To Be Loved By You
Written by Remi
Edited by Chi~ 2 ~
Four months later . . .
Standing on the porch of his dojo, Soun Tendou's chest swelled with pride as he watched the last of his students walked out the door after a long session of training. He had been teaching kempo for years, and it had been his dream since he was a child. Now, after years of being a sensei, he still loved his job and felt the same gratification as the first he started to teach the art.
Buoyantly, he smiled and glanced up at the sky. The late afternoon sun signaled that it was time to join his family. Wiping the sweat off his face and with a contented sigh, he stepped inside the house.
He saw his oldest daughter, Kasumi in the living room. She was at the dinning table, wrapping potstickers with the seasoned ground meat that his wife, Ayako, had prepared earlier. At seeing him, she ran up to him and proudly held up one of her finished piece.
"Look father, I made one!" She exclaimed cheerfully as she gazed up at him in expectation.
In amusement, he glanced at the contorted and overly stuffed potsticker in her hand. She didn't have to wait long for his reaction. "Why this is the best looking potsticker that I have ever seen."
"You really think so, father?" Kasumi clasped her hands with a hopeful look in her eyes.
"Why of course, Kasumi! You're going to be a great cook just like your mother." He grinned. "I'll tell you what, you can put the potstickers that you have made on this dish here. When mommy cooks it, daddy will eat it to prove what a really good cook you are."
"You will, father?"
"Without a doubt."
"Great! Then I'll go make more for mommy, Nabiki, and Akane too!" Kasumi said gleefully as she ran back to the dining table to continue wrapping potstickers, but now at a much more confidence pace.
He smiled at seeing Kasumi happily playing with her food. A sound of paper being flipped drew his attention. His second daughter, Nabiki, had just stepped into the room with a manga in hand.
Nabiki was so engrossed in her reading that she overlooked the floor lining of the shoji that separated the hallway from the living room. She would have tipped forward if he had not caught her on time.
"Thanks daddy." Nabiki said appreciatively and gave him a peck on the cheek before taking her manga to join her sister at the dining table.
Soun ruefully shook his head as he watched her stumbled again while heading toward Kasumi, yet absorbed with her reading. "If she keeps this up, she's going to eventually hurt herself." He said thoughtfully and made a mental note to have a discussion with his wife Ayako about this.
"Now where are your mother and Akane?" He glanced around the room, not seeing either of them in sight.
"Mother have taken Akane with her to visit Mrs. Saotome." Kasumi answered helpfully.
"I see. Did she say when she would be back?"
"No, father."
A worried frown creased his face as he glanced at the clock on the wall. It was pass five-thirty in the evening. "Kasumi, when did your mother leave?"
"Around two, father."
Silently, he nodded his head as a sense of uneasiness filled him. It had been several months since the yakuza, lead by the notorious Hojo Yamada, had visited. Ever since that incident, he had been in fear for his family's safety. As a precaution, he had even sent his three daughters along with Ayako to live with their relatives. At first, Ayako had refused to go since she wanted to remain behind with him. But after constant pleadings from him, she finally relented and went along with their daughters. He had only allowed them to return when there hadn't been any more signs of the yakuza.
Another two weeks had gone by peacefully, and he started to teach his classes again. Things had gone well from there, but for some reason, he was beginning to feel uncomfortable and apprehensive again. Maybe, he was a worrywart like his wife had always teased him about. But after the incident with the yakuza, he had a good reason to be worried. Likewise, with Ayako and Akane gone for so long, he had more reasons to be concerned.
"We should have move," he said to himself, recalling the conversation that he had with Ayako about relocating to avoid the yakuza. At the end, they both had dropped the idea. Knowing that if the yakuza were determined to find them, then no matter where they went, it wouldn't be safe. However, now thinking about it again, maybe they should have taken the chance . . .
His eyes swayed toward the clock on the wall. He watched the second counter of the clock slowly made its round. Mesmerized by the sight, his ears began to pick up the sound created by the ever-running counter; ticking and ticking it went. The sound grated his nerves and began to give him a headache. He sighed heavily and tried to relief the tension, the poundings in his skull by rubbing his temples.
"Is something wrong father?"
