= = = =
T E N
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
By R. E.
(ranma_e@hotmail.com)
Illustrations by Irka
(irka@ciudad.com.ar)
= = = =
CHAPTER TWO
"The Dragon's Tooth"
= = = = = = = =
Akane trailed several paces behind Ranma as they made their way down the
street. The weight of the backpack slung over her shoulder only made it
harder to push onwards.
She glanced over her shoulder as they walked, the familiar shape of her
house growing ever smaller against the horizon with every step she took. A
firm knot formed in Akane's stomach and seemed to grow as she walked
further and further into the unknown.
She looked ahead again at her companion, a swath of red hair the only part
that stood out from the sea of black fabric that blended perfectly into the
night. Why was she following this stranger into the darkness? Why was
she leaving the only life she had ever known with a person she had met only
the day before?
Sighing, Akane tried to ignore the roots of doubt and uncertainty that were
taking hold of a mind that was only an hour earlier firmly awash with the
fertile seeds of revenge, justice and glory.
"Ranma?" she called out, trying to turn her mind away from such matters.
"Hm?" Ranma replied, slowing and turning her head to glance at Akane.
"What is it?"
"I wanted to talk," Akane said, taking a quick couple of steps to catch up
with Ranma.
"About what?" Ranma asked, turning toward the Tendo girl as she came up
alongside her.
"Well," Akane started, then paused. She had so many questions, it was hard
to focus on a single topic. After a moment's thought, she decided upon the
most pressing one. "I want to know more about you."
"Me?" queried Ranma, raising an eyebrow. "What about me?"
"Everything about you!" Akane replied with barely-contained curiosity.
"You're not like anyone I've ever met. You seem to know a lot about me,
but I hardly know anything about you."
"Hmm," Ranma said with a shrug, turning her head to once more look
forwards. "What would you like to know?"
"Where do you come from?" Akane began, opening the floodgate of questions.
"What's the story with that cloak of yours? How old are you? How did--"
"Slow down, slow down," Ranma interrupted, holding up a hand to silence her
companion. "I come from a place quite near to here. It's not there
anymore -- it was torn down some years ago."
"That's terrible," Akane commented. "Why?"
"Times change."
"So where do you live?" Akane probed.
"Wherever my feet carry me, I suppose," Ranma replied, gazing ahead into
the darkness.
Akane pondered this for a moment, the pair walking on in silence.
"Do you go to school?" Akane asked at length.
Ranma stumbled, caught completely off guard by the question. She looked
over at Akane as if the Tendo girl had sprouted a second head.
"What?" Akane inquired defensively.
"I've never been asked that before," Ranma said, a smile coming to her
face. "It's a strange question."
"Sorry," Akane huffed, feeling rather put out. "I didn't know it was a
strange question."
"In that case, no," Ranma replied, still smiling. "I don't go to
school. I'm a little old for that."
Akane narrowed her eyes and peered critically at Ranma.
"How old are you, anyway?"
"Old enough to not need to go to school," Ranma replied, a twinkle in
her eye. "Let's put it that way."
Akane looked away from Ranma, turning her eyes back to the street.
Silence descended upon the pair, punctuated only by Akane's footsteps.
"Lucky," Akane commented, after a time.
"How so?" Ranma asked, looking over to Akane again.
"I wish I didn't have to go to school," Akane explained.
"I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it."
"You're only saying that because you don't have to go."
Ranma chuckled softly. "Probably. Well, soon enough you'll be far too
busy to worry about school."
"I guess," Akane agreed, noncommittally. "Why are these hunters after me,
anyway?"
"I'm not sure why," Ranma admitted. "I haven't quite figured that one out
for myself just yet."
"But there must be -some- reason or other ...."
"I'm sure there is," Ranma replied with a nod. "When I find out what it
is, you'll be the first one I tell."
"That doesn't make me feel a lot better," Akane sighed. "I've been
thinking about it a lot. When you find out there's a bunch of people out
to get you, it's hard not to wonder why, y'know?"
"I can imagine," Ranma said. "Don't worry, though. I'm going to teach
you how to look after yourself."
"How?"
"You'll see when we get there."
"Where is 'there'?" Akane asked impatiently. She was beginning to get
annoyed with the continual lack of answers.
"A small mountain near here," Ranma replied. "There is a training ground
there, and I've got a little present for you once we get there."
"A present?" Akane asked, her interest aroused in the extreme.
"You'll see when you get there," Ranma replied with a mischevious smile.
"It's a surprise."
"You're not helping, you know," Akane noted with a sigh.
* * *
The moon hung low in the sky, its night-long trek across the heavens nearly
complete. A thin fog filled the valley with a grey haze. The wet ground
caused Akane to shiver in her sleep as she rolled over onto the grass.
Thin droplets of water dribbled down between the leaves of the trees
overhead with each gust of wind, occasionally tumbling down to the ground
below. It was one such droplet that landed directly on Akane's nose,
waking her from her slumber.
"Mwuh?" she asked blearily, sitting up. She blinked several times, eyes
half-open, and looked around her.
"It's nearly morning," Ranma's voice floated into her ears, making her turn
to face it.
Ranma sat nearby, looking into the small campfire that burned nearby.
Akane blinked again, trying to clear her eyes.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep," she said with a yawn.
"That's all right," Ranma replied. "We've travelled pretty far. I think
we're safe here for now. You can get some more rest if you'd like."
"I think I'm okay," Akane said as she stretched her arms. "What about
you?"
Ranma looked up at Akane for a moment, the flickering orange light of the
fire half-illuminating her face. The look on her face was as intense as
their first meeting, piercing blue eyes seeming to look straight through
Akane.
Eventually, Ranma gave a small smile and looked back down at the fire. "I
don't sleep very much. I'm fine."
Akane suppressed a shudder as she watched Ranma stare into the fire. Her
travelling partner seemed friendly enough, but there were times she was
genuinely frightening. Akane couldn't help but wonder where this journey
would lead her.
Scooting toward the fire a little, Akane held her hands up toward the
flames, trying to warm herself. As always, the air around Ranma was icy
cold, but as Akane looked closely, she could see the redheaded girl was
not bothered in the least by the low temperature.
Ranma looked over at Akane and noticed her shivering. Reaching behind
herself, she took hold of some more wood and placed it upon the fire.
"Thanks," Akane said gratefully, watching the flames dance across the
wood, sending puffs of grey smoke drifting upward, accompanied by
crackling sounds as the wood dried out.
"How did you start a fire?" Akane asked, looking at the pile of wet
firewood.
"I used Garyoutensei," Ranma replied simply, with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Garyoutensei?" Akane asked, surprise in her voice. "Your sword started a
fire?"
"Yes," Ranma said with a nod. "It's an elemental blade, infused with fire.
It'll burn anything it touches."
"A magic sword?" Akane asked incredulously.
Ranma nodded matter-of-factly. Her tone was even, her face stony. "That's
putting it a little simply, but, yes."
"You're kidding, right?"
Ranma shook her head. "No, I'm not."
"A magic sword," Akane repeated. "Uh huh."
"Is it that hard to believe, Akane?" Ranma asked, tilting her head to one
side. As she spoke, she grasped the sword and pulled it from beneath her
cloak in one smooth movement, bringing it out from beneath her left arm.
Holding the handle loosely, she rested the sword lightly across her lap.
Akane studied the blade closely, raising herself up to her hands and knees
to crawl closer for a better look.
The blade of Garyoutensei was a pure white that glistened in the moonlight,
its smooth curve and sharp edge catching the pale moon's glow. Leaning
closer, Akane peered intently at the blade, catching a glimpse of herself
reflected in it.
"I can see -- myself ..." she said, examining her own face. Pale orange
light flickered across her visage, surrounding it from all sides. She was
unsure if the light was from the camp fire or from somewhere else.
Her own eyes stared back at her from the blade with the same intensity she
had seen in Ranma's eyes only moments before, and she found herself unable
to look away, a reflected fire that danced behind her own eyes holding her
transfixed.
"It's warm," Akane mumbled, feeling a gentle, soothing warmth radiating
from the milky white blade. The heat was enticing, rousing a desire
in Akane to dive into it as if it were a warm bath.
"Don't touch it," Ranma said, her hand gripping Akane's wrist.
The physical contact snapped Akane out of her reverie; she looked up at
Ranma confusedly, then down again. Surprise crossed her face as she
saw her hand was centimetres from touching the blade.
"I didn't ...."
"I know," Ranma replied, resheathing the blade beneath her cloak. The
warmth around the pair vanished, the icy grip of the cold night air
around them once again taking Akane into its hold.
"It's in your nature to want to touch it."
"I'm sorry," Akane apologised, shaking her head slightly to clear it.
"Do you believe it now, Akane?" Ranma asked.
"I ..." Akane replied after a moment, eyes trying to follow the sword to
its hiding place within Ranma's cloak. "What an unusual sword."
"Magic is a dangerous thing," Ranma stated. "It would be better for you if
you knew nothing about it, but that won't be possible. I'll have to teach
you."
"Can I hold it?" Akane asked, eyes still intently seeking the blade within
Ranma's cloak. "I want to try it for myself."
"You aren't capable of handling it just yet. Perhaps with some training."
"What, you think I'm too much of a klutz to handle a sword?" Akane asked,
an edge of irritation creeping into her voice. "I'm not an idiot, you
know."
"I didn't say you were, Akane," Ranma replied flatly.
"So why can't I hold it?" Akane said angrily, looking up at Ranma's face.
"You think I'm going to drop it or something?"
"Calm down, Akane."
"Just let me try it, and I will!" Akane growled. "It won't hurt!"
"It already has," Ranma commented, matching stares with Akane.
"What?" Akane asked, suddenly confused.
Ranma narrowed her eyes, peering critically at Akane, but said nothing.
Akane withered under Ranma's glare, the anger draining from her mind as the
blood drained from her face. She shivered, and looked back down into the
fire.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you," Akane offered, scratching the back of her
head in puzzlement. "I didn't mean it."
"It's quite all right, Akane," Ranma replied.
"I don't usually get mad like that," Akane emphasised, to herself as much
as to Ranma.
"Don't worry about it," Ranma replied. "It's not a big deal."
Akane pulled herself away from Ranma and sat back down beside the fire,
pulling her knees in to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs.
Silence descended upon the pair, the crackling of the fire and rustling of
the leaves overhead the only sounds they could hear.
Ranma stared intently into the fire; Akane tried to do so as well, but
found herself continually glancing at Ranma's face, trying to decipher
Ranma's mood from her expression.
Uneasy awkwardness hung over Akane like an itchy blanket and she found
herself shifting and fidgeting to take her mind off it. Nothing seemed
to help, however, and she eventually decided to risk talking once more.
"Your father gave you your sword?" Akane asked, trying to steer the subject
away a little.
"Yes," Ranma replied, not looking away from the fire. "When he died."
"You've lived on your own since then, right?"
"Yeah," Ranma said with a nod. "We travelled a lot when he was alive, so
I didn't really stay in one place long enough to make many friends."
"Why didn't you settle down? This wandering thing seems awfully lonely to
me."
"I have a duty," Ranma said firmly. "I can't 'settle down'. There are
more important things to consider."
"What duty?" Akane asked, dusting off her gi. "Besides dropping by my
house and totally messing with my life."
"I'm not sure exactly," Ranma admitted. "All I know is it involves your
family and the hunters."
"You don't even KNOW?" Akane asked, eyes wide.
"I don't know all of the details, but I know what we must do for now,"
Ranma said with a shrug. "From there, I'm sure it will all become clear
one way or the other. Father wasn't very specific when he passed the duty
on to me."
"What do you mean?"
Ranma looked up at Akane and sighed before looking down into the flames.
Bright orange fire danced behind her eyes as she watched the wood burn.
"It's a long story," Ranma replied.
"You're going to have to start telling me about yourself sooner or later,
you know. Especially since this involves me."
"I guess we have enough time," Ranma said, after a pause. She sighed,
a puff of condensation drifting away from her mouth. "I'll try to
explain as best I can."
* * *
A low howling sound echoed through the valley of Jusenkyo as strong air
currents blustered through the mountain passes. The thin grassblades
that dared to grow on the elevated outcroppings whipped back and forth
violently with the force of the chill wind, which then proceeded down
into the valley below.
