Torn Chapter 8 Hopes and Fears, a ranma fanfic

Notes: Okay so I lied sue me here is chapter 8 earlier than promised.

Ranma 1/2: Torn

Chapter 8: Hopes and Fears

By Kit'ari

Never had a panda looked more prideful or more afraid as the one currently running into the clearing. Taking in his surroundings as he ran, he reflected on what fine training this was. He continued down the worn path that edged a cliff heading to the cover of the woods on the other side.

Two days straight they had been running without a break. That time was taking its toll on him, to be sure; however, that his son had been able to keep up made it worth it. Not that he was about to stop before his pursuer came back to their senses.

Ahead of him, he saw someone walking down the path, or he may have just been standing there. At this point, he wasn't paying that much attention. Without the immediate need to dodge and cover through the trees, his body was becoming acutely aware of the stress he had been placing on it. He was deaf from the pounding in his head. His arms were numb from all the thin branches he ran through in an attempt to lose his pursuer.

Not to mention, he hadn't had a chance to eat in all that time. As he passed the traveler, he forced the figure into the path he knew his pursuer would take. Just then, a lithe figure burst high from the tree-line onto the path. The brazen red-head saw nothing but her prey. There was nothing but the panda that would have to pay. He just had to come to China, even though he didn't speak a word of Chinese.

Quite suddenly, she found herself having to maneuver to avoid and jump off of a flying obstacle. Landing expertly on her feet, her momentum carried her several steps beyond. Her mind, despite the heavy pounding, processed several things at once. First, her prey had made it to the tree line. If she didn't put on a burst of speed right now, he might just finally get away.

Second, that had been a person she had just kicked. Some random observation she had made also pointed out that they were running along a cliff. There was a chance that a person might be seriously hurt.

The third thing that reached her brain was her body informing her of its intent to do a complete shutdown. Pain bloomed in her over-used legs as she came crashing hard to the ground. The world began to spin around her. Idly, she wondered when the world took on that particular shade of red and purple. Though the sheer force of will, she remained conscious.

That baka panda had long since escaped. There was still that person she needed to check on. With grim determination, she tried to force herself up onto her hands and knees, but her body fought and protested like never before. Her Ki reserves were practically nonexistent, from over-exertion to carry her this far, and she was feeling every step of it.

A shadow moved over her. Ranma-chan bolted up right.

A sheen of sweat covered her whole body. Her breath came in hard quiet gasps as she tried to take in everything. She wasn't in the clearing. She wasn't in her room. She was in bed. There was an arm around her waist. She jumped to the far side of the room. After another moment, she realized she was in Akane's room.

Akane murmured something but didn't appear to wake up. 'I am so dead,' ran through Ranma's head. Followed by, 'What am I doing in Akane's room?' Then she noticed that she was wearing some kind of pajamas. Ones she had seen Akane wear. She was relieved to note, that was the only feminine article she was wearing. Coming down from the adrenaline shock of waking up in a compromising position next to her iinazuke, her body began to inform her of the pain that ran through every nerve in her body, especially down... Ranma went white as a sheet.

The fight. Trying to buy time for the girls. Pain. A lot of pain. She couldn't remember everything, but she was pretty sure she didn't win. She wouldn't hurt...

'Not good enough,' she thought as tears formed at the edge of her eyes. 'Still not good enough.' She took in a deep breath. As she released it, her whole body shuddered under her physical and emotional pain. Her entire body felt like it was bathed in a cold flame, dampening her senses to all but her pain. Her right eye was puffy, both of her arms wore giant bruises all over them.

Half of Nerima must have danced across her back while she slept. Her left leg had been given to some wolf as a chew toy. A white-hot fire burned deep in her right hip. But all of that was nothing next to her other pain. Ranma-chan shut her eyes tightly as a pain induced dizziness overcame her. A soft whimper escaped before she could quash it. She wanted to break down right there, but she couldn't. She didn't dare.

She looked over at Akane. The morning light streamed lightly through the curtains, bathing the short-haired girl in its warm glow. A lock of hair had drifted across her peaceful face. It was hard to believe that this angel and the angry overly aggressive tomboy were one and the same. A lump formed in her throat. Silently, she moved over to the bed. She pulled the covers, disturbed by her quick exit, over the sleeping girl.

