Chapter 2
In Need
Present
It was Dr. Mizuno who phoned Dr. Tofu and explained what happened. He came right away to see Ranma and was shocked when he found out the circumstances surrounding this latest trip to the hospital. To him, Ranma was indestructible, but see him like this shook his faith in humanity.
It was Dr. Tofu who explained to Ranma what happened.
He was found in Juuban and rushed here with life threatening injuries. It was a miracle that he wasn't outright killed. The damage itself would have killed an ordinary person immediately.
When Ranma woke up and was told of this... It wasn't good. Depression had followed quickly. With his energy spent, he could imagine the life he could lead now. Sure he could be an excellent martial artist, but...not the best anymore. Time had passed with agonizing slowness for him as he was lying on his bed in a dark. His mood was at best called depressed. Staring at the ceiling in contemplation, he looked upon it's blank surface and found his life was like that. It had given him nothing but trouble that included everyone in his life. His father who was a greedy lout, his mother with the ridiculous seppuku contract who willingly gave him up to his father knowing that something bad would happen, Ukyou and Shampoo who only see their honour, Kasumi who had always had a faint disapproval and accidents that alway happen around him, his enemies who are so clueless and Akane who put him in this situation in the first place. The only person who he even had a mediocre amount of respect was Nabiki. Of course Kasumi made what they had better, but it was Nabiki who got her the money. She did see him as a cash cow, but at least he knew where she was coming from. The others all hid their own agendas while trying to marry or kill him or both.
He found it both surprising and not that Kasumi was the one who visited him. She was the only one who wouldn't start a fight, but ironic because she was in fact disgusted at him. She did disguise it through the vapid smile of hers, but it was clear to those who knew her. Though infrequent, he was still grateful for the company. She seemed to know when to talk and when to be quiet in silence. She had told him the truth at what happened, but not all of it. He sensed that she held back a lot of information like Nabiki. He had a distinct feeling that she had more to do with what happened than most people suspected.
The few times that he did see Nabiki... some look passed between the three of them and even if he didn't really know what it was he remembered it and was uneasy with Kasumi for some reason.
After that time by an unspoken pact, they didn't speak anymore of the people who did this to him, but only used small talk. The subject was too touchy and he as time went by he was starting to appreciate the use of small talk.
From the first moment he woke up from being sedated, his whole life seemed to fall apart.
The first was a letter with the letterhead was that of Kuonji Okonomyaki Enterprises. Mr. Kuonji, himself, wrote that he was breaking the engagement now that Ranma was unfit to be with his daughter. He stated in no uncertain terms that he considered the engagement to be a mistake. He wouldn't marry his daughter to a crippled and useless person like him. He also fully expected to be compensated for the loss of the yatti. He wanted one hundred million yen and would take him to court to get it when he left the hospital. Even though he did renounce his daughter, he always kept the door open if he failed the engagement. She would be taken care of. He also added the name of a fiancee she had picked after his injury, an up and coming lawyer who works for him.
If he hadn't read Mr. Kuonji's letter first, he wouldn't have any idea that she was rich. She didn't even have the decency of sending him... what do you call it...a 'Dear John' letter. It hurt him that he confided so much to her and that she didn't do the same for him. He did kind of expect it, but it hurt nevertheless.
When Kasumi told him that she did hear from Mrs. Saotome, she didn't feel it was right to say 'Auntie' since the Ranma's injury. She said his mother still loved him and would like to visit him later when she was getting over this incident. This would have finished him because she should have come if she cared, but he detected something that didn't ring true when she said it. Her aura clearly showed that she was lying, but for what reason? Alarm bells went off in his head because he could tell that things were started to happen. It made no sense to him. Other than the fact that his mother had never contacted him even once since he was awake. Some of the nurses gave him a sad look when visiting time went by. She wasn't on the list of restricted people, so she should have been here to comfort Ranma when she learned of it.
The only real good thing was the letter from Cologne. She formally stated that if he was "disabled" then he was unworthy for her tribe and therefore the Kiss of Marriage was to be nullified. There would be no loss of honour for Shampoo. It also continued that she, Shampoo and Mousse would be leaving Japan soon. Shampoo is eager to see her homeland again, but return to see his progress. The decision would be made then about the Kiss of Marriage. There was a post script in a more mellow tone, she stated that she was sorry about the trouble and hoped him well.
Even though he didn't want to be an Amazon, he felt angered at the presumption that he was no longer of value. Without the Amazon Law interfering, he could feel from the letter that Cologne was saddened at his situation. In the tone under the letter, he could feel her tell him that she was sorry at her actions.
