The past three days locked away in the old WWII bomb shelter had really driven home to Akane just how much she had messed up recently. She had been left alone except for meal times and bathroom times with only a single naked lightbulb and a small mirror allowing her to see her now inhuman visage. The hanyo looks she now had was like a dark mockery of everything she had been self-conscious about with her looks. Her hair which she had tried so long to grow out only to have it cut short and been restored and was even longer now. It's just that it came at the cost of her lovely hair color that had exactly matched her mother's.

Overall, Akane's body had shifted from a lovely if still developing teenagers to a sexy young woman. It was a body that many supermodels would kill to have. There was just the problem that her yokai features ruined the otherwise sterling looks. Her fingers and toes now had claws in place of nails. Then there were was how much paler her skin had become that it almost looked sickly. Add to this was the two purple slash lines on each cheek like some kind of tribal tattoo and the amber canine eyes Akane now had. Any hope she might have had of becoming an actress were dead with those features.

Part of Akane wanted to rage against the unfairness of it all. What had she done to deserve being locked away like unwanted garbage? However, that voice that had sounded so much like her mother that she had ignored in her anger had whispered that raging against the world had gotten her into this mess. This voice had been one that Akane usually was able to ignore. After all, what trouble could come from following her anger?

Being locked away made a very compelling case that Akane shouldn't have brushed off that voice in the past. With no outside distractions or diversions, the only option Akane had to pass the time was to sit still or she'd feel pain from the chains. This forced Akane to reflect on her past actions as a means to stave off boredom.

At first, Akane stopped her meditations every time an unpleasant fact came to mind. This was her usual practice whenever she bothered to meditate. Boredom soon forced her to restart her meditations and it soon became impossible for her to ignore what she had unconsciously done for so many years. Akane was finally forced to admit that she had an anger problem.

This realization opened the floodgates for other realizations that she had tried to ignore for so long. Warnings and advice that her father, sisters, and aunt had tried to pass on over the years to prepare her for what growing up as a Tendo entailed that she had rejected. Why had she rejected their collective wisdom? Because in her pride she thought she already knew better and was angry that they were trying to get one over her.

What an idiot she had been. While she had thankfully never been looking for a reason to get angry at someone. Akane could now admit that she had typically been very quick to chose anger if the option was reasonably available. It might not have been her fault to have that option available, but it was her fault for choosing to go with anger. That option led to bad choices that gave even more options to give into her anger in a vicious cycle.

It had been enjoyable to give into anger once she started learning how to use chi. Anger was the easiest emotion, actually it was the only emotion currently, she could use to harness chi. Akane couldn't use her chi to fire energy bolts or break the sound barrier with her fists. However, the superhuman abilities even 'basic' internal chi usage brought made her feel powerful. She wasn't the scared little girl crying for her mother that was taken from her too soon when she used chi.

That was another thing that her transformation had darkly 'improved' for Akane. Her chi reserves had been respectable for someone who trained as she did even if they were on the low end for those who seemed to gravitate towards Ranma. Now her yokai reserves completely blew her chi reserves out of the water. It was like comparing a half-filled bathroom sink to an Olympic sized swimming pool. Akane's yokai reserves were many times more than Ranma's chi reserves had been before he had to switch to mana. Yokai was also more potent than chi meaning she got more bang for her buck as the Americans put it.

She now far outstripped Ranma's physical abilities or the mystical abilities he had without literally getting powered by an entire world. All of that improvement without the lifetime of hard work or sacrifice that the 'jerk' had put in. How often had she been jealous of Ranma's abilities without considering the cost he had paid for them? Sure, she was able to surpass him with only a fraction of the work like she had wanted in her mind so many times. All it took was making a deal with the devil even if the devil in this case was the demon blood in her veins.

What an utter fool she had been. Akane had listened to her anger because it was the easier option than admitting her own faults and seeking to improve herself. Skill and ability took time and effort to earn. Her father had told her back when she first started martial artist training that power had a price to it. If only she had realized sooner just what her father was trying to teach her with that lesson. She had more power now than she could dream of having. It was just that the price was too much for her to bare and she no choice, but to pay that price now.

