[UY/Ranma/SisPri][FanFic] Lonely Souls - Part 5 (2/3)
pye...@gmail.com
cherry blossom trees. The trees were large enough to distract the
normal passer-by from wondering what might be happening beyond the
living room windows. The small group of people living here preferred
it that way for many reasons, chief of which was fear of discovery.
Arima Fumiko paused at the front gate, gazing at what had once been
her home away from her real home. Coming back here was harder than
she first believed. She grimaced as she pushed open the gate. Seeing
the familiar sights, smelling the familiar smells, hearing the
familiar voices -- all of which had once been more sacred than
anything in the universe to her -- nearly tore a scream of pained
anguish from Fumiko's lips.
Innocence lost . . .
Stopping at the door, she knocked once. It opened to reveal Ishi.
"Sensei." Fumiko smiled, her eyes misting as she took in his
weathered features. She then caught herself. "Is there . . .?" she
then began to ask.
He shook his head, waving her inside with a smile. "All of them are
out doing their morning observations," he reported. "They won't be
back until well after lunchtime. Did Kaili make all the necessary
arrangements?"
"Hai, all set." She glanced around the living room, a place that
would make most of the boys at Tomobiki High drool with mad envy on
seeing the many Lum artefacts there. "Is she the same situation as
me, Sensei?" she asked.
"Hai." He walked to the stairs leading to the second floor, and then
he called out, "Nari! Come down here now; Feiya's here!"
Footsteps heralded the descent of a young teen. She was thirteen or
so in Terran terms, dressed in a shirt with ascot, pullover sweater
and skirt. Her red-brown hair was cut at mid-neck, combed in draping
bangs to cover her ears. Her chestnut eyes glittered with pain and
anticipation. Gazing on her, Fumiko stared at Ishi. "How could
someone this young get posted here, Sensei?"
"Her parents are . . . !" the doctor began, and then he caught
himself. "Pardon me, WERE priests on Phentax Two. They were
killed . . . "
He faltered. "They died in the Cataclysm, Onee-chan."
Fumiko stared at Nari. The younger Niphentaxian/Avalonian gazed on
the floor, her eyes brimming with tears. Regardless of her origins,
the love she held for her parents shone like a nova. "I see." Fumiko
walked over to squeeze Nari's shoulders. "I grieve for you." To
Ishi. "What else has been going on, Sensei? You told me about this
'cataclysm' but you didn't give details . . . "
"Nari can explain everything to you." He placed a hand on her
shoulder as he nodded towards the door. "It's best you both leave the
Holy City as soon as possible. Right now, none of the commanders have
ANY idea as to what to do. What CAN we do with so many of our leaders
back home dead?" A pause, then he added, "There's another thing,
too. The bioroid factory has gone missing."
Fumiko's eyes widened. "MISSING?! How . . .?!"
Nari looked up, a hand clenching over her heart. "No one knows, Onee-
chan. Phentax Twelve itself has been destroyed. But . . .!"
She shrugged. Fumiko took that in, and then she sighed. "Damn . . .
"
"It's obvious that there were . . . " Ishi paused as he looked for
the least wounding way to say this, and then he finished,
"Casualties."
Fumiko stared at her friend, nodding understandingly. "You have all
your belongings with you, Nari-chan?"
Nari nodded. "Hai, Onee-chan, they're upstairs."
"Let's go. We'll overnight in Tokyo, then head to my place
tomorrow," Fumiko announced. As Nari headed upstairs to get her
suitcases, the older Avalonian turned to Ishi. "You sure you're going
to be alright?" she asked as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "If
things're falling apart . . . "
Ishi nodded understandingly. "I'll stay with the others. You two'll
have a better chance of living your own lives away from us."
They stared at each other. Fumiko nodded. Nari soon returned with
two wheeled suitcases and a backpack. Fumiko took one in hand as they
stepped out. Ishi remained at the doorway, a neutral expression on
his face as he watched the Avalonians head to the nearest bus stop.
"May the Goddess guide you both."
* * *
"Damn! I didn't think it was THAT bad . . . "
Ataru, Ranma, Negako and the sisters gazed on Fuurinkan High as the
road-train made its way to Tomobiki. The interview with Detective
Okajima, finished moments before the road train arrived at the old
shrine, went off without a hitch. No doubt, Ranma concluded, local
law enforcement wanted to settle the whole matter concerning her late
father and his many crimes as quickly as possible before pressing on
with other business.
Repair crews from Inshin Engineering, one of the companies that
formed part of Moroboshi Komeru's Inshin Group conglomerate, were hard
at work replacing windows and clearing away what was left of the tree
Ranma destroyed when she used the Fire Scythe on Genma. Also there,
standing in the spot Kunou Tatewaki often occupied to carry out his
challenges of the "foul sorcerer," was Akane. Dressed casually, she
was surrounded by most of the other girls from hers and Ranma's old
first-year class. The girls were busy chatting with each other.
"What do you suppose your friends are doing, Onee-sama?" Sakuya asked.
"Search me, Sakuya-chan." Ranma shook her head, and then she called
out to the driver, "Hey, stop this thing for a moment!"
"Hai, Young Mistress!"
The train chugged to a stop. Hearing the *toot!* of its horn, the
crowd gazed their way. "Ranma?!" Akane perked on seeing the redhead
disembark, followed by Moroboshi Negako and Moroboshi Ataru, plus a
crowd of young women. "Ranma, what are you doing?!" she asked as
Ranma came up to her.
"Negako was coming here to speak to the staff about something
concerning Ataru and me, Akane-san." Ranma indicated the ninjutsu
grandmaster with a wave of her hand. "What are you doing here,
anyway? There's no school on."
