Chapter 4 of The Last Grandmaster
Disclaimer, I own neither series depicted in this fic.
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to getting around to posting this one, more updates will be following within the next few days, I've just been busy.
I would also like to thank James Axelrad and Nysk for their help with this chapter.
Enjoy
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Nerv Infirmary
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"It really looks worse than what it is." Ritsuko sighed to her friend, "She has a concussion, a broken leg and multiple small cuts and burns on the right hand side of her face and body, luckily the cuts are small and frankly with her I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even leave any scarring behind."
"But she looks so fragile…" Misato quivered as she looked down at the small form laying immobile on the bed.
"Look, Shinji should be done shortly, You want my advice?" Not even giving her friend a chance to get a word in the blond doctor added, "Get Shinji, pick up Rei and go home. Even with how fast she seems to heal she won't be awake for a few days at the least."
"But…"
"Misato, don't make me ban you."
"You wouldn't…" Noting the stony gaze directed back at her Misato gasped, "You would… But…"
"Shinji, Rei, then home." Ritsuko warned before walking off and calling out over her shoulder, "I'll call you if something changes."
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Misato shot her sole male charge a worried glance, while she was aware of Shinji's distanced demeanor she could spot the subtle changes and knew that he was beating himself up over Yoiko's current injuries. Unfortunately knowing the problem and knowing what to do about it were two different things.
There were a thousand things she could say to the boy, but in the end if he didn't want to believe it then he wouldn't. She knew it hadn't been his fault, the Angel had managed to wiggle free and foul things up. Nobody could have predicted that it would have broken free at that moment. It had been an accident, and while it was serious enough to land Yoiko in the hospital the actual damage had been minimal, all things considered.
Sighing as she shot the silent girl in the backseat a concerned glance Misato had to wonder what the girl was thinking. Yoiko was a friendly sort and she would have thought that their recent time together would have bonded them at least a little but looking back at her the woman couldn't see any emotion reflected back in the girls stony face. She was aware that the girl was a bit off, that in her own way she was just as closed off to the world as Shinji.
Out of all of them herself included, only Yoiko seemed to be undamaged on the surface. Sometimes though Misato had seen glimpse of something troubling the girl, a certain restlessness. The fact that the girl seemed reckless enough to charge into a fight with no other protection than a school jumper seemed to make that point obvious. "Although… Perhaps that is my failing as well… We should be doing more for her, weapons, armor, hell she's the 4th child and no one has even bothered to give her a sync test."
Resolved to make some changes first thing in the morning once she had a chance to talk things over with Ritsuko Misato decided to make a brief pit stop. And while yes she did need more beer, the store she was planning to stop at luckily catered to both her current needs.
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Rei noticing that the car was slowing down turned her gaze away from the window to the purple haired woman driving to ask, "Why are we stopping?"
"Running a little low on beer." Misato commented before adding, "But since we're here I figure I'll pick up Yoiko something as a get well gift."
The first part made a lot of sense to Rei, the Captain did consume mass quantities of the beverage. The second part gave the girl enough pause to ask, "Is the giving of such gifts customary?"
"Depends on the situation I guess, in this case I think it is… It's more of a non verbal gesture to show somebody that you are thinking of them in cases where they might need a little support from their friends."
Rei nodded mulling the idea over in her head and how it impacted her orders before stating, "Then I too shall buy Yoiko a gift."
"Good… I'm sure she'll be touched by the gesture Rei… Shinji you coming?"
"I'm coming Misato…" Shinji muttered with another look at his hand.
She wasn't sure what had caused it perhaps she had just been waiting for an excuse, perhaps she was just venting her own frustrations out on the boy. But for whatever reason Misato just couldn't take it anymore. Slamming the car door she marched to the other side of the vehicle and forcibly yanked Shinji from the Vehicle while shouting, "IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT… It was an accident, you need to stop beating yourself up. If you truly feel bad about this then just try harder. We can only expect you to do your best and nothing more."
"Misato… But I…"
"You were hit by the angel, it was an accident, and while she did break her leg in that fall that's not what put her in the hospital. Whatever she did… However she did it… that last attack, one that she launched, blew up in her face, that's what happened. You went out there, followed your orders and held the angel in place for Yoiko to finish it off. There was nothing you did wrong."
"But…"
"No but's I'm tired of but's… You did what you were supposed to and that's the end of it."