Akane's ears twitched as she heard the sound of someone taking off the beam on the bunker door. Too early for a meal or a bathroom break. She didn't have a clock down here, but her internal sense of time was pretty good. There was sound of the bolts and the lock coming off and then the bunker was flooded with light from the outside.

Soun walked into the bunker with a Caucasian man in his early 40s following behind him. The man took a few seconds to look at Akane's features and said while bowing, "My apologies mis for staring. It is one thing to read about this sort of thing in old records. It is another to see a hanyo in person for the first time."

The man was carrying a large rugged travel bag that he set down on the floor in front of Akane. He then said, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is William Miles. I am an antiquities dealer who has traveled throughout the world trying to sort out real antiquities from forgeries along with sorting out the mundane from the more mystical. I was in the area visiting a friend of mine named Adam Pierson who was recently made into your principal when the call about your situation was sent out."

"Among my recent acquisitions was a set of equipment used by Chinese sages to seal the blood rage of hanyos. I have confirmed their authenticity and I am willing to use them to help you out given your situation. Do you have any questions for me?"

Hope started to blossom in Akane's heart. Here was a chance for her to be free again. She vowed to the kami that she would learn from her failures and not give into her anger if this chance was genuine. The violent maniac description her sister had once given her would be dropped like a stone if she could just get a chance.

However, caution also warred within Akane. Jumping into things headfirst at the first opportunity was part of what had gotten her into this jam in the first place. She closed her eyes to focus on what she needed to ask about the sealing equipment. A minute later she had her questions and was ready to ask them. "How well will this work and how does it work?"

William nodded his head and said, "The records for my particular equipment and their counterparts show they are rather effective. In fact, many of the hanyos in the area that this type of blood rage sealing equipment was used on would later go on to be the major defenders of the area. My artifacts were also designed to be very user friendly which is somewhat rare for artifacts of this type. Some stories claim that the first sage to create these kinds of equipment did so to help out a somewhat simple sister of his who had been taken advantage of by a wandering demon which is why it was made so simple to use. How truthful that tale is I cannot say."

The antiquities dealer then pulled three pieces of equipment out of his bag. There was a set of bronze tongs with ends that formed into a ring. A small bronze bowel with a built-in tripod, and a bronze knife. All three artifacts were covered in old Chinese characters inlayed in jade. Akane could somehow feel the mystical potential of these items now that she could see them.

With the artifacts out William moved on to explaining what they did. "The process of sealing a hanyo's blood rage away is a simple process. First the bowel is partially filled with a mixture of water, rice, and several easy to acquire herbs which is set to a boil. Everything needed is already in my bag. Then a lock of hair and some blood from the human whose line is to help subdue the blood rage is drawn with the knife. The eldest direct blood relative of the hanyo is traditionally used so that even the hanyo can contribute to the seal. Having it be the eldest living family member means that their descendants are also included in the seal and pass it on. The hair and blood are stirred into the mixture until it dissolves and then a lock of hair and some blood from the hanyo is added to the mix."

He held up the tongs as he continued. "At this point the tip of the tongs is placed into the mix which will absorb the alchemical concoction and becomes red hot. Then the tongs are used to brand the hanyo's ring finger creating a permanent seal to lock the bloodlust away. Unfortunately, the tongs cannot be removed from the hanyo's finger until the tips stop glowing as that is the sign that magic making the seal is complete."

Getting branded like she was livestock was not high up on Akane's list of things she'd like to do. On the other hand, this was a proven method to seal her blood rage away and would let her start picking her life up again. She had a lot of wrongs to make up for and no way to do so down here. Besides, some pain now was a very reasonable price to never risk losing control of herself again.

Akane shifted her gaze to her father and said, "If you think this is the best way for me to control myself, I will do it father."

Soun nodded his head in agreement and then handed Akane a bite stick saying. "You'll need it daughter. I am sorry I couldn't find a less painful way to help you."

The muffled howls of agony echoing from the bomb shelter caused the dojo residents and their guest to wince in sympathy. It had been a very long time since Adam Pierson had heard something like this and part of him wished he could have gone longer in hearing this kind of agony. The Tendo's yokai ancestor must have been exceptionally powerful as the binding took almost four minutes judging by Akane's screams. Finally, the branding was completed as the symphony of the damned stopped being played.