What really blew Ranma away was a week later when, out of the blue, Ryouga came to the hospital. Ranma as was the nurses was expecting some major damage to the hospital, but Ryouga, very strangely, said calmly that he had news to tell Ranma. The very seriousness of Ryouga's voice had let Ranma know that this was for real. Stupified would have been a very accurate word to describe what Ranma was feeling. Ryouga never wanted to talk at all, he just wanted to fight. .It was at that time that Sasuke showed up after that and apologized about what Kuno had done.
As he looked at Sasuke Sarugalane, he couldn't help but wonder at the small ninja. At first, he thougth that Sasuke had the physical ability, but not the mental one to be a truly good ninja. All of his plans to do Ranma in failed spectacularly. This sentiment changed when he lived with him and the Tendos after the Kunos tossed him out. When Sasuke had proper sleep and meals, he looked less spaced out and gained a professionalism to his stance and demeanor. The outrageous demands of the Kuno family day and night and his grubby meals had left him tired and malnourished.
It was after Sasuke's time with the Tendos that Ranma helped him out. When he would go on assignment and try to kill Ranma, Ranma would secretly feed him and let him sleep a bit. He still failed to kill Ranma, but it was more like a game to them. Kuno really didn't seem to care about it after Sasuke came back. Their concern for Kuno increased when Sasuke told Ranma of Kodatchi's new drugs that drove Kuno even more insane. It was at a particular bad episode when Dr. Tofu had to be summoned to Kuno when both of them agreed to try to help Kuno.
Snapping back into reality, Ranma asked, "By the way, I thought Kuno has stopped taking Kodatchi's drugs."
"He did, but she was putting in a new type that I didn't know until it was too late." replied Sasuke mournfully.
"I still don't know why he just doesn't get out of there?"
"It was a strict condition placed there to have any money from the Kuno fortune. Initially, she wanted it to be until he married, but his father, thankfully, overruled it and said at age eighteen was it. In addition, his mother stipulated that it was to protect him from outside influences'. What she really wanted was to control the Kuno family and both Master Kunos were it."
It was then that Ranma asked him to wait. Puzzled, he did as he was told. Ranma whisphered something to the nurse. She went and came back a few minutes later with a big bag and gave it to him.
"Here." Ranma said.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked.
"Open it."
Sasuke did and was amazed, he had never seen so much food in his life. Some were sandwiches, others were tins, etc, and a can opener. He looked up and didn't know what to say.
Ranma smiled, he remembered when Sasuke left the Kunos and told his story.
"If anyone needed a break, it would be him." Ranma thought.
"It's for you. I know that the Kuno's aren't feeding you, so take some food home." Ranma said.
"..." in surprise. Sasuke hadn't thought that he would remember considering what he had gone through. The expression on Ranma's face was one of open honesty and Sasuke couldn't help but look at the food longingly.
He took the food and bowed with a smile on face and was away.
"Come by anytime, when you need some help!" called Ranma at the retreating figure.
Ryouga looked at Ranma in surprise. It showed fully on his face. He never thought he would see Ranma do that. He looked around and saw that no one else showed surprise. He was surprised that Ranma spoke better without tasting his foot and his well thought out gift to Sasuke. Even he forgot that the ninja was always ignored by the Kunos. It seemed that only Ranma remembered. There was much to consider. He didn't envy his position of the bearer of bad news.
They resettled into his room. Ryouga on the chair with Ranma on the bed. There was an akward silence as no one wanted to be the first. He hesitated because...there was something different about him today. No cries for him to die, no saying that he made him see hell. Ryouga was just sitting there...quietly. It became too much and Ranma started.
"Ok, Ryouga, why did you come here today? I thought I was your enemy? Where was the "Ranma Saotome, prepare to die!" or the "Ranma, I've see hell because of you!."
Ryouga was looking away while he answered in a strange contemplating voice. The voice was unlike the depressed young man that he always had. It was like he was waking from a very bad dream and finding out that it did happen, "Well, it was like this. It all started about a week after the, ahh..."
"Incident?"
"Yeah," Ryouga smiled sheepishly, "...incident. I was getting trying to get to the Tendo dojo, but ended up in Tokyo."
Ranma ignored the opening to snicker that he got lost again. Something told him that it would be very important and it would also be rude of him to do that. Enough nurses had given him grief, but it was Kasumi's annoyed looks that was the worst he ever felt when he couldn't control his mouth. The latter was the deciding factor that had finally gotten drilled into him that he had to definitely think before he spoke.
Ryouga started, "The first was the time of your injury..." Looking at see a reaction from Ranma, but seeing none, "...I know how short tempered she was and impulsive, but when she stopped and waited for her chance to mallet you when you were almost out of it was dishonourable. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was when I started falling out of love with her."
Ryouga continued in a sad voice, "I was in a park when I heard a voice. I turned around to see Akane..." and looked a Ranma's face which remained impassive.
