditions, SHE wanted to be the one setting them.
But Nabiki agreed to walk with everybody until they got
to the local business district. "I am NOT going to miss
out on my first chance for a date Kuno-baby since *I*
broke up with the idiot." She, too, had a secret behind
her smile. The unraveling of her fantasies (both
financial and sexual) was still fresh. Whatever else she
had planned, a little petty payback was also on her
agenda.
The date was for noon, so she dressed casually. She wore
a white-red-striped pullover, and pleated green slacks.
Kasumi asked, "What will you do until your date, Nabiki?
It is over an hour away."
Nabiki smiled and waved as she left them, "Window shop!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kasumi wore a colorful kimono decorated with a pattern of
cranes. While her attire was traditional, the pumps on
her feet weren't.
Still frowning somewhat, Kaneda said to her, "You're
really doing it right. You usually don't wear anything
but skirt and blouse." Kaneda had merely put on a clean
Furinkan boys' uniform Kasumi had laid out for him.
Kasumi said in a relaxed fashion, "This IS to petition
the traditional gods on something that will effect the
rest of our lives."
Kaneda looked down at her shoes, but made no further
comment on the matter.
Soun Tendou nodded. "How true. It's best to present
oneself in a way that reminds the gods of a time when we
mortals were in terrified awe of them." He wore a white
kimono that was typical for males, but he had insisted on
wearing a haori/half-coat over it that matched the brown
do-gi he usually wore. Kaneda noted that his dad DID have
on traditional getas/clog sandals.
Ranma-kun groused, "I don't see why you have to make a
big deal of it. Me and Pop always go to religious places
with whatever we have on." They were in the same, though
laundered, clothes they were wearing the first day they
arrived at the Tendous. They were wearing the only
clothes the Tendous had seen them in for the past five
days.
Genma told him, "Quiet, Boy! That was only because we
were travelers who had limit what we carry on our backs."
Ranma glared at him, "Oh, yeah!? Kasumi offered to lend
you something else, but you wouldn't do it!"
Genma looked for his face, and found it with, "Ha-rmph!
That's because the gods wouldn't recognize me in anything
else. THIS is all they know me to wear."
Ranma shifted his glare to the Chinese outfit he was
wearing, "Then *I* shouldn't go at all! They're not gonna
recognize me in this thing." Then he muttered, "I wish I
didn't have to wear stuff like this." A guy who changed
into a girl DIDN'T want to stand out by wearing clothes
nobody else wore around him...her.
Kaneda's ears pricked up at that. But then he dropped the
question. What does it matter to me, any more: Ranma can
be in low-cut dress slit up to BOTH hips and I'd have no
right to ask her why! He groaned to himself. All I
could do is let myself be tortured.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Soun Tendou asked, "How much further is it, Kasumi? We're
nearly in the next town."
Kasumi smiled patiently, "We're almost there. Actually,
we're not much further than it is from our home to
Furinkan High School."
Having been automatically taking notes on the terrain,
Ranma said, "Except instead of going east, we're going
south."
Kaneda asked, "How did you find this temple, Kasumi? In
the telephone book?"
Kasumi said, "Well, actually--"
Kaneda had to interrupt her when he saw the high, genuine
fortress walls of a huge compound ahead of them: "Oh-wow!
Why didn't I know a temple like THIS was in Nerima!?!"
Saotome said, "It IS impressive."
Ranma said, "Ha! ' Just a bunch of plastered stone."
Kasumi said, "Oh, my, no. This isn't the temple. That's
around in back."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
They had to go all the way around the compound that
covered hectares/acres. It took up at least the same area
as all of Furinkan High did!
At last they came to a high, wooded hill. The long
stairway up had a torii gate at the zag in the middle.
There was no sign to be seen telling the name of the
temple.
It was only when they reached the top did they see the
temple walls. The compound appeared to be about the size
of the Tendou compound, though far older looking.
The thick wall's high, thick wooden door was closed.
Ranma asked, "Now what!?! Do we knock? Do we kick the
gate down? I could just jump over the wall and let us
in."
Kasumi fretted, "Oh, my! I hadn't counted on this! This
temple must be private." She opened her cloth sachet
purse, and looked inside it, as if she would find the key
there.
Soun suggested, "Why don't we just see if knocking will
bring an answer?"
No sooner had Genma raised his fist than a voice yelled
from inside: "Go away! You're not welcome! This is NOT a
public temple!"
Kasumi found what she was looking for in her drawstring
purse, "Mister! I believe I have a pass!"
The old man answered, "I am not a "Mister": I am a
priest!"
