Legend of the Crimson Bridge
Oops, looks like I forgot the disclaimer last time. I'm fairly sure everyone is aware I don't own Ranma ½, or anything involved with it, or any anime. Well actually I have a fairly large collection of DVDs, but I doubt you care.
Chapter 2:
Ranma awoke wet and female. Her futon was soaked. This was not unusual except the figure standing over her was not Akane. It was Herb. Rolling to her feet she warily watched the musk prince.
"I told you I would make you pay Ranma. Welcome to hell." Herb laughed as he held up a bucket and ladle. Ranma's eyes widened as she recognized the Pail of Preservation. "I see you recognize this. You are forever locked as a girl. The kai-sui-fu is hidden in a spot only I know of. Enjoy your new life." Herb faded away as his laughter rang through the room. Even as he faded beyond sight the door slammed open to reveal the gathered mob that was the Nerima Wrecking Crew.
"Too bad former son-in-law. You are worthless to me now." Cologne shook her head. "You had best stay away from us or I'll have Shampoo reinstate the Kiss of Death."
"That should teach you Ranma. Finally you pay for what you have done to me!" crowed Ryoga as he struck a victory pose, fist thrust into the air.
"Worthless boy!" shouted the giant panda as it loomed over her. "After all I have done for you, all I've sacrificed for you, you allow this to happen?! Get out of my sight! You sicken me! I have no son!" Behind him the Tendo family refused to even look at her. She stood numbly as her rivals danced around her, taunting her with their victory. Suddenly a heavy pack slammed into her stomach, knocking the wind from her lungs. "I told you to get out!" She screamed as the panda picked her up and flung her and the pack out the window.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kimi jerked upright at the sound of a scream. For one panicked moment she thought the Sharks had returned and grabbed Yuri, despite the fact that Yuri couldn't possibly scream. A quick glance showed no signs of anyone but herself and Yuri, who was also looking about in confusion. Slowly both of them turned to look at the tent where their savior had gone last night. As they watched, the small red-head emerged from inside. She did not acknowledge them, but instead walked past. At the gully, she did not use the small footpath. Instead the two girls watched in awe as she calmly hopped the five foot gap. If the hop had shocked them, it was nothing compared to what they witnessed next.
At first they thought she was dancing. As she sped up it became abundantly clear that while dancing did in some ways describe what was going on, it didn't cover all of it. Both had seen martial arts movies, even witnessed matches on television. None of that prepared them for the display going on not forty feet from where they stood. The red-head, Ranma, was unbelievable. She punched, spun, kicked, leaped up to bounce off the ceiling. The whole time she seemed in complete control. She never stumbled, never seemed to worry about the next move. Kimi was fairly sure she barely even had her eyes open. What kind of person could do such moves without even thinking about it?
The routine went on for an hour before coming to an abrupt halt. As the two watched she held to pose for two minutes, hands raised, knees bent. Just as suddenly she dropped the stance and hopped back across the gully. The two stared in awe. 'How,' thought Kimi to herself, 'does someone so superhuman wake up screaming?'
As Ranma returned to her tent, she finally noticed the two girls. Stopping, she studied them for a moment.
"Why are you still here?" Kimi winced at the rather harsh question. She glanced at Yuri, who made a motion to her.
"We didn't have anywhere to go," she said. "We were late getting to the shelter when the Sharks grabbed us. It closes at midnight to keep people like them out."
"Ah." Ranma turned away to gather up bags holding an accumulated wealth of cans and bottles.
"How… how do you do that?"
"Training. Since I could walk." Ranma didn't even turn to face her, but Kimi could see a grimace of pain wash across her face. "I'm the best." That Kimi could believe without a problem. Ranma stood up, bags in hand.
"Could you…" Was she sure she wanted to ask this? "Could you teach us?" The shocked look on Yuri's face said she wasn't sure either.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ranma froze. She slowly turned to the tall girl, studying her intently.
"Why would you ask me?"
"Well we saw what you just did, and, well we saw what you did last night." The girl nervously licked her lips. "I, well I thought if maybe you could teach us so we didn't have to worry about the Sharks or the other gangs. So we could fight back," she trailed off under the intense gaze of the diminutive red-head.
