Battle of the Pig
Ep. Ten of Cas of Blues Series
by Thom Keehn
zinyadel@hotmail.com

Ranma 1/2 characters and places belong to Rumiko Takahashi.  They are
used without permission throughout this work.  This is written without
the intent of monetary gain and shall not be distributed under such
pretenses.  This is meant for entertainment purposes only and shall
not be used in any way to harm animals.  This is and shall ever be the
last time I write a disclaimer of my own.  At least for this series.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cas vs. Akane.  I think we can all see where this is going.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Opening Theme - "New Beginning"

Welcome stranger what is your name?
Will you be my friend?
Time brings people through our lives
Few stay to the end

Life can be so temperamental
Fickle in its ways
So humor me as I open up
We can make a page that says

This is a new beginning
We can take this bond between us, and make it something more
This is a new beginning
Hold on tight, don't let me go, feelings rise and soar

Turn to me and ask the question
The one I want to hear
Keep me high up on this cloud
Whenever you are near

The hot water splashed over him, triggering his curse.  Ryouga waved
his fist angrily at Cas.  He was inside his home once again, though he
hadn't even been near home only moments ago.  Cas had done something
that had brought both him and her to this spot.  He had been home no
more than the time it took to get the hot water.

Cas stalked away from him without a word.  "What the hell was that all
about?" he demanded, following her up the stairs.  "Were you trying to
get me in trouble with Akane?"

Cas slammed his bedroom door in his face.  Ryouga paused for a moment.
"Cas, are you siding with Ranma?" he asked, worried.

The door flew open and a yellow, silk shirt was thrown at him.  He
caught it reflexively.  "Put something on," Cas ordered.  A pair of
black pants was similarly thrown at him.

Ryouga blushed, only now realizing the lack of clothing.  "S-s-sorry,"
he stammered.  Ryouga quickly pulled on the jeans and buttoned up the
sleeveless shirt.

"To answer your last question, no," Cas stated.  "I'm not siding with
Ranma.  I have no reason to."

Ryouga sighed in relief.  "How did you bring us here?" he asked,
recalling the moment of nothingness with a shiver.  "That was the
strangest thing I've ever felt.  Or not felt," he corrected.  "If you
could do that, why didn't we do that back in China."

Cas held her hands up to stop the flow of questions.  "Terepo-to," she
answered.  "It's hard to explain.  I've been trying it every now and
then at night, transporting small objects from one side of camp to the
other.  It's like deconstructing something into energy, moving it to a
designated destination, and then reconstructing it.  It's impossible
to do if you don't know what the destination looks like."

"Oh," Ryouga commented.  "Isn't that dangerous?"

"A little," Cas said.  "You can't change your destination once the
spell is finished so there's always the possibility you might
accidentally reconstruct where something else is."

Ryouga paled.  "What would happen?"

"If the something else was living, it would cease to be," Cas
answered.  "You see, there is always something in the destination that
will be displaced by your arrival.  The process moves those molecules
aside to make room for you or whatever you are moving.  So technically
it is safe for the traveler so long as you don't bury yourself in a
wall or underground."

"Um... okay," Ryouga managed.

Cas poked him in the chest.  "You don't understand, do you?" she
accused.

Ryouga scowled.  "So what if I don't," he barked.  "Do you have any
idea how much you embarrassed me out there with Akane?  I'm lucky your
slips went unnoticed."

Cas snorted in derision.  "That girl is too thick headed if she hasn't
figured out who you are by now," she declared.  "And she has the nerve
to call me a dimwit!"

"How dare you speak of Akane like that!" Ryouga fumed, grabbing for
her.  Cas stepped in closer.  "Oof," he gasped as her knee drove into
his groin.  His eyes teared up as he fell to his knees.

Ryouga felt her hands on his collar as she shook him to get his
attention.  "You listen to me," she spat in his face.  "Nobody insults
my intelligence.  It's like being told you're no good at the only
thing you are good at.  Now you may have your secrets with Akane and
Akari but that's not my problem.  You tell me you are her confidant
and then turn out to be her pet.  If you ask me, that's just sick."

"You don't... understand.  I'm a little pig.  I didn't ask to be her
pet," Ryouga said defensively.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Cas said sarcastically.  "I didn't realize being a
pig entitled you to sleeping with girls.  It'd be different if she
knew."

"I was weak in the beginning," he admitted, "but telling her now would
ruin any friendship we have.  It's bad enough knowing that she doesn't
love me.  I don't want her to hate me."

"Does Akari know about your curse?" Cas asked in a tone that demanded
an answer.

"Yes, she thinks it's cute," Ryouga replied, gritting his teeth.

"Look, Ryouga," Cas began sternly.  "You need to start living life as
if there will never be a cure for your curse.  If she thinks your
curse is cute, that is beneficial, not a hindrance."

Ryouga looked at her grimly.  "I suppose you're right," he admitted.

"Does Akari know about Akane?" Cas pried.

"Yes, she knows we are friends," he answered curtly.

"Good, but I'm sensing she doesn't know about your extra feelings
towards Akane," Cas surmised.  Ryouga cast her an annoyed look.  "At
least you don't have any horrible secrets from her."

