|
|
Suteko and Ranma for one were glad the day was almost over. Not that it had been a bad day for them. In fact it was a gorgeous day and they'd both managed to avoid their cursed forms. Ranma's fiancée's had taken the day off form bugging him and even Akane had been in a good mood. All and all it'd been a good day.
The one bad thing about the day had been one Tatewaki Kunou. He had been denser than usual. It took a force of will for Suteko not to cave his skull in when they first got on the buses for the trip. He had decided somewhere along the way that she was in fact his pig-tailed goddess, that she'd dyed her brilliant red hair to black in an attempt to escape her oppressive master. Suteko just rolled her eyes and made sure that she was on a different bus from her classmate. She never thought she'd envy her brother, but being on the bus with Kunou and Nabiki had shortened her temper. She could here Nabiki taking bets on just how long it would be before she sent the poetry spouting nut case into low Earth orbit. Unlike her brother, she preferred to ignore the guy but he was really getting on her nerves.
When they finally arrived at the park Suteko immediately went to find her brother. She'd agreed to stay with him in hopes that if any of his fiancées showed up they would be civil with her around. They spent a peaceful afternoon avoiding Kunou and enjoying time together without interruptions. Though Ranma showed signs of boredom early on, Suteko held his interest by pointing out possible areas to train, with the occasional look toward Akane she also discreetly coached him on how to be a gentleman and make nice with the hot-headed girl. As the afternoon wound to a close Suteko smiled and relaxed. That was when things got annoying.
Kunou spotted them and launched into his usual speeches and professed his love to Suteko, then tried to attack Ranma despite Suteko's protests. When he turned a stunned look toward her and graciously said he'd protect her form herself, Suteko's temper snapped and she laid into him with her Bo. When he turned and started to advance on her with his Bokken Ranma, got into the act. The two were walking away leaving the dense Kendoist in a heap on the ground as they headed toward the bus.
"I wish the jerk Kunou would get a clue and leave us alone!" Ranma growled, his sister silently nodding in agreement as she took in the various sights, sounds and smells emitted form the area, back home a park like this would be full of children, joggers, and the like. It was quiet enough now that Kunou was out of it for a while. Her ears picked up the faint sound of an argument. She looked over to Ranma who was oblivious to the noise as he was still fuming over Kunou.
"Lil' bro you go on ahead, I'll catch up later," Suteko said, as she jogged of to where the noise was coming form genuinely intrigued.
"Sure thing sis," Ranma answered distractedly, he was still going over some of the moves the he'd used on Kunou. It took a moment for her comment to really sink in. When it did he shouted at her, "Hey! I ain't little!"
Suteko laughed to herself as she lightly jogged down the path, her school uniform flowing lightly around her legs. She still couldn't totally get used to having to wear a dress all the time.
She was soon out of sight of her brother and the buses. She stopped for a moment and then jogged one towards a grove with a few bushes and swings scattered about. When she finally came upon the area where she'd heard the voices she stopped behind a bush and looked about. Sure enough there were four people arguing. Three of them she recognized from school, Tetsuya, Ryo, and Shirow. The three stooges she'd called them, they were bullies form the school, usually they picked on underclassmen for their money or just for a good cheap laugh. She look at the forth for a long moment. He didn't look like a high school student; as a matter of fact he looked as if he belonged in junior high school if not elementary level school. He was about a half foot or so shorter than her and wore small wire frame glasses which hid his brown eyes. A lock of dark blue hair draped over the left side of his face and the back was done in a low, loose ponytail.
A large backpack was at his side, much like the one she'd used in tracking down Genma. At the moment his hands were clenched at his sides, clenched into fists as Tetsuya and his flunkies stared down at him.
"Come on kid, just give us your money and we'll leave you in peace," Tetsuya demanded popping his knuckles.
"Or pieces," Shirow added.
"Choice is yours," Ryo finished.
The boy looked away briefly, considering his options, then turned back facing his tormentors.
"I don't want to fight you sempai. But I don't wanna give you my stuff either," he said in a manner that vaguely reminded Suteko of Kasumi.
Suteko shook her head; she could see where this was going. The kid was brave but there was no way he could stand up to the three of them by himself. She dashed from her hiding place as the three students rushed the smaller boy.
"That kid is in for it," she thought as she tried to run faster.
How wrong she was…
Tetsuya made a dive for the kid but the child disappeared, literally. Tetsuya landed face first into the soil. The boy reappeared above them in a tree looking slightly dazed but otherwise fine.
"I told you I didn't wanna fight," he said, shaking his head.
