"spoken out loud" 'thoughts' ::action/noise:: *flash back*
new paragraphs are subject to change perspective and/or scene change.
Chapter 7
#beep# #beep# #beep# #crash#
Akane woke up to that annoying noise known as an alarm clock. Finding herself waken up just a little too early for her liking it was three in the morning, she threw her alarm clock across the room. 'Things I won't do for the art!' Akane struggled for just a few moments, getting out of Ranma's grasp. She walked into dojo and sat in the middle, and started a cool technique her sensei had taught her.
*Flash back*
"Akane way are you crying?"
Sensei was talking to a six year old Akane.
"Because, because, because."
"Enough, Akane you let your emotions get in your way too much. A true martial artist has no emotions. You want to be a real martial artist, don't you? Emotions get people killed; they distract you during a fight, not to mention that they are a major handicap! You don't want to be killed, do you?"
This made chibi Akane cry harder. "I don't want to die!"
"What have I told you about wanting?"
"Um. don't, It will get you killed."
"Good, you've been listening. Now, you've left me no choice, I will teach you this new technique.."
*End Flashback*
This was the technique she was taught, she was doing right there in the middle of the dojo. It was an unnamed technique. It wasn't a martial arts technique, more like a technique to find your wa. After all these years, it was still hard for Akane to find wa. She was set out to find it this morning.
The technique involved tearing down your own ki, and analyzing every feeling that runs through your veins. Sound fun? It was grueling, and usually took Akane three to four hours to complete. But today she was not only out to find her wa, she was trying to find her new weakness.
Ranma eyes fluttered opened as the morning's first rays of dawn hit them. He was really surprised that Akane hadn't woken him yet. Speaking of Akane, he couldn't feel her against his body. Ranma's eyes focused more as his mind went into panic. 'Oh crap, where's Akane?' Ranma practically flew down the stairs and into the dojo. What he saw there shocked him to no end. 'Oh my god, my girlfriend is glowing!' As Ranma stood there in the door way longer, the more he began to realize what was going on.
Ranma had heard from his father about chi techniques, and about their awe deserving effectiveness in a fight. Sure Ranma could do small, very small, chi manipulations, but nothing to this level. This ball a chi emanating from her body could easily make his body burn up until not even ashes are left. 'Why is she collecting that much chi? Well, I'm not going to piss her off while she has that much excess chi on her. Maybe I should leave..' Before he could even turn his back on her, her chi started to swirl, something that was mesmerizing beyond belief. Her chi swirled faster, and faster. It was starting to change colors multiple times, in flashes. Until, finally, there was only a tiny blood red ball-like chi sitting on her palm. Without opening her eyes, Akane walked past Ranma and to the koi pond. She put her hands in the water, and the water sizzled a little bit as it absorbed the ki. Akane let out a big sigh ::sigh:: and opened her eyes. Akane never looked back at the dojo as she went into the house and up the stairs to finish her sleep.
Akane was really tired, sifting through you ki isn't easy, and it burns a lot of energy. She was also rather disappointed because it hadn't worked as well as it had in the past. Too much has been happening recently. The best she could do, was to get rid of most of the access anger that her body had been storing. There are two different types of ki rational and irrational. Both are essential for the body to function. Rational ki is typically pure white, it's emotionless and gives your body the strength to do function properly, but mainly it helps with important arteries a muscles such as the brain, heart and lungs. Irrational ki, some times called emotions, is tainted rational ki. An access of irrational ki can make a person act out of sync with what their body knows best. Irrational ki is important for the nerves of the body. It comes in many colors, this is also used for projectile ki. Character flaws are produced when either there is a deficit or too much irrational ki. Keeping a proper balance is what a person strives to achieve by wa. Akane was a little disappointed that so much had happened recently. Her irrational ki was having a blast with these new events, Her irrational ki was changing colors/emotions so rapidly that she couldn't sort it out, and get rid of the excess, nor could she convert it back to Rational chi. The best she could do was to get some anger off her chest. She would have to wait until things slowed down to do that technique again, but she was sure that it would take an entire weekend to sort out all of her ki. Even though she didn't get everything she wanted to do done, she was tired to the bone.
Those were along Akane's thoughts as she ascended the stairway. She went into her bedroom and fell upon the bed. She was asleep with in moments. Her last conscience thought was: 'Isn't Ranma supposed to still be asleep?'
Ranma stepped into the room half a minute later. 'Akane you're definitely showing me how you did that! I wonder what other techniques you know? Hmm, you look really peaceful. Maybe I'll take a nap too. Sounds like a good idea.' With his goal set, he picked up the alarm clock off the floor, and put it back on the desk. 'I have at least a half hour. Good'
Ranma too, was out in about half a minute.
***
::beep:: ::beep:: ::beep:: ::click::
Nabiki turned off her alarm clock, and did her morning ritual of opening up her closet and viewing her monitoring screen. She always viewed the house first to know what was going on, before breakfast. Then she came back up to her room to monitor the school. Some people say that she's a control freak. Nabiki just calls herself well informed. One thing caught Nabiki's attention this morning. So far, everything Akane said was true, she apparently did learn some ki manipulating technique, because she could usually only see a blurry almost human shape (freaky, almost like the Ring err 'victims') , and her developed pictures were even worse. Now, though, she could see Akane perfectly. She could see her under the covers with Ranma, and they looked awfully comfortable. 'Hmm. I wonder. would any.. Strenuous nightly activities affect her 'ki' barrier? Hmm all the possibilities I could have with this' Nabiki smiled as she left her room, with her digital camera, of course.
First stop, Akane and Ranma's room. Nabiki quietly stepped into their room, and got as close as she dared, then took a few dozen pictures. Then she closed the door as she left the room. Fighting the urge to skip, Nabiki then went to breakfast.
"Nabiki, have you seen Ranma and Akane this morning?"
"No, I thought Akane said something about going to school early today. Maybe they already left?"
Kasumi thought about this, but it seemed plausible enough.
"Okay, I'm going to school today, so I'll see you later."
So Kasumi left for classes, Soun was having a humongous hang over, and Nabiki left for school ten minutes later. Nabiki also had a big Cheshire grin on her face. 'Welcome to your life Ranma, that is to say, welcome to HELL. Sorry, Akane of you get dragged into it too. I'll try and make it easier for you, though.' She felt so light hearted that she almost laughed out loud.
Later that afternoon..
Ranma was having a good dream. Not that he got dreams often, but this was an exception, and a good exception at that. He was dreaming that he had found an exceptionally HOT goddess, and that she had granted him one wish. He had thought it was a joke, so he asked her to stay forever.. And she had. Now he was dreaming that he was holding her to him laying in bed after they had ::cough:: and he was looking at her adoringly taking in every delicate feature on her face. She had short black hair that had natural blue highlights. She stood about five inches shorter than him. Also, she had a body to die for. She was funny with a great personality, lit up the room when she entered it. Most of all, though, she was dear to him, he felt a warm rush of new feelings when ever she even looked at him.
That's when he woke up. As his eyes focused, his hole body jumped in surprise. 'oh my god, it wasn't a dream! Why else would there be a girl in my bed?' Ranma was *extremely* happy for the next few moments while he debated how to waken his angel. All good things come to an end though, as memory flooded back, and he realized why there was a girl in his bed. ::sigh:: 'Argh. Now what? I'm hungry, but I don't want to wake Akane. She must be exhausted, how long had she been manipulation her ki? It must require a lot of effort, if she's been knocked out for this long. Oh well, might as well wait until she wakes up. I DO NOT want to find out how good a sport she is at being woken up.'
Ranma was about to give up and go to back to sleep, when he got a good whiff of Akane's hair. He felt horrible, still, about what happened yesterday. He wished he could make it up to her. He had liked her long hair, but her short hair made her look better. He didn't know why it was, but it was a gut feeling. He simply loved her short hair. Being bored, and since we all know he has a whacked danger sense when it comes to women, he decided that instead of immediately going back to bed he would start running his fingers through her hair. He enjoyed the texture, and soft silkiness. Plus, she was asleep. No harm done.
