I do not own Ranma ½ or any characters part or parcel of that great work, nor lay claim to any of the incredible ideas expressed by Rumiko Takahashi, or Viz video. This is just a labor of love from one fan to the rest.

Chapter 20

A fateful encounter, Part 2

It's a much more relaxed Ranma that makes his way out to the appointed place at the appointed time, easily picking out the angry chi that Hiyami is putting out as he paces, unable to contain his agitation. Hiyami stops his pacing when he sees Ranma, choosing to ignore the cheeky wave that the currently male heir to the Saotome school gives him.

"So, you ready to settle this, Hiyami? No more dirty tricks on my friends, got it? Now, if you want to fight my dad feel free. He did start this whole mess, after all. Both of our dads are morons." Ranma says as he assumes his usual non-stance, assessing the state of his opponent with his other senses.

"This is just what needs to be done, Saotome. I have to redress the situation you and your father have left me in. All for that training manual. It's not even a truly useful technique, but it is what my family does." He takes a slow breath to calm himself and slides into his own stance, right foot forward, left hand palm forward and advanced, the right slightly curled and down at his side. "We will settle this, and I will get justice!" He says as he advances quickly on his smirking opponent.

Ranma starts to bob and weave, blocking when he needs to as he feels where the girls are, using them to center himself and provide an accurate picture of where they are as they move through their respective battle strategies. When he feels Hiyami step forward into yet another series of strikes, Ranma advances as well this time, one hand reaching out to make contact even as the other brushes the quick finger strike off target.

They continue to move, now in unison as Ranma uses the sticky hands technique to read his opponent, an elegant dance of block and strike that flows quickly across the battlefield. With a slight tensing of the muscles and a barely audible growl Hiyami moves his right hand up to deliver a snap, the chi building in his fingers as, to his surprise, Ranma raises the matching hand and snaps as well. The two waves of chi strike each other, disrupting the technique as Ranma grins. "You won't get me with that again, Hiyami. So, what else will you teach me?" Ranma says in a slightly mocking manner as Hiyami jumps back with Ranma matching him.

"Lets see how you handle this, Saotome!" Hiyami shouts as he pulls a water bottle out of his gi, and makes it detonate with a sudden uneven surge of chi. Both of the now female fighters are drenched as Ranma stumbles just a bit from the suddenly shorter stature. Hiyami's fine features stretch into a very nasty grin as she starts to step forward, getting a foot to the face for her efforts as Ranma kicks off of her, landing in a rolling, swaying stance.

"Your training seems to be paying off, Saotome. Let's see how well you do." That rictus grin splits her face as Hiyami rushes in to engage the shorter girl. "I want you to despair! No one will want you now, you freak! You're in the same boat I am now!" Hiyami unleashes a swirling flurry of kicks, using the length of her legs to her advantage.

"You know, you sure do gloat alot, don't cha?" Ranma says as she staggers into Hiyami, grinning from way too close to the taller girl. "I'm not a freak. 'least not more than I was before. Ain't nothing wrong with being a girl. Doesn't change who I am inside, does it for you?" She presses in close, moving as the taller girl moves. "Martial Arts Ballroom Dancing. Let's dance, darling." Ranma almost coos as she presses herself against her taller opponent, her hands reaching out to grip Hiyami's corresponding hands as she locks one hand against Hiyami's hip, the other is pulled roughly out and up as she starts to waltz the taller girl around. She steps on the instep of her opponent as Hiyami struggles to be free of the leech that has latched onto her, then sweeps Hiyami into a deep backbend, landing her on her knee before releasing the even more furious brunette as Ranma practically skips backwards the manic grin on her face all too familiar to those who had sparred with her.

Ranma was having fun now.

Hiyami rolls to her feet, her eyes glaring daggers at the laughing redhead. "You're going to pay for that, Saotome." She says before rushing forward and starting a series of chops and finger jabs, one slipping past Ranma's guard to land what seems like a minor strike on her right shoulder. Hiyami bounces back with a triumphant laugh as Ranma's arm slumps. "Lets see how you do without your arm, Saotome!"

Her triumph is short-lived as Ranma goes back on the attack, a swirling storm of kicks as she holds her limp arm close to her body. Spinning front kicks transition into rotary back heel strikes, then flows into a dragon tail sweep. The first blow is blocked, the second one is absorbed, the last sends Hiyami off her feet, one hand reaching out to absorb her landing, clearly planning on bouncing clear of the danger zone. Whether that would have worked or not is a moot point as Ranma does a rolling slide and snags her hand. She continues the roll, flipping Hiyami as she keeps her grip, catching Hyami's arm between her powerful thighs as she shows why it's called the 'School of indiscriminate grappling'. As Ranma applies pressure, Hiyami attempts to break free even as her face pales from the pain. She lifts Ranma up and slams her back into the ground, over and over as Ranma just tightens her grip and starts to arch her back. With a scream, Hiyami's shoulder separates and Ranma let's go as the two wounded and winded combatants separate again.

