Written by: Gyran
Author's Note 01/26/2004:
Hey people. I know, I know...it's been a while. I'd really like to have more time to write, but school is taking up so much of my time that I barely have time for other things (like sleep), much less time to write. I have completed the editing of Chapter 5 and hope it is better this way. I had received comments about the way I ended the match the last time, so I decided to change it. Let me know if it's better, or if you all preferred the other way. If I get enough feedback, I'll decide whether to keep or change it, otherwise, from this point it stays as is (until the next edit).
I'm slowly working on Chapter Six, but it doesn't seem to need too much changing from what I can see so far, so hopefully I'll have the revised one up and then I can get on with trying to write the next NEW chapter. Again, let me know what you think. Questions or comments to Thanx!
Here's the usual disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, and whoever else has rights to it. I am not making any profit off of this story so please don't sue me. I'm POOR. Any characters that I make up belong to me, if you wish to use any of them, which I highly doubt anyone would, but if you do, please ask permission first and give credit to their creator, namely me. Thanks.
"Dialogue"
Emphasis
Thoughts
/ Signs /
Part Five: Kodachi Kunou
It was the weekend, so Ranma-chan was walking around town with Ryouga. She had an ice-cream cone in her hand, which she was finishing off enthusiastically. Ryouga watched her, amused as he ate his own ice cream.
"I can't believe you went all girly on that ice-cream vendor."
"Hey! We got extra scoops didn't we?"
"Only after you assured the guy that I was your brother."
"Well, he wouldn't have given us the extra if he thought you were my boyfriend. As if I'd go out with you."
"Hmph. The only thing good about going out with you would be the free food."
Ranma-chan stuck her tongue out at him and continued eating.
"So what's the deal with you and Ucchan, anyway?"
Ryouga stumbled a bit at the sudden question, but kept on his feet. "Wha-
what do you mean?"
Ranma-chan glared at him. "I mean every time one of you enters a room that the other is in, the other immediately leaves. The only time that doesn't happen is in class." Ryouga and Ukyou had been attending Furinkan for a few days now. Ryouga had been there everyday so far, thanks to everyone keeping an eye on him.
Ryouga sighed. "I don't know. She told me to never speak to her again. It's easier not to speak to someone if you don't see them, right?"
Ranma-chan looked startled. "She's still mad at you?"
"Yeah. I guess the fact that her fiancé forgot about her was a bit upsetting. But how was I supposed to know? I didn't even really know what being engaged meant back then. If I did, I'm sure I wouldn't have forgotten her." He sighed again. "I guess she'll never forgive me."
Ranma-chan looked at him sympathetically. "You never know. Just give her some time. She'll forgive you if you..." her voice trailed off as she heard noise coming from an unused lot. "What's going on there?"
Ryouga shrugged. "Want to check?"
But Ranma-chan was already off. Ryouga had to hurry to catch up with her. It was either that or risk getting lost. When the two reached the lot, they discovered a strange event occurring. A fight was taking place between four girls, but three of them were on the same side.
"Come now! I thought you three were supposed to ambush me! Whatever is the matter?" The lone girl, dressed in a school uniform that Ranma-chan didn't recognize, was shouting. Then she gave off one of the most annoying laughs ever heard.
Ranma-chan looked on to see that the crazy-sounding girl was attacking the three others with a gymnastics ribbon. The three had already been knocked down, but the other still continued her attack upon them.
The pig-tailed girl had seen enough. "Stop it! You've made your point! Now why don't you leave them alone!" She jumped in front of the snapping ribbon and caught it in one hand. From this position she got a good look at the attacker. She had long black hair with a touch of violet in it. Her eyes, a dark violet matching her hair, were flashing in anger.
"How dare you interrupt!"
"Hey, they were already knocked down. You didn't have to keep hitting them. Now why don't you just leave?"
"Who do you think you are, you wicked girl?" She whipped out a gymnastics club and threw it at Ranma-chan...
...who caught it and threw it back at the girl who ducked quickly and avoided a knock to the head.
"You're quite good," said the gymnast a slight note of respect entering her voice. She raised her hand, which suddenly had a black rose in it, to her face in a salute. "I am the flower of St. Hebereke High School. A rising star in gymnastics. I'm Kodachi, The Black Rose." She flung the rose at Ranma-chan and leaped away, laughing in an annoyingly maniacal sort of way.
Ranma-chan snorted and tossed the rose away. "Black Rose. What a joke." She turned to find Ryouga helping the three girls up. He was trying hard to control his nose since the three were scantily dressed in leotards.
"Are you girls okay?" Ryouga helped the last one onto her feet. All of them were in tears.
"We-we're okay."
Ranma-chan approached them. "Hey, don't I know you three? You go to Furinkan. Aren't you Akane's friends?"
The three nodded tearfully. "Who are you?" one of them asked. "We've never seen you around before."
Ranma-chan stuttered around for a bit before saying, "I'm Akane's cousin. I don't think we've met, but I've seen you hanging around with Akane."
"Oh." The three continued to cry, tears rolling down their faces.
Ranma-chan sighed. She didn't know what Akane was gonna say about this, but it wouldn't be good.
"Who did this to you guys?"
Akane and her friends were seated at the dining table talking while Ranma and Ryouga watched from the door that led outside. Ukyou looked in from the door that led to the kitchen as she was in the middle of helping make dinner.
"It was Kodachi, Akane," said one of her friends. "She's been ambushing Furinkan gymnasts for the last few days. The three of us decided to get together and try ambushing her, but it didn't work."
"But why has she been doing that?" asked Akane.
"Because she was trying to stop us from competing next week. It's the most important event for us gymnasts. The Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics competition between Furinkan and St. Hebereke."
