The slap was loud, dramatic. More sound and fury than real injury, but enough to topple the girl onto her backside.
It wasn't a gesture intended to harm, really. If Himura wanted that, she had people working for her who could take care of that. No, she saw this as a loving gesture, even if the wretched failure before her didn't deserve it.
She loomed over Hana, who was holding her cheek and looking up at her in shock.
"Himura, I…" She could see the pain in Hana's eyes, that moment where it was still uncrystallized. Left scorned or neglected, it could crystallize into fear, or defiance. But a skillful hand could mold it into something more useful; Devotion.
Himura folded her arms and sighed. "I am disappointed, Hana. Do you understand why?"
"B-because I failed." Hana said uncertainly, her eyes flicking to the others in the room.
She fears further reprisals. Good. She understands what CAN happen. Now to make clear what she must do to avoid it. Himura shook her head sadly. "No, Hana. It's why you failed. Because in your overconfidence, you downplayed Nabiki Tendo's abilities to me, and overplayed your ability to manage her. You attempted to take ownership of tasks which I had not delegated to you, and it resulted in disaster because I was unaware of and therefore unprepared for her counterstroke."
"I…in all the dealings we've had with the other fiancees, I never expected her to…" Hana stammered defensively.
No, that will not do, Hana. Himura glared at her, cutting off her. "Your usefulness to me is not in expecting things, Hana. It is in knowing things. Anticipation and strategy is my purpose." She put her hands on her hips. "Do you understand what your failure to understand and perform your role has cost me?"
Hana looked away. She closed her eyes and shuddered. "I… I'm sorry, Himura…"
Good. Surrender. Submission. Now I can begin working on you, Hana. "I am not angry, Hana. I am disappointed. I had expected so much more from you. You are capable of so much more." She sighed sadly. "But if you are unwilling to live up to that potential, there is little I can do to push you beyond what I have already done." She started pacing. "I had imagined I was being generous… That you had appreciated my gifts, that you enjoyed being part of my inner circle. And yet, here I find them misused and broken, my trust misplaced. Did they mean so little to you? Was my friendship… my trust so worthless to you?" She allowed a few tears to gather in her eyes.
"N-no!" Hana protested. "I… I did everything I could to…"
Himura knelt and gripped Hana's chin tightly, forcing the girl to look at her. "I think you enjoyed seeing me humiliated on stage, didn't you?"
"N-no…" Hana whimpered.
"Then why?!" Himura released her and stood, pacing back and forth. "After all I have done for you, Hana, why would you betray me so?"
"I… I just thought…"
Himura whirled on her, her expression angry this time. "No, you didn't think! The money you made working for me wasn't enough for you, so you jeopardized everything… everything for a few more yen. Do you comprehend the damage you have done? This was meant to be quick! We were set to crush their hopes and make them feel powerless. Now, we will have to deal with endless defiance!"
Internally Himura was smiling as she watched the girl curl inward. The others around her were shaking their heads, clucking their tongues and glaring at the girl as if she were lesser scum… Which she was, to be perfectly honest. It had been easier than she had expected to place the blame for the previous day's humiliation at Hana's feet.
But… destroying the girl wasn't useful. She still needed Hana and her contacts - but she needed her unquestioning loyalty. So now that she was questioning her self-worth, it was time to offer her a lifeline, a chance at redemption that would ensure the girl would be on the path to finding her value only in Himura's approval.
Himura sighed dramatically, looking off to the side. "Yet… despite all of this… Despite this betrayal, I still like you, Hana. I still have hope for you." She looked at her directly. "Am I foolish? Perhaps I should just listen to what my other girls are telling me to do, hmm? Perhaps I should send you crawling back to Nabiki's tender mercies?"
The other gathered girls murmured and nodded in assent as they had been carefully groomed to do.
"No! Himura-sama! Please! Give me another chance!" Hana begged. "I'm loyal, I swear!"
Good. Himura thought, though she kept her expression one of schooled skepticism. There is only Nabiki or me, Hana - and you will learn to fear her - to see her as true evil. You will beg and grovel to stay under my protective wing, and then you will learn there is only ME. "I suppose…" She sighed heavily. "With how limited my resources are, you are fortunate Hana. As much as you have already cost me, I can't afford to give up on you yet. Not with how much I have already invested in you." She crouched in front of her. "But I need you to do better. I need you to give more. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes, Himura-sama…" Hana whimpered.
Himura smiled sadly and cupped Hana's cheek. And now, after whipping the dog, you pet her, to teach her not to bite back. "I must seem an awful harridan to you, mustn't I? I only get so angry because you frustrate me so, dear Hana. I see so much potential in you. I want such great things for you. I just wish I could make you want them as much as me."
"I… I do, Himura-sama! I do!" Hana insisted.
"Hmm." Himura sighed, shook her head and stood. "We'll see, Hana… we'll see." She turned and walked towards the door, the others following suit. Leave her awkward and uncertain. Let that awful feeling fill her a while, so that when the chance to redeem herself comes, she will fling herself at it. She stepped out of the empty classroom they had been using and began walking down the hallway, flanked by Sanae and Umeko, with Mineko and Omi just behind.
For now she had a show to take in. "So the word has gotten out, I presume?" She asked Sanae.
The statuesque girl smiled and nodded. "I believe many of the boys were quite eager now that Kuno-san is… indisposed."
"Good. I'm interested to see how they perform. I have heard that Ms. Tendo has been training. After what happened to our dear Student Council President, well…" She shrugged. "It would be a shame if she lost control and caused further injuries. It might even be cause to reexamine her enrollment in this school, regardless of any claims of self-defense."
"Is Akane Tendo really a major concern, though?" Umeko asked. "I mean, she's not even engaged to Ranma anymore."
Himura smiled as they reached the window from which she planned to watch the morning's entertainment. The crowd was already gathering outside. "Ah, my dear, sweet Umeko. She still lives in the same house as Ranma, and she still quite obviously has feelings for her. The lack of a formal arrangement between her and Ranma only makes her that much more useful as an avenue of attack. She will be a useful wedge to drive between Ranma and Nabiki Tendo." She folded her arms and leaned on the windowsill. "But, for now, we watch. Pay attention my dears; The best way to avoid the mistakes poor Hana-chan made is to observe your prey before acting."
000
"You shouldn't run along the top of the fence in a dress, Akane." Nabiki said, bemused as her sister trotted along the fence top while Ranma walked demurely on the ground.
"I'll jump down if anyone comes along." Akane replied. "I just need more of a workout. Beating Ranma's Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken has got me pumped!"
"Hey!" Ranma stopped and put her hands on her hips. "You didn't beat anything! I was going easy on you!"
"Oh?" Akane hopped down off the fence, cocky grin on her face. "Or maybe you're just not as fast as you think you are, Tomboy!"
Ranma opened her mouth, then shut it, momentarily caught off-balance by the reversal of her favorite insult. "Hey, I am way more feminine than you on your best day!"
Akane's grin widened as Ranma fell into her trap. "You know, you might be right, Ranma!" She leaned in and looked the girl over. "If it wasn't for your hair, you'd be the girliest girl ever!"
"Oh yeah?" Ranma reached back to undo her pigtail, then paused. "Wait…"
Nabiki patted her on the shoulder. "Did the Man among Men finally figure out she's being baited?"
Ranma waved her off. "Just a sec, Nabiki…" She cocked her head at Akane. "What is wrong with my hair? I mean…" She tugged at the pigtail gently. "I always thought it worked…"
Akane rubbed the back of her head. "Well… aheh… It's just that you… well, you're kinda hot with your hair down."
Ranma blushed. "Really…?"
Nabiki sighed. "Oh my god, if this is where the usual insult fests are going nowadays, just kiss already! We'll be late for school if you two keep awkwardly flirting like that."
"Nabiki!" Akane hissed, turning read and ducking her head.
"We weren't…" Ranma protested frantically.
Nabiki rolled her eyes and resumed walking.
When they got near the gates of the school, Nabiki was a little surprised to see Rin, Yuka, Sayuri and Riko standing outside the gates looking in, as if they were afraid to enter.
Yuka turned, spotted the three of them and immediately ran over to Akane. "Akane! They're back!"
"Who's back?" Akane asked.
There was some kind of rallying shout from inside the school walls, followed by a massed roar.
The others motioned them over, gesturing for them to stay low and quiet.
"The Hentai Horde is back." Sayuri said with a low growl.
"They heard Kuno is laid up, and Akane isn't engaged to Ranma anymore." Yuka added.
"Something must have got them fired up." Riko said, still peering through the gates. "I've never seen them like this! Not even at their worst!"
Rin hugged the wall, peering in nervously. "I'm still not sure I understand what's going on." She shook her head. "It's kinda scary…"
"You'd have thought after all the beatings Akane gave them that they'd give up." Ranma muttered, crossing her arms.
Akane grabbed the edge of the wall with her fingertips and lifted herself up just enough to peer over the top.
The horde was massive. Nearly every male-dominated club or team had to be present, plus a sizeable number of stragglers.
"I don't understand…" Rin said, shaking her head. "Why would they think beating up Akane would make her want to date them?"
"Because Kuno declared she would only date someone who had defeated her in combat, after he challenged her and she kicked his butt." Yuka said.
"But… All of them attacking her at once?" Rin shuddered. "That's… that's…"
"It's a rape gang." Nabiki finished bluntly.
The rest of them stared at her.
Nabiki shrugged and looked away. "I'm not going to sugar-coat it. That's what it is. And if at any point they actually did overpower my sister, you think they'd stop at just demanding she go out with them?" She scowled at the gate. "And nobody bats an eyelash because this is Nerima."
Akane dropped from the wall. As big as the horde was, it wasn't anything she hadn't handled before. And that was before her training.
She clenched a fist, looking at it. But... I never used to really hold back with then. It was stress relief; a way to vent my frustrations. What if I really hurt them now? What if I get angry and forget my control?
She looked up at the sound of knuckles cracking.
Ranma was grinning, rubbing her fists in anticipation. "Been forever since I've had a good mob battle." She shot Akane a grin. "Whatcha say, 'Kane? Wanna show 'em a few of your new moves?"
Akane felt her worry drain away at Ranma's infectious enthusiasm. She raised her fist and nodded. "Yeah!"
"Oh, I wouldn't do that."
They turned a bit more to see an unfamiliar girl in a Furinkan uniform. She was smirking, arms crossed, but her posture and the twitching of her fingers suggested she was more nervous than she was letting on. She had dark hair, cut shoulder length and hazel eyes, her cheeks dusted with faint freckles.
"Tomoko." Sayuri said, stepping forward. "She's on the Volleyball team. One of Himura's second stringers."
"Better than being recycled from the discard pile, Sayuri!" Tomoko shot back. "If it wasn't for you grabbing onto Ranma's skirt and letting her drag you along you'd still be a nobody. Nice posturing on stage, though. I never would have taken you for an Otaku."
"I strongly suggest you get to the point before one of these two martial artists forgets why they don't hit weaklings." Nabiki interrupted, transfixing the girl with the full force of her Ice Queen glare.
Tomoko trailed off, eyes flicking to Ranma, then Akane. She chuckled weakly. "Go ahead. Hit me. You do and you're off the team. New Volleyball Team rules; No fighting on school grounds."
"I'm not on the volleyball team." Akane growled and took a step forward, causing the girl to shrink back.
"S-sure… waste your energy on me." Tomoko said with weak defiance. "I'm sure the boys will appreciate it."
Ranma put a hand on Akane's shoulder. "It's not worth it, 'Kane. Come on, let's clear out the horde and get to class."
"Didn't you hear me, Ranma Saotome?" Tomoka raised her voice as they turned away. "No fighting on school grounds. At all."
"Even if she's attacked?!" Yuka said, incredulous.
Tomoko replied only with a smirk.
"Cute." Sayuri replied, narrowing her eyes. "Shoulda expected this from Himura."
Akane covered Ranma's hand on her shoulder with her own. "It's okay, Ranma. It's nothing I haven't dealt with before. I'll clear them out so none of them get the bright idea of taking a shot at you while you can't fight back."
Ranma ground her teeth, but nodded and reluctantly removed her hand.
Nabiki stepped forward. "So… this 'No fighting' rule? It applies to the whole Volleyball team, right? Sayuri, Yuka, anyone? Even if they don't start the fight?"
Tomoko nodded. "They don't even have to fight back."
Nabiki nodded. Then she threw a punch.
By Ranma or Akane's standards, the punch was painfully amateurish. But Nabiki had grown up in a dojo, and Soun had been sure each of his daughters at least knew the basics, including how to throw an effective punch. A benefit Tomoko didn't have.
The girl yelped as the hit snapped her head back. She stumbled into the wall, striking her head against the cold concrete. She slid to the ground with a whimper, holding the back of her head. Her lip was split, and blood dripped onto her blouse.
Nabiki stood over her a moment, expression cold. "Congratulations, you're off the team." Without another word she turned and led the group to the gates.
000
Akane walked forward into the courtyard. Alone.
Behind her the rest of the group was waiting at the gate, including Ranma, who was practically trembling with frustration at being unable to fight.
It's okay, Ranma. Akane thought, her eyes forward on the barely restrained throng of students gathered at the other end of the courtyard. I've fought this fight alone many times before.
Despite her previous successes, and the additional training, and managing to give even Ranma a good fight, she felt a kind of gnawing dread in her stomach. It was an uncomfortably familiar feeling now, having made itself well known to her over the last month or so. Ever since she had told Ranma goodbye.
She didn't look directly at any of the gathered horde. None of them deserved that much courtesy in her opinion. She clenched her fists, taking a breath, and summoning forth the rage that had always carried her through these trials.
"Bring it," She said simply.