Akane was having a nightmare. She was seeing something that had happened in one of her training exercises from a third person view. She was seeing herself (7 years old) run away from a pack of horrible oni. She saw the terrified look on her face, and yet felt the same fear she had back them. It was a horrible feeling. She ran, and ran, and ran. She ran until she was exhausted and couldn't run anymore, and then she tripped on a tree root, and took a heavy fall. Akane closed her eyes and prayed that her death would come swiftly. Then she blacked out, and woke up a few hours later in a hut. A fourteen year-old boy was putting a wet rag on her forehead. He wore a kind smile, and his face was rather dirty. His brown eyes had concern in them. He was tall and well built. He was definitely somebody that ANY girl would love to have all alone in a hut in the middle of the woods all to herself.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. Who are you?"
"I'm Shinnosuke, but you can call me onisan."
"Nice to meet you onisan."
"Nice to meet you too, who are you?"
"I'm Akane!"
Scene fades as another comes in.
"No fair!" Akane and Shinosuke are training in an open field. Shinnosuke is having a hard time keeping up with Akane, so he results in dirty tricks to beat her.
"All is fair in love and war!"
This sort of Banter went on for a few minutes before the scene begins to die and a new one comes yet again.
"Shinnosuke, I'm scared, can I sleep with you?" Akane was in a frilly white night gown, standing in the doorway of Shinnosuke's bedroom.
"Sure." Shinnosuke lifted the blankets. "What's wrong?"
"I heard something howling." It was true that Shinnosuke lived in a forest with a lot of monsters, and it wasn't safe to go out at night. He had gotten used to the fear, but Akane had only been here a few weeks. Shinnosuke tried to calm her down by stroking her hair. "Shh. It's ok. I'll protect you!"
Akane fell asleep, making an entirely new scene.
Akane was leaning against a tree, her and Shinnosuke had been training, when a particularly strong oni tried to attack them. Shinnosuke had used Shiatsu to paralyze her, so that he could defeat the oni by himself. Now, all she could do was watch. She watched as they walked a dance of death, she couldn't even blink. She watched as they took each others lives. Akane inwardly shivered at the memories.
Now Akane was standing in the dark, by herself. She felt somebody stroking her hair.
"Shinnosuke?"
"."
"How?"
"I thought you were dead. You're dead, I was it, you're dead, how?"
Akane looked up, but instead of shinnosuke looking up into the face of her 'big brother' it was the face of oni that had taken his life.
"AAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE." Akane screamed as woke up.
*end dream* in case it wasn't obvious.
This is from Ranma's point of view:
A few moments after he had started playing with her hair, she snuggled closer to Ranma.
"Shinnosuke?"
Ranma was crushed, how could she dream of a different man while she was in his arms?
"I thought. you're dead. I. you." That's what Ranma could pick up from her mumbling in her chest. Suddenly interested, Ranma strained to hear the rest of the conversation.
"AAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE."
Ranma suddenly found himself on the floor. Picking himself off the floor he found Akane with the covers gathered protectively around her while breathing heavily.
Akane hadn't had a nightmare in a long time. This one was particularly unsettling. Akane shivered.
"Ranma?"
"Why are you on the ground?"
"because you shoved me here."
"I didn't shove you, I shoved that oni.." Akane blushed, and put a stray locket of hair behind her ear. "Gomen." (sorry)
Now Ranma felt bad, first he was jealous when he heard another man's name mentioned. Now to find out he was an oni, He had accidental invoked a nightmare in Akane, though a tiny part of him was relieved too.
"No really, I'm sorry."
"That's ok." Akane was still a little shaken up about it though, it had seemed too real to her.
"Akane? Would you like to go ou.(t). go get something to eat?" Ranma decided not to say the words "go out" because those words seem to have a strange jinx.
Akane's stomach decided scared or not, food was essential. It growled.
"I take that as a yes." Ranma took clothes out of his pack, and went to the bathroom to change. While Akane got out of bed. Once Ranma was out of the room, Akane got dressed herself.
"I wonder what time it is?"
She looked at the clock, and it read 1:30 in the afternoon.
Two minutes and thirty seconds later Ranma and Akane were standing outside of the dojo. Akane slipped the letter into a mail drop-off box on the corner thirty seconds after that.
Twenty minutes later, Ranma and Akane were clear across town looking for a restaurant. Ranma wasn't happy that, that old woman had splashed him with cold water. Now he was a she for their first 'date.' School was getting out soon, and they were hoping to beat the school crowd. Ranma was looking for a semi-fancy restaurant for their first date. Akane was looking for someplace that had good food at cheap prices. Ranma was almost disappointed when Akane picked the carry-out bento place.
*Author's (short) interruption for those who have no idea about what I had just said. If you know what a bento place is please skip this next paragraph.*
Please allow me to explain what this sort of place is. I've never been to Japan, but my friend has, and she described this sort of restaurant to me (though I forget the REAL name for these sort of restaurants.) It's almost like a cafeteria style restaurant. Ready-made bento's are displayed on a conveyer-belt (circular metal top that spins slowly.) Pick the one(s) you want, and wah-la you have yourself a lunch. Neat, isn't it?
*End of interruption*
Both martial artists got two of the biggest bentos each, two bottles of Kirin milk tea, and a cup of hot water. They decided to eat at a park.
If only they could find one.
In an empty lot, four girls are seen with clubs. The girls are wearing practice clothes, a yellow shirt and red practice shorts. They were surrounding another girl with her school uniform still on, and a practice bag in her hand.
The person in the school uniform spoke first: "Why, you must be from Furinkan high. I'm so looking forward to next weekend. Sure, our schools may be rivals, but, well, I do hope we'll still be friends. After you've lost, I mean."
The four girls respond in turn, but in random order.
"You're such a liar."
"We'd never be friends with you!"
"Don't think we don't know what you're up to!"
"You're trying to stop us from competing in the tournament."
"Why else would you ambush us?"
Ranma and Akane were walking down the street, looking for a park, or at least someplace peaceful to eat their bentos. They passed a particularly high brick wall, and noticed that there wasn't a house behind it, Ranma decided to check it out to see what was on the other side, he was hoping it would just be an empty lot were there would be a littler chance of an enemy finding them. Ranma was hell-bent on trying to find someplace safe and secluded to spend more time getting to know Akane.
"Akane hold these for a minute. I'll be right back!" Ranma gave Akane the bag with the food, and jumped on the wall.
Just in time to hear.
"Why else would you ambush us?"
Ranma saw four girls surrounding a fifth girl in an otherwise empty lot and realized. 'Hey! I think they're in my class!' Ranma looked on at the situation before going to action.
"We're going to give you a taste of your own medicine!"
(All the girls in unison) "Let's get her!"
The fifth girl in the uniform, got out her ribbon, and started twirling it.
"Now girls," She said in a motherly fashion before her voice went to a more. demonic tone. "If I weren't such a lady." She started to whip the girls. "If I weren't such a lady, I would have to teach you a lesson, and then you would really be in trouble. How lucky for you, I was reared better than that!"
Ranma decides that that was enough. He jumped down and caught this girl's ribbon.
"Come on, cut it out. I think they got you point already."
The girl was too shocked to hear what the other girl just said.
"You stopped my ribbon. That's never been done. You're no ordinary girl are you?"
The person in her uniform started to circle around Ranma. Ranma turned also to keep the girl in front of her.
"Well, uh, yeah. You could say that."
"It makes no difference to me, well then." The girl stoops down. "I won't go any easier on you!" The girl lunged at Ranma with a club from a fallen opponent, while Ranma just ducks the blow.
"You're quite formidable. Well done! I'm the flower of St. Hebereke High School, a rising star in gymnastics. I'm Kodachi, the black Rose."
Kodachi started a strategic retreat, then turned around with a black rose in her hand.
"You'll keep that in mind, won't you?"
She starts to laugh maniacally as she jumps on the wall, then shimmies down the light post.
"What is he DOING?" Akane knew for a fact that it didn't take this much time to scope out the landscape, so she decided to check things out for herself.
Akane looked down from the wall, as Ranma started to walk towards the four girls huddling together and crying.
"Ah, now don't cry."
Before Ranma got the words out of his mouth, Akane was standing next to him.
"What's going on?"
Five minutes later the four girls were winding down their sob story, and Ranma and Akane were winding down their lunch intake.
"Please, Akane you have to help us!" The girl was still sniffling.
"We're all too injured to fight."
"You're the only one we can turn to."
"Please enter the tournament it's Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics."
"Martial Arts?" Ranma inquired.
"Don't tell me you haven't heard!"
The girls pull down chibi diagrams to articulate what they are saying.
In summary: The object of Rhythmic Gymnastics is to either beat them (no bare fisted attacks) or throw your opponent out of the ring.
"Martial Arts? She'll do it!"
