Torn Chapter 12 Another day, a ranma fanfic

Author Note: Just another chapter launch while I haven't lost steam for the night.

Ranma 1/2: Torn

Chapter 12: Just Another Day

By Kit'ari

A sea of Furinkan uniform blue swept away under the lunchtime tide, occasionally breaking as flows separated toward the school lunch counters, vending machines, and outside freedom. One girl who deftly maneuvered the rapids found herself envious of a certain martial artist who habitually took his quicker route. She would never call jumping from the third floor the easier route.

At the bottom of the stairs, she felt a hand brush her bottom. On her next step, she went up on the toes of her right foot and immediately spun to her left.

Before the idiot boy realized what was happening, she captured his wrist in her right hand and twisted it away from his body, just as she had been taught. The boy let out a yelp while his eyes widened in panic.

"I- I- I-," the boy sputtered.

"Just what makes you think any girl appreciates being groped!?" Yuka exclaimed as she glared at him contemptuously.

The boy just sat there as the crowd around them snickered at his predicament.

Yuka opened her mouth to say something more but drew a blank. Humiliation and anger raged within her. She just didn't use to being in this type of situation. Finally, she shook her head at the pitiful boy and just walked off.

Once upon a time, Yuka despaired of ever finding a boyfriend as the boys were too afraid to approach her; now they felt they could just freely grope her in the halls. Just because she and Akane weren't talking.

The boys seemed to think that meant open season. She may not hold the same interest in martial arts as Akane, but that didn't mean she hadn't learned a thing or two.

Speaking of Akane, Yuka thought something seemed off today between her and Ranma. Granted, it was only a day after that night, so she might have been reading more into it than there was, but she wasn't sure.

Yuka reached the main schoolyard and looked around for someplace to eat. Her usual spot was out, because of how things were between Akane, Sayuri, and herself. She noticed that Akane and Sayuri seemed to be avoiding each other this morning, but she didn't know what to make of that.

Her life felt like it was turning into some manga story. She just wasn't sure which kind of manga yet. She could certainly sympathize with Akane more, she thought with a wary smile.

Ahead, she spotted Hiroshi with Ranma and Daisuke walking off somewhere. A large thump beat within her chest while her stomach twisted into knots. After she caught her breath but before she thought her actions through, she ran to catch up, hoping to join them for lunch.

XXXX

"Nabiki-sempai?" a timid voice broached into the said girl's lunchtime discussions.

"Yes?" Nabiki said slowly, as she sized up the girl now standing before her.

The girl stood about average height and build. Like most girls, she wore little cute baubles from the obvious yet not too conspicuous locations of her school uniform. The usual attempt to set herself apart by copying everyone else.

Nabiki noticed a smudge of red on her collar that others might have mistaken for some lured lesbian making-out, but the middle Tendo girl knew better. Myako, member of the acting club and the most gifted make-up artist in the school.

"Uh, I heard that you stopped selling pictures this morning," Myako said hesitantly.

Wincing internally Nabiki answered "That's right," due in part She had simply forgotten about that.

"I thought we had a deal," Myako stated weakly.

"We did," Nabiki responded. "And still do."

"Sir?" Junko, the girl Nabiki was speaking with and trusted second, asked.

Nabiki took a deep breath, then slowly released it. She glanced around, despite knowing nobody dared approach them during lunch unless they needed something.

"Have a seat, Myako," Nabiki said, pointing to the nearby chair.

Myako paled a little but took the proffered seat.

Nabiki glanced at Junko, who immediately started watching for anyone who might approach, before turning her gaze fully on now very frightened girl.

"You came to me because you trusted my judgment and ability to get what you wanted, right?" Nabiki inquired of the girl sitting before her.

Myako nodded.

"I know the quality, as well as understand the market here. I know how much everyone would be willing to pay, and just how to get the most out of my products." Nabiki paused.

She then continued "You have a very good product. Although, a full shot of Ranma in that white shirt would have paired very well with your close-ups."

Myako's eyes flickered away while Junko glanced curiously at Nabiki before returning to her vigil.

"So trust me when I say it is not in your best interests to not sell these or any other photos right now," Nabiki concluded.

"Why?" Myako replied somewhat hotly, her unspoken accusation in her eyes.

Nabiki resented the implication that she wasn't being honest in her opinion.

"Before you go off on your own, you should know just what you are getting yourself into," Nabiki replied, equally hotly.

"A threat?" Myako sneered but quickly bit it back.

Nabiki ignored her and went on.

"First off, you're going to have to deal with Kuno before you can sell any of your pictures, or he'll go ballistic trust me."

Myako blinked, that wasn't the response she expected from Nabiki.

