C&A Productions Presents
A Work of Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction
The Ties That Bind
Chapter 5: Ace in the Bokken
Written By Chris McNeil
Original Concept Provided by Robert Morrison
The morning sun fell through the window, bathing Ranma Saotome's face in
its dappled light. With a groan, he turned away from the glare and blinked his
eyes open. As he strained to focus through the spots blurring his vision, he
noticed the empty futon next to him. Panma was gone.
Sitting up, he rubbed the back of his head and looked around blearily, but
his brother was nowhere to be seen. "That's weird," he mumbled. Panma wasn't
much of an early riser.
After pulling on his shirt and pants, Ranma stumbled out of the bedroom.
On a hunch, he headed down the stairs and towards the practice hall, inhaling
with great appreciation as the smell of Kasumi's cooking wafted by him.
"Oh man, she's one heck of a cook," he thought, and then wondered if his
supposed fiancee Akane was as good. After a moment, he decided against it. A
tomboy like that probably thought cooking was too womanly or something.
As Ranma stepped into the dojo, his suspicions were confirmed as he spotted
Panma near the opposite wall, smashing away at a training dummy with an intense
look on his face. Immediately Ranma knew something was wrong, since Panma almost
never did training with dummies.
"Yo bro," he said cautiously. "Up awfully early, aren't you?" Panma
grunted and delivered one last strike to his target before turning to face him.
"What about it?" he growled. "SOME of us martial artists think there's
more to training than lounging in bed and stuffing our faces."
Suspicion confirmed. Panma wasn't the most cheerful of guys, but he didn't
normally say "hello" with a tongue-lashing, either. "What's wrong, bro?" Ranma
asked. "When you came home from meetin' Kunou last night, you looked like you
wanted to kill someone." At the mention of the name 'Kunou', Panma's fists
clenched and he turned an interesting shade of purple. Ranma backed away,
holding his hands up defensively. "Whoa now, I'm not the enemy here. Something
happened at that meeting, right?" Suddenly, Ranma's eyes widened. "He didn't -
beat- you, did he?"
With an obvious effort, Panma got himself at least partially under control
and barked out a short, sharp laugh. "I don't -think- so, dear brother. That
clown couldn't beat an egg. No, he's just a..." Panma looked away, and his
fists clenched again. "Never mind. It's not important."
Ranma opened his mouth to ask another question, but then he heard
Kasumi's's pleasant voice call "Breakfast is ready!" and all interest in the
subject of whatever had happened vanished. "Well, if you say so bro. Have
fun!" And with that, he ran out of the room and towards the kitchen, fast
enough that Panma was mildly surprised he didn't leave a dust cloud in his wake.
"You're Dad's son, all right," he muttered, shaking his head. Ranma and
Genma had had impromptu matches over who would get the most food for as long as
Panma could remember. He'd almost expect them to fight to the death over
dessert one day, if it weren't for the fact Genma was far too big a coward for
that.
Panma shrugged, turning back to the dummy. At least Ranma's gluttony had
spared him from having to explain what had happened the night before. Even as
his thoughts returned to it, Panma gritted his teeth and hit the training target
again. If he never saw Kunou again, it would be too soon. That lousy, stupid,
sickening, ego-bloated...suddenly he blinked as his hand met no resistance, and
looked down to see he'd punched a hole right through the dummy. He shook his
head, chastising himself. What kind of self-control was that? No matter what
had happened - still the memory made him steam - he needed more discipline.
"Well, better go grab some breakfast before Ranma and Dad take everything,"
he muttered. Kicking the damaged dummy back in the corner, he walked out
towards the kitchen.
********
Akane ran through the gate to Furinkan High School, fists coming up to meet
the first attackers...and stopped, gaping. After a moment, Ranma casually
strolled in behind her, and also blinked in surprise at the scene of carnage
before them.
What seemed like most of the male population of the school was strewn
across the grounds, some in positions that defied conventional wisdom about how
joints were supposed to bend, and all of whom appeared to be in extraordinary
pain.
"What happened here?" Akane gasped.
"Panma," Ranma shrugged, and then continued walking forward. Akane stared
after him. It was true Panma had left early that morning, saying he had to let
off a little steam, but she hadn't exactly expected THIS. Taking a closer look,
she recognized most of the boys as her usual attackers, and nearly smiled. It
seemed Nabiki's plan had some positive side effects.
As she hurried to enter the school, a boy with dark hair scurried out from
behind a nearby tree and approached her. At first she thought it was some idiot
who had escaped, but then recognized him as a boy who shared some of her
classes. "Daisuke, isn't it? What happened?"
"Uhh...hi," the boy said in return, looking nervously at her reflexively
raised fists, which she quickly lowered. Noticeably relieved, he continued,
"Umm...it was that new guy...his brother, isn't it?" he said, indicating Ranma,
who was examining some of the fallen forms ahead.
Akane suppressed another smile. It HAD been Panma. Things were working
out perfectly.
"Anyway," Daisuke continued, "we were coming in for class, and those guys
were gathering here like they...uhh...usually do, and suddenly that guy..umm..."
"Panma," Akane supplied.
"Right...that guy, Panma, walked in the front gate and just looked at all
of them. And then he said something like 'Haven't you idiots figured out that
when a woman says no, she means it?' and then, well..." He spread his hands.
Akane felt an uneasy queasiness in her gut at Daisuke's words. She crushed
it down, but found she suddenly didn't feel nearly as proud of the success of
her sister's plan. "Why are you still here?" she asked quickly.
"Well, I was with my friend Hiroshi. We both made a run for it when Panma
started pounding those guys, but he didn't quite make it." He indicated another
fallen form - which was moaning softly - on the ground nearby. "I'd been trying
to help him up, but when you guys showed up I wasn't sure what you'd do, so I
hid." He suddenly started as he realised who he was saying this to.
