Heavenly Intervention
Chapter 4
Enter Ryoga! The Eternally Lost boy
Akane smiled as he sat in his classroom at school. It was a very slow day at Furinkan. Kuno was hospitalized so there were no fights or annoyances. Shampoo came by to visit during lunch and during all her classes, which was always a bonus, so all in all it was a slow day. He was currently contemplating everything that was happening. *Recap...* He thought. *I'm engaged to Shampoo and Ranma, Ranma's jealous of my abilities and my relationship with Shampoo, Shampoo showed up before Ryoga for some reason... and nothing is going the way it was originally supposed to.* Akane sighed with a smile as he leaned back in his chair. "Life is good."
Just then the bell rang for class to end. Ranma walked up to Akane's desk before he could get up. "Oi! Akane!" The female form of Ranma called. "You got my clothes?" she asked.
Akane nodded. "Yeah." He then pulled out Ranma's usual Chinese ghi from his bag. "Right here. You going to change now?" He asked. Ranma nodded. Akane sighed as he handed it to her and got up and followed the red head. "Ranma why can't you just learn to accept your curse? It's not so bad."
Ranma sniffed indignantly. "That's easy for you to say. You turn into a guy."
Akane blinked and smirked. "How is that different? We basically have the same curse."
Ranma frowned. "Yeah... well... You like being a guy. I don't want no attention from guys." She stated.
Akane sighed. "Yeah. I have had my curse for much longer than you. Your dad seems to be managing just fine as a Panda. At least you get to stay as a human like me and my Dad. You gotta be thankful for that at least."
Ranma growled. "I ain't thankful for losing my manhood!" Ranma then opened up a broom closet in the hall they were passing by and went in to change. When she came back out she was male again, having used a thermos full of hot water that she kept there everyday.
The male Akane and Ranma then walked out of the school to go home.
Just outside the gates of Furinkan a boy stood there looking into the front yard as students filed out of the gates in a chaotic manner. The boy had unruly black hair held up with a black and orange bandana, a yellowy orange shirt, black pants and a traveling bag that had a collapsed umbrella attached to the top. *Maybe I should ask someone in here?* he thought as he looked at all the people passing by. He then grabbed a passing student. "Where is Furinkan high school!?" He demanded the boy.
The boy looked stupefied. "Hah?"
Ryoga growled and repeated his question. "WHERE IS FURINKAN HIGH SCHOOL!!?" The boy then pointed to a sign attached to the gate that he was standing beside. Ryoga placed a hand upon the sign. "Furinkan High school.... I've finally arrived!!" He then turned back to the boy whose shirt he was still holding onto. "Where can I find Ranma Saotome!?!?"
Then student looked surprised. "Saotome?" Once again the student pointed in the direction of the school that he was standing in front of where Akane and Ranma, both in male form were exiting.
Ranma sighed as he walked through the yard with Akane. "So you're saying that there is no cure whatsoever for the Jusenkyo curses?" He asked his strange fiancee in disbelief.
Akane nodded. "That's right. I've searched for one myself. Nadda. You just have to learn to accept yourself as you are."
Ranma rolled his eyes. "There's gotta be some cure."
"RANMA!! PREPARE TO DIE!!!" Came a voice from above all of a sudden. Ranma quickly jumped out of the way as the boy with the umbrella landed on the pavement creating a large crater in which he kneeled in for a moment longer. The boy looked up at Ranma and smirked as though he had expected the cursed martial artist to dodge his attack. "I've been looking for you Ranma Saotome." He stated.
The boy then stood up out of the crater. "I see you're still good at running away Ranma." He said.
Akane just sat down and started eating some popcorn that he got from seemingly nowhere. He looked up at Ranma and smiled. "Hey you know this loser?" He asked. Ranma looked thoughtful.
"I've been awaiting this moment for a long time!" The boy stated.
Akane frowned. "Hey! You know this clown or not!?" He called to Ranma.
The boy glared at Akane! "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A CLOWN!!!?"
Akane shrugged. "You I guess. Since you're the only clown in the area. What's your beef with Ranma anyway? He's a good guy."
Ryoga growled and pointed at Ranma, stomping a foot. "RANMA'S NOT A GOOD GUY!! HE DIDN'T COME TO OUR FIGHT!!"
