The Leper: Diagnosis
by Nikholas "NomaD" F. Toledo
Ranma 1/2 is the property of Kitty, VIZ and the omnipotent Rumiko
Takahashi. I am a property of Switch (so you know who to sue).
I am NomaD... I am coming... I am near.
By the way, this is a self-insertion. My character had a past with
Ukyou, but not the kind you're thinking of. And, because this is my
first Ranma fic, I'm gonna do some weird stuff like use Ryouga and Ukyou
but still keep Kuno, Tendo and Tofu. But I'm not really sure.
This complete version was done with the technical assistance of
Freemage, and the support of the above with DB Sommer, Octavian and the
occasionals, all of whom have contributed to the formation of this fic.
Part 9
"... the Storm, Nabiki's Wrath"
"Careful with the..."
*klik* *KABOOM!*
"... door."
"Damn it! Sorry 'bout that...."
Ukyou was the first to go in. As soon as the rain stopped, the two
started drawing stares from the people outside. Ukyou immediately went
up her room to get herself some clothes.
Kii just sat on a stool, staring at his fingers, dumbfounded. He
rested his elbows on the counter and nestled his face on his hands.
This was a critical moment, he had to do something quick before it
could get any worse. But then the world cracked around him as his
glasses started falling apart.
He stared at his fingers once more...
"I barely touched it... looks like it IS already starting to get
worse...."
Kiiroi balled his hand into a fist. He reminded himself to be wary
of using his fingers. He felt something brush up against his leg - then,
a low purring sound.
"Hey, Ishi... how are you, girl? Are you hungry?"
Ishi just leapt from the floor to a stool to the counter. Face to
face with her master, she stared at him with her wide, almond eyes.
Immediately, Kii saw the alarm in her pet's face.
Without a word (or a meow rather), Ishi leapt to the other side and
started pawing at Kii's backpack.
"Please, God, no...." His heart skipped a beat as he opened his
backpack. The move only confirmed his suspicion.
"DAMMIT TO HELL!!!"
*thud* Ukyou was so surprised by Kii's sudden outburst that she
missed a step going down.
"YEOUch! Cripes, that hurts! Hey, what's wrong, Kii?"
Ukyou went behind the counter and saw Kii huddled in the corner.
She immediately rushed over to him and held him from behind.
"It's gone... somebody took the book...."
He said it with no hint of any emotion in his voice. He neither
wept nor raged. Still, this scared Ukyou; she couldn't figure out what
Kii would do next.
Without a word, Kii stood and walked away, leaving the restaurant
while Ukyou just stood at the counter, not knowing what to do.
----------
"Aah! My pig-tailed goddess has come to visit the trove of my
intellectual growth! How sweet and noble! Come, my beloved - learning
ceases for now, for nothing should hinder the path towards my one true
lo- " *BONK!*
"Shut your crap, Kuno, I ain't got time, I'm late already...."
Ranma splotched her way to class. Right behind her, Daisuke and
Hiroshi followed, both as wet as the bustling redhead. The two stayed a
considerable distance from the martial artist, each displaying a black-
eye.
Ranma drew stares as she entered class, partly for her wetness,
partly for her current gender. Akane stifled a laugh when she saw Ranma
soaked to the skin.
Apparently, the teacher was the only one who wasn't pleased with
the three's lateness and condition. Before Akane could ask what
happened, the teacher shooed the trio outside, handing each two buckets
of water.
Akane immediately excused herself from class. Stepping outside,
she saw the three sulking as they stood, holding a pair of buckets each.
"So what happened to you?"
"Whadya think happened to us? It's this stupid rain! We were
resting under a tree during break when all of a sudden the sun got
blocked by dark looming clouds that came from nowhere."
"But the rain started over half an hour ago - why didn't you make a
run for it?"
At this statement, Hiroshi and Daisuke blushed and turned the other
way.
Ranma just gave the two a murderous look. "These two perverts
wouldn't let me go."
"Why?"
"At first I thought that they only wanted to let the rain ease but
then I realized that these two would give anything to see a bra-less girl
in wet clothes... so much for friendship."
"So you hit them?"
