C+C at darkangel98s@yahoo.com . Flames can go to hell. Also, check out my website at www.geocities.com/shadow_angel48s, where all my other fan fictions are kept.
Legal Stuff: I don't own any of the copyrighted materials in these little works of fiction that I produce, and am in no way challenging said copyrights. All I have come up with is the story I have stuck them into.
The Crow 1/2: Dragons Rising
Chapter Five: A Reunion of Friends
Ryoga, Akari in tow, Konatsu leading the way, was worried and concerned about Ukyou. She had sounded so urgent over the phone, yet had told him nothing. Konatsu also refused to fill him in either. He and Ukyou had always been close, before Ranma's death they had held the same goal. Separate Akane and Ranma. After his death, they had been joined in grief and guilt. But since he had moved in with Akari, and Ukyou's attempted suicide, they had grown apart. He had just felt uncomfortable around her.
Now he was concerned, wondering what could have made her call them so late at night and ask them to hurry out. The only thing he could think of, beside her thinking about another attempt on her life, was Akane. He prayed it was neither.
"Ryo-chan! Were here! STOP!"
At Akari's words, he stopped and looked around. Even following someone, he had almost managed to miss the place. He smiled and gave her hand a little squeeze. She accepted more than his cursed form, and he was so very lucky to have found her.
"Thank you Akari. If it wasn't for you, I would probably be in Hokkaido by now."
"Oh you! You're not THAT bad." She brushed back a few errant strands of the pink stripe in her hair that had fallen into her eyes, and smiled at him in that overly cute way that she had that always made him smile back. He started to say something back, when their Ninja guide cleared his throat.
"Ukyou IS waiting for you. We should hurry. Important thing s are happ…"
He never got to finish. A dark form dropped down from the roof, and Ryoga immediately felt it's aura from the newcomers presence. He stepped between him, and Akari, dropping into a defensive crouch. Whoever this was, he was strong AND angry.
"Who the hell are you?"
The man, who had landed in a crouch, rose, and Ryoga could see the odd coat he wore, covered in Chinese characters, and the silver dragon reflecting off the shirt beneath. The strangers face turned up, and it took a moment for Ryoga to recognize the white painted face that was looking back at him. His intake of breath was loud in the sudden silence.
"Hi Ryoga…"
"RANMA!!!"
*******************************************************
Ukyou heard Ranma's name a moment before the window to her restaurant exploded inwards, Ranma flying inside and narrowly missing her where she worked by the grill. She abandoned the food she had been preparing for Ryoga and his girl friend, and dove for cover. She did not see Ranma hit, but she heard the impact, and winced.
"HOW DARE YOU PRETEND TO BE DEAD!!!"
Ukyou came up to her feet fast, just in time to catch Ryoga's flying kick which connected with Ranma, who did not even try to dodge. The wall had already caved in where Ranma had hit, and this attack sent him all the way through, into the kitchen.
She ran over, and grabbed her spatula, intent on stopping the fight. She felt another presence beside her, and glanced over at Akari and Konatsu, who were watching the two through the hole, their eyes wide in shock.
"This used to happen all the time, you know…" It wasn't quite true. Nothing quite like this ever had.
"HOW DARE YOU ALLOW THEM TO HURT AKANE LIKE THAT!!! YOU BASTARD!!!"
Ukyou heard the next attack, and Ranma's leaving through the restaurant through a back wall. All three moved at once, intent on stopping Ryoga from send Ranma to the grave again. Akari and Konatsu went through the door, for some reason avoiding the hole. Ukyou herself took the direct route, and found the kitchen empty, and immediately ran to the exit to her kitchen. She peaked out, and found Ranma rising from the ground, and Ryoga barreling down on him. She started to join the fight, when Ranma waved her off. Shocked, she hesitated, and in that moment Ranma took Ryoga's final attack. He did not move, did not even flinch. He simply let Ryoga hit him with all of his impossible strength, and went airborne, launched into a stack of crates in the alley behind the restaurant.
Everything was silent for a few moments, Akari and Konatsu moving up behind her, and staring dumbly, Ryoga still in the punching position, and Ranma's legs the only thing that could be seen from the wreckage of the crate. For just a moment, She though that Ryoga HAD killed him. The punch alone was hard enough, and right in the chest. But before she had a chance to run to him, Ranma stirred.
He rose slowly, and was frowning. She was so happy at first, she did not notice what was wrong with him. She heard Konatsu gasp, and glanced at him, before looking back over at Ranma, to see what had the ninja unnerved. She then heard her own voice, screaming, and the world spiral into blackness.
*****************************************************
Ranma rose to his feet slowly. Not because he was hurt, for Ryoga hand not managed to even slow him down. He had just decided that Ryoga had needed this, to blow off steam. But enough was enough. He could not allow Ucchan's to take any more damage. He was brushing himself off, when he finally noticed Ukyou having fainted to the ground, and everyone else staring at him, all pale. He glanced around him, then down.
He blinked. He had not even felt the broken board punch into his chest. Sighing, he reached down and pulled the thing out, and let it drop to the street, before looking up at his old foe/friend.
"Are we done yet? Or do you want to have another go? I won't just stand here next time though."
Ryoga finally seemed to shake his fear and shock off. He shook his head, as if to clear it.
"What the hell is going on here? What the hell happened to you Ranma?"
Ranma sighed. He walked over, and despite Ryoga's attempt to avoid it, he slid an arm around the Lost Boys shoulder.
"It's a long story. To start it off… I died…"
He led the way inside, and Konatsu, finally back around, shook Akari and began to try and bring around Ukyou.