Ranma arched an eyebrow. "Martial Arts Gymnastics?"
"Yes! All of our gymnasts are out with injuries. Please, Akane! We need you to compete for us!"
Akane had a determined look on her face as she told them, "I'll do it! I swear I'll avenge you all!"
"Oh thank you, Akane!" the three gushed.
Ranma exchanged glances with Ryouga and Ukyou which all said the same thing...
"Uh oh."
"Are you sure about this, Akane? The competition is next week. Will you be able to learn all this stuff by then?"
Akane was in the dojo, Ranma and Ryouga sitting against one of the walls watching her. "I'll be fine Ranma. I just need to practice until the competition." She picked up a pair of clubs and twirled them a bit. "See? I can do this." She tossed the clubs into the air and performed a couple of flips. She ended with her arms extended to the sides, hands poised to catch...
...as the clubs fell behind her.
"Uh, were you supposed to catch those, Akane?"
Akane blushed. "Umm, yeah. Maybe I'll try something else." She picked up the ribbon next. She twirled it in a dazzling display as it wound around and around...
...encasing her body in it's grip.
"Umm, I don't think you were supposed to tie yourself up like that, Akane."
"I know that!" she shouted, untangling herself. She then picked up the hoop. She tossed it into the air and leaped after it, catching it deftly. Then she landed and performed a simple roll through it...
...that resulted in it being snapped into several pieces.
"Err, Akane, you broke it."
"Argh!" Akane couldn't take it anymore as she began to rant, arms flailing. Ryouga sighed in defeat. He had been hoping to avoid this, but Akane was doing quite...badly. He stood up.
"You want me to train you, Akane?"
Both Ranma and Akane looked at him, surprised. Ranma couldn't believe what he had heard. "You know how to use this stuff, Ryouga?"
Ryouga blushed. "Uh, yeah."
Ranma smirked. "And how is it you know about Rhythmic Gymnastics, pig-
boy?"
He blushed even more. "Uh, I kinda got lost in a really big recreational center once. I walked in on one of the classes."
"But how would you know so much after one course?"
"Uh, I couldn't find my way out, so I was in the class for a couple of weeks."
Ranma burst out laughing. Even Akane couldn't hold back a chuckle. Ryouga didn't know whether to be even more embarrassed or angry so he just kept blushing.
"I'd appreciate anything you'd be able to show me, Ryouga." Akane was standing in front of him.
Ryouga walked over and grabbed the ribbon. "Alright then, let's start with the ribbon. Ranma, please stand."
Ranma stood up, a suspicious look on his face. His suspicion was well founded as he was slammed into the wall behind him by several snaps of the ribbon.
"Hey! That hurt!"
Ryouga smirked. "That was for the pig-boy remark." Ranma glared at him as he handed the ribbon to Akane. "Now Akane. You take it and I'll show you how to use it."
Ukyou watched the lesson from the dojo entrance. She remained in the shadows so that those inside wouldn't notice her. She winced as Ranma was flung into a wall by Ryouga's ribbon.
Ouch! That looked like it hurt.
She saw Ryouga then give the ribbon to Akane. She went red with anger as Ryouga stepped behind Akane. He put one hand on Akane's waist and the other along the arm holding the ribbon. It was completely innocent, but Ukyou was burning up.
That jerk! How dare he? Then her thoughts took a U-turn. Wait a minute. Why should I care what he does? I don't! So it doesn't matter!
But despite her thoughts, Ukyou continued to watch the lesson with an angry glare.
"Your ribbon technique is really improving, Akane," said Ryouga as he, Ranma, Ukyou and Akane ran to school the next morning.
"Thanks Ryouga! And thanks for training me!"
"You'll have the ribbon mastered by tonight. Then we'll start on the clubs."
"Okay!"
Ukyou's expression was dark as they entered the school, remarkably on time.
They had almost reached the front doors when a yell descended from above.
"Akane Tendou, prepare to die!"
Akane leaped out of the way as Kodachi, dressed in her St. Hebereke uniform, smashed a huge mallet into the pavement where Akane had just been. Kodachi just smiled as Akane took a fighting stance.
"Well, not bad Miss Tendou. But you'll have to do better than that if you're going to beat me next week."
Akane glared. "You must be Kodachi. What do you think you're doing, attacking me like that?"
Kodachi laughed. "Merely sizing up my opponent. That's all. I had heard you would be my competition next week." Then she caught sight of the boys. "My, my, what gorgeous young men!" Both Ranma and Ryouga began to blush.
Kodachi went on. "Are either of you two available?" She eyed them with predatory eyes.
Ranma shook his head quickly. "No, sorry! I'm not! I'm taken!" he answered as quickly as he could. Kodachi pouted a bit. It didn't last long as she turned to the other male.
"Oh well. How about you, my fanged one?" She smiled sweetly at Ryouga. If I can't have the pigtailed one then the other will do just as well. Both are very handsome.
"Uh...I...uh...well...I...umm..." Ryouga didn't know how to respond. He glanced over at Ukyou, but she was ignoring him. "I...uh..."
Kodachi took his hesitancy for a no. "Well then, what is your name?"
"Uh...R-R-Ryouga H-H-H-Hibiki."
Without warning, Kodachi leapt forward and glomped onto the startled boy. "Oh, Ryouga darling! I've been waiting for someone like you all my life!"
Ukyou was fighting to keep under control. Must not care. Don't care. Ignore it. Just ignore it. It doesn't matter. He doesn't matter. She was physically beginning to shake with the tension of holding back. But then Kodachi moved in for a kiss. Ryouga! You idiot! Stop her! What are you doing you jackass? If you let her kiss you, you'll never be rid of her! Not that I care! I just don't want to have to deal with that...girl...on a daily basis! After congratulating herself for coming up with an excuse for being angry, she decided to take steps.