"You're going to call me by my name before this is done, Hiyami. We are going to settle this, and then we will figure out some way to make this all right." Ranma says as she pants, trying to get some use out of her shoulder.

"Never, Saotome! You are the one that will be at my feet, then I will take back my pride!" Hiyami shouts at her opponent, wincing as she moves with her damaged shoulder. "You should never have let go, Saotome. You could have ruined my life as a fighter if you had just held on a bit longer. You are weak, Saotome. That's why you are going to lose."

Ranma snorts as she slips into a new stance. "I don't think it's a weakness, Hiyami. It's respecting your opponent. It's wanting to protect people, even if it's from themselves. It's doing what is right."

"Like you would know! I've lost everything! And it's all your fault, Saotome!" Hiyami rushes forward once more, unleashing a flurry of kicks and knees at the battered redhead. Hiyami smiles as she lands a kick to the side of Ranma's head, then her face pales as Ranma catches her ankle, a grim smile on her face.

"Time to end this, Hiyami." She says as she turns and does a one-handed throw to send Hiyami slamming into the ground, her heel landing squarely into the chest of the stunned Hiyami. Ranma slowly rises, standing over her. "Stay down, please. There is no need for us to keep fighting, no reason for us to drag others into this. Stay down, Misaka." She says almost softly, panting.

Hiyami coughs and lays there, panting through bruised and battered ribs. "Okay… You win, Saotome. Do what you want with me. What's the point?" She laughs weakly and lays there, expecting the blow that never comes. Instead a hand is thrust out towards her.

"I told you to call me Ranma. You're a heck of a fighter, Hiyami. We don't have to keep doing this, not like this. I want to fight you, yeah. But for the right reasons. Not revenge or a sense of justice. But because that is what we do. What those who seek the higher levels of the Art do. Am I pissed about the curse? Yes. Of course I am. It was a low thing to do. But, considering some of the things my old man has done, much less what you went through? Maybe it's karma. I'm not going to let it stop me. Are you?" Ranma says as Hiyami slowly takes her hand and lets herself be pulled back to her unsteady feet.

Hiyami looks at her opponent, her shoulders sagging slowly. "No...I'm not...Ranma." She says before they are swarmed by Ranma's friends and companions. It's with no small amount of surprise that Hiyami finds herself under the gentle care of Sakura, the martial arts medic shaking her head.

"You two are idiots." Is all the usually softly spoken girls says before looking at Akane. "I need you to hold her still so I can put her shoulder back in place." As Akane nods and kneels down, she looks at the pale Hiyami. "I'm sorry, this is going to hurt." She says with an apologetic look in her eyes as she resets Hiyami's shoulder with practiced ease.

As Hiyami lays there recovering while slowly drinking from the bottle of water that Akane had passed her, she sees Sakura working on Ranma. Not that she gets a sense of satisfaction in the dressing down the diminutive nurse is giving her opponent, but seeing Ranma slowly shrinking away from the angrily scolding girl might just make her feel a bit better.

She is a bit surprised none the less when she finds herself along with the others back at the Tendo dojo, propped up with pillows and her injuries bandaged as a similarly bandaged Ranma and Genma, the latter sporting a series of new lumps and bumps, kneel before her in a sign of contrition.

"Please accept our apologies for the difficulties our actions have caused you, Hiyami." Ranma says, still in female form as she none too subtly kicks Genma in the side to make her father also kowtow a bit deeper.

Hiyami watches them both, shaking her head. "I should apologise as well, you know. I dragged others into what should have been settled between our fathers. I don't deserve this, the apologies. I deserve your scorn. I ruined your life just like mine was." She sighs and shifts a bit, getting a bit more comfortable.

Ranma shakes her head, settling back onto her haunches as Genma scurries away quickly. "It's just another challenge. Kami knows I'm used to them. As Grandmother always says 'A person's character is defined not by what has happened to them, but how they rise above the fate that they have been given.'"

Hiyami nods slowly, noting the slightly hostile looks she is getting from the others, but they are not attacking her. They are not throwing her out. They are willing to give her a chance, it seems. At least as long as Ranma is willing. She sighs and slumps a bit. "Call me Misaka. If I'm going to call your stupid butt Ranma, then you should call me Misaka." She takes in the beaming redhead and rolls her eyes. "Stop. Just...Stop. No more smiling like the cat that ate the canary." She notices how Ranma flinches a bit at the word 'Cat' and suddenly the pieces click together. "Maybe I DO have it in me to inflict a bit more harm on a certain Genma Saotome…" she mutters to herself as the others leave the two somewhat alone, a glaring Akane leans against the doorframe, watching Hiyami intently.

"Ok, I can do that, Misaka." Ranma says with a grin and a laugh.

If anything, the glare from Akane seemed to intensify.

Misaka Hiyami sighed as she leaned back. Dealing with a jealous girlfriend might be just what killed her.

**A/N**

Sorry about the long delay, other projects have kind of consumed me lately. I will try and get back into a more regular update schedule when I can. They might be shorter again, but I should be able to post more often going forward.