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Ranma and his friends belong to Rumiko Takahashi. They're
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------------------------------
newRanma 7: Retreating
by Chris Jones
------------------------------
"Well, Ranma. I'm not going to tell you if what you
did was right or wrong," Makuna-sensei informed his patient.
"I can tell you that what you did when you recognized that
the situation got out of hand was the honorable and
compassionate thing to do."
"I guess my problem is that I don't understand if
there's a difference between 'Right' and 'Honorable'," Ranma
said, Principal Kunou's legal problems and subsequent flight
from Japan still weighing heavily on her mind.
"Many times they are the same thing," Makuna said.
"Many times they are not. Try to look at it this way. Japan
is one of the few countries in the world that still has a
functional honor system as part of its culture. Despite that
fact, there are good people all around the world who make
moral decisions without notions of honor to back them up."
Ranma nodded. She knew that, but hadn't really
thought about it.
"In many ways, that's because people have become
more worldly. It's also because that some people can abuse
an honor system."
"Huh?" Ranma said, cocking her head at the doctor.
She clearly didn't understand what he meant.
"Well, in many instances its possible to make moral
decisions without worrying if they're honorable or not, or
wether or not they save face. If an action is the right
thing to do, if you don't have an honor system to guide you
you, you can make that decision regardless of the
consequences."
Ranma's shoulders slumped. "I still don't
understand."
"Let me give you an example," Makuna said. "Suppose
that someone close to you told you a secret."
Ranma nodded.
"Then that person starts taking advantage of you
because you've promised to keep their secret. They start
relying on you to keep them out of trouble or to not inform
others of crimes they commit."
Ranma's face paled. "I'll keep your secret, Ryouga,"
she remembered saying so many months ago.
"Honor clearly dictates that you must keep your
promise and protect their secret despite the fact that they
are harming you or the ones you love. The right thing to do,
despite the fact that many people cannot do it, is to tell
the secret and stop the wrongdoing."
Ranma was speechless.
"Of course, this goes on all the time in cases of
sexual abuse or drug addiction," Makuna said. "Many times
family members are caught between personal honor and the
wellbeing of their families. This is something that happens
in almost all cultures."
Ranma's mouth began to work up and down.
"Ranma," Makuna asked. "Are you okay?"
Ranma exhaled heavily. "Yeah... I think so."
"I take it you've been in a position similar to the
one I described."
"Yeah," Ranma said. "But I think I got it stopped.
He ain't doin' it any more, so..."
"Are you sure?" Makuna asked seriously. "If this is
a case of abuse, then its your responsibility to make sure
it doesn't happen again. That means informing the
authorities in almost all cases."
"No. It ain't abuse," Ranma said, sighing.
"Can you talk about it? Remember that as part of my
Hippocratic oath, you can tell me anything without fear of
having it repeated."
Ranma thought carefully. "If I ask you not to tell,
you can't?"
"I will if someone is being abused or if someone's
life is in danger but why don't we discuss that?"
Ranma nodded, and began to speak.
"Well, there's this guy. He's got a curse, too, but
not quite like mine. His name is Ryouga Hibiki..."
* * *
Ranma glared darkly at the piglet as it wandered
around the dojo.
She had been lounging in the middle of the wooden
floor reading her latest Utena tankouban when Ryouga had
wandered into the dojo and started sniffing around the
corners. He was lost, and completely unaware that Ranma was
even inside the dojo.
It was true that Ryouga had not made any advances to
Akane since that day at Phoenix mountain. Still, Ranma
hadn't seen him refuse her tender babying as 'P-Chan'. That
was tempered by the fact that the lost boy seemed to be
doing his best to stay away since Ranma's surgery.
Makuna agreed with her that while Ryouga's behavior
was dishonest and immature, that he was not truly abusing
Akane. He did say that Ryouga was taking advantage of both
Ranma and Akane's trust and that Ranma should tell Akane of
the deception as soon as she could.
Was honor really worth that little?
"Damn it! This will never work!" Akane yelled from
the kitchen, derailing Ranma's train of thought. The banging
and clanging of pots and pans carried just as audibly out to
the dojo as her swearing.
"Ooh," Ranma winced. "I wonder what she's going to
force down my throat this time?"
"Bwee?" The piglet asked, noticing Ranma for the
first time. Ranma chuckled. Despite the fact that her food
was usually toxic. Ryouga choked it down with a smile.
"For such a jerk, you're pretty damn brave, Ryouga,"
Ranma said. "Let's see what she's up to."
Nervously, Ryouga nodded and followed the girl as
she sneaked out of the dojo.
A few seconds later, the two were around the corner
from the kitchen door listening attentively to Akane's
attempt to cook. While outright denial to eat her cooking
was sometimes the only way to avoid an upset stomach or
spending all night in the restroom, sometimes subtle guile
and avoidance were the best way to keep from getting sick.
"Akane!" Kasumi scolded. "You should watch your
language."
"I'm sorry, but this is horrible! I can smell it.
How can I make something for Ranma if it keeps coming out
like this?"
Ranma boggled. Akane was actually worried about what
her food tasted like?
"Well first of all, this is linseed oil. I use it to
wax the floor. You can't use it to cook with," Kasumi
explained politely and calmly.
"I was only using it to replace the sesame seed
oil!" Akane said.
"What you *wanted* to use was just plain salad oil,"
Kasumi corrected.
"Thank god," Ranma whispered. "Kasumi's supervising!
We might just be spared the wrath of Akane's cooking."
"Bwee!" P-chan nodded in agreement.
"Not if you don't do exactly as I say, you won't,"
Nabiki said from behind Ranma.
"Oh geez..."
The girl was smiling wickedly, Ranma noted. At least
she was fully clothed.
"How much," the red-head asked dejectedly, bowing
her head.
