[UY/Ranma/SisPri][FanFic] Lonely Souls - Part 6, "B" Side (2/3)
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"Ohayou, Ranma." Nodoka's eyes widened in surprise on seeing the
chemise draped over her transformed child's body. Quickly composing
herself, she then turned to Shirayuki. "I'd like to speak with him
alone."
"Hai desu no!" The chef nodded before heading into the kitchen.
Ranma watched her go before she beckoned her mother to the front
porch. "I'm glad to see Genma didn't hurt you that much when he took
your sword away."
She closed the door behind Nodoka after they had stepped outside.
"Yes, the wounds were light," Nodoka admitted, bracing herself for
what she had to ask at this time. "How are you? I didn't hear many
details about the fight at the school. He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"He tried," Ranma admitted. "He tried to skewer me with that sword
when I announced that the Court of Special Appeals had granted my
request to sever all bonds between myself and him. Hinako-sensei
nearly got killed along the way and . . . " She shuddered. No,
Nodoka certainly didn't need to hear about Ranma's delightful 'neko-
self.' "Things got right out of hand. It's a miracle no one got
killed before the police came. Genma . . . " She snorted. "He used
a ki blast on riot police, for crying out loud!" she spat out.
"I know that part. That was right after you used some sort of attack
to sever his cursed side from his real side, right?"
Ranma nodded. "Hai. Right after, one of the cops gunned him down.
His body disintegrated when he died. Jijii explained that had
happened once before when he tried to split a Niángniquán-cursed guy
into two parts."
"I see . . . " Nodoka's voice trailed off. "Well, it no longer
matters. Whatever feelings I might have had for him vanished sometime
ago," she admitted. "All that bound me to him was honour and the hope
that, in spite of all his mistakes, he did raise you well. But after
hearing about what he did to you BEFORE you left home on your
trip . . . "
"I know." Ranma perked. "So what brings you by?"
Nodoka gazed on her child, sighing. "Can't a mother come visit her
son, especially given the long separation between us?"
The younger woman sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude,
but I'm not used to idle pleasantries, even from family."
A surprised look crossed her mother's face. "You've changed."
Nodoka then gazed intently at Ranma. "Considering the scant chances
you've had to spend time in a classroom before you came here, it's
surprising."
Ranma smirked. "Thank Tampopo-chan for that. That's one of the
things she did for me while I was on my trip with her."
"I think I will." Nodoka laughed, and then she took a sombre
breath. "Ranma, I don't wish to burden you with this right at this
time, but there is another reason I came to see you today."
"I take it this has something to do with your father."
Silence. Nodoka stared wide-eyed at her child. "Ranma . . . "
"Before you say anything, let me explain." Ranma held up a warning
hand. "I've been told about the time when Jijii, just before you were
born, seduced your mom. And because of that, your dad wouldn't like
anything more than to stick it good and hard into Jijii's back. And
in doing so, he feels that seeing me become part of his family in name
and deed -- with the change of any name bestowed on my school of the
Art going along with it -- would help him toward that end." Her
eyebrow arched. "Am I right?"
Nodoka took that in, and then she nodded. "Yes, dear, you are
right."
"Then you can understand why I will refuse all attempts by him or
anyone of his family to bring me into the Asagaya Clan."
The older woman jolted. "But Ranma, surely you . . . "
"I DO see that!" Ranma cut her off. "Look, if your dad wants to tear
a strip off Jijii's hide, I can't blame him for that! Heaven knows
how many people Jijii's pissed off over the years!" Her face turned
into a steely mask as she stared at Nodoka. "But I will say this: I
have been used time and time again by people, Genma above all, to
pursue all sorts of stupid plots that have not ONCE benefited me!
I've been caught at the short end of the stick many times because of
things like that! To be frank, I'm very tired of it! If your dad
wants to go after Jijii for what he did to your mom, tell him to go
right to town! But don't involve me and don't involve my sisters!"
Nodoka gazed at her before she closed her eyes. "Is that why you
chose to sever legal connections to myself as well as your father?"
Ranma evenly nodded. "Yes."
Nodoka considered that. A sad smile then crossed her face. "I see,
then. Very well, Saotome-san. I will not bother you anymore about
this matter." She gave her a stiff bow. "Have a good day."
She turned to march off. Ranma watched her. As Nodoka got halfway
to the gate, she then called out, "Your son is dead, Asagaya-san!"
Nodoka stopped, spinning around to stare at Ranma. "I'm a girl not
just in body now," the younger woman warned. "Thanks to a hidden
trick Zhòuquán-xiang saves for those people who don't change back
right away after they're cursed, I became a girl here and here." She
pointed to her head, and then her heart. "Fortunately, thanks to the
Neko-ken, my brain was damaged to the point where that particular
metamorphosis didn't take effect right away. That damage has now been
repaired, so Zhòuquán-xiang's FULL curse has taken effect over me.
You can thank Genma for allowing you the chance to know your son for a
little while." Her smile slipped. "And I'm no longer a student of
Musabetsu Kakutou-ryuu. Make sure you tell your father that when you
see him next, Asagaya-san."
She turned to head inside. "R-r-Ranma . . .!" Nodoka stuttered.
Ranma stopped. "Get off the property, Nodoka. Or I'll call the
police."
Nodoka froze as Ranma's threat washed over her. She then jerkily
nodded before she staggered through the front gate. Ranma remained in
place, and then she stared over her shoulder at the empty gate leading
into the shrine. "You stupid fool, Mom," she hissed. "There's no way
in hell that old fart'll be nice to you, no matter WHAT you think!"
She shook her head as she stepped inside, slamming the door behind
her.
"Anegimi-sama, that was your MOTHER!"
Ranma jolted, she turning to stare at Haruka. "I can't hope to help
people solve their problems if they refuse to see what problems face
them, Haruka-chan." She moved to pass the other martial artist so she
could return to her bedroom. "It's no different than what happened to
U-chan."
Haruka gently gripped Ranma's shoulder. The redhead stopped, and
then she sighed before turning to gaze on her future sister-in-law.
"What happens if she refuses to have anything to do with you again,
Anegimi-sama?"
