Continued from Part 33.
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_ / \ _ (____ ) | |
| |\_/ / ` `-' |_|
| `--. / /_ ,. . =======
`---. |/ ) ( `----'.` .---.
.---' / /-. `-.`------' (_.-. |
`----'`-' `---' .'.'
.'.'_
Ranko 1/2 (_____)
Part 34:
"I Finally Made It"
Ranko and Akane stare up at Ryouga, who is perched on the low roof
before them. He is shaking with anger.
Ryouga: Now you'll feel my revenge for what you did to me!
Akane steps protectively between the two.
Akane: [chastising] Ryouga-kun, stop it! I know that the two of
you are always fighting about something or other, but this is not
the time.
Ryouga: [apologetic] Akane-san, I'm sorry. I have been on
Ranko's trail for three weeks; I can't let her get away now.
Ranko: Three weeks? Um, you're not still upset about- Wa!
She has to jump back to evade another bucketful of water that
Ryouga throws at her.
Ryouga: *One* I could have handled. Two, or three, okay. But
all thirty-five? You'll pay for that.
Akane: What are the two of you talking about?! Thirty-five *what*?
Slowly Ryouga turns to her. With closed eyes, he forces the words
through his teeth.
Ryouga: All thirty-five contestants of the Annual. Neriman. Pork.
Chop. Cookoff.
Akane: Huh?
Ryouga: [turns back to Ranko, accusingly] With frilly piggie
aprons!
Ranko: [exasperated] It was supposed to be a joke! How was I to
know they'd turn out to be lunatics with meat cleavers?
Ryouga: Diiiieeeeeee!
He jumps down at her, feet outstretched, shattering the pavement
with his impact. Ranko reacts by jumping onto a wall, then
further up onto a house on the other side of the street. Without
a moment's hesitation, Ryouga follows.
Akane: Hey, wait a moment! Ranko, Ryouga!
But neither of the combatants seems to listen. They jump and
bound across the roofs into the distance. Akane sighs and folds
her arms.
Akane: [thinks] I just hope Ranko finishes this quickly.
~*~
Ryouga is pouring all his fury into his fighting, throwing punch
after kick after punch. Ranko is content dodging and evading for
the moment without counterattacking. She gets dangerously near
to getting clipped by Ryouga's flying fists, though.
Ryouga: Because of you, I have seen hell!
Ranko: [dodging] Come on, it could have been worse.
Ryouga: [lunges at her] What could have been worse than that?!
Ranko: Whoops. Well, you could have seen the inside of a pot.
Ryouga roars.
Ranko: Geez, I was just trying to point out the bright side - at
least you're here to complain, as opposed to being listed as the
main course on somebody's menu.
Feinting a headbutt, Ryouga manages to get his real attack through
and sweeps Ranko's legs out from under her, sending her falling
off of the roof towards the ground. In falling, Ranko looks down
and with horror realizes that she is headed right for a pool-like
ornamental fountain. Frantically she arches her back, trying to
alter her trajectory.
Ranko: Dammit! Hrrrrrn...
She manages to steer towards one of the ornamental boulders that
break the surface of the fountain. She catches her fall, bracing
herself with one hand on it.
Ranko: Ooomph!
She backflips, aligning on another boulder with one foot, then
jumps clear of the fountain. Ryouga sets down besides the water,
whips out his umbrella and beats it across the water, trying to
splash Ranko.
Ryouga: Now finally turn male, so I can beat you up!
Ranko: Geez, *that's* why you're tryin' to splash me? Come on,
*you* should know that I'm still myself, even in cursed form.
Just fight and get it over with.
Ryouga: But when you're in cursed form, it isn't so obvious to
see!
Ranko: Ah, so you are not actually worried 'bout hitting a girl -
just about being *seen* doing it, eh?
Ryouga: Aaaargh! Cold water just reveals the truth about you.
Jusenkyou brought out your true nature with the curse.
