8. CHINA , HERE WE COME !
There was some excitement, of course…
…but also a tinge of apprehension.
What if they failed ?
What if they got killed ?
What if they made it to the temple, yet the magic didn't work and couldn't undo the curse ?
What if they made it, yet got killed… on the way back ?
What if Kay and Os managed to cast more powerful spells that possibly couldn't be countered / reversed ?
The prospect of getting killed was something always present in one's mind, but even more in a martial artist's mind… and even even more in the mind of a martial artist finding himself/herself in a very dangerous situation, like that was going to be the case in China.
Each of the five fighters taking part in that journey had faced death at some point, even Ukyo, {although the others didn't know about that), and they had always managed to get the upper hand and "twist" fate in their favour, making it alive out of the lion's den.
Death therefore had always been unsuccessful at taking their lives, at least up to now…
… yet that didn't mean that it would always fail at it. There was at least one occasion on which the Grim Reaper would have the last word… but the gods* only knew when that would be for each of them. Still, all hoped that their time wouldn't come just yet, and that they could carry out their mission successfully, saving Ranma and possibly eliminating his persecutors.
*Shintoism, Japan's main religion, is polytheistic, therefore it seems logical to use the plural ("the godS") instead of the singular expected in English language ("God"). I may have used the singular before in this story, but I'll now stick to the plural, to better fit the Japanese setting of the story.
Still, even if there was a lethal risk, and they were aware of it, none of them would back down. Nobody would give up, because doing that was sentencing Ranma, his weakness potentially leading him to demise if it got excessive.
Either that, or they would be forced to ask Soraya to live far away from her "brother", to avoid that energy "theft"… and none of them would accept that : the redhead was part of the family, after all. Hell, she was part of Ranma himself, no less, so how could you ask one of your parts to just "beat it" ?!
And there would anyway still be the problem of the two devilish siblings, who could show up whenever they wanted and harm Ranma, Soraya or anyone dear to them !
No, they had to be either destroyed or imprisoned in a place they couldn't leave to get back to Nerima. They couldn't be left alive… or at least free.
The friends' quest therefore would have two purposes : find the remedy to the curse, in the Dawn Temple… and settling the score once and for all with Kay-Os.
Even if these had to be polished off.
(…)
Soun warmly thanked once again and hung up, then walked back to the garden.
Everybody was gathered there, enjoying the gentle evening breeze in the peaceful, silent setting of that beautiful autumn night. One of those calm, soothing moments in life… that one has to enjoy to its fullest, especially if one is about to undertake a particularly risky project.
"Cologne explained me everything." said Soun as he sat by Kasumi and began to read the notes he had taken during the phone call.. "You will have to take a train from Tokyo to Kitakyūshū, then a boat from Kitakyūshū's harbour to Qingdao's harbour, in the Chinese province of Shandong. Then you will have to find by yourselves some transportation mean from Qingdao to the Bayan Har mountain range, in the distant province of Qinghai. The Jusenkyo springs are located in that mountain range, and once you arrive there, you'll have to look for Mount Nettōhen, which is located somewhere behind the springs. On top of that mount is the Dawn Temple."
Soun took his eyes off the piece of paper and let them wander all around, his gaze briefly stopping on each of the five fighters determined to take that long journey.
"How do you feel, guys ? Ready for all that ?" asked Ryoga, a forced smile on.
"More than ever !" replied Ukyo.
"We'll make it !" added Akane, before turning to the Pigtails.
"I can't believe I'll be returning to Jusenkyo…" Ranma whispered on a dreamy tone. "After all my failed attempts to travel back there, I'll finally be able to get back where it all started. It's… almost unreal to think that what was impossible so many times will at long last become reality."
"Where it all began…" Soraya gently continued, staring intensely at him. "Where I drowned… well, where the real Soraya drowned so long ago, cursing that spring you fell into…"
"Yeah… That's where it all started… where you came into my life…" he carried on, looking back at her, as if hypnotized.
She unexpectedly broke eye contact with him and her gaze got lost on the table, not really looking at it… not even really seeing it…
"I know you regret it. You regret turning into a girl… into me , and that's why you wanted so bad to return to Jusenkyo. You wanted to get rid of me. But I can't blame you… you never wanted this… you never wanted me… in your life… but I understand…"
Her voice suddenly broke as she hung her head and sighed.
