Ranma 1/2

Disclaimer: I don’t own Ranma, Rumiko Takahashi does. I just borrowed some of the characters. Rated: NC-17

Shades of Home

Chapter 15

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma.

Chapter 15

Ranma clenched his hands into fists, rolled over onto his back and kicked the sheet off. He was sound asleep but not happily; he was having a nightmare . . . again.

It was dark and cold. Ranma was flat on his back, spread eagled; his arms and legs tied to something he couldn't see.

"Ow! Stop it!"

Ranma was suddenly out in an open field his arms and legs tied to horses. They were being whipped to make them pull.

"Stop! You're tearing me apart!"

Ranma sat up with a gasp. Sweat trickled from his hairline and down his cheeks and chest, even his back was sweat soaked.

"Damn that was a bad one. Ryouga, I hope this dream diary thing works, I feel stupid keepin' a diary like some girlie man."

Ranma turned on the light picked up a notebook and pen from the bed side table and began to write.

After finishing his task he mumbled, "I might as well get up. Between that belly ache and this I'm not sleepin' any more tonight. I'm going for a walk."

Ranma walked down the pathway beside the dorm. Suddenly a dark figure loomed up in front of him. His attack was lightning fast and quiet; a simple side kick knocked Steven flat.

"Son-of-a-bitch! Ranma, what the hell are you doing wandering around outside in the middle of the night?" Steven groaned as he sat up unsteadily, his hand pressed to his chest.

"I couldn't sleep. I had another nightmare. What are you doin' out here?"

"I see someone wandering around the dorm at . . . What . . . 2am and I'm not going to investigate? Yeah. Right! Besides I'm so sore I can't sleep either. Come on, I'll buy you a soda." Ranma pulled Steven to his feet. "Ugh! You kick like a mule, that's going to leave a mark. Dorrie is going to kill me."

"Sorry. Ya jumped me, ya know. You're lucky I wasn't set right. I coulda broken something. Let's go t‘ the main kitchen. I'll make ya an ice bag." Ranma pulled his pigtail, a sure sign that he wasn't happy.

"Here, put this on that bruise and tell me where you got the rest a' those very interestin' marks. Ya all hold out on us too much. We get more scared if ya don't tell us stuff than if you tell us the gruesome details."

Ranma examined Steven, he was bruised here and there and had a cut on his forehead.

Steven accepted the proffered ice bag and put it on his chest with a hiss.

"OK. There was an incursion. That's where the barrier between dimensions, whatever; breaks and creatures from that other dimension come through. We had a little critter control; but most of the critters that come through are just magical enough that guns don't work so you have to mash them with brute force. That's where people like you and I come in. We do the mashing. But I'm getting old enough that it's getting tougher than I like.

"It's times like this that I wonder what it's all about. Why is there so much evil in the world? I think I'm getting cynical or something. It's been something like twenty years and it hasn't gone away. It is better than it was when I got started. I had nothing and nobody except my teachers. No team, nothing; then a bunch of us all found out about each other and ganged up on the secretive old bastards we were working with. We made up the first strike teams and took over organizing things. We got the CIA, MI5, and every other organization we could, involved in this. We get help from all over. We're still so secret that it's burn before reading and shoot yourself in the head after. But most of the real high end brass have seen enough to believe in us and give us practically anything we want."

"Why do they do that, I'd think they'd want everyone t' know . . . "

"Ranma think. You're too used to Nerima. Most people would panic. World wide panic; people hoarding food, water, money; fighting over stuff, building stockades and survivalist groups running rampant. Not a pretty picture and don't think it won't happen."

"Yeah. Nerimians . . . is that a word? Well, anyway, they just ignore stuff. Ryouga and I got into a fight and just about destroyed a coupla' warehouse blocks. No one even blinked. But I see what ya mean. They either stick their head in the sand or go nuts. As t' why there's evil in the world . . . Here have some soda, I don't want it all."

Steven took several swallows. "Aaahh, cold soda."

Ranma took back the can and squatted next to Steven's chair. He swirled the last swallow of soda in the can.

