Argh!!! I don't know why it doesn't work.
Hopefully, it works now. If not, I'll go hang myself. Really. :)
Let me know if it doesn't. I send some trial runs to myself, so hopefully...
Anyway, it's good to see the list up and running again...My mailbox was
gathering dustbunnies :)
Gie
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: 2NDINS~1.TXT
Circle Sky
By: Gie (phowah@cs.com)
A Ranma 1/2 and Gargoyles Crossover
Saotome Ranma, Tendo Akane and their familiars are not mine. They are
Takahashi Rumiko-sama�s. They�ve just come over to my place for a
bit...for a sleep-over, yeah, that�s the ticket.
Goliath and his familiars are the Big Mouse�s (not Mousse) grotesques.
Although, they have decided to perch on my roof for awhile.
Aiden Ferguson is Christine Morgan�s little gargess, and has asked for
permission to attend the sleepover. She said yes, but to make sure she
actually got some sleep.
Any unfamiliar characters, such as Shiun, are mine. Sit down and get to
know them, you just might find a new friend.
Timeline: Well, I guess you could say it is after the manga is over with
(i.e.. Saffron and the wedding) in Ranma, but time has passed and they
just graduated from school. It�s several years after Hunter�s Moon in the
Gargoyles line. (Although there were no Chronicles) I will end up
diverging from the timeline some, but since this is my story, I have the
right to, ne? Alright, on with the show.
Chapter Two: And So It Goes...
Ranma, Akane, Ukyou and Ryouga arrived at Jusenkyo
International Airport later that afternoon. As they were getting off the
plane, Ryouga ran ahead and several people tried to cover up their
snickers. Ranma called out as Ryouga ran past him, �Hey Ryouga,
who�d think that after all the traveling around you do, you would be the
one that gets airsick! That�s rich.�
�Stop picking on Ryouga, Ranma. He can�t help it!� Akane
scowled at Ranma and jogged to catch up with Ryouga to see if he needed
any help.
Ranma made a little frown after the running pair. �Now who�s
going help me with the luggage?�
Ukyou came up alongside Ranma and patted him on the shoulder.
�Don�t feel bad Ranchan. I�m here to help you out!� Ukyou grabbed
onto Ranma�s elbow and left the hangar, towing him the opposite way
Ryouga and Akane left, towards the luggage claim.
Another pair also left the hangar the same time the Nerima Four
left. David Xanatos and his assistant Owen Burnett were going over the
plans that they had discussed earlier. �Now all we need is that guide.
Where did you say he was going to be, Owen?�
The blond majordomo frowned and looked around. �He said he
would be waiting in the parking lot, with his vehicle, to take us to the
springs, Mr. Xanatos. He should be around here somewhere.� Owen
pointed in a direction. �Ah, sir, I believe that is him over there.� And
sure enough, standing by an old beat-up Army jeep, was the Jusenkyian
holding a sign in badly printed English that read �Xanatos.�
The guide noticed the tall foreigners and waved in their direction.
�Honorable sirs, you Zan-A-Toes?� Xanatos nodded. �Good, good. Let
me help luggage and we be on way, yes? Want to be there before dark.�
Xanatos nodded and Owen started to help the Guide put their luggage
into the Jeep.
Meanwhile, the Nerima Four caught up with each other, Akane
and Ryouga (still looking a little green) walking up front, reading a map,
and Ukyou and Ranma (sulking) were just behind, Ukyou chattering away
at Ranma happily. As they passed the Americans, Owen turned around
and barely missed running into Ranma.
�Excuse me.�
�I�m sorry.�
They nodded at each other and continued on their way.
Ranma continued to concentrate on his sulking, thinking to
himself. �Why is Akane being so nice to Ryouga? It�s not like he�s
never been sick before.� He frowned. �Why is she fussing over him? It�s
not like she�s his fiancee. Yeesh, why am I obsessing over this? We both
sort of admitted there was something between us, and she knows I don�t
like any of the other fiancees that way.� He looked up at the girl in
question with a soft smile on his lips. �Man, she�s really gotten to me!
