Strength to Strength.
---------------------

Three weeks ago, Furinkan and a few other schools entered a com-
petition run by an environmental organisation. The aim was for each
school to amass as much recyclable material as possible - cans,
bottles, paper, etc. The students of Furinkan High came out on top
with by far the biggest pile, and the student council quickly decided
what to spend the prize money on: a dance party in the school's gym.
Some had though it could be used for worthier causes, but with the
newest lighting and sound equipment, tickets had quickly started to
disappear.
  It was in this packed gym that Kohane, Akane, Ranma and Ryouga
were getting down on the dance-floor. At least, they had been since
they arrived in the late afternoon. Now, the DJ had decided to play
the cover of 'Killing Me Softly' by the American group the Fugees,
and the individual guys and girls had to pair up and sway to the
music. Ukyou had left Konatsu in charge of the Ucchan (there would
not be many customers there that evening) before coming to the
school, and she saw her chance at the end of the music.
  Most of the couples danced together slowly. Ukyou had her arms
wrapped firmly around Ranma's neck, her head leaned on his chest.
She had a short jacket over the T-shirt she wore, and tight black
jeans. Ranma just wore his normal Chinese get-up, having defiantly
refused to let Kohane make him go as a girl. He had a tentative hold
on her waist, and was trying not to think about what anyone else
might think.
  Next to them, Kohane (in a shiny knee-length dress), with a big
grin on her face, and Ryouga (also normally dressed) swayed a little
less closely. Akane, previously, had moved to one of the tables
lining the wall to grab some food. She stood there munching on the
snacks from her plate, wearing a short blue skirt and long-sleeve
tee. Akane did not really like dancing, but the atmosphere was nice.
She scowled slightly at Ukyou and Ranma, then watched Kohane with
interest.
  The girl said she had only ever joined in the Bonodori (*) before,
and knew nothing about the modern dance scene, but with her creat-
ivity and co-ordination, not to mention the fitting white dress, she
looked right at home. Of course, Akane thought, she'd be at home
anywhere... She realised that was probably truer than she knew.
  This girl, now dancing serenely amidst hundreds of people her
physical age, had the resilience and adaptability taught by nine-
hundred and twenty years of living on the road. Even if she settled
down for a few decades, it was still just part of her journey. And
it was not just the difference in life-span, Akane also realised.
Kohane had these little nuances, certain ways of doing things dif-
ferently. Sure, Ranma was peculiar for a Japanese boy, walking on
fences and swimming to China and back, but sometimes Akane was
reminded just how far Kohane was from human as she new the word.
  At this time, Kohane was smiling, chastising Ryouga for treading
on her foot.
  "I'm sorry, Kohane-san! Does it hurt much?" Ryouga asked, flus-
tered.
  "Of course not, idiot. Be quiet and keep dancing."
  Suddenly there was shouting from outside of the main doors. They
burst open to the night and four young men strode in. Only the
closest students to them paid much attention to these people clad in
martial arts attire. One of the Furinkan teachers approached them,
saying, "You're not Furinkan students. If you have no one to vouch
for you, you'll have to leave--"
  The closest guy thrusted an arm out abruptly and the teacher was
hurled into the wall, causing substantial damage.
  Kohane saw all of this, immediately assuming a commanding posture.
Most of the students just watched to see what these strange guys
would do next. "Ranma! Ryouga!" she called. The martial artists slid
dramatically into stances beside her. This was not lost to the crowd,
which parted to offer a clear path between the groups.
  Akane hurried to join them, but Ukyou intercepted her. "I think
Kohane-san has it under control."
  Ranma called to her. "Ucchan's right. You two just stay back."
  Akane hesitantly complied, and with Ukyou she joined the crowd.
  Kohane's voice boomed, "Who sent you here, and why?" She concen-
trated her stare on the obvious leader, the tallest in the group.
  The guy jerked only a little before stepping forward and smirking.
"You'll find out. We're just here to deliver the message: a sample
of things to come."
  Kohane thought, I feel the strength of Tamashiitou about them, and
he can resist my gaze. Even Ranma-chan couldn't do that before. That
means the person behind all this _must_ be...
  Suddenly the young men leaped into action. The tallest came for
Kohane, and the two at his sides peeled off to engage Ranma and
Ryouga. The remainder plunged into the crowed to reach Akane.
  Ranma and Ryouga evaded the lunges, standing in close to Kohane.
"Okay guys, let's do it!" she said as the attacking trio recovered
and charged from all three sides. Kohane, Ranma and Ryouga faced into
the common centre, and grasped each other's shoulders to form a
closed circle. This began revolving swiftly. By the time the three
guys were on the verge of delivering severe blows to their backs, the
circle shouted,
  "SANJUU SENHANA BU!"
