[Ranma][FanFic] Trials of Destiny: Chapter Thirteen
Kyle Emmerson
By Kyle Emmerson
Ranma 1/2 and all of its characters and situations are
the creation and property of Rumiko Takahashi. I use
these characters and situations without permission.
Chapter Thirteen: Garden of Sin
"The shadow hides from the light, poisoning each step of the
righteous, and feeding from the step of the impure. Hatred grows ever more
in the village, and suspicion runs rampant. A return of a past long
forgotten purifies the soul, but not without a great loss of love and
will."
~ The Book of Five Millennia
****
Hikaru could FEEL him.
Even hidden among the crates and metal bins in the warehouse, he could
feel the presence of something greater. Something that any and all mortal
men should have stood trembling and in awe of.
But Hikaru felt at home. He knew he should be fleeing, and he knew
that every sense in his body was going berserk-- but something was keeping
them in check. Something deep inside, akin to the black ki.
"I've brought him, Master," Kodachi spoke, and then bowed her head.
Hikaru stole a glance of the rich girl and blinked. Of the few times
he had seen her (mainly at gymnastic meets or pursuing Saotome), she had
been so confident and wrapped up in herself. But now, to see her bowing
down-- even to... whatever it was that was in here was a shock.
"This is Saiko?" a rough voice called. Although human in origin, the
voice carried something deeper inside. Like a... well... Hikaru just
couldn't explain it, but it reminded him of... fire, hot and unrelenting.
A moment later, he saw him. To the naked eye, he was a mere man. A
better comparison would be... an amalgamation of several men. The scar on
his face that started and ended as if it were nothing, the brown eye on
his left, and green on his right, but with pupils so dark, so black in
colour, that it couldn't be considered normal.
And yet, the eyes spoke to him. It spoke, 'Run and cower, mortal. For
I am Death, and I will come for you.' And it spoke, 'I am your protector.
You need not fear me, so long as you do not anger me.'
Hikaru didn't know what to do, so he stood in apparent awe. The man
was descending from the above rafters through mid-air, after all.
"Who--"
"Silence," the man said before Hikaru could go any further. "Do not
speak." He descended to the floor and took a step toward Hikaru.
The step in itself, to the naked eye was nothing, but to Hikaru, who
had trained himself in recognizing mystical actions, knew what was
happening.
The step was laced with a touch of wind. A stale, rancid wind from
behind the strange man.
*Rogi.*
Hikaru blinked. What...?
*Master Rogi.*
"Master... Rogi?"
The man who was Rogi smiled. "Indeed," he said. "You are Saiko. You
were not merged well with this one."
*He was baptized, Master. I found it difficult.*
"Who... Who is saying that?" Hikaru found himself asking.
Kodachi was watching in confusion as her Master seemed to be having a
conversation with a ghost. Then it hit her. He WAS.
"Silence, boy. You were not meant to be born this way," Rogi sighed.
"But nonetheless... you are Saiko."
*I am awakened now, Master.*
"I see," Rogi continued. "But there is something else... I sense
magics about this one." He squinted his eyes. "Weak, but... beneficial to
us, I believe."
Hikaru's heart jumped. He had magic? Did this mean...?
"It is from and external force," Rogi said, and then concentrated.
"Weak... a blue line running from his index finger to... over there." He
pointed against the west wall. "And an unreturned love from the same
direction."
Unreturned love? That meant... Akane?
*It is one of THEM, sire.*
Rogi's lips curled up into a twisted smile. "Indeed?" he bellowed.
"Then we are fortunate indeed."
"What? What is going on?"
"The one you feel for, boy," Rogi smiled. "Shall not only be yours...
She shall serve me alongside of you."
"What? Akane? I... What do you mean?" Hikaru stammered.
"Silence," Rogi spoke. "I shall strengthen the magics you yourself
have wrought upon her. And then I shall take her on as another of my
servants. Provided her mortal mind is not of strong will, it shall be a
simple task. If not--" He curled his lips into a smile that conveyed
contempt, carnal will, and... pleasure. "--I shall consume her as I have
the others."
Hikaru, at long last, truly feared the man before him.
****
"I believe it would be wise for them to hurry," Feng Bo said, sighing.
"The day grows short, and I fear Rogi may be upon us at any time."
