Neriman Newbie
Chapter 4
All comments and criticisms would be welcome. Send all praise and flames to: Macleodrichard@hotmail.com
Be warned though, flames will be printed and then be recycled into toilet paper.
As always... a disclaimer:
PLEASEDON'TSUEMEPLEASEDON'TSUEMEPLEASEDON'TSUEME!!! Alright that's enough groveling for today. I have no ownership of most the characters here. If any of my characters are in anyway the same as anyone in real life(cough cough yeah right) then it's purely coincidental. And if you don't believe that TOO BAD.
A woman gets a call from the hospital. The doctor at the hospital says, "Mrs. Smith, it's about your husband. He's been in a terrible car accident."
Mrs. Smith says, "Ohmigod. What happened?"
The doctor says, "Well, I've got good news, and bad news."
Mrs. Smith says, "Give me the bad news first."
The doctor says, "Well, your husband suffered extensive injuries and will take years to recuperate. He broke both of his arms, among other things, so for at least a year you'll have to spoon-feed him, bathe him, and even wipe his ass for him."
Mrs. Smith says, "My God, that's awful. What's the good news?"
The doctor laughs and says, "I was just teasing you! He's dead!"
- Drew Carey. Dirty Jokes and Beer.
Note: [] Denotes the MIGHTY english language.(Well, maybe not so mighty. Ha, HaHa, ummm... I was Joking?)
** Denotes Signs.
{} Denotes thought. All thought is conducted in the persons native language. So if Akane reads Cologne's mind she wouldn't understand a word of it.
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Akane froze in fear and shock as a giant creature bounded down the stairs and turned away from her and Ranma to run into the living room. Her eyes sprung wide as Kasumi came down the stairs hurriedly(For Kasumi) and went right after it. She felt the body she was carrying twitch convulsively on her back and she let Ranma drop to the ground with a thump.
"K-Kasumi... what was that?" Akane called out in a meek voice.
Kasumi came around the corner and tried to head the creature off in the kitchen but saw Akane and stopped. "Oh, Akane, I didn't realize you were back already." She commented in her kind voice.
"Kasumi. What was that?" Akane pressed.
"What was what? Do you mean Neko-san?"
"Neko.... san? Kasumi, that was a bloody tiger!" Akane replied but Kasumi's attention was elsewhere.
"What happened to Ranma?"
Akane turned around to see Ranma lying on the floor twitching, virtually in the same position she had been in while on Akane's back.
"The jerk fell asleep! When we need him most!" Akane stated astonished. "Show's how useless he is." She growled.
"Now Akane..." Kasumi began to admonish but the elusive animal poked it's head around the corner and Kasumi barely caught it in her peripheral vision. "There you are." she stated and turned around towards it. Making it scramble away again.
"Kasumi!" Akane cried.
Akane's sister turned towards her. "Sh. Everyone else is asleep already. We don't want to wake them up."
"They are?"
Kasumi nodded.
"Well... okay, I'll be quiet. But Kasumi, that thing will kill you if you get too close to it." Akane argued quietly.
Kasumi looked at her youngest sister perplexed. "He didn't hurt me last night though. Do you really think so?"
"Jason was attacked by a tiger the second day he was in Japan remember? This might even be the tiger that did it. We need to be careful with it." She stated.
Kasumi nodded her head. "Alright Akane, we'll be careful. I'll take Ranma to his room and you go find Neko-san then." She said and picked up Ranma. "Come on Ranma. Let's go to your room."
"Uh, wa-wait. Kasumi...." It was too late, Kasumi was already up the stairs. "I don't want to deal with it all alone." Akane muttered.
Slowly Akane began to creep around the house. She didn't do it for long though as the illusive ÔNeko-san' popped around the corner and looked up at her curiously.
"N-nice kitty..." Akane muttered as she stared down at the large tiger in fear. It damn well came up past her hip easy. "Nice kitty."
The tiger walked up to her and instead of rubbing it's head against her leg or her hip as Akane hoped it stuck it's head up her dress for a casual harmless sniff to see just what she was like. "Pervert!" Akane cried out outraged as she pulled away from the furry monster and slapped it's head hard. (Fear! This is what happens when I start listening to Blood Hound Gang at 2:00 in the morning. And I will NEVER change it.)
The big cat reeled from the strike. Once it recovered from the shocking impact it went into an attacking stance with it's teeth and claws bared and growled angrily.
Akane backed away slightly. Not to mention nervously. "Ah he he. Whoops. Um... sorry?"
At that moment Akane was saved as Kasumi walked back down the stairs and spied the tiger rearing away from Akane. "There you are." She said and walked over to the beast and petted it's head. "Now be nice Neko-san. If I'm going to talk to father about you you have to act nice." She explained to it as it smiled contentedly and pushed it's head into her hand as she petted it.
"Kasumi! It was about to attack me!"
Kasumi looked up at her sister worriedly. "He was?"
"Yes!"
Kasumi looked back to the tiger. "Were you?" The tiger stared up at her confused. "Are you sure?" Kasumi responded looking back to her sister.
"Yes!"
"I suppose I should make sure Neko-san's house trained. I'll get to work on that right now." Kasumi said innocently and walked into the living room with ÔNeko-san'.
Akane watched wide eyed as her eldest sister walk away with one of the most dangerous creatures she'd seen in her life. "I think I'd better go to bed." She muttered then walked upstairs and locked the door to her room.
"I can't find him anywhere."
"Find who?"
"Neko-san."
Ranma froze just as he brought a rice ball to his mouth.
Jason stared at Kasumi confused. "Neko-san? I haven't seen any cats around here."
"Neko-san isn't a cat." Akane replied. Ranma seemed to relax when he heard that. "It's a tiger. And a big one at that." Ranma tensed up again.
"Well as long as it's been de-clawed and fanged I'm fine with it." Jason said as he stroked his left side.
"He hasn't been de-clawed or fanged." Akane responded calmly. "I saw them last night when it was about to attack me."
"... Um... okay, and you're acting all casual about this why?"
"I'm too tired to think about it right now."
Jason raised an eyebrow and kept his mouth shut.
Genma didn't though. "Just what does this Neko-san look like?"
"He's really big for a tiger, he comes up above my hip. He's got a lovely coat of white and black fur, and cute blue eyes. Is that a good enough description?" Kasumi asked.
Jason raised an eyebrow in thought while putting a fishcake in his mouth.
Genma looked up at the roof and scratched his chin. "I've never heard of a white tiger before. Maybe we could capture it and sell it to a zoo for alot of money." He mused.
"Now Saotome, doesn't that seem a bit cruel?" Soun asked.
"And, as rare as white tigers used to be, they are kinda easy to find these days." Jason stated as he picked up the fish cake. "By the size I'd say maybe it's a Siberian tiger too. The biggest and strongest there are. He's pretty far from home." He ate the piece of food between his chopsticks and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "I'm gonna need to see Dr. Tofu before I head to school so I should better get going now." He decided then put down the chopsticks, stood up, and bowed to Kasumi. "Thanks for the food. See you all later."
Everyone watched as he ran out while shouldering his gym bag.
"Oh, I wish he'd told me that earlier. I have some books I need to get back to Dr. Tofu." Kasumi murmured then set herself to cleaning Jason's spot at the table.
"Hm. I thought Jason wanted to practice today too."
Somewhere else in Japan. (I think)
"A wild boar!!"
"On a rampage!!"
A boar the size of a house charged through peoples homes at speeds fast enough to allow it to crash right through them. People scattered in all directions trying to avoid the giant beast. Everyone, except for the one guy who wasn't from thew village. People shouted out warnings at him to run and get out the way. But he really didn't seem to care.
At the last moment Ryoga Hibiki turned around and leveled his bamboo umbrella at the beast. The giant boar continued to advance against the Eternally Lost Boy but gained no ground. Finishing the display Ryoga sent the boar high into the air with little effort.
As the creature fell to the ground once again the people of the town made a commotion and crowded around the bandanna clad guy. "Where is Furinkan High School?" he asked holding up a map.
A couple people took a look at the piece of paper. "Say! Ain't this Tokyo?!"
"That's five hundred miles north o' here!"
"I see." The umbrella wielding teen said as he turned around and continued his journey. "Forgive the commotion."
And so the bandanna clad stranger left the small hamlet and continued on his journey of REVENGE!
"Hey Ranma are you ready to... nevermind." Jason and turned around to walk back into the guest room as a half naked female Ranma ran through the hallway with Kasumi and Nabiki close behind.
"I'm not wearing any girls' clothes!" Ranma shouted once she was cornered.
"But all your clothes are in the wash right now!" Kasumi responded. "Let me fill your bath now, so--"
"You can't just run around naked y'know!" Nabiki interjected.
"Then I'll wear Jason's!"