She raised her eyes slightly as the horde cried out and charged towards her, almost as one. But her thoughts were elsewhere, on the source of the terrible feeling churning her gut. That feeling that she hadn't realized existed until she got used to it being gone.
The sensation of being utterly alone.
000
Start of school two years ago.
"... And I say now to you, good students of Furinkan High, as we embark on this new school year…"
"Geez… Kuno Senpai sure likes to talk…" Akane said in aside to her sister.
"Well, it is the school speech competition." Nabiki replied. "It's like giving a brick of heroin to an addict."
"Nabiki! That's not very nice!" Akane admonished her. It was her first year of high school, and she wanted it to start on the right foot. That meant positivity.
"You don't know Kuno baby like I do." Nabiki muttered.
"... And none shall date the fair Akane Tendo without first honoring her warrior's spirit by defeating her in combat, lest they face the wrath of Tatewaki Kuno, the Rising Phoenix of Furinkan High!"
Akane blinked, suddenly jerked back to what Kuno was saying. She looked up at the stage, eyes wide.
He was looking right at her, beaming. "Rejoice, fair Tigress! For I have seen your warrior's spirit, and it is not meant for the likes of lesser men! Now come! At dawn tomorrow I challenge thee!" He threw his arms wide. "Let all you fools who believe yourselves worthy of this fairest of the fair prove thy worth tomorrow, in front of the school! Let this battleground be a battleground of love, and let the victor be he whose heart is pure!"
Akane gaped as the entire school turned to stare at her. "W-wha…?"
000
True to his word, Kuno challenged herthe next day, before a rather large crowd. Despite fighting bare-handed, Akane was able to beat him, though to her annoyance she suspected he was holding back, as he went down pathetically easily. Afterwards, he announced that she had won the right to date him. She tried to argue that he wasn't making any sense by his own rules, but he refused to see the contradiction.
After that it got steadily worse. The first day, it was just the kendo club. The day after that, the other martial arts clubs joined in. Then the sports teams. She went from barely noticed to the most desirable girl in school simply because she was unattainable.
And then the whispering started. The jealous stares. The little mean-spirited pranks. Nobody would sit with her at lunch. Conversations would end as soon as she came in the room.
"She's not even that pretty!"
"I hear she uses steroids, and that she pads her bra to look 'normal'."
"She scares me. What if she snaps one day and really hurts someone?"
"It's her fault we can't even get the boys to LOOK at us!"
"She likes the attention. Look at her! She's BASKING in it!"
"I wish she'd just transfer schools already so things could go back to normal around here."
She overheard some of it. They were too cowardly to say anything to her face, with how she beat down the ever-increasing horde day by day, but it filled the halls by the end of the second week. Even her usual friends found it hard to deal with the ostracization that came from knowing Akane Tendo. Despite their protests, she found herself avoiding them, just to spare them the smear on their own reputations.
And so she was alone. And every day the horde got bigger - more frantic - more desperate. She could see the looks in their eyes, the hunger - spurred on each morning by a fresh speech from Kunou. It was now a matter of standing to best her - a matter of male pride and status.
Then they got creative. They drugged her one day. She remembered her limbs feeling like lead; her vision blurring as she fought through the haze of the drug, and nearly being overwhelmed multiple times. She felt their hands grasping, groping, clawing…
Kuno put a stop to that. Nabiki had tipped him off and, for once, his sense of honor and justice had overridden his hormones. He'd waded into the horde, swinging his bokken and sending them flying while Nabiki had pulled her out and led her away - to safety, and to Doctor Tofu, who had been a blessed comfort and reassurance. But the very next day, she was alone once more.
Until he came.
He was infuriating - arrogant and insulting - and safe… reassuring and strong. He was so skilled as to make her look like an amateur, leaving her in despair of ever catching up to him… but she never felt powerless with him. She never felt like an object with him. And as much as she projected onto him all of her anger at the other males; those who imposed and demanded; those who grabbed and leered; whenever she had slipped and fallen he always caught her before she had fallen far.
She denied her dependence on him even as she grew more dependent on him.
It should have been settled at Jusendo. He had confessed his love… he had screamed it to the heavens, and she had heard. That should have been the start of their Happily Ever After. She still hadn't told him her Secret, but… it didn't matter anymore. She loved all of him. He was enough.
But it wasn't enough for their parents. They had to keep pushing; to have the wedding now, before the bruises had even faded. They would ransom his manhood to force it to happen, to force him to betray all the others who loved him.
No wonder it had all fallen apart after that.
How could you wake up and greet someone that you'd almost married like nothing had ever happened? How could you pretend nothing had changed? And if you couldn't, how could you move forward when it had taken all of your nerve to take the step the first time?
It made sense at the time. If he really loved her… if he really wanted her, he'd say something, do something, right?
Like killing a God for her sake somehow didn't count.
"I love you, but I don't like myself when I'm with you."
As soon as she'd said it, she'd known that she had made a mistake. That old loneliness had settled across her shoulders like a damp, cold blanket - smothering, heavy and stifling.
Instead of admitting it; instead of talking to him, she had turned to her one true master; the one she turned to when everyone else turned away from her - her pride. She'd fled, taking refuge with a comforting mother figure some she'd thought would understand. Her pride demanded that she get back at him; to prove that she was better. So while Ranma had sunk into a fugue of her making, she proudly demanded that Genma Saotome train her. When he had balked, she had gone to his wife and then probably looked insufferably smug when Nodoka had scolded him into acceding to those demands.
And just what had she demanded? 'Train me exactly as you would train Ranma.'
She'd paid for that. Ranma had been working for literally his entire life to handle Genma's training routines. And, true to his word, Genma had given her no further consideration. Up at the crack of dawn to spar - getting knocked down over and over again without even seeing what he was using to hit her - being beaten relentlessly with fists or whatever implements Genma had chosen for that session. And he mocked her brutally for her efforts - teased her - taunted her - humiliated her.
She'd known he was trying to force her to quit by adhering to the letter of their agreement - to prove her to be a 'weak girl' who couldn't handle his techniques. At first she'd thought just proving her determination would be enough to earn his respect, but that had been naive. After all, he didn't respect Ranma and Ranma could beat him.
It was give up or get better. And so she'd ignored the aching muscles, the bruises and the welts. She'd grit her teeth and she'd let herself hate the old Panda - and used that hate and anger to fuel her - to push her to keep going and deny him any satisfaction.
All the while a small part of her mind recoiled in horror.
When her father had taught her, he was gentle - stern, but even handed. He praised success and pointed out how to correct mistakes. He'd monitored to see when she'd had enough, even when she herself had wanted to continue. he'd smiled, and laughed and made it fun.
Genma had done none of those things.
He'd punished mistakes without saying what had been done wrong, leaving his student to figure that out through trial and error. He'd ruthlessly exploited weakness, giving no allowance for injury or inability. He'd pushed her until she'd collapsed, then doused her with cold water and demanded that she continue or that she give up.
This has been Ranma's whole life, that small part of her mind said.
Slowly, through a mixture of rage, determination and raw talent, she'd started to push him back. She'd started to spot his weaknesses and she was just as ruthless in punishing them. He'd got her back in kind of course, but it was so satisfying to see those moments of pain and surprise in his eyes.
He'd stepped up the training. He'd thrown hornets' nests at her - 'speed training' he'd called it. He'd set up some home brewed facsimile of the Bakusai Tenketsu, tying her up and swinging rocks at her. That he had called 'toughness training' - though she'd certainly never learned to find the breaking point of anything. There was the pit of mud where she'd had all but one arm bound and had been expected to escape - and the cave full of razor wire that she'd had to navigate blindfolded.
With each challenge, Genma would proudly announce at what age Ranma had overcome it. Nine years old for this. Eleven for that. Seven for this.
It had become about avenging that poor young boy on his tormentor; the adult who was too big and too strong for a child to overpower, no matter how much he trained.
But not too strong for Akane.
She remembered the first day he had called a stop before she was spent. She was in rough shape - she'd gone down more than a dozen times, but she could still go on. When he told her 'You've had enough!', she knew the truth; he was afraid of looking tired - of letting her see that she was pushing him.
That just made her push harder - hit harder. Soon he wasn't able to knock her down as much. She still had strength to spare when he called a rest. She could see him starting to move stiffly, as the bruises from her blows started to catch up to him.
Slowly, she was beating him.
In those increasingly long periods where they recuperated, little was said. If she did speak, Genma would often expound for some time on why she was wrong, or how foolish she was about whatever topic she had picked, but otherwise they were quiet. When Genma would give an off hand command she found herself questioning it just to provoke conversation. She learned more by forcing him to justify his orders than he otherwise would have offered up - often vital information. Ranma's rough and often disrespectful manner began to make more sense as she found herself adopting something similar in order to manipulate information out of the old man.
And even then she knew she wasn't getting the full treatment. The burden of expectation she could hear in Nodoka's voice and the trembling in Genma's hands whenever he talked about Ranma spoke to the desperation they had for him to fulfill some nameless need they both had.
For the first time, she understood.
And when it came time to return home and to see Ranma again, she was elated. She could fix it all now. She could do better. She knew where her mistakes were and how to guide Ranma past his. She could be what he needed.
"I love you, but I don't like myself when I'm with you."
She hadn't truly understood how cruel her own words were until they were thrown back in her face.
Don't do this! She wanted to scream - to reach out to him and pull him close and tell him in perfect words that she didn't have that she understood. But all she had were the imperfect, flawed words she had always had and she saw him close himself off from her - behind the pain in his eyes that she had put there. And in his shadow, she saw someone else - someone who had seen and understood before she had - the same person she had used as a convenient scapegoat to evade her own responsibilities.
She lashed out of course. It was a reflex like gagging. But even as she stormed off she knew she had failed. She had once had so much time and she had squandered it all.
The nightmares were terrible that night - of being forced to travel with Genma - forced to join the schools by learning the Saotome side of the Art - of walking away even as the bells rang out for Ranma and Nabiki's wedding. But no matter how much she'd wanted to twist that image - of Ranma getting married to Nabiki - into some nightmarish fate from which Ranma needed to be saved… she couldn't do it
Sparring with Genma that morning had been the perfect vent. Even if things were too messed up with Ranma for him to really understand her intent, she thoroughly enjoyed pushing the fat panda harder than she ever had before and she enjoyed the schadenfreude.
She was a little curt with Nabiki after that. How could she not be? She had come home after having the epiphany that she could finally fix her relationship with Ranma, only to find her sister had stepped in and beaten her to the punch.
She'd been shocked by what she'd seen in Nabiki's eyes.
Nabiki had long stopped trying to swindle her sisters directly. They had learned to read her poker face and navigate her schemes as a defense growing up, and even if Akane found herself ensnared, Kasumi could be counted on to unravel it. So Akane had been shocked to find the familiar mask missing - her sister's eyes unguarded and clear, full of emotions that she had never associated with Nabiki before.
Her old skepticism and pride had reared their tattered heads - old, comfortable but hollow responses. They lasted only until Nodoka's unreasonable demands on Ranma had come to light.
That was something she already knew about. The entire time with the Saotomes she had spent hours at a time talking with Nodoka about Ranma - or more precisely, listening as Nodoka told her about Ranma - the boy Akane had spent more time with in the past six months than Nodoka had in his entire life.
Nodoka's 'Ranma' wasn't a person, it was a standard that the real Ranma was expected to live up to.
That had been almost as appalling as Genma and his misogyny - the very concept that you could decide what your son was going to be as a man, down to his favorite foods, his future career and the type of girl he would fall in love with - all while he was still an infant.
Part of it was loneliness, she knew. In the more than a decade and a half without her son, not knowing what kind of man he might become, she had constructed a fantasy - a 'perfect son' that would be delivered to her and justify her having given him up all those years ago. And now she expected Ranma to fulfill that fantasy for her.
Looking at Nabiki she could see it clearly then. The old spark that she was sure had been (and probably still was) in her own eyes. Ranma Saotome had claimed another victim - one who knew better - who had every reason to resist - and who had fallen anyway.
And from the way she talked, Ranma was flourishing with her - even though they were having rough patches and challenges, and though Nabiki was resisting the truth with all her might. Nabiki had even offered to pass Ranma back to her, despite everything - not because she didn't want him, but because she honestly believed it would be better for him.
So she had gotten brave - for her, at least. A peck on the cheek; a little public display of affection. And then she had gotten profoundly upstaged. She came to the decision that half measures simply weren't going to cut it, and that she would have to choose between her pride and Ranma.
It ended up being a surprisingly easy choice, once she made it.
000
Himura watched as Akane dispatched the throng of attackers with something less than conscious effort. She could see the girl was distracted. Nevertheless, the boys mobbing her fell like dominoes, barely standing a chance.
"Hmm… disappointing." Himura sighed, leaning on the windowsill. "I was hoping for more of a show."
"No one at Furinkan can even come close to her, aside from Kunou-sempai, Kuonji or Saotome," Umeko said, traces of an Osaka accent giving her words a distinctive lilt. "The only time they ever got close was when they drugged her her beforehand, and after the drubbing Kunou gave 'em I doubt they'd try it again - even with him still being in traction."
"That'd hardly be any fun either. If I was of a mind to introduce pharmaceuticals to this little conflict, I could do much better than some amateurish tranquilizer." Himura snorted. "And such things are best reserved for the appropriate time. Still…" She tapped her chin. "We will need to spice this up for Monday."
"I do hope you don't expect that of us, darling." Sanae said, nonchalantly buffing her nails with an emery board. "You know I abhor violence."
"I wouldn't dream of it, my dear Sanae." Himura smirked. "But I do think Hana's little black book might have some interesting notes."
"Oooh, are we going to have a party?" Omi perked up, giggling.
"Of a sort, my dear Omi." Himura smiled. "But… perhaps it's a bit too soon to give our dear Hana such an easy way to redeem herself. We'll leave it for the end of the day." She straightened and brushed the dust off her sleeves. "Come, we mustn't be late for first period."