*******************************************************
Mousse was kneeling in the center of the huge Dojo beneath the Kuno estates. The only good thing to come out of the events that night was that he was not alone in his troubles. The little ninja Sansuke knelt right beside him, and occasionally righted Mousse when the battered Chinese boy started to fall over.
Kuno was moving through sword form a mere three or for feet away from him, sword flashing in the bright light, cutting far too close for comfort. Mousse and Sansuke did not move, however, did not flinch no matter how close the blade came. They had both seen other servants die for moving away from those practiced cut. Tatewaki took it as a personal affront to his honor if you moved, if you doubted his skill. It made it no easier that occasionally he did slip up and kill some one.
"So. Thou art most certain it is that foul sorcerer Saotome who you fought tonight?" He spoke while moving, slicing the air with three feet of razor sharp steel.
"Yes. It was him. I saw him up close." Mousses speech was slurred, his jaw swollen so much that it made conversation difficult.
"And he said he came specifically for you?"
Mousse started to nod, when Sansuke elbowed him. He changed his mind.
"That was what he said."
Kuno was silent, whirling steel around him. Suddenly he leveled the blade, the edge resting against Mousses forehead. Sweat began to pour down the Chinese boys face.
"And you let him live?"
"I hit him. I swear it! A sword right through his chest. He ignored it, it was like he didn't feel it. He pulled it right out, and started killing people. I swear!" If Kuno thought he was lying, he would die. Plain and simple.
Kuno himself looked over at his personal ninja. "Is this true, Sansuke?"
Sansuke nodded slightly, and Kuno smiled.
"You are dismissed, the both of you." He turned and walked away, not looking back at either. "And get yourself cleaned up, Mousse. Servants of the Most noble Kuno clan must keep up appearances, no matter how low born."
Mousse bristled, but was pulled along before he could respond to the insult. Sansuke did not want the Kuno's best lieutenant dead because of a ill chosen statement. Soon they were gone, and Kuno stood motionless blade still drawn, smiling.
His sister seemed to walk out of the shadows and wrap herself around him, pressing her naked body to his. He wrapped his one free arm around her, and traced her spine with his hand. She shivered beneath him.
"Did you hear, dear sister. Ranma is alive. Finally, we can have our chance to get vengeance against him properly. We know his weaknesses, and through them, we shall face him again, and teach him that one does not defile the Kuno name.
Kodachi purred, and ran her tongue across his sweaty neck.
"Enough, brother dear. My new toy has passed on, and I am still in the mood to play… Come. Join me?"
He nodded, and the two strolled out of the room, holding each other too improperly for siblings. Their minds both on future pleasures…
*******************************************************
Walking slowly across the Neko Hanten, her old body tired after a couple of days of sleepless nights. She had not been able to sleep ever since she had felt that odd Ki force. In the beginning she had been sure she had never felt it's like before, but now, after many, many hours of thought, she had come to realize that she had felt it's like before. So many years ago, that it was impossible for her to remember exactly how long it really was…
282 years ago. Joketsuzoku (Village of the Amazons)
She awakened from a nightmare too horrible for her to remember, and into another that she prayed never to. She was inside one of the villages huts, her mother and her sisters standing near the doorway, looking out into what first appeared to be the light of day. It took many moments for her fevered, battle weary mind to realize the truth. She could see the light dancing and flickering, smell the smoke, hear the screams. Her home was burning.
Seeing her awake, her father knelt beside her, and wiped her forehead with a damp cloth. He tried to sooth her, voice gentle, touch light and caring. Yet still she struggled, trying to rise. Yet her body would not answer her call, and all she could do was shiver weakly. How had she gotten this way? All she could remember were faint images of battle, and of their utter defeat.
Her mother was called over, and together, her parents spoke to her, telling her to rest, trying to calm her. All she could manage to make out however, was their mentions that the outside would not harm her, that she was safe. That was when she felt it… A surge of dark energy that even she could feel, and terror over took her, limbs moments before too weak to move, suddenly had strength to thrash, and she fought against them, and against what she knew was coming for her….
Present Day…
She could remember little of that time, except general impressions. It had occurred after her defeat in battle against a foe she could not remember. She had been near death, and her memories washed into a blur of events. Yet now, she WAS sure that what ever it was back then, was here again. It had decimated half the tribe then. What could she do, alone? IF only her plans had not been ruined by those Kuno brats…
She did not realize he was standing there, until she was almost running into him. When she realized it, her staff blurred in her hands, and she barely managed to check the strike, before crushing Happosai's skull. He did not flinch, did not even move, simply stood there, watching her, face passive.
"Happi… What are you doing here, in the middle of the night? Shouldn't you be off, stealing women's unmentionables, for your collection?" Her irritation at his presence as clear.
He remained standing there, looking into her eyes, as if searching for something. After a few silent moments, she turned, walking away. "Go about your business, Happi. I am too busy to deal with your foolishness right now."
"You should leave Japan Cologne-chan. Before he comes for you. I can't do anything to stop it this time, and you WILL face justice…"
She had frozen in her tracks. What was he talking about? She turned, fully intent on beating an answer out of him, but found no one there. Somehow he had slipped away without her feeling it. She frowned.
"How?" It was a simple statement, with many questions behind it. How did he know anything about that force? How had he snuck up on her, and vanished just the same. How had he helped her before? She was now more confused than ever. She swore to find the errant aged martial artist, and get answers from him, but for now, she needed rest. She was not as young as she used to be.
As she climbed the stairs, heading to her bedroom, something came to her. Those events so many years ago, had occurred not too long after Happosai had left her life. Suddenly, talking to him again was very important.
