I is backened... O.o The hollydays R messing wit mi haed.  ^.^  Scuwl bee owt naow!  I no haf ta tink!  ^.^

                Okay... maybe I can type right now...  O.o  It feels kinda weird to not be in school though.  I feel like I ought to be having homework hanging over my head right now, but I don't!  ^.^  Even though it's a load off my mind, it seems like a ghost hanging over me somehow.  O.o

                WARNING TO READERS:  I am currently using Floppies to transfer my original documents from where they are written to where they are posted.  And as such, some of the text may end up with errors in it.  It is an unfortunate, and indeed angering thing.  So if any errors are found, I would like to be told about it.  I recently found an error in chapter 10 and have now fixed it!  You can go check it out if you want!

                I wish there was something more I could do, but there really isn't.  /_\

                Alex Ultra: [Yells at Alex] NO TALKING ABOUT ALCOHOL!!! \_/

                Alex: Why not? ^.^

                Alex Ultra: Because!  Alcohol is EEEEEVILLLL!!!!

                Alex: So?  ^.^  I mean... I'm immune!  What could it hurt!

                Alex Ultra: I said NO TALKING ABOUT ALCOHOL!!!

                Alex: Fine... geeze.  -_-

                Alex Ultra: ''-_-+

                Lila: [Sits quietly] Are you going to start typing now?

                Alex Ultra: Oh yeah!  Gotta get started with that... any idea for a title?

                Lila: Um, how about...

                ~~~~~~***   DAY OF STORIES   ***~~~~~~

                Akane ran Ranma to Dr. Tofu's right away, and got there within a few minutes.

                "Is he okay Doctor!?" Akane was worried in what seemed like a rare moment.

                "Oh, my, Akane!  What did you do?"

                "It wasn't Akane, it was their wonderful fathers." I was quite annoyed at them.  As I sat in the waiting room I thought up ways that I could teach them a lesson.  I had a few ideas.

                "Well, let's get to him.  First, let's look at that arm." Leaning over to be level with the table Ranma was on, Tofu looked closely at his arm.  Taking it in one hand, he inspected the damage.  "Hmmm, well, fortunately it's just dis-located.  With a little coaxing... there!"

                With a painful-sounding CRRRRHROARK! Ranma's arm moved back in place.  It sent a painful chill down my spine just listening to it.

                "Now let's look at these other injuries." Looking him over, he went over the various bruises and cuts all over his head and body.  "Several hard hits to the head, probably why he's unconscious.  He's also got bruises all over and he's got cuts everywhere that's exposed.  Unless I missed my guess, I'd say that's glass!" He said this as he took a pair of tweezers and pulled a small shard straight out of his skin.

                I trembled at the sight of him pulling that piece of glass out of still-living flesh.  I was just glad Ranma wasn't conscious, or that stuff the doctor just did could have hurt a whole bunch.

                Akane turned her head away, not really wanting to SEE the bloody details.  I'm sure it was hard enough to HEAR them.

                "What happened?" I noticed the doctor's gaze locked on me.

                "Oh, well, I'm not exactly sure, but basically, Mr. Tendo and Saotome came in angry at Ranma, yelling at him to apologize to Akane." Akane looked at the floor, I'm pretty sure she would have guessed that by now, but it was different to hear it.  "They then beat him into the floor for a while, stomping a lot.  And then when they stopped that, Mr. Tendo took him into the air, not noticing his injuries, and threw him through Akane's window so he would talk to her.  That's where the glass came from." As I spoke he nodded.

                Looking Ranma over a little more closely he carefully turned his head this way and that.  "Well, perhaps this can help tell the un-told story."  He pulled his head and shoulders a bit to the side so that I could see the back of his neck.

                Right there, near the top of his back and the base of his neck was some kind of symbol.  "What is it?"

                Akane turned around, her curiosity touched for a moment.  Her eyes widened a little when she saw the symbol.  "That's a moxibustion mark!!!"

                "A what?"

                "It's something that weakens the one that's been marked.  It makes them slower, weaker, and more vulnerable.  But we can't burn it off now.  The shock to his system could put him in a coma or worse..." Akane nodded, not really wanting to find out what 'or worse' could mean, not that I blamed her.

                But I was more focused on that mark.  'He didn't have that this morning!  So... did he go and get it sometime this morning?'

                Looking over at Akane, I could only wonder what she was thinking...

~~ Yet again, I know! ~~

                'Stupid Ranma!  I know what that was for!  He was serious when he said 'Train together'.  He wanted to be at my level, probably so he wouldn't hurt me...' For a moment, she took on an angry scowl. 'Darn him!  When he wakes up I'm going to have to teach him a lesson in thinking things through!'

