Chapter 6 – Gathering
From Last Chapter:
The plane carried her towards Tokyo, toward the chaos, unknown to her and people who would be getting sucked in it soon.
Tendo Home
"RYOOOOOOOOGAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!" Akane's angry screamed pierced like a knife through the morning air, shattering the calm of the morning, and scaring all the little birds away.
Kasumi just shook her head and breath out a tired sigh. That girl, always screaming, always angry, always hitting something or someone. First at Ranma and now at Ryoga, will she ever change????
Akane had a right to be angry at her prone to be easily lost fiancée. Today, everyone was getting ready to greet Nabiki, as a welcome home from North America. After all, a year was the longest the three sisters were ever apart and their union had to be a great one.
Genma grunted as he cleaned and moved furniture around the corner of the living room, anger was making him even more clumsy cause Nodoka and Kasumi had forbidden him from visiting the kitchen before the Nabiki's arrival. Instead, they were making him work all day long. First he tried to weasel his way out of work, however, the damn katana carried by Nodoka quickly decided who was the boss.
Soun, his gullible buddy, was in no better shape. The girls also got him to help them in upcoming surprise party for Nabiki. First, he was reluctant to help, however one warning from Kasumi that he and his friend Genma would have to live on Akane's cooking turned out to be the best motivator/bribe/threat they needed to make him start working immediately without complain. His back was killing him, but he knew that the pain in back is far better than having one in his stomach. He was not a fool and made a wise decision.
"NO! Move the chair here. Soun please, tilt the photo towards the right. Akane, why are you getting SLOWDOWN??? Please hurry and get more balloons ready. And what the hell are doing Genma, I said FASTER, not slower. NOW MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE!!!" Ever the perfectionist or as some would suggest bossy, Nodoka was definitely in full swing, making sure that nothing would go wrong.
Kasumi had an ever pleasant smile at her face; she just could not wait till Nabiki comes home. She knew deep in her heart that her little sister love her family and would take care of everything. As she cooked Nabiki's favorite meals, she imagined everything going perfect again. However, if everything was so great, how come her heart was not feeling satisfied, an uneasy feeling getting worse with time, weighing heavily in her chest, like something bad was going to happen. She ignored the tiny voice inside her, an uneasy companion that she wished would go away. So she just ignored it just like she did when it was the loudest at the time when Ranma was kicked out. She quickly corrected herself, for this was the time to celebrate, not to bring bad thoughts in her mind.
Hinako's
Ranma sighed as he raised his head from the book he was reading for untold hours. He mused as he looked at the title of the book.
Human Anatomy
Life is truly a strange game. One minute, you are at the top of the world, and next, you are at the bottom of the lowest pit in hell. It was the game of chess, where instead of chess pieces one plays with his hopes, dreams, desires, love, hate, his very soul. In the end, it doesn't matter how hard you work, or what problems you faced. Ranma realized that in the end what matters in life are the results. No one cared if you couldn't do something because you got in an accident or you couldn't perform your best because your love one died, for example, it could be anything which could make you loose your cool. If you waited too long or were too slow or unable to get to the goal on time, someone else will beat you, and you would be forgotten. Since realizing that he cannot be as strong as before using conventional methods, he would have to do something else to be the best. And Ranma Saotome never looses. So here he was, trying to study, to makeup for his lost time in missing school. People would think the world is going to end if they knew that Ranma Sa....., no just Ranma now, was studying seriously. It has been months since he was able to walk and use his body again. However, he was still very weak, walked slowly, and was unable to do any harder physical activities.
FlashBack
"I am amaze Ranma, just when you think you can not surprise me anymore, here your again, walking and using your body." Dr. Tofu smiled as he evaluated Ranma's health.
"You know me Sensei, nothing can keep me down forever." Ranma gave his ever confident smirk which created many enemies and even more friends.
Tofu adjusted his glasses. "I am glad at your confidence, but that is not the reason Hinako brought you here. Let me make this clear Ranma, you will have to look for something else in life besides martial arts. I am afraid, that your body can never be like it used to be."
