FanFiction.Net - unleash your imagination
NoshMono
Author of 7 Stories |
An eighty year old Shizuka stood at the same spot where Kencana disappeared after executing her final spell. “It’s been a while, Kencana,” she said. “It took me forty more years to really understand what you meant by the statement you made that day”
Beneath her, magical symbols began to appear bit by bit
“Humans are beings of polar opposite, aren’t they? Only a human can have a feeling so deep toward another person but at the same time harbor hate that rivals that feeling at another”
Symbols of water and fire appeared on ground.
“To create and at the same time to destroy,”
Symbol of sun appeared on her right and the moon on her left.
“To live in the light and at the same time in the darkness,”
Arrows pointing to the Blind Seer’s front and her back appeared.
“To take a step toward the future, but at the same time have a foot back in the past,”
More and more symbols began to appear.
“To hope but yet to submit,”
The circle began to grow with more symbols on the ground.
“To give but at the same time to take,”
Finally the magical circle was finished.
“That is the mark of the children of Chaos,” Shizuka said.
Then the circle began to glow bright.
Bumi dipijak langit dijunjung, (By the earth whose heaven I uphold)
Bulan di malam, suria di siang, (By the moon of the night and sun of the day)
Rohnya, niatnya harap mengunjung, (Bring forth to me her intent, her soul)
Fikirannya terakhirnya, biarlah terang. (Let it be clear, what her last though wanted to say),
Shizuka screamed in pain as the energy gushed out of her forcefully into the magical symbols underneath. The symbols began to glow brighter and brighter until the whole area was engulfed by it. Then, the glow suddenly disappeared, leaving an exhausted Shizuka standing at the spot.
“I can’t believe it,” she said. “How could she come up with such a dastardly spell?!”
“What spell?” a male voice asked, surprising Shizuka.
“Who are you?” she asked back.
A man with white shoulder-length hair walked in front of her. “It’s been a while Aunt Shizuka,” the man said haughtily.
“It you, Schneider”
“In person”
“So… the presence that I felt an hour ago…”
“Is me,” Schneider answered while smirking.
“You have no right to be here!” Shizuka hissed.
“So do you. By the way, can you tell me about what you found out?”
“No,”
“Aw, come on, you can tell me. After all, I’m your godson,”
“You’ve been corrupted and there’s no way I’ll tell someone who had betrayed the way of Blessbringer”
Schneider sighed. “Using that argument again? I know you’re old, but that doesn’t meant you have to think in an old-fashioned way”
“You seek power, without realizing how it will eventually destroy you,”
The man chuckled. “That’s a bit ironic. You see, the way I see it, what the clan did 60 years ago was the same. They sought power in the form of a sword, didn’t they? That’s why they got slaughtered. So, how to say this… maybe I’m trying to follow the tradition? And before you give me all that crap about power being evil, let me tell you that power is just like a sharpened sword. What people do with it will determine whether it’s good or not”
“What you’re doing isn’t good”
“Good?” Schneider sneered. “Who determine what is good? God? In that case it would be good as I will be God eventually,”
“YOU’RE MAD!”
“Perhaps, but powerful nevertheless” Schneider disappeared from Shizuka’s view, reappeared in front of her and stabbed her waist using a knife with runes on it.
The Blind Seer instantly collapsed to the ground, unable to move as her blood began to flow freely out of her.
“You see, I was planning to let you rot with old age if you cooperated with me, but since you don’t want to tell me, I might as well use you for something else” he then used her own blood to draw some symbols on her face, hands and legs. “To prove that I’m not bitter about it, I will tell you a secret,” He then whispered to her ear. “So that’s the answer to the question that you always wanted to know regarding me,” He then moved away to look at her face. “Oh, don’t make such a face. Being stupid isn’t something to be ashamed about. You can always learn from it, you know, something to remember in the future… Whoops, in your case that doesn’t apply, does it? In a short moment, you will become the sacrifice for my summoning”
Shizuka closed her eyes, thinking about how wrong she was about the whole thing. Schneider’s betrayal caused her to finally understand that she was trying to look at Kencana’s planning from her own view. Then a thought about Kencana’s plan occurred to her, one that caused her to smile ruefully. Schneider was right about her being stupid. “Very well, Kencana.” She thought to herself. “I really would like to see what your plan really is. I wouldn’t interfere; I would just see,” Shizuka opened her eyes to see that Schneider was busy preparing a large sacrificial circle, with her in the middle. Using her dissipating strength, the Blind Seer made a small circle on the ground using her finger and then covered it with her hand just before her consciousness slipped away.
