Allright, this is the second attempt to post this. The first time, I
sent the parts out separately, like always, but a lot of people
apparently had problems receiving them. So I put them all together into
this mail and hope for the best. :)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranko 1/2
Part 24: "Take these lips of mine"
Tendou Akane's eyes are wide with surprise.
Akane: Rhythmic Gymnastics *Wrestling*?
She is sitting in her room on her bed. Before her on the floor
sit a few girls from her school sports club. Ranko is also there,
sitting a little to the side, listening.
Girl: [pulls a big schematic diagram from nowhere] The fighters
use only the techniques and tools of rhythmic gymnastics in their
match.
Girl2: Our school is to fight against the champion of Hebereke
High, but all girls that are qualified are in no condition to
fight. Our School's honour will be lost!
Girl3: The only girl in the sports club who has a chance of
representing our school without months of training is you!
Akane: I'm not sure if I can do this. But If you want me, I will
help.
Ranko, who is listening to all this, looks up to see Akane's pet
P-chan squeeze out through the door crack.
Ranko: [thinks] Where are you going Ryouga?
The girls cry tears of thankfulness.
Akane and Ranko are in the practice hall; Akane is wearing her
gi. Around her on the floor is an arrangement of rhythmic
gymnastics tools: clubs, a rope, a ribbon, A hoop and a ball.
Akane: OK, let's see how these work.
She takes up the clubs, twirls them experimentally and leaps
through the air, letting the clubs spin. She lands with her arms
outstretched to catch the descending clubs, but they clatter to
the floor several meters to each side. Blushing embarrassed, she
shoots Ranko a "don't say a word" look, but Ranko is just looking
on impassively.
Ranko doesn't move a muscle, while Akane entangles herself in the
ribbon, breaks the hoop, and crumbles all the tools to dust in a
screaming fit. When Akane has finished, Ranko speaks.
Ranko: Perhaps... those girls confused enthusiasm for violence
with fighting experience.
Akane turns to her, flushed red with anger.
Akane: It's my first attempt! I never did this in my life, so
cut the smartass comments. How am I supposed to handle these
things, if I never trained this.
Ranko: Well, this will be expensive training, if we have to buy
new tools after each round.
Akane blushes, half with anger, half with embarrassment, and is on
the verge of shouting a response, when the door shifts open.
Ryouga is standing in it, his hair still slightly damp.
Ryouga: I can train you.
Akane: Ryouga?
Ranko: Where did you learn Rhythmic Gymnastics Wrestling? [slaps
her forehead] Duh! What am I doing, asking Ryouga where
something was?!
Ryouga calmly takes up a ribbon and lets it spin towards Ranko
with incredible speed. Ranko has to jump to avoid being hit by
the cloth that's spinning so fast that it cuts like a razor. Her
clothes are ripped at the right shoulder and the legs. Her heart
thumps from the sudden shock.
Ryouga: The important thing is that I can prepare Akane for her
match.
Akane: You would do that, Ryouga? That's so *nice* of you.
She hurries to get another set of tools for herself. Ryouga looks
after her in bliss. Ranko leans over to him and asks him in a low
voice.
Ranko: Did you tell her, yet?
Ryouga: [staring at Akane, fidgeting] I'm working myself up to
it.
Ranko: Well, you're certainly working yourself up to *something*,
P-chan.
Ryouga: [hotly] Who is P-chan?!
Ranko: *I* know who P-chan is. The question is, when will Akane
finally know?
Ryouga punches at Ranko; Ranko evades.
Ryouga: How am I ever going to confess, if you never give me a
chance? You're always putting me down in front of her.
Ranko: Chances to confess to her are not mine to give. If you
had any courage, you'd make your own opportunity.
But Ryouga is not listening anymore. By now the two are fighting
steadily; Punching, kicking, dodging and countering. Ryouga
sends Ranko flying outside, where she lands gracefully,
anticipating his next move.