Flashback a day after the "incident".
He wandered out of somewhere and found himself in a park. He realized where he was when he recognized the Imperial Palace. He turned around and from some outcrops of trees, he saw Akane. It was at that point that he thought she had seen him and was waving to greet him. He was mistaken, just as he was starting forward through the trees when another figure came towards her. He was frozen in shocked when he saw them embracing like long lost lovers.
All he could see of Akane was that she had such a happy smile. It was a smile that lit up her whole face as it burned his heart into ashes. Her smile was unlike any other smile he ever saw. It was one he had never seen one like it towards a human before. One of pure joy with not one trace of the anger she always had. He only intruding thought was that the only time he saw one close to it on Akari was when she saw him in his cursed form.
"Gosh, it's been so long." the guy said. He even though could see only the back of his head, he thought the guy sounded familiar, but couldn't place him.
"Yes, it has." Akane said with a twisted smile., "One whole week."
"Now, now, none of that." he said with a shaking finger at her.
"Gomen," she smiled and then did something completely amazing. She didn't pull out her mallet and actually didn't get at all angry with this stranger. Ryouga was totally amazed. He knew many of her faults, but he never saw her not get angry about little things. When she usually did, everyone got hurt except Kasumi, Nabiki or Ranma's mother. The voice was also getting more familar, but with his head turned around, he still couldn't see his face.
"So, how was it? Did you have any trouble getting out?"
"No, my father thinks that I'm on a trip to Juuban."
"I know, but we have to start telling about us. Sneaking around for the last year and a half made me feel uneasy. I mean, you were engaged..."
"That's 'were', not now. I'm still trying to find the right time to do it. They are still scheming to get Ranma to marry me. (shutter) I mean, to that pervert (she makes a face). It's all his fault that he got hurt. Shampoo and Ukyo would agree with me."
"Now, now, he's in the hospital. I may not have liked him too much, but he seemed like a good guy. You told me that he was hit the wrong way in a fight and he's paralyzed."
"Right."
"Let's get something to eat. Sad stories make me depressed, Honda."
"Sure" and they walked away hand in hand.
He knew that she did indeed fall in love with him even though she knew him less than she had known him. A strange flickering thought pass through his dense skull. A thought so outrageous that it couldn't possibly happen that he felt compelled to think it out, even if he dismissed it later. What he saw was the 'sweet Akane', but with a huge difference. She never got angry. What if had been all an act? If it was all an act then was she fooling just Ranma and their parents or was it more?
End of Flashback
Ryouga said quietly, "It gets worse."
The temperature had been steadily dropping and ice could be seen forming on the windows as he tried to get a hold of his raging emotions by using the Soul of Ice. Ranma looked down his mind in whirl and with clenched fists he fought back the tears. He wanted to yell that Ryouga was a liar, but he knew that he wasn't. Ryouga loved Akane and never once had I seen him lie. Stretch the truth to make it his fault, but not with Akane.
Ryouga started, "It was when I was with Akane..."
Flashback
The same day in the afternoon in an far away ice cream shop. He was in his pig form and cursing Ranma, carrying his backpack. He was running from some restaurant owner who wanted him for lunch. He slipped into an open back door and under some bench seats in a stall broken stall and...found himself in a dark closet.
Opening the closet, he nosed out into a dark hallway. The place was huge. He realized that it was a mansion. As he looked around, he realized that something was familiar. It wasn't until he heard voices that he realized what it was. It was smells. The distant voices seemed to mesmerize him and drew him nearer and nearer until he recognized the voices. Akane, Ukyo, Shampoo, Kodatchi were there, but also...Kasumi, Nabiki and Auntie Saotome and... an unknown person that he found out later as Honda Jo. The screen door was partly open so that he could spy inside and what surprised him was the emblem on the wall. It was the Meiji Crest. It struck him that he must be in the Meiji Mansion. One of the most powerful families in the whole of Japan.
He heaved a sigh of relief and was about to announce his presence when he heard another door open, a female ninja with the Meiji Crest come forth. Auntie Saotome said to give them the usual and they all agreed.
Ryouga was shocked. Ranma's mother was from the Meiji Clan, but was forced to take the Saotome name when she married Genma as not to stain their honour. That was the first shock, but it seemed that it wouldn't be the last.
At first he thought this was the gathering of the fiancees to try to help Ranma. He was half right. He was totally shocked when he heard what was happening. He had always thought the fiancees disliked each other, but he feeling that he was about to hear something that would change his life.
It was obvious from the small talk that they knew each other very well. Honda got up and make his apologies when his cell phone went off and had to leave.
