�������������������������� The Leper: Symptoms
��������������������� by Nikholas "NomaD" F. Toledo
����� Ranma 1/2 is the property of Kitty, VIZ and the omnipotent Rumiko
Takahashi.� I am a property of Switch (so you know who to sue).
����� A Sailormoon character is also mentioned in this fic.
����� I am NomaD... I am coming... I am near.
����� By the way, this is a self-insertion.� My character had a past with
Ukyou, but not the kind you're thinking of.� And, because this is my
first Ranma fic, I'm gonna do some weird stuff like use Ryouga and Ukyou
but still keep Kuno, Tendo and Tofu.� But I'm really not sure.
����� This complete version was done with the technical assistance of
Rillian for Part 1, and the support of the above with Octavian and the
occasionals, all of whom have contributed to the formation of this fic.
��������������������������������� Part 1
�������������������� "A Martial Artist Comes to Town"
����� Midday in downtown Nerima seemed to be the safest time to be out
and about.� Your regular teen-aged martial artists were either in school
or managing family businesses.� Even underwear thieves seemed to pipe
down during this time, resting for their late-afternoon panty raids.
����� This district might as well be the martial-artist capital of Japan,
as Tokyo is the senshi capital.� And yet, as we zoom down the district,
we see a man emerging from a street corner...
����� "Where the hell am I now?"
����� No, its not who you think it is.� This man has no resemblance to
the "Eternal Lost Boy", though they were of the same age.� This man is
currently dressed in a black long-sleeved top with matching pants.� If
one is to examine him closer and see beyond the tears and the tatters and
the rips and the smudges of his clothes, then one would realize that this
man was wearing a school uniform (or what remained of it).� He seem to
have traveled a long way on foot, as seen in his clothes as well as in
his bloodshot eyes.
����� A soft breeze blew his hair in front of his eyes.
����� His hair seemed to take a life of its own.� It smothered and
entangled with itself in front of his face.� From a backpack, he took a
small black strip of cloth and started tying his hair into a ponytail.
����� He took in the breeze with all his heart and heaved a hearty sigh.
����� "Aah, Nerima, at last.� My search has almost come to an end... but
I don't want to give myself false hope.� Still, some unseen force keeps
telling me that she is here."
����� It had been almost a whole semester since the stranger left his
home in search of his 'beloved'.� Indeed, he was right.� He had finally
found the haven of...
����� "... my dear, beloved Ukyou...."
����� Alas, another so-called martial artist comes to town and he is...
����� "Kiiroi Niwatori, how do you do?"
����� He had traveled for sometime now, about four months.
����� "Four whole months...."
����� And he even made friends and mistakes along the way, especially
when he arrived in Tokyo...
����� "Yeah, that was embarrassing...."
����� Here in Tokyo was where he met a girl who, from a distance,
resembled his black-haired beauty.� He was stalking her, not knowing that
she could see him.� She eventually tricked him into turning at a corner
and, from there, beat the living hell out of him.
����� But, after explaining his story, the girl invited him for lunch at
her place.� Kiiroi Niwatori was just too happy to oblige.� She lived in a
temple manned by her grandfather, and... what was her name again?
����� "Rei, Rei Hino.� It's because of her that I ended up here - I
should visit her again, sometime...."
����� Indeed, it was because of Miss Hino that he found out where his
beloved Ukyou was.� Rei, being a temple maiden, prayed for divine
guidance and her faith brought him to Nerima (on foot).
����� "I'm running out of cash, okay?"
����� WILL YOU PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING THE NARRATOR!!!
����� "Oh, I'm sorry.� I thought you didn't mind...."
����� Well, I do!� Besides, you're a character, how the hell can you be
aware of me?
����� "I'm an insertion, self-explanatory.� John Biles did it, so why
can't I?"
����� Well, you're not... oh, never mind.� It's just safer for you if you
kept from talking to me.
����� "Yeah?� Why?"
����� People stare.
����� "Huh?"
����� Kiiroi looked around and saw indeed that people were staring.
