Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Killing Time ❯ The Soatome Incident ( Chapter 2 )

Killing Time 2

Raven stepped out of the air conditioned airport and into the humid afternoon air of a typical day in Japan, Sophie was a few steps behind still fiddling with her back pack which customs had insisted on taking apart for her with no apparent reason. She stopped besides him and smiled.

"What now?"

"Now we find a taxi to take us to the hotel."

"Where is it again?"

"The hotel, the brochure said it's in the Nerima district. That's not too far from here I don't think."

"It was very nice of your uncle to pay for our holiday."

"Yes I thought so. I think he's so glad I settled in without causing trouble that he was willing to pay for anything, though I don't think I would have turned out so well if you hadn't been around."

Sophie smiled and cuddled his arm. She looked up at his face.

"You realise it's exactly one year ago today we met."

"Like anyone could forget that day. I'm still glad it happened though."

"Yeah, our lives would have been so different."

The two kissed briefly before Raven raised his hand in the universal sign for needing a cab.

*

Ranma was having a good day and it unnerved him, still no need to waste an opportunity he'd never know when he might get another one so he lay back in the cool shade of a tree and closed his eyes. Just as he was beginning to feel relaxed a twig snapped above him causing the young martial artist to leap to his feet and stare up into the branches.

"Ryoga! What do you want now? Another battle, anything bring it on."

"Relax Ranma I'm in no mood to fight today, it's much to nice of a day."

"Are you alright Ryoga?"

"Yes Ranma I'm fine, besides there is no point fighting you today, I haven't learned any new techniques or had a chance for any serious practice. The outcome of the match is already determined, we might as well just enjoy the day."

"What are you doing in Nerima then you only left a week ago?"

Ryoga blushed and snapped a thick branch from the tree which he proceeded to snap into multiple pieces in embarrassment.

"Well, I wasn't supposed to be here, I was trying to get to Okinawa but."

"You got lost. Oh well, if you're really here in piece then pull up a patch of grass."

Ryoga shrugged and leapt from the tree before settling down on a comfy patch of grass. He looked at Ranma who'd done the same.

"I kind of like this"

"Eh! What lying on the grass?"

"No Ranma you fool, I mean the peacefulness. Not having to worry about being attacked or having to stave off some wild demon or something."

"Yeah."

Ranma closed his eyes again before speaking again.

"It's not going to last though, is it?"

"No. I don't think who ever controls our lives would let that happen."

"Shame."

"Yes."

Both exhaled a breath held since Ryoga had first attacked Ranma in the Furinken High School grounds. They both knew they didn't want to fight but couldn't work out if the other felt the same. Of course Ryoga still held Ranma responsible for his unfortunate transformation but he was starting to realise that it had been more a string of coincidences that had caused the whole mess. Fairly soon the pair were both dozing unaware they were being carefully watched.

Ranma finally awoke to find dusk rapidly closing in around him, he checked round for Ryoga but there was no sign of him. Ranma sighed and headed for home, though on an impulse changed directions and headed for Ukyos.

*

Raven sat at a small table in a quite little restaurant and munched thoughtfully on his ramin. Sophie had wanted to do some special shopping to find an outfit suitable for the evening they'd planned but she'd wanted to make it a surprise so instead he'd gone to do a bit of sight seeing and while exploring had decided he needed a snack. Nerima was certainly a strange place everyone always seemed on edge, almost like they expected trouble to start any minute. He'd received a few cautious looks himself from people and he was sure he'd heard the word wrecking crew used in his direction though his Japanese was by no means perfect.

He looked up as a young boy, maybe a year or two younger than him entered. Normally Raven wouldn't have given him a second thought despite the apparent owner of the shop, a young girl of about the same age as the boy pouncing on him like a cat on mouse. It was something else that made him wonder and it took him a few seconds to work it out. Why was a Japanese boy wearing Chinese clothes? The boy certainly seemed strong and very confident and though Raven didn't believe in auras and the like he had to admit the kid had a certain powerful air about him. Raven shrugged it off, he didn't see anything to concern him so he finished his ramin, dropped what he though was the appropriate amount of money on the table and made to go.