"Yes, but I'm still Akane's friend," Ryouga stated.  "I don't want you
harming her."

"I won't hurt anything more than her pride," Cas assured him.  "I
promise I'll make it short, quick and almost painless.  I'll heal her
the moment she gives in or passes out."

Ryouga frowned.  "I don't want you fighting," he reiterated.

"Tough," Cas snapped, slamming the door in his face.

Ryouga stood there, staring at the door indecisively.  After a moment
he walked down the hall to the next available bedroom and slipped in.
'Maybe tomorrow she'll be more reasonable,' he hoped.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Akane, I don't think this is a good idea," Ranma said, chasing after
her.

Akane huffed and turned her head away from him.  "Why are you
protecting her, Ranma?" Akane demanded.  "I thought you weren't
'interested'."

"Err... I'm not," Ranma said.  "I just don't think you should fight
her."

"Are you saying you don't think I can beat her?" Akane growled,
spinning to face him with her fists clenched and eyes glaring.

"Well... yes," Ranma began.  Akane grew more furious, if such a thing
was possible.  Ranma backed off, holding out his hands.  "I mean...
no.  I mean... we don't even know what she can do."

Akane backed off a step.  "She's fast but I doubt she can throw a
punch," Akane estimated.  "This will be a quick victory to teach that
dimwit some manners."  Akane whirled about and stalked away.  "Ha.
Stealing my pig and calling Ryouga a pervert.  Who does she think she
is?"

Ranma walked quickly to catch up to her.  "I don't doubt your skills,"
Ranma assured her.  "I know you are good against unskilled opponents
like our classmates."

"Oh," Akane huffed.  "You don't think I stand a chance against
'skilled' opponents."

"No, that's not what I meant," Ranma said, frustrated.  "I doubt she
can beat you in a hand-to-hand combat but I also doubt that's what she
has in mind."

"I can take whatever she can dish out," Akane declared confidently.

"Yea, that's what I thought about Ryouga," Ranma interjected.  "Ryouga
did the exact same thing Cas did back there.  He sped himself up in
the middle of our fight.  I was totally caught off guard."

"So he didn't cheat then," Akane stated, much to his displeasure.
"Sounds to me like you lost fair and square like you did back when
Ryouga was learning the shi shi houkoudan."

"Ok, I admit it," he said through gritted teeth.  "But I don't have to
like it.  Besides, where do you think he learned that technique?  From
Cas of course.  I wouldn't be surprised if she has several other
'tricks' up her sleeves."

"Ha," Akane scoffed.  "Like what?"

"That vanishing trick was nothing ordinary," Ranma commented.  "And
believe me, I've seen a lot of vanishing tricks."

"What was so different about this?" she asked, her tone belying her
disbelief.

"The way the wind rushed in for starters," Ranma explained.  "It's
almost like she moved so fast the air had to rush back into the space
she had been in."

"So," Akane said dismissively.  "You know lots of people that can move
fast."

"No, I'm talking real fast for something like that," Ranma said.  "I'm
talking so fast that the sound barrier should have broke.  And that
didn't happen so I know she didn't simply run off to fast for me to
see.  What she did was something entirely different and I don't have a
clue how she did it."

Akane stopped.  She cast a hot glare in his direction.  "I don't care
what you say, or how much you try to unnerve me about this," Akane
declared.  "I made a challenge and I'm not backing out of it!"

"Yes, and it was a stupid thing to do!" Ranma shot back angrily.  "You
don't have a clue what she can do.  I don't want you getting hurt just
because you're to stupid to know what's good for you!"

"What did you say?!" Akane shouted angrily.

"I said you're stupid, you stubborn, uncute tomboy!" Ranma repeated.

Ranma didn't even see her attack.  He felt his feet leave the ground
as his jaw began to ache furiously.  He cursed himself for letting his
guard down as he evaluated his current situation.  He had reached the
apex of his flight, starting to descend back to Nerima.  A quick study
of the surroundings rushing up at him revealed his destination.

'How does she do it?' he wondered as he recognized a certain pond
below quite familiar to him.  He twisted his body a bit to minimize
the damage from the fall.  Water engulfed him upon impact.  In moments
he was up, hurt more from the cause of the flight than from the
landing.

Soun and his pops were on the porch playing that damn game of theirs'.
If they noticed his arrival they didn't bother to acknowledge him.
Ranma supposed it was due to this sort of thing happening too much for
them to ask why.  He slipped into the household, hoping Kasumi had
lunch ready.  'Seems to be all I can look forward to anymore,' he
thought with a sigh.

Nabiki stepped into the room at the same time as him.  She took one
look and smiled her trademarked wry grin.  "So who was it this time?"
she asked.

Ranma sighed.  "Akane," he answered simply.

Nabiki nodded and took a seat by the table.  Ranma did the same after
switching to his indoor shoes.  "I guess I should ask what you did
this time, but why bother," Nabiki commented, flashing him another
grin.  "It's not like you'd know."

Ranma scowled at her.  "I was only telling her it was a stupid idea to
challenge Cas to a fight when she doesn't know anything about the
opponent," Ranma explained.

