Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and it's characters are the product and property of rumiko takahashi and viz video.
A Bengal Tale
Part Ten
By Michael Fetter
She was running.
Pussycat wasn't sure how it started. One moment, she was getting to know her old playmate again, discovering things she never knew before.
"WHAT?!" Akane had screamed and then looked at her, accusing, with eyes filled with hurt and betrayal.
Pussycat hadn't followed most of the conversation because she was also getting upset. Why was her mate so angry? Did she do something wrong? It had seemed that the entire morning, so far, Akane had been more irritable. Had something changed?
"I am not a lesbian!" Ukyou screamed.
The two girls, Pussycat knew Ucchan's secret now, were fighting. She thought they were fighting over her, but Akane pushed her away, crying that it had never been real. Ukyou pushed Pussycat back, shouting she wasn't homosexual.
It made Pussycat so confused. She wanted to stop them from hurting each other. Akane was crying and yelling, Ukyou shouting back and waving her hands around. The light caught off the windows and reflected the large spatula over the grill. Pussycat's head was spinning as she tried to follow everything along.
In a sudden quiet, Akane screamed, "I hate you Ranma. How dare you use me like this, you hentai!"
Not in months, since the first time they had met, had Pussycat ever seen Akane pull her mallet on her.
Pussycat bolted, barely skipping around the shattered section of floor where the mallet had sunk.
"Aka-rowr-ne!" she whined again, running through opening streets. Her eyes mainly filled with tears, Pussycat wasn't even aware when the scenery around her changed.
The streets and buildings were gone now. Replaced with long cement walks, winding about a river, lake, and clusters of trees. The park was a natural place for her to hide. Forests were too far away in her current state. Instincts of the cat took over as Pussycat jumped into the foliage, huddling into a covered section of the park.
No one should bother her here. It was too isolated. There weren't even the sounds of children playing or conversation of idle patrons. The memories of Akane's anger was more than she could bare now. What did she do? Was she bad? Why was Akane so angry with her?
Sniffling, "Pu-Pussyca-rowr-at, so-sorry."
Above her, the leaves rustled for a moment as one of the branches was alleviated of some extra weight. Pussycat made little notice of it with her head in her hands.
Sobbing.
Ukyou stared at the mess that had been made of her restaurant. The front door was on one hinge after Pussycat, or should she call her Ranma, rushed out. A few tables and chairs had been overturned and in the center of it all, a large hole, roughly the size of a foot diameter mallet. The only sound, other than pieces of wood crumbling to the floor was the crying of the blue-haired girl.
Ukyou was slowly coming off of her anger induced adrenaline. She became aware of the mess, the tattered remains of Pussycat's clothing, and the hot water dripping off of her pants.
Akane had thrown the kettle at Ranma, returning her to human form, nude human form. Ranma was definitely all woman. How could Akane think that she and Ranma were engaged? "I am not a lesbian." She said again to the sobbing figure on her broken floor.
Eyes red and body limp, Akane looked back up at Ukyou. It was so easy to see him as the girl he was, or she was, whatever. Akane had had it with people who couldn't keep their genders straight. "Ranma is a boy."
Frowning, Ukyou picked up a couple of chairs and a table. She didn't like what had happened and how fast it had gotten out of control, but she wanted answers. Setting Akane into one of the seats, Ukyou waited for her to explain.
Akane's shoulders started to quiver again, but she stifled it, biting her lip. This had been something she never expected. The first decent boy she met, using the reference lightly, and he ended up being a pervert. Ranma must have been using her all along. How else could you explain the fact he never mentioned Ukyou, even when he was still sane?
Finding control of her breathing, Akane looked up into Ukyou's frowning features. "Ranma is cursed."
"I saw that, but I don't see how you can think she is my fiancee." Ukyou hissed.
Gulping, Akane turned to staring at the wood grain. "Twice."
"What was that, sugar?"
"Ranma is cursed, twice." Akane said again. "The pervert fell into a cursed spring in China."
"And how did that happen?"
Blinking, Akane looked at Ukyou guiltily. "Ranma caught me when I fell off one of the poles over the cursed springs."
Ukyou arched an eyebrow. How did that make Ranma a pervert? "And what's this second curse?"
"I-" Akane stuttered again. Things looked different when you weren't caught up in the moment. "I hit her into the 'Spring of Drowned Bengal Tiger'."
"So, you did that to her?" Ukyou asked.
"Him."
"Excuse me?"
Sighing, Akane tried to make Ukyou understand. "Ranma caught me and landed in the 'Spring of Drowned Girl'. Then he got upset with me about it, saying it was my fault, and I hit him into the second spring."
