"Ranma 1/2: Mechwarrior Team Jusenkyo" Chapter 4
By: James "Phoenix" Jones
[Planet: Moraine -- Lyran Alliance: April 30, 3057]
< > shows thoughts
{ } shows people speaking over comm systems
The team sat anxiously around their mechs. The outside air of Moraine poured through the open doors, giving the hanger a very unpleasant temperature. Each pilot fidgeted as they waited for Yuta to come back with Herb's choice of battle area.
Ranma looked around at those gathered and smiled. They were all his friends, he just hoped they would remain so once he said what he had to say. Looking up, he shook his head. Somehow, the team didn't seem complete with the Hatchetman and Shadow Hawk.
Finally, Yuta walked through the door.
"Alright, people." he said. "I've got the choice."
They all gathered around, nervously waiting for Yuta to continue.
Clearing his throat, he said, "This time the duel takes place on the Shattered Towers. Duel time is set for exactly three hours from now."
"What Shattered Towers?" asked Shampoo.
"A rocky plain surrounded by rugged mountains and steep plateaus about eighteen-hundred kilometers north of here." Answered Kodachi.
"That's right. At full speed it'll take a little over two hours to get there so listen up." said Yuta. "The area around the towers is rocky, mostly just small debris. However, a lot of the debris is more than big enough to hide a mech behind."
"Terrain tactics?" asked Ukyou.
"You got it." countered Yuta. "I want you to use the terrain as an advantage. Fire from cover as much as possible, but make sure the rock you hide under isn't already being used. And remember, you can get trapped really easy in that place, so be careful."
A murmur of "don't worry, we'll be careful," ran through the team.
"Also, this time I'll have medic teams going out with you, but they'll be at a safe distance." said Yuta. "I'll be out there too."
"You will!?" shouted the team in surprise.
"Yeah." said Yuta. "I'll be in an mobile HQ, but I won't be able to help you much. I just don't want to be too far from this fight."
"Why?" asked Kodachi.
"I've got my reasons." said Yuta. "Any other questions?"
Silence.
"Alright, then." said Yuta. "Mount up and lets go kick some clan butt."
"Wait!"
Everyone turned to look at Ranma, their expression a mixture of annoyance and surprise. Jumping off the Battlmaster's foot, Ranma walked to Ryouga and bowed. "I'm sorry, Ryouga." he said.
Everyone looked at each other, not comprehending.
"S. . . s. . . sorry for what?" asked Ryouga.
"For, Akane." Ranma answered.
<Why'd he have to . . . wait a minute!> "What do you have to be sorry for, Ranma?" asked Ryouga, genuinely confused.
Standing straight, Ranma said, "I don't want you to blame yourself, Ryouga. It wasn't your fault."
"How would you. . . ?"
"Because it was mine." Ranma finished
"Huh?!" Ryouga screamed as those around him mimicked the sound.
"It was my missiles that hit you, not that Dasher." continued Ranma.
"Why the hell didn't you warn me!?"
"I. . . I wasn't thinking straight and I. . . I guess I thought they'd miss you."
"Then. . . then it's your fault if Akane. . . if she. . ." Ryouga stammered, seeing red.
"Yes." said Ranma. "I don't ask you to forgive me. I just ask that you don't blame yourself."
At this, Ryouga felt the rage drain away. He realized that the guilt was hurting Ranma more than any thing he could have done. He also realized that in his own way, Ranma _was_ asking Ryouga for forgiveness, and he'd get it, eventually. However it seemed as Ranma had left something out.
"It that all?" Ryouga asked.
"No." said Ranma.
"What else then?"
Without answering, Ranma crossed his arms behind his back and walked directly in front of Ryouga.
"Free shot." said Ranma. "I deserve it."
Ryouga laughed. "Yeah, Ranma." he said. "You deserve it, but I won't."
Ranma uncrossed his arms and turned around. "Okay." he said.
"Oh, the hell with it." countered Ryouga.
Hearing the words, Ranma turned back and was greeted by Ryouga's fist. The force of the punch sent him into the ground at least five feat away. A moment later, Ranma sat up, holding his jaw.
