19. DOLDRUMS
Plick….. plick…..plick…..plick…..plick…..
The drops regularly landed on the stony floor, at long intervals.
They came from the waterfall, because the prison had been built below it. Not immediately below, but infiltration still enabled a little bit of water to reach that man-made area.
Two basic cells of medium size occupied the large room that had been created during countless weeks of digging.
Inside the left cell was a young woman, sitting on the rudimentary bed, her sad gaze lost in the vague, her mouth arched downwards.
Ranma… where are you ? I miss you… And I feel so bad…
Her jaw tightened as frustration invaded her heart.
I should have been more careful, resisted to those enemies, got rid of them by myself… I wish I was as powerful as you… I'm so goddamn weak that I can't even defend myself…
She sighed and her jaw loosened again.
Ranma, if you knew how sorry I feel… I made you worry for me, and now… now who knows when I'll see you again… I miss you so much…
At that juncture, footsteps could be heard, and this made Akane raise her head.
She had been left completely alone for so long that any presence, even a hostile one, was better than the thick silence and endless wait.
From the spiral staircase emerged those dudes clad in black, three of them : one with a large key in hand and the following two carrying…
"RANMA !"
Akane got up in a flash and grabbed the cell bars, holding them very tightly, almost hoping she could part them to go embrace her beloved.
The three guys stopped by her cell and she noticed others kept arriving from the staircase, with Ukyo and Soraya in their clutches… and a last one holding a bag from which came irate squeals !
The eyes of the youngest Tendo were wide open as they moved from one familiar body to the other, realizing that all her friends had been captured… and that the thing in the bag was most certainly P-Chan, which meant that Ryoga had been transformed at some point !
And they all looked in pretty bad condition : Ranma was unconscious, Ukyo and Soraya were clenching their teeth, looking miserable, and Ryoga… well, as P-Chan, he was beset by utter fury.
Nothing positive whatsoever…
The first man opened Akane's cell and stood aside, allowing his fellows to bring inside and brutally drop Ranma, Ukyo and the bag.
"Hey ! Be careful, these are humans, not potato bags !" exclaimed an indignant Akane, glaring at the pack of villains.
They didn't even care to reply and merely exited the cell, which was locked again afterwards.
"Hey ! Wait a minute ! Why didn't you… bring Soraya …in here as well ?!" Ukyo said, her altered voice giving away the suffering she experienced in her shoulder.
Nobody replied, but the "key holder" opened the opposite cell and, after untying the pigtailed girl, the others pushed her inside that second confined space.
"No ! Wait ! Why am I not with my friends ?!" she said, less loud than she wanted to, courtesy of her terrible belly ache.
They ignored her and, once the door was closed, the evil troop cleared the place without paying attention to Akane's and Soraya's calls, leaving the heroes between themselves.
"Ranma ! Ranma !" frantically screamed Akane, caressing the cheek of her boyfriend with one hand while the other pressed his shoulder.
"He got clubbed from behind… during the fight… but I don't think it's serious… he will certainly soon wake up…" the chef said, wincing at some point and ended clenching her teeth.
"I dearly hope so…" Akane's eyes lingered on her fiancé's for a few more seconds, then turned to the cook. "But you also got badly injured, Ukyo ?"
While she listened to the chef, Akane untied her… with difficulty, given the tightness of the knots.
"Yeah… One of those bastards hit me… with something very hard… perhaps a metal bar, I don't know… and right on my "bad shoulder"… the one I had got hit on… during the fight in the park… against the same dudes… and that I fell on after… the bus crash… It was still painful, but less… and now, with that new blow… on the same spot… the pain has increased a lot… but it could be worse… and Soraya suffers much more then me… I'm sure."
The angry squeals rising from the bag reminded them that Ryoga was still trapped, and Akane managed to untie the bag and open it up, allowing P-Chan to finally come out.
"My poor Ryoga… I'm sorry for you…" she told him.
He gently grunted at her, before looking around quickly… then his eyes caught a certain red-haired girl sitting up in the opposite cell.
He squealed loudly at her, and she immediately knew what he meant.
"Ryo ! I'm sorry ! I'm so sorry for you, and I wish I were with you ! I don't know why they locked me alone… and I don't like it ! I want to be with you all… and I wish I could be by your side, and that you could hold me and make me fell better, Ryo !"
Her tone was a mix of disappointment, sadness, frustration… No despair, though, and that was the most important : despair could really destroy a person !
