Note: See? Not as long this time. Anyway, back copies (except for
Chapter 11; if you missed it, ask me) of all CoD chapters are available
through www.tass.org/fanfic. Read! Enjoy! C&C!
C&A Productions Presents
A Work of Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction
Ranma: Curse of Darkness
Chapter 12: To The Victor
By Chris McNeil and Aaron Peori
The story so far: Shampoo, the enthusiastic and arguably overendowed
Chinese Amazon, gathered several new "husbands" when she was defeated by
both Tzubi and her fellow villager Mousse in combat. Shampoo's attempts
to pursue a relationship with them-and with her original flame,
Ranma-have only served to drive home the fact that none of them want
her. But now Cologne has offered Shampoo a way to prove that one of
them can be hers...
(The swords dance in intricate patterns through the air, each movement
flowing to the next as smooth as a gentle stream and as fast as a
lightning stroke. Tzubi Meskiro twirls amid the fury of the flashing
blades like a ballerina, yet never once losing control over the swords,
gradually moving them faster and faster until they become an nearly
invisible blur around his body. And then, in an instant, he stops,
holding so still as to appear frozen. Unconscious of the nearly
gravity-defying twists of his body and weaponry he remains motionless
for well over a minute, until a single bead of sweat trickles slowly
down his brow. With a sigh he spins the daisho, breaking the stance,
and slides them back into their sheaths. As he walks towards the door
of the Tendo Dojo, his eyes narrow in thought.)
Tzubi: [I should have held that twice as long without effort.] (he
frowns) [I haven't been fighting nearly enough lately.]
Nabiki: (standing casually by the door) Nice workout.
Tzubi: I can do better. (picking up his jacket, he pulls his wallet out
of an interior pocket) Usual fee?
Nabiki: Well...there -was- the damage Shiad did to the lawn...
Tzubi: Which I had no part in at all. (he gives her a thin smile) So
don't get any ideas.
Nabiki: (spreads her hands innocently) But we have to pay for repairs,
don't we? And unfortunately, that cost gets passed on to you, the
consumer.
Tzubi: (sighs) How much more?
Nabiki: Ten thousand.
Tzubi: I don't have that kind of money.
Nabiki: (smiles evilly) Well then, perhaps we can work out a compromise?
Tzubi: Your last "compromise" cost me more than the flat fee.
Nabiki: Life's always a gamble.
Tzubi: You occasionally win at gambling.
Nabiki: (her smile widens) Just call me lucky.
Tzubi: (shakes head) Why me?
Nabiki: Taking up philosophy?
Tzubi: Philosophy is part of most martial arts, actually.
Nabiki: (gives a doubtful look at the daisho) I don't know why you
bother with them.
Tzubi: (begins to walk past; frowns) It's what I am. I could no more
give up my blades than you could your pocketbook.
Nabiki: But it's so much -easier- just to fleece people. Martial arts
are too much effort for too little gain.
Tzubi: (annoyed look; begins down hallway) You haven't experienced the
thrill, then. There's something...a -feel-, when you push your body
beyond what it should do...
Nabiki: (snorts; falling into step beside him) Masochism. All I ever
got from martial arts was pain. (Tzubi glances at her) My father -does-
run a dojo. When I was young, he tried to teach me some things. It
didn't take.
Tzubi: Maybe... (shakes his head) Maybe that's all it really is.
Nabiki: Does that mean I win?
Tzubi: No, it means I don't think I can convince you.
Nabiki: In other words, I win.
Tzubi: I wasn't aware there was a contest.
Nabiki: Life is a contest. You of all people should know that.
Tzubi: (laughs) A true martial artist knows what the difference between
battle and life is. (face goes firm) Or else they end up dead.
(That seems to stifle the conversation until they reach the house. And
then...)
Nabiki: Now, about your bill...
(Tzubi groans softly.)
********
(Scene: the Nekohanten is quiet, the few customers straggling in between
the breakfast and noon rushes making little sound as they eat their
ramen. Shampoo stands at the counter, ostensibly ready to serve but her
thoughts obviously elsewhere. Abruptly, Cologne pogos out from the
kitchen.)
Cologne: Everything is ready, great-granddaughter.
Shampoo: (eyes snap up) Aiya! You mean is time to see who really love
Shampoo?
Cologne: Yes. But before we go any further...I want to make sure you
are willing to go through with this.
Shampoo: (pauses; then speaks, slowly) If I not, I never know truth for
sure.
