Nabiki fidgeted restlessly in her seat, trying in vain to focus on the sounds of religion as they floated to her from the front of the class. The stock market and global economy. Ahh, the sound of money changing hands, even if it was only theoretical money. But bigger and more urgent things awaited her outside, behind the girls' locker room building. It would be between classes, but that would be enough. Yuuki had refused to say anything that morning, but had said that she had found something that might have been of interest, but stressed that it might be nothing. Something in Nabiki screamed that this was important. But Yuuki all too enjoyed the waiting game, and particularly, inflicting it upon others. Well, small price to pay.
She practically jumped when the bell rang, fighting to keep her pace normal and non-chalant as she left the room. She didn't even notice the bright sun as it shone high in the noonday sky; she only kept her focus on the path that lay ahead. The building itself, then the fox statue behind it. The girl half-sitting on the fox's concrete base was pretty in a nondescript kind of way, hair in a perpetual ponytail. Nabiki could never decide if she was truly just plain looking or intentionally playing down her looks to avoid attention. Things for another time.
"Here you go," Yuuki smiled at her upper-classman broadly, always friendly and unpretentious. Nabiki flipped through the first folder experimentally. Geologic survey reports, weather readings, What the--
"What's this?" Nabiki waved the file at Yuuki, waiting for the punchline. The second year student at times had the most bizarre sense of humor.
"Jut some odd stuff about a recent meteor crash that occurred a couple of days ago on the outskirts of the city. A bunch of people saw this flash of light in the sky, but there was no crash. Some swear they saw a person." Yuuki chuckled briefly. "With all those weird questions you were asking me, you sounded just like my grandmother. I couldn't resist. Maybe you'll want to hit the site and do some UFO watching or something?" Nabiki slid the file to the back, a large manila envelope now taking the forefront. "There's the stuff you wanted about that old Sendai* incident you had heard of."
Nabiki slipped the papers free of the envelope, and began to read, this time in earnest.
"Wow, this happened over ten years ago! Took me forever to find. Funny, though, that the attacks back then are so similar to the ones now. Maybe my grandmother was right. Monsters running around mangling people. Giant robots walking around shooting up buildings and destroying Defense Force ships--"
Nabiki's head shot up and stared at the girl wide eyed. So it was true! Everything she had suspected. She had been a few years old when it had happened, and back then she had thought it a great story. Kasumi had remembered it a little better, just enough details to make the search worth it. But to hear it come out of someone who was barely born when it happened. Iczel Blue had been telling the truth after all. Her head was spinning.
"Whoa, don't take this all to heart." Yuuki waved her hands in front of her defensively, laughing wildly. "None of that is in there. Apparently just some militant group that had come out of the woodwork. Where my grandmother got her stories from is beyond me. She's old, though, you know; not all there. You know how it is."
Nabiki could only smile and laugh halfheartedly. "Yeah, really." Of course not. Giant robots, little robots. Bizarre monsters coming in and out of thin air to try and kill you. All too absurd for reality. If only you knew, Yuuki. Instead, Nabiki returned to her usual skeptical face. "I was going to say..."
The two shared a laugh for a few minutes, discussing informalities and local gossip. Nabiki left as the bell rang, her steps now unsure and straggling. Sendai was a long way off, but it was really strange that the whole incident had been played down so effectively. A militant group gone wild that happened to coincide with an earthquake, thus the massive damage. It was so easy to believe, so tempting to just ignore the truth of what she had seen. But that just wasn't her style.
Back to playing the waiting game. For Nabiki, normally a favorite past time, but now she found it all too slow. If this was happening all over again, the same mistakes surely weren't going to be made twice, but what were the first ones? And how to figure them out before it took out her family, and everyone else, for that matter? Frustration set it, and left an empty taste in her mouth. Or maybe, I should do some UFO watching? With a hunch set in her mind, Nabiki flipped back into the first folder, walking absent-mindedly to her next class.