Ukyou blinked. "So, you're saying that . . ."
"Ranma is a boy."
Ukyou seemed conflicted about what to do. Her face went from angry to inquisitive to pitying. "Ranma can't actually be a boy any more, can he?"
Akane shook her head.
Nodding, Ukyou stood up and retreived her combat spatula from over her grill. "C'mon, we better go look for her."
"A-Aren't you mad about what has happened to your fiancee?" Akane asked, standing up slowly.
Ukyou smiled wanly. "No. Maybe a little relieved though."
Akane wasn't certain what that was supposed to mean. She didn't have the time to ask, however, as Ukyou headed out the door in the general direction Ranma had gone.
Ryouga was feeling better by the minute. It was very fortunate for him to have met those two Japanese men or he would never have found his way back to Nerima. He was certain that he would make it to Furinkan High School in no time, and then . . then Ranma would pay!
The grip on his umbrella tightened in anticipation. Revenge would be his. Soon Ranma would be begging at his feet, apologizing for the hell he had put him through.
Ryouga's thoughts would have continued in this pleasant direction if it weren't for the sudden commotion over to one side of the park he was walking through. Someone was crying and being chased by another with a sword.
"Ah, so my servant speaks true. Some heartless deviant has besmirched your good name fiery pig-tailed goddess." Kuno descended upon Pussycat with what he thought was gentlemanly care. "But fear not, my love, you are protected within mine arms! Let us be on our way, to the mansion, where you will be safe at my side for all time!"
Startled, Ranma squirmed in the boy's grasp, pushing his hands away. "L-Let Pussycaaaat go!" She half-sobbed, ineffectually twisting in Kuno's arms. Her eyes too red and bleary to see straight, Ranma could only beat the arrogant boy on the chest with weak fists.
"Ah, but you are trembling!" Holding Pussycat, Kuno walked out of the foliage, staring into the sky. "Calm, I shall escort you to holier places where we shall-"
Not much in the mood to be taken anywhere, Ranma found a good angle to knock Kuno in the jaw with her fist. "You leave-rowr Pussycat alone!" she screamed, sprinting off in another direction.
"Wait, my love! I understand now! You are not to be wooed by simple words. You demand action, a worthy defender! Then I, Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, shall beat you and prove myself!" Somehow, this all made sense to him. Anyone else would think it was time to get his ridillin.
Brandishing his bokken, Kuno took off after Pussycat, ranting and waving his sword as he went.
Ryouga had just made it around the bend when a red blur ran past, tugging at his pant legs. "Wha?"
"Pig tailed goddess, I shall prove my love with your defeat!" the boy holding a bokken declared just as he too made it around the bend.
Blinking, Ryouga examined the wooden sword that had just splintered against his chest where the other boy had been planning to knock him away with.
"You!"
Ryouga looked up to the young man pulling a new bokken from somewhere within the folds of his hakama. "What?"
"Who are you, peasant, to bar the way of true love?!" he demanded.
"Uhm, I'm Ryo-"
"Ah! But it is more honorable for the challenge to be addressed with thine name. Then I begin. I am, the shining morning star of the east, savior of the many goddesses of love, champion of noble Japan, Hero . . ." As Kuno continued, Ryouga lost concentration and started looking around the area for some indication of an overturned ambulance bearing the marks of an asylum.
There was another tug at his pants. Ryouga, having forgotten about the red blur, looked down to see a blue-eyed, tear-stained, pouting girl with red hair. The fact that she was also nude did not go unnoticed.
Turning back around quickly, Ryouga put his free hand over his nose to stifle the sudden downpour of blood. Just don't think about it, he told himself. There is no girl hiding behind you. There is no naked girl hiding behind you. There is no naked girl with a really nice rack hiding behind-"Ack!"
". . . the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High and Rising Star of the Kendo Club, Tatewaki Kuno, age seventeen!" Coming to the end, Kuno was breathing a little harder and leaning against his bokken. It had been a while since he had gone off on his humble glory for so long. Facing the other boy again, he noticed the deep red covering his face and hand clamped over his nose. "I see." Kuno nodded sagely. "You know of my reputation and seek forgiveness for your infraction. Kneel then and you shall recompense as my servant." He needed an extra for when Sasuki was following his sister's orders anyway.
"Uhm, no thanks." He wasn't entirely certain what had been said, but Ryouga was almost sure that the person before him was a salesman of some type. He'd run into plenty of people like this, going off on long tirades about their car or watch or something, and boring him to death until he signed a paper or pulverized something. They didn't always stop after he pulverized something either.
"Then you shall receive my righteous fury, you dog!" Kuno spat, posing dramatically with his bokken raised, lightning striking the ground behind him.
