R1/2 -- [Part 3]
Nii hao! OK, now that I got the two chapters of intro out of the way...
this is SO COOL... we're going to get more into nitty-gritty
characterization. (CUTE VOICE: Shampoo too?) I dunno. May-be. (CUTE
VOICE: You not get too personal with Shampoo, right?) I dunno. I'm still
working on those battles you laid out for me.
Well. Since talk is cheap, I might as well just start the stupid story.
I apologize for all of the rampant footnotes--or whatever you call
them--that Shampoo and I have been making and I'll try to keep them to a
minimum. Ok, Shampoo? (CUTE VOICE: Ok. *sigh*)
Here we go......
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| An Iron Dagger Producion |
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The screen fades from obscurity to show Kodachi sitting crossed--legged
and bowing down amid a sea of candles in a dimmed room. It was lunch hour
at St. Hebereke and she took the extra time after her quick and sparse meal
to run back to the estate and visit her Shrine to Ranma. (CUTE VOICE:
These things popular, no?)
There was a poster-sized photograph printout of her beloved posing
superman-style without a shirt framed to the wall above the mantle--the
picture courtesy of Nabiki and her 'sources'--with a wreath of fresh, black
roses surrounding it. With the light from the candles as well as the
crackling fireplace, the portrait had a flickering spotlight effect drawn
around the face. Kodachi raised her torso and arms as high as they would
reach from her seated position, then fell back to the ground in reverence.
"Oh, my darling Ranma! I am trying so hard to be worthy of your love.
Every night I dream of the precious moment when you will take me into your
arms and our lips touch without the vile stench of Akane Tendo polluting
the air. Oh, please, Ranma-sama, tell me what I can do?"
(CUTE VOICE: Shampoo turn to feel sick.)
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| Writen and Directed by: |
| Christopher Lee Collins |
-----------====================------------
Kodachi opened a small, red photo alblum into her hand and flipped to the
end. A white gloss shimmered over the page as she tilted the book to the
proper lighting. She focused on a group photo of Ranma surrounded by all
of his formidable allies--his father, Ryougo, Ukyou, Shampoo, Nabiki,and
even Akane. Sasuke managed to take the shot before they all had a big
fight in the park. _I wish I could have seen my graceful dove in combat._
"I know not what power that wicked Akane enthralls you with, but I have
been devising a plan that will ultimately insure our future happiness. You
cannot yet understand how much I've waited for this moment. But soon,
Darling. Soon."
-----------====================------------
| Based on characters created by: |
| Rumiko Takahashi |
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Outside, Kunou entered through the gates, on his way to retrieve a book
from the house that he needed for English class. He neglected to see the
black and red mailbox follow him from the street, jumping soundlessly with
his each footfall.
Kunou wasn't a complete idiot. He could sense someone's presence behind
him, though his impressive peripheral vision found nothing out of the
ordinary. He stopped to listen carefully, the maibox planting itself
quietly in the grass next to him.
Kunou looked around the yard. _Perhaps Sasuke followed me home with some
useful information about Nabiki?_ Nothing moved. It couldn't have been
his faithful servant, anyway. Kunou would have seen him by now, since he
knew what to look for.
His eyes finally landed on the mailbox beside him. He touched its chrome
surface and brought the other hand to his chin his thought. "Hmmmm. I
distinctly remember informing Sasuke that the mailbox was to be placed
outside the gates. I shall have to speak with him later."
Without another thought, Kunou turned and walked toward the house.
-----------====================-------------
| Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo |
| in: |
-----------====================-------------
Kodachi pressed her forehead against the closed alblum. "Nothing shall
keep us apart."
After a short silence, there came a knock on her door.
Kodachi beemed at the door as she would an enemy. _Who dares intrude upon
my quiet time! For that matter, who knows I'm here. Oh, well, I have to
leave soon anyway._
She sprang from her position and landed softly by the door.
When she opened it, she was surprised to see a small, blonde boy wearing a
priest's robe. He looked up at her pitifully and held his hands out. "I'm
sorry to bother you, but I require you're service."
Kodachi rolled her eyes. _Miserable peasant._ She grabbed his shoulders
to escort him out herself.
The priest grabbed both arms firmly and showed a sinister smile.
-----------====================---------------
| HELLCATS |
| Chapter III |
| "Conspiracies are Nails" |
-----------====================---------------
Nabiki was holding the textbook close to her face, hoping no one would
notice that it wasn't turned to the assigned page. Ever the ponderer, she
couldn't get her mind off of the news she received from her contact that
morning. Sure, Ranma and Akane fought alot, and that was no big deal; but
the way her source described the drama, it sounded as if they were about to
break the engagement. Nabiki never let it show, but she deeply cared about
her sister's happiness--though she didn't see anything wrong with making a
profit in the meantime.
She started to rap her fingers across the desktop in anticipation as the
clock neared the hour. _Hurry up you stupid bell!_ It was against her
Vulcan-Feringe philosophy to say something like that out loud, but she
needed to get out of class.
