Heavenly Intervention
Chapter 07
Knock Knock Knocking on my Noggin
Akane frowned as she tossed her crutches away and fell back onto the couch in the living room. She had been in a grumpy room all day. She had just gotten let out of Tofu's car a day ago and everyone had been insufferably kind to her... All of a sudden everyone was acting like Kasumi as though they were afraid she'd break like glass. "Just a broken leg and some ribs." She muttered under her breath, contemplating turning on the T.V. but opting to ignore it. Akane then looked over to the kitchen where he heard Kasumi curse mildly and then moments later she was in Akane's view.
"Akane?" Kasumi asked, making sure she had her younger sister's attention.
"Yeah?" Akane responded somewhat nonchalantly.
"Um somebody came by looking for you earlier, while you were still at Tofus last week. She came looking for you about a job? Is this familiar?"
Akane smiled, welcoming the change of topic. "Yeah. Thanks Kasumi." With that Akane began to get up, grunting slightly under the pain of her still healing ribs. Kasumi rushed to her side, eager to help her sister up but Akane quickly pushed her away. "I'm fine! I'm not going to break you know!" Akane growled. Once at a sitting position she looked up to her sister's slightly hurt expression. "I'm sorry sumi... it's just... I'm not made of glass... don't you have anything better to do than sit around in the kitchen? Or... clean the house?"
Kasumi looked slightly confused. "Mother's very busy this time of year I just wanted to..."
Akane cut her off. "Save the excuses. You need to get out more. We've got probably the cleanest house in Japan so go have some fun! That's an order!" Akane said with some mock Soldier talk.
"Well I have no one to accompany me. There's no telling..."
Akane smiled maliciously as she cut her sister off again. "Not a problem. RANMA!!!!!!!" She called. *Yes! She thought in her head. Maybe I could get rid of them if they went on a date... If I could get dad to see Ranma having a grand time with Kasumi maybe he'll switch the engagement from me to her.*
Moments later Ranma came down the stairs looking slightly worried about Akane. "What's up? Need anything? Pillow?"
Akane sighed and pointed to Kasumi. "Take Kasumi out for a walk in the park and then to a matinee. You two need to go have fun. You've been waiting on me hand and foot since I got back from Tofu's."
"But..." Ranma started.
"Just go! I'll be fine by myself. I'm going to be going to apply for my new job today, it's nothing.
Ranma began to protest. "Are you sure I could..."
Akan became very irate and didn't really feel like pushing the subject. "JUST GO!!" she screamed at the two. She then picked up her crutches and stood up, heading for the door.
Ranma looked slowly over to Kasumi who did much the same thing. "So..." He began. "You like Jackie Chan?"
Kasumi nodded, somewhat hesitantly. "Who?"
*************
Akane smiled as she entered the Uuchan a short while later. "Now lets just hope there's no mixed messages." She muttered.
She was noticed coming through the door by Ukyo who did her usual greeting. "Hello. Welcome to the Uuchan. Can I help you?"
Akane looked around and noticed that it was relatively busy. "How long have you been open?" Akane asked as she sat down at a stool.
Ukyo smiled as she handed a completed okinomiyaki on a plate to a customer in front of her. "It's funny y'know." She started not recognizing Akane at all. "I've only been open for four days and the word about my little establishment's been spreading like the plague."
Akane smiled "Yeah well it's the best. You can't beat good food. I'm here about the job by the way."
Ukyo blinked in surprise and squinted looking the injured girl over. She had a very lithe and curvaceous body, her breasts were large and firm, and she had fairly short hair. "Akane?" She asked in disbelief that this was her old friend from when they were little. She just looked so much older than 16... she almost looked 20.
"Long time no see Uuchan." Akane stated. "So what about that job?" She asked.
Ukyo took off her apron smiling. "Akane what happened to you?" She asked as she circled around the counter and gave the girl a firm hug.
Akane gasped in slight pain. "Ribs!"
Ukyo quickly let go. She then noticed the crutches. "Are you okay?" She asked.
Akane smiled and waved it off. "It's nothing Uuchan... just a broken leg and a few ribs. My fingers are already healed up."