"You mean like some of the girls' moms and step-dads have acted
towards them that got them all sent to Welcome House?" Ranma asked.
Seeing Haruka nod, she took a deep breath. "Haruka-chan, I want to
learn how to love Mom. I do. But . . . " She shuddered. "At the
same time, I can't forgive her for literally ABANDONING me to Genma
when I was a child! And she believed, for more than a DECADE, that a
piece of damned PAPER with my handprint on it mattered more than my
own LIFE! And NOW she wants me to become part of her old family?!
Where her older brothers BEAT her constantly when she was growing
up?! Where, when she decided to marry Genma, they turned around and
DISOWNED her without giving her a chance to defend herself?! And NOW
her father is trying to get revenge from Jijii because he once seduced
her MOTHER?!"
She reached up to squeeze Haruka's hand, and then she guided it
away. "No." Ranma shook her head. "I can't do it, Haruka-chan. I
finally, after so long, have got FULL control over my life! I will
not let anyone take it away from me. If Mom has a problem with that,
too bad! And if her father's so hell bent on revenge against Jijii,
that's just too bad, too! Besides . . . " A snide grin crossed her
face. "If Mom's mother was so won over by JIJII, it makes me wonder
what sort of real *man* her father was!"
Haruka balked, and then she flustered. "Well . . .!"
"That's pretty raw, Ran-chan!"
Ranma glanced at Ukyou; the chef was standing by the hallway leading
to Ataru's bedroom. "Well, what would YOU think, U-chan?!"
Laughing, Ranma headed off to her bedroom. Ukyou and Haruka watched
her go before exchanging a concerned look. "I never expected that
from Anegimi-sama," the latter admitted. "She did try to be positive
when she spoke of her mother on the Island last week . . . "
"Did Ran-chan really go to this Sanctuary place, sugar?" Ukyou asked.
"Hai, she did. Why do you ask?"
The chef considered that before she shrugged. "I guess spending over
thirty days in a place like that would change anyone's attitudes.
Especially given all the changes Ran-chan's had to go through to get
where she is now."
Haruka considered that before she nodded. "I see."
* * *
"So Kunou refused to acknowledge what I said yesterday?"
"Hai, I'm afraid so." Fujii Chieko nodded as she placed a tray full
of snacks on Akane's work desk. "At first, he and all the other boys
were plenty pissed off that you didn't even bother showing up for the
fight. Then when people started talking about the oath you made
yesterday, the news got to Kunou-sempai pretty quick. Before I left
school to come look in on you and the Boss, I heard from one of
Sempai's classmates that after he was told of your oath, he started
blaming it on Ranma-kun's 'sorcery.'" She made finger-quotes. "He
vowed to not stop until he exorcised the 'black magic' from your heart
with his trusty blade . . . " She giggled. "Yadadda, yadadda,
yadadda . . .!"
Akane groaned, rising from her bed. "That idiot . . . "
"You're not going to win against someone like that, Akane-chan."
Chieko sat on the bed, Akane taking her place at the desk. "And with
Ranma-kun gone, who's going to distract Sempai from coming after you?"
Akane rested her arms on her desk. Chieko was quick to see a quiver
shaking her classmate's limbs. "You have a point," the youngest
Tendou admitted as she moved to dig into her food. "Ranma always was
a distraction when it came to Kunou, ne?" she then mused.
"Hai." Chieko stared at the ceiling. "I'm going to miss him."
Akane blinked. "You won't be the only one."
The other girl gazed at her, deciding it wouldn't be prudent to push
matters on that particular subject further. Heaven only knew Akane
had always been mercurial when it came to her engagement to Ranma.
Best to turn her attention back to immediate matters. "So what now?
I don't think any of the guys were really swayed by what you said
yesterday. If you try to dodge around them, they'll just keep coming
after you."
"And if I fight them, I'm feeding into their delusions. Dealing with
Kunou ever since he made that ridiculous speech taught me that."
"Pity you couldn't just pull up stakes and leave town."
Silence.
Akane blinked, staring nowhere in particular. "Leave town . . . "
Chieko looked quizzically at her. "Eh?!"
"Leave town," the youngest Tendou repeated as she stared at her
classmate. "You know, before Ranma came, Dad tried to get me
transferred to another school to get me away from Kunou. It was
blocked because school rules state the ONLY way a person could get to
transfer out of Fuurinkan is if they apply to go to a private school,
like Saint Hebereke . . . " A smile crept across her face as she held
up a finger. "Or if the whole family moves out of the district
itself, say to another district, town or prefecture!"
"Couldn't you try to transfer to Kolholz?!" Chieko then asked.
"They're not that far away from here. It wouldn't be too much of a
hassle and I know it's not a private school like Saint Hebereke or
Seishun!"
Akane considered that before she shook her head. "No. Something
tells me Kunou's father arranged to make sure no one could try to
transfer there. Besides . . . " A scowl crossed her face. "Sanzenin
Mikado goes there!"
Chieko winced. "Right . . . "
A knock. Both saw Kasumi standing in the hallway. "Gomen nasai, but
would you come to the sitting room, Akane-chan?" the eldest Tendou
daughter asked with a smile. "There's something we need to discuss
right away."
"About what, Onee-chan?" Akane asked.
"Something Rinrin-chan just offered us," Kasumi replied.
* * *
"Reiko-chan, say 'Aaaah!'"
"Aaaaaah!" Reiko moaned before swallowing the spoon full of fruit
parfait Hinako offered her. Gazing at his sister as she fed his
daughters, Ataru tried not to grin too much. He then noticed Jay and
Kay gazing at him.
"Never thought something like this would happen to a guy like me,
eh?" he asked with a smirk as he sat back in his chair.
Jay shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"I take it you were engaged in other activities with the Noukiites,"
Kay mused. "Your daughters did imply that you did help them fight the
Urusians."
Ataru thumbed the flap of his tunic. "Obvious, ne?"
The SCAA agents gazed at his clothing. The fabric, interwoven in
several layers, clearly wasn't Terran in origin even if it was hued in
a nice earthy brown shade. And the glyphs lining the outer flap edge
of his tunic, despite the similarity to han'geul, didn't originate
from an Earth alphabet. A glance to Reiko and Kaneko revealed the
twins had the same tailor as their father.
