Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi. This story is for the free use and enjoyment of those who read it.
Schools United
Chapter Seven
By Michael Fetter
Okaasan took a deep breath and finished packing away her belongings. Ryouga had carried them to the room she would be sharing with Hiro while in the village. Hiro was, at the moment, out and about, learning some of the various techniques of the Amazon worriers, from a young girl in particular. He is so manly, Okaasan smiled and folded up the backpack and set it in one corner of the room.
She'd been worried as of late over her voyage and it's purpose. She'd intended to purge herself of these demons that had plagued her for eight long years of marriage. Soun's grip on her was not so tight, but she felt pains on occasion as Hiro would sometimes look forlornly to the other happy families, even Shampoo's seemed blissful.
How had that happened, Okaasan wasn't entirely certain. Eight years ago Shampoo had made one last attempt to win her 'Airen' with a bowl of ramen and a pretty smile.
She, then unmarried, had been hard at work within the dojo in an attempt to forget those problems that followed. On that day, Happousai, Soun, her father, her friends, and even the Tendou sisters seemed against her, planning some way to make life that much more difficult to bear. Had it been any mystery that she wanted her freedom? Okaasan sighed with despair as the severity's of her life came crashing into her mind; too many fiancées, enemies, and promises that she could no longer keep up with and remain herself.
Flicking the pigtail over her shoulder, she had picked up a towel and wiped down the sweat that rolled over her shoulders. It had been a long day and seemed to only be picking up momentum.
"Airen! Shampoo bring too too good ramen for Ranma!" Came the twittering sounds of the Nekohaten's delivery girl.
She wasn't on her bike and Ranma had no fear of being trampled onto the ground beneath a tire. Instead the cursed boy had watched the Amazon bounce over the Tendou's wall, tight clothing accentuating her figure and the prolific expression on her face beaming like the sun. Ranma grimaced slightly, but her growling stomach received more the attention.
"Hey, Shampoo, what's up?" Her voice was vaguely monotone to express her exhaustion with the event.
Setting the delivery box to one side, Shampoo launched herself into a glomp on Ranma's arm. The lavender-haired girl may not like the Ranma-chan as much as Ranma-kun, but she had been getting more desperate than usual to gain Ranma's affection.
Spitting the purple hair from her mouth, Ranma-chan struggled a moment to escape her predicament. "Let go of me, will ya?!"
"Husband eat Shampoo's ramen, yes?" Shampoo asked, already holding up a few strands of the noodles with her chopsticks.
Nodding, Ranma-chan grabbed the chopsticks and bowl. "Oh yeah. I had to skip breakfast since Akane's cookin. I'm starved." She claimed around the food she'd already begun to stuff into her mouth.
Shampoo smiled and leaned closer as they sat down against the wall of the dojo. A nice breeze cooled Ranma's skin and dried the sweat from her brow. She was still a she, Ranma noticed as her body reacted to the wind. Shampoo watched with a broader grin while Ranma-chan ate faster. "Is good yes?"
"The best." Ranma-chan nodded around her chopsticks, already near the end of the bowl.
Biting her lip Shampoo drew closer. "Ranma love Shampoo, yes?"
That had been it. Sighing, Ranma-chan set the bowl down and closed her eyes for a moment. She never held grudges for very long, except for Saffron maybe, and she was well on the road to forgetting the wedding ceremony disaster. Until now, that was.
"No, Shampoo." She stared at the Amazon hard, the cold finality settling in her eyes. "You an I might be friends, but we ain't gonna be any closer. Not ever."
"W-What airen talking about?" Shampoo smiled weakly. "Is true love, yes. Shampoo strong, good fighter. Take care of husband."
"It ain't gonna be me, Shampoo." Ranma held the bowl out for the Amazon and tried to ignore the tears that were rolling down the girl's cheeks at this moment.
"It was a rough day for a lot of us." Okaasan sighed as she came back to reality. She had stripped out of the stained traveling clothes and found a simple kimono. It wasn't likely she would be doing any fighting with Kuno in the pit. Cologne hadn't been joking about that. Kuno was right now screaming his head off in a damp dirt hole that was twenty feet underground and covered with a steel gate. Though, his screaming wasn't going to be heard it still rattled Akane somewhat.
Out the window Okaasan could see the main path down the village leading to the exhibition ring. Hiro was that way now with a sweet young girl he'd met upon arriving in the village. That was one of the big troubles with training trips, Okaasan thought, there was so little time to make friends and then you moved on.
She'd caught them in the midst of a fight the other day after she had recovered somewhat and visited with Shampoo and Cologne. There was a big change. Shampoo was married to Mousse and with her second child.
"Hiro!" She had screamed and rushed over, catching her son by the ankle and holding him in the air. He was certainly unhappy about being held upside down and the young girl with dark purple hair had giggled.
"What's the big idea, Okaasan?" Hiro demanded, attempting to release himself from her grip. Okaasan wasn't as good as she used to be but it would take more than an eight-year-old to best her strength. "I was about to win!"
Huffing slightly, Okaasan did put Hiro back on the ground and put her hand over her side. "I know you were, Hiro-kun, but I don't like you hitting girls."
