Ranma and his friends belong to Rumiko Takahashi. They're used here without permission. ------------------------------ newRanma 7: Retreating by Chris Jones ------------------------------ "Well, Ranma. I'm not going to tell you if what you did was right or wrong," Makuna-sensei informed his patient. "I can tell you that what you did when you recognized that the situation got out of hand was the honorable and compassionate thing to do." "I guess my problem is that I don't understand if there's a difference between 'Right' and 'Honorable'," Ranma said, Principal Kunou's legal problems and subsequent flight from Japan still weighing heavily on her mind. "Many times they are the same thing," Makuna said. "Many times they are not. Try to look at it this way. Japan is one of the few countries in the world that still has a functional honor system as part of its culture. Despite that fact, there are good people all around the world who make moral decisions without notions of honor to back them up." Ranma nodded. She knew that, but hadn't really thought about it. "In many ways, that's because people have become more worldly. It's also because that some people can abuse an honor system." "Huh?" Ranma said, cocking her head at the doctor. She clearly didn't understand what he meant. "Well, in many instances its possible to make moral decisions without worrying if they're honorable or not, or wether or not they save face. If an action is the right thing to do, if you don't have an honor system to guide you you, you can make that decision regardless of the consequences." Ranma's shoulders slumped. "I still don't understand." "Let me give you an example," Makuna said. "Suppose that someone close to you told you a secret." Ranma nodded. "Then that person starts taking advantage of you because you've promised to keep their secret. They start relying on you to keep them out of trouble or to not inform others of crimes they commit." Ranma's face paled. "I'll keep your secret, Ryouga," she remembered saying so many months ago. "Honor clearly dictates that you must keep your promise and protect their secret despite the fact that they are harming you or the ones you love. The right thing to do, despite the fact that many people cannot do it, is to tell the secret and stop the wrongdoing." Ranma was speechless. "Of course, this goes on all the time in cases of sexual abuse or drug addiction," Makuna said. "Many times family members are caught between personal honor and the wellbeing of their families. This is something that happens in almost all cultures." Ranma's mouth began to work up and down. "Ranma," Makuna asked. "Are you okay?" Ranma exhaled heavily. "Yeah... I think so." "I take it you've been in a position similar to the one I described." "Yeah," Ranma said. "But I think I got it stopped. He ain't doin' it any more, so..." "Are you sure?" Makuna asked seriously. "If this is a case of abuse, then its your responsibility to make sure it doesn't happen again. That means informing the authorities in almost all cases." "No. It ain't abuse," Ranma said, sighing. "Can you talk about it? Remember that as part of my Hippocratic oath, you can tell me anything without fear of having it repeated." Ranma thought carefully. "If I ask you not to tell, you can't?" "I will if someone is being abused or if someone's life is in danger but why don't we discuss that?" Ranma nodded, and began to speak. "Well, there's this guy. He's got a curse, too, but not quite like mine. His name is Ryouga Hibiki..." * * * Ranma glared darkly at the piglet as it wandered around the dojo. She had been lounging in the middle of the wooden floor reading her latest Utena tankouban when Ryouga had wandered into the dojo and started sniffing around the corners. He was lost, and completely unaware that Ranma was even inside the dojo. It was true that Ryouga had not made any advances to Akane since that day at Phoenix mountain. Still, Ranma hadn't seen him refuse her tender babying as 'P-Chan'. That was tempered by the fact that the lost boy seemed to be doing his best to stay away since Ranma's surgery. Makuna agreed with her that while Ryouga's behavior was dishonest and immature, that he was not truly abusing Akane. He did say that Ryouga was taking advantage of both Ranma and Akane's trust and that Ranma should tell Akane of the deception as soon as she could. Was honor really worth that little? "Damn it! This will never work!" Akane yelled from the kitchen, derailing Ranma's train of thought. The banging and clanging of pots and pans carried just as audibly out to the dojo as her swearing. "Ooh," Ranma winced. "I wonder what she's going to force down my throat this time?" "Bwee?" The piglet asked, noticing Ranma for the first time. Ranma chuckled. Despite the fact that her food was usually toxic. Ryouga choked it down with a smile. "For such a jerk, you're pretty damn brave, Ryouga," Ranma said. "Let's see what she's up to." Nervously, Ryouga nodded and followed the girl as she sneaked out of the dojo. A few seconds later, the two were around the corner from the kitchen door listening attentively to Akane's attempt to cook. While outright denial to eat her cooking was sometimes the only way to avoid an upset stomach or spending all night in the restroom, sometimes subtle guile and avoidance were the best way to keep from getting sick. "Akane!" Kasumi scolded. "You should watch your language." "I'm sorry, but this is horrible! I can smell it. How can I make something for Ranma if it keeps coming out like this?" Ranma boggled. Akane was actually worried about what her food tasted like? "Well first of all, this is linseed oil. I use it to wax the floor. You can't use it to cook with," Kasumi explained politely and calmly. "I was only using it to replace the sesame seed oil!" Akane said. "What you *wanted* to use was just plain salad oil," Kasumi corrected. "Thank god," Ranma whispered. "Kasumi's supervising! We might just be spared the wrath of Akane's cooking." "Bwee!" P-chan nodded in