*********************************************************
Ryoga and Ranma were back outside, in the early morning light, and they circled each other, watching each other for weaknesses. It was Ryoga that struck first, and suddenly they were exchanging blows at an impossible speed. They took the fight all over the open lot at the end of the alley behind Ucchan's, across the ground and into the air. In the end, it was Ryoga that struck the telling blow, a mid air spin kick that grounded Ranma the hard way. Yet Ranma was far from down, and leap out of the small impact crater, and into a ready stance, awaiting Ryoga's next attack.
Ryoga landed and grinned, pressing the attack. "You've gotten soft Ranma. Sloppy! I can beat you with my hands tied!" Ryoga launched into a powerful punch, intent on driving Ranma back.
What happened next was far from expected. Ranma did not step back, and did not dodge. He waited till the very last second, and moved, his hand seemed to not cross the space in between where it had been resting, and to where it had caught Ryoga's fist. And his head did not shift, it stayed rock steady, even against Ryoga's immense strength.
"I may have lost a few tricks, but I gained some new stuff to make up for it." He was grinning when the mind link went off, and for a moment their minds were joined…
*******************************************************
Ryoga was sitting in Akane's hospital room, his turn on watch having been over for an hour, but not wanting to leave. He held her hand, and watched her slow, shallow breathing. The surgery had been long and rough, and she had lost a lot of blood before hand. She was lucky to have survived.
Ryoga found himself talking to her, which he had never been good at, and about things he never believed he would tell her.
He started with his curse. About how he was really P-chan, and that he had been taking advantage of her for so long. And he apologized, letting her know how sorry he was that he had done so.
That weight off his chest, he began to tell her other things. About his travels across the world. How he had seen sunsets on every major continent. How he had been to the tops of the Himalayas, the depths of the Congo, and all over their own country of Japan. Of all the peoples he had met, all the cultures he had seen. And about how he had wished she had been beside him.
That had brought him to another subject he normally avoided. Having already confessed his curse to her, he saw no reason to hold back. He began to tell her about his feelings for her, about how he had loved her ever since she had first laid eyes on her, about how he would do anything for her. He gave her hand a little squeeze.
"I love you Akane." Finally out, he felt completely free. It felt good to get all of this out. He leaned over in her, intent on kissing her forehead, when she spoke softly, still sleeping.
"I-I love you too…" His heart had just a brief moment to soar, before crashing down. "…Ranma…Always."
He righted himself, and walked from the room, face emotionless. He stepped out into the hall, and almost ran into Soun Tendo sleeping in front of the door with a chair he had dragged from somewhere. He slipped past him, and walked silently from the hospital. He was silent the entire three hours it took for him to find his way into the parking garage. He saw daylight ahead of him, and started to make a run for freedom, to get away from here, when a voice stopped him.
"RYOGA-KUN! WAIT UP!"
He turned in mid stride, and froze in place. It was the last person he had expected to see here, and somehow just the person he needed the most.
Akari held her arms open as he came to her, and wrapped her in his arms. He cried then, letting all the sorrow and loss her felt at knowing her could never have Akane's heart, and all his guilt at having not even waited till Ranma's body was cold before trying to move in on his fiancée. He told her all this in big weeping gasps, and she held him, soothing him silently, telling him it was all ok. It would all be ok…
******************************************************
He was surprised to come to, with Ranma hugging him. Given the intense flashback he had just had, this whole situation was almost surreal. He was not surprised to find tears in his eyes.
"I am so sorry Ryoga. I made your life a living hell, and I am so sorry…" Ranma's voice, near tears himself, brought Ryoga back to reality. They both separated, and Ryoga gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Listen Ranma. I'm sorry too. I wasn't exactly easy to get along with either. I guess we have a lot to be sorry for huh?"
"Yea. I guess."
Although Ranma looked a little worse for wear, Ryoga himself felt better than he had in years. All that sorrow and hate he had carried for so long was gone, drained away as if it had never existed. He smiled.
"Is that memory thing gonna happen again if I touch you?"
"No. I don't think so."
"Good, cause I'm not done practicing yet!" With that, he swept Ranma off his feet, and Ranma flipped in mid fall to do a handstand and launch away. Both of them found themselves laughing as they rushed towards each other. Just briefly, it felt like old times again…
*****************************************************
The others were inside, having just woken up from a mid day nap, and were talking over what Ranma had told them of the night before, and of his request to the all. Konatsu dislike having to help Ranma, but did not want to allow anything bad to happen to those that had already suffered, so had agreed.
He was finishing up boarding up the broken front window, with supplies he had bought in town, when someone knocked at the door. They had put a sign up stating that they were closed for renovations, but a few of the regulars had ignored it. He sighed and hurried over to answer it.
He opened the door, ready to tell them they were not open, and to come back in a few day, and was surprised to find no one there. He looked up and down the street, and only saw the normal pedestrian traffic. Shrugging, he started to close the door when he saw the things lying at his feet. The umbrella Ranma had left with last night, and a burned up case that looked like it had been blown up. He picked them up, staggering under the wait of the umbrella, and stumbled inside.
*******************************************************
The others had gone already, as dusk had started to fall. Konatsu had to lead them over to the Tendo's since Akari had never been there, and Ryoga could not have found it if it were right next door. Ukyou and Ranma were alone, upstairs.
They were in her bedroom, her watching him, him looking into the street below. He wore a sad little smile, and turned to look at her, and she wondered why he had ask her to stay.
