Send C&C to: oddball22@hotmail.com
Find my stories at: www.geocities.com/kaiphantom2000
Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
Bonds and Connections
Chapter 11
"THAT INCREDIBLE IDIOT!"
*CRASH!*
"Please calm down, Ukyo-sama," Konatsu implored her. "It will do
no good."
"It will do me PLENTY of good!" Ukyo retorted angrily. She
turned to where Yuri was sitting, having been strangely quiet. "Doesn't
this upset you at all?"
Yuri looked up from where she was reading the note left by her
brother. "Of course it upsets me! I agree completely! My brother's
being an idiot again. I just don't know what to do about it, since he
could be anywhere by now."
"Men," Ukyo spat out, then collapsed into a chair and took a
deep breath. She looked over at Konatsu again. "What exactly did he say
again?"
Konatsu looked down as he recalled last night. "Well, it seems
that those rope bindings weren't enough..."
Konatsu glanced from the clock, which read 1:45 am, to wear
Kenji lay, still unconscious or asleep, the kunoichi didn't know which.
However, neither assumptions were actually correct as he noticed the
other boy start to stir and groan.
"ow, my head," the ninja boy complained weakly.
Konatsu checked to make sure all his weapons were ready, just
in case. "Kenji-sama?" he ventured.
"yeah, kenzen, it's me," Kenji replied, his voice still weak. He
tried sitting up, then realized he couldn't due to the fact that his
wrists and ankles were bound with strong rope. "Uh, mind untying me?"
Konatsu reluctantly shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot do
that."
Kenji sighed. "Look, I can understand why you guys did this,
but I've got Kae under wraps for now." At Konatsu's confused stare, the
other boy elaborated. "When Kae first took control of my body in that
cave, she locked my consciousness in some sort of psychic prison, deep
within my mind. It took me a long time to break out. But when I finally
broke out and began to fight with her mentally, she would have pushed me
back in there had not you activated my curse. The shock of it allowed me
enough time to win and push her down instead, and then lock her up in
the same mental cage I was in." He sighed again. "But it won't last. If
I eventually broke free, so will she. That's why you've got to release
me."
The male kunoichi regarded the captive boy. It sounded like
Kenji, but still... "Why must you be set free? Should you not be kept
bound until we can find a way to exorcise her spirit from within you?"
Kenji shook his head. "It's just a matter of time until she
comes back, and she's more powerful than all of you. After all, she DID
beat you twice." Konatsu looked down, embarrassed. "And if I could get
out these bindings, so could she."
Konatsu looked to see Kenji slip the last of the rope off and
stand up. Konatsu instantly took up a ready stance. "Please, I cannot
allow you to leave, Kenji-san."
"Heh, that's the first time you've called me 'Kenji-san'," he
noted wryly. "I'm disappointed in my sister, she should have known I
could've got out of these simple bindings."
He shook his head, then looked over at the kunoichi, still in a
ready stance. "You must be serious. Look, you would do anything to
protect Yuri and Ukyo, right?" He waited for Konatsu's nod, before
continuing. "Me too. While she's inside me, I'm a danger to everyone
around me." Kenji turned away and leaned one hand against the wall,
while his other hand clenched into a fist then fell limply to his side.
He tried to keep the pain he was feeling from spreading into his voice,
but was unsuccessful. "Do you know why Kae was so insistent on killing
my sister and Ukyo?"
Konatsu shook his head, realizing after the fact that Kae did
seem quite intent on that. "Why?"
"She was hoping that the sight of them dying by my hands would
be enough to dishearten me, so I wouldn't fight her control," he said in
a much quieter voice. Konatsu had to strain his ears to hear it. "That's
why I have to get away and find a way to remove her on my own. Or maybe
she'll leave when she's accomplished her goals, I don't know. The point
is, I can't stay here."
Konatsu had been lowering the bamboo sword little by little
during Kenji's explanation, finding himself almost agreeing with it.
"But... I don't know. Yuri-sama and Ukyo-sama told me not to let you
go..." He looked up as Kenji put a hand on his shoulder.
"I can understand that," Kenji told him. "You don't want to
betray my sister. You're the first guy she's gotten close to, that's
pretty special. So, how about... this?"
Konatsu's look of confusion lasted only until Kenji thrust his
knee in the other boy's stomach, driving the air from his body and
collapsing him to the floor. Kenji plucked the wooden sword from
Konatsu's loose grip.
"Sorry about this," Konatsu heard the other boy say, then there
was an impact on the back of his head and all went black.
Yuri frowned while Ukyo sat back and sighed, exasperated. "I
don't believe this," the chef mumbled to herself, then glared at
Konatsu. "I take it back. You're the idiot for letting him get away!"
Konatsu looked even more ashamed, if that was possible. "No, Kenji's
just a coward. His solution to problems is to run away." She chuckled
bitterly. "Brave, brave, sir Kenji."
"I'm sure he had good reasons to-" Konatsu began to say.
"No he didn't!" Yuri very nearly hissed. "Ukyo's right. You're
a much better fighter than my brother, and yet you allowed him to take
advantage of you." She shook her head. "We trusted you and you let us
down." Her eyes met his. "I trusted you."
Konatsu flinched, the words coming from Yuri hurting him
greatly. He knew he had let them down, and he silently vowed he would
make it up to them, especially Yuri.
Yuri stood up and headed for the door, then turned towards
Ukyo. "I'll be downstairs getting the grill warmed up." At Ukyo's absent
nod, she took one last look at the ashamed kunoichi. "You'd better be
ready to start cleaning soon, Konatsu-san." Then she left the room.
If, Konatsu realized, he could ever get her to trust him again.
"Ukyo?" Yuri called from downstairs. "You didn't open the
restaurant at this morning, did you?"
The chef stood and walked to the door. "No, why?" she called
down the stairs.
There was a pause, then, "I think you better come down here."
Confused, Ukyo did just that, Konatsu following discreetly.
Yuri was standing in front of the grill when Ukyo found her, and was a
handed piece of paper.
"What's this?" Ukyo asked, accepted the paper.
"I just found it on the grill," Yuri responded.
Ukyo's brow furrowed in confusion as she read the short note.
"What the hell? 'Go to the Tendo Dojo at 10am if you want answers about
Kae'. Who left this here?"
Yuri shrugged. "I don't know, I just found it on the grill. But
the note says for all of us to go, even Selah."
Ukyo folded the note and placed it in her pocket. "I guess
we'll find out later this morning. But let's get the morning crowd
served first."
The other girl nodded, and the group started into their normal
morning routine.
He awoke yet again, this time groaning and holding his head.
"Stupid violent woman. What was her problem?"
"I don't know, what is my problem?" Kodachi inquired in a low,
dangerous voice. "Or maybe, I'm not the one with the problem?"
"Urp!" Taro blinked his open, sat up, and beheld the same girl
sitting by his side. "What'd you hit me for anyway!?"
