Ranma 1/2
A Scary Thought:
Chapter 29
Pain, torment, agony; all words far too limited in scope to describe what Ukyo was experiencing. This was not an exaggeration by some frail weekend warrior either. The perpetually angry girl was an experienced fighter, well accustomed to training her body hard. She had long ago learned to simply push pain into the background of her mind, to, in a sense, register it simply as data rather than as a true sensation. A martial artist of her level required this ability to a very high degree, or else they would never have reached that level in the first place. But, even that skill was being overwhelmed. The fact that she was inflicting this level of suffering on herself might have surprised some people, but not those who knew her well. Ukyo had never made any secret of her determination to defeat Kasumi, and if that meant going through hell itself, it was a small price to pay.
Ukyo looked down at a pool of her own sweat, glistening damply on the floor of her family shrine as she fought for breath. Her body was raging in protest at its treatment but she was far from through for the day. There was still so much to do. So, in a show of pronounced willpower and endurance, Ukyo forced herself back to a standing position and prepared herself once again.
Taking in several short, even breathes, she focused her attention at the far end of the training room and set herself. With one last sharp intake of air, Ukyo activated the technique known simply as the Burning Soul.
A scream tore though the shrine. It was filled with equal measures pain and anger, the latter to offset the former. A second after it began, it ended, and Ukyo's body once again crumbled to the floor as she fought for breath.
"Damn, kid, you trying to kill yoursself?" Sissithississ asked as he entered the room.
"I... need... to... train... harder..." Ukyo responded between gasps.
"This issn't training, it'ss torture. The human body was not meant to be sset aflame. Have you looked at yoursself lately? You're giving yoursself a nice casse of ssunburn, and you're in a torch lit cave. That can't be a good ssign."
Ukyo was too weak to argue with the snake man. Instead, she did as he prompted and looked down at her hands to see he was not exaggerating. "I need... to..."
"What you need iss a nice long cool bath to ssooth your sskin and get rid of that smell."
"What smell?"
Sissithississ held his nose as he responded, "Gee, I don't know, maybe all that ssweat."
"Oh..." Ukyo muttered as she looked back at the pool of her own perspiration. "Guess you're right," she said as she forced herself to stand.
"There hass to be a better way to do thiss, you know. Don't you have ssome kind of heat ressisstance technique around here."
Ukyo took several long breaths before answering, "Yes, I'm already using it."
"Oh," Sissithississ said after a moment's pause.
"It's just not enough," Ukyo continued, clenching her fist in front of her. "You wouldn't believe the heat, even using the heat resistance technique. The first time I used it I was certain I would die. I'm building up a tolerance for it, but even a few seconds are tough to manage. In those seconds, though, I feel like I could crack a mountain in half."
"Indeed. That iss no doubt why it wass conssidered so dangerouss. Now, are you going to take that bath or will I have to throw you in?"
Ukyo scowled, but nodded. "Fine, but I'll take a warm one."
"Whatever. Anything to get rid of the sstench," Sissithississ replied as he headed out of the room.
"Shut up!" Ukyo yelled back. She took a moment to calm herself, and decided to try just one more time before calling it a day.
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Seconds later another scream echoed loudly through the shrine causing Lemon to pause in her cooking and quickly cover her ears. This one was angrier than the last, but it was blood curdling nonetheless. After a moment it ceased, allowing Lemon to uncover her ears and look over at her guardian. "That doesn't sound very healthy."
"No, I ssuspect not, but you go and tell her that. Sshe won't lissten to me."
Lemon frowned and returned to the soup, which was cooking in a pot hung over the campfire. "The least she could do is be quiet about it."
"You try ssetting your body on fire and not sscreaming. I'm ssurprised sshe'ss sstill going. I just hope sshe doessn't overdo it. Lasst thing I need to do iss clean up a roassted human carcasss."
Lemon stopped cold at the description, her mind involuntarily pulling an appropriately grisly image out of her imagination causing her to quickly turn green. After shaking the thought away she snapped angrily, "Sissy, that's disgusting! I'm trying to cook here, not lose my breakfast!"
Sissithississ sighed, and mumbled, "Would you pleasse sstop calling me that?"
"What? Did you say something, Sissy?" Lemon asked, paying him only a minimum of attention.
"Nothing," he replied as he returned to the shrine.
Several minutes passed by in silence as Lemon tended her cooking until an exhausted sigh caught her attention. She turned to see Ukyo leaned against the large boulder at the entranceway, panting and looking ready to collapse. "Hello, Ukyo, done training?"
"Just... need a rest," she responded and slipped down to the ground.
"That's okay. Would you like some soup? It's nearly finished."
Ukyo opened her mouth to respond, but the growl of her stomach answered for her. After blushing, Ukyo hauled herself back up and walked over. "What kind of soup?"
"It's..." Lemon began to respond then took several whiffs of the air. After doing so she promptly covered her nose and backed away. "Eww! You stink! Take a bath or something!"
Ukyo looked over at Lemon with a mixture of embarrassment and anger, but let the anger slide. Her shirt top was soaked through with sweat, and although her own sense of smell was use to it, Lemon was no doubt correct. "You and Snake boy are a real pair, aren't you? I don't suppose there is any hot water around?"
"Why? A bit of cold water never hurt anyone. Besides you look like you could use a little cooling off." Ukyo did not respond, instead, she headed back to the shrine. Lemon huffed, and returned to her cooking.
Ukyo passed by the training hall to see Sissithississ looking over a scroll with an expression of boredom on his face. She was about to pass him by when he said, "Jussenkyo cursse, huh."
This brought her to a sudden halt, and she looked over at him in surprise. "How did you know?"
"I didn't, you just told me."
Ukyo face faulted. "Damn it!" she exclaimed as she recovered.
"Ah, don't worry about it. Lemon iss right. You're willing to put your body through complete hell, yet you want a hot bath in the middle of the woodss. Little odd." The snake warrior returned the scroll to its place, and looked over at the chef. "Doessn't matter though. Sso, you have the technique down yet? Ass much ass I love doing hourss and hourss of nothing, a change in pace would be nice. After all, I was brought here to help you train, not ssit around looking pretty."
Ukyo nodded in understanding. "I'm nearly finished. I figure I should learn some of these other techniques too, just in case. I'll need your help then."
"Great," he replied. "I'll go get you ssome hot water to use. By the way, what do you change into?"
Ukyo hesitated then answered, "A wolf."
Sissithississ raised an eyebrow. "Okay, we'll just not tell Lemon then."
"Why?"