Akane tried not to frown on hearing Ranma address her so formally.
"Something I should've done ages ago. What's the time?"
Tokoro Yuka gazed on her watch. "Eight-fifty."
Akane nodded, her jaw set with determination. "Long enough.
Everyone, you are all aware of the proclamation Kunou Tatewaki made
sometime ago, a proclamation he reaffirmed yesterday, concerning
people wanting to date me?"
Her classmates nodded. "Hai!"
"Since I came here to school today and having found that none of the
'Horde o'Hentai' had come to challenge me as Kunou dictated, I hereby,
with all of you acting as my witnesses, declare his proclamation NULL
AND VOID!" Akane's voice picked up to emphasize her point. "From this
day until I graduate, I swear, on the memory of my late mother, that I
will not submit myself to anything he forces on me EVER AGAIN!" she
then vowed.
A boisterous cheer exploded from her classmates. The sisters
exchanged looks, wondering why something as silly and insignificant as
THIS was bothering their big brother's new girlfriend. Negako
remained impassive. Ranma stared curiously at Akane, nodding
understandingly. "Pity I never considered doing something like that!"
she then leaned over to whisper to Ataru. "That would've really
knocked the wind out of ol' Blue Blunder's sails!"
"You were never allowed to think about it, remember?" Ataru noted.
"True."
"Ne, Ranma-kun, why are you wearing your hair loose?" Yuka then
asked. "Don't you still have that problem with your hair growing
long?"
"No, not anymore, Tokoro-san. I just decided on a little change of
style when I'm a girl," Ranma assured her, ignoring Yuka's dropped jaw
and wide eyes in response to the formal way Ranma just addressed her.
"Besides, I'm frozen this way for the next while. Negako here's
helping me deal with a couple of problems Genma heaped on me during
the training trip." She glanced at the others. "To make it work
better, I have to remain in one body for the treatment.
Unfortunately, with my curse, I can only be frozen as a girl."
"The Neko-ken being the primary one," Ataru added.
Ranma shuddered, inwardly hoping that her acting skills were
proficient enough to fool her former classmates concerning her mental
state. The others noticed her reaction. They started on hearing a
mad cackle echo from behind them. "ALOHA KAKAHIAKA, KEIKI!" the
principal of Fuurinkan High School hailed as a shower of pineapples
dropped down on them, fireworks exploding behind him.
Rinrin smirked. "Nice entrance."
A pineapple dropped into Aria's hands. Ranma panicked on sensing a
build-up of ki in that piece of fruit. She batted it clear, sending
it flying back at the Principal. The other girls quickly kicked and
punched away the fruit that landed close to them. Just in time: As
the pineapple Aria caught landed in the Principal's lap, it blew,
showering his face and shirt with burnt cordite. The other fruit
bombs exploded shortly after, they fortunately not hurting anyone.
"That -- didn't hurt . . .!" the Principal moaned.
He passed out. Aria frowned. "Nee-ya."
Ranma gazed worriedly at the young Parisian. "You okay, Aria-chan?!"
"Aria is fine." Aria smiled, and then she scowled. "But Aria is
glad that Nee-ya will come to Stargazer West College next Monday. At
least there, Nee-ya wouldn't get hurt anymore by her stupid
principal."
"Not to mention the other baka-bakas in this place who always try to
hurt Onee-tama for some baka-baka reason," Hinako added.
Haruka drew out her gunsen to fan herself. "It's a good thing we
purchased the right uniform for Anegimi-sama, isn't it?"
Yotsuba nodded. "Sure got that right . . . "
"***YOU'RE LEAVING?!***"
Ranma was blown over; every one of her old classmates had bellowed
that. "Yes, Onee-sama is leaving this dump," Sakuya answered on
Ranma's behalf as Mamoru helped her Anii's new friend up. "Now you
won't have the chance to blame Onee-sama for all the troubles this
place has experienced, just like the dorks in Tomobiki loved to blame
Onii-sama for everything that happened there."
Everyone stared at Sakuya, and then they turned to Ranma. She
brushed her slacks off, and then she turned to Ataru. "Yeah, it WOULD
be nice to enjoy a day without worrying about the things that bothered
me here. Eh, Ataru?"
He nodded. "I can certainly agree to that . . . "
"HOLD THE POI, KEIKI! THE BIG KAHUNA AIN'T FINISHED WITH YOU!"
Ranma then peered intently at the Principal. "And what exactly do
you want, Kunou-koochou?" Her eyebrow arched contemptuously.
Out came the barber shears. "No keiki, especially no disrespectful
keiki like youse, gonna leave the Big Kahuna's school without getting
a partin' haircut!" the Hawai'i-crazed school administrator declared.
Ranma sighed. She then blinked on feeling Ataru squeeze her
shoulder. "Well, since my hair is a little on the long side, I think
I need a trim." He winked at her as he reached behind his neck to
undo the jumper's cord tying his ponytail down. "Hold this please."
He handed the cord to Ranma.
Ranma then blinked on seeing the Dragon's Whisker tied to the cord.
A curious, heart-warming feeling surged through her. She then smirked
as Ataru walks up to Kunou's father. Seeing him, the Principal
shuddered on seeing the hair hanging off this keiki. "Well, at least
we got ONE keiki willin' ta obey the Big Kahuna's rules!" He whipped
out a stool. "Sit right there!"
Ataru took his place. "Hai! Hai!"
"Moroboshi-san, what are you DOING?!" Sayuri gasped, imagining what
the former Tomobiki native might look like after the Principal got
done.
