[Ranma][FanFic] Trials of Destiny: Chapter Ten
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 Ten: Casualties
"Secrets will be revealed on the day of the coming.
Secrets that shed doubt onto each of the dreamers. The elder
will become cursed. The leader will challenge the gatherer,
and, with the taking of two, the dark will finally find his
first servant." ~Unknown
****
Ryouga stood in the back yard of the Tendo home. He
was fairly certain Ranma wouldn't mind using his training
equipment, and the day was too nice to work inside.
That, and Ryouga had no idea where to find the Dojo
after eating breakfast.
"You sure you wanna leave after Ranma and Akane get
back, Ryouga?" Akari asked, sitting on the porch, letting
the brim of her hand dip just so the sun wouldn't harm her
soft face.
Ryouga merely threw a punch at the post, and turned
back, nodding. He had wanted to leave earlier, but Akari
felt it would be too rude to leave before their hosts
returned.
That, and Shinnosuke would be bored stiff. As it
was, Shinnosuke spent some time examining the koi pond, and
what it contained within.
"Look at the size of these fish," he exclaimed, his
jaw agape.
"I'm amazed there even ARE fish in there," Ryouga
joked. "After all of Ranma's little trips."
Shinnosuke just shook his head. "They're so SMALL!"
Akari took a moment to walk over and pay some
attention to the fish.
"Those are pretty big, actually," she mentioned.
"I had no idea they got THIS small outside of the
forest," Shinnosuke said, still amazed.
Akari, for once, was confused. Rather than confront
Shinnosuke on the subject, she walked back to her spot on
the porch and simply watched Ryouga.
Ryouga just smirked and kept punching the post.
A moment later, he paused. He could... feel
something.
He spun around to look for the source, suddenly
realizing whatever it was, was sensed by Shinnosuke as well.
He had raised himself from the pond and was looking around
just as seriously.
"Do you... feel that?" Ryouga asked.
Shinnosuke shook his head. "No, I... hear it."
****
"You've been naughty, Hiroki!" the voices trailed
after Happosai.
"You've made my existence hell! It's your fault!"
Happosai could only run. He didn't know what was
happening. Not a clue, but he knew he didn't like it.
The voices haunted Happosai's trail so much, that
even he didn't notice the tears of fear escaping from his
eyes at an alarming rate. The sobs choking forth from his
throat were barely noticeable.
Happosai just wanted to get home. Where he would be
safe. Where there would be people who could help him.
That's all he wanted. He ran down the street, the
voices still trailing him, and leapt up on the outside wall
of the Tendo compound.
As he jumped to the ground, he felt an intense
weight fall atop him.
"What the HELL are you trying to do, old man?"
Ryouga seethed.
****
"Ryouga! Let go! He's coming! Don't let him get me!"
Ryouga ground his teeth. "Nobody's coming, you old
fool!" He reached down to pick him up by the collar. "Now
what the HELL are you doing?"
Ryouga was steamed. Since the Nannichuan incident a
few days earlier, at the wedding, he had blamed what had
happened on the old man. Ryouga brought him up close,
careful for any quick movements.
And then he saw them. Tears. Not fake tears, as many
of the local population have gotten used to recently, but
real, genuine tears.
Happosai was... crying?
The look on his face told him all he needed to know.
"What the hell?" he asked.
Shinnosuke looked down upon the old man. "I don't
know you, but I can... hear it."
Happosai looked up at Shinnosuke and choked back
some tears. "It's after me. You have to help me!"
Ryouga looked up. "I feel it, but... what is it?"
Shinnosuke placed his hands near Happosai's head. As
he shrank back, in fear, Shinnosuke tried his best to calm
him.
"Don't worry, elder," he said. "I'm a practitioner
of the power of Reiki. I can help."
Happosai shook his head violently. "Healing arts
aren't going to protect me from HIM! He's supposed to be
DEAD!"
Ryouga narrowed his eyes. "Who's supposed to be
dead, old man?"
Happosai shook his head. "It doesn't MATTER! We've
got to get inside, before he comes!"
Ryouga was certain he could feel something. He was
almost positive.
The despair hit. Ryouga couldn't explain it. The
despair just showed up. Not so much that he felt compelled
to throw a Shi Shi Hokodan, but he felt something.
