Chapter 10

"Ms. Tendo!" Akane turned around to see Konatsu running towards her from the front doors of the school. "Please wait!" Akane slowed down enough to allow the ninja to catch up. "What do you want?"

She glared at the boy.

"I wanted to warn you." Konatsu looked around, and lowered his voice. "I overheard some of the other boys at lunch today. I think they are planning something special for tomorrow's fight."

Akane looked at him through half-lidded eyes. "Why should I believe you?

"You don't have to. I was just trying to be nice." With that, Konatsu turned, and walked away. He called out over his shoulder, "You should be prepared, just in case."

Nabiki heard Akane's battle cry from the dojo before she had even left the front entrance of the Tendo house.

"I'm home!" Nabiki kicked off her shoes, and walked towards the living room.

"Oh, welcome home Nabiki!" Kasumi came out from the kitchen, drying her hands on her apron. "Do you want any snacks or tea?"

"No thanks, sis." Nabiki nodded her head in the direction of the dojo, where another particularly loud scream echoed. "What's got Akane so pissed?"

Kasumi shook her head and shrugged. "Would you try and find out, Nabiki? I'd appreciate it." Kasumi turned to go back to the kitchen. "Oh, and please tell Akane that dinner will be ready in one hour, so she needs to take a bath."

"Sure thing, Kasumi."

Nabiki leaned against the door jamb and watched as Akane smashed the last cinderblock in the dojo. Still in the striking position, Akane exhaled before she relaxed. With a quick motion she rolled backwards and sprang to her feet, performing a half twist to land facing a training dummy. With a loud shout, she lashed out with a series of punch and kick combos, pounding the figure mercilessly.

Nabiki was amused and more than a little impressed that Akane kept the level of intensity up for a full ten minutes before she began to slow. She waited until Akane took a breather before shouting, "Yo, Akane! Wanna tell me what got your panties in a bunch?"

Akane paused, and spared a brief glance at her sister. "No." She turned back to the dummy and released a punishing knee to the groin, followed by a vicious jab to the throat.

"I'm hurt! You don't want to talk to your dear older sister?"

"Drop the act, Nabiki. You don't have to pretend you care."

"Ouch, Akane. I'm your sister, of course I care."

Akane didn't respond. She whipped around with a back handed blow to the dummy's cheek, and used the motion as a cover for scrutinizing her sister. The only sound in the dojo for a bit was of Akane's continued practice.

"Well, whatever. Kasumi said that dinner would be ready in an hour, so you better go bathe first." Nabiki pushed off from the jamb, and turned to leave.

"It's the new guys in my class." Akane stopped hitting the dummy, and walked over to her sister. With a sigh, she leaned against wall, and slid down, sitting on the ground. "I think they are going to do something in the fight tomorrow."

Nabiki stopped. She took a seat next to Akane. "What makes you say that?"

Akane grimaced as she remembered. "I got a warning from one of them on the way home to 'be prepared, just in case.'"

"So, why are worried, sis?" Nabiki sat down next to Akane.

Akane didn't say anything right away. She just looked across the dojo, to the pile of smashed cinderblocks. "Something happened at lunch, and it spooked me." Akane told Nabiki about the conversation she had, and how it ended.

"I've never seen anything like it, Nabiki." She pulled her knees up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her legs. "They just... vanished. They were there, then not." She let out a sigh, and leaned her head back against the wall, closing her eyes.

"What do you want me to do, Akane?"

"I don't know. I'm just..." She trailed off. "I'm scared, sis. What if I lose?"

Nabiki had no answer. After a while, she stood, and offered a hand to Akane. Accepting, Akane allowed herself to be pulled up from the ground. "Come on. I'll help you clean up the mess, so you can bathe in time for dinner."

"Thanks, Nabiki."

"No prob. Don't worry, Akane. I'll help you figure something out, promise."

Akane gave Nabiki's hand a tight squeeze before letting go.

Kuno Tatawaki was currently thinking very hard about the information he had received this afternoon. Sitting in front of a large poster of his beloved Akane Tendo, Kuno looked down to the wooden sword in his hands. He relaxed his grip, allowing the handle to roll across his palm before clenching his fist.

The poster before him was one of his favorite pictures of his tigress. She was wearing a gi, doing a high kick at some unseen target. Sweat soaked her hair, and her clothing was dirty and wrinkled. She had the most intense look on her face, with lips pulled back to vocalize her attack.