"Uhh...that is...what I meant..."
"Hey, that Kunou guy's not here!" Ranma exclaimed. Akane turned and walked
over to him, glad for an excuse to break off the conversation with Daisuke.
"What do you mean he's not here?"
Ranma waved his hand vaguely at the front grounds. "He ain't here. At
least, I don't see him."
Akane looked around. Indeed, if Kunou had been here to fight with Panma,
he was nowhere to be seen now. "Weird. He's usually one of the first to
arrive."
"Ahh, maybe Panma beat him up too bad last night."
"Maybe."
********
The day passed fairly quickly, with there only being one oddity, that of
the simultaneous absence of the majority of the school's boys. Not, Akane
thought, that that was something to be complained about.
This tally included Kunou, who Yuka and Sayuri confirmed as having not
arrived. They had also witnessed Panma's little demonstration, must to Akane's
discomfiture.
"Oh Akane, you should have seen it...it was GREAT!" Sayuri gushed at lunch.
"He just walks in the gate, folds his arms, says 'When a girl says no, she means
it' and..."
"I heard," Akane muttered.
"What a gentleman!" echoed Yuka enthusiastically. "None of that posturing
like Kunou-sempai. And he's good-looking! A little pretty, but I like them
that way." She giggled.
"Oh, I don't know," Sayuri said thoughtfully. "That other one - you know,
I heard they're brothers, is that true Akane? - he's pretty good-looking too.
Red is DEFINITELY my colour, and those muscles..."
"You couldn't afford to feed him," growled Akane, and stalked off...only to
find herself heading straight towards the table where the brothers sat.
Unwilling to change her direction suddenly, she continued forward with a mental
"baka!", and flushed as she heard giggles from behind.
The two seemed about to have a fight...again. Panma, holding Ranma by the
collar, was snarling something about his lunch, when suddenly, the two noticed
her.
"Hi Akane!" Ranma offered cheerfully, apparently unfazed by his brother's
displeasure. With a snort, Panma dropped him back in the chair and bent back to
his food, growling something vaguely resembling a greeting. Akane's flush
deepened, but then she squared her shoulders. No matter who or what Panma was,
she realised what she had to do.
"Thank you." Panma looked up sharply, and she swallowed and continued,
"For what you did this morning. I heard." She gave a stiff, shallow bow.
Panma stared for a moment, then sighed, some of the tension easing from
him. "Don't mention it. I needed to work off some irritation anyway." One
side of his mouth quirked up. "Actually, I doubt they'll bother you again,
since I made it rather clear that..."
"Hold, foul villain!" Everyone in the cafeteria turned and stared at the
door, where Kunou stood. At least, Akane -thought- it was Kunou, as the figure
was covered from head to toe in heavy bandages. The bandages raised a bokken,
confirming its identity, and continued, "I shall not allow you to continue
hounding the fair Akane so!"
Akane started to sigh, but then heard a low snarl beside her and looked
over in surprise. Panma, all traces of his momentary good humour evaporated,
was glaring at Kunou with an expression so dark Akane was surprised it didn't
peel the paint from the walls. His lips moved soundlessly for a moment, then
with a single motion, he rose to his feet, grabbed his chair and hurled
it at the kendoist. Students threw themselves out of the way, but Kunou merely
brought up his bokken and, with surprising speed given his condition, smashed
the projectile away. The two stared at each other for a moment.
"So," said Kunou finally. "I should have known. It is YOU who retains the
hold over my true love."
"Huh?" blinked Ranma. "His love? Nabiki?"
Panma's expression, if anything grew even darker, and his cheeks flushed
red. "You...you...you...FREAK!" he growled. "Didn't yesterday teach you
-anything-?"
"Indeed it did, foul sorcerer." Kunou raised his bokken and pointed it at
Panma. "It taught me that, as I suspected, it is you who holds my love's soul
hostage. Well know this...until the soul of my blonde-haired one is free, I,
Tatewaki Kunou, shall fight you to my last breath!"
"Blonde...haired.." repeated Ranma. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Bro, he
doesn't mean..."
With a roar of incoherent rage, Panma leaped forward, bouncing off the
table and towards Kunou. But before he could land, Ranma was also up and after
him, grabbing his brother's arm and jerking him to a halt.
"Not here, bro!" he hissed. Panma shifted his burning gaze to Ranma, and
for a moment Akane thought he'd attack his sibling, but abruptly he closed his
eyes, shuddered and seemed to pull himself at least nominally under control.
The eyes opened, colder and harder than steel, and focused on Ranma.
"Let me go," he said in a tone that brooked no argument, and Ranma
obediently released him and stepped back. Panma turned to Kunou. "So you want
your 'blonde-haired girl', do you?" he snarled, his voice clearly audible over
the suddenly-quiet room. "Well forget it, samurai-boy. She doesn't want to see
you. Get lost and find some other girl to bug."
"Fool!" retorted Kunou. "Did you truly think that I, the great Tatewaki
Kunou, would be frightened off by so feeble a threat? I challenge you to prove
who is more worthy of the blonde-haired one in glorious combat!"
"I gave him a chance," muttered Panma to Ranma, who reluctantly nodded.
Turning back, he raised his voice once more. "Fine, then! I'll fight you...on
Friday, in the baseball field. You'll be healed by then, so you'll have no
excuses when you lose!"
"Very well," responded the kendoist. "And when I emerge triumphant, you
shall release your hold upon the blonde one?" Panma nodded, once, his face
hard. Kunou chuckled. "Until Friday then, foul sorcerer."
Kunou turned and strode...well, more like waddled...out of the room. Panma
turned and leaped back over the table. Noting the absence of his chair, he
yanked one out from under a nearby student and threw himself down. Ranma sidled
down next to him, looking concerned, but decided prudently not to speak.