He glanced toward the table and found his daughters curiously staring at him. "Nothing to worry about. I just have a headache . . . "
A slight smile formed at the corner of his lips, as he attempted to give his daughters reassurance, a feeling that he did not possess in any part of his body. Nevertheless, it was enough, for his daughters were quite use to his unduly emotional state. They continued on with their activities, not perceiving the abnormalities that his senses were screaming out to him to be aware of. It was rather an unnerving sensation, like that of an army of ants crawling over his whole body, threatening and agitating . . .
Unable to contain himself, he turned his gaze back to the clock. His eyes gleaming with tension as he watched the second meter made yet another round to indicate the constant passage of time. He shifted his gaze to the front porch in hope of seeing his wife and youngest walk in. When such an image does not become a reality, he glanced back at the clock, once more. Intently, his eyes gazed at it as he repeatedly whispered to himself with a wrenching heart, "They're safe." And he prayed that Kami hear him and made it so . . .
***
A gold knife used as a letter opener was tossed up into the air. It glittered and flashed brightly as it twisted and turned in the sunlight. It caught Shinji Yamada's eyes momentary and almost blinded him. He was only saved from further torment, when a hand reached up and seized the knife.
The hand belonged to his uncle, Hojo, distinguishable now by a reddish brown line that encircled the wrist completely. After only just two months, Hojo's right hand had been completely healed and it worked so exceedingly well, it was as if he had never amputated it.
"You have news for me, Kojiro?" Coolly, Hojo asked from behind his beautifully crafted mahogany desk as he leaned back leisurely on his black leather chair. His gaze was directed at a huge man that stood uneasily in the center of his large extravagantly adorned office.
"Yes, boss! Have I got news for you." Kojiro stated excitedly with a broad smile on his face, which quickly disappeared as Hojo simply stared at him. He soon caught on that Hojo does not want to be amused but to be pleased.
Under the cold gaze, Kojiro began to fidget uncomfortably as he tried to come up with something to say to correct his mistake.
Shinji look on slightly amuse. It was quite odd to see such a huge man as Kojiro, cowering under a man that was smaller than him in size. Although, Hojo could not be consider scrawny, for he was well above six feet and weighed with muscles, but in comparison to Kojiro, who's body was like that of a wrestler, the difference was very noticeable. However, Hojo has something that made up for Kojiro's size.
It was sheer force of will.
"Get with it." Hojo said flatly.
Kojiro jerked in reaction and rapidly reported. "We're ready to move whenever you order."
"Then go bring her to me."
"But boss, I thought-"
"Are you questioning my orders, Kojiro?"
"No, not at all boss! I-I just thought because of the Masamori, you wanted . . . " Uncertainly, Kojiro ended.
Shinji mentally cringed at Kojiro imbecilic reply. He just could not believe how dense Kojiro could be sometimes, to be so stupid as to question Hojo's order twice. It seemed true that his brawn does make much of his brains like Aida constantly joked about.
Hojo simply stared at Kojiro. Under the heated gaze, Kojiro's face and neck began to gloss with sweat.
"You dare to remind me of that?" Hojo said as he unconsciously clenched and unclenched his right hand.
"Sorry boss! I understand what to do now. I'll go take care of it right away." Kojiro immediately corrected. Bowing his head, he started to retreat, but was stopped in a mid-stride.
"I don't want her harm, Kojiro. If she is . . . " Hojo left his threat unfinished.
Kojiro swallowed and quickly stammered out a reply. "She'll be in one piece, boss! I could assure you, not a single hair on her head will be damage-"
With a flick of his hand, Hojo dismissed him.
Closing his mouth, Kojiro bow his head and quickly withdrew out of the room.
Like the strong fume of gasoline, Shinji could sense that something was about to be ignited and he has two clues, a female and the Masamori . . .
As if reading the unvoiced thoughts in his head, Hojo looked at him in amusement. He meet Hojo's gaze with steady ones and stood unwavering under the scrutiny. Slowly, Hojo's lips turned up in a bemused grin, breaking the quiescent moment.
"Go Shinji, I have no need for you."
He nodded his head and walked out of the room.
