At seven thirty in the morning, Akane rushed out of the house with hopes to reach school in time. Last night became one of those mystical times where her fiancé turned into the master he is destined to become. In a flash of trepidation the pigtailed boy stood from his bedroll trying to understand the sinking feeling telling him someone was in trouble.
His fiancée opened the door and asked him what was that impending sensation he spread through the house with the alarming scream but the look on him told her about the seriousness. "kane. . .I feel like someone just died." Were his words as he prepared to skip the next day's school and launch into the night in search for that victim.
"Where do you plan to look?" Asked Akane who despite the desire to help him, knew a simple sensation wasn't enough for a search party. "Whoever this person is I'm sure he or she will be ok. . .Ranma. I have seen you jump like that before and run in the direction of the one needing help, but never like this. . .With no idea where to go."
The boy tried to make sense of the feeling when his feet took him from one side of the room to the other. "I can' explain it Akane. . .I think . . .I think Ryoga is in trouble but what that doctor said left me worse than before. . ."
The youngest Tendo bowed reverently before him as a way to ask him if she could join in. When he agreed surprised, the girl went in the bedroom and sat next to the bedroll. "About that Ranma. . ." How to tell him she wanted to make things clear with his sexuality. . .To confront him to his own fears and show he could defeat them. But this was Ranma Saotome. . .A boy branded with the idea of women being weak.
"Ranma. . .I didn't stop the doctor because I wanted for you to see the other side of the curse. You are a man amongst men, you have proven it more than once, but despite that side of you, every time you play with female Ranma, others get hurt in ways you don't care to assimilate."
The boy heard every word. He always scoffed the feeling away as a side effect for his interactions with other males. When he heard the girl in him talk about the arts as "brute force" his blood boiled and his hatred for the curse became greater.
"I can' accept it Akane. . .Not only 'cuse I'm a man, but because if I do it I could accept more than just bein' a woman. She said I wanted to work diligently to please my husband with classes of flower arrangement and tea etiquette. . .I have done that before remember?. . .How can I kick the Anything goes martial arts like trash?"
The pigtail flew from side to side when his shaking head kept repeating the psychologist's words. "I. . .I don' know if I'm a hom. . .A hom . . .A guy who likes guys, but from all the ones I have tried to sneak myself through their guard, Ryoga has been the most comfortable I've been with. . ."
"I don' think I like him like a guy. . .Is just. . ." The boy blushed furiously when his fiancée smiled devilishly at him. "What!. . .What's so damn funny?" The girl frowned back when the screams made her tighten her fists on top of her wrinkling dress.
"Is not you I'm laughing about you moron. . .I remember how confused Ryoga-kun felt when you kissed him. When I asked him about his feelings for you, he began damning your name, calling you other names and curse the day he ever met you."
The girl's smile came back when the funny part came to her mind. "Then, out of the blue he changed from his hatred to "how pretty blue eyes you have" and "that red hair is the most beautiful I've seen". . .When he realized what he said, his face turned purple and began to beg forgiveness like if I was the offended party."
Ranma's eyes grew in size when Akane not only took his "inclinations" as a friendly bond between them, but when he heard how the fanged boy really liked him that way a smile crept on his lips. Smile that he erased the moment his own fangs bared out in disdain.
"Damn it Akane. . .Don' make me think that way. . .I could never accept that pig in that manner. . .Not even if I got stuck as a girl the rest of my life!" Ruled impatiently while he stared decisively at her.
The girl shrugged her shoulders after the failed intent to get him close to his own fears took a turn for the worst. "Don't get all angry. You really think I'm trying to hook you up with him? . . .I want you to be comfortable with your sexuality but like I said before. . .I . . .I love you and I know "You" love me so stop these rants and move on."
Back from her thoughts on her way to school, the girl kept looking at how everyone seemed so normal. Old people sweeping the recent wet streets, dogs chasing cats and even the post man delivering letters. Her question always remained though. . .Why did she always get the weird ones.
Upon arriving to school, the mood certainly was the same. The hentai horde proved a good workout but the moment Kuno ran at her, the boy flew through the air by none other than Ranma Saotome connecting his foot unusually harder then other times . "Damn. . .When is that pervert ever going to understand 'bout you an' me. . ."
This wasn't the regular pigtailed boy ranting over a friendly fight he always had with the swordsman though. His demeanor reflected ire. . .Akane saw how the touchy subject from the previous night made him self-conscious to the point where any personal contact with other males became a threat to his manhood.
"Control yourself Ranma. . .Remember Kuno is just delusional not dangerous." The course of the day went just in the same fashion for everyone else too. Diasuke and Hiroshi joked with the teen just like every other day, but the second a bucket of water or an accidental splash would turn him into the voluptuous redhead, her eyes would turn into red beams demanding their stares away.
"Bunch of perverts! . . .Haven' you seen a girl's chest before?. . .I swear, if you try to look my way before I change I will beat you to death!" Akane hoped for the redheaded girl to calm down when she grabbed her by the arm, pulling the girl into the bathroom with reprimands of her own. . .The only difference this time was when both girls entered a place Ranma had never went in before, the girls bathroom.
"Stop it Ranma. . .You're scaring everyone and they don't even know why." Ranma rushed to the lavatory where the warm water changed her back into his male form. "I don' know what's goin' on Akane. . .Whoever I felt in danger and all this stuff about being . . .You know what is making me nervous. . .I need to go back and talk to that doctor . . .Maybe she can tell me what the hell is goin' on. . ."
Akane agreed with him but decided to go after their school classes were over. The girl sneaked him out of the girl's bathroom without anyone noticing, leading him back to the classroom. "Now. . If you feel that way again, fake something else and leave but try to hold it until we're through. . .Two more hours and that's it."
