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* Illuminations *
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* A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction *
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* By Freemage *
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*Author's Note: This story draws on both the anime and the manga.
This is a dark story, with several sexually suggestive scenes,
although no outright Lemon scenes. If such material offends or
disturbs you, please consider not reading this story--Unless, of
course, you like being offended and/or disturbed....
Also, if you are bothered by scenes of Panda abuse, you may wish
to skip the next couple of chapters....
Thoughts are denoted by {X}, text/Pand signs by [X].*
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* Chapter Fifteen *
* Rising Storms *
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Ranma-chan and Akane arrived home just as Kasumi was coming
out. She looked at them and smiled. "Oh, wonderful. _Ranko_,"
she said, stressing the pseudonym just enough so that they would
know who was still within earshot, "you're just in time. Nabiki
called, and said that Ryouga was visiting her at the hospital.
She asked if you could go and pick him up. I guess he asked to
stay in the Dojo tonight." She handed him one of Ryouga's
outfits.
Ranma-chan shrugged. "Sure, I guess I could do that. Um...
Do either of you... That is, I was wondering if you could think
of...." Her voice failing, Ranma-chan just looked at the urn
she had carried back from the crematoria.
Akane spoke up. "We can put it in a place of honor in the
Dojo. That way, I know you'll get to visit it at least once a
day."
Ranma-chan nodded. "Umm... Thanks, Akane. I, well, I
appreciate all you've done, ya' know?"
Smiling softly, the youngest Tendou responded, "You're
welcome. She was my friend, too. Do you want me to come with
you to the hospital?"
The redhead looked thoughtful for a moment. "No, that's OK.
I think I could use a little time alone, actually. Could
you...?" She left the question unfinished, but again, Akane
understood immediately.
"Sure. I'll have it set up by the time you two get back.
I'm sure Ryouga wants to pay his respects, too."
"Thanks, again." Handing the urn to her fiancee, Ranma-chan
turned back to the dusk and headed for the hospital.
As they headed for the Dojo, Akane asked Kasumi, "Why did you
give Ra-Ranko Ryouga's clothes, if he's coming back here,
anyway?"
"I'm not sure, Nabiki told me to send them. When I asked her
why, she just started snickering and saying something about a
draft."
"Wierd...."
**********************************************************
After they finished setting up the small shrine in the Dojo
(which included a spatula-filled bandolier Kasumi had found on
the floor of Ranma's room the night Ukyou had been injured), the
two sisters returned to the house.
Just as they entered the family room, Nodoka Saotome entered
from the kitchen, bearing a tray laden with a teapot and cups.
"Ah, just in time." She paused, looking at Soun and "Mr. Panda"
at the Go board. "You know, I would almost think Mr. Panda knew
the rules."
Soun laughed with more enthusiasm than the situation called
for. "Oh, no, Nodoka, my dear lady. This poor, dumb beast just
mimics what the person sitting opposite of him does. Why, watch
this--" he stopped speaking for a moment as he rearranged the
pieces, in a manner that greatly improved his own position.
"See? The pathetic animal doesn't have the slightest clue about
how the game is really played. Why, I doubt he has the
intelligence of a common houseplant, really."
He leaned over the board and gripped both of Genma-Panda's
cheeks, like some sort demented aunt visiting her spoiled
nephew. "Isn't that right, you overgrown tub of lard and fur?"
Akane's eyes widened. {I've never heard Dad go off on Mr.
Saotome like that before. Maybe he's just tired.}
Nodoka returned her attention to serving tea to the humans in
the room. After she finished pouring, she turned to Genma-Panda
with a smile. "I have a special treat for you, Mr. Panda," she
said, causing the beast's ears to prick up. Lightning-quick,
she drew her katana and brought it slashing down....
... on the bamboo shoots she had pulled from the apron she
had borrowed from Kasumi. "There you go, Mr. Panda. Enjoy."
She smiled on him dotingly.
Genma-Panda, meanwhile, struggled gamely to act enthused
about his "treat", while hoping his wife didn't hear the way his
heart seemed to be trying to bust through his ribs.
Akane realized that she had only half-finished her last
swallow of tea and coughed, loudly, drawing the room's attention
back to her.