***
"Mommy, look! It's a panda!" Akane cried out in delight as a black and white furry bear walked by.
Ayako glanced at her daughter and smiled.
Akane was dressed in a white kimono with small red flowers along with a wide red sash around her waist, much like her own. The affect made Akane looked almost like a miniature of her, although . . . the thought was left unfinished as Akane excitedly tugged her sleeve.
"Mommy! Did you see it?"
"Yes, darling. That is one huge panda." She pulled Akane along while looking at a man in panda costume.
She did not want to dally anymore, since they were already running late. If not for the streets overfilled with people because of the festival, they would have been home more than a half hour ago. Now, it was six-thirty and she was supposed to be home by five. She had forgot the passage of time when she visited her lifelong friend, Nodoka and heard the shocking news.
Nodoka's husband, Genma, had apparently run off on a training trip. Asides from that, he had also taken Ranma, Nodoka's only son with him. It had taken her quite some time to comfort Nodoka and calm her hysteria. All the while, she cursed Genma. The nerve of that man! To think he could be so cruel as to leave Nodoka behind. Not to mention, leave without first sharing his plans for little Ranma with Nodoka.
"Mommy? Is something wrong?" Akane looked up at her with wide eyes.
"No darling. It's nothing."
Akane tilted her head curiously toward her. "Mommy, it's about Aunty Nodoka. Isn't it?"
Ayako couldn't help but smiled at Akane's perceptiveness. "I'm angry because Uncle Genma had took Ranma on a training trip without first telling Aunty Nodoka."
Akane silently nodded her head, then unconsciously squeezed her hand as she asked. "Ranma will be back, won't he?"
Noting the solemn look in her daughter's eyes, she mentally cursed Genma again. "Of course, he'll be back, sweetie."
"He will? Then when will I see him again?" Akane eagerly questioned.
"Darling, you will see him again. I-It's just not that soon . . . "
Akane pouted her lips in disappointment. "Why did Uncle Genma take Ranma away, mommy? Wouldn't that leave Aunty Nodoka all alone?"
"I wonder why he did that too, Akane." Ayako did not mention that she had also wondered what size of brain Genma had. Instead, she added, "Don't worry, Aunty Nodoka won't be alone for long. She's going to go look for them."
"Really? That's great!" Akane's face immediately lit up. "I hope she finds Ranma soon or I won't have anyone to spar with."
Humorously, Ayako grinned. No children would fight with her daughter because they could not compete with her. Ranma was the only child who matched her skills. "Don't worry Akane, I'll spar with you until he gets back."
"And you'll going to teach me that kata?" Akane enthusiastically remarked, her amber eyes shining brightly with hope.
Ayako just couldn't resist that look. "You bet! And I going to teach you a few new ones too."
"Thank you, mommy!" Akane gave her a hug and looked wistfully at her. "But I'm still going to miss sparring with Ranma . . ."
"I miss him too, sweetheart." Ayako sighed. Ranma had been like a son to her, a son she never did have.
"Mommy . . ." A look of consternation filled her daughter's face as she looked up beseechingly at her. "You won't let Daddy take me away on a training trip, will you?"
In that moment as Akane's golden eyes glistered under the lights of the streets, Ayako was taken back to another time. To a time when another set of the same golden eyes had stared just as imploringly at her, but those eyes belonged to that of a beautiful woman instead of a child. And that woman had been looking at her with pain and anguish.
"Mommy?" Akane tugged her sleeves.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Ayako placed a hand softly on her daughter's face. "No, sweetie. He won't."
The firm tone of her voice had given the assurance that Akane needed. Upon seeing Akane smiled again, her own lips turned upward. But in her mind, she was still pondering over Akane's question. She feared that if and when the time comes, she might not be able to stop it from happening. She shook her head and gritted her teeth. "Over my dead body, before I let that happen."
"Did you say something, Mommy?"
Ruefully, Ayako grinned. "Nothing for you to worry about. Come on, we better hurry home. Your daddy and sisters are waiting."
"Humph!" Happily, Akane agreed.
