Disclaimer: Broken Hearts Combined is the work of RedPriest17. Who by the way is using characters and concepts that may or may not even belong to him, but it is for completely non-profit entertainment. Well we can't fault him and myself for that. So you can't him. Besides we're poor people. You won't get much out of us, unless you like to crush the hopes and dreams of young aspiring writers. You evil lawyers you
Characters affiliated to "Gold Digger" are trademarked to Fred Perry and Antarctic Press.
Character affiliated to "Ranma " are trademarked to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Communications.
Anyway, enjoy.
A Love We Shared
Chapter 4: Past, Present and Future
Sometime ago, in a forest in Ryugenzawa, Japan Thyme and his three sons Ryoga, Shinnosuke, and Ryuu stood before a young Japanese man whose raven hair was wrapped in a bun above his head. All of them except for the stranger wore the same clothing as they had two years ago in Jade, only now as Thyme had a full beard. The youth wore a white gi with a black belt tying it down. They had been leaving with in the region for the past couple of years hoping to live a good.
Behind Thyme was another family consisting of a middle-aged pure Japanese man wearing a blemished white shirt tan color pants, a husky pure Japanese woman with brunette hair wearing a purple kimono holding a baby girl with combination of both brown and black hair. The man too carried a traveling backpack similar to the one Thyme was wearing.
Horoshi Hibiki and his wife Kaori were originally natives of Jade. Horoshi and his wife followed Thyme into Earth, hoping to make a new life for their newborn, Yohko. Unfortunately for the Hibiki family, they had no knowledge of the world around them, so they were no better than Thyme in terms of directions.
Man: So where are you off to, old friend?
Thyme: I'm going to the carnival being held at Tokyo, Tatsu.
Horoshi: We've already asked Doboku Shugyosha to take over my shift at the mines for time being until I get back.
Ryoga: Yahooo! We're going to carnival.
Ryuu (Pouts): The carnival?! I don't want to go.
Shinnosuke (Pouts): I don't want to go either Where are we going again?
Thyme: Uh Um Well, I'm sorry guys. I can't leave you both here.
Ryuu Shinnosuke: Why!?
Tatsu: Nonsense, they can stay with me.
Ryuu Shinnosuke: YAY!
Thyme scratched the back of his head uneasily.
Thyme: Well, all right As long as you two behave.
Shinnosuke: Hey can we go see Grandpa Kumon?
Ryuu: No way! I don't want see that old fart. He hits people too much with that Megaton Punch.
Shinnosuke: Yeah, I know. So what are you talking about?
A sweat-drop appeared at back of Ryuu's head as his eye twitch in anger.
Tatsu (laughs): Don't Ryuu, you can come with me to town, I'll drop your brother off to my Grandfather's.
Thyme: Thank you.
Tatsu: No, thank you. I never married and I always wanted to have children of my own. Unfortunately, I cannot stray from my path in perfecting my martial arts so having a normal life is out of the question.
Thyme: I wish my wife could do the same.
Tatsu reached a hand out, in which the former royal heir of the Musk dynasty greeted with a handshake.
Thyme: I'll be back in a month. Take care.
Horoshi: Goodbye Tatsu.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles across the sea on the continent to the west, in the Musk Province, a bitter pale-skinned Emperor sat in the darkness of his chamber, no light to illuminate, except for the crimson glowing eyes of the Musk royal known as Ryuu. He still wore his green armor, but now he wore a black outfit to match his evil and twisted dark heart. Suddenly, a beam of light pierce through the room as the doors opened-up, a boy with pinkish snow-white hair stepped into the room with malice look on his face. He wore a silk outfit, with a cap to match. Behind him walked in Salt and Pep. The two of them had change a bit since they lost track of Thyme years ago.
Ryuu: What do you want? And shouldn't you be in bed?
Herb: Father, Pep and Salt have some interesting news to tell you.
Ryuu (Raises his voice): And what does that have to do with you to still be up past your bedtime?
Herb: But father
Ryuu (Angry): Boy, leave my chambers and go to bed NOW!
Herb was startled by the change of volume and quickly disappeared behind Pep and Salt. Salt cleared her throat in effort to put Ryuu's attention back on them.
Salt: Ahem! Sire, we have gotten word on Thyme's whereabouts.
Salt would have taken a step back as she saw Ryuu's eyes glow an eerie black light, but she did not want to hurt the young prince whom was behind her and cowering from his father.