"Why?" Jay asked.
Ataru took a deep breath. "When Onee-chan took me to Sanctuary so I
could be properly trained in my family's Art, I learned a lot about
the circumstances surrounding my grandmother's death." A pause, and
then he added, "The Urusian government was directly implicated."
Kay and Jay exchanged a look. "That would be something for the
Inquisition to investigate," the former noted.
"Who do you think I was with when I went to Uru?" Ataru replied.
The older men nodded understandingly. "Ah!"
"Onii-tama!"
Ataru turned to Hinako, the latter holding up an empty fruit parfait
bowl. "We need some more!" the youngest of the sisters warned.
Ataru glanced at his daughters. "Are you two still hungry?!"
"We're okay, Papa," Reiko grunted as the twins rubbed their tummies.
"Oh!" A knowing look crossed Ataru's face as he gazed on Hinako.
"Don't tell me that Hinako-chan has to go on a diet!"
Hinako jolted. "Onii-tama!"
Everyone laughed. Ataru then started on hearing, "Anii!"
Hinako waved. "Ah! Mamoru-chan! Kaho-chan!"
"Ani-kun."
People screamed out on seeing Chikage standing behind Ataru. Kaho
cried out as her foot caught on a paving stone. She tumbled in front
of Mamoru. The athlete didn't dodge clear in time, resulting in her
falling flat onto her face. Ataru winced on seeing his sisters
stumble about, and then he gave the sorceress a knowing look. "My
dear Hirosaki-san, could you POSSIBLY think of trying NOT to scare the
living daylights out of us whenever you pop up like that?! Gods,
you're worse than Cherry!"
Chikage appeared nonplussed. She then cried out as twin typhoons
snared her lower legs, they nearly sending her to join Kaho and Mamoru
face-first on the tarmac. "Auntie Chikage!" Reiko and Kaneko gushed
together.
Seeing this, Hinako giggled. "Silly Chikage-chan!"
Laughter filled the table as Mamoru picked herself up. "Anii,
there's a problem!" she then reported.
"What sort of problem?" Ataru asked.
Mamoru breathed out. "Reigi-san just called us. Somebody just
teleported into your old house some minutes ago. From where, NO ONE
has any idea! And two others broke in around the same time. He's
wondering if he should get the Kuromoroboshi over there to check
things out!"
Ataru's eyebrow arched. He then glanced in the direction of his old
family home. His eyes narrowed as he picked up several strangely
familiar ki signatures, and then he turned to Chikage. "Who's
there?!" he wondered.
"Lum and Ran -- their post-Crossing Over incarnations," Chikage
reported, drawing her crystal ball. She swung it in the direction of
the old Moroboshi home so she could do a scan. "Plus Jariten and four
Avalonians, physical/mental replicas of Lum, Ran, Benten and Oyuki."
Ataru blinked. "Say what . . .?!"
Jay gaped. "Ten's come back?!"
Kay rose, waving for the cheque. "Let's get over there."
* * *
"So Ranma finally decided to leave this place, eh?!" Hiroshi mused.
Daisuke sighed. "Yeah, by the sounds of it."
They were relaxing in the library, along with a good portion of their
class, not to mention people from several other classes, including Inu
Chigaiko's senior class. It was morning study hall, the class before
lunch. Given the nearly eerie quiet of the first day of the new
school term -- what with the absence of the morning brawl between
Ranma and Kunou, not to mention the Horde o'Hentai being unable to go
all out on Akane now that the engagement between herself and Ranma had
been thrown out the window -- the members of Ranma's old class seemed
to be bracing themselves for a massive explosion.
Yuka and Chigaiko walked up to sit beside them. "Hey, Yuka-chan, any
news about Akane?" Daisuke wondered as the two girls took their seats.
"I haven't seen her since I left the Moroboshi place." Yuka tried
not to display any emotion stemming from her confrontation with Ranma
earlier in the day at the old shrine. "I think Chieko-chan went over
to look on them." She rested her chin on her hands. "She should be
back . . . "
"Hey! Check out Gosunkugi!" Daisuke hissed.
Yuka, Chigaiko and Hiroshi looked as the frail would-be sorcerer
walked into the library. Given the jaunty spring in his stride, the
slaphappy smile etched on his face and the sheer glow of LIFE
emanating from him, Hikaru's classmates had more than enough reason to
be surprised. "What the hell's wrong with him?" Hiroshi asked before
he turned to look at his best friend. "Hey, Dai! Have you EVER seen
ol' Spooky act anything like THAT?!"
Daisuke shook his head. "Not me, dude!"
Hikaru sat down at a table, drawing out a book. Ignoring the chorus
of confused, wary and curious looks emanating from his classmates, he
turned to the page he wished to examine, and then he got to work.
Minutes passed. People around him were quick to notice their
classmate seemed distracted. As to what was distracting him, no one
had an idea. Daisuke gazed on his friends. "Yuka, you sure Akane
hasn't been to school at all today?" he wondered.
"I'm sure." Yuka then perked as the sound of many chatting voices
echoed from the hallway. "What the hell's that?"
Hiroshi, Daisuke and Chigaiko followed her out. Stopping in the
hallway, they gaped on seeing a crowd surrounding a cheerfully smiling
Tendou Akane. "Is that . . .?" Hiroshi asked before he took a look at
the new arrival's flower-print shirt and stylish slacks. "Oh, man!"
he groaned. "Don't tell me Akane got herself caught in front of that
magic mirror Ranma ran into!"
"Kimiko-chan," Chigaiko whispered.
Kimiko ignored the people around her as she focused her psi-senses on
the one she had come to see. Passing Chigaiko and her companions by
without a word of greeting, she peeked into the library. "Hikaru-
kun?!" she called out. On spotting the would-be sorcerer in question,
she grinned as she made a beeline for his table. "I have lunch!" she
then announced.
Hikaru looked up from his book, and then the whole world around him
went totally pink. "Kimiko-chan!" Stars sparkled in his eyes as he
zipped up to grasp her free hand, as a chorus of violins began to play
a romantic aria in the background. "Oh, Kimiko-chan! I was just
thinking about you!"
