Merry New Year and Happy Christmas!
Anyway, back to the real world...I've finally come up with the next part of
this, my currently longest running story...
I hope you enjoy it...Former Parts of this are on my website...
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/1509
Rumiko Takahashi and Viz and many other companies own Ranma and all his
bits (Ewwie!)...I'm just borrowing them for my own porpoises...
C&C is, as always, wanted and appreciated...
gargoyle@glasscity.net
gargoyle4@hotmail.com
or
gargoyle9@hotmail.com
Flames, also as always, will be filed in the round folder...
***
The All-Americans
By
Joshua Trujillo
Part 15 - Etiquette as Taught by Miss Shampoo or
How I'll Whup Your Ass, Sugah!
Sayuri watched as the blonde boy turned the spear over and over in
his hands. If it weren't for the blonde do, she'd have thought he was
Native. As it was, it seemed like he was only about twelve or so.
Though, from the way Ukyou reacted and from the nasty glint in the
boys' eye, Sayuri thought she should stay behind Ukyou. She looked
over to Shampoo, who simply shrugged in response and peered out
from behind Ranma.
Ukyou felt the blood begin to rush into her face at the mere
thought of Toma. The anger brushed at the buried feelings and the
memories of what he did and it drove the blood hotter in her.
Ukyou took a breath and surprised herself when her hands began to
shake from the adrenaline. She would take this asshole out tonight,
if it weren't for Sayuri and Shampoo. She could protect Sayuri, but
not if Toma pulled that little stunt again and Ukyou had a sinking
feeling that the sword had nothing to do with it.
Ranma calmed more. The adrenaline threatened to surge into his
head and clutter his thoughts, but he'd been taught long ago that the
best thing to do in these situations was to calm and try to center
yourself as much as possible. THAT was the closest path to the chi
necessary for fighting and the quickest way to use it. There was
only one problem, or rather, two. Shampoo and Sayuri. They were
cheerleaders. What did they know of combat? Ukyou could
probably handle herself, but Shampoo and Sayuri couldn't.
Toma stopped twirling the staff and eyed the four of them, his
predatory gaze flickering between them.
"You see," he began, "I don't simply want to embarrass, or harm
you. No. I want to take you apart from the inside out. And for that,
I need time to work..."
He swung his right arm out and the goons began to form a circle
around them. A circle? The adrenaline overtook Ranma's thoughts
as he realized what was going on. Toma needed the circle for his
little mind tricks. Ranma didn't know why, but it was needed.
"Don't let them form the circle!" Ranma snapped to Ukyou.
"Why?" Shampoo asked from behind.
"It's part of the trap," Ranma hastily explained, trying to back them
out of the closing circle, "Just stay behi-"
There was a flash of movement and Ranma jerked his head around
to see Shampoo jump into a group of three men, who were among
them, four times her size. Ranma's mouth fell open as she kicked a
man in the clusters and spun gracefully around to deliver a shot
across the jaw...And she was speeding up!
An elbow here, the swing of an axe kick to the back of another
guy's head, one guy being thrown into two more. It seemed some
sort of perverse ballet as more men piled on, but it didn't seem to
matter to Shampoo, who simply sped up and changed her tactics.
Ranma shook his head briefly and looked back at Ukyou and
Sayuri, who were both enthralled by the action.
A small pulse of light pulled Ranma's attention back to Toma, who
had the foulest mask of hatred across his countenance. Toma was
staring right at Ranma as the blade on the spear pulsed once more.
"Shit," Ranma swore.
He pulled up a small amount of chi and fired. Ranma then pulled at
his larger reserves as the first shot sailed wide. It had the desired
effect though...It made him flinch. The second one didn't miss.
