“Suteko!” Ukyo and Akane cried out together as they rushed to her side. The blow had opened a two inch long gash on her left cheek, just below her eye. She shook her head to clear it, sending blood droplets spraying out. She rested on one knee, using her staff for support. Touching her cheek, she hissed with pain. In the background, Soun could be heard crying. Nabiki could also be heard trying to calm him down. Kasumi left the dojo and returned with her first aid kit.
Genma was stunned for a moment but he shook his head and quickly moved to his daughter’s side. He stood to the side as Ukyo and Akane helped her to her feet.
“Are you all right?” asked Akane.
“Where’d they take Ranma?” asked Ukyo at the same time.
Suteko looked up, blood dripping off her chin. “I’m fine.” She took a step toward Genma and, looking down at the floor, spoke. “I’m sorry. I had no idea what Mother and Great-grandfather had planned. If I had, I would have told Ranma not to be here toady.” She turned to include Akane and Ukyo. “I’m very sorry. This was supposed to end with the apology.” She started to cry, “It’s all my fault.”
Ukyo and Akane exchanged a look. “That doesn’t matter now, sugar. What’s important is getting Ranma back.” Ukyo stepped away from Suteko and pulled out her battle spatula. “Where’d they take him?”
Akane looked puzzled. She too wanted to go find Ranma, but something Atsuko had said before she faded from view nagged at her mind. “Suteko, what did she mean, ‘Ranma will be ours heart and soul.’?” She looked down at Suteko with a worried expression.
Suteko closed her eyes. When she saw her great-grandfather tap Ranma’s skull, she had known they were in trouble. “There is a special pressure point technique that only the head of the Fukushuu clan knows. It is used to insure loyalty to the clan.”
Kasumi returned and had Suteko sit so that she could bandage her face. “Oh, my. Suteko, this is going to need stitches.” She turned toward Nabiki. “Nabiki, could you go call Doctor Tofu for me, please?”
“Sure thing, sis.” Nabiki went out, counting up how much this was going to cost.
Suteko started again. “Many years ago, Great-grandfather was having trouble keeping his heirs. They disagreed with his ways and many left, taking their retainers with them. He went on a long voyage, looking for a lost, secret technique which would insure the loyalty of all who remained. He found one called the three blind mice. It involves touching the skull at three points. If done correctly, it renders the victim unconscious for eight hours. When the victim awakens, for the next sixteen hours they are put into a trance-like state that makes them very susceptible to suggestion. Anything they are told will become the basis of all their beliefs. Grandfather used this technique to make those he wished into younger copies of himself. With the same desires and morals.”
“Is there a cure?” asked Genma worriedly.
She looked over at her father and answered slowly, “Uncle Tanto knew of it, but...”
“But what?”
Akane answered for her. “But he died last year, right Suteko.”
“Yes, and I don’t know who else might know the cure.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
PLANS TO BE MADE
OR
LET'S SAVE RANMA
Doctor Tofu looked up from his reading as the phone on his desk rang. He reached over and picked up the receiver. “Hello, Doctor Tofu speaking.”
“Hello Doctor, it’s Nabiki Tendo speaking.”
Tofu smiled. “Hello, Nabiki, can I help you with something?”
Nabiki launched into a short description of the morning and the help they needed. Tofu’s expression changed from pleased, to confused, to determined. “I’ll be right there, Nabiki. Tell them to keep pressure on the wound and to watch her for signs of a concussion.” He hung up the phone and grabbed up his bag. He put out the closed sign and rushed over to the Tendo household.
***
At the Tendo household, most were in the dojo, dealing with the confusion there.
“Calm down, girls. Let Suteko gather her wits,” Kasumi gently admonished the two concerned fiancees. She placed a clean towel against the girl’s cheek to stem the blood flowing down her face. Everything will be all right, Suteko. These things always work out for the best.” She continued to speak soft, calming nonsense to the distraught girl. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Nabiki strolled back in, carrying a second towel. “Kasumi, Doctor Tofu said to keep a firm pressure on the wound.” She paused for a moment. “Oh, I see you already are.” She raised a brow. Big sister was sure good in these situations. Kasumi never seemed to lose her composure. “He said he was coming right over.”