The poor piglet watched her intently and let out loud yet soft grunts that could easily be interpreted as comforting words in animal fashion.
That's when Ranma regained consciousness : he slightly frowned, then moaned, and started slowly moving, then hissed when he felt the pain at the back of his skull.
"Ranma ! You're hurt ?" instantly asked his fiancée, before remembering what Ukyo had told her. "They knocked you out ? My poor Ranma…"
She kept his head in her lap, being careful not to touch the back of it, and was gently resting her hand on his cheek.
"Yeah… it hurts… but I'll be okay…" His eyes opened slightly more. "But how are you, Akane ? Are you alright ?" Then he remembered something. "They… they didn't hurt you or… or even touch you, right ?"
He was visibly anxious and almost dreaded her reply.
She instantly understood and put a reassuring hand on his arm.
"No, they didn't do anything. I know what you fear, but they did not. So you can be at rest. And I'll take good care of you ! WE will all take good care of you, Ranma !"
She caressed his cheek and gave him a soft smile, and he offered her one in return.
Then he shivered.
"Damn, it's cold in here !" he complained.
"That's because this prison is probably right under the waterfall, Ran-Chan…"
He turned his head to the left.
"Ucchan ! How are you ? You look in pain…"
She made a so-so face.
"I've been better. Just like you, I got hit from behind… right on the shoulder I had already been hurt twice. It was fragile and… those bastards hit me right there….It's throbbing now… but I'm more concerned about you, Ran-Chan : how do you feel ?"
He winced.
"The back of my head is sore… and I feel really tired !"
Ukyo, who had got up to fetch the blanket on the rudimentary bed, returned with it and carefully arranged it around Ranma's body, to keep the latter warm in that cool cave.
Then he heard a non-human noise nearby and, turning his head slowly, he discovered P-Chan.
"Damn, now I remember ! Ryoga got splashed by one of those thugs ! Sorry for you, Man, really ! We must find a way to change you back !"
The piglet grunted his gratitude.
All noticed that the voice of the Black Pigtail was tired, and his half-lidded eyes only added to that tiredness.
"You sound and look very tired, Ran-Chan ! We have to rechar-"
But then the leader turned her head to the right and looked at the redhead, in the other cell.
And her eyes widened as she realized.
How can we recharge Ran-Chan if Soraya is in a different cell ?
She gulped at the implication.
If they couldn't recharge Ranma at all…..
Ukyo felt her temperature suddenly sink and shivered.
Ranma had followed her gaze and noticed the Red Pigtail in the cell opposite.
"But why are you over there, Soraya ?" he loudly asked her.
"I don't know. They locked me in there… and didn't reply to me or Akane… when we asked them why…"
Her voice was clearly altered by her suffering.
"Soraya ! How are you feeling ? Has your pain increased again ?" asked Akane.
"Yeah, it's… pretty intense right now… one of those swines hit me so hard… in my belly… that the pain doubled… it's awful right now…"
She was indeed holding her abdomen tightly, inwardly praying that her suffering would lessen… but alas, it never did, and she bitterly wondered when it would.
"The painkillers !" suddenly exclaimed the long-haired brunette. "Gosh, I forgot to take the remaining pills with me : they're still in my backpack ! And in case you also had some left, Akane… they're also in your backpack, back at the hotel ! We don't have any here ! I can't give any to Soraya !"
She quickly glanced at the poor redhead, who was wincing in her cell.
"FUCK, I'M SO STUPID ! SO FUCKING STUPID !" Ucchan yelled, knocking her fist on her head. "I'M SO SORRY, SORAYA !"
"No you're not… You've shown several times your intelligence… We owe you a lot… and you don't have to apologize…" the petite female said in her painful voice, trying to sketch a smile for her friend.
"Soraya is right : you saved us more than once ! We are grateful to you !" Ranma told her with a kind yet tired smile.
"Yes, and anyway, you can't think about everything. Anyone makes mistakes, so don't be too hard on yourself !" Akane pointed out.
P-Chan, as for him, gently grunted at her, which could easily be translated as Don't blame yourself, you've been doing a great job as our leader !
The cook-turned-teamleader weakly smiled and thanked them. It was heart-warming to hear your dearest friends comfort you, but she couldn't help feeling guilty, and bad for poor Soraya…
(…)
Footsteps.