"What the hell was I supposed to do? These two jerks came close to
groping me!"
That's when the two flunkies turned to face the couple with hurt
expressions.
"Hey! That's not true... we would never grope you!"
"See, Ranma, they're not all that bad...."
"Besides, we know you're a guy and we couldn't live with ourselves
knowing that we groped a guy. If you were somebody else, though...."
Akane face-faulted at Daisuke's follow-up.
"You three jerks suffer here all you want, I'm going back...."
*boom*
"What the...?"
*krk- Boom!*
"What in the world?"
*krak* - *BOOM!*
"I think it came from over there...."
*thnk-* *krak* - *KABOOM!!!*
The four of them looked to their right and saw a cloud of dust and
exploding debris emerge from the far end corner of the hall.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!?"
Immediately, all students from all levels ran towards the windows
and peered out the hallway, each trying to get a better view of whatever
it was that just happened.
From inside the dusty haze rose the silhouette of a man.
Ranma immediately dropped the buckets and readied herself to a
stance for any form of attack that might come.
But it was not an enemy that emerged from the billowing haze.
Instead, it was a man who looked like he had no energy left to fight.
Ranma and the others couldn't recognize him at first in his
tattered clothes. But when he emerged from the gray haze, Ranma
immediately came to the aid of the falling Niwatori. She caught him in
her arms though she wasn't tall enough to bear his height.
"Cripes, what I wouldn't give for some hot water right now."
Kii snapped out of his weariness and managed to support himself.
He was immediately aware of the redhead who had recently been attempting
in vain to hold him up.
"R-Ranma?"
"Yo, Kii... don't worry, I'm right here...."
Kii's state of mind instantly shifted from weariness to
desperation. He felt his consciousness leaving him again but he managed
to grab Ranma by the collar and speak before she did.
"Ranma, help me...." Then he fell to the ground together with a
bursting sound and what was left of Ranma's shattered clothing.
It took a while for everybody to even notice that Ranma was now
displaying her unignorable assets.
Ranma immediately crossed her arms to cover herself. "Oi! What
was that about?"
Akane immediately came to the rescue with a kettle and poured the
hot water, much to the dismay of the Furinkan male population.
Ranma dropped his cover and immediately took Kiiroi in his arms.
"Yo! Hey, Kii? You all right?"
"I think he's unconscious, Ranma...."
"Hey, look!" one student called out as he looked over the window
towards the outside.
Everybody was by the windows in an instant. Even Ranma and Akane
couldn't suppress their curiosity but Ranma gave no intention of letting
Kii lie on the ground by himself.
Akane shot a glance outside and her face turned to a lighter shade
of white (if it were possible). "Ranma, you've got to see this...."
Ranma held Kii's head up till Akane got to his side. He laid Kii
into the waiting arms of Akane.
He immediately went for the window and was taken aback by the
situation outside. "Oh, God...."
The scene was devastating, literally and emotionally. The gate was
laid to waste and the ground after that was not green grass but a crater
of dirt. But even before this scene, one could trace the path Kii took
in reaching Furinkan.
The devastation was catastrophic. One would've mistaken the
destruction to be the work of a lunatic with a dozen crates of grenades
and dynamite.
Then Ranma saw a figure retracing the devastated path. He waved to
the oncoming figure.
The figure waved back and immediately made a run for the school.
"Ucchan! Over here!"
----------
"Kii. Hey, Kii. Wake up already."
"Hunh?" Kii woke to find himself being smothered by more done a
dozen faces. Three of these faces he was able to recognize immediately.
"Fer cryin' out loud, give the guy some breathing space!"
Everyone moved an inch or two at Ranma's command but none would
leave; all of them were itching for new developments.
Kii realized that he was not lying on rubble, instead it was the
soft lap of Ukyou.
Ranma lowered an arm for Kii to grab hold on to. Kii waved the arm
off. "It's okay, I can stand by myself."
With Ukyou supporting his head, Kii was able to prop himself to a
squatting position. He slowly straightened but was immediately overcome
with vertigo.
Everyone held their breath as Kii started falling.
Ukyou was about to make a lunge but Kii stuck an arm out to block
the fall.
