The Ties that Bind

Chapter two

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Disclaimer: Fill it in yourself

*****************************Three years later*****************************

"That's the girl that trounces you everyday Ryoga?" the young teen nodded sadly.

"Yep, that's her," his friend laughed, "Hey. If you  think you can take her, Eriol, then be my guest," Ugami Eriol smirked. There was no way he'd have any problems with Ryoga's cousin. The girl was a head shorter than he was, and currently feeding some woodland creature. Since her back was turned to him, Eriol figured he'd sneak up on her and tickle her ribs a bit. Piece of cake considering she had headphones on and was whistling Mizu-Kagami cheerfully. He handed his pack to Ryoga.

"Hold this while I get her."

"If you say so. I'll be ready with the band-aids," Eriol grinned and crept towards the unsuspecting girl. He was two steps behind her when suddenly, before he could react or even blink for that matter, she back flipped over him, kicked him in the small of his back and landed, kneeling, with her fingernails only just touching the back of his neck. Eriol had been knocked facedown in the dirt in less than two seconds.

"One wrong move and you'll be breathing in a hole in the back of your neck," a voice purred in his ear, "So don't move," behind them Ryoga cracked up.

"How- how did you know? You had your headphones on. You were feeding a-a woodchuck! You were whistling!!!"

"Actually it was a rabbit. And you walk very heavily did you know that? The ground was vibrating ever so slightly the closer you got. And my little rabbit friend was getting twitchy so I knew someone was behind me," she got up off of him, dusted off her school uniform, and checked to make sure her covered buns were still intact, "By the way. My name's Misuka Ceres. What's yours?" Eriol stood up, wincing.

"Ugami Eriol," Ceres bowed politely, "I'd bow back 'cept-"

"Except your back really hurts."

"Yeah."

"Told ya Eriol," Ryoga said.

"Yeah, yeah. You told me. Has anyone managed to get closer than two steps away from you?"

"Ryoga. When we were ten. Since then I've developed a strong fight zone," Eriol raised an eyebrow.

"Fight zone?"

"Like, you know how cows run away when you get a certain distance from them?"

"Yeah."

"Ceres's got the same thing only instead of running she pounds," Kuduo had just come outside, "Me an' Ryoga try to get close enough to poke her but she beats us up every time," Ceres shrugged.

"I like my personal space," she told them simply. Now if the three of you will excuse me I have homework to do," Ceres went to a strict all-girls school while the three boys went to a not-so-strict, all-boy's school. Before Ceres could reach the door however Ryoga stopped her.

"Wait. I have another…friend….sorta….coming over and we need a fourth sparring partner."

"What about me?" Kuduo asked.

"What about Kuduo?" Ceres asked at the same time.

"He's not… no offense little brother…as advanced as the rest of us."

"The rest of you aren't as advanced as I am," Ceres countered.

"Ahh…well the thing is Rei-chan…um…"

"What he's trying to say is that we need someone who um…."

"You want to sneak up on me and see who can actually get close enough to touch me is that it?"

"Um…yeah," Ceres sighed.

"What do I get out of the deal? Beating up three boys over and over will get real boring real fast."

"I'll do your homework," Ryoga offered.

"Even my Etiquette?"

"Uhh…" Etiquette was Ceres's least favorite subject. She was good at it, but it bored her silly. Eriol nudged his friend in the ribs, "Fine. Even Etiquette."

"Deal. Let me go change," she ran into the house and returned ten minutes later wearing a sleeveless turtleneck leotard and pleated skirt. Her hair, which had previously been in covered buns was now in twin braids. By then Ryoga's other "friend" had arrived. Ceres didn't know it, but the reason Ryoga had invited this boy over to spar with was so he could see him get trounced. When Ceres stepped outside the newcomer whistled.

"I hope she's my target today," he said. Ryoga smiled but Eriol looked uncomfortable.

"Yeah. Ranma meet my cousin, Misuka Ceres. Ceres, Saotome Ranma," They both bowed, though Ceres scowled at the way Ranma was looking at her.

"No offense Ryoga but she doesn't look very hard to beat."

"You don't have to beat her Ranma, just get close to her."

"You're kidding. That's it?" the others nodded as Ceres finished her descent down the porch steps. Ranma shrugged and walked up to Ceres. Two steps away from her Ceres leapt up into the air and landed, kneeling, on Ranma's shoulders. Surprised by her attack, he overbalanced and crashed face first onto the ground. Ceres, locked her knees tight, squeezing slightly more than she needed to.

"I wouldn't move if I were you," she informed him.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I'll squeeze and it'll probably hurt."

"Got it."

"You give?"

"…..yeah I give," Ceres let him up and took a couple of steps backwards. Before she could blink Ranma was up by her face.

"What the-" he grinned and planted a kiss on her cheek. Enraged Ceres hooked a leg around his neck and brought him down again, then flipped up and landed on her hands on his back, digging in with her nails. Ranma struggled but managed to throw her off. She landed two feet in front of him in a defensive stance, "You're good."

"Thank-you."

"However…"

"Huh?"