Behind him Ukyo noticed the guy eating had left far to much to pay for the meal and called to Ranma to stop the guy so she could return the excess money. Ranma reached out and put a hand on Raven's shoulder and spoke but Raven didn't understand all of what he'd said but he picked up enough to know the guy was going to be trouble. `Stop, take it back.'

Raven ducked his shoulder and spun round bringing his other arm up to grip Ranma's and began to spin him round. It took Ranma a split second to catch up while he wondered why the guy had attacked him for trying to return his money but the guy obviously knew martial arts so he was a danger to Ranma and a possible challenger to him. Ranma moved fast and countered Raven's move pulling himself free and dropping into a stance, Raven did the same.

Ranma threw the first punch which Raven dodged and countered with his own but Ranma was too quick. The two exchanged attacks but neither struck however where Raven was already pushing the limits of his speed, Ranma was just warming up and it was quickly becoming apparent to Raven he was going to loose if he didn't do something. As Ranma moved to block the expected attack Raven back flipped out of Ranma's reach and drew his Sig. Ranma froze, he'd seen few guns and never had one pointed at him, all his opponents had used martial arts against him though some where strange and obscure at least it was possible to defend against them but a bullet was different. He was fast but was he that fast? So Ranma did the only thing he could, he put his hands up and tried to think of a way out as he checked Ukyo was safely behind him. Ranma suddenly realised the stranger was speaking though in somewhat pigeon Japanese rather like Shampoo.

"What I do? Why you attack me?"

Ukyo who'd watched the brief fight in stunned surprise realised what had happened, the stranger hadn't understood what Ranma had said, he'd thought it was a challenge. She spoke to Ranma.

"Ranma honey, he barely speaks Japanese he must have misunderstood what you said to him or only got part of it and when you put your hand on his shoulder."

"He thought I'd challenged him, fine but what's he doing with a gun."

Raven was still standing with the gun pointed at Ranma while he tried to keep up with the conversation that was going on though he thought he'd understood enough to form a reasonable conclusion as to what had happened. He lowered the gun and spoke again.

"Sorry, I thought you want fight. Why you stop me?"

Ukyo held out the extra money gingerly.

"You gave me too much."

She punctuated each word with a gesture to help him understand.

Raven nodded and looked round. A few of the chairs had been broken in the scuffle.

"Keep, for damage. If it cost more I pay."

Ukyo smiled and nodded.

"This is fine honey but thank you."

Raven slid his gun back under his shirt and held out his hand to Ranma.

"Shake."

Ranma shook his hand before pointing at where Raven had hidden the gun.

"Why do you have that?"

"I had since I am young. Needed growing up. I'm Raven."

"Oh. I'm Ranma and this is Ukyo."

"Hi."

Ukyo waved. Ranma still didn't understand why the guy needed a gun but then maybe the west was all like that. Even so it made him nervous to know that this Raven fellow could have killed him. At that point Sophie appeared.

"Raven what happened? I saw you from the street. You didn't pull your gun on this guy did you?"

"I had to, I thought he was starting a fight and we scuffled but he was just so fast it was pretty amazing. I had to pull the gun to stop him."

"He's that much faster than you?"

"Yeah, he must have trained everyday his whole life."

Sophie looked over to see Ranma and Ukyo now struggling to follow the conversation. She decided she had to be the interpreter, she was glad she'd paid attention in her Japanese studies class.

"I'm very sorry for my boy friend but he had a very tough upbringing. He's used to fighting for survival and then an incident last year didn't help. He didn't mean anything by it."

Ranma nodded.

"It's alright I can relate to that, I know about fighting for survival. He's very skilled for someone from the west, where did he study?"

"Um, juvenile hall and orphanages. He had a lot of spare time on his hands as a kid so filled it by learning martial arts among other things."

