Oyu no Ranma

A Ranma ½ fanfiction by Zorknot

Ch.15: We Will Rise

In this chapter, we see what happened while Ranma was in school before the fight with Ryoga. Also, Akane's soul gets torn apart by a demon.

Disclaimer: Takahashi Rumiko and the various production agencies she is affiliated with are the owners of the characters and plot of Ranma ½. I recently watched part of the Ranma ½ live action movie, though, so I no longer feel bad for any mistakes I might make.

~~~~~Ch.`15: We Will Rise~~~~~

~~~~~Ranma, 6 hours before the fight with Ryoga ~~~~~

After showing up to class late and carrying water for a few minutes in the hall, Ranma found school much as it had been the day before: long periods of boredom punctuated by spasms of social interaction. Akane passed her a note: "What's going on?"

Ranma wrote back: "Found Kumon. Pops adopted him."

Akane turned around in her chair. "What?"

The teacher paused in his lecture. "Tendo-san, normally I would take offense to such an outburst, but I'm sure Saotome-san was just telling you about the technology advanced during the Meiji era and you were just expressing your shock and amazement. Perhaps you would like to share with the class?"

"They adopted him? I mean," Akane collected herself and addressed the teacher. "Much of the technology of that time was adopted from the West."

"Such as?"

"The uh…bicycle, the steam engine?"

"Very good." The teacher went back to his droning.

Akane passed Ranma another note. This just had three question marks on it underlined several times.

Ranma just wrote "After class."

For the rest of class Ranma tried to figure out what she was going to say as she watched Akane give her confused glances. When the end of class finally came it was almost a relief. Almost.

"So? Your father adopted Kumon?" Akane asked in the hall after the period ended.

"Yeah. Like I wrote in the note," Ranma nodded. Everything she had thought about saying now seemed stupid anyway.

"But…why? How did that happen? Are you okay with it?"

Ranma was just trying to figure out which question to answer and how when someone touched her shoulder. She turned to see a girl her size with long straight hair. "Ranma?"

"Yeah?"

"Nabiki–sama isn't here, and there's some FuMa business that needs taking care of. Do you mind?" She gestured for Ranma to go ahead of her.

Ranma looked at Akane and all her uncomfortable questions, and then again at the mousy girl with the convenient distraction. "I'll catch you later, Akane, okay?"

"Hey, I'm part of FuMa too!" Akane protested. "I'm Nabiki's sister!"

The mousy girl bit her lip. "There's been a complaint raised against you. Last time this happened, Nabiki said we shouldn't let you know about it."

"Why not? I have a right to face my accuser, don't I?"

"You've already, ah, faced him."

"Him?"

"Mishima Jiro. He has a broken arm now. He claims you used excessive force when he accidentally brushed his hand against you."

"He grabbed my ass! What was I supposed to do, thank him?"

The girl turned to Ranma, pointedly ignoring Akane. "It's not that Akane wasn't right to do what she did, it's just that Jiro's family has a lot of influence in Nerima, and if there are any complaints made against FuMa, it might be forcefully disbanded."

"Damn. Well, what do you want me to do about it?" Ranma asked.

"I'm not sure, or else I would do it myself. Nabiki would always find ways out of these situations, but she isn't here. My name is Tomo Hoko. I usually help her by finding people with the skill sets needed to accomplish things she wants, but she's the one who can figure out how to get them to do things."

"Well, you're out of luck, Tomo-san. I can't read people like she can, and I ain't gonna manipulate people like she does either."

Hoko shook her head. "Of course not. I'm not expecting you to be another Nabiki-sama. But I've watched your fights, and you have a certain ability to improvise that might be helpful here."

"And what am I, chopped liver?" Akane asked.

"You're fiercely loyal, and you have a strong sense of morality. You also have a great deal of courage, and unbending discipline. But while these qualities are excellent in many situations, here I think we need someone who is able to bend a little to accomplish something."

"I can bend!"

"Maybe you can, Akane-san. I wouldn't presume to know the extent of your abilities. But based on my observations, Ranma-san is more apt to change tactics if necessary, whereas you tend to use the same tactic with greater and greater force. Also, because you are the party that is being accused, I don't think it would be especially prudent to involve you in the negotiations if it can be helped."

"Let me take care of this, Akane," Ranma said. "I really need to not think about what's going on for awhile."

Akane frowned and then nodded.

"Thanks. We'll talk later, okay?" Ranma walked away, following Hoko down the hall.

"Jiro is in the nurse's office. That's where we have most of our meetings, because Nabiki volunteers there."

"I didn't know there were any meetings."

"Nabiki likes to control things as much as possible. She usually meets people one on one, or with me present. She doesn't want anyone to think they could vote their way around a decision of hers."

"How come she lets you in?"

"I have no self esteem. Here we are." Hoko opened the door to the nurse's office and let Ranma in before her.

Mishima Jiro sat on one of the hospital beds, ankle on his knee, foot wagging impatiently. He had long legs and the pose seemed more arrogant than it would for another man. His hair was in a military crew cut and he had a sour expression on his face. "No. Nuh uh. I didn't come here to get my other arm broken." He got off the bed. "I came here to see Nabiki, but it looks like I'm just going to have to tell my lawyers what happened."

