[Ranma][Fanfic] Childhood of a Modern Dynasty - Chapter 28: Big Trouble in Little Nerima; The Wedding During the Storm ======================================================================= Childhood of a Modern Dynasty Chapter 28: Big Trouble in Little Nerima; The Wedding During the Storm Ranma 1/2 characters/situations created and copyright by Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty/Fuji/Viz - Used without permission Childhood of a Modern Dynasty series created, written, and copyright 1998-2000 by Jim Lazar An ongoing series set after the end of the Ranma 1/2 manga and anime. "Speech text in double quotes is spoken as Japanese." E-mail comments and/or criticisms to: jim [at] animeprime.com Make sure to check out my Modern Dynasty website for all released CMD stories, graphics files, and other information: http://www.animeprime.com/ff/md ======================================================================= >From the personal journal of James Davidson: October 28, 2057 "Hi, Grandma," Hanaki and I chorused when the holo-call connected. Kasumi's face visibly brightened when she saw us. "Hanaki, James, what a great surprise!" "I hope it's a good time for us to call?" Kasumi nodded. "Always have time for my grandkids, you both should know that." "We do, Grandma," Hanaki said. "So, how is New York?" "Great. Just like I remember it. Although I still can't believe my mom was mixed up in the First." Kasumi sighed. "Those were rough times for everyone, James." "I know." I glanced at Hanaki and took her hand. "Grandma, we have some news that we wanted to tell you." Hanaki smiled before spilling the news. "I'm pregnant." Kasumi stared at us blankly for a few seconds before smiling. "Oh my." She held her trembling hand to her mouth and tears formed in her eyes. "That's wonderful!!" I gave my wife's shoulder a squeeze. "Yes, we think so too." Once we confirmed the pregnancy, Hanaki had wanted to tell her grandmother right away. We haven't even mentioned it to anyone here in New York yet. Kasumi tilted her head slightly. "Was it a planned pregnancy?" "Grandma!" Hanaki gasped. I smiled. "Yes, it was. We discussed it a while back... although I think my wife is a little surprised that it happened so fast." Hanaki nodded her agreement. Kasumi let out a little laugh. "That's your Tendo blood working. We get pregnant at the drop of a hat." We all shared a good laugh. "Well, I love the thought of having a child with James, but I'm going to miss flying for a while. And who knows if I'll be able to handle being on the combat roster and raising a child." Kasumi seemed to chuckle. "Don't worry. It may not be easy, but you can handle having a family and a career. Just don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it." Hanaki looked at Kasumi and smiled. "Well, I have a great role model." "Don't look at me, dear, I almost ended up tossing both away." I smiled at Kasumi. "That's not what I've heard from Akane." Kasumi smiled and seemed to grow younger as we spoke. "Akane has always had an overly idealized impression about my life." "Maybe because of the extreme problems she's faced in her own life?" "Possibly." Kasumi leaned back in the chair she was sitting in. "I can't claim to have had anything close to the number and kinds of problems Akane has had, but I've taken my fair share of wrong turns in my life." "Like what?" Hanaki scowled. "He's working again." I laughed and kissed my wife. "It wasn't intentional. Besides, I'll have a baby to support soon and knowing you and Jaki, I'll have a LOT of baby clothes and toys to pay for." Hanaki shook her head. "We're not that bad. And we have at least one hand-me-down for our child." She looked at Kasumi. "Do you still have it, Grandma?" "Of course. Your child will have nothing but the best." Hanaki smiled. I looked between my wife and Kasumi. "Am I missing something here?" Kasumi smiled knowingly. "It's just a tradition for the first born child of a Tendo woman. My mother honored me with it, Daiji had it, my first son had it, and Hanaki had it. And now your child will have it." "What is it?" "It is a long story." I smiled. "I love long stories." *********************************************************************** November 21-24, 1999 - Nerima, Japan Akane watched as Nabiki threw open the door and peered into the apartment where Dr. Tofu and Kasumi lived. "Ha!! Caught you in the act!" Nabiki shouted. Kasumi looked up from the book she was reading. "I've told you both that we are not shacking up here." Akane grinned. "Yeah, but we're just making sure. Where's Doctor Tofu?" "He's visiting a patient." Nabiki gasped. "He does house calls? What kind of doctor is he?" Kasumi smiled. "A very good one. So what brings you two here?" Akane exchanged a conspiratorial glance with Nabiki. "We're going to take you shopping." Kasumi frowned. "Are you sure you can handle that in your condition?" She glanced at Akane's pregnant belly. Akane laughed. "I'm fine. It's been way too long since we all went shopping together and I can't think of a better day to do it on." Kasumi tilted her head innocently. "Oh, is there something special about today?" Nabiki smirked. "Keep