The Teacher
Part 8
My one and only loves.
It was morning at Furinkan High school and Ranma walked through the
gates without Akane for the third time that week. He sighed heavily as a
group of girls passed by him giving strange looks, one of them approached
nervously.
"Is Akane sick or something?" she had an extremely worried look on her
face as she spoke.
"Hey, your on the gymnastics team aren't you?" he recognized her
suddenly, she didn't look that much different without her bandages.
The girl nodded vigorously and bowed, "Please tell me she's all right!"
"Akane is fine, you've got her on some sort of macho binge and she's
cutting school to train in gymnastics." Ranma frowned and the girl
fluttered away happily looking relieved.
"What is this about Akane Tendo not coming today?" demanded another
female voice from behind Ranma.
"Huh? Who the?" he turned to see a stately looking girl in a black
uniform from one of the private schools in the area.
"I am Kodachi the Black Rose! I have come to wish my opponent good luck
in our match this coming week." she smiled as Ranma stared at her in
confusion.
"Whatever, Akane ain't here." he turned back towards the building to get
to his class.
Kodachi froze in place when the handsome young man faced her; she felt a
strong blush creep into her cheeks as she flushed and almost staggered
back. "Yet another beautiful man! I must have this one, as my beloved
Ryoga is lost to that wicked wife of his! Only such a powerful man could
console me!"
Ranma froze as he felt something clamp down on his back. "Please sir,
tell me your name!" gasped the feminine voice of his captor.
"Hey, uh..." he was uncertain of what he could do to escape. "I'm
Ranma...Ranma Saotome...could you let go?"
Kodachi loosened her grip slightly and Ranma rushed forward away from
her and directly into a day dreaming Kuno.
"Akane, I can see her so clearly in all her gymnastic grace! These red
roses shall speak my encouragement. Akane I love you!" this last line was
punctuated by a slash of his bukoten that was dodged narrowly by Ranma as
he planted his foot on the boy's face and rested on the top of the wooden
blade in Kuno's grip.
"What do you think your doing?"
"Ranma Saotome, what grudge do you have against me?!" demanded the boy
angrily.
"Now wait just a..." the pigtailed boy was cut off as Kodachi caught up
with him and latched onto his back again.
"Oh...Ra...n...ma...sir!" she gasped.
Kuno stared at them both thoughtfully for a moment before patting Ranma
and Kodachi approvingly. "Yes!"
"Yes what?" snorted Ranma.
"Yes, you have my permission to go steady!" explained the boy.
Kodachi buried herself in the pigtailed martial artist chest. "I am so
happy."
"Wait a minute! I'm already engaged!" screamed Ranma in protest.
"A f...fianc�e?" stammered Kodachi in shock.
"Y-yea! I really like her too...uh, that is..." Ranma was practically
shaking in fear as he desperately tried to find a way out of his
situation. "Akane's nice."
Kodachi froze as a dark gleam appeared in her eyes, "Akane? As in Akane
Tendo?"
"Great now what genius?!" screamed Ranma's brain as he searched for a
way out. "Yea, that's my fianc�e, Akane Tendo."
"Interesting, We shall meet again my darling Ranma!" Kodachi's laugh
sent chills down the boy's spine as she vanished in a shower of black
rose petals.
Kuno appeared next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Really,
that girl is such a deviant; but even so, Ranma Saotome, take care of my
little sister."
"Hey, Take care of your own...huh?!" Ranma looked at the boy as if he
had something stuck on his forehead. "Wait a second what did you just
say?"
"I said take care of my little sister; even though I am her brother, I
have to admire her for being so wicked, so nasty, so spiteful, and so
thoroughly twisted." The kendoist turned and walked away. "When Kodachi
wants a man she doesn't let go, she'll surely try something evil during
the match, I must warn Akane Tendo of this."
Ranma was having trouble processing the information. "K...Kuno's
sister?"
The night before the match...
Ryoga dodged as Akane thrusted at him with the clubs, he turned and spun
the ribbon around in the air catching her weapons and disarming her.
"You'll never beat her if you can't hold on to your weapons! Stay focused
girl!" spat the boy as he kicked a ball that had been on the floor into
her face.
Akane staggered back under the blow and went down on one knee. "I've
only got one more night to prepare! Gotta make this count!" she struggled
to her feet and spun the hoop around her arm.
