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 30

Ranma watched as the new men came in. He was hoping that he wasn’t going to have trouble with them but he also knew it was probably a faint hope. When he was called to the Wardens’ office an hour later, he just sighed, checkmated his opponent, and followed.

“Damn that kid. I knew it. He’s been playing with me for the last ten minutes.” Carp grumbled, “I’m sorry I taught that kid how to play. No, I’m not really he gets such pleasure from our games I can’t grip too much”

Carp turned to his neighbor. “Any idea what that’s about?”

“Not a clue. Glad they quit chaining that kid up though. Hurt me to see it. And him so patient with the whole mess.”

Collins worked in the kitchens as a trustee and Carp was his best friend. They had both taken Ranma under their wing, even more than the rest of the men had, so they were very interested in what was happening.

Ranma walked into Captain McIntosh’s office and sat down in the chair next to the desk. McIntosh was on the phone and his quiet snarls left Ranma wondering what was wrong.

“Damn!” McIntosh tossed the phone in the general direction of the cradle. “I hate it when they try that shit. There is no way it’s happening.”

“What’s wrong? Did I do somethin’? Am I in trouble?”

Ranma couldn’t figure out what he’d done to make the Captain so mad.

“You didn’t do anything. The Chinese government wants to borrow you for an assignment. And I have absolutely refused. There’s no way I’m letting them borrow you. Nor are you going on any other assignments. You’re incarcerated in my facility and that smacks way too much of coercion. I’m not having it. Steven even called me asking me to turn them down.”

Ranma made a face.

“Uh . . . wazzat? I never heard that word before.”

“Coercion is where you’re forced to do something you don’t want to by threats. Like me saying ‘go to China or you won’t like what happens here in the Stockade.’ Or putting you in solitary because you wouldn’t go.”

“I don’t think I’d like being borrowed. I saw what happened to Leela and Danny. I got a message from Danny. They’re back at the dorm and wantin’ to visit. But they’re still stove up.”

“That’s why I wouldn’t let anyone borrow you while you’re under my command. I don’t even want it to look like I did something like that.”

McIntosh was astonished at the look on Ranma’s face. He looked so happy it was astonishing. He had the biggest grin ever.

“Well gee. I don’t think anyone’s ever done somethin’ like that for me before. It’s always been like ya said. Fight or something bad will happen. Still . . . if they really need me, I ought to go. I don’t mind fightin’, I like it fine really, I just don’t like bein’ forced to kill some fool who is in the same chains as me. It’s not right to put someone against me.”

McIntosh sighed, he’d finally read the jacket that Steven sent over and all he’d wanted to do was crawl into a corner and gibber quietly. Now he had to tell Ranma the reason he’d originally called him.

“Well, I hate to tell you this but there is a new prisoner who’s issued you a challenge. He went through all the channels, just like we set it up, so there’s nothing I can do but tell you about it. You know you have the right to refuse. I know you gave your word to fight if they did it right but I really wish you wouldn’t do this. I can sequester the jerk and . . . “

“Na, it won’t go away. I’ve been thinkin’ about it for the last few days. There’s always gonna be trouble. Some idiot is gonna hear about the George, take one look at me and decided that it’s gonna be an easy rep. Well, I’ve got plans. With a little stage, setting and your cooperation, I’m gonna nip this shit in the bud once and for all.”

Ranma had an evil look on his face, the smile he aimed at the Captain was feral, all teeth and snarl.

“Holy Shit! Don’t look at me like that. Damnit, you’re as slippery as a greased eel. What do you have up your sleeve? I know I can trust you, so I’ll do whatever you want. I don’t want fighting in the yard and if you have a good plan I want to hear it. And what do you mean stage setting.”

Ranma settled down to explain his plan.

“Saotome, you’re a little fiend. Can I bring my camera?”

~ * ~

Ranma waited as Buck looked at him like he’d lost every bit of sense he’d ever had.

“What the hell do you want with a set of double strength, heavy duty hobbles, never mind the belly chain and block cuffs. They might hold you, if you got sick or something.”

“Yeah, I’m doin’ some stage settin’ and I need somethin’ that looks like it’ll hold me. Just make it look good. Too bad we can’t get hold of some of that anchor chain.”

Ranma snickered at the look on Buck’s face.

