Disclaimer: Not mine, yadda, yadda

A/N: The move Reikon Dageki from the last chapter is Soul Strike. I forgot to mention that last time. ;P

Chapter Seven

"RANMA! PREPARE TO DIE!" was the cry that heralded the arrival of one Ryoga Hibiki. It was followed closely followed by said Hibiki driving his hefty weapon of choice, his umbrella, deep into the ground in an attempt to impale the Saotome heir.

"I take it this is the infamous Ryoga?" Ky inquired from the sidelines.

"Yep, pork-butt here loves to show up at the worst times," Ranma answered while deftly avoiding the wide arcs of Ryoga's viscous swings.

"Stand still so I can kill you Ranma!" Ryoga shouted in his rage.

"Oi! Ryoga, why all the hostility?" Ky called, trying to defuse the situation.

The fanged youth stopped mid-swing to focus his glare on the newcomer to Nerima.

"Why the hostility? You want to know why! He made my life Hell! He's responsible for everything!" He continued his attack with renewed vigor.

"Hey Ryoga, calm down for a minute," Ky called again.

He was ignored.

"Oh well, I tried," Ky grumbled.

He continued down the street to U-chan's. He was hungry. Ranma could catch up later.

-ooo-

"Yo U-chan!" Ky greeted.

"Hey sugar. Where's Ran-chan?"

"He had some prior business with Ryoga Hibiki, or rather Ryoga had business with him. The guy seems to need anger management," he mused as he took a seat. "Any who, how's business been for ya?"

"It's been pretty good. What can I get for ya?"

"Surprise me. I like surprises," Ky's face lit up dramatically. "That's it! I'll let you decide what to make me from now on! It'll be great. I'll never know what I get, and you could occasionally test out knew idea's! You know, this is good for you. Nabiki would charge for a service like this!" Ky laughed.

"New idea's huh? I suppose I could go for that. I'll sleep on it. Here ya go."

Ky dug in eagerly.

"I think okonomiyaki has become my favorite source of sustenance. You are an artist U-chan."

Ukyo couldn't do more than blush at Ky's antics.

-ooo-

"Come on Ryoga, is that the best you can do? You seem to be slacking off!" Ranma taunted.

Ryoga's control dropped further.

"AHHHHHH!"

Ryoga's onslaught was doing nothing more than wearing him out. He over extended on a thrust, a position Ranma capitalized on. He grabbed Ryoga's wrist, twisted and applied some leverage sending Hibiki through the air to collide with a rather sturdy concrete wall. He didn't stand back up.

"Alright, let's go Ky. Ky?" Ranma looked around to find his friend had gone on ahead of him.

"Damn, he's eating without me!" Ranma rushed to U-chan's.

He walked in to an unusual scene. Ky was smiling at Ukyo, who was blushing profusely.

"You two seem to be getting along. Should I come back later?" He mocked.

"Ran-chan!" Ukyo's blush deepened in embarrassment. Ky laughed nervously.

"Not at all, I was merely complimenting the dish. U-chan is quite the chef," Ky stated.

More blushing ensued.

"Well, I think I should be going. Things to do, people to see," Ky announced as he paid for his meal. "I'll see you later Ranma, U-chan."

Ranma placed his order as Ky left.

-ooo-

"Are you serious!" Akane asked Ky, a look of shock and disbelief in her eyes.

"Yes, I am. Do you want me to help you train?" Ky asked again.

"Why would you want to do that?" Akane still couldn't believe it.

"Look," Ky sighed," Ranma isn't going to help you. Whatever he says, I'm confident it stems from the fact that he can't bear to see you hurt. I've known you two for a couple months now, and I pick up on things quickly. I've seen the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him. I also know that you desperately want to improve yourself. Given the strength of the other girls, and some of the things that I hear happen around you guys, It makes perfect sense that you need to improve your skills. Are you with me so far?"

"Yes…" Akane responded.

"So, I offer my services. It's not Anything Goes, and I won't teach you the Amazons' techniques, nor my own special techniques, but I will do my best to improve your form, control, speed, and ki. Now, what do you say?"

Akane thought for a minute. She looked him dead in the eye.

"Yes."

"Very well. Meet me in the Furinkan Gym tomorrow at 7:00, and don't tell anyone. Lets surprise them eh?" he finished with a grin.