                "Akane, could you help me with getting him treated?"

                "Oh!  Yes, doctor!"

                The two of them, sans Lila since she had no idea where anything was and felt that she would probably just get in the way, went to dis-infecting the wounds, removing the glass, and putting a strapping tape on his left arm so as to hold it tightly in place. He wanted it held there until he had a chance to look at the joint, saying he had a few things that should help it heal more quickly.

~~

                "Well, Akane.  Barring infection, I think he should be okay!  But he won't be ready for any fighting until tomorrow...  Besides that, he should wake up sometime today.  No promises, of course... one can never be sure." As he said this he walked back to the main area.

                "I'm going to stay here, in case someone shows up..." Akane was looking at Ranma's bandaged face, it really wasn't too bad, he was just scratched up a bit.

                A voice from the corner caught the attention of all present.  "That won't be necessary."

                When I saw the owner of the voice, I practically shouted in surprise while taking a step back.  "It's the Bug-man!"

                "I'm NOT a bug!"

                "So you prefer I call you 'Lecherous old Freak' like Ranma?"

                "You know... now that I think about it... he does kinda remind me of a bug." Akane was leaning over, and for some reason the old man began smiling foolishly.

                Visibly fighting the urge to jump up and latch on to the bosom that Akane was in-advertently showing him, he explained his presence. "Ranma spoke with me earlier.  He wanted me to do something for him, and I agreed.  On certain terms, of course."

                I put a hand to my forehead.  "Okay, I don't even want to know what the terms are.  But what did he ask you?"

                "Well, the obvious thing is the mark.  He wanted me to put one on him, being specific that he be at your level." He addressed this to Akane.  "I'm not exactly sure why, but that was his request.  And for the second part, he wanted protection from all the people he seems to attract."

                "Seems like a lot of trouble for a few panties, old man."

                "But it's NOT ABOUT a few panties!  Although that was a happy side-benefit."

                "Oh?" I was suddenly interested, although angered about the panties.

                "Of course not." He pulled out a pipe from the bag he always seemed to be carrying.  "You see, his proposal was this.  The mark, as powerful as it may seem, can only reduce you to a fraction of your power, the fraction is set at the time of marking.  But any power or strength, indeed even speed gained while one has the mark is increased by that much more when the mark is removed!  I'm not sure why I never thought of it before, but somehow that effect of the mark makes training that much more effective!"

                "And this is good for you... why?"

                "Well, I'm training him to inherit my school, and I need a strong heir!  Which also happens to be why I agreed to hold off his rivals and so-such..."

                I furrowed my brow, not really comfortable with the idea.  But I had to admit, that did make sense.  Maybe Ranma thought that out a little more than he put on...  "But why didn't you stop the fathers?"

                "I was about to, but I got a bit... distracted.  And because of it, it took me a little longer than necessary to get to the dojo.  By the time I got there you had already come here." I face faulted, I was sure I knew what had 'distracted' him.

                "Some bodyguard..."

                Happosai humphed.  "Well, those two ARE my students!  And it would have been helpful if they had known that he wasn't as strong as he was yesterday."

                As strange as it felt... I had to admit the bug-guy had a point.  'Big... round... eyes!' Honestly... I'm not ashamed to admit that the sight of him creeped me out a bit, and the hentai part didn't help much...

                "Akane.  I think Ranma's safe for now.  But I think it would be a good idea to not let word of this get out... especially until he wakes up..."  Akane nodded.  "And besides, we still need to pack."

                Akane turned to Happosai.  "And if you leave Ranma's side, even for a MINUTE!!  I will find you and make sure your life turns out as a living HELL!!"

                "Oh, Akane.  There is no need to worry about that.  But before you go..."

                "What?" Akane turned back around, wanting to know what he wanted now.

                "Give me a good-bye HUG!!" It turned out to be a mistake as the old guy buried his face in her chest and snuggled around in truly perverted fashion.

                Giving a shout of fear and hate mixed together, she managed to pull the squirming bundle off her shirt and hold him out in the air.

                WHAM!!!

                Seeing the old guy plastered against the wall gave me a kind of satisfaction.  "You know... I have no idea where I got this mallet, but it sure comes in handy!" Smiling, I shouldered the oddly light weapon and looked at Akane.

                "Yeah, I know.  Great, isn't it?"

                Laughing, a bit more lighthearted now that we knew Ranma was alright, we thanked the doctor and walked off.

                I didn't even notice when the mallet seemed to disappear.