Suteko tried to get up, “He doesn’t have to do that. I can go to his office.” She was pushed back down, gently by Kasumi.
“It’s no problem, Suteko. He’s on his way.”
“But, won’t that be expensive? I mean, a doctor, making a house call.”
Nabiki understood right away. She smiled down at the girl who looked so much like Ranma but reacted differently. “Don’t worry; he doesn’t charge us for housecalls. We’re his best customers,” she added with a sly look at Akane, “isn’t that right, sis?” Akane shot a quick look at her sister. She really didn’t feel like being ribbed about her sending Ranma to Doctor Tofu so often.
“I’ll pay for his visit. I don’t want to cause any more trouble.” Suteko’s voice was muffled by the towel pressed against her face but it was clear she ashamed at the problems already caused by her family.
***
“There you go, young woman.” Doctor Tofu smiled as he sat back. It was amazing the likeness this girl had to Ranma-chan.
“Thank you, sensei,” Suteko answered with a weak smile.
“Sensei ,have you ever heard of this ‘three blind mice’ technique?” Akane looked hopeful. Doctor Tofu had always been a source of esoteric information.
Tofu looked at the anxious young woman. “I’m sorry, Akane. That’s a new one on me. I can go through my books of lore, but I’m not sure that will help.”
“Please, sensei, if there is a chance to save my brother, we must look for it,” pleaded Suteko. Ukyo and Akane nodded, agreeing with Suteko.
“Well, then I’ll go,” he started to rise.
“Let us help, sensei. Three extra pairs of eyes should make the search go much faster.”
Doctor Tofu looked at the three young women. The concern was obvious, that and the fact that they needed to do something. “All right, girls.”
***
The streets were empty this early in the morning. They made their way quickly toward Doctor Tofu’s clinic but not without incident. Just as they reached the intersection closest to the clinic they heard a familiar “Nihao!” Suteko dodged to the side as a purple haired girl on a bicycle came crashing down were she had been standing.
“Watch where you’re going!” Suteko shouted. What did this girl think she was doing, crashing down from above. How’d she get the bicycle up in the air in the first place?
Akane looked over bored, “Hello, Shampoo.”
Suteko did a double take. This was Ranma’s third fiancée. The Chinese amazon. She could understand why Ranma would be engaged to this one. She was stunning. In America, the girl could demand top dollars as a model.
Shampoo sneered at Akane, “I not say Nihao to you, violent girl, I say Nihao to airen.” She turned her pretty head toward Suteko. “Nihao, Ranma, why for you change your hair?”
Suteko stood confused for a moment. The girl’s Japanese was not very good but she was sure the girl had just called her by her brother’s name. “Um, hello, Shampoo,” she smiled. “I’m not...” was as far as she got before the girl grabbed onto her with a glomping sound.
“Ranma go date with Shampoo, now?” She looked into Suteko’s eyes with stars in her own for a moment. But then they changed and she backed off quickly. “You not Ranma. What go on here?”
S
uteko stood shocked. She was still dealing with being grabbed and forcefully hugged by another girl. Akane just chuckled but Ukyo took pity on the poor girl and explained. “Shampoo, I’d like you to meet Ranma’s older sister, Suteko.”
Shampoo looked over at Ukyo, back to Suteko and then back again. “What you saying, spatula girl? Ranma no have any sister. I know.”
Suteko finally pulled her mind back and answered that. “Shampoo, I am his sister. We share the same father.”
“I no believe you.”
Akane snorted. “Well, you better, you bimbo. Ranma’s father is her father. She was born to a different mother the year before.”
Shampoo started toward Akane with an angry look on her face. Suteko prepared to step between them. “Ranma no tell me he had a sister.”
“That’s because he didn’t know about me until yesterday.”
“Why not?!” Shampoo turned her anger toward Suteko.
Stepping back, Suteko calmly explained. “Because my mother left Japan seventeen years ago and raised me in the States. Genma didn’t even know I existed until yesterday, so how could Ranma?”