Akane's twin blushed. "Hai, I know." She placed the bentou on the
table, and then she gently touched her own reddening cheek as Hikaru's
desiring gaze focused on her. "Oh, Hikaru-kun, did any mean boy try
to hurt you today?" she asked. "I was SO worried about you,
especially with that awful Kunou person and what he's been trying to
do with my poor sister . . . "
Hiroshi tried not to gag. "Who wrote THIS corny dialogue?!"
"Who IS that, anyway?!" Daisuke wondered. "You'd figure any double
of Akane'd act somewhat LIKE her, for Heaven's sake!"
Yuka glared at him. "And what EXACTLY is Akane-chan SUPPOSED to act
like, Daisuke-kun?!" she frostily wondered.
Daisuke gulped as he ducked Yuka's incensed stare. Suddenly, an
explosion knocked down the back doors leading into the library. Sure
enough, Kunou Tatewaki stormed in, his eyes locked on the horrid sight
of HIS beauteous tiger being manhandled by that uncouth Gosunkugi.
"***HOLD!***" he bellowed, swinging his bokken out to strike the
impudent junior student down. "***I GAVE NO BLESSINGS TO THIS HIDEOUS
UNION, GOSUNKUGI! UNHAND THE BEAUTIFUL TENDOU AKANE THIS INSTANT OR
FACE THE BLUE THUNDER'S WRATH!***"
"Hikaru-kun, did someone say something?" Kimiko wondered, oblivious
to the oncoming kendou-ka moving to strike her boyfriend down.
Hikaru shook his head. "I didn't hear anything, Kimiko-chan. C'mon,
let's go outside and have lunch! I'm starving!"
"Hai!"
Kimiko snared the bentou, and then she nearly wrenched Hikaru's arm
out of its socket as she lead him out of the library. Kunou, totally
unused to being simply IGNORED like that, froze in place as his mind
rolled over what he just witnessed. He quickly recovered, turning to
pursue. "AH! So the devious Gosunkugi joined forces with the
villainous Saotome and the monstrous Moroboshi to keep my tigress
under their dark spells, has he?! I SHALL NOT HAVE IT!" He quickly
moved to pursue. "HAVE AT THEE, BEAST!"
"***HAPPOU-GOJUU-EN-SATSU!***"
Kunou screamed as his fighting aura was sucked out of him, and then
he dropped to the floor as Ninomiya Hinako walked up. "Now, Kunou-
kun, I don't think the students here appreciate having their study
hall interrupted by your mindless diatribes." The teacher planted a
firm foot on the kendou-ka's head. "Besides, Gosunkugi-kun and that
double of Tendou-kun DO seem a nice couple, don't they?" She
tittered, glancing in the direction of the other boys in the room,
many of whom she knew were part of that squad of delinquents who were
ready to ambush and most likely RAPE Akane when she came to school.
"Well?!" Her eyes flashed as she held up her fifty-yen piece. "DON'T
they?!"
The boys shuddered before slumping in defeat. "Sensei, you're
cruel!" one fellow, a long-time member of the Horde o'Hentai, groaned.
"Tough!" Hinako moved to leave. "Life itself's cruel! If I catch
anyone trying to harass Gosunkugi-kun about his relationship, they'll
wish they never heard of Tendou Akane by the time I'm finished with
them!" she vowed.
She headed off. The boys watched her go, and then they began to
mutter among themselves. Gazing on them, Yuka was quick to note that
many were NOT pleased by this turn of events. Fortunately, their fear
of Hinako's powers would prevent them from going too hog-wild over
this matter. "Well, I'm glad something's back to normal around these
parts!" Hiroshi mused. "Eh, Dai?!"
Daisuke nodded. "Yeah. It is a relief, isn't it?!"
* * *
"Is THIS the place Onii-tama lived in?!"
"What a dump!"
"Kaho's happy that Onii-chama's living in Welcome House now!"
As Ataru, Chikage, Jay and Kay stepped into the old Moroboshi home to
see what was going on, Hinako, Kaho, Mamoru, Reiko and Kaneko waited
by the front gate. "Ugh!" The younger of the Noukiite twins winced
as she waved a hand over her nose. "The stench of those uo-t'ich is
everywhere!"
"Um, Kaneko-chan?!"
"Hai, Auntie Mamoru. What is it?!"
"What's a 'uuoh-tichu?!'"
"'Uo-t'ich,' Auntie Mamoru." Kaneko stifled a giggle. "It means
'dog people.' That's what we normally call the Urusians."
"Kaneko-chan's people don't like dogs?!" Hinako wondered.
"Hai!"
The sisters exchanged a look. "What happens when they meet Marie-
chan and Michael?!" Kaho wondered, covering her mouth.
Reiko smiled. "Oh, it's okay, Auntie Kaho!"
"Why do you say that?!" Mamoru asked.
"Well, Earth dogs are related to Earth wolves and foxes, right?"
"Um . . . y-yeah, I think so!" the athlete stuttered.
"On Noukiios, wolves and dogs are as separate as dogs and cats are
here," Reiko explained. "We call wolves *ip'i.* They're really cool
when you see them, but you *don't* ever want to get one angry at you!"
The sisters stared at the twins, nodding. "Oh!"
Chikage peeked out the front door. "Hinako-chan."
"What is it, Chikage-chan?"
"Come in here, please. We need you," the sorceress beckoned.
Hinako took the Staff from Reiko before she followed her sister
inside. Ascending to Ataru's old room, they stepped in. Hinako
stopped on seeing Ataru kneeling beside some small glass tube, those
two nice men from the Men in Black standing beside him. Jay was
scanning what was in the tube with a tricorder. Seated on the empty
bunk bed Ataru once used were two casually dressed women, one brown-
haired, the other a redhead. The brown-haired girl looked as if she
was about to break down and cry. Her friend had a reassuring hand on
the other's shoulder. Laid out on the floor by the bed were four
people Hinako recognized from the pictures her Onii-tama showed her
some time ago. All of them were passed out, a blanket spread out over
them. Before Hinako could think of their names, a whispered warning
from Bou-san echoed in her mind.
