9. AN… EVENTFUL BUS RIDE
"So ?" asked a visibly impatient Ranma as Akane and Ukyo reached the three others and came to a halt..
"So they said that the next buses are on the way but that, given the unexpected nature of the event, and the large number of passengers to reroute, it's taking time…"
"We really should have tried to get on board of that first bus !" complained Ryoga.
"Yeah, right ! Did you see how people almost walked over each other to get into that bus ? If you wanna get killed, that's the thing to do : try to get on board anyway ! Try it if you want, but don't ask us to do the same !" Ranma said on an aggressive tone.
Ryoga raised a brow, clearly not expecting such animosity.
"Ok, ok, relax, Ranma ! No need to be angry ! I hadn't think about that point, that's all."
His interlocutor rolled his eyes.
"Why am I not surprised…?"
Soraya could see that Ryoga was agitated by contradictory emotions, hesitating between lash out at that rude boy he once thought he could call a friend OR bite the bullet and remain silent. His lips twisted bitterly, and she thought he would react harshly…
…but in the end, he violently breathed out through his nose, crossed his arms, leaned back against the wall and looked elsewhere…
...until his gaze wandered to a certain pair of beautiful blue eyes…
…which currently had lost part of their beauty, because they were sad !
She bit her lip, feeling extremely sorry for him, and sketched a movement in his direction, yet he put a hand up and mouthed the words 'I'm okay'.
Of course he's NOT okay ! How can he be ? Being treated that way…
Her anger abruptly rose in her heart, replacing her feeling sorry, and she briskly jerked her head at Ranma, narrowing her eyes.
Very few seconds later, she was in front of him, hands on her hips, glaring at the uncouth, immature boy she was forced to call her "brother".
"Way to go ! You're making a difficult situation even more difficult ! That's just what we needed, right ?"
"Oh, come on, don't start !" he waved it off.
"Ryoga didn't think about it, and you did. And so what ? I hadn't thought about it either, and maybe Akane and Ukyo neither. So we're all stupid, then ? Why don't you say it ?"
He turned an incensed face at her.
"Okay, what is it you want now ? To say that I'm sorry for making Ryoga feel bad ? You're sure prompt to defend him !"
She didn't expect this and recoiled at the accusation… both because she was surprised and because she felt… not exactly guilty, no… more like "unmasked", uncovered, as if she had been caught red-handed in some secret activity.
Or if light had been shade over a private aspect of herself, like, say… her feelings...
"Why wouldn't I defend him ? You're so often on his back, ready to put him down, to prove your supposed superiority… But I hate unfairness anyway, and I would stand up for anyone you're being harsh to without reason !" she countered.
He smiled… and it was an evil smile.
"For anyone, eh ? Right. But I'm sure you're more prone to do it for him…"
She felt that she was going to lose her temper for good.
Both other girls could feel it as well, and both sensed they had to intervene.
"Ran-Chan, please don't be so tough at others. We're not your enemies but your friends. And if we miss something, please be merciful and don't point it out. Just let it go." pleaded Ukyo.
"Ukyo is right : you shouldn't be aggressive to any of us, unless it's fully justified !" added Akane, not angry…yet.
Ranma realized he couldn't let them have the last word, or else he would lose face.
"But listen, girls –"
"NO, YOU LISTEN, BOY !" cut his fiancée, now irate for good. "You've been rude to Ryoga, and by implying things that make Soraya uneasy, you're even more rude. And that can't be. I think you should apologize to them."
Ukyo nodded supportively.
"Sorry, Ran-Chan, but I agree with Akane : you weren't nice to Ryoga before, and you've not been either to Soraya after. I can understand her upset, just as I can understand Akane's upset. I'm not angry, as for me, but I really would like you to be reasonable and do what is right, what is correct."
Ranma looked alternatively at both of them, wondering if he was getting crazy…
…but as they both observed him with their arms crossed, he concluded that he wasn't, and that nothing could change their minds.