"Oh, dear, are you okay?" Kasumi asked, concern evident in
her voice.
Gasping slightly, Akane replied, with a feeble nod of her
head, "Ye-yeah, 'Sumi, I'm alright. Tea just went down the
wrong windpipe, is all." Clearing her throat once more, she
gave her older sister a reassuring smile, all time thinking,
{Please, Kami, no more shocks like that one tonight. I don't
know how much more I can take...}
Nodoka took her place at the table and sipped at her tea. No
one said much of anything for awhile. The gentle ringing of the
chime echoed in the faint evening breeze.
Nodoka turned to Akane, who was watching the Go game with a
disinterested look. "So, dear, have you and my son set a date,
yet?"
Akane sprayed a mouthful of tea all over her father, then
looked at Nodoka in shock. {Thanks, Kami, for nothing.}
***********************************************************
Ranma-chan walked into the hospital, her thoughts in a slow
whirl. She was dissatisfied with how little she had been able
to focus on her problems during the walk over there. {Too much,
too fast,} she decided, {I'll think about it some more
tomorrow.}
Stepping into Nabiki's room, she saw the Lost One sitting on
one of the vinyl seats, wearing a hospital gown. "Oh, that is
you, Ryouga," she teased.
"Shut up, Ranma," Ryouga snarled, standing to face his rival,
"Nabiki's been giving me enough of that, already."
"Hey, Hibiki-chan," Nabiki called from the bed behind Ryouga,
"If you keep giving shows like this, I'm gonna have to send
Ranma back for my camera...."
Ryouga dashed into the bathroom, snagging the clothes from
Ranma-chan as he passed. "Nabiki!"
The two girls burst out into a fit of giggles.
"Say, Nabiki, does that thermos have hot water in it?"
"Why, yes it does. Go ahead, it's on the house."
"Heh. Thanks." The change effected, Ranma set the thermos
back down. "Mom's still at the house, and I think she's gonna
spend the night, so this is my last chance to be a guy for a
bit."
***********************************************************
"Excuse me?" Akane still couldn't believe what she had just
heard.
"Well, dear, I don't see any reason for further delays, do
you? With both Ukyou and that horrid Kodachi creature dead, and
with Shampoo out of my son's life for good, from what your
father was telling me, it would appear that yours is the only
claim left on him. If we proceed quickly enough, we can have
the ceremony accomplished before any further... complications
arise."
Akane racked her brain, trying desperately to think of a way
to stop this nightmare. "Ummm... Well, you see, I-I don't...,"
she stammered, before inspiration struck. She took a deep
breath, and spoke slowly so she could consider her words before
they could trap her. "I think others might consider it...
unseemly... for us to be married too soon after Ukyou's death.
There is the honor of the School to think of, after all. A
martial arts Dojo which has... lost face in the eyes of the
public would find itself lacking students, don't you agree?"
Nodoka considered, carefully. "Hmmm... Yes, I believe you
may be right about that. Very well, then. We shall wait until
after the interment of the ashes. Is the end of next month good
for you, Tendou-san?"
Soun smiled widely. "I think that would be perfect, Nodoka.
I'll start making the arrangements tomorrow."
Akane just looked back and forth between the two adults in
unconcealed horror. {Ranma's going to flip. We're not ready to
get mar... I mean, we don't want... I mean... Oh, fuck it, I
don't know what I mean! I just know this is a _bad_ idea....}
Kasumi stood gracefully. "Auntie Saotome, would you like a
bath? I'm going to pour one for myself."
Nodoka smiled at her. "That would be lovely, dear. I'd be
delighted. Thank you."
Kasumi looked to Akane. "Would you like to come, too, or do
you want to be down here in case Ranko and Ryouga get back."
Akane thought furiously, then smiled back at her sister. "I
think I should wait. You two go on ahead. It's been a long
day."
Soun said from behind her, "Yes, please, both of you, take
your time, enjoy yourselves...."
Only a frantic Panda noticed the gleam in the Tendou
patriarch's eyes as he said those words.
***********************************************************
"Okay, Nabiki, we'll see you later," Ranma called over his
shoulder.
