Chapter 10: Guests for Dinner
When three o'clock rolled around, Nodoka gathered up her daughter and started walking to the doctor's office for Ranma's appointment. It was raining and with only one umbrella in the house, for ten years that had been all Nodoka needed after all, the two were of necessity forced to share it. Nodoka used the excuse of the small shelter to stand close to her child, arm wrapped around Ranma's shoulders for comfort and support.
Normally Ranma would have shied away from such a public display of affection and the dependence it implied but the bruise on her temple was still tender, the jarring impacts of her footfalls causing occasional twinges of pain, messing up her equilibrium. Better to endure the insinuation of weakness, she felt, than to fall on her face and prove it to everyone on the street.
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Dr. Masumi Kimura was a small woman in her early forties and she had been a practicing psychiatrist for twelve years. Being a woman herself she worked mostly with other women, often troubled girls from the local high schools. In fact she was also a licensed obstetrician and gynecologist, though most of her actual medical patients were young rape victims. Dr. Kimura had worked with girls in the deepest depths of depression, trapped in circumstances that turned her stomach rancid just thinking about them. So when Headmaster Hasegawa related the case of Ranma Saotome to her, in spite of some of the particulars of the case being very unusual, none of it was unfamiliar. Dr. Kimura had seen it all before, if not usually all resting on the shoulders of one person. Still, it had happened and she felt she was well prepared to handle the Saotome girl. So far all she had to work with was what the headmaster had told her, all of which may or may not be accurate. She wished she had the girl's medical records but that would have to wait until she received the child's guardian's permission, usually during the first session.
Dr. Kimura's office was designed to be comfortable, the colors were soft and earthy, the furniture plush with sweeping curves instead of sharp angles. Even her small desk was organically shaped, without corners or edges. Low bookshelves lined most of the walls, the colorful spines of the books giving a sense of a filled space, without making the small room seem crowded. At various places about the room, on both bookshelves and low tables, stood polished wooden statues of abstract shapes. All smooth curves and satiny grains. The room was, in a word, soft. There were also several pictures on the walls, hidden between the books, comforting scenes of ordinary and happy lives. The only anomaly, one all of the pictures had in common, was that they only depicted women. There were no images of the male gender…anywhere. With so many of her patients having been victimized by men, the lack of anything masculine worked to further reduce the rooms threat level. At least it did for most of the women and girls who came to see her.
Not for Ranma, for her the room's overwhelming femininity was a quiet attack on her own eroding sense of identity. This was a room that let it be known that men were not allowed, yet here she was. Ranma didn't feel comfortable here. Ranma didn't want to feel comfortable here.
Dr. Kimura came around from behind her desk to greet the Saotome women, giving them a small bow and plenty of personal space.
"Welcome Mrs. Saotome, Miss Ranma. I am Doctor Masumi Kimura and I have been looking forward to meeting you. If there is anything you need or want to say then please feel free to do so. I promise anything that is said in this room will not leave this room, ever. Not even Mr. Hasegawa will learn of what we discuss in here. I will not judge you nor try to tell you what you should do. Instead, I will try to help you to understand your own feelings." She gave Ranma a reassuring smile. "In short, I am here to listen. Do you have any questions or concerns you would like to share?" Looking expectantly to both.
When neither woman was forthcoming with any, the doctor turned to Nodoka. "Mrs. Saotome, if you would please return to the waiting room I would like to speak to Miss Ranma alone. There are some papers that I need you to fill out, permitting us access to your daughter's medical and school records. My secretary will show you what is needed."
She escorted Nodoka to the door, introducing her to the secretary while quietly herding her out of the room. Nodoka looked back at Ranma, giving her a nod as if to reassure her everything was going to be all right, before the doctor closed the door blocking her from view.
This left Ranma all alone with the head shrinker.
Dr. Kimura took a moment to study her newest patient, taking in her guarded stance and defensive posture. She could clearly see the heavily masculine overtones in the way Ranma stood and moved. They were as clear as her fear and discomfort.
Giving the girl a friendly smile, she gestured towards the several chairs in the room. "Well Ranma, why don't we sit down and get to know each other. Would you care for some tea?"
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While the secretary patiently explained the paperwork to her, directing her on where to sign and what needed to be filled out, Nodoka couldn't restrain herself from casting worried looks towards the door that stood between her and her child. Wishing she could be in that room with her, fearful of what the doctor would think of their situation. Also a little ashamed of what the older woman might think of her as a mother.
"Mrs. Saotome, you will need to fill out this section on Ranma's history to the best of your ability. Don't worry, doctor/patient confidentiality applies to this as well. Why don't you sit down."
The secretary led Nodoka to a comfortable chair, giving her a clipboard and pen. It was no coincidence that the seat she led her to was located behind a large potted plant, one that blocked her view of the office door.
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An hour later when the door to the Doctor's office opened, Nodoka stood as Ranma practically ran from the room stopping just short of her mother and half way to the exit.