"As if you didn't know!" she shot back, angrily. "No one may
partake of these lips without my permission, which you did not have!"
Taro 'hmph'ed. "Don't act so shy! Considering your 'free'
behavior already..."
"How dare you!" Kodachi seethed, scandalized, and fixed him with
a venomous glare. "I can assure you I have done nothing improper!"
"Yeah, whatever," Taro waved her off, giving up on her and
spying his pack across the room. He stood up, wrapping the blanket
around his midsection. "But if that's the way you're gonna be, then I'll
just leave."
Kodachi blinked as he rummaged through his pack for clothes,
then remembered how he had arrived. "Wait a moment. You are not fully
healed, and I would like an explanation for your arrival, as well as
your name."
Taro froze and looked down, noting the bandages and fading
bruises and burns, and came to a startling conclusion. [She was treating
me. She didn't... do anything with me. Oh well, it doesn't matter
anyway, she's more trouble than she's worth.]
"I'm healed enough," he told her. "As for how I got here, I was
fighting... somebody, who was apparently a whole lot stronger than when
I fought... them last." He shrugged, after putting on his pants under
the blanket. "I lost, but I'm going to hunt them down and get a rematch.
And you don't need to know my name."
Kodachi was about to reply, when another voice interrupted her.
"Mistress Kodachi, this came for you this morning," Sasuke's
voice called from outside the room. A small envelope was pushed under
the door.
"Thank you, Sasuke," she replied, while picking up the missive.
Opening the envelope, which was marked 'urgent', revealed two pieces of
paper, one addressed to her, and one addressed to: "Pantyhose Taro? My,
that is an unusual name."
Taro froze as the girl spoke his hated name.
"I wonder if..." Kodachi looked up to see the boy trying to
finish dressing as discreetly as possible. Her eyes narrowed in
suspicion. "You are 'Pantyhose Taro'?"
"Don't call me that!" he yelled. His face flushing with shame,
embarrassment, and anger, he shouldered his pack and opened her window.
Kodachi sat back on her shins and regarded the youth. He was
brash, annoying, strange, and forceful, but then she had her own
problems as well. Maybe... "Very well, how about just Taro-san? And do
you have to leave right away?"
Taro halted just as he was about to leap out the window, not
quite sure if he heard right. She wasn't laughing at him? She wasn't
make fun of his name? She wanted him to stay?
Slowly, Taro took his foot off the windowsill and turned back
around, doubt and confusion warring for prominence on his face. Her own
was carefully controlled, but he could find no visible trace of mockery.
He dropped his pack and crossed his arms over his chest, his
lips turning up into a sneer. "What's the matter? Don't you have any
good jokes about my name you want to share?"
Kodachi blinked. "No. Should I? I admit, it is a little
unusual, but there must be a good reason. And after all, you are the one
wearing pantyhose around your waist." She held out the piece of paper
with his name on it. "And don't you want to read your note first?"
Taro's insides warred against each other. One side told him he
should just go and spare himself the humiliation that she was bound to
deliver. The other informed him that here was a girl who didn't seem to
mind his name, and wasn't the whole point of getting his named changed
to be able to get to know a girl?
Hesitantly, Taro took a step forward and grabbed the paper held
out for him, still uncertain, but thinking he could at least see what
the note said. Kodachi read hers at the same time.
"WHAT!?" Taro crumpled his note and tossed it on the ground
while turning to the girl. "Quick, where am I?"
Kodachi looked up calmly from hers. "Why, we're in Nerima, of
course."
Taro nodded. "Good, then finding the Tendo Dojo should be
easy." He turned back to the window.
"Yours says to go to the Tendo Dojo as well?" Kodachi asked,
somewhat curious.
Taro nodded, but before he could speak, there came a knocking
at the door. "Imouto-san? Are you in there? Sasuke told me he also gave
you a note."
"Yes, I am in here, oniisan," she replied, getting up to open
the door.
"Are you coming?" Tatewaki asked. The shake of his sister's head
caused him to frown. "Why not? This promises news of our mother. Do you
not want to find out? Are you not at least a little curious?"
"Mother... abandoned us," Kodachi told him, though she felt
uneasy saying that. "If she could not be bothered to care enough to stay
with us, I fail to see why I should care about her." It sounded hollow
to her, but there was a chance that this new information could put to
shame all the negative feelings she had held for the past many years.
Tatewaki frowned. He still didn't care for his mother much
either, but the encounter with the person who claimed she was his
mother, and who had sacrificed herself for him, had made him more
receptive to the news. "Dachi, do you not remember a little over a week
ago? Where were you? How were you feeling?"
Kodachi's brow furrowed. "I... do not recall much from that
time. I do remember that vile dog in my mind, but now he is gone."
The elder Kuno sighed. "There is... something you should know,
something I have kept from you." Kodachi sat back and regarded her
brother in curiosity, as he began to relate the events of a week ago,
when he showed up in her hospital room and found another woman there.
The expression of the young Kuno girl's face went through many
emotions as her brother told the tale, from anger, to surprise, to
confusion, and finally ending up on disbelief. When he was finished, he
glanced at her warily and awaited her response.
"Why?" she said simply after a few moments, her voice rather
flat and unemotional.
"Because... I wasn't sure myself of what all of it meant," he
confessed. "That is why I want to go. I was... angry at mother as well,
but I realized I had been angry far too long. Anger never got me
anything. Now I merely want to know why."
Kodachi glanced down at the hands folded in her lap,
understanding her brothers motives. But still... "I don't know but... I
suppose it wouldn't hurt to come along."
Tatewaki nodded, the hint of a smile gracing his lips, then
shivered. "Imouto-san, why is your window open when the day is quite
chilly?"
Kodachi turned around and blinked, suddenly remembering Taro.
[He must have left when my brother came in.] She got up and closed the
window. She wondered if she would see him again. "It's... nothing
brother. Come, let us go."
"Come on, Akane, you can do better than that!"
Akane let out a low growl while she attempted to defend herself
against her rapidly-moving opponent. She thrust out her right fist, but
found it turned aside easily. Her left foot swung around in a near-
perfect roundhouse, but it was leapt over. She could feel that her
movements were slower and more sluggish then they used to be; it was
almost like she was moving in molasses.
By the look in her red-headed opponent's eyes, Akane could tell
Ranma could see the same. Akane was aware that Kasumi had scheduled
another examination with Doctor Tofu to find out the cause of this
weakness, but that was later this afternoon.
Growing frustrated, Akane leapt into the air and flipped,
lashing out with her foot, only to find her target had also gone
airborne and was now above her. She put up her forearms in a clumsy
block that lessened a bit of the strike that knocked her from the air.
Her currently-female husband called a time-out, which Akane
reluctantly acceded to in order to dab the sweat off her brow with a
nearby towel. When she turned back, she could tell Ranma was mulling
over something.