Great, another one. Pulling back his arm with umbrella, Ryouga waited for Kuno to attack, then plant the head of his bamboo umbrella in the annoying boy's mouth. It should fit, he smirked.
Kuno attacked, bokken swinging in a wide arc. Ryouga didn't even bother blocking as he smashed the head of his umbrella through bokken and into Kuno's head.
"I was right." Ryouga nodded to himself, bracing one foot on Kuno's shoulder for leverage. With his umbrella pried out of the unconscious boy's face, Ryouga turned around to look for the girl . . .
"Ack!
. . . forgetting again of her state of undress.
"Thaaaank you for hellllping Pussy-rowr-cat!" Ranma grappled the tall boy around neck, a quick hug and lick across the face to remember a new friend.
"Eyah!" Ryouga had to drop his umbrella and use both hands to cover his nose when Pussycat seemed to drag herself across his body. For Ryouga, the contact, and friction it created, was unbelievable. No woman had ever gotten so close to him, in any state of dress, without bopping him over the head with a broom or something.
By some good fortune, Ryouga toppled over, losing sight of Pussycat and regaining control of some of his senses, namely the tactile ones. "Ouch." Ryouga rubbed his head where he had bounced off the ground.
"Okaaay? Pusseeeecat sor-rowr-ry."
"Uhm," Ryouga hesitated for a moment then started going through his heavy pack, keeping his eyes closed. "Here, put these on."
He felt small hands accept the offered shirt and pants. There was a small pause while Pussycat pulled on the clothing. "Thaaank you-rowr!"
Taking a leap of faith, Ryouga opened his eyes to see a smiling redhead standing just over him, her face mere inches from his own. Blushing, Ryouga scooted back a little, discovered Pussycat wasn't wearing his pants, and blushed further.
"No fit." Ranma handed back the pants. It really didn't seem to matter though. The shirt fell down to mid thigh, but for some reason, the boy had problems tearing his eyes away from her legs. Maybe there was a smudge of dirt. She brushed at her thigh just in case.
Ryouga had to turn about quickly as the redhead bent over. Was she doing this to him on purpose? Of course she was, he thought. Everyone has to get their licks in, Ryouga groused. "So, uhm, what was he chasing you for? Was he the one making you cry?"
"Stupid boy. . . chasssssse Pussy-rowr-cat. Meeean." She growled, giving the kendoist an evil eye.
Nodding, Ryouga stuffed the extra pants back in his pack. "Could you tell me how to get to Furinkan High?"
Turning back to Ryouga, Ranma smiled and nodded her head. "Pussycat lea-rowr-d you!" she chirped then grabbed the boy's hand.
Ryouga continued to blush the entire way, giggling uncontrollably at times. He'd never held a girl's hand before. It was almost too much for him to bear. "D-do you know a boy named Ranma?" Ranma nodded again. "Where can I find him?"
Giggling, Ranma pointed to herself.
". . ." Ryouga blinked. "No, I meant a boy. A boy named Ranma, Ranma Saotome."
Again, Ranma pointed to herself. "Pusseeeeecat Ranma."
"Your name is Pussycat Ranma?"
"No, sssilly." Shake of her head. "Pussycat what Akaaaaneee call R-rowr-anma."
Understanding, Ryouga smiled. "Oh, I see. Pussycat is your nickname. Well I'm looking for a boy named Ranma Saotome. Because of him I have seen hell and I'm going to make him pay for it!" Ryouga declared. That should clear things up, he thought.
This time, a smile of comprehension graced Ranma's face. The boy had seemed familiar when she ran into him in the park and now she was certain of it. This was Ryouga Hibiki, a friend from before! "Say, 'hi, R-rowr-anma.' And wave."
Ryouga blinked, but began to wave, hoping this would somehow help him to find his greatest rival. "Hi, Ranma."
"Hi, R-rowr-youga!" Ranma smiled back, waving.
Frowning, Ryouga looked about the streets again for, perhaps, a second down ambulance. Down at one corner, he could see a pair of teenagers running down the sidewalk, waving and shouting, "Ranma!"
He wasn't going to fall for it. There was no way that this little girl was Ranma Saotome, his greatest rival from middle school.
From the opposite direction, a horde of Chinese Amazons bounded down the streets with a myriad of shining, steel weapons. "RANMA!"
Tearing at his hair, Ryouga screamed at the forming thunder clouds. "FINE! You are Ranma Saotome! But there is no way I am going to fight some weak little girl!"
The skies rumbled, flashing brilliant light in the distance.
Ranma spirits plummeted quickly as her anger rose. Girl? Weak? She would show him how WEAK a GIRL was! "GGGRRRR!!!"
