All of my exams are over! You can be expecting a chapter every so often. Please remember to review if you feel as though something should be added, taken out, or just simply changed. I hope you've been enjoying it so far! Tell me if you'd like the chapters shortened, 'cause I think they are a little long.
"Calm down, Akane!" Father puts a forceful hand on my clavicle, preventing me from rampaging around the living room. "We would have told you sooner was it not for Ryoga's sickness!"
"Oh, joy. Another reason why I'm the cause for everything that is wrong," Ryoga throws his arms up in the air. "I guess I'll be adding this to the list."
"Well?! Why did he call, Kasumi?!" I snap a wooden bowl in two with my hands.
"Akane, Dr. Tofu gave us that…" She frowns and places a finger on her lip.
"Well, …. Sorry." I inhale deeply, and exhale fully. "What did Mr. Saotome say to you on the phone?"
"As soon as I picked up the phone, he told me to tell everyone that it was a friend calling," She smiles, takes the broken bowl, and sets it down on the table. "Since I have no friends, I thought of the first person on my mind, Akane."
"Aw, Kasumi. Don't say that, dear! I…. I'm your friend!" A wobbly Happosai toddles in with a sake bottle in one hand, and a panty in the other. He sits down next to her and nudges her waist. She giggles and pushes him over on his side, spilling his sake. He grumbles angrily to himself and flees into the kitchen.
"Oh… That explains it. So what was he calling about?" I pat the smelly spot on the rug with a dry cloth. It reeks of alcohol and women's hygiene products. That Happosai is a weirdo. Kasumi tries to manipulate the smashed wood pieces into it's former state, but to no prevail. She sighs a tremendous sigh.
"He told me that he'd been attacked."
Father and Nabiki both nod in agreement, obviously having heard the shocking news earlier, before I did.
"Attacked?" I repeat. "By who?"
"He said it wasn't a someone… but a something," She says, accidentally pricking her finger with a piece of wood. "He'll be here at noon." She says, getting up and going into the kitchen.
"What does that mean…?" Ryoga taps his chopsticks on the rim of his cup.
"He didn't say." Father says after no one else answers. He stacks the faded red plates into a granum looking pile.
"What time is now, Nabiki?" I change subject, focusing on Nabiki. She clicks her watch and it lights up with an artificial neon light.
"About 10."
Maybe Mr. Saotome can help me master the moves! Oh, right. I have to go training with Ryoga!
"OK! Ryoga, let's go." I smile with pride and grab his hand, leading him into the dojo. Snap.
"What was that noise?" Ryoga questions and looks around, as if it could come from the walls and ceiling themselves.
"Who cares? Let's go! I want to learn these moves!" I secure the scroll in my hand and prance onwards. My right hand quickly grows greasy, being attached to Ryoga's. I separate my laced fingers from his and slowly draw my hands together. We walk in an awkward silence until we reach the training hall. My quiet steps echo off of the patched wooden walls. I don't necessarily walk loudly, but in this situation, it sounds like an elephant stepping on explosives. I set up near the back of the room and sit on my calves. I grapple at the charcoal colored string that keeps the parchment from spilling out. Undoing it, it rolls out into 10 feet of a thin, coarse fabric. Elegant brush strokes mottle the entirety. It looks like it could have been crafted by a superior hand, perhaps a master of a certain technique or style. Ryoga comes over and sits at the head of the scroll. He skims it for a few minutes and perks up as if he had remembered something he accidentally had forgotten.
"I've heard of the legend that this is based off!" He turns to face me. "Long ago, there was a master pig, the king of his type of martial arts, who had never lost one match in martial arts. One day, though, he met a woman, and she told him if he wanted her love, he would have to submit himself to her. He did so, and she cut off his head, later presenting herself as the queen of the Ruffian Martial Arts style. Thus, the Fist of the Headless Boar was born, seeking revenge for the betrayal of the master pig."
"Wow…" I trace the thick ink lightly with my finger. "How do I do the move?"
