Chapter 12: Changing Winds
Morning came and found Nodoka once again escorting her daughter to Suginami High School. Ranma had protested, stating that she was quite capable of finding her way without her mother there to hold her hand, but Nodoka wouldn't be swayed.
"I know dear." Her mother responded. "But Headmaster Hasegawa wants to see both of us before classes start."
"Great" Ranma muttered. "He's gonna want to talk about the head shrinker."
Arriving at Headmaster Hasegawa's office Nodoka and Ranma were quickly ushered within where, to their surprise, the headmaster waited but he wasn't alone. A woman with short dark hair and the trim figure of an athlete was waiting with him. Both stood as they entered and though she tried to maintain a reserved mien, Ranma could tell that the strange woman was very excited to see her.
The Headmaster made the introductions.
"Mrs Nodoka Saotome, Miss Ranma, allow me to introduce you to Sensei Noriko Matsumoto."
The three exchanged bows and greetings.
"Sensei Matsumoto is the coach for our girls soccer team," He explained. "and as Miss Ranma has yet to choose any club activities we thought you might consider one of the girl's sports."
'Ahh, that explained it' Ranma thought. She knew from Akane's experiences at Furinkan that the girl's teams were always short on skilled athletes. The coaches there had even approached her a time or two after learning about her curse, and let's not forget the Rhythmic Gymnastics competition, though Ranma tried to forget it.
"Hello Ranma." Sensei Matsumoto greeted stepping closer, her speculative gaze sweeping over the shorter girl, liking what she saw. "I was quite impressed with your speed and agility the other morning and I believe you could find success with our soccer team. The girls on the team are all wonderful people and I know you would quickly become friends as well as team mates. What do you say? Will you join with us?"
The Headmaster felt it was a great idea and was quick to voice his support.
"It would fulfill the school's club participation requirement and having reviewed your records from Furinkan…" He gave the open and confusing file on his desk a not so subtle glance. "I believe Sensei Matsumoto is correct, you would make an excellent addition to the team."
Ranma was the only one not immediately caught up with the idea.
"No, I can't. I…" Before she could explain why it would be a phenomenally bad idea she was cut off by her mother's hand on her shoulder, turning her about until they were face to face.
"Ranma, I know that with what has happened you don't have any confidence in yourself, but in spite of what you have lost you are still a graceful and strong young woman…"
"But mom…" Ranma cut in, only to be cut off again by Nodoka's fingertip on her lips.
"No Ranma, I know what you think, but in spite of what anyone might have told you, that is not something to be ashamed of. You are my beautiful daughter and I am proud of you." Placing her hands on the younger redhead's shoulders, Nodoka looked intently into her child's eyes. "You are worth more to me than any boy, no matter how manly he might be, never doubt that. Besides, when has Ranma Saotome ever backed down from a challenge?"
Ranma did doubt it, she knew the loss of her manhood had made her less than before, but it still felt good to hear her mother say it. So giving a tentative smile, a shallow imitation of his once confident smirk, she said: "Okay mom, I'll give it a try and I promise…I won't let you down." Her haunted gaze quietly added the word 'again', even if her lips remained silent.
Nodoka knew any way, not that it mattered for any response she might have given was drowned out by Noriko's excited, and decidedly girlish, squeal of joy.
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In Nerima, Kasumi was escorting Akane to Furinkan.
Dr. Tofu wanted to accompany them but Kasumi had reminded him of the school's threat to press charges of trespassing if he entered the campus grounds. Apparently being a respected member of the community wasn't enough to shield him from the school's need to save face and protect the family of their headmaster. Still the good doctor shadowed them, telling himself he wouldn't interfere unless absolutely necessary.
Nabiki had left earlier that morning. The middle Tendo still wasn't speaking to her sisters but she hadn't forgotten Kasumi's threat and she wanted to make sure the horde wasn't waiting for her sisters' arrival. She had no idea what she was going to do about Kuno, the deluded samurai wannabe was too single minded to be easily turned from his course. She loved her sisters, deep down, but she was still mad at Akane for running away instead of fighting. Not because of the money she lost, okay she was mad about the money, but mostly because of her refusal to let things return to normal, pre-Saotome conditions. Sure having Ranma there had been fun and certainly profitable, but the damage caused to their family by his abrupt departure was too much. It was almost equal to when their mother died but at least mother stayed gone, she wasn't lurking on the periphery, yowling like a drowned kitten and destroying any hope they had at peace (Nabiki still had some misplaced anger and abandonment issues and her father's current flight wasn't helping any).
When she arrived at the school's gate she, as expected, found Kuno waiting a boken blade at his side. He wore a stern expression on his face and Nabiki figured he had either been watching Kusigawa films again, or his pursuit of Ranma had gone even worse than she had predicted.
