Prologue:
The raven, black against the bright burning sky. A tiny dot in the vast
heaven, distinct and unmoving. Cold and as unforgiving, as the winds that
blew from the troubled winds, that churned and tossed the restless sea
below it - foaming at the brim. Enticing like a lover that beckoned the
other, that they may clasp each other in an unending embrace.
The raven, untouched, flies onward - pass the burning ball that is the
sun. It's warm light bouncing off the raven's array of feathers, like water
shunning the touch of black oil. And it flies on, sickened by the sea below
it yearning for the sight of land. The land of its destination - of a
certain promise, that lies on the distant shores of China.
And with a shriek of exultation, called to the winds, the raven flies on
even farther than before. Its voice heard in the shadows of the many
forests, through the grasslands of the myriad of farm fields now settling
below it. Golden as the sun that shone in the bright unending sky mirroring
the limitless blue sea as rustled and swayed to the passing of the wind.
While the mountains in the far horizon looked like jagged teeth tearing the
sky open, blanketed in white snow, echoing its wild call through the myriad
of golden fields. And still it flies on, till it finally reaches a low hill
with a pocket full of leafless trees on the top and flanked on either side
by dry tall grass. The raven, nevertheless circles above it, scanning the
far skies for something still unseen, till it finally glides down slowly to
perch on a low branch that overlooked an old, abandoned and dusty road.
A road, which parted and crossed the sea of grass that freely, swayed with
the passing of the wind. It's worn out path, brown and as dry as scorched
soil under the heat of the blazing sun and worn away by the wind and the
rain. Littered with an assortment of stones and pebbles both large and
small as well as an assortment of dry dead leaves that tumbled and danced
in the breeze. This road led to the mountains in the horizon and beyond it,
a fertile valley of lush forest trees and haven. While the sky above it
stood empty except for a few patches of slow moving, drifting clouds.
The raven as calm and composed as it was gave a sudden squawk of
displeasure for the intrusion of a new stranger to his domain.
The stranger like an apparition slowly rose from the bottom of the hill on
slow sure purposeful strides. His image blurred by the heat of the sun
making him blurry to the beholder. And only when he got close enough, was
the raven then able to see this man clearly, for this much it knew from
previous contact with its cold hard master.
The stranger, the raven saw as it slowly rose into view, wore a cloth cap.
Tied in such a way that it formed a rectangle above the forehead and
continued that form onwards to the top and down the back of the head till
it reached pass his shoulders. He also wore a blue long sleeved heavy cloth
robe that fit snugly on his strong well-muscled chest. Tied at the waist by
a long piece of white cloth, the rest of it hanging loosely at his side as
well as a loose fitting pair of grey pants and black shoes. All of this was
covered by a light coating of dust, which indicated some hard times of
travel by this unusual stranger. A small bamboo rectangular-framed pack
hung limply behind him as he held on to his long wooden walking staff. The
man paused briefly for a while once he reached the top of the hill to wipe
away the sweat that built up on his forehead, his pigtail peeked out when
it tore lose of the covering given by the cloth cap. He gave a sigh of
contentment as he leaned comfortably on his staff as he surveyed the
surrounding countryside before him. Empty of life, save for the birds of
the sky and the animals of the field. And not a single person to be seen -
he was entirely alone and he gave out yet another sigh, not out of
tiredness, but of a sudden longing. For his journey on the road, as he saw
it, was now coming to an end. And looking at the long, winding dirt road
that lead to the foot of the mountains, he paused in silent thought of that
long journey as the raven on its high perch, cold as the night that is
steadfast approaching. Launched itself into the air in a flurry of
feathers, cutting Ranma's reverie a bit short as he gazed up at the
disappearing form of the black bird in the slowly darkening sky as its
feathers fell in a slow black rain.
His attention quickly changes as he suddenly feels the biting cold of the
restless wind and turns around to look back at the clouds slowly
approaching.
"It's going to get dark soon." Ranma whispers to himself as he turns back
from the slowly darkening clouds.
"A storm is coming..."
And with that final thought locked in his mind, Ranma runs towards the
mountains just as the first black feather lands on the ground accompanied
by the thunder of the coming storm.
