DISCLAIMER: I neither own nor make any claim to Ranma Nibunnoichi by Takahashi Rumiko. I just enjoy it. I also enjoy making up stories about the characters. I do not claim to be writing an official continuation of Ranma, if I did I'm sure the laughter alone would cause an earthquake. My characters will have a 'slight' tendency to be considered Out of Character and possibly a bit AU.
If I have spelt something terribly wrong please let me know. I hope you enjoy reading my attempt at writing. If you hate it then the correct option is to simply not read it. This story is fantasy and makes no attempt to be bound by the realities of life, if it did it would not be fantasy or at least not my fantasy.
I write for fun, I will update when I have the next chapter finished. I will do my best to make updates regularly but will only update when I am satisfied that it is ready.
Tattered Mist, the Letters
Dear Auntie
I so much want to cry and don't dare right now. Ran-chan woke up crying that something was wrong. The wires embedded in her body had caused such constant pain that she considered it to be normal and when she woke to find it not there she began to panic. What type of monster would inflict that type of pain on a child and then beat them for complaining about it. How awful her life must have been to think such pain was normal. She clung to me so hard that Dr Akira had to give her a tranquilliser so I could breathe without gasping. Dr. Akira is with her right now and a colleague that deals with trauma is on the way over. Nothing I could consider human would inflict such pain on a child. I can't stay away too long, she panics when I'm not there. I'll send you more as I get a chance.
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Dear Auntie
Ran-chan is sleeping right now, finally, and I've cried myself out, finally. Ran-chan had begun to panic when I left the room and when I re-entered the room Ran-chan was in my arms immediately. When Dr. Akira's colleague got here she managed to get her to calm down but not leave my lap. With a little prompting she started to open up and tell bits about her training. After Dr. Akira gave her another tranquilliser she started talking non stop. The doctor changed tapes in her recorder whenever she could get Ran-chan to take a sip of water. She talked for two hours straight, the cat-fist training was only one of the inhuman tortures she endured as training. Starvation, sleep and water deprivation and beatings were a constant. Interspersed were insane training techniques such as being tied and rolled down mountain slopes, being tied behind a train to build endurance and increase running speed. Being beaten for not stealing enough food was normal, being beaten at anytime just on a whim was apparently normal. It's no wonder she didn't fight back against Akane or the others, she considered herself to be their property after all Genma had sold her to them. Dr. Akira had to finally give her a strong sedative.
Do not under any circumstances allow Genma near you. He murdered some of the people he sold Ran-chan to when he was caught him trying to steal her back. Ran-chan was threatened with your death to keep her silenced. The authorities have been informed of the murders and while Ran-chan did not know their names she did know the location, approximate dates and was able to give very accurate descriptions of the victims.
Oh gods I wish you were here, but if you're being watched it would put yourself and Ran-chan in even greater danger.
I'll post again as soon as I can.
Kasumi
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My dearest Kasumi
Elder Cologne read this with me, fortunately, and stopped me from doing anything rash. We won't share this with anyone else.
I met Ichiro, he came to warn us that it's the Triad that is looking for Ranko and Kasumi. Genma sold both of them this time. He brought with him two members of the yakuza who also happen to be looking for Genma. He made a deal three months ago to provide Ranko, myself, Shampoo, and the three of you to them for a price and then robbed their safe and took and other items that night. He killed several of their people when they caught his actions on security camera and tried to apprehend him. The fact that I made him ronin and we are hunting him too has kept us from sharing his fate if they catch him. They are highly incensed that the triad is here and have assured us that they will not be much longer. They are more highly incensed now that they know their actions would have brought them in conflict with someone capable of doing large amounts of property when angered.
Genma's evil has come to light with a vengeance and is likely to hurt even more people before it is over. Take care of my child for me and I will see you when it is safe to do so once more.
Mai knows the situation and will keep quite about you being there. Ichiro asked that you have Ranma train her when she is better.
With all my heart
Nodoka.
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Dear Auntie
Please have Ichiro send a confirming E-mail of the meeting. The doctors think that it might be the key to fully breaking Genma's mental hold on Ran-chan. The length of time they were looking for you may convince her that Genma has planned this all along.
