Ranma Tales Chapter 21: Of Fathers, Of Family, a ranma fanfic

Ranma Tales ½: Chapter 21 – Of Fathers, Of Family

Part 1: A Talk of Ghosts

Nabiki comes downstairs early Sunday morning. She stumbles towards the kitchen, while she isn't a morning person her reason for heading for the kitchen this morning isn't just for her cup of coffee. She heard both Ranma and Akane come home late, and at different times, last night. This is perfect for her however, she wants a chance to talk to Kasumi alone and they will both sleep in since they went to bed late.

As Nabiki comes into the kitchen, she sees Kasumi was happily humming away in the kitchen as she cooks breakfast. This is typical for Kasumi. In fact in the last eight years, this has been the most common pattern for Kasumi. Well mostly the last seven, that first year after their mothers death had been horrible. It is one of the few times she hasn't minded auntie Nodoka being there. If she hadn't been they would have probably all be faring much worse.

Kasumi notices Nabiki enter the room and grabs a cup and fills it from the coffee machine, then hands it to her with a smile. Nabiki nods and says "Thanks." Kasumi goes back to breakfast

After a few minutes, and more than a few sips of coffee, Nabiki asks Kasumi a question "Kasumi, I saw you summon mothers ghost or spirit during that big fight... I was wondering if you can do that anytime..."

Kasumi falters while cooking and nearly drops the breakfast materials in her hands. Finally after a very long minute goes by she says "I don't know what you are talking about..."

Nabiki snorts and says "Oh come on, you cannot just write that off... Everyone still conscious at the time saw that... Felt that."

Kasumi sighs "No I can't, but I want to..."

Nabiki frowns "Why?"

Kasumi keeps her face turned away from Nabiki and says "Because mother made me promise to keep it a secret... It was her dying request. The exception was for a situation like the other day... When things were life and death."

Nabiki shrugs "But we know now. Mother didn't look unhappy when she saw us either... So why try to hide it still?"

Kasumi replies "I haven't had the courage to try to talk to her to find out what she thinks of what happened. I've talked to her less often in the last few years anyway... Early on I summoned her to help cook in the morning and we would talk... It was almost like she was still alive if it didn't drain me to have her here. Recently I've only summoned her when I had no idea how to solve a problem. It's not just because it drains me to summon her though, it's that it's painful to see her often... She always feels too real...too alive..."

Nabiki nods, then realizes Kasumi can't see that with her back to Nabiki, so she says "I can understand that. I don't even blame you for keeping her a secret from us..." She pauses and then says "Not really... Until recently I would have been afraid of showing her what I'd become..."

This does cause Kasumi to turn around. Kasumi looks shocked and says "Nabiki! You can't be serious... You've done so much for all of us..."

Nabiki sighs "I'm serious... Somewhere I got off track and never realized it... Even my feelings for all of you were twisted up, so I felt them more out of obligation than out of genuine feelings. I owe Ranma a lot for helping open my eyes awhile ago. It's taken some time, but I've realized I stopped feeling. So no matter what I did, the only thing that matter was what I got out of it, not the pain I caused or even the damage I did to myself. Seeing mom again, was the last thing in a whole chain of things that made me remember what was important. Well most important... I can't say money isn't important it's just not the be all and end all it used to be for me..."

Kasumi just looks on shocked. The first reason for that is Nabiki telling her that she in fact forgot why she cared for all of them, that alone was something of a surprise... Nabiki was never all that great with showing her emotions since their mother had died, but Kasumi had never doubted that Nabiki loved all of them. On top of that was the whole Ranma helping her understand things part... She knew he could be somewhat insightful and even helpful at times with certain things, but opening Nabiki's eyes to her own feelings? That was news. It did however explain why Nabiki was helping Ranma locate his mother. Then to find out Nabiki had only cared about money, or had until her talk with Ranma and then seeing their mother... That was all a lot to digest...

Nabiki waves her hand in front of her sisters face and says "Earth to Kasumi, please come in."

Kasumi blinks and says "I'm so sorry Nabiki I never knew things had gotten so bad for you... If I had known..."

Nabiki cuts her off "It's ok. We've all had our own worries. I think falling in love with the good doctor when he was acting kinda wacky around you and deciding you couldn't yet leave us for college, took up a lot of your thoughts. By the way, I have every intention of making sure you do go to college. I haven't worked out the details yet, but you need to make sure you know where you want to go and what your going for first."

Kasumi stares at Nabiki with her mouth hanging open. "Go to college? I can't go to college... Who would take care of the house? How would everyone eat?" She runs out of coherent thoughts and trails off.

Nabiki grins "Akane and Ranma can take care of the house. Heck if what Ranma says is true then he can cook. Maybe he's not as good as you, but it's food and it's edible. If things go well I might not even move out when I start college, though I'm rather undecided on that right now. And yes you can and will go to college... Most likely when I go, unless things really get screwed up..." She pauses, but that wasn't what I actually wanted to talk to you about this morning... We kinda got sidetracked... I need answers. Answers I think mother may know."

Kasumi frowns "How would mother know the answers to questions you might have?"

Nabiki sighs and says "Ok, let me put it like this... I've been checking out the back history of Ranma's father, Genma, to try to find his mother. Only…his father hardly seems to exist. So I had to go a step farther and looked up our father. They were students of the same master, so something should turn up... Only father wasn't that much better than Genma was. At least not until he got married and settled down here at the dojo. Which leaves me with almost nothing. So I need answers and our mother is about the only reliable person I can think of that might have them."