Akane looked to the sky and narrowed her eyes. "It's still only around
four o'clock. We've got some time before sundown."
Cologne shook her head. "The prophecy stated before the day was over,
child. It could mean any time between now 'till midnight. But judging from
what I... hear, and remember of the demon through the dreams, I would
suspect he would strike at night. His element is the dark, to strike
during the day would be out of character."
"Precisely," Feng Bo replied. "But not to forget, this demon is far
worse than any simple creature. He made the majestic Oni look like a
flea." He sighed. "I need not remind you of what happened after the first
war."
"That's right," Mousse nodded. "We-- they all died."
"I can... hear her sometimes," Akari said aloud. "In... my thoughts.
Outside of my dreams."
Feng Bo blinked and looked over towards her. "What does she say?"
"It started when I first saw Ryouga. Something... inside told me to
have Katsunishiki attack him, and... I kept hearing this voice that told
me to... change him," she said, glancing over at Ryouga who was sitting on
a bench out of earshot, talking with Shinnosuke. "To... love him..." She
snorted. "It's funny, I never believed in love at first sight until him."
"Maya loved Maigo before. The few times they had met, he had been
tender, loving, and mindful of her... but his soul was owned by Rogi. He
had to serve him..."
"In the end," Akari continued. "He helped them, though. Maigo gave his
own life, taking Rogi's punishment to help them."
"I still," Akane began. "I still can't imagine this. I've felt the
dreams, and even with Ranma, I've felt... Aiko, I guess. I've felt her
presence in my head, telling me to... admit things to Ranma..." She gasped
and quickly looked up toward Cologne and Shampoo.
Shampoo was remained completely silent, although the look on her face
told Akane that she hadn't appreciated hearing those words from Akane.
Cologne, on the other hand...
"Kaori could see it in the past. I would have had to be a fool to deny
it now," Cologne sighed. "I'm willing to accept your love for son-in-law,
but there are... other matters to discuss. Ones of greater importance
right now."
****
*You have free time, boy,* Saiko said.
"Shut up," Hikaru replied. "Just shut up and get the hell out of my
head."
*Come now,* Saiko replied. *Is that any way to speak to your past? You
and I are alike, you know. I could feel it when you--*
"That WASN'T me!" Hikaru argued. "You... YOU did it. YOU killed them."
*Now why would I have done that, Gosling? When I was quite obviously
enjoying every moment of your torture?*
"Shut up. Shut the FUCK up!"
*Temper, temper Gosling. It's all over now, anyway. YOU killed them.
Now that the master is collecting upon the magic you so eloquently worked
on that light bitch, you've got free time. Nekkyo would probably be
willing to pass some time with you. She certainly was more than willing
with me...*
"Her name is Kodachi," Hikaru mumbled. "Not Nekkyo. I'm Hikaru, not
Saiko. Her name is AKANE, not 'that light bitch'!"
*Well, fine. You can call her whatever you want, now that the Master
is collecting upon it. And if not Nekkyo, we could always look for...
other means of entertainment.*
"What the hell are you trying to say?"
*Come now, Gosling. I've lived within the confines of your feeble
mind, body and soul to know what drives you. I know of the fantasies you
dream of at night, and they aren't of Akane.*
Hikaru paled. "What are you saying?"
*The size of their bodies. The feeling of superiority. The...
innocence. You can do it now, Hikaru. There's nobody to stop you. You have
power now. You can march right into one of those elementary---*
"NO!" Hikaru beat his head with a fist. "I _WON'T_! I _WON'T! They're
CHILDREN, Goddammit!"
*They're weak. The strong take precedence over the weak. You've
believed that for years, Hikaru. Now you are one of the strong. Won't you
follow your own philosophy?*
"Not against CHILDREN!"
*There's that conscience again. We will have to see what Master Rogi
can do about that. Very well, if you won't supply an old man his carnal
pleasures of innocence, how about an age more socially acceptable? I'm
sure you'd like to give it to some of the snobbish bitches over at Furi--*
"NO!" Hikaru screamed again.
"Please keep it down," Kodachi called over. "If you're to have a
conversation with your head, you may as well keep it IN your head. Some of
us are trying to catch our beauty sleep. After all, when the Master
returns, we WILL have a long journey in front of us."
