Contact me at: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: I tried to claim these characters as my own, but Takahashi had Ranma challenge me. So, we fought in an Anything-Goes-Martial-Arts Toenail clipping contest. I won the first time, but Ranma trained, learned a new technique and beat me on the rematch. Don't ask what the new technique was. Enjoy. Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 5 Ukyo gradually became aware of her surroundings. She was on her back in a soft bed and someone was holding her hand. "She moved!" Ukyo slowly opened her eyes. "Ranchan?" she asked hoarsely. Her hand was squeezed gently. "I'm here, Ucchan," replied Ranma. "And Akane's here, too." She felt someone else take her other hand, and it was Akane's voice that spoke. "How're you feeling?" Ukyo groaned. "Like I've been through a blender." She looked around, fear pangs in her gut. "Where's Kenji-san? Did you save him?" Ranma nodded. "He went on a trip to find his past. We have a week off of school, so hopefully he'll be back next week." Ukyo thought, despairingly. "Nabiki has been keeping Ucchan's up," Akane said, changing the subject. "She hired a few people to keep it running, and all of us have chipped in to help at one time or another." Ukyo blinked. "How long have I been out of action?" Ranma and Akane looked at each other, then Akane said to her, "This may be a shock, but you've been in a coma for the past nine days." Ukyo sighed. "I guess it can't be helped." A few moments of silence passed. "Ucchan, you've been through a lot," Ranma said finally. "You should get some rest. We'll talk more later, okay?" "Sure Ranchan, and thanks. You too, Akane-chan." She closed her eyes as the couple left the room. For the first time in a long while, she could finally have a nice, long, and most important, peaceful rest, and she was looking forward to it. After the hospital, the two visitors slowly walked back home in silence. Ranma was on the fence as usual, while Akane kept to the street. Both were lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Akane looked up at Ranma. "What are you thinking about, Ranma?" Ranma looked startled. "Uh, nothing." "Ranma, you know you don't have a very good poker face." Her expression softened. "Tell me about it? Please?" He sighed, but leapt down to the ground, next to her. "I was just thinkin', in all our adventures, we've never gotten hurt as bad that last time when we went to save Kenji." He stopped, seemingly searching for words. "I mean, Ukyo was in a coma! At Jusendo you..." He cut off. "I almost died, I know," Akane said softly, finishing the thought that he couldn't. She tried to smile at him. "But you saved me." "But I almost didn't," Ranma said glumly. "And Ucchan almost died. It just seems that these things are gettin' more and more dangerous since Mt. Phoenix. And," he continued in a quieter voice, "I... I just don't know what to do about it." Akane's eyes widened in realization. She stopped, and he stopped when he realized she was no longer beside him. "Ranma, I realized awhile ago that this is the way your life is," she began slowly. "You help people. You've helped me many times. You helped Kodachi when Asuka the white Lily showed up. You helped Shampoo against Pink and Link. You helped Ukyo out against that octopus ball guy, and when she was too sick to run her restaurant." She took a step closer to him. "And you did it all without a second thought, without asking what was in it for you." She grinned. "You even helped Pantyhose Taro out when Rouge showed up, and then helped her against him." Ranma laughed nervously, putting a hand behind his head. "Yeah, I guess so." HIs mood brightened a little, he gazed back at her. "But you're forgettin' somethin', Akane. You helped too, all those times. I... couldn't have beat Taro that first time without you. I would've died in Pink and Link's jungle if you hadn't come. In fact, you're the one who told me to go on that date with Kodachi, too." He shuddered slightly at the memory. They resumed walking again. "I guess we have that in common," Akane said after a few minutes of silence. "We like to help people. I mean, look at Kenji-san. He didn't really want our help, but we gave it to him anyway." "Yeah, I guess so," he said at last. There was several more minutes of silence,while Ranma thought over something else on his mind. "Uh, Akane?" She looked up. "Yes?" Ranma nervously scratched the back of his head. "Uh, I just wanna apologize, you know, for what happened back there..." "What do you mean?" she asked, confused. "You know, I kinda held your hand, the hug... You probably didn't like it and I shouldn't have take advantage of you like that..." Akane smiled. "Ranma, that's okay. I mean you concerned about Ukyo and all. So really it's okay." Ranma was surprised. "Really? You're not upset or anything?" Akane sighed. "No baka. Never be upset for wanting to hug me." Her face was down, so Ranma couldn't see it, but he swore her ears couldn't get any redder. "It's just that, what you said about being alone, well, I kinda know how