Note: Mu Tsu's theme was 'Discover and Run' (K2K Mix) by Checco
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Rythmer's Fist
::Nodoka's theme: '7 to 9' by Galaxyman::
In every song, between the the bass and tempo, connected with the melody, there's a flow. A soft, sensual gliding of gentle, but powerful energy that commands movement. It rolls through you like calm waters of a gentle Caribbean bay, and entices you like sweet sin with no worries of penance. A silky caress that, once given to, commands you entirely.
The divine movements that were like living whisps of smoke, twisting in human form, kept her audience in sheer awe. It was undeniable that there was a certain syncronicity with her almost etheral dance and the music of the club that went far beyond just mere 'staying on beat'. Long red hair that reached the middle of her back swayed like a crimson river, catching light in subtle ways that followed her dance, and never interrupted or contradicted the flow of her movements.
The woman of her thirties rolled her fingertips on her right hand, then her wrist, her forearm, the upper arm, and her shoulder, like a controlled electric current generating a wave from where it started at the tip of her hand. It continued to her chest, encased in a black leather vest that came to her mid-drift. Her torso rolled as if it were a thin clothed scarf floating along a calm river, and the roll continued down her bare stomach, only decorated by a pierced outtie belly-button, through her hips, and down to her left leg.
The flow commanded her to pivot her left foot in compliance, twisting the heel outward on the ball of her foot, and then twist it back in without seeming to cause a stop or break in the whole ordeal. The flow traveled back up jet black windpants decorated with a single red strip on each leg on the outside, and seemed to disappear, or expand suddenly to the rest of her body, as she turned to her right, rolled her arms down to her sides, placing her hands into her pockets, and moonwalking backwards.
She turned, slowly, but seemingly snapping her hands out of her pockets, and dragged her left hand up her stomach, stopping at the bottom of her well-formed chest, and then rolling out to the side; once again concentrating the flow in an explicit area, and sending it through her like it was a part of her very blood-flow.
Her mastery of her style of dance, Pop and Lock, was far more extraordinary than could be credited to a simple dance technique. Few could even hope to attain her level of form that was not just moves for the dance floor; but a new form of martial art all-together.
For this, the fabled Mistress Blade, was respected and revered by generations young and peer.
_________________________________
"HALT! Foul fiend!"
Ranma paused on the wall, returning home by himself, and looked down at the kendoist, "Something I can do for ya?"
"That there is," Kuno replied respectfully, before launching himself at the pigtailed boy. Ranma casually lifted his forward leg, pulling it away from the verticle bokken swipe that tore through the cement wall.
"You know? This attacking out of the blue thing is getting kind of old."
Kuno turned around to face Ranma, as the pigtailed martial artist hopped from the wall, "Surely you jest, as that was but a warning. Verily, if I truly meant to fell you with but a strike, I would have done so."
"you know? I can almost respect a guy who can lie with a straight face," Ranma replied in an amused tone, "So, ya got a reason for issuing deadly warnings, or are you just happy to see me?"
"Indeed," Kuno brought his weapon to the fore, challenging Ranma menacingly with it, "for I have finally discovered a way to best your dark magics that seem to be rooted in the abysmal noise you generously refer to as 'music'."
"Oh, ya did, didja?" Ranma enquired, interested in whatever the kendoist may have come up with this time."
"Yes, you may subside with your feigned entheusiasm, as I know well you fear my uncanny prowess and tactical ability. Behold..." Kuno raised his bokken into the air, "The ultimate counter to the vile Rhythmer's Fist..." With that, Kuno began to boxstep around Ranma, "It lays within the civilized world that is the means of your defeat."
Ranma held on dearly, trying his darndest not to laugh. This was gonna be fun...
_________________________________
"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE TECHNIQUES? ABOUT USING THEM IN FRONT OF *HIM*?!?"
Akane kept her arms folded, as her humored expression remained. She was undaunted by Petra's angry outbursts, in fact, found it novel to see her this ticked, "Well, it was kinda a thing of NOT DYING I had to consider. Sorry if my judgement was slightly off on that."
"You don't get it, do you?" Petra seethed, "That... that menino is not supposed to know that YOU know some advanced Rhythmer's Fist so soon! You shouldn't even know that move for at least a year, yet!"
"Well, you thought I could handle it sooner," Akane retorted, finally allowing the smug expression to melt from her face. "I don't get you, anyway. Why are you so bent on me not letting Ranma know about all this?"
Akane's current mentor gave her a sideways glare, before turning away, "Doesn't matter now. He knows about it, hopefully he's as dense as his own mestre`, and won't put two and two together."
Akane now unfolded her arms, as her face became serious, "What's this about, anyways? What aren't you telling me?"
"Something I'll tell you in good time, estudante, and that will be the end of it."