"Sshe has thiss... disslike of caniness," he answered, and left the room, calling out behind him. "Be ssure to clean up real good. She doessn't even like to ssmell one."
Ukyo scratched her head at the puzzling comment, but decided not to worry about it, and instead got herself cleaned up.
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Ranma was feeling his own kind of physical agony. He could not remember ever being pushed so hard. He was now on day three of this hard treatment, and his father showed no sign of letting up. Even eating and sleeping had somehow been turned into a chore. Genma made sure getting a meal was a battle, and sleep was momentary at best. Yet despite all the punishment, Ranma, somehow, was pressing on.
Right now he and his father were up in the tree tops, engaged in a sparing session unlike any Ranma had done before. Sure, he had taken balance training, but jumping from tree branch to tree branch, none of which were stable, or overly thick, and all a good thirty feet in the air, meant a misstep would not be soon forgotten.
"Come on, boy, you're not getting tired already."
"Shut up!" Ranma snapped out hoarsely, his words shuddering from his gasping for air. He jumped in for an attack. Genma easily evaded it, striking his son lightly on the back as he passed by, throwing Ranma's balance off. With an intense effort Ranma regained it just quickly enough to catch a branch and prevent himself from falling to the forest floor. "Damn it!"
"You're wasting valuable breath, boy. Look at me, I'm not half as tired as you are and I'm going through just as much. Don't tell me my son is in such poor shape."
"I'll show you poor shape!" Ranma snapped as he climbed back up. Genma taunted him on, causing Ranma to initiate another assault, this one a bit more careful. However, despite the precautions, it met with much the same results as his last.
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Down below, Nodoka watched in a state of perpetual nervousness. Every failed attack by her son made her jump just a little. And, each time he barely recovered, she would let out a sigh of breath that she did not realize she was holding.
"Don't worry so much. Genma may not be good for much, but he's an excellent trainer," Hidenori said from the side.
"Tell that to Kasumi when a cat is around," Nodoka replied without diverting her eyes from the contest above.
Hidenori had to nod in agreement with that. "Yes, well most the time he is. Occasionally, his better sensibilities seem to leave him."
"I was not aware he had any," she stated.
"You're being awful hard on him."
Nodoka remained silent for a moment then nodded. "I trusted him to care for Kasumi, and now I'm left with a young woman who changes into a man. That doesn't even consider the marriage to that Amazon. I should never have let him take her."
"So, why did you?"
Nodoka mulled that over for a moment and finally looked away from the match above. "Because she wanted to go."
"Well, there you have it."
"She was just a child and didn't know what she was getting into. I shouldn't have let her go so easily. At the very least I should have gone along with them, but no. Genma insisted I stay. I'd be too motherly, he said, and I went right along with it. Oh, if Kimiko was alive today... This whole arrangement was crazy from the start, but I went along with that too. What in all the heavens was I thinking?"
Hidenori cleared his throat before looking back up and responding, "Seems to me you blame yourself more than your husband."
That gave Nodoka cause to pause and look over at Ukyo's father who continued to watch the fight in the trees. After a moment, she sighed, and joined him in looking up at her son. "So, what are you going to do?"
"Hmh?"
"About your daughter?"
Hidenori remained silent in thought for over a minute before answering. "I don't honestly know. I just wish I knew what this was all about. Kasumi seems to know."
"Yes, but she is unwilling to tell us. There does seem to be more to it than a simple rivalry," Nodoka concluded with a nod of agreement from Ukyo's father.
Several minutes passed in silence except for the sounds of combat in the treetops, until a sudden shift in the wind caused everyone, even Ranma and Genma to look off to where Kasumi was training. There they were amazed and shocked to see a small tornado form, stretch to the heavens then blow itself out as quickly as it came.
"What the...?" Hidenori exclaimed in concern before breaking into a run to see what exactly had happened.
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"Aiyah, Kasumi? Is you okay?" Shampoo asked as she rushed up to where Kasumi stood.
Kasumi lowered her up stretched arm and looked over at Shampoo with a mildly surprised expression on her face. "I did not expect that big of an effect."
"Kasumi!" Ranma called out as he dropped to the ground. "What the heck was that?" he asked as the others arrived.
"The Hiryuu Shouten Ha, I believe," Kasumi answered, looking up at the sky. "Although, the scroll says I should need an opponent using a great deal of hot ki. I was practicing by myself."
Ranma whistled in awe as he too looked up at the sky then back down at Kasumi. "You did that?"
"I suppose I did, although I must say I don't understand how."
"Incredible," Herb said quietly as she walked up and examined Kasumi. "You were able to utilize the normal heat of the air to create the tornado. Even with such a limited effect, I have never heard of that being achieved."
Kasumi looked at Herb curiously then over at the others. "I suppose that is enough excitement for one day. I was going to ask Herb to help me with it, but that appears unnecessary now. However, I was thinking of asking your help with another technique." Herb looked over at Kasumi quizzically. "Uh, I noticed you know how to fly..."
Herb was momentarily surprised by Kasumi's request. After only a second of thought, however, she was about to respond when Ranma jumped in. "Whoa, now just one second. I want in on this too."
"Shampoo too."
"Come to think of it, it does sound like useful technique," Genma added.
"Ah, such a technique would be very fitting for one such as myself," Kuno said with an approving nod.
Herb took a moment to fume then yelled, "Who the hell said I would teach any of you...?"
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The day was wearing on at the Kuonji shrine, and Ukyo found herself outside, looking up at the emerging stars. For the first time in many weeks she was feeling optimistic. This time she would be the winner, and she would prove to everyone that she was the best, not Kasumi. It was what she had dreamed for, ever since Kasumi had left her company almost ten years ago. Recent events had only made the desire that much stronger.
"Say, Sissy?"
"Don't call me that," Sissithississ said threateningly. "I may let her call me that, but no one elsse."
"Right," Ukyo replied quickly, and apologetically. "I meant to ask, what is up with Lemon? Why is she so determined to marry Herb? Is it true she'll be in trouble if she doesn't?"
The snake warrior rolled his eyes, and came over from the campfire where he had been sitting to be next to Ukyo. "Sshe gave you the ssob sstory, huh? Honesstly, I think sshe'ss worrying over nothing."
"You sure?"
He paused before shrugging. "Her clan is rather ssecretive, but I can't ssee them doing anything drasstic."
Ukyo nodded, satisfied then switched to a different topic. "What is the deal with you Musk anyway? I keep hearing about these 'clans'."