"Jeez, Akane, that was pretty pathetic," Ranma said at last,
with her legendary tact. "Even for you. You should know not ta challenge
your opponent's strengths. You know I'm better than you in the air."
"Well I'm SORRY I'm not as good as you," Akane spat out
bitterly.
Ranma shook her head and frowned. "Well maybe if you took the
Art more seriously, you wouldn't have to rely on handicaps to win your
fights!" she shot back. She had dragged Akane out in the dojo after
breakfast in order to spar with her, hoping that it would cheer her up,
considering Akane had seemed down since coming home. But she also
appeared to be distracted, her fighting level having dropped lower than
normal.
Akane flinched, stung by the comment. She opened her mouth to
retort, but closed it again. "Forget it. Just forget, Ranma. This was a
mistake." She wrapped the towel around her neck and turned to go, but
she only made it a few steps before realizing someone was blocking the
exit to the dojo. "Out of the w-Daddy?"
Soun had been watching the altercation between his daughter and
his son-in-law with a critical eye. What he saw, hurt him greatly,
reminding him of his own cowardice in the matter. But maybe, just maybe,
he could correct his mistake.
"Ranma, could I have word alone with my daughter?" he said, his
gaze never leaving Akane.
Ranma blinked, then shrugged. "I guess. I was gonna go have a
bath anyway." He walk briskly past father and daughter and out of the
dojo, glancing at Akane out of the corner of his eye, but she was still
looking at her father.
With Ranma gone, Soun closed the door and strode to the middle
of the dojo, assuming a ready stance that Akane recognized as being from
the beginner's group of katas, from their school.
"Daddy?" The meaning was clear, though it had been a long time
since she had sparred with her father. The last time was a few months
after her mother's death.
When he didn't respond, Akane dropped the towel and hesitantly
stood opposite him, assuming the opposing stance.
"Begin!"
With those words, her father shot forward and struck, following
the kata exactly. Akane matched him move-for-move, jumping over a sweep
and blocking a thrust punch. The moves were ones she had learned long
ago, though hadn't actually used in several years. Still, as they
battled around the dojo in ever increasing speeds, the forms and
counters came back her easily.
All too soon, they were finished, ending back up in the middle
of the dojo. Her father gave her a short bow, which Akane returned. Then
he surprised her by kneeling and prostrating himself.
"Forgive me, daughter," he intoned solemnly.
"Daddy?" Akane's confusion over her father's strange behavior
only grew. She kneeled down in front of him, resting on her shins.
"What's this all about?"
Soun sat up, but didn't meet her gaze, keeping his face down.
"I have been lax in your training. If I had continued to train you all
those years ago, maybe you wouldn't have had so much trouble when Ranma
showed up."
Akane shook her head. "No, it's not your fault. Ranma was
right; if I had really wanted to improve my skills, I would have found a
way."
"No!" The vehemence in her father's voice surprised her, as his
head came up. "It was my duty as the sensei of this dojo to train my
heir to be worthy of the position. Instead, I feared what happened to
your mother would happen to you, and neglected your instruction because
of that. I relied upon Saotome and his son to wed one of you girls and
continue the school, but it was doomed to be one-sided, because of my
failure to educate you properly in the Tendo Musabetsu Kakuto-ryu."
To say Akane was stunned, would be an understatement. She had
never heard her father say things like this before, or even see him so
focused and coherent. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.
"Therefore, I wish to correct this," Soun continued, either not
taking note of his daughter's dazed state, or choosing not to. "If you
are willing, I wish to take you on a training trip for week or two.
There is much I need to teach you. Would you be willing to forgive me
and allow me this second chance?"
Akane swallowed, then found her voice. "Sure, daddy," she said
slowly. She could see how important this was to him. "Let me talk to
Ranma and-"
"No," Soun cut her off, fixing her with a stern look. "This has
to be your decision alone, because he will not coming. It will be just
you and me. You may have taken the Saotome name when you married, but
you still are, and always will be, a Tendo. You must make this decision
as the heir to the Tendo Musabetsu Kakuto-ryu."
[He's right!] Akane suddenly realized. [I've been doing it
again, relying on someone or something else to make me stronger, when I
should be doing it myself. Though having Ranma train me wasn't all that
bad, I should have completed my study under my first sensei before
moving on to another: my father.]
Akane straightened and replied in a solemn voice. "I will,
Father. I would be honored to complete my training with you."
Soun nodded, then smiled for the first time and held out his
arms. Akane smiled back, leaned in, and wrapped her arms around him
while he patted her on the back. "I love you, daughter. I'm sorry I
haven't been much of a father to you or your sisters."
"We all loved mother very much," Akane said, blinking back the
tears. "We were all hurt by her death, though deep down, we knew you
were hurt worst of all." In order to know how her father truly felt,
Akane had only to imagine Ranma dying, and how she would feel afterward.
It was pain she hoped no one would have to face.
"I love you, too, daddy."
"Oh hello!" Kasumi exclaimed as she opened up the door,
revealing Ukyo, Yuri, Konatsu, and Selah. "Have you come to see Ranma
and Akane?"
"Um, not exactly," Ukyo told her, holding up a small piece of
paper. "Do you know anything about this?"
Kasumi took the note and read it to herself. "Hmmm, maybe that
nice man who was here last night gave it to you. He said he would be
returning today."
"What man do you speak of?" Konatsu asked, curious.
Kasumi's reply was interrupted by the creak of the gate
opening, and all gathered turned to see three new people entering the
yard.
"What are you doing here!?" Ukyo demanded to know as she
recognized the newcomers.
"We were invited!" Kodachi retorted her in a superior tone,
striding up to the chef and waving a piece of paper. Her brother and
Sasuke followed. "And I would think you would be less hostile,
considering I saved your life last night!"
Ukyo flinched almost imperceptibly, while Yuri's gaze dropped.
"Well, we helped save yours!" Selah boasted. "And if it wasn't
for me, you'd all be in trouble!"
There was a moment of tense silence, and at first it seemed
like fighting would start any minute. Ukyo readied several mini-
spatulas, while Tatewaki slowly reached across and grasped the hilt of
his bokken. In response, Yuri flicked her wrist, allowing a yo-yo hidden
in her sleeve to fall into her hand, and Kodachi pulled the handle of a
ribbon from her kimono.
Kasumi looked back and forth between all of her guests, and
cleared her throat. "Perhaps you would care to tell us the reason for
your visit, Kuno-san," she inquired, addressing Tatewaki.
"Gladly, Tendo-san," the elder Kuno replied with a respectable
bow, releasing his weapon. "I-"
"Are we too early?" came a new female voice from the gate
entrance.
The assembled group turned to stare as three more people
entered, a girl and two guys. One of the guys leaned back against the
concrete wall after observing the battle-ready state of those already
gathered, and smirked. "I'd say we're just in time. Though, it looks
like you may have spoiled the free entertainment, Miyo-san."