Looking at the poster, Kuno could see the wisdom of the stranger's words. The boy had been quite elegant in his speech and manner. His bearing was that of noble birth as well as a powerful fighter. Kuno was impressed in spite of his best efforts to the contrary. He hadn't said much, but his words still lingered.

"Kuno, your mockery of Akane's skill does a great disservice to her. If you value her as a marital artist, you will no longer hold back in your morning fights."

"And who are you to tell me this, knave?"

"I am Herb, Prince of the Musk. I speak as one warrior to another. Do not hold back."

Herb had been right. His goddess would accept nothing less from him than his very best. It was no wonder he had failed to win Akane's heart. By not fighting to the fullest of his abilities, he had offended her. Kuno vowed to rectify the situation.

He bowed low to the poster. "Forgive me, goddess, for what I have done and what I must do." Mind made up, Kuno stood. "I must practice."

Dinner at the temple was quite an enjoyable affair. The monk was quite pleasant to dine with. He was a vast storehouse of information, and had traveled widely before settling in Tokyo. He regaled the trio with tales of his youthful transgressions, much to the delight of all involved. For their part, the Chinese guests told stories of home, and demonstrated the curses they had acquired. The monk made some cracks about how much fun the marriage between Konatsu and Herb must be, and excused himself to go to bed.

After dinner, Ranma and Herb washed dishes as Konatsu cleared the table.

Ranma scratched his nose with her nose with her forearm. "So, who gets to go with Konatsu on the pervert hunt tonight?"

"I believe I will go, Ranma." Herb said. "You've faced him twice already." Herb scrubbed the last dish before handing it to Ranma to rinse and dry. "What will you do while we are gone?"

"I wanted to talk to the old man a bit about philosophy."

Herb nodded his head. She poured some hot water over her head before taking off into the night with Konatsu.

"Sir?" Ranma knelt outside the monk's chambers.

"Yes, young man?" The old monk slid the doors of his room back, dressed in his robe to sleep.

"I know you are about to go to sleep, but I didn't get a chance to ask you earlier. I was wondering if I could ask you some philosophical questions, if you don't mind."

"Hmm... Philosophical questions in regards to what?"

"Life. Buddhism. Martial arts. You know, easy stuff."

The old man laughed, and hopped out of bed. He was surprisingly spry for his age. "Just a second, young one." He stepped to the edge of the room, and slid inside the pair of slippers waiting outside. "Let's walk for a bit. The night air is beautiful, isn't it?"

Ranma walked silently beside him. "Sir?"

"Please, Saotome-kun. Call me Shinran."

"Shinran? Like the founder of Rengekyo?"

Shinran smiled. "Yes, but different characters." The two reached the veranda overlooking the garden. "You and your friends did nice work here." Shinran gestured over the grounds. "I hope you decide to stay awhile. I miss having people around." He sat, feet hanging over the edge.

"So, Ranma-kun, what would you like to talk about on this fine evening?"

"What's it like?"

Shinran smiled, "What is what like, Ranma?"

"You know," Ranma motioned with his hands, pointing out the monks garments. "To do what you do. To change perspective and take the tonsure."

"For me, it was an easy decision. But, it is different for everyone. Some find it quite hard. Why do you ask?"

"I find myself wondering if I can live according to the virtues." Ranma sighed.

Shinran slowly raised a hand, and placed it Ranma's shoulder. "You are young yet. The fact that you think about shows that one day, maybe, you will know your answer." The monk paused. "Do you want some advice, Ranma?"

"Yes."

"My first piece of advice; never listen to some old man." Ranma cracked a wry grin in response." Shinran smiled, and then waggled his finger. "My second piece of advice; just live. Do your best, but don't worry so much about it. Try and live by the teachings, of course, but you don't have to get it right in this life."

Ranma looked out over the garden, watching as the moon rose above the walls of the temple. "You're right. It really is a pretty night."

"Isn't it?" Shinran stretched his arms above his head. "You don't play go by any chance, do you, Ranma?"

"I've learned, but never had time to play much."

"Fancy a game?"

Ranma smiled. "I'd love it. First, you have to tell me your handicap."

"I'll spot you nine stones."

Ranma stared. "Pretty confident, aren't you?"

Shinran got up and returned with the board and stones. He only answered with an enigmatic smile.

The game got underway with no further conversation. Shinran was true to his word.

On the other side of town, other combatants were locked in just a serious a struggle.

"Don't worry ladies; I'll take care of these precious darlings for you!" Happosai leapt into the night, bag of illicitly gotten garments on his back.