"Our clanss are the variouss family groupss. Intermarrying iss very rare. Historically, we ussed to marry... transformed animalss. Nowadayss, we sstick to woman from the local villagess. Each clan repressentss one type of animal that the family hisstorically ussed to marry."
"That's... pretty weird. I thought Frost was joking when she told me that."
"Frosst? Oh, that'ss the Amazon maguss, right?"
"Yeah, that's her."
Sissithississ snorted, and crossed his arms. "Well, I wouldn't put much faith in anything an Amazon tellss you about uss. I mean, lasst I heard they were claiming we were outcasstss from their village or ssome ssuch nonssense."
"So, you're not?"
"Of coursse not! The Mussk is over 10,000 yearss old. Even if you wissh to believe their exaggerated numberss, the Amazonss are only 4,000 yearss old. Next I'll bet they'll sstart claiming they won the warss between uss."
"Yeah," Ukyo replied with a small smile. "Actually, if either of you really won a war, shouldn't the other not exist anymore?"
"If we were out to desstroy each other, yess. However, our conflictss with each other were mosstly limited oness. To tell the truth, mosst the bad blood between uss iss about bruissed egoss more than actual wrong doing by either party." Ukyo nodded and returned to looking up at the sky. "How about you, misss Kuonji? Why are you sso determined to defeat thiss Kassumi?"
Ukyo scowled, clenching her fists tightly. "Because I am sick of living in her shadow! I am sick of her getting all the attention! And, I want to get her back for what she did!"
"And what exactly iss that?" Sissithississ asked, but Ukyo did not answer. "Fine. Look, I think you need at leasst a week to get thesse techniquess down."
"A week huh?" Ukyo repeated then nodded. "A week it is."
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She's so... beautiful, like an angel. Every night she consumes my thoughts. I want her, more than anything else in this world... even more than being cured, Herb-chan thought as she floated, arms crossed with a frown of intense contemplation on her face as she looked down, regarding Kasumi. The eldest Tendo daughter was herself floating in the air, just a few feet off the ground, in a Lotus position, meditating. Even with her unassuming manner, Kasumi was causing Herb no end of torment. She was so close, yet so very far.
How long have I been here now? A month? Am I any closer to her? Herb snorted, disgusted at her own lack of progress. I must... ooo... I don't know how much longer I can take this. And that damn Amazon! All I ever see is her gushing over Kasumi. It is so unfair. How can I compete against that? All Kasumi ever does is give her attention. I never get that kind of attention. I deserve it every bit as much as that Amazon. Herb fumed silently, but her eyes never left Kasumi. This is infuriating. How can someone cause me such... yet I want her so... errrr...
Herb's thoughts were interrupted with the sound of a pair of startled cries coming from above her. She looked up just in time to see two bodies coming her way far too quickly to be evaded. The impact sent Herb plummeting towards the ground, too stunned to slow her descent. However, she came to a sudden stop, finding herself held by a strong arm. She looked around to see that Kasumi was her rescuer. Unfortunately, in Herb's mind, she was not the only person Kasumi had saved from a nasty fall. In her other arm she held Shampoo who in turn held Ranma dangling above the ground.
Herb suddenly became very aware of the heat of Kasumi's body, and the comforting pressure of her love's arm around her waist. She blinked in shock, unable to do anything more than just stare at Kasumi. "Herb?" Kasumi asked after noticing the look she was receiving. Kasumi repeated the question twice more before Herb shook her head and replied.
"Yes?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes," Herb said with a nod.
"Good," Kasumi replied with a smile that left Herb paralyzed. Kasumi lowered the three to the ground and let Herb stand on her own. She then turned and began talking with Shampoo and Ranma. Herb missed the nature of the conversion. She simply was too mesmerized to care what was being discussed.
It took the end of a staff poking into her back to finally spur Herb back into action. She turned quickly, ready to yell at the interruption of her thoughts, but fell silent at seeing the old Amazon elder giving him a toothy grin. "Glad to see me? I see my daughter-in-law has your attention," Cologne taunted the Musk Prince, but did not give her a chance to reply. Instead she just passed her by to join Kasumi.
"Elder, you're back already?" Kasumi asked in mild surprise as Cologne came up.
"Already? It has been a week. I was back nearly two days ago. So, may I ask what is keeping you here so long?"
"I thought you knew? We've had this trip planned for some time."
"Training, of course, although I was under the impression you would be back by now."
Kasumi nodded in understanding, giving Ranma the chance to explain the situation to the Amazon elder. While he did so, she looked around to see Herb leaning against a tree, brooding as usual. Kasumi shook her head, sighed and looked over at Tatewaki. He was still struggling with the basics of levitation with Genma. What ever am I going to do about this? Kasumi asked herself as she returned to looking at Ranma as he was finishing up with the tale. Ranma, Tatewaki, Herb, and maybe even Ryoga... and Shampoo seems uninterested in all of them. Kasumi let out another sigh then smiled as Ranma concluded.
"I see," Cologne said in thought. "A curious set of techniques..."
"Have you heard of anything similar, Elder?" Kasumi asked.
"Not in the realm of human technique. There are tales of course, but nothing that would help I'm afraid. I assume you have been training yourself."
"Yes, but it is only a matter of time before Ukyo comes."
"A matter of time... a very short time I'm afraid. That is actually the main reason I came. Ukyo turned up by the restaurant this morning looking for you. She seemed different somehow, so I was cautious. I told her you were not there, but I did not give her any specifics. No doubt she went to the Tendo residence. I do not know if they will withhold your location from her. Even if they do, she will likely have no great problem tracking down this circus. So, she is probably on her way here at this very minute."
"Great," Ranma mumbled to himself then looked at Kasumi. "You think you're up to facing her?"
Kasumi shook her head. "I cannot rightly say without some more knowledge of these techniques. However, I see little option in the matter. This confrontation is likely unavoidable at this point. I believe I will rest for a while. With luck she will not come today. If you'll all excuse me," Kasumi said with a slight bow then turned and walked off on her own, settling herself once again in her meditative posture, this time on the ground.
"She's taking this awfully calmly," Ranma remarked.
Cologne nodded, regarded Kasumi for a moment then turned her attention away. "It is her way, young Saotome. I suggest you all return to your activities. There is no guarantee that Ukyo is coming."
Ranma and Shampoo nodded, each casting a brief glance down the trail.
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Ukyo walked up the long, sloping trail, her pace an easy one. She methodically stretched each joint in her upper body, all the while eyeing the road ahead of her with a determined glare. It's now or never. If I can't win this time... No, I will win. Kasumi is not invincible. She's just human and she's about to become number two around here.