"Not as a girl you won't!" They all heard Jason shout from the guest room. "My clothes would barely fit you as a boy! How well do you think they'll fit if you're a girl!"
"But-"
"You're a guest here aren't you?!" Both girls pointed at Ranma.
Akane's room.
"... Why do you have to loan my clothes?"
"I'm not wearing a skirt."
"'kay, this'll work." Nabiki mumbled and pulled a few articles of clothing from Akane's closet.
A few seconds later Ranma was dressed up in a black shirt and a pair of cover all's that had China written on them.
"Oooh! It is you!" Nabiki complemented.
"It's... it's perfect..." Akane muttered. God only knowing what was going through her mind as she openly stared.
"It doesn't fit. The chest is too tight." Ranma stated looking in the mirror.
"Really? How's the waist?"
"Room to spare!"
The usual feeling of death in the room wasn't present as Akane picked up the bokken she kept next to her bed and gripped it tightly.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Stop it! Girls shouldn't fight!!"
"I'M A BOY!"
"OW!! [DAMNIT] AKANE! WATCH WHERE YOU SWING THAT THING!! AAAHHH!!"
Somewhere else in Japan.
"Where is Furinkan High School?"
"If it's Tokyo it's five hundred miles south of here."
And thus The Hunter continued on his hunt for REVENGE for another week. At which he came to the front of Furinkan High.
Students muttered among themselves as they noticed the travel worn person standing infront of the gates of their school.
"You." The bandanna clad boy said as he grabbed a student passing out of the school grounds.
"Wahh! What do you want?" the student replied.
"Where is Furinkan High School?"
"Say what?"
The wind picked up suddenly and messed up their hair.
The student pointed at a sign that had the schools name written on it.
"Where is Ranma Saotome?"
The student looked back at school grounds. "Saotome?"
"Ranma! Stop!!" Akane shouted as she chased Ranma from the school.
Ranma jumped up into the air. "Come and get me!" he called over his shoulder.
Suddenly though, Ranma's danger sense went off in his mind. {Trouble!} Looking further up he saw a bamboo umbrella heading straight for him.
"Ranma! Prepare to die!"
Ranma stared at the approaching boy and just as he was about to be hit he flipped out of the way. The umbrella hit the ground and made a crater a just over a meter in diameter. Ranma made a hasty exit to the edge of the crater where all the other students were gathering.
"You."
The bandanna clad boy smirked. "You still haven't changed Ranma. You're still good at running away."
"Someone you know?" Akane asked Ranma.
Ranma tried to think about just who the boy was. "Uh... yeah! Sure! He's... he's..." Ranma began getting all excited.
"Don't strain your brain remembering, Ranma." Akane deadpanned.
The other boy looked calm as he said, "Just tell me one thing, Ranma." The calmness disappeared. "Why did you run out on our fight?!"
Ranma smacked his fist into his open palm shouting, "Wait! I remember! You were in my class at my old high school... Ryoga Hibiki! Long time no see!"
"Answer my question!"
"I waited three days at the appointed place!"
"Yes! And when I arrived on the fourth day... you had already run away!" Ryoga stated.
"Uh... Ryoga? Can I ask you something?" Ranma said suddenly serious. "Why did it take four days to get there?"
"Why you!! Do you think I was out for a casual stroll for four days?!" He shouted angrily. "I suffered to meet up with you!!"
Students behind the two began muttering between themselves about Ryoga's sense of direction.
"Breaking a vow between men..." Ryoga began to tremble. "...And running to China with your father!" He shouted and swung his umbrella at Ranma which Ranma jumped over.
"In other words... you want to finish our fight?" Ranma replied as hr touched down.
"'Finish our fight'?! How feeble!" Ryoga threw his umbrella into the air. "This is revenge!"
The umbrella flew by Ranma, came back around and hit a few of the students, but not Ranma once again, before it came back to Ryoga's hand.
"No matter what it takes Ranma... I shall destroy your happiness!" Ryoga promised.
"My... happiness...?" Ranma muttered. Turning to Akane he asked, "Am I happy?"
"Don't ask me!"
Ryoga quickly left the school grounds and the rest of the student body quickly did the same. After all, who the hell wants to stay in school?
The eternally lost boy continued from the school and while promptly getting LOST(What else) he also sensed that he was being followed. Turning one last corner he laid in wait. He laid in wait for a while.
"[Damnit. I think I lost him.]" Someone said in english.
Ryoga walked back around the corner and saw an American with his back to Ryoga scanning the crowd along the street. He jabbed his umbrella into the Americans unprotected back. "[What do you want with me?]" Ryoga stated angrily in rather fluent english.
Slowly the American turned around and looked at Ryoga. "[Oh, good. I did find you. And hey! You can speak english too, this is great!]"
Ryoga prodded the American's chest. "[Are you gonna tell me what you want or am I gonna have to wipe the street with your face?!]" He demanded.
The American raised his hands protectively. "[Hey now hold on a second! I just want to ask you a few questions. I saw the little display down at the school and Ranma's a friend of mine. I just want to know what this is all about.]"
The Eternally Lost Boy glowered at the American. "[Because of Ranma, I've seen Hell!]"
The American raised an eyebrow. "[You know my mom?]"
Ryoga became confused and the American laughed.
"[Just a joke man, a joke.]"
"[You call my suffering a JOKE?!]" Ryoga shouted.
The American appeared to be thinking about that. "[I suppose I probably will until you decide to tell me what it was you suffered.]"
Ryoga stiffened his lip and glared at the impertinent American.
"[Alright, alright. I suppose we all got our secrets. I'd just like to say something. If I was late for a fight I would be considered to have forfeited. I don't particularly see what's so special about you that says you get to arrive days late to a fight and not be considered to have forfeit. Whatever the hell your problem is, blame it on someone else cause I don't see why Ranma is to blame. Or better yet, don't blame it on anyone at all, just shut up and deal with it.]" The American stated. "[Think about that until your next fight with Ranma Saotome.]"
Ryoga shoved past the American and stormed away, quickly dissapearing around the corner of a building. The American shook his head. "[Maybe that was the wrong way to go at that.]" He said then shrugged to himself. "[Ah well.]"
"Well Ranma? What did you do to this Ryoga?" Akane asked.
"Believe me. I wish I knew!" Ranma replied, sitting on the porch in nothing but her pants and a towel.
"Ranma, there's a letter for you." Kasumi said softly as she walked up to Ranma holding the letter in question. "From a boy named... Ryoga Hibiki."
"Now what?!" Ranma said as he opened up the letter, inside was a paper that had ÔChallenge' written on it. "Rrrrgh."
Akane sat down on her heels behind Ranma. "You must have done something. This is more than your everyday annoyance."
Suddenly Ranma smacked a fist into an open hand.
"I knew it!" Akane said.
"He remembers something?" Nabiki guessed.
"Yesss... it was the start of a new semester..." Ranma said as the background changed to show a school. The scene that plays shows a large group of teenage boys running into a cafeteria and a war occurring over the last curry bread. With Ranma getting it by jumping on the head of another boy.
"You... who are you?!"
"Ranma Saotome."
"Ranma Saotome... I shall never forget the offense of the curry bread."
The background fades to normal. "He was crying tears of bitterness!"
A set of heavy footsteps draws attention from all the girls on the porch. "Hey guys.... Um, Ranma. Are you planning on putting on a shirt anytime soon?"
Kasumi stood up and lifted a kettle of heated water over Ranma's head.
"So what was that weird thing I just saw around this place a second ago?" Jason asked.
"Oh, I was just reminiscing about my time in boys school." Ranma replied.
"Boys school!" The three girls cried as they backed away from Ranma in surprise.
"Back then I was always a boy! Three hundred sixty-five days a year!"
"Now that we've cleared that up, I don't think it's something so simple. I managed to talk to Ryoga after he walked from the school and whatever it was I'm not even sure that you had anything to do with it. Unless of course, it's something that you can't remember." Jason explained.
Ranma began to consider. "Well, there wasn't anything else. Wait! Chow Mein bread, Croquette bread, Melon bread, Cutlet Sandwich, Meat-" Ranma listed off until he was interrupted.
"Stop it Ranma... It's not bread. Now if you're not busy let's spar. I'm not getting any better just standing here doing nothing." Jason interrupted.
Ranma jumped up cheerily. "Sounds good!" He said as he and Jason began to stride towards the dojo.
"Oh... Ranma. This is dated yesterday." Akane stated reading the challenge letter.
Both boys turned towards Akane. "No problem. That guy's got the world's worst sense of direction. Right now he's probably asking somebody-"
"No wonder I chased him across half of Nerima. Damnit what a waste of the day." Jason interrupted.
God know's where...
"So it's this way to Tokyo?"
"It's this way! THIS way! Why are you going that way?"