"Never, I repeat, never say never, I will prove you wrong doc, I will be back to my old shape in no time." Since his recovery from the accident, Ranma felt like he could anything. He could jump over the tallest mountain, fly to the moon, anything. He was on the cloud nine and nothing could bring him down anymore.
"Please, Ranma, for me, just listen." Hinako who was quietly listening to conversation on the side, was unable to remain quiet anymore. She wanted him to face the reality and sop chasing broken dreams.
Ranma's blue eyes stared in the chocolate brown eyes of Hinako. He couldn't fight that look. No matter what, he owed her just too much. She was the only woman who stayed beside him when he was down, how could he refuse her. He saw the pain and worry and knew it was sincere and pure just like his.
"Please Ranma, I cannot bear to put you in a danger again ok? I mean, you need to be prepare for anything right? What if they all come back, what if they poisoned you again? You need to make sure that you got something else beside martial arts, to be someone, to able to help in other ways, so no one could hurt you or someone you love ever again." Hinako pleaded to him. Usually, she tends to be stern and very lecture-like. However, she knew that this is not the time to be like that with Ranma, right now he needs a friend, not that he would EVER admit. That's why she pleaded to him, like a friend making a request, instead of imposing an order just like everyone else did in his life.
"Alright, alright. I will see what I can do. What you want me to do?" Ranma finally decided not to fight her, unable to argue against Hinako anymore. However, he kept to himself that he was going to take care of himself the he wanted anyway.
"For now all you need to do is concentrate in your studies besides your recovery. I am sure that you will soon find out what you can do later," Tofu suggested.
End FlashBack
So, now here he was. His life was dedicated to basically four things. Study, recovery, eat, and sleep. Every morning, he would wake up before dawn and with Hinako helping him, pushed his body on the border of extreme exhaustion, just before any further exercise would bring more harm than good. Then he would eat and study, study, study. He would again do tai chi, kung fu later in the after noon, eat, and then study again. The cycle would repeat till the end of the day. He would repeat the cycle again next day.
Hinko entered the room and couldn't help herself smiling as she looked at Ranma. She was glad that he was recovering, but was also sad because he would never be physically strong like the way he used to be. She was still unable to stop herself form crying to sleep on nights when she thought about what he lost. His body was just a mirage, an illusion, a dream, compare to its former glory. More than anything, she feared for his safety. She enrolled him in Juban High, since she and Ranma do not want any of his former enemies to know that he was able to walk again.
"Hello Ranma, I see, your eyes are not on the book again, but somewhere else. However, I do not fault you from checking out my chest, since I do not mind at all."
"AAAAACCKKKKKKK", surprised by Hinako, Ranma nearly fell from his chair. He was contemplating a problem and just staring ahead at nothing. He didn't even realize that Hinako now was occupying the spot he was staring at. More like her chest occupied the spot he was staring at. Obviously he was not amused by Hinako's joke, no matter how much he changed, the opposite sex always tend to make him loose his cool. Calming himself quickly, he addressed her in a cool manner. "You know, if I was not concentrating so much in the latest chapter, I won't be acting like that."
Hinako giggled at his innocence. "Don't worry, and please, again, call me Hinako or I would eat the dinner sitting in your lap, just like last time."
Ranma rolled his eyes in apparent annoyance Hinako was brothering him with.
Well at least she would be wearing more clothes, last time that happened, all she was wearing was see-thru underwear and man that was definitely better sleep depriving than any caffeine induced drink. Well I would definitely remember that if I want to force myself stay awake.
However, Hinako's giggle didn't last long. She contemplated on the changes Ranma's personality underwent. She knew that Ranma realized that he can never be as strong as before. Martial art was his entire life and without it, his old life was gone. Gone was the innocence of a boy who used to live in the adventures from day to day. Now he was cold, calculating, and extremely logical.
"Come on Ranma, you are studying and practicing for an entire week since you recovered, you need to go out, have fun and take a break."