"It says: to master this brutal technique, you must first give your submission to another. After doing so, only then will you be able to demonstrate this destructive move. However, if you should lose to a foe in battle, the move's power will decrease by two fold. To restore the lost power of one battle, you must win two. Find paragraph seven to read about the risks when performing."
"Shut up, Ryoga, and come help me practice!" I motion with my hand to come join me and stand.
"Okay, Akane… But who will you submit yourself to?" He twiddles his fingers and turns to the color of a ripe strawberry.
Right… Who would I submit myself to? Ranma? Well after this, he'll never beat me! Hah! That'll show him! Yeah, I'll submit myself to him and let's see what he'll do about it.
"I know who I'll do it for. And trust me, Ryoga. This person will not beat me after I learn this move."
"Oh… Okay, if that's how you feel," He scratches his eyebrow. He picks up the scroll and read a little more. "To preform this move, the oppressed one needs to focus on all of the emotion they have towards their taker, the one they give their submission to. After doing so, a faint image will appear in front of them of their taker. Striking it with force does not matter; only touching it will simply send your opponent flying, if your emotions are great, that is."
"So my taker would be the one I choose to submit myself to?" I add up everything in my mind and get in ready position.
"Yes, as it says here." Ryoga rolls up the scroll and gently tosses it aside. "We should read paragraph seven later cause it said there are risks or something."
"Can't be anything too terrible. C'mon, let's try it."
Ryoga places himself opposite me and gets ready to withstand an attack. I sweep my right leg behind me to provide me with a steady rock, and I close my eyes, focusing on Ranma. Memories flash through my mind; running to and from school, sharing lunch under the big sycamore outside when the weather is nice, training, to spending a night together. My overwhelming sadness makes me wilt and I open my eyes. Ranma is right in front of me. His facial expression expresses that of concern or regret. Did he… really come back? I take a few steps forwards and reach my hand out, barely grazing the buttons of his shirt when he dissipates, and Ryoga is thrown backwards, smashing against the back wall.
"Oh my god, Ryoga! I'm so sorry!" I fret cowardly and rush towards him, kneeling by his side. He rubs his bum and looks around dizzily.
"I don't know what just happened or how you did that, but you better be careful with that." He coughs a few times and inhales quickly.
"Akane! Ryoga! Mr. Saotome is here!" Kasumi calls eagerly.
"Great! He's here! Let's go greet him!" Ryoga takes off down the paneled walkways.
"Sure. I'll come back later for the scroll." I say. He turns a corner and disappears. "Although, why do I feel as though I'm forgetting something?" I shrug it off and sprint down the hall, knocking over a vase full of pansies. It shatters on the ground and the water spills over.
"Saotome, Kasumi told us that you were attacked? What did you mean by that?" Father asks, aghast. Mr. Saotome picks up a fluffy rice bun and gobbles it up rudely before he responds. He's making himself at home at the speed of light, I can see.
"It was a hot and sunny day where we were on a small island near China. It was unusual for such good weather, but the farmers needed good weather after all the snow they've been getting. It was then when we were attacked." He emphasizes 'attacked' and makes Nabiki and Kasumi jump with fright. He laughs in merriment as he continues. "It was obviously not a person or thing, but rather a shadow…" He rubs his gruff hand over his stubbly incoming beard. It sounds like he never had the chance to shave it.
"What do you think its purpose was by attacking you?" Kasumi questions. We sit in wonderment for a few moments before Mr. Saotome responds.
"It was obvious; it wanted to separate us. I was walking with Ranma when five shadows came at us from all directions and flung us with a great strength to different places. After being tossed over the ocean by this mysterious shadow, I found myself lying on top of the ceiling of the Amazon restaurant." He says with a great deal of trouble recalling his memories.
"So… no one else was there when you came to?" I ask, my eyes pleading for an answer I know that I will never receive.
"Nope." Mr. Saotome pats down his white bandana of any wrinkles.
