The Saotome Sisters
Chapter 52
"Sis! Be careful!" Ranma called out. "You don't have ta do this!" She backed away from Ukyo cautiously, as the now red haired martial artist charged at Ryoga. Ranma was obviously considering whether she should step between the two of them, but Ukyo wasn't giving her time to act.
Akane was worried as well, confused by Ukyo's sudden change in mood, but was distracted by an awkward moment of wounded pride. If she had rushed in to take on Ryoga, Ranma would have stepped in to stop her immediately, probably calling her stupid and clumsy and accusing her of interfering in a "man's fight". Yet, he lets Ukyo step in and defend him? She struggled for a moment to control the surge of jealousy and keep her focus on the battle.
As Ranma got closer, though, and she saw the expression on the ponytailed girl's face, her anger cooled. Ranma was very, very worried, she could tell, and frightened. And Ukyo was completely ignoring her twin's concerns. She had charged right at Ryoga, who instinctively ducked away from her. She did not respond at all, even when Ranma called out to her again. And Ranma seemed to be hesitant to get too close to her, her own stance still tight and defensive, even though Ryoga was no longer attacking her.
"I don't want to hurt you, Ukyo," Ryoga cut in. But again, Ukyo paid no attention to his words. He stood his ground this time, obviously on his guard, but not expecting Ukyo's attacks to do any more damage than Ranma's had. As Ukyo drew near, he struck out in a closed fist attack that Ukyo dodged easily, and then she stepped inside his reach and slammed her fist into his stomach. As with Ranma's attack, the punch was accompanied by a buzzing sound. Ryoga was knocked back a fair distance, landing on his feet and one hand, allowing him to keep his balance as he slid to a stop.
As Ryoga started to straighten himself, his eyes suddenly widened. He doubled over again, and put an arm across his stomach. He coughed, and blood came up. He was so shocked that he left himself open for a kick, and this one smashed into his face. Again, it was no simple kick, but a Chestnut Fist enhanced jackhammer blow, that made a repeated cracking noise as Ukyo's foot hit Ryoga's face. He was sent flying, the blow sending him spinning end over end.
Ryoga struggled to his feet, his hand up to cradle his jaw. He looked to be in serious pain, now. Ranma, Akane and Cologne looked at each other, while Ukyo charged in again to the attack. Aware now that he could not take a direct hit, Ryoga avoided her attacks, but Ukyo was relentless. She didn't say a word, just continued her unstoppable assault, her face still dark with hatred.
There was something about Ukyo's manner that seemed familiar to Akane. This was not her usual fighting style. Ukyo was usually a cautious fighter, relaxed and laid back, waiting for an opening or for her opponent to be worn down. Now, she was aggressive, vicious, pummeling Ryoga mercilessly, even at the cost of a counterattack. Ryoga was hard pressed to keep her off of him, and she was so fast that most of his attacks just missed her outright. But while she didn't leave openings in her defense, it was as if she didn't even care. Occasionally Ryoga would get a strike through, but it didn't even faze her. Ukyo just continued to push forward, driving the lost boy back.
"Stop it!" Ryoga called, growing irritated, now. "I don't want to have to do this!" He held out a finger, and reluctantly, began to strike with it, aiming at Ukyo's arm. She landed another attack with her Chestnut Fist, though, and Ryoga gasped, the wind knocked out of him.
How was she able to make her Chestnut Fist work? Akane knew that Ukyo wasn't that much stronger than Ranma, even in her more muscular cursed body. Yet, the attack worked for Ukyo, when it didn't for Ranma. Clearly, she had worked herself into a rage... and then Akane suddenly remembered Ukyo's words, that first time in the dojo when Ukyo made her control her temper. "It's okay to get angry, angry is good. It makes you stronger, gives you a burst of adrenaline."
"She's driven herself into the Neko-Ken!" Akane shouted. "She's using her anger to boost her strength!"
"What?" Cologne looked at the dark haired tomboy. "I didn't know Shield Sister learned that technique..."