Akane couldn't help being confused at this : that Soraya, sensitive, looked very different from the same girl she had been living with the past weeks and who had behaved in a very energetic and partly aggressive way, especially around Ranma.
She's very different from who she was. What happened to her ? And will she stay that way, or has she only temporarily softened ? I hope Ranma and her will get along better from now on.
The redhead raised her head after feeling a weight on her shoulder.
Her "brother's" hand was there, squeezing gently.
"I used to refuse you… and for some time, during the first weeks together, I wanted you away from me. We didn't get along at all and I was fed up. But then… since that weakening, and your returning my energy… and also that fight against Os and Kay, I realized you were not a bad person. At all. And come to think of it, you're another me, you're my female part, so… I can't ban a part of me, can I ?"
He squeezed her shoulder again.
"Let's try to get along better, yeah ? We've got a mission, and for us all to carry it out successfully, we'll need to stick together and be solidary. Okidoki ?"
"Okidoki…" replied Soraya, wiping her right eye as a smile of gratitude dawned on her lips.
"Oh, my children have made peace ! I'm so happy ! And so proud of you !" yelled Genma, hiding his eyes with his arm as he burst out crying… rather theatrically, granted. ;)
Soun sweatdropped… then coughed to clear his voice.
"Hum, yes… anyway… Cologne's friend, the one who gave her the parchment, proposed to help us in order to settle a debt he had with Cologne : she had once helped him and he now wants to repay her by helping with the journey. He has connections with various public transportations societies, with one of his friends notably working in the train business and another one as a mariner. He said he could ask them for a discount on the prices of the train tickets to Kitakyūshū and the boat tickets to Qingdao. For the return, you'll have to fund it yourselves, full price, but that friend and Cologne both said they would help financially, so that the cost isn't too high for you."
"We will all help pay the trip !" Kasumi said on a decided tone that was unusual to her.
"I can borrow some money from a few friends too !" announced Ukyo.
"Wait !"
They all turned to Nabiki, who had put a "stopping hand" up.
"That trip will be costly. You cannot afford spending so much money on it : you're gonna bankrupt yourselves !"
Soun raised a brow.
"And how are they supposed to travel to China if we don't gather that money ?"
Genma's mouth twisted into a doubtful expression.
"And how else will we gather it other than by clubbing together ?"
The looks of girls, plus Ranma's and Ryoga's, all switched from both fathers to the second daughter.
"I said that you couldn't afford it. All of you." Then a cunning smirk stretched her lips, one of her signature clever smirks. "But I can."
Her audience pondered this, wondering if they had heard correctly.
"Are you… are you saying …" started Akane.
"…that you intend to pay all the costs ?" finished Soraya.
"Mmm-mmmh…" confirmed Nabaki, still smirking, eyes now closed, as she nodded.
"Even with the discount, that remains quite a sum to pay !" pointed out the pigtailed boy.
She turned to him.
"I wanna help, Ranma-kun. And since I cannot accompany you, the only way I can possibly assist you is by funding your trip…"
"Are you sure, sister ?" gently asked Kasumi, putting a hand on her younger sister's shoulder.
"Quite so !" confirmed the bobcut female as she put her hand on the eldest's one.
"Then we'll club together only for the return part…" Soraya declared.
The brown eyes of Nabiki met the redhead's blue ones.
"No, I'll pay the whole journey. Round-trip." she proudly announced.
"But… that'll cost you a lot !" protested the youngest daughter.
The smartest Tendo grinned.
"Akane, if you had any idea how much money I've gathered selling photos and other items, making people pay for this or that. I'm a rich girl, Baby ! But… I've been doing lotta thinking about it, and came to the conclusion that it was all "ill-earned" cash. Meaning that I had made all that money the wrong way : by using people, blackmailing them, forcing them to do my bidding and so on. I've exploited others and been very opportunistic."
Nabiki's gaze rested on the Saotome's.
"In fact… while I used to call you 'freeloaders' in this house, I must admit that I've been one myself, sponging off several people, in this family and outside. And that was wrong, terribly wrong. I sincerely apologize for being that mean and materialistic… and my way to make amends for that despicable self-serving behaviour of mine all these years is to pay all your expenses for that journey. I will even give you cash to buy enough food during that long quest of yours."
The awkward silence that followed was partly a disbelieving one : had they really heard what they thought they had heard ?!