Ranma raised his right eye brow, taking a little sip from his glass, he decided to explain his thoughts to her. "Well I am just trying to reach my goal to be the best and this time I cannot let anything in my way. It seems, due to my own miscalculations, I cannot be a best martial artist, so I have no choice but to be best at something else. Life is like a chess, you either take someone else's pawn or someone will take your king. In the end, my problems are mine and only I can fix them. No one would come to fix things, people expect you to be many things, and if you fail to meet their expectations, then they will just discard you. If I was logical and get rid of all my rivals and fiancées then I would still be strong and unstoppable. I know you are trying to help me, but in this condition, I am weaker than an average person out there, and that's why I have decided to be the best in other ways possible. I got certain goals and till I finish them, I cannot rest." He decided to go back to his study, silently signaling the end of further conversation.
Hinako sighed, her heart was in pain, she realized that she would have to work different angle if she have to bring Ranma back to his old style. Ranma had every right to be mad, the world greatest acrobat martial artist was now using clutches to walk, was obviously not a thing which would make things easier for him, reminding him daily about his pitiful life.
"Well, how about a game of poker? If you win, I would leave you alone, else you would have to do everything I ask, cool?" Hinako asked Ranma in a challenging tone, knowing fully that how he would respond.
Even though he knew something was up, old habits die hard, and Ranma decided to take on the challenge, anything to get rid of her. "No problem, but please if it is strip poker, I would have to pass. Not that I won't enjoy seeing you in your birthday suit, but I would like to sleep tonight." Ranma responded in his calm and calculated tone. Hinako felt the hint of annoyance in his tone, but just like every time, she ignored it.
"You know you are ON, let me bring on the cards." Hinako knew that she won the argument and decided to start the game.
Back at Tendos
Finally getting out of taxi, Nabiki released her breath. The jet lag was killing her and she wanted to get some sleep as fast as she could, however, she knew that right now is time to greet her family.
The first person Nabiki met was her sister Akane, her confident smile bringing her memories when they used to be carefree kids.
"Hey sis, long time no see, first of all I would like to welcome you back in our home." Akane greeted Nabiki enthusiastically and immediately enveloped her in a tight hug.
"God I miss you so much, and girl, do I have stories to tell, you won't believe so many things that happened when you were gone."
Nabiki smiled at her sister, "I missed you also and everyone."
"SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" cheered everyone as soon as she entered the dojo, surprising her greatly. Now she knew that she was going to get some kind of welcome, but that went beyond what she was expecting.
"I can not believe you all did so much just to greet me!" Nabiki was truly flattered by her family.
"OH MY POOR LITTLE BABY! FINALLY SHE IS BACK, SHE IS GROWING SO FAST!" the water work started, one guess who said it.
"Oh My, I am finally glad your back!" Kasumi blushed as she welcomed Nabiki. Nabiki was quickly greeted my Nodoka as soon as Kasumi let her go. Everyone greeted her in her/his own style, even Ryoga was finally there and not lost as usual.
"Alright!!! Time to open up sake and enjoy, eh buddy Soun?" Genma immediately grabbed Soun and jumped at the chance he was waiting for all day. Immediately filling his glass with sake, he drank like a man possessed, Soun following him closely behind. Nodoka's smile strained slightly, but she let it go, after all, she understood that it was hard on Genma to be patient all day.
"So the mercenary witch is back, the heavens surely weep at such tragedy, but soon me and my pig tiled girl would be in harmony, joining in our love and in our destiny!" Kuno proclaimed like, well like an idiot he was. Nabiki felt like the coming of a headache listening to the pompous idiot.
Even after one year, listening to the idiot is tiring. Nabiki thought within her mind.
She saw Ryoga holing Akane's hand and Kuno attacking him in respond. Of course, Akane's mallet sent him to lala land and stopped any further disturbance. She wondered how come Ranma was not there, it was not like him to miss big occasions. However, she decided to wait and see what happened, most likely he was on his training trip. She would ask later to see what was going on.
The party started hard and sake flowed like water, and music loudly filled the air. Nabiki drank, partying away, and everything was blur. But even then, she was wondering where was her pig tail future brother in law. She missed him more than any one else and could not wait till she meets him.