The others tensed as the Principal raised his shears . . .
*BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRR! BZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRRWWW! BZZ!*
"Nii-ya . . .!" Aria shuddered on seeing the damage the Principal
just wrought on her brother's hair. Her eyes then went wide. So did
everyone else's on seeing a strange glow cover Ataru's head. The glow
faded, revealing all his hair restored to the way it was before the
shears even touched it.
"Waaaaa!" Hinako gushed. "Onii-tama has magical hair!"
"Huh?!" The Principal jolted, looking quizzically at Hinako. He
then turned back before his jaw hit the ground on seeing Ataru once
again with moustache, beard and mid-back length hair. "THAT AIN'T
POSSIBLE!"
Ataru stared at him. "Care to try again?"
Growling, the Principal snapped up his shears.
*BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRR! BZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRRWWW! BZZ!*
Guess what happened?
"YOU STOP GROWIN' LIKE THAT!"
*BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRR! BZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRRWWW! BZZ!*
Guess what just happened again?
"THE BIG KAHUNA IS THE BIG KAHUNA HERE, NOT YOU!"
*BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRR! BZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRRWWW! BZZ!*
And again . . .
"YOU AIN'T LICKED THE BIG KAHUNA YET!"
*BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRR! BZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRRWWW! BZZ!*
And again . . .
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
*BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRR! BZZZZZZZZ! BRRRRRWWW! BZZ!*
And yet again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And still again for at least thirty-six -- yes, that's THIRTY-SIX! --
more tries before Ataru finally asked, "Give up, Koochou-san?"
Staring at the massive pile of cut hair encompassing Ataru's feet and
chair, the Principal looked back to see his hair restored, not a lock
of deep brown out of place. He then fainted. Ataru shrugged. "I
guess so."
The others gaped at him, and then Yuka whooped, "Three cheers for
Moroboshi Ataru, the first student ever to FULLY beat the Principal!"
The other Fuurinkan girls save Akane clapped and waved their hands in
celebration. "BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI!"
Ataru chuckled, and then he nodded thanks as Ranma came up, the
jumper's cord in hand. To his surprise, the Dragon's Whisker was
still tied in place. He looked at her. She playfully winked back,
mouthing, "Keep it."
He chuckled as he re-tied his hair into a ponytail. "How the heck
did THAT happen?" Sayuri demanded, gazing on the shorn hair.
"Oh, quite simple, really." Ataru finished lacing his ponytail into
place, and then he stood up. "When I visited a planet named Noukiios
some time ago, a priest gave me some hair tonic that allowed me to
grow my beard and moustache." He impishly shrugged. "Turns out I
drank a little TOO much of the stuff. That's why I can't be bothered
to shave or get my hair cut anymore. You see, on Noukiios, boys start
growing beards when they enter puberty. It's seen as VERY un-classy
to not grow a beard in that society."
Ranma snapped her fingers. "Oh, that's right! I remember seeing
that."
Akane's eyes went wide as she spun on Ranma. "You went to another
PLANET?!" she shrilled. "How did you wind up doing THAT?!"
Ranma turned away from her. "That's none of your business."
Akane remained rooted in place as she called back, "Of COURSE it's my
business, baka! You could've been killed if you went there!"
Ranma glanced over her shoulder, her eyebrow arching in curiosity.
"You mean you really care for me, Akane-san?"
The youngest Tendou daughter caught herself as an automatic denial
surged up her throat. She then looked down. "Yes!" she hissed before
she stared mistily at Ranma. "Yes, I care for you, Ranma! I love
you, damn it!"
Ranma shook her head. "You hesitated before you said that. Further,
you looked like you were about to say your usual 'Why should I care
for a sex-changing pervert like you?' spiel! I'm sorry, Akane-san,
but if you can't be honest with yourself, I can't accept what you just
told me." She turned away. "Furthermore, even if you WERE honest
with yourself, I wouldn't reciprocate."
Akane shuddered before screaming out, "WHY?!"
Ranma took a step, and then looked back. "Because I don't love you.
And I never will love you because I love someone else."
"WHO?!"
"That ceased to be your business last Tuesday, Tendou-san.
Sayonara."
Ranma moved to board the road train. Akane shuddered before
screaming out "RANMA NO BAKA!" as she drew Mallet-sama . . .
"***SHINZOU BAKUHATSU SHOKU!***"
Ranma's fingertip slammed into Mallet-sama. A flash latter, the ki-
mallet shattered, its fragments vanishing in a drum roll of *pops!*
Everyone watched as Akane was flung back by the backlash of Mallet-
sama being wrecked by the Heart Blast Touch, her head slamming into
the Principal's stool. Akane dropped into an unconscious heap on the
ground. The onlookers then turned to Ranma. Glaring at her ex-
fiancée, Ranma tried not to scream out. "Stupid tomboy!" she muttered
as she turned around to storm back to the road train.
"Hey!" Sayuri moved to pursue. "Who the hell gave you . . .?!"
Her voice caught in her throat as Ranma spun on her, a ki ball in
hand. "You have a problem, Asano-san?" the redhead coolly asked.
Sayuri shuddered as Ranma swung the ki ball around to hover inches
from her face. She then staggered away. Several of Ataru's sisters
glanced down to see tiny trickles of yellow-green seep down Sayuri's
legs. "I didn't think so." Ranma straightened herself, an icy chill
warping through her as she dispersed the ki ball. "Hey, Negako! Get
our student records and get them over to the College ASAP! The less I
have to do with these lifeless jerks . . . " She contemptuously
thumbed the other Fuurinkan girls. "The better!"
