Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½.

Author's Notes: I would like to thank all of you who reviewed for your words of encouragement and even criticism. A writer can't get better unless things are pointed out to them. We're not allowed to respond to reviewers in our stories by rules but I would like to thank those of you who respond regularly to each chapter. As for lime scenes, the worst I will probably do will be less than you see in movies or network television. With that in mind I think we should get on with the show!

The New Girl on the Block

Chapter 7

Time Out for Chaos

Hospitals are clean, sterile environments where the sick and wounded are cared for by the competent physicians of the world. In a dance so old that few know when it truly began they weaved and swayed to a chaotic music that flowed through them. They were masters of their domain or at least they were to the eye of one Ranma Saotome. He didn't like hospitals, but he could respect the people who dedicated their lives to their chosen Art. The boy was lost in thought as he remembered the events that brought him here with his mother trailing behind him and a girl on either side of him with neither of them fighting.

The girl holding his right hand was a honey blonde beauty from America with peculiar eyes. One of sapphire and the other of emerald that he found it easy to get lost in and who was his fiancée. On the other hand (literally) was his ex-fiancee. A girl who could be so cute it would break your heart one minute and so uncute the next that it broke your heart for different reasons. She was the queen of jumping to conclusions. Neither girl was really perfect. He was only just now discovering a stubborn streak in Kat over a mile wide and growing, but it was easy to forget that since her normal attitude was a near Kasumi sweetness.

Akane on the other hand was a different story entirely. He was sure he had loved her at one time and if she was honest he was sure she felt the same way. The problems were mostly the fault of their parents constantly pushing at them to get married and take the next step. Rivals and enemies would get in the way as well, but on top of all that was simply a lack of trust. Neither one trusted the other as they should have. Due to events in their childhoods they were emotionally immature. Any time they felt like they were getting close they would react like shy children and the insults would fly leading to vastly hurt feelings.

His mind was brought back to more important matters as Kat gave his hand a gentle tug into the room he almost passed by. Sheepishly he rubbed the back of his head, not wanting to admit that his thoughts had run away with him. What he saw caused his hidden heart of glass to break. Sora lay sleeping in the hospital bed. She looked so fragile that a single breath would blow her away. Why did the hospital lights have to bleach away the patient's humanity? He was sure she wasn't that weak but then again he had never seen anyone hooked up to so many machines. The tubes connected her arms to the machines on either side of her and her angelic face still bore the traces of the burns she picked up from a near perfect Shi Shi Hokodan.

"Oh Sora…" Kat whispered, half in awe and fear of the damage she obviously had sustained before leaving his side to hold her hand. The girl's hands were splayed out as if in supplication or as if in a silent bid to be held. Nodoka took the other hand, both women fussing over the wounded warrior. Ranma felt the hot tears well up before wiping them away ruthlessly. She had done as she swore she'd do by getting him to school safe and by salving the Hibiki honor. The least he could do was not cry in her presence. He looked to his side to see Akane. The Tendo girl stared at the sleeping girl as if she wasn't really seeing her. Her breath was coming in quick gasps and her pupils were suddenly dilated.

"Akane?" he whispered, giving her shoulder a gentle shake only to cry out briefly as she tumbled to the floor. Without thinking, he caught her in his arms. His eyes found Kat's in horror, hoping the strike wouldn't fall, but instead he found her eyes concerned. With a start he remembered that this wasn't one of the "Fiancee Brigade" and relaxed. He looked back to the girl in his arms only to notice that she wasn't paying attention. His mind made up, he helped her into the hallway to sit on one of the chairs out there. Something about the scene was bothering her. Once in the hall, she slowly began to come around. Rather than hit him for putting his hands on her, Akane looked gratefully to Ranma.

"Thanks Ranma…I-I don't know what came over me." She told him quietly. When she looked in his direction she could tell he wasn't buying it. Over time the secrets they could keep from one another had become less and less. It was both a nice sensation and a depressing one because they would never have a chance to explore it further.

"Pull the other one, 'Kane. What's bothering ya?" he asked her in his typical gruff fashion when his emotions were bothering him.

