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, Chapter 21: Those that remain.
Konatsu washed with her usual impassive mask as they questioned the confused young girl about all manner of things. They did not resort to physical interrogation, or to intimidation. Konatsu and the other Lilies would not allow it. Michi and Amaya were on hand, and helped keep things under control and civil. As useful and talented as Tachi was, this was a task that she was ill suited for. The very reputation that had earned her such respect in the dark circles that they dwelt in, also served to make her presence disconcerting to those that did not know the gentle, passionate soul that resided in that scarred body.
Konatsu let her mind drift to other things as she watched, a talent that she had perfected when she lived with her step mother and sisters, long before she had encountered Ranma, and been shown a new world. With any luck, Ranma should be able to make contact soon, or so she hoped. Nabiki had shown incredible fortitude, but there were limits on what she was capable of handling. And the upcoming punishment would be another trial that should never have fallen on either of them, Nabiki nor Qiang Pu.
Still, an example had to be made, and a price paid to calm all involved. Blood deserved blood.
After another hour of questioning, Michi informed them that they needed to let Xaph Ti Pyn rest, or she would face harm. Tanka looked at his assistants, and nodded. As Michi led the befuddled young girl out of the room, Tanka turned to address Konatsu.
"I am satisfied that she no longer poses a threat. Are we sure that she will not regain her memories later, though?" Tanaka asked Konatsu.
"This One trusts the young ladies talents. If she has said that Xaph Ti Pyn's memories are locked away, then this One believes her. She will remain in the Teahouse where she can be watched and observed until we can contact the Village to see about transferring her into their care." Konatsu said in a serene yet serious voice.
Tanaka looked at Konatsu for a moment, then nodded. "I will leave this matter to you, then. Qiang Pu will be punished tomorrow. It's best to get all of this taken care of sooner rather than later. I can't keep the other Family heads inline much longer "
Konatsu nodded solemnly. "We understand. Thank you for your tolerance and mercy, Tanaka." Konatsu said in her soft yet firm voice, even as she wished there were another way.
Kyo Tanaka sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I wish it didn't have to be like this, Konatsu. Speaking as a friend to the Tendo's, and someone who cares for them… I wish there was something else I could do."
Konatsu smiled and nodded as she relaxed "This One appreciates all that you have done, and we know that you have done everything you could do. Nabiki appreciates it, even if she can't say so herself."
Kyo sighed and nodded before he rose and bowed to Konatsu. "I will make sure everything is prepared on my end for tomorrow night."
Konatsu returned his bow from where she sat on the floor. "Make sure your man is ready, because this One has a feeling that there will be an unexpected circumstance. One that will test the mettle of several people I hold dear. They will not avoid their responsibility, rest assured Lord Tanaka. That they will not do."
Kyo Tanaka gave Konatsu a questioning look and sighed at the inscrutable expression on her face. "I will trust that you know what is happening, and that it won't disrupt what needs to be done."
Konatsu answered his unspoken question with a serene, mysterious smile. She watched as Tanaka left the room along with his closest men and let her mind wander for a moment. She just hoped that those three knew what they were doing, and we're up to the challenge that they had chosen for themselves. She never once doubted their resolve, or their dedication to those that they considered their family. She had to admit, she was proud of all of them, both as the Mother of the Teahouse and someone she hoped all considered a dear friend.
It just never ceased to amaze her the trouble those three managed to bring on themselves.
Konatsu sighed as she stood and went to see to her own duties. She would have chosen the same route that they had, if the option had been open to her. But, with power came certain prices that must be paid. And she had her own challenge to face, one that involved two women that meant a great deal to those that she considered family and friends. She had to make sure that everything was perfect and went smoothly, for the sake of both of them. She already knew how she would approach handling Yaayya's parents. She even had a reputable doctor who she could use as a convenient entry point into the story that they would weave, if young lady Fujimaki was agreeable. An assessment from Tofu, even if his areas of expertise did not exactly match up, would go a long way towards selling the validity of what they would hopefully arrange.