Cologne: (frowns) And if the truth is not to your liking?
Shampoo: Then I go on, as true Joketsuzoku should.
Cologne: Very well. As you know, this cannot be gone back on. You
shall have to live with the result as it stands.
Shampoo: Shampoo understand. You already tell her what happen.
Cologne: (turns away) This is your last chance. Understand that as
well. (she hops out of the room)
Shampoo: ...I ready. (turns head to side; softly) Shampoo must know.
********
(Scene: Ucchan's.)
Tarou: I'm back.
Ukyou: (hands him a package) Next order; address is on the top.
Tarou: (grabs some freshly filled thermoses from the counter) Back soon.
Ukyou: (starts making another order) Right. (Tarou leaves)
(There. Far be it for us to go too long without showing Tarou, after
all.)
********
(Scene: Tendo household, early evening. Genma and Soun play go on the
porch, while Kasumi is happily dusting some plant. Ranma and Akane are
sitting by the television, eating snocones and apparently engaging in
what passes for intimate discussion with them.)
Ranma: ... (uncomfortable silence) So...
Akane: (takes a bite; another long pause) What do you want, Ranma?
Ranma: Nothin'.
(The two sit for another few minutes, both watching the TV-which is
tuned to a test pattern-with all outward signs of fascination.)
Ranma: So...
Akane: Will you spill it already?
Ranma: (glares) And you call -me- rude.
Akane: (glares back) Well, you -are-.
Ranma: I...
Cologne: (on Ranma's shoulder) Greetings, boy.
Ranma: GAAAH! (he leaps, banging his head on the ceiling-Cologne wisely
removing herself before this happens-and flops to the floor) Don't DO
that, old ghoul!
Cologne(icily): I'll do what I please.
Akane: What do you want?
Cologne: Nothing to do with you, girl.
Akane: Then you can get out of my house.
Cologne: Not until I finish my business with Ranma.
Ranma: (sits up, rubbing his head) Get it over with, then. I'm busy.
Cologne: (glances at the television) So I see.
Ranma: What do you want, old ghoul?
Cologne: To see how strong you really are.
Ranma: (blinks, then swiftly rises into a defensive stance) You wanna
fight?
Cologne: So I can beat you senseless for no good reason?
Ranma: You wish.
Cologne: No Ranma, I didn't come here to deflate your precious ego
today.
Ranma: (slowly eases out of his stance; still looking wary) So what -do-
you want?
Cologne: (eyes narrow) I no longer think you are worthy of my
great-granddaughter's love. You are too weak.
Ranma: Weak!?
Cologne: After your defeat at Ryouga's hands, and your humiliation with
Tarou...
Ranma: (growls) They cheated. I could beat either of them any day.
Cologne: Oh really?
Ranma: Yes, really. And I'll prove it any time.
Akane: I'm sure Tarou'd love the chance.
Ranma: (glares) Stay outta this.
Akane: Hmph. Be that way then. (she turns and stalks into the kitchen)
Cologne: We don't -need- proof, Ranma. (turns to leave) We have enough,
and it says you are weak.
Ranma: You can't do that!
Cologne: I can do whatever I want, boy, and I want nothing further to do
with you. (she leaves)
Ranma: (gnashing teeth) Old ghoul! Who needs her?
(He stalks away. Outside, in the shadows, Cologne smiles.)
********
(It wasn't normal for the Kunou mansion to be this quiet. Usually the
air would be split by the sound of the young master, boasting and
beheading innocent dummies. When that failed, there was always
Kodachi's laughter, slowly driving the neighbours insane as it echoed
from within. Perhaps even the family patriarch would have come back and
started "redecorating", at least until he got bored again, at which
point there was at least the sound of loyal Sasuke fixing the mess. But
none of this was happening today. Valiance, the Kunou family
bloodhound, was snoring near the dojo, exhausted by a rare fit of
hyperactivity that morning in which he'd moved nearly an entire foot.
Kodachi's pet alligator lazed in the pond amongst the scattered pieces
of a mailman's outfit from yesterday's "incident". Fortunately for the
young man, Midorigame had only been feeling playful. He was fine-he had
quit, but he was fine, at least physically. But that was it. The human
(if you applied that term to them) inhabitants of the mansion all seemed
off on various outings. All save one...)
Sasuke: (looks around) Quiet... (he scurries through the empty halls of
the mansion) Wow, nobody is home! I can finally have some much-deserved
rest! (laughs megalomaniacally) Rest and relaxation! (dances around a
bit) No orders to follow! No mess to clean! No beatings to recover
from! (starts hopping around, waving his arms in joy) I have no
worries! I have no cares! I...