Dr. Kimura followed to see them off and with the help of her secretary, scheduled Ranma's next appointment. After the Saotome women left she returned to her office to finish writing up her notes from their first session. It hadn't been a very productive one. Ranma had been too guarded and she could tell that the girl was weighing everything she said out in her mind before speaking. While this meant that the value of what was said was, for all intents and purposes, nothing. It was fairly common for a first meeting and Dr. Kimura was able to learn a great deal about the girl from the physical and verbal cues that Ranma didn't realize she was giving. Sitting at her desk, Masumi wrote down her suspicions that Ranma was suffering from low self esteem and gender confusion. Everything the girl did and said was overtly masculine, from the way she sat to the words she used. The last thing she wrote down was a question mark on Ranma's sexual preferences. She strongly suspected that Ranma was a lesbian, something that didn't mesh with the headmaster's story of a broken engagement.
Sighing, she realized that in spite of all Hasegawa had told her she was still starting at ground zero. A knock at the door interrupted her. Putting Ranma's file away, she rose to greet her next patient.
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Though the sky was still heavily overcast the rain had stopped for the moment and with her head not feeling quite so achy, Ranma no longer found it necessary to lean upon her mother beneath the shelter of the small umbrella. With a quiet sigh of relief, she reinstated her sense of independence by maintaining a distance of no less then two feet between herself and Nodoka.
While the elder Saotome missed the closeness they shared earlier, she also felt pride in her child's desire to stand on her own.
Riding the bus Ranma was preoccupied with reviewing everything she had said to Dr. Kimura, second guessing every word and worrying about what the Doc might have come away thinking. So preoccupied was she that it wasn't until after she followed her mother off of the bus that she realized this wasn't the stop near the Saotome home. Instead it was along the Kandagawa River, near…the…shrine…
"Mom…" She started nervously, "why are we…aren't we going home?"
This was the last place she wanted to be. Ranma would rather go on a date with Kuno (shudder), then risk another visit and face being trapped.
Umbrella in the crook of her arm, Nodoka started walking towards the shrine's red Torri gate.
"Yes dear but I have one quick errand to run first."
"What sort of errand?" Ranma asked, trying not to sound suspicious…or frightened.
Nodoka cast her daughter an affectionate smile. "I invited Priest Hsiao to our house for dinner tonight along with the Tendos. I just need to stop and verify that he is coming."
As they neared the red gate Ranma's pace slowed, she viewed the stone steps beyond with fear and trepidation.
"Uh…why don't you just call him. I mean, Shinto priests are allowed to use phones…aren't they?"
Realizing that Ranma was falling behind Nodoka turned to face her, bringing their little parade to a stop just outside the gate.
"Yes dear but phones are so impersonal, I much prefer a face to face visit. Why did you think I always visited the Tendo's, instead of just calling and asking if you were there?"
Actually, Ranma always figured it was because she was trying to catch pop by surprise.
"Okay but, why don't you do it later?" Ranma almost feigned weakness to avoid climbing the long stretch of stairs but pride wouldn't let her, not even if it had been true, which it wasn't.
The look on Nodoka's face turned to one of mild exasperation. "Because I will be too busy preparing dinner, so it would be best if we stop now." The look of exasperation turned to one of concern as her eyes picked out the signs of unease on Ranma's face and in her body language. "Is something wrong dear?" She asked, looking from her daughter to the stone steps. "Are you still feeling weak?"
"I ain't weak!" Ranma responded stubbornly, out of reflex. She started walking towards the stairs, just to prove it, but jerked to a stop while passing under the gate. It felt like warm water flowing over her skin as she crossed the threshold, reminding her of what happened the last time she climbed these stairs. Jerking back as if bitten, she starred at the red painted structure like a wild animal watching a flickering flame. For just a second she forgot that her mother was there, watching her.
"Ranma, is something the matter dear?"
That reminded her.
"No! I…of course not. I just…it's so quiet down here, you know, peaceful." Seeing a small bench located about twenty feet from the gate, Ranma started nervously backing towards it. All the while trying to affect an air of nonchalance. "I think I'll just wait down here and enjoy it while it lasts. You know what my life is like, such moments are rare. I should take advantage of it while I can. So why don't you just go on ahead without me and I'll just wait down here on this bench. Okay?"
Seeing the way her child was eyeballing the Torri gate, Nodoka was reminded of Ranma's earlier claim that the kami had screwed with her life enough. She felt a wave of disappointment wash through her, it wasn't very manly to hide from the gods. Another shudder, this time of revulsion, swept down her spine at the way she had automatically passed judgment on Ranma's behavior. She decided to let it slide…this time.
"Okay dear, I won't be long." Turning her back to her daughter, Nodoka passed through the gate and started climbing the stairs.
