Rain
Part 6
The Lion's Frozen Heart.
+++++++++++++
Ranma was surprisingly calm.
Akane Tendo strolled next to him as he walked towards the school
silently. She paused and bopped him lightly on the back of his head.
"What's with you lately?"
"Huh? It's nuthin. I just got a lot on my mind, that's all," he
replied as he continued to walk.
"Aiya! Airen!" squealed a familiar voice as Shampoo dove from the
sky at her beloved.
Ranma glanced up for a moment and sidestepped casually, forcing
the girl to land on the sidewalk beside him.
Shampoo blinked and stood up. "What? Why Ranma is doing this?"
"Morning Shampoo," said the boy lazily as he continued to walk
away. He seemed to hardly be paying any attention to the world around
him at all.
"Ranma! Is waiting for Shampoo!" said the amazon as she rushed up
and tried to grab him from behind. He jumped straight up, bounced off
her head and came down behind her. Without a single word, he continued
to walk forward ignoring her completely otherwise.
"Ranma! How dare you treat Shampoo that way!" screamed Mousse as
he appeared in front of him. Dozens of weapons appeared out of his
sleeves in preparation too attack.
The ponytailed boy paused and looked at him for a moment. He
simply pointed his hand towards the drainage ditch through the fence,
and made a sweeping motion with his arm. In an instant, the Chinese
boy was quacking at him angrily as a wave of water surged up and
splashed him.
Shampoo and Akane simply stared at the scene in shock, neither one
quite knowing what too say or do.
"How is doing this?" muttered Shampoo. She turned and glanced at
Akane. "Shampoo must speak with Great Grandmother." At that the girl
bounded away, leaving Akane alone. She tensed up her body for a moment
and rushed after Ranma.
When she caught up with him, he was standing in front of the gates
of Furinkan with a scowl on his face. Tatewaki Kuno was standing
there, waiting on him.
"So, you have dared to show your face at last, Saotome? Release my
loves at once cur! Lest I be forced to take them from you by force!"
Ranma merely looked at him for a moment as he postured
flamboyantly with his boken. "Kuno. Don't you ever get tired of this?"
"Bah! I shall not rest until you are defeated at last! Your cursed
luck has allowed you too escape thus far, but today I shall at last
break this spell of trickery!" roared the boy as he charged.
Ranma merely moved his head aside, and stood as calmly as ever as
Kuno thrust forward his boken, missing by a mere fraction of an inch.
Kuno paused and stepped back. "What trickery is this? Why do you
merely stand? This is most unlike you, Saotome! Could it be, that you
have at last accepted the futility of your resistance?"
Ranma gave a light smile and shook his head from side to side. "Do
you really think anyone believes you? Do you actually believe it
yourself?"
"What?" muttered Kuno dumbly. He suddenly became angry and pointed
his sword at the offending boy. "What do you mean by this?"
"All this posing. I'm undefeated, that didn't hurt at all, Ranma
Saotome must be a sorcerer, Akane Tendo must just be shy. You know.
It's the same thing every day. Do you really think that these people
are that stupid that they believe you?"
"Silence cur!" snapped Kuno as he attacked. Ranma merely stepped
aside and put his fist into the boy's gut.
"I'm getting sick of this Kuno. I really am. I might not mind if
you were any challenge at all, but you're not. You're just a pathetic
bully with a stick."
"I will not allow you to speak of me..." said Kuno painfully as he
leaned into Ranma's shoulder from the pain of the blow he had
received.
"You can't stop me," said Ranma as he shoved him off casually and
let him fall to the ground. "No one can."
Akane stood watching the scene in the middle of the crowd. She
gasped and covered her mouth at the look that he had on his face when
he said that. It was disgust, but not at Kuno. He looked almost
disappointed, and sad. "Ranma?"
The boy vanished into the building, not even pausing as Ukyo
approached him with an Okonomiyaki in her hand. "Ranchan?" muttered
the chef in confusion. "Hey! You jackass! Don't you dare ignore me!"
The door to the school closed on her face with a decided finality.
She staggered back with a look of shocked rage on her face. "H-how
dare he?"
++++++++++++
Cologne frowned at her Great Granddaughter as she explained what
she had seen that morning. "He splashed Mousse with water, without
touching it?"
"Yes," said the girl with a slight shudder. She doubted if Ranma
would use a power like that against her, for obvious reasons, but
still. It was a bit more than she had expected from him.
"Most unusual. It seems that the son-in-law has discovered
telekinesis," commented Cologne lazily. It was an impressive trick,
but hardly something to concern herself with.
"What about Airen acting funny?" muttered Shampoo as she looked at
the woman sheepishly. "He acting very strange, maybe angry even."
Cologne smiled again cheerfully. "Relax Shampoo, I have been
expecting this for some time now. It was bound to happen sooner or
later."
"Aiya! What Great Grandmother mean?" said Shampoo.
"Hush child, Ranma is just breaking down. Everything is starting
to get too him now. Soon, he will discover that the source of his
stress is the young Tendo girl, and her abuse. We'll just have to make
sure he chooses you after that is over."
"Huh? You mean, Airen finally get sick of violent tomboy?"
"Yes child. It is best of you remain subtle until he finally
breaks down. Do not grab him, and keep your distance until the time is
right. We'll then pick up the pieces after he shatters, and return to
China with our honor intact. Isn't that nice?"
"Aiya! Great Grandmother so smart!" exclaimed the girl cheerfully.
"Yes, why do you think I haven't asked you too kill the young
Tendo girl? I knew this was coming. Don't worry, now it will be taken
care of without angering the son-in-law with us needlessly."
++++++++++++
Ranma looked back and saw Urd sitting in her chair again. She
waved at him cheerfully. He blinked and sat down. "I thought she
wasn't coming back."
Akane noticed the comment and growled as she glanced back at the
white haired girl irritably. Urd simply smirked at her, and winked.
"What's she up too?"
"Class, today we have two more new students," said Hinako as she
stood up at the front of the room and nodded towards the door.
"Oh god no," said Ranma.
"I'd like you too welcome Benten, and Venus," said the child as
she pointed to the two girls who walked into the room cheerfully.
Once again, every boy in the room gave his undivided attention.
Ranma merely muttered too himself and glanced up at the ceiling.
"Yeah, yuk it up why don't ya? I bet you think this is real funny."
The girls in the class all gave a collective groan, two more
inhumanly beautiful women to make them look even more homely.
Urd just hit her head against her desk over and over again.
"Hi! It's like, so nice to be here!" said Venus cheerfully.
Benten just put her head into her hand. "Airhead."
+++++++++++
"What the heck are you doing here?" snapped Urd as she glared at
the two goddesses during the lunch period.
"Same thing you are I guess. You heard those two idiot brothers.
He's not off limits. I haven't had a mortal lover in a while," said
Benten with a small shrug.
"I haven't seen a but like that in centuries!" agreed Venus.
"Well look harder, and somewhere else!" snapped Urd irritably.
"This is my turf," snorted Benten lazily.
Urd just glared at them impatiently for a long moment. "Fine!
We'll see who gets him first then!"
"I won't lose this time!" said Venus as she raised her hand into
the air.
"You two dolts never stood a chance against me," said Benten.
"We'll see who's the best Goddess here then!" commented Urd.
Ranma walked by the trio lazily, he simply raised his hand in
greeting and continued moving.
"Hey! Ranma!" called Urd as she rushed off before the others had a
chance to react.