At the base of the valley there was a small cluster of springs; in the
springs were rickety-looking bamboo poles. On two of the poles were
two men, carefully balanced atop their respective perches with one foot
each.
"You better be ready, Boy," called Genma, the loose cord at the front of
his belt swaying in the breeze.
"Heh," Ranma replied, a smirk on his face. "Let's get this over with,
Pops. I still owe you a beating for not helping me with those bandits."
"Quiet, Boy," Genma growled. "You disrespect your father. You should
remember to respect your elders, or I'll have to remind you why."
"I could take you down with my eyes closed."
"You are a fool!" bellowed Genma, his deep voice echoing through the
valley. "You will die young if you don't learn humility, Boy!"
"So humble me," Ranma replied. "If ya can."
"You are limited by your overconfidence, Boy," Genma noted, unsheathing
his sword. A hot wind swept into existance around him as he swung his
sword to face Ranma. "I will show you those limits!"
Ranma steadied his stance as Genma launched himself into the air; and
so, the battle was joined.
Waiting until the last moment, Ranma leapt backwards, launching himself
into a somersault that vaulted him clear of his father's lunge. He
sailed lightly through the air as the sound of his father's sword
splintering the bamboo reached his ears. As he landed, his father was
in mid-air, leaving behind a broken pole, the splintered tip burning.
"Don't you think you're going a bit far?" Ranma asked, hands on his hips,
eyes on the smoke rising from his father's blade.
"You are arrogant and cocky!" Genma exclaimed as he landed, levelling his
sword at his son. "You will never achieve mastery of our art as long as
you consider yourself a master!"
"So by that logic, I'm guessin', neither will you," Ranma countered, his
pigtail fluttering behind him in the hot, gusty wind that rocked his bamboo
pole back and forth.
"You are too quick to forget who is the teacher and who is the student,
boy," Genma snorted, his sword held steady. "That is only the first
of your mistakes."
Again Genma launched himself toward Ranma, swinging his sword mightily as
he arced through the air -- and once again, Ranma tossed himself aside
at the last moment, turning what began as a clumsy jump into a graceful
flip as he neared his destination.
"You ain't even close!" Ranma taunted, a smirk on his face. "You're
getting slow, old man!"
Genma growled angrily in response and again launched himself toward his
son.
The battle continued for some time, the pair's duel leaving a trail of
burning bamboo across the field of springs. Both combatants found their
space restricted after a time, and eventually, there were only two poles
left.
Ranma smirked at his father, who was panting, face flushed with anger.
"What'cha gonna do, old man?" he teased, knowing full well that if his
father tried the same tactic, Genma would be left with no pole to land
on as soon as Ranma landed on the last remaining pole.
Genma snarled and launched himself into the air once more.
Ranma readied himself to jump again but was taken by surprise as his
father suddenly launched his sword at the pole Ranma was standing on.
He did not have a chance to move before the sword skewered the pole; the
bamboo snapped as the blade sliced into it, before bursting violently
into flames. Ranma squeezed his eyes closed as a burst of flames engulfed
his body for a moment as the pole shattered below him. A wave of intense
heat struck him like a fist, throwing off his balance.
Ranma wobbled back and forth, coughing on the smoke that drifted up to
fill his nose. Trying valiantly to retain his balance, he looked around
for another place to land, but Genma had already landed back on the
remaining pole. His foot slipped, and Ranma toppled off the pole.
"Respect your master!"
Genma's words filled Ranma's ears in the moment before his body plunged
into the icy water.
* * *
"I blacked out when I hit the water," Ranma explained, staring into the
fire. "He pulled me out of the water; if he hadn't I would have drowned."
"It sounds like he went a little too far," Akane noted. "It was only a
training match; by the sounds of it, he was trying to kill you!"
"Went too far? You don't know the half of it," Ranma commented sourly.
"As it turns out, the spring was cursed, and when I fell into it, I was
cursed too."
"Cursed?"
"Don't ask," Ranma said with a sigh. "Let's just say life has been quite
different for me since that day."
* * *
Ranma trudged after her father, her footfalls heavy and strained, much like
her mood.
"I can't believe you," she complained. "I can't believe you took me to
that stupid place. Didn't ya know it was cursed?!"
"Stop whining," Genma muttered. "I've apologised already, and besides, I
wouldn't have knocked you in if you weren't being so insolent."
"You deserve insolence, you idiot!" Ranma yelled, fists shaking in fury.
"Look at what you did to me! What the hell'm I supposed to do stuck
like this? Huh?"
"You wanted to be humbled, Boy," Genma replied. "So be humble."
"HUMBLE?!" Ranma exploded. "I'll kill you!"
"You deserved what you got," continued Genma. "You are arrogant and
foolish. It's about time something knocked you down a peg or two."
"I can't believe you ... I just can't believe you ..." Ranma muttered,
numb shock taking the place of her anger. Her life as she knew it was
over.
"Stop your complaining," Genma grumbled, waving his hand dismissively.
"You're acting like a girl. It's embarrassing."
Ranma responded with several obscene whisperings under her breath. They
walked along in silence for a time, Genma scanning the surroundings,
Ranma trying hard to ignore her new breasts as she stared angrily at the
dirt track below her feet.
"There was a village somewhere around here," Genma noted, after a time,
"I saw it a couple of days ago. They live near the springs, maybe they
know about a cure."
"Since when do you care about the bad stuff that happens to me?" Ranma
queried bitterly. Kicking a pebble away, she muttered quietly, "Stupid
old man, puttin' me through all sortsa crap all the time ...."
"I don't want you to be a worthless girl any more than you do, Ranma,"
Genma noted. "It doesn't do me any good to have a female heir."
"Figures," Ranma said in a huff, glaring at her father.
"Now be quiet and keep your eyes open," Genma continued. "I know that
village is around here somewhere."
* * *
"They don't look too friendly," Ranma commented, peering through tall
blades of grass at the village below. Her eyes lingered on the spears,
swords, and other weapons carried by the villagers.
"Yes, well," Genma observed, adjusting his gi, "you are the one who
speaks Chinese, so you should go first."
Ranma looked sternly at her father. "Uh huh."
With a sigh, she looked back at the village. Holding apart two clumps
of grass, she peered down through them at the settlement below. The
buildings were simple huts; the fences, rows of bamboo strapped together.
Small columns of smoke rose lazily from several fires that burned near
the various huts.
Every person in the village seemed to be carrying some sort of weapon,
and Ranma noticed something else unusual about them as well.
"Where are all the men?" she asked herself as she looked left and right
across the village.
"Hurry up," Genma said, shoving Ranma forward. "I'm right behind you."
Grunting as she was pushed, Ranma pulled herself to her feet and began
walking down the slope toward the village. She made it about halfway
before she was spotted by one of the guards, who yelled out to alert
the rest of the village.
"Intruder!" the guard called, lowering her spear to point at Ranma.
Ranma approached slowly, arms spread wide, her father behind her in
the same position. She kept her eyes locked on the guard's, making
no sudden movements, simply continuing slowly forwards.
"Hey," Ranma called out.
"Halt!" called the guard, stepping forward. "Not another step."
Ranma stopped where she was, but was bumped forward as Genma walked
into her from behind. She glared over her shoulder at him.
"Pay attention," she whispered to him, scowling. "Do what I do or you're
gonna get us in trouble."
Two other villagers, equally well armed, ran out through the village
gate and assumed positions alongside the first guard.
"Who are you?" the first guard called. "What do you want?"
"My name's Ranma Saotome," Ranma called in Chinese. She tilted her head,
gesturing behind her. "This is my father. We came to ask about the
springs near your village."
"Jusenkyo springs?" the second guard asked. "You should stay away from
them, outsider. Only a fool would dare go near them."
"What are they saying?" Genma asked.
"They seem to know you pretty well already," Ranma replied with a smirk.
"Ah, my reputation precedes me," Genma said with a smile, puffing out his
chest.
"I'll say," replied Ranma, deadpan.
"Outsiders are not welcome here," the first guard said, interrupting
Ranma.
"We've already been to the springs," Ranma said. "We need help."
The first guard scowled, while the other two exchanged glances. "Fools.
Wait here. Not another step toward the village, or you will die."
"Gotcha," replied Ranma. She watched the first guard turn and walk back
in through the gates, then turned and spoke to Genma in Japanese.
"I was right, they don't look too friendly."
* * *
"I knew this was a bad idea," Ranma grumbled, edging away from the tip
of a spear that was pointed at her. The three guards around them guided
them toward the centre of the village, their spears ensuring that neither
Ranma or her father wandered off course.
"Quiet, Boy," Genma whispered. "If we play smart, we'll be fine."
They approached a small gathering of villagers clustered together around
a fire, excited murmurings passing back and forth between them. Every
pair of eyes in the crowd was locked firmly on Ranma and her father.
"Doesn't look like they get visitors often," Ranma noted, looking over at
a group of frightened-looking children, a scowling woman crouched behind
them, arms around their shoulders. A large sword dangled from the woman's
belt.
Ranma's eyes widened as she noticed that the children also carried small
daggers attached to their belts. "Definitely don't get visitors often."
"Look, Boy," Genma said, nudging Ranma's arm. "That must be the leader."
Ranma's eyes lingered on the children for a moment before shifting to the
direction Genma was pointing. Atop a finely crafted bamboo chair sat a
short, shrivelled old woman, whose hair was long enough to pile in a heap
on the ground behind her.
Ranma peered at this strange woman. The woman's features were extremely
wrinkled, her body hunched over and frail-looking, her face sunken and old.
Her eyes were different, though; they burned bright with a youthful
curiosity that seemed out of place on a face so old.
"Eww," Ranma commented, shuddering a little at the old woman's aged visage.
Compared to the majority of the villagers, who were good-looking in the
extreme, the old woman could only be described as ... a prune.
"I am Cologne," the old woman announced, hopping nimbly down from her
chair. "I lead this Amazon village. Who are you?"
"I'm Ranma, and this is my dad," Ranma replied, surprised at the old
woman's agility. "We just visited--"
"Jusenkyo, I know," Cologne interrupted. She leaned in close to Ranma,
closely inspecting the redheaded girl's face. "Hmm. Your problem doesn't
seem so bad to me."
"How'd you know it was me that had the curse?"
"You walk like a brutish, unrefined man," Cologne replied with a dark
smile. "Any true woman can tell you weren't born female."
"Brutish 'n unrefined!?" Ranma seethed. "Why, you ...."
"Can she cure you?" Genma asked, watching the old woman's inspection of
his son. "What's going on?"
"D'you know how to fix this stupid curse?" Ranma asked irritably. "I
don't have time to be stuck as a stupid girl. I've got trainin' to do."
"Ha!" Cologne laughed, pulling away from Ranma. "Of course I know how
to cure you. I can't imagine why you'd want to give up such a wonderful
gift as womanhood, but if that is your clumsy desire ... hot water will
revert you to your original form."
"Hot water? That's it?"
Cologne nodded.
"All right!" Ranma exclaimed, jumping into the air. "That's easy!"
"Shampoo," Cologne called over her shoulder, "fetch some hot water for
our visitors."
"What did she say?" Genma asked, seeing Ranma's elation. "What's the
cure?"
"Hot water!" Ranma explained happily. "That's all, just hot water!"
"So simple," Genma commented, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I would
have expected something more complicated."
"Whatever, as long as I get to be a guy again, I'm happy," Ranma chimed
enthusiastically.
"Agreed. I was worried you'd be stuck in that useless body forever."
"It would do you well," Cologne interrupted in Japanese, "to keep your
insults to yourself while you're in my village."
"You speak Japanese?" Ranma asked, eyes wide.
"Yes, and I've heard everything your moronic father has said. I suggest
you keep your tongue still from now on, old man."
"Old man? You're one to talk, you--" Genma began, but was interrupted by
an enormous splash as a large container of hot water was emptied over
Ranma.
"Hot!" Ranma yelled in a once-again male voice as the scalding water
poured over his body. He shook his body back and forth, sending water
splashing everywhere. This earned him angry glares from his father,
Cologne, and the purple-haired girl who had poured the water on him.