After a few minutes of brooding, Panma suddenly looked up at Akane,
serious, but with his earlier rage having diminished somewhat. "Don't worry,
Akane. When I'm through with Kunou, he'll be too scared to come near -any- of
us again."
Akane nearly flinched. Clearing her throat, she searched for something to
say. "Umm...well, just don't underestimate him. Kunou can be really tough when
he's fighting for real."
Panma snorted and turned away. "Not tough enough. Nothing could make him
tough enough right now."
********
Kunou lowered his bokken and stepped back, smiling in satisfaction as the
dummy - garbed in a distinctive vest - toppled backwards, punctured in dozens of
places. He permitted himself a small laugh. Save for a slight stiffness in his
muscles, all trace of his injuries had vanished. His peerless skills were
once more in top form, which ascertained his victory upon the morrow.
Resting his bokken on his shoulder, he pictured himself standing over the
accursed Panma's fallen body. From the crowd leaped the mysterious blonde-
haired girl who had captured his heart.
"Oh thank you, sempai!" she cried, running towards him, tears of joys
spilling down her cheeks. Kunou wanted to run to her as well, but he knew he
still had a duty, so he looked sternly to the side.
Ranma Saotome cringed back from Kunou's glare, terror evidence on his face.
"No!" he begged, falling to his knees. "Spare my life, great swordmaster!"
Kunou glanced at him with a haughty sneer. "Release your treacherous hold
over the fair Akane Tendo, vile sorcerer."
"No!" cried Ranma, this time in rage. "She is mine!" Kunou took a step
forward, and Ranma fell back in terror, groveling before him. "Very well, curse
you!"
Now Akane also broke from the crowd, her smile wide and beautiful. "Oh
Kunou-sempai, you saved my soul! You're so strong!"
The blonde-haired girl stopped, and her and Akane stared at each other for
a long moment. Finally, she spoke, "But now, which of us will you choose?"
"Yes," echoed Akane, "which of us is worthy of your magnificence?"
Kunou looked between both of them for a moment, but he couldn't choose.
The fiery and proud blonde-haired girl...the delicate and graceful Akane...both
were so dear to him that he could not bear to pick, knowing the torments he
consigned the unlucky loser to.
Suddenly, the solution came to him, as if by divine inspiration. Favouring
them both with a radiant smile, he spoke without hesitation: "Fair ones, let
there be no rancor between us. I would have you both!"
"YES!" the squealed as one, and resumed their running, each straining to
pull ahead and be the first to reach him. Kunou laughed uproariously and
stepped forward, arms outstretched to catch both of his true loves...
"OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!! Does your training always consist of such
amusing antics? Perhaps I should watch more often!"
His fantasy - no, prophecy - so rudely interrupted, Kunou turned and
scowled at the irritating newcomer. "So, my sister, what brings you here to so
uncouthly disturb my meditation?"
Kodachi was leaning against the wall, casually twirling one of her
gymnastics ribbons. Holding a hand to her mouth, she laughed again in that
irritating manner she had. "Is that what you call it, dear brother? Amusing.
And whom would this 'blonde-haired girl' you speak of in such rapt tones of
adoration be?"
"It is none of your concern."
"Finally given up on the Tendo girl? Ah, but I think not, as I'm certain I
heard her name mumbled as well."
Kunou was growing irritated at her chatter. "I said it was none of your
concern, woman. Must I repeat myself?"
"OHOHOHOHO! If I am not gravely mistaken, my dear brother, you just did
that." She smiled, but Kunou refused to rise to his sister's bait. Abruptly,
her expression shifted from amusement to curiousity. "And so, who is the young
man you intend to duel?"
"Spying again? Such a lowly occupation ill-befits a heir to the noble
house of Kunou, my sister."
She laughed again, setting Kunou's teeth on edge. "Now brother dear, if I
took it into my mind to spy, why -ever- would it be on such an uninteresting
target as yourself? No, before you ask, it is no sorcery either. Simply the
fact that you have been in here practicing for most of this week, added to those
injuries you took earlier and your sudden 'new love', the conclusion was fairly
simple."
Kunou nodded in reluctant acknowledgment. "It is as you say, my sister.
Tomorrow I meet with the forces of evil on the field of valour."
"And would the forces of evil have a name?"
Kunou sighed. Better to answer her questions, though, as then she might
depart and leave him to his training. "The cur's name is Panma Saotome, a vile
sorcerer who holds my beloved blonde one's heart in thrall. His brother Ranma I
also suspect of some evil hold on the fair Akane, but I shall settle with him
in due course."
Kodachi's lips pursed. "Saotome...I haven't heard of these ones before."
"Nay, they are but recent transfers to Furinkan...a condition which will,
of course, be rectified once I deal with them."
"Of course," purred Kodachi, smiling. "So, a mysterious sorcerer who has
you in such apprehension that you train every day, eh?"
"I have no apprehension of such a pitiful opponent. I was simply making
sure to work out all lingering effects of my regrettable injuries."
"And -who- gave you those injuries, I wonder...the pitiful opponent of whom
you fear nothing, or the girl who so obviously returns your love?" Kodachi
laughed again, but Kunou loftily ignored her. "In either case, I think this
match may be interesting. I believe I shall attend."
Kunou blinked. "Nay, my sister, I would advise against such a foolhardy
course. For with the presence of such vile and dishonourable sorcerers around,
you may not be safe. Who knows to what lengths they may sink to gain an
advantage over me?"
Kodachi smiled wickedly. "I can take care of myself, my dear brother.
Besides," she added with yet another laugh, "with you around what need I fear?"
"Nothing of course, yet still..."
"As I thought. Then I shall be there tomorrow to lend my support to your
glorious victory. OHOHOHOHOHOHO!" With that last, nerve-jangling laugh,
Kodachi strode out of his training area. Kunou sighed. The life of a samurai
was indeed fraught with many trials and hardships.