Ukyo smiled at the thought of standing over Kasumi's defeated form, once and for all proving who was the best. She was so gleeful at the concept she nearly burst into a fit of laughter, but stifled the urge. "Nothing worse that maniacally laughter," Ukyo mumbled jokingly then spotted her goal ahead. "This is it," she said aloud, striking her fist into her palm then began to quicken her pace.
Just as she left, numerous forms in the woods shifted positions, none coming into view.
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Kasumi sat in a meditative stance in the clearing, waiting. Anytime now, she thought as she continued to mentally prepare for the battle ahead.
"This is craziness," Herb commented from the edge of the clearing. She was with the others, each waiting in his or her own way. Most were busying themselves with various other tasks, but Herb was intent on Kasumi. "We should not allow this battle to take place. It is too dangerous."
From her side, Cologne chuckled. "That is a rare statement to hear from a member of the Musk. When did such considerations as danger even factor into your thinking."
"Since always, old woman. You buy too much into your own Amazon propaganda. We are not fools."
"At least not all of you," Cologne retorted with a smile then noticed Ukyo approaching. "Ah, here she comes. I suppose now we will see the full extent of the progress both these young women have made."
Everyone save Kasumi immediately turned his or her attention to Ukyo. Hidenori was the first to react, rushing up to her. "Ukyo!"
"Father," Ukyo said stiffly. "I should have guessed you'd take her side."
"That's not it at all!" he snapped before calming. "Ukyo, you can't mean to go through with this. Those techniques were not meant-"
"You JACKASS!" Ukyo yelled angrily at her father. "This is just like you, saying I can't handle it. I'm a martial artist, and a damned good one, yet you never give me any respect!"
"Ukyo," her father pleaded, much more meekly than before.
"Just get out of my way. I'm going to end this." Ukyo pushed by her father, but only made it a few steps before he called out to her
"By killing Kasumi, is that it? Is that your way-"
Ukyo pulled to a stop, looked over her shoulder at her father and huffed. "I'm not going to kill her," she said then turned to look at Kasumi, "Just kick her around a little... or maybe a lot." She took another step, stopped and pulled out her battle spatula. After looking at it for a second, she tossed it over her shoulder to her father.
Hidenori caught it, and looked at the weapon in surprise. "Ukyo?"
"Keep it. I don't need it anymore," she replied, and closed the remaining distance to Kasumi.
Kasumi opened her eyes to look at Ukyo just as she came up. I see now what Cologne meant. She seems different, she thought. Rising to her feet, Kasumi met Ukyo face to face.
"I take it you know why I'm here?" Ukyo asked, and Kasumi only nodded. "Good, because I hate preliminaries. Let's get this going," she said, stepped back a pace and set herself in a ready fight position.
The others gathered themselves together to watch. Hidenori continued to eye the large spatula in his hands in confusion. "She's used this since... since... well, about as far back as I can remember. It is the weapon of choice of our family. Why would she abandon it, especially now?"
"For the very reason she gave you, I think," Cologne answered as she watched Kasumi reluctantly enter a fighting posture opposite Ukyo. "She believes she has reached a new level of ability that makes that implement obsolete."
Hidenori nodded, and moved his full attention to the coming battle. Behind the group, Ranma stood next to Tatewaki. Herb soon moved back as well to be with the two boys, her eyes never leaving the two combatants. "If this goes too far, I trust I will have support?" she asked quietly.
"Support?" Ranma asked.
Tatewaki answered. "I believe... he means to intervene should Ukyo attempt to cause Kasumi undue harm." Tatewaki nodded. "I am in agreement."
"You don't actually think she'd go that far, do you?" Ranma asked, but only gained silence in response. He frowned, but then nodded as well. "I'm with ya, but I don't think it will go that far." The words just left Ranma's mouth when the fight began.
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Ukyo was the first to attack, pressing in with a slow but calculated assault to test Kasumi's defenses. On the receiving end, Kasumi held her ground, easily dealing with each punch and kick, none of which particularly strained her. As she twisted away from a spinning kick, she turned the tables and pressed into an attack of her own. Ukyo was not caught off guard, however, and just as easily dealt with Kasumi's attacks.
The fight broke for a moment, allowing Kasumi jump in for an aerial attack. Ukyo jumped up as well, and the two met in mid-air, exchanging a pair of kicks, each of which was blocked. As they landed, Ukyo rolled out, twisted to face Kasumi, and rushed in. "Time to get serious. Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken!"
Kasumi spun around and began to block the assault. However, she did not remain defensive for long, and with her own call of, "Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken," she started punching back.
Soon all the observers could see where both girl's legs, as their upper bodies simply blurred with motion, each one getting off a few punches before being forced to dodge punches from their opponent. As the seconds wore on, Kasumi began to wonder about the tactics.
She had this technique the last time we fought, so why is she bothering? She knows it won't win the fight, especially now that I know it as well. Kasumi pondered this as she ducked to the side to avoid a punch then returned one of her own in kind that Ukyo just as easily dodged. She still hasn't used either of those techniques. Maybe she's hoping to wear me down first, or maybe she's just testing me, to see how fast I can go. Seeing that Ukyo appeared undaunted by the stalemate, Kasumi decided to end this pointless exchange.
She broke the rhythm by dropping into a leg sweep. Ukyo back flipped safely over the attack, and set herself to receive a follow up. Kasumi, however, had stood her ground. "Playing it a little safe, aren't you?" Ukyo asked, but Kasumi did not answer. "Okay, come on, your turn," she taunted, beckoning Kasumi to come.
Now I know she's up to something, Kasumi thought. But, I have to know what she is capable of. Nodding, Kasumi jumped into the air and descended on Ukyo, her fists blurring into an attack. To her surprise, Ukyo just smiled, and Kasumi found none of her attacks getting through. Instead, about a foot from Ukyo, Kasumi's each blow was stopped cold. The attack lasted only a half-second before Kasumi found herself hit hard in the chin, and sent flying backwards.
She tumbled and skidded to a halt, ending up against a tree, looking at Ukyo half way across the clearing. How did she do that? Kasumi did not get the chance to consider an answer, as her opponent did not waste her advantage, and rushed in. Kasumi jumped to her feet to receive the attack, just as Ukyo let off another assault with the Amaguriken. It's no faster than before, Kasumi thought as she dodged by the punches. As before, Kasumi initiated her own counterattack, but once again her punches seemed to stop a foot short of their mark. Ukyo smiled, and this time several blows landed on Kasumi, smashing her up against the tree where Ukyo pressed on.