She stormed back to the road train. "As you wish." Negako then
looked at the still-dozing Principal. "Pauline, wake up."
No response. Negako gently shifted his body around with her foot.
Chikage came up to give the Principal a detailed look-over. "I
believe he is still in shock over his inability to deal with Ani-kun's
hair, Ane-kun."
"So it seems." Negako then lightly smiled. "Kaho?"
The young cheerleader came up. "Hai, Onee-chama?"
The ninjutsu grandmaster pointed to the tiny tree on the Principal's
head. "Would you like to add another tree to your collection?"
Kaho then gushed, clapping her hands together in anticipation. "Hai,
Kaho DEFINITELY wants a new tree!" she replied.
That did it. "***SAY WHAT?!***" The Principal bolted up, scrambling
over Ataru like Scooby-doo would over Shaggy on seeing the monster du
jour. "***WHO SAYS ANYTHIN' ABOUT SOME WAHINE TAKIN' THE BIG KAHUNA'S
TREE AWAY?!***"
Ataru shoved him away, thus allowing Negako to grab the Principal by
the scalp. "Ask your secretary to fetch Ataru's and Ranma's records,
Pauline." The grandmaster twisted his head so she could gaze into his
eyes. "Now."
"B-but . . . "
"Excuse me, Moroboshi-sensei, but are you looking for these?"
Negako turned to see a secretary standing nearby, two thick folders
in hand. "Excellent." She casually tossed the Principal aside to
ensure he could not interfere, and then she took them. "Did Hinako
speak to you of this?"
"Hai, Ninomiya-sensei called just now." The secretary bowed. Gazing
amusedly at Ataru for a moment, she headed back to the building.
Negako examined the records, and then she nodded. "Good. Jinseiko!"
One black blur later, the leader of the Kuromoroboshi knelt beside
Negako. "You summoned me, Grandmaster?" She bowed her head.
The records were handed over. "Take those to the College. Explain
to the secretary that Ataru and Ranma are to be registered in Senior
Class 3-A and Senior Class 2-C respectively as I discussed with the
headmaster. Go now."
"Hai, it will be done!" Jinseiko bowed, and then she vanished.
The Fuurinkan girls blinked. Yuka walked up to Ataru. "Must be nice
to have your own personal ninja troupe at your beck and call!"
"It's convenient." He then turned to his sisters. "Well, girls,
shall we beat tracks to the Tower so we can go swimming?"
"Hai!" They nodded, turning to head to the road-train.
"***HOLD THE POI HERE, KEIKI!***"
Negako glared at the Principal. "What is your problem, Pauline?"
He balked on hearing her address him by his hated given name, and
then he pointed his shears at Ranma. "While the Big Kahuna don't mind
that girl-crazy keiki Moroboshi not comin' to the Big Kahuna's school,
the Big Kahuna didn't say ANYTHIN' about Saotome there walking outta
here scot-free!"
Negako shrugged. "Why, I would believe that you would be quite
pleased to see Ranma depart from Fuurinkan, Pauline."
"Eh?! What you talkin' about?!"
"Your desire to properly discipline your students, of course," Negako
replied. "After all, Pauline, you have spent the last year or so
focusing your attention on dealing with Ranma specifically. There are
over five hundred other students currently attending Fuurinkan High
School, are there not? And I know for a fact that a considerable
number of them are getting away with far worse than anything you might
have attributed to Ranma. Have not Hinako and several others of your
teachers warned you of the growing drug problem here? What of the
five girls who became pregnant in the last six months alone? And the
local branch of the Yakuza is certainly taking interest in Tendou
Nabiki's operations here, obviously desiring to subvert such to their
own control. Is THIS truly what you would desire your school to be
known for, Pauline?"
The Principal blinked, and then he hummed, crossing his arms as he
considered that. The Fuurinkan girls exchanged looks, and then they
gazed as one on Negako, all of them wondering where the hell she
acquired all THAT information. Ataru remained silent; the sisters had
by then boarded the road train. Akane was starting to recover, she
being helped by Sayuri and Yuka.
Finally, the Principal nodded. "You're right!" He pointed to
Negako, and then he gazed heavenward, the sun reflecting off his
glasses. "The Big Kahuna's been makin' himself too busy with Saotome
ta think about the REAL discipline problems! Fine! Saotome's the
problem of whatever school you're gonna send him to! The Big Kahuna's
got bigger fish to fry!"
"A reasonable solution." Negako nodded. "Ataru?"
Ataru nodded. "Hai, Onee-chan."
The Moroboshi siblings headed to the road train. The others watched
them. Akane then burst through the crowd to place herself before
Ataru, her arms spread wide. "WAIT!" she snapped, her actions causing
Ataru and Negako to stop, and then she ran up to the road train.
"Ranma! Why are you leaving?! This is your home, for heaven's
sake!" She waved to the school, and then to the houses around them.
"You don't have to go anywhere else! Please . . .!"
No response came her way for a moment. Ranma turned to stare on her
former fiancée. Akane jolted, feeling an icy chill warp through her
on seeing the emotionless look on Ranma's face. Finally, Ranma
stepped off the road train. The sisters watched her, many stunned
that their brother's girlfriend was even acknowledging Akane. "Anee,
you don't have to listen to what this bitch says!" Mamoru snapped as
she waved at the youngest Tendou.
"Hey!" Akane spun on the athlete. "You mind your own . . .!"