That remark got his father's attention.  "What's this boy?" Genma
asked, intrigued.  "Akane is challenging the new girl in town?"

"She really should be studying for those entrance exams," Nabiki said,
disinterested.  "I don't understand why she'd want to start a fight
with someone.  It must be the pressure."

"Ranma, have you set a rematch against Ryouga after last night's
'incidence'?" Genma asked.  "The sake of the school's honor is at
hand."

"Oh, don't give me that crap, pops," Ranma barked.  "Besides, I'm not
certain what Cas has taught Ryouga yet.  I figured out what he did to
me last night and it won't work again, but if he has any more tricks
up his sleeve I want to be ready."

"Spoken like a true martial artist," Genma said proudly.  "Though I
don't think letting Akane fight your battles is very honorable."

Ranma was up on his feet in an instant.  "She's not fighting my
battles!" he shouted.  "She started this without any help from me.  I
had nothing to do with it."

"Oh, I doubt that," Nabiki cut in, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"I was an innocent bystander," Ranma declared.  Nabiki's gaze didn't
falter.  "Well, I suppose I could have stopped this from happening if
I wasn't having so much fun watching the two squabble."

"That's what I thought," Nabiki said dryly.

Ranma walked over to her and made a gesture for Nabiki to stand up.
Nabiki looked at him curiously but soon complied with his wants.  "I
need to speak with you upstairs," he said seriously.

"What for?" she asked.

"Just go," Ranma urged her.  Nabiki yielded and quickly made her way
up the stairs.  Ranma cast a nervous glance over at his pops and Mr.
Tendou.  Pops was just returning his attention to the game.

"Hey!" Genma bawled.  "What happened to the board?!"

Soun sat across the board, calm and impassive.  "Your move, Saotome,"
Soun said quietly.

Ranma shook his head.  Maybe someday he'd learn how to play the game
but he had no desire to learn it from either of those two.  Ranma shot
up the stairs to take care of business with Nabiki as quickly as he
could.  After that, dinner.

Ranma slipped into Nabiki's room, closing the door behind him.  Nabiki
was sitting on her bed with a familiar black notebook in her lap.  For
a moment Ranma reconsidered asking Nabiki for help.  'No,' he thought.
'I don't have the connections she has and I need information fast.'

"Take a seat," Nabiki suggested, offering a part of her bed.  "So what
do you need with me?"

"Information on this Cas," Ranma said bluntly.

Nabiki shot him a curious look.  "I thought you said you weren't
interested," she said slyly.

"Don't you start," Ranma returned, slightly angry.  "I need to know
what she's capable of."

"When do you need this by?" Nabiki asked.

"Before the fight tomorrow," Ranma answered.  "Do you know anything
now?"

Nabiki shook her head.  "She's only been here a day," Nabiki declared.
"I have a few reports on her whereabouts throughout the day but
nothing to suggest she's anything other than a common girl."  Nabiki
paused.  "I don't know if I can get what you're asking for so you must
respect that the costs are going to be considerably more."

Ranma glowered at her but sighed soon afterwards.  "Price doesn't
matter to me," he said softly.  "I just want to keep Akane from
getting hurt.  I'd hope you'd want the same thing."

For a moment, Nabiki almost looked hurt.  "Look, Ranma," she said
coldly.  "I'd love to do this for you free but what if this girl is
only a girl.  Then I will have gone through all the trouble for
nothing.  That's a waste of my time, time that could have been spent
on more profitable pursuits."  She stopped, her features softening.
"I don't want to see her hurt, which is why I will try.  You have to
understand that you are giving me less than a day to get quite a bit
of information, information that might not exist."

"How much?"

"A quarter of your outstanding debt to me," she answered.  "An eighth
if my information is incomplete or inaccurate."

Ranma grimaced.  "I have no choice," he sighed.  "Agreed."

Nabiki nodded.  She waved him off, implying that he should leave.  "I
have phone calls to make," she explained.  Ranma nodded in
understanding, leaving Nabiki to her work.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gosunkugi strolled about the streets of Nerima in the wee hours of the
night.  His mind was racing over the events of the day preventing him
from anything that might resemble sleep.  This happened so often to
him, that he thought there was nothing peculiar about the fact that he
was lucky to get more than three hours of sleep a night.

Word was out that Nabiki wanted information on Cas that would be
useful in a fight.  That could only mean that that wretch Saotome had
stooped to challenging a girl to a fight and now was looking for a
cheap way to defeat her.  'I'll be damned if I help him,' he thought.
'I don't care how much Nabiki's offering.'

He wondered what could be so threatening about Cas.  Sure she had
surprised Ranma at Uuchan's but that was not going to work in a fight.
There had to be something else to this that would worry Ranma.
Gosunkugi wondered what had happened in the battle between Ranma and
Ryouga the other day and considered the possibility of Cas
intervening.  It was useless.  He couldn't see how that little girl
could topple the Ranma Saotome in the heat of battle.

Gosunkugi looked up from the pavement, realizing he had inadvertently
walked into the neighborhood that Cas was staying at.  He doubted the
blond would be awake and that meant excellent photo opportunity.  Sure
she had offered for him to take pictures of her anytime but he wanted
to get pictures the way he had always gotten them.