Shampoo hated the café in the quiet moments between the lunch crowd and the after-school rush. It was a nerve wracking teetering between action and inaction. Only enough time to begin to relax before chaos took over once more, lasting until well into the evening. She fidgeted with her apron, stalking her way around the restaurant, hoping anything might have been misplaced, something that needed replacing, something dirty, anything. Anything that might stop his staring. Even as blind as the fool was, she could still feel his accusing stare upon her, boring a hole through her back. She could almost hope for the blind devotion she normally took from him, but now, it was suspicious, sidelong glances and the silent treatment. The good thing, if the only good thing, about it all was that if he wasn't talking to her, he wasn't trying to woo her with verbal antics.
But it was just so quiet now. And the silence was driving her insane. She looked back towards the room behind the kitchen. Great-grandmother was there, quiet as mouse, also not speaking to her except when necessary, if only for different reasons. Since the woman's first arrival, Shampoo had found herself quickly and quite suddenly removed from the discussion. Why, no one said. And knowing the elder, she dared not ask. You didn't question the elders. That was the Joketsuzoku way.
And why wouldn't he stop staring?!
"Mousse! You stop--" She spun with a curse on her tongue, but there was only the empty shop to listen. She continued to curse him silently under her breath, and turned back to staring out the window again.
Even before she saw the crackle of lightning reflected in the window, she felt it's spark and burn in the air about her. She wasted no time as the two large robotic figures materialized. She jumped and sped forward, launching an aerial kick at the first large blue one. She could rebound and hit the other as she hit target. Her foot almost broke as her strike hit home, the target neither moving nor yielding. Shampoo recoiled with the pain, but didn't let it slow her. The second silver robot was quicker. It slid behind her in one lightning fast motion and heaved two fists down upon her. With a shriek, she collapsed like a rag doll, crumpling to the floor in a heap.
"Shampoo!" Shampoo never felt more relieved to hear him call her name. Chains and blades whipped at the robots, wrapping and banging around the robots from a short distance. In the same instant the two just grabbed their bindings and pulled viciously, flinging Mousse into tables and chairs, dragging and breaking everything in his path.
"Violis! Silvas! Enough!" The two Voids stepped back from their toying fight, settling into position as if nothing had happened. Shampoo could only shake weakly as she lay on the floor, her body belonging to someone else at that moment. The pain was blinding, blanking her mind of almost everything. She looked up to the only woman capable of controlling the robots, and realized that her body was shaking from more than just the pain.
"What is going on here?" Cologne's walking stick clacked loudly against the tiles as she bounced in among the fray. She looked upon her great granddaughter and the mess about them with open faced disgust. "Shampoo--"
"Great-grandmother-- I--" Shampoo looked up weakly.
"I told you not to interfere."
Shampoo's jaw dropped. She stared incredulously at the two robots, both standing without a single twitch yet to her silently screaming to jump at the chance to finish her and Mousse off. A part of her didn't doubt they could. She looked over to Mousse, who stood least worn for the wear but angry enough for both of them. She could sense that much from him, though his blank expression did nothing to betray him.
"Keep fighting and you don't get what you want," Aurus sighed as she looked down upon the girl. If she had even cared all that much, she might have been irritated. But they did have their use for now. She could take care of the other one later. "A bedem could kill you easily if you tried anyway. You are certainly no match for these two Voids." She smiled smugly; Shampoo snarled, growling at her silently. "Let them do what you would never be able to do."
Shampoo lunged, the growl loud and bordering on a roar. "Why you--"
"SHAMPOO!!" Angered shout and worried cry tore out in unison. In a second, Shampoo felt her body jerked back against her will as she was slammed to the floor by her hair. A delicate, silver booted foot stomped down heavily on her throat, crushing her windpipe to the point of breaking. Electricity shot through her like pain, freezing her in place. Brown eyes bulged with pain, shock, and outrage. Chains hailed towards them with a fury, but dissolved into the air as if they never were. Mousse skidded to a halt, short remnants of chain recoiling to hit him dully. The Voids had yet to move.
"Don't think to cross me, little one. I can demolish you, and everyone else here without a thought." Aurus lifted her foot and turned to face the Voids. "You have your duties. Follow the bedem. Assist if you must, but you know the priority. Go." The Voids were gone in their own quick glowing of colors. Aurus turned her head lazily to Shampoo who still lay prone on the floor. "You'd best learn yours as well." With that, she was gone herself.
