Author's notes: I've started really working on this particular fic. Unfortunately I've written more during the weekends then I've been able to edit. That means I have four chapters complete and another four unedited. The ones that are complete are pending review by my other prereader. I'd like to thank both prereaders, idcallie and James Axelrad, for scanning through and spotting many of my errors. I'd also like to thank HeeHaw for taking the time to point out some missing elements.
Disclamer: I own neither Noir nor Ranma ½
The Fourth Sapling
By: brindani
Chapter 9: The Attack
Ranma's eyes widened, those people wanted him dead. They wanted him dead and he stood in the Tendo house… Ranma's head whipped around, he trembled when his gaze spotted Kasumi stooped over Akane's prone form still resting against the wall. After checking on her sister Kasumi turned back to find Ranma's wide eyes watching them in fear.
"Ranma, are you alright? You stopped in the middle of your sentence." Kasumi asked, concerned. Ranma didn't fear many things and as there were no cats around, it must be pretty bad.
'This is not good.' Ranma thought, fiercely shaking himself. 'I've got to pull it together. If I don't they will be hurt.'
"Kasumi, there isn't time to explain, but both you and Akane are in danger. I need you to go upstairs with Akane, lock yourselves in your room and hide in the closet. I'll come for you when it's safe, ok?" Ranma asked gently, his concerned filled eyes locked with Kasumi's.
Kasumi's eyes widened in confusion. 'All of Ranma's little friends like to play rough. She knew that. But Ranma had never become this upset over one of them.' Her eyes widened further in fear. 'Whoever's coming is not one of Ranma's friends, satisfied by a little battle with some property damage. They might even try…' Kasumi started to shake.
When she didn't immediately move, Ranma's cool eyes met hers with an intensity she had never seen before. "Please, Kasumi, we have very little time." He said quietly, almost pleadingly.
Kasumi firmed her resolve. She had to be strong for Ranma, or the consequences... Awkwardly, she helped a teetering Akane stumble her way up the stairs as fast as she could.
'Please make it through this alright, Ranma' Kasumi thought as she climbed the stairs, loosing sight of Ranma.
Once Kasumi left his view, Ranma ducked into the kitchen, hastily flipping the facet on, splashing himself with cold water before jumping above the cupboards.
BANG.
The door flew open, revealing a large man in sunglasses lowering his outstretched foot. Carefully, the man entered the room, quickly shifting his gun right and then left, examining the interior of the house.
He gestured silently with his left hand. Three more men ran in, securing all angles around the room. Moments later, three more men burst through the back door.
The leader nodded his head. At his signal, the others broke up into groups of two, efficiently moving through their assigned rooms.
Ranma watched from her vantage as they began to search each room. She had to be very careful. If they started searching upstairs, they may find Kasumi and Akane. She could not let that happen.
Ranma ducked a little further back as two men entered the kitchen, guns drawn as they examined the room with sharp eyes. They both looked identical to Ranma, wearing shades and an old fashioned bowler's cap with a matching black suit.
The one on the right nodded his head. Ranma kept a sharp eye out for any opportunity. The left man opened the pantry, quickly moving in to make sure no one was hiding there. While his attention was diverted, Ranma made her move. With a lightning fast chop, the man waiting fell to the ground, clutching his throat before unconsciousness claimed him. Hearing the thud, the other exited, his eyes scanning the room before their brows rose as he caught sight of his downed partner.
Hastily, he raised his gun, wearily scanning for the culprit. Swinging around, his vision filled with a large fist. He joined his colleague on the ground, out cold.
'Two down, five to go. Now where are the other sleazebags?' Ranma thought before fully extending her senses. 'Damn, they've already searched the ground floor and are making their way upstairs. I can't let them get to Kasumi's room!' Ranma rushed out of the room. Down the hallway, two men were covering the stairs, guns at the ready.
Thunk, Thunk
"Ahhh!…" two knives slashed each of their hands, knocking both guns away. Their vision flashed before them, cutting off their scream as they crumpled before the steps.
'Four down, three to go.' Ranma thought to herself as she stood from her crouch.
Tink, Tink
Ranma's heart nearly stopped. 'Those gun shots came from upstairs!' Ranma leapt up the stairs, slamming one of the suited men against the railing.
Eyes franticly scanning the upper floor, the last two men were spotted walking through Kasumi's bedroom door, the knob laying to the side. She hastily jumped in, catching the nearest figure off guard with a flying kick. 'One more kick and I'll have the last.' Her brief relief shattered as her senses blared. Ranma rolled to the side, barely missing the business end of a bullet.