that up and you won't get any birthday presents." "Oh, is it my birthday? I completely forgot." Akane giggled and pulled her oldest sister into a tender embrace. "Happy Birthday, big sister." Nabiki took her turn. "This is probably the last time you get to celebrate your birthday as a single woman, so we are going to do it right." Kasumi blushed. "Well, we haven't set the date yet..." "Right... just do it, Kasumi. You won't regret it," Akane winked. "Married life has some interesting benefits." "Even more if you're married to a man who's not trapped in a busty woman's body." Nabiki winked. Kasumi blushed. "So, how is everything at home?" Akane knew an evasion when she heard it, but it was Kasumi's birthday so she decided to let Kasumi get away with it this time. "Okay, I guess. Daiji is sleeping longer now and Ranko's actually getting into breast feeding..." Akane frowned suddenly. Kasumi put her hand on Akane's shoulder. "You miss it, don't you?" Akane nodded. "Yeah, even though I still do the occasional feeding when Ranko's not around, I still miss all the time I spent with her before." Kasumi nodded. "Don't worry... you'll be able to spend that time with your own child." "Daiji is my child!" Akane snapped, then softened. "Sorry... I guess I'm a bit sensitive about that. When I take Daiji to the park I always get asked whose child she is, since I obviously didn't give birth to a two-month-old myself." She looked down at her pregnant belly. "No, I'm sorry, Akane." Kasumi took her sister's hand. "I didn't mean that Daiji isn't your child as well... I just meant that you will be spending that time with another baby soon." "I know... it's just that I miss breast feeding Daiji." "This is rich... my sister is upset that her husband is getting her breasts sucked more than her own." Akane smirked. "Yeah... I guess it is pretty funny." The three sisters all shared a laugh. "Akane, why don't you talk to Ranko about this?" Kasumi asked. "Well, I was the one who originally encouraged him to start breast feeding Daiji. How can I ask him to stop now?' "Well, just tell her how you feel. When your child is born, maybe she'll want to share in the breast feeding duties." "Four breasts, no waiting," Nabiki added. The sisters shared another laugh. "So how was the sex with Sanma?" Nabiki asked, winking. "Or to be more exact, how was the sex with yourself?" "Kasumi!" Akane blushed at the question from her oldest sister. "We haven't... I mean... Well, he didn't want to until the baby is born. I think he's afraid I'll break. He was always so wary around me." Nabiki smirked knowingly. "Well, since Sanma has your body now... maybe he doesn't need you to have sex with you anymore." "Nabiki!!" Akane and Kasumi shouted in unison. -C- -M- -D- The three sisters' hands were heavy with packages as they stepped into the Tendo house. "Kasumi, want to stay for a bit?" Akane asked before Kasumi could make her good-byes. Kasumi looked nervously out the door. "Um... I'm not sure. Tofu will be expecting me." Nabiki didn't take no for an answer. "You can jump his bones later." She pulled Kasumi into the house. "Nabiki!" Akane pulled on Kasumi's sleeve. "Come on... just for a little bit." "Okay. I could use a little time to get over that bar you took me too." Nabiki smirked. "You seemed to like Hans." Kasumi blushed. "I was just being polite by tipping him." Akane raised an eyebrow. "You tipped him a lot." "Yeah, his g-string was bulging by the time you finished." "It wasn't the tips causing that." Akane and Nabiki gaped at Kasumi, but were afraid to respond to that comment. The three sisters made their way down to the family room and slid open the doors. "Happy Birthday, Kasumi!!" the people assembled in the family room chorused. In addition to the regular residents of the Tendo house, Dr. Tofu, Ami, a couple of Amazons, and a number of Kasumi's friends were present. The door to Soun and Hinako's room was open to make room for everyone. "Oh my." Kasumi looked around at the assembled people and blushed. "You shouldn't have." Akane kissed Kasumi on the cheek and pushed her into the room. "It was your fiance's idea." Kasumi smiled at Dr. Tofu. "Thank you." She looked back at everyone. "Thank you, all." "Let's party!" -C- -M- -D- A while later, Ami was describing the wedding that she had attended months earlier in China. "Yukiko was dressed in a long flowing dress. The fabric was softer than satin and... well, I'm not sure how to describe it. It was red with golden highlighting throughout." "What about the groom?" Kasumi asked. "Well.." Ami hesitated. "It was pretty much the same outfit. Yukiko's cleavage was more pronounced, of course." "Gee, sounds a bit dull," Ranko commented. Akane rolled her eyes. "I'm planning on my next wedding to be very dull, thank you." "Well, of course, after me everything else has to be dull." Akane chuckled. "Speaking of marriages..." She looked at Kasumi and Dr. Tofu, who were snuggled up close to each other. Kasumi looked crossly at her youngest sister. "Akane..." "I know... you haven't set a date." Kasumi and Dr. Tofu exchanged glances. Kasumi nodded to Dr. Tofu to indicate he should tell everyone. "Well, we