Disclaimer: All Ranma 1/2 characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Co.
All Fushigi-yuugi characters belongs to Yu Watase.
Chapter 3b
by: Dy
Just outside the door, Ranma snickered with demonic glee as she watched the jerk lay out the gold coins from his small money bag. Truth be told, she didn't do it to spite the Seishi, she simply didn't have the money to pay for her food. Besides, even if she did have some cash, she knew that the people in this lifetime would not recognize it for what it was.
Clasping her hand behind her, she walked to the street and began to hum a catchy tune. This time, she needed to search for clothes. Something more comfortable, maybe, and presentable, so that she'd look just fine when she met this Nakago guy. The stupid Seishi were obviously an enemy of this Nakago, and that being the case, she was pretty convinced that this Nakago guy must be an angel of some sort.
"Wha...?" Ranma shouted in surprise as she felt someone sneaked up behind her.
"Oh, no... you are not going anywhere this time," A vice- like grip circled Ranma's wrist and pulled her to a stop.
"I'm bringing you to the palace now. You've caused enough problems already, and I can't spare the time for anymore..."
Ranma tried to hide her surprise at the Seishi's arrival. She didn't even hear him coming. Maybe there was something about this guy, after all..., She realized that it was foolish to underestimate him.
"Don't you ever give up? I still have things to do, you know," she snapped, tugging hard at her hand.
"No, I don't, can't and won't give up as long as there's a cause worth fighting for. I do have a sense of HONOR, after all, unlike somebody here I know. I guess you wouldn't understand what I'm trying to say since you are a weakling at heart. You gave up before the fight even begun... What a loser!" Tamahome said in pure disgust as he continued to lead her throughout the streets, his grasp not relaxing. He didn't even spare her a glance through out his whole tirade as if he couldn't stand the sight of her.
"I am not a loser! I've beaten you twice in a row in case you forgot or are you too stupid to remember that!" Ranma retorted. This guy was pissing her off.
"You didn't beat me! You tricked me!" Tamahome corrected. Still holding the thrashing Ranma.
"You are just too cowardly to admit it!" Ranma said. "You are worse than Ryoga! You're pigheaded and a jerk! "she continued.
"Listen boy, I have been punched in the face, blasted at, tricked into paying for food I did not order, oh let's not forget the fact that you not only tricked me into paying for you're meal you also stole mine on top of that, but the worse thing of all is I've had to stop searching for Miaka because of you. Have at least the decency to accept your mistakes and quietly go with me," Tamahome said, tightening his grip on Ranma more.
Ranma braced her legs against the ground and refused to be moved another inch. It was one thing to be mistreated, yet another altogether to be insulted. Either way, she wasn't going to stand for this slander any longer.
"Hey! There's a limit to everything, jerk! And I've just about had enough of you. If you really want to fight me so badly, why don't you just come out and say so!" She challenged him, giving the guy a hard shove. His hold loosened considerably.
"Don't try me, Soldier! Not when I'm in this mood. I may not be able to control myself," Tamahome warned, still trying his best to ignore the Kotou soldier's presence. He couldn't afford anymore distractions that might further delay his search of Miaka.
"You're not even half a man," Tamahome snorted.
Ranma's anger flared more at this uncouth remark. The stupid Seishi might not be aware of it, but she was stuck in one tough dilemma too. The only thing she wanted was to find someone, anyone who could help her find her way home, thus all the trouble she went through to know his ways. From what she had seen, this Seishi was brave, loyal and undeniably responsible. He was even compassionate in dealing with others, but Ranma's friendly intentions towards him vanished in a snap. What he was implying of her was far beyond what she could take. Maybe the times Akane called her a pervert and a jerk could only bruise her ego, but calling her a loser, weakling at heart and less of a man was just too much.
"Maybe you're just a girl," Tamahome added.
"That's it!" Ranma thought as she was consumed by rage.
"Don't do me any favors! Let's fight now! I can't wait to beat the bloody hell out of you!" Ranma quickly delivered a head- ringing uppercut, her fist connecting solidly with Tamahome's jaw.
As Tamahome staggered, partly in surprise, Ranma jumped back to put some distance between them. She wanted to play with the Seishi first, to prolong his embarrassment, before finishing the fight.
Tamahome's oni was glowing a fierce red as he faced Ranma. He lunged forward to give an answering punch and more, but Ranma was able to dodge all of his attempts with a speed Tamahome found unbelievable.
With a swiftness that was quite amazing, as well, Tamahome turned partially around and launched a kick this time, intending to hit Ranma square on the face. Unfortunately, he hit pure air instead.