-End Prologue-
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic - A Chinese Ghost Story
By Kahlil Noriega
All characters and rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi to whom none of this
would be possible and to the creators of the movie "A Chinese Ghost Story"
to which I based this fanfic from.
* Author's note: This is a Ranma1/2 alternate universe fanfic from which
some details may greatly differ - Enjoy!
Chapter 1 -Braving the Storm
Storm clouds cover the sun in the far horizon. Bathed in crimson and grey
like a wounded animal from a fray. Absorbing what little light the sun has
left to shed, before the halo of the night comes to bring the sun to its
final end. While the mountains looked from afar like giant sentinels which
parted and tore the vast heavens for the sun, with their sharp frost
covered peaks like swords slashing the shroud of darkness in the sky.
The sun giving away what little light it could pass through the vale of
clouds to bless the fertile child cradled in the womb of the mountains.
Green and pure nestled in its very heart; the forest grew from the
struggles of the elements. The eye of the storm has long since passed hours
ago. And with it the fury of it's awesome power. Yet a trickle of that
power is still evident as the lifeblood of the storm seeped out from its
arms to drench the valley with its life giving blood. And the forest was
thankful for it.
The ground, still filled with moisture from the rain, is soft. Growing
colder by the minute as the night grew on. While mist slowly rose from the
ground, playing by the suns dying light. Darting in between the trees and
rocks and branches as it slowly blanketed the ground in soft wisp of white
mist. Plants and grass swayed equally alike with the wind that gently
passed by. Lifting in its wake, the few dead leaves on the ground making
them tumble and dance as the wind willed them. While the sounds of various
animals and forest life, blended in with the soft whispers of the winds
gentle moan.
***
From a roadway at the base of the mountains' border, one could see the
whole valley stretched out from left to right. The trees, strong and
sturdy, covered the vast undergrowth in a vale of green tender leaves. And
even then this canopy housed various birds and animals that considered it
home. In this field of mammoth trees, the inn at the base of the mountain
valley situated in a small clearing of its own by the road side, stood out
against the backdrop of trees. From here it is easy enough to discern
certain features for the inn itself wasn't far away from where one could
see it from the mountain road. With its hanging windows that remained
attach by a single hinge, to the wide open doors that let some of the rain
in. Its hard wood panelled walls painted in deep shades brown as well as
green where moss has found itself a home. It is almost quite surprising
that someone actually lived there for it was quite run down for the smoke
coming out of the chimney said as much as the aroma of food cooking did.
There was also a small pen for livestock at the back of the inn as well as
a broken down wagon cart with its huge wheels lying down beside it, covered
by weeds, dust and dirt.
***
From a distance, one could see a running form emerging from the forest
edge. Her clothes; wet and dishevelled clung tightly on her slight small
body as the sounds of splattering water echoed in the cold wind. The mild
rumbles of thunder swallowed up most of the sounds of her footfalls on
water only to be followed then by the rain's continuous drumming a moment
on. Running to escape the rain, Ranko clung hard to her cloth cap as it
danced with the rushing breeze. The wind unrelenting pierced her with its
cold icy touch, as she awkwardly held on to her long wooden staff as she
ran towards the nearby inn.
***
The inn, like so many of it's patrons was dirty and in dire need of
repair. Its creaking wooden floors mimicked the sounds of mice that freely
roamed the inns dusty interior. While the stench of aged old liquor and
rotting meat mixed in with the sweat of its various patrons wafted freely
outside through the myriad of holes in the inns' walls as dirt and grime
settled over the many tables and benches that lined it. A small counter lay
in a corner of the inn beside the main doors on the left-hand side. The
wall behind it held an assortment of plates, cups and saucers some were
even chipped and cracked from use, as it was old and dusty. An old greying
man stood behind this counter, worn and as bald as the inn he owned.
Wearing only a dull blue Chinese robe over his grey pants and a piece of
black cloth tied around his waist, which served as a belt. White socks and
a pair of black shoes completed his attire as well as his remarkably long
snow white beard that hung over his chest.
