A wise man once said than an empire was more than the royals who ruled
it. It was more than the people it governed. It was the land itself.
It was the air, the water, and most importantly the life.
And so the legend was born. In a distant land by the name of Amerin,
the people lived in prosperity and life flourished. The secret was in a
certain family heirloom passed down to each ascending empress. Unknown,
to many, including the emperor by her side, the only other person to
know of it was her chosen daughter. The one born with the mark.
It was rumored that the heirloom was a scepter, which the empress used
to control the rains. Others said it was a glove, a ornate jeweled
glove, that the empress used to control nature and the people. But
no one ever found the truth.
Centuries passed. The land and the people lived harmoniously. But,
tragedy always strikes those who feel they are invincible.
With the birth of her third child, Karoi Tendo became gravely ill.
However, the land did not suffer. For the child was to be the
next empress. And so the circle was complete. The empress died,
happy in the knowledge that her legacy was to live on, but saddened
by the thought of never seeing her daughter ascend.
Alas, a human can only do so much, in so much time. The child's time
would come. And the land would once again rejoice. And so our story
begins...
The Wolf's Eye
Written By Silver Princess
Ranma 1/2
"Your Majesty, a man is here to see you. He claims he is the son of
an old friend." The young messenger bowed his head to the floor, his
eyes never leaving the black marble. It was protocol for all servants
of the Royal House of Tendo.
The figure sitting high upon his golden throne looked up for a moment.
The current conversation he was holding with his eldest daughter put
on hold. "Yes Jeric? Who is he?"
Still continuing to gaze at the dark floor, the young man answered.
"He claims to be the son of an old school mate of yours, sire. One by
the name of Genma Saotome." The emperor's attention was grabbed
immediately by the familiar name.
He nearly stood up in excitement. But his daughter's soft hand on his
arm let him remember his place. He schooled his features into their
normal, benevolent mask. "Please show the man in, Jeric. Quickly."
Jeric bowed low before his emperor and walked back to the Receiving
Room. As soon as the messenger left, Soun turned to his daughter,
distress written in his eyes.
"Oh, Kasumi! He's finally come! I knew he would someday! He's going to
ask..oh! What will I say! What will I do!"
His eldest smiled down at him. "As mother used to say, 'The truth shall
set you free'. Isn't it time you let go of your burden, father? Its
been 10 years. Let it go. Tell him the truth, but only if he asks."
Soun nodded at her wisdom. He smiled whimsically as he saw pieces of
his beloved Karoi shine through her smile. 'So beautiful. Its a wonder
Tofu went wild when he was first courting her', he thought to himself.
Within a few moments, the large oak doors leading to the Throne Room,
were slowly drawn open. A young man along with Jeric walked the long
carpet to the throne.
Soun took a long, perusal look at the young man. He mentally shook his
head at the figure in front of him. It was hard for him to believe
that this was the same little boy who used to terrorize the maids and
send his prize swans on an early trip to the West.
Jeric bowed again to his Emperor. "My liege, may I present Ranma
Saotome, son of the Royal Highnesses, Emperor Genma and Empress
Nadoka." The Prince nodded his head to the servant and then bowed
shortly before the throne.
"Emperor Soun, my father sends his greetings and his regrets that he
was unable to make this trip. Family...difficulties have risen in our
home. It was necessary that he remain there to...rectify them." Prince
Ranma grimaced mentally as he skimmed around the truth.
'Difficulties? Hah. More like he got in trouble with Mother again.
*sigh* He will never learn...' Ranma thought quietly. A small smirk
appeared at the corner of his lips.
He slowly glanced around the throne. 'Hasn't changed much. But...
something feels like it missing. I wonder.'
Emperor Soun smiled weakly at the Prince. He felt a fainting spell
coming on. 'Oh dear. Not now.'
"Welcome to my palace, Prince. My home is your home. My servants are
now yours. Any accommodation you require will be at your fingers. You
need only ask. Now, forgive me for interrupting this meeting, but I
fear that I am feeling a bit under the weather at the moment. Please
excuse me. My daughter, Princess Nabiki will see to anything you
require. Good day."
With that said, Emperor Soun stepped off his throne, and with the help
of Kasumi, walked out of the Throne Room. Ranma frowned as he watched
them walk out.
'He wasn't this feeble the last time I saw him. Of course, seventeen
years is a while...but still. What happened?'
A soft clearing of a throat brought his attention back. Before him
stood the second daughter of Emperor Soun Tendo. A quick overall glance
proved that her tastes hadn't changed much. A modest looking dress was
one's first thought of her apparel. Until she turned. Two long slits
up to her mid-thigh were seen.