  And kicked their legs out, powerfully yet gracefully, in arcing
motions which connected twice to the upper body of each aggressor.
They used the rotational energy to fling themselves to an opponent
each as Kohane and Ranma and Ryouga concluded the 'Triple Spin Bloom
Dance.' They engaged in one-on-one grappling as the audience of
students noisily applauded the display.
  Kohane's opponent lasted barely two seconds as she executed a swift
series of jabs, hooks and uppercuts. None of the blows really physic-
ally connected, but the tremendous force was propagated before them
by her fighting spirit to land on his body, and he collapsed,
groaning, after the last.
  Ryouga's fight was a bit more even. His opponent used a very flashy
acrobatic style of kung fu. Though Ryouga received more hits, his
blows were far more punishing, carrying both his physical strength
and concentrated chi.
  Ranma quickly gained the upper-hand, beating his enemy down with
his high kicks and well placed chestnut punches. Suddenly, however,
Ranma saw the fourth youth leaping toward his fiancees. "Akane!
Ucchan!" he called. The guy used this opening. He charged his fist
with bright blazing spirit energy and connected with Ranma's solar
plexus.
  Akane was not waiting around to get beaten up, though. With a
shout, she launched a comet fist from a fierce wind-up, which impac-
ted with the guy's head followed by several spatulas (which Ukyou
had taken from the back of her belt, and feeling equally threatened,
aimed and hurled at the aggressor). He plummeted to the floor, then
forced to abandon his attack by Akane's repeated mallet strikes.
  Ranma had recovered and now beat his opponent back; on an unseen
signal, the group of youths jumped back and retreated out of the
gym's doors. Perspiration and anger (not to mention bruises) covered
the face of the tallest when he turned to shout at the pursuing
Kohane, "This'll cost you, bitch! Kouhai-dono is gonna make you all
suffer!"
  Kohane stopped outside the doorway with her students and Ukyou
and some of the admiring crowd as the vanquished opponents separated
and fled over the rooftops. "You did well," she addressed Ranma,
Ryouga and Akane, "to repulse that attack before any by-standers
were hurt."
  "Who's Kouhai? Do you know him?" Ranma asked.
  Kohane continued to stare into the night and replied, "No. We'll
discuss it later, but right now let's not let this interrupt our fun."
Her face magically changed to a grin. They returned to the gym to
continue as best they could.


The dim visual of shaded morning light illuminating the rice-paper
doors (and the house's interior to a limited extent), was accompanied
by the sound of sparse morning-bird calls. Kasumi's eyes were dark-
accustomed from the night's sleep and the course to the kitchen was
easy and routine.
  The party at Furinkan wound down ahead of schedule, mainly because
of the hostile 'gate-crashers'. Kasumi had frowned as Akane described
the proceedings before going to bed. She was beginning to think that
if Kohane was drawing all of these dangerous people here, perhaps
Kasumi did not want Akane too close to the girl.
  She thought about the immortal. Kohane was a happy, friendly
person, with a great amount of diverse talents. She had not tried
to cause any trouble since she arrived, like kidnap Akane or marry
Ranma, in fact Kohane seemed whole-heartedly committed to training
them (and Ryouga). Kasumi admired her and felt grateful for what she
was doing... but in the last day or so Kasumi also felt a little
uneasy. More strangely, she was sure Kohane shared the apprehension.
Somehow, she would feel it when she passed the girl walking through
the house. Of course, Kasumi did not want to upset anyone...
  Suddenly, Kasumi's unease rose to a pitch. She pivoted instinct-
ively.
  A shape in the shadows froze for a second, then lunged at her. It
was a young man wearing a plain black gi, and with violent in his
eyes. He swung an easy punch at her neck but was very surprised when
she rocked back out of range, letting out a scream. He grabbed grab-
bed her forearm roughly and prepared again to strike her. Pounding
footsteps suddenly came from the hallway. Kasumi abruptly twisted
her hand around and grasped his wrist. The guy was completely stunned
when, with another scream, Kasumi applied sudden painful pressure to
his wrist and he was forced to flip heavily to the floor.
  Kohane was coming through to doorway, and she hit the light switch.
Kasumi began to run in her direction. Her assailant, still shaken,
pulled himself up and made another charge. There was another rapid
pounding of feet overhead at the same time as Ranma appeared at the
other door and flew to savagely drop-kick the intruder's head. Soun,
Genma and Akane raced into the room as well.
  "Ranma-chan! Get him!" Kohane pointed.
  Before Ranma could tackle the guy, he faced his palms together and
created a blinding burst of chi energy. Even Kohane had to shield
her eyes: there was no sign of him after except a smashed door.
