The Leper: Diagnosis
by Nikholas "NomaD" F. Toledo
Ranma 1/2 is the property of Kitty, VIZ and the omnipotent Rumiko
Takahashi. I am a property of Switch (so you know who to sue).
I am NomaD... I am coming... I am near.
By the way, this is a self-insertion. My character had a past with
Ukyou, but not the kind you're thinking of. And, because this is my
first Ranma fic, I'm gonna do some weird stuff like use Ryouga and Ukyou
but still keep Kuno, Tendo and Tofu. But I'm not really sure.
This complete version was done with the support of DB Sommer,
Octavian and the occasionals, all of whom have contributed to the
formation of this fic.
Part 10
"A Touch to Shatter the Heart"
Thursday came unexpectedly.
Nerima was in shambles. Yesterday's devastation made its presence
felt up to this day. Everybody was wary and unsure of what this day had
in store.
From a familiar part of the district, a robed man was fixing up the
breakfast ingredients in the famous ramen restaurant.
"How the hell am I supposed to get close to him if the old ghoul is
always enslaving me like this?"
*WHACK!*
"I heard that. Now stop talking and fix me a bowl of ramen... and
another one for our guest. Shampoo!"
"Yes, great-grandmother?"
"Go wake up our guest. Tell him I've made my decision."
Shampoo went upstairs with no objection. She got up to the guest
room and slid the door open.
There he was sprawled on the floor. He managed to make it through
the night with his arms folded. Of course, this meant that the shirt
Shampoo lent him was now torn to pieces.
Shampoo stared at the sleeping figure for a moment...
"He like sleeping baby...."
... and kicked him to consciousness.
"Wake up, sleepy head! Great grandma want you downstairs. She say
she make decision, now wake up!"
"I'm awake! I'm awake! Stop it, already!"
"Oops! Sorry, Shampoo got carried away."
"Darn, it's morning already?"
"Is late morning already."
"Okay, tell Cologne I'll be down in a minute."
----------
Ukyou woke up with tears in her eyes. She was awake but she felt
exhaustingly tired. The morning rays flooded her room, blinding her.
She turned towards her shadow and saw the time. It was past first
period.
"Hmm. I'm late."
She got up and headed immediately for the stairs. She didn't even
bother changing her clothes or fixing herself. She knew that there was
nobody downstairs waiting... cooking breakfast for her.
He was getting desperate, which was highly unlike him - she knew
this was bad.
She got down to the bottom of the stairs and peered into the
restaurant. It was dark, gloomy, desolate. It seemed that her home felt
and shared her emptiness.
She leaned on the wall to support herself and, with her palm, she
could feel the biting cold that had appeared with his absence.
From on top of the counter, a gray lump of fur stirred, detecting
her presence. It mewed to her and she came to it at its call.
The kitten let itself be carried off. It could sense that she and
Ukyou shared the same need, Kii's companionship. Somehow, Ukyou could
feel Ishi's thoughts.
Ukyou sat down on a stool and patted Ishi. She stared at the cat
in its almond-shaped eyes. "Am I really in love with him?"
"Mreow...."
"I guess there's only one way to find out. I hope he went to
school today...."
----------
"Wait - let me get this straight.... You want me to use my
technique on Ranma?"
"That is correct... I believe that this was the original deal you
and Shampoo made. This way, he will truly despise Akane and the Tendos
will have to call off the engagement which will leave my future son-in-
law free for my Shampoo."
"But the technique needs a trigger...."
"With those two, you won't need a trigger. Akane's a ticking time
bomb by herself. All the groom needs to do is speak."
"I can't guarantee how long it'll last, though. After all, I'm
still three levels away from the rank of master. And my grandfather
croaked before he could finish my training."
"That is understandable. After the engagement has been called off,
Shampoo will do the rest."
"And, then...?"
"And, then you shall receive a new set of bandages. I'll work on
them right now."
"Sounds reasonable, I'll get to it right away." *kling-kling*
"Shampoo."