The action slowed to a crawl and all heads turned as the explosion
ripped across the parking lot. Ukyou threw Sayuri to the ground
and covered her as pieces of the car that Toma had been sitting on
flew all around them. Ranma felt a couple pieces slash across his
face and his arm, but he felt that they were minor compared to the
world of hurt that Toma was in. Ranma smiled. He risked a glance
to Shampoo, who was putting the finishing touches on Toma's
gang of thugs, having taken advantage of the blast. Ranma smiled
again; maybe she'd be different. She WAS certainly surprising
him. But back to Toma. It was time to end it.
Ukyou shot a glance up to Ranma, who was helping her on her
feet. Ukyou looked down to Sayuri, who was out cold. Ranma
reached down and checked her pulse. It was nice and strong.
"She's okay," Ranma said, "Just out cold. C'mon, let's get him
while he's down."
Ukyou nodded sharply and half limped after Ranma on his slow
way through the wreckage to Toma. It felt like she twisted
something and was surprised when Shampoo slid under her arm
and helped her along.
"Hey, thanks," Ukyou said weakly.
"No problem, honey," she purred, "But, I think that Ranma can
give him the necessary ass-kickin'..."
Ukyou shook her head.
"It's personal between me and Toma."
Shampoo shrugged and helped Ukyou around a large piece of the
radiator. They approached the crater that marked the center of the
blast zone and wondered at Ranma, who was jumping around from
section to section. He shot them a worried glance.
"He's not here."
Ukyou shrugged Shampoo's arm off and began to search the center
of the wreckage. Shampoo picked up part of the engine block and
Ranma raised an eyebrow at her. She smiled shyly and dropped it,
remembering that dainty Southern lasses weren't supposed to be
able to dead-lift several hundred pounds.
"Ranma."
Ranma and Shampoo converged on Ukyou, who turned from a
mangled section of steering column. She tossed a piece of
something back to Ranma. It was the bottom half of that spear,
little burned sections of leather wrapping smoldering lightly in the
crisp air. Shampoo gasped and grabbed Ranma's arm as she
pointed back toward Sayuri. Toma held her in his arms, his eyes
flashing gently in the dark. Ranma bolted out of the pile, but
stopped short as he raised the spear to her throat.
"No," Ukyou said, stepping in front of Ranma, "Don't do anything
to Sayuri. If you want to play your perverse games, then do it with
me, but let her go."
"Oh," Toma sighed, "To think that I couldn't have all of you? Do
you think I'm stupid? The moment I let her go, you'll all attack me,
and then where would my fun be?"
There was a rustling to the right of the wreckage of the car and
Ranma saw that the goons had recovered and were circling. Toma
stood and winced from the hit he took in his side. Sayuri was still a
dead weight in his arms, but that didn't-huh?
Ukyou jumped and aimed herself at Sayuri as Ranma threw
something at Toma. Ukyou managed to get an arm around her legs,
bringing Sayuri down on top of her. Toma watched in dazed
confusion as the bottom half of the spear smashed into his
shoulder. A sickening crack issued as he flew into the hands of his
goons. Sayuri opened her eyes to find Ukyou draped over her.
There was the top part of the blonde boy's spear nearby, blood
covering the blade. Sayuri felt her heart drop. What had-?
Ukyou groaned and rolled to his right, clutching at his side. Sayuri
let out a worried laugh and tried to find out what had happened, but
the lump she could feel rising on her head and the blood coming
from Ukyou's side all conspired to keep things from straightening
out. Ranma leaned down beside her and pulled Ukyou's hand away
as he assessed the damage.
Shampoo watched as the goons picked up their limp, fallen leader
and hauled him away.
"I think we'd best head ta the hospital," Shampoo said, bending to
help Ranma, "Ukyou's lost a lotta blood. Ah also don't think the
cops're gonna believe this one."
Ranma looked into her eyes and nodded sharply.
"Help Sayuri to the car," Ranma said, getting himself under
Ukyou.
