Welcome my friends to another chapter of A Feather in the Wind.
All characters, save Feather, are the property of the esteemed
Rumiko Takahashi, and several very large corperations.
That being said, let us begin...


              A Feather in the Wind

                    Chapter 10


      There was a stunned silence following Akari's 
announcement.
      "F-fiancee?" Feather managed to stammer out.  Akari 
frowned a little.
      "Well, actually I should say I want to be his 
fiancee.  Not only did he save my life, he was able to 
defeat Katsunishiki!" She beamed another smile at Ryouga.
      "Katsunishiki?  Who's that?" Ranma asked just a 
little puzzled.  Akari giggled at him while Ryouga jerked 
a thumb towards the gigantic pig.
      "This is Katsunishiki.  Stupid thing trampled my 
tent, and then tried to destroy my lean-to when they 
found me."
      "Hey!  He's not dumb Ryouga!  Pigs are very smart." 
Akari retorted before her eyes went dreamy again. "And 
you're as smart as a pig, strong as a pig, kind as a 
pig..." At each reference Ryouga seemed to twitch a 
little until he pulled away and dashed into the house.  
Akari held a hand up to her mouth.
      "Did I say something wrong?" She asked quietly.
      "I dunno, maybe he just doesn't like pigs," Ranma 
shrugged as he spoke.
      "Doesn't like pigs?  I wonder what he has against 
them.  After all, they are such wonderful animals!"  
Akari patted Katsunishiki's side before she nimbly 
climbed onto his back.
      "I should head back to the farm now.  The other 
pigs must be getting very lonely by now." She waved 
cheerfully as Katsunishiki trotted off.
      "Odd girl," Akane noted, "Cute, kind, and open, but 
definitely odd."  Feather crossed her arms.
      "I'm not impressed with her at all."  Feather 
crossed her arms and stared after the girl as she left.
      "Don't tell me you're jealous of her, Feather." 
Ranma shot her a wicked looking grin.
      "What do you mean jealous?  Who's jealous?" she 
said indignantly while he chuckled at her.
      "You know sis, maybe you've been hanging around 
Akane too much.  You're starting to sound just like her!" 
Feather spun on him and stuck out her tongue.  Akane 
looked enraged.
      "What did you say?  I can't believe you just said 
that!" Akane yelled.
      "You don't believe me?  Ask either of your sisters 
if you haven't said it before!"
      "Ranma, you jerk!" Akane screamed as she kicked him 
over the wall.  Feather coughed a little, bringing her 
attention back to the redhead.
      "Well Akane, why don't we go and practice a little 
before dinner?"
      "Sure, why not?"  Akane said as they walked into 
the dojo.

      Ryouga dropped his pack at the door after he took 
off his shoes, muttering under his breath a little about 
pig obsessed girls.  Still distracted, he walked straight 
to the kitchen.  Kasumi was humming happily as she 
stirred some vegetables into a pan.
      "Why hello Ryouga, welcome back!"  Kasumi said 
cheerfully without looking over her shoulder to see who 
it was.
      "Hi Kasumi, how'd you know it was me?"
      She pointed at a jar on the counter.  "I saw your 
reflection in that jar, how was your trip?" He grunted as 
he sat down against the wall.
      "It was a trip, that's really about all I can say 
about it."
      "Oh, the fireman on the phone mentioned a friend of 
yours was coming with you, are they staying for dinner?" 
Ryouga shook his head.
      "I dunno.  I kinda left Akari talking to Ranma and 
Akane out front.  She kept comparing me to a pig, so I 
came inside." Kasumi shook her head a little, mildly 
amused by the lost boy.
      "Why don't you sit down at the table, dinner is 
almost ready." She smiled at him as he practically leapt 
to his feet and walked quickly to the table.

      Akane was watching Feather practice her forms and 
calling out spot corrections when Nabiki walked into the 
dojo.
      "Hey you two, Kasumi says that dinner is ready."  
Feather stopped practicing and dashed for the house.
      "Come on Akane!  Race you there!"
      "No fair!  You got a head start!" Akane scrambled 
to her feet and ran after her.  By the time they had 
reached the table, everyone else had already seated 
themselves.  Ryouga glanced up shyly at Feather, but she 
didn't seem to notice since she was busy chatting with 
Akane.  Ryouga ignored the good-natured banter at the 
table and just enjoyed the excellent food in front of 
him.

      "Hey Ryouga, what'd that guy do to you?" Ranma 
asked later that evening as they sat up against the old 
tree in the yard.  Ryouga looked up with a slightly 
confused expression.
      "What guy?" He asked.  Ranma rolled his eyes a 
little.
      "You know, that guy whose face you tore up."
      "How'd you find out about that?" Ryouga sounded 
startled.
      "It was in a newspaper.  So tell us what really 
happened!" Ryouga shook his head.
      "I don't want to talk about it." Ranma scooted 
closer to where Ryouga was sitting.
      "Come on man, what happened?" 
      "I said I don't want to talk about it!" Ryouga 
snarled and tried to backhand Ranma.  Ranma dodged the 
blow gleefully and proceeded to continually badger Ryouga 
about what had actually happened.  Akane stifled a giggle 
as she watched Ranma practically dance around Ryouga 
trying to get him to talk.
      "I'm going to go take a bath, Akane," Feather said 
as she started to walk into the house, "Let me know if he 
ever says anything."  Akane nodded and continued to watch 
the boys.  Eventually, Ryouga leapt onto the roof.  Ranma 
followed swiftly, but was surprised when he saw that 
Ryouga was waiting for him on the roof.
      "You gonna answer me now man?" Ryouga shook his 
head.
      "No!  Just leave me alone about it right now ok!"
      "Geez, you'd think that guy did something really 
terrible to you..." His words trailed off when he noticed 
Ryouga's aura flare suddenly, and die out just as 
quickly.  Ryouga took a few moments to collect himself.
      "You might be the one person here that would 
understand, but I still don't want to talk about it.  
Just leave me alone Ranma." Ryouga dropped off of the 
roof and proceeded to walk towards the gate.
      "Hey Ryouga, the house is over here!" Ranma called 
after him.  Ryouga spun on his heel, quite red in the 
face as he stalked into the house.  Ranma remained on the 
roof, staring up at the sky.
      "Aw man, I just knew this wouldn't be easy."

      Ryouga wandered the halls of the Tendo home seeking 
solace, but only finding empty hallways.  He leaned 
heavily on a door and began to fidget with the small 
piece of wood he had taken from the lean-to.  The small 
piece of wood seemed to be the only thing that brought 
him comfort.
      ::Why is this happening to me?:: he thought 
dejectedly, ::I thought Ranma was supposed to be the one 
who has these kinds of problems:: he sighed as he thought 
to himself, rolling the wood between his fingers.  Not 
even the happy humming sounds he could hear through the 
door penetrated his dark mood.

      Feather was humming happily to herself as she 
brushed her hair in front of the mirror.  She had a towel 
wrapped carelessly about her as she methodically brushed 
the tangles out of her hair.  With a flourish she ran the 
brush through the entire length of her hair one last time 
and placed it upon the counter.  She glanced critically 
at the brush.
      ::Odd, no matter how often I brush it, not a single 
strand comes away with the brush.:: She thought idly as 
she struck poses before the mirror, holding her hair 
different ways.  Finally, she settled onto a stool and 
began to braid her hair.  The task of braiding her hair 
took more than an hour, but since no one had knocked on 
the door she wasn't very concerned about hogging the 
bathroom.  She tied the bandanna in a bow at the end of 
the braid.  She bounced in front of the mirror to see how 
she looked.  She nearly collapsed giggling.
      "I look almost just like that one girl from 
Rayearth, what's her name?  Hikaru!" She giggled again as 
she posed a few more times.  A frown crossed her 
features, and she waggled her finger at her reflection.
      "Will you let that pig farmer beat you?" She shook 
her head, her pigtail moving snakelike behind her.  
"Good!"  She giggled at herself again as she tucked the 
towel a little tighter about herself and moved to open 
the door.