"Mr. Saotome, pardon me asking but, what was your purpose of going to Jusenkyo?" Kasumi's curious voice bounces around inside my skull. She took my words. Genma looks at her with empathy.
"Ranma told me that he wanted to break his curse for good and live up in the mountains near the cursed springs. He invited everyone he knew with a curse to the ponds with him." Mr. Saotome looks around the room, stops at Ryoga, and furrows his brow. Ryoga turns a wonderful shade of bright red. God, Ranma. You and your stupid misconceptions.
"So why did Ukyo and Cologne go as well?" I pipe up.
"Ukyo came to accompany Ranma, and to make her wonderful Okonomiyaki. And Cologne wanted to accompany Shampoo when returning to China. They wanted to visit their home tribe. They had themselves under the impression that this whole voyage was so everyone could come to Ranma and Shampoo's wedding back in their tribal area…" Mr. Saotome knots his fists and pounds the table. "But we'd never let that happen; would we Tendo?"
"No-no, Saotome! Never!" Father sobs and embraces Mr. Saotome. "I've never loved you more, you filthy panda!"
"Okay…" Nabiki says, aggravated, and goes upstairs.
"Is what I just heard all true?" A serious Happosai walks in and sits down next to Mr. Saotome, staring straight into space. No where specific.
"Yes, master, from start to finish." Mr. Saotome bows down on his knees and sits upright again.
"These five shadows… I feel like I've encountered them before," Happosai scratches his noggin. "Yes, definitely from somewhere."
"Can you try and remember? Please, master, we're begging you!" Father bows down and cries a little girl's cry after her favorite bunny lost one of it's button eyes.
"Right! I remember now!" Happosai slaps his knee, as if responding to a funny joke. "I was involved in an extravaganza eh, maybe 200 or so years ago. It was with the most talented show group, all cursed by the waters of Jusenkyo. We'd use the powers of the ponds to change in front of our audiences and they went ecstatic!"
"So…" Mr. Saotome urges him on with the circular motion of his hand.
"How does that pertain to the situation at hand, grandfather?" Kasumi slides in closer to Mr. Saotome.
"We had unexpected auditors that night…" He scowls and the shadow of his large forehead masks his face in an evil darkness. "They picked us up and flung us into the street. They weren't people, but shadows. 5 of them. It quickly turned from a sunset to a very dark blue sky, and with the fading sun, the shadows began to take human shapes. I believe they were the 5 Water Gods, but I didn't know anything. They dunked water over our heads and told us that we shall never abuse our powers again, and with that, they left. None of us had our shape shifting abilities anymore." Happosai sheds tears at the fond memories and bursts out in a baby's fit.
"I've heard of that, too," Father closes his eyes and sips a small cup of tea. "Legend has it that they call themselves the Shadow 5."
"What I don't understand is why Mr. Saotome still has his panda-half then…" Kasumi says.
"A wonderful question, m'dear!" Mr. Saotome pats her roughly on the shoulder. "Before throwing me over seas and back, the shadow told me that I had one last chance to shape up or I'd lose my gift for good."
"Gift? You mean changing from human to panda?" I say.
"Precisely. I wish they'd changed me then and there! Now I have to go back…" He throws his arms down on the table and weeps.
"It'll be ok, Saotome." Father pats his back awkwardly since he doesn't have anything supportive to say. It's not like he could say anything to reassure him.
"What happened to Ukyo and Cologne? They don't have the powers." Kasumi scoots a few feet away from Genma and places her fists in her lap.
"I believe they were left alone, although one of the shadows did interrogate them. Right now, I don't know where anyone is."
"Akane, why don't you go back to Jusenkyo with Saotome?" Father says after long years of stillness.
"Me? Why?" I take the question by surprise, and my voice comes out squeaky and shocked. As does a mouse's caught in a trap.
"It'd be an excellent training opportunity, since of course, you're going to take over the Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts one day, and you need to know it all!" He stands up and choruses with Mr. Saotome in a musical number from a Broadway musical that we had seen as a family when we visited America a few years back.