"Hey! You just can't blow me off like that and-"
"NO MORE! THAT WILL BE THE END OF THIS!" Akane jumped, startled at the vehemance her teacher spoke. Also, that being the first time she had ever spoke fully in her native Porteguese tongue. Petra rubbed her temples, finally calming herself down. "Akane, moca. Let us drop this for the time being. I promise I will tell you it all when you are ready, or the time is right."
Akane begrudgingly nodded, "Okay, but I'm holding you to that... Pet."
The Brazilian woman's thinned eyebrow twitched a bit, before she took a deep breath, "We have someone we need to see that I need to introduce you to. She's a dear friend of mine, and quite a legend around Tokyo. She may have a few things to offer in your training."
"Who?" Akane asked, intrigued to be meeting someone even Petra Allores, the notorious 'Rhythm's Eve', would refer to about her own student's training.
"We shall let that be a secret for now. You find out in a few days," Petra replied with a firm tone that Akane decided not to argue with, "Just make sure that that boyfriend of yours don' be following us, si? We also got a lesson to be getting to, today."
Akane nodded, ready and willing to learn.
_________________________________
"Ya know? I hardly get to spend time with you, these days," Ranma replied, as she rested on her side on Akane's bed, watching the other girl choose an outfit, "how about the red sports bra with the black leggings? with that red petticoat?"
Akane mused over it, and almost nodded, before realizing something, "Hold on, why an outfit so similar to yours?"
"Because everyone wants to be me," Ranma replied easily, rolling onto her back with her hands behind her head.
"I think the world barely does well with only one of you, love," Akane replied, shaking her head.
Ranma rolled onto her stomach, looking at Akane with a slightly hurt expression, "Why can't I come along? I've been spending all my time between clubbing with Shampoo, Kasumi, Nabiki; dealing with attacks from Ukyo, Konatsu, Tsubasa, Mu Tsu, Ryoga; and dealing with the old ghoul. I'm start'n to miss ya."
"It's nice that I'm missed," Akane commented back, "Especially with your rather busy schedule." Ranma just shrugged, and decided to do stretches to ease her boredom. incidentally, she also used her exercises to hide her slightly upset expression. She didn't like being discluded from things, and she knew when she was being purposely kept in the dark about something.
_________________________________
The Womb
As many times as Akane's been to the Shibuya district since she started learning Rhythmer's Fist, this was one club she had never ventured into. Akane leaned casually against the wall, as she had been instructed to remain while Petra searched for their query. Succubus looked up at the large viewscreen held high above everyone's head, standing contrast to the darkness that was scarred with searing beams of light that enhanced the mood. She watched the image move fluidly on the screen, strangly complimenting the trance song 'Carte Blanche' by Veracocha.
Her own head was under level of the sea of bodies captivated by the music, while pale blue lights skimmed over the dancers like moonlight over torrentuous, but not quite stormy, waters.
Enjoying the scene before her, as if it were a living work of art, a beacon in the sea caught her eye. Almost as if obeying a mental wish she had made. The 'waters' parted, giving her view of a woman with crimson hair, dancing with a style she had only seen on occation; Pop and Lock.
Like a martial artist, the woman controlled every aspect of her body, willing it to move effortlessly with a flow that seemed impossible and beyond reality. At many times, Akane could swear she would dislocate something, or remove a limb alltogether in order to complete a motion. She knew that wasn't the case, as it was all part of a remarkable illusion; an illusion like the rippling stars in a slightly calm pond, or a waving mirage upon the horizon.
"Amazing, she is."
Akane released a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding, as Petra whispered in her ear loud enough to be heard over the pulse-pounding beat, "Is that?"
"She goes by the Nome de Danca 'Madam Blade', because her motions are as sharp as the Samurai katana, as fluid a tempered edge can cut through the air, and as eliquent as a finely crafted blade."
"She lives up to her namesake," Akane breathed, feeling a certain thrill go through her at the prospect of learning something, anything, from the woman before her, that was now striding towards her with the same confident walk that Petra, Shampoo, even Kasumi at her most sensuous displayed.
The feeling in her sternum built until she felt trouble breathing, and the spell over her was finally relinquished, as the woman gave her a smile under her thin visor shades, and then nodded to her mentor.
"Petra, it has been too long."
"Aye, mi amiga. Tu danca bonita... as usual."
"Only to keep you jealous, Pet," Madam Blade replied with an easy tone that held an alluring taint of proper and educated Japanese. It was far from what Akane had been expecting from a woman of the club scene.
Petra sniffed, and turned her head away, "If it was not you, then it would be her. Why must you two insist on that insepid nickname?"
"Only because I know it irritates you," Akane and Madam Blade said at the same time, before turning to each other, and chuckling.