Hiro stared at her oddly then at the young Amazon who seemed to be burning with anger. "Why not?"
"Because it isn't manly." Okaasan finally settled on and stared at the young girl. She was about eight, maybe nine years old, lean and strong for her age with the hint of mischief in her eyes. "And who might you be?"
"This is my daughter Blush, Tendou-chan." Said Shampoo as she sauntered up. Blush looked smug at this and crossed her arms over her chest, probably expecting Shampoo to do away with the outsider woman.
"Your daughter?" Okaasan asked.
Shampoo nodded and put a hand on Blush's shoulder. Okaasan could see it now, there was not a familial resemblance, but the hairstyle, buns with ponytails, were identical.
Blinking, Okaasan peered closer. "She looks as old as Hiro. How is-"
"Blush is adopted." Cologne hobbled over and stood between them, her gnarled cane gripped tightly in her left hand. "Three years ago a fire ignited in a portion of the village and Blush's parents never awoke."
Looking sadly at the little girl who seemed angrier than she had been, Okaasan felt a bit of sorrow, but was happy to hear how selfless Shampoo had been.
"You don't need to worry about the Kiss of Marriage or the Kiss of Death while in the village Tendou-chan." Shampoo spoke with a bit of melancholy. "You and your family are here as my guests and would require your permission before a challenge may be made."
Okaasan felt some of the tension abate and nodded in thanks to her ex-fiancée.
"Aww!" Blush moaned, stamping her foot at the injustice. "That not fair!"
The three older women chuckled at the girl's face as it turned a bright red. She was quite aptly named.
Hiro was confused, but remained quiet and wary. After a moment, Blush composed herself and stood as tall as she could, facing Okaasan. "Blush want challenge strong boy."
Okaasan shook her head though she was smiling happily at how manly her son was. "Sorry, Blush, but maybe you should be friends first. There is plenty of time."
Pouting a bit, the young girl looked to Hiro and then back to Okaasan. "We spar, yes?"
"Of course. Hiro?" Okaasan motioned the boy to come closer.
"Hai, momma?"
Tussling his hair affectionately, Okaasan stared into Hiro's eyes. "Have fun. Just don't grow up too quickly."
He stared at her a moment, but eventually nodded and Blush took him back to the arena for a match.
Shampoo and Cologne had been concerned about her then, though they hid it behind a smile. Shampoo was fast learning how to be a Matriarch, including the unreadable expression her great grandmother employed so often.
They returned to Shampoo's home so Okaasan could rest and change out of her bloody clothing. Some cool water and scrub did well to remove the dried blood. After a simple meal, Okaasan set to bed early, the bed beckoning her to relieve the pain in her side.
The other child, Gloss, Shampoo had shown him off before their meal. Gloss was an infant yet, barely four months old. While he slept, Gloss would bat at something in his dreams. Cologne had said he would be a natural fighter, which Shampoo had responded to with a pointed glare.
Mousse was relatively gentlemanly. He watched Okaasan for the first hour of her arrival into their home, acting smug and putting his arm around Shampoo whenever he could. While Shampoo had come to love the blind boy, his attitude had grated on her nerves and she jabbed him in the ribs a few times as he put his arms around her.
Akane and Ryouga were given a room to share, which delighted Okaasan to no end. There was some bickering of course, but it was plain to see how the two were becoming close once again. Okaasan had felt certain the two would become a real couple any day now. Akane had almost abandoned her pursuit of Ranma entirely; she kept quiet and watched the proceedings with restraint. Ryouga too had been silent most of the time they were here. Occasionally they would glance at Cologne and look away again quickly.
There was something strange there, Okaasan thought speculatively as she watched the looks Akane and Ryouga gave Cologne.
Okaasan closed her eyes and braced herself against the drawers. She felt close to something, so tangible like a swallowed barbed wire pill. Her lungs and chest ached, heart quickening, something upon her intangible thoughts was striking a chord down her spinal column. Something deep within her, an unconscious desire that had always lingered, something she had wanted since the first day and feared all the same, was pushing its way to the surface.
She needed air, time to breathe. How could all of this be happening now? Did her mind know the truth after all this time and was forcing her to feel again? Buried so deep inside, she'd almost forgot . . . Ranma.
~
Hiro was born on a Thursday. Despite the pain and mental anguish of all he'd had to endure, Ranma felt some peace with the child in his arms. After the hours of painful child labor, a pain he'd never thought he'd face, to hold this small being, so trusting and innocent, Ranma could not say it had been a mistake.
Ranma had wanted to return to his male body, but his cursed form was sending other signals to his brain. It was a woman's need to nurture her child, he assumed, and felt no shame for it. As long as the child was his, Ranma would do all he could to make him happy.
Holding Hiro close, Ranma let the infant suckle at his . . her breast. She was his mother now. Ranma knew this long ago, he was the mother, but it never felt right, not real enough until now. She, she was a mother. It was time to adapt like a true master of the Art with the spirit of Anything Goes. Ranma would adapt to this new element in her life.