Everyone sighed with relief when Kii's hand fell firm on the floor
- that is, everyone except Ukyou.
"Get back!"
But it was too late. The very ground started forming cracks and
splits. A minute cracking sound could be heard, then the explosion came.
The floor exploded in all directions. No one had any time to run
away from the shrapnel of broken cement.
Ukyou felt herself falling... *Crash!!!*
After the commotion, Ranma and the others peered over the gaping
hole.
Kii lay flat on the ground while Ukyou managed to fall upright.
Kii got himself up without touching the floor this time.
A crowd had started forming on the floor below. One figure stepped
out from crowd but Kiiroi didn't notice until she spoke.
"Well, well. Look who decided to drop by...."
Kii turned in an instant. His eyes started flashing with anger.
He could feel the fire of the rage burning in him.
"YOU!"
Nabiki Tendo just smirked at Kii's reaction. She knew she was
going to enjoy this.
"I've tried to be patient and fair with you but, instead, I get
this! What the hell did I ever do to you?!?"
"You ask... and yet you know...."
Kii was silenced for a moment - he really didn't know what to say,
except...
"Return my bandages... now. I know it was you who made the
switch..."
Nabiki's eyes widened a bit at the accusation.
"... the rain though, that was brilliant. But I don't care how you
did it, I just want you to undo it now! Return my bandages!"
Nabiki just waved him off. This was her moment of triumph, and yet
she knew that this was only the beginning.
"You've been in this school for almost a week now. In your stay,
you've probably heard of the reputation of the infamous Nabiki Tendo.
And you've probably heard that Nabiki Tendo does not give things away for
free. You want your life back, you've got to deal with me first."
"I'd rather deal with the devil himself than to the likes of you.
Just remember..." Kii pointed a threatening finger at Nabiki. "... you
have brought this upon yourself, and with it, your own undoing."
Ukyou just groaned and braced herself.
At the end of Kii's speech, the very air in front of his
outstretched finger started to shimmer and crack. The room was
immediately filled with a blinding force which sent the crowd of
onlookers reeling away.
Nabiki and Ukyou fell down from the force of the blast.
When all was normal again, Ukyou got up and went over to Kii, who
lay crumpled on the ground. Turning over the body, Ukyou saw that the
front of Kii's shirt and his sleeve had been torn away by the blast.
"Oh, Kii, why'd you have to point your finger?"
"Serves you right... your threats mean nothing to me." Nabiki
finally got herself up and cleaned off the dust on her skirt. She moved
closer to Kii just enough to overshadow his lying figure.
"Remember, if you're ready to deal, you know where to find me....
Of course, you could always stay like that.... Till then, tata." And
with her last words, Nabiki parted.
Ukyou watched her figure walk away then turned to Kii. "Oh, Kii,
what are we gonna do now?"
Kii struggled getting up. Apparently, the impact of the blast on
his chest knocked the wind out of his lungs.
"Well, for starters, I've got to find somebody else who can help
me... before it's too late."
----------
"A-choo!"
"Are you all right, grandchild? You might be coming down with a
cold...."
"Hmm. I no think so, great-grandmother. Shampoo did get wet going
shopping today. But now, Shampoo feel fine."
"Maybe somebody was thinking about you...."
"Aiya! Shampoo hope is Ranma-darling."
"Enough dawdling, we've got customers to serve... it would be
easier if that foolish Mousse was here. Where is that boy?"
----------
"... two inches above the solar plexus. Maintain for more than two
seconds. Applying enough pressure enables subject to be susceptible
to...."
"Mousse?!? Where are you?!? Get in here, you ungrateful child!"
"Coming, coming! ... shriveled old bat...."
"I HEARD THAT!"
Mousse just gave himself a hearty sigh. This was probably the last
time for this day that he'd have time enough to relax. The Amazons were
gonna work off his butt, but 'twas the price he paid for love.
"But the time is almost at hand. Soon, nobody shall contend for my
Shampoo's heart for there will only be I, Mousse, who will conquer my
beloved. A few moments more and that wretched Ranma Saotome will be no
more."
"MOUSSE!!!"
