Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and it's characters are the product and property of rumiko takahashi and viz video.
A Bengal Tale
Part Three
By Michael Fetter
Genma, Soun, and the guide elected to sleep under the stars after witnessing Ranma's savagery. The only person that seemed to be safe from Ranma now was Akane. The next morning saw Ranma turning into a tiger, going insane, but being controlled by Akane. In fact, in her cursed, or second cursed, form, Ranma became very protective of Akane anytime the Neko-ken took over. Neko-Ranma would growl at either father if they seemed to act threateningly. Of course, it didn't take much for her to attack Genma at all and so the Saotome patriarch had to give Ranma a wide birth to remain safe. Soun too decided it was safer for him to walk beside Genma a good thirty feet ahead of Akane and Ranma. Neko-Ranma apparently didn't trust the fathers at all to stand behind them.
"Are we almost there?" Akane called to her father. Ranma was again stuck in the Neko-ken, but it was getting better since she no longer attacked anyone at first sight. Akane rather enjoyed having such a friendly tiger at her side to pet.
"Yes. I can see the village only a short distance off." Soun called back.
They were heading for the Amazon village as the Chinese guide had suggested. From his position, Soun could see the barricade surrounding the village and hear the feint sound of cheering. Must be some sort of festival going on, he guessed.
"Do you think these Amazons will have some sort of cure for the Jusenkyou curses?" Genma asked.
"I hope so. Ranma seems to unstable now to return to Japan." Soun glanced over his shoulder to see Akane petting cursed Ranma-chan as they walked along the path. "At least Akane is able to keep her under control."
"Him." Genma stated. "Ranma is still a boy. Those curses don't change anything."
Soun cast Ranma another worried glance. "Whatever you say, Genma."
The travelers reached the front gates of the village after some fifteen more minutes of hiking. The sentries admitted them since the day's festivities were open for public witness. It was one of the few occasions that the Amazons would allow anyone to enter their village. At the moment, two girls were standing on a log supported by ropes tied to tree branches above. One of the girls had purple hair and wielded two spherical maces, using them with proficient skill.
Thinking more with his stomach, however, Genma noticed the large pile of food set on a table at one end of the fighting square. His stomach gurgling in response to the sight made the decision to take some of the delicious food off of the Amazons hands. It's just sitting there going to waste anyway!
"They are quite excellent fighters, don't you think Saotome-kun? Saotome-kun?" Soun looked around for his friend, but could find him nowhere. "Akane did you see where Saotome went to?"
Akane shook her head no. "Ranma?" The tiger at her side looked up. "Do you know where Saotome-san is?" Ranma sniffed the air then looked over in the direction of a large pile of food. "Thank you, Ranma. He's over there, daddy." Akane pointed to the food.
Soun smiled at the helpful Ranma. "Ah, thank you . . . oh my!"
"What's wrong, daddy?"
"I . . . I don't think Genma should be eating that food."
As if on cue, all eyes in the Amazon village turned to where Genma was stuffing his face. The girl with the purple hair had just beaten her last opponent and declared winner of the tournament. The food was supposed to be her prize.
A very upset and dangerous purple-haired girl began to advance on Genma with her bonbori drawn. She yelled at him in Chinese, Mandarin dialect, but Genma only looked at her in confusion.
"Do you understand what she's saying, Tendou?" Genma asked his friend.
Soun shook his head. "No, but she's definitely upset about something. I don't think you are supposed to eat that food."
"What!" Genma looked at the girl in surprise. "It was going to waste. I couldn't in good conscience let that happen." He said with some idea that he was making a valid point that should be obvious to anyone.
An old woman balancing on a cane like a pogo stick, hopped through the crowd. "You should listen to your friend, pig. Shampoo is quite upset at you for eating her prize."
"This was the prize!" Genma considered his options and decided to try trickery. "I didn't see any signs."
