Alone in the Rose Garden
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
By:Alexandra Ronewicz
Note: This fic is rated PG-13 because somewhere along the way there will be foul language, sexual actions, and violence. Characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi and not me unless I say otherwise. Please don't sue me, I probably will be able to pay it but, I need a college education and a house. So...

Part One: Garden of Horrors

Dearest Akane,
It's me Ryoga. I have arrived at a very unusual training ground. It is near the edge of a cliff in England. I will write to you when I can, and tell Ranma when I have finished my training, I will gladly duel with him.

                                                                                                                                    Sincerely,
                                                                                                                                    Ryoga Hibiki

Akane folded the letter in half as she let out a long awaited sigh. The wind picked up and carried the letter out into the koi fish pond and she grumbled slightly at the billowy puffs in the sky. Her grumble became a gasp as the letter broke in half and a rose replaced it with red liquid seeping out of it slowly. Akane let her feet carry her and drop her near the pool as it was soon completely filled with the strange liquid. Almost afraid she dipped her hand into the dyed water and lifted it out. The droplets of crimson cascaded down her wrist and ran down to her fingertips. Cautiously she put one finger in her mouth for a taste and spat repeadily at the ground. * BLOOD... * The words boomed over and over in her head.
Ranma strolled over to the pond to see what the whole comotion was about. "Akane... why is your hand stained red?"
Akane answered him with a lift of her stained hand.
Ranma examined it and caught a droplet that fell from her index finger in his hand. He sniffed the droplet and then licked it calmly. His expression of normal went to disgusted in no time flat. " Akane! This is BLOOD! " he cried out in shock looking at the swirling masses of it in the pool.
Tears trickled down the sides of Akane's eyes and soon they were as red and puffy as the pond. "Ranma...Ryoga's in trouble... "      " What? " Ranma asked confused wiping her falling tears with his hand.      " Ryoga...he must be in trouble...he was training in England...a got his letter...it flew in the pond and turned to... " Akane sobbed deeper as he patted Akane akwardly on the back telling her it was going to be ok.

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     Ryoga looked up with some curiosity at the large golden gates that curved in odd shapes and were twisted with black thorns. Beyond the gates was a massive garden filled with colored roses he never even knew exsisted. A dropping cliff was extended to the right of the garden making the rising sun dance over the rocky ledge.

* What a strange...yet beautiful traning ground...I want to be inside... *
With those exact thoughts the gates opened and there stood a girl about the same age as him. The words freak and loser made a battle aura of depression surround her. The whisps of hair that dangled in her face were purple but the rest was raven black. The purple in her hair made her amethest eyes sparkle like the few lonely stars that speckled the sky. Her black, golden dusted evening gown made her appear older and wiser than her years. " Hello, traveler...I am Kali, Protector of the Rose Garden, " she bowed deeply to Ryoga as if he was an important King or a President. After some time she lifted her head slightly as in question.
Ryoga's heart thumped akwardly in his chest. " M-my name is Ryoga...Ryoga H-Hibiki....I have come to train in your garden, " he squeaked.
She lifted herself from the bow and walked over to the blushing Ryoga. " Do I make you nervous? " She asked placing a hand over his heart, counting the rapid beat.
Ryoga stiffined at her touch and almost became clumsy until Kali closed her eyes exhaling softly. He was curious more than ever now. What was she doing? Was she searching for something? Something hidden that even he did not understand or wish to release forth? She popped open her eyes and held a content and pleased smile. It frightened him but made him feel strangely warm in his heart. She removed her hand and placed it to the open gates, as a signal for him to enter.

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Kuno jogged, swinging his bokken about time and time again. He was going to the legendary Rose Garden...it was said that any man that trained there would become the strongest and most powerful man on earth. Kuno could taste that power. He would finally defeat Ranma. Akane and the Pig-tailed girl would be his. He would surely kill any man that would come between his two loves. His pride made his adrenaline pump faster and soon the sun blinded his vision as it's rays bounced off the massive golden gates. He saw two figures near the gates. One was...yes he was almost positive...It was another of that foul cretin Ranma's rival's...Ryoga Hibiki...and the other was a woman who seemed to be of underclass to the Blue Thunder but, had a deathly beauty about her.
Kali raised a hand in front of Ryoga's face making him stop, she signaled for him to wait and not enter just quite yet. She turned her attention to the other traveler and Ryoga turned around to see what had sparked her interest. It was Kuno...just Kuno...there was NOTHING...even the slightest bit of information interesting about him. He's a sappy, Shakspeare-spewing, bokken-swinging, skirt-swaying dolt.
Kali bowed deeply to Kuno as she had before with Ryoga and spoke in an haunting voice, " Welcome traveler, I am Kali...protector of the Rose Garden, " after some time she lifted her head in question again.