"All right, I'm a guy again!" Ranma exclaimed excitedly, looking down
at his once-again flat chest.
Genma acknowledged his son's transformation with a tight-lipped nod,
his eyes locked on Cologne. He scowled angrily, lowering one hand to
his sword's handle. Fingers closing around it, his scowl only deepened.
"It isn't wise to insult me," Genma growled.
"You would challenge an entire village of Amazons?" Cologne asked,
laughing. "Men truly are fools!"
Ranma looked back and forth between his father and Cologne, who were
staring daggers at each other. Glancing around, he noticed the rest of
the villagers were readying their weapons.
"Hey, uh, Pops, calm down," Ranma said, putting a hand on his father's
arm. "I insult you all the time, don't start getting annoyed about it
now ...."
"I won't let this old hag insult me," Genma growled, gripping his sword's
scabbard with one hand, the fingers of his other hand tightening their
grip on the handle. He tugged the sword, slowly unsheathing it. Ranma
felt a surge of burning heat as the sword came into view.
"Nobody insults the Saotomes and lives to tell the tale," Genma said, a
smirk crossing his lips. "I hope you're ready to die."
"Uhh ...!" Ranma looked around at the fifty or so armed Amazons
surrounding him, and cried out, "What the hell are you doing, Pops?!"
"Quiet," Genma rumbled, his voice carrying a gravity that seemed to shake
the very earth beneath Ranma's feet.
Ranma reeled at the venom in his father's voice; he stared wide-eyed at
the man before him. Several of the Amazons stepped forward, brandishing
sharp weapons, but all stopped in their tracks as Cologne held up a hand,
her eyes wide.
"You have a dragon's tooth blade?!" she exclaimed. "What is a man doing
wielding that sword?"
"Heh," Genma said with a smirk. "Men are not as weak as your ego would
have you believe."
"You fool," Cologne said, eyes locked on the blade. "You can't begin to
comprehend what that weapon--"
"I understand perfectly," Genma said confidently. "This blade will destroy
you and your entire village."
"You cannot hope to control its power!"
"You'd be surprised what I can do, old hag."
"For the sake of anyone who may have the misfortune of crossing your path,
I cannot let you keep that sword. Give it to me, or I will have you
killed."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ranma called out, holding up his hands. "Things are
getting a little out of hand here--"
Ranma backed away from the Amazons nearest him, realising his words were
having no effect.
"Pops, give them the damn sword!" he called out, realising they stood no
chance. "We're gonna get killed if you don't!"
"This is the Saotome family sword. It belongs to me, and will one day
belong to my son. The only time you'll touch this sword," Genma said to
Cologne, raising his blade, "is when it's slicing you in half."
"Very well," Cologne said with a sigh. She nodded to a group of Amazons
standing nearby. "Kill him."
* * *
Akane stared at Ranma, wide-eyed, as the redheaded girl fell into
silence. The fire had long since died out; smouldering embers were all
that remained of it. The early morning sunlight was beginning to break
through the foliage overhead.
"Why was your father so mad? I don't get it," Akane commented.
"He was proud," Ranma answered. "Proud and stupid. He honestly thought
he could kill them all."
"Wow," Akane said.
"He was acting strange that day," Ranma added. "He wasn't usually that
annoyed by insults. I insulted him all the time and it didn't bother him
a bit."
Akane said nothing for a moment, mulling the story over. "I don't
understand why he was so upset at them. I mean, his daughter seems to
be a pretty capable fighter, why did he think girls were so inferior?"
Ranma mulled this over for a moment. She had told Akane some of the
story, but not all. The nature of her curse was one thing left out of
her retelling - there would be a better time to reveal that.
"I don't know," she said. "I think he was angry because I got cursed."
"What was the curse? You cured it with hot water, right?"
"Hot water was only a temporary cure, it turned out," Ranma said sadly.
"They didn't say that at the time, but cold water brought it right
back."
"But," Akane began, thoughtfully, "you were in the bath earlier, that was
hot water. I didn't notice anything change."
"That's a long story, and it will have to wait for another time."
Akane looked curiously at Ranma; the redheaded girl's expression indicated
she would offer no further explanation.
"Okay," Akane said, backing off on that topic. "So what happened after
the Amazons attacked you?"
"Father fought them. I'd never seen him that angry before; he was like
a madman, slaughtering whoever got in his way. If he hadn't been so angry,
he might have survived ...."
"Ranma," Akane said softly, knowing all too well the pain of losing a
parent. "I'm sorry."
"I'd never seen him like that before," Ranma softly continued, gazing deep
into the fire. "It was horrible; he was like some sort of monster. The
damn sword made him think he was invincible."
"If it's so bad, how come you still carry it around?"
"That," Ranma sighed, drawing her cloak tight around herself, "is my
obligation."
* * *
Ranma watched numbly as his father lunged forward with a mighty swing.
The pure white blade danced in a graceful arc through the air, the sword
somehow turning motions that were blunt and angry at Genma's hand into
smooth, elegant and controlled movements at its tip.
Ranma found himself unable to move, held utterly transfixed by the
beauty of the sword in motion. The air itself seemed to sing as the
blade carved through it, a trail of white-hot light hanging in its wake
for the briefest of moments.
Three Amazon women rushed toward Genma, swords raised high to strike.
Genma's face contorted in a vile snarl, his arms guiding the sword in a
semicircle before him, ripping a gash across the midriffs of the three
Amazons. Their screams filled the air but they did not merely fall -
instead they burst violently into flames and exploded into a cloud of
ash as they were burned by the intense heat the blade brought to bear
upon them.
A gasp ran through the crowd as the ashes hung in the air, drifting slowly
down toward the earth near Genma's feet. The horrific beauty of it
captivated Ranma, leaving him unable to tear his eyes away. A sickening,
repulsive wave of horror tumbled down through his body, the blood draining
from his face as nausea gripped his stomach.
His father had never killed anyone, never struck anyone with the sword
before. A few moments ago, he would have thought it ridiculous to think
that Genma Saotome would ever kill anyone. That had all changed.
Ranma could see it in Genma's eyes, eyes that burned with an intense
desire; a desire to kill. To destroy. A shudder ran down Ranma's back
as he stared at his father and saw a man he did not recognise.
Genma intended to kill them all, and none of the Amazons could stop him.
This wasn't a fight, it was a slaughter. It had to stop.
Taking a deep breath, Ranma clenched his fists and took a step toward his
father.
"STOP!" he bellowed powerfully, his voice echoing through the valley.
Silence fell as Ranma's voice faded into the distance; all eyes turned to
face him. A moment of stillness swept across the valley; even
Garyoutensei's fiery dance was brought to a halt.
Ranma stared hard at Genma; a crimson fire seemed to burn in his father's
eyes, lending the old man an otherworldly appearance. Waves of heat
radiated from his father, the air between them distorted by the radiated
warmth.
Genma met his son's eyes across the distance between them and his own
eyes seemed to soften, his shoulders slumped as if the weight of his
actions was suddenly placed upon them. His eyes moistened as he slowly
lowered his blade, the tip falling to the dirt below him. A silent
moment passed between the two of them, no words needing to be said.
"Son ..." Genma whispered, loosing his grip upon the sword.
It was at that moment that an arrow whistled through the air to pierce
Genma's chest.
Shampoo lowered her bow, hand reaching for another arrow just in case.
Cologne held up a hand, stilling Shampoo's movements.
"Let them surrender," Cologne commanded. "There will be no more deaths
today."
"Pops?!" Ranma cried, dashing forward as his father stumbled.
Genma looked down in shock at the arrow's shaft, protruding from the
rapidly-spreading red stain on his gi. Raising a shaky hand, he closed
his fingers around the arrow, mind numb with disbelief. Tugging it
slightly, his mind was brought sharply into focus by the sudden starburst
of pain that jolted his entire body.
Ranma caught Genma as he fell forward, gingerly propping him up.
"Escape ..." Genma choked, blood and spittle flying from his mouth. "We
must ... escape, Ranma ...."
"Pops?" Ranma cried, hot tears stinging his eyes.
"Now, Boy ..." Genma wheezed, a stream of blood pouring down his chin.
Shakily, he brought his sword to Ranma's hand, placing the handle into
his son's grasp.
Ranma cried out in anguish, watching his father wince in agony. Gritting
his teeth, he flung himself into motion.
Shampoo quickly raised her bow as she saw movement from the pair of
outsiders, and brought forth another arrow.
With a sudden determination and a strength he did not know he possessed,
Ranma hoisted his father over one shoulder and took off at a sprint
toward the village gates, shoving aside six Amazon women who stood in
his way. He was past the gate by the time they hit the ground.
"Such speed ..." Shampoo uttered, awestruck, as she watched the pair
disappear in a blur. She lowered her bow, slinging her arrow back into
its quiver.
"Carrying the old man, too," Cologne added, nodding thoughtfully. "That
child cannot be allowed to keep that sword. Three Amazons have died
needlessly - there will be many more deaths if that weapon is not
destroyed."
"I will return it," Shampoo vowed solemnly. "I will avenge them."
"They will not be easy prey," Cologne cautioned. "The old man may well
be injured, but that means nothing."
"I am an Amazon," Shampoo said, pride swelling in her voice. "They will
be no match for me."
"Very well, child," Cologne agreed. "Find them, and bring back that
weapon. The time is right for you, great-granddaughter. Succeed, prove
yourself as a warrior."
"I won't fail," Shampoo swore, closing her hands into fists. Slinging her
bow over her shoulder, she sprinted off after the sword.
* * *
Ranma ran wildly through the trees, foliage snapping across his face as he
weaved desperately through the forest. Panting hard, forcing air into
protesting lungs, he surged forward, jumping across a small ditch.
His eyes stung with tears, his face bled from twigs scraping across it,
his shoulders ached from the limp weight of his father upon them.
His hand burned, too; heat from the handle of his father's sword seared
his skin. Ignoring the pain, he gripped the sword more tightly.
Where the hell am I going?
Hearing a pained grunt over his shoulder, he loosened slightly his grip
upon his father.
"I'll get you out of here," he panted, looking left and right for routes
to take.
"Put me down," Genma groaned, breathing heavily.
"What?" Ranma asked, bewildered, as he charged through a bush. "We
can't stop, they're right behind us!"
"Put me ... down," Genma repeated, wincing with his words. "Now, Boy."
Ranma reluctantly slowed his run to a stop. Gingerly, he lifted his
father from his shoulder and set him down by the base of a tree.
"You must escape," Genma wheezed. "I'm ... slowing you ... down."
"No way, Pops!" Ranma insisted. "I'm going to get some help, and--"
"No," Genma interrupted, shaking his head. He looked down at the
deep crimson stain on his gi. "There's nothing ... around here but that
village and the mountains."
"But--"
"Listen ... Boy," Genma grunted, reaching up to squeeze Ranma's arm. "Take
the sword ... and go. It is the Saotome ... family legacy. The Saotome
name must live on. Don't ... let it die here today because of my foolish
act."
"I'm not going to leave you!" Ranma insisted.
"If you only ever obey me once ... obey me now. Please, Boy," Genma
pleaded, tears welling in his eyes, eyes dull with agony. "Take the sword
... go back to Japan ... don't ever lose Garyoutensei ...."
"I can't--"
"Promise!" Genma persisted, his pasty-white hand shaking as released
Ranma's arm. He took hold of his sword's scabbard and handed it to Ranma.
"You must do this ... it's important."
Ranma stared hard at his father, tears burning his cheeks, and placed his
hand over Genma's. Squeezing it firmly, he nodded, then took the scabbard.
"All right, father," he said solemnly, sliding the sword home into its
scabbard. "I promise."
"Go back to our home," Genma continued. "Continue the Saotome legacy.
Find ... Kayoko."
"Kayoko?" Ranma asked, puzzled. "Why?"
"You'll find out," Genma replied through a cough, then smiled thinly.
"Make me ... proud, Ranma."
"I'll ... try," Ranma said, squeezing his father's hand. "I'm sorry ...."
"Don't be," Genma said with a blood-tinged smile. "You will be
strong. You will--"
A rustling noise came from the bushes behind Ranma. He whirled to look
behind himself, scanning back and forth across the foliage.
