Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ The Ultimate Antidote ❯ The Rogue Effect; Admitting your past. ( Chapter 18 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Matdeception 
Part two. Have fun, read the bottom segment of notes.
Anime/Manga: Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction | Genre(s): | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 09.03.2004 | Pages: 5 | Words: 6.0K | Visits: 6.1K | Status: Completed
Part two. Have fun, read the bottom segment of notes.
Anime/Manga: Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction | Genre(s): | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 09.03.2004 | Pages: 5 | Words: 6.0K | Visits: 6.1K | Status: Completed
The Ultimate Antidote
Written By: Matdeception
Ranma 1/2 Notes: Takes place after the Manga
X-Men: Evolution Notes: Time line all screwed up. Taking place during the second season, 'The heX factor' episode happened before Angel Wings, and Rogue only barely met Risty. Live with it.
Disclaimer: I do not write using the aforementioned series in an attempt to steal, discredit, or defame said series or their characters. I write to pay homage to the original creators, as well as improve upon my own dim writing ability. Not now, nor ever will this fan fiction be used to gain monetary value at the expense of said creators intellectual properties.
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Chapter 14B: The Rogue Effect; Admitting your past.
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Ranma hissed, backing away from the group of strange, unknown people. How the heck had it gotten here? Where was the nice lady?
"Ranma?" Toad stepped forward, eyes latched on the strange glittering blades jutting from the boy's finger tips. He didn't need to be a genius to figure out those were deadly.
"Stay back!" Fred scowled, pushing the little guy back roughly.
"MMrrrooOWW" Ranma scowled, eying the little guy curiously as he was pushed back. There was a sense of.. knowing. No wait, that couldn't be right, he never met the human. Weird.. and just where was that Panda? Where the heck was he?
"away.." Jean whimpered, struggling against Logan's hold. "away.. bezerk.." even saying that much was enough to sap her.
"Stay still Jean." Logan barked, pressing the girl down. He didn't know what she had gone through while in that kid's head, but if her reaction was to be believed, it musta been pure hell on her senses.
Ranma frowned, deeply as he eyed the red head lady and the mean looking man over her. There was something there, a sense of responsibility for the girl. Weird.. Was she his owner or something? Humans were so confusing. He didn't like the man.. it reminded him of those dreadful barking things that chased his kind around.
Wanda scowled, "Tabs, how's Nabiki?"
"Like I have a clue?" Tabs snorted, pressing on hand up against the girls forehead gently. The shivering had stopped, and she wasn't screaming anymore, but she still appeared catatonic to the world around her. Just what on earth had happened to the girl?
---
"What can we do?" Rogue hissed quietly. The Brotherhood seemed hell-bent on keeping them from Ranma, and if they wouldn't let them at him to try and stop him before he decided they were all his enemies, things were going to get hectic, and real fast.
Scott scowled. "Forget the Brotherhood." he tapped his visor, "Once things start heating up, we'll do like we're trained to do."
Evan frowned, but nodded. They were trained to deal with dangerous situations like these. The guy hadn't attacked anyone yet, but Jean's words of warning, compiled with his massacre of the local forest life, proved he could do just that if he felt like it.
Kurt grimaced. The guy was his brother, even if he didn't know it, he'd do everything he could to make sure he, and everyone else, was safe. "What about Fred? He's committed to keeping people away."
"Ignore him." Scott snapped, "Our target is Ranma, not him or the others."
Rogue blinked, "Hey? Where's Kitty?"
Evan thumbed towards Lance, "Romeo came to her rescue the moment things started going down here."
---
Baylor hissed, pulling his unmoving boss into the back seat of the car. He didn't know what happened, and frankly he didn't care so long as Emma lived through it. She hadn't so much as moved on her own accord since collapsing into a fetal position. Slamming the door shut once he had Emma locked in place, he quickly climbed into the driver side and pulled the hell out of there. First things first, he had to get to girl to the hospital.
---
"I'll get her." Rogue scowled, moving towards the girl. She froze immediately as Ranma hissed in her direction. He obviously didn't like them moving around much. "Kitty!"
Ranma blinked. Kitty? Isn't that what the nice lady use to call him?
Kitty blinked, "Wha? Rogue?"
"Kitty! Come here, we need you!"
Kitty grimaced, eying Lance who was far to busy helping Tabitha care for Nabiki to notice. "But.."
"Kitty!" Rogue scowled. Didn't she see they needed her? Even if she could only do so much to help, at least she'd be able to help distract the guy while they moved in.
Ranma eyed the girl weirdly. Was she calling him over? He sniffed the air curiously. There wasn't any scent of fear on her part, at least not for him. And.. just like that red head, there was a sense of responsibility for the girl..
Scott startled as Ranma vanished. He could barely track his movements, much less call out a warning for the girl.
Rogue meeped, unprepared for sudden aerial tackle. Slamming to the ground, a sense of vertigo assailing her senses as the boy crawled up over her, hands placed on either side of her head, claws digging dangerously into the earth, the boy's animalistic eyes latching and holding her own.
Scott took aim, preparing to fire, but soon found his gaze ripped away by Peitro, "What the?!"
"Idiot!" Peitro scowled, waving his hand threateningly, "Just look at them! If you fired, you could end up pissing him off enough to hurt her!"
"What the hell do you want us to do, stand here like idiots?" Scott scowled.
Kurt didn't pay him any attention, "Rogue! Touch him!"
Rogue grunted, regaining her senses some. Slowly, carefully she reached her hand up. He seemed to follow her movements curiously, but otherwise not reacting. That's it ole girl, just a little more and it'll be over. She couldn't keep the sudden overwhelming fear of being torn asunder buried, visibly cringing.
Logan blanched, "No! Rogue!"
"Mrrow.." the boy looked contemplative. The girl looked like that old woman he had met back at the old home. Freaked, scared, surprised... maybe she was tense? He leaned his head down, pressing his cheek against hers. Slowly he rubbed back and forth, comfortingly, with just the slightest hint of a purr echoing from his throat.
Rogue squeezed her eyes shut the moment skin came in contact with skin. She was expecting a flood of memories, sadistic memories that could cause the guy she knew to go nuts on them. At least one thing was for sure, with her lack of knowledge of Ki and martial arts, she doubted they would have a hard time taking her down. She waited for the inevitable.
...
Tabitha's eyes widened in shock.
Logan face palmed. Well, barely a day later and the secret was already out.
Peitro's jaw flapped, for once he failed to say anything.
Lance raised an eyebrow curiously, "Whoa.."
Rogue blinked. Nothing.. nothing was coming. What the hell?