There is a shadow in the trees beyond the Tendou garden walls. It
watches with interest as the girl is flung out of the house, ducks
under the flying kick of the young man and sends him head-first
into one of the big ornamental boulders. As the fight moves
forward and back, the shadow observes. Finally it has seen
enough.
Shadow: [thinks] This must be her - Tendou Akane. Who else but
this formidable fighter would they have chosen to stand against
the Black Rose of St.Hebereke? Train well, Akane. The fight will
be upon you soon.
The shadow vanishes from its lookout point with a bout of laughter
that borders on insanity. A few seconds later the fight ends as
both fighters, distracted by the unnerving sound, fall into the
garden pool.
That night, Ranko shifts open the door to her room and enters,
yawning loudly. She changes into her pyjamas, lies down on her
futon and looks upwards, where she stares right into the face of a
teenage girl in a leotard, clinging to the ceiling. The girl has
black hair tied to a pony tail at the side of her head; She holds
a black rose between her lips and a large wooden mallet behind her
back. Before Ranko can say a thing, the girl dives down towards
her, obviously intending to crush her beneath the giant mallet.
Ranko backflips out of the path and lands in a ready position,
even as the Mallet crunches into the futon. Surprisingly, the
panda, sleeping on the other mat, doesn't even stir. There is a
bouquet of black roses lying next to him.
Ranko: Who the hell are you?!
The girl stands straight, mallet at the ready, and introduces
herself.
Girl: I am Kodachi the Black Rose, champion of St. Hebereke High.
I believe that you, Tendou Akane, are to be my opponent in next
week's match. So let us both do our best and fight in all
fairness. [lunges forward with the hammer]
Ranko: [dodges] This is "fighting in all fairness"? Ambushing a
girl in her own... Hey! [points at Kodachi] It was *you*,
wasn't it? You are the reason why all the rhythmic gymnasts of
Fuurinkan High are out of the picture. Well, you made a mistake
now; I am not Tendou Akane.
Kodachi: In that case, I apologize for the intrusion and will now
leave you to search for my real opponent.
She moves to leave, but is stopped by Ranko, who blocks her way
with a kick.
Ranko: Not so fast. If you really think I'll let you go to
attack Akane now, you are even crazier than you look.
Kodachi: If I have to go through you to get to Tendou Akane - So
be it!
Kodachi attacks with her mallet again. The descending wood is met
by Ranko's foot coming the other way. There is no contest - The
mallet is sent flying from Kodachi's grip. Kodachi regards Ranko,
sweating. She pulls out a ribbon from wherever in her leotard she
managed to conceal it.
Kodachi: You are good. How fortunate for both of us that it
isn't you I'll fight next week. I shall return for Akane.
She spins her ribbon in a spiral pattern and a storm of black rose
petals ensues. She uses the distraction to bound out of the door,
outside. Ranko looks around. The whole floor is littered with
rose petals. She runs to the door.
Ranko: [shouts] Hey! Who's gonna clean up that mess? I just
cleaned up in here last Sunday!
On the roof, Kodachi stands, breathing heavily.
Kodachi: [thinks] I have to find out who Tendou Akane is and in
which room she sleeps, if I am to cripple her before the match.
A voice pulls her out of her thoughts.
Ranko: Who told you, you could leave, Black Petunia?
Kodachi spins around. Behind her stands Ranko, as if she appeared
out of thin air.
Ranko: You'll not even go *near* Akane!
She takes a flying leap, foot outstretched, at Kodachi; Kodachi
ducks to the side, but in passing her, Ranko's other foot lashes
out, impacting on Kodachi's temple. Unfortunately, Ranko did not
calculate where the arc of her jump would take her, and so she
sails far over the edge of the roof. Helplessly she watches the
garden pool grow bigger beneath her.
<SPLASH>
When Ranma looks up, a second later, he sees Kodachi falling
backwards over the edge of the roof.
