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Disclaimer: "Blah!"
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Chapter 9 – Weary
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It was a lazy warm summer Saturday afternoon in the town of Nerima. In the Tendo compound out the back in the dojo, having sparred when Ranma had gotten back from school the aforementioned martial artist of Anything Goes and Maki sat discussing various moves and techniques of their respective styles.
"We'll you see Ranma, once I get further along in my training I get to learn more advanced chi techniques. Things like making knives from my chi, defensive shields all sorts of things," Maki grinned at Ranma who essayed a smile of his own.
"I just find it odd that they would wait that long to teach you is all," Ranma replied "I mean my Pop started teaching me when I was still pretty young."
Maki smiled "Yes, but you spent most of your time traveling around as well, the way my family likes to work is to get all the schooling out of the way in one go and then concentrate as much time as possible on martial arts."
Ranma thought wistfully of being able to spend all his time doing nothing but Anything Goes. The idea held great appeal to him.
"I can see how that would be a good way to do things too," Ranma replied.
Maki nodded "It's just a different way of doing things that's all, and now I'm going to go inside and get a drink, you want one Ranma?"
Ranma waved him off "Nope don't worry about it I'm not thirsty yet." With that Maki stood up and walked inside as Akane came out, as they passed the two exchanged nods.
Ranma sat with his legs crossed enjoying the feel of the green grass on his bare feet he watched Akane walk over to him. She had been behaving oddly lately and he wasn't going to be stupid enough to say something that would end up with his face in the grass he had been enjoying so much, or at least he was going to try anyway.
Once she'd stopped in front of him with her eyes oddly downcast Ranma decided to open with something that wouldn't get him in the aforethought trouble "Hey Akane, whats up?"
She looked at him oddly for a moment before she cleared her throat "Um, well Ranma I'd like to talk to you for a moment," was the unexpected reply he got.
Taking a few seconds two think over what she had said and what he should say Ranma said "Sure, do you want to stay out here or go someplace?"
Her eyes looked thoughtful for a moment "How about the dojo? I haven't spend much time looking at it as apposed to practicing in it and it would be good to see what it looks like now after all."
Ranma nodded and stood up before ambling over to the dojo doors with Akane following behind. He slid open the door and waited for Akane to enter just like his mother had drilled into him during his last visit to her.
As much as he enjoyed his Sunday morning visits with her, which he'd started two weeks ago, seeing as how he got to spend time with his mother she sure gave him a lot of stuff to remember most of which he forgot.
Akane looked at him oddly and walked in ahead of him, he slid the door shut behind him and was struck be an almost dejavu moment of when he had closed the door that night Akane had fallen asleep in the dojo.
He gave a start as he realized he was daydreaming about carrying her again No way man, the first time was bad enough making sure no one woke up, she did feel good in my arms though he thought. Leaving behind his day dreams Ranma walked over to the middle of the dojo where Akane was standing looking around admiringly at the newly restored building.
"Looks good doesn't it," he ventured. Akane nodded a little awestruck before replying "Maki did a great job in here it looks brand new."
As odd as Akane had been behaving and as interested as Ranma was in possibly finding out the reason for it he was still a bit off kilter about saying anything. Lucky for him he didn't have to.
Akanes face resolved into a slight frown and she turned around to face him. "Ranma I have something to admit that you're probably not going to like," Ranma was instantly on guard.
"Oh? What might that be?" He asked her. Her face changed a little with an emotion he couldn't identify before she spoke.
"Well you know how we agreed to not directly interfere with each other when it came to being late for our bet?" Akane paused and he nodded for her to continue. "Well I kind of bent those rules a little," grimacing a little she continued "Well maybe not even, the little I did might count as breaking them but that's not the point."
Ranma gave a start at Akane's last statement thinking I wonder what she did? Something to do with our bet?
Akane's voice broke through his thoughts and he concentrated on what she was saying "Well what happened was while everyone was asleep I went downstairs and flipped the fuse switch off and then on again. Which of course caused your alarm to reset and made you late," she said getting the last bit out in a rush.
Ranma stood there silent for a moment thinking over what she had said and what they had agreed on. Sure what she had done wasn't direct interference though it ran close, he wasn't sure if it was close enough to invalidate her win though. Seeing as how the bet was made in the spirit of Anything Goes, realistically she could have done lots of other things.
He had thought that when he had lost it was because of something that had just happened weather or not they wanted it. But if she had thought that up maybe she understood anything goes better then he thought.
Still though, maybe he could think of something what would make her happier, tell her off a bit and not get him hurt at the same time. He smiled as an idea hit him.
"Alright Akane while you might not have cheated directly what you did wasn't completely within the spirit of the bet, so in regards to that, I say that you still won the bet."