"Waow…!" Ukyo ended up saying on a clearly impressed tone.
"Sister, I… I don't know what to say… it's…"
Akane was lost for words.
"I think that 'yes, alright' will do…" impishly proposed the second daughter, concluding with a wink.
The youngest of three walked to her and embraced her, whispering a soft and grateful 'thank you' in her ear, which made the middle sister gently chuckle as she hugged back.
"And let's not forget : THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NABIKI !" exclaimed Ryoga, before raising his thumb at the girl, who raised hers back with a smile.
Ranma stepped forward and put both hands on Nabiki's shoulders.
"I don't think that 'thank you' is even enough… and we are grateful not only for the funding, but also for your work on yourself, your change of behaviour, your generosity…"
But she playfully waved it off coyly : "Oh, Ranma-kun, stop it… you're gonna make me blush !"
(…)
They were finishing their preparations for the long journey.
Soraya closed her backpack and, exiting Akane's room, she went to the guys'.
Ranma was absent but Ryoga was present, and nearly done with his own packaging.
She slowly reached him and watched him from behind as he put a water flask in his bag.
Then he pulled the flap over the top and secured it, before swiftly turning around…
… and finding himself face to face with Soraya !
He jumped and his eyes instantly widened, his mouth opened, his body got absolutely motionless.
And all he could do was stare at her, temporarily mute.
"H-Hi ! Sorry, I... I didn't mean to… scare you…" she hesitantly apologized, sheepishly lowering her eyes.
"No, it's… it's fine… you didn't scare me !" he replied, nervously rubbing the back of his head.
"Okay, but still, I shouldn't have come over silently and stood behind you like that. My bad."
Her gaze once again lowered in embarrassment.
"No, really, Soraya, it's no problem. Don't be sorry."
The tiny blue globes rose and locked with his brown ones…which instantly looked elsewhere as he awkwardly laughed.
As she noticed his blush, a smile appeared on her lips, followed by a light chuckle…that brought his look back on her.
"Uh… what's funny ?" he asked, puzzled.
"You are…" she kindly replied. "But in a good way."
"Ah…"
She stared at him and he couldn't hold her gaze for very long.
"I wish you wouldn't avoid my gaze, Ryoga… You don't have to feel embarrassed or stuff, with me. Just relax and act spontaneously. There's no reason why we couldn't be comfortable around each other. Right ?"
"R-Right. Sorry, it's just…"
She smiled supportively at him.
"Yeah ?" she gently encouraged him.
"Well, you… you're so –"
"Ready to go, you two ?"
Both jolted at that unplanned interruption and turned to meet another pair of blue eyes.
"Right on time, eh ?" remarked Soraya, feeling disappointed – and somewhat frustrated - at Ranma's arrival.
"As you say !" he jokingly said as he walked over to them, before raising a brow at Ryoga. "You're all red in the face, man ! Have you been training some before our departure ?"
"Uh ? Ah yes, yes ! I… I did ! I wanted to… to be sure I'll be measuring up when battle time comes !" the poor Lost Boy quickly replied.
"Really ? You used to be more self-confident, dude !" Ranma observed with a smirk, arms crossed.
The redhead's eyebrows dove.
"Come on, let him be ! He's doing fine, so stop teasing him !"
His smirk widened.
"You sound like a protective sister…"
Since she just kept glaring at him, he ended up shrugging and telling them to come down, since the Akane and Ukyo were already waiting at the front door.
"Alright, alright, here we go !" the Red Pigtail told him, before taking a quick look at Ryoga, who mouthed the words 'thank you' for her standing up for him.
She smiled and winked, then their gazes kept in contact for a few more seconds… before they somewhat reluctantly followed Ranma.
(…)
Soraya "recharged" her brother to the maximum by putting her hands over his chest and reciting the spell learned from Cologne.
And once this was done, it was time for the moving goodbye.
They all felt touched by that moment that allowed them to reaffirm the strength of their bonds and the power of their mutual love.
Both fathers remained dignified, although Soun discreetly wiped a single tear, but Kasumi couldn't help shedding a few tears, being the most emotional of all.
"We wish you all good luck and full success !" exclaimed the head of the Tendo dojo.
"Please be careful, my dear children ! Stay safe !" added Genma, who had come to consider Soraya as his daughter, and therefore himself as the father of two children.