Ranma and Ukyo both raised an eye brow at this. Ranma paused for a moment make up his mind.

"Are you two busy tonight?"

Sophie smiled apologetically.

"Actually we've kind of got plans. It's our anniversary you see."

Ukyo perked up.

"How cute. How long have you been together?"

"Only one year but how we got together is one hell of a story."

"Really? I'd love to here it sometime."

Ranma looked slightly annoyed.

"Well if you give me a minute you might be able to. Are you free tomorrow then."

He said looking at Sophie and Raven who looked utterly confused by the whole conversation.

"No, tomorrow we're free."

"Then would you like to come round for lunch then?"

Sophie exchanged a few words with Raven who nodded.

"Yes we'd love to."

"Excellent, where are you staying?"

"The Nerima Hotel. Were under the name Black but if you give us your address we can find it.

"Well it's the Tendo Dojo but it's quite tricky to find. I'll come and pick you up around twelve say."

"Ok, Ranma Tendo."

Ranma flushed and both Sophie and Raven noticed Ukyo visibly tense.

"No Ranma Soatome, Tendo is the name of a friend my father and I are staying with."

Ukyo grinned.

"Hey if you think you've got an interesting story wait till you hear his."

Ranma gave Ukyo a stern look.

"Ok, till tomorrow then?"

Sophie nodded then they exchanged goodbyes and then she and Raven left for their hotel while Ranma headed for the Tendo residence to inform them of their impending guests. Ukyo sat by herself in the now empty restaurant and contemplated Raven. His eyes had seemed so cold and lonely when he'd first entered her shop but he'd totally changed when Sophie had arrived. Only true undying love could change a person like that. She wondered what had made him like that for another few minutes until another customer entered.

*

It was a little after four and Sophie and Raven were sitting on the floor of the Tendo house exchanging stories of their adventures. It fact it was really Raven and Ranma that had done most of the story telling but they had all been amazed at how the other group had lived. Ranma and Ukyo were also surprised how much Raven's Japanese had improved since their last meeting though Sophie explained he'd spent all morning crouched over language books trying to pick up as much as he could. Sophie looked round at the odd bunch at the table, Ranma the man they'd discovered to be his father though not much of one is Sophie's eyes, the Tendo family, two boys of Ranma's age named Ryoga and Mousse, Ukyo and a Chinese girl with the unusual name Xian Pu or Shampoo as they all called her. A small man had been present earlier but after he'd attempted to grab Sophie's chest it was decided he should be tied up and thrown in a dark cupboard for his own safety. It had been a close thing stopping Raven from blowing Haposiaes head off and they didn't want a fight between those two sparking off.

Shampoo looked at Raven and Sophie again confused.

"You really kill all those men?"

Sophie nodded.

"Yes. I wouldn't have but they were trying to kill us so, well Raven showed me there was no other choice."

Ranma looked up from his tea.

"It's not like that round here. There have been a few death threats but no one has ever been killed or even come that close really."

"That's is difference between your world and mine. Were I grew up, if you were attacked it was usually to the death unless it was broken up by someone. Growing up that way, you become cold. You can kill because it's what you do to survive."

Ryoga shook his head.

"I couldn't be like that. It's not right."

Raven shrugged.

"Personally I think it's weirder seeing a boy change into a girl. That's pretty cool."

"Cool. I think it sucks, how can I be a man as a girl?"

"Yeah but it could be so useful. Besides is it really that bad from what you're saying it's saved your life a few times."

"You wouldn't understand."

"Ouch. Well it's not something I'd wish for but if it happened to me I'd have to look on the bright side. Maybe it's an age thing."

He said looking at Sophie.

Akane spoke up at that point.

"No it's just how his father brought him up to think. The whole man among me thing really screwed his way of thinking up."

"Hey, who are you to be calling screwed up, you act like a boy when you're a girl."

