In this story, just about everyone except the Ranma 1/2 characters will refer to Guo as Komei. this makes for simplicity and actually supports the previous chapters. (sorry for the inconsistency in the last few chapters.)Ps. for those reading for the first time. the character's name is pronounced in Chinese as Guo Guang Ming. the last two word's are read as Kaku Komei (literally light, light. Used to mean very bright in the two languages and for an actual Chinese name.) "words" 'thoughts' {sighns} *others* ie actions and not quite words. ******************* Twist in the tale 8 A different tale. ******************* (Somewhere) A summer morning of dew and sweat, the ground still damp, the grass still wet. Two people spar in the sun before the morning feast has begun. As they fly and come to blows, a window opens and another face shows. A gleam of pearly white in the morning light, he leaps in smiling and lands in tight. They greet each other and come to blows, whoever wins nobody knows. Suddenly, the first person falls, Into the pool and off the wall. Up comes a panda big and strong, from the pool so what's wrong? Sitting there he waits and sees, who will win whatever may be. The second person to fall down wet springs up as a girl of sweat. Now the third and the last who came, just backs away as the two rise up, definitely not tame. He tries to flee, he tries to run, but the others, they do want their fun. *Splash!* "Dammit! Why did I have to get wet?" I shout as I sloshed out of the pond. "Hey, like birds of a feather, we stick together." Ranma-chan grinned back as his father guffawed in his panda form. {Too true / Heh heh heh.} Came the panda's reply as the Tendos laughed with them. At least those who were there. "Father, They are really enjoying themselves this morning don't you think?" "Yes Kasumi. They definitely are. Perhaps we could convince Akane to join them in their morning sparring rather than jogging." Mr Tendo said as Ranam, Nabiki and I developed big sweat drops at the idea. "Hey Ranma, why do you guys have to drag me to the pond every day?" "Hey Guo, You can't really complain. At least you stay the same sex when you change. And, you at least get to swim in trunks." He said drying hi... her hair. {Hah you have to change like the rest of us if you're going to use foresight.} "Only if you don't count the number of people who try to exorcise me when I go out in this form." I said taking up the banter. Hey, it's a daily discussion. The merits of a human looking form verses one that looks like a spirit being. The best thing about this form is that Movie producers have offered me parts in various action movies. Sure, they want to cast me either as the bad guy or the guiding spirit but I can get to choose my part. Oh yah, Nabiki gets her commission and is more than satisfied with the situation too. "Ok but that's just an annoyance. How would you like people hitting on you?" {Birds of s feather sticking together} "What? I do have people hitting on me most of the time with their paper wands and beads. Or are you saying something like the *Ahem* Ministrations of Kuno?" I asked him before turning around. "So breakfast in ten minutes?" I asked Kausmi. She nodded to me as she set the remaining places on the table. "My Point exactly." Ranma shot back hotly. Hmm. score one for Ranma. {?? is anyone listening to me?} "All right. You win." I smiled as I opened the bathroom door, letting the both of us in. "I... ???" "But you need to control that anger of yours a little. That's the problem with you and Akane." "WHAT PROBLEM?" "See, you lost your cool." I said entering after him. . her. . whatever. "DID NOT!" "Stop shouting, you're only proving me right." I said as he/she started fuming. One point to me. The panda lagged behind, a sign saying {Why are you ignoring me?} in his hand. ************ (Inside the bathroom) I followed Ranma into the bathroom, taking off my wet shirt as she walked over to the sink. A truce is imposed until tonight since we had our responsibilities. Or more specifically, I had my responsibility to get to work while he has to go to cram school, something I don't need except for history. "Hey Guo," "Hmm?" "Why haven't you moved out?" "???" "I mean, You've been talking about it when you first came here and it's nice having you stay here and all but aren't you supposed to be earning enough to get your own place by this time?" "I'm just lazy I guess." "What! You mean?" "I can get three meals a day here, room and all the amenities of a modern home, and basically good friends." "So you enjoy it here?" "Yep." *********** (A room.) A person sits within his room writing into a book. . Date: second week. I had found out a quite a few things about the curse. The first was that I was blessed with higher speed and agility, a better sense of balance and overall, a higher level of physical skill and ability in my cursed form. My 'normal' self is blessed