I can leave her for only very short periods of time as she becomes agitated, even asleep, if I am not there.
With all my love
Kasumi
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Dear Auntie
Sorry about the delay in posting, a lot has happened and we are just now getting straightened out.
The E-mail with the date Genma made his deal with them did more than expected. When Ran-chan read them she incinerated the copies of the E-mails in her hand, her clothing and a large portion of her bed. I am very glad she was not in my lap at the time. It took us an hour to calm her down. I had to point out that she would have to be in a lot better shape to get back at him and that she could combine that training with your wish for her education.
Ran-chan had Dr Kino help him recall a large chunk of his life that had been a blank. It was a marathon session. Namiko, Maeda-san and I took turns just being there. When a particularly bad spot was coming up Ran-chan would ask us to leave and for Maeda-san to be there. What I heard was horrendous, no one will talk about what she said when we were sent out but several officers and Maeda-san had to be given a tranquillizer during one session. Two teams of police officers each with two detectives and a special representative from the Diet took turns and were there all the time and asked the questions.
We have returned to Maeda-san's although she will remain under both doctors care for the immediate future with weekly meetings to handle ingrained unresolved problems.
The school jumped Ran-chan a grade based on her latest tests, and I did well enough on my previous test that the second tests I had to take were to allow me to skip many first year classes. I will have to face a board and answer questions and prove my proficiency on a few things that the test could not cover but I have been accepted. Several of Namiko's friends are going to help prepare me for the upcoming boards.
I convinced Ranma to teach Mai and several other students with the simple explanation that teaching them would force her to re-examine and make corrections to some of the kata as she had done for me earlier.
She has already decided not to accept beginners. Any student she takes must have the equivalent of a black belt from another school of martial arts and prove their proficiency to her. She is talking to Mai right now and I am recovering from our morning work out. She is very demanding and has accelerated my training. She also insists that according to my argument, that since teaching others will reinforce knowledge in the art I will also be teaching.
I have no doubt that she will be at or above the level she was before in less than a month.
With all our love
Kasumi
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Dear Ranko and Kasumi
I stopped Nodoka from replying to your last missive. She is a formidable fighter when enraged and I see where Ranko received the abilities and determination she has. I will, over the next few weeks, release the blocks I set on her. She was ready to go to you then but as has been pointed out it would have been counterproductive.
Ichiro is agrees with me in this and advises caution. Training your mother is a delight and she is much further on than she believes, I have the bruises to prove it.
Please let us know what you find out when you can but try not to refer to the previous E-mail. We are well here and Xian Pu's training is progressing much better now that she has Ryouga to care for. Ryouga is beginning to respond to treatment but it will be a slow process.
Everything here is secure. If you need anything you have but to ask, I consider you my granddaughters in all but name. Your father is doing magnificent, Kasumi, as well as your sisters. Nabiki would make a great addition to my people and she is helping Xian Pu much more than she realises.
Keep safe and continue to make us proud.
Ku Lon
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Dear Mom
With the exception of the hole in my head I'm almost fully healed. It will take another week or two before I'm back to full strength.
It's good to hear that Ryouga is doing better and that Shampoo is taking such good care of him. I would have loved to seen Nabiki sparring with Soun. I wish I could be there. Akane will make a wonderful martial artist once she gets control of her anger.
Learning the art is far different from teaching it. I'm trying to learn how to teach. I have a lot more respect for the 'Old Ghoul' now. Please ask her if she could send me some waterproof after some of the workouts I've been doing it would be nice to soak in hot water and I don't dare change until I have both Ka-chan's and the doctor's permission. Have Ichiro send it to Mai for us.
Ka-chan is a great teacher; he is picking it up faster than I am. He is fun to work with everyone on the work crew likes him. They joke with us but are always ready with the proper word if he or I use the wrong one.
Namiko is letting me know it is time for me to go to bed, so I have to close. Be careful and keep us current on what is happening in Nerima.
Ranko
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My dearest loves
I am sorry for the length of time between posts and I imagine that you are just as busy as we are. The past weeks have brought many changes.