With a frustrated sigh, he turned to his two victims from earlier.
"Okay, okay, I-AM-SORRY ! I A-PO-LO_GIZE ! I-SHOULDN'T-HAVE-DONE-IT !"
Looking back over his shoulder :
"Is that okay, or will you ask me to repeat it calmly ?"
Before either Akane or Ukyo could reply, Ryoga intervened :
"It's okay. You… didn't mean bad, I'm sure. And sorry for not being so bright. Sometimes I think… too fast, so to speak…"
"You're not stupid ! Don't feel sorry, we all make mistakes after all !" quickly reacted Soraya, before turning to Ranma : "As for me, sorry for being… mpf… too quick to jump the gun. I thought it wasn't correct, but… perhaps I was a tad… too sharp…"
Ranma raised a brow.
"Perhaps ?"
Soraya held his doubtful gaze.
"Yes, perhaps."
"Okay, okay, we're all good, nobody was hurt, no one died, it could be worse, let's all make peace and focus on the issue at hand, right ?" Ukyo quickly intervened with a large appeasing gesture with her stretched arms.
They looked at her… then at each other… and that was the end of it.
(…)
"Ah, there it comes at last, that bastard…"
"Ranma !"
"Sorry, Akane, but I was getting really tired of waiting !"
"Right, but still…"
He didn't dare to argue. He already had had his moment with Soraya, so…
The five teenagers hurried to the spot the large bus was arriving at, and when it stopped, they were among the first ones in front of the door.
But while the elders waited patiently their turn, the younger people were pushing hard to get to the door, and it wasn't easy to keep one's cool in a pressuring environment…
But all five managed to do so, and were pretty relieved when they could finally take seats in the bus, with basically the same as before : Ranma and Akane sitting together, same with Soraya and Ryoga, then finally Ukyo on her own.
But Ryoga said that they would sit in the back, therefore with Ukyo located in the middle of both couples instead of behind both. The official reason given by the Lost Boy was that he didn't want the chef to find herself isolated at the back, and being in the middle of their group would avoid that. As for the officious reason…
Like that, if Soraya and me want to chat a bit, no one will be able to hear. Well, maybe Ukyo, but if we speak in a low voice, she won't be able to make out our words…
But honestly, he didn't know if he would be able to actually chat with the red-haired beauty.
"You okay ?"
He jumped and turned to her.
Those blue eyes looked somewhat concerned… but they were still more beautiful now than when she felt sad or angry.
But busy as he was staring at her, he forgot what she had just said.
"Uh… Sorry, what did you say ?"
"Are you feeling okay ? You look… nervous… or uneasy..."
"Ah, uh, I…"
He unconsciously began rubbing the back of his head…
…and suddenly, as if that simple gesture had put order in his mind, he thought about something.
He knew what he could tell Soraya !
"No, I'm fine, really. And actually, I wanted to…"
He abruptly stopped, realizing that, out of enthusiasm (the one he felt when speaking to her), he was speaking a bit loud.
"… to thank you for standing up for me earlier" he finished in a low voice. "You know, when…"
He looked to the front and realized that, if he mentioned a certain name, Ukyo's ears might perk up and she might want to listen.
"… when he was a tad harsh to me. You took my defence and… well… I appreciate that. So… so thank you. Really."
Her intent expression of listener shifted to the pleased expression of an… "enjoyer" ? (Well, you catch my drift, dear readers, right ?)
"Oh, it's no big deal, you know ! I hate injustice, unfairness and all that. And you're a very nice person, so it's a pleasure to support you."
Soraya put a hand on his arm, and after lowering his eyes to her hand, he felt his face start to heat up.
She deduced what was happening, but instead of removing her hand, she left it there, lingering on his arm.
But then, she got a troubled look.
"In fact, I… I feel bad for being so mean to you for so long. Both in this form and in my male form."
She made a nod in direction of the front, where Ranma was sitting, two rows ahead.
