Tokens-A Tale of Ranma and Akane in the desert
5. The Fight
Author:
WARNING! This chapter possibly contains NC-17 material. Do not read if you
are underage.
Excerpt:- Princess Ukyo! Imagine seeing you here.
Ranma and Akane goggled at her. Princess...? Simultaneously, their eyes
went to her chest. Youre a girl?
(Like you didnt know! ;) )
**********************************************************
The entire Jiyan court and Akane watched as Ranma and Ukyo began their
battle.
Ukyo swung his huge spatula sideways, intending to break Ranma's ribs in a
single swipe. Ranma dodged the attack, leaping over the weapon and spinning
a kick into Ukyo's exposed side. Ukyo managed to block it partially and
swung the spatula again.
"Having a weapon that large...it's powerful, but its size leaves little
space for defense, noted Ranma.
"Shut up!" Ukyo slashed the spatula like a sword, so that its air pressure
was reduced. The speed caught Ranma by surprise and he flipped over Ukyos
head. Ukyo turned around, the spatula propped against his shoulder. It
looked like Ranma had disappeared.
"Speed won't help you," said a voice behind him, and he turned in shock to
see Ranma perched on the flat end of the spatula.
"Why you...!" Speechless with rage, Ukyo dropped his spatula and pulled out
long strings of noodles. What do you think youre doing?
"Noodles?!" Everyone in the Hall stared. What was he going to do with
those?
**********************************************************
The riders had been galloping for two weeks now, with shorts break only for
rest or water. They were a small force, only 600 men and horses, and their
very size and the magic they carried enabled them to move undetected
through the wilderness.
At their head rode three men, one an old and grizzled warrior, the other
two young men, though one wore a cloak. The former raised his hand, calling
for a quick stop. Their last break had been 14 hours ago.
Wahid al-Tissa surveyed his men.
We are getting close to Jiya, he said. Remember, the city is NOT to be
attacked. Our goal is the palace. Our informer will let us in through their
secret passageway, which will lead straight into the heart of the palace.
Lord Mousse has his own business within the palace. We will take over the
palace and hold the King hostage until Lord Happosais main force is let
through and we can capture the city itself.
There were nods from his men. One of the two young men spoke up.
And all the women are for our taking! Tarou smiled when the men broke
into grins.
We ride!
***********************************************************
Noodle wrap! Ukyo shouted.
Thick strand of noodles suddenly shot out from his hands, twining around
Ranma, who found himself wrapped in the long strings, unable to move a
muscle. Ukyo pulled, and the noodles tightened.
Ouch! They stung like hell. Ranma scrutinized the noodles closely. He saw
a glint of steel in the bindings. Ukyo began to laugh.
Those arent normal noodles, stupid! They have tiny cores of steel. Youll
never get loose!
Is that so? Ranma pulled at the sharp noodles. They were shredding his
clothes and biting into his skin. Ukyo got ready to swing his spatula
again. His first swipe caught Ranma in the back, sending the prince flying.
The deadly weapon came back for another shot, but Ranma had turned, twisted
and jumped over the spatula, allowing its sharp edge to catch the noodles
and break the strands. He was free.
Thats it. Im done playing, he said, Ive got better things to do with
my time. Ukyos eyes widened on hearing that. Ranma pushed off and
delivered a crescent kick to Ukyos chest, knocking him backward. Ukyos
partial block absorbed some of the force of the blow.
Shurikens! Ukyo cried out, and a trio of miniature spatulas came whizzing
at Ranma. He jumped to avoid them, and they embedded themselves in a pillar
behind him.
Bombs away! He threw a handful of balls in Ranmas direction, and
explosions echoed through the Hall. Ranma coughed, choking on exploding
flour. What an unusual attack, he thought.
Suddenly, the Hall was filled with screaming. Ranmas first thought was
that the bombs must have fallen farther than he realized. Then, through
tearing eyes he saw black-clad men, swords drawn, pouring through a door
into the Hall.
Stunned, he watched as members of the court were hacked down like wheat,
and the few soldiers in the Hall were far outnumbered. The majority of the
soldiers were placed outside the Hall, to guard from attack. Today, even
though security in the Hall had been increased due to the number of guests
attending the engagement ceremony, they were still nowhere near enough to
combat these men.
Guards should be pouring in from outside, but they were nowhere to be seen.
Beside Ranma, Ukyo paused in surprise. Who the hell are these people? he
asked. He held up his spatula. It looks like our fight will have to be
postponed, Prince. Thank Khaitan that you will live to see another day.
Ranma didnt bother to reply. Hed suddenly remembered Akane. He couldnt
see her in the throng of fighting people. The silk mat shed been carried
in on was empty. And then he was facing a wicked, curved sword and had his
own problems to worry about.