Torako sat across the room playing idly with the end of a chain that was
attached to Ryoga's ankle. "Ease off her P-chan. She isn't fighting you,
this girl can't be that good if her brother is any indication."
"P-chan?" said Akane in confusion; she received another ball in her face
for becoming distracted.
"Yea, you know 'cute pig'; my darling is just so adorable!" squealed the
tiger girl happily.
Ranma struggled to hold in a sudden fit of laughter and Ryoga went red.
"Shut up! Don't tell other people about that!" he was promptly clubbed
over his head by Akane. "I suppose I deserved that." he muttered as he
fell over.
Akane stared at her club in disbelief. "Wow."
She was promptly put back on the floor as Ryoga caught her leg with a
short rope and pulled hard; "Don't get cocky! You just got lucky and hit
a nerve center!"
Akane rubbed at her bottom as she struggled back to her feet and glared
at the boy with a determined stare. "I won't be put down again."
"I know you won't; practice is over." Ryoga dropped the rope and kicked
the rubber ball into his hand. "Your as ready as your going to be in only
a week."
"I hope it's enough." sighed the girl as she stood stiffly.
"You had better know it's enough or your going to lose." said Ranma
glaring at her.
"Thank you, both of you. I couldn't have done it without you both."
Akane bowed humbly to the two boys and turned towards the house looking
to get a bath.
Torako followed and turned to face Ryoga before walking out. "Stay put."
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere." said the boy with a strange
smile.
"Yea, whatever; I hope this works P-chan." Ranma snorted crudely as he
walked towards the doorway after the girls. He turned quickly and spun
the small chord knocking the ribbon that had been launched at him away.
"Your not going anywhere Ranma; you and I still have a score to settle
here; besides, no one but Torako is allowed to call me that." Ryoga
smiled at the boy and stood in a ready stance while twirling the ribbon
in his hand easily.
"Sound's fun." said the pigtailed boy simply as he dropped the rope and
put his hands up.
"Not so fast Ranma, Rhythmic gymnastics rules. I want to see if you've
learned anything sitting on your ass all this week." Ryoga's smile
vanished when Ranma picked up the ribbon and wove a tight defensive
pattern in the air.
"Don't be stupid Ryoga, do you really think I would sit here for a week
if I didn't think I could pick this up? You want to play sissy games?
Fine, let's go!" the pair charged each other while tossing clubs,
spinning ribbons, and flinging hoops into the air.
Torako scrubbed herself off on a stool while Akane soaked in the furo.
"I'm impressed Akane, you're no master, but you've managed to pick this
up pretty quick."
"I hope so, otherwise I'd never keep up with you." she placed a rag on
her forehead and relaxed completely.
"Well, the match is tomorrow; and I don't think the boys will be much
help after tonight." she dumped a bucket of water over her head and shook
off the excess water from her hair.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Akane, she turned to see the tiger
sitting across from her in the water.
"I mean those two morons will probably spend the rest of tonight in the
dojo fighting." said the sign the animal offered.
"Your right, I don't see what makes men act like such morons." Akane
found herself fuming in the tub for a moment. "Not that it matters to me
what that idiot pervert does anyway."
"Hey! Don't talk that way about my P-chan!" said the tiger sign.
"I meant Ranma, but while we're at it we might as well include him. Men
are so useless." Akane's scowl had turned into a wry smile. The animal
jumped onto her playfully and gently pretended to bite her head while
pawing at her softly in the water. "Ick quit it Tora-chan! Your tongue is
all scratchy!" giggled the girl playfully.
The next morning Akane staggered down the hallway of her home lazily.
"Mmm, I slept like a log." she opened the back door and pulled her coat
closed around her chest. "Brrr, it's cold." the sounds of crashing could
still be heard from the dojo and Akane jogged out into the yard and into
the dojo only to find it completely destroyed. There where various
gymnastics equipment sticking from the walls and Ranma and Ryoga where
both in the center of the room; Ranma was currently jumping on top of a
tangled up Ryoga.
"Take that, and that, and that! Had enough yet, yet, yet?!" screamed
Ranma as he jumped up and down on his opponent's back.
"Never, never, never!" replied the lost boy from the ground.
"You idiots! You've been at this all night?!" Akane could not believe
the stupidity of the situation.
"Huh? Wha? Morning awready?" Ranma did his best to talk but all that
came out was a strange sort of mumbling; Ryoga had faired no better
through the night.