Ranma put a hand on the boy's shoulder. A good trick, considering he was two feet taller than her.

"Get your hand off me, you freaking Amazon!"

Ranma felt the thrill of combat, and with everything else going on, it would have felt crazy good to beat Jiro down, but she kept herself from attacking. "I'm not an Amazon. I don't even like Amazons. I've got one trying to kill me. I'm here to try to settle things so just...calm down."

Jiro turned around and looked down at Ranma. "How are you going to settle things? You going to heal my arm before baseball tryouts? "

Ranma frowned. "You mean this is all about some game?"

"Right. I suppose it's all some game to you. Your dad takes you everywhere with him, like some spoiled princess."

Ranma had to snicker at that.

"You think that's funny, huh? Well, I'm stuck here, okay? Baseball's my one ticket out of here. Otherwise it's go to work at my father's company and never leave Japan."

Ranma swallowed, glancing at Hoko. She didn't like this guy, but she had to watch his feelings. She was out of her element here. She hoisted herself up onto one of the hospital beds. This gave her a little height and got her out of fight mode. To calm herself down further she made sure to talk like a girl. "First, I was laughing because you have completely the wrong idea about me and my father. You would not want to trade places with me, believe me. Second, if you want to leave Japan, just go. No one is stopping you. And finally, why would a broken arm keep you from playing baseball?"

"I'm a pitcher, you dumb bitch! How'm I supposed to throw a ball if I have a broken arm?"

"Ya got two arms doncha?" Ranma snapped.

Mishima frowned. "Yeah, but…"

Mishima's tortured look was almost enough for Ranma to forget how much of an asshole he was. "Look, baseball's got its good points, but the game really over-emphasizes the whole lefty righty thing. Yeah one hand works better, but with training you can use both equally well. "

"Not in two weeks! Besides, I need both hands for catching and using a bat."

Ranma frowned. "Really? I catch things one-handed all the time. And while you can be more precise with a two-handed bat swing, I'd say you can have much more speed and range of motion with a one-handed swing."

"I…You can't…"

Ranma crossed her arms. "I can. You can. If you don't want to put forth the effort required, that's another issue. At any rate, you want my advice? I'd say that if you want your dad's respect, the last thing you should do is whine to his lawyers about what Akane did."

"Who says I want my dad's respect?"

Ranma shrugged. "You're a man, aren't you?"

Mishima frowned. "I didn't come here to be insulted."

Ranma raised her voice. "I'm sure Akane didn't expect some pansy-assed jerk to try to grope her either. The way I look at it, things are about as even as they're going to be. You want to cry to your daddy's lawyers, you go right ahead. But then, there will be some things that will need evening out." Ranma raised a hand as if she had claws. Blinking, she moved her fingers so she was making a pointing finger.

A slight smile caught the corner of Jiro's mouth. "You know, I think I might enjoy an evening out with you."

Ranma blinked. Her mouth fell open.

Jiro laughed. "You're kinda cute, you know?" He looked away. "You're right, of course. Asking my dad for help wouldn't be worth it." He walked to the door. "I thought maybe I could get something out of it if I talked to Nabiki. She probably wouldn't have caved either. Maybe I'll try training, like you said." He looked at the floor for a moment before smiling and waving good-bye. "Catch you later, Ranma-chan."

"Are you alright, Saotome-san?" Hoko asked Ranma after Jiro left. "Your face looks red."

"I'm alright." Ranma took a breath, "I just wasn't ready for him to er...change his mind like that."

Hoko nodded. Then she walked around Ranma, squinting at her. She frowned. "Strange, I would have thought you would be a lesbian."

"I'm not…! I mean…I am…I…"Ranma slumped. "I'm a bicycle."

Hoko's eyes regarded Ranma over her glasses .

"Bisexual. Gods! Why can't I get that right?"

"That is good to know. I'm sorry if I was prying. I get a little obsessive about people. I'm asexual."

"Huh?"

"It's only fair I let you know. I find the idea of sexual intimacy…disgusting. I sometimes wonder if it has something to do with my symptoms of mild autism or if I have a separate hormonal issue that I should consult a physician about. I'm not in a hurry. I figure I'll wait until college."

"Sounds like a plan," Ranma nodded warily, as she slid off the bed. "I'm not in much of hurry either, to tell you the truth."

"So you're a virgin as well. Interesting."

Ranma wasn't sure she liked how this conversation was going. Or how easily Hoko was putting things together "Yeah well, I'm only sixteen."

"True, but a surprising number of girls have their first sexual encounter before 16. I've conducted an independent survey and the number is close to twenty percent so far. If I consider girls with a comparable level of attractiveness and guile the number goes up to eighty percent. Of course this might be because girls in this group are more likely to make up stories. I'm afraid I don't have the authority to apply the proper scientific rigor to the situation."

"What situation?"

"The sex situation. A lot of it seems to be going on, but exactly how much, and to what extent? No one seems to have any answers."