Ranko: [miffed] Is that soooo? What does that say about you,
pig-boy?
Ryouga: *Who is a pig*?!
Grinning about having scored a hit, Ranko takes the fight up to
the roofs again, where there is more space for her aerial
manoeuvres, as well as fewer pedestrians. Ryouga follows her.
Now that he has his umbrella out, he uses it as a weapon, slashing
and stabbing at her with furious energy.
As before, Ranko concentrates on evading Ryouga's attack, without
responding, goading him even further. Thus Ryouga is caught by
surprise, when Ranko follows up an umbrella jab to her abdomen by
jumping upon the outstretched weapon. Daintily holding the hem of
her dress, as if curtsying, she gracefully smashes her foot in
Ryouga's face. She sets down on a rooftop on one foot, watching
Ryouga fall into someone's backyard out of sight.
Ranko: [thinks] There, that should put him of my trail for a
while. Like, a month or so.
Jumping from roof to roof, she makes her way back to the point
where she left Akane.
~*~
Groaning, Ryouga rubs the footprint on his face and shakes his
head to clear it. He stands up and looks around.
Ryouga: [thinks] Damn, where is she? She left as soon as she
was out of sight, the coward! Now I'll have to find her all over
again. [slaps his fist in his palm] Where the hell am I now?
Voice: Who are you that dares interrupt the training of Kunou
Tatewaki in this rude manner?
Ryouga looks around, surprised, then looks down. He is currently
standing on top of Kunou's head, keeping it firmly implanted in
the ground.
Ryouga: [thinks] Oh, I must have landed on him when I fell.
[out loud] So I am at the Kunou household. That means I am not
too far from the Tendou Dojo. If I can make my way over there, I
could wait for her. Hmmm, No. I'd better try to find her while
she's still away from home. But how...?
Kunou: Will you finally get off my head, you peasant?!
Ryouga: [stomps] Shut up, I'm thinking.
Nevertheless, he steps off Kunou's head, allowing him to get up.
Kunou: Ha, now feel the wrath of the Blue Thunder!
He swings his bokken at Ryouga, who simply catches it in one hand
and delivers a debilitating punch to Kunou's face with the other,
making him crumple to the ground.
Ryouga: [turns] I have no time for you. I just want to find
that Ranko.
Kunou: [jumps up again] Ah, the ever-elusive, pigtailed girl!
I, too, would be interested in finding her.
Ryouga stops, then turns back thoughtfully.
Ryouga: Hmmm, I have a suggestion...
~*~
Ranko lightly lands next to Akane, who has been waiting for her at
the spot they separated.
Ranko: Yo, Akane. Let's get on with it.
Akane: Where did you leave Ryouga-kun?
Ranko: Lost him. It's not that hard; he does it himself all the
time.
Akane: [sighs] All right, let's get going. We want to meet your
mother *today*, after all.
They continue down the street.
Ranko: [thinks] I just hope I really left Ryouga behind. I have
a strange feeling I haven't seen the last of him.
~*~
Ryouga: It's just around the next corner. No, wait, it's two
streets down, and then around the corner. No wait...
Behind him, Kunou is buying an ornamental sword holder from a
souvenir shop. It reads "A Souvenir From Osaka".
~*~
At the other end of the town, there is a loud splash, as something
heavy lands in the middle of the little lake of the local park.
The passers-by assume a safe distance, when a large, dripping
panda wades out of the water, an angry aura swirling about it.
Genma: [signs] Sooo... That is the way she wants it, eh? [new
sign] Very well, if she won't respect her elders... [new sign]
So be it!
The onlookers back away even further, or take to flight, as the
panda begins to laugh evilly.
Genma: Gufu, gufu. [signs] A-hah! Ahahahahahahahahahaaaa...
~*~
Ryouga and Kunou are fighting their way through a dense
underbrush, Kunou walking front, hacking at the thicket with his
bokken. Unfortunately this does not keep him from talking.