"Hold Saotome! We aren't flinishd, we aren't fnishded! We aren't done
yet!"
"Oh yea! No plobrem! Pro noblem. Plo robnem. Blo noprem." the attempted
to exchange blows again in a rather pathetic display.
Torako walked up behind Akane and sighed. "I told you so." she pulled
Ryoga away by the back of his shirt and drug him away.
"Hey! I'm not finished crushing him yet!" he whined.
"You can play with Ranma later, we have to get ready to go!" the girl
pulled him through the back yard and almost stopped by the koi pond, in
the end she thought about it and moved on.
"But I wanna play now!"
"If you really want to play we can play house when we get home!"
squealed the fading voice as Ryoga found himself being pulled along
faster.
"But your dad is so scary when you try to do that!"
Akane simply watched the scene looking bewildered before dragging her
own fianc�e into her house for breakfast.
"Hey Kasumi, this fish cake is tough." said the boy as he chewed.
"Uh, that's a dishtowel." answered the girl in question nervously.
"Can't you fight a little quieter Ranma?! Some of us where trying to
sleep." growled Nabiki as she sat down looking disheveled and tired.
Later at St. Hebereke school for girls...
"So, it appears you've made it to the match Akane Tendo." Kodachi
sneered as her opponent met her in the hallway. "Most unfortunate for
you."
"We'll see about that." snarled the girl; behind her a half asleep
female Ranma stood not paying attention to the conversation.
The pigtailed girl looked up lazily. "Oh, its black petunia or
whatever."
"Horrible girl! I am the black rose." snarled Kodachi angrily before
turning her attention back to Akane. "I have a proposition for you."
"What do you want?" the Tendo girl looked like she didn't want to hang
around long.
"A bet for this match; I propose that we make a little wager." the smile
on the girl's face took on an almost insane quality.
"What do you mean?" asked Akane and Ranma in unison.
"If I win the match, you will give up your fianc�e Ranma Saotome to me."
Kodachi smiled behind a fan in embarrassment.
"What does she get if she wins?" said a new voice. The girls turned to
see Torako escorting a dazed and tired looking Ryoga through the hall.
"Why the honor of defeating the champion of rhythmic gymnastics
wrestling of course." replied Kodachi.
"She gets that if she beats you anyway, you don't stand to lose anything
by this wager so there is no point in betting." Ranma became visibly
relieved as Torako seemed to squash the girl's plans. "You put up two
million yen and you've got a deal."
Akane and Ranma both gasped, Kodachi merely smiled. "Very well, it is
agreed then." she extended her hand and Akane snatched her wrist
revealing a row of tacks between her fingers. "Oh my! How ever did those
tacks get between my fingers?!"
"At least she sent flowers." muttered Ranma as she lifted the bouquet
into her arms; Ryoga snatched them away from her and dipped on into the
fish tank in the room; within seconds all the fish where belly up in the
water.
"That dirty-!" Ranma didn't really have the energy to continue; "Hey,
P-chan how did you get here? I thought this was an all girls school."
"Who you callin P-chan?! Idiot! Men can come on campus for sporting
events!" Ranma winced and hung her head.
"Man I did this for nothin."
"I can't believe you did that Torako! That was mean!" The girl in
question was leaning against the window lazily watching the students
wander by outside.
"Hmph, I thought you didn't like him? Besides, this is the perfect
opportunity to rid yourself of him if it's true." Akane took a deep
breath and stared at the girl in disbelief.
"You know I can't do that! This isn't about Ranma, it's about Furinkan's
honor!"
"School honor? Don't kid yourself, this is about competitive drive; I
know your starting to have feelings for that boy, you can't hide from me
Akane." Torako leveled her gaze on Akane and both boys froze in place
behind them.
Ranma took her cue to quietly usher Ryoga out the door; "Come on, I'm
gonna find me some hot water or something."
Akane shook as her emotions swelled suddenly. "Torako, how could you?!
Right in front of them like that! It isn't true!"
"If not then prove it to yourself now; lose the match." her golden eyes
bored a hole through Akane's soul as she stared her down. "Prove to me
that you aren't falling in love, otherwise I'm not going to let you deny
it to yourself; no matter how hard you try." the red head walked quietly
past Akane and out the door leaving her alone with her own thoughts.
