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Greetings one and all...
Here for another installment of my longest running series...
Having the job that I do, I fully expect to be able to get TONS of writing
done this summer..But then, if something comes up? Who knows, ne? ;P
Anyway...Enjoy!
The characters are borrowed, the settings are not...They're
real...Kinda...Anyway, I'm just borrowing Ranma and the cast. I'll put'm
back when I'm done...promise...
C&C is always welcome
gargoyle@glasscity.net
gargoyle9@hotmail.com
or
gargoyle4@hotmail.com
Flames, as always, will be filed in the round folder...
Salud!
***
Ranma stretched and yawned. There was at least one good thing
about this blasted curse, and that was more sack time. Well, that
was mostly due to the good graces of his mother and the
stubbornness of the Saotomes when dealing with Principal Kuno.
Ranma stared at the ceiling. He reached down, under the covers
and under his boxers.
Yup. They were gone. She sighed and threw back the covers. Yup.
Two new friends there too. She sighed again and got up. Ranma
went to his dresser and rummaged around in one of the bottom
drawers.
"Thank God this only happens a couple times a month," she
mumbled as she put on her bra, "What the Hell'd I do if I had to
worry about these two all the time..."
***
The All-Americans
By
Joshua Trujillo
Part 25 - A Bag Full of Monkeys
***
Ranma looked up over her head and jumped. She caught the beam
with minimal effort and swung herself to a handstand. Ranma
smirked. At least she didn't lose any ability with the new skin.
'Course, it wasn't just new skin, there were new...Bits...And her
bones didn't move in the right way...Maybe she'd take some
anatomy classes in college...
Ranma's workout progressed smoothly and ended quietly. It was
almost nine in the morning. Mom was already gone to make calls.
Nabiki and Akane were still at school and would be for another six
hours. Kasumi was at school. Presumably. Ranma smirked. She
took a swig of water and jumped to the floor. She grabbed the
towel on her bed and headed out into the cool darkness of the
home for her shower. And then...to work...
***
"Ahh," Nabiki sighed as she sat down at the table, "Lunch without
Ranma is like life without Pringles."
"Sugah," Shampoo hissed from across the table, "If you think I
forgive ya' for whatcha' did ta' Ranma, then you're crazy."
"Honestly Nabiki," Akane said as she sat down beside her sister, "I
think it'd be better if you don't eat with us anymore."
Nabiki put her hand to her chest in mock protest.
"At least until you can control your bitchy self," Ukyou said
quietly.
"Yeah," Nabiki bristled, "Well you and your dyke lover can both
fuck off."
She picked up her tray and headed off to the other side of the
cafeteria.
"Sayuri..." Ukyou began, embarrassed, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for
you..."
"Hmm?" Sayuri asked brightly, "She wasn't talking about me,
sweetie."
"You know," Ukyou stuttered, "I don't know whether to be happy
that you're not mad, or pissed because you called me your dyke
lover."
"No dear," Sayuri said softly, "SHE called you my dyke lover."
Sayuri reached over and pecked Ukyou on the cheek.
"Ain't that cute," Ryouga said as he sat down, "Did I miss
anything?"
Sayuri looked at Ukyou, who then turned to Akane, who then
turned to Shampoo. All four then cracked up laughing as Yuka and
Hiroshi sat down.
"Was it something you said?" Yuka asked Ryouga, noting his
confusion.
"I think it's in the food..." Hiroshi said glumly.
***
Tick-tickity-tick.
Nodoka came into the house and heard the quiet sounds of Ranma
at the computer. Homework? Maybe...
"Ranma, dear," she called, "I'm home."
Ranma poked her head out of the computer room.
"Hey mom, just finishing up some homework."
"That's unusual," Nodoka smirked, "What's the emergency?"
Ranma sighed and went back to work. She looked at the computer
screen and switched back to the e-mail program. Still nothing. Gos
could be so much trouble to get a hold of sometimes...
"Not all homework, I see," Nodoka said from the doorway.
"Nah, actually I'm waiting for an e-mail," Ranma smiled, "I just
thought I'd get some work done in the meantime."
"Who from?"
"From...school, mom..."
"No, I mean who're you waiting on?"
"Oh, it's an information man named Gosunkugi," Ranma
explained, "I've known him for a long time and he's getting me
some information about Happi."
"Um, Ranma?" Nodoka asked, "Are you sure you should mess
around with that little troll? He's dangerous."