Though the day was cooling and the clouds overhead had blocked out the sun, Ryouga felt strangely warm, the source coming from his side. He looked down to Ranma and was shocked to see her growling, eyes burning with anger, and a blue flame of ki licking the area around her body. "Uh . . hehe, good kitty-cat."
Another flash broke through the darkening skies and a drop of water touched down on Ryouga's nose. He swore, and the first drop was soon followed by a second.
Rip.
Tear.
"Hahahaha! I could not be held back for long!" Oni-Ryouga declared, spreading black, leathery wings to their full extent.
Oni-Ryouga was a demon in the more classical sense. Like the angel, he had wings, stood tall, possessing an inner aura of power that could be seen through his bottomless eyes, and a presence that reached beyond any mortal comprehension. Unlike the angel, Oni-Ryouga had a dark heart, one that sought vengence to quench his anger. His skin ranged through colors from the midnight black of his wings to the rot green of his eyes. Everything in between was just a dark shade of that putrid decay.
"Growl."
"Wha?" Oni-Ryouga blinked and looked down to his side to see a slightly confused Bengal tiger with reddish fur. "Oh, this is too perfect. Well done my little minions, you serve your Master well. I shall enjoy ripping Ranma apart with my bare hands." He laughed again and opened his right hand in Neko-Ranma's direction. "DIE!"
Neko-Ranma only had time to blink in surprise as a pure black bolt struck him across the side. He was knocked completely off of his feet and across the street, breaking through a restaurant wall. He would have continued in that direction if not for the hot metal piping Neko-Ranma encountered beneath a kitchen sink.
"No!" Akane watched in horror as Neko-Ranma was hurtled the distance and through a building. There was no way Ranma could be dead now, but Akane couldn't help but feel the knot in her stomach grow even stronger. If only she'd gotten here sooner. If she hadn't driven Ranma away like she did. "You bastard!"
"No, wait, Akane!" Ukyou tried to grab a hold of the enraged girl, but the piece of shirt she could keep in her fingers was a tattered remain of the change. The large, heavily striped, Bengal tiger pounded across the sidewalk, teeth bared and claws unsheathed. A few feet behind, Ukyou followed, her hands reaching for the battle spatula strapped across her back.
Shit, Ukyou thought, that thing looks tough. What was that blast he used? She felt certain she was out of her league here, but she had befriended Pussycat, and if there was one thing you could count on Ukyou Kounji for was helping a friend. Gritting her teeth, Ukyou jumped high to bring the flat of her spatula down on the Oni's head.
"And what's this?" Oni-Ryouga questioned, deflecting the spatula with his forearm, continuing the block to bring the same fist onto the tiger's head. "Insects? Hahahahaha, you would pose even less of a threat than Ranma had. Hahahahaha!"
Grabbing the tiger by the scruff of the neck, Oni-Ryouga swung Neko-Akane in a fast arc until she made contact with his second attacker.
"Oh shi-!" Ukyou found her self pressed between a cement wall and a large Bengal tiger soon after her initial attack. It all happened so fast. She could barely see the demon as he moved to block and strike their attacks. One moment the tiger had been at her side and the next Ukyou was eating a mouthful of black fur.
The two of them slumped to the ground, losing consciousness before contact with the wall. Ukyou ended up draped over the large tiger, her battle spatula clattering down to the ground further off in the street. A stream of blood was draining out of her mouth from the squeeze she had received upon impact. If not for her training many of her internal organs would surely have ruptured and failed. Akane was better off, but only slightly. Her tough tiger hide staved off most of the damage, but the fist to the base of her skull had put her down for the count from the beginning. She would never even recall being thrown.
A naked Ranma growled from where she collapsed onto the ground. The hot water still ran across her body, burning the skin from the extreme temperature. If she could she would pull herself up and kill the demon for hurting her mate, but consciousness was slipping through her control.
So much, right now, she wanted to hurt that demon. Ranma could sense the slight shift in Akane's aura that told her Akane's body was trying to heal itself. Ranma sought the anger to go berserk, but her eyes kept shifting back to Akane, concerned. It didn't help that she was feeling so sleepy.
Her head hurt too much to even see straight. Ranma could only make out the fuzzy images of her Neko-Akane being thrown into a wall.
"Get me the little redheaded bitch!" Oni-Ryouga roared at the Amazons. "I want to make her suffer!"
Weak and dazed as she was, Ranma could not put up any resistance as she was lifted from the ground by a pair of strong arms and carried off. She tried her best to see if Akane would be alright, but the darkness overwhelmed her then.
Ranma's body went limp as the person carried her swiftly from the rubble.
End Chapter Ten
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