***
Ranma hated the hospital smell. That sterile kind of smell that told
the rest of the senses that, if it didn't smell this way, it'd smell
MUCH worse. Ranma still hated. He'd healed up his cuts enough
that he didn't need stitches. Sayuri had a slight concussion, but she
was waiting for the news on Ukyou no matter what. Ranma had
told her what had happened and tried to cut down on Shampoo's
embellishments. Shampoo. Ranma had no idea what to do with
her. She intrigued him so much and yet, it was like meeting a true
equal, there was also something almost scary about it. Ranma
looked over to her. She was perusing some woman's magazine that
had been sitting on the table next to the illustrated children's Bible
and the Highlights magazines.
Her eyes passed up to Ranma, who looked away and she smiled
again. He was so cute when he blushed like that, it was rather
funny. She didn't know what the problem with that Toma kid was,
but he had a real attitude. And if this thing went on any longer,
Shampoo'd have to call on a couple of old friends to take care of
things. But good Southern gals weren't supposed to have their own
posse either. Shampoo hummed tunelessly at the thought. She'd
have to keep it a secret from Ranma then...
Ranma looked back to Sayuri. She was dozing on the other
sofaseatthingy. The doctors had told her that she should just go
home, but she wouldn't hear it. Ranma wondered if it was because
Toma had gotten to her like he'd gotten to Ukyou and Akane. He
didn't know and for Sayuri, he wouldn't ask. If she wanted to tell
him, then she would in her own time. Ranma thought that Ukyou
would probably hear it first though. She shot up from her seat as
the doctor came out from the swivel doors. That was another thing
that Ranma hated about the hospital. The way the doctors hid their
results until they actually told you. 'I'm sorry ma'am, but your
husband is compost' looked exactly like 'Nothing to worry about
and here's a million dollars for your troubles'.
"How is he, doctor?" Sayuri asked expectantly.
"Him who?" he looked confused.
Ranma winced inwardly at this. Dammit...Of all the times for this
to come out. Of course they'd check her gender. Damn. Damn
stupid mistake!
"How is-" even Ranma had to stop himself, "How is Ukyou,
please?"
The doctor shifted his glance to Ranma and settled back into
doctor-mode.
"Well, she's lost a lot of blood, but she should be okay," he said
scratching his chin, "We're going to keep her overnight for
observation. I have to ask though...What the Hell happened?"
"She who?" Sayuri muttered.
Before Ranma could speak up, Shampoo grabbed Ranma's arm and
sidled up next to him.
"We were jumped by a group of thugs," she said quickly, "Ranma
and Ukyou defended myself and Sayuri, but poor Ukyou couldn't
handle all four at once."
"Who she? What about-" and then Sayuri got it.
"Have to talked to the police about this?"
"My Ukyou...was..." Sayuri sat down hard.
"Yessah," she continued.
The doctor mumbled into the background. As did Shampoo and
Ranma. Sayuri closed her eyes and folded her arms around herself.
She'd never felt this way before. She felt like she had to hold on to
her chest, lest her heart simply fall, shattered into many pieces, on
the floor. Ukyou was a girl. Her blood screamed in her ears, partly
because of the concussion, but partly because he-SHE had lied to
her. She'd LIED! Sayuri couldn't understand it. What would Ukyou
have to LIE about?!
Sayuri was vaguely aware as Ranma led her out to Shampoo's car.
The ride home was a blur. There was another vague sensation of
giving someone the directions to her house. Her mind was on
Ukyou. He-SHE didn't have to lie to anyone, that much was
certain. But looking back, Sayuri could see how Ukyou was
hesitant about all the little things that guys would normally be
pretty dense about. Maybe that's why Sayuri liked him...Her.
The tears came easily that night. Her parents asked what was
wrong, but got no answer. What was wrong? Well, Ukyou wasn't
properly equipped? Or some equally stupid line? Her heart burned
at the mere thought of Ukyou. But, despite herself, there were still
feelings there. She wouldn't deny them, because that would only
lead her to trouble. But, at least for the moment, she couldn't
accept them either. She wasn't a lesbian, this much she was...sure?