All she has to do is smile that smile and I�m a puddle of putty. Oh, but
what a smile...� Ranma was awoken from his dream of Akane in a field
of flowers smiling at him when Ukyou clobbered him over the head with
her spatula.
�Ranma, Ranma! Haven�t you been listening to what I said for
the past five minutes? What�s going through that thick skull of yours?�
Ranma blinked back into real time and blushed. �Wha? Ukyou?
What did you say? Umm...which way do we start hiking?�
Ryouga looked up from the map he and Akane were going over.
�Don�t worry, Ranma. I have everything under control.� He pointed in a
direction. �We should go to the east.�
Ranma sighed, turned and pointed the lost boy in the other
direction. �That way is east...toward the sun, remember?�
Ryouga stammered and scowled at Ranma, while taking a quick
glance at Akane. �Oh yeah. I knew that, Ranma. I was just testing
you...yeah that�s the ticket.�
Ranma rolled his eyes and hitched his backpack up. �Okay, let�s
get going. We want to make it there before sunset, right?�
Akane looked up from the map and rolled her eyes. She glanced
around the airport searching for something. She spotted a sign. �Boys,�
she mumbled to herself. �If we want to get there before sunset, how
about we take the shuttle?� Akane pointed at the sign, <Jusenkyo
Shuttles: Last One In Five Minutes.> Ranma scowled at Akane as she
smugly turned into the turnstile that led to the shuttle.
Ukyou looked at the sign, stopped and glanced around again, a
confused frown flashing across her features. �Hey guys, wait a minute, I
just realized something. Isn�t Jusenkyo and all of the other places around
it supposed to be in the middle of the nowhere?�
�Yeah, Ucchan, they are. Why do you ask?�
�Then why does the middle of nowhere have an airport shuttle
and, in the first place, an international airport, to it?�
Ranma looked around and shrugged. �I don�t know, Ucchan.
Stranger things have happened. Let�s not question our good luck.� The
rest followed Akane and boarded the shuttle to head towards the Cursed
Springs.
*****
The sun was just starting to disappear over the horizon as the
Nerima 4 got off the convenient shuttle. The Guide, Xanatos and Owen
were also getting out of the jeep. Ranma and Owen looked to each other
in surprise, Owen giving Ranma a nod. Plum greeted each of them and
offered them tea while her father handed out some papers.
�These papers are release forms that need to be signed. They
basically say you hold your life in your hands and will not sue or hold me
or my father, the Guide, responsible for what happens here today. That
is, if anything happens at all.� Everyone gave Plum a curious look. She
sighed and explained, �They are a necessary evil; we have had to deal
with consequences before.�
Ranma and Ryouga winced and started to fill out the papers.
Ukyou and Akane just shrugged and filled out their own. Owen filled out
the papers for both he and his employer. Xanatos signed his own name
and Plum collected all the papers and looked over them to see everything
was correct.
�Now that the paperwork is taken care of, let�s see what are the
reasons you have come to Jusenkyo, Land of the Cursed Springs.�
Akane spoke up first. �Well, Plum we received your letter stating
that the springs have refilled since the Jusendo incident and have come
for some Nannichuan water to cure Ranma�s curse. We also want to
bring home some extra water to cure the ones we left at home.�
Owen and Xanatos looked interested and raised an eyebrow at
each other. Plum ignored them for the moment. �I didn�t expect you to
be here so soon, Ranma. I also thought I�d see your father here, as well.�
�Well, we could only afford so many tickets, so only me an�
Akane are the ones bringing home the water.� Ukyou and Ryouga looked
miffed at Ranma. �Well, it�s true! You guys just came along for the
ride.�
Plum nodded and turned to David Xanatos and Owen Burnett.