*Finally, someone who makes sense. Now if only she could hear me.*
Hikaru just sat himself back down and tried his best to ignore Saiko,
the tears flowing freely from his eyes.
****
"Father? What is it?" Plum asked, looking up at him.
The Jusenkyo guide burrowed through a trunk of old things, mumbling to
himself. It wasn't until Plum laid a hand upon his back that he turned to
face her.
"Oh, Plum. I couldn't catch up with them, I--"
"Father, what is happening? Why are you so... frantic?"
The Guide dug around deeper within the trunk and pulled out a small
box. Quickly, he brought it to the table.
"Plum, do you remember what I told you about a time where I would have
to leave and perhaps never return?"
Plum blinked and nodded. "Yes, but wasn't that when you--"
"Who would have known," he shook his head and opened the box. Within
it, he took out a small envelope and handed it to his daughter. "Plum, the
time has come. Do you understand?"
Plum took the envelope and sighed. "I... I understand, father," she
said, tearing up.
"Take this to Xining and wait. To be anywhere near the springs now
would be folly," he said. "Destiny will lead you to them." He took some
money out of the box, and handed to her, and then finally pulled a small
book ad tucked it under his arm.
"Go to Nyuchezu. They will help you find your way to Xining, as they
have before," he said, standing up. "I must go now. Should fate agree with
me, we will see each other again." He bent over and kissed his daughter on
the forehead, and then moved to the door. "Tell Feng Bo I've gone to Mount
Phoenix."
****
"So," Ranma asked, his mind wandering. "Where's this Book of Four
Pizzas?"
"Saotome," Tatewaki sighed. "Please do not speak, your tongue does not
seem to be compatible with your brain."
Ranma blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "You're one to talk, Kuno! I
mean, you still think the pig-tailed girl is--"
Kuno drew his bokken and turned. "Saotome, you will not speak ill of
the pig-tailed girl while you are on the Kuno grounds."
Ranma threw his hands up in the air. "Kuno, I thought you GOT this!
She's me! I am her! It doesn't take a volcano going off in your brain to
figure this one out!"
Kuno blinked at Ranma for a moment, and sighed, putting his bokken
away. "I... apologize, Saotome. I am... somewhat apprehensive of the
entire situation."
Ranma sighed. "Yeah, I guess I can understand that," he said, looking
around the room. "So where's the book?"
Tatewaki jerked his head to the right, motioning towards an oak desk
on the opposite end of the Kuno library. "I had left it there," he said.
Ranma walked over to the desk and took a quick peek. "This thing?" he
asked, picking up a old text, which seemed to give off more dust than
information.
"Saotome, PLEASE!" Kuno exclaimed, and rushed over to Ranma. "The text
is delicate. Such an ancient relic would not do well in your hands." he
plucked the book delicately from Ranma's hands, and then proceeded to wrap
it in a soft piece of cloth that he pulled out from the front pocket of
his hakama.
Ranma shrugged and looked around the room in mock interest. "So," he
said. "There sure are a lot of... uhh... books in here."
"To call such things mere books would be a misappropriated term,
Saotome," Tatewaki replied, then finished wrapping the old text in cloth.
Turning towards the rows of books, he gestured with one arm. "These are
our histories. The past of every man, woman or child within our dome of
existence." He reached over and pulled another book from the shelf, and
held it against his chest. "These mere books mean more to me than anything
you could comprehend, Saotome."
Ranma raised an eyebrow and tried to catch a glimpse of the book
Tatewaki was clutching to his chest. While not old, the book seemed
somewhat regal to the naked eye.
"What's that?" Ranma asked.
Tatewaki sighed, and held the book before him. He tightened his eyes
and spoke, "The Tales of Musashi."
****
The light penetrated through Ukyou's eyes, causing her to squint
involuntarily. Over the past while, she had become accustomed to the
darkness of Okoniro's restaurant, but now... the afternoon sun hung over
her, and she couldn't block it out with walls or blinds.
Akane came running up to her as soon as she left the restaurant, and
she noted that the others were now standing, upon seeing her come out of
the restaurant.
"Well," Akane asked, her voice oozing sincerity and true concern.
"He's... not well," Ukyou replied. "We should leave him alone for now.
I've done all I can for him. His parents will be by a bit later to pick
him up and take him back to Kansai."
"But... did he...?"