Hinako's
Hinako checked herself one last time, as she looked herself on the mirror. She definitely looked like a sex symbol from a wet dream and any man would have to be dead not to notice her. She was wearing a tight tank-top which stopped just after covering top half of her breasts, leaving the bottom half, just after her nipples, all bare, and a tight mini-skirt, leaving all her midriff and legs bare to anyone looking at them. She was going at the dance club in Juban and was dragging Ranma along with her, weather he wanted to go or not.
"Ok Ranma it is time to go and you better stop making stupid excuses, you know that you lost fair and square and I am collecting all my winnings right now." Hinako came out of her room, smiling like a cat which just cornered a mouse.
Ranma nearly choked as he saw what she was wearing. He could easily tell that she was not wearing her bra and with that much skin showing, well he knew he would be the envy of all the guys this evening. Yesterday, he played poker with her, although he played much better than last time, he still lost. As a result, Hinako was taking him to the night club with her, hoping him to get him loosen up a little. Although he protested a lot, he couldn't stop himself from smiling as he saw the carefree smile on her face.
"Yeah yeah, lets go, and tonight I would show you a time of your life." Ranma remarked offhandedly. Hinako grabbed his arm quickly with her hand and dragged him out. She was hyped up. She felt little guilty in going out with a teenager, however she convinced herself that she was just trying to help a student, nothing else.
When they finally arrived at the night club, lot of guys were unable to take their eyes off from Hinako's body. She definitely was one of the best, if not the best looking girl in the club. The music was real loud and all the party goers were partying hard.
Hinako brought Ranma at the bar to order some drink. She was trying to get him open up as she teased him lightly.
"Oh Ranma, give me a break, you got a hot girl with you and your doing nothing about it. You know if there was any other guy in your place, his hands would be under my skirt or on my chest right now." Hinako teased Ranma.
"Well luckily, I am not any other guy, or you won't be wearing clothes like this and brining him right here now will ya?" Ranma answered, little annoyed.
Another beautiful woman, wearing clothes even more revealing and scandalous than Hinako's, was standing besides Ranma. Her hair were blonde, eyes were bluer than even Ranma's. She had demon markings on her face, unseen to mere mortals around her. She looked at him, his face was nostalgic to her. His looks teased something within her memory, trying to make her almost remember something, but almost, since she just couldn't remember where she had seen him before. However, that doesn't mean she would ignore the good looks. She decided that if she was gonna get laid tonight, she is gonna get this mortal.
"Well helllllllllo..." She teased Ranma is a sultry voice as she introduced herself.
Ranma nearly spilled his drink when he saw another almost naked girl besides him. She definitely was a great looker and his hormones assaulting his body all evening, thanks to Hinako, were now on overdrive. He gave her a nervous smile as she talked with him.
"I just couldn't help myself seeing that you could use a company right now, specially for the whole night hopefully. I haven't seen you here often and was wondering if you wanna have some fun tonight?" The demoness asked Ranma in a very sultry tone. Anyone with an IQ above that of cockroach or Ryoga's for that matter, would knew immediately what fun she had in her mind.
Hinako felt anger stirring within her. She might have not come here as date, so to speak, but that doesn't mean that any slut would just come out of no where and pretend she don't exist.
"Well he is Ranma, I am his partner for tonight and believe me, he is going to have fun without needing any further intrusion." The sarcastic tone wasn't lost on the blond demoness as Hinako addressed her.
Ranma decided to calm the things down before they got out of hand.
"Hey, don't worry about anything. As you already know that I am Ranma and this is my roommate Hinako who showing me around since I lost a bet with her in a poker." He spoke to demoness, thinking of her as another crazy beautiful woman just trying to get him in trouble.
However, the challenging look from Hinako made demoness angry and she decided to ante up the risk. She brought herself even more near Ranma as she decided to piss off Hinako.
"It definitely livens up the evening for any beautiful girl having you here. I say unlike some desperate people, who would have to play games to get you here, I would show you a great time and would love to play a poker real woman play, you know strip poker." She thurst her chest forward, her gifts on her chest were straining against her clothes, nearly tearing away her dress. Ranma was unable to ignore a fantasy image popping in his mind of seeing her without any clothes, if she looses to him that is. His entire face was flush red with embarrassment which did not go unnoticed by his teacher besides him.