Ranma frowned, lifting up and staring at the girl again. She seemed even more tense then she had a second ago. Maybe he should.. well.. it worked for the nice lady. Leaning down, the girl didn't even so much as move a muscle as their lips came into contact with one another. It wasn't a kiss of passion, put the simple kiss of an animal showing affection towards it's human masters. Not that he knew for sure if she was his master, but it just felt right.
Toad nearly choked on his own tongue.
Fred pondered the meaning of diets. He spent the rest of his time cursing himself for not thinking of anything more relevant.
Wanda blinked, "Is.. he.." she didn't need to finish her question, she could see it with her own eyes, but she didn't believe it.
Scott dropped his hand from his visor, stunned.
Evan had the sudden urge to drink milk.
Jean could only watch, perplexed.
Fear, anxiety, curiosity, even relief waged through her as their lips met. Touch.. touch.. why wasn't her power working? Touch.. she could touch him? Tentatively, as if unbelieving of everything she had seen up till this point, she cupped his cheek, slowly pushing his head away. Even with her hand touching him, she could still not feel the pull of memories flooding from him, could not feel the mutation that was his by birth flood into her. He.. he was immune?!? How? "Ranma.." she whispered almost reverently.
Ranma preened. She wasn't looking upset anymore! Always a good sign. He purred, lowering himself over her prone body, his head moving down and resting against her shoulder. Oh boy! She was even petting him, if by the soft rubbing of her hand against his cheek was any indication. Oh.. at least humans had their uses. He purred, closing his eyes, suddenly feeling so very very tired.
---
Emma blinked as her mind snapped back into place. What the.. "Baylor?"
"Hold still, Ms. Frost. Were almost to the hospital."
Emma looked around curiously. When did she get into the car? Last thing she remembered was.. oh dear god..
"Take me home, Baylor." Emma ordered.
"But Ms. Frost!" the man tried to protest, but with a nasty glare directed his way he quickly shut the hell up.
---
Nabiki blinked, all at once her mind coming back into focus. She immediately took in a long, shuddering breath, exhaling and inhaling quickly as she tried to come to terms with what had happened. She couldn't remember much of what happened past Emma's shell collapsing on them, only brief glimpse of both Emma and herself screaming bloody murder, buffeted continuously by the darkness that was the Neko-ken within Ranma's mindscape. They had been trapped for a time, it was simply a miracle they hadn't gone insane.
"Nabiki?" a voice, filled with concern reached her tortured senses.
"Ugh.. Tabs.. " she grimaced. Even though her body hadn't been physically hurt in the mental battle, she still felt like shit. Slowly lifting herself off the ground and failing, she hissed as the pain flared to life through her body. "Where is he?"
Lance turned his head back to Nabiki, "He's asleep I think.. what the heck just happened?"
Nabiki eyed the surrounding area. Most everyone was just standing around looking stunned, and lost at what to do. That goth girl, Rogue, was lying on her back and acting as a pillow for the slumbering jock. She seemed freaked, eyes locked on the guy while she petted him softly. Weird. "Neko-ken." she hissed, "Help me up."
Climbing to her feet, she couldn't help but lean heavily on Lance. She was barely in any condition to be awake, much less walk. Damn that Emma girl, she was going to pay for this. "Fred.. grab him, we're getting out of here."
Fred nodded dumbly, grabbing the unconscious martial artist and lifting him up over his shoulder.
Rogue felt a surge of anxiousness well up as the guy was ripped off from her, "Wait! Wait a second, don't take him!"
Peitro grimaced, "Let's go Toad." following after them with Toad quickly catching up.
"Wait!' Scott scowled, moving to stop them from carrying the guy away, "What the hell do you think your doing?! What happened there! Why can he touch Rogue?! What did he do to Jean?"
Nabiki scowled, "Oh shut the hell up." she snapped, far too tired to deal with this shit, "Wanda! Tabs, lets go!"
Wanda eyed Rogue wearily. She was looking hopelessly lost, freaked out, and afraid. She didn't have a clue how the guy had resisted her power, and everyone in the Brotherhood knew about the girl's desperate wish to once again be able to touch some one. She probably saw them as if they were ripping him away from her. She snorted at that, it would probably be better to get out of here and let the girl think on it.
"Let em go." Logan snapped when Scott, Kurt, and Evan looked ready to stop them. "They got their own wounded to deal with. Evan, Scott, get Jean inside. Kitty go find Chuck. Kurt, let Hank know were comin down with wounded.
Jean tried to protest as she was hefted up and moved. She was hurting, that was true, but it was more from a mental scope then anything physical. Neither Scott nor Evan were willing to listen, however.
---
"I'm fine, Mr. McCoy." Jean sighed tiredly, laying down on a bed within the X-men's medical wing. "It's all mental damage, it will fade soon enough."
Beast waved the girls explanation off, "Be that as it may, Jean, it's better to be safe then sorry." he turned to Xavier, "Though... maybe you'll like to examine her? There's little modern medicine can do to heal mental scars like this."
Xavier waved the man off, "She just needs to rest. I don't sense any permanent damage." he turned to Logan with a frown, "Now.. what happened?" he had just come out of the Tub when he noticed all the kids scrambling back and forth. Kitty had found him and said something about Jean going to the medical wing, and he quiet predictably raced down to see what had happened. He couldn't even begin to express how relieved he was now that he knew the girl was going to be fine.
Logan sighed, rubbing his forehead in irritation, "I don't got all the facts, Chuck. Seems some one was tryin to break into the kids mind, only somethin went wrong and the kid went nuts."
"That's right." Jean affirmed with a shiver, "It.. whatever it was.. it felt like being put in a grinder set to slice and dice.. I don't understand it."
Xavier frowned, "I see. What happened after the child was attacked?"
"Kid started actin weird. Like a cat.." Logan shrugged. He really didn't know how to explain it better then that, "He attacked Rogue, or we thought at least. She touched him.. an nothin happened."
Xavier nodded, seriously, while internally he sighed. He wanted to break it easier to the girl, not have her discover like this. He could only imagine what the girl must be going through right now. "I see. Tell me, where are the children now?"
Logan shrugged, "Scott's outside waiting on Jean." no surprise there, he took injuries on the team seriously, "Evan's off with Storm trying to figure out where the attacker had been, Kurt.." he sighed. Kurt had vanished almost immediately after telling Hank Jean was on her way down. One didn't need to be a genius to figure out where he had gone. ".. he's following the other kids back home."
"And Rogue?"
"Outside last I checked." he sighed, "Kitty's with her, but she still hadn't moved when I left."
"Can you blame her?" Jean sighed.
"No.. I suppose not." Xavier allowed.
