However, it can be said that a new state of equilibrium had been reached. Genma and Soun had purloined some of Nabiki's mystic materials to look for a cure to Genma's curse, then immediately forgot about them and played shogi for days on end.
Akane practiced alone, not letting Ranma near her. The girl's anger was toxic, but Nabiki and Ranma both felt undercurrents of uncertainty and confusion that assured it would be short lived. She agreed to maintain the "Ranko" deception in order to spare the family the disgrace of boarding such a pervert.
Kasumi was unchanged as always, keeping the house intact and bothering that silly doctor she had her eye on.
As for the engaged couple? Well, use your imagination. They were doing just fine.
Oh, she wasn't worried about the bets. She had enough to pay off any outcome and stood to gain a great deal of yen if Ranma won or lost, more if he lost. Much more. The Ice Queen was sated. No, this worry came deeper, from the place in her heart a cute redhead had carved for herself. "Hey," she said.
Ranma looked over and opened his mouth to respond when Nabiki shoved her tongue in his mouth. Nabiki smiled as a flicker of lust entered his emotional mix and pulled back. "Don't you dare lose," she said.
Ranma grinned as only he could. "Not a chance," he said, walking past students and to the field of battle.
Nabiki smiled warmly until she noticed the stunned expressions of those around her. It was nice to feel something that wasn't fear from the student body, even if it was bald-faced shock. She schooled her expression Ice Queen style and gave them a predatory grin. "The betting window is closed," she informed them. She looked to Ranma, smirking, as he utterly wrecked the odds tables.
No one had bet that he'd throw bread at Ryoga.
Especially not week-old bread.
Ryoga tossed the bread aside and grabbed his umbrella. "I attack!"
Ranma, hands still in his pockets, danced around Ryoga's umbrella with an open, innocent expression. "What's this about, then?"
Ryoga jumped to lunge. "Thanks to you, I have seen hell!!"
Akane looked over the umbrella critically. It didn't move quite right. Something odd was going on. "I don't think sempai would last past the fifth exchange," she muttered. "Ryoga is good."
"Words cannot convey the depths of my suffering!" Ryoga snapped, opening the umbrella and throwing it at Ranma.
The cursed boy spread his arms slightly for balance as he dodged back.
Ryoga smirked and lunged, ripping his bandanna from his head and slapping it at Ranma's wrist. In a heartbeat they were tied together. "This'll keep you from running again!"
Ranma cursed silently. That damn bandanna of his. Oh well, at least he only...has...one? Ranma casually parried Ryoga's punch and moved seemlessly into a high kick block. "Tell me something," he asked, staring at Ryoga's bandanna-wearing head. "How man bandannas are you wearing!?"
"You won't make light of this, Saotome!"
Oh damn, she thought. No wonder Ryoga isn't feeling frustrated! Images of Ranma breaking flooded her mind and the Ice Queen broke. "RANMA!" she yelled. "His strength is inhuman! Get away from him!"
Ranma's expression was not the innocent curiosity of a moment ago when he swung himself between Ryoga's legs and pulled the lost boy with him. With their hands bound and a kick to the head, Ryoga had no choice but to end up on his knees, pinned but for one hand, Ranma sitting on him. "What was that about too late?" Ranma chided.
Ryoga made an inarticulate roar. "You dare to push me!?" he spat out, pushing them both an easy two storied into the air with just the one arm.
Ranma said nothing as he easily spun Ryoga around and kicked him with enough force to shred the bandanna and send him flying. Ranma landed in a crouch and pounced after him.
Ryoga didn't see the student that screamed "INCOMING!" but he had no doubt that wherever he was going to land had been inhabited only recently. Indeed, as he plowed into the ground, the only people nearby were two girls, one with long blue hair, the other brown-haired, pageboy style. And there was his umbrella! He fended off Ranma's kicks and lunged for the weapon.
"Eat this!" the lost boy cried, slicing at Ranma. He barely dodged in time, getting in a nasty kick on Ryoga but losing his shirt.
"This was my favorite shirt!" he snarled.
"This is war! Don't act like a girl!"
Ryoga didn't register the pageboy-cut girl hang her head and mutter, "Here we go again," with a sweatdrop on her pretty head. He certainly didn't have that girl's empathic sense to feel the rage, shame, and pride streaming from Ranma.
"Who are you calling a girl!?" Ranma snapped. His next kick came fast enough that Ryoga jumped over the fence to avoid it.
Okay, that hit a nerve, Ryoga realized. Ranma had always been derisive towards girls, but this was...different.
"Well?" Ranma asked, bounding after the retreating Ryoga in a jump-kick. "Who are you calling a girl!?"
At which point Ranma's foot tore open a drinking fountain and the water line below it. Cold water geysered, Ryoga using his umbrella as a shield until he was clear of the spray.
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(Posted Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:55)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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