Crouching on the bed, Ranma examined the last man standing with senses on high alert. He was tall and burly, muscles clearly outlined by his suit. His bald head followed Ranma's movements easily, his gun moving just as quickly.
NOW!
Ranma leapt away, a bullet silently disintegrating the pillow behind her, another lancing through the wall.
Ranma crouched on the floor, wishing she had brought more knives. The four Chloe had given her as a memento were not enough. 'Who are these people? Leftovers from Jamal's men maybe?' With his freshly pressed black suit, this man was nothing like the soldiers she had dealt with before. He had to be a professional assassin. Maybe some remnant of the regime sent professionals to bump her off? Still that didn't explain how they not only knew who she was but where to find her. The whole situation stunk like Genma's wet socks after a fourteen hour training session.
These thoughts flashed through Ranma's mind in a fraction of second as the face off continued. This man was very good; though not nearly as fast as Ranma. Unfortunately, her opponent had a gun, keeping Ranma out of close combat. She could use a ki blast, but the guy was way too close to the closet, one miscalculation could end up hurting that closet's precious cargo. She didn't like it, but she would have to wait for the man to run out of bullets.
BOOM
The closet door exploded open as a furious Akane ran out, fists at the ready. "How dare you attack my family!" She screamed, flying towards the black suited man. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized her assailant had a gun. Ranma gasped as that very gun swung towards Akane.
"No!" Ranma reacted as fast as she could, zipping across the room with all her might. She wasn't fast enough.
Tink.
Akane fell to the ground clutching her side. The assassin slammed against the wall like a ragdoll by a savage roundhouse to the neck.
Ranma rushed to Akane's side, ripping away her shirt to find the wound below, blood spreading out fast.
Akane's eyes noted his actions, her shocked mind forming a single word before fainting "pervert…" Checking her back, Ranma sighed, the bullet hadn't hit any major organ.
Her eyes scrunched. "Not good, the blood keeps pouring out." Hastily, Ranma took Akane's torn school shirt and wrapped it around her wound, helping to stanch the blood flow.
"OH MY!" A quivering Kasumi exclaimed as she crawled out of the closet to find her sister lying in a growing pool of her own blood.
Ranma spared her shocked expression a brief moment.
"KASUMI!" the scream shook her, drawing her frighten eyes to Ranma. "Akane needs help now. You need to call an ambulance immediately. Do you understand me?" Ranma asked as calmly as possible though her own heart raced wildly.
Though panicking, Kasumi squeezed her eyes shut, nodding her head once before sprinting out of the room.
Kasumi gone, Ranma continued to try and staunch the rapidly spreading blood.
"Don't die on me you stupid uncute tomboy. You can't just leave it like this. Not like this." Ranma cried, faint tears appeared in her eyes as she watched the color drain from her fiancée's cheeks.
Ranma's watched dejectedly as a doctor and several nurses rushed Akane's bed through the emergency door, the light flickering on moments later. Kasumi stood next to the now male Ranma, her eyes tearing as she lost sight of her baby sister.
Ranma turned to Kasumi. She looked exhausted, twin trails of moisture rolling down her cheeks accompanied by an occasional hiccup. Gently taking her hand, Ranma led her quivering body to a nearby chair. Following Ranma's guidance, Kasumi sat in the seat before covering her face in an attempt to muffle her sobs.
"Kasumi?" Ranma asked hesitantly taking a seat next to the distraught girl.
Ranma nearly fell off his chair as Kasumi tumbled into him, tears soaking his shirt. Stunned, Ranma sat immobile; a girl had just latched onto him. His body tensed, ready to leap away at a moments notice. His hesitation caused Kasumi to tighten her grip.
"Please Ranma… please hold me." She whimpered, her streaming eyes gazing up into his.
His face firmed, he could not run away, Kasumi needed him now. Needed him more then she had ever needed him. Agonizingly slow, he wrapped his arms around the distraught girl, slowly rubbing Kasumi's back.
"Thank you." She hiccupped, voice muffled as it returned to his shirt.
"It's alright, Kasumi. Akane will be just fine. You'll see. She's too stubborn to do anything else. As soon as the doctor lets us in, you'll see for yourself. She'll be back to her tomboy self in no time; burnt cooking and all." Ranma continued his stream of reassurance. Gradually, Kasumi's tears receded; her breathing became more even, her grip loosing some of its edge.
A soft snore caught Ranma's attention. Shifting his head, he found Kasumi had fallen asleep, her face ragged with tear stains. He gently unwrapped her arms, placing them into her lap. Kasumi resisted the movement; seeking the warmth suddenly denied her. Only reluctantly did she settle down.