(He smashes facefirst into someone's stomach and staggers back. Then he
looks up, and his face goes very, very pale.)
Sasuke: M-m-mistress Kodachi! (Presses his face to the floor in a
fierce kowtow) Forgive me! I beg of you! Don't test your potions on me
again!
Kodachi: (not looking at him) What? Hmm...no, never mind, Sasuke. I
shall eat later.
Sasuke: (looks up) [No laugh? No torture? What terrible and wonderful
thing has happened to her?]
Kodachi: Tell me, Sasuke. If two people have the same name, who is who?
Sasuke: Eh? Mistress, I d-don't understand what you mean...
Kodachi: And when one changes their name, does that change the person?
Sasuke: I...I don't know.
Kodachi: (clenches her fist) I MUST KNOW! This simply will not do! I
am the puppeteer, but how am I to pull the strings when I don't know
which is attached to where?
Sasuke: Erm...
Kodachi: But I -will- know. (she grabs Sasuke by the scruff of the neck
and lifts him to her face) And you will help me.
Sasuke: (sweatdrop) ...
Kodachi: It will take time...but yes, I shall soon set it up so that I
will know, one way or the other.
OHOHHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!
(Sasuke, wisely, decides to faint.)
********
(Scene: a building, from which Tzubi Meskiro exits with a look of
disgust. His attire, a well-tailored and rather flattering business
suit, sports a dark stain.)
Tzubi: Baka dress-code. (he stretches his hand down and protectively
clasps the handle of his wakazashi) Baka employer. And coffee is so
hard to get out... (sighs) You just -had- to show off...
Cologne: (on his shoulder) Talking to yourself is the first sign of a
diseased mind.
(Tzubi controls his reaction remarkably well, by which I mean he merely
shudders convulsively, his hair standing on end.)
Tzubi: Get...off...my...shoulder.
Cologne: (calmly leaps down) Is that a threat?
Tzubi: (absently smoothing hair back to normal) I'm not that stupid.
(crosses arms) Speak, then leave. I'm not having a good day.
Cologne: It is about my great granddaughter.
Tzubi: Keep her. I'm not interested.
Cologne: (snorts) You think I want YOU to be her husband?
Tzubi: I don't care what you think.
Cologne: That makes sense. Then, we have an agreement?
Tzubi: (blinks as he tries to catch that) What agreement?
Cologne: You stay away from Shampoo, obviously.
Tzubi: (rolls eyes) I have absolutely no problem with that, oba-san.
Shampoo, on the other hand...
Cologne: Shampoo is blind to your flaws, as I was blind to Amigi's.
Tzubi: (laughs) Blind to Amigi's flaws? You really must have been a
fool.
Cologne: (growls) No more than one who cannot recognize them in
themselves.
Tzubi: (eyes narrow) What are you implying, old woman?
Cologne: Are you really that dense?
Tzubi(snarls): I am -nothing- like Amigi! I will never be that
dishonourable!
Cologne: Oh please... (turns head and waves her staff dismissively)
Amigi claimed an honour he never believed in either. You use it as a
convenience, just like him.
Tzubi: (drops hand to his scabbard, thumbing the katana loose) I warn
you, old ghoul...
Cologne: That you'll what? Attack me? How honourable is that?
Tzubi: You have insulted my honour!
Cologne: And you betrayed your master.
Tzubi: (deflates a bit) I...I had no choice.
Cologne: I'm sure Amigi justified abandoning his family vows as well.
Tzubi(more to himself than Cologne): I had known for awhile he was
dishonourable...that he had stolen me for his own purposes... (grits
teeth) He lied about everything! And I couldn't follow his word
blindly! And then he ordered me to kill a defenceless girl...I could
not... (face falls) I simply could not kill her.
Cologne: And you do not lie and deceive? (smiles smoothly) As with the
middle Tendo daughter?
Tzubi: (glares) If you lay a hand on her...
Cologne: As I expected, I was right. You lie, cheat and betray. Amigi
taught you well.
Tzubi: (clenches hand around his katana hilt so hard the knuckles turn
white) I am nothing like him.
Cologne: Prove it.
Tzubi: Name it.
Cologne: (hops off) No, I think not now. Farewell, honourless one.
Tzubi: (stares after her) That...that BITCH! (clenches his fists) I'll
show her, teach her to insult the honour of Tzubi Meskiro!
