Nyuchezuu no Senshi, Ranma Chapter Second In Which Our Hero Escapes An Engagement ``Saotome Nodoka?'' The woman who answered the door nods. ``I need to talk to you. My name is Saotome Ranma.'' The woman, Nodoka, almost facefaults. ``Come in, please.'' She waves the three of us inside, and Hibaachan finds a seat next to the table. ``Could I have a glass of hot water?'' Nodoka nods, and I follow her into the kitchen, leaving Oyaji with Hibaachan, who can keep him out of trouble. Re-entering the room I note that Oyaji has pulled out a set of clothing, and pour the hot water over his head. ``Genma?!'' Nodoka's voice shakes as she says the name. ``That's him. I found this,'' I pull the promise from my own pack and show it to her, ``in his pack. If I hadn't I don't think I would have ever realized that I have a mother. I think we have fulfilled the spirit of the promise, if not the word.'' I proceed to tell her about Jusenkyou and everything that had happened since, not leaving out the way I had to coerce Oyaji to make him come along. -`If you come along you may be forced to commit seppuku. If you don't Hibaachan and I will use you for a practice dummy. Choose.'- ``That is quite a tale. Can you prove any of it?'' ``Only the skills I've learned,'' I fish mid-sized lump of concrete that I'd stashed in my pack out, and place it on the table. I tap it once, and it breaks into two large pieces and a pile of dust. I pick up one piece, and tap it twelve times, leaving a single kanji carved into the smooth face, the strokes of the character an even five millimeters deep. I give the last piece a single tap, and it disolves into a hundred pieces, not counting the pile of dust that forced it apart. ``And that I look too much like you for it to be coincidence. Oyaji would have nothing to gain from this, and far too much to lose for it to be a hoax on his part.'' Nodoka picks up the large chunk, looks at the character for `mother' that I can't quite figure out why I wrote, and starts to cry. ``My son, you have come back to me!'' She wraps me in her arms, the chunk of concrete in her right hand digging into my back, and squeezes me tightly. ``I can't stay, I'm sorry. Oyaji set up two arranged marriages for me, and I need to deal with both of them. I'll come back after I've done that, OK?'' She nods against my shoulder. ``When you are ready I'd like to introduce my sensei.'' She calms after a while and lets go of me. ``I assume she's the one drinking tea?'' ``Yes. Hibaachan, this is Saotome Nodoka. Nodoka, this is Joketsuzoku no Obaba, my Amazon great-grandmother.'' The two women bow in greeting to each other. **** ``Hibaachan, who should we contact first?'' ``I'd say the Masakis, as they seem to have been drawn into this on a sort of spur of the moment thing.'' ``And thus it will be easiest to talk them out of it.'' **** ``Nodoka-mama, I'll be back in a week or three. Keep Oyaji out of trouble, please.'' ``You should know how hard that is.'' ``I wouldn't ask it of anyone I didn't trust to be capable of it.'' She blushes at the compliment. **** ``Tenchi? No, he's off visiting his Grandfather. His father went with him. Sure, here's the address.'' **** ``I'm Masaki Noboyuki, can I help you?'' ``Yeah. My father arranged a marriage between me and your son before I was born. I wish to annul the agreement.'' ``I'd forgotten all about that. Talk to Tenchi, I'm sure it'll be all right with him.'' **** ``What? An arranged marriage? Of course I'll let you out of it. You have to spar with me in the morning, though.'' ``Why?'' ``I've never even heard of Chinese Amazons before, and I'd love the chance to learn from them.'' ``Would you like,'' Obaba speaks up, ``me to spar with you?'' Tenchi's face lights up. ``Of course.'' **** *Kyaa this is boring. I'd never realized how un-fun it is to watch other people do sword forms.* I wander off, up the stairs towards the shrine. *Maybe I'll make an offering* I wander about the shrine for a few moments, notice a small cat, black with brown trim, and stop to talk to her. I suddenly realize what I am doing and the sense of loss slams down on me again. My tears blur a well-trod path into the woods, which I follow, taking care not to leave too many footprints. *What is this? It looks really interesting, whatever it is* I enter the little cave, curiosity overriding grief, follow it into the rock. The locked gate makes me pause for a moment, then I decide that destroying one link wouldn't be too rude. I touch the link on the left side of the ancient padlock. The steel chain reacts differently than the stone I am used to, and melts. I carefully open the gate, keeping away from the hot steel. A little ways farther inside is a smallish