Did Ukyou ever lead her on? No. In fact, she never wanted to go
on the date in the first place. Even Ranma had given her
weird...Ranma knew? Ranma knew! Why didn't he TELL her? But
a little voice in the back of Sayuri's head asked her another
question, would she have really listened to him? No. And the facts
rolled over Sayuri that the only one who deceived her was herself.
That, and the fact that she still liked the way he
kissed...She...Ukyou...
***
"What do you mean, she's not here?" Ukyou asked.
Yuka looked at him.
"What part of that didn't you understand, handsome?" Yuka was
never one to look a gift in the mouth.
If Sayuri weren't around, then perhaps Yuka would have a shot at
Ukyou. It did kind of bother her that Sayuri hadn't shown up since
her date with Ukyou three days ago. She'd called Sayuri's house
and her mom said that Sayuri was quite ill. Sayuri's mom was a
little old fashioned.
"Ukyou?!" a voice came from behind them, "What are you doing
here? You should be in bed!"
It was Akane. Ranma was in tow and it looked like he had a new
scar across his right cheek too.
"Ranma told me what happened," Akane said, "Are you sure you
should be in school?"
"What happened?" Yuka asked.
"They fought off a gang from Arlington," Akane left out the Toma
part of it, "And one of them cut Ukyou pretty badly."
Ukyou frantically waved her hands to keep this information from
the listening crowd, but it was too late. The damage had been done.
Well, might as well minimize the results, she thought to herself.
"You know," she said, loud enough for Ranma to hear, "Ranma
had a much bigger part in the fight than I did. I was just unlucky."
Ranma smirked from behind Akane and shook his head.
"Look Yuka," Ukyou turned her attention back, "I'm kinda worried
about Sayuri. She took a hit on her head and I want to make sure
she's okay."
"Uh, yeah..." Yuka cursed her own luck, "I'll get you the directions
to her place at lunch, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks," Ukyou smiled wearily and joined Ranma in
homeroom.
She really didn't want to be here, but she'd be damned if she let
something that Toma did affect her grades. She pushed through the
day, and helped by Ranma, Akane, Ryouga and the rest, with the
minimum of pain.
***
Akane silently wondered about the fight that Ranma and the rest
had gotten into. From the descriptions, it sounded like Sayuri
might have gotten the same treatment from Toma that she and
Ukyou got, but Sayuri hadn't come back since then and Ukyou was
going out to her house tomorrow. Akane thought that Ukyou
should go see her earlier than Saturday, but she told Akane that
Sayuri found out about the little gender similarities between them.
She knew all about that little thing. Those times that she found
Ranma attractive she had to remember two things. That he was
technically half her brother, and that a couple times a month he
was the same gender. She shook her head as she sat at the lunch
table. Chicken noodle soup again. She wondered if the lunch staff
could think up anything LESS imaginative. She silently was
grateful though, remembering the last time they thought up
something interesting.
She took a slurp and looked to Ranma, who was having trouble
eating with a perky cheerleader with purple hair strung on him.
Akane smirked. It was his own fault, really. Letting her hang all
over him like that. Akane sobered when she remembered gym
class. Shampoo had warmed up by doing kata that Akane doubted
that even Ranma could match. It was, to say the least, impressive.
"Aw, c'mon honey," Shampoo purred, "If you're hungry, then ah'll
feed ya'..."
Akane tried to ignore them and went back to her soup. Ukyou had
said that things were never as easy as they appeared to be, either in
her experience, or in her life. She hoped that Ukyou knew what she
was getting herself into. Of course, Sayuri could give quite a punch
when she was angry. Akane was sure that Ukyou could defend
herself, though...Pretty sure...
***
Joshua "Gargoyle" Trujillo
"Stone Cold Protector of the Righteous"
"Owner of The Anime Bar and Grille - When life hands US a lemon, we SUCK IT!"
AB HOC POSSUM VIDERE DOMUM TUUM!
"...and his paper squeaker had echoed out forlornly amongst the snowy
rooftops all night."
"A man might spend his life peering at the private life of elementary
particles and then find he either knew who he was or where he was,
but not both."
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