Nabiki paused for a second, the malicious glee
draining out of her face. "Uhh..."
"Well?"
Nabiki took a deep breath and put a finger to her
chin. "How about if you do a favor for me," she said after
several seconds. "I've been wanting some mint-chocolate chip
ice cream for a while and..."
Could it be that simple? Actually, Ranma could have
really gone for some ice cream as well.
"What are you waiting for?" Nabiki asked. "Money?"
"Uhhh... I guest that means no, huh?" Ranma asked.
"C'mon bacon-butt. Let's get out while the getting's good."
P-chan nodded thankfully and began to trot behind
Ranma as she left the room. She only had to stop once so he
could find her.
* * *
Ranma realized that she had forgotten she was mad at
the piglet when he hopped up on the table in front of her
and started to look forlorn when she dug into her quadruple
scoop 'Spring Special' sundae.
"Go 'way, Ryouga. You ain't getting none."
The piglet turned his nose in the air and snorted,
as if to say, "I don't even want charity from a creep like
you, Ranma." The expression on his beady eyes however,
bespoke of days on the road with little or nothing to eat
and hope of only Akane's leftovers at the end of his
journeys. If he was lucky.
"Oh, alright. Here," she said, scooping out a
generous dollop of ice cream onto the saucer her bowl had
been resting on. She slid the saucer over to the pig who
quickly overcame his pride and rivalry and began to eat.
"Yeah, you eat like that, but I know you're just
gonna try to sneak into Akane's bed again tonight," the
redhead complained.
"Bwee!" Ryouga snorted around snoutfuls of ice-
cream.
"Why don't you go find Akari and climb into *her*
bed?"
"Bwee! Bweee! *SNORT*"
"Hey, I paid good money for that ice cream! If
you're gonna waste it like that--"
It was then that Ranma noticed the waif looking
hungrily at her sundae through the window.
"Oh God. Now I gotta feed everybody," Ranma
complained.
The little girl noticed Ranma looking at her, and
turned to run, but the martial artist had no trouble
sprinting out of the restaurant to catch up with her.
"Hey, wait!" Ranma yelled after sprinting to the
doorway of the shop. "I didn't mean to run you off."
"I'm sorry," the little girl apologized in a
plaintive tone. "I didn't mean to spy on you. It's just--"
"It's okay." Ranma said, stepping out of the shop
and stopping a safe distance away from the girl. "I'm not
mad, really! You look hungry."
The little girl nodded sheepishly. "I've been
travelling and it's been a few days since I've had anything
to eat."
"Geez. Why don't you let me buy you some ice cream.
Okay?"
The girl's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yeah, really," Ranma said, smiling as she led the
girl back to the restaurant.
"Really really?" the girl asked, almost hopping up
and down.
"Really really," Ranma assured her.
The little girl began to cry tears of joy.
"That's... so wonderful. I haven't had ice cream since Mommy
and Daddy went away."
Ranma winced. Was the girl actually homeless?
She led the waif inside and sat her down next to
Ryouga, who looked at the girl oddly.
She squealed in delight at seeing the toy-like
piglet and hugged him happily.
Ranma ordered another two sundaes and began to dig
happily into one as the girl across from her began to eat
hers in small bites, almost reverently savoring the sweet,
creamy taste.
"So what's your name?" Ranma asked, glancing at the
girl.
She had a shock of thick, short, blonde hair, and a
somewhat smudged, but dimpled face. She wore a thick sweater
and shorts and had socks that came up to her knees. The most
notable feature of the girl's clothing were her shoes, which
were worn almost to the point of nonexistence. While they
were still recognizable as running shoes, they had been
patched, glued, taped, and tied together so many times that
Ranma doubted that there was any material from the original
shoes left.
"Uhhh... Yoiko, I think." the little girl answered,
snuggling P-chan as she ate.
"I'm Ranma," the older girl introduced herself. "You
look pretty lost," she said.
"Not really," Yoiko replied. "I've been all over the
city today looking for my oniichan."
"All over? Heh, she could be related to you,
Ryouga!" Ranma said to the little pig.
"My oniichan is not a little piggy!" Yoiko
protested. "He's big and strong and kind and..."
"Okay. Not Ryouga then," Ranma conceded. "So where
have you been looking for him. Maybe I can help?"
"Well, I've been following his path. I went to the
airport, and then to the big tower in the middle of town,
and then to a high school and then to this girl's house who
tried to name me... something."
"Uhh..."
"And then I went to another high school and then I
went to some hot springs and then..."
"You could actually find all those places on the
first try?" Ranma laughed. "You're definitely *not* a
Hibiki!"
"Um... I... I think I might be a Hibiki," Yoiko
said. "I think that's what Mommy said before she went away,"
the little girl admitted.
Ranma groaned, suspicion beginning to gnaw at her.
"Well, what's your oniichan's name?" Ranma asked.
The little girl's eyes began to water, as if she was
going to cry. Her lip began to curl up.
"Don't remember it?" Ranma asked. "Let me ask you
this," she said. "Your parents went away, right?"
Yoiko nodded, wiping the nascent tears from her
eyes. "Was it to do something stupid like get milk or walk
the dog?"
"Daddy was supposed to go out and get me a birthday
present, but he never came back," Yoiko said sadly. "And
Mommy went to buy a cake, but I guess she's with Daddy...
wherever he is."
"And your Oniichan?"
"He went to China to get in a duel," she said. "I
followed him there, but he had already left by the time I
got there. I finally tracked him back here. He may be at a
dojo nearby, but... but..."
Ranma sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You can't
remember the name."
Yoiko nodded sadly, snuggling the pig in her arms.
"Would you happen to be looking for the 'Tendou
Dojo', perhaps?"
Yoiko's eyes brightened like supernovas. "Yes,
That's it! Do you know where my oniichan is, Ranban?"