Hinako boiled with rage, she was confused that why she was getting all worked up if some girl try to make a pass at Ranma. She convinced herself that she was just trying to take care of him, making sure that some hussy doesn't take advantage of him. She decided to take off the kid gloves. Damn it, she is not going loose to some hussy of the street or the bar in this case. Immediately wrapping her hands around Ranma's waist, she pressed her breasts against his back, as he rubbed her body all over his backside and pressed her hips forward against his.
"Come on Ranma, stop brooding and lets dance. I did not bring you to the club just to stand in one place and do nothing, lets dance, shall we." Without letting Ranma respond, she just dragged him away towards the dance floor. Ranma looked apologetically at the blond woman as Hinako took him away.
The demoness got real pissed, she tried to follow Hinako and Ranma, but in her drunken state, she easily lost them in the crowd.
"Hey hold on, I don't know how to dance with this beat and even if I did, I can't dance this fast!"
Hinako just ignored Ranma, dragged him toward the dance floor and started dancing to the music. Her body was definitely rubbing too much for Ranma's taste, but he was unable to do anything. He nearly had a heart attack, when she grabbed his hands and forced him to grab her behind.
Shit, if anyone saw this in his old life, this would definitely would a disaster. Ranma thought little nervously. However, he was trying harder to fight the effect his hormones were doing on his body and part of him just wanted to give it to them.
"Hey babe, why don't you ditch the kid and hang around with a real man, I bet we can do things all night which would me far more fun than anything you ever did in your life." Someone squeezed Hinako's ass cheeks, as he tried to get her attention.
Slap!!!
The sound of flesh hitting flesh was lost in the loud music as Hianko turned around and slapped the rough man who tried to get too much free with her. The guy was wearing biker's clothes, had a scar on his face, and looked like a gang member off the street.
"Get the hell away you jerk, I wouldn't touch you if you were the last man on earth."
"Ok bitch, since you don't want to be nice and wanna play rough, we can take it that way. You came here wearing clothes like a slut, almost naked like a cock tease and think nothing gonna happen to you? YOU FUCKING BITCH, I know that you are dying for some fun and me and my buddies would be more than happy to give you some. You will be sorry trying to mess with me for the rest of your life!" The man hissed angrily at Hinako, as he grabbed her roughly and tried to drag her away.
She tried to free her hands but was unable to do anything. Since the gangster had both of her hands locked in his arms, she was unable to even use her technique to get rid of him. Unable to do anything she screamed for help, however, the club music was too loud and no one was paying attention to her.
Ranma tried to help her. He immediately punched the man on his face but he was unable to do any harm to him. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!! LET HER GO!!!!" He screamed as he punched the man.
The man smirked at Ranma's weakness, turned around and punched back on Ranma's face. Unable to take the pain, Ranma fell on his back, bleeding from his nose and his eyes tearing from the pain.
"Get the FUCK away you pathetic worm, you won't know how to satisfy a bitch like that anyway. In fact, your gonna make my day better, I was itching to beat some shit and guess what, you are just the shit I wanna have fun with." The rough biker kicked Ranma hard on his ribs again and again, enjoying the bleeding teenager as he was unable to do anything.
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM YOU BASTARD, I WILL KILL YOU!! GOD DAMN YOU ASSHOLES!!!YOU ARE NOT GONNA GET AWAY FROM THIS!!!" Hinako was screaming as she was held back by other gang members, she was crying, unable to do anything. The other people around just watched the scene, too afraid to do anything.
Ranma was in pain, he was always in pain before, but this time it was different. He watched helplessly as the man beating him was laughing at him and others who were holding Hinako were squeezing her breasts roughly while they leered at her.
Pathetic, weak, useless, just like a little girl. Unable to help those who needs you.
He heard voices screaming without mercy, echoing in his mind endlessly, the voices sounded like his father's. They screamed at him, taunting him, making him feel useless.
So this is it? You think you can help anyone? You can't even help one person who took care of you. A truly useless being you are, if it was not because of you, she won't be in pain. She won' be in danger of getting raped.