"Yes, great-grandmother?"
"Go follow him and make sure he keeps his end of the bargain."
"Shampoo get to it right away.... Great-grandmother? Shampoo has
question."
"What is it, grandchild?"
"Is not silk for bandages native only to China? You really gonna
make one for not-so-stupid-Kii?"
"What do you think, Shampoo?"
"Shampoo think great-grandmother very sneaky."
"Go run along now."
*kling-kling*
"The day doesn't seem to want to agree with anything right now.
But great things are afoot."
----------
She was just turning along a street corner when she heard the first
explosion.
"It's him." Ukyou ran faster hoping to catch up with Kii.
As she turned another corner, she saw a familiar figure emerge. He
was also running towards the direction of the explosion.
"What's he doing here? HEY, RYOUGA, OVER HERE!"
Ryouga turned and blushed when he saw the okonomiyaki chef, but she
mistook this to be fatigue from running. Ryouga caught his breath first.
"So, you're looking for Kii, too?"
"Sort of."
"Follow me, I know where he's going."
"Okay."
----------
*thunkk-krk-* *KABOOM!*
"Oh, crap! By the time I get to Furinkan High, I'd be down to my
boxers (hopefully)." Kiiroi quickened his pace. He was walking without
a shirt on. He tore a gigantic hole on the one Shampoo lent him a while
ago during the first explosion.
Time was running out, he needed those bandages. His fingers have
already adapted with the bandages' absence. Now, even closing his fists
was futile.
From where he stood, he could see the top two floors of Furinkan
High School. Already, the students were looking over the windows, trying
to find him in all the ruins. But they wouldn't have been able to see
him anyway, since he was moving really fast, which for Kii meant moving
REALLY fast!
So fast that he tripped on a pebble.
"Oh, shi..."
*thnk-krkk -* *KABOOM!*
Touching the pavement, Kiiroi showered himself with hardened
cement.
Kiiroi came out of the explosion with cuts and bruises. He turned
around and surveyed the destruction he caused.
"Thank God for the Takahashi phenomenon...."
----------
*KRAKKABOOM!!!*
"Oh, wait, there he is."
"He's coming over here again."
"I wonder why."
"Well, it's not to go to class, that's for sure."
Without a word, Ranma bolted away from the crowd.
"R-Ranma! Where are you going?!?"
"I'm gonna have a talk with Kii! Don't worry about it!"
----------
"Hey, w-we're in Furinkan High!"
"That's right, sugar, he's here for Ranma."
"To ask his help?"
"Either that or... heaven forbid... WAIT!"
Ukyou signaled Ryouga to stop. She hid behind a lamppost and
Ryouga followed suit. Ryouga searched the area for whatever it was that
stopped Ukyou on her tracks. Then he saw who it was that startled Ukyou.
Not far behind Kii was the Chinese Amazon. Apparently, Kii was
oblivious of the Amazon's presence. Only this time did Ryouga start
thinking about things.
(What the hell is going on here? I leave Nerima for two days then
I find myself running after explosions with Ukyou. And now Shampoo's
involved. What is she involved in anyway? I better stay close to Ukyou,
just in case.)
When Kii and Shampoo entered the newly-shattered gate, Ukyou
followed not far behind. "Why that Amazon hussy!"
"Why? What's she done now?"
"She's here to make sure Kii uses the technique on Ranma."
"What technique?"
"The technique that'll make Ranma hate Akane! C'mon, I know where
they're going...."
But Ryouga had stopped dead on his tracks. "R-Ranma hate Akane?
Kiiroi's trying to split them apart?"
Ryouga stood by the gate, not knowing what to do. The turmoil
inside him had surfaced to his face. This was his chance and yet...
"If Ranma hates Akane, then Akane will need strong shoulders to cry
on. She'll be vulnerable... BUT, NO!!! I have sworn to protect Akane at
all cost! I will not let that retched Ranma Saotome hurt her, even if it
means that Akane shall never be mine...."