---
He was gone. She had watched him go, filled to the brim with extreme urges and emotions. She wanted to shout, to scream, to make them leave him here. At the same time, she was scared, freaked, lost in uncertainty. On one side, she felt exhilarated with the knowledge she could finally reach out to some one, share in the simple caress most people took for granted. They were lucky, to enjoy such simple pleasures, never realizing there were people like her, whose touch could drain the very life out of a person, take from them their treasured memories. Never realizing the gift they truly possessed, a gift she had always wished for, and had all but given up on. On the other side, she felt fearful at the prospect. Now that she had found some one she could touch, would they let her? Let her feel, if only for a moment, the subtle warmth of their body pressed against her own?
She chuckled, bitterly. God was obviously not with out a sense of irony. Out of all the people in the world she could touch, it had to be her brother. Adopted brother, but still related if only by the law. Oh Christ, what the hell did the law have to do with her then? Why was she even thinking about it like that? Why was she trying to deny herself this chance by something so stupid?
"I'm here Rogue. Like, I'll always be here for you." Kitty replied, comfortingly with one hand placed on her shoulder.
She appreciated the girl, and their growing friendship. She, however, did not want her to be touching her right now of all times. Despite the caring looks, despite the concerned feelings she expressed through her eyes, it couldn't erase the knowledge she was touching her cautiously. You couldn't be at ease around her, not fully. The moment one dropped their guard, they ran the risk of getting drained, even if only by accident. She knew this, understood why people would feel that way, but having it brought up to her now was simply not something she needed, even if they didn't mean too.
She slapped her hand away, bitterly. The flash of hurt across the girl's face did little to make her feel repentant. It was a slap in the face, to be touched by others right now, Kitty could deal with it. "I'm going." her tone firm, her resolve set. She climbed to her feet, crossing her arms akimbo as she walked towards the gates. She didn't know what the future would hold for her, or for them, but for now she could only think of finding him, reassuring what happened wasn't anything more then a fluke, to make sure the chance to touch some one that had been dangled in her face was real. She needed that, confirmation.
Kitty didn't dare try to understand what the girl was going through, what she was feeling. Watching her go, she realized she should say something, but.. she couldn't think of the something she needed to hear. She looked back, gazing blankly at the Xavier School, she couldn't stop a soft sigh from escaping her lips. She knew they would be worried, fearful of where they had gone, especially after what just happened with Rogue. "Like.. hell with it." she turned from the school jogging after the slowly retreating Rogue. She couldn't understand what the girl was going through, but she could at least help her through it.
---
Fred had thought about many things in his life. Thought of his parents, the man and woman who had given him life. Thought of their love, and of their betrayal when he was abandoned, abandoned because he was different from the other kids. Is appearances alone how you measured a person's life? He didn't think so, not anymore anyway. Living with the Brotherhood, meeting and growing with the likes of Toad, of Lance.. they were perhaps the best of friends he could of had during those days. He would do anything for them, if they asked him to walk on water, or run through fire, he'd do it in a heart beat. It was when he realized that, realized he'd sacrifice everything for his friends.. he realized that was the only place you could truly take a measure of a man. Meeting Ranma, living with him, he knew he had found another friend who understood that truth. Looks meant nothing in his eyes, or in Nabiki's eyes. A friend could be anything, a talking rock, a perverted gnome, a big fat slob..
"Put him on the couch Fred." Nabiki winced as Lance ever so carefully lowered her into the recliner. At least the pain wasn't so bad as it had been when they left the school.
Fred grunted, carefully flipping the unconscious guy off his shoulder before carefully laying him down on the couch. "He's going to be fine, right?"
"Should be." she nodded, leaning back in her chair. The jock was lucky he was sleeping, she'd give anything to be rid of the pain she felt. "It's happened before, give him a few moments and he'll wake up lost as a puppy."
Wanda eyed the girl, "Lost as a puppy?"
"He never remembers what he does while in the Neko-ken." she explained, "And before you ask, no, I'm not telling you what it is. Just.. don't bring it up again."
Peitro snorted, leaning against the door, "I think we deserve at least some info Nabs." he raised an eyebrow when she held her arm out, as if expecting them to pay.
She sighed, no one was in the mood for her games it seemed. "His father taught him that technique.."
Tabitha scowled, "Why? What the heck does it do?"
"Because he was an idiot, and you saw it didn't you?" Nabiki asked. She didn't get to see anything that happened while he was in the Neko-ken, trapped as she was within the trauma learning the technique had caused him. "You saw the claws, you saw him become the animal."
"Animal?" Toad asked, curiously.
"Cat. When immersed, he's pretty much a giant cat, with the same weaknesses and strengths the animal has." she chuckled bitterly then, "Since no one died, I guess he didn't try to kill any of you." That was a comforting thought in and of itself. When she had seen the figure of the man who killed his father within the darkness, she had believed the cat would become like the killer in Japan. "Y'know.. we never told you why we came to America.. did we?"
"You didn't just move here?" Toad blinked. Was she implying there was a whole other reason for their being here.
"Oh god.." Ranma hissed, rubbing his face tiredly. What the hell was going on? The last thing he remembered was Kurt and Rogue looking at him weirdly. He moved to sit up, but quickly found himself being held down by Fred.
"Rest man. You had us really worried."
Ranma didn't see a reason to stay down, not while looking into Fred's seriously worried eyes. He couldn't remember seeing the guy look at anyone that way, he could only guess something big had to have happened while he was down. "Okay.." he eyed the room, seriously asking, "What happened?"
Lance grimaced, "Nabs said you fell into the Neko-ken."
"What." he deadpanned. He sure as hell didn't remember any cats being near him, and falling into the Neko-ken wasn't as easy as the people back in Nerima thought. It took a prolonged contact with the animals, with no avenue of escape to throw him in against his will. "That can't be right."
Nabiki sighed, "It happened..." she hesitated a moment, before continuing. She'd deal with that bitch herself, "... Some one was digging in your head. Bit off more then they could chew when they found the technique."
"Oh.." he sighed, closing his eyes. "Any clue who it was?" He didn't like people poking around with his head, he'd had enough of that sort of thing from the Amazons back in Nerima.
"No."
Wanda sighed, rubbing her forehead tiredly, "So.. you were about to tell us why you moved to America from Japan?" She was rather interested, and god damn she aimed to find out the whole story here. Nabiki had almost made it sound like they retreated here for some reason.
Ranma grimaced. Ouch. He sure as heck didn't want to tell them that now, or ever if he had the chance. He opened one eye, peeking at Nabiki. "You wanna tell em?"
Nabiki shrugged slowly. "It's a pretty short story, really."
"Pfeh." he snorted, "All yours then."