Walking over, Ryouga extended his hand and helped Ranma to his feet.
"Don't think that makes up for anything, Ranma." said Ryouga. "I'll forgive you a little, but not completely."
"Not. . . um. . . not completely?" asked Ranma, not understanding.
"Not yet." said Ryouga. "I'll still count you as my friend, but until you do something that'll redeem you, I'd suggest watching your back."
Ranma nodded dumbly.
"If you two are finished." Yuta interrupted. "We have a duel to fight."
Both boys nodded and ran toward their respective mechs. Yuta smiled. He knew that Ranma's actions now, would eventually earn him forgiveness later.
* * *
As the team reached the Shattered Towers, they took note that it was exactly how Yuta had described it. Boulders of variying shapes and sizes littered the entire area, obscuring much of the terrain.
Around the area, high, rough mountains rose like dark sentinels. The field would have been difficult to fight on any occasion but today, a thick layer of fog added to the difficulty.
Halfway to the duel coordinates, Yuta's voice sounded over the comm.
{Alright people.} he said. {I'm gonna hold up here with the medical team. This'll give us a two to four minute transport time to get to you if anything happens.}
{You think this is far enough away?} asked Ranma.
{Yeah, I think so.} replied Yuta. {But, I don't want you all to worry about us. Worry about those clansmen!}
{Yuta, you think Blinders work in fog?} asked Shampoo.
{I doubt it, Shampoo.} he said. {Just remember the plan. Use the terrain to your advantage and don't let up on those bastards. Make me proud.}
{We will.} said Ranma and Ryouga in unison. All the other team members made similar comments, then left to face the clans.
* * *
{Greetings, Ranma Saotome.} said Herb.
{And to you, Star Captain Herb} countered Ranma.
The mechs faced off with each other at about four hundred meters. The Jusenkyo team had spaced themselves out further than usual in order to break for cover more quickly. Looking at the clan mechs, it was obvious they had something similar planned.
{The rules are simple this time, Ranma Saotome.} said Herb {This is a battle to the death. Agreed?}
Ranma conversed with his teammates for a moment, and finally said {Agreed?}
{Now!!!} shouted both commanders in unison.
Immediately, the individual mechs broke away from each other and headed for cover. The final battle, had begun
* * *
Ryouga closed on the Blackhawk. The smaller clan mech had beaten him once, and had been beaten by him once. This time, he was intent on finishing the job.
As the crosshairs flashed red, he fired. His ER PPC hit home on the mech's left arm, but the lasers went wide. Cursing, he fired again. The Blackhawk, finally noticing him, spun around and fired.
Twelve ruby darts burst forth from the clan mech's arms and arched toward the Battlemaster. Rotating his torso, Ryouga took the blast on his arm. Turning back, he fired his ER PPC. The blast once again caught the Blackhawk's arm and the follow-up shots from Battlemaster's lasers sent the arm flying away from the body.
Ryouga continued to fire at the Blackhawk, but the smaller mech's jumpjets allowed it to zig zag and avoid most of the blasts.
"Warning! Heat Level: Critical"
<Damn it!> thought Ryouga, realizing he'd fogotten to check his heat. Immediately, he stopped firing. It was then he noticed the Blackhawk rocketing toward him.
Before he could react, the Blackhawk soared upward, catching the Battlemaster's chin with its claw-like toe. Although he fought hard for control, Ryouga quickly lost his balance and the mech fell to the ground.
<Nuts!> thought Ryouga. <Looks like I'm out. I. . . uh oh!> Seeing the Blackhawk turn to face him, Ryoug quickly tried to raise his fallen mech. He failed.
As the Blackhawk closed in on him, Ryouga struggled to undo the straps that held him in the command couch. Finally pulling himself free, he scrambled out of the cockpit. Once through the canopy, he jumped
The minute he hit the ground, Ryouga ran to the cover of a small boulder. A moment later, the Blackhawk's massive claw slammed onto the Battlemaster's cockpit, crushing it.
* * *
Kodachi creeped around one of the larger boulders as quietly as possible. The radar indicated that one of the clan mechs was nearby, but she moved slowly. She knew that if she could pick it up, it could pick her up as well.