He didn't get far before he sensed a kind of distortion nearby.  He
dashed in the direction of the sensation.  He didn't have to guess
where this was taking him.  Before long he was in the Hibiki's
backyard watching an angry blond take her frustrations out on a straw
dummy at an unbelievable speed.

Gosunkugi gasped in wonder at the display of speed before him.  It was
amazing yet he sensed no real direction in the way she landed the
blows on the dummy.  It also was disheartening to note that the dummy
wasn't really taking much damage.  Gosunkugi lifted his camera and
took a picture.

The sensation that he had used to guide him here faded instantly.  Cas
was staring over to him, though she looked too tired to say anything.
'Oh well,' he thought.  'Might as well go out there now that she knows
I'm here.'

"Hey... Hikaru," she gasped from her hunched over pose, hands on her
knees.  "You ran out... on me today.  Where... you been?"

"Hiding," he answered honestly.  "I stay away from Ranma as much as
possible."  He decided to throw an extra comment in to see what
reaction he'd get.  "I'd suggest you to do the same."

Cas shook her head, straightening up.  Even standing straight she was
shorter than him.  That was unusual for Gosunkugi.  "Hard to do when
the jerk is following you around," she answered.

"I understand you are to fight tomorrow," he ventured.

"Yea," she muttered.  She threw him a questioning glance.  "How would
you know about it?"

"Nabiki Tendou is the center of the information network in Nerima,"
Gosunkugi explained.  "Not much goes on here that escapes her notice.
She wants a detailed description of what type of fighting to expect.
Ranma is such a coward."

Cas stretched and yawned.  "I don't know about him being a coward but
any information you could pass on wouldn't help," she stated.  "This
fight won't last more than two minutes in my estimation."

'Probably right,' he silently agreed.  Images of Ranma breaking this
young woman assaulted him, resulting in him clenching his thin fists
angrily.  'How dare you, Ranma,' he cursed.  'How dare you hurt a
woman that shows me kindness.'

Cas waved a hand in front of his face.  Gosunkugi blinked, shocked out
of his righteous fury.  "Hey, you looked quite angry, Hikaru," Cas
said speculatively.  "I intend to win this fight in two minutes, not
lose it."

Gosunkugi looked to his feet embarrassed.  "I'm sorry," he muttered.
"I just don't see how you can win, even with your enhanced speed."

Cas cupped his chin and lifted his eyes up to her face.  She was
smiling ever so sweetly at him.  "I thank you for being so concerned,"
she said softly.  "It's very kind of you.  But I assure you, I won't
lose.  Here, I'll show you what I can do."

Gosunkugi nodded, though he still doubted she could do much.  He then
began to sense energy building around him, or rather underneath him.
This energy was causing a deep, resonate hum to build up, barely
audible but growing in volume by the moment.

Gosunkugi slowed his breathing in anticipation.  He suddenly knew that
whatever was happening was because of this woman before him.  Her face
was impassive, her eyes staring at something he couldn't see.  The hum
ceased, replaced by an eerie silence.

"Daichi Funsai," Cas intoned and then struck a fist to the ground.

What happened next caused Gosunkugi to forget to breathe.  The entire
backyard erupted in a shower of debris.  The only ground that was
spared of this fate was the part that Cas and he were standing upon.
He whistled in admiration.

"I've seen Ryouga do that once," he stated.  "But it won't be enough
to beat Ranma."

Cas smiled.  "Yea but my opponent is Akane so I don't need much more
than this," she declared.

Gosunkugi froze.  'Akane is the opponent,' he thought.  'Oh no!'

"What's wrong, Hikaru?" Cas asked.

"I'm sorry but I have to go," Gosunkugi said urgently.  "It's really
late and we both need sleep before the fight tomorrow."

"Yea I suppose you're right," Cas agreed.  "Good night, Hikaru," she
said politely, with a bow.  "Cheer for me on the sidelines, ok.  I
have a feeling nobody else will."

"Good night, Keating-san," he returned, feeling guilty from her words.

"Please, just Cas, or you can call me Cassie," Cas corrected him.  She
smiled and disappeared back into the household.

Gosunkugi sighed, feeling lower than scum.  His heart was torn over
whom to be loyal to.  It was a short battle as he had a sinking
feeling that Cas wouldn't be around long.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Nabiki winced in her sleep.  She opened her eyes, her vision bleary.
The room was dark and her sheets were wrought about her chaotically
from her restless sleep.  The tap on her window, the cause of her
waking, persisted.  Nabiki grimaced, pulling a pillow over her head in
a meager attempt to muffle the sound.

"Tired," she protested meekly to the uncaring sound.  She whimpered as
the sound increased with the evil intention of disturbing her sleep.
Nabiki hammered the bed with a fist in frustration.  She tossed the
pillow aside and decided it was time to get rid of this pest.

'This better be good,' she groaned.  She glanced over to her digital
alarm on her nightstand.  It took a moment and much blinking for her
vision to clear enough for her to see that it was after three in the
morning.  'Gosunkugi,' she surmised.  'He's the only one that would be
up at this time of the night.'