have set a place, but they haven't let us know when they can squeeze us in. Apparently, they are booked solid for the next two years." The room went silent until Nodoka spoke. "Where do you want to get married that's so important?" Kasumi blushed and looked at her father. "We want to get married at the little shrine that Mother and Father were married in." She looked at her father and smiled sweetly at him. Akane and Nabiki smiled broadly. Soun nodded and resisted to the urge to burst into tears. Little Hinako scrunched up her face at the mention of Soun's first wife, but remained calm. She knew she shared Soun's heart with his late wife, but that didn't lessen the love he had for her. She hoped. "What a wonderful idea. I wanted to do the same thing, but someone-" Nodoka glanced at her husband. "-didn't think it was worth the money." "But honey..." Everyone ignored the fight that broke out between Nodoka and Genma while they congratulated the future newlyweds. "Dang, sis, two years would be a long time to wait," Nabiki whispered into Kasumi's ear and winked. Kasumi nodded. "I know," she said wistfully and glanced at Dr. Tofu. A blush formed on her face. Dr. Tofu became a little uncomfortable and decided to change the subject. "So, how are Sanma and the others doing?" Akane turned to Dr. Tofu and answered his question. "Well, we haven't heard from them since they sprang Sanma after the 'incident' on the plane." Dr. Tofu nodded. "I see. Well, I'm sure they'll be fine." Akane clutched her chest. "I hope so. I went months without them before Sanma returned and he was here all too briefly. Now that we know where Ranma is, I just feel so nervous and antsy for them to come back." Kasumi nodded. "That's understandable." "Tell me about it... I can't wait to get Mousse back into my arms," Nabiki commented and then looked at her father and blushed. "Err... don't worry, Daddy, I'm a good girl." That comment saved them from all getting soaked with tears. Genma cleared his throat. "Good girls pay their debts." Nabiki smiled sweetly to reassure Genma. "You'll get your money, Mr. Saotome." Inside Nabiki was a little more concerned. Nabiki grinned to herself. Suddenly a loud cry was heard from the nursery. Ranko jumped to her feet and rushed to check on her son and/or daughter. She came back a few moments later cradling Daiji in her arms. "Shhhh... don't cry." "What's the matter?" Akane asked. "She dropped her ring thing on the floor." Ranko help up a little plastic ring toy and shook it in front of the baby to calm her. Seeing the ring reminded Kasumi of something. "After the party, there's something I'd like to give Daiji." Akane looked at her oldest sister. "What?" "You'll see." Kasumi glanced at her father, who nodded his understanding. -C- -M- -D- After the party ran its course and most of the guests left, the proud parents and grandparents watched as Kasumi cradled Daiji in her arms while she swayed back and forth on a rocking chair. Nabiki, Hinako, and Dr. Tofu looked on as well. Kasumi kissed Daiji's forehead. "A part of me wanted to give this to my own child first, but I am pleased to give it to my beautiful niece here." "Nephew." Akane shushed her husband. "Shush, she's a girl right now." Dr. Tofu put a comforting hand on his fiancee's shoulder. "Our first child will have its turn with it." Kasumi blushed. "My mother passed this on to me when I was just a babe and later told me to give it to my first born child. I will eventually-" She glanced at Dr. Tofu and smiled sweetly. "-but for now the honor goes to the first born child of my youngest sister." The proud parents smiled broadly. "Even if her husband was the one who gave birth to her," Nabiki quipped. Kasumi reached over to a small table by her side and fingered a finely crafted box the size of a cigar box, but a little taller. The wooden box had seen better days and was now well worn. The edges looked to be taped together and the engraved wood was faded and peeling. She gingerly opened the lid and pulled out a fancy golden rattle. Various awed gasps were heard. Kasumi smiled and gently wiped a smudge off the surface of the rattle. "Daiji, daughter... and son of Akane and Ranko Tendo, I give you the Tendo family rattle. Hold it close to your heart as we hold you close to ours." She bent down and kissed her niece on the forehead and then put the little rattle into the baby's hands. Daiji cooed a few times as she wrapped her fingers around the unknown object. Kasumi shook the rattle a little, which caused Daiji to smile and gurgle with excitement. Nabiki took a picture. "Dang, that must be worth a lot." "Over thirty-five thousand yen." Nodoka glared at her husband. "And how would you know that, husband?" Genma shrugged, trying not to let on that he had had it appraised. Kasumi smiled at her middle sister. "It's worth much, much more than it's monetary value. It's our family's history. Every first born Tendo has played with it as far back as anyone remembers." "And sucked on it apparently," Nabiki remarked while nodding down at Daiji, who was sucking on the head of the rattle. "I hope it's been washed over the years," Ranko remarked with the worried