********
Panma finished the combination with a slashing snapkick. The dummy, now
headless and sporting holes in about two dozen vital areas, fell over with about
as much sound as he expected the real Kunou to make, which was to say no
discernible breathing, much less cries of pain. After staring down at the
battered training object for a moment, Panma smiled grimly and shot a savage
kick between its legs, sending the hapless dummy flipping into the wall.
"Don't you think you're going a bit overboard, bro?" came a voice. Without
hesitation, Panma turned and hurled a convenient barbell at his brother. Ranma
smoothly flipped out of the way and landed in a defensive position. "Oh, wanna
go for three-two-eight-six, huh?"
"Forget it," Panma snorted. "You fight me now and I won't be holding back.
I don't want to hurt you."
"Sure," replied Ranma, starting forward and rolling his eyes. "I've heard
it all before..."
Panma held up a hand to cut off his brother; when he spoke again, his voice
was quiet. "I mean it. It's pathetic, but I lost control a couple of times
earlier and a fight is NOT what I need now. Just need to calm myself with katas
and practice."
As he stepped to the wall and retrieved another dummy - the Tendo's were
going to need to buy some more after this week - Ranma sighed and sat down
crosslegged. "Aren't you even a bit over that yet? I mean, yeah, sure it sucks
that Kunou's such an idiot, but I mean, if you think about it, it's kinda
funny..."
"Funny? FUNNY!?" Panma whirled, eyes blazing. "You wouldn't think it was
so damn 'funny' if it was happening to you, brother! You can't possibly
imagine, possibly understand, how...how SICKENING it is to have that...-freak-
looking at me, giving me roses, saying..."
"Roses, yet?" said Ranma, grinning. "He really has it bad." Growling,
Panma hurled another barbell, which Ranma deftly dodged. "Hey, maybe you can
get a honeymoon in China and give him a BIG surprise."
Panma stared at him for a second, than started laughing despite himself.
Ranma laughed too, and silently breathed a sigh of relief...for a moment, he
thought Panma was going to go for his throat. His brother just took things too
seriously at times, always wanting to have things so, and so, just like he
planned. Throw him for a loop, and he tried to beat everything back into
shape, and usually got more and more irritated if it didn't work. Ranma
preferred a more easy, laid-back approach...if things didn't go as planned, he
just tried to see what was good about the current situation and go with the
flow.
Except for the fiancee thing. Ranma winced. NOTHING could possibly be
good about getting engaged to some psycho tomboy.
Panma shook his head with a final chuckle. "I don't know why I let you get
away with it. If anybody else said that to me, I'd rip their tongue out."
"Maybe 'cause I'm your brother?"
"Why should that entitle you to special treatment?"
"Hey, you've always treated me better than Pop!"
"I treat vermin better than father."
"That's probably because they smell nicer and eat less."
"Huh." Panma grunted and turned back to his dummy. Ranma hid a smile.
That was more like the old Panma. Now, maybe that Kunou guy would live through
the fight. Not that he'd likely ever thank Ranma for it, but hey, somebody had
to keep his little brother from crippling his schoolmates.
********
Nabiki casually walked towards the gymnasium. Although she looked to all
the world as if she was merely taking a casual stroll, in reality her sharp eyes
flicked back and forth, scanning the area. She smiled. Neither Ranma nor Panma
were to be seen.
From under a nearby tree, a red-haired girl quickly stood up and made her
way over., carrying a long, paper-wrapped bundle. "It arrived," she said in a
low voice.
"So I see. Nobody noticed it?"
The girl shook her head. "No, they were late for school today."
Nabiki nodded, smiling again. Probably the sudden rainshower this morning.
Even the weather was helping her out. "He's in there?"
"Yeah, training against the club. By the sounds of things, tho, he'll
probably be done soon."
Nabiki took the package from the girl. "Good work. I'll see you later."
The girl nodded her head and quickly ran off. Nabiki held the bundle and waited
patiently...as her classmate had predicted, it was not long before Kunou walked
out of the gymnasium, bokken over his shoulder and a sneer of triumph on his
face. From behind him, various groans of pain indicated that the Kendo club had
obviously gotten the worst of their training session. "Phase four," she
whispered softly, and then moved towards him, holding the package. "Kunou-
sempai!"
He looked over as he sensed her presence. "Eh? Nabiki Tendo? What
wouldst thou wish of me?"
"Well, sempai, I heard about the fight this afternoon. Of course you'll
win..."
Kunou nodded. "Naturally. Ah, so you have come to lend your support.
Most commendable. Let no fear intrude itself upon your maiden's heart, for know
that the fair Akane shall soon be freed from the vile clutches of Ranma, who
shall no doubt cower in fear once Panma has fallen before my might."
Nabiki stifled a snicker, barely holding the 'frightened supplicant' facade
up. Akane'd soon be free of Ranma's 'vile clutches' all right, but for a very
different reason than Kunou suspected. Looking up at him, she forced a small,
brave smile onto her face, then immediately looked serious. Time to go to
work. "Ah, but I heard of your horrible accident the other day..."
********
"Where IS he!?" growled Panma for approximately the fortieth time.
Ranma, sitting down cross-legged nearby, sighed. "Bro, you never gave a -
time- to meet. Why would he show up right when you did?"
Panma stopped his pacing back and forth for only as long as it took to
glare at his brother. "Bah! You'd think he'd be -anxious- to save his precious
'blonde-haired girl'!"
Ranma shrugged. "Maybe he chickened out?"
Panma snorted, flicking a glance at the stands of the field, which were
already beginning to fill with interested students. "After accepting a public
challenge like that? I can't imagine his ego would allow it, even if he had
enough brains to..."
"Yo bro, look sharp. Look like he's here."
Panma swung around and stared across the field as Kunou majestically strode
through the gate, bokken in hand. Their eyes met, and Panma's features relaxed
into a tight, dangerous grin. "At last..." he hissed, cracking his knuckles.