Raven thought Akane was going to loose it till Sophie leaned across and whispered something in her ear at which point she blushed the deepest shad of red he'd ever seen and then went quite. Raven leant across to Sophie.

"What did you say to her?"

"Girl stuff, don't worry."

There was a bit of a pause then Ranma stood.

"Raven would you like to come to the dojo. I'd be very interested in seeing some of your moves. Your moves are much more aggressively styled than mine, maybe I could learn a few things."

"Sure."

Raven stood and then the two left closely followed by Ryoga and Mousse who realised Ranma was trying to get an advantage on them. Kasumi looked at Sophie.

"You know I'd love to learn some more western dishes. Could you show me some recopies."

"Yes, no problem. Um where is your kitchen?"

"This way."

Kasumi got up and lead the way with Sophie behind her. Akane stood too.

"Hey, I want to learn to cook western food too."

"Akane should learn to cook rice and noodles first but Shampoo will show you how."

Nabiki sighed as she watched Shampoo and Ukyo follow the others into the kitchen.

"What is it they say about too many cooks. Oh well if it's anything like usual it should make an interesting display."

The two adults were left alone in the living room.

"Well Soun my old friend, it's certainly an odd pair that have turned up this time."

"Yes, that Raven. Do you think we can trust him."

"Of course, his methods may be a little different to ours but otherwise he's just like us."

A crash from behind them stopped their conversation.

"That's bad luck for sure. What do you think."

"It is an omen, but no reason to believe it's liked to our new friends Soun."

"Hmm. How about a game of Shogi?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

*

It was Akane's scream that alerted Raven and the others that something was wrong. Ranma turned to run to Akane but Raven stopped him.

"Wait. We don't know what's happened."

"But Akane is in trouble."

Ryoga stepped up.

"Remember this is our town, it's nothing we can't deal with."

Ryoga was cut short as the dojo doors burst opened and four armed men in black night operations clothing swarmed in. They all knew they were out numbered so they did the only thing they could, surrendered. A laugh echoed through the dojo as a man appeared in the door, Raven's eyes widened.

"You. I killed you."

"No Mr Black, you wounded me badly but you'd be amazed what modern medicine can do."

Ranma looked at Raven

"Someone you know."

"He was the leader of the drug plantation where our plane came down. I shot him but I could have sworn it was a kill shot."

Ranma watched as the armed men edged closer to the group now huddled back to back in the centre of the dojo. He saw Raven had noticed it to, another step and they'd be in reach. At that range Ranma and his friends were fast enough.

"So Mr Black I think it's time we talk revenge. Firstly we kill you and your little friends here, and then your female friends in the house and not forgetting those two cowardly males when we find them"

Ranma groaned inwardly, they would run away. The men stepped forward to place their gun barrel against the chest of Raven, Ranma, Ryoga and Mousse.

"Now!"

The shots rang out but the bullets struck harmlessly into the ceiling and floor as the three martial artists and Raven moved swinging the guns harmlessly into the air before delivering powerful strikes to the men. Raven's was dead before he hit the floor where as the other three were sent flying into the dojo wall, unconscious. Raven grabbed a rifle from the floor and looked up for the mysterious man who seemed out to get him. The man had gone.

"Shit, well at least this is familiar ground."

Raven ran from the building for the house, he heard the others follow him. They burst through the kitchen door. The girls were huddled on the floor all looking petrified. Instantly Raven noticed Sophie and Akane were gone. He looked at Ukyo.

"Sophie, where is she and Akane?"

"They took them. I think their heading for the airport."

Ranma clenched his fist. He felt a new rage growing in him, something far more primal then he'd ever felt. Without a word he ran from the house and into the street in time to see a truck disappear down a side alley. He gave pursuit, out of the corner of his eye he saw Ranma and Ryoga leaping from roof to roof as they to chased the truck. It made sense, the man had taken Akane to. He would make him pay, this time the man would die.

