In 2 minds... Chapter 5: Duel On Ice (Part 2)

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Author's Note: The conclusion to the Duel On Ice; this is the showdown (unfortunately not at sundown). Can Akane and Ranma save P-Chan or will Ryoga find himself snuggling into Azusa's bosom for the rest of the series. For all the devoted lemon readers I'm afraid this chapter is clean but there may be some in the next chapter. Read & review.

 

On the day of the match Ryoga Hibiki found himself standing at the gates of Kolhotz High School, where he would surely partner Akane in the skating match.

“I made it!” grinned the eternal lost boy. “Good thing I gave myself 5 days to get here.” The collar from Azusa gleamed around his neck. “No matter what it takes I'm gonna' be the one to pair up with Akane. Me!” Suddenly he leaped backwards as a stream of water flew through the air at him. Ranma was sitting on the school sign with an empty bucket of water in his hands.

“Hey Charlotte! What are you doing in this part of town?” jeered Ranma, leaping from the sign with another bucket of water.

“No you don't!” yelled Ryoga and sprang at Ranma. Ranma blocked the blow and dropped the bucket. But as Ryoga landed the bucket came sailing down onto his head. The enraged P-Chan squealed at Ranma.

“Don't worry Charlotte” smiled Ranma. “Me and Akane'll be just fine. You just sit back and enjoy the show okay?”

In the men's dressing room Mikado was getting himself ready for the match, when Ranma entered.

“Mr. Saotome. You finally made it” he said politely.

“Yo! Mikado the molester! How's it goin'?” replied Ranma cheerfully.

“Aarrghhh! That's Sanzenine you idiot!…ooohh.” He quickly turned and started combing his hair.

“Your booboo's all better now?” asked Ranma dully.

“I merely let my guard down for a moment, that's all. The real match will be a different story.” Mikado paused and glanced at Ranma. “Your charming partner Akane Tendo. Isn't that her name?”

“Huh?”

“I still haven't given your partner my special greeting.”

“Greeting?”

“The girl hasn't been born who doesn't welcome my special greeting.”

“Your greeting? You don't mean…”

“One more. One more and I shall have kissed 1000 girls, each one more gorgeous than the last.”

“No you don't!”

“You will hear me out! Some time during today's match I will surely steal a kiss from the lips of Akane Tendo.”

“Oh man. Don't you ever think of anything else than trying to kiss girls?”

“Well what else is there worth thinking about?”

“Geez! This guy's scary!” Ranma thought to himself.

The stands of the Kolhotz High School skating rink were packed with spectators; one side all girls under a banner of “We Live For Sanzenine” and the other with guys under a banner of “Lovely Asuza”. The commentator cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the first annual Charlotte cup, the anything goes martial arts figure skating fight to the finish, to determine once and for all who owns the pig known as Charlotte. And now let me introduce our competitors. Representing Kolhotz High in the Charlotte cup is the Golden Pair, the undefeated emperor Sanzenine and his lovely consort the delightful Azusa Shiratori.” The lights came up on the pair standing at the entrance to the rink and they skated on to adoring cheers from their fans. Ranma and Akane stood at the entrance waiting their turn. Akane looked startled but Ranma looked annoyed.

“Hmph! Look at those lousy show offs out there” he growled as the lights came up on them. “Well come on Akane. They won't forget about us.” He picked her up and held her sitting on his shoulder.

“You did learn to skate didn't you Ranma?” inquired Akane, in a somewhat put out voice.

“Of course. Just get ready Akane.” He skated out onto the rink.

“And here for Furinkan High is Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo” called the commentator. Ranma threw Akane into the air and did a quick twirl, in graceful pose then hurled himself into a flip, landing smoothly on the ice and catching Akane neatly as she arched down to meet him. Then he lifted her above his head and she spread her arms and legs out in a streamlined pose as they glided around the rink. The crowd cheered loudly. Mikado and Azusa looked on in mild surprise and even a little apprehension.

“Wow Ranma!” marvelled Akane. “You've really worked hard at it. We can do this!” The bell for the start of the match sounded.

“And there's the bell. The battle for the pet black pig begins. Remember! This is a no holds, barred single match competition people!” yelled the commentator.

The two pairs skated towards each other, Azusa on Mikado's back, Akane ahead of Ranma, holding his hands. She swung Ranma at Mikado feet first but Mikado ducked swiftly and stood up between the two, moving in for a kiss.