tone only a mother could have for her child. "Oh, she must be hungry," Akane reached for Daiji, but stopped. Ranko saw Akane's hesitation. "Akane, can you take this one? I'm a bit tired." Akane's eyes lit up. "Sure, if you insist." Ranko looked at Kasumi and mouthed a silent 'thank you' for informing her about Akane's concerns about breast-feeding earlier that night. Kasumi nodded her acknowledgement to Ranko as she handed Daiji to Akane. Akane sat down and then looked up at the assembled people. "This isn't exactly a spectator sport, you know." Ranko laughed and herded everyone out. She smiled as she saw the joy that spread across Akane's face after Daiji started to suckle. -C- -M- -D- Dr. Tofu and Kasumi walked back towards the clinic, holding hands. Kasumi suddenly asked a question. "Am I making a mistake, Tofu?" Dr. Tofu looked down at Kasumi. "About what?" "Becoming a doctor. It'll take so much time and I can't possibly handle having a baby and going to medical school at the same time. I don't know if I want to wait that long to have children." Dr. Tofu smiled. "We'll find time." "I don't know. Maybe I don't need to be a doctor to be happy." Kasumi looked up at Dr. Tofu and smiled. "I know having little Daiji around makes you want to have your own children, but I also know you want to be a doctor." "How can I do both?" "You can't." Kasumi frowned. "But together we can." Kasumi smiled. "Let's call the shrine again when we get home." Dr. Tofu smiled and nodded. "Just don't expect me to share the breast feeding duties like Ranko and Akane can." "Of course not." Kasumi leaned into Dr. Tofu and was rewarded with a deep kiss. -C- -M- -D- "Hey, Pop?" Ranko asked, poking her head into Kasumi's old room. Genma looked away from the window he had been staring out. "Yes, Son?" Ranko smiled. She took a couple of steps towards her father. "Why are you in here?" "Oh, I just wanted to check out the view." Ranko eyed the pile of her father's clothes and the freshly made-up bed. "Is something wrong between you and Mom?" "No..." "Don't lie to me, Pop!!" Genma exhaled and collapsed onto the bed, burying his head in his hands. "Your mother and I are having some problems. I don't know what to do. I try to be the man she wants me to be, but nothing I do is ever good enough." Ranko stared blankly at her father, unable to find her voice. "I raised a fine son and gave her a grandchild. Heck, I even managed to give her two daughters without her getting any more stretch marks. What more does she want?" Ranko's jaw dropped. "First, all those things are hardly due to your parenting skills. Mostly they're IN SPITE of your lack of parenting skills." "That's no way to talk to your father!" Ranko smirked. "Yeah, I know." She continued. "Akane and I have been going to parenting classes and you know what?" "What?" "Covering your kid with fish sausage and throwing him into a pit of hungry cats is not considered good parenting." "I don't believe that." Genma innocent act didn't fool Ranko. "It's true, I asked the instructor directly about that one." Ranko smirked. "Taking your son away from his mother for ten years isn't either." Genma gasped. "I'd go on, but I have to go spend some time with MY wife. You know, Ranma's only been gone for about six months and Akane misses him dearly. You should have seen how happy she was when Sanma came back after the initial shock of the new curse wore off." Ranko turned around and walked out. Before getting out of earshot, she turned around a looked her father straight in his eyes. "Ten years must have been much worse." Genma pondered Ranko's words as he watched her leave. "How could Akane have missed Ranma for all the years we were on our training voyage? She never even met him until three years ago." It took a few hours of restless sleep before Genma finally realized what his daughter had meant. He sat upright in the bed and frowned. "Oh, Nodoka, you missed Ranma that much? I'm sorry... but I'll do whatever I can to get your son back to you!" Or thought he knew what Ranko had meant. -C- -M- -D- "Are you stupid, old man?!" Ranko screamed a couple days later. Genma hefted his backpack onto his back. "Huh? I'm going to go help the others find Ranma. You said your mother missed him." Ranko shook her head sadly. "Probably, but that wasn't what I meant, bonehead! I meant that Mom missed you!!" "But... but I'm back now." "Yeah, but what have you done with her since she found us?" Genma frowned. "Lots of stuff!" "Such as?" "Um... well, we went to the park last week together." "That was to take Daiji for a walk. What have you done alone with her?" "I let her watch me workout yesterday." Ranko glared at her father. "We cleaned the bathtub together a couple weeks ago." "Do you see a pattern here?" "Yeah, I've been crowding her." Ranko slapped her father's head. "Idiot! You haven't been spending any time alone with her! Just with her. Not a walk with Daiji, not watching your flabby body jump around the dojo, not a chore." "Um... I had sex with her a few weeks ago." Ranko when pale and clutched her stomach. "I really didn't need to hear that." "Well, what chore did you mean then?" Ranko grabbed her father