Ryuu: Are you sure? He disappeared several years ago after his trail went cold in Canton. It was as if he had dropped off the face of the earth!
Pep: Some of spies caught sight of him in Japan within the Ryugenzawa region.
Ryuu smirked, as he rose from his throne.
Salt: If you give us some time, we can assemble a
Ryuu raised a hand to her mouth. Salt hadn't notice he had moved and covered the distance between the throne and doorway in a mere blink of an eye.
Ryuu: No time, I don't want to waste anymore time.
A green light emitted in his left hand as he raised it above his head.
Ryuu: This ends now.
The trio disappeared leave behind a magical green mist. A moment later, the young prince stepped into the empty throne room.
Herb: Father
Several days later...
Thyme and his son walked through the park of a hot July summer atmosphere in the town of Kyoto in Japan.
The middle son of Thyme scanned his surroundings.
Ryoga (Thinks): Tree, bench, swing set Yep we are lost.
His son stopped and narrowed his eyes at his father.
Ryoga (Pouts): Dad, I thought you said we were going to the carnival in Tokyo?
His father looked around along with Horoshi.
Horoshi: Is it true Thyme?
Thyme: I don't know, Horoshi, I'm pretty sure we were suppose to take a left at Niagara Falls.
Ryoga (Cries): Then why are we in Kyoto?
Thyme slapped himself on his head as he realized his son was right.
Kaori: Cheer up. Ryoga this isn't a total lost.
Ryoga: Sniff It isn't?
Kaori: We can have fun right here. We can play with the other kids.
Thyme: Sounds like a good idea. Horoshi and I will look for a map, meanwhile you and Kaori stay here. Okay?
Ryoga nodded. The two of them headed up the pathway until they eventually found themselves at a booth. Thyme was about to get the attention of the young brunette girl in the booth when suddenly he heard a voice speak within his head.
Voice in Thyme's head: Thyme to your right!
Thyme: Who's there?
Girl in Booth: Sir?
Horoshi: What is it?
Thyme looked to his right as he had been told earlier. A familiar face greeted him at the gates of the construction area across the street. Horoshi's eyes followed the former prince to spot a bluish white-haired man in a black outfit with a green armor and cape. Thyme placed a hand on his shoulder.
Thyme: Horoshi, I need you to go back and get your family and my kid the hell out of here.
Horoshi (Distressed): Who is he? Can I help?
He turned to Horoshi.
Thyme (Sincere): A very dangerous man. I can't explain, but you need to get out of here!
He returned his glance back to Ryuu who had apparently disappeared . He scanned the area around him, watching for any surprise attacks his brother maybe trying to launch. He began to note that no one was moving. The girl in the booth continued to stare off in space. A deliveryman wearing a navy outfit riding his bike on the sidewalk was station into one position, he too stared off into space. It was as if time had been frozen. He felt a slight tug at his pants. He looked down to find Agath standing beside him now wearing a green Chairman Mao uniform, and smoking a pipe as he stared in the direction Ryuu had disappeared in.
Thyme (Surprised): Agath! What are you doing here? What happened to everyone?
Agath: Nothing happened. You're someone what outside of time and space. We are inside your mind.
Thyme: What?
Agath: I've created a psychic imagine of the world you perceive in your mind. You're body is still at the park, but this is a mere mirage.
Thyme (Confused): I, I don't understand.
The old hermit took a puff of his pipe.
Agath: I merely stopped time to see what decision you are going to make.
Thyme's eyes widen as he realized what he was talking about.
Thyme: I given this decision stuff some thought and I'm not going to give up my life! I can't leave my wife and children behind.
Without warning a flash of white light engulf his vision. Thyme covered his eyes in effort to shield himself from the harsh light. When the light died down, Thyme found himself in a temple. The inner structure consisted of stone, the floor was made of clay tiles and candles were places about the room, a few set of candles lead the way to the end of the room. He gave a hard look at the familiar looking priest wearing an orange and white robe standing near a pedestal at the end of the corridor.
Thyme: That's Master Tsuang. And if I'm here then this must be
He spun around to find a doppleganger imagine of himself wearing a male white oriental outfit walking down the path of candles escort a young G'nolga. She wore a white similar feminine white robe without the pants garment, only the middle part of her robe stretched down to the floor, both in the front and back, cover her private areas, leaving her slender legs to be shown. Her hair was tied back into a pigtail with a white ribbon bonding her light brown hair.