"I'm sorry Auntie Saotome, urgent business has come up." Honda bowed very low, "I must again give my gratitude for your cure of my condition. Arigato." and he bowed again.
"Think nothing of it, " said Auntie Saotome with an almost imperceptible bow of her own.
Ryouga was totally surprised by what he said. It seemed impossible that his memory loss and mysterious cuts could have been cured so quickly. Yet, it seem to hav been. Even with that, he could feel many things left unsaid and acknowledged.
When Honda left, Shampoo spoke up, "Very nice man, I would like to get to know him better."
"Shampoo..." said Akane.
"Don't worry. I'm just surprised that you didn't say anything about meeting a hunk like that."
"Well, I didn't know how it would have turned out and didn't want anything to screw it up."
Everybody nodded at the thought of the crazy things that seemed to happen to them.
A small silence ensued and the shock on Ryouga's face became like a facefault. Shampoo was speaking very good Japanese, perfect in fact.
"So, you got tired of the bimbo routine?" asked Ukyo, sounding as if she was trying to change from a very touchy subject to more neutral ground.
"Yes. I only do it for the others to get them off my back. It pays to make the Elder think that they are so smart that they tend to blind them at times. Also, they don't you push as hard when they think your are a bimbo." another sigh and she mimics, "Mousse is still after his 'darling Shampoo.' He gets so predictable it's annoying and he also cramps my social life."
"I thought Mousse would have gotten over his obsession with you by now."
"So did I. I liked him as a friend even though I treat him badly, but not as a husband. I knew him when we were very young. Mousse had a very hard life because he was a male and of his eyesight. I am really sick of him because of his constant 'Shampoo my love!!'" as she mimicked him, "If had been able to overcome his eyesight problem then maybe I would have let him marry me, but he didn't and I don't want my children to go through what he did. The pathetic ways he has would have made me a laughing stock in the village. Hah, like I would stand for that. Yeah, what girl in her right mind would waste her time with the blind village idiot....
"The problem is now that he doesn't get the hint that I don't want him around. He still does and it irritates the heck out of me that I beat him up. He has potential, but he never used any of it." Shampoo shrugged, "Anyway, I was seeing someone else at the village and didn't want to upset him and get him more obsessive so that I will have to kill him."
There was a profound pause as the others digested that bit of information.
"I thought you wanted to marry Ranma?" asked Akane.
"Only because of that stupid law. It should have been taken off the books for the longest time, but the old bags of the council wouldn't hear of it. What's the big deal to them that you do get a strong husband, they are harder to control. Now that Ranma is crippled, he don't count anymore. Ryouga too. Men outside the village are just too pathetic." Shampoo then made a face to show her disgust.
Another silence.
A sudden thought passed through Ryouga and shivered, Shampoo going after him, but would have probaly have him clean the latrine with his tongue and make him like it.
Ukyo asked, "Who is the guy that you like?"
Ryouga heard the smile in Shampoo's voice, "I'm not telling." As a wave of relief fell over him because it wasn't him.
"Mousse has some good points and the surgery or contact lenses, he would make a very good husband and trying to tone him down could work..."
"I hear a 'but' in there."
"My father would want me to marry someone else to strengthen our family. The obsessiveness of Mousse could be an asset, but most of his actions would have embarrass my entire family."
"What? I thought you had to marry Ranma."
"I did, but now that he is unable to fulfil his obligation, my father will void the agreement. He always thought it was a mistake, but would never admit that he was wrong. He wanted revenge on the Saotomes, but could never find them. His agents found that they moved around too much and couldn't pin point them for any length of time. I was the one he wanted to go and get revenge on the Saotomes. That's why he trained me so hard. No one knew and changing into a boy made it easier for me to get into some of the martial arts clubs.
"I'm glad the agreement is gone. He was a cute kid when we were young, but Ranma is a jerk with his macho and very immature attitude that I don't even like him anymore..."
"I agree, he is so very immature. I detest him because he is a mere commoner...."said Kodachi.
"Definitely." said Akane, "I call him a pervert all the time, but I don't really hate him. His ego grates on me. I was the best before he came and now I am the best now. His girl form was even prettier than me!! If it wasn't for the engagement, I would have thrown him out long ago."
Repeated shocks for Ryouga made him still as a statue.
As she said that, her eye starts twitching in a way that makes everyone at the table start to be weary of her, but it was the visible aura that they all felt that made them back away from her. The rest thought the same thought, she was hiding her real hate for him.
After some time passed, Kodatchi said, "My brother could best you in a fight.".
"No he can't. I think that I am just as fast and strong and fast as Ranma was thanks to Auntie Saotome and he doesn't even know it. I even know of the Umisenken thanks to her" Akane actually smiled a smile of satisfaction, "I was the one holding back when we 'sparred'. That's why I can hit him. I just smack him when he says he's better than me and then I go to my room to laugh because I am just as good as he is. So, I am still the best. Besides, he a wimp on anything but the physical."