A fist exploded in her gut, sending her to her knees. Akane cried
out in shock as air was forced from her. As her arms automatically
wrapped around her abdomen, she looked up in stunned disbelief. Ranma
stared dispassionately at her. Gasps from the crowd echoed the
surprise of many on seeing Ranma actually HIT her ex-fiancée.
"Ranma . . . " Akane gargled, and then she coughed several times as
nausea overwhelmed her, she trying desperately not to throw up.
"'Home,' you say . . .?"
Akane blinked, looking back up to see Ranma staring at her, the
latter's eyes misting over. "You actually believe I look on this
garbage dump . . . " She waved around her to indicate Nerima. "As my
HOME?!" she hissed.
"B-but, Ranma . . . " Akane whispered, reaching for her.
Ranma's foot smashed that aside, nearly knocking Akane over. Several
girls gasped, they moving to help Akane to her feet. Before they
could get within three metres of the youngest Tendou, a ki blast
knocked them off their feet! Akane screamed, and then she stared wide-
eyed on Ranma. "Uh-uh!" The redhead wagged her finger in a "no-no"
gesture. "Not this time, Tendou-san. You're going to listen for once
in your life and you're not going to get a chance to hide behind your
pathetic friends to avoid the truth!"
Akane quaked. "R-r-Ranma . . . wh-why . . .?!"
"'Why?'" Ranma snorted. "You got a brain! Figure it out! Or did
that cowardly pimp you call a father brainwash YOU too much into
thinking the whole world'd bow to Tendou Akane, self-proclaimed
'greatest martial artist in all of Nerima?!'" A disgusted sneer
twisted her lips. "Forget it! I've shielded you ungrateful bastards
for WAY too long! I'm tired of doing something for nothin', not even
a 'thank you,' for dealing with all the crap that lunatic . . . " She
pointed to the Principal. "His son, his daughter, that ki-vamp
Ninomiya and all the rest of those bastards've been willing to heap
over you!"
Yuka covered her mouth. "Ranma-kun . . . "
Ranma turned to the other girls. "I want you all to think about
this. With me gone, there's NO ONE who'll stop Happoosai from copping
feels from any of you, stealing your personal property or doing
anything else to any of you! With me gone, there is NO ONE who'll
stop Pantyhose Tarou from tearing this place apart as he tries to make
Jijii change his name! With me gone, the chances of all of you
getting bowl cuts and buzz cuts from the Principal skyrocket! After
all, all he has to do is expel Kuonji-san and Tendou-san here and
those who can stop him dwindle to no one!" A wry grin crossed her
face. "I'm sure he's got loads of ways of dealing with ol' Bokken-for-
brains. And with me gone, the next time some hotshot comes by to seek
a challenge'll have a much easier time of it!" She then glanced at
Akane. "Not to mention what might happen when a Doojou Destroyer
decides to pay you a visit, ne?!"
Akane blinked. "Ranma . . . "
"Hey, Ataru! Negako! Let's go!"
She hopped onto the road train, followed by Ataru and Negako. As
soon as they were in place, the driver guided the machine away from
Fuurinkan High. "Ranma, WAIT!" Akane screamed as she staggered to her
feet, moving to pursue.
She then howled as yet ANOTHER ki blast rocketed at her to explode at
her feet, knocking her down. Akane cried out as the air was once
again forced from her lungs. She then staggered onto her elbows as
Yuka and Sayuri moved to help her back up. "Akane-chan, are you
alright?!" the latter gasped as they helped her stumble to her feet,
they all glancing where the road train had driven off.
Akane's mouth opened. Then the strength in her body vanished as
pained sobs stole her voice. Sayuri moved to comfort her as several
others gathered around them. Before anyone could say anything more, a
cackle echoed from inside the school walls. "Well! Well! Well!
Ain't THIS nice?!" The Principal grinned, his barber shears at the
ready. "Now that keiki's outta the way, it's time for the Big Kahuna
to make all the other keiki at the Big Kahuna's school obey ALL the
rules!" he then proclaimed.
Panicked screamed echoed from the girls as the Hawai'i-crazed
administrator closed on them, his intent plain. A bell then made the
Principal look up -- just as the tire of Shampoo's delivery bicycle
slammed into his face! "Nihao!" the warrior-maiden cheerily called
out as she drove the Principal into the dirt. She then looked at the
girls. "You're lucky that this one saw Palm-Tree Man try to cut your
hair . . . " Her voice then trailed off on seeing the teary-eyed
Akane kneeling on the ground nearby. "Aiyah! What happened to you,
Akane?!" Shampoo dismounted her machine, walking over to kneel beside
her former rival. "Did you get into a fight with someone?!"
"What do you think?!" Sayuri snarled as she glared to where the road
train vanished. "Damn that bastard Saotome! How could he DO that to
her?!"
A hand grabbed her by the throat. Sayuri found herself looking right
at a scowling Shampoo. "Why are you calling Airen names?!" the
warrior-maiden demanded in a low, dangerous voice, the look in her
eyes promising a lot of pain if Sayuri didn't quickly retract what she
had just said.
* * *
"Hey, you okay?"
Ranma didn't look at Ataru, though she didn't resist his squeezing
her hand. "What do you think?" she hissed, leaning into his side as
her free hand brushed away the tears flowing down her cheeks.
Staring at them, the sisters remained respectfully silent.
* * *
"Okay, shrimp! You know what we want, don'tcha?"
Gosunkugi Hikaru sweated. It was the usual position for the would-be
voodoo sorcerer: Backed into a cul-de-sac, no escape possible, three
VERY big young men ready to pound him into paste in case he didn't
cough up what money he had. What was worse, there was no sign of
anyone who could help him get away. And if the masks they wore spoke
the truth about their real identities, these guys were ones Hikaru
himself had encountered sometime ago. They would remember his
previous attempt at using voodoo against them.