�Now, sirs, what business do you have here at Jusenkyo?�
Owen spoke for his employer. �Miss Plum, Mr. Xanatos here is
interested in the genetic properties of several of the springs. How the
water affects a human if it is an animal-based spring and similarly an
animal if placed into a human-based spring.�
Xanatos took over from there. �I just read about the Springs in an
old book I had bought a while ago. I assure you, we mean no harm to any
creatures or humans. We hope to do all of our hypothesizing through
computer simulations, and in virtual-reality environments.�
Xanatos paused, and looked at Owen. He said nothing and he
continued. �Plus, we were in the area and thought it would be an
interesting stop on our trip.�
The first remark quirked some eyebrows at the two Americans.
The second statement received several inquiring looks from Plum, Akane
and Ryouga. The third produced a massive facefault from Ranma and
Ryouga. �Interesting? Hmpf.� Akane elbowed Ranma in the side to keep
him from making any further comments.
Plum thought about what Xanatos said, nodded again and spoke.
�Well, Mr. Xanatos, your interests seem to be pure, so I will allow your
passage through Jusenkyo. Ranma and his friends have been here before
and know the true dangers of the Springs.� Ranma, Akane, Ukyou, and
Ryouga all shuddered. �Please, Mr. Xanatos, make sure you are with my
father or me the entire time while in the Springs area. This is for your
own safety. I can not stress that enough.� Xanatos and Owen both
nodded. �Now are we ready? We want to get everything done before it
gets too dark outside too see where you�re going.�
Xanatos interrupted the Nerima group before they all headed out.
�Ranma, is it? Xanatos, David Xanatos. You mentioned that you have a
curse that originated from here?�
Ranma gave him a pained look and nodded. �Yeah, I guess I do.
I fell into Nyannichuan, or girl spring.�
Xanatos nodded, and said, �Would you mind if I saw it? The
curse, I mean?�
Ranma blanched at the request and reluctantly nodded. He asked
Plum for some cold water. �Since I am going to be cured, I might as well
do this for one last time. Here goes nothing.� And so, for the last time
Ranma shrunk and Ranma-chan came into existence.
�Fascinating. Simply fascinating.�
Ranma shrugged and asked Plum for some hot water to change
back.
�Thank you, Ranma. I appreciate it.� Xanatos nodded to Ranma
and he and Owen left talking to each other in hushed tones.
*****
Everyone paraded out of the hut to gather the equipment they
would need while in the Springs area. Ranma and the rest of the
Nerimians each grabbed a cask to place the water they gathered. Owen
and Xanatos also picked up their equipment and supplies and went off in
a different direction with Plum. Ukyou anded out torches and flashlights,
since it was after sunset and dusk was settling in. Once they were ready,
the Guide escorted the Nerima Four into the Springs. �Which Spring you
see first?�
Akane answered, �We would like to gather a cask of Drowned
Girl, and then go over to Drowned Boy, if that is possible.�
The Guide nodded. �No problem. Let me show you Girl first.�
The group trooped over to the Nyannichuan, or spring of drowned girl.
�Tragic story...� the guide mumbled while Ukyou filled up her cask.
Only to be surprised that once Ukyou was done filling the cask, the spring
seemed to disappear into the ground. �Where spring go?� The Guide
was baffled. He had never seen, in all the time he was here, a spring to
just disappear so quickly. Sure, the springs move around sometimes, but
he just accredited that to the magic of the area. �Very interesting,� the
Guide thought. �I�ll have to remember that for future pondering.�
�What happened to the spring, Mr. Guide?� Akane asked.
�Where did the water go?�
The Guide thought for a minute, and gave the best answer he
could think of in such a short time. �Spring must not need to be here
anymore. See new springs form recently. Old ones leave and make room
for new ones.�
The group shrugged and put it under the �Weird things to think
about later� file. They headed over to the male spring, next.
The five reached the spring. Ranma couldn�t handle the
anticipation anymore and checking once quick to see if he was male,
jumped into the rather large spring. He stayed under for quite a while.
Ukyou and Akane started to get worried. �Ranchan, are you okay in
there? Do you need help?�
Ryouga saw his chance to be able to get in the spring without
Akane thinking him strange and asking embarrassing questions. �Here I
come, Ranma!� Ryouga yelled and jumped into the spring after Ranma.