The boy stopped and turned towards her for a moment.
"I thought I'd make you a lunch!" said the goddess as she hopped
up too him cheerfully. She shoved a bento into his chest and he
grabbed it reflexively.
"Huh?"
"Come on! Try it!" said Urd as she pulled him off towards a
secluded area of the schoolyard.
Ranma found himself pulled around a corner. He looked into the box
and gasped as he looked at several types of insects, eels, and snakes.
All of which still had their heads, and were obviously boiled to
death. "Better than Akane I suppose," he commented as he looked up to
find her staring at him purposefully. "Huh? Now what?"
She slapped the bento out of his hands and shoved him against the
wall. "I don't know, what do you think?"
Ranma gasped and backed himself as far as he could against the
concrete, creating a small indentation in the stone. "Hey! I..."
Urd chuckled and slid her hand across his chest. "Come on now,
just relax. I've got a bet to win after all..."
"A bet?" muttered Ranma dumbly, he looked her dead in the eyes. In
an instant, all the nervous fear faded out of his body.
Urd gasped as he caught her gaze, she seemed to lock onto the deep
blue pools for a moment. "What the?" Her entire face seemed to glaze
over as she leaned in slowly towards him. "Ku..."
Her muttering was cut off as their lips met. The boy's arms
wrapped around her body, and she latched onto him with both her arms
and legs, forcing herself up against him. They moved almost
desperately, forcing their faces together as they kissed.
++++++++++++
In the bushes nearby, Benten and Venus simply stared at the scene
in shock. "Ack! No! That little sneak! She already had him! That's
cheating!" cried Benten angrily.
"Boy, I've never seen her kiss anyone like that. Well, there was
that one time, but that was like, forever ago," commented Venus.
Ranma and Urd fell to the ground, not bothered in the least as
they rolled around on the ground in passion.
"How long have they been apart?" said Raiden as he poked his head
out from the bushes and stared at Venus and Benten.
"About a day or so," said Fujin as he popped his head out on the
opposite side of the pair.
Venus and Benten screamed in surprise.
"Shhh! They'll see us!" snapped Fujin as he took out a small
camcorder and began to record the pair.
"Right, they wouldn't notice if the Almighty himself descended on
them," commented Raiden sourly.
Benten sighed and peered through the bushes with Fujin. "Anything
interesting happen?"
"Naw, still just kissing," said the god with a small smirk. "You'd
think they've known each other forever."
"How long has this been going on?" asked Benten with a slightly
hateful frown.
"I dunno, a couple of days?" said Raiden with a shrug.
"Days?!" gasped Benten in shock.
"That little tramp!" gasped Venus.
"Oh, like you're one to talk," commented Fujin as he glanced back
at her.
"She always did move fast," snorted Benten as she watched. "Still?
Come on, I know you can do more than that Urd."
"Hey!" snapped Venus in irritation.
"She was talking about Urd," said Fujin.
"Oh," said the blonde sheepishly.
Raiden paused, "Looks like they're getting their senses back."
"Right," commented Benten irritably.
"Anyway, have you discovered anything new? We haven't been able to
find Mara today," said Raiden as he glanced at the pair.
"It's been quiet since yesterday, she hasn't been around as far as
I can tell," said Benten with a small snort.
"Well, keep us posted, things are about to heat up," said Fujin
calmly.
"Tell me about it," said Venus as she peered at the pair outside
the bushes and blushed.
++++++++++
Ranma had his mouth on Urd's neck, and was slowly moving lower. He
stopped suddenly as she gave a pleased sounding murmur and clutched at
his head, trying to keep him going.
He pushed himself off of her and jumped to his feet. "What the
hell am I doing?"
Urd frowned and looked up at him in frustration. "I don't know,
but you were good at it. Why did you stop?" She scratched her head and
sat up almost lazily.
Ranma squat down beside her and looked at her for a moment. "Do
you realize how many people will be out to kill us if they ever find
out about this?"
Urd's frown deepened. "So? Are you saying I'm not worth it? Is
that it?"
"No! That's not it at all!" snapped Ranma as he jumped around in
frustration.
She stood up and dusted off her uniform calmly. "So what's the
problem then? We could always go somewhere more private," she said
with a small shrug.
"I...huh?" Ranma stared at her.
"What is it now? It's fairly obvious that I like you, so what's
the big deal? You don't like any of those other girls anyway right?
That's what you told me."
"Yes! No! I mean... how the hell do I get myself into these
messes?" He clutched at his head and staggered up against the wall.
"It's not like those stupid girls could kill me anyway," snorted
Urd irritably as she looked away.
"That's not the point!" snapped Ranma.
"So what is the point?" she countered with a smug looking grin.
"Argh!" The boy clutched his head in frustration. Fortunately, he
was saved by the bell. "Gah! It's time for class again!"
"Brother," muttered Urd with a small pout as she followed him.
++++++++++++
"Heh, so he's a little tougher to crack than she thought?" said
Benten as she watched the scene play out.
"It's much easier to negotiate with a man without clothes,"
commented Venus. "He'd have listened to her if she wasn't wearing
any."
"There are laws against that now," said Benten irritably. "It's a
real pain too, you have to be covered up in public."
"What a shame," deadpanned Fujin.
"Shut up you perverted jerk!" snapped Benten.
"Say, aren't you two supposed to be in class too?" said Raiden as
he looked at the two goddesses for a moment.
"Ack!" the two women cried out in unison as they jumped out of the
brush and started running.
"Heh, well this is going to be valuable later," said Fujin as he
looked down at his video camera.
"I wonder what Kura will think of it?" said Raiden cheerfully.
"I dunno, we'll find out sooner or later," said Fujin calmly. "I
say sooner."
"But not just yet," said Raiden calmly.
"Right." Fujin paused and looked over his shoulder for a moment.
"Do you feel that?"
"What?" asked Raiden. He turned his head in the same direction.
"Sure do."
"Well, we should hang around then," said Fujin with a small
chuckle.
"Should be interesting," said Raiden with a small nod.
+++++++++++++
Ranma Saotome stepped out of Furinkan High, a cold wind blew
across the field as he noticed a long path between him and the gate.
Akane stood just behind him, with several students passing by, and
quickly clearing the area.
"Ranma."
Ryoga Hibiki stood in front of him, between the entrance too the
school and the gate. A cold look of determination on his face as he
glared at the boy.
"Ryoga," he said as he nodded and acknowledged him.
"I've come to fight," said Ryoga coldly. Something about him
seemed different. There was an air of cold indifference in his face,
something not there before. He seemed almost dead as he stood watching
his rival.
Ranma stepped forward, walking up to the boy. "This will be our
last fight."
Ryoga merely nodded. "I think so."
Akane rushed up between them, fear on her face as she noticed the
looks on both boy's faces. "Stop this! What's going on? What's this
about?" she cried.
"Three days ago, my curse stopped," said Ryoga as he glared at
Ranma for a moment.
"Curse?" muttered Akane in confusion.
"Stay out of the way Akane," said Ranma as he turned to look at
the girl.
"What's wrong with you?" she snapped as she turned to stare at
him.
"Nothing," said Ranma as he gently pushed her aside. "This isn't
about anything anymore. It's just a rivalry, something that neither of
us has any room for anymore. It's time for it to end."
"Ranma?" muttered the girl as she stepped back in hurt confusion.
"Ryoga? Say something? You're scaring me!"