A relieved expression came over her face and she opened her mouth to speak Ranma held his hand up and continued "But because it wasn't in the spirit of the competition I declare that you have to shout me a parfait at the ice cream parlor, and there will be a couple of other things that we'll go over later sometime" he finished grinning.
Akane stood there her mouth agape for a moment, she seemed torn between emotions before she found her voice "Ok I can agree with that, depending on what these addition conditions are," she frowned "Will you be going as a guy again?"
Ranma shrugged "If I don't get hit by water on the way I'd say so, besides I'm not saying we go right now or even in the next few days, you just have to treat me when the times right," he finished with a smirk.
If he was lucky he could even tie in what these extra things would be with her training and she wouldn't even know it, and he'd get hit a whole lot less, which was always good and would maybe even make him a winner in a different way.
Looking back at Akanes face he saw her frowning at him "What? What's that look for?"
Akane sighed a little probably at his question "Nothing you just looked a little spaced out which isn't usually an expression on your face unless your at the dinner table," she ended her statement buy sticking her tongue out at him and making a face before turning around and leaving.
Ranma sat in the dojo alone, after a moment he proceeded to flip himself up and onto his head with his legs crossed above him and proceeded to meditate while waiting for Maki to return.
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In the kitchen of the Cat Café Cologne stirred fry pans and woks making up the orders for those interested in a late lunch. She cooked with half a mind on the dishes, knowing that years of practice would ensure that the food would be excellent no matter how absentminded she was.
While one part of her mind was on the food the majority of it was concentrating on the knotty problem that was Ranma Saotome. When she had stumbled across him and Akane earlier in the week she had been more worried then necessary mostly just out of shock at seeing the Tendo girl actually holding hands with a boy at all let alone Ranma who she frequently seemed to feel needed to go through extra toughening exercises by her hands.
Getting back to the café and talking to her many times great granddaughter she had explained that their short lived vacation was over and that they would once again be persuading Ranma to take his rightful place by Shampoo's side.
Cologne smiled a little at how happy Shampoo had been at being able to once again attempt to win the heart of her beloved and be with him the way an Amazon maiden should.
The only problem now was how to proceed. As determined as Shampoo was, determination alone wasn't going to get them very far. Ranma had demonstrated that he was willing to use his power to defend someone and even kill if it came to that, though he obviously didn't want to repeat the saga of Phoenix Mountain if it was avoidable.
There were always the Amazon books of lore though. They had used on Ranma a miniscule portion of the potions and other spells possible in the books. They even had charms and other precious magical items kept by herself for years that they could try.
But there was no point in trying something if it was not guaranteed to work. Sighing she expertly dished the noodles, vegetables and other requested foods out and rang the bell for Shampoo to pick them up.
The thought crossed her mind that maybe they were looking at things too short term, that maybe something more long term was needed. She still had a plethora of moves up her sleeves that the Amazons taught only a rare few that he would be more the eager for.
But that would most likely only keep him interested and delay things long enough for her to flesh out one of the many idea's she had floating around.
She grinned, that would do just fine, and all she needed was some more time after all. After all as worrying as the other day's scene had been, it was doubtful things had processed any further between the two scions of the Anything Goes School. It could almost be expected actually that the boy would stick his foot in his mouth five minutes later as usual.
Those two would take even longer then her scheme needed for them to get in gear, as unlikely as that was to ever happen, and by then it would already be too late for Shampoo's rivals.
Happy with her decisions and the plans in motion Cologne prepared to have Mouse clean the dishes in preparation for those wanting dinner later on while Shampoo closed the door after their last afternoon customers.
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He who was the bane of Ranma Saotome, he who had traveled all over the globe in the search for he who had caused this life of hell to be, he known as Ryoga the lost boy sat down on a park bench and rested for a moment.
Taking a look around Ryoga was happy to see that he was still in Japan though he couldn't tell where. He had left Nerima satisfied that the hell that would have been inflicted on Akane Tendo by her marriage to Ranma had been averted though feeling pretty bad about how busted up things were as well as the fact that Ranma had saved him and the others in China.
Ryoga hadn't thought about the wedding or China for the current duration of this trip and it was probably about time that he did, After all it wouldn't do for it to seem like I was trying to run away from it he thought shaking his head as he did so.
First off in China Ranma had saved all of them at a great risk to himself. Now while that didn't make up for all the pain and suffering Ryoga had, had to go through it did count for something. After all they were both martial artists and these things had to be carefully weighed and all that sort of thing.
He felt relief at being able to simplify things so well in this situation. The only other thing was that while he had saved Akane's life in China that didn't make up for all the bad things he did to her or all the insults but it did take a little bit off it.
Now what these things meant that while Ranma should still be punished for what he had done to himself and to Akane he would probably be able to agree with something with Ranma. After all a martial artists needed a rival to get better!
Happy with what he had decided Ryoga set off from his bench in what he thought was the general direction of Nerima which was in fact the opposite way at least until he was almost run down by a car, mauled and chewed on for a bit by a dog which resulted in him being turned around in the right direction.