Ryouga had stiffened up. He went into sensory overload. As if that wasn't bad enough, Kodachi's face was looming closer, her lips ready for a kiss. He would've managed to faint on his own at that point if the elbow smashing him to the ground hadn't bothered to help him. BAM!
Kodachi found herself deprived of her man and found herself facing an angry Ukyou. "Whatever is the matter?"
"You can't have him!" Ukyou grated at the gymnast.
"And who might you be?"
"I'm Ukyou Kuonji. And you can't have Ryouga!"
"Why not?."
"He doesn't want anything to do with you!"
"Really? He did not seem to be refusing."
"That's because he's an idiot!"
"Ukyou Kuonji, why should it matter to you? He already said he was unattached."
Ukyou winced. Great now what? "He didn't say that!"
Kodachi smirked. "Ah, but he didn't say that he was, therefore he must be available."
Ukyou mentally sighed. It was the only way. "No, he's just too stupid to admit that he has a fiancée!"
Kodachi arched an eyebrow. "Fiancée? Ryouga darling, is it true that you have a fiancée?"
Ryouga was still knocked out.
"See?" said a triumphant Kodachi. "He didn't say that he has a fiancée."
"Argh!" cried Ukyou. Then she nudged Ryouga hard with her foot. "Wake up, stupid!"
Ryouga groaned from the ground. He sat up rubbing his head, which Ukyou promptly smacked.
"Answer her, you idiot!"
"Huh? What was the question?"
"Tell her that you have a fiancée!"
Ryouga looked surprised, then happy, then suspicious. Finally he just ended up confused like he always does. "Yeah," he answered scratching his head. "I'm Ukyou's fiancé."
Ukyou winced. She hadn't been expecting him to say that. The crowd who had been watching the entire exchange from the beginning began talking amongst themselves.
"They're engaged? When did that happen?"
"Oh no! Does that mean he's taken already?"
"Drat. Now I won't be able to ask her out."
"Why is it that all the new students arrive engaged to someone?"
"I wonder if they've done it yet."
Kodachi's eyes narrowed with anger. "I see. You're trying to steal my Ryouga darling from me! Very well then. Akane Tendou!" She turned once again to Akane who stood by Ranma, watching. "If you lose the match next week, then Ryouga Hibiki will be mine!"
"What?" exploded three different people. Akane, Ukyou, and Ryouga all had falling jaws.
"You can't do that!" yelled Ukyou.
Kodachi just laughed. "What's the matter? Afraid your feeble skills cannot defeat my superior ones?"
Akane glared. No one insulted her skills as a martial artist. "Fine! It's a bet!"
"Akane!" shouted Ryouga and Ukyou.
"How nice," Kodachi said evilly. "Oh, Ryouga darling, next week you shall be mine!" She leaped away, laughing all the while.
Ryouga and Ukyou turned to Akane. "Akane, how could you do that?" Ukyou asked her.
"Don't worry about it! I can beat her!"
"But what if you don't?"
"I won't lose! I can't lose!"
"Be wary of her, Akane Tendou. My sister shall not fight fairly."
They all turned to see Kunou standing with Nabiki.
"Sister? Kodachi is your sister?"
"That she is, Akane. She is not quite sane in the head, but I love her dearly. Again, be wary of her next week. She will use loopholes to attack you with illegal weapons." His eyes were dead serious. "Beware."
Akane nodded gravely and turned to Ryouga. "We're gonna be training every minute we're not in school, got it?" Ryouga gave an affirmative. "There's no way I'm gonna lose to her!"
"Ukyou." Ryouga was attempting to speak with her as they began walking home after school.
"What do you want, Ryouga?"
"I just wanted to talk to you, if it's okay."
"C'mon Akane. Let's go on ahead." Ranma and Akane began walking off towards the Tendou Training Hall, leaving Ryouga and Ukyou alone.
"What'd you want to talk about?" Ukyou's voice lacked any kind of emotion as she walked on, Ryouga next to her.
"Uh, I just wanted to know...why'd you try to help me with Kodachi this morning? Why did you say that you were my fiancée?"
Now Ukyou began to show emotion in her voice. Anger to be specific. "I didn't say it, you idiot! You did! All you were supposed to say was that you had a fiancée! Not tell the whole school that it was me!" The entire student body had been asking her and Ryouga questions non-stop the entire day and it had made her quite pissed off.
Ryouga winced. "Oh. Sorry."
She just glared at him.
"But I still want to know why you even bothered to help me out."
She turned her head to face him. "Because if I hadn't said anything, that annoying girl would've hounded you for ages!"
"But why should you care?" Ryouga pressed.
"I don't! I only did what I had to. If I hadn't done something then the Tendous and the Saotomes would have to deal with Miss Kunou every time she came to see you! Frankly, I don't want to be around her that much either!"
"I see," Ryouga said, a bit downhearted. "I thought that maybe, well...maybe you had changed your mind about me."
Ukyou elbowed him in the side. "I may not like you Ryouga, but I still have my honor as a martial artist to defend the helpless. I did you a favor for crying out loud! If this is how you're going to be about it then maybe next time I'll let her have you!"
"Thank you, Ukyou."
"Hey! I...huh?"
"I said thank you."
Ukyou blushed. When she realized what she was doing, she put up an angry face to cover up. "Forget about it." She walked on, staring ahead, her face still angry.
After a while he spoke again. "Ukyou?"
"What?"
He hesitated a bit before continuing. "I was wondering...I mean, if you could...do you think you could help me and Ranma to train Akane? It would be easier if each one of us had our own second."
