"All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published
by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz
Communications. and are used here without permission or license. No
claims to the above copyright are made by the author of this work. This
work is for non-commercial use ONLY, and is produced for the enjoyment
of fans only. This work is the expression of the author and the
depiction of the Ranma 1/2 characters herein are in no way represented
to be a part of Ranma 1/2 as depicted by the original author and
copyright holder(s)."

                  Confrontations and Expectations part 4
                  (Continued from A Different Viewpont)

    Ranma slapped his thigh.  "Yeah!  Me and Ryoga will..."

    Johnathon shook his head.  "All of us will, except Kasumi."  He
looked at her then.

    Kasumi smiled and nodded.  "I know I'm not a fighter Johnathon."

    He smiled at her and looked at the rest of the group.  "Are you with
me?"  <God that sounded stupid.>

    Ryoga nodded fiercely.  Akane shot to her feet followed an instant
later by Ukyo, Mousse, and Shampoo.  "I'm with you!"  "You bet!"  "Count
Shampoo in!"  "Absolutely!"

    Leisurely Genma and Soun rose, Genma laughed.  "Ah old friend, once
again it is our duty to right injustice, and to protect the frail and
weak."

    Soun nodded with great seriousness.  "Well said old friend, well
said."

    Ranma went and stood over by Akane.  "Um, Akane, maybe you should
protect Kasumi and the rest of us can..."

    Akane looked sharply at him.  "Why Ranma?  Think I can't handle
myself?"

    Johnathon quickly strode over.  "Certainly not Akane, Ranma knows
how good you've gotten."

    He elbowed Ranma in the side and looked at Kasumi.  "Kasumi would be
in danger alone, if they could find her that is..."  He paused in
inspiration.

    Ranma was nodding, trying to placate Akane.  "Right Akane, I think
you would do a great job of protecting..."  He paused and looked at
Johnathon.  "What do you mean if they could find her?"

    Johnathon moved over to Kasumi.  "Kasumi-chan, I hate to ask this of
you..."

    Kasumi looked puzzled, then her eyes softened and she smiled.  "If
I'm a cat, they won't be able to find me.  Right Johnathon-san?"
Johnathon nodded.  "Of course I don't mind.  It's an excellent idea,
I'll find a nice tree to climb and no one will see me."  Everyone was a
bit startled by Kasumi's logical suggestion, but it sounded like a good
idea.

    Johnathon impulsively kissed her on the forehead and turned to
Mousse and Shampoo.  "Alright, Mousse, can you locate them and find out
how many there are, and where?"

    Mousse nodded.  "I can see better as a duck, I should be able to get
a good estimate of their numbers."

    Johnathon grinned.  "Then get going, we'll have hot water waiting
here for you.  Ok, now we need a forward scout, to warn us if anyone is
coming close, Shampoo?"

    Shampoo smiled.  "Shampoo do easy, they no see me coming."

    Johnathon nodded.  "Great Shampoo, but don't go very far, and don't
attack unless you have no choice, get back here instead."  Mousse poured
some water on his head and flew off.  Shampoo simply jumped into a tree
and started bounding away.

    Akane looked at the half-cat man, questioningly.  "Right here?  Are
we going to meet them right here?"  Johnathon  nodded and swept his
hands around at the terrain.  "It's perfect, look about."  Akane did so,
as
did Soun, Genma, and Ranma.  Ukyo shrugged and started heating more
water.  They were on a relatively flat section of the mountain pass.
The trees were evenly spaced, every ten feet or so, and tall, their
branches not growing out till ten to fifteen feet off the ground.  There
was plenty of space, and few natural obstacles.

    Akane looked back at Johnathon.  "I don't understand."

    He shrugged.  "It's simple really, the terrain is open enough and
level enough so we won't have to worry about twisting an ankle or
tripping in front of a spear.  There aren't a lot of us, so we can't
afford accidents.  Random chance can hurt us a lot more then a larger
group.  There is plenty of room for a small group to move around, but
they won't be able to mob us all at once.  Even so, it's open enough
that they can all get a good look at what's happening to each other.  If
they all know how dangerous we are things may get a lot easier, they'll
probably end up running."

