Chapter 34

Ranma was an edge for most of the week. He didn't know why but he could feel that someone was out to get him. He knew Ryoga was lost and Kuno was in Osaka. That left either Mousse or the two morons. Mousse was easy to figure out, so was his father but what did he do to Soun? Sure, he did not respect the guy due to his actions. Still, he would not think that Soun had any grudge against him. He just continued on his way to school.

He suddenly dodged several chains. He shot forward and blasted his attacker into a wall. He then ducked a punch and caught the arm. He twisted it and swung the person down to the ground. Ranma stepped on the back of his head and hyperextended the arm, making the person cry out in pain. He then forced the man to his feet and used him as shield as a third man threw a punch. His shield gone, Ranma connected with a front kick to the sternum and threw a kick that sent the man spinning to the ground. Ranma moved into a favorable position and geared up.

"Look you three; I don't have time for this. Let's just go our separate ways and I won't keep on embarrassing you all." Ranma said. They all roared and charged at him. Ranma caught all three of their arms and twisted them together before tossing all three to the ground. Soun was the first to his feet. Ranma blasted him with a hook kick and spun quickly to catch him with a spinning hook kick. Mousse attempted to use his weapons but he was disarmed and brought to his knees when Ranma bent his hands back. He then knocked the air out of his lungs and sent him into a wall. Genma engaged Ranma in a flurry of fists and kicks. Ranma's footwork gave him an edge. He landed three, four and five hit combos. Genma stumbled to his knees and sent a glare to his son.

"Damn you boy, how dare you treat your father this way!" Genma exclaimed.

"You're just a petty, jealous man who does not like the fact that his son is surpassing him. What's wrong old man? Are you unhappy that Happosai is more interested in me than you?" Ranma boasted. Genma snarled at him. Ranma quickly turned to repel both Mousse and Soun. Genma used this to get that thing from within his gi. Disappearing from view, Genma got on Ranma's blind side. He placed a piece of a hot stone on his back. Ranma cried out and lashed out with a kick that hit nothing. He turned back to see Soun and Mousse gone. He looked across the street to see Genma with the two.

"We'll see how cocky you are boy! Let's see you win that tournament now when you're as weak as a baby!" Genma said and vanished from sight. Ranma was impressed with what Genma did but he was more curious about what he meant. Lucky for him, he knew a person who might know.

XXX

Ranma sat on Soap's table. He had his shirt off as Soap looked at the small burn. It was already healing but Soap was not happy.

"You said Mousse, your father and the Tendo girls' father attacked you. Then your father got the drop on you and placed a hot piece of rock on your back on this spot?" she asked.

"Yeah. He then told me that I would be as weak as a baby. What did he mean?" Ranma asked.

"Only that Mousse has got too far again in his quest to gain Shampoo's attention. He must have been the one who supplied those idiots with the chart." Soap growled. Ranma looked at her with concern as he put on back his shirt. Soap sighed and faced Ranma. "The bad news is that you are as weak as a baby. What your father hit with was called a moxibustion coal. The area he touched with it is called the Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion. As of this moment, you are the weakest person in Nermia." Ranma looked at her with shock and fear.

"W-What? That just can't be!" Ranma exclaimed.

"Sorry to say that it is true. However, there is so good news. While our friends look for the chart that they stole, we are going to counter those idiots with a secret weapon of my village. The only issue is that we have to get permission from the elder. Don't worry Ranma; your enemies have just given you a chance to learn one of our strongest attacks." Soap said with a smile. Outside the office, a little spy listened in. She was curious about this technique.

XXX

Genma kept looking out for himself as Ukyo glared at him. He really did not wish to be here due to the fact that the girl might kill him in his sleep. However, it was the only place that they could hide out in the aftermath of their attack. He believed that Ranma would come crawling back to him to undo the Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion and he would be in control. He was very surprised when Ranma took off with those Amazons.

Akane, who had listened in on that Amazon nurse, told them that her, the elder and Ranma left to learn a very powerful technique from them. Genma cursed and what was worst was that stupid Mousse couldn't tell them what it could be. Another thing that came from this was that Happosai was pissed, the Amazons were on the warpath and Kodachi Kuno was furious. She unleashed it on her brother who rushed back to take out Ranma after he learned about Ranma's weakness. He was still in the hospital after her sister broken several bones.

The worst was Nabiki. She called in all her contacts and there was no place that he and Soun could hide. If they even attempted to go to any of their usual places Happosai would find them and beat them. In times like these, Genma decided that he would be better off on his own. He also needed to stop whatever plans that his son had. He stood up, doused himself with water and walked out of the place. He kept to the shadows and made his way out of Nermia.

XXX

It only took a day for the Amazons to find Mousse. The fool thought that he could hide in plain sight, using his curse. However, how many ducks wore glasses. He didn't get a chance to run as the Amazons caged him and took him back to the café. Tied up and a little bruised, Mousse faced the wrath of the Amazons.

