Eternal Sleep:? Part Five
Written by: Son Pan
Ranma ½ Homepage
Eternal Sleep?: Part Six
Daybreak slowly cracked over the Tendo household. The gentle sun slowly rose and began to illuminated the home. Shortly the sound of pots clanking together could be heard. Normally at this time, Akane or Ranma would be awake practicing their martial arts skills, but that was not so this morning. Kasumi had awaken and was preparing the morning meal. After last nights bizarre twist of events, everyone had fallen asleep exhausted. Even Ryouga had been allowed to spend the night in the spare room, recently vacated by the two Saotome’s. Kasumi busied herself with cooking to keep her mind off the very unpleasant things recently happening in her house. The place had literally become a war zone. Kasumi stirred the vegetables cooking in the pan with her chop-sticks. She sighed and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. Behind her, she heard someone step into the kitchen. Setting her chop-sticks down she said.
"Good morning, Akane." As she turned, she was surprised to see a groggy Ryouga wiping the sleep from his eyes. She blinked twice remembering why he was her again.
"Oh my. You’re not Akane at all." She stated. Ryouga shook his head in agreement.
"No, I’m not." He said. Kasumi turned back to her pan.
"Did you sleep well?" Kasumi asked , going on with her work as if nothing had distracted her in the first place.. Ryouga didn’t reply. Kasumi waited a moment and then looked over her shoulder. Ryouga was staring at the demolished kitchen wall from last nights fight. Kasumi followed Ryouga’s gaze. She then looked back to her cooking.
"Father might be upset with you after he remembers you did that, Ryouga-kun." Kasumi stated. Ryouga looked at Kasumi and then at the wall. "Breakfast will be ready . . . " Kasumi stalled turning around. Ryouga ran out of the room, and then outside. "Oh my." She finished.
Ryouga ran out of the Tendo’s house, looking for something to replace the broken wall with. He scanned both sides of the street and didn’t realize someone was in front of him until it was too late. He ran smack into Shampoo, and knocked her down. Ryouga didn’t slow and merely ran Shampoo over. She growled at him.
"Stupid boy!" With that, Shampoo whisked one of her bonbori out and threw it at him with all her might. The metal sphere smacked Ryouga in the back of his skull. He skidded to a halt, turning around. The bonbori clambered to the ground. Slowly Ryouga turned around, glaring at Shampoo. She stood up, dusting herself off. Ryouga noticed, even across the distance that Shampoo’s eyes were puffy and bloodshot. She glared at Ryouga.
"You not get away with running Shampoo down!" She furiously cried. With that said, she threw her second bonbori at him, not as well aimed. Ryouga easily side-stepped it and caught the bonbori in his hand by the wooden stick on the bottom. Shampoo’s eyes widened as she watched Ryouga catch the bonbori.
"You mock Shampoo?" She demanded. Ryouga stooped down and picked up the other bonbori. Shampoo kept her eyes trained on him. "What you do with Shampoo bonbori?!" She cried. Ryouga took both the heavy bonbori and threw them back at Shampoo. She nimbly dodged them and they fell to the ground. Shampoo angrily picked them up and stashed them away. She blinked, glancing at the Tendo house. She hesitated. "Why you there? What you do in Akane house?" She asked forcefully. Ryouga blushed, but was too far away for Shampoo to notice.
"Nothing!" Ryouga cried back. Shampoo clenched her fist together. He thought her could see tears welling up in her eyes.
"You go after Akane that soon?! You no care that Ranma gone, you happy!" She paused, taking a breath of air. "You no honor!" She blinked and Ryouga saw diamond tears fall from her face. "You terrible! I avenge Ranma by killing you!" She shouted. Then she charged Ryouga, and jumped into a kick. She launched herself at Ryouga, foot extended. Ryouga, not ready for an attack so early in the morning, and by Shampoo, took the blow in his stomach. He skidded down the street on his rear. Shampoo landed and readied herself for another attack on Ryouga.
Ryouga wiped his mouth and looked at Shampoo. He was about to state that he didn’t want to fight her, when she leaped towards him, fists flying. Her attack was so quick and anger driven that he only had time to block. Shampoo cried as she beat up on Ryouga, venting her anger on him. Her punches and kicks were good and well placed. Were she not blinded by her tears, she might have eventually worn him down.