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With the temporary reprieve from rain Hsiao was availing himself of the opportunity to sweep the newly fallen fall leaves from the shrine's front walk with a bamboo broom when something, a feeling, drew him to the stairs to look down upon the entrance gate. Not giving it much thought he observed two women standing on the walk below. They appeared to be debating whether or not to come up, one of the two then backing away towards a park bench while the other passed beneath the Torri gate. It took him a moment to recognize Nodoka Saotome without her cloth wrapped sword, though the umbrella helped. It was the sight of Ranma's red hair that first clued him in. Watching the Saotome women converse below, he felt a strange sense of disappointment when the elder proceeded on alone.
Setting his broom aside he waited for Nodoka, moving to greet her at the top of the stairs.
"Hello and welcome Mrs. Saotome." He said with a shallow bow, which she returned.
"Hello Priest Hsiao, I trust I find you well."
"Of course, of course. I was just sweeping the walk while the weather permitted. To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" He asked.
Nodoka responded somewhat formally. "I have come to re-extend the invitation for you to join us for dinner. I have spoken to Kasumi Tendo and she has promised that she and Akane will also attend. May I count on you to come?"
Equally formal, Hsiao gave another small bow as he answered. "The honor is mine, I will be there." With a grandfatherly chuckle, he added; "Wild horses couldn't drag me away."
At his small pun they both looked down the hill to where Ranma waited below.
In spite of her claim that she wished to relax on the bench below they could see the distant redhead was instead standing on the far side of the Torri gate, her hand extended cautiously towards the space beneath, ready to jerk it back at any moment as if she was afraid something might grab her hand and pull her through against her will. Her behavior was strange, to say the least. It also reminded Hsiao of the fear in her eyes when they first met.
"Nodoka…" He began, trying to figure a way of asking without drawing offense. "is Ranma going to be comfortable with my presence in your home?" There really was no better way to put it.
Nodoka stiffened with remembered shame and worry.
"I have spoken with Ranma and she too extends her wish that you join us."
It wasn't exactly what Ranma said, but it sounded better than her boastful claims that she wasn't afraid.
"That is a welcome relief." The old priest allowed his shoulders to relax, just a fraction. "She didn't…Did you learn why she was so uncomfortable with my presence at the school?"
Looking down towards her daughter below, a distracted Nodoka forgot that she was speaking to an honored priest, absently addressing him as the life long friend he really was.
"Ranma has assured me that it is not you, or the fact that you are a priest that frightens her. To understand Ranma, you have to understand that her life has not been without its difficulties. She fears that the kami…let's just say that she doesn't believe they are fond of or well disposed towards her. It is not you she fears, but attracting their attention. I know it sounds foolish, and she means no offense, but…Ranma is young and hurting. She is, I'm afraid, looking for someone to blame." Almost too quiet to hear, Nodoka added; "I just pray she does not settle on blaming herself."
"Do not worry Nodoka." Hsiao said, his voice comforting. "I can tell that Ranma has inherited more than just your fair face. Like you she has an underlying strength that will see her through this tough time."
Nodoka sighed. "I know Ranma is strong, she has already overcome so much, but I…Did I do the right thing, making him live this life?"
Hsiao had been a parent and understood the fear and doubt that came with it, but truth be told he had never experienced the pain that he felt in Nodoka, nor his children the despair he saw in young Ranma. So, placing a supporting hand on the shoulder of this woman he had known since she was a small child, he did the best he could. "We must all live the lives we are given Nodoka, nothing is gained by running away."
When she turned to look at him, he gave her a small but heartfelt smile. "Don't worry, Ranma will get through this and she will be happy again. Don't give up on her. Your daughter needs your strength and to know you have faith in her."
Nodoka gave him a smile in return, grateful for his encouraging words, but it was a forced smile. Turning back to watch her child she found Ranma standing facing the Torri gate, testing it as if it represented a boundary she was afraid to cross.
"My daughter…" She whispered, voice filled with doubt and a little wonder. Placing her hand over Hsiao's where it still rested upon her shoulder, she turned to him and this time her smile came a little easier. "Thank you Hsiao, now if you'll excuse me there is much left to do before this evening."
"Of course." He replied, drawing back his hand and giving her a small bow. "Until this evening. I thank you again for the invitation."
"The honor is ours." She responded with a bow of her own, then turned and departed down the stairs to where her daughter waited below.
As he watched them leave, Hsiao couldn't get over the feeling that he was missing something. It didn't help that Nodoka kept mixing up her male/female pronouns.
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As evening approached growing within Ranma was a small sliver of fear, along with a large dose of giddy excitement.
True, the priest was coming to invade her last sanctuary with all he represented, but so were Akane and Kasumi and all they represented. As much as Ranma loved her mother it was the Tendo's that had become her first real family, given her the first place that felt like home.
A home, she was too embarrassed to admit, she had missed dearly.
"Ranma, would you please calm down." Nodoka chided her daughter, but there was no bite in her words. The light of happy anticipation in the redhead's eyes, the smile that periodically forced its way upon her face, were filling the once empty house with a radiant warmth that for the first time since Genma took their son away, made the Saotome house feel like a home.