"Yes, he is," Ranma said softly, "And that's why I need
information on him. The more info, the better I can fight him.
Besides, I trust Gos. He's the only other man besides dad that
knows about my curse."
Nodoka thought for a minute while Ranma went back to typing.
Ranma just didn't have any idea how dangerous Happi could be,
especially if he thought there was someone on his trail. Now,
Ranma could take care of himself physically against Happosai, but
that wasn't really how the troll worked. The computer dinged
sweetly and Ranma changed views back to the e-mail program.
There was indeed mail.
"Ah," she said, "About time, Gos."
Ranma perused it quickly and hit print. The printer spat out a
couple pages and stopped. Ranma shut down his homework and
the e-mail and sent the computer to sleep mode.
"Mom," she said as she got up, "I'm gonna go see Daisuke tonight,
so I'll be home late."
"Um, aren't you forgetting something?"
Ranma sighed softly.
"No," she said, "I'm doing this not just to cheer him up, but also to
try and get him over seeing a woman...Because of what happened
to him. Hiroshi says he freaks every time a female nurse gets near
him. Maybe I can help..."
"Are you sure you're okay with that?"
"No, but then, he's not gonna know it's me either," Ranma said.
Ranma flitted down the hallway and up the stairs.
***
Ranma shuffled nervously. This was the first time in a number of
years that she'd gone out as a girl. First time since she
worked...Ranma shook her head, trying to dislodge all the familiar
fears and feelings that came with those thoughts. That was a time
that she wasn't going back to. The elevator was taking too long.
Ranma looked at herself in the reflection of the door. Someone
with too much a sense of humor installed shiny mirror-doors on the
insides of the elevators. Guess they thought it'd get people to start
taking the stairs. Ranma smirked despite herself at the thought. She
looked back up at herself. She had to admit. If there was a woman
out there that looked as good as she did, Ranma'd have to date her.
See, Shampoo looked as good, but in a sexy kinda way. Ranma
looked that good in an innocent kinda way. Similar to Akane, but
not as muscly.
Her mirror image's deep blue eyes shifted slightly as the doors
opened. She steadied the bouquet of flowers in one arm and got off
at the floor. A pair of young doctors watched her as she passed.
Lechers. She knew how Akane felt, but Ranma knew exactly what
was on their minds. Used to be, she could figure out what they
were even doing to her in their thoughts. She wasn't that good at
reading people anymore, and that was just fine with her. Her plaid,
pleated skirt swished slightly along as she walked. Ranma had
chosen the outfit carefully. Tight enough to raise
Daisuke's...spirit...And covering enough not only to keep out the
November cold, but also to give an air of 'keep out'. Ranma smiled
a half smile as she came to the nurse's station.
"Excuse me."
The nurse turned around. For half a second, Ranma could read the
instant jealousy on the woman. The blonde slipped on a mask of
duty and duly pointed the way toward Daisuke's room. Ranma
thanked her and sighed as she walked away. That was the other
reason she didn't go out as a woman. The only time that guys give
a damn about their appearance is when they're either trying to
impress someone or when they're trying to get a girl. There are
reasons that they give else wise, like just wanting to keep in shape
and stuff, but that's not
*really* why. Women, Ranma found out,
were quite different and EVERY woman who looked better than
they did were potential enemies. It was sick and Ranma wanted no
part of it.
Ranma walked past a waiting area and smirked. Gosunkugi was
sacked out on a set of chairs he'd pulled together. He snored
slightly and he had his trench coat folded over him like a blanket.
Ranma walked over and tapped him lightly on the forehead. Gos
opened his eyes and looked up at Ranma.
"Damn girl," he snickered, "The older you get, the better you
look."
"Don't call me 'girl', bitch," Ranma snorted at him, "Now get your
ass off the chairs and straighten yourself up."
Gos got to his feet and ran a comb through his matted, Muldur-
hair. He coughed a couple times and popped a breath mint in. He
winked at Ranma and she shook her head. He'd been trying to pick
her up for as long as they'd known each other. He knew he'd never
get anywhere, but to Ranma, it just seemed like Gos enjoyed
trying.
"Gos, I'm serious," Ranma said, "This guy doesn't know that I am
who I am...He's seen me before, but I said that I was a
relative...That kinda thing..."
Gos nodded.
"Anyway, I feel kinda like this was my fault and this is a little
thing that I can do for him in return, okay?"
