RANMA 1/2:  A Thirst For Vengeance
Copyright (c) 1996  Brian Navy (geosword@fastlane.net)
Characters are the creation of Rumiko Takahashi and all copyrights apply
where needed.


PART TWO - The Spark

	Of all the people to comfort him, Ranma had least expected Nabiki.  But she
was there, holding his hand and rubbing his back while telling him it would
be all right.  His father, Genma, sat next to him, eyes staring off into
nothing while Akane’s father paced back and forth, tears streaming down his
face.  Kasumi sat in a chair across the way looking as calm as ever.
	The police had tried to detain him for questioning but Ranma had forcefully
entered the ambulance with Akane.  He had said only one thing to the police
before the ambulance drove off.  "You’d better find them before I do."
	Ukyou burst through the doors into the waiting room.  She was visibly
upset.  The okonomiyaki chef was still wearing her work outfit so it was
apparent she had left her restaurant to come here.  To Ukyou, Akane was a
rival for Ranma’s love, but she was also like a sister.  The thought of her
being injured seriously, possibly dead was more than even the stern young
woman could handle.  She had cried on her way here.
	She saw Ranma, his head titled to the floor.  He did not even bother to
look up.  She knew he was lost in thought.  Although Ukyou did not ever want
to admit it to anyone, she knew that Ranma was in love with Akane and that
her own calls of love would be kindly rejected.  Despite this knowledge she
still clung to hopes.  She had often wished that Akane would somehow drop
out of the picture.  It was now a possibility that her wish had been
granted.  This made her feel guilty and she started to cry again. 
	Ranma looked up then and saw Ukyou standing there, tears rolling down her
smooth cheeks.  He said nothing, just opened his arms to her.  She ran to
him and buried herself in his chest.
	"My little girl…" Soun continued to mumble as he paced, the floor already
showing wear.
	Shampoo, Mousse and Cologne entered the room a few moments later.  They
nodded to everyone then sat down quietly.  Shampoo looked over at Ranma and
felt a little jealous that Ukyou was in his arms but this was not the time
or place.  Her friend and enemy was near death.  How many times had she
playfully thought of  removing Akane from the picture?  Now that it was a
possibility she wished she had never thought up such ideas.
	The doors to the waiting room flew open  with enough force to crack the
walls that they slammed into.  Ryouga Hibiki ran in and headed straight for
the doors to surgery.
	"AKANE!" he shouted, tears in his eyes.
	A rather large nurse blocked his path.  Ryouga plowed into her but she did
not budge.  He fell back to the floor a bit dazed.
	"No one is allowed past this point sir." The nurse said.
	Ryouga did not rise to challenge her.  He had no strength to.  He looked
utterly defeated.  He bowed his head to the floor and remained motionless.
	"What fiend has done this to Akane Tendo!?" came a stern voice from the hall.
	"Calmly brother dear."
	"Please master, be calm."
	The doors flew open again.  Unable to take any further abuse they fell from
their hinges.  Tatewaki Kuno, dressed in his usual blue gi and carrying his
bokken entered the room with his sister Kodachi and faithful ninja servant
Sasuke.  Lightning crashed behind him.
	"I, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High will punish them, " Kuno said, an
extremely dangerous look on his face.  "Severally."
	<Punish them severally.>
	<Yes.  Punish them.  Make them see death coming.  Make them scream.>
	All these thoughts entered Ranma’s mind as Kuno’s words sank in.  Sorrow
was being replaced by intense anger but before it could boil over the doors
to the surgery wing opened and a doctor came in.  Everyone gave him their
undivided attention.  Soun grabbed him forcefully by his collar.
	"My little girl!?" he cried.
	"I will not lie to you.  Miss Tendo is in very serious condition.  She’s
lost a lot of blood.  One of the bullets pierced her right lung and the
other has done damage to her liver and her left kidney." The doctor
reported.  Soun sank to the floor and sobbed.
	Ukyou clutched Ranma tighter.  Shampoo looked at the floor.  Nabiki
squeezed Ranma’s hand firmly.  No one said anything until Ranma looked up at
the doctor.
	"She will make it.  She is strong and stubborn."  Ranma said.  It was the
first thing he had said since they arrived.
	Genma nodded his approval.
	"Of course she will be okay." Kasumi said sweetly.  Her reassuring voice
was enough to lower the tension level a little.
	"I will keep you informed as surgery progresses.  It will be a long wait so
if you need to leave we will contact you immediately if something comes up."
The doctor said.  He patted Soun on the shoulder then returned to the
surgery wing.
	"Who has done this Saotome?" Kuno asked, pure rage in his voice.
	Ranma stood up with clenched fists.
	"I heard only one thing, Widow Dragons."
	Cologne’s eyes narrowed.  This did not go unnoticed by Ranma.
	"What do you know Cologne?" he said.
	"The Widow Dragons are one of Japan’s most notorious Mafias." She said.
	"We don’t have things like that here in Japan!" Ryouga spoke up.
	"Nieve boy.  You do have them as does any country.  The Widow Dragons are
big.  Their operations stretch into China and beyond, even to the United
States."
	"They came out of no where and started shooting at these other two guys. "
Ranma said.
	"What were they wearing?" Cologne asked.
	"Light blue business suits.  They looked very professional."
	Cologne nodded.  "Of course.  The Blue Tiger Clan."
	"Blue Tiger Clan?" everyone said.
	"Yes.  They are not nearly as powerful as the Widow Dragons but never the
less, the two are direct enemies." Cologne explained.  "It is strange that
they would attack out in the open and in broad daylight.  They usually take
care of their business secretively."
	"I don’t care who they are or what they do.  All that matters is that they
are all about to have a really bad day." Ranma growled, his anger returning.
	"Don’t do anything foolish boy." Genma said.
	"The police will not involve themselves with this affair.  They are all
paid off any ways by both groups.  If justice is to be found, future
son-in-law, you must carry it out." Cologne said.
	"And you won’t do it alone Ranma." Ryouga took his place by Ranma’s side.
	"That is to be certain.  They shall fall before my might!" Kuno said, a
flash of his bokken adding to his point.
	"Shampoo will help."
	"I too will fight for the cause!" Mousse shouted out.
	"Let’s pay them back." Ukyou glared.
	"Be careful son-in-law.  They are not amateurs.  They are very dangerous."
Cologne cautioned.  "This battle may test your battle skills to their fullest."
	"Don’t worry about me." Ranma said.  "Let’s go."
	"Soun and I will stay here to wait for word on Akane." Genma said.
	Ranma nodded then he and his gang left through the broken doors.

