"Almost there. . .Just a bit more. . ." The boy always felt a direct path was a right path, but this time every step up left him with a sour aftertaste. Ryoga Hibiki met a strange monk three days ago on the coast north from Nerima.
The young fighter looked something to take away the shame riding on his back also known as P-Chan. The spiritual man told him of an ancient secret Buddha gave his people over five thousand years ago. "Now young man. . .This secret is given to only the most faithful disciples . . .The only reason I'm trusting you with it is the aura I sense in you."
"We are trained to endure pain and loneliness, yet your energies tell me about your own. . .It does not look well. . .Find the last mountain, near the last part from a forest where every animal grows beyond recognition and all danger on that place makes you the smallest living creature in the universe. There, you will see the glow on the bead . . .Follow it until arriving at your destination."
The man walked away after leaving a small white bead he took off from his necklace. The quest was daunting but the reward symbolized his freedom, so after no time to re-pack or rest, the young martial artist went on with his goal once and for all.
Ryoga took a peek every now and then making sure a misstep wouldn't make his fall all those hundreds of feet down from the cliff a fact. Two days took him to find the right way and another two to learn the straight way up. . .He tried the road only to end up somewhere else, so up the cliff was the only option.
Broken and bloodied nails. . .No rest. . .And starving made him stare at his last act ahead. "Finish it Ryoga. . .Finish this or drop dead, literally. . ." On the last few feet he managed to see the top, smiling at his stubbornness, he decided to stop to rest for one second.
Gravity did most of the job when the place he rested broke down, sending the boy into his demise. He had only one thing in mind. . .a life lost with no happy ending. On the last second, an old and wrinkly hand grabbed him, pulling him away from his death.
Ryoga took a deep breath, sat besides his savor and bowed down respectfully. "Thank . . .T-Thank you Sir. . .That was the closest I've ever been from defeat. . ."The old, bearded man ignored every comment. . .Every wasted breath by the young man, but something made him tremble in fear.
"I can sense your Karma . . .You are riddled with the worst of the worst . . .Let me see. . .Terrible sense of direction, always lost and what's this. . .No love? . . .No family, friends or a girl in your life. . .That is indeed hell on earth."
Ryoga felt even more depressed than before, ignoring any desire to go on with his quest, but something made him stop from moving. "Wait. . .There is someone. . .A girl is firmly grasping your Aura, but she is trapped. . .Trapped within another one. . ."
Raising heartbeats made him remember the two wonderful girls in his life. The Tendo's youngest daughter full with passion and irresistible charm, or the pig trainer always looking out for the lost boy made his eyes jump from hand to hand as if they were the only options.
This time the boy forgot pain or tiredness. His attention focused at the old man. "Tell me. . .Is it . . .Akane-san? . . .Maybe Akari? . . ." Ryoga kept looking for signs telling if any of these two were destined to be part of his life, but the man stared into the empty horizon trying to clear his thoughts.
"No. . .Neither of those names ring a bell. . .This trapped girl is very fond of you. Keeps you in her mind wishing to be part of your life forever. . .The only thing I can see clearly is. . . Red. . .Yes!. . .Her hair is red."
The bandanna boy gaped, turning to stone by the stupidest of ideas from the wise man. "Old man. . .You must have the wires crossed. . .That girl doesn't exist. . .Is just a curse my rival posses. . .You can't seriously think I'm in love with a guy . . .Do you?"
The old man blinked at the unexpected bit of information, but his comment kept going on. "Young man. . .Sometimes not even gender is an obstacle for happiness or love. . .Still, that is not the meaning in you. . .You have feelings for her. . .And not him, am I not correct?"
There was no way he could answer that after being really attracted to that boy's curse. "I . . .I don't really . . ." The old man laughed vigorously. "Oh young people. . .Always thinking ahead of their time. I'm telling you young master. . .If you truly loved him or her, there would be nothing stopping you from reaching your goal."
The man stood up, walked near a hollow tree and pulled out a small gray stone. "Take this. . .Set it on your forehead and focus on your happiness." Ryoga doubted at first, but in the end he complied with his wishes. The surprise was majuscule when P-Chan jumped away from his chest.
"What . . .?" The little black piglet tilted his head uncertain by his reaction and walking near the stunned boy. "Well. . .Your curse is no more, and do you want to know the funny thing from it all?" Ryoga waited patiently for a late warning or a dumb comment about split souls or some incomplete side effect.
"He tells me how tired is to be a human. . .Can you believe it?. . .The little piglet hated being Ryoga Hibiki. . ." His laughter made no sense until he saw an angry P-Chan scoffing his demeanor towards girls the most. The fanged, new boy felt this as his major weakness.
Promptly , he ran near a stream where a splash confirmed it. . .There was no more transformation. The old man sat back on his place. "Now. . .Back to business. . .What will you do. . .Fight for this Akane-san or the other girl after getting rid of the cursed piglet in you?"
He kept thinking on his next step, leaving on his mind the first instruction given by the wise man. "Tell me. . .If I separate Ranma from his curse. . .Will there be a girl from it?" The old man felt his interest peaked by now.
"But of course. . .This is not a magical stripping curse, but . . . A re-incarnating gem. . ." This time his wonder arouse even higher. "You mean my piglet form and Ranma's curse. . .They're . . ." The man kept hanging there for a minute . . . "What! . . .Alive? . . .Of course! . . .Why do you think they call them magical pools where such and such died several thousand years ago? . . .Ay Ay! . . .This generation gets dumber by the day . . ."
P-Chan nodded confirming his own notion. The boy's face beamed from the news like he never shone before. "Than. . ."She" is the one for me . . .Right?" The old man looked down, saddened by his Aura again. "Well. . .Not if you don't hurry. . .Seems your friend is about to receive a fatal lesson in arrogance and he might be stuck with her for the rest of his life. . ."
