The Three Saotomes
Chapter 9
Two tales from China, part 2,
Betrayal.
It had been more than a month since he had been wed to Xianghua, things
were looking up. Of course this wouldn't last, but he was far from aware
of this fact. Ranma stood up in the middle of a large field and wiped his
brow with his forearm. All around him the tiny beginnings of plants could
be seen. The crops for the coming year would probably do well if the
weather held out. He smiled to himself about how angry his wife would be
if he missed the harvest because of his training trip.
"Ranma!" called the woman in question as she rushed up to him with a
cheerful smile on her face. "Hey, you got a letter."
He sighed and took it from her with a smirk on his face. "I've been
waiting for this actually."
The girl blinked in surprise at this but remained silent.
"This is from my father, he's on his way here. I'm going to have to
leave you for a while after he gets here I'm afraid."
The young blonde woman's face fell slightly and she grabbed him from
behind in a tight hug. "I hate that."
"Well, we talked about this. My father isn't going to like that I
already got married. He's traditional and thinks I should follow his
orders like some sick puppy or something. I'm going to have to work this
out with him while we're on this trip." It was about this time that he
realized that she was still holding him from behind. "Uh-oh."
"You let your guard down honey," said the woman with an evil grin
appearing on her face. She lifted him up into the air into a suplex
maneuver and slammed him into the ground behind her head first, in one
smooth motion after that she pushed herself into a flip with her hands
and landed on her feet in front of him. "Phoenix pulls dragon from
mountain."
Ranma chuckled to himself for a moment before standing up and dusting
off his pants. "Well, it seems as though you got me doesn't it?" He sat
down on the ground again with his legs crossed and smirked at her.
"What are you so happy about? I just creamed you! You usually pout about
that for days, until I cheer you up at night anyway." Her grin broadened
as his face fell slightly.
"Sure whatever," muttered the Japanese boy as he stood up and slung his
shirt over his shoulder.
"Oh the big baby," snorted the woman as she turned away. "Hey aren't we
going to the village today or something?"
Her grandfather and brother were standing behind her with odd looks on
their faces. The pair had just walked out of the home. "Um, yeah," said
Fei Wu.
"Let's go then," she said with a cheerful smile.
"Uh sis?"
Her grandfather was still frozen in place with an odd look on his face,
he almost seemed happy. It was starting to bother her.
"What is it?" she turned to her grandfather and glared at him. "What are
you staring at old man?!"
"If you're going to the village with us, you should really put on some
pants," said Wei Fu finally.
Everything seemed to freeze for a moment and a cool wind blew across the
field. Xianghua's grandfather fell over as his nose seemed to explode
with blood. Fei Wu was turned away with his face almost completely red.
Her mind worked for a half second before she came to a realization.
Ranma had been wearing his shirt, so how could he have slung it over his
shoulder? "RANMA! I'm going to kill you!" She was off like a shot after
her husband, who was halfway across the field before she realized what
he'd done. The pair ran off into the distance leaving the two Chinese men
to themselves.
"Well, looks like bro's camping out again! Eh, grandpa?" Fei Wu turned
to see the old man lying on the ground with tears in his eyes.
"Oh! I'm so proud! My little granddaughter has grown into a woman!"
"That's sick old man," grumbled the boy as he started to drag the man
off by his shirt.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Genryu stared out across the valley and smiled slightly. "Nice place."
"Seems quite peaceful," agreed Genma as they started towards the town.
"This is where my brother has been staying then?"
"My understanding is that this region is quite famous for it's Kung Fu,"
said Genma sagely. "Come on boy, let's go pick him up."
"Right, I'm interested to see if he's gotten any better," said Ranma
with a confident smirk.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ranma stood on top of the large boulder near the edge of the field. A
quiet smile crossed his lips as he saw the two figures approaching from
the east. "Well, they've made it." He jumped down and started walking
towards his family.
"Ranma!" called Genryu as he rushed forward towards his brother.
"Prepare to die!" screamed the elder boy as he charged both men.
"Come on son!" cried Genma with a smile as he met the boy's charge with
his younger brother.
The battle was relatively short, even Ranma couldn't last long against
his brother and his father. He charged forward and punched at the elder
of the pair and missed as the man shifted to the side and avoided the
strike easily. His new training kicked in and he swept the elder man from
his feet with a curving motion from his front leg. He extended his arm
out and blocked his younger brother's punch and launched him into the
air. The younger boy smirked and landed on his feet just behind him and
punched at his back gaining a solid hit. Genma kicked out and missed his
son's torso by millimeters as the boy dodged and jumped back.
Ranma spun around and kicked at Genryu's head missing as the boy leaned
back and moved into a defensive crouch. Genma had also regained his
footing and was waiting for the next attack. The elder boy smirked and
charged towards Genma, he kicked out and managed to wing his shoulder in
a jump kick. Genma countered by grabbing his leg and sent him into the
ground behind him. Ranma rolled on the ground and attempted to rise, only
to find Genryu waiting with his fist in his face.