"Sorry mom." Ranma tried, she really did. She was just too excited to hold it in.
Nodoka was pleased to see that the ugly bruise the Kuno boy had left on Ranma's face was quickly fading.
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It was early evening as Hsiao walked from the bus stop to the Saotome home. In spite of the late hour the sun was shinning bright and warm in the sky where, for the first time in weeks, there was nary a cloud in sight. The unexpected infusion of light and warmth drew people into the streets to bask in the sun's radiance.
The day stood in direct contradiction to the frustration and personal darkness Hsiao felt in his heart. He had been given two vital tasks, one was to aid an old friend, the other was laid upon his aging shoulders by an actual kami. A kami who's identity and mysterious sister were both proving evasive. Hsiao hoped the sunshine meant both were happier than he was.
He really hoped this evening with Ranma and the Tendo family proved productive, he needed to feel he was helping someone somewhere.
The way was well known to him for he had visited Nodoka's home many times over the years that her child was gone, to give the heartbroken woman comfort and support. Always when he visited in the past the house had held an aura of emptiness and despair.
Not this time.
As he made his way past the gate and up the short walk, Hsiao felt warmth and budding hope radiating from the small home. He sensed a presence within its walls, one not unlike that of his own shrine. Upon reaching the door, he diverted his hand from the buzzer, placing his palm flat against the wooden barrier. Eyes closed, he could feel radiating out through the walls of the home a sense of expectation and happiness that mirrored the rays of the sun shinning above.
Feeling his own spirits rise with the hope that maybe at least one thing was going right, he pressed the button to announce his arrival.
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Ranma was setting the table, her mother busy cooking in the kitchen, when she heard the door buzzer go off.
"Ranma!" Nodoka called out, her voice echoing down the short hall that connected the rooms of the first floor with the front door. "Could you get that dear? I am just finishing the Shogayaki and I can't leave it or the beef will burn." Normally Nodoka would have prepared this dish with pork, but when they were shopping she had noticed that her daughter seemed particularly uncomfortable with the idea.
"Sure mom!" Ranma called back. She had just finished placing chopsticks beside each plate. Ranma couldn't help rushing to the door, anxious for their guests to arrive.
Some of them at least. Opening it, she found the priest. She didn't mean to but she couldn't help taking a half step back, right foot sliding behind the left in a loose stance.
"Good evening Miss Saotome." The priest gave her a bow of more than necessary depth. "I thank you for inviting me to your home." Still holding his submissive posture, Hsiao patiently waited for her to welcome him.
Ranma just stared for several moments, before finally remembering her manners and nervously returning his bow but she was careful never to take her eyes off of him.
"Err, you're welcome…ah…priest. My mother is in the kitchen, I mean…" She cut off mid-sentence.
Hsiao had been watching her face, in spite of his bow, and he saw the way her eyes suddenly darted to something behind him. He also saw the way her face lit up with a warm smile that started in her eyes, then made its way to her lips.
"Akane, Kasumi!" She called out in greeting.
Hsiao was surprised and delighted by the way her fear and tension seemed to just melt away, leaving in its place a vibrant energy that literally threatened to burst from her small frame.
"Hello Ranma." The voices of two young women replied back. The older voice, one so pleasant that just hearing its dulcet tones was enough to fill the hearer with a wave of serenity, went on to introduce them to Hsiao.
"Hello honored priest." She said as Hsiao turned to return her bow. A move he never completed as shock stole away his intentions. As if not even noticing his social blunder, she went on to introduce herself. "I am Kasumi Tendo and this," Here she gestured to her younger companion. "is my sister, Akane." She then glanced expectantly at Ranma, who was totally oblivious. It took the younger growling "Ranma", to remind the redhead of her duties as host.
"Oh…uh…Kasumi, Akane, this is the priest, I mean mom's friend…" She stared at him for a second, as if struggling to remember who he was. "Hsiao." She finally finished under the scowling disapproval of the younger girl.
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Hsiao was being rude, he knew that but he couldn't help it. As soon as his eyes fell upon the two Tendo girls, his mind had become disconnected from the world around him. It was them, the kami's beautiful girls, the ones he had been trying so desperately to find, the girls from the rain in his dream vision. As he looked upon the younger of the two and saw her features, so like those of the kami, filled with bemused affection as she looked towards the redhead at his side he had an epiphany. The girl he was supposed to protect, the fallen sister of the mysterious kami, was none other than Nodoka's child. Takumi was right he didn't have to seek her out, she had already found him. Ranma was the bride.
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Ranma as well as forgot the priest was even there, or at least that he was a priest. With Akane and Kasumi beside her all of the fear and tension, even the frustration and despair that had been threatening to overwhelm her, just drained away. At this moment she was just a teenager excited to have her friends over for dinner and given that she was a teenage girl, that meant there was a disturbing tendency to giggle. Not that Ranma would ever admit to giggling.