"Where's the chart boy? You better tell me where it is or things will only get worse for you." Lavender demanded. Mousse stayed silent and gave him a defiant look. It earned him a cuff to the head. "Do not test me boy! Just like before, you went too far and gave our secrets to outsiders. This is all because you can't take the word 'no'. You'll probably be kicked out of the tribe for this."

"The tribe is already going to abandon me anyway. It's just as bad as being banished." Mousse said.

"And instead of working to redeem yourself in the face of the ancestors, you do something even more stupid. I can only image the shame that you have put your mother and sisters through." Lavender stated.

"What was I supposed to do?! You're all allowing that male to poison your minds!" Mousse exclaimed.

"You're not fooling anyone." Lilac said. "You could care less about what the village does as long as you have Shampoo. You did it because if you somehow defeat Ranma, Shampoo will see you as the better male. Yet, you are too weak to fight him like a warrior so you get outsider help to weaken him so that you can beat him. This is why Shampoo will never like you. It's because you're pathetic."

"I don't care what any of you have to say! I will do anything and everything to show Shampoo that I am the one! Shampoo belongs with me, not that half man!" Mousse shouted. He was silenced with a slap.

"I can't believe that you have so little honor. Why can't you get it through that bird brain of yours that I belong to no one? I am my own person and I make my own choices. I chose Ranma and I will keep choosing him over you." Shampoo said angrily.

"But Shampoo, if you would just give me a chance, I will love more than Ranma ever could." Mousse pleaded.

"You just don't get it. The reason I care from Ranma so deeply is because her respects me as a person, not as a prize. That is all I am to you Mousse and I'm sick of it. You listen to me and you listen well. From this point on, you and I are done. I will forever refuse to acknowledge your existence." Shampoo said. That shocked Mousse. He felt his heart breaking.

"No, you can't mean that." Mousse said.

"I hate you Mousse and I will never, ever feel the same way. Stay out of my life!" Shampoo shouted and stormed off. Mousse felt the world close in on him after those words. The other Amazons looked at him and shook their heads. They left him tied up for the rest of the night.

XXX

Soun gulped as he stared at Happosai and Nabiki. He was found a day after Mousse was found. He just couldn't resist a good drink. Nabiki looked at her father with shame. She knew that he did not have the chart as he would have given it up after she glared at him. Genma must have it but he was out of Nermia. Kodachi got that information when she cut both Ukyo and Akane off at school. Kodachi confirmed that the two were hiding the two and told her. Knowing all that, Nabiki only had one question.

"I can understand Genma doing this but why you? What are you, some sort of loyal dog that follows its master's commands?" Nabiki asked harshly.

"Young lady, you will not speak to me like that! I am your father." Soun stated with authority.

"Yeah, a man who goes into a blubbering mess when he gets emotional. For once, can't you think for yourself and say no to Genma?" Nabiki asked.

"I am doing this for the schools! They must be joined and Ranma must take responsibility for his actions! He had turned what should have been a simple thing into a disaster!" Soun exclaimed.

"And what has Ranma done that is so disastrous? He's helped this household more than any of us combined. Our dojo is a dojo, not a place that only Akane uses. We are living well and things have been good. Even Kasumi is enjoying life. She's living her dream of being a doctor." Nabiki said.

"That's my point! Kasumi should not be doing these things. Her family should come first!" Soun exclaimed.

"Are you not proud of what Kasumi is doing?" Nabiki asked with surprise.

"Of course I'm not. She has ignored her duty to our family." Soun stated.

"Is that so father?" said a sad voice. Everyone turned to see Kasumi. Soun balked at her saw the look of pain of Kasumi. She turned away and ran back into the house. Nabiki looked at her sister before looking at Soun with hate in her eyes.

"You are disgusting!" Nabiki shouted and ran after Kasumi. Soun broke down into tears, screaming that his daughters hate him. It was suddenly stopped when Happosai back handed him. He looked at the old man who only looked at him with disappointment.

"Yoshino would be so ashamed of your actions. I can only pray to whatever Kami that you wake up from your selfishness because you are very close to only have one daughter in your life." Happosai said and left the man in the dojo. Soun stayed there and looked at the ground. This time, slow tears appeared out of his eyes. Those last words hurt him deeply. He could only hope that Happosai's words did not come true. He did not wish to lose his two daughters. He didn't know what he would do.

XXX

Kodachi stood over the two girls, her ribbon at her side. Akane was lying on the ground and Ukyo was leaning against a post. The rich girl had a superior smirk on her face. Both struggled to get up but were too injured from the fight to do anything. Kodachi did not hold back much against the two. She was glad that she trained with her boyfriend from time to time. He had some brilliant ideas.

"Well, I'm done. Let this be a lesson for you. You mess with my man and I will make you pay." Kodachi said. She walked away, leaving the two girls there. Both glared at her and both swore that she would pay for this.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: Hey all, sorry about the late update but it had been a crazy month for me. I had project to do and they were due. It barely had time to write.