Kasumi sighs "Well I guess I can do it... I would like to help out. I just don't know if she will answer..."

Nabiki nods "That's all I ask."

Kasumi says "I can try whenever you want... Should I start now?"

Nabiki is about to reply with a bleary eyed Ranma enters the room and says "Morning." He takes the tea kettle and a cup, then pours some tea into the cup and heads for the living room.

Nabiki sighs and says "As soon as those two get out of the house... Daddy too, if possible. I want a real answer for them, not just pieces and daddy doesn't want to answer any of my questions... So I doubt he'd want me to ask mother."

Kasumi nods "Ok. I won't help you get them out of the house though. Just let me know when."

Nabiki smiles and starts planning.

Part 2: A Talk with a Ghost

Nabiki actually found it rather easy to get the others out of the house. Ranma and Akane had apparently had a fairly busy afternoon and night. They wanted to try to talk to some girl they met. Nabiki's father had been slightly harder, though not too much so. He seemed like he really wanted to go out somewhere, so Nabiki made sure he had money. After that he left fairly quickly.

Now that she was alone with Kasumi they could finally begin. So Nabiki tracks down Kasumi who is outside doing laundry. When Kasumi notices Nabiki she says "So they've all gone out?"

Nabiki nods "Yeah. Ranma and Akane went to look up some girl with the sister of one of their classmates. Not exactly sure why, but they seemed worried about her. Daddy got the urge to go out somewhere, and with a bit of money in hand, took off pretty quick. It was a bit weird, but right now we have more important things to worry about."

Kasumi nods "True. Well let me finish these. Meet me in the living room?"

Nabiki replies "Sure. I'll be there." She then walks inside. She grabs some tea before heading into the living room. Then she sits down and sips her tea as she waits. She doesn't have to wait long, fifteen minutes at most. Then Kasumi comes into the room and takes a seat herself.

Nabiki asks "So how does this work?"

Kasumi shrugs "I don't think I can explain it... Let me just see if I can get it to work, you should know pretty shortly if it works or not."

Nabiki nods "Ok".

Kasumi closes her eyes and seems to just sit there meditating for awhile. Slowly Nabiki can see a shimmer of something form around Kasumi. She couldn't describe it however, much like all the strange things she started seeing lately. At it's clearest she would describe it as looking a lot like clear flames swirling around Kasumi's body.

Her attention however switches to a spot across the table as a matching flicker of energy swirls into existence. Eventually it takes the form of a ghostly transparent form of a woman. A woman very familiar to Nabiki and Kasumi. Once the woman forms completely Kasumi opens her eyes.

The ghostly figure opens her eyes as well and takes a look around. Seeing Kasumi and Nabiki she smiles faintly. She then asks "So you know?" The voice is just as familiar though it sounds like it's coming from far away.

Nabiki blinks however and says "Know what?"

The ghost looks Nabiki over and says "I figure you must know something about the time before you were born. A get together to 'see' mom, would include Akane at least. Just wanting to talk is more Kasumi's thing, though she hasn't called on me since that fight... No, if you two are together than you must know something of the past and want to ask me about it."

Nabiki shrugs "Well you are sort of right..."

The ghost smiles sweetly and says "You always were the one to see through everything to know the truth without being told..." The ghost pauses, her face gaining a thoughtful look, and then says "I remember when Fluffy died and we told you and Akane at the same time about. Of course we tried to be nice and simply said 'Fluffy had to go away and we won't see her again'. Akane was confused and upset demanding we get Fluffy back." The ghostly woman smiles and says "You just looked at her and said 'Fluffy is dead, there isn't any coming back.'. Of course Akane burst into tears, but you've always been the insightful one."

Nabiki blinks trying to remember the event, then she does remember... She smiles faintly "Akane loved that cat. I can't believe I forgot about it... Akane refused any other pet for years after that... I also remember you had some choice words about how blunt I was..."

The ghostly visage nods "True. As you just said it hurt Akane for years and you had a hand in it. I don't blame you though. You were seven, you didn't realize what it could do to her because it didn't bother you nearly as much."

Nabiki shrugs "The cat never really liked me... Or at least it always choose Akane over me..." She blinks and says "I almost forgot why we did call on you though..."

The ghostly woman sighs "Ok, if I can't distract you... What do you know and what do I need to tell you?"

Nabiki says "I don't know how much you know about life here recently..."

The ghost interrupts and says "I watch over you all still... I can't be here all the time, but I probably know more about events in the house than either of you... A slight advantage of being invisible if you will..."

Nabiki nods "Ok then... Ranma has been here awhile so I'm guessing you know him..."

The ghost smiles "Yes... Such a lonely soul... I'm glad Akane will try to be with him... He also has a most interesting master in the martial and not so martial arts..."

Nabiki says "Yeah that pretty well describes him... Well I've been searching for his mother and I'm not getting very much in the way of helpful information..."

The ghost frowns "I do have limits to what I can say... I won't tell you how to find my old friend, even if she should know who her son is."

Nabiki thinks that over 'That was a strange way of wording that... It does however tell me that mother knew her. In fact she called her an old friend. That may be a good lead. That 'She should know who her son is' comment is very interesting as well. Right now however, I have more important topics.'

