Heart of Fire, Soul of Ice
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Part 4: The God of Death
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"Shinigami." A calm voice said, causing the said 'God of Death' to jerk around in surprise.
"You...How is the plan going?" The dark god asked, smiling down into his little mirror of Japan. "I can see that you chose Nerima as the fiinal location. Any particular reason why?"
"Because, it is home to some of the most powerful martial artists in the world, including Ranma Saotome. I have to keep it intresting, don't I?" The other god chuckled.
Shinigami gave the other god a half-smile. "Saotome, hm...so you believe he will be the champion and win the...'prize'?" An evil laugh. "That fool."
"These people do not yet know about the battle approaching them. They do not realize there is no champion if hate exists in their hearts. However, if Saotome wins the battle, he will also receive the prize. His spirit is..." The god dressed in red shook his head. "I have seen only one like it, belonging to a true god, the god of air and wind. There are five other aura's such as his in the entire world, lined with a gods aura."
Shinigami looked towards the 'God of Battle' in shock. "God's aura?!"
"Saotome Ranma's aura is lined in the same way Okami's was. His fiancee, Tendo Akane, is lined with the gold of Fushicho's. Hibiki Ryouga has an aura lined like Ryu's. Kyounji Ukyou with that of the fire & air spirit, Hotaru. Shan Pu, with that of Yuki, water & ice Spirit. Mu Tsu with that of Taka, weather & lightning Spirit."
Shinigami's eyes narrowed. "That does not bode well with me..."
"As well it shouldn't."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma woke when a hand quite rudely seized his ankle and hurled him out the window and into the pond. He, now a she, came spluttering to the surface, gasping for air. "What the hell was that for?!" He gasped.
Genma stood glowering over him. "It is time you and Akane finally got married." His eyes held no room for argument.
"Dad!" Ranma pulled himself from the water, his more feminine face furious. "I ain't gonna get ready till I'm damn well ready to! It's not fair to force me and Akane into a marraige we're not ready for, dammit!" He watched his father take an attack stance and glared at him. "Dad, I'm warning you..."
He didn't get a change to finish. The old ghoul jumped in front of him, examining him closely. "AGH!" He screamed, scrambling backwards.
"I have heard most distressing news, Muko-dono..." Colonge walked around him, her eyes contimplative. "My great-grand daughter tells me you have declared all engagements illegitamate, and void, including yours to her. What grounds are there for this?"
"I don't love her, I don't even like her, she's annoying, and I didn't defeat her as a man on her territory." He said, his face irritable. "I'm gonna marry who I damn well want."
"Your engagement to Akane is on your honor, Ranma!" Genma growled.
"You engagement to Shampoo is on hers!" Cologne advanced on the boy as well.
"Dammit, I'm sick of this crap!" Ranma exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "I'm sick of everyone telling me what the hell I should do! I'm almost eighteen damn years own, and I can make my decisions for myself!" He turned towards Genma, his eyes full of angry fire. "You engaged me to two women before I was old enough to know what you were doing. Akane is the first person I was engaged to, true, but if I don't marry Ukyou, her honor, and mine are at stake, and if I don't marry Shampoo, she'll try to kill whoever the hell I DO marry! Akane..." He paused.
"What about me?" Akane's voice sounded from behind him, and he heard a twinge of hurt in it.
He turned towards her, his eyes full of love, and pain. "I wish my life was less complicated...for both our sakes..." He said, closing his eyes. "Cologne, I will marry who I choose, and I've already chosen the one I want to marry when I'm ready...when we're ready."
Cologne glared at the boy's back. "This isn't over yet, boy."
"On the contrary, Cologne, It IS over. It should have been over a long time ago." Ranma glared down at the small, old woman, his blue eyes ice cold.
The woman bounced away on her walking stick and he prayed that he was right.
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"What are you doing here?!"
Shampoo dodged an supurbely thrown spatula with ease. "Shampoo must talk to Spatula girl. About husband."
Ukyou's eyes narrowed. "What about Ranma...?"
The chinese girl approached the grill and sat down. "Where hospitality? Lunch must be served before plot shared." She smiled almost evilly. "Shampoo sure that Spatula girl would like to help her get third party out of picture..."
Ukyou couldn't help it. She was caught. "Okay, I'll listen to your plan, as long as it doesn't involve drugs, or killing anyone."
