All Mixed Up

Chapter Five

“So daddy, tell me about your friend.”

Nabiki stared across the table at her father. Soun looked out the Shogi doors with a hint of a tear in his eye. “He was my dearest friend and training partner. We studied long and hard under a ruthless master, but in the end we came out great martial artists and even better friends.”

Nabiki mentally scowled, but she kept a pleasant expression on her face. “So what was his name?”

Soun’s eyes took on a distant look. “Genma… Saotome Genma.” Shaking his head, he looked at his middle daughter. “Why the sudden interest in Gohan’s father?”

She smiled her sly grin. “I was just curious, daddy. I want to know a little bit more about where he came from. So, what did he look like?”

Soun went on to describe his best friend as an older man, always wearing a white gi, glasses, and a bandanna to cover his baldness. He also told Nabiki about him getting a little overweight toward the end of their training. He added more to description, but Nabiki’s selective hearing weeded out the unimportant details and adjectives.

Nabiki thought over her words carefully. “Was Genma anywhere near Gohan’s fighting ability?”

Soun thought back. He’d seen Gohan practicing in the morning. He had seen the boy shatter one of Akane’s cinder blocks with casual ease while performing a kata. “Not when we went our separate ways, but maybe he found a secret training technique that doubled his abilities.”

‘Not likely.’ Nabiki nodded and got up from the table. “I’m going to do some homework now.”

Soun nodded at his daughter. “Have a good day, Nabiki.”

She turned and left her father behind, mulling over the information she had gleaned from him. Gohan was not Genma’s son by any stretch of the imagination. That was blatant by the first question. ‘Goku and Genma.’ Nabiki brought her mind to more pressing matters. ‘What are we going to do when the real fiancé shows? Knowing her temper, what will Akane do to Gohan? What can she do to Gohan, for that matter? Will father throw Gohan out for impersonating his friend’s son? Never mind the fact that it was his fault for pulling the poor lost boy off the street and hitching him to one of his daughters without even asking the boy if his father was Genma. Then again daddy might just leave them hitched and think he still has two daughters to spare. That is probably the most likely outcome. Now, how can I profit from this and keep Kasumi and me out of an arranged marriage?’

She was walking through the house toward the dojo when Kasumi came in the front door. “Nabiki, are you going out to the dojo?”

Nabiki looked at her sister with an indifferent face. “Why, yes. Why do you ask?”

Kasumi handed her a magazine. “Akane’s new issue of Monthly Satan came in. You know how excited she gets over it.”

Nabiki nodded. She never understood her sister’s fascination with this magazine, but it never failed to make her excited when it came in. She turned and went toward the dojo. She glanced down at the magazine. The cover had Satan Videl wrapped up in a passionate embrace with a boy with black hair tied back in a pigtail. The caption at the bottom of the cover read: ‘Videl’s Fiancé? Has he defeated Satan?!’ Nabiki shook her head. ‘I still don’t know what she sees in this thing, but that boy is awful cute though.’

“So, how did your fight with Ranma go?”

Ryoga frowned at Gohan’s question. “Well, first I did like you told me. I made sure it really was Ranma. It turns out I'm not the only one who's after him. I didn’t catch the guy’s name, but apparently Ranma’s been womanizing. He was too fast. He dodged all of the attacks I could throw, and then he tried to distract me with food, knowing how hungry I was, and then he ran away. When I tracked him down again, he dodged everything I could throw again and then he ignored me in the middle of the fight so he could talk with his girlfriend.”

Akane glowered as she overheard the two boys’ discussion. “He didn’t take you seriously? I hate that.” Ryoga nodded. “You said, ‘his girlfriend’?”

Ryoga nodded again. “He’s a womanizer of the worst kind. His most recent victim is the daughter of Mr. Satan himself!”

Akane’s eyes went wide while Gohan frowned. “You mean Videl? She’s my idol! And that nasty pervert is taking advantage of her?!”

Ryoga nodded enthusiastically. He was glad to find someone who finally understood him.

“Are you sure?” Gohan asked.

“Yes. I saw it with my own eyes. There were a few dozen reporters there that he was playing up to, so it will probably be in the news soon.”