"Hey Kuno baby." She greeted upon entering the gate. "Shouldn't you be in Suginami rescuing the pig tailed girl?"
"Nay Nabiki Tendo, the foul sorcerer may be gone as you claim but he has wrought his dark enchantments well. Not only did the pig tailed girl seek to flee my loving embrace, but he tricked me into striking her and marring her divine beauty! He even tricked the weak willed sheep at that pale shadow of an institution of learning into blaming me, me! The constabulary was called and I was treated like a low born criminal. A Kuno, treated like an animal to be kept in a cage! Unthinkable!"
He gave her a look of such intensity that for the first time Nabiki wondered if the rich idiot might actually be dangerous. She had never in her wildest dreams imagined he would actually strike Ranma, after all, in the months before Ranma came Kuno had never seriously tried to harm Akane. Nabiki was viewing the boken at his side in a whole new light.
"Kuno baby, your aren't planning on fighting Akane are you?" she asked, an uncomfortable knot of fear growing cold in her stomach.
Tatewaki turned his eyes from her, as with arms crossed he stared resolutely at the gate through which the students, and Akane, would soon enter the school grounds.
"Rest assured Nabiki Tendo for I, Tatewaki Kuno, will do whatever it takes to free the fierce tigress Akane from Saotome's evil enchantment." Unfolding his arms, he placed his left hand upon the handle of his weapon, squeezing the wooden grip so tight his knuckles were turning white. "Upon this noble blade and before the eyes of heaven, I so swear. No act of man or demon shall stay my just revenge."
"You do that Kuno baby." Nabiki said while backing away nervously. "I'll just go…" She never did say where she was going and it didn't matter because he wasn't listening, so as soon as she was out of his line of sight she took off at an uncharacteristically brisk pace. She had to find some way of keeping him away from her little sister, and she better find it fast for here came Akane and Kasumi now, not fifty yards from the school gate.
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Genma looked upon the house that was once and again home to his family with both a desperate longing and deep rooted fear. Soun knew what was in his friend's heart, knew that he was too overcome by emotion to speak, so placing a comforting hand upon his shoulder he spoke for him.
"Why are we here Master?"
Happi was stretching forth his senses, trying to determine if anyone was home. He didn't feel it would be wise to confront Ranma at this time.
"We are going to see an old friend, one who may be able to tell us what is happening to our girls."
Soun threw a questioning look towards Genma. "Your old friend is in Nodoka's house?"
Happi gave him a look that questioned his intelligence. "Of course not, but there are a few things we need to bring with us when we visit."
"Ahh..." The lights went on in Soun's eyes. "And what is it that we need from the Saotome home?"
The look on Happi's face was somehow both unwholesome and innocent, all at the same time. "Why, silky darlings of course." That said, Happi turned his attention back to the house. "You boys wait here, I'll just be a moment."
"No." It was the first word Genma had spoken in days and it took Soun by surprise. "I want...I need to go inside. It's my home and family, I need to know..." He trailed off, not saying what it was he needed to know, but both Soun and Happi understood.
"Very well Genma, suit yourself." Happi threw Soun a look that made it clear he expected the Tendo patriarch to take care of his friend, then after checking the street one last time he bounded over the fence leading the way inside.
Entering was easy, Nodoka did lock the doors but Genma knew where she kept a spare key. It was hidden inside the mouth of a stone frog crouched in a small flower garden, four feet from the door.
Inside the house was quiet, like a tomb. It was clear no one was home and Nodoka had always refused to keep any pets, she felt they were too messy. The only exception had been the neighborhood cats that Ranma would often feed scraps to in their yard. As a child he had actually been fond of the furry little demons.
Standing in the front room Genma could see that nothing about the house had changed since the day he left. The furniture hadn't been moved one iota and everything was kept meticulously clean, like a shrine. It didn't feel like people lived here, not like the Tendo home and it came as a slap in the face for the large man, a reminder that he left his wife alone for all those years. Normally Genma didn't allow himself to dwell on the guilt he felt for abandoning her, or anything else he had ever done, but standing in the front room surrounded by reminders of the past he couldn't help it.
There was one thing that seemed out of place, at least it was with Nodoka away from home. On a small table against the wall by the kitchen, resting upon the small stand built for that very purpose, was the Saotome honor sword. Nodoka was gone but the sword was here, left behind. He was struck by the sudden realization that he couldn't picture his wife without the accursed thing resting in her arms. He had lived in fear of this thing for two years now. Yet here it was, a harmless relic of bygone generations.
Drawn to the sword, fascinated by it in the way normally reserved for poisonous serpents, Genma bent down to inspect it closer. There was a time when he took great pride in this weapon and the generations of Saotome honor and courage it represented. When he left it with his wife he truly felt he was entrusting her with something of value equal to the life of their son. Strange how time and fear had twisted it into the bane of his existence. When he left he was so full of fire and noble dreams. He now realized that when he came back he was somehow empty, less than before. The training trip cost him more than he ever knew. Now, thanks to Jusenkyo, he had nothing to show for it but a cold house and a stranger for a wife. He feared he didn't even have the love or respect of his child.