Ryouga looked shocked. If Auntie Saotome taught Akane the techniques then why did she seem like she was always losing? Just to get him mad?
Or force Ranma to act and maybe get injured or killed?
Into the silence, Auntie Saotome suddenly laughed. It wasn't a happy laugh as a smug laugh.
The others were looking at her strangely when she got under control. She said, "Sorry about that, I was just thinking back to the wedding when I helped you two make the bombs for the wedding and where they should be thrown to the best effect." and then they all laughed.
"Yes, I enjoyed using my store of powders. They were gathering dust and taking up room in my lab." said Kodatchi.
"Why do you even have them?" asked Ukyou, curiously.
She shrugged, "It's a hobby. That and the drugs are a way to make my brother do what I want."
After some thought and a connection made, Ukyo asked, "Does that mean that the morning fights were by you?"
"Yes, Kasumi said that Akane needed more sparring partners to work out her frustrations upon, so I thought my brother could help her out. I just suggested to him that she is a delicate flow and he shouldn't hurt her because he's from an old samauri family, but that only that she should be defeated in battle like a warrior."
"Why did you attack me then during the Gymnastics Competition?" asked Akane.
Kodatchi gave her the look of 'don't be an idiot', "Competitions are different and I had to keep up appearances. I do have a reputation to upkeep with the other girls of St. Herebeke."
A huge shock to Ryouga. Kodatchi sane and scheming with the others. He was so wrapped up in this that he lost the first part of what Ukyo said.
"Kasumi, Auntie Saotome, I'm still surprised that the plan worked." said Shampoo.
"Why not?" asked Kasumi with Auntie Saotome looking onwward.
"Because...usually something comes and mucks up our plans to hurt Ranma."
Akane and the rest nodded in agreement.
"I can't believe that Auntie Saotome would do it against her own son..." thought Shampoo, "It doesn't seem right, despite him being a...male. He didn't stand a chance against them, people he trusted. I feel that he should have deserved more of a chance.
"All in all, I don't think it was Ranma himself she was trying to punish. She felt betrayed somehow and it definitely wasn't by Ranma. I wonder what it is about him that set her off..."
"He deserved it." said Auntie Saotome with a sneer and a look of righteous anger. "Look at how unmanly he was. He is unworthy of even being a Saotome, never mind a Meiji. Honourless."
"I agree." said Kasumi with the same look. "Especially the breaking of the Tendo family honour." Completely ignoring the fact that it was Akane who broke the agreement.
"Yeah." said Akane a little lost in thought, "But the baka couldn't decide who he wanted, so he gets no one with all our honour intact. Who cares about the jerk, even his mother didn't want him. The guy who got her pregnant disappeared. She always blamed him for Ranma though. That's the reason why she married Genma. Genma was friends with both of them and also nothing like the guy."
A silence.
Ryouga could only to shake her head. A smirk as he thought of Ranma's life was worse than his.
"I can't believe that Ms. Hinako sensi didn't want to be in on it. Ms. Saotome pointed out to her that she needed to relax. Ms. Hinako even admitted that the only really did was when she drained people, so I made Ranma late." said Akane with an evil smile, "She even thanked me after, but she said she felt guilty doing it. I just told her I just make his useless person useful."
A truly comfortable silence from the others at that comment.
"I have to admit that Ranma had become honourless when he couldn't decide who he wanted. Honour dictates that he choose, but he didn't. Besides, I was only there because it was in character and for fun. I was bored with the 'perfect woman routine'. I could do more crazy things and get away with it. They bother a woman less if they thought she was a little crazy." Kodachi put in as she smiled, trying to break the silence.
"He's not dead, only crippled. Like anyone will take him anymore. I knew I could do it. The baka thought that he could best me could he. It should have been away from Nerima, but when the opportunity came, I had to take it. Any of you could have done it also. I have to admit, I was aiming for his little used part, his head. I was sure I would have killed him, but it still puzzles me how I just missed." said Akane.
"You said it." said Ukyo, "Besides, I'm only here to get back my family's honour that the 'male' part of the Saotome ruined. The jerk left me and now he must pay. I have to thank you Auntie Saotome for the idea you had given my father for revenge. The letter will be sent off right away. Besides, this is much better to get back at them for what they put me through, revenge on the clueless."
"Well, I guess your right." said Shampoo. " Still, I think he deserved more of a chance. Despite him being a male, he was still a warrior. I think that even I would have cracked long ago under his pressure. If he had been more mature, I would have had second thoughts about this whole thing, but he wasn't. Only the same thing happened with Great grandmother like Mr. Tendo and Mr. Kuonji. They tried to slap up together with this archaic views of what marriage was and it didn't work..."