Herb motioned to Konatsu, who watched the old man disappear in the distance with a nod. The two leapt to pursue. It would have been hard to follow him if not for the shouts of enraged women that arose along his path.
As the pair neared Happosai, Konatsu suddenly crouched and vanished. Herb knew what to expect, but Happosai certainly wasn't ready for the knee that appeared out of thin air that sent him crashing to the pavement below.

Rubbing the bump forming on the top of his head, Happosai looked at his assailant. "How could you, you hoodlum? Attack an old man just out for an evening stroll? What has this country come to?" Happosai continued lamenting the youth of Japan for a little longer.

Konatsu didn't say anything. Herb dropped to the ground behind Happosai, closing down one avenue of escape.

"Ohh, I see." Happy looked at Herb and then back to Konatsu. "What happened to your cute sister? She too busy whoring to play with grandpa tonight?" Happosai dropped his bag of underwear, and started to limber up a bit. "Make sure you tell her I want my piece too. This old man's got needs, ya' know."

Konatsu spoke for the first time. "It is my turn to play tonight, Happosai. Shall we dance?"

"Just a second, young whelp." He took a sideways stance, trying to take in both attackers at once. "Are you both going to attack me tonight, or what?"

Herb shook his head. "No. We shall challenge you one at a time only. We have a high regard for your skill, and look forward to the challenge."

Happosai snorted. "You mean you look forward to having your ass handed to you." He looked back and forth between the pair. He pointed at Konatsu. "Are you going first tonight, girly-boy?"

"I am."

"What's your name?"

"Konatsu Kenzan, Ninja and member of the Chinese Amazons."

Happy pointed to Herb. "And yours?"

"I am Herb, Prince of the Musk."

"Hmmm... An Amazon and the Musk, hm... This could be more fun than I thought." Happy turned back to face Konatsu. "I trust Herb will wait for the results of this fight before attacking?"

"I will, Happosai."

"Did Ku Lon put you up to this?"

The pair looked at each other. Konatsu replied first. "You know Elder Ku Lon?"

"Lon-chan and I used to be real close, if you catch my drift." Happosai winked.

Konatsu tried not to let the surprise show. "No, she didn't put us up to this."

"Then why?"

Konatsu shrugged, and his reaction was mirrored by Herb. "Training. Protecting those who can't protect themselves," Konatsu said.

"Well, at least one of those causes is noble. The weak will just have to deal." Happosai removed the handkerchief tied under his nose. "Anyway, enough talk. Let's dance."

Konatsu and Happy leaped at each other, trading a blow in passing. Happy sank to a knee, while Konatsu stood strong. Until he heard the snickering from Herb, that is. When Konatsu looked down, he found himself clad in a girl's high school outfit, complete with short skirt and knee socks.

"That's more fitting for you." Happosai smirked as he stood, wiping a little blood from the corner of his mouth. He frowned as he registered the wound. "You're good."

Konatsu bowed slightly. He motioned his get up. "You are better, though. I look forward to this fight."

"Good attitude kid. I might learn to like you little panty-wastes eventually."

"We are flattered to hear that, you old bag."

The battle began.

Ranma was losing his second game of go soundly when Konatsu and Herb staggered in. Konatsu looked absolutely haggard. They plopped down on the veranda, and simply watched for a second.

Ranma nodded to them. "I take it you went first, Konatsu?"

The ninja nodded. He gestured to the board as Shinran place another stone.

"You are faring about as well as we did against Happosai tonight."

"Yeah, and this is with a nine stone spot."

"Ouch." Both Konatsu and Herb looked at Shinran with a great deal of respect.

"Perhaps we can play sometime, Sir." Herb bowed low.

"Call me Shinran, please."

"Then perhaps we can play at sometime, Shinran."

The monk nodded his head slightly. The game ended pretty quickly after that, as even Ranma had to acknowledge the hopelessness of the situation.

"Happosai is holding back against us." Herb nodded in agreement with Konatsu's statement. The three were getting ready for bed. They had decided to share a room tonight so that they could discuss tomorrow's plan of attack.

"How can you tell?" Ranma was intrigued.

"His opening attack was... phenomenal. He only fights with as much force as necessary to win. He enjoys humiliation more than victory." Ranma trusted Konatsu's judgment in a fight even better than his own. Ranma was good, but Konatsu was brilliant in ways that he could never match.

"Seems fitting for a pervert like him." Ranma suddenly remembered something. "Your description of his style sounds exactly like what my dad used to tell me. It encourages your opponents to fight harder. That way, you get better, too, and they are willing to accept more punishment because they think they have a chance." Ranma laid back on his futon. "How much do you think he's holding back?"