The old geezer turned around ignoring any attempt to heed any other word. Ryoga felt the urgency and followed his heart, waving a farewell and jumping into the abyss. The boy meditated about the redheaded girl ignoring the increasing speed spiraling him to the bottom.
From within his shirt the little black piglet blinked at the boy's rushed decision only to see him reply with a shrugging shoulder. "Hey . . .You were stuck with me all this time . . .Trust me at least this once. . ." The piglet rolled his eyes and let him take the lead.
At a few feet away from touching ground, his happiness made him release a fit of emotion very close to depression, but positive this time. . .The pride to be with the one he really loved hidden among his rival made him explode into a Shishi-Hokodan so strong, it actually slowed his descent and gave him the needed push forward.
"Bwee . . .Bwe, Bwee? . . ." Ryoga smiled back at him, reassuring his feelings. "Of course I love her. . .Stupid Ranma keeps flaunting her enchants in front of me so indecently . . .I need to stop him before he ends up doing worse."
In Nerima, the celebration went ahead. The second wedding between Akane Tendo and Ranma Saotome left his other girlfriends with no chance to fight back. The girl pushed him to explain his feelings towards Ukyo and his loathing desire to stay away from the Amazons.
Everything seemed in place that day. . .Everything except for the last guest to the Tendo residence. Sanzenin Mikado walked into the house with a piece of paper, ready to deliver it to the boy only. Ranma couldn't forget the most humiliating demonstration in front of his bride no less when he kissed him in the rink. He awaited impatiently for the boy to finish his business and leave. "So Mikado. . .What's this 'bout?"
"Ranma Saotome. . .I heard the news of your engagement and there is only one request in my mind." The boy delivered the piece of paper from his hands to his. Ranma saw the enormous price on the list. "What's this?"
"Well. . .This is my wedding gift of course. . .I hope you'll be happy for the rest of your life. . .You can get the boxes on pier twenty-one near Nerima bay. . ." The boy bowed at the Tendo girl and walked outside the place.
Nabiki stared at the description on the crates and her eyes ogled on every pricey item written in it. "Ranma. . .We could make a fortune re-selling these . .Think about it. . .I'm even willing to cut 60 - 40 . . ." Both teenagers sweat dropped knowing well who was going to get the forty percent.
"Nah. . .This is a gift an' I'm getting' it for the party. . ." As usual, the Saotome heir asked every male in the family to help him carry several crates of expensive bottles, only to be denied by a lazy father and a busy father in law.
The boy kept walking to the outskirts of town looking for the right pier until finding it besides a bar. "Well . . .It figures. . .To get bottles of expensive alcohol is to go near a bar . . .Oh well . . ." The boy entered the lowly lit tavern, many men had scars and their faces showed life's hard mistreatment.
"So! . . .What do we have here . . ." The big man saw a tiny, young man holding a blue piece of paper up high in the air. Most men saw the signal and they crowded around the martial artist. "Well if it isn't the groom. . .Boys! . . .We have "our man" for the party." Everyone laughed and cheered making the pigtailed boy cheer with them.
"Son . . .Mikado sent his regards and hopes this gift will be of your liking. . .Everyone! Get ready for the main celebration." Ranma saw how the old men filled with tattoos fought alongside a barrel with a strong smell, and blinked at one of them when he offered a mug full with the drink.
"Go ahead young one. . .Is bad luck to refuse a sailor and besides. . .A married man, is a happy man. . ." The pigtailed boy accepted the mug and drank it easily enough. Away from his back, other men moved a suspicious green bottle from the back of the cabinet to where he celebrated.
Not too far from the pier, a tired fanged boy walked near the ships when his mind alerted him from something. He guided his steps with the cold, damp metal fence until meeting three big men chatting a few yards away.
"C'mon guys. . .That brat sent by the rich boy arrived at the bar. . .He said this idiot can transform into a beautiful girl with cold water. . .This time we can have our sweet time and make everything we want. . .According to that boy, he acts foolish when teased with pride and if we go too far. . .Warm water should change him back into a boy. . ."
The three men laughed diabolically walking away with a question made from one sailor to the next. "Hey man. . .Why do you think this rich kid hates this brat so much . . .?" The bigger man laughed even louder at the answer.
"Apparently, he transformed into this chick and let himself be kissed by that rich boy. . .When Mikado knew who he really was and figured he kissed another boy. . .Well, that pretty much says it all. . .In my opinion if he was a girl at the time. . .I couldn't care less."
Ryoga kept walking until seeing the men entering the illuminated bar. When he peeked through the window, a cheering pigtailed boy toasted with the twenty or so sailors. The one behind the bar calmed the cheerful atmosphere, focusing on the several empty mugs and prepared to speak.
"Young man . . .This is the most important time of your life. . .Now!. . .A toast for the smartest, bravest groom in all Japan! . . ." Ryoga managed to see one of the sailors slipping some kind of powder in the mug given to the boy.
"Cheers! . . ." Ranma figured he was old enough to drink and with the crowd imposing on him, the last he wanted was to refuse . . .So, the mug turned upside down, pouring gulp after gulp away inside the sheepish boy.
Ryoga face-palmed hoping he would sense the danger, but it was true. . .His greatest weakness was always his damn pride. He sneaked carefully to the back door, waiting for the opportunity to grab him and pull him away, carefully setting P-Chan on the outside window sill.
"Stay here . . .I don't want to worry about two problems with all these morons." The black piglet agreed, running behind a bucket filled with water and waiting for the gathering to dissipate. The fanged boy saw how Ranma became easily inherited fearing the little time he had left to act.
Everything stopped when the sailors stared at the tumbling boy, holding from one of the wooden beams with his hands. "W-What the hell? . . ." The smiles turned into desire and lust when the man behind the bar doused him with cold water, accentuating her new chest through her damp red blouse.