Sighing in defeat Shinji nodded, only to be caught off guard when the woman whom had just chewed him out envelope him in a hug.
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2 day's later, Nerv infirmary
Shinji stared at the injured girl sadly, despite Misato's words he felt responsible for what happened. "I don't belong here, she's so much better at fighting than me… She should be the Pilot not me, all I'm doing is taking up a spot that should be hers… I'm sorry Yoiko… But I can't stay here any longer…"
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Meanwhile in Gendo's office
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"The UN council is showing concerns over what they claim is recless use of the fourth child, they feel that our role as her support is lacking and have made subtle suggestions that we move to rectify it."
"Schedule sync tests for units 0 and 01 once she has healed enough from her injuries. In the meantime have Katsuragi explain to her that she is not to engage in any Angel battles until she is cleared by Akagi."
Raising an eyebrow at his former student the old man asked, "Do you really think that the girl will listen?"
Leaning back in his seat Gendo shot back, "No but we do need to keep up appearances, while her arrival and continued presence is adding minor inconvenience it is nothing that we can't compensate for or even use to our advantage."
Nodding Kozo agreed, "True, any word on the release of the production models?"
"Not as of yet, but that is just a matter of time, old man."
"Oh…" Kozo started, "The Japanese ministry of intelligence has finally saw fit to deliver their files pertaining to pre second impact martial artists. Amazing stuff really, if I had not seen what that girl could do I would be writing them off as pure fantasy. Unfortunately they seem to be heavily redacted, that along with weather damage from a leak at the storage facility will make sorting through the information problematic at best."
"I head heard that there were four truck loads of boxes? Your telling me that even with all that you are still having issues sorting through the information."
"Five trucks, as I said though the files are heavily redacted and those parts that aren't seem to be odd ranting about curses and magic… Pretty much the usual mysticism that one would expect for something that seems so unreal. However I was able to come across a satellite photo of something rather interesting." Taking a large blown up photo out of a folder and sliding it across the desk to his former student Fuyutsuki added, "I believe the analysts called it a Orachi at the time. From what I have managed to gather her mother and some allies fought this creature."
"Her mother, hmm… Any idea on whom else is in this photo?" Gendo asked as he stared down at the tiny blurs upon the giant so called Orachi.
"No not at this time. Analysts are going over the photo but the only reason we can comfirm that this is the girls mother is from fragments of reports that we have managed to put together."
Staring down at the photo with a frown Gendo then asked, "Do we know where this battle took place?"
"No not yet, it's cross-referenced to a missing file. We are trying to map it using distinguishing features depicted in the photo but that is a long shot considering the massive flooding after second impact. Do you think that this was an angel?"
"Possibly, I want this matter a top priority. Take personnel from other departments if you have to but I want to know everything in those files ASAP."
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Ranma blearily opened up her eyes, she had been awake earlier and thought that she had seen Shinji standing outside her door but with the painkillers and everything else she had allowed herself to fall back asleep. Now though she was feeling better, just a slight headache and perhaps just a bit numb. Overall nothing that she wouldn't bounce back from in a week or so.
Taking in the sights of the room she noticed a small arrangement of balloons attached to a weight that was partially hidden by the card leaning against it. Wondering whom it was from she tried to adjust herself in the bed to where she was sitting up more only to pause as her arms movement displaced something.
Resuming in her trek to get comfortably situated Ranma looked down at the item she had displaced and nearly had to stifle a giggle upon laying eyes on it. It wasn't a perfect match but had it come with a tiger striped bandana it would have come very close to resembling her rival/friend.
"Hey there P-chan, long time no see… yeah I know… Just a toy…" The pigtailed girl stated with a slightly distressed sigh, "I wonder what you are doing right now?"
"Wonder what who's doing right now?"
"Hey Misato…" Ranma waved tiredly.
"Don't hey Misato me…" The purple haired woman fired back as she rapidly closed the distance between them and buried the petite redhead in a hug. "I've been worried sick about you…" Breaking away and sitting down in a chair at the side of the bed the woman continued, "What about you? How are you feeling?"
"Tired… Sore… leg itches and got a headache but that seems to be getting better." Ranma replied.
"Well, I'm not surprised, you've been out of it for two days with a concussion, the entire right upper half of your body was covered in small cuts and burns and you have a broken leg." Misato supplied with a frown before asking, "So… how's that headache again?"