Ayako quickened her pace. Her husband would no doubt be worried sick. He had been especially cautious and protective over them ever since the incident with the yakuza . . . She shivered at the thought. Today was supposed to be a carefree day, not one filled with fear and anxiety. Shaking her head and with a soft smile on her lips, she carefully guided Akane through the crowd.
***
Soun glanced at the clock again, for what seemed like the hundredth time within the last half-hour. It was six thirty-two. His wife and daughter were still not home. Sitting by the table, he drank his tea in silence and tried to remain calm for his daughters' sake. This tribulation was only made more difficult by his wrecking nerves. As he reached out for his tea again, inadvertently, his fingers tipped the ceramic cup over.
The tea spilled out and greedily covered as much distance as it could on the flat table. Intently, Soun stared at it as if seeing spilled tea for the first time in his life. In his mind all he could think of was, "Was this a sign?"
"Oh father, let me get a towel to clean that up." Kasumi got up from her seat at the table and briskly headed toward the kitchen.
Despite Soun's unruffled composure, his mind was furiously racing. He was only jutted out of his thoughts when the phone suddenly rang.
Frozen in place, he stared at it.
"Daddy, aren't you going to answer that?" Nabiki gave him a questioning glance.
He did not response and continued to stare at the phone as it rang.
Seeing that he wasn't going move, Nabiki got up from her seat.
"No Nabiki! I-I'll answer it." He stood up and slowly made his way toward the phone. Each step he took seemed to lag behind the other. With shaking fingers, he reached for the receiver. Upon grasping the handle, he held it firmly and brought it to his ear.
"Tendou resident . . . " He got out in a rusty voice.
"Soun Tendou." A masculine voice said. Although it was somewhat muffled, it was still perceivable.
"Yes, this is he."
"Your family is in danger."
"What! Who is this?"
"If you don't want to see your family harm, take them to safety now."
"Wait! Who is harming my family?" His questions were met with silence as the other end disconnected. He stared at the phone in his hand blankly for a moment. It wasn't long before his eyes flared up in alarm.
"Nabiki! Kasumi! Put on your shoes, we're going to Mrs. Tomino's!"
"Why are we going to nanny's, Daddy? Aren't you and mommy watching us today?" Nabiki asked with a confuse expression on her face as Kasumi stepped out of the kitchen with a washcloth in hand.
"Daddy's going out for a while. I want you and Kasumi to stay at Mrs. Tomino's until I get back."
"But mommy and Akane-"
"No buts, we are leaving now!"
Under his stern gaze, his daughters did his bidding. Quickly, they followed after him to the front door. Once outside of the dojo, he picked up his daughters under each arm and ran off to his neighbor's house. Giving the briefest explanation possible, he handed his daughters over to their caretaker, and immediately dashed off as if a fire was on his heels.
***
Aida Fletcher cursed angrily and shoved her way through the crowded street, all the while not giving a darn of the appall looks she got for her rudeness.
"Damn you Shinji! Damn you Hojo! To the hell with you both!" She muttered furiously under her breath.
She had been sunbathing when Shinji came by earlier with a request. It was a simple enough task but the reason that lies behind it was something she could not fathom. That was until she did the favor for him. Her eyes flashed angrily as she recalled what had transpired not just an hour ago . . .
"I see you are sun tanning again."
"What do you want, Shinji? Can't I get some privacy here?" She said crankily as she continued to lie on her tummy on the lounge chair.
"I thought you would have something else better to do than lazily sleep here." His sea-green eyes glint as he presented her a mysterious smile, which she frowned upon. For she could never tell what lies behind that enigmatic smile. He was like Hojo in every way, deadly and unpredictable. She had no doubt that within a few more years; Shinji would also gain Hojo's powerful built. He would then be a man to reckon with, an extremely attractive man, not that he isn't a handsome boy now.
Aida sighed and secretly grinned. She has plans for him yet . . .
She mustered up a frown and glared at him as he made his way to her on the lawn. "You should try this sometime. You might end up liking it a lot . . . " she said haughtily and reposition herself to lie on her back. During the transition, she made sure her body moved ever so slowly, to show off her luscious curves that were not covered by her scanty bikinis.
Once on her back, she lazily looked up at him. "Hand me the tan lotion over there, would you Shinji?" She said in a saucy voice, lingering a bit longer then necessary on his name.