"Uh…"

"Anyway, I believe you've taken care of the Mishima Jiro problem. At least for now. We should head back to class."

Ranma nodded.

In the hallway a boy ran up to Ranma and Hoko. "Ranma, your father is here. He wants to talk with you."

Everything that Ranma had managed to forget about for the last fifteen minutes came back. Ranma's fist tightened. "I can't see him right now. I'll do somethin' stupid."

"Would you like me to take care of it?" Hoko asked. "Thank you, Ichiro," she said dismissing the kid as an aside.

"What can you do?" Ranma asked

"Nabiki is good at getting people to do what she wants. I'm good at knowing who would be good for a job."

"Okay, but you know he taught me the Art. I don't think you'll find anyone who can defeat him."

"I have some ideas. Just leave it to me, little sister."

Ranma jerked upright at the familiarity. She glanced at the sash on Hoko's arm. Blue within blue. What had Nabiki started? "I'm not exactly a little sister…"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm a year ahead of you. I just thought…"

"No," Ranma said, a slight smile curling her mouth, "It's okay. If you can help me out, I'd appreciate it, big sister."

Hoko smiled as well and left. Ranma was late and had to hold buckets in the hall. She spent that time and the rest of school thinking about how things had changed, and how she could deal with it. Admitting to herself that she was a girl as well as a boy was a good move. She had been going insane for a while there. But it caused some problems too. Like how to react to people like Jiro. Like how to deal with Akane and her questions. Like figuring out how she felt about Kumon.

After school and before her fight with Ryoga, Ranma talked with Akane as they were leaving school of class. "I'm sorry you weren't included in the meeting with that kid you hurt. You didn't miss much. Just told him to quit whining pretty much."

"It's okay," Akane said. "Hoko was probably right." She was looking down at the ground.

"What's wrong?"

"Everyone thinks I'm so sensitive. That I can't handle things. It isn't true."

Ranma didn't trust herself to say anything, she just watched Akane's expression.

"I know you've found a way to be a boy again. I know you and my mom…She's in your brain somehow."

Ranma remembered Tofu saying he had told Akane when she visited him, but Ranma had forgotten about that. "I was trying to find a way to tell you…"

"Were you?" Akane stepped in front of Ranma. "Because it seems to me like you've just been avoiding me. Honestly, Ranma I'm not some porcelain doll."

"Powder keg" would have been Ranma's term, but she kept that to herself. "Akane, it's just, every time I tell you something about being a boy or a girl or anything related to your mom, you freak out. That's been my whole life these last few days."

"Well maybe being part of your life is more important to me than freaking out, you ever think that?"

Ranma sighed, "Honestly? No, I didn't"

Akane whirled around, her back to Ranma as she murmured "Idiot."

"Tomboy," Ranma shot back.

"Take that back!" Akane tried to hit Ranma in the shoulder, but Ranma dodged out of the way on instinct. Akane tried a roundhouse kick, but Ranma avoided the kick and pushed Akane's leg along its path of motion, throwing Akane off balance.

While Akane's back was to Ranma, the pigtailed girl rushed in close to get Akane in a headlock. But she didn't put any pressure into it.

Akane turned around quickly inside the embrace and pushed away, still in fight mode. Then she stopped. Ranma wrapped her other arm around Akane's waist officially turning the headlock into a hug. "Thanks, Akane."

Ranma felt Akane hesitantly return the hug. "We've got some issues, don't we?" Akane asked.

"A few," Ranma agreed. They both released each other then.

"So what are you going to do about Kumon?" Akane asked.

"I don't know." Ranma said, "I can't do anything about Pops adopting the bastard." She sighed. "You know, I even sorta know where he's comin' from. It just…"

"It sucks."

Ranma nodded.

"Well, the way I see it you have two options. You can make Kumon's life difficult, challenging him all the time, insulting him, maybe even challenging him to fight for being in the family once you've trained enough to take him on, or…"

"Or what?" Ranma asked. What Akane was suggesting seemed like a pretty good course of action.

"Or you could be okay with it."

"I can't be okay with it, Akane. He's going to be their son. I can't be their son. Not completely. Not like Pop wants. They traded me in for a different model."

"They didn't trade you in! Have they kicked you out? Are they leaving you to fend for yourself?" Akane let the question hang for a moment. "They still want you there, Ranma. So whatever it is, it isn't a trade."

Ranma shook her head, "Pops raised me to be a man among men…"

"You're a girl right now Ranma. If you're so worried about being a man, why haven't you changed form?"

"I can't…I'm both, Akane. I can't let either side of me go. I thought I was okay with that, but for Kumon to just take my place…"

"Honestly, Ranma! You don't seem to know how lucky you have it. You've got both your parents, you can be whatever sex you want pretty much whenever you want, and you're amazing at just about everything you do. You know some of us have to work for what we have. Some of us didn't go on training trips with our fathers to foreign countries."

"You make it sound like a vacation or something. Believe me, Akane, It wasn't that great."

