Chapter 40: Putting Love in the Ring

"Akane, please. Every member of the team is injured," the one girl begged.

The Furinkan Rhythmic Gymnastics team looked a sorry lot in their current state. Various bandages and bruises showed the results of the ambushes they'd suffered. Seated on the floor of Akane's bedroom looking up at her with pleading eyes Akane felt she couldn't resist their request.

"I would like to help," Akane began, "But I don't really know all that much about gymnastics."

"Don't worry! This is a match of martial arts gymnastics!"

Akane blinked in confusion. Why was that a thing? And how did schools in Nerima get away with this stuff anyway?

"It's simple really," a girl was explaining, "You use the tools of gymnastics to force your foe from the ring. Even with just your martial arts skills, you've got a good shot."

"I have a week to practice?" Akane paused as the girls nodded. "I'll do my best to avenge you then."

"We knew we could count on you!"

"Waaah!" Akane yelped while the ribbon tied in a knot around her.

She landed on the dojo floor with an unpleasant thud. The tatami mat flooring wasn't as soft as one might think. Akane had known that from many previous falls throughout her life of course, so there was no surprise there. Untangling herself from the ribbon was proving surprisingly difficult however.

What she'd give to have Hibari or Ran around to help-she froze. How could she think that? After they turned her into the butt of a joke? She was going to manage this herself, even if the tools were a bit tricky. She'd just have to concentrate.

"Are you okay?" Kousaku asked, sliding the door open to check on her.

Then he saw what she was wearing and turned bright red. The leotard left fairly little to the imagination, even with the extra layer of ribbon wrapped around parts of her (if anything, that accentuated the look). His eyes were quickly drawn to Akane's muscular legs, showing so completely.

"Hey! No staring you perv!" Akane protested as she finally pulled herself free. She didn't feel like giving him the benefit of the doubt she'd been providing him, not with Ranma's deception further damaging her opinion of boys.

"I-I wasn't staring! I swear!" Kousaku replied in a panic. Akane's icy glare caused him to yelp and turn around. "I just heard a cry and wanted to see if you were okay."

"Pfeh, you were probably peeking the whole time."

A flustered Kousaku beat a hasty retreat. Akane was clearly in a mood and he knew he wasn't durable enough to handle more than one of those a week. He made his way to the family room and decided to try to watch some TV. Unfortunately Nabiki chose then to walk in carrying a magazine.

"Very smooth with Akane. I'm sure she'll be head over heels with you in no time," the middle Tendo girl said dryly as she found a seat. '"I suppose like all the other boys at Furinkan you like the challenge? Most of them have given up by now though."

Kousaku glared at Nabiki for a few moments, but the icy stare she returned cowed him. Staring at the floor for a moment he composed his thoughts.

"I just want to be friendly. If we're having to live under the same roof and everything... I thought I was making progress."

"Doesn't hurt that she's cute though, does it?" Nabiki asked with a predatory grin.

"Heh," Kousaku began, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Nah, I suppose it doesn't."

Nabiki seemed to lose interest in the conversation and began to read through her magazine. Kousaku barely heard as she muttered under her breath: "Boys. So predictable."

Akane was exhausted from struggling in the dojo all afternoon. She just wanted to lie in bed and not move for a couple days. She'd definitely made progress though. Collapsing onto the soft mattress she was about to close her eyes when she noticed something on her ceiling. Or perhaps more technically someone on her ceiling.

The leotard clad girl had propped herself impressively into the ceiling tiles. She held an oversized mallet behind her and a black rose in her mouth. Akane barely had time to be confused before the girl was dropping down towards her (mallet in hand now).

"Prepare to fight, Tendo Akane!"

The youngest Tendo girl barely dodged in time. Akane hastily adopted a fighting stance while staring the girl down.

"Who on earth are you?" she asked, trying to keep her exhaustion out of her voice.

"I am you opponent. Hebereke's star gymnast: Kodachi, the Black Rose!" Kodachi declared haughtily. "Now, let us fight in all fairness!"

As Akane dodged the girl's wild mallet swings she had to wonder how this was supposed to be fair. Then she remembered what the girls on the Furinkan team had said about being ambushed.