Akane held off a soldier with one of the poles from the silk mat that had
carried her. The soldier was leering all the while, and Akane hoped hed
slip on his own drool.
Whats a pretty thing like you doing trying to fight me, eh? The soldier
asked, grinning. Why dont you put your toy down and well go into a
corner and get to know each other better.
Akane spun the pole in her hands, leaving crimson powder marks on it. Why
dont you get to know this! she yelled, smacking it hard into his ribs and
reversing it so the end collided with his skull. He drifted peacefully to
the ground. Akane knelt and hit a pressure point with the hilt of her small
ankle dagger.
She looked around. Genma was beside his throne, fighting three soldiers
with his enormous blade with a grimace of rage on his face. She thanked God
that the Queen and the princesses had retreated to their rooms to await the
end of Ranma and Ukyos battle. Akane herself was partially hidden behind
one of the giant pillars and as such did not draw much attention. She
ripped off the enveloping caftan and decided to keep her pole. She
preferred it to a sword.
Where was Ranma? She saw him fighting near the entrance. He had already
shed his caftan for the fight with Ukyo and like herself, he was clad only
in his blue tunic and trousers.
Wahid looked around with satisfaction. His soldiers would capture the
palace in a matter of minutes. The plan was successful. Mousse was nowhere
to be seen. He shrugged, his skin prickling with dislike for the mysterious
sorcerer.
Ukyo was swinging his spatula in one corner, knocking aside soldiers with
deadly force.
Where were all the guards?? Akane didnt even understand how this small
army had gained entry to the palace, though she, like everyone else, had
realized almost immediately that they were Arun.
She had to get out of there and ride back to Jin with the news of the
attack. She slowly began to make her way to the entrance.
Ukyo was considering the entrance too. It wasnt a good idea to be trapped
in the palace. Outside, there was a chance of getting to a horse and
escaping home to Cantos. They needed to be warned.
A ring of soldiers, all holding weapons suddenly surrounded Ukyo, who
discovered Ranma also in the circle, eyeing the men warily. With one
thought, they went back to back, watching the soldiers approach.
Three of them suddenly attacked Ranma, and behind him another three
attacked Ukyo. The two martial artists spun and kicked, weaved and dodged,
while around them the battle continued to rage.
Akane spun the pole to stand upright after feeling another soldier and with
one eye gauged her distance to the entrance. Only the soldiers fighting
Ranma and Ukyo were between her and freedom. She went to their defense.
A sword tangled with Ukyos spatula, sending both weapons flying. Ranma
took advantage of that and did a roundhouse kick that toppled the soldier,
leaving Ukyo to dispatch of him.
Look out! Ukyo yelled. Behind Ranma, a soldier raised his sword high to
fell the young prince. He suddenly got an odd look on his face and slowly
tumbled to the ground. Behind him, Akane stood twirling her pole, smiling
at Ranma and Ukyo.
Id suggest getting out of here right now, she said.
Ukyo opened her mouth to reply and then a voice from her nightmares spoke
up and bled all the color from her face.
Princess Ukyo! Imagine seeing you here.
Ranma and Akane goggled at her. Princess...? Simultaneously, their eyes
went to her chest. Youre a girl?
Shed recognize that voice anywhere. Ukyo slowly turned to look into the
mocking eyes of Tarou, Prince of the Arun. Her hands clenched into fists as
the memories came flying back.
*************************************************************
Cantos
Ukyo was outside in the palace courtyard talking to one of the maids. Her
green veil fluttered into her eyes and the wind gusted, pulling the soft
green material of her gown away from her legs. At 15, she was shapely and
womanly, just as a princess was supposed to be.
Kohl added mystery to her luminous green eyes, and her perfumed hands
played with the edge of her long, emerald-edged sleeve. No one knew that
she secretly studied Okinomiyaki martial arts with her nurse. She was a
dutiful daughter, wanting to please her father and be a perfect young
woman, but the arts gave her mind release from the boring duties of a lady.
Hooves clattered on the colored mosaic tiles of the courtyard floor, and
her older brother Iori came riding through the iron palace gates, laughing
with Ukyos betrothed, Tsubasa, their personal guard riding behind them.
Ukyo frowned. She hated Tsubasa. The young noble thought too highly of
himself, and although he showed her the respect she was due as a princess
of Cantos, she often caught a dark look in his eyes, as though he would
like to do things to her that only he could imagine. Once, shed caught him
going through her trunk of clothes, in her room.
Iori and Tsubasa were in such good cheer that Ukyo, wondering what could
have made that evil pair so happy, did not immediately see the long rope
tied to Ioris saddle. When she did, she gasped to see that the rope was
attached to what looked like a man, his hands and legs tied together.
He had obviously been dragged for many miles and his clothes had been
shredded by sharp stones and rocks.
She ran forward. Iori, what are you doing? Release that man!