Ranma tried to fight, but his body was not obeying him. The biker was kicking and laughing at him. So he tried to look inside him, to find anything which could help him, free him, and give him what he wanted: POWER. Within the deep recess of him mind, within the fog of pain, when he felt like drowning in darkness, he found something. Growling like a caged animal, it sneered at him.
It laughed at him.
It pitied him.
It called towards him.
Come. Its says. Come to me.
It called him like shadows, surrounding him.
Come.
It called, inviting him, promising him release from his pain.
Be one with me, come.
It called again, make him drunk in its power.
It looked so much better, so much exciting. It would be so easy to get away from all, to give himself to this darkness. To this chaos and dark power. To free himself again. He opened his eyes, even under all the fog of pain and welcoming darkness. He saw Hinako crying and looking at him. In her deep brown eyes, he felt her telling him to be strong.
To be there for her.
To not to leave her alone.
No, not now. I will fight for her.
He refused the sweet welcome of the dark. Oh such sweet welcome, which seemed even sweeter right now. However, he refused the invitation. His aura jumped from his body, unseen to everyone but those who were the true masters. Those who were old beyond several millenia, only they would be able to see the aura.
What the hell??? This look familiar. I better see what it is.
The blond demoness who was still trying to find Ranma was surprised by the aura and state of pain and anger it was in. It seemed old, nostalgic, again trying to make her remember something from her past. So she followed the source, trying to see who the hell generated such an aura. She was hoping to meet either a long forgotten lover or an ally. What she saw made her mad beyond anger. She saw a teenager, who she saw before, whose aura invited her. The savage beating he was getting reminded her something from her past, however she was too drunk to remember. All she knew anger rising within her depths. Not even after Urd's betrayal she felt such an anger. It went beyond anything she ever experienced. Then she saw a woman he wanted to save, a one who challenged her, grabbed by those beyond the damnation. Five of them total.
Fucking rapists, deserving punishment beyond the seventh levels of hell. Mara's anger was now even beyond her controlling ability. She immediately summoned her magic and attacked the gang members.
The biker who was beating Ranma had no idea what happened. He was suddenly in pain, trembling and agonizing. He saw his other friends, thrown against the wall, bleeding from their chest. His saw a woman, one of the most beautiful in his entire life, angrily floating above him in the air. Pity, he knew that she was going to kill him. Didn't his everyone used to joke that in the end a beautiful woman would kill him, pity that it came true.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!! YOU WANTED SOME FUN??? WELL LETS HAVE SOME FUN SHITHEAD!!! YOU THINK IT IS FUNNY TO PLAY WITH THOSE UNABLE TO FIGHT BACK??? TO RAPE SOMEONE IN FORNT OF HIS EYES??? I AM GONNA SHOW YOU THE MEANING OF PAIN BEFORE I SENT YOU TO HELL!!!" Mara screamed as she started a spell beyond her conscious memory. A long forgotten power likes of which she never knew she had. She probably won't ever able to call such power again. But right now, she was hysterical, angry, vicious, and beyond calmness. She was truly a demoness as she meant to be. The words of spell sung from her lips like she always knew them. Like she had never forgotten them. Her voice was beautiful, no it was beyond beautiful. It would make any mortal drunk from its enchanting words, make him smile even if he sunk slowly towards his death. So the words flow like water in a beautiful song, as she sung the spell. The shadows answered her call. They stirred again like they did a long time ago. Her called the powers in darkness, the controller of shadows, and they came to her.
Another demon, sitting somewhere way in the back felt a fear within his heart eating him totally. He recognized the song, the spell, the anger, and sadness in Mara's voice. It was the song of demoness sung several millennia ago, as she was raped to death mercilessly. The spell was so devastating that it was sealed by the demon master himself, never to be sung ever again. How the hell Mara got her hands on it, he had to know. He decided to get the hell out of here for now (sorry for the pun) before anything worse happened.