"You're not quite good enough!" Ceres launched herself at him and flipped backwards kicking him in the chest three or four times before landing. Ranma staggered for a moment before leaping at her and pinning her down by the shoulder.

"You're quick," he said, "But not quick enough," grinning still he kissed her forehead. Ceres growled and using her knees threw him off. He landed a foot away and she jumped after him landing another kick, this time on his cheek. Ranma stepped back.

"Give it up Ceres," he taunted, "Or better yet, don't. Maybe next time I'll land one on your mouth!" Ceres narrowed her eyes. It was time to end this. She ran at him and jumped up, kicking into him horizontally while spinning. Then flipped back onto her feet. Ranma was surprised by her attack but not down yet. Fine, she'd make him go down and stay there.

"Wanna see something cool Eriol?"

"Uh. Yeah ok," Ceres smiled with grim good humor.

"Lightning kick!" she side kicked Ranma's chest 30, 40 possibly 50, it was hard to tell, times. Then just to make sure Ceres landed a roundhouse kick on the side of Ranma's head. Ranma stepped back, dazed then fell over. Ceres threw a braid over her shoulder haughtily.

"Yep. That was cool," Kuduo told her. Curious, Ceres walked over to the fallen Saotome boy and nudged him. Ranma's eyes snapped open as he grabbed her ankle and knocked her off her feet.

"This could go on for a very long time," Eriol commented, "Why don't you two call it a draw and be done with it?"

"……..I guess."

"Yeah, since we are an even match……" Ranma extended a hand to Ceres who took it grudgingly , then to her surprise he yanked her close and kissed her lightly on  the lips. Ceres let out a frustrated exclamation  and kneed him in the balls.

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"Ceres! Hi! Hey wait up!" she didn't seem to hear so Eriol ran to catch up with her, staying well out of striking distance. "CERES!!!!" finally she heard him and turned around. Her violet eyes lit up with a smile when she saw who it was.

"HI!!" Eriol cringed and covered his ears. Since she had her headphones on she had no idea how loud she was being. Eriol tried to tell her, gave up and pointed to his ears. Ceres, after a sheepish grin, lowered the headphone, revealing what she had been listening to. (Objection (Tango) by Shakira in case you wondered.)

"Heh, heh. Sorry."

"S'ok. Um. Mind if I walk you?"

"What about Ryoga?"

"Left him with a friend of mine."

"Who?" Eriol muttered something incoherent, "Who?"

"Um. That's not the point really….just as long as he gets home right?"

"I guess…."
            "Anyway," he fell into step beside her, "Ranma and his father's going away soon."

"Yeah? I'll miss him. He's still a jerk though. No sensitivity at all. Or grammatical sense for that matter. Still, I guess he's not a bad guy."

"Yeah. Uh I'm gonna go with him."

"Yeah? I'll miss you too," Eriol blushed pure crimson.

"Um. Actually the point to this whole spiel is um. I, well both of us actually, were wondering if you wanted to come," Ceres was silent for a long time.

"I want to. Really. Despite the fact I'd bee the only girl among three boys. But-"

"But?"

"But I'm the only one who can walk down the street and not get lost. My uncle and aunt and cousins really depend on me."

"Oh."

"Why are you three going anyway?"

"Oh. It's a voyage of training," Eriol didn't realize but he had just said the magic words.

"Training?!? Of course I'll go!!"

"But you said-"

"Oh forget what I said. Uncle Aki-sama will surely let me go if it's for training. He's a Hibiki! He has too! Besides him and Aunt Miyako-sama have gotten on fine before I came to live with them….oh wait…"

"What?"

"Ryoga….he's still really angry about Ranma and the whole…you know."

"The bread feud? Yeah. It's still going strong."

"Poor Ryo-kun comes home with bruises on his face. Yesterday his nose was almost broken," she sighed, "Still….a training voyage….I don't think I wanted anything as much as this….." she gave another wistful sigh and hugged her book bag, "Training in some exotic place. It sounds terribly exciting," she place a hand on her doorknob, a thoughtful expression written all over her face, "Ah well. Thanks for walking me home Eriol-kun. Though you may want to check on Ryoga. I wouldn't want him or Ranma to get hurt today," she disappeared as Eriol blinked.

"How in the hell did she know it was Ranma?"

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"Please?" Ceres's uncle, Hibiki Aki, rubbed his face tiredly. His only niece reminded him so much of his baby sister. Nadeshiko used to look at him with that same sad-eyed expression whenever she wanted something. Only Ceres was more persistent, she had been begging him for the past half-hour to go on this….what was it? Training voyage.

"Saotome?" Ceres nodded eagerly, " Your father knew a Saotome. They used to train together….weird training it was too. Something about pantyhose I think…. Anyway….If I remember that particular teacher had several students….Saotome Genma….Tendo Soun….Misuka Kesuke, your father obviously…..and Ugami Shigeru. In fact it was through that training that your parents met. They tried to steal the underwear from an Amazon Training Dojo. The girl's training mistress was some wrinkled up old lady named Perfume or sometime….."

"Cologne dear," his wife added helpfully.