with a good metabolism, healing quickly much like Ranma. The other things I notice is that I learn things easily in my normal self. But the mental powers can only be fully accessed only in my original form. In other words, I have clairvoyance, and the whole host of other skills that I can use when I'm not in my cursed form though I retain a weak form of clairvoyance in my cursed form or perhaps that's just better reflexes. . That's not to say anything bad about the cursed form, though I am just as fast as Ranma when I'm using the chestnut punch, being able to meet Ranma's 20 odd punches in two seconds in my normal form. In my cursed form, I can do about 30 for his 20, literally enough to blow him away and even Cologne if it comes to that. The other thing I notice about my second form is that I am more accurate in my movements. It's like this. I can learn just about anything very easily in my 'normal' form. With my cursed form, I can do just about any physical activity a little better than my normal form but that's more than enough talking enough about myself. Now about Ranma and co. It's been one and a half weeks since I've moved into the Tendo Dojo and I've come to encounter firsthand the people of this dwelling. If you think Tatawaki was strange you would be right. If you though the people here were strange you would still be correct to a certain extent. Though they are nice people personally, most of the people here have problems emotionally or mentally. Katsumi is the first case. She's oblivious to just about everything that goes wrong in the house. I don't know if she cracked under the strain of managing the place or it's her defense against the weirdness that goes on in the house. Personally I think and hope it's the latter option but the first option is still a possibility. The second person is Sho Tendo. He is a nice enough fellow but it seems he has no willpower when it comes down to it. This is probably why there are no students coming to the dojo. This and the high casualty rate here. The only place higher is at the school. For all intents and purposes, it seems like Nabiki is the person who supports the family. I looked over the books once and found there is an annuity that keeps the dojo and the house afloat with a little to spare for food and other necessities. However, there was very little left over to account for luxuries and the cost of the construction that goes on every few days here. Perhaps that's what explains the mercenary side of Nabiki and her reputation among the younger population of this district. But personally, I'm skeptical. I've yet to see her offer a deal that put you at a disadvantage you could not handle. I think she has a good nose for business and sometimes cuts too close to the line of acceptance, but she only has those two friends of hers for normal company. Perhaps I'll see more and learn more about her as time goes by though how much I wish to learn is another story. Ah yes, Akane. Let's just say that she is very temperamental. She is a nice girl if you know how to approach her, but if you do it wrong, you have something close to TNT on your hands. You have to realize that it's a number of factors that created this personality of hers and the first would be her father. Without her mother, her father was the only authority figure in the house with the exception of Katsumi but really, Katsumi? Sorry, I digress. She is a strong willed figure in contrast to the father's weak will and has been trained in martial arts for a long time. I guess the main problem is, in training Akane, her father neglected to teach one part of almost all martial arts that I have encountered or even heard about. Control of your emotions. I guess it's right to say that she has a higher level of Chi than just about all those martial artists because of that, but she is also more volatile and easily angered. It didn't help that Ranma has no clue as to how to act with others. Hmmm... Ranma. The first thing I can say about Ranma and his Dad is that they are experts at running away. Genma is really an overgrown kid. He certainly behaved like one betrothing Ranma to what? Five fiancées, four of which were for food. He has certainly run enough. I guess the best thing for him is to sit him down and teach him that there is more to a man than physical strength. There is the strength of character as well and the conviction to know both what honor is and to practice what you preach... Kuno would be a good example of someone who knows honor and how to practice it most of the time if he wasn't delusional. Actually to tell you the truth, among the males, Ranma seems to have the strongest character here. It's just that he has gaps a mile wide he needs to fill. Ranma runs away in affairs of the heart. He is not used to dealing with emotions or people. All the situations he has pitted himself against have been physical in nature while he knows just about