"It's just…it reminded me of when Mommy was in the hospital. The endless tubes and the smell…but above all was the feeling of suspension. Suspended time, suspended life…it's why I hate hospitals…whenever someone I care about goes in something bad happens. I don't even know her but it bothered me more than I like." She said in an unusually subdued voice. Ranma checked the hallway before putting his arm around her in a comforting manner only to be pushed away. Akane's eyes blazed at him in indignation only to be stopped when a hand rested on her shoulder. The two teens looked up to find Nodoka standing there. Her whole posture was weary but her smile certainly wasn't.

"I will sit with her…why don't you visit with Sora, alright?" she told her son. Left unspoken was the half-command to do it. Relief clear in his eyes, he decided to get drinks for him and Kat leaving Akane without her pigtailed target. Once again the angry girl knew that she blew it. He was only trying to be nice and she completely misinterpreted it. His mother was looking at her as she sat in the space her son just vacated. The Saotome matriarch was silent for a time as she observed the suddenly embarrassed girl.

"That was bad even for me…" she said with a self depreciating chuckle.

"What's wrong dear?" Nodoka asked softly. Akane looked to Ranma's mother for a moment before throwing herself in the startled woman's arms, weeping her heart out. In between bursts of tears she manages to tell the older woman everything. Nodoka stared up at the lights in silent supplication.

"Oh Kimiko my old friend…I hope you're watching right now…" she thought as she went back to comforting the distressed girl.

-Hospital: Sora's Room-

Kat stood beside her new friend, and savior's, bedside. Sora's chest was rising and falling regularly. The only thing truly wrong with her according to Doctor Tofu was a lack of ki which was fine since it regenerated on its own. The angelic face of the Hibiki girl looked even more serene than Kasumi. She was so relieved to find out the girl would live. The Marx girl was certain that Ranma would be depressed if one of his enemies had finished off his new friend. Not to mention how she would feel. She tried to hide behind a cheerful mask but lately people she didn't even know could pierce it easily. Her fingers were intertwined with Sora's as she tried to lend strength to the girl by presence alone. The shoulder ached but nowhere near as much as her heart.

"Hey Kat." Ranma said as he came up to her, holding out a can of soda to her. The girl smiled at him gratefully as she took a sip. She noticed he casually popped it open, but a simple act to some becomes a trial to others. Ranma Saotome was no exception to this as the can sprayed him in the face turning him into a her. Despite the heavy air she giggled at the sight before her. The soda had plastered the neo-girl's shirt to her front and dripped from her face. Rather than grumble or curse the redhead simply took a sip of her soda, not letting it get to her.

"How is she?" the redhead asked as she looked upon the face of her friend. A true warrior and comrade in arms even thought they just met. It bothered Ranma that her life was so FUBAR that even people just coming into the tragic comedy of her life were getting hurt. First it was Kat and now it was Sora. It was the hormones making her more emotional. It had to be. Her sight was turning blurry and she felt a few hiccups starting. Ruthlessly she tried to crush down the feelings as she slammed down her drink and tossed it away; even without paying attention she hit the garbage can.

"She'll be fine Ranma…she'll be all better soon." Kat told the miserable girl as she set her hand on her fiancée's shoulder. With a sound like a cross between a growl and a sob she suddenly found Ranma in her arms, her face buried in her chest and bawling her eyes out. Her sick and twisted life crashing down on her with the force of a wrecking ball. How could this sort of thing happen to anyone? Ranma wanted to know what sick kami was playing with her life and the lives of her friends. Seeing Sora Hibiki lying in the hospital bed was too much for her control.

After a startled moment, the Marx girl held the girl crying into her chest with as much warmth and compassion she could muster even as she slowly broke down. It wasn't fair. They were children but because of screwed up parents and moronic "legacies" they were set against each other. God doesn't give a person more than they can handle, her father said. Well she wanted to know why God thought they were Hercules? Her eyes went to their friend tearfully even as she held Sora's hand again. A tiny hand reached out and held the same hand as she did. Her hand stroked the redhead's soft hair even as she held the other girl close. Ranma had calmed down a little after her wild crying binge. Her eyes were red and puffy, definitely not manly, but it didn't matter.

"She'll be all right." Ranma said in the silence, even as a few more hiccups escaped her. Kat picked up the rest of her drink and gave it to Ranma. The neo-girl looked up at her with wide blue eyes.