    "Finally,"  Johnathon continued, his curiously feline voice
deepening.  "We are here already, if we move on we might not find
anything better.  I would like to get this over with, and I am positive
they will not expect to get attacked so soon."  Soun and Genma were
nodding wisely, as if they had come to the same conclusions on their
own.

    Ranma nodded as well, slowly.  "Sounds good sensei, we are cutting
out the random factor huh."

    Johnathon smiled ferally.  "Right, unless something goes wrong we
can't lose.  I've seen Akane handle forty guys at once at the school,
and we've all gotten better since then.  I warn you though, these guys
are not love struck high school kids.  They are religious fanatics,
relatively well trained and not holding back.  I've fought them, so has
Ryoga, they use spears and work well together."

    Ryoga nodded seriously.  "They're about as tough as Toma's guards,
but better motivated I think." Genma and Soun nodded again, remembering.

    Johnathon looked confused.  "You'll have to tell me about that
sometime."  He paused then spoke again.  "Know your enemy and know
yourself, as Sun Tzu said.  Well, we've got that advantage at least,
especially once Mousse gets back.  We could use some contingency plans
too.  Maybe some code words..."

    Akane frowned.  "Code words?  Why?  They don't know Japanese right?"

    Johnathon looked at her seriously.  "No, Clio probably does, and
maybe a few others.  That's not what I meant by code words though.  What
I meant was plans, all wrapped up in one word that can be shouted.  For
example I'd shout Rabbit! and that would mean for everyone to break off
and retreat.  As a matter of fact that's a good one, if I shout Rabbit,
we'll run away.  Me and um, Akane will get Kasumi while Ranma cover's
us, everyone else will run under the cover of one of Ryoga's Breaking
Points, and we'll all regroup down the pass a mile or so.  How does that
sound?"  Everyone nodded and made affirmative noises.

    Akane tilted her head.  "Rabbit, huh.  Ok."

    In Tokyo, a man in a white mask, wearing a tuxedo and cape, looked
at a sailor suited blond girl quizzically.  "Coming down with a cold
meatball head?"

    She sneezed again.  "Never mind me, watch out for that Youma!"

    Johnathon thought some more.  "Hmmm, if Ryoga want's to use a
Breaking Point, and needs us to clear him some space, he could yell...
Um let's see..."

    Akane giggled.  "Pig!"

    Johnathon looked puzzled for a moment then nodded.  "Sure, that
would work."

    Ranma broke in.  "That's perfect!  Now Ryoga, remember to shout Pig
good and loud."  Ryoga grumbled but nodded.  Ranma turned back to
Johnathon.  "If I want to use a Hiro Shoten Ha I'll shout, um..."

    Ryoga smirked.  "Girl!  You can shout Girl!  Just so we stay
consistent."  Ranma started to get red in the face.

    Johnathon laughed, it sounded funny coming from his catlike mouth,
it was obvious that he hadn't' laughed much as a half-cat.  "That'll
work fine, this way no one will get confused about what to expect."

    Ranma glared at him for a bit then shrugged.  "Sure, why not."

    Johnathon looked around.  "Anyone else got any other big attacks we
should avoid?"

    Akane shook her head.  "No, just those two."

    "Ok."  Johnathon scratched his chin in thought.  "We'll stay
together at first, till we get an idea of what they're going to do, but
just in case if I yell Three!  we'll split up into three teams of three,
and if I yell One!  we'll regroup."

    Ranma broke in.  "What teams?  How will we pair up?"

    Johnathon paused for a moment.  "Ranma, Akane and I will be team
Alpha.  Genma, Soun, and Ryoga will be team Beta.  When they get back,
Mousse, Shampoo and Ukyo will be team Gamma, alright?"

    Ukyo frowned.  "Why am I with them?"

    Johnathon answered easily.  "Firepower, both you and Mouse throw
weapons.  I'd team Ryoga with you as well but I figure Shampoo knows
Mousse's fighting style best."  He moved in closer and added quietly.
"Besides, Soun and Genma will need Ryoga.  It'll balance things so no
team is too weak."

    Ukyo frowned some more, but nodded.  <Soun and Genma are probably a
weak link, especially Soun, and Ryoga is, I have to admit, second only
to Ranma.>  Everyone else wondered privately what Johnathon had said,
but were agreeable to the teams.