nothing about the affairs of the heart. For instance, he says something like. "You're doing pretty good for a tomboy." to Akane when he wants to compliment her. Guess what happens? Akane hears the part that says ' for a Tomboy.' It doesn't matter if she hears the rest. The wrong trigger was already pressed and the bomb is primed. I've had a few heart to heart talks with Ranma but what can a few days of talking do against a lifetime of habit. It's frustrating but I'll speak to him about it again tomorrow. AH! I have to go soon, my ride will be here in a minute. Before I forget, I have a new job now, I will act in front of a camera saying a whole lot of nothing and posturing for a whole lot of shots. I just glad it's not in front of a crowd and a whole lot of people. I would be more nervous there than in front of the single emotionless lens. Well, on to the general stuff. I've learnt a little bit more about the good doctor. It seems his love for Kasumi makes him incapable of logical thought just by her mere presence. I've got him to call her over the phone but her gentle tones derailed his mind even before he could get it on track. The last alternative is a traditional letter but I've got other things to do than take care of his love life, like take care of mine. Perhaps I'm being shy or perhaps I'm not active enough or perhaps it's just how I've always acted. I've yet to call on her and when we left, I did not ask more than her name and number and arranged a little tuition on the subjects I'm weak at in exchange for me tutoring her. Perhaps I should have been a little more forward, but it was after all a first meeting and I've yet to decide if I can afford to commit in this world. In any case, I've got to get to work and earn my keep. After this week I'll have enough to actually ask her out and enjoy a little before the school semester starts. . . I just wonder if she'll accept. ************ (later) "Ok. The first scene we're doing is where you two meet. You are to fly in and exchange a little dialogue before the token fight that we'll edit later. Remember you are Kohan, your family was massacred and you are searching for the enemy fortress. He's a powerful spirit you want to enlist to your aid. Be convincing." "Sheesh. All right already! Just start rolling the camera when I get into position!" 'Kohan' called back to the director. I just sat in the tree and closed my eyes as the waterfall cascaded down behind us. Jogging rapidly, he went towards the bend in the river while they took shots of me in the three. I sniffed for a moment as if catching a scent and opened my eyes. "Another human comes. . . I wonder if this one will be more interesting than the last one?" I scratched my head for a second before arching my back, eliciting a few pops and clicks as the bones fell back into position. Getting to my feet, I leapt over the cameraman to land by the river where another camera was stationed. Leaping onto a large rock in the river, I Just sat there and waited. Idly looking into the turbulent water, my back was turned to Kohan. Suddenly darting my hand into the water, I pulled out a fish before hopping back along the rocks. Coming back to the bank, I started gathering firewood. ** "Is that The Red spirit? The mischievous spirit who steals fire from the villagers and took from their gardens? The one who could punch through a brick wall with one hand and subdue demons with the other. . . He looks more bored than dangerous. HEY! ARE YOU THE RED SPIRIT?" The creature ignored him and resumed gathering firewood. Suddenly he looked up at the warrior, before looking down for a second. He then hopped to a rock in the middle of the river, turning his back to the young warrior. "This creature is deliberately ignoring me. I will have none of this. HEY!" I ran forwards, and towards the creature as he drew his hand back. His arm shot into the water, snatching something from the turbulent flow in a spray of glistering droplets. Looking back at me, a smile creased his lips before he tossed the flopping fish onto the bank before me. "Start the fire and we'll have something to eat ok?" ** (Later) I sat by the fire as he lay down besides me, turning his fish while I left mine to cook. A question sprang to mind as I looked into his bored face. "What's your name?" "I might tell you but would it do any good right? Do the names of other creatures matter any to the realms of man?" "Look, don't take it so hard on me. I'm just looking for people to help me." "That's the way of humans isn't it? Always looking for people who can help them. Help them plant, help them build, help them chop trees. Right, just like I needed your help to start a fire." "You need help to start a fire? ?" "Yep, unless you want to eat raw fish." he said yawning in boredom.. "... Don't you know how to start a fire?" I asked the creature in confusion. "Nope." ". . ." he sat there, a thoughtful look on his