"I didn't take you seriously back then… made fun of you… tricked you… and –"
Ryoga put a hand up.
"Soraya, you already apologized for this and I accepted your apologies. There's nothing more to be sorry for, now."
"Yes, but I will always remember what I did and be ashamed of that…"
She took her hand off his arm, feeling almost "unworthy of him"…
…but then he grabbed that hand in both of his and gently squeezed.
"Don't feel bad about that ! It's the past, and it has to remain just that : the past ! You're a much better person now and it's all that matters from now on !"
He squeezed her hand a little tighter.
"Thank you for your kindness and it's a pleasure to be your…"
He swallowed his saliva, and desperately hoped his hammering heart would slow down.
"…your friend."
He bit hard the inside of his mouth, just below the lip.
Dammit !
But almost immediately, he sensed that it was perhaps better that way : after all, it was still a bit early to take that decisive step and say it out loud, voicing his feelings for her.
And yet…
…yet she put her other hand around one of his and, imitating him, gently squeezed.
"Pleasure is shared. And, you know, friendship can go a long way… but there's no hurry. Life has its ways, we have our own, and what is bound to happen, whatever it is, always happens at some point. The main thing is to never lose hope."
Her smile widened and, after a brief moment of hesitation, she winked at him.
The poor boy then felt his face get even warmer, and knew that if he wasn't flushed enough just yet, it would definitely be the case in less than two minutes !
The redhead lightly pressed his hand once more then took hers back.
He stared at her, feeling hotter than he had ever been, even during intensive training.
She stared back at him, the gentle smile never leaving her face.
Slowly, very slowly, he opened his hands and she just as slowly took her own hand back to her lap… almost reluctantly, it seemed.
Her tongue quickly wetted her lips and hesitation returned to her face, her eyes leaving his to stop at the bottom of his face, above the chin…
She licked her lips once more but didn't dare to move.
The boy gulped and -
"Are you all okay ?"
Both of them snapped out of it and their heads instantly jerked to the front.
Akane had turned around in her seat and her look went from one to the other…
…until…
"Ryoga ! What's wrong ?! You're all red !"
"Ah, uh, no, nothing, I just… uh…"
"He got his finger caught in a space between the seats and hurt himself. It made him mad, and as he clenched his teeth out of anger, he turned all red. But it's better now, the redness and pain are almost gone, he told me. He was trying to calm down, actually, that's why he's still red-faced."
The Lost Boy goggled as Soraya as she finished her explanation.
Waow ! How did she come up with that lie ? And so quickly ? She made it up right now, on the spot ! Damn, she's not only beautiful, but also very clever !
"Are you sure you're okay, Ryoga ?" insisted Akane.
"Y-Yeah, my finer is less painful. I shouldn't… have got that mad. I'll calm down."
The dark eyes of the youngest Tendo lingered a bit more on the boy (who was averting her gaze), then turned to Soraya, whom she saw shrug and look up – Ah, those boys, right, Akane ? – and she ended up turning back to the front.
Then Ranma told her something in a low voice, he burst out laughing… and she punched him straight in the arm.
"I guess I should really let you calm down. We'll chat again when we'll be alone… or at least not within earshot." the redhead told her poor companion, her pupils briefly moving to the front and back, to indicate the others.
Ryoga, who had been more emotional these past minutes than he had been his entire life, nodded vigorously.
(…)
Akane was watching the landscape drifting past her.
It was less industrial than Tokyo, with more fields scattered here and there, and an occasional forest. Overall, a rather rural surrounding that offered a drastic change from the large city, its buildings, its factories… Less concrete around here, and she welcomed that change : she may be attached to Nerima and Tokyo, yet she still preferred a less urban environment, where nature was (far) more present.
She turned over to Ranma to tell him something about that new landscape she had discovered… and found out that he was sound asleep, lightly snoring.
Which made her frown.
Sure, they had got up relatively early, but even like that, his sudden sleep surprised her… because nowadays, Ranma didn't fall asleep at daytime.