Gohan made a mental note to make sure to watch the news for a while. “If he really is that bad, someone needs to teach him a lesson.”

Akane looked at him. “Are you going to?”

Gohan shook his head. “I really don’t know him, so it shouldn’t be me. Ryoga, would you like me to help you train to fight him?”

“Do you think you can help me?”

Gohan nodded. “You said he keeps running away and hiding. I can teach you and Akane how to track down a person’s ki and even how to identify them by it. That way he can’t get away from you again.”

Akane and Ryoga both looked happy at the idea. “That’s great!”

Gohan held up his hand. “However, you have to swear by your honor as a martial artist that you will only use what I teach to help others. You will not use it for personal power or glory. You will also swear to make sure that there are no innocent people who can be injured in your fights. Some of the techniques I know are… very destructive.”

Akane and Ryoga nodded. “I swear it,” they said in unison.

Gohan smiled. “Great! I want you two to stay here while I go track some things down for our training. While I’m gone, I want you to try and find your center. That will be very important for what we’re going to do.” Gohan stepped out of the dojo and jogged a safe distance away from the house, out of sight of any bystanders. He shot into the sky and looked around for the closest junkyard.

Back at the dojo Nabiki walked in and tossed Akane her new magazine. “Here’s the new rumor mag.”

Akane scowled at her sister. “You know I hate it when you call it that.”

“Take a look at the cover. Seems you and Videl have something in common.” Nabiki smirked.

Akane saw the couple kissing on the cover of her favorite magazine. ‘He’s kind of handsome, and an athlete you can tell that. He had to be a great martial artist if he’s dating Videl. She sure is lucky…’ The alarms that had been blaring in the back of her mind finally caught up with her cognitive thoughts. ‘Most recent victim…’ She held the magazine up in front of Ryoga’s face. “Is this Ranma?!” Nabiki’s eyebrow went up.

Ryoga pulled his face away from the book far enough to see the picture. His eyes lit up in anger. “That’s him! He’s the one that’s put me through hell!!!”

Nabiki stepped forward into the room. ‘Hmm…too much of a coincidence.’ “What’s the boy’s family name?”

Ryoga looked at her with a confused look on his face. “Saotome. Why?”

Nabiki smiled her knowing grin. “Nothing. Just curious.” She turned and left a confused pair of martial artists in the dojo. Nabiki went up to her room and lay down on her bed. A small scowl crossed her face. ‘Looks like I won’t have to worry about the real Saotome showing up. He has to be Genma’s son. Dark Horse and Wild Horse, it can’t be just a coincidence.’ She thought for a second more. ‘Maybe there is a way I can profit from all this…’

Fifteen minutes after Gohan left, Akane noticed the head of a Tanuki bobbing along over the wall. She stared curiously until Gohan walked through the gate, carrying a huge, heavy-looking statue. He set it on the ground and Akane noticed that it sank a few inches into the soil. “What on Earth is that for?”

Gohan smiled. “This is for Ryoga.”

Ryoga blinked. “Uh, thanks… I really don’t have anywhere to put it, though.”

Gohan laughed. “Sure you do. This is going to be carried on your back.”

Akane gulped, imagining just how heavy that statue was. “Are you joking?”

Gohan shook his head as he held up a set of straps. “Not at all. One of the training techniques I’ve been through involved wearing a very heavy object while doing everyday activities. The constant strain helps your muscles build up in both size and speed. One of my friends wears waited clothes all the time. When he takes them off, his speed and strength nearly double.”

Ryoga smiled at the idea of being twice as fast, as well as being even stronger than he already was. It didn’t bother him that he would look exceptionally silly with the huge statue on his back.

“This should do until I can pick up some weighted training clothes that’ll work for you, Ryoga. I’m afraid that most of the ones I’ve seen around here aren’t heavy enough to have any effect on you.” He helped Ryoga get the huge statue strapped to his back.

The lost boy gasped at the massive weight. It was way heavier than even his umbrella and backpack combined. He felt his feet sink into the ground a little as he took a few stumbling steps. “Are you sure this will work?”

“Absolutely.” Gohan led the two back into the dojo. “All right Ryoga, Akane. Do either of you know how to form a battle aura?”