Moments later a knock came at the door; Akane quickly wiped the tears
away from her eyes and sat up straight. "Come in."
The door opened and a huge familiar form walked in quietly. "Hello
Akane, is something wrong?"
"Uncle Ryo? What are you doing here?" Akane gasped and tried to hide her
face.
"I came to support my school, and my family of course. Why are you
crying?" he sat across from her with worry etched onto his face.
"It's nothing, just Torako is being a little pushy and I don't know
why." Akane wiped her tears from her face again as they flowed yet again.
"Oh, this again." the man sighed and walked over to the window gazing
out over the campus. "Akane, I don't think Torako wants to win her bet
with Ranma; it took me some time to realize this, but with the way she
treats Ryoga I'm now sure of it."
"What?" the girl gasped and looked at the man in shock.
"Everything she has done regarding this was to ensure your happiness.
It's true she will one day marry Ryoga, but she would be going about it
completely different if she truly wanted him to beat Ranma. She is not so
foolish."
"What do you mean uncle?" Akane stared at him transfixed and confused.
"Akane, she knows; she can sense things about a woman and a man normal
people can't, chemistry and attraction around two people are a physical
reaction. She and I can both smell it on humans, you when Ranma is around
and Ranma when he is with you." Akane blushed deeply and turned away.
"I'm sorry to embarrass you this way, but that is how things are."
"It isn't true, I don't even like boys." Akane's reply was half hearted
at best.
"No? Torako would have gladly been with you if that where true. No
matter how I train her and how she acts, she isn't human Akane; only
knows attraction and love. Loyalty and family are everything to her,
greed, and survival are natural and animal instincts to her. She does not
desire money or comfort, only what she needs to survive and remain within
her tight knit group of family are important to her." the man hung his
head and gripped the windowsill tightly causing it to crack.
"Akane, I want you to be happy as well. I'm not asking that you marry
Ranma, all I want is for you to not bottle up your feelings; it's true
you could be hurt by them, I won't lie to you. Akane, you must risk that
in order to be truly happy. I was hurt when my Talcum died, it devastated
me so much that I can still feel the pain even today; but I would not
trade that time for anything, not even the relief of the pain I feel; She
made it all worthwhile to me." he turned to leave the room and Akane
looked more confused than ever.
"Why are you telling me this?" she stammered.
"Because you needed to hear it; remember whatever the outcome of today's
match; you must not forget this. To Torako your happiness means
everything, not even I can truly understand why, remember that when
dealing with her." he closed the door behind him leaving Akane sitting in
the room alone again.
"Great! How am I supposed to fight with all this going on! I can't
focus!" she hung her head and strained as she pulled herself together,
"I'll worry about this after the match; Kodachi Kuno! I will not lose!!"
Out in the hallway Ranma stood with Ryoga as Ryo exited the building.
"Master." Ryoga bowed out of habitual respect.
"What happened? Is Akane all right? That was stupid for Torako to do
that before such an important fight." Ranma stood next to the man and Ryo
smiled at him.
"No, I overheard the whole thing Ranma; my ears are better than most.
Torako did the right thing, if she had not said those things Akane would
have lost. Kodachi does not have her brother's sense of bushido, it makes
her a far more dangerous adversary." he turned to the boy and frowned.
"Tell me something Ranma, why do you listen to me? I wondered that many
times, you would ignore the advice of your father and your own instincts
and take my advice in regards to Akane so seriously; I've heard about you
from your father many times and it seems a bit unlike you."
Ranma stopped suddenly and looked at the man. "Pop told me your a master
of martial arts and a real good fighter. Why wouldn't I listen to you?
Everything you've told me has worked."
"Curious, I suppose that is a good answer. Anyone who would perform the
cat fist training on his own son is incompetent, but he never really
seemed that way to me. Genma is strange, but a good friend and a good
father to have raised you so well." the man turned down the hall and
Ranma just watched in confusion. Ryo stopped suddenly; "Ryoga, keep up
the good work boy, I was most impressed with the techniques you helped
train Akane in."
The lost boy snapped to attention suddenly. "Y-yes! Thank you master!"
The man walked down the hallway and found a water fountain; a few
seconds later he was female and moving inside one of the classrooms
cautiously.
A small figure sat on one of the desks in the shadows. [She is here?] it
asked in a raspy Mandarin dialect.
[Of course, I would not lie. Ranma Saotome will be at his fianc�e�s
side.] the female Ryo bowed deeply to the shadow and smiled.
