Author's Note: Lime Warning
Chapter 31 Kuno Gets a Message
April had come, so the new school year had started. On their first day of class, Ranma and Akane walked hand-in-hand into their classroom. Their classmates had gotten used to that sight by now. They weren't expecting the Four Horsemen of the Christian Apocalypse to ride through the schoolyard anymore. Stars weren't falling from the sky, the sun was still rising in the east, no natural disasters were happening.
As they made their way to their respective desks, Ranma was glad to see that Ukyo was sitting at her desk. She smiled at him, a little wanly, her beautiful face a bit sad, but the pain that he was afraid that he was going to see was missing. 'Thank you, Ryoga. I don't know what ya said ta her, but I owe ya one,' he thought. Ryoga was sitting next to Ukyo, watching her intently.
As Akane sat down, a stray ray of sunlight came through the window and caught on one of the facets of her ring, causing the ring to glow. Yuki saw it and squealed in excitement. "Akane, what's that?" she said, pointing.
"Nothing much," Akane deadpanned, "Just my engagement ring." All of the girls, except for Ukyo of course, rushed to her desk. Everyone oohed and ahed in amazement and wonder. The guys started to approach Ranma but when they saw the stormy look on his face, they all scattered to their desks, wisely deciding that he wasn't in the mood for being teased. Finally, the sensei walked into the room and called it to order. Ranma and Akane refused the notes their friends tried to pass them.
At lunch, Ranma and Akane snuck off for some privacy. He had picked her up and bounded out to the windowsill of their classroom and then up to the roof of the school. There they sat down to enjoy their bentos. Ranma opened his and looked at it suspiciously. Feeling his fiancées gaze upon him, he closed his eyes and ate the first bite. He opened his eyes in surprise and said, "Acchan, this tastes really good. It looks a bit odd, but that's okay." She sighed in relief, and then bristled slightly. Ranma quickly finished the rest of his lunch and smiled at his lovely fiancée. "Akane, it's all good. You did a good job," he said warmly. He leaned over and kissed her. Suddenly, she felt so much better.
"Ranma," she said hesitantly, "now that we're engaged, there's one or two things that we need to change." Ranma gulped.
"About your speech habits. Do you really want to sound like a dumb jock the rest of your life?" she said sweetly, hitting him with her most winsome look.
Ranma stared back at her, like a pole axed ox and said, "No, dear, whatever you want."
"Promise me you'll try to use proper grammar. I know you can do it," she said, batting her eyes at him.
"Sure, Acchan," Ranma said, and then he added with a smirk, "You're right, though, I do need ta learn ta talk, er I mean, to speak correctly."
'Well, that went easier than I thought it would,' Akane thought to herself.
"I'm getting tired of sounding like Pop, anyway," Ranma continued, "He's definitely the dumb martial artist in person. That's not a good role model. It'll take a while, but I do need ta, sorry, to change my speech if I want to impress people when we start to really teach. You'll need to help, dear."
She leaned over and kissed him. "It's a deal," she said, "I'll just glare at you if you backslide."
The bell signaling the end of the lunch period sounded, so Ranma picked Akane up and jumped to the next level down. From there he jumped to the top of one of the covered entryways and then down to the ground. He was about to set her down, when they were interrupted by Kuno's voice. "Hold, varlet, unhand the fair Akane Tendo. A vile rumor has reached my ear. I, Tatewaki Kuno, upperclassman, the Rising Star of Furinkan High, the undefeated champion, also known as the Blue Thunder, forbid this engagement. I will soundly thrash you, Saotome, and free the fair Akane from your sorcerous grasp."
"Right, Kuno. You and what army?" Ranma smirked as he swung Akane down to the ground. Akane was glowing bright red she was so furious. Kuno charged Ranma, swinging his katana blade, attempting to cut Ranma down where he stood. Ranma dodged but the blade caught his arm, cutting it deeply. Before Ranma could do anything, Akane fired a ki blast with all of the energy she had gathered to protect the man she loved. The blast hit Kuno dead on in his chest and knocked him into a nearby tree hard enough to drop the tree on top of him.
Akane stormed over to Kuno and screamed at the semi-conscious Kuno, "You don't tell me who I can date, much less who I can marry!!! What I do with my life is none of your business, you samurai-wanna-be. The next time you pull a stunt like this, I won't hold back!" Kuno stared at her, his eyes beginning to glaze over, and then he passed out from the pain. With that, she claimed his sword, stormed back and grabbed Ranma by his good arm and dragged him off towards Tofu's clinic.
A total silence fell. One of the braver students finally walked over to Kuno and checked on him. He said, "We'd better get the nurse. He's out cold, fortunately. He's got a broken arm for sure."
Akane burst through the door of her brother-in-law's clinic. Tofu looked up startled and then sprang into action. He quickly disinfected the wound and stitched it up with several very neat strokes. "What caused this, Akane? It looks like he was cut by that sword blade," he asked.
