Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that I claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:
For Love and Money, the War of the Horse. A Y3 story.
Chapter 16: Epilogue: The Horse returns from War.
Ranma stretched as she exited the small plane on an old, private airport. The reason that they had to land on what should be an abandoned airport was the woman who exited behind her. Tai Dai, Elder of the Amazon's didn't have any paperwork or passport, and would raise far too many questions with the various sharp objects that she certainly had stashed about her body.
Luckily, Tai Dai had convinced the twins to stay behind to watch over the village with the Musk warrior, Pepper. Ranma wasn't sure what exactly was happening between the odd trio, but she had a feeling that Pepper was going to have his hands very, very full. Ranma had been the target of an Amazon's interest for a short time, and that had been more than long enough.
At least the pair had not resorted to violence, it seemed. But, perhaps that would have been easier for Pepper to deal with?
Ranma looked at the black Hum-Vee that waited for them on the tarmac, and relaxed a little as the short, black Geisha slid out from behind the wheel. It was odd to see Amaya out of her usual kimono, much less in a neat, black business suit. It made sense, if you wanted to keep a lower profile.
And they needed to stay under the radar more than ever. Beijing might have a relationship with the Village and the surrounding domains, but the Japanese government did not. And this was hardly the time to introduce them, either. The plan was for Tai Dai to be here for no more than a week, just until they could come to an agreement over what was to become of Qiang Pu and Xaph Ti.
Ranma was torn, in all honesty. He had always kept a fairly hands off approach to their daughter, and let Xian Pu raise their daughter in the way that fit the traditions of the Tribe. Now, though, Ranma had started to wish that he had been a more active part of her life, had taken a hand in raising her and teaching her how to live in this more modern world.
Perhaps then the things he had heard about would not have happened.
Xaph Ti was even more of a mystery and enigma. She might bear the blood of Xian Pu and himself, but other than that she was a complete stranger, an unknown and unexpected addition to the situation. Nab's had assured him that Xaph Ti was no longer a threat, but he wanted to see her for himself to draw his own conclusions.
Luckily, if everything worked out according to schedule, he would have that chance later that night. They had worked out an itinerary that should be acceptable, and their first stop would be the Teahouse so that Tai Dai could speak to Koda and Mother Konatsu.
And they could debrief Ranma on what had happened in China directly.
After that, there would be a few more meetings to attend before Ranma would be able to slip away to see the family. No one else but Nabiki and the three kids. Ranma would have been lying if she had said that the prospect of meeting Xaph Ti for the first time was not daunting, and that after spending time with Qiang Pu that letting her go might prove too difficult to do.
Ranma eyed Tai Dai as the Amazon Elder watched out of the window with careful attention. No matter how progressive Tai Dai was, Ranma was unsure just how far the Amazon's head Elder was willing to bend to accommodate the will of a child and a group of outsiders.
Even if the child was the last of a bloodline as respected and revered as Khu Lon's. It was also possible that the blood she carried would close more doors than it would open.
Tai Dai had proven to be nothing but unorthodox, but just how far was too far, not just for her but for the Council as a whole?
Things to think about during the drive to the Teahouse, Ranma thought as she watched her guest.
Tai Dai, Elder of the Amazon's, was thoroughly out of her element. It left her stunned, just how much her world had changed in such a short time. Going from an outcast, an exile in all but name, to the head of the Council of Elders was something that she would never have imagined, especially with what had happened to cast her down from the heights that would have been hers from being born into one of the oldest families in the village.
But, if that fateful confrontation had not happened then she would have been there when the village had been attacked, and would not have had a nearly perfect disguise in the curse that she had been given to her as part of her punishment.
Not that she saw it as a punishment.
And without the other exiles and outcasts who had been cast from the confines of the Village, they would be leaderless right now. As it was, there was the possibility that for the first time in countless centuries, the village might take a step forward.
Perhaps even find new, untapped strength.
But for that to happen, they needed a connection to their past. A bridge between the Traditionalist and Progressive factions.
They needed the child of Xian Pu. The last of the line, the final vestige of a prestigious and well known family. Without her to act as a bridge, the two factions would never be able to work towards the future that they had to strive for, if the Village was going to survive.
Even if it meant ripping a young girl away from the last family she had in this world and making her no more than a figurehead.
Tai Dai sighed as she settled back into her seat as she glanced at the other passenger in the vehicle. She wished that she could be more like RAnma, and be true to herself. When she had revealed her true self to her grandmother and mother, she had known that being exiled was the kindest option she faced, and had prepared herself for that, or death.
But how long could one continue to live a lie, before they died inside? How long until you no longer could recognize yourself, buried under all the lies?