He realized what it was. He felt what he thought was
Happosai earlier. A form of darkness.
But what took him a moment to notice, is that the
darkness didn't come from Happosai himself. It SURROUNDED
him.
"Please, Elder. There is nothing to be frightened
of. He will not hurt you," Shinnosuke moved closer.
Happosai backed away. "No! You're... you're going to
help him! You're going to hurt me!"
Ryouga had enough. He grabbed the old man by the
collar again, mindful of where he put his hands, giving the
man no form of defence. He buried him into the ground and
Shinnosuke placed his hands upon him.
"It's all right, Elder," he said as he tried to
sooth him. "It's okay."
Shinnosuke could feel the energy slowing from out of
his hands, over the old mans body. He felt his arms twitch
as they pushed away whatever dark force surrounded him.
The dark force was persistent, but in the end,
Shinnosuke succeeded, and turned Happosai over.
He was in a deep, dark sleep.
"Well," Ryouga said. "That was easy."
Shinnosuke rose into the air and looked at Ryouga.
"I fear..." he brought his hands up. His palms were pure
white, and Ryouga could see his state of being.
A moment later, Shinnosuke fell over, vomiting.
****
Kasumi hung up the phone and sighed. She'd have to
bring everyone over to Doctor Tofu's.
It had been so long. She felt somewhat nervous at
the prospect. She walked over towards the tea room, ready to
call out for the others.
"Kasumi! Help us out here!" Akari yelled,
frantically.
Kasumi ran out into the yard. Shinnosuke was dropped
onto his hands and knees, vomiting, and Master Happosai was
unconscious.
Ryouga, on the other hand was trying to help
Shinnosuke up, while Akari tended to Happosai.
"Oh my," she said, running to help.
****
"I... I apologize," Shinnosuke said, trying to keep
his posture, even as he lay down on the roll-out futon in
the middle of the tea room.
"It's all right," Kasumi said, dabbing his forehead
with a moist cloth.
Akari did the same to Happosai as Ryouga leaned
against the wall, trying to make sense of the events of the
past few minutes.
"What happened?"
"He... had something surrounding him. A curse, I
believe. A strong one. I was barely able to break it,"
Shinnosuke said.
"I know. I felt it," Ryouga said, then looked at
Shinnosuke. "I didn't know you could do Reiki."
Shinnosuke nodded. "Years ago. My grandfather was
desperate to find any means possible to heal me. I learned
the art from a master practitioner who had stayed in the
forest for a period of time."
Ryouga sighed. "Must have been most of your life. It
takes years to master Reiki like that."
Shinnosuke shook his head. "Actually, he was there
for two months. It appears all I needed was a refresher
course."
Ryouga almost lost his balance. "You learned THAT in
TWO months? A refresher course?"
"Yes. He told me I have a natural talent for it. He
even said perhaps I would surpass him."
"You just broke a curse. General Reiki Practitioners
can't do that."
Shinnosuke smirked and nodded. "Looks like I've got
a REALLY natural talent. But it was still too much for me
afterwards. That curse was strong. I wouldn't say quite as
strong as Ranma's curse, but I sense no malice in his
curse," he coughed. "Or yours."
Ryouga went pale. "I... what?"
"Oh my," Kasumi said. "Ryouga has a curse?"
"I didn't believe it at first last night,"
Shinnosuke said. "But after I saw it, I began to recognize
the lines of magic within him, and saw similar lines within
you."
"How can you... SEE the curse?" Ryouga asked.
"Ryouga, is it true?" Kasumi asked.
Akari just stood in confusion. Didn't they know
about Ryouga's curse?
"I don't know. It's hard to see, but the signs are
there. There's something else, but it's so hard-coded into
your blood, there's no way to get rid of it."
Ryouga blinked. "Hard-coded?"
Shinnosuke nodded. "Yes, it's as if it's been in
your line for generations. Perhaps going back a LONG way.
Thousands of years, even."
Nobody seemed to notice Kasumi's disappearance.
"Well, there's my direction, but only my parents and
I have that problem. My grandparents have never--" he began.
"Excuse me, Ryouga?" Kasumi asked, standing behind
him.
Ryouga turned just in time to catch Kasumi's gaze.
He didn't, however, last long enough to avoid the glass of
water she threw on him.
