Ukyo finished up her cleaning and left the restaurant, locking the door behind her. She didn’t want to be too far behind Suteko. It would be interesting to see the girl in action. She knew little of the way the girl fought and Ukyo wanted to make sure she had a chance of defeating Genma. That old fool needed to be taken down a peg or two.
She sprinted lightly down the still damp streets to the field where Suteko said she was to meet Ranma. Seeing Ran-chan was always a treat for the chef. Even if Akane was nearby she always felt good near him. She slowed as she rounded the corner near the field. She didn’t see Suteko at first but spotted Ranma and Suteko sitting under a tree in the back of the field. They seemed to be talking quietly so she slowed and walked over to them.
The two looked up when they heard her light step. “Hey, Ucchan. How’s it going?” Ranma smiled up at his friend.
Ukyo’s heart skipped a beat at the smile and she smiled back. “Great. What you two talking about?”
Suteko looked up quickly and put a hand on Ranma’s arm. He looked down at her and she shook her head. He nodded. “Just stuff, Ucchan.” The two stood up.
“Well, have you already finished Suteko?” Ukyo was amazed. The resemblance was more pronounced when the two were together. No one could think them other than siblings when they stood together.
“I’ve done my warm up and some of the exercises, why?”
“Oh, I missed it! I wanted to see what you could do.”
Suteko smiled. “Really. Well, if you’re up to it, we could spar.”
Ukyo looked over at Ranma. He just shrugged. It would be interesting to see a staff up against the battle spatula. “Why not. She’s pretty good.”
“Okay, why not?”
The two separated and got ready. Suteko stood easily with her feet apart, twirling her staff. Ukyo pulled her spatula from her back and got into her ready stance. She waited a moment for Suteko to attack but when she didn’t, she charged. Suteko sidestepped and brought the staff down in a cutting motion. Ukyo avoided the first swing easily but didn’t see the return swing from behind. She felt the staff tap her behind the knees and flipped backward. This was going to be interesting.
Ranma stood off to the side and watched the two girls spar. He knew just what Ukyo could do but not what Suteko could. They seemed pretty well matched at first, but Suteko didn’t seem to be serious in the attacks she made. More like she was testing Ucchan’s reflexes. After a few minutes, she changed from the relaxed, easy thrusts and parries to the fancier stuff he had seen her do during her warm up. Ukyo was pressed to stay ahead of the staff and not let it touch her.
Suteko smiled. This was fun. She wasn’t sure how to respond when she saw Ukyo’s odd choice of weapon. A giant kitchen utensil was a new one for her. The chef certainly knew how to use it though. She had to stretch to stay ahead of the swings of the bladed weapon. She hopped up and over Ukyo’s latest swing and shortening her grip on the staff she swung from her waist. The blow was parried with just a little more force than truly necessary. Suteko took a quick look at Ukyo’s face. Was that look of determination turning into something else? She hoped not. Sparring was one thing, a true fight was another. She continued the thrusts and parries for a few minutes more and then stepped back, bringing her staff to the ground with a thud. “Well, that was fun. Thank you for the exercise, Ukyo.”
Ukyo stepped back and blinked. Though this was just a sparring match, she had been pushed to her limits. The girl before her was good. She wasn’t even breathing hard. She was almost as good as her Ran-chan! “You’re welcome, sugar.” Ukyo took a swipe at the sweat following down her face. “I’ve never fought someone using your style of staff work before. Where’d you learn it?”
“Great Uncle Tanto was a master in the Fukushuu family specialty and he trained me from the time I was very little.” Suteko’s eyes got sad for a moment as she spoke her mentor’s name but it quickly passed. She covered her mouth as a yawn caught up with her. “Sorry, guess I’m more tired than I thought.” She looked down at the watch on her wrist. It was just after nine PM. “We should probably head over to your place now, Ukyo. Got to get some rest before tomorrow.”
“That’s true. You must have been traveling all day.”
Ranma nodded. “You did show up at the Dojo before dawn this morning.”