"Just remember. You two have two days before I get home. I
suggest you come up with something."
"Yeah, yeah, we'll figure out something. C'mon, P-Chan."
"Don't. Just don't, okay?"
***********************************************************
{Hmmm... I suspected Saotome to put up more of a resistance
than this, but there's no sign of him,} thought Soun Tendou to
himself as he lowered the staircase that led up to the attic.
{Perhaps he has finally come to realize that I only wish to
carry on the Master's work, in my own way.}
He looked up and saw Genma-Panda's foot just before it struck
his jaw. {Then again, maybe not,} he thought as he picked
himself up off the floor.
[I will not allow this to occur!] Genma-Panda's free paw was
held in a defensive posture, one that Soun realized could be
turned into a vicious strike at a moment's notice.
He spoke in low, even tones, to ensure that his voice would
not carry into the bathroom. "You cannot stop me, Saotome.
Already I have grown far more powerful than you could hope to
imagine."
Genma-Panda felt a cold sweat form under his fur.
[Impossible. I kept you chained whenever Kasumi bathed.]
Soun adopted a condescending manner. "Yes, but you forgot
about when she got dressed. And when she got ready for bed.
The sights I have seen--the curvature of her breasts, the gentle
rounding of her buttocks, the inviting warmth of that soft
thatch of hair--have empowered me to the point where you will
not be able to stand against me. Now, stand aside. I have
wonders to behold."
Genma-Panda cursed himself for a thrice-damned fool. {Still,
I cannot allow Tendou to do this. I must hold my ground, no
matter how powerful he is.} [You shall not pass.]
"Oh, but I will, Saotome, I will." Soun charged the hulking
beast blocking the stairs.
Genma-Panda saw the attack coming, and braced himself for the
terrible blow....
Which never came.
Instead, a feather-light footstep landed on his head, before
Soun propelled himself onto the bottom few steps. "Sorry,
Saotome, you lose." Tendou turned from mocking his oldest
friend and started up the stairs.
{NO!! I will not fail again!!!!} With this single thought
clouding his mind Genma spun and leapt on Soun's back, causing
both of them to go crashing to the floor.
The two old friends exchanged blows. Genma-Panda realized,
with great relief, that Soun must have been lying about having
managed to feed the demon inside him.
Genma-Panda scored with a powerful swipe, knocking Soun to
the ground with a set of claw marks raking his chest. Nodoka
chose that moment to exit the bathroom, katana drawn. The sight
of that much-feared blade sent "Mr. Panda" into a state of
paralytic shock, while the view afforded by Nodoka's hastily
donned robe had a similar effect on Soun. {If she would only
shift that leg just a little more....}
"What is going on out here?!"
Soun was faster to recover than Genma-Panda. "The beast
attacked me! I think he's gone rabid."
"Oh, how sad." Turning her attention to the animal, Nodoka
continued, "Do not worry, you unfortunate creature. I will make
the end quick for you."
Genma-Panda remained rooted to the spot in mortal terror. He
couldn't even summon up enough thought to pull out a sign
protesting his innocence. He could only watch as she moved the
blade into position for a final strike.
"Auntie Saotome, wait! What's going on up here?!" Akane's
frantic cry brought Nodoka's actions to a halt.
"Child, it would be best if you did not see this. The animal
has gone mad, and even attacked your father. I see no recourse
but to put him down."
Akane wasn't sure what was going on, but she realized
something had to be done. "No, wait!" she cried, running
forward and throwing her arms around Genma-Panda's neck.
"He's... he's a family pet. Ranko would never forgive us if we
destroyed him! And he's never done anything like this
before...." Even as she spoke, Akane offered up a silent
prayer.
Nodoka paused, considering. "Very well, child, but we can no
longer trust this animal in the house. You will need to chain
it in the yard."
Akane tried to think. "Wouldn't it be better... more humane,
I mean, to put him in the Dojo?"
"I don't think so. If he has gone mad, then he might damage
the building. And of course, there's Ukyou's shrine to
consider. No, it would be best for all of us if he stay in the
yard. If this _is_ just an isolated incident, then a night in
the yard will teach him to behave. Remember, my dear, you have
to be firm with dumb animals."