“This has something to do with that stupid challenge, doesn’t it. Well, if you’re going to nip another round of fight the George in the bud I’m all for it. It’s just a nuisance trying to convince those guys to leave ya alone and chainin’ you up again ain’t happenin’” Buck eyed Ranma for a minute. He had that innocent look on his face, the scarry one that teenagers got before they did something really outrageous.

“Let me see what I can come up with. I really need to know how strong you are, so I don’t go over board or make them so weak you snap them.”

Buck was finally going to get his curiosity satisfied. Sense Ranma broke his ropes he’d wondered, if he’d used a few more wraps would he have won.

Ranma looked around Buck’s tiny office.

“You attached to that piece of steel there?”

Ranma indicated a steel bar about six inches long sitting on a pile of papers on the desk. Buck just handed it to him. It was two inches wide and an inch thick. Ranma took it between his index finger and thumb. Buck watched as he bent it into a C shape using just those two fingers.

“Oh . . . un.”

Buck gulped, for the first time he was just a little afraid of Ranma. He was so strong that Buck realized he’d been humoring them about the transports.

Ranma tossed the now c-shaped piece of steel onto the desk and sighed.

“Now I suppose you’re scared of me. I wish ya wouldn’t be. I’m not gonna hurt anyone who doesn’t hurt me first. And even then I’ll just stop them the first time. Second time, all bets are off, just so you’ll know.”

“Well, Christ on a crutch! Sorry kid, I know you’re not gonna do anything to me, but it’s just a little unsettling. Here we been thinking if we just got a heavy enough set of shackles . . . Now I’m not sure what it’ll take.”

Buck wandered off into the ozone a little, trying to envision what Ranma had in mind. Showy, but breakable. Then it came to him, he didn’t have to worry if Ranma could break them or not. It had been proven beyond a doubt, anything they had was useless.

“I have an idea but it’s really out there.”

Buck grinned.

“The farther out, the better. Buck, listen to me, please. I want to hit them over the head, then smash them in the face, with the fact that I am unbeatable. You may not have heard the story or else discounted it. I killed a Grizzly Imp with my bare hands, after I got wounded. I’m no superman but I’m probably the closest thing living. I can’t have these guys constantly cruising for a rep. I know how easy it is for me to kill someone. And I don’t want to kill a man again. I don’t like it.”

Ranma watched as Buck got a real serious look on his face. He pinched his lower lip and finally nodded

“OK, Saotome, I got it. I need a day and I want you around for measurements.”

~ * ~

Steven didn’t like it one bit, Sunny had told him about the arrangement Ranma had made with Captain McIntosh. So now he was sitting in the front row of something that resembled a gladiatorial arena way too much for his peace of mind.

The room was horseshoe shaped, with a large open area, two doors in the back wall gave access to the back areas. The curved side of the room was banked with seats rising up to the ceiling. It was actually a combination basket ball court and mini-theater for movies.

All Ranma’s friends had been given special invitations to the event. McIntosh had nearly foamed at the mouth when Ranma had told him it was to be an open event. Every person in the Compound was invited.

“What the hell are you up to. I thought we were keeping it in the Stockade.”

“Nope. If I’m gonna do this, it’s gonna be an all out ‘scare the shit out of ‘em’ show. The more people who see it, the more it gets around; the less trouble I have farther down the road.”

Ranma had left MacIntoshes office and gone on about his preparations.

First the guards brought in the challenger. He was a big man, seven feet three inches tall, with arms and legs in proportion. He also wasn’t one of the skinny types. He weighed in heavy and he worked out. A lot. He was a body builder and it showed. They led him to the middle of the floor and one of the guards patted him on the shoulder, a sympathetic look on his face.

Then they brought Ranma out. First they heard the rattling, scraping sound of someone walking in very heavy chains. Ranma appeared as a silhouette on the wall at the back of the hall, distorted and wavering as he walked toward the door. Then he was standing framed in the white tile door, a slender figure dressed in black BDUs . He stood with his head slightly bowed, but not in defeat, his shoulders were back. He raked the hall with his eyes, letting them dart from face to face. He let a tiny smirk touch is lips.