Kasumi held up her "pass", "If you will just look at it."
Kaneda recognized it, "That's my talisman!" It was the
small rectangle with two holes for a loop of red string.
On its pink silk was a gold emblem, and writing in black
kanji that read [By grace of Benten, let Amaterisu have
the ears of the Kamis of Water.]
Their father became gravely concerned, "The omamori
that's supposed to remain UNDER your mattress and never
taken out!?!"
The priest behind the gate yelled, "And why should a
simple charm give you leave to enter a place best erased
from the memory of man!!?!"
Kasumi held up the side opposite the one with the kanji
spell, "Because this temple made this special omamori. It
says so on the back." As the old priest thought it over,
she added, "It even has a map. From our house to here."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Behind the gate was a typical, if dilapidated, main
temple hall. It was set in a sea of stone weathered
flagstones, with grass growing between their cracks. Only
here and there were there spaces for grass, flowers and
trees to deliberately find sunlight. But they, too, were
untended and overgrown.
Ranma sniffed disapprovingly, "All the temples *I* seen
are better kept up than this one."
His father agreed, "...Even the poorest."
By the time the old priest with the long gray hair had
opened the heavy gate with the creaky hinges wide enough
to allow them to enter, an equally old woman was
approaching them. She, like the man, was dressed in the
typical white gi shirt, red hakama/pleated trousers, and
zori sandals of a Shinto priest. Her long, loose white
hair nearly touched the ground she was stooped over so
much. And though she walked awkwardly, she didn't use a
cane or staff. She greeted them, "What can my husband and
I do for you...guests?"
Then her bright eyes spotted the omamori Kasumi held. Her
attitude changed, "Ah! Come this way: Around to the
back."
They followed her; and the old priest followed them.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The flagstone theme continued all around the temple. In
back, at the edge of the courtyard, there was a small
building about the size of a bedroom. Beyond that, tucked
away in back almost hidden among the corpse of trees, was
the caretakers' residence.
The old priestess at last turned to them, and said, "Our
name is Ryoushin. We welcome you as our guests to the
Temple of the Nine Abilities."
Saotome was interested, "..."Nine Abilities"?"
Mrs. Ryoushin said, "You have heard of the goddess
Benten, I assume?"
Kasumi said, "Benten is one of the seven lucky gods.
Soun Tendou elaborated, "She is the goddess of reason
ability, wisdom, knowledge, music, the arts,
eloquence..."
(The old priest said, "And love! Do not forget she is a
goddess of love!")
Ignoring her husband, the old priestess said, "Would not
you say that Benten, being the goddess of all of that,
makes her the goddess of at LEAST nine abilities?"
Saotome nodded enthusiastically, "That it does!"
Kaneda conceded, "Well, "nine abilities" IS the literal
meaning of ideograph for "capable"."
The old priest raised his voice as he insisted, "And
LOVE! Do not forget Benten is also the goddess of love!!"
The old priestess said, "Quiet, you old fool! Is that ALL
you think about!?"
The visitors TRIED not to think about it.
The old priestess said, "Excuse my husband. He gets other
gods of love confused with Benten."
Soun said in as dignified manner as he could, "That's
quite understandable. Their, uh, 'myths' often have
surface similarities."
The old priestess said, "Benten is FIRST a goddess of
enlightened love."
The old priest said, "And THEN physical love!" He
addressed them newcomers, "...Inspired love makes for the
best kind, you know." And he insisted, "It's been PROVEN
by science!"
Again everybody had a giant sweatdrop, with Kasumi
blushing the most.
Everybody but Ranma-kun who didn't seem able to make the
connection, "So that's why we're here. But I don't see
what love's gotta do with an arranged marriage."
The old priest cried, "Didn't you HEAR what I said about
love!!" He took out a meter-long bamboo blowgun, and hit
Ranma in the back of the head with a pebble.
Ranma put his hand over the area, "Hey!" He glared over
his shoulder at the old man.
Mrs. Ryoushin said, "Arranged marriages fail, or SHOULD
fail. Love can make any hardship easier to bear. And the
goddess can inspire love." Her alert gaze narrowed on
Kasumi, but she addressed the others, "If that is why you
are here, we the priests of Benten can help you find the
path towards enlightened love."
The old priestess asked Kasumi, "Is this omamori yours?"
Having still not lost her blush, Kasumi said, "Oh, my,
no! This is my brother's."
Seeing the family resemblance, the old priestess asked
Kaneda, "You object to the marriage?"
