Mark of the Wolves/ Ranma 1/2
Quiet Control Episode 4:
"Unforcable Atonement"
"I do not think I am the one you need to be apologising to," stated Rock finally breaking the minute long silence that fell over everyone, as if sound could not travel in their vicinity. Rock's voice did not betray any of the weariness he was feeling at the moment, "but that other guy you were about to blindside before all of this started."
"Me, apologise to THAT Jerk?" Akane shuddered at the thought of having to apologise to RANMA of all people, it was easier to apologise to the blond young man standing before her, he only acted in defense against Akane's.... lapse of temperment, but what she was about to do to Ranma was RANMA's fault, not her...
Or at least that's what she kept telling herself at the moment
"Where is, um, Ranma, anyhow?" asked Rock, finally seeing civility come to everyone around him, or at least a sembalance of it (read: nobodie's drawn weapons against him yet). Rock Howard followed the gazes of a few people before they turned away from what they stole a glance at, a soaking wet redhead with an aggressive yet puzzled look on her face.
"Shampoo not know where airen go," said Shampoo, looking slightly unnerved.
"HAH?" Replied Ryoga and Ranma at the same time, Ryoga was the first to speak up, "What's wrong with you? He's right THMPH!!!!!"
Ukyo planted a hand quickly over Ryoga's mouth before he could blow the redhead's cover, "Um, I guess Ranma honey took off after the fight ended, that's how he is, always on the go!"
Rock was far from an idiot, easily noting despite his not so firm grasp on the Japanese language that their tones and mannerisms were reflecting nervousness, and the way the three girls looked toward the Redhead than quickly away when Ranma was mentioned suggested a connection between him and the girl. Rocks mind was still in quick process mode as he added a few minor details up about where he last saw Ranma kneeling before Rock unleashed his Raging Storm. Rock noted the new redhead only a few paces between him and where Ranma was before hand, and noticed she was soaking wet and trailing water. Looking past her, Rock noticed a little fishpond, with one of the carp flopping around on dry land, as if it were suddenly knocked out of the water.
Everyone gave Rock a curious look as he walked past the redhead and over to the fish pond and flipped the fish back into the water before it suffocated.
Rock then turned back around and hazarded a guess, "So, Ranma, can you explain what this is all about?" Rock's face grew smug as he watched everyone face fault then trip to the ground.
"H-how did you know it was me?" Asked Ranma, rather puzzled and upset that he realized his, now her, curse.
"I didn't until you told me, so you're a crossdresser?"
_______________________________________________________________________
Nabiki had retired to her room during the middle of the fight and sat in front of her computer, conversing with a few associates to hack into the credit report of the card she had found. After what seemed a reletively simple task for her business associate on the other end of the net, Nabiki was rewarded with the info she wanted, and was immidiatly terrified from what she just came across...
_______________________________________________________________________
Shampoo and Ryoga sat on one side of the table while Ukyo and Ranma were at the other side, Akane sitting at one end while Rock stood standing and facing away from the table, earning discerned looks from Kasumi.
"It isn't polite to stand above everyone like that you know," retorted Ukyo, saving Kasumi the trouble.
"Hmm, oh, I am sorry, I have not practiced Japanese customs very often," Rock said Sheepishly as he moved past Ukyo and sat between a now male Ranma and his Father, "a curse.... I cannot say I do not believe it, I have heard Terry talk about facing Gods and things, so I guess it's plausable." Rock took a sip of tea out of the cup Kasumi handed him, blushing at the serene smile she was giving him.
"Now why did you have to go and hit Akane like that, huh?" Ranma had been aching to get that question off his chest, and he thought for this Rock's sake, he better have a good answer.
"Because she deserved it."
Only a couple of people could argue against that point.
It would have been silent around the table if it wern't for the grinding sound of Ryoga and Ranma's teeth, but before either of them could react, Soun beat them to the punch, "YOU DARE HIT MY LITTLE GIRL?!?!?!" Soun's head increased in size at least 20 times as it took on more demonic features. Rock merely looked upon Soun Tendo with a look of unconcern (doing rather well in hiding the sudden jolt of nervousness at the sight), while Ranma and his father Genma backed away in self preservation.
"Yes, I did, as I had sought to restrain her as she lost her temper, when that did not work I as forced to take a more severe measure."
By this point Ranma, Ryoga, and now Soun were more than ready to restart the battle that had been waged in the Tendou's backyard, until Rock continued, "she is a martial artist, right? She should have practiced more dicipline and we would not have come to blows."