"I wish you much courage and hope you will all be fine, and come back to us unharmed ! We love you !" continued Kasumi, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
Nabiki stepped forward and hugged Akane for a while, whispering her to be safe, then looked around at the rest of the "team" and said : "Take good care of my dear sister… and of yourselves ! And if you meet those damn siblings again, kick their asses on my behalf !"
All couldn't help laughing, which kind of eased it up and made the moving moment less "charged" emotionally speaking.
But when their five friends and family members started walking away, the usually self-confident, if not cheeky girl swallowed the lump in her painful throat and wiped a tear rolling down her cheek.
The greedy, self-serving, blackmailing teen was gone, replaced by a more clever, sensitive, honest and overall more respectful young woman. And generous one as well, given her huge financial help for the journey.
Yes, Nabiki had matured, and she would have like to accompany them, help them during the whole adventure, but alas… she had no martial arts practice and would be of no use to them. Which she did regret.
Please come back alive, guys... all of you… she thought as she watched them vanish from sight, gone for good.
(…)
The station was in sight. They were nearing it always more, and the second part of their trip would soon begin : the long train travel from Tokyo to Kitakyūshū.
But that would still be a new experience to some of them :
"I've never taken the train…" Ryoga mused aloud.
"Of course, you've always gone on foot… and we all know how it ended up every time ! If you had had to travel by train, you'd have taken the wrong one and gone in the opposite direction !" mocked his former rival.
"Oh come in, Ranma !" scolded Akane.
Soraya suddenly drifted to the left, against him, and shoved him hard to the side with her behind.
"Be nicer, dude ! Ryoga is a cool guy and deserves respect, so show him some !" she groaned at her male lookalike.
He first glared at her, then snorted.
"Whatever, I guess…" he dismissively retorted.
She just could have left it at that, but chose to insist instead :
"Jeez, you can be such a jerk, Ranma !"
"A jerk, exactly ! That's what you are, Ranma Saotome !"
They all turned around, only half surprised : by the intervention, yes; by the identity of the speaker, no… since they had easily identified that annoying voice.
"Pigtailed girl ! Akane Tendo ! Seeing you together is really –
"No, no, no and no !" exclaimed the redhead. "We don't have time to waste, Kuno ! Keep your gooney birds to yourself, at least for a fortnight !"
"But listen, Red-Haired Beauty, I –"
"Kuno, please ! We are in a hurry !" quickly said Akane, as she clearly saw that Soraya was about to cut him… and given her mad face, her words would have been very sharp !
She certainly didn't appreciate the upperclassman, but he didn't deserve excessive harshness.
The president of the kendo club blinked at the karate fighter.
"Can I at least buy you two one rose each before you go ?" he proposed, visibly hopeful.
The braided female felt herself fuming, and she gave a quick panoramic look to know how the others were coping with that hopeless half-wit… to stop on Ryoga, who was close from her.
He observed her cautiously, his expression giving away his worry for her.
Given that she was looking at him, he felt forced to utter something :
"Hum, if you want, I can take care of it…" he whispered to her.
"Nah, it's okay, thanks : I'll do it…" she sighed, before turning back to Kuno : "Look, you can offer us those roses once we get back here, alright ? Now let us go, we have some business that can't wait !"
"Uh… but…" he started.
"Right, guys, let's roll !" the redhead announced, ignoring him and starting forward.
"Well… bye, Upperclassman !" said Ukyo as she passed him by, trying hard not to burst out laughing at his discomfited expression, that vacant look of his being really priceless…
(…)
They couldn't miss the two tiny, elderly people that were waiting on platform 2, both holding gnarly staffs in their right hand… and staring straight at them.
"My dear children, let me introduce you to my dear friend Hayao*, who very kindly gave me that ancient parchment last time and even more kindly proposed to help funding your journey !" announced Cologne, before turning to said friend.
*This naturally refers to the Japanese God of Film Animation, none other than the immense Hayao Miyazaki himself, an artist whom I deeply revere and who is one of my all-time favourite filmmakers. Blessed be this man, his films, his studio Ghibli, all those who help create those gems of animation I boundlessly love and worship. Big up to all Miyazaki fans out there !
"You have our endless gratitude for your kind and precious help, venerable Hayao-san !" exclaimed Ukyo as she bent forward.
Both elders laughed up their sleeve, puzzling the youth in front of them – not only Ukyo : all of them !