"Did he what?" Ukyou asked. "Take it well? His sister, and one of the
only people who actually cared about him, was killed. Not just killed,
MUTILATED. How do you think you'd take it, Akane?"
Akane jerked her head back, obviously hurt. "I... I didn't--"
Ukyou pushed her finger against Akane's lips. "I'm... I'm sorry. I'm
just upset too, and I needed to lash out at someone. I didn't mean for it
to be you, Akane."
"I see more of her in you every minute, young one," Feng Bo smiled.
"More of who, old man?" Ukyou asked, narrowing her eyes. "I don't like
any of this. First we're dragged out of school to see the old bat here."
She jabbed a thumb is Cologne's direction, who narrowed her eyes in reply,
and then continued. "Then... GOD knows what happened to me, and the next
thing I know, you're telling us we've got some sort of twisted destiny,
ordained by freakin' GODS... I'm sorry, buddy. Too much, too fast, and I
AIN'T buying it."
Feng Bo sighed. "Please, I wish that you would not speak to me in such
a fashion--"
"Why NOT? Weird shit is happening, and you seem to know all about it.
By my book, that is reason number one for you to leave us the HELL alone."
Feng Bo raised an eyebrow. "And the other reasons?"
Ukyou sneered at him. "You always were a smart ass," she muttered.
"Always were?" Akane asked. "What... did that mean?"
Ukyou paused, her eyes growing in size, and then she looked over
toward Feng Bo. "I... I don't know."
Feng Bo merely smiled. "I believe I do," he said.
Cologne sighed. "I had no idea," she said. "How much longer are you
expected to...?"
Feng Bo lost his smile. "Not long," he replied aloud. "My kind are
long-lived, but... even I have stretched the limits."
"Whoa," Nabiki interjected. "What do you mean 'your kind'?"
Feng Bo renewed his smile. "You should have no trouble divining the
information. Especially not if you are anything like your....
predecessor."
"I think I may know the truth behind it," Shinnosuke spoke up, walking
toward Feng Bo.
Feng Bo raised an eyebrow toward Shinnosuke. "Oh?"
Shinnosuke laid his hands upon Feng Bo, and closed his eyes. Slowly,
he ran his hands over the old mans features. "I can... discern the look of
youth," he spoke. "And... the reiki feels..." he gasped and jerked his
hands back.
"There," Feng Bo said. "The truth is known, now let us meet the others
and retire. Rogi may attack at any time." He turned and walked down the
street.
"What... what happened?" Nabiki asked, helping Shinnosuke up from the
ground.
Shinnosuke tried to catch his breath and looked at his hands as if
they were not his own. "I..." he looked into Nabiki's eyes, and then close
his own, smiling. "It is as I had thought."
"What?" Akane asked.
"He is... or at least was, in youth... Fei Liang."
****
The human facial features upon Rogi's guise could not help but curl
his lips into a menacing smile.
Fei Liang, indeed. It has been long. The young and foolish god who had
dared interfere with destiny. The destiny which he had only prolonged
rather than terminated altogether.
But now he was old. Old and senile. Older than any being, human or god
should have lived. He was not reborn as the rest of them were.
But still... It did mean he would have to hunt down the Ohmikami. She
certainly gave her life with the others, therefore... She had to have been
reborn. And--
The smooth haired one. Yes. She had to be the Ohmikami. He sensed
familiarity with all of them, but only from here could he sense strong
magic.
Strong, unrealized magic.
He could attack right now, smite them all before they had a chance to
manifest-- but no.
No. It would not suit his plans to kill them right now. His destiny
would be fulfilled. It was written, and it shall be done.
But, the reason he came. The blue thread of magic was tied to the
young short-haired one. If he looked close enough, he could see the red
thread of love stopping an inch short of her pinky, flailing about, trying
to connect itself using any means possible.
But there was already a line connected to her. Another of the reborn,
most definitely.
He examined the situation. He could easily smite them all, but to do
so would be to forfeit his plans. Even for the mere purpose of--
No. He could wait. He would wait. Tonight, he would gather his
servants and attack. Nekkyo-- no, what was her name? Kodachi. Yes. He
would infuse her with some of his power, and unleash her upon them, while
he and Saiko's new body would take the short-haired one.
Rogi sighed. He would have to learn the names. In named lay true
power, and true power lies in knowledge of names.