      The moment she twisted the doorknob the door was 
flung open by Ryouga's weight.  Ryouga twisted in the 
direction he was falling, shock evident on his face.  
Feather tried to back up a step, but she got tangled with 
him and they fell heavily to the floor.  Feather's breath 
was knocked out of her and Ryouga passed out with a 
nosebleed that soaked his shirt and the towel when he 
realized just what his face was nestled between.
      Feather struggled to get Ryouga's limp form off of 
her, but she was still tired from working out with Akane 
and only succeeded in kicking the door shut again.  She 
stopped struggling and lifted his head from her cleavage 
and pinched his nose for him.
      "Ryouga you big dummy, why'd you have to pass out 
on top of me?" She sighed to herself.  As she lay there, 
she mentally kicked herself for not realizing sooner that 
all she had to do was sit up.  She gently let go of his 
head and used her elbows to help her prop up into a 
sitting position.  The towel she had wrapped herself 
slipped off, making it easier for her to get out from 
under him.  Once she had squirmed free, she retrieved 
another towel to wrap around herself.
      "You really are a pain sometimes, you know that 
don't you Ryouga?" She asked the comatose boy as she 
rolled him over and rested his head on her lap.  She felt 
anger at his intrusion well up, but she quelled it almost 
immeadiatly.  It's difficult to stay mad at someone who 
passed out from seeing you!  She gently cleaned the blood 
off of his face with a washcloth as she waited for him to 
wake up.  Once she was done cleaning his face, she leaned 
against the wall and waited.  Time passed slowly for her, 
and eventually she fell asleep, his head still cradled 
gently in her lap.

      Some time later, Ryouga's eyes fluttered open.  The 
light blinded him for a second before he could focus on 
Feather's peacefully sleeping face.  He lay there for a 
few minutes before sat up suddenly and looked around, 
trying to figure out what had happened.
      "Ok, I was leaning on the door, she opened the door 
and I fell on her.  Oh yeah, my face ended up... b-b-
between her, her, her..."
      "Breasts?" Feather finished for him.  Ryouga jumped 
as he looked over his shoulder at the kneeling Feather.  
She cocked her head at him and smiled.  Ryouga's turned a 
deep crimson as he twiddled his fingers in front of him.
      "Ah!  Uhm, look I can explain!  I didn't mean to, I 
mean, uhm, I'm sorry!" Ryouga bowed towards Feather, who 
giggled at him.
      "Come on Ryouga, it was an accident right?  
Besides, there was no real harm done." She stood 
gracefully, her pigtail swung gently at her ankles.  
Ryouga's brain threatened to shut down again, so he 
backed towards the door.
      "I'd better be leaving now, yes leaving, that's 
such a good idea isn't it?  Bye now!" Ryouga rushed out 
the door.  Feather stared at the door for a minute after 
Ryouga left.
      "I wonder why he was leaning on the door anyways.  
Oh Ryouga, you're so helpless." She said to herself as 
she straightened up the bathroom.  She retreated to her 
room once she was done.  She closed her door she sat 
heavily on her bed and glared about.
      "He didn't have to rush off like that.  Why didn't 
he offer to help clean up the bathroom?"  She fumed about 
that for a while before trying to get some sleep.

      Ryouga had managed to find his way into his room 
without getting lost on the way.  He sat down against one 
of the walls and put his hand over his chest.  His 
fingers sought the small piece of wood.  ::Is it 
impossible for me to be able to talk to a girl I have 
feelings for?  If only it was simpler, I don't know what 
to think anymore!  She really is cute though, and very 
forgiving,:: He cast his mind back to the blissful 
moments he spent cradled in her lap before his own 
nervousness took over.  His thoughts betrayed themselves 
on his face in the form of a blush.
      "Whoa!  If I didn't know better, I'd say you just 
ran into one of the girls in the bathroom!" Ryouga jumped 
up, startled at the accuracy in Ranma's statement.  Ranma 
was leaning on the doorframe with a smug grin on his 
face.  He walked over to where Ryouga was.
      "Geez man, do you always have to bleed all over the 
place when you get excited?" He plucked a little at his 
friend's bloodstained shirt.
      "So I'm a little more shy than you are." He crossed 
his arms in an attempt to cover the stain.  Ranma snorted 
at his comment.
      "A little?  You call getting a nosebleed and 
passing out every time you see a hint of flesh a little 
more shy?"
      "Shut up Ranma!"
      "Hey, truth hurts man," Ranma laughed at the 
flustered boy in front of him, "So, who'd ya walk in on?"
      "Who said I walked in on anyone!"
      "Your shirt and your face are yelling loud and 
clear." If it were possible, Ryouga would've blushed even 
harder.  A small frown grew on Ranma's face.
      "You didn't walk in on Akane did you?" Ryouga flung 
his hands up in front of him as if to ward off the 
question.
      "It wasn't like that at all!  I was leaning on a 
door, minding my own business when suddenly the door 
opened and I fell inside.  I kinda landed on Feather and 
passed out."  Ranma laughed for quite some time after 
Ryouga finished his confession.
      "It ain't that funny Ranma!" he snarled.  Ranma 
merely clutched at his gut while he staggered from the 
room, still laughing his head off.  Ryouga muttered to 
himself as he stretched out on the floor, not even 
bothering to retrieve his sleeping bag from his pack.

      Late that night, a pair of shrouded figures crept 
across the roof of the dojo.  One by one they peeked 
through every window.
      "Did we find them this time?" the shorter of the 
two asked in a hushed voice.  The taller one shook its 
head before pulling off the mask.  A woman with short 
black hair was revealed.
      "It's hard to say Moiri, but I did see one male 
that resembled an associate of the target," She rubbed 
her chin a little before she continued, "Keep watch on 
this place.  Should you see anyone who matches the 
description I gave you, contact me at once!"
      "As you wish my lady." he bowed low to her before 
he faded into the shadows.  The woman sighed.
      "I will never get over how you seem to fade away 
like that."
      "'Tis a rare talent I have," his disembodied voice 
replied, "But it is no more spectacular than any other 
ninja trick." She waved a hand in the general direction 
that Moiri disappeared to.
      "Just remember, we came for reconnaissance, not 
killing.  I know that's a difficult concept for you, but 
trust me on this."
      "It shall be as you command.  If the situation is 
as grave as you fear, we may have to...accelerate the 
plan." The woman sat lightly on the roof and sighed.
      "I can only hope I'm not too late."

      "Wake up Ranma my boy!  Time to train!" Ryouga was 
startled out of his sleep as Genma roared at his son.  
Ranma didn't even acknowledge his father's shout.
      "Don't you think you could wake him just a little 
more quietly?" Ryouga grumbled as he stretched a few 
kinks out.  Genma shrugged at the befanged boy.
      "Not much wakes him up." He said flatly before he 
grabbed Ranma by the shoulders and shook him vigorously.  
"Wake up boy!"
      Ranma blearily opened his eyes and yawned in his 
father's face.
      "G'mornin' pop.  I'll be out in a minute." Genma 
released him and stood.
      "Hurry it up boy, we don't have all morning!" He 
barked out as he left the room.  Ryouga watched as Ranma 
stretched leisurely, then in a burst of motion he was 
changed into clean clothes and dashing down the hallway.  
Ryouga blinked a few times in astonishment.
      "That was quick," he remarked as he got himself 
ready for the day.  Out of curiosity, Ryouga tried to 
make his way to the yard to watch the Saotomes train.  
After walking into a storage closet, Kasumi's room and 
the bathroom, he managed to find the living room.  Akane 
and Feather raced down the stairs and found Ryouga 
staring outside.
      "Good morning Ryouga!  Sleep well?" Akane said 
cheerfully.  The two girls were dressed in gi.  He smiled 
shyly at Feather, who gave him a warm smile in return.  
She had left her hair in the long pigtail.
      "We were just on our way to train a little before 
breakfast, want to join us?" Ryouga rubbed the back of 
his head a little.
      "Uh, sure, why not?" With a grateful smile, Akane 
led the way into the dojo.  Ryouga found himself spending 
the next hour or so coaching the girls, and watching them 
spar.  He allowed himself to feel a small amount of pride 
as he watched.
      ::Feather sure has come a long way since I began to 
train her,:: he thought to himself as he noted their form 
for a critique after they had finished, ::but she does 
have a long way to go.  Well, she is a fast learner at 
least.::