Howling and loud steps made the girl carefully walk back, against the wall. "W-Wait. . .What the hell are you thinkin' . . .?" The men's eyes turned dark and their hands found the right target when her blouse was ripped, next her pants pulled. . .The only piece left were the male shorts which flew away with ease.
Ranma tried to fight back but whatever they poured kept her from articulating any coherent movement. Her trembling eyes finally realized the terrible mistake. "Wait you can' do this! . . .I ain't a girl. . .Just. . .J-Just let me explain. . ."
The grossing sensation to be grabbed by foreign, calloused hands me her fight as best she could. Although her desire to escape kept her alive, that same feeling bore deep within her mind. "Damn it! . . .They're touching me there. . .No! . . .I feel strange an' they keep grabbin' everywhere. . ."
Her stomach made flips from the disgusting inappropriate touch, her eyes brimmed with fear to be used that way and tossed outside like a common prostitute. . .To be even pregnant from an innumerable group of strangers.
"Oh beautiful . . .We know you ain't a real girl. . .That's why we are goin' all out until morning . . .Then, we will change you back and no one will be the wiser. . ." Her tears finally threatened to spill. Ranma felt the need to escape, but there was no where to go or what to do, she just closed her eyes and awaited the rape.
The first thing they did was to force her mouth, filling it with even more liquor. The warm liquid made her gag, making the other men laugh at her desperation. "Easy darling. . .We don' want you to drown. . .We have plenty of use to that pretty body of yours."
Ranma panicked and tried to resist only to be grabbed forcibly by several men. The bandanna boy couldn't wait any longer, feeling the rushing indignation given to his friend. In a flash of anger, Ryoga lifted a big crate, throwing it through the window.
Some gasped fearing the police. . .Others turned to the origin from the throwing object angrily at the one making the fuzz, but what happened next made them feel at ease again. Another young boy about the same age than the redheaded girl walked into the bar demanding his own justice.
"You try to lay a finger on him and you're dead! . . ." The sailors stared at the damage but failed to see the danger, laughing at the new addition. "That was impressive boy. . .But nothin' a couple of guys can do too. . .Go away or join us. . .This pretty thing can satisfy all of us. . ."
Ryoga snarled at him, grabbing the metallic bar and pushing it against them. The artificial barricade was enough to push them away far enough for him to grab the naked redhead and jump away from the place. Ranma stared scared at the boy carrying her away, but something felt familiar. . .Those fangs.
"R-Ryoga? . . .Is that you?" The boy had no time to answer, afraid to just run in circles back at the angry mob. After a few seconds, they arrived to an abandoned pier where there was nothing between them and the massive fences obstructing their escape.
Voices told him of their enemies closing in on them forcing Ryoga to think on his feet. The redhead felt the hot temperature in her body thanks to that drug still in her system. When they hid on top of a pile made of tarps, the girl lunged at him, kissing him passionately.
Surprise was the least of his worries when her lips made him deepened the kiss even more. Ranma felt the need to caress and run her hands all over the boy, when her exploration took her inside his pants, Ryoga jumped away from the girl.
"Damn it Ranma. . .I could kill you right now, but I know is the drug making you do that." The girl kept asking for his arms and his kisses, but the boy buried her into the pile of tarps, making sure she was covered.
"Ok. . .Stay here and don't make a sound. . .I promise I'll get you out of this mess. . ." The girl's pouting face begged one last time. The boy rolled his eyes and crouched again, kissing her with the feverish desire burning in the girl.
The two dozen men arrived to the place they were sure the boy and girl had run to. "C'mon out brat!. . .Give us that girl and nothin' will happen to you."
From besides the pile a lone, young boy walked near the group. "You better kill me if you want, but your not getting near her. . ." His pose made them know of his knowledge in martial arts, but still they scoffed demeaning his efforts.
"Look at us brat. . .You may take on five or ten. . .But by the time your done, the rest of us will take you apart. . . What's even worse for you is our background. . .We are not fighters like you, but we know about fights and endurance is branded in our lives. . .Let's see how far can you go. . ."
The fight became enraged from beginning to finish. Ryoga managed to take most of them down thanks to his massive strength, but what the leader said was true. At some point, their punches became stronger and faster. Ryoga felt the tired muscles on his back and arms screaming from the pain but he never gave up on Ranma.
"Fine brat. . .I didn' want to go this far, but you deprived us from our girl . . .So this is personal . . .Prepare to die. . ." The fanged, tired boy saw how the other fifteen men pulled wooden bats and metal pipes, sharing them in between.
The next assault brought him to the last silent comment the old, wise man gave him before leaving. He never cared for understanding it or even pay any attention to it, but the sordid blows to his head made him fill those words strangely.
"What will you do for her . . .Are you willing to die for your soul mate?" Nothing but blood and a deformed body laid on the disturbed ground. From the mixture of dirt, oil and the red fluid, a small smile tugged on his lips.
"I . . .I-I will die for her. . .Yes . . .I guess I would." Several hours passed until Akane arrived to the scene where the police found the broken body of a young man. The girl ran at him, fighting between looking at the remains or run away.
Suddenly her eyes opened and her whaling cries made Soun and Genma rush close by. "Dad! . . .Is Ryoga. . .T-That bandanna! . . .It is Ryoga . . ." The girl hugged her father, crying bitterly at the state on the boy.
A male nurse walked near the medical forensic, reporting his findings. "Sir. . .Apparently the boy has all his body broken, but amazingly he's still alive. . ." The man gaped at the severity of his injuries and doubted him, going to check for himself.
He walked back to the family and assured them of the patient. "He is indeed alive, we are transporting him to the central hospital in Nerima ward." He walked away until stopping and turning around quizzically. "By the way. . .He keeps mentioning "pile" . . .Any idea about this Miss Tendo?"
