A Ranma ½ King of Fighters crossover fanfiction
Disclaimer : I don't own Ranma ½ and King of Fighters characters. Especially some macho chick! That's built like a stick! Dumb as a brick! Thighs are too thick! Can't even kick! *WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!* Ugh… shutting up now… oi…
Flames of Destiny
by Insane Blight
Chapter 7: Secrets Revealed II: Origins
Tendo Home
Kasumi ushered quite a number of unexpected guests towards the Tendo living room. The Kuno siblings along with their ninja Sasuke, Happosai, Konatsu and even Kurenai Tsubasa with his usual mailbox disguise.
Konatsu was, shall we say dumped onto the curve when Ukyou was reunited with her family but he is still trying to help Ukyou overcome her sadness and he thinks that this information might just do the trick. They were soon joined by Soun and Genma, who were obviously drunk, and the Tendo sisters.
Kasumi was the first one to speak. "Nabiki-chan, what is the occasion?"
"Kasumi is right Nabiki, why did you call these people… get off of me you pervert!!!" Akane bellowed as she malleted Kuno to the ground.
Nabiki gave Akane a very stern look. "Akane, how long did you know that Ranma's still alive?" she asked bluntly.
Akane was struggling for words to say, she was stunned by her sister's question. 'I should have known… Nabiki… don't tell me… you're not planning to…?! He's not the Ranma that you know anymore.'
Nabiki took Akane's silence as her answer. "So you did know that Ranma's still alive! And he's coming back to Auntie Saotome's house."
This of course brought several reactions from her guests…
"Oh my…"
"Ranma-san is alive?!"
"What foul sorcery is this?! I will not allow that vile cur to enslave my fierce tigress Akane Tendo and my pigtailed goddess once more!"
*WHAM!* "Pervert!!!"
"Ohohohohoho!!!! Ranma-sama came back for me!"
Genma cried crocodile tears. "My worthless son, running away from his duties!"
The Tendo waterworks began as well. "Now the schools will finally be joined! Oh happy day!"
"Indeed Tendo, we need to prepare for Akane and Ranma's wedding!" Genma said, nodding to his friend.
Nabiki smirked. 'Predictable as always…'
"Nabiki, don't do this please… he's not the Ranma that you know and I… I was trying to forget…" Akane didn't finish what she started; she ran up to her room and slammed the door shut.
"Ahhhh… love is in the air, isn't it Saotome?"
Genma wholeheartedly agreed with his long time training partner. "Indeed Tendo, with the master here to help the schools will surely be joined! Isn't that right master?"
"Who cares about such things? I'm just happy that Ranma-chan is back!" Happosai shouted as he jumped onto the roof of the Tendo home. "Ranma-chan! Come to me, Ranma-chan!" the perverted master sprinted forward, eager to grope the Jusenkyo cursed boy.
"Oh my, does Grandfather Happosai know the location of Auntie's house?"
Nabiki shook her head. "Nope. I wouldn't worry about him; he'll be back sooner or later."
Saotome Home
Nodoka sighed; she just received a call from her friend saying that her son is going back here. Her hands were a little shaky, probably due to stress. She took her katana from the mantle and slowly made her way outside the house.
Ranma walked into the busy streets of Tokyo, not really minding the shocked looks on some of the people, his cover was already blown anyway. He finally arrived at his mother's home, he was about to knock but the door suddenly opened to reveal his mother Nodoka, who looked like hell… probably because of what he was about to ask her.
"I knew you were coming back, let's go inside."
"I haven't seen you in quite a while but I see that you're doing fine on your own." The auburn-haired woman nervously said as she sat down and timidly faced her son.
Ranma shrugged. "Can't say the same to you mom." He said, eyeing his mother's appearance once more. 'This is getting nowhere, when is she gonna get to the point?!'
Nodoka nervously laughed for a moment before she sobered up. "You're right, I've been in deep thought these past couple of weeks and I hardly got any sleep in the process. Would you like something to drink? I got…"
"Cut the damn formalities and let's get down to business!" the ponytailed boy said harshly, startling the Saotome Matriarch even more. "I'm tired mom, I've been put to hell these past few months and I don't know how much longer I can take!"
"S-son…?"
"Why is this happening to me?! I never wanted any of this! I just wanted a normal life!!! Was that too much to ask for?! Kami-sama, WHY?!" he shouted, punching right through a wall as he did so.
The Saotome Matriarch took a deep breath. "Alright, I'll tell you all about the Orochi clan and the true story regarding Orochi itself."
