P.S.S – Pray for me as I take my finals from the dreaded H Bio Lab teacher next week. I wanted to get this chapter out before I killed any more brain cells. Gee, finals are great.
Chapter Ten : Enemy to Faith
"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor to measure words but to pour them all out, just as it is, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away."
- George Elliot
The room was dark; a putrid stench circulated amidst the musty air – a familiar odor of the rotting of flesh. The black mass of shadow inhabiting the space of death stalked about the room with the insane animalistic nature of a rabid dog. Behind him he dragged a carcass, another inky mass that twitched and shook with violent spasms as his back inflamed with splinters.
"I – I underst-stand now… please… it hurts…" a wretched voice murmured from amidst the pungent room. The corpse of a man in the animal's fists shivered in raw fear. Thick blood dripped painstakingly slowly down into his watery eyes so that they burned and stung unmercifully. His tortured gaze met those of the hysterical man's above him, glimmering with insanity and lust. He quickly dropped his head, unable to stare such evil fully in the eye. This man was Lucifer's reincarnate himself, sent unto Earth to wreak havoc and destroy man's happiness and faith.
"You… if you ever disobey me again… there will be no tongue for you to whine with." And the vicious man flung his captive to the corner of the inky room, in which the overbearing stench emanated from. The abused man set his hand to the floor, leaning heavily as he breathed in and out weakly. His hand touched a cold form lying beside him…. stiff and fetid as it decayed under a musty torn sheet. Its dull eyes watched him as a fish's might– devoid of intelligence… of life. Dry and shriveled in they're bluish sockets.
"Oh my… God." And he began to pray. Quickly, desperately, nonsensically, until his voice cracked from fear and overuse. The door to the hellish room opened to reveal the stinging rays of the sun. He shuddered, throwing his hands up to shield his face, until once more the door slammed shut; leaving him alone… his prayers had momentarily been answered. Heaving several great, ragged breaths, he stood to attend to his wounds.
Damn that sneaky bastard. She was beginning to understand what Genma had meant when he told her to keep on her toes. Moments after her silent ridicule of Ranma's martial art senses (or lack thereof), she had been utterly panicked when she looked back toward where the young man had been brooding on a wooden doorstep moments before, only… he wasn't there any more. She could still smell the musky male scent of him as she crept silently around the previously occupied doorstep, Looking behind walls and into windows, until a flash of movement caught her attention from above. Her quarry was roof hopping along the rows of shacks, so far away now that all she could see was a blur of lightning-fast color. She cursed roughly, kicking the wall beside her and shaking her head as she began in the opposite direction toward the only building in the whole damn place that had a telephone. She had an important call to make.
"Ranma! I've been looking everywhere for you." Akane chirped as Ranma hopped onto the dirt floor several feet away. She glanced from him to the roof he had recently leapt from, and back, quirking a mischievous smirk in his direction. "Lady troubles, hm?" Ranma snorted rudely, giving her a lazy hand gesture to signify his lack of interest in her jibes.
"Well, okay." She huffed, crossing her arms sternly and striding over to him. He avoided her gaze intently; turning his head this way and that as she physically blocked his view of the dirt floor with her curiously attractive features. "Ranma, is something wrong?" Her innocent query turned the poor soldier's stomach over. How could she still act like nothing's changed? Nothing's happened? How could she stand to be so close to him? He shoved her away slightly by the shoulder, his first act of violence toward a woman… ever.
"Just leave me alone Akane." He sighed, his head snapping to the side in order to avoid her eyes. But he caught a glimpse of the look of confused hurt throbbing in her prettily innocent eyes. Innocent… eyes that had seen so many terrible things and yet… remained unfathomably pure. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she drew her arms about herself again, clutching at her bare arms and shivering as if some great evil had blown out the light and heat of the sun. It struck him suddenly that this was a woman he couldn't bare to see broken. Her grief over her father's death had nearly dragged her over the edge… and that thought brought a great rigidness to Ranma's shoulders.
"Look, Akane… I - " But his apology was interrupted by a frantic voice calling out to them from behind.
"Officer Saotome, Sir!" a man gasped from behind their small party. His voice was strong, ominous. " Please excuse me officer… I was sent by one of your soldier's to tell you that they have just received word of General Saotome's immediate departure from headquarters. He will be arriving here in no less than a day, Sir."
Wonderful. Ranma withheld a scathing string of curses as he clenched his fists so that the knuckles bulged white. From behind him, he felt the gentle prod of a tender warm hand… Akane's hand. His fingers loosened subtly at her touch. She looked out from behind his wide shoulders to get a good look at the messenger. He was tall, formidable, but gentle in stature. He turned his hard-edged face toward them at the nagging sensation of being observed, and the small woman behind him drew in a sharp intake of breath. Ranma spared a glance toward her face. He could see utter confusion there… and a vague sense of fear. Turning back toward the man, he met his piercing black gaze, also catching a wild gleam in his eyes as he returned Akane's startled glare.