"So you're the coward who only wins fights by ambushing people!" Akane said, while dodging the girl's attacks. (Training with Ran and Hibari had really paid off, and this was honestly easy.)

"Such a nasty term for it. I merely believe in fighting fairly before the match. It saves everyone time, after all," Kodachi proclaimed while missing with another mallet swing. "Now... stop dodging!"

Akane had no intention of taking that advice and continued to swerve about her room. Her eyes drifted towards shinai in the corner. It would even out the reach issue, but couldn't take a blow from that mallet. She had no parrying options.

Then she noticed an opening as Kodachi overprepared a swing and Akane shot in. Moving inside the mallet's swing arc Akane landed a fist into the taller girl's gut. Kodachi's grip on the mallet broke as the blow winded her.

Akane couldn't help a small smirk. She'd been right. The haughty girl was as fragile her overdone haircut implied.

"So you are good," Kodachi gasped as she regained her breath. "Well, perhaps another day!"

The tall gymnast produced her ribbon and began to spin it about. Suddenly a storm of black rose petals spread across Akane's room as a cackling Kodachi leapt out the window.

Seeing her room a disaster Akane rushed over to the window and shouted into the pouring rain: "Do you expect me to have to clean up this mess? You'll pay for this!"

Kodachi sneered from her position on the Tendo roof, grumbling about the weather. She should have checked the forecast before deciding to launch her little surprise. Fuming she turned to hop home when a small piglet came bounding across the rooftop towards her. The small thing looked lost and wild eyed. The way it moved seemed to imply impossible grace for the animal.

Kodachi was distracted enough by the enigma she failed to dodge and the panicking piglet bounded off her head. Normally she may have tumbled slightly, but with the roof tiles slick from the rain she slipped and began to fall the two storey drop to the ground below.

Kousaku sighed. Why did they make him take out the trash in the rain? Akane was probably going to be up before collection anyway. Deeply annoyed he was making his way back inside when movement from above caught his attention.

A quite pretty and rather scantily clad girl was falling towards him. Only at the last second as the girl was about to collide with him did his brain realise she was headed his way, and he made a faltering attempt to catch her.

It sort of worked. He successfully broke her fall and she'd technically landed in his arms. Of course he'd landed on his rear in the process, but he hoped it wouldn't matter too much for first impressions.

Kodachi admitted it wasn't quite as princely as she might like... but he was quite handsome. And she had caught him off guard. Trying to look up in the pouring rain was probably hard. So it wasn't too ignoble. Also he was in decent shape, she could feel he was toned under his shirt.

The Black Rose clung onto her new victim and whispered in his ear: "Thank you for saving me from that dangerous situation."

Kousaku was momentarily stunned. This girl was amazing cute and clinging to him in a way that a girl never had before.

"Um, could you please tell me your name?" Kodachi asked, attempting to sound as innocent as she could. This boy seemed a bit easily overwhelmed. (Still cute though.)

"Sakamoto... Sakamoto Kousaku," he replied nervously. Something about this situation was giving him an unsettling sense of déja vu.

"Such a noble name Kousaku-sama," Kodachi said as she produced a bouquet of black flowers.

Kousaku was about to make a complaint that it was meant to be the boy giving the girl flowers when a cloud of powder burst forth from the flowers. Even in the (now lessening) rain enough reached his lungs for him to suddenly grow rigid and numb. Panic filled his heart and eyes as he found himself unable to move.

Kodachi leaned in for a kiss. "Now, kind Kousaku-sama, takes these lips of mine."

"YOU!" Akane's voice bellowed out.

Akane tossed the mallet that Kodachi had left in her room at the gymnast. It collided with Kodachi's side and the girl flew clear across the alleyway.

"You can flirt somewhere else! But you're not welcome around my home!" Akane shouted.

"Adieu, my poor Kousaku-sama!" Kodachi called out as she bounded off down the street, trying not to limp.

Akane glared down at the paralyzed Kousaku. His legs were bent under his body in an uncomfortable angle. It was sort of comedic to be honest.

"You're pathetic Sakamoto. Falling for any girl you see," Akane told the boy.