Was he that tired from the early awakening ?
Or perhaps…?
He train of thought got interrupted by the sound of plastic, behind her.
Turning around, she first saw Ukyo, with her eyes closed (but not snoring, indicating simple rest instead of deep sleep), and then Soraya, whose head was directed down and suddenly perked up, with the sound of unwrapping plastic following.
Then the redhead lifted something and opened her mouth… and caught side of Akane staring.
"Hum, did I make too much noise ? Sorry if that's the case… but I feel too hungry !" she justified herself.
"Too hungry ?"
"Yeah. Very hungry, if you prefer."
And the petite girl took a bite of her dumpling, her eyes remaining set on Akane.
The latter looked at Ranma for long seconds, then back at Soraya.
"What's going on ?" asked Ukyo, who had just opened her eyes.
Akane glanced at her and bit her lower lip.
"Well… I could be wrong but… Ranma is very tired and currently sleeping, while Soraya feels very hungry… and probably in great shape… right, Soraya ?"
"Yes, I feel pretty good, but why are y-"
Then she felt as if a light had just been switched on somewhere in the dark depths of her mind.
"You mean… that the energy transfer has increased ? That it's getting worse, or faster ?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but… you "recharged" Ranma's energy before the departure, right ? And he's already feeling tired, after less than one day, so… maybe the transfer phenomenon is indeed getting more powerful, more… serious."
"And that Soraya will need to restore Ranma's energy more often, then…" deduced Ukyo.
"Quite so." confirmed Akane. "That's what I'm afraid of. Not only is it worrying about Ranma's condition, but it will also slow us down, if we have to do it more often. And in case we have some enemies to fight – be it Os and Kay or some henchmen of theirs – and Ranma is feeling weak at that time then it will become a problem…"
"He will be in danger… but we will also have to battle without our most powerful fighter, and 4 instead of 5. It will be bad for all of us, in fact…" Ukyo summed up.
The bus then made a sudden lurch to avoid a hole in the road, and the resulting jolt shook the pigtailed boy, who woke up and drowsily glanced at his fiancée.
"A… …e the… yet ?" he slurred in a sleepy voice.
"Sorry, what did you say, Ranma ? I didn't get you."
He yawned somewhat too loud, attracting upset looks from several passengers.
"Are we there yet ?" he enunciated after opening his eyes.
"No, Ran-Chan, not yet." the chef replied.
"How do you feel, Ranma ?" cautiously asked Soraya before finishing her dumpling.
He turned around to her.
"Pretty tired. Hey, what are you doing ? Eating ?" Eyes wide open now, he looked fully awake now. "We must spare our supplies ! We just left and now isn't the time to start digging into our food reserve !"
"But I'm damn hungry !" the redhead protested.
He made a face.
"Ah… I see… and since I feel so tired and not hungry at all, it means you're pumping on my energy again… Jeez, when I think you just "recharged my batteries" this very morning and I'm already feeling low…"
She looked down at the plastic bag that contained a few dumplings and concluded that she couldn't eat anything more, no matter the intensity of her appetite.
"Sorry, Ranma…" she said while quickly wrapping back the food she wanted yet couldn't decently eat given her brother's weakness.
He deeply sighed.
"Yeah… I know… but what can we do about it, anyway…?"
They all knew he was right and none of them could even think of a reply. Hence did an awkward silence settle between them.
Seeing Soraya upset, Ryoga felt bad for her.
She sensed his sad look on her and briefly glanced at him, making a powerless pout with her lips, before turning to the window and staring outside, her chin in her hand…
(…)
The bus finally arrived in Okayama, a large city located next to the south coast, opposite Takamatsu, another city on the top end of Shikoku island.
The five of them had mainly remained silent, each one lost in his/her own thoughts… and unfortunately, none of those thoughts were happy ones.
The long vehicle stopped in the bus station and people started to leave their seats for the exit at the front.
