Chapter 4
Ranma walked home slowly, his stomach and ribs hurting. His first true encounter had gone horrible, and his pride was in agony. He stopped for a moment and leaned against the wall. How could any person move that fast? Even with his amazing speed he hadn't been able to parry that ninja's attacks. He started walking when he heard footsteps running towards him. He ducked around the corner and waited. He was in pain, yes, but he would still fight with everything he had left if DN thought he'd be easy prey. The footsteps got close enough. He leapt out of the shadows with his fists coming down hard, but stopped at the ear-shattering scream. Akane was backing away from him, almost crying.
"Akane! I'm sorry, I thought you were… someone else." He said.
"Ranma you jerk. I've had enough torment for one night. I don't need you beating on me." She said. Ranma was about to get angry when he saw her face more clearly.
"Whoa wait a minute. What happened?" He asked.
"None of your business, I just want to go home." She said, pushing past him. He grabbed her arm to stop her, and even though he expected her to attack, she turned and looked at him softly.
"Did that attack bother you that much?" He asked. She shook her head, wiped her eyes, and then told him of how the man tried to kill her once more. She also mentioned how Ryoga had protected her.
"Curse that DN. He just won't leave you alone." Ranma said hotly. She looked up at him and he explained his brief encounter with the ninja.
"You fought him and he didn't even hit you?" She asked. Ranma laughed a bit, and then had to grab his stomach from the pain.
"Okay so he might of got me once." He said wincing. Akane lifted his shirt to see a large bruise appearing.
"You dummy. He could have killed you!" She said, trying to sound angry, but coming across more as concerned.
"Hey you just worry about yourself. Let's get home before Pop and Soun start to worry." He said, walking ahead. Akane trailed a few steps behind. They were silent for quite a while when Ranma's steps started to falter. Akane was about to ask him if he was okay, but he had already started to topple forward.
"Ranma!" She cried, reaching out to grab him. She managed to catch him before his face slammed into the ground, but she couldn't keep him from hitting the ground. She let him lay down on the ground, and rolled him over. His face was covered with sweat and his breathing was slow and raspy.
"Ranma are you okay?" She asked. He tried to answer, but couldn't find his voice. His eyes opened slightly and he saw her kneeling over top of him. He looked into her eyes and she saw his weakness, even though he couldn't say anything. With a simple nod, she lifted him onto her back in piggy-back form, and made her way home.
* * *
"Akane, what happened?" Kasumi asked upon seeing Akane walking into the living room with an unconscious Ranma on her back.
"I don't know. He just collapsed. I couldn't make it to Tofu's by myself so I brought him here." She replied, laying Ranma on the floor.
"Mr. Saotome, father, come quickly." Kasumi called. Shortly after, both men, Nabiki and even Happosai were in the living room. Soun touched Ranma's forehead and pulled his hand back fast.
"My god his head feels like it's on fire. Kasumi, go get some cold water quickly. Akane, you call Dr. Tofu and ask him for advice." He said. Kasumi left to get the water and Akane rushed for the phone.
"Ranma, can you hear me?" Genma said, kneeling. Ranma's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Don't try to speak boy, just blink once for no, twice for yes. Do you understand?" Ranma blinked twice.
"Well at least he understands basic commands." Soun said matter of factly. "Do you know where you are?" Again two blinks. Kasumi returned with a bowl of water and ice, and a cloth. She dipped the cloth, wrung it out and placed it on Ranma's head. His face instantly relaxed and he sighed softly.
"Did you have a fight Ranma?" Kasumi asked. Ranma even managed to nod now.
"Was it with Ryoga? Kuno?" Nabiki asked, also concerned. His lips trembled and they knew he was trying to speak.
"W… wat…" he managed to gasp. Kasumi lifted a cup of water to his lips and let some of the cool liquid trickle between them.
"Thank you… Kasumi." He wheezed. "Ninja… stomach hu..rts."
"A ninja?" Happosai said finally. "You fought the ninja?" Everyone became even more worried after hearing about Satsuke and Shampoo. Akane returned from the hall.
"Dr. Tofu's on his way right now. How's he doing?" She asked, kneeling beside him.
"Akane…" he managed to whisper.
"Ranma, you're awake. How are you feeling?" She asked calmly, leaning down to keep him from straining.
"Thank you… you're so… cute." He said, his eyes closing and his breathing slowing.
"Ranma!" she cried. But he continued to breathe, now drifting back into sleep.
"What did he say Akane?" Nabiki asked, knowing full well after reading Ranma's lips. Akane blushed slightly. Shortly after, there was a knock on the door.
"That must be Dr. Tofu." Akane said, going towards the door. The others all suddenly jumped up.