"I know you all think I'm just some dumb jock. But ya know, I do think lots more than I let on. How do ya know this soda is cold? I'll tell ya. Because you've felt hot. Ya know when you're sad ‘cause you've been happy. Everything is contrast; or balance. Ya can't have one without the other. Ya know good 'cause there's evil, but someone has t' maintain the balance between the two.

"And that's us poor assholes, you, me, Ryouga, Sunny, everyone a' us. We're the ones who hold it all in balance whether we like it or not. We can wish all we want but; ‘Wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one fills up first.'

"Well, between fighting, my belly ache and prowling around till all hours ya look like you're ready to drop. Go t' bed."

Ranma stood up and offered Steven his hand.

"Yeah, I'm going to bed. Dorrie will be wondering where I am." At Ranma's odd look Steven snapped, "What? I can't go to bed with my wife? Grow up."

Ranma mouthed ‘Wife?' and decided he was too tired to try figuring this out.
.

Ryouga and Ranma were the first teens to get to the gym. Ranma muttered, "I can't believe some bureaucratic prick says we have to take a gym class. It's a total waste of time. I'm not gonna do it."

As the others arrived, the general consensus was that Ranma, Ryouga and Kuno didn't need gym. Shuba was of the opinion that any training that the others needed could be done by the aforesaid teens.

"Aforesaid? You're as bad as Kuno.", Ranma snickered, "We need t' get t'gether in the common room after classes today. We need t' get some things lined up or someone's gonna get hurt."

Ranma had changed from laughing boy to serious team leader in a second.

Ryouga and Kuno eyed him and then nodded to Shuba. Things were starting to come together naturally. Both girls poked Danny who just nodded at Shuba too.

"All right, Here we are. I'll be your new gym teacher. I don't expect much from you just yet. I know you special school kids. All brains and no brawn. But I'll have you up to snuff in no time."

"Roll call! Answer up loud."

Ranma looked the overweight, loud mouth up and down in total disbelief. Steven, on the sidelines where no one could see, nearly gave himself away laughing. This was going to be good. The bureaucrat who had wished this idiot on them was only trying to get his nephew a job. This was going to be fun.

"Kuno Tatiwaki!"

"Here."

"Hibiki Ryouga."

"Yeah."

The roll call went on until Ranma was the last one.

"Ranma Saotome."

"Gettin' a little personal ain't ya?"

"What?"

"Callin' me by my given name first. It's a bit personal for a teacher, don'tcha think?"

"Well, what should I call you then?"

Ranma started at the man's feet and let his eyes insolently wander up to his face.

"Saotome . . . Sensai."

"Sensai . . . that means teacher. I'm the teacher here. Don't get smart."

"I thought the whole purpose of goin' t' school was t' get smart. So smarten me up. I dare ya." Ranma saw no reason to be polite to this fat fool. He probably didn't know a Kunai from a cockroach.

"All right, you young smart ass. I'm sending you to the headmaster's office. Get going." The teacher pointed his finger at the door. "I hope he teaches you a lesson."

Steven decided it was time to rescue Mr. Duncan. Although he wasn't sure why. He didn't like the idiot either. If he quit, they wouldn't have to fool with this anymore and Steven could get back to training his new recruits right.

"What seems to be the problem here? Aren't you getting along with the martial artists in the group? Ranma, instead of glaring the paint off the walls, why don't you and Ryouga demonstrate your levels so Mr. Duncan can figure out where to place you in the required gym classes. We need to maintain our high levels you know. We have to be accredited or you'll have to go to school in town."

Lights went on in everyone's head; bureaucratic interference or whatever. They had to play by their rules in some ways, in order to keep the Child Protection Agencies off their backs. You could do a lot as long as you didn't neglect education.

"Well, now we're getting somewhere." Mr. Duncan' self-satisfied attitude set everyone's teeth on edge. "Let's start with a basic kata. Just follow me."

Ranma and Ryouga just shrugged, Kuno managed to hang back behind them, he didn't want to be in the line of fire when all hell broke lose; as it surely would.

Mr. Duncan turned to face the boys. When he started the first set all Ranma and Ryouga did was follow him, from half way to the ceiling.

"Huh? How'd they . . . These kids aren't brains; what level are they?"