As if at her summons, the bell sounded and Miss Misati dismissed everyone.
After the other students spilled out of the room, she made a trot (trying
not to run) down the hall and toward her locker.
* * * * *
Sasuke crouched beside the grating of the air vent and held out a small
mirror on a slender stick to watch everything in the room. Master Kunou
asked him to keep up with Nabiki's scheming to make sure they didn't
involve him.
Nabiki seemed more preoccupied than normal, and that brought a smile to
his face. _Finally, some action._ The bell rang and everybody vacated.
Nabiki was the last to leave, and he could tell where she was headed by the
direction she turned. Sasuke pulled back his spyglass and scampered on
cat's feet toward the locker hall.
Sasuke reached the new vent quickly enough to watch Nabiki stride up and
pluck a note from her locker door. He imediately pulled out a headset with
a small camera in front of the eye.
Nabiki wordlessly unfolded the note, read it a few times, then wadded it
up and threw it in the trash. She said to herself, "Then ten o'clock it
is." After taking something from her locker, she walked back down the
hall. Sasuke was unable to see what was on the paper or what she pulled
from the locker.
Putting the headset back in his shirt, he slid open the vent leading to
the janitor's closet.
Soon after, a short guy in a brown trench coat and hat opened the door and
entered the hall. A few people looked at him strangely, but he continued
for the lockers. On passing the garbage, he palmed the crumpled ball
sitting on top and continued walking.
* * * * *
Ranma and Genma seached the city for Akane for another hour before
returning to the Neko Hanten. Ranma had been so worried that she forgot
she hadn't eaten since yesterday. They hadn't even gone home to change
forms (and that was where Genma's clothes were).
So, an eager red-headed girl in tattered clothes and a menacing but calm
panda sat at a table in the middle of the cafe while Shampoo served them
their late lunch. Mr. Panda saw that everyone in the restaurant was still
gawking at them, but a sharp roar in each direction sent them back to their
meals.
Shampoo slid three big bowls of Ramen in front of Ranma and a platter of
large bamboo shoots for her father. Shampoo looked at them curiously.
"What happen to Great-grandmother?"
The slovenly pig-tailed girl managed to say out of the side of her mouth,
"The old ghoul's up in your room with Happousai."
Shampoo looked at her sideways, not sure if she heard correctly. _I knew
Great-grandmother was fiesty, but...."
Just then, a stick rattled down the stairs and managed to land on end.
Shampoo was shocked to see her Amazon heritage wobbling like a tuning fork,
unable to take another leap. Shampoo hurried over and grabbed the base of
the stick and hefted her in the air, then walked for the kitchen. "This
time, I no ask what wrong, Ok, Great-grandmother?"
Ranma stopped eating for a while, her incredible speed now serving only to
make the soup unbearably hot. "Hey Pop. Y'know you can go home to rest if
you're too tired. You took an aweful beating from those rocks earlier."
He responded with a wooden sign {{Don't worry about me}}. Then he turned
it over {{Anyway, Soun would kill me}}.
"Uh, Pop. Why aren't you using your steel signs? I thought they were
pretty cool."
His free hand pulled out another sign {{Conservation}}.
Ranma shook her head. "Well, anyway. I think we should split up. I need
you to get to Ukyou and tell her what's happening. I'll keep looking for
Akane."
The panda nodded.
Shampoo came out of the kitchen and collected the signs Genma discarded at
his side. "Good. Need firewood tonight."
* * * * *
Ukyou was glad when new customers stopped coming into her restaurant. The
place was packed as it was. That normally would make her happy that
business was so good, but she didn't have her industial-sized spatula that
she was used to cook with. She had to make do with two hand-sized spatulas
using a crude form of Ranma's chestnut fist instead of flipping everything
at once.
After lunch hour passed, she slowed down. Her muscles were probably going
to be sore tomorrow, but what a workout! But she thought it would be a
good idea to hire someone soon.
She was cleaning the counter off when she noticed a tall, dark-haired man
wearing a samurai suit appear in the doorway. _Oh. It's only Kunou._ She
went back to cleaning.
He began walking in her direction. "I cry out to the gods the question of
how one such as yourself should be cast from the heavens with clipped wings
and made to toil your days in such unwomanly fashion. Never-the-less, they
cannot hide your true beauty and grace from mine eyes." He stopped in
front of the counter. He recieved applause from a few patrons.
Ukyou kept her head down as she blushed, then tried to tell herself that
it was only Kunou. "What can I do for you?"
Kunou started to pull out the piece of paper when Ukyou said, "Hold on. I
have to take the okonomiyaki off the stove."
Kunou held out his bokken. "Please. Allow me." He turned to the large
portable stove right next to him and placed the tip of the sword over the
handle of a spatula. Then, with dizzying circular motions of his arm, he
spun the spatula like a helicopter blade and all the okinomiyaki flew
through the air and landed neatly on a plate on the counter.
Ukyou was stunned. Kunou then pulled out the wrinkled note Sasuke
retrieved for him and placed it on the table.