The five prisoners turned to the spiral staircase and stiffened, wondering what was going to happen, what they would be told by their captors, what their fate would be.
Then they noticed a sound difference : there were two distinct sounds of footsteps… which implied two kinds of people.
The deduction was obvious : The Five had new visitors !
Finally, two men dressed in black showed up at the bottom of the staircase and stepped aside, each on one side of the staircase's entrance.
The newcomers reached the last step and entered the prison room, walking slowly… confidently…
…arrogantly…
…and of course, it was…
"Well well well, what do we have here ? Reckless Japanese tourists ?" asked Os as he stopped near both cells, smirking mockingly.
Ranma's weakness suddenly seemed to evaporate : fighting off his weariness, the pigtailed hero fought to stand up, and once he was up, he grabbed two cell bars and glared hard at the two evil siblings.
"Just wait till I feel better, you bastards ! I'm going to break your necks !" he threatened.
"Mmmmmh… interesting… well you'd better feel better soon, then : we can't wait for you to break our necks…" teased Kay, an ironic wink following.
"As soon as Sor-"
Then the young martial artist stopped, realizing something.
He looked at Soraya, in the other cell… and his mouth opened.
Damn ! If she's over there, she can't recharge me…!
He understood that he would never recover his strength if he remained separated from his female half !
The siblings had noted his astonishment and his glance at his female self.
"A problem, my dear Ranma ?" asked Os on a smooth tone, although he did wonder what the matter was.
"Why are you looking at her with such an alarmed expression ?" questioned Kay, relishing the boy's visible confusion, yet still inwardly puzzled at his aghast look.
Because, you see, dear readers, Os and Kay did not know about Soraya's ability to recharge Ranma, following Cologne's teachings. Only The Five, plus Genma and the Tendo's back in Nerima, knew about it, as they had witnessed it the first time.
"Whatever ! I'll get you ! I promise you I will !" the heir of the Anything Goes school of Martial Arts retorted.
"Then we're waiting for you, little boy…"
"LEAVE HIM ALONE !" Akane cut Os.
He briefly showed surprise, not expecting such a fiery reaction from a female, but soon regained his composure and sniggered.
"Instead of stupidly laughing, tell us why you had me locked all alone in here !" Soraya clashed him.
"Can't you guess, Red Beauty ?" Kay asked in a warm, almost sensual voice.
The pigtailed girl then glanced at Os, who was staring insistently at her, his eyes narrowed and his teeth bared in a sinister smile. A lewd smile.
The almost sultry tone of Kay…
The nickname 'Red Beauty'…
The fixed stare, narrowed eyes and lewd smile of Os…
All of this made something click in Soraya's mind.
She slowly got to her feet and just as slowly grabbed the cell bars, mirroring Ranma as she adopted the same position as him.
"No…" she whispered. "No…"
Still slowly, she shook her head in disbelief, her eyes widened in horror as she observed the hellish siblings who watched as if she weren't a human being anymore but rather…
A slave… or even a piece of meat… someone, or rather something, that one can use the way he/she pleases… thought the poor blue-eyed teen.
Ukyo had understood as well.
"NO !" she shouted. "NO, YOU WON'T !"
She was the third one to grab the cell bars, tightening her grip so much that her joints turned white.
"YOU WON'T DO THAT, YOU HEAR ME, BASTARDS ?"
The head of Os gradually turned to her.
"Would you like to take her place, maybe…?"
For a few seconds, the leader was silent… but when she spoke, determination filled her entirely :
"Yes ! I want to ! Take me and not her !"
Akane understood what the cook implied and she stared unbelievingly at her friend.
"Ukyo ! No, don't do that ! I… I could -" she started, feeling powerless.
But he chef, smiling in a comforting way, gently cut her :
" No ! You mustn't do it ! You and Soraya have boyfriends, and I know you both want them to be your first ones. I don't have anyone in my life, so I can sacrifice myself… and besides, I'm the leader, and a leader must take responsibilities."
The chef had spoken loud enough for the braided girl to hear everything.
"Ucchan, no ! Don't do that ! Better me than you !" almost screamed the redhead, and turning to Os : "Leave her alone ! If you want to fantasize about someone, choose me !"
The evil brother's smile widened.
"Oh, I DO choose you, and only you ! The others don't interest me ! It's you I want… and I'll have you, trust me !"