Nabiki tried to get out of bed but her foot got caught in the tangles
of her blankets.  She fell to the floor in an unceremonious heap,
though not quite as painful as her pillow had conveniently been there
for some cushioning.  All the same her wrist ached from the jarring
impact and didn't want to support her weight at the time.

Eventually Nabiki got to her feet, cursing Gosunkugi for not waiting
till morning.  She shook her wrist only to regret the action.  The
shooting pain racing up her forearm was enough to rid her of the last
vestiges of sleep.  She clutched her arm to her breast, walking over
to the window.

Indeed it was Gosunkugi tapping at her window.  Nabiki opened the
window with her good hand and poked her head out.  "What is it, Gos?"
she asked.  "You have any idea what time it is?"

The scrawny voodoo boy shook his head.  "I have information on the
newcomer," he explained.  "I understand you want it for the upcoming
fight between Akane and her."

Nabiki nodded.  "That is correct," she stated.  "But the price depends
on how useful the information is."

Gosunkugi shook his head.  "I doubt it will be useful," he said
softly.  "Is there a way to stop this fight?  I don't want to see
Akane hurt?"

Nabiki grimaced.  "You know Akane," she answered.  "You really think
this girl is that tough?"

"She knows Ryouga's technique though she calls it something else,"
Gosunkugi explained.  "Plus she knows a technique that speeds her
movements up significantly."

"She knows the shi shi houkoudan?" Nabiki stated, perplexed.  'Oh no!'
she worried.  'Even Ranma has trouble fighting against that
technique!'

"No, the rock breaking one," Gosunkugi said.  "Though she has some
revised version of it because I was lead to believe that Ryouga was
always in the center of the blast of the technique when he used it."

"Well, not always," Nabiki said, relieved.  "Is that all that she
knows?"

"Maybe," he answered.  "Maybe not.  She showed me the technique as
only an example of her power.  I had naively commented that such a
move would not be enough to take down Saotome, but that's when she
said that her opponent was Akane."

"And of course you came directly here," Nabiki surmised.  She could
never understand why Gosunkugi took such a liking to her younger
sister.  The boy was barely noticed by the normal girls.  The
possibility of Akane, the most loved of the entire female student
body, taking notice of Gosunkugi was as probable of Gosunkugi beating
Ranma in a fight.

"Actually I stopped for a bite to eat at a late night restaurant and
passed out from exhaustion for an hour and a half in some alleyway on
my way here," Gosunkugi remarked.

"Well, Gos," Nabiki said, ignoring his problems.  "Your information is
disturbing but not very revealing.  Even though this girl may be armed
with the bakusai ten-ketsu, Akane should be able to hold her own."

"I already said I wanted no pay," he said.  "I only wish for Akane's
safety.  Are you sure this is nothing you can say to prevent her from
doing this?"

"Positive," Nabiki curtly replied.  "Ranma was trying to talk her out
of this throughout the course of the dinner, very unsuccessfully I
might add."

"That jerk," Gosunkugi declared, clenching a fist.  "No doubt it was
his fault that this fight was even sanctioned.  Has he no honor?"

Nabiki took this as cue for a yawn and did just that.  She then
absently shoved Gosunkugi, which sent him tumbling off the roof,
cursing about Saotome all the way to the ground.  Nabiki shut her
window and slipped back into bed.  She yawned again, pulling her
sheets around her after retrieving her pillow from beside the bed.

'Akane will be fine,' she assured herself.  'Worrying about it will
only leave me too tired to be of any help.'  With that reasoning,
Nabiki was soon asleep.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ukyou looked up from behind the countertop grill at the couple
entering her restaurant.  She smiled pleasantly at them, offering the
stools at the counter to them with a gesture.  "Come on in Ryouga,
Cas," she greeted.  "What will the two of you like this morning?"

She didn't have to be an expert to tell the two were having some sort
of fight.  She supposed this had to do with the fight with Akane.
Ryouga could be so damn loyal sometimes, even when according to her
sources, this mess was all because of Akane.

Still despite their obvious displeasure, the two hardly looked like
they were about to go to a fight.  Ryouga was dressed in the silky,
yellow shirt Cas had bought him a couple days ago.  The shirt was
sleeveless and was buttoned up in the front with small, black buttons.
His black pants were made of a less flashy material but were clung
about him too tightly to allow for a fight.

Cas looked even less likely as she was wearing a maroon, long sleeved
dress shirt that was unbuttoned.  The shirt was so thin that it
wouldn't have been sensible to wear in the winter without something
underneath.  Cas's pants were black denim and very loose fitting,
though it would hardly be of much help in a fight simply because it
was denim.

Cas strolled over to the offered seat, her hands absently clutching to
the corners of her dress shirt.  Ukyou smirked at the English writing
on the white shirt Cas wore beneath the dress shirt.  The shirt
declared, 'I'm with Stupid', and conveniently had an arrow pointing to
the side where Ryouga was.

"Um... whatever," Ryouga said sullenly, sitting down.

"Something with lots of bacon," Cas chirped, flashing Ukyou a devilish
grin.

"Are you making fun of me?" Ryouga demanded, fists clenching tighter
on the counter surface.