“No you don't!” yelled Ranma, latching on to Mikado's head with his feet. However Azusa dived in from above and sent Ranma sprawling onto the ice. Clasping Akane, Mikado bent to kiss Akane.

“He's such a nuisance” he scoffed. Akane growled.

“So are you!” she yelled and threw him off. He span through the air and landed neatly on his feet, where Azusa skated to his side. Picking up a dazed Ranma Akane skated towards them.

“Come on Ranma. Hang in there! The match has just started!” she told him.

“Now Akane!” called Mikado. “Brace yourself. I will have my kiss!” He span Azusa above his head in a whirlwind. Ranma picked Akane up onto his back.

“Akane get ready to fly” he yelled and flung her over the others. Ducking a vicious kick from Azusa he hit Mikado hard in the side as he passed, making him double over. Catching Akane on the other side he curved around and sped back towards his stricken foe.

“Go low!” he instructed Akane and sprang into the air. Akane sped in at knee height and swept Mikado's legs from beneath him. From above Ranma dove in and smashed his elbow into Mikado's face, sending him crashing to the floor. After a moment he got to his feet and the two pairs faced each other. Mikado stared menacingly at Ranma.

“It is rare that I am ever brought to my knees. You will regret it” he stated.

“You pull that junk with Akane again and I'm gonna' do more than bring you to your knees” replied Ranma threateningly.

“Oh really? Such as?”

“Such as putting your lady killin' butt straight into a coffin. Got it? Akane is my fiancé. You touch her an' I'll kill you.” There were gasps around the stadium. Akane stood in shock.

“I don't believe it. In front of all these people” she thought nervously.

“Fiancés aren't forever.” Mikado chuckled and narrowed his eyes. “I, Mikado Sanzenine, will take it as a personal challenge to break those ties” he hissed, cracking his knuckles. Meanwhile Azusa was leaping up and down poking her tongue out. Mikado laughed evilly.

“You can try” rasped Ranma.

“I'll do better than that. She won't be yours for much longer. We the world famous golden pair have another name. The anti-matchmakers.”

“Ladies and gentlemen. Here's the moment we've all been waiting for; the Golden Pair's ultimate technique - the Couple Cleaver!” yelled the commentator. The Golden Pair skated towards Ranma and Akane.

“There's not a single couple we've ever faced on the ice…” called Mikado.

“That could stay together after we split them up” finished Azusa.

“Ready Akane?” asked Ranma. She nodded. “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and they charged forward. The two dived at the Golden Pair in a dual flying kick but they dodge and Azusa jumped on top of Ranma, moving in as though to kiss him. Akane span around in anger.

“Hey Ranma. What are you two doing?” she fumed. Azusa giggled.

“You're wide open!” she cried and slipped in between Ranma's legs, grasping his ankles and pulling him over. He grabbed Akane's hands as he fell and Mikado lifted the three up and began to spin on the spot.

“The goodbye whirl!” called Mikado. Ranma strained against the g-force as he fought to keep hold of Akane.

“Listen to me Ranma Saotome” said Mikado as he span. “Release the girl's hand and I'll stop spinning.”

“Hah! No way!” retorted Ranma, clenching his teeth.

“Go on and let her go. You can't hold on much longer anyway.”

“Ranma, let go!” shouted Akane.

“No way, you'll go flying head first into the ice” replied Ranma.

“Ranma, come on. Do it!”

“NO! How can you even ask something like that?!” Ranma yelled. A smile curled Mikado's lips.

“The more you trust each other the greater the shock when you're betrayed! A couple caught in the goodbye whirl is doomed to disaster” he grinned.

“Ignore him. I'll be fine” yelled Akane desperately. “Let me go please!” She struggled to open Ranma's hands.

“No way! How can I when you're to stupid to know what's good for ya'?” Ranma angrily replied.

”What did you say?” Akane shouted furiously and gripped on tightly. Azusa began to cry out.

“Azusa is all worn out!” she cried and let go. Akane and Ranma were hurled at the wall at terrifying speed. At the last second Ranma flipped himself over Akane just before they hit the wall, so that he took the full force of the impact. The concrete split and cracked where they had hit and Ranma slid down to the floor, not moving. Akane bent over him.

“Oh no…Ranma…Ranma…” she called. Mikado and Azusa stood in the centre of the rink, Azusa wobbling on the spot, highly dizzy.