Shampoo remained on the floor, her body shaking with more than pain and breathlessness. An old, small hand placed itself gently on her shoulder. Brown eyes looking to another place would never see the moment of sympathy in stark black eyes. "Lose no pride in this fight, Shampoo. Merely learn that there are fights you cannot win, and move on."
Mousse watched the exchange wonderingly. Even if the two women got what they thought they wanted, how much more might they lose in the end than just pride?
Akane fidgeted restlessly in her seat, a worm working its way up her spine, and sending all her senses on alert. Alert to everything except what she was supposed to be paying attention to. If she couldn't even pay attention to the classes she liked, then she was really going to fall behind. She let a sigh escape her quietly and tried to find a comfortable position.
She wished she knew what it was that was bothering her. She could guess, but even anxiousness over what had been going on just didn't seem to fit with the way she felt. There was a heady tension in the air, like the rumble of distant thunder. She adjusted her place on her chair again, and set to swinging her legs, if only to feel like she was doing something.
Leaning on her hand as the teacher's voice became a drone in her head, her eyes wandered the class around her. The wall, the window, the other students. Ranma was already half asleep himself, but that was normal. Very little made its way to him in a classroom. He appeared to be writing away in his notebook, but without even looking, she knew better. They were all doodles. He would chase her down later for notes. She felt bad for him at that moment. Feeling as ready to jump out of her seat the way she did now, she had to wonder what it was like for him on a daily basis.
Akane picked up her own pencil and began to flip it back and forth between her fingers. Soon it made its way to tapping out a dulled, monotone beat on her notebook. It hypnotized her, sending her into a stupor which turned her view of the room fuzzy. The tapping continued, the movement becoming extraneous to her. It echoed loudly in her head, blocking out everything else that attempted to enter. The teacher's voice, once a distant sound, was now completely gone.
There was a quiet jolt in the air around her, sudden, but not disorienting. It went as quickly as it came. It left in its wake a stillness that engulfed everything, leaving a feeling that was...
Too still.
Akane bolted upright in her seat, all her senses returning to her in a rushing upheaval. Everything had gone dark. The room had the appearance of having been emptied long ago of students, the light outside dark and starless. The lights had been turned off, but her vision was unaffected. She stood and looked around in a panic, all too ready and not ready enough for what she knew had to strike at any moment. She didn't know where she was, but screaming senses knew all too well what it would mean. She jumped as the chair squealed as it dragged against the floor behind her. She wanted to be angry at herself, but couldn't bring herself to be. Jumping at my own shadow... It was an empty chastisement. She walked out around the table, keeping close to its edge.
There was a loud hissing noise, and she froze as it looked at her from the front of the classroom. A large bedem, this one tall and thick, almost six feet, stared at her with large, white-rimmed eyes from that snail-like head. Her breath turned ragged in her throat, trying desperately to rip its way through to her lungs. She looked around again, waiting for Iczel Blue, Iczer Liros, anybody to help. She clawed desperately within her to Iczerio, but to no avail. Her hands attempted to find the table she was holding, and attempted to find her way back behind it. It was just standing there. What should she do? She had no options, and no where to go. To get to the door, she would have to pass it. With the darkness that seemed to creep in from the outside, the windows became an even worse idea.
A slight quiver began in her knees, and fought to spread to the rest of her body. She could fight, she knew she could! But how? Without Iczel Blue, she had no power to fight. Terror's grip turned a little stronger, and tightened its hold on her chest as sweat beaded on her brow. I can't fight like this. I'm powerless... Why wasn't Iczel Blue here?
The bedem tensed, and so did she. Akane's breath caught in her throat and stayed there. Her mind raced with options that she didn't have. It jumped, and all she could do was scream.
"Miss Tendo!" Akane jumped as her name was called. She opened her eyes tentatively, and as she stood, stared fuzzily at everything, everyone, around her.
"Eh?" She looked to her teacher, now standing with his hands akimbo as he stared at her sternly. Everything was normal. The light shone in almost glaringly from outside, throwing streaks of sunlight across the room, the breeze warm but touched with the crispness of a winter past but still holding on. All the faces she knew were there. Had she been dreaming? She stared back at her teacher, trying to make sense of it all.
"Would you like to share with the class, Miss Tendo?"