����� Everybody stopped what they were doing.� A small crowd had gathered
to witness the spectacle.� Along the road was a woman who had a ladle and
was splashing water on the road but now she had stopped.
����� He turned to his right and saw a child with his mother.� The kid
had a finger stuck up his nose but eventually forgot that he was picking
it, too distracted by Kiiroi.
����� Slowly, Kiiroi's face started turning red.� He edged away from the
crowd and when he was at a certain distance, he started running, dragging
what was left of his dignity.
----------
����� Turning at another street corner, Kiiroi found himself in a
residential neighborhood.� But the streets were deserted, since the
locals were either at work or in school.� He walked further down the
street until he stopped at an intersection.
����� "How odd..."
����� Standing in the middle of the intersection was a boy about his age.
The young man had uncertainty written all over his face.� He stepped once
in front but gave a longing gaze to the road to his left.� He sighed and
retracted his step.
����� Kiiroi thought twice about asking this guy for directions, but then
he looked around and saw that there was absolutely nobody else in the
neighborhood to ask, since they were the only wandering souls in the
place.� He approached the guy with extreme caution... a bit too extreme.
����� "Um, excuse me?"
����� "Gyah!!!"
����� The man leapt back in astonishment at the sight of the face that
crept behind him out of thin air.
����� "Oh, you startled me...."
����� "Sorry 'bout that - I was wondering if you knew anybody by the name
of Ukyou, Ukyou Kuon-"
����� "Ukyou Kuonji?� Sure, I know her - we're great friends, you know."
����� "Really?� This is great!� I never caught your name...."
����� "Oh, I'm Ryouga Hibiki...."
����� The man with the bandanna took out his hand and smiled at his new
acquaintance with fangs and everything.
����� "And you are?"
����� "Um, I'm... Kiiroi, Kiiroi Niwatori...."
����� Ryouga stopped shaking Kiiroi's hand, but it stayed there, just the
same.� Ryouga tried but failed to contain his smirk.
����� "Uh, nice name."
����� "I kinda get that a lot... but enough about me.� You said you knew
Ukyou?� Where can I find her?"
����� "Ukyou?� She lives in her restaurant.� It's called 'Okonomiyaki
Ucchan's'."
����� "Okonomiyaki, of course!� Now why the hell didn't I think of that?
Thank you, Mr. Ryouga, you've been a great help.� Now, where can I find
this 'Ucchan's'?"
����� Kiiroi watched as Ryouga swallowed a lump and the fanged boy seemed
to stare blankly at him for a moment.� A sweatdrop appeared beside
Ryouga's head.� Ryouga scratched his head while grinning sheepishly.
����� Kiiroi thought it best to save the man from the awkward situation.
"Oh, I understand - you're not from around here, are you?"
����� Ryouga nodded.
����� "But you have been to Ukyou's...."
����� Ryouga nodded.
����� "And the name of her street is?"
����� Ryouga shook his head.
����� "What about the subdivision?"
����� Ryouga shook his head.
����� "Boulevard?� Avenue?"
����� Ryouga shook his head.
����� "A LANDMARK?� A PARK?� ANYTHING?!?!?"
����� Then Kiiroi saw that Ryouga was about to answer, but from the look
on the boy's face, Kiiroi knew that he wasn't gonna like the answer...
����� "Uh... Mount Fuji?"
����� Kiiroi froze for a moment.� His face was an expression of
bewilderment.
����� Ryouga kept on scratching his head innocently.� "S-sorry...."
����� Silently as he came, Kiiroi turned and left.� His head was hanging
between his shoulders.
����� Ryouga shouted words of encouragement to make up for the
disappointment.� "Hey, don't worry!� Look at me, I find my way...
eventually...."
����� Kiiroi just raised a hand in that 'yeah-yeah-thanks-for-nothing'
kind of way.
����� As he disappeared into the horizon, Ryouga went back to the matter
at hand which led him to this spot in the first place.� It had been four
days since he took in a spoonful of Akane's cooking and, ever since, he
had been searching for the Tendo bathroom, and by this time, he really
needed to go...