Nabiki says she thoroughly, totally and unequivocally hates both of you. Soun approves of your criteria for students and Ranko's reasoning for having you teach also. Nabiki now not only teaches but she is tasked with changing the kata to reflect the physical differences and abilities of women and prove them to Soun. She grumbles, rants and is happier than I have ever seen her. Akane has accepted that she has a lot of catching up to do and that her temper is and has been a detriment. She practices with Nabiki now and when she looses her temper she winds up in the Koi pond.
Ryu and Viper continue to improve and Soun is now teaching those police officers whose training meets your qualifications. They are charged with bringing officers interested in learning up to the levels that have been set.
Ichiro is going to hold an open Kumite here in several months. All participants must have the permission of their schools master to enter. The local schools and several local business men have convinced the council to allow the use of an abandoned piece of property whose structure is not only an eyesore but has become a physical hazard over the years. It will be cleared and an open pavilion built on it that will host the Kumite and other community events.
The representatives from the yakuza and the triads have come to an agreement to join forces in the hunt for Genma. They also met with Ichiro and the council and assured them that the Kumite would have no trouble from either organization, and asked permission for some of their top fighters to participate. Soun said he had no problem as long as the other criteria were met.
Shampoo has become adept at diverting Ryouga when he starts to become depressed and is making progress teaching him meditation to control his anger. She has had her status provisionally restored but will not compete in the Kumite.
An Amazon contingent is coming to compete under the understanding that they are guests and that kiss of death or marriage will not apply, although they may accept a marriage challenge if it is issued.
Akane no longer flies into rage at the site of Ryouga and is civil to him when they meet. They are far from being friends and Ryouga still has not regained all his memories. Nabiki has contrived a GPS that is set to the Nekohaten and is activated if he is more than three blocks from it. He wears it around his neck and it has led him back several times. He is also a local hero now. A man grabbed a child away from her mother and he recovered the child and dragged the man by his heels back to the Nekohaten where the man was arrested and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Ryouga was cautioned to limit his strength against non martial artists but several comments were made that he could have taken a less direct route back, several of the suggested routes included debris laden construction sites. Shampoo praised him and gave him a glomp that that would have broken ribs on a lesser man.
Mousse has not been sighted for the last three days and we have no idea what he maybe up to.
I think this about covers the recent events. I love you and will be glad when we can get together again.
Nodoka
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Dear Auntie
YES! Very, very busy.
Our day starts at five in the morning. We meet our students at an abandoned quarry almost two miles from the house. I teach the katas and do not explain why the women's are different from the men's. Three have made their observation of the differences to me and I have asked they not share it. Ran-chan is teaching Mai, three instructors from the police, an American transfer student, and five instructors from the JSDF including an American on detached duty. I am very happy to say all are very dedicated.
The American had a slight problem receiving instruction from such a small girl until she began to throw him around and penetrated every block he attempted. Sergeant Abraham and Mai are his best students, Lieutenant Ishiro and Captain Takeuchi are at or near Uc-chan's level, Sergeant Taiki will make an excellent instructor for beginners but he doesn't have the intuitiveness to advance much higher. The three instructors from the police are working with her to develop a regimen to deal with problems that are peculiar to them, she studied some cases that had had unsatisfactory outcomes. She wouldn't tell me what was in them but the haunted look was back in her eyes for two days.
At seven we rush back to eat and shower then rush to school. At noon Ran-chan leaves her school and meets me where we eat and then attends advanced calculus. After that she goes to an integrated computer science and I go to pharmacology.
We are able to get home by four where I join crews in maintaining the hiking trails and she goes to the office where she is currently updating the computers and installing remote sensors in areas where tourist are known to have had trouble. At eight we return shower quickly and eat. Then we study together until around ten and go to bed where the cycle starts all over again.
Ran-chan has taken out two more of Happosai's scrolls explaining that the first two were too easy to count as a challenge. She has modified the third scroll and incorporated it with the hidden weapons techniques and is not satisfied with it yet.