Suteko kept moving, processing what had just happened. What that kid did was mostly impossible or at the least improbable. There were no younger cousins that she knew of outside of her grandfather's compound and no other family she had knew anything like this. "I wonder where he learned that?" she thought as she neared them.
Ryo had taken advantage of the boy's distracted look to snatch an ornate locket from around his neck.
"GIVE THAT BACK!" The boy shouted, causing Ryo to take a step back in surprise. He wasn't used to his victim's yelling at him.
"No way brat… Arg!" Ryo shrieked as the boy leapt at him, wrapped and arm around his neck and brought him crashing to the ground, the child landing at his head. The boy grabs the locket from the dazed Ryo's hand and refastened it around his neck.
Shirow did the wisest thing; he bolted for the bus upon seeing Suteko. The others quickly follow. They threw back a few half-hearted curses over their shoulder as they ran past her.
Suteko stared dumbfounded for a moment. The kid didn't look more than maybe eight or nine, but the speed and agility he displayed were almost equal to her brother's; in fact she wanted to admit to her self he was a tad faster than she was. She walked over to him in her usual quiet manner and barely managed to block a kick to her mid-section. "Jeez he is fast," she thought, easing his leg past her.
"Hey easy there, I came to help you," she said quietly.
At hearing the soft voice and noticing her non-threatening appearance, he stopped his next attack put kept his guard up.
"Sorry, I thought you were with those guys sempai, " he apologized, bowing slightly.
Suteko grimaced. The idea of her being in league with the "three stooges" was ridiculous.
"Well, I'm not," Suteko replied looking him over "Daijoubu?"
The boy looked slightly confused by this person just being nice to him out of the blue, he shakes this feeling and nods, "Yes I am fine, sempai," he replied bowing again.
"You're lucky, those three are nasty customers. Oh and don't call me by any title." Suteko said, returning the bow.
"My name is Saotome, Suteko" she offered in a friendly manner.
The boy smiled slightly, "Seikaze Hanzou"
Suteko was getting ready to ask more questions but the distant sound of the bus horns made her think otherwise. Turning with a wave she dashed off.
"Nice meeting you!" she yelled over her shoulder as she ran for the bus.
Hanzou waved back, a thoughtful expression on his young face. Picking up his pack and shouldering it he started thinking he was going to meet her again, like they had something in common. He mind worked its way through what had happened a few minutes ago. He'd been surprised when Suteko had snuck up on him. If it had not been for the scuff of her shoes, he would've been caught totally off guard. She was also fast. She'd blocked his attack without really trying, he knew that was mainly due to his experience, that and she probably studied martial arts too. Looking down he notices a shiny strip of laminated paper, he picks it up and looks at it, recognizing it as that strange girls ID.
"Looks like I have to make a detour, wouldn't be right if I didn't give this back to her," Hanzou thought, as he heard the distant sound of thunder
"Oh great rain, what next?" he muttered quietly as he grabbed a raincoat from his bag.
Suteko made it to the bus just moments before the sky opened up. She looked out the window as she took a seat next to Ranma with a relieved sigh.
"Almost didn't make it sis," Ranma said.
Suteko nodded, "Yeah I know. Don't need to explain why I am in a dress as a boy," she shook her head and put a hand in her pocket. Then her eyes widened and she reached down into the other pocket.
"Oh great," she grumbled.
"What is it?" Akane asked from the seat behind them.
"I dropped my student ID out there, now I gotta go to the office and try to get another one." She rolled her eyes and sank down into the bus seat. One meeting with the school's resident psycho was enough for her. Maybe Nabiki could help her out.
Hanzou arrived in Nerima later that evening. He looked at the address on the student ID and headed for the direction of the Tendou dojo.
Upon arriving he noticed the gates closed and the general area was dark.
"They're probably asleep, I'll just sneak in and drop this off and leave," he thought to himself.
He checked the address once more to be sure of the modest dwellings and took a quick look at the walls. He smiled and then leapt over the fence. It was a nice leap, but he misjudged the distance and his foot was caught on the ledge, with a startled yelp he fell directly into the koi pond.
Grumbling to silently as he pulled his now different form out of the water, "You'd think after nine years I'd learn not to readily fall into water but noooooo," he muttered lowly as he shook off his newly acquired wings. As he looked about the grounds, which he noticed were well kept, he looked at his reflection in the still rippling koi pond, the moonlight providing him illumination. He hadn't grown any, and his blue hair was now a light brown and slightly longer in the ponytail. His eyes had changed from brown to green and to top it all off his ears tapered to a point, much like an elf, that and the fact he had an 8ft wingspan would let one know he's been to the cursed springs of Jusenkyo.