The old woman pointed her cane at a large sign swaying slightly in the breeze, stating in Chinese and Japanese that the food was the first prize.
Genma swallowed and tried again. "I didn't eat that much."
The old woman pointed at the remaining food, of which there was only half.
It was at this time that the other villagers began to display their weapons. Admittedly, Genma was good at Anything Goes style, but the odds of his survival were not in his favor. "Uhm, Tendou-san, a little help?"
"Yes, well." Soun thought for a moment. "What if one of us beats Shampoo then the prize would be ours anyway, right?"
"Correct, but we only allow women to enter." The old woman stated.
Soun glanced over his shoulder at Akane, who shrugged her shoulders. "How about if my daughter . . ."
"Ha!" The old woman laughed. She could tell from where she stood that Akane would not present a problem for Shampoo. "Your daughter is not good enough to beat my Shampoo."
Upset at being laughed at, Akane had to agree that she didn't like her chances against Shampoo, especially after being tossed about by Ranma the other day. Ranma! She looked at the tiger for a second then grabbed a cup of tea out of someone's hand. "How about if she fights?" The water was just warm enough to trigger the curse.
Ranma blinked her eyes to find herself in the middle of a village. She still didn't remember anything after being in Neko-ken, but Akane and she had worked out a travel arrangement for her clothes. She blushed a moment after appearing naked in front of a large group of women. "Uhm, what's going on Akane-chan?"
"Time to fight, Ranma." She answered as the redhead finished tying up the too small gi.
Ranma blinked again as he looked about the assembled Amazons. "All of them?"
The old woman laughed at Ranma's question and almost lost balance. The idea of an outsider taking on all of the Amazon tribe, she would be dead in a few seconds. "No, young one. You must only fight my great granddaughter Shampoo."
"Who are you and why do I gotta fight her?"
"I am Cologne, Matriarch of the Amazons, and you are fighting to save that man's life."
Ranma stared at the man Cologne had pointed to. She started to get a little upset and turned to Akane. "Do I gotta save his life?"
Akane considered it for a moment and would have preferred to see Genma roasted alive, but Ranma had to be better than her father. This was one way of doing it. "Yeah, I think you should."
Ranma frowned, having hoped for a different answer. She scowled at the 'fat mouse' and made her way to the suspended log.
Shampoo smiled and flipped onto the other end of the log. "Shampoo beat silly girl then beat fat old man." She stated while bringing her bonbori up in front of her.
Adopting an ambiguous fighting stance, Ranma frowned a bit, but waited for Shampoo to make her attack. She would still much rather leave the old man to whatever torture the Amazons had in mind, but . . .
Noticing the weak stance her opponent had taken, Shampoo smirked and moved in to finish the fight quickly with a few quick jabs of her bonbori. She was surprised to see the redhead dodge each and every one of her attacks. Missing by only a few centimeters. She fast!
Shampoo is quick, Ranma thought then snapped her leg up to catch the Amazon under the chin, but not fast enough. Ranma continued to watch in a bored tone, as Shampoo fell to the ground. It was almost comical how things seemed to slow down as the Amazon bounced off the ground. "I win."
There was shocked silence as everyone in the village stared at the outsider who had so easily beaten the champion of the tournament. Not a single breath was drawn or a curse muttered. It was so quiet, Ranma could hear the creaking of the ropes tied about the log and the chirping of distant birds.
"Is something wrong?" Ranma asked, looking about the village. "Hey, is this the village the guide was telling us about Akane?!" Akane smiled and nodded her head. "Great! Does anyone here know how to get rid of a curse?"
"Aiya!" Shampoo exclaimed as she jumped back onto the log. "I know how lose curse."
"Really!" Ranma smiled gleefully at the purple-haired girl.
Shampoo nodded and got very close to Ranma, quickly kissing her on the cheek. "I give Kiss of Death! Now I kill!"