Brushing aside the stray lock, she stared longingly into the girl's face. 'If only...' she thought sadly but knew otherwise. Pulling back, she felt at the bandage at her side and on her leg. Drawing into herself, she left the room. Down the hall, she opened the door to her room and spotted her father's cursed form, silhouetted by the early morning sun coming through the window. She could smell the sake on his breath from here. She no longer felt like sleeping.

XXXXX

The quiet rattle of pans and the soft defined pitter-patter of domestic movement echoed emptily to the sole occupant of the kitchen. Where normally, a light song would accompany her heart and warm her soul, a cold fear had moved in without warning. Kasumi was halfway through her breakfast preparations though she still hadn't decided why she was doing this.

At best, she thought, it would only be her and Nabiki this morning. She wasn't even sure Nabiki would be up anytime soon. Her thoughts fluttered all around last night. Akane and Ranma were still having their little tiff, but she was sure it was almost over. That both of them had managed to stay upset this long had surprised her. She had given Ranma her letter to Tofu, hoping they would talk and maybe Ranma would open up to him.

She had noticed something building up between Ranma and her sister but felt helpless to do anything about it. There was something more going on than whatever had happened Saturday night. The image of Akane standing in the living room, holding an unconscious Ranma-chan returned unbidden to her. Akane had looked at her and instantly, Kasumi was a nine-year-old girl all over again.

She wanted to run and hide in her bed. She wanted to scream. She wanted to burst out in tears. Fear as pure as only a child could feel washed over her and froze her where she stood. The fear she felt paled to what she saw in Akane's eyes. Akane was looking at her, but she did not see her. Pain and endless fear where the only things her sister's eyes reflected. A little girl lost and alone in her own house.

At that moment, she had been sure that Ranma was dead. The whistle of the tea kettle brought her back to herself. A cold shiver ran up and down her back. He wasn't dead, thankfully. But the sight of his wounds still scared her. "Need any help, Kasumi?" a familiar voice timidly asked. Kasumi nearly jumped out of her skin. Turning to look, she found Ranma-chan standing in the doorway, dressed in her usual outfit.

Red is such a childish color. She often wondered why Ranma would choose to wear it like a badge. As if it was some declaration to the world that he refused to grow up. Her eyes flittered to the younger girl's side and leg. She saw again Tofu cutting and pulling back Ranma's shirt and pants. Blood. So much blood.

"Are you okay?" Kasumi found herself asking softly. "Yeah, I'm fine," Ranma-chan returned with her usual cocky smirk; however, her eyes held a frown.

"If you want to rinse off the rice, I would appreciate it," Kasumi offered, returning to her preparations. She attempted a smile, while she pushed her fear back down. She stared at all of the food stuffs sitting on the counter and tried desperately to remember what to do next. The past ten years seemed to evaporate from her.

"Uh, Kasumi? Isn't that vinegar?" a soft soprano asked from her right. "Oh my, I believe you're right," she responded and set the bottle down as far away from her as she could.

Ranma slowly blinked large innocent eyes before returning to the sink, strainer in hand. "That must have been some fight you and Akane got into last night," Kasumi remarked. She wanted to put her near mistake out of her thoughts and thus grabbed the only other thing she could think of. She glanced at Ranma and noted how stiffly the girl was standing and moving.

"You had us worried," the eldest Tendou girl continued.

"Us?" Ranma managed not to squeak out, but it sounded close. "Akane, Dr. Tofu, and I," Kasumi counted off.

Their fathers had thought the two had gone out on a date and gone out to celebrate. "We were very concerned," Kasumi explained brushing the vegetables she had chopped into a bowl, then went to retrieve a few things from the refrigerator. Ranma set the rice on the counter and turned the water off.

"Akane had to carry you home," Kasumi added when Ranma didn't respond immediately. "Akane carried me home?"

"And put you to bed after Dr. Tofu said what you needed most was some rest." Kasumi returned to the counter and began to pour the rice into the cooker. "She collapsed almost before you hit the mattress. I thought it a little improper. But Dr. Tofu seemed to think it was for the best." Ranma just stopped what she was doing and looked at Kasumi.

