The Legend of Orochi

  "I can't believe you're still alive," Ranma muttered to the robed
man, pausing to scoop up more rice from his bowl.
  "The feeling is mutual, I assure you," Shifter replied coldly.
  Soun sat at the head of the dining table, with Cologne and Shifter
taking the guest positions. Kasumi, Nabiki, Akane, Shampoo, Genma,
and Ranma sat all around, sharing the dinner Nodoka cooked up in a
short amount of time.
  Ranma studied the robed man carefully. Shifter had grown facial
hair since the last the two met; the assassin had the beginnings of a
Fu-manchu moustache along with a short, neatly cut beard. He wore a
soft, silk cap over his head, tied with a ribbon behind his ears and
under his chin, in a fashion quite archaic to modern standards.
  "I am sure by now that you have encountered Nemesis," Shifter began,
setting down his rice bowl.
  "Yeah," confirmed Ranma. "Why does she look like Kodachi, anyhow?"
  "Don't get ahead of me, young man," the Orochi assassin warned,
leveling a finger at the young martial artist.
  "Just what is this all about?" asked Akane.
  Shifter cleared his throat. "My story is a long one, so you best
prepare to listen."
  "This should be interesting," Soun said, leaning closer to Shifter.
  "In popularized legend," began the assassin, "the great eight-headed
dragon, Yamata no Orochi, terrorized a small kingdom in a faraway
land, demanding a maiden to be sacrificed to him on each night of the
full moon. That is, until wayward maverick kami Susano-O arrived,
wielding the Kusanagi sword. In promise for Princess Kushinada's hand
in marriage, Susano-O challenged and defeated the great dragon with
his wits alone. In decapitating all eight heads, Susano-O released
the Yagatama orb from the mighty serpent's belly. Also, the final
tear of the final head of Orochi formed the Mirror of Yata, which is
reputed to contain the Orochi's eternal torment. This mirror was given
to Princess Yata, Kushinada's sister, after the kami wed. In due time
the Kusanagi sword, the Magatama orb, and the Mirror of Yata made
their way here, in Japan, reputed to be hidden away deep within the
Imperial Palace."
  "That's a common fairytale," Kasumi noted.
  "Ah, but a fairytale it is not," corrected Shifter. "You see, there
is much that the legends do not tell. Yamata no Orochi was not
always the cruel being he was depicted to be; as you can tell, he
only visited the human kingdoms once a lunar month. He had a following
behind him, just as most other kami had in those days."
  "Wait, so you're saying this Orochi is a kami?" asked Nabiki in
disbelief.
  The Orochi assassin nodded. "As most people know, the Orochi was
not native to Japan, but to the mainland. He was quite popular
among the numerous 'primitive' tribes living around the human
kingdoms-- seen as a guardian spirit of sorts. It was Orochi that
kept these tribes from the brink of destruction by keeping
'civilization' in check. Upon the Orochi's death, however, the
tribes knew they were doomed to destruction."
  At this time Nodoka entered with the last tray of dinner. She
set the tray down on the table, then took her own position. Shifter
respectfully paused, allowing Ranma's mother to make herself
comfortable.
  "Death, it turned out, was not the end for Yamata no Orochi,"
Shifter continued. "Susano-O, we believe, knew he could not destroy
the Orochi outright, instead opting to separate his spiritual
essence from his destroyed body. The Mirror of Yata, in effect, is a
seal that binds Orochi to the Kami Plane."
  "What's this 'Kami Plane?'" asked Soun.
  "Kami are not natural to this world," explained the Orochi assassin.
"They are in fact birthed from another plane of existence, a world
detached from our own, where kami rule supreme. The kami do not have
a name for this land; we termed it ourselves. However, the kami
were not content with their homeland-- many opted to become gods to
the 'primitive' mankind in the next plane of existence."
  "Kami are, in fact, manifestations of nature; therefore, with this
indestructible tie, the more nature suffers, the more the kami suffer.
Likewise, the more nature flourishes, so do the kami."
