Chapter 23 and 24 revision 1
A/N I have made some revisions to chapters 23 and 24 and am posting them separately. Let me know which version you like best.
Disclaimer. Hi Ho, Hi Ho here we are again. It's back to work a writing I've gone once again. I only use the characters that the Goddess Rumiko created. I own nothing. Nada, Zilch, Not a Thing. Don't bother to sue me because I have nothing and you will still have to pay a lawyer Bwaaahhahaha! (Patented evil laugh number 13B)
St Hebereke's School for Girls.
Ranma, Akane, and Ryoga arrive at the school an hour before the match is scheduled to start. They look for the visitors locker room and find it easily. The sign outside does not fill them with confidence though. It says "Welcome Akane Tendo! May the best girl win! (signed) Kodachi Kuno, the Black Rose of St Hebereke's"
They go into the changing room and the first thing they notice is a bouquet of black roses sitting on a table. There is a card sitting with it.
(sigh) "I don't think my talk with Kodachi did any good. This is what happened last time" Ranma whispers to Akane.
"Be careful around those flowers Ryoga. Kodachi is known for putting sleeping powder on them." Akane says.
"Yeah, in fact try not to touch anything you don't have to." Ranma says.
"Okay. What is it with this girl anyway? Does she cheat just because she like to or what?" Ryoga asks
"Kodachi's mother died about 5 year ago and she has never gotten over it. She seems to be very insecure and feels that anything goes when it comes to winning. I had hoped that the talk I had with her might help but it doesn't look like it." Ranma says
Akane walks over to look at the card that is with the flowers. It says "Welcome Akane Tendo. May the best girl win. I will fight you fairly and will not cheat. I will however use any tactic that is legal to win. Kodachi Kuno. PS Your fiancee is yummy. Could I borrow him sometime?"
Akane's temper was about to get the best of her when she realized that Kodachi was just 'trash-talking' and trying to get her mad and upset.
Akane takes off her warm up suit and sits down to wait for her turn to go into the gym. She looks at Ranma and then decides to show him the card. Ranma reads it, shakes his head and then sighs loudly. He tosses the card in the trash.
"You know that she is just trying to get you mad don't you" Ranma says.
"Yeah. I realized that and I was able to calm down after that. I may not win but I will give it my best shot." Akane says.
"I have seen a very good martial arts gymnast get defeated by someone who was not half as good as she was. She got overconfident and her opponent gave her best shot and it was just good enough to win. If Kodachi does not bring her best game today, you can win." Ryoga says.
"Aaaand Noooow, the champions of the schools... Representing Furinkan High School... Akane Tendo!... and in this corner, representing our own St Hebereke School for Girls, the one and only Black Rose,... Kodachi Kuno!" called out the announcer.
Akane entered the ring and saluted the crowd. A lot of Furinkan High students had come to watch Akane Tendo in her match. Most of the boys were here because they knew that Akane would be in a tight leotard that showed off her fine figure. Most of them didn't really care for gymnastics... just the girls in leotards.
Kodachi came down to the ring and paused looking in Ranma's direction. She decided to make a detour to him before entering the ring.
"Ranma darling, I see that you made it... and who is this handsome boy with you? He looks as yummy as you do..." she looks Ryoga over "maybe even more yummy." She smiles as Ryoga gets embarrassed by what she is saying about him. "Remember that we are going out for ice cream no matter who wins." Kodachi says.
"Just keep it clean Kodachi." Ranma says. Akane in the meantime is getting visibly angry at what is going on. After Kodachi leaves for her corner of the ring Ranma gets up on the apron and whispers to Akane "Don't let it get to you. She is trying to get you angry so she can win easier. Stay calm and focus on what you need to do to win. She will never come between us you know. Now get out there and beat the crap out of her, I know you can do it."
"Today's match is Martial Arts Gymnastics! No time limit! No bare handed blows! The match ends if one person concedes, is knocked unconscious, or is knocked out of the ring! Permitted weapons are the Clubs, Ribbon, Hoop, and Ball."
Tatewaki Kuno and Shampoo entered the gym while Akane and Kodachi were being introduced.
"I must go and give fair Akane encouragement for her match. Her heart will be strengthened knowing that I am here for her." said Kuno "Come, I shall introduce you to her and her friends."
They head down the aisle towards Akane Tendo's corner. Ranma looks up and sees them coming. 'Oh crap, it's Shampoo' He motions to Akane to get her attention. She looks at him puzzled about why he was interrupting her. She looks in the direction he points in and sees Kuno and Shampoo approaching.
"Yeah, I see them. You are going to have to handle it on your own. The match is about to start. Ryoga, give me the clubs. I'm a good close in combatant and frankly suck with the ribbon." she says.