As Ryouga instantaneously turned into P-Chan, Kasumi
smiled.
"Oh my," Shinnosuke said.
****
"Are all of you Musk fast enough to keep up with
me?" Kima asked, looking down at the speeding form of Herb
below her.
Herb shrugged. "It's killer on my Ki, but I wouldn't
be surprised. How long 'till we arrive?"
"We should be there by this evening. Can your Ki
hold out that long?"
Herb nodded. "I don't foresee a big problem with
it."
Kima smiled. "Good, because Saffron believes we
don't have time to waste."
"What about you?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you believe we have time to waste?"
Kima sighed. "I... I'm not sure. All I know is the
prophecy. The winds blow through the halls of the mountain.
The Musk and Phoenix join forces. It's... difficult to
imagine, but I do as my king asks, and I trust in his
judgment."
"I would imagine so," Herb said, smiling. "You would
die for your king, wouldn't you?"
Without missing a beat, Kima replied. "Of course."
"Would he ask you to do so?"
That, however, caught Kima off guard. "I... I..."
"You don't know?"
Kima looked towards the ground. "No, I do know.
He... Mere days ago, I would have thought yes. I thought
that he would order me to my death simply to keep himself
amused."
"And yet, you still followed him?" Herb asked, eyes
wide open.
"I had no choice. We are the Phoenix tribe. There
are none others like us anywhere in the world. If I would
not die for my king, I would not have anywhere to go. I
would be killed by humans hands, most surely."
Herb sighed. He couldn't discount her claim. He knew
exactly what would happen if she set down on Musk lands.
"Now, however. I... I believe he only would if it
meant the future. If it meant the world, human and Phoenix.
He's... changed a lot, you see."
Herb blinked in confusion. "Sounds like quite a
change in such a short time."
"There's good reason for it," Kima said, then looked
down at Herb. "He'd gaining his old memories."
"Huh?" Herb said. "What do you mean?"
"What do you know of the Phoenix tribe, Herb of the
Musk?" Kima asked.
Herb sighed. "Just what was passed down in legend.
There exists a spring atop Mount Phoenix that contains the
same magic of Jusenkyo. You were all once men, but after
repeated use of the spring, grew wings and talons."
Kima smiled. "I once believed that, as well, Herb."
"So," Herb began. "It's not true, then?"
"Allow me to explain in full detail our origins,"
Kima said, and then looked down to Herb.
And then she began.
****
"Ukyou?" Ranma asked, walking towards his friend,
hand outstretched. "What... what do you remember?"
Ukyou let the tears run down the side of her face.
"I... I just--"
(Lessons.)
"--I'm not--"
(You won't remember.)
"--sure... It's as if--"
(Kuonji Ohmikami.)
"--I was awake, but not in control. I can't--"
(We shall have a rematch, Goddess.)
"--remember... I--"
(Ukyou Kuonji Ohmikami.)
"--I... Ohmikami?" she said to herself, rubbing her
forehead. "Oh, Ranma... What's happening to me?"
Ranma sighed, and looked back towards Cologne.
"Something is up, old ghoul. I don't like this."
Cologne shook her head. "Nor do I. There are forces
at work here that even I can't imagine, although I do know
how we can find out what we need to know..." she looked
menacingly towards Feng Bo.
Feng Bo merely sighed. "I'd thank you not to look at
me with such malice, Cologne, or have you forgotten what
that look had cost you last time?"
"That was long ago, Feng Bo. I was young and
inexperienced, and if I recall correctly, I did manage to
land a good kick to your nether regions."
Feng Bo flinched. "Cologne, I would... thank you not
to bring that up again."
"It would appear that the two elders know each other
better than they would let on," Kuno announced, leaning
against the wall. Nabiki just nodded in agreement, the blush
on her face beginning to die down after being discovered.
"I don't see how it is any business of yours,
children," Feng Bo said. "However--"
He paused, and seemed to freeze in time.
"Oh dear," he said.
****
The first was nearby. He could FEEL it. He could
feel her.
Nekkyo. The first of his servants.
Rogi stepped up to the massive grounds of the
building before him and looked about. He could feel his
power shimmering in the presence of his first servant, but
kept it under control.