Gos smiled.
"Yeah Ranma," he smirked, "Keep my mouth shut until it's my
time, right?"
Ranma let out a breath. Despite being a scumbag, Gos still seemed
to have his head on straight.
"If I don't, will you promise to hurt me?" he continued to smirk.
Then again, maybe not.
"Hikaru, we've had this conversation before..."
"I know, Saotome," Gos clapped her on her shoulder, "I'm just
rippin' on ya'. Let's go see this dude."
Gos turned and stumbled into the room.
"I swear, I'm gonna rip his head off one of these days..." Ranma
mumbled to herself.
Ranma took a breath and entered Daisuke's room. She noticed who
else was in the room and immediately wished she'd planned a little
better. Kuno rose from his place at Daisuke's bedside and almost
tripped over himself getting to Ranma. He pushed poor Gos out of
the way and stood before Ranma, almost panting in anticipation.
"The youngest, prettiest Saotome graces me with her presence..."
he whispered, "I haven't seen you in many a day and I've been so
worried since my accident at our last encounter..."
"Heh," Gos snorted, "Accident..."
Kuno shot a glance back to the informant, who'd taken a seat in the
corner of the room.
"Actually, Mr. Kuno," Ranma said sweetly, "I'm here to see
Daisuke."
Kuno instantly straightened up, got a sober expression on his face,
fixed his tie and ran a hand through his hair.
"Of course, my sweet," he said with a noble air, "You may see
him, but he seems disinclined to view the fairer sex..."
"I've heard," she said.
Ranma pushed past Kuno and watched Daisuke. The dark haired
boy seemed so torn. He wanted to talk to the red haired girl that
was taking up position in the chair next to him, but at the same
time it looked like he wanted to crawl under the covers and hide.
There were bandages that still wrapped around his head, along
with the one on his left arm. Ranma suspected that Daisuke
might've had a hairline fracture, but she thought that the doctors
knew best. More bandages around the other boy's ribs...
"Daisuke," Ranma said softly.
He nodded his head.
"I, um..." Ranma took a breath, "I brought these flowers for you.
Thought you might like'm."
Ranma laid the flowers on the table next to him.
"Ranma told me everything that happened that night and since I
was in town, I thought I might come in and see you," Ranma said.
"Uh," Daisuke swallowed hard, "Thanks. I, uh...Thanks."
Ranma put on her innocent charms and smiled sweetly for
Daisuke.
"And love blooms eternal," Gos muttered sourly, "Mr. Kuno. I
think you and I need to talk."
"And you are who, Mr. Raggedyman?"
"Call me Gos..."
Gos took Kuno by the shoulder and led him out of the room. Most
likely to give her a little time alone with Daisuke. She smiled
slightly. Gos was a weird one, but reliable at least.
"Daisuke?" Ranma began, "I also brought that man, Gosunkugi,
here because he has some information about what happened to
you."
"HE knows?!" Daisuke pulled the blanket up to him, "Just how
many people did Ranma tell?"
"Nonono!" Ranma held up her hands and Daisuke flinched.
She lowered her hands and coughed.
"Gos is an old friend of ours and he's kind of a mole," Ranma said,
"If there was anyone who could help us find out who did this to
you, he'd be the one."
Daisuke seemed to relax at this. Ranma looked over to the water
pitcher. Untouched. She got up and poured him a bit of water into
the little purple plastic cup provided. Ranma proffered it to him.
Daisuke seemed hesitant to take it, but Ranma smiled again and he
whispered a thanks. He gulped down the water and put the glass
back down on the little stand beside him.
"Thanks, I couldn't reach it," he said softly.
"I know," Ranma smiled, "That woman and what she did makes
the rest of us women look horrible, I know. I also wanted to come
in and see you because I wanted you to know that there are good
women out there as well."
"I know..." Daisuke sighed, not wanting to meet Ranma's eyes, "It's
just...What she did...she..."
He shivered.
"It was absolutely wrong, Daisuke," Ranma said, "Absolutely
wrong and you did nothing-NOTHING- to in any way deserve it. I
think that's the first thing you should make yourself realize. That
you are good and she was evil. I don't care about motivations
because she took something from you...And with Gos's help,
Ranma and I will make her pay."
Tears came to his eyes and Daisuke began to shake. Ranma
reached out slowly and took his right hand. She was almost
surprised that he let her. He squeezed her hand and Ranma smiled
slightly. Daisuke shut his eyes against the flow of tears that came.