“TING!” the oven’s bell chimed.
The eldest Tendo girl then took out something wrapped in aluminum foil. “The eel is ready, so the only thing left to do is to cook cabbage. Then Nabiki can just heat them all for dinner tonight,” she said as she look at the clock. “I have plenty of time to prepare for tonight’s date, so I guess I can watch Winter Hymn later on. Oh well, I hope that Tofu-kun will bring me to that place Nabiki told me about last week,”
The said sister was standing in the Blessbringer’s, compound, together with Chisa and Itachi. The three of them were looking heavenward. They remained that way until the middle Tendo girl broke the silence. “I guess this solidifies the fact that we couldn’t possibly work together, at least for now”
“Yes. It seems so,” Itachi agreed. “It seems that I can’t trust you anymore”
“What are you talking about, father?” Chisa asked. “This should prove beyond any doubt that both Tendo-sempai and our family aren’t affiliated with that bitch in anyway,”
Nabiki shook her head. “What your father’s saying is right, Chisa. Think about it, just after your father proposed an alliance, this place was attacked”
“So that’s why…”
“Chisa-chan,” Itachi interrupted, “Our place was attacked out of the blue and it only happened after Tendo-san came here. Granted, the seals protected us from the attack, but I have to say that such an attack had never happened before”
“But that…”
He raised his hand up to quiet her. “At the same time, to Tendo-san, it seemed as if the attack happened at a very convenient time, just after I proposed it to her. To her, it looks as if we’re trying to convince her to join by staging a mock attack”
Nabiki put her hand over her mouth as she coughed. “And to your father, it also looks like I’m staging the attack to prove my innocence. Well, I’m sure both your father and I can add some more reasons, but let’s leave it at that, shall we?” she asked while looking at Itachi. “So, I guess since it ends here, see you tomorrow at school, Chisa”
“Wait,” Itachi said.
Nabiki raised her eyebrows.
“We would like to ask your help in finding more information regarding Ametsuchi no kuchiku sumitsuki”
“Black seal of Heaven and earth’s destruction?” Nabiki asked back. “What do you mean?”
“According to our family records that has been handed down from a generation to another generation, Kencana had power almost rivaling Kami and Daimakaichou Hild. But due to an unknown reason, she supposedly died after completing the seal. From the limited knowledge that we have, removing the seal could destroy the universe”
“And you’re thinking that she’ll do it?”
“Frankly, we don’t know,” Itachi admitted. “However, we couldn’t ignore the risk”
Nabiki stood quietly for more than a minute until she said, “Very well, I suppose helping you with information wouldn’t hurt,” she then did a small bow. “I’ll take my leave, then”
“One more thing, Tendo-san. I would like to tell you that our family really isn’t as united as it seems and how they act is out of my jurisdiction,”
The young sorceress nodded. Itachi told her that a family branch or two from the Blessbinger clan might come to force her to join it. Since the clan’s headman absolved any responsibility regarding their action, that mean if they did anything to her and her family, she couldn’t blame him. On the other hand, Itachi’s comment may be a soft threat to her for turning down his invitation in the first place. In any case, his comment also meant that Nabiki could react to any provocation from the clan with force. “I’ll do my best to remember that”
“Chisa-chan, please send Tendo-san to her house,”
Chisa nodded and escorted Nabiki.
Itachi watched the two of them until they’re far enough. Meanwhile, an aide walked to his side. “Interesting girl, isn’t she?” Itachi asked.
“Yes sir”
“So let me see our analysis on her”
The aide handed him a printout. The whole Blessbringer compound was rigged with numerous magic sensors that can provide accurate details on anyone who entered it. However, when Itachi read the printout, he narrowed his eyes.
Name: Nabiki Tendo
Fighting style: Tendo School of Anything Goes
Fighter class : F
Magic class: F
Mana color: Unconfirmed
Mana type: None
Mana Pool: 0
Average : F
Meanwhile in, Kyoto Ranma stifled a slight shiver as he walked toward the entrance. Behind him, Akane, Ukyo and Shampoo were bickering with Mousse getting whacked by Shampoo every other minute for being too loud. “Oh well,” he thought to himself. At least the Shinkansen trip was enjoyable, especially since Nabiki paid for his and Akane’s fee.
