Greetings,

Well, Chapter 10 WAS a monster...Now, it's in three manageable 
pieces. Chapters 10-12 complete the Ryouga story arc and begin 
the Ukyou story arc, which will also have a little Shampoo thrown 
in for some good "clean" fun!

Copyright Notice: I looked around and noticed that I don't own any 
of these characters...Some are borrowed, most are stolen...All are 
used in deference to the original. Salud!

***

The All-Americans
By
Joshua Trujillo

Part 10 - Calm Before the Storm

Time flies when you're having fun. Or, at least when you're trying 
to keep from being beaten. But then, no one had challenged Ranma 
in quite a while, either. This was good, but it worried Ranma a 
little. With a constant stream of challengers, there was always a 
gradual increase in skill that he could count on to help him 
improve. With one or two challengers a month though, there was 
little time to prepare and they were generally stronger than the 
average. Which meant that there was a much better chance of 
losing.

It was Tuesday. Ranma looked out his window and watched the 
setting sun. In a few short weeks, the temperature would drop and 
fall would soon be upon them. Ranma wondered how the snowfall 
was here in the midwest. He'd have to ask his mother about it. But 
later. Right now, Nabiki wanted to talk to him about something. 
Probably their relationship. Ranma sighed. If only his relationships 
were ever as easy as the other things in his life.

The football team had been undefeated in the first four games, but 
then, Ranma had told the team that he wouldn't let them lose. 
Under his attack and the defense of Ryouga, his team had literally 
steamrolled the first four teams. It was almost too much fun.

Ryouga had stopped fighting with him and was actually being 
civil. The dinner was the start. He even began to eat lunch with 
Ranma and the others, though Ranma knew that he only had eyes 
for Akane. He shook his head at the thought that Ryouga was in 
love with the girl. Even though he had patched things up with 
Akane, it was still tense. He didn't want Ryouga to be hurt. Well, 
emotionally at least. He had a feeling that Ryouga was kind of 
unstable when it came to that.

He had already had two fights with Nabiki over their relationship. 
Or lack of one, now. Ranma hated to think of where this was 
heading, but he didn't see any other choice. He just couldn't-He 
couldn't...Ranma sighed to himself. He just couldn't.

"Ranma," Nabiki said from the doorway, "I think we need to talk."

Yeah...He hated to do this, but with Nabiki's personality, there 
would be no other way.

***

Akane stuck out her tongue as she was slicing the vegetables. 
Kasumi had taught her that little trick. Something to keep parts of 
her mind occupied while the rest of her focused on cooking. Well, 
slicing at least. Kasumi, mother and Nabiki hadn't let her cook ever 
since she tried Easter dinner last year.

Well, what had they expected, really? The recipes that Kasumi and 
mother had given her were WAY too boring. It wasn't HER fault 
that no one told her that chocolate and gelatin don't go with 
rabbit...Honestly...

So they were working on her skills one at a time. Slicing first. 
Nabiki's idea. Nabiki thought that if Akane were in charge of a 
sharp instrument, then she'd be less inclined to hit anyone with it. 
Unfortunately, mom agreed.

Whew, correct slicing is hard, she thought.

Akane scraped the carrots into the bowl and put them on the 
counter next to Nodoka, who was busy with the rest of dinner. 
Akane put the cutting board and knife in the dishwater and looked 
up towards the ceiling. Nodoka noticed.

"They've been up there a long time," Akane said.

"Are you sure it was a good idea for Nabiki to try and force the 
issue?" Nodoka asked, a worried expression crossing her face, "My 
son will be ready when he's ready. And I don't want to be a 
grandmother just yet."

Akane looked at her foster mother in surprise. Nodoka smiled and 
Akane blushed. Akane thought that just maybe, her mother was 
putting her on about how much she knew.

"I pretty surprised that you'd actually allow him to date Nabiki in 
the first place," Akane said.