Saturdays after instructing our class, we have Drs. Akira and Kino and then a three hour session in the library for material we can not get on line. Dr. Kino has removed most of Ran-chan's fear of cats, however cats as pets will probably never happen.
We eat on our way back home from the library and work until six thirty. We go home clean up and find out what Namiko has engineered for us to that evening. Dr. Akira approved of the first outing and has mandated that we continue; charging Namiko to make sure that we do. Last weekend it was dinner and a theatre performance and then dancing. This weekend was the Officers Ball at the base in Okinawa where Dr Kino does consulting work with other trauma specialists. I am becoming a better dancer in self-defence. Ran-chan danced with the admiral and flirted outrageously. She gently and courteously declined several invitations from younger men and surreptitiously dumped a large dose of very hot sauce into the drink of an amorous idiot who would not take no for an answer. If I hadn't been training with her I would not have been able to see her do it. The Admiral's wife virtually monopolized Ran-chan when she wasn't dancing and we are invited back in few weeks when they have a combined officer's ball with the JSDF.
Hopefully by the time of the Kumite we'll be able visit. I do so very much want to see every one and I want to see how much Nabiki has improved. I'll have to compare her variations with mine so we can keep them standard.
It is two thirty in the morning now and Ran-chan is sleeping. I will encourage her to post when we wake.
I love and miss you
Kasumi
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Dear Mom
Kasumi provided you our schedule and there is not much to add to it.
When I tested the second time my math was much higher than expected and I had already covered the material on computer science they teach. They maintain close ties to the college and arranged for me to take courses there. They have college level courses in school for the other subjects and I am really enjoying it, there are only nine of us in those classes and the professors teach evening courses at college. Professor Ulbrech teaches language and expects us to be able to switch from English to Mandarin to Russian and back. He will write the assignment on the board in Cyrillic demanding an English interpretation of a Mandarin text. We debate contextual differences and the pit falls of word for word translations which often do not say the same thing at all.
Kodachi would enjoy our chemistry class which focuses on biochemistry with a nod toward the others. We are given a known compound and research its effects and then we have to list derivatives and their effects.
I have written three papers in world history so far and have had to defend my conclusions. We study the collateral effects of major events and the conclusions reached can be and often are polar opposites. He does not give us safe subjects and will assign us viewpoints to defend that are directly opposite of the paper we turned in last. History, he is fond of pointing out, is small collection of facts twisted unmercifully to meet the view point of the writer.
I did not flirt outrageously, Genieve would not allow it! And she's the one who passed me the pepper sauce, she couldn't reach his glass. Dancing is such fun! She only allowed me to dance with safely married men she approved of and many of my dances were with Ka-chan when I could find him, normally hanging out with stuffy old doctors.
Ka-chan is right we need to get together and consolidate the modifications we are making. Some of the hidden weapon technique is easy to use and incorporate. And it has practical applications too, your purse can't be stolen if it can't be seen. I shoved my ice-cream in accidentally when I chased a purse snatcher and it was still frozen when I remembered and took it out that night.
The hole behind my ear has shrunk to one and a half cm and Dr Akira says when it reaches half a centimetre I can change while she observes to be sure there is no complications. The last MRI shows no scar tissue developing that could cause problems.
I've surpassed my old speed with the Amaguriken and I can use it for my whole body as long as I don't do it too long. There has to be away to apply it only to the body part that is moving. I'm working on building my ki reserves on using ambient ki that was mentioned in one of Happosai's scrolls. I'm going slowly on that technique, the first time I consciously tried it I started to take in too much at once. I need to find a way to take in only what I'm putting out.
How is your training under "the Old Ghoul" coming. She is very demanding but she is also very good. I've never had a better instructor. Ask her for me if she knows anything about regulating the absorption of ambient ki.
Ka-chan didn't tell you but he is at the top of his classes and I am barely even with him in calculus, I have to work like everything to keep up.
I've taught Ka-chan the Amaguriken and he also can do a ki blast! I've also unlocked Genma's techniques, it might be unexpected enough to give Ka-chan time to get away. I'm playing around with it right now, I see some areas that I believe I can improve.
I love you so very much
Ranko