For the past few hours, she had been content. The past held no sway on this moment of bliss. Ranma smiled down on her beautiful baby boy, the one she would raise to be an undying flame. She could already sense his spirit, the one so young and ready to know the world.
Closing her eyes, Ranma cradled the child tenderly to her bosom, closing her mind to the past and just embracing the moment. If only it could last, Ranma thought remorsefully.
Everything shattered like glass as the door to her hospital room swung open and a small group of people entered.
"How is my baby boy doing?" Soun grinned stupidly as he came to sit at Ranma's side.
Ranma reacted on instinct, pulling Hiro away from Soun's hand. He'd only wanted to touch his child, but Ranma still couldn't get over the way he'd hurt her. Soun would never lay a hand upon Ranma to strike her, but each time, every little word he uttered, was a slap in her face. Hiro was to be protected from these horrible things. Her baby was to live not be run down by this disgusting man.
"Ranma." Nodoka was sitting on the opposite side of Ranma's bed, smiling sadly, but still a little too happy for Ranma. "Soun isn't going to hurt your baby. He is the . . father."
Ranma didn't look at her, didn't speak, she just stared at her child, suckling at her breast, and felt the momentary happiness slip away. Nothing was hers. Nothing.
Soun accepted the child as it was passed over to him. He made silly cooing sounds and let Hiro grip his finger. Ranma watched, carefully to be sure her child was safe.
Outside, others were standing at the door, looking in to see the newborn. Feeling more isolated with these people around her, Ranma began to close herself up once again. Nine months, the only time she'd felt secure was on the run. Ranma pulled her hospital gown back over her chest and laid back on the bed, her head turned away from the others.
Ono Toufuu and Ono Kasumi had almost the same looks on their faces as they watched the silent drama. There was a deep concern for Ranma's mental health and they both feared what would happen to her in the long run. Ranma was closing herself off from the world for protection. In her mind, everyone was beating her down, and Kasumi and Toufuu believed it too.
"What a happy beautiful baby you are." Soun continued to gibber to the mainly unresponsive infant. "My strong little boy." Soun's first and only son; he had a proper heir.
My son, Ranma thought, you will be happy and strong. You are my only ray of sunshine and I will never let anything dim your spirit. All my want, desires, dreams, hopes, they are all for you. From my breast you will grow and with every day the last pieces of me will be yours to learn from.
A tear escaped Ranma's eye, the last fragment of misery Ranma would ever show for her past.
Okaasan blinked it away and set her face with a will of ice. "Husband." She spoke strictly, a manner of which reflected Nodoka's in most parts. "Hiro was not finished."
Soun was startled from his musing as he heard her voice, as was everyone else. He looked at the redhead who held his gaze with command. Carefully, Hiro was passed over to his mother and returned to her breast.
Okaasan stroked the child's head and closed her eyes, hoping to shield herself form the outside world and find the illusive peace she'd had minutes ago.
~
"Kasumi!" Nabiki waved her hand from where she sat in the airport terminal. "Over here!"
Kasumi smiled and waved back, the simple blue housedress she wore swished as she made her way through the crowds. It was a busy day as it always was at the Tokyo International Airport. Men from all over, wearing business suits, were bustling about, munching down a quick meal before flights or scurrying off to the baggage claim area.
Stepping past a few small children, Kasumi made her way to Nabiki. "I was afraid I wasn't going to make it for a while there."
"Traffic?"
Kasumi nodded and looked behind herself. Nodoka stepped into view.
"Grandma?" Nabiki blinked in surprise. "I didn't know you would be joining us."
"Yes." Nodoka settled down into the vacant seat beside her granddaughter. The family katana was no longer with her, given to Ranma, but the sword of her maiden's name rested across her lap. It was more stylish and less functional than the other sword, but demanded the same amount of respect. "Kasumi told me of your journey. I wasn't sure if I should accompany you two, but she thought something important would be happening to your mother."
Nabiki nodded, watching Nodoka brush back a few gray hairs behind her ears. The woman was only in her mid-fifties and with the looks and grace of someone ten years younger. Some part of Nabiki's mind was hopeful to be as beautiful as Nodoka in her middle years. "Have you got a ticket? I might be able to get one though it's a little late."
"I purchased a ticket a few days ago." Nodoka smiled and watched Kasumi settle down beside her. "Have you spoken with your mother recently, Nabiki?"
She shook her head. "Not since before she left Kyoto."
Sighing, Nodoka nodded and watched the other patrons shuffle passed. "Do you know what my daughter is planning?"
"No, sorry."
There was a long silence while they each mused an idea or two, but nothing stood concrete. This journey was not simply for Hiro's benefit or to look for a new place to live. The Tendou matriarch may think her life set, but her family knew better.
"Obasan?" Kasumi questioned softly. "Do . . do you think Ranma will ever return to us?"
Nodoka remained silent. 'Ranma' spoken in such a way by her grandchildren would only refer to the person who lived before this tragedy. She'd cried many nights after hearing of her son's loss of manhood.