"I'M COMING!!!" Mousse carefully lifted the cover and closed the
book.
After clasping the leather binding, he placed it in one of the many
pockets of his clothing. He leapt off the roof and prepared for another
day's work.
----------
"You want me to do WHAT?!?"
"Oh, you heard me."
Silence filled the roofdeck. Then the wind picked up, disturbing
the two's reverie.
It was Kiiroi who spoke first. "No, I will not. Just you remember
-"
"No! You remember!" Nabiki snapped back at Kii, with the ferocity
of a mongoose. Kii leapt back, half-expecting an assault. "You're the
one who came to me! So your threats mean nothing to me! They're as
empty as your head! The truth is you can't do anything to me as long as
I have the bandages. So if I were you, just swear on your martial-arts
honor crap to sell a fight when I tell you to! From what I've heard, you
guys are bound by your honor."
"We are, but never will I sacrifice my honor to the likes of you.
I'm leaving...."
"Suit yourself, the offer still stands and you know where to find
me."
Kii made his exit. Walking on the road, he surveyed the
devastation he had caused.
"This can't go on forever, there must be something I can do... the
bandages ARE with her, but the book... that's just as equally important.
Whoever it is, he or she just placed himself in a very dangerous
position. But first, I've got to find bandages or I'll end up killing
myself before this day is over...."
----------
"I'm worried."
"You're not the only one."
"I feel like I'm partly responsible...."
"No. You had nothin' to do with it."
"I feel like we should do something."
"Me, too, but what?"
*NOK-NOK-NOK*
"Someone's at the gate...."
"I'll get it!"
"I wonder who it is?"
"Oh my."
"Who is it, Kasumi?"
"It's me."
"Hey, Ucchan, whatcha doin' here?"
"Kii didn't come home for dinner. I'm worried, Ranma."
"I'm sure he'll turn up later."
"Is Nabiki here?"
"She's in her room."
"HEY, WAIT!" Akane and Ranma cried out in alarm as Ukyou drew out
her spatula and started charging upstairs. Ranma desperately clung on to
her waist without looking like a pervert while Akane blocked her way.
"Get out of the way, Akane! Don't make me come and hurt you...!"
"Ucchan, stop it! This is insane!"
"Get a hold of yourself, Ukyou!"
Ukyou stopped her advance but still had a tight grip on her
spatula. Ranma waited a moment then let go.
"Your sister knows where the bandages are, Akane - you heard them
earlier, it was Nabiki who started this mess."
"I know, Ukyou, but she's my sister, I can't just force it out of
her."
"I'LL FORCE IT OUT OF HER!"
"Wait! Please! Look, my sister's no martial artist, this is a bit
unfair."
"Your sister doesn't even know the meaning of the word 'fair'!"
"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP AND JUST LISTEN!"
The two women immediately stopped quarreling and turned to Ranma.
Ranma took his moment before he spoke. "Okay, good. Now, Ukyou,
beating the crap out of Nabiki IS satisfying but it won't do you any
good. Nabiki can be very crafty at times. Since she can't fight, she
uses mind games to defeat her competition.
"But Kii, he didn't flinch at Nabiki's psychological tactics,
except for that last time that he lost his patience, but he did
recover..."
"No, Ranma! Damn it, if only you understood.... I've known Kii
for some time now, I know how he thinks and acts. This whole thing is
just a front - deep inside, he's just a scared little boy...."
"No, you're the one who's wrong, Ucchan. Kii's up to something.
Don't underestimate the guy, he may surprise you."
"No, he just wants all of you to think that."
"Or that's how we think he wants us to think...."
Ukyou's head started throbbing. She didn't get it, especially that
last one. She just wanted all of this to end.
She suddenly felt weak from shouting, all her rage was gone and
tired her out. Ranma helped her sit down. Akane sat beside her and just
looked her straight in the eye.
Ukyou felt a lump in her throat. Then, all her bottled-up emotions
started to surface. She tried to hold back the tears but it was just too
much for her little heart to handle.
She burst into tears without even knowing why she was crying. She
had a reason but it was just all blurry now.