roughly around the color and glared at him. "It's not supposed to be a chore!! Does Mr. Tendo call spending time with his wife a chore?" "They're newlyweds!! It's different when you've been married for a while. You'll see." Ranko let go of her father. "I hope not. Every day I discover something new about Akane. If a day comes when I don't find some new reason to love her all over again, I'll just remember all the other reasons I love her." "You don't have to tell me that! I love your mother with all my heart!!" "Then tell her, you jerk!!" Ranko spun around and left her father behind to think about her words. Genma looked between his backpack and Ranko's retreating back. Then he looked up the stairs towards the room he had been sharing with his wife until a few days previously. -C- -M- -D- "Morning, Mom, where's Pop?" Ranko asked as she walked into the family room the next morning. When Nodoka looked up at her daughter her tear stained face showed that she had been crying. Ranko frowned. "What's wrong, Mom?" "Your father went on a training trip." "What?! After everything I told him last night?" Ranko looked ready to go out and haul Genma back. "Calm down, Ranko, I asked him to go." "Huh?" "Ranko, your father and I have had some problems recently. We had a long talk last night and decided that we could use a little time apart." "Are you sure it's okay with you?" "Yes." "But..." Ranko scrunched up her face. "You're not breaking up, are you?" Nodoka sighed. "I don't know." She clutched her chest. "I hope not." She silently got up and walked out of the room. Ranko could see the tears start to pool in her mother's eyes as she watched her leave. She had the urge to go comfort her, but couldn't think of anything she could do or say that would help. A few minutes later a loud shout was heard from upstairs. "Shit, that dammed bastard took my family's katana!! I'll kill him!" Ranko shook her head sadly. ======================================================================= >From the personal journal of James Davidson: October 28, 2057 "I'm afraid that Mr. and Mrs. Saotome had a lot of problems back then." I nodded. "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but that's not always the case." "No, it's not. They did love each other, but..." "If that was enough, the world would be a happier place." Hanaki placed her hand to my head. "Hmmm... usually he only gets this deep when he's running a fever." I smiled at my wife. "Very funny." Kasumi looked fondly at her granddaughter. "I envy you, Hanaki. To grow up and raise your child in these peaceful times is a luxury that I didn't have." Hanaki looked confused. "The Buyierfei are still around, Grandma." Kasumi nodded. "Yes, but for the most part the Task Force has them under control. Back before the Black Wars, the governments of the world weren't prepared to deal with them and even during the Black Wars they had their problems." "What was it like when the Second appeared?" "The truth?" I nodded. Kasumi thought for a moment. "It was the worse part of my life... and the best." *********************************************************************** December 20-31, 1999 - Nerima, Japan On a cold December day, Kasumi rushed into the Tendo house. "What happened? What is that thing?" Nodoka was trying to comfort Daiji, who had been crying since it had appeared. Soun, Hinako, and Dr. Tofu were all kneeling around the table with grave faces. Soun's tears had run out long ago and no one dared say that his tears weren't justified under the circumstances. "It appeared this afternoon in front of Furinkan High," Nodoka spoke softly, afraid to upset the baby further. Kasumi frowned. "What is it?" Dr. Tofu spoke hauntingly. "A Buyierfei monolith. Some of the students said that Akane and Ranko were dragged inside after a fight with the Buyierfei. One of the Amazons that were guarding them was killed and the other was severely wounded. There were some attacks on the other students, but fortunately nothing serious." Kasumi trembled. "No... Akane is in no condition to handle this now." Nodoka swallowed hard. "They'll be okay." Dr Tofu looked at his fiancee, the concern evident on his face. "Nabiki and some of the Amazons are already over there, trying to find out what the authorities are going to do." "So, there's nothing we can do but wait?" Kasumi asked, trembling. Dr. Tofu pulled Kasumi down to his side and wrapped his arms around her. "What a bunch of idiots!!" Nabiki exclaimed as she stormed into the family room. Nipplering slid silently into the room behind her, looking her usual stoic self. "What did the police say?" Nodoka asked, then continued her attempts to calm Daiji down. Nabiki plopped down to the floor. "They are setting up a barricade and are evacuating the area..." "Isn't that good?" Kasumi asked. Nabiki sighed and looked at Nipplering. Nipplering stood up a bit straighter. "I told the officer in charge that they needed to evacuate a much larger area and construct a barricade similar to the fence that protects the compound to contain the Buyierfei. They didn't take my warning seriously." She looked at Nabiki. "Unfortunately, I was prevented from making him