Ranma gazed down on Kasumi tenderly. She had been like a big sister to him, tending his wounds and silently giving him support, no matter how much chaos flooded his life. In a thousand years, he doubted he would ever be able to repay the debt he owed her.
Standing, Ranma found a petite nurse with short brown hair walking down the corridor. She was frantically flipping back and forth through several charts attached to her clipboard.
"Nurse?" Ranma asked tapping her shoulder.
She jumped at the unexpected touch. Flinging her clipboard away to grip her thundering chest, she spun around, raising a hand to give whoever had scared her, a serious piece of her mind. Her rebuke died on her lips as her gaze fell into the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen.
"Yes?" she asked, her fright completely forgotten. 'I just found my dream man,' she thought, her feet feeling as if they were floating on air.
"Could I have a blanket and pillow for my companion?" Ranma asked, gesturing behind him to the emotionally exhausted girl sitting there.
The nurse felt her heart crumble as she took in the young woman. Ragged or not she was stunning! 'Damn, he's already taken. Why, oh why are all the good looking ones always taken!?' She thought, silently bemoaning the heavens. Before he could turn back, she forced a strained professional smile into place.
"Certainly, I'll get those for you." She said, woodenly moving down the hall, forgetting completely about the chart she had left laying against the far wall.
Ranma scratched his head as he watched the nurse's odd reaction. Shrugging his shoulders, he dismissed it. There were far more important things to worry about than the antics of a nurse.
Ranma regarded Kasumi's sleeping form. Even in sleep, her brows drew down, shivering as she tried to reach out, mumbling Akane's name.
He frowned as he watched her troubled sleep. 'Stupid Akane, she should have let me handle it. Like always, she charged head-first into a situation she knew nothing about. Only this time, she paid a terrible price.' Ranma shook his head forcibly. 'No, it's not her fault. She just wanted to protect her family. I should have been faster, should have taken him down before he had the chance to shoot. Now it's too late. Akane has been hurt.' Ranma thought, his eyes drifting to the door labeled emergency room. 'There was so much blood, I'm not sure she will make it.' Ranma worried silently.
"Sir?" Ranma jumped as he found the attractive nurse offering a blanket and pillow.
"Oh, thank you," Ranma said absently, taking the items from her. "Do you happen to know how it is going in there?" Ranma asked, gesturing to the emergency room.
The nurse looked back at the indicated room before shaking her head. "I'm sorry sir; I'm not assigned to this emergency room. If you wait a little longer, someone should be out with more information." The nurse answered, before bowing and reluctantly returning to her duties. 'Another prospect lost, when will it be my turn?' she thought with a sorrowful pout.
Ranma sighed, lightly spreading the blanket over Kasumi, resting her head against the pillow. His worry etched face lightened as she pulled the blanket to herself, a small smile returning as she snuggled against its warmth.
"Ranma," she mumbled lightly.
Shaking his head, Ranma was about to sit when he spotted someone familiar further down the hall. Looking confused and worried, Soun Tendo was examining a slip of paper, comparing it to the door number in front of him. 'Guess it's time to face the music.' Ranma thought darkly.
"Mr. Tendo, over here." Ranma called out, waving. Soun turned to face the person calling him. He blinked when he found Ranma standing next to his eldest daughter's sleeping form.
Soun nodded, making his way over. Soun raised his arms as he drew closer. Ranma wanted to bring his own up to defend against the coming onslaught. He forced them down. He deserved everything that Soun gave him and so much more for his negligence. Ranma would take responsibility for failing. At the last moment he squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the beating of his life. To his surprise, Ranma felt the older man's arms encircle him. The pig-tailed boy opened his eyes wide when he realized he was being hugged.
"Thank you, Ranma."
Of all the reactions that certainly was one of the last on the list he expected. "For what, Mr. Tendo?" he asked cautiously.
Releasing Ranma, Soun stepped back regarding the young man's troubled features. "For saving my daughters. I spoke with the detective on my way up. He told me everything. If you had not been there, both Kasumi and Akane would have been killed."
Ranma looked down, 'if I hadn't been there, those men would never have come in the first place. The girls wouldn't have needed protection.'
"How is she doing?" Ranma found Soun in front of the emergency room; his hand hovering above it, straining against his desire to burst in to check on his beloved youngest daughter.
"They haven't come out yet. She lost a lot of blood, but I think she'll be alright." Ranma answered hopefully, stepping next to the older man.
