Ranma Half Moon episode 96.
Author's Note: This is a special preview of Season 2 of Ranma Half Moon - Phrase White: Cold opening, part 1. The first season will continue in the next episode.
A plume of black smoke obscures the half moon.
Police Chief Santa arrives at the scene of the catastrophe. He gets out of his car and surveys the area. When he had talked to Ken last, this sort of possibility had been brought up. Ken knew that his undercover assignment was dangerous, but neither I nor Ken had not expected a bad outcome to come so soon.
Ken's house has already almost burned to the ground.
Santa suddenly spots that something is missing from the backyard. He turns off his two-way radio and takes out a private cell phone and dials a number. "Snatchers, code 1. Ken's son. Bicycle."
Santa closes his cell phone and sighs. He looks troubled at his own actions, but at the same time looks outraged by the carnage in front of him. The horror of what I have to do in the face of this horror.
A tall boy with short dark hair and brooding looks rides his bicycle back from his friend's house. His friend had lost his homework assignment and the bike rider had to show him how to set things up in person.
A van suddenly cuts him off. His bike hits the curb, and he takes a tumble onto the grass. Before he can get his bearings, two men grab him and throw him in the back of the van along with his bicycle. The men bind, gag, and blindfold him.
After a long ride and more rough handling, the blindfold comes off, and he sees he is in a dark, damp basement, tied to a chair. Some rough looking men take off the gag.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"Calm down, son. We're not going to hurt you."
The voice from behind him startles him. "Chief Santa?"
Santa walks in front of the boy. "My, you're sure growing up quick. Kazuto, you know that your father's job as a police officer is very dangerous. Well, a situation went down and your father wound up drawing the wrath of a very dangerous crime organization. Their ways are very harsh."
"Where is my dad now?"
"Gone. Alone with your family and your house."
"Liar!"
"If we hadn't kidnapped you, that organization would be on the hunt for you as well. Fortunately, we found you before you got too close to your house. We can fix the records and say that you were killed in the fire."
"Fire?"
Santa motions for one of his assistants to play a videotape. "This was on the air just ten minutes ago."
Kazuto reels in horror as he sees a burnt out hole in between the houses of his neighbors. He struggles so hard to not see the images that he falls over.
Santa has the Snatchers pick Kazuto's chair back up.
"I'm sorry. There's no good way to tell you this. You're probably not ready to hear what I have to say. But, things need to move quickly. We need to get you out of this city. We're going to move you to a small town in the North. You'll be given foster parents and you'll have a chance to finish out your childhood in as normal a fashion as could be expected."
"I don't need foster parents."
"When you turn seventeen, I will give you a choice. You can live to avenge your family or you can walk away and live a normal life. In less than three years, you'll make that decision."
"I have a life."
Santa gets in Kazuto's face. "No, you don't. From now on, Kazuto-kun was a boy who tragically died in a fire. Your name is Towa."
"No, it's not. Somebody help me!"
Santa walks around waving his arms at the walls. "Towa-kun, this is a safe house. Of course, we thought ahead and sound proofed the walls."
"What will I say to my friends?"
"Nothing. You're never going to see them again. Ever. If you have any contact whatsoever with your old life, then we won't be able to protect you. Towa, you're going to have to develop new friends. It will be hard, but I think you have what it takes to survive being a foster child."
"I'm not a foster child! My name is Kazuto."
Police Chief Santa leans over Towa and puts his face in Towa's face again. "Say your old name again and I will hit you." Santa's voice shows no anger or annoyance.
Santa's calm voice terrifies Towa.
"Now, what is your name?"
Towa does not answer but looks away.
"You know, you don't have to be tied up. We only tied you up because we were afraid that you would hurt yourself. If you properly say your name, we might untie you."
Towa rolls his eyes. "My name is TO WAAAAA."
"I said might. Let's give him some time alone."
The Snatchers throw Towa, chair and all, into a locker and shut it. Towa is cannot move any more than an inch.
After what seems like an eternity, the locker door opens and the assistants drag Towa out.
"Thinking clearer now?"
"Are you going to kill me?"
"No, hopefully, we can keep you alive. But, it all has to start with you. So, what's your name, son?"
"Towa." Towa's voice is soft and flat.
"Good, untie him and let him eat."
Many of Towa's muscles are asleep from being bound for so long. He falls several times before getting to a table with some food on it.
"Don't think that we haven't thought that you might consider attacking us with an eating utensil. They're soft."
A mortified look comes over Towa's face. Defeated, he eats.
"We're moving you tonight to your new home."
"I understand."
"Towa, there is a great evil out there. An evil that cannot be defeated by normal means. But, there is a power that can defeat them. I hope one day you'll be able to help that power."
Towa looks at Police Chief Santa with a blank look.
"But, it's okay if you don't understand now. Along with foster parents, you'll also have handlers assigned to you who will teach you things when you are ready to learn them."
Towa finishes his food.
"Time to go." Police Chief Santa leads Towa up the stairs to an enclosed garage.
Crap, even if I still wanted to run, they are giving me no opportunity.
Towa, Santa and the Snatchers get into the van. Towa notices his bicycle is gone and there are no windows in the van.
In silence, Towa rides to his new home. Halfway there, he falls asleep.
Towa is nudged awake. It is now dawn. He leaves the van to face a plain looking suburban house. A middle aged-couple waves to him at the door.
Towa looks for a place to run. Crap, this is just some suburban neighborhood and there is no place I can run to.
"Towa, the first step is the hardest."
Towa bites his lower lip. He walks to the house. "Mother, Father, please accept me into your house and take care of me."
To be continued.