"Are you going to introduce me to your date? She is a bit young for you," the redhead enquired, while tossing her long red hear out with her hand. Akane had to note something extremely familiar about the woman, but she couldn't place it.
"She not my date, she is my new estudante, 'Succubus'."
"Oh?" Madam Blade tilted her head, and put her index finger against her chin; Akane at that moment would give anything to find out what was going on behind the visor she wore, "So, you're the one who's name has been popping up every so often, here and there."
Akane found herself regressing to her previous personality, before Petra gave her confidence, "Um, I don't know if I'm that good."
Petra slapped Akane on the rump, earning a squawk and indignant glare from the younger woman. "You not a master of the form yet, but you lightyears ahead of the povo out there..." With a devious smirk, Petra turned to Madam Blade, "Care to show them how to really move?"
The redheaded woman's smirk matched the one the woman with the metalli-aqua hair wore, "Lead the way, Rhythm's Eve."
_________________________________
Akane stood at the edge of the circle that had formed immidiately when Madam Blade came to a stop on a spot on the dancefloor. She was well known enough that she always warrented her own dance space, and she always had an audience. The song that began to play was 'Another You' by Cappella; classic early to mid 90's style Euro-dance.
She stood motionless as the song started up, building momentum like a runaway train that dared not allow any passengers to get off, or anything to get out of its path. Once it his full momentum her head snapped up. She dipped her chin, and then rolled it up, as she tilted her head to her left, making it seem to roll. Her torso turned to the left just after her head tilted that way, and like an awakened snake, her right arm rolled up from the shoulder, to the elbow, to the wrist, and through finger joints to the tip of the finger. Her left arm came up, outstretched and perpendicular with her body, and seemed to continue the roll, starting at its own shoulder, to the elbow, to the wrist, and out the fingertips.
Like a ball on a tether, the flow came back through her left arm, reversing the roll of her body from before, and seemed to center in the chest. As it arrived at her bosom, her right hand, which the palm was towards her chest and pointing to her left side, turned up to her head, and dragged down, following the flow that changed directions at a 90 degree angle to flow down to her sternum, through her stomach, to her hips.
She again turned to her left, placing her left hand's fingertips on her forehead, as she sunk down, sticking her right leg out to the right side, while her right hand rested on its front thigh. She rotated her wrist on her left hand counter-clockwise, causing her shoulder to roll along with it, and her torso to sway slightly to the right, as she rotated her neck remeniscent of a cobra's sway. She slid her right leg in while rising, bringing herself to standing, and walked to her left in a tight circle, before stopping, and folding her arms.
Rhythm's Eve strode out, and gave Madam blade a haughty smirk, as if replying to a challenge. her head snapped to the right, and then back. At that moment, her body seemed to glide to her left, leaving her right leg behind in its wake. Balanced on her left leg, her right hand came up, and the palm cupped her forehead, immidiately followed by her torso turning to face her right leg, and her left hand grasping the right's forearm, just above the elbow.
With a toss of her hips to the left, she brought her right leg up tightly, with the heal of her right foot against her firm backside. As she threw her arms up, crossed at the wrist, and spun to her left tightly in a manner that would leave champion figureskaters seething with envy.
She suddenly came to a stop, with her feet spread about two feet apart, and her arms down at an angle with fingers splayed. She was leaning back, with her head tossed back, allowing the lights about to capture and reflect within her metallic blue tresses. Slowly, oh, so sensuously, she brought her head down to face a nodding Madam Blade, allowing the redheaded woman to see the smug and content expression on her face.
The Battle was on.
Akane stood, awestruck as everyone else, as they watched the danceoff between the two women. It almost seemed like a martial arts battle, the way they interacted with each other, like when she had first seen Ranma face off against Ryoga. Instead, unlike Ranma and Ryoga's battle, which seemed like two elements of nature colliding; water and earth, Madam Blade and Rhythm's Eve's battle was like energy; lightning and thunder, or treble and base. The Redhead controled the tempo, while the metallic haired woman provided the beat.
It seemed as if Akane was witnessing what the art was truly about, the charisma, the energy, the force behind it all. It was impossible not to feel as if you were a part of it, as it permeated the being. The two dancers in the middle of the dancefloor were the conductors, orchestrating the symphony of thumping hearts commited by all those who observed.
Suddenly, Akane realized that they had stopped, and were looking at her expectantly. Her mentor beckoned her with a faint motion of her hand, but Akane could see it like an overbearing neon sign. Who was she to resist? She was powerless to refuse the call. Succubus entered the circle.
Succubus turned to her left in a dart, and then to her right. She stopped, still with her torso turned to the right, but her face turned to the two older women; as her left hand, with the palm towards the floor, slashed out to her left, halfway back to her right, then back out to her left, with her left knee following the motions.