face. Suddenly he lifted his head and looked at me, a grin on his face. "Fire." "What?" "To cross over the mountains, you have to have someone who knows the woods. But if you want that, you teach me about fire ok." *Big grin* "Why do you want fire? Why not gold?" "Right, gold." he scoffed. "Compare that to fire, fire gives warmth on the cold winter nights, you use it to cook during the course of the day. gold is cold, is nice to look at, and works well as a lure for other humans but what else is it good for? Can you wear it and keep you warm? Can you use it to catch your meal? Can you use to cure your wounds? like hell it can." with a huff, he turned away. Looking out into the sky with his deep brown eyes. "You mean you'll help me for fire?" "All I said is I'd guide you. That's all." he said, annoyance evident on his face. "Will you help me?" "Help you what?" He said looking at me, with suspicion in his eyes. "Help me defeat the Goblins." "What did they do?" he said, evidently annoyed. "They killed my family and raised my village to the ground." "So what?" "What do you mean so what? Wouldn't you want revenge if your family was hurt?" He remained silent. Lying on his back, his eyes tracked a single white cloud as it drifted across the sky. His face was blank and unreadable. "So why do you want me to help?" "I heard that for all your faults, you were a powerful spirit who helped people who were in need." "Rumors." he said in annoyance. "Can't you help me?" "Sure." he said getting up. From his sleeves he pulled out a four-piece nunchuck and fitted it together into a staff. "I can knock some sense into you." he said advancing at me as I hurriedly backed away. "... Hey wait a minute! I didn't come to fight!" He gave me a long stare. "Right now, I don't really care. Either defend yourself or get beaten up, the decision is yours. . One." "All right! I'll fight." I said leaping to my feet as my sword sprung into my hand. *evil grin* Leaping forwards, he swung his staff at me, my katana barely came up in time to take the force of the blow. He slid his grip forwards along the length of the pole with one arm and punched at my face as I hurriedly pushed him away with my sword. Forcing him to abort or loose a few fingers as my blade skimmed the length of the pole. He spun with the momentum I gave him, behind me as I fell forwards. he barely missed the back of my neck as I tumbled forwards, dodging out of range of his staff. I cam up and barely caught footing before his staff swung forwards yet again, mere inches from hitting my nose. I scrambled upright and, I noticed him considering a box in his hand. "Hey that's Mine!" I shouted at him. Looking back at me a slow smile spread across his face, exposing his sharp canines. "Oh is it?" he taunted. Suddenly he dropped the box and swung his staff from the left. I parried yet again but the breath whooshed out of me as the staff whacked me from the other side. I crumpled to the ground clutching my side as he stood over me, confusion on his face. "You aren't very good are you?" he asked as he squatted down besides me. "*wheeze, wheeze,* Aren't you *wheeze* going to finish this?" "No point, you'll probably die anyway if you go against the goblins." I just lay there recovering from the attack, liquid sorrow flowing from my eyes. "So what? My village was massacred and my family killed. They have to PAY for that! If it takes my life to do it, I will!" "If you want to hurt them, then learn to fight or get others to fight for you. Idiot." he said, as he walked over to the campfire, obviously disinterested already. "That's why I came to you!" ". . . Revenge besets revenge. Don't start the cycle, it's not worth it." he said picking up his cooked fish. "Don't patronize me, They deserve to pay for their crimes. Who will settle the spirits of the dead if I don't? Do you think the spirits of the dead will rest easy with the murderers unpunished?" "Self righteous babble. People say that to justify the death of their enemies. If people are dead, their bodies go to the ground and their spirits to the underworld right? There they stay and eventually it's there that the criminals will go to be judged and punished. It's the fate of those after them to do the best they can and do their best to be happy with the rest of their lives." "We are assured a place in the river of blood, to fight alongside the heroes of yore and to gain our fame in legend" "Which belief are you following?" "Shinto." "Oh. I thought Buddhist but I guess I've not talked about this for a long time..." his face took on a faraway look for but a moment before he shook himself out of the revelry. "Forget that. I'm getting a little sidetracked right? The only fame you're getting is if you survive to tell the tale so don't bother." he said, as he picked up his fish. "But they killed my parents! I have to avenge them!" "So? Just get a wife and create more _Humans._ That's what the