Akane frowned a little while Ryoga thought for a moment. As one, they answered. “Only when I’m really mad.” The two blinked at each other and then laughed nervously.

Akane looked back at Gohan. “I’ve been told I glow a little when I get really, really angry.”

Ryoga nodded. “I’ve been told that I kinda glow a greenish color whenever I think about all the hell Ranma put me through.”

Gohan smiled. “Good. That means you’re both able to access your ki. Now I’ll show you how to do it without getting mad first.” He closed the dojo doors. “I really don’t want any publicity, so please don’t tell people that I can do this. I don’t want challengers or student-wannabes pounding down my door.”

“Do what?” Akane asked curiously.

“This.” Taking a wide stance and gritting his teeth, Gohan concentrated for a moment. A split second later a powerful glowing aura burst into existence around him. Akane and Ryoga stepped back in shock, staring at him in total amazement. “If you work hard, you should be able to do this too.” He let go of his concentration and the glow vanished.

Akane noticed that her jaw was open wide enough to fit the Tanuki statue inside. “Wow.” Gohan’s last sentence finally registered. “REALLY?”

Gohan nodded and smiled at her. “And once you can activate your aura reliably, your fighting abilities will increase.” He looked at Ryoga. “And then imagine the fight that you could have with Ranma.”

Ryoga smiled viciously. ‘At last, Ranma will pay!’ “What do we do?”

“First, we’re going back to practicing Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics.”

Ryoga looked at him with a ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ face. “How am I supposed to teach her with this thing strapped to my back?”

Gohan smiled. “You just have to try. You’re not going to get any stronger without it.”

Ryoga slowly trudged across the floor towards the gymnastics equipment laying about the floor. He strained as he reached for the ribbon. He used all his strength to stand back up straight. “Okay! We’ve already gone over the clubs and hoop. Now we work on the ribbon. Remember, in Martial Art Rhythmic Gymnastics you can’t touch your opponent. You have to use weapons or you are automatically disqualified. The ribbon is one of the trickiest weapons, both in its use and in defending against it. This can be used several ways, but you have to get it moving first. You start it like this.” With a twist of his wrist the ribbon was twirling a spiral in the air in front of him.

Gohan scratched his head. “The clubs I can understand, even the hoop. But what can you do with that?” ‘It’s not even magical.’

An evil smile found it’s way to Ryoga’s face. ‘Make me wear a weight, eh?’ He whipped the ribbon and hit Gohan on his exposed hand with the tip like a whip.

A quick flash of pain went through Gohan’s hand. He didn’t cry out, but he looked at the small red mark on his hand. ‘Looks like gymnastics can be dangerous.’ He held his hand up toward Ryoga. “How?” With a flick of his wrist, Ryoga ensnared Gohan’s hand and hauled the Saiya-Jin off his feet. Gohan caught himself in midair and landed on his feet. He unwrapped the ribbon from his hand and spoke in an irritated voice. “You’ve made your point. Now, back to training Akane…”

Ryoga chuckled. He was satisfied. The fanged boy turned to Akane. “See the importance of the ribbon? You can you use it for striking, ensnaring, and almost anything else you can use a bullwhip for.”

Akane picked up the gymnastic ball. It was about the size of a bowling ball. “What do I do with this thing?”

Ryoga trudged over and lifted the ball from Akane’s grasp. “You simply throw it to intercept incoming thrown weapons or you can roll it under someone’s feet to trip them up.”

Gohan leaned against the wall and narrowed his eyes at Ryoga. ‘If he’s so good at this stuff, why hasn’t he used it on Ranma?’

Akane picked up the ribbon and tried to twirl it. The results were inevitable. She wrapped herself up and fell on her face. Gohan was by her side in an instant and helped her untangle herself from the mess. Gohan picked up the ribbon and started twirling it like Ryoga did. “You have to twirl it with your wrist, like this.”

Akane gaped at him. “How did you do that?”

Gohan blinked. “What?”

“How did you pick that up so fast?” Akane closed her mouth. “You’ve done this before.”

Gohan shook his head. “Nope, never in my life. I can just pick up people’s movements enough to imitate them. My dad was better at it than me, though. He learned how to do a ki attack just by watching it done once or twice. This is actually pretty simple. Here you try again.” He handed her the ribbon back. She tried it again. Same results. Gohan shook his head and untied her again. He stood behind her and took her wrist that held the ribbon. “Twirl your wrist like this.” He made her wrist make circular movements. The ribbon started to follow the path it was supposed to.