[And the girl?] it asked.
[She must not be harmed, even if you decide against my recommendations.
Any attempt to do so would lose Torako forever.] Ryo had a hard edge to
her voice as she said this and peered up at the figure.
[You should have better control over your offspring.] spat the shadow.
[Torako will not betray Akane Tendo, but if we do not threaten her she
will give us equal loyalty.] he glared at it and almost rose, a warning
hand stayed her and she relaxed again.
[We shall see, but the competition shall not end here; Even if I
accept.] the shadow seemed pleased by this strangely.
[Of course, I would not dream of interfering; but be warned, I will not
tolerate any attempt to persuade Ranma towards your side.]
The thing snorted [You will not tolerate? I know you do not make empty
threats Ryo, but I warn you not to do so either, in such a situation the
choice will belong to him to a limited extent.]
[In that case Ranma has already decided; attempt to force him otherwise
will only drive him away.] Ryo looked towards the ground again.
[It will be decided then, I will take my recommendation back and you
will see her soon.] the shadow vanished in an instant and Ryo stood and
pulled a thermos from her, now loose fitting, dogi.
Ranma smiled as he spotted a familiar bokuten in the crowd; he was still
in his girl body and Ryoga and Torako walked close behind her. She turned
towards her companions with a fake grin. "I'm gonna go say hello to a
friend."
The tiger girl's eyes narrowed suddenly. "In his girl body? Something is
up."
"Huh? Did you say something Torako?" asked Ryoga, it was obvious he
wasn't really paying attention.
"No, it's nothing." she turned and lead the boy down by the ring.
Ranma poked Kuno in his side cautiously watching Torako and hiding
behind a few people sitting by him. "So, you have come to tell me
something of your sister?"
"Yea, just like I promised." Kuno handed a wad of bills to her and she
stuffed it in her shirt not really caring about it. "The boy in the
yellow shirt next to her is Ryoga Hibiki, that's her fianc�e, if you can
defeat him Torako is sure to go out with you. Just challenge him or
something, it should be easy. If you can do that I'm sure we can work
something out and get you a date."
"I thank you future sister in law." said the boy as he handed her a few
extra bills.
Ranma snickered to herself as she moved sneakily through the crowd
giggling to herself. "Kuno will get creamed but he won't give up either!
I can get Ryoga and Torako back in one blow!" He stopped when he ran into
a pair of long white legs. "Uhhh."
"Hello Ranma, What where you just talking to Kuno about?" asked Torako
with a long scowl etched into her features.
"Nothing..." stammered the girl as she realized she had just been
caught. "He want's to challenge Ryoga that's all."
She stormed past Ranma and walked up to Kuno. "Ah, my love, your sister
was just telling me about..."
"My fianc�e? I love my P-chan! If you lay a finger on him I won't
forgive you!" she snarled as she pulled him up by his shirt. Suddenly her
features softened, "But it seems my little sister has fallen madly in
love with you."
Ranma appeared like a bolt of lightening at her side. "What are you
doing!?"
"Yes, she even went as far as to make me lie to you about her age! She's
really sixteen! The poor girl was just smitten by your manly charms, if
it wasn't for my P-chan I would also be yours for the taking!" she dabbed
at her eyes with a handkerchief dramatically.
"I-I had no idea! Akane Tendo, Torako Kagome, The Pigtailed girl!" he
shook with emotion.
"Hey! You can't even remember my name you creep?!" cried Ranma as she
pounded on the back of his head.
"I-I shall free you from the villainous Hibiki and the vicious Saotome
my loves! The we can be together! Torako! Pig tailed girl! I love you
both!" he grabbed them in a rough hug and Torako felt herself shudder in
revolution.
"Nobody touches me unless I say!" she screamed and the two girls sent
Kuno into the sheet metal roof high over the stadium.
"Great! You jerk! Now he's after both of us!" snarled Ranma.
"This is your fault! You tried to send him after my P-chan!" retorted
the girl.
"Ryoga can take that idiot any day! Besides it serves you right for
making me your little sister! We are both the same age you jerk!" Ranma
looked up and Kuno fell between them noisily.
"Oh well." said the two red heads in unison they walked towards the ring
as the event was about to start.
Ranma stopped when Mr. Tendo and his father appeared at ringside with
Ryoga. "What are you old men doing here?"