The girl felt distraught by her friend, but Ranma finally fell in her radar. "Wait! . . .Where is Ranma? . . .He was suppose to be here yesterday." The girl searched with her vision until it stopped on the pile of tarps. "There! . . .Please, help me everyone."
The nurses rushed at the pile, excavating every piece of heavy plastic covers until a strain of red made them re-double their efforts. After everything was cleared, Ranma in female form and naked laid unconscious underneath all the materials.
She was rushed too, but after the medical examiner told them she was Ok, just drugged, Soun requested him to leave her to the family. Akane saw in slow motion how her life crumbled from the merry go around shenanigans to the cruel mistress reality really was.
When they arrived, Dr. Tofu used natural remedies and acupuncture to push the drug effects away from the girl. In her mind, another war raged with the recent facts. She dreamt just like he did when Kuno declared his love for the boy.
This time though, there were fragmented pieces floating in the dream. Ranma saw how weird and dark hands grabbed her, taking her clothing apart and laying perverted touching all over her body. The sensation escalated when a single hand rubbed between her legs forcing her body to arch in disgust.
The redhead woke up at the physical touch of a male hand on her back, jumping away and against the wall with her eyes firmly set on the man. "Calm down Ranma. . .You went through a very traumatic experience but you are in the care of your family. . ."
The girl stared at each one of the presents until moving slowly back to her bed. The shape of her distressed conduct meant nothing when the same tired exertion made the girl fall asleep again. This time the dream came even harder.
This time, Ranma saw someone else grabbing her and touching the most intimate places in her female body. . .Someone close to her. . . The face on her assaulter took the form with a bandanna holding his hair and a smiling face with fangs. "R-Ryoga. . .N-No . . .Stop! . . .It's me. . .Don' you dare grabbin' me there. . .P-Please stop! . . .Don' . . .!"
The girl woke again from the nightmare looking only at the little Tendo by the bed. "Easy Ranma. . .You are safe . . ." The blue haired girl stroke her red hair noticing the girl calming down. "Yes. .That's better. . .Dr. Tofu is gone for the day, but he'll be back tomorrow. . .Ahem . . ."
Ranma composed herself on the bed and changed her sights away from the other girl. . .Into the wall. "What? . . .Are you goin' to make fun of me for cryin' in my sleep?" The girl felt a pang, thinking on all their fights. This time she kept quiet until the girl got up and ran at the bathroom.
A male Ranma walked back and lay on the bed, resting from the terrible ordeal. Akane stared silently until daring to ask him again. "Ranma . . .What about Ryoga . . .W-Why were you talking about him?" The boy's eyes turned red, tightening his balled fists in ire.
"Akane. . .He was there . . .All those men tried to use me. . .They . . .T-They made me drunk an' poured somethin' on my drink, but the one leading them was Ryoga. . .I . . .I saw him . . ." The girl refused to believe it. She got up and walked away from the pigtailed boy disturbed by the accusation.
"It can't be . . .Ranma . . .Are you sure?" The boy nodded angrily trying to forget the incident, but his mind kept rolling back to those broken memories. "Yes . . .I remember "him" kissin' me an' grabbing me places. . .Then, I heard the bartender sayin' something to him . . .Somethin' like . . . join us. . .This pretty thing can satisfy all of us."
Akane felt sick, running to the bathroom and emptying her stomach. She came back after cleaning and washing, afraid to keep prodding on the boy. When she entered the room, Ranma was crying quietly without even noticing.
The boy saw how the tears wouldn't stop running down, he snarled even louder and stood up, getting dressed to go out. "W-Where are you going?" The boy fixed his shirt and pants, walking away from her. "To kill that bastard. . .He is goin' to wish he was dead when I'm done with him . . ."
"You don't have to . . .He is in the hospital right now. . .The doctors. . ." Ranma kept waiting for the rest of his enemy's diagnostic, but the girl feared finishing the sentence. "He. . .He is laying down unconscious within an inch of his life. . .Ranma. . .There has to be a mistake."
The pigtailed boy restarted his walk, disappearing into the night. The girl ran to the only person in the family capable to not only understand but to give advice about any situation. "Nee-Chan . . .What can I do. Ranma is out of control thanks to those men and I'm sure Ryoga-kun is not to blame."
The oldest Tendo sat besides the concerned girl, patiently appraising the situation. "Akane-Chan. Think for one moment about his feelings, he was a trapped girl among brute, merciless men looking to satisfy their sexual needs."
"I'm afraid Ryoga-kun is not like them, but he has done questionable things to him. That enchanted rod comes to mind. . .And Ranma-kun seems to tease him a lot. . .I'm not ruling over his fault, I just want you to think as Ranma's future wife. . ."
The girl saw everything that night, from the tent incident where he had Ranko laying down and naked from her waist up until the last part on Furinkan grounds, declaring how he felt to the pigtailed boy. "I admit he has done a few blunders, but think about Ranma's own behavior towards men."
"He teases, accepts treats and lead them to believe on his innocent female face. . .Only to mess with their minds and laugh at their ashamed looks. . .I don't know. . .If Ryoga wanted to do something like that, he would have done so before and alone. . .He is too prideful to accept any kind of help. . ." Both girls went their own way, leaving the question unanswered and focusing on the problem at hand.
The night showed no signs of disturbance from a quiet neighborhood, the hospital opened for everyone but the teen always preferred the hard way when entering a place like this. Ranma easily escalated all ten floors from window to window until perching outside that dark room.
There was nothing but a bed in the middle of the place, and a beeping machine plugged directly to the boy's breathing system with wires attached on his chest. When the pigtailed boy opened and entered, his movements made no sound alerting the other sleeping boy. Ranma stared at the patient completely bandaged from head to toe wondering about his injuries.
When the door opened and the click of the light went off, a doctor and a nurse walked at Ryoga's side studying his case. "Nurse Tabashi, if the preliminary tests are correct, this boy will be a nuisance. We need to make Mr. Soun responsible for his well being or it will harm the hospital's economy. . .Unless we do the humane thing for him and stop the respirator."