"Bwee?" P-chan looked back and forth between the
younger and older girl incredulously.
"Ranma," the red-head corrected. "I think I might,
but I'll need to talk to your piggy there for just a second
before I take you to him."
* * *
"Why didn't you tell us you had a little sister,
Ryouga-kun?" Akane asked in surprise.
The fanged youth laughed nervously, holding a hand
behind his head in embarrassment.
"Ah... the last time I saw her, she was still in
diapers," Ryouga admitted.
Yoiko clung happily to the lost boy's leg, her arms
and legs wrapped around him in a death grip.
"But that was a long time ago, Oniichan!" Yoiko
squealed. "I'm all grown up now!"
Akane laughed as Ranma and Nabiki both rolled their
eyes. Eight years old was hardly 'grown up', but Akane could
see that the little girl was largely self-dependant.
"So you looked for pig-boy here all over, right?"
Ranma asked.
"My oniichan is not a pig!" Yoiko protested. "But
yes, when I got old enough I started tracking him down."
Letting go Ryouga's knee with one hand, she pulled
out a tattered map of Asia that had a red line drawn in a
crazy pattern on it. "I had to question a lot of people, but
I managed to follow him all over these islands here," she
said, pointing at Japan and tracing the looping red path
with her finger. "And then I went here to this big country,
China," she read.
"Uhh... China?" Ranma asked. "You followed him to...
Wait a second," she said. She rushed into the kitchen and
poured a cup of cold water. She stepped back out and poured
it over Yoiko's head, careful not to get any on Ryouga.
"Ranma!" Ryouga growled nervously.
"What'd you do that for?" Yoiko asked angrily.
"Just checking," Ranma said, breathing a sigh of
relief. "You avoided Jusenkyou?"
"What does Jusenkyou have to do with anything?"
Akane asked.
"That place with all the springs?" Yoiko asked. "Of
course I avoided it! All the guide books go on and on about
how dangerous it is and the nice man told me how to go
around it when I got there."
"You're a Hibiki and you managed to follow
directions?" Nabiki asked incredulously.
"I have a perfect sense of direction," Yoiko stated
proudly, holding up her map. "I... I just can't remember the
names of the places I'm going sometimes," she admitted.
"Yup, she's Ryouga's sister, all right," Ranma
noted, chuckling.
"Stop picking on my oniichan, Rambo!" Yoiko
threatened. "Now that I've found him, I'm never going to let
him get away again!" she declared, snuggling her face
happily into his leg.
"Well, if you're going to stay around here," Kasumi
said cheerfully, stepping into the room holding a bundle of
Akane's old clothes. "We'll have to get you all cleaned up,
won't we?"
"A bath?" Yoiko asked in trepidation.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" she screamed, letting go of Ryouga's
leg and hurtling away from Kasumi.
"Fear of water must run in the family, huh, P-chan?"
Ranma noted, watching the girl zoom down the hallway.
"Shut up, Ranma."
* * *
Kasumi finally caught up with the little girl and
dragged her kicking and screaming into the bathroom, where
the sounds of aggravated scrubbing and washing warred with
the sounds of the little girl's screams of terror as she was
force-bathed.
"That was scary," Ryouga noted quietly as he sat in
the dojo next to Ranma with his arms folded across his
chest. He shuddered as the occasional crashing sound from
the bathroom filtered out to them
"I'll say," Ranma noted. "Heh... You should have
told me you had a little sister, Ryouga."
"So you could have another member of the Hibiki
family to torment? Not likely."
"Oh, like I really torment you," Ranma sniped. "More
often than not, it's you deciding that it's time for me to
die, and me whippin' your ass for trying."
"Something like that," Ryouga said, rolling his
eyes. "If it wasn't for Akane, I'd show you your place,
Ranma."
"My place?" Ranma asked, her voice rising. "My
place!? You're gonna show me *my* place? How about *your*
place, bacon-butt? I'm getting pretty damn sick and tired of
you sneaking into Akane's bed all the time."
Ryouga grumbled into his folded arms.
"What?" Ranma demanded angrily.
"I said, that I tried to get away from her," Ryouga
said weakly. "That part of my life is over now! I've been
trying to avoid her ever since that disaster of a wedding. I
was trying not to start a fight! The last thing I want to do
is upset Akane!"
"And you think that taking advantage of her is going
to accomplish that? You think taking advantage of me is
going to keep us from getting in a fight?!" Ranma yelled.
"How long are you going KEEP using me and Akane to get your
jollies, buta-hentai?"
Ryouga's face was stricken, but the bestial anger
that Ranma knew so well was rising from the bottom up.
Ryouga began to snarl, his long canines sticking out at her.
Ranma smiled back cooly at the boy. She realized she
was picking a fight, but just couldn't seem to stop herself.
All the rage and anger she had built up over his continuing
deception seemed to be boiling over, and it felt good to let
her feelings fly.
"I DO NOT USE AKANE TO GET... do not use Akane to
get my 'jollies', Ranma," Ryouga said, moderating his raised
voice.
"But you don't deny that you're taking advantage of
the both of us," Ranma countered, folding her arms over her
chest and glaring at the boy. "And you won't tell Akane the
truth."
Ryouga's jaw tightened until there were lines around
it. He raised on clenched fist angrily at Ranma.
"What are you doing to my oniichan, Ranger?" Yoiko's
voice yelled as she ran into the dojo and placed herself
protectively in between Ryouga and Ranma.
Ranma's angry thoughts were thrown to the wind at
the sight of the girl. She no longer looked quite so waif-
like. Her wild hair had been cleaned and combed and her
ragged, dirty clothes had been replaced with Akane's hand-
me-downs. Ranma suspected that both girls were about equally
rough on their clothing, but Akane had the benefit of Kasumi
to mend her tears and rips.