Ranma eyed Ryouga growling, "You a ten dan? I guess I could qualify if I wanted to."

Ryouga shrugged, "I don't know. I never managed to stay in a dojo long enough to qualify. That's why I'm not as good as you. You're stronger and have trained more than I managed to."

"Hunn . . . You're still almost as good as me."

Mr. Duncan puffed up like a Fugu, "You obviously don't need my services, I'll qualify all your students as passing Senior gym class. I hope you're satisfied."

Steven grinned, "Oh yeah! Now we don't have to waste valuable time on this foolishness. I can't believe that some idiot in the local school system couldn't understand that people who spend six hours a day training intensively in martial arts don't need gym class."

Mr. Duncan, on his way out the door snapped, "It's not really for the conditioning, I think. It's to develop team spirit and mutual cooperation. Good luck turning that bunch into a team of any sort."

"Well he's got one thing right. We need t' be a team and it's not happenin' this way." Ranma turned to Steven, "We need t' talk big time. Will you come t' the common room?"

"Sure, what do you want to talk about?"

Ranma waited until everyone was settled in the commons; then he turned to Shuba, "Ok, you have the floor. Get it all out and let's see where we really stand."

By the time Shuba was done talking; with plenty of interruptions and interjection by all the others, his head was spinning. They wanted access to all records and mission Intel; training in swat tactics and use of any and all equipment available.

Ranma ended the session with, "We're supposed t' be a strike team but we ain't got a fuckin' clue an' I'm not about t' lose people because you tight asses won't turn loose of information or proper trainin'. And why don't you just shoot the damn things? Ya said something about it last night but I was tired and didn't click."

Steven stood up and looked the group over. "I don't know exactly what to say. I'm sorry." All the teens groaned as one. "No, come on, let me finish. Leela and Danny are the only ones who have ever been on a mission of any kind and I'm sorry to say that we've been coddling them. But you're right. We can't protect you and use you at the same time. I'm going to make arrangements to use the gym period to train you all in the use of tactical equipment and we are already working on a," he looked around again "Demonnarium"

Ranma gave Steven a disgusted look.

"That better be a who's who of the daemon worlds."

"It is. We've always been secretive, you know why, but it's causing us more trouble now than it's worth. We lose information every time someone dies and us old farts are getting wasted at an amazing pace. We lost Andy last night. I didn't know him well but he left behind an amazing amount of info and a written request that everyone write down every thing they know and we set up a data base. I'm going to Switzerland tonight to attend the meeting."

"Mr. Perkins will be in charge until I get back. He's a bit by-the-book, but he's got instructions not to interfere with your training and he won't. In fact in light of your requests he'll be just the one. He's an equipment freak of the worst sort. If it beeps or is electronic he wants one."

After a short planning session the meeting broke up.

.

Sunny flopped down on the love seat. It had been a hard day for all the teens. It was the first day of new training and they had had a hard time. The temporary Headmaster was a stick but he knew what he was doing when it came to equipment. He'd drilled all the teens himself, and drilled them and drilled them.

Sunny wasn't too worried about herself since she didn't go into actual combat. Being a healer she stayed behind, waiting until she was needed to heal someone. She was also the official gofer of the group, which she didn't mind, it was helping after all.

Shuba had taken to using the new equipment like a fish to water, he had already been coordinator for Leela and Danny, so they were good too.

Ranma and Ryouga had taken a little longer, due mostly to Mr. Perkins inclination to expect them to take everything he said without question.

"As if! Why that stupid man didn't just answer their questions as they came up, I'll never know. I can't believe Ranma got in his face like that."

"Yes young lady I can't either." Mr. Perkins grumped as he walked into the room. "I find that I usually get answers to my questions about people from the healer attached to the group. So, what's up with Ranma. He so arrogant, I don't think I'm going to get anything through his head, and that Kuno boy, he's electronically challenged."

Sunny sat up and gave Mr. Perkins as dirty a look as she was capable of.

"Ranma has good reason to be arrogant, but he's not really. He just knows what he can do and doesn't see any need to be bashful about it. He's so good it's scary. Ryouga is the only one who has a chance against him and only if he's lucky. As for Kuno-kun, he doesn't like strangers much and he's still wary of you, so he came off clumsy, which he's not. You can't by-the-book this bunch. It won't work." (Why do I get the feeling that he stopped listening just now?)