1 Week Later...
Ranma and Ryoga both stood in the school fields facing off with each other. Students gathered around them both at the edge of the field and watched.
"So Ranma, you finally decided to show up!" Ryoga called out.
"I'm not here to fight you Ryoga. Just..." Ranma threw something at Ryoga. "Take this!"
Ryoga caught the curry and looked at it silently. "What is this?" He demanded, his temper flaring.
"Well? Makes us even right?"
"What?! Is this a Joke?!"
"Jeez. Greedy Jerk. Okay, here... Here's your lousy Chow Mein Bread! An' your crummy Melon Bread! An' your Cutlet Sandwich! Your Meat Bread! Your Seaweed Bread! Happy now? I didn't forget anything did I?" Ranma went on, throwing various breads at Ryoga.
"Wh... Wh... What're you trying to PULL?!"
"This is a Bread Feud isn't it?"
"You think a Bread Eating contest will avenge my Honor?! Besides, these are all past their ÔSell-By dates'."
"Well what do you expect, you made me wait a week."
From that front of the crowd. "I told you it wasn't about the bread Ranma!!"
"Enough chatter... Now then, I attack!" Ryoga shouted as he began stabbing his umbrella at Ranma.
"W... Wait a minute! What's this about?" Ranma protested as he and Ryoga jumped into the air.
"Thanks to you-" Ryoga began as he struck out at Ranma with the umbrella. "I have seen HELL!!"
"What are you talking about?" Ranma asked as he calmly landed on the ground.
"Do you think that mere words can convey the depths of my SUFFERING!!" Ryoga shouted then threw his now open umbrella at Ranma. It skidded across the ground and right past Ranma, making a long curve around the school grounds. As Ranma watched the umbrella move away from him Ryoga rushed forwards pulling off one of his bandanna's and wrapped it around Ranma's wrist. "This'll keep you from running away!" He shouted as his hand shot forwards where Ranma's head had been.
"Tell me something... How many bandanna's are you wearing?!" Ranma asked as he blocked a kick from Ryoga with his own.
While the fight raged on the umbrella of Ryoga's was whizzing through the air above the unknowing students. It hit the ground and dug itself a fine little trench until it finaly came to a stop and lay on the ground. One of the students tried to pick the thing up and quickly found out just how heavy the bloody thing was. After shouting out that "This thing weighs a ton!" Akane came over and tried to lift the umbrella herself. Once she discovered that even she could not lift it the implications of the fact that Ryoga could lift it came to mind.
"Ranma!! Get away from him, he's got the strength of a monster!!" She shouted.
In the fight, Ryoga smiled. "Looks like you found out... A little too late!" He shouted as he struck out at Ranma. The attack did not hit as Ranma went under his legs, kicked Ryoga in the back of the head, knocked him to the ground, and then sat on Ryoga's back.
"What did I find out... a little too late?" Ranma asked from atop his perch.
"You... you dare... try to push me..." Ryoga lifted both himself and Ranma up on one of his arms. "to my knees?!" He shouted as he pushed off the ground and launhed himself and Ranma into the air. As people began to shout the implications at each other, Ryoga tried to kick Ranma while still airborne. Ranma split his legs so Ryoga's kick passed harmlessly between them and manuevered himself under Ryoga. As Ranbma hit the ground he lashed out wit both feet and knocked Ryoga back into the air. Also causing Ryoga to let go of the bandanna that kept them together.
Ryoga landed near Akane and Jason as the two scramble away to safety. The whole time Jason had slowly been coming to the realisation of just how far he had to come before he was at Ranma's level. He stood back and watched as Ranma came at Ryoga from the air just block a kick from Ryoga. While Ranma finished his landing Ryoga pulled hmself along the ground and grabbed his umbrella. Quickly regaining his footing he jabbed outwards with the weapon as once again Ranma jumped into range. The jab quickly proved pointless as all it did was rip open Ranma's shirt while Ranma managed to kick Ryoga in the face.
"This was my favorite shirt!" Ranma shouted as he stood off with Ryoga again.
"This is war!" Ryoga declared while rubbing a sore jaw. "Don't act like a girl!"
{Ooh, that musta hit a nerve.} Jason thought to himself as Ranma began to look angry for the first time this fight. He quickly readied himself incase they took this out of the schoolyard.
"Who are you calling a GIRL?!" Ranma shouted as he jumped at Ryoga foot forward. Ryoga jumped back as well and both of them easily cleared the chain link fence that surrounded the field.
Jason and Akane were following alot closer than any of the other guys.
The erratic jumping brought Ryoga on top of the school fountains just as Ranma was coming down on it.
"Well?! Who're you calling A GIRL?!" Ranma shouted as he cracked the fountain wide open.
"Water! They've cracked the very earth!" "Even worse! It's the water fountain!"
Ryoga blocked a large stream of water with the umbrella and was surprised to see Ranma come right over his head. As he landed he faced his opponent... only to have a moment of confusion come over him.
"Well, Ryoga?!" A high pitched feminine voice shouted as she took a ready stance. Her nipple showing from the cut in her shirt.
Ryoga began mumbling rather incoherantly as Ranma jumped at him again. As she came close her shirt flapped in the wind revealing even more of her chest to Ryoga just before Ranma kicked him in the face once again.
"Ra... Ra... Ranma?" Ryoga stuttered.
"Who do I look like, you blind stupid jerk?!" Ranma retorted.
"Ranma! Your... your..." Akane stuttered for a word.
"You look like a Japanese red headed chick with her shirt ripped open and no bra!" Jason said over top of Akane's trailing speech.
Ranma took this time to look down to look down at herself and for once had the modesty to be embarrassed. "My... oy."
"You didn't know you'd gone female again?" Akane asked.
Jason pulled his shirt over his head. "Ranma, switch ya." He said as he tossed the grey short sleeved shirt he'd been wearing at the much smaller girl.
Ranma nodded his thanks and quickly changed then tossed the ripped shirt to Jason. Now, wearing something that barely fit she looked at Ryoga again and noted the citical stare he was giving her. "Well? Why don't you laugh, huh? Huh?" She said as her blush deepened. "Listen... I don't know what I've done to make you so bitter Ryoga... Butlook at ME-- cursed with this BODY!" She shouted, looking honestly anguished. "Yet I take it in stride-- and treat others with kindness!"
Ryoga continued to stare at her for a few seconds, then he began to laugh. Everyone stared at him confused.
"What the hell's so funny?!" Jason demanded. He certainly knew that he wouldn't have wanted to turned into a girl.
"It is to laugh! That... you call a curse?" He shouted as he peeled a bunch of bandanna's fron the main bandanna. "Whinning about your misery..." He continued while shaking in anger. "...With such an adorable figure!" He began spinning the bandanna's. "Ha! Such a jest!" and with that he jumped into the air and threw the bandanna's at the trio.
Stundents managed to catch up to the group only to be chased away by the flying buzzsaws made of cloth.
Akane turned around and headed back to the school shouting, "I'll get some hot water!"
Ranma turned towards her to try and get hold of her. "NO! You idiot! Don't move!"
"I'll make it!" Akane shouted just she tripped on a tree root and fell over, saving her from the pair of bandanna's that went through her skirt.
"NO!" Ranma shouted and ran towards her.
Ryoga shouted something about an opening and threw his umbrella at Ranma's unprotected back. "It's over-!" Ryoga's speech was cut short as a fist kissed his cheek, HARD. Ryoga stumbled a bit and saw the American teenager from before standing beside him. "Wh- What?" Ryoga stuttered just before Jason punched him in the stomache. Ryoga considered himself lucky that he'd managed to suck in his stomache before the blow hit. "You stay out of a man to man fight!" He challenged as he regained his stance, his jaw almost dropped in shock though as he took in the American's form. Ranma's shirt was drapped over his belt and he'd handed his over to Ranma. He looked alot more muscular that he had before when standing next to Ranma's female side and the large scar on his left side stood out well. {Well. Size isn't everything though is it?} Ryoga thought to himself.
"[Stop being an asshole.]" Jason stated calmly. "[Before you get someone hurt.]"
"[Don't you tell me what to do!]" Ryoga said and pulled some more bandanna's off his head, began spinning them, and threw them at the American.
Jason watched the cloth buzzsaws carefully to establish their paths, then when he saw a clearing he ran forwards and began to attack Ryoga. The fact that Ryoga was alot better than he was didn't cross Jason's mind, and of course, Ryoga didn't know that... yet. He'd managed to get a few punches in Ryoga's jaw before the bandanna's came back at him. Jason didn't notice though as he gave Ryoga one last uppercut to the chin. As Ryoga was knocked back the bandanna's struck at him, drawing thin lines of blood across his arms, back, and chest. "[Damnit. I should have expected those.]" He muttered and looked around. "[Well, at least Ranma got away.]"
