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 22: A map of flesh and bone.
A heavy, looming silence had fallen over the room as the four women waited with their heads bowed as Tanaka's representative walked behind them, and surveyed the canvas of skin and flesh that was laid out before him. He disliked this course of activity as much as Master Tanaka did, but there was no other way to settle things. He admired the resolve of the three older women, and knew that he had to honor that resolve by not holding back.
He stood behind the young girl and steeled his resolve. He delivered the first set of strokes with careful precision. He made sure that he showed no reaction at the sudden, sharp sound of the rod striking the young girls back. He noted how she didnt move or even flinch as each stroke landed, the only sign the tightening of her shoulders each time she heard the rod cutting the air towards her.
He moved down to the woman who sat next to her. Nabiki Tendo was a formidable woman, a ruthless business woman and a force to be reckoned with, both in and out of the shadows. He hoped that she would not take this personally, but he didn't think she would since the fact that she sat here was a sign of her resolve and determination. He raised the rod, and struck with the same smooth strokes that he had used on Qiang Pu. He heard the muffled cry on the first stroke, but didn't hesitate. She flinched slightly at each stroke, but she remained resolute, and no other cries slipped from her lips as each stroke landed with a sure rhythm.
He moved to stand behind Koda, and paused until he caught a quick flicker of her eye on him, and he found himself relaxed again. Koda had always been a person he had respected. She wasn't a warrior, or a business tycoon. She was the figure that lingered in the background and made everything work. That had made so much possible. He steeled himself, and delivered the first set of strokes as he cut the lesson into that soft, pale flesh.
He didn't hesitate as he stepped behind Tachi, and saw the scarred back laid out before him. The lessons and trials it spoke of made him pause for a moment, as the weight of what he would do hit him. He would leave his own mark on her. He would be added to the story that her very body told. He steeled himself as he delivered the first set of strokes, then stepped back so that Michi could check them over before he would start again. The lessons would be cut into their flesh, a reminder of the failure they had committed, and a lesson taught so that it would not, could not, happen again.
He stood impassively until Michi gave him a nod and he stepped up behind Qiang Pu. The bloody, red marks on her back made him hesitate until he saw her hands flex once, twice, then stilled as she braced herself. He delivered the next set with the same rhythm as before. His respect for the young warrior only continued to increase. He shared a private look with Master Tanaka, and the look in his Lord's eyes told him all that he needed to know.
This young woman had an amazing future ahead of her, as long as she took this lesson to heart
He moved on to Nabiki and continued to carry out his task, one bloody strike after another. She handled the strokes with the kind of aplomb you would expect from the partner of the infamous Ranma. With the surety and calmness that had earned her the moniker of the Ice Queen.
He hesitated once more as he stopped behind Koda, then steadied himself and delivered the strokes just as he had done before. She remained silent, but he could see her flinch with each strike, her pale skin becoming paler, as blood ran down her slim back.
He stopped once more behind Tachi, then placed his bloody mark on her, another set of scars for the Scarred Lilly. She didn't move or make a sound, not a tremble of her still form betrayed anything he had done.
Once again, he stepped back as Michi checked each of them over, and knelt down to quietly talk to Koda for a while before she looked at Tanaka, and bowed deeply. Koda bowed her head in shame as she shook slightly, and Michi moved to prostrate herself before the Tanaka.
"My Lord, this One must report that the One known as Koda can not take anymore, lest she suffer permanent and drastic damage. Please, allow this One to take her sister to be tended to. The others are able to continue their punishment." Michi said as she placed her forehead on the mat before the Tanaka.
Kyo Tanaka paused for the correct amount of time, and made sure that he did not betray any of the feelings that he felt. He had known of the decision the other three women had made, and had been warned by Michi beforehand that of them, Koda had the frailest constitution and was unlikely to be able to endure it til the end. Still, he felt his heart break not just at the shaking and battered state of Koda, but of the look of sorrow and failure that sat heavily on her usually placid and unwavering features.
He sat up a bit, and looked at Michi. "You may take your sister from this place. She has earned no shame, nor has she dishonored the name of the Teahouse. See to her, and we shall proceed. You will have returned before we have need of your services once more." He said, as he looked away lest his emotions become clear to all those that could see him. He had to keep up the image for the others that were here and represented the other Families that had demanded punishment.
Michi bowed deeply as she rose and hurried over in the gliding, effortless way of any geisha trained in the Teahouse. A moment later, two of the young geisha who were being trained under the former combat medic entered the room, bowed deeply to those in attendance, and gathered up Koda to see to her injuries.
Tanaka's lieutenant looked to his Master once more, and after a minute a nod was given, and he went to stand behind the still form of the young girl. He saw her take a series of slow, deep breaths and then he could see her brace herself once more. He raised the cane, and delivered the next five strokes with the same pace and rhythm as the ones before. He hoped, in his heart of hearts, that she would endure this. That she would come out the other side of this with the same strength he saw before him now.
