Deluded? You lie! Part 7
Kodachi clapped her hands twice, and the pool in front of her began to froth.
FSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
And then Mr. Turtle the crocodile rose from the depths.
"Breakfast!" she called, tossing in a bundle. Mr. Turtle's jaws clamped shut around it.
Kodachi sighed melodramatically.
"Oh, Mr. Turtle, do you think I'll ever win back my darling's heart?"
It was foolish of her, she knew, to speak to a pet who could not reply, but still she hoped for a sign. A sign from the heavens! An unmistakable sign to help her upon her quest…
Mr. Turtle noisily savaged his meal.
"You're not helping!" said Kodachi.
Now, where was she? Oh yes…To gain Ranma's adoration, she, the Black Rose, would need to soundly beat Akane in combat. This would be easy. Akane might have appeared formidable yesterday, and maybe the girl was a decent martial artist, but she lacked the grace and style to win at martial gymnastics. Grace and style that Kodachi had in bountiful measure.
Even though she was certain of her victory, she still felt chilled by what lay in store for her if…she lost. Those tablets Akane had were capable of completely destroying Kodachi's reputation! She had no memory of her behaviour under the tablets' loathsome influence, but judging from the reactions of those who had seen her so, they made her in to a simpering, weak-willed idiot! Why, the thought of herself offering a heartfelt apology to Akane (for no reason…naturally.) even now made her feel sick.
Back in the familiar setting of her bedroom, Kodachi sat in her wickerwork chair, and banished all uncertain thoughts from her mind by gazing at the pictures of her beloved pinned on the wall. She pondered further on how to woo him to her side.
Ah, he must be so confused, thought Kodachi. That horrible spell has only just broken, and he must hardly know where he is. There can be no other explanation for why he has not yet declared his love for me. But he need be confused no longer!
The breaking of the last vestige of the spell's influence would be a tricky business. Kodachi sat sipping her cup of tea until a flash of inspiration hit her. She knew it to be a genius born of the heavens themselves, such a brilliant idea it was.
All this time, ever since she had first seen her darling's handsome face, she had been all affection towards him, and ever-attentive. And all this time, her darling was always away from her. The foul spells instigated by the vile pigtailed girl had a large part in this, certainly, but was it not time for her to win back her beloved for good? Kodachi grew tired of having no one by her side. No, what she needed to do was to change her methods…though she would not take the advice of the lowly mercenary Nabiki, but use a brilliant plan of her own devising.
Yes…She would try to make Ranma jealous. That would work, wouldn't it?
"I…" Kodachi stated, resolute. "…will go on a date with whosoever is second to my Ranma-darling in skill. Then my beloved will realize that he loves me above all others, and dismiss these pretenders to my glory. OHO!"
Who was Ranma's closest rival? No one that Kodachi knew well. Ah yes! Perhaps it was that Ryouga Hibiki boy, who, whilst being grossly inferior compared to Kodachi's chosen love, was marginally less pathetic compared to the others who her beloved casually defeated on a regular basis. Now, how might such a date go?
*Kodachi and Ryouga's date, take 1*
Kodachi is seated in an expensive restaurant, garbed in a black silk dress. Occasionally she slides up the black lace glove on her left hand in order to glance at her watch. After a while, a smartly dressed waiter walks up and speaks to her.
"Madam, I do apologize, but I think your date is not coming. We are closing the restaurant now. The chef has left. I'm afraid I must ask you to leave."
Kodachi sighs.
*End date*
"An undesirable eventuality…" But she could have her date escorted to the restaurant, could she not? No, a simple problem with a date's direction sense would not interfere with Kodachi's plans…
*Kodachi and Ryouga's date, take 2*
Kodachi and Ryouga are sitting in the window seat of an expensive restaurant, looking like a happy young couple out on a romantic date. Kodachi has decided to put up with Ryouga's derogatory stories about Ranma, and the fact that despite her best efforts, Ryouga was still half an hour late.
Just as Kodachi planned, Ranma walks past the window and sees his one true love (who he has not seen much of recently) on a date with his rival, Ryouga. Kodachi waits for Ranma to burst in to the restaurant, beat up Ryouga, and proclaim his undying love for her, whilst apologizing for his previous lack of attentiveness.