"Second?"
"Yeah. They assist the gymnast during the match. I was hoping you'd be Akane's second during practice." Ryouga had such a hopeful expression on his face that Ukyou sighed.
Well, if it's for Akane... "Sure, why not? It's not like I have anything better to do."
Ryouga smiled.
"But don't think that this changes anything, jackass! I'm doing this for Akane!"
Ryouga's smile dropped as he and Ukyou continued on home.
Over the next week, Akane and Ryouga trained with every minute they had open. Ranma and Ukyou helped out as much as possible, going over moves and techniques. Kunou came to assist by revealing all of Kodachi's hidden traps within her weapons.
"Concealed within her clubs are spikes which emerge when a hidden switch is pressed," he began. "She will attempt to catch you off guard. When that happens, she will activate the spikes and lunge."
Akane nodded. "I'll just have to be ready."
"The edge of her hoop," continued Kunou, "is razor sharp and can cut through almost anything. When she has the hoop in her hand, you must not let it get near you, lest you be wounded."
Akane took note. She thought she would be able to get out of the way well enough now, what with Ranma's training and all.
"Her ribbon is able to harden and become as solid as steel. She can break one of your bones easily with just one strike."
Akane winced at that one. She'd better have Ranma step up the lessons a bit.
"Finally there are bombs concealed within the gymnastics balls that she throws. She will toss several at once in an attempt to knock you out."
Akane winced again. Dodging explosions was not what she had in mind when she took on this task. "Thanks for your help Kunou. Knowing these tricks will help me prepare for the match."
The day before the match came. Akane and the others gathered for one more training session. She had mastered all the tools and techniques. She had taken Kunou's warnings into account. She was ready to take on Kodachi.
"Alright Akane, this is our last training session. You've learned all that I can teach you. Let's see what you've got!"
Akane faced Ryouga. She was wielding a pair of clubs while he twirled a ribbon. "Okay Ryouga, here goes." She leaped to attack, her clubs spinning to deflect the incoming ribbon snaps. She got right up in front of Ryouga and thrust her clubs out at him.
Ryouga ducked and sidestepped under Akane's attack, whipping his ribbon up to wind around her arms. Once he ensnared her he flung her towards the wall of the dojo.
Startled at first, Akane quickly recovered and landed on the wall feet first. She freed her arms and bounced off the wall, calling for a ball. Ukyou tossed one in her direction. Akane, still in the air, spiked the ball straight down on top of Ryouga. He gave an alarmed shout and just barely managed to move in time. He called for a hoop and Ranma had one in the air in a split second. Ryouga caught it and with a yell, threw it horizontally at Akane as soon as she landed.
Akane saw the hoop flying towards her at a furious speed as she landed. There was no time to call for a weapon so, thinking as fast as she could, she bent backwards. She barely made it in time as the hoop flew over her. As it was about to pass her by, Akane threw her arm up. She caught the hoop, quickly straightened and sent it right back to Ryouga.
Not expecting Akane to pull that move, Ryouga was unprepared as the hoop sailed right back at him. It hit him in the stomach and drove him back several feet, knocking him down with an "oof!". After laying on the mat for a couple of seconds to get his breath back, he was up in a flash calling for clubs. Ranma tossed him a pair as Akane called for her ribbon. As soon as she got it she was snapping it at Ryouga.
Ryouga deflected the ribbon with his clubs and began to move towards Akane. However, he did not anticipate her kicking at the ball from earlier, which had come to a rest at her feet. It came sailing and hit him hard, right between the eyes. It gave an unnaturally loud SMACK as it hit and bounced off. Ryouga stood there with a stunned look on his face, his eyes slightly crossed. Then without warning he dropped to the floor, unconscious. Akane, as usual, had kicked with a lot of force.
"Ryouga!" Akane ran to his side where he laid out flat on the floor unconscious. Ranma was on his back, laughing his head off. Ukyou came up beside Akane, a worried look on her face.
"Ungh," said the now conscious boy as he sat up. "What happened?"
Akane blushed. "I...uh...I guess I kicked the ball a little hard."
Ranma exploded in fresh gales of laughter.
Ryouga smiled. "Good job Akane! I didn't even see it coming!"
"You sure you're okay, Ryouga?"
He turned to look at Ukyou, who now had a neutral expression on her face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."
Without a word, Ukyou went and gathered the tools. Ryouga watched her for a little while before turning back to Akane.
"Alright Akane. It looks like you're prepared for the match tomorrow. We'll have one more sparring round and then we'll call it quits for tonight. Okay?"
"Okay Ryouga." Akane went and took position again, a ribbon in her hand. Ryouga stood opposite her, also holding a ribbon. When they were both prepared, Ryouga launched an attack.
It was the morning of the competition. Akane woke up with the sun and began to prepare for the day. With a tired yawn she got up out of bed. Drowsy, she headed over to the bathroom to bathe. She walked in and undressed. Then she grabbed a towel and opened the sliding door.
"Akane!"
Startled, Akane looked up and saw Ranma in the furo.
"Ranma! Sorry! I guess I didn't...I uh..." she was blushing with embarrassment as she covered herself. "I'll just...uh...go now. Tell me when you're finished, okay?" She backed out of the room quickly and left. Ranma shook his head and finished bathing. When he was done, he dressed and then headed over to Akane's room.
"Come in!" came the answer to his knock.
Ranma opened the door and entered. Akane was lying on her bed, the towel still wrapped around her. When she saw who had entered she sat up.
"Oh! Uh, hi Ranma." She began to blush once more. "Are you...um...finished in the bathroom?"