Shampoo pouted, and nodded. "Just Spatula girl distract Ranma this after zenith, Shampoo worry about rest." She smiled cajolingly. "Perhaps spatula girl can distract with some too, too good okinomiyaki?"
A glint sparkled in the other girls eyes. "Alright, I'm in."
Shampoo stood, smiling. "Shampoo go visit violent girl now...perhaps she want challenge. Shampoo will give her good one."
Mere moments after Shampoo left, Ukyou called Ranma. "Ran-chan, we're having a special on okinomiyaki today...Oh, it's alright, Akane wont mind missing one little training session."
"Oh, alright..." Ranma sounded reluctant for some reason.
*Ranma, you're as good as mine...*
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Something was up. Ranma may not be a genius, but he could tell when something wasn't quite right. And something DEFFINATELY wasn't right. He walked down the street, his mind entirely on Akane. He could almost feel stress. He hadn't told her where he was going. He knew if he had, she'd have taken it the wrong way.
Ukyou was the only one Akane really saw as competition.
If only Akane realized that there was really no competition at all. By the time Ukyou had showed up, he'd fallen completely, head over heals in love with Akane. She had him from hello, and she didn't realize it. Those chocolate brown eyes had seduced him without her knowledge, made him want her for reasons he dare not even think about half the time. Their fights were nothing more than a way for him to pretend he didn't feel anything for her.
A show to put on to make their parents think he didn't love her. To make her think that he didn't see her as a woman. After all, he was a freak. He was cursed to change from a man to a woman when doused with cold water. The frustration he felt towards his inopportune transformations drove him almost insane.
He stared across the street at his best friends Okinomiyaki restaurant and sighed heavily. The time had come for him to let go. This was the one he truely regreted doing. He never wanted to hurt Ukyou. It was his fathers fault that he was forced to do this. His fathers fault that he had to go in there and break his best friends heart. With a resolute nod, he began to stride across the street towards U-chan's.
Ukyou saw him approaching. She also couldn't mistake the look in his eyes. He was determined. His expression made her insides do summersaults. There was no mistaking what such a look must mean. He had not come to eat her okinomiyaki this time. As he entered, her stomache dropped out and her heart clogged her throat.
"Ucchan...you may want to close down shop..." He said softly.
She shook her head. "Don't be silly." She forced the words out, and the smile remained glued to her face. "Come have some Okinomiyaki. On the house?"
He sighed, sitting at the grill, in the same seat Shampoo had sat upon earlier. "Ucchan, you know why I'm here, right...I know you must have heard the rumors by know. I'd be shocked if Nabiki hasn't informed you..."
Her worst dreams were coming true. The rumors were true. He'd chosen Akane, the uncute one, the one who screamed at him and abused him, and tormented him. Akane, over herself, the cute fiancee, and even Shampoo the Chinese Bimbo. She lowered her eyes. "You made your choice...and you picked...HER." She clenched her teeth together, trying not to feel the pain as she slung some batter on the grill.
"You took that better than I thought you would..." He said softly, reaching across the grill and touching her hand. "You have to understand, Ucchan, I loved Akane from the start...I never wanted to hurt you, but you never stood a chance..."
She grasped his hand tightly. "I knew, you idiot. I'm not your best friend for nothing. I saw the way you looked at her, and it wasn't the same way you looked at me." She lifted her free hand to wipe away some tears. "I don't know what to do anymore..." She flipped the okinomiyaki and lifted her eyes to look at Ranma.
He smiled at her, his eyes encouraging. "You always will have a special place in my heart, Ucchan. You're my best friend, and the closest thing I ever had to a sister. I'll always be here for you."
Suddenly, Ukyou remembered why she'd invited Ranma for some Okinomiyaki in the first place. Her stomache flipflopped and she covered her mouth. "Ranchan!" She exclaimed, switching off the grill. "Ranchan, we have to get to the Tendo's NOW! I've got to stop her!"
Ranma heard the fear in her voice and jumped to his feet. "Ucchan, what is it?" He asked, standing quickly.
"Shampoo! She..." She closed her eyes tightly. "I'm so sorry, Ranchan...she talked me into joining one of her plots. She's going to try to kill Akane, I just know it, we've got to HURRY!" She looked towards the ceiling. "Take care of this?!"
"Hai, Mistress."
With that, Ukyou grabbed Ranma by the arm and tore out of the restaurant. In spite of his confusion, Ranma let himself get drug down the street. "Ucchan, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, Ranma, Shampoo told me to distract you, while she got Akane out of the picture! She'd going to KILL her!"