Ranma had listen to the whole exchange and figured out what Os wanted. He hadn't said anything yet, but had felt his anger build gradually, and all of a sudden…
"FUCKING PERV' ! YOU WON'T TOUCH HER AT ALL, YOU HEAR ME ?! NEVER, AS LONG AS I'LL BE ALIVE !"
Kay gave him the smooth smile of a sadist.
"Ah, you wanna protect her… because she's your dear friend ? Or… perhaps not ? Perhaps you do it all because she is a part of YOU, Ranma, and that YOU don't want someone to invade YOUR privacy. It's all about YOU, Ranma Saotome, but while she's a part of you, she's still an individual, independent person now. But you don't do it for her : you do it for YOU ! You should be ashamed of yourself, selfish boy !"
Ranma had been taken by surprise as he listened to that accusatory speech… but when he heard the last part, he exploded :
"I DON'T DO IT FOR MYSELF ! I DO IT FOR SORAYA, BECAUSE SHE'S MY FRIEND AND I CARE FOR HER ! I'M NOT SELFISH !" He hesitated, then decided to be honest : "OR RATHER, I USED TO BE SELFISH, BUT I'M NO LONGER NOW ! I LEARNED THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP, AND WHAT I DO TODAY, I DO IT FOR HER, NOT FOR ME ! EVEN IF SHE IS INDEED A PART OF ME !"
Kay turned to Soraya, smirking perversely.
"Do you actually believe him ?" she asked in a tone that clearly hinted that the boy was not reliable at all.
The braided girl took a long look at the braided boy.
He gulped, then felt forced to convince his female self :
"SORAYA, I SWEAR IT'S TRUE ! I'M HONEST ! I PROMISE YOU ! I DO CARE FOR YOU AND DO CONSIDER YOU A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE ! I SWEAR IT ON MY OWN LIFE !"
Silence lingered as Ranma stared wide-eyed at Soraya, hoping that she wouldn't believe those damn siblings. That she wouldn't think so low of him.
She quietly stared back at him for what seemed like an eternity.
Ranma's heart was hammering in his chest, and since he felt rather weak in the first place, this current emotional/psychological issue proved very demanding in terms of energy, and he felt weaker now… but he would hold on as long as she hadn't replied.
And she finally did.
Her lips parted slowly and she said, loud enough for all to hear :
"I trust you. I know you are sincere. I'm a part of you after all, so I can tell if you're being sincere or if you are lying. We share the same sensitivity, and that's how I know that you're telling the truth. So thank you, Ranma. Thank you dearly."
She kindly smiled, a weak, tired smile, but a heartwarming one nevertheless.
Os walked over to Soraya's cell and stopped, keeping some distance just in case.
"You're cute when you smile… in fact, you're cute anytime. And I'm sure you smell good too…"
She glared at him but didn't waste time and energy replying : he wasn't worth it. They weren't worth it.
His nostrils dilated as he inhaled deeply…
…but then his expression changed : his overly self-confident smirk vanished on the spot, instantly replaced by a wince of pure disgust !
He loudly coughed, with all the others now goggling at him.
"Os ?" his sister hesitantly asked.
"Damn ! That odour !" He coughed some more. "I can't have my fun with her : that bitch is bleeding down there !"
He was pointing at her crotch.
Soraya gritted her teeth and her hand joints whitened on the cell bars.
"Who are you calling 'bitch', asshole ?"
He glared back at her, ignoring the outraged squeals coming from the other side of the cave.
"You just wait ! I will take you once you're not longer impure… and that will be soon !"
"Impure my ass ! Go wank alone, scumbag !" she spat at him.
He turned away and headed for the staircase, not caring to reply when she yelled that she would bite him off if he tried to take her by force.
"HEY RAPIST !"
Os jerked his head and stared threateningly at Ukyo.
"How did you find out about our weaknesses ? Your men knew about water changing Ryoga, about Ranma being afraid of cats… they even hit me precisely on the one body part I was still sore ! So they knew in advance what to do for each of us ! But how did they know ?"
"Remember the fight in Zhengzhou park, against my troop ? The last man standing fled instead of fighting you, and you thought he might be a coward, that he knew he didn't stand a chance all alone…"
His smirk returned.
"Well, not at all : he had seen Ranma get afraid of that stray cat, seen… Ryoga, uh ? turn into a pig after being splashed, and seen you get hit hard on your left shoulder. He witnessed everything… and he just came to tell us. Then all we had to do was share those infos with the rest of our troops, and when they fought against you earlier…"
His smirk stretched even more.