agreement. "Not if you don't do exactly as I say, you won't," Nabiki said from behind Ranma. "Oh geez..." The girl was smiling wickedly, Ranma noted. At least she was fully clothed. "How much," the red-head asked dejectedly, bowing her head. Nabiki paused for a second, the malicious glee draining out of her face. "Uhh..." "Well?" Nabiki took a deep breath and put a finger to her chin. "How about if you do a favor for me," she said after several seconds. "I've been wanting some mint-chocolate chip ice cream for a while and..." Could it be that simple? Actually, Ranma could have really gone for some ice cream as well. "What are you waiting for?" Nabiki asked. "Money?" "Uhhh... I guest that means no, huh?" Ranma asked. "C'mon bacon-butt. Let's get out while the getting's good." P-chan nodded thankfully and began to trot behind Ranma as she left the room. She only had to stop once so he could find her. * * * Ranma realized that she had forgotten she was mad at the piglet when he hopped up on the table in front of her and started to look forlorn when she dug into her quadruple scoop 'Spring Special' sundae. "Go 'way, Ryouga. You ain't getting none." The piglet turned his nose in the air and snorted, as if to say, "I don't even want charity from a creep like you, Ranma." The expression on his beady eyes however, bespoke of days on the road with little or nothing to eat and hope of only Akane's leftovers at the end of his journeys. If he was lucky. "Oh, alright. Here," she said, scooping out a generous dollop of ice cream onto the saucer her bowl had been resting on. She slid the saucer over to the pig who quickly overcame his pride and rivalry and began to eat. "Yeah, you eat like that, but I know you're just gonna try to sneak into Akane's bed again tonight," the redhead complained. "Bwee!" Ryouga snorted around snoutfuls of ice- cream. "Why don't you go find Akari and climb into *her* bed?" "Bwee! Bweee! *SNORT*" "Hey, I paid good money for that ice cream! If you're gonna waste it like that--" It was then that Ranma noticed the waif looking hungrily at her sundae through the window. "Oh God. Now I gotta feed everybody," Ranma complained. The little girl noticed Ranma looking at her, and turned to run, but the martial artist had no trouble sprinting out of the restaurant to catch up with her. "Hey, wait!" Ranma yelled after sprinting to the doorway of the shop. "I didn't mean to run you off." "I'm sorry," the little girl apologized in a plaintive tone. "I didn't mean to spy on you. It's just--" "It's okay." Ranma said, stepping out of the shop and stopping a safe distance away from the girl. "I'm not mad, really! You look hungry." The little girl nodded sheepishly. "I've been travelling and it's been a few days since I've had anything to eat." "Geez. Why don't you let me buy you some ice cream. Okay?" The girl's eyes lit up. "Really?" "Yeah, really," Ranma said, smiling as she led the girl back to the restaurant. "Really really?" the girl asked, almost hopping up and down. "Really really," Ranma assured her. The little girl began to cry tears of joy. "That's... so wonderful. I haven't had ice cream since Mommy and Daddy went away." Ranma winced. Was the girl actually homeless? She led the waif inside and sat her down next to Ryouga, who looked at the girl oddly. She squealed in delight at seeing the toy-like piglet and hugged him happily. Ranma ordered another two sundaes and began to dig happily into one as the girl across from her began to eat hers in small bites, almost reverently savoring the sweet, creamy taste. "So what's your name?" Ranma asked, glancing at the girl. She had a shock of thick, short, blonde hair, and a somewhat smudged, but dimpled face. She wore a thick sweater and shorts and had socks that came up to her knees. The most notable feature of the girl's clothing were her shoes, which were worn almost to the point of nonexistence. While they were still recognizable as running shoes, they had been patched, glued, taped, and tied together so many times that Ranma doubted that there was any material from the original shoes left. "Uhhh... Yoiko, I think." the little girl answered, snuggling P-chan as she ate. "I'm Ranma," the older girl introduced herself. "You look pretty lost," she said. "Not really," Yoiko replied. "I've been all over the city today looking for my oniichan." "All over? Heh, she could be related to you, Ryouga!" Ranma said to the little pig. "My oniichan is not a little piggy!" Yoiko protested. "He's big and strong and kind and..." "Okay. Not Ryouga then," Ranma conceded. "So where have you been looking for him. Maybe I can help?" "Well, I've been following his path. I went to the airport, and then to the big tower in the middle of town, and then to a high school and then to this girl's house who tried to name me... something." "Uhh..." "And then I went to another high school and then I went to some hot springs and then..." "You could actually find all those places on the first try?" Ranma laughed. "You're definitely *not* a Hibiki!" "Um... I... I think I might be a Hibiki," Yoiko said. "I think that's what Mommy said before she went away," the little girl admitted. Ranma groaned, suspicion beginning to gnaw at her. "Well, what's your oniichan's name?" Ranma asked. The little girl's eyes began to water, as if she was going to cry. Her lip began to curl up. "Don't remember it?" Ranma asked. "Let me ask you this," she said. "Your parents went away, right?" Yoiko nodded, wiping the nascent tears from her eyes. "Was it to do something stupid like get milk or walk the dog?" "Daddy was supposed to go out and get me a birthday present, but he never came back," Yoiko said sadly. "And Mommy went to buy a cake, but I guess she's with Daddy... wherever he is." "And your Oniichan?" "He went to China to get in a duel," she said. "I followed him there, but he had already left by the time I got there. I finally tracked him back here. He may be at a dojo nearby, but... but..." Ranma sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You