Akane went back to her seat with Ranma by the hand. The rest of the time went considerably calm until the bell rang, making an stampede of students leave the building disorderly. Akane and Ranma's friends stared dumbfounded when not two fighting teens ran one after the other, but a couple holding hands walked out of the school at the same time.
"Akane. . .What if I . . ." The girl sighed deeply when his question threatened this new level of relationship she began to work more diligently. "What if you like him?. . .Well. . .I am Akane Tendo and I will fight for you just as you would do for me. If he wins, so be it. . .But I'm not giving up."
Her resting head on his shoulder made the boy feel confused by this new bond. This was going to be the toughest challenge he'd ever face.
The smell sure was annoying. . .That is, if you had a sense of smell. Still, the boy rested on the darkened ground after hours of bleeding during the night. "Something is wrong. . .I should be dead hours ago. . .What is going on?"
His eyes saw small sparkling beads of light dancing around with the pace of a heartbeat. His inner-self stared back at him while a set of stars took the form of a foot tapping nervously besides him. "Ryoga. . .This isn't out there. . .This is in your mind. Get up and pay attention."
His self projected image stood up with trouble just in the same way he would do so in real life. "Tell me. Why am I not dead. . .I fought my best but both wounds severed my heart. . .Shouldn't I be unconscious for that matter?"
The flash of lights kept the heartbeat intensity within them. Brightly on one second, almost out the next. With difficulty, the voice directed him to his last training lesson. "Buddy. . .I talked to you about our five senses and how we can use them to out advantage. You are still trying to master them so your hearing and sense of smell are gone for a few days. . .Giving you enough power to heal those wounds and close the bleeding."
"you are not agonizing because of it. . .You are letting yourself go 'cuse those other feelings. . .Do we love Ranma Saotome?. . .Do we really want a baby from him and most importantly . . .Would you do the same mistake you did before?"
This time the lost boy was . . .Well, lost. He felt attracted to the pigtailed boy only because of his curse. If he had not used it so many times nothing like this would have ever happened. . .Now the kiss sure took some feeling between them and that was ever scarier.
The next question. Does he really wants Ranma if he had a baby with him? Not really. . .Is not like there was an intimate contact between them or a time were they shared a physical relationship to create the baby. No, he would love the child no matter what but if that was the case then. . .
"Why are you asking me about an earlier mistake?" The voice recovered its rhythm once again when the truth began to come out on the open. "Ryoga. . .You accepted the memory's destruction of your parents meeting this past year to save yourself from dying. . .That was impressive by itself."
"What you don't remember is how you begged me to erase the memory of ever knowing you had a baby with Ranma. . .The news hit you so hard it confused you beyond recognition. You threw demeaning names at yourself inquiring you weren't a man and acted like you were the worst pervert in front of your parents."
Ryoga tried to remember but it was useless, such memories had been burned for the good of his life and that ate him worse than the embarrassing feeling he could ever face before. "I neglected him didn't I?. . .I set the baby aside and that's why my mom refused to tell me anything about him now. . ."
The lost boy's inner image closed his eyes in pain from the terrible way he must have treated the child all because he was part of someone he disliked. "I'm sorry. . .I really am. I don't know why I did that but I could never give my back to an innocent child. . .I couldn't! . . ."
The net of shinning lights became stronger by the second which in turn made the boy's strength come back. "I'm glad you think that way Ryoga. . .When your parents did the "procedure" you were barely sixteen and according to our experience, the kiss with Ranma was the changing phase with your feelings for him. . .So, before that, this news sure looked more than awful. . .That's why I understand you."
"I'm glad you have matured in less than a year . . .I really am glad. Now, get up. . .We have a family to reunite. . ."The bandanna teen tried to move but decided to open his eyes first and survey the area. He hadn't been out for the night. . .The fight happened Saturday morning and it was Monday apparently since the workers were moving into position.
The boy slowly fixed the tattered clothes he had left, combed his hair with his arched fingers and walked to where he agreed to meet with the supervisor. The tiny man saw all the blood on his chest and back but did nothing hoping not to anger the mafia.
"Mr. Hibiki. . .I'm glad you survived this time around as well. The phone call came earlier and the "family" promised not to do anything to the plant as a personal favor for a fallen comrade . . .You don't happen to know who this comrade is, do you?"
Ryoga shook his head negatively while delivering a crimson paper before leaving. "Excuse me for the messy invoice, but our business has concluded and I must retire for the time being." His words were eloquent and well versed even when sharp, painful cramps ran all over his body.
The supervisor signed in and gave the document back. The teenager ignored any other call for help from employees and bystanders as he made his luggage and left quietly after a quick shower.
Back on the thunderbird, passengers and train workers stared strangely at how tired the teen looked. They would be utterly alarmed at the sight of a tiny blood stain accumulating on his shirt and the rest dripping from his wounds, but yet again, someone sat besides him. Mr. Zhao saw amazed and with gaping eyes how someone who fought to the death was still alive, a fact that made him say. "A dead man is seating in front of me."
Ryoga didn't ask for any reason or goal about this man but as soon as he sat besides the teen, the Yakuza representative handed a map with the coordinates of Nerima written on it. "Mr. Hibiki. . .You have no idea how impressionable my father is by your . . ."Sudden recuperation" . . .He considers pledges like honor of great value and when I described him how you died, he felt the need to withdraw from that unfavorable incident."
The young man gave Ryoga a letter where a certain name he never heard before popped. "This man is very respected in our family . . .And he has some unfinished business with the Saotome family. Now, I am not a whistler so don't think I'm switching sides."
"I give you the heads up because as you know, Mr. Taro signed his death warrant to us on that fateful day after he flew away from your fight in a so cowardly manner, he became extremely dishonorable to us. Now, he left the area altogether. . .Aiming to the district of Nerima."