"Around 2000 years ago, Orochi was not known as the demon that destroyed countless villages back then, it was only known as the guardian of the earth or the embodiment of ki itself, and most of the people consider Orochi as a god. Also back in those days, when civilizations were just beginning to flourish in Japan… various clans and religions were formed. One of these religious groups is called the Orochi cult.
The Orochi cult just appeared out of nowhere, they were known for their abilities to create 'miracles' by using the excess ki flowing throughout the world. The people they helped were very grateful to them and the cult was content to see their happy faces. Soon, the cult became a clan and their popularity soared all over the country. They were content with their lives and in helping others.
However, one fateful event changed all that…
Half of the clan was out on a mission while the rest stayed at home. When they came back, they found their village burned to the ground and their clan members viciously slaughtered. The women, the children… everyone… dead. They were in shock at the events but they managed to capture one of the culprits just a few miles from their village. He confessed that it was planned by various religious sects and clans who were jealous of the Orochi clan's success.
To say they were angry was an understatement; they swore vengeance to every clan there was in existence. The Orochi clan soon began to think of themselves as Orochi's children, they did not refer to themselves as 'humans' anymore. The clan believed that they saw the true nature of humans that day… they were nothing but a plague in their eyes ever since."
***
Ranma was at a loss for words, he had never thought that it would be something like this. Nodoka noticed her son's shocked look but decided to continue anyway, he asked for this in the first place.
***
"Fueled by rage, the Orochi clan soon made plans to summon their god to wipe out humanity on the face of the earth. It took a couple of years before they finally came up with a way to summon Orochi. They selected eight clan members, who were well-versed in internal energies, to gather the great amount of power that was required for the ritual. The rest of the clan would channel the energy gathered by the eight warriors and transfer it to Orochi.
The plan was executed but they did not expect the outcome of the ritual. It was indeed a success but all the clan members died in the process. However, the eight warriors were brought back to life by Orochi. They got what they wanted, they were 'reborn' as Orochi's children… and are called the Orochi Hakketsu Shuu. Each of these eight warriors has a specific amount of control over a certain element."
***
"Orochi Hakketsu Shuu… like Mature…" Ranma whispered to himself.
***
"And 1800 years ago, history happened. Orochi began its rampage along with the Hakkeshu, they slaughtered people left and right, burned villages and tribes to the ground and viciously murdered the clan head of each one. However, the Orochi was still weak after being released so it ordered the Hakketsu Shuu to abduct eight maidens with strong dormant ki to be sacrificed for the ritual.
Time passed by and the eight maidens have been captured, they were presented to Orochi to be slaughtered. They were killed one at a time and then it came down to the last maiden. Orochi swiftly ended her life and the Hakketsu Shuu was prepared to leave Orochi to rest when they saw people coming their way…"
***
"The Kusanagi, Yasakani and Yata clans correct?" Ranma asked, a bit calmer now.
Nodoka nodded and continued with the story…
***
"Those three clans were also religious groups that flourished in those times. Kusanagi and Yasakani clans have these special techniques in which they can summon crimson flames from their hands while the Yata clan specializes on illusion techniques."
***
Ranma flinched when his mother mentioned illusion techniques but managed to keep his cool.
***
"The clans were represented by their most skilled members, who brought along their clan's special artifacts. The artifacts were the Kusanagi sword, the Yasakani beads and the Yata mirror. A bloody battle ensued between the clans and in the end, the three sacred clans managed to force the Orochi Hakketsu Shuu to withdraw. They did so because they thought Orochi was at its full strength already… how wrong they were…"
***
Ranma raised an eyebrow at that; he then gave the nod to his mother to continue.
***
"Soon after they left, Orochi entered the fray and fought the three clans. The battle was long and hard but Orochi was far from invincible. The last maiden sacrifice was, in fact, alive and well thanks to the Yata illusion technique. The battle ended with Yasakani negating its powers, Kusanagi dealing the final blow and Yata sealing Orochi's essence or ki through the use of the Yata mirror.
I think you already know this, the place where this all happened was at Ryugenzawa. Orochi's 'body' sank to the bottom of the lake and was later sealed by the Yata clan.
The Hakkeshu found out about their master's defeat and confinement and was enraged even further, they thought of this incident as an insult to their kind.
The Orochi has been sealed, but not for long. The serpent's ki was too much to bear for Yata alone so Orochi would awaken every 100 years of imprisonment, only to be sealed by the three clans again.
The Hakkeshu were forced into hiding when the Kusanagi and Yasakani clan began their search for the Orochi warriors. A lot of years go by and the Orochi Hakketsu Shuu had somehow managed to create a clan once more…"
***
"Don't tell me… the eight of them?!"