With a long absent spring in her step, Ranma led her guests into the dinning room where the shoji doors had been left open to allow the warm light of the sun into the room's interior.
Having finished the Shogayaki and pausing only long enough to remove the apron she wore over her finest kimono, Nodoka came out of the kitchen to greet their guests.
"Priest Hsiao, Kasumi, Akane, thank you for coming." She gave them a low bow. "You honor our home with your presence."
The three bowed in return, though a distracted Hsiao did so last. Something their attentive host Nodoka didn't fail to notice.
"Thank you aunty." Kasumi responded. "Our home has been so quiet and empty lately, it feels good to get out and spend time with you and Ranma again. It is nice to meet you as well, Priest Hsiao."
Giving himself a mental shake, Hsiao turned his attention from his internal confusion and back to his companions.
"And you as well Miss…Tendo." In all the excitement, it took him a minute to remember the girls last name.
"Please…" Nodoka interrupted. "if you would all take a seat at the table, dinner is ready. Ranma, would you help me bring it to the table?"
"Sure mom." Was the redhead's distracted reply.
"Can I help to, aunty?" Akane asked, already half risen to her feet in the expectation that the answer would be yes.
"Of course dear." Came the response with a welcoming smile. Nodoka felt a wave of contentment sweep over her. Having Kasumi and Akane join them for dinner, with Hsiao in the place of their fathers, it almost felt like old times, like the way it was back before Jusendo and that ill fated trip to China.
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As dinner progressed Ranma grew completely relaxed. Though most of her attention was devoted to the other ladies at the table, even her interactions with Hsiao took on a note of friendly calm.
The easy going atmosphere was contagious and nearly succeeded in drawing the old priest in, would have but for one realization; looking around the table Hsiao was slowly being overwhelmed by the knowledge that he was in the presence of the sister of a kami and two girls that, if Kazuo in Nakano was right, were kin to the Emperor himself. He was taken even further aback when he realized that if the kami was indeed Susanoo as his brother in the cloth suggested, then Ranma was the divine mother of the entire Imperial line. How did he, a simple priest of unknown lineage, find himself in such august company? More importantly, what was he supposed to do to protect her from the darkness the kami said had followed her?
He was working himself up into a right tizzy, when his frantic thoughts were interrupted by the touch of a gentle hand upon his forearm.
"Honored priest, are you all right?"
Following the hand to its attached body, Hsiao found himself looking into the serene eyes of Kasumi Tendo and he felt the nurturing calm he beheld in his vision fill his troubled heart, bringing peace to his soul. Reminded of his dream, he remembered other words the kami had spoken and the confidence he had expressed in Hsiao's ability to help. Suddenly Hsiao realized what he was meant to do. The kami called upon him to protect Ranma from darkness, a task he said Hsiao had already taken upon himself to do. At the time of his vision Hsiao was preparing to help a young girl who was in danger of falling into despair, a despair that he had witnessed with his own eyes. It wasn't the dragon that he was called upon to protect Ranma from, but the darkness within and that was a task with which Hsiao was well familiar. A role he had performed for Nodoka for ten years. A role he had always intended to fulfill for her child.
Patting Kasumi's hand with his own, he gave her a look of gratitude for the comfort she had instinctively given. "Yes Miss Tendo…" At her admonishing look, he corrected himself. "I mean Kasumi. How could I be anything but fine when surrounded by such lovely young ladies?"
Looking towards the endegawa where an animated Ranma was chatting with Akane, the light of happiness shinning from her eyes, Hsiao at last knew what he had to do and he felt sure that the Tendo girls, Akane in particular, were the keys to his success.
"Everything is just fine." He told Kasumi with an absent smile.
After the meal was finished, Hsiao left with almost unseemly haste. Now that he knew that Ranma was the girl he had been seeking, he was anxious to discuss the night's revelations with his brothers. Especially Takumi in Nerima. He needed to set him on a search for a Soun Tendo with three daughters, two of which were named Kasumi and Akane.
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While Nodoka was seeing the priest to the door, Ranma started gathering the dishes as she always did but was interrupted by Kasumi taking her by the wrist.
"Ranma, why don't you let me do that while you spend some time with Akane?"
"Okay Kasumi, but I really think mom would want me to do it. You being a guest and all."
"It's all right Ranma, I would like to do it."
"It's no big deal Kasumi, I can have this done in no time, then I can talk with you and Akane."
"Yea Kasumi." Akane butted in. "We can all help, then we'll have it done in no time."
The normally serene Tendo sister struggled not to release a telling sigh of frustration. Ranma just wasn't getting the hint and she really didn't want Akane to be a part of this conversation. Not yet anyway. Sigh successfully stymied, she soldiered on.
"No really, Akane, Ranma, I would like to do it…"
It was at this point that Nodoka returned.