"Now, you overstuffed excuse for a martial artist, I'm going to make you
regret you ever laid eyes on your 'blond-haired girl'..."
********
Akane sat uncomfortably in the stands, watching Panma pace back and forth
with obvious impatience. Suddenly, she started as someone sat next to her
without so much as a word of greeting. Turning, she prepared to deliver a
blistering diatribe to whatever scumball male had tried to take advantage of her
sitting by herself...
"So here's where you were. I expected you to be with your friends."
Akane blinked in surprise. "Oneesan?"
Nabiki glanced at her, amusement evident in her eyes. "Of course. A
little edgy, aren't we?"
Akane flushed slightly. It was true that now that the fight was very near,
she was nervous, but... "Did you do what you were going to do? What WERE you
going to do, anyway? I mean, Kunou-sempai may be good, but compared to those
two, I don't think..."
Nabiki cut her off with a wave of the hand. "Don't worry about it, Akane-
chan...I took care of everything."
"If you say so..."
"I do." Nabiki glanced over at the field. "Ah, and speaking of Kunou-
chan, here he comes now."
Following her gaze, Akane saw Kunou enter the field. As he walked toward
the centre, Ranma flipped a "v"-sign to Panma - which his brother apparently
ignored - and walked off. Jumping over the fence, he looked around, spotted the
two sisters, and headed over. Akane nearly growled in frustration. "That baka
is coming over here!"
Without quite looking at her, Nabiki spoke softly. "Just act normal."
Akane sighed, swallowing her nervousness, as Ranma reached them and threw
himself down in the seat next to Nabiki. "Come to watch, huh?" he said
cheerfully. "Don't know why everybody bothered...it's not like this'll take
long."
"I'm sure your brother is grateful for your confidence in him," Nabiki
stated dryly.
"Ahh, it don't take confidence. I mean, Kunou's about as much of a match
for my bro as...hmm...well, you, Akane! No offence, but you know what I mean,
right?" Ranma laughed good-naturedly as Akane seethed. That settled it. As
soon as she got home, she was going to ask Dad to do some serious training with
her, and then she was going to show this loud-mouthed BOY a thing or...
"Excuse me, sir..."
Her thoughts of revenge interrupted, Akane looked up to see Ranma staring
at a girl she did not recognize. This girl wore a strange uniform and was
carrying a small backpack, apparently having just come here from her own
school...wherever that was. Her black hair was styled and curled, and a long
ponytail fell slightly off to one side. Her dark brown eyes gazed out from
beneath long lashes, and she wore a smile that seemed strangely unsettling.
"Who are you?" asked Ranma, unknowingly echoing Akane's thoughts.
"Would you be, by any chance, Ranma Saotome?" she asked, apparently
ignoring the question.
Ranma blinked. "Uhh...yeah, I guess..."
"Excellent." And without further explanation, the girl sat down next to
Ranma. Akane blinked and looked at her sister, but Nabiki was already
scrutinizing the girl with hard eyes. She gave a single, small shake of her
head. Whomever this girl was, she was not part of Nabiki's plan. Yet she
somehow knew Ranma...
"My, I believe the match is starting already," exclaimed the girl. "I'm
-so- glad I arrived in time." With a sweet, disturbingly false smile at the two
girls, the girl turned forward and watched with apparent interest.
Confused, Akane turned forward as well, then mentally shrugged and
dismissed the girl, at least for the moment. Whoever she was, Nabiki seemed
speculative, not angry, so she could not disrupt whatever Nabiki had planned.
********
Panma flexed his fingers in anticipation, the satisfying cracks and pops a
miniaturized preview of what was to come. With a smirk, his eyes locked with
those of his opponent, but the unsettling power of his gaze failed to achieve
any obvious effect on Kunou. No doubt the kendoist's skull was too thick for
him to notice.
"I have come as requested, Panma Saotome. If you wish to surrender now, I
generously grant you the opportunity."
"Thanks, but I don't think so," Panma responded, smile widening even
farther. He did not bother extending a similar offer to Kunou. After all,
there was always the remote chance some brain cells might wake up and he'd
accept, and Panma most certainly didn't want to lose this opportunity.
Kunou smirked to match his rival, raising his bokken. "Very well. Then
have at thee!" He rushed forward, thrusting his weapon.
Panma waited until the bokken had all but touched him, than smoothly
sidestepped, letting Kunou fly past him. Then he extended a single foot,
allowing the overextended kendoist to crash into it and fly face-first into
first base.
"Why Kunou," he sneered, "it seems you've missed. Care to try again?"
Clearly angry, Kunou leaped to his feet and aimed a downward slash at
Panma, who calmly moved aside. Kunou reversed the swing into a sweep, but Panma
has already backed out of range, and it missed as well. Furious, he launched a
blistering series of attacks, all of which his opponent calmly sidestepped and
dodged, all the while wearing a mocking smirk. The bokken didn't disturb
a single hair. As a last thrust missed, Panma chuckled. "I thought we were
here to fight, not dance."
Kunou's eyes narrowed, and he feinted another thrust, then slashed
downwards. This time, Panma did not even bother to dodge. Instead, he merely
shifted his weight and slashed his foot up to strike the descending bokken.
Now, the fun would really start...
********
Nabiki watched Panma prepare to snap the bokken with a small smile. Her
suspicions had been proved correct...he had not been able to resist the chance
to match his brother. And for that foolish competitiveness, he had fallen right
into Nabiki's trap. "Phase five," she whispered softly, feeling a surge of
exultation. Soon, very soon, she would never have to worry about fiancees
again.
********
There was loud crack as Panma's ankle connected with the bokken and a
sharp, stabbing bolt of pain shot up his leg. His eyes widened in disbelief,
and then he staggered back, almost crying out as a bit of weight fell on the
injured leg. It was impossible. Ranma had snapped the weapon with ease. There
was no way he could have failed to...