Shampoo kicked at Ryouga’s head, and he ducked to the side. She brought her hand in to punch his face in, but he grabbed her wrist before she could connect. Her foot flew up and he backhanded it with his free hand. Then Shampoo twisted her wrist around her in Ryouga’s hand, pulling away. Ryouga kept his grip on her. Shampoo dropped and swept Ryouga’s legs out from beneath him. He fell, and then turned the fall into a roll. Still gripping Shampoo’s wrist, Ryouga pulled Shampoo down as well. She landed on top of him and kneed him in the stomach. Ryouga grimaced. She brought her free hand back and smacked Ryouga harshly across the cheek. He grabbed her other wrist, and shoved his feet under her belly. He flipped her into the air, tossing her up and over. Then he launched himself up, and flipped over as well. Shampoo smashed into the pavement, landing on her back. Ryouga finished on top of her. His hand still holding her wrist, and his legs straddled around her waist.
Shampoo squirmed beneath Ryouga. Both were breathing harshly. He looked down at her, and she looked up at him. Finally Shampoo’s tense body went limp in defeat. Ryouga waited a moment more, and then released her wrists. Shampoo looked up at Ryouga, and she blinked. When she did, the tears fell from her eyes. Ryouga looked down at her, stunned. Shampoo wiped the tears away as Ryouga pulled himself off her. He sat on his knees near Shampoo, perplexed as to why she was crying.
"I didn’t mean to hit you that hard." He stated. Shampoo slowly sat up and looked at him. She brushed the hair from her face.
"That no did hurt." She stuttered out. Ryouga didn’t doubt that. He hadn’t gone that hard on her. In fact, other than hitting the pavement, he didn’t even hit her once. But then…why was she crying? Shampoo looked up at Ryouga, and sniffed away the tears. Then she surprised him by smiling.
"You stronger than I thought." She commented, finally getting to her feet.
Ryouga sat on his knees a moment. A voice from behind called out.
"Having fun Ranma?"
Ryouga turned and looked over his shoulder. He saw Akane standing there, with her arms folded across her chest. Ryouga looked up at Akane from the street. Shampoo turned her head as well, looking at Akane. She frowned.
"Stupid Akane! No Ranma! That Ryouga!" Shampoo yelled. "You blind as Mousse!" Akane rolled her eyes, and then looked at Ryouga, tapping her foot.
"No matter what body you’re in, you still can’t keep your hands off other women, can you?" Akane stated. Shampoo seemed stumped.
"No . . . I . . . uh . . . " Ryouga fumbled for words. He finally got to his feet, and brushed off his pants. Shampoo glared at Akane.
"What you mean? I no see Ranma! Pig-boy mock Ranma!" Shampoo snorted. Ryouga’s heart skipped a beat as Shampoo spoke.
"Hey, you! Shut-up!" He defensively called. Shampoo seemed insulted.
"You no tell Shampoo shut-up!" She cried back. Ryouga seemed relived; Akane hadn’t related pig-boy to him, she probably thought it was a mere insult. Akane sighed.
"Well, you gonna tell her?" Akane asked Ryouga. Ryouga looked to Shampoo, and then he looked to Akane. The beautiful Akane.
"Tell Shampoo what!? What you hide?!" She demanded. Ryouga shook his head.
"No . . . um . . . nothing." He ran his fingers through his hair. "It’s nothing."
Shampoo ‘humphed’ and walked past Ryouga, heading towards the Tendo’s. "Where Ranma’s dad?" She questioned. Both Ryouga and Akane looked at each other sort of panicked.
"Why do you ask?" Akane stated. "Hey . . . where do you think you’re going?!" She added as Shampoo walked up to the Tendo’s door.
"I pay last respect to fiancee." Shampoo answered. Akane put her head in her hands.
"How long do you plan on carrying this out, Ryouga?"
Ryouga turned around at the familiar voice. It was Ranma. The deceased teen was hard to see, standing in front of the rising sun. Ryouga squinted. Akane and Shampoo were arguing, and Ryouga turned back to Ranma.
"Why do you care? There is nothing you can do anymore." Ryouga replied. Ranma growled and leapt towards Ryouga.