      A while later they headed off for school.  Ranma 
continued to badger Ryouga as to what had happened during 
his trip, but refrained from mentioning the man Ryouga 
had fought.  When they reached the school, they heard a 
very familiar, but still frightening laugh.
      "OHHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!  My darling Ranma!  It is I, 
Kodachi Kuno, here to be your dutiful wife by bringing 
you lunch." Kodachi held a bento in front of her and 
bowed her head.  The bento was neatly wrapped in a 
handkerchief that was embroidered with a black rose.
      "Uh, gee thanks Kodachi, but I already have a 
lunch, see?" He held out the lunch that Kasumi had made 
for him that morning.  
      "But such a small lunch would hardly be enough for 
a man such as yourself.  Here, take this lunch I prepared 
for you with all my heart and allow it to nourish you 
through the day!" Kodachi placed the bento she had on top 
of the one in Ranma's hand.  Ranma's face fell.
      "Great, thanks." He spoke with absolutely no 
enthusiasm.  Kodachi looked up at his face with adoring 
eyes.  Akane started to steam where she stood next to 
Ranma.  Feather nudged her elbow into his ribs.
      "Never could turn down food, could you?" She asked.  
Kodachi turned quickly and noticed Feather for the first 
time.  A quick look of surprise crossed her face before 
her features settled into a slight scowl.
      "So pigtailed one, you finally confront me in front 
of my darling Ranma." She reached into her blouse and 
pulled out her ribbon, "And you make light of my gift for 
my darling Ranma!  You wicked, wicked girl!  I, Kodachi 
the Black Rose, shall punish you before his very eyes!" 
Feather had a very confused expression, which only seemed 
to infuriate Kodachi.
      "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking 
about." Feather shrugged.  Kodachi seemed to explode with 
her anger.
      "So, you feign ignorance do you?  Allow my ribbon 
to remind you!" She lashed out with her ribbon, which 
Feather barely managed to dodge.  She dashed for the tree 
line with Kodachi in hot pursuit.
      "Whoa, Kodachi hold up!" Ranma yelled as he handed 
the lunches to Akane, "Get back here!" Ranma sprinted 
after them.  Ryouga also gave chase, leaving a startled 
Akane behind.

      "Who is that wacko?" Feather gasped out as she 
leapt into a tree and waited for her opponent, doing her 
best to hide amongst the brown leaves.  She watched in 
silence as Kodachi slowed to a walk and glance about, 
twirling her ribbon idly.
      "Pigtailed girl!  You cannot hide from me forever, 
I shall find you and punish you!"  Kodachi called out in 
a mocking tone as she turned her back on Feather's 
position.
      ::Now!::  Feather launched herself out of the tree 
with a fierce kick.  Kodachi spun around and did the 
splits, allowing Feather to pass harmlessly over her 
head.  Feather landed softly and spun on her heel to face 
Kodachi.
      "What do you want?" she asked Kodachi gracefully 
rose.  Kodachi cocked her head to one side.
      "Why, I want you to release my darling Ranma from 
your evil grasp!"
      "What do you mean, 'evil grasp'???"  Feather 
shouted as Kodachi attacked again.  Feather was doing her 
best to dodge, but her skirt kept getting tangled in her 
legs.  The ribbon slapped across her arms, leaving slight 
cuts.
      "Ohohohohoh!  First blood is mine, deary!" Kodachi 
laughed heartily as she attacked again.  Feather winced 
as she tried to dodge the gymnast's attacks, but still 
got hit.
      ::This skirt is just getting my way!:: She thought 
as she dove out of the way of another attack.  Feather's 
hand closed on a small rock and she hurled it at Kodachi.  
The momentary distraction of dodging the rock was all the 
time she needed to leap into the trees again.
      "Had enough so soon?"  Kodachi taunted as she leapt 
into the trees, "I'm just getting started!"  Feather 
ignored her taunts and quickly undid the buttons on the 
waistband of her skirt.
      "So there you are harridan!" Kodachi leapt to a 
branch across from Feather.  "Did you think you could 
escape the wrath of the Black Rose so easily?"
      "Nope, but I figured I needed to take care of 
something!"  Feather smiled sweetly.  Kodachi seethed at 
her impertinence.
      "Now you shall pay for mocking me!"  Kodachi lashed 
out with her ribbon.  Feather leapt straight up, leaving 
her skirt behind and revealing a pair of black biker 
shorts.  Kodachi's whiplike ribbon wrapped around the 
skirt.  As Kodachi tried to pull the ribbon back, Feather 
grabbed the skirt with both hands and dropped out of the 
tree.  The sudden jerk on the ribbon yanked it out of 
Kodachi's hand.
      "So," Feather called up into the tree, "Just how 
good are you without your little toys?" She snapped the 
ribbons handle effortlessly.
      "Foolish girl!" Kodachi taunted as she flipped out 
of the tree, "I am the rising young star of High School 
rhythmic gymnastics, and that means total control of an 
arsenal of weapons!"  She reached behind her back and 
pulled out two clubs, "I have no intention of losing to a 
girl that leaps out of her skirt at a moments notice." 
She gave an insinuating smile, "But, I guess it comes 
naturally to gutter trash like your self, 
ohohohohoh...oww!"  Kodachi reeled back from a snap kick 
Feather had delivered to her chin while she was laughing.  
Feather didn't wait for Kodachi to recover and attacked 
as quickly as she could.  Despite being stunned a little 
from her kick, Kodachi smoothly blocked her attacks.  
Feather gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on her 
skirt.  She spun into a roundhouse, which Kodachi easily 
ducked, but received a stinging slap from the skirt 
Feather swung as a follow up.  The battle raged on 
between the two girls, neither daring to give any ground.

      "What do you mean you lost them?!?!"  Ryouga cried 
out as he grabbed the front of Ranma's shirt.  Ranma 
brushed his hands away and looked about.
      "I mean just what I said, I can't figure out where 
they got off to."
      "We have to find them, Ranma!  Feather just isn't 
good enough to beat Kodachi!  Besides, she fights dirty," 
Ryouga scowled.  Ranma put a hand on his shoulder and was 
about to speak when they heard faint strains of 
hysterical laughter.  No words were exchanged as they 
dashed towards the source.

      "Enough of this, now the real fight begins!"  
Kodachi spun low and swept Feather's feet out from under 
her.  Before she could hit the ground, Kodachi had 
grabbed her pigtail and wrapped it around her throat.  
Kodachi sat on Feather's back and pulled on the braid.
      "Ohohohhoho!  So, your vanity will be your undoing.  
What a fitting end for you!"  She began to laugh 
hysterically at Feather's struggles.
      Feather's eyesight began to dim and there was a 
dull roaring in her ears.  She couldn't hear Kodachi's 
laughter anymore, but she counted that as a small 
blessing.  She continued to struggle in vain to loosen 
the stranglehold.  Just when she thought she was going to 
pass out, she felt the weight lifted from her back, and 
gentle hands helping her to sit up and unwinding her hair 
from around her throat.
      "Methinks it wise for thee to stay and rest. I 
shall deal with my twisted sister."  Feather's eyes 
snapped open and focused on Kuno's stern features.
      "Brother dear!  You dare stand between me and my 
vengeance?" Kodachi seethed as she rubbed her arm where 
Kuno had shoulder checked her.  Kuno stood and leveled 
his bokken at her.
      "And what, pray tell, hast the fair Feather done to 
earn thy wrath?  I daresay that by attacking her without 
provocation shalt harden Saotome's heart against thee.  
For in truth, you have attacked his sister and had I not 
interceded, I doubt he would have been as merciful, let 
alone what I would have done had thy madness not been 
checked."  Kodachi's lower lip quivered.
      "She's not the pigtailed one?" she asked in a small 
voice.  Kuno shook his head.
      "I daresay you overlooked the obvious in your haste 
for vengeance.  I admit readily 'tis rare to see red 
hair, and rarer still to see it bound into a pigtail.  
Thusly, I may be able to forgive your actions.  However, 
the pigtailed girl's hair hast never grown to such 
luxuriant lengths, and her eyes are comparable to 
flawless sapphires whilst Feather's eyes beckon mine 
thoughts towards the purest emeralds."  As Kuno finished 
speaking, Ranma and Ryouga burst through the bushes.
      "Feather!  Are you all right?"  Ranma asked as he 
dashed to her side.  She nodded weakly and tried to force 
out a smile.  Ryouga scowled as he advanced on Kodachi 
cracking his knuckles noisily, bringing to mind the 
unpleasant sound of breaking bones.
      "Girl or not, you're lucky you didn't seriously 
hurt her." he said through clenched teeth.  Ryouga 
stopped short when Kuno thrust his bokken in front of 
him.
      "Stay thy wrath Hibiki, for such hasty actions 
shalt bring dishonor upon yourself.  Let her wallow in 
the knowledge that she brought suffering to an innocent 
soul, and in the same action pushed Saotome's heart away 
from hers."  Ryouga shot a glare at the swordsman before 
he retrieved Feather's skirt from where it had fallen.
      "Maybe you're right Kuno, but thanks to your 
sister, we're all late." Ryouga glanced over to where 
Feather still clutched at her throat.  Ranma was next to 
her with a worried expression on his face.  Kuno looked 
over as well and frowned.
      "Methinks the fragile Feather will require the 
assistance of someone more skilled in the arts of 
medicine than these hallowed halls can provide.  Dare I 
to suggest that we avoid our instructors and seek aid for 
her?"  Ryouga nodded at his words and walked over to 
Ranma to relay the suggestion.  Ranma nodded his 
agreement immediately and quickly picked Feather up 
despite her weak protestations that she was fine.  As 
they began to leave, Kodachi ran after them.
      "Ranma darling wait!"  Ranma looked over his 
shoulder and scowled.
      "I have nothing to say to you." His words were like 
ice.  Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at his 
now turned back.
      "Go to your classes sister," Kuno admonished her, 
"and mayhap let some of the wisdom of thine instructors 
seep into your twisted mind." He also turned his back on 
her.  She sank to her knees as she watched them walk off.
      "What have I done?" She wailed into her hands 
untill she could no longer see them.  Once they were 
gone, she stood.
      "So, another pawn has entered the game, and made a 
fool of me in front of Ranma.  We shall see who gets the 
last laugh, Feather dear.  You won't get be able to keep 
me away from my darling Ranma!"  She laughed insanely as 
she leapt into the trees.