"You left your mother!" Akane's eyes went wide as she realized what she said. "I mean…" She looked down. "I know that isn't true. But it feels true. I look at what you have and part of me thinks you don't deserve it. Maybe it wasn't your idea at first, but…ten years and you didn't miss her? You didn't wonder how she was doing? What she would say to you, whether she would be proud of you or ashamed? I want to let it go, but there's this small, ugly part of me that won't shut up. It keeps saying you abandoned your mother. " Akane looked up , "And you stole mine."

"Akane, I…"

"Don't bother. I guess you were right not to talk to me." Akane started to walk away.

There was a rising feeling from within and Ranma heard Kirika: Let me talk to her.

"Uh, Akane? Your mom wants to talk to you."

Akane turned back around. "Mom? Now?"

Ranma nodded.

Hold steady, Ranma, this will just be a little while.

"Okay," Ranma replied, and willed herself to lose control.

Immediately everything shifted into the weird, crepuscular spirit vision. Ranma saw lights dancing around like candle flames, the souls of people walking around, she realized. But they were indistinct and dim for the most part. Akane's light was bright and more steady, but even hers kept changing. Looking at her light was like trying to remember the meaning of a kanji. The meaning kept morphing from daughter, to friend, to girl, to woman, to martial artist, to failure…Ranma looked away. There were other brighter constant lights too. She recognized Nabiki and Pops easily. There was a dimmer, highly flickering light with them, that Ranma couldn't make out. Kasumi was clear, so was Soun. Her mother and Kumon were harder to place. And then there were the brighter lights. The demons, Kirika had said. And there was Jusenkyo. Looking at it, Ranma could automatically tell what it was. She could see eminences shooting out of it in various directions toward the souls connected to it. Toward her own soul.

You have a name now, Ranma Megumi Saotome. You do not need that body. Let Kirika Ashitaka Tendo have it. Join us. Help us grow…

Ranma felt herself pulled toward Jusenkyo. She grabbed onto Kirika, but she had nothing to grab with. She had no body. She used to have a body, but now that was Kirika's.

Join us, and you can have whatever body you like.

No! Ranma didn't want to join Jusenkyo. Didn't want to become some trapped spirit enticing travelers to curse themselves. But she had to find a body! Other lights were getting closer.

Ranma Megumi Saotome doesn't want to join Jusenkyo! He She is not protected. We can steal from her him!

Ranma had to find a body. Any body. The dark-haired girl was closest. She didn't have a name. He she could hide there for awhile…

Ranma blinked. She was hugging somebody.

She was hugging herself.

"Akane? Honey?" The red head released her.

Ranma looked down. She pulled some black hair in front of her eyes. "What the…"

"Oh no. Oh, Akane, I'm sorry. I took too long! Ranma, release her!"

"I…I don't know how." It was Akane's voice. How was this happening?

"You are in Akane's body. It does not belong to you. Reject it."

A rush of anger filled her. Anger that was not her own. Or was it?

"Don't take anything from her! You are Ranma Megumi Saotome. Reject everything that isn't you!"

"But the spirits…"

"They are farther away than they seem. Leave that body."

Ranma closed Akane's eyes. She was Ranma Megumi Saotome. She would not be frightened of getting her soul ripped apart by evil spirits. She gritted Akane's teeth. Her teeth felt different. Her tongue too. She remembered going to the dentist…the cotton balls… No. Those were Akane's memories. It was Akane's mouth. Ranma relaxed the grip she had been applying to Akane's body. Let Akane's spirit regain control.

Once again there were the lights. Ranma saw Kirika's light rise out of the redheaded girl's body. Ranma dove in.

Ranma opened her eyes. She looked at her hands. Her hands. She was herself again.

Akane was giving her a scared, angry look.

Ranma realized what she did. Without even meaning to, after only a few minutes as an untethered spirit. "Akane, we have to save your mom."

Akane nodded mutely.

Ranma glanced at the clock tower. She had maybe twenty minutes before her match with Kataro. "I wish we could cancel our duels."

"You were inside my head."

Ranma swallowed.

"You possessed me."

"I couldn't help it. It was the first time outside of my body. It's like being naked in a snowstorm. You do anything to get inside."

"Could she possess me? My mom I mean?"

No!

"Uh, I don't think she wants to."

"Why not? I wouldn't mind. At least for a little while."

Akane doesn't have a Name. You'd be safe. Ranma directed toward Kirika.

Akane wouldn't be safe. Kirika directed back. I won't endanger my daughter like that.

"What about me?" Ranma snapped, forgetting to keep herself from speaking out loud.

I didn't realize what I was doing to you. I guided you through the naming ceremony so that I wouldn't be able to possess you without your permission anymore, but that was what was sustaining me. I have said good bye. Just let me fade as I must.

Pretty words, but based on what Ranma just experienced, by "fade" Kirika meant "be torn apart by hungry spirits."

"What does she say?" Akane apparently understood Ranma had been talking to Kirika.

"She doesn't want to change who you are, like she changed me."

"You don't seem too bad. How did she change you?"

Ranma swallowed. She is your daughter. I'm not. You guided me through a lot more than just the Naming ceremony. You could do the same for her.

Ranma could feel Kirika consider the idea further. If I do this, you have to promise to watch her. Make sure I don't slip, that she doesn't give up too much of herself for me.