With that Akane stormed off in a huff. A moment later Nabiki and Kasumi appeared.

"Hey there, Sakamoto-kun," Nabiki laughed, "Legs fall asleep or something?"

Kousaku attempted to say 'I can't move', though what came out was more "A can oo."

"A kan u? Are you trying to say Akane?" Kasumi asked as she helped lift him. A short glance forced Nabiki to deflate a bit and assist with the grunt labour.

"I would guess 'I can't move'," Nabiki offered.

Akane glared as Kuno stood dramatically with a bokuto and bouquet. He somehow thought that his actions at the play had gotten him into her good books and was monologing away about some poetic analogy.

Akane was shifting to fight him when a sudden feeling a danger swelled behind her. Turning she saw the girl from last night pouncing towards her with a shinai. Akane found the attack quite easy to intercept.

"Would you quit that!? I have enough of people attacking me every morning!" Akane yelled at the now school uniform clad Kodachi.

"I wasn't attacking you, I merely came to visit Kousaku-sama," Kodachi replied innocently.

Kousaku paled while he watched from the entrance gate. This girl was cute, but also terrifying. He scrambled and hid behind Nabiki.

"Help," he squeaked while trying to hide behind her frame which was smaller than his own.

"1 500 yen," Nabiki replied flatly.

Kousaku was about to complain, but Kodachi was bounding over and he panicked. He shoved the cash into Nabiki's hand.

"Kousaku-sama!" Kodachi called out while peering at him under Nabiki's arm, "Are you not happy to see me?"

"He wants me to explain a little complication. You see, Sakamoto already has a girlfriend," Nabiki explained coldly.

"You? A common harlot attempting to steal my beloved!" Kodachi hissed as she glared at Nabiki.

"No. It's Akane," Nabiki replied with a smug grin.

"Wh-" Kodachi began before a louder shout interrupted her.

"WHAT!?" Akane bellowed.

"My poor little sister is just so shy," Nabiki explained, "Didn't want to have it get out. Nor risk poor Sakamoto-kun's health at the hands of every other boy at Furinkan."

A number of the male students nearby (or watching for Akane's fight from the windows) made interested grumblings.

"I'm not sure this is helping," Kousaku whispered into Nabiki's ear.

"Akane, doth this be true?" Tatewaki asked as he approached, "Hath this vile cur trapped you in a mockery of romance?"

"I'm not trapped in anything!" Akane shouted back, not sure if she wanted to glare at Kuno, Kousaku, or her sister the most.

"Harlot!" Kodachi shouted as she charged towards Akane.

Suddenly Kuno slid between the two, his arms out to block Kodachi. "Dare not to touch her sister!"

Every non-Kuno (apart from Nabiki) muttered their shock and surprise.

"Hmph, so this commoner is the target of your misguided infatuation, brother? I suppose she does resemble those photographs you have..."

"Photos!?" Akane blurted. Her glare firmly locked on Nabiki who replied with a casual shrug.

"Commoner!" Kodachi continued, pointing over her brother's arm. "Let our match be to decide Kousaku-sama's hand. When I win I shall free him from your grasp."

"I don't want his hand! We aren't dating!" Akane shouted.

Kodachi ignored her and threw a lone black rose towards Kousaku. "Fare thee well my love, until next week and your liberation."

The boy managed to catch it with surprising grace while they watched Kodachi disappear in a cloud of black rose petals.

"What is with that family and roses?" Kousaku muttered to himself.

"That twisted sister of mine doth be a most unique soul. She doth fall to Cupid's bow with ease, and once focused she shall take any road to bring said romance to fruition... Do not take thine loss too harshly, Akane," Kuno explained while handing her his bouquet.

The match was in only two days and Akane was still struggling. She'd improved significantly, but all these gymnastics tools were still foreign and new to her. At least she had Kousaku around to train with. He wasn't quite on the level of Kodachi (as best as Akane could determine), but was getting closer these days. Of course, he wasn't always consistent, as the sound of a juggling pin colliding with his forehead proved.

"How are you supposed to help me if you don't even try to dodge?" Akane was complaining when she realised Kousaku wasn't getting back up. "That knocked you out?"