"That nice detective that stopped by was quite surprised that just the two of you were able to defeat so many of those bullies." Kasumi brought out two tea kettles and started to fill the first. "He didn't seem to believe Nabiki though when she tried to explain Akane's chi attack." Ranma stared at Kasumi with her jaw hanging open. "He said not to worry, that once they got out of the hospital they would all be facing charges," Kasumi continued with her recap of last night.

Setting the first kettle on the stove, she started filling the second. Kasumi knew she was rambling now, but couldn't help herself. Whenever she felt overwhelmed, she always found it helpful to restate what she had observed putting as positive a spin on it as she could. Only she was having a hard time finding anything remotely good to say.

"I-I think I'm gonna go set the table now."

"Thank you, Ranma," Kasumi said with a smile, though it wavered as Ranma left.

'Just what did I miss last night?!' Ranma thought to herself as she left to the dining area.

XXXXX

Breakfast that morning was the usual fare. Usual, that is if you discount Mr. Saotome's slower battle tactics over their food. That tends to happen when the pounding of chopstick strikes against the plates and each other travels straight up your arm to sound relentlessly against your head.

Nabiki's knowing smirk; whom unlike their fathers, who came in after the evening mess, knew where the couple spent last night; was probably fairly usual. Even if it did seem more hollow than usual. Akane's worried glances at her iinazuke could almost have been normal. Although, that both of their fathers were too hung-over to notice might have rated up there as unusual.

That neither patriarch noticed the unusual stiffness exhibited by the younger Saotome, nor the dark angry bruise covering his right eye might have been unusual if one took into account that neither were berating him for allowing himself to be so beaten in a fight. However, through it all, Kasumi's serene smile and calm nature ensured that everything was all right.

Thus, there was nothing out of the ordinary to be worried over. Which meant that there was no need for the head of the household, Soun Tendou, to venture away from his morning paper. Thus, breakfast that morning was the usual fare.

XXXXX

"Why, Sayuri! What brings you by?" Yuka's mother said. "I, uh, we," Sayuri began with a quick glance at Hiroshi, who was standing off to the side failing to look inconspicuous, "noticed Yuka wasn't in class today and were a little worried about her."

Yuka, Ranma, Akane, and Nabiki had all missed that day of school. Sayuri couldn't think of a single reason for all four to miss school. Although there had been talking going on about some large fight last night, she couldn't imagine Yuka getting involved in something like that.

"She wasn't feeling well this morning, but I bet you could cheer her up. She's in her room."

"Thanks!" Sayuri cheered, then hesitated for a second. "It's okay if he comes along, right?" Sayuri asked while waving at Hiroshi. Hiroshi smiled nervously and waved.

Yuka's mother looked uncertain, then nodded. "I guess it would be okay, just this once."

"Good. Come on Hiroshi," Sayuri called and led the way toward Yuka's room.

XXXXXXX

Yuka laid on her bed facing the wall. It was a nice wall, white with just a hint of yellow. Last night, the police had brought her home. That sparked an all-out shouting match between her and her mother. That woman just couldn't hear reason. She hadn't left her room yet, choosing to skip breakfast and lunch rather than face her mother. She blinked away the tears and frustration.

Last night she discovered an old friend was pregnant and didn't have anyone to talk to, they had all been attacked, and Ranma had been hurt trying to protect them. If Ranma hadn't been with them if they hadn't found Akane when they did, if...

Yuka covered her ears and shook her head trying to block out the memory of that scream. She curled up into a ball as she failed to block out the images of violence that had played out before her. She had always been a sensitive girl. She hadn't even been able to watch Akane's morning fights with the other students and had been overjoyed when Ranma had put an end to them.

"Yuka, I'm coming in!" a voice called jarring her from her thoughts. Behind her, she heard the door open. Confused, she turned over. Surely her mother hadn't let anyone visit.

"Hey, you decent?" Sayuri called as she poked her head in. "What are you doing here?" Yuka rebuffed.

"Is that any way to greet a worried friend?"