The young man handed his silk scarf as an honorable way of respect before he began to leave his seat. "Mr. Daikoku has a daughter who's supposed to be the rightful fiancée for this Ranma Saotome. Personally I don't understand why many girls are after him, but if Mr. Taro contact him somehow, the Yakuza will make Nerima their next playground. . .Be advised and stay clear from it Mr. Hibiki."
From that moment on there were no more interruptions the rest of the way back. Ryoga had in mind all the merciless carnage organizations like the Yakuza could do to a rather harmless district like Nerima. He had Akane and the Tendos to think about. . .he needed to stop Taro before he would get any closer, but mostly, he feared the time he would cross paths with the pigtailed boy. . .Especially if he's transformed.
"Give it up Ryoga. We cannot go back there ever. . .Ranma can fix pretty much any obstacle plus he is not alone. He has the Chinese pair, that chef and Happosai with his disciples. . .We don't need to put a foot in that place and meet . . ."Her" . . ."
Indeed the same thought ran through their bond. Ryoga knew he could never hide anything from his subconscious but to let him lead him that way meant he had something else in his sight. "Ok . . .You are not that helpful when it comes to Ranma. . .Are you goading me into going in there with the pretext to defend them from the Yakuza and Taro while resolving my feelings for Ranma?"
His inner-self smiled yet again with the same set of ordered stars. "Well. . .Look at you. Getting wiser by the day. Admit it. . .You want to know how he really feels and if there is a chance between you two." The boy shook his head again in front of the passengers without any regard for how he looked, trying to stop his own argument.
"I can't think that way. . .I don't care anymore if he is a man or if I am one. I decided to stay away from them both and live my life at Natsume's side. . .Think about it. I have a daughter with Akane's genes and a baby boy. . .Or girl with Ranma's. What else do I want? . . .A fight with Akane and the other fiancées for his hand? . . .No thank you. . ."
The argument seemed more than fair so his inner voice stopped fighting over his decision. He agreed to recognize his two babies as his closest family and accepted Natsume-san as his mate. . .What else was there to argue about. The train finally stopped on Kyoto station where the Hibikis waited cheerfully for the boy. Ryoga managed to see Natsume with little Michiko in her arms. Kurumi besides his parents and his mother holding a redheaded, little boy.
The ex-lost boy waved at them with a tired expression but the moment he joined them, the teenager extended his arms at the little child with red, flaming hair. "And who is this handsome guy?" Akemi smiled in a way she hadn't for a long time when Ryoga lifted the tiny ten month old child on his arms.
"his name is Ichiro. . .Ichiro Hibiki. . ." Ryoga stared between him and his parents quickly only to stop and stare at the little boy once again. A tear rolled from his right eye when he kissed him on the forehead. "Ichiro. . .I-I'm sorry about before. . .I really am . . .Son."
The whole family cheered trying to make him feel better but the conversation back to their house was filled with the memories he had to burn for his survival.
Kenta ended up with his mouth hanging open when Ryoga told him about how he knew about the baby and other stuff he had forgotten when his parents used their own system to erase memories. "So, an inner voice tells you how to manage your abilities and your senses?"
The boy nodded while his mother stared questioningly at her husband. "Can that be possible Kenta?" His father bobbed affirmatively when other examples came to mind. "Remember dear, my father was able to break the Chi limitations in a regular human being thanks to the nuclear detonation."
"I can't develop any ability like Ryoga but my body regenerates on its own at incredible speeds. . .It seems to me that every generation helps our power to evolve. . .I'm sure little Michiko and Ichiro will develop a new set of powers based in the same bloodline but with their unique set of needs."
"By the way son. If you used your smelling sense and you audio capabilities, how can you understand us right now? . . . The last time you tried it took you over four days to regenerate them back." The boy smiled at his little girl and boy before answering in a very peculiar way.
"What?. . .Wait. . .Don't talk to fast, I'm trying to read your lips. . ." Everyone sweat dropped in a comical way and then laughed by his fast reactions. "Oh son. . .You really outdid yourself. . ."
Between jokes and laughter, Ryoga smile turned even bigger when he saw beyond a lack of senses, but a family who loved him. He felt so in sync that his free arm went around Natsume, hugging her together with his children.
He stared at the girl while mouthing the "thank you for helping me" phrase making the girl flush at their closeness. "Don't mention it Ryoga-kun. . .I always wanted a family of my own. . .And I think I found one." The journey back went without a hitch. Ryoga told them how his senses worked and how he was able to avoid death.
When they arrived, his parents left them alone with the children which gave him the first taste of true family after the baby girl cried from hunger and the little, redheaded boy kept playing with his legs. "Natsu-Chan. . .How. . .How can you keep up?"
The Tendo girl sighed happy by his ever scared face and her new moniker as the family's mom "Hey, they are yours. . .Can you blame such energetic children?" The smile never left them while a more natural Ryoga saw the girl breastfeeding without any tension on his part and she marveled at how strong Ichiro was rough playing with the teenager. "I swear Ryoga. . .Ichi is going to be as strong if not more than you. . ."
The boy winked at the child who somehow understood the comment and lunged at him with even more momentum. Two hours later, both children were fast asleep while their "too young" parents laid besides the pair.
She talked about how cute they looked asleep, how thanks to Ryoga's acceptance Ichiro's separation anxiety left him for good and . . .His. . .Eyes. The boy loved them very much but at the moment he was really busy tracing the girl's lips, nose and finally those pretty, brown eyes.
"Natsu. . .I. . ." He couldn't say anything else when the kiss came at the same time. The girl didn't started and neither the boy, but a common effort was the power before the affectionate demonstration. When they separated, Ryoga tried desperately to be clear but again, she beat him to it.
"Ryoga, I know how you still feel for Akane and Ranma, but I want this. . .And I know you want to try us as your real family. Keep loving them all you want but my love is all you really need." He agreed when assenting his head with Natsume's declaration and most importantly, when he returned for another kiss.