Words fell out as a mumbled apology and she managed to find her way back down on her seat. A heated blush rose in her face. Whispers just out of earshot floated about the classroom. She cringed under the blue-eyed gaze she knew was boring its way through her from the desk on her right. She prayed he wouldn't say anything. She continued to stare at her notebook and nothing else. She fiddled her pencil again, merely holding it in her two hands, staring at nothing. And she remained like that for some time.
With a clearing of his throat, the teacher returned to his lesson, and soon everyone did the same. Akane remained as she was, staring at her desk, at her pencil, at nothing. The sounds remained, although muted in a mind confused and shaken.
Eventually the bell rang, more a tone than a song, and students began the shuffle to grab books and bags and make their way to their next classes. Akane felt herself doing the same, following motions she neither felt nor recognized. She didn't fight it. She began to follow Ranma out of the room, but stopped at the call of her name once more. Nothing. Back to herself and the present, she took a tentative step. The voice calling her belonged to her teacher. She flinched inwardly. She knew what would come of it, and it would not be good. Ranma's look was unreadable, but he left without a word.
The class quickly emptied, and she found herself once more in an empty classroom save for one other soul. She wondered if she should feel relieved for the apparent normalcy of the current scene. No strange lighting, no dangerous creatures, just her, and one angry professor. He shuffled his belongings, gathering his own things to get ready to leave, making random scribblings on his own papers before placing them back in their proper place.
"Miss Tendo, your behavior is unacceptable." He didn't turn to her immediately. Akane could only look at the floor as her hands fidgeted with her book bag.
"I-- I'm sorry... I don't know what happened." She just wanted to leave, to run. If the tension she felt before was without cause, she could give the nervousness she felt now at least one source. She almost leapt as her arm was grabbed roughly.
"You're right." The grip tightened dramatically, and a sharp cry escaped her. "This will never happen again." She looked up, and met only blank, staring eyes.
Akane's eyes widened in panic; the man's skin tightened and stretched, pulling impossibly at face and neck, muscles bulging, and blood bursting out of vessels underneath the skin. His voice was only a gargling sound, part cry part drowning. She struggled to get away, the hold on her tightening painfully with each move.
Skin ripped apart with an explosion of blood and parts, revealing the slime-covered flesh beneath.. Clothes tore apart and boils exploded to expose tentacles and more flesh beneath. Insect eyes stared at her as more and more tentacles wrapped their way around her. Pointed probes shoved rudely in her mouth, and she coughed and wheezed as she tried to expel them.
Her mind raced. How to get away? Where to run? Her breath heaved as her throat was closed off. Finally, she decided on the only thing she could do. She charged forward, throwing all her weight into the creature. Her mind went blank from fear and revulsion, but her course was set. With a loud bang and crash, everything tumbled and fell out of balance, the world whirling as predator and prey fell to the floor. Desks overturned, her head striking the table as she fell. A man's short yell flew out above her, and hands grabbed at her from everywhere. She struck out feebly, flailing herself wildly as she was dragged back.
The bedem recoiled, and straightened itself once more. Akane continued her thrashing and coughing, her eyes focusing slowly on the chaos about her. Even if she couldn't see, she wanted to be anywhere but where she was, and escape what was happening.
"Quit fightin' me, dammit!" Ranma held her down as best he could until she got her bearings again. He'd known something was up. He hadn't forgotten what Iczel Blue had said about her knowing about an attack beforehand.
"Ranma...?" Akane straightened herself and stood on her own, her eyes finally working on their own. "Ranma!" Surprise and relief flooded her.
"You okay?" He also hadn't missed how Akane had stared at the teacher when she first stood in class like he had two heads. Apparently he did.
"Yeah--" She continued to cough as her throat began to feel the residual effects of friction, lack of air, and Akane's own disgust. Loud rattling hissing cut off further talk. The bedem recoiled back towards the window for another try. Akane struggled once more to reach for Iczerio that floated frustratingly out of her grasp.
Ranma tensed as the bedem readied itself to leap. He wasn't going to give this thing a chance to get to her. Ki flooded him, and he threw his hands forward. "MOUKO TAKABISHA!!" Light blasted in from everywhere, and threw the pouncing bedem crashing out the window, where it exploded in light and blood and drifted away in ash.