"Come on in, I guess," Yuka responded, flushing a little in embarrassment.

"Um, hi," a masculine voice said. Yuka jerked her head up to see Hiroshi standing in her room. A boy was in her room. She was still dressed in her pajamas. "Sayuri!" Yuka wailed as she jerked her covers up over her body. "What? I asked if you were decent," Sayuri responded with a smirk.

"I didn't think you'd bring a boy in here!" Yuka replied somewhat scandalized. Not even when Ranma had come over had he entered her room. "Your mother knows, blame her," Sayuri said with a shrug.

"You don't have to talk about me while I'm standing right here," Hiroshi responded in a light tone. "Your right," Sayuri responded. "Have a seat," she finished while plopping down in the only chair in the room.

Hiroshi glanced around for a place to sit. When he looked at the corner of the bed, Yuka glared a warning not to even think about it.

"Yuka, Hiroshi's here because he's worried too, you know," Sayuri admonished when Hiroshi gulped and tried to give an innocent smile.

Yuka snorted and turned away, but she scooted her legs up further leaving room for him to sit.

"I think I'll just..."

"Sit!" Sayuri commanded, cutting Hiroshi off. Hiroshi dropped into the proffered seat. Yuka stifled a giggle at his deer-in-headlights look.

"How are you feeling?" Sayuri asked, turning her attention back to Yuka. Yuka shrugged while studying her covers.

"You don't look sick," Hiroshi offered.

"Why would I look sick?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you missed school today?" Sayuri responded, just a little teasingly. "Oh, no. I'm not sick or anything," Yuka responded softly, her thoughts briefly returning to last night.

"Then how did little-miss-perfect get out of going to school today?"

Yuka shot Sayuri a glare. "Why didn't you just ask Nabiki?"

"Because she wasn't at school today," Hiroshi answered. "Neither where Akane or Ranma." "Oh," Yuka responded. She wasn't really surprised, but for some reason it made her feel better thinking that last night could even get to Nabiki.

"What happened?" Sayuri demanded with both frustration and concern in her voice.

"I- I don't want to talk about it."

"Did Ranma do something to you?" Sayuri asked.

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Well, something had to have happened yesterday." Yuka looked away while mumbling "as if you care."

"Of course I care! You're my friend," Sayuri replied, jumping up from her seat. She came over and knelt down in front of Yuka.

"What do you have against him?" Yuka asked quietly, still not facing her friend.

"I just don't trust that pervert."

After a moment, Yuka turned to look at her friend. "Why? What did he ever do to you?"

"Come on, Yuka. Open your eyes for once."

"I don't understand."

"How many times have we seen 'him' playing some guy for food or extra scoops of ice-cream?"

Yuka shrugged. "I don't know. A couple of times, I guess."

"What kind of a guy does things like that, huh? I'll tell you, a pervert!"

"I think you're reading more into that than there really is," Yuka countered, more just to be countering than any real conviction.

"Yeah, Me an' Dai may tease Ranma about that, but trust me, he's not interested in guys," Hiroshi added.

"And what makes you think that?" Sayuri said, turning her attention against the only boy in the room.

"Uh, well, uh..."

"See!"

"Hey, give me a second," Hiroshi responded. "It's mostly just a feeling, not anything I've really thought about, okay?"

"Just cause a girl doesn't show an interest in you, doesn't mean she doesn't like guys," Sayuri shot back. Yuka winced at Hiroshi's hurt look.

"Ranma only gets tongue-tied around girls, whether he's in his guy-form or girl-form, not guys." Hiroshi smiled, looking proud of his argument.

"So, you think even as a girl, he's interested in girls?" Sayuri summarized.

"Well, yeah. Isn't it obvious?"

"There, you see, Yuka!" Sayuri spun back toward the girl on the bed.

"See what?"

"I bet Ranma's been pushing his girl side on Akane all this time."

"What?" Yuka replied, completely confused by her friend's sudden turn.

"Remember last week? Akane didn't want to tell us what perverted things Ranma was always doing."

"She couldn't think of anything!"

"Anything she'd want to admit in public, sure!" Sayuri shouted as she jumped up from the floor and began pacing back and forth.