goblins do." "They killed most of my family and I have to punish them!" "Not my fault. When you kill a deer what about it's family? No wait, bad story. emmm." ". . . Don't you have a family?" He stiffened, as I said that and turned to me, his face cold and emotionless. "Once, but that's not what we're discussing." "Wouldn't you want a chance to kill anyone who harmed them?" I said, reading the visual clues of his manner. ". . ." "Wouldn't you want to hurt anyone who hurt them?" I said as I noticed my words getting to him. He seemed to get more and more angry, not at me but at something. It was like something in the past. . . "STOP! I'll go with you JUST STOP!" he shouted as he slammed the fish to the ground. I was startled buy the sudden change in attitude but a satisfied lit my face. I did it! I enlisted his aid! with a huff, he moved to the other side of the fire as I noticed a stain on the ground. It was the fish, splattered like fine paste on the river shore. Suddenly I wasn't so sure getting him angry was such a good idea. ** "CUT! It's a wrap!" the director called from his chair. The cameramen and the extras starting clearing the set as we moved towards the director. "Komei-san, this is acting not battle. You are not supposed whack the main character that hard that job is left to the stunt men not the actors. Oh ya, where did that box come from?" "Actually that's from the pops department. It's just an old fire starting kit." 'Kohan' put in for me. "So why did you take that?" The producer said pointing his finger at me. "I was going for realism. He's not interested in helping others for nothing but he ends up helping anyway because he's has something of a sense of honor and ends up helping those weaker than him. Stealing the item was only to prove the point." "And the point being?" "That the warrior, 'Kohan' was weaker than him." "The being has a name you know." "err... can you tell me the name again?" "In-nu-ken. (Dog-dragon or alternatively, 'dragon dog'.) Get that in your mind and stop beating up on the star!" "Sorry." "Hey it's not that bad. He pulled his blow so I just lost my breath for a second. I wasn't even hurt much." "Oh whatever! Just don't expect anything from me when you're hurt." With that the director turned away, pissed off. "Hey, you're new to this aren't you?" "Ah. . . How can you tell?" "You hid it pretty well but you were a little tense through all twenty shots." He said as we walked towards a waiting jeep. "Oh... thanks for telling me... Hey, what's your name? Mine's Komei." he looked at me in surprise before softening into a grin. "I think I like you." he said as he slapped an arm over my shoulder. "I'm Agouti, nice to meet you." he said as we walked towards the jeeps. ************** (Later, ) "Hey Amy!" "What?" asked the blue hared girl as the other girl came close. "I heard the mouse had a date tonight. He has to be special to be able to bring you out of your hole." "Oh come off it Ray, we're having a study date. It's not like we're doing anything special." "Oh. So It's nothing special huh?" "Selena and you should join us, both of you should brush up on your history too." "History? Oh man? Why aren't you learning biology?" Ray ribbed the other girl. "Biology? He has that down pat, His physics is pretty good while he knows more than enough about chemestry." "So he knows just about what you know then. "Err, yes." "Amy, what are you going to learn from him if you know all this too?" "He's going to teach me English." "I thought you're good at that language." "He's even better than our teacher at that." "Oh." Ray said before a thoughtful look crossed her face. "Do you think he can help me in that?" Amy looked at Makoto with a sly smile on her face. "Are you sure you aren't going to try to exorcise him?" "AMY!" "Hi Amy, who's your friend?" came a voice from behind them. The girls turned around to see Komei as he exited a jeep. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow Agouti" "Don't be late for the shoot Komei." Agouti called as he drove past the girls. Makoto's eyes followed the jeep as it turned off the next intersection, and drove out of sight. "So Amy, where do you suggest we study?" "The library would be good." "Cool." "Did we see who I think we saw?" Ray asked, an incredulous expression on her face. "Well Ray, it's only logical since Komei _is_ acting in a movie." Ami said undisturbed. "Was that really Tokomaru Agouti?" ". . . I think so, why?" Komei answered. "He's like one of the biggest.. err." a speculative look came over her face, something like the cat who just saw the mouse. " Oh Komei? Can you get me his autograph?" Ray seductively drolled out as Komei looked at her, a little apprehensively. "His autograph. . . I guess I could ask him." he said skeptically as Ray broke out in a lazy smile. By her side, Amy just sighed. ************* (later) The afternoon sun streams through the silent halls of the