  "So you're saying that the power of kami is related directly with
our natural surroundings?" concluded Akane.
  "Precisely," confirmed Shifter. "Yamata no Orochi was among the most
powerful of the kami, more so than Susano-O. When the tribes
discovered this fact, revenge was within their grasp. With careful
methods unknown to even myself, they transported Orochi's corpse,
decapitated heads and all, to Japan."
  "Okay, that's a little hard to swallow," Ranma interrupted. "Do
you know how far it is from the mainland to Japan?"
  "Do not ask, twit," snapped the assassin in anger. "It matters not
how they did it, but the fact that they indeed succeeded. In fact,
since the sealing of the Mirror of Yata was not entirely complete,
Yamata no Orochi had a limited control over his earthly body,
forcing the regeneration of his heads to the severed necks. However,
this Orochi was but a shadow of his former self, so he retreated to
the forest known as Ryugenzawa to hide himself from his enemies.
The tribesmen, all of which followed their protector to the foreign
land of Japan, home of their sworn enemy Susano-O, united into one
large tribe. In addition, to seal their determination to destroy
their enemy, all those people underwent the process of becoming one
with their god-- by infusing themselves with the serpent's very blood,
obliterating all traces of their own, human blood. Not only did this
separate these people from the rest of humanity, but it also heightened
their already-incredible fighting abilities. They became known as the
Orochi Family."
  "That some pretty dedicated peoples," Shampoo noted.
  "Susano-O had followers of his own, it turned out," continued
Shifter, as if he had not been interrupted. "He gave them the
Magatama orb, from which they became more powerful. They 'discovered'
the Magatama art, the art of fire. However, Magatama was but a
fraction of the Orochi arts-- these were the keepsakes of the Orochi
Family. Representing one head each, there were eight different parts
of the Orochi art: earth, wind, fire, lightning, ice, water, magma,
and mud, the most prominent and powerful being earth, wind, fire,
and lightning. As there were eight arts, there were eight champions
of Orochi-- one a master of each partition of the Orochi art, the
leader being the Master User of Earth. Fate decreed that the users of
Magatama and the Orochi family would clash for many generations, a
secret war continuing to this day."
  "The Orochi Family sought to remove the sealing of the Mirror of
Yata, but Susano-O's followers, most prominently the Kusanagi Family,
spurned these attempts. However, it was soon discovered that the
sealing weakened every decade, which gave the Orochi Family time to
slowly reopen the way to Orochi's essence. Not only this, but every
century the seal would become weak enough that a direct transfusion
of energy would break the seal-- such was the weakness of Susano-O."
  "Despite these advantages, the Kusanagi Family thwarted all of the
Orochi Family's attempts. What the Orochi Family failed to realize
was that their constant bickering brought about their own downfalls.
Soon they decided that they alone could not accomplish their great
task alone (their numbers dwindled due to infighting and losses to
Susano-O's minions)-- they offered great power to humans outside the
Family in return for service; these people became known as the Cult
of Orochi."
  "The 'power' offered was in the form of transfusion with the
blood of Orochi-- a magical substance which gave kami-like properties
to human beings! Quick regeneration, extended life span... who could
resist such temptations?"
  "But didn't they have kami of their own?" asked Akane.
  "Certainly, yes," Shifter answered. "However, unlike the Orochi
Family, the Cult members were still quite human, and retained a
measure of their humanity. I am a living example of that. However,
the only reason we exist is to be the tools of the Orochi Family."
  "You LIKE being a tool?" wondered Ranma. "That sounds like a
terrible trade off to me."
  "Humanity will never live up to Orochi's standards," Shifter
explained. "They may have Orochi blood flowing in their veins, but
they were still humans. Half-breeds and cultists are looked down
upon by the Orochi Family-- the pure ones, the ones closest to their
master. In Orochi's eyes, they could never be equal to his children."
  "I don't get it," Ranma said. "How come these Orochi Family guys
look human, then?"