                I didn't even pay attention as Happosai peeled himself off the wall.

                He had a pleased grin on his face.  "Ah... I needed that..."

~~

                The two of us were going through our stuff packing for the vacation.  I pretty much packed everything I had, all my wristbands, the day-clothes, my pajamas, swimwear (blush), and my two pairs of shoes.  One pair of sandals, and one pair of sneakers.  Passingly, I wondered where that mallet went off to, but Akane never showed any concern, so I figured it couldn't be that much of a big deal.

                Akane had to do a bit more choosing.  She did bring all those things she had bought, but her weights took up a lot of space.  She decided to take her teddy bear as a take-on and basically fussed over everything else in her room before she was done.

                "Hard time deciding?"

                "Oh be quiet."

                I smiled as I watched her carry ten suitcases.  Suon was stuck carrying the weights and I only had two filled.

                "So where are we taking these?"

                "To the living room."

                "Ah." Suon was silent, pretending that the weights didn't bother him.  Of course, the beads of sweat didn't help in that conviction.  "Wonder what Kasumi and Nabiki are taking?"

                "Hmm?  I don't know?  Maybe we could ask them?"

                "Nah, it's their business.  Besides, we'll probably find out anyway." I put my stuff down on the ground and helped Akane do the same (by taking some off her head).

                "Thanks."

                "Well, we're done for the day... you wanna go check on Ranma?" I rubbed my wrists... not really sure why, but something in my head was bugging me.

                Akane looked at the floor, having nearly forgotten about Ranma.  "Yeah... let's go see if there's anything changed or if he'll wake up sometime soon."

                Smacking one fist into my open palm I came up with a revelation.  "That's right!  It's Sunday!!!"

                "What?" Akane was a little shocked about my outburst.

                I laughed nervously.  "Hehe... sorry.  It's just been bugging me that I was forgetting something." Walking over to Suon, who was currently trying to figure a way to put the suitcase containing all our weights onto the floor without dropping it on his feet.

                Swinging my weight around for a second, I pulled the case from his grip, causing him to fall uncontrollably, and put it on the floor.

                Opening it up for a second I looked inside it.  There were Akane's weights, a set of two at fifty kilos each.  And then there were my various weighted belt sections.  Personally, I was thrilled when I found those.  Each section weighed ten kilos and I had bought about forty of them, using mostly the money I had gotten working at the manga shop, a job I started about a week and a half into my stay.

                "Let's see... one on each arm... leg, and my head.  And then two around my waist for good measure." I inspected the weights to see if they were holding up.  I now had about 170 kilos on.  I had ten on before and had just added another seven.  Moving around, I had to admit that it really didn't feel like all that much.  Even my head now had twenty kilos strapped to it and I could barely tell.  "Well, I guess that will be good for a while." Closing it up I slid the little case to the corner where all the others were.

                Suon had been watching me with a little interest.  Pointing a little, he asked me a question.  "How much do those weigh exactly?"

                "These?  Each piece weighs ten kilos.  I can hook them together too!  See?" I pulled the elastic of one of those around my waist to show hooks holding them together.

                A little more interested, and with a sweatdrop traveling down the side of his face, he asked how much was in the suitcase.

                "Oh... well Akane's makes about 100 kilos.  And then up until now there were thirty of these in there so... about 400 kilos.  Well, I guess now it's 330."  I don't think he heard any more as his head was currently buried in the floor.

                Shrugging, I turned to Akane.  She looked a little worried.  "Are you sure you're okay with all that additional weight?"

                "I'll get used to it.  Besides, it's really not as bad as that first two weeks." Smiling, I put one hand behind my head.  During those weeks I was prone to falling over by the end of the day.  When I finally added the first weight to my head my neck started getting a workout too.

                Slowly swinging her head from side to side she walked out the door, with me right behind.

                I really didn't see what all the fuss was about.  I mean hey, how much could all that really be?

                "Four-hundred times two point four makes..." 'Eight... sixteen, nine.  Nine hundred...' "NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX!!!"

                I had somehow interrupted Akane in the middle of a jump and she was now falling face-first into a building.

                CRASSSHH!!

                "Ow.  What was that about?"

                "Oh, sorry." I landed right where I had been subconsciously intending to land.  "I was just wondering how many pounds that was...  Did you know that we had your dad carrying nearly half an English ton!?"

                Akane blinked in confusion.  "Um... so?"

                "Really!  That shouldn't even be humanly possible!"

                She continued to blink, then she smiled.  "Well, we ARE rather extraordinary!" She put one hand to her chin as if being cryptic.