Outloud Nabiki says "I understand that. I found something odd I think you can explain... Why do records of Genma Saotome and daddy, at least before he married you, not seem to really exist?"

The ghost sighs "That is a complex question... The simplest answer is that Genma had as much of their pasts erased as possible."

Nabiki says "You mean all that money under Ranma's name that is owed all over the place was used to erase Genma and daddy?"

Kasumi frowns at hearing this, but doesn't say anything. The ghost however nods "Yes. I didn't know how your father's best friend was going to get the money for it, but after he had left on the trip I found out from your father part of why they left."

Nabiki asks "Why?"

The ghost looks wistful for a moment, then she says "It's simple if you know about their pasts... You see your father wasn't a very good man when I met him... In fact under their master they did a lot of things they'd like to forget."

Kasumi manages to ask "What do you mean? You would never marry someone who was evil and father hardly seems evil."

The ghost smiles very faintly "When I met your father it was to track him down and stop him from doing anymore evil. I was a Betsushikime (I'm not sure the translation for this, however it's the term used for special 'demon hunting' Miko's in Japanese myth) after all. However when I saw him I knew I couldn't go through with my mission. We were linked and I could deny it all I wanted, but I could have never killed him."

To say Kasumi and Nabiki were shocked was probably an understatement. The ghost however continues "He wasn't so much evil of course... Just corrupted by his master. So I decided I would redeem him. I had some success and I decided it was a start. I finally declared my love for him and he told me the same. However your father never knew I was a Miko the whole time we knew each other. Even after we were married I refused to tell him. Even before I passed away I still refused to tell him. I may have helped him overcome the worst of his past, but he would not have been happy if he knew. When we married I left behind my old life."

Kasumi realizes something and says "That's why you never really taught me anything!"

The ghost nods "I couldn't avoid teaching you some... You are actually stronger than I ever was. It's why I couldn't seal your power... Even if I could have gone through with that. In fact all my daughters have considerable talent because of me..."

Nabiki blinks and says "You mean all those things I've been seeing lately are real? I mean I knew they were real in a way, but I mean real real..."

The ghost woman smiles and says "Yes... Your just around to many people who are openly using spiritual power and so you to can catch at least glimpses at what's going on. Much like Akane before Ranma showed up, but you don't have any active potential to use what you can see and sense."

Nabiki just kinda stares at the ghost and says "I'm not some sort of martial artist or Miko... And I don't really want to become one..."

The ghost shrugs "It's your choice... However I can say you may not have a choice forever..." The ghost turns to Kasumi and says "You for instance have little choice anymore.. You need to be trained and I can't possibly do it since I'm dead. The Hitome girl would be a good starting point. That handsome doctor of yours can help some as well, even I trained in a form of martial arts and you follow in my path. I trained in Naginata-jutsu, naginata-do, and atarashii naginata."

Kasumi frowns "I don't have any desire to fight anyone..."

The ghost sighs "That may be true now, but what about when those two attacked the other day? Right then you did everything you could, but you didn't have enough skill to succeed on your own. I'm telling you that you need that training. Your actions that day and the sheer strength of your potential will make you a target. In the end the only one that can save you is yourself. I do not wish to lose any of my daughters..."

Kasumi looks thoughtful. Nabiki interrupts "Anything else you can tell me...?"

The ghost smiles faintly and says "There are many things I would like to tell you... But my time here now draws to an end... Just know your father will try to get his way by any means he can... That could prove dangerous to you all..." As she says this her form shimmers and then fades away. Kasumi nearly falls over as the strain catches up to her.

Nabiki grabs Kasumi so she can't fall onto the floor and says "Well that was interesting... It didn't answer nearly enough of my questions though..."

Kasumi tries to catch her breath and says "I can't do that again for at last a day or two, so it will have to be enough for now..." She looks worried about what their mothers spirit said to them however. Nabiki can tell she's not thinking about most of what their mother had said, just that last part specific to Kasumi.

Nabiki nods however "Sure, I need to go work on a few things... Will you be ok...?"

Kasumi nods "Sure I'll be fine. I just need to rest for awhile."

Nabiki says "Ok, see you in a bit then." Then she stands up and walks upstairs. New ideas already going through her mind.

Part 3: Secrets

When Ranma met Akane downstairs the next morning both were less comfortable with each other than they had been in a long time. After looking at each other nervously for several minutes Ranma finally says "I'm sorry about last night... I can't exactly control myself completely in that state... I didn't mean to force you into anything you don't want... I even tend to forget I'm in female form when I use that..."

Akane interrupts blushing "No, it didn't really have anything with you being a girl at the time... Or a lack of desire in doing... Um that... In fact I had a really hard time stopping... I just didn't want us to do, um that, in front of an audience... Including one person from our class and four girls we didn't know..."

Ranma smiles slightly "Well I'm glad it wasn't what I thought. I don't think I can resist you very well..." Ranma pauses and then asks "So uh why are you nervous this morning?"

Akane sighs "Well I had to tell them all what happened and some of the details about you... I wasn't sure you'd want me to do that, but I couldn't think of anything else to do at the time with four people asking me questions about everything..."

Ranma starts to nod then blinks and says "Four? Their were five of them when I left. Who didn't you tell?"

Akane sighs again "Hinata got upset almost right after you left and ran off. She seems to think no one can understand what it's like to be her... She even pushed Miho away and they seemed to be friends... I'm actually worried about her."

Ranma nods "If that's the case we should see about finding her then..."

