Continued from part 24
--------------------------------------------------------------
RANKO 1/2
Part 25
"That Black Rose will be sorry"
It is early morning, but the sounds of fighting can already be
heard from the practice hall of the Tendou Dojo.
Akane is standing in the middle of the hall, sweating, but looking
happy. She is holding one rhythmic gymnastics club in each hand.
Akane: Phew! That Kodachi will get the fight she's looking for.
Ranko is sitting along the wall, watching her.
Ranko: So, you're pretty confident?
Akane: [twirls one of the clubs] Yes. That week of training
with Ryouga was a real help.
Ranko: When he was able to find the practice hall, anyway.
<BOP>
The club bonks off Ranko's head.
Akane: And your "giving him directions" didn't help either. What
did you *think* of, sending him off in the direction of
Osaka?
Ranko: [rubbing her head] Well, I figured he was just as likely
to turn up here, as if I had pointed him on the right way.
Akane: Hmph! He taught me a lot during this time, and I'm
confident that I'll be able to hold myself at the match
today.
Ranko: But we'd better watch out, or Kodachi will try to
disqualify you "in all fairness" before you get your
chance.
At the St.Hebereke School for Girls, Kodachi is already awaiting
them. They meet her in the corridor before the changing rooms.
Kodachi: So. You are Tendou Akane - and you brought your little
girlfriend, too.
Ranko just snarls at her, while Akane evenly meets her gaze.
Kodachi extends a hand.
Kodachi: Very well, then. May the better one win.
Akane eyes the hand suspiciously at first, but then - when she
cannot find any hidden weapons - takes it. Kodachi shakes Akane's
hand for a second, the lets herself fall backward, pulling Akane
with her, and throwing her into the air. Akane just somersaults
over her and lands on her feet. She turns to look at Kodachi
disgustedly.
Kodachi: Ooops, I must have slipped.
She lies without any sign of shame. Akane and Ranko enter their
room, without saying another word to the other girl. A bouquet of
black roses, lying on the table, is quickly disposed of via the
window. Akane changes into her leotard and tights, and is just
about to put her clothes into the locker, when Ranko stops her.
Ranko: Akane! Look.
She points upwards, where a bucket is balanced on top of the
locker, just waiting to drop onto anyone opening the door.
Akane: A bucket of water. How childish.
Ranko: You think that's just water in there?
Akane gulps. She puts up a stepladder, that was leaning against
the wall, and carefully climbs up, to remove the bucket. Ranko
watches her, when suddenly her sense of danger goes off.
Ranko: [thinks] That stepladder. It was just too damn handy,
nearby. [out loud] Akane! Don't step on the last step!
Akane: Huh?
But it is already too late. The last step gives under Akane's
weight and the girl falls. She lands heavily, her left leg
twisted beneath her. She grits her teeth and expels her breath.
A single tear is rolling from her eye.
Akane: [silently] Ow.
In a flash, Ranko is by her and helps her stand. It is obvious
that she cannot stand alone - her ankle is twisted. Akane sits
down on a chair. She looks sad and angry at the same time.
Akane: So that's it. Kodachi wins after all.
Ranko: [determined] No, she doesn't!
Akane: I'm in no state to fight, Ranko. We'll have to forfeit
this match. I was the last substitute our team had.
Ranko: Well, you're looking at the *new* substitute. That Black
Rose will be sorry she ever messed with you.
Akane: But Ranko...
Ranko: What do you want? I can fight; I can wear your leotard -
it's stretchable, isn't it? - and I'm a girl.
She spreads her arms in a "What more do you want?" gesture.
unfortunately she brushes up against the locker with her hand and
the bucket falls down onto her head. It *did* contain only water,
after all.
Ranma: Err, if I can find some hot water, that is.
Akane is still sitting on the chair nursing her ankle, when Ranko
comes back. Ranko is now wearing the leotard, and Akane is back
in her clothes.
Ranko: It's all cleared. The judges have accepted me as a
substitute and the match will begin soon.
Akane: Ranko - do you really think you can go into a match with
someone like Kodachi unprepared?