"What?!" Ryoga shouted and grabbed Jason by his neck and lifted him up. "[I'll get you for this if he got away.]" Jason's response was to once again punch Ryoga in the face.
"[You don't get it do you?]" Jason began annoyed. "[I'm not gonna let this continue unless you decide to tell Ranma or at least me what this is about you fool! I'm not gonna allow my friends to get hurt because a jerk like you can't handle his life!]"
Ryoga threw Jason to the ground and saw a bunch of the students running off to somewhere else and drew the reasonable conclusing that they were heading towards Ranma. "[I've no time for you!]" He declared and ran off to catch up to Ranma.
Cursing to himself violently Jason stood up and began to take chase a little more slowly. The cuts on his body might not have been in any way severe, but he didn't want them to become that way.
Ryoga found Ranma and Akane on top of a roof for a bike racks,(?I'm not sure what this thing is, I'm guessing here.?) both were bickering with each other about something. Ryoga pulled off his belt and snapped it straight. The belt became straight like a rod and he used it to cut through one of the supports holding the wodden structure up.
As the wooden roof collapsed, taking Ranma and Akane with it, Ranma saw Ryoga coming at them from the air holding his belt like a whip. Ranma blocked at strike using the umbrella, only to discover the belt was more powerful than the bamboo as Ryoga ripped the umbrella in half.
"Let me go!" Akane shouted at Ranma.
"What?! You think I'm holding you because I want to?!" Ranma retorted.
Tears coming to her eyes, Akane slapped Ranma just as they landed. The echo was heard quite well by everyone around them. "If I'm such a nuisance... Then..." Akane didn't finish her sentence as she began to stomp away.
"...Uh... Akane?" Ranma began as she turned towards her fianceŽ.
Ryoga seethed as he realized that once again Ranma was ignoring him. "Ignore me will you!" He shouted and lashed out with his belt.
Immediately Ranma kicked Ryoga's hand sending the belt flying high into the air shouting, "Give it a rest!" then she began to chase after Akane again. "A... Akane... I-"
"You don't have to explain. Because starting now...."
"Look out Akane!" Someone shouted.
Akane spun around only to see Jason body check her knocking a few feet away from where she'd been. That wonderful little speech she'd though up on the spot was now ruined. As she got up she was about to start cursing at Jason when she heard him cry out in pain.
"God Damnit!!" Jason shouted and turned back to Ryoga. "This is the fruit of your labors Ryoga! Take a good God Damned look!!" He continued to shout then doubled over and growled in pain. Pulling Ranma's ruined shirt off his belt he pushed it up against his right arm.
Ranma ran up to Jason and began pushing him from the school grounds. "Akane, help me. Jason might die if we don't get him to a doctor, now!"
As Akane started to catch up to Ranma and Jason, she stepped on a bloodsoaked belt that lay half in the ground. And she quickly found out that her ankle might very well have been twisted. She hurried none-the-less though, holding up Jason's right side she saw that the torn shirt quickly change to a different shade of red and become wet and sticky.
As the three entered Dr. Tofu's clinic Ranma shouted to Dr. Tofu. It took a little bit of time but eventually Dr. Tofu came out from the back room. "Yes, what can I... get him in here now!"
After entering the back room and sitting down on the bed he carefully peeled away the bloody shirt and then clamped his hand on his injured bicep. "I'm gonna need alotta stitching doc, I sure hope you're up to it." Jason declared as he began to lay down.
"This won't be as easy as stitching it up Jason. Realistically stitching will only help stop the bleeding. Do you still remember how go channel your Ki?" Dr. Tofu asked as he grabbed various things he would need quickly.
"Yeah, although I still have to be unconscious when I do it." Jason replied.
"Good, try to use your ki to heal yourself like before and I'll stitch yourself up while you're out cold. I don't have any pain killers for this kinda thing you know." Dr. Tofu stated solemnly and walked over to Jason's bed.
"Could you at least use some ice then? Desensitize it a little? After you're done at least?" Jason requested hopefully.
Dr. Tofu nodded then, pressing a few pressure points, knocked Jason out cold.
"Just what happened Ranma?" Akane asked as the two sat down in the waiting room.
Ranma had her arms crossed and her head down almost as if she was angry. "Jason knocked you out of the way just as Ryoga's belt almost came down on you, it might very well have split you open like a melon." She said and shivered. "Jason was too slow to move out of the way and the belt came down on his arm and rip through his bicep, his arm was held on by two inches of skin and that almost came off before Jason grabbed his arm." Pausing to put a hand to her mouth Ranma almost seemed to be trying to hold some puke down. "Blood began to stream down him almost instantly, I think we both figured than an artery had been severed. He showed his arm to Ryoga and I think you know what he said. Then he covered the wound with my shirt."
Akane bit her lip as Ranma began to shake slightly. "So he saved me?" Akane asked.
Ranma stood and looked around. "I'd better change back. Dr. Tofu should have a tap around here right?"
Some time later, Dr. Tofu came out of the back room and walked up to Ranma and Akane. "Well, I'll admit this to you now. This place wasn't meant to take care of patients with such injuries. It might have been better if you'd just brought him to a hospital." He said and noted their expressions. "But then, he might never have been able to use his right arm again. He should recover fine by tomorrow. Unfortunately though, he'll be weaker than ever, so I want you two to take good care of him. I might be able to do something about it, but I won't be sure till tomorrow when he wakes up."
Both halves of the couple sighed in relief at what the chiropractor said. "So he'll be okay?" Akane asked.
"Well... he has been better. And he has been worse." Dr. Tofu stated.
"Meaning?" Ranma asked.
Dr. Tofu blinked. "You haven't been told about the animal attack Jason suffered?"
Suppressing a shiver Ranma stated, "Yeah, he's told me about it. He didn't really go into detail, thankfully. Was that really worse than this?"
Dr. Tofu nodded. "Anyways, neither of you are hurt are you? I could hardly send either of you away if you were injured."
"Well, actually my foot does kinda hurt, I think I sprained it." Akane mentioned nervously.
"Ah, well come on then." He said and waved her inside. Ranma walked in with her and took a glance at Jason. He was happily sleeping with a large bag of ice tied to his injured bicep. "It's only a light sprain. I'll have it fixed up quickly." Dr. Tofu said as he examined Akane's foot.
"So uh... doc. What'd ya do to him?" Ranma asked curiously looking over at Jason.
"Hm? Oh, I gave him some stitches." Tofu answered.
"That's it?" Ranma asked confused. "I thought there would be more to it than that."
Dr. Tofu shrugged as he stood up from fixing Akane's foot. "Well, the rest is up to him. When he was attacked two months ago I had to teach him some self healing techniques. That's how he made such a miraculous recovery before and how he'll make a miraculous recovery now." Dr. Tofu said almost proudly, but then he became solemn. "It's also what's made him so weak in his body, and will make him weaker yet."
Ranma blinked at the change in the doctors tone. "It's a Ki healing technique right? It shouldn't cause that much of a problem." He stated.
"A what?" Akane asked.
Dr. Tofu nodded though and seemed to take no notice of Akane. "Yes it is. And normally it wouldn't, but these are life threatening injuries. When I found Jason on my doorstep two months ago, he almost dead. I narrowly saved him. From this he'll have lost alot of blood and his Ki will be severly drained trying to replace it." He said and looked down at Akane. "Anyways, try to stay off the foot Akane and it should be fine. Don't you two worry about Jason, I'll spend the night thinking on what to do about him. You two should head home now."
Ranma and Akane nodded their assent and giving him their thanks left the Ono Clinic.
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Wow. This took me a long time to write. I'm honest to god sorry for that. No really. I had problems sitting down and continuing after halfway through, then I didn't think that FF.net was working so I accidentally stopped.(Hey it said 3005 for Ranma fanfics for over a month damnit)
Anyways, please give me reviews, preferably emails about my story. I'm an aspiring writer after all and I need to know how good my work is going to build up enough confidence to finish the stories I'm writing that I wanna publish. Boy I prattle on don't I? And remember: If you're one of the people who didn't review... you're one of the people who didn't review. Can you FEEEEEL the lack of Love?
All negative comments non-withstanding. Now that I'm finished with the first Ranma Viz-graphic novel I'll give it back to my friend and borrow the next one and continue. Now, this might mean another long wait for my next chapter BUT WAIT I'm meeting him tomorrow and I'm getting him to bring it so HUZZAH I won't have to wait long to start the next chapter! So for those of you who want me to continue WRITE ME and for those who don't FLAME ME I know those of you are out there. But send me something damnit. "Throw me a Fricking Bone Here!"
So... Yeah. Happy holidays people still in school. How I wish I still was.
Oh, and one last thing, incase I haven't yet ever said this. For those of you who have given me positive feed back: Thank you very much, I'll keep on writing this until I think it is dead or done. HAH!!