That's when one of the passengers caught a few people's attention : it was an elderly lady who was complaining to her husband that she didn't feel well, that she had to get some fresh air.
But then, she winced and half-screamed something about a pain in her chest.
Hearing that, Akane stiffened up in her seat.
Oh no ! I think I know what it is !
The husband quickly helped his wife outside the bus, supporting her… and that's when it started !
Her face turned to the sky, with her mouth wide open, she collapsed heavily, with her panicked husband hurriedly kneeling by her side and all the others turning into onlookers.
"Ranma, please let me go ! I have to help her !" exclaimed Akane.
"What ? But how –"
"I can perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation ! We have learned it at school ! Let me go, come on !"
He got up and stood aside to let her pass.
"We did ? he incredulously asked.
"Yes, but you didn't listen, I bet !" she replied. Then, looking at the other : "I need some help ! Who can come wi-
"I'm going !" almost screamed Soraya, before asking : "Ryoga, can you please let me pass ?"
"Sure !" he instantly replied and quickly allowed her to join Akane… before proposing his own help.
"No, I think we'll manage together ! If need be, I'll call you over, but Soraya and me should be able to do it !"
That being said, both girls hurried outside and reached the unfortunate elderly couple.
Akane got on her knees near the head of the fainted lady and ensured the poor husband that she could help his wife.
"You know what to do, right ?" asked Akane to Soraya.
"Well, no. If Ranma didn't follow that vital lesson in school, he doesn't know how to do it, and being a part of him, neither do I. We're linked. But if you tell me what to do, and how to do it…"
Akane quickly explained it – it wasn't that technical nor difficult – and so, after she had insufflated air through the woman's mouth, Soraya applied pressure on the woman's chest, several times, in a regular rhythm, then Akane continued with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, then Soraya started her cardiac massages again, and so on.
There was no movement in the old body for the moment.
Come on ! Come on ! It has to work ! It has to ! (Akane)
Damn, nothing's happening ! I hope there'll be a reaction ! Come on, please ! (Soraya)
Ranma, Ukyo and Ryoga stared at them anxiously, praying that they would succeed.
Minutes passed… slowly… very slowly…
Akane didn't want to give up, and neither did Soraya, but they were starting to lose hope…
…when the old lady's left hand suddenly jerked !
Then she briskly inhaled deeply, as if she had been about to drown and had just resurfaced.
She breathed with difficulty, a few times, her chest arduously rising and sinking as she fought to keep air flowing in and out… fought to remain alive after brushing with the Grim Reaper.
Her trembling hand rose from her side to her abdomen and moved about, as if looking for something… and when her husband gently grabbed it in his, her hand squeezed his with unsuspected strength, especially for someone who had fainted and almost died.
They didn't move her but put a jacket over her body, to keep her warm, a precaution Akane had learned during that vital health lesson at school.
"You saved my wife ! You saved my wife ! May the gods bless your souls and grant you a long life !" exclaimed the husband as he bowed several times to Akane and Soraya.
"Oh, we just did our job, that's all. No big deal." modestly replied the redhead, as if it was her daily routine to save lives.
"We did what we had to do, what was right, and we are relieved that she is saved. Thank you for your kind words, and may you live on happily together !" said Akane, as she respectfully bowed back to the husband.
All people surrounding the black- and red-haired girls now bowed to them repeatedly, with thanks and blessings addressed to them. Soraya first told them that AKane and her had just done their duty, that it was okay, but ended up bowing in return, out of politeness.
The ambulance finally showed up, the medical staff did the needful…
…and soon, all onlookers returned to their simple, uneventful lives.
As for both girls, smiling brightly at each other, they returned into the bus, where their friends congratulated them for saving a life.
Both boys, in particular, were very proud of the girls they loved, with Ryoga even more enthusiastic and grateful… which made Soraya very happy (and slightly blush).
(…)
"Ukyo ?"
"Yes, Akane ?"