"I will?"
"Oh Thank you SO much Akane, you've saved us!" The girls cry, this time in joy in unison. While Akane just looks at Ranma.
A little while later.
Akane and Ranma are walking next to each other in Silence. Ranma, now male, is holding a bag full of gymnastics equipment.
"I can't believe you volunteered me!"
"Sorry, habit."
"You usually volunteer other people?"
"No, it's pure reflex to accept a challenge."
"Hmph. I hope you know that you're helping me train for this. I don't even know how to use these weapons."
"Okay, Okay, we'll train when we get home, and after school for the next week until the competition. I think you'll be ready."
"One more thing.."
"What?"
"I want to fight this fight Anything Goes."
Ranma turned his head and gave Akane a look. He had forgotten that she wasn't accustomed to fighting under his schools strategy. It was going to be harder than the training itself. It would be hard to fight on a totally new principle of thinking, and strategy. Though Anything Goes incorporates other schools in to its special attack, the basis of the philosophy is different than any other martial arts school.
"Sure, we'll work on it."
Akane was satisfied and thought nothing more of it. 'Why cry over spilled milk?'
While Ranma felt many conflicting emotions, and was currently beating himself mentally. 'Why the hell did I volunteer her for the fight? You know what kind of lunatic that girl is, the Purple Lilac or something like that. Now you've done it, now you have to train with Akane. though spending time with Akane wouldn't be so bad.'
Moments later they entered the Tendo Compound, and didn't even bother to tell people they were home. They went strait to the dojo to practice. Once inside, Akane dumped the contents of the bag onto the floor.
"Let's see here, How do you use this in combat?" Akane picked up the bouncy ball.
Ranma shrugged as he picked up a piece of rope.
"We'll just have to see, wont we?"
They both took stances in the middle of the dojo: Akane with the bouncy ball and Ranma with the rope.
Akane charged Ranma, who was in a relaxed stance, but apparently wasn't ready for the speed at which Akane threw the ball into Ranma's stomach. It bounced back into Akane's hand, and she hit Ranma in the back with the ball. This time it hit a shiatsu point that wouldn't let him use his legs. Ranma slumped to the ground, while Akane dropped the ball and used it to kick Ranma in the face.
Akane was clearly enjoying herself. 'hmm. I've never beaten the crap out of somebody with a bouncy ball. This is fun! I really need to go easier, I don't want him to get seriously injured, we still need to train for another week. Though this IS fun. Maybe after this match, he wont volunteer me for anymore stupid competitions!' Akane continued taking out her frustration of having to do something against her will against Ranma. Finally, though, Akane stopped her onslaught with the ball and ended standing towards Ranma spinning the bouncy ball on her finger.
"I think I've figured out this weapon, let's try the ribbon next!"
"."
Akane picks up the ribbon, and then turns back to Ranma, who is still laying in the same position she left him in. Akane walked over, and did the counter-shiatsu point. Ranma decided that he would keep the rope for the next round. They faced off again in the middle of the dojo.
"I think this works like a whip. We'll just have to see, wont we?"
Ranma charged Akane, because ribbons, like whips, are best fought at a distance. Unfortunately for Ranma, he never made it far enough to make it effective. He was hit several times in the chest, throwing him off balance. As he was falling, the ribbon grabbed onto his ankle, and threw him across the dojo. It not only threw him out of the dojo, it threw him out of the open doors, and seconds later a huge splash was heard. Seconds later a dripping Ranma was standing in the doorway.
"I think you don't need any more help on the ribbon, how about the hoop?"
Akane nodded her head and smirked as she picked up the red plastic hoop. This time Ranma chose to use clubs. Akane didn't look to comfortable with the hoop, it's rather large and not exactly a formidable fighting weapon. Akane stood with the hoop in her right hand by her side. Ranma charged Akane, not really knowing what of attack she was going to do, though he WAS sure how to use the clubs. Akane just side stepped as Ranma over shot his lunge, and started to loose his balance. Then she used her speed to slip the hoop over Ranma's head, and flick it so Ranma went flying into the pond again.
When Ranma stood in the doorway again, he saw Akane looking REALLY pleased with herself.
"Well, I guess we'll just train on that later, that was lucky and wouldn't have happened in a real fight. I already know you know how to use nunchuks, I mean the clubs. What's left then? Oh, you can try the rope now."
Akane felt like she was playing with a new toy. She quickly picked up the rope and faced off against Ranma. Akane defeated Ranma before he could blink. She sat on top of a half conscience Ranma.
"So, will you teach me Anything Goes Now?"
"You've already got the hang of it."
"Huh?"
"With the hoop I mean, pure inspiration. Anything Goes is based on making up techniques while still in midst of a fight. Anything Goes, there is no proper technique, we aren't above steeling the basis of techniques off of other schools. As long as we win, technique be damned."
"So, what else is there to this school? I mean there has to be something. Why don't you call your school: Vulture school of Martial Arts, or something similar."
"Oh, there are some things that separate from the others."
Ranma and Akane sat in the dojo for the rest of the afternoon discussing the philosophies of school that they would someday inherit.
Later that evening.
"So, it's true, anything goes."
"That just about sums it up."
"You mean I just wasted an afternoon of good training time?!?"
Ranma ran from the dojo, while Akane playfully ran after him.
"Oh my!" Kasumi shook her head at the scene in the yard, Akane was still chasing Ranma. "Dinner's ready everyone!"
Before Kasumi got to the words every. Akane and Ranma were in their places and holding out their dishes for being served. Kasumi scorned inwardly 'How can they look so innocent?' as she dished them out their food. They were done by the time the others arrived at the table.
"Well, let's go back to practicing."
"Okay."
They left the table as everybody else was just sitting down. During supper, the family got the funny scene of Ranma being thrown in the pool every few minutes. It seemed to be a very productive practice for Akane.
Later that night.
"Good practice."
"Yes, it was a very good practice."
Akane walked over to Ranma, who was on his hands and knees and breathing heavily, and reached over to touch his back.
"I'll take my bath first, okay?"
Ranma could only nod his head. As Akane left, Ranma collapsed and stayed there on the floor for awhile.
A few minutes later Akane is relaxing in the tub.
'I'm exhausted. Ranma's quite a fighter. Too bad he was trained by someone who loves him. He has potential. He's almost as strong as I am. I think he'll pass me soon enough. Still, though, how could he just volunteer me for a challenge? I don't get this school's philosophy at all. At least I won't have to change my basic techniques. I can just rename them, or not because this school isn't above stealing from other schools. I'm glad, apparently Sensei did me a favor by teaching me such a variety of techniques, now I can enhance this school with my techniques. Maybe I should start teaching Ranma.. Nah, he wouldn't appreciate it. He wants to achieve things on his own. He HAS to learn on his own. Learn because of challenges. That is the proper way for the martial artist to grow. I, so far, have just had stronger challengers that all there is to it..' Akane's thoughts turned to her past challenges. Her last thoughts before she left the tub. 'This fight is going to be a piece of cake.'
It was seven o'clock at St. Hebereke High School. The gym was full of girls training. There were sounds of girls trying new techniques and plenty of encouragements.
"All right, That's all for today ladies!" The captain, Kodachi, yelled.
Murmurs were heard across the gym. If you listened to one conversation you had a fifty/ fifty chance of it either being about how hard practice was, or how they always win by default (so why practice?).
A girl walked up to Kodachi and whispered in her ear. She had just went on the internet to see the postings of the contestants, and apparently Furinkan's participants had changed. Kodachi dismissed the girl, and went to her locker to get her belonging before going home. When she opened up her locker, various implements of destruction gleam. Quickly looking through her arson of weapons, Kodachi quickly picks up the least lethal weapon. She quickly hid the mallet in her black cloak.
"Fear not Ms. Tendo. I will be dealing with you very shortly." Then she laughed maniacally as she ran from the school and on top of roof tops all the way to the Tendo Dojo.
A half an hour later, Kodachi is standing in front of the Tendo Dojo. Kodachi threw her cloak into the air, it was caught by a ninja named Satsuke that we don't know about yet that just happened to be on the room.
"So, they've asked for help. What poor losers these Furinkan girls are. Akane Tendo you'll rue the day you CROSSED the Black Rose." With that, she put a black rose in her mouth and laughed maniacally.
Meanwhile, the ninja was idly wondering how Kodachi managed to laugh while having a rose in her mouth without choking on it. The ninja gave up, and went home.