Oh, you wouldnt want me to do that, little sister! Iori said, his white
teeth flashing in his dark, narrow face. You see, thats the son of our
enemy. Tarou, the Arun Prince.
Tsubasa leaned down to grin at Ukyo. We met him and his little sister
traveling by horse to who knows where. He was a tough one, but of course no
problem for Iori and me at all.
No problem with 15 soldiers riding with you, Ukyo thought dryly.
Wheres the sister? she asked.
Iori and Tsubasa looked at each other again, laughing. We left her, of
course. A woman is useless as spoils of war.
You...just left her? Ukyo breathed. Hope shot through her. Maybe they
hadnt...
After we had our enjoyment of her, of course. We rode her long and hard.
She was not easy to break. A feisty brat. Dont worry. We left her with
Tsubasas knife in her breast. She wont be getting up anytime soon.
Ukyo sucked in a sharp breath. She turned away and forced herself to keep
walking even when Tsubasa called after her, Ukyo, dont you want to see
our spoils?
She did, later, when Tarou was strung up on a giant wheel in the Great
Hall, so that all could walk past him and watch him being tortured by the
guards. Her father the King was overjoyed to have caught so important an
enemy, and there was much laughter and high spirits in the hall.
The first time, she walked up and studied him, the welts and wounds on his
muscular shoulders and torso, the whip marks curled around his long legs.
Iori and Tsubasa would never have been able to capture him by themselves.
His hair hung limp, strands falling across his forehead. His eyes were
closed and the thick, sable crescents of his lashes lay like half moons
against his pale cheeks.
I know your face, she said, showing respect to her enemy. The lashes
lifted, and silver green eyes were staring at her,
I know yours too, sister of my sisters murderer, he whispered. Ukyo
gasped. Then when his eyes closed again, she turned and left. After that,
she avoided the Great Hall and didnt enter it again until one day it was
discovered that the prince had somehow escaped. Iori and Tsubasa were
furious and they hunted Tarou in vain.
The next big event in the Great Hall was Ukyos marriage to Tsubasa.
**********************************
It was Ukyos wedding night.
In the bridal suite, Ukyo knelt in the middle of her enormous bridal bed,
head bowed, awaiting her groom. An opaque, maroon, gold-edged veil hid her
face. Her henna-decorated hands lay palms down, the thumbs touching. She
could feel the thick silk sheets against the pads of her fingers.
Fat, handworked gold bangles with garnet stones covered her wrists halfway
to her elbows. The ankle-length maroon, satin vest she wore glittered with
semi-precious stones and gold thread. It pooled around her knees and the
darker, satin skirts that covered her feet.
She heard the door open and close. She just couldnt imagine Tsubasas
hands on her...that fat, gross fool...But as a woman, surely it was her
place to...
Footsteps muffled by thick carpet approached the bed, and she felt the
mattress dip slightly as a knee was placed on it in front of her. Then, the
veil was ripped away, and Ukyo blinked in the sudden light.
Tarou! she gasped.
The Arun prince smiled down at her with bright malice in his eyes.
Ahh, the sweet fruit, offered up on a platter, he sneered. Well, Ill
help myself.
In his steel-blue threaded vest that caught the light and his loose, white,
linen trousers, Tarou was Ukyos nightmare come true. He had obviously
recovered from his ordeals. Had he reached his home, then?
After a split second of staring in disbelief and growing horror, Ukyo
screamed, but Tarou clapped a hand to her lips before the sound could
escape and pushed her.
Ukyo lost her balance and fell back onto the bed. Tarou followed her
descent with his own body, trapping her between him and the sheets. Ukyo
bucked with all her strength and shoved at him, but he didnt budge. She
cursed her heavy, elaborate clothing that trapped her as effectively as
Tarou did.
She got a hand free and punched him in the ear. He gave a pained shout and
fell back. She pushed him to the side and crawled to the edge of the bed on
her hands and knees, her long, loose hair falling around her face and
shoulders.
Tarou sat up and grabbing her slim ankle, yanked her back along the bed
towards him. Ukyo screamed and desperately grabbed the wooden edge of the
bed with both hands. Her bracelets jangled loudly. Tarou lost his grip for
a moment and Ukyo scrambled off the bed and onto the thick Persian carpeted
floor.
There was no time to stand up. She struggled towards the window. It was the
closest exit. A hand clamped around her ankle again and she was dragged
backwards.
No! Nooooo! Ukyo screamed. She twisted her body to see Tarou, his body
half off the bed, grabbing the hem of her skirt with his other hand and
begin to pull.
Screaming will do you no good, Ukyo, Tarou growled. Everyone who hears
will only laugh at the pleasure they think were sharing. He began to pull
her in, both hands gripping fistfuls of her skirt.