Kunou: Oh, Pigtail Girl, soon we will meet anew, that we may
take up the battle again, as it should be.
Ryouga: So, what did she do to *you*?
Kunou clasps his hands to his chest dramatically.
Kunou: Ah, she stole my heart away, like the gentlest of thieves,
leaving only an ache in its place; an ache to be with her at all
times. Ah, Pigtailed Girl - I would date you!
Ryouga: [shrugs] Each to their own. I just want to beat her up.
Kunou: [bops him with his bokken] You cur.
Ryouga: Why, you...!
Ryouga and Kunou grab each other's throats beginning to throttle
each other, when suddenly they stop dead - a nearby voice taking
all their attention.
Akane: So, why are you so nervous? Is it what Nabiki said?
Ranko: Yeah, among other things.
Ranko and Akane are walking down the street. They don't notice
the noises coming from the bushes that flank the way, so
engrossed are they in their conversation.
Ranko: Nabiki says Mom is kinda fixated on taking revenge on Pop.
I can see that, the way that Pop ran off with me when I was
little. But she also thinks that Mom won't go after Pop, unless
he screwed me up in my upbringing or something.
Akane nods. Nodoka always said things to that effect to both of
them.
Ranko: So... Nabiki thinks Mom will judge me dishonored, *no
matter what*. Because she's so keen on taking revenge, you see?
I think we'll have a hard time convincing her that my curse is not
the end of the world.
Akane reaches out and lays a hand on one of Ranko's slumped
shoulders.
Akane: But you're still going to see her?
Ranko: I don't know what else I could do. This isn't something
that will get better if we wait - better to get it over with.
Akane opens her mouth to say something supportive, but she never
gets that far.
Voice: Pigtailed Girl! Tendou Akane! Do not be sad, for I, Kunou
Tatewaki, have arrived to support you in your hour of need!
The two girls turn to see Kunou with his arms stretched wide in
anticipation of an embrace, and Ryouga, groaning and covering his
face with a hand.
Ryouga: You Dolt! Have you never heard of the element of
surprise?
Kunou: That is not the way of the Samurai.
Ranko: Oh man, I never thought I'd be thankful for your delusions
of grandeur, Kunou. [whispers to Akane] We can't risk a fight
now. You run first, I'll try to delay them and then come after
you. I hope we can lose them again, that way.
Akane frowns a little, but nods a fraction. Satisfied, Ranko
approaches Kunou.
Ranko: So, "Sempai". Are the daily beatings at school not enough
for you anymore, that you now hound me even on Sundays?
Kunou: [striking a theatrical pose] Is there a place on the
timetable for affection? No, love knows neither time nor season
and will not obey- Ugh!
Using his distraction, Ranko has delivered a crunching uppercut to
his jaw, sending him flying down the street. Akane takes off
running, as Ranko whirls towards Ryouga.
Ryouga wastes no time and attacks, but Ranko ducks under his punch
and works his stomach with a brutal left-right combination, taking
the wind out of his lungs.
Ranko: You never remember that in my natural form I'm faster'n
you. [thinks] I hope this buys me a few seconds.
She turns to run after Akane. Unfortunately, she underestimated
the speed with which Kunou recovers from a rattled braincase.
<Glomp>
Kunou: Pigtail Girl!
Ranko: Gyaah, leggo!
She bashes Kunou again, taking off at a desperate pace after
Akane, since Ryouga is already regaining his breath.
But just before she can reach the mouth of the alley, something
drops from above, blocking her way. As she comes to a skidding
halt, Ranko recognizes the figure. It is Genma, holding full
buckets of water in both hands and wearing several water
containers on a string around his neck.
Genma: Stop right there.
Ranko slowly backs away from him. Only when she is several feet
out of his range, she dares throw a quick glance over her
shoulder, where she sees the love-stricken Kunou and a determined
Ryouga. She is closed in, front and back; the houses on either
side of the alley are too high to allow jumping up. She sidles
towards one wall, allowing her opponents to meet up and face her,
so that she has all of them in front of her.