Ranma smirked at her. "Yeah, I'm finished. I was interrupted a little while ago when someone walked in on me, but I'm done now. You can go ahead and use it."
Akane's blush grew brighter. "Thanks. I'll go do that." She left and Ranma went down to the kitchen.
Ukyou was in there, already cleaned up and set to go to the competition. She was helping Nodoka make some breakfast. The two were talking as he entered.
"And then," Ukyou was saying, "Ranchan tripped and fell face first into it. He got cake all over himself."
Nodoka smiled and laughed.
"Hey! That wasn't my fault, and you know it!" Ranma remembered the story Ukyou was telling. It was rather embarrassing.
As Nodoka and Ukyou turned to see Ranma standing in the doorway to the kitchen, they laughed even harder. Ranma pouted and sat down at the small table.
"Oh come on, Ranchan! You were the one who insisted on carrying the whole thing by yourself. Besides," Ukyou grinned at him, "your mom wanted to hear stories about you. I couldn't leave that one out, could I?" Ranma snorted.
"It was Ryouga who bet me that I couldn't carry it on my own! I was trying to prove to him that I could!"
Ukyou's face fell a bit, but she quickly smiled to cover it up. "Wow. Ryouga was actually right about something."
"Hey!"
"Well he was! You dropped the cake didn't you?"
"He tripped me!"
Nodoka just watched the two, shaking her head and smiling.
"He did not! He was waiting at the table with me!"
"He threw something at my feet!"
"Oh get off it, Ranchan! Just admit that you couldn't carry it on your own. You know, I'm not mad about it anymore. It was one of the better birthday gifts I got that year."
Ranma grumbled and Ukyou laughed again. She gave him a hug and went back to cooking.
"Speaking of Ryouga," Ranma said. "Have you seen him this morning? He wasn't in the room when I woke up."
Ukyou's voice suddenly went neutral. "Nope. Haven't seen him."
Nodoka gave Ranma a questioning look and he shrugged, not knowing what he could say to Ukyou's reaction. "How about you mom?" he asked her. "Have you seen him?"
"No I haven't, Ranma. Have you tried the dojo?"
"No, not yet. I'll go check."
But Ryouga was nowhere to be found. Ranma looked all over for him, but couldn't find him.
"Where is that idiot? Did he get lost?" Ranma sighed. Ryouga could very well have gotten lost. He didn't know how Akane was gong to take it.
"He's not here?"
Akane, apparently, did not take it well at all.
"But the match is today!" She buried her face in her hands. "That's just great. The day of the competition and my coach gets lost going to the bathroom!"
"Don't worry Akane. Me and Ucchan will still be there, right Ucchan?"
"Right! You can manage without Ryouga, Akane. You'll be fine. C'mon. Let's eat and then head out." They sat down for breakfast. Akane fidgeted throughout the whole meal.
When they were finished, the three of them were on their way to St. Hebereke High School. The others would be leaving later, in time to see the match.
"ARGH! Where on Earth am I now?"
Ryouga was, of course, lost. He had woken up very early that morning to get ready for the competition. Unfortunately he was still drowsy, so he ended up walking out of the house instead of going to the bathroom. Before he realized what he had done, he was hopelessly lost.
"Great," he muttered. "This is just perfect. Akane was counting on me being at the match today. I...I have to get to St. Hebereke!" He began to run, stopping frequently to ask someone for directions. Too bad he didn't follow what they said.
After a few hours, Ryouga was all set to give up.
"I...I can't make it. I've been looking forever. The match will be starting in another hour."
He looked up at the sky feeling rather depressed. I'm sorry for letting you down, Akane. He leaned back against a wall and hit his head against it. He felt something sharp bite into the back of his head.
"Ow! What was that?" Turning he found that he had hit his head on a metal plaque that read "St. Hebereke High School". He stared at it in wonder. Then gave a shout of joy, "I did it! I actually made it!" He laughed a bit hysterically, prompting some passerby's to give him wide berth. He rushed onto the school grounds.
Now he thought, all I have to do is find the gym in the next hour and I'm all set. He began his search.
Akane, Ranma, and Ukyou walked through the halls of St. Hebereke. They had to admit it was a pretty nice looking school.
"Too bad it produces people like Kodachi," commented Ranma.
"I'm sure not everyone here is like Kodachi, Ranma," Akane replied. "There might actually be some normal people who go to school here."
They continued until they reached the changing room that they would be using. It had a sign on it saying "Challenger's Dressing Room". Ranma opened the door and they walked in to find a very tired Ryouga sitting in a chair, head and arms sprawled on the table in front of him. He was snoring lightly. Ukyou rushed to his side, Ranma and Akane following quickly.
"Ryouga! Are you okay?" Ukyou asked in a worried voice. She became aware of Ranma and Akane's amused looks and immediately dropped the worried look. Oh no! Now what do I do? She did the only thing she could think of. She got mad and then hit Ryouga on the head. "Hey!" she shouted. "Wake up, jackass!"
Ryouga snorted and lifted his head. "Huh? Where am I?" He looked around and saw a pissed off Ukyou, a worried Akane, and an amused Ranma. "Oh, hi guys. Uh...I made it." He gave them a sheepish grin.
"Where were you, you idiot! You scared Akane! She thought you weren't going to be here!"
"I got lost, okay?" Ryouga shouted. He wasn't in the mood to hear Ukyou's accusations after the hellish morning he went through. "I'm sorry it happened but at least I made it! So don't yell at me!"
"I'll yell if I want to, you dumb jerk!"
Ranma and Akane backed away from the two as they started letting out some of the tension that had been between them for the last couple of weeks.
"Dammit Ukyou, will you just forget it?"
"Forget that you're a complete moron? How can I when you keep proving it?"