"Akane, he's right," said the lost boy as he made a fist and
smirked at Ranma. "Ready for our last battle, Saotome?"
Raiden and Fujin stepped out of the crowd, watching intently. Both
of them had an odd smile on their faces.
"You two, don't interfere," said Ranma as he looked at them for a
moment.
"Wouldn't dream of it," said Fujin with a small chuckle.
"Ranma?" said Akane as she stepped back away from him. Dark clouds
began to form overhead, and a light rain fell from above. Both
combatants stood motionlessly in the rain, neither one reverting to
their cursed bodies.
A murmur of surprise echoed through the crowd as they watched.
"Just one question Ranma. How?" said Ryoga as he cracked his
knuckles. "I think you had something to do with it."
Ranma just smirked and nodded his head. "You were right all along
Ryoga. It was all my fault, from the very beginning."
"That's nice to know," said Ryoga as he stepped back and took up a
combat stance.
Raiden and Fujin took up a position on either side of Akane. Both
had their arms crossed over their chests as they watched.
"This should be good," said Raiden.
"Indeed, we haven't given her enough credit. He's coming along
nicely."
"What are you talking about?" said Akane as she glanced at them.
"Our little brother, he's growing up all over again," said Raiden
as he smirked at her.
"Little brother?" said Akane with a small gasp of surprise.
Urd strolled up to them, a confused frown on her face. "What's
going on?"
"Your friend is getting into a fight," said Fujin.
"Don't interfere, no matter what happens. He'll be angry if you
do," said Raiden as he scowled at her.
"What?" gasped Urd as she turned and saw the two boys facing off
in the field.
A small whirlwind of power formed around Ryoga, the rain began to
bounce off of his body somehow. Urd gasped as she saw the tiny drops
of ice beginning too pile up at his feet.
"No way!"
++++++++++
"I've found a way to counter your technique at last, but it seems
I don't need it anymore," said Ryoga as he tensed his body. "It would
be a waste to not show you what I can do now."
"You're right," agreed Ranma as he finally moved into a combat
stance.
"I've discovered the true soul of ice," said Ryoga as he charged
forward, he left a trail of ice at his feet as he rushed forward.
Ranma backed away, his eyes narrowing as he waited for the boy to
close in.
"I've learned a lot too," he commented as he thrust his hand
towards the sky.
A column of water shot up from the ground. It froze around the
lost boy instantly, encasing him in a prison of ice. Ranma didn't
stand where he was though, he jumped back and crossed his arms over
his face as the ice began to crack instantly. The towering pillar
shattered, throwing chunks of frozen water in every direction as Ryoga
blasted out of his prison.
"You'll have to do better than that Saotome!" snarled the lost boy
as he closed the distance between them in an instant and lashed out
with a vicious punch.
Ranma ducked under the strike and countered by punching the boy in
his gut. He jumped away and raised his hand. It was encased in a thin
coat of ice. He flexed his arm and broke it away, a cold frown forming
on his face.
"Not bad."
Ryoga stood up to his full height, clutching his side painfully.
"That won't work this time Saotome." He closed his eyes for a moment,
and Ranma jumped back with a look of surprise on his face.
Ryoga's body was suddenly becoming covered with a thin coat of ice
like a suit of armor. It covered his face and head as well, leaving a
small opening for his eyes and nose. The boy had a vicious smirk on
his face as he prepared to attack again.
Ranma charged forward, lashing out with a vicious kick that
knocked huge chunks of ice away. Ryoga was forced back, and the
damaged portion of his new armor was replaced by a new coat of ice,
fueled by the rainstorm.
"Damn!" muttered the ponytailed boy as he jumped away to avoid an
arcing kick aimed at his head. He blocked a follow up kick with his
forearm, shattering the ice guarding Ryoga's shin. As before, the coat
of armor was quickly replaced.
The lost boy's face was completely calm, he continued to press his
advantage, forcing Ranma back a little more with each attack. "What's
the matter Saotome? Can't hit me?"
"Damn!" growled Ranma. He forced his emotions to surface, cupping
his hands as he dove forward. "Moukou Takabishi!"
The chi blast engulfed Ryoga, melting away most of his armor.
Ranma couldn't attack though, as his body was still recovering from
the attack. Within a second, the protective layer was replaced again.
"No matter how much you hit me, you can't break through this!"
said Ryoga coldly.
Ranma growled in frustration as he was forced on the defensive
again as Ryoga attacked again.
"What's the matter? Getting tired!?" snarled the boy as he pressed
his attack.
Ranma frowned, Ryoga was right. He was going to run out of energy
if he kept it up. He dashed away from the boy, running along the edge
of the crowd. As he ran, he shot his hand up, shooting a ball of water
at the lost boy.
Ryoga grunted in pain as it struck him, and looked down in
confusion. "What the?"
"What's the matter piggy?" said Ranma as he repeated his attack a
few times. Each time, Ryoga grunted in pain as the small balls of
water struck him.
"What's he doing?" thought Ryoga desperately as he tried to
understand how the attack was getting through. Then it hit him. He was
forcing his own armor into his body. The force was enough to act like
a hard punch.
"How long can you keep it up though?" snarled Ryoga as he stood
there, taking the blows. Despite the pain, they weren't doing that
much damage, and both of them knew it.
"Take this!" screamed Ranma as he thrust his hands forward,
shooting a column of concentrated water at the boy.
Ryoga was thrown to the ground forcefully, and found himself
frozen there. He struggled to rise, and was forced to discard his
protective barrier to do so.
Ranma was waiting for him when he stood up. The instant he was on
his feet, the ponytailed boy lashed out with a kick that took the lost
boy across his jaw.
"You still kick like a girl," commented Ryoga calmly. he grabbed
Ranma's leg, and froze it solid, sending the boy to the ground. He
then punched down at him, and forced his opponent too roll away.
"Damn it!" thought Ranma as he shattered the coating of ice on the
ground and jumped too his feet just in time to avoid a vicious kick.
"Something wrong Ranma?" asked Ryoga coldly, the armor of ice
forming around his body again.
"I could stop the rain, keep him from reforming that damn armor,"
thought the boy angrily as he staggered back away from his opponent.
He narrowed his eyes for a moment. "No, I won't give him that
satisfaction."
Ryoga charged again, his arms spread wide as he rushed towards his
opponent.
+++++++++++
"Ranma! No!" cried Akane as she stepped forward.
Raiden and Fujin grabbed her by her arms and forced her back.
"Even if you stand between them, they won't stop this time. You'll
only get hurt," said Fujin calmly.
"What?" gasped Akane in shock.
"Let it be," agreed Raiden.
"Who is this kid?" gasped Urd in shock as she watched the battle.
There was no way normal humans could be doing these things. "Some kind
of god, a demon maybe?"
++++++++++++
"It's time to end this, Saotome!" said Ryoga as he pulled his
hands to his sides.
"You're right," agreed Ranma as he took up a stance as well.
"Hiyashita Shi shi houkou dan!" cried Ryoga as he shot a bluish
white ball of ki into the air.
"Moukou Takabishi!" countered Ranma as he shot his own ki forward.
Unfortunately, the golden ball of confidence was absorbed by the white
one, and faded away. "What?"
"Hiryuu shouten ha revised! Horizontal blast!" screamed Ryoga.
Ranma's eyes went wide as he realized he'd fallen for a trap.