After adjusting his black Chinese cap over his head, he surveyed the inns'
fairly lighted interior. Giving only a hint of a nod to what he was
thinking as his hand slowly rubbed his chin. Calling a waiter to his side,
a young man of twelve to fourteen years or so. He asked the lad to light a
few more candles on the tables to illuminate the place a bit for it was
getting dark and it seemed that the storm has not yet passed. And as the
boy left to do his work only then did he truly see the boy. Sporting a
close crop of black hair and brown eyes with a medium sized built. The old
man thought that the boy really looked out of place in the inn with its
gruff old waiters that seldom smiled. The boy would be a poor substitute
indeed, for a guard if ever a fight broke out, which it often did when a
few men got a little too much to drink. He thought then that he should talk
to this boy about his job here, yet he shoves it aside as he greets a
customer leaving the inn. There would be enough time for that later.
Waiters clothed in dull white shirts and grey pants freely circulated
among its' many customers, while taking orders and giving them their
respective meals. Always busy serving a variety of farmers that worked and
toiled the fields all day to a group of town drunkards' bent on drowning
their problems in ale. And even on occasion, a merchant or two would join
in from a hard day's worth of trading in the market. While travellers in
their dirt covered robes would sometimes chat and speak of their grand
tales to the folks inside the inn. And through it all, the waiters kept to
them selves looking quietly at their customers with dull lifeless eyes. The
laughter and the noise of the many patrons washing pass them, even though
their talk was clearly audible from outside. So they were quite surprised
when a sudden hush settles over in the inns large interior. As all eyes
were suddenly glued and focused on the new arrival standing by the doorway.
Her figure carved and outlined by the flashes of lightning only to be
dimmed by its passing. Yet the picture of her standing there still remained
only to be strengthened when the lightning flashed again. Which left them
yearning for even more for her soft sensual curves that her clothes poorly
hid because of its wetness from the rain that made them cling to her skin.
The allure of this vixen left the men in the room with their mouths agape
as they continued to stare in silent worship. The heat of their desire,
plain and rising while they devoured the scene from which this girl walked
out of some fantasy.
***
Ranko walks in. Oblivious of the hush and stares of the inns numerous
patrons as she casually seats herself on a nearby wooden bench by the doors
light. The lighted candle on top of the table, danced shadows and hi-lights
on her with its flickering luminous glow. Collecting in her eyes, making
them shine even through the darkness.
Laying down her bamboo pack and staff gently beside her bench. She pulls
out a piece of white cloth from her bag and gently applies it on her cold
wet body then on her face, her neck, down to her arms and hands then
leaving it on top of the bamboo pack. Her robe, damp and heavy with
rainwater has one side of it dangling under her shoulder. Exposing pale
white flesh. Which gave its viewer, a generous view of her ample cleavage
as candlelight freely danced on her smooth skin. Finding some solace from
the heat of the candle, Ranko relaxes for a moment. Sighing with
contentment as she the heat of the candle washed away the coldness of the
rain. Its' gentle warmth, brought with it a slight smile to her face.
Lifting up her arms to undo her pigtail. She lets loose in the process, a
cascade of long red hair, that fell to the length of her back which she
gently gathered in her arms. Taking again the piece of white cloth, she
gently applies it on her fiery hair, drying it with slow soft strokes as
though caressing a kitten in her hand. The men surrounding her couldn't
believe their eyes as they kept thinking of the luck that brought them such
a goddess in there midst.
Piercing blue eyes that cut through the darkness and gloom of the inns'
interior looked out from an oval face framed by fire. While her pale virgin
lips slowly ignited the fires of lust in the room. Her clothes clinging to
her body even more with every slight movement of her breathing. Each breath
brought with it a few more appreciative eyes. Recollecting herself, she
quickly adjusts her garments, pulling it closer to her. This action brought
with it, a slight chill running up her spine, which came from the cold
water it still retained. The feeling passes quickly though as she settles
her eyes on the presence of the young waiter before her.
"Mistress." the young waiter slowly calls to Ranko. "Mistress. I've
brought you some hot soup. It must be terribly cold outside. Here please
take it.... On the house... I promise...." This he said in a soft rush as
he gently lowered the bowl he held onto the table.