"At least I got a neat curse, not like I fell into that Heituenniichuan or worse," he said to himself as he set his pack down and flew to the roof looking for an entrance.
Suteko awoke to the sound of someone padding around on the roof. She lay still, listening, at first she thought it might be her brother trying to avoid one of his would-be-suitors but after a moment she remembered that he'd went to bed before her. She had made sure to look in on him before she went to bed herself.
He was across the hall safely asleep. With a slightly disgusted look she assumed it must be Happosai, coming for another raid on one of the girls bureaus.
"That old lech is going to get a lesson in the rights of others to a bit of privacy," she muttered as she quickly got her Bo.
Hanzou had managed to find access through an open bathroom window, he jumped down from its ledge, wings furled around his body so as not to get caught in the window. Letting his eyes adjust to the relative darkness of the room for a moment, he stood still listening. The house seemed quiet to him so he moved to the door that had to lead out into the hall and the rest of the home.
Suteko padded out into the hallway. She made sure to move quietly. She was still sharing a room with Akane and didn't wish to wake her. She shut her door and started down the hallway.
She stopped after a moment and stood with her head cocked to one side. There was a sound coming from the furo, she continued down the hallway.
In the room that he shared with his father, Ranma rolled over and opened his eyes. He too had heard something on the roof of the house. He'd become more cautious after his encounter with Grandfather Ito, sleeping less deeply now than he'd used too. He rolled up onto his feet and then headed out the window and on to the roof.
He just saw a figure slipping into the window of the bath and he silently followed it. Whoever it was, was in for a surprise. No one sneaked into his home and threatened his family anymore. Ranma narrowed his eyes and then silently slipped into the window following the intruder. The figure was in silhouette and Ranma tried to get a better look by silently moving closer. The form wasn't quite human looking but he didn't care. He moved forward and spoke low and stern, "Whoever you are, you're in the wrong house."
Hanzou was listening so intently at the door that he hadn't heard Ranma enter the room behind him. When Ranma spoke he had already turned the knob on the door and swung it open as he started. He turned around in surprise and let out a quiet shout without thinking whipping his hand in front of him.
"Mahi Kon Shuriken!" Hanzou let out in a quiet whisper, sending out a flurry of dart shaped chi shuriken at Ranma.
Ranma managed to dodge most of the attack, his eyes widening in surprise. There were so many of the tiny dart that a few got through. Luckily the only damaged his tank top and not the skin below. He looked down and fingered the tears before taking a battle stance.
"Nice trick, but I don't think you can so that again real soon, now explain yourself," Ranma said as his eyes stayed on his opponent but he could see Suteko moving up silently behind the stranger, her Bo in hand.
Hanzou sensed someone behind him and instinctively lashed out with one of his wings, he could feel the trailing edge just brush past the body of who ever was behind him as they dodged to the side.
Suteko barely managed to dodge the sweep of the feathered wing. She felt the feathers graze her side and shivered as it tickled her through her PJ's. She finally got a good look at the creature and she was surprised enough that she spoke her thoughts, "That can't be the old lech, too tall."
Hanzou could tell he was surrounded, simply telling them he was here to return a dropped ID cars was more then likely going to be ignored. Breaking into the house had been a challenge, but ultimately a mistake. He now realized it and decided to change tactics. Taking an air of wounded pride he straightened up and spoke in a slightly whiny voice, "This ain't fair, two on one and no room to maneuver," he looked about the bathroom and then towards the window,
"Besides we'll end up damaging this house, let's take it outside," he then vanished from between them, both siblings hearing a splash and several mutterings, leaving both Ranma and Suteko surprised.
"Ranma leaned out the window a nd saw the figure get out of the koi pond and hurriedly place his p ack on his shoulders, and wait for them.
"Come on sis, he's sittin' there waiting for us down by the pond. He really wants a fight so let's give him one," Ranma stated as he leapt out the window, Suteko just behind him.
"All this trouble just to return a simple ID? I love it!" Hanzou said quietly to himself. He had to admit he was enjoying the excitement. He wiped the steadily spreading grin of his face as he turned towards his opponents.
The two sibs flanked him and Ranma moved in, throwing a few teasing blows at the figure before him. Suteko continued to circle around, there was something familiar about the figure in front of her and she was trying to figure out just what it was.
Hanzou dodged Ranma's fists by simply flying out of range. Ranma was a bit surprised the reaction and watched as the form lifted from the ground, prepared for a counterstrike. When all the came fluttering down was a piece of plastic he relaxed slightly. He snapped out a hand and caught whatever it was and took a look at it. He smiled and turned to Suteko.