Raven skidded to a stop in front of the Neko Haten, where the truck had been abandoned, a wooden staff punctured through the flat right wheel. Beside it Cologne lay, bleeding slowly from the stub of what had been her arm. She looked up weakly at the him as a Ranma and Ryoga appeared.

"I tried to stop them but I couldn't. They're in the park, hurry.

Ryoga looked up at the other two.

"Go, I'll take care of her."

Now Ranma clenched his fist.

"They will pay."

Once again the two were off racing through side streets to the park halting again when they saw what lay before them.

"Mr Black it appears I'm glad you could join us, just in time. Drop the guns"

He levelled his gun to Sophie's head as Raven dropped the rifle and his Siq to the floor. Raven's mind flashed back one year, remembering the expression Sophie had had in the jungle when he'd told her she had to kill. She'd been so scared yet determined not to show it. Now he saw the same face again, he felt his judgement fade. He shook his head, he needed a plan.

"I think I'll make you suffer first, just as I did in that hospital, my lungs leaking through my chest."

"No, fight me one on one. Leave her out of this."

"Uh uh, that's to simple. No I'm not give you any chances."

Raven scanned the scene again.

Sophie was held by one of the soldiers with the mad Columbian with his pistol to her head, another soldier held Akane fast. A third soldier stood with his gun aimed at Raven and Ranma. Behind them, Ranma suddenly saw Ryoga climb over a fence and begin to creep towards them. Raven had to buy him some time.

"Why are you doing this."

"Because you, a pathetic sixteen year old kid destroyed everything I'd worked for and blew a hole in my chest. I'm doing this for revenge."

Ranma watched Ryoga get close to the guard who was pointing the rifle at Raven and himself. Raven looked down to make sure his Sig was still balanced on his shoe, safety off.

"You know they say you should serve revenge like me."

"What?"

"Cold as hell."

At that moment Ryoga delivered a mighty punch to the armed mans neck snapping it and at the same time grabbing his gun. The Columbian turned to see what had happened and as he stopped watching Raven he kicked his foot up flicking the pistol into the air at waste height. Raven grabbed the gun and aimed.

"DIE!"

The Columbian had just enough time to see Raven's eyes before his head exploded to Raven's bullets. The guard holding Sophie relaxed his grip as he saw his boss die and in that moment Sophie delivered a quick secession of blows to him and as the man staggered back she reached up, grabbed his head and twisted hard the snap echoing loudly. Akane too had knock her captor down before running to Ranma.

Raven looked at the group as Sophie nestled into his side.

"I'm sorry guys, I never expected trouble to turn up here."

"That's ok."

Ranma began to say. Suddenly he noticed one of the armed men stand and aim his side arm pistol at them. Two shots rang out at once Raven's shot kill shot and the single bullet the armed man had fired. It lasted less than half a second but Ranma could see the bullet moving through the air straight for Akane's heart and in that moment he found the speed to move faster than he though possible as he slid between Akane and the bullet. His body jolted with the impact and he was thrown backwards to the ground. The others stood in stunned silence as Akane knelt down and cradled him in her arms.

"Ranma. No don't die. Not now, please."

Ranma coughed his eyes half closed his breathing laboured the blood spreading out beneath him and staining Akane's dress. He tried to speak but his words were little more than a whisper.

"I'm sorry I never told you."

He winced and his body tensed as he stifled a cough.

"Don't speak Ranma. Save your energy."

Ranma shook his head.

"I never told you, how cute you are."

He drew in a breath and the others could see how much it hurt him.

"I love you Akane."

His breath expelled his eyes began to close and his body became limp his head rolled to one side into Akane's chest. She cradled his still form, the tears streaming down her face.

"I know. I love you too Ranma."

She kissed his forehead. Sophie closed her eyes.

"Oh no."

She hugged Raven closer to him. Raven looked at Akane again as she began pouring out her heart.

"Oh Ranma come back, I love, I can say it now. I don't car about anything else, I don't care what you change into or how you act, just come back to me please."