Ranko smiles at the offering the young man gave her. And taking that as
acknowledgement enough. The boy leaves her to her own business, beaming as
he left to attend to his chores around the inn. Blushing as he left though
stealing brief glances here and there. Ranko sees him go; though he looked
no older than she did. She thought that it must be hard for the boy to work
in such a place. Feeling a touch of pity for him for she sees innocence,
not yet tinged by real life in the world. This she knew much when she came
out.
Ranko smiles again at the thought bringing into mind past events of her
life since her accidental dip in the Jusenkyo pool. The thought however
brought a slight frown to her face that quickly passes with the memory.
She smiles again at the thought though.
"You're really pretty!" said suddenly by a rough bearded man. The stench
and sight of him cutting Ranko's reverie a bit short just as much as he
rudely seats himself on the bench opposite from hers. Taking with him, her
hand to caress as he continued to stare at her with a toothless grin. Cold
black eyes peeked out from behind his unruly long hair. Held only back by a
thin piece of red cloth that covered most of his forehead. His expression
showed utter delight for the smoothness of her skin. While his friends, a
group of four or five men watched the confrontation from a secluded corner
of the inn. Wearing an assortment of smirks and grins. Their manner as well
as looks matched the man seated before her. One of the men in the corner
she saw wore an open grin, his scar crossing the length of his face on his
left cheek. He wore a tattered dull green jade-breastplate over brown and
torn robes as he absently toyed with the knife in his hand. Showing no
concern at all what so ever with what he was doing. The others wore the
same, though some brandished swords while another had an axe strapped
behind his back. Yet all had the same filthy minds in their heads.
"Please leave me alone." Ranko said pulling her hand free only to be taken
forcefully back again. Her along with it as she faced the man directly
before her. Their faces, only inches apart. Ranko's piercing blue eyes
filled with contempt and hatred was focused on the object of her disdain.
Trying to keep calm as she thought of a way to get out of here.
"I know your kind," he hissed at her. At the same time slamming down a
bunch of coins as he drew her face in closer to him for a kiss. A slap
rewarded him for his troubles as Ranko stood up to leave. The thought of
what the man said to her still lingering in her mind. Damn the man for
thinking me of that! she thought. The leader still shocked by the slap for
a while suddenly stands up in a blind fury as he batters away the table
before him letting it crash on the far wall.
"NO ONE DEFIES ME WENCH!" the leader shouts at her as his men drew up
beside him to confront Ranko.
"Master please..." the young waiter, said as he drew up beside the man,
deliberately placing himself between them. "There is no need for all of
this - Argghh..."
"SHUT UP!" the leader screams as he battered the helpless waiter with a
backhanded fist to the face. The waiter caught by surprise takes the full
blow as he crumples down to the floor in pain. The leader paid the waiter
no mind as walks forward over his crumpled body striding towards his prize.
"Why are you doing this!" Ranko asks as she feels the hard wooden wall
press along her spine. She didn't realise that she was backing away from
the approaching form of the man till it was finally to late. The leader
leaned his body against hers. Trapping her with his body while his arms
outstretched on either side of her rested comfortably on the unyielding
wall. She hastily turns her face away from him as the leader's friends
joined in for a viewing circle around them to watch the proceedings.
"I don't know why." He replied courtly in her ear as he continued to
stare at her turned face. Enjoying the feel of her this close to him. "But
I do know this. You're going to pleasure me all night."
The leader smiles a toothless grin at his own reply. Outrage Ranko turns
her head to face him as he gently lowered his face to steal a kiss with
lips puckered up and eyes closed. Ranko repulsed by his reply gives no
hesitation as she deliberately knees the man in the groin. The leader
folding in half from the pain as his hands desperately grasped its source.
Agony - clearly shown on his face as Ranko shoves pass him into the waiting
arms of one of the leaders men. The leader, collapsed and lying on the
floor before her, with eyes full of hate rolled from side to side to
relieve the pain. While she desperately struggled to free herself from her
captors' strong grip. Who laughed at her puny struggle to escape him.
"You are a feisty one aren't you!" the man holding Ranko said. Clearly
enjoying her struggling in his grip.