There was a grim silence that was broken when Akane said, "The baka deserved it." The nods from Auntie Saotome and Kasumi sealed the sentiment.
"So, when are your going to introduce Honda back to Mr. Tendo?" asked Auntie Saotome.
"As soon as I can. Thank you very much for finding him again and helping him. I needed to get away after the fallout of that stupid wedding. " said Akane.
"Not a problem, my dear. HE didn't deserve you. Even when he was young. I could see it in his eyes." said Auntie Saotome.
Even now, despite what he knew about Ranma, he looked at him as more as a rival for Akane than the Bread Fight. Now that Ranma was laid low, Ryouga was about to rejoice in an indirect victory, but wasn't prepared for what they said next. It made him rethink a lot of things.
"...How about Ryouga. He's in love with you, you know."
"Yes, I do, but I have Honda...It was fun seeing Ranma's expression when I hug 'P-chan' and then mallet him when he 'abuses' him." Akane stops as she sees the expression on the faces at the table and exclaims, "Of course I knew. The directionless pig with a bandana just like Ryouga. I'm not an idiot, you know." Settling down she continued, "Also how fun it is to tease him when he's in his pig form when I slip into my pajamas for bed." Sighed Akane, "Now that's Ranma is gone, Ryouga will have to go. The next time I see him, I will give him the Mallet that he would never forget. He's a pervert for just being there with me and for the other times he was snuggling up when I was sleeping. They are all perverts exept Shinnosuke and father."
"Yes, truly dishonourable. How could you have stood it, Akane." asked Auntie Saotome.
"I just bore it." Akane said with great dignity. Kodatchi nodded in sympathy, but didn't say anything. Shampoo and Ukyo just looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. Either she was a great actress to fool them or herself. They thought she actually cared for Ryouga. Kasumi beamed with pride at Akane's self sacrifice.
Nabiki was a surprise. Throughout the conversation she just stayed quiet. Not one thing slipped behind her mask of calmness. There was no sarcasm from her or any of her usual cutting comments. It was almost as if everything he ever knew about these females were completely and utterly wrong.
It was only then that the implications came to Ryouga's mind. His eyes widened and had an impossible the biggest facefault he ever had in pig form when he heard this. He was shocked, but tried to pick himself up even as the emotional spikes were being driven home. Akane actually knew about his curse. On other circumstances, the way she liberally used him would have been secondary. In addition, she knew that he loved her and scoffed at it. He knew without a doubt that she deliberately did things to tick him off with the full knowledge of what she was doing had appalled him.
True, he did blame Ranma for many things, but not EVERYTHING. Yes, he used her to get back at Ranma. Now as he remembered the less honourable things he had done, he did look foolish and... 'pig headed'. He cringed at the memories about how she told him how Ranma had hurt her and how he played right into her hands in battling Ranma.
In a turnaround event, his entire focus shifted as he sought to deny it, yet the very thing he couldn't have ever believed about Akane had come from her own mouth.
It was true that a few days before he overheard Akane and her friend Yuka, but he still thought he had a chance.
Anger started to smother at Akane with her deception and her line of reasoning that he was at fault when she knew, right from the start, that he was that pig. Calling HIM a pervert and feeling that it was HER right to mallet him when SHE was the one who continually picked him up and used him. Now she was discarding him like yesterday's news for something that she could have stopped at any time, for a person who she could have told her father so that the engagement would have been called off for her.
In some guilt, yes he used her to get back at Ranma. He realized that he could have told her, but then the anger came back when he realized that she knew. Also that he loved her and dismissed it out of hand. It showed that she never had any feelings for him, not compassion for her not loving him, remorse of her using him or even signs of any friendship.
His feelings for Ranma soften as he felt more sympathetic. He felt like he was as duped as Ranma. Being duped, even willingly duped by someone who looks like your friend and despises you behind your back had come as a huge shock. If anything, Ranma never did those things. He never had a poker face. He was a very bad liar.
He missed the last few minutes of the conversation, but managed to catch the next part. What Auntie Saotome made him think.
"I knew he didn't deserve it. Genma was many things, but moral wasn't one of it. I made sure that I will have final say and be head of the pathetic Saotome Clan." Auntie Saotome smiled a not nice smile, " It is up to me if the bastard lives or dies." As she ranted some more, what came next had placed erased any doubt Ryouga had about Ranma, "Who do think sold Genma the training manual to the Nekkoken, or ..." listing off the horrors of training methods that Ranma underwent, "...or the map to Jusenkyo. " I even help Ryouga get there (translation: I practically lead him there.) I made sure that Genma went there. His pride and stupidity did the rest.