*They're Avalonians?!* she wondered, and then she blinked as Chikage
beckoned her to stand beside the tube.
"How bad is it?" Ataru wondered.
Jay looked at his tricorder. "He's in a bad way." He slipped the
device into his jacket. "What happened to him?"
"The Ip'ihu attacked him," Seiko muttered.
Ataru and the SCAA agents gazed on her. The former sighed. "Must
have been some fringe group, like the people who turned Onishuto into
a radioactive parking lot. Mainstream Ip'ihu would never condone
attacks on innocent children unless they're directly related to
members of the Urusian colonial militia." Before Seiko could voice a
response, Ataru turned. "Hinako-chan?!"
Hinako walked up. She then shuddered, her eyes tearing, on seeing
the scarred body frozen within. "Onii-tama, is that . . .?"
"Yeah. You think you can ask Bou-san to do something to help him?"
She shakily nodded as she held the Staff up. The focusing crystal
glowed for a moment as streams of energy showered Ten's body. Some
seconds later, the shower ceased. Hinako drew the Staff back. "Bou-
san says she can't help Ten-chan, Onii-tama." She sniffed. "Bou-san
says all those boo-boos hurt him too much. If he's taken out of the
tube, he'll go to the Very, Very Bright Place."
"Wonderful." Kay sighed, glancing at Seiko. "Your call."
Seiko gazed on her cousin, and then she took a deep breath. "Hinako-
chan, is there ANYTHING your friend can do for Ten-chan?"
Hinako blinked, and then she canted her head as the Staff whispered
something. "You think so?!" She stared at the glowing crystal, and
then she listened to the answer before nodding. "Uhn! Hina knows
what to do now!"
"That being?" Chikage asked.
In answer, Hinako hefted the Staff into the air. The focusing
crystal glowed bright white as an opaque beam of energy lanced through
the ceiling and straight into orbit over Japan's most infamous town.
The room was bathed in blinding light for a moment, causing everyone
to squeeze their eyes shut or cover their eyes with their hands. As
soon as the light began to fade, Ataru shook his head clear before he
glanced at the floor where Ten's cryo-storage unit should be. It was
there no longer.
"Wh-where'm I . . .?"
Hinako gushed, cradling the Staff close to her. "Haaaaaaai!" She
turned to Ataru. "Ten-chan's all cured now, Onii-tama!"
"Huh . . .?" The raven-haired boy, appearing to be about five or so,
glanced around the empty room before his brown eyes focused on the two
men in the black business suits. "Ah! Kay-san! Jay-san! Am I on
Earth?!"
"That you are, kiddo! Welcome back!" Kay reached over to give Ten a
friendly squeeze on the shoulder. "Feel okay?!"
Ten stared at his hands. Fortunately, the Staff had draped his new
body in an orange shirt and jumper. "Feel a little weird . . . " He
scratched the back of his head, and then he froze as his fingers
detected something that should be there but was NOT. "My horn?" A
surge of panic seized him, and then he looked around. "MY HORN!
WHERE'S MY HORN?! WHO TOOK MY HORN AWAY?!"
His eyes stopped as they locked on the dark-clad, purple-haired woman
standing close to the door. Ten froze as Chikage's looks sank into
his mind. Hearts then glittered deep in his eyes. "Pretty lady . . .
" he crooned, walking over to take a closer look.
Ataru sighed. "Well, at least THAT part of him's back to normal."
He glanced at Kay and Jay. Seiko's eyebrow twitched. "Darling."
Ten spun around to see the man in the Noukiite clothing. "Ataru?!"
he gasped, walking up to stare at him. "How'd you grow a beard so
fast?! And what are you doing dressed like that?! If Lum-chan sees
you like that . . .!"
"Lum HAS seen me like that." Ataru cut him off, and then he
indicated Seiko. "And, much that I hate to bring you down to Earth,
Jariten, it really no longer matters what she happens to think about
me. In the meantime, my sisters and I'll leave you to get
reacquainted, not to mention registered with Kay's people." He
glanced at Kay. "We'll be downstairs."
Kay nodded. "Right."
Ten watched as Ataru, Chikage and Hinako stepped out of the room. He
then perked as Seiko knelt beside him. "What's with him . . .?" His
voice trailed off as his eyes fixed on hers. "Lum-chan . . .?" He
then turned as Sakiko came up to stand beside her sister. "Ran-
chan . . .?"
Sakiko knelt beside Seiko. "Hai, it's us, Ten-chan."
Ten glanced at Sakiko, and then Seiko, and then back to Sakiko again
before he screamed out, "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, ANYWAY?!"
"It's a long story, Ten-chan." Seiko then leaned over to draw him
into her arms. "But it's so good to see you alive and safe!"
Sobs soon took her voice away. Ten stared at her before his own eyes
watered as Seiko's relief overwhelmed him. In a minute, both were
holding each other tight, weeping as the anxiety accumulated over the
last two months washed away. Sakiko places her hands on their
shoulders, and then she soon found herself drawn into a group hug with
her sister and her cousin.
Kay and Jay exchanged a look, smiling.
* * *
"Oh, Hinako-chan?"
"What is it, Onii-tama?"
"Where exactly did the Staff get the new body for Ten?"
Hinako stared quizzically at the Staff. "Hina's not sure, but Bou-
san told Hina the body was there and it had no soul in it." She
stopped as the Staff whispered something to her. "Oh, Hina
understands now!" She then stopped herself. "But how can that be?"
"What is it, Hinako-chan?" Kaho wondered. She, Mamoru, Reiko and
Kaneko had stepped into the house after their relatives had left
Ataru's old bedroom. They were relaxing in the old living room.
Hinako stared at the cheerleader. "Bou-san told Hina that the big-
big ship there could only make Avalonians as young as Hina is. But
Ten-chan's even younger than Hina, yet there was a body on the big-big
ship there for Hina to use to let Ten-chan be with Lum-san and Ran-san
again. A BOY'S body, too! Hina really doesn't understand how . . . "
Ataru took that in, and then he perked on feeling Chikage's hand
squeeze his shoulder. Glancing at the young sorceress, he noted the
look on her face before he nodded. "Well, we can ask Miree about it
later," he stated.