"That's what it was, all right. That baka Kuno attacked Ranma with this katana blade. Ranma didn't dodge quickly enough, because I took too long to get out of his arms. I want to call the police and press assault charges. I'm tired of this," she said, angrily, "I may have really hurt Kuno when I hit him. He needs to be stopped before I do something I'll regret."
Tofu called the local precinct office and spoke briefly to someone there. He came back and said, "They'll send someone over here to take your statement, Akane. They already have an officer going over to the school. Kuno is already at the hospital. I'm afraid you broke his arm, and he may have a cracked rib or two as well, according to the desk officer."
Akane stared at him in shock. Ranma winced as he put arms around her and hugged her. "Acchan, it's not your fault. You were trying to protect me. I just thought that after all the work we did last week, you would've been more in control," he said gently as she began to cry on his shoulder.
"I know, Ranchan, I should have kept it under control. But when I saw all that blood coming out of your arm, I got so angry with Kuno. I just lost it, I'm sorry," she said, sobbing.
"It's all right, dear. You may have overreacted a bit, is all. Remember what I said about staying in control of your emotions," Ranma replied, chiding her gently, "I think this lesson will teach you that. I'm just sorry it had to happen this way."
"Ranma, you need to take it easy. Once the officer is done with you, both of you need to go home. You need some rest. You did lose a lot of blood," Tofu said.
A middle-aged officer walked into the clinic. He asked, "Is there an Akane Tendo here?"
Akane lifted her head from Ranma's shoulder and said, "Here." The officer looked aghast at the bloody katana blade that Akane had dropped on the floor. Akane related what had happened, with Ranma and Tofu adding comments as appropriate. The officer took down the statements from all three of them, and took photographs of the damage to Ranma's arm. He then carefully collected the katana blade.
Ranma said, "When your done with that katana blade, I believe it belongs to us now."
"I understand, sir. I'll need your shirt as evidence as well, Mr. Saotome," the officer said politely. Tofu helped him pull it off and then Ranma handed it to the officer. After taking Akane's fingerprints, he said, "Miss Tendo, I suggest you go home. You look pretty shaken yourself." He handed her his business card and then bowed. He then turned and left the clinic.
Tofu said, "Call me when you get home, you two. If you need me for anything, I'll close up early."
Akane helped Ranma off the exam table and then, with one arm around his waist, helped him walk home. "Thanks, Acchan. I am a bit woozy," Ranma said, a little groggily. By the time Akane had gotten Ranma to their home, he was feeling a bit better.
As they entered the house, Kasumi greeted them. She looked at the shirtless Ranma and saw the stitches in his arm. Then she frowned when she noticed his pale color and said, "Tofu called to let me know what had happened. Let's get him into bed where he can warm up. I've got some broth cooking in the kitchen to help with the blood loss." Akane helped Ranma get up the stairs to his room and into his futon. She crawled in with him and held her fiancé in her arms. Kasumi entered the room, carrying two bowls of broth.
Akane helped him sit up while Kasumi fed him. After finishing the first bowl, and nearly the second, Ranma said, rustily, "Enough, Kasumi-chan. Believe it or not, that bottomless pit I call a stomach is full." His color was back to near normal, and he grinned at her weakly. Kasumi sighed in relief that he was bouncing back from what could have been a serious injury. Ranma leaned forward and kissed her lightly, and then turned and kissed Akane. "Thanks for worrying about me, Kasumi-chan. You too, Acchan. Between the two of you though, I'm in good hands," he said.
"You need to get a little sleep, Ranchan. That will help you heal quicker as well," Kasumi said, "I'll make sure no one disturbs you."
"Don't worry, Sis. I'll take care of him," Akane said. The two girls left the room, Akane going to her room and Kasumi going back to the kitchen with the bowls. Ranma was just starting to get comfortable, when Akane came back in. She had changed out of her school uniform and was carrying her pillow. She climbed into the futon next to him, blushing as she realized he was just wearing his boxers and t-shirt.
"Acchan, not that I mind, but what are you doing?" Ranma asked in surprise.
"Like I told Kasumi, I'm taking care of you," Akane replied. Ranma thought about that for second and then smiled. Akane snuggled up to his back. "Now, you just close your eyes and try to get some rest, Ranchan," she ordered.
"Acchan, thanks for helping today. I could have beaten him, even with this arm, but I would have lost a lot more blood," he said sleepily.
She smiled happily and said, "I'm going to be your partner, Ranchan. That means I'll guard your back, just like you'll guard mine." She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of his breathing as he drifted off to sleep.
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As Gemna Saotome began sweeping the step in front of the Ono Clinic, he began to feel nervous. Someone was watching him, he was sure of it. Frantically staring into the surrounding area, he didn't see anything, but he knew someone was out there. Finally, a tall, slender man, with long, black hair came into view. He asked, politely, "Excuse me, but are you Gemna Saotome?"