At three in the morning everyone slept comfortably. . .Everyone except Ryoga and his mother. When Akemi knocked on the door, the boy waved for her to wait outside then they left to the meeting hall together. "Tell me Ryoga. . .What is troubling you?"
The teenager sighed in confusion and humiliation when his feelings for the girl were growing, but his lingering wishes to see Ranma's fake girl form and Akane persisted in his mind. "Mom. . .I like Natsume very much but this other feeling. . ."
He moved from the seat to the entrance of the room and back trying to find the opportune time to be open. With nothing else left to talk, he came clean with her. "Almost every night I dream about a family where Michiko is peacefully sleeping on her crib."
"In the early hours of the night I woke up to find "him" or rather her. . .Ranma's female curse cuddling with me. I felt at peace and at some point I enjoy her company. . .Help me mom. . .Am I going crazy?" His mother sat close to him, grabbed his hands and poured her soul in the best way she could aid him.
"Son. . .you may feel attracted to her thanks to the humiliations he made you go through. As a lonely boy, you had no family or friends but the ones you could afford. . .He calls you a friend and a rival, but what did he really want you for?. . .A toy he could play with when bored?. . .A partner he could experiment with when his curse asked him to?. . .No son, he is not a friend, he's just someone who likes to bully others for his own amusement."
The older woman looked into empty space when finally opening her heart about the pigtailed boy. "He will pay for what he did to you. . .But not by hatred. . .He will experiment the same hell you did. I will make certain of that."
Ryoga stayed a bit longer when his mom began to walk out of the room. Time he used to told her of his plan. "Mom. . .My enemy plans to confront Ranma. I don't know when but I've been informed of it. . .I must do something . . .Anything, but my problem is that I'm going to meet him. . .I don't know if. . ."
His mother stopped him right there with her own comment. "You don't know if he'll really like you back? . . .I will be at your side son. . .And so will Natsu-Chan. We Hibiki women love our men so be ready for someone who'll fight for you."
Afterwards she left quietly into the night. The next morning the family had breakfast together while discussing their future plans. "So Ryoga. You managed to fulfill the contract but Taro became as merciless as the Yakuza? . . .It doesn't surprise me. They tend to have a mentality in common when power is their first target, and Taro seems to want that same goal." Said his dad while studying several reports.
"Dad, mom. . .I need to go and stop Taro from crossing Ranma . I don't care for him, but Zhao told me some old man has a debt against the Saotomes and the Yakuza is backing him up. I need to figure out how everything is going on without arriving there just yet."
His father had the right measurements when a list with three names dropped on the table. "These three gentlemen are the informants I use the most for surveillance. They have connections everywhere and are very loyal to the right employers."
"One of them told me of Taro's approach to Nerima when a giant bull like creature fell close to a store in the district. As we speak, the Tendos have already mobilized and Soun has him under his thumb. Don't get me wrong, I know Ranma and the others can keep up against him, but no one in that place has ever treated the specialized assassins the Yakuza is capable to dispatch."
His old man took a deep breath, composed the stack of papers with different reports, establishing his sights on his son. "This calls for your assistance whether you want it or not. . .You need to contact a powerful political figure which has accepted our help."
"Everything is ready for tomorrow. Your contact will be an old lady who comes from China. . .She has a restaurant and. . ." Ryoga waved him off when he knew who was he talking about. " I know her dad. I'll go to her first and ask for advice about how to handle the Yakuza. . .In the meantime I'll try to find Taro and convince him to turn away from Nerima."
That was meant to start the next day so the boy took his girlfriend, his two children and decided to pass a nice day out. They visited restaurants, museums and malls along the busiest trail in Kyoto. If there was one thing he had the most, it would be money because of his last mission.
Little Ichiro loved the park filled with colorful playground toys and all the children he learned to get along. An old fashioned picnic adorned the patch of grass where the brand new family rested while many joggers and people enjoying the same recreational activities walked closer to meet them.
"Wow. . .Darling, how old are you to have two children already? . . .You seem about seventeen so I am thinking fifteen?" Said one woman amazed at how young couples were becoming from her own times. "I remember my husband chose me when I was sixteen but we never procreate until I became twenty years old. . .How brave of you"
Natsume and Ryoga laughed and talked with every single one of them with such trust, most people invited them to their own activities. In fact, the teens pride soared when another young couple waved at them from the distance and the girl said. "Well you guys. . .You make the perfect couple. . ." To which both teenagers bowed before them with blushing faces.
The sun began to hide on the mountains when the fanged boy walked with Ichiro sitting around the top of his neck and Natsume at his side. "Natsu-Chan, you need to promise me something." The girl gave him her undivided attention when his demeanor turned into seriousness.
"Dad has told me the Yakuza isn't the only organization with hidden agendas. He told me about the men who imprisoned, torture and kept him locked for two long years. . ." His eyes met, making the girl stare in fear for his request.
"You must run. . .Leave with the children and don't look back. If they come after me or my parents I will turn their witch hunt into a real mess. We will arrange safe passages for you into the village of Joketsuzoku where you will become a high ranking member. . .I don't know what will happen to me, but I don't want anyone knowing about them. . .Not even Ranma."
She felt the need to reassure him things would never get that bad, but she knew better when even with her sister, they passed for hunger while on the road. "I will consider it as the last option, otherwise, I'm staying and I will fight along your side."
His hands rushed to the girl's arms trying to keep a tense atmosphere. "No! . . .Promise me you will leave no matter the danger. . ." His face fell for a second and after, he raised it with tears on the corner of his eyes. "My heart has suffered every, single time. I can't keep "you know who" out my mind. . .My parents could be in danger and I . . .I-I couldn't afford loosing you or the children. . .I don't think I could."
Her own tears brimmed into view when the promise went on after she slowly nod at him. They quickly shook around trying to take the sadness away and walked the rest of the road back with their happy faces. Fake, but still happy.