"What if I am?" Cas shot back, defiantly.

"Um... well," Ryouga stuttered, his anger fading.  "It's just not
nice."

"Neither is lying, Ryouga," Cas commented, turning away from him.
"Say, Ukyou.  Did you hear about the fight later today?  I'm gonna
give Akane a whooping."

Ukyou nodded.  "Word travels quick around here," she stated before Cas
could ask the question.  Ukyou spread the sauce and toppings on four
okonomiyaki, of which only one was for Cas, that were frying happily
on her grill.  "Nabiki had her goons out all night gathering whatever
information they could on you, though I doubt they got much.  Haven't
been using magic around here much, have ya?"

Cas shrugged.  "Not really," the blond answered.  "I did give Hikaru a
little display of my skills late last night.  I couldn't sleep and he
happened to be in the neighborhood."

"Who's Hikaru?" Ryouga asked, frowning.

Ukyou served up their orders.  Ryouga tore into his with reckless
abandon.  "Gosunkugi," Cas said.  "He's a talent scout, or so he
claims."

Ukyou suppressed a chuckle.  "You do know that he oftimes works with
Nabiki?" Ukyou asked.  Cas nodded.  "And you still showed him?"

"What harm could it do?" Cas asked flippantly.  "It's not like there
will be anything she can do about it.  Akane charges.  I cast spell.
Bam.  Fight is over.  Pig is mine."

"All this over a stupid pig," Ukyou said with a sigh.  "What do you
want with it anyways?"

Cas arched an eyebrow.  The blond shot Ryouga another killing glare
that went unnoticed, as the lost boy was busy devouring his third
okonomiyaki.  "The pig belongs to Akari," Cas declared, "if it knows
what's good for him.  As for the fight, I'm only doing it because
Akane called me a dimwit and challenged me.  Nobody calls me a dimwit
and I don't back down from a bully."

Ukyou frowned, not certain what to make of Cas's first statement.  She
then flashed Cas a whimsical smile.  "Why don't you renegotiate the
terms of the fight?" Ukyou suggested.  "Fighting over a pig is not a
very interesting reward."

"I fight for the premise, not the reward," Cas huffed, picking
absently at her food.  "Besides, what other terms would I want?  I
can't think of anything I'd want from Akane."

"You could always challenge her for Ranma," Ukyou answered helpfully.

Cas's face screwed up in distaste.  "I'm not really interested in
him," Cas stated coolly.  "That would only make her accusations true
if I had done that."

"Oh," Ukyou said.  "Well, didn't you make a similar offer when
fighting Ranma for Ryuu?  You could do the same with Akane for me?"

"That's different, Ukyou," Cas said with a frown.  "Ryuu wants his
technique back.  Do you really want me to hand Ranma over to you as if
he is some sort of possession?"

"Well... no," Ukyou admitted reluctantly.  "But then he wouldn't feel
obligated towards Akane due to that stupid arrangement between their
parents.  I'm certain Akane would go for the deal.  Those two fight
all the time and I don't think she would grieve much if she lost him."

"I don't want her throwing the fight," Cas snickered.  "I want her to
at least try to win so her defeat will hurt her pride even more."

"Don't worry about her throwing the fight," Ukyou assured her.  "Even
though she hates him, she still is very possessive about him.  After
all, she is a woman of honor, and honor demands that she marry him
even if she doesn't want to.   So she will fight hard."

Cas bounced her head a little to each side, as if bouncing the thought
around her head literally.  The bouncing eventually became an abrupt,
yet decisive shake.  "Naw," the blond declined.  "You're too good for
him Ukyou.  Maybe if I get to know him better I might feel better
about doing that to you, but as for now, I'll stay out of this
relationship business."

"Please, Cas," Ukyou said, giving the blond her best puppy-dog eyes
imitation.  "Do it for me."

Cas smiled, pushing her plate aside.  "Kind of funny," Cas remarked,
"but I think I am doing you a favor by staying out of this."  Cas
slapped Ryouga in the back of his head.  "Let's get going, Ryouga.
I've got a date with Akane."

Ryouga left money on the counter.  Cas hurried him out of the
restaurant with much abuse.  Ukyou sighed as the pair left.  It was
almost like watching Akane and Ranma leave her restaurant, though more
times than naught that also required patching the ceiling and her
bedroom floor.

The sound of Konatsu politely clearing his throat reminded her that
other customers needed attention this morning.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ryouga walked in silence beside Cas towards the Tendou household.  He
hadn't been able to get a word in to change her mind as he had hoped
last night.  It looked like this fight was going to happen.  'I hope
she doesn't hurt Akane,' Ryouga thought morosely.

Cas stopped short before the entrance.  She knocked on the wood with
the back of her hand.  Ryouga attempted to speak up but was silenced
with a glare.  Ryouga crossed his arms and pouted to himself on how
unfair life was.  'This is all your fault, Ranma.'

The door opened up, revealing a familiar face.  Kasumi smiled
pleasantly to them and gestured for them to come in.  "Oh Ryouga,"
Kasumi started.  "I assume your friend here is the girl that Akane is
waiting for out in the dojo.  Please, come in."