Akane stretched out her arms and Ukyou gladly accepted. Ukyou
cried her heart out on Akane's lap. Akane hushed her and tried to calm
her down.
Ranma just stood back, feeling awkward.
Ukyou's wails turned to short sobs and eventually just fell into
weeping hums. Akane never let go. She held Ukyou firm. She kept her
safe.
Akane lifted her head and looked at Ranma. She gave him a gesture
and Ranma just looked at her questioningly but eventually got the signal.
"Um, I'll just step outside for a minute... 'kay?" Ranma walked
into the courtyard and disappeared into a corner.
When they were left alone, Akane felt that it was time to talk.
"Ukyou?"
"Hm."
"You're falling in love with him, aren't you?"
"Of course not, I'm just worried about him."
"A bit too much. Look, I know that you two became very good
friends during a time when you had no one except yourselves. You already
loved him in your own special way before, but now you're confusing that
with what you're actually feeling for him now."
Ukyou got up from Akane's lap. She stared at Akane, trying to
search her for answers. "You really think so?"
"No, I really know so...." Akane blushed as she said this but it
was okay since Ranma wasn't anywhere near. "... let's keep this to
ourselves, okay?"
"No need."
Akane fell back at Ukyou's answer. Ukyou just smiled back. Her
smile held answers to Akane's unspoken questions.
"You really don't know, do you?"
Akane just shook her head innocently.
"Didn't you ever wonder why I stopped running after Ranma?"
"Come to think of it, I'm only having trouble with Shampoo and
Kodachi nowadays."
"It's because, unlike certain people, I've learned to accept the
fact that nothing could separate you and Ranchan."
Akane's eyes bulged at this.... "What the HELL are you talking
about?!?"
"Oh, geez, give up the tough act, Akane, only a few people are THAT
dense, and that includes the two of you! Everybody knows that Ranma
loves you but he has this tendency of talking before thinking. And
everybody knows that you love Ranma but you have this tendency of being
violent and ballistic.
"If only you two could break through these walls you're putting up
then maybe you'd finally get through to each other."
Akane just kept quiet. She couldn't even look Ukyou in the eye
now.
"I'm sorry, Akane. You started out telling me about how I'm
falling in love with Kii but it looks like I turned the tables. I think
I'm learning to accept this fact... I just hope that you and Ranchan will
accept it, too. Stop denying yourselves - it'll do you no good."
"I'll... I'll t-think about it...."
"Think about what?" At that moment, Ranma popped his head from the
courtyard entrance.
Akane leapt back in surprise and Ukyou smirked. Akane stomped over
to Ranma and Ranma managed to gulp before being bopped multiple times by
the dinner table.
Ukyou watched the two longingly.... "It's sweet... but
hopeless...."
----------
*kling-kling*
"Aiya!"
"Hello."
"Come in, child, we were expecting you...."
"You were?"
"I knew you'd come to me sooner or later. Not a week in Furinkan
and you already got yourself into trouble...."
"Aiya! You all dirty. Shampoo get you something nice to wear and
food, is okay?"
"Yeah, that'll be fine."
Cologne gestured over to a table. "Come. Sit. Talk."
Kii approached with hesitation. All the while, he had his arms
crossed to keep his hands from doing any more harm.
"You've got to help me...."
"Go on."
"Nabiki Tendo...."
----------
Nabiki Tendo came home to find the whole family at the dinner
table. When she saw that they had a guest, she immediately surveyed for
another person but was relieved, and at the same time disappointed, that
he wasn't there.
Soun saw his daughter go for the stairs. "Nabiki, aren't you going
to eat dinner?"
"No, it's okay, daddy - all the excitement in school made me lose
my appetite." And she said this with a smile.
Ukyou glared at her and she returned it with a scowl.
She got to her room and changed to house clothes.
She plopped down on the bed and drew something from under the
mattress. It was the same vial which used to contain the sleeping
potion.
Now, it had some dirty white clothing inside.
She stared at it for a long time then placed it back again.
She just stared at the ceiling. It was just as if she was watching
a movie and the ceiling was the screen. On the ceiling was what had just
transpired and what would transpire...
"Like a puppet bound in strings...."
---------------
end of Part 9
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