As he regained consciousness Kousaku realised there was a tissue shoved up his nose. Apparently the impact of that pin had given him a major nosebleed. He also slowly became aware of a feminine presence beside him. It would be lovely to wake up to Akane fussing over him (he was sure she had a softer side, he just had to find it). Kasumi would be nice to see too, even if she was a bit intimidating with the age difference.

Opening his eyes he was rather shocked to see Nabiki... and was that a tiny hint actual concern in her eyes?

"Oh good, you woke up."

Kousaku held his head as he sat up. He tried to come up with a polite way to ask why it was Nabiki beside him. The confusion on his face was more obvious than he realised though.

"Kasumi's busy finishing dinner. She feels horrible not being able to help, but the food will burn if she leaves it right now. And Akane is off fuming. I'd say she's embarrassed. So I got stuck with nurse duty."

Kousaku nodded and tried to ignore the pain in his head.

"Kasumi will check you for a concussion later."

"Uh, right. Thank you though," Kousaku muttered. He had to be concussed, because right now his brain was telling him Nabiki looked lovely and maybe he could try his luck. At least part of him was functional enough to know that was a terrible idea.

Akane was coming back from her Sunday morning jog, which was generally twice as long as her usual (and was even longer this time with her match tomorrow), when she spotted an unbelievable sight: Nabiki leaving the house before 9 am on an weekend.

"It's got to be divine intervention, getting you up this early," Akane said as she walked up to her still drowsy sister. "That or you're possessed by a yokai or some sort."

"How witty," Nabiki grumbled. "It's the Oozoras. They had a dark secret they didn't tell me until after I signed up... they're morning people."

Akane scowled at the mention of the Oozoras. "Don't remind me about them."

"You asked," Nabiki replied flatly, before meandering off towards the train station.

Nabiki nursed the coffee that Tsugumi had given her. At least visiting the Oozoras meant she got to have some very fine French roast. Hibari, unfortunately, apparently had no concept of slow risers, and had been gabbing away too fast for Nabiki to follow before she'd assimilated enough caffeine.

As Hibari paused to munch down on a bagel, a calmer and slower voice caught Nabiki's attention.

"Hey, so... er, any chance your sis might be open to talking any time soon?" Ranma's male voice asked as the handsome boy walked into Nabiki's field of view.

Nabiki took a moment to enjoy the view, before answering. "Not likely."

"Bleh, who needs to get on her good side," Hibari muttered angrily between bights of bagel.

"I'd prefer you to make some effort at peace with her. Otherwise I suspect I'll be yelled at every time she finds out I'm visiting. And she might complain about dad's business with your father too," Nabiki replied dryly, now that her wit had begun to wake up.

"Oh, what's that?" Tsubame commented as she appeared in the hallway. "That little lying scheme of yours is still backfiring?"

Hikari shot her brunette sister an angry glare. "Fine. For once in my life I made a judgment error, are you happy?"

"For once in your life? What about your reality ignoring insistence about your femininity, little brother?" Tsubame asked smugly... before her face fell as she realized there was a guest present.

Nabiki developed a sinister grin as she turned to see Tsubame and Tsugmi's pale faces. She then turned back to Hibari, seeing the redhead glaring daggers at her sister.

"What's all this now?" Nabiki asked in blatantly false innocence.

"Tsubame failing to understand something obvious," Hibari half hissed, while not breaking her glare at Tsubame. This was followed by her hopping to her feet. "I'm. A. GIRL!"

Nabiki found herself swallowing nervously, and the shout wasn't even directed at her. Apparently, when truly riled, Hibari's temper was easily a match for Akane's. Nabiki decided it might be best not to try to profit off this discovery, not when the Oozoras had the armoury they did. She didn't quite follow though, which meant she was going to probe.

"So that's why Suzume said you understood Ranma better than he understood herself?" Nabiki asked, hoping to avoid being in the crossfire of some sibling clash. The Kunos had given her enough of that for a lifetime.

There was a period of silence before Tsubame retreated, muttering what was surely rather rude comments under her breath.

