Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh! belongs to Kazuki Takahashi, and Real Bout High School belongs to Reiji Saiga and Sora Inque.
A/N: Well, it's that time again. Time for me to start writing and drive myself insane in the process with writer's block. Another case coming my way, and nothing can keep it from me.
This part will offer a shed of light on why Ranma ran away.
- - - - - - -
Some Time Before...
- - - - - - -
Ranma-chan was running. She was scared, so very scared.
Scared? But she feared nothing outside cats! What could cause her to run in fear?
Looking back, she could see nothing but the streets behind her, and she stopped. Looking around, keeping her senses about her, she sensed nothing.
Until something slammed into her.
As she slid along the ground, she looked panickedly for her assailant. Only to find naught but the empty streets. Biting her lip, she got back up.
She was slammed back into a wall and pummelled in the gut.
This continued. She would get up to fight, only to be struck down again.
Soon enough, she was on the ground, crying and begging for the thing to stop.
And it made itself visible, her assailantS.
No... Not them...
Ranma-chan cried more as she was lifted into the air by the man, only to be pummelled some more by the female. Both were ruthless and let her not a moment to breathe, much less run.
He lift her again, by the throat.
She smashed a fist into her stomach.
Ranma-chan gasped, just before the pressure started on her throat.
She struggled, gasping for air that would not reach her lungs.
The pain.
The helplessness.
The sheer and utter agony.
And the pain, like a knife in her heart.
Her so called fiance, Akane Tendo.
And her so called friend, Ryoga Hibiki.
Had both hurt her beyond belief.
She cried out her pain, then all was black.
- - - - - - -
Ryoko woke with a start, a light cry escaping her lips as she shot up into a sitting position. The horror... She could remember... She could remember how it happened... And she couldn't stop the tears.
"Ryoko..."
She knew that voice. Looking up, she hoped she wasn't hallucinating again. "Shizuma?"
"Yeah, it's me, Ryoko... Why are you crying? Is it... about your problems?"
"Ryoko!"
Ryoko turned to find Hitomi there, and she smiled. "Hitomi... You both came all the way here...? Why?"
"What are you talking about, Ryoko? You know we would never leave you by yourself in your time of need."
"My time of need?"
Hitomi and Shizuma looked at each other before blinking audibly.
"We saw the Tendos in Daimon. They were asking questions. We tried to point them away, to Juuban, but they got wind you came here."
Ryoko didn't like that. It seemed her ex-family was more persistant than she thought. It seemed her assailants weren't done with her.
"I saw Akane yesterday... And Ryouga..."
Hitomi gasped while Shizuma looked confused.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Akane... She attacked me..."
"You won the fight, right?" Looking into Shizuma's half-excited, half-worried eyes, Ryoko couldn't find the will to lie and say she won. So, she told the truth instead.
"I lost..."
"She's that strong?"
"No, it's just... I couldn't bring myself to hurt someone weaker than me without just cause... Too many memories involved..."
Shizuma only nodded his head in acceptance. He could tell when not to push with Ryoko, he only knew that all too well. "Alright. Problem can't be solved with fists. So, she did this to you?"
"Shizuma..."
"Ryoko, wait. Just let me say my piece." Ryoko was about to complain, was about to tell him not to say it, but something stopped her. Looking into his determined gaze, she could only nod.
"I know you don't want her to get hurt, but, it seems to me, her lack of resistance is what got her to be what she is now. Violent. She thinks all problems can be solved with her fists. It's like a child that steals from their parents. They will continue to do it, possibly to others, until they're caught."
"Now, what if it was a cop who caught the child?" He asked, causing Ryoko's eyes to go wide. "Same situation. People ignored her violent tendencies, and made her susceptible to police questioning. Her little display of violence against you, unprovoked, proves how out of control she is. I saw, toss her in a cell and throw the key away!"
"But, Shizuma..."
"Ryoko... You must understand..." He said, placing a hand on her cheek while cupping her chin. "I won't allow someone to hurt you without just retribution. If you can't fight back, I'll do it for you."
"Shi..." She was about to tell him how touched she was, but his lips to hers stopped her. She was, at first, surprised, but quickly settled into the kiss, returning it.