room with some prayer-wrapped stones, a rock seemingly hanging un-supported by the ceiling, and a rope tied from one side of the room to the other, wrapped about the rock in the middle. At the very back I there is a little shrine, so I look inside, seeing what looks like a sword. It doesn't seem to be connected to anything, so I pull it out, draw it with a single smooth tug, note the very rusty blade, and give it a few experimental swings to get a feel for the balance of it. On the fifth swing the blade pops off and hits one of the stones on the floor, which breaks evenly in half. Suddenly a bad feeling assults me. *Oh dear, this could be really bad. What would Oyaji do? Cover up what he did and run.* I calm myself as the stone in the middle of the room falls far too slowly to the floor, and the back wall opens. I stuff the sword hilt under my belt at the small of my back, go through the door and slide down a water-slick slope into a larger room. The only light is from the glowing floor tiles, and a brighter light in the center of the room. Something changes about the light as I walk to the center of the room, look into the water, and feel the presence of another being. I step closer, hoping to be able to see what is under the surface, and see a terribly wrinkled figure with an oni mask on, and the presence shows a lot of interest in me. ``Is that you, in there, that I'm feeling?'' The presence indicates that it is. I contemplate the feelings I get from the presence, and decide. ``Would you like me to help you out?'' I get another affirmative responce. ``Yosh!'' I call, reaching into the glowing water. It bubbles, and a hand reaches up and grabs mine. The presence takes on a definately female tone as I pull her out, take off the mask. She improves even as I hold her in my arms, opening her eyes after a few moments. ``Thank you.'' ``Your welcome. What's your name?'' ``Ryouko. Yours?'' ``Ranma.'' I hold her for a while longer, the wrinkles smoothing as I watch, more emotion coming into her eyes, her presence getting stronger. ``If we don't get out of here soon they'll worry about me.'' ``Lead on.'' Her hair has turned a pale cyan and she waves me toward the entrance. ``Can you stand?'' She tries, but fails. ``OK, put your arms about my neck, and your legs about my waist.'' She manages, and I drag us both out of the back of the cave. I find Tenchi and his Grandfather waiting with Hibaachan at the entrance to the cave. They all look a little bit scared, and Youshou remains scared even after I come into view with Ryouko. ``What is it?'' I ask. ``Do you know anything about this place?'' ``No, not really.'' ``There was a demon trapped in here seven hundred years ago.'' ``I didn't feel anything evil, but she,'' I wave at Ryouko, who is still on my back, ``was in some sort of pool in the back of the cave.'' **** *That was really weird* I continue eating dinner, watching Ryouko eat and everyone else watch Ryouko. *They all freaked out, except Hibaachan, at that, then they started to calm down and Ryouko opened her eyes and they freaked out again. Ryouko has the most beautiful eyes, big hands, broad shoulders . . .* ``Granddaughter, are you going to eat that?'' Hibaachan is looking at the small slice of pickled ginger that is drying on my chopsticks while I admire Ryouko. I eat it quickly, gather my courage and offer Ryouko a piece, since she has eaten all of hers. She looks me in the eyes *Bliss* before leaning forward to eat it off my chopsticks. It strikes me as a _very_ good sign. **** ``You seem to be quite skilled in the arts.'' Ryouko comments. ``I keep in shape.'' I demure, as pleased as I would have been if Laoshen had complimented me. ``Would you spar with me? I've not had a chance to practice in quite a while.'' She makes a gesture towards the door. ``Sure. What style to you use?'' I walk out into the yard, slide the door closed after Ryouko exits. ``I don't really. I tend to just go about shredding things.'' She smiles at me. ``How?'' She holds her hand out and forms a fireball in a very flashy manner, then stretches it into a sword. ``Kakkoii!'' ``Do you do any unarmed forms? I don't think my bokutou will last very long against that.'' ``That thing you grabbed,'' ``The sword?'' ``Yeah, it's called a master key. Amoung other stuff it is a beam sword.'' I fish the thing out of my belt and look it over again. ``How's it work?'' ``You just think about it being a sword with an energy blade, I'd think. That's how those things normally work.'' I feel for a presence from the blade, finally feeling something, and tweak it. Instantly the crumbly cloth that had been wrapped about the hilt disintegrates and a hundred and fifty centimeter green