"… they just exploited your weaknesses ! Okay, I've had enough of babbling with you… Get some rest…" He glanced at Soraya. "…and stop bleeding as soon as possible….."
His evil smile turned predatory, and he turned on his heels to leave.
"As he said : just you wait…" Kay sadistically told the redhead with a big wild nasty grin before following her brother.
"GO DIE IN A HOLE !" bellowed Ranma.
The pigtailed girl let herself collapse and lay down, feeling exhausted…
…both physically and mentally.
Probably even more mentally…
(…)
After the departure of the disgusting siblings, Soraya remained on the ground, motionless, silent, her eyes closed.
Their friends called out to her, worried.
She didn't answer at first… but after a couple of minutes, she merely told them :
"I feel exhausted. Body and mind. I'll try to get some rest."
"I hope you'll be okay …" Akane anxiously wished.
Soraya exhaled deeply.
"Do I have the choice ? But thanks for your concern."
"We're all with you and will do all we can to save you. I meant it when I said I wanted to take your place !" Ukyo told her.
The redhead weakly smiled.
"I know, and you have all my gratitude for that, Ucchan !"
"I wish I had more power to save you. I would bend those fucking cell bars, get out and beat Os to pulp ! I would avenge you !" the pigtailed teenager told her.
The smile of his female counterpart slightly grew bigger.
"You're not too bad a brother, Ranma Saotome. Thanks, really ! I'm proud to be a part of you, I really am !"
P-Chan squealed loudly at her, three times.
"I love you, Ryoga. You made me discover love, and there aren't words powerful enough to express you my gratitude and my tenderness. You made me and still make me so happy, and I feel so bad that they transformed you, and that you had to hear what Os said. If only they had left us our backpacks, we could at least use your kettle and the water from the bucket to reverse the curse… I feel sad for you, but the most important is that I love you and you love me. I hope our love will last for as long as possible, no matter the hardships…"
She let out another deep sigh.
"I'll try to rest for some. But don't worry : I'll be okay, and I badly hope you will as well."
That being said, she got to the rudimentary bed and, lying on that uncomfortable surface, she wrapped herself in the thin blanket and allowed her body to get a break.
As for her mind… it was far more difficult to let it have some respite.
(…)
Soraya actually managed to fall asleep, and while she was slumbering, Ukyo decided to get some rest as well, and same with P-Chan, who alas had nothing better to do in that cursed form of his…
Akane would have tried to get some rest as well, but while she couldn't help feeling worried about Soraya, she was on the other hand happy and relieved to have her fiancé, the man she loved, back with her.
They were currently on the bed, with her sitting on the left, by the wall while he was lying with his head in her lap, looking up at her.
"I was so worried about you, Akane… since the very moment we couldn't find you, back at the inn… but what happened exactly back then?"
"I had been to the restroom during the night, and as I was about to get back inside my room, the owner told me that someone wanted to talk to me. I followed him downstairs, into the dining room… and some of those men dressed in black were there, with one holding the daughter of the inn's owner, a knife right on her throat.. That guy said they would harm her very badly if I didn't come with them, so I had no choice. One of the others wrote a note and gave it to the owner, saying he had to give it to you. "The girl's friends", he said. Then they took me here. And what about you ?"
"We took the train to get here and one of those guys in black was inside. He later gave us directions to a small hotel. We remained there until the hotel owner brought us a map with a location marked with a cross, that he had been given by one of the thugs. We came here and fought those bastards, but they managed to scare me with a cat and knock me out from behind, turn Ryoga into P-Chan and badly hurt Ucchan on her already sore shoulder. So as you could hear, they exploited our weaknesses."
A brief silence, then :
"I'm so relieved they didn't touch you, Akane…"
"Thank you, Ranma. But alas… Soraya is less lucky than me. Oh God, why Os had to be attracted to her ? If only he had just kept us as prisoners and no more… Poor Soraya !"
The black-haired girl raised her eyes and they stopped on the motionless red-haired girl opposite.
"I'm relieved she can finally get some sleep, but God, do I feel bad for her !"
"I won't let it happen, Akane… Soraya is my friend and I will defend her !"
She sighed, looking defeated.
"You need to be at your maximum to do that… and to find a way out of this cell. You can't do anything in your current condition, you need to be re–"
But she stopped before finishing the word 'recharged'… because she had just realized !