Finally, she saw it. A Dasher was slowly moving toward her and, despite the heavy fog, she could see it clearly. Leveling her AC/10s, she fired.
Unfortunately, both shots went wide and alerted the Dasher to her location. Immediately, the smaller mech picked up speed and moved toward her. Kodachi continued to fire, but she continued to miss the Dasher.
As she attempted to lock on, the Dasher began to answer her attacks with some of its own. Ruby darts began to pelt her Centurion as the clan mech circled her.
Realising her AC ammo would run out if she continued to fire them, Kodachi switched to her lasers and began to fire back at the Dasher. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally managed to hit it. The mech slowed down as the energy darts hit its torso.
Seizing the opportunity, Kodachi fired her AC. Only one salvo of shotgun pellets hit, but it sent much of the mech's right arm flying away. A moment later, the Centurion rocked back and forth as the Dasher's SRMs slammed into it.
Cursing, Kodachi fired again. This time, the shots flew truly and caugh the Dasher in its already damaged torso. The mech rocked back and forth slightly, then was still.
Kodachi let out a breath of relief. Looking at her damage display, she realised the clan mech had stripped nearly all of her torso armor from its constant barrage. Again, she breathed a sigh of relief.
* * *
Mousse's Archer closed on the Vulture. As the lock signal sounded, he fired both salvos of missiles. The shots caught the mech in the left to arm, sending armor flying. Turning, the Vulture answered with missiles of its own.
The missiles slammed into Archer's torso, causing the mech to rock back and forth. Targeting with his lasers, Mousse fired again, catching the Vulture in the head. Return fire from the clan mech caught the Archer's head. Mousse heard some of the computer systems crackle from the impact.
Remembering one of Yuta's lessons on close combat, Mousse crowded the Vulture and began to punch with the Archer's giant hands. The Vulture pilot, taking advantage of his mechs slightly greater speed, reversed his direction in an attempt to get away from the Archer. Finally out of the range of the Archer's fists, it began to fire its lasers with renewed vigor.
The two mechs traded shots for several minutes before the Vulture moved behind one of the larger boulders. Mousse breathed a heavy sigh as he scanned his readouts.
The Archer had severe damage to its torso and several of the blasts had caught him in the head. Reaching to his side, he could feel a tiny rivulet of blood. Looking around he noticed that much of the cockpit systems had blown out from the damage.
Turning back to the view port, he was surprised to see the Vulture's missiles flying toward him. Grabbing the controls, Mousse tried to rotate the Archer's torso so the shots would hit the arm. The maneuvor, was about two seconds to late.
The missiles slammed into the Archer, making a trail from its groin to its head as Mousse fought for balance. Finally, a missile hit just below his cockpit sending a large chunk of armor into the armored viewport. A second later, the viewport shattered
As the viewport exploded a piece of the armored glass flew back toward Mousse. Unable to move, he could only watch in grim fasination as the armor slammed into his visor, shattering it. Mousse screamed in pain as the shards of plastic tore into his eyes.
A moment later, he felt the mech lurch as the Vulture began firing at him with its lasers. He could still see, but all he could make out was the red streams that covered his eyes. Fumbling around the cockpit failed him as well, each time the mech moved, it seemed to pull the controls just out of reach. Sitting back in the command couch, he resigned himself to his fate.
* * *
Shampoo circled one of the boulders, moving as fast as the Victor would take her. When she had heard the scream, her heart had nearly stopped. She had known immediately that it was Mousse.
<Please, let him be okay.> she thought.
Rounding the boulder, she saw the Vulture pelting the damaged Archer. {Mousse! Shampoo help you!} screamed Shampoo as she charged at the mech.
The Vulture pilot heard the call and, certain the Archer was no longer a threat, turned to face the oncoming Victor.
Wasting no time, Shampoo fired her Blinders at the Vulture. The flash wasn't as bright as Shampoo had hoped and the pilot seemed unaffected. However, the fires that burst up from the mech's armor, assured Shampoo the Vulture would need to cool down soon.