His face hardened. He knew although Akane didn't stand much of a chance against Shampoo, the girl was getting much better. Now that she was his student, he couldn't just allow Shampoo to kill her. Not now that he knew that he loved her.
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Akane frowned into her mirror, sighing. That feeling was growing stronger. A stray hair fell in front of her eyes and she blew it out of the way. She didn't feel safe away from her Ranma. Even hearing the sounds of the rest of her family downstairs didn't distract her from her fears.
*Something isn't right...it's something in the air...* She closed her eyes, lifting her face to the warm breeze entering through her windows. There was deffinately a feeling of change, something unnatural. Her senses had always been finely tuned towards strangeness, it had to be when you had a fiancee who's life was dangerous.
Suddenly, she realized that she'd done it again. Her thoughts since Ranma's admission of how he felt for her, mentally, she'd been calling him things like 'My Ranma' or 'My Fiancee'. Never 'That idiot' as she used to call him. She shivered, embracing herself. If only she could really claim him.
If only he would let himself be claimed.
With a quick shake of her head, she brushed those thoughts away. She had more pressing things to think about. Like the fact that she and Ranma were both getting that feeling, like lead in the bottom of their stomaches, warning them that something was coming, and it was going to hit hard, and soon.
"Violent girl all alone, now..."
Akane spun to see Shampoo standing in her doorway, wearing a rather sinister smile on her face. Before she could blink, the chinese girl had seized the front of her shirt and picked her up out of the chair, leaning forward, her face getting close to Akane's. "S-shampoo...?"
"No husband here to save you now..." Shampoo sneered, then hurled her towards the window. "NO ONE SAVE YOU!"
Akane screamed as she felt the window shatter, and she was falling down to the ground. She landed hard, scraping her hands on the dirt. "Wha-what are you doing?!"
"Shampoo just getting rid of competition..." Shampoo landed neatly on the ground, sneering at her once again. She lifted her bonbori, taking a ready position. "Let's Go."
Akane stood slowly, shaking. She knew she wasn't that tough yet, and Ranma was out getting an Okinomiyaki from Ucchan's. She knew she didn't stand much of a chance. She had to dodge. But she wanted to fight!
While she was in conflict with herself, Shampoo attacked. "KIYA!"
Akane's eyes widened and she collapsed under the blow. She reached up and touched her arm, which hung limply at her side. "Ran...ma..."
Shampoo drew back for the final blow. "No one but Shampoo marry Husband. After Violent girl gone, Shampoo take care of Spatula girl! Then no one left to get in way!"
"No..." Akane whispered.
"DIE!" The girl brought the bonbori down fast and hard, and Akane barely managed to roll away, feeling the bonbori whoosh by her head.
*That was close!!* She heard Shampoo curse, and a knee pressed into her back, the girl obviously preparing to crush her skull with the bonbori again.
She heard a battle cry and watched the bonbori land on the ground beside her. *Ranma?!* Her eyes jerked up and she saw him crouched, facing Shampoo, who'd crept off her back.
"What do you think you're doing..." He hissed, his eyes filled with an anger that startled even Akane. His eyes swirled with silver, his battle ki swirling around himself. "You could have killed her..."
"Gave kiss of death. Violent pervert girl must die..." She smiled cruely. "Besides, she only thing in Shampoo's way..."
Ranma clenched his hands into fists, and slowly walked towards Shampoo, then past her, kneeling beside Akane. "Are you okay...?" He whispered, gently stroaking her hair.
"My shoulder..." She touched it, pain evident on her face. She felt him gently lifting her and gasped, holding onto him tightly. When she looked at him again, he saw he was looking at Shampoo, his eyes furious.
"You think you could replace her, Shampoo?" He whispered, his body rigid. "You can't replace love by laws. I don't love you, and I never have. I love AKANE." His eyes narrowed. "If you ever touch her again...I'll kill you." He said that last part so angrily, he shocked even Akane.
"B-but Shampoo love husband..." She whispered, reaching towards him.
"I don't love you."
Shampoo's eyes began watering and she ran out of the yard, crying soundlessly.
Ranma gently carried Akane into the house, then back to her room, where the window had been destroyed. He set her on the bed, and gently touched her shoulder. "It's been dislocated...I'm calling Dr. Tofu, okay, sweetheart? Wait for me, alright?"