Several seconds passed, Kasumi finding herself unable to take any offensive measure, while at the same time her defenses were being consistently overwhelmed. How is she doing this? Her attacks seem no faster than before, but somehow I cannot hit her and she can hit me. One final punch set stars into Kasumi's vision, and she crumbled to the ground, much to the shock of all those watching.
"Ha," Ukyo laughed as she stood over Kasumi. "I thought this was going to be tough. It's already over." Kasumi did not spare Ukyo a look, instead focusing her ki over her body. She did, however, look at her hands to see several red lines marking them. "Well, you going to surrender or what?"
"I can't do that," Kasumi responded, and now it was Ukyo's turn to be surprised as Kasumi's muscled tensed for just an instant before she vanished. Ukyo looked around, trying to reacquire her target, but with no success.
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Those watching were also puzzled and unable to locate Kasumi. Shampoo let her pleasure with the turn of events be known as the others attempted to locate Kasumi. "How did she do that?" Ranma asked as he looked about. "She just... did she turn invisible?"
"I don't think so," Cologne answered, and looked up into the treetops.
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"Where the hell..." Ukyo mumbled as she looked around then sensed something from above. She looked up just in time to see Kasumi descending on her. The chef raised her defenses and readied to block Kasumi kick. However, to her shock, Kasumi's form passed right through the block. Ukyo reflexively tilted her head aside to avoid the attack, but the effort was unnecessary as Kasumi's imaged faded into nothingness. "An illusion!"
"So, that was how you were blocking me," Kasumi's voice said from above.
Ukyo blinked, and her chopsticks were still out as they had been to attempt the block. "Blast," she cursed as she hid them away. "Doesn't matter. I'm still faster than you, and some simple illusions won't win this fight," she said as she looked up at the treetops, but could not spot Kasumi. "Stop hiding and fight me!"
In response the branches above rustled, causing needles, leaves and branches to fall onto Ukyo. She ignored them, but was forced to shield her eyes from the debris. Suddenly, Kasumi image flashed before her, her fist already striking. Ukyo tried to block, but the attack came too suddenly and she took the punch to her cheek. She swept her arm around to try and catch Kasumi with a counter, but as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared again. "Damn you!" Ukyo yelled as she rubbed her now swelling cheek.
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"Very impressive," Cologne commented, watching Ukyo go onto the defensive once again as another shower of debris fell on her from above. As before Kasumi appeared at the very last instant, this time striking Ukyo in the stomach, and disappeared before the other girl could make any move to counter. "She has masked her presence very effectively. Despite Ukyo's speed advantage, she cannot defend herself."
Hidenori nodded in agreement as Kasumi initiated another attack that landed home successfully. "It is not over yet. Ukyo still has not employed either of the forbidden techniques."
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Where is she hiding? Ukyo thought desperately, wincing from a kick to the back of her knee. She's just going to whittle me down if I don't find her. Once again, debris began to fall from the tree. Ah hell... wait a minute... Ukyo thought, as a realization hit her. Rolling away, she ended up flat on the ground and pulled out her chopsticks. "Aerial Strike of a Thousand Chopsticks!" In a blur of motion, thousands of long needle-like beams shot forth into the debris. As she continued the assault, a motion caught her eye, that of a form escaping the falling twigs. Got you!
Ukyo adjusted her angle of attack to that of the motion and swept the area, while at the same time spreading her attack over a greater area. Finally Kasumi was forced to drop her illusion as she frantically dodged the attack. Ukyo smiled triumphantly and tightened her attack on her opponent.
However, Kasumi was quick to react as well. Realizing she could no longer hide, she flew around a tree, and came diving down low, firing a blast of energy at Ukyo. She did not wait to see if it hit. Instead, she used the distraction to fly past her foe. She quickly planted her feet in the ground and twisted to deliver a far larger blast.
It was then that she noticed the result of her first attack, or rather the lack there of. Somehow the first shot was now firing off into the sky. Kasumi spared the energy a glance of confusion then looked back at Ukyo to see the reason. Somehow the chef was literally holding the second blast at bay, as if it were a physical ball that could be touched. Gritting her teeth, Ukyo surrounded the energy ball with tendrils of her own energy and with a puff, the energy simply was snuffed out.
Kasumi watched this in dismay was Ukyo calmly pushed aside a loose hair that was in her eyes. "Thought you could get that by me, huh?"
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"Shampoo no understand. You say take time use technique," Shampoo said, looking over at Hidenori in concern.
"I thought it did," Hidenori said in confusion.
Herb stepped forward and explained. "She did not use the dousing technique to stop the blast. She used something else, a type of energy field. We of the Dragon Clan have seen this technique before. It allows someone to treat simple energy blasts as if they were a fist or other form of natural attack, and are just as easily blocked."
"Of course," Hidenori exclaimed, and hit himself lightly on the forehead. "The skillet touch. It was an old technique used to protect from the great heat of a cooking skillet, but was adapted for use against Ki techniques. I should have thought of this before."
"Aiyah!" Shampoo exclaimed, looking back at Kasumi with worry clear in her expression.
"Indeed. Ukyo has effectively neutralized Kasumi's entire Ki attack arsenal," Herb concluded.
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If she can block that... Kasumi thought as she considered her options. I could try the Ha Do... but if she doesn't block it... No, it's too dangerous. I'll have to try something else. I'll have to try and end this before she starts using that other technique. Her course of action decided on, Kasumi charged in.
Ukyo looked at Kasumi in puzzlement and shifted to a defensive posture. Still a few tricks, huh Kasumi? Well, bring it on. Ukyo braced herself as Kasumi leapt forward with a punch. At the last instant, Ukyo sensed something was up. The image passed right through her. Blast, Ukyo thought and began to look around. In the process she dropped her guard and the real attack hit home.
Ukyo was rocked, stumbling back several paces, allowing Kasumi to press on. Punches and kicks came flying in on the chef, and it took all her concentration just to block them. However, just as Ukyo was beginning to recover, Kasumi tried something new. In an instant it was as if Kasumi's speed increase five fold as all Ukyo could see was a solid wall of fists coming her way. She desperately tried to adjust to the added attacks, but there simply was too many to block. A second later Ukyo was sent reeling.
Kasumi did not relent, and kept up the pressure, landing several more blows through her opponent's defenses. Where did she get all this speed? Ukyo thought as a punch to her chin sent sparkles into her vision. As it did, though, she noticed something. In the instant her vision was clouded, Kasumi's attacks appeared to return to their original speed. Another damned illusion! she concluded, but not before Kasumi kicked her in the belly, sending her flying through the air.