                I would have been sore, but then I thought of something.  "OH KAMI!!!  HOW MUCH AM I CARRYING!?  Two hundred..." I started fussing with my fingers, not really using them for anything, as I went about figuring it in my head.  'Ignore the hundred... seven times, fourteen, three.  Then the four makes twenty-four.  Another four adds two... and then four...' I suddenly felt sick.  "Three hundred sixty-four."  Frowning, I looked at the ground.  "Somehow, I just know that's a low estimate, but that's STILL a lot!"

                "Oh really.  Well, then you shouldn't have too much trouble with Ryoga's umbrella." Her cynical attitude went unnoticed as I was still thinking about how much I was carrying.

                "I guess that does explain why I'm so tired..." To be precise, my legs were burning.  And I was lost as to where we were.  My mind wasn't there and my legs were still about fifty meters behind us...

                Going to one foot, I put my arms out to the side and started hopping on my toes.  "But it doesn't really feel all that heavy..."

                Akane watched me only for a second or so and then rolled her eyes.  "Well, I'm going." With that she jumped away.

                I didn't really feel up to roof-hopping right then, so instead I jumped down to the sidewalk.

~~

                Ryotori was a bit puzzled.  He wasn't sure if he should get the ORANGE fruits, or the red ones?  He was debating calling his wife when the building started shaking a bit.  'Strange...'

                After a short while the rumbling stopped.  Shrugging it off, he made his decision.

                Whipping out his cell-phone, he proceeded to call his wife (for the tenth time that day).

                WHAM!!

                He suddenly felt the ground lurch beneath him as some kind of form came down on the earth before him.  The concrete didn't buckle, but the landing did send a shockwave that sent everyone on the streets to the ground.

~~

                When I landed, I noticed that a number of people were on the ground.  There were also a whole lot of fruit rolling around.

                Blushing a little, I figured that I was the cause.  Someone weighing more than two hundred kilos doesn't usually jump off the roof of a building.

                I just chose to walk away, figuring that walking couldn't cause too much trouble.

                'Ooh!  The new copy of Rakahashi Nimori is out!' As I walked I looked at all the banners that I happened across.

                "Okay forget this walking stuff!" Getting slightly bored, I decided to run.  It wasn't quite jumping, but it was better than walking!

~~

                Mimi was trying to calm her little boy.  For some reason, he had gotten it into his head that there were giants running around the city eating little children at night.

                "Now now... there are no giants honey.  At least not in this district, they're too afraid of all the kids around here!" She tried to smile sweetly.

                The boy hiccupped a couple of times as he opened his eyes and looked into his mother's eyes.  "R-really?"

                Before she could respond, Mimi heard a short-lived scream followed shortly by the destruction of the wooden fence that had once bordered their yard.

                After the dust and confusion settled, she noticed a girl with bright blue hair lifting herself out of the rubble.

                Looking around at the rubble, the girl noticed the two people across the yard.  Standing quickly, she put one hand behind her head.  "Uh, sorry about that!  I'm kinda busy now, but I'll be back later to help you re-build that."

                Looking around, she seemed lost for a second.  "Great!  Now where am I?"

~ Somewhere far away Ryoga sneezed. ~

                                "Damn you Ranma!  Where are you now!?!?" Looking at the surroundings

                Ryoga said another inspiring statement.  "NOW WHERE AM I?!?!?"

                                "-Who is that boy?  Do you know Roger?-" One man leaned against his

                hoe and addressed another man.

                                "-Nope.  But he sure doesn't look like he's from around here.  Maybe he's

                from somewhere to the East?-" Roger referred to his strange way of dressing.

                                Noticing the two men, Ryoga addressed them.  "Excuse me, do you know

                how to get to Tokyo from here?"

                                The only word the two really understood was Tokyo...  "-Tokyo?

                Isn't that in Japan?-"  Roger looked at his companion, who nodded.  "-Well

                then, you're on the wrong track.  It's a few thousand miles that way.-"

                                "-You're in the American Mid-west boy...-"

                                Ryoga's clueless expression seemed to the two like a perfect Kodak moment.

                "Okay then, thank you for your help." Turning away, he managed to start running

                in the wrong direction.

                                "-You think he knows he's going north?-"

                                Roger shrugged.  "-Maybe he plans on getting a plane in Canada?-"

~ And as that side-show ends... ~

                Mimi watched the whole time as the girl walked up to them.  "Uh...?"  She didn't respond to them as she was looking up.