She nodded, her body trembling with shock and fear. She could feel her level of chi had increased since Ranma held her, and leaned back against the pillows. She'd never seen him like that. Never so fiercely protective of her welfare. Not that he'd neglected her, but usually, he tried to save everyone's feelings. Not just her.
She heard the door open and saw Ukyou standing there with a guilty expression on her face. "Ukyou...?" She pressed her back into the headboard.
Ukyou waked towards her, then clasped her hands. "I'm sorry..." the girl whispered, and big, fat tears rolled down her face. "I shouldn't have let her tell me about her plan...I shouldn't have gotten involved..."
Akane smiled weakly up at her. "It's okay, Ucchan...at least you got Ranma to come back...I'm okay, right? She didn't do what she wanted to..."
"I should have known that she would try to..." Ukyou looked at Akane in shock. "You called me Ucchan..." She said softly, then smiled down at Akane. "Arigatou..." She bowed to Akane, then left.
Akane heard Ranma and Ukyou talking in the hall and heard soft sobs, and Ranma's gentle voice consoling her, but strangely felt no jealousy. A strange, rare smile curved up her lips and she stared up at the ceiling.
When the door opened, Ranma walked in this time. "You okay, Akane...?" He asked, walking up to her and sitting on the bed, facing her. At her nod, he sighed, his body oozing relief. "Thank the gods..." He murmered, pulling her forward and kissing her forhead. "When Ukyou told me what Shampoo had said I was so afraid for you."
Akane let him tilt her face up and plant a tender kiss on her lips. When he pulled back, a soft sigh issued from her lips. "You saved me again...I wish I didn't have to be saved all the time...I wish I was strong..."
"You ARE strong..." He said softly, smiling down at her. "You're a good fighter, you've got the ability, ya just lack the trainin..." He pulled her close to him, pressing his face into her shoulder. "That's what I'm here for, remember?"
A fond smile passed over her lips and she embraced him back, running her hands through his hair. "Oh, Ranma..."
He continued to hold her, his warmth and strength coaxing the tension from her body and slowly she slipped into a warm, contented sleep. Ranma lay her against the pillow gently, his hands running across her face. "Oh, Akane...what am I going to do? When did I start needing you so much?" He closed his eyes tightly, and lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to it before going down to bring Dr. Tofu up.
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End part 4:
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Part 4: The God of Death
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"Shinigami." A calm voice said, causing the said 'God of Death' to jerk around in surprise.
"You...How is the plan going?" The dark god asked, smiling down into his little mirror of Japan. "I can see that you chose Nerima as the fiinal location. Any particular reason why?"
"Because, it is home to some of the most powerful martial artists in the world, including Ranma Saotome. I have to keep it intresting, don't I?" The other god chuckled.
Shinigami gave the other god a half-smile. "Saotome, hm...so you believe he will be the champion and win the...'prize'?" An evil laugh. "That fool."
"These people do not yet know about the battle approaching them. They do not realize there is no champion if hate exists in their hearts. However, if Saotome wins the battle, he will also receive the prize. His spirit is..." The god dressed in red shook his head. "I have seen only one like it, belonging to a true god, the god of air and wind. There are five other aura's such as his in the entire world, lined with a gods aura."
Shinigami looked towards the 'God of Battle' in shock. "God's aura?!"
"Saotome Ranma's aura is lined in the same way Okami's was. His fiancee, Tendo Akane, is lined with the gold of Fushicho's. Hibiki Ryouga has an aura lined like Ryu's. Kyounji Ukyou with that of the fire & air spirit, Hotaru. Shan Pu, with that of Yuki, water & ice Spirit. Mu Tsu with that of Taka, weather & lightning Spirit."
Shinigami's eyes narrowed. "That does not bode well with me..."
"As well it shouldn't."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma woke when a hand quite rudely seized his ankle and hurled him out the window and into the pond. He, now a she, came spluttering to the surface, gasping for air. "What the hell was that for?!" He gasped.
Genma stood glowering over him. "It is time you and Akane finally got married." His eyes held no room for argument.
"Dad!" Ranma pulled himself from the water, his more feminine face furious. "I ain't gonna get ready till I'm damn well ready to! It's not fair to force me and Akane into a marraige we're not ready for, dammit!" He watched his father take an attack stance and glared at him. "Dad, I'm warning you..."
He didn't get a change to finish. The old ghoul jumped in front of him, examining him closely. "AGH!" He screamed, scrambling backwards.