Ukyo rolled out as she landed, and looked up to see Kasumi's imaged multiplied several times over, each one shifting over each other, hiding which form was the real one. "Alright, that's enough! You want to play these games then I'll show you just what I can do!" Ukyo shouted as she stood up. She took in a sharp breath and let it out with a scream.
Kasumi watched wide-eyed as energy whipped around Ukyo and a bright red-orange glow exploded from her. In the very next instant Kasumi found Ukyo right in front of her, her image blurred with the extreme speed she was moving at. Before she had any chance to react, Ukyo punched each of the images, finally connecting with the real one. The blow landed right in Kasumi cheek, and everything went black.
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Shampoo and Nodoka gasped as they saw the blow land home. Kasumi spun on her feet, but her body was limp. A second later she crashed to the ground as Ukyo stood over her panting, the glow now gone.
"Oh no!" Cologne said in surprise.
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Consciousness returned to Kasumi as she rested on the ground, but her mind was muddled. She could not remember the last several seconds, but her guess was that she had only been out for a short time. Then, a foot stepped into view, and Ukyo spoke down to her.
"Give it up. I could have hit you a whole lot harder than that."
That wasn't even full power? Kasumi thought with worry then noticed Ukyo's taxed breathing. It must take a lot out of her. Kasumi pushed herself back to her feet and faced Ukyo with a neutral look; taking every moment Ukyo gave her to recover. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Ukyo," she finally answered.
Ukyo shook her head, but was not surprised. "You're mistake. I'm not taking it easy on you anymore." Kasumi did not wait for Ukyo, instead retreating into the sky, gambling that the chef could not reach her. Such was not to be as the chef once again screamed out and the red glow surrounded her. This time she leapt from the ground and, to Kasumi's shock, overtook her and unleashed her chopstick blast attack at point-blank range. Kasumi only had the opportunity to cross her arms in front of her to shield herself from the worst of the blast, but she was still thrust back to the ground.
As she hit, a cloud of dust engulfed her. Ukyo descended into the haze and engaged Kasumi within. The battle lasted only a second before Kasumi rocketed out from the cloud, her head forced back and her eyes closed from the force of a blow. She recovered just in time to control her landing, but Ukyo was right on top of her. Kasumi took a two handed punch to the side of her face which knocked her to the ground.
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"Kasumi's losing!" Ranma said as he watched Ukyo deliver several more telling blows.
"I told you these techniques were deadly. I don't think Kasumi can win now," Hidenori grimly replied. "It would be best if Kasumi just gave up before she gets seriously hurt."
Cologne shook her head. "No. Kasumi is intelligent enough to know when she is beat. I think she still believes there may be a chance for victory. Look at the pattern of her movements."
"Pattern?" Ranma repeated then looked closer.
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Indeed, as Kasumi took blow after blow, she was preparing. It was her last attack, but her most telling one. Just have to get her to use the technique one more time, Kasumi thought as she took a kick to the kidney. Just as Ukyo began to set for another attack, Kasumi once more took to the air.
"Not this again," Ukyo muttered and prepared herself.
Just as Ukyo took in a breath, Kasumi acted, raising her fist to the sky. "Hiryuu Shouten Ha!"
The red glow surrounded Ukyo, but so did a spiral wind. In an instant Ukyo found herself pulled from the ground and tossed helplessly into the air.
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"That's it!" Ranma said in triumph. "Kasumi used the heat from Ukyo's technique to charge the tornado."
Ranma's optimism was shared by much of the group, all save Herb who watched the spiral wind a moment before saying, "No. Kasumi made a mistake."
"What?" Everyone said in surprise. "What do you mean?" Cologne asked, looking back at the tornado to try and see what the prince was talking about.
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Inside the tornado, Ukyo had her eyes closed, but then opened them. She looked around herself in confusion then at her hands. The red glow continued around her limbs, but unlike what normally happened she was not feeling very hot at all. What? I hardly feel a thing. Even the wind doesn't bother me, she thought as she looked up the cone to see Kasumi looking down at her in even more confusion. Ha, of course, this is just like a giant fan. All the heat is being drawn up into the air. Nice try, Kasumi, but it looks like your little trick just backfired. Ukyo smiled confidently up at her opponent. "Time to end this! Aerial Strike of a Ten Thousand Chopsticks!"
Above, Kasumi watched in horror as a solid wall of energy beams came up at her. Desperately she fled to the side of the tornado, dodging most of the attack, but at the same time getting caught up in the winds. Despite her efforts to free herself, she was carried higher and higher, all the while being tossed around like the twigs and debris around her.
How can I beat her now? Even the Hiryuu Shouten Ha has no effect. The only thing I have left is the Ha Do Ken, but I can't use that. I think it is time to use Uncle's technique, Kasumi thought as the winds tossed her out of the top of the tornado. She quickly regained her bearings and dove for the trees.
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"Where's Kasumi going?" Ranma asked. "Is she running away?"
"It does seem that way, but no," Genma replied. "That is one thing you must learn, Ranma. A temporary retreat can often be necessary to face a superior opponent."
"Whatever," Herb said in annoyance. "In either case, we better follow. I just saw Ukyo jump out the side of the tornado. She's no doubt after her."
The others nodded and ran off in the direction Kasumi had last been seen.
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Holding her arm where a piece of debris had cut into the skin, Kasumi hid herself behind a tree trunk and out of sight. What am I going to do? I've used everything I dare and she just keeps coming. Concentrating, Kasumi mended the wound then looked around to find Ukyo. Maybe I can outlast her. Surely she can't keep that technique up and not wear out. Still, I don't know if I'll last that long. Kasumi turned away from her search, and rested her head against the tree in contemplation. There must be some way-
Kasumi's thought came to an abrupt halt when a branch rustled above her. Quickly Kasumi set herself in a defensive posture and looked up, but found nothing. "Ukyo?" Kasumi asked as strong feeling of uneasiness washed over her. Another branch rustled, but again when Kasumi looked she could see nothing. "Who's there?"
"Proceeding with mission parameters," a female voice said from above. Kasumi looked up just in time to see something dropping down at her.
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Nearby, Ukyo searched the woods in frustration. Where the hell did she hide now? she thought. "I'm really getting tired of these games of hide-and-go-seek Kasumi. Come out here right-"
Suddenly Kasumi's scream of terror could be heard through the woods. Ukyo spun around towards the noise, but paused in puzzlement. What's her problem? she asked herself then ran off towards the sound.