000
The morning classes went almost painfully slowly. Ranma had the uncomfortable sense of having a sword hanging just over her neck.
There hadn't been a peep out of Himura since they'd humiliated her the day before and the Principal was nowhere to be seen, Work crews were still finishing with the cleanup and the bottom three feet of drywall had been removed from the walls. There were still large, industrial heaters scattered about the halls. Several classrooms were still closed for cleaning and the pipes for the sprinkler systems showed shiny new copper in places.
"I almost kinda wish something would happen…" Akane said in aside during a quiet moment.
"Yeah…" Ranma replied. "It'd at least break the tension a bit." She glanced at the empty desk nearby. "I wish Ucchan were here. Another pair of eyes to watch out for stuff would be nice."
"It's better she stay out of this until she's 100%." Akane replied. "Concussion can be serious if you aggravate them."
"I know." Ranma sighed.
The bell rang to end the class and signal the start of lunch. They gathered their things to head out to the tree that was their designated lunchtime meeting place. They barely made it into the hallway before running into a teacher - the balding, bespectacled teacher of third year history. He was carrying a a mug of what looked like coffee and standing nervously just outside the door of the classroom.
"Oh hello, Mr. Nishimura." Akane said.
"Hello, Akan…" he started to say, seeming a bit relieved. But on seeing Ranma step out from behind her, he cried "Whoops!" and fumbled his mug of coffee, practically throwing it at the redhead and dousing her with the dark liquid before Ranma could even react.
Still female, Ranma blinked as cold coffee dripped from her bangs.
"Oh… eheh, guess it went cold while I was waiting here." Mr. Nishimura said, then immediately attempted to correct himself, stammering. "W-what I mean is… is I'm terribly sorry! Here, let me get you…"
A middle aged woman, the first year Economics teacher Mrs. Miyazaki, came running around the corner carrying an earthenware pot and shouting, "You know what gets out coffee stains!? HOT TEA!" She flung the teapot at Ranma, the lid popping off and the hot liquid spilling.
Ranma, of course, wasn't sticking around to verify the claim. She dodged the splash with the skill of long experience, grabbed Akane's wrist and started sprinting down the hallway towards the door. As she did, the loudspeakers crackled to life.
"Greetings students! This be yer Headmaster, ye! I be havin' the big fun announcement for you all! For today only, the faculty will be coming around to alla yer classrooms with de hot cocoa for all the good little keki and wahine!"
On cue, nearly every classroom door slid open and carts carrying dozens of styrofoam cups brimming with hot cocoa were pushed into the halls by the various teachers.
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Ranma quickly clasped both of Akane's hands, a quick glance communicating intent as they leaped over the first barrage of thrown cups of hot, brown liquid. Bracing against each other they began to run along the walls on either side of the hallway, moving up towards the ceiling as they charged for the exit.
The teachers tracked their movements, continually hurling cups of cocoa at them.
"It's nothing personal!"
"My job is on the line for this!"
"Blame the Principal, not us!"
"Yes! Taste chocolatey death!"
"Don't listen to her! She's new!"
They managed to evade, sucking and weaving, and landed just before the main doors. They stopped, pushed the doors open and turned back…
To see the Principal himself behind them at the end of the now cocoa-soaked hallway, a massive grin on his face. "Where ye goin' wahine? You be missin' de big fun! Here, I deliver to ye Hawaiian style! Aloha!" He hefted two huge coconut-themed water balloons, undoubtably filled with more hot cocoa, and flung them with unerring accuracy.
Ranma instinctively stepped in front of Akane to shield her, wincing and closing her eyes as she braced herself for the splash of hot liquid.
There was certainly a loud double splash as both balloons impacted, but she didn't feel wet. She opened her eyes, blinking and checking herself. Dry. Then the realized her vision was full or red. Or more accurately, blocked by red. A certain very familiar red umbrella.
"Ryouga…?" Akane said next to her in surprise.
Ranma turned to see the Lost Boy had thrust his upper body and left arm through the doorway, holding out his umbrella. He must have jabbed it through and opened it at the last second, blocking the splash from the balloons.
"C'mon, quickly!" he shouted, pushing the door open further to let Akane past. He then grabbed Ranma's shoulder and bodily hauled her through, snapping his umbrella shut. He slammed the doors closed behind them as more cups spattered against it. He pulled out a loop of trapper's wire, flicking it with a deft motion of his wrist, causing it to wrap and tangle around the door handles.
"That'll hold 'em for a bit," he nodded in satisfaction and turned and started running.
"This way, Ryouga! My sister and the others are waiting for us." Akane motioned for him to follow. He nodded and sprinted after her as the door rattled behind them.
Nabiki was sitting at her usual spot under the tree. Rin and Riko were with her, chatting amicably about something. They all looked up as Akane approached.
"Well, the Principal is up to his old tricks," Akane said, huffing a little. "If it wasn't for Ryouga here saving us, he would have doused us for sure!"
Nabiki regarded her a moment, then glanced over at Ryouga and raised an eyebrow. "A part of me wonders if Ryouga's priority was you this time, sis," she said, a smirk.
"What are you talking about, Nabiki? Akane is always my priority!" Ryouga insisted defensively.
Nabiki cleared her throat. "Really, Ryouga-kun? Maybe you should recheck who you're carrying in your arms then."
Ryouga blinked and looked down.
Ranma glared up at him balefully, arms crossed. He had unconsciously shifted her into a bridal carry after yanking her through the door and run the whole way here carrying her.
He yelped as if burned and hastily dropped the redhead.
By this time, Ranma was prepared for this, and landed gracefully on her feet, robbing him of the satisfaction of dumping her unceremoniously on her butt. "Oh, thank you, Ryouga!" she said in her most sing-song, saccharine voice, sidling up to him and batting her eyelashes.
He recoiled. "Augh! Get away from me, you freak!"
Ranma would have said more, but she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Rin was watching, rapt. Her fists were clenched, and she was trembling slightly. One could almost see the stars in her eyes. Nabiki and Riko were subtly edging away from the impending Rin-splosion.
"SENPAI'S BOYFRIEND IS SO COOL!"
There was a terrible, ghastly silence after that outburst. Not just in their little group, but conversations all around had ground to a halt. Other students having their lunches were staring at them.
"I am NOT her boyfriend!" Ryouga waved his hands in frantic denial, eyes wide with terror. He looked around nervously, seeing just how many were now watching the spectacle.
"That's right, Rin… he's not," Ranma sighed then followed up with a sly smirk. "He's my fiancé."
"Yeah! That's … wait, WHAT!?" Ryouga yelped and stared at the the redhead as if she had just sprouted wings, horns and a tail.
Ranma clasped her hands, giving him her best kawaii-eyed routine. "Don't you remember, sweetheart? The doctor at the hospital thought we were such a lovely couple! And then you took me to meet your mother! She was so happy to meet me! Especially since you have so many girls on the go. Isn't that right?"
Ryouga gave Akane a panicked glance then glared at Ranma. "That's not…! I don't…! RANMA!"
Ranma giggled girlishly. "She warned me about you - said that you were a bit of a Casanova - but then you come and sweep me off my feet at school and show me that I'm the only one! I'm so happy! I-DORF~!" Ranma's routine was cut short as Akane smacked her across the back of the head with her bookbag.
"Stop tormenting poor Ryouga like that, Ranma!" Akane growled.
"Aww c'mon Akane…" Ranma rubbed the back of her head. "Pork-butt knows I don't mean anything by…" She was cut off as her hands were suddenly and enthusiastically clasped.
Rin was staring up at her with wide, almost worshipful eyes. "Senpai, I'm so happy for you!" she gushed, her eyes shining as if she could weep with joy at any moment. "That was so romantic seeing your fiancé carry you here! He came to your rescue, didn't he!? That's so awesome! It's like one of my romance manga! And he's so handsome, too! Where did you meet? How did he propose? Do you have a ring? Can I see it? When are you having the ceremony?!"
"Ryouga, help…" Ranma whimpered softly, giving the Lost Boy an imploring look.
"Sorry, you're on your own, dear." Ryouga snickered, enjoying being on the other end of the situation for once.
However, it was enough to redirect Rin's attention and he felt a cold chill as those shining eyes latched onto him with and almost audible lock-tone. "Mr. Fiance-san… why does Ranma call you 'Pork-butt'?"
Having originally decided to stay out of the whole stupid exchange, Akane's own curiosity prodded her to jump in. "Actually… I've always wondered that myself, Ranma. You have a lot of pig-themed pet names for Ryouga, I've noticed."
Ryouga opened his mouth, then closed it again when all that came out was a strangled whimper. He shot Ranma a panicked look as both girls' gazes bored into him.
Ranma saw his silent plea and rolled her eyes. I really outta let you just squirm piggy… but damn if I don't actually owe you one today… Arrgh, FINE!
"It's because Ryouga doesn't like pigs." Ranma said, mindful of the first rule of good lying; base it in truth. "Or, he doesn't mind 'em, but he hates bein' compared to 'em. Dunno why. Remember how much he used to twitch when Akari did that, Akane? Anyway, I just like yankin' his chain. When he gets all flustered he's…"
"... Cute?" Nabiki supplied helpfully, giving Ranma a playful smirk.
"... Gak…" Ranma shuddered to a stop as Rin's eyes went into full night sky sparkle while Akane gave her a look that seemed almost concerned. I was gonna say 'easier to beat when sparring'! Thank you LOADS Nabiki!
Before the awkwardness became thick enough to be suitable for use as tank armor, a familiar cry cut through the air.
"THAT BITCH SCREWED US OVER!"
"Oh thank god…" Ranma deflated, feeling the unbearable weight of everyone's attention fall away.
Sayuri strode up to the group, Yuka beside her. Her eyes were flashing, and she was waving a crumpled piece of paper in her fist.
"Sayuri, language…" Rin said, blushing a bit and looking around furtively.
"She's talking about Himura." Yuka said dryly.
Rin blinked. "Oh… uh… that's okay then… I guess?" She looked around, then crossed her arms and huffed at the surprised looks she was getting. "Hey, I-I can hold a grudge too! Himura is a b...b… bad person!" She finally spat out.
"Don't hurt yourself, pumpkin." Nabiki patted her shoulder then turned to Sayuri. "So, what did she do this time?"
"Look at this schedule!" Sayuri thrust the crumpled paper in Nabiki's face. It appeared to be a list of game dates and times.
Nabiki took the sheet from her grasp. She frowned a bit. Sports odds had usually been Hana's department, but she had kept up on them enough to recognize the names. "Fuji Senior… Kiyose Higashi… Ogawa Senior… These are all…"
"They're all schools that made it into the Quarterfinals last year!" Sayuri said. "These are all championship teams!"
Nabiki sighed. "That's not entirely unexpected."
"What's more, they're all home games." Yuka said. "Himura's team took all of the out of town games."
"Isn't that good?" Rin asked. "Home field advantage and all that?"
"No it's not." Sayuri looked at Rin. "'Our 'Home Field' is hostile. Having all our games at home means Himura can see all of our tricks and strategies in action at her leisure, while all of hers are out of town, making it tough for us to see what tricks she's developed."
"Also means the Principal is free to screw with us." Ranma muttered. "Wanna bet the first ball we get thrown in a match is a water balloon fulla hot water?"
"If he still trying that?" Yuka asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Honestly, how did someone as irresponsible as him end up as an educator? You'd think the scolding he got from the fire department last time would be enough!"
"Oh, but this time he's only thinking of the students." Akane said sarcastically. "Hot Cocoa for all! Whether they want it or not, apparently." She tweaked a coffee stain on Ranma's blouse.
Riko guiltily tried to hide a styrofoam cup behind her.
"You know, I do still have that waterproof soap, Ranma." Nabiki said. "If you used that, it'd keep the Principal from being able to mess with you like that."
Ranma shook her head. "I could, but that stuff takes like three days to wear off. I'd be stuck a girl the whole time. I'm already spending way more time as a girl than I'm comfortable with, and if Mom decided she wanted to see her 'manly son', well… that's an awkward conversation I don't wanna have."
"Good point," Nabiki sighed.
"So when's our first game?" Riko asked.
"Wednesday," Sayuri replied, making a disgusted face.
"Ugh, mid-week games," Rin said. "Those used to suck when I was in middle school."
"They're all on Wednesdays," Yuka added. "Fridays are the days for away games and Himura's got those slots locked up."
"That's not a lot of time... " Riko said nervously.
"We'll just have to start training as soon as possible and hope it's enough." Sayuri sighed. "Do you mind, Akane? I know we're gonna be intruding on your home life a lot with this."
"No, not at all!" Akane beamed. "It'll be kinda nice to have girls my own age over... Who aren't trying to kidnap me, kill me, or are otherwise crazy, I mean." She added sheepishly.
"What kind of training are you doing?" Ryouga asked, piping back into the conversation.
"Volleyball. More importantly, trying to figure out some 'Anything Goes' style techniques we can use to give us an advantage while still staying in the rules," Ranma replied. She looked at him and considered. "Hey… Ryouga? You know a bunch of different styles, right? Stuff like rhythmic gymnastics that you blended together to make your own techniques? Know any good tricks that would work in Volleyball?"
Ryouga rubbed his chin, considering. "What, like Martial Arts Volleyball?"
"No, better!" Ranma grinned as they shifted more into her favored topics. "Volleyball as a Martial Art! No special rules or nothin'... but seein' the game as it is as a martial art, an' applyin' the Anything Goes precepts to it!"
Ryouga quirked an eyebrow, pondering the concept. "That's… actually an interesting idea. So, like, taking what we know about how to throw a proper punch and applying the same kind of thought process to a volleyball serve?" His mentally ran through several ideas that immediately presented themselves. "That's actually more like Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics than you'd think."