"I promise," Ranma said, and she felt a strange echo. For an instant she could see the spirit world superimposed on the real world. She had a name now, she realized. It meant she was accountable. "Akane…She's going to go to you. Be ready. Try not to let her take anything from you."

Akane nodded, and Ranma felt Kirika leave. Akane closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were bright blue.

"Everything okay?" Ranma asked.

Akane blinked. "Why is everything so bright all of a sudden? I can feel her… Ranma?"

"Yeah?"

"She loves us. I felt that just now. She loves both of us, me and you, it's almost like…"

Ranma felt a sudden urge to hug Akane as a sister. She even took a step forward. But she stopped herself. Kirika wasn't her mother. Even if it felt a little like she was. Ranma had her own family. Even if it did seem like they didn't need or want her. She couldn't just change families because she felt like it.

They had hugged twice already, but now it would mean something different. So instead of a hug, Ranma grabbed Akane's hand and gave it a light squeeze. It was a gesture she probably couldn't have pulled off as a guy, but Ranma tried not to think about that. Akane was her best friend. Of course her mother would love them both. It was something precious they shared, and it didn't have to mean anything more than that.

Looking at the clock tower, Ranma realized they had spent more time than they should have on the road. "We've got to get ready for our challenges. Are you okay, Akane? She's not distracting you too much?"

Akane shook her head. "If anything I feel a little more calm."

This alarmed Ranma a little.

"Relax, Ranma. I'm still me. It's just…It's nice knowing she's there."

Ranma nodded slowly, trying to ignore the jarring sense of emptiness she was feeling now that Kirika wasn't with her. "I'll try to get done with Ryoga quickly so I can catch your fight."

"I'll try to stall a little bit." Akane smiled.

Ranma smiled back. "You know what?"

"What?"

"Blue eyes suit you." Ranma released Akane's hand and walked away.

"Huh? Blue eyes...?" she heard Akane say behind her.

The fight with Ashitaka was over pretty quickly. Afterward Kuno came down from the roof, using ki in his legs just like Ranma had taught him that one time after kicking him off the roof. "Answer me, my errant sunbeam, is what I've just heard true? Is your father touched with madness? Are you besieged by charlatans?"

Ranma blinked. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

Kuno grabbed Ranma's hand in both of his. "Then we are the same! Surely the fates have brought us together. You must date with me!"

"Okay."

"Yea though thy voice declines, thy heart…wait a minute, what did you say?"

Ranma swallowed. Her heart thumped. What was she thinking? She should take it back, say she miss-spoke or something. But when she thought of spending a night with Kuno, having him tell her how great she was, maybe getting to know something about him and why he was such a freak, it didn't seem all that bad. "I said…okay. I'll go on a date with you." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but Kuno heard her.

"Really? I…You will be free after Akane's fight?"

"No, me and Akane both have work."

"Tomorrow, then?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty free tomorrow."

"Then I will call on you at…six?"

"Uh, sure."

"It will be a Tuesday night. It is more customary for a date to be on a Friday. Still, perhaps this is for the best, as the customary times oft make for crowded venues."

Ranma just nodded, still not quite believing she was actually going through with this.

"My heart is overflowing with joy, my goddess! Still I must hurry, lest I miss Akane's battle! "

"I don't know if I'll be able to make it. Let me know if I miss anything."

Kuno placed a hand over his heart. "I will commit every moment to memory for the retelling." With that, Kuno gave a bow and left.

Ranma supposed most girls would be irritated that Kuno would watch another girl's fight instead of their own, but then Ranma wasn't most girls. She was feeling good about her decision for a few moments. At least until Ryoga showed up and completely ruined her mood.

~~~~~?~~~~~

Your expression, has changed, my love. As you know I hang on your every twitch. Please explain this new development.

Yes, of course. I was giving a request, not an order.

You say there is a new connection, tenuous but sure? Interesting. When Ranma possessed Akane, some of her curse must have transferred.

Oh, surely it is not surprising that the servant of the foremost expert on Jusenkyo might know a few tidbits as well. Maybe you could explain more.

Ah yes! Now that Ranma is named, she is claiming the curse as part of herself, swallowing Jusenkyo's energy like a drunkard swallows wine, just as you once did. The demon will struggle to find any way of the host that has become a parasite.

Of course she is nowhere near your equal. I was just noting the similarity. This new connection, does it mean Akane is now cursed?

Potentially cursed. I see. I imagine it's probably like drinking Jusenkyo water. Without a trigger, something that momentarily shocks the person into a semi-conscious state, the Jusenkyo demon can't completely grab hold. But this means that Kirika's daughter is in a lot of trouble! If someone startles her, or she sneezes, or if she even day dreams, that could end up being the trigger for the curse.

But there's more, isn't there? I can see that glint in your eye! Oh, wait… there is nothing for Akane to turn into…that means…

This is good, my savior. I haven't had a chance to catch up with the guide in a long time.