----------
����� Kiiroi found a bench in a busy part of the district and was sorting
out the things in his backpack.� He got out and started nibbling on a
piece of rice cake he was saving from two days ago as he unfolded and
unrolled the various maps he had.� When he found one of Nerima, he got
out his reading glasses and searched the map for police stations or other
information centers where he could ask for directions.
����� His eyes lit up as he traced the street of a building that caught
his attention.� It wasn't Ukyou's place or a police station, but it was
the next best thing.
����� "A public bath... at last."
����� The young man's eyes began tearing as he recalled the six days of
agony he undertook getting to this place.� Oh, how he missed the feel of
water on his skin (soaking in the rain was just not the same).
����� Kiiroi got out his wallet and began counting his money.� There was
enough for a bath and a little something special he planned for himself
later on, but he'd be broke come dinnertime.
����� Better find her today, if you plan to freeload...
����� "Shut up!"
����� Kiiroi started placing everything inside again, except for the map
of Nerima.� He also removed the cloth binding his ponytail, since the
wind calmed down a bit.� He pushed his glasses up and stared at the
street signs.� He got up and began walking with his map in his hands.
����� The thought of the caress of hot water on his skin distracted him,
so he failed to notice a cute babe in a hot pink number that was chasing
after him.� The girl was waving her hand, trying to get Kiiroi's
attention, but to no avail.
����� "Mousse!� Mousse!� Over here!� Shampoo over here!� MOUSSE!!!"
����� But it was too late - Kiiroi disappeared into the crowd.
����� Shampoo's face was a mask of irritation.� She crossed her arms and
pouted (ever so cutely).
����� "Stupid Mousse.� How come he no notice Shampoo?"
����� Shampoo stared down at the one-piece suit she always wore that
could beat a mini any time of the day.� "With clothes Shampoo wear,
everybody notice Shampoo... ooh!� That stupid duck-boy make Shampoo very
mad.� Now Shampoo have to get great-grandmother's groceries herself.
Shampoo no get to go to Ranma darling's school and flirt.� Stupid, stupid
Mousse.� Later, Shampoo turn him to duck-type and pull all his
feathers...."
����� The crowd started to make way as a purple-haired girl stomped away
while emitting a blue aura.
----------
����� "Mmmmmm...."
����� He twisted his head all the way to the right until he heard a
satisfying crack.
����� "Aah!� Now that felt good!� Life is most definitely getting
better...."
����� He opened his eyes and saw everything in a thick, blinding haze.
He took off his glasses and rubbed it with his towel.
����� The tub was just too perfect, and Kiiroi felt all the tension melt
away.� He rested his head on the edge of the tub.� He almost drifted off
to a restful slumber, had it not been for a couple of voices that he
heard entering the bath.
����� Turning his head towards the entrance, he saw two not-so-elderly
men first and then noticed the third one, which he mistook for a bath toy
until it began moving.� It was an unlikely trio: a bald man wearing
glasses with the same frames as Kiiroi's, a mustachioed man with
shoulder-length hair and a shriveled up old man who was, at the moment,
jumping up and down with great vigor.
����� "Whoopee! I get to see girls!� GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS!"
����� "I don't get it, Tendo.� How come you wanted to go here this
early?"
����� "Oh, just relax, Saotome.� You'll get it later..."
����� "Soun, old boy, you've done your master proud.� It's a miracle,
actually, how you didn't try to stop me.� And without that meddling Ranma
around, I get to peek at PRETTY LADIES!"
����� "Thank you, master.� I am happy that I have pleased you."
����� "Now, if you boys don't mind, I'll just go over to the other side
of the bath and visit a few lovely, youthful goddesses."
����� "Go right ahead, master - we'll just stay here and be about with
our business."� Soun Tendo turned to Genma Saotome and gave him a wink.
����� "Well, I guess I don't have any protests with it either.� Enjoy
yourself, master."
����� As the old man's voice drifted away, Kiiroi observed these new
strangers.� The pair kept calling the old man 'master'.
����� "Maybe they're martial artists like me...."
����� His thought was immediately cut off at the sound of a piercing
shriek of agony that seemed to come from somebody who was not human.