Oh no ! He can't be recharged with Soraya locked away from him ! But if he can't be, then… he'll get weaker and weaker… and then…
She gulped, feeling cold sweat in her back.
"I know what you're thinking about. I can tell from your expression. I can't be recharged if Soraya is over there, and if I get too weak… I know. But perhaps… perhaps I can gather and focus all my remaining forces to launch a powerful attack…"
Akane wanted to believe that it would be possible.
She really wanted to…
…but in the end, tears started to flow from her eyes and silently rolled down on her cheeks.
(…)
When the redhead opened her eyes, she felt a difference.
A positive difference.
She slowly got up on one arm and focused.
No, there was no mistake.
She let out a deep sigh of relief.
At last…
"Soraya ?"
She instantly glanced across the cave to the other cell.
Ukyo's gaze was set on her, and Akane was turning her head at her.
"Are you okay ? How are you feeling ?"
The female Saotome slowly smiled.
"Well, actually better, because… guess what… I'm finally feeling less sore. I think my monthly burden is starting to recede."
"That's great !" rejoiced the third Tendo. "Finally good news !"
"I'm happy for you, Soraya." the chef warmly said.
P-Chan let out soft little grunts that expressed his happiness.
"Same here, sister…" the Black Pigtail said in a tired voice.
She smiled at her friends, feeling lucky to have them as friends, to know them… feeling comforted too…
"Thanks a lot, guys. I really appreciate. And sorry for making you worry about me. And for being so mean to you in the past…"
"Nah, forget about that, it's long-forgotten and forgiven, you know !" the leader replied with a dismissive wave from her right hand (her "good hand", the one corresponding to her intact shoulder). "You don't have to apologize about anything anymore, Soraya !"
Footsteps in the staircase.
Men in black appeared, two of them carrying a cooking pot, another one a basket containing unidentified items (for the moment) and a last one a water container.
But once they arrived in front of the first cell, three more arrived downstairs as well, armed with metal bars and brass knuckles.
"Time to fill your stomachs…" said one of the two "pot carriers" as he opened up the lids.
He got no reply.
Soon, four bowls were filled and handed over to the group of prisoners, who looked at them suspiciously, under the cautious stares of the armed men.
"Hum… what's in there exactly ?" asked Ranma on a tired tone, glancing at the brown mixture through half-lidded eyes.
"Something that you will eat if you don't want to die…" was the curt answer.
The young Saotome considered retorting, but felt too damn weary and just shrugged it off.
"We'll also change your water. Bring the bucket."
Knowing she was the one in the best physical condition, because of Ukyo's painful shoulder and Ranma's tiredness, Akane didn't hesitate : she immediately stood up, fetched the bucked and brought it to their jailers, who replaced the water, still under the supervising looks of the armed guys.
Then, after closing the first cell, the head guard went to open the second one and the same process took place : food bowl handed over, water changed, with the three "guard dogs" keeping watch, even if the prisoner here was only a petite girl (and who still felt weak).
But once the cell's door was closed…
"You should make sure to eat enough. You'll need more energy as soon as possible. More… stamina, in fact…."
The redhead looked hard the smirking head guard (actually the same guy that had taunted them upon their arrival on the battlefield, past midnight), hardly believing what he had just implied.
She slowly bent forward, her eyes never leaving his, and disdainfully spat :
"Clear off, piece of shit."
He chuckled.
"Our master is right : you're just lovely like that…"
She flipped him the bird and he shrugged it off before turning away and muttered something that made the whole crew snigger and infuriated the redhead some more.
"Ignore those fools !" Ukyo told her once the sound of their footsteps had disappeared upstairs.
"Oh, I don't really mind. Just wanted to show them how much I hate and despise them."
"Damn, what's that tasteless… "meat" ? All leathery and stuff ?" remarked Ranma as he made a visible effort to chew it.
Akane made a face as she also tried to chew it, and her expression spoke for itself.
Soraya also winced at the "stew" yet she forced herself to eat all of it, because after all, that sucker of a guard wasn't wrong : she did need energy… but not for what he was implying !
Just wait until I'm out of here. Just you wait, bastards…
(…)
In the evening, Soraya felt even better and she was relieved to finally recover from her "monthly burden".
But that also had a negative aspect…
"I feel much better, the pain is quickly subsiding… but as much as I'll be happy to get out of it, I know what it implies…" she told her friends.