She arrived just in time to see a figure dart into the woods, leaving Kasumi laid out on the ground. "What the hell?" Ukyo asked aloud and then noticed something else, a small animal rushing away from Kasumi... a cat. "Oh no," Ukyo thought as Kasumi growled in a decidedly feline manner.
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"Do you guys hear that?" Ranma asked the others.
"Yes, I did," Genma replied as he ran up. "We must hurry. Kasumi may be-"
"Ahhh! Get away from me you- AHHH!"
The group turned just in time to see Ukyo crash through a bush, pursued closely by Kasumi who was running about on all fours. Ukyo dodged to the side from Kasumi next attack, which made kindling of the tree behind her. The feline warrior spun quickly around and jumped in for another attack. Ukyo dodged into another set of bushes, and Kasumi continued on the hunt.
"Aiyah, what happen to Kasumi? Why she act like cat?" Shampoo asked in confusion.
"When pushed too far by her fear of cats, this sometimes happens, but where did she run into a cat around here?" Genma asked, looking around.
"Who cares about that right now?" Nodoka said, running up to where Ukyo and Kasumi had disappeared. "We have to follow them. There is no telling what could happen now."
The others nodded and rushed to catch up with the combatants. As they did, Ranma came along side Hidenori and his father and asked, "Do you think the Neko-ken will be enough to defeat Ukyo?"
Genma considered then shook his head. "I don't know. The Neko-ken is truly a terrifying technique, but after seeing this technique of Ukyo's... I just cannot say. I do, however, fear both could be in great danger. When Kasumi is like this she is a totally different person. She'll stop at nothing to defeat Ukyo now. She might even go so far as to... kill her, if forced, and I'm sure your daughter will defend herself with equal vigilance."
Hidenori nodded grimly and thought, This is exactly what I feared. At least when Kasumi was normal there was one sensible person in the fight. Now... They must both be stopped now before someone gets killed.
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With a burst of energy, Ukyo dodged to the side of another leaping attack from Kasumi-neko, and landed a kick her stomach as she passed. However, even with the added force of the Burning Soul behind the blow, the possessed woman did not even seem to notice the kick, having only to adjust her landing. "Damn it all!" Ukyo cursed and let off a chopstick attack as Kasumi leapt at her again. It had no effect, though, as Kasumi tore through the projectiles, and slashed at Ukyo with her claw like fist.
The chef leaned back just enough to miss most of the hit, but nails tore through her shirt at the shoulder and into the surface of the skin below. Ukyo scream out in pain, and pulled herself away, tearing away most of her shirt top in the process, leaving only her bra to protect her modesty. As Kasumi reset herself for another attack, Ukyo spared her shoulder a quick glance to see trickles of blood flowing from four long scratches. She's serious. If she had hit cleanly, she could have torn my arm off.
Kasumi-neko paused a moment to gather her strength, glaring at Ukyo with a deep hatred. Ukyo in return was looking much like Kasumi had earlier in the fight, surprised and nervous. "Maybe we should just... umm... finish this another day, huh? What do you say?" Ukyo asked, and gained a feral growl in response. "That's what I thought." Kasumi rushed in with several short jumps, this time coming in low for a slashing attack. Ukyo flipped over her safely, and immediately broke into a run when she hit the ground.
However, her attempt at retreat did not last long. Kasumi-neko sped after her, and easily overtook her. At the last instant, Ukyo crashed to the ground face first to dodge a leaping slash from behind. She then jumped back to her feet, uneasy but with the look of someone forced into a corner. "Okay then, if that's the way you want it. Come on!"
Kasumi-neko once again growled angrily at the chef and started another attack run. Ukyo did not move this time round, instead concentrating all her strength into the Burning Soul. Once again the red glow surrounded her, but it continued to grow brighter until Ukyo appeared to literally explode into flames. With a scream of anger and pain, she jumped in to meet Kasumi in mid-air, dodged by Kasumi's attacks, and landed a solid uppercut to Kasumi-neko's chin.
Kasumi's head snapped back from the force of the blow, and she let out a cat-like whimper as she was knocked back the way she had come. She crashed to the ground in an uncontrolled manner, finally skidding to a halt, not immediately moving.
Ukyo in the mean time dropped to the ground, doused the energies around her and fell to her hands and knees. "I did it," she said through heavy breaths, but then saw Kasumi begin to rise. "Oh, come on..."
Kasumi returned to her feline standing position slowly, her eyes glassy and unfocused. After a shake of the head, though, her focus returned and she eyed Ukyo. She growled and took a few short steps forward before Ukyo forced herself back to a standing position.
"You want another? Come on," she said tiredly. Honestly, she was not sure she was up to another such attack, but so far it was the only thing in her arsenal that seemed to work.
The two girls held their ground for several seconds, Kasumi-neko reconsidering after that last hit, but was still determined to come out on top. Ukyo was taking the time to recover her strength, and preparing herself for the next assault. After her breath steadied, Ukyo risked taking a step forward. In response, Kasumi-neko backed off a pace, but she remained resolute.
"Ha, not so brave now, are you kitty?" Ukyo taunted, causing the cat-girl to snarl, but she made no attempt to approach. Confident, Ukyo moved forward again, but this time her opponent stood her ground and continued to snarl. Alright, now what, Ukyo? Ukyo thought as she kept her eyes locked on her rival. Several more seconds passed in the standoff as Ukyo considered her options. She never did reach a decision. Instead, Kasumi-neko began to glow a deep crimson, her eyes reflecting the glow. "Now what?"
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At that moment the other came rushing up out of the woods to see the glow around Kasumi continue to grow. "What's... going on?" Nodoka asked, looking at her husband accusingly.
Genma quickly waved his hands in front of himself defensively. "Don't look at me. She's never done this before."
"It's the Ha do," Herb answered.
"The Ha do?" the others repeated in confusion.
"You mean, as in the Ha do ken?" Ranma asked.
The prince nodded. "It is the same energy field... but twisted somehow."
"What is this Ha do ken, Ranma?" Nodoka asked.
"Kasumi told me about it once. It's supposed to be this really powerful attack. She didn't say she knew it though," Ranma answered, looking at the growing energy field with a growing feeling of danger.
Suddenly Herb turned away. "We must go!"
"What?"
"I've seen this technique. You can't imagine its power. If we don't leave now, we will all be killed!" Without further word, Herb grabbed Shampoo by the arm and pulled her away. The Amazon reluctantly let herself be directed, the feeling of danger convincing her of the truth of the prince's words. The others soon followed, Hidenori remaining the longest, watching his daughter remain unmoving, apparently paralyzed by the danger.