can't remember the name." Yoiko nodded sadly, snuggling the pig in her arms. "Would you happen to be looking for the 'Tendou Dojo', perhaps?" Yoiko's eyes brightened like supernovas. "Yes, That's it! Do you know where my oniichan is, Ranban?" "Bwee?" P-chan looked back and forth between the younger and older girl incredulously. "Ranma," the red-head corrected. "I think I might, but I'll need to talk to your piggy there for just a second before I take you to him." * * * "Why didn't you tell us you had a little sister, Ryouga-kun?" Akane asked in surprise. The fanged youth laughed nervously, holding a hand behind his head in embarrassment. "Ah... the last time I saw her, she was still in diapers," Ryouga admitted. Yoiko clung happily to the lost boy's leg, her arms and legs wrapped around him in a death grip. "But that was a long time ago, Oniichan!" Yoiko squealed. "I'm all grown up now!" Akane laughed as Ranma and Nabiki both rolled their eyes. Eight years old was hardly 'grown up', but Akane could see that the little girl was largely self-dependant. "So you looked for pig-boy here all over, right?" Ranma asked. "My oniichan is not a pig!" Yoiko protested. "But yes, when I got old enough I started tracking him down." Letting go Ryouga's knee with one hand, she pulled out a tattered map of Asia that had a red line drawn in a crazy pattern on it. "I had to question a lot of people, but I managed to follow him all over these islands here," she said, pointing at Japan and tracing the looping red path with her finger. "And then I went here to this big country, China," she read. "Uhh... China?" Ranma asked. "You followed him to... Wait a second," she said. She rushed into the kitchen and poured a cup of cold water. She stepped back out and poured it over Yoiko's head, careful not to get any on Ryouga. "Ranma!" Ryouga growled nervously. "What'd you do that for?" Yoiko asked angrily. "Just checking," Ranma said, breathing a sigh of relief. "You avoided Jusenkyou?" "What does Jusenkyou have to do with anything?" Akane asked. "That place with all the springs?" Yoiko asked. "Of course I avoided it! All the guide books go on and on about how dangerous it is and the nice man told me how to go around it when I got there." "You're a Hibiki and you managed to follow directions?" Nabiki asked incredulously. "I have a perfect sense of direction," Yoiko stated proudly, holding up her map. "I... I just can't remember the names of the places I'm going sometimes," she admitted. "Yup, she's Ryouga's sister, all right," Ranma noted, chuckling. "Stop picking on my oniichan, Rambo!" Yoiko threatened. "Now that I've found him, I'm never going to let him get away again!" she declared, snuggling her face happily into his leg. "Well, if you're going to stay around here," Kasumi said cheerfully, stepping into the room holding a bundle of Akane's old clothes. "We'll have to get you all cleaned up, won't we?" "A bath?" Yoiko asked in trepidation. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" she screamed, letting go of Ryouga's leg and hurtling away from Kasumi. "Fear of water must run in the family, huh, P-chan?" Ranma noted, watching the girl zoom down the hallway. "Shut up, Ranma." * * * Kasumi finally caught up with the little girl and dragged her kicking and screaming into the bathroom, where the sounds of aggravated scrubbing and washing warred with the sounds of the little girl's screams of terror as she was force-bathed. "That was scary," Ryouga noted quietly as he sat in the dojo next to Ranma with his arms folded across his chest. He shuddered as the occasional crashing sound from the bathroom filtered out to them "I'll say," Ranma noted. "Heh... You should have told me you had a little sister, Ryouga." "So you could have another member of the Hibiki family to torment? Not likely." "Oh, like I really torment you," Ranma sniped. "More often than not, it's you deciding that it's time for me to die, and me whippin' your ass for trying." "Something like that," Ryouga said, rolling his eyes. "If it wasn't for Akane, I'd show you your place, Ranma." "My place?" Ranma asked, her voice rising. "My place!? You're gonna show me *my* place? How about *your* place, bacon-butt? I'm getting pretty damn sick and tired of you sneaking into Akane's bed all the time." Ryouga grumbled into his folded arms. "What?" Ranma demanded angrily. "I said, that I tried to get away from her," Ryouga said weakly. "That part of my life is over now! I've been trying to avoid her ever since that disaster of a wedding. I was trying not to start a fight! The last thing I want to do is upset Akane!" "And you think that taking advantage of her is going to accomplish that? You think taking advantage of me is going to keep us from getting in a fight?!" Ranma yelled. "How long are you going KEEP using me and Akane to get your jollies, buta-hentai?" Ryouga's face was stricken, but the bestial anger that Ranma knew so well was rising from the bottom up. Ryouga began to snarl, his long canines sticking out at her. Ranma smiled back cooly at the boy. She realized she was picking a fight, but just couldn't seem to stop herself. All the rage and anger she had built up over his continuing deception seemed to be boiling over, and it felt good to let her feelings fly. "I DO NOT USE AKANE TO GET... do not use Akane to get my 'jollies', Ranma," Ryouga said, moderating his raised voice. "But you don't deny that you're taking advantage of the both of us," Ranma countered, folding her arms over her chest and glaring at the boy. "And you won't tell Akane the truth." Ryouga's jaw tightened until there were lines around it. He raised on clenched fist angrily at Ranma. "What are you doing to my oniichan, Ranger?" Yoiko's voice yelled as she ran into the dojo and placed herself protectively in between Ryouga and Ranma. Ranma's angry thoughts were thrown to the wind at the sight of the girl. She no longer looked quite so waif- like. Her wild hair had been cleaned and combed and her