Then, the door opened.
Ryoko heard a few gasps and the clatter of a tray on the floor, and pulled back swiftly, blushing brightly as she looked.
Yugi and everyone else stood there. Yugi had a dropped tray in front of him, and was staring in shock. Ryoko, thinking this was too perfect, decided to tease him. "Are you so surprised to find out your older sister is in love with a man?"
"But... but..."
"Don't worry about it, Yugi. He knows, and he helped me to accept who I am now."
Yugi, eyeing Shizuma a bit like he was protective of Ryoko, moved back to leave. "I'll... go get another tray of breakfast for you, Ryoko. Would your... friends... like some food?"
"Oh, we ate on the way here." Was Hitomi's quick reply, saving Shizuma from making a fool of himself.
Yugi left, while the others stayed.
Once Yugi returned, Ryoko told them of her dream.
"Was that what happened to you?"
"I don't remember it too well, but yes, I believe it was. Just minus all the shadows."
"Weird"
"Kaiki kuso..."
As one, everyone stopped. Then, they turned to Yugi.
"What? Am I not allowed to use profanity?"
"Just... not used to hearing you use it, brother dear."
"Get used to it. Maybe I'll punch that bitch next time..."
Suddenly, Ryoko was a bit scared of her little brother, who was normally so adverse to violence.
Shizuma, being a stupid monkey, just laughed and patted Yugi on the shoulder. "That's the way, buddy! Nothing like getting stress out of your system, especially when someone important to you is hurting, right?"
Yugi, suddenly liked his possible brother-in-law.
After all, they were both of age...
Maybe he'd be an uncle!
That would be awesome!
Ryoko stopped for a moment, thinking back.
- - - - - - -
Flashback...
- - - - - - -
Ranma-chan knew just pain. She knew not where she was, nor what had happened. All she knew was pain. She woke in a ditch, and crawled her body agonizingly out of it. Crawling along the ground, she looked for any landmarks she might recognize.
None found. In fact, she had no idea where she was.
A man was jogging past, on his way to catch a bus to the airport. Sure, his plane wasn't for a day or two, but he was on Standby anyways. They said they had openings today!
Modoka wouldn't miss him too much...
He stopped when he saw the hurt girl, their gazes met.
He bent down next to her.
"Are you alright?"
"N-no... Hurt... bad..."
"Come on then, let's take you with me."
"But... Ronin..."
This caused the man to pause for a moment. But, being a man of the world, he more felt respect for her designs of honor than disgust for her lack of familial ties.
"All the more reason to take you home. I can't leave a hurt girl alone here."
Ranma-chan felt happy for once in a long time, as the man slung her over his shoulder. She knew she couldn't fight, she knew she was at his mercy...
But it was just a matter of trust.
- - - - - - -
"And that's my story."
"Well, well. Quite a story. Being we've heard some things of the like from Nerima, I could believe it."
"You do?"
"Sure. I'm a man of the world, not a man of Japan. I've known there was magic out there for some time. In fact, I have been to Jusenkyou."
"YOU HAVE!" Ranma-chan asked in shock.
"Yes. But I only have one thing to show for it."
"Not a curse, I hope..."
"No."
He went and brought back a veil.
"Nyannichuan." He said, sending a shiver up her spine.
"I wish to offer you an out. You can douse yourself with this, locking yourself in girl form forever and become my daughter, or you could join as my son/daughter. Your decision."
Ranma-chan was touched. He was willing dishonor for taking in a Ronin, just for her happiness. She couldn't help but smile and made her decision.
The veil was emptied over her head.
He smiled.
"Now, welcome home... Ryoko Mitsurugi."
- - - - - - -
End Flashback...
- - - - - - -
Ryoko was a little emotional before, now she was downright moved by all the memories and actions of her friends and family.
She was about to speak when the unthinkable happened.
Tofu rushed in. "Ryoko! Hide! The Tendos are here!"
Ryoko was shocked beyond belief.
Setting her jaw, she decided. "Send them in."
"But..."
"No buts. If I don't confront them, they'll chase me to eternity. Send them in."
Tofu, thinking of how wise, yet unwise, this action was. Nodded his head once before heading back out.