He was already angry that the old man had managed,
somehow, to shake off the curse. No matter, he remembered
the last point. After gathering his servant, he would visit
the location and take care of the old man and whatever
companions he may have.
Rogi examined the grounds and smiled. Many young
virgin souls. Hundreds upon hundreds of them. Such a place
would feed his... hunger for days to come.
But now was not the time. He had other tasks to
complete first.
He stepped towards the gate of the grounds and took
in a breath of air.
The sweetness of the air. The innocence. The very
THOUGHT of being able to take so much... It sent shivers up
Rogi's spine.
And he could have them all. Whenever, and wherever
he wished.
The thoughts began to overtake him. Surely he
could... feed upon one or two now, and then take the rest
after he had completed his task.
Rogi's twisted smile grew as he spotted his victims.
Two sweet young things walking not twenty feet away from
him. He could take them and be out again in time to gain his
first servant.
The evil, twisted smirk remained on his face as he
entered the grounds for Saint Hebereke's school for girls.
****
"What's the matter?" Akari asked. "You act as if
you're surprised."
Shinnosuke pointed. "He's a piglet."
Kasumi nodded. "He's P-chan."
Akari looked at the two of them as if they were
crazy. "You can't tell me Ryouga never told you about his
curse!"
Kasumi shook her head. "Why, no. He never told us
anything about it."
Shinnosuke, although weakened, tried to stifle back
a laugh. P-Chan just squealed angrily.
Kasumi staggered back as if something hit her. "Oh
my! I almost forgot! We've all got to go to doctor Tofu's!"
P-Chan looked up and squealed questioningly. Akari
and Shinnosuke, on the other hand, had no idea what she was
talking about.
As Kasumi walked off with P-Chan, she left them
wondering. A slight yell later, and Ryouga was back in the
room, fetching his clothes.
"Tofu, he's this guy who lives down the road,"
Ryouga said. "Why do we have to go there, Kasumi?"
"Well, I'm afraid everyone else is there. Should we
bring Master Happosai? I'm afraid I wouldn't feel right
about leaving him here alone."
Ryouga looked over towards the sleeping form of the
old man and sighed.
"Oh, hell."
****
"What's the matter?" Cologne asked. "I sense nothing
out of place, Feng Bo."
Feng Bo shook his head. "He draws nearer to his
goal. He's almost upon her."
"Who is?" Ranma asked. "Who is almost upon who?"
Feng Bo looked directly at Ranma. "Rogi upon
Nekkyo."
Several gasps resounded throughout the room.
Cologne was the first to speak. "So it is true,
then, is it?"
Feng Bo sighed. "We will only have little time
before it starts. I suggest--"
"I suggest you tell us what the HELL is going on,"
Ranma clenched his fist. "And somethin' tells me you know a
bit more than what you're letting on!"
"Indeed. Both these names hold significance to me,
and I'd imagine several others."
Feng Bo nodded. "You would. There are some missing,
however."
"Who?" Akane asked. "Who is missing?"
"The shadow warrior, for one," he said. "A few
others. The calm one. The other elder. One of the warrior
tribe. They are the only other ones of significance."
"Wait... Who?" Ranma asked.
"Midara, Kage and Heisei. They still have not
arrived."
Ranma clenched his fist again. "Look, you. I don't
care WHO's supposed to be here right now, but you'd better
start explaining, before--"
"Don't threaten me, boy. I can do more to you in
seconds than you could ever hope to do to me."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Ranma replied, the
sneer deep on his face. "What's going on? Tell us!"
"Shampoo want to know too. How you know about
dreams?"
"Are you having them too?" Akane asked.
"No," Nabiki said. "He knows too much just to be
having the dreams with us."
Akane blinked. "Nabiki?"
Nabiki smiled and shrugged. "Trust me, it's as much
of a surprise to me as well as you. The name is Senkyo, nice
to meet you."
Tatewaki almost lost his balance.
"All here are involved in this. There are yet more.
Some closer, some farther, but in the end, all will come
together."
"Master," Tofu began. "I... I'm not having any
dreams. I'm not sure that--"
"You too have your purpose, Tofu. It will come soon
enough."
Tofu remained silent.
"Look, ya old freak," Ranma said, glaring at Feng
Bo. "You're stalling. I suggest you tell us right NOW what's
happening, before we get REALLY impatient."