The nurse kept writing every note, nodding slightly at his employer's orders. The man stared at the young patient while shaking his head negatively. "I'm sorry kid. . .I'm afraid you won't be here for too long. . ." Ranma felt a raging fight in his mind. He probably tried to abuse of him, but what if he didn't? . . .The boy walked from the lavatory crying and begging for his life.
"Oh please! . . .Don' take him away. . .He is the only man I ever known. . ." The surprised nurse gaped trying to see where the redheaded girl came from. The doctor acted more energetic though. "Young lady. . .Where do you come from and why were you hiding?"
"I wasn't hidin' . . .I've been here all day an' I went to wash for a second. . .But, why do you want to unplug him?" The man shuddered at a possible lawsuit fearing even more legal problems that he could handle. "Miss. . .He is in a coma from the severe beating a few days ago. . .Even if he recuperates from that, he will be in a vegetative state. . .Do you know the kind of hell it is to not move, talk or interact with others? . . .If it's my decision . . .I think the sanest option is to let him die. . ."
Her blue eyes trembled at the uncertainty of it all. She had to do something . . .Anything. "Please. . .Call my uncle, he is the man reporting the incident. . .Uncle Tendo will take care of him. . ." The doctor nodded slowly, walking away from the girls.
The nurse reaffirmed her decision as the most compassionate of all, leaving her behind with Ryoga. Ranma stared at the only visible portion on his face. His closed eyes furrowed every now and then like if he was dreaming something terrible.
"Don' worry buddy. . .I'll get you better, then, I'll find out what you really were doin' there." The girl moved a plastic chair closer and sat the rest of the night contemplating the boy's spasms. Morning came and a serious Tendo family walked into the room. The girl ran at the redhead, making sure she didn't do anything wrong.
"Ranma! . . .H-How is he? . . ." The rest of the family walked closer and heard the girl talk. "It's bad Akane. . .I came last night ready to pound him into oblivion when the doc entered and talked 'bout disconnecting him. . .Letting him die . . .They told me if he survives, most likely he'll be a vegetable."
Akane gasped, moving her hands to her lips astonished by the news. Soun felt bad for the boy accepting him into the house for the rest of his recuperation. Ranma assured him about his new guest. "Mr. Tendo. . .I swear, I'll find a way to solvent the money. . .I . . .I will do anythin' . . ."
The rest smiled and accepted his good wishes. A few hours later, the doctor let them take him home with the relief of the respirator off. "Mr. Tendo. . .I believe he can breathe on his own now. . .His expenses should be minimum after all. . .Just be mindful and let time heal him further." The patriarch agreed and they left. On the house, a few sacrifices had to be made. Akane agreed to live with Kasumi while her bed worked as the boy's resting room.
Ranma made sure to keep an eye on him everyday, from fixing the place to cleaning him. He learned to cope with a sleeping fanged boy saying nothing. . .Doing nothing. "Damn Ryoga. . .What did you do that night there? . . .I must know. . .Even if I go again and force the truth out of them."
The boy walked away cursing his luck and seeing him unmoving, with his only sign of life raising and lowering his chest. Several days passed with no change. Akane looked tired from the worry and her fiancé's grumpy attitude towards all the others outside the house made the situation even more complicated about his mental health.
The regular mishaps with Kuno stopped being funny, Shampoo tried to cheer him up on her own way only to be pushed away by his depression. . .Ukyo still hated his guts from the marriage proposal's fight so she never looked for him again.
Akane decided from the traumatic experience to stop the wedding for good. Her boyfriend began to show signs of loneliness and apathy towards her as a female, giving the idea of a deeper scar in his mind. Akane accepted the facts, moving back and begging her father to cancel the engagement for the good of the boy.
"What you ask me is hard Akane-Chan. . .This is the point for everything. The reason why Ranma and his father have lived among us for so long and the mission to unite the schools." The girl's brown eyes plead with devotion as a friend to the young teen.
"I know dad, don't you think I don't love him? But can't you see how disturbed he's become? . . .He almost killed Kuno the other day when he sneaked and hugged him, there were no reports against him because the one causing the problem was Sempai, but he is extremely distraught. . .I will not push him into something he is not ready. . ."
The man saw the boy as a son in time, but what the girl commented rang true after all. "Fine dear. . .The marriage is postponed for now. . .We'll see in later."
Even with the young teens help, the house was a dirty place full of dust so the only left to safeguard the cleanliness was the oldest daughter. That day, Kasumi dusted all over the place after doing laundry and preparing supper.
The girl walked upstairs to check on the sleeping boy, when a sudden motion made her turn and look at a sitting teenager resting in the room. . .He wasn't talking or trying to walk out of the bed, he just observed his surroundings attentively.
"Ryoga-Kun! . . .Is so nice to see you better. . .The doctor said you would be sick a lot longer, but I knew you would react quicker than that. . ." The girl kept waiting for his polite demeanor or his apologetic self after being treated, but nothing happened for a while.
The boy kept looking at her eyes. . .Not her face or any other place, making her nervous and blushing from the stare. "R-Ryoga-kun. . .Are you Ok?" The boy nodded letting her know he understood what she was saying but nothing else.
That afternoon he got up and walked around with her help. Both were received by Soun and Genma playing Shogi on the living room. He slowly sat on the couch, staring at everyone's eyes, fixing his gaze puzzled by something.
Outside Furinkan high school, the Saotome boy ran out trying to ignore the swordsman and his girlfriend's calling. "Ranma! . . .Where are you going? . . .We need to go back home. . .Dad called, Ryoga is awake! . . ."
The boy heard that but his mind never left that question away. His mind kept circling around what happened that night on the bar and if Ryoga had anything to do with the brawl. At three in the afternoon it wasn't supposed to be many sailors or so he thought before entering the inn.