Chapter 4
All comments and criticisms would be welcome. Send all praise and flames to: Macleodrichard@hotmail.com
Be warned though, flames will be printed and then be recycled into toilet paper.
As always... a disclaimer:
PLEASEDON'TSUEMEPLEASEDON'TSUEMEPLEASEDON'TSUEME!!! Alright that's enough groveling for today. I have no ownership of most the characters here. If any of my characters are in anyway the same as anyone in real life(cough cough yeah right) then it's purely coincidental. And if you don't believe that TOO BAD.
A woman gets a call from the hospital. The doctor at the hospital says, "Mrs. Smith, it's about your husband. He's been in a terrible car accident."
Mrs. Smith says, "Ohmigod. What happened?"
The doctor says, "Well, I've got good news, and bad news."
Mrs. Smith says, "Give me the bad news first."
The doctor says, "Well, your husband suffered extensive injuries and will take years to recuperate. He broke both of his arms, among other things, so for at least a year you'll have to spoon-feed him, bathe him, and even wipe his ass for him."
Mrs. Smith says, "My God, that's awful. What's the good news?"
The doctor laughs and says, "I was just teasing you! He's dead!"
- Drew Carey. Dirty Jokes and Beer.
Note: [] Denotes the MIGHTY english language.(Well, maybe not so mighty. Ha, HaHa, ummm... I was Joking?)
** Denotes Signs.
{} Denotes thought. All thought is conducted in the persons native language. So if Akane reads Cologne's mind she wouldn't understand a word of it.
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Akane froze in fear and shock as a giant creature bounded down the stairs and turned away from her and Ranma to run into the living room. Her eyes sprung wide as Kasumi came down the stairs hurriedly(For Kasumi) and went right after it. She felt the body she was carrying twitch convulsively on her back and she let Ranma drop to the ground with a thump.
"K-Kasumi... what was that?" Akane called out in a meek voice.
Kasumi came around the corner and tried to head the creature off in the kitchen but saw Akane and stopped. "Oh, Akane, I didn't realize you were back already." She commented in her kind voice.
"Kasumi. What was that?" Akane pressed.
"What was what? Do you mean Neko-san?"
"Neko.... san? Kasumi, that was a bloody tiger!" Akane replied but Kasumi's attention was elsewhere.
"What happened to Ranma?"
Akane turned around to see Ranma lying on the floor twitching, virtually in the same position she had been in while on Akane's back.
"The jerk fell asleep! When we need him most!" Akane stated astonished. "Show's how useless he is." She growled.
"Now Akane..." Kasumi began to admonish but the elusive animal poked it's head around the corner and Kasumi barely caught it in her peripheral vision. "There you are." she stated and turned around towards it. Making it scramble away again.
"Kasumi!" Akane cried.
Akane's sister turned towards her. "Sh. Everyone else is asleep already. We don't want to wake them up."
"They are?"
Kasumi nodded.
"Well... okay, I'll be quiet. But Kasumi, that thing will kill you if you get too close to it." Akane argued quietly.
Kasumi looked at her youngest sister perplexed. "He didn't hurt me last night though. Do you really think so?"
"Jason was attacked by a tiger the second day he was in Japan remember? This might even be the tiger that did it. We need to be careful with it." She stated.
Kasumi nodded her head. "Alright Akane, we'll be careful. I'll take Ranma to his room and you go find Neko-san then." She said and picked up Ranma. "Come on Ranma. Let's go to your room."
"Uh, wa-wait. Kasumi...." It was too late, Kasumi was already up the stairs. "I don't want to deal with it all alone." Akane muttered.
Slowly Akane began to creep around the house. She didn't do it for long though as the illusive ÔNeko-san' popped around the corner and looked up at her curiously.
"N-nice kitty..." Akane muttered as she stared down at the large tiger in fear. It damn well came up past her hip easy. "Nice kitty."
The tiger walked up to her and instead of rubbing it's head against her leg or her hip as Akane hoped it stuck it's head up her dress for a casual harmless sniff to see just what she was like. "Pervert!" Akane cried out outraged as she pulled away from the furry monster and slapped it's head hard. (Fear! This is what happens when I start listening to Blood Hound Gang at 2:00 in the morning. And I will NEVER change it.)
The big cat reeled from the strike. Once it recovered from the shocking impact it went into an attacking stance with it's teeth and claws bared and growled angrily.
Akane backed away slightly. Not to mention nervously. "Ah he he. Whoops. Um... sorry?"
At that moment Akane was saved as Kasumi walked back down the stairs and spied the tiger rearing away from Akane. "There you are." She said and walked over to the beast and petted it's head. "Now be nice Neko-san. If I'm going to talk to father about you you have to act nice." She explained to it as it smiled contentedly and pushed it's head into her hand as she petted it.
"Kasumi! It was about to attack me!"
Kasumi looked up at her sister worriedly. "He was?"
"Yes!"
Kasumi looked back to the tiger. "Were you?" The tiger stared up at her confused. "Are you sure?" Kasumi responded looking back to her sister.
"Yes!"
"I suppose I should make sure Neko-san's house trained. I'll get to work on that right now." Kasumi said innocently and walked into the living room with ÔNeko-san'.
Akane watched wide eyed as her eldest sister walk away with one of the most dangerous creatures she'd seen in her life. "I think I'd better go to bed." She muttered then walked upstairs and locked the door to her room.
"I can't find him anywhere."
"Find who?"
"Neko-san."
Ranma froze just as he brought a rice ball to his mouth.
Jason stared at Kasumi confused. "Neko-san? I haven't seen any cats around here."
"Neko-san isn't a cat." Akane replied. Ranma seemed to relax when he heard that. "It's a tiger. And a big one at that." Ranma tensed up again.
"Well as long as it's been de-clawed and fanged I'm fine with it." Jason said as he stroked his left side.
"He hasn't been de-clawed or fanged." Akane responded calmly. "I saw them last night when it was about to attack me."
"... Um... okay, and you're acting all casual about this why?"
"I'm too tired to think about it right now."
Jason raised an eyebrow and kept his mouth shut.
Genma didn't though. "Just what does this Neko-san look like?"
"He's really big for a tiger, he comes up above my hip. He's got a lovely coat of white and black fur, and cute blue eyes. Is that a good enough description?" Kasumi asked.
Jason raised an eyebrow in thought while putting a fishcake in his mouth.
Genma looked up at the roof and scratched his chin. "I've never heard of a white tiger before. Maybe we could capture it and sell it to a zoo for alot of money." He mused.
"Now Saotome, doesn't that seem a bit cruel?" Soun asked.
"And, as rare as white tigers used to be, they are kinda easy to find these days." Jason stated as he picked up the fish cake. "By the size I'd say maybe it's a Siberian tiger too. The biggest and strongest there are. He's pretty far from home." He ate the piece of food between his chopsticks and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "I'm gonna need to see Dr. Tofu before I head to school so I should better get going now." He decided then put down the chopsticks, stood up, and bowed to Kasumi. "Thanks for the food. See you all later."
Everyone watched as he ran out while shouldering his gym bag.
"Oh, I wish he'd told me that earlier. I have some books I need to get back to Dr. Tofu." Kasumi murmured then set herself to cleaning Jason's spot at the table.
"Hm. I thought Jason wanted to practice today too."
Somewhere else in Japan. (I think)
"A wild boar!!"
"On a rampage!!"
A boar the size of a house charged through peoples homes at speeds fast enough to allow it to crash right through them. People scattered in all directions trying to avoid the giant beast. Everyone, except for the one guy who wasn't from thew village. People shouted out warnings at him to run and get out the way. But he really didn't seem to care.
At the last moment Ryoga Hibiki turned around and leveled his bamboo umbrella at the beast. The giant boar continued to advance against the Eternally Lost Boy but gained no ground. Finishing the display Ryoga sent the boar high into the air with little effort.
As the creature fell to the ground once again the people of the town made a commotion and crowded around the bandanna clad guy. "Where is Furinkan High School?" he asked holding up a map.
A couple people took a look at the piece of paper. "Say! Ain't this Tokyo?!"
"That's five hundred miles north o' here!"
"I see." The umbrella wielding teen said as he turned around and continued his journey. "Forgive the commotion."
And so the bandanna clad stranger left the small hamlet and continued on his journey of REVENGE!
"Hey Ranma are you ready to... nevermind." Jason and turned around to walk back into the guest room as a half naked female Ranma ran through the hallway with Kasumi and Nabiki close behind.
"I'm not wearing any girls' clothes!" Ranma shouted once she was cornered.
"But all your clothes are in the wash right now!" Kasumi responded. "Let me fill your bath now, so--"
"You can't just run around naked y'know!" Nabiki interjected.
"Then I'll wear Jason's!"