Ranma: [thinks] Damn! She's unconscious. She'll break her
neck.
With two jumps, faster than the wind, he jumps clear of the pool
and catches the falling girl, carrying her back up onto the roof.
Kodachi is already regaining consciousness. The first thing she
sees is the man holding her.
Kodachi: [thinks] Oh. He's gorgeous. [out loud] I was..
[grabs him in an embrace] so *afraid*.
Ranma tries to politely extricate himself from her arms, but
Kodachi keeps an iron grip. She is blushing, as she presses
herself against her rescuer.
Kodachi: [thinks] To think that life at a dreary girl's school
had already killed all hope of finding a man like this.
She lets go of Ranma, who quickly retreats two steps.
Ranma: Now look, just leave m...
Kodachi: Oh, but you *must* give me your name. You saved me.
Ranma: [reluctantly] My name is Saotome Ranma.
Kodachi: [whips out a bouquet of black roses] For you,
Ranma-sama.
Ranma: Err, I'd rather you left now...
In that moment, the bouquet explodes into Ranma's face with a
yellow gas. Ranma coughs, then suddenly falls to his knees.
Ranma: Hey! What... What...
Kodachi: Just a little touch of paralysis gas.
Ranma: Y-you're not crazy - you're completely insane!
Kodachi lovingly lays Ranma on his back and drapes herself over
him.
Kodachi: Hush now, my lover. Take these lips of mine.
Ranma: [helplessly] Nnnnnnnnnn!
<BOOT!>
Suddenly Kodachi is flying. Akane is standing besides Ranma in
her pyjamas. She's glowing with anger.
Akane: And right above my bedroom, too!
Kodachi: [lands] What an unromantic girl. Such tragic timing.
[jumps away over the roofs] Despair not, Ranma-sama. We will
meet again, soon. [insane laughter]
Akane looks down at the lifeless Ranma, who looks up at her
pleadingly. She pushes him into a sitting position and kneels
down before him, with her back to him.
Akane: Honestly, Ranma...
She puts his arms around her neck and rises, carrying him on her
back.
Akane: What is it about you that always attracts this kind of
girl? [grins] Is one girl as fiancé not enough? [laughs]
Seriously, I don't think that we've seen the last of this.
Ranma: [thinks] Wait till you hear who that was. Kodachi, the
Black Rose... And you'll have to fight that maniac next week.
-- End of part 24.
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.
Part 26: "Hold fast!"
An astonished murmur goes through the crowd watching the ring.
Akane has jumped up again and winces at the pain shooting through
her ankle.
Announcer: An astonishing thing has happened in the ring.
Most of the ring is obscured by steam from the boiling water. As
it slowly lifts, the onlookers see Ranko crouching on the ground,
clutching at her arm.
Announcer: Saotome Ranko has thrown herself in the way of the
water, to save the little pig that is her mascot. That must
really hurt. Will she have to quit to treat her injury?
Akane slowly sits down, the tears in her eyes stem in equal part
from the pain and from her feelings about what she has just seen.
Akane: [thinks] You sacrificed yourself for P-chan. Ranko - and
I thought you hated him.
P-chan is just as astonished as she is. He sits on his haunches
and stares disbelievingly at Ranko. Ranko takes her eyes off
Kodachi for a second, to glance over at him.
Ranko: [thinks] If that water had hit him and he'd changed
while he's got that chain around him, he would've been crippled or
even killed. Or Akane would've killed him. [turns back to
Kodachi] Now I've got to fight her with the pig *and* my arm
holding me back.
Kodachi: Give up now, Girl. Go home and lick your wounds, while
you still can.
Ranko: I hate to have to tell you this again, but you're crazy!
Do you really think I'll let you go unpunished?
Kodachi: [laughs] Oohohohohooo! Then face the wrath of the
Black Rose!