"Better… I guess…" Ranma supplied unsurely.
"Good because I have something that I want to talk to you about and I wanted to make sure that you could handle it."
"I suppose…" the redhead stated slowly suddenly suspicious of the look she was receiving from the purple haired woman.
Nodding her head Misato slowly climbed to her feet, after taking a few paces she turned back and exploded, "Don't you ever do something like that again, if there is a emergency you are to report back here first so that we can coordinate our attack. Going off on your own like that was stupid, going off into a fight while still recovering from injuries is stupid, allowing yourself to get stuck several hundred feet in the air is completely stupid. You are so lucky that all you managed to receive from that one stunt was a broken leg."
"But…."
"Uhun, not going to fly. I have to take responsibility for you and I am not going to see you get killed because of some half-baked plan of attack. Did you ever think of how your actions might affect the other's they're not like you, hell, no one is like you but Shinji and Rei are so closed off that I was hoping to count on you to open them up a little. But if you're going to be pulling stunts like this…"
"I'm sorry okay…" Ranma tried in frustration, "I was going to head back to Nerv but then I saw the angel and figured I'd buy you guys some time so I took it on… It's not like I wanted to get hurt or anything those things just happen…" Parroting a line from her old man the redhead shot out, "The life of a martial artist is fraught with peril."
"I can see that…" I just wish you'd be more careful about this. I… We… You're among the best hopes this city has to defeat the angel… You should take full advantages of what we can offer you…"
"But Misato… Nobody's really offered me nothing but some clothes and a place to live and I just don't see how a fuku and furo are going to help me out… Well I guess you guys got me those fish…"
"Oh right the fish…" Misato parroted back as she sank down heavily in the chair making a note to herself to stop by the pet store on her way home before adding, "Well as of today that changes, I've already put in a request to see about you taking a sync test in a Eva but until then and even after, armor, weapons, training supplies you just name it and I'll take care of the rest."
"Anything?"
"Yes anything."
"Cause there are a few things I could use." Ranma stated back.
"Well, tell me what you need and I'll get it for you."
"Okay…" Ranma said thoughtfully, "Well for starters I suppose I could use a catapult."
"A catapult?"
"Yeah, you know like those old wooden ones, I'm going to need something that can propel me pretty far up in the sky so I can work on my landings."
"ARE YOU INSANE… I'M NOT GOING TO GET YOU A CATAPULT…"
"You're right that's a bad idea, it'll take more than just me to operate it as someone is going to have to launch me, how about a giant sling shot? That would probably be best because then my gluts, lower core and quads will get a bit of a work out at the same time."
"You have to be kidding me…"
"No… No… Really it'll be fine." Ranma assured as she watched the woman's eye start twitching.
"There is no way I'm going to let you use anything to propel yourself across the city…" Noting the thoughtful look in the other girls eye Misato added, "And no I'm not going to let you dive out of a plane without a parachute… Though for rapid deployment issue's perhaps a helecop… No just no."
Sighing in defeat Ranma tried again with, "Okay how bout a compromise."
"Alright…" Misato agreed, "What do you have?"
"Well…" Ranma explained, "I need some all around body conditioning. So I was thinking we have all this rubble left over from the angel fights right?"
Nodding her head and knowing that she probably was not going to like what was coming Misato said, "Yeah there's a lot of collateral damage out there."
"Good…" Ranma nodded cheerfully, "See what I was thinking is that we could tie me up and then use the larger pieces of the rubble as a wrecking ball of sorts and let me try to bust it apart with my finger."
"YOIKO… THAT IS NOT A COMPROMISE…"
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Rei sat silently at her desk staring out the window not really listening to the teacher as he droned on about second impact and it's global ramifications when a video message appeared on her computer, "Strange… I do not usually get messages… Still though I should probably play it, it could be important."
After pressing play the blue haired girl raised an eyebrow, it appeared to be home video of the last angel battle, wondering if she should report this as a possible security violation the teen continued to watch in slight disinterest having watched the majority of the battle up to the point where Unit one had it's power cable severed.
Had the teacher actually been paying attention to his students and turned around he might have witnessed the entirety of his class staring forward with their mouths agape in disbelief as they stared at their monitors in rapt fascination.
Moments later when the last bell of the day rang the students even one Hikari Horaki was too engrossed in the video to do anything other than sit and watch.