He shook his head back and forth and began to mutter something,
but Ranma couldn't hear it.
"I couldn't..." he muttered between sobs, "I just...I couldn't..."
Ranma leaned in slightly to hear him better and was a little
shocked when Daisuke hugged her. He began to cry then in long,
gasping sobs and Ranma just held him.
"I'm sorry," he sobbed, "God damn, I'm sorry...I never wanted to,
but I couldn't...I couldn't make her stop..."
"You don't have to talk, Daisuke," Ranma said quietly, "It's over
now..."
"No!" he pulled away and faced her, "I never, NEVER wanted to
do that...I was just too weak..."
He dropped his head to his hands and began to cry again. The
anger that one of her friends was reduced to this, just to get at her,
burned in Ranma. The smoldering ash that had calmed in the last
couple days flared up at the knowledge that Daisuke'd have to live
with this. Ranma breathed out and softened as she pulled Daisuke
into another hug. This time, he didn't resist.
"You're not weak, Daisuke," Ranma said, "She just took advantage
of you and from the beating you took, I'd say that not even Ranma
could've defended himself against her."
A little lie wouldn't hurt anyone...She smiled. Daisuke sighed one
last shuddering sigh.
"It's just so...confusing..."
"What's confusing about it?" Ranma asked.
"I..." Daisuke began softly, "I'm a guy. I should've liked what she
did. But I just feel so...so..."
"Violated?"
Daisuke was quiet before answering.
"Yeah."
"It was because you didn't want to give it to her," Ranma
explained, "And it doesn't matter from which end it's coming, if the
sex is nonconsensual, then it's rape, Daisuke. Pure and simple. And
it's NOT your fault."
Daisuke pulled away from her and wiped at his eyes. Ranma
handed him a tissue and they smiled shyly at each other. Ranma
laughed slightly. She was happy that she got him to open back up a
bit, at least. A scuffle from the doorway broke up the moment that
they weren't sharing and Gosunkugi came sliding into the room,
whacking his head against one of the metal bedposts.
"Gos!" Ranma stood and went to him, helping him up.
Gos smiled painfully and rubbed at his head, which was starting to
swell with a nice sized knot. Kuno bellowed into the room.
"You filthy heathen! Take that back about my sister!" he screamed.
Kuno picked up Gosunkugi by the front of his jacket and shook
him.
"Take it back!"
"MR. Kuno...Put Gos down," Ranma tried to dislodge Kuno's
hands, but she couldn't find purchase.
"But..." Gos choked, "She's the one..."
Ranma hated to do it, but Gos'd be shaken apart before she got her
information. Ranma centered quickly and powered up a small ball
of chi. It flashed slightly as she shoved it under Kuno's arm and
against his chest. He looked surprised as he sailed out of the room
and slid across the tile of the hallway beyond.
"Gos, before he gets back," Ranma held Gos up.
"Kuno..." he coughed, "Kodachi...Kuno."
"The girl from the strip club?" Daisuke ventured.
"Gos! Gos! Are you sure it's her?!" Ranma shook him slightly.
"Hey...YeahQUITSHAKIN'ME!" Gos coughed again, "Between
you and Kuno...Damn..."
"Sorry Gos," Ranma let go and smirked as his head bounced on the
floor, "Yeah, sorry 'bout that too."
Gos just stared up at the ceiling.
"Glad I'm in a hospital."
Ranma smirked again as she took her seat next to Daisuke again.
"Ranko?" Daisuke asked, "I know you're not in town much, but I
was wondering..."
Ranma smiled. If Daisuke only knew...
"I'm kinda seeing someone, Daisuke-"
"No, nothing like that." he waved his hands, "I just...You...Well,
you just made me feel better and I was wondering if we could
talk...That's all."
"Um," Ranma thought for a second, "Okay...Give your number to
Ranma and he'll get it to me. Then, I'll call when I'm in town again
and we can talk."
Daisuke smiled a genuine smile, which Ranma returned. After all,
it was the least she could do to make her friend feel better.
***
"He's a nice guy, Ranma," Gosunkugi said as he stared out the car
window.
"Yeah," Ranma wasn't paying attention.
"It's really a shame what happened to him..."
"Yeah."
"I've got flaming wombats in my trousers..."
"Yeah."
"Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
"You haven't been very attentive," Gos said, "Something on your
mind?"
