Robotech Nibunoichi: Chapter Four
By Valkryie01 ()
[Legal Stuff: Ranma 1/2 is created by Rumiko Takahashi and is distributed in the US by Viz. Communications. Robotech is the property
Of Harmony Gold with the novels written by Jack McKinney and published
By Del-Rey. I'm only borrowing these characters.]
****(Notes before you begin: The events in the Ranma 1/2 Anime/ Manga
takes place in 2010-2012 in this story to maintain continuity with the
Robotech storyline.)*****
(Previously in Robotech Nibunoichi: The remaining Saotomes' and
Tendos' have moved into their new house in Macross. Ranma was attacked
by Lynn-Kyle at the housewarming party and Ranma again beat Kyle soundly. Ranma has also gotten a job delivering for the White Dragon.
He was attacked while on a delivery by a Zentraedi malcontent and after defeating he was attacked by a full size Zentraedi. Ranma was taken to SDF-1 for questioning after the fight by Lisa Hayes.)
Introspections
Ranma was sitting alone in the conference room on board the Super Dimensional Fortress. He'd been waiting for hours and his mind was beginning to wander. Rick joined him in there to talk to the teen while he was waiting for Nodoka and Cologne to arrive.
"Just what has gotten me here," Ranma said to no one.
Rick replied, "Well, do want to talk about it?"
"I guess I should start with what happened in Tokyo after the
Rain of Death," Ranma began.
The skies were amazingly clear and blue as Ranma as he wandered around Nerima, or what remained of it. Almost everyone he knew was dead. When he got to where the Tendo house should have been there wasn't even any debris really, just some ashes. He sat down on a piece of concrete and looked around. The brick house of the Yamane's next door was now just a pile of rubble. There were so many deaths the night before, Mr. Tendo, Pop, and even master Happosai, the little pervert.
Ranma started to walk back to the refugee center. He then heard a faint cry. He ran over to a pile of smashed concrete of what seemed to be the remains of Tofu's old office. He stared digging and yelled, "Hold on I'm coming."
He dug down about three meters to find a badly mangled Kodachi
Kuno. He gently picked her up and carried her to the refugee center.
When he arrived he quickly found a bed to place her on. The medics rushed over to check on her while Akane, who had seen Ranma return from his walk, ran up beside him. Kodachi looked up and finally realized who had pulled her out of the rubble and spoke.
"Ranma-sama, thank you."
Ranma was still in shock and unable to answer her so Akane bent down to comfort her former rival, "It is okay now. Just relax and let the medical people do their jobs. I don't want to lose such a good friend okay?"
Kodachi looked up at Akane and said, "You consider me a friend? Even after all me and my brother have done to you and your families you still consider me a friend?"
"Yes, I do."
Kodachi was relieved to hear this. She fell unconscious once again and Akane took Ranma back to their makeshift campsite.
Back in the conference room Ranma was in tears. Kodachi had never awoken after that. He remembered the feelings of powerlessness and his seeming inability to anything to help. He then began to recall what happened later.
Tatewaki Kuno came walking up a couple of days later. His Kendo garb was in shambles and his hair a mess. He walked over to Ranma and Akane and said something that Ranma never thought would come from Kuno's mouth," Thank you Saotome. I thank you Saotome for finding my sister and thank the both of you for being there for her in her final moments."
"Your welcome Tatewaki," replied Akane for the both of them.
"Ranma, would you walk with me?" Kuno requested," I'd like to see if I can find one of my bokken in the rubble of the high school."
"Ranma go with him, sulking around here will drive you crazy okay,"
Kasumi threw in as she came over.
Ranma got up without a word and followed Kuno. They made their way out of the refugee center and walked down to the remains of Furinkan.
Kuno was digging in the area around the gymnasium when he heard what sounded like a pig squealing. He lifted a large chunk of concrete to find a little black piglet there. Kuno yelled, "Hey Saotome isn't this that pet pig of Akane's?"
Ranma ran over and looked at the piglet," Nope this isn't him."
"How do you know?"
"It's female. P-Chan is male."
"Oops."
Ranma was thinking why would there be a piglet at the high school.
Ryoga's curse was widely known among the people of Nerima with the exceptions of Akane and Kuno. Akane because she loved her pet and Kuno because, he was stupid.
Kuno returned to his search and Ranma set the piglet down.
Ranma had stopped crying. He had just run out of tears. He told Rick,
"Maybe you should ask Kuno or Ryoga about the next part."
"No, I think you should tell me," replied Rick. Rick Hunter was no psychiatrist but he could tell that the young man needed to get this experience out in the open.
Ranma started walking around the base of the pile of rubble. He was looking at the sky wondering if it was going to rain as it was quite cloudy today. He then heard a small rustle. The piglet that Kuno had found earlier was scratching at something. Ranma walked over to investigate. What he found frightened him, it was one of Ryoga's ban-
dannas. He started to dig into the rubble. Ranma also yelled over to
Tatewaki,"Hey Kuno get over here!"