Kodachi lunges forward with clubs in both hands. Her arms blur,
as she strikes in a pattern, not unlike Kunou's multiple strike
move with the bokken. Ranko is driven backwards and jumps up onto
one of the corner poles. She fights off Kodachi's strikes with
one club of her own, as best as she can. But Kodachi's attack is
so fast that it looks as if she was using twenty clubs at once.
Akane frowns at the picture. She, too, feels reminded of Kunou's
moves. Suddenly a voice snaps her out of her ponderings.
Kunou: Ah, I wonder. My sister has never truly been able to use
this technique. Surely she is resorting to a sort of trickery, as
is her wont.
Akane's head turns, as if it was affixed to a turntable. In the
row behind her sits Kunou.
Akane: Your *sister*?!
Kunou: Indeed, Akane-san. But even though she is, I have to
admit that her trickery and twistedness are far beyond anything I
have ever experienced. I feel sorry for the pigtailed girl, to be
set against her. I will seek her out after the match and comfort
her.
He breaks out in a smile at the thought - Akane breaks out in
sweat.
In the ring, Ranko has realized that she will lose, if she allows
Kodachi to press her any further. Bunching up her leg muscles,
she jumps high over Kodachi's reach. While she is above her,
Ranko throws her club at Kodachi's still blurring wrist. Kodachi,
who was following Ranko with her eyes, loses her rhythm. Out of
her numbed hands, clubs fall to the ground - ten; fifteen; twenty
clubs. Ranko lands on the other end of the ring.
Ranko: Why, Kodachi. I didn't think you were coordinated enough
to hold *two* clubs - let alone twenty.
With a cry of rage, Kodachi runs at Ranko. Ranko sidesteps with a
grin, expecting her to run past, but to her astonishment, Kodachi
falls. She hits the ground hard, beside Ranko. As Ranko looks at
her, she sees that Kodachi's feet are tied. The chain that
connects P-chan with Ranko's wrist is wrapped around Kodachi's
ankles and P-chan is busy, chomping on her thighs.
Ranko: [thinks] Ryouga?! [to P-chan] Hey, thanks!
Kodachi squirms out of the chains and away from Ranko. Her face
is flushed; She is steaming with anger. Again, her ribbon
flashes out of the ring.
Ranko: [thinks] Uh-oh. Not another kettle.
But something else hangs entangled in the ribbon, when it snaps
back into the ring. It is Kunou. Kodachi hurls her brother at
Ranko, but Kunou whips out his bokken and slices the ribbon,
before he reaches his target. He puts the wooden sword away
again and bows to Ranko. Then he turns to Kodachi.
Kunou: My sister, you know you have my admiration for your
sneakiness and trickery, but I will not partake in any action
against the love of my life, the pig-tailed girl. [leaves the
ring]
Ranko: He's your *brother*? [thinks] Figures, that the two
biggest weirdoes in Nerima would be related.
Kodachi: OhohoHOHOhoHOOO! How ironic that you should be the love
of my brother, when your own relation to *my* love is so obviously
evident.
Ranko: My what?
Kodachi: Why, of course. Has Ranma-sama not told of me and our
romantic night above the roofs of Nerima? I'm sure he has - why
else would you so suddenly turn up and challenge me? You do not
want your brother to date me!
Ranko: Ranma's not my *brother*, you dolt!
Kodachi: And still you bear the same name, and your resemblance
to him is remarkable. It is no matter whether you are his cousin,
sister or whatever; It is no matter that you are the love of my
brother; I will not permit you to stand in the way of my love.
She pelts Ranko with the remainder of her clubs, lying strewn
around her, but Ranko simply swats them out of the air with her
rope, that she twirls so fast that it acts like a solid shield.
Ranko: Kodachi, you are one sick person. And you haven't got the
slightest clue. This isn't about love - this is about what you
did to Akane; and I won't let that go unpunished.