"Nabs. What happened to your father?" Princess Nabiki cringed at the
nickname. Only Ranma ever got away with calling her that. And she
forever resented him for it.
Placing on her 'business mask', she appraised the male before her.
'Oh, nice chest. Great for cuddling. Long, strong legs. Great for-'
Ranma interrupted her thoughts. "When you're done with the silent
auction, would you care to answer the question?" He smiled as her mask
slipped for a moment.
Nabiki silently fumed at him. 'Jerk! We'll just see of he's as gullible
now as he was back then.'
"Of course Ranma-dear. But it'll cost you." He reached inside his
cloak and pulled out a small cloth bag. He weighted it for moment in
his hand.
Nabiki was surprised when Ranma tosses it to her. A silver bracelet
glinted in the sunlight as her right hand reached out to catch it.
A thought hit Ranma as the light hit his eye. "Nabs?" Bright brown eyes
searched light blue-gray. "Where's Akane?"
The question floated around the room in the silence. The small cloth
bag in Nabiki's hand fell to the floor. Ranma was surprised. Very few
things made Nabiki let go of money. This had to be big.
He glanced at Nabiki's wide shocked eyes and pale features. 'Damn. This
is not going to be good.' Nabiki shook her head for a moment and
reached down to pick up the bag. Ranma turned away with a slight blush.
Her dress dropped in places that a noble lady's shouldn't.
"Well?" Nabiki straightened and walked over to a side door. "Let me
show you to your room. We'll talk there." The guards quickly opened the
large oak door and Ranma followed her through.
* *
Ranma took a long look around the well-furnished room. The dark
tapestries flowed into to the black marble floor. The large four post
bed could fit at least 5 men. And the bath could hold at least an
army of people.
'Yup. Same old palace.' He removed his dark blue cloak and draped it
over the large stuffed chair seated before the fireplace.
"Well? Where is your little sister? Terrorizing the maids still? I
won't believe it. She's what-all of 27 years now, isn't she?"
No one answered him. For a moment, Ranma thought he might have lost her
in the large room. But she stepped out of the shadows by the door.
Her eyes were large and wounded. As if someone had just robbed the
Palace Treasury. Tears swam in dark brown eyes ringed with pain.
"Do you honestly not know? I swear, if you're lying to me Ranma, I'll
see to it that every single dirty little secret I've ever saved about
you!?!"
Ranma took a step back from her outburst. This was new. Nabiki always
wore her mask of ice. 'Something's wrong. Dear God, what happened to
this family.'
Nabiki blinked back the tears rapidly forming in her eyes. 'Damn tears.
Cry a river and still there's more left.' She started as she felt
Ranma's hand touch her hand. He gently lead her to the large chair
before the fireplace.
With a gentle push, she sat down. She took a deep breath and looked up
at Ranma. He sat on the floor before her, giving his undivided
attention.
"Talk Nabs. What's going on around here? Its' like someone died or
something!"
Nabiki flinched as he hit the truth. "Ranma, I have something to ask
you. And I want you to answer as truthfully as you can." Ranma frowned
but nodded in agreement.
"You remember the project my father had Akane start when she turned
10?" Ranma looked away as the memory rushed back to him...
A young Ranma looked around the large garden for his freind. She
was never late...so where was she?? Quick footsteps registerd to his
ears before the small body flew into him from behind.
"Ranma! Ranma! Ranma! You won't believe this!!" He turned to see the
young girl behind him jump up and down in excitement. 'Must be
something major. She's never this happy anymore.'
Excitement sparkled in her hazel eyes. Her smile was bright enough
to blind the Sun. Ranma felt something catch in his throat. He had
never looked at his friend like this before. Why now? He shook his head
and tried to concentrate on her babble.
"Papa has given me a project! Can you believe it! ME! Of all his
three daughters, he chose me! Oh! I can't wait to see what it is!"
Something flashed in her eyes for a moment, and her smile faltered.
Ranma immediately went on alert. "What's wrong?" Akane looked back up at
him and tried to regain her earlier enthusiasm. But it wasn't working.
Something had changed. She looked away in with a solemn expression.
"P-Papa says that we have to leave immediately. We're leaving right
before sunset." Ranma frowned. She often left on short notice, but that
wasn't new. What was so different about this time?
"So? You do that all the time Akane. What's wrong?" Bright hazel eyes
looked up to him pleadingly. She opened her mouth to answer but her
voice caught in her throat. She cleared in softly and tried again.
"Ranma. I...I won't be coming back." The words hit him like a shock of
cold wind. His soul twisted in dread.
6/4/2000
(
geocities.com/kaiki_houjun)