Ranma deflated somewhat. Ryouga did too, kneeling in
front of his sister.
"You look great, Yoiko-chan!" he said, wrapping his
arms around the girl.
"Katie took all my clothes away," she said sadly.
"She said she didn't know if she could fix them all or not."
"Well, they were pretty old and worn," Ryouga said.
"If anyone can fix them, it'll be Kasumi," Ranma
amended.
"But mommy and daddy gave them to me!" Yoiko
protested, sniffling.
"Here," Ryouga said, taking a bandanna off his head.
"This is something that Mother and Father gave to me when I
was about your age."
He attempted to tie it around her head like his, but
couldn't quite figure out how to tie the knot backwards from
what he was used to. Instead, he opted for tying the
bandanna around her neck like a lady's scarf. It didn't
match her green eyes or Akane's old sky-blue sweater and
shorts set at all, but Ranma couldn't help but think that it
suited her perfectly.
"Wai! Wai! Oniichan gave me a present!" She shouted,
dancing around the dojo.
Ranma did her best to stifle a giggle, and tried to
look away from the Hibikis and their matching bandannas.
"I trust we're not interrupting," a voice called in
from the doorway.
Ranma and Ryouga both looked up to see Kasumi and
Cologne. Cologne pogoed in on her long cane and peered
curiously at the little girl. "Well, aren't you an
interesting one?"
Yoiko shied away from the old woman's attention,
retreating into her brother's embrace.
"A perfect sense of direction, you say?" she asked
Kasumi.
"She didn't get lost once while I was bathing her,"
Kasumi said.
For the first time, both boys noticed that Kasumi
had changed clothes and still had slightly damp hair. Ryouga
shuddered at the thought of all the cold water involved.
"Knowing this one," Cologne said, jabbing her cane
in Ryouga's direction, "that's quite an accomplishment. Yes,
yes, I can see some potential here. Have you ever studied
martial arts, child?" she asked.
"Ah, quit scarin' her ya' old ghoul," Ranma snapped
as Yoiko cringed further into the folds of Ryouga's worn
pants.
Cologne cackled and hopped away from the girl.
"She's quite gifted, Son-in-law. If you were smart, you'd
start training her before I get the chance."
Ranma blinked at the crone's statement.
"It's not her I'm here to see, child," Cologne said.
"It seems that I'm needed back in the village for a few
days, so I won't be here to pull your chestnuts out of the
fire."
"As if I needed ya to," Ranma said.
"Hahahaha! So overconfident! Well, if you run into a
problem you can't solve due to your medical restrictions, go
to this address. They'll help you there if you tell them who
you are."
Cologne handed a slip of paper to Ranma. The redhead
glanced at it briefly, not recognizing the address.
"Uh... Thanks," Ranma said. "I guess..."
"Play nice," Cologne cautioned in a cackling tone.
"I'll be back as soon as I can if you need me."
"Stay away as long as you like!" Ranma said, waving.
"Sayonara! Arrivederce! Bon Voyage!"
* * *
It was a little after three in the morning when the
first knife blade embedded into the hardwood floor through
the layers of Ranma's pillow, her futon, and the tatami mat
underneath. The second knife-blade nicked her ear as it
stuck. The third would have pierced her eye and driven
itself into the back of her skull had she not leapt up and
drove a vicious kick into her attacker's gut.
Ranma felt her muscles burn and her joints ache as
she blocked three weighted shot puts in half as many
seconds. She cursed the medical restrictions that had left
her out of shape and flipped back away from her assailant.
Her blood ran cold as she saw the glint of thick,
opaque spectacles in the darkness. Another glint, as off the
blade of the knife, penetrated her senses.
"Why are you doing this, Mousse?" she hissed, hoping
and praying that her reflexes were still fast enough to keep
any bladed weapons from penetrating her body.
The Chinese youth tensed, drawing himself up in a
defensive stance now that his advantage had run out.
"I think that should be perfectly obvious, Ranma,"
he said in a low, dangerous tone. He lashed out with bladed
dirks that embedded in the wall where Ranma had been
standing.
The pigtailed girl pushed off of the ceiling and
spun her outstretched leg around to catch Mousse's chin with
a stunning blow. Mousse rolled with the blow, and came back
with a weighted chain. He began to spin the weight in a
menacing manner.
"With Cologne gone, there's no one who can protect
you," Mousse said. "And if I kill you, Shampoo will finally
be mine!"
"Like I'm just gonna let you kill me," Ranma snapped
back. She dodged the weight, and tried to grab the chain as
it shot past her face, but bloodied her fingers on the sharp
edges.
"Ranma!" Nodoka shouted from the doorway, her hands
raised to her face in horror.
Ranma swore, realizing that both her family and the
Tendou girls had been awakened. She was almost so distracted
that she missed the bowling ball that Mousse hurled at her
face. She gulped with the realization that he was trying to
injure her head.
"Damn it, Mousse! I thought you were more honorable
than this!" she shouted angrily
"Who are you to speak of honor, Saotome?" Mousse
demanded, beginning to step up his attacks.
Ranma found herself backed up, blocking or dodging
everything he threw at her, but not able to find an opening
to attack. She felt slow and leaden. Every nerve ending in
her arms and legs seemed to be on fire.
"You talk of honor, yet still you lead Shampoo on,
keeping her away from me, her rightful groom!" Mousse
shouted, driving blow after blow towards Ranma's head and
face. He attacked with razor-sharp claws and spiked maces.
Grimacing, Genma pushed past his wife, clenching his
fists. He prepared to leap.
"Stay outta this, Pops," Ranma said, crouching low
and sweeping Mousse's feet out from under him. The hidden-
weapons expert rolled with the fall and came up with hooked
pike, but Ranma came up underneath him, and grabbed the
pike. She used her leverage to rock Mousse off his feet and
back out the window through which he had entered the room.