He also hoped that Ranma would understand, and not kill him for what he had to do.
The punishment continued as Michi returned, and once again took her place sitting to the side as she observed each of the women as they endured what had to be done. Even the most adamant of the representatives seemed to have paled and wavered by the time the last of the twenty-five strokes had been placed on Tachi's back. With a nod from tanaka, Michi and he helpers moved to tend to each of the three remaining women, and lead them to a room where they could be tended to, and allowed to rest and recover from the ordeal that their actions had brought upon them.
Kyo Tanaka turned to the other representatives and leveled his cold, even gaze at them. "Are you satisfied? Did you find the punishment sufficient for the losses and troubles that have been caused by this foolish young woman's misdeeds?"
Each of the representatives acknowledged their consent one by one, with one of the more moderate members of the Family's great houses bowing deeply before Tanaka. "I will see to it that my Lord is made aware of the severity of the punishment, and that I feel that we have been properly handled in this matter, Master Tanaka." He hesitated for a moment, then breathed out a deep sigh. "I have a daughter about her age, and I can't even think of her enduring something like this…."
Kyo Tanaka nodded, as he made sure that the careful mask he wore did not slip. "Qiang Pu is very much her father's daughter. She will not only endure this lesson, she will learn from it. One day, she will look back at this and realize it made her a stronger person, a better one. One that is worthy of joining our community."
"You really think so?" The other man asked as he looked at the spot on the white sheet where a few drops of red from the young woman's back stained the cloth.
"I am sure of it. She is his daughter, after all." Tanaka said with certainty.
"Then we will all trust in your judgement, Master Tanaka." The other man said with a deep bow before he was led from the room as the others had been.
"Do you think she will take this lesson to heart, Mother Konatsu?" Tanaka asked quietly as he sat in his seat and let the weight of what he had seen settle on him like a heavy mantle.
"In this One's humble opinion, she will. Because she is Qiang Pu, and she is far more than her mother or father's daughter." Konatsu said with grave certainty.
"I hope that you are right, Mother." Tanaka said, then sighed as he leaned back and took a drink from the cup that sat at his side. "When Ranma returns, we will have to see about making better arrangements regarding our allies in China. This whole situation never should have been allowed to happen, but we were complacent." He grew quiet for a moment, then looked at Konatsu. "The Tanaka Group will help in any way that we can, just ask for whatever you need from us."
Konatsu nodded, as her gaze settled on where Koda had sat. "This One has an idea, and knows the perfect person to see that it is carried out correctly. But for now, we must wait for Ranma, to see what has happened, and what there is to be saved."
"Of course, Mother. Thank you." Kyo Tanaka said as he rose and bowed deeply to the Mistress of the Teahouse.
Konatsu bowed deeply from where she sat, her forehead pressed to the floor in gratitude, where she remained until the Tanaka had left the room. She sat up afterwards, and sighed as she looked off in the direction of China. "You had best return to us in one piece, Ranma-sama. We all need you." She rose smoothly and slipped out of the back, as she made her way to check in with Michi on the status of those that were under her care.
She still had much to do before she sat with Hina and Yaayaa, and oversaw them finding where their paths would lead in the future.
It was always worth it, being the matriarch of this strange family that she had found with the help of Ranma and those that dwelled within the confines of Jusenkyo. She prayed for all of their safety and health.
The next day Konatsu found herself sitting in Yaayaa's hospital room with Hina dressed in a black and purple formal kimono seated on a chair that was tall enough that the short girl could look Yaayaa in the eye that Hikaru Gosunkugi had brought with him when he dropped off the doll-like cursed being. Konatsu was dressed in her usual formal kimono while she sat on one of the spare chairs that were in the room, and both of them regarded the young girl that laid in her bed with it raised just enough that she could look them in the eyes.
Konatsu's eyes lingered on the large bouquet of flowers in a hand-made vase that sat on the small table by the window. It was a bit rough looking, but Qiang Pu had made it herself. Even if the girl was not present, and didn't seem to believe that she deserved to be around her friend, the care that the two shared was obvious to her. She just hoped that they could find a place where they could once again be around each other without causing the other too much pain. She figured it would be a matter of time, more than anything. And a great deal could depend on the outcome of the talk that she was here to facilitate.
You would think after hundreds of years that Hina would be able to handle such things in a mature manner, but Konatsu had to admit that she probably was holding the ancient spirit to too high of standards. Mortality seemed to be good for the soul, if her interactions with those that seemed to deny that part of convention held true.
Konatsu looked back and forth from the two other women in the room and smiled slightly to herself. It was obvious that neither knew where to start, and could just attempt to size up the other at the moment. As she decided that she would have to take the initiative heere, since it had been the reason she had been asked to help with this, she cleared her throat slightly.