"Not as a girl you won't!" They all heard Jason shout from the guest room. "My clothes would barely fit you as a boy! How well do you think they'll fit if you're a girl!"
"But-"
"You're a guest here aren't you?!" Both girls pointed at Ranma.
Akane's room.
"... Why do you have to loan my clothes?"
"I'm not wearing a skirt."
"'kay, this'll work." Nabiki mumbled and pulled a few articles of clothing from Akane's closet.
A few seconds later Ranma was dressed up in a black shirt and a pair of cover all's that had China written on them.
"Oooh! It is you!" Nabiki complemented.
"It's... it's perfect..." Akane muttered. God only knowing what was going through her mind as she openly stared.
"It doesn't fit. The chest is too tight." Ranma stated looking in the mirror.
"Really? How's the waist?"
"Room to spare!"
The usual feeling of death in the room wasn't present as Akane picked up the bokken she kept next to her bed and gripped it tightly.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Stop it! Girls shouldn't fight!!"
"I'M A BOY!"
"OW!! [DAMNIT] AKANE! WATCH WHERE YOU SWING THAT THING!! AAAHHH!!"
Somewhere else in Japan.
"Where is Furinkan High School?"
"If it's Tokyo it's five hundred miles south of here."
And thus The Hunter continued on his hunt for REVENGE for another week. At which he came to the front of Furinkan High.
Students muttered among themselves as they noticed the travel worn person standing infront of the gates of their school.
"You." The bandanna clad boy said as he grabbed a student passing out of the school grounds.
"Wahh! What do you want?" the student replied.
"Where is Furinkan High School?"
"Say what?"
The wind picked up suddenly and messed up their hair.
The student pointed at a sign that had the schools name written on it.
"Where is Ranma Saotome?"
The student looked back at school grounds. "Saotome?"
"Ranma! Stop!!" Akane shouted as she chased Ranma from the school.
Ranma jumped up into the air. "Come and get me!" he called over his shoulder.
Suddenly though, Ranma's danger sense went off in his mind. {Trouble!} Looking further up he saw a bamboo umbrella heading straight for him.
"Ranma! Prepare to die!"
Ranma stared at the approaching boy and just as he was about to be hit he flipped out of the way. The umbrella hit the ground and made a crater a just over a meter in diameter. Ranma made a hasty exit to the edge of the crater where all the other students were gathering.
"You."
The bandanna clad boy smirked. "You still haven't changed Ranma. You're still good at running away."
"Someone you know?" Akane asked Ranma.
Ranma tried to think about just who the boy was. "Uh... yeah! Sure! He's... he's..." Ranma began getting all excited.
"Don't strain your brain remembering, Ranma." Akane deadpanned.
The other boy looked calm as he said, "Just tell me one thing, Ranma." The calmness disappeared. "Why did you run out on our fight?!"
Ranma smacked his fist into his open palm shouting, "Wait! I remember! You were in my class at my old high school... Ryoga Hibiki! Long time no see!"
"Answer my question!"
"I waited three days at the appointed place!"
"Yes! And when I arrived on the fourth day... you had already run away!" Ryoga stated.
"Uh... Ryoga? Can I ask you something?" Ranma said suddenly serious. "Why did it take four days to get there?"
"Why you!! Do you think I was out for a casual stroll for four days?!" He shouted angrily. "I suffered to meet up with you!!"
Students behind the two began muttering between themselves about Ryoga's sense of direction.
"Breaking a vow between men..." Ryoga began to tremble. "...And running to China with your father!" He shouted and swung his umbrella at Ranma which Ranma jumped over.
"In other words... you want to finish our fight?" Ranma replied as hr touched down.
"'Finish our fight'?! How feeble!" Ryoga threw his umbrella into the air. "This is revenge!"
The umbrella flew by Ranma, came back around and hit a few of the students, but not Ranma once again, before it came back to Ryoga's hand.
"No matter what it takes Ranma... I shall destroy your happiness!" Ryoga promised.
"My... happiness...?" Ranma muttered. Turning to Akane he asked, "Am I happy?"
"Don't ask me!"
Ryoga quickly left the school grounds and the rest of the student body quickly did the same. After all, who the hell wants to stay in school?
The eternally lost boy continued from the school and while promptly getting LOST(What else) he also sensed that he was being followed. Turning one last corner he laid in wait. He laid in wait for a while.
"[Damnit. I think I lost him.]" Someone said in english.
Ryoga walked back around the corner and saw an American with his back to Ryoga scanning the crowd along the street. He jabbed his umbrella into the Americans unprotected back. "[What do you want with me?]" Ryoga stated angrily in rather fluent english.
Slowly the American turned around and looked at Ryoga. "[Oh, good. I did find you. And hey! You can speak english too, this is great!]"
Ryoga prodded the American's chest. "[Are you gonna tell me what you want or am I gonna have to wipe the street with your face?!]" He demanded.
The American raised his hands protectively. "[Hey now hold on a second! I just want to ask you a few questions. I saw the little display down at the school and Ranma's a friend of mine. I just want to know what this is all about.]"
The Eternally Lost Boy glowered at the American. "[Because of Ranma, I've seen Hell!]"
The American raised an eyebrow. "[You know my mom?]"
Ryoga became confused and the American laughed.
"[Just a joke man, a joke.]"
"[You call my suffering a JOKE?!]" Ryoga shouted.
The American appeared to be thinking about that. "[I suppose I probably will until you decide to tell me what it was you suffered.]"
Ryoga stiffened his lip and glared at the impertinent American.
"[Alright, alright. I suppose we all got our secrets. I'd just like to say something. If I was late for a fight I would be considered to have forfeited. I don't particularly see what's so special about you that says you get to arrive days late to a fight and not be considered to have forfeit. Whatever the hell your problem is, blame it on someone else cause I don't see why Ranma is to blame. Or better yet, don't blame it on anyone at all, just shut up and deal with it.]" The American stated. "[Think about that until your next fight with Ranma Saotome.]"
Ryoga shoved past the American and stormed away, quickly dissapearing around the corner of a building. The American shook his head. "[Maybe that was the wrong way to go at that.]" He said then shrugged to himself. "[Ah well.]"
"Well Ranma? What did you do to this Ryoga?" Akane asked.
"Believe me. I wish I knew!" Ranma replied, sitting on the porch in nothing but her pants and a towel.
"Ranma, there's a letter for you." Kasumi said softly as she walked up to Ranma holding the letter in question. "From a boy named... Ryoga Hibiki."
"Now what?!" Ranma said as he opened up the letter, inside was a paper that had ÔChallenge' written on it. "Rrrrgh."
Akane sat down on her heels behind Ranma. "You must have done something. This is more than your everyday annoyance."
Suddenly Ranma smacked a fist into an open hand.
"I knew it!" Akane said.
"He remembers something?" Nabiki guessed.
"Yesss... it was the start of a new semester..." Ranma said as the background changed to show a school. The scene that plays shows a large group of teenage boys running into a cafeteria and a war occurring over the last curry bread. With Ranma getting it by jumping on the head of another boy.
"You... who are you?!"
"Ranma Saotome."
"Ranma Saotome... I shall never forget the offense of the curry bread."
The background fades to normal. "He was crying tears of bitterness!"
A set of heavy footsteps draws attention from all the girls on the porch. "Hey guys.... Um, Ranma. Are you planning on putting on a shirt anytime soon?"
Kasumi stood up and lifted a kettle of heated water over Ranma's head.
"So what was that weird thing I just saw around this place a second ago?" Jason asked.
"Oh, I was just reminiscing about my time in boys school." Ranma replied.
"Boys school!" The three girls cried as they backed away from Ranma in surprise.
"Back then I was always a boy! Three hundred sixty-five days a year!"
"Now that we've cleared that up, I don't think it's something so simple. I managed to talk to Ryoga after he walked from the school and whatever it was I'm not even sure that you had anything to do with it. Unless of course, it's something that you can't remember." Jason explained.
Ranma began to consider. "Well, there wasn't anything else. Wait! Chow Mein bread, Croquette bread, Melon bread, Cutlet Sandwich, Meat-" Ranma listed off until he was interrupted.
"Stop it Ranma... It's not bread. Now if you're not busy let's spar. I'm not getting any better just standing here doing nothing." Jason interrupted.
Ranma jumped up cheerily. "Sounds good!" He said as he and Jason began to stride towards the dojo.
"Oh... Ranma. This is dated yesterday." Akane stated reading the challenge letter.
Both boys turned towards Akane. "No problem. That guy's got the world's worst sense of direction. Right now he's probably asking somebody-"
"No wonder I chased him across half of Nerima. Damnit what a waste of the day." Jason interrupted.
God know's where...
"So it's this way to Tokyo?"
"It's this way! THIS way! Why are you going that way?"