Ukyou was still staring at him in awe. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
She shook her head and picked up the note.
Unfolded, in small letters, it read:
Nabiki,
I have discovered information about a possible conspiracy to separate
Ranma and Akane, but I don't want to jump to any conclusions. I need to
ask you a favor. Meet me at the school at 10:00 tonight.
Ukyou.
"It does not look like something you would write, but I decided that you
might perhaps shed some light on the matter." He sounded calm and more
intelligent than usual. It was almost... attractive.
Ukyou stared at it a while longer, then looked up. "Could you come back
later today. Say... at eight. I'll have something for you then."
Kunou bowed his head and turned around to leave. Ukyou didn't know which
was stranger: the note or Kunou's behavior.
Just as Kunou started to exit Ucchan's, another figure appeared in the
doorway, although Ukyou was away from the counter serving guests and didn't
see. Kunou turned and stared coolly at the new bandanaed and sharp-toothed
boy. The two locked gazes and Ryouga growled.
Kunou went on his way and Ryouga stepped inside, still keeping his eyes on
the kendo master. He took a seat at a table and closed his eyes. _First I
lose Ranma, then I get chased by Azusa, then I lose Ukyou. Then I lose
myself! I'm not in a good mood. They have to pay for what they've done!
I can never find anyone when I want to! At least I found a place to eat._
He opened his eyes just as Ukyou returned to the counter. Ukyou saw him
first and almost screamed. Ryouga didn't see her yet. He probably didn't
know where he was. She could slip out. But she hated to see good
okonomiyaki go to waste--especially hers. _Ok. I can outrun him. One.
Two._ "This plate of okonomiyaki on the house!"
Everyone turned to see Ukyou exit through the back. Ryouga pushed his
chair aside. "UKYOU, PREPARE TO DIE!" Everyone was ready to vacate when
they realized he was running out the back. Everyone then scrambled for the
counter.
* * * * *
Akane sat back down on the park bench to think. She was still holding
Ukyou's weapon in her hand. She brought it to her face and looked into the
reflective surface. Her eyes were still puffy and her hair was a mess.
_Now what do I do? How long have I been sitting here? It feels like an
eternity._ A drop of water rolled down her cheek. _Now, I need to stop
this crying or I'll never look.... What?_
She looked at her image in the imperfect mirror, but still made herself
out among the glossy streaks the light reflected. _What do I want to look
like? What if Ranma's right? What if I am uncute?_ She couldn't fight
back yet another tear.
"There she is!" Akane looked up at the distant cry. A group of girls.
Akane's friends! She didn't want them to see her like that, but she
couldn't move.
They reached her before she could blink an eye. "Oh, my! Akane, what has
he done to you? You look terrible!"
Akane sniffled a few more times, then raised her head to face the speaker.
She started to feel hysterical again. "Oh, Sayuri, I'm not sure! I just
don't think Ranma wants me around anymore. He must finally think I'm too
ugly for him." She started to cry.
Sayuri put a hand on her shoulder. "What do you mean? You're not ugly.
I think he really likes you."
"I... I found him in the... bathtub with another girl!" She choked on the
last word. The other girls growled Ranma's name. "I guess I really AM too
much of a tomboy!"
Sayuri asked as politely as her temper would allow, "Who is she?"
Akane put her head down. "Ukyou."
The girls looked at each other with surprise. "Kuonji?" "That girls more
of a tomboy than Akane ever was." "Maybe Akane should act MORE like a
tomboy."
"I got it!" Yuka came rushing from the back.
Akane glanced up. The brown-haired girl explained: "Maybe he's trying to
make you jealous to see if you still like him. I mean, everyone knows how
he's always fighting for you. Maybe he wants to see if you'll fight for him!"
Something snapped into place in Akane's head. It did make some sense. He
was always complaining about how slow she was. Maaayyybeee, she just had
to prove that she was worth something.
Her frown turned to a scowl. She jumped out of the seat and yelled, "OK!
IF THAT'S HOW YOU WANT IT, THEN I'LL FIGHT UKYOU!"
Everyone cheered as she ran out of the park, still carrying the battle
implement. The girls tried to keep up, but Akane was too fast.
_There's only one place she'd be at this time of day. And when I find
her, I'll finish what I started!_ She raised the spatula and made a
hammering gesture.
At top speed, she made her way around trees and buildings, jumped over
cars, dodged innocent bystanders, crashed into Ukyou.... !WHAM!
They each went flying back, and Akane realized she was right behind
Ucchan's. She shook away the dizziness and spied her target stumbling
beside her.
Akane swung, but Ukyou jumped back. "Ukyou, you can't have him!" She
swung again and grazed Ukyou's shoulder.
As if things couldn't get worse, Ryouga burst through the wall, shouting,
"UKYOU! You won't escape me that easily!"
Ukyou definitely wanted to back down. "Akane! Wait! Can't we talk this
over?" Akane swung again, and when Ukyou backed up, Ryouga almost kicked
her legs out from under her.