When they arrived, an ominous tone reigned on the house when right before dinner, little Ichiro turned the T.V. unintentionally. During the show they went to commercials where one in specific made them tense in extreme.
"Time has left most of humanity in the past. The pass of time indeed has become a burden for all of us, that is until now. . .Here in Chimera corporation we have defeated time with new advancements in technology and pharmaceuticals. We have become humanity's new hope and all thanks to people like you."
"Chimera corporation. . .Looking out for the little man."
When the commercial finished, Ryoga saw how his father grabbed the table in such way, he knew how painful memories from his captivity went through his mind. Dinner went quietly when even little Michiko was lost on her mother's eyes.
Finally his father talked. "Ryoga. . .Things might get rough now that "they" are growing in Tokyo. You know what to do if the mission gets out of hand. . ." He bobbed his head with the plan but when his eyes turned towards his girlfriend, Natsume flared in anger.
Food was done, Ryoga's mom cleared the table and when she prepared to wash the dishes, Natsume asked her to watch little Michiko. Her thundering steps took her from the kitchen to the next room where Ryoga awaited her already.
As soon as they met he tried to excuse himself only to be silenced the rest of the conversation. "Listen Natsume-Chan. . ." The girl slapped his welcoming arms away and pushed him gently against the opposite wall.
"Don't. You . . .You promised them to leave if things get rough but you lied didn't you? . . .You asked me to do the same and expect obedience after what you promised them?" She was pissed at him and for the first time the lost boy knew what hatred really was.
He never tried anything like soothing a girl before, but this was different. She meant the world in his eyes and Natsume became more than a surrogate mother for his children. She grew in his heart, right along Ranma's misguided affection, making her the redhead's new rival in town. . .Not even Akane played that role any longer.
"Natsume-Chan. . .This is different. My father already went through hell with those guys. . .Can you imagine how bad they will do to my mother?. . .No. . .I will not lose them again, and you. . .You are the only person who rivals that damn bastard in my heart. Believe me, I . . .I-I love you, I really do."
She could have seen it as a lie, but he kept looking into her eyes with such devotion she softened afterwards. "Sigh . . . I love you too Ryoga-kun so, please . . .Pretty please, don't push things in that direction unless there is no other way. . ." They hugged and stayed locked for a few more seconds before Michiko's wails called the mother on duty back to work.
She went on her way leaving Ryoga behind, giving him the chance to meet his parents. "Mom . .. Dad. I'm leaving now. I need to make sure Taro won't do something stupid." Akemi breathed deeply when his desire to protect that boy came in the conversation.
"Son, you need to stay away from that pervert. I know he means a lot to you whether you want it or not, but you must fight for the ones who really love you. . .Fight away from his trance." He agreed with her but the point never left his mind.
"I know mom, but this isn't just about how I feel for him. I must find Taro first because he broke his normal misguided intentions. When he stabbed me through the chest, he said he would do the same if Ranma crosses him."
"I need to stop him from doing the same. . .I-I don't want. . ."Him" to die." His eyes turned down to the shameful ground giving them the idea of how much the pigtailed boy meant in his heart but avoiding their judgment altogether.
Words were said, farewells bidden and once again the teenager lacking his hearing and smell boarded the train with direction to Nerima. The plan was for Ryoga to leave first, his parent's would follow and Natsume would stay to take care of the children.
Everything was in place at least on this side of the line. On the other side, something else turned from bad to worse.
The Tendo residence has hosted several undesirable characters over the last few years, Happosai coming to mind as the most dangerous. This time, a half unconscious boy rested on Ranma's bedroom while his father and him shared the Dojo.
Pantyhose Taro managed to arrive to the district with a heavy concussion and all banged up by something. The monstrous teen crashed against a small store just a few miles away from Furinkan and as leaders in the paranormal, the Tendo family was called to deal with the situation.
There wasn't much resistance from the boy since his wounds were pretty deep and seemed like he flew away from somewhere, traveling for days before getting here. Carefully, his curse was reversed and the young misfit carried back to the house.
Kasumi kept tabs at all times when she became his guard. The family kept rolling turns during the night and this time it fell on Ranma. The pigtailed boy yawned irritably when during his shift from midnight to five in the morning his only desire was to be in bed.
". . . .I . . ." Ranma noticed the now woken boy trying to establish a conversation but with difficulty after wheezing sounds came more than words from his lips. " . . .I. . .Can't-t believe. . .The transvestite is . . .Takin' care of me. . .I. . .I never asked. . .For a nurse. . ."
Ranma flushed face told him this wasn't a good time to mess with him, not specially about his gender issues. "Listen here you bastard. . .Mr. Tendo decided to help you 'cuse the state your in. . .So shut up and don' talk until we send you away. . ."
Taro smiled when he hit in the right spot when calling him by that name, smile that cost him a sharp pain on the side of his body. "Ah! . . ." He moved trying to reach and massage it, but all the bandaging around his body stopped him from doing so.
"Damn that piggy! . . .When. . .When I get my hands on him, he'll wish he'd be dead. . ." Ranma blinked several times when the boy knew who he was referring about.
"R-Ryoga? . . . Ryoga did this to you?" The half conscious teen smiled again despite his painful torment. "I knew you would recognize him. . .I-I always knew you two perverts. . .Made . . .A lovely couple. . ." His smile set him into the rage he swore to avoid after that comment.
Ranma lifted the boy ignoring completely his face filled with aches. His rage was full on and he didn't want to play it easy. "Listen here you bastard. . .I am a man. . .A man you hear! and that moron could never look at me like that. . .I don' care if you are sick or defenseless. . .Talk 'bout him or me again an' I'll kill you myself. . ."
He fell in a thud back on the bedroll but his smile never left his face. "I think . . .I, think I stroke a cord. . .You know what?. . ." Ranma contained as much as he could before launching a full assault on him but something in him wanted to know what he wanted to say, making him to peek on his direction.
"The piggy. . .The piggy never denied it either. . .We fought and. . .And he admitted his love for you. . .I can't . . .I . .Can't believe . . .You are so selfish. . .Poor piggy. . ." That did it. The pigtailed boy ignored any protocol or rule applying to weak people, he had to learn the hard way.
Not two steps closer, a last comment sent Taro into the unconscious world and away from Ranma's wrath. "Too bad. . .I . . .I killed him three days ago. . ." Finished with a happy smile and completely out.
Ranma stopped bewildered by what he felt exactly three days earlier during his sleep and what he had said. The comment lingered for space of several hours, stopping when Akane shook him from his deep meditation in the morning. "Ranma, good morning. . .Dad called school and we have the rest of the week off until we see Taro back on his feet. . ."
The girl frowned questionably at her fiancé when he didn't answer back. "R-Ranma? . . .Are you Ok?" His face had signs of tiredness but not from his duty as a guard. "Akane. . .He said. . .He said Ryoga died three days ago. . .My, feelin' . . .That's what I felt that night remember?"
The youngest Tendo could do nothing but drive her flexed index finger to her lips, biting it with remorse. "It can't be. . .Taro is no match for Ryoga-kun. . .It just can't." Both boys stayed a few more minutes silently as the rest of the family began to move over the house.
Kasumi entered the room, fixed and refreshed some flowers besides the unconscious boy before sitting at his side, waiting patiently with a bucket with warm water and more bandages she needed to change. Ranma scoffed the picture where a banged Taro laid on his bedroll disrespectfully, getting up and leaving the house with no apparent direction.
Akane followed him all morning long until they arrived to that park. . .That place where the lost boy camps thinking is the middle of the forest. The boy just dropped right there contemplating old tracks of fires and imagining a lonely teen preparing ramen for breakfast.
"He told me Ryoga likes me Akane. . .He said. . .He said he doesn' deny how much he loves me. . ." The girl couldn't think of any comeback strong enough to counter that. She sat at his side, sighing at his sadness. "What do you want to do?. . .If he is alive, will you leave me?. . .And if he . . ."
Ranma shook his head vehemently when the thought crossed his mind, he is sure of what he wants after all. "No! . . .If he's alive good, but I ain't turning into his woman you know I ain't like that. . .And if he is dead. . .Good riddance." He swallowed harshly before saying it to the world but he had to make the statement.
"If he died, I'm sorry but it is for the best. . ." He meant that, the fire in his eyes told her so, but the sadness in his blush said otherwise. Akane smiled, fell on his shoulder and declared inwardly her resolve. "Good Ranma. . .Be a man for me and I'll be a woman for you. . .Nothing else matters. . ."
Morning brought more than good feelings and sick boys when a not so young man walked out of the Tendo home with unknown destiny. Genma Saotome had an agenda of his own when life brought him on his knees. His story is pretty much the same of any lowlife.
The man was entrusted by his wife to turn their son into the master of his art. To train him as a man amongst men and his greatest product ended up transforming into a worthless girl with cold water and being swayed by yet another boy.
Maybe no one noticed, but when Ranma kissed him with the desire to prove he is the better fighter, his father took a heavy toll on his self-respect as a mentor. Genma's pride dwindled every time his boy dressed up to trick master Happosai, dressed and accepted Kuno's date in search for his wishing blade. . .And many other adventures where Ranma gladly sacrificed his manhood for his own stupid ego.
No, this time the kiss became the last straw. Genma in panda form kept walking aimlessly for some time until reaching the edge of the city where someone recognized the black and white fur, waving his attention to the small restaurant. Genma Saotome promptly changed and went in, accepting bowls of expensive food and costly sake.
On the other side of the table a very distinguished man sat in the center while two really big bodyguards joined him besides him.
"Mr. Saotome, I'm glad to see how you enjoy my invitation. Please, have some more Sake. . ." This man was no ordinary bystander. The grayed hair and the half million yen suit meant business and respect wherever he'd go.
This man is an important citizen in Japan and maybe other countries which incidentally made Genma feel even more bloated about himself. They had discussed business in the past when many of his own mistakes came out to get him.
This time though, the roles changed.
"As you may be aware my company is one of the largest pharmaceutical corporations in the world. We have advanced technology in that department over decades and I am proud of it. . .But. . .It wasn't without its losses. . ."
There are times where evil shows itself in the right moment. When the darkness in the small cubicle damped their shadows and the light refracted over certain parts of the glasses, his face contorted into the diabolical expression of a madman. . .Someone who he really was.
A cold, calculated man who loved being on top, possess vast amounts of money and power stared at a broken man ready to sell everything for money. Genma knew this too, but he never held an honest job in his life so, selling his child or exchanging him for food wasn't exactly a sin in his eyes.
"You and I are alike you know? . . .If I needed to betray my son for the good of my empire, I wouldn't have a son by now and I know you have done the same. Now. . .We seem to have an enemy in common. An enemy who is very precious to me."
The man brought his handkerchief and set it on top of the table before he deposited a small piece of paper. "This is a check for five million yen. Now, I know this will solve a lot of problems in your life and even if you manage to spend them all, I will give you another five after the transaction."
"There can't be a better deal than this master of the Anything goes arts. . .I'm giving you a future for your son and your family. . .And what do I want in exchange?"
The bald man licked his lips when the long piece of paper called for his full attention, only to be pushed back by the last man's request. "Yes. . .I will give you Ryoga Hibiki and his parents location, plus I will take my son's perverted sin away when you take them from ever coming here. . ."
The man smiled happily when a deal this important meant more power for his empire. "Good Genma Saotome. . .Be ready to pay your part. . .Remember, I cannot be crossed like other fools who trust you. If the Hibikis aren't at my doors when the allocated time arrives, I'm taking your son as payment and believe me. . ."
Suspense crept on the atmosphere the moment the rich, powerful man stayed quiet a few seconds for added effect. "He will be locked as a beautiful redheaded slave, ready to please me and my friends with unimaginable wishes. . ."
His laughter left Genma harsh-swallowing the last part of the expensive Sake. The man left and the bald man in glasses took the check, keeping it tightly secure in his Gi.
Same place and time but with different protagonists marked a new alliance when several members dressed in very expensive suits arrived in black cars to a deserted building a few miles away from the Tendo home.
Mr. Zhao got out of the main car where his most trusted man, a sharpshooter with impeccable eye for assassinations, followed him close behind. "Mr. Sharp. . .This is the building were everything will pass. See that building in front of it? . . .I want you to set up camp on the second floor. . .We will keep close contact in the next three days while I set the mood for our contract."
The sniper carried his pack and a long, black bag where his baby awaited to be used. When he found the place abandoned, a part had been previously fixed to support electricity, water and a set of explosives he is suppose to activate the moment his job is done.
The rest of the gang kept driving their leader to a hotel situated on the rich part of town. Places were set and the players began to form their teams. The unknown man behind Chimera corporation resided on one side of town while Yakuza's trusted son stayed on the other.
They knew of their presence, but like in a game of chess, the pieces must follow an order before the players start it. The rest of the lackeys took several strategic points where the safety of their operation would be secured. The incursion of other martial arts masters like the Chinese bimbo delivering food or the Okonomiyaki chef, were calculated as expendable assets ready to be eliminated.
The target building? The same Dr. Esther used as her base of operations where Ranma Saotome and Ryoga Hibiki assisted for their physiological issues. The place had been monitored for the space of many months and exhibited the perfect locale for an ambush or to complete their business without interference from the local police.
Everything was set. The next day would prove the definitive time where Mr. Daikoku's revenge over Genma and Ranma Saotome would be fulfilled.
As in right on cue, the consciousness in Taro's long nap came to an end when he slowly began to recognize his surroundings. A girl with brown, long hair smiled tenderly while applying unguent on his skin with care. The boy remembered how even when the lost boy was almost dead, the last punches had a certain effect. . .Not the strong muscle bound, but the ones it hits you and the repercussions come after the hit connected.
When he thought about it, something made him pop a smile of his own after that memory. "Well, what do you know. . .I tell the little piggy I would kill his woman and he gets all superman on me. . .I can't believe he has the hots for that pervert. . ."
Kasumi blinked disconcerted by the comment, but he simply ignored her care, turning his head to the side. "Don't mind me. . .Fix me and I'll be on my way woman. . ." The girl was used to this kind of behavior when attending other criminals her father would host, but the spite this boy talked with sure made his visit a unsavory one.
The oldest Tendo suddenly felt pressure on her neck forcing her to fall on top of the teen. When Taro noticed an unconscious girl, he pushed her aside knowing it wasn't accidental. The boy saw the shadow peek from the window and realized his time was up.
"So, the Yakuza has found me and you are my executioner?" The man with glasses rested on the window sill patiently waiting for the boy to shut up. When he did so, the Yakuza agent delivered a note, leaving the house afterwards.
The note said : "Master Shishi. . . I am giving you a last redeeming opportunity. Go to this place and wait further instructions otherwise consider tomorrow your last day on earth."
The young rebel ignored any pain or wound left in him, getting up and walking towards the exit through the window. "Fine. . .Let's play your game for now. We'll see who dies tomorrow." An hour later Akane and Ranma walked in when Kasumi met them with a dizzy concussion.
"Nee-san! . . .What happened?" Kasumi explained how something hit her on the back of the head and when she woke up Taro wasn't there anymore. The oldest girl kept massaging her aching neck when something came to mind.
"The last thing I remember was an address he spoke out loud something like, "the doc's office. . ." What do you think he meant?" Ranma and Akane saw each other when Dr. Esther's office came to mind. "Don't worry Kasumi-san. . .We know where he is headed, thank you . . ."
The couple rushed out of the house in direction to the building where the physiologist became part of their lives.
At the same time, far away on the train station, Ryoga Hibiki arrived rushing through the crowd who looked at him disconcerted by his behavior. Minutes earlier the young man waited to get off the transportation when he drove his open palm directly to his face.
The speed and power behind the move was so hard, it looked like he slapped himself loudly. Everyone stared, but he just bowed apologetically and went on his way. No one understood the cause for this odd behavior, but as soon as the fanged boy's sense of smell came back, it did with such strength he perceived everything.
Including a woman's perfume so strong, he almost gag from the stench. The boy left the station with his fingers covering his nose and his other hand holding his head. "Damn it! . . .Why everything sounds so loud and what's with all these different smells. . .?"
His inner voice snickered back at him when the new, restored senses worked that way. "Ryoga. . .Every time you consume a sense, you gain it back stronger than before. . .Apparently it took you four days to recuperate your sense of smell and hearing but you need to be careful from now on. Is not easy to sacrifice a stronger sense than a weak one, and the repercussions are damaging too."
It felt logic for Ryoga that when you practice on something until it goes off, at the next moment it becomes stronger, just like any other muscle but the noise quality and all the smells sure made him dizzy after a while.
The lost boy ignored the after effect when his concentration became clear about his target. Ryoga walked for several hours trying to figure out how to contact Taro if he was at the Tendo's. . .Where "he" lived. The thinking kept going until a bandaged teen walked in front of the street.
"What do you know. . .He came to me instead. . .This must be my lucky day." Ryoga walked far away but never lost him from his trial. Several blocks behind the fanged boy, Ranma and Akane saw something they didn't hope to meet again.
"Kane . . .IS that Ryoga following Taro too?" The girl squinted her eyes until focusing on the bandanna. "Yes. . .You see? He is alive. . ." The news gave Ranma a sinking feeling of relief, feeling Akane noticed in a heartbeat.
Ranma cleared his throat quickly trying to change his image. "I ain't happy for him Ok? . . .I don' care if he died in the first place. . ." The Tendo girl giggled at him after saying. "Yes Ranma. . .Keep telling yourself that. . ."
The pigtailed boy pouted annoyed by her comment but blushed anyway from his hidden feelings. "Whatever. . .Let's just get this over with." They kept their distance as well until reaching their destination.
Taro entered into the empty building and directed himself to the center where yet, another note was set on the floor. "Good Mr. Shishi. . .Your task is simple. Wait in there for Ranma Saotome and fight him. The building's foundations are weakened and only a tiny punch with your transformed curse can take them down."
"Bring the whole building on top of him and consider your sentence revoked. . ." The mission was easy after all and he wanted to destroy that pest once and for all so the boy smiled at his luck. "Fine. . .Let's wait for the transvestite to come here. . .Shouldn't be too long."
Ryoga found the building, went in and noticed the lock pad set to open from the outside alone. All the windows were heavily blocked and there was only one source of light in the center where the bad guy waited.
"You! . . .No, it's impossible. . .I killed you. . .I watched you agonize and die before my eyes! . . ." Ryoga was too busy to pay attention on his monologue when everything smelled like a trap. "Whatever man. . .You almost got me, but more importantly. . .I think we should leave this place for now."
"What's wrong piggy. . .Are you afraid your woman will find us out and get all jealous?. . .If that transvestite means so much to you why don't you steal him from that Tendo brat and marry her?" Taro had the boy pegged to a tee when his short fuse always got him in trouble, specially when someone talked about the pigtailed boy.
"Shut up! . . .Is not like that. . .I don't love him. . .I . . ." Ryoga's opponent goad him to a point where his laughter made him blush in embarrassment. "So. . .You are telling me Ranma is not the object of your affections, but the curse is ain't it?"
"You are so in love with something that doesn't exist that you are willing to risk your life for that guy?. . .No. . .I think you really love the man but hide the feeling behind the curse. . ." Ryoga began to enter into the rage of his words, luckily his subconscious advised him otherwise, calming him down. "W-Whatever. . .Think anything you want. . .I don't care what you believe of me so, let's just. . ."
He tried to persuade him to leave the building but someone else interrupted their conversation. "Well. . .I care what you think of me. . .Tell me Ryoga. . .Do you really love me?"
Taro snickered out loud while a very nervous Ryoga Hibiki refused to turn around when that voice rang in his heart. He desperately tried to stop shaking but failed miserably at it and when he veered around to see those beautiful blue eyes he blushed furiously at the pigtailed boy. "R-Ranma. . .Is not like that . . .I . . ." Ranma walked directly at him with such determination, the fanged boy began to walk backwards in fear.
Their eyes met several times when Ryoga's pupils kept looking away in shame and back at him in a pleading manner. Ranma's serious face never gave him a chance and when he grabbed the lost boy by his shirt, the thud against the wall meant he was pissed. Ryoga forced himself to stare away but when he made contact with the other boy his eyes screamed for his release.
"Then tell me. . .How it is you bastard? . . .If you fell for me because that stupid kiss forget it. . .You know me. . .I am the master of deception in the Anything goes martial arts. I use any move to stay on top of my enemies and that was the kiss. . .A tool to be on top of you. . .Nothin' else you hear? . . ."
Ryoga's gaping mouth showed true fear by his hatred but Ranma flared even more when the lost boy began to trace his eyes with that weird feeling a boy does to a woman. "D-Don'. . .Don' you dare look at me like that! . . .I am a man and You know it! . . .Stop lookin' at me with those eyes! . . ."
Ranma's knees began to tremble when his feelings for the boy born from his half-girl side began to show. He had resolve, but the pleading whimper in the fanged boy begged for his curse to act on his behalf. Ranma closed the gap until resting his lips on his ear.
"Damn it Ryoga . . .Don' make feel like that. . .That's not who I am . . ." Taro tried to contain his laughs for as long as he could but after their bond began to betray them, his chance couldn't be sweeter.
"No, this is just too good to be true. . .Ranma Saotome really loves Ryoga Hibiki. Two boys love each other! . . ." The words resonated in the pigtailed boy's mind with more force than the lost boy's when he turned out to be the weak girl in the couple.
"N-No . . .No! . . I am a man ya hear? . . .A man amongst men and no one can say otherwise! . . ." Taro used the moment to transform into his cursed form. When he flew in circles around the pair, Ryoga tried to warn Ranma about the building but their closeness and the sudden change from their enemy took the pigtailed master by surprise.
"Ranma!. . .I can't discuss that now. . .Get out of here!. . ." The pigtailed boy was beyond help when his denial took all his attention away from anything else. Ryoga growled at him in anger, but after the demeaning way Taro humiliated him, he understood the state he was in.
Precious seconds passed unnoticed, time that wasn't wasted when the giant bull like creature flew against the foundations, forcing them down. "Well, perverts. . .Have a nice death together. . ." The building began to rumble as Taro used the only exit which sealed itself after his escape.
"Damn it Ranma. . .Snap out of it!. . ." There was nothing left when tons of rocks began to fall on them both. When the Saotome heir finally woke up, his senses told him to jump away from harm. He would have done it easily, but a loud noise between the falling debris made him stop instantly.
Ryoga saw how his friend plummeted to the ground with no chance to recuperate somehow, giving him the only option left to take. Ryoga launched on top of him while tons of concrete and construction materials buried them together.
Outside the broken down building, Akane fell on her knees after seeing her fiancé going in, staring at Taro leaving and seeing how the building became shambles in a matter of seconds. "Ranma . . .No! . . ."
This was it for anyone witnessing the fall of an eight story building falling on top of two young teens.