"When me and Ryoga were fighting out back today, he touched me, and I read his memories, and I relieved him of a lot of pain and regrets. He was at peace with himself for the first time since I had entered his life."
He turned, and began to walk towards her. She felt a little afraid, for some reason.
"I have been thinking. What if I didn't come back only to get revenge? What if I came back to put people's lives back on track as well?" He was standing close to her now, body almost pressing against hers.
"I have not finished with you yet Ukyou. There is still business between the two of us."
She became afraid, frozen in fear as his hands reached up, taking her head, images of him twisting sharply, snapping her neck, and ending her life for her part in the crimes against him. Yet that did not happen, she felt that sensation again, and their minds seemed to join, and then he was kissing her, her passion, her love of him burning through them both. It was a race against time, for both could feel this moment's end coming, like the inevitable. They struggled to remove their cloths and to keep running their hands across each other. Son their bodies were bare, hot flesh exposed to the cool room air, and they pressed on towards the bed…
*******************************************************
Her mind was abuzz with images from him, through their link. As they moved together, passion and pleasure rising, she began to see things more clearly than she ever had.
She saw Akane, for the first time as he saw her. Laughing, smiling, sparing with him. His battles against unbelievable odds to protect her. Facing death time and again, just to have her near him again. And each image brought with it a warm feeling, like someone holding her close, like someone protecting her. Like love.
As her body reached it's physical limits of endurance and pleasure, more images flooded into her. This time they were her own memories, of Konatsu. How he always worried over her, and protected her. How what ever she wanted, he made happen. How he had taken care of her, even after her failed suicide. How no matter what she did, he always loved her. Those same feelings rolled across each image, and it was no surprise to her when she discovered that they were no longer Ranma's feelings, but her own. She had loved him all along, had just been unwilling to admit it, lost in a love that could never be. She called out his name as she climaxed, and darkness took her, energies spent…
****************************************************
She awoke sweaty and naked, more tired than she had ever been in her life. Raising herself up on her elbows, she found the room empty.
"Ranma? RANMA?"
She did not need the silence to know that he was gone however. She could not feel his presence in the restaurant, and knew that she was completely alone.
She rose, knowing she needed to get to the Tendo's before Konatsu began to worry. She had kept the poor boy waiting for too long already. She showered and dressed, surprised at how good she felt. Surprised as well about the fact that she no longer felt the same way about Ranma. She still loved him, but as her best friend, not a fiancée anymore. He had helped her realize where her feeling should and truly did lie. While she would never tell Konatsu about what had happened here this night, she was not ashamed, and would remember it always. As a goodbye to what Ranma and she had once been. A goodbye to Ranma himself, for she now knew what would happen to him once he found peace. She did not know how she knew, but she did….
She went downstairs, freshly dressed in her Okonomiyaki sellers fighting uniform, and retrieved her battle spatula and bandoleer of throwing mini-spatulas. She was just about to turn out the lights when she found the battered case lying on the table nearest the door, a small origami crow atop it. She hurried over, and picked up the bird, and turned it in her hand, and slowly unfolded it. The letter inside was short and brief.
******************************************************
Dear Ucchan
This case was dropped of by an unknown party, and apparently was taken from the fight with Mousse before the cops arrived. I want you to give half of what is inside to the Tendo's, and use the other half to help you and Konatsu, and Ryoga and Akari get started on your lives.
I hope this will be done soon, and in case I never see you again, you were one of the best friends a guy could have. I love you Ukyou, my friend.
Always,
Ran-Chan
********************************************************
She opened the case, tears in her eyes, and saw all the money inside. Enough to take care of all of them for quite a while. She wept, and smiled at the same time. He had made things right yet again.
"You were a better friend than I deserved, Ran-chan. Far better…"
End of Chapter Five
Authors Notes: Whew. Another chapter finished. I almost scrapped this chapter and wrote something else, since my word program screwed up, and dumped half the story. Grrrrrrr…
Well. Lets see what I need to go into. The Kuno siblings less than wholesome relationship. I don't want to go into it. I can't wait till I get done with those two. Note I did not say kill. WHA HA HA. Actually I am not sure how they are going to go out, but I assure you it will be bad.
Ranma and Ukyou having sex. Ok. Come one. It was closure to 14 years of pursuing the boy, and wanting no other. Plus I had to have a way to make her passions rise, and to make the contact long enough to do some good. Ranma has some cool powers, but I am not going to make him a god.
Anyway, I like Ukyou, it is my fic, and she is gonna get what she wanted. Just this once, and then she can go live with Konatsu in happiness forever. Yea.
And for those of you that don't know who Konatsu is, he is NOT TSUBASA KURINAI!!! That stupid cross dressing ninja who also disguises himself as various bits of scenery. Konatsu is ANOTHER cross dressing Ninja, who has actual fighting skills, and is a really cool character. Ukyou has some real weird, gender confused guys in her life huh?
Another character some of you might not know, is Akari Unryu. She is one of the ultra Kawaii characters in the series, with this little pink stripe of hair. Except for his temper, Ryoga and Akari are the same, and she really loves him, and not only knows about his cures, but accepts it fully. In the series, I am pretty sure they would have eventually became a serious couple.
Oh yea. I am changing my writing schedule. I am not working on this exclusively. I am going to work on a few one shot stories in between chapters. My first is already up, and posted on www.fanfiction.net, in the Ranma section. It is titled What a Day, and goes over what would happen if Ranma's usual bad luck with relationships hit him all in one day. A kind of pointless and up beat happy fic. I hope you check it out, and seen me some comments.