"Tell me… you'll stay with us for a long time. We can count in weeks, not in days, as this is going to take a long time. And I forgot to ask you something : since Konatsu has been gone for quite a while now, and you're here with us, your restaurant will remain closed for a while and you therefore won't have any income. So how will you pay the monthly bills ?"
The okonomiyaki cook remembered something.
"Ah, I forgot to let you know : Konatsu came back last week, at long last. He could sort out his family issues and, from what he told me, their situation improved, which I'm happy about. Anyway, he'll be running Ucchan's in my absence and I'm confident he'll do just fine."
Ranma's left brow perked up.
"Are you sure he'll be okay ? Sure, he's been helping you for quite some time now, but he hasn't got your talent, Ucchan !"
A smile appeared opposite.
"You flatter me, Ran-Chan !" she coyly replied. "But honestly, after so many months in the restaurant, he has really become a good cook and can manage okonomiyaki recipe and preparation without problem. I know he'll do a good job !"
"If you say so…" was his (unconvinced) reply, accompanied by a shrug.
"Trust me, he will do a good job, and I won't have money problems at the end of the month."
"Then that's good. We're happy about it." Soraya chimed in, smiling to the front, at the chef, before turning to Ryoga.
He was staring at the landscape, on the left side, and after a few more seconds, he turned his head back to the front, lost in thought and visibly gulping, before turning his head to the right, in order to check the landscape on that side as well…
…and meeting Soraya's gaze.
Her smile had vanished a few seconds before, when she noticed some tension on his face.
Perhaps even some deep concern.
"Ryoga ? What's wrong ?" she gently asked, feeling his worry spread to her.
Just then, they heard a gust of wind right outside the bus.
"I was looking at those dark grey clouds ahead. They look like rain clouds. And I can tell the light has diminished, just like when a rainfall is about to start…" he told her.
"You're afraid of that weather change ? Of a possible rainfall ?" she calmly asked him.
"What I'm concerned about is the rain. You know like me what it can do to Ranma and me…"
"Ranma can no longer transform, actually, but you still can, that's true !" she slowly said, realizing the problem.
"Ah yes, that's right, he's no longer changing with cold water… I had forgotten about that." Ryoga admitted.
Another violent gust could be heard, and all passengers looked outside or above with obvious worry.
How come the weather had changed so drastically ?
When they had left the last bus station, in Fukuyama, the sun had already disappeared, that was true, but not many dark grey clouds and definitely no gusty winds back there.
And now that they were approaching Hiroshima…
The bus driver turned on the radio, to inquire about that abrupt weather modification … and he did it right on time, actually :
"…sudden shift in weather conditions in the prefecture of Hiroshima. A violent storm is expected very shortly now. For the moment, powerful gusts of wind are sweeping the area and started causing damage in several spots. A downpour should start any minute now, and the rainfall will become chaotic with those strong winds blowing erratically in various directions. We advise all citizens to remain at home, or go back home as quickly as possible, and to close all windows and blinds. New information will…"
The front passengers heard it all and the word spread throughout the bus.
"…violent storm… gusts of wind… downpour…" were repeated many times.
The dreadful sound of another heavy squall filled their ears… and that one was so intense that it made the bus sway, provoking sudden gasps among the passengers.
But there weren't any screams. No matter how anxious they now were, none of them let out a scream, no one exclaimed anything fatalistic or desperate, nobody made any frantic movement or started to cry.
The downpour soon started and soaked the vehicle, with terrible winds making it careen quite often.
"Hiroshima !" exclaimed someone staring outside.
And indeed, through the thick veil of the rain, a large mass of buildings could be made out, from which the bus was rapidly getting closer and closer.
The intensity of the rainfall, combined with the strength and the unpredictability of the gusts, rendered the bus driver's task very difficult, as it wasn't easy to see through the windshield, even with the wipers at maximal speed. But he had been doing this job for years now and, unbeknownst to the passengers, he was one of the best drivers of the bus company.