                She was rather surprised to see the girl jump into the air, and then heard a bit of a thump, followed by a short creak as she landed on the roof.  From somewhere behind them and atop the roof she heard the girl start saying something.  "Okay!  That's it!"

                Jumping back to the ground, the girl accidentally left two, foot shaped holes in the ground just beyond the patio.  Turning around, and picking her feet out of the ground, she addressed the two on the porch.  "Um, I'll be back later.  And maybe I'll bring a friend?" She looked a little thoughtful... and then nodded.  "Yeah... I think she'll come.  Maybe... if I can get her away from Ranma for a while." Without another word, she jumped away and back to the street... in one jump.

                As she ran off again, Mimi looked forcedly at her son.  "Yeah... I'm sure."

                Kas smiled.  "I feel better now!  Those giants wouldn't stand a chance!" Putting one little fist into the air he suddenly got a lot of energy as his mother sat there, feeling a bit too speechless to really think very effectively.

~~

                'Darn shoes.  I think I gotta get new ones sometime soon.' I felt really bad about crashing into that lady's fence...  I figured the least I could do was re-build it.

                The rest of the way to Tofu's clinic, I took it a little easier on the turns, apparently my current shoes couldn't handle turning too hard with all the weight I had on them.

                It didn't take too long to get to the clinic, even if I did get there a while later than Akane.  When I went in I found her in the waiting room, looking a bit disappointed.

                When he noticed me Dr. Tofu said the obvious.  "He isn't awake yet.  You know you two were only gone for a few minutes..."

                Looking at the clock I found that it had been just under a half-hour since we left the office.  "Oh, I guess you're right." Looking back at him, I noticed the jars he had on the table beside him.  "I guess you've found the stuff you were looking for?"

                "Yep!  He should be good as new by sometime tonight!" He smiled as some groaning was heard from deeper in the clinic.

                "Ohhh!  Man!  Hey, why's my face all taped up?  And what happened to my arm?"

                Tofu was the first to get to Ranma, and gently pushed him back down.  "Now just rest for now.  Your arm was forced from place and you're covered in bruises and cuts.  I'm about to treat that now.  Honestly, I'm almost surprised you're awake so soon!"

                "Oh... yeah, I remember pops beating me down, and then Suon stomped on my arm.  Man it hurt!  I don't really remember anything after that."

                "Your fathers stopped beating you into the floor and then threw you through Akane's window.  Thus the cuts." I spoke up and made myself and Akane known to the boy.

                "Oh!  Hey, Lila... Akane.  What's up?"

                Akane looked angrily at him.  "YOU IDIOT!  HOW COULD YOU TAKE SUCH A BIG RISK!?!?"

                Ranma reeled, which was a feat considering he didn't move an inch.  "Hey... is this about...?"
                "Yes it is."

                "Old man!  I thought you said I wouldn't even know you were there!"

                "Well, I had to keep them from burning that mark off!"

                "Fine, whatever." He looked at Akane and managed to look sheepish without being able to move either arm.  "Uh, about that.  Sorry, I didn't think about it as far as I would have liked... I thought I did, but I mean... I'm just not all that good about that." He then looked serious, or semi-serious.  "And sorry, but in case you decide to accept... I won't be able to train you for a while, seeing as how my arm is out of commission."

                "Oh... Ranma." Akane didn't really know what to say as tears threatened to start falling.

                I smiled.  "And I'll help you deal with your fathers." Taking on a sinister look, I continued with the thought.  "After all, I think they can be made to listen to... reason!" Lifting one arm up I showed off my new mallet, that I still wasn't sure where I had gotten, but it sure gave quite an effect.

                Akane smiled.  "That's right, we've still got to have a word with them!" She then pulled out her own mallet and held it angrily.

                Smiling, she started stomping out of the room.  "Oh FATHER!!!!"

                I managed to stop her before she jumped away.  "Let's run instead of jumping.  We'll make it there at the same time that way..."  Then, after a second or so of thinking, I brought up another thought.  "And besides, I just thought of something..."

                The smile I flashed bought her on the idea, though I'm not sure how.

                ~~~~~~***   End of Chapter 11   ***~~~~~~

                Well, that's it for that chapter.  So tell me what you think!?

                Hopefully the format thing won't be too much of a problem, but just to remind you.  If it is a problem, let me know and tell me the nature of the problem.  After all, a problem can only be fixed if it can be found.  O.o

                And as a final note... Ranma's cool!  Ranma Rocks!  Ranma rocks so much that BOULDERS PALE IN COMPARISON!!!  HAHAHA!!!

Bringer of Hope and Creator of Worlds

                Alex and Alex Ultra

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