Genma: Give it up. We've got you surrounded.
With her back to the wall, Ranko looks around, already knowing
that her father is right. She looks at her opponents, left to
right, beginning with Ryouga who is cracking his knuckles in
anticipation. There doesn't seem to be any opening in their
ranks.
Ranko: [thinks] Ryouga's fast and strong; he can cover his
ground without problems. Pop can't be trusted to play fair in
this one; he probably has some evil tricks up his sleeve, so no
escape there either. Kodachi has a far reach with her bloody
ribbon, and the same goes for Kunou and his bokk- Wait a minute!
Kunou turns his head to the girl next to him.
Kunou: Pray tell, dear sister, what brings you here?
Kodachi: Ohohohohoo, dear brother. Did you truly think I would
pass up a chance to have at the wretched pigtail girl that would
separate me from my dear Ranma-sama? Of course I followed you and
your henchman-
Ryouga: Who's his henchman?!
Genma: [to Ranko] I told you - you might just as well give up.
In the face of this opposing force, something hardens on Ranko's
features; she has come to a decision.
Ranko: [narrows eyes] All right, this is it. Enough is enough.
The gloves are off.
Ranko crouches down in a strangely hunched over position, keeping
her eyes on Genma and Ryouga. Suddenly she lets out a blood-
curdling scream and streaks past Kunou faster than he can see.
Ranko: NYAAAAAAAA!
Kunou doesn't even have time to react, before his pigtailed
goddess is already gone. Slowly he turns to look after her. His
hair is in wild disarray now, his vest ripped in many places, his
hakama torn into strips and his bokken is but a tuft of paper-
thin wood shavings.
Kunou: Wha- wha- wha...
He gathers himself again and looks around himself. Then he walks
over to Kodachi who is lying on the ground, seemingly unconscious.
He kneels beside her and lifts her upper body. Thin red lines,
like scratches crisscross on her face. Her eyes flutter, then
open fully.
Kunou: Are you all right, younger sister?
Kodachi: [looks around furiously] Where is that dreadful
pigtailed wench?!
At the mention of his love, Kunou jumps up, letting Kodachi fall
back to the ground.
Kodachi: Ooof!
Kunou: [looking left and right] Pigtailed Girl!
Genma: After her! She went that way.
Kunou doesn't need telling twice and takes off after Ranko.
Kodachi: [rolls over and pushes herself up] Ohohohohohohooo!
The hunt is on!
<STOMP!>
Kodachi: Umph!
Just as Kodachi is getting up, she is trampled down by Ryouga who
is following Kunou's lead.
Kodachi: [steamed] Why, you...
She lashes out with her ribbon, catching Ryouga by the ankle,
making him stumble and fall right into a nearby rain water barrel.
Kodachi: OOOOhohohoHOhohOHohoooo! Let that be a lesson to you,
not to trifle with the Black Rose. Wait for me, elder brother!
She bounces off after Kunou, ignoring the enraged black piglet
that jumps out of the barrel and runs after her on its little
piggie legs, trying to bite her calves.
~*~
Meanwhile Ranko is careering down the street at top speed,
determined to lose her pursuers. She almost misses Akane waving
at her from the door of a public restroom. Ranko zooms past her
through the door, coming to a panting standstill in the anteroom
before the stalls.
Akane: What kept you? I thought you didn't want to fight them?
Ranko: It just got worse. Pop appeared again and Kodachi too.
They had me cornered and I had to- Uh, anyway, what do we do now?
Akane: [scratches her head, then smiles] We split up again.
~*~
Following Kunou's lead, Kodachi, Genma and a re-humanized Ryouga
hurry down the street.
Ryouga: [to Genma] Why are we following this dolt?
Genma: Trust me. This boy has the uncanny ability always to turn
up where Ranko or Akane are.
Ryouga: The term 'Idiot Savant' springs to mind.