    Johnathon turned back to the group.  "Alright, that's probably
enough, we will make up the rest as we go along.  If Cliopatra is there
we should capture her, but we should also give a good show, scare them
enough and the fight's over."  Johnathon went over to Kasumi.  "Everyone
should get some rest till Mousse comes back."  Johnathon sat down next
to his love.  The others spread out a bit, quietly talking, trying not
to be to obvious they were leaving Johnathon and Kasumi alone.
Johnathon sat quietly.

        Kasumi slowly leaned up against him.  "I know it will all work
out just fine Johnathon."  Kasumi put her arm around his back.  "You'll
see."

    Johnathon sighed to himself.  <This is all my fault.>  He berated
himself.  <If only I could have just handled things better the last time
I was in China...>

    Kasumi seems to sence his melencoly mood.  "I believe in you
Johnathon, you won't let us down."

    He let himself grin.  "I believe in them.  Ranma, Akane, Ryoga,
everyone.  They won't lose, I believe in them."

    Kasumi hugged him to herself with one arm.  "Us, belive in Us."  She
put her head against his shoulder.  "I'm going to believe in you..."

    Johnathon looked down at her.  "Just me?"

    She looked up at him.  "Yes silly, because you're the one I love."

    Johnathon froze in shock, then put his arm around the small of her
back.  "I love you too."  They sat in comfortable silence for several
long minutes.

    Before long Mousse came flying in.  Ukyo doused him with hot water
and he got dressed in seconds.

    Lowering his glasses to look at the group Mousse spoke quickly.  "I
found them, they're very close, just out of sight by now.  There are
about a hundred of them!"

    Akane gulped.  "A hundred?"

    Johnathon nodded.  "About what I expected, that's eleven to one
odds."  He smiled wickedly.  "Hey Ranma, think you can handle eleven?"

    Ranma snorted.  "Hmmph, gimme fifty!"

    Johnathon grinned wider.  "That's the spirit, just don't get
cocky... on second thought, Ranma, go ahead and get cocky."

    Just then Shampoo bounded out of the trees.  "They come!  Many of
them!"

    Johnathon looked at her.  "Right, how long?"

    Shampoo looked back and considered.  "Three, maybe four minutes."

    Johnathon smiled.  "Plenty of time, ok here's the plan..."  Quickly
he filled Mousse and Shampoo in on the contingency plans and code
words.  As he finished briefing them his ears perked up and oriented on
the sounds of many booted feet.  "They're coming, they'll see us any
second."  Johnathon grabbed a canteen and opened it, dumping the
contents over Kasumi's head.  "Shampoo, put Kasumi up there."  He
pointed to a nearby tree, it's lowest branches fifteen feet up.  Shampoo
picked up Kasumi and jumped up into it's branches, safely depositing
Kasumi.  Johnathon spoke up.  "Alright, we'll hit their flank and go for
their leaders.  Stick together, cover each other and don't hold back."
He frowned.  "Try not to kill anyone if you can help it.  Come on lets
go!"

    Johnathon lead the way, close to the cliff, jogging quickly and
quietly.  Everyone but Kasumi followed, easily keeping pace.  Kasumi
watched from her branch, and wished for perhaps the first time in her
life, that she had studied martial arts like the rest of them.
Johnathon spotted the front line of men and broke into a sprint.  The
Nerima martial artists behind him reacted instantly, the whole group
charging at top speed.  The spear carrying solders, tired from a long
days march, reacted considerably slower.  There were nearly thirty
soilders down in the first few seconds.  They started to fight back in
earnest now, but Johnathon felt confident that it was too little, to
late.

    The black furred half-cat dodged a spear, snapping it with a claw
swipe and kicking it's wielder solidly in the chest, then was forced to
dodge two more.

    Ranma's confidence soared at thier initial success, drawing upon
this he summoned his Ki.  "Roaring Lion Bullet!"  Ranma spread his Ki
blast out to lessen the effect a bit while catching more targets.  Half
a dozen fell back, an equal number fell stunned.  <We're winning!>

    Akane was strongly reminded of the days before Ranma had arrived,
fighting in the school yard against dozens of boys.  These men were
better, but so was she.  The dance continued, with different players,
Akane flowing from move to move so quickly and smoothly even her
opponents were mesmerised.