"Second, after you sell, you'll have to put up with every one of them when they come back for more, and trust me, they won't believe you if say you don't have any."

Nabiki leaned toward Myako going on to say, "I hope you have some shots of Ranma's male side to appease all his iinazuke. They won't like someone taking advantage of him, but you might survive if you have something to offer them, and they prefer his male side."

Nabiki watched as Myako became even whiter.

"Both Ranma and Akane know who took these pictures, right?" she inquired.

Nabiki watched the girl's trapped-in-a-corner look until she was sure she had the girl's attention again.

"You heard about the fight the other night?" Nabiki asked.

Myako gave a blank look at the apparent change of subject.

"Ranma once stopped a boy named Kenji when he attempted to mug your mother," Nabiki pointedly stated.

"Yes," Myako said, still obviously off balance.

"He was there, along with several dozen of his friends if I recall correctly," Nabiki said, her typical IceQeen mask in place.

"You're not saying..."

"No, but Ranma, Akane, and the others have helped a lot of people. Enough so, they sought to take it out on a certain pig-tailed girl."

Myako sat back while her eyes lost focus.

"Ranma was not alone," Nabiki stated, then paused while Myako asked the question with her eyes.

"He, or rather she, was escorting a couple of girls home that night."

Myako's eyes fluttered before she closed them. Opening them once again, she asked, "Was anyone hurt?"

Nabiki winced. She walked right into that question.

"The only ones that I know of that went to the hospital were those that deserved it," Nabiki stated in a cold tone.

She then continued "Now, while they may be tied up for a while, I don't think it would be appropriate to release yours, or any other pictures at this time for your own safety."

Myako nodded slowly.

"Those who don't know about Ranma's curse would just be more bothersome. Those that do know, and still ignore Ranma's ranting about being a guy, regardless of form would look at those pictures as proof that they were right all along."

Myako twitched.

Nabiki leaned back, purposely taking a less aggressive stance.

"What was more important to you: the money or your portfolio?"

Myako started incredulously at that question.

"My portfolio."

"Then I might have an alternative solution."

"Oh?"

XXXX

"Is sorry, but no can take order today," Shampoo repeated for the thirty-second time that day. "Is closed and no open again."

The young warrior closed her eyes while counting slowly to ten.

"Yes, is very-very sorry, but..."

Shampoo turned and slammed the phone down, cracking the handle but not quite breaking it.

Most of the callers had been polite and understanding, but she was at the end of her patience, and that jerk was neither.

Before the phone could ring again, she disconnected the cord. The Cat Cafe had closed their doors for the last time, so answering the phone didn't much matter anymore.

Listlessly, Shampoo walked over and sank down into one of the booths. Upstairs, her great-grandmother was busy packing. Which is where she should have been, but the phone ringing had offered a distraction that she welcomed at first.

The proud teen cast a wondering gaze across empty the room.

Over by the door, memories of greeting Ranma danced across her vision: herself pressed against his warm strong chest; his tight muscles flexing silkily against her embracing arms; his hot breath flowing across her ear and neck; Akane standing behind them, glowering with jealousy.

A shiver of pleasure worked its way up until she was shaking her head against the memory.

She took a deep calming breath, then wiped away a tear. She couldn't do that anymore. Ranma was beyond her reach, but that didn't stop her heart from aching.

She turned her thoughts back to home. She missed the stars and clean air. She missed her friends and fun times. Soon, she would she the forests and mountains that she grew up with, but not just yet.

Her thoughts turned back to Akane, her one time rival. She could not leave now. There was too much she needed to do.

"Shampoo, catch."

Shampoo startled out of her thoughts and obediently caught the small object.

"It's called a soul stone," Cologne said in answer to her great-granddaughter's questioning look.

"What it do?" Shampoo asked while examining the small tear-shaped object.

At the wide end, a bright violet seemed to flow across the stone blending into a light blue.

"Hmm, just like your mother, I see," Cologne replied teasingly as she gazed at the stone.

"What mean? Shampoo no understand," Shampoo replied.

"The two colors represent your parents. If you had been intimate with anyone, it would have disrupted the pattern," Cologne explained.

Shampoo blinked then blushed.

"Oh," Shampoo stated. "What great-grandmother need with a stone?"

"With that stone, I can prove ancestry," Cologne said.

"Shampoo thought great-grandmother already believe ai- Ranma," Shampoo replied as she closed her fingers around the stone.

"I know the boy, but the rest of the council does not. Besides, you never know how such knowledge could come in handy," Cologne said, as she pogoed over Shampoo.