"Ukyo, for pity sakes, run!" Hidenori yelled.
Ukyo looked over at her father, but then her expression shifted to irritation. "Shut up you Jackass! I'm not going to lose."
Hidenori shook his head then retreated. "Damn stubborn girl! She's going to get herself killed."
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Ukyo returned her look to Kasumi and the extreme feeling of imminent danger returned. You know, he probably had a point, a part of her mind said, but Ukyo ignored it. She would not show weakness in front of everyone. Yes, but didn't you just notice they all ran away, that part of her mind spoke up again to point out. Ukyo took a second to look around and confirmed the truth of the statement. "Oh hell..."
At that instant Kasumi's attack was fully charged. With an angry, "Reorw," she let it loose on Ukyo. The chef adjusted her focus just in time to see the wall of energy coming her way. Gritting her teeth, Ukyo put her hands up defensively in front of her and attempted to block the attack. As the energy wave hit, the force of it nearly knocked Ukyo over. She managed to maintain her balance, but still it pushed against her, slowly skidding her backwards as she held the energy.
Have to douse it, Ukyo thought urgently, but her efforts to extend her energy around the attack proved futile. It was simply too large. She tried repeatedly, the tendrils of her own energy looking like a baby's hand trying to hold a beach ball. Damn it! Ukyo thought as her back slammed up against a tree trunk and the full force of the blast pressed against her arms and they began to buckle under the strain.
Kasumi-ken pressed the attack, energy pouring from her like a river until finally it exploded. Dust, dirt, twigs and other debris blew by her unnoticed. Her attention was reserved solely for Ukyo. Finally the cloud of fragments settled revealing Ukyo lying on the ground, bruised and burned but still breathing.
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Nearby, Ranma and others came out from behind a boulder to see the devastation. "Whoa..." Ranma whisper as he looked at the blasted area. "God... Ukyo," he said after remembering the real target of the attack.
"Come on," Hidenori called out and ran out to see what was happening. The others soon followed. They arrived to see Ukyo barely conscious, and Kasumi approaching slowly, her eyes still glowing crimson. "We have to stop her."
"And be her next target?" Genma said nervous.
"Genma!" Nodoka admonished. "Be a man for once! We can't let Kasumi kill her."
Hidenori jumped into the fray, followed closely by Ranma and Tatewaki. Herb and Genma followed them in leaving only Shampoo, Cologne and Nodoka to watch. They did not get far, though, before Kasumi-neko turned her attention to them and the glow in her eyes once again began to build up around her whole body. This time she charged it only for a second before firing off the attack that impacted at the group's feet sending them flying. Kasumi was not finished, however, and picked the closest intruder to attack, Ranma.
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Ukyo could not summon the strength to move. Instead she managed to weakly prop her head up to see the fight. To her horror she saw Kasumi leaping in on Ranma, her intentions clearly to cause him grievous bodily harm. "No!" Ukyo screamed out and called on her Burning Soul without thought.
In an instant she was standing directly in Kasumi's path and the two girls clashed, one possessed by Neko-ken, the other burning with fury. One last explosion rocked the forest as those gathered called out the names of the fighters. The blinding burst of light forced them to look away, and all that could be heard was the thump of a body hitting the ground.
Ranma unshielded his eyes to see Ukyo panting, still standing in front of him. Then, all her strength left her, her knees buckled and she began to collapse. Ranma did not waste a second, and caught her as she fell. "Ukyo?" he asked in concern.
The chef looked up at him and smiled. "You're okay?"
"Thanks to you," he replied then noticed Kasumi lying on the ground several feet away, unmoving.
"I won?" Ukyo asked in surprised as she noticed Kasumi's form as well. "I won! I really won!" Ukyo said happily, regaining enough of her strength to stand up with Ranma's help.
Hidenori joined Ranma while the others rushed over to be with Kasumi. Ukyo looked over at her father with a smug grin. "See, I told you I was better than her!"
"Here," her father replied, handing Ukyo his coat.
"What's this for?" she asked in confusion then looked down to see large portions of the remainder of her clothing had been blasted away and were leaving very little to the imagination. Blushing furiously, Ukyo grabbed the coat and quickly covered herself, noticing Ranma was now looking way and holding his noise.
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"Report," a voice said.
"Analysis complete. Subject demonstrates the desired energy pattern. Instructions?"
"Return for now. We will deal with this matter later. For now, we must prepare."
A figure high in the treetops nodded unemotionally, and disappeared.
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Several minutes later Ukyo sat by a campfire, sipping at a cup of tea she had been given while her father tended to a wound on her arm. "Stubborn girl," he muttered.
"Oh, shut up," Ukyo replied tiredly.
"You could have gotten yourself killed."
"Well, I didn't, so drop it already."
Hidenori huffed and tied off a bandage. He then looked over to where Kasumi, Shampoo, Nodoka and Cologne were currently engaged in a heated discussion. "Yes, but what have you gotten yourself into now."
"What are you talking about?"
"Foolish girl," he snapped. "You always rush into things without thinking it through. You never consider all the facts."
"Oh, give it a rest would you. You're just upset because I beat your precious Kasumi. Why don't you just admit it?"
Ukyo's father again huffed, and noticed Ranma walking up with the remains of Ukyo's shirt. "Here you go. Not much left I'm afraid."
Ukyo graciously accepted the fabric, smiling shyly at Ranma. "Thank you, Ranma."
"Yeah, no problem," he replied, turned away then stopped. "I also found... oh never mind. It's not important." Before either Ukyo or her father could ask any questions Ranma hurried away.
A few moments passed before Shampoo stomped away from the conversion she was engaged in. Ukyo watched this, and noted Nodoka seemed no more pleased than Shampoo. The cook wondered at this, and then noticed Kasumi walking towards her. Humph, finally forced to admit defeat huh. Smiling, Ukyo rose to her feet to meet Kasumi. "So, not so-"
"Ukyo," Kasumi said gently, causing the other girl to fall silent.
"What?"
"I just wanted to say first that you fought very well. I also wanted to say this isn't my idea."
Ukyo opened her mouth to ask about the puzzling comment but found Kasumi gently taking hold of her face and pressing her lips against hers. Ukyo stiffened in shock, unable to think. She remained that way throughout the brief kiss until Kasumi withdrew and said, "Wo Ai Ni."
End Chapter 29
Well, that concludes things for this chapter. Special thanks as always go to T. H. Tiger for creative assistance in writing this thing, and all my other pre-readers. Later.