    Ukyo pancake flipped her third opponent, then leapt high away from
several spears, half a dozen mini spatula's arced down as she went up,
snapping several spears.  Ukyo landed in the cleared space and swung
mightily with her giant spatula, sweeping two soldiers at once.

    Mousse flung chains, maces and daggers everywhere, no one near him
felt safe.  Shampoo punched, kicked and dodged in a blur, she missed her
bonbori, but that didn't keep her from cutting a devestating swath
through her opponents.

    Ryoga broke two spears with an elbow smash, hammered thier wielders
with a powerful sweep kick, then shouted.  "Pig!"  His friends leaped
away and a dozen soldiers moved in to take advantage of the seeming lack
of defence on Ryoga's part as he bent down shouting.  "Breaking Point!"
Ryoga poked the ground with a finger and the resulting explosion blew
them away, leaving Ryoga standing in the center, seemingly unharmed.

    Genma and Soun had been holding there own against two and three
opponents at a time, but were starting to get overwhelmed without
Ryoga's help.  Then he was back, knocking men flying, they both gave a
sigh of relief, then quickly pretended they hadn't been worried.

    The battle quickly came to a head.  Less than half of Cliopatra's
men were still standing, but they had Ranma and company surrounded and
were fighting hard.  Johnathon spotted Cliopatra finally at the back of
her troups, it looked like she was about to run.

    "Time to end this!"  Johnathon pointed.  "Clio's that way!"

    Ranma nodded, coming up with a plan.  "Ryoga!  Clear a path, then
everyone go!  I'm going to finish this myself!"

    Ryoga nodded back and concetrated on Cliopatra's fleeing form.
<Pig!  That's what I am, that's what I'll always be!  Akane knows my
secret, she hates me.  Kasumi's been cursed and it was my fault!  I let
her be kidnapped!>  "Shi Hi Hokodan!"  Ryoga let loose with an
incredably powerful Ki blast, blowing the men between him and Cliopatra
away like straws.

    Everyone but Ranma burst for the gap in a flash.  Genma and Soun
carrying Ryoga who had blacked out.  The line closed, but they leapt it
easily, coming down outside their ranks and sprinting after Clio.

    As Ryoga had started focusing his depression, Ranma had started his
spiral.  The battle surging about him had produced more than enough Ki
for him to focus.  Even as the remaining soldiers closed on him he let
loose with a Hiro Shoten Ha.  The whirlwind built in an instant, tossing
spears and men everywhere.

    Johnathon charged Cliopatra and her bodyguard.  "Tell them to
surrender Cliopatra!"  He shouted in English.

    Cliopatra laughed.  "Or what?  You'll kill them?"

    "No!"  He shouted back.  "We'll kill you!"

    Clio blanched at the threat.  She yelled to her men and ordered them
to put down their weapons.  Johnathon moved to Cliopatra.  Her bodyguard
parted for him under the watchful eyes of Nerima's finest martial
artists.  "It's over Cliopatra."

    The leader of the Children of Bast glared angrily at him.  "How did
you do it?  How did you rescue her?"

    Johnathon hissed at her menacingly.  "No, I don't think you're in a
position to ask."  He turned away for a moment.  "Shampoo, Mousse, find
out if anyone here speaks Chinese.  We need to resolve this."

    Cliopatra had drawn a dagger while Johnathon's back was turned, she
raised it and plunged it toward his back.  He spun, somehow sensing the
attack, but before the dagger struck, a hand caught her wrist.
Johnathon turned to find a burly man in his late forties wrestling the
dagger away.  It was one of her bodyguard.

    Johnathon stepped in and took the dagger, then solidly punched
Cliopatra in the jaw.  "That was for Kasumi."  Cliopatra went limp in
her bodyguard's arms.  Shampoo and Mousse were talking slowly in
Chinese.  The man who had stopped Clio answered them, handing her off to
two others.  He talked to Mousse for several minutes.

    Mousse announced in Japanese.  "I've explained the truth to the man
here, he seems willing to believe me."  The man started speaking loudly
in his own language.  The men gathered around paying close attention.

    Ranma walked wearily up.  "What's going on?"

    Akane quipped.  "We're negotiating idiot."

    Johnathon went to Mousse's side.  "I studied something of Egyptian
history when I was free of Clio the first time.  The Children of Osirus
were not fighters but healers.  Tell them that and that Cliopatra was
using them for her own ends."