  "Damn! He got away." Ranma balled his fist. "Sure," he added,
"people have snuck in at night to make life difficult before,
but... to attack Kasumi-san?"
  Kohane approached Kasumi, who was being fussed over by her little
sister. "You used Aikidou, didn't you, Kasumi-san?" She looked into
the Tendou sister's deep brown eyes: ...but she has absolutely no
fighting spirit... she wondered.
  "Er, yes, Kohane-san." Kasumi tried to smile with shivering lips.
"When I was little, Otousan tried to teach me some martial arts, as
he has trained Akane-chan. When he started focusing on her training,
he saw that, well, I wasn't interested." She examined her delicate
hand, back and palm, which had just focused an amazing amount of
rotational energy into an effortless throw. "...I didn't even think
I could still do it." Kasumi chuckled nervously.
  "Thank the gods you're safe!" bellowed her teary father. The
sisters tried to calm him down. Ranma drew the immortal to one side
and said quietly, "Was it another of those goons?"
  She nodded. "This is getting serious. I want you and Ryouga-kun
and Akane-san to come with me to the empty lot after breakfast. I
have to figure out what to do."
  Kohane turned her head, stared at Kasumi. Ranma followed her gaze.
  "I never would have suspected," she spoke. "Still, Aikidou is
great for relaxation and the centering of mind. Maybe that explains
why nothing fazes that girl."
  "Maybe..."
  The time from then to the arranged meeting passed swiftly. Kohane
relieved Kasumi of her morning duties and spent eight minutes in the
kitchen to produce a large and fully satisfying breakfast for every-
one. By that time Ryouga had wandered in. After reassuring Soun
that the attacks would be dealt with severely, Kohane led her
students to the designated place.
  She put some space between her and them. Once again she was in a
borrowed gi, identical to the other which Akane wore. Ranma and
Ryouga were as ready as ever in their normal out-fits. The leaves
and tufts of long grass rustled in the gentle wind.
  "Ranma-chan, Ryouga-kun. I don't want to delay this at all. We are
clearly facing a dangerous undefined enemy, one who threatens the
most innocent among us. Now I want to see your utmost efforts - the
full extent of your ability."
  The boys nodded. Akane said, "What about me?"
  Kohane smiled to reassure her. "Akane-san, you know that your best
is what I've taught you this past week."
  Akane could do nothing but agree.
  "I want you here because you're a part of this, and you can also
help with any preparation required. Ryouga-kun! You first?"
  Unnoticed, Ranma and Akane backed away from the boy. "You want to
see my most powerful..." he sighed, taking a stance. Ryouga had been
relatively happy throughout the week of training. His growing skill
in Kohane's Tamashiitou had really been a boost to his ego. Now he
resigned himself to letting it all go. His shouldered slumped.
  Ryouga concentrated on his failings: his chronic lack of direction-
sense, his indecisiveness, his envy and unfair hate. He thought
about the wholesale dishonour of it.
  Ghostly bright green fire erupted around Ryouga. His face, obscured
by shadow, his hands held limply before him. The dark emotions
seethed and swirled within him, growing as he concentrated on his
own wretchedness. But he held them, let them grow - Ryouga needed to
make this Shishi Houkou Dan the biggest ever. Already, some of the
heavy chi was flowing into his palms. The area around him seemed to
become darkened. The other martial artist could almost taste the
vibes being emitted.
  The energy struggled for release, and at last second Ryouga added
the final surge of emotion-fuelled power. He had never gone to this
extreme before, he knew he would regret it. Then he began to whisper
in his mind, Ranma is --. It was lucky for him that his control broke
before he could finish the thought.
  An earth-cracking concussion, a stunning explosion of light, and
the complete, unabridged Shishi Houkou Dan came roaring down at
Kohane. She could barely focus herself enough, and hold her arms up
before the blast hit home and began pummelling into the ground. Her
screech was drowned out by the booming.
  After a while it faded and stopped. Ryouga's eyes were blank. He
teetered and collapsed. Ranma watched him over his shoulder, which
was turned to shield Akane from the rock splinters thrown up from
the attack. Akane's eyes were wide open.
  Kohane cringed in the centre of the deep crater, kneeling on one
knee. She lowered her hands from above her head to help lift herself
to her feet. Then she regained her composure and hoped onto level
ground.
  "Akane-san, you better check him." She looked at him, and thought
out loud, "How incredibly dark..."
  Akane ran to him and dragged the unconscious boy to the side of
the lot. After a brief look, she called, "He's just drained and
exhausted. Poor Ryouga."
  "Not surprised," Kohane said. she turned to face Ranma. "Think you
can top that?"