"Ranma isn't like that!"

"They're all like that!" Sayuri ranted while throwing her arms up in the air. "What are you talking about?" Yuka looked over to Hiroshi. He shook his head while giving a shrug.

"So, you don't like Ranma's girl form flirting with guys, because she's really a guy. But you also don't like Ranma with Akane because he's part of the time a girl?"

"Exactly!"

"So what! I actually think it's kind of romantic," Yuka replied with a slight smile on her face.

"K-kk," Sayuri coughed out. "Kind of romantic?!"

"Yes, love conquering all."

"Don't you remember how much all those rumors hurt Akane at the beginning of the year? Now that she's engaged to a boy that turns into a girl..."

"Hey, not everyone at school believes that!" Hiroshi interrupted. "Outside of our class, I don't think anyone really believes in the curse."

"And you'd still think that pervert would be satisfied with those other two perverts, but oh no."

"Now what are you talking about?"

"That one that dresses up like a boy. You know, most of the girls still think she's a boy! And let's not forget about that gaijin bimbo. I bet she'd do anything that pervert asked."

"Who, Ukyo?" Yuka asked.

"I bet all three of them get together every chance they get."

"Sayuri!" Yuka exclaimed. Throwing her covers back, she hopped up to face the nearly hysterical girl. "You don't know what they're like!" Yuka slapped Sayuri across the face. "Get a hold of yourself!" Yuka shouted into Sayuri's face. Sayuri stood there stunned for a moment. Tears, previously unnoticed, trailed down her face.

"Sayuri," Yuka began.

"Don't!" Sayuri shouted.

"But..."

"I said, 'don't'." Sayuri turned away, trembling. "You'll see I was right. I just hope it isn't too late."

Yuka stood frozen, as she watched her longtime friend run out the door. Spinning toward her bed, she dashed right into Hiroshi's arms. His arms flew around her as they crashed onto her bed. She had forgotten he was even in the room, but she didn't care at that moment. "Wa- was it always... always this... bad?" she asked between her sobs, but Hiroshi didn't have an answer for her.

"You don't think... that Ranma has... what Sayuri was saying, do you?" she asked a few minutes later.

"No, I don't," Hiroshi responded, rubbing his hands soothingly across her back. "Trust me, there's no way." Yuka just nodded, her tears had stopped with his reassurance. He sounded so confident and she needed to believe that.

He knew Ranma much better than she did. Slowly, a thought began to work its way into her trembling thoughts. She was alone with a boy. She was alone with a boy in her room. She was alone with a boy in her room, in her bed. She was being held by a boy. His arms around her felt so warm and comforting. She felt strength in them that she had never noticed before.

As his hands worked their way across her back, the heat from his hands flooded into her, lending her strength, and something more. She could hear his heart beating in his chest, and began to wonder if hers was as loud. Yuka began to wonder why her mother hadn't come in yet. Sayuri said she knew Hiroshi was here. Did her mother think he left with Sayuri? Did her mother even know he was here? She didn't know what to think.

She could feel him pressing into her thigh, and knew he was thinking naughty thoughts about her. She was more use to Akane getting all the attention. Did that mean that he liked her? Or was it just that he was alone in bed with a girl? She also began to wonder just what naughty things he might be thinking about.

Hiroshi, for his part, was cursing himself. Here he was with Yuka. What she needed most now, was a friend. He couldn't keep his mind off of how soft and warm she felt in his arms or the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra. He was praying she wouldn't notice his arousal. She wanted a friend right now, not a pervert. He really didn't want to blow this. He knew of several guys that would kill to be where he was right this instant.

However he was the one here in this situation, and the last thing he was going to do was ruin this moment. Nope, he was going to stop thinking about what it would be like to run his hands under her shirt. He was not even going to consider just how much he wanted to kiss her. Hiroshi leaned forward slightly, to whisper into her ear.

"He would never do anything to really hurt her."

Yuka hummed an affirmative that sent little electric waves up and down his spine. Oh, how much he wanted to kiss her right there and then.

I will be working on chapter: 9 soon I hope you all are having a wonderful day and thank you for reading. -Zeltronica