`
"Let her GO!" A hard voice suddenly shouted from the back of the inn.
It's call answered by several other voices though unsure who have witnessed
the scene. Its' abrupt call, took the attention of the leaders men off of
Ranko as they all looked for the source of it.
"What did you say?!" the scarred man said. Brandishing his knife in hand
as he looked upon his audience all tuned in on the knife he held. Those men
forced under that stare, fidgeted under the scrutiny as fear of their own
lives over took them.
"I said, what did YOU say!" the scarred man shouted.
"I said... let her... go..." replied a fat man slowly rising from his
seat. Fear clearly etched on his bloated face. His sweat trickling down as
he swallowed a small lump forming in his throat.
"Why don't you just try." The man holding the knife said. His obvious
threat strengthened by his companions that joined him as they all looked at
the merchant who slowly cowered in the darkness again. While the rest of
the inns patrons just stood there in still silence, watching. The old man
at the counter could do little in anyway to help, as he felt resigned to
his fate as an observer.
The leader recovering from Ranko's blow stands up, yet the pain in his
groin made the attempt feeble, he still manages to stand with a little help
from his followers. Anger a plain mask on his face as he stared down at
Ranko with pure hatred.
"You BITCH!! Aarrummph" he said, slapping Ranko across the face as she
staggers from the force of the blow to fall on the floor before him. Thin
trails of blood seeped out from the sides of her mouth as she felt her
cheek burn with pain. Her mind seemingly knocked out of place made her
dizzy that she failed to see the leader pull out his knife and level it
before him.
"NOOOOO!" the young boy screamed as he tackled the leader from behind.
Encircling his arms around the leaders' waist as he pulled them both down
to the floor a small distance away from Ranko. His battle cry was quickly
swallowed by the noise and shouts of the leaders' men each of whom sprung
to the aide of their fallen leader. Ganging up on the small boy, listing
him up as he struggled to break free. All the while, the men left Ranko all
alone on the floor.
"RUN MISTRESS! RUunnahuuhhhhh! Aargghhh!" the waiter screamed. Then
coughing out blood as the scarred man pulled out his bloody knife out from
the waiters' back. Then letting the waiter fall to the ground with eyes
glazing, as he looked far off into nothing. His death wails diminishing
under the fists and kicks of his assailants.
Upon seeing this Ranko runs for the door and into the shadows of the night
to the waiting forests. Her mind racing with her heart making her hear
again the young mans dying plea as he begged her to run. Run as a fawn
might from a hungry bear with fear pushing, urging her even more to leave
everything else, and flee. And she did, rising, she headed off into the
night, into the forest that she hoped would shroud her from their cold dark
eyes. Into the cold night she ran, the clouds dry except for their
ceaseless rumble and the pounding of her beating heart.
"AFTER HER YOU FOOLS! DON'T LET HER ESCAPE!" the leader screamed at his
men upon seeing Ranko's escape through the doors of the inn. The men,
suddenly realising this leaves the waiter they were beating and gave chase.
Never seeing nor regretting the act they did as they pursued her into the
darkness of the cold night. The old man, weak and beaten hefted the head of
the young lad in his arms, as they lay there on the bloodied floor. Tears
streaked both his eyes as he turned to look at the congregation of silent
folk that witnessed the murder of the youth as they hid in the darkness.
***
{Somewhere inside the forest}
"Damn lost her again." The man said as he landed on a limb of a nearby
tree. Frustration and anger clearly etched on his young face as he cursed
the rain and his luck, for again his prey has escaped him. His white
bandannas dancing in the wind accompanied by the long strips of cloth
wrapped around the sleeves of his forearms. His circular straw woven hat
hung limply around his neck even as he adjusted his footing on the branch
of the tree.
Squatting down, with one knee balanced precariously on the limb, he held
out his bamboo umbrella in front of him before he drove the tip of it
through bark and branch for added support. The wind was cold at this
height, and strong even though the storm had passed hours ago. Smoothing
out loose strands of hair that covered his eyes, he surveyed the scene
below him. Exploring and memorising every minute detail even though the
moons' light afforded little, which played shadows in the trees and bushes.
This only made him more careful.