Akane looked over at the new combatant. "Go away, Ryouga! This isn't
your fight! I have to do this alone!" Ryouga nodded and backed to the
wall to watch.
The other girls reached the street by now and observed at a safe distance.
Ukyou feined a smile. "Now, Akane, you wouldn't want to do anything that
you might regret!"
Akane's battle aura engulfed her body. "DIE UKYOU!" She pounced and
swung the spatula several times with a few more grazes and near-misses.
The air pressure of the weapons slammed her into a fence.
Ukyou brought her hand to her nose and drew blood. _OK! THAT'S IT! She
backflipped to her feet and roared. _I'm through being nice! Ranma was
right! She never listens!_ Her own aura flew up. "Alright sugar! Show
me what you've got!"
Akane jumped at her with a foot extended. Ukyou sidestepped easily, but
just barely ducked as the flat end of the spatula smashed through the
fence. Ukyou rolled away and threw several small spatulas in her
direction. With uncanny force, she heaved the spade out of the fence and
swatted the blades out of the air.
Ranma and Mr. Panda arrived on the scene and met with the crowd of people
to see what the commotion was. They pushed to the front and gasped. "We
gotta get 'em away from each other! You take Ukyou, I'll take Akane." Her
father nodded.
Ryouga saw Ranma sneaking upon the battle and rushed out to help Akane.
_If Ranma wants to fight too, then she'll need me to even the odds._
Suddenly, they saw Ukyou jump straight up in the air. "Okonomiyaki
Snowstorm!" A hailstorm of flour sacks assaulted the ground. Akane
shielded herself with the spatula, Ranma punched incoming sacks with her
fists, and Ryouga just didn't care, but soon, they were all fumbling around
in a cloud of white dust.
Ranma threw Akane out of the cloud and started running. Akane shook the
flour from her hair and followed with weapon raised.
The dust cleared enough to see the formidable shadow of Ryouga standing
with his fists to his side. Ukyou stood ready with two sacks of flour in
hand. "Looks like it's just you and me," said the fanged warrior. Ukyou
nodded, but said nothing.
Without warning, Ryouga rushed at her with bandana ready, but Ukyou jumped
over his head and sandwiched his skull between the flour. Before she could
land, though, he reached out and managed to grab her toe. Ukyou
immediately curled into a ball and rolled away when she hit the ground.
She fell clumbsily on her back at the corner of her building. She looked
up and saw a panda holding a shiny steel sign {{Use this}}.
She quickly rolled to her feet and grabbed the sign as soon as Ryouga
reoriented himself. He ran at her, still half-blind, and she slapped the
sign into his face.
Ryouga fell to the ground with the large letters 'Use this' printed
inversely on his face. "Jackass."
* * * * *
_Maybe I can wear her out, and then make her listen. She's having trouble
keeping up as it is._ "C'mon, slow poke! Put that thing down so we can
talk!"
"I'm not SLOW!" At that she sped up and almost hit Ranma in the foot with
another swipe.
"Hey! Look, I'm sorry, OK! But you better slow down before you fall down!"
"BAKA!"
They were running, Ranma noticed, along the same street she and Pop fought
the new and improved Tsubasa earlier. They turned the corner, and sure
enough, the rubble was still there. And so was Tsubasa!
Ranma screamed: "AAAAIIIAAA!!!" Tsubasa touched the ground and a wall of
broken matter spun into the air. Ranma immediately dropped to her stomach
and rolled backward into a stunned Akane.
She pried the battle spatula from Akane's fingers and fell into a
defensive stance, knocking chunks of cement away from herself and the
petrified girl. When the smoke cleared, a brawny giant stood in Tsubasa's
place.
Ranma screamed. Her nightmare come true! The evil, pearly white smile
underneath a shiny Jusenkyo Committee helmet and two treetrunk arms ending
with a godly scimitar. He held it over his head and began to laugh as the
blade spun faster and faster. "YOU'RE MINE NOW!" he roared.
The wind was picking up and Ranma had a hard time staying standing. She
held Akane close and kept her from falling. "AKANE! YOU HAVE TO SNAP OUT
OF IT! AKANE!"
Akane looked at the pig-tailed traiter and pushed herself away, kneeling
to the ground and catching her own footing. The wind died down and Kenny
went straight for Akane, swinging his massive sword at her head. All Ranma
had time to do was use the spatula to flatten Akane as gently and quickly
to the ground as possible while ducking under the swing himself.
The sword smashed through the wall she was next to and it crumbled on top
of them both. Kenny pulled his sword out and looked at the pile of debree
in shock. "I hope he didn't die that quickly on me."
"Not by a long shot, pal!" Ranma burst out of the rubble with spade in
hand. Kenny was too late to ready his sword when Ranma smacked in the shin
him with all her strength, then in the face when he started to fall
forward, making him bounce and fall on his back.
Before Ranma's eyes, the one-man Jusenkyo task force shrank in stature and
muscle mass and was soon merely a robe of darkness. The shroud did a flip
off the ground and disappeared down an alley.