Where the two blasts had collided, a huge whirlwind blasted towards
him, consuming him completely. "No!"
Ryoga smirked coldly as the blast slammed into the outer wall of
the school, completely destroying one of the classrooms. When the wind
died down, Ranma was lying against the shattered remains of the
blackboard with a small trickle of blood running down his chin.
"At last, it seems I've beaten you," said Ryoga as he started to
turn away.
The remaining crowd, those who had not fled the battle or the
rain, murmured amongst themselves in shock.
Akane struggled against Fujin and Raiden, desperately attempting
to rush to his side.
"Ranma! No! Let me go!"
"You don't really think it's over do you?" asked Raiden calmly.
"Huh?" muttered the girl in surprise.
Ranma opened his eyes and stood up. He didn't even stagger as he
did so, and looked as fresh as at the beginning of the battle.
"Ryoga."
The lost boy chucked, and slowly turned to face his rival. "I
thought that wouldn't be enough."
Ranma narrowed his eyes, and rain began to pour from the sky
above. It came down in heavy sheets, so much so that it was difficult
too see the students standing around the battleground.
Ryoga slowly stalked forward, ready to continue.
Ranma merely stood waiting for him, and smirked. Ryoga slowed and
began too struggle.
"What's the matter P-chan? Your clothes getting a little too big?"
Ryoga screamed in frustration. His protective covering growing at
an alarming rate. So much so, that it had become difficult to move.
"Damn!" He struggled, and it began to crack away, crumbling to the
ground around him.
Ranma jumped forward, slamming his fist into the boy's face. They
collided and rolled across the ground. Finally stopping with Ranma
straddling Ryoga. He rained down blows onto the lost boy's face.
Ryoga merely smirked, despite the bruises forming.
"What?" gasped Ranma in shock as he looked down and saw the ice
forming across his body again.
"I'll smother you!" sneered Ryoga.
"Damn!" Moukou Takabishi!" cried Ranma as he fired one of his chi
blasts at point blank range and shot his own body into the air. He
came down roughly on the ground, rolling for a few yards before he
managed to stop his momentum.
Ryoga was already preparing his next attack. His entire body began
to grow white, and he glared at his rival hatefully. "Perfect
Hiyashita Shi shi houkoudan!" cried the boy as he shot a pillar of
white chi into the air. Instantly the rain became hail, and pelted
those who remained on the field relentlessly. Students scattered and
rushed for cover under the assault.
Ranma merely stood up and wiped the blood from his mouth calmly.
The gigantic ball of power was rushing towards the ground from above.
There was no escape for him, and he knew it.
"It's been nice knowing you Ryoga," said Ranma calmly.
"I see," said the lost boy with a small nod.
Ranma raised his hand to the ground, and a blast of water shot
from his hands. Then, the world became white.
Akane screamed in terror, standing under the tree with Raiden and
Fujin firmly holding her back. A blast of cold air, followed by a
freezing shock wave of power slammed into them as the attack came
down.
"No!" screamed Urd as she thrust her hands forward. Power crackled
across her fingers.
Raiden merely grabbed her shoulder, forcing electric energy to
shoot through the goddess's body. She slumped down painfully and
gasped in horror at the sight that met her when the white light faded
away.
Ryoga was still standing, a spike of ice spearing him through his
shoulder. He slumped to the ground and coughed up a small amount of
blood. The line of ice leading from his shoulder to Ranma's still
outstretched hand broke off as he did so.
The ponytailed boy was covered in ice, his entire body looked
completely frozen.
"Ranma!" screamed Akane as she rushed forward. The two gods
finally released her.
She was about to reach him, when the ice around him began to
crack, and slowly fell away from his body. He gasped for breath and
shook his head. Wordlessly, he passed right by Akane and moved over to
Ryoga's side.
"How ya doin? Ya stupid pig," he said as he kneeled down and
lifted up the boy's head.
"I lose again?" he coughed weakly.
"Yeah," said Ranma with a slight smirk. "You should have know that
wouldn't work. Mine might not be as good as yours, but I know the Soul
of Ice too."
"Heh, I was hoping it wouldn't be enough. Looks like I was wrong,"
said the boy weakly. "That really hurts you jerk," he winced as he
looked over at his impaled shoulder.
"Sorry," said the pigtailed boy as he helped him to his feet and
supported him.
"Yeah, yeah. Your fault from the beginning huh?" said Ryoga with a
small snort of disgust.
"Yup. Ask me about it again some time, after I remember
everything, and I'll tell you about it."
"Right, I'll do that. I haven't got a clue what you're talking
about though," said Ryoga with a painful looking chuckle.
"Come on. I'll take you to Tofu's place," said Ranma as he helped
the boy stagger away.
"Right," muttered Ryoga with a small nod.
"Ranma! What the hell is going on here?" gasped Akane as she
rushed up beside them.
"Akane, I really hate to say this, but it isn't any of your
business. This is between me and him," said the ponytailed boy as he
looked at her for a moment and continued to help his rival.
"He's right you know," said Raiden as he walked up behind her.
Fujin followed him silently, and the pair vanished into the streets as
well.
Akane looked up and realized that the rainstorm had stopped. She
slumped down to the ground, uncertain about what to do at the moment.
Urd walked by wordlessly, she didn't even look at Akane as she
left the grounds as well. Finally, she stopped at the gates and
watched the pair vanish over the hilltop. "Who the hell are you?"
Venus and Benten moved up beside her, staring in complete shock at
the two boys.
"Who the hell is this guy?" muttered Benten.
"Wow! Did you see that? That was so cool! I had no idea humans
could be so strong!" exclaimed Venus cheerfully.
"Humans can't be this strong," said Benten with a scowl on her
face.
"Both of them?" asked Urd in confusion.
"I don't think so," said Benten with a small shake of her head.
"That boyfriend of yours, he could have ended that fight from the very
beginning."
"We need to find out more, he could be dangerous," commented
Venus.
Both Urd and Benten looked at her in shock.
The blonde hung her head and sighed. "Too bad too, he has a really
cute little butt." Her two companions slapped their foreheads in
disgust before becoming serious again.
"The Almighty isn't saying anything about him. I haven't gotten a
call or anything since I found him," said Urd as she looked at them
both.
"That could be good, or bad," said Benten.
"He might be a new Hell Lord, they're about due for one,"
commented Urd.
Benten frowned at her and said nothing.
"Don't forget, I'm privy to a lot of information about their
side," said Urd. "Then again, he doesn't seem like the type for that
either. There's something very familiar about him."
"Well, you've certainly been familiar with him, that's for sure,"
said Benten with a scowl on her face.
Urd blinked and looked at them both. The two goddesses were both
scowling at her now. "What?"
"What's the big idea, making that bet with us when you already had
him?" snapped Benten.
"Yeah! We saw you two behind the school today!" agreed Venus.
"That wasn't the kiss of someone who's just met you either."
"What? You were spying on me?" snapped Urd. "Besides, it's not
like we wagered anything on it!"
"Of course we were!" said Benten.
"Yeah! What kind of friends do you think we are!" said Venus with
a small shake of her head.
"Not very good ones," commented Urd as she walked away from them.
"I'm going home now."
"We'll see you later then," said Benten as she nodded and turned
towards Venus. "Come on."
"Um, right..."
++++++++++++
TBC...
Next Time: Brotherly Love?!
Hiyashita Shi Shi Houkou Dan= Iced Lion's Roar Bullet
Part 6
The Lion's Frozen Heart.