"Why save him, Papa?"
Eyes locked on Reiko and Kaneko. The looks on the Noukiites' faces
spoke volumes about how they currently felt. "Reiko-chan, what do you
think the Ch'uoeuk would say if he found out that there're people out
there willing to kill children, even younger than you, just because
they're Urusian?"
"What about the Noukiite children who've faced the Ch'uoeuk when they
shouldn't have, Papa? All because the Urusians couldn't let what we
did to them go, back during the Union Revolution and since then,"
Kaneko countered. "Who answers for what happened to all of them,
Papa?"
"What DID happen to them?!" Mamoru asked.
"You know about the famine in parts of Africa?" Chikage wondered.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Imagine that on a planetary scale, multiplied four times."
Eyes locked on Ataru. Kaho shuddered. "And the Urusians did THAT?!"
"Yes," Ataru, Reiko and Kaneko answered as one.
Hinako sniffed. "Why?!"
Ataru took a deep breath. "Because there were people on Uru who just
didn't like the Noukiites no matter what, Hinako-chan. Just like
there're people here in Japan who don't like the Chinese or the
Koreans, even those Koreans who were born and raised here in Japan."
"But that's stupid!" Hinako protested. "They're nice people!"
"Yes, they are. But there're people in this country who don't care
about that, Hinako-chan. Just like there're people who don't care
about descendants of burakumin just BECAUSE their ancestors WERE
burakumin! And . . . " He took a breath. "A lot of people happen to
work for the government. Just like there were a lot of people who
hated the Noukiites who ran the government on Uru."
Chikage glanced knowingly on her nieces. "And those are the ones
Reiko-chan and Kaneko-chan, plus all their friends, had to fight."
"Is that what we gotta do one day, Onii-tama?" Hinako asked.
He noted her look. He reached over to squeeze her shoulder.
"Hopefully, no. But with the way things in this country are going,
Hinako-chan . . . "
He shrugged. Mamoru shook her head. "Bummer."
* * *
"So this is actually a REPLICA of Akane-chan?!"
Hikaru chuckled. "Hai. That she is."
He and Kimiko sat under a tree on the front lawn of Fuurinkan High,
their lunch bentou sitting between them. A gaggle of the voodoo
sorcerer's classmates, including Yuka, Hiroshi, Daisuke and Sayuri,
sat around them. Sensing their curiosity about how could *he* win the
heart of a person who, physically, was Akane's twin, Hikaru gave them
a thorough briefing on how Kimiko first met Ranma some months back,
and then how -- with the help of Ataru's sisters -- Kimiko had been
given a life she can call her own.
At the end of that, his classmates were speechless. Daisuke sighed.
"Gos, my friend, you are a lucky bastard, you know that?!"
He slapped the other man's shoulder. Hikaru winced. "I guess I am."
"Are you thinking of coming to school, Kimiko-chan?" Sayuri asked.
Kimiko sighed. "I'm not sure. Ranma-sama . . . " -- she ignored the
looks everyone gives her on hearing THAT honorific attached to Ranma's
name -- "Did warn me not to be like Kasumi-oneesama, so I might want
to try to expand my education. But it'll be hard given the way I came
into this world. I don't think the education authorities anticipated
someone like ME whatsoever!"
Hiroshi nodded. "Yeah, that'd be a pain . . . "
"***GOSUNKUGI!***"
The members of Hikaru's class moaned. "Oh, shit, here he comes!"
Daisuke muttered as people watched Kunou storm up, bokken in hand and
a determined look etched on his face. "The stupid idiot just does NOT
know the word 'quit!'"
Hikaru sighed, and then he perked on feeling Kimiko giving him a
reassuring squeeze. Sensing her support, the sophomore stood,
straightening himself. His classmates quickly cleared a path for the
kendou-ka, though several remained close to ensure Kunou didn't go hog-
wild on Hikaru. "You wanted to see me, Kunou-san?" Hikaru asked, he
crossing his arms.
Kunou glared the sorcerer down, his lips twisting into a sneer. "You
will address me as 'Sempai,' you cur! How DARE you lay your unworthy
hands on the beauteous Tendou Akane?! How DARE you presume that you
can avoid the Blue Thunder's edict when it comes to being in her
presence . . .!"
"I hate to bust your bubble, but you're wrong on two counts!" Hikaru
chuckled, his show of spine catching everyone short. "Akane-san
declared your oath null-and-voice yesterday. Every girl in the class
were witnesses."
"Lies!" Kunou proclaimed. "The lovely Akane was under a spell . . .
"
"Wrong!" Hikaru indicated Kimiko. "And second, this is not Akane."
Kunou blinked. "What?!"
"It's true." Hikaru nodded as he reached down to grasp Kimiko's
hand. "This is Akane-san's adopted twin sister, Tendou Kimiko. She's
actually a minor kami who was trapped by an evil wizard in a doll the
pig-tailed girl found at a ryokan some months ago."
Everyone stared at Hikaru, all of them acting as if he had just grown
a second head. Yuka, Sayuri, Daisuke and Hiroshi were quick to notice
the light smile on Kimiko's face, and then they nodded
understandingly. No doubt, Hikaru and Kimiko had planned ahead for
this very moment. Kunou stared incredulously at Hikaru, and then he
turned to Kimiko. "The pig-tailed girl freed you?!"
"Yes, she did," Hikaru answered on her behalf. "The pig-tailed girl
and Akane-san took great pity on Kimiko-chan, so when the chance came,
they tricked Saotome into creating a clone body of Akane-san's so
Kimiko-chan here could have a body for herself to use . . . "
Kunou blinked, and then he howled, "VICTORY!" Fireworks exploded
behind him as thunder rumbled through the air. "To believe that my
beautiful fighting tigress and my fiery pig-tailed goddess actually
tricked that dark sorcerer into doing what THEY bid him to do!" His
bokken stabbed into the sky as a flash of lighting arced overhead,
causing everyone to tense. "Now I, Kunou Tatewaki, the Blue Thunder
of Fuurinkan High, shall be victorious and claim the hands and hearts
of my *three* lovely maidens of battle . . . "
"Um, Kunou-san, there's a problem!"