After he had stopped in front of the door and rang the ball, Ranma took the opportunity to study the door’s construction; he was smart enough not to get involve in the argument behind him. From its size and the intricate designs etched to the strong wood that was used to build it, it was obvious that the place was prestigious. Of course, Aoyama of Kyoto was a well known family and he knew that even before he reached there.
Ten minutes later, both of them were standing at one of the family's training grounds with the two familiar members of the family; both of them were women.
One of them, an older but have a slightly more regal look to her said, "Ara, it's been a while, Saotome-san. Are you here to avenge the Nerima Wrecking Crew’s defeat to Hina Demolition Team?”
“Ane-ue,” the younger one protested. “We’re not the Hina Demolition Team”
“Ara? Didn’t the Mr. Referee refer to us by that name at that time?”
“That’s why I told you that he was making it up?”
The older one acquiesced “Very well, if you say so” She then turned toward Ranma and his group. “Well?”
"We’re not here for that, Aoyama-san," Truth be told, he was supposed to refer to her by her family name, but he wasn't sure whether the woman adopted her husband's family name or not. After all, man marrying into the woman's family isn't really a rare occurrence
"Maa, you don't have to be so formal to me. Tsuruko is enough,"
"My mother would have my hide if I dare to be disrespectful to you, Tsuruko-san,"
"Ah, that's typical of her. So how's she?"
Ranma didn't answer immediately. He did stop by home on the way to Kyoto but didn't get in as his father was home at that time and certain dialogue that he heard... "Um, energetic as usual, I guess"
"Ohohoho. That's what to be expected from Sempai," After Tsuruko had stopped laughing, she continued asking, "So, why are you here? You're not after Motoko's hand in marriage, do you?"
Ranma looked at the girl next to Tsuruko who was giving him a dirty look. "No, of course not. I must be crazy to do so"
Tsuruko's expression changed into a scary one. "Are you saying that my sister isn't feminine enough for you?"
"No! I don't mean like that. She's... quite not flat-chested, unviolent, doesn't attack unprovoked and certain untomboyish," Ranma added hastily without knowing that with the exception of the first one, all other remarks were dead-on. Motoko's face was crimson as Ranma's words reminded her of what she did to a man she secretly like. Her expression contrasted with the ghastly pale face worn by the pigtailed martial artist who heard Akane muttering about cooking for him a seven-course meal in order to prove that she could be feminine as well.
Tsuruko, despite noticing her sister's change of expression pretended not to notice it and instead addressed Ranma. "So, why are you here then?"
Ranma closed the distance between them and delivered a package and an envelope to Tsuruko. "I'm asked to hand this to you,"
The older Aoyama opened the envelope and read its content, ignoring the questioning glance from her sister and Ranma. After she had finished, Tsuruko lowered the letter with a thoughtful look. "Now I understand. Their resemblance to her was uncanny,” she said as she gave a quick glance at Akane. She opened the package slowly only to reveal a wooden box. After opening the box to take a look, Tsuruko’s eyes widened in shock, something out of place with her normally calm demeanor. She then quickly schooled her features, “Very well. I accept,”
“You do?” Ranma said happily. “Oh, that’s the easiest job I had so far. So, see you later…” Ranma said as he turned away.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Home. Hopefully I can get there before dinner,”
“Saotome-kun, do you know about the letter’s content?”
“No?” Ranma said as he turned back to Tsuruko.
“Motoko…,” Tsuruko said as she showed the box content to Motoko.
Motoko was shocked by what she saw as well. She then raised her head to look at Ranma.
“Yes, he’s the bearer” Tsuruko answered her sister’s unvoiced question.
“Um… can you tell me what’s going on?” Ranma asked.
While Motoko was slowly unsheathing her sword, Tsuruko said, “Saotome-kun, may I know what she told you when she asked you to give this box to me?”
Ranma didn’t really the look Motoko was sporting as she settled into a ready stance. “Ah, well, Nabs did ask me whether I would like some help with my training”
Tsuruko put hand under her chin thoughtfully. “Training?”
“You know, maybe to get me acquainted with Kyoto-style martial art?”
Tsuruko brought out a fan, spread it in front of her face and laughed. “Ah, I see. Well, I’m sure my sister would be happy to oblige with your ‘training’, Saotome-kun” She turned toward Motoko. “Motoko, please gave him a thorough beating,”
Motoko quickly attacked Ranma who quickly dodged. While the pigtailed martial artist’s speed was supposed to be better, but to some reason he could barely got away.