Mr. Perkins got up and thanked Sunny. "Say, you kids haven't been out of the compound in a while. I don't count that shopping trip. To prove that I'm not all by-the-book I'll have a driver take you into town to that new club, if you'd like. What do you say? Ask the others and I'll make arrangements. Just be sure to take your new cell phones, all of you."

"We can go to a dance club? Oh, Geeze; that would be so nice. Thank you so much."

Sunny jumped up and hurried out.

Everyone wanted to go dancing, even Ranma, after Sunny assured him that she would teach him to dance the minute they got there.

Sunny giggled, "If you can do all those amazing things fighting, I know you can learn to dance. Just think of it as the Challenge of Martial Arts Rave Dancing."

"Oh, gods; did you have to say that? Now he'll be insatiable."

Kuno covered his eyes and shuddered dramatically.

The teens met at the dormitory lobby and piled into a van. The driver looked sour and pulled away with a jerk. He wasn't in the best of moods; there was a poker game with his name on it; but now he had to escort a bunch of hormone laden teen age brats to a club and wait around till they decided to give it up and come home.

"I'll probably be out till that damn place closes at midnight. Shit! I wanted to play poker."

Ryouga tugged at the driver's sleeve

"Hey, why don't you come in with us. You might like it."

"No thinks kid. I can't stand that techno crap. I'll go to that coffee bar and sit, I brought a book on tactical retreats of history to read."

Ryouga eyed him askance.

"Tactical retreats; Ok, whatever. See you at midnight."

The driver groaned.

The minute they got in the door the teens were engulfed in a wall of noise; music, talking; read shouting over the music, and the faint sound of the bar, all competed with each other.

"Hey, there's a booth. It's just right." Sunny pointed to a booth on the second tier next to an exit. "Oh! Someone else is going to get it! Darn."

"No, they won't. I'll get there first." Ranma jumped from a standing start up to the booth Sunny wanted; getting to it just before six older boys could. "Sorry, this spot's taken. Move along."

After ordering drinks, non alcoholic as none of them were old enough to drink, Ranma and Ryouga followed Sunny and Leela to the dance floor. Ranma immediately began to dance quite well. And Ryouga wasn't bad either.

I . . . thought . . . you . . . couldn't . . . dance. !" Sunny had to shout each word individually so Ranma could understand her.

"I . . . got . . . eyes . . . I . . . watched." Ranma shook his head; he knew Sunny couldn't understand him. She just shrugged, mouthing ‘later' and continued dancing.

Danny and Shuba stayed at the table; content to watch, while Kuno went on the prowl. He was handsome and elegant in a dark-blue silk shirt and black jeans, his shoes were polished to perfection and every girl he approached danced with him. He was careful not to dance more than once with any girl. He didn't want any one of them to entertain ideas of going home with him; he was still old fashioned in some ways.

Ranma and Ryouga looked like brothers; both boys had worn plain blue jeans and tee shirts, somehow both had chosen dark green. With their dark hair and dark eyes they looked handsome, confident and very sexy. Girls approached them and tried to crowd between them and the girls.

Sunny had worn a pair of mid thigh length shorts and a tee shirt covered by a tank top; her shorts and tank were dark pink while her tee was a lighter shade of the same color, she had dyed her hair fusca, like she'd said she would.

Leela had worn jeans and a silk shirt over a tank top, everything she wore was dark gray which showed up her silvery hair.

Both girls had no trouble keeping the sharkettes at bay, maneuvering the boys easily. Of course it didn't hurt that they were cooperating to stay with their friends instead of being lured away.

"Hey, this was our table until your punk friend ran us off. Why don't you two losers just give it up and move on?"

The speaker was about twenty and larger than either Danny or Shuba but neither was about to give up their table just because some ‘townie' wanted it.

Danny stood up and straightened his dark blue jacket, his pants and shirt were the same color, "You're just jealous because girls like my silver hair and green eyes as opposed to your mud look."