"Please don't get offended, young lady !" politely replied Hayao. "It's just that I'm not used to such ceremonial style. I'm a very simple man, with a basic language, so you needn't be so respectful to me. I'm grateful to you for being so, but really, you can address me the same way you address any person. And you are very welcome for the help : any friend from Cologne's is my friend as well, and I will always help a friend in need."
All were impressed by the kindness and generosity of that wise man, and their amazement sparked a small smile on Cologne's lips.
"We have come here to wish you good luck for your journey and give you our blessings for a successful mission and a safe trip back home." explained the Amazon matriarch.
"May your quest be crowned with the desired achievement, my young friends !" added Hayao.
They all bowed at the venerable Ancients and took their leave after accepting their travel tickets from Hayao : these included the train as well as boat tickets, the latter to be used in the port of Kitakyūshū, for the sea leg to China.
They managed to find a few free seats in a compartment, but not five together : two in the same spot, two on the opposite side, across the aisle, and one behind. Which meant having to wait until some of the passengers would be ready to get off the train, and then take the free seats.
"I bet you two prefer to stay together…" Ukyo told Ranma and Akane, before turning to Soraya and Ryoga. "And since I was told that you brought Soraya back home, Ryoga, and also rescued her during the battle against Os and Kay, I guess that this created a bond between you, so you should stay together. Therefore, I'll take that single seat in the back."
"A… A bond ? What bond ?" asked Ryoga, swallowing.
The chef raised a brow.
"A friendship bond, of course !" she replied.
"Ah, friendship, yes…" he hesitantly said, looking over at the redhead, but the change of colour on his cheeks gave it all away.
The two couples – one official, one officious – took their seats, but Ukyo remained standing, an idea having just popped up inside her head.
"Yes, friendship…" repeated the cook, before deciding to chaff a bit : "…at least until further notice, right ?"
She looked at Ryoga, at Soraya, then winked.
They both looked away, embarrassed… and both blushing.
"Well, you're full of surprises, Sister, eh !" the Black Pigtail teased the Red Pigtail.
She immediately jerked her head in his direction.
"Shut up !" she yelled, rosy-cheeked, but then realizing about their location, with people surrounding them, she suddenly behaved more politely : "I… I mean… don't say that, please !"
Ranma, Akane and Ukyo couldn't help laughing, but Ryoga had to bite his lip, knowing Soraya wouldn't like it one bit if he laughed as well.
Which naturally would ruin his chances…
(…)
An old woman that had been sitting by the pigtailed boy left the train two stations later, which allowed Ukyo to come sit by Ranma's side.
"Everything alright ?" she asked them.
"Yes, and you ?" answered Akane, wondering why the blue-clad girl had asked so in the first place.
"Yup. Uh…"
The chef looked hesitant.
"What is it, Ukyo ?" asked the youngest Tendo.
"A problem, Ucchan ?" wanted to know the eldest Saotome (although technically he was in fact Genma's only child).
The long-haired girl took a deep breath.
"Look, I… I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable here, but I want to be honest with you : I've been thinking it over a lot, and… well…"
She glanced at Ranma for a few seconds, then briefly at Akane, and went on with her "confession" :
"Soraya was right." (The mentioned one overheard her name and looked in their direction) "Your fathers may have decided to marry you, but that was against your own will. But if you two actually do love each other, that's a different story… and so, I've decided to come to terms with it and give in. Renounce to my tender feelings for Ranma."
She then stared seriously at the boy, who stared back, wide-eyed, mouth agape.
"You and I will be what we first were : friends. No more than that. Only good friends, like we used to be. I promise I won't change my mind, and stick to this."
"Ukyo…" said Akane, reaching out yet dreading that the former suitor would refuse her touch…
…yet the blue-clad female, although surprised by Akane's hand resting on her knee, did accept that hand and let it linger there.
"I'm sorry, Ukyo…" slowly whispered the official fiancée to the now former fiancée.
The chef's mouth twisted into a forced smile as tiny twin streams silently flowed down her cheeks.
"That's life…"
"Ucchan, I… I'm also sorry… I wish… I wish I could return your love…" started Ranma, almost ready to hug her, but his childhood friend put her hand on his shoulder, shaking her head.