"Looks like he wanted to give you this sis." Ranma said as he handed her back the ID card.
Suteko blinked and looked up at the floating creature, "Um, Arigotou!" she called up, "Come back down, we won't hurt you"
Hanzou shook his head, not ready to trust to people who came close to beating his head in, "I'd rather not, besides I have someplace to be" he turned and flew off, leaving Ranma and Suteko staring up at him.
Suteko stepped up next to her brother, speaking softly, "Ya know, there's something familiar about that kid, wish I could remember though," she turned the ID over in her fingers then it hit her. The boy could be the one from the park.
The following morning the Tendou household was buzzing with the usual activities. Kasumi was cooking, Nabiki scheming, Soun and Genma playing go and Akane and Ranma bickering. It was the usual hubbub around the place. Suteko was sitting out side on her favorite rock by the koi pond. It was easier to avoid the usual morning banter between her father and Ranma if she was up ad outside before they woke up. She was still trying to figure out just who'd broken into the house last night. She concluded early on that it couldn't have been the kid from yesterday. He was too little and was probably in bed at that time, he didn't look eight years old from what she remembered about him She sighed and got up to go get some breakfast, before her father snagged it all. She let the leaf she had been holding fall from her hand.
"Guess I'll never know," she walked away as the leaf settled gently on the water and drifted away.
The rest of the day was filled with classes and the usual Saturday traffic in and out of the dojo. It actually seemed really quiet to Ranma, Suteko and Akane. Once they'd finished up teaching the beginner's class they had the rest of the afternoon off. It'd been Suteko's idea to get classes started at the dojo; her brother and father had been freeloading off the Tendou's long enough in her opinion. She used some of the money she had from back home to print up some flyer's, she spread them around the local schools and then as people started showing up she got Nabiki to help set up billing. She tested the students herself and after a couple of hours her brother, father, and Mr. Tendou all looked in to see what was going on. When Akane popped in she decided to help with testing and soon the whole family was involved in some way. Now the dojo was finally back in black and starting to get a reputation as a good place to learn Kasumi had even thanked her in her quiet motherly way making Suteko feel like she was finally starting to fit in somewhere.
"Suteko can you let everyone know I am going to see doctor Tofu? I will probably be late and Akane should make dinner tonight," Kasumi smiled sweetly and then left the house as Suteko got the look of one who's been sentenced to death. Once Kasumi had made it out the gate, Suteko grimaced and picked up the phone. She'd tried Akane's cooking, trying to be impartial. She'd managed to choke down the rice but the rest made her more than ill. She spent the following three days in bed after the last "meal" and came to understand why her brother made fun of her cooking a little better.
"Ucchan's, can I take you're order?" Ukyou's voice said over the phone.
"Hey Ukyou, it's Suteko," she made sure to speak very, very, very quietly, "Kasumi is out of the house right now an…"
Ukyou broke in; "No need to go on Sut-chan. I'll be over with a bunch of my specials!"
"Thanks Ukyou, just put it on my bill. I'll have the money when you arrive," Suteko replied.
Ukyou laughed a little. It was nice having a paying customer from the Tendou dojo.
"Not a problem Sut-chan. I'll see you in a little while," she hung up the phone
"Thank Kami-sama for speed dial" Suteko thought as she went and clandestinely let everyone know Kasumi was out for the evening and what she'd done except Akane, who was delighted to cook a meal for the family and rushed into the kitchen to prepare god only knew what.
When Suteko found Ranma up on the roof she told him about Kasumi and he went pale for a moment.
"She is going to cook, isn't she?" he said, dreading the answer.
Suteko nodded, "She's in there now, come on, " she then jumped down to the yard and Ranma followed a moment later.
"Why not pass around a bottle of hemlock? The effects the same, just not as lethal," Ranma joked.
Suteko just shook her head and giggled as the two walked inside.
Akane was in the kitchen, luckily, when Ranma made his comment. Things were relatively quiet inside, save for Genma and Soun using prayer beads, hoping they survive this meal. Suteko peeked into the kitchen to see Akane viciously slamming something into a pan. She tiptoed in quietly and grabbed bowls and other eating utensils for dinner. Akane spotted her out the corner of her eye.
"Suteko-chan, tell everyone that dinner will be ready soon okay?" Akane said as she went back to mutilating what Suteko thought was once a Salmon.
She nodded and hurriedly scooted out with her load of dishes, breathing a sigh of relief that the smoke coming from one of the pots didn't make her pass out, or hallucinate. She set the table and went to get the family together for dinner.