"I had my ninjas make Genma move on or die that day of the bread duel. Can you imagine, Ranma would have stayed that extra day for Ryouga. It was lucky for them, Genma knocked Ranma out before my ninjas could take him out."
Shock by all, especially Ryouga.
Ryouga thought, "He would have stayed?".
"Why didn't you just make him commit seppuku if you hated him so much?" asked Ukyo.
Taking a sigh, "Despite everything, there are he had done deeds in fulfilling the bushido way. Something that even I could respect. I gave him one more chance to redeem himself in my eyes and he failed." Even Ryouga shivered at the almost irrational hatred, anger and twisted honour that even scared him, but...it seemed to him that it was directed at what Ranma was becoming than at Ranma himself.
Ryouga could feel the malice in her and felt that her disappointment was that Ranma not only lived though it, but was stronger. He thought, "She planned this out to kill them both, but they lived. I shutter to think what he needed to be to redeem himself if she was prejudice against him from the first."
Feelings and attitudes are curious things. Some things could be etched in stone while others would never be set. For the first time in his life, Ryouga felt calm as his outlook on life changed. He came to a decision about three things.
The first was that Ranma would have stayed the extra day for the challenge if his mother hadn't sent her ninjas after them on the third day.
Second, even though Ranma got him cursed, he wasn't totally at fault. It was his mother who directed him there.
The last one was that all of the things that Akane now said to him about anything is suspect. His anger was still there, but it shifted to these...CREATURES. They were worse than Akari and her pig fetish. She was only happy when he was in his cursed form.
Still in shock with all of these relevations, Ryouga thought as his brain started to go into overdrive. For the first time in his life, he actually saw Ranma's position, "They were all missing that if he chose one, he would let the honour of the others be stained and he knew he was in a no win situation ... Hmm, perhaps that was the point. They justify it for themselves that he was to blame for things that he couldn't have done anything about.... They could easily turn on me or anyone else if they had any reason to."
As he thought harder, many things had changed in his view. He had followed Ranma, but Ranma followed Genma, so who was directed by Ranma's mother who was definitely at fault. This included the seppuku contract from Ranma's mother hat drove Genma to do insane things with Ranma. As it all started with Ranma's mother, knowing what Genma would teach him and helping it along with all the power at her disposal, so it ends with her.
As he snapped out of his train of thought, he heard the rest of the conversation.
Akane said, "Anyway, with the baka 'maimed' and not dead, he not a man anymore. There can't be a marriage of families and so all of our family's honour is intact except for Ranma's. I think that is a very fair trade."
"I think that I should introduce the to Honda. All I really have to do is approve of him. Father seems more willing now to find another heir and he fits quite nicely. Even Happosai is trying to get a new heir. I'm glad we kicked out that lousy panda. Both him and Ranma was an eating machine. You couldn't believe the food bill they left us." said Kasumi.
As if to change the subject, Kasumi said, "There seem to be no change in his condition. In a couple of months, it wouldn't matter. All the agreements will be voided. If he does recover, who will marry such an honourless rogue such as Ranma when his mother confronts him with the contract and also 'rumours' will spread about how honourless he was and his 'vile deeds' as Kuno would have said it."
They all laughed at that as their ice creams came. They started eating and nothing was said for a while until...
"You're quiet tonight, Nabiki." asked Kasumi.
Nabiki shrugged.
Ryouga was surprised when he saw no malice, but only indifference in her face. It was like she was only here because she had to be. She seemed to be the only person who wasn't out to get Ranma. Come to think about it, she was probably the most fair of the girls.
What a surprise it was.
When Nabiki suddenly got up and walked out without saying a word surprised everyone, but no one asked her where she was going. They all just turned away from her and Ryouga could see by their body language that they really didn't care, even Kasumi turned away. What shocked him was that before she was totally out of the room she looked directly at him for a split second.
"He will do what we tell him to." said Akane. "If he gives you a hard time, just tell him that you'll stop paying for the hospital. If that fails then Auntie Saotome will get him to sign the contract and tell him that he will do as Nabiki says or she will enforce the suicide contract. Nabiki will do as you tell her, Auntie"
"I still might do it because he stains her honour of not just being illegitimate, but turning into a girl as well so that only his death will clean my honour." said Auntie Saotome. Kasumi sagely nodded.
Ryouga had gotten he distinct impression from Kasumi that she looked up to Auntie Saotome as did all the rest, except Nabiki. He could certainly see why they did look up to her. Auntie Satome was a forceful female and mother figure. He knew how lonely it felt without his mother. He saw her only when they wander into each other from time to time. Drat that directional curse.