  "As I explained earlier, the Orochi Family's numbers dwindled due
to infighting and battles with the enemy. The Orochi knew this would
lead to his downfall, and decided to-- shall I say-- divide his
numbers across the globe. In effect, in each generation there will
always be eight new children born, eight who will grow up to become
the masters of a future generation. They are born to human parents,
but make no mistake, they are Orochi through and through; the Orochi
blood can and will mask itself, if necessary."
  "So why aren't there a bunch of them running around?" asked Akane.
  "Most usually die before reaching their twenties, few make it to
their thirties, and some even have families of their own. Some never
realize their Orochi heritage at all, and live out perfectly normal
human lives. I am digressing."
  "The Cult's numbers were small," the assassin continued, "at least,
until the rise of Japanese 'civilization.' As the secret war between
the followers of Susano-O and Orochi continued, a government formed
in Japan, unifying the people under one banner. Not only this, but
technology disturbed the balance of nature. With the new
industrialization of Japan, nature became exploited. And the kami
began to die out."
  "It was quite a dilemma in those days-- become part of a great,
sweeping change in the name of mankind, or remain true to 'archaic
Shinto beliefs.' It may not have been wise to do so, but I chose to
remain with my beliefs."
  "WHAT?!" the others shouted in unison.
  "I certainly do not look over a thousand years old, do I?" Shifter
said with a chuckle. "The kami I served was destroyed by mankind,
and my village was assimilated into the new Japanese empire. With
very little alternative, and being a Shinto priest without a kami, my
brother and I joined up with the Cult of Orochi. Our goals happened
to coincide with theirs, now that the delicate balance between man
and god was destroyed."
  The assassin extended a hand out to Ranma. "Higure Furui, a pleasure
to meet you."
  "Right," Ranma said, folding his arms.
  "Wait, you said you have a brother?" Kasumi said.
  "Actually, let us say, HAD a brother," corrected Higure. "His name
was Akutare Furui, and we served Orochi together as members of the
elite and envied Eight Assassins. I was the first," the assassin
proclaimed proudly. Then, taking a grimmer tone, added, "That is,
until recently."
  "Because we got in your way," Akane finished.
  The Shinto wizard shook his head. "No, it was due to our leader's
utter stupidity and impatience. Ashinzo Kusanagi, who assumed the
name and identity of Warmage, was once one of our enemies, but by
unusual circumstance and a twist of fate he agreed to join our side
after his near-fatal, final battle against the Orochi Family's elite
eight champions. I do not know why he chose to join the enemy, but if
I were in his position I would have chosen death."
  "Yeah, we know a bit about this Ashinzo guy," Ranma said. "He was
afraid of dying, I think."
  "I am sure you do," Higure replied. "In any case, Akutare is dead."
  "I'm sorry," Akane said, not knowing what else to say.
  "I will not hold that against you," assured the Shinto wizard.
  "That would defeat the purpose of this visit, after all," added
Cologne, who, up until now, had remained silent.
  "Well, then, why ARE you here anyway?" asked Ranma.
  "The Orochi Family can achieve victory in a number of ways: among
them, sacrificing eight of Kushinada's female descendants, gathering
a massive amount of energy to bypass the Yata Seal, eliminate the
last remaining Guardian of the Seal, retrieving the Heavenly
Treasures, or getting 'outside help,'" explained the wizard. "All but
the latter are set in motion simultaneously. However, our enemies,
particularly the Guardian, prove too much. And now, one of our number
resorted to utilizing the 'outside help:' Ashinzo puts us all in
jeopardy by releasing Nemesis."
  Anticipating the next question, Higure continued, "There is a being
existing in Nature whose name only few would dare whisper. There is
a being existing in Nature that instills fear in even the kami. That
being, is Nemesis."
  "Legend has it that Nemesis was the Hand of the Gods; that is, it
was Nemesis who carried out vengeance on behalf of the gods. This
being has no definite form, no definite sex, and no definite power,
for all of that is in constant flux. That is why Nemesis is dangerous.