"You might as well finish it off but drink slowly; it'll help make the hiccups go away." The neo-wolf said even as she sat down in one of the chairs in the room. Feeling a bit whimsical, she pulled Ranma into her lap. Surprisingly, the Saotome heir didn't object and just curled up in her lap. It didn't matter that they were both girls and technically Ranma should have Kat in this position. The two went back to watching Sora sleep.

"Her chi is building back up again. Doc was right about that. We'll probably come back tomorrow and she'll be buggin' us to get her out of here." Ranma said with a small smile as she sipped the soda. Kat slid her arms around the neo-girl's waist and held her, her cheek resting in the girl's hair.

"What is it with martial artists and hospitals? It's like kryptonite to us." Kat said with a smile as well. Her fiancée shrugged a little before shifting position slightly to get more comfortable. It was this sight that the Saotome matriarch walked in on. Her child and his intended sitting together even if the situation was a little reversed. She smiled with sad humor that her son could also be her daughter. At least Kat was nicer than Akane even if she could tell that the girl had some excess baggage. Nodoka looked to Akane who had come in with her and was about to blow her top. The older woman gripped her shoulder firmly and made her look at her. The young woman looked back sheepishly.

The sound of a throat clearing brought the teens in the chair out of their musings. Nodoka stood near the door with a smile with a demure Akane behind her. The two other females came over to join them. Ranma was amazed at how different things were. A room full of women and no cries of perverts, hits with whatever object was handy or sailing over Nerima. Then again there also wasn't any exploding okonomiyaki or bizarre Amazon tricks. However paradise wouldn't last forever and the karmic wheel had turned. The bill was due so why did Sora have to suffer for it? The other women took notice of the fiery gleam in Ranma's eyes. Kat pulled her closer, but the redhead was still staring at the bed with her burning gaze. By the look in her eyes it was obvious she was a million miles away from them.

"I've only seen that look in her eyes once before. I-it was the same look at Jusendo…the exact same look." Akane whispered, half in awe and half in fear. Kat had heard something about Jusendo but this was one of the big players.

"What about Jusendo, Akane-chan?" Nodoka asked in concern as she put her hand on the young girl's shoulder. Hesitantly, haltingly, the girl relayed the tale. The tale of Saffron the King of Phoenix Mountain, the demi-god that almost killed them all, and of her revival afterward. With so much at stake it was clear that Ranma succeeded but had lost his innocence in the process. Ranma's head was hanging as the narrative drew to a close.

"I can't let it happen again." She whispered in the sudden stillness. Her mother was kneeling beside the chair, adding her arms to the hug. Akane rested her hand on Kat's shoulder. A look of perfect understanding passed between the two as they saw how badly Ranma was taking this.

"It won't dear…" Nodoka soothed her child as best she could. The look she received almost made her fall back in shock.

"It won't. I won't let it." The tone used could freeze Hell but she was careful not to literally freeze anyone as she employed the Soul of Ice to remain calm. Her eyes passed to the window in time to see the old lech, Happosai, staring into the room with barely concealed lust. As his eyes met Ranma's it was almost as if the battle lines were etched into stone.

The Perverted Gnome of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts could tell that the game had changed drastically. If the girl in the bed was any indication then Sonny-boy would be in a pissy mood and definitely would spoil an old man's fun. If the glare was any indication then he would probably end up in the hospital as well under in-patient status. He had to speak with Cologne; this was too big to not have the Amazon's attention.

With the pervert gone, Ranma went back to minimum threat mode and let herself be coddled by the women in her life. Her eyes went up to Akane and smiled slightly at her friend. Akane was still not one hundred percent okay with this but didn't let it show. She answered the smile with a rueful one of her own. Their eyes went back to Sora who seemed to be smiling as well.

-Nekohanten-

The duck sat in his cage on the table in the back of the restaurant. To his right was the old mummy, otherwise known as Elder Khu Lon, Matriarch of the Tribe. To his left was the lodestar of the cursed boy's existence, Xian Pu. He wanted nothing more than vengeance on Saotome for allowing harm to come to his beloved. That girl, Sora would, would have felt his wrath immediately but then he had been ducked and thrown in here.