Silence followed for several seconds after. The two stood stricken but ready, not exactly sure of what to expect. Ranma let himself sag. He had used just about everything on that shot. It had left him spent, but apparently it had been worth it. Akane leaned heavily on the table. She closed her eyes, now forced to acknowledge the pain that now raked itself over her brain from her fall.
They looked to each other unsure, but a smile from Ranma, rich with its usual confidence, though a tad tired, put a close to everything. She took comfort in that.
"Whew! That was close! Bedem never work alone. I thought I'd never get here in time!" Ranma and Akane spun to face the voice in a familiar blue robot. Ranma almost sagged in relief. He knew he didn't have the strength to fight any more right now.
"I would hardly think you should be gloating yet, little one. This fight is hardly over, and I haven't gotten what I needed yet."
Ranma almost didn't want to look. He hadn't forgotten that voice; he wasn't sure if he even could. A voice that full of hatred and mockery was one you made yourself remember, if only because trouble and/or danger usually followed right behind.
Aurus was flanked by the two large Voids, either easily dwarfing her tall but petite frame. Akane jumped to her feet, but wobbled as her body protested. She ignored it. She couldn't afford to. Anger returned and replaced pain. She could feel what this woman was capable of. She wasn't going to let her get away with anything. "Iczel Blue!" The command was spoken, and girl and robot fused into on beam of light and entity.
Ranma winced. He'd already seen her do that several times before, and it was still uncomfortable to watch. Well, he would do what he could. For her sake, he could find more energy to fight. He slid into position and faced the blond woman across the room.
"Ranma, stay back! This is going to be too dangerous!" With a flash, Akane took her saber in hand. Her nerves were wire taut, but her temper was beginning to get the better of her. Right now, she took that as a good thing.
"I should be tellin' you that! It's you they're after!" Ranma could already feel it. She was getting angry, and stubborn and stupid always followed that when it came to her. The last thing he needed. Everything in an instant went dark, and the room disappeared. Ranma's body tensed, ready for more trouble. The surroundings were a nauseating block of darkness which disoriented vision. Shit! What the hell just happened… He looked over to Akane, who stood tense, ready, and more determined than ever. From the look of her, she was expecting this… It didn't matter. No matter the place, it didn't change his ability as a fighter. He could make his way through anything that he faced.
Aurus stepped back once. "Violis! Silvas, GO!" The two Voids sped forward, and Akane rushed to meet them, saber and Iczerio raging. She had to protect him. There was no way he could face them. Two sabers crashed together, and she slid back with the force of it. The blue Void assailed her with stroke after stroke, again and again, and somehow she managed to parry. She fired a laser blast through a gloved fist and the Void took it without damage, only betraying a pause to block it. Blasts erupted from its shoulder guards, catching her square in the chest. With a cry she fell back, but quickly jumped to her feet again, silently grateful at her armor's protection. She couldn't lose. She couldn't afford to.
Ranma could only so far manage to avoid hits, never able to get one in himself. A sharp cry from Akane wailed out and caught him. A large fist slammed into his abdomen and with an out-rush of air, he crumpled. He rushed to his feet and vaulted out with a strike. He met nothing, and a solid kick to his back sent him flying towards the blond woman. She side stepped as he descended, sliding like a beaten dog several feet past her.
With a smile, she knelt to grab his shirt collar. His vision was hazy, but he knew where he didn't need to be. He pried at her hand, and in an instant found his air cut off. His body went limp, already weak from severe abuse, and now deprived of vital oxygen. His body rose from the ground in her grip as if he were of no consequence.
Unconsciousness drew a glaze over his eyes, but he continued to struggle awkwardly. The gray Void began its return to its master's side, but was stopped short as it was forcefully brought down by blue lightning from above. Aurus grimaced at the new arrival.
Another blast erupted in the darkness, and Akane was shoved back by the blue Void's one good arm, its other laying dead where it had fallen, a shiny pool laying around it. Fluid and tentacles dragged out of what was left of the Void's shoulder, which reached out to grab at the felled Iczelion.
Ranma clawed his way towards reality at the cry, every inch left struggling to break free. The grip tightened, and cut off the last bit of air. His mouth gaped as he choked.