About a minute later when the footage ended is when the whispers started and moments after that just as she was finishing gathering her supplies Rei noted the class rep nervously walking towards her. Standing up to face the other girl she asked, "Did you need something Horaki-san?"
"You're friends with Saotome-san right?"
"Yes."
"Uhm… Do you know? is that tape…" Hikari started to say before how preposterous the idea that the video was real fully hit her, only for her to pause again as she was reminded about the rumors circulating from the other students as well as the existence of both the Angels and Eva's, "Was that real? Are Saotome-san and Ikari-san alright?"
At first the girl was unsure as how to reply as she had thought that the information was classified, but the fact that Shinji was a pilot was already common knowledge and no one had directed her that Yoiko's abilities were to be kept secret. Even when she took her orders from the commander into consideration she was left teetering a fence of indecisiveness so hoping to clarify the situation she asked, "Are you Yoiko's friend because it would be unwise for me to discuss the matters of her health with someone that would seek to harm her."
Taken slightly aback at the blue haired girls answer Hikari replied, "Well I just met her the other day and she seemed real nice, but as class rep I have a duty to make sure that everyone gets their assigned work with her being a new arrival here I want to make sure that she's not falling behind."
"I see…" Rei stated while picking up her things, "Shinji has been feeling unwell since the last angel. And I am unsure as to Yoiko's current conditions, I was directed that I may inquire after school." Realizing that the other girl was not following her Rei paused and added, "You may come but first I must stop at home for an errand. If you intend to buy her a get well soon gift, I purchased her socks… Just so you know, as I was told that it can be awkward when two people buy a person the same thing."
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Sometime later
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Nerv infirmary
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"Anyway Yoiko…" Misato stated after looking down at her watch, before he gets here I wanted to talk to you about Shinji and Rei. Shinji mostly as I think Rei is slowly making progress… But I know I asked you to watch out for them before. I'm just really worried about him. He's been in an awful rut these past few days and I just want you to be careful about what you say around him."
"What? Did he say I said something or did something?" Ranma asked trying to figure out what was wrong.
"No, nothing like that." Misato reinforced, "It wasn't anything you said, he just feels really guilty about you getting hurt and believes that it was his fault."
Shaking her head Ranma replied, "Misato, what am I supposed to do? I know the poor kid has no confidence, I'm trying to help him out."
"You're doing fine Yoiko, I know I've been asking a lot of you. It's that you're just so much more vibrant and full of life than Shinji or Rei and I really think that you would be a good influence like a big sister or something to them."
While somewhat gagging internally at the idea of actually being anyone's sister Ranma did manage to reply, "I'll try." It wasn't that she was against the idea of being someone's sibling but rather she would prefer the bigger brother role as mentally despite her physical appearance she still internally identified herself as a male.
"That's all I can ask Yoiko."
"Knock knock… Yoiko you have company." Ritsuko called from the doorway. "Rei brought a classmate by for a visit."
"Heya doc…" Ranma called back with a nervous wave hoping that it wasn't that weird guy in the track suit.
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Hikari trailed awkwardly behind Rei as they followed the tall blond doctor into the room. She had been ready to turn around several times during the trip both to Rei's apartment and Nerv because she had not wanted to intrude on a family affair. However her curiosity over Ayanami and the new girl apparently had too large of a pull on her. Of course she also had her duty as class rep but even she knew that to be a rather shallow excuse to invite herself along.
"Misato, I went back to the apartment to collect Shinji as per your instructions but was unable to locate him. However I was able to find this note." Taking a few steps closer to the older woman and holding the note out Rei shifted her attention to the redhead currently in bed and asked, "Are you feeling well?"
"Yeah I'm fine…" Ranma stated before motioning over to a bundle of socks on a nearby table, "Thanks for the socks."
"I thought that they would convey my desire for your continued health
as well as retain a practical use for some time."
Watching Dr Akagi nervously as the blond woman approached her with a small pen light Ranma asked, "What are you going to do with that?"
"Just going to give you a quick once over, don't worry it's nothing too invasive so your guests can stay."
Misato whom had been reading the letter over and over again dropped it on the floor as its words finally sunk in and said, "Ritsuko, can I see you in the hall for a min?"
Looking back at her friend in irritation the blond replied, "This is only going to take a moment. Can't whatever it is wait a few?"
Scooping the paper back up off the floor and thrusting it in the other woman's face Misato questioned. "Look?"