"Well, looks like you win. You've gotten better little brother."
"What did you expect? Besides, so have you."
Ranma nodded and accepted his father's hand as the man helped him up.
"Well, it was pop who was training you after all, I couldn't be sure."
"Indeed son, this is quite impressive." He pat him on the back gruffly
and started to walk away.
Ranma smirked as he saw the sign with the word 'ingrate' written on it
in messy kanji on his father's back. "Thought you'd get one over on me
did you old man?" he muttered under his breath. Genryu stood next to him
and attempted to hold in his laughter.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
They came to the small hut and walked in. "Welcome to my new home," said
Ranma as he gestured towards the table in the kitchen.
"They won't mind you having guests?" asked Ranma.
"They know you're coming. And why not? I'm going to inherit the place
someday."
"Oh well then," Genma paused and stared at his son. "What?"
Ranma smirked at the look on his father's face as he saw a slow
realization dawn on him.
Genryu appeared oblivious at the moment.
"What have you done boy?" snapped Genma angrily.
"Nothing much, I got married," replied Ranma lazily.
"Huh?" Ranma looked at his brother in surprise. "Hey, that's great!"
"Isn't it? My wife and her family went into town, they should be back
soon."
"This is terrible! Do you have any idea what you've done son?" cried
Genma as he put his head on the table.
"Settled down?" said Ranma in mock ignorance.
"We've got to stop this! You're engaged!" cried Genma as he took the boy
by his shoulders.
"I am? Well, I hate to say this pop, but you've told me about this a
little to late. Why didn't you say anything sooner?" the man was trying
his best not to laugh in his father's face.
Genma froze and hung his head. "Boy, I do not consent to this marriage!"
"I don't need your permission, besides, we're quite happy here. Please
be nice to your daughter in law when you meet her." He sat down at the
table and crossed his arms.
The man glanced at Ranma for a moment and sighed. "I suppose there's
nothing that can be done about it now."
"Not really no," Ranma gave Genryu a sympathetic glance. "Sorry to shove
that Tendo girl off on you little brother," he thought to himself. He
shook his head and started to make tea for them. "We'll finish our trip
here in China, and then come back to pick her up. I want mom to meet her
at least. We'll stay there for a while with you and then come back."
Genma nodded reluctantly; at least the boy didn't want to bring a woman
along for his training. Apparently he still had some sense about him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
"So, what's this girl like?" asked Ranma as he stood opposite his
brother outside a short time later.
"You'll like her, she's very pretty, and a martial artist," the boy
smirked slightly at the look his brother got.
"Oh, one of those types."
"No, she's actually pretty smart, and very good. She's better than you
are brother."
"What? No way!" cried the younger boy angrily.
"Well, we'll see," Ranma gave a small laugh at his brother's attitude.
Apparently time alone with Genma had taken its toll. "Ah, here she is
now."
Xianghua smiled as her husband walked up with a younger boy at his side.
The pair looked almost identical, accept the younger of them had a
ponytail and was a half-foot shorter. "Why hello, you must be Genryu."
"Yeah, nice to meet you," said the younger boy nervously as he bowed to
her. "You're the chick who married my brother, right?"
Ranma smacked him on the back of his head and rolled his eyes. "Sorry,
he gets that from his father."
Xianghua laughed cheerfully and nodded. "I see. It's a wonder you
didn't."
"I'm smart enough to ignore that old fool most of the time."
"Hey! You sayin I'm dumb?" snapped Genryu as he pulled his elder brother
into a headlock.
"You should respect your elders," snorted Harowang as he walked up
behind his granddaughter with Fei Wu beside him.
"You haven't met my father yet," quipped the boy as he pulled his
younger brother off playfully. "Genryu, this is Xianghua, your sister;
and these two are Harowang, my new Grandfather, and Fei Wu, your new
brother."
Genryu paused and looked at them. He hadn't yet considered that this
would result in new family for him. "Uh hi, I'm Genryu Saotome, nice to
meet you." He bowed again. He turned towards his older brother again. "So
these are the guys who taught you those new moves?"
Ranma sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yes Genryu."
"Come, I'm very interested to meet your father." Harowang smiled and
started walking towards the home.
++++++++++++++++++++++
A short time later, introductions had been made. Genma had been at least
somewhat pleasant in his own gruff way. Ranma was wary of this; it wasn't
like his father to accept something like this so quickly. It was making
him nervous.
"What are you up to pop?" muttered the boy under his breath.
Xianghua had been holding onto his arm and pulled him away. "What do you
mean by that?"
"This isn't like my father at all. It turns out he had some sort of
arranged marriage planned for me. He'll probably do something stupid
later."
"An arranged marriage?"
"Yeah, the old fool didn't tell me about it until I told him about us.
To be truthful I was kind of expecting something like that from him."