She shifted her weight onto her right leg, and swung her left leg towards her right, making it rotate at the hip into a full circle. It landed with her foot braced on the ball, while her backside was thrust back, and her chest thrusted out. Her head was tilted back, as she felt the heady vibes caressing her brain like a lover's touch, and the lights above dancing across her face like welcomed sunlight after the coldest winter.
It coaxed her, telling her she had no more time to pause, to savor the delightful feeling, as she went back into motion. She tossed her right hand across her chest, and swung it up and around in a circle. Her right hand came to rest on her left waist, as her left arm wrapped around her to rest its hand on her right waist. She swayed to the rhythm, giving a slight shimmy as she did so. After a few sways, she stopped, rocked her hips once from left to right, and kicked into the side splits; holding it with seemingly no effort.
From the smiles of approval from her two mentors, and the exuberance of the crowd, the Succubus was accepted.
_________________________________
"Your reputation is well earned," Madam Blade commented, as she sipped on her drink. Succubus nodded, sipping on her own alcoholic beverage that her mentor insisted on her having.
"Si, she is coming a long way, just you had, moca."
Madam Blade almost chocked on her drink, "Don't remind me." With a wistful sigh, she leaned back in her chair, "I was definitely a different being back then, was I not?"
"Pining after your husband and son he stole, what? Ten years ago?" Rhythm's Eve commented, earning a disgusted snort from the redheaded woman.
"I was an idiot to agree with that, but I've grown because of it."
"You have a family?" Succubus enquired, suprised that this woman before her would possibly have a domestic life.
"Yes, somewhere out there. I should hunt them down some time," Madam Blade sat up, pondering the idea, "Yes, I think that's just what I'll do, and I know exactly where to start."
"Hmm?" Succubus urged, taking larger sips from her tall glass, feeling the bite lesson on it, while her head began to grow a bit light.
"An old training partner of my Husband's. They studied under the same master, and as I recall, they made some rediculous pact with each other. If anything, I should probably track them down to ensure my dear husband hadn't done anything foolish... again."
Succubus nodded, before looking at her now empty drink; she didn't even realize she had finished it all. "How did you get interested in all of this? I mean, if you have a family and all... did you always dance?"
"Actually, that was my doing." Succubus turned to her mentor curiously, as Madam Blade order the young woman a refill. "Poor woman was wandering around, determined to do something with herself for the night, and I was new in town, and trying to make friends, as it were."
"You tried to pick her up?" Succubus asked with a drunken smirk. She then glared, after her mentor slapped her upside the head.
"I said make friends, get your mind out of the gutter."
"Anyhow, to make a long story short," Madam Blade smirked at Succubus rubbing the back of her head, "and less painful, the two of us ended up in a night club, where we watched these young men dancing in a way I had never seen before. Pet encouraged me to try, and I found it rather invigorating. After a while, I became good at it, and found that I could apply my tai chi practices to it. As I did so, something 'clicked', and the rest is history, as they say."
"Incredible, you actually applied it with martial arts without training in the Rhythm Fist?"
"Heh," Madam Blade chuckled, "I managed to invent the third branch of the Rhythm Fist, according to Pet. And she asked me to help instruct you in it."
Succubus blinked, "Thaaat would be cool!"
Both masters of their respective versions of the Rhythmer's Fist looked at each other, before turning back to the younger woman. "I think we'll have to put off your learning until another time, moca. You never drank before I'm guessing?"
"Howd u guess?" Succubus asked.
"Just as well, I think I'll begin my search tomorrow. It was nice to meet you again, Pet, along with your protoge`!" With that, Madam Blade got up from the table, and left.
"Come on, moca, we need to get you home in relative peace. Good thing you have no school tomorrow."
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Akane woke up, cursing the way too bright light in her window. she checked her clock, and grimaced. Kasumi usually never let her sleep in that long.
Akane found herself still dressed from clubbing the night before, and gathered a set of casual clothes to dress after taking a bath. As she made her way down the stairs, she heard a knock at the door.
Kasumi gave her a brief greeting, as she passed by to answer it. With curiosity, Akane followed.
"...band and my son."
"Oh! Are you looking for Uncle Genma and Ranma? They're out front in the midst of their morning spar," Kasumi answered, just as Akane came from behind her sister.
"Oh! It's been so long since I've seen them! Can I-"
Akane looked at the matronly woman with deep auburn hair that had bordered on dark red, done in a tight bun. Something about her seemed a bit familiar, but Akane couldn't place it, "Do I know you from somewhere?"
The woman stared back with wide-eyed shock and panic. "ah... I don't believe so, I have been in this neighborhood a few times, though," she hastefully replied, before quickly rushing by the two young women, "You said my son was out front? Oh, and my husband?"