"You sure? I mean, regular Rhythmic Gymnastics does have attacking and stuff."
"Yeah, that's the point though. Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics isn't seeing Rhythmic Gymnastics as a martial art, it's seeing Martial Arts as Rhythmic Gymnastics. So you follow the rules of a martial arts match, but you use the tools and techniques of Rhythmic Gymnastics to accomplish it."
"I… never thought of it that way…" Ranma's eyes were wide with comprehension. She beamed up at him. "Ryouga, do you have any idea how many ways this sort of thing could be used?!"
"What, treating sports like a martial art?"
"No, treating anything like a martial art!"
He folded his arms and scoffed, but from the twinkle in his eyes anyone could tell he was enjoying the conversation. "I dunno… not sure I could see someone doing accounting that way."
"No! It works! I've seen it!" Ranma gushed. "It's how Nabiki does it, even though she doesn't realize it. She grew up immersed in the principles of Anything Goes, and so she uses 'em, but for… well, Nabiki stuff! And it works really damn well!"
"Is that why you've been so much less obnoxious lately, Saotome?" Ryouga smirked. "You've been emulating Nabiki?"
Ranma raised her eyebrow, giving him her most Nabiki-esque expression. "Careful, sweet talker, she's right here listening."
"Holy crap you are…"
Nabiki wanted to interject, but she felt the need to keep a restraining hand on Rin's shoulder as the girl's gaze kept darting back and forth between them.
To her credit, the girl was holding it in admirably, but she was vibrating like a small dog waiting patiently for the door to open so they could run outside.
"Eeeeeeeeeee martial arts instruction couple!" She squee'd under her breath in a tone that was only just slightly lower than dog-whistle pitch.
Two martial arts prodigies in the same place. Genius at their art on their own, but if you can get them to stop fighting and focus on a common problem around the art, they start playing off each other. Nabiki noted. Inspiring each other as they latch onto the other's ideas and build upon them, accelerating the process. What would happen if you could get others into this discussion? She watched them a moment, then smiled, seeing how, as Ranma and Ryouga's guards dropped, they settled into an easy banter, the language of martial arts and the enthusiasm they both had for it bridging the old animosities, if just for a time. Akane is right. There IS a chemistry there, isn't there? Even if it's not the one she fears, or the one Rin is hoping for. They must have been interesting in Middle School together. I kinda wish I had gotten a chance to see that.
"NI HAO!"
Ranma stopped mid-sentence, her eyes going wide as she whirled, looking out for a bicycle-borne Amazon and bracing herself for impact.
Instead, a metal delivery container dropped neatly into her hands.
She blinked and nearly dropped it.
Akane was just as surprised and therefore was completely unprepared for the full force of the body impacting her, which took her to the ground with enough force to knock the wind out of her lungs and cause her to skid on her back a few feet.
"Unnngh… wha…?" Akane looked down to see a mass of soft purple hair, and a pair of mischievous red eyes looking into her own.
"Nǐ zěnmeyàng, xiǎo mèimei?" Shampoo asked, beaming.
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Well… Now I really regret having missed the last Fiancee's Tea. So, she's your 'little sister' now, Shampoo?"
"You speak Mandarin, Nabiki Tendo?" Shampoo asked over her shoulder, not slackening her grip.
"A little. I figured it would be a useful skill when your family came to town to stay." Nabiki smirked.
"Shampoo, I am not your… Nnngh, if you would just…" Akane squirmed, trying to push the other girl off her, but finding she was somehow only getting more and more tangled, their position getting more and more compromising and embarrassing as people watched. "Ranma, how do you get out of this?!"
"Blunt force trauma to the back of the victim's skull, delivered by an uncute tomboy." Ranma deadpanned.
"I'm serious! I can't…" She squirmed, finding Shampoo had somehow managed to pin her arms. "... People are watching!"
Nabiki sighed. "Hug her back, Akane."
Akane gave Nabiki a skeptical look, but managed to get one arm free enough to tentatively hug the Amazon back. Shampoo sighed and relaxed, settling into a soft purr and snuggling even closer.
Akane blushed bright red, but before she could angrily point out to Nabiki that she had just made it worse, Shampoo released Akane and sat back on her haunches to offer Akane a hand and help her up.
"Akane should listen to Mercenary sister. Is first person to understand proper response to greeting." Shampoo cocked her head, a friendly smile on her face.
"Why are you glomping me, though?" Akane grumbled as she accepted the offered hand.
After pulling her to her feet, and uncomfortably close, Shampoo leaned in so her nose was almost touching Akane's. "Saw Akane was annoyed when Shampoo gave all attention to Ukyou before; thought maybe was jealous?"
Akane blushed, eyes widening as she nearly threw herself back. "No! Why would I ever…!"
Shampoo smirked and somehow managed to keep Akane from gaining any distance between them until she had her backed up against the tree. "Akane should be more honest. Making same face as when loudly saying she no love Airen. Shampoo know that not true. Does that mean Akane love Shampoo too?" She batted her eyelashes.
"What!? No! I am not going to stand here and let some pervert Amazon…"
"But Akane now Amazon. Does that make Akane pervert too?"
"I… that's different!"
"Oohhhhhh… Shampoo think she see blush. Did Pervert Sister Akane do something with Airen last night?"
"I AM NOT YOUR SISTER!"
"I can't help but feel this is your fault somehow, Ranma," Ryouga said, crossing his arms as he watched. He cocked his head as Shampoo continued to tease, dodging a few swipes of Akane's mallet. "I just… haven't figured out how yet."
"Could you let me know when you figure it out? 'Cuz it'd be a lot more reassuring to know I actually have some control over any of this and that things aren't just naturally this random and chaotic."
"I'll be sure to engrave the answer on your face with my fist… You know… once I make sense of it…" Ryouga replied, still trying to parse some of the non-sequiturs the girls were tossing out. "... Wait, what's tea got to do with this? They keep mentioning tea and Ukyou."
"I dunno," Ranma muttered as she rummaged through the delivery case. "Oh, hey, Shampoo brought fried wontons too. Want some?"
Ryouga shrugged. He could figure out why Ranma needed to die after lunch. "Sure."
000
The promise of food managed to cause everything to settle into a relatively amicable truce. Combining the Ramen delivery from Shampoo with everyone's lunches, they were able to generate quite a varied feast, with Kasumi's bento box items earning high praise.
Shampoo sat on Ranma's left, content to feed her Airen various items from the potluck. Ryouga sat on Ranma's right, for once a relative peace between them. Nabiki noticed Ranma was suggesting various things for him to try as a way of defusing any tension, though from the perspective of an outsider it could look less like peace offerings and more like…
… Rin shipping fuel. Nabiki thought wryly, noticing how the diminutive girl was beaming and watching them with glittering eyes; as though she was watching a romantic scene from her favorite anime.
Akane was actually huddled on Ryouga's right, and Ryouga was clumsily trying to offer her morsels to eat as well, laughing like an idiot. But Akane was more concerned with watching Shampoo. Normally she would be fuming, but any time she stuck her head out enough to really get a good look at Shampoo doting on Ranma, the Amazon would somehow close the space between them and pop a morsel in her mouth, to send her retreating back behind Ryouga's bulk in embarrassment.
Shampoo has learned how to manage my baby sister, and it's by FLIRTING with her. Nabiki noted with a shake of her head. When Ranma and Ryouga stop competing and relax around each other, how comfortable they are around each other can make them look like a couple to outside observers. And when you put all four of them together with food, they stabilize.
Nabiki was bemused to find that she was making behavioral observations about how best to manage the volatile group... Exactly like Akane knew I would.
She was interrupted as someone popped something into her mouth.
"Mercenary Girl thinking too hard," Shampoo said, grinning at her. "Should eat soon before food all gone!"
Nabiki quirked an eyebrow and chewed the mouthful; apparently one of those sausages cut to resemble an octopus. Experimentally she snagged a skewer of dango from one of the other lunches and offered it to the Amazon.
Shampoo beamed and leaned in, plucking the first round dumpling off the skewer with her mouth. The brightness of her smile as she chewed rivalled Akane's 100 Megawatt.
Shampoo wants to be included. Nabiki noted, smiling again at the Amazon as she bit off the second dumpling herself. The cultural significance is just seasoning to her. She's after participation and attention.
Nabiki found she couldn't keep herself from turning the situation over in her mind, as though it was a puzzle. The essence of business was identifying a need and fulfilling it, and the first hurdle was the conflict of needs which obstructed that. Person A needed Item B, but it was never as simple as just getting Item B to Person A. Person C possessed Item B, and needed Service D to be convinced to part with it, which could only be performed by Person E, and so on. It was complicated, and there were always conflicts that were irreconcilable, which lead to strife, legal action, wars, and such. Or sometimes someone would simply decide that force was an easier way to get what they wanted without having to follow the entire chain.
Nabiki had always considered that Ranma's situation was a bunch of irreconcilable needs which were growing more acute until they'd inevitably break out into war. But now, getting into the heads of those involved, she was starting to see that while those needs were very acute they weren't mutually exclusive. In fact, in a number of cases, they were complimentary.
Deal with the pride and the arrogance, start fostering empathy and understanding, encourage compromise, and things start falling into place. Interlocking, even. She chewed thoughtfully as she pondered. A bunch of people who are all missing something and seeking it in someone else, but up until recently that person was blind to it. Now that he's aware and reacting and even RECIPROCATING, their need isn't so acute, their defenses are coming down around each other and… and what? A bunch of obsessed martial artists with common interests, and problems that only the others can really understand, in a world that has no idea what to do with them when it isn't trying to take something from them? She glanced at the remaining dango. All you need to do it keep the conflicts between them managed and defused, and the general crappiness of the rest of the world pretty much pushes them together. So… is that my job in all of this? Manager for Ranma's Harem?
"You going to eat last dango?" Shampoo's face popped into her vision again, the girl close enough to make Nabiki sit back reflexively.
"Huh? Uh… no, you can have it." Nabiki offered the stick to the Amazon.
Shampoo ignored it and scooted closer. "What you thinking that so serious?" She peered at Nabiki, searching her eyes with that intense, reddish brown gaze.
Nabiki felt a little self-conscious under the scrutiny. She knew the Amazon was considerably smarter and more perceptive than most gave her credit for. She had never bought the 'bubbly bimbo' routine; Shampoo had always been far too clever than that. Though admittedly, most of her schemes were fairly straightforward and derivative when you looked at them from the perspective of the kinds of things the Amazons knew and learned. However, as a non-martial artist, Nabiki had always flown under her radar. "Just… considering the pieces of a puzzle."
Shampoo nodded slowly and from the flash of understanding in her eyes Nabiki knew that the Amazon got the metaphor. Shampoo leaned in closer, keeping her voice low. "What Nabiki think? Of puzzle?"
Nabiki smirked in spite of herself. "Do you know why I decided to go into business, Shampoo? Because transactions like this are easy. It's just math then."
"Then what math say?" Shampoo asked. There was an odd intensity in her eyes, almost as if she were looking for something from Nabiki.
Nabiki paused, considering her answer. She pulled her knees up and rested her elbows on them so she could rest her chin on her fists. "Is this were a business? This would be a merger, of sorts. And a four-way simultaneous merger would normally be a logistical nightmare. However, given how many competing interests and how much opposition the four of you face on a regular basis… intense competition, hostile takeover attempts, lawsuits, lobbying for punitive regulations… this not only makes sense, but is really the only winning strategy in the market you're in."
"Then you think is good idea?" Shampoo asked.
Nabiki closed her eyes and held up a hand to forestall any conclusions. "If this were a business. Businesses are amoral. Emotionless. Rational. At least when properly run. Businesses have simple, predictable needs. But you all aren't businesses. You have feelings and complex needs. You're emotional; messy. You get hurt and bear grudges and act irrationally. You have pride and shame, hopes and fears. There is no 'bottom line' with people and certainly not with romance."
"So… you start with business, then add mess, yes?" Shampoo asked. "That what you doing now, yes?"
Nabiki opened one eye, eyebrow arching in surprise. "That's actually pretty astute, Shampoo."
Shampoo smiled, a little color reaching her cheeks. Nabiki realized that the amazon probably wasn't used to being complimented on being smart. She filed that away as something to keep in mind about her.
"So… what think with mess?" Shampoo asked, a little trepidation entering her voice, despite her usual control. Her eyes darted to the right, towards Ranma, and Nabiki could see a flicker of longing.
She wants this to work. Badly. Nabiki filed that away as well. "I'm still working on that. I need to feel out Ukyou on this still. And… honestly? The four of you need to spend more time together just to see if you all can coexist, much less… well, be some kind of family."
Shampoo nodded. Then she cocked her head. "Why you say 'four'?"
Nabiki blinked. "Hmmm?"
Shampoo studied her a moment. "You talk about mess. Talk about our feelings. Try and fit our pieces, see if can make picture. But… you have own mess, own pieces, yes? What think with your mess?"
Nabiki stared silently, both surprised by the insight, and a little dismayed that it needed to be pointed out to her. Her eyes dropped as she hastily did a mental inventory on herself. "I guess… I'm still not entirely sure how I fit in…" She shook her head. "No, that's not true. It's obvious, and Akane even pointed it out to me. I'm not sure how I feel about this or how I fit into it."
"You not used to making sense of own mess." Shampoo replied.
Nabiki looked back up. There wasn't any guile or deception in the Amazon's eyes, which was rare. Seeing the girl with her usual defenses down was revealing a lot of things that looked… unexpectedly familiar. "I'm used to keeping my mess to a minimum."
Shampoo smiled, an expression that brightened her entire face. "Maybe that problem? Spend too much time running self like a business."