"Your injuries still haven't had time to fully heal,
Boy," Genma cautioned.
"Yeah, but what am I gonna do?" Ranma asked in a
casual tone, diving through the window herself. "Just let
him kill me?"
By the time Genma and the others reached the back
yard, Ranma and Mousse were fully engaged. Ranma was dodging
and lashing out with blows that were lightning-fast but
still a shade slower than her usual attacks. Out in the open
air, Mousse had unleashed more of his arsenal, including an
array of spiked maces, razor-sharp blades, and training
potties.
Despite Ranma's speed, Mousse still seemed to be
pushing her back.
"He'll kill Ranma!" Akane screamed. "Mousse! Stop
it!"
"The boy's protecting his head," Soun noted
emotionlessly.
"Mm," Genma agreed. "He would have already won and
been back in bed if he was going all out."
Akane glanced back at the fight, and realized what
her father said was true. Ranma was taking extra care to
block blows that she would have otherwise ignored or simply
dodged past. It was slowing her down, and it was going to
cost her the fight.
She heard Ranma yell out in pain and rage when she
caught a blow from one of Mousse's sledge hammers across her
arm. Akane couldn't help but think that Ranma would normally
dance around it effortlessly.
"Ranma, look out!" she screamed, seeing that the
red-head was about to trip backwards over one of the stones
near the koi pond.
Ranma never saw the black and yellow blur catch her
as she fell backwards. She did, however, feel the tight,
muscular arm as it contracted around her waist.
Ryouga perched next to the pond, Ranma in one arm,
and a bucket in his other hand. He was wearing only boxer
shorts and a resolute expression. A short distance away,
Yoiko stood in the doorway of the dojo, wearing one of
Akane's old night-gowns.
In one clean motion, Ryouga swung the bucket low
enough to scoop up water from the pond and send it spraying
everywhere in front of him.
"QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!
QUACK!" Mousse screamed angrily, the weapons he had been
wielding falling uselessly to the ground as he changed.
"Get out of here!" the lost boy commanded.
Mousse began to flap away. Within the seconds, the
duck was a spot in the sky.
"Uh, you can let go of me now, Ryouga," Ranma
suggested.
Blushing slightly, Ryouga nodded and released her.
He hopped down from the stone he had been standing on and
nodded to his sister.
Ranma couldn't help but notice how wet both she and
Ryouga had gotten in his attack. It was a wonder that the
lost boy hadn't changed already. Why was he acting so
recklessly?
She shuddered in the cool night air, still feeling
warm on her back and her legs where she had been clutched to
Ryouga's body.
"Ragu," Yoiko asked. "Why was that guy trying to
hurt you?"
"Got no idea," Ranma said. "Actually, I got plenty
ideas. He thinks I stole his girlfriend."
"Why on earth would he think that?" the little girl
asked, her face a mask of confusion.
"Yes, Ranma," Akane asked in a cold tone, now that
the fight was over. "Why would Mousse think that?"
Ranma shook her head, trying to will her heart to
stop pounding and her legs to stop trembling. "You didn't
have to get involved, Ryouga," she said, changing the
subject. Look at you, You almost... got wet," she finished
lamely.
Ryouga glanced down at his arm, which had taken a
fair amount of splash in the fight. "Fine," the lost boy
said in a disturbed tone of voice. "Next time, I won't save
your ass."
Ranma wasn't sure, but she thought she heard him
stammer slightly as he spoke.
"Hopefully, he won't attack Ranma again," Nodoka
said, clutching her own nightgown in the coolness of the
night.
"I wouldn't count on it," Genma noted, picking up a
folded letter from the ground, where Mousse had transformed.
"Wonderful," Ranma griped, after reading the letter.
"It's a formal challenge. He must have not been sure he
could murder me in my sleep the first time."
"Let's go back to bed, Yoiko-chan," Ryouga said,
picking his sister up and holding her against his chest.
For the rest of the night, Ranma couldn't help but
remember the ferocious, yet haunted expression on Ryouga's
as he turned away from her.
* * *
"You must accept the challenge," Genma said the next
morning. His tone was deadly serious.
"Well, I want to," Ranma said. "But..." She grimaced
as she reread the challenge. Mousse wanted to meet her in
unrestricted combat at Furinkan High school at noon.
"You need to consider the consequences," Tofuu said.
He came over just after dawn, right after Kasumi had phoned
him about the fight. "What's more important to you? Your
honor, or your life?"
"You shouldn't even have to think about that
question," Genma said. "A martial artist should be willing
to sacrifice *everything*, Ranma."
Ranma clenched her teeth. She tried to think back
about what Makuna-sensei said about honor, but really
couldn't find anything that applied. She thought that it was
possible that Mousse was taking advantage of her sense of
honor, but at the same time, she felt a drive to get back at
the hidden weapons expert. She felt cheated by the fight
last night, disturbed by its outcome. Worse, she wasn't
really sure if that was what she wanted. She was out of
shape and felt the need to start training as hard as she
could for as long as she could. Tofuu was right in that
respect. If she fought Mousse, she stood a very good chance
of aggravating her injury, possibly maiming or killing
herself. She would be damned before she would let Ryouga
save her again, of all people!
"As the heir to the Saotome School, you may not
refuse a challenge, Ranma," Genma stated. "I know that you
want to please the doctor, but--"
"And I know you feel a duty to your family and to
your school, Ranma," Tofuu said, cutting Genma off. "But I
meant what I said. If you fight, I'll recommend that you be
confined back to the head trauma ward, and I'll stop
treating you. You know the kind of danger you're in right
now just as well as I do."
Ranma exhaled noisily. It was like she had a cartoon
'good angel' and 'bad angel' on her shoulders. If only she
could tell which one was good or bad...
"Unless you're willing to go all out, you cannot
win, Ranma," Genma said.