"Look at what? It's really hard to read with the way you are waving that about." Ritsuko commented in annoyance as she went to snatch the note only to lose her grip on it sending the note floating down on the other side of the pigtailed girls bed where it landed on a side table.
"Here let me…" Ranma started.
Not wanting to give the girl a chance to see the note, Misato lunged over the sitting girls body, momentarily struggling with her reach while unintentionally mashing her cleavage into the injured girls face. Unable to reach to the note from her prone position Misato climbed more fully onto the bed straddling the pig tailed girl while reaching out with her hand. Snatching the elusive note with her fingers she looked down with a blush finally noting their position and apologized, "Sorry Yoiko… I… I didn't want you to strain yourself… you should be taking things easy."
Staring at her longtime friend in disbelief over her actions the blond doctor asked, "You said something about talking to me in the hall?"
"Right, right… I'm coming…" Misato replied awkwardly as she tried to dismount from the redhead accidentally shooting the already flustered girl a panty shot in the process.
Looking past the retreating forms of the two women with a slight almost non existent blush at Misato's back side Ranma tried to shake away the images she had just seen before noticing the other girl in the room and awkwardly coughing into her hand and changing her mental subject with, "You're the class rep right? Horaki…"
"Hikari Horaki." Hikari said sticking out her hand before remembering about the small get well card she had picked up. Nervously shifting that to her other hand she replied while holding it out, "I'm sorry that I didn't have time to get the other students to sign it but I did not find out about your injuries until school had ended."
"Ah… No problem…" Ranma stated easily, "I'll be back at school in a few day's and probably recovered from this within a week, two at the most."
The brunette looked at the redhead doubtfully for a moment before asking, "Are you sure? No offence but you look pretty beat up."
"Hey you should see the other guy." Ranma joked.
"Other guy?" Hikari questioned.
"Yoiko is referring to the Angel battle 3 day's ago."
"Wait that tape is real? I heard rumors from the one before that but… You can actually throw energy blasts?"
Having actually came up with a small technique to demonstrate that fact since about the third time Doctor Akagi asked about it Ranma held up her hand with a small globe of ki floating over it and replied, "Yeah, been training most my life for it."
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Meanwhile in the hall
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"Of all the stupid…"
"Calm down Misato, Nerv security will find him and bring him back."
"Ritsuko… That's what I'm afraid of, he doesn't like to pilot and we do have Yoiko, she seems more capable…"
"So you don't want him to come back?"
"Yes. No… I just want him to do what's best for him. If he truly doesn't want to be here I don't think we should force him to be. We do have other options."
"Misato, we don't even know if Yoiko can snyc with an eva yet. Like it or not Nerv is a part of his life now, his destiny if you will."
"I don't know… I just don't know… I can see it being Yoiko's destiny, the supposed last grandmaster of a lost art. A sole girl out of myths and legends fighting with her fists to save the world, sounds almost like something out of a anime."
"Compared to emotionally distressed kids piloting giant robots?"
"Touché…" Misato conceded.
"So do you know what you are going to tell Rei and Yoiko?"
"The truth I guess… They're going to find out sooner or later, that is if Rei doesn't already know and hasn't told Yoiko."
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Later that evening
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After a visit with Rei and Hikari that went rather well despite Ranma herself leaking out that she did not know how to use a computer. And another visit spent with Misato as she ranted about Shinji doing something stupid like running off Ranma had offered to go look for the kid. That's when she was in turn ordered to bed rest at the cost of even more bed rest if she didn't listen.
But it was an order that Ranma just couldn't listen to. She had already given Misato her word beforehand that she would look out for the kid and to her that was a tad bit more important to her than sitting around in some hospital bed doing nothing all night.
Having made it to the door the redhead peeked outside, upon seeing two security guards that were no doubt there to keep her in her room Ranma smirked while it was true she was a little under top form and the only thing she currently had for clothes was a backless hospital gown the redhead did have a few tricks up her sleeve. So with a silent flourish the redhead disappeared from view and went looking for some clothes to swipe before leaving the building and starting her search for the errant Shinji.
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Ritsuko cursed looking back at the video feed of Yoiko's room, she knew that the girl was going to try something, that's why she had two of Nerv's bigger security force members standing guard outside of the girls room as well as having taken the liberty to activate the security feed in the room.