~~~~~Akane~~~~~

She had to focus. She couldn't be worried about Ranma, or about her mother floating somewhere in her brain, or about Kuno shouting praises at her from the side lines. She was in the school gym, where most of the fights took place since Nabiki had worked out a deal with the assistant principal. She was missing Ranma's fight with Ryoga, but she had to concentrate on the fight she was in.

The opponent in front of her wasn't like the others she had fought. For one thing, she was a girl. Her hair was short, but her features were far too feminine for there to be any mistake there. For another, she actually had a great deal of skill and used all sorts of weaponry that Akane didn't understand. Currently Akane was trying to figure out what the ribbon the girl was twirling could possibly be used for. She had done some research on Rhythmic gymnastics, but the books in the library hadn't said anything about pins with spikes in them, or medicine balls with triggered blades. Akane had just barely been able to avoid those, but the experience left her shaken.

Akane concentrated on the girl's movements, and her eyes. Ranma often said that the eyes were important. This girl's eyes looked determined, worried, desperate, hopeful. Her name was Okizaki Kaori, the head of the Furinkan Rhythmic Gymnastics team. She was from a fairly poor family. Lived with her father. Her mother had died or left or something like that. Akane hadn't paid enough attention. She had thought the girl was a lesbian. She figured she would teach her a lesson just like the boys, but the girl hadn't confessed her love or anything like that. She had barely spoken since the fight started. She just attacked.

Was she angry? No. If anything Kaori looked afraid of something. Each of her attacks was potentially devastating, but also oddly tentative. "Why did you challenge me?" Akane asked finally, deciding that it would be better to know than to guess.

In response, the girl shot her ribbon toward Akane. It was as if it were lightning headed straight for her. Akane used the trick Ranma had told her about jumping, using her tie to the Earth as a springboard. The ribbon missed, hitting the wooden post behind where Akane had stood. As Akane landed, the post sprung forward from the tension in the ropes of the ring. The ribbon had sliced through the post like a sword through bamboo. Akane had jumped to the left of the ribbon, but now the ropes were going to interfere with her landing. There wasn't any time for Akane to correct her fall.

She fell on the ropes and fell onto her back. She scrambled to get up, but her ankles were still caught on the top rope and she hadn't found the right leverage yet.

She saw Kaori approach with two pins, having apparently discarded her ribbon. She used the pins to lift her ankles up higher off of the rope. "You can't beat her," Kaori's voice was filled with disappointment.

Akane realized Kaori was going to try to force her to backward somersault off the stage. Making a platform with her arms, Akane lifted her feet off of Kaori pins into a shoulder stand. Then she scrambled up to her feet. But when she rose Kaori started swinging at her with the pins. Only instead of two pins, it seemed like there were ten. Akane tried to dodge all of them nevertheless, and she did better than she would have thought. In the end, though, it was too much. One of the pins connected with Akane's chin and she staggered backward, off the ring.

It hadn't hurt that much. Just a temporary shock to her system, but suddenly Akane felt like she was outside of her body. She saw herself on the ground, Kaori looking at her from the ring. She saw Kuno yelling "Foul!" She saw Ranma watching from the doorway. He was a man, but Akane could still tell it was her him. Something about the light that was glowing inside him her. Everything was turning gray. There were lights everywhere now. Something was pulling her towards something. A huge light, like a sun…was she dying? Was this the light everyone talked about?

Yes, the light told her. The words vibrating through her entire being, I am God. Come to me.

"No! I'm not ready! I don't care if it's heaven or nirvana or what, I'm not ready!"

You don't have a choice, little girl. You're ours now.

Akane was pretty sure God wouldn't talk like that. She tried to resist, but she couldn't grab onto anything. She couldn't see anything anymore except the infinite gray and all the lights around her, burning. Was this Hell then? But she hadn't done anything wrong. Oddly she found the pull toward the light lesson a little.

You judged Ranma for being a boy, judged him her for being a girl. You've accused many people of being perverted, of being lesbians and male homosexuals, as if that made them unworthy of your compassion.

"I know! I'm sorry about that! I'm trying to be better about that, but it's hard!"

We could make it easier for you. There was a jerk toward the light at this.

"What do you mean?"

Let us have your judgment. We will let you go if you give us that.

Akane felt herself drifting closer to the light. She felt like she had to make a decisions soon or it would be too late, but what the light was saying sounded like a trick.

"No," she said finally. "I need to be able to judge." Akane felt the light tug again, but this time she didn't move any closer.

Surely there is some part of yourself you would like to be rid of?

"I don't know. I've got these hang ups about…you know…sex things. None of it seems right to me. And I know that it doesn't make things wrong, but part of me can't stop thinking in terms of black and white."

That will do.

"No wait! I didn't mean…"

But it was too late. Akane felt something tear away from her and for a moment it seemed like she was both rising and falling. Then she was flying faster, faster into the light. "I thought you said you'd let me go, you bastard!" She yelled.

We said we would take you.

"You said I would let you go if I gave you some part of myself. "

Yes. The part of you unable to see past the black and white of an issue. The part of you unwilling to face your own sexuality.

"There's nothing to face about my sexuality, you fucking pervert!" Akane was bathed in the light now, moving closer to the center.