Sure enough, the mech stopped firing after just three volleys. Turning, it began to run away. Locking onto the mech as best she could, Shampoo leveled the AC/20 and fired. The ultradense pellets streaked toward the Vulture, catching it in its thin rear armor. Spured on, Shampoo continued to fire.
"Warning! Ammo level: Critical!"
Shampoo ingnored the warning and continued to fire, finally the ammo ran out and the AC ceased to fire. However, a bright flash off to one side, indicated the Vulture was no longer a threat.
{Mousse!? You alright?!}
Over the comm, Shampoo heard what sounded like laughter. {It would appear, Shampoo, that I owe you my life once again.} said Mousse. {Tell me again why you saved me.}
{Shampoo love you.} she said.
{I know.} came the reply.
* * *
Ranma watched in satisfaction as the Dasher exploded. The fight had been easier then he expected. Thus, he knew something was wrong.
Suddenly, he felt the Phoenix Hawk lurch. Turning, he saw the Masakari bearing down on him. Firing his Hives, Ranma was relieved to see them all break open. Unfortuantely, less than half of them hit the oncoming mech and those that did hit barely seemed to damage it. Leveling his laser, Ranma fired continuously at his opponent, as the Phoenix Hawk backed away.
{Time to die freebirth!}
Ranma heard the taunt and watched as the Masakari leveled its ER PPCs. Pushing hard on his jump pads, Ranma attempted to slide clear.
CRASH!!!
"What the . . . ?!" Ranma screamed. Looking from side to side, he realized that he'd backed into a box canyon. He watched in horror as the Masakari's arms flared blue.
{NO!!!!!!!!!!!!}
Turning his head in surprise, Ranma barely had time to see a mech run in front of him. He realised it was Kodachi.
The four PPC bolts slammed squarely into the Centurion, easily breaking through the damaged armor. Even in his own cockpit, Ranma could hear the sound of internals exploding. He watched, helpless as the mech toppled to the ground.
{Kodach!!!!!!!!!!} he screamed.
{We. . . a. . .are . . . even now. . . my . . . friend.} she said.
Ranma called to her over the comm, but his only answer was static. Turning to face the Masakari, he charged. {Damn you!!!} he screamed.
He heard the clan pilot laugh as he again leveled his weapons. The PPCs flared again, but this time Ranma was ready.
Pushing hard on his jump pedals, Ranma soared over the incoming bolts. <If I time this just right.> he thought.
As he sailed, he watched the Masakari raise its torso to looke at him. Once he was in position, he cut the jump jets. The mech fell like a stone, directly into the Masakari.
Ranma heard the clan pilot scream as the Phoenix Hawk crashed into the Masakari. The Phoenix Hawk shuddered from the impact and fell backwards, hitting the ground hard.
Shaking his head, Ranma carefully raised the mech and surveyed the damage. The Masakari lay on its back, its cockpit crushed.
{That was for Kodachi.} said Ranma coldly.
* * *
Ukyou fired her lasers at the Blackhawk, intent on finishing the job Ryouga had started. Damage lights flicked on all accross her console as the clan mech continued to fire at her. Targetting the mech with her Guass Rifle, she fired.
The Guass shell punched into the smaller mech, sending armor flying. However, the mech stubbornly refused to die. Crowding it, she raised her arms and punched downward onto the Blackhawk's back.
Finally, the mechs legs gave out and it crashed to the ground.
<It about time.> Ukyou thought. However, the thought was short lived. She felt the mech rock and turned to see Herb's MadCat closing in on her.
Spinning the Crusader around, she targeted him with her Hives and fired. Many of the missiles made contact, but the MadCat still moved forward.
Ukyou pushed the mech into reverse as the clan mech fired its missiles. Most of the shots went wide, but several hit her torso. The distance between her and the clansman no longer allowed her to use the hives, and she began to regret the decision of swapping her LRM's for Akane's Guass Rifle.
Suddenly, she felt the mech stumble and begin to tip. She realized too late she must have tripped on one of the boulders.
No amount of control seemed to keep the mech from falling. She shut her eyes tightly and braced for impact. The Crusader hit the ground hard and came to rest in a sitting postion against the side of one of the mountains.