ragged, dirty clothes had been replaced with Akane's hand- me-downs. Ranma suspected that both girls were about equally rough on their clothing, but Akane had the benefit of Kasumi to mend her tears and rips. Ranma deflated somewhat. Ryouga did too, kneeling in front of his sister. "You look great, Yoiko-chan!" he said, wrapping his arms around the girl. "Katie took all my clothes away," she said sadly. "She said she didn't know if she could fix them all or not." "Well, they were pretty old and worn," Ryouga said. "If anyone can fix them, it'll be Kasumi," Ranma amended. "But mommy and daddy gave them to me!" Yoiko protested, sniffling. "Here," Ryouga said, taking a bandanna off his head. "This is something that Mother and Father gave to me when I was about your age." He attempted to tie it around her head like his, but couldn't quite figure out how to tie the knot backwards from what he was used to. Instead, he opted for tying the bandanna around her neck like a lady's scarf. It didn't match her green eyes or Akane's old sky-blue sweater and shorts set at all, but Ranma couldn't help but think that it suited her perfectly. "Wai! Wai! Oniichan gave me a present!" She shouted, dancing around the dojo. Ranma did her best to stifle a giggle, and tried to look away from the Hibikis and their matching bandannas. "I trust we're not interrupting," a voice called in from the doorway. Ranma and Ryouga both looked up to see Kasumi and Cologne. Cologne pogoed in on her long cane and peered curiously at the little girl. "Well, aren't you an interesting one?" Yoiko shied away from the old woman's attention, retreating into her brother's embrace. "A perfect sense of direction, you say?" she asked Kasumi. "She didn't get lost once while I was bathing her," Kasumi said. For the first time, both boys noticed that Kasumi had changed clothes and still had slightly damp hair. Ryouga shuddered at the thought of all the cold water involved. "Knowing this one," Cologne said, jabbing her cane in Ryouga's direction, "that's quite an accomplishment. Yes, yes, I can see some potential here. Have you ever studied martial arts, child?" she asked. "Ah, quit scarin' her ya' old ghoul," Ranma snapped as Yoiko cringed further into the folds of Ryouga's worn pants. Cologne cackled and hopped away from the girl. "She's quite gifted, Son-in-law. If you were smart, you'd start training her before I get the chance." Ranma blinked at the crone's statement. "It's not her I'm here to see, child," Cologne said. "It seems that I'm needed back in the village for a few days, so I won't be here to pull your chestnuts out of the fire." "As if I needed ya to," Ranma said. "Hahahaha! So overconfident! Well, if you run into a problem you can't solve due to your medical restrictions, go to this address. They'll help you there if you tell them who you are." Cologne handed a slip of paper to Ranma. The redhead glanced at it briefly, not recognizing the address. "Uh... Thanks," Ranma said. "I guess..." "Play nice," Cologne cautioned in a cackling tone. "I'll be back as soon as I can if you need me." "Stay away as long as you like!" Ranma said, waving. "Sayonara! Arrivederce! Bon Voyage!" * * * It was a little after three in the morning when the first knife blade embedded into the hardwood floor through the layers of Ranma's pillow, her futon, and the tatami mat underneath. The second knife-blade nicked her ear as it stuck. The third would have pierced her eye and driven itself into the back of her skull had she not leapt up and drove a vicious kick into her attacker's gut. Ranma felt her muscles burn and her joints ache as she blocked three weighted shot puts in half as many seconds. She cursed the medical restrictions that had left her out of shape and flipped back away from her assailant. Her blood ran cold as she saw the glint of thick, opaque spectacles in the darkness. Another glint, as off the blade of the knife, penetrated her senses. "Why are you doing this, Mousse?" she hissed, hoping and praying that her reflexes were still fast enough to keep any bladed weapons from penetrating her body. The Chinese youth tensed, drawing himself up in a defensive stance now that his advantage had run out. "I think that should be perfectly obvious, Ranma," he said in a low, dangerous tone. He lashed out with bladed dirks that embedded in the wall where Ranma had been standing. The pigtailed girl pushed off of the ceiling and spun her outstretched leg around to catch Mousse's chin with a stunning blow. Mousse rolled with the blow, and came back with a weighted chain. He began to spin the weight in a menacing manner. "With Cologne gone, there's no one who can protect you," Mousse said. "And if I kill you, Shampoo will finally be mine!" "Like I'm just gonna let you kill me," Ranma snapped back. She dodged the weight, and tried to grab the chain as it shot past her face, but bloodied her fingers on the sharp edges. "Ranma!" Nodoka shouted from the doorway, her hands raised to her face in horror. Ranma swore, realizing that both her family and the Tendou girls had been awakened. She was almost so distracted that she missed the bowling ball that Mousse hurled at her face. She gulped with the realization that he was trying to injure her head. "Damn it, Mousse! I thought you were more honorable than this!" she shouted angrily "Who are you to speak of honor, Saotome?" Mousse demanded, beginning to step up his attacks. Ranma found herself backed up, blocking or dodging everything he threw at her, but not able to find an opening to attack. She felt slow and leaden. Every nerve ending in her arms and legs seemed to be on fire. "You talk of honor, yet still you lead Shampoo on, keeping her away from me, her rightful groom!" Mousse shouted, driving blow after blow towards Ranma's head and face. He attacked with razor-sharp claws and spiked maces. Grimacing, Genma pushed past his wife, clenching his fists. He prepared to leap. "Stay outta this, Pops," Ranma said, crouching low and sweeping Mousse's feet out from