She made it outside, just in time to see her husband and son collide in the air above the ornamental fish pond...
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Rythmer's Fist
::Nodoka's theme: '7 to 9' by Galaxyman::
In every song, between the the bass and tempo, connected with the melody, there's a flow. A soft, sensual gliding of gentle, but powerful energy that commands movement. It rolls through you like calm waters of a gentle Caribbean bay, and entices you like sweet sin with no worries of penance. A silky caress that, once given to, commands you entirely.
The divine movements that were like living whisps of smoke, twisting in human form, kept her audience in sheer awe. It was undeniable that there was a certain syncronicity with her almost etheral dance and the music of the club that went far beyond just mere 'staying on beat'. Long red hair that reached the middle of her back swayed like a crimson river, catching light in subtle ways that followed her dance, and never interrupted or contradicted the flow of her movements.
The woman of her thirties rolled her fingertips on her right hand, then her wrist, her forearm, the upper arm, and her shoulder, like a controlled electric current generating a wave from where it started at the tip of her hand. It continued to her chest, encased in a black leather vest that came to her mid-drift. Her torso rolled as if it were a thin clothed scarf floating along a calm river, and the roll continued down her bare stomach, only decorated by a pierced outtie belly-button, through her hips, and down to her left leg.
The flow commanded her to pivot her left foot in compliance, twisting the heel outward on the ball of her foot, and then twist it back in without seeming to cause a stop or break in the whole ordeal. The flow traveled back up jet black windpants decorated with a single red strip on each leg on the outside, and seemed to disappear, or expand suddenly to the rest of her body, as she turned to her right, rolled her arms down to her sides, placing her hands into her pockets, and moonwalking backwards.
She turned, slowly, but seemingly snapping her hands out of her pockets, and dragged her left hand up her stomach, stopping at the bottom of her well-formed chest, and then rolling out to the side; once again concentrating the flow in an explicit area, and sending it through her like it was a part of her very blood-flow.
Her mastery of her style of dance, Pop and Lock, was far more extraordinary than could be credited to a simple dance technique. Few could even hope to attain her level of form that was not just moves for the dance floor; but a new form of martial art all-together.
For this, the fabled Mistress Blade, was respected and revered by generations young and peer.
_________________________________
"HALT! Foul fiend!"
Ranma paused on the wall, returning home by himself, and looked down at the kendoist, "Something I can do for ya?"
"That there is," Kuno replied respectfully, before launching himself at the pigtailed boy. Ranma casually lifted his forward leg, pulling it away from the verticle bokken swipe that tore through the cement wall.
"You know? This attacking out of the blue thing is getting kind of old."
Kuno turned around to face Ranma, as the pigtailed martial artist hopped from the wall, "Surely you jest, as that was but a warning. Verily, if I truly meant to fell you with but a strike, I would have done so."
"you know? I can almost respect a guy who can lie with a straight face," Ranma replied in an amused tone, "So, ya got a reason for issuing deadly warnings, or are you just happy to see me?"
"Indeed," Kuno brought his weapon to the fore, challenging Ranma menacingly with it, "for I have finally discovered a way to best your dark magics that seem to be rooted in the abysmal noise you generously refer to as 'music'."
"Oh, ya did, didja?" Ranma enquired, interested in whatever the kendoist may have come up with this time."
"Yes, you may subside with your feigned entheusiasm, as I know well you fear my uncanny prowess and tactical ability. Behold..." Kuno raised his bokken into the air, "The ultimate counter to the vile Rhythmer's Fist..." With that, Kuno began to boxstep around Ranma, "It lays within the civilized world that is the means of your defeat."
Ranma held on dearly, trying his darndest not to laugh. This was gonna be fun...
_________________________________
"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE TECHNIQUES? ABOUT USING THEM IN FRONT OF *HIM*?!?"
Akane kept her arms folded, as her humored expression remained. She was undaunted by Petra's angry outbursts, in fact, found it novel to see her this ticked, "Well, it was kinda a thing of NOT DYING I had to consider. Sorry if my judgement was slightly off on that."
"You don't get it, do you?" Petra seethed, "That... that menino is not supposed to know that YOU know some advanced Rhythmer's Fist so soon! You shouldn't even know that move for at least a year, yet!"
"Well, you thought I could handle it sooner," Akane retorted, finally allowing the smug expression to melt from her face. "I don't get you, anyway. Why are you so bent on me not letting Ranma know about all this?"
Akane's current mentor gave her a sideways glare, before turning away, "Doesn't matter now. He knows about it, hopefully he's as dense as his own mestre`, and won't put two and two together."
Akane now unfolded her arms, as her face became serious, "What's this about, anyways? What aren't you telling me?"
"Something I'll tell you in good time, estudante, and that will be the end of it."