The young fortuneteller smiled slightly, then elbowed Toshi in
the ribs, before advancing a couple of steps and mimicking Kuno's
earlier bow. "Forgive us for intruding Tendo-san, but I have reason to
believe something of great importance will happen here soon."
Kasumi smiled warmly. "By all means, you are welcome here."
"Kasumi? What's going on out here?" Akane emerged from behind
her sister, still clad in her gi, with a white towel around her neck.
She blinked at the group standing around in her front yard, perplexed.
"What is everyone doing here?"
"What, didn't you send this invitation?" Ukyo asked, holding up
the piece of paper.
"Indeed, we received one as well," the elder Kuno agreed.
"If I may," Miyo offered, to which Kasumi nodded. "I believe our
questions will be answered shortly, if we only have a little patience.
For now, I suggest we wait."
"You know something, don't you?" Ukyo asked. It was more of a
statement then a question.
Miyo merely smiled slightly and inclined her head toward the
chef. "As do you." She gestured to everybody gathered in the yard. "As I
suspect all of you know some things which others do not. I, myself, have
only small fragments to go by, which I do not fully understand. Like
you, I am hoping our benefactor will be able to enlighten us.
Akane frowned, remembering the old man from last night. "Well,
I suppose we can't do anything until he gets here. Why don't you all
find someplace to wait." She turned to her sister. "I'm going to take a
short bath to clean up, Kasumi."
In the shadow of the wall, across the gate from Toshi, Hikaru
Gosunkugi watched everyone break up and wander about the yard. His heart
had caught in his chest at the sight of his Goddess, his old feelings
for Akane coming flooding back as he gazed upon her perfection. He
sighed in despair, realizing that she was out of his reach now, as she
had been married to Ranma almost a week ago
After she left, he despairingly realized she hadn't noticed
him, as usual, In fact, no one had noticed him, but he actually didn't
care much this time. He wondered why Miyo had dragged him down here. He
wasn't really of use to anyone, and he didn't feel like leaving his
room, ever since he failed Ariko.
Miyo and Toshi had tried to convince him there was nothing he
could have done, but Hikaru still felt responsible. He had admitted to
himself he had grown used to the bubbly young sorceress who had
befriended him. He marveled at that; a GIRL had befriended HIM! Most
girls made him feel nervous, so much so that he ended up making a fool
of himself. But for some odd reason he was able to talk to her.
Once again, he wondered why that was, but still had no answer.
Akane noticed Ranma was already in the furo when she slipped
inside the bathroom, sitting with his back to her. She couldn't help
smile at the memory of when she had encountered him in similar
surroundings that first day. This time, she didn't leave and run away
screaming, but instead grabbed a stool and began washing down.
Ranma could sense Akane approach, even before she entered the
bathroom. At first he wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind,
so he kept his mouth shut. Instead, he listened to the splash of water
as Akane doused herself, then the scrubbing as she lathered up. Despite
their newfound physical intimacy, or maybe because of it, he felt
himself growing warm as his mind filled in the pictures for the sounds
his wife was making from behind him. When she finally doused herself
again and slid into the furo to his right, he was unable to lift his
head to look at her.
Akane, likewise, was unable to look at Ranma for some strange
reason. Logically, she knew it shouldn't be a problem as they had seen
and explored each other thoroughly before, but in this case logic had
nothing to with it. Instead, she just settled down in the steaming water
up to her neck and tried to let the heat soothe her troubles and
confusion away.
Ranma finally broke the silence. "I'm sorry."
This got her attention, and she turned to see him gazing not at
her, but at the steamy water. Her brow furrowed. "Ranma? What do you
mean?"
"Well, I musta done something to upset you," he offered in a
quieter voice. She had been happy before, and during, the wedding, but
after the honeymoon her spirits seemed to have dropped. Ranma wondered
if maybe there was something he wasn't doing right, as a husband to his
wife.
Akane let loose a tired sigh. "You haven't done anything,
Ranma. What makes you say that?"
He took several moments before responding. Akane studied him
during this time, noting the way his jaw tensed and relaxed as he
attempted several times to say something. His hair was slicked back, yet
still tied into his trademark pigtail. His skin had a moist sheen
covering, as well as a minor reddish tinge to it, and she watched in
fascination as a single drop of water worked it's way down past his ear
and crawled along the outer edge of his cheekbone. By the time Ranma was
ready to speak, it had traversed the distance down his neck and chest,
to join it's brethren in the furo.
So caught in her the water droplet's journey, she nearly missed
what Ranma had said. "What?"
"I said, you don't seem very happy," he repeated somewhat
sourly, still not looking at her. "I must have done something to upset
you."
Akane blinked. "Ranma, you haven't done anything to upset me."
The corners of her lips turned upward into a small smile. "Other than
being your normal Baka-self. If this is about what I think it is, than
it's not because of you, it's because of me."
He finally turned to look at her. "Akane?" Meeting her big,
expression-filled brown eyes, Ranma suddenly felt vulnerable. But it was
a good kind of vulnerable, he decided.
Her smile grew a little bigger, and then she was pushing
herself under his right arm and laying her head against his chest. Ranma
had no choice but to drape that arm around her shoulders. She idly
stroked her own right hand across his chest.
"But let's not talk about this now," she told him. "Let's just
enjoy this moment for now." She was going to tell him about her decision
to accompany her father on a training trip, but decided it could wait.
They had gained so much ground lately, that she didn't want to ruin the
moment by telling him she was going away for awhile.
Ranma seemed to sense this, and let it go. He, too, was content
to just hold her, reveling in all the new sensations that this kind of
closeness brought. It might have been some kind of drug, he told
himself, but even if it was, he didn't want it to end. Her happiness was
his own, and he would do anything to make her happy.
The newlywed couple basked in the heat of the water, and of
their own warm bodies. They may have even fallen asleep, had not Kasumi
knocked on the door.
"What is it, Kasumi?" Akane asked tiredly, somewhat upset at the
intrusion. She knew they rarely had time to themselves, and most of
these intrusions had resulted in little tiffs and arguments between her
and Ranma. She was confident that if they had been left alone from the
start, they might have gotten together a long time ago.
"I though you should know that the charming elderly gentlemen
from last night has returned," the eldest Tendo daughter told them. "He
told everyone to gather in the dojo, so we are waiting for you." She
lingered in the changing room for Akane's reply, then departed.
Ranma and Akane looked at each other in surprise, nearly having
forgotten the old man from last night, and not really expecting him to
return. Reluctantly, they disengaged and exited the bath, getting
dressed in the clothes Kasumi had left for them in the changing room.
Somehow, they knew the next few hours would be something that
might very well change their lives. But as they grasped hands and the
hallway, they knew that whatever was waiting for them, they would face
together.