Ranma just then smiled and pointed at him. "I remember! We went to Junior High together!" He called excitedly. He then paused. "Uhhh."
Ryoga then rushed forward, frustrated that the pigtailed boy didn't even remember his name. "It's Hibiki! Ryoga Hibiki!"
Ranma smiled and stepped forward to embrace the boy. "Long time no see pal!" Ryoga then swatted his hand away.
"Answer me Ranma..." He started. "Why didn't you come to fight me at the time appointed?" He asked angrily.
Ranma looked stupefied. "I waited there for three days..."
Akane was laughing in the background. "Dumbass!!" She called out to Ryoga.
Ryoga pointed at him with his umbrella. "SHUT UP YOU!!! When I arrived at the meeting place on the fourth day he turned tail and ran away!!"
Ranma frowned. "Ryoga... Back then the meeting place we agreed on... Wasn't it the vacant lot behind your house? Why did you make me wait three days!?!?"
"WHAT!?! YOU THINK I WAS OUT FOR A STROLL THOSE FOUR DAYS!?!?" Ryoga Retorted.
"Well what were you doing?" Ranma asked.
Akane snickered. "That fool was lost!! He couldn't find his way out of a paper bag if there were directions printed on all sides!"
Ryoga growled. "THAT'S IT!! RANMA! YOU DIE NOW!!!!"
Ranma looked confused now and dodged to the right. "Wait a minute." He said. "I know what this is about." Ryoga made another rush towards his rival and was stopped abruptly by his hand in his face. "Wait here Ryoga. I'll be right back." With that Ranma ran away.
"RANMA!! HOW DARE YOU RUN AWAY!!!" He yelled after him.
"BE RIGHT BACK!!" Ranma called.
Ryoga mumbled curses as he waited in his place for Ranma to return. Akane stood up and walked towards him. "So Ryoga. Why do you hate Ranma?"
Ryoga clenched his fist. "Because of him... I have seen hell." He stated.
Akane nodded. "Right... Are you talking about Jusenkyo by chance?"
Ryoga's eyes widened. "What?" He stated as he looked towards the boy beside him who had called him names not too long ago. "How do you..." Akane smiled. "There's a lot of people who have curses. Hell Ranma's got one too. You just have to learn how to live with and deal with it. I've had mine for about five years now."
Ryoga looked at the boy amazed. "Five years?"
Just then Ranma returned, carrying various packaged food items and threw one of them to Ryoga. Ryoga looked down at it confused. "Curry bread?" He wondered.
Ranma nodded, still holding quite a stack of snacks. "Yeah! Whata yah say pal? Forgive and forget?"
"Don't Patronize me!!" Ryoga demanded as he crushed the packaged bread.
"Jeez you're greedy." Ranma then threw a bunch more breads to the lost boy. "Fine here: Chow-mein bread, Croquette bread, Melon Bread, cutlet sandwich, meat bread, seaweed bread. That's all I can remember!"
"THIS ISN'T ABOUT BREAD!!!" Ryoga screamed.
Akane just snickered on the sidelines, content in just watching. "Oh this is classic."
Ryoga then began attacking Ranma repeatedly, the pigtailed boy was always one step ahead though and managed to dodge each attack. "What's the matter? Why are you so pissed off!?" Ranma asked while jumping into the air.
Ryoga followed his aerial leap. "Because of you Ranma. I HAVE SEEN HELL!!!"
Ranma landed on the ground after dodging a thrust from the, bandanna clad, lost boy's umbrella. "I still don't get it."
Ryoga just snarled and lunged again. Ranma did a large back flip to the back of the Furinkan crowd that had gathered to see the martial arts duel and then Ryoga followed, enraged. Parting the crowd like the red sea. Once he got to the other side however Ranma couldn't be found. "WHERE DID YOU GO RANMA!!!?!?!" He screamed as he continued forward, going right through the school, smashing brick mortar, and glass in his trek.
Ranma, who was back where Akane was looked on confused. "Where's he going?"
Akane just laughed again. "Let's go home. We won't see him any time soon." Ranma shrugged and the crowd departed.
Ryoga however continued to run in random directions looking for the pigtailed boy. "RANMA!!! WHERE ARE YOUUU!!!!?????" He screamed on into the night, never stopping his search.