Ranma groaned, then went to retrieve Akane (who was safe inside a small
chamber Ranma had fashioned with her Chestnut Fist).
* * * * *
Ranma and Nabiki watched as Dr. Tofu examined Akane. After the battle,
Ranma brought her directly to home and called the doctor to check her
wounds. After a dose of hot water to return his masculinity, he returned
to his fiancee's bedside. Genma was downstairs and tried to explain to
Soun what was going on. As for Kasumi, her father promptly sent her to the
store before Tofu arrived, so no more accidents would occur.
Akane lay in her own bed, unconscious, wearing an old nightgown Kasumi
dressed her with. She really didn't look that bad, Ranma thought, except
for the bags under her eyes from heavy fatigue and crying. In fact, she
looked infinitely helpless and fragile compared to the shrew he was used to
dealing with.
Ranma was getting fidgety with Tofu's silence. "So, how is she, Doc?"
He looked up with his typical assuring face. "Oh, she'll be just fine.
With everything you told me about what she had been through, I'd have
expected things to be worse--not that I'm not glad they weren't. All of
her cuts and bruises are extremely minor, and the spatula you used to knock
her down didn't seem to leave a mark on her. You did an excellent job of
protecting her this time, Ranma."
"...."
Nabiki asked the question he was afraid to. "So what's wrong with her?"
"Right now, she's just extremely tired. She fainted from overexertion.
She should be back to her old self in a couple of days."
"...." There was so much going on today that he didn't know what to worry
about first. At least he wouldn't have to worry about Akane running around
Nerima now.
_Where did Tsubasa learn to fight like that? And why was he working with
Kenny? Or was that Kenny? He turned into a ghost. Ohhhh! Too many
questions!_
He glanced at Akane again, realizing he still needed to clear up an
internal affair. _I wish Ryouga and Ukyou weren't still mad at me. I can
really use their advise. What would they do...."
Ranma headed for the door and told Nabiki. "Tell Pop I have to go out
right now. I'll be back as soon as I can."
* * * * *
Ranma slung the dusty battle spatula over his shoulder and took a long
walk around Nerima for a few hours until Ucchan's was closed, so he could
talk to her in private. In the meantime, he kept his eyes open for Tsubasa
or Kenny, although he didn't feel like fighting either right now. Luckily,
neither showed up and all of Akane's friends went home.
Maybe he shouldn't have knocked the little pervert out before he finished
his story. Maybe then he'd have a better understanding of what he's
dealing with. And Cologne was probably still having dizzy spells.
When late afternoon rolled around, Ranma walked by Ucchan's. It looked
like the last customer was leaving and Ukyou was sweeping the floor. He
didn't think she saw him approach. He pushed the door open and placed
Ukyou's weapon against the wall.
When Ukyou heard the door open and the bell chime, she said without
looking up, "Sorry, but Ucchan's is closed. You'll have to come back
tomorrow." The footsteps never turned around to leave, so she raised her
head and was ready to get angry.
When she saw the black hair braided into a pig-tail and the familiar
red-and-black Chinese outfit, she started to run for the back. Ranma
quickly restrained her arm. "Wait. Ucchan, we have to talk."
She tried to pull her arm free, but Ranma was just too strong. "Go away.
I don't have anything to say to you."
"But I have something to say to you."
Her face started to tremble and she stopped struggling. "But you said
that there could never be anything between us!" She raised her other hand
to slap him, but he grabbed it as well. Ukyou starter whimpering and Ranma
sat her down at a table.
"Ukyou, you're my friend! What do you expect to happen between us? Well,
Ok, I know. But that's all we'll ever be--friends."
She looked up, a little stronger now. "So you don't hate me?"
Ranma sat down and folded his arms. "Now why would I do that?"
"Well, I... I...." She realized that she was being rediculous. She
shouldn't be so quick to spoil a friendship. Anyway, they had only
recently gotten reacquainted, so maybe she still had a chance. "Your right."
Ranma hopped up. "Alright! Now, why don't I take you out to dinner?"
She smiled. "Were in a restaurant, silly."
"Ah, c'mon. Don't you get tired of okonomiyaki?"
_Well, I am kind of hungry. And I have been eating leftovers for a week
now._ "Ok."
"Great! Just hold on a sec." Ukyou watched as Ranma danced through the
door to her kitchen and returned a few seconds later alot shorter and with
slightly damp, flaming red hair. In a high-pitched voice, she offered, "I
don't feel comfortable going out in my male form right now."
Ukyou had heard earlier that a group of girls had been hunting for some
guy, and with present circumstances, it made sense they were after him.
Ukyou released a short laugh. "Ok. Just let me get cleaned up."
* * * * *
Ukyou looked more approachable without her spatulas. She wore a baggy
jacket over a tee shirt with some jogging pants to match, but no weapons
strapped over her shoulder. She even smiled, and that made her more
attractive that usual.
Ranma found a nice burger joint to eat at, but Ukyou didn't seem to mind.
It was a nice change, and there was a different crowd of people to listen
to. She tried a few tacos.
