The Tendô dôjô…
"Come in, Onê-chan."
The door to Nabiki's room opened and closed behind Kasumi, and then she locked the door to ensure that the two lovers cavorting in the bedroom of the youngest sister would not barge in — not that Kasumi or Nabiki believed that Akane or Shampoo would really care too much about them — and overhear something they wouldn't like.
Something that very soon, they would have no ability to influence.
Kasumi sat down on her sister's bed and relaxed. "So Kanami-chan is now on a date with Tsueko-san. How long will she be gone?"
"Whole day, I think. Perhaps even two days since it's the weekend," Nabiki reported as she tapped keys on her computer, her eyes scanning through the various bank accounts she had set up over the years — all in her father's name and legally under his control, of course, though he didn't have any sort of clue as to what went on within those accounts — to ensure that a steady cash flow came into the Tendô home, especially given the dearth of students learning under Sôun along with the increased expenses three houseguests (soon to drop to none, Nabiki hoped) had forced on things like food budgets and repair bills. "The times Kanami's spent away from home whenever she's been bashed out to where Tsueko lives, either up in Gunma or now with her cousin over in Kimitsu, have become longer and longer as time goes on. It's a lucky thing Akane and Tô-chan don't really clue in to the fact that Kanami's 'she's just getting stronger and stronger' excuse is really becoming harder to accept."
"Sometimes I think Otô-san wouldn't really understand what it would mean if Akane-chan actually did go public with her relationship with Shampoo-chan and Ukyô-chan," Kasumi noted. "The only thing that would shock him for sure is Kanami-chan leaving us."
"Not to mention rigging it in such a way that neither Oji-chan or his wife…" — Ever since certain revelations had been given to the middle Tendô daughter by Ranma himself thanks to Tsueko Mago's mother, she refused to address Nodoka Saotome as "aunt" even when in her presence — "…could stop it from happening." Nabiki then smirked. "Then again, Tô-chan would have a heart attack if he learned that Oji-chan was actually going along with what Kanami-chan planned."
"For good reasons," Kasumi reminded her.
"Hai, for very good reasons," Nabiki agreed. "Not that Tô-chan doesn't need this finally." She breathed out. "I'm SICK of being the person that has to run the finances of this place, Onê-chan! I'm SICK of being the one that has to make sure we don't get thrown out of the place in case the taxes don't get paid or some other bill grows to the point where we can't afford it anymore!" She leaned back in her chair. "I have my life to live! You have your life to live! Hell, even Akane has her life to live! And if it wasn't for us two being under the age of majority…!"
Hands fell on her shoulders to give them a warm squeeze. "Calm down, Nabiki," Kasumi urged her, a smile crossing her face. "It's already been changed for the better. Kanami-chan helped us there, remember? If it gets out of hand, we can stop it now."
A nod. "Yeah, we can." A sigh. "Sorry, Nê-chan. This is just getting to me." A chuckle. "I can guess what Kanami's feeling right now. She'll be happier than hell to be finally out of this place once and for all come next month."
"Not that she won't be gone forever, of course."
"Yeah, that's true. I'll miss her." A smirk. "Hell, right now, I damn hell miss that naïve, handsome, dumb jock she was until she learned the truth about Akane and his other 'fiancées,' then met Tsueko and finally started learning about some of the hard facts of life. It's been fun, but I suppose it's got to end sooner or later."
"At least for those who matter to Kanami-chan the most, it just becomes something newer and better," Kasumi noted. "And hopefully Kanami-chan will help all her new friends get away with what's been hurting them for so long."
Nabiki laughed. "Oh, don't worry about that, Onê-chan! If there's one person who could bring the 'romance' of the Sangoku to a final end, it's Ranma Saotome." A wink. "Soon to be Kanami Hayashi." A smirk. "After all, Kanami Hayashi never loses!"
Both girls broke out in laughter…
In one of the guest rooms…
"Sounds to me that Kasumi-chan and Nabiki-chan are pretty happy that your daughter's got the chance to go visit her cute girlfriend today, Genma."