"Well, it's too late now," muttered the woman as she leaned in on his
chest. "You're mine."
"Yeah, well, pop won't see it that way. He'll probably kidnap me, and
try to save me from you or something along those lines. If I go missing
in the next couple of days I want you to know what happened. Don't worry
about me, I'll be back in a month or two if that happens."
"Ranma! He wouldn't!" cried the girl in alarm quietly. She had barely
managed to keep her voice in a whisper.
"I told you that the stupidity of Genma Saotome knows no bounds didn't
I? If anything I've got to save my little brother from that."
"I thought you were joking when you said that!"
"Two words, Cat Fist."
"You mean you weren't kidding?" Xianghua turned and gave her father in
law a blank stare.
"Nope, it's a good thing I was there. I read the next page to him and
the idiot still tried it. I had to pull Genryu out when he wasn't looking
sixteen times. He finally gave up after that. The poor kid still doesn't
like cats much."
"He's afraid of cats?"
"No, but I had to stop him from killing a few back when he was little."
"I see."
"Come on, let's go outside," Ranma pulled his wife away from the corner
and tapped Genryu on the shoulder. "Come on little brother. Let the old
folks bore each other."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Genryu landed on the ground roughly and grunted in pain. Xianghua was in
a low crouch with her arms extended at her sides like wings and slowly
rose to her feet moving her arms down as she rose.
"He ain't half bad."
"He isn't even trying," grumbled Ranma. "Genryu, what the hell are you
doing?"
"I can't fight her, she's a girl!" cried the boy.
Xianghua's eyes narrowed at this, but Ranma beat her to the punch. He
charged forward and punched the boy in his gut before he could blink.
After the blow Genryu fell to his knees and coughed.
"A Saotome never fights to lose!" snarled the elder boy.
"It isn't honorable to fight a girl!" coughed Genryu.
"That's crap! It isn't honorable to fight someone weaker than you!
Xianghua isn't weaker than you are brother. I suggest you start taking
this fight seriously."
"But..." stammered the younger boy as he looked up at his brother in
confusion.
"What would Ucchan say about this?"
Genryu narrowed his eyes at this, after a moment he hung his head and
stood up. "You're right."
"Who's Ucchan?" asked Xianghua playfully.
"She's an old friend from when we were younger. Genryu thought she was a
boy at first. I let him believe it for a while. They used to spar
together all the time."
"Oh, I see," said the woman lazily as she walked up to Genryu and helped
him up. "Come on, we'll finish this then. Are you ready this time?"
Genryu gave her a hard stare and smirked. "Of course."
Ranma smiled to himself and nodded. It wasn't much, but at least he had
undone some of the damage.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Three days had passed; Genma was relatively quiet over this time. Most
of the time he sat at the table with Harowang and talked. Ranma and
Genryu spent most of their time out in the fields with Xianghua and Fei
Wu, either helping with the crops, or training. The pair of Japanese
brothers had scared the two Chinese siblings several times with their
training. It seemed that all the training their grandfather had put him
through was nothing compared to the Saotome regimen of training. The pair
improved at an alarming rate in each other's presence.
That night though, Genma looked over at Harowang. "What's that temple I
keep seeing in the mountains? It looks like a giant Shinto Temple."
The old man sighed. "That is our curse. The reason no Japanese man will
ever be welcome in the village."
"Yes, it happened during the rape of..." Ranma started.
"Son!" snapped Genma angrily.
"Oh yes, I had almost forgotten. It never happened right?" The boy
leveled a stare at his father and smiled. "Well then, during our
occupation. A man named Kuruso entered the north with his battalion. He
was a captain in the Japanese imperial forces. While our people were busy
to the south, he went north. Far out of Japanese controlled territory. He
came to this village and conquered it easily. Rather than turn the
conquest over to the government, he set himself up as Emperor. He went
quite insane apparently. He started to wear a suit of golden armor; this
armor was said to make him invincible. Apparently he came under the
influence of a powerful demon. The things he did here were nothing
compared to what our country did. One of the orders he gave when he first
arrived was for all the male children in the village to be raped. It only
got worse from there. Human sacrifice, slave labor, starvation, demonic
rituals. He even had a brothel composed of nothing but children, all
under the age of twelve. Some of the survivors still live. They have
scars from the tortures they endured, I've seen them when they come here
to visit the temple that lies on these grounds. It's best to avoid them
completely, they don't like us much."
Genryu paled at this. "That's why you told us to go around the village
to the south isn't it?"
"Yes, you would have been thrown out like he was. He was lucky he wasn't
killed I suppose. They're hostile, but not violent. A few villagers have
complained about him being this near to the village," said Harowang with
a grave nod.
"To say nothing of what they'll say if they find out two more just
arrived," agreed Fu Wei.
"What happened to that guy?" asked Genryu.
"Eventually one of his own men killed him. Shot him in the head while he
was sitting on the throne he built in that temple after he removed his
helmet."