      Dr. Tofu was just sitting down for a cup of tea 
when Ranma and the others walked into his office.
      "Good morning Ranma, what can I do for you?" he 
said as he placed his teacup on the table and stood.
      "'Morning Doctor, Kodachi nearly strangled her a 
little while ago, and she still can't say anything." 
Ranma practically spat Kodachi's name out.  Dr. Tofu 
gestured towards the examining room.
      "Take her in there, I'll be right with you."  He 
gave one wistful look at his tea before he followed them 
in.  He shooed the worried boys back into the waiting 
room before he turned his attention to Feather's throat.  
After a brief examination he applied an ointment to her 
throat and wrapped a layer of gauze around her neck.
      "Your throat is bruised, but there is nothing 
serious," he stated calmly as he tied off the gauze, "You 
should continue to wear the gauze until tomorrow night.  
Your voice should be back before too long, so I don't 
think you have to worry about croaking out every word." 
She smiled her appreciation for the care.  She hopped off 
the bed and sought out the young men that brought her.  
She found them waiting quietly for her outside.
      "There she is!  How's the throat?" Ranma asked with 
a quick grin.  Feather frowned a little and pointed at 
the bandage.  "It's not bad is it?" She shook her head 
and smiled for them.
      "It is well that your wounds are not of a more 
serious nature," Kuno glanced at the other two boys 
there, "Well?"
      "Well what, Kuno?" Ryouga snapped.
      "I am unfamiliar with the activities of those who 
fail to appear for their classes.  I was hoping that 
perhaps you two could enlighten me on what our activities 
should be."  Ranma shook his head.
      "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be 
cutting class with Kuno.  C'mon, let's see what's going 
on down at the market."
      "I find it as odd as you, Saotome.  However, I 
liken not to the idea of standing in the halls again."

      The odd group made their way into the heart of 
Nerima's marketplace.  Kuno glanced about and sniffed in 
disdain.
      "It is difficult to believe that there is an 
activity suitable for us in this locale."  Ranma shrugged 
at his words.
      "You never know what kinds of little contests shop 
owners are running to promote their stores.  You can win 
some cool stuff if you try enough," He glanced to his 
right and saw a crowd gathered around a music store, 
"Hey, I'll bet something's happening there!  Let's go 
check it out." Ranma led the way as they elbowed their 
way through the crowd.  Once they were through they saw a 
sign proudly proclaiming 'WIN CONCERT TICKETS FOR YOU AND 
THREE OF YOUR FRIENDS!  DETAILS INSIDE!'  Underneath the 
bold print there was a concert poster.
      "Huh, just some concert tickets," Ranma sounded a 
little disappointed.  Kuno shook his head.
      "More likely than not, this concert will be another 
atrocity against the classical works."
      "Never been to a concert or anything.  I think I'll 
give it a try."  Ryouga declared while Feather nodded her 
head in agreement.  They moved inside the store to find 
out what they had to do to win.  Inside a girl wearing a 
very tight black shirt and spandex pants greeted them.
      "Welcome to Over the Wall Music, we have more than 
one thousand titles in stock.  My name is Mia, how may I 
help you?" She smiled widely at them.
      "We saw your sign out front and we were wondering 
what we had to do to win." Ryouga said.  Mia's smile 
broadened.
      "It's a very simple game, but do you think you're 
up to it?" she began to explain the rules as she led them 
towards the back. "The object of this game is to keep 
yourself from laughing for five minutes."
      "Aww, come on!  How hard can that be?"  Ranma 
asked.  Mia raised an eyebrow.
      "We've been having this contest for two weeks now 
and not one person has come out of that room without 
laughing.  Are you ready?"  She opened a door that led to 
a darkened room, "Who's first?"  Ranma stepped up with 
confidence.
      "This'll be too easy!" He remarked as he stepped 
into the room.  Mia closed the door and winked at the 
others.  Almost immediately they heard Ranma howling with 
laughter.  Mia opened the door and dragged a hysterical 
Ranma out of the room.
      "I'm sorry, you lost.  Anyone else?"  Ryouga 
volunteered next, but he left the room in much the same 
condition.  Kuno raised an eyebrow.
      "I find myself most curious as to what contains 
such humor as to bring them to their knees with laughter.  
However, since I have no interest in this concert, I 
shall wait until they are coherent enough to speak," He 
gestured for Feather to enter the room, "Mayhap the 
comedic genius inside might lift your mood?" She shrugged 
and entered the room.

      As Mia shut the door behind Feather, the room 
became pitch black before lights came on.  In the middle 
of the room there was a tall, skinny man in a sumo outfit 
going through sumo warm ups.  Above him was a sign 
proudly proclaiming 'Setay, the Skinny Sumo!'  Feather 
took a few steps toward him when she noticed his saddened 
expression.
      "What's wrong?  You don't look very happy." Her 
voice was barely more than a whisper.  Setay stopped his 
warm-ups and gave her a curious look.
      "Why should I look happy?  All I ever wanted to 
become was a sumo wrestler, but look at me!" he gestured 
at his prominent ribs, "No matter how much I eat, I stay 
skinny as a rail!"
      "That's terrible," Feather felt sorry for the man 
in front of her, "Then why are you doing this?"  He 
shrugged.
      "A sumo coach said that if so much as one person 
didn't laugh at my dream, he would show me how to gain 
the weight I needed to become a true sumo at last!"  He 
clenched his fist in front of him as tears began to run 
from his eyes, "For weeks I have stayed in this room, 
doing all the proper exercises, and all the people who 
saw me laughed at my dream.  They all thought it was some 
kind of a joke, but each laugh was another blow.  But 
now, thanks to you, I will become a sumo, and I will be 
one of the greatest!  Thank you so much for not laughing, 
it means so much to me!"  Feather waved at him as she 
left the room.
      "And we have a winner!"  Mia proclaimed as Feather 
left the room without so much as a giggle, 
"Congratulations, you have won four tickets for the Revae 
concert this Saturday!  Your seats will be in the fourth 
row, have fun at the concert!"
      "Uhm, thanks."  Feather croaked out as Mia bowed to 
her.  Mia handed her the tickets and waved as they left 
the store.