Akane sighed with visible relief. "You're right, Auntie
Saotome. I'll take care of it."
As Akane led Genma-Panda down the stairs, Nodoka adjusted her
robe to a more snug fit. "Kasumi, why don't you come out, now.
The danger is past, and your father will need to use the sink."
"Okay, Auntie Saotome." The sound of water shifting and bare
feet on wet wood echoed from the bathroom, and then Kasumi
emerged, also wearing a bathrobe. "Well, I guess we should all
go to... Oh, dear, Father, are you all right?"
Soun felt frustration overtake him. "Err... Yes, yes,
Kasumi, just a bit of an accident. I'll take care of these,
nothing but scratches, really."
"Oh, alright then. Good night."
After Kasumi had gone into her room, Nodoka gave Soun an
appraising look. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, I'm sure, why do you ask?"
"Well, it's just that you're clenching your teeth so hard I
can hear it."
Soun laughed nervously and quickly disappeared into the
bathroom.
**********************************************************
Akane looped the heavy chain around the tree and Panda,
tightly, and secured it with a padlock, then paused to wipe the
drizzle from her face.
"There. That oughtta hold you. As soon as your wife is
gone, 'Mr. Panda', I'm gonna change you back. And if you don't
have a fully satisfactory explanation for attacking my father,
I'm gonna change you back again and make Nabiki a Panda-skin
blanket for her coming-home present. Got it? Good."
Akane turned and went into the house, leaving behind a Panda
to weep until his face was soaked with rainwater and tears.
**********************************************************
Ranma-chan poured the contents of the of the thermos over the
piglet, and then waited patiently while Ryouga got dressed.
"Good thing Nabiki gave us the rest of the hot water, eh,
P-Chan?"
Ryouga snarled in resopnse, "Don't start with that again,
Ranma. I've got a lot on my mind right now."
Ranma-chan held back the first ten responses she came up with
before saying, "Yeah, I know. Tell you what. Truce, until we
get this business with Akane straightened out, OK?" After
Ryouga nodded, he continued, "Now, Ukyou's shrine is over there,
why don't you pay your respects. I'm gonna go over to the house
and see how things are going. If you like, I can bring her over
here tonight, and we can get this over with."
"Umm... I'd rather not, Ranma. How about we do it tomorrow."
"Oh, all right. But you'd better not get lost, or I'll hafta
tell Akane myself. Promise or no promise, I ain't letting
Nabiki be the one to spill the beans, got it?"
Ryouga nodded again. "Don't worry, I won't leave the Dojo."
"Okay." Ranma-chan left the Dojo and started running to the
house before she saw something that she had to investigate.
Walking up to the bound Panda, she looked him up and down
with a smirk on her face. She frowned as she saw him try to
bring up a sign with his bound forearm.
"Forget it, old man. I ain't interested. In fact, I think I
kinda prefer you like this. See ya in the morning!" With a
flippant wave, she headed back through the increasingly heavy
rain and into the house.
As soon as she entered, Akane ran up and collapsed against
her. "I'm so glad you're home! Everything's been going crazy
around here."
"Hey, hey, Akane, take it easy. It can't be that bad...."
Ranma-chan looked around nervously, but then realized that
everyone else must have gone to bed.
Akane looked at her, eyes flashing with barely restrained
rage and frustration. "Oh, no? Then tell me, how would you
describe it? Your father tried to disembowel mine for no
apparent reason and almost got his head whacked off by your
mother's katana, and of course that was only after our folks
decided you and I should get married now that most of our
friends are dead or missing...." Her voice trailed off into a
choked sob.
Ranma-chan held her fiancee gently. "Okay, so maybe it is
that bad. Gettin' all upset about it isn't gonna fix anything.
I'm gonna need you to be level-headed if we're going to get
outta this, got it?"
Akane nodded, then looked at Ranma-chan. "Do you really
think we can do something about all this?"
The redhead nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, Akane, I do. Now, why
don't you get some sleep, and we'll have a little strategy
session tomorrow, okay?"
Akane gave her a weak smile and stepped away. "Yeah, sure.
I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay, Akane."
***********************************************************
Chapter Sixteen
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