Then Nabiki comes in and after a few bits of info exchange, tells them the easiest way would seem to be by simply asking Miho how to find her. Ranma and Akane look at each other and silently decide Akane is the best choice to call. So Akane calls the Todoh household and asks for Miho.

Miho comes on "Hello?"

Akane replies "Hello Miho... Me and Ranma wanted to check on Hinata, but we don't know how to find her. We were hoping you knew..."

Miho sighs in relief and says "I was planning to check on her myself. I'll take you there ok?"

Akane frowns slightly and says "Well she could be dangerous... You may be better off just telling us where she is."

Miho replies "No way! Hinata would never hurt me! I'm coming too or you won't find her!"

Akane gives in and they agree to meet Miho in front of a specific spot in town. So not even five minutes later they leave the house hand in hand and set off. Twenty minutes later they are standing in front of the spot and Miho comes up to them.

Miho says "Hi. Let's go, ok? She has me more than a little worried after last night."

Ranma nods "It sounded pretty bad. Let's go."

That said they walk off and eventually come to a large apartment complex. Miho leads them up four flights of stairs and eventually down a hallway. Finally they stand in front of a single nondescript door. Miho knocks on the door. However there is no reply from inside.

Miho sighs. Akane looks worried. Ranma however just says "Ya know... Some times, I really wish I had an earth affinity..." He pauses and then says "Um, is there an outside window into the room?"

Miho nods "Sure, but how would that help?"

Ranma smiles and says "Hang on, be right back..."

He walks to the window at the end of the hallway and leaps right out. Much to the utter shock and horror of Miho. Akane just sighs though and says "He wouldn't have been that open about it if he didn't know you'd be so shocked... Part of his training involves jumping really high into the air, landing after huge falls, and some things that just defy gravity. He's just fine."

Miho doesn't look too sure, but since Akane isn't worried she can't make too big a deal over it. Soon however they hear a shriek from inside before an answering voice that says "It's ok, I'm just here to open the door for them since you didn't answer." That voice sure sounds a lot like Ranma's.

A moment later it is confirmed as Ranma's as he opens the door for them and waves them inside. Both come in to find a somewhat angry, but mostly miserable looking Hinata inside. Miho instantly zero's in on her and says "Hinata, I'm your friend. I don't care about all this freaky stuff from yesterday. You're in pain and I want to help. I need to help."

Hinata sighs "You just can't understand... I've had friends before say they wanted to, but they just got freaked out when I told them..."

Ranma interrupts "Even if you don't want to tell her... I kinda have to insist on knowing what happened to you yesterday... I'd rather not really, since it's none of my business, but it's too much like my Neko-Ken for my own peace of mind. If it is like my neko-Ken I want to help."

Inside her head Hotaru says 'You may as well tell them. The worst case scenario is that they stop trying to help you. You never know maybe this time will even be different. Ranma does seem to be almost as freaky as me after all...'

Hinata sighs and says "Ok. Hotaru convinced me, I'll tell you all why I keep saying no one will understand."

Miho blinks and says "Hotaru? Who's Hotaru?" She hadn't known Ranma or Akane long, but she knew neither of them was 'Hotaru'. That made her worry more for her friend.

Hinata smile slightly, as if she finds some humor in the puzzled expression on her friends face, and says "Hotaru is my sister. My twin sister. Or she was..." She pauses as they digest that bit of news and then she continues "See my father was obsessed with making his daughters into the best martial artists ever... Or at least he was after our mother died. Neither of us remembers her much at all. We were only three or so, back then. I think daddy wanted a son to carry on the school, but when mom died he knew that wasn't going to happen. So he started to train us extensively. I guess though in the end we didn't advance as quickly as he wanted. Especially Hotaru, who treated the art as a game."

Ranma nods "My dad was much the same... I'm not sure if my mother was alive, but he took us away so he could devote my life to training. I also know he tried incredibly hard to push me beyond what he knew I could do. He was a real nut case at times."

Akane adds "I also can understand how he must have felt after your mother died. When my mother died, my father just fell apart. He ran a dojo until then, but he lost all the students except me within the next year or so. He stopped training me within months of that. I know it's the opposite of what happened to you, but I can still understand it."

Hinata frowns deeply and goes on "When we turned eight father found an ancient ritual to make a person stronger. There were a lot of conditions to it, but we happened to meet those conditions. The first condition required two people as the 'subjects' of the ritual. The second was that it couldn't be any two people, they had to be twins. The third condition was that one twin had potential in the martial arts, but no desire to use that potential. The ritual was supposed to simply 'give' the extra potential to the other twin to make them stronger, or so it claimed."

Ranma frowns himself and says "Yeah, documents like that tend to tease a lot... That's how pop decided to teach me the Neko-Ken... I just hope it's not going to end up how I think it is..."

Hinata replies "I have no idea about your Neko-Ken, so I can't guess what happened. What happened for us though was horrible. Father performed the ritual to take away Hotaru's 'potential' and give it to me. The ritual however doesn't just give you some sort of 'potential' as if it were some mystical thing. It destroys everything the twin is and fuses it with the other twin. Making the two into one."

Miho tries rather hard to grasp that thought, but it just doesn't make much sense. Akane is horrified. Ranma is strangely thoughtful and says "I take it however your minds never merged in the same way?"