"Great-grandmother know who the father is?" Shampoo asked. She could feel the apprehension and anger flow from her, but couldn't keep it out of her voice.

"I have a thought, as do you,' Cologne stated, locking eyes with Shampoo. "But no, I don't know. And without proof, neither do you."

Shampoo nodded.

She then continued "Ranma did not give a description when Mousse was listening, and I did not ask."

"Why?" Shampoo returned.

Cologne continued "This is a delicate situation, and you know that. If it is who we think it is..."

Shampoo interjected, "Then Shampoo..."

"Will do nothing," Cologne finished for her.

XXXX

Akane grabbed hold of the boy's arm with a vice-like grip and yanked downward until she felt the sickening crack of bone.

The awful-awful wail died away leaving behind a terrible empty silence.

Everything faded to the background as the petite feminine figure collapsed bonelessly into her arms. It took Akane a moment to register her burden.

Cold. The body in her arms was very cold.

"Wake up," she whispered. "Please wake up."

There was no response.

Gently, she laid the unresponsive girl upon the ground. When Akane pulled away, she found something wet and sticky covering her hands. It was too dark to make out the color, but the unmistakable smell assaulted her senses: blood.

A great emptiness flooded her soul: no thought, no feeling, nothing.

All around her voices laughed, mocked, and sneered. Dark primal shapes circled, slowing spiraling inward like a pack of wild animals.

Stoically, Akane stood up and faced the circling mob. This wasn't the Furinkan schoolyard, this wasn't a group of horny idiots engaging in a never-ending battle, and she was no longer that same doe-eyed girl. Cold fire coursed through her veins, yet she felt strangely distanced from herself. The world encompassing her tarried; like a movie running in slow speed.

The coppery tinge hung in the air, calling to the emptiness within her. No thought.

A feral smile spread across her face. No feeling.

Akane lifted her right arm lazily, palm down until it was level before her. Her fingers curved naturally downward cupping a bright golden-red light that danced alluringly in her palm like fire in zero gravity.

There was a moment of silence, one last moment of peace. Nothing. "Tenbatsu," Akane whispered powerfully into the night, releasing her 'Heaven's Wrath.' With a simple flick of her wrist, the fight had begun.

"Two," Akane stated next in a dead voice, as her fist planted someone into a tree.

"Three" was a foot planted in the abdomen of another behind her

"Tenbatsu" took care of the fourth, and so forth.

Akane's voice never reached the screams she was well known for. The entirety of her fear and anger was solely directed through her attacks. Punches, kicks, and living fire each delivered with the force of a jackhammer. Each hit punctuated with a face, some cast in shadow others grotesquely illuminated masks of pain and fear.

Akane's eyes sprung open. Faces of people she didn't know fell away to the darkness of her room. She wanted to panic, but the numbness she felt in her dream was only now beginning to fade. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, though the emotions behind them felt distant.

Ranma was alive! Ranma had a child! Ranma loved her! Ranma had been..! Akane clutched her head as she fought against the emotional whiplash.

Slowly, after nearly passing out from holding her breath, she regained herself.

Sitting up, Akane took a few deep breaths. Her lungs burned while the room slowly spun. She raised a fist high above her, needing to punch - to hit something.

As she cast wildly about for something to vent upon, her tightly balled fist caught her attention. A memory from her dream flashed in her mind's eye.

She looked at her hand, poised to lash out. Looking at it like she had never noticed it before, she brought it gently down to her lap. Other thoughts and emotions began swirling around her still aching head. Memories of defending herself and of striking out flashed before her.

Picking one, she bowled both of her hands, as she had seen Ranma do countless times. Akane tried to will the light from her dream into existence.

Nothing happened.

After several more seconds of trying, she gave up.

'It was just a dream,' Akane thought with a mix of relief and disappointment. She could not remember much from that night, but she was not ready to deal with it either. She may have liked the thought of knowing a ki-attack, like Ranma; but, she was very afraid of the Akane in her dream.

'Two thirty-seven in the morning,' she thought with a glance at her clock. Slipping from her bed, she decided she needed a quick wash. Downstairs, she found the furo empty, so she decided to make do with just a cold wash and rinse.

Akane was glad the day was over. It was, in her opinion, the worst day ever, and nothing even happened.

Sayuri, Yuka, and she herself was not speaking with each other. She couldn't deal with Sayuri, nor did she know where she stood with Yuka. While she gained a lot of respect from the other girls since her engagement to Ranma ended the morning beatings.

She wasn't able to forget the animosity of the other girls during her ordeal. She forgave them, but only Yuka and Sayuri had earned the right to be called friends. Now even that seemed to be falling apart. She felt lost and just didn't know what to do.