Next Chapter: ATTACK ON THE NEKO HANTEN!!! Ranma's discovers he has no fear. Cologne makes a few nasty plans, and Mousse and Sansuke attack!
Till Later, PEACE!
Legal Stuff: I don't own any of the copyrighted materials in these little works of fiction that I produce, and am in no way challenging said copyrights. All I have come up with is the story I have stuck them into.
The Crow 1/2: Dragons Rising
Chapter Five: A Reunion of Friends
Ryoga, Akari in tow, Konatsu leading the way, was worried and concerned about Ukyou. She had sounded so urgent over the phone, yet had told him nothing. Konatsu also refused to fill him in either. He and Ukyou had always been close, before Ranma's death they had held the same goal. Separate Akane and Ranma. After his death, they had been joined in grief and guilt. But since he had moved in with Akari, and Ukyou's attempted suicide, they had grown apart. He had just felt uncomfortable around her.
Now he was concerned, wondering what could have made her call them so late at night and ask them to hurry out. The only thing he could think of, beside her thinking about another attempt on her life, was Akane. He prayed it was neither.
"Ryo-chan! Were here! STOP!"
At Akari's words, he stopped and looked around. Even following someone, he had almost managed to miss the place. He smiled and gave her hand a little squeeze. She accepted more than his cursed form, and he was so very lucky to have found her.
"Thank you Akari. If it wasn't for you, I would probably be in Hokkaido by now."
"Oh you! You're not THAT bad." She brushed back a few errant strands of the pink stripe in her hair that had fallen into her eyes, and smiled at him in that overly cute way that she had that always made him smile back. He started to say something back, when their Ninja guide cleared his throat.
"Ukyou IS waiting for you. We should hurry. Important thing s are happ…"
He never got to finish. A dark form dropped down from the roof, and Ryoga immediately felt it's aura from the newcomers presence. He stepped between him, and Akari, dropping into a defensive crouch. Whoever this was, he was strong AND angry.
"Who the hell are you?"
The man, who had landed in a crouch, rose, and Ryoga could see the odd coat he wore, covered in Chinese characters, and the silver dragon reflecting off the shirt beneath. The strangers face turned up, and it took a moment for Ryoga to recognize the white painted face that was looking back at him. His intake of breath was loud in the sudden silence.
"Hi Ryoga…"
"RANMA!!!"
*******************************************************
Ukyou heard Ranma's name a moment before the window to her restaurant exploded inwards, Ranma flying inside and narrowly missing her where she worked by the grill. She abandoned the food she had been preparing for Ryoga and his girl friend, and dove for cover. She did not see Ranma hit, but she heard the impact, and winced.
"HOW DARE YOU PRETEND TO BE DEAD!!!"
Ukyou came up to her feet fast, just in time to catch Ryoga's flying kick which connected with Ranma, who did not even try to dodge. The wall had already caved in where Ranma had hit, and this attack sent him all the way through, into the kitchen.
She ran over, and grabbed her spatula, intent on stopping the fight. She felt another presence beside her, and glanced over at Akari and Konatsu, who were watching the two through the hole, their eyes wide in shock.
"This used to happen all the time, you know…" It wasn't quite true. Nothing quite like this ever had.
"HOW DARE YOU ALLOW THEM TO HURT AKANE LIKE THAT!!! YOU BASTARD!!!"
Ukyou heard the next attack, and Ranma's leaving through the restaurant through a back wall. All three moved at once, intent on stopping Ryoga from send Ranma to the grave again. Akari and Konatsu went through the door, for some reason avoiding the hole. Ukyou herself took the direct route, and found the kitchen empty, and immediately ran to the exit to her kitchen. She peaked out, and found Ranma rising from the ground, and Ryoga barreling down on him. She started to join the fight, when Ranma waved her off. Shocked, she hesitated, and in that moment Ranma took Ryoga's final attack. He did not move, did not even flinch. He simply let Ryoga hit him with all of his impossible strength, and went airborne, launched into a stack of crates in the alley behind the restaurant.
Everything was silent for a few moments, Akari and Konatsu moving up behind her, and staring dumbly, Ryoga still in the punching position, and Ranma's legs the only thing that could be seen from the wreckage of the crate. For just a moment, She though that Ryoga HAD killed him. The punch alone was hard enough, and right in the chest. But before she had a chance to run to him, Ranma stirred.
He rose slowly, and was frowning. She was so happy at first, she did not notice what was wrong with him. She heard Konatsu gasp, and glanced at him, before looking back over at Ranma, to see what had the ninja unnerved. She then heard her own voice, screaming, and the world spiral into blackness.
*****************************************************
Ranma rose to his feet slowly. Not because he was hurt, for Ryoga hand not managed to even slow him down. He had just decided that Ryoga had needed this, to blow off steam. But enough was enough. He could not allow Ucchan's to take any more damage. He was brushing himself off, when he finally noticed Ukyou having fainted to the ground, and everyone else staring at him, all pale. He glanced around him, then down.
He blinked. He had not even felt the broken board punch into his chest. Sighing, he reached down and pulled the thing out, and let it drop to the street, before looking up at his old foe/friend.
"Are we done yet? Or do you want to have another go? I won't just stand here next time though."
Ryoga finally seemed to shake his fear and shock off. He shook his head, as if to clear it.
"What the hell is going on here? What the hell happened to you Ranma?"
Ranma sighed. He walked over, and despite Ryoga's attempt to avoid it, he slid an arm around the Lost Boys shoulder.
"It's a long story. To start it off… I died…"
He led the way inside, and Konatsu, finally back around, shook Akari and began to try and bring around Ukyou.