"Ah, hello son." greeted Soun.
"Ryo should be here any minute." said Genma's sign, he was currently a
panda.
"Yes, it is unusual for him to be so late, I wonder what's keeping him?"
Soun relaxed and turned towards Ryoga. "Your the boy Torako is going to
marry?"
"Why does everyone know about that? Yea, I guess I'm her fianc�e, sort
of." he ignored the two girls as they both sat next to him. "Ranma could
you move? It's kind of creepy seeing you that way, with Torako and all."
"Don't you know Ryoga? Ranma is my sister, by Jusenkyo's curse we are
probably blood related." Torako looked pleased with herself and almost
looked like she wanted to say more.
"Hey, I never thought about it that way." muttered Ranma with a strange
realization. "I guess that really would make me the younger one."
"See, I'm always right." Torako smiled again and put a gym bag on the
table.
"What's that?" asked Ryoga.
"Akane's corner stuff, towels, water bottle, bandages; the usual stuff
for things like this. I'm playing second for her, besides you and Ranma
have to coach her." she looked at them and got only blank stares in
return. "Encourage her, tell her what she's doing wrong, that sort of
thing." the two boys nodded and seemed to understand.
Kuno recovered and sat in his place, he was surprised when Dean Kagome
walked down towards the ring and stopped by his seat. "Are you hear to
support family, school, or love?" the man had a wry smile on his face as
he squat down.
The kendoist coughed into his hand and blushed. "I support my family and
my school, but my heart shall cheer in this battle."
"A wise decision, I hope you can leave here without feeling guilty for
your sister's sake."
"Kodachi is a Kuno and I shall lend my support no matter what; but I
cannot condone her methods or her mind, she is a shameful deviant and I
hope that Akane Tendo is not injured. I would feel much more guilt if my
love does not win."
"That's an interesting way to look at the match Kuno." Ryo walked away
to join his companions by the ringside.
Kuno frowned to himself. "He is a wise man, and a strong warrior. Surely
he would make an excellent in law." He began to plot against Hibiki and
Saotome in the back of his mind when the event started.
The lights dimmed and spotlights focused on the doorway that lead to the
auditorium the stadium filled with students began to cheer loudly as the
events began. Akane had joined her group a few moments after Ryo had sat
down and waited patiently in the ring doing stretching exercises.
A female student dressed in a flashy white and black dress pants stood
in the center of the ring carrying a microphone. "And now, the champions
of the schools!" her voice reverberated over the speaker system and the
crowd cheered almost drowning her out.
Kodachi walked out towards the ring with her second behind her toting
the bags. She stopped long enough to greet her brother along her path.
"Well well, elder brother."
"Greetings younger sister." Replied the boy formally.
"It's Kodachi's big brother!" said one of the Hebereke students behind
him.
"He's so fine!" said another girl.
Students from Furinkan seemed almost sick at the chatter. "Did ya hear
that?" Hiroshi turned to Daisuke in disbelief.
"Yea, ignorance is bliss." replied the boy looking equally shocked.
The announcer continued her monologue. "In this corner, from St.
Hibereke school for girls; Kodachiiiii Kuuuuuno! And in this corner, from
Furinkan High school; Akaaaaane Tendoooo!" the cheer given for the latter
girl was smaller but still impressive.
Ryo stood from his place and called to Akane. "Stay focused girl, don't
distract yourself from her for an instant!"
The referee moved out of the center of the ring and a table full of
female students who would judge the match began to explain the rules of
the match to the crowd. "Today, Martial Rhythmic Gymnastics! No time
limit, no bare handed blows, the match ends when one contestants knocked
completely down, and if either contestant falls from the ring she will be
an immediate loser."
Akane initiated the first attack using the rubber ball, Kodachi swung
the rope through the air easily knocking the ball away as the shorter
haired girl charged forward brandishing her clubs. Kodachi swung with her
own club and Akane was forced to block. A set of small but sharp spikes
protruded from the club as it struck and Akane rolled away in shock.
"Th-that's cheating!" she cried angrily.
Kuno frowned to himself in the crowd. "A club with retractable spikes,
what magnificent cowardice; If I may say so about my own sister."
"I don't see anything." said the referee with a small scowl on her face.
Akane was more than a little angry and she charged forward again, this
time Kodachi spun the rope around and smacked Akane across the face hard
sending her sprawling across the mat and forcing her to drop the clubs.