She hadn't actually thought that the girl would have been able to escape unnoticed. Rewinding the feed to get the time stamp for her departure the blond woman let out a string of curses, no one had told her that Yoiko could turn invisible.
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Ranma hobbled down the street clad in hospital scrubs and a lab coat cursing herself for her vanity at not wanting to use the crutches. It wouldn't have been so bad if she had a walking cast but due to the nature of the break that just hadn't been possible. Still though she had made a promise to Misato and hobbling along on one foot was just another challenge for her.
"Ranma-sama you should not have left the infirmary."
"…" Ranma tried, only to find herself unable to speak the male kunoichis name.
"Not here… There could be eye's on us… Rooftop, three buildings down, two to the right. Go up to the roof."
"Dammit Konatsu… I want to know what the hell is going on… Why can't I say my name, your name, or even… urggg…"
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Ranma didn't waste any time once she realized that Konatsu had disappeared moments after giving her instructions. Sweating from exertion from what on a good day would be a walk in the park for the locked girl she managed to make it after only a few minutes, ten at the most if she counted a five story elevator ride. She didn't.
Taking the last few steps at a hobbled hopping stride the redhead flung the door open and burst out with, "Alright dammit I want some answers as to what is going on? Why can't I tell everyone my name is Yoiko… Dammit… See that's what I'm talking about…"
"Growlf"
Laughing somewhat hysterically at the realization that Konatsu wasn't there to meet her but her father Ranma tried, "Funny Mr. Panda…" shaking the sweat from her brow she tried again, "Mr. Panda…"
/Boy/ Genma signed.
/it's no use/
Flip
/They had to take precautions to keep ourselves hidden for the time being/
Flip
/The fate of the planet is riding on this operation/
Flip
/not to mention some of our humanity/
Flip
/I wish I could tell you more son/
Flip
/As things are I might have mentioned too much we don't have a lot of time./
Shaking her head again the teen called out, "Ha… Nice trick…"
/Boy I'm being serious here/
Continuing as she stumbled backwards slightly Ranma muttered, "Sort of like… Splitting… some… hat hairs… except it's making me all dizzy and stuff.
/Boy/ Genma signed frantically, /are you alright?/ not hearing his son turned daughter reply and noting that she was slowly staggering towards the edge of the roof the old panda sprung into action, retrieving his sons body before it could fall and cradling it in his own furry arms. "You've been pushing yourself too hard boy…" Sighing as he realized his only and next move Genma pulled out a cell phone and dialed out. Hearing the other end pick up he growled while worriedly thinking, "You better be okay boy…"
"I will be there momentarily."
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Cradling his unconscious current daughter gently in his arms Genma turned his head at the extremely faint sound of foot falls landing on the roof. Growling at one of the people approaching him he motioned to his son turned daughter while giving the shorter of the two a baleful glare.
"I am well aware of your feelings Genma but we both know what is at stake here. Set me down Konatsu."
"Yes elder."
Approaching the two the wisest of the Chinese Amazons requested, "Lay her down on the rooftop Genma so I can get a better look." Frowning as she then stood over the prone redhead Cologne replied, "Ranma will be fine, he's just over taxed and still suffering trauma from the head wound he received a few days ago." Tapping her chin in thought she added, "The best I can do at the moment is tap a pressure point that should rouse her in a half an hour and leave her semi lucid for an hour before she passes out from the strain."
Growling in irritation Genma signed, /We should have assisted him during the last battle. We take too many risks with my sons life./
Cologne sighed at the old argument, she almost preferred the old Genma to this new one, "We do what we must…"
"Ahem…" Konatsu interjected, "If I may… Forgive me for speaking out of turn but I believe that this argument should be relocated to someplace a little less open. There are camera's everywhere elders."
"Konatsu is right. We can bicker like old maids once we have taken care of the current problem at hand."
/What's left to take care of? I will deliver the boy back to the hospital myself./
"Too risky…" Cologne muttered, "Konatsu are we still tracking that boy that shares residence with Ranma?"
"I believe so elder, I will call headquarters and inquire about it."
/Absolutely not!/ Genma fumed, /We will not be leaving her with that boy. Not when she is vulnerable and…/
"It is too risky to approach Nerv directly, not until we have more Intel on their security. Our observations on the boy indicate that there is nothing Ranma has to worry about. Besides we will have operatives in the area that can and will intervene should our intel be proved wrong."