The moment he went in, several objects were scattered all over the place. Sure enough the metallic bar was no where to be found but what made him shake in anger were those eyes. . .Some of the men stared back at the boy with those hungry, malicious eyes.
"Well, well . . .Seems the pretty boy has come to reward us with his girl's presence. . .Please pretty boy, come in. . ." Ranma flared in anger making his appearance even more fearsome. He expected scared, cowardly men running with the tails between their legs, but it was far from it.
"Don't swear it boy. . .The moment your friend showed his strength we knew what kind of fighters you are. . .An' the best part is what many can do against one. . ." The man smiled when a sharp metallic tip stuck on the pigtailed boy's neck.
Ranma pulled a dart away, staring with his now blurry vision at their setup. "D-Damn . . .This ain't fair. . ." Once again, his arrogance played a cruel trick on him. The bucket poured on him was ice cold water, leaving the confused girl dripping wet and staring at her only exit being blocked by more men.
"Ok guys. . .We can do her three at the same time, then one every ten or so minutes and at the end all together!" Everyone laughed comically while her clothes flew like they were never on the girl. She scoffed a careless smile their way and her eyes began to turn into that gray color you see after being used that way.
Her shaking fear came back with even more force this time. All the sensations to be abused sexually and those hands running through her body made her queasy to no end. "W-Why did I come? . . .Wasn't I safe from this hell? . . .Ryoga. . .P . . .P-Please . . .I need you . . .I. . . man! their hands are so cold an' it hurts . . .It hurts so much . . ."
On the other side of town, Akane ran crying at the house. She fell on Ryoga's lap after her father asked about the problem. "D-Dad. . .Ranma left angry in a rush. . .I think he went back to that bar trying to find out what happened. . .What can we do . . .?"
The fanged boy stared at the distressed girl's eyes full of tears, but something called his attention. He directed his sight to the wall, trying to understand the visions. The same girl was being cruelly attacked like before. . .He had to do something. . .Anything. . .
Ryoga stood up and began to run out of the house and into the city. Akane knew where he was going, begging her dad and Ranma's father to follow him. The boy never stopped, asked for directions or got lost. There was only one picture in his mind. . .Nothing else mattered.
Some of the pedestrians heard the sound of broken bones crack from somewhere. An old woman saw how a young man running for dear life left a trial of big, red droplets all over the street. "Someone help! . . .That boy is hurt . . .He is bleeding . . ."
When the tall man took a hold of the redhead's waist, his position aimed at the devastating act destroying any young girl's life. There was nothing Ranma could do but to curse his stupid pride and take the punishment. Pleading meant nothing but pure enjoyment for her captors, making the situation a way to show her how weak the curse can really be.
This time the drug did nothing to mess with her senses. She saw and experienced every bit of torture with the only handicap on her arms and legs. "That's right little girl. . .The drug is meant to paralyze you . . .You will learn to love a man even if you are one. . ."
His lips came closer and closer to the girl's soft ones. There was nothing else to stop him until a crash made them bare their teeth in ire. "You!. . .You will not take our beautiful prize again. . .You may had saved her the last time, but rest assured. . .Death will be too sweet for you this time."
In that second Ranma learned Ryoga never abused him or tried to. . .He actually saved him from those men, and two. . .This boy looked differently from the Ryoga she knew. Men lunged at him with pipes and bats all over again ready to send him to hell.
This time, something changed. Ryoga never tried to actually harm them before, only scared them away. The boy avoided every hit, pulling their weapons away and bending every limb crossing his path. Broken arms, legs and backs made most of the sailors howl in horror at the tremendous killer instinct from the demon.
Some men lain on the floor with their arms completely bent on the opposite way, broken on several parts, but the boy ignored the scene, he kept walking slowly against the only man holding the girl in position. Ranma tried to make him stop after feeling the hatred, but she couldn't talk either.
"S-Stand back . . .Don' even move or I'll take the most precious thing away from your girlfriend. . .I'll destroy the gift I'm sure you're after . . .J-Just stay away!" The boy was devoid of any emotion after seeing the beautiful redhead imprisoned and ready to be raped on top of the man.
"Y . . .Y-You will not harm her . . .She is . . .He . . .She is my friend. . ." Before the man could do a thing, Ryoga moved just as fast as Ranma's speed. The fanged fury managed to grab the man's neck tightly and peel him away from his victim before he could muster another word.
Ranma fell in a thud to the floor seeing how the man was pinned against the wall with his face turning purple by the second. Akane and her father arrived to the place in that precise moment witnessing the devastation caused by the teen.
The girl saw all the painful men hollering for help and mercy, but what made her go pale was the teenager strangling someone on the far back. She rushed at Ranma, covering her with her sweater and than, walking towards him.
"Ryoga-Kun . . .Please. . .Let him go. . .You saved her . . .Y-You saved Ranma. . .You can let him go. . ." The bandanna boy kept pressing, making the man pass out after the second application of pressure. "N-No . . .He tried to abuse her . . .She is my friend and . . .And more. . .The wise man told me so . . .I must give my life for her . . .Nothing else matters."
With heavy huffing, the redhead barely could move, walking slowly and trying not to tumble back to the ground. The girl used stools and turned tables until reaching him. "Ryoga. . .I . . .I'm fine. . .S-See? . . .There is nothin' to worry 'bout . . .Leave him alone . . .Y-You saved me. . .You really did it . . .P-Please . . .Let him go . . .C'mon buddy . . ."
Pure rage met those blue eyes. The wise man told him about the unnecessary need to care for genders if love was present, but what he saw in them was a friend. . .Someone who stuck by him on every turn, despite certain stupid tricks. Still, her gaze was enough to calm his thirst for revenge and murder, leaving his mind in blank with only one objective.