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Mousse was kneeling in the center of the huge Dojo beneath the Kuno estates. The only good thing to come out of the events that night was that he was not alone in his troubles. The little ninja Sansuke knelt right beside him, and occasionally righted Mousse when the battered Chinese boy started to fall over.
Kuno was moving through sword form a mere three or for feet away from him, sword flashing in the bright light, cutting far too close for comfort. Mousse and Sansuke did not move, however, did not flinch no matter how close the blade came. They had both seen other servants die for moving away from those practiced cut. Tatewaki took it as a personal affront to his honor if you moved, if you doubted his skill. It made it no easier that occasionally he did slip up and kill some one.
"So. Thou art most certain it is that foul sorcerer Saotome who you fought tonight?" He spoke while moving, slicing the air with three feet of razor sharp steel.
"Yes. It was him. I saw him up close." Mousses speech was slurred, his jaw swollen so much that it made conversation difficult.
"And he said he came specifically for you?"
Mousse started to nod, when Sansuke elbowed him. He changed his mind.
"That was what he said."
Kuno was silent, whirling steel around him. Suddenly he leveled the blade, the edge resting against Mousses forehead. Sweat began to pour down the Chinese boys face.
"And you let him live?"
"I hit him. I swear it! A sword right through his chest. He ignored it, it was like he didn't feel it. He pulled it right out, and started killing people. I swear!" If Kuno thought he was lying, he would die. Plain and simple.
Kuno himself looked over at his personal ninja. "Is this true, Sansuke?"
Sansuke nodded slightly, and Kuno smiled.
"You are dismissed, the both of you." He turned and walked away, not looking back at either. "And get yourself cleaned up, Mousse. Servants of the Most noble Kuno clan must keep up appearances, no matter how low born."
Mousse bristled, but was pulled along before he could respond to the insult. Sansuke did not want the Kuno's best lieutenant dead because of a ill chosen statement. Soon they were gone, and Kuno stood motionless blade still drawn, smiling.
His sister seemed to walk out of the shadows and wrap herself around him, pressing her naked body to his. He wrapped his one free arm around her, and traced her spine with his hand. She shivered beneath him.
"Did you hear, dear sister. Ranma is alive. Finally, we can have our chance to get vengeance against him properly. We know his weaknesses, and through them, we shall face him again, and teach him that one does not defile the Kuno name.
Kodachi purred, and ran her tongue across his sweaty neck.
"Enough, brother dear. My new toy has passed on, and I am still in the mood to play… Come. Join me?"
He nodded, and the two strolled out of the room, holding each other too improperly for siblings. Their minds both on future pleasures…
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Walking slowly across the Neko Hanten, her old body tired after a couple of days of sleepless nights. She had not been able to sleep ever since she had felt that odd Ki force. In the beginning she had been sure she had never felt it's like before, but now, after many, many hours of thought, she had come to realize that she had felt it's like before. So many years ago, that it was impossible for her to remember exactly how long it really was…
282 years ago. Joketsuzoku (Village of the Amazons)
She awakened from a nightmare too horrible for her to remember, and into another that she prayed never to. She was inside one of the villages huts, her mother and her sisters standing near the doorway, looking out into what first appeared to be the light of day. It took many moments for her fevered, battle weary mind to realize the truth. She could see the light dancing and flickering, smell the smoke, hear the screams. Her home was burning.
Seeing her awake, her father knelt beside her, and wiped her forehead with a damp cloth. He tried to sooth her, voice gentle, touch light and caring. Yet still she struggled, trying to rise. Yet her body would not answer her call, and all she could do was shiver weakly. How had she gotten this way? All she could remember were faint images of battle, and of their utter defeat.
Her mother was called over, and together, her parents spoke to her, telling her to rest, trying to calm her. All she could manage to make out however, was their mentions that the outside would not harm her, that she was safe. That was when she felt it… A surge of dark energy that even she could feel, and terror over took her, limbs moments before too weak to move, suddenly had strength to thrash, and she fought against them, and against what she knew was coming for her….
Present Day…
She could remember little of that time, except general impressions. It had occurred after her defeat in battle against a foe she could not remember. She had been near death, and her memories washed into a blur of events. Yet now, she WAS sure that what ever it was back then, was here again. It had decimated half the tribe then. What could she do, alone? IF only her plans had not been ruined by those Kuno brats…
She did not realize he was standing there, until she was almost running into him. When she realized it, her staff blurred in her hands, and she barely managed to check the strike, before crushing Happosai's skull. He did not flinch, did not even move, simply stood there, watching her, face passive.
"Happi… What are you doing here, in the middle of the night? Shouldn't you be off, stealing women's unmentionables, for your collection?" Her irritation at his presence as clear.
He remained standing there, looking into her eyes, as if searching for something. After a few silent moments, she turned, walking away. "Go about your business, Happi. I am too busy to deal with your foolishness right now."
"You should leave Japan Cologne-chan. Before he comes for you. I can't do anything to stop it this time, and you WILL face justice…"
She had frozen in her tracks. What was he talking about? She turned, fully intent on beating an answer out of him, but found no one there. Somehow he had slipped away without her feeling it. She frowned.
"How?" It was a simple statement, with many questions behind it. How did he know anything about that force? How had he snuck up on her, and vanished just the same. How had he helped her before? She was now more confused than ever. She swore to find the errant aged martial artist, and get answers from him, but for now, she needed rest. She was not as young as she used to be.
As she climbed the stairs, heading to her bedroom, something came to her. Those events so many years ago, had occurred not too long after Happosai had left her life. Suddenly, talking to him again was very important.