“Hey, ya crazy or something?” Ranma asked, forgetting to use proper speech.
The swordswoman didn’t answer but kept attacking him.
The rest of Ranma’s group was about to intervene to help him when Tsuruko appeared in front of them, holding her hand up. “Please don’t interfere,”
“Your sister is trying to kill my husband!? Shampoo said. “Well, future to-be,” she quickly added.
Tsuruko shook her head. “No, she’s not. It’s not a real fight; rather it’s a fight to regain our honor”
“By killing Ran-chan?” Ukyo asked while pushing the gropping Mousse toward Shampoo.
Once again Tsuruko’s darted toward Akane before she continue to address the whole group. “Of course not. Well, an explanation is in order. Our family, the Aoyama of Kyoto is well known for its long line of demon slayers. The family had been serving the Emperor since the first one ascended on the Chrysanthemum Throne. Despite that, the family had produced exceptional ones from time to time. Forty five years ago, one such person was born; her power and talent wasn't seen in an Aoyama in the last two centuries. However, due to some personal reason, she didn’t inherit the school and left. But before she left, she and her older sister had made a promise to fight every five years. They fought twice, both ended with the Miko winning the fight,”
“Then what happened?” Akane asked.
“Well, she passed away without naming her successor. Her sister did name her successor, which was me,” Tsuruko said as she looked at Ranma jumping out of Motoko’s sword attack, “and since I pass my right to inherit the school, my sister. But now, it seems that Saotome-kun has been nominated to be her successor by her descendant”
“That means…” Shampoo said, trailing.
Tsuruko nodded. “He fights in her place,”
“Wait,” Ukyo interjected, “who’s her descendant?”
“It’s a secret,” Tsuruko said while smiling. “Although it does seem a bit weird…”
“What is?” Akane asked out of curiosity.
“The letter assured me that Saotome-kun has a sword with him. However, I have yet to see him bring it out. He had been depending on his martial art techniques to fight. See?” she said while pointing to Ranma’s ki-blast meeting Motoko’s own, causing a big explosion at the point of impact. The duel is supposed to be fought out using swords instead”
“Aiya. Looks like Ranma’s bracelet is impeding his true power as well,” Shampoo commented
“What do you mean?” the older Aoyama asked.
“It can adjust Ranma’s strength according to the person his fighting with,” Ukyo answered the question.
“So that means he’s probably stronger than Motoko?”
“Yes,” Akane answered.
“That thing sounds interesting. I must find out where I can get such item. It would be useful for Motoko”
All the while the girls were talking, Mousse kept quiet. As he watched Ranma blocked another attack, he adjusted the rim of his glass. Unlike others, he knew the bracelet’s real function and who gave it to him. Despite him being considered a lower ranking member of his Amazon village, Mousse was no fool, pretending to be a myopic idiot who pined for Shampoo. While some people would have screamed in terror whenever the Jusenkyo was mentioned, he wasn’t such person. In fact, being a duck part of the time had its own advantage. Sure, it was risky for him to turn into an animal in order to gather information, but that came with the job description. And truth be told, he sympathized with Ranma for having to wear a seal to restrict his power. But he was sure that Nabiki, the person who gave Ranma the item knew the pig-tailed martial artist’s latent power; Mousse had witnessed firsthand what he was capable of doing. The male Amazon smiled. Whatever the case, he got to see Ranma getting his ass shoved with a katana and he intended to enjoy himself.
“Zankuusen (Air-Cleaving-Flash)” Motoko cried as she attacked an airborne Ranma.
Ranma, realizing that he was trapped in the air tapped into his chi reserve to release a fireball attack. “Moko Takabisha”
The two attacks collided and canceled each other.
As he landed, Ranma congratulated himself for being able to use an emotion-neutral ki attack up to seventy percent of his previous level. While using emotion to fuel the attack made it easier to perform, another martial artist had pointed out that it was not without its repercussion. Before Ranma could dwell on the matter anymore, Motoko was upon him, attacking. As he swerved out of the way, he idly wondered about what Nabiki had mentioned in the letter to Tsuruko and what was in the box.