The last few words stung him a bit but he held up his pride. He
tried to look for Ukyou, but she already went inside the building.
"It'll be too late to catch up with Ukyou and stop Kii.... I've got to
find Akane... wait a minute."
Only then did Ryouga realize that he was alone once more.
He felt helpless but he tried to push the feeling away.
"NO! I will find her!" Ryouga ran straight for the school
building. He blocked the thought of the twists and turns of corridors.
"She's somewhere up there, I need to find stairs... stairs...
dammit, a wall... BAKUSAI TENKETSU!"
----------
*KABOOM!*
"Hunh?" Hiroshi and Daisuke both looked down on the floor.
"Is Kii still downstairs?"
*KABOOM!*
"Sounds like he's taking his time."
Akane squeezed herself out of the crowd and ran for the stairs.
"Well, I'm not gonna sit around here and miss all the excitement."
-----------
Rooftop, Furinkan High School...
"Here he comes. He's on the last few steps. Get ready...."
"Kii!"
But Kiiroi did not turn at the call of his name. He just sat at
the corner-edge of the rooftop. He had had his back turned to the
entrance, so Ranma didn't know if he was crying or what, but he still
felt pity for the guy.
"Hey, Kii."
"Ranma."
Ranma felt weird all over. He knew he had to meet Kii, but he
didn't know why.
(Am I here to help him? Only one way to find out.) "Hey,
look...."
"Ranma, you've got to help me!!!" Kii flung himself around and
made a grab for Ranma's shoulders.
But before he could touch them, the ether within the small distance
began to shimmer with white energy. Before either of them could brace
themselves, a pair of powerful balls of force exploded in each of Kii's
hands.
The explosion drove Ranma to the ground. He crossed his arms over
his eyes to block the force.
Kii was flung over the edge. He managed to grab the end of the
ledge but his hope crumbled with the concrete.
He felt himself falling... but something quickly snagged him from
above.
"What the...?" Kii looked up to see Ranma hanging onto his arm.
"Don't worry, I won't let you fall...."
Ranma heaved once and got Kii over to safer ground. The two took
their time and caught their breath.
*huff* *huff* "I can't live like this.... Ranma, you've got to
help me... there's nobody else I can ask...."
"But what can I do?"
"Nabiki, she's got the bandages...."
"I know, but...."
Kiiroi went into a violent rage. Tears were streaming from his
eyes. "LOOK AT ME, DAMMIT!!! I'M NOT AS STRONG AS YOU GUYS! THIS IS
ALL NEW TO ME! EACH SECOND OF EACH MINUTE OF EACH DAY THAT I DON'T HAVE
THOSE BANDAGES, I FEEL MY CONFIDENCE SLIPPING AWAY... I can't do this...
I can't do this...."
"But why me?"
"Because... you're the only one who understands me and you're not
involved. I can't ask Ukyou because she's too homicidal, she might
murder Nabiki or something. I can't ask Akane because, no matter what,
Nabiki's still her elder and I can't get them involved in some sort of
sibling rivalry. You're the only one who's close enough and good enough
to retrieve them for me...."
Kii turned once more so that Ranma wouldn't see his real tears.
Kii clenched his fist and bit his lips. He had made up his mind and
there was no turning back now. He felt Ranma's approach... no turning
back now.
"Kii, I...."
Kii flung himself around and brought his finger to Ranma's chest.
(forgive me) "Only you can help me, Ranma! Only you...!"
*SLAM!!!*
The two turned their heads to see Ukyou clutching her chest and
catching her breath.
Ukyou looked up and saw Kii holding out a finger to Ranma's chest.
"NOOOO!!! Kii! How could you?"
A hint of shame could be seen in Kii's eyes. He ran and leapt over
the ledge, safely landing on the ground below. He ran without ever
stopping and without ever seeing, for the tears had blinded him.
Ukyou and Ranma watched him speed off. Ukyou then turned to Ranma
and inspected his body.