"And…what's your name?" Ranma demanded slowly, taking care to watch the man's every response, every action. He responded, " My name's Ben. And you are…?" He added to Akane in an utterly harmless and kind manner. Akane stuttered for a moment, "I - I - "
"Ben, hm? That's odd… were you born in the United States?" Ranma asked, interrupting the dumbstruck girl beside him now. The other man nodded shortly, stealing odd looks toward Akane every few seconds. Ranma continued watching him impatiently, until the man seemed to realize his repeated mistake. He immediately straightened, giving them both a short nod before smiling and setting off in the direction he came. Ranma could now feel the tremors sliding through Akane's petite body. He turned toward her, resting a largely calloused hand upon her cold skin.
"Akane?" He asked searching her eyes for some idea as to what she was so afraid of. She looked up into his eyes, searching intently for what, he did not know. Finally, she asked shyly, "Ranma… are you mad at me?" This startled him. He hadn't expected it at all, and he immediately snatched his hand away as if burned by the touch of her skin. But seconds later, he shook his head, keeping his eyes upon the scuffed surface of his shoes.
He looked up to meet her gaze, gasping shortly at the brilliantly soft and genuine smile gracing her beautiful face. These were the moments he lived for… the moments when that spectacular smile of hers bloomed, just a simple turning up of her delicate pink lips. It was enough to make him believe he wasn't the head officer in charge of an entire camp-full of innocent women, children, and men being punished for crimes they didn't commit. It was enough to make him forget the war all together, and it was enough to give him just a moment of genuine bliss. Amazing what that smile of hers could do. "Akane." He stunned himself into saying. He was suddenly aware of a growing urgency rushing through his veins.
Her smile faded at the hard note of seriousness in Ranma's voice. She remained quiet, taking in his rigid stance, his shallow breaths… the way his blue eyes clouded over in a moment, like the onset of a dangerous storm on the sea. She held her breath even still, as he grasped her shoulders until she was tempted to cry out. Her back was pressed almost painfully into a wooden rail just behind her. It suddenly occurred to her that Ranma was the kind of man Akane had always feared. The kind of man that could control her, damage her, hurt her… the kind of man that was so incredibly strong, Akane was as good as crippled in his grip.
"Akane. Tell me…" He drew in a deep, suddenly desperate breath, "Did he touch you?" Akane's heart began beating faster beneath her breast, she could feel his hot breath against her cheek, could see the level of desperation in his heated gaze. This man had the predictability of a wild stag. That very fact was what frightened Akane more than his damaging grip. His voice lowered to a rough whisper as he leaned in closer to her, searching her eyes just as she searched his.
"What – what are you talking about Ranma? What's gotten into you?" Akane asked, her own voice no more than a startled whisper. "Who's touched anyone? What is it that's got you so riled up?"
"Did that man - last night, that man – did he touch you before I got there? Was I… too late?" His voice was harsh, and his eyes bore down upon her. Akane shook her head slowly, wonderingly, as she answered, "No, of course not." But she understood now. Or at least… she believed she did. His grip loosened slightly, but his eyes were no less desperate, his countenance no less reassured.
Akane slowly regained her composure, and with it, confused outrage. "What on Earth possessed you to ask me that?" She voiced angrily as she shoved him off of her. This was strange, even for Ranma.
The sudden jolt to reality supplied Ranma with a comforting feeling of relief, and a strange sense of guilt. He had frightened her. The fact that he had given her the opportunity to doubt him, even for that short moment, upset him. He added sheepishly into the silence, "Sorry 'bout that." He hung his head in subdued manner and didn't look up, even as he sensed her movement form before him. She patted him lightly on the back, sending him the unspoken message that, no, she wasn't afraid of him. He still had her friendship.
"Now come on! I want to show you something." She laughed, tugging his hand into hers as she began jogging toward the schoolyard where some of the refugees taught the younger children.
"Mameha- san! Er… I mean, 'Sensei'." Akane called cheerfully, noticing the crowd of young children gathered about her dear friend on the dusty floor of the schoolhouse. "I brought a friend of mind to come see all that you've been doing to help out here. I thought he might appreciate it." She added in a sly whisper, dragging Ranma before her.
She had earlier asked him to change into less identifiable clothing, in order try to pass off as another refugee. She quickly resorted to groveling at his solid decline, practically forcing tears to her eyes until he reluctantly agreed. "Stupid tomboy, always goes for my weaknesses…" He grumbled, pulling his ragged t-shirt and pants on as Akane loitered outside. Then she had immediately dragged him here.
"Well, it's very nice to meet you Mister…?" Ranma interjected, "Ranma's fine, Ma'am." She smiled a warm, almost maternal smile. "Ranma, then." She bowed slightly before turning to give Akane's shoulder a loving squeeze. "And how are you, dear? The students being respectful?" Akane beamed, nodding emphatically.