Shampoo tilted her head, so that she looked like a puzzled cat to Suteko and thought about that. “All right, then I will believe you, sister-in-law.” Shampoo then reached over and gave Suteko another hug. “You tell sister-in-law where her husband is now?”
Akane exploded. “He is not your husband!”
Ukyo joined right in. “We don’t have time for this Akane. We’ve got to find that information.”
Akane paused. “You’re right, Ukyo. Ranma needs us.” She turned away from the amazon and started toward Tofu’s clinic again.
Shampoo looked confused. Something wasn’t right here. Akane not wanting to fight? Shampoo turned to face Suteko. “Why does Ranma need violent girl and spatula girl?”
Suteko looked embarrassed and quickly told the amazon what happened. Shampoo immediately volunteered to help. “Maybe great-grandmother hear of this three blind mice technique,” she turned and bounced away on her bicycle. She called over her shoulder. “We come back as soon as I know.”
***
The girls and Doctor Tofu spend the next few hours going over his magical tomes. As they were scattered about reading various scrolls and tomes Shampoo and Cologne entered the clinic.
“Well, young one, have you found anything in your books?”
Suteko looked up from the tome of old Japanese that she was slowly wading through. In front of her was an ancient woman, perched on a tall knarled staff. “Hello? Um, not yet.”
“I’m not surprised. The technique you spoke of is a very ancient and evil technique. I had thought all knowledge had been wiped from the planet.”
Doctor Tofu walked into the room carrying a dry, crackling scroll. “I think I may have found something.” He looked up. “Hello, Cologne. I’m glad you’re here. I need you to translate this.” He carefully unrolled the scroll and weighted down the edges with paperweights. Cologne hopped over on her staff to take a look.
“How?” Suteko started but Akane shushed her quickly.
“It’s just something she does.”
“Ah, here’s what we’re looking for. The scroll says that an ancient warlord by the name of Tetsu Fukushuu became disgusted with his heirs modern views on how to treat their peasants. To make his son follow his plan for the future he developed the three blind mice to wipe his heir’s mind clean and to implant the personality he wanted in it’s place.”
“Sounds like your memory loss shampoo.” added Ukyo.
“Be quiet, girl! This is nothing like that. This technique does not just repress memories, it wipes the soul clean. The spirit of the victim is removed and another is implanted. If allowed to succeed, this effectively kills it’s victim. The body lives but all that made the person who he was is gone.”
“No!” The cry came from four young throats simultaneously.
Suteko dropped her head to the desk. “Then it’s too late. I have destroyed my brother.” She started to sob.
“No, wait child.” Strangely, the old crone’s voice was gentle. “It says here there is a chance to reclaim the lost one. A slim chance but definitely one.”
Akane and the other two fiancees crowded around the desk. There was a sparkle of hope in their eyes.
“What is it?” asked Akane.
“Tell us great-grandmother.”
“Us, tell us.”
“It says that the entire process takes just over 24 hours to complete. The victim will sleep for 8 hours and then the technique must be applied again. The first time knocks the victim out, the second blocks the memories. A third and final strike, exactly 8 hours later, clears the soul and prepares the body for it’s new personality. How long has it been since son-in-law was taken?”
Suteko looked up, drying her tears. “Um, about four hours.”
“Good, then they haven’t given him the second treatment, yet. There is a chance. Tell me child, do you know where they have taken son-in-law?”
Suteko thought for a moment before answering. “Most likely they have taken him to the Fukushuu compound. It’s in the Tensa district. They have a large home surrounded by a tall fence.”
“Then let’s go!” Ukyo started for the door. Before she got two steps Cologne was in front of her.
“Stop girl. The Fukushuu family are master spies and infeltrators. Don’t think you can just stroll in there without plan.”
Suteko spoke up with a glimmer in her eyes. “She’s right, Ukyo. You can’t just barge into the clan’s holdings but there is a way.”
“What are you speaking of, child?”
Suteko took a deep breath. She was about to tell a group of mostly strangers her secrets. This was something she didn’t feel comfortable talking about. “Akane, Ukyo, do you remember how my mother disappeared this morning?”
Shaking her head Akane answered. “She was standing there one minute and then she took a step and disappeared.”