"Why shouldn't I?" Nodoka asked, "You girls aren't really related 
to me, so there's no real fear about that. It makes both of them 
happy, so why not? Besides, I've been meaning to ask about why 
she wanted to force it now?"

"Nabiki just wanted to know the reasons behind his-uh," she 
stuttered, "Um, lack..."

"Lack of enthusiasm?" Nodoka concluded, "Have either of you 
considered that if he wanted to tell you, he'd tell you?"

Akane thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"No," she said, "I'm sorry. I guess I just wanted Nabiki to be 
happy."

"I understand and that's good," Nodoka said, "But I think after they 
come down, you need to apologize, okay?"

Akane nodded, but was distracted as Nabiki came in. Nodoka 
gasped as she turned around. Nabiki looked horrible. She had been 
crying, that was obvious, but she also looked pale and drawn, like 
she'd just come from a meeting with Death. Akane tried to help her 
to a seat, but backed off as Nabiki shot her a cold glance.

"Nabiki," Nodoka finally said, "What happened? Did you talk to 
Ranma? Did you two get things straightened out?"

Nabiki sat there for a minute before she turned to them. Like she 
was far off and only just heard them. She smiled weakly, almost to 
herself.

"Yeah," she said, putting her head in her hands, "We broke up."

"WHAT?!"

"Akane," Nabiki said numbly, "Calm down. We-"

"I'll kill him!" she yelled, bolting out of the kitchen.

"Akane! Wait!"

***

The door to Ranma's room burst open as Akane muscled her way 
in.

"Ranma!" she shouted.

No one answered. Akane flipped the switch for the light near the 
door. The harsh light in the middle of the room came on and Akane 
could tell that the room was deserted. The window across from 
Ranma's bed was open. A whisper of a breeze blew the curtains 
inwards in the early fall night. Akane moved to the long dressing 
mirror that Ranma had bought when he first moved in. Pieces of 
the mirror were scattered all around it. Akane could tell from the 
way it shattered that he had hit it with something. From the small 
bloody streaks near the center of the web, she could tell that he'd 
hit it with his fist.

"Akane, don't blame him," Nabiki said, as she knelt to pick up a 
piece of mirror, "It was a mutual decision."

"But," Akane stammered, "But I don't understand..."

"I was just moving too fast for him and I know that it was wrong of 
us to force the issue," Nabiki said, looking at herself in the shard, 
"And trust me Akane, his reason was more than good enough."

Nabiki crossed to the bed and picked up a small piece of paper that 
had been lying on the bed.

"It's from Ranma," she said, reading the note, "He says that he's 
sorry for any trouble he's caused, but that his problems are his and 
his alone. He'll be back after a walk."

"Nabiki?" Nodoka asked, taking the note from her, "Do you think 
he might do something rash?"

"Like what? Suicide?" Nabiki was shocked at the thought, "No. He 
probably did just want to go for a walk. He did that to me a couple 
of times when I got too close."

"How can you be so calm?" Akane asked.

Nabiki looked from her little sister, to the woman that she'd known 
as mother for so many years. She lowered her head and sighed.

"Oh, Akane, I brought this on myself. So I'm the only one I can be 
mad at," she said, "It's better this way."

Akane put her arms around Nabiki and hugged her. Nabiki stood 
still at this unexpected display from Akane. It somewhat worried 
her, Akane wasn't usually this moody. Nabiki returned the embrace 
as Akane pulled back.

"If you say so," she said.

"Well I do," Nabiki smiled, "I just hope he and I can still be 
friends."

Nodoka put a hand on Nabiki's shoulder.

"Is whatever he told you bad enough that he'll need...Help?" she 
asked.

Nabiki wondered for a minute, then realized what Nodoka was 
talking about.

"No," Nabiki explained, "Actually, one other person knows and he 
helped Ranma through it the first time."

"Who?" Akane asked.

"Someone named Kuonji."