Akane sensed that somebody was in her room, but when she surveyed the room, she found nobody. Akane flopped down on the bed. 'Now that's weird I could've sworn I sensed somebody in my room.' Akane turned over with her face towards the ceiling, what she saw didn't amuse her. A strange girl was hanging from the ceiling. Akane moved quickly out of the way when the girl fell and took out a mallet. With the girl yelling: "Akane Tendo prepare to die!"
"Who might you be?"
Kodachi had extracted herself from Akane's bed.
"I'm from the St. Herbereke Rythmic Gymnastics team, of course. I'm Kodachi the Black Rose.?"
"Kodachi? Who?"
It was like Kodachi wasn't listening, because she started attacking Akane with the mallet.
"There's only one more week until we face each other in the Gymnastics tournament. So let's both fight fair, okay!?!?!"
"Fair? Compared to what? I didn't ask you to sneak into my room, and I certainly never asked you to attack me in the dark."
"In the dark? Utterly ridiculous, I came merely to size up my opponent before the big match next week. That's all."
"Don't give me that!"
Akane hadn't attacked this strange girl because Ranma had lectured her today about letting weaker opponents feel like they had a chance, but even Akane had her patience wear thin. She decided to put the end to the loony with one blow. She was in mid-kick. When suddenly the door was flung open, effectively knocking out Kodachi.
"Hm?"
Ranma looked behind the door only to find an unconscious girl in a leotard.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were having a sleep over."
"I'm not." Akane didn't look too amused.
"Then who." Ranma took another look 'oh no, it's Purple Petunia or what-is- her-face. She is Akane's opponent next week.'
Kodachi opened her eyes. She opened her eyes to be staring at the most gorgeous man she had ever met. Her brain processes were going beserk, but apparently one thought was going through her mind. 'gotta get this one for my own.'
"Are you okay?" Ranma looked directly into her eyes.
"I uh hold me!" Kodachi leapt into his arms.
"What the?" Ranma extracted her from himself.
"Since you're obviously not hurt, I'll be going to bed. See you around maybe, okay? Oh bye." Ranma turned his back from Kodachi.
"Oh, my Head!" Kodachi collapsed to the ground. "The blow, it was more dreadful than I thought."
Ranma turned from where he was going, and walked towards the door again. "I'll get you some aspirin, or something."
"Don't go!"
Kodachi kind of mumbles to herself: "How could I have known that when I cam here tonight I would meet the man of my dreams?" Out loud. "You're name? Kind sir?"
"err Ranma, Ranma Saotome."
"Ra n ma Saotome. Dearest Ranma. Take these." Kodachi handed Ranma a bouquet of Black Roses.
"Wha. Huh?" That was Ranma's intelligent response to the powder that suddenly exploded from the plant.
"I put a little bit of paralysis powder in the roses."
"Why, I never did anything to you."
Kodachi layed Ranma on his back, obviously too much in her own little world to register what Ranma just said, tried to force him to kiss her.
"Now my love take what you most desire. Take these lips of mine."
Ranma was trying his hardest not to be kissed, despite being under the influence of a strong paralysis drug.
"Ak..ane. help. Ak.."
Akane had stood there quietly through out the entire scene. She wasn't sure if this was a normal was to show affection. It was when she used paralysis powder, was when Akane decided to stop it. Barely a centimeter from Ranma's lips, Akane threw Kodachi out the open window. Seconds later, an audible splash was heard.
** From the pond...
"Curse you Akane, for what you have done I will show no mercy next week. Kodachi ran home, while alternating thoughts of making sweet sweet love to Ranma and how many tortures she would put Akane through.
**
In the room.
Akane had put the paralyzed Ranma in the bed. Akane shook her head and smiled.
"I'm going to write a letter, I'll turn off the lights in a few minutes." Akane didn't wait for a response because he couldn't give one.
Dear Nodoka,
Today Ranma and I overslept. We went out for lunch. I guess it would be our first date. While searching for a place to eat, Ranma saved a bunch of girls from being beaten up. It turns out that they are part of martial arts rhythmic gymnastics. Ranma promptly volunteered me to fight for them. I was kind of mad at Ranma, but when I met the girl I'll be facing I'm glad I'll have the opportunity to teach her a lesson! Just now, she came into my room, and tried to attack me. Then Ranma accidentally knocked her out with the door when he came in. Then she tried to seduce him right there in front of me. I think she has a few screws loose. The tournament is next week, could you find time to find me a leotard?
Love, Akane Tendo
Meanwhile, in another part of Japan..
A middle-aged woman opened a letter.
Dear Auntie Nodoka:
Thank you SO much for those clothes, I really needed them. I felt bad borrowing from Nabiki. I should do something nice for her to say 'thank you.' I'm not sure if I like this whole family business. They've already 'sold' me again. This time it's an arranged marriage. I don't want to be forced into anything; I don't even know the guy for heaven sakes. His name it Ranma, he's the same age as me, and about five inches taller than me. He's an exceptional martial artist, but this is all I know about him. Two days ago we decided to not really look at this as we're engaged, but we'll be going out as boyfriend and girlfriend. Not that if it doesn't work out it will be easier to break off.
Today was certainly an eventful day, Ranma was supposed to take me out on our first date today, but one of his rivals showed up and they had a fight. Not only that, but while they were fighting, some of the projectiles almost hit Kasumi, my oldest sister if you remember. I safely got her out of the way before she got her, but my hair was sheared off. I didn't even notice, I was so concerned with her. I don't think she's to happy with me and Ranma. I hope everything works out for the better.
I promise to update you soon,
Akane
Nodoka looked at all the pictures that were included in the envelope. Her eyes finally rested on the one with Akane with a boy.
'My dear kami. he looks so familiar. Where do I know him from?'
Nodoka walked around her house while trying to figure out why the man in the photograph was so familiar. She kept reading the letter and looking at the picture, it was a nagging feeling. 'Why can't I remember how I know this Ranma fellow?' She was finally about to give up when she suddenly found herself in her living room staring at a picture on the mantle.
'Wait a minute. Ranma?...' Nodoka quickly went the mantle where she kept all the pictures of her son, and compared Akane's photo to the latest photo she got from her husband. a year ago. She was right. 'Ack, I'm ashamed as a mother! How could I not recognize my own son at firs glance? I'm so excited!' Nodoka quickly sat down to write Akane a letter telling her who the boy was..
Then, just as quickly, she crumpled up the paper. 'Why hasn't my husband written me in close to ten years, and why had it been so long since I've gotten a picture? I bet you something is going on, and my husband doesn't want me to know about it. I'll wait until something, good or bad, happens. Then I'll rush over and straighten my husband's mess. What kind of harebrained scheme was it to have a forced marriage anyway? We'll see what Akane writes about Ranma and my husband. I wasn't serious about REALLY making them commit seppuku if Ranma isn't a man amongst men, but if they harm Akane-chan I might feel compelled to. At least now I can finally find out how my son is, even if she doesn't realize it is my son. It's like killing two birds with one stone. I get to write Akane, who is like a daughter to me, and I get to find out about my son. Plus, I don't want to be premature on my arrival to meet my husband and son for the first time in ten years.'
So she finally decided what to write on the letter:
Dear Akane,
Ranma's your first boyfriend isn't he? Tell me all about it! You should try and make the best out of the situation.
I'm sorry to here about your sister, I'm sure she'll forgive you. Try and make amends to her. She just isn't used to all this, give her time. She probably doesn't adapt well to change. I suggest finding something you have in common, then she'll open up to you.
You need to show me what your new hair style looks like! Write me soon, and often.
Love, Nodoka
Later that night, around midnight, at the Tendo dojo.
Ryouga was standing outside of the front gates of the Tendo Dojo.
"Tonight Ranma, Tonight's the night you are going to pay!"
End Chapter
It's the chapter that never ends. it goes on and on my friends.. Someone started writing it, not knowing what it was. now she'll continue writing it forever just because.. it's a (bad) parody of "the song that never ends." And
"I'm a little green lime cloud ::hovering:: under the ::lemon:: tree."
Parady that goes to the Pooh song "I'm a little black rain cloud ::hovering:: under the honey tree." A/n: Those happened to be the only songfic parts of this fanfic. Enjoy while you can.
Every story must have a good foundation. If the foundation fits the author's ambition, the story will blossom. (
I went to eat with my family today. My cousin had a great idea: Family bowling. You just line them all up and then...