under him. The hidden- weapons expert rolled with the fall and came up with hooked pike, but Ranma came up underneath him, and grabbed the pike. She used her leverage to rock Mousse off his feet and back out the window through which he had entered the room. "Your injuries still haven't had time to fully heal, Boy," Genma cautioned. "Yeah, but what am I gonna do?" Ranma asked in a casual tone, diving through the window herself. "Just let him kill me?" By the time Genma and the others reached the back yard, Ranma and Mousse were fully engaged. Ranma was dodging and lashing out with blows that were lightning-fast but still a shade slower than her usual attacks. Out in the open air, Mousse had unleashed more of his arsenal, including an array of spiked maces, razor-sharp blades, and training potties. Despite Ranma's speed, Mousse still seemed to be pushing her back. "He'll kill Ranma!" Akane screamed. "Mousse! Stop it!" "The boy's protecting his head," Soun noted emotionlessly. "Mm," Genma agreed. "He would have already won and been back in bed if he was going all out." Akane glanced back at the fight, and realized what her father said was true. Ranma was taking extra care to block blows that she would have otherwise ignored or simply dodged past. It was slowing her down, and it was going to cost her the fight. She heard Ranma yell out in pain and rage when she caught a blow from one of Mousse's sledge hammers across her arm. Akane couldn't help but think that Ranma would normally dance around it effortlessly. "Ranma, look out!" she screamed, seeing that the red-head was about to trip backwards over one of the stones near the koi pond. Ranma never saw the black and yellow blur catch her as she fell backwards. She did, however, feel the tight, muscular arm as it contracted around her waist. Ryouga perched next to the pond, Ranma in one arm, and a bucket in his other hand. He was wearing only boxer shorts and a resolute expression. A short distance away, Yoiko stood in the doorway of the dojo, wearing one of Akane's old night-gowns. In one clean motion, Ryouga swung the bucket low enough to scoop up water from the pond and send it spraying everywhere in front of him. "QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!" Mousse screamed angrily, the weapons he had been wielding falling uselessly to the ground as he changed. "Get out of here!" the lost boy commanded. Mousse began to flap away. Within the seconds, the duck was a spot in the sky. "Uh, you can let go of me now, Ryouga," Ranma suggested. Blushing slightly, Ryouga nodded and released her. He hopped down from the stone he had been standing on and nodded to his sister. Ranma couldn't help but notice how wet both she and Ryouga had gotten in his attack. It was a wonder that the lost boy hadn't changed already. Why was he acting so recklessly? She shuddered in the cool night air, still feeling warm on her back and her legs where she had been clutched to Ryouga's body. "Ragu," Yoiko asked. "Why was that guy trying to hurt you?" "Got no idea," Ranma said. "Actually, I got plenty ideas. He thinks I stole his girlfriend." "Why on earth would he think that?" the little girl asked, her face a mask of confusion. "Yes, Ranma," Akane asked in a cold tone, now that the fight was over. "Why would Mousse think that?" Ranma shook her head, trying to will her heart to stop pounding and her legs to stop trembling. "You didn't have to get involved, Ryouga," she said, changing the subject. Look at you, You almost... got wet," she finished lamely. Ryouga glanced down at his arm, which had taken a fair amount of splash in the fight. "Fine," the lost boy said in a disturbed tone of voice. "Next time, I won't save your ass." Ranma wasn't sure, but she thought she heard him stammer slightly as he spoke. "Hopefully, he won't attack Ranma again," Nodoka said, clutching her own nightgown in the coolness of the night. "I wouldn't count on it," Genma noted, picking up a folded letter from the ground, where Mousse had transformed. "Wonderful," Ranma griped, after reading the letter. "It's a formal challenge. He must have not been sure he could murder me in my sleep the first time." "Let's go back to bed, Yoiko-chan," Ryouga said, picking his sister up and holding her against his chest. For the rest of the night, Ranma couldn't help but remember the ferocious, yet haunted expression on Ryouga's as he turned away from her. * * * "You must accept the challenge," Genma said the next morning. His tone was deadly serious. "Well, I want to," Ranma said. "But..." She grimaced as she reread the challenge. Mousse wanted to meet her in unrestricted combat at Furinkan High school at noon. "You need to consider the consequences," Tofuu said. He came over just after dawn, right after Kasumi had phoned him about the fight. "What's more important to you? Your honor, or your life?" "You shouldn't even have to think about that question," Genma said. "A martial artist should be willing to sacrifice *everything*, Ranma." Ranma clenched her teeth. She tried to think back about what Makuna-sensei said about honor, but really couldn't find anything that applied. She thought that it was possible that Mousse was taking advantage of her sense of honor, but at the same time, she felt a drive to get back at the hidden weapons expert. She felt cheated by the fight last night, disturbed by its outcome. Worse, she wasn't really sure if that was what she wanted. She was out of shape and felt the need to start training as hard as she could for as long as she could. Tofuu was right in that respect. If she fought Mousse, she stood a very good chance of aggravating her injury, possibly maiming or killing herself. She would be damned before she would let Ryouga save her again, of all people! "As the heir to the Saotome School, you may not refuse a challenge, Ranma," Genma stated. "I know that you want to please the doctor, but--" "And I know you feel a duty to your family and to your school, Ranma," Tofuu said, cutting Genma off. "But I meant