Nothing else mattered.
Find my stories at: www.geocities.com/kaiphantom2000
Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
Bonds and Connections
Chapter 11
"THAT INCREDIBLE IDIOT!"
*CRASH!*
"Please calm down, Ukyo-sama," Konatsu implored her. "It will do
no good."
"It will do me PLENTY of good!" Ukyo retorted angrily. She
turned to where Yuri was sitting, having been strangely quiet. "Doesn't
this upset you at all?"
Yuri looked up from where she was reading the note left by her
brother. "Of course it upsets me! I agree completely! My brother's
being an idiot again. I just don't know what to do about it, since he
could be anywhere by now."
"Men," Ukyo spat out, then collapsed into a chair and took a
deep breath. She looked over at Konatsu again. "What exactly did he say
again?"
Konatsu looked down as he recalled last night. "Well, it seems
that those rope bindings weren't enough..."
Konatsu glanced from the clock, which read 1:45 am, to wear
Kenji lay, still unconscious or asleep, the kunoichi didn't know which.
However, neither assumptions were actually correct as he noticed the
other boy start to stir and groan.
"ow, my head," the ninja boy complained weakly.
Konatsu checked to make sure all his weapons were ready, just
in case. "Kenji-sama?" he ventured.
"yeah, kenzen, it's me," Kenji replied, his voice still weak. He
tried sitting up, then realized he couldn't due to the fact that his
wrists and ankles were bound with strong rope. "Uh, mind untying me?"
Konatsu reluctantly shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot do
that."
Kenji sighed. "Look, I can understand why you guys did this,
but I've got Kae under wraps for now." At Konatsu's confused stare, the
other boy elaborated. "When Kae first took control of my body in that
cave, she locked my consciousness in some sort of psychic prison, deep
within my mind. It took me a long time to break out. But when I finally
broke out and began to fight with her mentally, she would have pushed me
back in there had not you activated my curse. The shock of it allowed me
enough time to win and push her down instead, and then lock her up in
the same mental cage I was in." He sighed again. "But it won't last. If
I eventually broke free, so will she. That's why you've got to release
me."
The male kunoichi regarded the captive boy. It sounded like
Kenji, but still... "Why must you be set free? Should you not be kept
bound until we can find a way to exorcise her spirit from within you?"
Kenji shook his head. "It's just a matter of time until she
comes back, and she's more powerful than all of you. After all, she DID
beat you twice." Konatsu looked down, embarrassed. "And if I could get
out these bindings, so could she."
Konatsu looked to see Kenji slip the last of the rope off and
stand up. Konatsu instantly took up a ready stance. "Please, I cannot
allow you to leave, Kenji-san."
"Heh, that's the first time you've called me 'Kenji-san'," he
noted wryly. "I'm disappointed in my sister, she should have known I
could've got out of these simple bindings."
He shook his head, then looked over at the kunoichi, still in a
ready stance. "You must be serious. Look, you would do anything to
protect Yuri and Ukyo, right?" He waited for Konatsu's nod, before
continuing. "Me too. While she's inside me, I'm a danger to everyone
around me." Kenji turned away and leaned one hand against the wall,
while his other hand clenched into a fist then fell limply to his side.
He tried to keep the pain he was feeling from spreading into his voice,
but was unsuccessful. "Do you know why Kae was so insistent on killing
my sister and Ukyo?"
Konatsu shook his head, realizing after the fact that Kae did
seem quite intent on that. "Why?"
"She was hoping that the sight of them dying by my hands would
be enough to dishearten me, so I wouldn't fight her control," he said in
a much quieter voice. Konatsu had to strain his ears to hear it. "That's
why I have to get away and find a way to remove her on my own. Or maybe
she'll leave when she's accomplished her goals, I don't know. The point
is, I can't stay here."
Konatsu had been lowering the bamboo sword little by little
during Kenji's explanation, finding himself almost agreeing with it.
"But... I don't know. Yuri-sama and Ukyo-sama told me not to let you
go..." He looked up as Kenji put a hand on his shoulder.
"I can understand that," Kenji told him. "You don't want to
betray my sister. You're the first guy she's gotten close to, that's
pretty special. So, how about... this?"
Konatsu's look of confusion lasted only until Kenji thrust his
knee in the other boy's stomach, driving the air from his body and
collapsing him to the floor. Kenji plucked the wooden sword from
Konatsu's loose grip.
"Sorry about this," Konatsu heard the other boy say, then there
was an impact on the back of his head and all went black.
Yuri frowned while Ukyo sat back and sighed, exasperated. "I
don't believe this," the chef mumbled to herself, then glared at
Konatsu. "I take it back. You're the idiot for letting him get away!"
Konatsu looked even more ashamed, if that was possible. "No, Kenji's
just a coward. His solution to problems is to run away." She chuckled
bitterly. "Brave, brave, sir Kenji."
"I'm sure he had good reasons to-" Konatsu began to say.
"No he didn't!" Yuri very nearly hissed. "Ukyo's right. You're
a much better fighter than my brother, and yet you allowed him to take
advantage of you." She shook her head. "We trusted you and you let us
down." Her eyes met his. "I trusted you."
Konatsu flinched, the words coming from Yuri hurting him
greatly. He knew he had let them down, and he silently vowed he would
make it up to them, especially Yuri.
Yuri stood up and headed for the door, then turned towards
Ukyo. "I'll be downstairs getting the grill warmed up." At Ukyo's absent
nod, she took one last look at the ashamed kunoichi. "You'd better be
ready to start cleaning soon, Konatsu-san." Then she left the room.
If, Konatsu realized, he could ever get her to trust him again.
"Ukyo?" Yuri called from downstairs. "You didn't open the
restaurant at this morning, did you?"
The chef stood and walked to the door. "No, why?" she called
down the stairs.
There was a pause, then, "I think you better come down here."
Confused, Ukyo did just that, Konatsu following discreetly.
Yuri was standing in front of the grill when Ukyo found her, and was a
handed piece of paper.
"What's this?" Ukyo asked, accepted the paper.
"I just found it on the grill," Yuri responded.
Ukyo's brow furrowed in confusion as she read the short note.
"What the hell? 'Go to the Tendo Dojo at 10am if you want answers about
Kae'. Who left this here?"
Yuri shrugged. "I don't know, I just found it on the grill. But
the note says for all of us to go, even Selah."
Ukyo folded the note and placed it in her pocket. "I guess
we'll find out later this morning. But let's get the morning crowd
served first."
The other girl nodded, and the group started into their normal
morning routine.
He awoke yet again, this time groaning and holding his head.
"Stupid violent woman. What was her problem?"
"I don't know, what is my problem?" Kodachi inquired in a low,
dangerous voice. "Or maybe, I'm not the one with the problem?"
"Urp!" Taro blinked his open, sat up, and beheld the same girl
sitting by his side. "What'd you hit me for anyway!?"