1 Week Later...
Ranma and Ryoga both stood in the school fields facing off with each other. Students gathered around them both at the edge of the field and watched.
"So Ranma, you finally decided to show up!" Ryoga called out.
"I'm not here to fight you Ryoga. Just..." Ranma threw something at Ryoga. "Take this!"
Ryoga caught the curry and looked at it silently. "What is this?" He demanded, his temper flaring.
"Well? Makes us even right?"
"What?! Is this a Joke?!"
"Jeez. Greedy Jerk. Okay, here... Here's your lousy Chow Mein Bread! An' your crummy Melon Bread! An' your Cutlet Sandwich! Your Meat Bread! Your Seaweed Bread! Happy now? I didn't forget anything did I?" Ranma went on, throwing various breads at Ryoga.
"Wh... Wh... What're you trying to PULL?!"
"This is a Bread Feud isn't it?"
"You think a Bread Eating contest will avenge my Honor?! Besides, these are all past their ÔSell-By dates'."
"Well what do you expect, you made me wait a week."
From that front of the crowd. "I told you it wasn't about the bread Ranma!!"
"Enough chatter... Now then, I attack!" Ryoga shouted as he began stabbing his umbrella at Ranma.
"W... Wait a minute! What's this about?" Ranma protested as he and Ryoga jumped into the air.
"Thanks to you-" Ryoga began as he struck out at Ranma with the umbrella. "I have seen HELL!!"
"What are you talking about?" Ranma asked as he calmly landed on the ground.
"Do you think that mere words can convey the depths of my SUFFERING!!" Ryoga shouted then threw his now open umbrella at Ranma. It skidded across the ground and right past Ranma, making a long curve around the school grounds. As Ranma watched the umbrella move away from him Ryoga rushed forwards pulling off one of his bandanna's and wrapped it around Ranma's wrist. "This'll keep you from running away!" He shouted as his hand shot forwards where Ranma's head had been.
"Tell me something... How many bandanna's are you wearing?!" Ranma asked as he blocked a kick from Ryoga with his own.
While the fight raged on the umbrella of Ryoga's was whizzing through the air above the unknowing students. It hit the ground and dug itself a fine little trench until it finaly came to a stop and lay on the ground. One of the students tried to pick the thing up and quickly found out just how heavy the bloody thing was. After shouting out that "This thing weighs a ton!" Akane came over and tried to lift the umbrella herself. Once she discovered that even she could not lift it the implications of the fact that Ryoga could lift it came to mind.
"Ranma!! Get away from him, he's got the strength of a monster!!" She shouted.
In the fight, Ryoga smiled. "Looks like you found out... A little too late!" He shouted as he struck out at Ranma. The attack did not hit as Ranma went under his legs, kicked Ryoga in the back of the head, knocked him to the ground, and then sat on Ryoga's back.
"What did I find out... a little too late?" Ranma asked from atop his perch.
"You... you dare... try to push me..." Ryoga lifted both himself and Ranma up on one of his arms. "to my knees?!" He shouted as he pushed off the ground and launhed himself and Ranma into the air. As people began to shout the implications at each other, Ryoga tried to kick Ranma while still airborne. Ranma split his legs so Ryoga's kick passed harmlessly between them and manuevered himself under Ryoga. As Ranbma hit the ground he lashed out wit both feet and knocked Ryoga back into the air. Also causing Ryoga to let go of the bandanna that kept them together.
Ryoga landed near Akane and Jason as the two scramble away to safety. The whole time Jason had slowly been coming to the realisation of just how far he had to come before he was at Ranma's level. He stood back and watched as Ranma came at Ryoga from the air just block a kick from Ryoga. While Ranma finished his landing Ryoga pulled hmself along the ground and grabbed his umbrella. Quickly regaining his footing he jabbed outwards with the weapon as once again Ranma jumped into range. The jab quickly proved pointless as all it did was rip open Ranma's shirt while Ranma managed to kick Ryoga in the face.
"This was my favorite shirt!" Ranma shouted as he stood off with Ryoga again.
"This is war!" Ryoga declared while rubbing a sore jaw. "Don't act like a girl!"
{Ooh, that musta hit a nerve.} Jason thought to himself as Ranma began to look angry for the first time this fight. He quickly readied himself incase they took this out of the schoolyard.
"Who are you calling a GIRL?!" Ranma shouted as he jumped at Ryoga foot forward. Ryoga jumped back as well and both of them easily cleared the chain link fence that surrounded the field.
Jason and Akane were following alot closer than any of the other guys.
The erratic jumping brought Ryoga on top of the school fountains just as Ranma was coming down on it.
"Well?! Who're you calling A GIRL?!" Ranma shouted as he cracked the fountain wide open.
"Water! They've cracked the very earth!" "Even worse! It's the water fountain!"
Ryoga blocked a large stream of water with the umbrella and was surprised to see Ranma come right over his head. As he landed he faced his opponent... only to have a moment of confusion come over him.
"Well, Ryoga?!" A high pitched feminine voice shouted as she took a ready stance. Her nipple showing from the cut in her shirt.
Ryoga began mumbling rather incoherantly as Ranma jumped at him again. As she came close her shirt flapped in the wind revealing even more of her chest to Ryoga just before Ranma kicked him in the face once again.
"Ra... Ra... Ranma?" Ryoga stuttered.
"Who do I look like, you blind stupid jerk?!" Ranma retorted.
"Ranma! Your... your..." Akane stuttered for a word.
"You look like a Japanese red headed chick with her shirt ripped open and no bra!" Jason said over top of Akane's trailing speech.
Ranma took this time to look down to look down at herself and for once had the modesty to be embarrassed. "My... oy."
"You didn't know you'd gone female again?" Akane asked.
Jason pulled his shirt over his head. "Ranma, switch ya." He said as he tossed the grey short sleeved shirt he'd been wearing at the much smaller girl.
Ranma nodded his thanks and quickly changed then tossed the ripped shirt to Jason. Now, wearing something that barely fit she looked at Ryoga again and noted the citical stare he was giving her. "Well? Why don't you laugh, huh? Huh?" She said as her blush deepened. "Listen... I don't know what I've done to make you so bitter Ryoga... Butlook at ME-- cursed with this BODY!" She shouted, looking honestly anguished. "Yet I take it in stride-- and treat others with kindness!"
Ryoga continued to stare at her for a few seconds, then he began to laugh. Everyone stared at him confused.
"What the hell's so funny?!" Jason demanded. He certainly knew that he wouldn't have wanted to turned into a girl.
"It is to laugh! That... you call a curse?" He shouted as he peeled a bunch of bandanna's fron the main bandanna. "Whinning about your misery..." He continued while shaking in anger. "...With such an adorable figure!" He began spinning the bandanna's. "Ha! Such a jest!" and with that he jumped into the air and threw the bandanna's at the trio.
Stundents managed to catch up to the group only to be chased away by the flying buzzsaws made of cloth.
Akane turned around and headed back to the school shouting, "I'll get some hot water!"
Ranma turned towards her to try and get hold of her. "NO! You idiot! Don't move!"
"I'll make it!" Akane shouted just she tripped on a tree root and fell over, saving her from the pair of bandanna's that went through her skirt.
"NO!" Ranma shouted and ran towards her.
Ryoga shouted something about an opening and threw his umbrella at Ranma's unprotected back. "It's over-!" Ryoga's speech was cut short as a fist kissed his cheek, HARD. Ryoga stumbled a bit and saw the American teenager from before standing beside him. "Wh- What?" Ryoga stuttered just before Jason punched him in the stomache. Ryoga considered himself lucky that he'd managed to suck in his stomache before the blow hit. "You stay out of a man to man fight!" He challenged as he regained his stance, his jaw almost dropped in shock though as he took in the American's form. Ranma's shirt was drapped over his belt and he'd handed his over to Ranma. He looked alot more muscular that he had before when standing next to Ranma's female side and the large scar on his left side stood out well. {Well. Size isn't everything though is it?} Ryoga thought to himself.
"[Stop being an asshole.]" Jason stated calmly. "[Before you get someone hurt.]"
"[Don't you tell me what to do!]" Ryoga said and pulled some more bandanna's off his head, began spinning them, and threw them at the American.
Jason watched the cloth buzzsaws carefully to establish their paths, then when he saw a clearing he ran forwards and began to attack Ryoga. The fact that Ryoga was alot better than he was didn't cross Jason's mind, and of course, Ryoga didn't know that... yet. He'd managed to get a few punches in Ryoga's jaw before the bandanna's came back at him. Jason didn't notice though as he gave Ryoga one last uppercut to the chin. As Ryoga was knocked back the bandanna's struck at him, drawing thin lines of blood across his arms, back, and chest. "[Damnit. I should have expected those.]" He muttered and looked around. "[Well, at least Ranma got away.]"