      "Hey Feather, how'd you manage to keep yourself 
from laughing when you saw that guy?" Ranma asked as they 
walked away from the store, "I mean, you know, a skinny 
guy trying to imitate a sumo wrestler is hilarious."
      "Think about it Ranma.  That was kinda like a freak 
show." Ranma had to lean towards her to hear the quiet 
words she spoke.
      "You've got a point.  Well, now that you have the 
tickets what're you going to do with them?"
      "I guess I'll give two of the tickets to a certain 
couple I know of, and I'll take Ryouga with me."
      "You mean, you really don't mind if I go with you?" 
Ryouga blushed as he stared at his feet, nervously 
twiddling his fingers.
      "Of course I don't mind if you come along.  It'll 
be fun!"  Feather giggled despite herself as she looked 
at the flyer that came with the tickets.
      "It says here that this band has a very unusual 
stage show, sometimes having some people break through a 
false wall and fight on stage while they are playing!"  
Ranma grabbed at the flyer.
      "Lemme see that!" He read through it once Feather 
relinquished it to him.
      "I find it difficult to believe that you would pick 
the wandering warrior known as Ryouga Hibiki over myself 
to accompany you to this concert." Kuno sniffed.
      "And who was it that said that this concert would 
be an atrocity against the classical works?" Ranma dug 
his elbow into Kuno's ribs.  Kuno scowled.
      "Since it is so, the audience of this group will be 
less than cultured.  Who better than myself to protect 
the delicate Feather's virtue from those ravening masses 
than the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High?"
      "Look, I already decided that I'm going to take 
Ryouga with me.  If you want to go Kuno, you can buy a 
ticket yourself.  I'm giving these to people that really 
can't afford them."  Feather frowned at him, her voice 
barely a whisper.  Kuno straightened noticeably and bowed 
to her.
      "Forgive me for questioning your generosity.  
Sasuke!"  He called over his shoulder.  The small ninja 
leapt out of a nearby garbage can and knelt next to Kuno, 
a banana peel sitting atop his head like some absurd hat.
      "Yes master?"
      "You will acquire for me a ticket in the fourth row 
for the Revae concert this Saturday eve.  Make haste man, 
for surely such an item shall be difficult to find." 
Sasuke nodded.
      "It shall be done Master!" Sasuke bowed his head, 
dropping the banana peel, before dashing down the street.  
Kuno swept a stray lock of hair out of his eyes.
      "There, now I shall be able to accompany you as 
well."  
      "Whatever Kuno.  Let's go get something to eat, I'm 
getting hungry." Ranma shrugged.
      "We didn't have breakfast that long ago Ranma!" 
Feather exclaimed and then clutched at her throat.  It 
still hurt her to talk above a whisper.
      "Yeah, well, can you guys think of anything better 
to do?"  When the others shook their heads, Ranma stepped 
off in the direction of the closest restaurant.
      "Then let's go eat!" The others followed him, 
arguing a little about which restaurant they would go to.  
None of them noticed a shadow detach itself from the wall 
and follow them...

      Close to midafternoon Ranma, Ryouga and Feather 
made their way to the dojo.  Akane was waiting for them 
at the gate.
      "I should have known you would cut out of class 
after Kodachi attacked this morning." She had a small, 
disapproving frown.
      "Wait a second Akane!  Feather's throat got bruised 
pretty bad so we took her to see Dr. Tofu." Ranma rapidly 
explained.  While Ranma was doing his best to calm down 
Akane, Feather pulled the tickets out of her pocket.  She 
waited a minute for their conversation to subside before 
she spoke up.
      "Here.  I won these tickets today and I want you 
two to have them," she whispered as she handed each of 
them a ticket, "It's this Saturday evening, it'd make me 
really happy to see you two there."  Akane took the 
ticket and glanced at it.
      "Revae?  Never heard of them, oh well.  Thanks 
Feather, this should be fun as long as the idiot here 
behaves himself."
      "Idiot?!? What do you mean idiot?" Ranma exclaimed.  
The two of them took to arguing as they made their way 
into the house.  Feather sighed as she watched them go.  
Ryouga crossed his arms and snorted.

      "Huh, figures they would take to arguing almost 
immediately."
      "Yeah, but one can hope right?" He snorted again in 
answer.  Feather rubbed at her throat before she started 
for the door.  They had only taken a few steps when they 
heard someone speaking to them.
      "Excuse me, but perhaps you could help me with a 
little problem I'm having."  They turned to see a fairly 
pretty woman with short black hair standing a few steps 
away from them.  Her eyes were a hard gray and she was 
wearing a black jumpsuit.  The only contrast to be seen 
was a bright red sash she wore about her thin waist.  
Ryouga's jaw dropped in amazement when he realized that 
he knew her.
      "You!  You're the one that kept that dog from 
taking a chunk outta me in China!" Feather gave him a 
quick glance before returning her attention to the woman.  
She bowed a little to the pair.
      "Indeed.  I am called Naoli."
      "Ryouga Hibiki."
      "Feather Saotome."
      Naoli's face remained a carefully studied neutral.  
"Ryouga, there are people that are seeking you out.  I 
don't believe their intentions are...friendly."
      "Uh, ok." He looked startled a second before he 
frowned. "Why did you think it was so important that you 
came here from China looking for me?"  Naoli shrugged.
      "A few short days after I met you, stories of a 
madman running through villages caught my attention.  
When I reached one of them, the residents were repairing 
their houses from what looked to me like a wild boar had 
gone through.  The people there explained that a young 
man had run into their town, crashed through a wall into 
someone's, kitchen, and left a trail of destruction 
behind him as he ran through the village."  Ryouga looked 
startled.
      "I don't remember any of that..."  Naoli ignored 
what he said and continued.
      "They said he was in a crazed state, and ran 
recklessly forward through any obstacle, including a 
cult's shrine outside the village.  From what I 
understand, a few members of that cult have traced you 
here and seek revenge for interrupting something."  
Ryouga scowled.
      "Let them come, I'll just explain to them what 
happened and..." He trailed off when he saw Naoli shake 
her head.
      "They have already attacked several people that 
match your description.  They don't bother to confirm the 
identity, they just attack." A dark look crossed her 
face, "I know you found Jusenkyo, and got yourself a 
curse but I need to know one detail.  Which spring did 
you fall in?" Her eyes narrowed as he clutched a little 
at the collar of his shirt.
      "I uhm, I really don't want to say..."
      "Why not?" Naoli pressed him for an answer until 
Feather stepped between them.
      "Enough!  Can't you see that he doesn't really want 
to tell you?" She snapped at the raven-haired woman, 
ignoring the pain in her throat.  "We're grateful for the 
warning and all, but we don't really know you.  People 
have their own little secrets they wish to keep."  Naoli 
backed up a step from Feather's outburst, her eyes wide 
with surprise.
      "You can't be..." She shook her head a little and 
then shrugged before the teenagers.  "Very well, I will 
leave you now.  We shall meet again."  With a jaunty wave 
she walked off.  Feather looked up at Ryouga with just a 
hint of confusion evident on her face.
      "Any idea why she looked like she had seen a ghost 
when I spoke up for you?" She asked.  Ryouga shook his 
head numbly, not really knowing what to say.  "Oh well, 
let's go get dinner."

      The next morning brought with it cold air and 
gusting winds.  Many of the girls on their way to school 
were forced to hold their skirts down as they walked.
      "Why can't we just sew some lead into the bottom of 
these things?" Feather grumbled as she pushed her skirt 
down for the twentieth time that morning.  Her hair was 
still bound into the long pigtail and she had decided to 
wear the choker with the emerald on it to hide the 
bruises on her throat.
      "And make them look totally limp all the time?  We 
just have to suffer a little once in a while to make 
ourselves look better."  Akane sighed.  Ranma let out a 
bark of laughter from where he was strolling on the 
fence.
      "Looks to me like you don't suffer quite enough 
Akane, after all, you are still such a tomboy."  Akane 
stuck her tongue out at Ranma, who replied in kind.  
Feather looked on with an air of amused tolerance, but 
Ryouga didn't look so amused.  With a casual backhand, he 
knocked Ranma off of the fence and into the canal.
      "Hey!" She yelled as her head broke the surface of 
the water, "What'd ya go and do that for?"
      "You should treat Akane with more respect!" He 
yelled down at the spluttering, and now shivering Ranma-
chan.
      "It's all right Ryouga, you don't have to defend me 
like that." Akane tried to placate a still seething 
Ryouga.  Ranma-chan had managed to clamber out of the 
canal and back onto the fence.
      "Geez, you overreact to the littlest things, don't 
ya?" She pouted a little before she sneezed. "Now I might 
catch a cold thanks to you." Ryouga smirked and crossed 
his arms.
      "I don't think you have much to worry about Ranma, 
after all, idiots don't catch cold."
      "I believed that too until Kuno came down with one, 
and tried to give it to me." Ryouga looked shocked for a 
second, and then began to laugh heartily.  He dropped his 
pack and rummaged in it for a second before he tossed a 
thermos at Ranma-chan.
      "Here.  I keep that for emergencies." Ranma-chan 
eagerly opened it and poured some over her head.  As soon 
as the change took effect, Ryouga threw a towel at him.
      "Thanks man.  Maybe I should start carrying around 
supplies like that..."  Ryouga snorted.
      "And lose that lightning quick reaction to danger 
of yours?  Get real Ranma.  You couldn't possibly take 
the same kind of hits I can.  You stick to being fast, 
and I'll stick to being the tougher one."  Ranma shugged 
as he finished drying his hair.
      "Yeah well," he was stopped short by the sounding 
of the bell, indicating that they were about to be late, 
"Aww man!  Now we're going to have to stand in the hall 
again."
      "We should be used to it by now." Feather sounded 
slightly amused, but she did break into a run with the 
others.

