Chapter 28: The Black Rose Strikes!

It was late in the evening, and all the lights in the Tendo home were closed; except for one. "Aah!". Akane had just entered the tub, attempting to wash away the pain from her brutal training session. I can't believe that I survived that. Ranma is brutal.

#Flashback#

"Alright Akane; take your position.". Ranma and Akane were on the dojo floor, preparing for the first step in Akane's training. "Aww come on Ranma! Why can't I do the drills you gave Natsume?". At this; both Ranma and Akane looked pointedly at Natsume who, at that moment, was struggling to do one-handedly juggling whilst twirling a ribbon in the second. For a moment; Ranma was stunned at how she could so casually ask such a question, but thought better of it and began to explain.

"Natsume is already experienced in compensating for weapon weight and other aspects since she was originally a weapons expert. As such, she is advancing her current training to improve her dexterity; a trait that needs to be quite high for a weapons master. You, on the other hand, have no experience in using weapons apart from your school's Ki constructs. As such, we need to work on your strength and stamina so you can use real weapons for a greater duration."

Akane was about to argue but a look from Ranma made her think twice, and she walked to pick up the set of pins, she had to juggle. "Alright Akane; pay attention! We are going to improve both your strength and your situational awareness today using these."

"Beanbags?" Akane asked, her face showing her unvoiced confusion. Ranma didn't seem to notice as he continued with his explanation. "Yes beanbags! Your task is to juggle those pins for 10 minutes without dropping a pin or getting hit with a beanbag. The time will start again for every time you drop a pin or get hit with the beanbag. You will not be allowed to stop until you succeed. Are you ready?"

Worry was etched on Akane's face. It can't be that simple can it?

#End Flashback#

"Man was Ranma brutal. I think the bruises are going to last for a week." she whispered softly. 'DONG'. "Oh my how late! I better get to bed". Akane quickly got out of the bath, unaware of the fleeting moment during which she channelled Kasumi, and hurriedly changed into a pair of yellow pyjamas embroided with black piglets.

Meanwhile in Ranma's room

"Where is it? Where is it?" one bag flew through the air. "Where is it?" a desk drawer was pulled out and contents tipped over the futon. "Not here then where?" pretty soon the entire room was a veritable mess. Pouches, clothes and various other bits and pieces were almost flying about in a maelstrom above the floor. "Found it!" Ranma yelled, thrusting his hand up in victory. However, before he could get up; a drawer fell on top of his head knocking him to the floor. Ranma shrugged it off, shaking his head to alleviate the pain, and got up before getting paralyzed in shock at the sight in front of him.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? he wailed mentally as thoughts of cleaning the room, before sleeping, filled his tired mind. Deciding to leave this for later, Ranma dejectedly trudged through the mess that was his room, walking towards the hallway, intending to go to Akane's room to hand over a jar of his very own Saotome special salve. The seconds flew by as he walked down the hall, until he reached a door with a wooden duck on it. Ranma chuckled as he read the word 'AKANE' written lovingly in Romanji, just like the wooden duck hanging over his own door.

Just as he was about to enter the room, he realised the potential scandal waiting to happen if he was to enter uninvited. Deciding to be careful, he decided to knock, having sensed an aura in the room. 'KNOCK-KNOCK'. 'Silence'! That's strange. Ranma mused. I know there's someone there so why isn't she answering? Deciding that she may be sleeping, Ranma knocks harder before calling out "Hey Akane; I just wanted to ask you whether you wanted any of this healing salve. It should sort out any bruising. You in there Akane?". 'Silence'! Now Ranma was worried. Did I tire her out too much? Is she ok?

Shaking his head, Ranma decided to enter quickly and make sure she was alright. "Ok Akane; I'm coming in.". Still no response! Ranma slowly inched open the door, walking into the dark room carefully, trying not to disturb anyone. Oh Kami, if she wakes up I'll be dead in no time. With years of stealth training under his belt due to Genma's many years of thievery; Ranma snuck in, barely making contact with the cold wood floor beneath his feet, until he was standing in the centre of the room. So this is what it looks like. It's almost too girly for it to be Akane's room. I wouldn't have imagined it to be the room of Nerima's resident tomboy.

His thoughts were interrupted by his danger sense, which was almost begging him to turn around and run away. Ranma chose to ignore it, deciding to trust in his reflexes, before scanning the room with his Ki-sight. What surprised him was how this aura, which was not Akane's, was so familiar. However this was nothing compared to the fact that it was hanging from the ceiling. Ranma's head shot up quickly to see the 'Black Rose' hanging over the bed with a mallet. Her brown eyes met his silver and she jumped down, attempting to knock out the one who saw her.

Kodachi ran forward, bringing the mallet down in an overhead swing, intending to knock out her opponent. Instead; she found her opponent twisting out of the way, at the last second, before launching a straight left jab at her triceps. This did the trick as she was unable to lift the heavy mallet any more. Moving to throw a punch, she was surprised to see her opponent sway with the punch before yanking her arm and twisting inside her body, before throwing her over his shoulder in a judo throw.

The force of the throw ended up catapulting said leotard clad girl through the window with a large crash, thus alerting everyone in the house. The door burst open immediately; Akane at the forefront, followed by Nabiki and Soun, Natsume just behind and Kasumi at the lag end and taking full advantage of the 3 inch difference in their heights by staring over Nabiki's head.

"Oh my" (You know who)

"Son? What happened?" exclaimed Soun.

"Why Ranma-baby, if you wanted to see Akane in the night, the least you could do is not make such a loud crash."