"Miss Yaayaa Fujimaki, this One would like to introduce you to Hina. She has an offer, while strange in its context, she believes that it could be of great benefit to both of you. The price of her offer is steep, and heavy, but this One hopes that you will listen to her, and give her offer the consideration it is due." Konatsu said as Hina slipped from her chair and bowed deeply to the other young girl.
Yaayaa smiled and nodded her head as much as she could. "I… I would return your polite greeting, but… I am unable to…" Yaayaa said with a sad smile on her face.
Hina smiled back and shook her head, as her mass of hair swayed around her delicate face and expressive eyes. "I am just grateful that you would accept my request to meet like this." She glanced at Konatsu, and at the Geisha's soft smile and nod she pressed on. "Regardless of what you decide about my offer, I promise you that all of your medical bills will be taken care of, rest assured." Hina gathered her thoughts, and after another glance at Konatsu she climbed back into her chair and settled in once more. "I am so very sorry for the condition you have found yourself in. If there was anything that I, or anyone else, could do to restore your body to your usage as it was before, I would… I know all too well what it feels like to be trapped in your body, unable to do the things that you had grown accustomed to over the years." Hina's eyes flick to the small case that is sitting on the other table in Yaayaa's room, the elaborate lacquered wood box almost resembling a small house or shrine in it's construction, with a delicate looking set of double doors closed with handles that open not only from without, but also from within. A fact that she would more than likely prove at some point, if the initial stages of the discussion went well.
Yaayaa looked at her and blinked, a curious look on her face as she looked the other girl over. "You… Do? I mean… You look healthy…" She said cautiously.
Hina smiled at Yaayaa. "Thank you. It's been a very long road to get to where I am now… And it's a journey that I would like to share with you, as much as I am able to." Hina glanced at Konatsu once more, then back to Yaayaa as she leaned forward slightly in her chair, her silky dark hair falling past her face as she regarded the bed-bound girl. "It's possible that you could walk again, Yaayaa. Just, not as you are now. It won't be an easy path, if you choose it, and like Madam Konatsu had said, the price is… High. Almost impossibly so."
"I… I don't have any money, or anything to offer…" Yaayaa said hesitantly.
Hina shook her head as she smiled softly. "You have everything I could think to ask for, and should not have ever asked for. But, our relative positions make it possible for both of us to benefit, as long as we can each find the will to do so."
"What could I have that you would want?" Yaayaa asked skeptically.
"Why don't you drink some of that soothing tea that Mother Konatsu was nice enough to make for you, and then I will explain better? I.. I just don't want you to freak out or be scared…" Hina said, and Konatsu shook her head slightly.
"What she means, Yaayaa, is that what she wants to explain to you, and show you, can be a shock. That she doesn't want you to hurt yourself further if you are unprepared for what she has to show and tell you. Having One's perceptions of the world subverted can be a shock." Konatsu explained.
Yaayaa looked at Konatsu then nodded as she drank the cup dry, then smiled as Konatsu moved gracefully over to fill her cup again. After Her cup had been emptied and filled again, Yaayaa settled back with a much more relaxed look on her face
After a minute, Konatsu looked at Hina and asked her again. "Is this the route that my most honored guest wishes to take?"
Hina smiled and nodded. "Sometimes it's best to just pull the bandage off."
"Very well, then." Konatsu said as she walked over and gently took Yaayaa's hand in hers. At the questioning look she received from the young girl, she just gave her a warm, motherly smile in return
Yaayaa felt herself relax, but she wasn't sure if it was the tea, or the woman at her side. When Konatsu directed her attention back to her guest, Yaayaa noticed that Hina had gone completely still, her eyes stared blankly ahead, and she couldn't even see her chest moving.
After a minute, Yaayaa's attention was drawn to the lacquered box as a soft click could be heard, and then the doors started to swing open from within. Yaayaa watched with a perplexed look on her face as a doll that looked remarkably like Hina walked out of the box and smiled at her before it walked over and sat on the edge of the table, and locked gazes with the perplexed young girl.
Yaayaa looked from Hina's still body, to the doll, and then at Konatsu. "She is a really good puppeteer! So, how is she doing that?"
Doll-Hina laughed and stood up, and did a pirouette in front of Yaayaa, then bowed deeply. "Let me introduce myself once again. I'm the spirit of the cursed doll, Hina. Your great-great-great aunt, many times removed. And I want to see if we can help each other." Hina said, then hopped over and landed lightly on the bed next to Yaayaa, and bowed deeply to the young girl. "Please listen to my request."
Yaayaa looked at Konatsu, then Hina's still body, then down at the doll and passed out.
Hina looked up at Konatsu and smiled. "Well, that did go better than I expected…."
Konatsu sighed and gave Hina a long look. She suddenly realized that she was, in fact, dealing with the world's oldest teenager.
*A/N*
For all of you who wondered why Yaayaa thought revealing her secret to Kotori THAT WAY was a good idea….