Ukyo ducked back behind the counter and started to make up another okinomiyaki. "Here sugar. You can have this one on the house. We'll talk a little more once I get a short break."
Akane nodded and walked over to one of the booths along the wall to wait for her friend and her order. Shortly after Akane got her Okinomiyaki Ukyo came along and sat across from her. "Wow..." She started. "You've grown quite a bit. I mean you look so much older than 16."
"You're looking good yourself." Akane praised. "So what brings you here? Just decide that Nerima's bustling with Okinomiyaki hungry predators?"
Ukyo blushed somewhat. "Well that's one reason I guess. Hmmm I see... it wouldn't happen to be that Ranma fellow you always bitched about when we were little would it? Still out for his blood?"
Ukyo shook her head blushing a bright crimson now. "I don't hate him anymore. I just want my Ranchan back."
"Ooooooh! Ukyo's got a crush! Isn't that sweeeeeet!?" Akane teased in a silly voice. Ukyo threw a quick punch at her to silence her embarrassing prattle. Akane had tears welling up in her eyes and she squeaked in pain as the fist retracted from her chest.
"Shut up!" Ukyo said holding her cheeks. "You've probably got a boy you like too." She stated.
"Nope."
Ukyo now looked surprised. "There's not a single boy you're interested in?"
Akane shook her head. "Nah. That's a hassle I'd rather not have." Akane then decided the change the subject. "Are you going to be going to school while you're here?"
Ukyo nodded. "Yeah. I still have to get an education. It sucks but the school's close by so I could easily come back and open up for lunch rush."
"Good thinking." Akane said, nodding in appreciation. "So when I'm all healed up would it be all right for me to work here with you?" she asked.
Ukyo nodded "Of course sugar! It'd be really nice to catch up and everything. I've missed you."
Akane smiled as she finished off her okinomiyaki she then stood up and Ukyo followed her lead. "Well I guess I'll see you at school on Monday" Akane said holding out her had for a handshake, hoping to avoid upsetting the ribs again. Ukyo took the handshake but pulled it into her chest and wrapped her other arm around the girl turning it too into a hug. Akane winced. "I... Missed... You... too." She said through gritted teeth.
Withe that said Akane left the restaurant to head home.
******************
Monday came quickly. Akane's body had healed up enough that she could walk without the crutches her ribs were all right but they still hurt if pressure was applied. She sighed as she walked along the fence alone towards school wearing a regulation girl's uniform. Ranma had slept in a little so he was a little behind and the seclusion gave her a little time to think. Of course her thoughts turned automatically towards Shampoo. That was the direction her thoughts always turned when she was alone. That's what she felt too.
Alone.
She had thought briefly that she might be able to start some sort of relationship with Ukyo, but she didn't seem to be the kind of girl who would be interested in another woman. *Guess I'm shit out of luck.* She thought.
"AKANE!!!"
Akane turned around and saw Ranma rushing to catch up with her. He quickly arrived beside her and looked to her inquisitively. "How come you didn't wait up for me?" He asked.
Akane frowned and kept her sight towards her destination which had just come into view. "Today's the first day I'm going to school as a girl. I've got enough problems to think about without having you make me late. Besides... my old friend is starting school today."
Ranma looked surprised. "Really? Anyone I know?"
Akane smiled. "I think you might have met her... I met her while I was on my training trip with dad. She used to always talk about this Ranma kid... so who knows it might have been you."
Ranma looked thoughtful. "I don't really remember meeting many girls during my training trip... save for Shampoo... but she's gone now."
Akane sighed bitterly. "Yeah thanks for reminding me." Akane then realized they were upon the gates of Furinkan. She already noticed some of the male eyes drawn to her body. She probably looked a little more feminine now that she'd let her hair grow out a bit more. She hadn't cut it since she got back from china so it was still short but very messy falling just past her ears.
Just then Akane sensed an incoming projectile and frowned. "Damn!" She caught the object and then crushed the red rose in her hands letting it fall to the ground.