********
(Scene: Outside Ucchan's okonomiyaki shop, where an umbrella stand sits,
unattended and out of place. Presently Tarou sets out on his next
delivery, giving the stand a casual glance before crushing it under one
massive hoof and flying off. Tsubasa Kurenai was left on the ground,
bleeding and moaning in pain. Eventually he manages to clamber out of
the remains of his costume and begins staggering back to Amigi's.)
Tsubasa: Ugh... (groan) [Stupid monster! Third time this week...] (he
sways) Must...plan...awful...revenge... (collapses, unconscious)
********
(Scene: Mousse stands under the noon sun, his body poised in a perfect
crane stance. Sweat forms on his brow, but this is excusable, as he has
been holding the position for nearly eight hours.)
Mousse: [Why do I bother? I can never have Akane, or Shampoo either now
that I see her for what she is...] (sighs) There is noone for me, here
or elsewhere.
Cologne: True enough. (she hops out of the shadows)
Mousse: What do you want?
Cologne: A formality, but it is the law.
Mousse: I never did care much for those laws. (muses) I never cared for
much of anything back at the village. Shampoo was the only reason I
stayed...
Cologne: Nonetheless, you shall obey them.
Mousse: Why should I? (shakes head slowly) No, I'm not a part of this
anymore. I don't want Shampoo any longer, and Akane can't be mine
either.
Cologne: ... (peers more closely at Mousse) It's burned out, hasn't it?
Mousse: What has?
Cologne: The magic has burned out of your system...somehow, your will
was strong enough to destroy it.
Mousse: (slowly relaxes; looking at his hands) Gone? I hardly realised
it was there. It seemed so...natural. As if I could see myself clearly
for the first time.
Cologne: It was a very subtle magic I worked into the powder. (under
breath) Even if I never intended it to work...
Mousse: Are you speaking to me?
Cologne: No. (hops forward) You will cooperate with me here, though.
Mousse: (sits down) Or what? Exile? Death? Don't make me laugh.
Cologne: If you do this, I shall grant you official renunciation.
Mousse: (blinks) Complete freedom from Amazon law?
Cologne: Yes.
Mouse: Then...I have nothing better to do, I suppose. I might as well.
When?
Cologne: You don't want to know what?
Mousse: I don't care. Besides, I think I can guess.
********
(Scene: the Nekohanten, where Shampoo is sweeping the front step. She
doesn't notice Ranma until he flips down from the awning, hanging upside
down and staring openly at her chest.)
Shampoo: (not recognizing him) AIYA! Pervert! (she slaps Ranma down
and begins stomping on him, kicking up a nice dust cloud) Hentai!
Lecher! Shampoo kill!
Ranma: Agh!
Shampoo: (pauses) Shampoo recognize voice... (waits for the cloud to
settle down) Aiya, Ranma! (she picks up and dusts off the slightly
tenderized boy) You okay?
Ranma: (staggers back, eyes slightly unfocused) Gruh...uh...nice
reflexes...
Shampoo(severely): Ranma! You no scare Shampoo like that! (pause) Why
you stare at Shampoo's breasts? (looks innocently at him)
Ranma: Err...well, that is...I...um... (turns away)
Iwaslookingforthatreversaljewelthing...
Shampoo: (piku) Say again?
Ranma: I was checking to see if you guys were tricking me again.
Shampoo: (face falls) Aiya. Is no trick. Great grandmother tell
Shampoo she no supposed to see you...oops...Shampoo have to go!
(She drops her broom and turns to dash into the restaurant, but Ranma
grabs her shoulder.)
Ranma: Wait! Is she really forcing this?
Shampoo: (slumps) Shampoo have no choice. It is laws. Ranma grow too
weak. Shampoo sorry, may not seem it but Shampoo doe...did care.
Ranma: She can't do this!
Shampoo: Is law.
Ranma: You should do whatever you want. Noone should control your life.
Shampoo: Ranma no understand. Go away now.
Ranma: [Aw man...now what?] I won't let her do this.
(He lets go and walks away; Shampoo casts a single, unreadable glance at
him before returning to the restaurant.)
********
(Scene: the gate leading from the street to the Tendo Dojo. Ranma walks
through, head down, muttering to himself. Abruptly, someone steps
across his path. Ranma, noticing, jerks to a halt and steps back. His
eyes drift up to see Mousse staring back at him.)
Ranma: (sighs) Hey Mousse. Here to kill me?