Panma's thoughts dissolved into a blur of pain as the bokken caught him in
the pit of the stomach, the force of the blow lifting him up and tossing him
backward. He rolled as he hit the floor, wary of his ankle, and slid up to
stand on one leg, flamingo-style. Almost instantly Kunou was there with a high
slash, which he ducked and countered with a punch of his own, but although the
strike hit cleanly, his one legged posture didn't allow him enough power to do
much damage. The kendoist, with a grunt, reversed and thrust downward with the
backswing. However, Panma was already gone, a piston-like pump of his remaining
leg driving him up and back. Landing several metres away, he swung up into a
tiger stance, balancing on his good leg.
Kunou smirked, the pleasure in his grin evoking anger in every fibre of
Panma's being. "So, thought to destroy my blade, cur? Fool. You shall find no
flaws in -this- weapon." Bringing his bokken into an attack position, his smile
widened still further. "Now, I shall put an end to your evil, and rescue my
fair blonde-haired one!"
Panma scowled, acutely aware of the throbbing pain running up and down his
leg. Definitely sprained badly, maybe fractured. Well perhaps this wasn't
going to be as much of a cakewalk as he'd expected. He shifted up to look his
opponent in the eye, flexing his fingers in anticipation. "Alright, samurai-
boy," he growled, "let's settle this."
********
In the stands, Ranma watched his brother with shock. "No way!" he
exclaimed. "Panma shoulda broke that, easy! Don't you remember at the school,
Akane, when I...hey Akane, you okay?"
Akane, pale, swallowed hard before answering. "Uh...sure," she lied.
"Just a little...surprised." She flicked a nervous glance over at Nabiki, but
her sister ignored her, to all appearances watching the fight with interest.
Ranma apparently didn't notice. "No kidding! That sneaky little Kunou
jerk musta put something in the bokken...a metal core, or something. I can't
believe he'd be that smart."
"OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!" Everybody - including Nabiki and a fair portion of
the audience - looked over at the strange girl sitting beside Ranma. The girl
finished cackling and smirked at the martial artist. "Smart? My dear boy, you
terribly overestimate my brother. He would no sooner think to strengthen his
'invincible' weaponry than to consider the possibility he might be beaten."
"BROTHER!?"
"Why yes. Allow me to introduce myself." Looking demure, the girl arose
from her seat. "I am the beautiful flower of St. Bacchus's school for girls,
rising star of the high school martial arts rhythmic gymnastics world. The one
known as Kodachi Kunou, the Black Rose. I have to come to observe my dear
brother in his much-anticipated match." She sat down again and resumed watching
the battle, a small smile on her lips.
Akane stared at her. "Kunou's sister...?"
"With a speech like that," Nabiki said in a low, amused tone, "I can
believe it."
********
Panma hurled himself backward, sensing more than feeling the bokken whistle
by his good leg. Flipping, he landed in ready position, swearing under his
breath. Much as he hated to admit it, he was having serious problems in this
fight. His useless leg reduced his speed drastically, and without it he was
forced to spend so much effort dodging Kunou's deadly swings that he had no
chance to launch his own counterattack.
The samurai wannabe himself obviously sensed this as well, as instead of
pressing the attack he held back a moment, an annoyingly smug grin plastered on
his features. "So, Panma Saotome," he sneered, "I see you do not fare well in
this battle. Why do you not attack? Surely even such an unworthy opponent as
yourself knows that offence is necessary for victory."
Panma saw red. Bad enough for him to be humiliated here - and after
Ranma's easy victory, yet! - but he would rot in hell before he let this
lecherous, posturing little no-talent -slime- taunt him. As Kunou charged
forward once more, Panma sprang into action. Instead of awaiting the attack, he
lunged into it, and as the startled kendoist hastily swiped to keep him back,
Panma saw his chance. Grabbing the descending bokken, he used the leverage to
flip himself over it, and allowed his dangling feet to slam into the side of
Kunou's head with his momentum.
Pain, white-hot and furious, exploded through him, but with a herculean
effort he shoved it down and continued the movement, landing in a crouch on his
good leg and spinning, cutting out Kunou's feet from under him. As his injured
ankle connected once more, the pain nearly made him gag. He cursed his fortune.
It was definitely a fracture, and putting any more strain on it in this battle
ran the rusk of splintering it completely.
He arose, teeth gritted against the lingering agony, and noted Kunou also
standing a few feet away. Not even a moment's respite, it seemed. Well, he
would have to deal with it, somehow. He steeled himself for the attack to
come...there was no question of following up himself at the moment.
Kunou, the beginnings of a bruise on his temple clearly showing, scowled.
"So, Saotome, it appears there is yet fight left within you." He again raised
his bokken; Panma squinted at it, trying to gauge the attack to come. A high
stance, as if posed to thrust...but that was ridiculous. The distance was too
great; if Panma dodged Kunou would leave himself wide open. To telegraph a
suicide strike so was insane even for him... "If you shall not acknowledge your
betters," the kendoist shouted, "then you shall fall, by the will of the gods!"
And with that he lunged forward, his bokken thrusting...and then it was back,
and thrusting again...and again...and again...
Panma, mystified, prepared to sidestep the coming attack, but then
something unseen slammed into his shoulder, throwing off his movement. He gazed
at it in blank disbelief for a moment, before realizing what had struck him.
Air. Kunou's attack was furious and fast enough that the very air pressure
caused by his strikes was a weapon.
He had only a moment to contemplate how deadly the strikes themselves must
be if they could produce such powerful pressure before they reached him, and
then all was pain and dust and flashing blades...
********
"PANMA!" cried Ranma in horror, leaping to his feet. On the field, the
beleaguered Saotome twin had all but disappeared in a blurring mass of Kunou's
attacks, the kendoist's battle cry of "DADADADADADADA..." clearly audible. He
began to run forward, obviously intent on saving his brother from serious harm.