"I see that I shall have to wait to introduce you to the fair Akane. These are her seconds for the match. Ranma Saotome and Ryoga Hibiki. My sister is quite interested in Saotome." Kuno turns towards Ranma "I give you leave to date my beautiful but quite warped sister."
They turn away and find seats close to Akane's corner. The purple haired beauty is not attracting a tenth of the attention that Tatewaki Kuno is getting from the St Hebereke students watching the match. Shampoo looks intently at Ranma.
'Very handsome in boy form. Make good Amazon.' Shampoo thinks.
Akane steps out towards the center of the ring. Kodachi is standing close to her corner with her ribbon at her side ready to use. The referee looks at both of them to see if they are ready and slashes her hand through the air as a signal for them to begin. Akane rushes forward with her clubs ready and Kodachi immediately begins twirling her ribbon. "Steady, steady, once she strikes, the ribbon will help block her view for a second and...'
Kodachi strikes with the ribbon intending to force Akane on the defensive,. Akane takes the chance of doing a 'home-run-slide' to get under the ribbon and get close to Kodachi. Just as Akane's slide is about to bring her into striking distance, Kodachi spots her and does a backflip onto the ring corner post.
"Oh very well done Tendo! You almost got to hit me but now it's my turn." Kodachi calls out as she strikes with the ribbon. She hits Akane's left hand club and sends it spinning into the audience. Akane slips in close and uses the other club to strike at Kodachi. She missed but she still hit the top of the ring post causing Kodachi to leap into the center of the ring. She strikes at Akane and wraps the ribbon around one ankle and yanks on it. That causes Akane to fall on her back. Akane throws the club at Kodachi hand that holds the ribbon. She surprised Kodachi and she was forced to drop the ribbon. Akane pulls it from around her ankle and tosses it out of the ring.
"Clubs!" calls Kodachi.
Once she has them in hand she begins using them in an intricate pattern that causes the announcer to call out "Kodachi is using the clubs almost like they were nunchuks! An amazing new move for the Black Rose!" Akane is quickly forced on the defensive since she has no weapon is strike back with. She moves to try to get back close enough to where Ryoga can toss her a new weapon, but Kodachi is able to block her every move in that direction. Akane continues to take minor hits that she easily blocks but it starts to wear her down a little. Akane takes a chance and leaps onto the rope in order to give her the momentum to get past Kodachi. She manages to do so but takes a hit to the thigh that almost causes her to fall out of the ring.
"Ribbon!" Akane yells. 'I may suck with it, but it will help keep her at a distance for a while' she thinks. Akane immediately turn and takes the offensive with the ribbon. It keeps Kodachi from getting close enough to strike with her clubs but does little else. Kodachi retreats a short ways towards the middle of the ring.
"Ball!" Kodachi calls out. "A ball is thrown to her from her corner and she stops it with all of the skill of a world class soccer player. She continues to defend herself from Akane's ribbon and waits for her opportunity . Once Akane is in the position that Kodachi wants her in, Kodachi strikes. She kicks the ball straight up into the air, does a twisting backflip, and kicks the ball as it comes down... towards the ringpost behind Akane. It bounces off the ringpost and hits Akane in the middle of her back causing her to let go of the ribbon in order to stay on her feet.
Kodachi then springs towards Akane and tries to knock her out of the ring while she is still unsteady on her feet. Akane blocks the blows and strikes at the left hand club shattering it. Kodachi quickly backs off and looks at Akane in what was almost... admiration.
"Well done Tendo, but the match is not over yet. Hoop!" Kodachi calls out.
"Ball!" Akane calls out in reply. She is very aware that they are both running out of tools to fight with. One of her clubs is still in the ring but she still cannot make any headway towards it without getting pummeled by Kodachi's remaining club. Akane is very leery of Kodachi's hoop remembering that last time it had a very sharp edge to it.
Akane knows that she is not in Kodachi's league with a ball, but she is good enough to get a kick that is accurate enough to force Kodachi away from Akane's club. That should give her the split second she need to recover it.
Kodachi begins moving towards Akane. 'I expect that she will try for the club again. That will give me my chance to,,,," Kodachi thinks just as Akane kicks the ball at her. Kodachi dodges it and positions herself for Akane's lunge for her club. Kodachi lets go of her own club and jumps towards Akane back. Just as Akane is starting to reach for the club Kodachi throws the hoop over Akane's head and pins her arms at her side as she yanks Akane away from the club. Akane is almost doubled over by the hoop is pulled into her stomach and is quickly pulled off her feet as Kodachi begins to spin in place. Once Kodachi has enough momentum built, she release the hoop to send Akane flying out of the ring and winning the match.