Soun nodded his head, reluctantly dropping his hand. Ranma was surprised that Soun had not fallen into tears. In fact, there was not a shimmer of emotion as he faced the door.
"I couldn't bear to lose the other." Soun whispered to himself, just barely loud enough for Ranma to hear.
Ranma blinked. 'Lose the other? What is he talking about?"
"What do you mean?" Ranma asked. Soun jerked as he looked at Ranma, blinking as if surprised to find him standing there. His surprise gave way to a probing stare as if trying to gauge him.
Ranma must have passed the impromptu examination as Soun nodded, glancing at Kasumi sleeping form before speaking again.
"I want your word as a martial artist that what I'm about to share with you does not go beyond us," Soun asked, lightly placing a hand on Ranma's shoulder, pinning him with a penetrating gaze.
Ranma blinked again. Soun had never asked for such a promise. Whatever he had to say must be very important. Hesitantly, Ranma nodded his head.
"I promise as a martial artist that what we discuss will not go beyond the two of us without your permission." Ranma returned with a gaze just as intense as Soun's.
Soun studied Ranma's somber stance, taking in the slight change of wording. Nodding once, Sound released his hold, turning back to the emergency room door.
"It happened a long time ago, when my wife was pregnant with Akane. Her labor was very long and hard, but after twenty-eight hours, we were blessed with twins." Ranma's eyes widened. Soun raised a hand, forestalling any possible interruption.
Soun continued once he was certain Ranma would keep his peace. "We were so happy. Though not identical, we had two new beautiful baby girls. We stared at them for hours watching their peaceful faces as they slept in Kimoko's arms." Ranma had never seen Soun's face so tranquil, eyes softening as if he saw the babies before him.
Ranma was surprised when the calm shattered, replaced by a storm or emotions. Trembling Soun continued. "Then the old woman appeared. Until that day, I had never seen someone so wrinkled and shriveled. Five burly guards flanking her hobbling form. I was alarmed at first. When they didn't enter the room with her, I was naively reassured that she must be an important old friend of Kimoko.
How wrong I was. The old woman came to Kimoko first giving her an odd smile. Kimoko drew into herself shivering. I rushed to Kimoko's bedside desperate to find out what happened. It was then the old woman examined our twin daughters.
I will never forget what happened next. She picked up one of our dear girls, holding her up high and proclaimed to the entire world that she was to be a candidate for Noir.
It startled me away from Kimoko. A crazy woman held my child. I moved to take my child back, protect her from the deranged eyes that stared up at her." Soun's eyes clouded his hands instinctively reaching out as if to retrieve the phantom child in his vision. His arm's fell reluctantly. "I never made it. The five men penned me to the floor before I could react." Soun's voice quivered as his fist became white with strain. "Everything I ever learned under the Master, all useless to help me when I truly needed it. No matter how I struggled, I could not move. I was left reaching with one arm. The old woman's cackling haunts me to this day as she moved towards the door.
I thought things could be no worse. I was wrong. Despite a long hard labor, my brave Kimoko would have none of it. She tried so hard, pushing herself from the bed. She crawled on the floor reaching her own hands out, not even the strength to stand, tried to stop the old woman and… and the old woman shot her." Tears leaked from the older man's eyes as haunting memories pressed passed their long sealed vault.
"She wasn't a threat. She could barely crawl. Frightened beyond all reason she could have done nothing to hurt her and yet the old woman shot her with a smile on her face.
Watching my wife bleed, the old woman, cradled my child in her arms. She said our family had fulfilled our obligation and would be rewarded. I was knocked out soon after." Soun finished his eyes downcast, emotionally drained after telling of that fateful day.
"What about your wife?" Ranma asked, intent upon the story.
"Her wound wasn't fatal. When I came to, she was already being treated and was stabilized. Fate had one more disaster to throw at us, however. The wound complicated her recovery from her prolonged labor, weakening her immune system drastically."
"So that is how…"
"Yes, years later, her weakened immune system couldn't take the constant strain. She contracted a fatal illness and died shortly after." Sound said, his words emotionless yet quivered as he spoke them.
"But why didn't you tell your children?" Ranma asked unconsciously putting an arm around Soun to support him. A leaf in the wind was more sturdy then Soun.
"While in the hospital, we made a pact that our children would not have to face the realization that a sister they would never know was out there somewhere. We thought it best that at least they would not have to suffer with that knowledge."
"And the promise from the old woman?"
"They kept it."
"But how?"
"Whoever these Soldats are, they're well connected. Bills for the house would mysteriously be paid with no trace where the money came from, but we knew.