Akane sunk down sheepishly and tried to make herself as small and unoticable as possible, Ukyo and Shampoo's faces became overly smug, both taking a liking to this new boy, Ryoga cooled down to only a barely controlled fury, while Ranma and Soun didn't even know how to approach that.
"I, I said I was sorry," Akane defended in a small voice.
"Like I said, I am not the one you should apologise to," Rock Howard replied, gesturing to Ranma behind him.
"Wha? Me?" the pigtailed boy stated incredulously.
"Me, apologise to HIM?" Akane stated with no little distain.
"So, this is all YOUR FAULT, RANMA!" bellowed Ryoga as he stood up quick.
"Hey, it's not like the tomboy has to apologise to me! You know how hard it is to train gorillas like her," retorted Ranma, using insults to cover his insecurities as usual. That insult was the trigger for both Ryoga and Akane as Ryoga's fist shot toward Ranma's face, and Akane's mallet also racing in that direction.
Before even Ranma could react, he saw Ryoga's face grow quickly pale, and Akane's look of dumbfoundment. Just inches from Ranma's chest was Akane's mallet, being held by Rock instead of Akane, pushing Ryoga's fist off target at the wrist joint, nudged right in that 'sweet spot'.
The Lost boy finally gave a yelp of pain while Akane was held firm by Rock's ice cold stare. After Akane shrunk back sheepishly, Rock turned and looked towards Ranma with the same glare, that even managed to take back Nerima's premier martial artist, "behave."
After order was brought back, Rock turned to regard Shampoo with a smirk, "so, how long have you and Ranma been together?" he asked, trying to breach a safer topic. Little did he realize, he failed miserably
"HAH?" Ukyo replied standing immidiatly at the comment, while Akane just glared at Ranma, Rock's presence enough to keep her at least civil.
"Does that suprise you all? She called him 'airen', Chinese for 'beloved', although I did notice you are using a dialect of Mandarin I am not familiar with.
"Yes, Shampoo is Amazon, strong women warriors. Ranma become Shampoo husband when he defeat Shampoo, make Shampoo happy bride" Shampoo all but giggled at the end.
Instead of becoming as dangerously red as Akane was, Ukyo's face grew a sly expression, "hold on now, sugar, I don't think you have a claim to Ranma anymore." Akane looked puzzled at Ukyo, while Soun and Genma both hung on Ukyo's following words, "He beat all four of us out there, including you Shampoo....." Ukyo's expression grew even wider as Akane's gained a look of smug satisfaction, "and Ranma."
"I woulda easily taken him without you guys in the way, and I almost had him!" Ranma defended.
"Um, I do not believe I follow," replied Rock, not liking where this was heading too.
"Aiyaaa," Shampoo gave as her reply, her hand covering her mouth in worry.
"That's right, Sugar. Since he defeated you, he then has a claim to you, and since he also defeated Ranma, he dissolved his claim...."
Rock's eyes grew wide from what he was told, "Um, er, but I, um..." the young blond haired man couldn't even finish what he wanted to say, too flustered by what he had heard.
"NOW WAIT A MINUTE! HE DID NOT BEAT..." Ranma's mouth was clamped shut by both Soun and Genma's hands, "she's right, this young man is now your beloved, not Ranma!" said Soun desperatly.
"Don't fight it, it's fate," said Genma with a smile.
Rock didn't even bat an eye as he turned and regarded Shampoo, "tell me what are the circumstances behind what I am assuming is a formal engagement by your people...."
"It's not an engagement, Sugar, you're now married according to their laws," said Ukyo matter-of-factly.
"Is true, outsider male defeat Amazon woman, Amazon become bride to male warrior. If new outsider male defeat same Amazon woman, both male have claim until battle between them, winner become sole Amazon husband," Shampoo explained with a sullen tone.
Rock wasn't even supressing the smile on his face, which made it seem to everyone that he was ready to accept the betrothel before he replied, "You do not have to worry, we are not married..."
"But is law..." replied Shampoo before she was cut off by the wave of Rock's hand.
"You said an outsider male must defeat you, I assume that your tribe is of China, and since you are in Japan at the moment, I hold dual citizenship for Hong Kong and Japan, so I am not the outsider here. Besides I conclude the fight a draw."
Shampoo more than eagerly accepted that explanation and in her relief launched herself at Ranma, "Airen, Shampoo so happy you still belong to Shampoo!"
"NOW WAIT JUST A..." Ukyo stated to yell.