Cas bowed politely to the taller girl.  'Wow, Cas really is short,'
Ryouga thought, noticing the considerable difference between the two
girls.  "Um... yea," he said, blinking.  "This is Keating Cas."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Keating-san," Kasumi politely returned
with a bow of her own.

Cas grimaced slightly.  "Please, just Cas," she corrected the taller
girl.  "I'm pleased to meet you as well..." Cas continued, gesturing
to Kasumi.

"Oh, forgive me.  I am Tendou Kasumi, Akane's older sister," Kasumi
introduced herself.

"So," Cas said, glancing about the yard, "which way to the dojo?"

"It's over there," Kasumi answered, pointing.

"Thank you, this won't take long," Cas stated, tugging on Ryouga's
arm.  "Come on, Ryouga."

Ryouga nodded politely to Kasumi as he was lead off to the dojo.  He
walked past the familiar koi pond on his left, noting that Genma and
Soun were playing their game on the porch to his right.  Neither man
looked over to the pair, either because they were used to such strange
things or dared not to take their eyes of the board lest something
change mysteriously.

Cas stepped up the two steps and entered the dojo.  Ryouga came in
behind her and quickly took note of the assembled audience.  Nabiki
stood nearby to their left dressed in cotton overalls and a turquoise,
short-sleeved shirt.  Her arms were crossed, her face betraying an
annoyance for what was going on between Ranma and Akane.

Akane was in the center of the dojo, throwing punches at an imaginary
opponent and blatantly ignoring Ranma's protests against this fight.
She was garbed in a simple white gi and wore a yellow tie around her
head.  Akane didn't appear to notice their arrival yet.

For that matter, neither had Ranma who stood just out of Akane's
reach.  Ranma was dressed in his usual Chinese style, short-sleeved,
silk shirt and loose, black pants.  "But Akane," Ranma said,
exasperated.  "I tell you I'm not even the least bit interested in
her."

"Really?" Akane huffed.  "Then why did you have my sister get all the
information she could about this girl if you aren't 'interested'?"

"Aw man," Ranma griped.  "Don't you ever listen to me?  I was only
doing that to help scout out your opponent."

"So you say," Akane stated coldly.  Akane looked up, her gaze
darkening upon noticing Cas's presence.  "So you have come."

Cas's face was just as serious.  "I have nothing to fear from you,"
Cas declared.  Ranma was trying to suppress laughter.  Ryouga frowned,
uncertain what could be so funny.  "What?" Cas asked for him.  "What's
so funny?"

Ranma pointed at Ryouga and barked out a laugh.  Ryouga threw him a
questioning glare to which Ranma simply answered, "Stupid."  Ranma
went back to laughing.

Ryouga clenched his fists.  'How dare he mock this predicament?'
Ryouga thought indignantly.  "Ranma," he growled.  "I'm not stupid."

Nabiki had casually strolled up next to Ranma, curiosity evident on
her face.  The look was immediately replaced by an equally smug look.
"Well you are to the left of her," she quipped.

Ryouga frowned.  "What are you talking about?" he demanded, completely
confused.  He glanced over to Cas for an explanation.  Cas looked down
to her shirt and bit her lip.  "What is it?"

"Nothing," Cas answered, far too quickly to be believable.  "If you're
ready, Akane, I suggest we get this over with."

"Ha," Akane huffed.  "I'm ready."  Akane took up a fighting stance.

Cas held her arms out wide and backed off.  She grinned devilishly,
her blue eyes flashing.  "If you insist," Cas said lightly.  "But I
think the terms need to be changed.  Your P-Chan was rather upset
about this entire thing so I think I'll go for a better prize."

"Why?" Akane demanded.  "What happened to my P-Chan?"

Cas threw a baleful look at Ryouga, unsettling him.  Ryouga was all
too aware that Ranma was enjoying this as much as his rival had during
the last encounter between Akane and Cas.  "He got lost, but I swear
that I will not take him away from you ever again, win or lose," Cas
promised.

Akane wasn't happy about the news.  "I'll hold you to that," she said
through gritted teeth.  "So what are the new terms?"

"Simple," Cas said.  "Whoever wins gets to force Ranma on a date with
someone.  If you win, you can dump him off on anyone you want and the
same for me."

"Hey!" Ranma protested.  "I'm not some piece of property to have my
fate decided by a fight that I'm not even involved in!"

"Why Ranma?" Akane hissed, turning on her fianc�.  "You've done this
to me countless amount of times.  Are you afraid that I'm going to
lose?"

"Well... no," Ranma said carefully.

"He's afraid you'll win," Cas added in.  Ryouga shot Cas an angry
look, but soon realized the effect that simple statement had on Akane.
Akane was nearly glowing with rage.

"Is that true, Ranma?" Akane growled.

Ranma held up his hands defensively.  "W-w-wait a second," he
stammered.  "She's the one that said it.  Not me."

"Aaarr!" Akane cried in frustration.  She turned on Cas.  "Let's get
this over with!"

Cas bowed politely.  Ryouga watched as Akane took up her stance again
across from the shorter blond.  'She really is short,' he marveled.
Cas closed her eyes, focusing.  Ryouga knew what this meant.