understand." Nabiki sighed. "I don't think threatening the cops is going to help the situation, Nip." "Then how can we safeguard the area and the compound?" Nabiki smiled knowingly and looked at her father. "Daddy, can you talk to your town council friends and try to make them understand the danger." Soun nodded. "I will, but what about us here?" Nipplering spoke. "I have already sent word to the Matriarch. Until we hear otherwise, we hold the compound." Kasumi glanced at the crying baby. "Shouldn't we get away from here?" Nipplering shook her head. "No, not yet. I don't have enough warriors to protect you all outside of the compound. Historically, the monoliths were dormant for several months after appearing. All they did was soak in energy from the surrounding area. Unfortunately, I can't recall any mention in the ancient scrolls about the Buyierfei focusing on any particular people like they seem to be with Akane and the three Ranmas. In any case, you are still safest here in the compound." "We aren't exactly helpless," Soun declared. Nabiki raised an eyebrow, but decided not to comment on that. "I know, but consider if the same number that attacked the compound in July attacked us out in the open or in an unfortified location," Nipplering said. Dr. Tofu could guess a part of what Nipplering wasn't saying so as not to worry anyone. During the battle with the Buyierfei in China, he could tell how susceptible the demons were to chi attacks while his own attacks were worthless. Without anyone who could generate chi blasts around, they were in for a hard fight. He looked at his future father-in-law. "I think Nipplering is right. I'd like Kasumi to stay here until things blow over." Soun nodded. "Okay, my lad, I trust you. But I want you to stay here as well." Dr. Tofu nodded and looked at Nabiki. Nabiki smirked. "Yeah, I'll be staying here too. Mon Canard is too close to that thing for my comfort." Nodoka looked at Nabiki. "Not to mention that your staff won't come to work and people started canceling reservations." Nabiki frowned. "How..." Nodoka answered before Nabiki could even finish her question. "Kiki couldn't reach you, so she called a short time ago." Nabiki shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah, for some reason people don't want to eat in the shadow of that thing." She frowned. "Come to think of it, it doesn't cast a shadow." -C- -M- -D- In the days that followed, despite the Tendo's warning about the danger posed by the monolith the police evacuated just a small area around Furinkan. They also set up some makeshift barricades a couple blocks away from what would later become to be known as the Second Monolith. The prevailing theory in the police department and in the local Nerima newspapers was that it was some sort of millennium hoax perpetrated by the students. The Tokyo television news shows hadn't even reported it yet, but then they tended to ignore a lot of the odd things that happen in Nerima. That would quickly change. -C- -M- -D- It was the night before Christmas and all throughout Nerima not a creature was stirring, except a pack of invisible demons known as the Buyierfei. The invisible creatures got past the police line without being noticed. In retrospect, the police's laxness about the barricade probably saved their lives. Instead of slaughtering the police to get past a more secure barricade, the Buyierfei slipped past them without incident. Unless impeded in their mission, they had no reason to kill. Yet. Using the information obtained by the first group that attempted to attack the compound, the Buyierfei split into four groups and approached the compound from different sides. They carefully inched up the fence, which was covered with spikes protruding in all directions. Careful as they were, inevitably a spike pierced their tough hide and a visible blood spot would appear at the wound. Diligent as they were, the Amazons spotted the floating wounds before the Buyierfei reached the top of the fence. Cries of alarm rang out and flowed down the fence. Arrows and darts rained down from the top of the fence to pinpoint the invisible attackers. Then swords sliced through air and flesh to dispatch the Buyierfei they could see. The ones that hadn't been seen slipped down the inner fence and made their way to their objective, the modest house that sat in the middle of the compound. -C- -M- -D- Nipplering rushed into the family room. "The Buyierfei are attacking the fence." She kissed her fingers and held them to her forehead as Amazon tradition required. "Oh my." Everyone jumped to their feet and looked cautiously around. Hinako dug in her pockets, looking for a five-yen coin. Soun smiled and handed his wife a coin. Then he rushed to a nearby closet and pulled out a naginata, which was essentially a short, heavy sword blade on the end of a pole about two meters long. He paused when he saw Dr. Tofu standing nearby. He grabbed a second naginata and handed it to his future son-in-law. "Think you're ready to fight after only a few lessons?" Dr. Tofu took the pole weapon and nodded, a little uncertainty evident on his face. "Yes, I will do my best to not disappoint