that goes. I felt that way ever since mama died." She continued in a quieter tone. "Besides, I don't mind holding your hand if it makes you feel better." Ranma blinked a couple of times. "Really?" She nodded. He hesitantly moved his hand out partway and Akane, sensing his hand motions, moved hers halfway and they met in the middle. They walked the rest of the way in silence, just holding hands. Each afraid of saying or doing anything for fear of ruining the moment. So intent on what they were doing that they didn't think to let go when they entered the dojo grounds. BIG mistake. "Oh happy day!" Soun cried out, disrupting their thoughts. "My little baby and her fiance are finally acknowledging their feelings!" "It's about time," Nabiki said dryly, but with a smile. "Oh my, isn't it wonderful, Saotome-obasama?" A happy Kasumi said to Nodoka. "Daaaaad, it's nothing, really," Akane tried to protest. Ranma quickly yanked his hand out of Akane's. "Oh come on, knock it off!" The two fathers rushed behind their respective offspring and ushered them into the house until everyone was seated around the table. "Now now boy, I think we've put off the wedding long enough," Genma stated to his son. "Since you and Akane obviously have feelings for each other, it's time to plan another wedding and unite our families!" Nodoka stood back and watched. "How about a week from now, eh Saotome?" Soun put forth between sobs. The intense emotions the couple had been experiencing in the past hour, erupted in the wrong way. "Would you cut it out!" Ranma yelled. "I already told you, I ain't gettin' married!" Akane felt a stab of pain in her heart, but hid it. Instead, she shot to her feet, fuming. "Well, who wants to marry a sex-changing pervert like you!?" She yelled back while punching him into a wall. "Did I mention violent? You're always hittin' for no reason and you always assume things are my fault!" "Well you're a jerk who doesn't care a thing about me, yet goes after every other girl you come across!" "Enough!" The voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard and turned their attention towards Nodoka. "This engagement between the Saotome and Tendo clans was made as a matter of giri, family honor," she intoned in a neutral voice. "However, honor should never come at the price of personal happiness." She turned towards Genma and Soun. "As heads of these two clans, you have the power to annul this engagement. Since it is what our children seem to want, I suggest you think carefully about it." She turned back towards Ranma and Akane. "You will both think about it for a week. At the end of that time, if you both decide against the engagement, I'm sure your fathers' will love you enough to think of your happiness first, and annul the engagement. It will never bother you again and Ranma will leave to live with his own family. Do you understand?" Stunned, Ranma and Akane could only nod. When Genma and Soun failed to respond, Nodoka fingered the katana. They quickly agreed as well. "Now, a lot has happened today already, so I think we should all get some rest," she continued. "Genma and Ranma, since our house has recently been rebuilt, you will join me there. I think you need some time apart from Akane and she needs some time away from you. We have also been a burden on the Tendos for too long. If this mess isn't resolved in a week's time, Ranma will also attend a different school. Now, pack your belongings and we shall go." Akane, having regained some of her senses, ran upstairs to her room and shut the door while Genma and Ranma packed. She thought to herself as she cried over her bed. She stopped and thought a second. She let her tears soak into her pillow. In his room, Ranma slowly packed his few belongings things. He could barely hear Akane crying in her room. He finished packing, then joined his parents at the door. Silently, the Saotome family walked off to their new home. Akane watched them go from her window, then returned to crying on her bed. She almost didn't hear her door opening, nor the sounds of feet approaching her. "Go away!" she cried. "Akane-chan," came the voice of Kasumi. "I think we need to talk." She sat down on the bed and pulled her non-resisting sister into her lap. She made soothing noises as she rocked the younger girl slowly. Akane's sobs slowly subsided. "Why? Why does he have to be such a jerk! Just when everything was going well..." "He's scared and stubborn," Kasumi answered. "Just like you." Akane looked up. "I am nothing like..." the words died on her lips, as the truth of her older sister's statement hit home. "I-I guess I was partly at fault, too." Kasumi smiled. "Part of the fault is also our father's. They try too hard to push you two together." "So what do I do?" she asked in despair, too emotionally drained to deny anything. "Everytime we seem to make progress, something happens to drive us apart again. I know he loves me, but why won't he say it?" Her sister's answer was simple. "Have you told him you love him?" Akane looked up questionably. "Tell him how you feel and allow him to do