"She didn't," Ranma corrected. She was still watching Ukyo, her expression resigned. "She's affected by the Neko-Ken, but not the same way I am. While I'm afraid of cats, she becomes enraged and desperate around them. She's driven to protect me... at any cost."
"She's gone into a berserker rage," Akane said softly. She glanced at Cologne, and the old Amazon nodded.
"But there are no cats around here!" Ryoga called out. He was still trying to avoid Ukyo's attacks, and with better understanding of the situation, decided to try using his Bakusai Tenketsu on the ground as a shield. The redhead continued to tirelessly press her attack, though, completely ignoring the clouds of dust raised by the explosions. A few jagged pieces of rock cut across her skin, but she deflected most of them the same way Ranma did, simply knocking them aside with her hands.
"I guess she doesn't need the cats," Akane said. "Just Ranma being in danger is enough." She looked at Ranma. "You knew."
Ranma nodded. "She's done this once before, to the panda." She stared at Ryoga. "The day she got cursed."
Ryoga met Ranma's blue green eyes, and gulped. He then looked back at Ukyo. The only indication that she was paying attention to the conversation was the wicked grin that spread over her face. She struck again, and Ryoga dodged, but still cried out in pain as her barrage clipped his arm. He felt his fingers going numb, but struck out, blindly aiming a Breaking Point strike at her arm. He expected it to miss, but unbelievably, it hit.
"Sis!" Ranma called out, as the strike hit Ukyo's arm. Akane gasped as well. Ukyo simply continued as if she had not been touched. The attack had hit her because she had left an opening making a Chestnut Fist blow of her own, and she caught Ryoga in the leg. The lost boy screamed as his leg buckled underneath him.
"It... the Breaking Point didn't work," Akane breathed, clutching her good hand to her chest as if to get her heart started.
Ukyo pressed her attack, and Ryoga survived only because he rolled with the blow, turning his head out of the way of her strike. She hit the ground below him instead, raising a cloud of dust of her own with the blindingly fast strikes of the Chestnut Fist. Ryoga scurried on his hands and knees away from the red headed girl, and then got to his feet, grimacing at the pain in his leg. It felt broken, although it seemed to support his weight. Either way, Ryoga knew he couldn't dodge for much longer.
Cologne shook her head, sadly. There was no satisfaction in her voice as she spoke. "The Breaking Point was developed for miners to use to create tunnels quickly and easily. It only works on rock."
"You mean Ranma was never in any danger?" Akane cried out, shocked. Then, her anger suddenly faded, and she put a hand to her face. "Well, I guess I'm grateful for that, at least."
Ukyo, however, clearly heard Cologne's comment, because the fury in her expression only increased. "Looks like the shoe is on the other foot, huh?" she snarled. "Now you're the one with an attack that won't work on me." Ryoga scrambled to get away from her. Now, the battle seemed like a mirror of Ranma dodging the Bakusai Tenketsu blasts before, but it was Ryoga dodging out of the way, and making a Breaking Point blast, which Ukyo tirelessly charged right into.
"It's over, Ryoga!" Akane called out. "Give up, before she really hurts you."
Ryoga considered it for a moment, but then he saw the look in Ukyo's eyes. "I don't think she's listening."
"She isn't," Ranma said, her voice tight. "She's not gonna stop when she's like this."
"But she's not going to KILL him..." Akane argued, but as she looked in Ukyo's eyes, she realized it as well.
"She is in a berserker rage," Cologne said. "And she will not stop until she or her opponent is dead. And with Ryoga's resilience, brought on by the Bakusai Tenketsu training, that's almost impossible. Hibiki cannot win this fight, now, but neither can Shield Sister. This fight will continue until they both die of exhaustion."
"Thanks for the word of confidence, old mummy!" Ryoga shouted. He then ducked as Ukyo came at him again. Unable to retreat, he blew the two of them apart with a Bakusai Tenketsu.