"Huh?!" Was all Ranma could get out before she was forced to dodge more attacks by the Amazon's bonbori. "What's this about?!" Ranma flipped over Shampoo as she ran out of room on the log to dodge. "Was is something I said?!" She wasn't tiring, but having to dodge these pathetic attacks was growing tedious. Flashing out her hands, Ranma chopped both weapons in half and followed through with a double palm heel strike to the other girl's stomach, knocking her cleanly off the log and into the nearby stands. Nearby, as in only twenty feet away.
"You are foolish girl!" Cologne shouted. Ranma looked down at her then at Akane and their fathers. Each of them had a blade of some sort pressed against their throats.
"What's going on? Why are you threatening my friends? Why was that girl tryin' ta kill me?" Ranma was very confused, but she was also becoming very angry at seeing Akane being held up so. "You better answer me before things get messy!" She snarled and took an offensive stance.
"You beat my Shampoo and she gave you the Kiss of Death. We will release your friends after she has killed you." Cologne spoke evenly.
Ranma thought about this a moment. What did she have left to live for? She was a girl, unable to regain her male form, and she was cursed to become a . . . one of those things. Life had dealt her a bad hand. Chip in now and she could save three lives and relieve herself of this misery.
Smiling a little smile, Ranma jumped down to the ground and sat on her knees, her head hung low to give her executioner an easy target. "So long as I have your word that my friends will be released unharmed." Cologne nodded. "Then be my guest. I ain't got much to live for anyways."
Akane gasped and turned white as she watched Ranma place himself in the traditional seppuku kneeling position. Did she really mean this? Why?! Was it really that horrible?! "Ranma! Don't do this! Will find a cure! Both of us! You don't have to let it end like this! This is the coward's way out and you aren't a coward, Ranma! Don't you dare give up this easily!" This wasn't working! Nothing was reaching Ranma. She was just sitting there waiting for Shampoo to take a sword from a sister Amazon. Akane had to do something before Ranma made a big mistake.
Inspiration! "Ranma!" She growled at the redhead. "You're acting like a girl! Be a man and accept what life has given you! Men don't die on their knees! Stop acting like a GIRL!!!" Man, Akane was going to kick herself in the shin for this later.
How could she! Ranma fumed silently. Call me a girl, huh?! I ain't no damn girl! Not even in this body! I'm still the best god damn martial artist and this body ain't gonna stop me! How dare she call me a . . . "I AM NOT A GIRL!!!" Ranma roared, a blue aura crackled around her body and spread out for a few feet in all directions. Ranma saw red.
The first to go down was Shampoo as Ranma deflected her sword swing and let loose a Hail Mary of an uppercut that sent the Amazon into the sky. A dozen other women followed Shampoo into the sky, the ones holding her friends at swords end. Her friends safe, Ranma turned on the rest of the Amazons waiting for someone to make a move.
There were at least thirty warriors standing around her, each carrying a bladed weapon of one type of another. With a unanimous war cry, they charged the single outsider, who just happened to be glowing like Tokyo Tower during New Years.
Ranma screamed and threw her hands out before her. She would swear she had never done anything like this before, but Ranma suddenly had the ability to throw about ki attacks like she had endless reserves. It was quite a rush. All of that energy just flowing through her body, taking out a few of the female warriors with nary a thought. If this was insanity, then it truly was bliss. So much energy! So much power! Ranma was unbeatable!
"Ranma! Ranma that's enough! Ranma!" Damn, it's just like the Neko-ken; Ranma can barely control herself. All this because I called her a girl. I have to stop her before someone is seriously injured. Akane continued to scream. "Ranma! It's okay! We're safe now! Ranma, come here! Ranma!"
Something is wrong. Ranma started to waver where she stood. On the fringe of his sanity, she could hear someone calling her name. Akane? Akane is calling me. Everyone is safe. I don't have to hurt anyone else. But I like this! I like the power. No!
Ranma was waging an internal battle as her thoughts began to conflict with each other. Akan is sad! She wants me to stop hurting them! She's scared. She wants me to come to her! Akane wants me! I have to stop!