Shaking her head groggily, Ukyou saw the MadCat closing. Quickly cheeking her readouts, she realized that missiles wouldn't fire in her current position and her lasers were damaged. Her only remaining weapon was the Guass Rifle, but according to the readout, she only had one shot remaining.
Flicking the comm switched, she called for help.
* * *
Herb watched with a grim smile as the Crusader fell to the ground. Slowing his pace, he waited for his MadCat to enter prime range for the LRM 20s. As the crosshairs turned red, he casually flicked the trigger and watched as all forty missiles arched toward the downed Crusader.
"Farewell freebirth." he said, smoothly.
{Oh no you don't!}
"What?" Herb screamed as another mech jump (literally) into his view. He watched, fasinated as it flew into the path of the missiles. He recognized the Phoenix Hawk
Lossing their lock, the LRM's pounded into the newcomer. Every missile hit the Phoenix Hawk squarely at some point or another. Herb laughed coldly as the mech fell to earth with a huge crash.
{You have only delayed the inevitable, Ranma Saotome.} Herb called, laughing. <Of course, it saves me from having to hunt you down, stupid freebirth.> he added to himself.
Pushing forward on the controls, he moved on the downed Crusader.
* * *
{Ranchan!} screamed Ukyou, horriefied as she watched the Phoenix Hawk plunge into the mountain side.
<He. . . he saved me.> she said to herself. Forgetting about Herb, she watched the crash sight intently, wating for the dust to clear. She gasped at what she saw.
The Phoenix Hawk lay in a position similar to her own, its torso completely caved in and its arms hanging by wires. Looking at the cockpit, she realized it had been nearly destroyed.
{Ranma!} she screamed {Ranchan, answer me!}
{Sorry. . . Uk. . . Ucchan.} came the response. {I tried.}
Ukyou felt tears burning her face, she wanted to reply but couldn't. Suddenly, a noise caught her attention and she turned to look forward. She gasped in shock as she came face to face with the MadCat's arm weapons.
{Beg, freebirth.} commanded Herb. {Do it well, and I _might_ let you live.}
{I'd rather die.} said Ukyou.
{So be it.}
* * *
{I'd rather die.}
Ranma could feel his conciousness slipping away, but he could still hear Ukyou's words. Raising his head wearily, he looked himself over.
The cockpit had shattered around him. A piece of metal covered his lower body and he couldn't feel his legs. His right arm was twisted at an impossible angle but his left was free. Blinking, he found that only one eye would open. Reaching up with his good hand, he felt warm blood pouring from a cut just above his eye.
Looking out through the cockpit, he saw the MadCat standing between the Crusaders legs, its arm leveled at the cockpit.
<I. . . failed again.> thought Ranma. <First Akane, then Kodachi and . . . > He coughed hard, blood falling over his lips.
Unable to hold up his head, he let it roll back. His mind swam with images of himself and his friends. Images of times they had shared and hardships they had endured. He remembered things he thought he'd long forgot, his training trips, his grandparents, even his first meeting with Akane.
<Akane!> his mind screamed. He could see her, laying in the hospital crying. Suddenly, his head snapped up. <I can't let it end like this!> he said to himself.
Trying hard to control his breathing Ranma stared hard at the MadCat. As he watched, he could feel the air around him crackle with energy. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he pulled his good arm back and made ready to attack.
"Akane!!!!!!!!" he screamed, punching forward. Waves of pure energy travelled out along his arm to fly away from his fist. As the last of his strengthed failed him, Ranma watched the bolt slam into Herb's back. He smiled.
* * *
Ukyou stared sadistically at the MadCat's arm, determined to face death head on. Suddenly, she saw the mech tip forward. A moment later, the mech's torso rotated away from her.
Her heart lept, this was what she'd been praying for. She wasn't sure what had happened, but while the MadCat was turned away, she raised the Crusader's arm and positioned the Guass Rifle to were she guessed the mechs cockpit was.
{It would seem, freebirth, that your friend is not completely dead.} said Herb, still facing away. {I shall have to deal with him after I rid the world of you.}
Ukyou laughed into the comm. {You won't get the chance.}
Herb returned the laugh and began to rotate the torso back toward Ukyou. {You joke well freebirth, none of you inferiors could ever. . . } He stopped abruptly as he found the Guass Rifle pointed at his face.