Cologne smiled at bit at his defiance, but her voice was serious. "She is already pushing her body beyond its limits to be able to do this kind of damage." She gestured at Ukyo's hands, and the bandages that were starting to be stained with her blood. "She's beating her own body to death. It's just a question whether that and the Bakusai Tenketsu will wear her down before or after she kills Hibiki."
"Good enough for me," Ukyo said, her voice cruel. "What about you, Charlotte? You ready to die, like you keep saying? Or is that just more of your bull...?"
Cologne shook her head. "This is not what I intended. I was aware of Son-in-Law's Neko-Ken training and was even prepared in case he tried to use it. But I was not expecting this..."
"I've got to stop her!" Akane yelled, and she rushed at Ukyo. She tried to grab the red headed girl from behind, but with one arm she was not able to get much of a grip.
"Akane! No!" Ranma called out. Ukyo drew her elbow back and slammed it into Akane, and the other girl went flying. She landed with a thump on the ground, cradling her injured arm, with a look of pain on her face.
Ryoga charged in, hoping the distraction would allow him to catch Ukyo off guard. She struck out at him, though, and although he tried to use his arm to block, the Chestnut Fist enhanced punch shoved his arm aside, and smashed into his chest. Ryoga staggered back, his breathing growing ragged. His whole arm had gone numb, and he fell to the ground, his leg giving out from the strain. Ukyo closed in for the kill.
Ranma leaped at her, wrapping her long arms around the smaller red haired girl. Ukyo's smaller mass was more stable, and she twisted, throwing Ranma off of her. Ranma flew through the air, but she flipped, coming down on her feet, and darted back in. Ukyo met her charge, and grabbed Ranma's arm, twisting it up and back, viciously. Ranma cried out in pain, but was able to flip over, and then pull herself free.
"Ukyo!" Akane yelled out. "You've got to stop this! I know you're mad at Ryoga, but you're letting your anger control you. Just like you told me, you've got to get it under control!"
"I am in control," Ukyo said darkly. "As Charlotte here is about to find out..."
She charged at Ryoga again, but Ranma tackled her, forcing her away from the Lost Boy. Akane finished getting to her feet, and helped Ryoga get out of the line of fire. Ukyo tried to follow them, but Ranma kept her distracted with her flying attacks.
Ranma was still exhausted, though, and avoided using her own Chestnut Fist, knowing it would quickly wear her out. Ukyo suddenly turned on her sister, hitting the other girl with a barrage of punches and kicks that Ranma only barely seemed to keep up with. The air was filled with a thin spray of blood. Ranma's cursed form, as tough as she was, was still not enough to stand up to Ukyo's greater strength.
"Come on, Sis," Ranma said. "I know you don't wanna do this. Akane's right. Ryoga's beaten. You don't need to hurt him anymore."
"Why are you defending him?" Ukyo shouted. "He used me, he used Akane! Doesn't that make you angry? How can you get in my way?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Ranma yelled back. "Yeah, I wanna see that pig beaten to a pulp as much as you do! But for some reason, Akane don't want me to kill him. So I won't. And somehow, I get the feelin' you don't wanna kill him either..."
"Yes, I do! He DESERVES to die!" Ukyo countered. Her eyes were wild now, the darkness of her anger replaced by desperation, and fear. "He deserves to die for what he did to me... and to Akane. He made me sit there and watch while he used her! He made me help him keep his secret, hide the truth from my best friend. I... I sat there watching, all night, while he... he cuddled up to her, and... and she didn't even know! I couldn't tell her! I couldn't tell her, I couldn't stop him, from... from..."
Akane interrupted, still holding Ryoga upright as he struggled to catch his breath. He was watching the fight, stunned. "It's all right, Ukyo! I understand how you feel! But you've got to let go! Your anger, your hatred, you've got to let go of it! Just like Ryoga." He glanced at her, but she wasn't looking at him. "This is going to destroy you both if you let it continue!"
"He FORCED me to help him while he... took her innocence!" Ukyo yelled, at Ranma. She struck out at Ranma again, and the ponytailed girl backed away, not resisting as her sister kept up the assault. "I couldn't protect her! I wanted to protect her, I wanted to protect her for you, but I couldn't! I couldn't protect you! I let him take something from you, from the woman that you love..."