The rest would be up to Hina and Yaayaa to work out, and to see if they could strike an arrangement that was beneficial to both of them. Perhaps then Qiang Pu could start to move towards forgiving herself for something that she was as much a victim of as Yaayaa, if not more so. Even Xaph Ti Pyn was a victim of Rai Zur's insanity.
Konatsu just hoped that all those poor girls could find some joy and happiness again.
Yaayaa looked out the window as best as she could from where she laid in the bed. She couldn't move even if she wanted to. Her parent's had hovered over her for a while before they had left to eat and tended to matters that they could not delay anymore.
She looked over at the collection of flowers that sat on the table, sent by friends and family to wish her well and a quick recovery. She sighed as she stared out the window again. She would never walk again, never run. Never get to do so many things. She couldn't help but wonder what the point of her living anymore was. It would have been better for her and everyone else if she had simply died.
She was pulled from her gloomy reflection of her sad fate by a gentle knock at her door. After a moment she said in the brightest voice she could manage. "Come in!"
Yaayaa blinked as a very short black woman walked into the room after a soft "Thank you for having this One."
The woman was dressed in a traditional kimono with her black as pitch hair done up in the elaborate manner of a geisha. Besides her dark skin, she looked like she had stepped out of some period drama. It was the second time in a week she had been visited by a strange geisha.
Yaayaa blinked as she looked at the strange woman. "Ummm, you are welcome? Is there anything I can do for you? And…. I thought that visiting hours were over?"
The strange geisha bowed and smiled serenely. "This One would actually hope that she can be of some small service to you, Lady Fujimaki. And this One has her ways. She knows several that work here. May this One sit?"
Yaayaa blinked and nodded as she regarded her visitor. "Service to me? Unless you can fix my back, I don't know of anything…." She said as she had a rare moment of honesty, as her expression fell.
The geisha gave her a small, sad smile. "This One is known as Amaya, and… She has known several others that have suffered loss such as you have. She would not presume that she truly understands what you have gone through, but she would listen if you would like to talk… Honestly talk… About what is going through your head. Maybe she can offer you some small help in coming to grips with your loss, and seeing that all is not lost. There is still hope, as long as you have life there is always a chance for more."
"You mean fixing my back, and being able to walk again?" Yaayaa said with a hint of her old energy.
Amaya shook her head sadly. "The odds of them being able to repair the damage that you have suffered are… Not good, this One is sorry to say. There is much that you can still do, even if you never regain the use of your legs, if that is what you choose to do. This One knows that sometimes opportunities come along that can change one's life, for good or ill. How you see it is up to you, and what you make of them will define much going forward. But, this One is not here to speak of possibilities that lie in the yet undefined future. She is here to help you not lose hope, so that you are able to grasp those chances, those opportunities and not give up."
Yaayaa sighed as she looked away. "It just feels so… Useless, and hopeless. I'm twelve… And my life is over."
"No one should ever suffer the losses that you, much less so early in life. That said, there are many who have overcome these obstacles, and persevered. This One can not make you decide to stay with us, but she can hope that she can be of some small use in helping you find a reason to stay." Amaya said as she reached out and gently took Yaayaa's hand in her own.
Yaayaa sniffled as she held onto the offered hand tightly, then the flood gates opened, and she cried for the first time in a while. Her strange visitor just held on while the emotions washed over Yaayaa. When Yaayaa's tears finally stopped, Amaya offered her a handkerchief she had produced from her sleeve. Yaayaa offered her a shy smile as she took it.
"Thank you…" Yaayaa said softly. "How… How long can you stay?"
"As long as you wish for this One to." Amaya said as she offered Yaayaa a drink of water.
"I'd like that… Thank you." Yaayaa said with a shy little smile.
Amaya smiled as she settled in and after a bit Yaayaa started to talk.
It was very late when Amaya returned to the Teahouse
The next morning, the day of Qiang Pu's punishment started like many others had. A breakfast that was perhaps a bit lighter than normal, a gentle workout with Tachi for the young Amazon warrior, and a chance to sit and talk to Koda for a while. Still, Qiang Pu couldn't help but be anxious. She knew she deserved to be punished, she not only broke the laws of this land, she broke the unwritten rules that this secret world that she had found herself in existed by.