"Mhm, run away you spineless coward," Hibari fumed, before dropping herself back into her chair and turning to Nabiki. "Yeah, basically. I've given the subject way more thought than eye candy here has."

Hibari punctuated that statement with a kiss on Ranma's cheek, as the pigtailed boy had slipped into the chair beside her during the confusion.

"It's good fer both of us," Ranma replied, blushing a bit. "She helps me figure out the gender-y stuff. I teach her martial arts. We both teach the other con art tricks. It's all about sharin'."

"Wait, is this why your red 'hair dye' fades so fast sometimes? You're transforming like Ranma?" Nabiki asked. She had snuck in for photos while Ran(ma) and Hibari had been sparring with Akane once or twice, and knew she'd seen Hibari's chest looking quite feminine during a toss from Akane.

"Yep. Jusenkyo is pretty wonderful stuff," Hibari replied calmly. "Now! I had some other stuff I'd wanted to chat about, but I think you've got a lot more questions. Let's hear them."

Akane was munching on the lunch Kasumi had given her, staying outside to hold back the scent resulting from her hours of training. Sitting against the exterior wall, she stared up aimlessly at the clouds. She wasn't too bad with the tools she needed tomorrow. But she was sure she'd be at a disadvantage against Kodachi's focus on only gymnastic tools.

"You're a jerk, you know that?" Nabiki said, appearing in her field of view.

"That's golden, coming from you," Akane replied. "What's my supposed crime, that's got you preparing crocodile tears?"

"Let's just say that Oozora and Saotome noticed a little loophole in the rules for your match, and agreed to help you despite what you did."

"What I did!? I'm not the one who lied and got up to perverted nonsense! I don't want their help," Akane huffed.

"I guess I'll just tell our gymnastics team that you failed to avenge them because you let your pride get in the way," Nabiki replied, before starting to walk away.

Akane's eye twitched. She really didn't want help from her former friends but... she wasn't just doing this match for herself. Sighing, she hopped to her feet and went after Nabiki.

"Fine! What's this great loophole?"

"Five hundred yen. You missed the window for it being free."

"Mercenary," Akane grumbled as she produced the cash.

Nabiki grabbed it swiftly, smiling as she felt the money in her hand. "The rules say no hitting with your body, but they're very open on what tools you can use. Most contestants use gymnastic equipment because it's what they know. But almost nothing is actually banned from use."

"Wait. Really? I've been learning to juggle for nothing?"

"Apparently," Nabiki replied with a shrug.

Akane rushed off to grab her loaned copy of the rule book. Flipping through wildly she realized it was true. Nothing said she had to actually use gymnastic equipment. The only things listed as banned were explosives, bladed weapons, and chemical agents. There was also a note stating that the use of audience members as weapons was generally frowned upon, but not technically an illegal move. Suddenly her life was so much easier.

Kousaku made a half decent pack mule, carrying Akane's assorted equipment into the changing area as Akane and Nabiki walked behind him. The bag was majorly heavy, and she didn't want to tire herself out before the fight. Changing would have to wait until after he left though.

Walking into the room set aside as the Furinkan 'Team' change room, Akane was struck by the amount of space she'd been given.

"Nice little changing area," Nabiki commented. "Perks of a good school. Anyway, good luck out there."

"Good luck? You're actually rooting for me?" Akane asked.

"Of course. Way more people have bet on Kodachi than expected, so I'll rake in quite a bit more if you're the winner."

"Gee, thanks," Akane grumbled.

"Oh, hey, she left you flowers. That's nicer than I expected," Kousaku said as he leaned over to a large bouquet of black roses.

When he got a little too close the flowers erupted in a spray of powder that filled half the room. Nabiki and Akane ran off to the far side of the room, just to be safe, the former cracking a window as an added precaution. As the cloud cleared, the sisters were given the sight of Kousaku frozen in place.

"I han't oove," Kousaku said.

"Again, Sakamoto? You're a bad luck magnet or something," Nabiki said. "I'll go get daddy to carry you out of here."

Akane stepped out towards the arena area, and couldn't help glaring at Kodachi as she reached the ring. She probably looked awkward with all the martial arts gear strapped to her back, but winning would make up for it.