"If I could touch you, you would be so dead Ryouga! You cannot BEGIN to understand just how pissed off I am at you!" Ranma punched his fist into his palm.
Ryouga smirked, folding his arms over his chest. He took on a carefree stance. "But, Ranma, there is nothing you can do anymore. Even in your anger, you can’t strike me. I gave you your time with Akane. Now she is mine." Ryouga smartly commented. Ranma’s eyes narrowed.
"How dare you!" He lunged at Ryouga, fist extended. Ryouga instinctively dodged the attack and Ranma ran right past him. Ryouga halted.
"It’s so nice not having you in the way to ruin things between Akane and I." Ryouga spat. Ranma clenched his fists at his side. He slowly emitted a vibrant red battle aura.
"You dishonorable bastard!" Ranma cried out. "I may not be able to physically hurt you, but I will torment you until the end of time! There is no way I’m letting you have Akane! No way!"
Ryouga chuckled. "To late." He mused. At that Ranma screamed and charged Ryouga. Ryouga took a wide stance, setting his fists on his hips, and readied to be ploughed into. Ranma’s momentum carried into Ryouga and then the sprit came out the other side. Ryouga gasped from the unearthly experience.
Ranma stood up on the other side. "You felt that one, didn’t you?" He sneered. Then he shook his head. "I’ve never liked you Ryouga, but what you are doing is beyond. . .even the lowest of lows." He paused. Ryouga relaxed, and crossed his leg, resting on one foot.
"Face it Ranma, you’re just upset because Akane forgot about you so quickly! It only goes to show that she has always loved me and couldn’t express her true feelings because you were in the way." Ryouga cockily stated. Ranma fumed.
"She thinks you ARE me! Ryouga! How stupid can you get?! She only likes you because she thinks that I am you! She doesn’t like you! Not Ryouga Hibiki! She likes who she THINKS is in you! ME!" Ranma retorted furiously.
"You lie, Saotome!" Ryouga yelled loudly. Akane and Shampoo turned to see who he was talking to. Ryouga was merely facing the sun.
"How DARE you play with Akane that way! You lead her on to believe you are me. You are taking Akane for a ride you bastard! How do you think she could ever love you? When she finds out that you’ve been lying to her this entire time, do you think she is going to forgive you? Not on your life!" Ranma snarled at Ryouga. Ryouga narrowed his eyes, and put a finger on Ranma’s would-be chest.
"Listen here. This is not your concern. What goes on between myself and Akane now, is beyond your control, accept the fact and get on with your life." Ryouga answered. Ranma shoved Ryouga’s hand away.
"Like hell it’s my concern! Akane is my fiancee!" Ranma hissed.
"Not anymore she isn’t!" Ryouga countered.
"Yes . . . she . . . is!" Ranma screamed outraged. He began lunging and punching at Ryouga. Ranma kept passing right though Ryouga, but still Ryouga leapt back as Ranma made each pass. Ryouga finally stopped dodging Ranma’s punches as he saw the spirit-teen was wearing down.
"Don’t you get it? You can’t HURT me! We’re on separate planes." Ryouga pointed to himself. "I’m in the land of the living. You," He jabbed an accusing finger at Ranma. "Are somewhere else." He finished lowering his voice.
"Who pig-boy talk to now?" Shampoo called from behind. Ryouga spun around startled.
"Don’t CALL me that!" He screamed. Shampoo shrank back. Akane stepped forward defensively.
"Who . . . ARE you talking to?" She questioned, looking about from side to side. From inside, Kasumi called.
"Akane, Ryouga-kun, breakfast is ready."
Akane looked at Ryouga, and then to Shampoo. Shampoo stormed away from the Tendo’s. She passed directly through Ranma and stopped looking back up at the two.
"We’re coming Oneechan." Akane called back. Both Ryouga and Akane swallowed hard and looked over at the anger Shampoo.
"Shampoo understand now. Akane take Ranma until he die. Then she no mourn Ranma. She move on to Ryouga. She selfish pig. You make good couple with Ryouga." Shampoo narrowed her eyes. "I no want to see you ugly face Akane. You make Shampoo sick." She began walking away. Ryouga and Akane glanced at each other. Shampoo stopped and said over her shoulder. "Watch your back, Akane."