It was at that point that the paper shoji slid open
in front of them. Yoiko led Ryouga through, holding his
hand. For the first time, Ranma realized that the little
girl was leading him around, acting as a surrogate sense of
direction.
"Oi," Ranma said in an amused tone, glancing at the
pair. She was a little thankful that Ryouga was wearing his
yellow tunic and dark canvas pants. She didn't want to think
about the way his powerful muscles had felt against her body
the night before.
"There's another option you're not considering,"
Ryouga said after a few seconds, indicating that he had
overheard much of the conversation.
"Oh?" Genma asked.
Tofuu pushed up his glasses and gestured for Ryouga
to continue.
"I could take up the challenge for Ranma," he said
quietly.
"WHAT?!" Ranma demanded angrily
Tofuu nodded his head. "I would certainly prefer it
if you would. Of course I would really rather this fight not
take place, but if it does, then Ryouga is in much better
condition to fight a duel than Ranma."
Genma bit his lip in thought. "You'll have to
formally join the school," he said to Ryouga after several
seconds of intense. "But I believe it would be acceptable
for one member of the school to answer a challenge for
another member who is unable to answer. Ranma has often
taken up challenges for me, and vice-versa."
"Like when?" Ranma said. "God, I can't believe you
are seriously considering this!"
"Ritalin," Yoiko said, putting her tiny hand on
Ranma's shoulder. "Oniichan doesn't want you to get hurt.
It's because of your rivalry" she said, struggling with the
last word.
Ryouga blushed, his neutral expression becoming
clouded with embarrassment.
"I want to be the one to kill you," Ryouga said
halfheartedly. "If Mousse does you in first, then I can't
get my rightful vengeance."
Yoiko smiled widely, showing her fangs.
"Whatever," Ranma conceded in irritation, turning
her nose up in the air. "You'll be lucky if Mousse don't
kill you. He's been training, you know. Maybe if you kill
each other, I'll be out two headaches."
Yoiko stared at Ranma in horror, her happy
expression melting like a snowflake.
"You can beat that Muselix guy, right, Oniichan?"
she asked. "Right?"
"Yeah," Ryouga said. He didn't sound very convinced
of his own words.
* * *
"The master really should be here," Genma noted.
"Don't say that, Saotome," Soun said, crouched into
a kneeling pose in the dojo.
Ranma sighed in irritation as she leaned against the
dojo wall. Genma would not be satisfied until Ryouga was
'formally' inducted into the school. Both she, Akane, Genma
and Soun were present for the 'ceremony', which had so far
involved Ryouga swearing to uphold the precepts of the
school over a pair of panties.
"This is a joke," Ranma grumbled.
"Remember who founded the school, son," Soun
explained.
Ranma rolled her eyes. Akane elbowed her in the side
and growled quietly.
"Remember, Ryouga-kun," Genma said. "As a member of
the school, you may not refuse a challenge. You must comport
yourself honorably and truthfully--"
"Like you know anything about truth and honor, old
man" Ranma kibitzed.
"Hush up, boy. You must defend the weak and those
who can't defend themselves, Ryouga-kun."
"I promise," Ryouga said.
"So how come I never had to take this oath?" Ranma
asked, somewhat more seriously after it was over.
"You did," Genma said. "When you were little."
"Oh, just like I promised to grow up to be a 'man
among men', huh?"
Genma cringed guiltily.
* * *
As the hour for the challenge approached, Ranma,
Akane, Ryouga and Yoiko set out for the high school. Soun
and Genma accompanied them to witness the fight. Tofuu also
accompanied them, just in case someone needed medical
treatment during or after the fight. Ranma grumbled angrily
the whole time.
She admitted to herself that she was really upset
with the whole deal. Ryouga was *not* supposed to fight her
battles for her, even if she was injured. Still, it was the
best way that Ranma could see to satisfy both her honor as a
martial artist *and* uphold the promises she made to obey
her medical restrictions. That didn't mean it wasn't
frustrating and demeaning.
Ranma promised herself that she would humiliate
Ryouga in brutal combat just as soon as Tofuu released her.
She turned back to snarl at the lost boy, but saw that both
he and his little sister were suddenly missing.
"Lovely."
"What?" Akane asked, turning around. "Ryouga-kun?
Where did he go?"
"Perfect time for the Hibiki sense of direction to
kick in for Yoiko," Ranma noted. "Everyone in his family is
a pain in the ass. You guys go on ahead, and I'll try to
find him."
"Hurry, Ranma," Genma urged. "If one of you isn't
there by noon, you'll have to forfeit."
"Not even if I can't find Ryouga," Ranma swore.
She found Ryouga lost in a mud puddle near the
school after only a few minutes of searching. He was covered
in wet, sticky mud and looked miserable.
"Bwee..." he grunted sadly.
"You have any clue at all where your sister is?"
Ranma asked, rolling her eyes.
The little pig shook his head sadly.
"C'mon. Let's get you cleaned up and dressed," she
said.
Carrying him by the bandanna around his neck, Ranma
took the pig into the school and into the boy's locker room.
It was Sunday, so no one was there. Ranma took him into the
back of the room, where a row of shower stalls lined one
wall. She turned the one furthest from the door on and
tossed the pig underneath.
"Thanks," Ryouga muttered after changing back.
"No prob," Ranma replied, staring at the lost boy as
he showered away the mud and grime.
"Could you stop that?" Ryouga asked, blushing
fiercely.
"Stop what?" Ranma asked.
"Staring at me like that," Ryouga said, gulping.
"Why. We're both guys here, right?"
"Ranma!" Ryouga growled.
"Don't get your blood pressure up, Porkchop," Ranma
said, tossing Ryouga a bar of soap. "I'm just trying to make
sure you don't wander off again before the fight, okay?"