Why I didn't mention Ryouga until the end of the chapter? Simple, he was lost.
Chapter 7
#beep# #beep# #beep# #crash#
Akane woke up to that annoying noise known as an alarm clock. Finding herself waken up just a little too early for her liking it was three in the morning, she threw her alarm clock across the room. 'Things I won't do for the art!' Akane struggled for just a few moments, getting out of Ranma's grasp. She walked into dojo and sat in the middle, and started a cool technique her sensei had taught her.
*Flash back*
"Akane way are you crying?"
Sensei was talking to a six year old Akane.
"Because, because, because."
"Enough, Akane you let your emotions get in your way too much. A true martial artist has no emotions. You want to be a real martial artist, don't you? Emotions get people killed; they distract you during a fight, not to mention that they are a major handicap! You don't want to be killed, do you?"
This made chibi Akane cry harder. "I don't want to die!"
"What have I told you about wanting?"
"Um. don't, It will get you killed."
"Good, you've been listening. Now, you've left me no choice, I will teach you this new technique.."
*End Flashback*
This was the technique she was taught, she was doing right there in the middle of the dojo. It was an unnamed technique. It wasn't a martial arts technique, more like a technique to find your wa. After all these years, it was still hard for Akane to find wa. She was set out to find it this morning.
The technique involved tearing down your own ki, and analyzing every feeling that runs through your veins. Sound fun? It was grueling, and usually took Akane three to four hours to complete. But today she was not only out to find her wa, she was trying to find her new weakness.
Ranma eyes fluttered opened as the morning's first rays of dawn hit them. He was really surprised that Akane hadn't woken him yet. Speaking of Akane, he couldn't feel her against his body. Ranma's eyes focused more as his mind went into panic. 'Oh crap, where's Akane?' Ranma practically flew down the stairs and into the dojo. What he saw there shocked him to no end. 'Oh my god, my girlfriend is glowing!' As Ranma stood there in the door way longer, the more he began to realize what was going on.
Ranma had heard from his father about chi techniques, and about their awe deserving effectiveness in a fight. Sure Ranma could do small, very small, chi manipulations, but nothing to this level. This ball a chi emanating from her body could easily make his body burn up until not even ashes are left. 'Why is she collecting that much chi? Well, I'm not going to piss her off while she has that much excess chi on her. Maybe I should leave..' Before he could even turn his back on her, her chi started to swirl, something that was mesmerizing beyond belief. Her chi swirled faster, and faster. It was starting to change colors multiple times, in flashes. Until, finally, there was only a tiny blood red ball-like chi sitting on her palm. Without opening her eyes, Akane walked past Ranma and to the koi pond. She put her hands in the water, and the water sizzled a little bit as it absorbed the ki. Akane let out a big sigh ::sigh:: and opened her eyes. Akane never looked back at the dojo as she went into the house and up the stairs to finish her sleep.
Akane was really tired, sifting through you ki isn't easy, and it burns a lot of energy. She was also rather disappointed because it hadn't worked as well as it had in the past. Too much has been happening recently. The best she could do, was to get rid of most of the access anger that her body had been storing. There are two different types of ki rational and irrational. Both are essential for the body to function. Rational ki is typically pure white, it's emotionless and gives your body the strength to do function properly, but mainly it helps with important arteries a muscles such as the brain, heart and lungs. Irrational ki, some times called emotions, is tainted rational ki. An access of irrational ki can make a person act out of sync with what their body knows best. Irrational ki is important for the nerves of the body. It comes in many colors, this is also used for projectile ki. Character flaws are produced when either there is a deficit or too much irrational ki. Keeping a proper balance is what a person strives to achieve by wa. Akane was a little disappointed that so much had happened recently. Her irrational ki was having a blast with these new events, Her irrational ki was changing colors/emotions so rapidly that she couldn't sort it out, and get rid of the excess, nor could she convert it back to Rational chi. The best she could do was to get some anger off her chest. She would have to wait until things slowed down to do that technique again, but she was sure that it would take an entire weekend to sort out all of her ki. Even though she didn't get everything she wanted to do done, she was tired to the bone.
Those were along Akane's thoughts as she ascended the stairway. She went into her bedroom and fell upon the bed. She was asleep with in moments. Her last conscience thought was: 'Isn't Ranma supposed to still be asleep?'
Ranma stepped into the room half a minute later. 'Akane you're definitely showing me how you did that! I wonder what other techniques you know? Hmm, you look really peaceful. Maybe I'll take a nap too. Sounds like a good idea.' With his goal set, he picked up the alarm clock off the floor, and put it back on the desk. 'I have at least a half hour. Good'
Ranma too, was out in about half a minute.
***
::beep:: ::beep:: ::beep:: ::click::
Nabiki turned off her alarm clock, and did her morning ritual of opening up her closet and viewing her monitoring screen. She always viewed the house first to know what was going on, before breakfast. Then she came back up to her room to monitor the school. Some people say that she's a control freak. Nabiki just calls herself well informed. One thing caught Nabiki's attention this morning. So far, everything Akane said was true, she apparently did learn some ki manipulating technique, because she could usually only see a blurry almost human shape (freaky, almost like the Ring err 'victims') , and her developed pictures were even worse. Now, though, she could see Akane perfectly. She could see her under the covers with Ranma, and they looked awfully comfortable. 'Hmm. I wonder. would any.. Strenuous nightly activities affect her 'ki' barrier? Hmm all the possibilities I could have with this' Nabiki smiled as she left her room, with her digital camera, of course.
First stop, Akane and Ranma's room. Nabiki quietly stepped into their room, and got as close as she dared, then took a few dozen pictures. Then she closed the door as she left the room. Fighting the urge to skip, Nabiki then went to breakfast.
"Nabiki, have you seen Ranma and Akane this morning?"
"No, I thought Akane said something about going to school early today. Maybe they already left?"
Kasumi thought about this, but it seemed plausible enough.
"Okay, I'm going to school today, so I'll see you later."
So Kasumi left for classes, Soun was having a humongous hang over, and Nabiki left for school ten minutes later. Nabiki also had a big Cheshire grin on her face. 'Welcome to your life Ranma, that is to say, welcome to HELL. Sorry, Akane of you get dragged into it too. I'll try and make it easier for you, though.' She felt so light hearted that she almost laughed out loud.
Later that afternoon..
Ranma was having a good dream. Not that he got dreams often, but this was an exception, and a good exception at that. He was dreaming that he had found an exceptionally HOT goddess, and that she had granted him one wish. He had thought it was a joke, so he asked her to stay forever.. And she had. Now he was dreaming that he was holding her to him laying in bed after they had ::cough:: and he was looking at her adoringly taking in every delicate feature on her face. She had short black hair that had natural blue highlights. She stood about five inches shorter than him. Also, she had a body to die for. She was funny with a great personality, lit up the room when she entered it. Most of all, though, she was dear to him, he felt a warm rush of new feelings when ever she even looked at him.
That's when he woke up. As his eyes focused, his hole body jumped in surprise. 'oh my god, it wasn't a dream! Why else would there be a girl in my bed?' Ranma was *extremely* happy for the next few moments while he debated how to waken his angel. All good things come to an end though, as memory flooded back, and he realized why there was a girl in his bed. ::sigh:: 'Argh. Now what? I'm hungry, but I don't want to wake Akane. She must be exhausted, how long had she been manipulation her ki? It must require a lot of effort, if she's been knocked out for this long. Oh well, might as well wait until she wakes up. I DO NOT want to find out how good a sport she is at being woken up.'
Ranma was about to give up and go to back to sleep, when he got a good whiff of Akane's hair. He felt horrible, still, about what happened yesterday. He wished he could make it up to her. He had liked her long hair, but her short hair made her look better. He didn't know why it was, but it was a gut feeling. He simply loved her short hair. Being bored, and since we all know he has a whacked danger sense when it comes to women, he decided that instead of immediately going back to bed he would start running his fingers through her hair. He enjoyed the texture, and soft silkiness. Plus, she was asleep. No harm done.
Akane was having a nightmare. She was seeing something that had happened in one of her training exercises from a third person view. She was seeing herself (7 years old) run away from a pack of horrible oni. She saw the terrified look on her face, and yet felt the same fear she had back them. It was a horrible feeling. She ran, and ran, and ran. She ran until she was exhausted and couldn't run anymore, and then she tripped on a tree root, and took a heavy fall. Akane closed her eyes and prayed that her death would come swiftly. Then she blacked out, and woke up a few hours later in a hut. A fourteen year-old boy was putting a wet rag on her forehead. He wore a kind smile, and his face was rather dirty. His brown eyes had concern in them. He was tall and well built. He was definitely somebody that ANY girl would love to have all alone in a hut in the middle of the woods all to herself.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. Who are you?"