"Upset that I will be stealing Kousaku-sama away from you, peasant?" Kodachi asked, before breaking into her haughty laugh.

"There's no stealing to be done!" Akane shouted.

"Such misplaced confidence. Where is my beloved though?"

"Probably in the infirmary after getting a face full of your paralysis powder," Akane replied with a smirk.

Kodachi paled, an impressive feat with her already porcelain complexion. "I... well, it will wear off shortly! And then he will be rested and ready to receive my affection."

Akane rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure, whatever. Let's just start this fight, okay?"

Kodachi nodded and turned to the referee outside the ring.

"Begin!"

"Let's see how well those kempo toys hold up to my arsenal," Kodachi said, smirking before producing a long ribbon.

Akane decided not to waste energy talking and quietly drew a shinai. The long haired Tendo girl charged forward, hoping to take the initiative, only to have Kodachi wrap her ribbon around her shinai. Kodachi then flicked her wrist to pull the weapon from Akane's grip, but met resistance in the form of Akane's impressive grip strength. The two girls were locked in an awkward game of tug of war, until Kodachi let go of her ribbon, causing Akane to tumble back onto her back.

"Ohoho, very elegant," Kodachi laughed as a held out a hand for a teammate to toss her a ball of some sort.

Kodachi launches the ball in Akane's direction, and the young Tendo barely rolled out of the way in time as it exploded.

"Hey, wait! Explosives are against the rules!" Akane shouted to the referee.

The ref paused a moment as a diminutive pan in a ninja costume scrambled upto the ring and handed the referee a wad of cash.

"I saw no rule violation," the referee replied while casually thumbing through the money.

More explosive balls flew Akane's way, Kodachi having apparently had an arm that could have set her up as a pro baseball player, if the gymnastics didn't work out. Akane scrambled about between the explosions, having no real response, and just hoping Kodachi had a limited arsenal. Her prayers were answered when the barrage at last ended.

"Hohoho, was good dancing skills you have," Kodachi said while weighing the options for her next strike. Her eyes landed on a hula hoop and lit up as she motioned for it to be passed to her.

Akane started at the ring of plastic, unsure how it was meant to be a threat, when Kodachi quickly tossed the hoop Akane's way. In turn Akane moved her shinai to block. A split second into the blocking effort however, and she realised the hula hoop was illegally modified with a thin metallic blade running along its exterior and was going through her shinai with ease. Her eyes growing wide with fear, Akane ducked desperately, feeling the hoop slide mere millimetres above her head. This was followed by a rain of suddenly free hair falling all around her.

In her moment of shock, Akane missed the gasps from the audience (especially the girls). She did notice how her head felt oddly lighter. And that her foe was laughing hysterically.

"You should thank me for the free haircut," Kodachi said between laughs. Her expression changed very quickly when she realised the glare Akane was giving her.

"You... you... you spoiled, self-centred, egotistical..." Akane paused a moment, trying to work out a strong enough insult. Then it hit her, and she said it all the venom she could manage. "Kuno."

Trying to retain poise, Kodachi began to back away, before realising she'd gone into a corner. "I... really? You're going to try to beat me with half a shinai? That seems rather impractic-"

Thwack!

Akane proceeded to hit Kodachi over the head several times with the stubby shinai. The pain from repeated furious blows led the taller girl to curl up, shielding her head with her arms and yelping pained ows. The tattered bamboo had also caught in her hair at times, painfully pulling out whole clumps. When the blows paused, Kodachi found herself confused, looking up nervously at Akane.

"Surrender the match and I'll let you run away," Akane said, her face still furious.

"I surrender!" Kidachi yelped, before realizing what she'd said. Her lack of pain tolerance having overpowered her pride. Paling, the tall girl scrambled between the ropes, knowing she wouldn't be able to show her face at school again any time soon.

The referee stepped over and raised Akane's hand, announcing the girl the winner. Akane's mind was in no place to feel victorious however. Her hair was more than hair. It was a commitment to womanhood after a youth of tomboyism. Three years of trying to walk a new road felt like it had just been destroyed.

Akane rushed past the cheering crowd, pulled on pants and a jacket, and ran home.