The Next Day…

Ranko slowly stirred awake, her eyes fluttering open, she looked down at herself to find herself still in her clothes from the days before, her pants cut and shredded at the crotch and legs, her top had shredded holes where her breasts were and at her gut, she inspected the holes and saw not a single scratch on her body, she glanced at her hand and saw the mark, confirming that the night before had not been a dream.

Her gaze fixated on the mark, she feel the power within it, she felt safer with it, that she was protected, her door opened and Ranko slammed her palm on her futon to hide the mark when Akane entered 'her' room, her cousin's gaze instantly went to her.

"Ranko what happened to your clothes and why is there thin trails of blood leading to your futon?" Akane asked as she entered the room, Ranko averted her gaze, her eyes shook with fear and rage as she remembered what had happened last night, what Kuno had done to her.

"I'd rather not talk about it" Ranko replied in an empty tone, Akane averted her gaze, the last time Ranko had used that tone had been when she became an orphan, Akane glanced round for Ranko's wheelchair and saw it was nowhere in sight, she assumed that Kasumi brought her up last night after they went to bed.

Akane headed to the closet and pulled out Ranko's spare wheelchair that had been provided by the hospital due to the chaos that surrounded the Tendo family, she wheeled it to side before heading back to the closet and pulling out some clothes for Ranko, Akane carefully removed Ranko's pants and shredded underwear and carefully replaced them, Ranko removed her top and bra, Akane helped to replace the bra and Ranko replaced her top, Akane then lifted Ranko by placing her arms under Ranko's before dragging her back and depositing her into the wheelchair.

Akane proceeded to wheel Ranko out of the room and took her to the top of the stairs before lifting her and carrying her down the stairs and placing her back down and wheeling her to the dining, Kasumi approached them and gave Ranko her breakfast on a tray.

"Ranko when did you get home last night?" Kasumi asked, surprising Akane, since if Kasumi didn't know when Ranko came back that means she couldn't have been the one to take her upstairs, Ranko just shrugged her shoulders and stared at her breakfast before slowly eating it. Breakfast was once again a silent affair, Kasumi handed Ranko her school bag afterwards and Akane took hold of Ranko's wheelchair and pushed her outside and the duo set off to school, Nabiki once again setting off before them to get to school on time and 'earn' some more yen.

The entire trip as usual was in silence, Ranko's gaze permanently locked on to the back of the hand that Ranma had marked, once again finding herself feeling safe, comforted that there was someone who looked out for her, was going to protect her from those who would hurt her and in her current state that is what she needed most, her 'family' had proven that they couldn't protect her and didn't care for her.

Akane pushed Ranko through the school gates and once again took her over to the tree before assuming her position to face the hentai horde and once again Ranko felt Kuno's presence come up behind her.

"Ah my beloved pigtailed goddess allow us to finish the declaration of we started the night before" Kuno stated as he began to bring his arms around her before leaping back, confusing Ranko, she suddenly felt a powerful presence, she turned her wheelchair around to see Kuno, boken drawn as he glared at something at the foot of Ranko's wheelchair.

Ranko glanced down to see a black serpent, hissing at Kuno threateningly, baring its long fangs, Ranko just stared at the serpent, the snake looked back at her with one eye and Ranko's eyes only widened when she saw that steal blue eye, she recognised that eye as the one of the Devil she formed a contract with.

"Ranma?!" Ranko gasped, her voice barley a whisper, the serpent bowed its head before turning back to the face Kuno, it seemed to smirk darkly and glare at Kuno before it blurred into motion and within seconds was at Kuno's feet, it pulled back its head and 'leapt' up and sank its fangs into Kuno's neck, injecting its venom into him, Kuno stiffened and fell onto his back.

Ranma turned round and slithered back to Ranko and climbed up her wheelchair and up her body before curling around her neck and lying to rest, eyes constantly darting round, searching for any other threat, he saw the final member of the hentai horde fall and Akane began to head towards them, speeding up when she saw the snake, forgetting how fast a snake was, thinking she could throw it off of Ranko before it could strike either of them.

Ranko's eyes kept darting from Kuno to Ranma, Ranma raised his head and leaned in close to Ranko's ear and began to speak with serpent like voice.

"He issss fine Ranko, my current venom is only a powerful paralysissss, he will be fine in a couple hoursss…thisss time" Ranma stated, Ranko shivered lightly as Ranma's folk tongue tickled her ear on its own accord, Ranma then lowered his head once again.

The minute Akane was behind them, she reached to grab Ranma, her fist clenched the centre of his serpent form and pulled him off Ranko, only to have Ranma curl around her hand, tightly, hissing threateningly as he bared his fangs before moving forward as if to strike, stopping inches in front of her face and giving her a victorious smirk, he increased his grip, Akane winced and felt her grip slacken, Ranma seized the opportunity and slithered out of her grip, hit the ground with a 'thud' and slithered up Ranko's body once again, Ranko tickled the underside of Ranma's chin with her index finger.

Ranko smiled at the serpent, surprising and confusing Akane greatly but she decided not to comment, the snake was fast and seemed to be harmless with Ranko and if she tried to remove it the serpent would strike her.

"Thank you Ranma" Ranko whispered, too quiet for Akane to hear, Ranma rubbed against her neck slightly, Akane took hold of Ranko's wheelchair once again and headed in the direction of the school.