Suddenly, Ukyo's face twisted in anguish. She fell to her knees, putting her hands to her face, as the tears began to fall. "The woman you love more than me."
Ukyo wailed in her grief, and then Ranma knelt next to her, and took her in his arms. There was just a moment's hesitation, but then he held her, tightly. "Akane forgives ya, Ucchan, and so do I. I love you, Sis."
Ryoga's face had gone pale, and he stared, open mouthed. After a moment, Akane heard him whisper, "I... I didn't mean..."
Akane pulled him back a little. "Not right now, Ryoga. Let Ranma handle this."
Ranma just held Ukyo, while she cried, clinging to his chest. "Let it go, Sis," Ranma said. "Don't try to hold it in."
"I didn't mean... to do that," Ryoga continued, his voice still quiet. "I... I don't understand. She... she knew who I was. She threatened to hurt me if I touched her. Surely she can't think I would... do... that..."
There was a moment of silence, broken only by Ukyo's sobs. Then Akane looked at Ryoga. "Can you explain what it feels like, to be small and helpless, to be constantly afraid of being somebody's meal?"
Ryoga looked up at her, his eyes widening as her meaning sank in. "No," he said softly. "I can't."
"Neither can I," she said. "It's... not something you can explain."
They both turned to look back at the two girls huddled on the forest floor, Ranma holding her sister tightly, speaking softly to her. "But Ranma..." Ryoga muttered.
"He understands," Akane said, her voice sad. "I wish he didn't. I wouldn't want anyone to know what that... feels like. But he does."
"But..."
Akane glanced at him, her expression stern, but understanding. "Don't try to think about it. Just accept it, and put it behind you." She looked back at Ranma and Ukyo. "That's what she's doing."
Ranma looked up, as Cologne approached. She tossed something to the brown haired girl, and she caught it. It was the Phoenix Pill locket, still on its chain. "You earned this," the Amazon Elder said. "As did Shield Sister."
"But... I didn't beat him," Ranma said, confused. "You said I couldn't use anyone else's skills or prowess but my own. Ukyo beat him, not me."
"It was your technique that she used," Cologne answered, her voice nonchalant. "And that's your body, or your body as a female."
She then smiled, her same wry smile as usual. "Close enough for me." With that, she turned and hopped off on her staff.
A very quiet trio of girls arrived at Ranma's campsite, each too lost in their own thoughts to speak. Ukyo looked exhausted, and her mood was very quiet and reserved. Ranma was quiet as well, and held her sister with an arm around her waist, as they walked. Although Ukyo didn't lean against her, she seemed very grateful for the comfort.
"I'll put some hot water on," Akane said, as they approached the campfire. She set down her tent and supplies, which she had packed up for the trip back to their camp, and began fishing around for a kettle. She quickly fetched one, and then filled it up with water from the stream.
The other two were quiet, as Akane set the kettle over the fire. She could guess why. "You don't think Cologne tricked us again, do you?"
"I hope not," Ukyo said. Her eyes narrowed. "If she did, I've had it with that old coot."
"I don't think she'd do that," Ranma said. Akane could hear the uncertainty in her voice, though. They had been through so much, and finally had the Phoenix Pill in their grasp. It was hard to believe it wouldn't be snatched away, at the last minute.
Ranma had even taken the pill already, just in case. All that remained now was to test it. "I'm sure it will work," Akane said, trying to sound optimistic. "Cologne may not have told us that the Breaking Point doesn't work on people, or that Ranma would get burned trying to learn the Chestnut Fist, but she didn't lie about it, either. I don't think she would give us the pill and then just not have it work."
She wished she could dispel her own fears, but Akane's words seem to have cheered Ranma up. "Well then, get a move on, girly!" She said, in a drawl something like Ukyo's.
Akane glanced up at her. "Did you just call me 'girly'?"
Ranma swallowed. She gave a tentative smile. "Y-Yeah."