Kaneda said, "You bet!" But he looked at his dad, and
backed down from giving a full display of his anger. The
matter was settled as far as his parent was concerned.
The old woman gave the once over to Mr. Saotome. "I can
understand why you would not want to marry this ugly,
middle-aged man."
Though feeling offended, Genma Saotome was more concerned
about pushing Ranma-kun forward, "Madam! It is my SON
that is to marry Tendou's daughter, there!"
Ranma-kun yelled, "Hey! I haven't agreed to anything!"
The old priestess asked Ranma, "Do you wish to marry
another of Mr. Tendou's...children?"
Ranma-kun told her, "I don't want to marry anybody; I
just want to go back to China!"
Ranma's pop told him, "And complete what happened there!?
You will first produce an heir."
His arms crossed and looking away, Kaneda commented, "You
could still produce an heir."
Ranma-kun threatened, "How would you like to produce an
heir!?"
Kaneda's face said he didn't.
The old priestess asked, "Juusenkyo?"
Ranma-kun paled, "You, you know about Juusenkyo!?!"
The old priestess said, "Oh, this IS a problem." She said
to her husband, "Mr. Priest, while I consult with this
young woman, you prepare for the Contest of the Corset."
The old man cackled, "Corset! Corset! The Contest of the
Corset!!"
Ranma-kun cried, "I ain't puttin' on no corset!!"
Kaneda cried with equal force, "Me neither!!"
The old priest told them, "You don't WEAR the corset!"
And used his blowgun on Ranma-kun again.
Ranma-kun cried, "Hey! Why'd you only hit me!?!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
While everybody but Kasumi's father was distracted by
Ranma yelling at the old priest, and the old man pelting
the boy with pebbles, the old priestess led Kasumi away.
She led her into the room-sized house.
The sliding wooden door was kept open only by Kasumi's
body; she was a little fearful of the darkness beyond. But
she put her trust in her understanding of Zen. As the old
priestess lit an ancient oil lamp, she said, "In here is the
reason why the temple was built. Because of its terrible
power, it is kept secret and apart from the main hall."
As the light from the lamp revealed its shadowy form,
Kasumi said, "Oh, my!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Genma Saotome cried, "OW!" as he slapped the back of his
neck. He turned away from the door that had closed behind
the two women. He scowled at the old man with the
blowgun.
The old priest cried, "You are not allowed in!! A curse
upon any who go in without the blessing of the goddess!"
Genma said, "I was just..." He fell to his knees, and
then to the ground. He was quickly snoring.
Ranma-kun cried, "Why you--Use a drugged dart on MY Old
Man!!" He lunged--And got beaned with a pebble in the
forehead hard enough to stop.
Kaneda commented, "He certainly has a lot of breath for
an old man."
The old priest said, "It's the power of LOVE!" Then he
cackled, "...And a LOT of exercise."
Kaneda said, "I think I'm going to be sick."
His dad felt just a LITTLE queasy, "It's all a matter of
perspective, I guess."
The old priest directed Ranma with his bamboo blowgun,
"You: One square over, there." Then to Kaneda, "And you,
over on that flagstone!"
Kaneda said, "And if I refuse?"
Kaneda got a pebble bounced off HIS head.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Inside the building, Kasumi said, "It's a well." The pit
was hidden behind a waist-high, moldy, solid wooden
fence.
Carrying the lamp ahead of her, the old priestess walked
toward it, "Are you aware of the story of the goddess
Benten and the orochi?"
Being polite, Kasumi followed the old woman. "Oh, my! I
probably do, but I can't remember which is her story. It
seems so many stories about water gods involve dragons,
...or serpents."
The old woman nodded, "That is true. For THEY are at the
heart of waters of magic, like Juusenkyo, and
Ryugenzawa."
Kasumi asked in wonder, "...and this well?"
The old woman looked down into the pit, "Here sleeps one
of children of Benten and that fresh water dragon."
Kasumi said, "Oh, my, he must still be a small child. It
doesn't look wide enough to let an adult dragon rest
comfortably."
The old woman smiled. She turned the lamp towards Kasumi,
"Do you wish to know you why I have told you all of
this?"
Kasumi said, "Only if you wish to tell me, Mrs.
Priestess."
The old priestess nodded, satisfied with the answer, "I
believe you are somebody who CAN be blessed by the
goddess!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In position on his flagstone, another pebble struck
Ranma-kun's head, "Ow! I just wanted to know WHAT the
idea of this stupid game is!?!!"