Nabiki was silent a moment, pondering that notion. Not long ago she would have laughed it off, or even agreed with a confident 'Good!' But now? If she was honest she could see Shampoo's point. She had kept herself out of her own calculations; held herself aside like an objective observer. But I'm not, am I? Not even close. It's not a four-way merger, it's five... and before I decide whether it makes sense for THEM, I have to decide if it makes sense… No… Scratch that, NONE of this makes SENSE. But… I have to decide if this is what I WANT.
She glanced over Shampoo's shoulder at Ranma, who was animatedly discussing volleyball tactics with Sayuri, Rin, and Ryouga, pantomiming moves while the others nodded, or interjected with questions or ideas. She felt a warmth in her chest as she saw the look of excitement on the redhead's face, like a kid who had just been given a new toy. More than that; Inspiration. Passion. Joy.
It should be like this more. Enough strife. She noticed that Shampoo had turned her head to follow her gaze, a smile on her face which Nabiki suspected was mirrored on her own.
"What are you two talking about?" Akane asked. She had vacated her spot next to Ryouga to make room for actual volleyball team members and walked to Nabiki. She settled on her sister's left side.
"Nothing much," Nabiki replied. Which was true enough, at least in her mind. It was all information Akane knew about, though it would be a bit awkward to discuss around the rest of the girls. ESPECIALLY Rin, Nabiki thought, bemused by the notion of how out of control Rin's shipping tendencies would get if she had any concept of the relationship tetrahedron that was threatening to form.
Akane looked skeptical. "Riiiiiight. Because it's normal for you two to practically sit in each other's laps and look deeply into each others eyes at lunch."
Nabiki glanced back at Shampoo, and became aware of just how close they actually were. There was nothing untoward about their positioning, but she had been making a lot of eye contact, and given Akane's hypersensitivity to anything that had even a whiff of intimacy…
"Akane jealous?" Shampoo asked, smirking as she leaned across Nabiki towards the younger Tendo. "Maybe should have been nicer when Shampoo offer too-too delicious bites!"
"I am not jealous!" Akane leaned in nose to nose with the Amazon, eyes flashing.
Nabiki found herself leaning back and pondering if she could scoot back out of the way without getting too many grass stains on her skirt.
"Akane doing excellent impression then," Shampoo said in a low purr. "Act just like when Shampoo cuddle up to Airen. Thinking maybe it not Airen that Akane wanting attention from all this time?"
Too far, Shampoo! Nabiki thought nervously, seeing the telltale signs of her sister's temper flaring.
"Why would I want anything from a pervert like you!?" Akane snarled.
"Violent girl should maybe give it a try? Is sounding pent up."
"UGH!" Akane snatched a cup of cold cocoa from the spread and flung it at Shampoo.
Nabiki felt time slow as the cold liquid hit the Amazon. There was that brief moment of unreality, Shampoo's eyes widening, before suddenly there was a cat in her place tumbling into the pile of her fallen clothes.
Right next to Ranma.
Ranma's head turned, eyes tracking with that awful slowness as her pupils dilated, the joy and passion rapidly being smothered by a wave of irrational fear as the tiny creature struggled to free herself from the tangle of fabric.
No! Nabiki had never moved faster in her life. She snatched up Shampoo's clothing and the wriggling cat inside. Bolting to her feet with her arms full, she took off running, hoping she could outrun the inevitable freakout from Ranma.
She caught Akane's stricken look as she ran past, the dark haired girl still holding the cup as realization of what she had just done hit her.
000
Nabiki ran for the groundskeeper's shed she and Ranma had hidden out in a few days prior, hoping they hadn't yet replaced the lock. It was around the corner of the school building, well out of Ranma's line of sight, and if she was lucky, it would have hot water and some privacy to let Shampoo change back.
Thankfully, maintenance was sloppy as ever, and the broken lock was still hanging loosely on the hasp. She slipped inside and sighed, allowing herself to breathe.
A Neko-ken freakout NOW would ruin EVERYTHING, especially with that stupid rule of Himura's. She thought. She paused to help the struggling cat get free of the bundle, smiling a bit as she extracted the animal. "Easy, Shampoo. Ranma freakout averted, I think. Give me a minute to get you some hot water, okay?"
"Mrew?" The pink-furred cat looked up at her curiously, cocking her head.
Nabiki smiled and unconsciously gave the cat a scratch behind the ears as she set her clothes on the bench, careful to avoid getting them dirty in the dusty shed. She turned on the tap, and frowned as the water came out tepid.
"Seems the Principal mave have messed up the boilers with his fire sprinkler stunt," she said. She tested the water a few times and found that it was indeed slowly warming up. "Okay, just gotta give that a few minutes." She sighed and sat on the old bench, cradling the cat in her arms.
After a minute she realized she was petting and scratching Shampoo as if she were a real cat. You're basically fondling a top tier martial artist without asking, Nabiki. Her mind supplied. She nervously glanced down at Shampoo, but the cat was purring contentedly and even headbutted her hand when she stopped.
"Oh, so you like that, huh?" She smirked and resumed petting. "I guess that makes sense, with what Ranma told me about how the curses work."
"Mrah." Shampoo agreed, eyes closed as she lightly kneaded Nabiki's sleeve.
"I'll talk to Akane. Can't afford to have her messing with water like this with the challenge on the table and Auntie Saotome getting weird about Ranma's curse. Too much risk of something going sideways." She tested the water, nodding as it seemed warm enough. She lifted Shampoo off her lap, earning a sleepy 'Nya' of protest before the transformed girl shook off the pleasant trance the attention had put her in. Nabiki found an old cup, rinsed it out, and filled it with warm water. She paused a moment, looking the cat over. "You know, if we were careful about it, we could probably use your curse to help Ranma get over his phobia."
"Mrew?" Shampoo looked up at her expectantly, tail twitching as her attention focused sharply on her.
"I'd want to talk with Doc Tofu first and get his advice. Not his field, I know, but… he's about the only guy who would know enough to give an educated opinion. Give me a few days to look into it?"
"Mrew?" Shampoo cocked her head.
"Call it an apology for my sister's temper. Plus I'm recognizing this is a card I do not want in Himura's hand." She looked away and poured the water over the cat to trigger the change. She kept her gaze averted as she heard the rustling of cloth while Shampoo quickly dressed.
"Is good point," Shampoo said, signalling Nabiki that it was okay to look.
The Amazon ran her fingers through her hair, working out the worst of the moisture. Her eyes were on Nabiki though. "You is having good tactical sense. Shampoo not even think of this!"
"Himura will, if she hasn't already." Nabiki replied. She pulled out the compact grooming kit she had started carrying since having to pick glass out of Ranma's hair the last time they had used this shed. She opened it and passed Shampoo the comb. "There's no way we can cure Ranma before the first game, so we'll have to be prepared to deal with cats."
"Can handle," Shampoo said. "To get so many cats would disturb strays in neighborhood. Shampoo go out tonight as cat, see what cats say."
Nabiki's eyes widened. "You can actually speak to cats?"
Shampoo combed out her hair carefully, looking away a moment as she searched for the words to explain. "Not words. But language. Speak in emotions. Body language and pheromones and song. When catchers come, make big disturbance. Much fear-scent in markings and song. Territory shift suddenly."
"It's happened before?" Nabiki asked.
"Yes. Round up strays. Take away for day or two, then release. All fixed. Control population." Shampoo said. "Happen couple of times. Shampoo learn to read signs, need be careful."
Nabiki shuddered. Involuntary sterilization was definitely a downside of the curse she hadn't considered before. "Please be careful if they are? I'd rather not have something like that on my conscience." She considered a moment. "Not unless it involved someone who deserved it anyway."
"Shampoo always careful. Smarter than real cat. Not fall for traps or bait." Shampoo winked. "Mercenary girl should know Shampoo's skills by now."
"I do, but still…" Nabiki considered. "Actually… There is a way to get some extra protection from that… if you're willing to trust me."
000
Akane shakily put down the now-empty cup, staring at it. Why did I do that?! Why can't I control my temper? WHY!?
She looked over at Ranma. The redhead was frozen in place, motionless except for the occasional twitch of her eye. Everyone else was looking at her with concern. Even Ryouga, though she also noticed he kept shooting her nervous glances as well.
"Ranma?" Akane dropped to her knees next to the redhead. "Ranma, it's okay!"
"C-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-..." Ranma mumbled under her breath. Now that she was closer, Akane could see she was trembling.
"No, Ranma. Nabiki took it away. There's no cat." Akane scooted closer and hugged the shivering girl. This was affecting Ranma much more severely than Shampoo's changes usually did.
"C-... c-..." Ranma continued a bit more before shuddering on last time. Her trembling slowed, then stopped, and she put a hand on Akane's shoulder and extricated herself from the hug. "It's… I'm okay, Akane."
Akane resisted, but then reluctantly released the other girl. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah… yeah…" Ranma still looked pale, her eyes occasionally darting to the spot where Shampoo had been. "It just… it just caught me off guard."
Her guard was down. Akane realized, remembering how focused and animated Ranma had been a moment ago. She didn't see me getting mad. She wasn't ready for it.
She noticed Ranma was keeping her hands to herself and awkwardly not meeting her gaze. It wasn't just her guard about Shampoo. She'd dropped her guard around me, too. She noticed with some guilt that the redhead's defenses were back up already, with the tentative way she glanced at Akane, as though checking to see if she were still angry while trying not to appear as though she was checking.
Akane felt her heart sink. All that progress today... gone because I let Shampoo get to me and kicked Ranma right where it hurts. She felt the heat of shame rise in her face, followed quickly and reflexively by the rush of anger. There was someone to blame for this, there had to be!
"What just happened?" Rin asked quietly, eyes as big as saucers.
"Ranma has a phobia about cats," Yuka said. Her usual cynical tone had softened. "A really bad phobia."
"It's… it's not that bad," Ranma laughed weakly. "It just… it just startled me is all."
Rin shook her head. "No, I mean… Akane threw the cocoa on the Amazon girl and… and… ~poof!~" She made an expansive gesture with her hands. "Gone!"
"She turned into a cat," Sayuri said. "Remember how Ranma changes from boy to girl and back? Well, Shampoo has the same sort of curse, except it turns her into a…" She glanced at Ranma. "... feline."
"The curses can do that?!" Rin asked, leaning forward. "Does anyone else have a curse that turns them into an animal?"
"Oh… yeah," Ranma replied, slowly recovering. "Mousse… that long haired guy with glasses who works at Shampoo's restaurant… he turns into a duck. Pops has one that turns him into a Panda." An evil smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I'm sure there was another, but i can't quite remember. Can you Ryouga?"
"Nope! I'm sure that's it! Ha ha! Crazy Chinese curses, eh?" He laughed loudly and unconvincingly.
"Are you suuurrrrre?" Ranma smirked. "I'm sure there was one more… maybe some kind of farm animal?"
Ryouga laughed again and slapped her on the back, supposedly companionably, but hard enough to knock the wind out of her. "HA HA! YOU'RE SUCH A KIDDER, RANMA!"
"No, wait… I know! That Pantyhose Taro guy Akane told us about!" Sayuri said, snapping her fingers. "Didn't he turn into an ox-thing?"
"Spring of Drowned Yeti holding an eel and crane while riding an ox." Ranma wheezed. "Plus a little octopus mixed in later on. Yeah, that's him." She batted her eyes at Ryouga. "Why Ryouga, who did you think I meant?"
Ryouga clenched his fist so hard his knuckles popped. "No. One. Of. Course."
"That's cool!" Rin said. "So… do they remember they're people when they're animals? Or do the end up with animal brains and are only as smart as a cat or dog or whatever?"
"They still think like people. Y'know, smart and stuff." Ranma said. "Though… there's some animal in there too. Mousse knows how to fly like a duck, Pops actually likes bamboo and playing with tires, and Shampoo…" She shuddered, cutting off that line of thought. "It's like… you still remember who you are, and you're the same smarts and stuff, but… The curse adds and subtracts things. Like that guy from the Jusenkyo Preservation Society… uhh… Kenny?"
"Kinnii." Ryouga supplied. "Big and mean, except when you splashed him…"
"... He turned into this meek priest," Ranma finished. "Complete 180 personality-wise."
"So is that what happens to you, Senpai?" Rin asked.
"Uhhh…" Ranma's eyes widened as she realized what her line of reasoning was suggesting. "... Well, my curse is a little different…"
"No it's not." Yuka pounced on the topic, leaning forward. "Human-to-human transformation, just like this 'Kenny' guy. Your curse is the most like his!"
Sayuri leaned in with her. "So… that must mean Ranma gets the full 'girl brain' along with her girl form then, right Ranma? How much does it actually change for you? Upstairs I mean?"
"L-look, I know what you're thinking, but it really doesn't actually work that way!" Ranma said nervously, waving her hands in front of her to ward them off.
"This explains so much," Yuka said in a conspiratorial tone to Sayuri.
"It does," Sayuri replied. "We might have misjudged the situation."
"Senpai is a girl," Rin said emphatically, folding her arms. "Why do you think I keep saying that? I'm not dumb. I know about the curse. Senpai said the curse changed stuff, so that it didn't actually feel weird to be a girl. So that it felt normal. That that's why it's a curse, because it re-wires stuff in your head."
"You heard that?" Ranma asked in a small voice.
Riko covered her mouth. "Then… does that mean…?" She glanced at Ryouga.
As one, the rest of the girls' eyes locked onto him. Including Akane.
Ryouga felt the cold, damp, familiar sensation of the Cloud of Impending Doom settle across his shoulders.
Ranma glanced at Ryouga, then back to them, then noticed that she was still sitting next to Ryouga. "No. No!" She waved her arms frantically. "Do not go there!"
"I've always wondered…" Akane said softly, an old insecurity bubbling up. She caught Ryouga's gaze with her own. "Ryouga… why were you trying to snare Ranma with a magical fishing rod to make her fall in love with you? You never answered me when I asked."