Ranma sighed as they drove back into town. She wasn't going to
talk to anyone about it, but Gos was as good a person as any. At
least he wouldn't say anything.
"Gos, I'm kinda scared right now."
"Scared? About what?"
"My curse," Ranma said slowly, "It seems like it's getting easier
and easier just to slip into this form."
"You want me to find out more about it?"
"I don't know that you can, Gos," Ranma sighed heavily, "The
person that put it on me is dead and the rest of the tribe cut out by
the time I was better, and I have no idea where they went..."
"These the indians you used to hang with? What was that chick's
name?"
"Gos, don't make fun," Ranma warned, "It was a painful point in
my life and discussing it would be painful for you."
"Yeah," Gos nodded and sat back.
Ranma paused. She hated pounding him down like that, but she
also didn't want Colate's memory to be a point with which Gos
could needle her.
"Yeah, Gos. Her name was Colate," Ranma said softly, "Really, I
doubt you'll find anything, but anything you do find would be
helpful."
"Ya' know the alley next to the ice cream shop?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
"Drop me off there."
"Why?"
"My car's there."
Ranma shot a look at Gos.
"How did you get to the hospital?" she asked.
Gos smiled as the car came to a halt. He got out and turned before
he shut the door.
"I'll get a hold of you through channels when and if I find
something, okay?"
Ranma smiled winningly at him.
"Really, thanks Gos."
He winked and shut the door. She watched him blend into the
alleyway and disappear. Ranma knew the odds that he'd find
something, but she wanted him to look anyway because she was
beginning to have an odd feeling about the curse. She also needed
to talk to some other people about it because they might have
answers that even Gos couldn't find...Mostly because they were
girls too. Well, young women. Whatever. Ranma put the car in
gear and headed home.
***
The hospital was quiet. Visiting hours had long since passed, but
Daisuke couldn't get any sleep. He hadn't felt this good since
before the dance. It really helped talking to Ranko like that. At first
he'd been apprehensive about talking to her since, well, she was
female. He didn't know if he could trust any woman anymore...But
he'd probably trust Ranko. Didn't hurt that she was cute, too. At
times like this, in the last couple days, Daisuke would get out of
bed, stumble over to the windows and open the curtains so that he
could look out to the fields beyond. It helped him get perspective.
Of course, he normally collapsed from the exertion afterwards too,
but it DID help him sleep. There was a knock at the door. At this
hour?
"Come in..." Daisuke said quietly, not knowing what else to say.
The door opened and the man that was with Ranko entered the
room and closed the door behind him. Gosunkugi, she said his
name was.
"Um, you know that visiting hours are over?" Daisuke asked.
"Yeah, but they don't take mind of people who are supposed to be
there," Gos straightened the official looking white lab coat, "Not
that I'm supposed to be here or anything, but I was wondering if
there's anything you need before I take off?"
Daisuke smiled.
"No, thanks..." he said, "You snuck in to ask me if I needed
anything?"
"Well, that and..." Gos ambled to Daisuke's bedside, "And I need
your help with something."
Gos clicked on the little bedside lamp and brought something out
from under his coat. It looked like a patient's medical sheets, like
the kind that hung at the ends of beds, or something like that,
Daisuke wasn't sure.
"Now..." Gos let Daisuke read the name at the top of the sheet.
It read; Kuno, T.
Daisuke shot a look to Gos, who smiled broadly in return.
"Apparently, when dear Ran-" he paused slightly, "KO, hit Kuno
and blew him across the hall, she broke a couple ribs. He fought
with the orderlies and they had to sedate him. Unfortunately, they
sedated him a little too heavily. My opinion is that they did it on
purpose, he was being an ass."
Daisuke shared a chuckle.
"Well, I just happened to slip by the nurses' station and found this
laying there," Gos smirked, "And my spelling really isn't all that
good...So, how do you spell 'Colo-rectal exam'?"
Daisuke's smile broadened at the thought that perhaps, just
perhaps, the doctors might find his head while they were there. The
nurses couldn't understand where the laughter was coming from,
but decided that the night was fine with one lunatic and left it be.
***
Joshua "Gargoyle" Trujillo
"Stone Cold Protector of the Righteous"
"Owner of The Anime Bar & Grille - Eager Beavers!"
Come visit The Anime Bar & Grille!
Now with two locations!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/1509/taa.html
and
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/museum/1275/taa.html
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