At lunch, Ranma ran off with Hiroshi and Daisuke. She saw them later with Yuka, and Ukyo having okonomiyaki like everything was normal. She didn't know which was worse, that Ranma could ignore everything that happened and act normal or, that to him, it might just be normal.

Ranma and she may have admitted their feelings, but that didn't mean they suddenly knew how to deal with each other. She loved him and he loved her, but just what did that mean? Would he really leave her if his father came back? What about Himiko?

An uncomfortable feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Something was coming, and she was not going to like it.

XXXX

Light from the kitchen and soft murmuring attracted Akane's attention on her way back from the furo. Puzzled, she decided to take a quick peek to see who else was up at this time of night.

Inside the kitchen, Kasumi sat in a chair slumped over the kitchen table. Ranma-chan stood behind her, shirt open, holding Himiko against a bare breast.

Tentatively Akane queried "Ranma?"

"Uh, it's not what it looks like," Ranma-chan sputtered quickly. "I can explain, really!"

"It looks like your breast-feeding Himiko," Akane answered, still not quite believing what she was seeing.

"Oh," Ranma replied uncomfortably. "I, um, guess it sorta is what it looks like then," she finished sheepishly.

"How...," Akane trailed off, not knowing how, or even what, to ask.

Ranma rolled her eyes. "Well, ya see, when a person has a baby...," she began.

"I understand that part!" Akane interrupted.

Both teens froze as Kasumi moved a little and mumbled something at Akane's outburst. After that, she settled back down, still asleep.

"Usually, changin' several times a day kinda messes it all up," Ranma explained quietly. "But over a week, it can sometimes add up, I guess" Ranma trailed off, obviously embarrassed about the topic.

Akane, equally embarrassed, just nodded.

"Anyways, spendin' the last two nights as a girl really got me full," Ranma said. Her face looked almost sunburned by the time she finished.

Akane winced at Ranma's explanation, then blushed as she remembered where Ranma spent those nights. She was finding whole new levels of confusion regarding her emotions and her pig-tailed iinazuke.

Akane stood in the doorway for a moment just staring as Ranma continued nursing. Part of her wondered if this is what Ranma did on those nights she found a certain futon empty.

With that thought, Akane decided to continue with her part of the tradition and grabbed a bowl from the cupboard.

"Is that rocky-road?" Ranma asked as Akane proceeded to fill her bowl.

"Yeah, why? You want some?" Akane asked as she glanced sideways at her nursing iinazuke.

"Please?" Ranma asked cutely.

Akane glanced fully over at the half-naked arms-full red-head trying to act sickeningly cute.

While she had no doubt the half-naked part would get Ranma offers for more than just an extra scoop of ice-cream, she didn't think the whole picture worked quite the way Ranma expected.

Looking back at her bowl, she added a few more scoops before packing the ice-cream away.

Akane picked up her bowl and spoon, ignoring the pouting look Ranma was giving her and took her first agonizingly slow bite.

"Hey, that's no fair," Ranma complained, but with her arms full, there wasn't much she could do at the moment.

"Here you go, you big baby," Akane responded with a smile.

She held out the next bite for Ranma. She giggled a little at the combined astonished yet confused look on Ranma's face before the smaller girl gulped down the offered morsel.

"I just thought it'd be easier this way, rather than let yours melt while you took care of Himiko," Akane explained; though it sounded weak to her as she said it.

Ranma just nodded.

Once, Yuka described sharing one drink from two straws at the same time as an indirect kiss. Akane felt her face warm when she wondered what her friend would call this.

XXXX

Akane quietly shut the door to Kasumi's room then took a deep breath. A pleasant warmth spread across her as she considered their brief role reversal. It was kind of nice taking care of her older sister for once.

Akane turned as Ranma-kun with Himiko topped the stairs. The sight of male Ranma holding Himiko gently in his arms sent all sorts of fluttery nameless feelings coursing through her being.

"So," Akane said, starting herself as much as Ranma.

"So," he repeated softly.

Himiko yawned, then grabbed a fist full of Ranma's shirt and giggled.

Akane then inquired "You're going to sleep with Himiko?"

"Yeah, I guess," he responded.

Ranma cast his gaze down, breaking the momentary spell. Akane wavered in the middle of the hallway as an emotional battle began within her. Now the image of Ranma's male form standing at his room holding Himiko brought other less pleasant things to mind.

Thoughts of Genma returning to steal Ranma in the night combined with all the overpowering emotions elicited by her earlier dream. She wanted him to hold her and chase away the shadows in her heart. She needed to feel his warmth promising that he would be there in the morning.