Deciding to tease her a little, Akane put a hand on her hip. "Didn't you say you don't like for me to be girly?"
"Well, ya know, bein' an uncute tomboy and all, you could use to be a little more like a girl," Ranma smirked, catching the gleam in Akane's eyes. "But not TOO much, if you know what I mean."
"You mean, not as much as you?"
"Hey, I ain't girly at all." Ranma wasn't exactly insulted, but she seemed sure of herself.
"That wasn't what I thought when I saw you in that dress, with your hair up in pigtails. You looked pretty girly to me."
"That was just a disguise!" Ranma protested. "I figured nobody'd recognize Sis in a girly getup like that..."
Ukyo chuckled. "So I guess that makes you more girly than the both of us."
"Gah," Ranma commented. Then she muttered something under her breath.
"What was that?" Akane asked.
"I said I gotta unwrap myself."
Both Ukyo and Akane burst out laughing. "Well, go free those luscious breasts of yours, girly girl," Akane quipped. Ranma snorted again, and ducked into the tent. She came out a few moments later with her shirt partially buttoned, and her pants loosened around her waist.
Akane brought the kettle over to her. "Well, I think it's hot enough, so say goodbye to the girly girl." She giggled as she handed the kettle to Ranma.
Ranma paused for a moment, obviously preparing herself for the worst. Then she poured the hot water over herself. She gave a sigh of relief as she felt the water cascade over her, without burning her skin. A few seconds later, her body suddenly expanded, filling out the loosened clothing. Her hair shortened and returned to its natural black.
"It worked! I'm a man again! Wahoo!" Overjoyed, Ranma picked up Akane, and twirled her around. The kettle just clanged to the ground, tossed to the side and ignored. Akane laughed brightly, pleased to see Ranma so happy. Ranma stopped and held Akane tightly, as he stared into her eyes. Akane looked up at him, savoring the feel of his warmth and strength after so long.
Suddenly, Akane leaped up, and pressed her lips against Ranma's. She put one hand behind his head, drawing him close as she kissed him deeply, almost devouring him with her intensity. Her lips moved as she sought a better angle, guiding Ranma with her hand to kiss her more firmly. And she began to moan, gasping into Ranma's mouth, and making little growling noises in the back of her throat.
Then, she ended the kiss, and drew back. Her eyes widened a bit, and her cheeks turned flaming red. She cast her eyes downward, swallowing as she stepped away. She put a hand to her injured arm, rubbing it protectively, even though she hadn't hurt it by holding Ranma.
"Um... uh... I'm sorry, Ranma," she muttered, ashamed. After a moment, she cut her eyes back up at him, shyly. "I... I guess I missed you..."
Ranma smirked at her. "I missed me too, tomboy."
"Baka," Akane breathed, but then Ranma tilted her chin up, and kissed her again. Akane managed to keep her control this time, but still returned the kiss passionately.
Unfortunately, the tender moment was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing her throat. Both Ranma and Akane blushed deeply, as they turned to look at Ukyo.
She was grinning from ear to ear. She had picked up the kettle from where it had fallen, and used the last of the water to return to her normal form. "Ya know, this is heartwarming as all get out, but if I don't get to bed right now, I'm going to collapse right where I stand. So do you two mind if I turn in?"
"Naw, Sis. Take the big tent, you and Akane can share it. I'll set up Akane's tent, for me."
"All right." She smirked at Akane. "I'll see you when you're ready to go to bed then - unless I'm already asleep. If I am, don't wake me." She headed for the tent. "You two have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't do..."
"Sis..." Ranma whined, but Ukyo had already ducked inside the tent. He looked down at Akane, who was still blushing deeply, but smiling up at him. Her smile slowly faded, though, and she looked away from him. Her expression seemed to become one of shame again.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something, and then slapped her forehead. "Oh, no! I forgot to ask Ukyo if she wanted to cook tonight!"
"I'm not wakin' her up just to cook somethin'!"
"I know, she's exhausted. I can't do that to her!" She looked up at Ranma, biting her lip. "But... would you eat my cooking?"