����� Just then, the old man emerged from the other side; his face was a
shade of pale green.� He would've thrown up right then and there.� The
man with the mustache came up to him.
����� "What's the matter, master?� Weren't there any GIRLS at the other
side?"
����� "No, there weren't, you dope...."
����� "Are you sure?� I could've sworn there was a few who entered with
us...."
����� "That's different!!!� All those women are shriveled up old
prunes...."
����� It was the turn of the man named Saotome to butt in.� "Like you,
master?"
����� "Why, you...!"
����� "See, Saotome, what'd I tell you.� It's still early for any
ordinary teenage girl to be in public baths right now.� They're still in
school, you know."
����� "Very impressive, Tendo, very impres-"
����� "This is insubordination!!!"
����� At that moment, a great white flash filled the entire bathhouse.
Kiiroi had to squint his eyes to see that the light came from the old
man.� The other bath patrons started to look for cover.
����� "Wow, that's some battle aura..."
����� Kiiroi thought that the bath would be a pile of rubble any second
now, but it didn't happen.� He opened his eyes only to see the old man
moping in the distant corner.� He contented himself with his little toy
ship and his rubber ducky.� The other two men just laughed it off.
����� "What an odd bunch.� I wonder if they know Ukyou.� After all, they
are martial artists, too."
����� Kiiroi got up and wrapped his towel around himself.� He approached
the bald one, who at the moment was busy shampooing his head.
����� "Excuse me, sir...."
����� Genma looked up from his stool and saw what he thought was familiar
face.
����� "Well, hello yourself!� What can I do for you, boy?"
����� (What a friendly old man....)� "As I was saying, I was wondering if
you could point me the way to 'Okonomiyaki Ucchan's'?"
����� (What a pitiful child.� He's been cooped up in that restaurant of
theirs by that old hag, he probably hasn't even been to Ukyou's
place....)� "Sure, boy!� But it's still closed now, you know - after all,
it is a school day.� If I we're you, I'd go to Furinkan High School."
����� "Furinkan High School...."� Kiiroi remembered seeing the school in
his map.� His eyes lit up at the thought.
����� He turned to the man, "Thank...."
����� ... but instead saw a giant bubbling panda.
����� "It's a... it's a... p-p-pa-pan..."
����� The panda got a wooden sign out of thin air that said "... DA!".
����� Kiiroi ran out of the bath like a madman.
����� Genma-panda just stared at the young man as he sped away.� He
turned to the observing Tendo and raised another sign.
����� <Must be on drugs...>
����� Soun just shook his head in agreement.
----------
Nekohanten...
����� "And after you're through there, go clean the toilet upstairs."
����� "Yeah, yeah, you old bag."
����� Cologne swung his cane and knocked Mousse's head to the floor.
����� "You better learn some respect, young man.� It's your fault that
you took so long getting those eggs."
����� "I couldn't find my glasses, okay?"
����� Cologne gave him another whack.� He could've sworn she was enjoying
this.� "They were on your head!� I'm sure my Shampoo is quite
disappointed for having to do the shopping that YOU were supposed to do."
����� Just then, the door flew (or rather blew) open and a fiery blue
aura blinded the customers inside.� Everyone stopped munching on his or
her noodles, too awed by the spectacle.
����� A purple-haired Amazon had a grocery bag in one arm while her other
arm was flexed straight forward.� Where the door used to be was where her
fist was now.
����� She entered the restaurant but the sound of her own footsteps
seemed to drown in the eerie silence.
����� Cologne fidgeted.� "Shampoo, I see you got the groceries.� You
wouldn't believe what happened to Mousse -"
����� Mousse cut her off and swung his arms towards his beloved.
"Shampoo, oh my darling Shampoo.� How can one stand and see you burdened
by that load you carry?� Here, let me...."
����� *WHAP!*� *BAM!*� *SWOOSHHHH-CRACK!*� *WHACK!*� *BAM!*� *WHACK!*
*CRASH!*� *WHAPANG!*� *STOMPSTOMPSTOMP!*� *SPLASH!*� *CLONK!*
����� Mousse managed a "Qua...?" before passing out.