"Uh, Kasumi dear, could you go make us some tea?" Soun said, knowing exactly what would happen if Tofu saw Kasumi.
"Of course father." She said, leaving the room. Tofu arrived and nodded to everyone.
"How's he doing?" he asked, opening a small black bag.
"Well his temperature must be sky-high and he was complaining about his stomach." Soun replied. Tofu lifted Ranma's shirt and got his first look at the bruise. He paused for a moment.
"If I'm not mistaken, we have nothing to worry about at all." He said calmly. The others looked at him oddly. "Happosai, doesn't this mark look familiar to you?" Happosai came closer and studied Ranma's bruise.
"You know I think I have seen that somewhere before, though I haven't seen it in years." He said. "Isn't that the Strike of Wounded Tiger?"
"Strike of Wounded Tiger?" They all said in unison. Happosai and Tofu nodded.
"Allow me to explain." Happosai said. He lit his pipe and sat down. "Strike of the Wounded Tiger is a technique used ages ago and until today I thought it had been lost. It's not a violent technique at all and Ranma is in no danger. You see when warriors would fight for whatever reason, there came a time that they knew they would lose. But since most of them had families to return to this technique was developed. By striking certain nerves in a person's stomach, you can physically cripple them for anywhere between 12 and 24 hours, though the fever is something new to the technique. The ninja must know of another nerve to strike. Even so, it could never be used as an offensive weapon because the user would also be inflicted with this ailment. It would simply allow the warriors to retreat with no fear of repercussion from their loved ones. No honor was lost, and both lives were spared." The others nodded at the use of a technique and how it would save many lives.
"So then the ninja must also be weak." Akane said, standing. "We should kill him now before he regains his strength." Happosai shook his head.
"I'm sorry Akane, but though both warriors were affected, the length of time would be about half on the user. Also, seeing as how well trained this ninja is, he's probably even cut that time to much less. I would guess he's returned to full strength by now." Akane looked at Ranma's face. He was calm for now, but every once in a while his face would wince, as though he was dreaming. Genma and Soun took him up to Ranma's room and placed him on his bed. Genma swore to watch over him in case the ninja tried a sneak attack, and the others all turned in for the night. However, Akane couldn't fall asleep. She kept worrying about Ranma. Why would she worry over such a stupid jerk? It was his own fault that he was in this mess. Yet for some reason, she just couldn't get him out of her mind. She crawled out of bed and decided to check on him just to make sure. Sure enough, as she neared Ranma's room, she could hear loud snoring, except it wasn't Ranma that was snoring. Genma was flat on his back, completely unconscious. She walked up and kneeled beside him.
"Mr. Saotome, wake up." She hissed. When she got no reply, she kicked him, but still got no response. She sighed and slid open the door to Ranma's room. He was sleeping soundly for the most part, but the cloth had been dislodged from his head and sweat was gathering. She crept over to him, dipped the cloth in the cool water and wiped his face before placing it on his forehead. A soft smile spread onto his lips. Akane herself smiled at his peacefulness. When he wasn't awake and being such a jerk, he was kind of handsome. Though never in her right mind would she tell him that to his face. She sat cross-legged beside him, not wanting to leave him unprotected. He had watched over her many times before, it was time she repaid him. She felt kind of light headed, and decided it would be best for her to lie down for a bit. She lay near him and watched his chest slowly rise and fall, and it was such a calming feeling.
"Akane…" he muttered. She was instantly awake and moved over to him.
"Ranma, I'm here. What is it?" She asked. He didn't answer. He had been talking in his sleep. He must have been dreaming again. She began to wonder what he was dreaming about. She saw his lips start to move again, and leaned in to hear what he was saying.
"Don't… I'll kill you… leave her alone." He mumbled. Was he fighting that ninja in his sleep?
"No please… don't kill… I love her…" he said drifting off. Akane's breath caught in her throat. Was he talking about her? Did her love her? If so then why was he such a jerk all the time? Or was he just hiding his feelings because of his pride? Akane had to admit, when it came down to it, she would get angrier than anything else. She had hated being forced into this, but time and time again Ranma had proven himself loyal to her. He had saved her countless times from people who wanted to marry her, even though she never really needed his help. Well maybe he helped a little. *My god, am I falling for him?* she though to herself. She shook her head that it would never happen, even if he was such a nice guy when he wasn't being a jerk or a pervert. She smiled and looked at him again. She grabbed the cloth to re-wet it, then looked around. No one was even awake. They would never know. She lent down and kissed his forehead, then quickly replaced the cloth.
"Thanks for always being there for me Ranma. Sorry I never showed it." She said softly. His eyes fluttered a bit before opening a tad.
"Hey you're welcome." He said calmly. She gasped and jumped back.