"You're saying I'm a moron?"
"That's right you pig!"
Ryouga heard the damning word and his face burned with fury. "I...I guess I should just..." He didn't know what to say. Without a word he walked towards the door opened it and went through, slamming it shut behind him.
Ukyou bit her lower lip. Damn him! Why does he always do this to me? She began to follow Ryouga but Ranma stopped her.
"No Ucchan. Don't."
"But Ranchan..."
"Trust me, Ukyou," he said quietly. "Ryouga is probably embarrassed enough as it is without you going after him." He was fighting hard to keep from bursting into laughter.
Ukyou had a puzzled look on her face. "Ranchan, what are you talking about? Why would Ryouga be embarrassed? And why are you whispering?"
"You'll see in a bit." Then he began talking loudly. "Come on Ukyou, Akane. Why don't we get something to drink before the match starts." He began to leave the room.
Ukyou gave a puzzled glance at Akane who just smiled at her and motioned her out of the room. It was as Ukyou was leaving that she realized that the door wasn't the one Ryouga had left through.
The door opened slightly. Ryouga's red face peeked out and found that they all had, indeed, left. He sighed and left the closet that he had accidentally walked into.
It was time for the match. Akane had gone back to the dressing room to change and to retrieve Ryouga. He stood in Akane's corner, a look of embarrassment still on his face. Akane was in the ring dressed in a green leotard. Kodachi had yet to show herself.
The stadium was packed with people. St. Hebereke supporters and Furinkan supporters were scattered throughout the whole place. Nabiki and her associates were rushing through the crowd, taking bets on the match. Ranma and Ukyou were sitting with the other Tendous, Ranma's parents, and Kunou. Soon Nabiki returned to her seat as the announcer introduced the contenders.
"From Furinkan High School, the challenger, Akane Tendou!"
The stadium exploded with cheers as Akane waved to the crowd.
"And now, introducing, the young flower of St. Hebereke High School, our champion, Kodachi, the Black Rose, Kunou!"
The stadium went dark and multi-colored spotlights began dancing around. Then a single, bright white spotlight centered on the ceiling as a platform, held up by rope, descended. There was Kodachi, dressed in a white, western style wedding dress. The crowed ooh'd and ahh'd as fireworks began lighting the stadium.
Then Kodachi leaped off the platform. She flipped and spun through the air, losing her dress in the process. When she landed, she was dressed in a dark red leotard, the stem of a black rose in her mouth. The crowd exploded with cheers once more.
"Remember Miss Tendou," Kodachi addressed her opponent after the noise had died down. "Ryouga darling will be mine if you should lose."
Akane's eyes narrowed. "That's fine. But if you lose you have to promise to leave Ryouga alone! Got it?"
Kodachi just laughed. "Very well. Should I lose, I shall abandon my present affection for my darling Ryouga." Then, without warning she attacked, and the match began.
Akane dodged Kodachi's first ribbon snap and countered with her own. She kept up her attack, waiting for the right moment. It did not take very long. With a snap of her wrist, Kodachi's ribbon straightened out and became a steel bar. Soon she was wielding it like a sword, hacking and slashing at Akane.
I have you now, Miss Tendou.
Kodachi swung for Akane's head, but Akane ducked and sidestepped under it, snapping her ribbon and snagging Kodachi's steel bar. The ribbon wrapped around the weapon and Akane yanked. Kodachi was flung into the ropes and lost her grip on the bar. Akane then whipped her ribbon around forcefully and launched it back at her opponent. It knocked into Kodachi's forehead and she was stunned for a brief moment. When she recovered she shot an angry glance at Akane.
"You'll pay for that, Akane Tendou. Clubs!"
Kodachi's second tossed her a couple of clubs and Kodachi charged once more. Akane tried to hold her at bay with her ribbon, but Kodachi twirled her clubs and knocked the ribbon out of the way. Soon she was right in front of Akane. She did a double thrust with both clubs aimed for Akane's head. Akane quickly dodged to the side, but was unable to escape the spikes that emerged. The spikes cut into her leotard's left shoulder, ripping it and leaving a few bloody streaks behind.
Ranma clenched his fists when he saw Akane was injured.
C'mon Akane! You can do it!
"Oh my! I hope Akane isn't hurt too bad." Kasumi had both her hands to her face.
"My baby girl is bleeding!" Soun cried as tears came down his cheeks.
"Now, now, Tendou. Don't worry. Ryouga, Ranma, and Ukyou trained Akane well. Right, you two?"
"You bet, Mr. Saotome," answered Ukyou.
"She just better win. I have a lot of money riding on this."
"Nabiki!" Kasumi was shocked.
"What?"
"It is not fitting for you to say such things, Nabiki-chan," said Kunou with a reproachful look.
"Really Nabiki!" said Kasumi, still surprised by her sister.
"Hey, I was just saying..."
Nodoka gave them a reprimanding look and they fell silent, turning back to the match. "Don't worry Soun," she said to Mr. Tendou. "I'm sure Akane-chan will be just fine."
Ranma closed his eyes briefly. I hope so.
Damn, thought Ryouga as he observed the match from the corner. Akane wasn't fast enough. He looked over a Kodachi and saw what she was about to do. Oh no! "Watch out, Akane!"
Akane clutched at her bleeding shoulder as she leaped away from Kodachi. She took a quick glance at the injury. It wasn't too bad. Shallow cuts, she would still be able to use the arm. But then she heard Ryouga's shout.
Looking up, Akane saw Kodachi had begun tossing gymnastic balls. Remembering Kunou's warning, Akane leaped out of the way again.
The balls exploded on impact. Akane flung herself around the ring, frantically dodging the blasts. Soon the explosions ceased and she heard Kodachi laughing.