����� Shampoo silently placed the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter
and then went upstairs, still enveloped in the unwavering blue aura.
����� Cologne witnessed all this.� The hair at the back of her neck was
still standing.� There was something in the air but she couldn't point it
out.
����� "Something big is about to happen...."
����� She began picking up the clatter littering the kitchen floor...
----------
����� A door opened in a second-hand clothing store...
����� Kiiroi stepped out, taking each step with pride.� With what was
left of his money, he bought himself a new set of clothing.� Actually, he
bought himself the same set of clothing.
����� "I happen to like the black motif."
����� Kiiroi was now ready (and broke).� He had already forgotten the
panda incident in the bath, and now he was set to search for Furinkan
High.� He got out his cloth for his ponytail, his glasses and his map,
and began his journey.
����� "Ukyou, here I come...."
----------
Furinkan High, late afternoon...
����� "Wow, just look at them."
����� "Look at hers - they're so white."
����� "Yeah, and long, too."
����� "I bet they're smooth to the touch."
����� "What about her, just look at them.� They're so shapely...."
����� "I wouldn't mind running my hands up those babies."
����� ... the girls were currently in the middle of the field playing
football.� Three individuals were under a tree: two were ogling at the
sight of numerous pairs of legs, while the other one was comfortably
resting his brain on the prickly grass.
����� "And look at Akane's...."
����� "Hmm, they're so... so... muscular."
����� "... but in a good way...."
����� "Yeah, exactly what I mean.� With legs as long and muscular as
those, you know what I'd like to do, Daisuke?"
����� "No, what?"
����� "I'd like to (pswswsw)...."
����� Ranma's eyes flew open - he sat up, his sleepiness gone - his mouth
overtaking his brain once more...
����� "What?!?� You've got to be kidding me!� That tomboy's legs are as
big as an hippo's.� And as strong, too!� She's better off felling trees
than using those legs for all that mushy-gushy stuff!� Not that she'd
know how to use..."� *SPONK!!!*
����� Ranma's dialogue was cut off by a soccer ball stuck to his face.
At a distance, Akane was flaming...
����� "NEXT TIME, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S... BODY PARTS,
CAN YOU PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN AND NOT LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW, FOR
GOODNESS' SAKE!!!"
����� Ranma managed to get the ball unstuck and threw it towards the
girls' direction.� Akane caught it in one hand, turned and stomped away.
����� "She is so uncute...."� Ranma lay on the grass once more and tried
to regain his sleep.
����� Just then, a girl came up to them, a row of small spatulas across
her chest, a giant spatula slung across her back, and a white bow in her
hair.
����� "Hiroshi!� Daisuke!"
����� The two pervs turned and saw who was coming.
����� "Hey, Ukyou!"
����� "C'mon, sit with us."
����� Ukyou sat with them under the tree and saw Ranma snoring mildly in
his sleep.� "Hey, Ranchan..."
����� Ranma managed a moan before drifting back to his slumber.
����� Ukyou took in the lazy afternoon.� It was a good day.� The wind
blew softly against the school, there was a thick bunch of clouds over
the place but not enough for rain, the birds and leaves made their
beautiful and restful sounds, Mousse was falling from the sky...
����� Ukyou took this all in for a second and a couple of blinks...
����� (MOUSSE FALLING FROM THE SKY?!?)
����� Everybody was staring up now.� Indeed, there he was, the modern
blind samurai with his hands in his robes, getting ready to strike.
There was a small commotion as people took cover.
����� A triumphant battle cry from the skies was heard as a chain
swooshed toward the tree where the four rested under - there was a
gigantic, vicious blade at the end of the chain.
����� Hiroshi and Daisuke cowered to one side while Ukyou leapt to the
other.� She glanced behind her and saw Ranma still lying on the grass.
Her heart pounded.
����� For a moment, two hearts stopped beating as two breaths were held.
Ukyou and Akane both cried out...
����� "RAAANMAAA!!!"
����� The blade hit the part of the tree where Ranma's head would've
been.