Rogi lingered around for a few moments longer, smirking upon
identifying Maigo's reborn, and then turning to walk toward the warehouse.
Yes, there was much planning to be done.
****
"Err, Mr. Kuno?" Inspector Hasuzi asked, running up to Tatewaki and
Ranma as they exited the compound.
Tatewaki turned toward the man and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" he asked.
"Hi, I'm Inspector Masamoto Hasuzi, Nerima Police... Can I ask you a
few questions about... your sister, is it? Kodachi?"
Tatewaki's eyes popped wide open for a moment, and then returned to
normal size. "I... do not have much time to spare," he said.
"Have you seen her today, Mr. Kuno?"
Tatewaki sighed and nodded. "This morning, before leaving for school,"
he said, and then looked up toward Masamoto. "What is wrong?"
"There was some... action today at Saint Hebereke. It seems that in
the process of this, your sister went missing."
"The murders?" Ranma asked.
Masamoto's eyebrow raised. "You've heard about it?"
Tatewaki nodded. "We are... acquainted with a friend of one of the
victims."
"Oh... I'm sorry," he said. "I'm been assigned to the case, and
well--"
"You believe Kodachi may have been involved somehow?" Tatewaki asked.
"What?" Masamoto asked, aghast. "No... NO... I'm just concerned about
her."
Tatewaki sighed. "Concern yourself not with her whereabouts, good
Inspector. Be concerned with the woman herself. If she is not there, nor
here, chances are, she was involved."
Masamoto blinked in shock. "You... why would you say that about your
own sister? Her life may be in da--"
"Her life is of no concern to you, or I," Tatewaki said sternly. "If
she has been taken by the madman which smote the life of two innocents,
then such is fate. Though I fear we may not be so fortunate." He met
Hasuzi's gaze and let it linger for a moment. "Come, Saotome. We must meet
the others."
Ranma just nodded in mute shock, and followed as Tatewaki walked away
from the Inspector, who was also staring in mute shock.
****
"Yo, what the hell was that about?" Ranma asked. "I mean... I know
your sister's nutzo and everything, but--"
"You know nothing of her mental health, Saotome. I dare say that I
believe she is sane, but--"
"HER? Sane? Kuno, anyone who could do that kind of crap willingly is
insane, no matter what."
"Saotome," Tatewaki warned. "You understand nothing of us yet. Close
your mouth and open your ears."
"Hey, I don't hafta--"
"No you DON'T, Saotome. But I ask that you do," Tatewaki replied,
meeting Ranma's gaze dead on.
Ranma remained silent, but didn't break the gaze.
"What I am about to tell you is something I have told no one. Not even
my sister... or my father," he said.
Ranma's gaze did not falter, nor did he say anything.
"Good, then you will listen," he said, closing his eyes. "My sister is
not what you think she is, by any stretch of the imagination. Her sanity
is often in question, but... I believe she is in full control of her
faculties, moreso than even I."
"Then why would she act like that?" Ranma asked.
"Because she chooses to."
Ranma raised his eyebrows. "Chooses to?"
"This was not the first time I've seen that Inspector, Saotome. Once,
long ago I saw him. He may not know I remember him, but I do."
"What do you mean?"
"Ten years ago, my mother was murdered. She was brutally raped and
murdered in the garden of my own estate."
Ranma didn't say anything. He had often wondered about the Kuno
mother, but had never assumed anything. Even Nabiki seemed unwilling to
share anything on it, or maybe even she herself did not know.
"And," he began, sighing. Ranma could see tears welling up in his
eyes.
"Hey," Ranma interrupted. "It's okay... you don't have to say
anything, okay? Let's just go and--"
"No, Saotome," Tatewaki replied. "If I say nothing, nothing will be
solved." He looked up toward him. "Kodachi and I... watched it all
happen."
"You watched? Didn't you call the police or anything?"
"I was unable to Saotome. The police are not even aware of our
presence during the crime. The servants... the servants protected us from
further trauma by telling them we were inside, but the... rapist had
forced us to watch while he--" his eyes began to tear up again, and he let
a sob escape his throat. "-- he raped her..."
"My God," Ranma said, his eyes wide open.