"That was quite entertaining, Akane Tendou. But games are over. Hoop!"
Kodachi's second tossed a hoop to her captain. Kodachi caught it and sent it whirling at Akane.
Akane eyes widened when she saw what was coming at her. Without thinking about it, Akane desperately leapt over it. The hoop sailed under her and sliced through the floor of the ring. Akane thought she heard muffled shouting, but ignored it as Kodachi, livid with anger, took up clubs once again. Then she heard Ryouga speak up again.
"Akane! Here, take these!" A pair of clubs were thrown at her. She caught them and prepared to engage Kodachi, a determined look on her face.
"Oh ho! So you think you can take me with clubs, do you Miss Tendou?" Kodachi smirked. "I am the young flower of St. Hebereke," she said haughtily. "A rising star in the gymnastics world. The one called the Black Rose. Very well then. Behold the attack of A Thousand Clubs!" And she rushed forward her right arm extended, blurring with speed.
Akane gave a mental thanks to Ranma for training her to be faster. Without hesitation, Akane met Kodachi halfway and began to parry the assault, her arm blurring just as fast, if not faster, than Kodachi's.
After a few moments, though, Akane began to tire. She needed to halt the attack, and soon. It was getting harder to keep up with Kodachi's attack. Looking quickly to Ryouga, Akane caught his eye and gestured what she wanted and where she wanted it.
Ryouga got Akane's message and picked up a gymnastics ball. He waited for Akane's signal to throw it. I hope this works.
He continued to wait, hoping that Akane knew what she was doing. After a moment, she nodded, and Ryouga launched the ball at her feet.
Akane, still holding off Kodachi's clubs, saw the ball incoming. When the ball reached her feet, she kicked upwards and hard, altering it's course. Kodachi received it in the stomach and was knocked backwards. She lost her concentration and ended up dropping the fifteen clubs she had been using.
"Is that legal?" asked Kasumi, a puzzled look on her face.
"In Kodachi's stadium it is. But Akane was too good for it to work." Ranma had a proud look on his face. It's a good thing I made her work on her speed. She probably would have been pummeled otherwise. He watched as Kodachi positioned her clubs and charged Akane again.
Kodachi snarled. How did this peasant defeat my attack? She growled and charged with her clubs, spikes activated. She thrust out with one, straight towards Akane's chest. Akane crossed her own clubs and caught Kodachi's in an X. Quickly she rolled backwards and pulled Kodachi along. Then she flung her arms backward flinging the startled gymnast out of the ring.
Kodachi was sailing through the air. If anyone had gotten a good look at her at that point, they would have noticed that an amused grin had replaced her startled look. She twisted in midair and whistled. Akane was almost knocked off her feet as the entire ring moved to catch the soaring gymnast.
Kodachi laughed as she landed. "Don't you know you can't knock me out of the ring, Akane Tendou?"
Akane glared and then, putting thumb and forefinger to her lips, she whistled. Once again, the ring moved.
"I think the ring is broken Kodachi," Akane said. "But I think I know how to fix it." She pulled her giant hammer out of nowhere and slammed it repeatedly into the ring floor. The cloth came apart and Akane picked it up. She jumped to one of the corner posts, tearing the flooring away.
Ranma cheered as Akane tore the floor of the ring away to reveal a score of gymnasts. They scrambled as soon as they were revealed.
"Alright Akane! Now remember what I taught you!" With the floor gone, she has to rely on midair combat.
"What did you teach her, boy?" asked Genma, absently munching on some popcorn.
"Just a few of the Saotome School's midair attacks, pop."
Genma grinned and patted Ranma on the shoulder. "That's my boy."
Kodachi quickly leapt to a post when Akane ripped the floor away. The only thing left was the ropes and corner posts. That pest! How dare she do this to the ring of the Black Rose! She will pay!
Akane was balanced on the opposite post grinning at her handiwork. It's a good thing Ranma taught me a few things. From this point it's all midair attacks. Now I just have to see if I can pull it off.
She twirled her clubs and leapt to attack, startling Kodachi with the bold maneuver. But Kodachi didn't hesitate. She flung out her ribbon and lassoed Akane. Then she flung her as hard as she could.
Ryouga closed his eyes. He couldn't watch. If Akane touches the ground now, she loses. Then I'm stuck with Kodachi! Argh! Please Akane! Do something!
Ranma flinched as Akane was tossed. Come on Akane! You can do this! When Akane began to maneuver, he smiled.
Akane scrambled to get loose from the ribbon. She had to get free before she hit the ground. Unraveling the ribbon quickly, she freed herself and desperately flung the ribbon, handle first, upwards into the metal scaffolding above the stadium. The ribbon wrapped around metal and was secured by the handle. Akane began swinging back and forth.
Kodachi was really angry now. "Why won't you just give up? " She launched a barrage of clubs at Akane.
Akane swung into the barrage. She was hit several times, but she managed to kick out at Kodachi. The gymnast dodged and Akane swung back the other way.
"Hey! You can't attack without tools!" Kodachi shrieked as she sent out another mess of clubs.
Akane released her grip on the ribbon and landed on the ropes of the ring. The rope bent under her weight and snapped back, launching her back towards Kodachi. Time to end this!
Kodachi was screeching by this time. "Are you deaf? It's illegal to attack without tools!"
"I'll show you tools!" Akane shouted back. She pulled her arm back as she zoomed in on Kodachi. When she was in range, her arm snapped forward with lightning speed. The hammer that materialized in her hand smashed through Kodachi's defense and sent her flying. Akane quickly snagged the ropes of the ring with her feet before she flew passed them completely.