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Akane smiled as he sat in the living room with Shampoo cuddling. Ranma was also there and just looked on with an angry expression. "Damn it!" He grumbled. "Why the hells he so mad!?" He wondered out loud.
Akane smiled. "I talked with him a little when you went to get all those buns. Apparently he followed you to China."
Ranma's eyes bugged out. "Ch...China!?!? That means..."
Akane nodded. "That's right. Jusenkyo curse."
Shampoo continued to snuggle up to Akane's chest. "Shampoo no mind curse. Airen no care!" Ranma frowned at the purple haired girl at her display of affection towards his fiancee. Even if she was a guy at the moment he was sure she was a girl at heart... he just couldn't fathom why she would always be... doing all that... touching with Shampoo.
Akane then frowned and changed the subject. "Hey Shampoo. I don't think your grandma likes me."
Shampoo smiled. "Airen no be silly. Great grandmother very much like you. If Shampoo like, Great grandmother like too." She said.
Akane looked unsure. "She just seems very suspicious of me that's all. Ever since I brought up Jusenkyo."
Just then Kimiko came into the living room. "Akane! Shampoo has to go home now! You've got school tomorrow, you need your sleep!"
Akane nodded and began to stand up. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow Shamps." He stated.
Shampoo nodded. "Shampoo see Airen tomorrow." With that they kissed and Shampoo ran to and leapt over the Tendo wall.
Akane smiled and began his short trek to the bathroom. Ranma followed him. "Akane!" Ranma called out. "Why do you keep kissing her?" He asked.
"Cause I like her." He stated. "We can talk about it in the morning Ranma I'm gonna go have a bath first." With that Akane walked into the bathroom and began undressing.
Just as Ranma was about to head up the stairs Kasumi came running after him. "Hey Ranma!" She called out.
Ranma looked back. "Huh? What is it?"
Kasumi handed him a letter. "A letter came for you. From Mr.Ryoga Hibiki."
Ranma took the letter and opened it up. It read in large letters on the front: "I CHALLENGE YOU!" When he flipped it over there was a date on the back. "Yesterday." Ranma noted. "Guess he'll show up for it tomorrow... or next week... whatever." With that Ranma crumpled up the paper and ran up stairs.
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The next day at school Akane was sitting around with a couple of girls who were vying for his attention. "What's with that Shampoo girl!? You agreed to go out on a date with me and then dump me as soon as some foreign Bimbo shows up!" One of them stated.
"Same here!" Another said.
"Me too!" Said the third.
Akane held the back of his head with one hand nervously. "Heh heh. Sorry about that girls... but according to the laws of her people; since I beat her up I have to marry her. She's also very jealous so I had to break off my dates with you guys... so she didn't try to eliminate her competition... Permanently."
The three girls went white when all of a sudden Shampoo burst through the concrete wall of the school again with Akane's lunch. "AAAAHHHH!!!" They all screamed at the sight of her. "WE DIDN'T TOUCH HIM WE SWEAR!!"
"DON'T KILL US!!" The girls then ran away down the halls.
Shampoo looked confused. "Airen why girls so scared?" She asked.
Akane shrugged. Just then there was a commotion at the window of the class. "Hey that's that guy from the other day!" One student said.
"Yeah! Maybe he's back for Ranma again." Another said. The speculation continued among the students. Ranma heard it as well and peeked out the window, ignoring his jealousy at the moment concerning Akane's attention.
Ryoga stood down in a field nearby the school. "At last Ranma. I will have my revenge." Just then he was hit in the face with a soccer ball.
"Hey buddy!" One of the soccer playing students asked. "What are you doing in the middle of the field.
"He's not moving."
"Head injury... he's a goner."
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Soon after Ranma and Ryoga stood across from each other in the same field ready to duel. Akane and Shampoo were sitting off at the sidelines and Nabiki was sitting still desperately trying to hold herself from taking bets. She looked towards Akane to make sure she wasn't looking so that she might sneak off and get a few bets. Akane was looking directly at her though and smiled while shaking her index finger and her head side to side. Nabiki frowned. *DAMN!! It's like she's reading my mind or something!*
Ryoga snickered at Ranma. "You planned your escape well last time Ranma." he stated.
"What escape!?" Ranma retaliated. "You just wandered off and got lost!!"