The first step he took into full light made everyone in the room gasp. He was wearing enough metal to make a small car. The leg irons had 24 inches of heavy anchor chain between cuffs so heavy that they were almost two inches thick. His hands were held 14 inches apart by a thick bar with a cuff on each end of it, a heavy sliding ring welded around the bar fastening the bar to Ranma’s waist by a short chain. The chain from the sliding ring and around Ranma’s waist was a triple belt of heavy log chain locked at the back with a flat lock obviously made just for him.

Steven nearly went off. It took Kuno and Ryouga to keep him in his seat.

“Damnit! What’s going on here? I’m not letting them force Ranma to fight. I’m going down there and bust some heads.”

“Steven, stop it. Ranma and I discussed this with the other therapist at the Stockade. It’s ok! He’s up to something, I swear.”

Ryouga finally got Steven calm and the turned their attention back to Ranma.

Ranma walked to the center of the ring, leg irons rattling and dragging. He looked his opponent up and down and shrugged.

“Ok, Buddy, let’s get this on.”

Ranma didn’t even really look at the man. He just looked bored.

“I’m waitin for them to unchain ya. You can’t fight like that.”

“Yeah, I can. As big as you are, you’re bound to be slow, so let’s just get going. I’d like to get this over with. I want a soda. I’m thirsty.”

Ranma shrugged his shoulder making chains jingle

“You’re a cocky little shit! I oughtta just punch you and get it over with.”

“Yeah, just slug me. Put me outta your misery. Come on, let’s get this over with. Unless you’re scared of me even in chains. You’re like a lot of big guys, all blow and no go.”

That finally made the man mad, so he took a soft punch at Ranma. He wanted a rep but he didn’t want to kill anyone. Ranma back stepped, hopping backwards on both feet. The next punch was at Ranma’s face, he dodged. He dodged a series of ever more powerful punches, ducking and weaving, hopping backwards until he’d led the man right up to the wall in front of the seats. Now that he had the man where he wanted him, he dropped to his hands, using them as a pivot he used a double sweep to kick the man’s feet out from under him then he rolled away and stood up, without using his hands.

“Ya ready to really fight yet, I’m tired of pissin’ around.”

Ranmas cocky tone of voice made his opponent lose his temper. He rushed Ranma, intending to finish the fight once and for all. Ranma sprang into the air, he didn’t bother to squat, the rafters were a little low so he didn’t need the height.

He kicked ‘Tall-boy’ in the head and landed behind him. He hopped backwards over his head and landed in front of him again. Another hop sent him straight for the man as he stood, slightly stunned, he caught him at throat height with the chain between his feet. Using his body weight and velocity he flattened him and held him for a moment by the chain over his neck. He let his opponent feel his weight and realize, if Ranma lowered the one foot he still held slightly raised, he’d have a crushed larynx.

Ranma pivoted on the ball of his foot, raising the other enough that he didn’t break the man’s neck as he removed the unbroken chain from, it kicking him in the head on the way around.

Ignoring his semiconscious opponent he looked around the arena. He saw several men who had claimed to be able to beat him. He pointed out one of them and just made a come here motion with one hand. The man jumped at the chance to fight. He knew he could take Ranma. He couldn’t. Ranma waited until he was fully in the ring, then he used a different form of the same attack he’d used on his first opponent, only this time he used one hand and launched himself feet first. He kicked the man in the face knocking him flat, out cold.

He picked out two more men with the same results. It took him seconds to put them out. At the next pick the man shook his head vigorously. Ranma looked for another victim but anyone who even thought they might be picked was shaking his head and some even got up and left.

Steven was all but chewing the railing in front of him so he didn’t even flinch as Ranma hopped up on it right in front of him.

“Want to be forgiven?” Ranma held out a hand as far as he could.

“Please! Ranma, I’ve said I’m sorry and I am, tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

Steven was glad Ranma was ready to forgive him, he’d really missed the boy.

“Ok! Fight me. Right here, right now. No holding back.”

Ranma back flipped into the center of the ring and waited for Steven to come to him.

Steven groaned, left his seat and walked into the center of the ring opposite Ranma. {Man, I am so gonna get my ass kicked.}

Ranma waited for Steven, when Buck came with the keys he motioned him away.

“Not yet.”

“Ranma, he’ll kick your ass.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Don’t think so.”

Steven watched this by play and sighed, he couldn’t hold back on Ranma, he’d insult him. He had his doubts about who was better, but he didn’t think it made much difference, so he wondered why Ranma was doing this, he wasn’t the vindictive type.