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Ryoga and Ranma were back outside, in the early morning light, and they circled each other, watching each other for weaknesses. It was Ryoga that struck first, and suddenly they were exchanging blows at an impossible speed. They took the fight all over the open lot at the end of the alley behind Ucchan's, across the ground and into the air. In the end, it was Ryoga that struck the telling blow, a mid air spin kick that grounded Ranma the hard way. Yet Ranma was far from down, and leap out of the small impact crater, and into a ready stance, awaiting Ryoga's next attack.
Ryoga landed and grinned, pressing the attack. "You've gotten soft Ranma. Sloppy! I can beat you with my hands tied!" Ryoga launched into a powerful punch, intent on driving Ranma back.
What happened next was far from expected. Ranma did not step back, and did not dodge. He waited till the very last second, and moved, his hand seemed to not cross the space in between where it had been resting, and to where it had caught Ryoga's fist. And his head did not shift, it stayed rock steady, even against Ryoga's immense strength.
"I may have lost a few tricks, but I gained some new stuff to make up for it." He was grinning when the mind link went off, and for a moment their minds were joined…
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Ryoga was sitting in Akane's hospital room, his turn on watch having been over for an hour, but not wanting to leave. He held her hand, and watched her slow, shallow breathing. The surgery had been long and rough, and she had lost a lot of blood before hand. She was lucky to have survived.
Ryoga found himself talking to her, which he had never been good at, and about things he never believed he would tell her.
He started with his curse. About how he was really P-chan, and that he had been taking advantage of her for so long. And he apologized, letting her know how sorry he was that he had done so.
That weight off his chest, he began to tell her other things. About his travels across the world. How he had seen sunsets on every major continent. How he had been to the tops of the Himalayas, the depths of the Congo, and all over their own country of Japan. Of all the peoples he had met, all the cultures he had seen. And about how he had wished she had been beside him.
That had brought him to another subject he normally avoided. Having already confessed his curse to her, he saw no reason to hold back. He began to tell her about his feelings for her, about how he had loved her ever since she had first laid eyes on her, about how he would do anything for her. He gave her hand a little squeeze.
"I love you Akane." Finally out, he felt completely free. It felt good to get all of this out. He leaned over in her, intent on kissing her forehead, when she spoke softly, still sleeping.
"I-I love you too…" His heart had just a brief moment to soar, before crashing down. "…Ranma…Always."
He righted himself, and walked from the room, face emotionless. He stepped out into the hall, and almost ran into Soun Tendo sleeping in front of the door with a chair he had dragged from somewhere. He slipped past him, and walked silently from the hospital. He was silent the entire three hours it took for him to find his way into the parking garage. He saw daylight ahead of him, and started to make a run for freedom, to get away from here, when a voice stopped him.
"RYOGA-KUN! WAIT UP!"
He turned in mid stride, and froze in place. It was the last person he had expected to see here, and somehow just the person he needed the most.
Akari held her arms open as he came to her, and wrapped her in his arms. He cried then, letting all the sorrow and loss her felt at knowing her could never have Akane's heart, and all his guilt at having not even waited till Ranma's body was cold before trying to move in on his fiancée. He told her all this in big weeping gasps, and she held him, soothing him silently, telling him it was all ok. It would all be ok…
******************************************************
He was surprised to come to, with Ranma hugging him. Given the intense flashback he had just had, this whole situation was almost surreal. He was not surprised to find tears in his eyes.
"I am so sorry Ryoga. I made your life a living hell, and I am so sorry…" Ranma's voice, near tears himself, brought Ryoga back to reality. They both separated, and Ryoga gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Listen Ranma. I'm sorry too. I wasn't exactly easy to get along with either. I guess we have a lot to be sorry for huh?"
"Yea. I guess."
Although Ranma looked a little worse for wear, Ryoga himself felt better than he had in years. All that sorrow and hate he had carried for so long was gone, drained away as if it had never existed. He smiled.
"Is that memory thing gonna happen again if I touch you?"
"No. I don't think so."
"Good, cause I'm not done practicing yet!" With that, he swept Ranma off his feet, and Ranma flipped in mid fall to do a handstand and launch away. Both of them found themselves laughing as they rushed towards each other. Just briefly, it felt like old times again…
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The others were inside, having just woken up from a mid day nap, and were talking over what Ranma had told them of the night before, and of his request to the all. Konatsu dislike having to help Ranma, but did not want to allow anything bad to happen to those that had already suffered, so had agreed.
He was finishing up boarding up the broken front window, with supplies he had bought in town, when someone knocked at the door. They had put a sign up stating that they were closed for renovations, but a few of the regulars had ignored it. He sighed and hurried over to answer it.
He opened the door, ready to tell them they were not open, and to come back in a few day, and was surprised to find no one there. He looked up and down the street, and only saw the normal pedestrian traffic. Shrugging, he started to close the door when he saw the things lying at his feet. The umbrella Ranma had left with last night, and a burned up case that looked like it had been blown up. He picked them up, staggering under the wait of the umbrella, and stumbled inside.
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The others had gone already, as dusk had started to fall. Konatsu had to lead them over to the Tendo's since Akari had never been there, and Ryoga could not have found it if it were right next door. Ukyou and Ranma were alone, upstairs.
They were in her bedroom, her watching him, him looking into the street below. He wore a sad little smile, and turned to look at her, and she wondered why he had ask her to stay.
"When me and Ryoga were fighting out back today, he touched me, and I read his memories, and I relieved him of a lot of pain and regrets. He was at peace with himself for the first time since I had entered his life."