cluttered building. Shelf upon shelf of books line the walls, filling the air with their musty scent as two people wander between the isles of literary treasures. Both stop at a shelf, scanning the titles before the girl reaches out to take a book from the shelf for her companion. "This book will give you the main excerpts of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It should be what you're covering now. But if you need something else it should be in this section of the library. Now, let's see what I need to learn." "Hey, don't worry about English that much. I'll pick up one of those novels in the english section and I'll help you that way." "What? You're going to read me a story?" Amy gently teased "No, you're going to be reading the story and I'll be correcting you as we go along." he smiled as he walked off ahead to check the shelves. She gave a small smile as Guo wandered off to the english section to look over the books there. Suddenly, a soft beeping came from Amy's pouch. She looked around for a moment before bringing a small compact up before her and activating it. "This is Amy here. Oh hi Rei, what is it?" "Amy, sorry about this but another yoma is on the loose, do you think you can make it in time to help?" "I don't know but I can try. Tell me where." "In the park." "I'll be there in a few minutes." she said before making her way to the door. From the side, a pair of hazel brown eyes spied her as she left the building and, having nothing better to do, followed. **************** (a few minutes later) "Fire soul!" a blast of pyrotechnic energy flew through the air as the Yoma leapt away, "Wind storm!" The green skinned woman shouted as she flung her arm towards Rei, generating an almost solid wall of wind in the direction as Rei scrambled out of the way. "Shabon spray!" Amy cried from the side while the yoma was distracted. Multiple Pops were heard as bubbles hit her. The green woman looked around for a second before smiling into at the thick mist. "You think that's going to stop me? Pathetic... Wind!" she said, bringing her hand before her face to summon a stiff updraft, blowing the fog away. "Moon tiara magic!" called sailor moon from the side as the fog lifted. The Green Woman dodged out of the way having seen it in time. "Wind storm!" The yoma cried as she fell, Usagi barely scrambled away as the vortex of concentrated air roared past her to hit a tree, scoring a four foot circle of bark off the hapless plant. *eep* Sailor moon squeaked as she looked at the damage. Looking back at the yoma, she wondered if they had gotten a little over their heads this time. "Shabon spray!" "Fire soul!" Amy and Rei called out as their combined attacks flew through the air. The creature made to dodge but but somehow, something held her arm, keeping her in the attack's path. "What?" the creature made out before it was too late. The powers struck the yoma dead on to envelop the creature in a cocoon of blue and red. "Sailor Moon! Hurry up and attack!" Rei called to her as the yoma screamed in agony. "All right already! Stop rushing me!" Usagi called before she caught her returning tiara. "Moon Tiara Magic!" she said as she let it loose once again, This time to hit the creature where it stood, Reducing it to dust. * Somewhere to the side, a shadowy figure watched for a moment more before taking a path towards the exit. A moment later, another shadowy figure, this time feminine to the first one's masculine emerged, and followed the first. The man walked slowly out of the park and into a street as his 'shadow' followed behind him. He crossed the street and ducked into an alley, never once looking back as he glided over the asphalt. The Girl followed, hurrying her pace to duck into the silent alley, just in time to see. . . nothing. She glanced around the for a moment, confused at the sudden disappearance of its target before gliding down the narrow street. As she came to the corner ash stopped for a moment to listen, just as someone tapped her on the shoulder. "Eeep!" she leaped up two feet before coming back to the ground, shock evident on her face. . . ". . . I was going to ask you for the time." he said, a little amused. "But I think I'd rather know why you're following me." He smiled evilly as he moved forwards, flexing his hand into a fist. Five minutes later, he jogged out of the alley. A little while after that, the girl exited, a wondering look on her face. *?* she watched as Guo jogged around the corner and out of sight. Her face was a mixture of relief and confusion until something occurred to her. 'Lord Ebonite will not be pleased.' she though as she backed into the alley. 'I wonder if I can forestall punishment this time?' With that, she crept off after the man, waiting for her chance to gain more insight into this mysterious person who goes by the name of Komei(light). * http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/3583/index.html