"Do you know what you are asking?" She didn't wait for an answer before continuing. "I don't have a license to teach. Even if I did how do you expect to learn enough to do what I did? It took me over ten years to get this good, and in the end I still got tossed aside like garbage." Now angry she turned and began to walk away.
"But if you don't, how are we going to deal with the Sharks next time?" Again Ranma froze in place.
"Look, I have to go turn these in." She hefted the bags. "Then I spend the rest of the day looking for more. I don't have time."
"What if we help you collect them? I know some good places to find cans. That way you get done sooner and have some free time." Even Ranma could not miss the pleading tone in her voice. "Please." Ranma's shoulders slumped. She knew without turning around that she was being targeted by the eyes.
"Fine," she sighed. "But we need to hurry."
"Great. I'm Kimi and this is Yuri."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Several hours later the trio returned to the bridge, bags laden with aluminum and glass. Sullenly, Ranma admitted to her self that it was far more then she had ever collected on her own, and in a much shorter time. She narrowed her eyes as she looked over at Kimi. While the other girl, Yuri, had not spoken a word all day, it seemed like Kimi couldn't stop. Ranma recognized nervous chatter, having spouted it enough in the last two years. The question was, what was Kimi nervous about? She wanted something beyond the training, Ranma could sense it. But despite the seemingly endless barrage of words, nothing of any real consequence had been mentioned. Laying down the bags next to her tent, Ranma turned to the other two.
"You can put the bags here. We'll practice on the other side." Kimi and Yuri quickly complied and joined her on the far side. Ranma studied them for a moment.
"You gotta understand some things before we begin. First; I can't teach ya to do what you saw me doin' last night, or even this morning. It took me over a decade of some of the most intense, idiotic training in existence to get where I am. Second; I don't know if I can teach you at all. I've never taught anyone before."
"We've never learned before sensei." Ranma gave a small grimace in response to Kimi's lopsided grin.
"What I'm gonna try to do is teach you some basics, and some dirty tactics. The first thing I want you to do…"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next two hours were spent with basic instruction. Though Kimi was exhausted, she easily noticed how much more confident Ranma was while teaching. She had learned a lot, and shuddered at the descriptions of what some of it could do. Kidney punches, groin kicks, eye gouges. As Ranma had said when she began that part of the training. These weren't to fight, these were to incapacitate, or cripple. As she leaned against the wall, a battered metal cup was thrust into her face.
"Drink slowly." Looking up she saw Ranma holding a gallon of water in one hand, offering the cup with the other. Gratefully she accepted the cup and sipped the water. When she was done Ranma took the cup, refilled it, and offered it to Yuri.
Kimi silently studied the small redhead. She seemed such a contradiction. When she was training them she was so sure of herself. She commanded respect… No that wasn't right. She didn't command, she simply acted as though she would receive it. But everything else she did, she seemed withdrawn. Kimi had seen other girls and even boys on the street with that look. The one that said their world had been shattered and everything they knew tossed aside.
"Ranma, I was wondering. Could we maybe stay here with you?" Ranma spun to face her, spilling water from the open jug. Behind he Yuri's eyes went wide. Kimi decided not to allow an answer just yet. " I feel safer here. I mean we were grabbed only a few blocks from the place we were staying before so it just isn't safe. And we could work together to collect cans and stuff, and you could keep training us. We…" She stopped as Ranma held up a hand. For a moment her deep blue eyes bored into Kimi's brown. Finally she pointed over in to the corner opposite her tent.
"You can set up over there." She then turned and crawled into her tent, disappearing from view.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Inside her tent Ranma hugged her knees to her chest as she rocked back and forth. So hard to keep her emotions inside. A small smile tugged at her lips as she whispered to herself.
"I'm not alone."
AN: Yes this is a Ranma locked as a girl fic. Sorry if that drives you off but that was the plan from the beginning. Can't believe how long this is taking me to write. However I promise to complete both this and Lunar Eclipse, eventually. Please Review. TTFN