Someone once tried to summarize the universe and what held it together. This philosopher let suspense build and tensions grow higher until one day he stood up at the podium and stared at the crowed with a dramatic pause and said the word “Love.” The crowd was to speechless to even move. But that philosopher was on the right track. Love, no matter what form it takes, is what drives us. The feeling of love comes from the heart, the knowledge of how it feels comes from the mind, and the wisdom to know when it’s being felt in the purest form comes from both. When soul mates find each other their hearts bond quickly, and the further away you get from your soul mate the more pain your heart causes you. It’s even been recorded through history that these bonds between hearts can even alert one another to impending danger, and has also been known to alert the other of a death, the feeling alone almost un-bearable. The bond has been described as magical in nature, and when it mixes with a curse...

A Lost Heart

Chapter 3

School is No Place for Me

Morning came all to soon as Nabiki’s alarm clock screamed for the two to get up. Nabiki’s mind was especially muddy this morning. A quick check of herself and she realized that she’d been backed up against the wall. The reason seemed fairly obvious as there seemed to be a little ball of Ranko curled up in the fetal position against her.

Smacking the table a few times did nothing to quiet the siren going off, slowly she began to push herself up. But, in doing so she slightly disturbed Ranko, who promptly got comfortable again.

Sighing she tried again but another hand had already turned the alarm clock off.

“Thanks for the view Niki (pronounced neekey).

Nabiki gasped and bundled up the top of the extra large t-shirt she was wearing. She leaned against the wall as Ranko sat up, “I’m sorry about last night Niki. I just... I got really scared.”

Ranko was scooting toward Nabiki and nuzzled into her neck.

Nabiki sighed, “You beautiful green eyed jerk. You get under my skin and pierce my emotional shell.” Nabiki hugged her tightly, “And after only two days of getting to know each other you’re managing to steal my heart. What am I going to do with you?” Did I really just spout that sappy sounding crap?

Ranko seemed to think a moment then kissed her, “You could take me out on a date.” Ranko had put on her best puppy dog face pulling up the blanket to cover the bottom half of her face.

Nabiki sweat dropped then sighed, “How could I ever say no to that. How’s dinner tonight sound?” I'm agreeing to spend money again?!

Ranko squealed with joy and gave Nabiki a much deeper kiss which took Nabiki completely by surprise and washed all doubts away.

The morning run went better then before as Akane actually started up a conversation with Ranko which also continued on into breakfast about all the different styles of martial arts she knew. Ranko was finishing up how she’d stopped by a dojo where the master there was impressed with how quickly she learned and so let her study a few of there secrets to see how quickly she could learn them and how she had mastered them after the first day.

“Really? Wow that’s fantastic!”

Nabiki nodded her agreement, “To be able to master the secrets of another dojo in only a day.”

Ranko scratched the back of her head, “It... really wasn’t much. I’m sure you guys could’ve done it just as easily.”

Ranko suddenly thought about school, “Niki, what last name am I taking?”

Nabiki smiled, “Saotome, I talked to Auntie Nodoka and she felt it was appropriate seeing as when you came into our lives.”

Ranko just looked confused but nodded.

Everyone finished breakfast then ran upstairs to get ready for school, Ranko’s uniform was specially made to handle both the female and male forms incase she should transform for some reason at school. They then headed for the front door followed by Kasumi who gave them their lunches.

Before they headed out Kasumi spoke in a serious tone, “Ranko.”

She turned around to look at Kasumi who put her finger tip on Ranko’s nose and had the brightest smile she’d ever seen, “Be sure to play nice and make lots of friends. Ok?”

Ranko just smiled back nodding vigorously.

Once outside the door Nabiki’s face dropped and Akane’s became stern.

Ranko just looked between the two, “Is something wrong?”

Akane looked back at Ranko, “We call them the Hentai Squad. They’re friends of Tatewaki Kuno, the principal’s son so they get away with... well a lot.”

Ranko looked at Nabiki and nodded as if there was a silent confirmation. “So what do we do to avoid them?”