"As if you didn't know!" she shot back, angrily. "No one may
partake of these lips without my permission, which you did not have!"
Taro 'hmph'ed. "Don't act so shy! Considering your 'free'
behavior already..."
"How dare you!" Kodachi seethed, scandalized, and fixed him with
a venomous glare. "I can assure you I have done nothing improper!"
"Yeah, whatever," Taro waved her off, giving up on her and
spying his pack across the room. He stood up, wrapping the blanket
around his midsection. "But if that's the way you're gonna be, then I'll
just leave."
Kodachi blinked as he rummaged through his pack for clothes,
then remembered how he had arrived. "Wait a moment. You are not fully
healed, and I would like an explanation for your arrival, as well as
your name."
Taro froze and looked down, noting the bandages and fading
bruises and burns, and came to a startling conclusion. [She was treating
me. She didn't... do anything with me. Oh well, it doesn't matter
anyway, she's more trouble than she's worth.]
"I'm healed enough," he told her. "As for how I got here, I was
fighting... somebody, who was apparently a whole lot stronger than when
I fought... them last." He shrugged, after putting on his pants under
the blanket. "I lost, but I'm going to hunt them down and get a rematch.
And you don't need to know my name."
Kodachi was about to reply, when another voice interrupted her.
"Mistress Kodachi, this came for you this morning," Sasuke's
voice called from outside the room. A small envelope was pushed under
the door.
"Thank you, Sasuke," she replied, while picking up the missive.
Opening the envelope, which was marked 'urgent', revealed two pieces of
paper, one addressed to her, and one addressed to: "Pantyhose Taro? My,
that is an unusual name."
Taro froze as the girl spoke his hated name.
"I wonder if..." Kodachi looked up to see the boy trying to
finish dressing as discreetly as possible. Her eyes narrowed in
suspicion. "You are 'Pantyhose Taro'?"
"Don't call me that!" he yelled. His face flushing with shame,
embarrassment, and anger, he shouldered his pack and opened her window.
Kodachi sat back on her shins and regarded the youth. He was
brash, annoying, strange, and forceful, but then she had her own
problems as well. Maybe... "Very well, how about just Taro-san? And do
you have to leave right away?"
Taro halted just as he was about to leap out the window, not
quite sure if he heard right. She wasn't laughing at him? She wasn't
make fun of his name? She wanted him to stay?
Slowly, Taro took his foot off the windowsill and turned back
around, doubt and confusion warring for prominence on his face. Her own
was carefully controlled, but he could find no visible trace of mockery.
He dropped his pack and crossed his arms over his chest, his
lips turning up into a sneer. "What's the matter? Don't you have any
good jokes about my name you want to share?"
Kodachi blinked. "No. Should I? I admit, it is a little
unusual, but there must be a good reason. And after all, you are the one
wearing pantyhose around your waist." She held out the piece of paper
with his name on it. "And don't you want to read your note first?"
Taro's insides warred against each other. One side told him he
should just go and spare himself the humiliation that she was bound to
deliver. The other informed him that here was a girl who didn't seem to
mind his name, and wasn't the whole point of getting his named changed
to be able to get to know a girl?
Hesitantly, Taro took a step forward and grabbed the paper held
out for him, still uncertain, but thinking he could at least see what
the note said. Kodachi read hers at the same time.
"WHAT!?" Taro crumpled his note and tossed it on the ground
while turning to the girl. "Quick, where am I?"
Kodachi looked up calmly from hers. "Why, we're in Nerima, of
course."
Taro nodded. "Good, then finding the Tendo Dojo should be
easy." He turned back to the window.
"Yours says to go to the Tendo Dojo as well?" Kodachi asked,
somewhat curious.
Taro nodded, but before he could speak, there came a knocking
at the door. "Imouto-san? Are you in there? Sasuke told me he also gave
you a note."
"Yes, I am in here, oniisan," she replied, getting up to open
the door.
"Are you coming?" Tatewaki asked. The shake of his sister's head
caused him to frown. "Why not? This promises news of our mother. Do you
not want to find out? Are you not at least a little curious?"
"Mother... abandoned us," Kodachi told him, though she felt
uneasy saying that. "If she could not be bothered to care enough to stay
with us, I fail to see why I should care about her." It sounded hollow
to her, but there was a chance that this new information could put to
shame all the negative feelings she had held for the past many years.
Tatewaki frowned. He still didn't care for his mother much
either, but the encounter with the person who claimed she was his
mother, and who had sacrificed herself for him, had made him more
receptive to the news. "Dachi, do you not remember a little over a week
ago? Where were you? How were you feeling?"
Kodachi's brow furrowed. "I... do not recall much from that
time. I do remember that vile dog in my mind, but now he is gone."
The elder Kuno sighed. "There is... something you should know,
something I have kept from you." Kodachi sat back and regarded her
brother in curiosity, as he began to relate the events of a week ago,
when he showed up in her hospital room and found another woman there.
The expression of the young Kuno girl's face went through many
emotions as her brother told the tale, from anger, to surprise, to
confusion, and finally ending up on disbelief. When he was finished, he
glanced at her warily and awaited her response.
"Why?" she said simply after a few moments, her voice rather
flat and unemotional.
"Because... I wasn't sure myself of what all of it meant," he
confessed. "That is why I want to go. I was... angry at mother as well,
but I realized I had been angry far too long. Anger never got me
anything. Now I merely want to know why."
Kodachi glanced down at the hands folded in her lap,
understanding her brothers motives. But still... "I don't know but... I
suppose it wouldn't hurt to come along."
Tatewaki nodded, the hint of a smile gracing his lips, then
shivered. "Imouto-san, why is your window open when the day is quite
chilly?"
Kodachi turned around and blinked, suddenly remembering Taro.
[He must have left when my brother came in.] She got up and closed the
window. She wondered if she would see him again. "It's... nothing
brother. Come, let us go."
"Come on, Akane, you can do better than that!"
Akane let out a low growl while she attempted to defend herself
against her rapidly-moving opponent. She thrust out her right fist, but
found it turned aside easily. Her left foot swung around in a near-
perfect roundhouse, but it was leapt over. She could feel that her
movements were slower and more sluggish then they used to be; it was
almost like she was moving in molasses.
By the look in her red-headed opponent's eyes, Akane could tell
Ranma could see the same. Akane was aware that Kasumi had scheduled
another examination with Doctor Tofu to find out the cause of this
weakness, but that was later this afternoon.
Growing frustrated, Akane leapt into the air and flipped,
lashing out with her foot, only to find her target had also gone
airborne and was now above her. She put up her forearms in a clumsy
block that lessened a bit of the strike that knocked her from the air.
Her currently-female husband called a time-out, which Akane
reluctantly acceded to in order to dab the sweat off her brow with a
nearby towel. When she turned back, she could tell Ranma was mulling
over something.