+++++++++++++
Ranma was surprisingly calm.
Akane Tendo strolled next to him as he walked towards the school
silently. She paused and bopped him lightly on the back of his head.
"What's with you lately?"
"Huh? It's nuthin. I just got a lot on my mind, that's all," he
replied as he continued to walk.
"Aiya! Airen!" squealed a familiar voice as Shampoo dove from the
sky at her beloved.
Ranma glanced up for a moment and sidestepped casually, forcing
the girl to land on the sidewalk beside him.
Shampoo blinked and stood up. "What? Why Ranma is doing this?"
"Morning Shampoo," said the boy lazily as he continued to walk
away. He seemed to hardly be paying any attention to the world around
him at all.
"Ranma! Is waiting for Shampoo!" said the amazon as she rushed up
and tried to grab him from behind. He jumped straight up, bounced off
her head and came down behind her. Without a single word, he continued
to walk forward ignoring her completely otherwise.
"Ranma! How dare you treat Shampoo that way!" screamed Mousse as
he appeared in front of him. Dozens of weapons appeared out of his
sleeves in preparation too attack.
The ponytailed boy paused and looked at him for a moment. He
simply pointed his hand towards the drainage ditch through the fence,
and made a sweeping motion with his arm. In an instant, the Chinese
boy was quacking at him angrily as a wave of water surged up and
splashed him.
Shampoo and Akane simply stared at the scene in shock, neither one
quite knowing what too say or do.
"How is doing this?" muttered Shampoo. She turned and glanced at
Akane. "Shampoo must speak with Great Grandmother." At that the girl
bounded away, leaving Akane alone. She tensed up her body for a moment
and rushed after Ranma.
When she caught up with him, he was standing in front of the gates
of Furinkan with a scowl on his face. Tatewaki Kuno was standing
there, waiting on him.
"So, you have dared to show your face at last, Saotome? Release my
loves at once cur! Lest I be forced to take them from you by force!"
Ranma merely looked at him for a moment as he postured
flamboyantly with his boken. "Kuno. Don't you ever get tired of this?"
"Bah! I shall not rest until you are defeated at last! Your cursed
luck has allowed you too escape thus far, but today I shall at last
break this spell of trickery!" roared the boy as he charged.
Ranma merely moved his head aside, and stood as calmly as ever as
Kuno thrust forward his boken, missing by a mere fraction of an inch.
Kuno paused and stepped back. "What trickery is this? Why do you
merely stand? This is most unlike you, Saotome! Could it be, that you
have at last accepted the futility of your resistance?"
Ranma gave a light smile and shook his head from side to side. "Do
you really think anyone believes you? Do you actually believe it
yourself?"
"What?" muttered Kuno dumbly. He suddenly became angry and pointed
his sword at the offending boy. "What do you mean by this?"
"All this posing. I'm undefeated, that didn't hurt at all, Ranma
Saotome must be a sorcerer, Akane Tendo must just be shy. You know.
It's the same thing every day. Do you really think that these people
are that stupid that they believe you?"
"Silence cur!" snapped Kuno as he attacked. Ranma merely stepped
aside and put his fist into the boy's gut.
"I'm getting sick of this Kuno. I really am. I might not mind if
you were any challenge at all, but you're not. You're just a pathetic
bully with a stick."
"I will not allow you to speak of me..." said Kuno painfully as he
leaned into Ranma's shoulder from the pain of the blow he had
received.
"You can't stop me," said Ranma as he shoved him off casually and
let him fall to the ground. "No one can."
Akane stood watching the scene in the middle of the crowd. She
gasped and covered her mouth at the look that he had on his face when
he said that. It was disgust, but not at Kuno. He looked almost
disappointed, and sad. "Ranma?"
The boy vanished into the building, not even pausing as Ukyo
approached him with an Okonomiyaki in her hand. "Ranchan?" muttered
the chef in confusion. "Hey! You jackass! Don't you dare ignore me!"
The door to the school closed on her face with a decided finality.
She staggered back with a look of shocked rage on her face. "H-how
dare he?"
++++++++++++
Cologne frowned at her Great Granddaughter as she explained what
she had seen that morning. "He splashed Mousse with water, without
touching it?"
"Yes," said the girl with a slight shudder. She doubted if Ranma
would use a power like that against her, for obvious reasons, but
still. It was a bit more than she had expected from him.
"Most unusual. It seems that the son-in-law has discovered
telekinesis," commented Cologne lazily. It was an impressive trick,
but hardly something to concern herself with.
"What about Airen acting funny?" muttered Shampoo as she looked at
the woman sheepishly. "He acting very strange, maybe angry even."
Cologne smiled again cheerfully. "Relax Shampoo, I have been
expecting this for some time now. It was bound to happen sooner or
later."
"Aiya! What Great Grandmother mean?" said Shampoo.
"Hush child, Ranma is just breaking down. Everything is starting
to get too him now. Soon, he will discover that the source of his
stress is the young Tendo girl, and her abuse. We'll just have to make
sure he chooses you after that is over."
"Huh? You mean, Airen finally get sick of violent tomboy?"
"Yes child. It is best of you remain subtle until he finally
breaks down. Do not grab him, and keep your distance until the time is
right. We'll then pick up the pieces after he shatters, and return to
China with our honor intact. Isn't that nice?"
"Aiya! Great Grandmother so smart!" exclaimed the girl cheerfully.
"Yes, why do you think I haven't asked you too kill the young
Tendo girl? I knew this was coming. Don't worry, now it will be taken
care of without angering the son-in-law with us needlessly."
++++++++++++
Ranma looked back and saw Urd sitting in her chair again. She
waved at him cheerfully. He blinked and sat down. "I thought she
wasn't coming back."
Akane noticed the comment and growled as she glanced back at the
white haired girl irritably. Urd simply smirked at her, and winked.
"What's she up too?"
"Class, today we have two more new students," said Hinako as she
stood up at the front of the room and nodded towards the door.
"Oh god no," said Ranma.
"I'd like you too welcome Benten, and Venus," said the child as
she pointed to the two girls who walked into the room cheerfully.
Once again, every boy in the room gave his undivided attention.
Ranma merely muttered too himself and glanced up at the ceiling.
"Yeah, yuk it up why don't ya? I bet you think this is real funny."
The girls in the class all gave a collective groan, two more
inhumanly beautiful women to make them look even more homely.
Urd just hit her head against her desk over and over again.
"Hi! It's like, so nice to be here!" said Venus cheerfully.
Benten just put her head into her hand. "Airhead."
+++++++++++
"What the heck are you doing here?" snapped Urd as she glared at
the two goddesses during the lunch period.
"Same thing you are I guess. You heard those two idiot brothers.
He's not off limits. I haven't had a mortal lover in a while," said
Benten with a small shrug.
"I haven't seen a but like that in centuries!" agreed Venus.
"Well look harder, and somewhere else!" snapped Urd irritably.
"This is my turf," snorted Benten lazily.
Urd just glared at them impatiently for a long moment. "Fine!
We'll see who gets him first then!"
"I won't lose this time!" said Venus as she raised her hand into
the air.
"You two dolts never stood a chance against me," said Benten.
"We'll see who's the best Goddess here then!" commented Urd.
Ranma walked by the trio lazily, he simply raised his hand in
greeting and continued moving.
"Hey! Ranma!" called Urd as she rushed off before the others had a
chance to react.