Honor was a stain in their lives. Nobility, it was a word for fools. No one's honor was worth the price her family had paid. The time she drew the sword on her own child and forced this marriage to Soun, she'd slain her son. As Ranma retreated into the back of his own mind, so did Nodoka destroy her past and pray for a better future.
This journey. Would it find a way to bring back her son? Nodoka shivered. She hoped not. Not after what she'd done to him.
~
Though the pain in her side throbbed with the beating of her heart, Okaasan chose to make an appearance outside of her room. The rest would do her good, but she felt too on edge to remain still for so long. Okaasan made her way to the front of the house where the patio stood with a few chairs and a small table. The sun was shining brightly and there was a clear view to the Maylanka Mountains, green vegetation ascending along the sides and into the clouds.
"Afternoon, Ranma." Mousse nodded to her. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"Hi, Mousse." Okaasan deigned not answer his question. Many called her Ranma on the first exchange, but most learned that it was no longer appropriate. Shampoo, Cologne, her family, they each chose a new title for her and Ranma simply wasn't one of them. Mousse, however, still held a vindictive streak in him. Their feud was ended long ago, but he remained bitter for the time it took to win and slightly worrisome that Shampoo would leave him for Ranma again.
"So." Mousse drawled out, looking over the village. "Were you happy with your choice?"
Okaasan blinked and tried to think of what Mousse could be implying. He wouldn't attack her, especially while in the village, but this emotional battle was fair territory. For the life of her, Okaasan could not decipher the meaning of his question. He had a small glint in his eyes and his teeth shown through a smile.
"Was Tendou-san everything you hoped for?" He snickered.
Okaasan would have smacked the asshole if not for the throbbing in her side. "What choice did I have, Mousse? Would you insult me because I was forced into that loveless marriage?"
"Loveless?" Mousse snorted jocularly. "It was hardly that and you know it. Unlike the others, I do know the truth, Ranma."
She grit her teeth in an attempt to remain calm. If her katana had been handy, Okaasan would have had to apologize to the widow when she returned from her Matriarchal duties. "What truth?" she growled.
Still snickering, Mousse shook his head and watched a few Amazon warriors walk by. "Hey, it's fine by me. There are Amazon women like that too, you know. If I had known then maybe that two-year chase would never have happened. We might have been friends." He looked at her coyly. "But not too close."
"Any closer and you would be dead." Okaasan muttered. She was still trying to pick apart what Mousse had said. How many women in the Amazons were forced into marriages like hers? Of course it would happen if a man beat a woman and she didn't love him, but the Amazons could have multiple partners and quick annulments. The laws were designed to protect the women of the tribe after all.
"If Nabiki had asked Elder Cologne for the serum sooner. Shampoo would have given up on you long ago."
Okaasan caught herself from any rash comebacks. She almost choked when she thought of the times Nabiki had cried for forgiveness and she never really knew why. Okaasan had just wanted to bury it all, but her mind was always trying to piece things together. "What serum was that?" she asked with a slight shake in her voice. "Another love potion?"
Snorting, Mousse shook his head. "Only Xian pu would have been stupid enough to try that again." He turned to face her, the annoying, cocky smile plastered on his face. He saw her confusion and almost fell laughing at the revelation. "You really don't know?" Mousse guffawed.
Impatient, Okaasan slammed her hand on the table between them. "So why don't you tell me and end this foolishness?!"
Waving his hands placidly, Mousse nodded and leaned closer. With an amused tone of voice he whispered. "Your 'daughters' wanted to find out who you really loved once and for all so they came to Elder Cologne for help. I think she went along with it because it would mean returning home finally, one way or the other.
"She gave Nabiki enough of the truth serum to sell to each of your fiancées to be certain nothing would seem too suspicious." He chuckled softly and sat back in his chair.
A stiff breeze rolled by, sweeping up some of the dead leaves and twisting them through the air.
Okaasan was stunned and at the same time, confused. "A truth serum could not have done-"
"Oh, come off it, Ranma." Mousse hopped out of the chair and headed for the house. "They probably each asked you the same question and you gave each of them the same answer. It was all your decision."
Okaasan remained on the patio lost in thought. A truth serum. She'd never suspected Cologne of having such a thing though she should have. Still, she had never claimed to love Soun; it was far from the truth. So why would Mousse think . .
"Shampoo." She whispered to herself. The ramen Shampoo had brought to her that day at the dojo was likely laced with the truth serum. Nabiki would have sold it to every one of her fiancée's and that included one bouncy Amazon maiden.
That wasn't right. Okaasan could feel it. She wasn't sure why, but that story did not feel like the answer. A truth serum would not have done such a thing to her. But who was to say that Cologne had been honest with Nabiki? Who was to say Mousse was being honest with her now? She needed time to think on this and sitting here, so close to that smug bastard wasn't helping any.
Okaasan stood and left for a slow walk through the village. She wasn't looking for anything, but time to think.
~
As lasting relationships go, most people find another who has similar interests, desires, goals, and become something closer than friends. They communicate feelings of selfless heart-felt sentiment by body language and the occasional box of chocolates. And in time, if the little problems of normal life can be overlooked, they admit to deeper feelings and the great cycle moves on.
