"Auntie Saotome," Kasumi whispered. "I hope this works."
She had so far only healed when fully transformed and wreathed in flame. This was the first time she'd try to heal someone so hurt as just herself.
She took a deep breath and grasped the sleeping woman's hand.
A living, breathing warmth slowly filled her being and then passed from her into Nodoka. Kasumi's eyes were closed, but she could still see the soft glow she was producing. She only hoped that she was the only one that saw.
****
"What can you tell me about the powers that were involved in the riot," Minister Kagiyama asked, settling back to watch the display.
"We know the most about these two," the presenting captain said. The pictures showed four pictures, separated into pairs matched with files.
"I see four," someone noted.
"Ranma Saotome is cursed to become a girl, a fact made public sometime last year, he is a powerful martial artist often sought after by others seeking to make a name for themselves," the captain said. "Tarou is likewise cursed, but uses it as a source of power. Tarou is obviously a threat to our society. Saotome is known to be rather recalcitrant, but he is also the one most in Nerima go to when they have trouble of some kind."
"Nerima," someone commented. "I have heard about that place. Are all these 'heros' from there?"
****
Nodoka opened her eyes to see an angel standing over her, wreathed in a divine fire that quietly warmed her bones and made her feel whole and well again. The image was so beautiful that Nodoka's breath caught in her throat.
"Amaterasu-sama," Nodoka gasped. "I am ready to be judged."
"Oh my," a familiar voice declared as the glow faded away. "Auntie Saotome, you're awake! I'll fetch the doctors!" Kasumi started away until she felt someone snatch at her arm lightly.
"So, you finally received your mother's inheritance," Nodoka said. Kasumi swallowed nervously.
****
Ranma and Akane arrived at the Saotome home to hear the phone ringing incessantly. Ranma quickly snatched up the phone and grimmly spoke into the receiver as Akane started searching the house.
"Hello?" he said.
"Ranma!" Ryuu Kumon's voice called out. "You're there! I just saw the news, what happened?!"
"Kuno," Ranma said. "You don't know him, he's an idiot kendoist. But now he's got some power or technique or something..."
"And your mother?" Ryuu asked, worriedly. Ranma sympathized. Nodoka was the only mother Ryuu knew, in a way, they were brothers...especially in anything that had to do with Nodoka.
"She's in the hospital," Ranma said. "My old man is dead. And he took Mom's sword."
"I'm sorry, Ranma," Ryuu said.
"How soon can you get here?" Ranma asked.
"Give me a week," Ryu said. "I'm calling from China."
"Good," Ranma said. "And Ryuu...I'm head of the school now...and for the moment...the senken are unsealed."
"I understand," Ryuu said. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
"See you then," Ranma said.
"Save some of the bastard for me," Ryuu said before the operator declared that he had run out of money and clicked him off.
"Ranma!" Akane shouted. "Come here!"
Ranma came quickly and found himself standing before a small library of scrolls that had been hidden by a false panel.
"How'd you find that?" Ranma asked.
"I felt it," she said. "An emptiness above the Earth."
****
"What are you talking about...Auntie?" Kasumi asked.
"I know about the amulets, Kasumi," Nodoka said. "I used my family's sword to fight by your mother's and uncle's side. In fact, I might be your aunt in fact had your uncle survived those days."
"I...see," Kasumi said. "Wait, you used the sword. The sword that Kuno has?"
"Yes," Nodoka said. "A sword made for the women of my blood, to help them protect the home in the chance that war or strife should come there. It will go to my daughter, should I ever have one though that is becoming more doubtful by the moment."
Kasumi swallowed and wondered if Nodoka knew about Genma's death yet. Nodoka apparently did not notice the action.
"Failing that, it will go to Ranma's daughter, or grand-daughter if he has none," Nodoka said.
"And this...magical blade is in Kuno's possession?" Kasumi said, worried.
"It will not long tolerate him," Nodoka said. "The magic is meant for women of my blood. Men of my blood can use it in an emergency, but it shall tire them greatly. To those not of my blood...it carries a curse."
"What kind of curse, auntie?" Kasumi asked. "And what manner of powers does it possess?"
****
"These three women," the captain said, indicating pictures captured of the Elemental Trio in the fight. "Are familiar from the histories. The current three seem young and inexperienced, but the history of such elemental warriors is long."
"And what is their history?" Kagiyama asked.
"We assume they originate from Toyotomi's (sp) Korean war," the captain said. "As the first report of them in the histories of battling them in that war."
"That is not encouraging," Kagiyama said.
"These warriors," the captain said. "If they are from the same line, have been notoriously unconcerned with wars in general. They act to protect others, and spent more time fighting demons than mortals. The last report on the original history was of a massive battle involving them and a group of samurai and Shinto mystics facing a powerful demon of some kind."
"Together?" Kagiyama inquired. The captain nodded.
"And since then," he said. "There appearances in the history have been to the overall aid of Japanese citizens and nobles. Though they made a conspicuous absence during World War II. It seems likely that this is a family tradition, some magic tied to a bloodline. And it is apparent that during the Korean war that that bloodline was mingled into Japanese blood. It is long enough past, that even they might not be aware that they come from non-Japanese stock."
****
"Nabiki Tendo," Kodachi said, walking stiffly to the girl. "I would like your assistance in something."