"Hey! You just can't blow me off like that and-"
"NO MORE! THAT WILL BE THE END OF THIS!" Akane jumped, startled at the vehemance her teacher spoke. Also, that being the first time she had ever spoke fully in her native Porteguese tongue. Petra rubbed her temples, finally calming herself down. "Akane, moca. Let us drop this for the time being. I promise I will tell you it all when you are ready, or the time is right."
Akane begrudgingly nodded, "Okay, but I'm holding you to that... Pet."
The Brazilian woman's thinned eyebrow twitched a bit, before she took a deep breath, "We have someone we need to see that I need to introduce you to. She's a dear friend of mine, and quite a legend around Tokyo. She may have a few things to offer in your training."
"Who?" Akane asked, intrigued to be meeting someone even Petra Allores, the notorious 'Rhythm's Eve', would refer to about her own student's training.
"We shall let that be a secret for now. You find out in a few days," Petra replied with a firm tone that Akane decided not to argue with, "Just make sure that that boyfriend of yours don' be following us, si? We also got a lesson to be getting to, today."
Akane nodded, ready and willing to learn.
_________________________________
"Ya know? I hardly get to spend time with you, these days," Ranma replied, as she rested on her side on Akane's bed, watching the other girl choose an outfit, "how about the red sports bra with the black leggings? with that red petticoat?"
Akane mused over it, and almost nodded, before realizing something, "Hold on, why an outfit so similar to yours?"
"Because everyone wants to be me," Ranma replied easily, rolling onto her back with her hands behind her head.
"I think the world barely does well with only one of you, love," Akane replied, shaking her head.
Ranma rolled onto her stomach, looking at Akane with a slightly hurt expression, "Why can't I come along? I've been spending all my time between clubbing with Shampoo, Kasumi, Nabiki; dealing with attacks from Ukyo, Konatsu, Tsubasa, Mu Tsu, Ryoga; and dealing with the old ghoul. I'm start'n to miss ya."
"It's nice that I'm missed," Akane commented back, "Especially with your rather busy schedule." Ranma just shrugged, and decided to do stretches to ease her boredom. incidentally, she also used her exercises to hide her slightly upset expression. She didn't like being discluded from things, and she knew when she was being purposely kept in the dark about something.
_________________________________
The Womb
As many times as Akane's been to the Shibuya district since she started learning Rhythmer's Fist, this was one club she had never ventured into. Akane leaned casually against the wall, as she had been instructed to remain while Petra searched for their query. Succubus looked up at the large viewscreen held high above everyone's head, standing contrast to the darkness that was scarred with searing beams of light that enhanced the mood. She watched the image move fluidly on the screen, strangly complimenting the trance song 'Carte Blanche' by Veracocha.
Her own head was under level of the sea of bodies captivated by the music, while pale blue lights skimmed over the dancers like moonlight over torrentuous, but not quite stormy, waters.
Enjoying the scene before her, as if it were a living work of art, a beacon in the sea caught her eye. Almost as if obeying a mental wish she had made. The 'waters' parted, giving her view of a woman with crimson hair, dancing with a style she had only seen on occation; Pop and Lock.
Like a martial artist, the woman controlled every aspect of her body, willing it to move effortlessly with a flow that seemed impossible and beyond reality. At many times, Akane could swear she would dislocate something, or remove a limb alltogether in order to complete a motion. She knew that wasn't the case, as it was all part of a remarkable illusion; an illusion like the rippling stars in a slightly calm pond, or a waving mirage upon the horizon.
"Amazing, she is."
Akane released a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding, as Petra whispered in her ear loud enough to be heard over the pulse-pounding beat, "Is that?"
"She goes by the Nome de Danca 'Madam Blade', because her motions are as sharp as the Samurai katana, as fluid a tempered edge can cut through the air, and as eliquent as a finely crafted blade."
"She lives up to her namesake," Akane breathed, feeling a certain thrill go through her at the prospect of learning something, anything, from the woman before her, that was now striding towards her with the same confident walk that Petra, Shampoo, even Kasumi at her most sensuous displayed.
The feeling in her sternum built until she felt trouble breathing, and the spell over her was finally relinquished, as the woman gave her a smile under her thin visor shades, and then nodded to her mentor.
"Petra, it has been too long."
"Aye, mi amiga. Tu danca bonita... as usual."
"Only to keep you jealous, Pet," Madam Blade replied with an easy tone that held an alluring taint of proper and educated Japanese. It was far from what Akane had been expecting from a woman of the club scene.
Petra sniffed, and turned her head away, "If it was not you, then it would be her. Why must you two insist on that insepid nickname?"
"Only because I know it irritates you," Akane and Madam Blade said at the same time, before turning to each other, and chuckling.