-ooo-

Later that day Ky met Ranma for their sparring session.

"Hey Ky, we're buddies right?" Ranma asked in the middle of their warm-up stretches.

"Last time I checked, yeah. Something on your mind?" Ky asked, pausing his stretch.

Ranma seemed about to say something. Instead he just shook his head.

"Never mind." Ranma muttered.

"Oh, I see. I'm a buddy, but ya can't talk to me about personal stuff huh? No trust. Or maybe…"

Ky got up and headed out of the dojo.

"Where you going?" Ranma inquired.

"Just stay put Ranma. I'll be back in a sec."

Ranma shrugged and resumed his warm up.

He stood up to shake himself loose a bit, only to be doused with a bucket full of cold water.

"What was that for?" she growled.

Ky was also in his girl-half.

"I figured this would be easier for you. Now we're both girls. It's okay for girls to talk about stuff isn't it?"

Ranma sighed as Ky tossed her a towel.

"Alright." She draped the towel over her neck and sat down. Ky followed suit.

"You know I haven't been sleeping well right?"

Ky nodded.

"Well, I've been having these weird dreams. They all seem to be about, well, somebody. I ain't gonna name names so deal with it."

"Alright, calm down, calm down. I'm here to listen. Lay it on me."

Ranma drew a deep breath before continuing.

"In all of these dreams, there's this girl. It always seems to be sunset, and the way the light reflects in her eyes is just…"

"Wondrous?" Ky offered.

"Yeah! It makes her so beautiful ya know. And every time we seem to lean into each other, and as we get closer she closes her eyes and tilts her head up toward mine… and then I wake up. I've been having this same dream off and on for months now. I don't know why! She's not even that cute, and she's always yelling at me, and calling me names! Why am I dreaming about her!"

Ranma went on, completely unaware that she was practically holding up a big neon sign that said "I'm dreaming about Akane!"

All Ky could do was give her a knowing smile.

"Feel better to get that off your chest Ranma?" she asked the clueless fool.

"Yeah, I do actually. Ready for that spar?"

Ky nodded and stood up. "Just remember, if you need to talk I'm always here. A friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be somewhere else."

"More words of wisdom form your dad?"

"Yep, I've got a bag full. Now, where were we?"

"Right about… here!" Ranma shouted as she charged, initiating the combat.

The two red heads went at it for three hours, ignoring the world around them and getting lost in the dance.

-ooo-

It was dark out by the time Ky got to the Nekohaten.

They had closed only moments before, and Ky figured it would be a good time to introduce himself properly, seeing how they wouldn't have to worry about customer interruptions.

He rapped at the door just loud enough to announce his presence without being rude.

He say a light turn on inside just before a silhouette loomed in the door's curtained window.

The portal opened to reveal Shampoo, apparently not to happy to be receiving visitors. That was until she noticed the beads in Ky's hair.

"Greetings Xian Pu," Ky greeted in Chinese, bowing in respect. "I wish to introduce myself. I am Ky Hakubi, Warrior Sister and Brother of the Juketsuzoku."

"Aiyah! Come, you see great grandmother." Shampoo said, guiding him inside.

"Great grandmother, is Warrior Sister and Brother to see you!" she called in the direction of the back room.

The withered matriarch hopped out on her staff to greet her fellow Amazons, only to be faced with one.

"Shampoo, I thought you said Sister and Brother?"

"She did, Honored Matriarch." Ky defended, tilting his head and showing the Sister beads beside his Brother beads. "I have a Jusenkyo curse. The Juketsuzoku adopted both halves."

"Please, feel free to speak your native language. You must be the one who saved Xian Qiao."

Ky nodded.

"Yes, the scars on your face are a mark of honor. I have received a few letters from home. She seems to miss you, as do a few of the other more, how would you say, mature girls," she said with a grin.

Ky blushed and laughed nervously. "Ya don't say."

"Yes, I do say. I hear you have also mastered a few of our villages techniques."

"Just the Kachu Tenshin Amiguriken, but I have enhanced my ki manipulation to develop a few techniques of my own, thanks to the training of the Elders."

"I would very much like to see what you can do. Would you object to sparring with my great granddaughter?"