"Fine." she rolled her eyes. Did he think she really wanted to tell them either? Honestly. "Short and to the point. Japan was in the mist of a mutant cleansing. Me and my family were targeted, and executed. My father, my older sister, my youngest sister, all dead."
Wanda winced. Now she wished she never asked.
Fred grimaced, "Nabs.. you don't need to tell us this if you don't wanna."
She shrugged in response, "Thanks Fred, but I might as well. You would of found out sooner or later." she sighed, "I was lucky, I suppose. I didn't have to see them die. Once the Mutant 'screening' bill had passed, I ran away from home. Ranma wasn't so lucky.." she gave the boy a sad, sympathetic look. He didn't see it, eyes closed and resting. "He came home just in time to find them all dead, and to see his father executed before his eyes. From there..." she shrugged. It had been on national television, she didn't doubt at least one of them had seen in.
"And then?" Lance snarled after a rather long silence had passed.
Ranma opened his eyes, staring at them askance, "Wait.. you mean you guys didn't see it?"
"See what?" Peitro frowned. Was there something going on all this time they hadn't know about?
"I don't believe it." Nabiki smirked, chuckling sadly, "It was only aired all over the world. Anyone with a TV receiver could pick it up. Heck, that's the whole reason the X-men were scared of us when we first got here."
"Get to the point already!" Tabitha scowled.
"After they killed him.. killed my dad." Ranma continued for Nabiki, ".. and Akane my fiancée, Nabs youngest sister.. I snapped. I didn't think about nothin as I killed em. Didn't think about the kids who's fathers I was killin. I became a monster then, cutting down man after man for vengeance. I hated them, I hated everything at that point. Heck, I was willin to stay behind and die killin them.. but when I found out Nabs was still alive.."
"His mother got us out of the country. We haven't seen her since then, she kind of left us to fend for ourselves." she shrugged then. While it had hurt to be abandoned by her mother figure, it had taught them to be strong and fend for themselves.
Peitro eyed the guy in a whole new light, "You're telling me you're THAT guy? Took down the sentinel in one strike? Cleaved men in half with a wave of your fist? That guy?"
Wanda frowned, "You knew about that?"
"Eh.." he shrugged, "I saw it on the news. Only a rerun though, so I didn't get to see any of the details.."
Wanda scowled, "You're lying. You don't watch the news. Ever."
Toad rolled his eyes, "Uh? Wanda? It's not like we didn't know he was Magneto's little stooge..."
"HEY!"
"... what's to be surprised about? Lemme guess. Daddy wanted you to find the kid if he showed up? Hmmm?"
Peitro chuckled. Well, he supposed it was kind of obvious after everything he said, "Sorta. He really wanted me to find Mystique. I kinda forgot all about it when we started living here.."
"Who's Magneto?" That was the first time she had ever heard of the man. Nabiki frowned, "Your boss?"
Lance snorted, "Old boss."
Fred grinned, "Yeah. He ditched us after this big screw up a few months back. Far as we care, you've become our new boss by takin us in and giving us a real home." and he meant those words, there was simply no other way he could describe the deep amount of respect he held for the girl.
"I'm flattered." Nabiki grinned some, "But you know... as you're boss, I deserve fifty percent of the profits."
Ranma rolled his eyes, "There she goes again."
Wanda wanted to smack the crap out of Peitro at that point. All this time and he knew where their father was? He didn't tell her? She hated that man more then she hated anything else on this miserable planet. She swore revenge the day he stuck her in a Looney bin, and she aimed to please. "Peitro.. me and you are going to have some words.. real soon."
Peitro chuckled nervously. Oh, that's great. "Heh.. question!" he sought desperately to change the subject, "Why is it you're immune to Rogue's touch?"
Nabiki blinked, "Eh.. what's that?" was she some kind of succubus? No, that was silly.
Toad stared at her blandly. "You're telling us you don't know about her power?"
Ranma frowned, scratching his chin thoughtfully, "Doesn't she drain peoples memories and powers with a touch?" he winced, "Oi.. good thing it didn't work."
Tabitha groaned, "Idiot. Think for a second what were trying to get at. Rogue's power is always on, she can't control it, she can't shut it off. It affects everyone, at least until she touched you when you practically pounced her."
"Uh.." Ranma blinked. Rogue was the one who brought him out of the Neko-ken? Weird. "So I'm immune to her power.."
Lance snorted, "Idiot. Haven't you ever wondered why she always covered up her body?"
Nabiki nodded, slowly. A power that you couldn't turn off, that enables you to drain memories and powers with a touch? All she had to do was imagine it to realize it sucked ass. Couldn't ever touch anyone? Never? Never ever? "Oh.. geesh."
"What the heck are you getting at?" Ranma frowned. So he was immune to Rogue's little drain touch. She couldn't control her power? First he heard of it. Wait.. "Wait a second.. you guys mean she's never been able to touch anyone because of that power?"
"Oh some one give the guy a prize." Tabitha rolled her eyes, clapping.
"Eh.." Ranma shrugged nervously, "Energy drain type thing. I'm immune to those I think.. least that's what I remember mom tellin me."
Everyone their blinked as some one knocked on the door. Who could be visiting them now of all times? Lance being the closest, he checked through the peep hole. "Kitty and Rogue..."
---
To be continued (God I hate not having smokes)
I'm not very happy with this chapter, specifically the beginning. Ah well, another polishing and rewriting job for me in the future. Anyway, I'm sure alot of you are like 'WTF' about Neko-Ranma not going nuts and kicking all ass. Remembering the Manga and Anime, I clearly note Ranma acting as a normal, if feral, house cat. You might also being wondering about the 'sense of responsibility' he felt for Jean and Rogue, and it's quite obvious where that comes from. Anyway, thats part two of this thing. Part three comes out tomorrow (maybe). This chapter took me forever, I couldn't concentrate, and I just couldn't bring myself to write anything. I knew, sorta, where I wanted it to head, but nothing would flow out of me like it did in the previous chapters. I'm just tired, I guess.
One note for matchups. I always intended for Ranma and Rogue to go through this. They WILL be giving their relationship a chance. The purpose of the pole was to decide if in the end they could make it work. It's not hard for them to break up, at least from Ranma's side. Rogue would likely, if she decides to give this thing a go, try to stick with him no matter what, and it's precisely this attitude that can tear them apart. I doubt any of you would like your significant other if you found out she's only dating you for hope.
Sucks, I know, but live with it. The cut off point where the poll actually closes is a bit away, well into season three anyway, and we are stuck in season two. Though, that's getting ready to come to a close after Shadow Dance and then the day of reckoning parts.