Ranma was wolfing down her western-style cheeseburger when Ukyou placed
the note on the table in front of him. "I think that if something involves
Akane or her sisters that you should know about it."
Ranma took a sip of soda and read the piece of paper, then stared at
Ukyou. She shrugged and said, "I didn't write it, but I might know who did?"
"Where did you get this?"
"Kunou gave it to me." Ranma's eyes widened and Ukyou giggled. "I'm
meeting him tonight to tell him what I found."
"But... but... but...."
"Just eat your food so we can get out of here. I need to check on
something before Kuno gets back."
* * * * *
Ukyou would say nothing more about Kunou or the note until Kunou arrived.
In the meantime, Ranma agreed to wash dishes for her while she finished
some homework. The reaction of hot-cold water made Ranma tingle
uncomfortably, but he put up with it because it took his/her mind off of
other things. When Ranma-chan was finally done, she didn't feel she could
handle the hot water needed to change her back to her original form.
It was too dark for Ukyou to practice her fighting techniques in the
backyard, so Ranma moved a few tables and asked Ukyou to try to hit her.
Ukyou picked up the battle spatula that Ranma had returned and swung at him
with such fluidity that it seemed like one continuous motion, but the
weapon and girl just wouldn't connect, like two similarly charged magnets.
It was still a good workout.
Ranma was in the back putting a few dishes away when Kunou appeared at the
door. Ukyou got up to unlock the door, but Kunou, taking her gesture as a
sign of welcome, pressed the tip of his bokken against the lock and made
some small movement. The door unlocked and he pushed the door open.
"Like the night the cat doth prowl around its kingdom unhindered?"
"Huh?"
Kunou strode up and took a seat in front of her. "It is unimportant. So,
what have your intuitions concluded?"
"Huh?"
"The note." Kunou's face was calm and serious.
Ukyou pulled out the note and handed it to him. "I wasn't sure at first,
but I'm sure now that the handwriting is definitely Kodachi's."
Kunou looked at the note and started to recognize the almost eratic
scrawl. "Dear sister?"
"Would you like something to drink?"
Kunou kept his eyes on the paper. "No. Thank you."
Just then, Ranma thrust a glass of water on the table in front of the
swordsman. "Too bad, 'cause your gettin something." Kunou's eyes grew
wide and his mouth started to gape when he saw the fiery-headed beauty
snatch the note from over his shoulder. "Oh, yeah! Now I recognize the
lack of style!"
Ranma sat down next between Kunou and Ukyou. "What do you think she wants
with Nabiki?"
Kunou straighted his face. "Hello, Pig-tailed Girl."
Ranma let the note slip through her fingers. "What? No 'I love you
Pig-tailed Goddess!' or 'I shall date with you!'?"
Kunou cleared his throat. "Forgive me, but not this night."
Ranma felt his forehead, and he almost passed out with ecstacy. "He
doesn't seem to be running a fever."
Ukyou knocked on the table to get their attention. "Anyway, the only way
I think we'll find out about what's going on is if we go to the high school
ourselves. I don't like people forging my name, especially since I'm in
the restaurant business."
Ranma looked at Ukyou, and Kunou let out a gasp of breath.
Ukyou asked, "Ra... Pig-tailed Girl, could you follow Nabiki without being
seen?"
Ranma cracked her kuckles like a piano player. "No problem."
"Kunou and I will check out the school."
* * * * *
Ranma pranced along the rooftops toward the Tendo dojo, just a black
streak swimming through the pale moonlight. As she neared her destination,
she crept along the dark alleyways so she wouldn't be seen by her pop or
any of the Tendos (if that were possible for them).
She ducked behind a dumpster where she could see the front door, and sure
enough, Nabiki stepped out. It was still over an hour until the meeting,
but she supposed it wasn't Nabiki's style to follow all the rules.
Ranma shadowed Nabiki's steady march behind the opposite wall he always
followed to school. _Hey. This is kind of fun. Sort of James Bondish....
Uh, oh." She looked ahead and spotted Ryouga leaning up against the wall
up ahead. _Good. He looks asleep. Probably waiting for me to walk by
tomorrow. What are those markings on his face?_
She didn't dare get any closer to him, even though it meant losing Nabiki.
She dashed off to find another route. _How did HE get so good at finding
me all of the sudden? I didn't think ambushes were his style._
* * * * *
Nabiki was still a little hazy as to what was happening. Her sources had
descibed to her a few more cases of emotional outbursts similar to Ranma
and Akane's from people living between their house and downtown, but what
that meant, she did not know. Right now, she wanted to get to the
rondezvous point before the note-writer got there so she could set up a few
things.
She finally reached the school and entered through the gates. The shadows
fell on the campus grounds like a dark mosaic and she was but one of many
shadows. She wasn't afraid--she knew someone was out there watching her.
She walked up the steps, casually glancing about. Nothing moved, but she
had the feeling that someone was close by. She clutched the doorhandle and
concluded that it wasn't locked, as she expected.