"Um, Ucchan, whatcha doin'?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing, do you feel all right, Ranma?"
Ranma touched his body for any form of deformities but he felt as
fit as a fiddle. "I guess so, why?"
"Nothing... nothing at all. Do you mind if I walk you home?"
Ranma found this odd for Ukyou but he also saw Ukyou's concern. He
was forced to say yes.
----------
"Stairs... gotta find stairs...."
*thnk-krkk-* *KABOOM!*
"Stairs... stai-"
Ryouga blinked twice to make sure his sight did not deceive him.
In front of him lay step after step.
His eyes filled with tears then replaced them with determination.
"Okay, now for Akane...."
"What about me, Ryouga?"
"GYAAAAH!!!" Ryouga whirled around in surprise and saw Akane, who
was mere inches from his face.
He jumped back and faced a nearby wall so that Akane wouldn't see
him blush. "Uhm, er, Akane, what are you doing here?"
"I... I study here, remember?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, haha, silly me...." Ryouga turned and put on his
naive laughter.
"By the way, Ryouga, have you seen Ranma?"
Akane watched as Ryouga's expression turned from naivete, to dead
seriousness. "Akane...."
"It's already time to go home and I don't want to walk home by
myself."
"Ranma... Ranma...." (How the hell do I tell her?) "RANMA'S A
JERK FOR LEAVING YOU ALONE LIKE THIS, AKANE! A man as selfish as he
doesn't deserve you for his fiancee! In fact...!"
Akane was developing a sweatdrop from Ryouga's sermon. People were
already starting to stare.
"So! Can you at least walk me home?"
Ryouga stopped his monologue to make sure she heard her right.
"W-w-w-w-w-w-wa...?"
"That's right, walk me home. I'm sure Ranma can take care of
himself. Who knows where that jerk ended up in? Besides, I've got
nothing to do here, so I might as well go home."
"... wa-w-w-w-wa...?" (Answer, dammit! This is the only way you
can protect her!) "Okay, I'll walk you home."
Akane took Ryouga's arm and guided him out. But Ryouga kept his
calm - he did not look at this as an opportunity, this was not the time
to be playing games.
"Okay, Ryouga, let's go."
----------
"No! No!!! No, you can't do this to me!!!"
"You should've known better, boy."
Kii tensed his knuckles and stretched his fingers. He gave the
woman a cold, terrible stare.
Cologne matched his gaze. "Don't even think about it, young man.
You're a hundred years away from beating me."
Then, all the rage inside him dissipated. He felt powerless over
the situation. This was an all-new sensation for him. He was always a
picture of self-confidence and, even now, he had pride enough not to beg.
He felt his knees give and he fell onto the restaurant's floor.
"For a Niwatori, you sure are dumb. Didn't it ever occur to you
that the silk you're looking for is indigenous only to central China?
Furthermore, it takes months of trial and error to weave the raw silk
into the fine fabric."
"How could you be so cruel...?"
It was more of a statement than a question but Cologne answered it,
nonetheless. "I am cruel when I need to be. By Amazon law, Ranma
Saotome is to be wed to my granddaughter. The groom has not been
honoring this. Until I can assure my granddaughter's hand in marriage
then neither she nor I can return to China.
"You see, I have taken responsibility for Shampoo. And, by doing
this, it is my honor on the line and not hers."
Kiiroi found the strength to stand up but he kept his head down.
He raised his hands and stared at them. He inspected them, turning them
over, as if seeing them for the very first time.
His mind was in turmoil, but something inside him was very clear.
A small part of him kept on nagging him as if trying to make itself be
heard.
"So, it comes to this, then...."
"Not so, my child."
Kiiroi looked up at Cologne. Her eyes showed true concern. "What
do you mean?"
"If you are truly Niwatori, then you shall find a way out of this
mess you've gotten yourself into. Who knows, maybe deep inside, you had
all THIS planned in the first place?"