Ryoga let go of him, turning around while never loosing sight of those captivating eyes. The teenager suddenly lifted her bridal style and took her to the only spot free of the captors, sitting on the ground with Ranma on top. The redhead did nothing to fight him off, she hugged him by the neck and rested her head on his chest . . .Numb from the effects of the dart and the attack.
Akane's heart tried to brake by the vision, but she grabbed her chest and walked, slowing down her pace and staring at the most peaceful face Ranma had in a long time. She was at peace in the arms of someone who demonstrated true love no matter if they were something else inside. The girl's tear ran at the same time she crossed the door outside the bar.
The police arrived only to confirm the twenty-five men scattered all over the place with their broken bodies and a boy and girl in the center of them all. The boy had the redhead on his lap, holding her tight and looking into the distance, devoid of any feeling or notion of his surroundings.
They were taken back to the Tendo house, where Akane took care of the girl on her bed, Ryoga sat at their side staring firmly at the wall. "Ranma . . .How could you be so reckless to go in there again. . .You could have been raped this time. . .Good thing Ryoga-kun knew how to get in time. . ."
The redhead wasn't even looking at the girl, but at the lost boy who only looked away and tilted his head from side to side. "I had to Akane. . .I needed to know if Ryoga did somethin' . . ." The blue haired girl waited for her verdict when a shameful Ranko admitted her mistake.
"He didn' . . .He actually faced them all trying to save me. . .And did it again, I . . .I owe him more than my life you know? . . .He sacrificed everythin' for me an' I blamed him for all . . ." The girl looked to the other side, avoiding eye contact with her nurse.
"I knew he would never do something so vile. . .He may say how much he hates you, but in the end Ryoga-kun is like me. . .All bark and still loving your worthless hide." The girl moved back and stared at the blushing girl.
"A. . .Akane. . .You think he loves me? . . .I . . . I don' know what to say. . ." The girl shrugged and changed the damp cloth from her forehead. "What can I tell you. . .I have found him in compromising positions with you and you tease him so much I don't doubt of your mutual feelings, but I want to be part of your life. . .Is he going to be my strongest rival for your love?"
The girl kept blinking trying to piece everything together. "I . . .I don' know. . .I would want you to be with me. . .But he gave it all. . .You tell me, what should I do. . ." The girl cleared some strains of hair from her face and looked sweetly at her.
"Is up to you. . .I will fight for you, but if he wins, I wish you the best. . .There is no greater opponent than the one who gives his life for love. . .If it was me, maybe I would have fall for him just for that. . ." Ranma chuckled at the close call if Ryoga had told her anything about his feelings in the past, yet, what she said was true.
He always stuck for him and defended her honor in battle. If there was a time to think about a serious commitment, that would be after this declaration of love. The girl looked at him. . .Lost in who knows where in his mind.
"What should I do buddy? . . .Are you really in love with me? Or we are imaginin' things. . ." As if in cue, the boy turned and stared at those blue eyes, smiling nervously at the girl. Ranma smiled back and they shared that moment together. "Guess I'll take that as a yes. . ."
The next day, Ranma came from the bathroom in male form. The bruises were still there reminding him of his terrible choices in life. The boy saw how the teenager with the bandanna sat besides the tree, outside the patio. "Hey man. . .How're you doin' . . .?"
The boy tilted his head quizzing his new friend. Akane arrived with them sharing a big plate with watermelon slices. The girl sat in between and gave one to the confused teen. Ryoga received it, smiling and giving the first signs of intelligence.
"T-Thank you . . ." Both teens gasped and cheered for the boy. "Ryoga buddy! . .You can talk . . .How? . . .When were you able to?" The boy looked to the ground and didn't say a word. "Oh. . .There must be times when he gets it back. . ."
"No . . .I . . .I can always talk, but. . .But . . ." Ranma fixated his sight concerned with the boy's questioning look. "What is it. . .Tell me. . .You can tell me, we are family . . ." Ryoga tried to articulate his thoughts and express them coherently.
"Your eyes. . .Your eyes are like "hers" . . .W-Where is she?" Akane felt the reason for the boy's concern relying the idea to the pigtailed boy. "Ranma. . .I think he doesn't remember you or the curse . . .He sees your curse in your eyes, but she is not here . . ."
Ranma accepted the idea and kept Ryoga straight in front of him while grabbing a cup with water. "Ryoga. . .It's me. . .She is right in here buddy. . ." The boy poured the cold water, activating the curse and as soon as the redhead popped into view, the boy beamed a smile filled with happiness.
"Yes! . . .There you are. . ." Ryoga stood up and held Ranma's hands carefully, making him blush before Akane. "A-Are you Ok Miss. . .They. . .T-They didn't hurt you right?" Ranko took a step back from the feeling of being cared for, turning between him and her fiancée.
"Akane. . .What should I do . . ." The girl giggled and, using a firm hand, pushed the boy ahead making them bump together. Ryoga felt the warm of her lips and he begged for a tiny kiss with his eyes. "M-May I? . . ." Ranma trembled uncontrollably but nodded anyway at his request.
The kiss was soft, unlike he ever felt before. "No matter what happens. . .I will always give my life for you." Ryoga walked back inside while a deep, romantic sigh made Ranma stare ashamedly at Akane. "Why are you sighin' . . .He . . .Kissed me . . .Ain't that somethin' perverted?"
"If it was someone else yes, but I know Ryoga means well and . . .Well. . .It was so romantic. . .I practically melted by that scene. . .Tell me you didn't fall for him . . ." Ranma could not believe it. . .Her Fiancée accepting another boy as her rival and even encouraging him to get friendlier.
"I . . .I didn' know you were Ok with this. . .I thought you wanted to try somethin' with me. . ." The girl chuckled, standing up and beginning to leave. "I do, but I am learning to understand you. . .Male Ranma and Female Ranma. . .And don't blame me. . .You were the one starting all this mess with your teasing."