"Do you have any cold water?" He asked.

"Yes, but don't worry about that. You are a member of our tribe now. There is no dishonor for Brother to fight Sister for the sake of training."

Ky took a steadying breath. "Very well. When shall we begin?"

"Follow me outside."

Cologne hopped to the backroom and went out the rear exit. Ky and Shampoo followed.

"Where is Mousse?" Ky asked Shampoo quietly.

"He say he have something to do. Mousse left an hour ago."

It was answer enough for him.

The two of them followed the matriarch over the roof tops of the Nerima residential area until they got to o large field.

"Well now, we shouldn't disturb anyone here. I would ask you not to hold back, but I sense a similar morality within you to Ranma's. This will be a hand to hand sparring match. You will continue until one concedes or I call the match," Cologne intoned with authority.

Ky and Shampoo nodded and bowed.

"Begin!"

Shampoo initiated, trying a leaping kick. Ky stepped to the left and turned to face his Sister. He pulled a left punch to her gut that she easily deflected and returned the attack, catching Ky in the ribs. She followed up with her shoulder, hooked his arm over her, and used her leverage to send him flying away. He righted himself in the air and landed softly, going into a defensive stance as Shampoo dove in fiercely. Ky broke away smiling.

"Well, it seems I'll have to up the effort Sister."

He raced forward and leapt with a knee to her gut, knocking the breath from her lungs. Ky took a second to let her correct her breathing and removed his coat, tossing it toward Cologne.

Shampoo got to her feet and smiled in turn.

"You fast Brother."

They took up their stances, each with considerably more respect for the other's abilities. They leapt to action simultaneously, each connecting with a right hook. The bout continued. Shampoo matched Ky blow for blow, neither reaching the breaking point. Ky smirked as he wiped the blood off his lip, a present from Shampoo's last strike.

"Next level?" he asked grinning.

Shampoo nodded, huffing as she got her second wind.

She launched herself into the sky, coming down with a knee.

Ky smiled as he charged his fist.

"Kyoujaku Gaizaa!"

Shampoo caught the brunt of the blast sending her back into the air, but away from Ky. She landed hard on the ground. Ky was a little worried, but she picked herself up with some effort.

"That good attack. You teach Shampoo?" she asked as she stood unsteadily on her feet.

"We'll see. You wish to continue Sister?" the concern apparent in his voice.

"Shampoo keep fighting. This fun."

Ky nodded, but was unsure of himself. Cologne wanted to see what he was capable of, but he didn't want to hurt his tribal Sister anymore than she already appeared to be. He knew it was also a matter of honor for her to continue.

He gritted himself for what he knew was to come. She wouldn't give up, and the Elder didn't seem inclined to call the match yet. He would have to knock her out.

Shampoo charged again.

Ky clenched his fists, not wanting to continue, but not having much choice.

"Hakubi-Ryu Special Technique: Reikon Dageki!"

His fists flashed, and Shampoo finally fell, not rising again. He checked her pulse, and was relieved that she didn't seem to be seriously injured. He dried his eyes, not remember when he had shed the tears.

"Well, you seem to have quite an ability Ky," Cologne praised. "You are a great boon to the tribe."

She seemed to want to say more, but booming thunder in the distance silenced her.

"Oh, I forgot. It was going to rain tonight."

"Good. I could use a relaxing walk."

"You like the rain, even with your curse?"

"Ah, the curse isn't so bad. Ranma just has this big macho ego. Anything he deems 'unmanly' seems to egg him on to no end. He's just too stubborn to admit the benefits."

"How so?"

"Well, I know he uses it to get discounts and free snacks. Hell, he freely admits that. It's the ability to release himself emotionally that he doesn't admit to. It seems easier to talk to him about things that affect him when he's girl-type. He refuses to be upset when he's male, and I guarantee it eats him up inside. He needs this curse, if only to be able to release those pent up emotions. Until he can do that in his natural form, I think it would be harmful for him to lose the curse."

"Well, that's quite a theory. Come, gather up Shampoo and let's return to the Nekohaten. I doubt she would like to be caught in the rain."

He complied, wrapping her up in his coat before cradling her to his chest.

He followed Cologne at an easy pace, not wanting to disturb to young woman in his arms.