the same. Control your temper, even if he accidentally insults you. You should know by now that he is not very good with words. It comes from being raised by Saotome-ojisan." Akane sighed. "I-I guess you're right, as usual. But I can barely admit to myself how I feel. How can I tell him?" "You'll find a way. If you really love him, than you have to take that chance." Akane said nothing, not having the strength or the will to object to that. She soon fell asleep from the exhaustion and Kasumi placed her down onto her bed. Cologne finished her spell modifications and set the trap. The magic aura dampener around the Nekohanten was weakened, so as to let an outside magic seeker know that there was magic stuff inside. Magical warning symbols were drawn in the restuarant's three occupied rooms. If someone did come inside, Cologne, Shampoo, and Mousse would immediately know about it. They went to bed that night expecting to be broken into right away, but that was not to be. Nor the next night after. It wasn't until Thursday night, that the bait was taken. Three cloaked figures pried open a window and let themselves in. As soon as the first one was inside, the magical symbols inside the occupied bedchambers flashed brightly, awakening the three guardians. Meeting in the upstairs hallway, they listened to the sounds of people rummaging through their stuff, downstairs. They could also hear hushed whispers. "Hey, I can't get this door open!" one whispered. "Let me try," another replied. Silence for a few seconds. "It's got some kind of magical protection; let's try to break it." Cologne turned to the two other Amazons and whispered, "Looks like they're trying to get the storeroom open, just like I thought. You two go out the window and come in through the back. I'll block the front." Shampoo and Mousse nodded and left. Cologne stealthily made her way downstairs and into the dining room. Even in the darkness, she could make out the magical auras of three people in the kitchen. She hopped up to the counter between the dining room and kitchen and cleared her throat, getting their attention. "My my, what's the world coming to when a little old lady can't even feel safe and secure in her own home," Cologne said innocently. "It's just an old woman," one of them said, sneering. "I'll take care of her, you two continue to work on the door." Cologne simply smiled and hopped on her staff back into the dining room. The robed wizard came after her, trying to grab her, but the old matriarch slipped out of his grasp. She jumped over him and poked the sleep point on the back of his neck, sending him to slumberland. "That's what you get for underestimating your opponent," she said sweetly. As soon as that was done, Shampoo and Mousse came through the back door and attacked. Mousse wrapped his chains around one of the figures and Shampoo leapt foreword swinging a bonbori in her right hand (her left was still in a cast). An impact on the head knocked out her target. In a matter of a few seconds, the trap had been sprung and executed flawlessly. Soon, all three were tied up and incapacitated. Cologne bounced up to the one still conscious, the one wrapped in chains. "Now for a little friendly interrogation," she announced gleefully. "You're too slow, `niichan!" Yuri taunted, dodging a sweeping kick from her brother. Today, they were sparring against each other to test the skills that Kenji had picked up over the past few days. It was Friday, and Kenji knew he'd have to head back soon, so his mind wasn't entirely on the task at hand. Maybe that's why he didn't see the return punch coming. Yuri jumped over his outstretched leg and delivered the one-two combo to Kenji's chest, causing him to back up out of range. She followed up her advantage with a cartwheel kick and roundhouse to his face, dropping him onto his back. Before she could finish it, Kenji rolled away and was back on his feet. Kenji grinned. "Not bad imouto-chan, but let me show you how it's done!" He moved in to attack, taking the kick to his lower torso and holding onto her leg. He twisted to the side and Yuri had no choice but to hop along or fall. Kenji took the opportunity to lance his foot up and deliver a 3-kick combo to her face, then drop and sweep her remaining leg out. As she fell, Kenji released the leg and grabbed her arms, twisting to the side as he did and tossing her out of the ring. He walked over to his sister and held out his hand to help her up. "Guess I win again!" He continued to grin at her. She took it and helped herself up. "You may be able to beat me in hand-to-hand, but I still hold the edge in weapons combat." Kenji winced. It was true, much to his chagrin, that his sister had more skill with weapons. She was well-versed in many weapons, particularly the bow, katana, wakizashu, a pair of sai, and even shuriken. Her real strength was with the yo-yo however, and she was quite proud of the fact that she was the only one in the clan who could use the weapon well. The first Kenji went up against it, he considered it merely a kid's toy. But when she began to