"Don't, Ranma. Don't be sorry. You mustn't be. There are choices to make in one's life, and we have to accept the outcomes. It can be difficult, yes, but we can't change some things. That's all. You may think I suffer, and I somehow do, but part of me is also happy, because I can keep our friendship, and that's a most precious treasure. Friendship IS a treasure anyway, sure, but it has even more value when the first bond you created with someone was… a bond of friendship. We'll get back to our childhood complicity*, which mad us so happy back then. And that's wonderful, isn't it ?"
*Looking up that word in bilingual dictionary Word Reference, just to be sure, I found out it has both a negative meaning (collusion among scheming people) and a positive one (bond between friends, family members…). You guess which meaning it is here. ;)
She wiped her eyes, and her smile gained more authenticity, it was no longer forced but now appeared natural. Happiness was slowly but surely getting the upper hand over sadness.
"Ucchan…"
"Hey, stop feeling bad, Ran-Chan ! And you, Akane, don't look so sad : you look much better when you're happy ! Right ?"
She smiled and winked at her former "love rival", who smiled back and gently said :
"I hope you'll be fine… and happy, Ukyo !"
"Bah, don't worry about me : I'm tough as heck ! Nothing can stop me !"
She clenched her fist… then her thumb poked out of it, and she now smiled confidently.
"Ukyo…"
This time, it was Soraya.
"Thank you. Sincerely. And… I'm sorry as well…" the redhead told the cook, her voice unusually calm and almost sad.
The okonomiyaki specialist put a hand up.
"Nah, don't be. Coz you were right : I shouldn't interfere between people who deeply love each other. If Ranma hadn't been sure about his feelings, I may well have continued trying to win his heart, but I'm aware of his real feelings, and I have to respect them. Respect him. You actually helped me open my eyes, Soraya. And for this, I'm way grateful to you !"
The redhead was lost for words… so all she could do was simply smile back.
(…)
After many hours of travel, the train finally stopped in Nagoya station and several passengers got up, including those who were sitting next to our five heroes, soon to be replaced by newcomers of various ages and social conditions.
If Ranma, Akane and Ukyo "inherited" from a very nice new passenger – a calm and polite elderly lady wearing a washed-out kimono -, Soraya and Ryoga, on the other hand, found themselves with a couple of teenagers who arrived running and hurriedly threw themselves on the seats opposite to outpace the old couple who was reaching the two free seats.
The elderly couple appeared disconcerted by that sudden "twist of fate", but they didn't say anything and began looking around and ahead of them for other free seats… but alas, Nagoya was a big station and many passengers climbed aboard, leaving very few free seats, and unfortunately for the couple, none of these few could be seen in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, the two teenagers smugly smiled at their victims, clearly amused by their discomfiture, which Soraya saw and fumed about, although she chose to remain silent… at least for the moment.
The wrinkled partners began moving forward when…
"Uh, excuse me…" gently said Ryoga after tapping the old man's shoulder. "Your wife can have my seat. I can remain standing."
"That's very kind of you, young man, but… are you sure ? Maybe we will find seats in another train car…"
"No, please, I insist. You can offer your wife my seat."
"Well, if you are sure… Thank you then !"
"My pleasure !"
The two teenagers were looking at Ryoga as if he was the greatest of all idiots, which infuriated Soraya even more, yet she decided to focus on the most important matter of the moment, and that was…
"Please, Sir, take my seat as well. I don't need it !" she told the elderly man as his wife was walking to the now empty seat of Ryoga.
"But… this young man already offered his own seat for my wife… I don't want to let you stand as well…" he replied, vaguely confused.
"No no, I'll be fine, really. Have a seat, please."
The old man looked at his wife, then at the generous blue-eyed female, and after thanking her kindly, he finally sat by his better half.
Both youngsters were now staring tactlessly at the Red Pigtail and the Lost Boy who were standing nearby, partly upset that these dudes had "foiled their plan", and partly despising them for accepting to give their seats to those "old fogeys".
"Thanks, Soraya." Ryoga whispered into her ear.
"Don't mention it." she replied with a smile.
"Thank you for being so gentle and polite !" Akane told them, beaming.
"It's natural." the redhead replied with a shrug.
The braided girl and the Bandana Boy remained standing straight, staring at the landscape unfolding through the window, until…
"Hey Miss !"
Soraya knew whom this was directed at yet didn't react.
"Hey Miss !"
The voice was louder now.
She still ignored it.
"Hey Miss with the red hair ! The red hair tied !"