"Ukyou?"

"Yeah," Nabiki looked at Akane, "Do you know him?"

"Yeah, he just transferred in this year," Akane thought for a 
minute, "I knew they were good friends, but I had no idea."

"Nabiki, would you tell me what it was he told you? You don't 
have to tell Akane, but I would like to know," Nodoka asked, "I'm 
very worried about my son."

Nabiki shook her head.

"Sorry mom, but he made me promise not to tell anyone," Nabiki 
said, looking at the note, "And this time, there's no price tag on 
THIS promise."

Nabiki folded the note and headed downstairs, leaving Nodoka and 
Akane staring at one another.

***

"Ranma?" Nabiki said quietly knocking on his door, "Can I come 
in?"

"Nabiki, he's already gone," a voice said from behind her, "He left 
a couple hours ago."

"Okay mom," she replied weakly, "I guess he went on to school."

"Yeah, you and Akane need to get going. My son's responsible 
enough to get there on his own."

Nabiki nodded and met Akane out at her car. Akane was worried 
about how all this affected her sister, but so much had happened 
because she had butted in on things that Akane was almost afraid 
to ask. Almost.

"Are you going to be okay?"

Nabiki snapped back from wherever she had been and smiled.

"I think he hates me," Nabiki sighed before she went on, "I could 
see it in his eyes last night when he told me. In some ways, he's so 
tough and in other ways he's so...Fragile."

"I know he doesn't hate you," Akane said, "Ranma seems like the 
kind of person who would tell you if he hated you. He's probably 
angry with both of us though. You for asking him and me for 
telling you to do it."

"I didn't tell him you told me to talk to him."

"Nabiki!" Akane shouted, "Why? It would have been okay for you 
to tell him what I said! Nabiki...Why?"

"It's okay Akane, I think I was just looking for a quick fix after my 
last boyfriend. Ranma was good for me and to me. There are 
problems he has to work through first, but when he does, the 
woman that grabs onto him will get a true prize," Nabiki explained, 
"Besides, he likes you and you could probably make a play for 
him."

Akane blushed furiously and sat back in her seat.

"Whu-Why would I want that...That-idiot?!"

Nabiki smiled and chuckled softly. Akane just blushed further and 
pulled her jacket up around her. She HATED it when Nabiki read 
her like that...

***

School went past pretty much like normal. Kuno was finally seen 
back in school, even if he did have that stupid facemask on. He 
looked like a cross between a hockey player and the Phantom of 
the Opera. He sounded better at least. He even asked Akane which 
nose she preferred he get. The look on his face soured some when 
she showed him the deBergerac model.

Ranma was there in English when Akane arrived to class. He 
seemed normal, but Akane did catch him looking at her a couple 
times. It was a cold, predatory stare that sent shivers down her 
spine. When he realized that she was watching him, the stares went 
more towards shame and regret. It fascinated Akane to watch, but 
worried her as well.

Akane continued with her classes until the bell rang for lunch. She 
went to her locker to retrieve the books for her afternoon classes. 
Ranma bounded up out of the crowd and leaned on the locker next 
to hers.

"So what now?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" Akane replied, "You broke her heart. How 
do you want me to react?"

"I didn't break her heart," Ranma said lowly, "Her heart was never 
mine to begin with. Besides, I still don't know how to handle you 
butting in like this again."

"Ranma," Akane said, quietly closing her locker, "I'm sorry. I just 
wanted you and Nabiki to be happy."

"I know and I realize that I wasn't making her happy," Ranma 
continued, "So that's why we broke up. But promise me to let me 
do things at my own pace from now on, okay?"

Akane nodded and gave him her best smile.

"Come on, let's get to-"

Akane looked to what pulled Ranma's attention. It was Ryouga. 
He'd finally shown up. Akane gasped because she could hardly 
recognize him. There were a couple of bandages across one arm. 
There was also a bruise and a Band-Aid adorning his face. Ranma 
looked at Akane, who just shrugged and motioned to follow. 
Ranma nodded and they followed Ryouga to his locker.