    Mousse nodded and went back to the older man.  He spoke in Chinese
for nearly a minute, then the man turned to his fellows for several
minutes.

    Johnathon gathered everyone together.  "Mousse, Shampoo, Soun,
handle the negotiations.  Everyone else, let's see if we can provide
some first aid to the ones that were hurt.  This really isn't their
fault."  They moved over to the fallen men and started checking them.
Stanching a few cuts, splinting the occasional broken arm or leg.
Pretty soon the unhurt members of the Egyptian village were helping them
as well.

    Mousse went to Johnathon after awhile.  "It has been settled.  They
realize now that they have been used.  They plan on a suitable
punishment for Cliopatra.  Someone suggested she be put to work as a
scullery maid for the rest of her life.  Everyone seemed to like the
idea."

    Johnathon smiled grimly.  "Serves her right."  He sighed in relief.
"I was worried about what to do after the fight was over.  I'm glad
things are working out."  Mousse nodded and knelt down to help Johnathon
finish applying a splint.  "I'm going to get Kasumi."  Johnathon
announced, rising.  "She deserves to be here to confront Cliopatra."
Mousse looked up at Johnathon and nodded again.

    Johnathon ran over to Kasumi's tree, which was just out of sight of
the battle.  He jumped up and landed on her branch.  Johnathon carefully
picked the little cat up and jumped back down.  "We won Kasumi,
everyone's safe, Cliopatra's followers have turned against her, it's all
over."  Kasumi meowed then purred, rubbing her head against his
stomach.  "Do you want some hot water?"  She nodded and meowed again.
Johnathon got the pot of water and Kasumi's father's gi.  Johnathon put
Kasumi down on the clothing and turned around.  He held the pot behind
his back with one hand.  "Get under the pot."  After a second he heard a
meow.  "Ready?"

    Kasumi looked up.  "Meow!"  Johnathon poured and waited.  He could
hear her getting dressed, then felt her touch his shoulder.  "Thank you
Johnathon."

    The tall feline in black turned to her.  "Any time, would you like
to see Cliopatra?"

    Kasumi's face went dark with a frown.  "What's been done with her?"

    Johnathon smiled.  "She's been demoted from high priestess to
scullery maid for life, and I punched her in the jaw, hard."

Kasumi smiled gratefully.  "Thank you Johnathon."  Her smile turned
thoughtful.  "Hmmm, those catacombs are filthy, it will take years to
clear them all."  She giggled, her face turned slightly more serious,
not smiling really but not sad either.  "I was angry at her, but it's
over, I don't need to see her now.  Take me to everyone so I can see for
myself that they're alright."

    Johnathon nodded and held out his hand.  "Ok, come on."

    Kasumi and Johnathon came out and helped finish the job of applying
first aid to the wounded.  Serious injuries were surprisingly few.  The
worse was a man with a leg broken in two places and a mild concussion.
He had been in the center of Ranma's whirlwind.  After everyone else had
been taken care of, Ranma hovered worriedly over the man until he
regained consciousness, half an hour later.  Upon waking to Ranma's
worried face the man had started scuttling back in fear despite his
leg.  Several of his friends gathered around reassuring him and laughing
a bit at his panicked reaction.

    After a few minutes the man looked over at Ranma and pushed one fist
into the air in a passable imitation of the final move of Ranma's Hiro
Shoten Ha.  "Ha."  He punched up at the air again.  "Ha!"  He shrugged
at Ranma and grinned.

    Ranma nodded at the man and slowly raised his own fist.  "Ha."  The
man's friends picked him up and slowly began carrying him toward the
rest.  Ranma mused quietly to himself on the strange bonds that
sometimes formed between honorable opponents and formed an impromptu
haiku.  (Japanese two line poem.)  "Strange connections, for stranger
days."  He shook his head.  <Sheesh, now I'm starting to sound like Mr.
Tendo!>

    After several hours the defeated soldiers were ready to leave for
their village.  The ten from Nerima were going home as well.  Mousse and
the Chinese speaking older man shook hands and exchanged a few final
words.  Then everyone turned and started in opposite directions.

    Mousse told everyone what the man had said.  "We will probably not
meet again, he said, but if we did it would be as friends."  The ten
from Nerima were quiet then, as they walked off into the sunset.

                            Not the end....