She quietly entered the vast antechamber, closing the door behind her, and
rested her hand on the handle of a slender dagger attached to her belt and
hidden under her pants--just in case. However, if she was right, and she
usually was, she wouldn't need to use it.
She paced around a bit and studied the layout anew. With a smile, she
started for her locker. But when she got ready to turn the corner, she
paused. She crept back a few paces and opened the door. Ukyou spilled to
the floor when the door surface she was leaning against gave way. She
looked up and grinned innocently.
Nabiki jumped back. "Ukyou? What are you doing here? I was expecting
Kodachi!"
As if just introduced, the dark-haired witch in leotard stepped out from
the left-wing hallway. "I'm right here, darling! You're early!" Her
yellow ribbon was wrapped loosely over her shoulders.
Nabiki's eyes shot in the opposite direction just as a dark-clad swordsman
stepped out of the right-wing hall. "So it is you, my sister. What
maniacal scheme has stirred your fancy this time?"
Nabiki's mouth gaped (an interesting sight). "Kunou? But if you're
there, then who's been tailing me?"
Ukyou whispered, "Ranma. And he's late."
Just then, two shadows stood in the doorway, one in a long robe. When
they came in the light, their faces revealed distinctly feline
characteristics. The cloaked one was male. The other, which wore a small
tee shirt and shorts, was female. Their tails twitched wildly and their
green eyes glowed on their orange and blue striped faces.
Nabiki and Ukyou gulped in unison. "Well, sorry guys, gotta go.
Unforeseen circumstances." Nabiki ran in Kunou's direction, feeling it
relatively safer at the moment.
Ukyou rolled to her feet and tried to grab the Tendo girl's arm but was
coiled helplessly when Kodachi threw a long jump rope at her.
"What is the meaning of this, Sister?! What manner of foul demons do you
summon to accomplish your twisted schemes?!" Nabiki ran down the adjoining
hall and Kuno rushed toward the fallen okonomiyaki chef.
"This is no affair of yours, Brother! Leave now and you won't be harmed."
"Surely this cannot be my sister! 'Tis some form of witchcraft!" Kunou
swung his sword at Ukyou's bindings just as Kodachi lashed at her with her
ribbon. The bokken sliced the rope and misdirected the ribbon so that it
wrapped around its wooden blade.
The two new figures at the door watched in amusement as their leader
twitched the ribbon and almost sent the Kendo master into the wall, but
instead, he stopped himself with a foot and snapped the ribbon into a wave
that sent his sister into the ceiling. Kodachi managed to put enough
backlash into the ribbon to send him flying into the wall near the main
entrance.
"Don't just stand there, you fools! Parsley, take care of this insect!
Rose, you get Nabiki! Go!"
Kodachi ran around the corner of the left wing and the tiger-like woman
ran down the right. Ukyou had long since retreated through the door she
had hid behind.
The robed cat waited for Kunou to get up. In a soft but grated voice, he
taunted, "If I fight you, you make fight good, Ok?"
Kunou rolled to his feet. "Since the dawning of the sun over the Earth,
man has been plagued by demons and devils such as yourself. Luckily, there
were always those who opposed and vaquished such evil. This night, I,
Tatewaki...."
"Shut up! Fight!" The air stilled in mid-rumble, wondering if the Blue
Thunder would ever finish his sentence.
Kunou waved his sword in practice. "Very well."
Parsley pulled a chain and sickle from his billowy sleeve and began
twirling it around. After a few showoffish spins, the sickle thrust out at
Kunou's chest, but he leaned out of the way and grabbed the chain. Parsley
flicked his free hand and several darts shot out, but in a flurry of
swings, Kunou caught them on his bokken. Then, as he returned the needles
to their sender, Parsley heaved his whole body away and the chain whipped
Kunou over his shoulder and into the wall.
Parsley fell to the ground as one of the darts managed to hit his
collarbone, but that didn't stop him from pulling out a wickedly sharp
katana. "No more tricks, samurai!"
"Hey! Can I cut in?" Parsley turned just in time to see a foot flying
for his face. He blacked out, his face turning to the side so the hood
covered the features.
Kunou's face lit up. "Can this be! Has the Pig-tailed Goddess descended
from the heavens to insure my victory?"
Ranma thought about it a second. "Hmmm. Sure. Something like that. So,
what did I miss?"
* * * * *
Ukyou made it down another hallway of lockers, but still didn't hear
anything. _Why did I have to run through here? This place is a maze, and
I haven't memorized the layout yet. They could even be upstairs._ She
heard fighting back the way she came, but that was probably just Kunou.
She crouched down at an intersection and tried to remember the key points
of the school. She almost fell on her face when a squeaky voice
interrupted her thought: "Hello, funny spatula lady."
A cute brunette carrying a telephone smiled down at her. "Azusa? What
are you doing here?"
"Azusa just take Miranda for walk."
"At seven o'clock at night?"
"Miranda bored."
* * * * *
Nabiki moved as swiftly as possible through the halls, but her opponent
was matching her speed--and gaining some. If she could reach the gym, she
could hopefully slip out the back. She felt a bead of sweat run down her
neck.