Standing on opposite corners of a fight ring, with a few dozen Amazon worriers watching on the sidelines, Akane raised her fists and stared at the fanged man who had plagued her time for the last day. What the two had would be a grudging respect but all the same, Akane was hoping to convey something deep felt to Ryouga; preferably her fist in his gut.
How could she have ever liked this animal? Akane growled at the name calling and perverted things Ryouga had done since they found him all those weeks ago in the mountains. The hentai was making a play for her mother, wanting to keep Ranma as a woman the rest of her life. He should have realized that long ago, Akane wasn't going to let it happen.
Yesterday, as Ranma left them to talk to Shampoo, Akane had taken much of her anger out on the 'Lost Boy'. Her mallet hand had become very twitchy all of a sudden. Akane had nearly lost it when she heard Shampoo squeal and call Ranma 'airen' again. Ryouga was a foot shorter for about half an hour while he recovered.
Nothing had happened fortunately, sparing Ryouga too much more excessive abuse and Shampoo guided them all to her house at the end of the village. It was nice for a backward, rice-picking, bimbo tribe, but Akane dealt with it.
Seeing Mousse again was a bit strange. He kept smiling at Ranma and putting his arm around Shampoo and talking about the child they had. It was a bit sick, but at least he wasn't the pervert Ryouga was.
When the little chitchat was over with, Ranma was taken to an upstairs bedroom to rest and heal up. Akane had planned on going up to feed her when it was dinner time, but she ran into Ryouga and there was a spill of food. Shampoo came down the stairs at that moment to see the mess and look exasperated at the new fight. Shampoo had already laid out a meal for Ranma on a tray in her room.
The last insult had come at night. While Hiro had been allowed to sleep in Ranma's room, she had been forced to share a room with pig-boy. Ranma had been so right; Ryouga was a real pig and a jerk and a pervert and a hentai. The fact she had spent most of the day either holding his hand or dragging him around the village did not make Akane any more pleasant.
"Ready, Pig-Boy?" This led up to the current grudge match in the village common. Akane wore her dirty and slightly torn yellow gi facing off against Ryouga in his usual yellow and brown getup. He'd left the umbrella behind saying it wouldn't be necessary.
Ryouga smirked and cracked his knuckles. The only one to ever get close enough to actually hurt him was Ranma, and Akane had never been a Ranma. "Anytime, tomboy."
Gritting her teeth in irritation, Akane planned to wipe the smirk of his face if she did nothing else. Ryouga was getting in her way and cramping her style. At this rate, Ranma would never be hers and that was not acceptable. None of the other ex-fiancées were an obstacle anymore, so that really only left one baka-hentai.
Growling, Akane rushed Ryouga with her usual brute strength tactics; some things never change. Her right hook missed and the left jab follow through was blocked easily enough. She had forced Ryouga to take some steps back and they were near the edge of the ring when she finally noticed his feet.
Akane blinked and waved her arm wildly as she tripped over Ryouga's outstretched leg. She wavered momentarily on the very edge of the ring before falling out. The crowd of Amazons snickered, she thought so anyway. If it was Chinese then it was best she not know what they said.
Ryouga stood in the ring, a smug look on his face and his hands up beckoning Akane to return to the fight. "Not finished already, are you?"
The growling was becoming almost second nature for Akane. She almost sounded like a real animal as she stalked back into the ring and moved carefully about her opponent. Ryouga remained calm and relaxed, watching her study him.
Bunching up her legs, Akane sprang again. This time she was not so linear and Ryouga had a harder time of blocking and dodging. "You're not bad . ." he dodged beneath a turning kick, "when you aren't acting like a psychopath."
"Like you're one to judge!" Akane grunted and moved quickly into back kick that caught Ryouga's forearm, blocking his midsection.
The fanged boy moved in before Akane's foot was set completely on the ground and forced his way through her defenses.
On reflex, Akane lashed out with her hand, fist making contact with Ryouga's nose. The punch, her foot, and Ryouga's fist hammering into her stomach pushed Akane over and she fell to her bottom.
Ryouga had squawked in surprise and took a few steps back, temporarily stunned by the pain in his face. He clutched his nose to see if it was broken.
Akane was on the ground again. Her breath was a little ragged but recovering from the blow. The dirt on her gi was making her mad. She saw it for her failure and her soiled dreams. She was so mad . . and it was all his fault.
Akane glared at the 'Lost Boy', knuckles popping with strain, muscles bunching, and she suddenly became relaxed. She smiled with a malicious gleam and rolled onto her feet. She could see Ryouga had already recovered and was watching her again. He wasn't smirking anymore and that made her feel even better.
"Alright, Ryo-kun." She mocked his pet name. Her ki was building quickly in response to her mood. "Time to put you in your place."
On the other end of the ring, Ryouga was beginning to back away. He realized suddenly that he was in an Amazon village surrounded by women who wanted to beat him in combat and who saw him as the 'less-dominant partner'. Defeating Akane might be bad, especially with the way people were looking at him now.