"Sure," Ryouga grumbled. "Whatever."
"So you really wanna fight Mousse for me, huh?"
Ranma asked after turning away slightly.
"Not really," Ryouga said. "It's like I said. I
can't let him kill you when you're injured like this."
"It's not so bad. I could take him, easy," Ranma
disagreed.
"Are you sure?" Ryouga asked.
"Are you?"
"No," Ryouga admitted, letting the hot water splash
all around him. "I'm stronger than he is, but you're right.
He's been training. Without you to fight with, I've gotten a
little out of shape the past few weeks. I know that I can
win, but... but... " He paused, glancing back at Ranma.
"We've had fights before that could have gone all the way. I
could have killed you."
Ranma nodded, seriously. "Or I could have killed
you," she said.
"Well, I'm afraid that this fight is like that."
"Are you afraid?" Ranma asked, no hint of accusation
in her voice.
"I don't want to kill Mousse," Ryouga answered.
"He's annoying, sure, but he never really did anything to
me. You... If I killed you in a duel it would be because of
my curse... or for the way you treat Akane," he said without
much conviction in his voice. "I don't have any reason to do
that to Mousse, but I'm not sure I can win the fight without
killing him."
Ranma grimaced. It was the martial artist's dilemma.
In a serious fight, if one was sufficiently skilled over his
adversary, he could defeat his opponent with a minimum of
injury to either party. In a serious fight between similarly
skilled martial artists, it was another matter entirely,
especially when neither party is willing to accept defeat.
"You'll beat him," Ranma said in a low tone.
"But--"
"You *will* beat him," she said, in a tone that
suggested that the alternative would not be pleasant for
either one of them.
"Hai."
* * *
By the time the two made it out to the field behind
the school, Shampoo had arrived and was waiting for Ranma.
"Husband no fight blind duck when head hurt, right?"
the Chinese girl asked, concern in her voice.
"Nope, Ryouga's going to," Ranma said, and began to
explain how Ryouga was going to answer the challenge.
A few minutes later, the blind duck in question
walked onto the field.
"Are you ready to die, Saotome?" Mousse asked.
"Even if I was going to fight you, I'd kick your
ass," Ranma retorted. "Because I'm feeling nice today, I'm
gonna let Ryouga do it instead."
"What?"
Ryouga cracked his knuckles and stepped forward, an
expression of grim determination on his face.
"No, I'm here to fight Ranma," Mousse said. "I have
no quarrel with you, Hibiki. My only interest is in winning
Shampoo's heart, whatever it takes!"
"Even if Mousse kill Ranma, Shampoo no love!" the
amazon girl shouted from the sidelines.
"Because Ranma is not fit to fight," Genma said
cooly, "Ryouga has taken up the challenge. Will you forfeit
the battle?" he asked the blind boy.
Shampoo rolled her eyes. "Stupid Mousse too cowardly
to fight lost boy. He lose for sure!"
"You ain't helpin', Shampoo!" Ranma said in an
exasperated tone.
"Never!" Mousse shouted. "I'll prove myself, even if
it means fighting Ryouga!"
Ryouga exhaled and dropped into a defensive crouch.
"Come get me."
Mousse screamed and let fly with a coil of razor
wire. Ryouga deflected the strike with a bandanna and thrust
his outstretched finger into the ground. It erupted
underneath Mousse, who had already leapt into the air to
avoid the debris. He was still peppered with shrapnel -
dirt, gravel, and the remnants of an old, empty water pipe.
The fight was on before any present could blink.
Ryouga darted forward and kicked at Mousse with a
strike that could break rock, but Mousse knew who he was
dealing with. He dodged, rather blocked the kick, even
though it left him badly extended. He was faster than
Ryouga, which allowed him to recover and dodge again before
Ryouga could crush his skull with another well-placed kick.
He retaliated with a circular saw blade thrown discus-style
at Ryouga's midsection. Ryouga knocked the saw out of the
air from above and used a bandanna to catch the blade of the
katana Mousse tried to split him with.
Ranma was shouting encouragement and instructions
for Ryouga from the sidelines, but both combatants ignored
her.
Mousse leapt away, discarding his katana, but
allowing a pair of metal claws to drop into place over his
hands. He swiped at Ryouga twice, actually slicing Ryouga's
tunic, but the lost boy danced back away from the attack.
He punched at Mousse underneath the blades, but Mousse
reacted by crossing them, threatening to slice into Ryouga's
arm. Ryouga countered by turning and leveling a hard, fast
kick at the blades that broke them off at their base.
Mousse glanced grimly at the broken-off stubs, and
discarded the claws. He tossed a large cannon-ball at
Ryouga, who shattered it with another Bakusai Tenketsu.
Mousse used the opportunity to pull out a bedpan. He managed
to sneak in under Ryouga's guard and bashed the short-haired
youth upside the head, and then pulled back and drove the
pointed end into Ryouga's gut.
Ryouga grunted, almost, but not quite losing his
breath. He took advantage of the closeness between the two
to rabbit punch Mousse's face. He struck three times,
bloodying the nearsighted boy's nose and breaking his
glasses.
Mousse dropped the bedpan and staggered away,
clutching at his face. He leapt back from Ryouga's next
blow, tearing off the remnants of his glasses and replacing
them with a spare pair. Covering his momentary retreat, he
let a barrage of sharp, bladed shuriken fly at Ryouga.
Ryouga ducked easily, grabbing the discarded bedpan,
and sliding it along the ground. Mousse landed in it, and
fell backwards. He rolled, kicked the bedpan back at Ryouga,
who blocked it with a punch, and came to his feet with a
pool cue. He used it like a staff as Ryouga attacked,
blocking the blows the bandanna-clad martial artist directed
at him. The last of Ryouga's blows snapped the cue in half,
but Mousse took it in stride, tapping Ryouga with glancing
blows on either side of his face and driving the blunt end
of the cue into his chest, bruising Ryouga's ribs.