"Jeez, Akane, that was pretty pathetic," Ranma said at last,
with her legendary tact. "Even for you. You should know not ta challenge
your opponent's strengths. You know I'm better than you in the air."
"Well I'm SORRY I'm not as good as you," Akane spat out
bitterly.
Ranma shook her head and frowned. "Well maybe if you took the
Art more seriously, you wouldn't have to rely on handicaps to win your
fights!" she shot back. She had dragged Akane out in the dojo after
breakfast in order to spar with her, hoping that it would cheer her up,
considering Akane had seemed down since coming home. But she also
appeared to be distracted, her fighting level having dropped lower than
normal.
Akane flinched, stung by the comment. She opened her mouth to
retort, but closed it again. "Forget it. Just forget, Ranma. This was a
mistake." She wrapped the towel around her neck and turned to go, but
she only made it a few steps before realizing someone was blocking the
exit to the dojo. "Out of the w-Daddy?"
Soun had been watching the altercation between his daughter and
his son-in-law with a critical eye. What he saw, hurt him greatly,
reminding him of his own cowardice in the matter. But maybe, just maybe,
he could correct his mistake.
"Ranma, could I have word alone with my daughter?" he said, his
gaze never leaving Akane.
Ranma blinked, then shrugged. "I guess. I was gonna go have a
bath anyway." He walk briskly past father and daughter and out of the
dojo, glancing at Akane out of the corner of his eye, but she was still
looking at her father.
With Ranma gone, Soun closed the door and strode to the middle
of the dojo, assuming a ready stance that Akane recognized as being from
the beginner's group of katas, from their school.
"Daddy?" The meaning was clear, though it had been a long time
since she had sparred with her father. The last time was a few months
after her mother's death.
When he didn't respond, Akane dropped the towel and hesitantly
stood opposite him, assuming the opposing stance.
"Begin!"
With those words, her father shot forward and struck, following
the kata exactly. Akane matched him move-for-move, jumping over a sweep
and blocking a thrust punch. The moves were ones she had learned long
ago, though hadn't actually used in several years. Still, as they
battled around the dojo in ever increasing speeds, the forms and
counters came back her easily.
All too soon, they were finished, ending back up in the middle
of the dojo. Her father gave her a short bow, which Akane returned. Then
he surprised her by kneeling and prostrating himself.
"Forgive me, daughter," he intoned solemnly.
"Daddy?" Akane's confusion over her father's strange behavior
only grew. She kneeled down in front of him, resting on her shins.
"What's this all about?"
Soun sat up, but didn't meet her gaze, keeping his face down.
"I have been lax in your training. If I had continued to train you all
those years ago, maybe you wouldn't have had so much trouble when Ranma
showed up."
Akane shook her head. "No, it's not your fault. Ranma was
right; if I had really wanted to improve my skills, I would have found a
way."
"No!" The vehemence in her father's voice surprised her, as his
head came up. "It was my duty as the sensei of this dojo to train my
heir to be worthy of the position. Instead, I feared what happened to
your mother would happen to you, and neglected your instruction because
of that. I relied upon Saotome and his son to wed one of you girls and
continue the school, but it was doomed to be one-sided, because of my
failure to educate you properly in the Tendo Musabetsu Kakuto-ryu."
To say Akane was stunned, would be an understatement. She had
never heard her father say things like this before, or even see him so
focused and coherent. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.
"Therefore, I wish to correct this," Soun continued, either not
taking note of his daughter's dazed state, or choosing not to. "If you
are willing, I wish to take you on a training trip for week or two.
There is much I need to teach you. Would you be willing to forgive me
and allow me this second chance?"
Akane swallowed, then found her voice. "Sure, daddy," she said
slowly. She could see how important this was to him. "Let me talk to
Ranma and-"
"No," Soun cut her off, fixing her with a stern look. "This has
to be your decision alone, because he will not coming. It will be just
you and me. You may have taken the Saotome name when you married, but
you still are, and always will be, a Tendo. You must make this decision
as the heir to the Tendo Musabetsu Kakuto-ryu."
[He's right!] Akane suddenly realized. [I've been doing it
again, relying on someone or something else to make me stronger, when I
should be doing it myself. Though having Ranma train me wasn't all that
bad, I should have completed my study under my first sensei before
moving on to another: my father.]
Akane straightened and replied in a solemn voice. "I will,
Father. I would be honored to complete my training with you."
Soun nodded, then smiled for the first time and held out his
arms. Akane smiled back, leaned in, and wrapped her arms around him
while he patted her on the back. "I love you, daughter. I'm sorry I
haven't been much of a father to you or your sisters."
"We all loved mother very much," Akane said, blinking back the
tears. "We were all hurt by her death, though deep down, we knew you
were hurt worst of all." In order to know how her father truly felt,
Akane had only to imagine Ranma dying, and how she would feel afterward.
It was pain she hoped no one would have to face.
"I love you, too, daddy."
"Oh hello!" Kasumi exclaimed as she opened up the door,
revealing Ukyo, Yuri, Konatsu, and Selah. "Have you come to see Ranma
and Akane?"
"Um, not exactly," Ukyo told her, holding up a small piece of
paper. "Do you know anything about this?"
Kasumi took the note and read it to herself. "Hmmm, maybe that
nice man who was here last night gave it to you. He said he would be
returning today."
"What man do you speak of?" Konatsu asked, curious.
Kasumi's reply was interrupted by the creak of the gate
opening, and all gathered turned to see three new people entering the
yard.
"What are you doing here!?" Ukyo demanded to know as she
recognized the newcomers.
"We were invited!" Kodachi retorted her in a superior tone,
striding up to the chef and waving a piece of paper. Her brother and
Sasuke followed. "And I would think you would be less hostile,
considering I saved your life last night!"
Ukyo flinched almost imperceptibly, while Yuri's gaze dropped.
"Well, we helped save yours!" Selah boasted. "And if it wasn't
for me, you'd all be in trouble!"
There was a moment of tense silence, and at first it seemed
like fighting would start any minute. Ukyo readied several mini-
spatulas, while Tatewaki slowly reached across and grasped the hilt of
his bokken. In response, Yuri flicked her wrist, allowing a yo-yo hidden
in her sleeve to fall into her hand, and Kodachi pulled the handle of a
ribbon from her kimono.
Kasumi looked back and forth between all of her guests, and
cleared her throat. "Perhaps you would care to tell us the reason for
your visit, Kuno-san," she inquired, addressing Tatewaki.
"Gladly, Tendo-san," the elder Kuno replied with a respectable
bow, releasing his weapon. "I-"
"Are we too early?" came a new female voice from the gate
entrance.
The assembled group turned to stare as three more people
entered, a girl and two guys. One of the guys leaned back against the
concrete wall after observing the battle-ready state of those already
gathered, and smirked. "I'd say we're just in time. Though, it looks
like you may have spoiled the free entertainment, Miyo-san."