Shuba just shook his head and stood up too. He had really liked this new burgundy shirt, but it was sure to get torn in the fight Danny and the townie were picking.

"Hey! Is there a problem here?" Ranma gently put himself between his friends and the larger, older group. "You guys still after our table? Why don't you get a life and leave us to ours?"

Grumbling the older group slunk away threatening to get even later.

"You kids think you're hot shit. Well . . . we'll just see about that! We'll get you back! Wait and see."

Ryouga sat down in the booth, sneering, "I'm so scared. What the hell do they think they're gonna do against the seven a' us. There are only eight a' them. I could handle 'em myself and never even break a sweat. Hell, Danny and Shuba coulda' taken care a' them."

Taking the complement for what it was Danny and Shuba both laughed "Thanks so much!" "Oh, I'm not worthy!"

Leela looked at her watch, "Hey, look at the time! It's almost midnight. Sunny, I need the necessary. Come on!" Leela grabbed Sunny and dragged her off in the direction of the exit where the restrooms were. "Don't go anywhere! We'll be back in no time!We won't be gone long. Ten minutes tops."

All the guys groaned, they knew that with the two girls it could be any where from ten minutes to a hour or more. Girls being what they were.

Danny yawned, "I'm tired. I think I'll go on to the van. Shuba you coming?"

"Yeah, I'll come with you; Ranma, you and Ryouga wait here for Leela and Sunny."

Shuba didn't even realize that he was giving orders.

"Yes Oh, mighty coordinator. We will obey the voice of the team."

Ryouga bowed exaggeratedly.

"What's going on? Did I miss something important?" Kuno walked up wiping sweat from his forehead with an immaculate folded handkerchief. "Where are Sunny and Leela?"

Danny nodded in the direction of the Ladies' room. After quick explanations, Kuno decided to wait with Ryouga and Ranma since he hadn't finished his drink yet.

"Last call! Last call for alcohol!"

The music went down and the lights went up slowly. The girls weren't back yet.

"How long has it been since those two went to the restroom?" Ranma was getting worried. He was sure it had been more than ten minutes. "They said ten minutes. Let's go look for them."

"How are we going to . . . never mind." Ranma had switched to Ranko and walked right into the restroom. He popped out almost immediately. "They ain't there and the place is a mess. That little sittn' place is turned inside out. There's been a fight. Damnit, where could they have gone? Or." Ranma snarled, "been taken."

A quick search of the area showed that the back door was blocked open with a wad of paper shoved into the lock and the scrapes on the concrete outside the door made them all unhappy. The sight of a small wallet dropped about 20 feet from the door gave them all shivers. It was Leela's and she would never have dropped it, Danny had given it to her and she thought a lot of it. A little further along the alley Kuno found an earring. Sunny wore clips so everyone was sure it was hers, besides Ranma recognized it, having spent some time staring at it on the van.

"Damnit! It's those townies! They've taken the girls. We've gotta find ‘em." Ranma grabbed Ryouga and Kuno. "Don't go off half cocked! We need t' think this through or we're gonna lose before we begin."

The look on his face was frightening. Someone had messed with his friends, not a good idea when it was one of the guys; a really, really bad idea when it was one of the girls.

Shuba answered his cell, "Moshi-Moshi, Ranma where are . . . "

"Shut up and listen. That pack of townies have Leela and Sunny. Call the cops, but warn them that they'll only be cleanin up. Don't bother to try Steven, he's gone, remember? Get Cen Ops; find out if they can trace the girls phones like Mr. P said."

When Shuba started to argue; Ranma said, "Coordinate. Do your job."

Shuba stood and thought for a few seconds; he didn't even seem to breath.

"Hey, Driver; we've got a situation. Here's what it is."

After filling the driver in on what was happening and telling him point blank that any interference wasn't happening. Shuba called the cops, then Cen. Ops.

"Central Operations. What's your situation?"

"This is Shuba. Leela and Sunny have been kidnaped. We need . . . "

"Young Man, this is an unlisted phone. We don't appreciate pranks."

"Shut up and listen! We're Brat Pack, Georges, whatever. We've got a real problem here and I don't appreciate bein' hung out t' dry. If ya don't know who we are then get me a supervisor! NOW!"