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It was a late afternoon still that same Saturday and Ranma was in the dojo. Laid out before him were his exercise books from school and he was going through the homework he had due on Monday. The dojo was quite almost all the time and he had found lately almost a perfect place to study what he had to.
Weather that was martial arts or algebra though, well only he knew. Rolling his shoulders up towards his neck and down again Ranma sighed, Just because its better to do this stuff in here still doesn't make it better or easier then it really is he lay thinking.
He'd been in the dojo for a while now having finished his conversation with Akane and his discussion and continued sparring with Maki some time ago, one of the doors was open and letting in the summer air.
As far as he knew Akane was in her room studying and Maki was out in the market doing what he termed "A bit of exercise and a breath of fresh air," Ranma grinned in remembrance.
He turned over onto his back, taking a momentary break from study, and closed his eyes letting his mind drift will relaxing and tensing his body to stretch it with minimal effort. After a few moments and having stretched to his satisfaction he opened his eyes and looked over to the door as he sensed someone coming down the path to the dojo.
Nodding in satisfaction at his correct guess as to who it was as Akane appeared in the doorway he stood up from the floor and walked over towards the door.
"You want to do some training or something Akane?" He asked her, half seriously considering the idea and then dismissing it, after all she wasn't wearing a gi. He became a little wary as she suddenly frowned "No actually Ranma though what I have to say has some bearing on training," she took a deep breath as Ranma kept wisely silent.
"I'd like to take you up on your offer to train me," Akane gulped out. Ranma nodded slowly, I was pretty sure she'd take me up on it, from curiosity if nothing else.
Walking back towards the middle of the room where all his things were he began to tidy up and gather his things. Turning to her while he did so Ranma asked Akane "How about we start now with some basics?" He asked her while she stood there in the doorway.
"Basics?" She motioned towards herself and the floral print dress she was wearing. "But I'm not in a gi, I'll have to go change if you want to do that."
Ranma stood up books in hand and walked over towards the doorway "No you don't need to do that, these are some mental basics as apposed to the usual physical ones," he finished smirking.
"You up for it?" he pressed. Shrugging Akane answered him "Ok then if that's all it is, I'm 'up for it'," copying the way he had asked her."
He grinned and put his books over near the door he walked back over to the middle of the dojo and mentioned for her to join him there. With an expression of curiosity on her face she walked over and joined him and copied him as sat down in a lotus position.
Ranma waited for her to finish arranging her dress to her satisfaction before he began in the most teacherish tone he could manage. "Alright, this is exercise to clear your mind of anger and other emotions that might distract you while in a fight or any other situation. One of the problems you have Akane is that your anger gets in the way with some of your opponents."
Ranma paused while Akane frowned and waited for her to nod before he took a deep breath and forged ahead "Now while I'll have to work on some of your other basics and techniques I want you to have control of your anger first."
When she didn't interrupt he continued "Whenever you fight against me or sometimes Pop you get real angry at the insults he uses or I use. But you've got to realize this is Anything Goes, which means that includes using insults as a way to put others off and get an opening."
Ranma kept silent about the times his old man had used Akane as a distraction and hit him into the Tendo's Koi pond. "This technique while letting you clear you mind of emotions also lets you focus whatever emotion you choose and a couple of other perks, but that'll come up later."
Akane jumped into the pause with a question "That's what you do with your Moko Tsubisha isn't it? Will I be able to do something like that eventually?"
Ranma shrugged and replied "Yeah it's the same sort of thing, only time and training will tell if you can do the same sort of technique, or a Tendo branch one. The other reason is maybe this way you'll stop hitting me so much for things that aren't my fault," he finished frowning a little.
Akane laughed "Yes I suppose I can understand that, but as far as I know I've never hit you when you didn't deserve and not apologized afterwards," Akane was still grinning at him and he smiled back infected by it.
"Be that as it may, hopefully I can avoid the first part altogether, anyway its time we started on this. Make sure your comfortable and you should also remember that you might not get it first go." Privately Ranma doubted she wouldn't get the basic part of it right away, After all her father would have taught her some mind clearing exercises.
Ranma waited for Akane to settle herself and when she nodded he began. "Now empty you mind of everything. It should just be black empty space. Now in that space I want you to imagine a flame, you can make it any colour you want just don't make it anything complicated. It can being a single flame, a fire or a big fire, I find that a single flame is best."
Akane nodded her understanding while her eyes were closed and he continued. "Now hold that single flame in your mind and I want you to push all of your emotions, feelings, desires, all of it, into that flame and burn them away until all that is left is an empty space with nothing but the flame, not thinking of anything."
Her brow had become creased with concentration on the task before while Ranma watched. Happy that she had done at least that he started talking again "Now I want you to push down the flame until its extinguished and there is nothing but empty space within a void and hold yourself within that space with everything else outside."