Life only became worse after Kimoko died. She was my only support after losing my child. When she passed away, my grief overtook me and I was unable to continue. To this day, I curse myself and my unresponsive body, but could force neither to help my waning family.
The old woman must have continued to help because we miraculously made it through many desperate times, with extra money appearing when we needed it. Later I found that Nabiki had taken over the reins of the household finances. Her ledgers told everything; scams, blackmail, and extortion. I found something odd, however, they were making far more money than a little girl could ever realistically achieve on her own."
Soun turned to Ranma, his shimmering eyes telling more than a waterfall of tears ever could.
"I know I was not there for my family. I could not protect Akane's sister. I can only pray that she is still out there, loved and cared for. I pray for this every night. To lose another… I could not bear it." Soun finished moving an arm to his eyes.
Ranma nodded solemnly just as a doctor exited the emergency room.
The bald doctor stood for a moment, bags under his eyes as he examined the two men. Finally, he bowed slightly to Soun.
"I take it you are the patient's father?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm Soun Tendo. Is my baby going to be alright?" Soun asked, new worry filling his eyes.
The doctor rubbed his weary eyes. "The answer to that is mixed." Soun's face began to crumple, but stopped when the doctor raised a finger. "She lost quite a bit of blood, and wouldn't have made it if she had not received prompt attention. Right now, however, she needs blood, and lots of it to stabilize her condition.
I'm afraid that she has blood type O+, which is currently in short supply. Does anyone in the family or perhaps a friend willing to donate with a blood-type of O+ or O-?" The doctor asked warily.
Ranma shook his head. "I'm AB," Ranma said silently, wishing he was able to help.
The doctor frowned before turning to Soun. The man thought for a moment before nodding his head.
"I'm O+ but I'm afraid Kasumi takes after her mother as B+."
"I was hoping there would be more then one person with the correct blood type, but we'll have to work with what we have. Would you be willing to donate blood for your daughter?" The doctor asked the rhetorical question required by law.
"Of course, of course." Soun answered as he followed after the doctor into the emergency room; leaving Ranma to tend to Kasumi.
In the hospital wing of a maximum security detention center sat a guard. He was bored out of his mind guarding the seven men shackled to their bed laying unconscious from severe head trauma. Truly, the whole situation made him sick to his stomach. An innocent family attacked in broad daylight by some Yakuza thugs. At least that is what he figured. There wasn't any identification on them, but who else would do something so despicable? He took comfort that the big one who actually shot a young girl would likely be permanently paralyzed. In the guard's view, he got what he deserved.
The guard stood to attention when a weary detective loosely clothed in an old fashion trench coat walked up to him.
"Has there been any change?" He asked, his eyes drooping from lack of sleep.
"No sir, they haven't woken up yet. They'll really be feeling it when they do though. The kid did a great job smashing the scum under their foot."
The detective ignored the comment as it could get the guard in trouble even if he agreed whole heartedly. "Very well, inform me the moment that they do. I need to have a nice long discussion with each of them." He turned to leave before stopping half-way down the hallway. "By the way, the higher ups are sending a nurse to check on them." the detective said as he pulled out a cigarette, putting it between his lips before fishing for a lighter. He was severely overworked; this marked the third case assigned to him in as many days. He hadn't gotten sleep for about as long. He hoped to catch a few winks in his office before the bastards woke-up.
"Yes, sir," The guard answered, saluting smartly.
Sitting back down, the guard prepared himself for the long wait. It didn't take long as another visitor strolled down the hallway with a push cart.
"Is this the room with all the head trauma patients?" The purplish-red haired young nurse asked of the guard, while gesturing to the door behind him.
He silently nodded.
"I need to have a look at them to make sure they didn't suffer any permanent injury." He briefly examined her id badge before nodding his head. "Okay, Sara Dugal." He unlocked the door for the nurse to enter before sitting back down.
Making sure the door was locked and barricaded by a chair; the girl removed the nurse outfit, allowing a familiar green cape to billow out behind her. Once it settled, the girl took a look at the seven beds holding seven very beaten up men. She shook her head. 'Whether in the kitchen or an assignment, Ranma is always leaving messes for me to clean up. How will he ever learn if he doesn't do his own dirty-work?' She briefly thought before whipping out her dagger. 'Oh well, best get this finished quickly.'
Author's end notes: Akane's been injured and lies on the brink of death. Will she pull through? What of Soun's tale? How does it relate to Ranma and will he find out?
Please send any comments by review or to me directly if you would like to discuss them.
brindani