"Yes… but I will try again to convince Os to take me instead of you !" the okonomiyaki cook told her.
But the petite female shook her head.
"I won't let you. You're my friend and want to spare you that. Let me handle it."
"But…"
"Trust me."
The redhead confidently smiled at her childhood friend… but then her eyes switched to her brother, who was lying on the uncomfortable bed, Akane by his side, holing his hand.
"How is he feeling, Akane ? He has barely said anything lately…"
"He says he wants to sleep…" the Tendo daughter replied, feeling down… because she knew what would happen if Ranma couldn't be recharged at all…
"He's getting too weak. If we don't find a way to return his energy….." Ukyo trailed as she bent over him and called his name, only for him to moan that he wanted to sleep more.
She squeezed his hand and cast a worried look at Akane.
That's when footsteps could be heard from the staircase, two distinct kinds of sounds…and sure enough, the goddamn siblings showed up again.
"So, how do you like your new accommodation ? And your menus ?" Kay asked them in a joyous voice,
"Whatever. Ranma is about to die, and I'm sure you want to kill him with your own hands. So how about you let us increase his energy level, so you can kill him yourself ?" asked the chef.
"Ucchan !" protested Akane.
But the brunette winked at her from the corner of her eye, the one that Os and Kay couldn't see, and the black-haired one knew that their leader had a plan and didn't seriously intend to let them kill him for real.
She's trying to convince them to let us recharge Ranma !
"Mmmmmh… you're right, I want to kill him myself !" admitted Os. "But how will you save him from his ongoing weakness ?"
Ukyo frowned.
They don't know that Soraya can give her energy to Ranma…
The brunette pointed at the redhead.
"Our friend can increase his energy level."
The evil siblings gave a curious look.
"Really ?" asked Kay. Then she remembered Ranma staring with horror at Soraya, some time ago, and she understood : "Ah, so that's why you were so horrified when you looked at her, last time ? Because you knew that only her could help you regain your strength, and that she was locked away from you ? Now I get it. Hum… Well, how about we check it out ?"
She glanced at Os, seeking approval, and he nodded with a smile.
A couple of minutes later, after reciting the magic formula, Soraya's hands, encased in blue, were resting over the chest of her "brother" and energy transferred from her to him.
"Interesting…" commented the emerald-eyed woman. "So you're giving him… part of your energy, is that so ?"
"Yes."
"But then… the stronger he gets, the weaker you also get, right ?" intervened the ruby-eyed man.
"Yes."
She limited herself to the minimal replies, not wanting to talk to those swines.
"Then I don't want you to fully recharge him. Not because I think he has a chance to beat me, even at his maximal abilities, but I don't want you to be too weak, my dear ! I want you to keep enough energy to resist me, to struggle for your honour…"
Her head jerked in his direction and he could see her eyebrows lowered over her glaring blue eyes, her teeth bared and a threatening growl rising from her throat.
"Don't think you'll get away so easily, asshole : even with less energy, I can still make you regret touching me… Just try me !"
He smirked sinisterly at her.
"Oh, I WILL try you, be sure of that !"
Then he inhaled deeply.
"Mmmmmh… the blood smell is almost gone now… I think you'll be ready tomorrow… can't wait for it… And don't forget : you mustn't restore all of Ranma's energy, only half, so that you will have enough left for… tomorrow….."
He trailed on the last word, his lecherous stare disgusting her more than ever.
"Fuck off !" was the short, curt reply he got.
He sneered, and the siblings decided that they didn't need to stay anymore, even to make sure that Soraya would obey Os's order. He was actually the one willing to leave, because he felt like getting some rest : it occurred to him that the next day would be very tiring for him…
And it would indeed be, but not the way he thought…
As for Soraya, she actually considered fully recharging Ranma anyway, but if she did so, she would end up really tired and weak… and she wanted to be in as good a condition as possible – without any more pain and physically well enough – to get the opportunity to pummel that pervert !
But even if she felt determination and anger burning in her depths, part of her couldn't help remaining anxious about the following day… and how it would go…
(…)
The following morning came, starting with the usual "breakfast", consisting of the same leathery-tasteless "stew" – they all were fed up with that food, although they knew it could have been much worse… - and the fresh water they had received the day before.
And then… nothing but waiting.
"How are you this morning, Ranma ?" Akane gently asked.
"Much better than yesterday, thanks."
He looked to the other side.