"Kodachi," Nabiki said in a warning voice. "Stay away from your brother, he's more than you can handle."
"Whether that is the case or not," Kodachi said. "I have my honor to consider, even if there is none to the Kuno family. And I am not alone in this matter."
"Oh," Nabiki said. "Who do you have helping you? Are you going to try and drag Shampoo into this and get both of you killed? Cologne is off somewhere...most likely preparing to face that demon."
"Excuse me," Kodachi said. "How do you know that Mousse is Onryu?"
"I never mentioned Mousse," Nabiki commented.
"I was watching the battle," Kodachi said without missing a beat. "One could hardly miss Ranma's cursing."
"True," Nabiki said, mollified. "Ranma told me about it." Which was the truth.
"I merely wish to be aware of what is occuring," Kodachi said. "I will not undertake anything I cannot weave a handle on." Nabiki blinked and Kodachi wondered if the slight pun was too much.
"I'll consider it, Kodachi," Nabiki said. "Go home, and get some rest."
****
"Ittan-Momen and Onryu we know nothing about," the Captain said. "Or very little. Ittan-Momen bares some grudge against the Blue Thunder's sister and attacked her at her school. Onryu has been identified as involved in a violent slaying of what were at the very least muggers, and perhaps rapists. Onryu was also involved in a brawl dealing much property damage in the Nerima district. Both seem to be dangerously violent."
"And what of the women that I understand hindered them in those two incidents?" someone asked. The captain nodded and three pictures and files appeared revealing Kumobara, Miss Amazing and Infinity.
"Miss Amazing and Infinity are new compared to the others," the captain said. "But the police they dealt with reported that they were both polite and well-behaved, though Miss Amazing acted rather oddly stereotypical feminine...it is suspected that she is trying to act counter to her normal behavior."
"And about Kumobara," Kagiyama asked.
"She and another hero," the captain said. A new file appeared showing Cheng-Huang. All the pictures had been captured from the riot. "Saved the crew of a police helicopter and incapcitated the attacker of the vehicle, Tarou a few nights ago. She is reported to be well-spoken and rather humble. Cheng-Huang, no one has talked to, but the name she has taken indicates a Chinese ancestery."
****
"And you shall see about locating my two loves?" Kuno asked. "I must see them saved from the horrid Sorcerer Saotome."
"Indeed," the 'Priestess' Sucaifu (Scythe) said, bowing and smiling humbly. "It must be horrible for them, bound to his service in such a manner. I shall set right on seeking them out."
She smiled, for what she truly intended was to seek out a way to remove them from Kuno's heart. Merely killing them would not do...she had to make him hate the two...then perhaps, she could fill in the resultant gap.
Ranma would be easy, she just had to craft a scene and discover that the "sorcerer" Saotome was in fact a demon shape-changer himself, seducing Lord Thunder with her foul and false beauty.
Tendo Akane, however, that girl would prove troublesome. But there had to be something she could find. These Japanese valued ancestery so much, especially her intended lord...perhaps a study along those lines.
"My thanks, holy one," Kuno said. "And now we must..."
"Hold, Lord Thunder!" she declared. "They expect you to attack now...we must wait and gather strength and organization. The next battle against the evil must not be a disorganized mob. We need an army."
"Indeed," Kuno agreed after a moments thought. "A mob is nothing to trained soldiers. And such is what we'd be facing. Only a fool would charge blindly into such a trap. And think you that the Blue Thunder is a fool?!"
"Oh no, my lord," Sucaifu-miko said humbly, bowing in apology. Her thoughts were entirely the reverse. ~Oh yes, my lord.~
****
Peter Parker frowned as he looked at the newspaper. First there had been those Marines arrested for rape and now some madman had appeared in Japan seeking to cleanse it of all foreigners.
Anti-foreign sentiment was rising in Japan, among the dissatisfied mostly, and he would soon be over there, with only a brief study in Japanese to help him.
He sighed. At least he had his last final tomorrow, and he had seen news footage borrowed from Japan of the riot. Kumobara certainly had his powers it seemed. But how did she get them?
****
"Shall we attack now?" someone asked.
"Not yet," the shadowy figure said. "Attempt to make contact with this 'Blue Thunder' let us attempt to cooridnate our efforts in this regard."
****
"Man," Ukyou said, lying back in the hot water at the public baths. "I'm beat."
"You work too hard, Kuonji-san," an older voice said. She looked over to see an old woman also soaking in the baths. It was one of her regular costumers and she nodded as a friendly response. "I can see the marks from here. You're a young girl, school, work, supporting yourself. You need to find someone to help you."
"Thanks Jungo-san," she said. "But I have to eat you know."
"True," the old woman said. "But you aren't Miss Amazing, you know."
"Excuse me?" Ukyou said. "Who?"
"Miss Amazing," the old woman said. "She's one of those heroes that fought those awful hooligans at that riot yesterday. Right alongside our own Saotome Ranma." She said that with a note of pride.
The old woman didn't notice the warm and grateful look that spread of Ukyou's face as she relaxed further.
"Thanks again," she said. "I'll try to keep that in mind."
****
Kin "Ryu" Nocturne was finished with his preparations. He would be ready to leave soon, and then the Blue Thunder would face the Steel Dragon.
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(Posted Tue, 17 Dec 2002 21:37)
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