He grabbed a bottle from a nearby table and held it out to her.
"Hmm . . . " she moaned and crossed her long slim legs that were tanned to perfection, which she was sure to capture any men's attention. She then drawled out in a husky voice. "Be a dear, and put some on my legs, won't you?"
As she predicted, his eyes did a once over from the top of her body all the way to her toes. She smiled at seeing that he was looking at her the same way when a man looks at a woman. It was pure lust . . . "Yes!" Her mind cried out in triumph. She was going to make a man out of him yet.
It came as a surprise when instead of putting lotion on her legs; he dropped the bottle flatly on her stomach.
"What the hell?" She sat up and angrily glared at him.
"Your charms won't work on me, Aida." He said coolly.
Had she made a mistake and misread him again? Aida glanced at his cold green eyes. There was no sign of playfulness in them. He did not have the slightest interest in dallying with her. He had only meant business.
With an insouciant expression, she shrugged her shoulders then grinned covertly. She could accommodate him and be a patient woman for now, after all there are always other opportunities . . . At the thought, she demurely motioned for him to take a seat across from hers.
"Well, tell me what it is you want. I'm sure you didn't come here to just see me in my bikinis."
He didn't take the seat she offered. Quickly, he stated in a no nonsense manner. "Kojiro is leaving, I want you to delay him."
"And why should I do that?" She glanced at him amusingly.
"For one, you get to keep the head on your shoulders."
"Do I sense a threat here, Shinji?" Aida smiled, but it wasn't one of joy.
"How could you say that Aida? I was only asking for your cooperation." Shinji grinned.
Laughing dryly in response, she ran her nails along the side of the lounge chair. If the chair had been made out of wood instead of metal, on the grass would have been a pile of wood chippings.
"What makes you think I would do what you say?" Her eyebrow raise up in challenge.
"You will. That is . . . if you don't want Hojo to find out what happen to Miya."
"You couldn't have known . . . "
"I know more than you think Aida." He said grimly. "Get going, Kojiro will be gone in any minute."
She cursed and scrambled out off her chair. With as much grace as she could muster, she ran off in search for Kojiro . . .
Her high heels collided heavily along the stairs as she made her way up the tall building. If she had been walking on a sheet of ice, it would have shattered under the sheer force. The ugly expression on her face only supported her surly mood.
Grinding her teeth, she hissed fiercely, "No one . . . Absolutely no one will take away what I had work so hard for!"
Shinji have left out the details as to why he needed Kojiro to be delay, but she got her answers soon enough from stupid Kojiro, himself. All it took was a few smiles and some cajoling, and Kojiro became pudding in her hands. After coaxing the information from Kojiro, she did not remember having been so angry in her life as she did then. She did not know exactly what Hojo and Shinji were up to. Whatever that may be, it was going to end now.
She was not about to let all those sacrifices that she had made to get where she was today, being one of Hojo's most trusted men or woman for that matter, go wasted. She had earned this position and that wasn't an easy feat. She had to prove her skills and show Hojo that she could look after his business, may it be to take out a rival or make things more advantages to him. Hojo wasn't one of those weak men that would just let a woman run his affairs because she was pleasing to the eyes.
She frowned at the thought. It reminded her how unsuccessful she had been at winning his affection lately. He was still besotted by the Miya slut. But that had been taken care of a long time ago, and he still hadn't turned to her. His other women had been of no threats. So why does he keep on ignoring her, as if he didn't know that she wanted him? Trying to get his attention was hard enough, now it was going to be even harder with another competitor on the way. She scowled darkly. She was not going to let that happen if she could help it. Her eyes blazed into inferno at the thought.
"No one. Absolutely, no one will take what is mine . . . " With an wicked grin on her lips and thirst for blood in her eyes, she continued to make her way up the stairs that led all the way to the rooftop, while toting along an heavy metal case.
***
It was a simple plan. All Kojiro Watanabe and his men had to do was to grab the target and run to the black van that was waiting at the other side of the road. However, to a professional's point of view, it was outright absurd. Especially, to pick such a crowded place to carry out the whole scheme, and thinking to get away without alerting attention or opposition. Worst, they didn't even have any disguises to protect their faces.