Thoughts were cut off as Akane moved across the distance to begin her new attack. Unlike the last two times, she was displaying more finesse and speed than her usual gorilla style attack. Punches broke through Ryouga's defense and he began to think that she could beat him even if he was doing his level best.
Ryouga dodged, blocked, parried, and twisted as fast as he could, but the hits kept coming and there was little he could do to return the punishment. One painful blow led to another and he was quickly losing all of his defenses. A shot to the kidneys hurt enough to bring down his hands and Akane kicked him in the face.
Before he even landed on the ground, Ryouga could hear Akane's battle cry and covered up instinctually.
"Akane! Ryouga!"
He breathed a sigh of relief as Tendou-san's voice cut through the mayhem. Akane was poised over him for a moment, hand pulled back for punch. She blinked a couple of times and finally dropped her arms to her sides and turned to see an angry redhead.
"What do you two think you're doing?" Okaasan asked in her most authoritative maternal voice. The two cringed and looked at the ground. "Where is Hiro?"
The both blinked. "What?"
"Didn't I ask the two of you to keep an eye on him?" she asked dangerously to their ashamed faces. "Where is he?"
"I saw him run off with that little girl." Akane squeaked out.
"Blush." Ryouga finished.
Okaasan paused and silence fell over the two young adults, waiting their punishment. Instead, Okaasan's face broke out into a small smile, looking beyond Ryouga and her daughter. "Well, that should be fine then."
Ryouga and Akane looked up questioningly. "What?"
Okaasan continued to smile. "Hiro is really such a manly boy and Blush seemed like a very sweet girl."
They looked at each other and then back to Okaasan, both wondering if maybe she should be getting more sleep.
Missing the looks, Okaasan kissed the two on the cheek and started to walk off.
"D-Do you want me to look for him?" Akane asked, her hand caressing the cheek where Okaasan had kissed her. If she'd looked, Akane would have seen Ryouga almost mimicking her movements except for the glazed look in his eyes.
Okaasan shook her head without looking back. "That's alright, dear. You just keep having fun with Ryo-kun."
The two stood there for a moment, Amazons passing by and giving them strange looks. A couple thought they understood and pointed to Ryouga, Akane, and the retreating Okaasan and giggled. Their mouths were dry and faceless flushed when Akane finally turned away from the ring, a dreamy expression lighting her eyes. "I'm . . finished. Maybe I'll go look for a bath to soak in."
Ryouga nodded numbly and followed, a force of habit.
~
Okaasan nodded to the Amazon sentry posted at the village gates as she passed through. Amongst the trees, standing dozens of meters high, there was sense of calm and serenity. Okaasan breathed it in like sweet nectar and let her mind wander away from her troubling thoughts of this morning.
Mousse was a jerk, but in his mind he seemed justified, and Okaasan wondered if he was right. She did not love Soun, but her heart was not so cold that she felt no remorse for his death. While it freed her, Hiro was trapped in something else.
"He's not even grieved for his father." Okaasan pointed out to herself. "I hope he's not holding it in for me."
The peace was gone and her mind began to throb with a new headache. She noted with disdain at the throbbing's offbeat with the pain in her side.
Sighing, Okaasan traveled further down the path leading away from the village until she was far enough away to talk privately. "Sasuke?" she called out.
A rustle in the branches above her and a little ninja dressed entirely in black landed at her feet. "You've known all along." Sasuke stated matter-of-factly.
Okaasan nodded. "I've felt you." Sasuke's aura was not so great as some of the martial artists she used to hang out with, but Okaasan could feel even the smallest showing now. The meditation, practice with the subtleties of chi and ki, had given her a very refined view of power and its manipulation. The focus let her accomplish many great things: increased healing rate, fire, imagery, detection, and sight, all of which required focus.
There was a little annoyance for the ninja since she knew he had been around to see Kuno's attack. "How long until Kodachi arrives?"
"I contacted Mistress Kuno the day before. It will be two days travel if business meetings do not get in the way." Sasuke reported. He had no real reason to hide anything from Tendou-san; he rather liked her.
Nodding, Okaasan continued on her way, prompting Sasuke to walk with her. "I could ask Shampoo to allow you in the village."
"No, that's alright." Sasuke answered respectfully. He looked about the forest as if expecting attack, but settled again after a moment. "They'd likely have me stand guard over his cell."
Okaasan smirked, but remained silent.
They both continued to walk, gazing at some of the flora that caught their eye and commenting on how lovely it all looked. Okaasan tried to lean over and pluck a particularly interesting flower from the ground, but her side pained.
"Allow me." Sasuke plucked the chrysanthemum and handed it to Tendou-san. "How are you feeling?" He asked with a little concern.
"I'll live."
They were almost upon the crest of the hill on the West End of the valley of the Amazons. There were still a number of trees to block the sun, but Okaasan could guess it was now nearing noon. There was a small sense of familiarity for the area and she stopped to look about.
"Sasuke, I've been following Hiro's aura, but this place . . ." Okaasan wasn't sure how to explain it, deja'vu maybe. "What is over the hill, do you know?"