Moments later none other than Tatewaki Kuno stepped out from behind a tree. "Alas the coarse villain I had been waiting to challenge for the pigtailed girl's heart hath failed to reveal himself. Yet hold the heavens bestow upon me a heavenly vision of loveliness in his place. To what name might I call you by fair maiden?" Kuno said as he walked towards the girl form of Akane.
Akane frowned. "You can't. Unless you want to end up in a wheelchair again."
Kuno smiled. "My injuries healed nicely fair maiden. Suffice to say mine skill has improved since last I fought the sorcerer Tendo. Much meditation have I had while bound in cast and gauze. I have uncovered the magic that he uses and am proud to say mine eyes will not be fooled so easily again by such base trickery. I implore you fair one." He said holding up a rose to her. "Date with me."
"No." With that Akane began walking around Kuno "I'll be late for class. Go away Kuno."
Kuno continued on with his persistent prattle, quickly catching up and following along beside Akane. "Thou knowest my name. Clearly my prowess precedes me."
Ranma snickered. "Yeah right." He then walked up to the other side of Akane. "Have fun. Thanks for taking this idiot off my back."
Kuno, having not seen Ranma in his male form before pulled his boken up across Akane's chest to point at Ranma. Akane ducked under it and continued to walk towards the school. Many of the students gossiping about her most of them recognizing her as the girl from the Akane posters. "Who are you that would talk to this goddess of beauty so informally?" He asked.
Ranma rolled his eyes and tried as well to walk past Kuno. "None a your business Kuno, I've got a million things I could think of that I'd rather be doing right now than talking with you." Ranma again tried to walk past but the older boy insisted.
"Hold knave! I must... AAAGH!!!" Ranma shut the Kendo champion of the school with a nice kick in the face sending him sprawling backwards. He got up, however, in a mere moments time. "I fight on!" He declared before being very painfully slammed into the ground by an unseen Akane, breaking his right arm. "No... my meditation arm....." He cried silently in pain before falling into unconsciousness.
"Lets go Ranma. Class is about to start." She said before jogging back to the school. "Honestly Ranma do you have to let every fight drag on for so long?"
Ranma frowned. "Yeah well, not all of us want to break limbs and maim our opponents!"
Akane chuckled. "Kuno's not an annoyance. He's just a...uhhh... never mind I can't think of anything. He's just fun to hurt." The engaged couple then continued on towards class.
***********
"We have a new student today class," The teacher started, "Ukyo would you please introduce yourself?" he asked the new student who he stood next to at the front of the class. Ukyo had her breasts tied down and was wearing a regulation boy's uniform... the fact that Ukyo was a boys name just helped everyone in the class to assume she was a he. Even the teacher who had distinctly remembered reading 'female' on the transcripts was fooled.
Ukyo smiled and whipped out a portable grill from seemingly nowhere. Akane snickered at the sight. "Ah. I love this anime universe."
"Ukyo Kuonji's the name and Okinomiyaki's my game." The chef stated for the class. Before making an okinomiyaki as fast as possible, which for her was pretty damn fast. It was done in mere seconds.
Ranma wasn't really paying attention cause he didn't really know the kid so he didn't really care. The moment the okinomiyaki was done however she threw it through the air towards Ranma who caught it with his mouth, recognizing it as food and not a weapon. He munched on it for a moment, then devoured it. He took a close look at the seemingly boy at front and smiled wide. "UUCHAN!!" He stated happily, standing up out of his seat.
Ukyo smiled. "So glad you recognized me sweety."
Ranma looked a little confused at the sweety thing but shrugged. He didn't care his old pal Uuchan was back when he thought they'd never see each other again. "What are you doing here pal? How've you been?" He asked walking towards the friend he hadn't seen for six years.
Ukyo put her grill away and rushed over and hugged Ranma. "I've missed you so much Ranchan! I've been thinking about you everyday since you left."
Ranma looked a little confused at the amount of affection coming from what he thought was a boy. "I missed you too UkyMMPH!!"
Ranma was suddenly surprised as Ukyo pulled back, then planted a big, wet, kiss, with tongue inserted into his mouth, on him. Ranma's eyes bugged out and the students around gasped in shock.
"The two new guys are GAY!!" One of the students stated out loud.