The kendou-ka stopped to glare at Hikaru. "What do you mean?!"
"Well, when Kimiko-chan was given her new body, Saotome learned he
had been tricked by Akane-san and the pig-tailed one," the voodoo
sorcerer stated. "Well, you KNOW how much Saotome hates you!
He . . . " Hikaru then indicated Kimiko with a wave of his hand. "He
made it so that no matter how much you try to win Kimiko-chan over,
you CAN'T! The only way you could even hope to win Kimiko-chan over
is to go find Saotome and defeat him!"
"The same applies to Akane-sama and the pig-tailed one," Kimiko
added. "No matter how much you try to attack them -- or ME! -- it'll
fail. The only way you can free them is to kill that horrible,
horrible Saotome Ranma!"
Silence fell as Kimiko's words swirled through Kunou's mind. "Oh, by
the way, Kunou-sempai, you better know that Ranma-kun transferred out
of Fuurinkan High School yesterday," Yuka helpfully added, holding up
a finger.
"WHAT?!" Kunou's battle aura flared, causing everyone to step
fearfully away from him. "So! Saotome thinks he can escape the Blue
Thunder's wrath?! He actually thinks he can keep the Blue Thunder's
chosen ones away from his side?! NEVER! NEVER! I SAY THEE NEVER!"
With that, he stormed off to the school building. The others watched
him go, and then Daisuke sighed. "Somehow, I really don't think
Ranma's gonna appreciate us heaping that particular problem back on
him again!"
"He won't," Yuka muttered.
Kimiko chuckled. "Wait until he learns that Ranma-sama is no longer
on her parents' family register." She wrapped an arm around Hikaru's,
turning to gaze longingly at him. "Hikaru-kun, shall we finish
lunch?"
Hikaru nodded. "Hai, hai!"
Everyone looked on them as they sat. "So if Ranma's been struck off
his family register, what happens to him now?" Hiroshi asked.
"That . . . " Kimiko impishly shrugged. "Is a secret."
Hearing that, everyone fell flat on their faces!
* * *
"Can you guys really do this?!"
Rinrin chuckled. "Sure we can!" The members of the Tendou family,
plus Miree and Chieko, were currently relaxing around the sitting room
table as the scientist explained all the changes she planned to make
to the third floor of Welcome House's rotunda. Yotsuba sat to
Rinrin's right, she resting against Shinshi. "It's our land, after
all! Anyhow . . . "
She pointed to the first room counter-clockwise from the stairwell.
"The spare room here'll be Miree-san's." Rinrin gazed at Miree. "If
Negako-aneki wants to visit the Island from now on, she could stay
with Aniki and Ranma-aneki in their bedroom on the first floor."
"Why won't she come live on the Island full-time?" Miree asked.
"Ane-chama suffers from hydrophobia," Yotsuba explained before she
turned to the Tendous, a knowing chuckle escaping her. "'Sides, if
Shi-chama and his family move out, what happens to Ane-chama's
friend?" she then wondered.
"You're going to make Ojii-san live with Negako-san?" Nabiki
blinked. "With Kimiko-chan and most likely Chigaiko-san living there
alongside Negako-san? You think that's a good idea?!"
"Oh, I'm sure Aneki'll keep him in line." Rinrin laughed, making a
dismissive wave with her hand. Her finger moved to the next room
displayed on the computer screen. "My room'll stay the same, but I'll
move the main door to be perpendicular to Miree-san's front door. I
can use the extra space for storage if I want. No problems there.
Now, for the big changes . . . "
Her finger shifted to Yotsuba's room. "We'll expand both Yotsuba-
chan's and Shirayuki-chan's rooms out five metres. Yotsuba-chan's
room'll wrap clockwise to cover the wall space of my lab, plus we'll
throw a second floor onto it over half of the new portion. Yotsuba-
chan, you and Shinshi-kun'll stay on the third floor, opposite my
lab. The ladder to the roof'll be there, but there'll be a safety
fence put in just in case. I KNOW Aniki'll want that 'cause you like
going on the roof all the time."
Yotsuba sighed. "Yotsuba thinks Ani-chama worries too much!"
"That IS Ataru-kun's privilege AND responsibility as your older
brother, Yotsuba-chan," Kasumi intoned as the others laughed.
"ANYHOW . . . " Rinrin's voice picked up to get everyone's attention
back to the matter at hand. "Nabiki-chan'll take the new room on the
fourth level. It'll big enough for you to have your own private
sitting area, plus you'll have a door to the roof of Yotsuba-chan's
part of the room so you can sunbathe. Um . . . " She then stared at
the middle Tendou daughter. "Do you need anything special put into
your room, Nabiki-chan?"
Nabiki smiled. "Well, if you can put in some computer and telephone
links directly into my room, I'd certainly like that."
"I HOPE you're not going to do some of the things you've done in
Fuurinkan when you transfer to Stargazer West," Kasumi warned.
Nabiki laughed. "Oh, RELAX, Onee-chan! I don't need to worry too
much about that anymore!" She waved her sister down with a sigh.
"Like I said, this is crunch year for me and I'll need every advantage
I get."
Rinrin stared curiously at the older woman. "You're thinking of
going to America when you go to university, right?"
"Most likely." Nabiki then gave Rinrin a knowing look. "Why? What
school've you got in mind, Rinrin-chan? MIT or Caltech?!"
"Haven't thought about it yet since it's still a few years away."
Rinrin then pointed to the computer screen. "Anyhow, the new space
under Nabiki-chan's bedroom, plus Yotsuba-chan's old bedroom space,
can be used as a common area or we could install a guest bedroom if
you're interested in having one available for your friends. We could
save that for the future if you want."
Nabiki hummed. "No, let's put in the guest bedroom now," she
suggested. "If we need it, it'll save up construction time and
costs."
"Okay."
Rinrin then tapped instructions on her machine. The diagram was
changed to show two bedrooms on the third floor level. "What about
us, Rinrin-chan?" Akane asked as she pointed to herself, and then to
Kasumi.