"Do what Kasumi dear?" She asked, not having heard the first part of their conversation.
"Oh aunty, I was just telling Ranma that I would be glad to help you clean up while she spends time with Akane."
Fortunately for Kasumi, Nodoka was far more familiar with the ways of unspoken words than her poorly socialized child, she got the hint.
"What a splendid idea Kasumi. Not only will that give Akane and Ranma time to talk, but you and I as well."
"Thank you aunty, and maybe you wouldn't mind sharing some recipes with me?"
"Of course dear."
Akane was about to say how much she would like to learn those recipes as well but was interrupted by Ranma who, with sudden visions of bridal lessons dancing through her head, grabbed her former fiancée by the wrist and with only a rushed "Come on Akane!", practically dragged Akane upstairs to her room.
Once the girls had left the room, Nodoka released a happy sigh followed by a contented smile. "It's so good to see Ranma happy again."
"Akane too." Kasumi added quietly. She took a sidelong look at the older redhead, trying to determine if Nodoka saw the underlying passion in Ranma and Akane's eyes when they looked upon each other. Kasumi was worried about how the Saotome matriarch would respond to what she had witnessed in Akane's room. Kasumi was still trying to decide how she felt about it. How she wished Ranma's curse hadn't broken.
Seeing that Nodoka had gathered an armload of plates and was heading for the kitchen, Kasumi did the same and followed.
Placing the dishes she carried into the sink, signaling Kasumi to do the same, Nodoka started the water going preparatory to washing. She handed the Tendo daughter a towel to dry. "Kasumi dear, now that the girls are out of the room, what is it you wish to talk to me about?" Proof that Nodoka was indeed, more socially adept than her child.
Now that the moment was here, Kasumi wasn't entirely sure how to proceed.
"Aunty, I'm worried about Akane and what is going to happen when she returns to school."
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Upstairs in Ranma's room, she and Akane were sitting upon the tatami mats in awkward silence. Now that they had the chance to speak again, neither knew what to say. Secretly each wanted to talk about what happened the last time they were together in Akane's room, about the future of their relationship whatever that might be. They both wanted to talk about it but neither had the courage to be the first to bring it up, afraid of where it might lead them.
As the uncomfortable silence dragged on, Akane looked about the room, desperately seeking a distraction from the white elephant that sat between them. She had of course been to the Saotome home before, both before and after the other fiancées demolished most of it searching for a non existent ring, but she had never been in Ranma's childhood bedroom before. The house was very traditional, but here and there she saw reminders that a small boy once lived here. Strangely, other than the clothes hanging in the closet, there were no signs of the teenage girl that lived here now. In fact the only part of the décor that didn't look like the work of a child was a poster, yellowed and curling with age, that was tacked to the ceiling directly above where Ranma would sleep. Standing to get a closer look, Akane could just make out the precepts of Bushido listed upon it. It didn't take much imagination to realize that with their somewhat anachronistic view of the world, it was probably one of Ranma's parents who put it there. After all, she knew Uncle Genma had been training him since birth.
At the top of the list was a quote from the famous Samurai general, Kato Kiyomasa: "If a man does not investigate into the matter of Bushido daily, it will be difficult for him to die a brave and manly death."
Akane paled as she read those words, reminded of Ranma's suicide attempt in the park. Looking down, she saw the redhead seated on the floor, head bowed and shoulders slumped with a subconscious shame that Akane would swear she could actually feel radiating off of her. Whether it was Lord Kato's intention or not, Akane realized that Ranma would take his words to mean that she had failed to live up to its demanding expectations. No, she realized, seeing those words hanging above her head like a condemnation could not be good for the boy turned girl's self esteem. Realizing that Ranma would never take the poster down herself, Akane decided to exploit her supposed clumsiness. Reaching up to push flat one of the poster's curled corners, she intentionally caught her toes on the edge of the mat beneath her feet, causing her to stumble, her finger hooking the edge of the poster, ripping it as she stumbled.
"Oh! I'm sorry Ranma, I'll get you a new one, I promise." She faked her apology.
Blue eyes on the fragment of paper in Akane's hand, Ranma made a half hearted attempt at insulting her with a 'clumsy tomboy', but there was no bite in her tone and Akane could see some of the tension leave the girl's frame. As if a pain she had grown used to and forgotten had suddenly eased. "Forget it, the thing was old and ugly anyway. Besides, it's not like Pop is gonna see it and get mad. It was him hung it there when I was a kid and he…well, you know..." Ranma trailed off at the reminder of her apparent abandonment.
A reminder that hadn't been Akane's intent when she tore down the poster.
"He will come back Ranma." She told her. "You're still his child and he still cares about you."
"Oh yeah!" Ranma's voice was filled with equal measures of anger and anguish. "Then why did he leave? He never left before! Not when Cologne trapped me with the cat's tongue, or Herb locked my curse! Not even when the old letch took away my strength, making me useless!"