Kuno looked a bit overwhelmed at her politeness but, answered her clearly and calmly none the less. " I am Tatewati Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, age seventeen. "

Kali raised herself from the bow and placed a hand over his beating heart. Kuno filled with pride for himself thought this was meaning she was in love with him. He smiled wickedly as she removed her hand and smiled content with her findings. She then turned so both of them could see her and she guestured them to enter. Once inside she placed her hands together as the gates to the outside closed. She began to scurry around picking up various types of roses, only to put them down again. Kali raced over what she knew about the two men in her mind again. * Kuno...living in his own world...Ryoga...directionally challenged...Kuno pride striken...Ryoga...overcome with depression... * She finally picked a blue rose for Ryoga and a orange one for Kuno. She sighed loudly as she turned to face Kuno. Almost out of no where she revealed and golden thorn and sliced it across Kuno's bottom lip. The Blue Thunder backed away in pain and anger she placed one orange rose petal on his lip, and instantly his eyes turned milky white as he fell into a nearby patch of orange colored roses.
" HEY! " Ryoga called out angered that this woman could take advantage of people this way. Sure Kuno deservied it a lot but, sometimes it didn't seem right. Ryoga lunged for Kali but he was too slow. She sliced open his top lip and placed the blue petal over the wound. His world went white as he flopped into the blue rose patch.
Kali licked the golden thorn till no blood was left and it was shiny once more.

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Ranma and Akane started to run faster to the golden gates and Ranma soared over them and grappled Kali to the ground. She flustered slightly at the warmth and closeness of a male body but instantly became angered. " What do you want?! Get off me! " she screeched trying to wiggle free.
Ranma held her in place. " What did you do to Kuno and Ryoga?! "
     Kali remained silent and stopped struggling which surprised Ranma, his grip softened slightly and Kali lashed the golden thorn across his bottom lip. Ranma tumbled over in pain and Kali placed a red rose petal over his wound as he crawled into his designated rose patch.
     " RANMA! " Akane cried out banging on the golden gates trying with all her might to bend and break them.
Kali shivered as the scent of love drifted from this woman with short hair. Love was always something that got past her talents and opened a soft spot. She put her hands together and opened them again and the gates flew open. Akane rushed over to Ranma and tried to wake him. She cried out his name as loud as she could but, her voice quickly got mucky and hoarse from the dribbling tears. Akane then turned violently to Kali. " What have you done?! You monster! "
     Kali turned her nose to the heavens and closed her eyes slightly. " Nothing they can't handle... "
     " What does that mean?! " Akane roared again, she was seething with whelled up anger.
     Kali motioned for her to follow and Akane did willingly. Kali walked quickly to the edge of the cliff and walked off.
     " NO! What are you doing?! " Akane cried out running after her but, she stopped running when Kali stood in mid-air and Akane did as well. " How? "
     " No need to explain that now... " Kali sighed and formed a spiral with her hands as she and Akane vertically moved down the cliff till they reached a carved out doorway. They entered and the room was pitch black. Until Kali lifted her hands Akane saw three lights come on. A sleeping Ryoga, Ranma, and Kuno were in each light. Ryoga was wrapped in blue roses and thorns, Kuno in orange, and Ranma in red.
     " RANMA! " Akane called out in panic again, dashed over to him, but when she stepped in the light her foot began to vanish. Shocked she pulled her foot out of the light and it was still there. " What...? "
     " Akane...it's useless to try anything, mortals won't survive in there... "
     Not wanting to know how Kali knew her name, she nodded quickly and began to speak again. " Still...what did you do to them? Why are they hung up in roses and thorns? Why? "
     " They have dull passions in their heart that I plan to bring out...to make them strong...phsyically and mentally, it's just a gift to overcome fears really... " Kali explained examining each. " Plus...I sensed in some way or another...all of these men are linked to you with a closed thread... "
      Akane was puzzled. " A closed thread? What's that? "
     " A closed thread...well...All of these men, even if some do not admit it...love you Akane...the only problem is you won't open your heart enough to any of them...perhaps only for friendship but, not true love, " Kali exhaled letting her lungs fill again with cool air.
     " Are you asking me to love them? " Akane gasped.
     " Do you want them to die? " Kali equally gasped in shock.
     " WELL NO! " Akane shouted tears almost whelling up again, " but...you don't understand I just can't... " she drifted out of her sentance letting her arms fall limply at her sides.
     Kali nodded for some time then lifted Akane's face to meet her's. " Love...is in many different forms...you don't have to use just one...don't be so narrow-minded...like the love a mother gives it's child is different from the love two newlywed's share, but some things are still the basis in both...such as compassion, truth, and warmth. "
     Akane was baffled. This woman was so wise and maybe knew too much for her own good but, she was right.
     The silence was broken by a sudden rip near Ryoga's direction. Kali turned around feverishly to see that a thorn had cut into in neck causing the blood dripping to appear blue in the faded light.
     Akane paniced slightly gripping Kali's dress in a childish fasion. " Is Ryoga...? "
     Kali shook her head. " Far from ok...he's having some difficulty...I have to go in and help him... "
     Akane looked confused again. " I thought you said...no mortal can survive in there... "
     Kali smiled. " That's just the thing Akane, I'm not mortal, " she placed herself inside the the area where Ryoga was. Ryoga twiched slightly as Kali kissed his wound and vanished.
     Akane just waited, baffled and in an akward trance.