"Elders…" Konatsu started, "The boy is currently riding the E train circling the city. He has been there several hours."
Begrudgingly Genma knew that the old biddy was right, despite that it didn't make him feel any better. Stepping back to allow Konatsu access to his boy the aged panda pulled out a small panda shaped plushy and set it in his current daughters arms.
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Circles, he had been riding in circles all afternoon and into the evening. He hadn't even bothered counting them with how many loops around the city he had done as he just sat there dwelling on his own cowardness for running away. But there sitting on the train he could almost lose himself in the routine. Five minutes stop, ten minutes stop, back to five minutes stop and so on for the entire afternoon. "Another stop… How many has this been… does it really matter? Do I even matter? They're better off without me… Yoiko can take my place; she's much braver than what I'll ever be…"
Poke
"At least with me gone…"
Poke
"Useless…"
Poke
"Not worth it…"
Poke
"Hey kid, I think your lady friend is trying to get your attention."
"Huh…" Shinji muttered as he looked up to see a smartly dressed salary woman towering over him with a glare.
"I said, your lady friend is trying to get your attention."
"Aint… No lady…"
Shocked upon hearing the sound of the voice Shinji stared dumbstruck and muttered, "Yoiko?"
"Heyz… I know… uz…" Ranma slurred out.
"It's me, Shinji… Yoiko what are you doing here?"
"Shinji? Right Shinji…" Ranma replied drunkenly before focusing her blurred vision on the boy next to her, "Say I went looking for you… Found ya…"
"Yoiko you shouldn't be here, you should be back in the hospital." Shinji replied worriedly.
"Couldn…t… Justs… Misato mizzed u…" Ranma staggered out with a frown before adding, "Say… whatz yuz name…"
He was torn, he wanted to leave Nerv, Misato, Yoiko, and even Rei behind feeling that they would be better off without him but seeing the powerful redhead as she currently was he knew he couldn't just leave her because if he did it would just be one more failure. And while he might be okay with failing something's he couldn't fail her this time, something bad could happen to her.
Resolving himself to just bringing her off the train and getting a taxi to run her back to the hospital Shinji rose out of his seat and sighed. "Come on Yoiko, the train is going to be stopping soon we can get off there and get you back to the hospital."
"Ain't… Goin… Nowhere… out you…" Ranma enunciated slowly.
"Okay… But first lets get off this train." Shinji tried.
"Kay…"
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Shinji frowned upon looking around the nearly vacant platform, he hadn't realized that it was so late and from the looks of things there wasn't a taxi in sight. Yet he still couldn't go back to Nerv, to Misato, Yoiko and Rei. Sometimes he didn't even know why he came in the first place, because his father needed him? His father didn't need him. Even if he did, Shinji didn't like pain and surely he felt that it would have hurt a lot less if he would had stayed where he was at.
Realizing that the girl at his side had resumed poking him again Shinji turned to her and asked, "Yoiko? Why do you fight the angels?"
Ranma blinked rapidly having realized that she was still suffering from head trauma as she swooned slightly in her seat. However she was feeling slightly more lucid than a few minutes ago so she braved a reply, "Dunno… I guess I can so I do… trained since fore I could walk… What good is all that training if I didn't… my old man used to talk bout… It's a duty to protect the week… life is fraught with peril… and ya gotta make sacrifices for it… aint easy… " Motioning over her bruised and slightly broken body Ranma added, "Odds are it's gonna hurt…"
"I don't like pain…" Shinji muttered more to himself than to Yoiko.
Ranma snorted girlishly and replied, "Don't either… It happens and you got to work through it if ya gonna live…"
Sighing as he turned away from the redhead Shinji considered her words and even though he didn't want to face it perhaps he did have to stay a bit longer.
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"I'm still with them. They didn't notice me slipping off the train after them."
"…."
"No, left from a different car and slipped around the corner. Do you want me to say with them?"
"…"
"Okay, I'll wait then." Silently closing her cell phone as she waited for her relief to arrive the smartly dressed business woman took a moment to consider the injured redhead, "That was close. On the train, Ranma shouldn't be able to recognize me at all, Cologne put a lot of precautions in place to prevent that from happening without the proper triggers."
Not wanting to stay in one spot so as to avoid suspicion in case someone looked at the stations security feeds later Nabiki Tendo casually started to leave the platform, heading in the opposite direction of the still sitting teens while considering her next move.