A thought hit Raven like a thunder clap and he turned to Ryoga who was trying to hold back his tears.

"Ryoga, your cursed form. If your injured, do they carry across."

"What?"

"When you change, do you're injuries stay?"

"Sort of, it depends. Most don't because your physical appearance rests itself as you change."

"That's all I need to know."

Raven raced to the stream that ran through the park and dunked his shirt in then raced back.

"Akane look out."

Raven wrung his shirt out over Ranma, the water causing over his body. Akana looked up at him almost screaming.

"What are you doing?"

Ryoga suddenly realised what Raven was trying to do and his eyes fixed on Ranma. Nothing happened then suddenly Ranma's appearance began blur, he began to shrink, his hair turned red and his chest swelled. Then all was still again, the now female Ranma didn't move. Ryoga felt all the hope he'd been gripping to fade and he fell to his knees his fists pounding heard on the ground shaking it and Ranma breathed. Akana grabbed her and looked her over. The wound in her stomach was gone and the bleeding had stopped. Akane tried to wake her but she stayed still. She looked up at the others.

"Why won't he wake up."

"Ranma's lost a lot of blood Akane. She, er he needs rest and is going to need a lot of basic foods when she wakes. We really need to get him to a hospital or something."

Akana nodded.

"I know just the place."

With that Raven scooped up the unconscious girl Ranma and followed Akane as she led the way to doctor Tofu's.

*

Raven and Sophie stood outside the airport talking to Kasumi.

"I'm so sorry for all the trouble we caused. If I'd known that lunatic was a live and after me. Well I don't know what I would have done really but it would have been endangering you lot."

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Anyway I think those two want to talk with you before you go, so it was nice meeting you and I hope we meet again."

With that Kasumi went to join the wrest of her family and the other members of the Nerima wrecking crew and Ranma, now in his male for and Akane approached them arm in arm. Raven started to speak but Ranma stopped him."

I want to thank you Raven, not just for saving my life but for finally bringing Akane and me together. If you hadn't turned up with mad drug lord in tow, we might never have realised our love."

Akane smiled up at Ranma and they kissed quickly.

"And thank you for helping me. If I'd had to face him alone I don't know if I'd have won."

"Well you're safe now and you've got another great story."

"You to Ranma."

The two shook hands and the girls hugged. Akane smiled at Raven.

"Come back and see us again some time ok."

"Sure."

"Well, have a good flight home you two. See you round."

"See you round."

And with that the two couples parted company as Raven and Sophie went to find their plane and Ranma and Akane rejoined their friends and family.

Ranma looked at the group.

"Well I guess we'd better get home and try and sort this whole fiancée thing out now that Akane and I are together."

The others nodded and headed home in silence, though Ranma had noticed Ryoga had become awfully close to Ukyo in the past couple of weeks he'd been recovering and now as they walked their hands were clasped together. Maybe it was the whole near death thing that had shaken them up, he didn't know but Ryoga finally seemed happy and Ranma felt maybe their wacky adventures had come to an end it this was the beginning of their real adventure, the rest of their lives.

*

As the plane flew over Nerima Sophie looked down over her new friend's home before cuddling up close to Raven. She stared into his eyes remembering why she loved him so much. She'd felt so guilty when the shot rang out for being relieved it was Ranma that had been shot and not Raven and the thought she might have lost him was one Sophie just couldn't bare.

"You know this was fun and all but I hope this doesn't happen every year."

Raven laughed and kissed the top of her head.

"No, I think maybe we've had our adventures now. Just like our friends down there, it's time to live seriously."

"You really think our adventures are over."

Raven nodded but stayed quite. Despite his words, he had a feeling that life still had a few surprises left for them before it let them settle down. Raven made a mental note that should something happen, he wanted Ranma there for back up.

Then he settled back in his seat and let Sophie cuddle up close as the in flight movies came on. Die Hard or Scream, Raven could only assume this was another indication their adventures weren't over but he decided to ignore and just enjoy the flight home.