      Upon reaching the gate, they found Kuno waiting for 
them.
      "Make haste!  The final bell hast not yet sang this 
morn, and we would do well to tarry not!"  He called out 
to them.
      "Why haven't you gone to your class?" Feather asked 
just a little breathlessly as they entered the building.  
Kuno held the door for them as he responded.
      "I felt it was important to inform you that my good 
Sasuke hast succeeded in gaining me tickets to the 
concert this Saturday eve, and I would like to walk with 
you and your guests to the show."
      "Couldn't you have just waited for lunch Kuno?" 
Ranma was just a little irritated.
      "I felt that the news might, in some small way, 
bring some cheer to her on this dreary morning."
      "Thanks Kuno, but you need to get to class now." 
Feather shooed him off before ducking into her classroom.  
Seconds after they slipped through the door the bell 
rang, signaling the start of their classes.  Ukyou 
smirked at them as they took their seats.

      "Cutting it just a little fine this morning Ran-
chan?" He grunted as he sat down, ignoring her comment.  
He glanced around the room briefly, and frowned a little 
when he didn't see their diminutive teacher.  A few 
minutes passed, and their teacher still did not show.  
Gradually, the class relaxed and began to talk back and 
forth.  Just as the students had gotten fully relaxed, 
Miss Hinako burst into the room.  She was struggling with 
a large stack of loose paper that threatened to topple at 
any moment.
      "Good morning boys and girls!" She dropped the 
papers on her desk and faced the class with a smile.  
"I'm so sorry for being late this morning, but I had all 
these papers to grade!"  A nervous chuckle ran through 
the classroom.  She glanced around the room and frowned 
at them.
      "I was not very happy with some of the test scores, 
and I want those of you who didn't do that good to do a 
retest!" A collective groan punctuated her statement.  
She ignored them and proceeded to hand out the papers.

      "Man, I can't believe I have to make up that stupid 
test," Ranma complained come lunch time. "Who really 
needs to know that stuff anyways?"
      "Stop complaining Ranma.  It's not the end of the 
world, it just means you're going to have to spend a 
little more time studying tonight." Akane tapped him on 
the shoulder, telling him to scoot over so she could sit 
down.
      "Who the heck really needs geometry anyways?" he 
continued to grouse.  Feather shook her head at his 
complaining.
      "Just think of it as a challenge to overcome so you 
don't have to go to school anymore Ranma.  I'm sure you 
can do it if you just put your mind to it." Ranma 
grimaced at the thought of trying to tackle the practice 
problems he was sure that Akane would throw at him.  He 
glanced at the still silent Ryouga.
      "What about you man?  You gotta retake that test as 
well?"  Ryouga shook his head.
      "I squeaked by.  I don't have to take it again, but 
Miss Hinako 'recommended' that I do it anyway." He was 
idly playing with his amulet as he spoke.  Ranma noticed, 
and decided to ask him about it.
      "Hey Ryouga, what's with that chunk of wood?"
      "Don't worry about it."
      "C'mon man, what's so special about that thing?  It 
ain't much more than a broken branch, so there has to be 
some kinda story behind it."  Ryouga sighed and proceeded 
with the story.
      "...The way it was constantly straining against the 
rest of the weave, and then finally breaking made me 
think about how I've been acting lately." He sighed as he 
looked at the small piece of wood.  Akane patted him on 
the shoulder.
      "Don't look so down Ryouga, we're all here to help 
you."
      "Thanks Akane," he stammered.

      Saturday seemed to loom in the distance as they 
toiled through the school week.  It was a relief for them 
when it finally came time for them to get ready for the 
concert.  The guys were ready to go in only a few 
minutes, since they wore their ordinary clothes.  They 
found themselves waiting for quite some time while the 
girls tried to decide on what they would wear.
      "What's taking them so long?"  Ryouga grumbled 
under his breath.  Ranma shrugged.
      "Who knows?  It's not like we're gonna be the ones 
on stage anyway." Nabiki snorted as she walked past them.
      "You have no idea what appearances mean to a woman, 
do you?" she asked with a slightly acid tone.  Ryouga 
shook his head as he plucked as his yellow sweater.
      "Not a thing."
      "Nope, I just want them to hurry up a bit." Ranma 
added.
      "For a suitable fee," Nabiki gained a speculative 
look as she spoke, "I could find out if they have even 
made up their minds yet.  What do you say?"
      "What kind of fee?" Ranma looked just a tad 
suspicious.
      "I think five hundered yen should cover it."  Her 
smile was a little predatory as the two young men dug 
into coin purses for the money. "Nice doing business with 
you." She gave them a slightly mocking half bow and 
walked up the stairs.
      "I hope that was worth it," Ranma grumbled as he 
run is finger around the inside of his coin purse, "I 
want to have a little money on me."  
      "I should have enough for drinks and stuff." Ryouga 
replied.

      A short time later Nabiki returned, a smile barely 
cracking her facade of businesslike manner.
      "They will be ready in a few minutes.  They were 
almost done when I checked on them, they are deciding on 
their accessories now." She reported and then retreated 
to a different room before they could ask her anything 
else.
      "Should we be worried?" Ryouga asked.
      "I wouldn't be.  After all, they can't really do 
anything to embarrass us with the clothes they wear." 
Ranma shrugged as he sat on the floor.  A few minutes 
later, Kuno announced himself.
      "Greetings unto you Hibiki, Saotome."  Kuno said 
grandly as he swept into the room.  Ranma waved absently.
      "Whither Akane Tendo and Feather Saotome?" Kuno 
asked as he glanced about the room, "I had thought that 
they would be ready and waiting by now."
      "They're still getting ready,"  Ryouga snorted, 
"They have been at it for at least an hour."
      "Truly, females are wont to insure that a passing 
gaze would stop upon them, and marvel at their beauty."
      "Why can't you just say they like to look pretty?" 
Ranma complained.  Kuno glared at him, but didn't 
respond.  With their store of small talk exhausted, the 
three young men sat about the living room and waited in 
silence.

      Quite some time later, the girls appeared at the 
head of the stairs.
      "Sorry to keep you waiting." Akane said as she 
started down the stairs, not noticing that Feather ducked 
back around the corner.  She was wearing a light blue 
sleeveless chinese shirt and the loose pants much in the 
same style as Ranma's.  It matched nicely with Ranma's 
red shirt.  She smirked a little at him before she walked 
up to him.  "Close your mouth before you catch a fly 
Ranma."  His jaw clamped shut.
      "Methinks you have been in the presence of this 
sorcerer too long Akane Tendo.  Thy mode of dress is 
becoming remarkably simular." Kuno spoke in a 
disapproving tone.
      "Do you want me to go back upstairs and try to find 
something else to wear?" Akane asked in her sweetest 
tone.
      "NO!  I mean, uh, you look great right now Akane!" 
Ranma blurted out.  Kuno shot him a hate filled glare, 
but held his peace.
      "Thanks Ranma," Akane glanced over her shoulder, 
"Come on Feather!  It's ok, they won't laugh at you!"  
She almost sounded weary, as if she had been having the 
same arguement for a while.
      "I," she peeked a little around the corner, saw 
them looking up expectantly and ducked back around the 
corner, "I think it's a little too tight Akane."  Akane 
put her hands on her hips.
      "It's too late now, if we don't leave soon we'll be 
late!  Besides, you're the one that wanted to wear it!"  
A few tense seconds later, Feather stepped around the 
corner.  There was an audible thunk as Ryouga's jaw hit 
the floor.  She was wearing a very tight, emerald green 
chinese dress.  The silk seemed to cling to every curve, 
every inch of her body.  Her hair had been carefully 
brushed out, and now sported several lengths of beads 
holding her hair in expansive folds.  As she started down 
the stairs, it became apparant that there was a slit 
running from the hem almost to the waist on the left 
side, showing a great deal of leg as she took each step.  
There was a pattern in a darker green, but the play of 
the light made it difficult to identify.