"Are you going to introduce me to your date? She is a bit young for you," the redhead enquired, while tossing her long red hear out with her hand. Akane had to note something extremely familiar about the woman, but she couldn't place it.
"She not my date, she is my new estudante, 'Succubus'."
"Oh?" Madam Blade tilted her head, and put her index finger against her chin; Akane at that moment would give anything to find out what was going on behind the visor she wore, "So, you're the one who's name has been popping up every so often, here and there."
Akane found herself regressing to her previous personality, before Petra gave her confidence, "Um, I don't know if I'm that good."
Petra slapped Akane on the rump, earning a squawk and indignant glare from the younger woman. "You not a master of the form yet, but you lightyears ahead of the povo out there..." With a devious smirk, Petra turned to Madam Blade, "Care to show them how to really move?"
The redheaded woman's smirk matched the one the woman with the metalli-aqua hair wore, "Lead the way, Rhythm's Eve."
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Akane stood at the edge of the circle that had formed immidiately when Madam Blade came to a stop on a spot on the dancefloor. She was well known enough that she always warrented her own dance space, and she always had an audience. The song that began to play was 'Another You' by Cappella; classic early to mid 90's style Euro-dance.
She stood motionless as the song started up, building momentum like a runaway train that dared not allow any passengers to get off, or anything to get out of its path. Once it his full momentum her head snapped up. She dipped her chin, and then rolled it up, as she tilted her head to her left, making it seem to roll. Her torso turned to the left just after her head tilted that way, and like an awakened snake, her right arm rolled up from the shoulder, to the elbow, to the wrist, and through finger joints to the tip of the finger. Her left arm came up, outstretched and perpendicular with her body, and seemed to continue the roll, starting at its own shoulder, to the elbow, to the wrist, and out the fingertips.
Like a ball on a tether, the flow came back through her left arm, reversing the roll of her body from before, and seemed to center in the chest. As it arrived at her bosom, her right hand, which the palm was towards her chest and pointing to her left side, turned up to her head, and dragged down, following the flow that changed directions at a 90 degree angle to flow down to her sternum, through her stomach, to her hips.
She again turned to her left, placing her left hand's fingertips on her forehead, as she sunk down, sticking her right leg out to the right side, while her right hand rested on its front thigh. She rotated her wrist on her left hand counter-clockwise, causing her shoulder to roll along with it, and her torso to sway slightly to the right, as she rotated her neck remeniscent of a cobra's sway. She slid her right leg in while rising, bringing herself to standing, and walked to her left in a tight circle, before stopping, and folding her arms.
Rhythm's Eve strode out, and gave Madam blade a haughty smirk, as if replying to a challenge. her head snapped to the right, and then back. At that moment, her body seemed to glide to her left, leaving her right leg behind in its wake. Balanced on her left leg, her right hand came up, and the palm cupped her forehead, immidiately followed by her torso turning to face her right leg, and her left hand grasping the right's forearm, just above the elbow.
With a toss of her hips to the left, she brought her right leg up tightly, with the heal of her right foot against her firm backside. As she threw her arms up, crossed at the wrist, and spun to her left tightly in a manner that would leave champion figureskaters seething with envy.
She suddenly came to a stop, with her feet spread about two feet apart, and her arms down at an angle with fingers splayed. She was leaning back, with her head tossed back, allowing the lights about to capture and reflect within her metallic blue tresses. Slowly, oh, so sensuously, she brought her head down to face a nodding Madam Blade, allowing the redheaded woman to see the smug and content expression on her face.
The Battle was on.
Akane stood, awestruck as everyone else, as they watched the danceoff between the two women. It almost seemed like a martial arts battle, the way they interacted with each other, like when she had first seen Ranma face off against Ryoga. Instead, unlike Ranma and Ryoga's battle, which seemed like two elements of nature colliding; water and earth, Madam Blade and Rhythm's Eve's battle was like energy; lightning and thunder, or treble and base. The Redhead controled the tempo, while the metallic haired woman provided the beat.
It seemed as if Akane was witnessing what the art was truly about, the charisma, the energy, the force behind it all. It was impossible not to feel as if you were a part of it, as it permeated the being. The two dancers in the middle of the dancefloor were the conductors, orchestrating the symphony of thumping hearts commited by all those who observed.
Suddenly, Akane realized that they had stopped, and were looking at her expectantly. Her mentor beckoned her with a faint motion of her hand, but Akane could see it like an overbearing neon sign. Who was she to resist? She was powerless to refuse the call. Succubus entered the circle.
Succubus turned to her left in a dart, and then to her right. She stopped, still with her torso turned to the right, but her face turned to the two older women; as her left hand, with the palm towards the floor, slashed out to her left, halfway back to her right, then back out to her left, with her left knee following the motions.