Without waiting, Ukyou pulled the trigger. The Guass shell flew from the barrel into the cockpit of the MadCat. Ukyou watched in dark amazement as the armored canopy exploded outward, taking the MadCat's head with it. Over the comm, she heard Herb scream.
{Guess what, trashborn.} she said. {One of us inferiors just beat you.}
* * *
Yuta looked frantically between the monitors of the Mobile HQ. Only Shampoo's camera remained operational. No amount of effort would bring back the view from the other mechs.
<What the hell's going on?> Yuta asked himself.
Turning in her chair, Nabiki faced Yuta. Her hand held a headset she was frantically trying to operate. "Yuta." she said. "I can't raise them!"
Facing her, Yuta held out his hand. "Give me the comm set." he said.
Removing the headset, Nabiki handed it to Yuta, who immediately put it on.
{Any Jusenkyo pilot, that can hear me.} he said. {What's going on out there. We can't see anything.}
No reply came.
{Lost Boy! Mousse! Shampoo! Black Rose! White Bow! Wild Horse!} as he called the names, he felt fear creeping up on him, something he hadn't felt in a long time. {Somebody! Answer me!}
{Yuta.}
Yuta's heart jumped. Reaching his hand to the head set, he tapped the send button and said {Ukyou, is that you!?}
{Yeah. . . its me.} she answered, her voice grave.
{What's going on!?} asked Yuta. {The monitors are all gone, we can't see a thing!}
{You. . . you'd better get some medics up here.} said Ukyou.
{Medics?}
{Better. . . hurry.}
Tearing off the headset, Yuta ran to the door and, throwing it open, yelled for the medics. As the other vehicles moved out, he jumped into the drivers seat and followed.
* * *
Hours later, the remaining Jusenkyo Mechwarriors gathered in the Nermia Hospital. No one knew what was happening and the waiting was beginning to take its tole on the team.
Ryouga paced back and forth, occassionally bumping into something. Ukyou sat to one side, sharpening as small, oddly shaped knife to keep herself busy. Genma and Nodoka sat against one wall.
Genma's face betrayed all the concern he felt and Nodoka's expression was nearly identical. Ranko sat in Nodoka's lap, crying onto her mother's shoulder.
Yuta leaned against the wall, thinking. It had been a tough fight, but they had won. The cost, however, had been higher than he'd thought possible. Kasumi had told him Akane was going to live, but the good news was overshadowed by what had happened.
As he continued to think, he felt a hand touch his shoulder. Turning, he saw Dr. Tofu. Yuta started to speak, but the doctor lead him away before saying anything.
"Alright, Doc." said Yuta. "What's going on?"
"It isn't good, Yuta." replied Tofu. "You want to sit down, this time?"
In answer, Yuta pulled up a chair and sat. Once down, he leaned heavily on his arm. "Okay, Doc, spill it."
"Kodachi will live, Yuta." said Tofu. "But we had to amputate her leg. She's still unconcious and will be for several hours."
Yuta covered his face with his hands and nodded for the doctor to continue.
"Mousse is stable." Tofu continued. "The shards of plastic did a lot of damage and will cost him about half to three-forths of his sight. But I think he'll be okay. Shampoo's with him right now."
Yuta smiled despite himself, but immediately banished it. "Ranma isn't going to make, is he?" he asked, taking his hands away from his face.
Tofu looked at Yuta and shook his head. "The odds are very bad Yuta." he said. "At present, I give him less than a ten percent chance of surviving. I'm sorry."
"Isn't there something you can do?"
"I'm afraid not, Yuta." said Tofu. "The only thing we can do is pray for a miricle."
Yuta shook his head and stood up. "Miricles are don't happen these days, Doc."
"Some people will argue that point."
"Come on." said Yuta. "Let's go tell the families."
[Planet: Moraine -- Lyran Alliance: May 10, 3057]
Soun stood in the hanger impatiently. Around him, the Jusenkyo battlemechs were slowly being repaired. Although he knew some of them could never be repaired.