She hesitated if she should keep her "cold game" up or mercifully lower her eyes to that idiot… but maintaining her distant attitude would only make him speak louder, if not scream for good, and she didn't want that jackass to disturb the other passengers.
And, come to think of it, he might just end up actually touching her to draw her attention !
Bleeeeh, just the thought of it…
No way !
And therefore, with a deep, irritated sigh, she finally condescended to give the fool a glimpse of her beautiful blue eyes.
"Waow, those eyes ! Fucking hot !" And as she frowned, he suddenly "censored himself" by correcting the whole thing : "I mean, very beautiful, eh eh ! Like your red hair, beautiful too !"
His pal kept mum and simply ogled the indeed good-looking teen who was presently literally fuming.
"Where you getting off, by the way ? Which station ?"
She sighed as deeply as possible, making it all too obvious she was irate.
"That's none of your business…" she replied in a calm yet cold voice.
"Oh, come on ! We could buy you a drink or two !" proposed the other lad, who didn't want his buddy to do all the talking and make him appear like a foil of some sort.
She raised a brow before letting out the disdainful laughter of someone who cannot believe what she has just heard.
Which made the guys' smiles vanish in a flash.
"Me, having drinks with two lechers ? And then you'll put some drug into my glass, I'll fall asleep right after, you'll carry me out to allegedly "make me breathe some fresh air, to wake me up", but in fact take me into a dark alley, and once at the end of it, with no witnesses around, you'll do your little business. That's how it will happen, right, dudes ?"
Her blue eyes remained on them yet they were cold as steel, just as the fake smile she offered them, which was nothing else than a smirk of contempt.
"What ?! Are you crazy ?!" one of them exclaimed, feigning indignation.
The redhead snorted.
"Yeah right… keep pretending, dudes, keep pretending…"
Akane could tell that the former Soraya, the one they had initially spent weeks with, and who got along so bad with Ranma, was back in control. This was her tone, her demeanor. This was the very kind of biting, incisive words and reaction the "first Soraya" would have. The one they had been spending the last days with, and who acted more respectfully, was gone.
"Get lost, little bitch !" the first guy said, partly through clenched teeth.
"What did you just SAY ?!" half-screamed Ryoga, whose eyes threw blazing daggers at the vile pair.
Soraya turned to look at him, putting a calming hand on his arm.
"It's okay, I will take care of this myself. But thank you, really. I appreciate."
"But… are you sure…"
"I'm sure. I can handle those morons."
She pronounced the last word louder, for both bastards to hear.
And it worked : the first guy, obviously the hothead of their duo, instantly got to his feet.
"Who you calling 'morons', bitch ?"
"You –" started Ryoga, but she calmed him down and, ignoring the insult and smoothly smiling at the thug, she told him :
"Well, you two… morons !"
Her goal was clearly to provoke them and, with idiots, that kind of goal is always reached.
The rude boy launched himself at her, but she quickly hopped to the side and, grabbing his throat with one hand, she placed two fingers from her other hand where she knew his right carotid was located… and pressed hard !
"You move, you're dead !" she warned him, her smile now gone, replaced by a fierce, merciless expression, eyebrows at their lowest, teeth clenched.
Then she spoke aloud, without turning around :
"Hey, you behind me ! You stay quiet, if you don't want your buddy to go to hell ! Coz if you try something, that's where he'll go ! And after, it will be your turn. Got it ?"
No reply from the now scared boy still siting opposite the two elders he had misbehaved to.
"GOT IT ?" she yelled, still keeping her eyes on the guy she was holding, not bothering to look at the other.
"Y-Yeah… got it…" replied the sitting one, and after a brief pause : "P-Please don't kill us…"
A prayer for mercy that was ignored, pure and simple.
"At what station are you getting off this train ?" she icily asked her current "prey", slightly loosening her grip on his throat so he could reply.
"O-Osaka…" he replied with difficulty, breathing thick under her briefly loosened hand.
"Good. Then you'll go back to your seat and be a good boy, won't you ?"
His still goggled at her, scared stiff.
"WON'T YOU ?!" she asked louder, tightening again her grip on his throat.
He nodded vigorously, then she briskly removed her hands from him and kept them raised, in an obvious fighting stance.
Just in case his ego would have him make a foolhardy move.
But he didn't, instead instantly rushing back to his seat and sitting down, his eyes still widened at her like she was some demon hidden under the likes of a maiden.