They both surfaced a short time later; Ryouga pulling Ranma up by his
collar.
�Ryouga, whatcha do that for? I wasn�t drownin� or anything.�
�Then what took you so long to surface then?�
�I just wanted to make sure it�d work.�
The girls just sighed and rolled their eyes.
Ryouga and Ranma crawled out of the spring and gathered up the
other casks to fill with spring water to take home. The girls didn�t want
to risk getting cursed so they stayed a fair amount of distance away from
the wet boys. After they were done with the casks, each noticed that this
spring dried up the same way the girl spring did.
�Hey Akane, do you still have some cold water handy? I want to
check and see if the water worked.� Akane pulled out a thermos and
tossed it to Ranma, where he instantly poured the cold water over his
head. He opened his eyes and looked down at his wet, cold, MALE body.
�Woohoo! It worked! I am finally a whole male again! No more Ranko!
No more Kuno groping me! I�m free at last. Thank God, I�m free at
last!�
While Ranma bounced around in pure joy and Ukyou and Akane
watched, Ryouga started thinking. �That means the pig is gone too! That
means I can eat bacon for breakfast again without feeling guilty! I am a
full man!� Wherein, he started to run towards Akane with arms
outstretched so she could share in his exuberance. Akane, seeing the
Nannichuan-covered Ryouga headed for her, �eeped� and turned and ran
in the opposite direction from him. In her urgency to get away, she
tripped over a root and started to fall into a nearby spring.
Akane screamed.
Ryouga, in his haste to get to Akane, tripped over the cask of
Nyannichuan that Ukyou had set down while waiting for the others to
finish up, thereby breaking the cask apart. Luckily, for Ryouga, and
unluckily for Shampoo, the water soaked into the ground.
Ranma stopped his happy dance when he heard Akane scream.
He saw Akane falling toward a spring. �Noooo! Akane!� Ranma dove
after her, trying to toss her away from the spring. He was too late. Not
only did Akane fall into the water, but Ranma also fell in right after her.
Ukyou, Ryouga and the Guide were speechless. They couldn�t
believe what just transpired. �Ranchan...Akane...� Ukyou moaned.
Ryouga started mumbling nonsense syllables. �Ranma? Akane? Quick!
They aren�t coming up! Somebody do something!� But before anybody
could react, a pair of bodies emerged from the deep waters, only one
gasping for a breath.
Xanatos, Owen, and Plum came running over when they heard
Akane�s scream. They all stood, shocked, gaping at the two in the water.
Ranma gasped for air. �Akane! Help, someone! She isn�t
breathing!�
Owen quickly jumped into action. He grabbed Akane away from
Ranma and pulled her from the water and placed her on the ground next
to the spring. Ranma quickly crawled out after her and watched
anxiously as Owen started to perform CPR on her.
�She�s gonna be okay, right? She has to be.� Ranma wailed next
to the unmoving body. �Oh, Akane, I�m sorry for dragging you here
again...why does something always have to happen to us? Please forgive
me!� As Ranma broke down in tears, a sharp breath came from the once
silent body of Akane. �Oh my God...Akane! You�re alive! Thank God!�
Ranma then went over to her and grabbed her up in a bone-crushing hug.
As Ranma bawled on her shoulder, Akane opened her eyes and
coughed weakly. She gently brought her arms around Ranma shoulders
and gave him a small hug back.
�I�m fine, Ranma.� She coughed weakly. �I need to breathe,
though!�
Ranma then realized he was crushing her, and released his grip
enough to bring her face to face with him. �I was so scared of losing you
Akane. Please don�t leave me.�
Akane brought her hand up to his face and touched his cheek
gently. �You don�t have to worry about that, Ranma. I will never leave
you. I love you, Ranma.�
Ranma gazed into Akane�s brown eyes and said, �I love you too,
Akane.�
With that, he brought his face down to hers and slowly brushed
his lips against hers, hesitating. Ranma released her from the kiss, but
Akane grabbed his head and brought him back down for a crushing kiss
that surprised Ranma tremendously. Akane deepened the kiss and
enjoyed being with Ranma, alive and breathing.