Kiiroi even managed to smile. "That's absurd. Isn't it?"
"Only you can answer that, boy. Now go. You have a lot of things
to think over."
"I sure do."
Kiiroi turned and went for the door/hole-in-the-wall but turned at
the last minute.
"I should thank you, but something deep inside me tells not to."
"I understand."
Kiiroi then ran off, leaving Cologne to clean up in her devastated
restaurant.
----------
"We're home!"
"Oh, Akane! And Ryouga! Welcome home... Ranma and Ukyou were
just...."
Ryouga stopped dead at his tracks at the mention of Ranma's name.
"Ranma!?!"
"What's the matter, Ryouga?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing, better let me got in first."
"What for?"
"Just to be on the safe side."
Akane wondered why Ryouga was acting so weirdly, but she let him
have his way just the same.
Ryouga entered the house and, at the same time, made sure that
Akane was safely behind him.
"Uhm, Ryouga?"
"What is it, Akane?"
"That's the dojo entrance."
Ryouga looked up and stared face-to-face with the Tendo dojo sign.
"Oh, of course it is." Ryouga proceeded to the right door this time, to
Akane's gratefulness.
Ryouga stopped Akane before they entered the dining area. He
peered and saw two figures by the dining room.
Ukyou felt the hair on her back stand up and she was compelled to
turn around. The two's eyes met and both understood.
Ukyou turned to Ranma and checked on him. "Ranma, you sure you're
feeling okay?"
"I feel fine, Ucchan - give it a rest, will you?!?"
At that point, Ryouga signaled Akane to enter.
Akane unwittingly obliged. She then saw Ranma and Ukyou sitting on
the floor, looking at the yard.
"Hey, Ranma, where'd you run off to?"
Ukyou readied herself for Akane's initial shock. Ryouga prepared
himself in a fighting stance, just in case Ranma should try anything
funny with Akane.
At the sound of Akane's voice, Ranma turned his head to take a good
look at the uncute tomboy.
Ryouga and Ukyou held their breath.
"None of your bee's wax. Anyway, anybody know where Kii's
staying?"
Akane just shrugged and sat at the other edge of the table.
"Kasumi! When will dinner be ready?"
"In a minute, Akane. Will Ukyou and Ryouga be staying for dinner?"
Akane looked at Ryouga for an answer. Ryouga just bowed his head
sheepishly and looked at Ukyou for an answer. Ranma was looking at Ukyou
for the same answer.
Ukyou took a moment exchanging glances between the two.
"So, whadya say, Ucchan?"
"If... if it's okay with you guys?"
Akane smiled at Ukyou. "You silly. Of course, it's okay. I'll go
tell Kasumi. Ranma, make yourself useful and call the others."
Ryouga and Ukyou held their breath a second time as they prepared
themselves for the unknown assault.
Ranma just glared at Akane. "Aw, all right."
"Where's dad and Uncle Saotome?"
"They're upstairs, playing shoji."
Ukyou and Ryouga breathed sighs of relief when the other couple
went about their business.
"Ukyou, I don't think Kii's technique worked."
"I'm almost bound to agree with you, sugar. But let's stay for
dinner, just in case."
But the two's spirits were shattered upon hearing the conversation
from the kitchen.
"Let me help you with dinner, Kasumi-neechan."
----------
"Slow down, Ranma, it's not like the world's gonna end tomorrow."
"Aw, shuddup," *chomp*, "ad led me ead vill ya?" *gulp-glump* "I
vhon't haf to lishen to a - " *glomp-chomp* " - madjo jik like you."
"Oh, why do I even try? Hey, how come nobody's touching my
cooking?"
All at once, everybody's hair stood up.
The dinner chit-chat died down completely and everybody was
enveloped in the uncomfortable silence. Well, everybody except for
Ranma, who was the only one who had the gall to eat even after the
mention of Akane's cooking.
Of course, there was Kasumi whose smile almost never faltered. "Oh
my. It's all quiet now."