The wounds from her recent battle were severe but she forced herself to remain upright as befitted an Amazon Warrior, personally her Great Grandmother would have preferred if she had remained lying down. Her bandages weren't all seen due to her clothing, but her nose bandage was clear and she still sounded like she had a cold. Her ribs were taped and it was amazing how nothing had really been ruptured or crushed, but she still couldn't eat solid foods. Cologne was clearly exasperated with the girl. This had to have been the worst thing to happen since they arrived. Shampoo was staring at her grandmother through her bangs, giving the elder puppy dog eyes and trying to soften the old woman's heart, but this was one time too many.

"We must go back to China." The old ghoul said. The reactions were the same, both teen and transduck exploded in a cacophony of sounds. The matriarch let it continue for a time, placidly puffing away at her pipe and waiting for them to get it out of their system. After several minutes a twitch developed in her right cheek and she shouted at them to shut up. When she was sure she had their attention she explained.

"Sora Hibiki covered her tracks incredibly well. She cannot be killed at all or else all suspicion would fall on us. The Hibiki girl is currently in the hospital which would be a perfect time to deal with her, but once again we would be under suspicion for it. Also we are not allowed within fifteen hundred feet of Ranma due to a restraining order placed on us by his mother. Apparently she holds some clout with the government. So because you turned a mission and made it FUBAR, we have to leave immediately." Cologne told her reluctant charges. With that, she dismissed them for bed. Once out of the room, Shampoo looked to Mousse. She had to have revenge on the one who defeated her at all costs. The heat of battle was passed so she couldn't proclaim a public Kiss of Death, but this was good enough for her.

"Mu Tse. If you truly love me then you will help me." She whispered to the duck in Mandarin. The duck suddenly perked up as he waddled closer to Shampoo as she leaned in to detail her plan. Mousse had no reservations about spiting the old mummy. Once the plan was drawn up, she released him from his cage and left him with hot water and his clothes. The blind master was on cloud nine when she told him that the easiest way into her heart was to kill the obstacle, Sora Hibiki, and then they could go back to China and finally be together. He would do it. For his darling Shampoo!

Shampoo heard the blind boy run out the back door and smiled evilly. If all went according to plan then Sora would be dead and Mousse would be dealt with permanently for disobeying Great Grandmother. If he failed to kill her then it still wasn't a loss. Either way she got rid of Mousse and his ridiculous infatuation. Why couldn't he understand that she didn't love him? You can't force a person to love you. With those thoughts in mind she went to her room to rest and cement her alibi.

-Somewhere-

Ryoga Hibiki, disgraced former martial arts heir to the Hibiki Style, wandered the streets alone. It was something he had grown used to and was growing tired of. Regardless of how he felt, however, he had to do something to regain his honor. It was bad enough that he slept in Akane's bed but he nearly killed his sister rather than face the music. His tears had finally dried but the tears in his heart weren't going away. As he got used to the sprawling metropolis he found himself in, a sound from down an alley reached his ears. It sounded like a fight had broken out. Instinctively he started for the fight, but stopped. He wasn't allowed to practice his style anymore. His indecision lasted a half second longer as a girl's voice cried out in pain and fear. With that he flew down into the alley as fast as he could go to confront the enemy.

At the end of the alley, a circle of men numbering roughly five had a younger girl trapped. She was raven haired with wide hazel eyes and a bandanna on her forehead. She couldn't have been more than ten years old. Some of the guys were down for the count but the rest were taking their toll as they battered the poor child. A feral roar broke them from their game and they turned as one to stare in open mouthed astonishment at the behemoth charging their way. He couldn't be a man; his fangs gleamed in the darkness as his berserk howling chilled them to the bone. They were five, they were armed, and they were totally outclassed by the whirlwind that tore through them. In the aftermath of the slaughter, the girl poked her head out from behind a stack of boxes and stared up at him. She smiled up at him hesitantly.

"Thanks!" she caroled up at him. He found himself kneeling in front of her and staring at her from close up. The girl blinked in confusion at his keen stare before kissing him soundly on the cheek. Ryoga was startled by the kiss and fell down in shock. He took another look around and decided not to leave her here alone. The strongest man in Nerima took her by the hand and the two of them left the alleyway.

"So…what's your name squirt?" he asked to make conversation. The little girl didn't let go of his hand as the two of them wandered along. She was happy to just smile and skip along but at his question she turned to him.

"My name's Alexandra. Alex for short. Who are you?" she asked Ryoga. As he prepared to tell her, a voice stopped them.