The boy stopped and turned towards her for a moment.
"I thought I'd make you a lunch!" said the goddess as she hopped
up too him cheerfully. She shoved a bento into his chest and he
grabbed it reflexively.
"Huh?"
"Come on! Try it!" said Urd as she pulled him off towards a
secluded area of the schoolyard.
Ranma found himself pulled around a corner. He looked into the box
and gasped as he looked at several types of insects, eels, and snakes.
All of which still had their heads, and were obviously boiled to
death. "Better than Akane I suppose," he commented as he looked up to
find her staring at him purposefully. "Huh? Now what?"
She slapped the bento out of his hands and shoved him against the
wall. "I don't know, what do you think?"
Ranma gasped and backed himself as far as he could against the
concrete, creating a small indentation in the stone. "Hey! I..."
Urd chuckled and slid her hand across his chest. "Come on now,
just relax. I've got a bet to win after all..."
"A bet?" muttered Ranma dumbly, he looked her dead in the eyes. In
an instant, all the nervous fear faded out of his body.
Urd gasped as he caught her gaze, she seemed to lock onto the deep
blue pools for a moment. "What the?" Her entire face seemed to glaze
over as she leaned in slowly towards him. "Ku..."
Her muttering was cut off as their lips met. The boy's arms
wrapped around her body, and she latched onto him with both her arms
and legs, forcing herself up against him. They moved almost
desperately, forcing their faces together as they kissed.
++++++++++++
In the bushes nearby, Benten and Venus simply stared at the scene
in shock. "Ack! No! That little sneak! She already had him! That's
cheating!" cried Benten angrily.
"Boy, I've never seen her kiss anyone like that. Well, there was
that one time, but that was like, forever ago," commented Venus.
Ranma and Urd fell to the ground, not bothered in the least as
they rolled around on the ground in passion.
"How long have they been apart?" said Raiden as he poked his head
out from the bushes and stared at Venus and Benten.
"About a day or so," said Fujin as he popped his head out on the
opposite side of the pair.
Venus and Benten screamed in surprise.
"Shhh! They'll see us!" snapped Fujin as he took out a small
camcorder and began to record the pair.
"Right, they wouldn't notice if the Almighty himself descended on
them," commented Raiden sourly.
Benten sighed and peered through the bushes with Fujin. "Anything
interesting happen?"
"Naw, still just kissing," said the god with a small smirk. "You'd
think they've known each other forever."
"How long has this been going on?" asked Benten with a slightly
hateful frown.
"I dunno, a couple of days?" said Raiden with a shrug.
"Days?!" gasped Benten in shock.
"That little tramp!" gasped Venus.
"Oh, like you're one to talk," commented Fujin as he glanced back
at her.
"She always did move fast," snorted Benten as she watched. "Still?
Come on, I know you can do more than that Urd."
"Hey!" snapped Venus in irritation.
"She was talking about Urd," said Fujin.
"Oh," said the blonde sheepishly.
Raiden paused, "Looks like they're getting their senses back."
"Right," commented Benten irritably.
"Anyway, have you discovered anything new? We haven't been able to
find Mara today," said Raiden as he glanced at the pair.
"It's been quiet since yesterday, she hasn't been around as far as
I can tell," said Benten with a small snort.
"Well, keep us posted, things are about to heat up," said Fujin
calmly.
"Tell me about it," said Venus as she peered at the pair outside
the bushes and blushed.
++++++++++
Ranma had his mouth on Urd's neck, and was slowly moving lower. He
stopped suddenly as she gave a pleased sounding murmur and clutched at
his head, trying to keep him going.
He pushed himself off of her and jumped to his feet. "What the
hell am I doing?"
Urd frowned and looked up at him in frustration. "I don't know,
but you were good at it. Why did you stop?" She scratched her head and
sat up almost lazily.
Ranma squat down beside her and looked at her for a moment. "Do
you realize how many people will be out to kill us if they ever find
out about this?"
Urd's frown deepened. "So? Are you saying I'm not worth it? Is
that it?"
"No! That's not it at all!" snapped Ranma as he jumped around in
frustration.
She stood up and dusted off her uniform calmly. "So what's the
problem then? We could always go somewhere more private," she said
with a small shrug.
"I...huh?" Ranma stared at her.
"What is it now? It's fairly obvious that I like you, so what's
the big deal? You don't like any of those other girls anyway right?
That's what you told me."
"Yes! No! I mean... how the hell do I get myself into these
messes?" He clutched at his head and staggered up against the wall.
"It's not like those stupid girls could kill me anyway," snorted
Urd irritably as she looked away.
"That's not the point!" snapped Ranma.
"So what is the point?" she countered with a smug looking grin.
"Argh!" The boy clutched his head in frustration. Fortunately, he
was saved by the bell. "Gah! It's time for class again!"
"Brother," muttered Urd with a small pout as she followed him.
++++++++++++
"Heh, so he's a little tougher to crack than she thought?" said
Benten as she watched the scene play out.
"It's much easier to negotiate with a man without clothes,"
commented Venus. "He'd have listened to her if she wasn't wearing
any."
"There are laws against that now," said Benten irritably. "It's a
real pain too, you have to be covered up in public."
"What a shame," deadpanned Fujin.
"Shut up you perverted jerk!" snapped Benten.
"Say, aren't you two supposed to be in class too?" said Raiden as
he looked at the two goddesses for a moment.
"Ack!" the two women cried out in unison as they jumped out of the
brush and started running.
"Heh, well this is going to be valuable later," said Fujin as he
looked down at his video camera.
"I wonder what Kura will think of it?" said Raiden cheerfully.
"I dunno, we'll find out sooner or later," said Fujin calmly. "I
say sooner."
"But not just yet," said Raiden calmly.
"Right." Fujin paused and looked over his shoulder for a moment.
"Do you feel that?"
"What?" asked Raiden. He turned his head in the same direction.
"Sure do."
"Well, we should hang around then," said Fujin with a small
chuckle.
"Should be interesting," said Raiden with a small nod.
+++++++++++++
Ranma Saotome stepped out of Furinkan High, a cold wind blew
across the field as he noticed a long path between him and the gate.
Akane stood just behind him, with several students passing by, and
quickly clearing the area.
"Ranma."
Ryoga Hibiki stood in front of him, between the entrance too the
school and the gate. A cold look of determination on his face as he
glared at the boy.
"Ryoga," he said as he nodded and acknowledged him.
"I've come to fight," said Ryoga coldly. Something about him
seemed different. There was an air of cold indifference in his face,
something not there before. He seemed almost dead as he stood watching
his rival.
Ranma stepped forward, walking up to the boy. "This will be our
last fight."
Ryoga merely nodded. "I think so."
Akane rushed up between them, fear on her face as she noticed the
looks on both boy's faces. "Stop this! What's going on? What's this
about?" she cried.
"Three days ago, my curse stopped," said Ryoga as he glared at
Ranma for a moment.
"Curse?" muttered Akane in confusion.
"Stay out of the way Akane," said Ranma as he turned to look at
the girl.
"What's wrong with you?" she snapped as she turned to stare at
him.
"Nothing," said Ranma as he gently pushed her aside. "This isn't
about anything anymore. It's just a rivalry, something that neither of
us has any room for anymore. It's time for it to end."
"Ranma?" muttered the girl as she stepped back in hurt confusion.
"Ryoga? Say something? You're scaring me!"