Bleah. I'm too tired to update the poll. Screw it, I promise it'll be out next chapter.
One last thing before I let you go. Words like 'lookin' 'tryin' 'somethin' left with out a g at the end is written that way for a purpose. One, for accent, two to show how certain people talk differntly. It's not a mistake on my part (even if its grammarly incorrect.).
Written By: Matdeception
Ranma 1/2 Notes: Takes place after the Manga
X-Men: Evolution Notes: Time line all screwed up. Taking place during the second season, 'The heX factor' episode happened before Angel Wings, and Rogue only barely met Risty. Live with it.
Disclaimer: I do not write using the aforementioned series in an attempt to steal, discredit, or defame said series or their characters. I write to pay homage to the original creators, as well as improve upon my own dim writing ability. Not now, nor ever will this fan fiction be used to gain monetary value at the expense of said creators intellectual properties.
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Chapter 14B: The Rogue Effect; Admitting your past.
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Ranma hissed, backing away from the group of strange, unknown people. How the heck had it gotten here? Where was the nice lady?
"Ranma?" Toad stepped forward, eyes latched on the strange glittering blades jutting from the boy's finger tips. He didn't need to be a genius to figure out those were deadly.
"Stay back!" Fred scowled, pushing the little guy back roughly.
"MMrrrooOWW" Ranma scowled, eying the little guy curiously as he was pushed back. There was a sense of.. knowing. No wait, that couldn't be right, he never met the human. Weird.. and just where was that Panda? Where the heck was he?
"away.." Jean whimpered, struggling against Logan's hold. "away.. bezerk.." even saying that much was enough to sap her.
"Stay still Jean." Logan barked, pressing the girl down. He didn't know what she had gone through while in that kid's head, but if her reaction was to be believed, it musta been pure hell on her senses.
Ranma frowned, deeply as he eyed the red head lady and the mean looking man over her. There was something there, a sense of responsibility for the girl. Weird.. Was she his owner or something? Humans were so confusing. He didn't like the man.. it reminded him of those dreadful barking things that chased his kind around.
Wanda scowled, "Tabs, how's Nabiki?"
"Like I have a clue?" Tabs snorted, pressing on hand up against the girls forehead gently. The shivering had stopped, and she wasn't screaming anymore, but she still appeared catatonic to the world around her. Just what on earth had happened to the girl?
---
"What can we do?" Rogue hissed quietly. The Brotherhood seemed hell-bent on keeping them from Ranma, and if they wouldn't let them at him to try and stop him before he decided they were all his enemies, things were going to get hectic, and real fast.
Scott scowled. "Forget the Brotherhood." he tapped his visor, "Once things start heating up, we'll do like we're trained to do."
Evan frowned, but nodded. They were trained to deal with dangerous situations like these. The guy hadn't attacked anyone yet, but Jean's words of warning, compiled with his massacre of the local forest life, proved he could do just that if he felt like it.
Kurt grimaced. The guy was his brother, even if he didn't know it, he'd do everything he could to make sure he, and everyone else, was safe. "What about Fred? He's committed to keeping people away."
"Ignore him." Scott snapped, "Our target is Ranma, not him or the others."
Rogue blinked, "Hey? Where's Kitty?"
Evan thumbed towards Lance, "Romeo came to her rescue the moment things started going down here."
---
Baylor hissed, pulling his unmoving boss into the back seat of the car. He didn't know what happened, and frankly he didn't care so long as Emma lived through it. She hadn't so much as moved on her own accord since collapsing into a fetal position. Slamming the door shut once he had Emma locked in place, he quickly climbed into the driver side and pulled the hell out of there. First things first, he had to get to girl to the hospital.
---
"I'll get her." Rogue scowled, moving towards the girl. She froze immediately as Ranma hissed in her direction. He obviously didn't like them moving around much. "Kitty!"
Ranma blinked. Kitty? Isn't that what the nice lady use to call him?
Kitty blinked, "Wha? Rogue?"
"Kitty! Come here, we need you!"
Kitty grimaced, eying Lance who was far to busy helping Tabitha care for Nabiki to notice. "But.."
"Kitty!" Rogue scowled. Didn't she see they needed her? Even if she could only do so much to help, at least she'd be able to help distract the guy while they moved in.
Ranma eyed the girl weirdly. Was she calling him over? He sniffed the air curiously. There wasn't any scent of fear on her part, at least not for him. And.. just like that red head, there was a sense of responsibility for the girl..
Scott startled as Ranma vanished. He could barely track his movements, much less call out a warning for the girl.
Rogue meeped, unprepared for sudden aerial tackle. Slamming to the ground, a sense of vertigo assailing her senses as the boy crawled up over her, hands placed on either side of her head, claws digging dangerously into the earth, the boy's animalistic eyes latching and holding her own.
Scott took aim, preparing to fire, but soon found his gaze ripped away by Peitro, "What the?!"
"Idiot!" Peitro scowled, waving his hand threateningly, "Just look at them! If you fired, you could end up pissing him off enough to hurt her!"
"What the hell do you want us to do, stand here like idiots?" Scott scowled.
Kurt didn't pay him any attention, "Rogue! Touch him!"
Rogue grunted, regaining her senses some. Slowly, carefully she reached her hand up. He seemed to follow her movements curiously, but otherwise not reacting. That's it ole girl, just a little more and it'll be over. She couldn't keep the sudden overwhelming fear of being torn asunder buried, visibly cringing.
Logan blanched, "No! Rogue!"
"Mrrow.." the boy looked contemplative. The girl looked like that old woman he had met back at the old home. Freaked, scared, surprised... maybe she was tense? He leaned his head down, pressing his cheek against hers. Slowly he rubbed back and forth, comfortingly, with just the slightest hint of a purr echoing from his throat.
Rogue squeezed her eyes shut the moment skin came in contact with skin. She was expecting a flood of memories, sadistic memories that could cause the guy she knew to go nuts on them. At least one thing was for sure, with her lack of knowledge of Ki and martial arts, she doubted they would have a hard time taking her down. She waited for the inevitable.
...
Tabitha's eyes widened in shock.
Logan face palmed. Well, barely a day later and the secret was already out.
Peitro's jaw flapped, for once he failed to say anything.
Lance raised an eyebrow curiously, "Whoa.."
Rogue blinked. Nothing.. nothing was coming. What the hell?
Ranma frowned, lifting up and staring at the girl again. She seemed even more tense then she had a second ago. Maybe he should.. well.. it worked for the nice lady. Leaning down, the girl didn't even so much as move a muscle as their lips came into contact with one another. It wasn't a kiss of passion, put the simple kiss of an animal showing affection towards it's human masters. Not that he knew for sure if she was his master, but it just felt right.