Just as Akane was setting her masterpiece down on the table, someone was heard entering the yard via the gate accompanied by a shout, a splash and,
"Use the gate next time Han-chan!" It was easy to recognize Ukyou's voice.
"Don't call me that!" A boy's irritated voice yelled.
Suteko and the others looked over to the koi pond to see a pair of wings, attached to a body, drag itself to the edge of the koi pond sputtering
"Why me? Why, why, why, why?" Hanzou complained in a defeated tone of voice.
"Hey! It's that creep who tried to break in last night!" Ranma shouted in surprise.
"Who you calling a creep?!" Hanzou responded in the same tone of voice.
Suteko easily recognized the boy, but was a bit more polite about it,
"So you were the one here last night?"
Hanzou shook the water from his wings and nodded, Suteko got up and braved the kitchen for a kettle of hot water kept on the stove at all times. In a house with three cursed people it was best to have one. She brought it outside.
Meanwhile Nabiki, who'd heard about everything from last night, butted in. She got up and leaned against a post, crossing her bare legs She looked the now normal boy over and drawled, "Gee, ever here of mail boxes?"
Hanzou blushed, it never occurred to him to just deposit the ID in a mailbox and go on his way.
Ukyou smiled and giggled a little at her Hanzou's expression, "You'll have to excuse my cousin, he always goes about things ass-backward." She reached out and ruffled his hair. "Right Han-chan?" Ukyou said fondly.
Hanzou ducked his head with an irritated mumble and then looked around, Ranma held out a hand and introduced himself. Hanzou hesitated a moment and then shook hands. As the tension broke everyone introduced himself or herself to the kid.
Ranma finally noticed what was in Ukyou's hands. "Is that what I think it is?"
Ukyou nods, "Yup sugar, Okonomiyaki for everyone, plus starting tomorrow Han-chan is gonna be delivering them for me."
"Don't call me that" Hanzou asked/demanded.
Suteko walked over to Hanzou and Ukyou, graciously taking an okonomiyaki with a wink towards Ukyou, "Sou ka, that is a very important job. I hope you are up to it."
Hanzou nods, "Yup"
Ukyou continued, "Yeah he'll be going to school over here, while his grandfather recovers in the hospital,"
Suteko smile at Hanzou and spoke softly, "So what elementary school will you be going to?"
Hanzou raised an eyebrow, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose,
"Elementary?! I am a high school student! How old do you think I am?"
Suteko winced at his volume and thought momentarily, "Eight?" she chanced.
"No! Twelve, and before you ask," he ranted, his voice lowering, mainly out of embarrassment, "I fell into a cursed spring at this place called Jusenkyo, " Hanzou continued evidently insulted.
Ukyou was embarrassed also and whacked him with her spatula and scooped him up in it, preparing to leave, "You'll have to excuse him, he tends to think since he's smart that he's grown." Ukyou said.
"Just wait till the room stops spinning and I'll show you… daisy, daisy give me your answer true…" Hanzou retorted before conking out.
"Sayonara! Later Ran-chan," Ukyo waved to them and left.
Nabiki sat down and picked up an okonomiyaki, "Well wasn't he a pleasant little boy?" she said sarcastically.
"He wasn't that bad Nabiki," Akane responded.
"Besides I've dealt with worse in class, "Suteko added, Nabiki just shrugged.
Akane watched as her family devoured the food that Ukyou had brought and slowly simmered. She'd worked so hard and no one was eating any of the food she'd made. She turned to Ranma who was busy decimating his fifth okonomiyaki. She scooped up some of the unrecognizable glob from a bowl and held it out for Ranma. Ranma looked down at it after finishing off the okonomiyaki, he could have sworn the glob looked back, he turned a nice shade of green.
"Oh come on Akane. Ukyou brought more than enough for us to eat. Why make me eat that," before he could finish, Akane pulled out her hammer and clubbed Ranma good.
Suteko made sure to grab a couple more okonomiyaki and then left the table. She slipped off to the gate and handed Ukyou a wad of bills with whispered thanks. Ukyou wave as she walked off. She turned to walk back and stopped, as Nabiki was a few steps away, a sly smile on her face, "That was nice of you Suteko. You saved all of our stomachs."
Suteko just shrugged and gave a nervous smile, "I didn't wanna spend three days in bed again," She looked to the living room where Akane and Ranma were fighting. "Just do me a favor and don't let Akane know."
Nabiki surprised Suteko by nodding, "That one, my dear Suteko is on the house." She turned and walked back in the house.
To be continued.
If you want to contact the writers of this story youcan reach David here and Lisa here.