"True… some of them were closely related but it didn't bother them in the least, they did not want their clan to be tainted with human blood…"
***
"The Orochi clan divided themselves into eight tribes, each tribe representing one of the Orochi Hakketsu Shuu. Not long after that, the clan had enough manpower to fight against the Kusanagi and Yasakani clan. Their bloody battle continued for years, neither side gaining the upper hand… that is until 660 years ago…"
***
"The Yasakani unholy pact…?"
"Yes…"
***
"The Yasakani clan got tired of living in the Kusanagi clan's shadow so they decided to form a pact with Orochi, the agreement was that they will get the power needed to outclass the Kusanagi clan but in exchange, they must destroy the seal that the Yata clan created around the serpent's body.
The Yasakani eagerly accepted the terms and released the seal at Ryugenzawa, giving Orochi a little more leeway. The Kusanagi soon found out about this and declared the entire Yasakani clan as traitors, they were then involved in a long blood feud with the Kusanagi clan.
The Orochi clan took this opportunity to accomplish their goal. While the Kusanagi and the Yasakani clans fought it out, they began their search for the Yata mirror and the seals that the Yata clan placed on Orochi…"
***
"Mom? H-How do you know all of this?" Ranma asked albeit timidly, not really sure if he wanted to hear it form his mother.
Nodoka looked at her son with sorrowful eyes. "I am Nodoka, the daughter of the last Orochi Hakketsu Shuu of the sacred flame."
Tendo Home
"Akane-chan?" Kasumi asked as she knocked on Akane's bedroom door. She turned the knob and found it unlocked so she took a look to see how her sister is doing.
"Ka-Kasumi-oneechan…"
"What's wrong? Ranma's alive so you should be happy right?" The eldest Tendo sister soothingly whispered to her sister's ear as she embraced Akane like a mother would to her child. 'What's wrong? I'm glad that Ranma's alive but why is Akane like this?'
Akane shook her head. "I… I already met him a couple of weeks ago. I wanted him to come back with me and back to Nerima but he didn't want to go back… he-he said he didn't want me involved with his life anymore…" she said between sobs.
Kasumi brushed her sister's hair. "Why is that Akane-chan? What would make him do that?"
Akane cried even harder. "He-he didn't want me with him… h-he said that he ki-killed those people in China… he hasn't forgiven himself for losing control and he said that he would never forgive himself if he ended up hurting me. That's why… that's why I didn't mention him being alive to anyone… I-I was trying to forget him all this time but… but I can't! I just can't! And now Nabiki…"
"Akane…"
Saotome Home
Ranma sat there, stunned at the turn of events. 'Orochi clan…? That means that I'm… wait, why did the Riot of Blood happen only now if I am of Orochi blood in the first place?' "I am a half-breed…? If I am of Orochi blood then why did my heritage manifest itself just now?" he asked, though he was a bit surprised at how calm he still was even after all of this.
"I am getting to that…"
***
"For years the entire Orochi clan focused on two goals, the revival of Orochi and the destruction of humanity. One of the eight tribes was different from the rest, that tribe is the Orochi tribe of the sacred flame. We were considered as the closest tribe to Orochi because of our inborn ability to communicate with our god back in those times.
We were also known for our control of the sacred (1) flame, almost the same one as the Yasakani's but our flame has a slight difference to that cursed clan. Unlike them, we can control our flame any way we want if we train on it hard enough, we can also use the flame together with our Orochi blood to counteract almost all Yata seal."
***
'Yata seal… so that's why I was able to move my arm after I summoned the flame…'
***
"Moving on, there was a certain point in time when the Kusanagi clan got lucky. They discovered where the meeting of the eight tribe heads was being held so they struck, killing everyone with Orochi blood. All of the eight tribes were in an uproar when they heard of this. One survivor was found though… a small child, a child that vowed vengeance to the humans… his name is Goenitz, the son of the recently killed Hakkeshu of wind."
New tribe heads were named a few years later, but the eight tribes were forced back into hiding. My tribe didn't hide in forests or at the mountains, we tried to mingle with the humans without having them knowing what we really are…"
***
"So… our tribe was just like Guidel's…?"
Nodoka stared at him wide-eyed. "How do you know Guidel?! Whom did you talk to?!"
It's Ranma's turn to look shocked. "I found a journal… a journal saying that Guidel betrayed the clan…" he managed to squeak out in response.