"I never said I wouldn't," Ranma commented, a bit sourly.
Akane blushed and looked away again. "I know, but... I don't want to cook if you're going to... hate it."
Ranma put a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't I help you with it? I'm no cook myself, but I can at least keep an eye on ya."
A tentative smile came over Akane's face. "Okay. Maybe you're right." Her voice grew a little bolder. "I can do okay. After all, I've been cooking for a whole week now, and it hasn't been that bad. Ryoga liked it..."
That make Ranma wince, and a frown came over his face again. Akane swallowed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Of course Ryoga said he liked it. That doesn't mean it was good..."
"Don't worry about it, Akane," Ranma said. He started helping Akane unpack her supplies. "With me to help you, it'll be just like back at home."
There was just enough left for one last stew, and Akane quickly set about mixing the ingredients in her pot, after washing it out. Ranma made a few suggestions, but once the stew was simmering it looked like Akane had things well in hand. So, Ranma set about setting up her tent. Akane just sat, stirring the pot, and occasionally tasting it as she added her seasonings. It seemed to be going well, and so she started to get her nervousness under control.
Her pensive mood was not entirely due to the cooking, however. Her mind played over the argument they had almost gotten into, and how she was so worried that he would insult her cooking. Did it really bother her so much that he insulted her? She wanted to apologize for leaving him earlier, to go with Ryoga, but she just couldn't do it. She took a deep breath, knowing she had to broach the subject, but she just couldn't find the courage to speak.
Ranma jumped, as Akane let out a loud scream. He rushed over, expecting to find her under attack, but she was berating herself, and trying to add Tabasco sauce to the stew. Although Ranma didn't mind if the stew was a little spicy, it was obvious Akane had flown into a panic. "Whoa, whoa, hey! What are ya doin'?" Ranma asked, as he tried to get the bottle away from her. Akane fought back, and they struggled for the bottle.
"I added vinegar again!" Akane shouted, her eyes tearing up. "It was an accident! I just wasn't paying attention, and..."
"Well, hold on, just stop a moment."
"If I don't fix it now, it'll be ruined!" Akane replied, her voice desperate. "I gotta fix it!"
"Well, it won't be any more ruined a minute from now. So stop, take a breath, and relax for a minute, okay?"
Akane tried to resist, but Ranma kept pulling at the bottle until she finally let it go. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, although she was shaking. "That's it," Ranma said. "Just find your focus."
Finally, Akane seemed to regain control of herself. She sniffled, and started to sob a little. "Okay, okay. What do you want me to do?"
"Well, first of all, Akane, when you mess up, you don't just keep addin' stuff to try and fix it. Ya throw it out and start over."
Akane's eyes flew open. "I can't throw it out!" She yelled, on the verge of panic again. "That's all the meat we have left! There isn't anything else!"
"All right, all right," Ranma gestured for her to calm down. "First off, taste it, and make sure it ya really did ruin it. How much vinegar did you add?"
Akane tasted it, but then made a face. "Too much."
"Okay, what do you have left?"
"Nothing but some vegetables. Mainly some peppers I didn't want to use before. I wasn't sure if Ryoga would like it."
"All right. We both like spicy food, you know that. So just go ahead and add all those peppers, and whatever other hot stuff you've got, too." He handed her the Tabasco sauce bottle, and she looked oddly at it as she took it, and then scowled.
"You told me not to add this," she accused.
"I told you to wait a moment and calm down," Ranma said with a smirk. "I told ya to think about it, and now you've thought about it. The spicy flavor will cover up the vinegar."
She looked unsure. "Okay, if you say so." She quickly added the peppers to the pot, and then tasted it before adding a little more Tabasco. "You're right... this is okay."
"Told ya so. Now just let that finish warmin' up, and we'll eat."
It took several minutes for Akane's heart to quit pounding in her chest, but the momentary panic had done nothing to dispel her fears. Finally, she found herself speaking the thoughts that had so bothered her before, although she couldn't raise her voice any further than a whisper. "Is this the way it's always going to be for us?"