Thyme: This is when me and G'nolga, first got married In Canton.
Thyme looked down at her pregnant stomach that stretched her wedding dress from within.
Thyme (Deadpans): And there's Ryuu.
Apparently, it had been his fault he knocked up G'nolga. They had did it only one time and after week, G'nolga discovered she was pregnant after a week of morning sickness. Thyme smiled. The two younger versions of himself and his wife stopped halfway down the alley, right in front of him.
Young Thyme: I can't believe I'm getting married.
G'nolga: Look I'm only doing this because I don't want this baby to not have a father.
Young Thyme: Oh.
Young G'nolga: Once I have the child, it's your job to take care of the baby and until I'm finished my training.
He smiled and nodded. The older Thyme smiled too.
Young Thyme: I love you.
The younger G'nolga's face lit up. Her face turned bright red and look away from his glance. She felt like a young girl again.
Young G'nolga: I love you too.
Tsuang: If you don't mind, can we get this wedding over with? I have other business to attend to.
The two youths returned their attention back down the aisle. They continue to walk, traveling through the older Thyme and Agath as if they were nothing more than ghosts of mirages. The smile the older heir to the Musk throne generated change into a frown as he watched himself and his wife.
Thyme: I know what happens from here on out. Our marriage wasn't totally bright and cheery, but whose isn't? In the beginning, we had adventures around the countryside and "Wild nights." Even after getting her knock up again, G'nolga and I continued to have to run around. It wasn't until sometime after Shinnosuke's birth that her old ambition came back. She came to this realization when she narrowly defeated me during our training. She began to spend less and less time with us and more time on training.
Suddenly, another flash of light engulfed the scenario. Thyme found himself standing on top of a watery surface, oddly he did not sink into it. It was a lake, surrounded by trees, which indicated that they were in a forest. He heard a voice in the distance and spun around to see an older G'nolga riding in boat with a hooded-man, on the shore nearly out of sight was himself, a little older and his three sons standing with a chubby woman in a red outfit who knew to be Fu Ming, their tenant.
Young Thyme (Distressed): Don't go, G'nolga, please!
The dwarf woman didn't answer, she merely turned away and shut her eyes tightly. He cried out to her again and she close-cupped her tiny ears with her hands, but even that didn't muffle her husband's cries. Tear welled in her eyes.
Young Thyme: We need you! I love We all love you! Don't leave us! Take us with you.
Young Ryuu: Mommy!
She didn't answer. He felt a choking sob build up in his throat.
Young Thyme (Sobs): I can't live without
He began to walk towards the lake, reaching out to her. Every inch of his body disappeared within the water with every step until he was eventually up to his neck.
Young Thyme: G'nolga Without you The world is a dark and lonely place.
She looked back to see his head faded underwater. She turned back to the hooded man to stop the boat.
Young G'nolga: Stop!
She returned her attention back to the mass of bubbles appearing on the surface.
Young G'nolga (Distressed): Thyme, please stop playing. I'm not falling for your temper-tantrums. I have to do this.
She waited for him to drag himself back on beach of the lake. He couldn't possibly be going through with drowning himself. Minutes passed and the bubbles became less and less visible. Her body ached, as she became overcome anxiety. G'nolga eventually found herself diving into water and swimming towards Thyme who had lost conscious due to the lack of air. She grabbed a hold of him and swam towards the surface. As soon as the air hits his lung, Thyme returned to full-consciousness, gasping and gagging.
Young G'nolga: Don't scare me like that!
Young Thyme: Then don't leave us.
Young G'nolga: I can't. I need to do this. I've been dormant in my training for too long. I have to beat Julia, to regain my pride.
Thyme looked into the dwarf woman's brown eyes and could see the fires of determination burning brightly. He had seen this look many times in her eyes and when she was determined there was no way to change her mind, she was stubborn to no end. He sighed and frowned.
Young Thyme: At least At least let us see you off.
She returned with her own sigh and smiled.
Older Thyme: And she did And now that is gone, my children need me more than ever
Another flash of light engulfed the scenario and Thyme found himself back at the booth at the park. Agath was nowhere around. Once again, the old man's voice plagued his mind.
Agath's voice in Thyme's head: But your brother stills seek your head. He will not stop until you are dead and this can threaten the lives of your children. You must decide now!
Thyme shut his eyes tightly and clenched his fists.
Agath's voice in Thyme's head: Oh and one more thing You might want to look up.