All the eyes locked onto Akane, then snapped back to Ryouga. "What!?"
All of the blood visibly drained from Ryouga's face.
"Magical fishing rod?!" Riko, Sayuri, Yuka and Rin all chirped in unnerving unison.
"Akane, we agreed to never, ever discuss that again!" Ranma said tightly.
"No. You and Ryouga did. I just never got my question answered," Akane said flatly, never breaking her eyelock with Ryouga. "Why were you trying to snare Ranma?"
"I wasn't!" Ryouga said. "It… it was an accident!"
"You 'accidentally' bought a magical artifact with the power to make someone fall in love with you, including an instruction booklet explaining in detail how it works, and then just happened to be flinging it around?" Akane replied, tone still flat.
"Akane, look, it's complicated…" Ranma said nervously.
"And you're covering for him. Why?" Akane glared coldly at Ranma. "I'm tired of not knowing what's going on, Ranma. You and he have been keeping something secret for a very long time. What is it?" Her expression softened. "I'm not… I'm not mad Ranma, but… I think I deserve to know if… if…"
"I was trying to hook you!"
Both Ranma and Akane stopped and slowly turned their gazes to Ryouga.
He had his fist clenched and was shaking. "I bought the rod to make you fall in love with me, even though I didn't really believe in it. Like one of those charms you buy at the Shinto temple. It was stupid and… and I don't even know what I thought would happen if I did snag you and it actually worked, but…"
"Oh," Akane said softly.
Ryouga continued, desperation in his voice. "Akane… you have to believe me… I know it was a mistake to even consider something like that, but…"
"It didn't matter what I wanted, did it Ryouga?" Akane asked softly.
Ryouga's words died, strangled in his throat as his eyes widened in horror.
Akane chuckled bitterly and shook her head. "I could almost understand if it was meant for Ranma. But… how is that any better than what I go through every morning with the perverts at this school? How is it not worse?"
"Akane, enough."
Akane shot a surprised, almost hurt look at Ranma. "Why are you defending him?"
Ranma scowled. "Do you know how many people decide what I want doesn't matter? Daily? Including you. If Ukyou or Shampoo or God forbid Kodachi had got me with that rod, I'd be done. Ryouga coulda told me to do anything while I was under the power of that rod - including to jump off a cliff. And he woulda gotten everything he wanted… Revenge… you… An' he knew it, too. But when it came down to it he couldn't do it. An' he even fought to undo it."
"He beat you. Even though you were fighting with everything you had to snare him, so he'd love you back." Akane said, her expression unreadable.
"Well… I wasn't exactly at the top of my game. Plus I was fighting as a girl." Ranma said nervously, not wanting to admit a win in Ryouga's column, much less a loss in her own. "The rod was messing with my brain. I was probably holding back…"
"Like he holds back against you all the rest of the time?" Akane replied, eyes narrowing.
"Wait, what?!" Both Ranma and Ryouga said in unison, glancing at each other, then her in confusion.
"Ever since Ryouga found out about your curse, it's like a switch got flipped from 'sworn enemy' to 'best friend'!" Akane said, picking up steam. "Suddenly you're figure skating as a pair, he's helping you try and find a cure for the curse…"
"That was… it's complicated!" Ryouga protested nervously, not liking where this was going.
"Then there was the thing with the koi rod, and then when you fought to protect Ranma when he was weak from Happosai's moxibustion!" Akane continued, gathering momentum. "And then, when you get in trouble? You and Ranma jump straight into a scheme where she gets to pretend to be your fiancée to a bunch of doctors!"
"Hey, I called him an idiot for that…!" Ranma protested.
"And yet you put on makeup and a pretty dress!" Akane snarled back. "You never even combed your hair for our dates! Date, singular, actually!"
"Maybe I should go…" Ryouga said nervously, scooting back a bit to try and get away from the impending conflagration.
"Don't you dare!" Ranma and Akane snarled at him in unison.
"How many times did you play 'dress up' for Ryouga, huh?" Akane growled. "I thought you were just teasing him, but now that he's started requesting it I'm beginning to wonder!"
"I was trying to fool him! Because I was jealous he was trying to get close to you!" Ranma shot back.
"Half the time I wasn't even there!" Akane retorted. "More than half the time you didn't even wear a wig! Or do you honestly expect me to believe that Ryouga is dumb enough to think there's more than one japanese girl with blue eyes and red hair done up in a pigtail in Nerima?"
"He thought I was his sister once! He doesn't even have a sister!" Ranma shouted. "He is entirely that dumb!"
"Hey!" Ryouga protested, momentarily forgetting his current strategy of hoping they forgot he existed, even while they were arguing about him.
"How you and he were acting was like the brother and sister pair in Sayuri's favorite doijin!"
"Akane!" Sayuri hissed, blushing. "You promised you weren't going to tell anyone about that one!"
"How about how you run to him whenever you're mad at me, huh? 'Oh Ryouga, I was so scared!' 'Oh Ryouga, you're so reliable!'" Ranma shot back.
"Of course I do! He's my friend! He's always there for me, even though he knows I'm not interested in him that way.!"
There was the faint sound of something cracking, like the fracturing of glass.
"Not inter… You cannot be this dense!" Ranma clutched at her own temples. "What on Earth would make you think he'd know…"
"Because it'd be weird, Ranma!"
"Why would it be weird!?"
"You know why!"
"Enlighten me!"
"BECAUSE HE'S P-CHAN!"
There was dead silence from all present.
"You… knew?" Ranma squeaked, her jaw hanging open as she gaped at the still-furious dark-haired girl.
"I'm not stupid Ranma! When he showed up wearing that stupid 'Charlotte' collar and you kept calling him 'P-chan' all the time when he was human, it wasn't too hard to figure out!" She crossed her arms and looked away, blushing a little. "But neither of you owned up to it, so I figured I'd just play along and let you squirm until you came clean, but then you never did, and…"
"Akane, he slept in your bed. He sleeps in your bed!" Ranma's eyes were wild as she started to realize how long Akane had actually known. "Akane you've been letting Ryouga sleep in your bed!?"
"P-chan sleeps in my bed," Akane said. "The curse changes stuff in your head, remember? Seeing how it changed him is what helped me to figure out… why you were different." She trailed off a bit, the surge of anger that had buoyed her fading.
"I'm not different…!"
"Yes you are!" Akane shouted. "You don't even realize it, but you are! As a guy you can barely talk to a girl without making an idiot of yourself, but when you are a girl, you're flirty and perky and feminine."
"That's an act! Of course I'm good at vamping boys! I am a boy! I know what kind of stuff boys want girls to say!"
"Do you think Hiroshi or Daisuke could do any of that if they suddenly had girl bodies?"
"Hiroshi and Daisuke are dorks!"
"You can't even memorize one line in a play, but you want me to believe you're suddenly an incredible actor when it comes to playing a girl? That it's all fake, that none of it comes from anywhere?" Akane leaned towards the redhead, glaring. "Did you ever notice that you're picky when you flirt? You always single out the best-looking guys to wrap around your little finger; do you realize that? And you single out Ryouga a lot."
"Arrrgh!" Ranma frantically pulled at her hair in frustration. "I do not have a 'girl brain', I am not interested in guys, and I am super not interested in Ryouga! We're friends, and to read anything more into that is insanely paranoid even for you, right Ryouga?" She turned to the lost boy for confirmation and support.
Or rather, she turned to the Ryouga-shaped empty space next to her.
"... Crap." Ranma smacked her forehead. Then her eyes widened as she realized what Ryouga's disappearance meant. We're supposed to go see that neurologist to try and cure his sense of direction! His Mom is counting on it, or she might never be able to find her way home again! If he gets lost now, she'll have to leave the house eventually and might never find her way back! "... Awww crap!" She bolted to her feet to run after him, looking around to try and track where he went before he got too far.
"See?" Akane said bitterly. "Go on. Go find him."
"Akane, this isn't…!" Ranma clenched her fists in frustration. "You don't know everything that's going on! He can't get lost right now! If he does…" She looked the way Ryouga must have gone again, then back at Akane, knowing she wouldn't catch him if she stayed and explained. "Arrrgh!" She turned and sprinted off, hoping that she could pick up his trail before it was too late.
The rest of the group was silent as Ranma's footfalls rapidly receded. Akane sat with her head bowed, her hands folded in her lap, fighting back tears, and not even truly understanding what she was feeling, or why.
Finally, Rin broke the silence.
"Senpai's boyfriend is Akane's pet pig P-chan," she stated, matter-of-factly.
And then she screamed.
000
"I was gone for five minutes," Nabiki massaged the bridge of her nose, feeling a migraine coming on.
Akane was still sitting on the far side of the circle, arms crossed and a stubborn expression on her face. Sayuri, Yuka and Riko were on the far side of the pile of bento boxes, trying to console Rin, who was in the throes of some form of panic.
"If Ranma wasn't such a baka…" Akane huffed.
"I was gone five minutes," Nabiki repeated, more forcefully.
"He was in my roooooooom!" Rin wailed. "He was in my room when I got chaaaanged!"
"This wasn't my fault!" Akane protested, starting to get flustered. "If she and Ryouga weren't keeping secrets…"
"Five. Minutes," Nabiki repeated again.
"Maybe Shampoo should head back home now…" Shampoo said sheepishly.
"Oh no! No." Nabiki quickly forestalled that notion. "You're staying, Shampoo. You're here to keep me from strangling my baby sister to death!"
"Me!? I didn't…!" Akane sputtered.
"Obstacles are for killing, sweet sister of mine!" Nabiki singsonged, a manic and altogether dangerous cheer in her voice. "Now, first we'll talk Rin down, then you and I are going to have a very long conversation about what happened and how in the future to go about avoiding causing me massive personal strife for five minutes."
Akane's expression darkened. "You know what? Go talk to your fiance about that. In the meantime, I know when I'm not wanted." She stood and forcefully brushed her skirt off, did an about face, and walked briskly towards the school gates.
"Akane, what the hell…!?" Nabiki protested.
"Taking a half day to go help Ukyou!I" Akane shot back, not slowing her stride in the slightest.
Nabiki watched her go, incredulous, then covered her face with her hands. "Uuuuugh! How can she be so dense?!"
"Want go fetch?" Shampoo asked.
Nabiki shook her head. She scrubbed her hands over her face, and slapped her cheeks. "No… no… Thank you though. We'll see her after school. Let her go cool off for now." She took a deep breath and walked over to Rin.
"Rin… you said yourself that you 'got' the curse, right? And that's why you said Ranma was a girl all this time?" Sayuri asked gently, holding her shoulder. "So… if Ryouga is P-chan, then it's okay, right? Because it's the same thing. When he was in your room, he was a pig. Akane even said so."
Rin shuddered, then looked at her blearily. "R-really?"
Sayuri nodded.
"Your virtue is intact, Rin," Yuka replied. "You didn't know, anyway."
"B-but… w-what if I g-get… p-pregnant!?" Rin wailed again.
Sayuri frantically hushed her. "Rin! Not so loud! Now… what are you talking about?!"
Rin sniffled. "W-well my older sister took a boy to her room once… wh-when I was eight… and Mom and D-dad were mad at her, and kept saying she could have gotten pregnant, and she should have used protection, and now I had a boy in my room, and I don't even know what 'protection' means!"
Sayuri and Yuka looked at each other, then at Rin.
"Did… you skip sex ed class?" Yuka asked.
Rin sniffed. "I was sick that day. Dad asked me if I needed to know about the birds and the bees, but I told him I'm already taking biology."
Sayuri sighed. "Aaaaand we're currently on plant biology. So when someone says the 'birds and the bees' when talking about reproduction…"
"... They're talking about pollination, right?" Rin brightened a little, then shrank back. "Oh god, what if he pollinated me?!"
Riko started choking on the mochi she was sampling.
Sayuri clamped her jaw shut, smile wavering as she seemed to be struggling with something, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
Yuka seemed to hold her composure better and patted Rin's shoulder. "Rin? A Pig can't… uh… 'pollinate' a human. And you'd know if he tried, for certain. It's… different for people and animals than it is for plants."
"It is?" Rin sniffed.
"I'll loan you some reading material to help… uhh… 'illustrate'," Sayuri finally managed. "But I think if Ryouga was… uhh… that sort of pig, he'd have tried something with Akane by now. Just… if you end up taking care of someone's pet in the future, maybe give it a hot bath before letting it sleep in your room."
"I… I guess…" Rin sniffed. She looked up at the two of them. "He must be really loyal to Senpai!"
"Uhhh… sure." Yuka nodded. "Look, why don't you go wash your face. Riko, stop choking dramatically and go with her? We'll stay here in case they come back."
Sayuri and Yuka watched Riko lead the diminutive strike back to the school.
"So… We don't actually buy anything that we said there, right?" Yuka asked.
"Oh no, of course not. He's been in the girl's change room. The next time we see him we're making roast suckling pig in cooking class," Sayuri replied. She glanced over her shoulder at Nabiki, who was watching the exchange. "Did you know?"
"I suspected," Nabiki replied. "I tried a couple of times to douse P-chan with hot water, but he's fast and it seemed like more work than it was worth. I was sure enough that I could bluff it if I ever needed anything on him."
"Why didn't you say anything!? We all made a big fuss over that filthy little…" She paused, then sighed, unable to find another suitable noun. "... pig."
Nabiki shrugged nonchalantly. "First, I'm not in your class. Talk to my baby sister. Second…" She rubbed her fingers together meaningfully.
"Always money with you, isn't it, Tendo?" Yuka said sourly.
"Wouldn't be any fun if I spoiled all the surprises. Can't blame a girl for wanting a little incentive for handing out all the answers."