However, the alternative was just as frightening. What would everyone think? Sure they had already spent two nights together, but that was different. What would he think of her? Could she even handle it? The fights may have ended long ago, but the emotional scars were still there.

Months of fighting; listening to the boys talk about what they'd do to her once they won; boys imagining what she'd be like in bed; watching helplessly as they traded her pictures and measurements took its toll on her soul. She knew Ranma was vastly different from the other boys at school, but it didn't help when she always caught him acting like a pervert.

Since Ranma entered her life, he made a point of making her feel weak and inferior. Afraid of the next time he might decide to slip back into her room without an invite. He was better than her at everything, and he made sure she knew that. She couldn't help at times but to wish he would just go away. Those times she knew she would be better off without him.

Then there was her dream and the memory of life before Ranma. It wasn't exactly a bowl of cherries either. A girl with no dreams, no thoughts of the future, without hope. She was alone and drowning, and no one noticed or cared. It was only a matter of time before she lost in the morning fights, and she had already planned not to live past that day.

If by some dark miracle she survived this long, she knew her anger, hate, and fear would have consumed her. It was hard letting it go and she knew she still had a long way to go. She'd like to think she was a lot better than when a certain pigtailed boy appeared in her furo; her ancestors knew how trying Ranma could be. A life without him looked very bleak.

"Ra- Ranma?" Akane squeaked out.

"Uh, yeah?" Ranma replied as he looked up from the floor.

"Uh, do you want to - that is, um," Akane said as she looked everywhere but Ranma.

Himiko gave a fussy cry breaking into Akane's stuttering. Ranma smiled at Himiko while making soft cooing noises.

As Akane walked down the hall toward the two, she realized this was the first time she'd seen Ranma interacting with Himiko as a boy. The warmth she felt earlier returned at the almost sacred sight before her.

"Do you want to sleep with me?"

Ranma's eyes nearly jumped out of his head while Akane's words caught up with her.

"No! I mean wouldn't you rather be in my bed than your... no that's not right, I mean Himiko... Um, yeah, Himiko... she's used to sleeping with Kasumi, in a bed. She probably might get fussy if... well you know," Akane said trailing off. She gave serious thought to crawling under her bed and just dying.

After a moment of silence between the two, Akane took a step back toward her room.

"Uh, here you go," Ranma stated in a rush as he quickly crossed the distance between them.

Akane blinked, then found herself holding one small adorable little girl. Glancing quickly back at her iinazuke, she found him once again at his door.

"Ranma, wait!" Akane hissed as he opened his door only to disappear within before she could stop him.

Akane blinked slowly, as she was not quite sure what just happened.

Himiko made some soft bubbling sound and grabbed hold of Akane's chin. Akane turned her attention back to the precious bundle in her arms. Part of her couldn't help drawing parallels between just now and what would come to pass. Would she wake up one morning to find Ranma gone, leaving both of them.

She wanted to barge in there and drag him back out here, but after her faux pas, she just wasn't strong enough to do that. So she quietly slipped into her room.

She cooed and giggled with Himiko as she approached her bed. She tried not to wonder at the lonely darkness that flooded her room while she pulled back the covers and gently set Himiko in the center.

Himiko, for her part, began to fuss once Akane pulled away. "Now now, there's no need to fuss little one. I am coming, don't worry," Akane said as she adjusted the covers for Himiko.

Just as Akane climbed up on the bed, someone knocked on her door. Akane rolled her eyes and turned toward the door.

"Akane?" Ranma-chan whispered as she poked her head through the doorway.

"Ranma?" Akane queried just as quietly back.

"Uh, what you said earlier," Ranma began as she slipped fully into Akane's room.

"Yes, Ranma," Akane returned as she scooted closer to Himiko.

"Did ya mean it, that it's okay, I mean."

"You're not planning to try anything perverted, are you?" Akane hissed out before she could stop herself.

Ranma visibly winced in the shadows near Akane's door. A soft click and Ranma was again heading through the door.

"Ranma, wait!" Akane barked out as loudly as she dared.

When Ranma hesitated at the door she pushed on.

"I'm... Look... Please..." Akane stated as best as she could.

Ranma turned toward her, but his expression was lost in the darkness.

Himiko gave a half heartened cry, stealing Akane's attention.

"There there, little one. Everything will be all right," Akane said in her cute voice.

She heard the door shut, but did not look up until she felt weight added to the bed.

At this distance, she could plainly see the uncertainty and reluctance written across Ranma's face. She wanted to say something, but she could not find the words. There was just too much to say, and she was afraid one of them would invariably mess it up again.

In the end, she moved over so that Ranma had room to lay down such that Himiko was safely nestled between them.