	Ranma tightened the strings on his shirt and looked at the picture that he
kept on his dresser.  Ranma and Akane were arm in arm in that picture, Ranma
with a face of uncertainty.  Akane had a look of pure happiness.  That was
taken six months ago?  He picked up the picture and ran his fingers along
Akane’s form.  What if she died?  He closed his eyes, trying to clear the
thought.  She wouldn’t die.  She can’t die.  He wouldn’t have anyone to pick
on or anyone to beat him senseless, at least beaten senseless like Akane
could do.
	"I love you Akane." Ranma whispered to the picture.
	He had never said it to her face.  He made a promise to say it to her next
time.
	"Building up strength Ranma?"
	Ranma turned around.  Nabiki was in the doorway.
He turned a little red.
	"What are you doing home?" he asked.
	"I was going crazy waiting at the hospital so I came home."
Ranma put the picture back on the dresser and looked at Akane again.
"Why don’t you ever say it to her?" Nabiki said.
"You know at first I really had no feelings for her.  To me, she was just a
violent girl.  Two years it has taken for us to grow this close and now this
happens."
	Nabiki stepped into the room.
	"Now it is going to be to late for you to say anything." Nabiki said.
	Ranma spun around and glared at her.
	"Nabiki!  Don’t say things like that!  Akane will be fine!  I know she will!"
	Nabiki’s eyes were tearing up and her bottom lip was starting to quiver
slightly.  Ranma’s glare faded away.  Nabiki was really upset.  Tears
streamed out of her eyes now and she started to sob.  Ranma walked up to her
and hugged her tightly.  She had not shed a tear at the hospital.  She was
strong and did not want to show hear weakness to anyone.  She hugged Ranma
back and broke down into heaving sobs.  He had never seen Nabiki like this
before.  He stroked her hair.
	"I don’t want to be without my sister." Nabiki spoke through sobs.  "Ranma,
don’t let her die.  Please?"
	"Nabiki---"
	She clutched at his clothes tighter.
	"I lost my mother.  I don’t want to lose my sister too."
	"She will be fine." Ranma whispered into her ear.  "Believe in her
strength.  Believe in her will and she will be fine."
	She cried and Ranma held her.

	Kuno walked into the den of the family room.  Decorated with expensive
furniture, grand tapestries and statues, none of these were the focus of his
attention.  What hung above the fireplace was.
	Kuno knelt before the painted portrait of his great grandfather, a stern
looking man dressed in samurai armor, hair tied in the traditional bun.
	"Great Grandfather, I, Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High,
the shooting star of the east ask you to grant me the strength to vanquish
my foes.  I ask for the power to strike down vengeance upon those that have
harmed the fair Akane."
	Kuno looked up at the Katana resting in it’s stand on the fireplace shelf.
He stood and removed the sword from it’s perch.  He unsheathed it halfway to
examine the fine razor edge.  They would pay dearly.

	Ryouga adjusted the 20 bandannas on his head, checked his umbrella and
backpack then headed for the rendezvous point.  Surely he would find it for
this was a matter of vengeance.  Justice must prevail!
 
	Shampoo looked at Mousse.  He nodded.  They were ready.  They left the
Nekohatten for the rendezvous point.

END OF PART 2

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WASHUU:  Lineage... Social status... why should these 
	 things matter?  That's how grown ups are...
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oo  Member of M.A.S., MEN AGAINST SHAMPOO!		oo
oo  Devoted worshipper of KAWAII anime girlies!		oo
oo  President of ANIME NATION!				oo
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Advice for the day:  Don't make super bounce balls out of
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