Ranma forcefully pushed Ukyo away and wiped his mouth. His eyes started to water and he stared at his long lost friend in heartbroken betrayal. "Ukyo... how could you." With that Ranma ran out of the classroom and was out of sight in moments.
"RANCHAN!!!" Ukyo called after him. But it was too late. He was gone.
***************
Akane smiled as the lunch bell rang. She had been waiting all day for that so she could go find Ranma. She quickly fled the classroom in search of the boy, she had a good idea where he could be. Ukyo also stayed in class and she too left in search of the pigtailed boy at the sound of the bell.
**************
Akane smiled as she found Ranma leaning against the P.E. storage shed sulking. "Hey." she started off, hanging upside down over the edge of the roof.
"Leave me alone." Ranma stated.
Akane sighed and flipped down to the ground, leaning beside him. "Ranma what's wrong? Ukyo's your best friend. Why'd you run away?"
Ranma turned his head away from his fiancé and said nothing. "Don't tell me that was your first kiss Ranma." Akane said rolling her eyes. "I don't see what the big deal is."
Ranma then turned towards Akane, tears running down his face and his eyes puffy and red. "WELL MAYBE YOU'RE OKAY WITH KISSING GIRLS!!! BUT I DON'T LIKE BOYS!!!"
Akane chuckled. "Boy?" She then laughed some more. "Oh Ranma..." Akane then saw Ukyo heading towards them and then flipped back up to the roof of the shed. "Why don't you talk to Ukyo... get the story straight?" With that Akane was gone.
Ranma frowned as Ukyo soon arrived taking the place of the shorter haired girl. "Ranchan why'd you run away?" She asked upon arrival.
"You kissed me." He stated, not making eye contact. "I thought we were friends."
"We're more than that Ranchan!" Ukyo, seeing no response continued on. "Remember when we were little? We'd play all day and then eat okinomiyaki?"
"What about it?" Ranma snorted.
"Well my Dad and your Dad engaged us."
"What?" Ranma asked, finally making eye contact with his old buddy. "Why would my Dad engage me to another boy!?"
Ukyo frowned. "I'm not a boy Ranchan!"
"What?" Ranma started. "Then what's with the... and you..." Ranma gawked, having a very hard time understanding that his oldest friend was actually a girl. Ranma tentatively reached forward and grabbed the lapels of Ukyo's Furinkan boy's uniform shirt, tearing it open to reveal two breasts flattened by some sort of wrap that she had applied over top.
"RANCHAN!!" Ukyo screamed, rewarding the boy's boldness with a swift hit with an over sized metal spatula into the wall of the shed.
"Not a boy..." Ranma stated with a smile from his place in the wall.
Ukyo closed up her shirt and held it together since the buttons had been torn off. Ranma dislodged himself from the concrete and dusted himself off briefly. "Wait a minute? Pop engaged me to you?"
Ukyo nodded and wrapped her arms around the pigtailed martial artist. "That's right Ranchan. Soon enough we'll be married."
Ranma held Ukyo back by the shoulders and frowned. "Why would he engage me to two girls?"
Ukyo's smile quickly changed into a glare. "Two? Since when was there two?!?"
****************
Akane smiled as she sat under a tree at school during lunch. She had talked with Ranma and figured that Ukyo would help him figure things out and they'd all be friends again. If anything Ranma would forgive her for his first kiss if he knew it was with a girl. Akane Briefly thought about what the tomboyish girl would think once she knew that she was also engaged to Ranma but wrote it off. "Uuchan's too good a friend to think of me as competition." She said to herself, her confidence putting her mind at complete ease.
However lately Akane had been wrong about a lot of things so it was no wonder that her danger sense went off and she was ducking underneath an oversized metal spatula. "What the?"
Akane stood up and looked confused at her friend. "Ukyo, what's wrong?"
Ukyo glared at Akane with a few tears running down her face. "What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG!?! My supposed best friend neglected to tell me that she got engaged to the same boy that I've been in love with since I was 8."
"Come on Uuchan." Akane started, trying to put a bit of humor into the situation. "I didn't start that engagement it was our parents. I had no say in the matter. It's just dumb luck, coincidence!"