"What are you doing with my daughter?" the man who asked was dressed in a plain white t-shirt and gray sweatpants. His hair was black was cut short, almost military style, with piercing eyes of blue and green. The little squealed happily and ran to her father. The man scooped her up and held her close even as his eyes bored into Ryoga's.

"Uh…My name's Ryoga Hibiki…I was just helping her…" he managed to say.

"It's true Daddy! He's almost as strong as you!" little Alex said cheerfully. Her father looked to her with a smile before looking back to Ryoga.

"My name is Alexander Marx." The man said to the now speechless youth. The Lost Boy felt depressed for being in this man's sight. He remembered who Ranma's fiancée was and he realized that his luck took him right to her father. He just wanted to get away from everything that would remind him of his dishonor.

"What's the matter son? You look a little down. Come on home with me and we'll talk about it. You did help my daughter after all." Alexander said to him before beckoning the youth onward. That was the other reason he was depressed. He wasn't supposed to use his martial arts but he had. Then again, there could hardly be any dishonor in saving a child. Maybe he'd ask this pinnacle of the fighting world. Everyone had heard of Alexander the Great.

"Well sir, I-I did some things that were pretty unforgivable." He started to say. Without further ado, he launched into the whole sordid tale of why he was here without mentioning Akane's name. It was painful and cathartic to tell someone. He half expected to be suddenly turned away but by the end of his tale a hand was on his shoulder.

"I can tell it hurts you quite a bit. You did the right thing in trying to seek your honor but the stain can't ever be erased if you don't tell the young woman whom you dishonored. However, I can also tell that you're not ready to go back yet. You can stay with Alex and me since I have been looking for a new student." Alexander said to Ryoga. The Lost Boy openly wept at the offer. Why should he be shown such consideration?

"Why are you doing this?" he asked incredulously. His new sensei looked at him with a wide grin that was somehow frightening.

"You won't thank me once the training starts. Believe me, you won't thank me. I will put you through the crucible and grind out your impurities. The only thing I will ask is that you never use what I teach you for impure ends. Only use these skills to protect the weak and in the betterment of the Art. By the time you are done you will be greater than ever before but until the stains on your honor are cleansed then it will mean nothing. That you will have to deal with on your own." Sensei said to Ryoga. The Lost Boy nodded in wonder. The man smiled and passed his daughter to Ryoga to carry for awhile. Strangely enough, Ryoga found it easy to follow the good man that had agreed to teach him.

"Well, I also met your daughter. She's engaged to Ranma Saotome and is a pretty good martial artist. Though her curse is a real prize too. She got lucky there." The boy said easily. Alexander and Alex both stared at the boy.

"My sister is cursed?" she exclaimed in shock. Ryoga realized that her family probably didn't know about that until he told them.

"What happened to my daughter?" Alexander demanded. He was really in the hot seat now. It was then that he decided to just go for broke and mentioned how they first met. Ryoga's defense was that he thought she was just an ordinary wolf.

"Okay, she was bigger than an ordinary wolf but I just assumed she was an animal. After I knocked her away, Ranma punched me into the next ward." The tundra wouldn't be plausible, but the ward would. "Her curse is actually one of the better ones and she likes it. Mine is a little black piglet and Ranma's is a girl. Out of the three of us hers is actually pretty cool." Ryoga said as they reached the man's house. It was a two story house with a dojo behind it. He asked what state they were in and was told they were in San Francisco.

"Well, I'm going to get dinner ready. You get washed up. Alex, show him where the bathroom is, k?" Alexander said before quickly gathering things together. The house was nice and to his surprise he found that he didn't have to follow the little girl as closely as he thought, but he still found himself veering off course.

"Daddy is teaching me martial arts as well. I can't wait to see what he starts you on! This is going to be so cool!" Alex said cheerfully before leaving him to wash up in the bathroom. It was definitely a western bathroom. As he washed his hands, he happened to notice his reflection in the mirror and gave himself a smile.

"Maybe…the kami don't hate me after all." He murmured before cleaning up and heading down to dinner. Tomorrow would start the first day of his new life and new challenges to go with it.

End Chapter

Author's Notes: Whew…sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I didn't want to release it until it was up to my normal standards. The story will still focus on Ranma and Kat, but I couldn't just leave Ryoga out in the cold. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. Until next time, ja ne!