The few conscious Amazons remaining, watched as the blue aura flickered out of existence and the redhead continued to waver. She was unable to hold herself still and she stumbled over to the other girl who had been calling out her name.
Ranma looked over at Akane and saw her as if she were seeing through a dense fog. Akane had her arms out, inviting her to fall into the girl's embrace. "Akane." Ranma whispered and stumbled a few more steps in the other girl's direction. "Akane."
Poor girl, Akane thought. Ranma looks absolutely spent of energy. Akane held her arms out for Ranma and the redhead collapsed into her embrace. "I've got you Ranma. You're okay now. I've got you."
"Akane." Ranma smiled again before slipping into unconsciousness.
"Absolutely remarkable."
"Are you sure this is necessary?"
"Don't worry, dear. If things are okay as you suggest then we won't have anything to worry about."
"Will she remember anything this time?"
"I'm uncertain. This is the first one we have gotten back alive. Absolutely remarkable."
"I don't see what's so great. She almost lost her mind."
"But that's just . . . she's coming to. Ranma? Can you hear me?"
"Ranma? It's Akane. Are you all right?"
Ranma blinked and rolled her eyes out from the back of their sockets. "A . . Akane."
"I'm here, Ranma."
She began to see some detail. It was fuzzy at first, but the hand on her cheek had to be Akane. It felt so nice. "My head hurts and I'm so tired."
"I know, Ranma." Akane stroked the redhead's cheek a few more times. "I just wanted to make sure you were all right."
"Thanks, Akane." Ranma started to scan the room a little more carefully as things came into greater detail. She could see Akane sitting over her and smiling. It felt like a soft cushion was laid down beneath her, a bed maybe. It would be a first, Ranma thought. The room was dark and smelled a bit musty, but it was comfortable. Next to Akane, Ranma could make out a large raisin on a stick. "Hi, Cologne. Do you know how to get rid of curses?"
"I'm afraid not." Cologne answered honestly.
"Oh." This all felt very strange to Ranma. All that time spent in the Neko-ken was having some strange affects on her personality, but it was never like this before. If felt like she was slowly coming out of a drunken stupor. "I guess we should go."
Ranma tried to pull herself off the bed, but something was holding her down. As her eyes focused just a bit more then finally cleared completely, Ranma made out a number of straps had been tied to her arms and ankles to keep her in the bed. "Or maybe you want me to stay a bit longer." She tested the strength of each bond. They were tough, but the wood frame they were tied to was not. Ranma considered breaking free, but chose to wait and find out what was going to happen.
Cologne chuckled again at the redhead's words. This Ranma is quite an amusing character. "The bindings were just put on for our protection. Since you are recovered, I see no need for them." A tap of her cane and each of the straps fell off Ranma's limbs. She watched with some amazement as Ranma sat up in the bed. "Amazing. The amount of energy you used should have kept you in bed for another week at least."
"No. I'm okay now. Should we leave now, Akane-chan?" Ranma asked the girl kneeling down in front of her.
"It's too late to go anywhere right now, Ranma. You were asleep for a day and a half." Akane continued to stroke the redhead's hair to keep Ranma calm. Not that she needed to, but Akane had gotten used to petting Ranma.
"How is everyone else?" Ranma asked as she leaned into the stroking hand. That feels nice, she thought and began to purr unconsciously. Apparently her second curse was helping her get over her fear of cats if she was willing to purr when she was in her right mind.
Akane smiled and tried scratching Ranma behind the ear. She had to stifle a giggle as Ranma reacted just as she had under the Neko-ken. "We're all fine. The Amazons are treating us like honored guests. Well, everyone except for your father."
Visions of her pops being tortured brought a smile to Ranma's face. "That's okay then." Ranma began to nuzzle at Akane's neck, still purring.