Ryoko, though, was nervous as heck. What if they saw through her guise? What if they tried to declare her a ruse? Worst they could say is she was burakumin or the like. Maybe even denounce her for loving another man. Homosexuality was a big stink in Japan, after all.
Only... was she a homosexual? No. She was a GIRL, in love with a BOY. It was RIGHT. And boy, did that KISS feel RIGHT too...
The Tendos and others rushed in.
And the action was immediate.
Yugi and his friends formed a protective cocoon aroud Ryoko's bed, while Shizuma moved beside the girl to protect her should someone get too close.
"RANMA! PREPARE TO DIE"
"RANMA NO BAKA"
"RANMA, HOW DARE YOU RUN FROM US"
"RANMA, BE GOOD AND COME BACK FOR YOUR OLD MAN'S RETIREMENT"
"RANMA, YOU ARE NOT A MAN AMONG MEN!"
Everyone protecting Ryoko looked at her.
"Just the ramblings of some crazy people. Someone call the police."
Shizuma, realizing what she was getting at, grinned. He handed her his cell phone, to the horror of the Tendo Dojo crew. Ryoko grinned and dialed a number. She got a ringtone.
Ryoko smiled as someone picked up.
The Tendos, too frozen in horror, did not move to stop her.
"Hello? Captain Tanaka? This is Ryoko."
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. How are you?"
"Yes, well, I have a few... visitors..."
"Oh, of course. Thank you."
She hung up.
The Tendos made to run but Tofu blocked them.
Only Ryouga wasn't trying to run away. He was running AT RYOKO.
"RANMA! HOW DARE YOU CALL THE POLICE ON AKANE!"
He batted past Yugi and his friend, knocking Yugi and Anzu unconscious. Ryoko screamed in outrage and leapt to attack.
She executed a perfect pair of aerial spin-kicks that left Ryouga dazed. Finally, a landing, and a flip kick knocked Ryouga into the wall.
Noticing the damage, and looks of shock on Jounouchi and Hiroshi's faces, she turned to Tofu. "Sorry, doctor. I'll pay for the damage..."
"That will not do. I will simply have RYOUGA pay for it. He broke the wall with his body, after all."
"You... RANMA! STOP PICKING ON POOR RYOUGA!"
Only, Ryoko was no longer Ranma. And Ryoko no longer honored her long ago promise. Never hit a girl. Never hit a girl KNOWINGLY, he had revised after Ukyou showed up. With Kiima, it was never hit a girl knowingly without just cause. Now, it was beat the hell out of anyone who deserves it.
Ryoko blocked the sloppy haymaker punch, and delivered an axe kick to Akane's shoulder.
Akane went down.
Of course, though, Ryoko was out of practice. She hadn't necessarilly forgotten her martial art, just sworn to not use them again unless in dire need. THIS was dire need. However, several years of non-use left rust on her skills.
Genma and Soun attacked as one, along with the renewed Ryouga. Ryoko stood not a chance.
After she was down, Shizuma joined the battle. One Kamui blast later, the Tendo group was all out cold.
Shizuma turned, to find Tofu already checking Ryoko over. "Is she hurt bad, doc?"
"Mostly superficial damage. A number of bad bruises here..." He points to her stomach, now bare. "And, unfortunately, here..." He points to a blackening spot high on her left breast. This view of cleavage was quite a treat to Shizuma, but worry for Ryoko's wellbeing topped that. "But they'll all heal. The one on her chest should heal in a day. It's a bad hit, but the damage is mostly superficial. Should heal quickly."
"Thank god..."
"Thank A god, Shizuma. I think someone up there finally likes this girl..."
"Yeah..."
- - - - - - -
The Tendos awoke in a ditch.
Akane found a note in her pocket.
'Enjoy crawling back, you bitch.
Without love, Ryoko Mitsurugi'
Her profanity could be heard for miles.
- - - - - - -
There we are! Part 3 is done. Now, I left it with a form of closure, so I could either stop here and not continue, or keep going. I'll try to give ever chapter closure from now on. So if I lose interest, you'll have an ending of sorts.
So, what's next...
Find out in the possible Part 4.
Until next time I write, this is RankoSaotome of WildToushi, signing out.