The girl recovered quickly and picked up a hoop.
"Kodachi handles that rope as if it where a rod!" screamed the announcer
passionately. The Black Rose slammed the rope into Akane's forearm as she
barely blocked the strike with one of the gymnastics clubs. "Wait a
minute! It is a rod!"
"I do all of this so I might date Ranma! Oh, how inspiring the lengths
to which I'll go!" cried Kodachi dramatically while Akane recovered from
the strike.
On the side lines Ranma called out to the reff; "Isn't that cheating?"
"As long as it isn't a bare handed blow." replied the girl.
Torako frowned as she sniffed the air delicately. "Something doesn't
quite seem right here P-chan."
"What's up?" asked Ryoga looking interested.
"Stay put it's just a hunch I've got." the girl stood up and walked into
the crowd behind her pulling a small envelope from her pocket. Ryoga
noticed a small note had fallen as well, he lifted it up and looked at it
in confusion.
"It's written in Chinese?" he flipped it over a few times and placed it
into his pocket. "I'll give it to her when she gets back."
"Here, just give it to me." offered Ryo; Ryoga shrugged his shoulders
and handed it to him.
Akane was not doing well on the mat, Ranma was struggling with all of
her willpower to keep herself from interfering. "Come on Akane you can do
this!"
She staggered back away from Kodachi with rips in her leotard and small
scratches on her face from the club's spikes. The hoop had been destroyed
and her ribbon was hanging from the ceiling after a brief tussle that had
sent Kodachi's ribbon into the crowd. All Akane had left in her defense
was a club, a ball, and a short rope.
Kodachi smiled at her broadly. "I commend you girl, you have stood
longer than anyone else against me, but it ends now! I shall show you the
secret technique of the black rose! The blow of a thousand hands!" the
gymnast's arms moved at an incredible speed as the girl shot forward
creating a blur of motion in front of her.
Daisuke stood up from his seat. "Whoa! That's incredible! It looks like
she's using twenty clubs!"
Akane Staggered back as she attempted to block and failed under the
girl's onslaught; Luckily Kodachi had switched to normal clubs for the
move.
The Black Rose lifted her foot in confusion for a moment but pressed her
attack none the less.
"Akane! The clubs are like sai! You know you can do this, box her with
the damn things!" cried Torako's voice from what seemed like right next
to her.
Akane spun around and held the clubs near the top and charged Kodachi
again seemingly renewed. She spun around and shot her arm forward
catching the girl in her face and stopping her attack and forcing her to
drop her clubs; all twenty of them.
"Hey! She was using twenty clubs!" cried Hiroshi in shock from next to
his friend.
Ryo growled to himself as he watched the match and crumpled the page in
his palm. "Daughter, what are you up to? Akane could have won on her own
with only your advice."
Kodachi stepped back in shock as Akane rushed forward into her full
force and slammed the clubs into her relentlessly. "I-I can't move!?" A
burning pain spread through her body as her muscles tightened suddenly
forcing her buckle forward suddenly. "One of my flowers? I must have come
in contact, but the pain..." she opened her mouth to scream but Akane
reached her first and launched the paralyzed girl into the air sending
her out of the ring. Kodachi managed to flip over and pull a whistle from
her leotard; she blew into it and nothing happened, when she struck the
ground she still looked surprised. She lie on the ground unmoving for a
long moment and noticed a red haired girl crawl from under the mat and
stalk over to her quietly, for the briefest moment she saw her team mates
tied up under the mat. The girl leaned in as a growing crowd stood around
her, Akane watched from the mat with a worried expression growing on her
face.
Torako leaned in and whispered into Kodachi's ear. "You aren't the only
one who can cheat girl, the pain you feel is nothing to the suffering you
caused. I should let you burn forever, but I don't think Akane would
approve." Kodachi realized that tears where streaming down her face as
her entire body felt as if it was on fire, she wanted to scream so badly,
but could not move. "If you ever think of touching my Ryoga again I will
let you burn forever." The Black Rose felt a small needle like prick at
the back of her neck and a wave of coolness seemed to chill her to the
bone in waves that doused the fire in her body, she still couldn't move
yet, but she knew in a few moments she would be able to again.
