Ranma Tales ½: Chapter 4- Stormy Past

Part 1: Master of Air

'Well first things first, I guess' Ranma thought to himself. Gathering his energy again into his right hand, small arcs of electricity bounce form various objects to his hand as it builds up and then with a tossing gesture Ranma yells "Lightning Bolt!" The whole room turns white from the flash and a incredibly loud Crackle, Snap! sound fills the dojo.

The creature growls as tendrils of smoke drift off of it, but it doesn't seem all that hurt regardless of how many volts of electricity it just got fried with. In fact all it really seemed to do was make it mad. Mad enough that it rushed straight at Ranma jaws wide open claws lunging out in front of it with each leaping step as it moved almost faster than the eye could follow.

Ranma however is up to this challenge, each claw strike evaded by just enough that he didn't have to worry about any sort of back hand strike. If this thing was even smart enough to use such a thing. Doing a back flip to get some space he decides it's time to get serious before this thing gets any ideas involving anyone else present. With a motion that to everyone else looked like he was trying to pull something out of his body, a sharp looking silver bladed katana simply appears in his hand. As such weapons go this one wasn't all that special looking, slightly curved blade of just about three feet in length with a leather wrapped hilt and a circular guard. Well normal in every way, except the fact that it had something of a faint blue glow.

The creature charged again and with a lightning fast move, Ranma dove under the strike and raised the sword behind him. For a second everyone watching this thought he'd missed, until the creature howled in pain and it's left front leg dropped to the ground leaving dark liquid oozing from the freshly opened wound.

It definitely wasn't dead though and in a fairly sickening move (mostly because it's one 'arm' now ended in a stump) where it smacked it's wounded shoulder against the ground and pushed itself around to face Ranma who had ended up behind it. It then stands somewhat upright on it's back legs, which nearly made it's head smack into the ceiling, before it crouches back down ready to leap forward.

Ranma simply stands his ground, shoves his sword point first into the dojo floor so it won't go anywhere, and folds his hands together stretched in front of him. He gathers energy yet again as twelve glowing golden balls of light appear swirling around his hands. As he yells "Seal!" the balls fly straight toward the now leaping creature and circle around it as an outline of concentric circles encompass the creature connecting the balls together as they flare and shrink into the creatures body. Suddenly bands of golden light burst outward and wrap around the creature binding it's body tight. Ranma sidesteps the now bound creature as it slams into the dojo floor with enough force to crack the floorboards.

Calmly walking over and picking up the sword still imbedded in the floor, Ranma stares at the creature. Trying to use his senses to find why it was here and what it had expected once it got here. That attempt however only proved to show him it was far to simple to give him any answers to his questions. So he walks over to the creature looking into it's mask of a face, before he draws back his sword and runs it's head through with the sword. Once the sword is buried to the hilt in the creatures head he says "Disperse." and with a burst of energy the creatures body begins to melt, curling smoke like threads trailing off of it as the body fades away taking the sword with it.

He turns to look at the others in the room, dreading the conversation he knows he's going to end up having. Overlooking the chaos below was another form standing atop the wall beside the dojo that so far had gone unnoticed below. This shadowed form wore an evil smile as it watched the scene.

Part 2: Eye of the Storm

Reactions to the scene that just ended in front of them all where mixed. After all it wasn't every day shadowy nightmare creatures attacked them. Not that other odd things hadn't occurred.

Soun was frightened. Not because of the creature, he had after all spent years with master Happosai and so had seen and fought worse. No it has far more to do with the young man he had challenged to a fight earlier. Had he not almost abandoned his art he could have probably gone a round or two and maybe came close to winning, but as he was now that challenge looked to be utter insanity. Added to that was the utter calm the whole time he saw within Ranma and the lack of emotion he had seen in Ranma when he had killed it. Soun may once have had that sort of will, but now he wasn't so sure.

Kasumi was amazed, frightened, shocked, confused... And above all worried who would have to clean up this mess and how they could fix this crazy mess. A small part of her also was secretly glad Ranma had been here to stop that thing, since she knew Soun and Akane both would have been unable to stop it. That part hide another that hinted she'd rather it had been the good doctor Tofu who had should up instead to save them. Not that he would have been much good after seeing her of course, he was such a silly man sometimes.

Nabiki had three thoughts. First she wanted to know how in the world they'd get the money to fix this. It was nearly ready to collapse the way it looked now, with a whole in the one wall and a good section of floor destroyed completely. Second she wanted to know why she hadn't filmed this. The money from selling copies of all this would be insane. Last, but not least, was a bit of contemplation on how she could make this happen again, preferably with a good film crew on hand or spectators she could handle bets for.