Hearing that, Genma chuckled as he adjusted his glasses. "They're happy for a whole host of reasons, Master. Very soon, we'll no longer be imposing on them and they'll be finally free to live their lives as they want, not as Sôun has forced on them ever since Kimiko-san died." He and Happôsai were enjoying tea as the latter busied himself ironing his newest collection of silky darlings before he would put them away and retire for a few hours before going out on his afternoon rounds. "It's a pity that we have to force this on Sôun, but given how badly he's fallen…"
The grandmaster of Musabetsu Kakutô-ryû dismissed that with a wave of his hand. "He has to see reality for what it is, Genma. You've supported him both physically and spiritually for far too long. There was no way that any sort of real union between the 'schools' as he envisions it even now could happen, especially given the low priority Akane-chan places on studying the Art these days." A snort. "A spoiled princess at heart. She saw your child as her protector until Shampoo-chan and Ukyô-chan came along, and then she got them as her protectors." A shake of the head. "So much potential and it's being totally wasted away right in front of our eyes."
"Agreed," Genma stated with a nod. "And as Akane stagnated, Ranma pressed himself all the way to heights even I couldn't have imagined to him." He stared out the window at the front lawn of the Tendô property. "Meeting Haeko-chan's and Katahiko-kun's daughter was a heaven-sent gift from the gods! For both of them!"
A nod. "True. If Tsueko-chan moved to Nan'yô as blind as Haeko-chan was going to leave her until Ranma got involved, she might've been eaten alive, especially by the really powerful tôshi like that Tsukasa girl down in Kanagawa." A shake of the head. "It still baffles me that the girls in Seito haven't kicked that Koro girl off her ass and forced her to realise what's inside her now!"
"Loyalties from centuries ago," Genma noted. "Understandable when it is earned. And I agree; Koro hasn't done much of a damned thing to earn the loyalty of people like Seki, Koeru and Haru." A sigh. "Well, if my child could do it with Tsueko, he can do it with the book-lover. Not to mention the beach girl and the maid."
A cackle. "Mimôko-chan first, I think. They will be schoolmates."
"Hai."
"You've talked to Haeko-chan about new living arrangements yet?"
"Not yet. When Sôun's drunk enough tonight, I'll slip him into his bedroom, then head off to Minakami for a day to visit Haeko-chan. I doubt Nodoka will notice."
"No, she wants to get her home rebuilt, then find some way to get her 'son' into it so she could brainwash him like she was brainwashed by her parents when she was growing up," Happôsai noted with a snort. "You should have listened to your father, Genma."
"These days, I can't help but feel that is the truth, Master…"
Meanwhile, at the Kunô estate…
"It is confirmed, Mistress."
Hearing that, Kodachi took a moment to absorb that information, and then she nodded before taking her cup of tea and sipping from it. "Ranma-sama has finally decided to let go of her three so-called 'fiancées' and seek the love of the Water Dragon?"
"It is a love earned already, Mistress," Sasuke Sarugakure stated with a deep bow. "It was Mistress Ranma who helped Mago-ojôsama master the power of her dragon, not to mention improve her skills to the point where she is the equal in power and prowess to Seki-ojôsama and Koeru-ojôsama at Seito, not to mention Sebone-ojôsama at Rakuyô. And Tsukasa-ojôsama at Kyoshô once she fully awakens to the power of her dragon."
"And that ultimately depends on the puppet mistress at Rakuyô and what she decides to do concerning her control of the other schools," Kodachi finished for her servant, and then she sighed. "His Majesty wishes this madness that has killed and maimed so many over the years since the first of those damned magatama came to our shores to finally come to an end once and for all. With as minimal amount of casualties as possible!" She sighed. "I do pray that Ranma-sama succeeds in helping the other dragons master their powers as Kumomi-sama has mastered hers. Before it's too late."
Sasuke nodded. He and Kodachi both were aware of what was soon to befall the woman known to her peers as Hôsen Ryofu. "Is your research concerning Sebone-ojôsama's illness progressing in any way, Mistress?"
"Not as much as I would like," Kodachi admitted. "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an ugly disease with many people researching it worldwide." She shook her head. "It amazes me that people such as Hawkings-hakase and Becker-sensei are still able to live their lives as much as they could without the ability to walk, talk and everything else we take for granted!" A deep sigh. "A beautiful and noble warrior like Shikuko-sama must not be allowed to succumb to such a fate! To allow it to happen to someone so powerful, so graceful and skilled as her would be an insult to all she is!"
"You will succeed, Mistress," the elderly ninja assured her with a smile and a bow. "And if you do not, there are those available who could assist you in that end. Cologne-sama, of course; she is now aware of what has happened to Mistress Ranma. And if Mistress Ranma befriends Sebone-ojôsama through her cousin attending Nan'yô, you will have Mistress Ranma's support to gain the help of the Nyûjiézú."