Akane sighed, “Why do you think we leave an hour and a half early every morning?”

Ranko laid her hand down on Nabiki’s shoulder, Nabiki seemed brought out of her thoughts and smiled nodding, “It’s ok, just something I dread every morning. With the Kuno’s also being the wealthiest family in Nerima they’ve bought out the council to look the other way. We better get going.”

The three nodded and started running for school. Everything seemed to go fine until halfway there something tripped Nabiki.

Ranko slid to a halt and looked back, “Niki!”

Laughter came from all around as ten young men, all around their age, appeared from around corners and out of alley’s. Ranko’s first reaction proved to be a bad one, she rushed toward Nabiki only to be blocked and hit over the head with a baseball bat knocking her into a pile of trash cans.

All the boys laughed as they neared Nabiki’s prone body. When one of them got close enough she kicked his leg’s out, then jumped up and tried to run but was just grabbed and thrown back down to the ground. NO! Please no not again.

Akane jump kicked the back of one and as she rushed another a chain wrapped around her. She was yanked back into the iron grip of the wielder.

Nabiki let out a scream, the responses came in the form of laughter and then trash can’s flying revealing a very ticked Ranko.

“Let them go!”

The one who seemed to be the leader looked over, “Shouldn’t you be unconscious?”

Ranko just smirked, “If that was your best then no, I’m not.”

Nabiki heard it, Ranko was scared. “Ranko just get out of here!”

She shook her head, sweat was dripping down her cheek and she knew that the men could smell the fear. But she wasn’t about to leave her Niki and Akane behind. Not for anything. One of the men stepped toward’s her and she could feel that same fear coming back. It’d been three years, she was different now, she was stronger. And today, she would prove it, “How about a deal then.”

The leader smirked, “This oughta be good.”

Ranko gulped, she pushed her fear as low as it could go but it didn’t feel any different. Unbuttoning her shirt she started to speak, “If you can beat me, you can have me. Willingly or not, however you want me. But let Niki and her sister go.” She pulled her shirt off and even as she turned around to let them inspect her, like so many times before, she could see even smell the drool. She pulled her shirt back on but left it unbuttoned, a solemn resignation painted her face.

One of the other men looked over at their leader, “She does look nice, whaddya think Gosunkugi?”

The one called Gosunkugi smiled, “Let the other two go. She looks like she was built for this purpose. I'll have Nabiki another time.”

Ranko silently winced thinking back to the slave trades.

Akane quickly grabbed Nabiki and got her out of the circle of the Hentai Squad. Akane was about to keep running when Nabiki stopped, “Ranko...”

“Go! I don’t want you to be here for this.”

“But...”

“I said GO Niki!”

Gosunkugi just laughed, “Isn’t that cute, she’s given her friend a pet name.”

“Shut up and stay focused, idiot.” Ranko didn’t quite come off as confident as she wanted but it did get their attention back on her. “Niki please go.” It was strained but Nabiki understood and reluctantly left.

“I recognize you, Gosunkugi. Tell me, how was I the last time.”

He seemed perplexed but he walked up to her and pulled down the shoulder as he spun her around, the brand had healed but could still be seen. Gosunkugi brightened up considerably, “Boys we are in for a treat, I was right. She was trained for this.” Nonchalantly he waved his hand towards her, “Take her.”

The guys rushed her as she leaped into the air, “Combination attack!” She started to glow a deep red as she let her anger seep out. She started to spin coming down towards a man with two sets of brass knuckles on each hand, “Corkscrew Kinetic Crusher.” She landed driving the man into the pavement, she let her battle aura seep into the ground and seconds later just as she felt a foot come into contact with her side she had been kicked away from the explosion that sent several men flying. “Damn that felt like a rib.” Gosunkugi couldn’t believe what he saw. No matter, she was hurt, and he would go in for a quick knockout and take her for free this time. Ranko noticed his footsteps quicken and she laughed a bit; she spun on her back causing her side to protest rather angrily. Ignoring the onslaught in pain she instead focused on the look of fear she was rewarded with as Gosunkugi felt the foot behind his calf. It was to late to see the foot headed for his knee cap cause it had already collided with it’s intended target.