Almost immediately another voice came on the line.

"We'll call the police. Just stay where you are."

"Look. I already called the cops. They can't get here in time and neither can you. Ranma, Ryouga and Kuno can handle anything a bunch of townies can dish out; but we need to find the girls now, before something happens to them. So what do I do?"

A quick conversation in the back ground and a few curses and the first voice came back on.

"Sorry, you sound so young. You're identified now . . . "

"Hey! Someone do something or we'll wing it and you can explain t' Steven why we got left out in the cold. I need to have contact with Ranma Saotome, Ryouga Hibiki, and Tatiwaki Kuno. Hurry! Also, Danny and Shuba; no last names."

"Activate the secondary screen in your cell phone. We have everybody traced now. Ranma, Ryouga, Kuno as principle operators are green. Danny, and you, Shuba are secondary, that's yellow. Leela and Sunny are targets, that's red. In this situation we hand control over to the field agents nearest to the action. That's you kids; need anything, call. Otherwise; you're on your own. Good luck!" The operator turned to the night watch commander. "Damnit, I hate turning this over to a bunch of untrained, inexperienced kids, but they are active agents and on the spot, so I'm stuck. Shit!"

"Ranma, Ryouga, Kuno you hear that? We're on our own. Let's get busy."

Shuba used his position to orient his strike team. Danny kept the driver on the phone to the police and stayed in the background to gofer as needed.

"Ranma, you're point with Kuno and Ryouga, wing. I've found the girls. They're a block away straight ahead. It's a warehouse from the data on my screen. Damnit, I need a bigger screen. This thing's almost impossible to read. It's small, less than ten thousand square feet. Empty too. There's a sky light and two entrances. One right in front of you and one on the west, your left side. Ranma, head straight to the door and try to distract those assholes from hurting the girls. Kuno take the west door; Ryouga go through the skylight, if you have to break it, watch out for glass falling on the target. Danny, that driver and I will follow up for clean up. Keep any of those idiots from escaping; if you leave us anything."

The boys split up and started working their way to their positions. Ranma just opened the door and walked into the small warehouse. It was pretty much empty. There were only a few crates, all empty, arranged around a pool of light from an overhead fixture.

In that pool of light were Sunny and Leela, surrounded by the eight townies who were engaged in mauling them. Shoving them from one groping set of hands to another. Sunny looked blank, like she couldn't believe this was happening. Leela was made of sterner stuff and was putting up a struggle, as Ranma got close one of the abductors slapped her across the face, knocking her down.

"Hey! Quit that, ass-hole. Pick on someone your own size!"

Ranma ran up to the gang of punks. He skidded to a sullen stop when one of the brutes pulled a knife and held it to Sunny's throat.

"Come closer . . . yeah, that's right. Come right into the light. Well, if it isn't the tough guy himself. Let's see how tough you really are."

Sunny whimpered as the idiot pricked the tender skin under her jaw just enough to draw a drop of blood.

Ranma froze; his eyes turned copper and his face became calm.

"Don't hurt her. You want to hurt someone, hurt me. I'm the one you have a problem with"

"Yeah, I've got a problem with all of you. You don't want me to hurt her? Kneel and beg!"

Ranma didn't hesitate for a second; he dropped to his hands and knees, bowing his head, he begged, ‘Please, Sir, don't hurt her."

He sat back on his heels, his toes turned under.

"I can't hear you. Beg me some more. Louder this time, I want all my friends to hear."

The punk shook Sunny a little, just to hear her whimper.

Ranma kneeled forward again, scooting his knees to his hands. He turned his finger tips toward each other and put his forehead on them.

"Sir. Yes, Sir. Please don't hurt her. I'm begging you not to do anything. Hurt me!"

Ranma sat back on his heels again. He took a quick peek around and saw Ryougas' silhouette against the night sky and Kuno behind one of the few pillars close to them. Everyone was in play.

Ranma placed his hands on the floor for the final time and leaned forward.

"Beg me like a vassal slave. You beg so nicely. Try again and I might just let you take a beating instead of having fun with your girl"

All the other punks gathered around were laughing and sneering at Ranma, calling him yellow and chicken; and other, more offensive names. Ranma didn't even notice, he was focused on the knife.

