The relationship between the youngest son of the Great Bear and the beautiful Scorpion was a rich subject of controversy, rumor, and blatant conspiracy theory in the Hida stronghold, and the source of a never ending aggravation for the Crab Champion, who saw her closeness to her son as a danger to the clan.
She couldn’t blame them. In fact, she would have considered them idiots if they didn’t. She was a Scorpion. He clan was rightfully infamous for duplicity. The masks they wore on their faces were an open reflection of the masks they wore over their souls. They were the spy masters and assassins of the Emerald Empire, and their reputation was well earned.
There was only really one thing Kyoko was ever totally honest about: her feelings for Hida Ranma. She had never felt such intense love for another human before.
She remembered when she first arrive at Kyuden Hida two years ago. The young Hida had become instantly smitten with her beauty, falling deeply in lust with her. Considering it an advantage, she attempted to manipulate him, but found that he possessed an indomitable will and intense charisma. A dangerous combination.
She didn’t know why she had kept her coming back to him in the first few months that she was at Kyuden Hida. Was it his charisma, was it her refusal to back down from the challenge he represented, or was it the fact that lustful or not, he was the only person Crab or otherwise in the castle that actually treated her with any overtures of friendship.
Ranma and she would talk for hours on end on a wide range of subjects. At first she found him to be an enigma. While like almost all Crab he was lacking in the social graces, he possessed an exceptionally kind an well meaning nature. He was honest, but he understood and possessed a gift for subterfuge.
He understood the great sacrifice of her clan, and he compared it to his own. For the good of the Empire the Scorpion, mask themselves in deceit and lies, sacrificing all their honor and respectability. The Crab are the same. For the good of the empire they live in a constant state of war, never knowing the peace or prosperity of the other clans, not having time for social grace, and for this they are treated as barbarians.
It was her talks with Ranma, the endless hours she spend with him, his kindness, and just his honesty with her that made her fall head over heals in love with the youth.
Now her heart felt as if it was going to rip of her chest. He beloved was on the edge of death, and there was nothing she could do to ease his pain. His father wouldn’t even allow her to see him; for fear that she would poison him.
There was so much they had left undone. Despite their attraction they had never kiss or made love. She hadn’t even told her that she loved him, or shown him her true face!
Kyoko looked across her room, at her daisho. If the Phoenix failed, and Ranma died, she would commit seppuku and she would join him in death...
“Bayushi-sama!”
The Bayushi maiden wiped around, and glared at the servant who dared interrupt her grieving.
“What?” hissed the Scorpion maiden.
“Ranma-sama, he is awake! He is healed!”
Without as much as a word to the servant, she tore off in the direction of Ranma’s room.
----------------------
Hida Ranma slowly exited his room. He was still tired, and weak… at least by his high standards.
He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. He just wanted out of that damn room. Maybe a meal, some practice to help him get back into fighting condition, or as the part of his personality that was one Hida Jiro demanded, some time on the wall to show the Shadowlands that not even Fu Leng himself could stop THIS Crab!
In the end it was fate that made up his mind, for as he circled a corner in the room, he literally ran into his speeding woman.
Both of them landed on their asses with a loud thump.
“Ranma! Are you alright?!” cried Kyoko, as she all but flew to his side, looking to make sure he was okay.
Ranma growled and jumped to his feet. “Don’t worry Kyo-chan, I’m FINE.”
Kyoko stood up next to him, and looked over him. “Ranma-sama, why are you out of bed? You must be very weak...”
Ranma’s eyes narrowed and he snapped at her in the traditional crab fashion. “The four year difference in our age doesn’t make you my mother!” He paused for a moment, then added, “I’m okay. I just had to get out of that room!”
Kyoko smiled and put her arms around him. “Ranma, I... I was so afraid that I’d lose you.”
“Shh... Kyo-chan, I’m okay...” replied Ranma.
Tears slowly began to flow from the beautiful Scorpion’s eyes. “Ranma, I... lets find some place private. We need to talk.”
Ranma nodded, and pulled her into an empty bedroom off from the main hall. Kyoko sat on the futon and looked at Ranma, beckoning him to sit next to her.
“Ranma, I have something to show you,” she stated.
Ranma blinked. “What?”
Without another word, she reached behind her heat to the fine silk cord holding her mask in place. The masks she wore were designed to hide the wearer’s true appearance while still letting them know that she possessed great beauty.
With a single tug she untied the mask and let it fall.
Ranma jumped back, surprised by her display. Slowly, he reached his hound out, caressing the soft skin of her cheek.
“Kyoko, your beautiful...”
Kyoko blushed deeply and looked him in the eyes. “Ranma, if you had died, I would have joined you. I... I love you Ranma.”
Ranma looked her in the eyes. “Kyoko, I love you too...”
Without another word, they kissed.
What next?
See other episodes by PsyckoSama
(Posted Wed, 23 Oct 2002 07:57)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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