At that time, the said swordswoman was stealing glance at Akane. It came to a shock to her when she read the letter and realized that the girl named Akane and her sisters were the daughters of her mother’s younger sister. In fact, when they met at Hina dormitory few months ago, she didn’t recognize them at all. Obviously, the girl named Nabiki knew her and her relation to their family. But Tsuruko wondered why she only revealed the fact after so long had passed. It was if the girl did it reluctantly. She absentmindedly slashed a stray ki attack using her own sword while thinking about the matter. Then something attracted her attention. “Someone… or something with great power is coming here,”
Before she could determine the source, something landed between Ranma and Motoko, forcing the two combatants to move away from each other.
The first thing about the newcomer that caught the attention of everyone was the fact that she had white wings, like those possessed by birds. She was wearing a black and red dress, with some strange motifs on it. Her luxurious golden hair was waist-length and there were symbols on her face; a blue sun on her fore head and a triangle on above each cheek. Nineteen pebble-sized orbs of lights, nine of them blue, six were green, another three yellow and the last one red, orbited around her body. She turned to look at everyone, slowly, with a calculative look on her face.
Tsuruko, despite sensing the power the newcomer was projecting, took a step forward and asked, “Who are you?”
Ignoring Tsuruko’s question, she turned toward Ranma, “Are you him,” she then turned toward Mousse, “or is it you?”
“Didn’t you hear what my sister asked you just now?” Motoko demanded.
Without even turning her head toward Motoko, the newcomer answered, “You’re annoying,” One of the blue orbs stopped for a second and then sped toward Motoko as a very large blue bolt.
“Motoko!” Tsuruko called out as she ran toward her sister. “Raimeiken! (Sword Of Crying Thunder)” A powerful lightning blast from her intercepted the blue bolt and caused it to deviate, missing Motoko only by a meter. After she reached Motoko, she asked, “Are you okay Motoko?”
Motoko nodded.
“Don’t let your guard down. She’s very powerful,”
“Hmm… a powerful sword wielder,” the attacker commented. “Perhaps you’re related to him,”
Tsuruko turned toward her. “To whom?”
“Aozora”
“Who is that?” Akane asked in a small voice but was heard by the woman.
“My soul mate. Tell me, where is he?”
Ukyo had brought out her battle spatula while both the Joketsuko villagers followed suit. “Look honey, you come waltzing without permission, pretend as if you own the place then ask us to fetch this so-called Aozora without even introducing yourself. What if this ‘Aozora’ wouldn’t meet you?”
“He will meet me. After all, I’m Kencana,”
“We didn’t ask for your name,” Akane huffed as she got into a fighting stance while looking at Shampoo going into hers.
The newcomer who referred to herself as Kencana was silent for a moment, seemingly thinking. Then she said, “Very well. Fight me”
“Say what?” Ranma asked.
“Fight me. All of you”
“There’s no chance in the world I will…” he couldn’t finished his words as a kick to his stomach flung him far away.
Kencana landed gracefully as her white wings flapped. “Please take me seriously or it will be troublesome,”
Tsuruko gave a nod to her sister as both of them launched their attacks simultaneously.
“Hyakkaryouran (Hundred-Flower-Pandemonium)” Motoko cried out as she used her sword to release a straight ki blast toward Kencana
“Zantetsusen (Steel-Cleaving-Flash)” her sister shouted while her own sword released a spiral ki attack just after her sister’s attack.
The spiral ki attack Zantetsusen caught up with Hyakkaryouran’s own straight attack and they merged into a bigger ki blast.
Despite the threat that was coming her way, Kencana’s expression was calm. Out of the remaining small orbs that still orbited around her, one of yellow orbs stopped in front her. She used her finger to poke it and a yellow circle appeared, just in time to block the incoming ki-blast. After the ki-blast had abated, Kencana dropped her shield, a small smile creeping to her face. “That’s not bad. Do you have more?”
1. It's the first time ever Kencana really appeared in the present time. Before this, besides from appearing in 'history' section (the first section before the divider line), she also appeared a few times in this story and Ever Stay Chaotic, although her appearance was masked. Later, it will make more sense as more and more will be revealed.
2. I'm quite certain some of you may wonder regarding Hina Demolition Team. It's a bit hard to describe but the NWC had a Battle Royal with Hina Residence (from Love Hina). Yes, this story COs with Love Hina, but if you haven't seen that anime or read the manga, well, I don't think you will miss much. The focus is still on Ranma half.
:
:
:
:
