Chapter 4
Breakdown
The small group made its way to a clearing near a stream. Shampoo lead them to the center. "Here you stay. Great-grandmother and student over there. You have two days to train. Then Shampoo marry Airen!" She bounded off in the direction she had pointed.
Ranma fumed as she took off her backpack. "I'd rather die than marry into that family!"
"I thought you said Shampoo was cute after she gave you her Kiss of Marriage," retorted Akane. "
That was before this."
Kunou came forward. "I fail to see why you need me. I still am unable to fight, or train, you."
"True, but maybe you can come up with a way for me to defend myself. If the Hag has manipulated Ryoga, you may be able to help by recognizing it."
"I shall start immediately."
"I'll start dinner. That way you can start training," added Kasumi.
Nabiki headed to where Shampoo had gone. "I'll scout around. Maybe I'll be able to tell you what she's doing."
"Don't get caught," cautioned Ranma.
"I'll protect her," stated Kunou as he left with Nabiki.
"Ranma, why exactly did you need me if you had this help?" asked Tofu.
"That Ghoul likes to use pressure points. She may think twice before using them if you're here. I also figured she wouldn't attack outside of the challenge if we came in numbers. It'd be great if Pop or Uncle Tendou were here, but your being here means a great deal to me."
"I understand. There may be a few things I could learn from you and the Amazon."
Akane had finished with the tent. She helped Tofu with his. She also gathered firewood. After about twenty minutes, she, Ranma, and Tofu were at the edge of the clearing.
As they had agreed, Akane attacked Ranma with all of her strength and skill. While Ranma could easily avoid them, she minimized her dodges. Instead, she tensed her muscles, absorbing the blows. It hurt, but it was giving her the stamina she needed to go against Ryoga.
It also reminded her of the times she trained with her father. Of the times he'd use large, metal objects to strengthen her body. Her current body didn't exactly need to be strengthened. It was her lack of training for the last month that caused problems. She had to regain her stamina.
The last thing she remembered before blacking out was her father's words, "When fighting, keep your mind focused and alert. An attack can come from anywhere."
Ranma woke up. Tofu was gently probing for a concussion. Akane was upset, nearly in a panic. Kasumi was bringing over a bucket of water, a glass, and a washcloth.
Ranma held out her hand to Akane. Akane came over and took it. "Sorry to scare ya, Akane. I was thinking of the times I trained with Pop."
Akane smiled. A tear ran down her cheek. "I should have noticed your lack of concentration."
"There's no concussion, or any other damage. I suggest we wait for the others before continuing," suggested Tofu.
"Okay."
It wasn't long before Kunou and Nabiki returned. They talked about how Cologne was exploding boulders with a single touch of her finger. They also explained that Ryoga was strapped in a harness with boulders being sent at him.
Tofu frowned at this. He knew the pressure points on a human body, but he hadn't heard of them being in objects before.
Kunou and Nabiki described the effect on the surrounding area. It literally tore the plants apart. Ryoga had been slightly injured, but not to the extent the area had been damaged.
"The amaguriken!" exclaimed Ranma.
"The what?" asked Kunou.
"The kachuu tenshin amaguriken. It's a super-fast punch that the Hag taught me. She said if I could master it, she'd give me the means of returning me to a man.
"If I can practice that, I may be able to catch or deflect most of the debris. I wouldn't last long in my current level of fitness, though."
"Perhaps if we practiced with small, fast moving objects. It'll give you the practice you need and help build your stamina," offered Akane.
Kasumi smiled. "Bees or wasps. If you aggravate the hive, they'll attack. But you'll have to find a way to stop them without hurting them."
Ranma thought. The early sessions of learning the Neko-ken rushed into her mind. She shuddered. "I don't want to become a bee. Being a cat's bad enough."
"Perhaps using a sling shot with several stones in it. You'd have to catch everyone before they hit you or the ground," suggested Tofu.
"What will we use as a sling?" asked Akane.
"Leave that to me, dear sister," replied Nabiki as she left the camp. "I'll be back in an hour. Don't wait up."
Nabiki returned with a popular beach toy: a water sling. It could be fastened to poles and used by one person or held by two people and fired by a third. The family chose to fasten it to poles and work from there. They tested it a few times before being convinced it would work.
Several rocks were placed in the sling. Akane pulled back, waiting for Tofu's command. Ranma stood ready. As soon as Akane released the sling, she began her amaguriken.
The first several attempts resulted in her being struck more than she catching anything. Each attempt resulted in more stones being caught. Ranma braced herself for one last attempt before dinner.
Akane released the sling. Ranma waited for several heartbeats before starting her amaguriken. This time, the wait paid off. She began moving her right arm at incredible speeds. With two fingers, she plucked the stones from the air, flicking them to her left arm.
She moved her arm in a wider area, catching nearly every stone. Three stones whizzed by her head. Several more just beyond her reach. About a dozen actually struck her, stinging and bruising. She caught the final stone, flicking it to her left arm.
She looked around the camp, evaluating everyone's reactions. Tofu stood there, expressionless. Kunou was stunned, though he handled it well. Akane was pleased, having seen Ranma use the technique before. Nabiki had her usual neutral expression. And Kasumi seemed pleased.
"Well done, Ranma. Can you do that with both arms?" asked Tofu.
"Huh?"
"Can you perform the kachuu tenshin amaguriken with both arms?"
"Yes, why?"
"After dinner, let's try again. This time, use both hands to catch and drop the stones. Also, only worry about those that will actually hit you. You'll waste less time and energy that way. That may be your best advantage."
"Okay."
"Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow. The light is fading and Ranma needs her rest," commented Kasumi.
"You're right. We'll pick up early tomorrow."
Everyone sat near the campfire. They took a good helping of food. They began talking about school and their problems with classes. Nabiki talked about her plans for college. Akane, too, talked of college, though she was more vague about her plans. Kunou talked of taking over some of his father's holdings, if he ever saw his father again.
Even Ranma talked of her plans, though she left out any references to either of her genders. She talked of becoming a physical education major, about either taking over the Tendou dojo or starting one of her own. She did not go into details, but everyone understood.
The conversation drifted to the subject of their fathers. It was uncomfortable, but the mood was still good. It was Ranma who started, although it took coaxing from Akane and Kasumi.
"Well, Pop took me from home when I was five or six. We traveled a lot. We didn't stay anywhere for more than a couple of months. He'd always try a new technique on me. They were always legendary or mystical things. The Neko-ken was one of his early 'successes.' He woulda tried others, but he at least remembered the Neko-ken.
"We'd also learned different styles, too: aikido, kempo, juijitsu, and others. He was always saying things like, 'One must forsake everything for the Art,' or 'To be a man, you must experience the pain of the Art.'"
Ranma lowered her head, looking at her chest. "Now what am I? Am I a man trapped in a woman's body? Am I even a man? Or am I a woman and just don't know it yet? I just don't know." Tears rolled done her face. "I just want to be normal again."
"I, too, know pain, Saotome Ranma. My mother was strict, painfully so. And my father, he was always away on business, even when mother died. He lost control when he received word of her death. He is like Kodachi, or rather, Kodachi is like he. He treats people like toys.
"Somehow, he has people believing he is respectable. He is, technically, the principal of Furinkan High School, though he has not been seen in nearly five years. I question my own sanity every day. I must thank you, Ranma-san. For while you broke my body, you freed my mind and spirit. I am forever in your debt."
"I never understood you until now, Sempai," Ranma said between sniffles.
Kasumi added her soft voice to the discussion, "Father was devastated by Mother's death. He's just now getting his strength back. It has been ten years. I am proud of his progress. At least until he joined Saotome-san on their training mission.
"That is worse than not living when Mother died. Ranma needed...we needed him to help us. He should be training Ranma, not us imposing on our friends.
"I can understand Saotome-san. He has no experience with daughters. I can almost forgive him for leaving Ranma. But Father, he left us when we needed him. Ranma has been showing more life these past few days. I thought it would make Father proud.
"To leave the way he did, in the middle of the night, is inexcusable."
"I've never seen or heard you like this, Kasumi," remarked Akane.
"I've never allowed myself to feel this way about anyone. I just can't help it now. I don't hate our fathers, I'm just frustrated at their actions."
Tofu looked at Kasumi. He had not become a rambling mess around her since Ranma returned from the beach as a girl, unable to return to being a boy. He sighed softly, "I'm sorry. I feel guilty about telling you how wonderful my father was. I hope you forgive your fathers. I know it'll be tough, but trust me, it's better that way."
"Thank you, Tofu," responded Kasumi. "We should get cleaned up and ready for bed."
Everyone pitched in with cleaning the utensils. They soon broke up into pairs: Tofu and Kasumi; Kunou and Nabiki; and Ranma and Akane. Each couple went their separate way.
Ranma and Akane walked along the stream. They didn't hold hands, but walked close together. They didn't talk for several minutes. It wasn't until they sat on a boulder that they began talking. At first, it was about little things: homework, make up classes, and what it would be like to go to Kyoko's birthday party in two weeks.
It was then that Akane became serious. "Ranma, what are you feeling?"
"Calm. Empty. Almost alone."
"Alone?"
"This sounds strange, but without Pop nearby, I feel incomplete. I can't explain it. You're here, so are Kasumi and Nabiki. Knowing that lessens the feeling."
"When Kunou came over after you beat him, you said you were honor bound to marry me. Did you mean that?"
"Then, yes. Now, I'm doubting if there's any cure. I want you to be happy. It took this to make me realize how much you mean to me. You've helped me since we met: getting me away from Pop and Nabiki; my fights with Kunou and Ryoga; and everything else that's happened."
"Did you mean what you said about not being sure what you are?"
"I'm beginning to get comfortable as a girl. That scares me. I was born and raised as a man, but I feel...freer as a woman. I don't have to worry about being forced to change. I don't have to think about 'Guys don't do this sort of thing.' I also don't think of everything as a guy or girl thing anymore. I think more that people do these.
"I guess Pop gave me a very one-sided view of the world. I'm just now discovering there's more to it than the Art and his idea of what men do.
"I've been a girl almost a month and a half, longer than anytime before, and I'm already losing my sense of identity. That scares me. Not so much what I am, but who I am is being lost or taken from me."
Akane put her arm around Ranma. "Are we pushing you to hard?"
"No. You're doing everything right, I think. It may be me. I don't know. I'm just scared and not really thinking straight. I want to be accepted for who I am, if only I knew who I was now."
"You are Saotome Ranma. My very dear friend and...fiancee. You are also a part of my family. At the moment, that's all that matters."
"Thank you."
"I haven't told you why I cried in Tofu's office. It was listening to you and Nabiki arguing about your fight with Kunou. It was one of your reasons for fighting: you were angry. Do you remember what Nabiki said?"
"That I had a temper every bit as bad as yours."
"That's right. I saw what you did when you were really angry. I remembered what I did when angry. I also remembered my promise to Kasumi about my anger.
"What I saw from both of us was what anger could do. I then wondered why I was always angry. What I found scared, and saddened, me. I was still angry at Mother for dying. I thought I got over her death..."
"Now you're calmer. I'm sorry, Akane, I thought you were trying to do this for me. I guess that was selfish of me."
"Given the circumstances, no. How do you feel about me?"
"I like you, a lot. You really are cute. If it weren't for the engagement being forced on us, I probably would have said so earlier. It's just that our engagement was furthest from my mind. I was mad at Pop, I wanted to be cured, I didn't need it. I'm sorry."
"All things considered, I should have been more understanding. Imagine my surprise at being engaged. At the time, I thought it was to another girl. And I was fighting every boy in school. When I found out you were a boy, I thought you were like everyone else. It was your comments and actions that started changing my mind, and heart.
"I like you a lot, too. Now the question is: what are we going to do about the engagement. You've told Kunou and Dad that you'll marry me. I don't think Dad paid attention to your little provision about your condition. He'll expect us to be married, no matter what. Kunou might, but he seems to understand."
"I'm glad. I think he'd be a great friend. I just hope his sanity is not temporary. And you're right, our fathers would be crazy enough to marry us the minute they get back. So, how should we plan for them?"
"Let's not worry about that tonight. You have a fight to prepare for. I doubt we'll see our fathers for a month, anyway. Let's go back to camp, it's getting pretty dark."
They left their perch, heading for camp. They failed to notice the figure lurking across the stream.
Cologne sat on the log near the fire, thinking, 'So Son-in-law and that girl are becoming close friends. That is bad news. They have announced their intentions to marry, provided Son-in-law is cured. This poses new possibilities.
'Another "Cat's Tongue" ought to keep Son-in-law discouraged for a while longer. That simple doctor won't be able to fix Son-in-law in any way. I must prepare. Even with my victory here, I still need to humiliate him more.'
The afternoon sun glared on the group. Ranma was breathing heavy. Satisfied with her progress at catching stones, Tofu added the elements of avoiding and deflecting. He realized, as did Ranma, that the actual combat would include movement and positioning.
Akane let loose two rapid volleys of stone. Ranma began moving between the rocks, deflecting those she could not avoid. It was during this session that Nabiki ran into the clearing.
Ranma rapidly changed directions, being hit by a few stones. She barely reached Nabiki as the first stones came. She stood there and caught most of them. Those she couldn't catch, she let hit her body, moving in front of Nabiki if she had to.
The last stone fell to the ground. As it fell, so did Nabiki, her expression was of shock and disbelief. She knew Ranma could do this, but it wasn't until then that she realized exactly what Ranma could do.
Everyone had gathered around her, each looking at her with concern in their eyes and faces. Tofu did a quick exam. Kasumi brought some water. Kunou helped Ranma support her. Akane started to pace, angry at herself for firing too hard.
Nabiki recovered, waving them off. "I'm fine. Thanks, Ranma. I came back to tell you Ryoga doesn't look like himself. It's almost like he's both dazed and enraged. I think Cologne did something to him last night."
Ranma frowned. Her plan was for her and Ryoga to fight Cologne together, forcing the Amazon to cure her of the Cat's Tongue. If Cologne had changed Ryoga, then there would be trouble.
She had to find out. She got up, letting Kunou take Nabiki. "I've gotta see. I may need to change my tactics."
Ranma ran through the woods. At one point, she took to the trees. She quickly came to the area Cologne and Ryoga were working in. Cologne stood on her stick, talking to her student, "You must remember all of the humiliations you have suffered from Ranma. Use these to increase your strength. Win this fight, and Akane will be yours."
Ranma watched in horror as Cologne touched a spot on Ryoga's head. His expression went from nothing to rage and obsession. She held in a gasp when she heard Ryoga's hate filled words, "You will pay for making my life Hell, Saotome Ranma!"
Ranma noted Cologne's evil smile as she spoke, "It is time."
Ranma quickly turned, bounding for her camp. She landed in the middle of the camp. Everyone noticed her expression. She quickly went to Tofu.
"Is there a pressure point that will unleash a person's rage?"
"There are several, but they simply aren't used."
"Well Cologne used one on Ryoga. When they come shortly, he'll be in a full rage. It looks like she's tapped into why he likes fighting me. I should have known this would happen. I should have known it wouldn't be easy letting go of years of hatred."
"Hmm. Ranma, I'm going to use a series of points on you. They'll help you think clearly and speed up your reactions. I can't promise they'll give you your victory, but they'll give you a chance."
"I'll win. I have to, now."
Tofu applied pressure on certain portions of Ranma's head and back. In less than a minute, she was calm and breathing regularly. After another minute, Cologne, Shampoo, and Ryoga arrived.
"I see you have brought many witnesses. Good. If my champion wins, you will marry Shampoo. If you win, you may continue living with the Tendous with no interference for two months."
"I also get my manhood back," Ranma added evenly.
Cologne looked at Ranma through narrowed eyes. "You've destroyed the only cure. It will take years before a new Phoenix Pill will be ready."
To Cologne's surprise, Ranma remained calm and neutral. She did notice the disappointed looks on Ranma's friends' faces. 'I have humiliated not only Son-in-law, but those he loves as well. It will only be a matter of time before he comes to Shampoo,' she thought.
"Well, let's not dally. The winner is the one who remains standing or the first to recover. BEGIN!"
Ryoga lunged at Ranma, extending his index finger for the strike. As promised, Ranma was moving faster. She ducked under the attack, tripping Ryoga. He hit the ground, causing a massive explosion. The witnesses moved farther from the battle.
When the dust settled, Ranma stood directly behind Ryoga. Neither were affected by the blast. Ryoga turned, swinging at Ranma. She ducked under his legs. Using his precarious balance against him, she kicked him to the ground, softly.
He stood, glaring at her. Ranma noted his stance, she adjusted hers accordingly. Ryoga charged. Ranma grabbed his arm with her hands, pulling him closer. She used her knee to kick him in the stomach. To her surprise, the kick hurt her.
Ryoga brought his free arm around. Still holding his arm, Ranma ducked to the ground, pulling him with her. His attack was spoiled. She released him. Before he recovered, she leaped a couple of meters behind him.
"What is she doing?" asked Akane.
"I would guess our friend, Saotome, is trying to wear Ryoga down. Exhaust him and soften him up before dealing the final blow," answered Kunou.
"She still may not be able to win," stated Tofu.
"Why not?" asked Akane, concerned.
"Look at her limping."
They watched closely. The leg Ranma used to kick Ryoga was sore, almost numb. She timed things carefully, using minimal movements. Again Ryoga charged. Ranma let him get close. She put her hands on his shoulders, essentially doing a handstand on him. She then gave a slight push.
This did two things. It sent Ranma high into the air where she oriented herself to Ryoga. It also forced him to the ground, which immediately exploded in his face.
Ranma leapt around the debris until she was next to Ryoga. Instead of attacking, she simply placed her hand on his shoulder. Ryoga renewed his attack. Ranma leaped to the side. She noted some blood on his face.
He lunged again. When he was close, she ducked under the attack. This time, however, she kicked him in the face. Her foot hurt, but not too badly. More importantly, the effect she hoped for happened. Ryoga staggered.
Ranma stood still while Ryoga shook himself. Before he completely recovered, she pressed her attack. She used a brief volley of her amaguriken to soften his face. It also softened her fists. Pain shot up her arms.
Ryoga shook off this attack. He raged at Ranma. She leaped out of his way, into the trees. Ryoga stood there for a moment. He turned to where Ranma entered the woods.
As he reached the edge of his crater, he heard a crashing sound. A blur of red and black assaulted him. He felt his face go numb. He also felt a sharp pain in his sides. He thought he felt a rib crack. He then felt just the pain.
He looked up, his vision blurred. He saw something in red. Or was it the whole world? He wasn't sure. He lunged at the red object. It quickly disappeared. Ryoga stopped.
He found the red object again. He lunged, intent on using his new bakusai tenketsu technique again. He missed the red target and was being forced to the ground.
It exploded around him. He felt the shards cut deeply into his pain. He staggered up. Before he could fully recover, the red target flailed into him again. This time, he was sure a rib cracked. That was the last he remembered before the red object faded to black.
Ranma panted as she stood over her collapsed friend. She had several cuts on her face and hands. She was also ready to collapse. Cologne approached her carefully.
"Well done, Son-in-law. I did not think you had the strength in your current body. As promised, Shampoo and I will leave you alone for two months. Until then..." She bounded off, leaving Ranma to collapse shortly after she left.