Hiroshima was now right in front of them, and the long vehicle finally entered the large city under the combined assaults of the raging elements.
Going as quickly as possible within the speed security standards, the driver soon turned right and then headed straightforward, notably passing by a sign announcing "bus station" with an arrow pointing ahead.
The stiff breeze had gained in intensity and shook the bus with more force now.
"That's becoming hell on Earth !" exclaimed Ukyo, eyes widened to their maximum.
"We'll have to get through !" said Ranma on a loud and firm tone.
Their "moving shelter" kept progressing in the flooded streets, an incredible amount of water having fallen in a relatively short period of time, and the passengers could barely make out people striving to run on the inundated sidewalk or street, and while they felt sorry for those poor souls left without defence under the threatening sky, the passengers felt relieved, as for them, to be dry and safe in that moving "fortress".
"Better them than us / Better you than me" is the (selfish) saying that sums it up.
The thunder kept rumbling menacingly and bolts of lightning continuously fell from the chaotic mass of dark grey clouds and streaked the surroundings, each time creating like a brief stroboscopic effect in the city.
The bus was progressing as rapidly as it could, still in the limits of safe speed, under the quadruple threat of wind, thunder, lightning and downpour, sliding every time the gusts howled around the vehicle and shook it mercilessly.
And suddenly, the face of the driver lit up : the bus station was in sight !
Over there, in the distance, were two large buildings facing each other, both well lit, and one could make out the silhouettes of some buses next to those buildings.
The driver put on the right blinker and the long vehicle started gradually drifting to the right, in direction of the haven they had desperately longed for.
The station grew closer, closer, they were about to reach it for good…
…when the wind, as if it was furious that the passengers were escaping its clutches, gathered its strength and launched a most powerful attack on that human moving shelter !
The bus got suddenly swept away, but didn't take off from the ground, wheels maintaining a contact with asphalt… yet a slippery one, as the large vehicle started sliding uncontrollably to the left, the driver clenching his teeth as he desperately tried to straighten up and change their trajectory.
But the bus's wheels were skidding on the flooded street, and the bus kept slipping to the left, always further.
The large mass slipped on the flooded road, carried away by its own weight, and the driver helplessly tried to keep control of his vehicle.
It seemed than a lethal accident couldn't be avoided…
…but fortunately, the movement of the heavy vehicle provoked a gyration that made it slowly turn as it continued to drift left, and that gyration was what saved the passengers lives : indeed, this avoided the bus to hit the nearby wall head on, with full force, and it was instead only the very back of the bus which collided with said wall, at the end of the circular movement.
The collision shook the passengers to their core, but at least, the hellish trip had come to an end !
That, and the bus station wasn't very far from the spot of the crash.
The bus driver wasted no time : he immediately walked back the aisle, looking left and right, asking people if they weren't hurt.
And fortunately, they weren't, or at least not seriously: only a few contusions here, some rare cuts there, and the woman sitting in the seat next to the spot of impact had been very lucky, because her huddling to her husband, in the neighbouring seat, had avoided her legs to be crushed at the time of the crash.
"We will now hurry to the bus station. Please follow me as quickly as you can, but try to keep calm, because panicking will only make matters worse. I will check on you, but we must move really fast, to avoid the bolts of lightning and the driving rain !" explained the driver before returning to the front, opening the door and motioning for all to follow him outside.
(…)
The line of people progressed rapidly in direction of the bus station, led by the driver.
Our five heroes had volunteered to help the injured ones to walk as fast as possible, yet without aggravating their injuries.
Only Ryoga had remained in the bus and watched Soraya take an elderly limping lady on her back.
He wanted to go last, and couldn't actually lend a hand because helping people by giving them his arm would imply holding the umbrella with only one hand… and given the terrible gusts of wind, that wouldn't work : the umbrella would be snatched from his hand and he would be exposed to rain, which meant turning into a certain black piglet ! And he just couldn't accept that. He would need both hands to grab onto his umbrella and prevent it from being snatched away by the horribly strong wind.