����� Mousse landed on the ground, the chain still in his hand.� He
stared up and saw that the vile Saotome had managed to leap in the air
(though nobody saw him execute it).
����� Ranma landed on the chain.� He trailed it with ease and, when he
was close enough, he gave Mousse a satisfying kick on the face from
above.
����� "Okay, Mousse, what the hell's wrong now?� Why'd you go and disturb
my sleep?"
����� "Curse you, Ranma...."
����� Ranma, Akane and Ukyou noticed that Mousse had a couple of bruises
on his face.� They were there even before Ranma's kick.� Something wrong
was going on and they knew it.� Normally, Mousse shouldn't be bruised
because of the Takahashi phenomenon but somebody had beaten him badly
enough for the bruises to last until the next battle.
����� Akane butted in.� "What's the matter, Mousse?� What happened to
you?"
����� Mousse whimpered momentarily.� "Shampoo beat me up...."
����� Ranma fumed a bit.� "So?!?� She always beats you up!� What's so
special about this one?"
����� "This time, she did it for no reason at all!"
����� "Well, maybe she felt a bit special today!"
����� "It's still not how my beloved Shampoo would normally act.� And
deep inside, my conscience tells me that this is all your fault, you...
ENSLAVER OF WOMEN!!!"
����� Mousse thrust his fist towards Ranma's face.� At the last minute,
spikes shot out but missed his head entirely.
����� Ranma leapt back as the crowd gave the two some fighting space.
����� "I don't know what you did to Shampoo, Ranma, but I cannot forgive
you, either.� You've gone too far, and now, you will perish by my hands,
right here and right now!!!"
����� Mousse made a swift grabbing motion into his robes and, in a matter
of milliseconds, hurled more than a dozen chains towards the waiting
Saotome.� The chains were propelled by numerous objects, including
various types of blades, balls of spikes, a sink, a fridge and a monkey.
����� Ranma made a quick observation of the things coming towards him.
He managed to dodge the balls of spikes and parry the blades.� He
sidestepped to avoid the sink.� He was about to jump up to avoid the
fridge but he noticed the chain was about to break.� It did - and as it
did, the door flew open.
����� This was something Ranma didn't expect.� He was pelted by various
fruits and food products.� A lemon creme pie sideswiped his face.
����� He squinted and saw a monkey salivating in front of him.� The
monkey ate the lemon creme and bit his nose in the process.� He tried to
pry the thing off but it clawed him, causing his cheeks to redden.
����� When he got the monkey off, he turned to Mousse, who just gave him
a smirk.� His body began glowing, a sickly reddish light.
����� For a short moment, Mousse feared for his life.
����� "Mousse, you've gone too far!� Disturbing me from my sleep was
understandable, pelting me with foodstuffs was forgivable... BUT THE
MONKEY WAS THE LAST STRAW!!!"
����� The crowd immediately ran away as fast when they could as they saw
Ranma's arms cross in front of him.� They've seen this move a dozen times
before and, from the size of Ranma's battle aura at the moment, they
deduced this to be a big one.� Mousse managed to gulp before...
����� "MOOOOKOOOO TAAAAAKAAAABIIIISHAAAA!!!!"
����� A great bright flash was seen even in the most confined spaces of
the school.� People tried to see what had happened.� There was nobody on
the field but, as they stared up, they saw Ranma gliding in the air
chasing an unconscious Mousse.
����� "Come back here, Mousse!� You're not gonna get away from me!"
----------
����� On the other side of the campus, Kiiroi stared up in the sky.
����� He searched for rain clouds since he thought he saw lightning and
heard thunder just then.� He managed to reach Furinkan High but it seemed
that reaching Ukyou was a whole different matter.
����� From the building to his right, he heard a *THUD!* and some
branches breaking among some trees.
����� He kept on walking, unaware of lightning about to strike again...
----------
Up in the sky... (no, don't say it)
����� "There you are, Mousse... no silly disguise's gonna fool me -
though I admit, this isn't your style, but I'll hurt you just the
same...."