Toad nearly choked on his own tongue.
Fred pondered the meaning of diets. He spent the rest of his time cursing himself for not thinking of anything more relevant.
Wanda blinked, "Is.. he.." she didn't need to finish her question, she could see it with her own eyes, but she didn't believe it.
Scott dropped his hand from his visor, stunned.
Evan had the sudden urge to drink milk.
Jean could only watch, perplexed.
Fear, anxiety, curiosity, even relief waged through her as their lips met. Touch.. touch.. why wasn't her power working? Touch.. she could touch him? Tentatively, as if unbelieving of everything she had seen up till this point, she cupped his cheek, slowly pushing his head away. Even with her hand touching him, she could still not feel the pull of memories flooding from him, could not feel the mutation that was his by birth flood into her. He.. he was immune?!? How? "Ranma.." she whispered almost reverently.
Ranma preened. She wasn't looking upset anymore! Always a good sign. He purred, lowering himself over her prone body, his head moving down and resting against her shoulder. Oh boy! She was even petting him, if by the soft rubbing of her hand against his cheek was any indication. Oh.. at least humans had their uses. He purred, closing his eyes, suddenly feeling so very very tired.
---
Emma blinked as her mind snapped back into place. What the.. "Baylor?"
"Hold still, Ms. Frost. Were almost to the hospital."
Emma looked around curiously. When did she get into the car? Last thing she remembered was.. oh dear god..
"Take me home, Baylor." Emma ordered.
"But Ms. Frost!" the man tried to protest, but with a nasty glare directed his way he quickly shut the hell up.
---
Nabiki blinked, all at once her mind coming back into focus. She immediately took in a long, shuddering breath, exhaling and inhaling quickly as she tried to come to terms with what had happened. She couldn't remember much of what happened past Emma's shell collapsing on them, only brief glimpse of both Emma and herself screaming bloody murder, buffeted continuously by the darkness that was the Neko-ken within Ranma's mindscape. They had been trapped for a time, it was simply a miracle they hadn't gone insane.
"Nabiki?" a voice, filled with concern reached her tortured senses.
"Ugh.. Tabs.. " she grimaced. Even though her body hadn't been physically hurt in the mental battle, she still felt like shit. Slowly lifting herself off the ground and failing, she hissed as the pain flared to life through her body. "Where is he?"
Lance turned his head back to Nabiki, "He's asleep I think.. what the heck just happened?"
Nabiki eyed the surrounding area. Most everyone was just standing around looking stunned, and lost at what to do. That goth girl, Rogue, was lying on her back and acting as a pillow for the slumbering jock. She seemed freaked, eyes locked on the guy while she petted him softly. Weird. "Neko-ken." she hissed, "Help me up."
Climbing to her feet, she couldn't help but lean heavily on Lance. She was barely in any condition to be awake, much less walk. Damn that Emma girl, she was going to pay for this. "Fred.. grab him, we're getting out of here."
Fred nodded dumbly, grabbing the unconscious martial artist and lifting him up over his shoulder.
Rogue felt a surge of anxiousness well up as the guy was ripped off from her, "Wait! Wait a second, don't take him!"
Peitro grimaced, "Let's go Toad." following after them with Toad quickly catching up.
"Wait!' Scott scowled, moving to stop them from carrying the guy away, "What the hell do you think your doing?! What happened there! Why can he touch Rogue?! What did he do to Jean?"
Nabiki scowled, "Oh shut the hell up." she snapped, far too tired to deal with this shit, "Wanda! Tabs, lets go!"
Wanda eyed Rogue wearily. She was looking hopelessly lost, freaked out, and afraid. She didn't have a clue how the guy had resisted her power, and everyone in the Brotherhood knew about the girl's desperate wish to once again be able to touch some one. She probably saw them as if they were ripping him away from her. She snorted at that, it would probably be better to get out of here and let the girl think on it.
"Let em go." Logan snapped when Scott, Kurt, and Evan looked ready to stop them. "They got their own wounded to deal with. Evan, Scott, get Jean inside. Kitty go find Chuck. Kurt, let Hank know were comin down with wounded.
Jean tried to protest as she was hefted up and moved. She was hurting, that was true, but it was more from a mental scope then anything physical. Neither Scott nor Evan were willing to listen, however.
---
"I'm fine, Mr. McCoy." Jean sighed tiredly, laying down on a bed within the X-men's medical wing. "It's all mental damage, it will fade soon enough."
Beast waved the girls explanation off, "Be that as it may, Jean, it's better to be safe then sorry." he turned to Xavier, "Though... maybe you'll like to examine her? There's little modern medicine can do to heal mental scars like this."
Xavier waved the man off, "She just needs to rest. I don't sense any permanent damage." he turned to Logan with a frown, "Now.. what happened?" he had just come out of the Tub when he noticed all the kids scrambling back and forth. Kitty had found him and said something about Jean going to the medical wing, and he quiet predictably raced down to see what had happened. He couldn't even begin to express how relieved he was now that he knew the girl was going to be fine.
Logan sighed, rubbing his forehead in irritation, "I don't got all the facts, Chuck. Seems some one was tryin to break into the kids mind, only somethin went wrong and the kid went nuts."
"That's right." Jean affirmed with a shiver, "It.. whatever it was.. it felt like being put in a grinder set to slice and dice.. I don't understand it."
Xavier frowned, "I see. What happened after the child was attacked?"
"Kid started actin weird. Like a cat.." Logan shrugged. He really didn't know how to explain it better then that, "He attacked Rogue, or we thought at least. She touched him.. an nothin happened."
Xavier nodded, seriously, while internally he sighed. He wanted to break it easier to the girl, not have her discover like this. He could only imagine what the girl must be going through right now. "I see. Tell me, where are the children now?"
Logan shrugged, "Scott's outside waiting on Jean." no surprise there, he took injuries on the team seriously, "Evan's off with Storm trying to figure out where the attacker had been, Kurt.." he sighed. Kurt had vanished almost immediately after telling Hank Jean was on her way down. One didn't need to be a genius to figure out where he had gone. ".. he's following the other kids back home."
"And Rogue?"
"Outside last I checked." he sighed, "Kitty's with her, but she still hadn't moved when I left."
"Can you blame her?" Jean sighed.
"No.. I suppose not." Xavier allowed.