"I'm Shinnosuke, but you can call me onisan."
"Nice to meet you onisan."
"Nice to meet you too, who are you?"
"I'm Akane!"
Scene fades as another comes in.
"No fair!" Akane and Shinosuke are training in an open field. Shinnosuke is having a hard time keeping up with Akane, so he results in dirty tricks to beat her.
"All is fair in love and war!"
This sort of Banter went on for a few minutes before the scene begins to die and a new one comes yet again.
"Shinnosuke, I'm scared, can I sleep with you?" Akane was in a frilly white night gown, standing in the doorway of Shinnosuke's bedroom.
"Sure." Shinnosuke lifted the blankets. "What's wrong?"
"I heard something howling." It was true that Shinnosuke lived in a forest with a lot of monsters, and it wasn't safe to go out at night. He had gotten used to the fear, but Akane had only been here a few weeks. Shinnosuke tried to calm her down by stroking her hair. "Shh. It's ok. I'll protect you!"
Akane fell asleep, making an entirely new scene.
Akane was leaning against a tree, her and Shinnosuke had been training, when a particularly strong oni tried to attack them. Shinnosuke had used Shiatsu to paralyze her, so that he could defeat the oni by himself. Now, all she could do was watch. She watched as they walked a dance of death, she couldn't even blink. She watched as they took each others lives. Akane inwardly shivered at the memories.
Now Akane was standing in the dark, by herself. She felt somebody stroking her hair.
"Shinnosuke?"
"."
"How?"
"I thought you were dead. You're dead, I was it, you're dead, how?"
Akane looked up, but instead of shinnosuke looking up into the face of her 'big brother' it was the face of oni that had taken his life.
"AAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE." Akane screamed as woke up.
*end dream* in case it wasn't obvious.
This is from Ranma's point of view:
A few moments after he had started playing with her hair, she snuggled closer to Ranma.
"Shinnosuke?"
Ranma was crushed, how could she dream of a different man while she was in his arms?
"I thought. you're dead. I. you." That's what Ranma could pick up from her mumbling in her chest. Suddenly interested, Ranma strained to hear the rest of the conversation.
"AAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE."
Ranma suddenly found himself on the floor. Picking himself off the floor he found Akane with the covers gathered protectively around her while breathing heavily.
Akane hadn't had a nightmare in a long time. This one was particularly unsettling. Akane shivered.
"Ranma?"
"Why are you on the ground?"
"because you shoved me here."
"I didn't shove you, I shoved that oni.." Akane blushed, and put a stray locket of hair behind her ear. "Gomen." (sorry)
Now Ranma felt bad, first he was jealous when he heard another man's name mentioned. Now to find out he was an oni, He had accidental invoked a nightmare in Akane, though a tiny part of him was relieved too.
"No really, I'm sorry."
"That's ok." Akane was still a little shaken up about it though, it had seemed too real to her.
"Akane? Would you like to go ou.(t). go get something to eat?" Ranma decided not to say the words "go out" because those words seem to have a strange jinx.
Akane's stomach decided scared or not, food was essential. It growled.
"I take that as a yes." Ranma took clothes out of his pack, and went to the bathroom to change. While Akane got out of bed. Once Ranma was out of the room, Akane got dressed herself.
"I wonder what time it is?"
She looked at the clock, and it read 1:30 in the afternoon.
Two minutes and thirty seconds later Ranma and Akane were standing outside of the dojo. Akane slipped the letter into a mail drop-off box on the corner thirty seconds after that.
Twenty minutes later, Ranma and Akane were clear across town looking for a restaurant. Ranma wasn't happy that, that old woman had splashed him with cold water. Now he was a she for their first 'date.' School was getting out soon, and they were hoping to beat the school crowd. Ranma was looking for a semi-fancy restaurant for their first date. Akane was looking for someplace that had good food at cheap prices. Ranma was almost disappointed when Akane picked the carry-out bento place.
*Author's (short) interruption for those who have no idea about what I had just said. If you know what a bento place is please skip this next paragraph.*
Please allow me to explain what this sort of place is. I've never been to Japan, but my friend has, and she described this sort of restaurant to me (though I forget the REAL name for these sort of restaurants.) It's almost like a cafeteria style restaurant. Ready-made bento's are displayed on a conveyer-belt (circular metal top that spins slowly.) Pick the one(s) you want, and wah-la you have yourself a lunch. Neat, isn't it?
*End of interruption*
Both martial artists got two of the biggest bentos each, two bottles of Kirin milk tea, and a cup of hot water. They decided to eat at a park.
If only they could find one.
In an empty lot, four girls are seen with clubs. The girls are wearing practice clothes, a yellow shirt and red practice shorts. They were surrounding another girl with her school uniform still on, and a practice bag in her hand.
The person in the school uniform spoke first: "Why, you must be from Furinkan high. I'm so looking forward to next weekend. Sure, our schools may be rivals, but, well, I do hope we'll still be friends. After you've lost, I mean."
The four girls respond in turn, but in random order.
"You're such a liar."
"We'd never be friends with you!"
"Don't think we don't know what you're up to!"
"You're trying to stop us from competing in the tournament."
"Why else would you ambush us?"
Ranma and Akane were walking down the street, looking for a park, or at least someplace peaceful to eat their bentos. They passed a particularly high brick wall, and noticed that there wasn't a house behind it, Ranma decided to check it out to see what was on the other side, he was hoping it would just be an empty lot were there would be a littler chance of an enemy finding them. Ranma was hell-bent on trying to find someplace safe and secluded to spend more time getting to know Akane.
"Akane hold these for a minute. I'll be right back!" Ranma gave Akane the bag with the food, and jumped on the wall.
Just in time to hear.
"Why else would you ambush us?"
Ranma saw four girls surrounding a fifth girl in an otherwise empty lot and realized. 'Hey! I think they're in my class!' Ranma looked on at the situation before going to action.
"We're going to give you a taste of your own medicine!"
(All the girls in unison) "Let's get her!"
The fifth girl in the uniform, got out her ribbon, and started twirling it.
"Now girls," She said in a motherly fashion before her voice went to a more. demonic tone. "If I weren't such a lady." She started to whip the girls. "If I weren't such a lady, I would have to teach you a lesson, and then you would really be in trouble. How lucky for you, I was reared better than that!"
Ranma decides that that was enough. He jumped down and caught this girl's ribbon.
"Come on, cut it out. I think they got you point already."
The girl was too shocked to hear what the other girl just said.
"You stopped my ribbon. That's never been done. You're no ordinary girl are you?"
The person in her uniform started to circle around Ranma. Ranma turned also to keep the girl in front of her.
"Well, uh, yeah. You could say that."
"It makes no difference to me, well then." The girl stoops down. "I won't go any easier on you!" The girl lunged at Ranma with a club from a fallen opponent, while Ranma just ducks the blow.
"You're quite formidable. Well done! I'm the flower of St. Hebereke High School, a rising star in gymnastics. I'm Kodachi, the black Rose."
Kodachi started a strategic retreat, then turned around with a black rose in her hand.
"You'll keep that in mind, won't you?"
She starts to laugh maniacally as she jumps on the wall, then shimmies down the light post.
"What is he DOING?" Akane knew for a fact that it didn't take this much time to scope out the landscape, so she decided to check things out for herself.
Akane looked down from the wall, as Ranma started to walk towards the four girls huddling together and crying.
"Ah, now don't cry."
Before Ranma got the words out of his mouth, Akane was standing next to him.
"What's going on?"
Five minutes later the four girls were winding down their sob story, and Ranma and Akane were winding down their lunch intake.
"Please, Akane you have to help us!" The girl was still sniffling.
"We're all too injured to fight."
"You're the only one we can turn to."
"Please enter the tournament it's Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics."
"Martial Arts?" Ranma inquired.
"Don't tell me you haven't heard!"
The girls pull down chibi diagrams to articulate what they are saying.
In summary: The object of Rhythmic Gymnastics is to either beat them (no bare fisted attacks) or throw your opponent out of the ring.
"Martial Arts? She'll do it!"
"I will?"