"I screamed and yelled for him to stop. I did everything I could to
try and break free, but Kodachi... Kodachi just watched. Not once did she
shed a tear for her mother, nor did she once speak her name. But when it
was all done, she looked upon the rapist and asked him a question."
"A question?"
"She asked... 'Will you come back?'"
Ranma blinked. "She... WHAT?"
"Since that time, she has been the Black Rose. Domineering... even
evil at times."
"Wait... What did the man say?"
Tatewaki shook his head. "He said that they shall meet again, other
than that... He ran."
"Couldn't the servants do anything?"
Tatewaki shook his head. "They were as powerless as I. They did not
even know anything had occurred until after he left. It was as if there
were some kind of magical barrier around us."
Ranma swallowed. Kodachi... watched? She... It was too much to take in
all at once. But now... now he looked at Tatewaki Kuno in an entirely
different way. While he pitied him before, his unskilled art and limited
brain power... Now....
A whole new light. Tatewaki was different in his own eyes. No longer
someone to pity and ignore, but someone to help. Ranma tightened his
resolve and sighed.
Then Kuno spoke again. "I do not wish to see her again, Saotome," Kuno
said.
Ranma nodded in understanding. He felt there was something more,
but... no. He wouldn't pry.
"Not again," Kuno said. "Ever."
****
Soon later, Ranma and Tatewaki met up with the others. Many of which
were remarkably silent, and others who were very talkative.
"I don't get it," Ukyou said. "Fei Liang? Not a reborn version, the
ACTUAL Fei Liang from the dreams?"
Shinnosuke nodded. "It has to be him."
"What?" Ranma asked, breaking into the conversation. "What's
happening?"
Akane looked over to Ranma. "Shinnosuke thinks that Feng Bo is Fei
Liang."
Ranma looked over his shoulder. "That old goat? Didn't Fei Liang live
in the end, though?"
Shinnosuke nodded. "That's just it. He _IS_ Fei Liang."
"Look at how cozy Shampoo, Mousse and Cologne are with him," Nabiki
said. "He IS a Chinese god, right?"
"Tao," Shinnosuke corrected. "And Amaterasu is of Shinto, but she was
in our dreams too, right?"
"Do you think Cologne could be Amaterasu?" Ukyou asked.
"I don't think so," Akane replied. "She knows a lot of stuff, but she
doesn't strike me as a Shinto goddess."
"Yes," Tatewaki interrupted. "And Amaterasu's life was given along
with many of the warriors. If anything, she would have been reborn."
"Can goddesses be reborn?" Akane asked.
"I don't even know how they're born," Nabiki stated. "Well, not in
DETAIL, anyway. I just don't buy that facial features thing. Besides, if
gods could be born from motes in your eye or snot, then who's to say that
there isn't a god of shi--"
"Nabiki!" Akane yelled. "We're trying to be serious!"
"She's got a point," Ukyou said, laughing.
"The stories never speak of... gods of feces," Shinnosuke stated.
"Anyway, he's all worried about this Rogi guy coming after us.
Tonight," Akane said, looking over toward Ryouga and Akari, who were busy
talking over an unconscious Happosai. "When's he gonna wake up, anyway?"
"Knowing him, the first time someone shows off some cleavage," Ranma
said.
"Be serious," Akane warned.
Ranma looked up towards a nearby clock. "It's getting late in the
afternoon. Maybe... Maybe we should head back."
"After all this?" Ukyou asked. "As much as I... appreciate the guy
right now, I think we should listen to him. He does know what he's talking
about, and maybe this guy here is right."
"This guy _DOES_ have a name, you know," Shinnosuke stated defiantly.
"Sorry, Sugar. Nothing personal," Ukyou stood up and walked over to
Feng Bo. She barely registered than Tatewaki was in tow.
"Hey," Ukyou called to him.
Feng Bo looked back over toward Ukyou and smiled. "Still discussing my
identity?"
"Look, I don't buy this God of Winds stuff... but... I want to know
something."
"Which is?"
"How come I know you?"
Feng Bo raised an eye. "Hmm?"
"You heard me. How come I _KNOW_ you? I know what you looked like as a
young man. You had a nickname... Kazehito. Why, and HOW do I know this,
Kazehito?"
Feng Bo smiled. "It's been long since I've heard that name, young
one... But I cannot tell you yet."
"Bullshit. Why can't you?" Ukyou growled.