“Just answer me one question. Why? I just need to know.”

“Steven, I’m always gonna have trouble with ass holes wantin’ to fight me and I’m tired of it. I’m puttin’ on a show that’ll convince them all that I’m a bad ass. Just get your ass kicked, or kick mine. But lets get it on.”

Steven kicked off his shoes, took up his stance and waited for Ranma to make the first move, then he realized that he wouldn’t. He’d stand there all day, hands held lightly in front of his waist, feet spread to the limit of the chain, waiting for Steven to start.

Steven started a single foot drop spin kick. At the point where he should have made contact with Ranma, it all fell apart. Ranma hopped onto his ankle, bending at the waist, he put one hand on Steven’s thigh and, arching backwards, kicked him on top of the head. Continuing his flip, Ranma landed on both feet behind Steven, then he planted both hands on the floor and gave Steven a double footed mule kick, right in-between the shoulder blades. Steven managed to turn what was almost an inelegant sprawl into a forward roll, gaining his feet, he turned to locate Ranma.

{Damn, that kid is quick. I wasn’t that fast when I was in my prime. I am so dead.}

“Hun! Fast little shit.”

“Yeah, come on old man, I’m ready if you are.”

Steven reached down into his bag of tricks and pulled out an old one. He dropped to the floor and rolled, head over heals, right for Ranma, at the last second he straightened out and punched Ranma right in the stomach. Or tried, Ranma didn’t even try to dodge, instead he let Steven punch him in one cupped hand. Then he closed his hand over Steven’s, he didn’t squeeze, he just held it for a moment, Steven pulled back and Ranma let him.

Steven pulled an aerial maneuver next, leaping as high as the ceiling would let him, he tried to drop onto Ranma.

“Oh, that is so not happenin’. Steven . . . come up with something I haven’t seen a thousand times.”

Ranma met Steven in the air. He wrapped himself around Steven and grounded him by jerking on one leg, which left Steven flat on his back with Ranma standing on his chest.

“Give?”

“Yeah, uncle, aunties and all your cousins. Damnit and they haven’t even unchained you yet.”

Ranma grinned like a fiend, he stepped off Steven and waited as he got to his feet too.

“Go back to your seat, the show isn’t over yet.”

Steven looked at Ranma, “Am I forgiven yet?”

“Yes, you are. . . uh . . . Steven? I could really use a hug right about now.”

Ranma gave Steven a sweet smile.

Steven just put his arms around Ranma and hugged him tight. Then he went back to his seat while the spectators wondered what was going on. Ranma had just whipped Steven in about three seconds and they were hugging.

Ranma returned to the center of the ring for the third time. This time he made it clear that it was a solo performance.

Ranma took up a crane stance, right leg raised horizontal to the hip, knee bent, right arm raised over his head, left dropped at the shoulder, elbow bent, palm out. The chains he’d been wearing broke with snaps like gun shots. The crowd, as the saying goes, went wild. The screaming and cheering, however, didn’t over power the gasps of many of the men when they realize that Ranma had fought five men wearing heavy chains, chains that he could have broken at any time.

Ranma broke the cuffs off his wrists and ankles, then the broke the belt. He took all the pieces and threw them into the air. Launching himself after them, he used the Neko-ken to reduce almost ten pounds of steel into scraps. As the bits of metal rained down, he hit the floor and bounced like a ball. Back in the air, he put on a show of aerial maneuvers that made even the best gasp. Ryouga and Kuno were the only one’s who could even see some of them. Ranma literally looked like a ball of motion, an occasional foot or hand showed for a split second, then disappeared again.

After two more bounces, Ranma lit. Then he started running, he quickly built up enough speed that he ran clear around the wall in front of the seats, horizontally, his cat shaped battle aura left no doubts as to how he’d done it.

Calling to an assistant (Sargent Polk) he looked over the crowd.

“I don’t want to kill someone, so I usually pull my punches. If I didn’t, this is what would happen.”

Nodding to Polk, Ranma set himself. Polk threw a steel plate into the air. Ranma didn’t even seem to move but the plate hit the floor in two pieces. Polk had smeared the plate with blue chalk before he launched it. Ranma casually blew chalk off his knuckles, his left knuckles.