Taking the hilt in one hand and the sheathed blade in the other, he lifted the physical symbol of his legacy from its resting place. With a care bordering on reverence, he drew forth several inches of the blade for inspection. The blade was stained, like it had gotten wet and then been returned to its scabbard without being properly wiped clean first. Frowning, he looked closer and found to his disbelief that there was dirt, dried mud, stuck in the elaborately carved guard.
Frozen in disbelief he stared at the soiled weapon, stained like his honor.
He felt a cold sense of dread seep into his soul and filled with a sudden fear he brusquely returned the weapon to its perch, then raced up the stairs to the second floor with a speed that belied his bulk. It wasn't a conscious thing, nothing he could put into words even to himself, but Genma was overwhelmed by the horrific thought that Nodoka and Ranma weren't away from home. Bursting into the master bedroom, a room he hadn't entered in over a decade, for just a second he could see Nodoka lying lifeless upon their bed.
A great sigh of relief escaped him as the image in his mind gave way to the reality of a neatly made and corpse free bed. The fear washed out of him, leaving a hollow emptiness in its place.
Exiting Nodoka's room, he moved down the hall and sliding the partition aside entered Ranma's room. If the rest of the house was a shrine, this was a doorway into the past. This was the domain of a small child, decorated with all the wonder and innocence of fresh eyes not yet jaded by life and the world outside.
Genma's gaze was automatically drawn to the ceiling were a discolored square showed were a sheet of poster paper had once been tacked up over the small bed. A list of all the tenants of Bushido he remembered. Genma put it there the day the doctor told him that Nodoka was carrying his baby. He wanted it to be the first thing his heir saw upon waking, the code by which he would live. It was strange but now, no matter how hard he tried, Genma couldn't call the words to mind.
Genma's melancholy was disturbed by Soun's hand upon his shoulder.
"Come Saotome." Soun gently spoke to him. "The Master is finished and he says we have a long journey ahead of us."
Nodding, Genma quietly followed his friend from the house to where their diminutive Master waited outside. His fire was gone, cold like the ashes of his dreams. Cold, like the empty house he once thought to make a home for his family.
***(Page break)
When Akane saw Nabiki running towards her and Kasumi she was surprised at her middle sister's unseemly haste. She was even more surprised when she sensed Kasumi stiffen at the girl's approach. When Nabiki drew to a halt before them, hands raised to block their passage, Akane could tell that the older girl's heart was racing but that it had nothing to do with the short sprint she had performed. She was actually slightly pale in spite of her exertions.
"Akane…Kasumi…" Nabiki struggled to catch her breath. "you can't go in there."
"Why not?!" Akane demanded. "If those perverts are waiting, I'll pound them!"
Kasumi stepped slightly in front of her youngest sister, protectively. "Nabiki dear, I thought we agreed you would deal with those boys?"
The accusatory edge to her voice was enough to raise Nabiki's ire, but not enough to blow her cool.
"I did." She answered haughtily. "That brainless horde is scattered, but Kuno isn't nearly so easily diverted from his obsessions. He is waiting beyond the gate to 'free the fierce tigress' from the sorcerer's spell and he means it. He's prepared to attack you and I don't think he will hold back this time." Still somewhat disbelieving, she went on to explain further. "He told me that he hit Ranma."
"He did." Akane verified, voice drawing flat in anger at the reminder of the ugly bruise Tatewaki left on the redhead's temple. Shoulders drawn up and hands clenching into white knuckled fists, she moved to step around Nabiki, intent on meeting the Kuno heir in battle.
"Akane!" Kasumi grabbed her by the upper arm, stopping her progress. "You mustn't go in there, you might be hurt."
Looking towards her sisters, the angry expression on Akane's face slowly morphed into one of firm determination fit for her own Kusigawa film. "That idiot…" Her voice was low and tight. "has made my mornings hell with his stupid proclamation and constant attacks and I have had more than enough." A flash of rage swept across her face as she turned once more towards the gate. "He hurt Ranma." She hissed. Pulling her arm free of Kasumi's grip, Akane slapped her school bag into Nabiki's stomach. "Hold this a second." She ordered before renewing her walk to school, steps strong and determined.
Passing through the school gate she found Kuno waiting.
Kuno felt his love's arrival before seeing her, her aura washed over him like a hot wave. Drawing his boken, he posed. "Beauteous Akane Tendo, I, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High and rising star of the fencing world, have sworn upon our fierce love and upon my honor that I will free you from Saotome's foul spell. I strike!" He cried, stepping forward with raised blade already descending to strike.