Akane noticed this, just as she noticed she too had leaped to her feet, a
cry of horror erupting almost involuntarily from her own lips. With only a
momentarily, half-ashamed glance at her sister, she followed her reluctant
fiancee down. No matter how much she didn't want him, this wasn't worth it.
Panma, out there, could be seriously hurt by Kunou at any second, even...she
didn't even what to think of it.
And what was worse was the certainty, burning through her mind, that if
anything permanent happened, it would be HER fault. If only she hadn't followed
Nabiki blindly, if she had found out what she planned...she put the thoughts out
of her mind. Right now, she had to try and make up for some of the damage she
had helped cause.
Behind the two, still sitting on the bench, Kodachi calmly continued to
watch. This match had truly been worth attending. The boy - Panma - was
a...remarkable warrior. Despite his injury, he had resisted her doltish
brother's attacks with an almost astonishing tenacity. She smiled ferally as
she saw her brother forced to resort to his most powerful technique. It would
be a true shame if the other Saotome and the girl interrupted this little battle
before it had run its course...
********
Pain. Panma breathed pain, sensed it, felt it, WAS it. It seemed his body
had become overloaded, lost its ability to distinguish any other sensation. All
that was still clear was the pain, a thousand burning lines across his body
where even the slightest touch of Kunou's bokken had landed. So far he had
avoided being struck directly by the attack, but that couldn't last long. Even
now, his dodges were more conditioned reflex than conscious thought, and the
temptation was great to leave the pain behind, slip silently into the cool
darkness...
"PANMA!"
A...voice? Calling him here? It sounded familiar...his brother. Yes, his
brother. He was watching this, wasn't he? He felt a small surge of dark
amusement. Ranma was probably horrified to see his defeat. He'd no doubt be
rushing down towards him, right this moment, rushing to save him...
And as he realised this, Panma suddenly felt rage. Somewhere in the depths
of his soul, in the parts hidden even to himself, something awoke at the
thought, and Panma felt the surge of anger, of humiliation, snapping him back to
awareness. And as he did so, one thought burned in his brain above all
others...he would not lay back and let Ranma save him. Not now, not ever.
Panma ducked, feeling the thrust whistle over his head that he didn't even
see coming, the thrust that should have caught him full in the chest. Without
hesitation he took advantage of the opening, his good leg propelling him up,
back...before he even realised what he had done, he felt his heel lodge firmly
in the chain link fence behind the batter's plate. With a flash of insight, he
saw the subconscious reason he had leaped here. And in that realisation, he
also saw victory.
Panma leaped again, this time forward, but he continued to rise even so, so
that the figures below shrank into insignificance, little insects scuttling in
all directions. He paid them no mind, his eyes focusing on the one, the only
one, that mattered right now...
"KUNOU!" he roared, as his momentum stalled and he began to hurtle towards
his target, "THIS IS THE END!"
As he plummeted, picking up speed, he became acutely aware of his injuries.
His ankle was on fire, a particularly deep slice in his side made breathing
difficult, a thousand welts and cuts stung in the hissing air, attempting to
distract his concentration. He dismissed them from his mind, pouring all his
remaining reserves of energy into concentrating on his opponent. He would not
allow his body to quit now. In a moment, only a moment, when it wouldn't matter
anymore...
He could see Kunou clearly now, see the beads of sweat on his brow from the
exertion of the attack, see him shade his eyes against the blazing afternoon
sky, see those same eyes widen as he saw the figure plummeting towards him, see
him whip his bokken up, intending to skewer him upon it like a shish kabob...and
as he did so, Panma launched his own punch.
And hit the ground, pain exploding through him once more as his battered
body protested this treatment. He lay still for what seemed a long moment,
energy drained, feeling as though all his skin was throbbing, pulsing in time
with his heartbeat. But it wasn't over yet; he couldn't have the luxury of rest
yet. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, he pulled his arms underneath him, pushing
himself up. He slid the knee of his good leg underneath his body to brace
himself, and then paused a moment. Despite the seeming length of his
immobility, he realised it had only been a few seconds as he heard the heavy
thud of something striking the ground. He didn't look to see if it was Kunou.
He didn't have to.
As Panma finally rose to his full height, Ranma was there, supporting him,
his plain, open face clearly excited. "You did it, bro!" he enthused. "You
beat him!"
Panma's lips twisted into a smirk. Of course he had beaten Kunou. He
opened his mouth to chastise his brother for having doubts, and then noticed
with a start that his pain was gone. Only a dull ache seemed to be left to
remind him of the many wounds he had felt a moment ago. He looked down to
ensure that they were indeed still there, but his gaze oddly seemed to continue,
falling down, down, and dragging him with it, until he had fallen completely
into the cool, peaceful darkness...
********
"Hmmm," said the doctor, examining Panma's wounds. "He's certainly taken a
beating, but he should be alright if he stays off that leg for a little while."
Ranma watched him carefully. Dr. Ono Tofu was a young man in about his
mid-twenties with an open, friendly face. He dressed simply in a dark gi and
had glasses, which only added to the air of boyishness about him. Honestly, he
didn't look like much, but Akane swore he was the best doctor around, and the
way he looked over Panma seemed professional enough.
Tofu glanced over Panma again, and then poked a few spots on his injured
leg and abdomen. "That should help reduce the swelling and pain, so he can rest
easier." Bustling off to a cabinet, he removed a few bottles and rolls of
bandages. "You...what was your name again?"
"Ranma."
"Well, Ranma, you should help him around for a week or so. He shouldn't
put too much strain on that leg, and definitely not doing any martial arts. Can
you keep an eye on him?"
"Yes, sir." Ranma almost winced at the thought of trying to tell his
brother that he couldn't train. Panma was not going to be terribly pleasant to
live with for the next little while...