Hinata nods "I'm not sure if they were meant to... It would probably have made it easier... Instead it took us over a year to stop struggling for control over my body. Now... Well she's always with me, and she can come out when we agree on it... But we don't fight about it..."

Miho suddenly understands and gasps "You mean during class the reason you act different is that you let Hotaru take over!"

Hinata nods "Yes, I'm not much for literature or math... She however loves them... I'd much rather practice Aikido or archery..."

Ranma interrupts this tangent and says "That's not all it did though, am I right?"

Hinata sighs "Yes, your right... The ritual itself is rather... Bloody... Well at least it is when the twin is... Well I think you get the idea... Ever since then I've been frightened at the mere sight of blood. If it's bad enough I can't control myself and loose control of my body... In turn Hotaru is pushed forward to take my place, but Hotaru isn't herself when it happens... Hotaru... Well Hotaru goes berserk and is filled with blood lust. It can be helpful at times, we've been attacked before in ways we couldn't fight back regularly... But at the sight of blood we have access to all that extra 'potential' the ritual was meant to impart. The downside is I have to do everything I can to calm Hotaru down or she'll stay like that indefinably. The first time it happened I was so scared I couldn't calm her down for a long time. More than a day in fact passed by. Eventually I think my body would fail, since she can't sleep in that state... But we don't want to try and see. Daddy realized how stupid he'd been afterwards and tried to do what he could, but..."

Ranma nods "It sounds like the ritual only did half of what it was meant to... It was probably meant to merge everything together to form one whole person with access to that level of power all the time. However it doesn't seem like it worked. So instead your merging together and being 'complete', your stuck half way. That 'half-way point' is problem what's causing the problem. Next time I see my sensei I'll ask if he's heard of anything like it... Maybe he can come up with a solution..."

Ranma adds "My Neko-Ken is a bit different in that it was meant to completely replace my humanity, with an animalistic personality. So my 'fix' was to merge the two 'states' into a 'between' state." He pauses again and says "As bad as this may sound to you, I think at least in some ways you're lucky... Not in fusing with your sister that way... But... I was tortured repeatedly by being bound in fish and tossed in a pit of hungry cats for over a week to 'learn' the Neko-Ken. Nothing except sleep or a person I trusted utterly could get me out of the animal state. I also went into that state almost anytime I encountered a cat or even a kitten for almost a decade. My current sensei finally came up with my solution. I know though that I've hurt more than a few people while in Neko-Ken before, but I can't remember what I do in full Neko-Ken. Pop was the first I know I hurt... I mauled him the first time I came out of the pit after it happened... You also weren't alone. It may not have been normal, but you had each other. At it's worst I was basically alone, pop was useless and until sensei... Well lets just say it wasn't good."

Hinata and Hotaru both knew he was right. It could have been worse in a number of ways. Turning into a cold blooded monster completely with no mind left would have been much worse. It didn't make everything better, but it helped.

Miho comes over and hugs Hinata, much to Hinata's surprise. Miho says "I'm your friend and I don't care about your past. It means nothing to me. Same goes for Hotaru, even if I never knew she wasn't you. You're both my friends. Now no leaving me out all right? I'm here for you when things get rough... Though I'm not too good at the physical stuff."

Hinata smiles faintly "Sure. From now on, no more secrets. If something's going on I'll tell you."

Akane adds "We are here for you if you need us to. We may have just met you, but we can relate pretty well. So just call, ok?"

Ranma nods "Anytime you need a hand, we'll do our best. You're way to much like me, to just let you get in trouble without lending a hand to help."

Hinata does smile now, then she asks "By the way I don't think we've been introduced properly... I'm Hinata Yagami."

Akane smiles back and says "I'm Akane Tendo and this", she points to Ranma. "Is Ranma Saotome."

Part 4: Conflict

Hinata gets the strangest expression on her face. It's a combination of anxiety, disbelief, and fear. She asks "Did I just hear right? Is your name Ranma Saotome?"

Ranma nods as he wonders what is going on. "That's right."

Hinata asks "What martial art do you follow?"

Ranma replies "I practice a branch of the Anything Goes style of martial arts..."

Hinata looks even more worried and asks "What's your fathers name?"

Ranma looks at Hinata strangely and says "His name was Genma Saotome."

Hinata looks disturbed, but asks "Was?"

Ranma nods "He died a few years ago."

Hinata sits in thought for awhile leaving everyone else wondering what the heck that was about. Finally after almost ten minutes she asks "So then you are the head of the Saotome branch of the school as the remaining practitioner?"

Ranma nods "Yes... The Saotome branch is basically gone, so that just leaves me. The Tendo branch isn't really in much better shape though."

Hinata asks "Is the Tendo branch here as well?"

Ranma blinks, then points to Akane and says "Well Akane is the only current student of that branch even though her father does own a dojo here in town, so I guess you could say that..."

Hinata looks nervous. Internally things are a bit different 'Our families most hated rivals show up offering me help? Of all things he even seems to be able to understand what I'm going through as well... But I can't let this go... It was fathers life goal to pay back the Anything Goes style of martial arts for embarrassing our school. I must fight him and regain our schools honor!'

On the other hand Hotaru who has been listening in replies 'What the heck are you doing? Remember fathers the one who was so obsessed with beating their school that he cursed us! His obsession cost me my life! How can you want to take it up again?'

Hinata however ignores Hotaru for the most part. 'You know as well as I do... If I can defeat him then we can reclaim the status of the school! Sure he's not a bad guy, but I didn't say I'd kill him... Just kick his ass...'