Thyme opens his eyes to find his brother several feet above. He too was frozen in place. He was already on him and was about to deliver a critical blow to his temple. The former heir gasped as time took over and reeled out of the way as Ryuu crashed into the asphalt beside him, creating a massive crater in the ground.
Ryuu: Damn!
Thyme (Thinks): He's become ludicrously fast!
Ryuu spun around and delivered a kicked roundhouse kicked, which connected with Thyme's guard as he had already cross his arms in front of his face. Thyme found himself knock off his feet and sailing towards the concrete wall of the construction site. He burst through it and continue towards the seven steel pipes poking out the ground. He tried to recover in mid-air, but he felt a sharp pain in his head as he connected with the pipe graveyard. His thoughts were scrambled. It took him a couple of seconds to regain proper thought. He wasn't given a chance as foot pin him to ground. No matter how hard he struggled, the foot would not lift. He looked up at black leather boot of his oppressor. It was Salt and behind her stood Pep, both of them grinning evilly at him. She bent down removing her foot as she grabbed a hold of his armor plate, lifting him up above her head with one hand.
An evil laugh filled the air causing to Thyme's eyes to follow the source. He spotted his brother coming through the hole in the wall he created with the human projectile he had made out of him. His brother was glowing with a red aura.
Ryuu: Good day, brother! Long time no see!
Ryuu traveled towards Thyme, moving like a blur. He gasped at his speed and the intense aura burning his skin.
Ryuu: Can't stand the heat, can we? I haven't produced an Aura like this since our father was alive.
Ryuu then savagely punched Thyme in the ribs, in which Thyme responded by gritting his teeth in pain.
Ryuu: I see you have family, a son, but where's the wife?
Ryuu punched Thyme into the ribs again, causing him to cough up blood.
Ryuu: You probably 'lost' her. But you're not the only person who moved on with their lives. I have a daughter and a son too as well as Salt and Pep here. It's a shame though Not only do I have to kill you, but him too to secure my future on the throne as well as my son's and his heirs.
A red flame collected in Ryuu's hands.
Ryuu: Ah, I remember this, I did. This is the "Aki," which I use to kill our father.
Thyme's eyes widened. His retina enlarged and a feral growl left his lips. Grabbing his scarf, he whipped it around Salt's neck.
Salt: What the he-
She was cut off as he re-tracked the garment back. Her head was completely sliced off. Ryuu's glow died down as he was astounded by the feat his brother had just performed. Pep stared at his dispatched compassion for a moment. His gold eyes became enlarged too as he launched himself at Thyme with a feral growl. He punched and clawed at his face at incredible speed. Thyme didn't flinch at assault. He grabbed the wolf man's neck and threw him in a nearby wall. Ryuu snapped back into reality and shot Thyme in the back with a ki shot. The impact sent Thyme flying after Pep. He landed face down in a pit of dirt. He quick got to his feet and looked around for his prey. He was drooling, his pointed fangs were popping out of his mouth.
Behind him a shadowy figure rose from its hiding spot on a dirt hill. Pep let out a growl before jump on his back, ripping and tearing through the metal plate. Thyme spun around, grabbing the wolf man by the collar and throw him against the ground. Immediately, Thyme pounded on Pep's chest with all of his strength, resulting in concession waves of dust and dirt, which caused crater to form under him. Pep tried to fight back, but after the first hit, the air left his lungs, the second hit crushed his chest cavity and the other blows that followed cause him to loose conscious, until there was only death.
Thyme continued to pound on the lifeless Pep until he was blast off by another ki shot causing to go toppling several feet away. Thyme didn't move after he stopped.
Ryuu: Damn you! I didn't expect you to cause so much trouble.
He walked over to Thyme's body as a red flaming gathered in his hand.
Ryuu: When you see our old man. Tell him he's a big loser.
Thyme (Whispers): That's it.
Before Ryuu could react Thyme rose to his feet and placed Ryuu in a bear hug. The energy around the dragon prince's hand began to change into a blue. A minute later, the blue energy engulfed the both of them. A few second went by and the essence turned green. An uncomfortable, deep depressing feeling filled Ryuu as he the aura grew strong. Thyme laughed manically despite feeling down himself. This wasn't the first time he felt this way or produced an aura like this. After his wife left a deep sorrow began to consume his soul, follow by anger and self-pity. It wasn't until he met Doboku that he learn to turn his pain into a weapon. The "Lion's Roar Bullet" he called it.