Instead, horror of horrors, she hears him speak (through the glass of the window).
"Oh, Kodachi! How can you betray me like this? I can never see you again!"
He runs off down the road, and Kodachi dashed out after him, cursing her mistake.
Ryouga, still in the restaurant yells at the running Kodachi, "But you said you'd pay the bill!"
*End date*
"Alas, I cannot risk the possibility of my dear Ranma reacting in that manner." Now, how to make him jealous without jeopardizing the relationship…
Sitting bolt upright, Kodachi realized her folly. The spell's last effects would fade in time anyway. She did not need to worry her mind about this at all, but here she had spent an entire morning lost in thought! Why, it was the upcoming match with Akane that ought to be her main concern. Wasting time like this, she had quite forgotten to go about her normal pre-match activities, which whatever Akane Tendo or the pigtailed girl might say, could not by any means be called cheating.
Looking back on her illustrious past gymnastics wins, Kodachi savoured the sweet joy of having beaten so many of her opponents before they even reached the gymnastics ring. Was it her fault that said opponents had not been adequately prepared for the trials of Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics? Why, of course not. Any opponent who knew she was to face the Black Rose would do well to forfeit the match. Ah, but not this time. Akane Tendo would be more stubborn than most. It was imperative that Akane should be dealt a crushing defeat. But not through mere physical means.
Yes…thought Kodachi. This time psychological warfare would be the friend of the Black Rose.
***
"Okay! This time, I'll show her how good I am." said Akane, weighing a gymnastics hoop in her hand.
"Hmph…" said Ranma. He sat cross-legged at the other side of the dojo.
"You think I can't do it?" snapped Akane indignantly. "I can!" So what if I've left it late to get much practice in - I've still improve lots as a martial artist since last time. And now, I finally have a chance to get that weirdo to act more like a normal person. I'd have thought you'd be pleased."
"Yeah, but I don't exactly like being the match's prize, y'know! If you lose then I'm the one who gets stuck with Kodachi. So you'd better not lose!"
"R-right." Having Ranma wagered over the match hadn't been Akane's idea, but there was little she could do about it. If Akane won, Kodachi would take the tablets, and if Kodachi won, Akane would let her have Ranma. The other girl seemed to require every single thing in her life to revolve around her 'one true love'.
Frowning, Akane set her attention on her practice. She would not lose to Kodachi!
CLATTER
"Are you supposed to drop the hoop?" said Ranma.
"Just shut up and pass me the ribbon." Focus, focus was everything.
SWISHH
"Are you supposed to get tangled up?"
"Arrgh!" Akane untangled herself, and tried again. This time, the ribbon snagged on her ankle and tripped her up.
THUD
"Was that supposed to happen?"
"No!"
"Why…do I think we've had this conversation before?" Ranma muttered. He was doomed, he knew it.
***
"Stretch! One! Two! Three! Four! Five! And rest."
The St. Hebereke's Gymnastics Team trained like there was no tomorrow. Today they felt light and energetic, going through their exercises at a rapid pace. Meiko, the new team captain, stood watching, proud of her friends and their achievements. She smiled widely. Finally, the Gymnastics Team was a power in itself, not just a glorified fanclub.
"Lets stop for a moment, girls." Meiko called.
The remainder of the team beamed at each other. Everything was going so well!
It was a gusty night, and the wind whistled above the gymnastics hall's roof.
…TAP…
"As you know," said Meiko, "next week we'll be practicing with Kohlkoz High's team - just a friendly match, so there's no need to work harder. This'll be the start of a bright new future for us, girls, and we'll forge strong bonds of friendship with the other gymnastics groups, in order to make this our most fun competition season yet!"
…TAP…
"What's that noise?" said Hana, one of the older members of the group. Under the guidance of the team's former captain, she had been a timid, clumsy girl, but now she was beginning to bloom.
"I don't know. Probably a cat, or the pipes." said another girl.
…TAP…
Kodachi dropped down from the rafters, flipped twice while still in the air, and landed perfectly upon the mats. She relaxed from her pose, and looked the team over.
"I trust that you have been practicing adequately during my absence?" she said. "No, you have not, have you? My temporary replacement has been lax in her duties. Alas, there is no substitute for excellence such as mine. But now I have returned to lead you to glory."