Ranma knelt back on his left foot, raising his right knee, he put that foot flat on the floor. He put his left hand in front of that knee and tucked his right hand behind his back. Scooting forward again, he bowed his head just enough so that no one could see his eyes.

"Please, master, don't hurt Sunny."

Ranma closed his fist; shoved off with his right foot and planted his fist in the face of the boy holding Sunny. He slapped the knife away with his other hand. He pulled his punch considerably but he still felt bone crunch under his hand.

Leela rolled to her feet, grabbed Sunny and dragged her out of the way, putting herself and Sunny against a crate.

Ryoga crashed through the skylight and snatched two of the punks off their feet. Grinning maniacally, he smashed their heads together with the sound of a smashing watermelon. He looked like he'd lost his mind.

Kuno had found a dowel rod about an inch and a half in diameter and, using it as a sword, cracked one boys ribs and anothers collarbone. The other three ran for it only to run into Danny and Shuba, who did a little punching and kicking of their own..The driver just looked on.

~ * ~

Vignette

"Man you shoulda' heard him, whinn' and beggn'" The driver imitated in a high shrill voice. ‘Oh please sir don't hurt her' On his knees no less. I didn't see it but I sure heard it. Little punk begged like a girl"

~ * ~

Ranma grabbed Sunny, dragging her into his arms. "Sunny lift your head, let me see how bad it is. The bastard! I'll gut him like a fish." Ranma wanted only one thing, for Sunny to be unhurt.

"Ranma! Oh, gods! I'm glad to see you. They were gonna . . . "

"Hush! Don't even think it. I'm here and it's all right." Ranma held Sunny rocking her in his arms like a baby.

Ryouga held Leela and touched her bruised cheek, he looked as feral as Ranma. "Which one did this. I'll slap him into next week." Ryouga was snarling like a mad dog.

"NO! Ryouga, don't. I don't care about that. I'm just glad you got here when you did. You were wonderful!"

Leela clung to Ryouga who gathered her into his arms and held on tight.

Kuno smiled to himself and started cleaning up the human debris of the first mission of the Ranma team. {I Wish they'd quit calling us the Brat Pack}

Shuba was on the phone with the police.

"No, we aren't staying around to explain this mess. A bunch of your punk town bastards kidnaped two of our female operatives and tried to rape them. We rescued them and we're going home to take care of them. Get in touch with Cen. Op; they'll fill you in. They have it all on audio tapes taken from our phones. No, we aren't just a bunch of little kids. We take care of our own and don't need your permission to do anything. If you don't like it, get in touch with Steven Campbell or the Assistant Headmaster, Mr. Perkins. Only don't blame me when he bites your head off and spits down your neck." Shuba snapped his phone closed. "Come on you guys. Lets get home"

Danny approached Ryouga muttering, "Hey, Ryouga. She's my sister. Come on, man, I'd like to see her too."

Ryouga came to enough to realize who Danny was but he still refused to let Leela go.

Ranma was as bad about Sunny. Carrying her to the van and climbing in, he settled her in his lap

Mr. Perkins met them at the clinic attached to the main building. Maa Yao met them also. She insisted on taking both girls into a private curtained area and examining them thoroughly.

The boys all waited; pacing or sitting quietly, according to their personality. Ranma sat so quietly that Mr. Perkins sat down beside him.

"Ranma, don't worry. They aren't hurt badly. You reached them in time."

"Yeah just barely. I should have known something wasn't right. My gut was telling me so. I should have listened to it. It's all my fault." Ranma hung his head "Damnit, I'm so stupid!"

"That's enough, young man. You couldn't have known those punks would be so stupid. It's because of your quick thinking that those girls are safe and sound."

Mr. Perkins couldn't believe Ranma was blaming himself.

"Stop second guessing yourself. We'll have a debriefing in the morning, just as if it was an assigned mission. You can all use the practice. Now stop that."

Maa Yao pushed the curtain aside.

"They are scared and shaken, but that's all. I've given them both a very light sedative. Take them to their rooms and I'll come along to get them to bed."