"So Rock Howard's smart AND rich, a girl could use that in a man," said Nabiki from the base of the stairs, her voice tone not showing any humor as she spoke. She spoke steadily and deliberatly so Rock would understand completely what she was saying, and he could tell from her tone that she believed she had something against him, and wasn't about to argue it since he hadn't even gotten the chance to tell everyone his name.
"So, you're name is Rock Howard, that is an unusual name, were your parents American?" asked Kasumi, oblivious to the looks her sister Nabiki and Rock were exchanging.
"Hey, Nabiki, how did you find out his name! He refused to tell us jack!" asked Ranma. "Yeah, all I knew was his first name," added Ryoga.
"Maybe there was a reason he wasn't telling us," commented Nabiki as she tapped a card against the low sitting diningroom table in such a way that no one would catch it's meaning exept for Rock. Nabiki's face grew smug when she saw the blond haired boy's face go pale.
"Ahem, maybe we should talk..... alone..." said Rock, no emotion in his voice whatsoever.
"Yes, we do," answered Nabiki, motioning him upstairs, Nabiki still wearing her poker like business face.
"You think Nabiki knows him?" asked Akane.
"Sounds like an old flame to me," replied Ukyo, "why else would he hide his name or be here unless, he knew someone here that he didn't want to know about him."
Ranma immidiatly registered that Nabiki may be in danger, and though he didn't have any true love towards Nabiki, he did feel an obligation to her if she got in trouble.
Before he got up and followed the two, he felt his father's meaty hand on his shoulder, "now son, don't interrupt them, they probably have things very important to discuss." Soun, who was also sharing the same opinion as Ranma about the Blond haired young man turned to Genma with an incredulous look.
"I don't think he's dangerous Tendou," Genma whispered in Soun's ear, "Nabiki doesn't seem to think so, and besides, this may be the oppertunity we've been waiting for..."
"Eh, how so, Saotome?"
"Those techniques of his, they looked like they were powerful enough to even give the master problems." Soun agreed with that, but didn't follow what his old time friend was getting at.
"From the looks of things, Nabiki had a past history with him, now if they were a couple, and were go get engaged....." Genma trailed off.
"Why then, those techniques would belong to the Anything-Goes School," replied Soun, finally catching on.
"And the sooner we learn those techniques...."
"The sooner we can be rid of the master!" replied Soun with an extatic whisper that grew into laughs between old time friends, earning dumbfounded looks from everyone else around them......
Quiet Control Episode 4:
"Unforcable Atonement"
"I do not think I am the one you need to be apologising to," stated Rock finally breaking the minute long silence that fell over everyone, as if sound could not travel in their vicinity. Rock's voice did not betray any of the weariness he was feeling at the moment, "but that other guy you were about to blindside before all of this started."
"Me, apologise to THAT Jerk?" Akane shuddered at the thought of having to apologise to RANMA of all people, it was easier to apologise to the blond young man standing before her, he only acted in defense against Akane's.... lapse of temperment, but what she was about to do to Ranma was RANMA's fault, not her...
Or at least that's what she kept telling herself at the moment
"Where is, um, Ranma, anyhow?" asked Rock, finally seeing civility come to everyone around him, or at least a sembalance of it (read: nobodie's drawn weapons against him yet). Rock Howard followed the gazes of a few people before they turned away from what they stole a glance at, a soaking wet redhead with an aggressive yet puzzled look on her face.
"Shampoo not know where airen go," said Shampoo, looking slightly unnerved.
"HAH?" Replied Ryoga and Ranma at the same time, Ryoga was the first to speak up, "What's wrong with you? He's right THMPH!!!!!"
Ukyo planted a hand quickly over Ryoga's mouth before he could blow the redhead's cover, "Um, I guess Ranma honey took off after the fight ended, that's how he is, always on the go!"
Rock was far from an idiot, easily noting despite his not so firm grasp on the Japanese language that their tones and mannerisms were reflecting nervousness, and the way the three girls looked toward the Redhead than quickly away when Ranma was mentioned suggested a connection between him and the girl. Rocks mind was still in quick process mode as he added a few minor details up about where he last saw Ranma kneeling before Rock unleashed his Raging Storm. Rock noted the new redhead only a few paces between him and where Ranma was before hand, and noticed she was soaking wet and trailing water. Looking past her, Rock noticed a little fishpond, with one of the carp flopping around on dry land, as if it were suddenly knocked out of the water.
Everyone gave Rock a curious look as he walked past the redhead and over to the fish pond and flipped the fish back into the water before it suffocated.
Rock then turned back around and hazarded a guess, "So, Ranma, can you explain what this is all about?" Rock's face grew smug as he watched everyone face fault then trip to the ground.