what I said. If you fight, I'll recommend that you be confined back to the head trauma ward, and I'll stop treating you. You know the kind of danger you're in right now just as well as I do." Ranma exhaled noisily. It was like she had a cartoon 'good angel' and 'bad angel' on her shoulders. If only she could tell which one was good or bad... "Unless you're willing to go all out, you cannot win, Ranma," Genma said. It was at that point that the paper shoji slid open in front of them. Yoiko led Ryouga through, holding his hand. For the first time, Ranma realized that the little girl was leading him around, acting as a surrogate sense of direction. "Oi," Ranma said in an amused tone, glancing at the pair. She was a little thankful that Ryouga was wearing his yellow tunic and dark canvas pants. She didn't want to think about the way his powerful muscles had felt against her body the night before. "There's another option you're not considering," Ryouga said after a few seconds, indicating that he had overheard much of the conversation. "Oh?" Genma asked. Tofuu pushed up his glasses and gestured for Ryouga to continue. "I could take up the challenge for Ranma," he said quietly. "WHAT?!" Ranma demanded angrily Tofuu nodded his head. "I would certainly prefer it if you would. Of course I would really rather this fight not take place, but if it does, then Ryouga is in much better condition to fight a duel than Ranma." Genma bit his lip in thought. "You'll have to formally join the school," he said to Ryouga after several seconds of intense. "But I believe it would be acceptable for one member of the school to answer a challenge for another member who is unable to answer. Ranma has often taken up challenges for me, and vice-versa." "Like when?" Ranma said. "God, I can't believe you are seriously considering this!" "Ritalin," Yoiko said, putting her tiny hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Oniichan doesn't want you to get hurt. It's because of your rivalry" she said, struggling with the last word. Ryouga blushed, his neutral expression becoming clouded with embarrassment. "I want to be the one to kill you," Ryouga said halfheartedly. "If Mousse does you in first, then I can't get my rightful vengeance." Yoiko smiled widely, showing her fangs. "Whatever," Ranma conceded in irritation, turning her nose up in the air. "You'll be lucky if Mousse don't kill you. He's been training, you know. Maybe if you kill each other, I'll be out two headaches." Yoiko stared at Ranma in horror, her happy expression melting like a snowflake. "You can beat that Muselix guy, right, Oniichan?" she asked. "Right?" "Yeah," Ryouga said. He didn't sound very convinced of his own words. * * * "The master really should be here," Genma noted. "Don't say that, Saotome," Soun said, crouched into a kneeling pose in the dojo. Ranma sighed in irritation as she leaned against the dojo wall. Genma would not be satisfied until Ryouga was 'formally' inducted into the school. Both she, Akane, Genma and Soun were present for the 'ceremony', which had so far involved Ryouga swearing to uphold the precepts of the school over a pair of panties. "This is a joke," Ranma grumbled. "Remember who founded the school, son," Soun explained. Ranma rolled her eyes. Akane elbowed her in the side and growled quietly. "Remember, Ryouga-kun," Genma said. "As a member of the school, you may not refuse a challenge. You must comport yourself honorably and truthfully--" "Like you know anything about truth and honor, old man" Ranma kibitzed. "Hush up, boy. You must defend the weak and those who can't defend themselves, Ryouga-kun." "I promise," Ryouga said. "So how come I never had to take this oath?" Ranma asked, somewhat more seriously after it was over. "You did," Genma said. "When you were little." "Oh, just like I promised to grow up to be a 'man among men', huh?" Genma cringed guiltily. * * * As the hour for the challenge approached, Ranma, Akane, Ryouga and Yoiko set out for the high school. Soun and Genma accompanied them to witness the fight. Tofuu also accompanied them, just in case someone needed medical treatment during or after the fight. Ranma grumbled angrily the whole time. She admitted to herself that she was really upset with the whole deal. Ryouga was *not* supposed to fight her battles for her, even if she was injured. Still, it was the best way that Ranma could see to satisfy both her honor as a martial artist *and* uphold the promises she made to obey her medical restrictions. That didn't mean it wasn't frustrating and demeaning. Ranma promised herself that she would humiliate Ryouga in brutal combat just as soon as Tofuu released her. She turned back to snarl at the lost boy, but saw that both he and his little sister were suddenly missing. "Lovely." "What?" Akane asked, turning around. "Ryouga-kun? Where did he go?" "Perfect time for the Hibiki sense of direction to kick in for Yoiko," Ranma noted. "Everyone in his family is a pain in the ass. You guys go on ahead, and I'll try to find him." "Hurry, Ranma," Genma urged. "If one of you isn't there by noon, you'll have to forfeit." "Not even if I can't find Ryouga," Ranma swore. She found Ryouga lost in a mud puddle near the school after only a few minutes of searching. He was covered in wet, sticky mud and looked miserable. "Bwee..." he grunted sadly. "You have any clue at all where your sister is?" Ranma asked, rolling her eyes. The little pig shook his head sadly. "C'mon. Let's get you cleaned up and dressed," she said. Carrying him by the bandanna around his neck, Ranma took the pig into the school and into the boy's locker room. It was Sunday, so no one was there. Ranma took him into the back of the room, where a row of shower stalls lined one wall. She turned the one furthest from the door on and tossed the pig underneath. "Thanks," Ryouga muttered after changing back. "No prob," Ranma replied, staring at the lost boy as he showered away the mud and grime. "Could you stop that?" Ryouga asked, blushing