Ukyo braced her hands against the carpet and yanked. There was a loud
tearing sound and abruptly she was free. She shot to her feet and ran for
the window.
The damn thing was locked. She pulled her hand back to punch the glass but
two bracered arms encircled around her waist and lifted her off her feet.
She allowed the movement to swing her up and she pushed off from the wall
with both feet, but they were too far from the wall for her to push him off
balance.
She drove an elbow backwards into Tarous gut. The power of the blow made
him bend over, but he straightened and secured her arms. She tried to drive
her foot into his kneecap, but what remained of her voluminous, thrice-
cursed skirts got in the way, tangling her legs.
Oh, why hadnt she held onto a few of her spatulas!
Tarou swore with his remaining breath. Winding Ukyos long, silky hair
around his fist, he yanked her head backwards, arching the pale column of
her throat against his shoulder.
Listen to me, Ukyo, he whispered in her ear. You cant hope to beat me,
no matter how desperate you are. I am avenging my sisters honor.
He studied her wide eyes and harsh, open-mouthed breathing. I am going to
ruin you and leave you here as a little present for your brother!
Ukyo licked her lips. Tarou...Ravishing me isnt going to help your
sister! Why dont you just fight Iori?
Fight that drunkard? What pleasure is there in that? I want him to suffer!
And I know that he treasures you, his little sister.
Tarou released Ukyos hair. And despoiling you will make him suffer. It
will destroy his honor.
He pulled a silk scarf from his vest and used it to tie Ukyos wrists
tightly together. Picking her up, he walked back to the bed and tossed her
onto it. She fell onto the sheets in a flurry of maroon and gold skirts.
Removing another scarf, he pulled her wrists overhead and secured them to
the thick wooden headboard.
Ukyo tugged at the bonds but they were unbreakable. Tarou settled himself
down the length of her body, allowing his weight to keep captive the rest
of her. Her skirts spread out around them, the small jewels on them winking
endlessly with every movement.
Ukyo stared up into Tarous eyes, jerking when he clamped a hand on her
breast. She hated him. She knew when something looked inevitable and she
wanted to be brave, to spit on him in fury, but being touched so intimately
shocked the lady within her, and unwillingly, tears came to her eyes.
Please, dont, she whispered, turning her face away.
Tarou was startled. His resolve wavered for a moment, and then he scowled.
This is how my sister must have begged, he thought grimly. Little
Kodachi...
Wheres your pride as a warrior, Ukyo? he mocked the bound princess. How
can you, a grown woman, bear to plead like a little girl?
Ukyos back stiffened and the glance she leveled at Tarou from under her
eyelashes gleamed with tears of rage and humiliation.
You dont know anything, you monster! She cried. What does a ravisher of
women know about bravery? Youre so strong you had to tie up a girl! Im
sure my brother never had that problem! As soon as Ukyo uttered the words,
she wished she could take them back. Tarous sister had been truly
innocent, and Ukyo despised Iori for forcing himself on the younger girl.
She gasped. I didnt mean...!
Tarous eyes narrowed. Like brother, like sister. You both dont see
anything wrong with preying on the weak! He pulled out a knife and began
to cut through her clothing.
And here I was almost starting to feel bad about this, he laughed.
Ukyo closed her eyes. She wouldnt cry or scream any longer. It was the
only way she could keep any dignity. She opened her eyes to glare at him
with fury, but Tarou only smiled and pulled off the sliced sections of her
vest. Underneath, she wore only a thin chemise. He tore it off with ease.
Ukyo closed her eyes as she felt his gaze move across her bared breasts.
Gold chains encircled her neck. A large ruby lay in the valley of her
breasts, fiery in the lamplight.
Wheres Tsubasa? Ukyo asked suddenly. Tarou looked up.
Hes dead, he said shortly. For hurting my sister. Dont worry, at least
youre not committing adultery.
Hurting? Not killing?
So shes not...dead? asked Ukyo.
Tarou stared at her for a second.
No. Ukyo felt her body loosen slightly in relief. Thats why Im going
to show you mercy, Ukyo. Else you too would be lying here with a knife in
you.
How do you know that Im a warrior? she asked.
You move like one. Anyone who was really trained would know. Tarou leaned
closer. I know your face, too, remember? He ripped off her skirt, the
gauzy material tearing easily in his hands.
Ukyo lay naked beneath him. Suddenly she realized that this was how shed
expected it to be with Tsubasa. Rape. She just couldnt have given in to
that toad willingly.
Tarou ran his hands down the length of her body, his callused hands
eliciting shivers from her.
He glanced up at Ukyo. Im going to enjoy this, he said.
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Notes:-Aagh! Sorry, I chickened out at the last minute! I dont know if I
should continue this part or just move on. Either works for me. Let me
know! :) Well, looks like the next part should at least contain whats
between Genma and Ukyo.