"H-how did you know it was me?" Asked Ranma, rather puzzled and upset that he realized his, now her, curse.
"I didn't until you told me, so you're a crossdresser?"
_______________________________________________________________________
Nabiki had retired to her room during the middle of the fight and sat in front of her computer, conversing with a few associates to hack into the credit report of the card she had found. After what seemed a reletively simple task for her business associate on the other end of the net, Nabiki was rewarded with the info she wanted, and was immidiatly terrified from what she just came across...
_______________________________________________________________________
Shampoo and Ryoga sat on one side of the table while Ukyo and Ranma were at the other side, Akane sitting at one end while Rock stood standing and facing away from the table, earning discerned looks from Kasumi.
"It isn't polite to stand above everyone like that you know," retorted Ukyo, saving Kasumi the trouble.
"Hmm, oh, I am sorry, I have not practiced Japanese customs very often," Rock said Sheepishly as he moved past Ukyo and sat between a now male Ranma and his Father, "a curse.... I cannot say I do not believe it, I have heard Terry talk about facing Gods and things, so I guess it's plausable." Rock took a sip of tea out of the cup Kasumi handed him, blushing at the serene smile she was giving him.
"Now why did you have to go and hit Akane like that, huh?" Ranma had been aching to get that question off his chest, and he thought for this Rock's sake, he better have a good answer.
"Because she deserved it."
Only a couple of people could argue against that point.
It would have been silent around the table if it wern't for the grinding sound of Ryoga and Ranma's teeth, but before either of them could react, Soun beat them to the punch, "YOU DARE HIT MY LITTLE GIRL?!?!?!" Soun's head increased in size at least 20 times as it took on more demonic features. Rock merely looked upon Soun Tendo with a look of unconcern (doing rather well in hiding the sudden jolt of nervousness at the sight), while Ranma and his father Genma backed away in self preservation.
"Yes, I did, as I had sought to restrain her as she lost her temper, when that did not work I as forced to take a more severe measure."
By this point Ranma, Ryoga, and now Soun were more than ready to restart the battle that had been waged in the Tendou's backyard, until Rock continued, "she is a martial artist, right? She should have practiced more dicipline and we would not have come to blows."
Akane sunk down sheepishly and tried to make herself as small and unoticable as possible, Ukyo and Shampoo's faces became overly smug, both taking a liking to this new boy, Ryoga cooled down to only a barely controlled fury, while Ranma and Soun didn't even know how to approach that.
"I, I said I was sorry," Akane defended in a small voice.
"Like I said, I am not the one you should apologise to," Rock Howard replied, gesturing to Ranma behind him.
"Wha? Me?" the pigtailed boy stated incredulously.
"Me, apologise to HIM?" Akane stated with no little distain.
"So, this is all YOUR FAULT, RANMA!" bellowed Ryoga as he stood up quick.
"Hey, it's not like the tomboy has to apologise to me! You know how hard it is to train gorillas like her," retorted Ranma, using insults to cover his insecurities as usual. That insult was the trigger for both Ryoga and Akane as Ryoga's fist shot toward Ranma's face, and Akane's mallet also racing in that direction.
Before even Ranma could react, he saw Ryoga's face grow quickly pale, and Akane's look of dumbfoundment. Just inches from Ranma's chest was Akane's mallet, being held by Rock instead of Akane, pushing Ryoga's fist off target at the wrist joint, nudged right in that 'sweet spot'.
The Lost boy finally gave a yelp of pain while Akane was held firm by Rock's ice cold stare. After Akane shrunk back sheepishly, Rock turned and looked towards Ranma with the same glare, that even managed to take back Nerima's premier martial artist, "behave."
After order was brought back, Rock turned to regard Shampoo with a smirk, "so, how long have you and Ranma been together?" he asked, trying to breach a safer topic. Little did he realize, he failed miserably
"HAH?" Ukyo replied standing immidiatly at the comment, while Akane just glared at Ranma, Rock's presence enough to keep her at least civil.
"Does that suprise you all? She called him 'airen', Chinese for 'beloved', although I did notice you are using a dialect of Mandarin I am not familiar with.
"Yes, Shampoo is Amazon, strong women warriors. Ranma become Shampoo husband when he defeat Shampoo, make Shampoo happy bride" Shampoo all but giggled at the end.
Instead of becoming as dangerously red as Akane was, Ukyo's face grew a sly expression, "hold on now, sugar, I don't think you have a claim to Ranma anymore." Akane looked puzzled at Ukyo, while Soun and Genma both hung on Ukyo's following words, "He beat all four of us out there, including you Shampoo....." Ukyo's expression grew even wider as Akane's gained a look of smug satisfaction, "and Ranma."