Ukyo wiped a tear from her eye. "You could have at least told me!" She yelled.
"I wanted to. Ukyo I really did but I just didn't know how you'd take it. I want to be your friend." Akane said moving cautiously closer to the girl trying to make friendly contact. Her ribs still hurt and she walked with a very slight limp as well. So she didn't know what effect that would have on her fighting.
Ukyo glared at the girl she'd met when she was eight. "I can't forgive you AKANE!!!" With that Ukyo swung her spatula again, missing due to the older looking girl back flipping away.
Akane grimaced as the sudden quick movements upset her ribs. *OW!! Looks like this could really suck.* She thought.
Ukyo didn't pause in her attack and rushed again to strike her opponent. Akane noticed Ranma watching the fight but he seemed extremely unsure as to who he should help if at all.
*****
Elsewhere Ryoga Hibiki was lost, desperately trying to find the Tendo dojo, he was getting really desperate in his attempts now and was just plowing through everything from buildings to hedges in a straight line, hoping that he'd make it to his destination. "DAMN YOU RANMA!!!" He growled Plowing through doors, walls, cars, and anything else that disrupted his straight line.
*****
Akane frowned as she lead Ukyo closer towards the school, hoping that she could get her inside where she would be able to lose her in the corridors... maybe. Akane ducked a few more spatula thrusts and swings and growled. "Uuchan! Come on! I'm sorry! Can't we just kiss and make up?"
Ukyo just screamed in rage at the pet name Akane had chosen to address her by. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!!!"
Just then Akane was startled by a sudden explosion accompanied by a cry of "RANMA WHERE ON EARTH ARE YOU!?!?" She didn't even get a chance to turn her head to see the large chunk of concrete from the school wall hit her in the back of the head. Which was kindly followed by a Spatula swing that caught her right in the face. The combination of these things knocked her out cold and she fell to the ground.
Ryoga stopped as he heard a cry of pain from a familiar voice and actually managed to locate where it was coming from. "AKANE!!" He called out in worry. Rushing to her side.
Ranma also noticed the girl's downfall. And ran up to see if she was okay, and to stop Ukyo from pummeling her further. He managed to snatch the spatula from her before she could strike again and bent down to his fiance.
Ryoga glared at Ranma. "RANMA THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!" he screamed at the boy.
Ranma glared right back. "I'M NOT THE ONE THAT WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE SCHOOL LIKE A WRECKING BALL!!"
Ryoga blushed, knowing that he'd been defeated verbally but didn't say anything. Ukyo looked a little surprised at Akane's easy defeat. "Uhm... did I do that?" She wondered out loud, remembering Akane as having always been a better fighter than herself in the past.
Ranma frowned. "I think she's still feeling her injuries from her fight with Cologne. She's been trying to cover that fact up, but I saw her limping."
Ryoga looked confused, having not heard of the Cologne fight yet. "What!? What injuries!? Who hurt Akane!?" He asked angry at whoever this Cologne person was.
"I...I'm sorry." Ukyo said, not having meant for it to go this far. She just didn't like the way the other girl was laying there so still and seemingly lifeless.
Ranma cradled Akane in his arms and shook his head. "It doesn't matter... let's just get her to Dr. Tofu's.
***************
Author's notes: {I am unconscious.. Who saw this coming? I did. And I know where it's going... and YOU DON'T NYAH NYAH NYAH NYAH NYAH! Well anyway. I'm having so much fun with this story that I'm going to have to keep writing more. DB is on hold because of lack of ideas. AR is on hold because I don't ever feel like re-writing chapter 6 for the third time. Si's not on hold, just slowed down, Saotome Blade's kind of dead... no more updates for that unless someone else wants to write it. RIB's on hold until Hung Nguyan actually finishes his freaking story arc for it. And AM's still getting chapter 10 written by Tactic. Who's taking a long time. But that's okay. I've got all the time in the world. I think I'll draw a picture of Marina. She's a pretty cool original character if I do say so myself.
Well until God really does smite me with a big truck... Make mine Morden!}
Morden Night: moardennight@hotmail.com
TBC