"Waow, what a show you put on ! You're perhaps even more intimidating than Ran-Chan !" admitted Ukyo, staring with impressed admiration at the petite girl who had tamed two boys in no time.
"Hey !" protested Ranma, frowning and folding his arms as if about to pout.
(…)
"Osaka station !" announced the driver's voice.
The train slowed down, and after what seemed like an eternity, finally came to a halt.
Soraya threateningly stared at both boys, who had remained extremely calm for the rest of the journey (more than they had ever been in their entire life), and they caught her drift without problem.
Leaving their seats, which Ryoga and Soraya took, the stupid pair hurried forward, casting a brief scared glance back at some point, before turning left to the train's exit and appearing on the platform, among the other passengers.
They quickly walked to the nearest exit, and just when they were about to vanish from view, the first guy whispered something to the second one, who nodded…
…and then, both faced the train car our five friends were in and flipped the birdie in direction of the window they knew Soraya was probably watching them from.
Then they ran away through the exit, probably thinking the redhead might get out of the train to kick their asses, even if that meant having to take another train to reach her destination.
But if the pigtailed female was indeed watching them through that window, her reaction was absolutely the opposite : she merely shrugged with an audible "pffff!".
"What a pair of morons indeed…!" said Ryoga in a sigh.
"What did they do ?" asked Ranma, who had briefly closed his eyes once they had arrived in Osaka station, and hadn't seen the obscene gesture.
"They gave Soraya the middle finger…" replied Akane before rolling her eyes up.
The Lost Boy scrutinized his smaller companion.
"Everything alright ?" he gently inquired.
"Yeah, I'm good. That kind of made the trip less boring, eh ?" the redhead replied with a chuckle.
"You were… impressive, honestly !"
"Who said women were weak, uh ?"
She jokingly flexed her biceps with a smile and wink.
"I certainly didn't…" he confessed, smiling back as he playfully put his hands up in the typical appeasing gesture.
(…)
The train had been still for quite a while now, and even if Osaka was a huge rail hub, such a prolonged stop appeared unusual, if not vaguely worrying.
"Why is this taking so long ?" Akane asked to no one in particular, voicing everyone's identical wondering.
"I don't think there are that many passengers climbing out and in… I mean, it has been very long now. It wouldn't take so long, normally, even at the busiest hours." observed a skeptical Ukyo. "Do you think –"
But some crackling interrupted her and actually avoided her to finish her question by replying to is directly :
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are sorry to announce you that, due to an unexpected technical issue, this train cannot continue its itinerary and will have to remain here until repaired. Please kindly leave…"
The five friends didn't really listen to the rest, the main info having been given.
Their journey had just started and was already compromised !
(…)
(…)
And that's how the (long) journey begins !
Just like in my other RANMA stories, I chose to make Nabiki a better person : she realized that she had behaved in a miserable way in the past and decided to make amends for that… by using her money for a good cause : helping her friends.
The fact is that I'm not so fond of Nabiki in both the manga and the anime, with her being terribly greedy, materialistic, self-serving… but I admit she's very clever, cunning and resourceful. I just wish she put her intelligence and craftiness to better use. And that's what she's doing here (what I have her do ;) !
The scene with the two despicable teenagers illustrates my hate of chauvinism/machismo. I do despise chauvinist pigs, which is a logical consequence of my feminism. Yes, feminist males do exist, but they're very rare and marginalized… but I'm proud to be amongst those few ones ! Anyway, Soraya is pretty impressive, eh ? And as you can see, she reconnects with her initial self, harsh and cold, powerful and merciless. Males (and females too, actually), don't mess with that fire-haired, explosive small girl : you'll live to regret it !
Ukyo's confession I felt was necessary. That, and I also wanted the chef to get a few lines, because she didn't have much to say in that chapter. I find her brave to take it upon herself and resolve to strictly maintain a friendship bond with her former love. It's not easy to do so… not easy for her. We all hope she'll be okay, right, Folxxxx ?
And so, the trip already comes to a standstill… How will the crew make it out of that deadlock ? And what dangers await them next, or later ? To find out… read on !
As always, my gratitude to the usual people – readers, favoriters, followers, reviewers – with particular thanxxxx to Arianne, Ethane and James, and a special shout-out this time to macrossboy01, who favorited this story.
You all take care and be fine, remaining as happy as possible.
= Léo =