The redhead pondered sternly about her feelings that afternoon. If Saturday was a day to rest, this one became the busiest for the girl. Ranma walked upstairs to meet the young guest and to search her feelings in his lost mind. When she opened the door, a boy stood against the wall, staring at nothing.
"R-Ryoga? . . .Can I come in?" The girl walked close to him, grabbing his hand and leading him to the bed. "Tell me Ryoga . . .What do you feel for me . . .?" This was the only time when the boy came alive and ran his finger by the curves of her face.
"You are my everything. . .I have loved you from the very beginning . . .Ever since we met I saw those eyes and I refused to accept defeat, but you had beaten me already . . .I'm sorry if you are a boy. . .I really am . . .I guess I need to leave this place or I'll keep dishonoring you."
He turned around trying to move out of the room, but the girl stopped him from doing so. "No! . . .I ain't leaving you like this. . .You showed me more than friendship . . .You gave it all an' I want this . . .Can you understand it? . . .I want to try this."
The girl fought the desire to kiss him back, since her male inhibitions are part of herself no matter how hard she wants to dash them away. She instead hugged him tightly, showing the closest she could muster as an affectionate demonstration of love.
Ryoga accepted the hug until a bright white light encompassed them both. When Ranma looked on his chest, a tiny bead pinned to a cord hanging from his neck lighted brightly between them. "W-What's that man?" The boy saw it sparkle, smiling at his luck.
"I . . .I can't remember how I got it, but someone very wise told me it would light when I get near my true love . . .H-He told me to use it as a guide to find . . .You." That was the last piece of the puzzle. Ranko gasped and her smile grew even bigger. "That's what happened that night. . .You somehow found me in that bar thanks to that bead . . .That's why you were there to save me. . .R-Ryoga . . .I . . .I don' know what to say . . .I really want to be part of your life. . .Do you think we can win this fight? . . .Everyone will be against us . . .After all, we ain't exactly "man an' woman" . . .?"
The boy didn't care for that. The white light made those blue eyes stand out even more, making the boy's own tremble with pride. "Y-Your eyes. . .They are so beautiful and they tell me of you . . .I don't know if you are "him" or really you, but I love you all the same. . ."
Ranko tried to resist to the idea of being with another man. There was a nagging sensation in the back of her head about a missing part in all this, so the girl accepted one more kiss from the boy and left the room feeling at peace for the moment.
The Tendo girl saw her leave Ryoga's room, making her chest hurt again. Akane got caught unexpectedly by the boy turned girl when she whispered to no one in particular. "Am I doing the right thing? . . .I do love him and I don't want to loose him from my life . . ."
"You won't 'kane . . ." The girl jumped from the comment, trying to get angry, but failing miserably. "R-Ranma . . .You scared me . . .I . . .I didn't mean anything by it . . .I was just." The pigtailed girl chuckled and walked with her into the kitchen.
"Don' sweat it 'kane . . .I know what you meant and I feel the same. . .Besides, there is something else goin' on here . . .Why Ryoga never did somethin' to really show me this side before. . .I know . . .I know. He told me he would never accept it, but there is somethin' missing here."
The redhead told Akane about the shining gem adorned on the boy's neck and the mention of yet, an old, wise man telling him about his true love. "So, you think Ryoga found a way to see his soul mate, taking him directly to you? . . .Well that explains that night, but it means he really loves you . . .I guess I lost . . ."
"No Akane . . .He loves me . . .But not "me" . . ." The confusing statement made the girl wonder about the meaning until Ranma told her theory. "Tell me. . .Who has teased him every single time . . .Showed him how much she cares an' acted as his fiancée, sister or girlfriend . . .?"
Akane's eyes turned the size of peas at the obvious answer. "Why . . .You of course . . ." The girl giggled and stared triumphant at the girl. "Wrong! . . .Me! . . .Don' you see? . . .He is in love with me "Ranko" . . .No with me, Ranma . . ."
A light bulb went off on the girl, making feel giddy at the explanation. "Yes! . . .That makes sense . . .But . . .How can you separate from my Ranma? . . .Aren't you stuck in the same predicament?" Both girls began to look for ways to separate the curse but something else came to mind.
"I will find a way, in the mean time we know now how to treat him . . .If it's Ok with you. . .I want to keep dating you, and he can try with Ranko . . .What do you think?" Akane was more interested in not missing the chance to win him, accepting any decision closer to her goal.
The redhead blushed, but admitted the idea had merit. "Ok, but we need to be careful an' explain it to him . . .Or else this will get into the biggest mess ever." They agreed and walked together back at his room only to find it empty.
The girls ran outside where Kasumi was hanging clean towels. "Nee-Chan . . .Have you seen Ryoga-Kun?" The elder daughter extended one more linen before answering them back with a big smile at the two girls. "Oh yeah . . .He walked by about fifteen minutes ago saying something about P-Chan in trouble . . .I assumed you were right behind him . . .Oh dear . . .He must be all alone in the city . . ."
Akane worried the most but when she saw Ranma, the girl was about to explode from the enthusiasm. "Ranma? Ryoga is lost in Nerima with no idea where to go and no memory of who he is. . .Why are you so happy . . .?"
The girl just looked away in direction to the city and showing a big smile in her face. "No reason Akane . . .No reason at all." Deep down, the point escaped Akane because it was necessary that way, but Ranma saw things for what they were.
"You did it Ryoga . . .I don' know how, but you separated yourself from P-Chan . . .Which means you knew how to separate me from this curse . . .I need to find you and your memory back . . ." The girl ran at the Tendo's exterior threshold and waited patiently for the other girl to walk out of the house.
"By the way Akane . . .Did you know how P-Chan came to be?" When the girl shook her head unknowingly Ranma gave her a sly look and walked away into the city after. "Oh well . . .It all started a few years ago with Ryoga an' me . . ."