blade appears. ``You've got a really long sword for such a small girl.'' That makes me break out laughing as the etchi connotations hit. ``What's so funny?'' ``What you just said.'' ``Why?'' I get my laughter under control and explain the innuendo. As I explain she suddenly gets it and bursts out laughing as well. I suddenly realize that this was the first time I'd laughed since the meeting of the elders. ``Let's spar.'' She nods, calling her sword into being. I light the master key's blade again, bow to her, and settle into a guard position. Ryouko makes a beserker charge, and I only barely manage to parry, almost taking the top of Ryouko's head off. I drop to the ground and douse the key's blade. ``No more live practice. I almost died there, and that wouldn't do you any good.'' She nods, so I continue ``I think we can bum a bokutou for you, which will work fine for practice and keep both of our skins intact.'' I turn to look towards Nyuchezuu village, and to the north see a pillar of light. ``What is that?'' ``Yabai.'' ``What is it? Bad isn't very discriptive.'' ``It's Youshou's starship reporting on my release.'' ``Tenchi's grandfather's _starship?_'' My voice rises to a yell on the last word. ``Come to think of it, he is.'' Ryouko ruffles the hair on the back of her head, embarrased. ``OK, tell me what the heck is going on, please?'' Ryouko sits down on the grass and waves for me to sit down too. Greatly daring I sit myself in her lap. She looks like she's going to protest for an instant, then wraps her arms around me and pulls me close, beginning her tale. Quite a bit later I look into her gorgeous gold eyes and paraphrase, ``So you're a space pirate that Tenchi's grandfather chased here after you trashed his home city? And you think that someone is going to come after you because of that signal, and you want me to stick around and watch over your hide?'' ``I didn't say that last bit.'' ``I felt it. Did I get it all correct?'' I feel her nod more than see it, and wrap my arms around her before kissing her lightly on the lips. ``What was that for?'' ``I'll watch over you. How long do you think we have before trouble shows up?'' ``Anywhere between a couple days and a week, not likely much longer.'' I nod, stand up and offer her my hand. She takes it and I pull her to her feet. ``Let's go see if Youshou has a copy of the Star Wars trilogy.'' ``What's that?'' ``Three movies that I told Hibaachan I'd show her.'' I explain what a movie is as we walk back to the house. **** ``Hmmm, this seems a lot like Zanji in many ways.'' I look at Hibaachan, who elaborates, ``Zanji is a very mystical art that I learned when I was about your age, granddaughter, and I think you might actually be able to learn it. To quote the movie, `the force is strong in you.''' She actually giggles before turning back to watching Luke attempt to block the training-drone's attacks. I fall asleep about midway through the third movie, and my last memories of the night are Hibaachan patting me on the head and Ryouko snuggling up closer against me. **** ``You do know what that thing is, right, child?'' I look up at Youshou, then understand what he's talking about. ``This?'' I pull the master key from where I've half-decided to keep it, stuffed under my belt at the small of my back, and light it. ``Good. It's name is Tenchi; I hope it will serve you as well as it served me.'' He bows to Ryouko and Hibaachan, and they both bow back. ``Take care!'' Tenchi calls from the doorway, wiping his hands on his apron. ``You too!'' I wave, then pick up my pack and settle it on my back. I look back at the shrine one last time, then hurry after Ryouko and Hibaachan. **** ``What are those metal loops in your ears? Energy collectors?'' ``No, they are to remind me of my friends when they aren't about.'' ``Oh. Is one of them for me?'' That makes me smile, ``No, you haven't given me one. If you get me one I'll get you one. How's that?'' ``Cool. How do you get them in?'' ``Laoshen used a needle. It hurts a bit.'' ``Oh.'' I turn around to watch her come to terms with that; her face goes through the most interesting expressions. ``What are you thinking now?'' ``Where can one steal one of those loops?'' ``One can't steal them. If one does it defeats the purpose.'' She looks totally disappointed. ``So, where can I buy you one?'' ``They should be _made._ One buys the wire and bends it.'' Ryouko's face looks so distraught that I have to laugh. I stop when I realize she is crying. ``What's wrong?'' I rush over to her, grab her hands and press them. ``I can't make things.'' _That_ is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard. ``_Anyone_ can make things. Anyone. Take this piece of