You're absolutely right, Akane. We're here to help. The world is full of perverts, Akane. Help us get rid of them. Help us kill them all.

If Akane had eyes, she would have blinked. Why hadn't she thought of that idea before? Why should any pervert be allowed to live? The world would be a better place without them.

We'll have you start off small. Three foot pool, no pole. Then maybe we can expand, depending on revenue.

"Who are you?" Akane asked even as the knowledge was becoming part of her, even as she was becoming part of the demon who had consumed her.

We are Jusenkyo. We will rise.

~~~~~Ranma~~~~~

Ranma slapped Akane's cheeks lightly. "Come on, Akane, wake up. Your mother won't be able to resist for much longer."

Forsworn

Ranma felt the word like a chill on his back. Really, he was more concerned with Akane than himself, but hearing spirits talk to you is always a little distracting.

Akane's eyes fluttered open. "Ranma?" she asked.

"Yeah, how'd you know it was me?"

"I...You…Did I die?"

"No. Just got knocked out from what I could tell."

"That pretender used foul trickery on you, I'm sure of it, fair one," Kuno asserted. Then he turned to Ranma. "How are you so familiar with this beauteous creature?"

"I'm Ranma's ah brother. I've been living with the Tendos for a while. My name is actually Ranma and my sister's name is Megumi, but that's a long story. "

It was also a completely made up story, but strangely the complexity of the lie made it easier to say. Megumi's fake origin was almost more interesting than her real one.

"Know this. I stay my blade only out of respect for your sister, who lights the world with her beauty. I do not like your manhandling of the fair Akane, however, and should you attempt further seductions in my presence you will meet my wrath."

"She didn't cheat." Akane said. "She won fair and square."

Ranma helped Akane to her feet. "What happened. While you were out, I mean?"

Akane gave him a haunted look with her newly blue eyes. Then she glanced at Kuno and some of the other onlookers and smiled. "Just finally had some sense knocked into me I guess. Where's Kaori? I want to congratulate her."

"She left as soon as the match was over." Ranma said.

"Really? I would have thought she would challenge you next. I mean Megumi."

Ranma shrugged. "You okay? You seem different somehow."

Akane sighed. "I don't know, Ranma. I feel strange too. I should probably go see Dr. Tofu." Akane suddenly burst out in laughter.

"What's funny?"

"I can't believe I thought I had a crush on him!"

"Didn't you?"

Akane closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'll tell you later maybe. It's complicated. I still don't really understand it."

"You think you're okay to go to work?"

"Sure, but I don't think I'll go."

"Huh?"

Akane took a breath. "I don't like working at the restaurant, Ranma. I feel stupid every time I work there. People hit on me. It's not my thing. The only reason I've stayed working there for so long is because it's fun hanging out with y-Megumi, and lately she hasn't been much fun either."

"Hey I'm going to go find Megumi, okay? Then you can talk to her about all this okay? " Ranma turned to Kuno, "Don't you have some place to be?"

"Until you depart, I will remain vigilant."

"Kuno, if you don't depart, I am going to de-part you" Akane smiled maliciously.

"But I do not trust this man's intentions!"

"I trust them more than I trust yours. I don't even like you, Kuno, so please do us all a favor and just leave."

"Is this a test of my love?"

"No, Kuno. It's not a test. It's reality. It will never happen between you and me. You aren't my type. I'm not sure what my type is, but it isn't you."

Kuno frowned. "I think…my goddess might be angry with me. I will entreat her again tomorrow when her mood may be more favorable."

"I'm not your goddess, Kuno. I'm not your anything. I am in charge of who I want to spend time with, not you or anyone else."

"So many foul words from such a pretty mouth! I can bear it no longer! I must away. If I hear that Tendo Akane has been harmed in any way by you , miscreant, I will slice you into ribbons." Kuno ran off.

"Gods, what a creep."

Ranma stayed silent.

"What? Look, it's not good for him or me for him to keep going on like he is. It's sick and pathetic."

Forsworn

"I think maybe we should go see Dr. Tofu as soon as possible."

"Okay, but I don't see why. How am I acting any differently than before?"

"You seem more sure of yourself. Maybe it's a good thing, but it seems a little scary to me."

Akane nodded somberly. "I'm different, aren't I? We have to figure out what that light did to me."

"Light?"

"I don't know. There was this big light that talked to me. Said it was going to take something from me."

Forsworn! FORSWARN!

"Aargh!" Ranma put hands to his ears, but he couldn't get the sound of the spirit screams out of his mind. "Akane, we are going to Tofu's now." Ranma grabbed Akane's arm and dragged her out of the gym.

"Won't you be late for work?" Akane asked.

Ranma kept going. He couldn't decide whether or not the question was stupid or reasonable. Akane couldn't hear the screams he heard after all. In the end he decided not to answer.

Akane tore her arm away from his grasp. "Stop it, Ranma. I'm going with you to Tofu's, but I'm not going to have you dragging me there like some child's toy."

"Fine, but we have to hurry."

"Why?"

"Because the voices in my head are telling me to, okay?"

Akane raised her hands in a "give up" gesture. "Let's go then. " She ran ahead of Ranma out of the door.

Ranma had the odd thought that she looked kind of cute when she was running, before the screams picked up again, moving him forward.