He turned, and began to walk towards her. She felt a little afraid, for some reason.
"I have been thinking. What if I didn't come back only to get revenge? What if I came back to put people's lives back on track as well?" He was standing close to her now, body almost pressing against hers.
"I have not finished with you yet Ukyou. There is still business between the two of us."
She became afraid, frozen in fear as his hands reached up, taking her head, images of him twisting sharply, snapping her neck, and ending her life for her part in the crimes against him. Yet that did not happen, she felt that sensation again, and their minds seemed to join, and then he was kissing her, her passion, her love of him burning through them both. It was a race against time, for both could feel this moment's end coming, like the inevitable. They struggled to remove their cloths and to keep running their hands across each other. Son their bodies were bare, hot flesh exposed to the cool room air, and they pressed on towards the bed…
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Her mind was abuzz with images from him, through their link. As they moved together, passion and pleasure rising, she began to see things more clearly than she ever had.
She saw Akane, for the first time as he saw her. Laughing, smiling, sparing with him. His battles against unbelievable odds to protect her. Facing death time and again, just to have her near him again. And each image brought with it a warm feeling, like someone holding her close, like someone protecting her. Like love.
As her body reached it's physical limits of endurance and pleasure, more images flooded into her. This time they were her own memories, of Konatsu. How he always worried over her, and protected her. How what ever she wanted, he made happen. How he had taken care of her, even after her failed suicide. How no matter what she did, he always loved her. Those same feelings rolled across each image, and it was no surprise to her when she discovered that they were no longer Ranma's feelings, but her own. She had loved him all along, had just been unwilling to admit it, lost in a love that could never be. She called out his name as she climaxed, and darkness took her, energies spent…
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She awoke sweaty and naked, more tired than she had ever been in her life. Raising herself up on her elbows, she found the room empty.
"Ranma? RANMA?"
She did not need the silence to know that he was gone however. She could not feel his presence in the restaurant, and knew that she was completely alone.
She rose, knowing she needed to get to the Tendo's before Konatsu began to worry. She had kept the poor boy waiting for too long already. She showered and dressed, surprised at how good she felt. Surprised as well about the fact that she no longer felt the same way about Ranma. She still loved him, but as her best friend, not a fiancée anymore. He had helped her realize where her feeling should and truly did lie. While she would never tell Konatsu about what had happened here this night, she was not ashamed, and would remember it always. As a goodbye to what Ranma and she had once been. A goodbye to Ranma himself, for she now knew what would happen to him once he found peace. She did not know how she knew, but she did….
She went downstairs, freshly dressed in her Okonomiyaki sellers fighting uniform, and retrieved her battle spatula and bandoleer of throwing mini-spatulas. She was just about to turn out the lights when she found the battered case lying on the table nearest the door, a small origami crow atop it. She hurried over, and picked up the bird, and turned it in her hand, and slowly unfolded it. The letter inside was short and brief.
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Dear Ucchan
This case was dropped of by an unknown party, and apparently was taken from the fight with Mousse before the cops arrived. I want you to give half of what is inside to the Tendo's, and use the other half to help you and Konatsu, and Ryoga and Akari get started on your lives.
I hope this will be done soon, and in case I never see you again, you were one of the best friends a guy could have. I love you Ukyou, my friend.
Always,
Ran-Chan
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She opened the case, tears in her eyes, and saw all the money inside. Enough to take care of all of them for quite a while. She wept, and smiled at the same time. He had made things right yet again.
"You were a better friend than I deserved, Ran-chan. Far better…"
End of Chapter Five
Authors Notes: Whew. Another chapter finished. I almost scrapped this chapter and wrote something else, since my word program screwed up, and dumped half the story. Grrrrrrr…
Well. Lets see what I need to go into. The Kuno siblings less than wholesome relationship. I don't want to go into it. I can't wait till I get done with those two. Note I did not say kill. WHA HA HA. Actually I am not sure how they are going to go out, but I assure you it will be bad.
Ranma and Ukyou having sex. Ok. Come one. It was closure to 14 years of pursuing the boy, and wanting no other. Plus I had to have a way to make her passions rise, and to make the contact long enough to do some good. Ranma has some cool powers, but I am not going to make him a god.
Anyway, I like Ukyou, it is my fic, and she is gonna get what she wanted. Just this once, and then she can go live with Konatsu in happiness forever. Yea.
And for those of you that don't know who Konatsu is, he is NOT TSUBASA KURINAI!!! That stupid cross dressing ninja who also disguises himself as various bits of scenery. Konatsu is ANOTHER cross dressing Ninja, who has actual fighting skills, and is a really cool character. Ukyou has some real weird, gender confused guys in her life huh?
Another character some of you might not know, is Akari Unryu. She is one of the ultra Kawaii characters in the series, with this little pink stripe of hair. Except for his temper, Ryoga and Akari are the same, and she really loves him, and not only knows about his cures, but accepts it fully. In the series, I am pretty sure they would have eventually became a serious couple.
Oh yea. I am changing my writing schedule. I am not working on this exclusively. I am going to work on a few one shot stories in between chapters. My first is already up, and posted on www.fanfiction.net, in the Ranma section. It is titled What a Day, and goes over what would happen if Ranma's usual bad luck with relationships hit him all in one day. A kind of pointless and up beat happy fic. I hope you check it out, and seen me some comments.
Next Chapter: ATTACK ON THE NEKO HANTEN!!! Ranma's discovers he has no fear. Cologne makes a few nasty plans, and Mousse and Sansuke attack!
Till Later, PEACE!