"Akane, strike quickly!" Ranma shouted.

There was a low hum filling the room.  Ryouga refrained from giving
Akane a similar warning.  As much as he cared for Akane, he trusted
Cas would not harm Akane.  Akane shot a quieting glare at Ranma.
"Don't tell me how to fight!" she shot back.

The hum ceased.  Cas's eyes flew open as Akane charged in.  Ryouga
watched, transfixed by the scene.  Cas hopped up on her back foot and
threw out a punch much like one would throw a baseball.  "Ichijun!"
the blond shouted.

Akane easily avoided the comical punch but was staggering nonetheless
from the gust of air that forced her back from her opponent.  Akane
recovered and tried another charge only to fail again.

"What the hell is she doing?" Ranma demanded of noone in particular.
Ryouga shrugged.  "Is she throwing chi balls or something?"

Akane staggered to her knees after a third failed attempt.  Cas held
fists up in a stance that could only be described as mocking.  "You
ready to give up?" Cas asked.

"Never!" Akane growled, charging in.

"A shame," Cas remarked, pushing Akane down with another comical
punch.  "Guess I'll have to take this fight up a notch."  The hum in
the room intensified.  Akane charged in, delivering a punch that would
surely crush anything it connected with.

It never connected.  "Sundan Boufuu!"  Akane was sent hurtling to the
other end of the dojo, smashing into the wall with an audible thud.
The winds swirled about the room before dissipating.  All eyes were on
Akane, who was giving no indication of moving soon.

"Akane!" Ryouga shouted, running towards the motionless girl.  Ranma
beat him to her but any rivalry between them was forgotten at the
moment.  Ranma held Akane gently, turning her over.  Akane's eyes were
closed and a small trickle of blood was sliding down her temple.

"Akane!" Ranma cried, desperately.  "Akane, open your eyes!"

Ryouga knelt down beside the couple.  He could tell by the slight
movement of her chest that Akane was still breathing.  He attempted to
put a comforting hand on Ranma's shoulder, only to have it shoved off.
Ryouga turned angrily at Cas.  "You didn't have to hit her so hard!"
he reprimanded.

"You think she would have done as much for me?" Cas shot back.  "She's
lucky I didn't hit her with anything serious."

"You should have..." the words dying as he watched Ranma stand up.
"Ranma?"  Ranma charged at the blond at top speed.  Ryouga could only
get to his feet as he watched in horror as Ranma closed in on Cas.
"Ranma..." he choked out.

Cas's eyes widened at the new assailant.  Her eyes closed and the hum
of energy began anew.  "No!!" Ryouga screamed, finding the strength to
run.

Before he could intervene, Ranma connected with a kick to Cas's
shoulder that rang through the dojo with a sickening crunch.  That one
kick lifted Cas off her feet and sent her flying.  Her body sailed
through the dojo wall, leaving behind a ragged gaping hole.

Ryouga's heart fell at the sight.  Ranma was standing there with a
dazed look on his face.  Perhaps he was confused as to where the
opponent gone.  Perhaps he was appalled with what he had just done.

Whatever the reason, Ryouga didn't care.  Ranma had very possibly
killed his friend.  That was all the fuel he needed.  "Shi shi
houkoudan!"

Ranma wasn't even prepared for the attack.  The chi struck him in
full.  In moments another body hit the floor, unconscious.  Ryouga
charged out of the dojo to check on his friend.

The sight that greeted managed to bring his despair even lower.
Kasumi was cradling the Cas's head in her lap.  "Father!  Call an
ambulance quick!" she shouted.  The men on the porch blinked.  "Now!"
Both men scampered inside, hopefully to do Kasumi's bidding.

Ryouga walked slowly over to Kasumi, falling to his knees.  Cas looked
much the same as Akane did, only she was bleeding from her mouth and
her breathing was shallower.  His breathing tightened with sorrow as
he noted that her other shoulder was in no better condition as the one
Ranma had kicked.  Apparently it had been the first part of Cas to
strike the dojo wall.

He took Cas's fragile, small hand in his.  "It's all my fault," he
whispered.  "I'm sorry, Cas.  It's all my fault."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Closing Theme - "Dizzy"

Waiting
Watch the clock pass time
The words I want to say to you
Can't escape my mind

Wondering
Someday will you realize?
The feelings that I hide behind
The fury of my eyes

Please dizzy up this girl
Spin around my world
Tell me that you love me more than anyone you knew
Dizzy up this girl
Give my life a twirl
Wait and see what happens next when you do

How long will your indecision
Bring heartache in my life
Whether wrong or right
It keeps me up at night

Letting go of a childhood dream
Was never my intent
But if you don't say yes
My life will be a mess

So dizzy up this girl
Watch her wings unfurl
As you say you love her more than anyone you knew
Dizzy up this girl
What was sand is now a pearl
As every girl needs love to get her through

Please someday soon

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Well that's a wrap.  Please email any comments to zinyadel@hotmail.com.
I don't mind flames.  Sometimes good ideas come from them.  I'll be sure
to torment all once again with the next addition.

Ciaow





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