“I'm sure every bone in his body is crushed. Nothing human could have withstood that” stated Mikado triumphantly. Azusa fell backwards with a crash.

“You dummy Ranma!” whispered Akane, her eyes wide and sad. “I didn't ask you to do that!” She lay on his chest sobbing: “You dummy!” Ranma opened his eyes.

“Quiet!” he whispered. Akane sat up in surprise. “Is that how you thank me?” he said annoyed, looking her in the eye. “Calling me names!”

“You were faking?” Ranma grinned.

“Is that all you really think of me Akane?” He stuck his legs in the air, palms on the ice, and flipped onto his feet. He froze, shivers running up his body and tears filling his eyes.

“Are you sure you're okay?” Akane asked with a worried expression. Ranma clenched his fist.

“I…couldn't be better” he managed.

“So…you've made it to your feet.” Mikado stood nearby looking pleased.

“Come on! I'm ready any time man!” growled Ranma.

“Hmph. You're very stubborn. Let's see how long you can last.” Azusa skated to his side. She looked over at the cup and cried out. Meanwhile Akane talked to Ranma.

“Don't be ridiculous. You can't fight like this” she chided.

“Don't tell me what I can't do. This fight's not over yet!” Ranma growled.

“That's right. My thoughts exactly” sneered Mikado. “I have no intention of letting you withdraw. Not until I, as promised, exact a kiss from Akane Tendo's lips.” Ranma seethed.

“No way! Are you crazy?”

“Here I…oooffff!” As he started forward he fell flat on his face, Azusa clutching his ankles.

“My Charlotte has disappeared!” she wailed.

Up above in the rafters Ryoga sat, a bucket in his hands.

“This is where I come in” he grinned. Back on the ice Ranma started forward.

“Wait a sec!” said Akane and poked him. He promptly collapsed.

“Hey! What d'you do that for Akane?”

“Don't do this!” she said angrily. Her expression softened as she held his hand. “Not for me. Really! It's not necessary.”

“Akane…aaaahhh!” he cried as a stream of water poured on his head. Ryoga leaped from the rafters and landed on top of them, covering them with a blanket.

“Ranma. Turn quietly into a girl and let me handle this. Pair up with me Akane and we'll take them on together.” He flung the blanket aside, leaving him and Reena standing there. “Now Akane, you and I can…aaahh!” he cried as he saw Reena.

“Moron” she frowned.

“What have you done with Akane?” Ryoga growled.

“Nothing it was you who threw her aside. What are you doing here? Go home! We're fine without you.”

“Wait a minute!” announced the commentator. “What's goin' on here? Furinkan High has slipped in a substitute pair in the middle of the match.”

“I'm here to pair up with Akane. That's what I'm doing!” Ryoga yelled.

“You're doing a fine job” retorted Reena sarcastically.

“My pig-tailed princess!” exclaimed Mikado with joy. Come to me my pig-tailed pretty.” Reena glided over to him, batting her eyelids.

“Hey lover boy!” she cooed, nuzzling against him. “Afraid I can't play right now `cos we've got a match to finish.” She skated back to Ryoga.

“Hey Ranma how can you fight in your weakened condition” Ryoga said, hooking his leg around Reena's and trying to pin her. “You're not feeling well remember. Why don't you go take it easy and let Akane and I take it from here.” Reena shrugged him off.

“Stop it! I'm Reena not Ranma! And I'm fine for some reason” Reena replied, testing her balance.

“Hey, what's the deal with these two” yelled a member of the crowd. “Their costumes are pathetic.” Suddenly the Kolhotz fashion club entered the arena with several changing room booths and rapidly outfitted Ryoga and Reena. Standing facing the Golden Pair, Reena whispered to Ryoga:

“You have learned to skate by now haven't you?”

“Yeah right Ranma! It took me more than 5 days just to find this stupid school. You think I had time to practise my skating?” Ryoga replied. Reena gasped.

“Well that's just great! And stop calling me Ranma. I'm Reena.” As the two were arguing Mikado had moved to the side to talk to Akane. He kissed her hand and asked her on a date, at which point Reena skated around and knocked him over.

“How could you?!” she scowled in mock anger. Grabbing Ryoga's hand she skated off in an arc. But Ryoga fell over bringing both to the floor. Azusa grabbed his ankles.

“Here we go again” she said cheerfully. Mikado lifted them all up and began to spin. Reena desperately clutched at Ryoga's hands, trying to hold on as he tried to dislodge her. He aimed a punch and she let go. All three were flung through the air. Azusa landed on top of Ryoga, who hit the ice face first but Reena was caught by Mikado.