The kami utilized this living weapon against their enemies, but, due
to the unpredictable nature of the nature spirit, summoning Nemesis
was never done lightly."
  "Nemesis is kami too?" Shampoo asked.
  "The power of Nemesis is related to the amount of energy it is
offered by the summoner," explained the assassin. "I studied this
myself, and determined that if enough energy is fed to the creature,
then nothing could stop him."
  "And right now she's just testing the water?" guessed Ranma.
  "For the moment, yes," answered Higure. "However, even now Nemesis
is being infused with more energy. We must act quickly, or tomorrow
you will not be able to stop him. Not without a severe loss of life,
at any rate."
  "Why are you helping us?" wondered Akane.
  "I will not lie to you by saying that I had an attack of conscience
or somesuch rot," explained the assassin, "but it is the potential
danger that scares me most. Although in legend Nemesis never betrayed
the summoner, the summoner was always kami. We are but human."
  "Therefore Nemesis may not follow instruction?" guessed Shampoo.
  "It is the will of Orochi that mankind be eradicated for its crimes
against Nature," continued the assassin, "and this is the reason
Nemesis had been summoned-- to eliminate every last trace of mankind
in order for Nature to be put back on the right path."
  "You're telling me this is all nothing more than a glorified
environmentalist fight?!" Ranma shouted angrily. "I've been fighting
a big group of fanatical tree-huggers?!"
  Shifter pounded Ranma over the head. "I refuse to be labeled a
tree-hugger! You never know what kami lives in one!"
  "Ranma, behave yourself," Nodoka said, seemingly unaware of the
short scuffle.
  "I don't understand why everything couldn't be worked out," Nabiki
said, tapping her fingers against the table as if bored.
  "Restoring the balance between Man and Nature is impossible!"
the wizard proclaimed. "Long ago, it was a delicate balance-- today,
the kami are all but extinct. In the war between man and god, there
can be no happy ending!"
  "If something is not done, everything I worked to save will be
destroyed-- if not by man, then by Nemesis," Higure explained. "What
I want is to return Man and Nature to their former balance of power.
Ashinzo cares not for that, and neither does Orochi. It is a foolish
cause, as industrialization has seen to that. The only way the kami
have to survive is mankind's destruction. As the last of the great
kami, all kami seek to aid Orochi in returning Nature to its rightful
place."
  He turned to Ranma. "I will tell you where Nemesis is hiding out,
but that is all. I have no wish to further involve myself in a battle
which I cannot participate."
  "What're you saying?!" asked Ranma in surprise. "You're just as
good as the rest of us!"
  "Do I look like a warrior to you?!" returned Higure. "I possess a
great deal of magic, yes, but that is all. Not only that, but I
refuse to openly defy the vows I took long ago."
  "So you're still with them, but you're helping us," reasoned Akane.
  "Yes," confirmed the Shinto wizard. "Eight is all you need to win."
  "Eight?" the young Saotome echoed in confusion.
  "Everything in life can be broken down, but it is all ruled by ten
numbers," explained Higure, producing a feather fan from his sleeves.
"Zero represents the Void and Nothingness; One represents Order, Two
represents Chaos, and Three represents Balance."
  "Ho-boy, and all this time I thought two was company and three was a
crowd," Ranma commented sarcastically.
  "Four denotes the elements," continued the wizard, ignoring Ranma's
remarks. "Five represents union of the few, while Six governs
direction. Seven is what many call 'luck,' and Eight represents the
power of infinity."
  "Infinity, huh?" Akane repeated, nodding. "Eight heads, eight
champions, eight assassins."
  "And eight of you," finished Higure. "The reason we were defeated
was due to dissention amongst ourselves, and the reason why you won
was due to your drive for a common cause, despite your differences."
  "Too bad that'll never work out," Ranma commented. "It's all over
for us."
  "Oh, so it's MY fault?" Nabiki shouted defensively.
  "Hmm, unfortunate," the assassin said, scratching his chin. "Then
for as many of you there are to challenge Nemesis, each one removed
from eight will result in the deaths of you in equal numbers."