"I'll come back for you in no time !" Soraya told Ryoga.
And before he could answer, she ran forward with the elderly lady on her back, not too fast though, to avoid scaring the poor woman (who was already scared enough, with all those bolts of lightning and squalls) and the Lost Boy's eyes followed her up to the bus station.
The redhead hurried back to the bus and inside.
The boy was sitting in a front seat and looked more concerned than ever.
"You okay, Ryoga ?" she asked, worried.
"Yeah. It's just that I have a bad omen regarding that rain…"
"A bad omen ?"
"Yes. I have a feeling that I might not be able to avoid my transformation."
"I'll help you hold that umbrella over yourself, okay ?"
"Okay… and thanks !" he told her with a warm smile.
"Anything, Ryoga…" she kindly replied with a wide smile.
They cautiously ventured out of the bus, with him holding the red umbrella with two hands, and her with one hand, above his own.
I wish I didn't have to hold that thing with both hands… because if one of my hands were free, I could…
They started for the bus station, their anxious friends watching them come form the station's windows, and they were running as quickly as they were able to, but always paying attention to the ground, to avoid tripping, because if he fell…
And all that time, he could imagine it : one of his hands holding the umbrella and the other wrapped around the redhead's waist.
As they were now really near the station, about to reach it, he suddenly couldn't help smiling at that romantic thought... holding that petite girl, beside him, by her waist. And maybe, who knows, someday…
…someday…
His smile abruptly vanished as an extremely violent blast of wind struck them from the side and send them rolling on the soaked ground.
"No ! Oh no !" screamed Soraya as she scrambled in the direction of the fallen backpack.
But of course, it was too late…
She delicately picked up the black piglet, who sported a defeated expression – it was kind of strange to see a human expression on that porcine face… -, and used a part of her clothes to dry him up.
Then she got up and resumed her race to the bus station, keeping P-Chan against her, yet being careful not to hug him straight on her breasts (they didn't need a nosebleed on top of all that, really…) but rather on her belly, and gently told him :
"I'll take good care of you, Ryoga. I swear I will. And we'll make it together to the end. I'll be there for you, always."
And the cute piglet couldn't help nestling his head against her belly, eyes closed, tired… yet happy !
(…)
(…)
And… cut !
Well, that bus ride sure wasn't that calm, eh ! A quarrel, a sweet moment, a worrying one (about Ranma's sleepiness), a heart attack, an accident… and finally an involuntary metamorphosis ! Not bad, in only one chappy, eh ?
I even thought about making Ranma getting too weak (due to his energy deprivation) to wake up at the time of the accident, but after all considered that it was probably too early for him to feel already that weak, after Soraya "recharging" him in the morning, and so much had already happened in that chapter anyway that I thought I shouldn't exaggerate the twists and turns, eh eh. Maybe in next chapter, we'll see…
That adventure of theirs starts pretty roughly, eh ? A train breakdown, a bus accident (with a passenger's heart attack some time before)… That's not gonna be a walk in the park, isn't it ?
My usual gratitude to all those who support this story… well, my stories in general, and follow my work. I'm very honoured and thankful. And this time, some particular thanxxxx to SlouchyFall, who favorited both ERA SU R E and RANMA 2-2, all at once. That's just incredible… and wonderful ! You just made my (Mon- and Tues-) day, last week, dear SlouchyFall !
Now, how will our team continue their trip ? What new difficulties lie ahead and await them ? Which new developments will they go through ? To find out… you know what to do next, guys, don't you ? ;)
Oh, last thing : on 12 September (so in 3 days), it will be exactly 1 year since I published my first RANMA chapters (5 published together for THE TIDE IS TURNING…) … and incidentally, that I resumed a regular, constant activity on FanFiction, five years after my last long-term, regularly-written story. It was about time. And so, let's celebrate ! * streamers, confetti, party blowers, champagne… *
Take care and B happyyyyyyyyyyyy !
" Léo "