"Go, Boy," Genma groaned. "I'll ... delay them. Go, and survive."
"I'm going to find a way to help you," Ranma said, determinedly, and
sprinted off through the bushes. "I'll come back when I do."
Genma watched his son leave, sadly shaking his head. The rustling sounds
of his son's progress faded slowly into silence, and Genma let out a
long, pained sigh.
"No ... you won't," he said softly. "It's your turn now. I'm sorry,
Ranma."
* * *
Ranma barrelled through the forest, ducking and weaving under branches and
between tree trunks, panting heavily as he weaved through the obstacles.
Glancing all around him as he went, he searched for a village, a
settlement, anything or anyone that might help his father.
There was nothing to be found, however; the pounding of his heart, the
rustling of the trees, the rush of his breath and the scrape of his sword
upon the ground were his only companions in the forest.
Frantically looking back and forth, Ranma tried to make out something,
anything which offered hope. A tree here, a ditch there ...
A clearing!
Off to his right, Ranma saw it; the boundary of the forest. Sliding to
a halt, he threw himself toward the clearing, panting heavily as he
rushed toward it. Shoving aside a branch that blocked his way, he emerged
from the trees and into the grassy clearing.
His rush slowed to a jog, then a stop, as he saw what lay ahead.
A cliff?
Where do I go from here, he wondered, looking back and forth. He spun on
his heels and looked back at the forest behind him - thick, imposing,
seemingly impenetrable. It stretched around him in a semicircle, reaching
all the way around to the cliff edge on either side of the small clear
area.
Turning back toward the cliff, he leaned out over it and peered downwards.
Craggy, broken rocks protruded from the cliff edge, weathered by years of
rainfall and storms. No sharp edges, but nothing to grip on to either.
Far, far below, enormous waves beat mercilessly on the rocky outcroppings
at the base of the cliff, churning sea water sending white spray flying
into the air with every impact. The dull thud of each wave breaking
travelled up the cliff to Ranma's ears, out of synch with the sight below
him.
Ranma, it seemed, was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Damn it ..." he seethed, hesitation and indecision taking hold of his
mind.
"There is no escape," came a voice from the forest edge. Ranma turned
toward its source.
"You!" he yelled, taking up a defensive posture. She had made it past
Genma, which meant only one thing.
"You ... you killed my father!"
"He killed my sisters!" Shampoo countered with a snarl. "He paid the
price for his actions!"
Ranma stared hard at the purple-haired Amazon girl. Seething with rage,
he lowered his hand to the handle of his sword.
"Don't do that," Shampoo warned. "You saw what that blade did to your
father. You can't control it any better than he did."
"Don't patronise me!" Ranma raged, gripping the sword. Anger coursed
through his veins, fury burning at his soul. "Just shut up and fight!"
"I don't want to kill you," Shampoo stated, drawing her own sword. She
pulled her bow off her shoulder and placed it on the ground. "I'm here
for the sword. Don't make me kill you to get it."
"Don't worry," Ranma countered, slowly drawing the pure white blade
from its scabbard. "You won't."
Ranma raised the sword to point at Shampoo, marvelling at how light and
small its presence was. It felt to Ranma as if he were pointing at the
Amazon with his own finger. He sliced experimentally through the air in
front of him, watching the sword trail a perfect arc. His father had not
taught him swordfighting, but it felt utterly natural to him.
Shampoo stared at the sword, transfixed, as Ranma slowly waved it back
and forth. Its white edges, somehow infused with a depth that reflected
light at her with an alluring glimmer, seemed to call out to her with the
voice of a true warrior woman.
"So beautiful ..." she murmured, watching the sword closely. Before she
knew it, she was rushing forward to attack its wielder.
Ranma felt the sword rising and put up no resistance, letting it drift
upwards. He watched as it slowly lifted itself high above his head,
wondering for a moment where it was going. He caught sight of a flash of
purple and turned to face it.
Shampoo swung her sword with brutal strength, a mighty overhead chop that
would finish the battle in one decisive motion - only to have her sword
deflected by a lightning-quick parry from Ranma.
Ranma watched Shampoo's blade graze his; a strange sense of detachment
came over him as he twirled the sword sideways, the motion sending
Shampoo's sword down past his shoulder, the momentum she had put into
the swing carrying her body forward past Ranma. He let fly a couple
of quick punches into the girl's stomach, followed by a third into her
ribs.
Shampoo gasped, clutching her side as she tumbled past Ranma, falling to
her knees as the wind was knocked out of her. Groaning, she looked over
her shoulder at the boy standing over her.
"You're fast," she said simply.
Ranma merely grunted in response, taking a step backwards and lowering
his sword.
Getting to her feet, Shampoo again gripped her sword with both hands and
charged toward Ranma, letting out a wild cry as she swung again.
Again Ranma parried the swing, swapping the sword to his left hand to
hold off an attack that would have beheaded him. Shampoo's body was left
exposed and he took full advantage, launching a volley of punches that
began in the stomach and ran up the chest, ending the attack with a violent
uppercut to Shampoo's chin.
The sheer force of the blows sent Shampoo flying backwards, her sword
tumbling from her hand as she fell. She landed hard, her sword impaling
the ground near the trees.
Blood streamed from her nose as she shook her head, trying to throw off
the haze of dizziness that had overcome her. She groaned as she sat up,
trying not to vomit as a wave of nausea hit her.
Damn him, she thought. He's too fast. I don't know if--
A humming filled Shampoo's left ear and she turned to see Ranma holding
his sword's edge near her neck. She swallowed, the waves of heat radiating
from the blade making her sweat.
Defeated, she thought, her heart sinking. She was left only two options.
"Kill me quickly," she said quietly, closing her eyes. "I've failed."
Ranma looked down at the girl before him; trembling, bleeding, defeated.
He hated her intensely; a fire burned in his soul, driving him to seek
justice and vengeance for his father's death. An angry voice screamed in
his ear, telling him to drive the sword through this girl and be done
with it.
Do it.
Raising the sword, Ranma gripped it with both hands and stared down at
Shampoo's face, a bloodied, tear-streaked face that offered no resistance,
nothing but resignation to fate.
DO IT.
Anger; furious, devastating, world-shaking anger. Ranma's eyes burned
red with rage as he slowly, shakily drew the sword back, poised to strike.
DO IT!
Shampoo felt the heat and humming recede and squeezed her eyes tightly
closed, waiting for the inevitable. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she
awaited the inevitable, thoughts of her family and her shameful defeat
running like phantoms through her mind. Closing her hands into fists,
she quietly waited for death.
And waited.
The silence in her ears was deafening, the wind and the distant pounding of
the waves the only sounds she could make out. Taking a deep breath, she
opened one eye a tiny fraction.
Ranma stood a few paces away, facing the cliff, staring intently at the
sword. Shampoo opened both eyes and stared at the boy, who seemed to be
completely ignoring her. Taking advantage of the situation, she leapt to
her feet.
"I can feel it," Ranma muttered, staring deep into the pure white blade.
He stepped toward the cliff, holding the sword up toward the sky to watch
it catch and reflect the sunlight. "I can see into you ...."
"Give me the sword."
Ranma turned to face the voice, lowering the sword slightly. Shampoo stood
near the forest edge, holding her bow. An arrow pointed directly at Ranma,
and he could see her fingers straining to hold back the bowstring.
He looked away from her and back at the blade. His reflection stared back
at him, surrounded by a white hot inferno, the blazing heat between him and
his reflection threatening to burn his face, such was its intensity.
"I'm starting to figure this out," Ranma said, glancing in Shampoo's
direction for just a moment. "This sword ...."
"Give me the sword," Shampoo repeated, more firmly. "I won't ask again."
"I can't do that," Ranma replied, a dark frown creasing his features. He
lowered the sword, and stared intently at Shampoo. "I have a promise to
keep."
Shampoo gasped, staggering back a step as wave of heat struck her, the fiery
intensity of Ranma's gaze taking her by surprise. Gritting her teeth, she
steeled herself, planted her back foot firmly in the ground, and took aim.
This had to end.
"Damn you for making me kill again, outsider," she snarled, and loosed her
arrow. It sped through the air, straight and true, and plunged into
Ranma's shoulder with a sickening thud.
Ranma cried out in pain, instinctively reaching up to grip his shoulder.
Blood ran between his fingers as he tugged furiously at the arrow's shaft.
Pain burst through his body as he gave a hard tug to dislodge the arrow,
causing his sword arm to jerk involuntarily.
Ranma's eyes widened as his sword slipped from his fumbling grasp and
tumbled backwards. He grasped desperately for it with fingers clumsy with
lack of blood; the sword slipped through them and dropped below the cliff's
edge.
"No!" Ranma cried out in desperation, watching the sword spin as it
fell toward the rolling ocean far below. Numb shock flooded his mind and
heart, the stinging pain in his shoulder all but forgotten as he watched
his family legacy disappear into the sea.
"Damn you!" he bellowed, whirling to face Shampoo once more. Rage filled
every fibre of his being, rage borne of his father's needless death and
his own inability to keep his promise. "I'll kill you!"
Shampoo did not respond; she had already released the bowstring to send
another arrow hurtling toward Ranma - this time, aimed at his heart.
He had no chance to dodge or think; he barely had time to breathe before
the impact. The crude arrow cracked his ribcage, cruelly piercing his
chest. Air rushed from his lungs in a silent scream, his mouth hanging
open in disbelief as the force of the arrow pushed him backwards toward
the cliff.
Arms flailing, eyes wide in stunned agony, Ranma plunged over the edge.
* * *
Ranma hurtled toward the sea, arms groping desperately for something,
anything to slow his descent. There was nothing to grasp but air; Ranma
gasped for breath as the howling wind pushed up against him. A wave of
windy fists assaulted him with brutal force, bruising his body with their
intensity.
The fall seemed to last forever, Ranma's body shaking with cold as the
windstream robbed him of warmth. The pain in his chest throbbed
excruciatingly, his lifeblood slipping from his body as he plunged
endlessly downwards. He toppled end over end, utterly out of control.
The spinning of his body slowed, and Ranma managed to catch a glimpse
of the ocean below him. The waves broke violently on a rocky outcropping
directly below him, and -- a glimpse of white light winked at him from
within the ocean spray. Ranma blinked painfully, eyes dry from the harsh
wind, and tried to focus on that spot of white.
The white glimmer grew larger, and Ranma was able to make out the
blade of his sword protruding straight up from the rocky surface below.
Ranma felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realised the sword had
become stuck in the rocks and had not been swept away by the tide.
That relief was quickly displaced by a sinking dread as Ranma realised
that the sword was pointing straight upwards, and he was heading straight
for it.
Ranma's mouth flew open in a piercing scream as he descended toward his
doom.
* * *
Shampoo's bow clattered to the ground, abandoned, as she heard the scream.
She dashed toward the cliff edge, the brutal thud of Ranma's landing
reaching her ears just as she reached it.
Horrified, she stared down at the flames below.
* * *
Ranma screamed, writhing in agony as his half-crushed body burned on the
jagged rocks. His sword gleamed red with his blood, protruding from his
back as his body began to burn from the inside out.
He choked on his blood, coughing up mouthfuls of vomit as he clutched his
tortured throat with a flaming hand. He felt his skin burning and rolled
back and forth across the rocks, frantically trying to put out the fire;
all he managed to do was shove the sword deeper into his stomach.
The arrow lodged in his chest burned and crumbled to ash, unnoticed by
Ranma as he tried desperately to put out the flames, to pull out the sword,
to die; to somehow stop the pain.
An enormous wave reared up and crashed over Ranma; the fire was
extinguished with a hiss of steam as the icy water slammed into his body.
She could put up no resistance as the wave powerfully shoved her up against
the cliff face, nor could she stop herself from being dragged across the
rocks and into the ocean as the wave retreated back into its creator.
Ranma embraced the icy depths as she sank below the surface, and did not
fight the darkness as it swallowed her whole. Her final breath bubbled
up to the surface, lost amongst the raging tide.
Frozen, silent bliss enveloped her consciousness - silent but for a soft
awareness that echoed in her mind.
"Welcome, my friend. I'm so pleased to see you again ...."