---
He was gone. She had watched him go, filled to the brim with extreme urges and emotions. She wanted to shout, to scream, to make them leave him here. At the same time, she was scared, freaked, lost in uncertainty. On one side, she felt exhilarated with the knowledge she could finally reach out to some one, share in the simple caress most people took for granted. They were lucky, to enjoy such simple pleasures, never realizing there were people like her, whose touch could drain the very life out of a person, take from them their treasured memories. Never realizing the gift they truly possessed, a gift she had always wished for, and had all but given up on. On the other side, she felt fearful at the prospect. Now that she had found some one she could touch, would they let her? Let her feel, if only for a moment, the subtle warmth of their body pressed against her own?
She chuckled, bitterly. God was obviously not with out a sense of irony. Out of all the people in the world she could touch, it had to be her brother. Adopted brother, but still related if only by the law. Oh Christ, what the hell did the law have to do with her then? Why was she even thinking about it like that? Why was she trying to deny herself this chance by something so stupid?
"I'm here Rogue. Like, I'll always be here for you." Kitty replied, comfortingly with one hand placed on her shoulder.
She appreciated the girl, and their growing friendship. She, however, did not want her to be touching her right now of all times. Despite the caring looks, despite the concerned feelings she expressed through her eyes, it couldn't erase the knowledge she was touching her cautiously. You couldn't be at ease around her, not fully. The moment one dropped their guard, they ran the risk of getting drained, even if only by accident. She knew this, understood why people would feel that way, but having it brought up to her now was simply not something she needed, even if they didn't mean too.
She slapped her hand away, bitterly. The flash of hurt across the girl's face did little to make her feel repentant. It was a slap in the face, to be touched by others right now, Kitty could deal with it. "I'm going." her tone firm, her resolve set. She climbed to her feet, crossing her arms akimbo as she walked towards the gates. She didn't know what the future would hold for her, or for them, but for now she could only think of finding him, reassuring what happened wasn't anything more then a fluke, to make sure the chance to touch some one that had been dangled in her face was real. She needed that, confirmation.
Kitty didn't dare try to understand what the girl was going through, what she was feeling. Watching her go, she realized she should say something, but.. she couldn't think of the something she needed to hear. She looked back, gazing blankly at the Xavier School, she couldn't stop a soft sigh from escaping her lips. She knew they would be worried, fearful of where they had gone, especially after what just happened with Rogue. "Like.. hell with it." she turned from the school jogging after the slowly retreating Rogue. She couldn't understand what the girl was going through, but she could at least help her through it.
---
Fred had thought about many things in his life. Thought of his parents, the man and woman who had given him life. Thought of their love, and of their betrayal when he was abandoned, abandoned because he was different from the other kids. Is appearances alone how you measured a person's life? He didn't think so, not anymore anyway. Living with the Brotherhood, meeting and growing with the likes of Toad, of Lance.. they were perhaps the best of friends he could of had during those days. He would do anything for them, if they asked him to walk on water, or run through fire, he'd do it in a heart beat. It was when he realized that, realized he'd sacrifice everything for his friends.. he realized that was the only place you could truly take a measure of a man. Meeting Ranma, living with him, he knew he had found another friend who understood that truth. Looks meant nothing in his eyes, or in Nabiki's eyes. A friend could be anything, a talking rock, a perverted gnome, a big fat slob..
"Put him on the couch Fred." Nabiki winced as Lance ever so carefully lowered her into the recliner. At least the pain wasn't so bad as it had been when they left the school.
Fred grunted, carefully flipping the unconscious guy off his shoulder before carefully laying him down on the couch. "He's going to be fine, right?"
"Should be." she nodded, leaning back in her chair. The jock was lucky he was sleeping, she'd give anything to be rid of the pain she felt. "It's happened before, give him a few moments and he'll wake up lost as a puppy."
Wanda eyed the girl, "Lost as a puppy?"
"He never remembers what he does while in the Neko-ken." she explained, "And before you ask, no, I'm not telling you what it is. Just.. don't bring it up again."
Peitro snorted, leaning against the door, "I think we deserve at least some info Nabs." he raised an eyebrow when she held her arm out, as if expecting them to pay.
She sighed, no one was in the mood for her games it seemed. "His father taught him that technique.."
Tabitha scowled, "Why? What the heck does it do?"
"Because he was an idiot, and you saw it didn't you?" Nabiki asked. She didn't get to see anything that happened while he was in the Neko-ken, trapped as she was within the trauma learning the technique had caused him. "You saw the claws, you saw him become the animal."
"Animal?" Toad asked, curiously.
"Cat. When immersed, he's pretty much a giant cat, with the same weaknesses and strengths the animal has." she chuckled bitterly then, "Since no one died, I guess he didn't try to kill any of you." That was a comforting thought in and of itself. When she had seen the figure of the man who killed his father within the darkness, she had believed the cat would become like the killer in Japan. "Y'know.. we never told you why we came to America.. did we?"
"You didn't just move here?" Toad blinked. Was she implying there was a whole other reason for their being here.
"Oh god.." Ranma hissed, rubbing his face tiredly. What the hell was going on? The last thing he remembered was Kurt and Rogue looking at him weirdly. He moved to sit up, but quickly found himself being held down by Fred.
"Rest man. You had us really worried."
Ranma didn't see a reason to stay down, not while looking into Fred's seriously worried eyes. He couldn't remember seeing the guy look at anyone that way, he could only guess something big had to have happened while he was down. "Okay.." he eyed the room, seriously asking, "What happened?"
Lance grimaced, "Nabs said you fell into the Neko-ken."
"What." he deadpanned. He sure as hell didn't remember any cats being near him, and falling into the Neko-ken wasn't as easy as the people back in Nerima thought. It took a prolonged contact with the animals, with no avenue of escape to throw him in against his will. "That can't be right."
Nabiki sighed, "It happened..." she hesitated a moment, before continuing. She'd deal with that bitch herself, "... Some one was digging in your head. Bit off more then they could chew when they found the technique."
"Oh.." he sighed, closing his eyes. "Any clue who it was?" He didn't like people poking around with his head, he'd had enough of that sort of thing from the Amazons back in Nerima.
"No."
Wanda sighed, rubbing her forehead tiredly, "So.. you were about to tell us why you moved to America from Japan?" She was rather interested, and god damn she aimed to find out the whole story here. Nabiki had almost made it sound like they retreated here for some reason.
Ranma grimaced. Ouch. He sure as heck didn't want to tell them that now, or ever if he had the chance. He opened one eye, peeking at Nabiki. "You wanna tell em?"
Nabiki shrugged slowly. "It's a pretty short story, really."
"Pfeh." he snorted, "All yours then."
"Fine." she rolled her eyes. Did he think she really wanted to tell them either? Honestly. "Short and to the point. Japan was in the mist of a mutant cleansing. Me and my family were targeted, and executed. My father, my older sister, my youngest sister, all dead."
Wanda winced. Now she wished she never asked.