Suddenly there is a commotion. A few paces in front of Kunou,
Ranko and Akane burst from the door of a public restroom. They
take off in a flash, leaving the startled group of would-be
pursuers standing. Finally the others animate and give chase.
After a while something unexpected happens - Ranko and Akane split
up, one running further down the street, while the other turns
into a side street. Kunou stops dead, forcing the others to stop
or evade; Ryouga crashes into Genma and both tumble to the ground.
For a few seconds, Kunou stands confused, looking back and forth
between the two girls. Finally he hitches.
Kunou: Forgive me, Tendou Akane, but I have to follow the Pigtail
Girl. I will make restitution to you.
With that he takes off again, after the girl in the floral dress,
her pigtail swaying in the wind. The others follow as well as
they can.
The wild chase goes on and on; all over the neighbourhood they
run. Carts are overturned; chicken squawk and flutter around;
Humorous fruit and cream pies fly low. Finally, after a long
time, Kunou begins to catch up. Foot by foot, inch by inch, he
gains upon his quarry, until he is near enough. He reaches out
and grabs her by the pigtail.
Kunou: Haha, I caught you, O pigtailed one. Come let us be off
to-
The pigtail comes loose in his hands.
Kunou: Gaaahhh!
The no longer pigtailed girl looks over her shoulder.
Akane: Fooled you!
Without missing a beat, Kunou latches on to her.
Kunou: Tendou Akane! I would date you!
Akane: Gyaaaaah! [punches him into the sky] Get off me!
She steadies herself against a wall, panting, one hand clenched
over her beating heart.
Akane: [thinks] I *knew* there was a catch to that plan.
~*~
Ranko, wearing Akane's jogging clothes, slows down to a swift walk
and allows herself to look back. There is no trace of the others.
She exuberantly punches the air, once.
Ranko: [thinks] Yay! It worked! Thank you, Akane.
Slowly she strolls the last hundred feet to her mother's house.
When she finally stands before it and looks up at the building,
she gives a sigh that speaks of a heavy burden being put off. She
pushes the doorbell.
Ranko: [thinks] I made it! I finally made it.
<KRAK-THOOOM>
<SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...>
~*~
When Saotome Nodoka steps out of her home to answer the bell at
the gate, she takes a second or two, having to open her umbrella
first, to make it to the gate without being drenched. When she
opens the gate she is surprised to find nobody before it. She is
just about to return to the house, when she spies a figure sitting
on the ground. It is leaning against the wall, hunched over and
looks as miserable as can be.
Nodoka: Oh dear, Ranma-kun. Now, crying like that isn't very
manly, is it?
With a jerk, Ranma looks up at her, obviously having missed her
presence.
Ranma: Uh- Uh... I'm not- It's- That's just the rain running
down my cheeks. Nothing more.
He puts on a smile for Nodoka, that she returns.
Nodoka: How nice that I meet you here. I wanted to call
Tendou-san today, but perhaps you can deliver my message?
~*~
When Ranma and Akane arrive back at the Tendou home, dripping wet,
they are greeted by Nabiki and Kasumi.
Nabiki: Well?
Kasumi: Did you meet your mother in your natural form?
Ranma: [tonelessly] No.
Nabiki frowns at the bad news, and Kasumi's hopful expression
turns sad.
Kasumi: Oh.
Ranma: But... she's coming over tomorrow.
Akane softly lays a hand on Ranko's shoulder and squeezes it.
Akane: [encouragingly] That's great, Ranko. It means you get
another chance right away.
Nabiki: [grabs her forehead] D'oh! Why make a thing simple when
you can plan, deliberate, run around for... [looks at her watch]
six hours straight and finally end up achieving nothing instead.
In the background Souun's voice can be heard.
Souun: Why, Saotome-kun! What happened to you? Were you run
over by a 16-ton truck?
Suddenly Ranma and Akane smile again.
Ranma: I wouldn't say we achieved nothing...
-- End of part 34
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To be continued...
Sebastian