So, she had faced their wrath, and the disappointment that hurt so far, far worse and had not struggled when her grandmother had dragged her to the Pools of Sorrow, and cast her to her fate.
Of course, she had never seen the curse she had received as a punishment. It had freed her, after all. She had been cast out into the outer world, and had experienced things that no one who had remained locked in the tiny bubble that was the Village ever would have.
She had met a few others like herself, and they had formed their own loosely knit band, and had managed to establish some form of communication with the village.
That was how they had found out about the attack, and been able to help rebuild the home that had never wanted them.
Then there were the others, the lost ones like Rai Zur who had never forgiven the Village or the Elders, and had sought revenge, or a radical change. Tai Dai had never had direct contact with the rebels herself, but some of the people she had considered sisters had died on both sides of this pointless war. Rai Zur and her ilk had poisoned the hearts of many, and it would take years to close the wounds that had been opened.
And if they were to even get the chance to heal, they would need powerful allies. More than just the indifferent powers that sat on their lofty chairs in Beijing, or the Musk and other denizens of the lands that surrounded the Valley of the Pools.
They needed outsiders, like Ranma and the mysterious Teahouse.
And now they were on their way to meet the Mother of the Teahouse, Lady Konatsu and her right-hand woman, Lady Koda who was set to become the Mother of her own House in China. It would be a chance to make an impression on them, and to begin to form her own bonds with people who had been staunch allies of the Joketsuzoku for many, many years.
Both Tai Dai and Ranma let themselves wander in the quiet of their own thoughts until they arrived at the impressive edifice that was the Teahouse. Amaya drove around once, before she pulled in through the back gate and they were greeted with their first sight of the Lilies of the Teahouse and Mother Konatsu dressed all in their finest kimonos.
Amaya opened the door and bowed deeply as the pair exited the vehicle, and the gathered courtesans bowed as well before Mother Konatsu lifted her head and smiled warmly. "We welcome you to our most humble House, Elder Tai Dai. This One wishes we could offer you the full hospitality of this House right now, but that will have to wait for later. There are things we must discuss before we allow Lady Ranma to return to her own loved ones.". Mother Konatsu said before Tai Dai found herself gently but expertly whisked away by the quiet and demure Koda.
Ranma watched bemused for a moment before Mother Konatsu walked up and looked her over before pulling the surprised but unresisting redhead into a tight embrace. Mother Konatsu whispered softly into Ranma-chan's ear. "Welcome home."
Ranma-chan smiled and nodded. "It's good to be home." She responded before she let Konatsu lead her off for a quick debrief while they took care of Tai Dai.
Tai Dai followed the shorter Japanese Geisha named Koda with a bemused look on her face. It was hard to believe that this outsider woman had once been a man, but at the same time she knew very well that who you were and who you are could be vastly different.
Even so, the poise and grace that Koda showed in all things was notable. Even when she allowed the Japanese Geisha to help her change into some fresh clothes, there was no reaction to the scars that she bore. Of course, Koda like the others associated with the likes of Ranma, Mother Konatsu and the fearsome Tachi, so it should have been no surprise.
Yet, for some reason, Tai Dai found that she wanted to see this Japanese Lilly lose that serene composure for even a moment.
Koda had been all too aware of the attention of their guest from the moment she had led the Amazon Elder into the domain of the Geisha in the Teahouse. The path had been carefully chosen so that they would be alone, and no one might offend the Amazon. To be honest, this was the first time that Koda had been around one of them since she visited the Village to bathe in the Pools and be reborn. Tai Dai was certainly not what she had expected. The little snippets of conversation had hinted at a formidable mind that was broader than she had expected. Of course, not only was Tai Dai the head Elder, she was also a former outcast who had lived in the outer world, away from the slice of a more ancient time that was the Village.
And soon, it would be her home as well until they started to expand beyond the domains of the Village. Even then, she was likely to only visit other places before she returned to her House.
Her House. A place filled with those that she had taken under her wing and guided down the path of the Geisha and Courtesan.
That reminded her that she would need to do a deep dive into the Courtesan culture of China.
Koda was pulled from her thoughts when Tai Dai finished changing and smiled at the Japanese Geisha. Koda smiled back and led the Amazon to where they would wait for Ranma and Mother Konatsu.
As the pair walked into the meeting room, there was tea and water placed and waiting for them. After Tai Dai took her seat, Koda went to pour her a cup of tea. In a weird twist of the odd chance that seemed to happen so often around those that had experienced the Cursed Springs, the glass of water was bumped just enough to fall over. It just happened to flow directly into the lap of the sitting Amazon, and as the shocked Geisha started to apologize, she found herself face to face with an even more bemused now male Amazon Elder.