"Yeah that was it," Ceres knew very well that her uncle was stalling in hopes that she would get bored and wander off. Well, it worked with his sons, "Now she had Nadeshiko and Miyako here as students along with a girl named Asuka Sakura…..Hantrao Nodoka….and a quiet girl named Mishima Hitome. I think that after beating the daylights out of the boys your mother and her friends started dating them. Well sorta."

"All of the boys kept fighting over Nadeshiko," Miyako told Ceres and the boys, who had come to see if their cousin actually got to go on the training journey, "Nadeshiko, of course, simply adored the attention. Well when Aki heard he came….right over."

"After five or two hundred wrong turns right?" Kuduo asked, and got cuffed upside the head as a result.

"Yeah, yeah," Aki replied, "But the point is I put a stop to it."

"He said whoever could beat him could have his baby sister."

"And Uncle Kesuke-sama did it," Ryoga said.

"'Cause he was your best friend and knew all the moves you had!" added Kuduo who got cuffed again.

"Yeah and well after that couples began pairing off….much to the displeasure of the Amazon trainer but I believe the freaky little hentai was happy."

"Well why not? In his eyes he had clear access to all the pantyhose he could ever want," Miyako chuckled, "Unfortunately he didn't know that his students were much to honorable to steal their girlfriends unmentionables."

"They didn't wanna get trounced again right?" (Come on who do you think made that remark? I'll give you a hint. This time he was dope-slapped.)

"Maybe Ranma's father is the same one," Aki glared at the girl. Leave it to her to not get distracted from the damn trip.

"And how long are you going to be away?"

"As long as it takes!" she exclaimed.

"Takes for what?" Ryoga wanted to know.

"Until I'm the best!" Aki looked to his wife for help but Miyako merely grinned.

"Sorry. She's got your Hibiki blood. I'm not touching this one. Let her go. Besides it's not like you can stop her."

"Thanks hon," Aki said sarcastically. Then heaving a sigh he turned to Ceres, "Fine. You may go. But, you had better send regular letters. I don't care if you have to write three months worth before sending them. If I don't receive word from you I will go after you. And woe betide you if I have to come looking for you." Ceres squealed happily before running off to get ready. Ryoga, feeling put out, followed.

"Um. Ryo-kun," Ceres said after a while of stony silence, "Can I ask you what will probably seem as a very stupid question?"

"I guess."

"Why do you have a foot print on your face?"

"Because," Ceres looked at him, hurt. He had never used that tone with her before.

"Did I do something wrong?" when  he didn't respond she pressed further, "Why are you angry Ryo-kun?"

"You are leaving to go training with my enemy. Why shouldn't I be a little mad?"

"Is that why Ranma's footprint is decorating your face? Because he told you about wanting me to go with him and Eriol while he walked you home?" Ryoga growled showing a bit of fang, "Ok, ok, ok," Ceres had seen her cousin mad on several occasions. She had no desire to add a sunroof to her room, "How about instead of seeing it that way. Why don't you view this whole thing as me going somewhere with your best friend?"

"Why he is friends with Ranma I'll never know."

"You're being catty. That's my job. I'm the teenage girl, not you. And besides I feel kinda bad for Eriol. It's got to be really hard not to take sides when your two best friends are constantly at each other's throats. And over something as stupid as bread. I mean really."

"It's the principle Rei-chan."

"Whatever. The fact is Eriol's got to have a lot of self control not to jump into this ridiculous squabble," Ryoga looked at his cousin. Ceres had a rosy tinge to her cheeks.

"You like him," he said, surprised. Ceres looked up from her packing.

"Who Ranma? Yeah well he's okay I guess…."

"No you rabbit-loving freak of course not Ranma. Eriol," Ceres shrugged nonchalantly.

"Sure he's nice. Like I said a lot of self-control. Other than that he's not much of a fighter."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"Oh Ryo-kun you're so weird. Anyway if you're so bent on defeating Ranma why don't you just challenge him? I mean. I've seen your fighting techniques and I've seen his. He's good I will admit that but Ryo-kun you're better. And ever since you've been practicing with that ridiculously heavy umbrella you're obviously stronger. In fact," she now fixed her cousin with a scorching glare, "It makes me wonder why I constantly beat you up."

"Uh…heh, heh…so I should challenge Ranma?" Ceres narrowed one eye at her cousin then returned to her packing.

"Yeah, That empty lot down the street would be a good place. Lots of maneuverability. You can throw your bandanas without nailing innocent bystanders…"

"I only did that once!" Ceres looked at him, "Ok twice…"

"Five times Ryo-kun. Well technically six but I don't count Kuduo."

"…..Um Rei-Chan?"

"Yeah?"

"You'll walk me there right?"

"Ryogaaa! Are you kidding?" she put her hands on Ryoga's shoulders, "Listen to me very carefully alright? I'm gonna give you directions even Kuduo could follow."

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment."

"It isn't. Now listen. I want you to walk out of the door and go straight," Ryoga sweatdropped.

"That's your amazing advice?"

"Yep that's it. Just walk in a straight line. Come on, even you can do that."