Mousse: (shakes head) No, Saotome. I came to tell you...that no
matter... (grits teeth) Damn, this is hard!
Ranma: What?
Mousse: I'm trying to be the better man here! (sighs) If I can ever do
that.
Ranma: What are you talking about?
Mousse: Know that for what has passed between us, or what is going to
pass between us, I apologise.
Ranma: You're...you gave up, didn't you? Despite the magic?
Mousse: (sighs) Magic is an act of will. Where there is no will, there
can be no magic. (starts to walk past) I wish to find peace between us,
but that doesn't mean my respect for you is greater. Don't think this
makes us friends, just no longer enemies.
Ranma: I...thank you...I think.
Mousse: (pauses) Your... (unseen by Ranma, a look of self-disgust
crosses his face) Your weakness is not my concern, after all.
Ranma: (hackles rising; he spins to face Mousse) Weakness?
Mousse: Weakness of spirit, weakness of mind...weakness of body.
(growls) All three are linked.
Ranma: (sharply) This is how you treat people who aren't your enemies!?
Mousse: A weaker man deserves no respect!
Ranma: (clenches fist) I've had enough of that from Cologne, Mousse. I
am -not- weak!
Mousse: (looks down; under his breath) I do what I must...
Ranma: What are you saying?
Mousse: (glares at Ranma; louder) Then why can't you protect Akane?
Ranma: ... (his knuckles turn white; slow, even tones) Leave. Now.
(Mousse does so.)
********
(Scene: the dojo, later that day. Ranma is running through a series of
katas, eyes cold. His body begins to move in ever more complex
patterns, faster and with increasing ferocity. Soon he is spinning
around so fast that the nearby wallboards creak ominously from the force
of the passage.)
Voice: Keep it up, Ranma. With my shares in construction around here,
I'll easily make back what you'll pay to have it fixed.
(Ranma turns to see Nabiki leaning in the doorway. Tzubi is standing
slightly behind her, his gaze abstracted.)
Ranma: I'm not in the mood, Nabiki. (looks at her companion) Going on
another "date", Meskiro?
Tzubi: (glances at him; snorts) No, I came to rent out the dojo so I
could do some training. (smiles thinly) So sorry to kick you out, but I
actually pay to use it.
Ranma: Fine. (walks towards them) I'll use the yard.
Voice: Not necessary.
(Everyone turns, to see Cologne standing at the far wall.)
Cologne: Hello Ranma, Tzubi.
Ranma&Tzubi: If you've come to insult... (they trail off, staring at
each other)
Cologne: I offer you both a chance to prove you are strong.
Ranma: Whatever it takes, old ghoul!
Tzubi: You insult my honour; I shall defend it.
Nabiki: Interesting...
Cologne: Meet me at the empty lot nearby tomorrow evening, as the sun
stains the sky red and the mountains claw forth to consume it, to prove
these things to me. (she leaves through the opposite doorway)
Ranma: Masaka... (he pushes past Tzubi and Nabiki with a low growl)
Tzubi: It appears I'll have to do more training than I thought.
Nabiki: You know what is going to happen?
Tzubi: (nods) A fight. Between her and me or me and Ranma or both.
Nabiki: Glad to see you're not a total nitwit. (gives him a sidelong
glance) You do know why she has you and Ranma so worked up?
Tzubi: (waves hand dismissively) No doubt some foolishness to do with my
"betrothal" to Shampoo.
Nabiki: (nods) What she said sounded like a ceremony. She's probably
planning to foist Shampoo off on whoever wins.
Tzubi: It is a possibility.
Nabiki: So then, the answer is obvious. (Tzubi cocks an eyebrow) Throw
the fight.
Tzubi: Not an option.
Nabiki: (piku) But if you lose, then Shampoo won't chase you anymore and
we...
Tzubi(firmly): I said no. No man of honour can throw a fight.
-Especially- to someone like Ranma.
Nabiki: Forget honour! (takes a step back; face like ice) What do you
want, Tzubi? Your outdated honour or... (she trails off)
Tzubi: (looks away from her) Honour is not dead in this world, but it is
dying. Perhaps that is why the world is so...unliveable. (turns back)
Honour is as much a part of me as my heart or mind.
Nabiki: It makes you weak. (eyes narrow slightly) It lets Cologne and
others manipulate you. It makes you stupid.
Tzubi: (frowns in annoyance) If it weren't for that weakness, Nabiki,
you would be dead right now.