you, Father." He gestured for Kasumi and Nabiki to get behind him. When he was sure they were safely behind him, he took up a defensive posture and waited. Nodoka rushed over and picked up Daiji from her crib just before the side wall exploded. She tumbled backwards, just barely managing to hold onto the baby. Nipplering jumped forward and slashed the air where the hole had appeared. Instead of cleaving a Buyierfei in two, her sword rebounded off an unusually strong bamboo umbrella. "Where the hell am I now?" Nabiki coughed and peered through the settling dust. "Ryoga?" Ryoga looked around. "Nabiki? Ah, I made it!! Where's Akane?" "The Buyierfei have her," Kasumi informed Ryoga, her voice trembling. "How did you get past the fences?" Nipplering asked accusingly. Ryoga frowned. "Fences? I don't recall any fences." Nipplering suddenly held her sword to Ryoga's neck. "He must be possessed!! No one could miss seeing our impressive fences!!" Nabiki giggled and pushed the sword away from the lost boy's throat. "Nip, trust me, Ryoga could wind up on the moon without figuring out how he got there." "He'd suffocate," Nipplering replied straight-faced. "It's just an ex..." Nabiki sighed and decided not to bother. She turned to Ryoga. "As long as you're here, care to help us defend the Tendo Compound?" She emphasized the last two words. "Huh?" "Well, have to call this fortress something, don't we?" Nabiki smirked. "Why are you here anyway?" "Well, Akari and me heard about the monolith, so I wanted to help if I could." "Oh, how is Akari?'" Kasumi asked casually. "She's fine." "You two doing it?" Nabiki asked. "NO! Not yet. Err..." Ryoga blushed. "I mean... well, we're dating." Nabiki smirked. "And living together." "Makes it easier to find her for our dates," Ryoga explained matter-of-factly. "Most of the time." -C- -M- -D- While the warriors at the outer fence did their best to keep out the invading hordes of Buyierfei, the second line of defense uncovered the 'moat' as Nabiki sarcastically called it. The pit that ran along the inside of the shorter wall surrounding the Tendo house was several meters wide and about five times deeper. The nasty surprise at the bottom would do a fair job of slicing and dicing any Buyierfei that found themselves inside the pit. Outside the short wall, the ground was covered with small spiked jacks to facilitate revealing the invisible Buyierfei. A ring of Amazons surrounded the Tendo house and waited for any sign of the attacking Buyierfei. Only the Amazon war cries from the outer fence told them that there was a battle underway. Inside the house, Nipplering, a dozen or so Amazons, Soun, Dr. Tofu, and Hinako stood ready around the non-combatants, who formed a protective circle around little Daiji. Daiji was sleeping contently in the sling strapped to Nodoka's back. Then they came. The moat claimed an untold number of attacking Buyierfei. With the help of Ryoga, the Amazons in the yard claimed a good percentage of the attackers before they reached the house. Unfortunately, they did reach the house. But those inside were not defenseless. Soun's naginata swung out and left a horizontal trail of black blood, which briefly floated in mid air before Dr. Tofu's follow up swing sliced the Buyierfei neatly in two. Soun smiled. "Nice work, my lad." Dr. Tofu smiled and swept the area in front of him with his naginata, hoping to hit something. "Thanks, Father, it's all due to your special weapons training." "Well, can't have you marrying my oldest without knowing how to properly handle a naginata." Dr. Tofu nodded and continued searching for Buyierfei. "I doubt I'd need to use it to protect myself from her, Father." "Tofu!" "Very amazing, my lad." Nearby, little Hinako held up a five-yen coin and yelled out, "Happo Go-en Satsu!" The empty area in front of her suddenly filled with dozens of twisting black forms as she drained the energy from them. Outside, untold numbers of other Buyierfei followed suit when her chi-sucking technique reached out and drained them of energy. Hinako's body grew and expanded into that of a busty young woman. The drained Buyierfei became visible and suddenly swelled up as if they were balloons. "Oh, pretty balloons!" Hinako called out, acting unusually childish. Soun looked at his wife, concerned since she normally didn't act childish in her adult form unless she had used her fighting fish to maintain her adult form for too long. "Balloon huh?" Nabiki smiled and dug into her pocket for some of the throwing darts Nipplering had given them as they prepared for the battle. The darts flew from her fingers and hit the inflated Buyierfei. With a sickening squelchy, popping sound, the Buyierfei exploded and sent pieces of black flesh flying in all directions. "Non-combatants, indeed." Hinako suddenly convulsed and dropped to her knees, black energy flicking around her body. "No!!!" "Hinako!!" Soun stepped forward and put a hand on his wife. A surge of energy lashed out at him and sent him flying across the room. He crashed through the doors to his and Hinako's room. "Fools!! Sucking us into this body only hastens your deaths," Hinako said in a deep voice that, unlike