"Akane, he's right," said the lost boy as he made a fist and
smirked at Ranma. "Ready for our last battle, Saotome?"
Raiden and Fujin stepped out of the crowd, watching intently. Both
of them had an odd smile on their faces.
"You two, don't interfere," said Ranma as he looked at them for a
moment.
"Wouldn't dream of it," said Fujin with a small chuckle.
"Ranma?" said Akane as she stepped back away from him. Dark clouds
began to form overhead, and a light rain fell from above. Both
combatants stood motionlessly in the rain, neither one reverting to
their cursed bodies.
A murmur of surprise echoed through the crowd as they watched.
"Just one question Ranma. How?" said Ryoga as he cracked his
knuckles. "I think you had something to do with it."
Ranma just smirked and nodded his head. "You were right all along
Ryoga. It was all my fault, from the very beginning."
"That's nice to know," said Ryoga as he stepped back and took up a
combat stance.
Raiden and Fujin took up a position on either side of Akane. Both
had their arms crossed over their chests as they watched.
"This should be good," said Raiden.
"Indeed, we haven't given her enough credit. He's coming along
nicely."
"What are you talking about?" said Akane as she glanced at them.
"Our little brother, he's growing up all over again," said Raiden
as he smirked at her.
"Little brother?" said Akane with a small gasp of surprise.
Urd strolled up to them, a confused frown on her face. "What's
going on?"
"Your friend is getting into a fight," said Fujin.
"Don't interfere, no matter what happens. He'll be angry if you
do," said Raiden as he scowled at her.
"What?" gasped Urd as she turned and saw the two boys facing off
in the field.
A small whirlwind of power formed around Ryoga, the rain began to
bounce off of his body somehow. Urd gasped as she saw the tiny drops
of ice beginning too pile up at his feet.
"No way!"
++++++++++
"I've found a way to counter your technique at last, but it seems
I don't need it anymore," said Ryoga as he tensed his body. "It would
be a waste to not show you what I can do now."
"You're right," agreed Ranma as he finally moved into a combat
stance.
"I've discovered the true soul of ice," said Ryoga as he charged
forward, he left a trail of ice at his feet as he rushed forward.
Ranma backed away, his eyes narrowing as he waited for the boy to
close in.
"I've learned a lot too," he commented as he thrust his hand
towards the sky.
A column of water shot up from the ground. It froze around the
lost boy instantly, encasing him in a prison of ice. Ranma didn't
stand where he was though, he jumped back and crossed his arms over
his face as the ice began to crack instantly. The towering pillar
shattered, throwing chunks of frozen water in every direction as Ryoga
blasted out of his prison.
"You'll have to do better than that Saotome!" snarled the lost boy
as he closed the distance between them in an instant and lashed out
with a vicious punch.
Ranma ducked under the strike and countered by punching the boy in
his gut. He jumped away and raised his hand. It was encased in a thin
coat of ice. He flexed his arm and broke it away, a cold frown forming
on his face.
"Not bad."
Ryoga stood up to his full height, clutching his side painfully.
"That won't work this time Saotome." He closed his eyes for a moment,
and Ranma jumped back with a look of surprise on his face.
Ryoga's body was suddenly becoming covered with a thin coat of ice
like a suit of armor. It covered his face and head as well, leaving a
small opening for his eyes and nose. The boy had a vicious smirk on
his face as he prepared to attack again.
Ranma charged forward, lashing out with a vicious kick that
knocked huge chunks of ice away. Ryoga was forced back, and the
damaged portion of his new armor was replaced by a new coat of ice,
fueled by the rainstorm.
"Damn!" muttered the ponytailed boy as he jumped away to avoid an
arcing kick aimed at his head. He blocked a follow up kick with his
forearm, shattering the ice guarding Ryoga's shin. As before, the coat
of armor was quickly replaced.
The lost boy's face was completely calm, he continued to press his
advantage, forcing Ranma back a little more with each attack. "What's
the matter Saotome? Can't hit me?"
"Damn!" growled Ranma. He forced his emotions to surface, cupping
his hands as he dove forward. "Moukou Takabishi!"
The chi blast engulfed Ryoga, melting away most of his armor.
Ranma couldn't attack though, as his body was still recovering from
the attack. Within a second, the protective layer was replaced again.
"No matter how much you hit me, you can't break through this!"
said Ryoga coldly.
Ranma growled in frustration as he was forced on the defensive
again as Ryoga attacked again.
"What's the matter? Getting tired!?" snarled the boy as he pressed
his attack.
Ranma frowned, Ryoga was right. He was going to run out of energy
if he kept it up. He dashed away from the boy, running along the edge
of the crowd. As he ran, he shot his hand up, shooting a ball of water
at the lost boy.
Ryoga grunted in pain as it struck him, and looked down in
confusion. "What the?"
"What's the matter piggy?" said Ranma as he repeated his attack a
few times. Each time, Ryoga grunted in pain as the small balls of
water struck him.
"What's he doing?" thought Ryoga desperately as he tried to
understand how the attack was getting through. Then it hit him. He was
forcing his own armor into his body. The force was enough to act like
a hard punch.
"How long can you keep it up though?" snarled Ryoga as he stood
there, taking the blows. Despite the pain, they weren't doing that
much damage, and both of them knew it.
"Take this!" screamed Ranma as he thrust his hands forward,
shooting a column of concentrated water at the boy.
Ryoga was thrown to the ground forcefully, and found himself
frozen there. He struggled to rise, and was forced to discard his
protective barrier to do so.
Ranma was waiting for him when he stood up. The instant he was on
his feet, the ponytailed boy lashed out with a kick that took the lost
boy across his jaw.
"You still kick like a girl," commented Ryoga calmly. he grabbed
Ranma's leg, and froze it solid, sending the boy to the ground. He
then punched down at him, and forced his opponent too roll away.
"Damn it!" thought Ranma as he shattered the coating of ice on the
ground and jumped too his feet just in time to avoid a vicious kick.
"Something wrong Ranma?" asked Ryoga coldly, the armor of ice
forming around his body again.
"I could stop the rain, keep him from reforming that damn armor,"
thought the boy angrily as he staggered back away from his opponent.
He narrowed his eyes for a moment. "No, I won't give him that
satisfaction."
Ryoga charged again, his arms spread wide as he rushed towards his
opponent.
+++++++++++
"Ranma! No!" cried Akane as she stepped forward.
Raiden and Fujin grabbed her by her arms and forced her back.
"Even if you stand between them, they won't stop this time. You'll
only get hurt," said Fujin calmly.
"What?" gasped Akane in shock.
"Let it be," agreed Raiden.
"Who is this kid?" gasped Urd in shock as she watched the battle.
There was no way normal humans could be doing these things. "Some kind
of god, a demon maybe?"
++++++++++++
"It's time to end this, Saotome!" said Ryoga as he pulled his
hands to his sides.
"You're right," agreed Ranma as he took up a stance as well.
"Hiyashita Shi shi houkou dan!" cried Ryoga as he shot a bluish
white ball of ki into the air.
"Moukou Takabishi!" countered Ranma as he shot his own ki forward.
Unfortunately, the golden ball of confidence was absorbed by the white
one, and faded away. "What?"
"Hiryuu shouten ha revised! Horizontal blast!" screamed Ryoga.
Ranma's eyes went wide as he realized he'd fallen for a trap.