The auburn-haired woman quickly collected herself. "I see… well, I should explain how that happened…"
***
"Guidel and I, we grew up together and perhaps it would've been something more if the tribe separation did not happen…
Guidel was always there for me since childhood and I looked up to him ever since. As time passed by, we grew closer and closer and the tribe was happy to see us together. In 1976, the two of us were practically inseparable. We shared the same interests and dreams… we didn't want it to stop but all good things must come to an end…
You see, Guidel was soon named the Hakkeshu of water and became the leader of that tribe despite his young age while my mother was chosen as the Hakkeshu of fire. The tribe heads decided that the clan should hide for awhile before they do anything more.
There was a huge argument within the tribes but it became clear that our tribe of the sacred flame was their priority, we don't know why that is… but they soon agreed that our tribe should be the one to hide so they asked us to stay within a village full of humans. They thought that the Kusanagi clan would never think of the Orochi clan living with the humans so they agreed to it.
Parting with Guidel was the hardest thing for me to do… I loved him and I think I still do after all this time."
***
"So, you're saying that he could've been my father?"
Nodoka nodded. "Yes, if the circumstances were a little different…"
***
"That move by the tribe heads changed our views on humans as well. The time we spent with them, we learned that they are just like us. The only difference I can find was our beliefs, the one that we were taught when we were little, varies just a little from theirs.
Our whole tribe soon began to doubt our beliefs on humans and we started treating humans equally, under the other tribe's noses of course. I also talked about this to Guidel in the past, and he feels the same way. But… one fateful day in 1978, my mother came back from the clan meeting and she looked spooked.
She told us that she heard in secret that the children of the Orochi tribe of the sacred flame were going to be sacrificed for some unknown ritual. At first we didn't want to believe it, the elders tried communicating to Orochi but they did not get a response… that was it. Our clan feared for the lives of the children so we planned on running away…
But as fate would have it, the Hakkeshu of Wind Goenitz found us out and started killing the entire tribe. My mother fought the insanely powerful Hakkeshu but sh-she died in the end but her sacrifice allowed some of the families to escape. To make matters worse, the sealed Orochi himself spoke to us through our link saying that he promises to hunt each one of us down to punish us infidels…
We were hunted like dogs, by both the Orochi clan AND the Kusanagi clan. The Orochi clan had other problems to deal with though; some of the other tribes began to have doubts as well and soon rebelled against those loyal to Orochi. The tribes fought amongst themselves, decreasing our clan's number day by day. Only a few survived the clan wars a couple of years later and the tribes dwindled in numbers and were almost non-existent this present day."
***
"I see… but it still doesn't explain my heritage manifestation!"
"Okay, I'll go into that now."
***
"I met and married Genma and a year later, I gave birth to you Ranma. When you were a mere infant, you were already showing symptoms of the Blood Riot so I took you to my best friend Shizuka Kayama… now Shizuka Kusanagi, where she used this orb (2) to seal my Orochi heritage a year ago… she sealed your powers too but it can only be used once though…
You grew up like a normal child; there were times when I would take you to Guidel's tribe. Yes, I found out that he married a human too but we never stopped communicating with each other. When you were four, you used to play with Guidel's energetic daughter Leona all day when we visit their tribe."
***
Ranma tried to suppress his laughter. 'Eheh, who would have thought? Leona? The one I fought back at the ruins…? The same one that my mother described… was my first childhood friend?!'
***
"Genma was unaware of this because of his long training trips with his master. Then Genma came with that silly seppuku contract and that damned training trip… I refused the first few days and would have for the rest of my life if I had not received word that Goenitz was in the area. I was afraid for your safety so I dejectedly agreed to your father's idea.
Goenitz was indeed in the area, I think that he was still trying to unseal Orochi from its Yata prison. I fled, luring him away from Tokyo as soon as possible. 2 years later, I heard about the incident at Guidel's tribe… Leona went into the Riot of Blood just after Goenitz found them out as traitors. It was a no brainer on who invoked the Blood Riot on Leona; she would never have gone through that phase because her power was also sealed by Shizuka.
I never thought you would encounter Orochi's 'body' on that damned training trip, If I knew then I would never had allowed it. I'm so sorry… you must hate me and the entire Orochi clan right now."
***
Ranma stood up and turned his back on his mother. He then closed his eyes and sighed deeply…
"I need some time to think…"
He slowly walked out the door and onto the Saotome garden.