Akane fought her way to her knees, erecting a force-field as another wave of blasts assailed her. Iczerio flared and melted to ash the ichorous feelers that were forced just out reaching her by the force-field. She gasped a smile in delighted surprise as Iczer Liros made quick work of the other Void. At least Ranma won't have to-
"NO!" She shot up as she saw him suspended uselessly from Aurus' hand. Another blast cracked it's way further into armor, and sent her sprawling back several feet.. We're still okay, Akane. Let's go! Akane heard Iczel Blue's affirmation and was only half relieved, knowing she would continue even if things had not gone so well. She bolted forward, raging into the large blue creature, flinging both to the ground. Use your hand laser, Akane, into the tentacles! With a howling cry, she thrust a tightly balled fist into the Void and all of Iczerio with it. Metal exploded around her, blood and skin erupting in the air to glowing embers as it dissipated to nothing.
She looked up at the woman, Aurus. Her mind blanked in outrage and contempt, blinding her to all but one course.
Iczer Liros stopped as she watched the boy dangling from Aurus' arm, still fighting, though weakly and clumsily, to escape. She couldn't attack as she was. Like her mother, Aurus would have that same control of Iczerio, and she couldn't risk killing Ranma.
She made her way to leave, gold light flickering about her. She was jerked back, a door shutting in her face. Gold orbs widened in surprise, but only momentarily. She looked to the Iczer, who although standing steadfast and focused, was the not the cause of it.
"Don't try and stop me either, Iczer Liros. I can destroy them both."
Iczer Liros raised her saber, stepping forward silently with purpose. Aurus' free hand glowed with power, and carried an easy stride of confidence as she turned to her rival.
The blast shot out of nowhere, pointed and powerful. Iczer Liros spun to it's source.
"Akane-- don't-!"
With a smile and without a second thought, Aurus sent the blast speeding back to its owner, enough force following it with her own power to destroy.
Akane! The forcefield barely rose around her in time for what enveloped her and crushed armor into her. A scream broke free with the pain and feel of wetness from blood about her as metal broke into flesh. The voice in the back of her mind shrieked, but determination and fear wrenched Iczerio away and blasted outward. The crush ceased, and dissipated away. Akane leaned weakly on her knees as she sat, hanging heavily towards the darkness below her. Ranma…
A spark ignited and broke free of the dark as the scream had wrenched him back into the light. A horrified outburst that meant she was in danger. That meant he wasn't doing what he was supposed to do. He knew who the cause was. Knew why he wasn't able to keep her safe like he was supposed to. He felt the air ripping out of him, the crushing hand keeping it from getting back in. Akane… He focused desperation into one last move, his only chance.
The blast burst forth from nowhere, Aurus staggering back a step from surprise. Not enough to even hurt, but enough to release her grip on him. He fell with a thud, hitting darkness in a heavy heap.
Just enough left, Akane…It's voice weak, but sure of purpose, Akane surged forward with a pained howl, her body rebelling furiously, her thoughts only on getting to him. She grabbed at him with all she had left.
Just enough… It was all Iczel Blue could say as a bright flash of blue took all three to a safer place.
Iczer Liros turned her attention to Aurus once more. Without a word, but an irritated grimace on her face, Aurus burst in a glow of power and launched at the Iczer, lashing out thick streaks of energy. Iczer Liros evaded the attacks and leapt to meet her foe, turning and stretching herself as the two flew at each other, saber striking air as Aurus replied with an equally expert agility.
Aurus sent a thick blast at Iczer Liros, rich gold light turning blood red in the darkness. Iczer Liros spun and exploded in blue Iczerio, fighting off the destructive blow with her own. The two forces pushed and pulled at one another furiously, fighting for control and vengeance. Iczer Liros grunted under the strain, an angry itch at the base of her neck struggling to break through. She pushed it away and focused on control.
Gold light burst through, obliterating Iczerio's presence, heaving the Iczer back and crushing her into the floor. Aurus sneered at her contemptuously.
"I don't have time for you now. Especially pitiful as you are." Iczer Liros' voice groaned hoarsely as she rose. Aurus disappeared into the black, but her voice remained tauntingly. "Perhaps one day you will make a reasonable opponent, but not as you are. I have better things to do." Her laugh echoed behind, drifting away on invisible wind.