Ryouga reached out and knocked the narrow end of the
cue away, but Mousse grabbed the boy's wrist and used it as
leverage to drive no fewer than five punishing knee blows
into Ryouga's chin.
Ryouga backed away, spitting blood, but no teeth.
Mousse skipped back, landing lightly on his toes. He
produced a fiberglass bow, and a steel tipped arrow, which
he aimed at Ryouga.
"Ryouga! Watch out!" Akane screamed as Mousse fired.
Ryouga was almost fast enough to keep from being
hit. As it was, the arrow grazed his leg, leaving a bloody
gash. The second arrow stuck in his thigh, red blood welling
all around it.
"NO! RYOUGA!" Ranma screamed.
Growling, Ryouga pulled the arrow out, letting the
wound bleed. It didn't look as if an artery was cut, but the
boy was still bleeding heavily. He directed a killing stare
at Mousse.
"That hurt, you know."
"It will hurt a lot more before I defeat you,"
Mousse threatened.
Tofuu grimaced and clamped his hand down on Ranma's
shoulder. The girl was agitated, horrified by the wound
Ryouga had received and eager to leap into to the fight.
His anger and pain fueling his strength and speed,
Ryouga leapt at Mousse, tearing the bow away from him before
the Chinese boy could ready a third arrow and whipping the
boy with the flexible shaft. It broke on the fourth strike,
but Ryouga pulled back his fist and prepared to continue to
rain down punishment on his enemy.
Mousse blocked the blow with a pair of nunchaku and
lashed the lost boy about the head and shoulders with his
weapons. He kicked at Ryouga's leg, aiming for the wound he
had just inflicted. Ryouga grabbed Mousse's ankle before he
could strike, flipping him into the air. He paid for it, by
being unable to block Mousse's kicks as he somersaulted.
Letting the blows rain down on him, Ryouga roared
and bulled his way through Mousse's defenses, and lifted the
hidden-weapons expert off the ground with a brutal upper
cut. Before Mousse could regain his balance and strike back,
Ryouga drove two rights and a left into his face, blackening
both his eyes and breaking his nose.
"Sloppy," Genma noted with some distaste.
"But effective," Soun commented. "The boy has
amazing pain tolerance."
Mousse replaced his glasses yet again, and started
lashing out at the lost boy with everything he had, sending
shot puts, chains, wire, rolls of toilet paper, and a cheese
grater at Ryouga's face. He tried to use the confusion his
storm created to catch Ryouga with a two-by-four with a bent
nail in it, but Ryouga dodged cleanly around Mousse's
desperate attack and slammed the board back in Mousse's
face.
The Chinese youth dropped the board as he staggered
back. Bloody and wheezing, he fought to keep his footing.
While buoyed up by his rage-fueled adrenalin trip,
Ryouga wasn't in much better shape. The bleeding from his
leg hadn't slowed, and he was growing pale, and starting to
tremble. He crouched back into his original defensive
stance, ready to end the fight one way or the other.
Mousse attempted to produce another weapon, but came
up with only a small stiletto dagger, about seven inches
long. Grinning, he held it ready at his side.
"Ryouga! He'll kill you!" Ranma screamed, struggling
under Tofuu's grip. "Don't do it! NO!"
Heedless of Ranma's concern, Ryouga dived in, his
fists outstretched and his teeth clenched in a killing
expression.
Ranma, seeing what was about to happen, began to
scream almost incoherently. Tofuu grabbed Ranma's wrist in a
restraining hold as the redhead began to struggle to get
free.
Ryouga drove one punch into Mousse's ribs. A second
punch was rewarded with a spray of blood and teeth from
Mousse's jaw.
"LET ME GO!" Ranma screamed, struggling to free
herself.
Mousse slid the dagger into Ryouga's left side, just
above his waist. He kept his grip on it, pulling it back out
when Ryouga's final punch drove him away and knocked him
down.
"RYOUGA!! NO!!" Ranma screamed, wrenching her arm in
Tofuu's grip.
Ryouga staggered, clutching at his side. Red blood
began to pour through his fingers, staining his shirt. It
began to mingle with the blood from the wounds on his leg.
A sports car jumped the curb and drove through a gap
in the chain link fence that separated the athletics field
from the street. It took a straight bearing on the fight.
His face and body battered and almost crushed in
pain and exhaustion, Mousse began to try to work his way to
his feet. The bloody dagger was still clenched firmly in his
hand.
Ryouga staggered, trying to keep standing. With one
hand, he pressed on the wound, trying to stem the red flow.
With the other, he reached down and picked up a palm-sized
rock. He clenched his fist around it, and began to stagger
towards Mousse.
Ranma finally broke free of Tofuu's grip and
launched herself across the yards that would take her in
between Mousse and Ryouga.
The car screeched to a stop near those anxiously
observing the battle, kicking up turf. Yoiko was screaming
in the passenger's seat. From the driver's seat, a red blur
flew out and past Ranma.
Ranma fell to the ground, unconscious, just before
she reached Mousse.
Mousse was next to fall, felled by the new
combatant. Finally, the figure, a tall, Chinese red-head,
stood before Ryouga. She tapped his neck near the base of
his skull.
"Oh no..." Shampoo mumbled, a blush rising on her
cheeks.
"Oniichan!" Yoiko screamed, scrambling out of the
car and running to her brother's side.
"Thank you," Ryouga whispered. He smiled, and
dropped to his knees. The stone tumbled loosely to the
ground, bouncing once in front of the lost boy. He fell face
forward into the grass. Blood began to run freely from the
wound in his side.
-----
~to be continued...
* * *
C. Jones - guilty@furinkan.net
http://www.furinkan.net
2001 - "My God, It's full of stars!"
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