her normal adult voice, sent shivers of dread down everyone's spines. Her normal adult voice sent shivers of euphoria down men's spines, of course. "Damn! She's possessed!" Nipplering leapt at Hinako and lashed out with her sword, but was casually brushed aside. Dr. Tofu got between Hinako and the three women protecting the baby. "Hinako!! Release the energy fast!!" "I can't!!" Hinako screamed in her child's voice. Her eyes turned black and her voice deepened. "Give us the infant collector!!" Dr. Tofu frowned. Kasumi frowned and instinctively closed the gaps between her and the other two women protecting Daiji. "Why.. why do you want Daiji?" Hinako smiled evilly. "We have the other collectors, so we require the last one to ensure our dominion of this pathetic world." Nabiki frowned. "Daiji's a collector?" Hinako laughed and nodded. "Yes, a very pure one. And it is so easy to make use of the young ones. I'm afraid the older ones will be useless once we drain them." "What are you doing to my children!!" Nodoka screamed. Soun stumbled out of his bedroom. "If you've hurt any of my family, I'll kill you all." He exchanged a quick glance with Dr. Tofu and then together they jumped at Hinako with their naginatas. "Fight it, Hinako!!" Dr. Tofu yelled as the dull backside of his naginata's blade made contact with her, causing her to wince in pain. Soun's swing went wide, due to his hesitation to strike his wife. Hinako laughed evilly. "You cattle are so cute when you think you can win." She gestured at Soun and Dr. Tofu with her hands and an invisible force threw them against opposite side of the room. Meanwhile, Nipplering snuck up behind Hinako and thrust her sword at Hinako's back, but missed when Hinako stepped to the side. Hinako followed up her sidestep with a vicious swing of her elbow into Nipplering's gut. The tall Amazon crumpled to the floor and dropped her sword. "All too easy..." Hinako remarked as she slammed her foot down onto Nipplering's head, knocking the Amazon unconscious and driving her head into the floor mat. She held out her hands towards the three women. "Bring them." The three women all yelped in unison as they felt a clammy oily feeling on their skin. Moments later, black forms appeared all around them and pressed in. "No!!" Kasumi cried out and wrapped her body around Daiji and held onto Nodoka's back. "Daiji!" Nabiki cried out as she felt herself pulled away from the other two women. Daiji started to cry. "Oh no... save her someone," Nodoka gasped. "Take your filthy tentacles off my grandson!!" Nodoka looked over at the sound of the voice and saw her husband jump into the room. In one fluid movement, Genma kicked Hinako in her side and sent her crashing to the ground. His momentum carried him towards the Buyierfei holding the three women. The katana he wielded sliced through the black flesh. In a blur of movement, he dissected the creatures and the three women found themselves released. "Nodoka!!" "Genma?" Nodoka's face flickered between anger and relief, but finally settled on love. "Thank goodness." She fell into his arms, exhausted. "Don't relax yet." Hinako said, forming a black chi ball between her fingers. "If we can't get her, then you all shall die." The black chi ball flew from her fingers and towards the group protecting the baby. Just before the blast hit them a sheet of translucent, golden, silk-like fabric was thrown over them. Instead of vaporizing them, the black energy flickered around the fabric and dissipated harmlessly into the air. "Let none of the Blackness survive this day, lest we dishonor our ancestors," Yukiko cried out as she kicked Hinako. The savage kick sent Hinako crashing through the wall and into Akane and Ranko's bedroom. Yukiko was dressed in the First Matriarch's armor, or at least the breastplate and skirt since she had just thrown the outer robe--that repelled Buyierfei energy--over the women to protect them. "You OK?" "Yukiko?" Nabiki gasped as she got up. Yukiko nodded and looked to the hole where Hinako had disappeared. "She's possessed?" Nabiki nodded. "Yes." "Keep the robe for now to protect the baby, I'll take care of the Buyierfei. Nipplering!!" Bruised and battered, Nipplering rubbed her bleeding head as she staggered up to Yukiko. "Yes, Matriarch?" "Get Ryoga in here, we need his chi attacks to drain Hinako." "Yes, Matriarch." Nipplering ran out. "Ah, the head bitch makes her appearance," Hinako said as she climbed back through the hole in the wall. She grabbed Nipplering's dropped sword and charged at Yukiko. Yukiko drew a golden sword from its sheathe and deflected Hinako's initial thrust. "Can't generate another blast so soon, can you?" She smirked. "We will prevail!" Hinako insisted as she traded sword blows with the Amazon leader. "Never! You missed your chance when you first returned. We are now ready for you no matter what you do." "You have no idea how much stronger we will be with the energy of the collectors. Not even your gods contained such power." Yukiko frowned at hearing that. Distracted by her thoughts, she almost missed a sword blow meant for her neck, but she didn't step out of the spiral she had backed Hinako into.