The girls sighed.
"Or perhaps that shall have to wait. We must cancel these 'practice matches' I have heard of immediately. This team may not dally with enemies. For now, as I am otherwise occupied, Meiko may continue to oversee you, although she is a poor leader compared to myself. One day I shall return permanently. But for the present time, I require your assistance, for a short while, on a matter of great importance…"
***
'The heroic Tatewaki Kuno strode mightily out on to the grounds of Furinkan, like a great wave smashing against cliffs, like a fierce wind blowing alone and unrelenting, a shooting star amongst the heavens, a righteous thunderbolt striking against the unjust, the most handsome and skilled of the samurai who live by the sword and the noble code of honour.
Indeed, he did stride forth, to do battle with the cur Saotome, and to bask in the radiance of the pigtailed girl and Akane Tendo, not necessarily in that order.' - Excerpt from 'The Saga of Tatewaki Kuno, Aged 17'
Kuno pondered momentarily over the options that lay before him. Should he first defeat his enemy, and then embrace his two true loves, thus proving himself thoroughly dedicated to his duty as a vessel of the heavens' might, or should he try the other way around, emphasizing his poetic, refined nature?
It had taken him three weeks to determine the title of his autobiographical novel - 'Blue Thunder: The Saga of Tatewaki Kuno, Aged 17' - and now indecision dogged him yet again. Time was of the essence, for in a month's time would come his birthday, and a further change to his saga's title would be unlucky.
Formerly it had been 'Shooting Star: the Spiritual Journey of Tatewaki Kuno, Aged 16', and before that, 'Fires of the Soul: the Odyssey of a Modern Samurai, Aged 15'. Another disturbance simply would not do.
So engulfed in literary confusion was he, that he did not notice as Ranma and Akane passed through the school gates.
"Is he ill or something?" asked Ranma, noticing the older student sitting down on a bench with a glazed expression.
Akane re-adjusted the strap of her bookbag. "No. Kuno gets like this every now and then. It's nothing to worry about."
"But…he's drooling. Is he on drugs?" Hell, thought Ranma, that would explain a lot about Kuno's personality.
"No, he's not," said Akane. The corners of her mouth turned down in disgust. "See that notebook? Kuno's writing some stupid story he's been working on for years. He's probably all wrapped up in his sicko fantasy world. Yuck."
Ranma waved a hand in front of Kuno's face. "Hey, you're right, he really can't see a thing." Picking up the notebook, Ranma flicked to a random page and read a paragraph.
' "Oh save me, my darling Kuno." said the beauteous pigtailed girl, with her unbound chest bouncing up and down, and up, and down, with every tender word she spoke to the mighty samurai before her.
' "Of course. It is my duty." he replied, his noble, manly voice making the pigtailed girl swoon with maidenly delight. Then - '
Ranma's left eyebrow twitched. "…What…the…how dare he write me in to this! He's not going to get away with it!"
"Honestly, Ranma, it's only a book. Does it really matter what he writes about?" said Akane, smiling faintly. Really, she thought, Ranma was so silly the way he always over-reacted to this sort of thing.
"Wait till you see what he's written about you."
"Give me that!" Akane grabbed the notebook and quickly scanned over the pages. Her eyes widened. "I…I'll kill him!"
***
Before making her way out of the girls' toilet block, Kodachi stopped to look in the mirror. As always, she placed her appearance and the maintenance thereof as one of her highest priorities. Usually she would admire her appearance, but today a scowl adorned her face, and her carefully sculpted eyebrows were furrowed. A growl of irritation escaped her lips.
"Oh, for pity's sake," said a nearby girl. "You must have known it was against school rules."
"Indeed. However…for a teacher to reprimand one such as myself is…inexcusable!"
"Look, most people can get away with a *little* makeup, but not black lipstick and purple eyeliner. At least not when Miss Hinako is around." The girl pulled a hairbrush out of her schoolbag and started brushing her short black hair.
"At St. Hebereke's," Kodachi muttered, "the teachers knew better! It is time for those at this place to fear the name of Kodachi Kuno."
The hairbrush dropped to the ground. "You're her? Kodachi of St. Hebereke's? I thought you were from Kohlkoz High!" Laughing nervously, the girl shuffled to the door.