Tai Dai laughed as he helped Koda right the cup and rearrange the table once more. Koda stared at Tai Dai for a moment before she turned away before she turned back with a cup of hot water, and Tai Dai shook his head and gently placed a finger on it.
"I think it's time that I be myself here, so that I can meet all of you as my best self.". Tai Dai said and Koda swallowed and nodded.
It seemed like this could be a very long night, Koda thought to herself.
It was several hours later that Ranma finally had her chance to escape and return home once more. She swallowed nervously as she stood outside of her home once more with just her go bag slung over her shoulder and a surprisingly heavy package in her hand.. It had seemed like a long time to her, since she last was here. So much had happened, and the world that she had known had changed so much. People had been lost forever, and some had been found. The Village and its surrounding lands had been changed in ways that they might not even truly know, not for years to come. Ranma's own family had changed, having lost people that had once been considered parts of it, to have new people thrust into it by design and circumstance.
It had been a truly long few months, indeed.
Ranma steeled her resolve as she tightened her grip on the strap of her bag and took a step forward. Now was not the time to hesitate, or to question herself. Her family was waiting for her just beyond that door. Nabiki and their son, Chika. His daughters, Qiang Pu and Xaph Ti Pyn. They all were waiting for her, just beyond that door.
It was finally time for the Horse to come home from war.
Ranma stepped forward and opened the door, and was greeted with the sight of the people that mattered the most, gathered in the hallway and waiting for her return. Nabiki held their son, who luckily they had gotten used to seeing both of the cursed martial artists forms. Qiang Pu stood with a determined look on her face, even as he could see how her hands clenched and trembled. Behind her stood an unfamiliar girl who could only be the wayward child named Xaph Ti Pyn, who looked anxious. Ranma-chan felt her heart clench as she tightened her grip on the duffel bag, all too aware of the weight of the broken object that was inside of it, and the impact it would have on Qiang Pu. But, both Nabiki and herself had decided it would be best if the news came from them in private, rather than in front of others.
"I'm home, " Ranma-chan said and smiled at her assembled family. A moment later the others bowed and said in response. "Welcome home."
Ranma-chan and Nabiki exchanged a look, then both looked at Qiang Pu and the solemn look made the young Amazon swallow. "Let's head into the family room, there is something I have to tell you, Qiang Pu. You, and your sister Xaph Ti.". Ranma said before she led the family in, and let her travel bag slip to the floor before she turned and knelt before she gently placed the duffel on the ground and removed the wrapped items that were inside. She was aware of the intense look that Qiang Pu had been giving her ever since she knelt down, but it was something that she had to do. Something that no one else could do anymore.
Ranma-chan laid down the package wrapped in silk and carefully unwrapped it. Inside was a single Chui, the metal head pockmarked with bullet holes, and the shaft broken. She could hear the sudden intake of breath from Qiang Pu, and knew that the significance of this destroyed weapon was understood all too well by the young Amazon. Ranma looked up at the tear stained face of her daughter, and bowed her head. "I am sorry, Qiang Pu. I was not able to arrive in time to save your mother or grandmother." She watched as Qiang Pu slowly sunk to the ground and rested her hand on the broken weapon as Xaph Ti hesitated for a moment, then knelt down and hugged her sister as they both grieved the loss of a mother, a mother that one of them had never known, and now would never get the chance to know.
After a moment, Nabiki knelt down and wrapped one arm around Qiang Pu and Xaph Ti as her other held the restive form of Chika against herself protectively. It was a somber moment, and the two girls were quiet and withdrawn for the remainder of the night. Ranma-chan had already known that the ones who watched over Xaph Ti had agreed to let the young girl stay overnight with the Tendo's, and a futon had been laid out in Qiang Pu's room.
When the family went to bed, after Chika had been placed in the bed for the night, the couple looked at each other and held each other silently for a long time. "I'm glad you made it home safely, Ranma." Nabiki said, and Ranma smiled in return before she answered. 'I am glad to be home."
As the pair settled in with Chika between them, the door slowly opened before Xaph Ti walked in, holding her sister's hand. "Can… We join you tonight? Father? Mother Nabiki?" The quiet, gentle girl asked as she held tightly to Qiang Pu's hand. The older couple looked at each other and Ranma nodded as they pulled the covers down and allowed the girls to get settled in.
And for the first time in quite a while, the family was truly together again.
The End of the War of the Horse.
A/N
And with that, Ranma's journey in China ends. This has been a challenge to write at times, but I have enjoyed the journey. Soon, For Love and Money will come to an end, as well.
I already have plans for what I will write next, and will be continuing the stories of the Teahouse and those that have found shelter therein.
Look forward to The House of the Jade Dragon
And
The House of the Last Sakura Blossom
Thank you all for joining me on this journey!