“You might have been hurt. Are you all right?” he asked kindly.

“Guess I owe you another reward” she whispered and pulled his face to hers, claiming his lips in a brief kiss. Her hand wandered south but he broke the kiss and caught her hand.

“Now now. You're a spirited one. Not here I'm afraid” said Mikado sadly. Reena pretended to look depressed. Meanwhile Azusa crouched next to Ryoga, staring at his neck. A huge smile came across her face.

“You're Azusa's little Charlotte” she squealed happily.

“Wha..whaaaat..?” he spluttered as he pushed himself up off the ice. He composed himself. “What are you talking about? Don't distract me in the middle of the match.” He stood up.

“Oh no. Azusa knows her little Charlotte. Look! That's her little collar.” Ryoga's hand shot to his neck and he cowered from the girl. He glanced quickly over at Akane then tried to be nonchalant.

“There must be some kind of misunderstanding or something” he laughed wildly. So did Azusa.

“No no no. There's no mistake. Look at this. Azusa knows `cos she looked it with her little key. That makes you my little Charlotte for sure.”

“I am not Charlotte” he bellowed. “YOU'RE CONFUSED THAT'S ALL. I'll tell you my real name.” Reena appeared at his shoulder.

“It's P-Chan.”

“That's right.” He paused. “Who are you calling P-Chan?” he yelled.

“You like Charlotte better then?” Reena teased. Ryoga growled. The two started to wrestle.

“Hey” yelled Mikado. “Stop bullying her and fight me.” He leaped at Ryoga, knocking him down and turned to finish him off when he was tripped by Azusa.

“Don't you hurt Azusa's little Charlotte” she shouted and smashed him on the head with a huge mallet, cracking the ice of the rink. Paramedics carried him off the ice, at which point Azusa took his blanket and hit him again with a large chunk of ice.

“That's it ladies and gentlemen” yelled the commentator. “Kolhotz High's Golden Pair has forfeited the match to Furinkan High.” Suddenly a huge jet of water shot up from the fractured rink, throwing Reena and Ryoga into the air, through the ceiling and freezing a plateau several hundreds of feet up.

“Ranma. You've embarrassed me in public for the last time. Let's settle the score!” he yelled.

“Right NOW?” cried Reena in disbelief.

“Yeah” shouted Ryoga and leaped at her. The plateau cracked and slid sideways. Reena grabbed the upper edge as it balanced precariously and Ryoga grabbed Reena around the waist.

“Got any more bright ideas?!” she yelled in fury.

“Shut up!” he retorted. The plateau slipped and they plummeted down, both landing nimbly on a stair rail and skating down it, fighting as they slid. At the bottom they cast aside their skates and Reena leaped at Ryoga. The two traded blows until finally Reena slipped under an attack from Ryoga and uppercutted him, knocking him to the ground. She pounced on top of him, pinning him down.

“Enough!” she panted. “There's something you need to know. I am NOT Ranma! He tried some remedy for his Jusenkyo curse and it created me: a whole new personality that appears when he turns into a girl. Got it? You've got no quarrel with me so stop attacking me!” She rolled off him and stood up. Ryoga just lay still on the ground, staring into space in shock.

“Er…hello…Earth calling Ryoga, come in please!” Reena waved a hand in front of his face. Suddenly he grabbed the hand and flipped up to a standing position.

“If you're not Ranma then how come you know all about me?” he asked doubtfully.

“We share the same memories and knowledge. Everything that I do, he remembers and vice versa.”

“So you're basically part of him…” said Ryoga, more to himself than to her. “Then that makes you just as much my enemy as him.” He leaped at her but she dodged backwards.

“Stop it you jerk” she yelled. “I don't want anything to do with your stupid ego quarrel. I didn't even exist when Ranma knocked you in that spring! Back off!” She kicked him in the face and leaped over him and away.

”Come back here you coward” shouted Ryoga, stubborn as ever. He didn't stop chasing her until she lost her cool and knocked him into the fountain in the park, at which point she made her escape, returning to the Tendo residence.

Author's Note: Damn! This chapter just didn't come out the way I'd hoped. It's really confused and rather too close to the original episodes. Never mind. It was quite a tricky chapter to write. Anyway, the next chapter will be a lemon and will probably be quite short. Please review if you haven't already.