"Actually, Shampoo need help with something." She touched Nabiki's shoulder. "Where is school office? Shampoo need to give them registration papers."
Nabiki turned and raised an eyebrow. "You actually signed up? They didn't need you to take a placement test or anything?"
Shampoo beamed proudly. "Shampoo take equivalency test every month. Part of deal with Chinese Embassy for work visa." Her face fell a moment. "Been… hounding Shampoo to enroll, actually. Say Japanese 'unacceptable'."
"That's great!" Sayuri said, clenching her fist. "With another girl in our class who can fight and doesn't have to worry about Himura's stupid new rule…"
"Actually…" Shampoo said, a little sheepishly. "... Was placed in senior year."
"What!?"
Shampoo scowled. "Japanese bad. Shampoo ace chemistry, biology, math and history though. Get bumped up a year." She sniffed haughtily. "Think Amazon potions and techniques for dummies? Great Grandmother make Japanese teachers look like stupid sissies."
Nabiki raised an eyebrow, but said nothing else.
"I would be happy to escort you to the office if you like Ms. Xian Pu."
They turned to look behind them. Walking towards them in a small group was Himura and her team of 'elites'. Himura was sporting her usual confident and haughty smile.
"As acting Student Council President, one of my duties… and joys… is to welcome new students to our school," Himura said, placing her hand delicately on her chest and beaming beatifically at Shampoo. "And if I might say, you are certainly a rare and special student indeed, Ms. Xian Pu. Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ."
Shampoo blinked, then glanced at Nabiki. "Is this challenge? Should beat up now?"
Nabiki simply smirked and shrugged. "Hard to tell with Himura."
Himura laughed, though there was a bit of an edge to it now. "Now, now! I can see we've gotten off on the wrong foot. Or rather, I've gotten off on the wrong foot with Ms. Tendo, and she's passed on her… misunderstanding of the situation."
"Actually, your grandfather's associates sent a representative to make sure I had a firm grasp of the situation." Nabiki replied dryly. "I understand Tanaka-san was a little upset with you."
Himura's eye twitched ever so subtly. She took a breath, glancing at Sayuri and Yuka, then at Shampoo. "All right. I see the situation has reached that point then. So, Ms. Tendo… would you mind taking a walk with me?" She gestured towards the school gates. "Just us two, of course."
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Do I look that naive to you?"
Himura laughed lightly. "Come now! If my grandfather's… employee has already spoken to you, then you understand the stakes, as well as the constraints I am expected to abide by. Besides, I am no martial artist and I am sure you have sufficient training that you will be in no danger from a simple girl such as myself. I simply wish a little privacy so that we may discuss matters that are of a... sensitive nature." Her expression hardened a bit. "There are things it is better they not be burdened with. For their sakes."
"I don't like this idea, Himura," Umeko said, wary eyes on Shampoo as she stepped forward a bit. Himura held up a hand, stopping her.
Nabiki's smirk faded. He gaze remained unwavering as she considered. "All right. Let's walk, then."
"I hope you know what you're doing, Nabiki," Sayuri said softly, just loud enough for Nabiki to hear.
Me too, Nabiki thought. She started walking as Himura gestured for her to go first.
Nabiki's mind settled into careful analysis as they walked towards the gates. This first part was a power play: Himura allowed her to go first to see if Nabiki would show her back to her, and Nabiki chose not to hesitate to demonstrate a lack of fear. Himura would see that as either foolishness of confidence, and continue to probe accordingly.
Nabiki could have insisted Himura go first, which would have suggested wariness, or possibly that Nabiki had knowledge that Himura planned something, but knowing about the 'rules' of their game, Nabiki didn't feel a physical attack was likely enough to bluff that. It still set her nerves on edge, hearing the click of Himura's expensive shoes on the tarmac behind her, and it took all her willpower to keep her gait relaxed and her gaze forward.
They reached the gates and Nabiki stepped through, rounding the wall, now out of sight of her allies and Himura's. Himura stepped up the pace to bring her even with Nabiki as they began a slow walk around the school perimeter.
"So… It seems my little game with Ranma has gotten out of hand," Himura said cheerfully. "And you've taken it upon yourself to defend her from the predations of the 'Yakuza Princess'. That is actually surprisingly noble of you, Tendo-san. Unnecessary, but noble."
"Oh? I would love to hear your reasoning for that. Ranma doesn't often face threats of sexual offender status," Nabiki replied dryly.
Himura laughed lightly. "Oh come now! You don't believe I would seriously enact such dire consequences on Ms. Saotome?" Himura leaned forward, adopting a more casual, childlike manner. "This past year has been so very dull, you know. The only excitement has been whatever Ms. Saotome and her exciting friends stir up. It simply seemed like far too much fun, and I wanted to play as well! But, as you know, I'm no martial artist. The Principal had some suggestions on how to get Ranma to join us for something I am proficient enough to be a challenge in, and… well, I just thought that considering most of her other challenges involve some form of indentured servitude…"
"You undermined and dismantled my network, arranged the volleyball game and changed Ranma's registration," Nabiki said flatly.
Himura sighed. "Yes, I arranged the volleyball game. That was hardly a secret. I had expected Ranma to play for the boy's side, and Ms. Kuonji to play for the girls. It was meant to help out my counterpart for the boy's Volleyball team, as I know they are hurting for talent. There's nothing sinister in that." She shrugged. "The registration change came after Ranma agreed to my game. In fact, it was Coach Olga who first suggested the idea! Believe me when I say no actual harm was intended towards Ranma, despite my… theatrics. Someone like her just needs the proper motivation at times, don't you think?" She smiled brightly, then as quickly the smile was gone. "As far as your… 'network' is concerned… I will be blunt. Ms. Tendo, though my Grandfather has something of a reputation, I do value and respect law and order. The activities you were conducting were illegal and, as they involved minors, immoral. You have done an excellent job of covering your own tracks but… It was only a matter of time before you fell afoul of the authorities." She sighed. "I had thought that quietly dealing with the matter would give you a suitable wake-up call while allowing you to save face, as well as mitigating the economic impact. I am aware your family has fallen on hard times and some of your activities were taken up out of necessity…"
"... And you needed my negatives to give your threat teeth. Even if that meant using your connections to the bank I was using to access my safety deposit box. Illegally," Nabiki finished for her, still looking straight ahead.
Himura cleared her throat. "The fact of the matter is, I feel a responsibility to the students of this school and to the school itself. Due to the… recent activities of the faculty, as well as the antics your houseguests tend to attract and foster, this has required some… unusual measures. But my motivations are not malicious. I would like to mend this broken bridge between us." She stepped in front of Nabiki, facing her and halting the other girl. She extended her hand, tilting her head, still beaming. "I'd like to work together to make Furinkan High the best school in Tokyo. I would very much appreciate your help. Can we at least call a truce, for the sake of the school?"
Nabiki simply stared at her silently a moment. "Meaning you want me to work with you, to arrange for Ranma to continue playing for your team and to stop making dramatic and public waves for you, yes?"
Himura giggled girlishly. "Actually, that little stage show of yours was quite fun! I encourage the theatrics, they foster student engagement! In fact, I haven't seen the student body this engaged in an event for some time! The challenge is absolutely going forward, assuming Ranma's team is still willing." She continued to hold her hand out. "I simply wish to avoid… unnecessary animosity. And, I hope at the end, win or lose, I might count of you to at least get Ranma to hear me out about continuing to play for the girl's team?"
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. A smile crossed her lips. "Himura, I admit, I have completely misjudged you." She raised her hand… then used to to brush a stray hair from her face, before jamming it into her skirt pocket. "I had no idea you had read me so badly. What on earth makes you think I can be bought so cheaply?"
Himura's smile faded, and her eyes hardened. She lowered her hand. "I see." A small smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I didn't honestly expect it to be so easy, but I had to try. You understand of course."
"Of course." Nabiki nodded.
"Let's be frank, then," Himura said finally. "I am willing to address the matter of your lost network. Replacing your minions with individuals you can trust is a process I see you have already begun. However, given this is your senior year, I imagine rebuilding your network fully is neither possible, nor necessary. I can supply resources and assistance to help you get restarted in whatever operations you want when you move on to college." She folded her arms. "In fact… I can be persuaded to provide some assistance in secure… 'grant money', if that is a concern. I won't insult you by presuming your financial situation, of course. I'll also guarantee that your negatives are returned to your care as soon as I have secured Ranma's services for my team for the remainder of the season. You will be allowed to collect your gambling proceeds and for any other services you seek to market without interference or molestation, and the Student Council will be at your disposal if you require discrete facilitation for such things. Ranma will be released from service at the end of the school year and her records corrected and doctored appropriately and she will suffer no unnecessary indignities while under my care. You can continue to manage Ranma's team and are even encouraged to ensure that the matter comes to a showdown, so long as Ranma's team loses in the end, or Ranma otherwise agrees to work for me for the remainder of the year."
"What about Sayuri's challenge?" Nabiki asked.
"I can find ways to deal with Kamei-san," Himura said, a low, dangerous note in her voice.
"Unacceptable. She's useful to me." Nabiki replied.
"... Of course." Himura smiled widely. "I'm sure together we can find some way to convince her to… modify her challenge. Or make the matter moot entirely by ensuring a win for my team." Her smile dropped, her expression suddenly serious. "Either way, the details are a trifling matter. You know what is at stake here. I require Ranma's services for the remainder of the year and I will make it worth your while for you to assist me in ensuring that. We can both profit from the arrangement and Ranma even ends up with something positive on her transcript for once. I will even accept your agreement not to interfere, if you would rather keep out of the matter. But I wish to reach an accord on this before it becomes… messy."
Nabiki smiled. It was bright and seemingly genuine. "That is a very generous offer, Himura. And much more reasonable than most would be at this point. Pursuing a diplomatic option before matters become too acrimonious or costly is a wise move. Consider me impressed."
Himura sighed and smiled. "Oh good, you had me worried! I am so glad you're willing to be reasonable on this, Nabiki!" She extended her hand again. "So we have a deal?"
"No, of course not."
Himura's expression crashed, her carefully schooled and controlled emotions suddenly replaced by visible surprise and a growing look of fury. "If you think this is your ticket into the Organization, I can assure you that a win here guarantees you nothing but a very bad enemy. I have the connections and influence to ensure your success and give you the introductions you need… or ensure that your victory here results in your utter destruction, so…"
Nabiki held up a hand. "I'm not interested in the Organization, or the Yakuza, or the Triad. I have no interest in selling my soul for power I can acquire on my own."
"Then why!?" Himura growled.
Nabiki smirked and wagged a finger. "Himura, Himura… You are too quick to mistake information for understanding. The answer was always in front of you; the creed of the Anything Goes School. You even used it against Ranma. That you didn't consider all the ramifications shows just how…" She gave Himura a haughty look. "... limited you are."
"You're not a martial artist," Himura said flatly, starting to see.
"Do you know why the Anything Goes school was founded, Himura?" Nabiki asked. "To steal panties. It was a ridiculous concept created by an old lecher. But, he managed to plant the seed of a very, very powerful idea. Do you know what that is?"
"Enlighten me," Himura replied tightly.
"That 'Anything Goes'. That everything is a Martial Art."
Nabiki felt a bit of satisfaction as Himura's eyes slowly widened, comprehension dawning. She stepped closer and leaning in, whispering in the taller girl's ear.
"I am Nabiki Tendo, heiress of the Anything Goes School, along with my sisters. My art isn't fists or swords, but it is no less an art and no less part of the school. And you have challenged me." She stepped past her, letting her shoulder bump as she passed. "And the credo of the Anything Goes school is that we accept all challenges."
Himura turned. The anger on her face was quickly smoothed, schooled into a calm, pleasant smile. "That's unfortunate, Nabiki. I feel like we could have been friends." She sighed heavily and shook her head as Nabiki walked away around the corner.
Himura waited until Nabiki was out of sight, then stretched and turned to head back. "Mnnnn…! Thank goodness! You had me worried for a moment, Ms. Tendo… Nabiki. I thought for a moment you might actually take me up on that." She looked over at the nearby black sedan, with its immaculate, opaque-seeming dark windows. That should keep Grandfather satisfied for the time being that I'm honoring the methods HE would approve of. Oh my little Nabiki, I am going to have so much FUN showing you just how little 'Complete Immunity' actually protects you! A genuine smile crossed her face as her steps became light, almost childlike again.
000
Akane walked briskly at first, her anger driving her steps. Gradually her pace slowed as the initial flush of heat and frustration bled away. It would speed up again briefly as she mentally refreshed her justifications, stoking the fire again, but these spurts grew shorter and more infrequent until finally she stumbled to a halt halfway between school and Ucchan's.
She covered her mouth and slumped against a nearby utility pole, feeling herself start to hyperventilate. What did I do?! What did I do!? WHAT DID I DO!?
It had felt so good in the moment. The old rush of righteous anger; the surge of jealousy and possessiveness. The emotional high and the exultation that came of loosing her words without restraint against someone who deserved it.
At someone she had convinced herself deserved it, anyway.
Her justifications seemed so clear and so sure through the lens of her anger, bringing blessed relief to her embarrassment and self-consciousness from Shampoo's teasing. Ryouga morphed in front of her into another Kuno, another face in the hentai horde, sitting next to her Ranma, touching her Ranma.
Making her Ranma laugh. Making her Ranma smile.
She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling a wave of nausea. I did it to again. After I swore that I never would. I didn't even make it until lunch! And over RYOUGA of all people! I… She shuddered. ...I'm sorry, P-chan…
Ryouga had always been a source of guilt for her. He was smitten with her, that much had been obvious right from the start. How could she not see that when such things were forced on her every single day?
But Ryouga's affections had been different. Timid, almost innocent. Needy and desperate, but submissive too - like the love of a puppy.