whip it around, disarming him and tying him up with seconds, he thought better of it. Kenji wasn't totally without weapon skill. He was fairly good with a wakizashu and now wore one with a 14" blade on his back above his waist. He also carried an expandable bo staff on his waist belt. With a quick press on the right part, it went from one foot in length to five He actually preferred the bo since it was generally non-lethal. Though he carried a few shuriken, he wasn't all that good with them. His real strength was his wind ki techniques which he was trying to teach his sister. "Ready to work on your training now?" he asked her as they vacated the ring to the next combatants. She nodded vigorously. "Of course! Except, I don't know if I'll ever be able to do them as well as you." "Just keep trying," he assured her. "After all, I only got them to work under stressful situations until I learned enough to do them normally. Besides, you have other uses for father's wind gift." He was speaking of her speed and jumping ability. Without much thought, she could make impossibly high jumps utilizing a wind boost. She could also lower the wind resistance around her body allowing her to run quite fast when she wanted to. Kenji was only beginning to adapt those techniques, and that was another area she was better at then him. "Know what I miss though?" She asked him. "What's that?" "When dad used to take us flying at night." Kenji's face dropped when she mentioned their father and Yuri noted her brother's look. "Oh, I'm sorry, Kenji. You still don't remember mom and dad." Kenji sighed. "It's okay. But what do you mean flights?" "Well, since he was one of those wind elemental guys, I guess he knew enough wind manipulation to fly. He used to take us out on flights at night, though Mom didn't think it was a good idea. She wanted us to live normal lives as martial artists." They shared a good laugh as they arrived at the area where they practiced their ki techniques. The clan didn't use ki techniques much, except for attaining silence while moving, near-invisibility in shadows, and enhancing punches, kicks, and jumps. They certainly didn't use any projectile attacks, instead relying on weapons. When he asked Oka about it, she told them it was because those kind of techniques were too flashy and/or too loud. Clan Garou's philosophy held silence and undetectability in high esteem, and to that end, weapons were quieter and less visible when need be. Still, Kenji had seen the effects of Ranma's techniques and he had to admit that they came in handy. Since the siblings would be leaving, Oka allowed them to train their wind ki techniques. Kenji stood the block of wood up on the stump and backed away. "Okay Yuri, give it a try. Remember, mental strength over physical. Generate your desire to protect someone or something, and see your target in your mind's eye." Yuri stood silent for a few seconds concentrating, eyes closed. Then, in one smooth motion she snapped her eyes open and thrust out her arm, palm foreword. "Hitohuki!" The blast was almost invisible to the eye, but the results were easily seen. The block of wood flew off the stump and hit the tree behind it. "Oh pooh." "Not bad," he appraised her while setting it back up again. This time he put two blocks up in two different places. "For someone who started it a few days ago. Now watch." Kenji concentrated on the block of wood, gathering his ki. He thrust out his hand. "Hitohuki!" There was a noticeable difference in the strength of this one versus Yuri's previous attempt. The block of wood flew off the stump a whole lot faster and broke into two pieces when it hit the tree behind it. "Okay, like that. Try to gather your ki using the techniques I showed you earlier." Yuri stood still for a second, then, with a sudden smirk on her face whipped out her hand. This time, there was clearly an object being thrown. It was almost invisible since it was all gray and moving fast. The object struck the second block of wood, sliced it in half and returned to her hand. Kenji groaned. "Yuri! You were supposed to use a ki technique, not your bladed yo-yo!" Yuri laughed and Kenji shook his head. They practiced some more to refine their techniques, and Kenji looked on with pride as his sister's blast became stronger with each try. Yuri called it quits after a half-an-hour, when she started to become tired. Kenji followed her as they went to get cleaned up. "You know, I was thinking, `niichan," Yuri started. "About your amulet." Kenji wiped his forehead. "Yeah, what about it?" "How did it know to lead you here?" He cocked his head. "I don't really know, just some kinda homing magic I guess." "But what exactly did it home in on?" "The house?" Yuri shook her head. "I don't think so, but I'd like to try an experiment." "What's that?" he asked. "Activate it and let's follow it to the exact spot it goes to. Maybe we can find exactly what the homing point is." He thought for a moment. "I suppose I can do that, though I don't see why." Yuri smiled. "Oh come on `niichan, humor me!" Kenji nodded. He