"Excuse me, but why are you picking on that man?"
Hikaru's eyes widened as the toughs spun around, gazing on the woman
in the slacks and flower-print shirt standing three metres away.
Though her face was darkened by shadow, her hair and shape spoke
volumes. "Akane-san . . .!" he gasped as delirious dizziness suddenly
overcame him.
What happens next was a hazy, confusing blur to the frail lad. The
toughs charged. In a storm of fists to the jaw and foot strikes
*there,* the three were reduced to piles of whimpering flesh in
seconds. Confirming they no longer presented a threat, the woman
approached Hikaru. His eyes focused on the concern etched on her
face, that being enough to snap the rest of his brain clear of its
passion-induced fog. "Are you alright?" she asked.
Hikaru blinked. Yes, this person looked exactly like Akane, but the
difference in her speech pattern, not to mention different movements
in the body, automatically told him something different. "You're not
Akane-san!"
The woman chuckled as she helped him to his feet. She seems to
freeze for a moment, and then she relaxed. "No, I'm not. My name is
Tendou Kimiko. My body . . . " She pointed to her heart. "Was
cloned from Akane-sama's."
"Cloned . . .?" Hikaru stood, staring intently at Kimiko. "How?!"
"I can't answer that. The person who provided this body for me
hasn't told me how she gained it." Kimiko smiled, an expression that,
for all its honesty, was as different from Akane's as night was from
day. "I hope I didn't confuse you, Hikaru-sama. I didn't mean to do
that."
He began to sway. *Sh-she called me 'Hikaru-SAMA?!'*
"Hikaru-sama! Are you alright?!" She grabbed him, and then she
yelped as a blast of warmth, akin to the heat of a gas burner, danced
over her hands. Pulling her hands away, she stared at her palms in
shocked confusion. He stared wide-eyed at her, his mouth opening and
closing as if he wanted to say something yet couldn't make his larynx
voice his thoughts. *Oh!* Kimiko blinked. *He's attracted to me!*
Her cheeks flamed. *Very attracted . . . *
He remained rooted in place as Kimiko leaned into him, drawing her
arms around his waist. His heartbeat thundered in his ears as his
nose picked up the lovely scent of her shampoo. His cheeks then
reddened on feeling a rather natural response to being in such close
proximity to a woman. She stiffened for a second, and then she
relaxed, turning her face to gaze on him. He stared at her, a million
questions thundering through his mind. Then -- for what reason, he
had NO idea -- he firmly grasped her shoulders.
Kimiko remained in place as Hikaru's lips caressed hers. She warmed
to the contact. Images bombarded her mind. Mostly focusing on Akane,
accompanied by overwhelming passion, desire -- and frustration. Brief
images of Ranma then appeared, accompanied by feelings of irritation,
envy and jealousy. There were fleeting images of others, but Akane's
images were the strongest.
They then reluctantly pulled apart. Kimiko tried not to smile as she
asked, "You've always desired her, haven't you?"
"Yes." Hikaru nodded, stunned that the surge of strength flooding
his muscles hadn't abated. "Why did you get cloned from her?"
"It's . . . a long story. It was Ranma-sama who made this possible,
Hikaru-sam- . . .!" -- *Wait! Wait! Too formal!* she mentally railed
-- "Er, Hikaru-kun!" She pulled away, covering her mouth in polite
laughter.
Hikaru tried not to scream for joy. *She called me 'Hikaru-KUN?!'*
He shuddered with delight, and then he blinked as he remembered
something else Kimiko just said. "Wait! You said SAOTOME made this
possible for you?!"
"Hai! I . . . " She blushed again. "Would you like to go to a
coffee shop so we can talk more, Hikaru-kun?" She waves out of the
cull-de-sac. "I mean, I'd hardly call this a proper place to start a
relationship."
He stared nonplussed at her before he nodded. "Um, s-s-s-sure th-
thing, Kimiko-sa- . . .!" He flustered. "Um, Kimiko-chan."
She beamed, slipping her arm around his. He did his best not to
become a babbling wreck. Walking past the downed bullies, they headed
out and turned down the street. Unfortunately for them, they had not
taken ten steps before an imperious voice bellowed from behind,
"HOLD!"
Hikaru jolted. "Damn! HE would have to show up!"
And there he was: Kunou Tatewaki. "What foulness is THIS?!" The
kendou team captain pointed at him with his bokken. "You, Gosunkugi!
How DARE you force Tendou Akane to cling to YOUR unworthy arm?! Do
you not know the Blue Thunder's proclamation?! NONE may date the fair
Akane without defeating her in battle! Release her from your foul
clutches this INSTANT or . . .!"
"Or what?"
That question cut Kunou short. He then focused on "Akane." In a
flash, he was directly in front of her, a hand reaching for hers . . .
With a toss, she sent him flying to the Shakujii River! Hikaru
watched the Blue Thunder vanish into the morning sky, and then he
sighed. "That, Kunou-*sempai,* you had coming to you," he muttered
under his breath.
Kimiko relaxed before smiling at him. "Shall we go, Hikaru-kun?"
He nodded. "Um, h-h-hai!"
They headed off.
* * *
"Nodoka."
Nodoka's eyes fluttered. Sitting up in her hospital bed, she looked
confusedly around the room. Yes, there was Hisayo in the bed next to
her. Nishiki Maya had arranged for the sisters to convalesce here;
sometime later that day or first thing the next, they would be
discharged from Nerima General. As she finished her scan of the room,
she quickly noticed the lone man standing by the door. "Father!" she
breathed out on recognising him.