Torako stood and waved the crowd back, Akane looked like she was in
hysterics on the mat as Ranma stood next to her watching the small drama
unfold. "She's just knocked out, give her some room!" the tiger girl
pushed the crowd away physically as Kodachi began to stir.
The referee walked up to Akane and raised her hand into the air. "I-I
won." muttered the girl as she slowly realized everything was all right.
"Two million yen." said the Hibereke student as she handed Akane the
last of the money reluctantly; Kodachi had sent her as a representative
after her defeat not wanting to lay eyes on the Kagome girl again.
"Thank you for playing, buh-bye now." said Torako with a pleased look on
her face. "Minus Twenty percent manager's fee, here you go Akane!" she
pushed the bag towards her friend; Akane looked at it blankly and shoved
it aside.
"I'm just glad I won." she said quietly. "I was afraid I didn't do good
enough at first, then I realized that's why I was losing."
"Are you really glad you won?" Torako had a smart looking smile as she
said this.
"I didn't do this for Ranma; I did this for me. I don't need your help
Torako, Ranma is not something I'm ready to think about for a little
while yet."
The boy in question acted like he hadn't heard that and sat with Ryoga
looking board. The lost boy glared at his rival hatefully and neither of
them had spoken since the match; all was right with the world.
That night Torako came home without Ryoga, he had wandered off during
the trip home and would probably not be seen again for some time. Torako
didn't seem particularly worried about this as she cheerfully entered the
house followed by her father. The old man walked directly over to a
western style lounge chair and pulled a bottle of sake out from a cabinet
on the way.
Torako sat down at the table and watched interested. "You haven't drunk
in a while, not since China last summer."
"Yes, well I haven't had to deal with so much trouble in a while. I
think I deserve a little extra substance induced relaxation." he pulled
the note from his pocket and began to read out loud in Mandarin. [Torako,
it's been a while, what do you want with a Fire paralysis plant? I'll
send some antidote as well. I hope you've been well, but if you need
things like this I'll worry about you; I know you say it's just for
insurance, but this is a little extreme. Please be cautious, this isn't
legal to use anymore. Love, your sister Shampoo.]
"You aren't going to punish me over this are you?" she asked warily.
"No, but you should be careful. If you hadn't been sent the antidote as
well we'd both be in hot water right now. That wasn't just another match
for Akane, it was a test. I hope you realize what you could have done!"
Ryo took a large gulp of alcohol and closed his eyes.
"If I didn't have the antidote I wouldn't have been so liberal with the
poison." replied Torako calmly.
"What if you had gotten Akane with that needle instead? I saw how you
did it, crawling under the mat that way." the man refilled his glass and
felt a familiar warmth growing in his face as he drank it, feeling that
he placed the cork back on the bottle.
"I wouldn't have used it if I wasn't sure." the girl's calm was almost
maddening, fortunately Ryo was used to it.
"In any case, things turned out pretty well. I hope you don't treat
every girl who shows a little interest in Ryoga this way. She had given
up on him according to what I could gather, after she found out he was
married already."
"This wasn't about Ryoga, I just enjoyed it a little more because of
that. This was about Akane winning that match so she could be sure about
herself and her feelings."
"Do you really think she will be sure just because of this?" asked Ryo
skeptically.
"No, but it gives her something to think about; something to add to the
debate growing in her mind, she'll say it was for the school at first,
but in the end the truth will come out." the tiger girl smiled to herself
darkly.
"What truth might that be Ko-neko?" asked her father as the alcohol
started to take effect.
"That she did it for herself of course." replied Torako with a small
chuckle.
TBC.....
Got to see a little of Torako's evil side here tonight, this will effect
many things later on, but she isn't a villain. Lots of set up stuff in
this fic for later, some of you may have it figured out and others of you
might only think that you do.
Next time, Team Ranma vs. The Golden Pair.
Mikado may have his hands more than a little full dealing with these
three girls after a skating trip gone wrong. Ryoga find's himself in the
roll of angry fianc�e, but is he willing to play the part? What happens
when he begins to wonder about his true feelings for his forced fianc�e?
Plus Ranma must help his worst enemy when both girls refuse a challenge
from the Kolkhoz high skating team; can they really put aside their
differences long enough to fight the pair without taking each other out
first?
Plus What exactly is Ryo planing with the mysterious shadow? What has it
got to do with Akane and Ranma? And is Torako in on it?
Find out the answers to some of these questions next time in: Darling
Charolette, a tiger on ice.
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