"Dude," Ranma said, trying not to draw attention, "What 
happened?"

"Ryouga, you look horrible," Akane gasped.

"Thanks Akane, I feel pretty bad too. I got ran over. Nothing big, 
but I don't want to talk about it, okay?" Ryouga said, picking some 
books from his locker.

Akane began to say something, but Ranma put a hand on her 
shoulder to stop her and shook his head.

"Well, okay," Ranma said, "You gonna join us for lunch?"

"Yeah, I'll be right down."

Ranma pulled Akane off as they headed for the lunchroom. Akane 
knew that she shouldn't interfere, but that almost looked life 
threatening. It probably would be for anyone else. They got lunch. 
Akane had to ask. What if the police needed to be called? What if 
Ryouga was in serious trouble like before? She was the only one to 
help him then...

"Ryouga will be okay. Don't push him," Ranma commented 
quietly, "He's not too emotionally stable, if you haven't noticed. 
We should just be here for support and to help him WHEN he tells 
us. Not if. Remember what happened last night when you got 
Nabiki to push-"

"Oh come on Ranma, that's unfair," Nabiki said from his other 
side.

"Is it?" he began to ask, "What would have-"

He got cut off when Ukyou picked Nabiki up from her seat and 
flung her hand back to deliver a sound smack. Nabiki closed her 
eyes, as she couldn't do much else. But the blow never came. 
Nabiki opened her eyes as Ukyou let go. Ranma had pulled him off 
her. He was also holding Ukyou back. Once again, Nabiki was 
completely surprised by how quickly Ranma had moved.

"How DARE you..." Ukyou spat at Nabiki.

"Sit down Ukyou," Ranma said, forcing his friend into a nearby 
chair, "It's okay that she knows. She WAS my girlfriend, after all."

Silence descended as the meaning behind Ranma's statement sunk 
in to those around the table.

"What do you mean 'was'?" Ukyou asked.

Ranma leaned close to her.

"Well," he said, trying to be quiet, "We both decided that she 
needed more than I was willing to provide, at least now."

Ukyou nods, but looks at Nabiki and frowns. Ukyou got up and 
pulled her chair in between Nabiki and Ranma.

"Ukyou, it's okay that she knows. Besides," he said, turning to 
Ryouga, "We have more important issues. Especially with the 
Arlington game coming up."

Everyone looked expectantly to Ryouga, who was chewing 
thoughtfully on a sandwich.

"I'm still not tellin' you," he said.

"Well, I ain't askin'" Ukyou said back to him.

A silence once again descended over the table as everyone ate. 
Yuka whispered something to Akane, who began to choke on her 
drink. Yuka shrugged and leaned across Akane to Ranma.

"So, you're free now?"

Ranma was never so glad for the bell.

***

Ranma walked out the back door of the school and began to make 
his way across the parking lot towards the practice building. He 
heard a noise from the near empty parking lot to his left. It was 
Ryouga trying to start his bike.

"Ryouga," Ranma said, standing a respectable distance, "What 
about practice?"

"I-I can't today," he muttered, "I'd only hurt myself."

Ranma wondered about this for a second.

"Okay," was all he could come up with, "Listen, if you need any 
help-"

"I think I can handle it Ranma."

"Damn, hey...Just sayin'-"

Ranma turned and began to walk back towards the practice 
building.

"Hey Ranma," Ryouga called after him, "Thanks anyway."

Ryouga started the bike and motored off. Ranma smiled. He might 
help anyway. Who was he kidding? He was just as nosy as Akane, 
but at least he could do some good...

***

Joshua "Gargoyle" Trujillo
"Stone Cold Protector of the Righteous"
"Owner of The Anime Bar and Grille - The Best Ribs in the Multiverse"

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