Slowly but inexorably Ranko advances towards Kodachi, who grows more
and more frantic in her throwing. Kodachi calls out to her second,
and requires a hoop. When it flies to her, she catches it deftly
by letting it rotate around her hand. Faster and faster it spins,
until she sends it whizzing towards her still advancing opponent
with a flick of her wrist.
Ranko keeps herself behind the rope, still twirling as fast as
ever. In the audience, Akane yells out in surprise, when the hoop
cuts through Ranko's "shield" like butter. Ranko drops to the
ground, only a hair's breadth between her and the hoop. Light
glints off the implement as it whirrs onwards.
Ranko: Th-that's a razor!
Having not met anything to stop it, the deadly hoop carries on
its trajectory - right into the direction of the terrified
audience.
Ranko: No!
She drops her now useless rope and grabs another ribbon. Praying
for success, she sends the cloth hurtling after the hoop and
manages to catch it before it plows a deadly path through the
hapless watchers.
Kodachi: An opening!
Without losing a split second, Kodachi recovers her trick club and
lunges at Ranko with its spikes extended. Ranko is caught from
behind, but can twist sideways, so only her shoulder is grazed.
She drops forward, and Kodachi already imagines the battle won.
But Ranko uses her momentum to do a lightning fast ground loop
that ends with her bringing her legs up to grab Kodachi's
outstretched weapon.
Twisting with all the force she can muster, Ranko levers Kodachi
into the air by her own club. Even as she flies up, Kodachi
begins to laugh.
Kodachi: Oohohohohohohoooo!
Ranko: [thinks] What do you have to laugh about, you weirdo?
When you hit the ground outside the ring you're out!
As Kodachi nears the highest point of her arc, she pulls out a
whistle and blows it. A shiver runs through the ring; Suddenly
it jerks and begins to move. Kodachi laughs.
Ranko: Oh no! The ring is moving towards her and she'll land
inside!
She looks around frantically. Suddenly she grabs P-chan.
Ranko: Ryouga! You gotta help me. Hold fast!
Ranko throws P-chan at the chain out of the ring. The chain wraps
around a supporting beam and the pig holds on tight to the chain
with legs and teeth.
Ranko: I hope your monstrous strength doesn't leave you in this
form, Ryouga.
Ranko's faith in P-chan is rewarded. She braces herself against a
corner pole of the ring and with P-chan as anchor she is able to
stop the ring's movement. As the ring jerks to a halt, at the far
side, the boards beneath the ropes break and out tumble some girls
in leotards. Hastily they scurry away.
Announcer: There is the secret of the moving ring. The entire
rhythmic gymnastics team of St.Hebereke was pushing for a win.
Meanwhile, with a scream of frustrated rage Kodachi plummets to
the ground, landing head-first in the middle of the audience.
The referee holds up Ranko's arm, announcing her the winner.
Announcer: With Kunou Kodachi out of the ring, Saotome Ranko is
the winner of this match. Fuurinkan High wins the contest!
Akane limps towards the grinning Ranko and gives her a big hug,
speaking equally of her relief to see Ranko survive, and her joy
about the win.
Akane: Ranko! That was incredible.
The girls from the Fuurinkan High sports club run up to them.
Girl: We never dared hope for such an ending!
Girl2: We just wanted to avoid the shame of not even being able
to compete - and you won!
Ranko: I just hope that Kodachi has learnt her lesson.
Amidst the applauding audience, Kodachi is stuck upside down
between two seat rows. She is wedged between one seat and the
back of the one before it, pedaling frantically to get free. The
man who is sitting on the seat, looks happily at the girl,
squirming almost in his lap.
Seamus: I think I jus' died an' went to heaven.
Kodachi: Aaaargh! Somebody help me out of here!
-- End of Part 26.
OK, that's the end of part 26, and the second Volume of the complete story.
The next volume is more or less planned out and tentatively called "Mothers".
It's got Nodoka in it. :)
Sebastian