"Because destiny does not allow it. Yet." Tatewaki walked up next to
her, unwrapping the small bundle he held in his arms. "I have brought the
book, Master Feng Bo."
Feng Bo smiled. "You understand," he said.
"I have been through far too much. To... understand is all I have left
to keep me sane."
Feng Bo sighed. "I apologize. I am aware you have had a harsh life."
"Your apology helps naught, but... I thank you nonetheless," he said,
unwrapping the rest of the cloth, and handing the book over to the older
man.
The man took the book and breathed it in. "It has been... a long time
since I have laid hands on this. It has survived well over the ages," he
said.
He closed his eyes for a moment, and all those who stood near him felt
a sharp breeze coming from outside of the immediate area, and converging
at the space the book occupied.
Ukyou and Tatewaki watched in mute fascination as the winds washed
dust from the cover of the book, but broke no page. The dust blew into
creases and tears the book had suffered, and then hardened. The pale cover
soon became a more solid colour, and words appeared on it. Although
written in pure Chinese, Tatewaki could make it out.
"Book of Five Millennia," Tatewaki said.
Ukyou's eyes were still being rubbed by her hands, in an effort to try
and make sense of what she was seeing.
"What the HELL was THAT?" she asked.
"I do not expect you to understand yet, young one," Feng Bo said.
Ukyou sighed. "Look... Some of us have responsibilities," she said.
"We've got to get home, but--"
"Yes, that is fine," he replied, paying more attention to the book
than anything else. "I should have to study this in a... dryer
environment." He looked up. "Do you have responsibilities elsewhere?"
She sighed. "There's... my restaurant. Konatsu and I should head back,
but--"
"Perhaps... You should accompany Jia-- Ranma. Ranma and Akane. I
believe they must go home."
"And the others?" she asked.
He looked over to Cologne. "You should take this young Konatsu to your
restaurant for now, Cologne."
Cologne nodded. "And the others?"
"They should keep together."
"Wait," Ukyou said. "Why are you splitting Konatsu and I like that?"
"I am aware of a few things now, holding this book in my hands again.
Other than that... there is nothing more to say. You will soon
understand."
Ukyou threw her arms up in the air and stalked back toward Ranma and
the others.
Tatewaki sighed. "She is... the Ohmikami, isn't she?"
Feng Bo nodded. "You will not tell her, will you?"
"As you say... Destiny must run its course," he replied.
Feng Bo closed his eyes. "Indeed."
****
"Well--"
"You know, I SERIOUSLY don't like the way these things are going,"
Masamoto said.
"Trouble?" Kimi asked, one eyebrow in the air.
"I went to ask the Kuno boy a few questions. He was dressed in a Kendo
hakama, walking with his buddy out of the house. When I asked about his
sister, he pretty much condemned her with his own words. It's like her own
_BROTHER_ didn't care whether she lived or died. In fact, he sounded liked
he preferred the latter."
"Ouch," Kimi said. "Doesn't sound good."
"It's nasty."
"Know what's nastier?" Kimi asked.
"What's that?"
"Two boys dead, another two near-dead. And we've got witnesses," she
said, shuffling through a short file. "Outside of Furinkan. The four of
them were students, other than that... not much else is known. Might be an
idea to check it out, since the Captain thinks they're connected with the
Hebereke occurrence."
Hasuzi's jaw dropped. "FOUR dead in one day? At two different
schools?"
Kimi nodded, passing the file over to him. "Masamoto... I think
something big is going down."
Even though he didn't have to reply, Kimi knew that the Inspector
agreed with her.
****
Authors notes:
_WOW_.
Yes, it's been quite some time (in excess of seven months) since I've
written a chapter of this. I had all but given up on it a few months ago,
and then I just started work on it again, and Hey! Here we are again!
This chapter clears up a few things, and hopefully, when I have the
next chapter out, you'll be seeing a LOT of action. A few battles, many of
which I've got worked out in my head, and a few more I've already
choreographed on paper. :P
But it's the eve of revelation for ToD, so stay tuned. You WON'T be
disappointed by the next chapter. I promise.
In other news, I'm working on and off on my other fics, although I've
got another project running right now that is taking some precedence over
the others, although I am able to balance them effectively. (Go figure.
:P)
Anyhoo. C&C is greatly appreciated! Ttyl!