"I'll get you... Someday." he finally answers to no one as he smiles one
of his toothy grins, reliving a memory only he could see. That he was so
sure of himself that it surprised him.
"But first. I need to find my way bacc...huh?"
Ryouga paused as the sounds of frantic running accompanied by shouts and
screams shattered the stillness of the forest. Cutting all thoughts and
memory as caution emerged instantly. Instinct brought him immediately to
the conclusion of examining the cause of this disturbance. Leaping from his
perch, he scanned the forest from the air, the need for action was
unbearable as he readily jumped from tree to tree. In the hopes of finding
the cause that bothered him so greatly.
***
Ranko could feel her own heart beating as the need for air came in short
gulps. Muscles to tired from running, strained from fatigue, started to
fail her as exhaustion and pain took its toll on her weary body. Her vision
limited by the darkness and as well as the slowly forming fog creeping on
the forests' floor slowed her pace significantly. The fear of the men
chasing her as well as the fear of tripping or breaking a leg would only
ensure of her greatest fears. The wind gave no comfort either for her
clothes chilled her with cold even more because of its wetness. Yet the
shouts and curses of her pursuers brought a sharper chill down her spine,
as it became stronger and audible by the minute. Her fear rising again of
what they would do to her when they caught up to her came rushing in a
torrent of fearful emotions. Which spurred her even more to run.
***
"When I find that girl, I SWEAR, she will be sorry she ever tried to cross
me again THIS I PROMISE!"
"Boss what if we don't find her?"
"I don't care if you trip on your face trying! FIND HER! She will warm our
cold wet bodies till the night is over."
And with this thought firmly lodge in the men's minds, they ran like wolves
in the hunt.
***
The wind swiftly passed by Ranko's sleek form as she dodged pass trees,
roots and branches. Sweat stung her eyes making it even harder to see the
uneven path before her. Her movements faltering under the agony and strain
of sore muscles, yet she moves on. Her face was a portrait of sheer
determination as she fought with pain, yet knowing her own limits, she
knows can't go on much farther. And as her mind briefly wanders off from
the trail she ran, she losses her footing as she trips on an exposed tree
root that she failed to see in her sprint for freedom.
Rolling and tumbling pass shrubs and soil; she skids to a stop in a small
clearing. Pain dulling her senses even further as she desperately tries to
get up. She recognises the futility of it as she realises that she twisted
her ankle during fall. Yet even this does not stop her determination, she
drags herself on the ground, pulling, twisting making every movement a move
forward. And all the while, darkness lingered, slowly stealing her vision
as she realises, with fear, the extent of her exhaustion. Fear gripped her
even more as the thought of being helpless under them brought tears to her
eyes. The sounds of pursuit were getting closer and closer, as she lay
there defenceless on the ground. Waiting for the wolves to feast upon her
naked flesh. Her vision wavered a bit as the extent of her wounds took
their toll on her body. She catches only a shred of a high-pitched scream
and the sounds of metal upon metal as she finally slips into the waiting
arms of darkness.
-End chapter one-
(First draft)
-Next chapter-
To Lotus Temple
*All comments and flames accepted though please note that this is my first
fanfic. Your comments would be greatly appreciated, as it will help me
improve this story. Please send all flames and comments to:
becknkal@addax.bc.ca thanks!
*Authors note: I got this Ranma 1/2 fanfic inspiration from the movie "A
Chinese Ghost Story" and as much as I would like to stick to the original
story. I must differ from it because of the characters "changes" and
besides I can't duplicate such a great story. To all those who haven't seen
the movie, Watch it! It is a GREAT film. Anyway, thanks for taking the time
to read this.
Character Backgrounds: (If you were wondering...a little explanation.)
Ranma/Ranko -
He/She is a travelling scholar, a learned man/woman. Who writes and
composes poems and stories, which he/she sells in the towns he passes by
for a living. Much of his past will be revealed in upcoming chapters. But
as we all know, the real Ranma can be such a jerk sometimes, this
Ranma/Ranko is much gentler - well you decide on that.
Ryouga -
Ryouga in this story is a wandering Taoist monk who fights to keep both
worlds from destroying each other. And is pretty much pure to the world.