The Leper: Treatment
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 and
the occasionals, all of whom have contributed to the formation of this
fic.
Part 17
"To Kiss a Saotome..."
The air was still and waiting.
Everybody held their breath.
It took a moment before the situation sank in.
The man with the leper's touch removed his finger from Ranma
Saotome's chest - then he stared at them as if seeing them for the first
time.
Akane felt light-headed. She was ready to faint at any time.
Ukyou was just about ready to explode and charge her 'former' best
friend.
But everybody stayed perfectly still.
They stared at Kii, who seemed to want to say something.
"I...." He looked at Ukyou.
His eyes were normal again but they held certain sadness in them.
"It...."
Ukyou couldn't help herself. "What is it, Kii?"
Silence.
"It didn't work."
A long second passed before everybody fell flat on their faces.
"I guess I still need some prac- uh oh...."
But he wasn't able to finish his sentence.
The whole dojo was filled with the fiery, crimson battle aura.
"YOU WHAT?!?"
Ranma's brain somehow found his body again, and now he was
standing, towering over Kii. His strength was renewed by a lot of anger
and frustration.
"YOU ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK!!! MY LIFE WAS ALREADY FLASHING
BEFORE MY EYES AND IT CONSISTED MOSTLY OF MY PIG-HEADED FATHER AND A
DORKY GIRL!!! IT WASN'T *AT ALL* VERY PLEASANT!!!"
Kii just produced a teardrop and held up his hands. He tried to
smile to lighten up the situation but he knew in his heart that this was
going to hurt big-time.
Everybody took cover as Ranma pounded Kii into a lifeless pulp.
----------
Later...
"... and that! And take this, too! Take that, and that, and that,
and that! Had enough?!? Well, I'm not finished yet! Take this, and
that...."
"Ranma, I think he's had enough. He's been unconscious since a
long time ago."
But Ranma didn't seem to hear. He wasted his entire battle aura on
one powerful blow that knocked Kii into unconsciousness. Ever since, he
had been jumping over Kii and kicking the lifeless Niwatori for almost
twenty minutes.
"Ranchan, stop already!"
Ranma finally stopped.
He then realized just how tired and spent he was. He just fell on
the floor and breathed his heart out.
Ukyou and Shampoo carried Kii's body into the house. They were
followed by Kasumi, who was only too eager to start dinner. Soun was
trying to calm down the ecstatic Genma, who was a fountain of happy
tears.
Akane was left with Ranma.
She looked down at him. He seemed to be staring beyond her. He
was mouthing something over and over again.
Akane leaned closer and she finally heard what he was saying. She
answered him even though he didn't seem to hear.
"That's right... you won."
Ranma seemed to smile a bit then finally drifted to sleep.
----------
All the spectators, save for Akane and the Amazons, were now in the
dining area, waiting for Kasumi's cooking.
Kii lay unconscious on the floor, his head on Ukyou's lap. Cologne
said that they would leave for their restaurant amidst Shampoo's protests
of wanting to be with her Ranma-darling. Ukyou kept on stroking Kii on
the cheek until he was roused to consciousness.
"Hey, he's awake...." Everybody put their teacups down and stared
expectantly at the young Niwatori.
"I can't move...."
"I'm not surprised."
Kii looked around, looking for somebody. "Where's Ranma?"
"Last time we saw him, he was in about the same condition as you.
He fell unconscious, and now Akane's with him, waiting for him to wake
up."
Kasumi interrupted. "Dinner's ready! Oh, you're awake already."
Genma and Soun went in the kitchen to help Kasumi prepare.
Ukyou just kept on stroking Kii. For every stroke, Kii felt the
pain ebb away.
Steps were then heard from the stairs. They all looked up to see
Nabiki coming down. She looked at Kii, bleeding and bruised in various
places. She smiled not a malicious smile, but one of satisfaction.
"Well, I suppose it's over. Who won?"
Ukyou didn't meet her gaze, so it was Kii who answered.
"Ranma...."
Nabiki sighed in relief. "Finally!"
They both smiled a secretive smile which only irritated Ukyou.
"Nabiki, I...."
"Bygones, Kii."
And that was that: Nabiki Tendo and Kiiroi Niwatori had clashed for
one final time.