The man, who was going to rape Hinako and was killing Ranma, now laid helplessly as life slowly left his body. He was taken by Mara's beauty. The anger and sadness both were interwoven in her beautiful eyes, bewitching him. He felt the shadows around him, moving towards him, stalking him, laughing at him, mocking him, hunting him like a wild cat hunting an animal before it devours it.
He tried.
He tried.
He tried.
He tried.
Oh God he tried to scream, but his voice couldn't leave his throat. He was choking in his own blood. The pain was killing him, he screamed in his mind as his soul was tormented beyond any recognition. Then the shadows lurched at him, taking him to the abyss of hell in this mind. Black flames rose where his body lay. Eating the flashing, devouring it, screams of lost soul echoed from those dark flames. Oh such terrible screams. The screams of souls they devoured before, trapped within them for eternity and never free, always tormented, and always screaming.
Ranma was still on the floor, his body writhing in pain. Hinako quickly engulf him in a tight hug. His blue eyes stared blankly in her browns. He realized that he was a failure. He failed to protect one person in the world who was trying to help him. One person who was nearly raped because of him.
No more.
He thought.
No more misery for you Hinako.
His mind was made up. He was going to free her. Break her shackles, leave her alone. For months since his recovery, he thought he was no longer her chain, her shackle, but he realized that how wrong he was. He pushed her away. She tried to come towards him again, but he ran. He ran like the demons of hell were after him. He looked back once, just once, and saw her running towards him, crying, calling him to come to her. To let her comfort him forever.
The more beautiful she looks, the more painful it is.
A voice whispered in his mind, sorrowfully. He ran again, leaving her alone, freeing her from himself. Disappearing within the crowd, he ran like the hounds of hell were after him.
Hinako was crying as she ran after him. She realized and was truly worried about the Ranma's state of mind. Part of her conscious mind noted her dress state, her breasts were juggling a lot, enticing too many males near her, but right now she didn't care. Her mind was only on Ranma who was running away from her. She had to catch up with him before he does something drastic.
Oh Please God in Heavens, let him be safe, make me reach him before something happens to him.
A prayer, a desperate and urgent prayer born within her mind, as she ran after him.
The clouds were gathering outside and soon, the waters started coming down from the heavens, quenching the thirst of ever thirty earths. Gathering slowly like a river as the earth drank them and flowed back towards the ocean where they came from. Leaving the pain and misery behind they gathered from their journey from the heavens to the earth.
Somewhere
The school counselor of Juban High removed her green hair from the front of her eyes as she tried to look over the records of new student entering the school.
Crimson eyes look over his picture, the one with confident smile and absolute perfect health, before he was injured. She was mesmerized by his smile, her heart racing faster.
It enticed feeling within her chest, forgotten several millennia ago. The wind gently blew from the opened window behind her, kissing her skin softly like a long last lover, making her feel more relaxed as she lost herself in thoughts only she knew.
Ranma...Ranma, I know for sure that I never knew you. However, why do I feel such familiarity looking at you?"
However, some old memories surfaced within her daydreams, the ones full of pain and remorse. The ones that brought the look of hopelessness and defeat that wiped away the confident aura she used to have. Everything she worked for was gone. The memories brought tears in her crimson eyes, surfacing from the depths of her heart, twisting it in pain, and agonizing it over her loss again. Tears, shining like pearls, flowed freely from her eyes. However, she quickly wiped them away.
She closed the file and left for her home, completely forgetting about the feeling that picture of pig tail boy bought in her mind.
The storm clouds were gathering outside, foreshadowing the conflict which would be happening, the lives which would eventually clash with each other like thundering mountains, and the way fate and destiny would bring new surprises.
TBC
Author's note:
TO dogbertcarroll
Thank you for correcting my grammar mistakes, this is the reason I am writing, to improve my writing and my style, I wish that others would also do the same, a constructive criticism.
TO Everyone Else,
I am glad that many enjoyed the fic and this is the main reason I am updating it regularly.
Now I would like to apologize for not posting this chapter on time, I know I am late, it is not cause this chapter was unfinished, it was finished, but it was not coming out the way I wanted. It is still not the way I wanted, but I decided to post what I could......since I am way over my deadline for once a month update.
Read previous author notes to see what I want from you readers.