Hotaru replies 'He was equal to me in my Blood Riot! Are you insane? He's at least as good a fighter as you are. It's not going to be nearly as easy as you make it sound...'

Hinata however says out loud "Ranma I challenge you to a fight for the honor of the Itto-Jujutsu school of martial arts! My father may have lost to yours, but I will win and reclaim the schools lost honor."

As witty as ever, Ranma replies "huh?" with a completely puzzled look on his face. Not all that strange since he had no idea what Hinata was talking about. Akane and Miho simply stare at Hinata like she grew a second head. Though at the moment that would probably have gone over better.

Hinata stands up and says "Come on lets take this outside." That said she turns and leaves the room. Everyone looks at each other and eventually follows her downstairs, still unsure what is actually going to happen.

Outside in the courtyard Hinata stands waiting. Hotaru's been giving her an ear full, but she'd been trying real hard to tune her out. They step into the courtyard and while Akane and Miho stop at the edge, Ranma walks to the center where Hinata is.

Ranma asks "Uh, exactly why do you want to fight me again?"

Hinata shrugs "It's pretty simple. When our fathers were younger, my father challenged yours to a fight. Your father made it a challenge of schools since the goal of each is so close. My father lost and with his failure the school lost it's honor as well, because he was the only student of the school. My father then vowed to improve and take out your father. Our fathers are both dead, so now my defeat of you will bring back the honor of the Itto-Jujutsu style."

Ranma blinks "So Aikido is just a side style for you?"

Hinata shakes her head "No I just incorporated all the techniques from Aikido into Itto-Jujutsu and limit myself to those techniques during matches. I've never completely abandoned the school. At least not after dad died."

Ranma sighs "If it will make you happy then fine, I'll fight you."

Miho almost yells at Akane "He can't fight her! She could get hurt... He could get hurt... What the heck is going on?"

Akane just shrugs "She wants to fight him... I can't tell him not to accept. In principle it sounds like he'll be fighting for the honor of our school, so not accepting would be a complete insult to both schools. I may not want to see either of them get hurt, but I don't see a choice."

Both girls turn back toward the other two just in time to watch as a grinning Hinata starts the fight by sending out a stream of punches followed by a roundhouse kick, each of which is dodged by Ranma. What followed was a series of kicks and punches by Ranma that blurred they were launched so fast. Hinata however blurs right along with the attacks and dodges or blocks each one in turn.

Miho just stares at this display of skill and sheer speed and in a low voice she says "Wow...".

Akane glances over and smiles "You haven't seen anything yet. I do this sort of thing with Ranma every day..." Miho is stunned. Sure she'd seen martial in movies like this, but that wasn't real... Was it...? After this both turn back to the fight.

Hinata goes for a advantage by running up to one of the walls and doing a leap that takes her off the wall and back to Ranma. As she gets close she lashes out with a kick, using the extra speed form bounding off the wall. Ranma does something no one expects and actually uses Hinata's leg to launch himself airborne and he leaps to the second floor after touching the wall to hang off the wall. Hinata takes this as a challenge and launches herself up to match him, as she gets close she bounces off the wall and throws a ultra fast kick at Ranma. Rather than block, Ranma leaps up and catches the underside of a balcony. Hinata follows right after him by changing her kick into a bound off the wall herself. She however came in low and threw a punch that forced him to leave the side of the building. Hinata launched herself off the building after him.

The two meet again in midair as both headed toward the center of the courtyard in midair. Hinata launched her leap-assisted punch at Ranma and Ranma in turn used her arm to launch himself further in the air. Hinata in turn performs a move that shouldn't be possible and spins, changing the angle of her momentum to follow him upwards.

Miho asks "Is that even physically possible?"

Akane, without looking, replies "I doubt it."

In air Ranma and Hinata continue trading punches and kicks in rapid succession, both seemingly evenly matched. It actually takes over a minute for the two to fall thirty feet back to the ground. But, even as they both come back down again, neither stops and it's almost like they don't even notice they are on the ground again.

Hinata throws a punch, that even Akane can't follow with her eye, right towards Ranma's face. Ranma is busy using his hands to block a kick and doesn't have time to dodge. However both leap apart just before contact as twin blurs come toward them. Both look up almost as one to stare in the direction the blurs came from. Akane and Miho, who could see that the blurs were twin Kunai after they embedded themselves in the ground, saw the woman standing on top of a lamp post first.

It was a fairly attractive Japanese woman in her mid-twenties. Her hair is braided back into a waist length pony tail, though her bangs are left to fall across her face. Her right eye is a vivid emerald green, however her left eye is covered by a patch. Her mouth is also covered by a black silk fabric half-mask. She wears long almost shoulder length dark blue gloves, tied at the wrists by thick dark brown leather bands. The rest of her outfit consists of a blue sleeveless 'shirt' which is cut to show off a good bit of cleavage on each side, with a two long stripes of fabric, one on the front and one in the back, continuing down below her waist to end just above knee height. Over top of this is a black piece of cloth that ties around her throat and parts in the middle into two pieces in the front until it ties at the waist. In the back however this stays one piece which goes down to the waist and then flares into a cape like tail. Around her waist are two belts, one of red silk and another of purple silk. Her left leg has a black spiral tattoo which trails around her thigh and almost seems alive, it seems to move some as it's watched. Finally her feet are covered in soft leather boots which have a series of metal bindings above the ankle to hold them tight.