----------
����� Something deep inside Kiiroi told him to look up - he wished he
hadn't...
----------
����� Akane, Ukyou and the rest of crowd came just in time to see Ranma
beat the crap out of an unidentifiable lump on the ground.
����� "Take that!� And that!� And that, that, that!!!� And this, too!!!"
����� As Kiiroi's consciousness was about to leave him, he whispered the
name of his beloved one last time...
����� Ukyou's ears perked up at the sound of her name.� She gave the man
on the ground a meaningful stare, and then...
����� "Oh, no!� Ranma!� Stop, don't hurt him, he's not Mousse!"
����� Ranma and the whole crowd gave a resounding "HUH?"
����� Ukyou cradled the young man in black in his arms.� He was still
breathing which made Ukyou relieved.
����� It took Kiiroi a moment before he regained consciousness.� But when
he opened his eyes, he almost lost it again.
����� "Uk... Ukyou... I-I found you... at last...."
����� "Hush, don't talk, you'll be all right in a moment... how're your
fingers?"
����� "... they're fine...."
����� Akane gave Ranma a questioning glance but Ranma just shrugged, not
knowing what the conversation was about, either.� They both leaned over
Ukyou's head to take a peek at Kiiroi.� That's when they saw the
unnoticed.
����� Kiiroi had small bandages at the tips of his fingers, though they
appeared to be unhurt.� Odd as this seemed, they never questioned this.
����� And, indeed, after a few moments, all bruises and aches that Kiiroi
had were gone.� He got up and dusted himself off.
����� Ukyou made the introductions, and when she said Kiiroi's name, an
uproar occurred but eventually died down.� Kiiroi never got used to this.
Ranma, on the other hand, managed to keep his mouth shut, still
embarrassed at beating Kiiroi up by mistake.
����� Akane just smiled at this.� "So, Kiiroi, how did you and Ukyou
meet?"
����� "We used to be schoolmates...."
����� "Oh, you mean in that all-boys school?"
����� Kiiroi nodded.� At the same time, the school bell rang to signify
the end of the day.
����� Ukyou tugged at Kiiroi's arm.� "C'mon, let's get outta here...."
����� "Let's go, Ranma...."
----------
����� The four were now on their way home.� Akane, Ukyou and Kiiroi were
on the ground while Ranma strolled on the fence, as usual.� Everybody was
silent, not knowing what to say to each other.
����� Amazingly, it was Ranma who broke the ice...
����� "Um, Kiiroi?� S-sorry about... you know, what happened earlier....
The momentum kinda got to me."
����� "That's okay, after all, I'm a martial artist, t- oof!"
����� Ukyou nudged him before he could finish.� Kiiroi looked at Ukyou in
wonder but all he got was a glare.� He knew what it meant.
����� Akane tried to continue the conversation.� "So, Kiiroi, where will
you be staying in Nerima?"
����� "Oh, he'll be staying with me...."
����� As if on cue, Ranma lost his footing and almost fell into the water
on the other side but he managed to grab on to the fence in time.
����� He leapt to the other side, right in front of Ukyou.� "HE'LL
WHAT?!?"
����� Ukyou blushed at Ranma while Akane was glaring.� She gave him a
"don't-tell-me-you're-jealous" stare.
����� "Don't worry, Ranma, Kiiroi's different.� Trust me...."
����� "But, Ucchan... he might... you know."
����� Kiiroi looked at the two questioningly.� "I might what?"
����� Ranma just stared at him wide-eyed.� He couldn't believe that
Kiiroi couldn't get what he was trying to point out.
����� "You know...."
����� "I don't."
����� "You know, the thing...."
����� "What thing?"
����� "That thing that people do...."
����� Kiiroi scratched his head.
����� Ukyou smiled triumphantly.� "Give up, Ranchan.� C'mon, Kiiroi, this
is where we guys part."
����� Everybody gave their final good-byes as the two pairs parted ways.
Ranma was still worried about Ukyou while Akane kept on yelling at him
for being a jerk.� On the other end, Ukyou and Kiiroi walked on to the
sunset.
---------------
end of Part 1
---------------
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