Adam looked over at Kasumi who tried to put herself back together and wished the child well in the upcoming years. No family with a hanyo as an immediate member ever had an easy and uneventful life. A happy life was possible for both the hanyo and the family, just not a quiet one. Then there was the situation with the girl's new fiancé Ranma to consider. A commendable match by most standards he knew of, but not one that would be conductive to a quiet life.

Kasumi seemed to get some control of herself again and turned to face Adam as she spoke. "I am sorry that your visit to the dojo has not been a pleasant as we can normally make it Mr. Pierson. We all are grateful for the help you and your friend have." Kasumi paused in mid-sentence as her senses told her something was off. What it was she couldn't tell, but something was definitely wrong in the house.

At the same time the hairs on the back of Adam's neck started to rise as his danger sense started to blare in warning. As fast as lighting Adam had a broadsword in his hand and drawn in a defensive manner protecting his neck. There was clang of metal as an invisible blade bounced off Adam's sword. Adam grabbed the pot of tea before him and flung its contents into the air.

The silhouette of a person appeared thanks to the tea. The person was hissing in pain from the tea burns. Adam did not waste any time and parried the block into a slash at his attacker. The attacker backed away from Adam's blade, but the blade cut something off of the attacker's clothes. Genma came running in only to watch as a short man in a very traditional kimono that had talismans woven into it appeared. One of the talismans on a sleeve had been cut by Adam's sword breaking the spell. The man was armed with a katana and a kodachi set in a very traditional pattern.

With a contemptuous snort the man said, "Mind the woman ronin. This matter is between your betters and this gaijin cur."

Adam snorted and replied, "Not much of a better if you're reduced to using shinobi talismans to attack a guest in someone's house. I supposed the reason you are here now is that you couldn't find someone to second you when you had to commit seppuku?"

The man growled and said, "As you gaijin say, there can only be one. I will have your head before the tea on my garment dries." The attacker lunged at Adam who proceeded to parry the attack as he maneuvered himself to get more room. Adam worked his way out of the Tendo house and into their fenced off courtyard.

Akane's first look at the world outside the bunker revealed her principal locked in a deadly sword battle with some unknown attacker in her backyard. Her first thought was that she had somehow passed out from the pain of the sealing and having a delusion. The throbbing of her rapidly healing finger made that an impossibility. Her next instinct was to jump into the fight and stop it.

That instinct was brutally crushed by Akane's mind. She didn't have nearly enough information to jump into a fight to the death. Doing so could risk the innocent party whomever that might be along with her own life. It was also open her father and Mr. Miles up to an attack. She shifted to cover them both while also drawing her claws to defend herself.

Her mere presence did affect the battle. Adam paid Akane no mind other than wishing there weren't so many witnesses. The Japanese attacker was less prepared for the sudden arrival of a hanyo. He stared at her in shock for a moment and muttered, "What is a vile."

Adam was not one for chivalry when it came to combat and did not consider talking to be a free action. He took advantage of his opponent's lapse in attention and cut off the man's sword hand.

The pain brought the attacker back to focusing on what was important. He took one look at his severed hand and dropped to his knees. All the fight had left him as he said, "The victory is yours gajin. Claim your prize."

Not standing on any ceremony, Adam quickly raised his sword to the attacker's neck and cut his neck clean through. The hairs on the back of everyone's necks went up as they felt a surge of power come from the beheaded corpse. Bolts of lighting started to form on the body and leap onto Adam. Soun and Genma felt a surge of chi and mana come from the corpse and merge into Adam's. The principal's own chi and mana were no longer masked to them allowing them to sense the burning inferno of power he contained.

Seconds later the lightshow ended and the attacker's body had disappeared into the lighting. None of the dojo residents knew what to make of what they had seen. This was new even for Soun and Genma. William was the only one to act as he walked over to his friend. He looked Adam over and said, "You're too calm for this to have been your first one Adam. Am I correct in assuming you came to us already knowledgeable about 'The Game' as you put it?"

Adam smiled and said, "You would be correct Bill. Does that bother you?"

William shook his head. "It's not against any rules even if some could say it goes against the spirit of the organization. I haven't heard of any chronicles having mysterious ends so you aren't using the organization to aide you."