"We'll expand Shirayuki-chan's room to mirror what we're doing to
Yotsuba-chan's room." She pointed out details. "The room next to
Shirayuki-chan's room is the boy's washroom, so we'll seal the window
off completely. For safety's sake, we'll put in an emergency door
that'll exit directly onto the roof of the upstairs part of Aniki's
and Aneki's new space so that, if there's a fire, you've got a way to
get to safety." Her finger traced over the changes. "We'll have
three bedrooms here, with Shirayuki-chan's old space as the common
area. Shirayuki-chan can take the fourth floor. You and Kasumi-
aneki'll have the two bedrooms on the third floor."
"Will Shirayuki-chan mind having her room shifted around?" Kasumi
wondered. "These are a lot of changes to make, Rinrin-chan."
"And is this rotunda going to hold up?" Nabiki added. "Even if it is
your property, there are building standards . . . "
"Oh, relax!" Rinrin waved the middle sister down, and then she
pointed to the diagram. "The House is modular, even if it sure
doesn't look like it. Everything'll be fine in the end. They
anticipated expanding the interior of the rotunda when they built it
in the first place."
"That's a relief," Akane breathed out. "Ne, Onee-chan, why don't you
take this room . . . " She pointed to the new room opposite the boy's
washroom. "And I'll take the one right under Shirayuki-chan's room.
Ne, Rinrin-chan, do you think you can put a door to connect my room to
the room under Nabiki's space? In case Yuka and Sayuri visit?"
"Sure I can!" Rinrin tapped controls on her machine, and then she
turned to Yotsuba and Shinshi. "You sure you won't mind this?"
"I've got no friends to speak of right now, Rinrin-chan. Save for
those who're already living at or will live at Welcome House."
Nabiki's twin brother then gazed on Yotsuba. "How about you, Yo-
chan?"
The would-be detective smirked. "Yotsuba won't mind."
"Alright, then!" Rinrin continued to play with the keys.
* * *
"Um, Ranma-san, have you seen Sakuya-san anywhere?"
Ranma looked up from the novel she was reading to see Serizawa Mikiko
standing at the door to her room. "She left with Haruka-chan an hour
ago to do something, Mikiko." She saved her page, and then she rolled
to her feet. "Why? Is there something wrong?"
"Um, n-no, not really, but lunch is ready." Mikiko fretted as she
and Ranma walked into the common room. "Ataru-kun, Hinako-san, Kaho-
san, Mamoru-san and Chikage-san've been gone for some time. I hope
things're alright."
"They better be," Ranma mused as they sat down beside Kawamura
Himiko; the former captain of the Tomobiki High girl's swim team was
watching the news. "If any of the clods there even LOOK the wrong way
at Hinako-chan or the others, Ataru'll go medieval on all their
asses."
Himiko gazed on the redhead. "Would he really?"
"Bet on it." Ranma then perked as Shirayuki walked in, a tea tray in
hand. "Hey, Shirayuki-chan, what's for lunch?!"
The chef placed the tea tray down. "Nee-sama will definitely like
Hime's special lunch," she proclaimed. "Hime made her tofu omelettes
with sliced vegetables and ricotta cheese. Perfect for growing girls
and boys."
"Well, by the looks of it, Shirayuki-san, we're gonna be having loads
of seconds with the amount of people gone," Himiko warned.
"Soo desu no." Shirayuki smiled as she headed back to the kitchen.
Negako stepped in the room, followed by Aria and Karen. "I see lunch
is almost ready." The grandmaster took her seat.
"Is this it?" Ranma glanced around the room. "Where's U-chan?!"
"Gomen nasai, Onee-chan." Karen looked apologetic. "Ukyou-san went
over to speak with Tampopo-san about what happened this morning."
"Ah! Oh, that's a relief!" Ranma breathed out. "Lessee. Ataru's
gone to Tomobiki with Hinako, Kaho and Mamoru . . . "
"Chikage is with them," Negako reported.
"Right." Ranma nodded. "Chigaiko's at school. Kimiko's no doubt
with Gosunkugi right now. Hope the dopes don't give her a hard time.
Yotsuba, Rinrin and Miree are at the Tendous." She then looked at
Aria. "Aria-chan, have you see Jonna or Orin today?" she asked.
"We're right here, Ranma-sama," Jonna announced as she and Orin
stepped into the room, they taking their seats to both sides of Aria.
Aria reached over to hold one of Orin's hands. "Nee-ya."
Karen smiled. "It's good Aria-chan's made a new friend, ne, Onee-
chan?"
"Yeah, it is." Ranma chuckled as Mikiko proceeded to pour tea for
everyone. "Has anyone see Marie-chan? She hasn't got lost . . . "
"Marie went on a walk to Hikarigaoka Park with Michael," Negako
reported before she perked. "Ah, she just passed through the front
gate. Sakuya and Haruka are . . . " She paused, her eyebrow
arching. "Shirayuki!"
"Hai desu no, Nee-sama?!" the chef called back from the kitchen.
"Make extra food. We will have guests today!"
"Hai desu no!"
Karen stared quizzically at the grandmaster. "What guests?"
As if in response, the door opened. "Tadaima!" Marie called out as
she and Michael stepped inside, followed by Sakuya and Haruka.
"Sakuya-san, you're just . . . " Mikiko looked over, and then her
eyes shot out of her head on seeing the woman in Sakuya's company.
"Mikiko, wha- . . .?" Himiko stared at her shocked friend, and then
she looked herself before noting the woman in Haruka's company.
Sakuya slipped to the side to allow her guest a clear view of the
people seated in the room. "Shirayuki-chan, we have guests!"
Haruka did the same with the woman accompanying her. Silence fell as
the older women stared at Himiko and Mikiko, and then they both nearly
keeled over. Sakuya and Haruka helped Serizawa Tomomi and Kawamura
Mami remain steady as their daughters raced into their embrace.
"MOM!" Himiko and Mikiko screamed, breaking down into tears as they
sank to their knees, holding their mothers for all their worth.
Watching them, the others in the room could only smile.
* * *