= = = =
T E N
= = = =
T E N
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
By R. E.
(ranma_e@hotmail.com)
Illustrations by Irka
(irka@ciudad.com.ar)
= = = =
CHAPTER TWO
"The Dragon's Tooth"
= = = = = = = =
Akane trailed several paces behind Ranma as they made their way down the
street. The weight of the backpack slung over her shoulder only made it
harder to push onwards.
She glanced over her shoulder as they walked, the familiar shape of her
house growing ever smaller against the horizon with every step she took. A
firm knot formed in Akane's stomach and seemed to grow as she walked
further and further into the unknown.
She looked ahead again at her companion, a swath of red hair the only part
that stood out from the sea of black fabric that blended perfectly into the
night. Why was she following this stranger into the darkness? Why was
she leaving the only life she had ever known with a person she had met only
the day before?
Sighing, Akane tried to ignore the roots of doubt and uncertainty that were
taking hold of a mind that was only an hour earlier firmly awash with the
fertile seeds of revenge, justice and glory.
"Ranma?" she called out, trying to turn her mind away from such matters.
"Hm?" Ranma replied, slowing and turning her head to glance at Akane.
"What is it?"
"I wanted to talk," Akane said, taking a quick couple of steps to catch up
with Ranma.
"About what?" Ranma asked, turning toward the Tendo girl as she came up
alongside her.
"Well," Akane started, then paused. She had so many questions, it was hard
to focus on a single topic. After a moment's thought, she decided upon the
most pressing one. "I want to know more about you."
"Me?" queried Ranma, raising an eyebrow. "What about me?"
"Everything about you!" Akane replied with barely-contained curiosity.
"You're not like anyone I've ever met. You seem to know a lot about me,
but I hardly know anything about you."
"Hmm," Ranma said with a shrug, turning her head to once more look
forwards. "What would you like to know?"
"Where do you come from?" Akane began, opening the floodgate of questions.
"What's the story with that cloak of yours? How old are you? How did--"
"Slow down, slow down," Ranma interrupted, holding up a hand to silence her
companion. "I come from a place quite near to here. It's not there
anymore -- it was torn down some years ago."
"That's terrible," Akane commented. "Why?"
"Times change."
"So where do you live?" Akane probed.
"Wherever my feet carry me, I suppose," Ranma replied, gazing ahead into
the darkness.
Akane pondered this for a moment, the pair walking on in silence.
"Do you go to school?" Akane asked at length.
Ranma stumbled, caught completely off guard by the question. She looked
over at Akane as if the Tendo girl had sprouted a second head.
"What?" Akane inquired defensively.
"I've never been asked that before," Ranma said, a smile coming to her
face. "It's a strange question."
"Sorry," Akane huffed, feeling rather put out. "I didn't know it was a
strange question."
"In that case, no," Ranma replied, still smiling. "I don't go to
school. I'm a little old for that."
Akane narrowed her eyes and peered critically at Ranma.
"How old are you, anyway?"
"Old enough to not need to go to school," Ranma replied, a twinkle in
her eye. "Let's put it that way."
Akane looked away from Ranma, turning her eyes back to the street.
Silence descended upon the pair, punctuated only by Akane's footsteps.
"Lucky," Akane commented, after a time.
"How so?" Ranma asked, looking over to Akane again.
"I wish I didn't have to go to school," Akane explained.
"I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it."
"You're only saying that because you don't have to go."
Ranma chuckled softly. "Probably. Well, soon enough you'll be far too
busy to worry about school."
"I guess," Akane agreed, noncommittally. "Why are these hunters after me,
anyway?"
"I'm not sure why," Ranma admitted. "I haven't quite figured that one out
for myself just yet."
"But there must be -some- reason or other ...."
"I'm sure there is," Ranma replied with a nod. "When I find out what it
is, you'll be the first one I tell."
"That doesn't make me feel a lot better," Akane sighed. "I've been
thinking about it a lot. When you find out there's a bunch of people out
to get you, it's hard not to wonder why, y'know?"
"I can imagine," Ranma said. "Don't worry, though. I'm going to teach
you how to look after yourself."
"How?"
"You'll see when we get there."
"Where is 'there'?" Akane asked impatiently. She was beginning to get
annoyed with the continual lack of answers.
"A small mountain near here," Ranma replied. "There is a training ground
there, and I've got a little present for you once we get there."
"A present?" Akane asked, her interest aroused in the extreme.
"You'll see when you get there," Ranma replied with a mischevious smile.
"It's a surprise."
"You're not helping, you know," Akane noted with a sigh.
* * *
The moon hung low in the sky, its night-long trek across the heavens nearly
complete. A thin fog filled the valley with a grey haze. The wet ground
caused Akane to shiver in her sleep as she rolled over onto the grass.
Thin droplets of water dribbled down between the leaves of the trees
overhead with each gust of wind, occasionally tumbling down to the ground
below. It was one such droplet that landed directly on Akane's nose,
waking her from her slumber.
"Mwuh?" she asked blearily, sitting up. She blinked several times, eyes
half-open, and looked around her.
"It's nearly morning," Ranma's voice floated into her ears, making her turn
to face it.
Ranma sat nearby, looking into the small campfire that burned nearby.
Akane blinked again, trying to clear her eyes.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep," she said with a yawn.
"That's all right," Ranma replied. "We've travelled pretty far. I think
we're safe here for now. You can get some more rest if you'd like."
"I think I'm okay," Akane said as she stretched her arms. "What about
you?"
Ranma looked up at Akane for a moment, the flickering orange light of the
fire half-illuminating her face. The look on her face was as intense as
their first meeting, piercing blue eyes seeming to look straight through
Akane.
Eventually, Ranma gave a small smile and looked back down at the fire. "I
don't sleep very much. I'm fine."
Akane suppressed a shudder as she watched Ranma stare into the fire. Her
travelling partner seemed friendly enough, but there were times she was
genuinely frightening. Akane couldn't help but wonder where this journey
would lead her.
Scooting toward the fire a little, Akane held her hands up toward the
flames, trying to warm herself. As always, the air around Ranma was icy
cold, but as Akane looked closely, she could see the redheaded girl was
not bothered in the least by the low temperature.
Ranma looked over at Akane and noticed her shivering. Reaching behind
herself, she took hold of some more wood and placed it upon the fire.
"Thanks," Akane said gratefully, watching the flames dance across the
wood, sending puffs of grey smoke drifting upward, accompanied by
crackling sounds as the wood dried out.
"How did you start a fire?" Akane asked, looking at the pile of wet
firewood.
"I used Garyoutensei," Ranma replied simply, with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Garyoutensei?" Akane asked, surprise in her voice. "Your sword started a
fire?"
"Yes," Ranma said with a nod. "It's an elemental blade, infused with fire.
It'll burn anything it touches."
"A magic sword?" Akane asked incredulously.
Ranma nodded matter-of-factly. Her tone was even, her face stony. "That's
putting it a little simply, but, yes."
"You're kidding, right?"
Ranma shook her head. "No, I'm not."
"A magic sword," Akane repeated. "Uh huh."
"Is it that hard to believe, Akane?" Ranma asked, tilting her head to one
side. As she spoke, she grasped the sword and pulled it from beneath her
cloak in one smooth movement, bringing it out from beneath her left arm.
Holding the handle loosely, she rested the sword lightly across her lap.
Akane studied the blade closely, raising herself up to her hands and knees
to crawl closer for a better look.
The blade of Garyoutensei was a pure white that glistened in the moonlight,
its smooth curve and sharp edge catching the pale moon's glow. Leaning
closer, Akane peered intently at the blade, catching a glimpse of herself
reflected in it.
"I can see -- myself ..." she said, examining her own face. Pale orange
light flickered across her visage, surrounding it from all sides. She was
unsure if the light was from the camp fire or from somewhere else.
Her own eyes stared back at her from the blade with the same intensity she
had seen in Ranma's eyes only moments before, and she found herself unable
to look away, a reflected fire that danced behind her own eyes holding her
transfixed.
"It's warm," Akane mumbled, feeling a gentle, soothing warmth radiating
from the milky white blade. The heat was enticing, rousing a desire
in Akane to dive into it as if it were a warm bath.
"Don't touch it," Ranma said, her hand gripping Akane's wrist.
The physical contact snapped Akane out of her reverie; she looked up at
Ranma confusedly, then down again. Surprise crossed her face as she
saw her hand was centimetres from touching the blade.
"I didn't ...."
"I know," Ranma replied, resheathing the blade beneath her cloak. The
warmth around the pair vanished, the icy grip of the cold night air
around them once again taking Akane into its hold.
"It's in your nature to want to touch it."
"I'm sorry," Akane apologised, shaking her head slightly to clear it.
"Do you believe it now, Akane?" Ranma asked.
"I ..." Akane replied after a moment, eyes trying to follow the sword to
its hiding place within Ranma's cloak. "What an unusual sword."
"Magic is a dangerous thing," Ranma stated. "It would be better for you if
you knew nothing about it, but that won't be possible. I'll have to teach
you."
"Can I hold it?" Akane asked, eyes still intently seeking the blade within
Ranma's cloak. "I want to try it for myself."
"You aren't capable of handling it just yet. Perhaps with some training."
"What, you think I'm too much of a klutz to handle a sword?" Akane asked,
an edge of irritation creeping into her voice. "I'm not an idiot, you
know."
"I didn't say you were, Akane," Ranma replied flatly.
"So why can't I hold it?" Akane said angrily, looking up at Ranma's face.
"You think I'm going to drop it or something?"
"Calm down, Akane."
"Just let me try it, and I will!" Akane growled. "It won't hurt!"
"It already has," Ranma commented, matching stares with Akane.
"What?" Akane asked, suddenly confused.
Ranma narrowed her eyes, peering critically at Akane, but said nothing.
Akane withered under Ranma's glare, the anger draining from her mind as the
blood drained from her face. She shivered, and looked back down into the
fire.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you," Akane offered, scratching the back of her
head in puzzlement. "I didn't mean it."
"It's quite all right, Akane," Ranma replied.
"I don't usually get mad like that," Akane emphasised, to herself as much
as to Ranma.
"Don't worry about it," Ranma replied. "It's not a big deal."
Akane pulled herself away from Ranma and sat back down beside the fire,
pulling her knees in to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs.
Silence descended upon the pair, the crackling of the fire and rustling of
the leaves overhead the only sounds they could hear.
Ranma stared intently into the fire; Akane tried to do so as well, but
found herself continually glancing at Ranma's face, trying to decipher
Ranma's mood from her expression.
Uneasy awkwardness hung over Akane like an itchy blanket and she found
herself shifting and fidgeting to take her mind off it. Nothing seemed
to help, however, and she eventually decided to risk talking once more.
"Your father gave you your sword?" Akane asked, trying to steer the subject
away a little.
"Yes," Ranma replied, not looking away from the fire. "When he died."
"You've lived on your own since then, right?"
"Yeah," Ranma said with a nod. "We travelled a lot when he was alive, so
I didn't really stay in one place long enough to make many friends."
"Why didn't you settle down? This wandering thing seems awfully lonely to
me."
"I have a duty," Ranma said firmly. "I can't 'settle down'. There are
more important things to consider."
"What duty?" Akane asked, dusting off her gi. "Besides dropping by my
house and totally messing with my life."
"I'm not sure exactly," Ranma admitted. "All I know is it involves your
family and the hunters."
"You don't even KNOW?" Akane asked, eyes wide.
"I don't know all of the details, but I know what we must do for now,"
Ranma said with a shrug. "From there, I'm sure it will all become clear
one way or the other. Father wasn't very specific when he passed the duty
on to me."
"What do you mean?"
Ranma looked up at Akane and sighed before looking down into the flames.
Bright orange fire danced behind her eyes as she watched the wood burn.
"It's a long story," Ranma replied.
"You're going to have to start telling me about yourself sooner or later,
you know. Especially since this involves me."
"I guess we have enough time," Ranma said, after a pause. She sighed,
a puff of condensation drifting away from her mouth. "I'll try to
explain as best I can."
* * *
A low howling sound echoed through the valley of Jusenkyo as strong air
currents blustered through the mountain passes. The thin grassblades
that dared to grow on the elevated outcroppings whipped back and forth
violently with the force of the chill wind, which then proceeded down
into the valley below.