"Oh yes, they're all so wonderful. I noticed a few who are really taking to my classes." Ranma gave her a puzzled look, not understanding the conversation held between the two. Akane's smile grew broader, and Mameha's kind eyes crinkled as she sent another motherly smile toward the younger girl. Ranma quirked an eyebrow, looking between the two. "What classes?" he asked.
"Oh, Akane never told you? Hm, yes, she's a very modest young girl." Akane blushed under the light praise, sticking her tongue at Ranma as he gave her a disbelieving stare. "I teach a beginning martial arts class, Ranma. And singing." She added shyly, watching Ranma for a reaction. His eyes bulged for a moment, his disbelief straining his expression.
"You're teaching… martial arts?" He croaked. She nodded slowly, "Yes… only for beginners, though. All the children are very young." He groaned at her response, his face dropping into his large hand. He gave a muffled response that sounded something like, "Why do you insist on making life difficult for me?" Akane's expression turned puzzled and hurt.
"I'm only trying to give them something to do Ranma. What's wrong with that?" Ranma lifted his face from his hand, his eyebrows furrowed.
"What's wrong with that? Teaching captives how to fight… in captivity? Doesn't that sound a bit negative to you? What is my Pop gonna think!" He exclaimed, his arms flailing with reckless abandon. Akane grit her teeth.
"Oh, so I'm supposed to be blamed for some tyrannous pig jumping to unwarranted conclusions? I was just giving them some way to remember their heritage. Something you've obviously forsaken!" Akane barked back, unaware of the crowd of curious onlookers about the classroom.
"Don't you give me that bullshit, Akane! I haven't forsaken anything. You're just more trouble than you're worth!" A collective gasp echoed around the room at the uttered profanity, and the two supposed 'adults' became suddenly aware of their audience. Akane grasped his arm roughly and dragged him out into the dirt road.
"You jerk! Those are children you just cussed in front of! You are so inconsiderate." Ranma yanked his arm out of her grasp, yelling as he did so, "You're one to talk, Tomboy! At least I didn't insult you're crazy father in front of the whole residency!" Akane fumed.
"My father was not crazy, you mean bastard. And how dare you call this hellhole a residency when we're being held here against our will? Or have you forgotten that I'm just another one of your stupid prisoners?" Akane screamed, leaned forward until she was inches from his shocked face. His surprise quickly darkened into defensiveness.
"Hey, I haven't forgotten that you were the one who dragged me here. I have other duties that are more important than appeasing you and your lousy whims!" akane drew back suddenly, her hurt pouring from her eyes in wet, angry tears.
"Than I suppose you also don't want to know about the celebration we're holding for Nabiki's birthday tomorrow. I thought you might want to make an exception from work, but since I'm 'more trouble than I'm worth', I guess I was wrong!" Akane's voice tightened as she yelled the last few words at him, before rushing off down the darkening road. Ranma was stranded there for several moments, considering everything that had just gone on. It had gotten way out of control, and his foot had somehow managed to creep it's way down his throat in a terrible wave of idiocy. Shaking his head, yet still fuming, he made his way back into the building to apologize to the teacher and her class.
He was a gentleman, after all.
"And remember, my children, to remain loyal to your home. America is a wonderful place." Ranma heard the last bit of Mameha's lecture to her students as he neared the slightly opened door. A smaller, younger voice asked defiantly, "Then why are we here Sensei? Why should we be loyal to America if America is not loyal to us?" Mameha chuckled as a slow murmur of assent filled the tiny classroom. She responded without missing a beat, "All wonderful things take time to create. America is no different. We are simply caught in a transitioning period, when it is still trying to adapt, to improve. Eventually it will be done, and the result will be all the more impressive. Our only job now is to support America and love it, and before you know it, they will do the same."
She smiled broadly as the door slid open, and Ranma stepped into the class. He gave her a solid, trusting nod as he bowed low to the ground. "I apologize for my earlier comments. It is obvious to me now that I have nothing to worry about from this school of yours. America is lucky to have one so faithful as you a part of it."
After the children had made their way out of the schoolyard and down the track, Ranma remained behind with Mameha-san. She rested a comfortable hand on his shoulder, adding mysteriously before she swept off down the road, "The only enemy to faith is insecurity in your own decisions. If you trust in your reactions, it's easy to trust in others. I hope I see you tomorrow evening with Akane-chan. She worked so hard to make it a special night for her sister."
There she was. Her dazzling beauty… her delectable aura of innocence. Everything about her screamed virginal purity. She was just what he had been looking for. Step, step, step. There was a pause in her hurried gait. She glanced around skittishly, her eyes resting on the shadowy corner in which he stood watching. She searched the darkness, combing the layers until her unsure gaze was returned to the path before her. Clever girl. She could sense him. Some people just found his evil aura far too imposing. It almost gave him away in many situations.
As she hurried away, his mind streamed with visions of her. He could hear her voice, feel her cold skin, smell her sweet youth… he imagined his calloused hands running through her short, silken locks. It was all he could do to keep from reaching out to grab her fragile wrist as she rushed by. But he would wait. She was worth waiting for.