Ryuu: W, what are you doing!?
Thyme continued laughing. Obviously, he was feeding his ki into him, accumulating it to levels he could not handle. Gray smoke became apparent as his armor dissolved. The aura grew larger, engulfing the whole construction site. Everyone in the park, including Horoshi, Kaori, and Ryoga witnessed volcanic eruption of energy.
Ryoga (Sobs Screams): Daddy, I don't want to lose you too!
Within the green sphere, Thyme smiled as heard his son screaming his name, pleading for his life. For a couple of moments the sphere around the construction site flare madly and died out a like a star in. Only a larger hole was left in the ground.
Ryoga: Daddy
Thousands of miles away The elder Amazon matriarch, Cologne sat on the beach staring in the distance emotionlessly as if she were able to see beyond everything visible view. A moment ago, she picked up a familiar aura come from the east. It had been a while since he felt it, but she knew the aura to be of a man named Thyme that had came to her village man years ago. She put her smoking pipe to her lips, inhaled and exhaled a trail of smoke.
Cologne: Thyme
Herb sat down in the courtyard, crying to himself. He could feel it. His father was gone Yet the worst part was, he did not know why he was crying. Was it from sadness, or happiness?
Herb barely noticed as a girl with pinkish-white hair like his came outside and sat down next to him. Together, it would be easy to guess that the boy and girl were twins if it weren't for the fact the girl had a very light layering of tiger-striped fur on her.
Herb: What do you want Spice?
Spice (Pats Herb on the back): Father is dead. That I know, and I am sure you know it too. But do not cry. You still have your mother. I can feel mine is gone.
Herb: What!?
Spice (Nods her head): Yes My brother Mint and my mother is gone I've told you I have the ability to feel other's auras, no matter where they are. I can tell you that father, mom, and Pep will no longer be coming back
Herb hugged Spice. It was true that they were only half siblings, Spice coming into existence in a fit of rage from Ryuu, who then took it out on Salt, in more ways then one. Herb saw his sister as a powerful figure. She had strength, but she seemed to have a far greater intellect and insight.
What he didn't know was that it came from both the dragon and tiger blood in her. Blood which created a similar effect of the lion
It had been several weeks since his father died. Ryoga had become catatonic and wouldn't speak to the Hibiki couple. The Hibiki family decided to purchase a house near Mt. Fuji for time being so they could legally adopt Ryoga. Plans were made to adopt Ryuu and Shinnosuke as well, but Tatsu Kumon had disappear a month after they left as did Shinnosuke and his father who were last seen traveling through the western part of the Ryugenzawa forest.
Now the young lost boy was entirely alone. He only lied on his bed all day staring at the ceiling and going into the kitchen to eat when he was hungry. Kaori and Horoshi tried talking to Ryouga, but he remained it silent, not even taking time to look at them. Just walking around as if he were a lifeless robot for month until one winter night in December
Ryoga sat on the roof his adoptive parents' house looking at the ocean from his artic sleeping bag with a depressing smile on his face, his eyes filled with grief, yet hope shined in his eyes. He was now dressed in bluish green pajamas. Memories of his family began to flood his vision. All the birthdays they celebrated, his brothers, his father and his training session with him. Most of all, he remember his mother, how she kissed his boo boos, and hummed him into sleep. He missed her smell, his mother's laughter, and the smile that followed.
He sat there looking into the distance for the next couple of hours before drifting off to sleep. As he drifted into slumber land, his heart told of the task at hand. A swell of determination filled him. He swore to himself, he would not lose another person close to him again. His final words escaped his lips.
Ryoga: Mother, I will find you.
End Part 4
Author's Notes:
Yep, it's over. This is the prologue that shall set the pace for upcoming segments of "Broken Hearts Combined."
This was also to show you that most of the time, a person is only 'evil' depending on how you view. Them. My fic has mostly shown Ryoga and the Amazon in a bad light. See things from their point of view, and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Anyway, this prologue would not even be in existence if it weren't the persistence and dedication of Tony Mark.
I must also make the sad announcement that this will be the LAST work of Tony Mark. He said that his work for BHC would be his last project. So I would like to take time to dedicate the prologue to him, as well as say, "Thank you. This would not be here without you. And I thank you for keeping in contact with me for all those months I wasn't able to write."
I hope you all enjoyed this wonderful work.
-This is RedPriest17, signing off!/pre