Saotome Garden
Ranma walked along the Saotome garden, his head was hung low and his eyes were fixed on the ground. 'I guess I never really had any chance for a normal life… it would have been better if Guidel did turn out to be my father. You got what you wanted Orochi, you cursed me again… but hahah… no matter how much I try I can't seem to blame you or your- no, our clan for this…'
Ranma's ponderings were interrupted when he saw part of a wall explode into dust. At first, the ponytailed boy thought it was Ryoga that got lost again but it became clear that it was something far worse than pig-boy…
"The schools will finally be joined! Oh happy day!"
"Boy! How dare you run away from your duties! Go ahead and marry Akane now!"
"Ohohohohoho! Ranma-sama, you've come back to me!"
"Vile cur! Where has thou hidden thy pigtailed goddess?!"
The loony squad appeared into view. The ponytailed boy noticed the Tendo sisters peeking through the smashed wall. At first, he thought that it was Nabiki and Akane's doing but soon changed his mind as he saw the apologetic look on Kasumi and Akane's faces.
Understanding that they did all they could to stop the group; he then set his eyes on Nabiki. The smirk, the crossed arms and the 'know-it-all' look were there. He almost had the urge to burn the middle Tendo girl to ashes then and there. 'I… I… can't… AHHHH!!!!'
"Have at thee!!!"
*SMACK!*
Ranma was still staring at Nabiki when his body went into action. He grabbed the kendoist's bokken and promptly snapped it in half. He delivered a high kick that connected to the kendoist's face; he then jumped and performed an elbow smash to Kuno's head, knocking him out.
"Ohohohoho! Ranma-sama, come to me!"
*CRACK!*
The blue-eyed boy punched Kodachi's face with such force that the gymnast was flung to the other side of the garden. What was left of Kodachi…? Not a pretty sight to say the least. Ranma still hasn't removed his cold stare at the middle Tendo girl. Nabiki on the other hand, stared wide-eyed at the events that took place. 'Ranma hit a girl?! It's not like him!'
//FLASH//
"He's not the Ranma that you know…"
//FLASH//
'So Akane was telling the truth…?' Nabiki finally noticed the glare and gulped audibly, for the first time in her life she felt like a bug about to be squashed by someone.
Kasumi looks on in fear and Akane looks on in shock. Soun and Genma were oblivious to this of course; they got into the ponytailed boy's face and quickly began to berate him for running away from his obligations.
Nodoka finally came outside and saw the carnage at her garden. She had a dangerous glint in her eyes when she heard the two fathers blaming her son. She took a step forward but paused when her blood began to boil. 'So… he chose to be awakened…'
While Genma rants about how dishonorable his son is, Akane and Kasumi noticed that Ranma was clenching his fists so tight that blood was starting to come out of it. Speaking of the ponytailed boy, his eyes were covered by his bangs but the two girls can clearly see a few tears falling down his face.
"Is that all you care about? Do you only think about yourself? Don't you even think of my well being at all…?" Ranma's voice was barely above whisper.
Genma, of course was oblivious to Ranma's current state of mind. "Of course I care about my, I mean, your well being! C'mon boy! Marry Akane and I'll forgive you for running away from your obligations." The bald martial artist stated proudly. He was totally oblivious to the scowls on Akane, Kasumi and Nodoka's faces as well.
Akane was about to send Genma to LEO via Akane air but stopped when she heard someone laughing. Everyone turned towards the ponytailed boy, who was hunched over and chuckling darkly to himself.
"Hahahahah… I see…" Ranma muttered. Everyone was then thrown back by the sudden explosion of his blue-violet aura. "Then, I have no regrets… for what I'm about to do." He raises his head and Akane's eyes widened as she saw Ranma's violet eyes, violet even down to the whites.
"Omae o korosu!!! (3)"
(1) – Sacred to them, Orochi is their god after all.
(2) – The one Nodoka was holding in Chapter 3, it seals the Orochi blood but can easily be countered by another person well-versed in sealing techniques.
(3) – I'll kill you!!!
# # #
AN: Hope that this version of the Orochi myth made some sort of sense, or else I would probably write the darn thing all over again. The myth was a mixture of the original SNK version coupled with the first snk/playmore version (Yasakani), I also added some Jap and HK manga references (The Hakkeshu tribes) and a little of my own to the story.
As usual, I'll focus on Ranma's thoughts in the Interlude. It will also explain his attitude towards his 'father'. Just wondering, what would be the outcome of the match? Dead Panda? Dismembered? Maimed? Singed? Opinions will be really helpful in ridding the world of worthless pandas so please R&R.
Till next time, Ja ne!
Next Interlude II: Conflicting Minds
'Where did my father go? Did he even exist? Is this the real him?'