couldn't really refuse his sister anything. And it didn't have anything to do with his memories, so he thought it was just a genetic `brother' thing. It still unnerved him, but he was getting more used to it now. He retrieved the amulet from his room and the two obtained permission to leave for a short while. They headed back to the house where Ryoga was still camped. They greeted each other, then followed Kenji after Yuri explained her experiment. He activated the amulet again and went on the direction it pointed. Eventually, they ended up at a tree that was halfway between the barn and the house. "So it's the tree?" Ryoga asked. "I don't think so," Kenji replied. Walking around the tree, the amulet's directional arrow disappeared and the ball began to glow bright blue. A shaft of blue light streaked downward until it entered the ground. "I think something's here." "What is it?" Yuri asked excitedly. "I don't know," the amnesiac admitted. "But I guess we have some digging ahead of us if we want to find out." Ryoga laughed. "Why don't you leave this to me, Soyokaze. Back up." The siblings gave the lost boy a strange look, but did as he asked. The two ninja-trainees watched in fascination as Ryoga touched the dirt at his feet with a single finger, and the ground exploded. When the debris cleared, everyone moved forward again to check the crater. "That was incredible!" Yuri exclaimed. "Can you teach me to do that?" The lost boy grinned. "Sure! I just have to slam a boulder into you several dozen times." Yuri turned a shade of green, horror appearing on her face. "Nevermind." The attention returned to the bottom of the crater, where a half-submerged, four foot by four foot, steel box was visible. Working together, they hauled it up and opened it. Inside were several items, but on top was a letter addressed to both Kenji and Yuri. Nodding to his sister, Kenji took the letter and began to read: Dear Kenji and Yuri, If you're reading this, then then something has happened to us. We may very well be dead. You either found this box by luck, or Quan gave you an amulet that led you here. Inside are various items we planned to give you when you both came of age. They were ours to safeguard and use, so now they are yours. Know that we loved you both very much, and always will. Do not mourn us, but instead look to the future and make a place in this world for yourselves. We will be proud of you no matter you choose to do. One last note. We discovered someone trying to tamper with your lives, but we were able to protect you from it. We never found out who was responsible, so be on your guard. We believe you should be free to do as you choose, not held by fate. Take care, and may the spirits of our ancestors watch over you both. Love, Soyokaze Taynor and Sulyia Kenji finished reading and looked up at his sister, who was on the verge of tears. He wanted to say something to her, but no words presented themselves. This time, he gave into his new feelings and pulled her into a one-armed hug. Ryoga, sensing a private moment, walked away. He didn't know what to think. He inwardly shivered at that thought, and partially realized what the two people behind him were going through. For Kenji, it was finally proof that his parents really were dead. He rubbed his sister's back, absently. His gaze hardened. Looking down at her, he added, Yuri tried to dry up her tears. For two weeks after the fire, she had cried off and on. For all she knew, she had lost her family. If it wasn't for Neko, she doubted that she would've come around and begun to live again at all. Still, it took two weeks to get her out of her depression and involve her in clan life. "Let's call it a night, imouto-chan," Kenji offered. "We'll go through all of this tomorrow." He indicated the box. Yuri only nodded, and together they closed the box. Standing up, Kenji found Ryoga sitting back by the fire at his campsite. The amnesiac informed him that they were going to head back to the clan grounds, and that the siblings would see him again tomorrow. Ryoga looked up. "Oh, I've got something to tell you. Neko led me to a phone and I called the dojo to see how things were going." Kenji frowned, but nodded. "I've good news and bad news. The good news is: Ukyo-san is awake and feeling fine. She got out of the hospital yesterday." Kenji smiled, a wonderful and relieved feeling washing through him. "That's good to hear." Yuri sensed the change in her brother's mood, and took advantage of it to elbow him. "Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend?" "She's not my girlfriend!" Kenji protested. "Just a friend. She got hurt bad saving me and I was worried about her. Besides what about your boyfriend?" Yuri steamed. "I don't have a boyfriend and I don't want one! Himoshi just can't take a hint!" Kenji chuckled. Himoshi was one of the boys from the nearby village, and had received numerous injuries from his attempts to date Yuri, from the ninja girl herself. He turned back to Ryoga. "So, what's the bad news?" "It appears the elemental wizard sects are back," he said grimly.