"What do ya mean?"
She looked up at him. "I was so happy a minute ago. I was so happy seeing you happy, to be a man again. And now we're arguing and fighting again. Why do we keep doing that?"
"I dunno. Is it so bad?"
Akane turned to look at him, startled, but his expression was serious. She looked into his eyes as he stared back at her, and she could see the fear there, so much like her own. "I... I don't know, Ranma." She looked down. "Aren't we supposed to be... getting along, or something?"
"What would be the fun in that? Sis and I are always fightin' all the time. Pop and I always fight. Well, maybe that's a bad example..." Ranma looked off into the distance, as he grinned, ruefully.
"Yes, but your sister can cook," Akane told him. "And she's a good martial artist, too. You pick on each other, but you're proud of her. I just feel like... I feel like..." She looked at the ground. "I'm in the way."
Ranma was silent for a long moment. "You ain't in the way," Ranma said, finally, in a dismissive tone of voice. "Don't be stupid."
"I don't know if I can believe you," Akane muttered.
The pigtailed boy gave a loud sigh. "Look, you're a good martial artist, okay. You've got a ways to go, but man, when you set your mind to something..." He was looking at her arm, in the sling. "I dunno. You get hurt sometimes, but..."
Akane looked up at him, as he toyed with his pigtail, with his hand behind his head. She could tell he was frustrated, trying to reassure her, but not sure how. She managed to smile. "Thanks. I guess you're right."
She was silent for a moment, as she stirred the pot. "It's just... sometimes I wish I could hear you say my cooking is good. Even if you don't mean it. Just to hear you say it."
"I ain't gonna do that, Akane," Ranma said sternly. Then his expression softened. "But when ya do cook somethin' good, I'll tell ya."
"What if it's NEVER good, Ranma?" She rounded on him, the tears coming to her eyes again. "What if it never gets any better? What if I can't do it?"
"So you're just gonna give up? Just like that?"
"No, not just like that!" She turned away, wiping her eyes. "I don't WANT to give up. But... how long should I keep trying?"
Ranma sighed. Finally, he tentatively put an arm around her. "As long as it takes." He paused a moment, as if he thought of something. "Don't worry. You'll get it. And in the meantime, think of it as training."
"Training?"
"Yeah. Believe me, Pops and I ate much worse stuff than this when I was growin' up. Even when Ukyo came along, like I said, sometimes we couldn't get fresh ingredients, and it went a bit bad. There were times I got pretty sick from the stuff we ate."
Akane was looking at him, one eyebrow raised, but Ranma continued. "After a while, it just started to toughen us all up, and it wasn't so bad any more. So Pops said that it was like training. That's one reason I can take stuff like Kodachi's paralysis poison, and it wears off so fast. My body's used to dealing with stuff like that."
From the expression on Akane's face, that was not exactly what she had wanted to hear. She wasn't angry, but that didn't stop her battle aura from crackling with indignation. "So you're telling me that my cooking is training to resist poisons?"
Ranma knew he was treading on thin ice, but he still managed a half a grin. "Uh... yeah?"
"I guess it will have to do." Akane sighed, rolling her eyes. "It's not much of a compliment, but I'll take what I can get."
"Sorry, tomboy," Ranma said, and his voice was sincere.
"Don't worry about it." She shook her head, but then smiled. "At least you tried. Now let's see how this stew turned out."
It was pretty hot, as Akane had expected, but she was able to eat it. Ranma devoured his portion with his usual enthusiasm, but Akane was able to match him bite for bite. Her appetite was still as great as it had been earlier, and she found herself eating almost too fast to taste it. Although she did break out into a sweat. Finally, Ranma noticed, and grinned at her.
"It can't be that awful if you're eatin' it like that."
"I've been really hungry all week, Ranma." She lifted her arm. "Probably because of this."
"Maybe. But it could just be you're gettin' stronger. Sis an' I never got a lot to eat growin' up, but there were always times Pops was able to scam somebody or scrounge some food up, and it always made us feel a lot stronger. Plus, since comin' to your home there's always been plenty to eat.