      The young men at the bottom of the stairs were 
struck speecheless.  Feather raised her head to look at 
them, blushed and turned to retreat back to her room.  
They saw now that the dress was backless as well.  Akane 
moved swiftly and grabbed her arm.
      "Come on Feather!  It looks great on you, right 
guys?" She asked sharply.  Ranma nodded vigourously while 
Ryouga continued to stare in slack jawed amazement.  Kuno 
however, was not as silent in his agreement.
      "Such beauty is a rare sight, and I, the Blue 
Thunder of Furinkan High, would feel quite honored if I 
would be but allowed to accompany you to the concert."  
Feather raised one hand to her mouth.
      "Oh no!  The concert!  We're gonna be late if we 
don't hurry!" She dashed for the door dragging Ryouga 
behind her.  The rest of the group ran after them, trying 
to keep them in sight.
      "Slow down Feather!" Ranma yelled, "We have plenty 
of time."  Feather slowed and then stopped, allowing the 
others to catch up before starting out again.
      "Sorry, I guess I got excited."  She apologized 
sheepishly.  Ranma grinned evily.
      "That's ok, but Kuno here just about went crazy 
when he saw you start to run.  That slit makes you show a 
lot of leg when you run!"
      Feather blushed to the roots of her hair as she 
unconsciously held the slit closed with one hand.

      After a brisk walk, they found the concert hall.  
The building itself looked more like a converted 
warehouse, but the sign out front proudly declared its 
business in bright neon.  Kuno wore a mask of disgust as 
he looked at the outside of the building.
      "Methinks the facade of this establishment bespeaks 
of the conditions inside." He crossed his arms and looked 
away from the building.
      "Can't be that bad..." Ranma said as he looked 
about, "Actually, it does look kinda run down, don't it?"
      "I've seen worse," Ryouga took a step forward, 
"Come on, maybe it's just the outside that's beat up." He 
led the others inside... or rather he tried too.  After a 
few steps Feather grabbed his arm and firmly steered him 
towards the door.

      Ryouga's confidence in the place was vindicated as 
soon as they entered.  They found themselves in a cozy 
waiting room, where a man in a suit was taking tickets at 
the far end.  The only thing that seemed out of place 
were the two bruisers that flanked the man.
      "Wow, this sure is different from what I expected 
looking at the outside." Akane commented as they 
approached the head of the line.  The man taking the 
tickets smiled at her as he handed back their stubs.  
They filed past the refreshment stands and down a narrow, 
twisting hallway before they reached the auditorium.  The 
vaulted ceiling was unadorned and had steel catwalks 
going back and forth between banks of lights.  The seats 
themselves, however, appeared to be quite comfortable.  
The walls were bare, but tastefully painted with murals 
of what looked like rock bands performing.
      "Perhaps I had judged in haste.  Truly the outer 
shell fell unpleaseing upon the eye, but inside there are 
comforts aplenty." Kuno said as he took a seat between 
Akane and Feather.  Ranma scowled at him, but sat next to 
Akane.  Ryouga took his place next to Feather, and they 
waited for the show to begin.

      Slowly, the auditorium filled up.  There was a 
buzzing kind of excitement in the air, and a dull 
undercurrent of hushed conversation seemed to hover at 
the edge of consciousness.  Finally, after what seemed to 
be an impossibly long wait, the curtain rose revealing 
the band.  A raucous cheer greeted them.  The lead singer 
was wearing an oversized kimono, and she waved 
vigourously to the crowd.
      "Hello everybody!!" The crowd responded with a 
cheer, "We are going to have a good time tonight!"  The 
audience cheered once again as she turned her back to 
them.  The band started to play what sounded to be a 
traditional song.
      "I must confess," Kuno murmured to them, "this is 
not what I expected, and I am most pleasantly surprised."  
Just as he finished speaking, the band suddenly cut loose 
with electric guitars screaming to the rumbling boom of a 
drum beat.  Kuno sat back in his seat hard and stared 
wide eyed as the singer pranced about the stage, still in 
her kimono, practidally screaming out the lyrics.
      "You were saying, Kuno?" Ranma quipped before Akane 
hushed him.
      "Quiet!  I want to hear the music," she hissed at 
him.  Ranma subsided and leaned back into his seat to 
watch the show.

      The band played song after song.  Sometimes staying 
with a traditional format, other times heavy metal or a 
crazy mix of the two.  The audience cheered outrageously, 
sometimes singing along with the songs.  After a while 
the band took a break, and people started to hurry to the 
refreshment stands.
      "Hey," Ryouga had to practically shout to be heard 
over the crowd noise, "Anyone else want a drink?" Ranma 
stood.
      "I'll help ya man.  You'd just get lost on the way 
back."  Ryouga glared at him before allowing himself to 
be led away.  Kuno remained in his seat.
      "Fear not these uncultured masses, for the Blue 
Thunder of Furinkan High is here to watch over you."  He 
tried to impress the girls with a dramatic pose, but 
couldn't get the right kind of effect from his seat.

      Ranma and Ryouga waited impatiently through the 
long lines.  They were only halfway through the line when 
they heard the music start up again.
      "Oh great," Ryouga grumbled, "We're missing the 
show."
      "Yeah."
      "I was just starting to enjoy it." Ranma smirked at 
his friend.
      "You were enjoying sitting next to Feather with 
that dress she's wearing weren't you?" Ryouga's face 
turned a deep red. "See?  I knew it!" Ranma said with a 
great deal of amusement in his voice.
      "Shut up Ranma!"  Ryouga growled.  Ranma laughed 
off the implied threat and concentrated on waiting out 
the line.

      Just before they made it to the counter, a pair of 
men came up to them and spoke rapidly to each other in 
chinese.  Ryouga looked warily at them.  The men wore 
what appeared to be robes of some sort, and had a 
decidedly hostile appearance. Ryouga remembered the 
warning Naoli had given him and tensed.  After the men 
had apparently agreed on something they turned to face 
Ryouga.
      "You pay for what you do!" one yelled as he 
attacked with a kick.
      "What on earth?" Ranma exclaimed as he dodged a 
sloppy blow from the other one. "What's with these guys?"  
The man gaped with astonishment, and his attacks became 
more skilled.
      "Not sure," Ryouga replied as he threw his attacker 
into the far wall.  The bystanders pressed in on them, 
eager to see the fight close up.
      "We need more room, Ryouga!" Ranma hissed as they 
briefly came side to side.
      "Right! Bakusai Tenketsu!" He jabbed a finger into 
the concrete floor.  It exploded sending chunks of the 
floor everywhere.  They stood facing off with their 
assailants in the middle of the crater while the crowd 
backed off a respectable distance.  As they sized each 
other up again, the bottom of the crater collapsed, 
dropping all of them into a basement.  The music from the 
concert was echoing eerily along the poorly lit walls.  
Different props and assorted junk lined the walls.
      "Come on, Ryouga, let's try to find a way out of 
here."
      "Why not jump back through the hole?" Ryouga asked 
as he looked up, and blanched.  Rebar that had been 
broken somewhat free from the blast now cris-crossed the 
opening, thier jagged ends pointing slightly downward.
      "You die!" one of the chinese men lunged at Ryouga 
while he was distracted.  The blow hit home, but Ryouga 
didn't react.  He turned to the man in disgust.
      "You know, that felt like a baby's kick," he spoke 
in an infuriatingly calm voice.  The man backed a step 
away as if to reconsider his attack, then attacked again 
in a flurry of kicks and punches.  Ryouga blocked the 
attack and pressed his own, but the man was too swift for 
him.  Out of the corner of one eye, he noticed that Ranma 
was similarly engaged with the other one.  The battle in 
the basement raged on.

      "What's taking them so long?" Akane muttered 
between songs.  Feather shrugged, causing quite an 
interesting effect on her dress.
      "Who knows, maybe they had the bad luck of getting 
into a slow line."
      "Fear not for their whereabouts, for like a bad 
coin, they always seem to show up."
      "That's not very reassuring Kuno."  Akane said 
flatly.