----------
When the table was set, Kasumi got up and looked around.
"Somebody should call Akane and Ranma."
She was about to go do it herself but Kii stopped her.
"No! I mean... do it later, let's leave those two to themselves.
Besides, Ranma's probably still unconscious...."
Kasumi just nodded.
Everybody started eating, with Ukyou spoon-feeding Kii.
----------
Contrary to popular belief, Ranma was already up and aching.
Akane sat beside him, holding a first-aid kit on his lap. She held
an ointment in one hand and a bandage in another.
"I still can't believe you had to use all your moves just to beat
one guy! He's no Herb, or Kirin, or Tomba."
She dabbed some ointment on his nose and he gave out a small yelp.
"Ow!"
"You are such a baby!"
"Hey, quit complainin' already! I won, didn't I?"
"Yes, but that's not what I mean." She plastered his nose with the
bandage. "Just because things haven't been that exciting around here,
and that you haven't been challenged by some all-powerful martial artist,
that doesn't mean that you shouldn't train to the fullest! When the time
comes and you're not prepared, then the only thing you could probably do
is the 'Saotome Secret Technique'!"
Akane saw that she struck a nerve. She couldn't help but snicker
at her fianc�. Ranma just curled up into a ball and pouted. Akane just
stared at him.
If he only knew how proud she was of him.
"How long do you plan to pout? And you call yourself a man."
Akane paused and started digging into the kit for more bandages. "You
really got your butt kicked, didn't you? In fact, you probably thought
you were going to lose...."
"Hey, I still won, okay?! Besides, it's over. What difference
does it make?"
"Oh, foo... it doesn't make any difference at all." Akane dabbed
some ointment on a cut on his cheek. "But, really, to let yourself to be
kicked around so easily! You still haven't trained enough. You talk a
good match, but you still leave yourself open a lot."
Ranma parried Akane's hand, which was holding the bandage, and gave
her a slight push from behind with his other hand.
"And who are you to talk?"
"HEY!"
*ping*
And, suddenly, they found themselves in a very familiar situation.
"Ranma?"
"Hmm?"
They never separated. Their faces, their lips, were mere inches
from one another.
"Why do I have the feeling that we've done this before?"
"Umm, yeah... like... 'd�j... vu'."
Instinctively, they turned their heads towards the door.
They waited for whoever was watching them to lose their patience.
They tried to listen for the low whirr of a video camera.
Nothing.
They returned their gaze into each other's eyes. They couldn't
believe the situation they were in. It's like they were given a second
chance.
"Um, Akane?"
"Huh?"
"Can you... uh... uhurm, close your eyes?"
Akane complied as if she had no other choice. Her heart was
racing.
Ranma inched closer... and closer. But the closer he got, the more
he wanted to back down.
"Uh... I guess... this is something... you have to do... with
someone you like."
Akane's eyes flared open with anger. "Oh, I see! So I suppose
this is something you're never EVER going to do with me!"
Ranma's blood started to boil. "That's not what I meant!"
That last line eventually shut both of them up. Ranma felt the
anger leave. Oh, how he badly wanted to do this.
"All I mean is... that... if you don't mind... then I don't...."
Akane felt her eyes getting watery. How she wanted to tell him
this for so long.
"Oh, Ranma. I never minded ever since the first time...."
Ranma smiled a genuine smile at her. It held no sarcasm, no
insult...
She knew that this time, Ranma was actually glad to be alone with
her.
She closed her eyes.
He closed his.
And they just let the darkness invade them as their lips met for
the very first time.
Their lips parted as their eyes started to open. They grew wide-
eyed, still unconvinced of what they just did. They slowly caught their
breath and smiled. They did not say anything to each other but each knew
what the other wanted to convey and that was enough for them.
Akane held his cheeks in both hands and Ranma ran his fingers along
her nape. She was consumed by the sudden rush of electricity. He pulled
her head closer and she was only too happy to comply.
They closed their eyes and their lips touched once more.
----------
Kii turned his head outside and smiled. Apparently, nobody else
could see it. It was only he who could see the fireworks exploding over
the Tendo Dojo that night.
---------------
end of Treatment
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