She made it to the double-doors to the girls' gym in time to see another
shadow coming down the opposite hall. _They're trying to box me in!_ With
all of her might, she wound up and gave the doors a solid kick and they
flung inward. She ran inside as the hideous laughter started. "OHOHOHOHO!
You can run, my darling Nabiki, but you cannot hide!"
Nabiki scampered for the locker room in a mad fury. She couldn't fight
the unspeakable fear welling inside her. She started sweating more
profusely. The haunting laughter came again, but this time it seemed
darker and less human, and then a new voice pierced the air--a gutteral
feminine voice: "You cannot escape. You know that. You cannot hide from
your own fear."
Nabiki slowly backed up against a locker. The figures following her had
not entered yet, but she could plainly see the images of their feral faces,
stripes like slashmarks and deptless eyes like evil's own. She crept along
the locker doors until she reached the corner.
The laughter was inside her head now and was blocking out all other
reasonable thought. She started to shiver uncontrollably as an
overwhelming terror entered her. The voice came back: "I know what you
fear. I know what you truly feel under that facade of arrogance." _Shut
up! Get out of my head! WHY DID THAT VOICE HAVE TO BE SO CALM?!?!_
Nabiki barely managed to turn the next corner so that she wasn't readily
visible to anyone at the door. Her limbs were trembling so much that she
had to use all her strength to move. She tried to reach for the dagger,
but her hand refused to respond.
"I know that you were once very afraid. You were afraid of being left out
because you were the middle child. Afraid because your mother paid more
attention to your sisters than you. Afraid because you couldn't do
anything that made her happy." _SHUT UP!_
Nabiki slid down to the floor when her legs gave way. She clenched her
fists into white balls. The persuing footsteps were slow and even, and
getting closer.
"Kasumi learned to take care of the household chores while Akane continued
training to one day inherit the dojo, and you hadn't made a decision. When
she died, you had lost your chance to prove yourself to her." _SHUT UP!
SHUT UP!_ "SHUT UP!"
She turned her head to see the two hideous femmes turn the corner on the
far side, their pace like slow motion. Nabiki felt helpless and her face
dampened with sweat and tears. "When Kasumi took your mother's place, she
tried to get you to take an interest, but your envy of her had made you
spiteful. It made her so angry. She hit you?" "SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!!!"
Before they could reach her, she called forth enough energy to hurl
herself to the corner of the room. But that was all she had.
* * * * *
As soon as Ranma and Kunou heard the shouting, they darted down the hall.
Constant shouts of 'SHUT UP!' led them like a beacon toward the girls'
gymnasium. When they got there, they saw Ukyou rush out of a side room
with a frightened little girl following.
Ranma bolted ahead of Kunou and jumped atop the lockers one by one until
she reached the origin of the screamer. Without a thought, she pouced on
the taller one and brought her to the floor.
Ranma stared eye-to-eye with her foe and froze when she saw Kodachi's face
turn into a lion's. The new creature roared and Ranma threw herself to the
other corner. She immediately started shivering as hard as Nabiki. The
beast instantly resumed the guise of Kodachi.
Kunou rounded the corner, and with no time to say anything, thrust his
sword at his sister, intending to knock her out. Her head blurred and she
knocked him into the wall with a wave.
At that instant, a sack of flour hit Kodachi square in the jaw, and she
thrust violently with the ribbon. Azusa grabbed the ribbon: "You leave
funny spatula lady alone!"
She yanked and tried to pull it from Kodachi's grasp, but instead managed
to hurl herself in the air.
Ranma leapt from her cringing position and caught the little girl in her
arms. She set Azusa down on landing and catapulted herself toward Rose
when she saw her reaching for the crumpled form of Nabiki. "GET AWAY FROM
HER!"
Ranma tackled her and they wrestled for a moment. Ranma opponent pleaded,
"No! Stop! You don't understand! You don't...." The next thing Ranma
knew, she was flat on her back.
Kunou sprang to his feet and followed the two attackers as they weaved
around the lockers and out the door.
Ranma sat up and looked at... "Nabiki?" She was as pale as a sheet and
her skin felt like ice. She had been reduced to a gaunt, quivering lump of
her former self. Ukyou looked at her in horror, unaware that Azusa was no
longer at her side.
Kunou re-entered the room and announced that the villains had fled. He
immediately rushed past the okinomiyaki chef and to the two hunkered forms.
He tried to spout some form of peotry to descibe the ghastly moment, but
it didn't seem appropriate now. He stared at Nabiki, then at the pig-taled
girl.
He put his finger up and caught a tear that escaped Ranma's beautiful,
blue eyes. Ranma instantly felt an incredible admiration for the kendo
master and opened her mouth to thank him, but instead threw her arms around
him and kissed him deeply.
Ukyou's eyes turned up and she collapsed on the floor.
* * * * *
Uh. Er. Do you have anything to say? (CUTE VOICE: No. You?) No.
Let's leave it at that. (CUTE VOICE: Ok.)