She took a deep breath, collecting herself. She wondered if Ryouga even realised it himself. His loyalty, his uncontrollable glee at simply being around her, his desperation for her approval - it was the love of a little domesticated piglet for his mistress.
She had taken advantage of it, of course. She knew she could trust him and felt safe with him. She had used him to make Ranma jealous when it suited her; acted oblivious to his feelings and led him on. Subtly, she had punished him for trying to love her as a man and rewarded him for loving her as a pet pig; because that's all she really wanted from him.
She resumed stumbling along. She had never intended for him to know that she knew. She had expected him to come clean so much sooner. That Ranma had helped him keep his secret, if clumsily, baffled her.
And then when she saw Ranma as a girl with him, it worried her.
If Ryouga could feel the love of a pet pig for her, then why couldn't Ranma…?
She grit her teeth, forcing herself to straighten and walk faster. No! I'm being stupid! Ranma's never shown any interest, and now my stupid jealousy made us fight again!
He never showed any interest in girls until recently either, a small, nasty voice whispered in her mind.
She shook her head and kept going until she had reached Ucchan's. She scrubbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her blouse to make sure she was presentable before she stepped inside.
"Welcome to Ucchan… Oh, Akane! You're early!" Ukyou waved to the other girl, smiling brightly.
"I uh… had a free period," Akane lied. "I thought if I came early it might be easier to see how you're making the okonomiyaki when it's slow?"
Ukyou considered. "Couldn't hurt to try. All right, uniform is upstairs. Feel free to use the shower if you need it." She cocked her head as Akane walked past her to the stairs. "Everything all right, sugar?"
"Hmm?" Akane looked up at her. She paused, opening her mouth as if to say something, closed it, then sighed and shook her head. "It's nothing, really. Just distracted today, that's all."
"Well, don't be distracted now, or this will be a waste." Ukyou replied. "Go on, upstairs with you. I have a couple of mid-afternoon regulars who are liable to show up soon."
Akane headed upstairs, heading straight for the small bathroom. She practically tore her uniform off, tossing it carelessly aside as she turned the water on in the western style shower and set it almost painfully hot before she stepped in. She hadn't done much to get dirty that day, but she still felt soiled.
She rested her forehead against the cool shower glass, letting the steaming water beat at the back of her head. I'll apologize to Ryouga. I'm sure he'll understand. Maybe ask him to avoid Ranma… at least until I get this under control, she finally decided. She gathered herself, shut the shower off, and dried herself with one of the large fluffy towels Ukyou had on hand. She found the chef's uniform already laid out for her on Ukyou's bed and put it on.
I'm sure everything will be fine. Ryouga isn't even interested in me that way anymore, right?
000
Ranma sprinted through the woods behind the school, occasionally hopping up into the trees to get a better vantage, but never actually stopping.
Ryouga's trail wasn't hard to find. A some point, just past the treeline, he had started hitting things as he ran.
Ranma had seen the damage Ryouga could do - the controlled, precise obliteration he could cause with his Bakusai Tenketsu. This wasn't anything like that. It was random, unfocused force, lashing out at whatever was unfortunate enough to be within reach as he ran. He'd left shattered tree trunks, cracked boulders and piles of debris to the left and the right of a path smashed right through the landscape.
He'd better slow down or we`ll BOTH end up lost! Ranma thought. That wasn`t the big worry, though. If running and smashing things was the worst that Ryouga was going to do, Ranma could live with ending up in Okinawa.
She skidded to a stop as she saw the glow; the confirmation of the possibility she had most been dreading. The ghostly light pulsed, shining through the trees with sickly reds and yellows curling out from the epicentre, just over the next rise.
Oh no… She put on an extra burst of speed, vaulting up into the trees again, hopping from branch to branch in the hope that she could get a better vantage from above.
Ryouga was kneeling in a small clearing. His arms were limp at his sides, his head rolled back a bit, looking up at the sky. His eyes were dead and empty. All around him, reds and yellows pulsed luridly, energies surging, mounting, throbbing like a heartbeat. The ground around him had already settled into a small depression from the weight of the heavy chi and there were occasional pops or bangs as trees and even rocks caught in the field started to crack and succumb to the pressure. A steadily building hum filled the air, like an electrical generator, spinning faster and faster and ever faster.
Even from where she was Ranma could feel the force of it weighing her down. Not just a physical thing, but a weight that pulled on her heart, that forced old memories of guilt and shame to dribble and leak out of the corners of her mind where she`d stuffed them. Old memories of hopelessness and fear and half-remembered nightmares.
She shuddered. She tried to focus on the Soul of Ice, to empty herself of emotions the way Ryouga did to survive these blasts… and found that she couldn`t. It was too much; it just pushed right through her control, dragging out all the things she hid from herself - all of the doubts and self-delusions and comforting lies and forced her to review them on an endless loop. And she was only on the edge!
I`ve never felt anything like this… How is he keeping himself empty of emotion? Ranma wondered, peering at him as she struggled against the tide of awful emotions.
Then she saw the tear tracks - the slight heaves of his chest - the look of peace on his face that wasn't from an absence of emotion, but more like an anticipation of… of…
Release. Ranma's eyes widened. He's NOT emptying himself! He's planning on taking the full brunt of it!
"Ryouga!" She cried out over the ascending hum. "Ryouga stop! It'll kill you!"
"Go away, Ranma," Ryouga said. His voice was flat, tired. He didn't shift or look at her. "I'm tired of you. I'm tired of your games. I'm tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes. Just leave me be."
"No! You JACKASS, you think I'm actually gonna let you blow yourself up?!" Ranma dropped to the ground, landing more heavily than she intended. She stumbled forward, fighting the incredible pressure. Every step made her feet sink into the earth more, made the weight settle more unbearably onto her shoulders, both physical and emotional.
"You don't actually care. Nobody does," Ryouga said. He chuckled weakly. "You just love being the hero. The 'good guy' who would always try and save the villain, even from himself." He sighed. "At least I was a person to you. I suppose I should thank you for that much."
"What about Akari!?" Ranma shouted, fighting her way closer. Tears stung her own eyes, and she had to fight the sobs, fight the urge to turn and run herself. She focused on him and on putting one foot in front of the other. "You think she wouldn't care if you do this?! How am I supposed to face her and tell her I just let you die?!"
The light intensified, the humming growing louder, angrier. "I couldn't protect her…" Ryouga's head drooped. "When she needed me most, I was just a pig. But that's all ever I was to her. Her perfect man. A man-shaped pig." He shuddered. "That's all I am to anyone. Just a pig."
Ranma struggled to refute him, to find some hook to pull him back out of his self-destructive spiral. "You weren't a pig in middle school! It wasn't a pig I was walking home from school every day! I didn't wait three days in a stupid empty lot for a pig!" She stumbled forward, dropping to her hands and knees in front of him. She struggled to push herself up, and failing that, crawled the rest of the way to him, finally reaching out and grabbing his shoulder. "Ryouga!"
His eyes came up to look at her. They were glassy, unfocused.
"Ryouga, look at me!" Ranma demanded, shuddering. It was so hard to move. So hard to think. So hard to not just accept it, let herself be crushed. Let it all end. "Look at me! We're getting out of this, okay? I need… I need you to…" Her eyes darted back and forth as she frantically tried to think of a way to release all of the poisonous heavy chi without killing them both.
Ryouga half-smiled. "You're beautiful, you know," He said softly. "It's a shame you're not real."
"I am real, Ryouga," Ranma insisted. She shook his shoulder. "I'm here, see? I'm real."
He closed his eyes. "That's too bad then, for you…" He said softly. "A girl trying to be a man among men. Still better than being a pig. Still a person, though." He sighed. "It was kind of a fun fantasy… taking a girl home to meet Mom… talking like she would be there, like I could actually have a life and a family…Guess it makes sense that a fake person would have a fake girl as his fake girlfriend and take her to his fake home to meet his fake family and pretend it's all normal."
"Your Mom isn't fake!" Ranma latched onto that desperately. "She isn't fake, and she needs you, Ryouga! She needs you to find a cure for your curse so she can be cured, so that she can find home!"
He shook his head sadly. "Never be cured. Just hurts to hope."
"No, damnit!" Ranma snarled, grabbing his face in her hands. "You're not doing this! I'm not letting you! I'm your Anchor, I'm the one you picked to follow around for the rest of my life, so follow! I promised your Mom I'd take care of you, and I swore I'd do it! Not because I was your fake girlfriend, not because I owed her anything, but because I need you here!"
He cracked an eye open. "You don't need me."
"Yes I do!" She found she couldn't fight the tears anymore so she just let them flow. As bad as she felt at this moment, she knew it'd be nothing if she failed to convince him. "I need you because… because everyone around me… everyone… wants something from me I can't give. Nabiki wants me to be normal. Akane wants me to be a girl. Mom and Dad want me to be a perfect man, all of their contradictions included. Shampoo wants me to be an Amazon husband. Ukyou wants me to be an Okonomiyaki chef. Kuno wants me to be his friggin' concubine and his murder victim at the same time, and I don't even wanna think what Kodachi wants me to be!" She panted, eyes wild. She felt an odd calm, feeling like she was purging something that had been buried too deep for too long. "You… you just wanna be my rival. You just wanna fight me. You just wanna try to be better than me. I can do that. It's about all I can do. I need that. I need someone who isn't trying to make me into something I'm not. I need… I need an anchor of my own."
Ryouga opened both eyes. They were clearer now. "... I hate your guts, though."
Ranma smiled, in spite of the weight, in spite of the sadness and hopelessness and shame and guilt pressing down on her. "Yeah, you do. But at least you just wanna spill 'em out on the ground, instead of tryin' to turn 'em into a wasp-waisted french belle with an eating disorder."
Ryouga blinked. More clarity now.
"I don't think I can stop it," He said hoarsely.
"S'okay, I've got a plan," Ranma lied, looking around again.
"No you don't," Ryouga coughed. "Get out. Get out now while you still can. I can't hold it much longer."
"No, no, I got this. I'm not leaving you after I just told you all that crap! You gotta live so you can never tell anybody ever!" She spotted a rocky outcropping that had so far withstood the oppressive gravity. "Okay, I've got it, to your right. There's cover. When I say, let it go, and then we'll run for it…"
"I can't run," Ryouga protested weakly. "My legs have gone numb."
"Then I'll carry you! Just shut up and do it, okay?" She gripped his face and forced him to look at her, so she could be sure he was focused. "Ready?"
He nodded, though his expression was confused, like he was seeing something he wasn't entirely convinced was real.
"Okay…" She braced herself, ready for the moment she could move again. "... Go!"
Ryouga shuddered, throwing his head back and groaning as suddenly all of the negative feelings, all of the depression and anger and feelings of helplessness erupted from him all at once to become a blazing red-gold pillar reaching for the heavens. But almost immediately the cascade slowed, reaching its apex. Forever denied the heavens, the weight of his pain came crashing back down, rushing back to earth to crush him.
As soon as the gravity lifted, Ranma darted forward, slipping her arms under his and lifting him onto her shoulder as she forced herself to move. Everything felt slow, everything felt heavy still, even though she knew she was up and moving. She could feel her feet digging furrows into the ground as she kicked off, trying to force more speed. Everything around her was already getting brighter as the column of energy started to collapse back in on itself.
She dove as they reached the bluff, just cresting it as the Shi Shi Hokodan impacted.
The bluff provided almost no protection. It crumbled into rock splinters as soon as the blast hit. Ranma felt her body thrown, arms and legs wrenched painfully as a titan's fist smashed into her back with a force that would not stop. Rock shards lacerated her back, and her vertebrae popped. She screamed in pain, and for a moment she was convinced this was going to be the end for her.
She felt herself suddenly pulled around, a body pulling her close and curling around her protectively, blocking the worst of the blast as they tumbled through the air. She had an extra moment or two of consciousness to register surprise as they slammed through a tree, then another, then another, before crashing and bouncing across the forest floor, the breath crushed from her lungs and her body battered her from all sides as Gaia herself sought to pound her into submission. The world went dark long before she rolled to a stop.
000
So, I'm expecting this chapter is going to be a bit controversial.
I'm an undisciplined writer. I make a general outline of what I'm planning, but when I write, I give my muse her head and let her follow threads as they emerge, which kinda of happened here with Akane. To me, Akane is a complicated girl. She's a good person, but she has some pretty severe personality tics, and in the process of exploring them with MY version of her, explaining those tics turned her 'boy hatred' into something a little deeper and darker.
Then you plug in Ryouga's obvious adoration of her, and that somehow she remains oblivious to it despite being subjected to it constantly from every other direction and… well.
I don't think she's intentionally being cruel. I think it's the mental gymnastics she's doing to allow Ryouga to be classified as 'okay' in her mind. So when she figured out he was P-chan, rather than freaking out as is the common headcanon response… she reclassified him as that.
I'm not suggesting that's anything like what Rumiko Takahashi intended. In fact, I'm pretty sure at this point her opinion of my interpretation would be best expressed in the form of a restraining order.
I just want to reassure my readers that I AM going to work Akane through this. She's not going to be vilified, or come out of this a bad person. But she is probably just as messed up as Ranma is, if for different reasons. All of the cast are, but Ranma and Akane undoubtably have the lion's share of issues. So, on the path to being better person, there are hiccups, setbacks, and detours. This chapter is one of those for her, and by extension the whole group.
I might be over explaining. I try my very best to not slip into cliche or vilification as a shortcut. Even Himura gets her motivations and thought processes worked out, as horrible as they are, and she is very much a product of where she came from: Her background has been worked out in my notes, and she has good reason for being who and what she is.
I really do appreciate all your feedback, whether you think I'm doing good, or am totally off base. Whether I incorporate it or not, it all gets me thinking and considering, and generating new ideas, so please keep the reviews coming!