Gemna asked, rudely, "Who wants ta know?"
"I'm sorry, my name is Mousse. We have an acquaintance or two in common, and they suggested that I look you up," Mousse said.
"Who are they and why would they suggest that?" Gemna asked, nervously.
"I believe you call her Shampoo, and as to why she suggested I meet you, you'll have to ask her. However, I would have found you soon enough anyway," Mousse replied. As he spoke, he jumped back, chains coming out of his robes to entangle Gemna as he tried to run away. Several blunt weapons then began coming out of the robes, each one hitting Gemna in one sensitive spot or another. Gemna let out a roar and tried to charge Mousse, but the chains had tied his legs together, so he fell forward and hit his head, knocking him out. Unfortunately for him, that didn't save him from being pummeled severely by the remaining weapons that Mousse had already thrown in reaction. After checking Gemna out, and realizing that he would be unconscious for several hours, Mousse replaced his weapons into his robes, and hoisted the bruised and battered body onto his shoulder. He carried him into the clinic and called out, "Hello, is there anyone here?"
Tofu walked out, drying his hands with a towel, "Oh, what happened to Mr. Saotome?"
"My name is Mousse. I'm afraid that I happened to him. I needed an outlet for some of my aggression and he provided a convenient punching bag. Where do you want him?" Mousse replied.
Tofu led him to an examination room, and Mousse dumped Gemna onto the table. "I'm afraid he might have a mild concussion, Doctor," Mousse said. He bowed politely and left.
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Sometime later, Ranma began to stir. He glanced at the alarm clock and saw that it was nearly 4:00. He began to move, but Akane's arms pulled him back against her body. He blushed as he realized what was pressing against his back. He slowly rolled over to look at his fiancée. She opened her eyes and pulled him into a passionate kiss, crushing him against her, the thin material of her blouse allowing him to feel her nipples against his chest. He slid his hands under the back of her blouse, the touch of his hands against her bare skin electrifying. She moaned in pleasure as he switched to kissing her neck. Akane hesitated, and then slowly began unbuttoning her blouse, allowing it to gape open. Ranma looked into her eyes and saw the permission there. He began to slowly kiss the hollow between her breasts and then to plant little butterfly kisses on her exposed flesh. As one of his hands slid around to cup her breast, she began to shiver.
She started to run her hands over his chest, and then pulled his undershirt off over his head, allowing her to caress his strong chest. He crushed her to his body and they began kissing passionately. The feel of her nipples against his chest was beginning to drive him wild. They were beginning to get lost in their passion, when from the doorway they heard Kasumi say, "Oh my! I guess Ranma is feeling much better!"
Ranma jumped away from Akane and she turned and glared at her sister, almost with a feeling of rage. "Sorry, you two lovebirds, but if someone else saw this you'd be getting married tomorrow," Kasumi said, frowning slightly at them.
Akane lay there panting, trying to catch her breath. Then she smiled and said, "I don't think I would mind that, really." She pulled her blouse closed, but left it unbuttoned.
Ranma lay there stunned at what had almost happened. "I'm not sure I want to wait even that long, Kasumi-chan," he said.
Kasumi giggled, and then said, "I think that's just the hormones talking you two." Then she frowned, and added, "The reason I came up is that Tofu called. Apparently today is the day to beat up on Saotomes. A young man wearing white robes with long black hair attacked your father. The young man said his name was Mousse, when he dragged your father back to the clinic. He was beaten pretty badly, but there's no permanent damage. Tofu said not to come over, that he'd bring your father home when he regains consciousness."
"Mousse, that's the name of the guy that is chasing Shampoo. She said she saw him at Ucchans, but she said she made it clear that she wasn't interested in him," Ranma said, as he sat up. "I wonder if it counted as a formal challenge for her hand," he mused.
"Wouldn't he have to fight her next, Ranchan?" Akane asked.
"As I understand the tribal laws, yes. First he has to fight and beat her Airen in a formal challenge for her hand, and then he has to beat Shampoo in a formal challenge as well. There's a set formula for the challenges as well. We need to talk to Shampoo when she gets home tonight. Of course, he might have wanted to beat up on Pop just on general principles," Ranma said, with a smirk. Then he looked at Kasumi and said, "Since I doubt you're gonna let us continue with what we were doing, I guess I'll get dressed and watch some television. Acchan, you'll have to teach the training sessions with Kasumi and Nabiki until Tofu takes the stitches out. I'll watch and then we can compare notes at night. Besides, that way you can take some of your frustrations out on Kasumi for interrupting us." Akane began giggling at the look of horror Kasumi gave her. Ranma reached around for his pants and put them on, and then stood up. "Maybe I'll have a cold shower first," he continued as he walked awkwardly out of the room.