"And thank YOU, "Sister" !"
"Don't mention it !" she replied, giving him a thumb up (after giving the middle finger to Os the day before). "Glad that you're feeling better, "Brother" !"
"And what about you ? Feeling better today ?"
"Yeah, the pain has completely disappeared this morning. But I just feel a bit tired, because of the energy transfer. Thanks for asking, "Brother" !"
It was his turn to give her a thumb up.
"Hum… Soraya…" Ukyo said in an uneasy tone, knowing it was certainly a lost cause yet willing to try anyway. "Look, I will do all I can to convince Os to choose m- "
"NO !"
The redhead had cut her childhood friend without hesitation, but not in a harsh way : more in the manner someone would if they knew it was no use speaking on.
"No…" she repeated less loud. "…I'm very grateful for your sense of sacrifice, and for caring so much about me, but please don't. You don't deserve it."
Ukyo opened her mouth to protest, but the petite female put her hand up.
"I know what you want to say : that I don't deserve it either. Alright, but I put my friends first. Don't do it. I can take it. And I will do my utmost to prevent him from…"
She gulped, feeling anguish writhe in the depths of her heart and mind, and not daring to say the cursed word.
"…from doing it."
That's precisely the moment the bloody siblings chose to show up, and the first thing Os did, before utter a single word, was inhale deeply.
A predatory grin, the grin of a deranged creature, slowly misshaped his mouth.
"Finally…" he whispered on an ecstatic tone.
"Get them out of their cell one by one and restrain them !" Kay ordered to the group of black-clad men waiting behind the siblings.
Very cautiously, the men had each of the four prisoners come out of the cell, under strict control, and made sure they were tightly trussed.
Only then was Soraya pulled out of her own cell and about to get tied up as well…
… but she opposed it, vigorously claiming she wanted to remain free, or else she would refuse to follow.
"Okay, okay, let's leave her free ! That will give you more work to immobilize her… but perverse as you are, I'm certain it will also excite you !" half-mockingly teased the emerald-eyed sister.
"Uh uh, you know me by heart, Sis !" replied her ruby-eyed brother. "Come on, let's go to the large room !"
They all left the wet and cold cave, with its depressing cells, and started in the spiral staircase… towards whatever fate had in store for them…
(…)
(…)
Aaaaaaaand… CUT !
Well, there wasn't any cut there until today : indeed, when you read next Author's Note, you'll understand that, when I was typing that A/N, there weren't two chapters – 19 and 20 – but only one extremely long chapter 19 ! In fact, the total word count is above 13'000 words ! You imagine easily I couldn't "give birth" to such a monster.
What I had to decide, then, was when I would make the cut to split that enormous block… and, well, the most suitable seemed to me the very moment when they finally leave the cave and its cells to go to the "large room" that Os mentioned. But yeah, this chappy and the next one are "companion chapters" since the action between both is continuous, without any break… if we except the short time they take to walk from one place to the other, but that doesn't really count.
This chapter here is more of a transitional part, with little action, more focused on the characters' reunion, on their condition (various wounds, aches), on their feelings and emotions… For once in this story, there is no movement, no progression from one location to another, for the quest to continue : the general plot is "on hold", because of the characters' imprisonment and the impossibility of an escape.
I hope you didn't find it boring for all that, eh ? I mean, psychology is an important aspect of the story… well, of storytelling in general. It's not all about action : characters must be able to express themselves, both verbally and, say, emotionally, feelings-wise. We must have access not only to their deeds and words, but also to what they think and feel, deep inside. This chapter is in this psychological vein.
Next chappy will be out very soon : it's already written after all ;) , just gotta re-read, correct and modify it a bit, and all this won't take that long ! So next update will be the quickest for this story ! ;)
I wish to express my gratitude to new people favoriting/following either one of my stories… or me ! Particularly Jadyrebello01, who went all out and decided to favorite AND follow both RANMA 2-2 and me, which is rare enough (and very flattering) to mention and give special credit and gratitude for !
I do hope that fate deals you good cards and that you are overall pleased with your lives. As for me, I'm fine, but things haven't been simple/easy for several people around me (family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues), and I cross my fingers hard for them, dearly hoping that the Wheel of Fortune will turn in their favour. May my Dear Ones get better soon… and you as well, if you also find yourselves in turmoil these days or in recent times !
Take care and be as happy as you possibly can, as always ! :))))
Léo