"He was probably only showing about eighty percent of his true skills." Both Herb and Ranma thought about that. All three started to grin.

Ranma exclaimed, "That's wonderful news!"

"I thought you would like to hear that."

Herb cut in, "So about tomorrow?"

The three began to plan. This was almost as much fun as Happosai.

Akane was nervous during her walk to school the next day. For some reason, the warning Konatsu had given her made her dread facing the morning duel. Akane grimaced. She was doing it again; she was psyching herself out before the match had even begun.

The gates of the school were drawing near. The horde of boys was no where to be seen.

She was a little shocked when the Ranma, Konatsu and Herb stepped out of the gates and strode determinedly in her direction. She dropped her bag and immediately took up a defensive posture.

"You three think you can take me?"

They stopped just out of attacking range. They looked at her, and then at each other. Herb spoke for the group. "We just wanted to wish you good luck today. We have no wish to participate." With that, the three stepped aside.

"You go ahead of me. I don't trust any of you, and I definitely don't want you behind me."

"Wise choice, Ms. Tendo. If you stay outside the gates, you can watch as we enter the building. That way you can be assured that we have no ill wishes."

Akane only sniffed. She waited till the trio had started walking in the direction of the school. "Um.. Herb, was it?"

"Yes, Ms. Tendo?"

"Thanks, I guess?" She pointed at her bag. "Umm... Can one of you take this up to my seat?"

"It would be our pleasure." Herb bowed. "Good luck again, Ms. Tendo."

Ranma spoke, "I'd watch out for Kuno. He seems extremely focused today."

"I can deal with that pervert no problem." Akane brushed her hair back, and pulled it into a pony tail.

Ranma merely nodded. With that, the three walked into the school. Akane didn't move until they had gone inside the building, and she saw their faces appear in the third story windows.

"Was that unusually cruel of us? She now doubts herself." Herb watched as Akane took a hesitant step towards the gates.

"She is afraid of the unknown we represent." Ranma pointed to the assembled mass of boys below. While they had told Akane they would not participate in the brawl, it didn't stop them from giving the horde of suitors a quick lesson in tactics. They had little chance of success, but Akane would have to work much harder than normal today. She would also have to think.

"The rest depends on Kuno."

Herb smirked as Kuno rounded the corner of the building, his bandana around his head. "I don't think we need to worry about him today."

Akane was almost one third of the way between the front gates and the entrance to the school before the mass struck. They were still an untrained mob, but given a little guidance, a mob can be a powerful force.

The fight opened with the soccer and baseball teams unleashing a barrage of ranged attacks from behind. Akane was certainly not expecting it, and she took several hard hits to the back and a baseball to the head before she reacted. She turned to face the barrage, when two flanking masses of melee fighters closed in. She was quickly forced on the defensive. If she tried to work her way out of the melee, the ranged attackers were waiting to unload.

Inside the scrum, the picture wasn't much better. The group was coordinating their attacks, working on bringing her down. The football players would attempt to tackle her legs, while the sumo wrestlers and kendo club struck hard and fast.

Up on the third floor, Nabiki winced as her sister took a hard blow to the back. She was truly worried. She knew that Akane would take out the first group, but she definitely wouldn't be able to deal with Kuno. Her mind was racing, trying to think of someway out of this predicament.
The last of the melee fighter went down, clutching a broken nose. Akane, in her fear, anger, and pain, was lashing out much harder than normal. She was forced to duck as soon as the attacker went down to dodge some baseballs that whizzed through the space she had just occupied.

With a growl, she ran in a zigzag pattern to circle around to the first archer.

Ranma smiled. "Nice. She is trying to make sure that only one person has a clean line at her at any time."

Konatsu also smirked. "This fight has lasted much longer than normal. Plus, she's taken a lot more shots than ever before. She's dead meat when she gets to Kuno."

Herb nodded and pointed at the figure in question. "Here he comes."

Akane was gasping for breath. Her back hurt all over, and her vision was a little blurry from the sweat and the first baseball she had taken in the back of the head. After taking out the last baseball player, she turned to face Kuno.

She wanted to cry.

She had never seen him this focused. There was no poetry, no ramblings. He simply strode up, the arms of his gi tied back, bandana on his head. His aura was visibly manifesting itself.

He stopped just outside of striking range. He nodded once, before saying, "For you Akane, I will do what pains me." He moved to engage.