********
Akane nearly jumped out of her seat as Ranma came out of Dr. Tofu's office,
but felt a pang of fear as she realised he was alone. "Is he..."
Ranma grinned wryly. "Ah, he'll be fine, but the doc wants him to get some
rest, so he'll be staying here tonight. No school tomorrow anyway, so he should
be fine."
Akane sighed in relief. "How's his leg?"
This time, Ranma grimaced. "Not great. He'll have to stay off it for
about a week, so no martial arts practice."
"He won't like that." Both Akane and Ranma looked over in surprise as
Nabiki rose from her chair, her expression carefully blank. She shouldered her
schoolbag. "But there's nothing to do right now. We'd better go, or we'll miss
dinner."
"I suppose you're right," Akane replied. Ranma nodded as well, although
not perking up nearly as much at the mention of dinner as usual. In fact, he
was looking at Nabiki, his expression was nearly as unreadable as hers.
"Yeah," he said after a moment, "let's go."
********
Nabiki sat in her room, gazing pensively out the window. She was not sure
things could have turned out worse. Panma had won the fight. She -had- planned
for that circumstance, but the plans were based on the off chance that he didn't
fall for her trap. Of course, he hadn't evaded it; the fool would never let
his brother one-up him without some effort to get even. But it had never
occurred to her that he might win despite his injury. And that the injuries
would be bad enough to prevent him from training for a week, leaving him inside
the house...and angry. Both conditions that she would have avoided, given a
choice.
She mentally deconstructed the plan. The failure was, admittedly, not
Kunou's fault...he had given a command performance out there. He was winning
for most of the fight, right until Panma's last attack. Kunou's only real
problem was with endurance. And a bit of stupidity in taunting Panma rather
than finishing him off, but she had been expecting that.
Speaking of stupid...she saw Ranma leap into the tree outside, standing on
a branch only a foot or two from the window. "You're blocking the view," she
said cooly.
Ranma shook his head, ignoring her statement "I don't get it. He's not any
happier about this than you are, you know. Why'd ya do it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, right." Ranma's snort wasn't exactly scornful, nor was it
condescending. Simple disbelief. "You better hope that Panma doesn't ask where
Kunou managed to get that bokken. Not that I think he will; he'll just assume
that Kunou knew he was screwed without it. But he might."
Nabiki's eyes narrowed. He might be more observant than she'd given him
credit for. "What's your point?"
"Nothin'. Just telling ya, if he found out, he'd be pissed. Really
pissed. A lot more pissed than he was at Kunou...well, maybe not. But he'd
still break your arms."
Nabiki opened her mouth to speak, worked her jaw a couple of times, and
managed to croak out, "...my arms?"
"Well, your legs, probably. I'm not picky like he is. Just thought you'd
want to know." Ranma fell backwards off the branch, turning a complete flip
before touching down.
Oh, joy. Ranma was obviously a lousy liar...and that meant he wasn't
lying; he really thought that Panma would break her legs if he found out. Or
her arms. Nabiki felt herself reassessing the risks and rewards of her current
plan of action. She had all of three seconds to start this before a knock
sounded at her door, and Akane walked in without waiting for a response.
"I can't believe you, Nabiki! What were you..."
Nabiki motioned for Akane to close the door. "Not so loud, sis."
Akane's face was a mixture of surprise and shock, with a good dash of angry
thrown in as well. "I don't mind trying to get rid of them, but that doesn't
mean I wanted to...to..."
"To 'get rid' of them?"
"No! I mean yes! He could have been killed out there!"
"Now, you're exaggerating things. Kunou-chan couldn't kill anybody."
Nabiki hadn't really thought about that aspect of things. Kunou could quite
easily kill a student with his bokken, if some yet-intact portion of his sanity
gave way, but she couldn't see it happening. It would be as likely as...it
would be very unlikely.
"Did he know that? Are you going to go back there and finish him off, now?
How about Ranma, does he have to die too?"
Nabiki's face hardened. "That's not fair. I didn't do anything to Panma."
"You mean besides setting him up? Didn't want to get your hands dirty,
huh? Well, you can go find another set of tools. I'm out!" Akane huffed,
spun, and left the room, slamming the door behind her hard enough to knock a
picture off of the wall.
Okay, NOW she was sure that things couldn't have turned out worse. It had
failed so miserably that even Akane and Ranma managed to agree on something.
She'd have to take an entirely new approach to things, it seemed. Nothing
overt; they'd be looking for that, and Nabiki didn't relish the thought of
spending a few months in traction. A new approach indeed...
********
In another part of Japan, far, far, away, a boy stood on a beach. He was
not there to contemplate existence, nor to simply enjoy the beauty of the ocean.
He was not even there for training, and he most certainly wasn't there for
anything romantic. No, there was only one, glaring, overriding reason this boy
was standing upon the beach.
He was completely, utterly, and totally lost.
With a muttered curse, the boy looked around suspiciously, as if the beach
and ocean were just a big trick, an elaborate movie set that would any moment be
whisked away to reveal his destination. "This is NOT Tokyo," he said, his
rather obvious statement carrying over the crashing waves. He looked down at
the map clutched in his hands. "I was sure it'd be here..." he muttered, "I
just must've made a wrong turn somewhere. I'll retrace my steps."
The boy looked up with steely determination. And then his eyes widened as
he saw the gigantic wave falling towards him like a toppling wall. There was no
time to run, no chance to dodge. The boy's face drew back in horror...and then
anger.
"DAMN YOU, RANMA SAOTOME!" he cried, and then the wave crashed down...
To Be Continued...
Author's notes: Well, that's it. Part five is finally done, and
now my baby's diverged enough from the manga that I feel safe to
release it. As always, all comments and criticisms are welcome!
Send them to kumonryuu@hotmail.com, SVP.
Special thanks to Andy Kent (Avatar) for help with the last
Nabiki scene.