She looks down at them and says "Sorry, but I'm looking for someone and I figured one of you two could tell me where he is. I'm looking for a man named Ranma Saotome."

Everyone simply stares at the woman, not sure what to make of this new comer at all. What did she want with Ranma anyway?

Part 5: Stories of the Past

(Hitome and Kaori arrive at the dojo and talk to Nabiki. Nabiki finds out that Hitome and the Shinjugi sisters are related. She also finds out that they were all in the clan together as it's premiere young warriors for years, until one day they did something... Bad.)

The doorbell rings back at the Tendo dojo and Kasumi goes to answer the door while Nabiki sits around reading a manga and thinking in the living room. Nabiki hears Kasumi say "Oh My! I didn't expect you two today, please come in. Would you like some tea?"

A voice that has become familiar recently replies "Yes, Please." Soon enough Nabiki confirms their identities as Hitome and Kaori enter the room. Kaori of course sees the TV and with a cry of joy plops down in front of it. Hitome walks over to the table and takes a seat, as is her style.

Nabiki says "Hi. So you guys came to see Ranma and Akane right?"

Hitome nods "Yes."

Nabiki smiles and says "Ever good at the one word replies I see. Anyway... Ranma and Akane had something they needed to take care of, so they are out at the moment. They should be back soon though."

Hitome frowns "What are they doing?"

Nabiki shrugs "I'm not entirely sure. They wanted to talk to some girl they met yesterday. So they met up with her friend and went together a couple hours ago. No big deal though. They should be back fairly soon."

While Hitome doesn't reply she continues to frown.

Her curiosity getting the better of her, Nabiki asks "So what is the deal with you and those triplets anyway?"

Hitome had been far from happy a second ago, but at this question she became downright frigid. Her reply was a terse "It has nothing to do with you."

Nabiki replies "Really? Could have fooled me... They are at my school after all. I also know you two. So I know both parties involved. I'd say that tends to mean I do have something to do with it..."

Hitome stands up and says "No you don't." She then turns around and walks toward the stairs. "If you'll excuse me I need to use the restroom", that said she heads toward the bathroom.

Nabiki sighs. Without getting up from the couch or even looking like she's paying attention, Kaori says "You'll have to forgive her... When they left they made it hurt... For both of us actually, but Hitome shows it more..."

Nabiki blinks and asks "Ok, now that definitely makes it sound like I should know..."

Kaori smiles faintly, though Nabiki can't see it, and says "You really want to know that badly?"

Nabiki nods "It's really bothering me...I've never been one to resist knowing a secret... Or anything else that's important."

Kaori says "Fine... Here goes... We lied a bit when we said we knew them from Junior High School. We were in Junior High, they were never allowed to go to school because of their mother's strange ideas about them. We knew them because they lived in a Shadow Clan Dojo we both trained at. Hitome knew them from when she was six. I came in much later when I was thirteen. It may surprise you to know that at first me and Hitome didn't get along at all and in fact I found the triplets easier to get along with. However I did go to the same school as Hitome, while they stayed at the Dojo all day."

Nabiki nods and listens, as Kaori pauses for a moment and then goes on "They were actually nice girls at that point. Cute little twelve year olds and all... Their mother was something of a strict ass bitch though. I made a point of trying to teach them how to have fun when we were together. That however wasn't meant to last. About a year later we started getting sent on missions and the girls started to change... Become more open in general, They kept more to themselves, acted almost like they had some secret only they could know... They were thirteen though and triplets that spent more time together than with other people, so I wrote off the changes..."

Nabiki thinks this over. It definitely could explain more than a few things with their behavior. It didn't however explain what the big deal was.

Kaori pauses again and says "I doubt Hitome wants me to ever tell anyone this part, but... Later when they were almost fifteen and both me and Hitome were a year older... The triplets had recently lost their mother, which at least to my mind wasn't such a horrible thing. Nori had followed me after practice that day and was talking about all sorts of things, it seemed like she just wanted some sort of random conversation... That wasn't true though. I realized I'd left something in the locker room, so I told her I had to go back to get it... She nearly panicked and told me she'd get it for me. I insisted I could do it myself. I'd also been wondering why Hitome hadn't come out yet... Well I found out both why Nori seemed so nervous about me staying away from the locker room and why Hitome hadn't come out. I heard a noise from the shower so I followed it, Nori tagging along behind. Well the sight that greeted me was something of a surprise... Kasha was tongue wrestling with Hitome as Aya played with Hitome's breasts and had one hand... Well you know where the other hand was..."

Nabiki exclaims "Oh My God! Hitome lost her cherry to the triplets?"

Kaori hushes her and says "You need to stay quiet! That's hardly the end of things, though... I however reacted much like you just did and some incoherent stream of nonsense issued from my mouth. Aya however looked over at me and asked if I wanted to join them... I am pretty sure I refused them, or at least they took it as such... I still wasn't much on coherent thought right then. Things didn't go much farther after that. Hitome though felt guilty that she'd enjoyed it even if she hadn't wanted to do it. That though was how we knew something about the triplets...habits."