Akane looked pleadingly around the table for an unsuspecting
specim-... vict-... targe-... sacrifi-... well, basically for anybody who
had the balls enough to taste her cooking.
"Dad?"
"Oh, um, I'm..." *gulp* "... I'm quite full already, Akane... I
just have room enough for dessert."
"IT IS DESSERT! Fine, Nabiki?"
"You know me better than that Akane."
"Hmph. Uncle Saotome?"
"Um, err, you see dear... I'm... I'm...." *SPLASH!* "Rowr."
"Stay that way. U-ukyou?"
Ukyou just whimpered behind Ryouga.
"RYOUGA! I mean, Ryouga, would you like to try my cooking? It's
something like a peach and pineapple pudding."
Ryouga looked at Akane then on the thick, brown, jelly-like
compound on the table. He stared at it long enough to make sure it
wasn't moving.
His eyes looked back at Akane's pleading eyes. Ryouga could feel
the sweat sliding down his forehead. The tension was building.
"Please, Ryouga?"
(How could I say no? I know I said I'd be willing to die for
her... but... then again, she'd be really happy.)
"Well, just some, I guess...."
Ryouga almost regretted his answer as everybody drew back from the
boy as if he had some sort of plague.
Ryouga lay down his chopsticks and took the spoon and bowl set for
him by Akane. Ryouga filled his bowl half-way, then took a spoonful of
the goo.
(Well, nobody's gonna save you now, might as well go for it.)
Ryouga closed his eyes and readied himself for the inevitable. He
drew his hand closer to his opened mouth...
"HOLD IT!"
Everybody looked at Ranma and waited for his next words.
"I'm not gonna stand here while you murder some innocent
bystander...."
"And just exactly what are you trying to say, Ranma?"
"All I'm saying IS if Ryouga's gonna die, I'd at least want him to
die fighting in a glorious battle, not by the hands of a dorky girl!"
"Dorky?!? How dare you call me that that?!?"
"Oh, please, it's not like a big secret! Trust me, Akane,
practically the whole world knows how dorky and uncute you are."
"Ooooh! I am gonna make you feel pain like you've never felt it
before! I don't even know why I'm engaged to you!"
"I wasn't exactly all smiles when I found out I was gonna get
engaged to a macho chick like you!"
"Oh, yeah?!? Well, if you feel that way, then as far as I'm
concerned, there WAS never an engagement, there ISN'T any, and there
won't be -!"
"Fine! Who wants to be engaged to -?"
"If that's how you feel, Ranma, then- !"
"Damn right, that's how I feel!"
"Okay, then, from now on- !"
It was then that Ranma started seeing red.
From deep inside him, an unknown and inexplicable rage surfaced, or
rather, erupted like a volcano with spewing lava and all. Even the
others weren't ready for this, for this situation was a natural, day-to-
day event in the Tendo household.
But what happened next made everyone snap into realization, but
that brief second seemed like forever in their eyes.
"WILL YOU PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING ME AND SHUT THE HELL UP?!?"
*SLAP!*
Akane didn't feel it at first. She didn't even see the hand strike
her. But then, the pain starting creeping in.
She wasn't struck hard, but the pain bore deep. All she wanted to
do now was hold up what was left of her pride.
(How could he do this?) "HOW DARE YOU HIT- ?!"
"I SAID, STOP INTERRUPTING ME!!!"
*SLAP!*
But even as she tried to form the words that would reflect her
anger, Ranma struck her down again.
"How-how... wha-what did...?" Akane was at a loss. She didn't
know how to feel. She had never imagined a situation like this.
All this time, she considered all of it a game.
But this was the first time it actually hurt. She just never knew
it would hurt so much.
From somewhere in her, she felt the tremendous pain rise. And it
brought tears with it as it rose to the surface.
Akane whimpered at first, but eventually broke into uncontrollable
sobs.
"P-p-please, d-don't hate m-me...."
---------------
end of Part 10
---------------
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