Asagaya Isao was in his late sixties. Very slim, his head was bald
save for a band of grey hair around his ears, not to mention a
moustache and a goatee; he always carried himself with an imperious
air. If a daimyou of the Tokugawa era could be transported to the
start of the twenty-first century, then clothed in modern fashion, he
would most likely turn out to be someone like Isao. If there was
anyone in Nodoka's life who served as her ultimate role model when it
came to personal etiquette, it was her father.
"Genma is no more," he calmly stated.
Nodoka blinked, and then she nodded, moving to sit up. A glance at
Hisayo revealed her to be still asleep. Isao waved his daughter
down. "Yes, Father. The police informed me of that last night. How
did you get in here?"
"I have ways," he replied. "What of the Saotome honour sword?"
"It was destroyed," Nodoka said. Did Isao know what happened at
Fuurinkan High? If so, why was he asking her? If not, why wasn't he
concerning himself more over this, given his desire to bring Ranma
into the Asagaya family? "Genma foolishly tried to use it against
Ranma last night. According to the police, it was destroyed during
the fight."
"Good." He nodded as a thoughtful look crossed his face. "With all
of Genma's actions, the blade had lost all true significance. A
family without the barest semblance of honour has no right to possess
such a sword. Agreed?"
"Agreed." She sighed. "Father, there is a problem with Ranma . . .
"
Isao's eyes narrowed. "I am aware of that, Nodoka. In fact, there
are several problems my would-be grandson has thrown up before us.
The primary one being this: Why has Ranma declared himself an
orphan?"
Nodoka stared wide-eyed at Isao, her heart thumping in her chest as
his question whirled through her mind. "Orphan . . .?" she gasped.
"An orphan, Nodoka." Isao gazed absently at her. That look sent a
chill through her body. It didn't take her much to realize how
displeased her father had become over this sudden development. "That
he continues to hold the same name as that fool Genma is one thing.
That he has gone so far as to create his own branch of the Saotome
family, with no acknowledged relations to either Genma or yourself, is
another. Why has this happened, Nodoka? Did you not make it clear
enough to your son what was being offered to him?"
"I . . . " She paused before nodding. "Yes, Father, I did.
But . . . " A lump formed in her throat. Oh dear, how was she going
to explain this? "There were those who cast a lot of suspicion on
what you were trying to do."
"Then I suggest you make it VERY clear to him when you see him next,"
Isao sternly instructed before he turned to leave.
Nodoka watched him go, and then she sank back in her bed.
"Ranma . . . "
"I don't think Ranma's going to listen to you, No-chan."
She glanced over. Hisayo was slowly sitting up. "Onee-chan . . . "
Nodoka whispered before she closed her eyes. "Did you hear it all?"
Hisayo nodded. "Yep." While Nodoka still held onto some faint hope
of restoring a proper relationship with Isao, Hisayo was firmly
convinced that the sooner the old fool was finally ashes in his family
tomb, the better for all concerned. "He doesn't really care a damned
bit for either you or Ranma, No-chan. The sooner you come to realize
that, the better for you both."
Nodoka gazed on the ceiling, nodding.
* * *
Many light-years from Earth, beyond Uru and Benten's home planet of
Fukunokami, it shrouded in a rose-shaped planet-wide defence field,
lay the planet Elle. Home to one of the most technologically advanced
civilizations in this part of the galaxy, the Ellsian Kingdom was one
of the founding states of the Galactic Federation. An alliance of
interplanetary kingdoms, republics and confederations, the Federation,
atop the aforementioned Uru, Fukunokami and Elle, also included
Oyuki's home planet of Triton, Kurama's home planet of Karasutengu,
Rupa's home planet of Yaminokuni, Lupica's home planet of
Tofunokoibito, the two unions of the Phentax tri-star system . . .
And the Dominion of Noukiios.
Though that last might not be part of the Federation before long.
And if that was so . . .?
"My Queen?"
The present ruler of the Kingdom, the sixty-fourth in a line unbroken
for almost a millennium from the days of the Great Rose Emperor Adam,
looked up and over her shoulder to see one of her aides standing
nearby. "Yes?"
The aide bowed. "Agent Rose is here with her report, Your Majesty."
"Send her in. This is a private meeting."
"By your command, my Queen."
The aide withdrew. A moment later, a tall, well-built, brown-haired
woman marched in. Like most women of this world, Rose de Hausenbach
-- her nom de guerre was "Seven Bake Rose" -- wore a single-piece,
form-fitting swimsuit done in a shiny black material akin to what
Terrans called leather. A waist-length cape, also black, was draped
over her shoulders. Reaching a point three metres from Queen Elle,
the mercenary stopped, and then she bowed. "Your Majesty, I have the
report on the Noukiios-Uru conflict."
"Was Honey involved?" Elle wondered.
"Yes, ma'am. Quite heavily, in fact. Here."
Rose drew out a datapadd to hand it over. Elle took it, and then she
tapped controls to call up the subject files. Scanning the
information there, her eyes narrowed. "His grandmother was a
Righteous Gentile?" she gasped.
"Protestant Reformist Church of Zephyrus," Rose elaborated. "Lady
Nagaiwakai was involved in that famine that struck Jiyuu, Magairu and
a few other colony worlds about forty years ago. When the whole
matter with the Urusians started up, she devised a plan by which, in
case her grandson lost the first Tag Race, the Urusians would've been
dealt with."