She shifted her weight onto her right leg, and swung her left leg towards her right, making it rotate at the hip into a full circle. It landed with her foot braced on the ball, while her backside was thrust back, and her chest thrusted out. Her head was tilted back, as she felt the heady vibes caressing her brain like a lover's touch, and the lights above dancing across her face like welcomed sunlight after the coldest winter.
It coaxed her, telling her she had no more time to pause, to savor the delightful feeling, as she went back into motion. She tossed her right hand across her chest, and swung it up and around in a circle. Her right hand came to rest on her left waist, as her left arm wrapped around her to rest its hand on her right waist. She swayed to the rhythm, giving a slight shimmy as she did so. After a few sways, she stopped, rocked her hips once from left to right, and kicked into the side splits; holding it with seemingly no effort.
From the smiles of approval from her two mentors, and the exuberance of the crowd, the Succubus was accepted.
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"Your reputation is well earned," Madam Blade commented, as she sipped on her drink. Succubus nodded, sipping on her own alcoholic beverage that her mentor insisted on her having.
"Si, she is coming a long way, just you had, moca."
Madam Blade almost chocked on her drink, "Don't remind me." With a wistful sigh, she leaned back in her chair, "I was definitely a different being back then, was I not?"
"Pining after your husband and son he stole, what? Ten years ago?" Rhythm's Eve commented, earning a disgusted snort from the redheaded woman.
"I was an idiot to agree with that, but I've grown because of it."
"You have a family?" Succubus enquired, suprised that this woman before her would possibly have a domestic life.
"Yes, somewhere out there. I should hunt them down some time," Madam Blade sat up, pondering the idea, "Yes, I think that's just what I'll do, and I know exactly where to start."
"Hmm?" Succubus urged, taking larger sips from her tall glass, feeling the bite lesson on it, while her head began to grow a bit light.
"An old training partner of my Husband's. They studied under the same master, and as I recall, they made some rediculous pact with each other. If anything, I should probably track them down to ensure my dear husband hadn't done anything foolish... again."
Succubus nodded, before looking at her now empty drink; she didn't even realize she had finished it all. "How did you get interested in all of this? I mean, if you have a family and all... did you always dance?"
"Actually, that was my doing." Succubus turned to her mentor curiously, as Madam Blade order the young woman a refill. "Poor woman was wandering around, determined to do something with herself for the night, and I was new in town, and trying to make friends, as it were."
"You tried to pick her up?" Succubus asked with a drunken smirk. She then glared, after her mentor slapped her upside the head.
"I said make friends, get your mind out of the gutter."
"Anyhow, to make a long story short," Madam Blade smirked at Succubus rubbing the back of her head, "and less painful, the two of us ended up in a night club, where we watched these young men dancing in a way I had never seen before. Pet encouraged me to try, and I found it rather invigorating. After a while, I became good at it, and found that I could apply my tai chi practices to it. As I did so, something 'clicked', and the rest is history, as they say."
"Incredible, you actually applied it with martial arts without training in the Rhythm Fist?"
"Heh," Madam Blade chuckled, "I managed to invent the third branch of the Rhythm Fist, according to Pet. And she asked me to help instruct you in it."
Succubus blinked, "Thaaat would be cool!"
Both masters of their respective versions of the Rhythmer's Fist looked at each other, before turning back to the younger woman. "I think we'll have to put off your learning until another time, moca. You never drank before I'm guessing?"
"Howd u guess?" Succubus asked.
"Just as well, I think I'll begin my search tomorrow. It was nice to meet you again, Pet, along with your protoge`!" With that, Madam Blade got up from the table, and left.
"Come on, moca, we need to get you home in relative peace. Good thing you have no school tomorrow."
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Akane woke up, cursing the way too bright light in her window. she checked her clock, and grimaced. Kasumi usually never let her sleep in that long.
Akane found herself still dressed from clubbing the night before, and gathered a set of casual clothes to dress after taking a bath. As she made her way down the stairs, she heard a knock at the door.
Kasumi gave her a brief greeting, as she passed by to answer it. With curiosity, Akane followed.
"...band and my son."
"Oh! Are you looking for Uncle Genma and Ranma? They're out front in the midst of their morning spar," Kasumi answered, just as Akane came from behind her sister.
"Oh! It's been so long since I've seen them! Can I-"
Akane looked at the matronly woman with deep auburn hair that had bordered on dark red, done in a tight bun. Something about her seemed a bit familiar, but Akane couldn't place it, "Do I know you from somewhere?"
The woman stared back with wide-eyed shock and panic. "ah... I don't believe so, I have been in this neighborhood a few times, though," she hastefully replied, before quickly rushing by the two young women, "You said my son was out front? Oh, and my husband?"
She made it outside, just in time to see her husband and son collide in the air above the ornamental fish pond...