Kodachi preened. "So! My reputation precedes me. What have you heard of - oh, how rude of her to leave in the middle of a conversation."
Angrily, she whipped out her lipstick and re-applied it. There! No longer would the Black Rose adhere to the rigid guidelines set out by her current teacher. There would be a reckoning…
"Soon, Miss Hinako! Soon you will regret your folly!"
Muffled laughter echoed wildly as Kodachi moved swiftly along the corridor towards the staffroom.
***
"Akane! Akane, where are you?" called Yuka. She and Sayuri rushed frantically around, searching for their friend.
"It's no use. There's not enough time to find her." said Sayuri. "Let's go back and we can ask her later."
"Okay…no, wait! Look out the window. That's her over there with Ranma, right?"
"Yes, it looks like her. C'mon."
Scuttling down a flight of stairs and opening the door to the outside, the two rushed outside.
"Whatever is going on?" wondered Yuka.
Akane and Ranma had set a small, contained fire in an old camping fireplace on Furinkan's grounds. They were tossing sheets of paper on it, carefully watching to make sure that each burned fully.
Ranma ripped another three sheets out of a small notebook, and threw it on the fire. "That's page 9, page 10, and page 11." he said smugly.
"Ah, lets just throw the whole thing in, it'll be quicker." said Akane. "Let me do it."
"Akane!" said Yuka, but her friend didn't seem to hear her.
"Burn, burn!" said Akane to the notebook, with unholy glee.
"Oh, Akane, not again. I thought you gave up playing with matches when you were six." sighed Sayuri.
"What? Sayuri, Yuka, when did you get here?" said Akane, finally looking up from the funeral pyre of 'Blue Thunder: The Saga of Tatewaki Kuno, Aged 17'. "No, it's not what you think! This thing is evil!"
"Why are you two burning it?" Yuka tried to fish a piece of the notebook out, unsuccessfully.
"Don't do that!" said Ranma. "It's, um, nothing."
"Yes, that's right, it's nothing important." Akane nodded her head enthusiastically. "We're just…just practicing a new martial arts technique. Martial Arts…Smoke-reading. That's right."
"Ah." said Yuka and Sayuri in unison, with lidded eyes. "I see…"
"So what is it you wanted?" asked Akane.
"We heard the rumours," said Sayuri. "Are they really true? You can tell us."
"What rumours?" said Ranma. He hadn't heard any recently. Well, apart from the one that Principal Kuno was in the process of hiring a team of specialist Martial Arts Hairdressers to cut everyone's hair, which he believed, or the rumour that Gosunkugi had finally got a girlfriend, which he didn't.
"The rumours about Akane. Do you mean you don't know?" said Yuka, surprised.
Ranma shook his head.
Akane frowned. "Just tell me what it is!"
"It's written all over the posters around the school. The ones about your fight with Kodachi Kuno tomorrow…"
***
In the deserted staffroom, Kodachi was easily able to find Miss Hinako's bag. None of the other teachers had a Hello Kitty backpack, or, for that matter, a Hamtaro lunchbox. She flipped open the lid and tipped the contents of a sachet over it. The teacher wouldn't be showing up that afternoon, not after receiving a full dose of laxative powder. Maybe after that Hinako would give up on punishing the latest 'delinquent' to be placed in her classroom.
"Miss Kodachi?" said a voice from the doorway.
Kodachi turned neatly, although not without a touch of concern. She did not panic, of course. One such as herself never panicked, or worried, and certainly not about ki-draining, diminutive teachers. She was merely indisposed.
It was Meiko, with three other girls from the St. Hebereke's Gymnastics team. Kodachi tried and succeeded to keep from sighing in relief, and drew herself up imperiously.
"Have you accomplished your task, then?" she said.
"Yes," said Meiko glumly. "We put all of the posters up. But Miss Kodachi, apart from irritating this Akane, what difference will this make? I mean, from what I've heard about her, no one will believe this."
Kodachi would have looked down her nose at Meiko, had the other girl not been three inches taller than herself. "You will be quite surprised, I think, at what people can believe."
End of part 7
Notes: Yes, I'm writing again. Sorry for the wait. The concluding chapter will be the next one. I'll try to make it good. ^_^