His strikes were like lightning. Akane moved as fast as she could, but blows were coming though the lapses in her guard. She bit back a scream as a strike slipped past her guard to nail her in the thigh. Another one tagged her on the shoulder. She attempted to back flip away, only to be caught by a stunning blow across the back.

Nabiki was flipping out. Kuno was trashing her little sister. Not only was she going to lose a pant-load of money on this mornings bets, but her sister was going to be forced into dating this moron.

So, she did the only thing she could. Before she acted, she murmured to herself, "Forgive, me Akane."

Akane was going to lose. She could see that. She was bruised all over, and Kuno was landing hits when ever he wanted. She certainly wasn't expecting salvation to arrive in the form of her sister.

"Yo Kuno, want to see a picture of Akane in the bath?"

Kuno whipped his head around to look at Nabiki. Akane poured every last bit of remaining strength into a devastating roundhouse that sent Kuno crashing into the side of the school, out like a light.

"Damn." Ranma snapped his fingers. "Oh well. That was a hell of a fight she put up. Shall we go see her?"

Herb and Konatsu both nodded.

Akane sank to the ground, panting in exhaustion. She had no strength when Ranma, Konatsu, and Herb picked her up and carried her to the nurse's office. Nabiki briefly surveyed the carnage before her, before yelling at the stunned student body.

"Somebody better call an ambulance. I think we have some broken bones out here." With that, she turned to run after her sister.

Akane broke down once she was in the nurse's office, clutching Nabiki's shoulder and sobbing. She was a mess. Her uniform was torn and dirty, and bruises adorned most of her body. She continued to cry hysterically for nearly fifteen minutes before she passed out from exhaustion.

Ranma, Konatsu, Herb, and Nabiki watched as she slept. Nabiki looked at the three boys, and then motioned for them to follow her out of the room.

Anger flashed in her eyes. She whispered, "All right, you three, what's up? I know you were behind this, somehow." She brimming, wanting to tear into someone.

Herb simply looked her. He allowed a little bit of his ki to surge, enough for Nabiki to forget her anger and feel a little bit of fear. "Keep a civil tongue, Ms. Tendo. There was a very good reason for this."

Nabiki was only temporarily cowed. "Don't fuck with me or my family, buddy, or I will make your life hell."

"We weren't 'fucking' with your family, Ms. Tendo." Herb pointed back to the sleeping figure of Akane. "We wanted to help her."

"Oh, so you figured you'd just help the perverts of this school beat the crap out of her?"

Ranma jumped in. "Yes."

Nabiki's head whipped around to stare at him. "What did you say?"

"I answered your question, Ms. Tendo." Ranma used his thumbs to point at his co-conspirators. "She claims to be and wants to be a martial artist. She needs to be willing to face the seriousness of that lifestyle."

"Oh, and I suppose you are?"

"I am, and I have. There is no questioning my dedication to the Art. Nor can you question Herbs, or Konatsu's. Anyone of us would be willing to lay our lives and manhood on the line, and we have done so repeatedly. If your sister wants that path, she needs to learn how hard it can be."

Nabiki reached back and slapped him. Ranma didn't even blink. Nabiki cursed as she clutched her hand in pain.

"Now if you'll excuse me, Ms. Tendo, I am going to tend to your sister. Even though I may be young, I am quite a skilled physician." With that, Ranma stepped passed Nabiki to tend to Akane.

Nabiki was close to tears with frustration. Konatsu placed a hand on her shoulder. "We mean only the best. Believe us. This morning's incident will not happen again. I can promise on my honor."

Nabiki brushed his hand off. "You just better make sure it doesn't."

Ranma called out from the examination room. "She will be fine, but do you have a normal doctor you visit? I feel it would be better she woke up under the care of someone she was familiar with."

Nabiki stared at the pigtailed boy for a second. Finally, she answered, "Yeah, Doctor Tofu. His office isn't far from here."

Ranma gently picked up Akane. "Lead the way, then Ms. Tendo."

To all the reviewers, thanks.
The issue of who 'gets' ranma is settled. And no, it isn't going to turn out like anyone hopes.

I wanted to apologize - i don't like writing battle scenes much, it isn't a talent I think I posses. I do try, but like to leave the actual details to the imaginations of the readers.

I personally think Happosai is the best character. He is pretty complex, for all his simple desires. Capable of extreme wisdom and folly in two seconds. absolute powerhouse in marital arts, but squanders it for the sake of pleasures of the flesh. I am conviniced that if he would only focus, he could probably soundly trounce Ku Lon. Plus, he is DAMN funny.

Hope you liked the chapter!