Turning his head, he looked through the open door at the four transports still outside. Each was loaded with a clan omnimech.
"Soun."
Turning back, he saw Yuta approaching him. "Morning, Yuta." replied Soun, unenthusiastically.
"Give me the report." Yuta replied in the same monotone voice.
Quickly, Soun went over the damamge list. After he was finished, he asked, "What about the omnimechs, Yuta?"
"Hmm. . . what was that?" asked Yuta.
"The omni's," replied Soun. "Do you want me to try and repair them? I've only been asking that question for the last ten days!"
"We can't keep them." said Yuta, looking at the downed titans.
"What!?" screamed Soun. "After what happened! How can you . . ."
"You know as well as I do, Soun, that we couldn't afford the upkeep on one omni." Yuta shouted. "Do think we could afford the upkeep on four?"
"No." Soun said flatly
"Strip whatever you want off of them." Yuta continued, calming down. "The rest goes to Gosonkugi. He'll have a field day with those things."
"If you say so, Yuta." replied Soun.
"By the way, have you told Akane about Ranma yet?" asked Yuta.
Soun shook his head.
Akane had finally regained conciousness four days earlier, but no one had told her anything. Kasumi had wanted to, but Yuta had told her not to.
"I don't think I've got the heart to tell her." said Soun.
Yuta nodded. "After what happened with Genma, I can understand."
As he spoke, Yuta shook his head, remembering how Genma had tried to tear the waiting room apart when Tofu had given him the news.
"Look at it this way, Soun." said Yuta. "If Ranma dies, at least he'll die like he wanted to."
"How's that?"
"He'll die a Mechwarrior."
* * *
Akane lay on her bed, arms crossed. It had been two days already and she had most of her strength back. She could walk again, but was still a little shaky, thus Dr. Tofu had told her to stay in bed. The entire team had come into visit her, everyone and the person she really wanted to see. Uncrossing her arms, she began to scratch at her brace. <Stupid, insensitive jerk!> she thought. <He could at least come in and see me!! But, no!>
Reaching to one side, she pushed the intercom and asked Kasumi to come in.
"Yes, Akane?" asked Kasumi, her face as cheerful as ever.
"Kasumi, have you seen, Ranma today."
At this, Kasumi's expression darkened, alerting Akane that something was amiss. At length, she said, "Y. . . yes."
"Well, where is he?" asked Akane.
Reluctantly, Kasumi told Akane everything. Akane could only listen in shocked silence.
"You. . . he. . . I . . . Kasumi that can't be right!" she said desperately.
"I'm sorry, Akane." said Kasumi. "I wanted to tell you earlier, but. . ."
"Can. . . can I see him?"
Kasumi nodded and helped Akane out of the bed. A moment later, she lead her out into the hall toward Ranma's room.
* * *
{Are you sure that's what you want me to do, Genma. I mean, I've been wrong in the past.}
{Dr. Tofu, just tell me. Is there any chance?}
{There's always a chance, Genma.}
{But do you think it will happen?}
{No.}
{Alright. You know what Nodoka and I've decided must be done.}
{Yes, sir.}
* * *
Once Akane was seated on a comfortable chair, Kasumi quickly moved out of the room, leaving Akane alone with Ranma.
Akane felt hot tears moving down her face as she stared at him.
White bandages wound around most of Ranma's body and a metal patch covered his right eye. His right arm, encased in a cast, lay at his side. IV tubes and monitoring cables where attached to his torso at various places. A respirator covered his mouth and nose.
"Ranma." Akane said, slowly. "Please wake up."
Ranma made no response.
The tears began to flow even more. "Damn it, Ranma." screamed Akane, slamming her good hand against the bed. "I heard you when you were talking, so I know you can hear me! Don't pretend you can't! Answer me!"
Ranma still made no response.
"Pl. . . please?" she said.
"He can't hear you, Akane."
Turning slightly, Akane say Dr. Tofu. "Sorry, Dr. Tofu." she said, wiping her face on her sleeve. "I didn't hear you come in."
Tofu nodded and walked around her to the opposite side of the bed. Once there, he touched the respirator and began to shut it down.