Before Kuno could get to Ranma a piece of concrete that was above Ranma
and had been loosened by Ranma's digging fell on top of the hapless teenager. Tatewaki ran over to where Ranma had been and attempted to lift the chunk.
Standing up from under where the rock had fallen was a very dazed
Ryoga. He looked down at Kuno who was yelling," Don't fret Saotome, I will dig you out." As much as Ryoga despised Ranma he didn't want to see him done in by a simple boulder. Ryoga shoved Kuno out of the way pushed two fingers against the concrete and yelled," Bakusai Tenketsu," shattering it.
Ranma, injured by both the falling boulder and the blast was knocked unconscious at this point.
"That's all I remember about that day. I awoke two days later in the refugee center with Akane hanging over me crying."
Nodoka, Cologne, Lisa, Claudia Grant, and Admiral Henry Gloval arrived at this point and the questioning got underway. (1)
On the other side of Macross Akane sneezed. She was thinking about those days after Ranma's near death while rocking a baby at the daycare.
Akane looked up from the campfire to see Kuno and Ryoga approaching. They were carrying something. She suddenly remembered that Ranma had left with Kuno earlier that afternoon.
"Ranma!" she screamed as she ran over to the trio.
Nodoka and Kasumi looked up from whatever it is they were doing and notice the haggard looks on Kuno and Ryoga's faces. They see an unconscious Ranma, being held by the two of them.
"My son!" says Nodoka as she runs over. When she gets there she says,
"Let's get my son to the hospital tent.
Ranma was examined by the medics. They said that he was fine except for a concussion and that he would regain consciousness in a couple of days. As the doctors were telling Nodoka and the Tendos this Ryoga collapsed. Ryoga was examined and it was found that he had severe injuries. He was bleeding internally and he had several broken ribs.
Ryoga and Ranma were placed in beds side by side and Akane watched over them both. Ranma awoke first two days later with a severe headache and a hunger to match. Ryoga on the other hand was bedridden for a couple of months.
Akane was beside them both the whole time. She had started treating
Ranma like the fiancée he was. Ryoga on the other hand she felt as if he was an older brother to her.
The next month while Ryoga was in bed bedlam broke loose in the camp.
The winter had started off mild enough but soon it was colder than hell.
The snow that winter came in blizzards. Disease ran rampant. Kasumi,
Nodoka, and Cologne used all their medical and herbal know-how to try and save lives but so many were lost. First influenza had run through, then pneumonia. Nabiki had caught both during that winter. Akane and Ranma both had caught the flu. Luckily all three pulled through bit several others did not. Miss Hinako and Sakura had both succumb to the flu. Daisuke,
Yuka, Principal Kuno, and the Yamanes all died of pneumonia.
Akane lifted the infant off her shoulder and placed her in the crib. Akane's cheeks were tear streaked from her crying while she remembered that past winter. She walked across the daycare to wash her face and try to hide the fact that she'd been crying from Nodoka when she returned.
Tatewaki Kuno was also reminiscing about the past. He was practicing his kendo in the yard outside his apartment. He remembered watching both his sister and his father die. He also remembered watching Ranma writhe in pain while suffering from influenza. Kuno himself had gotten sick that winter but had pulled through. His new friend Ryoga hadn't been as lucky.
Ryoga was delirious. The pain of his injuries combined with the
disease had driven him over the edge. Luckily for everybody he wasn't capable of using special attacks while unconscious. Ryoga's toughness was the only reason he was still alive. The old woman Cologne couldn't even explain why Ryoga was alive. Ryoga had spoken of curses and magic while sleeping. He'd also scream out that he loved Akane and Akari. He eventually recovered.
Nabiki Tendo had also had a close call during those tough times.
One rainy afternoon in early spring an engineer had come running up and told them that the refugee camp had to be moved. The hillside they nearby was going to collapse and the camp would be buried by it. They had gotten everybody and all the equipment out when a little girl had wandered back into the area they had just vacated to look for her toy.
Nabiki saw the girl and ran out there to get her. The hill above them chose this moment to collapse. Nabiki started to run but was struck by
a falling chunk of rock and both Nabiki and the girl fell to the ground.
The pig tailed girl and Kuno darted out to save them. His goddess grabbed the girl and told Kuno to help Nabiki. Kuno picked up Nabiki and ran for all he was worth.
They made it out barely. Nabiki had been grateful for and for short while was even nice to Tatewaki. The pig-tailed girl had also thanked him for his help.
Shortly after that help had started to arrive from the RDF and there located refugee camp was hundred fold better than the old one.
Kuno finished his movements and walked upstairs to take a shower. He was more worn out by these sessions than usual.
Coming soon chapter 5
(1) The actual questioning session will happen in Chapter 5.
Notes: This chapter was a difficult write. Angsty stuff is not my style as
I prefer to write stuff with a more upbeat attitude. This chapter is
important as it shows why some of the Nerimans seem out of character.