Where the two blasts had collided, a huge whirlwind blasted towards
him, consuming him completely. "No!"
Ryoga smirked coldly as the blast slammed into the outer wall of
the school, completely destroying one of the classrooms. When the wind
died down, Ranma was lying against the shattered remains of the
blackboard with a small trickle of blood running down his chin.
"At last, it seems I've beaten you," said Ryoga as he started to
turn away.
The remaining crowd, those who had not fled the battle or the
rain, murmured amongst themselves in shock.
Akane struggled against Fujin and Raiden, desperately attempting
to rush to his side.
"Ranma! No! Let me go!"
"You don't really think it's over do you?" asked Raiden calmly.
"Huh?" muttered the girl in surprise.
Ranma opened his eyes and stood up. He didn't even stagger as he
did so, and looked as fresh as at the beginning of the battle.
"Ryoga."
The lost boy chucked, and slowly turned to face his rival. "I
thought that wouldn't be enough."
Ranma narrowed his eyes, and rain began to pour from the sky
above. It came down in heavy sheets, so much so that it was difficult
too see the students standing around the battleground.
Ryoga slowly stalked forward, ready to continue.
Ranma merely stood waiting for him, and smirked. Ryoga slowed and
began too struggle.
"What's the matter P-chan? Your clothes getting a little too big?"
Ryoga screamed in frustration. His protective covering growing at
an alarming rate. So much so, that it had become difficult to move.
"Damn!" He struggled, and it began to crack away, crumbling to the
ground around him.
Ranma jumped forward, slamming his fist into the boy's face. They
collided and rolled across the ground. Finally stopping with Ranma
straddling Ryoga. He rained down blows onto the lost boy's face.
Ryoga merely smirked, despite the bruises forming.
"What?" gasped Ranma in shock as he looked down and saw the ice
forming across his body again.
"I'll smother you!" sneered Ryoga.
"Damn!" Moukou Takabishi!" cried Ranma as he fired one of his chi
blasts at point blank range and shot his own body into the air. He
came down roughly on the ground, rolling for a few yards before he
managed to stop his momentum.
Ryoga was already preparing his next attack. His entire body began
to grow white, and he glared at his rival hatefully. "Perfect
Hiyashita Shi shi houkoudan!" cried the boy as he shot a pillar of
white chi into the air. Instantly the rain became hail, and pelted
those who remained on the field relentlessly. Students scattered and
rushed for cover under the assault.
Ranma merely stood up and wiped the blood from his mouth calmly.
The gigantic ball of power was rushing towards the ground from above.
There was no escape for him, and he knew it.
"It's been nice knowing you Ryoga," said Ranma calmly.
"I see," said the lost boy with a small nod.
Ranma raised his hand to the ground, and a blast of water shot
from his hands. Then, the world became white.
Akane screamed in terror, standing under the tree with Raiden and
Fujin firmly holding her back. A blast of cold air, followed by a
freezing shock wave of power slammed into them as the attack came
down.
"No!" screamed Urd as she thrust her hands forward. Power crackled
across her fingers.
Raiden merely grabbed her shoulder, forcing electric energy to
shoot through the goddess's body. She slumped down painfully and
gasped in horror at the sight that met her when the white light faded
away.
Ryoga was still standing, a spike of ice spearing him through his
shoulder. He slumped to the ground and coughed up a small amount of
blood. The line of ice leading from his shoulder to Ranma's still
outstretched hand broke off as he did so.
The ponytailed boy was covered in ice, his entire body looked
completely frozen.
"Ranma!" screamed Akane as she rushed forward. The two gods
finally released her.
She was about to reach him, when the ice around him began to
crack, and slowly fell away from his body. He gasped for breath and
shook his head. Wordlessly, he passed right by Akane and moved over to
Ryoga's side.
"How ya doin? Ya stupid pig," he said as he kneeled down and
lifted up the boy's head.
"I lose again?" he coughed weakly.
"Yeah," said Ranma with a slight smirk. "You should have know that
wouldn't work. Mine might not be as good as yours, but I know the Soul
of Ice too."
"Heh, I was hoping it wouldn't be enough. Looks like I was wrong,"
said the boy weakly. "That really hurts you jerk," he winced as he
looked over at his impaled shoulder.
"Sorry," said the pigtailed boy as he helped him to his feet and
supported him.
"Yeah, yeah. Your fault from the beginning huh?" said Ryoga with a
small snort of disgust.
"Yup. Ask me about it again some time, after I remember
everything, and I'll tell you about it."
"Right, I'll do that. I haven't got a clue what you're talking
about though," said Ryoga with a painful looking chuckle.
"Come on. I'll take you to Tofu's place," said Ranma as he helped
the boy stagger away.
"Right," muttered Ryoga with a small nod.
"Ranma! What the hell is going on here?" gasped Akane as she
rushed up beside them.
"Akane, I really hate to say this, but it isn't any of your
business. This is between me and him," said the ponytailed boy as he
looked at her for a moment and continued to help his rival.
"He's right you know," said Raiden as he walked up behind her.
Fujin followed him silently, and the pair vanished into the streets as
well.
Akane looked up and realized that the rainstorm had stopped. She
slumped down to the ground, uncertain about what to do at the moment.
Urd walked by wordlessly, she didn't even look at Akane as she
left the grounds as well. Finally, she stopped at the gates and
watched the pair vanish over the hilltop. "Who the hell are you?"
Venus and Benten moved up beside her, staring in complete shock at
the two boys.
"Who the hell is this guy?" muttered Benten.
"Wow! Did you see that? That was so cool! I had no idea humans
could be so strong!" exclaimed Venus cheerfully.
"Humans can't be this strong," said Benten with a scowl on her
face.
"Both of them?" asked Urd in confusion.
"I don't think so," said Benten with a small shake of her head.
"That boyfriend of yours, he could have ended that fight from the very
beginning."
"We need to find out more, he could be dangerous," commented
Venus.
Both Urd and Benten looked at her in shock.
The blonde hung her head and sighed. "Too bad too, he has a really
cute little butt." Her two companions slapped their foreheads in
disgust before becoming serious again.
"The Almighty isn't saying anything about him. I haven't gotten a
call or anything since I found him," said Urd as she looked at them
both.
"That could be good, or bad," said Benten.
"He might be a new Hell Lord, they're about due for one,"
commented Urd.
Benten frowned at her and said nothing.
"Don't forget, I'm privy to a lot of information about their
side," said Urd. "Then again, he doesn't seem like the type for that
either. There's something very familiar about him."
"Well, you've certainly been familiar with him, that's for sure,"
said Benten with a scowl on her face.
Urd blinked and looked at them both. The two goddesses were both
scowling at her now. "What?"
"What's the big idea, making that bet with us when you already had
him?" snapped Benten.
"Yeah! We saw you two behind the school today!" agreed Venus.
"That wasn't the kiss of someone who's just met you either."
"What? You were spying on me?" snapped Urd. "Besides, it's not
like we wagered anything on it!"
"Of course we were!" said Benten.
"Yeah! What kind of friends do you think we are!" said Venus with
a small shake of her head.
"Not very good ones," commented Urd as she walked away from them.
"I'm going home now."
"We'll see you later then," said Benten as she nodded and turned
towards Venus. "Come on."
"Um, right..."
++++++++++++
TBC...
Next Time: Brotherly Love?!
Hiyashita Shi Shi Houkou Dan= Iced Lion's Roar Bullet