"I have heard most distressing news, Muko-dono..." Colonge walked around him, her eyes contimplative. "My great-grand daughter tells me you have declared all engagements illegitamate, and void, including yours to her. What grounds are there for this?"
"I don't love her, I don't even like her, she's annoying, and I didn't defeat her as a man on her territory." He said, his face irritable. "I'm gonna marry who I damn well want."
"Your engagement to Akane is on your honor, Ranma!" Genma growled.
"You engagement to Shampoo is on hers!" Cologne advanced on the boy as well.
"Dammit, I'm sick of this crap!" Ranma exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "I'm sick of everyone telling me what the hell I should do! I'm almost eighteen damn years own, and I can make my decisions for myself!" He turned towards Genma, his eyes full of angry fire. "You engaged me to two women before I was old enough to know what you were doing. Akane is the first person I was engaged to, true, but if I don't marry Ukyou, her honor, and mine are at stake, and if I don't marry Shampoo, she'll try to kill whoever the hell I DO marry! Akane..." He paused.
"What about me?" Akane's voice sounded from behind him, and he heard a twinge of hurt in it.
He turned towards her, his eyes full of love, and pain. "I wish my life was less complicated...for both our sakes..." He said, closing his eyes. "Cologne, I will marry who I choose, and I've already chosen the one I want to marry when I'm ready...when we're ready."
Cologne glared at the boy's back. "This isn't over yet, boy."
"On the contrary, Cologne, It IS over. It should have been over a long time ago." Ranma glared down at the small, old woman, his blue eyes ice cold.
The woman bounced away on her walking stick and he prayed that he was right.
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"What are you doing here?!"
Shampoo dodged an supurbely thrown spatula with ease. "Shampoo must talk to Spatula girl. About husband."
Ukyou's eyes narrowed. "What about Ranma...?"
The chinese girl approached the grill and sat down. "Where hospitality? Lunch must be served before plot shared." She smiled almost evilly. "Shampoo sure that Spatula girl would like to help her get third party out of picture..."
Ukyou couldn't help it. She was caught. "Okay, I'll listen to your plan, as long as it doesn't involve drugs, or killing anyone."
Shampoo pouted, and nodded. "Just Spatula girl distract Ranma this after zenith, Shampoo worry about rest." She smiled cajolingly. "Perhaps spatula girl can distract with some too, too good okinomiyaki?"
A glint sparkled in the other girls eyes. "Alright, I'm in."
Shampoo stood, smiling. "Shampoo go visit violent girl now...perhaps she want challenge. Shampoo will give her good one."
Mere moments after Shampoo left, Ukyou called Ranma. "Ran-chan, we're having a special on okinomiyaki today...Oh, it's alright, Akane wont mind missing one little training session."
"Oh, alright..." Ranma sounded reluctant for some reason.
*Ranma, you're as good as mine...*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Something was up. Ranma may not be a genius, but he could tell when something wasn't quite right. And something DEFFINATELY wasn't right. He walked down the street, his mind entirely on Akane. He could almost feel stress. He hadn't told her where he was going. He knew if he had, she'd have taken it the wrong way.
Ukyou was the only one Akane really saw as competition.
If only Akane realized that there was really no competition at all. By the time Ukyou had showed up, he'd fallen completely, head over heals in love with Akane. She had him from hello, and she didn't realize it. Those chocolate brown eyes had seduced him without her knowledge, made him want her for reasons he dare not even think about half the time. Their fights were nothing more than a way for him to pretend he didn't feel anything for her.
A show to put on to make their parents think he didn't love her. To make her think that he didn't see her as a woman. After all, he was a freak. He was cursed to change from a man to a woman when doused with cold water. The frustration he felt towards his inopportune transformations drove him almost insane.
He stared across the street at his best friends Okinomiyaki restaurant and sighed heavily. The time had come for him to let go. This was the one he truely regreted doing. He never wanted to hurt Ukyou. It was his fathers fault that he was forced to do this. His fathers fault that he had to go in there and break his best friends heart. With a resolute nod, he began to stride across the street towards U-chan's.
Ukyou saw him approaching. She also couldn't mistake the look in his eyes. He was determined. His expression made her insides do summersaults. There was no mistaking what such a look must mean. He had not come to eat her okinomiyaki this time. As he entered, her stomache dropped out and her heart clogged her throat.
"Ucchan...you may want to close down shop..." He said softly.
She shook her head. "Don't be silly." She forced the words out, and the smile remained glued to her face. "Come have some Okinomiyaki. On the house?"