Feng Bo sighed. "Very well, then. Listen to me, and
listen well, because I'll only explain this once."
Feng Bo sat down, and began to explain.
****
o/~I've become impossible o/~
Ariko was frightened.
o/~Holding on to when o/~
Ariko was extremely frightened. She'd heard stories
of things like this happening. Two girls, walking down a
lonely street at night, and then a gang of men would take
them into a dark building, and have their way. It had been
one of her worst fears.
o/~When everything seemed to matter more o/~
But there was something wrong with what was
happening to her and her friend right now.
o/~The two of us o/~
First thing was that it was the middle of the day.
o/~All used and beaten up o/~
Second thing was that she was on her own school
grounds.
o/~Watching fate as it flows down the path we have
chose o/~
Third thing... The building their assailant was
using was none other than her own school.
Now, Ariko was VERY frightened.
o/~You and me o/~
She was blinded and tied up. Her clothes were torn
and tattered, and she could hear the pathetic grunts of
helplessness her friend tried to utter. She wanted to cry
out. To warn anyone and everyone of what was happening. Of
what was GOING to happen.
o/~We're in this together now o/~
Ariko cursed herself. Now of all times, she had to
have her Walkman on. She could hear it, still running, still
blaring music from the ground several feet away.
o/~None of them can stop us now o/~
Ariko was cold. She couldn't explain why, it was
extremely hot out, but she was cold. And the presence she
felt was almost numb.
o/~We will make it through somehow o/~
She heard her friend cry helplessly. It made Ariko
want to cry. She had to. If she was going to--
Wait. She could HEAR something. Something else. Not
her Walkman. Not the... atrocity that was occurring not five
feet away from her. Something... someone else.
o/~You and me o/~
"Step out from the shadows," the man called out. "Or
share their fate."
o/~If the world should break in two o/~
Ariko's heart jumped. It meant someone else was
there. Someone who could help. Someone who could at least
SEND for help. She wanted to yell out. To tell her to run
away.
o/~Until the very end of me o/~
But she couldn't utter a word.
o/~Until the very end of you o/~
"I was merely curious. I heard the music from
outside and thought one of my... classmates had come into a
place they have been forbidden to enter."
o/~Awake to the sound o/~
It was Kodachi. Her pompous way of speech was
unmistakable. Ariko felt her heart lift. Surely she would
help. She had to. And Kodachi was the best fighter in the
school. This guy would pay.
"I believe I've been looking for you," the man said.
Ariko could tell the amusement in his voice.
o/~As they peel apart the skin o/~
"Is that so?"
Ariko frowned. Kodachi sounded almost... seductive.
A moment later, she heard her friend scream under
her gag.
o/~They pick and they pull o/~
The fleshy sounds continued, and she heard Kodachi
gasp. Her friends screams become muffled. The man had put
his hand over her mouth.
"Silence," he said.
o/~Trying to get their fingers in o/~
The pulling continued, and she heard Kodachi gagged.
She had to know. She needed to know what was happening. Why
wasn't Kodachi helping?
o/~Well they've got to kill what we've found o/~
"Allow me to take care of this one, servant. You
have found me. I suppose I could let you have the other."
Ariko gasped. Was Kodachi actually working WITH this
person?
o/~Well they've got to hate what they fear o/~
Ariko's heart pounded. What were they doing. She had
to know.
"Ripping her apart would not please me as it does
you. However, mere simple pleasures may..." she trailed on.
o/~Well they've got to make it go away o/~
"Very well, Nekkyo. Whatever would please you. We've
got work to do and we should continue with it as soon as we
finish here. Feel fortunate that I allow you that one."
Nekkyo? Ariko's heart was pounding outrageously. The
fleshy sounds. Is that what they were?
She could hear her friends screams fading bit by
bit. Was she... being ripped apart?
o/~Well they've got to make it disappear o/~
Screw fear. Screw everything. If that's what was
happening, then she had to scream. To let SOMEONE know.
Ariko started screaming, then abruptly stopped.
It wasn't voluntary. Something was tied around her
neck, choking her. Preventing her from screaming.
o/~The farther I fall I'm beside you o/~
Ariko fell to the ground, struggling. How could this
be happening? Kodachi, a classmate.