The old man had brought a teapot and two cups from the
temple's porch. He was now kneeling between Ranma-kun and
Kaneda. Putting down the blowgun, he started pouring hot
water from his ancient teapot into two teacups, "You
know about the Japanese tea ceremony?"
Ranma-kun still resentful, said, "Yeah!"
The old man said, "This isn't anything like that!" and
splashed the water from the cups on both Ranma and
Kaneda.
Kane-chan cried, "What did you do that for!!?!" She was
wearing a mid-length white dress with a few bows and
ruffles.
The same water that was hot enough to make Kaneda change
was cool enough to change Ranma.
Ranma-chan threatened, "I'll break THAT bamboo peashooter
of yours, too!" He had broken it on his way to the
square.
Getting up with his tea set, the old priest said, "I have
plenty more where they came from."
Soun Tendou stood on the sidelines. His eyes were now
wide open. Or not: "A, Akane?... How did she get here?"
The old priest handed the man the tea things to hold;
"She is here to partake in an engagement ceremony."
Ranma-chan yelled, "I don't want to get engaged!"
The old priest said, "Then you had better win the
contest. The winner will prove to the goddess of reason
and inspiration WHO she should favor. With those
abilities, the winner can tie the loser to him as closely
as the sides of a corset."
Soun Tendou told the old priest, "But Akane is going to
be part of the TENDOU family!"
The old priest said, "She still may be: If she loses." He
held up his blowgun, ready to bring it down as a signal,
"May the goddess of the seven lucky gods show the better
man the winning card!" And the contest began!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kasumi didn't blink, "Me?? Blessed by the gods?"
The old priestess returned their gaze on the still water
of the magic well, "Each of the dragons have a different
magic. The waters of Juusenkyo have transformation magic.
The waters of Ryugenzawa have curative magic." She lifted
her lamp, "Here we have the magic of ability!"
Kasumi thought she understood, "As in the "nine
abilities"."
The priestess smiled, pleased, "You do understand."
Kasumi asked, "Are you going to push me in the well?"
The old woman asked, "Do you wish to be pushed in the
well?"
Kasumi said, "No. But Ranma's father pushed him in a
spring at Juusenkyo."
The old priestess nodded, "Ah, yes! It is always better
that the magic be placed on a person accidentally." She
shook her head sadly, "Far better. If a person
intentionally tries to claim the magic of a dragon, then
he becomes TWICE cursed!"
Kasumi asked, "Oh, my, twice cursed?"
Looking as if she had bourn a great burden all of her
life, she said, "...They become a curse to others, as
well."
But she brought her lamp up to illuminate Kasumi's face,
"But if it is done by somebody pure of heart, then the
curse becomes a blessing."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kane-chan stood on his flagstone, waiting for Ranma-chan
to make her move. Ranma-chan waited for Kane-chan to make
HERS.
The old priest cackled, "Step on the wrong square, and
you lose!"
Kane-chan's eyes darted over the worn flagstones, trying
to see something...the tiniest mark...anything that made
even ONE different. All she saw was erosion. She began to
sweat.
Ranma-chan had her own ideas how to win, "Ha! I don't
HAVE to step on any! I know the Saotome Mid-air
techniques: I can jump onto the porch of the temple!"
The old priest laughed, "Go ahead! But you'd LOSE. The
idea is to step on the CORRECT squares!"
Kane-chan almost tore at her long black hair, What ARE
the correct squares!?!! I can't figure this out!!! Being
distracted by this STUPID dress and bra doesn't help!!
Not allowed to "cut the Gordian Knot", Ranma-chan was
having even more of a problem coming up with an idea:
"Aaar!! I'm starting to get a head-ache!!"
But, then suddenly, Ranma-chan cried, "You know about
Juusenkyo: You know about magic!" She looked around the
flagstones, surveying them. "AND you have traps hidden
under the stones." She brought up her hands into martial
arts position, "All of that means danger! I just have to
use my trained senses."
Kane-chan felt her very last slim chance at victory
pulling away from her. My martial arts senses are no
match for RANMA'S!!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kasumi sighed, "Oh, my! I am sorry Mrs. Priestess, but I
am not ready to receive a blessing."
The priestess said, "What!?! You do not WISH to be
blessed by the goddess?"
Kasumi said, "If I did, I would not have a," she blushed
at even having to consider it, "...a pure heart."
The old woman sighed herself, and nodded regretfully,
"That is the problem with a pure heart." But she stepped
forward, and demanded, "But when you ARE ready to receive
a blessing!?!! You will come HERE!!?! It has been so
terribly long since anybody has been blessed by this
accursed place!!"