The next piece of steel Polk threw was thicker. Ranma still didn’t seem to move but this piece exploded into bits. Ranma brushed chalk off his boot.

The whole arena was now dead silent. No man made a sound. The only noise was heavy breathing from some of the men. As for Ranma, he hadn’t even broken a sweat.

Ranma swept the men with another ugly look, pinning possible offenders with special looks of their own. Then he took a deep breath and yelled.

“DON’T FUCK WITH ME”

Every window exploded outward.

He turned and walked out the door like nothing had happened. Leaving stunned quiet behind.

~ * ~

Steven took a deep breath, “Oh. My. God. I’ve never seen anything like that. Ranma sacred the shit out of me and I don’t scare easy. What a show.”

Ryouga felt sad. He’d been afraid of something like this for a long time. Ranma was either acting for all he was worth or he’d gone harder than was heathy for anyone.

Sunny was chattering away to anyone who would listen.

“Wasn’t he great I think he really scared a bunch of dummies I bet he doesn’t have trouble anymore. Steven can we go back and see him I’d like to see Ranma before they take him back to the stockade please.”

Steven looked at Rio and motioned him to gather the men of Ranma’s secondary team and bring them along. When he asked McIntosh if they could see Ranma the Captain just nodded. He didn’t look very happy either.

Ranma looked up from his wrist, which was scraped a little.

Skeeter reached out at the same time as Sunny. Sunny giggled and said, “You can look at it but I get to fix it.”

Skeeter took Ranma’s wrist in his hand and examined it. All Ranma’s friends gathered in the room but they were al subdued, afraid that Ranma was somehow changed. He was different. He seemed sadder, more threatening, something.

Ranma smiled sadly. He knew what everyone was thinking because they were all holding back.

“Ok people. Someone say something before you all explode. No, don’t bother. I know want you’re all thinking. I haven’t gone nuts. But I’m tired of being good old Ranma. It leaves me open to all kinds of trouble. I need a reputation as a hard ass to keep the real hard asses from pestering me to death. I don’t want to have to fight every fool and his brother every time I turn around. So I just put on the best act of my life. Sunny! Please tell me you’re not scared of me now. If you are, it’ll break my heart . . . Koi?. . . Say something!”

Ranma was scared now. He knew Steven wasn’t scared of him. He was watching him too calmly for that. But the guys of his secondary team, especially Dave, Pete and Doug, were watching him closely. Rio was grinning at him like an idiot and Sargent Conroy had a smirk on his face that comforted Ranma in an odd way.

Kuno and Ryouga were both shuddering and Shuba and Danny were watching him warily. However Leela and Sunny reassured him. Sunny cuddled into his arms, touching his bruised and scraped wrists, healing them with that touch. Leela put her arms around him and nestled her cheek into his shoulder.

Ryouga reacted to this in typical Ryouga fashion. With a burst of jealousy.

“Hey! That’s my girl! Hands off, Saotome.”

“Wha’d I do? I’m not doin’ nothin’! She’s huggin;’ me, ya jerk.”

Everyone in the room relaxed, Ranma realized that the reason Kuno and Ryouga were shuddering was that they were trying not to laugh. Now they just fell all over each other.

“Oh, my God! I like to laughed my ass off when I saw you. Dramatic much. And effective. You never saw so many guys on the verge of panic attacks in your life. Man, you looked like a complete head case.”

Ranma grinned at Shuba, “That was my intention. I’m tired of every tough guy in the place taking one look at me and deciding I’m an easy target. They look at my size and age and get all the wrong ideas. I’m afraid one of these days I’m gonna kill someone. I’m gonna get surprised at the wrong time and some idiot’s dead before I realize it’s not a real threat.”

At Ranma’s grin and explanation, the last of the tension faded from the room. The following party lasted until McIntosh couldn’t justify letting it go on.

“People! I’m sorry, but I’ve got to get Ranma back to the stockade, it’s almost midnight. Sorry.”

Ranma turned with McIntosh and started to leave but he turned back for one last word.

“Everybody visit me, please. Sunny, you especially. I can’t do it with out you. All of you. You too Steven, I need a visit from you.. By”

~ * ~

Everything I know about the military is learned from three sources, friends who’ve been there, the local Recruiting Officers, who have been so helpful (thanks guys) and the net.

Most of what I know about guns is from personal experience.