"What?!" Ryoga shouted and grabbed Jason by his neck and lifted him up. "[I'll get you for this if he got away.]" Jason's response was to once again punch Ryoga in the face.
"[You don't get it do you?]" Jason began annoyed. "[I'm not gonna let this continue unless you decide to tell Ranma or at least me what this is about you fool! I'm not gonna allow my friends to get hurt because a jerk like you can't handle his life!]"
Ryoga threw Jason to the ground and saw a bunch of the students running off to somewhere else and drew the reasonable conclusing that they were heading towards Ranma. "[I've no time for you!]" He declared and ran off to catch up to Ranma.
Cursing to himself violently Jason stood up and began to take chase a little more slowly. The cuts on his body might not have been in any way severe, but he didn't want them to become that way.
Ryoga found Ranma and Akane on top of a roof for a bike racks,(?I'm not sure what this thing is, I'm guessing here.?) both were bickering with each other about something. Ryoga pulled off his belt and snapped it straight. The belt became straight like a rod and he used it to cut through one of the supports holding the wodden structure up.
As the wooden roof collapsed, taking Ranma and Akane with it, Ranma saw Ryoga coming at them from the air holding his belt like a whip. Ranma blocked at strike using the umbrella, only to discover the belt was more powerful than the bamboo as Ryoga ripped the umbrella in half.
"Let me go!" Akane shouted at Ranma.
"What?! You think I'm holding you because I want to?!" Ranma retorted.
Tears coming to her eyes, Akane slapped Ranma just as they landed. The echo was heard quite well by everyone around them. "If I'm such a nuisance... Then..." Akane didn't finish her sentence as she began to stomp away.
"...Uh... Akane?" Ranma began as she turned towards her fianceŽ.
Ryoga seethed as he realized that once again Ranma was ignoring him. "Ignore me will you!" He shouted and lashed out with his belt.
Immediately Ranma kicked Ryoga's hand sending the belt flying high into the air shouting, "Give it a rest!" then she began to chase after Akane again. "A... Akane... I-"
"You don't have to explain. Because starting now...."
"Look out Akane!" Someone shouted.
Akane spun around only to see Jason body check her knocking a few feet away from where she'd been. That wonderful little speech she'd though up on the spot was now ruined. As she got up she was about to start cursing at Jason when she heard him cry out in pain.
"God Damnit!!" Jason shouted and turned back to Ryoga. "This is the fruit of your labors Ryoga! Take a good God Damned look!!" He continued to shout then doubled over and growled in pain. Pulling Ranma's ruined shirt off his belt he pushed it up against his right arm.
Ranma ran up to Jason and began pushing him from the school grounds. "Akane, help me. Jason might die if we don't get him to a doctor, now!"
As Akane started to catch up to Ranma and Jason, she stepped on a bloodsoaked belt that lay half in the ground. And she quickly found out that her ankle might very well have been twisted. She hurried none-the-less though, holding up Jason's right side she saw that the torn shirt quickly change to a different shade of red and become wet and sticky.
As the three entered Dr. Tofu's clinic Ranma shouted to Dr. Tofu. It took a little bit of time but eventually Dr. Tofu came out from the back room. "Yes, what can I... get him in here now!"
After entering the back room and sitting down on the bed he carefully peeled away the bloody shirt and then clamped his hand on his injured bicep. "I'm gonna need alotta stitching doc, I sure hope you're up to it." Jason declared as he began to lay down.
"This won't be as easy as stitching it up Jason. Realistically stitching will only help stop the bleeding. Do you still remember how go channel your Ki?" Dr. Tofu asked as he grabbed various things he would need quickly.
"Yeah, although I still have to be unconscious when I do it." Jason replied.
"Good, try to use your ki to heal yourself like before and I'll stitch yourself up while you're out cold. I don't have any pain killers for this kinda thing you know." Dr. Tofu stated solemnly and walked over to Jason's bed.
"Could you at least use some ice then? Desensitize it a little? After you're done at least?" Jason requested hopefully.
Dr. Tofu nodded then, pressing a few pressure points, knocked Jason out cold.
"Just what happened Ranma?" Akane asked as the two sat down in the waiting room.
Ranma had her arms crossed and her head down almost as if she was angry. "Jason knocked you out of the way just as Ryoga's belt almost came down on you, it might very well have split you open like a melon." She said and shivered. "Jason was too slow to move out of the way and the belt came down on his arm and rip through his bicep, his arm was held on by two inches of skin and that almost came off before Jason grabbed his arm." Pausing to put a hand to her mouth Ranma almost seemed to be trying to hold some puke down. "Blood began to stream down him almost instantly, I think we both figured than an artery had been severed. He showed his arm to Ryoga and I think you know what he said. Then he covered the wound with my shirt."
Akane bit her lip as Ranma began to shake slightly. "So he saved me?" Akane asked.
Ranma stood and looked around. "I'd better change back. Dr. Tofu should have a tap around here right?"
Some time later, Dr. Tofu came out of the back room and walked up to Ranma and Akane. "Well, I'll admit this to you now. This place wasn't meant to take care of patients with such injuries. It might have been better if you'd just brought him to a hospital." He said and noted their expressions. "But then, he might never have been able to use his right arm again. He should recover fine by tomorrow. Unfortunately though, he'll be weaker than ever, so I want you two to take good care of him. I might be able to do something about it, but I won't be sure till tomorrow when he wakes up."
Both halves of the couple sighed in relief at what the chiropractor said. "So he'll be okay?" Akane asked.
"Well... he has been better. And he has been worse." Dr. Tofu stated.
"Meaning?" Ranma asked.
Dr. Tofu blinked. "You haven't been told about the animal attack Jason suffered?"
Suppressing a shiver Ranma stated, "Yeah, he's told me about it. He didn't really go into detail, thankfully. Was that really worse than this?"
Dr. Tofu nodded. "Anyways, neither of you are hurt are you? I could hardly send either of you away if you were injured."
"Well, actually my foot does kinda hurt, I think I sprained it." Akane mentioned nervously.
"Ah, well come on then." He said and waved her inside. Ranma walked in with her and took a glance at Jason. He was happily sleeping with a large bag of ice tied to his injured bicep. "It's only a light sprain. I'll have it fixed up quickly." Dr. Tofu said as he examined Akane's foot.
"So uh... doc. What'd ya do to him?" Ranma asked curiously looking over at Jason.
"Hm? Oh, I gave him some stitches." Tofu answered.
"That's it?" Ranma asked confused. "I thought there would be more to it than that."
Dr. Tofu shrugged as he stood up from fixing Akane's foot. "Well, the rest is up to him. When he was attacked two months ago I had to teach him some self healing techniques. That's how he made such a miraculous recovery before and how he'll make a miraculous recovery now." Dr. Tofu said almost proudly, but then he became solemn. "It's also what's made him so weak in his body, and will make him weaker yet."
Ranma blinked at the change in the doctors tone. "It's a Ki healing technique right? It shouldn't cause that much of a problem." He stated.
"A what?" Akane asked.
Dr. Tofu nodded though and seemed to take no notice of Akane. "Yes it is. And normally it wouldn't, but these are life threatening injuries. When I found Jason on my doorstep two months ago, he almost dead. I narrowly saved him. From this he'll have lost alot of blood and his Ki will be severly drained trying to replace it." He said and looked down at Akane. "Anyways, try to stay off the foot Akane and it should be fine. Don't you two worry about Jason, I'll spend the night thinking on what to do about him. You two should head home now."
Ranma and Akane nodded their assent and giving him their thanks left the Ono Clinic.
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Wow. This took me a long time to write. I'm honest to god sorry for that. No really. I had problems sitting down and continuing after halfway through, then I didn't think that FF.net was working so I accidentally stopped.(Hey it said 3005 for Ranma fanfics for over a month damnit)
Anyways, please give me reviews, preferably emails about my story. I'm an aspiring writer after all and I need to know how good my work is going to build up enough confidence to finish the stories I'm writing that I wanna publish. Boy I prattle on don't I? And remember: If you're one of the people who didn't review... you're one of the people who didn't review. Can you FEEEEEL the lack of Love?
All negative comments non-withstanding. Now that I'm finished with the first Ranma Viz-graphic novel I'll give it back to my friend and borrow the next one and continue. Now, this might mean another long wait for my next chapter BUT WAIT I'm meeting him tomorrow and I'm getting him to bring it so HUZZAH I won't have to wait long to start the next chapter! So for those of you who want me to continue WRITE ME and for those who don't FLAME ME I know those of you are out there. But send me something damnit. "Throw me a Fricking Bone Here!"
So... Yeah. Happy holidays people still in school. How I wish I still was.
Oh, and one last thing, incase I haven't yet ever said this. For those of you who have given me positive feed back: Thank you very much, I'll keep on writing this until I think it is dead or done. HAH!!