"Nothing." Sasuke stated, though he began to look about on reflex. "Just another valley with some pools of water."
Okaasan blinked once then swore and dropped the flower. She made haste for the training grounds with Sasuke following behind. How could she be so stupid? Over the years of her marriage, Jusenkyou had slipped away until Soun's death. Now when she was so close, too many things had been distracting her from those one-time goals. If Blush had been intending to spar with her boy than the best place in a child's mind would be a training ground.
Her teeth grit for the rib that screamed at her in pain and ran faster.
Near the edge of the cursed springs, Okaasan stopped and leaned against Sasuke, breathing hard. Her hand went to soothe the pain from her side as she looked about the area.
"I'm very sorry, Tendou-san." Sasuke sounded very upset and was looking about the area too. "I should have realized what this place was."
"I'd almost forgotten myself, Sasuke." Okaasan replied. After a moment she felt the tug of Hiro's aura and followed it.
"Blush maybe too good for Hiro."
Okaasan heard the little girl's voice and hurried her steps around the edges of the training grounds.
"No way! I can do it too!"
"Oh, please stay on the ground and away from those pools, Hiro." She whispered, trudging quickly over a small rise. On the other side she found Hiro and Blush. The little girl was on top of one of the bamboo poles, wobbling slightly and holding her hands out for balance. Hiro stood at the pool's edge, squatting in preparation for a jump.
"Hiro!" Okaasan's voice roared over the area, making the boy jerk in shock, but held him solidly to the ground. To the ninja, Okaasan pointed to the Amazon girl. "Help her down from there."
Sasuke nodded and went to the pool Blush was standing above.
"Blush no need help! Blush strong Amazon warrior!" the girl declared with her fists. Unfortunately, this also put her off-balance and Blush tipped to one side. "EEEK!"
Sasuke jumped.
A golden blur dipped past the pools, swinging back into the sky.
And Sasuke landed on the other side safely, minus the Amazon maiden. "Uh-oh."
"What you do?! You let Blush go?!" Came the shrill cry from above.
"I was only helping."
A firm grip on Hiro's shoulder, Okaasan looked around to see two people settling onto the ground closer to the tree line. Blush was red in the face as she glared at the one who had saved her. He set Blush down carefully and folded the wings back behind him.
Looking over the boy who had rescued Blush, Okaasan noted the hawk-like features on his golden-tanned skin. The wings were also golden with flecks of black along the edges. He wore some simple, loose garments to accommodate his wings and keep him warm while in flight.
Sasuke returned to Tendou-san's side and studied the young man with wings. "Who is that?"
Hiro too looked at the winged boy with interest. His mother's grip tightened and he looked up to see her staring nervously at the same boy. Was there a threat? Hiro took a defensive stance just in case. "Do you know him, momma?"
Controlling the beating of her heart, Okaasan released Hiro's shoulder and stood before him protectively. She beckoned Blush to her side with a gesture. The girl hesitantly complied after seeing the concern in Tendou-san's eyes.
The boy himself looked surprised at Tendou-san's reaction. He cocked his head as if remembering so foggy memory then smiled as it came to him. His voice was soft and cool like a snake on the verge of attack. "Ranma."
Firming her jaw and staring straight into the boy's eyes, Okaasan tried to make her voice sound just as calm. "Saffron."
~
A cool gust of wind swept through the village to lap against the front of the Matriarch's house. Shampoo and her great grandmother felt the breeze run through their hair, almost a telling of some future event. Shampoo smiled as she thought of Tendou-chan and her reaction from when they met yesterday. She couldn't help but giggle.
Cologne saw this and snorted, knowing instantly what that laugh was for. "Really great granddaughter, you can be so childish sometimes."
"You laughed." Shampoo's eyes sparkled with mischief. Tendou-chan had almost had a coronary from the shock. But it was just too tempting to pretend to be that Amazon maiden, swooning for her airen once again.
"Still, Tendou-san does not deserve to be teased." Cologne's tone was a bit lighter and smile reached her lips.
Coming down from her mirth, Shampoo finally sighed and nodded. "Have you seen Tendou-chan? Mousse said she left this morning. Something is up between them."
"Yes, I've noticed. Mousse seems to be privy to some joke upon Tendou-san."
Frowning, Shampoo stared off to her house a little further down the village. "Whatever it is, I don't like it and I'd wish he'd stop."
Cologne took a sip of the tea she had prepared for Shampoo and herself. After Shampoo's meeting this morning she had returned to go over the things they talked about. That done, they had lapsed into some rather juvenile, by Cologne's view, speculation on Tendou-san's life. "I've not seen Tendou-san since yesterday. I figured even she would have the sense to rest after being injured so."
Shampoo laughed. "She's as stubborn as Ranma."
Cologne sipped her tea. "She is Ranma."
Shampoo looked over at Cologne with a studied expression. There were arguments for both sides, but maybe she would just rather things her way.
"I'm not so sure." She finally said. "Maybe once, but she's changed so much."