  Ranma anxiously glanced around. "Uh, do you really want me to? Why
don't we just do some hand-to-hand?" Kohane's hard stare forced him
to swallow his objections. He sighed in resignation, with a quavering
voice said, "Akane, could you go and find a cat?"
  Kohane was confused. Ranma up-ended a nearby water bucket on his
head, but Kohane was sure that the cold liquid wouldn't make her
shiver like _that_.
  Ryouga groaned and sat up unsteadily. Ranma walked over to him and
asked, "Are you okay?"
  He looked up and grunted a slightly indignant yes.
  Ranma unceremoniously hauled him to his feet. Leading him over to
where she had been standing, she said, "Listen Ryouga. I need you
to hold me still," Ranma turned her back to him, offering her arms
for a lock, "so I can't run away..."
  Akane called from out-of-sight, "I found one!"
  "...Quick, now!"
  Ryouga grabbed the red-head firmly, but she insisted on a tighter
hold. It was getting painful when Akane appeared with a fat grey
tabby.
  Ranma froze momentarily, then began her struggling. Akane app-
roached with unsure steps, asked, "Ranma, are you sure you want to
go through with it?"
  Her eyes were stuck on the sight of the cat, her breathing was
quick and sweat began to bead on her face.
  "Yes, he's sure," answered Ryouga.
  Kohane watched quizzically as Akane edged forward. Ranma was
straining against the hold and panted heavily. Ryouga held on with
all his might. Finally Akane brought the feline fur into contact
with Ranma's cheek. Her arms tried to flail and she shouted unin-
telligably, "Uuuuoowaauhh!"
  After a last moment of violent convulsions, Ranma stopped and
tensed herself. Kohane's puzzled shock turned to disbelieving recog-
nition as a low yowl echoed around the lot. In a sudden motion, Ranma
was loose of Ryouga's grip, making a savage swipe at Kohane. Ryouga
staggered/jumped backwards with his shirt falling in tatters. In the
wink of an eye Kohane put a sizeable distance between herself and
Ranma. One of her sleeves fell open along a sharp cut. Her eyes, wide
in incredulity, gazed into Ranma's, who met her with an unblinking
scowl. His humanity, his mind, she thought, is completely suppressed.
This must be the legendary Neko Ken! With his human and feline fight-
ing instincts, he'll be unstoppable!
  Ranma pounced, closing the distance as fast as it was made. Kohane
never had time to look for openings: it was all dodge, dodge, dodge
until she could leap away, wearing a few more tatters.
  Kohane regained her stance and let out the kiai to freeze Ranma's
body. Akane and Ryouga beside the fence went stiff. Ranma perked up
like a cat who hears a potential chase victim. She raised a paw/hand
into the air and slashed down before her, yowling. Long bright arcs
of chi energy trailed from her claws/fingers, shooting straight at
the immortal.
  Kohane gritted her teeth when she blocked the blow, then tried to
endure the pain. She was very impressed at the level of focus, and
devastating power unleashed with no thought involved.
  Thought would be her downfall in this fight. This instant of
admiring reflection was all Ranma needed to zip up to her and deli-
ver an unpredictable, undefended barrage of swipes and jabs. When
Kohane fell back this time, all that saved her was the playful feline
tendency to watch prey try to escape, which was what Ranma was doing.
  Kohane chaotically scrabbled in retreat as Ranma arched her back
and hissed. "Akane," she called with panic edging her voice, "do you
know how to stop him?"
  "Uh, yeah," Akane replied. "Ranma-a-a! Her kitty!" she called and
clucked her tongue.
  Ranma looked at her, back at Kohane, then back at Akane and pounced
abruptly.
  "Look out!" cried Kohane. But Ranma simply landed and settled onto
her fiancee's lap. Despite what she just witnessed, Akane smiled as
she petted the bright red hair.
  Kohane looked bewildered, then let her shoulders slump and sighed.
Sitting down cross-legged, she said, "He doesn't need to know my
Tamashiitou. No-one can have a defence against the Cat-Fist - heck,
I don't, and I'm almost a thousand! If he wants to win a fight he
just needs to find a cat."
  Ranma yawned and purred. Akane said, "He can't just face his felo-
phobia _whenever_. He did this time because you wished it, Kohane-
san."
  "...I knew he was holding out on me. You too, Ryouga-kun."
  Ryouga answered flatly, "It was not easy for me, either."
  These two can definitely handle it, she mused. Closing her eyes,
she spoke, "School starts soon. Go home and get ready, and I'll be
along in a minute. You go and clean up too, Ryouga-kun."
  Akane heard a little warning voice in her head, and said, "Okay,
then we'll walk to school together, right?"
  "Yeah, but don't wait around. I'll catch up if you leave first."
  "Well, all right."