"I woulda easily taken him without you guys in the way, and I almost had him!" Ranma defended.
"Um, I do not believe I follow," replied Rock, not liking where this was heading too.
"Aiyaaa," Shampoo gave as her reply, her hand covering her mouth in worry.
"That's right, Sugar. Since he defeated you, he then has a claim to you, and since he also defeated Ranma, he dissolved his claim...."
Rock's eyes grew wide from what he was told, "Um, er, but I, um..." the young blond haired man couldn't even finish what he wanted to say, too flustered by what he had heard.
"NOW WAIT A MINUTE! HE DID NOT BEAT..." Ranma's mouth was clamped shut by both Soun and Genma's hands, "she's right, this young man is now your beloved, not Ranma!" said Soun desperatly.
"Don't fight it, it's fate," said Genma with a smile.
Rock didn't even bat an eye as he turned and regarded Shampoo, "tell me what are the circumstances behind what I am assuming is a formal engagement by your people...."
"It's not an engagement, Sugar, you're now married according to their laws," said Ukyo matter-of-factly.
"Is true, outsider male defeat Amazon woman, Amazon become bride to male warrior. If new outsider male defeat same Amazon woman, both male have claim until battle between them, winner become sole Amazon husband," Shampoo explained with a sullen tone.
Rock wasn't even supressing the smile on his face, which made it seem to everyone that he was ready to accept the betrothel before he replied, "You do not have to worry, we are not married..."
"But is law..." replied Shampoo before she was cut off by the wave of Rock's hand.
"You said an outsider male must defeat you, I assume that your tribe is of China, and since you are in Japan at the moment, I hold dual citizenship for Hong Kong and Japan, so I am not the outsider here. Besides I conclude the fight a draw."
Shampoo more than eagerly accepted that explanation and in her relief launched herself at Ranma, "Airen, Shampoo so happy you still belong to Shampoo!"
"NOW WAIT JUST A..." Ukyo stated to yell.
"So Rock Howard's smart AND rich, a girl could use that in a man," said Nabiki from the base of the stairs, her voice tone not showing any humor as she spoke. She spoke steadily and deliberatly so Rock would understand completely what she was saying, and he could tell from her tone that she believed she had something against him, and wasn't about to argue it since he hadn't even gotten the chance to tell everyone his name.
"So, you're name is Rock Howard, that is an unusual name, were your parents American?" asked Kasumi, oblivious to the looks her sister Nabiki and Rock were exchanging.
"Hey, Nabiki, how did you find out his name! He refused to tell us jack!" asked Ranma. "Yeah, all I knew was his first name," added Ryoga.
"Maybe there was a reason he wasn't telling us," commented Nabiki as she tapped a card against the low sitting diningroom table in such a way that no one would catch it's meaning exept for Rock. Nabiki's face grew smug when she saw the blond haired boy's face go pale.
"Ahem, maybe we should talk..... alone..." said Rock, no emotion in his voice whatsoever.
"Yes, we do," answered Nabiki, motioning him upstairs, Nabiki still wearing her poker like business face.
"You think Nabiki knows him?" asked Akane.
"Sounds like an old flame to me," replied Ukyo, "why else would he hide his name or be here unless, he knew someone here that he didn't want to know about him."
Ranma immidiatly registered that Nabiki may be in danger, and though he didn't have any true love towards Nabiki, he did feel an obligation to her if she got in trouble.
Before he got up and followed the two, he felt his father's meaty hand on his shoulder, "now son, don't interrupt them, they probably have things very important to discuss." Soun, who was also sharing the same opinion as Ranma about the Blond haired young man turned to Genma with an incredulous look.
"I don't think he's dangerous Tendou," Genma whispered in Soun's ear, "Nabiki doesn't seem to think so, and besides, this may be the oppertunity we've been waiting for..."
"Eh, how so, Saotome?"
"Those techniques of his, they looked like they were powerful enough to even give the master problems." Soun agreed with that, but didn't follow what his old time friend was getting at.
"From the looks of things, Nabiki had a past history with him, now if they were a couple, and were go get engaged....." Genma trailed off.
"Why then, those techniques would belong to the Anything-Goes School," replied Soun, finally catching on.
"And the sooner we learn those techniques...."
"The sooner we can be rid of the master!" replied Soun with an extatic whisper that grew into laughs between old time friends, earning dumbfounded looks from everyone else around them......