Ranko: Hey, I watched you and Ryouga train for a week, after all.
She picks up the ribbon and whips it clear across the room, where
it ties around both clubs and the hoop. She snaps it back and
catches the tools deftly.
Ranko: Willya toss me the rope, please?
Akane stares at her. Then she slowly reaches over, picks up the
rope and throws it to Ranko.
Akane: W-why didn't you snag it, too?
Ranko: Hey, it's my first time. Cut me some slack.
A gong sounds.
Ranko: Uh oh, gotta go now. See ya out there.
Akane stares after the leaving Ranko for a time.
Akane: [thinks] I'm beginning to believe that Kodachi *will* be
sorry.
Announcer: Here are the champions.
The crowd in the hall around the ring roars approval at the
entrance of the two girls.
Announcer: For St.Hebereke stands... Kunou Kodachiii!
Kodachi's supporters applaud wildly. They know what awaits them
after the show, if they don't. Akane freezes as she hears
Kodachi's full name.
Akane: *Kunou*?!
Announcer: And on the other side, for Fuurinkan High fights...
[rustles paper] um, Saotome Rankooo!
Kodachi glares across the ring at her opponent.
Kodachi: [thinks] Saotome Ran... -ko?
The referee calls them to the middle of the ring, to shake hands
and begin to fight. Ranko stretches out her hand, not expecting
Kodachi to try anything before everybody's eyes. She is wrong.
<CHINK>
Pig: Bweeee!
Kodachi: For you. A little something that I found wandering the
corridors just now. I thought that you'd need a mascot.
Ranko pulls at the chain that Kodachi has just attached to her
wrist. At the other end hangs a little black pig with a bandanna
around its neck.
Ranko: [grits her teeth, to P-chan] Well, well, Ryouga. Always
turning up where nobody expected you.
P-chan does not answer. He is too busy biting Ranko's arm.
Trying to use Ranko's diverted attention, Kodachi lunges at her
with a club outstretched. Ranko is barely able to duck. Out of
the corners of her eyes she sees something happen to the club.
Akane, who is sitting in the front row, jumps up, ignoring her bad
ankle.
Akane: Referee! That club has spikes!
But when Kodachi holds out her club, the spikes have vanished
again, just like they appeared. Kodachi grins smugly. Meanwhile,
Ranko has taken up her own clubs and launches her attack. She
never makes it.
<KA-CHINK>
His little legs a blur, P-chan has circled Ranko, wrapping the
chain, that binds him to her, firmly around her legs. Ranko
stumbles and falls flat.
Ranko: Ryouga, you pig, you're gonna pay for that.
She frantically rolls to the side, to evade Kodachi's next move,
but the Black Rose scores a glancing blow to her side.
Ranko: Unnnh! [frees herself of the chain, to Kodachi] And
*you* will pay, too.
She throws a club at Kodachi, who laughs and sidesteps it easily -
right into the path of the hoop, that Ranko has thrown with
lightning speed. The hoop catches around Kodachi's throat,
choking her for a second. She lets the tool clatter to the ground
and looks at Ranko hatefully.
Kodachi: [coughs] So, you want to play it the hard way, girl?
Then try *this*!
On the table of the judges stands a tray with cups of tea and a
kettle of boiling water on a heater. Kodachi's ribbon lashes out
of the ring and snags the kettle. With a flick of her wrist, she
sends it flying at Ranko.
Kodachi: Let's see you shrug off the Attack of the Boiling Water!
With a look of intense concentration on her face, Ranko aims
one of her clubs and throws it with all her force. It's obvious
immediately, that it is not going to connect with the kettle.
Instead, the blurring club slices right through the tautly
stretched ribbon that holds it, thereby sending the kettle far off
its mark, missing Ranko.
But as the kettle sails out of the ring, it turns over and a
stream of boiling water leaks out. Right down towards the
squealing P-chan.
<SPLATTER>
The water hits, and in the audience, Akane's eyes go wide.
Akane: P-... P-Chan!
-- End of Part 25.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Continued in part 26
Sebastian