"I-I-I …". Nabiki smirked as she watched Ranma v1.0 try to reboot whilst the remaining members acted as usual. Soun was crying buckets whilst toasting himself and blubbering out "Finally the schools will be joined.". "Oh my. Ranma you really shouldn't do this before you're married. It isn't proper.". Kasumi simply shook her head as she said this; her lips pressed into a slim line with the ends curling into a frown. Ranma shivered at how unnatural disappointment looked on Kasumi's face. Akane's aura simply flared out red, her body shaking visibly while she said "RANMA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?". Natsume was cracking her knuckles menacingly in the background.

Ranma gulped audibly as the youngest Tendo sisters ganged up on him, drawing closer to his body, almost visibly growing as they got closer. Just then, Natsume noticed the mess of rose petals on the floor and the position of the window. "Kodachi!" she muttered. "What?"

"Kodachi came in to attack you. I sensed someone in here who shouldn't be and came to make sure you were ok.". I don't need to tell them I came in here before sensing her. I'd never hear the end of it if I did. Akane was speechless. Her dream guy thought she was in danger and tried to protect her. "Thank you Ranma!". Akane nearly choked these words out as she started tearing up in joy at the thought of Ranma caring for her.

"Well that's all well and good but why are you still awake and wandering around the house?". Ranma was worried on hearing this question. Trust Nabiki to ask the one question I was trying to avoid. "Uhm … Well …"

"Yes Ranma? What were you doing?". Now the entire Tendo family was staring at Ranma convinced that he was doing something wrong. "Look Akane. All I wanted to do was give you this salve. It should help with your bruises."

"Bruises? My baby girl has bruises? RANMA, HOW DARE YOU HURT MY DAUGHTER?" Soun using his demon head technique as he yelled.

"Well how else was he supposed to train me daddy?" Akane challenged.

"Waaaah! Kasumi, my baby girl hates me.". Kasumi simply walked over to her father, attempting to soothe the crying Tendo patriarch. And to think I thought him to be strong. Boy was I wrong. Ranma thought as he looked at this scene with disdain. "Well I'm off to bed you guys. I don't know about you but I really need the sleep.". With this, Ranma walked off, yawning the way to his room.

The next day

Ranma, Akane and Natsume were walking across the gates, chatting amicably as they went to their classes. Just as they passed the gate; a large shadow hovered over Akane's body, giving the impression of a girl coming at an incredible speed. Akane simply rolled out of the way and launched a punch at her attacker only for her to move with the blow and angle her mallet for a strike. Ranma looked at Natsume, who just nodded. Suddenly the two friends burst forward, Ranma grabbing the mallet and breaking the head off the handle, Natsume throwing a punch and attacking with Akane to pin down their elusive attacker.

Just then, a swift breeze plucked the sports cap off of the girl's head revealing her to be Kodachi. Anger flowed through Ranma as he walked forward, aura ablaze, only stopping once he reached the gymnast and coldly regarding her. "What do you think you're doing?" he questioned in a voice that everyone silently agreed that they wanted no part of. It was unknown as to whether or not Kodachi was oblivious to the rather obvious warning signs or just plain stupid but her next comment definitely raised the question to her sanity. "Muhahahaha. My dear Ranma-sama, all I am doing is taking care of a little pest problem."

"So attacking your opponents, before they can make the challenge, is your idea of competing?" Akane challenged.

"I just believe in fairness before the fight. Anyways it doesn't matter." she exclaimed before turning to face Ranma. "Would you be willing to join me for dinner tonight? Just the two of us?"

"Wh-What? Now look here you hussy. I'm Ranma's fiancé so don't you get any ideas about having any dates with him." Akane yelled as Ranma frantically tried to calm her down. However the damage was done. "You're engaged?"

"I thought you hated boys Akane."

"Akane, say it isn't so!"

"Have you guys kissed?"

"How far have you gone?"

All questions ceased as a visible battle aura revealed itself around a rather angry Kodachi. "FIANCE? I forbid it. Ranma-sama, I will take care of this harridan so that we can be together.". With this; Kodachi ran towards Akane, attempting to kill Akane, but was quickly intercepted by Ranma, his battle aura blazing making it seem as if flames were flickering in his eyes. This caused everyone to back away from the martial artist, including Akane and Natsume. "You will do no such thing." he said, stressing each and every word as he spoke.

"Here is how it will work. You will face Akane on the day of the match and not one attack will be launched at Akane before the day of the match whatsoever. If you win, I will go on a date with you. If you lose, you will have to give up your passion for me. Deal?". Kodachi looked at her 'Ranma-sama' before thinking to herself. If I win, I get a date with my darling Ranma-sama. If I lose, I have to give up my passion for him. I cannot attack that harridan before then but then again she will not be able to defeat the black rose.

Kodachi, now finished with her deliberation, turned to face Ranma. "I accept my love. And once I defeat this harridan, you will finally that we are meant to be.". With this, Kodachi leapt to the air cackling madly as she bound off towards her own school. "Truly my twisted sister is evil. I must warn you that her definition of a fair fight is rather loose. I would be careful around her Tendo-san …" he said before turning around, continuing in a slightly hurt tone "… and congratulations on yours and Ranma-kun's engagement. I wish you the best of luck"

With this, Kuno walked towards his class leaving Ranma, Akane and Kodachi staring at the defeated kendoka. "We need to help him through this Ranma."

"I know Natsume. But somehow I think this may come back and bite us in the butt later on.". With this, the trio walked towards school, their minds each trying to gain a grasp over the most recent events.