"Oh Thank you SO much Akane, you've saved us!" The girls cry, this time in joy in unison. While Akane just looks at Ranma.
A little while later.
Akane and Ranma are walking next to each other in Silence. Ranma, now male, is holding a bag full of gymnastics equipment.
"I can't believe you volunteered me!"
"Sorry, habit."
"You usually volunteer other people?"
"No, it's pure reflex to accept a challenge."
"Hmph. I hope you know that you're helping me train for this. I don't even know how to use these weapons."
"Okay, Okay, we'll train when we get home, and after school for the next week until the competition. I think you'll be ready."
"One more thing.."
"What?"
"I want to fight this fight Anything Goes."
Ranma turned his head and gave Akane a look. He had forgotten that she wasn't accustomed to fighting under his schools strategy. It was going to be harder than the training itself. It would be hard to fight on a totally new principle of thinking, and strategy. Though Anything Goes incorporates other schools in to its special attack, the basis of the philosophy is different than any other martial arts school.
"Sure, we'll work on it."
Akane was satisfied and thought nothing more of it. 'Why cry over spilled milk?'
While Ranma felt many conflicting emotions, and was currently beating himself mentally. 'Why the hell did I volunteer her for the fight? You know what kind of lunatic that girl is, the Purple Lilac or something like that. Now you've done it, now you have to train with Akane. though spending time with Akane wouldn't be so bad.'
Moments later they entered the Tendo Compound, and didn't even bother to tell people they were home. They went strait to the dojo to practice. Once inside, Akane dumped the contents of the bag onto the floor.
"Let's see here, How do you use this in combat?" Akane picked up the bouncy ball.
Ranma shrugged as he picked up a piece of rope.
"We'll just have to see, wont we?"
They both took stances in the middle of the dojo: Akane with the bouncy ball and Ranma with the rope.
Akane charged Ranma, who was in a relaxed stance, but apparently wasn't ready for the speed at which Akane threw the ball into Ranma's stomach. It bounced back into Akane's hand, and she hit Ranma in the back with the ball. This time it hit a shiatsu point that wouldn't let him use his legs. Ranma slumped to the ground, while Akane dropped the ball and used it to kick Ranma in the face.
Akane was clearly enjoying herself. 'hmm. I've never beaten the crap out of somebody with a bouncy ball. This is fun! I really need to go easier, I don't want him to get seriously injured, we still need to train for another week. Though this IS fun. Maybe after this match, he wont volunteer me for anymore stupid competitions!' Akane continued taking out her frustration of having to do something against her will against Ranma. Finally, though, Akane stopped her onslaught with the ball and ended standing towards Ranma spinning the bouncy ball on her finger.
"I think I've figured out this weapon, let's try the ribbon next!"
"."
Akane picks up the ribbon, and then turns back to Ranma, who is still laying in the same position she left him in. Akane walked over, and did the counter-shiatsu point. Ranma decided that he would keep the rope for the next round. They faced off again in the middle of the dojo.
"I think this works like a whip. We'll just have to see, wont we?"
Ranma charged Akane, because ribbons, like whips, are best fought at a distance. Unfortunately for Ranma, he never made it far enough to make it effective. He was hit several times in the chest, throwing him off balance. As he was falling, the ribbon grabbed onto his ankle, and threw him across the dojo. It not only threw him out of the dojo, it threw him out of the open doors, and seconds later a huge splash was heard. Seconds later a dripping Ranma was standing in the doorway.
"I think you don't need any more help on the ribbon, how about the hoop?"
Akane nodded her head and smirked as she picked up the red plastic hoop. This time Ranma chose to use clubs. Akane didn't look to comfortable with the hoop, it's rather large and not exactly a formidable fighting weapon. Akane stood with the hoop in her right hand by her side. Ranma charged Akane, not really knowing what of attack she was going to do, though he WAS sure how to use the clubs. Akane just side stepped as Ranma over shot his lunge, and started to loose his balance. Then she used her speed to slip the hoop over Ranma's head, and flick it so Ranma went flying into the pond again.
When Ranma stood in the doorway again, he saw Akane looking REALLY pleased with herself.
"Well, I guess we'll just train on that later, that was lucky and wouldn't have happened in a real fight. I already know you know how to use nunchuks, I mean the clubs. What's left then? Oh, you can try the rope now."
Akane felt like she was playing with a new toy. She quickly picked up the rope and faced off against Ranma. Akane defeated Ranma before he could blink. She sat on top of a half conscience Ranma.
"So, will you teach me Anything Goes Now?"
"You've already got the hang of it."
"Huh?"
"With the hoop I mean, pure inspiration. Anything Goes is based on making up techniques while still in midst of a fight. Anything Goes, there is no proper technique, we aren't above steeling the basis of techniques off of other schools. As long as we win, technique be damned."
"So, what else is there to this school? I mean there has to be something. Why don't you call your school: Vulture school of Martial Arts, or something similar."
"Oh, there are some things that separate from the others."
Ranma and Akane sat in the dojo for the rest of the afternoon discussing the philosophies of school that they would someday inherit.
Later that evening.
"So, it's true, anything goes."
"That just about sums it up."
"You mean I just wasted an afternoon of good training time?!?"
Ranma ran from the dojo, while Akane playfully ran after him.
"Oh my!" Kasumi shook her head at the scene in the yard, Akane was still chasing Ranma. "Dinner's ready everyone!"
Before Kasumi got to the words every. Akane and Ranma were in their places and holding out their dishes for being served. Kasumi scorned inwardly 'How can they look so innocent?' as she dished them out their food. They were done by the time the others arrived at the table.
"Well, let's go back to practicing."
"Okay."
They left the table as everybody else was just sitting down. During supper, the family got the funny scene of Ranma being thrown in the pool every few minutes. It seemed to be a very productive practice for Akane.
Later that night.
"Good practice."
"Yes, it was a very good practice."
Akane walked over to Ranma, who was on his hands and knees and breathing heavily, and reached over to touch his back.
"I'll take my bath first, okay?"
Ranma could only nod his head. As Akane left, Ranma collapsed and stayed there on the floor for awhile.
A few minutes later Akane is relaxing in the tub.
'I'm exhausted. Ranma's quite a fighter. Too bad he was trained by someone who loves him. He has potential. He's almost as strong as I am. I think he'll pass me soon enough. Still, though, how could he just volunteer me for a challenge? I don't get this school's philosophy at all. At least I won't have to change my basic techniques. I can just rename them, or not because this school isn't above stealing from other schools. I'm glad, apparently Sensei did me a favor by teaching me such a variety of techniques, now I can enhance this school with my techniques. Maybe I should start teaching Ranma.. Nah, he wouldn't appreciate it. He wants to achieve things on his own. He HAS to learn on his own. Learn because of challenges. That is the proper way for the martial artist to grow. I, so far, have just had stronger challengers that all there is to it..' Akane's thoughts turned to her past challenges. Her last thoughts before she left the tub. 'This fight is going to be a piece of cake.'
It was seven o'clock at St. Hebereke High School. The gym was full of girls training. There were sounds of girls trying new techniques and plenty of encouragements.
"All right, That's all for today ladies!" The captain, Kodachi, yelled.
Murmurs were heard across the gym. If you listened to one conversation you had a fifty/ fifty chance of it either being about how hard practice was, or how they always win by default (so why practice?).
A girl walked up to Kodachi and whispered in her ear. She had just went on the internet to see the postings of the contestants, and apparently Furinkan's participants had changed. Kodachi dismissed the girl, and went to her locker to get her belonging before going home. When she opened up her locker, various implements of destruction gleam. Quickly looking through her arson of weapons, Kodachi quickly picks up the least lethal weapon. She quickly hid the mallet in her black cloak.
"Fear not Ms. Tendo. I will be dealing with you very shortly." Then she laughed maniacally as she ran from the school and on top of roof tops all the way to the Tendo Dojo.
A half an hour later, Kodachi is standing in front of the Tendo Dojo. Kodachi threw her cloak into the air, it was caught by a ninja named Satsuke that we don't know about yet that just happened to be on the room.
"So, they've asked for help. What poor losers these Furinkan girls are. Akane Tendo you'll rue the day you CROSSED the Black Rose." With that, she put a black rose in her mouth and laughed maniacally.
Meanwhile, the ninja was idly wondering how Kodachi managed to laugh while having a rose in her mouth without choking on it. The ninja gave up, and went home.