While Qiang Pu was lost in her thoughts, Nabiki and Koda exchanged a look, just like Nabiki and Tachi had earlier. Koda looked at Nabiki, then glanced at Qiang Pu.
"Are you prepared for what lies ahead, Nabiki?" Koda asked softly.
Nabiki gave her friend a somewhat strained smile. "As ready as I can be. Are you sure about your choice?"
Koda nodded as she watched Qiang Pu. "This One is sure. She has failed her student, and must take responsibility for her failure."
Nabiki nodded and smiled weakly. "I guess we are all set on this, then."
"We are indeed. This One shall leave you with your daughter for now, until it is time." Koda said before she stood gracefully from where she had been sitting on the floor, and bowed to each of them before she left.
"Elder Nabiki?" Qiang Pu said softly.
"Yes, dear? What can I do for you?" Nabiki answered as she patted the floor next to her.
"Will..will the others look down on Qiang Pu after this?" Qiang Pu asked in a soft voice after she had sat down next to Nabiki.
"Of course not, dear. It's one of the things you will notice here in Japan, and especially in its shady underbelly. For the most part, once someone has been punished for their transgressions, they are allowed another chance. Now, that said if it happens too often, then things are different. That's a big part of the reason why I am able to trust the employees I have… Recruited as much as I am able to."
Qiang Pu bit her lip and nodded, then hesitantly leaned against Nabiki. "Qiang Pu is scared, is afraid she will disgrace her family and Elder Nabiki when faced with Qiang Pu's punishment."
"Don't be afraid, dear. You will not be alone, I promise you that." Nabiki said with grim determination.
"Elder be there for Qiang Pu?" Qiang Pu asked softly as she rested her head against Nabiki's side.
Nabiki nodded and wrapped an arm protectively around Qiang Pu's narrow shoulders. "All the way, dear. All the way."
Lunch was a similarly light meal as well, as Michi explained that a simple, more basic meal was less likely to upset the stomach during times of stress. Qiang Pu nodded, familiar to some extent with that train of thought, even if it was not widely accepted in the village.
As the hour approached, Qiang Pu and Nabiki bathed, and then dressed Qiang Pu in a backless undershirt, and a pure white kimono. Qiang Pu noticed that Nabiki put on a similar outfit, but assumed that it was some sort of ritual for the one attending the condemned.
Qiang Pu walked beside Nabiki with her head held high and her face as calm as she could manage as they were escorted by Amaya and Michi to the room that had been prepared. Qiang Pu arched her brow in confusion as she saw Koda and Tachi dressed in similar manners to herself and Nabiki, and seated on a white cloth with their backs to the small group that were gathered there. Neither of them turned to face the pair as they entered, and then were instructed to sit in their respective spots on the cloth.
Kyo Tanaka looked at the four women and gave them a questioning look. "This is a punishment for the foreigner, Qiang Pu, who has violated our laws and broken our covenants. Why are you three here?" He asked as he regarded them.
Nabiki was the first to speak. "Qiang Pu is my ward, the girl I see as a surrogate daughter. Her transgressions are mine as well, and I accept her punishment as my own."
Next Koda spoke, her voice calm and unwavering. "This One had taken Qiang Pu as her student, and failed to teach her properly. She also accepts Qiang Pu's punishment as her own."
Tachi was the final one to speak, her voice grave and steady. "This One was tasked with overseeing Qiang Pu, and making sure that her training went well. She was also tasked with protecting her and guiding her by Lord Ranma. She has failed in this, and shall accept Qiang Pu's punishment."
Kyo Tanaka nodded solemnly. "We acknowledge your faults and the crimes that you have committed, and sentence you to be caned so that you will remember your faults and failings, and that you had violated our rules and covenant."
The four women braced themselves for what was to come as they each shed the top part of their kimonos.