" SHUT UP!! What do you know about that!?!?" Ryoga growled. Ryoga then clenched a fist as he went into his tragic tale. "It's been a month since that fateful day. It was already summertime in Okinawa. I wandered the jungles for weeks. I thought I would die. But now it's all going to end!!"
Ryoga then lunged forward and started swining his umbrella, frantically trying to get a good hit in on the pigtailed boy. Ranma then leapt into the air. "Just tell me what spring you fell into Ryoga." He snarled. "I know you followed me to China!"
Ryoga stopped instantly. "Who..."
Ryoga then looked to Akane who smiled and waved.
Ryoga then growled and prepared to attack again, fanning out the umbrelle. "That's none of your business Ranma!! NOW DIE!!!" Ryoga then threw his umbrella turning it into a makeshift, oversized shuriken.
Just then Akane was in his way and stopped the umbrella in mid flight as it passed by. "I'm getting tired of this Ryoga. We're all in the same boat so why not tell us what happened?" Akane then closed the umbrella, twirled it around and threw it to the sidelines near Shampoo.
Ryoga clenched his fist. "I can't bear the agony! It's too much for my fragile heart!! RANMA YOU MADE ME A MONSTER!!!" He screamed before running away, picking up his umbrella on the way.
Ranma didn't even notice. Ryoga leave. He was staring at Akane in awe. He was sure he was sitting down just then... there's no way he could have jumped into the fight that quickly. At least without him noticing.
Akane smiled at Ranma. "We should get home. Ryoga will probably end up looking for you there next time. He seems pretty persistent."
Ranma looked up. "Oh... yeah sure."
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The next night Ranma was inside the house sitting around. Akane was upstairs with Shampoo probably doing something... gross. Tetsuo was sitting with Ranma and they were watching Cartoons. "Hey Ranma." Tetsuo asked. "How'd that duel with Ryoga go?"
Ranma snickered. "He ran away again.
Tetsuo laughed. "So you were stronger than him? Was he scared of you?"
Ranma shook his head and glanced out at the rain outside. "No... he just wussed out cause he couldn't handle the truth."
Tetsuo smiled. "I wish I could be as good as Akane in martial arts."
Ranma balked at that. "What makes Akane so damned special!?!?"
Just then Kimiko appeared from another room randomly. "Ranma watch your language! You're a guest in this house."
Ranma chuckled. "Sorry Mrs. Tendo."
Ranma sighed. "You guys haven't even saw her fight yet... me and her went training to pretty much all the same places. She couldn't possibly be better than me."
Tetsuo smiled. "Yeah but Akane was a genius baby and started really early from what Mom told me." The eleven year old boy stated proudly. He idolized his sister. She was the sibling he'd always wanted. She was also half brother... which was something he'd always wanted growing up in a house full of girls. He smiled at the memory of the time when Akane took him roof hoping on his back around Nerima. All his friends were jealous of him after he told them about it.
Ranma was waiting patiently for an answer. "Well!? How old was she?" He asked.
Tetsuo looked thoughtful as he was broken out of his revery. "I think she was about eight months old."
Ranma looked shocked suddenly. *EIGHT MONTHS!?!?!?" He thought. *That can't be possible!! I didn't start until I was five!!*
Just then Akane walked down the stair with a purple and white cat on her shoulder. Ranma stared at the girl in awe. "Could she really be that good?" he wondered quietly out loud.
Akane picked up an umbrella and opened it up. "I'm going out to get a job! I'll see you all later!"
Ranma nodded and halfway through his sentence he finally noticed the furred beast riding on his betrothed's shoulder. "Yeah sure see yah latAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! C-C-C-C-GET IT AWAY!!!!" He screamed before running to some distant part of the house.
Akane looked down at Shampoo and snickered. "I don't think he likes you." He stated before heading out the door into the rain. Shampoo frowned at where Ranma left and then calmed down again when Akane began to pet her.
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Akane frowned as she looked at the door to the Uuchan. It was locked and there was a sign on the door. "Closed. The Uuchan will not be opening for a little while longer. There have been some delays that could not be foreseen." Akane read out loud. "Darn! I need a job! I'm all out of money." Akane then placed a resume in the mailbox.
Shampoo meowed in what seemed like disappointment. Akane sighed. "I know you want me to come work for you and you're great grandmother but I'm still not comfortable with her."