"I guess…" I look at Ryoga. "You should come too."
"YEAH! G-great for training…" He stands up and quickly sits back down, anxious to change the subject.
"Anyways, Mr. Saotome, could I interest you in a little training? I learned a new move!" I chat happily with our panda friend.
"Sure, Akane!" He gets up, splashes into the koi pond, and a damp panda emerges. He runs swiftly down the padded halls and turns into the dojo.
"Come on, Ryoga! I don't want to wait all day for you!" I grab his collar and hoist him up, letting go after I start sprinting.
'Come at me, pipsqueak' is written on a board held by Mr. Saotome. He shuffles from foot to foot, preparing for combat. I focus all of my chi on Ranma, and the pain I suffered through after he left, sitting in class by myself, my thoughts bouncing off the catacombs in my head, every single one containing thoughts of him. I wince as if about to be attacked, but I look back at Mr. Saotome. Ranma stands in front of him, protecting him from danger almost. He's a bit fuzzier looking than last time. Not entirely clear. I take a few large steps and swipe my arm across the faint picture, which evaporates like a gathered culmination of dust particles. As soon as I do, I see the air in front of me ripple like uneasy water, and Mr. Saotome is thrown backwards against the wall.
'KO!' he holds up a sign, the letters squiggly and unreadable from being knocked against the head.
"Wow! It even amazes me!" I scream a ditsy scream and jump in place. I could see someone like Azusa, the ice-skating martial artist, doing a girly type move such as this.
"Ehem. Akane?" Nabiki poses at the door frame, wearing short jeans, suspenders, and a bright yellow shirt. It has a smiley face on it.
"Hey, Nabiki." I squint under the shining sun. "What's up?"
"Just a quick question, nothing really personal, but do these pictures mean anything to you?" She holds out two Polaroid shots. One, Ryoga has me in his lap, our limbs intertwined together in a very provocative position. It appears as though we're both asleep. The other, we're hand in hand, smiling. So the snap earlier was her camera!
"W-what?! Nabiki!" I exclaim and turn a bright shade of maroon.
"They'll be 3,000 yen. Each." She winks and waves the disturbing portraits in front of my face.
"Ugh, fine. Let me go get my wallet." I sigh, agitated, and run out of the training hall.
"Wait, Akane! You forgot the scroll! And Mr. Saotome!" Ryoga comes rushing out with a dazed black and white mammoth on his back and the Fist of the Headless Boar's instructions in the other.
"I'll take care of it later! I have to do something first!" I yell over my shoulder and scurry up the stairs. "Where did I put that darn wallet?!"
I hastily open the drawers of my desk, messing everything inside. Slamming the drawers shut, I give an irritated groan look around the room a final time before giving up. I notice a black and pink pocketbook residing on top of my dresser, right behind my desk lamp.
"My god." I slap my palm across my forehead, grab for the billfold, and I'm sliding down the stair rail once again. "Nabiki!"
"Yes, Akane dear? What can I do for you?" She says mischievously, leaning against the wall, expecting my company.
"Give me those pictures. I'm prepared to pay you." I sift around in my wallet and pull out 6,000 yen.
"Why of course, Akane." She smiles and accepts my money. She drops the photos in front of me and skips out into the courtyard. I scoop up the sharp laminated paper and trace over ever detail with my finger. These pictures… almost make it seem like Ryoga and I are in love! HA! That's preposterous! Absurd! I'd never…. Hmm. Ryoga? No. …
"Akane dear; bring back your beloved fiancé with you!" Father rushes up to me and clasps me in his bear like arms. "Now no time to doddle! Go upstairs and get packed!"
"B-but, dad~~!" I whine, but he pushes me toward the stairs. I don't know why…. But I constantly feel as though I'm forgetting something important. What could it be? I feel like it had something to do with my new move.. and something else. I can't place my finger on it.
"We're waiting outside when you're finished, Akane!" Mr. Saotome salutes me and grabs Ryoga by the collar.
Heh. Nothing to worry about, I guess.