"Akane!" Ranma yells as he sprints over to where Akane landed. He was afraid of what he would find since her also remembered what Kodachi's hoop was like last time. He finds that Akane is a little bruised but otherwise okay.
"Ranma, I'm fine. Just a little winded is all." Akane says.
"The winner of today's Martial Arts Gymnastics match is the Black Rose! Kodachi Kuno!"
Kodachi jumps down from the ring and approaches Akane and Ranma. Ranma helps Akane to her feet and they wait for Kodachi to approach. Kodachi holds out her hand to shake Akane's hand. Akane hesitates for a second and then shakes Kodachi's hand.
"A very good match Akane Tendo. If you keep on practicing you will become good enough to have a real chance of beating me." Kodachi says.
"Yeah, well, I have a good teacher. I might just keep up with it though... just so I can challenge you for a re-match that's not quite so one-sided." Akane says
Tatewaki Kuno approaches them and calls out "Fair Akane Tendo, art though all right? My wicked sister got in some powerful blows upon thee" Kuno asks
Shampoo pokes Kuno in the side "This a Tendo daughter?" she asks "If not, show me way to Tendo place"
"Yes, I am Akane Tendo, heir to the Tendo school of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Who are you?"
"I am Shampoo. Come from village in China to find red-haired busty girl that defeated me in combat." she says and then looks straight at Ranma "Know where red-haired girl is?"
Ranma is reluctant to say anything and suddenly Shampoo whips out a bottle of cold water and sprays Ranma with it changing him into his girl form.
'Shampoo pretty sure was red haired girl. Jusenkyo curse good way to hide from Amazon who not know about it.' "I challenge. Fight me right now." Shampoo says and then jumps into the ring. "Or are you a coward to face me again?"
'Oh crap... I so don't want to fight her' thinks Ranma "Hello Shampoo. Welcome to Japan. No, I have no intention of fighting you again. I know I am still under the Kiss of Death. We are in Japan and your laws don't apply here." Ranma says
"Oh, I know what law says... this is personal. Prove who better warrior by beating you. Show that was accident that you beat me before." Shampoo says.
A lot of student's who were heading out paused to watch what was going on.
Ranma thinks for a minute and then says "No Kiss of Death, no Kiss of Marriage, no fight to the death. We fight in this ring. Whoever is knocked unconscious or is knocked out of the ring loses. No weapons. Is this agreeable?"
Shampoo nods her yes. "Shampoo agree. Here stick boy, hold bonbori." she says and then tosses her bonbori's to Kuno.
Shampoo takes up her standard fighting stance, one foot forward of her body and one foot back, her hands raised with one hand slightly behind the other. Ranma takes his usual very casual stance. They stand there watching each other for almost 2 minutes.
'This bad. Red haired girl no start attack. She want me commit first. Not good.' Shampoo thinks. She starts forward a single step and feints making a kick and instead reverses which foot is forward. Ranma continues to stand where she was. Shampoo waits a few seconds and starts to circle to get behind Ranma. Ranma counters by turning and following Shampoo as she circles. When she get behind Ranma, she backs into the center of the ring.
Shampoo gets tired of circling Ranma and begins trying to back her into one of the corners. Ranma retreats a few steps and then lets Shampoo get close enough to attack. Shampoo launches a combo strike of her left fist followed by a quick leg sweep. Ranma bends away from the fist and then leaps up into the air to avoid the leg sweep and landing on top of the ringpost. She then leaps into the air and does a backflip to land behind Shampoo but Shampoo saw what Ranma was doing and spins her body around and completes the leg sweep in the opposite direction. While in the air Ranma tucks her legs and let's Shampoo's pass under her. She lands in a crouch and then backflips away from Shampoo. Shampoo jumps to her feet and rushes Ranma. Shampoo does a 1-2 combo with both of her fists and manages to tag her opponent's left shoulder with one fist and then the other. Ranma shrugs it off.
'Man, I had forgotten how hard she can hit. I had better end this fast or I might get hurt' Ranma thinks. 'I have to remember that this body is not as strong and tough or I will get hurt'
Ranma returns the favor with a kick to the stomach that sends Shampoo reeling back to the corner. Ranma then charges in and lands a 1-2 combo of her own. Shampoo is dazed by this and weakly raises her arms back up in defense. Ranma feints another leg kick and follows up with a hit to a left shoulder shaitsu point that leaves her arm numb and useless. Ranma sidesteps Shampoo punch and grabs her left arm and spins Shampoo around and into the ringpost. Shampoo collapses to the mat for a few seconds and as she starts to get up, Ranma kicks her just hard enough to get her rolling... rolling out of the ring. Shampoo recovers enough to keep from being injured by the fall.