There was a serious look on Adam's face as he interrupted his friend. "I will admit to using the organization to aide me, but only so far as to keep my own chronicle in the realm of myth and legend. I had managed to go 200 years without taking a head and would have been perfectly happy if I had gone another 200 years in the same manner. But now it seems we, or more specifically I, owe our hosts an explanation."

Adam looked at the assembled onlookers and said, "As you all know there is more to life than what most men think exists. I am one of those things. I and the others like me walk among mortals living many secret lives unable to permanently die except by the removal of our heads as you have seen. While my name in public is currently Adam Pierson, the name I have most often held throughout my long life is Methos. I am an Immortal of the Game, even if I prefer to not take part in the game as much as possible."

William let out a gasp of shock. "You're Methos? That means that you're the oldest Immortal of the Game known. Many have thought you more myth than immortal given how hard it is to track you."

Methos gave a polite smile and said, "I know Bill. I am in charge of chronicling my own movements so that I can be followed. I just make sure that I am never found as I have every other time that I have joined the Watchers and its prior incarnations. The heads of older immortals tend to be prized by the headhunters who take the game too seriously. As the oldest immortal of our kind that makes me a prime target and I prefer not having to deal with someone wanting to give me too close of a shave."

Soun spoke up and said, "Such knowledge will not spread beyond the members of this house Mr. Pierson, sorry Methos if you like. We are even willing to keep it from the others who are currently away. It would be unkind to let information get out that could threaten you. Even more so given the kindness you have shown my family and after we failed to protect you while you were our guest."

Methos replied, "Refer to me as Adam or Mr. Pierson outside the walls of this compound. You do not have to keep my existence secret from the others in the household. I doubt you could keep it a secret given the being that attends to young Ranma as he seems to have a way of getting information. Just don't go spreading it about and I will be happy. It has been several centuries since I was last in Japan and I rather like my current stay."

Kasumi smiled and said, "Thank you for being so understanding Mr. Pierson. Perhaps you could come again to visit us at another time? We could give you a friendlier reception and it must be lonely not having people around that you can talk about the more unique aspects of your life."

A small smile appeared on Methos' face as he said, "Miss Tendo, you have been a great hostess and would have made a wonderful wife to a daimyo back in the day. I hope Ranma knows what a treasure he has been entrusted with. It would be nice to have some people that I can confide in about the wider mystical world. Perhaps that's why I'm being so free with information right now. Or it could be the quickening, it's been so long since I got one that I've nearly forgotten how one feels like."

Both Ranma and Snarf returned to the dojo pleased at the success of their respective tasks. The duo had met each other a couple of blocks away from the dojo and had returned with Snarf riding on Ranma's shoulder. Snarf was pleased that he had gotten ahold of a private eye who was willing to try and track down the decedents of the lady who inherited Bakusaiga. The cover story was that he was helping a friend track down distant family families in an attempt to bring together an ancestral collection that was supposed to symbolize eternal connection. It was a tricky undertaking, but the private eye had assured him that the historical information on Sayaka Tomoe would be more than enough to start tracking any possible decedents.

Ranma had the simpler task of escorting Ami and "Aunt" Saeko to the train station so they could head back home. His presence really wasn't necessary, but Ami was still feeling uncertain about the mystical elements she had been introduced. The adults and Ranma had noticed that the girl seemed to look to him as a pillar of strength over the past couple of days as she was still shaken up from having Akane, who she had always looked up to as a protector, attack her. If having him around would assure Ami everything would be fine than he was more than happy to help.

Ami was a good kid in Ranma's mind sort of like his cousin Sota. Shame he couldn't see his cousins, but Ranma had to admit that his father was right for once given the situation Kagome was in. It was nice to have a younger kid around that he could look after and Ami was a very sweet girl. He had no problems considering her an honorary member of the family just like his father who was happy to be her Uncle Genma.

The duo saw Adam and William walking towards them away from the dojo as they turned the corner. Ranma called out, "Hello Principal Pierson! Did you and your friend have a good visit?"

Adam replied, "I would say our visit was mostly successful. Akane's delayed reaction to the chemical attack has now subsided and I am confident about allowing her to return to school tomorrow. There was a bit of an issue that popped up, but that had nothing to do with Akane. I'm sure your family will fill you in on the details soon enough."