"I don't know." She had to answer honestly. "But remember, my dad went too and I know he didn't abandon me. Maybe…remember, it was Happossai who took them, maybe he knows something that might help."
Ranma harrumphed. "The only thing the old leach knows is panties and his idea of helping is a quick grope. Bah, who needs him. I'm probably better off on my own anyway. Besides, I've got mom now and that's certainly a trade up from the old panda."
Akane didn't know where their fathers and the old master had gone, she just prayed when they finally came back they had something more to offer Ranma than just lame excuses and empty Sake bottles.
****(Page break)
As soon as Hsiao returned to the shrine he was on the phone, initiating a conference call to his brothers. Once they were all on the line he cut off their opening exchange of pleasantries, his voice flustered.
"I've found her, or maybe she found me only she wasn't looking and doesn't want anything to do with me…" Hsiao trailed off, stymied by frustration.
"Hsiao?" Minori called out, tone questioning.
Hsiao took a deep, calming breath before trying to explain.
"The kami's sister, I know who she is. It's ironic really, ever since my dream I have been tearing my hair out trying to find her, yet not even an hour afterwards she was introduced to me as a child in need of guidance. Takumi was right, I didn't need to find her cause she was there the whole time."
"Brother," Takumi's voice was filled with concern. "please, you are not making sense. Who is she?"
"Forgive me." Hsiao reflexively bowed, even though the others couldn't see it over the phone. "Tonight has been…I'm afraid I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have just spent the evening with the kin of a kami, maybe even the mother of the Imperial line. It's…" He didn't know what to say, how to explain what he felt when surrounded by Ranma and the Tendo girls. "They may look like ordinary women, but they have a presence that is…I don't have the words to describe it."
"In that case…" Kazuo from Nakano spoke for the first time. "I hope you won't hold it against me if I admit that I envy you the experience. Still, you have yet to answer the question; who is the sister of the kami?"
Hsiao felt his heart slowing from the frantic pace it had kept since he left the Saotome home, the familiar and comforting voices of his brothers and oldest friends having succeeded in bringing him back to earth.
"Again, my apologies. The kami's sister is Ranma Saotome, the daughter of an old friend. On the very day of my vision I had an appointment with her and her school's headmaster. He was afraid she might seek to end her life and rightfully so I'm afraid. I don't know the whole story and what I do know was conveyed to me second hand by the headmaster, but in the recent past Ranma has suffered a loss, maybe even an injury, that has left her…" He struggled to find the right word, finally settling for; "…broken."
"Are you sure it is her?" Takumi asked.
"Yes, I am. I told you of the girls from my rain dream, well I met two of them tonight in person, Kasumi and Akane Tendo. I hate to burden you further Takumi, but if you could learn what you can about a Soun Tendo with daughters named Kasumi and Akane, I think it would help. I now know that Ranma is the one I am supposed to help and I believe that those girls are the key."
"It is no burden my friend." Takumi reassured him. "I will learn what I can."
"Thank you." Another unseen bow.
****(Page break)
Shinnosuke was making his rounds. He and his grandfather were the keepers of the Ryugenzawa forest preserve and it was their responsibility to protect and contain the creatures that lived there. Thanks to the water of life that flowed beneath the ground, that was a rather big job. Big being the operative word. Thanks to the magic of the waters all of the creatures that lived here and drank of it grew to monstrous proportions. In Ryugenzawa even the humblest of squirrels were as big as bears, and sometimes just as mean. Shinnosuke and his grandfather also drank of those waters but while they caused animals to grow to humongous size, they instead gave humans improved health and longevity. In fact, after suffering an injury as a child Shinnosuke himself had been dependant upon them just to stay alive.
No longer.
Barely more than a year ago the waters had strangely disappeared. His grandfather said it was because the great Yamatano Serpent had woken up and in its movements, blocked the waters off at their source. At the time, without the water of life, Shinnosuke had come close to dying, but his grandfather, with the help of the girl Akane, succeeded in retrieving some of the moss that grew on the head of the serpent. The serpent's moss, it turns out, was the source of the magic in the water and with a direct application upon his injury Shinnosuke was made whole again. He was no longer dependant upon the water to survive.
Ah, the beautiful Akane, just thinking of her sent a shiver of excitement down his spine. She came to help him in repayment for his having once saved her when they were children. She was his first love. Only he never mustered up the courage to tell her how he felt and she left in ignorance. Thinking of her filled him with the need to find her, tell her he loved her and bring her home to be his wife.
"Tomorrow," he told himself, finally resolved to face her and tell her. "Tomorrow I will go out into the world and make Akane my wife!"
Unfortunately for Shinnosuke, he had made that very decision many times since the Tendo girl left, each time forgetting about it before dinner.