'Red hair even better then when was in village. Not feel so bad about losing. At least this time I got a real good hit in.' Shampoo thinks.
The students who remained applaud the winner while wondering just what is going on. Once it is obvious that the contest is over, they make their way out of the gym. Ranma jumps down beside Shampoo who goes into a modifies fighting stance in case Ranma attacked her.
Ranma raises both hands and motions to Shampoos left arm and asks "It will be a while before you can use your arm again. I can undo the numbness if you want me to." Ranma says
"Shampoo thinks about it for a moment and then nods her head. Ranma touches the same shaitsu point and the numbness in Shampoos arm goes away. Shampoo gets a mischievous look and she steps up to Ranma and kisses her on the lips.
"Wo ai ni Airen. You now my husband." Shampoo says with a twinkle in her eye.
'Not again...' thinks Ranma. " Remember, no Kiss of Marriage." he says with a panicked look on his face as she backs off. "I ain't gonna marry you"
Akane steps between them. "That's right. You agreed that there would be no Kiss of Marriage." Akane says as her battle aura flares up.
Shampoo pouts and says "You no fun." and then her face brightens up with a smile "No Kiss of Marriage. But fun to see red haired girl wiggle like eel when do that. Plus she kiss good. Make good husband and good co-wife at same time."
Both Ranma and Akane have a stunned look on their face and stammer incoherently for a minute.
"Hey! Ranma is mine! Find your own husband!" Akane yells at Shampoo.
"You make good Amazon. Willing fight for man. Maybe we fight for her sometime?" Shampoo says with a smirk. "Shampoo sure can beat you. Then have chance get red haired girl to be my Airen"
"I ain't ever gonna be your Airen. You won't like what will happen if you try to take me to your village." Ranma says.
Ryoga was watching the whole thing puzzled at what was going on. Kuno had gotten distracted by several of Kodachi's classmates trying to find out more about "Kodachi's lusciously handsome brother". Kuno was getting a slightly panicked look but he was able to mask it with his own peculiar way. "Ah fair ladies, it would not be fair to take all of you on a date at once. I would much prefer to take a couple of you out at a time so that I can give you the attention that each of you deserve." Kuno says as he begins to start to back away towards the doors. Several of the girls cut him off and start herding him towards the locker room area. He finally realizes where they are trying to take him and he leaps over them and runs out the doors screaming something about crazed man eating girls.
"Ummm, excuse me, but whats going on here?" Ryoga finally asks.
"Well, it gets sort of complicated." Ranma says "After I got cursed Pops and me went to the Amazon village to try to get some help. Pops and me kinda ate Shampoo's victory meal for after she won the village championship. Shampoo challenged me over it and I said okay. If I won, we got to finish her meal and if she won we would work to pay for the meal. Well, the guide didn't mention that if I beat her I would get what they call the Kiss of Death. If an outside girl beats an Amazon in a fight then the Amazon has to kill the outsider. I beat Shampoo and she kissed me. Pops and me ran for days until Shampoo and her war party turned back. I never want to have to go through THAT again."
Ryoga just stood there for a minute and then started laughing... and laughing... and laughing... well, you get the picture. Ryoga rolling around on the floor laughing his guts out at the mental image of Ranma and his dad running for their lives from a pack of bloodthirsty Amazons.
"Laugh it up pig boy. It's not so funny when it happens to you. Ranma says totally disgusted with Ryoga. "I would like to see how you would handle being chased by... an... Amazon..." Ranma stops with the the image in his mind of Shampoo chasing Ryoga trying to catch her new Airen. 'I wonder..." She turns to Shampoo "Shampoo, I would like to introduce my friend Ryoga Hibiki. He is the only person I know that I really have to go all out against to have a chance to win."
Shampoo looks Ryoga over. 'Hmmm Handsome enough and red haired girl say good warrior. Maybe...' "Hey you... stop laughing and get up. Want talk"
Ryoga finally stops laughing and looks up at the beautiful woman standing over him. He gets to his feet and watches her as she gives him a very appraising look. 'Uh oh... I don't like the looks of this.'
'Very nice. Get him back to village and him make good Airen for someone. Him do if not get red hair to return with me.' "You do pig boy. You show Shampoo around then take me to Tendo place." Shampoo says.
"Uh... I... uh... that might be a problem. I get lost real easy." Ryoga says
"No problem. Stay with you until find Tendo place again." Shampoo says as she takes his arm and starts leading him out the door. She wave at the others "Bai Bai."
A/N Is the beginning of a Shampoo x Ryoga match up? Wait and see. Ryoga will find someone before this is over with. It might be Shampoo and it might not. We still have other characters to introduce.