Regardless of these flaws, Kojiro thought it was a masterpiece. For it was his idea and he was quite confident that his sheer size and powerful fists would carry him through. He was unstoppable and unbeatable. No one would dare stand in his way and prevent him from accomplishing his goal, a direct order from Hojo Yamada, himself.
He chuckled as he imagined the praises he would receive when he got the job done and not to mention the rewards. The things he could buy with the money and the things he could do with the power that comes with his promotion. His fellow members will have to show him some respect now. Even, Aida is going to look at him differently. For he was not one big chunk of muscles without brains as they nicknamed him, "Block Head" and it's about time they all know that . . .
Crackling his knuckles, he stalked confidently toward his unexpected targets not a few feet away. As he approached closer to the couple, hell broke lose. Startling cries filled the air as people pushed and shoved him in an attempt to get off the streets.
"What the hell's going on?" Kojiro roared over the confusion that suddenly surrounded him.
"Look over there!" One of his gang spoke and pointed toward a woman and a little girl about ten yards away. "Oh man, I think our target has been hit!"
"Man, this is bad! Boss is not going to like this!" Another of his men added.
"Shut your whimpering now! I want to know who fired!" Kojiro demanded angrily to hide his own fear. For he knew his men were right, Hojo was definitely not going to be please . . . But before he worry over that, he was going to kill the person responsible first.
"Hey! There's the sniper!"
Kojiro squinted his eyes and looked toward the direction where his men had pointed. It was a ten-story building about thirty feet away. He could hardly see the sniper near the edge of the roof. The sniper's position only became more visible when sparks burst from his weapon as he continued to fire at random. Briskly, he then retreated for cover.
Kojiro swore under his breath and shook his fists in rage. "We have to catch that bastard!"
"We can't Kojiro! By the time we get there, the police will be all over the place. And they're likely going to head to that building too."
Kojiro shifted his gaze between the fallen target and that of an unmarked black van waiting for him and his men. After few seconds of indecision, he cursed and ran. Noting the direction of where he was heading, his men hesitated for a moment before following, cursing as they went along.
***
The first shot was unexpected. It happened so fast. One moment, Akane was pointing at a bunch of colorful balloons held by a male attendant to her mother. Suddenly, one of the balloons popped, and the next thing she heard was a gush of air escaping from her mother's lips as her body arched forward. Her mother's mouth opened in shock as with her widened eyes.
"Mommy?" She said in fear as she noted pain in her mother's eyes.
The people around them immediately backed away in horrer. As someone started to scream, the street became a total chaos and spread like a wildfire. But her mother's desperate plea still reached her beyond that of their outcries.
"Akane . . ." Her mother said in a bare whisper as she stumbled toward her. Slowly, her mother reached out and embraced her. She was then lunged backward as her mother fell heavily on top of her, covering her completely.
"Mommy!" She cranked her head to look up at her mother's face.
Her mother's eyes were closed and her face was emotionless.
"Mommy, please get up!" She cried out in panic and tried to shake her mother awake, but she just would not budge.
It was then that she felt the shot and several rapid ones that proceeded thereafter. It pierced the back of her mother's body. She felt the jolts of each impact as more liquid seeped onto her body and clothes. She wiggled her hands lose and brought it toward her face.
It was soaked in the color of her namesake, redder then scarlet, richer in color than the flowers on her kimono. And there was so much of it . . . This was not the first time that she had seen such substantial amount of blood. Moreover, she never did recall having scream at the sight before. She remembered, the last time she had seen so much blood she had fainted. But she wasn't so lucky this time, to be able to escape into a world of oblivion.
This time was different . . . On her hands was her mother's blood.
She opened her mouth and screamed like she never screamed before . . .
Japanese words used:
shoji -- as defined by Webster dictionary: "a paper screen serving as a wall, partition, or sliding door"
yakuza -- a highly organized group that deal in a range of unlawful activities
kami -- God
kimono -- as defined by Webster dictionary: "a loose robe with wide sleeves and a broad sash traditionally worn as an outer garment by the Japanese . . . esp. by women"vers: 7/15/01