A nod. "True. Perhaps it is best for me to visit Cologne-sama when she has the time to spare for me. Go see her and ask for a convenient time so that we don't alert her great-granddaughter, much less the blind fool trying to woo her, as to what is truthfully is happening right now with Ranma-sama."
A bow. "I will do so now, Mistress."
And at the Nekohanten…
"So it is true. Shän's husband has fully embraced his curse."
"Fully and totally, old friend." Taking a deep pull on her pipe, Cologne could only smile as she gazed on her visitor. They were both conversing in the ancient version of Mandarin that was still spoken this day in their home village far in the mountains of Qïnghâi. Currently, they were in Cologne's sitting room/study, wards set up to ensure the younger ones living here did not hear what she needed to talk about with her current guest. "How ironic it is, isn't it, cousin? She came to our village fresh from Zhòuquán-xiäng, forced into a falsehood by the Fates Themselves. And now she sees that curse she gained from Zhòuquán-xiäng as the only truth she can cling onto." A chuckle. "Truly the Goddesses have a strange sense of humour."
"There is still a chance to bring her into the tribe, cousin," the other woman, equally as old and as diminutive as her host, though possessing longer hair done up in a very useful thick braid. Mêisï Nyû — people who couldn't pronounce her name properly often called her "Mist," much to the poor woman's continuous consternation! — was one of Cologne's co-elders on the council governing all of the Nyûjiézú. She had come to Japan just a few days ago to get an update from her beloved cousin and co-elder concerning what was happening with the warrior who had taken down the immortal lord of the Phoenix Mountain near the Valley of Sorrows.
Mist had not come close to expecting what she now knew, Cologne mused to herself.
Oh, well…
"It must be done as blood-sisterhood, Mêisï."
The other woman's eyes narrowed. "Why do you say that, Kelun?"
Cologne closed her eyes. "Because one cursed by the souls of the Sänguó who was born and raised in this land — one also touched by the soul and power of a dragon from Heaven itself — now claims Ranma not just as mate. But as treasure."
Silence.
"Wh-wh-what…?!"
Mist had nearly collapsed off her staff to the floor, the shock she felt on hearing her cousin's words overwhelmed her that much.
"It is true."
More silence.
"Dear Goddess! That poor child!"
"Aye, both of them," Cologne stated. "Not just Ranma but the one touched by the soul of the Little Conqueror himself."
Still more silence.
"CÈ SÜN?!" Mist cried out.
Cologne nodded. "Aye. It is he. Or SHE, as the one lives in this day and age." A chuckle. "Thanks to Shän's lover hitting him with her ki mallet, Ranma was sent right into a confrontation between Tsueko Mago — that is Lord Bófú's name in this life — and another touched by the dark spirits of the Sänguó who sought battle with her. Ranma didn't approve of the use of finger-claws against an unarmed opponent, and thus thrashed the fool soundly for such dishonourable actions (as she saw it). When the Lady Tsueko noted that, she begged Ranma for lessons. That is where it began."
Hearing that, Mist nodded in approval. "One of young Ranma's good points, indeed." A sigh. "While there are many among the Council who will be very disappointed in this, the laws are quite clear. Once one even affiliated with those touched by the unending madness of the Sänguó is identified to us, we must keep them at a distance." A smile. "Besides, Shän is now very close to two good warriors, even if one wastes her potential away. We'll have to correct that as soon as we get them home."
"It may still be some time, Mêisï. Shän still has a wanderlust within her and it will take time to convince Ukyô and Akane to come join us. I think our chances are very good." Cologne's eyes then narrowed. "And we can still keep Ranma's friendship if you do as I suggest. Perhaps even more so, win the Lady Tsueko's friendship and those of her companions who will soon march under her banner. We should not waste the opportunity."
Mist hummed as she considered that, and then she slowly nodded. "Be very careful towards that end, cousin. I will not see the village threatened."
"I'm well aware of the risks…"
A knock. "Elders?"
"What is it, child?" Cologne called out.
"Forgive me for interrupting you, Elder, but the shadow-servant of the Lady Kodachi Kunô is here to deliver a message from her," Mousse reported.
Cologne blinked, and then she nodded. "I will receive him soon."
"I understand, Elder."
And now…
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(Posted Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:22)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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