He sighed, sitting at the grill, in the same seat Shampoo had sat upon earlier. "Ucchan, you know why I'm here, right...I know you must have heard the rumors by know. I'd be shocked if Nabiki hasn't informed you..."
Her worst dreams were coming true. The rumors were true. He'd chosen Akane, the uncute one, the one who screamed at him and abused him, and tormented him. Akane, over herself, the cute fiancee, and even Shampoo the Chinese Bimbo. She lowered her eyes. "You made your choice...and you picked...HER." She clenched her teeth together, trying not to feel the pain as she slung some batter on the grill.
"You took that better than I thought you would..." He said softly, reaching across the grill and touching her hand. "You have to understand, Ucchan, I loved Akane from the start...I never wanted to hurt you, but you never stood a chance..."
She grasped his hand tightly. "I knew, you idiot. I'm not your best friend for nothing. I saw the way you looked at her, and it wasn't the same way you looked at me." She lifted her free hand to wipe away some tears. "I don't know what to do anymore..." She flipped the okinomiyaki and lifted her eyes to look at Ranma.
He smiled at her, his eyes encouraging. "You always will have a special place in my heart, Ucchan. You're my best friend, and the closest thing I ever had to a sister. I'll always be here for you."
Suddenly, Ukyou remembered why she'd invited Ranma for some Okinomiyaki in the first place. Her stomache flipflopped and she covered her mouth. "Ranchan!" She exclaimed, switching off the grill. "Ranchan, we have to get to the Tendo's NOW! I've got to stop her!"
Ranma heard the fear in her voice and jumped to his feet. "Ucchan, what is it?" He asked, standing quickly.
"Shampoo! She..." She closed her eyes tightly. "I'm so sorry, Ranchan...she talked me into joining one of her plots. She's going to try to kill Akane, I just know it, we've got to HURRY!" She looked towards the ceiling. "Take care of this?!"
"Hai, Mistress."
With that, Ukyou grabbed Ranma by the arm and tore out of the restaurant. In spite of his confusion, Ranma let himself get drug down the street. "Ucchan, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, Ranma, Shampoo told me to distract you, while she got Akane out of the picture! She'd going to KILL her!"
His face hardened. He knew although Akane didn't stand much of a chance against Shampoo, the girl was getting much better. Now that she was his student, he couldn't just allow Shampoo to kill her. Not now that he knew that he loved her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akane frowned into her mirror, sighing. That feeling was growing stronger. A stray hair fell in front of her eyes and she blew it out of the way. She didn't feel safe away from her Ranma. Even hearing the sounds of the rest of her family downstairs didn't distract her from her fears.
*Something isn't right...it's something in the air...* She closed her eyes, lifting her face to the warm breeze entering through her windows. There was deffinately a feeling of change, something unnatural. Her senses had always been finely tuned towards strangeness, it had to be when you had a fiancee who's life was dangerous.
Suddenly, she realized that she'd done it again. Her thoughts since Ranma's admission of how he felt for her, mentally, she'd been calling him things like 'My Ranma' or 'My Fiancee'. Never 'That idiot' as she used to call him. She shivered, embracing herself. If only she could really claim him.
If only he would let himself be claimed.
With a quick shake of her head, she brushed those thoughts away. She had more pressing things to think about. Like the fact that she and Ranma were both getting that feeling, like lead in the bottom of their stomaches, warning them that something was coming, and it was going to hit hard, and soon.
"Violent girl all alone, now..."
Akane spun to see Shampoo standing in her doorway, wearing a rather sinister smile on her face. Before she could blink, the chinese girl had seized the front of her shirt and picked her up out of the chair, leaning forward, her face getting close to Akane's. "S-shampoo...?"
"No husband here to save you now..." Shampoo sneered, then hurled her towards the window. "NO ONE SAVE YOU!"
Akane screamed as she felt the window shatter, and she was falling down to the ground. She landed hard, scraping her hands on the dirt. "Wha-what are you doing?!"
"Shampoo just getting rid of competition..." Shampoo landed neatly on the ground, sneering at her once again. She lifted her bonbori, taking a ready position. "Let's Go."
Akane stood slowly, shaking. She knew she wasn't that tough yet, and Ranma was out getting an Okinomiyaki from Ucchan's. She knew she didn't stand much of a chance. She had to dodge. But she wanted to fight!