Akane gave the source of her pain a scowling look. Hearing his proud declaration she felt a raging storm rise up in her breast, its furious energy singing in her every muscle, bone and sinew. "You…HURT…RANMA!" She screamed her battle cry. Surging forward with a speed the likes of which no one had ever seen from her before, Akane tore the boken from his shocked grip, negligently snapping the stout wood with a twist of her wrists before lashing out with a series of punches and kicks too fast for the Samurai to respond. After several seconds of these uncontested blows, she stepped back, leaving the noble idiot swaying on his feet.
"I fight on!" Kuno declared, then folding like a wet rag he collapsed unconscious upon the ground.
Stepping over the sleeping samurai in contempt, Akane proceeded on towards the school, before turning about unexpectedly. Walking to her stunned sisters Akane took back her school bag from Nabiki's frail grip, then after saying goodbye to Kasumi, she turned and entered the school building.
In the courtyard everyone stood in shocked silence, including Kasumi and Nabiki. Kasumi looked upon the fallen boy's form, the corners of her lips curling down in concern at the violence she had just witnessed from her sweet little sister. The only thought in Nabiki's head was regret that she hadn't taken any bets.
As for Tofu, he watched in wonder from where he hid among the shadows across the street. When Akane attacked he felt the rise of her chi and the thread of mana interwoven within. Still, knowing about it, even predicting the kind of effect it would have, did nothing to prepare him for seeing it in action.
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Teruo Yamamoto took a cigarette from the inner pocket of his ivory white suit jacket. Igniting it with a silver plated lighter he paused to admire the dancing flame, before returning the lighter to another pocket and drawing the heated smoke into his lungs with a contented sigh. He was standing on the busy concourse of Narita Airport, waiting for his brother's plane from L.A. to arrive. The contrast between his bone white suit, sun darkened skin and bright red hair definitely made him stand out and left most viewers briefly wondering if he was really Japanese. He was but the stereotypical reserved Japanese man he was not. Teruo grabbed attention. He made Hollywood starlets seem shy and modest in comparison.
A young man in the uniform of airport security approached him. "Sir." He said, intruding upon Teruo's bored thoughts. "I'm sorry sir, but smoking is not permitted on the concourse. I have to ask you to put out your cigarette."
Teruo looked at the man for a moment, as if debating whether or not to argue with the request, but deciding it wasn't worth the trouble he shrugged and blew out his cigarette. Now normally when smoking the smoker draws air in through the cigarette, but when asked to put it out Teruo blew out through the paper cylinder, and like blowing air across the hot coals of a fire he caused the entire length of the cigarette to suddenly erupt in a small jet of fire causing the startled officer to stumble backwards to avoid the flame.
"There, it's out. Happy?" Teruo asked mockingly as he shook the ash off his fingertips. Turning his back on the man, Teruo dismissed him from his thoughts.
His eyes caught sight of Hachiro walking his way, bags in hand.
"Brother!" He cried out in greeting, arms spread wide as if for a hug. To which Hachiro drew to a standing stop just out of reach.
The two men were polar opposites, Teruo with his flamboyant manner, bright suit and eye grabbing hair, to Hachiro's precise movements, severe black suit and plain features. A metal rod beside a dancing flame.
"Thank you for coming to get me." Hachiro replied. "I was not looking forward to leaving the plane only to get on a train."
"Hey, no problem. It's not like we all get together that often. Come on, my car is this way."
As they made their way outside, Hachiro asked; "Has everyone arrived?"
"Almost, Kioshi is here along with Masumi of course, Tatsuo left this morning to pick up Iwao somewhere south of here. Arata…I'm sorry, Amaya…" He corrected himself with a lecherous grin. "…and Kaede are flying into Haneda this afternoon."
Mention of Amaya brought a small smile to Hachiro's face, a smile that turned to disgust when followed by word of Kaede. A change Teruo didn't miss.
"Hey." He said. "Don't be that way, Kaede isn't that bad."
Hachiro raised an eyebrow in response. "He's a cross dresser who picks up men in gay bars, murders them and then has sex with the corpse."
Teruo waved a hand in dismissal. "That's just a hobby."
Taking out his keys Terou opened the hatch on the back of his car, standing aside while his brother put away his bags.
Hachiro gave the low slung sports car, a fire engine red Nissan 370Z, a look over.
"Do you mind if I drive?" He asked.
Terou had been expecting this and held out the keys. "Only if you promise to go very fast."
To which Hachiro gave his first, honest grin. "That…" He said. "…is my hobby."
Author's notes:
A year and a half later and a new chapter. Sorry it's so short.
The stage is now set, it's time for things to start happening.
Next chapter; the brothers go on a hunt for self, Ranma learns the joy of soccer, Takumi discovers magic is all too real, and Happi visits an old friend.