Akane smiled at her achievement. “Look! I’m doing it!”

Gohan laughed. “I had no doubts in my mind.”

The voice coming from directly behind her gave Akane pause as she realized how close Gohan was to her. He was practically hugging her. She blushed as she not only didn’t seem to mind the closeness, but she actually seemed to enjoy it. “Th-Thanks.”

Gohan smiled at her, completely oblivious to the contact. “Your welcome. Just don’t give up.”

Akane smiled back. “I won’t.”

They went on and trained for the better part of the evening. When Akane was beginning to slow down, Gohan called a stop. “Now, the first part of ki manipulation is being able to see it. Once you can see it, you can learn how it works and how to make it do what you want it to.” He sat down in center of the dojo and motioned for Akane and Ryogo to sit so that the three were in a triangle, facing inwards.

Gohan had them focus on trying to feel each other in the room without looking or, more importantly, without listening. It took the better part of what was left of the evening for the two to just begin to be able to sense where Gohan was when he moved around, but they still had not been able to refine it enough to sense drastically weaker ki signatures.

It was finally quite dark out when Gohan sent Ryoga on his way, promising him that he would show him more tomorrow. Of course Gohan never thought that Ryoga probably wouldn’t make it.

He came back inside to see Akane resting on her side, exhausted and flipping through the magazine that had arrived. Inside were more photos of Ranma and Videl. She had heard rumors that she had a boyfriend, but she couldn’t believe they were getting married like that. She saw a picture of Ranma suspended in mid-air holding Videl close to his chest. Videl was leaning her head on his shoulder with a dreaming look on her face. Akane’s eyes softened. ‘I know I’m supposed to hate this guy, but they look so happy together. That’s what real marriage is supposed to be about, love and happiness. Not being forced to marry a stranger.’ She looked up as Gohan walked in and plopped down in front of her. She looked closely and took stock of him. He was very well built with a cute face and wild hairstyle. He just seemed to radiate power, but still have an air of peace about him. He was also incredibly kind hearted, as his easy forgiveness of Ryoga’s unwarranted attack proved. ‘Maybe it could work for us…’

Gohan smiled at her. “Penny for your thoughts.”

Akane started as if awoken from a dream. “N-Nothing. Just looking through the magazine.”

Gohan grinned. “And staring at me?”

Akane blushed fiercely. She felt anger starting to build up in her at the teasing, but something strangled that nasty habit. She wasn’t quite sure what it was. “N-no, I was looking at something behind you.”

Gohan kneeled down next to her and put his head down. He tried to follow Akane’s line of sight. “Oh, wow. You’re right! That is an incredibly interesting spot on the wall. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite like it.”

Akane blushed three shades of crimson. “Oh, shut up.”

Gohan turned his head around and smiled at her. “I was just teasing, Akane. You did really good today.”

Akane leaned a little closer. “Really?” She was losing herself in his eyes. She didn’t even realize that she was only a tiny distance away from kissing the handsome youth.

“Yep.” Gohan felt the hair on the back of his neck rising. A tingling sensation was running through him that he was completely unfamiliar with. “Uhm, is it warm in here?”

Akane blinked and realized just how close she was to kissing him. She had done it once before, on impulse, and she had enjoyed it. But she was feeling extremely vulnerable. Gohan seemed so nice, so perfect, yet she was afraid that there was something horrible waiting around the corner. She stuttered out some lame excuse and bolted for her room, leaving a mildly confused Gohan behind.

The time until the tournament seemed to fly, but it wasn’t all happy. Gohan and Akane were feeling very betrayed when Ryoga failed to show up to help her train. Luckily he had shown them enough about the tools in order for them to continue.

The stadium was completely packed. The stands on Furinkan’s side were filled with Akane’s fan club, as well as a number of schools that just wanted to see St. Hebereke, and more specifically Kodachi, beaten. St. Hebereke’s side was filled with students who were amazed that a match was actually being held for once. And throughout both sides, Nabiki was working her magic.