While Ranma was worried about what had happened, he took comfort that his principle didn't seem too worried about whatever had happened. He then said, "I've almost completed the first chapter of the training manual you gave me for swordsmanship. Do you think we can schedule a test in a week or two so I can prove I'm ready for the next part of the manual?"

"I think it will be possible to arrange such testing Ranma. I will call later when I have a chance to look for openings in my schedule. When physical therapy wraps up, I might be able to swing some personal lessons for you if you and your family are willing. One of the downsides of becoming principle is that I had to leave the HEMA club at the college behind and I find myself missing the chance to practice my swordsmanship. It's good exercise and I would really prefer to not get rusty."

Ranma gave his agreement and then let the two older men leave. He and Snarf then headed into the house and gave the customary greeting that they had arrived. They were soon met by Kasumi who was still unsettled from the clash of immortals earlier. Ranma asked her what was bothering her and was soon told everything about the principal and his attacker.

Snarf excused himself to check the shuttle's sensor logs after he had heard everything so that the two could be alone. Ranma wasn't sure what he should make of Principle Pierson or rather that would be Methos. On the one hand, Methos was probably a fountain of knowledge given how long he had survived and he'd be a fool to pass up the chance to learn from such a man if he was willing to share. On the other hand, Kasumi seemed shaken up by what she had seen and he didn't want her to become uncomfortable about everything.

How was he supposed to approach this with Kasumi? Finally, Ranma just broke down and asked. "Are you okay with the thought of Methos coming back here Kasumi?"

She looked over to him and said, "I wouldn't have made the offer of him coming back if I thought he was a bad person. I'm not comfortable with him taking that other immortal's head. However, I do understand that it was the only way to stop that person from attacking Methos. It's just the thought of someone sneaking into the house and starting a duel to the death really upsets me."

Kasumi sat down on the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees. "This house has always been a safe place for me. Even when some of your or Akane's 'misadventures' showed up they were always more of a live action slapstick routine in my eyes than an actual threat of harm. Even when Shampoo was in full 'kill girl-type Ranma' mode there wasn't an air of danger that I sense from that attack. Perhaps I should say that when Shampoo attacked you her heart wasn't in it out of maliciousness. It felt like duty was compelling her and she was trying to find some way to avoid actually killing you then. That attacker today felt like he eagerly wanted to kill Methos and would not have minded if we all were killed so long as he got his prize."

Ranma was mentally tearing his hair out wondering what he was supposed to do to help Kasumi. He didn't do emotional support. Ranma was just aware enough of his own abilities to know that he would totally botch any attempt to make Kasumi feel better. He decided to just stand there as a pillar of support for Kasumi.

That seemed to work as his newest fiancée slowly was able to gather herself and stand up. Kasumi gave Ranma a polite smile and then walked away. Ranma was left wondering what he should do and then he decided that he should get a start on getting all his things back into the guest bedroom. It took him a couple of trips, but Ranma was soon able to get everything back to how it was.

There was a knock on the door as Ranma put the last of his things away and he called out, "Come in." He turned around was surprised to see Akane nervously standing in the doorway. Her now long white hair was stylized as it had been back when they first met.

Akane looked around the room making sure that it was just Ranma inside. She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. Silence ruled between the two as Ranma wondered why Akane was here while Akane tried to find the words she needed. Finally, Akane was able to find what she needed and nervously bowed her head slightly. "I am sorry for my prior actions Ranma. Especially with how I tended to lose my temper towards you. The situation with the fried bacon is merely the worst and most recent example. Can you, can you find it in yourself to forgive me?"

There was a meekness and a tone of fear in Akane's voice that Ranma felt did not suit Akane at all. He didn't doubt her sincerity, but it felt like she was more terrified of him then she should be. Ranma gave a friendly smile and said, "No problem as long as you forgive me for not being able to better help you in the past. I can admit now that my sense of what is 'normal' is a bit different from others."

Akane's posture became more hopeful when Ranma said this and she looked up at him. "I can agree to that Ranma."

He then held out his hand and said, "Friends? I understand that we're supposed to be siblings one day if our foolish fathers have their way."

That brought a small smile to Akane's face. There was a hit of pain, but from what Ranma couldn't tell. She took the offered hand carefully with her own and said, "Friends until we are officially siblings."