  "I'll have none of that nonsense in my household!" cried Soun in
anger. "Who are you to say how many of us will live and die?!"
  "You are not going to die simply because you are not one of them,"
Higure replied calmly, waving his feather fan toward his face. "They
know what I am speaking of-- you do not."
  "If I understand what you're saying," Akane started, "then the more
of the others we get together the better chance we all have of
surviving the coming battle?"
  "Yes, yes, of course," replied the assassin. "You understand."
  "Hold on a sec," Ranma said, staring at Higure intently. "What about
Nine?"
  "Nine, my boy," explained Higure, "is existence itself. What is any
multiple of nine other than partitions of nine itself? Nine multiplied
by two gives eighteen, which is a one and eight. Add those together,
and you get nine. The same goes for any multiple of nine. Nine simply
exists in of itself."
  "So what happens if nine of us go?!" demanded the young Saotome.
  The Shinto wizard shook his head. "You will all die."
  "Goodness," Kasumi exclaimed, "that's scary."
  "Ever so blunt and tactful, eh?" Higure said, figuratively jabbing
at the eldest Tendo girl's ribs.
  "I not understand why that is so," Shampoo said.
  "Tell me, do you really want to tempt existence?" Higure replied,
folding his arms. "That is not a smart course of action."
  "Yeah, well, my life ain't governed by any silly numbers," Ranma
said, shrugging. "I'm going anyway."
  "As will I," agreed Shampoo.
  "You aren't counting me out," Akane voiced.
  "I don't think so, Akane," her husband replied, shaking his head.
  Anger fumed in Akane's head. "Why not?!"
  "Akane, Akane, Akane," Nabiki answered in Ranma's place. "I can't
believe the enormous favor he just offered you!"
  "And what's that?!" Akane shot back.
  "I think it may be for the best as well," Nodoka voiced, throwing in
her own opinion.
  "Akane," Soun explained, "we won't let you go with Ranma."
  "W...why?" the youngest Tendo girl asked in confusion. "If Ranma has
to go, I should go, too!"
  "It's not that we doubt your devotion or skill," her father replied,
"but that we're concerned for your future."
  "Listen to your old man," Ranma suggested, rising from his seated
position. "You've gotta stay outta this."
  "Son-in-Law," Cologne piped up, "a word with you, if you please."
  The old lady rose up onto her walking staff, making her way to the
porch exit, beckoning Ranma to follow her.
  "I wonder what she's got up this time," Ranma muttered under his
breath. He looked toward Shampoo for help, but the Chinese Amazon
merely shrugged.
  After the two left, Akane complained, "B...but you all heard what
Higure said!"
  "Pff," the assassin snorted. "I should be glad any of you are taking
me seriously."
  "Be good girl and stay home," advised Shampoo.
  "Akane, if I have to, I'll ground you," Soun threatened. Glancing
toward the guest, he said, "You've outlasted your visit, I'm afraid.
I want you to leave."
  Higure nodded in understanding. "Perhaps I have spoken too much."

----------------------------------------------------------
This has been yet another exercise in interpretation.
"Decepticons FOREVER!!" --Ravage, former Decepticon
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die." --Kosh, Babylon 5

"[Y]ou're lamer than your signature and screen name indicate."--Chris Davies
"The FFML exists to judge the writing, not the writers."--Richard Lawson
"There was a recent case where a fanfic author put together his work with 
only another fanfic serving as his primary resource.  *I* started writing 
fanfiction that way, and consequently I never grew attached to this whole 
idea of remaining true to the original.  I call it "correction."--Reverend 
Prez

--Razorclaw X
Author: "Wheel of Fire", "The World's Worst Ranma Fanfic!", "The Geometry of 
Shattered Souls", "The Balance of Power".
"I sold my soul to buy a copy of the dubbed 'Ukyo Can Cook'"
"Pathetic authors beg for flames. Wait, that's me."


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