Nabiki was worried about the odds she was setting. Very few people, made up mostly of those who figured that Kodachi had a glass jaw, were betting on Akane to win, and normally she would have set the odds in such a way as to encourage betting on her sister. She loved her sister dearly, but she just couldn’t see her winning this match against someone for whom gymnastics was her life. However, she had spoken with Gohan about her training and he felt supreme confidence in Akane, so she had set the odds in anticipation of her sister winning. Nabiki grit her teeth. ‘If Kodachi wins, Gohan is going to suffer.’

Gohan stood beside Akane next to the ring. She looked up at him with a worried expression. “Do I stand a chance, Gohan?”

The young man looked at her and smiled. “Akane, don’t doubt yourself. Go in knowing you can win and leave no room for doubt. Don’t expect to win, don’t hope to win, simply know you are going to win.”

She squeezed his hand in gratitude. “Thanks.”

The announcer called out Akane’s name and she stepped into the ring. The crowd cheered loudly. Then the announcer called out Kodachi’s rather long title. Spotlights came on and played over the gymnasium as Kodachi was slowly lowered on a long cable. She bowed to her audience, who cheered loudly as well.

“So, the peasant actually bothered to show up?” Kodachi sneered at Akane.

Akane glared at the taller girl. “Psycho.”

Kodachi glared back. She had been ready for a taunt or bragging. She was not ready for a comment on her questionable mental health.

The referee called for the fight to start. Kodachi pulled out a white ribbon and started twirling it around. Akane took up a stance with her ribbon held in front of her. Kodachi began to laugh. “To think that such a commoner thinks she can actually defeat the Black Rose.”

“I’ll show you commoner.” Akane seethed. She whipped the ribbon forward and tried to snap Kodachi with the tip, but Kodachi deftly used her ribbon to knock the blows aside. Akane flicked her wrist to try and grab the ribbon out of Kodachi’s hand. The ribbon wrapped around the other girl’s, and Akane pulled hers taut. She expected the Black Rose’s weapon to wilt, but it remained rigid. ‘What does she have in there? A steel bar?’

Kodachi began laughing again. She pulled hard on Akane’s ribbon and pulled the girl off of her feet.

“Look out!” Gohan shouted from Akane’s corner.

Akane twisted in air to bring her feet forward. Kodachi merely ducked as the youngest Tendo passed over her. She laughed as she expected Akane to fly out of the ring. Akane managed to snag the top rope of the ring. The rope stretched out and then snapped back, flinging Akane back into the fight. “Club!” She shouted. Gohan threw one of the gymnastic clubs into Akane’s path. She caught it and held it out in front of her as she came in for another flying attack. Kodachi sidestepped and smacked the club aside. “CLANG!”

Gohan’s eyebrow shot up. “Clang?” He took a closer look at the Black Rose’s ribbon. “Hey ref! That ribbon has a steel bar in it!”

The ref turned to him. “Sorry. She’s using legal weapons.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“No. It’s perfectly legal.”

Gohan shrugged and watched for what Akane would do next.

Akane rolled back to her feet and held the club foreword. “Another club!” Gohan tossed another that she caught with her free hand. “Kiai!” Akane charged in, clubs swinging. Kodachi laughed and dropped her steel reinforced ribbon. She pulled two clubs out of nowhere and knocked away Akane’s assault. She came in with a jab that came an inch away from Akane’s face. Spikes appeared on the club, almost impaling Akane. Akane knocked it away, but Kodachi followed up the other one, complete with spikes again.

“HEY! That can’t be legal!” Gohan yelled at the ref.

“Sorry. The tools she has are legal.”

“So what the heck is illegal?!?!?!”

“Flesh to flesh contact.”

Gohan slapped his forehead and groaned.

Akane finally managed to knock the clubs out of Kodachi’s hands. She went in for a strike, but Kodachi leapt out of the way. “Razor hoop!” She threw a hoop towards Akane.

“Don’t let it hit you!” Gohan yelled.

Akane ducked, but held her clubs up, both of which were severed an inch above her hands. She looked at the stumps of her clubs and gulped. “I need another weapon here…”

“Here!” Gohan threw her another set of clubs.