"Silence girl, I don't wish to kill you, but I will
if I have to."
o/~As lost as I get I will find you o/~
"You've lost your touch, Nekkyo. You don't wish to
kill her?" the man asked.
"I know you not, but I go along with what you say.
Why is that?"
o/~The deeper the wound I'm inside you o/~
"It's in your blood, Nekkyo."
"The girl from my dreams. You know of her."
o/~Forever and ever I am a part of-- o/~
"I suppose you wouldn't recognize me from the
dreams, would you?"
Ariko tried to choke up a sob. Anything to let the
world know she was alive. Anything to--
The blindfold was pulled off of her by the man.
Ariko stopped struggling as she let her eyes adjust
to the light.
o/~--You and me o/~
Her friend.
o/~We're in this together now o/~
She was in pieces. Literally. The fleshy pulling
sounds. The occasional pop. Her friend. Her best friend for
life was in pieces across the ground in front of her.
The man smirked at her.
"Perhaps this will jar your memory."
o/~None of them can stop us now o/~
And he changed. The man CHANGED. His hands, if they
were hands, grew into sharp, elongated claws.
o/~We will make it through somehow o/~
His head grew into his body. Two rows of razor sharp
teeth were fully visible, and dangerous, reptilian eyes grew
in his head. Barbs grew through his skin as it changed to a
deep red.
o/~You and me o/~
And Ariko was certain she wasn't dreaming. The
ribbon loosened around her neck as Kodachi stared with wide
eyes.
o/~If the world should break in two o/~
"Master," she said, and then knelt in front of him.
"So it's true then, the dreams?"
o/~Until the very end of me o/~
"Yes," the monster replied. It's voice had become
darker, more rough.
o/~Until the very end of you o/~
It wasn't happening. It couldn't have been. Monsters
didn't exist, did they?
o/~All that we were is gone we have to hold on o/~
"Do you wish your way with this one, Nekkyo?" it
asked.
o/~All that we were is gone we have to hold on o/~
Kodachi looked up at the monster, with a tear in her
eye. "I... My existence now is as Kodachi Kuno, Master. As
for her..." She looked down towards Ariko.
o/~When all our hope is gone we have to hold on o/~
"You may have her," she said.
o/~All that we were is gone but we can hold on o/~
The monster smiled deeper and moved towards Ariko.
o/~You and me o/~
Kodachi couldn't have.
o/~We're in this together now o/~
The monster moved closer.
o/~None of them can stop us now o/~
She wouldn't. It was impossible. How could ANYTHING
serve such a monster.
o/~We will make it through somehow o/~
The monster grabbed one of Ariko's legs and moved it
with little trouble. Ariko tried to gain control over her
own legs, but the strength of the monster was too much.
o/~You and me o/~
He positioned himself between her legs and let his
smile grow more.
o/~Even after everything o/~
Ariko squirmed as the monster extended his tongue
from its mouth, using it to lick her stomach and pull her
dress up.
o/~You're the queen and I'm the king o/~
Her underwear was ripped off with minimal force, and
the monster leered towards her.
"Don't worry, pretty," it said. "This will hurt only
for one moment. One moment of searing, inexplicable pain."
The monster pushed itself upon her.
o/~Nothing else means anything o/~
****
Authors Notes:
Wow, that last scene had me fighting off the
shivers, and I wrote it! Just as a brief explanation, I'm
trying to convey a sense of horror here. Oh yeah, and I
stuck the song in for atmosphere.
For those who are interested, the song is by Nine
Inch Nails, and it's called 'We're in this together now'.
Incidentally, I was never really a big NiN fan, but I DO
like this song.
Anyhow, C&C is always welcome, in fact, it's
encouraged. ^_^
"Tyd, you need a smaller .sig. :-)"
- Gary Kleppe, FFiRC
Questions? Comments? Flames? Email Me.
~ The TydRipper
Author of:
Trials of Destiny,
Divinity,
A Life Once Lived,
Converging Fates,
and more!
Check out my page at:
http://www.ryo-oh-ki.net/tydi-oh-ki
ICQ UIN: 41450221
[How many fates turn around in
the overtime?
Ballerinas that have fins that
you'll never find.
You thought that you were the bomb,
yeah well so did I.]
Tori Amos - Spark