Kasumi felt sorry for the poor old woman. "Of course,
Mrs. Ryoushin. When there is an honest need for me to be
blessed, I shall make it a point to come back here."
With her free hand the old woman grasped one of Kasumi's.
"Thank you! Thank you, so much, my child!"
Kasumi said, "But right now, I must think of my family
and guests"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Now Ranma-chan was sweating heavily. She was using all of
the techniques she had learned over her relentless years
of training to sense something, ANYTHING beneath the
flagstones.
Kane-chan had to ask herself, What!!?! Ranma can't
detect the dangers!?!! If she can't, then I--
First came the inspiration: There ARE no dangers!!
Kane-chan looked at the simple stones in a new way:
Benten is the goddess of reason! You have to THINK to
win this contest!! She said, "But think WHAT!?!
"Clues! You use the clues to think with!"
Then came the reasoning: "Contest of the Corset"...
"goddess of the seven lucky gods"... "show the better man
the winning card"... Her brain began to hurt. What is
the idea of CARDS doing in a Shinto ritual!?!! They were
introduced by the Portuguese!! What kind of temple would
have a contest built around--
Kane-chan saw the light!! "Corsets aren't Japanese,
EITHER!!" She found the pattern in the flagstones!! It was
a magic square, 25 by 25 flagstones--With Ranma in the
middle! She looked around herself: Yes!! From where
Ranma's standing, I'M in the middle of a magic square,
too!!
Kane-chan cried, "That's it!!" and, lifting her skirt,
leaped! It was a jump Ranma could've easily made. But
Kane-chan did it on wings of the goddess: Divine
inspiration and love. She jumped diagonally to the
flagstone on Ranma's right-front. There was another flagstone
between them, and Kane-chan was JUST out of Ranma-chan's
short reach.
Ranma-chan cried, "Ah, ha! That square is safe!"
Kane-chan almost laughed for joy, "For me!! YOU have to
find your OWN squares!!" And she leaped diagonally again,
to the square at Ranma-chan's right side. All Ranma-
chan could do was stay on her flagstone and turn to
follow Kane-chan, hoping to learn what the secret was
before it was too late for her.
Kane-chan knew the secret: The winning card is the Seven
of Hearts! Ranma is the central heart, and three hearts on
each side! Think of the six hearts as the holes of a
CORSET--"And all I have to do is lace the sides of the
corset together!!"
Feeling utterly frustrated, Ranma-chan challenged that
stupid logic, "Yeah!!?! And what are you tying the corset
WITH!?!!"
Kane-chan did laugh as she jumped towards the last square
before pulling the corset closed, trapping Ranma inside,
"The RED STRING!!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The lamp had been set the rail of one of the well's
fences. With a small pair of scissors, the old priestess
cut the red string loop of Kaneda's omamori.
Kasumi looked on, concerned, "You say that this is
actually a piece of Kaneda's red string?" Folklore said
that it connected people destined to fall in love since
before they were born.
The old woman nodded, "Yes. The loop directed your, uh,
'brother' to herself, and her to him. Until the matter of
sex was decided, all that the red string could do was
find a true match in life, be they friend or foe."
She handed the string to Kasumi, "But this relationship
will not be decided by sex."
Kasumi accepted it; "You mean the one with Ranma?"
The old woman shrugged, "Perhaps. Cut off little pieces
and sew them into their clothes. You don't have to worry
about running out of enough string. This is its just the
physical manifestation. There will always be more. And
the real connection will remain unbroken."
Kasumi nodded, accepting the magic object. But she asked
in a concerned voice, "But what if Ranma isn't the one,
uh, Kane-chan should marry?"
The old priestess said, "Then the red string between the
two will get tangled with the real love on the other end
of the their red strings, and draw them those loves in."
Kasumi nodded, thinking she understood. "And this
contest? The, uh...."
The old woman smiled, " "The Contest of the Corset"?
There is no magic to it. It is just to give themselves a
reason to believe." She warned Kasumi, "You must not let
them find out that the real magic is in this red string."
Kasumi said, "Oh, my, of course not. That could spoil
everything, couldn't it?"
With a look of admiration, the old priestess said,
"Perhaps you are already blessed. You certainly seem
capable."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, it was almost time for Nabiki's 'date'.
Little did Tatewaki Kuno know that the girls he truly
wished to be with were at one of his family's private
temples. Would he ever find a girl CAPABLE enough to
remove his curse?
The End of this chapter
[Notice: fiddle with a chapter up to a week after I post
it. Anytime major changes are made, I
will let the reader know in another chapter.]