Akane however had the deepest thoughts out of everyone watching. Not only had she seen Ranma effectively save her life, since she knew it had nearly decided to feast on her before he distracted it. Then add in the talk before about what it really meant to be a true martial artist. 'Could I really do that sort of thing? Do I want to? But what would have happened if Ranma hadn't been there to do it? Could I have done anything against that thing as she was now? Could I live with myself (even if I had died first) if it had killed them all? Is this what he was trying to hint at...?'

Holding his hand behind his head in an exaggerated pose, he laughs slightly and says "Alright whose up for some dinner?" Everyone just stares at him open mouthed and the flood started.

Nabiki growled out "What the hell just happened?" Nods from both Soun and Kasumi followed her statement.

Ranma sighs ands says "That's a long story... Ah... Why don't we go eat and then after dinner I can explain it...?" Wishing quite heavily that he could put this conversation off as long as humanly possible. He'd rather explain his curse again...

Nabiki's eyes narrow "No, I think I want my answers now." Giving him her 'Ice Queen' glare. Nods again from Soun and Kasumi, even though Soun knew perfectly well what was going on distractions to being able to blame anything related to this on him were always good things.

Ranma sighs and says "Ok, Ok... diner later, talk first..." He frowns and says "Can we at least move inside so we can sit down? It's kinda a long story..." They all shake their heads 'no' and proceed to sit on what's left of the floor in the dojo.

Part 3: Fury of the Past

Ranma starts "See first you have to understand that as my sensei says 'Their are more things between Heaven and Hell than you can imagine.' Which is supposed to be some badly remembered quote he decided made more sense than the long answer... See spirits exist everywhere, it's what animates us, animals, plants, etc... It's how martial artists can do the various supernatural feats and has a lot to do with legends involving magic like my curse. Few people know how to use their own spirit to do anything these days though. Some spirits however either never had a body or through death lose a body can still do things... Strong enough ones are commonly called Youki, Demons, Oni, Angels, Kami, etc... Most people are to busy trying to name and classify them to ever realize they are effectively all related or work out how they exist."

Ranma frowns "Though a probably got ahead of myself, I should probably first explain the three pillars concept among others. See people, animals, and plants... Or in others words everything alive has three things that together form them and let them act on their own. These three things are: The body, or physical manifestation of will. The mind, which is the voice that gives us choices. And the soul that gives us the energy to tap on power to fulfill our will. Emotion is the one thing that exists across all three, which is why it can help people do incredible things."

"This is part of what sensei calls 'The Path", walking the path means you attempt to harmonize these three parts of yourself to do things normal people can't. There of course is a downside. Spirits without a body are attracted to those that have power from the harmony of body/mind/spirit. He always liked to call this "Manifest Destiny" and then laugh for a long time. To make it simple spirits without a body exist as a mind and soul that are one. They sorta feel those with the focus to do that while still in a body. My master for instance attracts spirits like a magnet, if there is one within a hundred miles it will find him." Ranma can't help, but grin at that.

"Added into this mix are what he calls 'Affinities'. Affinities are our links to spirits, religion is actually an affinity for instance. Family shrines 'store' part of a deceased family members 'spiritual residue' and link it with all the other residue from each person to be marked by a shrine. Someone like a priest of the right skill can then draw on that spirit. That kind of spirit however isn't left wondering mindlessly like what you saw here. Instead they act as a sort of guidance and attempt to protect their families, in any way they can... Which Unfortunately without a person to call on the spirit correctly normal isn't much more than an occasional warning, a sense of a familiar presence, or most rarely a dream involving those that have passed on. Spirits like those are normally very nice and like to talk a lot since they so rarely get heard these days..." There is a kinda wistful look in his eyes when he says this.

"Besides 'active' spirits like family spirits, there is the kind that attacked which we call 'Lost Ones' since even though certain ones that seem human they have lost most of their former selves and instead act entirely on instinct. Most people tend to call them 'ghosts' and 'poltergeists'. A few of these get really strong and can effect the world they once lived in." Ranma pauses briefly.

"Lastly there are elemental affinities. People have a certain element of nature they are in sync with. The classic elements are Air, Fire, Earth, Water, and linking them Spirit itself. Few people however are in sync with spirit, as a martial artist these types forgo almost all physical attacks and instead just start flinging energy around. The are really weak to physical attacks, but Ki attacks don't do much of anything against someone like this. I for instance am an air type. Even if I weren't a martial artist my affinity to an element would still manifest as personality traits, but that's were it ends with most people. It is extremely rare from what sensei says for someone to have an affinity for two elements, though he falls into that class by having an affinity for both air and fire. He's rarely ever seen it, but anyone to have an affinity with opposite elements can exist as well... They just aren't... sane." Ranma thinks for a moment and says "You know I never bothered to look, but maybe that's Kuno's problem..."