Stunned, he quickly looked left and right. His opponent was nowhere to be found! The Kotou soldier couldn't have gone down since the ground was there, so that left only one option.
Tamahome looked up.
"Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!" Ranma shouted as she descended upon him.
He couldn't have turned at a more opportune moment. As his eyes met Ranma's, She began moving her fists in a succession of blows Tamahome saw only as a blur. But he sure felt it... on his chest and midsection, he felt the powerful attacks as the air left his lungs in a whoosh.
He reeled again, almost crouching down on the ground this time, and his vision was clouding up just a little bit. As he blinked, he saw the Kotou soldier gathering a bright and deadly looking chi ball in his hand. Even in his sorry state, Tamahome applauded Nakago. It would seem that the latter finally found the perfect soldier for his army.
"So who is more "manly" this time?" Ranma snorted.
Just then, the thunder of horses' hooves reached his ears.
"Stop that at once! We come in the name of the Emperor!"
"Seize that Kutou soldier!"
"Tamahome, are you alright?"
"Hah! Look's like he beat your ass, huh Tama!"
Tamahome looked up to see Nuriko and Tasuki heading his way.
"What are you two doing here?" He asked, although it came out more as a groan. He had never felt so drained before in his life!
"We came to look for you. Hotohori- sama was getting worried because you took so long to report back," Nuriko answered, helping Tamahome to his feet.
"How do you feel?" Tasuki asked with feigned concern. Seeing Tamahome disgruntled like this, especially when it was his pride that was damaged, gave Tasuki this undeniable urge to tease him more. It was a rare opportunity, after all.
Tamahome's response was drowned out by Ranma's sudden shrieking.
"Let us handle this," Nuriko said, signaling Tasuki to join him.
"No, don't go near him," Tamahome warned, clutching the sleeves of his friends.
"Why don't you want me to? I don't need any help to beat the hell out of someone like him," Tasuki said, slightly irritated at his friend's lack of faith in his ability.
"Just wait and see," Tamahome said.
"Don't you dare touch me, you perverts! You're not going to bring me anywhere!" She raged, fending off the soldiers' attempt to capture her with strong punches and kicks.
Not one listened to her warning, after the kicks and punches they received, all of them still continued to attack her. Well, they had asked for it...
Ranma concentrated hard, she could feel her body turning bright blue, once she had collected enough of her chi, she felt very sorry to those who were going to receive it.
"Moko Takabisha!" Ranma shouted, unleashing her chi. Before any of the soldier could shout or run, they were thrown away all over town, the stores and streets were badly injured.
Tasuki's mouth hung open while Nuriko was able to control his. They hated to admit it, but Tamahome's warning saved them from possible death.
The only ones left were Ranma, Nuriko, Tasuki and the injured Tamahome. The rest of the soldiers were lying somewhere in the vicinity of the town, still unconscious.
Tasuki gripped his fan very hard. He wanted to fight and test the soldier. It was about time that someone was capable of fighting Tasuki for real.
"Tasuki, don't do it," Nuriko warned, his observance of the soldier's power and skill told him that he was very capable to doing damage to a person to the point of death if he was furious.
"What can we do? We can't just let him get away!" Tasuki said.
Nuriko was contemplating a way to capture the soldier without further damaging the town or them. In a matter of few minutes, he thought of a way.
"We come in peace!" Nuriko shouted.
"We're not going to harm you!" Tasuki added, though deep inside, he still wanted to challenge the soldier.
"Yeah, right! I don't believe you guys at all!" Ranma replied, her anger was still focused at the one lying behind them.
"We just want to ask you some questions," Nuriko said.
"No way! I'm going back to Japan!" Ranma said, turning her back to them.
"Japan? That's impossible!" Tasuki said.
Ranma chose to ignore Tasuki's reply but before she completely walked away, she faced Tamahome one more time.
"Oh and by the way, I was able to beat you three times, that makes you the loser!"
Just as Ranma made her exit, a very, very huge boulder fell out of the sky from nowhere, hitting her squarely on the head. She collapsed then, knocked out and totally dead to the world.
"What in the hell did that huge boulder came from?" Tasuki wondered.
Nuriko ran over to check if the soldier was still alive. The cloth that held the soldier's hair was removed, his violet eyes widened in shock as he observed the soldier more closely...
Tamahome's opponent was a woman!
She was still guilty at what she had done to her and at the same time was also amazed by her fighting skills.
"Who in the world trained her? The demon himself?" Taiitsu- kun wondered.
But Taiitsu- kun knew that her question wasn't very important right now, she had found the key and she was the only one capable of saving them.
Her own great-niece, Reigen.