Kodachi laughed as Akane took another stance. “Such a foolish girl! You think you can beat me! I’m too well bred for that!”

‘You’ve probably been bred plenty of times,’ Akane thought angrily.

“Defeat my sister! Then you shall be worthy to date with me!” Tatewaki shouted from the audience. He was promptly struck in the head by a club.

“Give me another one!” Akane shouted to Gohan, motioning with her now freed hand. He quickly obliged.

Kodachi produced two more clubs. “I’ve played around with you long enough, little girl. Time to finish this! THOUSAND CLUB STRIKE!!!” Kodachi lashed out with a barrage of club strikes. Akane blocked as many as she could, but she started to take hits. The number of hits increased as seconds passed.

‘I’ve got to do something!’ Gohan thought. He looked closely at the Black Rose’s strikes. ‘She has more than two clubs! No wonder Akane’s taking hits! Time to put a stop to that!’ Gohan hefted the gymnastics ball. “Akane! Your next weapon!” He tossed the ball right at Kodachi’s hands, scattering her clubs all over the ring.

Kodachi glared at him. “You can’t help her peasant!!!”

Gohan smirked at her. “Oops. Sorry, I missed.” His voice was laced with sarcasm.

Akane shakily got back into a stance, picking up two of Kodachi’s clubs on her way. “I can do this on my own, Gohan!”

Gohan gulped.

Kodachi laughed. “You amuse me, but your novelty has come to an end.” She twirled her ribbon about her. She picked up the stray clubs with the ribbon and flung them at Akane. Akane dodged around a few of them, but one struck her in the knee and caused her to drop.

“Akane!!!” Gohan shouted. His aura was beginning to flare.

Akane growled and hauled herself back to her feet. “I can do this!” Just then Kodachi grabbed the ring bell of the judges’ table and hurled it at her opponent. Akane stepped aside and threw one of her clubs at Kodachi. Kodachi grabbed her brother out of the crowd with her ribbon and blocked the club with his body.

“Ahh, to be struck by Akane’s weapon…” Tatewaki started to swoon.

“SHUT UP YOU PERVERT!!!” Akane punched him at her opponent.

Kodachi smiled. “No fair using my weapons against me.” She stepped aside and let her brother fly into the stands. They started throwing clubs back and forth at each other. “Ball!” The girl in Kodachi’s corner threw her a gymnastics ball. The Black Rose threw the ball at Akane. It exploded in Akane’s face, sending her flying into one of the turnbuckles.

“Akane!!!” Gohan shouted.

Akane wiped some soot from her eyes. “Okay, thunder thighs, THAT’S IT!!!” Akane pulled out her mallet.

Kodachi got indignant. “You dare think my body is anything but perfect!” No one had ever insulted her figure before.

“You got it, cow girl!” Akane ran toward Kodachi and came up with a golf swing.

“Why I neveeerrrrr!!!” Kodachi went flying. She smiled in mid air. She put two fingers to her lips and whistled.

“Wha?” Gohan also fell on his face as the ring began to move away from him. “Oh no you don’t!!!” Gohan grabbed the ring and hauled back. The substructure gave out as the canvas fell on several moving objects. “What the heck?”

Akane grabbed onto the turnbuckle before she fell to the floor. The canvas deflated as the entire gymnastic team of St. Hebereke scrambled out from under it. “They were all hiding under there.”

“Oh nooooo!!!” Kodachi shouted as she landed unceremoniously on her rear end, well outside of the ring. “IT CAN’T BE!!!”

“And the winner is, Furinkan High!” Everyone cheered as Akane stood on the turnbuckle and held her hands up high.

Gohan applauded from beneath her. “You did great!”

Akane blushed at the compliment. “Let’s go home. I don’t want these perverts staring at me in a leotard more than I can help it.”

Gohan smiled and raised his hand to help her down.

Postlude:

A screaming object impacted in the front courtyard of Furinkan High, making a large crater on impact. A large man in a white gi stepped out of the clearing dust. He adjusted his bandanna and pushed his glasses up on his face. “Hmmm. Maybe I upset the boy. Oh well.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I wonder where I am.” He looked around and saw the high school’s nameplate. “Ahh! I’m back in Nerima. Now, how do I explain to Tendo that I’ve misplaced my son…”