The young fortuneteller smiled slightly, then elbowed Toshi in
the ribs, before advancing a couple of steps and mimicking Kuno's
earlier bow. "Forgive us for intruding Tendo-san, but I have reason to
believe something of great importance will happen here soon."
Kasumi smiled warmly. "By all means, you are welcome here."
"Kasumi? What's going on out here?" Akane emerged from behind
her sister, still clad in her gi, with a white towel around her neck.
She blinked at the group standing around in her front yard, perplexed.
"What is everyone doing here?"
"What, didn't you send this invitation?" Ukyo asked, holding up
the piece of paper.
"Indeed, we received one as well," the elder Kuno agreed.
"If I may," Miyo offered, to which Kasumi nodded. "I believe our
questions will be answered shortly, if we only have a little patience.
For now, I suggest we wait."
"You know something, don't you?" Ukyo asked. It was more of a
statement then a question.
Miyo merely smiled slightly and inclined her head toward the
chef. "As do you." She gestured to everybody gathered in the yard. "As I
suspect all of you know some things which others do not. I, myself, have
only small fragments to go by, which I do not fully understand. Like
you, I am hoping our benefactor will be able to enlighten us.
Akane frowned, remembering the old man from last night. "Well,
I suppose we can't do anything until he gets here. Why don't you all
find someplace to wait." She turned to her sister. "I'm going to take a
short bath to clean up, Kasumi."
In the shadow of the wall, across the gate from Toshi, Hikaru
Gosunkugi watched everyone break up and wander about the yard. His heart
had caught in his chest at the sight of his Goddess, his old feelings
for Akane coming flooding back as he gazed upon her perfection. He
sighed in despair, realizing that she was out of his reach now, as she
had been married to Ranma almost a week ago
After she left, he despairingly realized she hadn't noticed
him, as usual, In fact, no one had noticed him, but he actually didn't
care much this time. He wondered why Miyo had dragged him down here. He
wasn't really of use to anyone, and he didn't feel like leaving his
room, ever since he failed Ariko.
Miyo and Toshi had tried to convince him there was nothing he
could have done, but Hikaru still felt responsible. He had admitted to
himself he had grown used to the bubbly young sorceress who had
befriended him. He marveled at that; a GIRL had befriended HIM! Most
girls made him feel nervous, so much so that he ended up making a fool
of himself. But for some odd reason he was able to talk to her.
Once again, he wondered why that was, but still had no answer.
Akane noticed Ranma was already in the furo when she slipped
inside the bathroom, sitting with his back to her. She couldn't help
smile at the memory of when she had encountered him in similar
surroundings that first day. This time, she didn't leave and run away
screaming, but instead grabbed a stool and began washing down.
Ranma could sense Akane approach, even before she entered the
bathroom. At first he wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind,
so he kept his mouth shut. Instead, he listened to the splash of water
as Akane doused herself, then the scrubbing as she lathered up. Despite
their newfound physical intimacy, or maybe because of it, he felt
himself growing warm as his mind filled in the pictures for the sounds
his wife was making from behind him. When she finally doused herself
again and slid into the furo to his right, he was unable to lift his
head to look at her.
Akane, likewise, was unable to look at Ranma for some strange
reason. Logically, she knew it shouldn't be a problem as they had seen
and explored each other thoroughly before, but in this case logic had
nothing to with it. Instead, she just settled down in the steaming water
up to her neck and tried to let the heat soothe her troubles and
confusion away.
Ranma finally broke the silence. "I'm sorry."
This got her attention, and she turned to see him gazing not at
her, but at the steamy water. Her brow furrowed. "Ranma? What do you
mean?"
"Well, I musta done something to upset you," he offered in a
quieter voice. She had been happy before, and during, the wedding, but
after the honeymoon her spirits seemed to have dropped. Ranma wondered
if maybe there was something he wasn't doing right, as a husband to his
wife.
Akane let loose a tired sigh. "You haven't done anything,
Ranma. What makes you say that?"
He took several moments before responding. Akane studied him
during this time, noting the way his jaw tensed and relaxed as he
attempted several times to say something. His hair was slicked back, yet
still tied into his trademark pigtail. His skin had a moist sheen
covering, as well as a minor reddish tinge to it, and she watched in
fascination as a single drop of water worked it's way down past his ear
and crawled along the outer edge of his cheekbone. By the time Ranma was
ready to speak, it had traversed the distance down his neck and chest,
to join it's brethren in the furo.
So caught in her the water droplet's journey, she nearly missed
what Ranma had said. "What?"
"I said, you don't seem very happy," he repeated somewhat
sourly, still not looking at her. "I must have done something to upset
you."
Akane blinked. "Ranma, you haven't done anything to upset me."
The corners of her lips turned upward into a small smile. "Other than
being your normal Baka-self. If this is about what I think it is, than
it's not because of you, it's because of me."
He finally turned to look at her. "Akane?" Meeting her big,
expression-filled brown eyes, Ranma suddenly felt vulnerable. But it was
a good kind of vulnerable, he decided.
Her smile grew a little bigger, and then she was pushing
herself under his right arm and laying her head against his chest. Ranma
had no choice but to drape that arm around her shoulders. She idly
stroked her own right hand across his chest.
"But let's not talk about this now," she told him. "Let's just
enjoy this moment for now." She was going to tell him about her decision
to accompany her father on a training trip, but decided it could wait.
They had gained so much ground lately, that she didn't want to ruin the
moment by telling him she was going away for awhile.
Ranma seemed to sense this, and let it go. He, too, was content
to just hold her, reveling in all the new sensations that this kind of
closeness brought. It might have been some kind of drug, he told
himself, but even if it was, he didn't want it to end. Her happiness was
his own, and he would do anything to make her happy.
The newlywed couple basked in the heat of the water, and of
their own warm bodies. They may have even fallen asleep, had not Kasumi
knocked on the door.
"What is it, Kasumi?" Akane asked tiredly, somewhat upset at the
intrusion. She knew they rarely had time to themselves, and most of
these intrusions had resulted in little tiffs and arguments between her
and Ranma. She was confident that if they had been left alone from the
start, they might have gotten together a long time ago.
"I though you should know that the charming elderly gentlemen
from last night has returned," the eldest Tendo daughter told them. "He
told everyone to gather in the dojo, so we are waiting for you." She
lingered in the changing room for Akane's reply, then departed.
Ranma and Akane looked at each other in surprise, nearly having
forgotten the old man from last night, and not really expecting him to
return. Reluctantly, they disengaged and exited the bath, getting
dressed in the clothes Kasumi had left for them in the changing room.
Somehow, they knew the next few hours would be something that
might very well change their lives. But as they grasped hands and the
hallway, they knew that whatever was waiting for them, they would face
together.
Nothing else mattered.