At the base of the valley there was a small cluster of springs; in the
springs were rickety-looking bamboo poles. On two of the poles were
two men, carefully balanced atop their respective perches with one foot
each.
"You better be ready, Boy," called Genma, the loose cord at the front of
his belt swaying in the breeze.
"Heh," Ranma replied, a smirk on his face. "Let's get this over with,
Pops. I still owe you a beating for not helping me with those bandits."
"Quiet, Boy," Genma growled. "You disrespect your father. You should
remember to respect your elders, or I'll have to remind you why."
"I could take you down with my eyes closed."
"You are a fool!" bellowed Genma, his deep voice echoing through the
valley. "You will die young if you don't learn humility, Boy!"
"So humble me," Ranma replied. "If ya can."
"You are limited by your overconfidence, Boy," Genma noted, unsheathing
his sword. A hot wind swept into existance around him as he swung his
sword to face Ranma. "I will show you those limits!"
Ranma steadied his stance as Genma launched himself into the air; and
so, the battle was joined.
Waiting until the last moment, Ranma leapt backwards, launching himself
into a somersault that vaulted him clear of his father's lunge. He
sailed lightly through the air as the sound of his father's sword
splintering the bamboo reached his ears. As he landed, his father was
in mid-air, leaving behind a broken pole, the splintered tip burning.
"Don't you think you're going a bit far?" Ranma asked, hands on his hips,
eyes on the smoke rising from his father's blade.
"You are arrogant and cocky!" Genma exclaimed as he landed, levelling his
sword at his son. "You will never achieve mastery of our art as long as
you consider yourself a master!"
"So by that logic, I'm guessin', neither will you," Ranma countered, his
pigtail fluttering behind him in the hot, gusty wind that rocked his bamboo
pole back and forth.
"You are too quick to forget who is the teacher and who is the student,
boy," Genma snorted, his sword held steady. "That is only the first
of your mistakes."
Again Genma launched himself toward Ranma, swinging his sword mightily as
he arced through the air -- and once again, Ranma tossed himself aside
at the last moment, turning what began as a clumsy jump into a graceful
flip as he neared his destination.
"You ain't even close!" Ranma taunted, a smirk on his face. "You're
getting slow, old man!"
Genma growled angrily in response and again launched himself toward his
son.
The battle continued for some time, the pair's duel leaving a trail of
burning bamboo across the field of springs. Both combatants found their
space restricted after a time, and eventually, there were only two poles
left.
Ranma smirked at his father, who was panting, face flushed with anger.
"What'cha gonna do, old man?" he teased, knowing full well that if his
father tried the same tactic, Genma would be left with no pole to land
on as soon as Ranma landed on the last remaining pole.
Genma snarled and launched himself into the air once more.
Ranma readied himself to jump again but was taken by surprise as his
father suddenly launched his sword at the pole Ranma was standing on.
He did not have a chance to move before the sword skewered the pole; the
bamboo snapped as the blade sliced into it, before bursting violently
into flames. Ranma squeezed his eyes closed as a burst of flames engulfed
his body for a moment as the pole shattered below him. A wave of intense
heat struck him like a fist, throwing off his balance.
Ranma wobbled back and forth, coughing on the smoke that drifted up to
fill his nose. Trying valiantly to retain his balance, he looked around
for another place to land, but Genma had already landed back on the
remaining pole. His foot slipped, and Ranma toppled off the pole.
"Respect your master!"
Genma's words filled Ranma's ears in the moment before his body plunged
into the icy water.
* * *
"I blacked out when I hit the water," Ranma explained, staring into the
fire. "He pulled me out of the water; if he hadn't I would have drowned."
"It sounds like he went a little too far," Akane noted. "It was only a
training match; by the sounds of it, he was trying to kill you!"
"Went too far? You don't know the half of it," Ranma commented sourly.
"As it turns out, the spring was cursed, and when I fell into it, I was
cursed too."
"Cursed?"
"Don't ask," Ranma said with a sigh. "Let's just say life has been quite
different for me since that day."
* * *
Ranma trudged after her father, her footfalls heavy and strained, much like
her mood.
"I can't believe you," she complained. "I can't believe you took me to
that stupid place. Didn't ya know it was cursed?!"
"Stop whining," Genma muttered. "I've apologised already, and besides, I
wouldn't have knocked you in if you weren't being so insolent."
"You deserve insolence, you idiot!" Ranma yelled, fists shaking in fury.
"Look at what you did to me! What the hell'm I supposed to do stuck
like this? Huh?"
"You wanted to be humbled, Boy," Genma replied. "So be humble."
"HUMBLE?!" Ranma exploded. "I'll kill you!"
"You deserved what you got," continued Genma. "You are arrogant and
foolish. It's about time something knocked you down a peg or two."
"I can't believe you ... I just can't believe you ..." Ranma muttered,
numb shock taking the place of her anger. Her life as she knew it was
over.
"Stop your complaining," Genma grumbled, waving his hand dismissively.
"You're acting like a girl. It's embarrassing."
Ranma responded with several obscene whisperings under her breath. They
walked along in silence for a time, Genma scanning the surroundings,
Ranma trying hard to ignore her new breasts as she stared angrily at the
dirt track below her feet.
"There was a village somewhere around here," Genma noted, after a time,
"I saw it a couple of days ago. They live near the springs, maybe they
know about a cure."
"Since when do you care about the bad stuff that happens to me?" Ranma
queried bitterly. Kicking a pebble away, she muttered quietly, "Stupid
old man, puttin' me through all sortsa crap all the time ...."
"I don't want you to be a worthless girl any more than you do, Ranma,"
Genma noted. "It doesn't do me any good to have a female heir."
"Figures," Ranma said in a huff, glaring at her father.
"Now be quiet and keep your eyes open," Genma continued. "I know that
village is around here somewhere."
* * *
"They don't look too friendly," Ranma commented, peering through tall
blades of grass at the village below. Her eyes lingered on the spears,
swords, and other weapons carried by the villagers.
"Yes, well," Genma observed, adjusting his gi, "you are the one who
speaks Chinese, so you should go first."
Ranma looked sternly at her father. "Uh huh."
With a sigh, she looked back at the village. Holding apart two clumps
of grass, she peered down through them at the settlement below. The
buildings were simple huts; the fences, rows of bamboo strapped together.
Small columns of smoke rose lazily from several fires that burned near
the various huts.
Every person in the village seemed to be carrying some sort of weapon,
and Ranma noticed something else unusual about them as well.
"Where are all the men?" she asked herself as she looked left and right
across the village.
"Hurry up," Genma said, shoving Ranma forward. "I'm right behind you."
Grunting as she was pushed, Ranma pulled herself to her feet and began
walking down the slope toward the village. She made it about halfway
before she was spotted by one of the guards, who yelled out to alert
the rest of the village.
"Intruder!" the guard called, lowering her spear to point at Ranma.
Ranma approached slowly, arms spread wide, her father behind her in
the same position. She kept her eyes locked on the guard's, making
no sudden movements, simply continuing slowly forwards.
"Hey," Ranma called out.
"Halt!" called the guard, stepping forward. "Not another step."
Ranma stopped where she was, but was bumped forward as Genma walked
into her from behind. She glared over her shoulder at him.
"Pay attention," she whispered to him, scowling. "Do what I do or you're
gonna get us in trouble."
Two other villagers, equally well armed, ran out through the village
gate and assumed positions alongside the first guard.
"Who are you?" the first guard called. "What do you want?"
"My name's Ranma Saotome," Ranma called in Chinese. She tilted her head,
gesturing behind her. "This is my father. We came to ask about the
springs near your village."
"Jusenkyo springs?" the second guard asked. "You should stay away from
them, outsider. Only a fool would dare go near them."
"What are they saying?" Genma asked.
"They seem to know you pretty well already," Ranma replied with a smirk.
"Ah, my reputation precedes me," Genma said with a smile, puffing out his
chest.
"I'll say," replied Ranma, deadpan.
"Outsiders are not welcome here," the first guard said, interrupting
Ranma.
"We've already been to the springs," Ranma said. "We need help."
The first guard scowled, while the other two exchanged glances. "Fools.
Wait here. Not another step toward the village, or you will die."
"Gotcha," replied Ranma. She watched the first guard turn and walk back
in through the gates, then turned and spoke to Genma in Japanese.
"I was right, they don't look too friendly."
* * *
"I knew this was a bad idea," Ranma grumbled, edging away from the tip
of a spear that was pointed at her. The three guards around them guided
them toward the centre of the village, their spears ensuring that neither
Ranma or her father wandered off course.
"Quiet, Boy," Genma whispered. "If we play smart, we'll be fine."
They approached a small gathering of villagers clustered together around
a fire, excited murmurings passing back and forth between them. Every
pair of eyes in the crowd was locked firmly on Ranma and her father.
"Doesn't look like they get visitors often," Ranma noted, looking over at
a group of frightened-looking children, a scowling woman crouched behind
them, arms around their shoulders. A large sword dangled from the woman's
belt.
Ranma's eyes widened as she noticed that the children also carried small
daggers attached to their belts. "Definitely don't get visitors often."
"Look, Boy," Genma said, nudging Ranma's arm. "That must be the leader."
Ranma's eyes lingered on the children for a moment before shifting to the
direction Genma was pointing. Atop a finely crafted bamboo chair sat a
short, shrivelled old woman, whose hair was long enough to pile in a heap
on the ground behind her.
Ranma peered at this strange woman. The woman's features were extremely
wrinkled, her body hunched over and frail-looking, her face sunken and old.
Her eyes were different, though; they burned bright with a youthful
curiosity that seemed out of place on a face so old.
"Eww," Ranma commented, shuddering a little at the old woman's aged visage.
Compared to the majority of the villagers, who were good-looking in the
extreme, the old woman could only be described as ... a prune.
"I am Cologne," the old woman announced, hopping nimbly down from her
chair. "I lead this Amazon village. Who are you?"
"I'm Ranma, and this is my dad," Ranma replied, surprised at the old
woman's agility. "We just visited--"
"Jusenkyo, I know," Cologne interrupted. She leaned in close to Ranma,
closely inspecting the redheaded girl's face. "Hmm. Your problem doesn't
seem so bad to me."
"How'd you know it was me that had the curse?"
"You walk like a brutish, unrefined man," Cologne replied with a dark
smile. "Any true woman can tell you weren't born female."
"Brutish 'n unrefined!?" Ranma seethed. "Why, you ...."
"Can she cure you?" Genma asked, watching the old woman's inspection of
his son. "What's going on?"
"D'you know how to fix this stupid curse?" Ranma asked irritably. "I
don't have time to be stuck as a stupid girl. I've got trainin' to do."
"Ha!" Cologne laughed, pulling away from Ranma. "Of course I know how
to cure you. I can't imagine why you'd want to give up such a wonderful
gift as womanhood, but if that is your clumsy desire ... hot water will
revert you to your original form."
"Hot water? That's it?"
Cologne nodded.
"All right!" Ranma exclaimed, jumping into the air. "That's easy!"
"Shampoo," Cologne called over her shoulder, "fetch some hot water for
our visitors."
"What did she say?" Genma asked, seeing Ranma's elation. "What's the
cure?"
"Hot water!" Ranma explained happily. "That's all, just hot water!"
"So simple," Genma commented, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I would
have expected something more complicated."
"Whatever, as long as I get to be a guy again, I'm happy," Ranma chimed
enthusiastically.
"Agreed. I was worried you'd be stuck in that useless body forever."
"It would do you well," Cologne interrupted in Japanese, "to keep your
insults to yourself while you're in my village."
"You speak Japanese?" Ranma asked, eyes wide.
"Yes, and I've heard everything your moronic father has said. I suggest
you keep your tongue still from now on, old man."
"Old man? You're one to talk, you--" Genma began, but was interrupted by
an enormous splash as a large container of hot water was emptied over
Ranma.
"Hot!" Ranma yelled in a once-again male voice as the scalding water
poured over his body. He shook his body back and forth, sending water
splashing everywhere. This earned him angry glares from his father,
Cologne, and the purple-haired girl who had poured the water on him.