fiercely. "Stop what?" Ranma asked. "Staring at me like that," Ryouga said, gulping. "Why. We're both guys here, right?" "Ranma!" Ryouga growled. "Don't get your blood pressure up, Porkchop," Ranma said, tossing Ryouga a bar of soap. "I'm just trying to make sure you don't wander off again before the fight, okay?" "Sure," Ryouga grumbled. "Whatever." "So you really wanna fight Mousse for me, huh?" Ranma asked after turning away slightly. "Not really," Ryouga said. "It's like I said. I can't let him kill you when you're injured like this." "It's not so bad. I could take him, easy," Ranma disagreed. "Are you sure?" Ryouga asked. "Are you?" "No," Ryouga admitted, letting the hot water splash all around him. "I'm stronger than he is, but you're right. He's been training. Without you to fight with, I've gotten a little out of shape the past few weeks. I know that I can win, but... but... " He paused, glancing back at Ranma. "We've had fights before that could have gone all the way. I could have killed you." Ranma nodded, seriously. "Or I could have killed you," she said. "Well, I'm afraid that this fight is like that." "Are you afraid?" Ranma asked, no hint of accusation in her voice. "I don't want to kill Mousse," Ryouga answered. "He's annoying, sure, but he never really did anything to me. You... If I killed you in a duel it would be because of my curse... or for the way you treat Akane," he said without much conviction in his voice. "I don't have any reason to do that to Mousse, but I'm not sure I can win the fight without killing him." Ranma grimaced. It was the martial artist's dilemma. In a serious fight, if one was sufficiently skilled over his adversary, he could defeat his opponent with a minimum of injury to either party. In a serious fight between similarly skilled martial artists, it was another matter entirely, especially when neither party is willing to accept defeat. "You'll beat him," Ranma said in a low tone. "But--" "You *will* beat him," she said, in a tone that suggested that the alternative would not be pleasant for either one of them. "Hai." * * * By the time the two made it out to the field behind the school, Shampoo had arrived and was waiting for Ranma. "Husband no fight blind duck when head hurt, right?" the Chinese girl asked, concern in her voice. "Nope, Ryouga's going to," Ranma said, and began to explain how Ryouga was going to answer the challenge. A few minutes later, the blind duck in question walked onto the field. "Are you ready to die, Saotome?" Mousse asked. "Even if I was going to fight you, I'd kick your ass," Ranma retorted. "Because I'm feeling nice today, I'm gonna let Ryouga do it instead." "What?" Ryouga cracked his knuckles and stepped forward, an expression of grim determination on his face. "No, I'm here to fight Ranma," Mousse said. "I have no quarrel with you, Hibiki. My only interest is in winning Shampoo's heart, whatever it takes!" "Even if Mousse kill Ranma, Shampoo no love!" the amazon girl shouted from the sidelines. "Because Ranma is not fit to fight," Genma said cooly, "Ryouga has taken up the challenge. Will you forfeit the battle?" he asked the blind boy. Shampoo rolled her eyes. "Stupid Mousse too cowardly to fight lost boy. He lose for sure!" "You ain't helpin', Shampoo!" Ranma said in an exasperated tone. "Never!" Mousse shouted. "I'll prove myself, even if it means fighting Ryouga!" Ryouga exhaled and dropped into a defensive crouch. "Come get me." Mousse screamed and let fly with a coil of razor wire. Ryouga deflected the strike with a bandanna and thrust his outstretched finger into the ground. It erupted underneath Mousse, who had already leapt into the air to avoid the debris. He was still peppered with shrapnel - dirt, gravel, and the remnants of an old, empty water pipe. The fight was on before any present could blink. Ryouga darted forward and kicked at Mousse with a strike that could break rock, but Mousse knew who he was dealing with. He dodged, rather blocked the kick, even though it left him badly extended. He was faster than Ryouga, which allowed him to recover and dodge again before Ryouga could crush his skull with another well-placed kick. He retaliated with a circular saw blade thrown discus-style at Ryouga's midsection. Ryouga knocked the saw out of the air from above and used a bandanna to catch the blade of the katana Mousse tried to split him with. Ranma was shouting encouragement and instructions for Ryouga from the sidelines, but both combatants ignored her. Mousse leapt away, discarding his katana, but allowing a pair of metal claws to drop into place over his hands. He swiped at Ryouga twice, actually slicing Ryouga's tunic, but the lost boy danced back away from the attack. He punched at Mousse underneath the blades, but Mousse reacted by crossing them, threatening to slice into Ryouga's arm. Ryouga countered by turning and leveling a hard, fast kick at the blades that broke them off at their base. Mousse glanced grimly at the broken-off stubs, and discarded the claws. He tossed a large cannon-ball at Ryouga, who shattered it with another Bakusai Tenketsu. Mousse used the opportunity to pull out a bedpan. He managed to sneak in under Ryouga's guard and bashed the short-haired youth upside the head, and then pulled back and drove the pointed end into Ryouga's gut. Ryouga grunted, almost, but not quite losing his breath. He took advantage of the closeness between the two to rabbit punch Mousse's face. He struck three times, bloodying the nearsighted boy's nose and breaking his glasses. Mousse dropped the bedpan and staggered away, clutching at his face. He leapt back from Ryouga's next blow, tearing off the remnants of his glasses and replacing them with a spare pair. Covering his momentary retreat, he let a barrage of sharp, bladed shuriken fly at Ryouga. Ryouga ducked easily, grabbing the discarded bedpan, and sliding it along the ground. Mousse landed in it, and fell backwards. He rolled, kicked the bedpan back at Ryouga, who blocked it with a punch, and