Fred grimaced, "Nabs.. you don't need to tell us this if you don't wanna."
She shrugged in response, "Thanks Fred, but I might as well. You would of found out sooner or later." she sighed, "I was lucky, I suppose. I didn't have to see them die. Once the Mutant 'screening' bill had passed, I ran away from home. Ranma wasn't so lucky.." she gave the boy a sad, sympathetic look. He didn't see it, eyes closed and resting. "He came home just in time to find them all dead, and to see his father executed before his eyes. From there..." she shrugged. It had been on national television, she didn't doubt at least one of them had seen in.
"And then?" Lance snarled after a rather long silence had passed.
Ranma opened his eyes, staring at them askance, "Wait.. you mean you guys didn't see it?"
"See what?" Peitro frowned. Was there something going on all this time they hadn't know about?
"I don't believe it." Nabiki smirked, chuckling sadly, "It was only aired all over the world. Anyone with a TV receiver could pick it up. Heck, that's the whole reason the X-men were scared of us when we first got here."
"Get to the point already!" Tabitha scowled.
"After they killed him.. killed my dad." Ranma continued for Nabiki, ".. and Akane my fiancée, Nabs youngest sister.. I snapped. I didn't think about nothin as I killed em. Didn't think about the kids who's fathers I was killin. I became a monster then, cutting down man after man for vengeance. I hated them, I hated everything at that point. Heck, I was willin to stay behind and die killin them.. but when I found out Nabs was still alive.."
"His mother got us out of the country. We haven't seen her since then, she kind of left us to fend for ourselves." she shrugged then. While it had hurt to be abandoned by her mother figure, it had taught them to be strong and fend for themselves.
Peitro eyed the guy in a whole new light, "You're telling me you're THAT guy? Took down the sentinel in one strike? Cleaved men in half with a wave of your fist? That guy?"
Wanda frowned, "You knew about that?"
"Eh.." he shrugged, "I saw it on the news. Only a rerun though, so I didn't get to see any of the details.."
Wanda scowled, "You're lying. You don't watch the news. Ever."
Toad rolled his eyes, "Uh? Wanda? It's not like we didn't know he was Magneto's little stooge..."
"HEY!"
"... what's to be surprised about? Lemme guess. Daddy wanted you to find the kid if he showed up? Hmmm?"
Peitro chuckled. Well, he supposed it was kind of obvious after everything he said, "Sorta. He really wanted me to find Mystique. I kinda forgot all about it when we started living here.."
"Who's Magneto?" That was the first time she had ever heard of the man. Nabiki frowned, "Your boss?"
Lance snorted, "Old boss."
Fred grinned, "Yeah. He ditched us after this big screw up a few months back. Far as we care, you've become our new boss by takin us in and giving us a real home." and he meant those words, there was simply no other way he could describe the deep amount of respect he held for the girl.
"I'm flattered." Nabiki grinned some, "But you know... as you're boss, I deserve fifty percent of the profits."
Ranma rolled his eyes, "There she goes again."
Wanda wanted to smack the crap out of Peitro at that point. All this time and he knew where their father was? He didn't tell her? She hated that man more then she hated anything else on this miserable planet. She swore revenge the day he stuck her in a Looney bin, and she aimed to please. "Peitro.. me and you are going to have some words.. real soon."
Peitro chuckled nervously. Oh, that's great. "Heh.. question!" he sought desperately to change the subject, "Why is it you're immune to Rogue's touch?"
Nabiki blinked, "Eh.. what's that?" was she some kind of succubus? No, that was silly.
Toad stared at her blandly. "You're telling us you don't know about her power?"
Ranma frowned, scratching his chin thoughtfully, "Doesn't she drain peoples memories and powers with a touch?" he winced, "Oi.. good thing it didn't work."
Tabitha groaned, "Idiot. Think for a second what were trying to get at. Rogue's power is always on, she can't control it, she can't shut it off. It affects everyone, at least until she touched you when you practically pounced her."
"Uh.." Ranma blinked. Rogue was the one who brought him out of the Neko-ken? Weird. "So I'm immune to her power.."
Lance snorted, "Idiot. Haven't you ever wondered why she always covered up her body?"
Nabiki nodded, slowly. A power that you couldn't turn off, that enables you to drain memories and powers with a touch? All she had to do was imagine it to realize it sucked ass. Couldn't ever touch anyone? Never? Never ever? "Oh.. geesh."
"What the heck are you getting at?" Ranma frowned. So he was immune to Rogue's little drain touch. She couldn't control her power? First he heard of it. Wait.. "Wait a second.. you guys mean she's never been able to touch anyone because of that power?"
"Oh some one give the guy a prize." Tabitha rolled her eyes, clapping.
"Eh.." Ranma shrugged nervously, "Energy drain type thing. I'm immune to those I think.. least that's what I remember mom tellin me."
Everyone their blinked as some one knocked on the door. Who could be visiting them now of all times? Lance being the closest, he checked through the peep hole. "Kitty and Rogue..."
---
To be continued (God I hate not having smokes)
I'm not very happy with this chapter, specifically the beginning. Ah well, another polishing and rewriting job for me in the future. Anyway, I'm sure alot of you are like 'WTF' about Neko-Ranma not going nuts and kicking all ass. Remembering the Manga and Anime, I clearly note Ranma acting as a normal, if feral, house cat. You might also being wondering about the 'sense of responsibility' he felt for Jean and Rogue, and it's quite obvious where that comes from. Anyway, thats part two of this thing. Part three comes out tomorrow (maybe). This chapter took me forever, I couldn't concentrate, and I just couldn't bring myself to write anything. I knew, sorta, where I wanted it to head, but nothing would flow out of me like it did in the previous chapters. I'm just tired, I guess.
One note for matchups. I always intended for Ranma and Rogue to go through this. They WILL be giving their relationship a chance. The purpose of the pole was to decide if in the end they could make it work. It's not hard for them to break up, at least from Ranma's side. Rogue would likely, if she decides to give this thing a go, try to stick with him no matter what, and it's precisely this attitude that can tear them apart. I doubt any of you would like your significant other if you found out she's only dating you for hope.
Sucks, I know, but live with it. The cut off point where the poll actually closes is a bit away, well into season three anyway, and we are stuck in season two. Though, that's getting ready to come to a close after Shadow Dance and then the day of reckoning parts.
Bleah. I'm too tired to update the poll. Screw it, I promise it'll be out next chapter.
One last thing before I let you go. Words like 'lookin' 'tryin' 'somethin' left with out a g at the end is written that way for a purpose. One, for accent, two to show how certain people talk differntly. It's not a mistake on my part (even if its grammarly incorrect.).