Suteko shrugged. “I’m used to getting up early but I had pushed through last night so I could make it to challenge Genma at dawn today. Didn’t sleep last night.”
“That explains it.” Ukyo put her battle spatula back into it’s sheath.
Suteko smiled and nodded. After a moments thought she stepped up to Ranma and gave him a quick hug. “See you tomorrow, little brother.”
Ranma started when Suteko wrapped her arms around him but he relaxed and hugged her back. “See you tomorrow, Suteko.” He replied. “Oh, one more thing, Sis,” he added, holding her at arms length.
She looked up with a twinkle in her eyes. “What?”
“Stop calling me ‘little brother’, OK?”
Suteko chuckled and nodded. “Sure thing, Ranma.” She stepped back and turned away. Ukyo said a quick good-bye and they both waved as they walked away from Ranma. It was a pleasant walk, taken in silence. Both girls were thinking of Ranma and the following morning.
As they stopped at Ukyo’s door, Ukyo turned to Suteko and asked her a question. “Suteko, would you mind if I came with you in the morning?”
Suteko paused before answering. “Ukyo, I wouldn’t mind but my mother probably would. It might be better if you went to the Dojo alone and met me there.” Ukyo nodded. “I’ll hold up the fight until you get there, if you’re there later than me that is.” the two girls entered the restuarant and then the apartment upstairs.
Later in the bath Ukyo and Suteko soaked in quiet. Suteko nearly slipped under when Ukyo woke her and sent the girl off to bed. “Thanks, Ukyo. See you in the morning.” She mumbled and went off to the spare room.
Ukyo stayed in the tub thinking. Just how did she want the fight to go tomorrow. Genma did deserve to be beaten. After all he lied and cheated whenever possible. But he was Ran-chan’s father, so he deserved a little respect. Ukyo thought back to all the times she had seen Genma and Ranma sparring. It seemed that the old man had some ability. He would toss Ranma into the carp pond behind the Tendo house each morning, almost with no trouble. Could the girl resting in the room across the hall take the larger and older man? That was a real question. Ukyo could feel the bruises that Suteko had left on her skin with the big staff she used. The girl was quick, not as quick as Ranma and very agile. Who knew? Ukyo got out of the bath and dried off. If Genma beat Suteko, Ukyo would be surprised but it could happen. Both of them had a good reason to win. Genma, so he wouldn’t have to admit his failings and Suteko, so she could finally finish her quest. It was late and Ukyo didn’t feel like putting any serious thought into the coming morning’s battle.
Suteko settled down on the futon and pulled her sleeping bag over her shoulder. It had been a full day and she was glad that she had spent much of it in the company of her brother. What a thing! After being alone for seventeen years, she now had a little brother. Admittedly one who was only six months younger, but still someone else in her generation. She hoped to be able to spend time with him but knew that her mother wouldn’t approve. She just hoped that her mother and Great-grandfather Ito had no plans for Ranma. He was a good kid and deserved to live his life away from the politics a great family held. As she drifted off, she started to dream about running the family dojo with Ranma and his wife. She couldn’t quite see the face of the wife but she had short dark hair.
The same boardroom as earlier in the day. The dying rays of the sun streaking through the windows and throwing the man sitting in the great chair at the head of the table into shadow. “So Genma has a son. How very interesting.”
The man facing the shadow continued his report. “Yes, it seems this young man, Ranma, is the best of the new generation of fighters. He would be an asset to the clan.”
“I agree, Grandfather.” Atsuko looked over, with a arched brow. “He should be brought into the family proper. I’m sure Nokoda would love having her son added to the family’s ranks.”
“Atsuko, are you sure of that?” Ito asked, dryly. She just looked down at her manicured nails. A deep, evil laugh echoed through the room. “You are a treasure, my daughter. In the morning we will ‘collect’ the debt owed to you and the family.”
“Thank you, grandfather.”
Ito motioned to the retainer and Atsuko to leave. They left, bowing their way out of the room. As the door closed Ito spoke once more. “Yes, the debt will be paid and the family will become great once again.”
To be continued
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