They made some small talk and it ended when Kodatchi sighed, "This will probably be the last time we meet like this. Kasumi, Nabiki and Ms. Saotome had said their good byes to you, but I'm glad we were here this last time where it all started."
A chorus of "Hai" and a small silence before the meeting broke up.
He realized that they were headed his way and he ran and...got lost.
After a few minutes, he looked outside to see an empty lot.
After that, it became a haze for Ryouga.
Ryouga was shocked once, twice and now three times. This time, Ryouga sat down and...thought.
Snow was starting to come down in the Underworld.
His quest for vengeance, he could understand, but not why the Tendo sisters, Ranma's other fiancees and even Ranma's own mother was against him. At any other time, he would have said that Ranma deserved that. Begrudgingly, it was true that he stayed for three days, but he did come on the fourth day. The excuse of him not showing up after four days had sounded weak, even to his ears now.
Back to the problem, at any other time he would have rejoiced at the downfall of his rival, but...not by how he was betrayed by those he cared about.
First, Ranma's mother plotted with Kasumi and his fiancees. They had totally fooled him. He actually thought they had cared, even a little. It sent shivers in him as how they manipulated the events for their gain. He shivered even more when he thought of them going after him.
Oh yes, he could blame Ranma for that, but somehow he couldn't do it. He shuddered as he thougth back to Akari and that same look that Shampoo had when he beat her sumo pig. She was nice only when you did what she told you to.
Now sleet and hail were now coming down, covering the lava and brimstone of the Underworld.
Second, he was totally surprised that Akane never had any feelings for him. Even he could see that she cared for him and despaired for her. Again, at any other time he would have rejoiced...now he was just sick. He knew he was almost what you called DEAD WRONG in some of his views on people. The Sweet Akane that HE had thought she was, had never had any feelings for HIM at all. She had PLAYED him very well against Ranma and himself, not that he minded as he did the same to get back at Ranma. What infuriated him was that she thought he was now used up and had already discarded him without a second thought. He shivered as he thought of that cold hearted bitch. As things started to fall into place, he also knew now Akane was seeing Honda. As the thoughts built up steam and sped up, it seemed that Akane had always been seeing Honda behind both their backs and then to add insult to injury blamed and mallet them for both for the so called perverted things when she could have told everyone at any time. That would have stopped the engagement and transferred it to someone else, but no they all had to play this out.
A huge AVALANCHE came as the Demons and Demonesses who tried to melt the ice with their powers were plowed under.
Lastly, he knew that Ranma loved his mother and would never do anything to hurt her, yet Ranma's mother would cheerfully hurt her son. Though he hated to admit it, even he knew that Ranma was one of THE most honourable person he ever met, despite what he called him.
After all that happened in the Underworld, you don't want to know.
A puzzling thing that kept buzzing around in his head then the mallet came home to him. They all hurt Ranma for their honour and their amusement and also by extension to everybody around him. Mousse and even Kuno were also only pawns in their schemes. To think that even Hinako knew about it and did nothing was sick to his stomach. Hinako was a teacher who was a person in authority who could and should have stopped it.
Another thought, if Ranma couldn't fulfil the pledge then he was at fault, not them. It was a very clever plan. No one would have been the wiser if he hadn't heard it with his own ears. He still had a hard time believing in it, but in that moment that Akane had shown her true colours to him, how she royally fooled him, everything had changed. As his life came back to him, the pain in his heart made him look beyond his depression. Who really hurt him.
His world was turned upside down. Ranma hurt him a lot, but that was bread as he long since stopped seeing him as a enemy and more as a rival for Akane. What fools both of them were. Not only did they all shattered his trust as he saw them all for the very first time, they broke faith with what honour was all about. If no one knew then there was no shame for them. Only their honour was intact as everyone else's were gone.
The final shock was that, Akane was the one who 'maimed' Ranma. Intentionally tried to cripple Ranma. Yes, he did say that he wanted to kill Ranma, but deep in the back of his mind, he knew that Ranma could take it. He realized that he did follow the rule, "A true martial artist defended the weak and never killed unless in the last resort, only in self defence." If that was true then by extension, Akane, Kasumi, Ranma's mother weren't the weak or innocent. Even thougth Shampoo was within her rights in her village and Ukyo was still on a quest for vengeance no matter what she said to Ranma, they too weren't weak or innocent.
In the end, all he wanted to was to have just one victory over Ranma. Anything really. Despite everything, he respected Ranma for what sacrifices that he went though for his honour and to keep everyone else's intact. If it was him, he thought he would have went crazy.
That night, he wandered away to think about it some more.
After all these shocks, the random blizzards that fell as the Underworld became the Polar Ice Cap weren't really noticed anymore.
End of Flashback
Author's Notes:
This is the chapter where the problems of his life become revealed.