~~~~~Akane~~~~~

The waiting room was very strange. The closest thing to it Akane had experienced was a centrifuge ride that was at a festival she went to once. The room was circular with large, tall-backed chairs all around the edge. In the center of the room , hanging from the ceiling was a ring of displays, one for each seat. Her display showed a small pond, a puddle really. There were several empty chairs in the room, but most of them were filled with people. Some were as solid as she was, while others were almost transparent.

"How's it going?" the person to the right of her asked. He happened to be one of the more transparent ones.

"What is this place?" Akane demanded.

"This is the waiting room. It's where we watch over our ponds and try to get people to fall in. "

"Why would I want to do that?"

"Well, it's really the only way to get out. I mean, there's the break room and that can be fun, depending on what you're into, but it doesn't come close to real life."

"Who are you?"

"Most folks here call me Mao. I'm in control of the Maonichuan, spring of drowned cat. I usually hang out in the break room myself, but Jusenkyo is revving up for something, taking out more soul energy than usual. Everyone is fading faster now, and since I was already half gone when the push started, if I don't get the next customer to land in my spring, I might cease to exist and some upstart will get my spot."

"That's ridiculous. If you were the spirit of a cat spring, you'd be a cat."

"How many cats do you know with the patience for this kind of thing? No, maybe the spirit was a cat at one time, but that hasn't been true for at least several centuries. Basically the way it works is if you die with a curse, you either get your soul eaten or you become the spirit of that curse. Actually you get your soul eaten either way, but it's slower the second way. Besides there's always the chance you can take over your host and escape. Of course if that happens then when your host dies, you get your soul eaten. Kind of a lose, lose, lose situation. Very tragic story, as we like to say around here."

"When do I get to kill perverts?" Akane asked.

"Kill…perverts? Huh. You must be one of those partial souls they bring in from time to time. Jusenkyo uses you guys as soldiers. Making sure the springs don't come to harm, not letting victims get control of their curses, that sort of thing. You'll probably get fast-tracked out of here."

"I'm not a partial soul. I'm the real me!"

Mao laughed. "That's what all the partial souls say. Here's the test: can you think of anything or anyone that you care about?"

"Sure I can! I…" But Akane found she didn't have the knack any more. When she thought of her family she could only think of all the times they failed her or tried to manipulate her. Ranma had betrayed her just like all her other "friends" in school by being a pervert. Ranma had ruined martial arts for her too, so she didn't care about that any more either. "I care about killing perverts," she said.

"That's not a thing or a person. That's an act, and I don't think it's something you actually have much experience in. As for me, I was cursed to be a cat back when hot water wasn't as easy to come by as it is now. There was this lady who took me in. She thought I was just a normal cat and I guess I might as well have been. " Mao seemed to grow a little more solid, even as his smirking expression slackened into melancholy. "I wasn't able to save her from that fire."

"Well, I don't care what you say. I'm me. I'm complete."

"You know some people only ever have partial souls. They die never knowing love of any kind. Maybe you were one of those. At any rate, if I were you, I'd find something, anything to focus on. To care about. That will give you strength."

Akane didn't respond right away. Instead she watched the display of her pond as she thought of what her thing might be. "There was this festival I went to as a little girl," she said after several minutes. "There was this tall device with a bell on the top they used to measure people's strength. And there was this large, heavy, wooden mallet…"

~~~~~End of Ch.15~~~~~

~~~~~Author's note~~~~~

7/7/12: Yep, still around. Still writing fanfiction. Sorry for the long wait this time, but I do this purely for fun now, and I have many other projects keeping me busy. I still plan on adding more chapters to this and to Thyself Known. I think Oyu has almost caught up with TK as far as chapter numbers, so I might switch over soon. I hope to get another chapter out before the world ends in December.

As always, thank you for your interest and your comments. They are definitely appreciated.

I'm a bit worried I'm going off the rails here this chapter, but what I have planned should hopefully get me closer to an end game on the overall arc. Also, one or two people mentioned that they thought there wasn't enough Akane. Now there's twice as much, so there:-)

In the universe this fanfiction is based on, you have spirits and you have demons, and you have curses. The way I figure it, a curse is an organized form of spiritual attack, and that if a bunch of spirits got together, they could do a much better job at cursing folk than otherwise. I figure this organization of spirits might be a demon. I suppose it's a bit like the hollows in Bleach. Only instead of getting destroyed right away, I have the souls slowly get their essence drained by working for an unfeeling corporation.

Well that's fine but how did Akane get attacked? The way I see it, getting cursed is like a spammer getting your email address. If you inadvertently give them your friend's address (aka name) by, say, jumping into their body in order to escape a band of hungry spirits…then you've created a problem for your friend.

You might be wondering whether Ranma's curse is affected by this. Well no, not really. Just because a spammer has a new address doesn't mean they'll stop using the old one. I'll admit the analogy breaks down at some point, but that's the basic idea. I'll be able to explain things in more detail in the next chapter. Assuming the world doesn't end before then.

Thanks for reading!