"What are you doing!?" shouted Akane. As she did so, she stood up suddenly, but immidiately wished she hadn't.
Tofu drew his finger across his nose and finished shuting down the machine. "I'm sorry, Akane." he said. "I know this is hard, but Mr. Saotome authorized it. He doesn't want me to keep Ranma alive if he isn't going to recover."
"But he'll get better! He's been through worse!" Akane knew the statement was false, but didn't care. "You can't just let him die!"
Tofu shook his head and said nothing. A moment later, he walked out, patting Akane on the back tenderly.
Left alone, Akane stared at Ranma, noticing that his breathing was steadily getting slower. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" she said. "You wouldn't let me die and you get yourself killed before I can thank you!"
Suddenly, Akane realized something, something she needed to say. "I know what happened to me, Ranma." she said. "Kasumi told me."
The heart monitor seemed to jump, but it was barely noticible. Akane continued, ignoring her tears. "I just w. . . wanted you to know that I don't blame you." she said. "I . . . forgive you."
Finished, she moved to the side of the bed and lifted Ranma's upper body to her own. <He's heavier than he looks.> she thought, as she hugged him, letting his head rest on her shoulder.
"I . . . I . . . lo. . . love you." she said.
<That's it.> she thought. The three words she had always wanted to say, but couldn't. It was funny how easy they came out now.
Suddenly, she felt pressure against her back. "Ranma?" she asked, her voice pleading.
"I. . . I. . . love you too, Akane."
"Ranma!" Akane practically screamed the name as she held him tighter. In return, he tightened his hold on her with his good arm.
"Thanks." he said.
Akane pulled back and let him lie down. "Don't ever do that to me again!" she said, trying (unsuccesfully) to sound mad.
"I promise." he said, smiling weakly.
Smiling back, Akane leaned forward and kissed him.
* * *
The scream sent Tofu running to the room, however he stopped short outside the room door. The sight inside amazed him. <I. . . I don't believe it!> he thought.
Inside, he saw Akane and Ranma holding each other tenderly. He smiled, grateful he had been wrong.
"Looks like we were both wrong."
Looking up, Dr. Tofu saw Yuta leaning against wall on the opposite side of the door. "What?" asked Tofu.
"I said we were both wrong about some things."
Tofu looked at him, not comprehending. "I know I was wrong about his chances, thank God." he said. "But what were you wrong about?"
"Miricles." Yuta replied.
"Huh?"
"Miricles, Doc." he said. "They still happen."
******************************************The End
And thus concludes Mechwarrior Team Jusenkyo. This is a rough Alapha version, but I wanted to get it out before I leave for school. I hope you enjoyed it.
The Ranma 1/2 cast, as well as the characters Yuta and Mana are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and the company that publishes them. Battletech and all planets, weapons, etc (with the exceptions of the Blinder, Web, and Hive missiles) are the property of the FASA corporation.
I'll be doing revisions on both CH.3 and CH.4, but I'm leaving for school _very_ soon and it'll be some time before I can post these revisions. However, C&C is still requested.
All C&C will be gratefully accepted, but please limit it to story content and how it sounds, not on grammar. All flames will be read over, thought about, laughed at and promptly discarded.
This chapter was pretty easy to write, but I'm not sure about a couple of things.
1) The bit with Ryouga and Ranma at the beginning. I'm trying to figure out weither Ryouga should have gotten madder or not. I'll figure it out in the revised version.
2) The ending. I think it sounds pretty good, but it's kind of the typical ending so I may do some changing on it as well.
Some people may be wondering why I didn't write in some scenes at the end involving Ukyou/Ryouga and Mousse/Shampoo. Well, first and formost, I couldn't think of any. Second, I didn't really _want_ to add any. I made it pretty clear that Ukyou and Ryouga loved each other in the first Chapter, and I paired up Ranma and Akane in the end. However, the Shampoo/Mousse bit, I'll leave you readers to decide for yourselves.
My sincerest thanks to all those who have read and C&C'd this fic. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. (However, now that its finally finished, it leaves me time to work on some other ones.^_^)
Thanks to everybody for reading!