“That’s right!” Ukyo snapped her fingers. “How’d she do that?”
“Like this.” Suteko stood up and took a step sideways. To the watching people it was like she vanished. She reappeared a few feet away. “It’s a clan secret.”
“Can you teach how to do that?” Asked Shampoo.
“Not in the time we have,” she slowly shook her head. “But I can use it to get us in the compound.”
“How?”
“This secret is only taught to the close family members. Only my mother, Great Uncle Ito and I should know this right now. Uncle Tanto told me that Ito had refused to teach the younger members of the clan this secret. He had learned it from his uncle before he died. So unless Ito decided to change his ruling I should be able to get past the guards and find a way to let the rest of you in.”
“That is a start.” Cologne said.
“There is more, do any of you know where I can get some temporary hair dye?”
“You can get some just down the street at the market. Why would you need that?” Asked Doctor Tofu.
“Akane, could you get me some water?”
A look of understanding crossed both Akane and Ukyo’s faces. Akane got up and came back with a pitcher of cold water. She handed it to Suteko who swallowed and dumped it over her head. As the water slid down her body it changed. Shampoo and the others looked surprised as Suteko grew taller and became a blonde version of Ranma. “I, too have a curse.”
“Now, I believe you, sister-in-law. You are Ranma’s sister.”
“You plan on making yourself look like son-in-law?”
“Yes, once inside. I can distract the guards inside by being places where Ranma shouldn’t be. That should give you others a chance to get to Ranma and get him out of there.”
“But doesn’t your family know about this?” asked Ukyo.
Suteko shook his head. “Mother and I haven’t talked much since Uncle Tanto died. She just told me what to do and lef
t me to my own devises. By the time I..” He turned away from the others before continuing. “I don’t share things with the family anymore. I was ashamed at how I got this and decided it would be best to keep it a secret.” He turned back “Now, it’s a good thing I did.”
Cologne signaled to Shampoo to go get the dye. “You have a good idea, child but we need to add a few props.” She looked Suteko up and down. Suteko was dressed still in the gi that he had worn for the morning challenge. It now was much too small and it was obvious that it was meant for a much smaller person. “Akane, we need some of Ranma’s clothing. This ‘outfit’ of Suteko’s does not match what son-in-law wears. Can you get something approximately matching what he wore this morning?”
“That should be easy. He was dressed in his usual red shirt. He has a bunch of those. I’ll be right back.” Akane turned and sprinted out.
“Now, child. We need to work out the rest of your plan.”
Suteko nodded. “Yes, honored elder. I can slip into the estate easily enough.” He turned to Ukyo. “Ukyo, I need you to go get my pack. There’s something inside that should help us immensely.” Ukyo got up and ran off. Suteko turned back to Cologne.
“Just how many of your clans secrets do you know?”
Suteko looked steadily at the old woman for a few moments. Should he tell? This was clan business and even though raised away from the clan he had some honor. But did his clan? That was the sticking point.
Cologne could see the inner battle going on. She understood the child’s dilemma. But this was son-in-law. He must be gotten out of the hands of Ito Fukushuu or the reign of terror the old man could effect would be horrible. She knew that Ranma was the greatest living martial artist of his generation. His inner code of honor was what kept him from harming people with his power. Take away that code of honor and he would be a monster. “You tell only to protect and save your brother, child.”
Suteko closed his eyes. He had secretly hoped to be accepted in the clan. For his abilities. But it was obviously not to happen. The clan was worse than Uncle Tanto had painted it before he died. He opened his eyes and spoke. “I know of a few. Not the total as I was just a young maiden when my Uncle passed on.”
***
Ukyo ran up the stairs of her shop and into the spare room. She spotted Suteko’s open pack sitting on the floor next to the bedside table. She grabbed at it and accidentally knocked it over. The contents spilled out with a clatter of glass. Ukyo quickly replaced the clothing and reached for a small case that had sprung open. She paused a moment to look into it out of curiosity. It was filled with dozens of small vials with English lettering on the sides. She tried to puzzle out just what the words said. “Healing? Interesting.” She closed the case and stuffed it on top, then hooked the pack over her shoulder and ran out.
Sins of the Father Page 7