Nabiki had listened to all those wacky metaphysical mumbo-jumbo for quite awhile, but enough was enough "Ok, now who in the world is going to come up with the money to fix this? I kinda doubt your 'spirits' happen to have money on them..." She waves her hands around the broken dojo.

Ranma smiles and reaching back to rub his neck says "Ah, no not normally..."

Nabiki nods "SO, how exactly do you think this will get fixed no that your spirit friend came to play?"

Ranma sighs "I'm not sure exactly, if it was sensei he'd wave his hand and toss some energy and the place would fix itself... I'm just not that good though, when I do it things stay together like I used tape..."

Nabiki blinks "Say that again?"

Ranma grins and repeats himself for Nabiki. Nabiki then says "Are you trying to tell me that your magic tricks could potentially fix this place without costing me a dime?"

Ranma replies "Well sensei could do it... He had a trick he used to use when he wanted to intimidate someone where he'd touch a wall it would fall apart without any effort... And when I say that I mean the whole wall, I once some him tap a hundred foot stretch of wall in china and it collapsed. Then with a wave of his hand he pulls everything back together as good as new. Petty thugs normally figured their time was spent better elsewhere after seeing that kinda thing..."

Everyone just kinda stares at him, then he blinks and remembers something "Ah, I do think I may have a solution though... Sensei did give me a contact of his in Tokyo. That's how I was paying for the hotel room I was using. How about I gave you the information for my contact and you can ask him about helping you fix this?"

Nabiki shrugs figuring she's not gonna have better luck than that. "Ok though I expect you to help clean this up in the meantime." Kasumi nods not wanting to get the job by herself.

"Ah sure I wouldn't want you guys to have to do it by yourselves anyways..." was Ranma's reply.

Part 4: Ever Present Storm

A voice from the big hole in the wall interrupts "Nihao Ranma, I happy to see you." In badly accented Japanese. Ranma groans.

Every head turns to look toward the hole to see a purple haired young woman, wearing a long Chinese dress slit up to the hip on each side. The dress itself was something of a sight since it was in a dark purple nearly black color with a much more red toned dragon styled around the edges of it. In both her hands she holds a matched pair of wooden maces.

Ranma panics and looking around spots Akane's water bottle, quickly poring it over her head he turns into his girl form. Laughing near hysterically she the says "I don't see anyone named Ranma hear. Just a cute red headed girl spending time with her fathers friend and daughters. Nothing strange to see here."

Xian Pu smiles a evil smile and says "No use Ranma, I already know is you. No hiding from fate this time."

Ranma "Ah Shampoo, You know I don't want to fight you... Can't you just give this up...?"

Xian Pu smirks "No, my honor has been tarnished much by your actions. Only option left is revenge. Even if really boy, you must die. Make great grandmother less than happy, but I don't care."

Ranma asks "Can't I at least have dinner first? I really would like something to eat first before we fight at least..." Hoping that just maybe she'd leave him alone for awhile...

Xian Pu smiles that evil smile again and says "Sure Shampoo can wait till morning. You need last meal anyways." With this she turns and with a single leap is over the wall.

Every eye turns to stare at him and he realizes Xian Pu most likely did this knowing exactly what he would now have to do... For the second time today... 'Maybe I should just write a book, then I wouldn't have to explain everything so often...' Before he sheepishly looks at the Tendo's again.

Author's Notes:

As you may or may not have started to guess I'm not a big fan of Shampoo's, I'll explain more of why she's acting the way she is in the next chapter as Ranma must explain why she is there (or try to at least) and Just why she hates Ranma so much. As usual Genma had a lot to do with it, but what else is new...? ;)

Oh and in case your wondering... Soun does in fact know Nodoka in this fic, as well as a lot of other things... But as I think the manga and anime point out, Soun is a coward when it comes to confrontation... He needed Genma at his side to even try to stand up to anyone...

You also might be wondering why Nabiki hasn't sold information on either the engagement or the curse to anyone... Well except for Kuno... It's mostly because she is slightly intimidated by this sudden unknown, and she wants to get a handle on how to work it all in her favor first... The original Ranma was an easy mark, this Ranma isn't. She'll come up with something soon though...

Oh lastly sorry about having to get metaphysical, but I do kinda have to explain how he tosses Lightning around... This description is something of a combination of ancient Chinese legends/beliefs (like House of Flying Daggers, Hero, Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon, etc) and Japanese martial arts traditions (mostly visualized like Tenjou Tenge, Naruto, Bleach, Tsubasa Chronicles, and other modern anime ideals). The original tried to combine them, but I think it was obvious Rumiko Takahashi wasn't much of an expert on martial arts or their history... In fact I think that still shows in her more recent work. This however ends up being where the 'M' rating I applied to the series comes from. People will get hurt, someone could die, I have no plans to sugar coat the violence that can be the life of a martial artist. Well at least one with as many enemies as friends, and few people he can really trust...