Again the rope pulled back and snapped forward, sending her back to the other side of the ring where she landed upon a pole.
The stadium was hushed. Not a sound escaped as the audience looked on in shock.
Kodachi was on the ground. She had a look of disbelief on her face. I-I lost? B-But how could I l-l-lose?
Genma was staring at his son with disbelieving eyes. "That's what you taught her?"
Ranma's expression, however, was just as shocked as he looked at his fiancée.
Akane was trembling as she gasped for air. She strained to keep steady as she balanced on the post, she was so tired. When the announcer finally announced the end of the match, she sighed and dropped to the ground, exhausted.
The crowd in the stadium went crazy. The whole place erupted with cheering and applause. The Tendous and Saotomes were on their feet along with everyone else.
Ranma and Ukyou rushed down to Akane's side. They reached her at the same time as Ryouga.
"You did it Akane! You won!" Ryouga was ecstatic. He was saved from Kodachi.
Ranma helped Akane to her feet gave her a fierce hug. "You did great, Akane, but I don't remember ever teaching you that move." He grinned at her as she blushed. "I'm proud of you."
Akane smiled. "Thank you, Ranma. Your training helped out a lot in there." She kissed him on the cheek and he began to blush as well.
"Hey! What about me? I taught you the tools and all." Ryouga was a bit disgruntled at being forgotten. Akane gave him a smile.
"I know. Thank you so much, Ryouga." Then she gave him a peck on the cheek also.
Ryouga, too, went red until he caught sight of Ukyou and his face fell. "Uh, Ukyou, I...uh..."
She ignored him and turned to Akane. "You did good in there, Sugar. It was a good match."
"Thanks, Ukyou."
"You there, Ukyou Kuonji."
They all turned to see Kodachi approaching. When she had their attention she continued speaking.
"I, the young flower of St. Hebereke, the rising star in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Kodachi-The Black Rose-Kunou, have been defeated by Akane Tendou." Tears came to her eyes. "As promised, I will hereby abandon my present affection for my darling Ryouga." She buried her face in one hand and ran from the stadium, weeping.
All four, Ranma, Akane, Ryouga, and Ukyou had the same look on their faces. A look of regret. Even after all they had gone through, they felt sorry for the gymnast. Ryouga sighed, which Ukyou noticed.
"Don't tell me you wanted to go with her?"
Ryouga stared Ukyou in the face wearing a serious expression. "No, I didn't want to go with her, but I can't help feeling bad about the whole situation. She ran out of here crying. If it's one thing I can't stand, it's making a girl cry."
Ukyou sighed as well, staring in the direction Kodachi ran off. "I guess I can understand that. I don't enjoy making someone feel bad about themselves."
Ryouga heard the apology in her voice and sighed again. "Yeah, I know what you mean."
She gave a slight smile as she heard the acceptance in Ryouga's tone.
That evening, Ukyou sat on a rock in front of the Tendou's koi pond, contemplating the events of the last day.
Well, we got through it all okay, she thought to herself. But what am I supposed to do about Ryouga? No matter how hard I try to deny it and keep him away, I'm finding that my feelings for him are growing. She leaned her head onto her palm, elbow on knee, in thought. I want to get close, but I know I can't. It would be too hard to be left alone again. No matter what I want, I can't let anyone get close to me. Not anymore...
She was startled out of her thoughts by someone tossing a bouquet of black roses into her hands. Looking up she found Kodachi standing there in her St. Hebereke uniform.
"Kodachi! What are you doing here?"
"Miss Kuonji. If you would please deliver those to my darling Ryouga for me?"
Ukyou's eyes narrowed. "Hey! What happened to abandoning your affection for him!"
Kodachi merely smiled. "Yes, I did abandon my present affection for him. So now I've developed an entirely new affection."
"What?"
"Farewell, Miss Kuonji. And be warned. Someday I will take Ryouga darling away from you." Then she leapt away, laughing, into the night.
Ukyou sat there stunned for a moment. Then she groaned. "Oh no. Everything that we went through, and we still didn't get rid of her."
"Ukyou!" came Mrs. Saotome's voice from the house. "It's time for dinner!"
"Coming!" Ukyou stood and began walking towards the house holding the roses. "I wonder what Ryouga's gonna say about this."
She walked into the house to tell everyone about the news. Ryouga's reaction was not very surprising.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Later that evening, Akane and Ranma were sitting on the roof, staring at the stars. Akane was sitting in front of Ranma, leaning back against him, her head resting on his chest and his arms around her. Her left shoulder was wrapped in bandages.
"I'm tired."
"I can imagine. You did really good today, Akane."
Akane snuggled closer to him. "Thanks, Ranma. I just hope I don't have to do anything like that again any time soon."
Ranma chuckled. "I kinda doubt that anything like that will be coming up. You're in for weeks of boredom."
"Good. I could use some good, boring boredom." She turned her attention back to the star lit sky. "It's a beautiful night, isn't it?"
"Yeah...beautiful."
Akane heard an odd note in his voice and craned her neck up to look at him. She found him staring at her and began blushing. They captured each other's eyes; his a liquid blue, hers a dazzling brown. Slowly his hand raised to touch her cheek and his head lowered towards hers. She saw his approach and met him halfway. They closed their eyes, their lips touched and they kissed.
Their faces were flushed and their breathing quicker when they parted. Akane had a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face. Ranma was smiling also. Akane snuggled into him again and he wrapped his arms tight around her as they continued watching the stars.
Okay, that's it for part five. Sorry it took a while. The holidays were killing me. Let me know what you think. Questions and comments are appreciated, flames ignored. I don't know when I'm gonna get the next chapter out, so no promises. I just hope it's soon. Thanks.
Gyran