Nabiki: Honour is like any other set of ethics. Something to be used to
comfort yourself, but abandoned when it interferes with what you want.
If you aren't willing to drop it when necessary, you won't get any
farther in life than you have now.
Tzubi: If I must live without honour, I would envy the dead.
Nabiki: What if I told you to throw the fight and lose all debt to me?
Tzubi: (grips his hilt; coldly) I do not take bribes, Tendo-san.
Nabiki: (takes a step back) Are you...are you threatening me!?
Tzubi: I have had enough of people dismissing my honour and insulting
me. I don't need the same thing from you.
Nabiki: (throws up her hands) Fine. Fight for your honour and your
morals. See how far it gets you.
Tzubi: (eyes narrow suspiciously) What do you mean?
Nabiki: You'll fight Ranma with all your honour and lose; Ranma will
fight you without his and win.
Tzubi: I will not lose.
Nabiki: Do whatever. Settle your debts when you can. (she leaves,
closing the door behind her)
(Tzubi stands in silence, staring at the door with mute hatred. His
hands tighten on his daisho hilts until the knuckles turn white. Then
his mouth opens with a fierce kiai...outside of the dojo, the door
suddenly buckles and hurtles nearly halfway across the lawn. Inside,
Tzubi stands almost five feet away, smiling.)
********
(Scene: next day, the vacant lot at sunset precisely. A crowd has
gathered at the fringes of the field of combat, and Nabiki can be seen
selling tickets. Tzubi does his best to ignore this as he, Ranma and
Mousse stand in a rough triangle around Cologne. In the background,
Shampoo watches the determined expressions on Tzubi and Ranma's face
with awe. Nearby, Akane is looking bored.)
Akane: What stupid thing is he up to this time?
Tarou: (walking past Akane with a plate of okonomiyaki) Nothing more
idiotic than usual.
Akane: Tarou-kun? What are you doing here?
Tarou: Ukyou's acting the vendor again. (points over his shoulder
across the field to where Ukyou has set up her portable grill) Besides,
I never miss a chance to watch fem-boy humiliate himself.
Akane: (sighs) I should have known.
(In the central field, Cologne is speaking to the combatants.)
Cologne: You three are here to prove yourselves worthy. Now, as night
falls, you three face each other. Whosoever is the last left standing
shall be the best man.
Ranma: Both of them? At once?
Tzubi: (unlimbering his daisho; sneers) Scared, Saotome?
Ranma: (sneers back) Hell no. I'm surprised this is gonna be so easy.
Mousse: Are you two going to talk... (he lets a chain drop from his
sleeve and begins to twirl it) ...or fight?
Cologne: Begin!
(She leaps high into the air and out of the newly christened warzone.
Mousse moves first, lashing out at Tzubi. There is a flash and the
severed chain falls as Tzubi leaps back, wakazashi drawn. Ranma darts
at Tzubi, striking while he's distracted, but the swordsman isn't caught
unawares and unsheathes his katana to fend Ranma off. Mousse shifts his
stance and launches himself at Ranma's flank, a combat claw snapping out
of his sleeve as he strikes. Ranma ducks under it and snaps a foot up,
catching Mousse on the chin. Tzubi frowns and thrusts his
katana...there is a flash of red. Ranma yells and dances back, his
shirt laid open along the shoulder and a red line tracing down the arm.)
Tzubi: You are fast. That blow should have crippled your arm, not
merely hurt it.
Ranma: That's a little serious for a match like this, don't you think?
(Mousse steadies himself and looks between the two, but remains silent.)
Tzubi: She said until only one shall be left standing. Let us say I
interpret that rather dramatically.
Ranma: (eyes narrow) If that's how you want to play it...
(On the sidelines...)
Akane: Th-this is serious! Nabiki, what is Tzubi doing?
Nabiki: (standing nearby) He doesn't answer to or explain himself to me.
Tzubi: (falls into a low stance, swords held back) For my honour I shall
do whatever I find necessary!
Tarou: (smirks; evil chuckle) This could be more interesting than I
thought.
Blade
********
World's #1 Fanboy of Ukyou Kuonji, Pantyhose Tarou, Kiima, Toguro Ani,
Alys Brangwin, Ibuki Yagami, Vega, Mian Toris, Sessho-maru, Brad
Kilsten, and that psycho soldier with the glasses in Windaria. ;p
"All I wanted to do was kill a few people, maybe a little torture on the
side! Was that too much to ask?"-Toguro Ani
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