      Despite the combined skill of Ranma and Ryouga, the 
two men continued their attack, using the darkness to 
their advantage every chance they got.  Ranma realized 
this and beckoned for Ryouga to follow him.  They broke 
into a run down a corridor and rapidly climbed a ladder.  
They saw a small door off to one side, and the music 
seemed to be very loud at this point.
      "Maybe that door leads into the auditorium!"  Ranma 
yelled into Ryouga's ear.  Ryouga nodded and forced the 
door open.  Inside the room was several very tough 
looking men.  They were startled by their sudden 
appearance.
      "Who are you guys?" One of them asked.  Before 
either of them could answer, Ryouga toppled forward as 
one of their pursuers kicked him in the back.  Ranma spun 
kicked him into a wall.
      "No time!"  Ranma exclaimed as he turned to face 
the other chinese man.  Ryouga had gained his feet and 
was grappling with his opponant.  The men that were in 
the room stared blankly at the ferocity before them.

      The band struck up another song to a resounding 
cheer from the crowd.
      "What are they so excited about?" Akane yelled to 
Feather, "They usually don't cheer this loud to one of 
the traditional ones." Feather was caught up with the 
excitement and was jumping up and down and cheering like 
crazy with the rest of them.  Several of the guys in the 
next row had stopped cheering to watch Feather strain her 
dress even more with her bouncing.  One of them tried to 
reach out at her, but his hand got slapped firmly by 
Kuno's bokken.
      "Keep thy hands to thyself.  I will not suffer you 
to lay your hands upon her."  Kuno growled.
      "Hey man, chill out!"  The guy protested, "If she 
didn't want the attention, why'd she dress like that?"
      "I dare not to fathom her line of thought, but I 
shall defend her from you."  The man quailed from Kuno as 
he brandished his bokken.  Kuno redirected his attention 
to the stage.  While the lead singer stood and sang in 
place, there appeared to be a young girl with two 
ponytails prancing about the stage, and every now and 
then she would jump a little and cry out one or two 
words, that the crowd enthusiastically replied.

      Ryouga growled savagely as he placed another kick 
into the man's gut.  The music had gotten deafening, and 
so it became pointless to try and yell a warning to each 
other.  Ranma tried though, when his opponent turned from 
him and lunged for Ryouga.  There was a momentary pause 
in the music and Ryouga heard the tail end of Ranma's 
warning.  He turned and grabbed the man by his shirt and 
tried to slam him against the wall.  The wall exploded 
outwards at their merest touch, and the band picked the 
music up again, this time in a fast heavy metal beat.  
Ryouga had just enough time to register that he was on 
the stage before his attacker was upon him again. Ranma 
rushed through the hole to help, not noticing the 
audience cheering as he lit into one of the Chinese men.

      "It's Ranma and Ryouga!"  Akane screamed.  Kuno 
rose from his seat and looked towards the stage.
      "Astounding.  Mayhap the management noticed them 
discussing something in their usual fashion, and 
recommended that they take over for a more spectacular 
show."  Feather frowned when she noticed several bloody 
scrapes on them, and let loose with a cheer when she saw 
Ryouga kick the teeth out of one of the men's mouth.
      "Looks like a real fight to me!"  Feather said.

      Almost unconsciously, Ranma started to fight in 
time with the music.  He growled to himself when he 
realized that he was slipping into a pattern, and broke 
that pattern with a fierce uppercut.  The man's head 
snapped back and he went limp.  Exhilarated by the music 
and the combat, he went through a series of complex kicks 
and punches over his fallen opponent.  The cheering of 
the crowd egged him to even more extravagant displays.

      "Show off!"  Akane yelled at him, knowing that she 
couldn't possibly be heard over the roar of the crowd.

      Ryouga dodged what appeared to be a wild punch, but 
got snagged into a bear hug.  The music built into a 
crescendo as he headbutted the man, and as he broke free 
from his grip he unleashed a savage set of punches.  The 
man reeled from the blows, and Ryouga slammed both fists 
down on his shoulders just as the music stopped.  The man 
fell face first onto the stage unconscious.  Ryouga 
looked out into the crowd, took a bow with Ranma and 
dragged their unconscious victims back through the hole 
in the wall.

      "I wonder what these guys' problem was." Ranma 
grunted as he dropped his unconscious burden.  Ryouga 
plopped the other man on top of him.
      "I'm not certain, but I think they think I ruined a 
ceremony or something."
      "Whatever. Hey you," Ranma turned to one of the men 
that had been gaping at their fight, "What's the best way 
back to the audience.  The man he addressed pointed down 
a hallway and gave a few directions.  Ranma nodded and 
sprinted down the hall with Ryouga at his heels.  They 
almost ran over a man in a suit at the end of the 
hallway.
      "That was stupendous!" He gushed as they 
approached. "We could use you two in our act!"
      "Uh, that's ok man.  That wasn't supposed to get 
onto stage."  Ranma rubbed the back of his head.
      "But it did, and I want you two in our act."  He 
started to rattle off terms to far into business jargon 
for either of them to understand.  When he held a 
contract and a pen out, Ryouga almost signed 
automatically but Ranma grabbed his wrist.
      "I'll tell you what man.  I got a friend that can 
understand that junk you were spouting at us a second 
ago.  Why don't we run those terms by her and see what 
she says ok?"  The man didn't seem to like getting put 
off, and he left in a huff.
      "It sounded good."  Ryouga said.
      "Yeah well, when Nabiki starts talking like that at 
me, it's usually time to either leave, or just give up.  
Come on, let's get to our seats."

      The break from the music was slightly longer this 
time, and shortly before the band started to play again, 
Ranma and Ryouga rejoined with the others in the fourth 
row.
      "And just why were you two fighting up there?" 
Akane asked sweetly as she allowed Ryouga to squeeze past 
her.
      "Some dorks decided they wanted to fight us, and 
somehow we ended up there."  Ranma shrugged.  Feather 
gave Ryouga an intense look, and he responded with an 
almost imperceptable nod.
      "We really gave them a beating, so I don't think 
they'll be bothering us again." Ryouga said as the music 
started again.
      "Is this really the last we'll see of those guys?" 
Feather asked before the music got too loud for them to 
continue talking.

      It was well after dark when they left the concert 
hall and made their way home.  Kuno left for his home 
once they had reached the Tendo house.  Ryouga looked up 
at the clear night sky and thought about what had 
happened.

      "Some things don't add up," he said to Feather 
later that evening.  "Those guys seemed to know exactly 
what I looked like without a photo or anything."
      "You're worrying a little too much over nothing," 
Feather admonished him as she pulled the strings of beads 
from her hair, "We have no evidence that Naoli sent them.  
Besides, why would she do something like that?"  Ryouga 
shrugged.
      "I'm not sure, maybe to gain our confidence or 
something."
      "There's still the question of why she would do 
something like that." She carefully placed the beads into 
a small wooden box and proceeded to undo the clasps to 
her dress.  Ryouga gasped and turned around quickly.  She 
looked up and saw his turned back.
      "Shoot, I'm sorry Ryouga, I wasn't thinking.  Could 
you wait outside for a second?"  He nodded vigorously and 
retreated through her door.  She changed quickly into a 
nightgown and let Ryouga back in.
      "I'm not sure why, it's just a feeling I have.  
Something about the way she acted when we saw her the 
other day just rubbed me wrong.  I didn't think about it 
earlier, but I think her questioning me was just some way 
to keep us off balance, maybe even make us think she 
knows less than she really does."  He paced the room as 
he spoke, his steps thumping time as he spoke.
      "We'll just have to keep our eyes open.  Are we 
going to tell Ranma?"
      "No.  He'll go overboard if he ever sees Naoli.  We 
need to find out what her motives are before we can do 
anything to counter her.  Ranma wouldn't wait to find 
out."  A wry grin spread across his face, "Then again, I 
would've done the same thing if you hadn't convinced me 
to step in here and talk with you." He grimaced at the 
memory.  Feather nodded and sat on her bed.
      "Well, there's not much we can do about it tonight.  
You'd better go get some sleep."  Ryouga nodded and 
opened the door. "Oh, and Ryouga?"
      "Yes?" He paused at the door.
      "Remember, your room is straight across the hall."  
She smiled at his stricken expression before he closed 
the door.  She killed the lights and lay down on her bed, 
considering what had happened.
      "Why can't I just have a little peace and quiet in 
my life?" She asked no one in particular as she drifted 
off to sleep.

End of Chapter 10

Author's notes:
I'm sorry it took so long for me to finish this one.  
With everything happening at my work, things have been 
beyond hectic.  The concert scene has been percolating in 
the back of my head for quite a while.



E-mail me! 


 Previous
                                  
                                             Home
                                                              
                                                                                           Next