Akane's brow creased again and a small amount of sweat appeared or her forehead. Ranma thought back to when he had first been learning how to do this. His father had just defeated one of the many martial artists they encountered and had been singed by a chi attack.
Walking down the road his Pop had turned to him and said "Son it's time for me to teach you how to use chi attacks," they had then proceeded into a forest where Ranma had spent days and nights eating, fishing, gathering food and practicing over and over the strange technique his father had taught him while around him the forest nearly drove him mad with distractions.
He hadn't realized till much later on their journey the purpose behind Genma's choice of training location. But he had pushed the thought aside and concentrated on the next thing to learn from his not yet man-panda father.
The thought came back to him that he had mastered the technique probably quicker then Akane would because of the distractions, but that could be changed easily, and would in fact be changed.
He grinned at the thought and at Akane as her brow uncreased as smoothed out. He spoke up after letting her sit there for a few moments "Ok Akane, I want you to open your eyes and stay within that empty space."
She opened her eyes and to Ranma they seemed a tiny bit cooler then their usual warmth. That alone told him that she had succeed so far and he nodded to him self in satisfaction.
"Alright, let go of the void Akane," Ranma watched as she blinked and her eyes changed slightly back, he asked her as she sat there "So, how did it go? Was it hard?"
Akane shook her head a little in what seemed an effort to clear it "That was a lot harder then the stuff Dad taught me for clearing my mind. I know you said there's more to it that'll we'll cover but is that what you do to get there?"
Ranma nodded "Yep, but I'll tell you what the real challenge is," he grinned at her "You should be good enough to get to the void straight away without going through all that other stuff in an instant if you want to get the most benefit out of it."
He continued to grin as Akane gaped "Instantly!?" Smiling he nodded. A thoughtful expression came over her face "Your right I'll have to practice that one."
The thought crossed his mind Should I tell her what I want her to do now or wait later? No, he'd do it now, while she was a little tired and less likely to hit him one.
Taking a deep breath he prepared himself for the worst that could come "Akane," she looked up at his tone "I'm going to name the other condition as part of our bet." Holding up his hands be began ticking of each point as he said it "You must not hit, kick, hurt, maim or incapacitate me in any way for the next two weeks no matter what I say or do if what your going to do is motivated by anger."
He finished and prepared to try and dodge whatever she unleashed at him. He blinked in surprise and watched curiously as Akane's eyes widened slightly before returning to normal and a thoughtful look appeared on her face.
She looked up at him "This is going to part of my training isn't it Ranma?" She smiled happily as he nodded his head and he smiled back at her.
"Mostly yes, hopefully be the end of that time, you'll have learned how to empty your mind in an instant no matter what's going on," Ranma walked over to the side of the dojo towards the door and his books.
"We may as well finish here for now as we'll have dinner in a couple of hours," he bent down and picked up his books "You can practice that whenever you want really." Turning around he waited while Akane stood up and brushed away at the dress before joining him at the door.
Exiting the dojo Ranma closed it behind them again and they walked into the house proper together, a little apart from one another.
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Dusk had settled over the town as Ranma lay on has usual spot of the roof of the Tendo house. The horizon was only tinged slightly with deep orange and red and they reflected off the small clouds that scudded along the deep blue and purple sky.
Overhead the brightest stars had come out and twinkled their cold blue light down upon the world uncaringly but still beautiful in their coldness.
Ranma lay and admired without thinking of what he saw in the night sky, his mind was on the days earlier events. He was happy things had started well, he'd been able to get Akane started on a fairly important basic that would really start to matter a while down the track.
The only thing he would have to watch was making sure that when he tried to get Akane angry, the only thing he did was get her angry. That way she could concentrate on just fixing her anger problem as apposed to getting upset and going after him anyway. The right balance would be hard to find, Almost when I first did my balance training, he thought wistfully.
Things were looking up though, he had been visiting his mother more and she was happy about that which combined with how things were going with everything else meant things were going well.
The problem was though he still hadn't sorting everything out. He still had all his fiancés to deal with, including Akane. He hadn't come up with anything concrete yet and he knew that it was only a matter of time. In fact he was overdue at least for a bike to the body collision from Shampoo and a dose of powder from Kodachi.
He'd see if he could find Ukyo on Monday though and maybe see how she was. After all she was his oldest friend. Sighing Ranma stretched out and decided to stop thinking, he couldn't be bothered right now tomorrow would be soon enough.
With his decision made Ranma Saotome lay out on the roof and watched the sun sink below the horizon and the dark sky of the night come alive with the burning stars of the Milky Way.
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AN: Well guys let me know what you think :) this is the longest chapter so far but I hope you all enjoyed it. Stay tuned for the next chapters and for the updated versions of these chapters.