"And the Onis decided to eliminate her just in case," Elle mused,
lowering the datapadd. "This is very disturbing."
Rose nodded. The Holy Republic of Zephyrus was power unto itself in
this part of the galaxy. That sense of invincibility had been deftly
used by the Zephyrites to ensure the states bordering her did not step
too far out of line. That was understandable, Elle knew. A planet-
state's ruler -- be she queen, president, prime minister or holy
mother -- had to look out for her people first. Yet because of that
overbearing threat of all-out force the Holy Republic could swing to
bear on anyone, those neighbouring states had come to assume that
behind-the-scenes machinations were beyond the Zephyrites'
capabilities because of the simple fact that they weren't needed.
That assumption was now dust.
"There're more details about Mr. Groom's family on the padd, Your
Majesty," Rose respectfully offered. "You might want to read that."
Elle gazed on the mercenary. She then tapped controls to call up
more files. On the screen, a computer copy of a Noukiite family
registry flashed. Gazing on the information there, her jaw dropped.
"Sisters . . .?!"
She stared on Rose. "Fourteen," Rose said. "When he was helping the
Noukiites and the Inquisition hunt his grandmother's murderers down,
Mr. Groom was given honorary citizenship in the Dominion. He was then
able to expand that to include the other members of his family."
Elle gazed on the datapadd. "His parents are not listed here."
"Mr. Groom renounced them, Your Majesty. According to what I was
able to discover, Mr. Groom's mother was the primary factor in the
separation between himself and Lady Nagaiwakai. There were other
circumstances. I couldn't get any more details." She bowed her head
apologetically.
"I see . . . " The queen nodded, taking a deep breath. "Do you
believe you can make your way to Earth without being detected, Rose?"
The mercenary nodded. "Easy enough."
* * *
Some distance from where Kamekichi Tampopo once held court, there was
a large ladies boutique called Esmerelda's. The proprietor of this
place, a forty-something East End Londoner named Esmerelda Stevens,
had migrated to Tomobiki after the First Tag Race. Soon, almost EVERY
girl of high school age in Tomobiki came to view Esmerelda's as THE
"in" shop. Whatever trends in fashion that burst across the pop scene
always got first airing here. You could get ANYTHING, from day wear
to kimonos, from sports gear to lingerie and swim wear, even school
uniforms, coming to Esmerelda's.
Ataru's sisters, currently racing through the various departments as
they scrambled to give Ranma a true woman's wardrobe worthy of the
name, were presently besieging the boutique. Despite his fears about
how a potential conflict between himself and other Tomobiki natives
might ultimately reflect on his immediate family, the sisters had
insisted on coming here to get Ranma new clothes. "If they bother us
because you're our brother, we'll show those dorkheads a thing or two
about respect, Onii-sama," Sakuya assured him.
Esmerelda, a slender woman with greying hair, looking like an
atypical private school headmistress, coordinated everything by the
change rooms. Ataru sat nearby; he was the fashion judge. Ranma was
trying on a chemise. Sakuya was with her in the change room. "Okay,
Onii-sama! Here she comes!"
Ranma stepped out. Esmerelda nodded. "Oh, that's nice."
"Wow!"
That was Ataru, by the way.
"What exactly is that, Stevens-san?" Karen asked.
"Wow!"
"Part of the Canterbury Collection, my dear." The Englishwoman gazed
amusedly on Karen. "It just came out this year."
"Wow!"
Ranma turned to a full-length mirror. She had on what was normally
called a "poet chemise," a knee-length, loose white dress with lace
and ribbon trimming, buttons going down the front. The cotton of the
dress was thin enough so that you could still make out her figure
underneath if the light was right. "Do you like that, Onee-chan? It
looks good on you," Karen asked.
"Wow!"
Ranma turned slightly. "Yeah, it does, doesn't it?"
"Wow!"
Mamoru patted Ataru's shoulder. "Well, Anii sure likes it!"
Ranma stared curiously at him. "Wow!" Ataru sank into his chair.
"How many was that?" Sakuya asked.
"I counted six," Karen reported.
Ranma stared at the eldest sister. "That good?"
"Definitely." Sakuya winked, and then she called, "Who's got
swimwear?!"
"Found it!" Rinrin called out as she came up with a black opaque one-
piece on a rack hangar. "I think this'll be great for Aneki!"
Ranma stared at it. She then headed into the change room, Sakuya
following her. Mamoru pinched Ataru awake. "Eh?!" He looked around,
and then he sighed. "Oh, man! I'll be more than glad when this is
over with!"
"You're not the only one, Ataru," Ranma called out.
Laughter filled the boutique. Ranma soon emerged, wearing a crochet
one-piece composed of nude power mesh done in spandex, which was
underlined with opaque nylon to obscure details. The only skin it
revealed was a keyhole opening in the back; the suit went all the way
to her neck. "Well?" She turned to the mirror to give herself an
once-over, and then she turned to Ataru. "Is this okay . . .?" she
asked.
"Wow . . .!" he drawled before passing out.
Ranma then frowned. "Oh, bummer . . . "
"No! No! No!" Mamoru shook her head, wagging her finger. "If that
suit did THAT to Anii, it's perfect for you, Anee!"
Ranma took that in, and then she blushed. "I don't want to end up
killing the guy 'cause I'm wearing something like THIS, Mamoru!"
Esmerelda winked, holding up an objecting finger. "I believe it will
not only ensure their brother remains loyal to you, my dear, but it'll
make him quite ready to defend you from the groping hands of unwanted
chikan artists."
Ranma blinked. "Well, if you say so, ma'am . . . "
More laughter filled the shop.
* * *