Iczer Liros snarled, the itch growing. She balled her fists tightly as she stared at the nothingness around her. There was no way around it. For now, the daughter of Big Gold was right. With her Iczerio and energy focused on fixing Iczer Robo and protecting Akane, she was in no way able to face Aurus' power. This is not over. This is definitely nowhere near over. Iczer Liros jetted away into the darkness.
Kasumi dusted lightly about the house as she walked through, doing no more than wiping a clean cloth across the table before placing down a small plate of mochi. There was really no specific occasion to make the sticky, sweet, rice cakes; with the recent troubles, they certainly wouldn't hurt anyone any, and indeed, might do a little to raise morale. Kasumi sighed, just a tad morosely. Her father and Mr. Saotome had gone out to do some shopping for her. It helped to get them out of the house once in a while. While classes had seemed to pick up since Ranma's arrival, now her father spent his time moping and lamenting between classes while being half worsened and comforted by Mr. Saotome. Her father always seemed at his happiest while at his most miserable. Well, better to leave things as be. Everyone had their role to play.
Almost instinctively, she stepped back and out of the way as the trio of bodies collapsed onto the floor in the living room, A battered and broken Iczel Blue bouncing away as he separated in a flickering beam from Akane.
Iczel Blue stared at the two quietly for a second, then stood.
"I'm sorry. Can you take care of them for a while? I'm not too good right now." Kasumi smiled as the little robot faced her, but did not say anything. Everyone had their parts to play, and its part was ended for now. She would gladly take over. With what appeared to be a relieved, satisfied look, Iczel Blue disappeared to go where it may.
Groans and coughs issued wearily from the pair left, and both rose slowly as they retrieved their bearings. Ranma was the first to stand, blurrily staring down at Akane angrily as she knelt wearily on the floor. Blood trickled slowly from a cut from her temple, and several small blotches of red peeked through white fabric. Ranma's chest continued to heave to catch up with stolen breaths.
"What the hell were you thinking? You nearly got killed out there." Ranma would have yelled at the top of his lungs if he had the strength. Instead he settled for an angry glare which he wholeheartedly felt. "You had no place fighting at all. You shoulda just gotten the hell outta there!"
Akane froze as he spoke, staring at him blankly, disbelieving of what she was hearing. Who was he to talk?! "What was I thinking?!" Akane had no problem, however, raising her voice. "What are you thinking?! What was I supposed to do?! Leave you there to die?!"
"Yeah, if you have to!!"
Akane's body went rigid. She hadn't heard that. There was no way he meant that. She continued to stare; took a long, careful look at him. She knew Ranma. His expression was stolid, not at all boastful or defensive, there was no hint that it might have been the meaningless slip of misplaced bravado.
He was dead serious.
Her eyes narrowed, her expression darkened, and all the anger, all the guilt, all her fearful premonitions surged to forefront, tearing their way out her chest into the open air, dragging her to her feet. "No. I won't allow it."
Kasumi made her way to her baby sister, seeing a new and dangerous surge of power that grew about her. Not the kind that wielded weapons, or raised voices to staggering heights, but a clear sense of purpose, a fanatical hold on beliefs that turned the girl's eyes wild. "Akane, maybe you should go--"
"I will never give you, or anybody up like that. I made a promise and I am going to keep it," Kasumi paused without making contact. Akane was not herself, but had never been more so. "Not because of what I am, what I can do, but because of who you are. What you all mean to me. And I will NEVER LET YOU DIE!! Do you hear me?! NEVER!!" Akane sagged under the weight of her own convictions, caught up by Kasumi at the last second.
"Akane, you can't stay like this. Let's go?" Akane's strength dissipated and drifted from her wild-eyed expression, now looking very tired. "Ranma, you'll call Dr. Tofu, won't you?" Kasumi propped her sister against her, showing surprising ease of strength. Akane used what little strength she had left to propel herself up the stairs.
"Never, Ranma. I'll never give you up."
The words wafted to him from tired lips down the stairs, but there was no doubt in her sincerity. He watched her stagger up the stairs and down the hallway. His own face was battered and bruised, and he was certain the rest of him matched. He felt none of it. Clear blue-gray eyes held their own conviction, following their center of belief as she disappeared from site upstairs.
"That's my line."
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