Ranko staggered up and grabbed Gosunkugi’s knife. She sliced open his shirt and very precisely drew the kanji for death into his chest then stabbed the knife into his other thigh she was somewhat elated with the screams he was emitting.

The big man with double brass woke up, “You there, gorilla. Take your leader back to his boss.” She wrapped her hand around Gosunkugi’s neck, “You’re going to tell that rotten creep that if the slave ring or this Hentai Scout Troop or whatever the hell you call it isn’t stopped and SOON... he’ll have worse happen to him.” The big man came over warily eyeing Ranko. Gosunkugi was picked up and taken away.

“Ranko!” Nabiki Ran over to a sprawled out Ranko and knelt down. “Ranko where are you hurt? What did they do to you?”

Akane tapped her shoulder then pointed to the crater, “Or more to the point what did you do to them?”

Ranko laughed and winced, “They got off easy. And they only cracked a rib. I’ll be fine after a while. Looks like I won’t be able to go to school today though.” She laughed and winced again.

Akane and Nabiki helped Ranko to her feet and then back to the dojo.

Nabiki smiled slightly, still worried about the woman she felt she was starting to love, “Looks like you’re making friends already.”

Ranko smiled, “Damnit Niki don’t make me laugh.”

Akane smiled thinking to herself, How can she be so calm after what happened?

A now unconscious Gosunkugi was being taken to the Kuno mansion. “I have no time for these interruptions...” The man stopped short and anger flared in his eyes. “What happened?!”

The big man just laid his charge down on a couch and backed away.

“She... surprised us. Wasn’t this powerful... before,” Gosunkugi felt like he was talking through a strainer as his jaw wouldn’t unclench. “She got stronger.”

“Who?” If any other person had asked it would’ve been a simple question. But from the man clad in a puce business suit, it promised pain.

“She has your brand. I don’t remember her number but you sent me to test how her training... “ Gosunkugi had to pause as the pain from his shifted leg promised to send him to unconsciousness again. He let out a breath before continuing, “It was the red headed pig tailed girl. The one you wanted trained only for you.”

The puce clad man nodded, “I remember her well, they had told me of her wild nature. So she’s come to Nerima has she?” He stood up and walked to the window, “Summon the good doctor to heal Gosunkugi. If he should cause a problem remind him of our agreement. And next time I want to see the youngest Tendo daughter brought in instead of my hired muscle."

Ranko was laying on the floor looking at the koi pond as Kasumi tended to her cracked rib.

“Be careful not to over exert yourself for a while. If you can help it no more playing with your friends either.” Kasumi just smiled.

Ranko was still surprised at the way Kasumi acted, even after recounting what happened.

“There you go. All done.” Kasumi packed up the first aid kit and headed to the kitchen leaving the three girls alone.

Ranko sat up, “I wonder why Kasumi’s like that.”

Akane and Nabiki just looked at each other then back to Ranko as she spoke again.

“I think it’s time to come clean, I’ll tell everyone tonight. Please invite Ms. Saotome over as well.”

---

From the Author: I’m happy with the feedback I’ve been getting, an ego stroked can be a good thing. I reformatted chapter 1 due to the constructive criticism and tips from Amaranius (once again thanks). I tried writing it more novel like but after having someone else read it and reading it again myself I can understand that it was a bit more confusing then I thought. A quick note as well, this story is going to get very dark, and very soon. Also maybe next chapter I’ll introduce my twist. If not then the following chapter will definitely have the twist and a realization that could break any traditionalist Japanese family.

Disclaimer: I in no way shape or form own any character's from Ranma ½ nor the manga, anime, breakfast cereal or flamethrower associated with the works of Rumiko. You can tell what i've made up, it usually has a horrible name.