"If you work out like we do, you need a lotta energy. So I'm not surprised you're eatin' more."
"But I didn't really do anything but watch Ryoga train," Akane said. But even as she did, she remembered her training on her own, and her sparring with the improvised speed bag. She looked down at the ground, blushing, not really wanting Ranma to know how she had really hurt herself.
Ranma said nothing, though, apparently not noticing her discomfort. Finally, they both finished their meal, and Akane packed up the cooking gear for the trip home. To her embarrassment, Akane found herself having to hold back a belch. Apparently, the meal was sitting on her stomach a little badly. She hoped what Ranma had said about bad food didn't apply to the supplies Genma bought for this trip.
She was able to relieve her problem with making any noise, which was good. After all, Akane thought, she might be a tomboy, but there was no way she was going to be THAT much of a tomboy.
"Good night, Ranma," she said, as she headed for her and Ukyo's tent. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Sure, Akane," Ranma replied. He was silent for a moment, but then as Akane lifted the flap to go into the tent, he suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, Akane," he said. "Just so ya know. I don't like ya for your cooking. I like yer cooking for you."
Akane stopped and stared at him. Ranma started to laugh, realizing how cheesy what he had said was, but he didn't look away. After a moment, Akane smiled.
"Thanks, Ranma. Sometimes you can say the right thing."
Author's Notes:
I made a huge plot error last chapter. Actually, I had been having trouble for a couple of chapters, the words wouldn't come, and I wasn't sure why. I finally realized my mistake when I got to the scene where Ukyo demands the Phoenix Pill from Cologne, and realized I had left something out. My original plan had been for Ukyo to use Shampoo to drive herself into the Neko-Ken. But I had neglected to write Shampoo into the scene. :)
My idea for this portion of the story was to base it on the end of the Phoenix Pill arc, where Ranma goes into the Neko-Ken and fights Cologne. I was always a little bothered by that storyline, though, because it struck me as odd that Cologne was surprised by the Neko-Ken. Shampoo knew about Ranma's fear of cats, particularly in the Anime, so I couldn't see why Shampoo didn't warn Cologne about it. And as I have said earlier, I wanted to drop the actual battle since it is inconsistent, taking place in a watermelon race in the manga, and a snowman race in the Anime.
Although I did not originally know how I was going to end the Phoenix Pill arc, I knew I was going to end it with the Bakusai Tenketsu battle, and Ryoga's challenge would thus be for the Phoenix Pill and not Akane. But it wasn't until I realized that I could have Ukyo go into the Neko-Ken instead of Ranma that it all fell into place. The battle then becomes between Ukyo and Ryoga over the misuse of Ryoga's curse, and their shared betrayal of Akane. Ukyo finally gets to release all of her guilt and feelings of violation, while Ryoga has the consequences of his actions brought home to him.
In retrospect, I think the story works better this way. Shampoo would have been a distraction, whether she had been with Cologne and Akane, which would probably have led to some arguments, or with Ranma and Ukyo. And Ukyo's version of the Neko-Ken is very different from Ranma's, so while I had established it could be brought on by cats, I don't think it's too much of a stretch for her to go into it on her own, as long as there is a threat to Ranma. It helps that Ukyo doesn't go "into" the Neko-Ken like Ranma does; it's an effect she can always draw on.
One holdover from the previous version is Cologne's condition on the duel. Her making Ranma promise to use only his own skills and prowess was meant as protection against the Neko-Ken. While in the Neko-Ken, Ranma is not himself, he is the cat self, and so those aren't "his" skills or prowess, they're the cat's. However, the way the battle actually turned out, Ukyo defeats Ryoga, but it is Ranma that prevents her from killing him, thereby saving Ryoga, and helping Ukyo overcome what he did to her. So he does "defeat" Ryoga, although ultimately Cologne gave him the Phoenix Pill because like Shampoo, she realized her scheme was doing too much harm to Ukyo as well.