Akane laughed a little bit louder, but continued to pet her friend's hair and neck. "Ranma, that tickles."
"Ahem." How easily these young ones forget your even in the room, Cologne thought. Her Shampoo was the same way when it came to fighting.
"Oh, sorry." Akane blushed and took a step back from Ranma. Ranma frowned a bit, but looked over to Cologne and waited.
"We still have the problem with Shampoo's Kiss of Death." Cologne began. Ranma quickly lost interest.
"So?"
The elder frowned, but understood that Ranma had wanted to die before and likely nothing had changed. It also didn't help matters that Ranma could destroy the village if he chose to go berserk again. "Your friend Akane doesn't want you to die so the Council has been discussing the matter."
"So?"
Okay, so she's a little unimpressed by the gravity of the situation. I shouldn't have expected anything else from a person ready to give up their life. Cologne frowned a little deeper as Ranma purred again to make Akane come back to the bedside. "They have decided that to remove the Kiss of Death you would have to become a part of the Amazon tribe. You are a very strong girl and should make a fine addition to our tribe."
"No."
It was simple and held no anger or disrespect, but it was enough to shave the elder's patience thin. "You don't really have a choice, girl."
Ranms stopped purring at Akane and settled her eyes on Cologne's. The blue fire reflected in each pupil was enough to give the elder pause. "I'm not leaving Akane-chan. And Akane-chan is going to Japan. So I am going to Japan."
"I'm also told that you used to be a boy." Cologne stated evenly.
The fire returned to Ranma's eyes with a little more intensity. "I am a boy." Ranma growled.
"Yes, that is what our Amazon beliefs say too. In that case you should know that you are now married to most of the women in our tribe. It is our laws." Can't let a strong man, or women, get away. Ranma would produce some very strong Amazons.
"No."
Cologne almost fell off her cane. A boy turning down a tribe of beautiful female warriors, and for what? For this Akane girl?! "What do you mean no?"
"I'm not leaving Akane-chan. Akane-chan said she would take care of me and make things better." The fire in Ranma's eyes was growing even brighter, the whole eye almost turning blue from the glow.
Cologne jumped back a few feet as she watched the beginnings of the berserker take over the redhead. She'd been told a story once of how a berserker had nearly destroyed the village and killed more than forty of the best warriors before someone could put him down. Ranma was not someone to get on your bad side, especially with his amount of control over the berserker. No one has ever been able to control themselves as a berserker. Awesome and frightening were only two words that barely scratched the surface to describe Ranma.
"Well then . . . I'll just let you rest for a while and we'll discuss this some more when you are feeling more refreshed." Cologne made a hasty retreat. She was powerful and strong, but she was by no standards, strong enough to take on Ranma.
"I should probably go to bed too." Akane said as she stood up, letting her hand drift across Ranma's cheek one more time.
"But . . . I don't want you to go." Ranma pouted, sort of. It's hard for someone on the edge of the berserker to pout properly.
"Well, I can't sleep with you again, Ranma. We're both girls and it just wouldn't be proper."
Ranma's face saddned and she looked about the room for something to give her and idea. She spotted it on the low table near the head of her bead. Reaching over, Ranma grabbed the glass of water and up ended it over her head.
"Ranma! If you keep doing that you'll rip up all my clothes!" Akane admonished the Bengal tiger half sitting on the bed, the front paws resting on the ground. From this angle, Akane did notice that Ranma's tiger form was definitely male. That's weird, my tiger form is female. I wonder if the spring knew what Ranma was before the curse? "Well, can't let their sacrifice go for nothing, can we?" Neko-Ranma shook his head. This time, however, Akane noted the definite glimmer of Ranma's mind as he assumed the cursed body. "Let's go then, Ranma."
The two cursed individuals strolled out of the room and headed for Akane's bedroom in the same building.
From a dark corner in the hallway, Cologne's frown deepened.
End Chapter Three
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Or email me at jehtek@hotmail.com
Ja ne!