came to his feet with a pool cue. He used it like a staff as Ryouga attacked, blocking the blows the bandanna-clad martial artist directed at him. The last of Ryouga's blows snapped the cue in half, but Mousse took it in stride, tapping Ryouga with glancing blows on either side of his face and driving the blunt end of the cue into his chest, bruising Ryouga's ribs. Ryouga reached out and knocked the narrow end of the cue away, but Mousse grabbed the boy's wrist and used it as leverage to drive no fewer than five punishing knee blows into Ryouga's chin. Ryouga backed away, spitting blood, but no teeth. Mousse skipped back, landing lightly on his toes. He produced a fiberglass bow, and a steel tipped arrow, which he aimed at Ryouga. "Ryouga! Watch out!" Akane screamed as Mousse fired. Ryouga was almost fast enough to keep from being hit. As it was, the arrow grazed his leg, leaving a bloody gash. The second arrow stuck in his thigh, red blood welling all around it. "NO! RYOUGA!" Ranma screamed. Growling, Ryouga pulled the arrow out, letting the wound bleed. It didn't look as if an artery was cut, but the boy was still bleeding heavily. He directed a killing stare at Mousse. "That hurt, you know." "It will hurt a lot more before I defeat you," Mousse threatened. Tofuu grimaced and clamped his hand down on Ranma's shoulder. The girl was agitated, horrified by the wound Ryouga had received and eager to leap into to the fight. His anger and pain fueling his strength and speed, Ryouga leapt at Mousse, tearing the bow away from him before the Chinese boy could ready a third arrow and whipping the boy with the flexible shaft. It broke on the fourth strike, but Ryouga pulled back his fist and prepared to continue to rain down punishment on his enemy. Mousse blocked the blow with a pair of nunchaku and lashed the lost boy about the head and shoulders with his weapons. He kicked at Ryouga's leg, aiming for the wound he had just inflicted. Ryouga grabbed Mousse's ankle before he could strike, flipping him into the air. He paid for it, by being unable to block Mousse's kicks as he somersaulted. Letting the blows rain down on him, Ryouga roared and bulled his way through Mousse's defenses, and lifted the hidden-weapons expert off the ground with a brutal upper cut. Before Mousse could regain his balance and strike back, Ryouga drove two rights and a left into his face, blackening both his eyes and breaking his nose. "Sloppy," Genma noted with some distaste. "But effective," Soun commented. "The boy has amazing pain tolerance." Mousse replaced his glasses yet again, and started lashing out at the lost boy with everything he had, sending shot puts, chains, wire, rolls of toilet paper, and a cheese grater at Ryouga's face. He tried to use the confusion his storm created to catch Ryouga with a two-by-four with a bent nail in it, but Ryouga dodged cleanly around Mousse's desperate attack and slammed the board back in Mousse's face. The Chinese youth dropped the board as he staggered back. Bloody and wheezing, he fought to keep his footing. While buoyed up by his rage-fueled adrenalin trip, Ryouga wasn't in much better shape. The bleeding from his leg hadn't slowed, and he was growing pale, and starting to tremble. He crouched back into his original defensive stance, ready to end the fight one way or the other. Mousse attempted to produce another weapon, but came up with only a small stiletto dagger, about seven inches long. Grinning, he held it ready at his side. "Ryouga! He'll kill you!" Ranma screamed, struggling under Tofuu's grip. "Don't do it! NO!" Heedless of Ranma's concern, Ryouga dived in, his fists outstretched and his teeth clenched in a killing expression. Ranma, seeing what was about to happen, began to scream almost incoherently. Tofuu grabbed Ranma's wrist in a restraining hold as the redhead began to struggle to get free. Ryouga drove one punch into Mousse's ribs. A second punch was rewarded with a spray of blood and teeth from Mousse's jaw. "LET ME GO!" Ranma screamed, struggling to free herself. Mousse slid the dagger into Ryouga's left side, just above his waist. He kept his grip on it, pulling it back out when Ryouga's final punch drove him away and knocked him down. "RYOUGA!! NO!!" Ranma screamed, wrenching her arm in Tofuu's grip. Ryouga staggered, clutching at his side. Red blood began to pour through his fingers, staining his shirt. It began to mingle with the blood from the wounds on his leg. A sports car jumped the curb and drove through a gap in the chain link fence that separated the athletics field from the street. It took a straight bearing on the fight. His face and body battered and almost crushed in pain and exhaustion, Mousse began to try to work his way to his feet. The bloody dagger was still clenched firmly in his hand. Ryouga staggered, trying to keep standing. With one hand, he pressed on the wound, trying to stem the red flow. With the other, he reached down and picked up a palm-sized rock. He clenched his fist around it, and began to stagger towards Mousse. Ranma finally broke free of Tofuu's grip and launched herself across the yards that would take her in between Mousse and Ryouga. The car screeched to a stop near those anxiously observing the battle, kicking up turf. Yoiko was screaming in the passenger's seat. From the driver's seat, a red blur flew out and past Ranma. Ranma fell to the ground, unconscious, just before she reached Mousse. Mousse was next to fall, felled by the new combatant. Finally, the figure, a tall, Chinese red-head, stood before Ryouga. She tapped his neck near the base of his skull. "Oh no..." Shampoo mumbled, a blush rising on her cheeks. "Oniichan!" Yoiko screamed, scrambling out of the car and running to her brother's side. "Thank you," Ryouga whispered. He smiled, and dropped to his knees. The stone tumbled loosely to the ground, bouncing once in front of the lost boy. He fell face forward into the grass. Blood began to run freely from the wound in his side. ----- ~to be continued...