Akane sensed that somebody was in her room, but when she surveyed the room, she found nobody. Akane flopped down on the bed. 'Now that's weird I could've sworn I sensed somebody in my room.' Akane turned over with her face towards the ceiling, what she saw didn't amuse her. A strange girl was hanging from the ceiling. Akane moved quickly out of the way when the girl fell and took out a mallet. With the girl yelling: "Akane Tendo prepare to die!"
"Who might you be?"
Kodachi had extracted herself from Akane's bed.
"I'm from the St. Herbereke Rythmic Gymnastics team, of course. I'm Kodachi the Black Rose.?"
"Kodachi? Who?"
It was like Kodachi wasn't listening, because she started attacking Akane with the mallet.
"There's only one more week until we face each other in the Gymnastics tournament. So let's both fight fair, okay!?!?!"
"Fair? Compared to what? I didn't ask you to sneak into my room, and I certainly never asked you to attack me in the dark."
"In the dark? Utterly ridiculous, I came merely to size up my opponent before the big match next week. That's all."
"Don't give me that!"
Akane hadn't attacked this strange girl because Ranma had lectured her today about letting weaker opponents feel like they had a chance, but even Akane had her patience wear thin. She decided to put the end to the loony with one blow. She was in mid-kick. When suddenly the door was flung open, effectively knocking out Kodachi.
"Hm?"
Ranma looked behind the door only to find an unconscious girl in a leotard.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were having a sleep over."
"I'm not." Akane didn't look too amused.
"Then who." Ranma took another look 'oh no, it's Purple Petunia or what-is- her-face. She is Akane's opponent next week.'
Kodachi opened her eyes. She opened her eyes to be staring at the most gorgeous man she had ever met. Her brain processes were going beserk, but apparently one thought was going through her mind. 'gotta get this one for my own.'
"Are you okay?" Ranma looked directly into her eyes.
"I uh hold me!" Kodachi leapt into his arms.
"What the?" Ranma extracted her from himself.
"Since you're obviously not hurt, I'll be going to bed. See you around maybe, okay? Oh bye." Ranma turned his back from Kodachi.
"Oh, my Head!" Kodachi collapsed to the ground. "The blow, it was more dreadful than I thought."
Ranma turned from where he was going, and walked towards the door again. "I'll get you some aspirin, or something."
"Don't go!"
Kodachi kind of mumbles to herself: "How could I have known that when I cam here tonight I would meet the man of my dreams?" Out loud. "You're name? Kind sir?"
"err Ranma, Ranma Saotome."
"Ra n ma Saotome. Dearest Ranma. Take these." Kodachi handed Ranma a bouquet of Black Roses.
"Wha. Huh?" That was Ranma's intelligent response to the powder that suddenly exploded from the plant.
"I put a little bit of paralysis powder in the roses."
"Why, I never did anything to you."
Kodachi layed Ranma on his back, obviously too much in her own little world to register what Ranma just said, tried to force him to kiss her.
"Now my love take what you most desire. Take these lips of mine."
Ranma was trying his hardest not to be kissed, despite being under the influence of a strong paralysis drug.
"Ak..ane. help. Ak.."
Akane had stood there quietly through out the entire scene. She wasn't sure if this was a normal was to show affection. It was when she used paralysis powder, was when Akane decided to stop it. Barely a centimeter from Ranma's lips, Akane threw Kodachi out the open window. Seconds later, an audible splash was heard.
** From the pond...
"Curse you Akane, for what you have done I will show no mercy next week. Kodachi ran home, while alternating thoughts of making sweet sweet love to Ranma and how many tortures she would put Akane through.
**
In the room.
Akane had put the paralyzed Ranma in the bed. Akane shook her head and smiled.
"I'm going to write a letter, I'll turn off the lights in a few minutes." Akane didn't wait for a response because he couldn't give one.
Dear Nodoka,
Today Ranma and I overslept. We went out for lunch. I guess it would be our first date. While searching for a place to eat, Ranma saved a bunch of girls from being beaten up. It turns out that they are part of martial arts rhythmic gymnastics. Ranma promptly volunteered me to fight for them. I was kind of mad at Ranma, but when I met the girl I'll be facing I'm glad I'll have the opportunity to teach her a lesson! Just now, she came into my room, and tried to attack me. Then Ranma accidentally knocked her out with the door when he came in. Then she tried to seduce him right there in front of me. I think she has a few screws loose. The tournament is next week, could you find time to find me a leotard?
Love, Akane Tendo
Meanwhile, in another part of Japan..
A middle-aged woman opened a letter.
Dear Auntie Nodoka:
Thank you SO much for those clothes, I really needed them. I felt bad borrowing from Nabiki. I should do something nice for her to say 'thank you.' I'm not sure if I like this whole family business. They've already 'sold' me again. This time it's an arranged marriage. I don't want to be forced into anything; I don't even know the guy for heaven sakes. His name it Ranma, he's the same age as me, and about five inches taller than me. He's an exceptional martial artist, but this is all I know about him. Two days ago we decided to not really look at this as we're engaged, but we'll be going out as boyfriend and girlfriend. Not that if it doesn't work out it will be easier to break off.
Today was certainly an eventful day, Ranma was supposed to take me out on our first date today, but one of his rivals showed up and they had a fight. Not only that, but while they were fighting, some of the projectiles almost hit Kasumi, my oldest sister if you remember. I safely got her out of the way before she got her, but my hair was sheared off. I didn't even notice, I was so concerned with her. I don't think she's to happy with me and Ranma. I hope everything works out for the better.
I promise to update you soon,
Akane
Nodoka looked at all the pictures that were included in the envelope. Her eyes finally rested on the one with Akane with a boy.
'My dear kami. he looks so familiar. Where do I know him from?'
Nodoka walked around her house while trying to figure out why the man in the photograph was so familiar. She kept reading the letter and looking at the picture, it was a nagging feeling. 'Why can't I remember how I know this Ranma fellow?' She was finally about to give up when she suddenly found herself in her living room staring at a picture on the mantle.
'Wait a minute. Ranma?...' Nodoka quickly went the mantle where she kept all the pictures of her son, and compared Akane's photo to the latest photo she got from her husband. a year ago. She was right. 'Ack, I'm ashamed as a mother! How could I not recognize my own son at firs glance? I'm so excited!' Nodoka quickly sat down to write Akane a letter telling her who the boy was..
Then, just as quickly, she crumpled up the paper. 'Why hasn't my husband written me in close to ten years, and why had it been so long since I've gotten a picture? I bet you something is going on, and my husband doesn't want me to know about it. I'll wait until something, good or bad, happens. Then I'll rush over and straighten my husband's mess. What kind of harebrained scheme was it to have a forced marriage anyway? We'll see what Akane writes about Ranma and my husband. I wasn't serious about REALLY making them commit seppuku if Ranma isn't a man amongst men, but if they harm Akane-chan I might feel compelled to. At least now I can finally find out how my son is, even if she doesn't realize it is my son. It's like killing two birds with one stone. I get to write Akane, who is like a daughter to me, and I get to find out about my son. Plus, I don't want to be premature on my arrival to meet my husband and son for the first time in ten years.'
So she finally decided what to write on the letter:
Dear Akane,
Ranma's your first boyfriend isn't he? Tell me all about it! You should try and make the best out of the situation.
I'm sorry to here about your sister, I'm sure she'll forgive you. Try and make amends to her. She just isn't used to all this, give her time. She probably doesn't adapt well to change. I suggest finding something you have in common, then she'll open up to you.
You need to show me what your new hair style looks like! Write me soon, and often.
Love, Nodoka
Later that night, around midnight, at the Tendo dojo.
Ryouga was standing outside of the front gates of the Tendo Dojo.
"Tonight Ranma, Tonight's the night you are going to pay!"
End Chapter
It's the chapter that never ends. it goes on and on my friends.. Someone started writing it, not knowing what it was. now she'll continue writing it forever just because.. it's a (bad) parody of "the song that never ends." And
"I'm a little green lime cloud ::hovering:: under the ::lemon:: tree."
Parady that goes to the Pooh song "I'm a little black rain cloud ::hovering:: under the honey tree." A/n: Those happened to be the only songfic parts of this fanfic. Enjoy while you can.
Every story must have a good foundation. If the foundation fits the author's ambition, the story will blossom. (
I went to eat with my family today. My cousin had a great idea: Family bowling. You just line them all up and then...
Why I didn't mention Ryouga until the end of the chapter? Simple, he was lost.