Today though, he was seeing to his duties as keeper of these woods, traveling its perimeter, checking the traps he had set. Given the size of the animals of Ryugenzawa, there was little danger of his traps actually hurting anything. Instead, the stone falls were designed to make loud noises to scare the animals back into the deeper parts of the forest surrounding Mount Shayou. That, along with his walking the perimeter several times a day, was usually enough to keep the beasts contained.
Moving from trap to trap, he was dismayed to find that one had been set off but by the boot prints leaving the site he knew it wasn't by one of the beasts of the forest. He silently cursed to himself. Keeping the animals in was actually pretty easy, the hard part was all to often keeping people out. Hefting his long broom onto his shoulder, it was made of Ironwood imported from distant Brazil and would give Ryouga's umbrella a run for its money, he set to following the tracks into the woods. They tended to meander, yet still they progressed deeper into the woods, occasionally pausing where they crossed an animal path as if to study the trail left behind. They were nearing the site of one of the springs, having bypassed two more of Shinnosuke's traps along the way.
Shinnosuke had forgotten why he was following the trail of boot prints, but was reminded by the angry thrum of rapidly beating insect wings. Taking his broom stick firmly in hand, the young man raced through the trees towards the sound. He expected to find some idiot tourist in need of rescue, that wasn't what he found. In the clearing near the spring Shinnosuke found a trio of Suzumebachi, giant wasps grown to the size of eagles by the water, buzzing around and attacking a lone traveler. The man was nothing short of a giant, towering over Shinnosuke who wasn't short himself. He had to be close to seven feet tall and nearly as broad across the shoulders. If his size wasn't impressive enough, the Die Tsuchi he was swinging with deceptive ease certainly was. It was a giant hammer with a head as big as most men's chests, clearly too heavy for most to even lift much less swing fast enough to swat one of the fast flying wasps out of the air, sending a spray of bug guts across its companions.
In all the years Shinnosuke and his grandfather watched over Ryugenzawa, they had never once found it necessary to kill any of the animals. It wasn't their way, not even when faced with the Yamatano Serpent had they fought for blood. True, the sting of a Susumebachi could prove fatal and that was a normal one roughly the size of a small bird. The sting of one of these monsters would definitely kill, even a man the size of this one. Even so, the boy knew it was not necessary to end their lives. Rushing in, broom head leading the way, he drove off the remaining two insects. While normally aggressive, the feel of his broom's stiff bristles rubbing against their endoskeletons was enough to convince them to fly elsewhere.
Having succeeded in ending the threat, Shinnosuke turned back towards the man he had helped half expecting an expression of gratitude, only to find the on rushing head of the giant hammer instead. Quickly raising up the handle of his broom to block like a staff, Shinnosuke was spared the pulverizing head, instead being thrown against a tree by the force of the blow.
"You shouldn't of interfered with my kill!" The man roared in anger. He stepped forward, his weapon raised preparatory to a crushing blow, when suddenly he stopped. Sniffing the air the giant followed his nose to the edge of the spring. Forgetting about Shinnosuke, he dropped to all fours beside the waters like an animal, bending nearer for a better whiff. Setting his hammer aside, he used his hands to scoop some of the water up to his mouth to drink.
****(Page break)
Iwao Sato had fully intended to kill the boy for interfering in his fight, but a scent wafting across his nose caused him to forget the minor irritant all together. It was familiar, though he couldn't yet say why. Following his nose, the smell led him to the nearby spring. It was the water, whatever he was smelling was in the water. Cupping his hands he gathered some of the water to taste. It went down like sweet ambrosia, sending a tingling rush through his body as if parts of himself he hadn't even realized were asleep were suddenly waking. Hammer in hand, Iwao ran through the woods, his laughter echoing over the trees like the cry of a vicious beast, startling the normal animals. He had forgotten completely the boy he meant to kill, distracted by the thrill of what he found in the water. After years of searching the forests of Japan, Iwao had found it, he had the scent of the beast. He couldn't wait to tell his brothers. Tatsuo would be pleased.
Author's notes:
There, another chapter and it only took me what…eight months to complete. The first half was finished before Christmas, I spent the last two months just on the dinner alone. The story was proving so frustrating that I spent one day writing up half of the next chapter of Kal'Ex just to get a break. The rest of this story is mapped out, I just need to work out the details in writing, but if I ever do decide I can't finish it I will at least post the outline so you will know where I intended to go with it.
For the scene with the psychiatrist, I decided to take some advice given by a reviewer and skipped writing it out. Going with a retrospective over view instead.
I know my introduction of the villains is weak, I just don't know what to have them doing and the few things I can think of, I can't bring myself to write. I just didn't want them to seem to appear out of nowhere and then disappear back into the same when they finally confront the heroes. I know most villains don't see themselves as evil (even Hitler thought he was creating a better world) but the brothers are and see nothing wrong with it, they aren't really human after all. The eldest, Tetsuo, awoke to the truth of his nature when he beat a prostitute to death and unintentionally consumed her life energy. For the brothers it is all about feeding their hunger and their appetites aren't human.