"All right, I'm a guy again!" Ranma exclaimed excitedly, looking down
at his once-again flat chest.
Genma acknowledged his son's transformation with a tight-lipped nod,
his eyes locked on Cologne. He scowled angrily, lowering one hand to
his sword's handle. Fingers closing around it, his scowl only deepened.
"It isn't wise to insult me," Genma growled.
"You would challenge an entire village of Amazons?" Cologne asked,
laughing. "Men truly are fools!"
Ranma looked back and forth between his father and Cologne, who were
staring daggers at each other. Glancing around, he noticed the rest of
the villagers were readying their weapons.
"Hey, uh, Pops, calm down," Ranma said, putting a hand on his father's
arm. "I insult you all the time, don't start getting annoyed about it
now ...."
"I won't let this old hag insult me," Genma growled, gripping his sword's
scabbard with one hand, the fingers of his other hand tightening their
grip on the handle. He tugged the sword, slowly unsheathing it. Ranma
felt a surge of burning heat as the sword came into view.
"Nobody insults the Saotomes and lives to tell the tale," Genma said, a
smirk crossing his lips. "I hope you're ready to die."
"Uhh ...!" Ranma looked around at the fifty or so armed Amazons
surrounding him, and cried out, "What the hell are you doing, Pops?!"
"Quiet," Genma rumbled, his voice carrying a gravity that seemed to shake
the very earth beneath Ranma's feet.
Ranma reeled at the venom in his father's voice; he stared wide-eyed at
the man before him. Several of the Amazons stepped forward, brandishing
sharp weapons, but all stopped in their tracks as Cologne held up a hand,
her eyes wide.
"You have a dragon's tooth blade?!" she exclaimed. "What is a man doing
wielding that sword?"
"Heh," Genma said with a smirk. "Men are not as weak as your ego would
have you believe."
"You fool," Cologne said, eyes locked on the blade. "You can't begin to
comprehend what that weapon--"
"I understand perfectly," Genma said confidently. "This blade will destroy
you and your entire village."
"You cannot hope to control its power!"
"You'd be surprised what I can do, old hag."
"For the sake of anyone who may have the misfortune of crossing your path,
I cannot let you keep that sword. Give it to me, or I will have you
killed."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ranma called out, holding up his hands. "Things are
getting a little out of hand here--"
Ranma backed away from the Amazons nearest him, realising his words were
having no effect.
"Pops, give them the damn sword!" he called out, realising they stood no
chance. "We're gonna get killed if you don't!"
"This is the Saotome family sword. It belongs to me, and will one day
belong to my son. The only time you'll touch this sword," Genma said to
Cologne, raising his blade, "is when it's slicing you in half."
"Very well," Cologne said with a sigh. She nodded to a group of Amazons
standing nearby. "Kill him."
* * *
Akane stared at Ranma, wide-eyed, as the redheaded girl fell into
silence. The fire had long since died out; smouldering embers were all
that remained of it. The early morning sunlight was beginning to break
through the foliage overhead.
"Why was your father so mad? I don't get it," Akane commented.
"He was proud," Ranma answered. "Proud and stupid. He honestly thought
he could kill them all."
"Wow," Akane said.
"He was acting strange that day," Ranma added. "He wasn't usually that
annoyed by insults. I insulted him all the time and it didn't bother him
a bit."
Akane said nothing for a moment, mulling the story over. "I don't
understand why he was so upset at them. I mean, his daughter seems to
be a pretty capable fighter, why did he think girls were so inferior?"
Ranma mulled this over for a moment. She had told Akane some of the
story, but not all. The nature of her curse was one thing left out of
her retelling - there would be a better time to reveal that.
"I don't know," she said. "I think he was angry because I got cursed."
"What was the curse? You cured it with hot water, right?"
"Hot water was only a temporary cure, it turned out," Ranma said sadly.
"They didn't say that at the time, but cold water brought it right
back."
"But," Akane began, thoughtfully, "you were in the bath earlier, that was
hot water. I didn't notice anything change."
"That's a long story, and it will have to wait for another time."
Akane looked curiously at Ranma; the redheaded girl's expression indicated
she would offer no further explanation.
"Okay," Akane said, backing off on that topic. "So what happened after
the Amazons attacked you?"
"Father fought them. I'd never seen him that angry before; he was like
a madman, slaughtering whoever got in his way. If he hadn't been so angry,
he might have survived ...."
"Ranma," Akane said softly, knowing all too well the pain of losing a
parent. "I'm sorry."
"I'd never seen him like that before," Ranma softly continued, gazing deep
into the fire. "It was horrible; he was like some sort of monster. The
damn sword made him think he was invincible."
"If it's so bad, how come you still carry it around?"
"That," Ranma sighed, drawing her cloak tight around herself, "is my
obligation."
* * *
Ranma watched numbly as his father lunged forward with a mighty swing.
The pure white blade danced in a graceful arc through the air, the sword
somehow turning motions that were blunt and angry at Genma's hand into
smooth, elegant and controlled movements at its tip.
Ranma found himself unable to move, held utterly transfixed by the
beauty of the sword in motion. The air itself seemed to sing as the
blade carved through it, a trail of white-hot light hanging in its wake
for the briefest of moments.
Three Amazon women rushed toward Genma, swords raised high to strike.
Genma's face contorted in a vile snarl, his arms guiding the sword in a
semicircle before him, ripping a gash across the midriffs of the three
Amazons. Their screams filled the air but they did not merely fall -
instead they burst violently into flames and exploded into a cloud of
ash as they were burned by the intense heat the blade brought to bear
upon them.
A gasp ran through the crowd as the ashes hung in the air, drifting slowly
down toward the earth near Genma's feet. The horrific beauty of it
captivated Ranma, leaving him unable to tear his eyes away. A sickening,
repulsive wave of horror tumbled down through his body, the blood draining
from his face as nausea gripped his stomach.
His father had never killed anyone, never struck anyone with the sword
before. A few moments ago, he would have thought it ridiculous to think
that Genma Saotome would ever kill anyone. That had all changed.
Ranma could see it in Genma's eyes, eyes that burned with an intense
desire; a desire to kill. To destroy. A shudder ran down Ranma's back
as he stared at his father and saw a man he did not recognise.
Genma intended to kill them all, and none of the Amazons could stop him.
This wasn't a fight, it was a slaughter. It had to stop.
Taking a deep breath, Ranma clenched his fists and took a step toward his
father.
"STOP!" he bellowed powerfully, his voice echoing through the valley.
Silence fell as Ranma's voice faded into the distance; all eyes turned to
face him. A moment of stillness swept across the valley; even
Garyoutensei's fiery dance was brought to a halt.
Ranma stared hard at Genma; a crimson fire seemed to burn in his father's
eyes, lending the old man an otherworldly appearance. Waves of heat
radiated from his father, the air between them distorted by the radiated
warmth.
Genma met his son's eyes across the distance between them and his own
eyes seemed to soften, his shoulders slumped as if the weight of his
actions was suddenly placed upon them. His eyes moistened as he slowly
lowered his blade, the tip falling to the dirt below him. A silent
moment passed between the two of them, no words needing to be said.
"Son ..." Genma whispered, loosing his grip upon the sword.
It was at that moment that an arrow whistled through the air to pierce
Genma's chest.
Shampoo lowered her bow, hand reaching for another arrow just in case.
Cologne held up a hand, stilling Shampoo's movements.
"Let them surrender," Cologne commanded. "There will be no more deaths
today."
"Pops?!" Ranma cried, dashing forward as his father stumbled.
Genma looked down in shock at the arrow's shaft, protruding from the
rapidly-spreading red stain on his gi. Raising a shaky hand, he closed
his fingers around the arrow, mind numb with disbelief. Tugging it
slightly, his mind was brought sharply into focus by the sudden starburst
of pain that jolted his entire body.
Ranma caught Genma as he fell forward, gingerly propping him up.
"Escape ..." Genma choked, blood and spittle flying from his mouth. "We
must ... escape, Ranma ...."
"Pops?" Ranma cried, hot tears stinging his eyes.
"Now, Boy ..." Genma wheezed, a stream of blood pouring down his chin.
Shakily, he brought his sword to Ranma's hand, placing the handle into
his son's grasp.
Ranma cried out in anguish, watching his father wince in agony. Gritting
his teeth, he flung himself into motion.
Shampoo quickly raised her bow as she saw movement from the pair of
outsiders, and brought forth another arrow.
With a sudden determination and a strength he did not know he possessed,
Ranma hoisted his father over one shoulder and took off at a sprint
toward the village gates, shoving aside six Amazon women who stood in
his way. He was past the gate by the time they hit the ground.
"Such speed ..." Shampoo uttered, awestruck, as she watched the pair
disappear in a blur. She lowered her bow, slinging her arrow back into
its quiver.
"Carrying the old man, too," Cologne added, nodding thoughtfully. "That
child cannot be allowed to keep that sword. Three Amazons have died
needlessly - there will be many more deaths if that weapon is not
destroyed."
"I will return it," Shampoo vowed solemnly. "I will avenge them."
"They will not be easy prey," Cologne cautioned. "The old man may well
be injured, but that means nothing."
"I am an Amazon," Shampoo said, pride swelling in her voice. "They will
be no match for me."
"Very well, child," Cologne agreed. "Find them, and bring back that
weapon. The time is right for you, great-granddaughter. Succeed, prove
yourself as a warrior."
"I won't fail," Shampoo swore, closing her hands into fists. Slinging her
bow over her shoulder, she sprinted off after the sword.
* * *
Ranma ran wildly through the trees, foliage snapping across his face as he
weaved desperately through the forest. Panting hard, forcing air into
protesting lungs, he surged forward, jumping across a small ditch.
His eyes stung with tears, his face bled from twigs scraping across it,
his shoulders ached from the limp weight of his father upon them.
His hand burned, too; heat from the handle of his father's sword seared
his skin. Ignoring the pain, he gripped the sword more tightly.
Where the hell am I going?
Hearing a pained grunt over his shoulder, he loosened slightly his grip
upon his father.
"I'll get you out of here," he panted, looking left and right for routes
to take.
"Put me down," Genma groaned, breathing heavily.
"What?" Ranma asked, bewildered, as he charged through a bush. "We
can't stop, they're right behind us!"
"Put me ... down," Genma repeated, wincing with his words. "Now, Boy."
Ranma reluctantly slowed his run to a stop. Gingerly, he lifted his
father from his shoulder and set him down by the base of a tree.
"You must escape," Genma wheezed. "I'm ... slowing you ... down."
"No way, Pops!" Ranma insisted. "I'm going to get some help, and--"
"No," Genma interrupted, shaking his head. He looked down at the
deep crimson stain on his gi. "There's nothing ... around here but that
village and the mountains."
"But--"
"Listen ... Boy," Genma grunted, reaching up to squeeze Ranma's arm. "Take
the sword ... and go. It is the Saotome ... family legacy. The Saotome
name must live on. Don't ... let it die here today because of my foolish
act."
"I'm not going to leave you!" Ranma insisted.
"If you only ever obey me once ... obey me now. Please, Boy," Genma
pleaded, tears welling in his eyes, eyes dull with agony. "Take the sword
... go back to Japan ... don't ever lose Garyoutensei ...."
"I can't--"
"Promise!" Genma persisted, his pasty-white hand shaking as released
Ranma's arm. He took hold of his sword's scabbard and handed it to Ranma.
"You must do this ... it's important."
Ranma stared hard at his father, tears burning his cheeks, and placed his
hand over Genma's. Squeezing it firmly, he nodded, then took the scabbard.
"All right, father," he said solemnly, sliding the sword home into its
scabbard. "I promise."
"Go back to our home," Genma continued. "Continue the Saotome legacy.
Find ... Kayoko."
"Kayoko?" Ranma asked, puzzled. "Why?"
"You'll find out," Genma replied through a cough, then smiled thinly.
"Make me ... proud, Ranma."
"I'll ... try," Ranma said, squeezing his father's hand. "I'm sorry ...."
"Don't be," Genma said with a blood-tinged smile. "You will be
strong. You will--"
A rustling noise came from the bushes behind Ranma. He whirled to look
behind himself, scanning back and forth across the foliage.