Shampoo thought of the calm and introspective nature of this new person. Tendou-chan was a very sweet, kind, and caring individual and very protective of Hiro's safety. It was more than just clothing, this person had the same red hair and athletic look, but she was more than simply skin deep. Smiling as Cologne arched her eyebrow, Shampoo looked to both sides of an argument as she was taught. "Of course, I've only known her a few hours."
Nodding approvingly, Cologne looked back out to the village. She'd seen Akane and Ryouga walk off to bath after their morning sparring session and had wondered on their relationship with Tendou-san now. "I believe her family had much to do with that change. I'm not sure how though. Neither Tendou-san nor Akane would talk about it."
Dismissing it with a wave of her hand. "Feh. She's still a violent tomboy. I'll bet she never stopped hitting poor Ranma even while he was pregnant." This, at least, Shampoo knew they both had their suspicions of.
"To look at them, I would think Akane is attempting to win Tendou-san back. That girl is not so unlike that buffoon, Kuno, I guess." Cologne replied.
"It is a bit ironic." Shampoo darkened. "You'd think she would be opposed to multiple marriages with her Japanese upbringing."
"So you noticed it too?"
"The ring? Of course. It's the same one Ryouga gave her all those years ago." Last night, as she was showing Tendou-chan and her family to their rooms, Shampoo had seen the string tied about Akane's neck. It was plain too see the same purple silk string that bore the gold engagement ring. "I don't understand how Tendou-chan can stand to have them in her company in the first place. It was their fault her life became so screwed up."
Cologne looked up surprised. "How's that? Are you certain, great granddaughter?"
"Didn't you know?" Shampoo blinked. "I saw that pig walk up to Akane with the ring around his neck the day before . ." She fidgeted in her seat and thought of sipping her tea, bringing it to her mouth. "That's why I had thought . ." Her lip trembled and she set the cup back down on the table.
"It's in the past now, Shampoo. Just let it go." Cologne patted her great grand daughter's arm to comfort her. "Tell me why you think Akane and Ryouga would do such a thing now."
"Well, . . the ring . . isn't it obvious?" Shampoo grasped for words. Inside she still felt something for Ranma and this brought up the revulsion for what his 'friends' had done. "Ryouga and Akane must have wanted to get married, but they needed to push Ranma off to someone else. It was just heartless of them."
"Ryouga and Akane never married." Cologne stated.
Shampoo blinked. "What? How do you know?"
"Ryouga wore no ring."
"What are you saying?" she asked with some confusion. After all Tendou-chan has suffered through and that violent maniac hadn't even followed through with anything? This was making her blood boil.
"I'm not sure. Ranma and Ryouga were certainly rivals, but I doubt either would go so far. There was also something else about Nerima at the time."
"What?" Shampoo leaned over the table to listen more carefully.
Cologne shrugged and placed her cup on the table. "I'm not sure, but I felt some evil presence. I thought little of it since it had been appearing and disappearing in Nerima since we had arrived there. But on that day it felt much . . angrier."
"Maybe it was Nabiki." Shampoo laughed to break the sudden tension. "She was selling her own brand of 'love-potion'."
Cologne also laughed lightly. "Ah, yes." There was no use in this speculation while Tendou-san herself was not looking for the answers. If Ranma was to be left in the past, then that was where he would stay, no matter how much Cologne had wanted him around.
The gate sentries blow horns sounded, startling Shampoo and Cologne into action. Both started running for the main gates to hear the report.
Akane and Ryouga were there already. Akane looked about ready to burst. Her hands clenched and the veins showed on the surface. Ryouga too was looking angry enough to kill, his left hand gripped the handle of his weighted umbrella.
Cologne and Shampoo stopped not far from the entrance. There she found Tendou-san, Hiro and Blush with two winged strangers. "Who-?"
Shampoo knew these people just as Ryouga and Akane did. The young boy was Saffron. He did not look so intimidating in his youthful form, but it was most definitely the monster of Phoenix Mountain whom Ranma had killed to save Akane. The other, a woman about Tendou-chan's age, with more human features and a gray-blue uniform of loose clothing. She wore a sword at her hip and metal bracers on her arms. Kiima did not stand as tall as she once did, her shoulders slightly stooped, but still proud.
Standing protectively before her lord, Kiima pointed to Shampoo. "Shampoo of the Joketsuzoku, we've come for you."
End Chapter Seven
* * *
Woohoo! Another chapter done and that much closer to the conclusion of my mystery! There have been a few changes to the story line now that I see some of it as being unnecessary even on an entertainment viewpoint. So I'm now guessing that there will only be about ten chapters total, plus hint, final, and epilogue. Then, of course, the 'how it really happened' sequence will be revealed with the final chapter.
So start working on those guesses. I've already given you a lot of hints to who did it if you know how to look for them. There are rules for this contest, which can be found on my website. These rules aren't really restricting, but if you go read them you can also see other submissions and maybe get an idea.
Thanks to everyone who has voted for this story on the Best of Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction Awards. NUMBER ONE BABY!! And to everyone else who has sent email to offer advice and nag me about putting out more chapters.
Send C&C to jehtek@hotmail.com
Or visit my website at: www.geocities.com/jehtek/
Ja ne.