Kaori pauses again and Nabiki sits there stunned. Kaori goes on "Anyway...after that, all five of us got a mission to track down a rogue Miko. We found her, but thing's didn't go as planned. She greeted the triplets by name and they gave her a happy greeting back. If that wasn't enough of a shock they told us that we where going to let her go. I told them that wasn't going to work. They replied that if we didn't they would side with her... I sorta lost it and attacked... They responded by defending her. Hitome just stood there for the longest time, finally though she sided with me. They helped her escape though. They were as good as us and they each possess a unique gift, The woman they were protecting was better than any of us... Really it was hopeless and I should have had us withdraw, but their betrayal hurt and I wanted to make them pay."

To say Nabiki was stunned by this was something of an understatement. While her mouth was hanging open, she did keep thinking. In fact her thoughts where running five hundred miles an hour.

Kaori concludes "Hitome took both our loss to them and their betrayal really hard. The whole lesbian thing really didn't help matters any... She still hasn't dated anyone because of it, though I know she's liked more than one guy in the last couple years. I've gotten over it however. I may not like to see them and I'll probably never feel like hanging around them ever again, but I know they had reasons. I can respect that, even if I can't agree with it. I'd rather not see us fight again, yet somehow that seems to be what Hitome wants..." She stops and then says "Nabiki close your mouth, Hitome is coming back down."

Nabiki ideally wonders how Kaori could tell since she was turned the other way, but does close her mouth and at least pretends to read her manga again. Just in time to as Hitome comes down the stairs and sits down again. They sit in silence for a few minutes, except for the sounds of the cartoons on TV. Nabiki pondering over all the things she heard, as well as this new serious side to the silly girl she'd come to know.

Before anyone can say anything though to break the silence, Kasumi returns with a tea set. She sets it down and says "Is everyone ready for tea?"

Author's Notes:

Now I had to create dates for the death of the Tendo mother at the beginning of this chapter. I don't think I specified how long ago it was anywhere else... If I did let me know. The Anime & Manga both do a horrible job when it comes to dates. So instead I based it on the age Akane seems to be in her flashbacks of her mother from those two sources. She seems like she's in early elementary school in the oldest ones, so I decided she was eight the year her mother died, that makes Nabiki 9, and Kasumi 11. I can't really see them being much younger when it happens. This also works out nicely for my story since I say that Nodoka knew the Tendos and tried to help when she could during the first year after their mothers death. This means Nodoka has had 2 lonely years without her son by then. Which fits nicely with the surrogate mother treatment Nabiki complains about during Nodoka's visit.

If you remember Ranma is currently a 2nd dan, going toward 3rd dan. Hinata is as well. 1st dan is a master of the basics and is capable of assisting a teacher in a dojo when training others in a particular style. They could teach in a dojo by themselves once they become sandan (3rd dan). Of course they couldn't start their own dojo, thats for rokudan (6th dan) or above. Rokudan is also the first chance you have to become a Shihan, or in other words gain the ability to give out dan ranks on your own for your school. And the founder of a style is normally the only one to reach 10th dan (like Happosai), though that person can decide to allow a 9th dan to become a 10th dan. Once the founder dies however, if there are no other 10th dan artists, the 10th dan becomes (normally) unreachable. It however is possible to 'reinvent' a existing style and become a 10th dan master of a new style.

Oh I should also mention that the Japanese in general have a very different view of sex. It wasn't until the prominence of Christian beliefs in the last century or so that their were any 'unclean' connections to sex in Japanese culture. It's still seen in a lot of ways as just something natural. That doesn't mean they don't have some strange ideas about sex. In fact it's a common belief that oral sex on women is 'disgusting' in Japan and they also have a hang up on lesbianism being wrong among others... However it wouldn't be unheard of for 16 year olds to partake in sex in Japan. Heck it's not in the US either despite a huge body of laws to stop it, last survey said the something like 30 of people had sex for the first time when they were 14-15. In particular though most areas of Japan specifically have a 'age of consent' that can be as young as 14 depending on region. Akane is kinda stuck on sex and sexuality as being 'perverted' in the original series, but that is part of her messed up system of beliefs... Which in the original is something all characters have, not a single one grows up unscathed by some weird obsessions and beliefs. This Akane has been dealing with those issues for months and as long as it's Ranma she has few issues with doing such things with him... However they both still tend to think they are a bit young and so haven't gone the extra step... Not to mention neither really understand what their doing, they kinda just let their desires run away on there own... Ah youth...

Also sorry for how late this chapter is... I've always done at least one chapter per week until now, but this time half way through two things happened. The first was how I realized my character guide was missing bits I'd need for this chapter, so I spent most of the week playing with finishing it. It's actually now on my website if you want to look at it, though since it includes characters yet to be introduced it's going to a bit of a spoiler in some ways. The second thing was writers block when it came to the talk between Hinata, Miho, Ranma, and Akane. I've always had the worst time when it comes to dialogue and that section didn't help at all.

I have however been working on Fall from Grace again. I've decided my own characters will be part of that series. So you can see Hinata, the Shinjugi Triplets, 'Shiki' from this chapter, and maybe even Saeko or Suigin Tou. You'll also eventually find Ryoga's chapter (which has been half done for almost a month now), Ukyo, The Kuno's, and possibly Mousse, Ling Ling, and Lung, Lung. It will also include current arc side chapters such as a confrontation between Shampoo and her father (she'll find out soon in this series that he's alive and she doesn't take that well) and one involving Kasumi's training as a Miko. In short Fall From Grace will have all the side stories in it from now on and anything that is a big event that doesn't involve Ranma and Akane specifically will end up there.

Also thanks goes again to borg rabbit for proofreading.