"Go, Boy," Genma groaned. "I'll ... delay them. Go, and survive."
"I'm going to find a way to help you," Ranma said, determinedly, and
sprinted off through the bushes. "I'll come back when I do."
Genma watched his son leave, sadly shaking his head. The rustling sounds
of his son's progress faded slowly into silence, and Genma let out a
long, pained sigh.
"No ... you won't," he said softly. "It's your turn now. I'm sorry,
Ranma."
* * *
Ranma barrelled through the forest, ducking and weaving under branches and
between tree trunks, panting heavily as he weaved through the obstacles.
Glancing all around him as he went, he searched for a village, a
settlement, anything or anyone that might help his father.
There was nothing to be found, however; the pounding of his heart, the
rustling of the trees, the rush of his breath and the scrape of his sword
upon the ground were his only companions in the forest.
Frantically looking back and forth, Ranma tried to make out something,
anything which offered hope. A tree here, a ditch there ...
A clearing!
Off to his right, Ranma saw it; the boundary of the forest. Sliding to
a halt, he threw himself toward the clearing, panting heavily as he
rushed toward it. Shoving aside a branch that blocked his way, he emerged
from the trees and into the grassy clearing.
His rush slowed to a jog, then a stop, as he saw what lay ahead.
A cliff?
Where do I go from here, he wondered, looking back and forth. He spun on
his heels and looked back at the forest behind him - thick, imposing,
seemingly impenetrable. It stretched around him in a semicircle, reaching
all the way around to the cliff edge on either side of the small clear
area.
Turning back toward the cliff, he leaned out over it and peered downwards.
Craggy, broken rocks protruded from the cliff edge, weathered by years of
rainfall and storms. No sharp edges, but nothing to grip on to either.
Far, far below, enormous waves beat mercilessly on the rocky outcroppings
at the base of the cliff, churning sea water sending white spray flying
into the air with every impact. The dull thud of each wave breaking
travelled up the cliff to Ranma's ears, out of synch with the sight below
him.
Ranma, it seemed, was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Damn it ..." he seethed, hesitation and indecision taking hold of his
mind.
"There is no escape," came a voice from the forest edge. Ranma turned
toward its source.
"You!" he yelled, taking up a defensive posture. She had made it past
Genma, which meant only one thing.
"You ... you killed my father!"
"He killed my sisters!" Shampoo countered with a snarl. "He paid the
price for his actions!"
Ranma stared hard at the purple-haired Amazon girl. Seething with rage,
he lowered his hand to the handle of his sword.
"Don't do that," Shampoo warned. "You saw what that blade did to your
father. You can't control it any better than he did."
"Don't patronise me!" Ranma raged, gripping the sword. Anger coursed
through his veins, fury burning at his soul. "Just shut up and fight!"
"I don't want to kill you," Shampoo stated, drawing her own sword. She
pulled her bow off her shoulder and placed it on the ground. "I'm here
for the sword. Don't make me kill you to get it."
"Don't worry," Ranma countered, slowly drawing the pure white blade
from its scabbard. "You won't."
Ranma raised the sword to point at Shampoo, marvelling at how light and
small its presence was. It felt to Ranma as if he were pointing at the
Amazon with his own finger. He sliced experimentally through the air in
front of him, watching the sword trail a perfect arc. His father had not
taught him swordfighting, but it felt utterly natural to him.
Shampoo stared at the sword, transfixed, as Ranma slowly waved it back
and forth. Its white edges, somehow infused with a depth that reflected
light at her with an alluring glimmer, seemed to call out to her with the
voice of a true warrior woman.
"So beautiful ..." she murmured, watching the sword closely. Before she
knew it, she was rushing forward to attack its wielder.
Ranma felt the sword rising and put up no resistance, letting it drift
upwards. He watched as it slowly lifted itself high above his head,
wondering for a moment where it was going. He caught sight of a flash of
purple and turned to face it.
Shampoo swung her sword with brutal strength, a mighty overhead chop that
would finish the battle in one decisive motion - only to have her sword
deflected by a lightning-quick parry from Ranma.
Ranma watched Shampoo's blade graze his; a strange sense of detachment
came over him as he twirled the sword sideways, the motion sending
Shampoo's sword down past his shoulder, the momentum she had put into
the swing carrying her body forward past Ranma. He let fly a couple
of quick punches into the girl's stomach, followed by a third into her
ribs.
Shampoo gasped, clutching her side as she tumbled past Ranma, falling to
her knees as the wind was knocked out of her. Groaning, she looked over
her shoulder at the boy standing over her.
"You're fast," she said simply.
Ranma merely grunted in response, taking a step backwards and lowering
his sword.
Getting to her feet, Shampoo again gripped her sword with both hands and
charged toward Ranma, letting out a wild cry as she swung again.
Again Ranma parried the swing, swapping the sword to his left hand to
hold off an attack that would have beheaded him. Shampoo's body was left
exposed and he took full advantage, launching a volley of punches that
began in the stomach and ran up the chest, ending the attack with a violent
uppercut to Shampoo's chin.
The sheer force of the blows sent Shampoo flying backwards, her sword
tumbling from her hand as she fell. She landed hard, her sword impaling
the ground near the trees.
Blood streamed from her nose as she shook her head, trying to throw off
the haze of dizziness that had overcome her. She groaned as she sat up,
trying not to vomit as a wave of nausea hit her.
Damn him, she thought. He's too fast. I don't know if--
A humming filled Shampoo's left ear and she turned to see Ranma holding
his sword's edge near her neck. She swallowed, the waves of heat radiating
from the blade making her sweat.
Defeated, she thought, her heart sinking. She was left only two options.
"Kill me quickly," she said quietly, closing her eyes. "I've failed."
Ranma looked down at the girl before him; trembling, bleeding, defeated.
He hated her intensely; a fire burned in his soul, driving him to seek
justice and vengeance for his father's death. An angry voice screamed in
his ear, telling him to drive the sword through this girl and be done
with it.
Do it.
Raising the sword, Ranma gripped it with both hands and stared down at
Shampoo's face, a bloodied, tear-streaked face that offered no resistance,
nothing but resignation to fate.
DO IT.
Anger; furious, devastating, world-shaking anger. Ranma's eyes burned
red with rage as he slowly, shakily drew the sword back, poised to strike.
DO IT!
Shampoo felt the heat and humming recede and squeezed her eyes tightly
closed, waiting for the inevitable. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she
awaited the inevitable, thoughts of her family and her shameful defeat
running like phantoms through her mind. Closing her hands into fists,
she quietly waited for death.
And waited.
The silence in her ears was deafening, the wind and the distant pounding of
the waves the only sounds she could make out. Taking a deep breath, she
opened one eye a tiny fraction.
Ranma stood a few paces away, facing the cliff, staring intently at the
sword. Shampoo opened both eyes and stared at the boy, who seemed to be
completely ignoring her. Taking advantage of the situation, she leapt to
her feet.
"I can feel it," Ranma muttered, staring deep into the pure white blade.
He stepped toward the cliff, holding the sword up toward the sky to watch
it catch and reflect the sunlight. "I can see into you ...."
"Give me the sword."
Ranma turned to face the voice, lowering the sword slightly. Shampoo stood
near the forest edge, holding her bow. An arrow pointed directly at Ranma,
and he could see her fingers straining to hold back the bowstring.
He looked away from her and back at the blade. His reflection stared back
at him, surrounded by a white hot inferno, the blazing heat between him and
his reflection threatening to burn his face, such was its intensity.
"I'm starting to figure this out," Ranma said, glancing in Shampoo's
direction for just a moment. "This sword ...."
"Give me the sword," Shampoo repeated, more firmly. "I won't ask again."
"I can't do that," Ranma replied, a dark frown creasing his features. He
lowered the sword, and stared intently at Shampoo. "I have a promise to
keep."
Shampoo gasped, staggering back a step as wave of heat struck her, the fiery
intensity of Ranma's gaze taking her by surprise. Gritting her teeth, she
steeled herself, planted her back foot firmly in the ground, and took aim.
This had to end.
"Damn you for making me kill again, outsider," she snarled, and loosed her
arrow. It sped through the air, straight and true, and plunged into
Ranma's shoulder with a sickening thud.
Ranma cried out in pain, instinctively reaching up to grip his shoulder.
Blood ran between his fingers as he tugged furiously at the arrow's shaft.
Pain burst through his body as he gave a hard tug to dislodge the arrow,
causing his sword arm to jerk involuntarily.
Ranma's eyes widened as his sword slipped from his fumbling grasp and
tumbled backwards. He grasped desperately for it with fingers clumsy with
lack of blood; the sword slipped through them and dropped below the cliff's
edge.
"No!" Ranma cried out in desperation, watching the sword spin as it
fell toward the rolling ocean far below. Numb shock flooded his mind and
heart, the stinging pain in his shoulder all but forgotten as he watched
his family legacy disappear into the sea.
"Damn you!" he bellowed, whirling to face Shampoo once more. Rage filled
every fibre of his being, rage borne of his father's needless death and
his own inability to keep his promise. "I'll kill you!"
Shampoo did not respond; she had already released the bowstring to send
another arrow hurtling toward Ranma - this time, aimed at his heart.
He had no chance to dodge or think; he barely had time to breathe before
the impact. The crude arrow cracked his ribcage, cruelly piercing his
chest. Air rushed from his lungs in a silent scream, his mouth hanging
open in disbelief as the force of the arrow pushed him backwards toward
the cliff.
Arms flailing, eyes wide in stunned agony, Ranma plunged over the edge.
* * *
Ranma hurtled toward the sea, arms groping desperately for something,
anything to slow his descent. There was nothing to grasp but air; Ranma
gasped for breath as the howling wind pushed up against him. A wave of
windy fists assaulted him with brutal force, bruising his body with their
intensity.
The fall seemed to last forever, Ranma's body shaking with cold as the
windstream robbed him of warmth. The pain in his chest throbbed
excruciatingly, his lifeblood slipping from his body as he plunged
endlessly downwards. He toppled end over end, utterly out of control.
The spinning of his body slowed, and Ranma managed to catch a glimpse
of the ocean below him. The waves broke violently on a rocky outcropping
directly below him, and -- a glimpse of white light winked at him from
within the ocean spray. Ranma blinked painfully, eyes dry from the harsh
wind, and tried to focus on that spot of white.
The white glimmer grew larger, and Ranma was able to make out the
blade of his sword protruding straight up from the rocky surface below.
Ranma felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realised the sword had
become stuck in the rocks and had not been swept away by the tide.
That relief was quickly displaced by a sinking dread as Ranma realised
that the sword was pointing straight upwards, and he was heading straight
for it.
Ranma's mouth flew open in a piercing scream as he descended toward his
doom.
* * *
Shampoo's bow clattered to the ground, abandoned, as she heard the scream.
She dashed toward the cliff edge, the brutal thud of Ranma's landing
reaching her ears just as she reached it.
Horrified, she stared down at the flames below.
* * *
Ranma screamed, writhing in agony as his half-crushed body burned on the
jagged rocks. His sword gleamed red with his blood, protruding from his
back as his body began to burn from the inside out.
He choked on his blood, coughing up mouthfuls of vomit as he clutched his
tortured throat with a flaming hand. He felt his skin burning and rolled
back and forth across the rocks, frantically trying to put out the fire;
all he managed to do was shove the sword deeper into his stomach.
The arrow lodged in his chest burned and crumbled to ash, unnoticed by
Ranma as he tried desperately to put out the flames, to pull out the sword,
to die; to somehow stop the pain.
An enormous wave reared up and crashed over Ranma; the fire was
extinguished with a hiss of steam as the icy water slammed into his body.
She could put up no resistance as the wave powerfully shoved her up against
the cliff face, nor could she stop herself from being dragged across the
rocks and into the ocean as the wave retreated back into its creator.
Ranma embraced the icy depths as she sank below the surface, and did not
fight the darkness as it swallowed her whole. Her final breath bubbled
up to the surface, lost amongst the raging tide.
Frozen, silent bliss enveloped her consciousness - silent but for a soft
awareness that echoed in her mind.
"Welcome, my friend. I'm so pleased to see you again ...."
= = = =
T E N
= = = =