grass,'' I let go of her hands long enough to hand her a long strand that I pull loose from a convenient clump, ``and split it into three parts,'' she stares at it blankly, so I pull another piece, ``like this,'' I tear the grass between strands and pull, making first two, then three pieces, ``then tie a knot at one end. . .'' I sit there attempting to teach her to braid, and Hibaachan finally notices and comes back. She starts braiding grass while I work with Ryouko, coaching, encouraging, but being very careful not to touch her work. ``See? You made something.'' She looks very un-impressed. ``What is it?'' ``Whatever you want it to be, within limits of course. It would make a nice hair ornament for someone you like, or it could be the beginning of a fishing line, or a bracelet.'' She looks at it again, perhaps seeing the possibilities I mentioned. ``Would,'' she takes a deep breath, ``You wear this?'' ``Is that an offer?'' she nods almost imperceptibly. I smile up at her, pull a centimeter-thick strand of hair loose and comb it down by my ear. She passes over the strand she had braided, and I braid it loosely into the hair by my ear, ``Thank you.'' I smile again, and kiss her lightly on the lips. ``Could I tie your hair back with this one?'' I hold up the short rope of grass I had braided, and again recieve that almost imperceptible nod. I carefully comb her wild mane of hair, gathering it all at the back of her neck where I tie the rope around it, letting the ends dangle a little bit lower than her hair. **** ``Haaargh!'' I almost scream, the pain shooting up from my groin even as I double over. ``You left yourself open.''Obaba glares at me, annoyed, while Ryouko frets. I pull myself together, fight the pain down, then get to my feet again. ``I thought that kind of thing only worked on guys.'' ``Then it's a good thing you learned this now, isn't it.'' I nod. ``Then that is enough training for you today. Ryouko?'' she looks up, ``your turn.'' **** We sit down, short of breath, my hands, at best, a little numb from the bokutou. As my breath slows I ask, ``What do you know of this `master key' of mine?'' ``Not much. They can only be passed between `similar' owners, and will react badly with anyone who isn't `similar' enough.'' ``What do you mean by `similar?''' Hibaachan asks. ``That's just how I was told it.'' ``And what do you mean by `bad?''' I ask her, slightly worried. ``Let me show you.'' She pushes my head down and pulls the key from my belt. I sit up very quickly, and a bright flash of light flares from the key. Ryouko drops it with a stifled gasp of pain. I stuff it back under my belt one-handed while I reach for Ryouko's hand with the other, then gasp at the blisters on her palm and fingers. Hibaachan's lessons over the last week and a half flood into the forefront of my thoughts, and I act before letting myself think about it, reaching out and feeling for her wound, canceling the pain before attempting to speed her healing. Instants later her hand is as good as new, and I blink at her, coming out of the trance. ``You didn't need to do that. I heal very fast.'' Ryouko takes my hand in hers and squeezes it lightly. ``Didn't take that much energy,'' I protest, yawning. ``After she's had more practice she won't pass out from a healing,'' I hear Hibaachan say before I drop off. I wake draped over someone's shoulders, my pack under my left side. I open my eyes to check the hair brushing against my face. Ryouko's carrying me is very reasuring for some reason. I settle back to sleep. When I wake again Ryouko is setting me down on the ground, and I blink muzzily at her as she sets my pack down next to me. ``Don't worry, I agreed to cook dinner,'' she laughs as I struggle to wake up and keep her from ruining more of our food, ``Hibaachan will be guiding me this time, don't worry so!'' ``That's right, you go back to sleep.'' Hibaachan's reasurance is enough, so I curl about my pack to watch. ``Wake up, kawaiko-chan,'' Ryouko shakes me lightly by one shoulder; whatever she cooked actually smells good. ``That's a good sign.'' ``What?'' ``It doesn't smell evil this time.'' ``Was it really that bad? I thought it smelled good.'' ``You're a space alien.'' ``So?'' ``Humans have a narrower band of `edible.' 'least you liked it.'' ``This tastes even better, and Hibaachan pronounced it `passible,' so I'm rather proud of it.'' ``It isn't as good as you would have made, but it is good.'' I look away from Ryouko's face to see Hibaachan had set out dishes. I shake the remaining after effects off and snag a bowl. log: the first two parts of this were written in a single rush, sometime in the fall of 97, I think. 1999 Sept 6: fixed some stupid typos