Shampoo bowed her head. Akane smiled and pat her on the noggin. "I still love you Shamps. But until I can feel I fully trust Cologne I don't want to work for her... besides an old friend of mine is actually the owner of this new place."
Shampoo looked inquisitive. "It was when I was training around Japan. It'd be nice to catch up." Akane replied.
Shampoo than meowed again. "Yeah. I'll take you home then head to mine. Big day tomorrow." With that said Akane walked off in the night through the rain with Shampoo on his shoulder the whole way.
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Ryoga smiled as he came across the sign on the wall he was standing in front of in the rain. "Tendo Dojo." He muttered to himself. He then clenched his fist. "Finally I will have my revenge!" With that Ryoga jumped over the wall and into the yard. He took very careful attention to keep a careful eye where to go. He couldn't slip up as it was. He noticed that the door was already open so he pushed it open and began searching for Ranma's room. He went up stairs and quickly found the door marked Ranma and Genma with just a simple piece of paper. Ryoga silently walked into the room and saw Ranma sleeping there. "Wake up Ranma." Ryoga whispered. "Fight me."
Ranma didn't budge at all he just mumbled in his sleep and scratched his head with a single digit. Ryoga frowned. "Wake up." He whispered, this time accenting his demand with a punch. Ranma rolled over however just in time to evade the blow and his fist went through the pillow and the floor. He tried again but with the same results.
Ryoga became frustrated and then screamed. "RANMA WAKE UP AND FIGHT ME!!!" This did nothing but wake up Genma, who looked at the culprit who disturbed him and frowned, throwing both him and Ranma out the window.
Ranma sailed still sleeping towards the koi pond while Ryoga pulled out his umbrella and glided down to the ground safely and dryly. At first Ranma had no idea that she was submersed in the pond until her lungs started to fill up with water. Once realizing that she was drowning she quickly stood up in the pond. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE RYOGA!?!?" Ranma yelled at the boy who was standing in front of her.
Ryoga smirked. "Revenge doesn't know the difference between night and day." Ryoga paused and looked Ranma over carefully as she stepped out of the pond. He then balked at her. "You're... you're a girl!!" He stated, pointing at her. Ryoga then thought back to that fateful day at Jusenkyo where a girl chasing a panda had knocked him into that cursed pool. He then thought back to moments ago when the panda sleeping in Ranma's room had thrown them out. Ryoga then snickered. "Well it seems Ranma has a curse as well." He stated. "So it was you that kicked me into the spring."
Ranma growled. "What are you talking about!?!"
Ryoga smiled and his aura flared. "This just makes it easier!! My Vengeance list can now be narrowed down to ONE person!!" Ryoga then began to attack the Pigtailed girl.
Ranma dodged the boys initial blow and landed on the other side of the yard. "Calm down Ryoga." He stated. "It's not as bad as it seems."
Ryoga glared at the red haired girl. "That's easy for you to say! At least you're still human!" Ryoga then began to shake in fury. "Do you have any idea what it's like!? Walking on all fours, struggling to carry any possessions you have... PEOPLE TRYING TO EAT YOU!?!?"
Ranma gasped. "Oh my God Ryoga... I'm so sorry!" Ryoga now had tears running down his eyes. "SAVE YOU'RE PITY AND DIE!!!"
Ryoga then thrust his umbrella towards Ranma in rage. Ranma dodged and Ryoga froze, realizing that he had exposed his body towards the cold rain. He quickly ran away and jumped over the Tendo's wall before the change could take place.
"RYOGA WAIT!!" Ranma called out, hoping that she could stop the boy. She jumped over the wall as well but when she got there all that was left was Ryoga's clothes and such. "Damn." Ranma's head perked up a moment later when she heard a dog whining from nearby. Ranma saw the dog and sighed. "Oh Ryoga."
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Akane smiled as she walked home after dropping Shampoo off. She noticed some movement out of the corner of her eye and then picked up the little black piglet just as it was trying to get away. "Awww! What a cute little piggy." He stated with a smirk before cradling the animal in his arms.
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Author's Notes: {Well I'm done chapter 4. I managed to get it all done within 2 days too. This is for all the fans of quick updates. I made this chapter follow the canon timeline a bit closer than the other chapters. There's a reason for it as well... but you'll just have to wait until Heavenly Intervention chapter 5 for that now won't you? Take care now. Bye bye then.}
Morden Night: mordennight@hotmail.com