While she was in conflict with herself, Shampoo attacked. "KIYA!"
Akane's eyes widened and she collapsed under the blow. She reached up and touched her arm, which hung limply at her side. "Ran...ma..."
Shampoo drew back for the final blow. "No one but Shampoo marry Husband. After Violent girl gone, Shampoo take care of Spatula girl! Then no one left to get in way!"
"No..." Akane whispered.
"DIE!" The girl brought the bonbori down fast and hard, and Akane barely managed to roll away, feeling the bonbori whoosh by her head.
*That was close!!* She heard Shampoo curse, and a knee pressed into her back, the girl obviously preparing to crush her skull with the bonbori again.
She heard a battle cry and watched the bonbori land on the ground beside her. *Ranma?!* Her eyes jerked up and she saw him crouched, facing Shampoo, who'd crept off her back.
"What do you think you're doing..." He hissed, his eyes filled with an anger that startled even Akane. His eyes swirled with silver, his battle ki swirling around himself. "You could have killed her..."
"Gave kiss of death. Violent pervert girl must die..." She smiled cruely. "Besides, she only thing in Shampoo's way..."
Ranma clenched his hands into fists, and slowly walked towards Shampoo, then past her, kneeling beside Akane. "Are you okay...?" He whispered, gently stroaking her hair.
"My shoulder..." She touched it, pain evident on her face. She felt him gently lifting her and gasped, holding onto him tightly. When she looked at him again, he saw he was looking at Shampoo, his eyes furious.
"You think you could replace her, Shampoo?" He whispered, his body rigid. "You can't replace love by laws. I don't love you, and I never have. I love AKANE." His eyes narrowed. "If you ever touch her again...I'll kill you." He said that last part so angrily, he shocked even Akane.
"B-but Shampoo love husband..." She whispered, reaching towards him.
"I don't love you."
Shampoo's eyes began watering and she ran out of the yard, crying soundlessly.
Ranma gently carried Akane into the house, then back to her room, where the window had been destroyed. He set her on the bed, and gently touched her shoulder. "It's been dislocated...I'm calling Dr. Tofu, okay, sweetheart? Wait for me, alright?"
She nodded, her body trembling with shock and fear. She could feel her level of chi had increased since Ranma held her, and leaned back against the pillows. She'd never seen him like that. Never so fiercely protective of her welfare. Not that he'd neglected her, but usually, he tried to save everyone's feelings. Not just her.
She heard the door open and saw Ukyou standing there with a guilty expression on her face. "Ukyou...?" She pressed her back into the headboard.
Ukyou waked towards her, then clasped her hands. "I'm sorry..." the girl whispered, and big, fat tears rolled down her face. "I shouldn't have let her tell me about her plan...I shouldn't have gotten involved..."
Akane smiled weakly up at her. "It's okay, Ucchan...at least you got Ranma to come back...I'm okay, right? She didn't do what she wanted to..."
"I should have known that she would try to..." Ukyou looked at Akane in shock. "You called me Ucchan..." She said softly, then smiled down at Akane. "Arigatou..." She bowed to Akane, then left.
Akane heard Ranma and Ukyou talking in the hall and heard soft sobs, and Ranma's gentle voice consoling her, but strangely felt no jealousy. A strange, rare smile curved up her lips and she stared up at the ceiling.
When the door opened, Ranma walked in this time. "You okay, Akane...?" He asked, walking up to her and sitting on the bed, facing her. At her nod, he sighed, his body oozing relief. "Thank the gods..." He murmered, pulling her forward and kissing her forhead. "When Ukyou told me what Shampoo had said I was so afraid for you."
Akane let him tilt her face up and plant a tender kiss on her lips. When he pulled back, a soft sigh issued from her lips. "You saved me again...I wish I didn't have to be saved all the time...I wish I was strong..."
"You ARE strong..." He said softly, smiling down at her. "You're a good fighter, you've got the ability, ya just lack the trainin..." He pulled her close to him, pressing his face into her shoulder. "That's what I'm here for, remember?"
A fond smile passed over her lips and she embraced him back, running her hands through his hair. "Oh, Ranma..."
He continued to hold her, his warmth and strength coaxing the tension from her body and slowly she slipped into a warm, contented sleep. Ranma lay her against the pillow gently, his hands running across her face. "Oh, Akane...what am I going to do? When did I start needing you so much?" He closed his eyes tightly, and lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to it before going down to bring Dr. Tofu up.
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End part 4:
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