After a couple of moments of staring at the couple, Ukyou
snapped out of her daze. She looked at the two and made a grimace.
�Excuse me, guys. Hello? There are others present.� She snorted
disdainfully. Ranma and Akane broke their kiss and blushed
simultaneously.
At the same time, Ryouga and Plum snapped into reality. They
looked at the couple.
And blinked.
They looked closer at the two and Plum gasped aloud. �Oh no.
What happened?�
Ranma and Akane looked confused. Akane spoke, �Ryouga was
coming at me and I didn�t want to get wet, so I ran away from him. I
think I tripped and fell into a spring. Ranma came after me.� She blinked
and opened her eyes wide. �Wait a minute...I, we fell in a spring. Which
one?�
The Guide snapped out of his trance and was relieved that he
could contribute something important. �Oh poor guests! How very, very
tragic! You both fell into Gaagoirnichuan, or spring of drowned
gargoyle. About 1200 years ago, gargoyle fall into that spring. Spring
not seen for long time. Very tragic story. Curse permanent.�
Akane and Ranma backed away from each other and truly looked
at one another. They saw what they had become.
Akane and Ranma both screamed.
Akane started to hyperventilate. Ranma stuttered and said,
�Permanent?�
They looked into each other�s new face and fainted.
*****
Plum quickly recovered from the shock and started to gather
everything and take charge of the situation. �Let�s move them inside the
hut where they will be more comfortable, hmm? Then, once they wake
up, we can explain everything going on all at the same time. Okay, Mr.
Xanatos, Ryouga, why don�t you grab Ranma over there and Father and
Mr. Burnett can bring Akane in the hut. Ukyou, why don�t we gather all
the equipment and start heading towards shelter. The Springs are not a
pleasant place to be in the complete dark.�
Everyone except Ryouga started in on their assignments and
headed towards the small hut. He was rooted to his spot, mumbling
nonsense to himself. �I did it. I did it. How could I have done such a
thing? OhmygodIdiditIdiditOhmygodIdidit. It�s all my fault!�
Xanatos looked at Ryouga oddly and tapped him on the shoulder.
�Excuse me, we need to get him inside? Hello?� He waved a hand in
front of the babbling Lost Boy.
Ryouga snapped out of his self-induced trance and looked blankly
at Xanatos. Numbly, Ryouga picked up his end of Ranma and followed
Xanatos out of the springs and into the hut.
Nobody noticed, in their haste to leave the springs, that
Gaagoirnichuan slowly began to disappear just like the other two springs
did earlier.
Once they got Ranma and Akane comfortable in a back bedroom,
the rest of the group started to put away the remaining equipment. Ukyou
went into the kitchen to talk to the Jusenkyians. Owen and Xanatos
talked to themselves. Ryouga sat huddled in a dark corner.
�Owen, can you believe what they fell into?�
�It is incredible, sir. I did not know that one existed. The book
did not mention a gargoyle spring.�
Xanatos smirked. �Well, aren�t they lucky that we are along to
help out?�
�It seems to be that way, sir.�
Ukyou was still in shock over what happened to Akane and
Ranma. �They are going to be okay, right? You were just kidding when
you said that the curse was permanent, right? Please say you were
joking.�
Plum looked up from where she was making tea for everyone.
She smiled sadly and replied, �No, my father was correct. It is a
permanent curse. At least it was when the last person fell into the spring
of drowned gargoyle. The spring has different magic weaved through it.
The gargoyle physiology is also different than most. We will explain
everything once the two wake up.�
Ryouga was back in his trance in the corner. �It�s all my fault. Oh
my God, it�s all my fault. If I didn�t run at Akane, she wouldn�t have
tried to get away from me. Why must everything happen to the ones I
care about? Akane�s never going to forgive me. Ranma�s never going to
forgive me for cursing Akane. It�s all my fault. Why me? Oh lord, why
Akane? She�s never deserved such a cruel fate. and what a truly horrible
curse it is...If she could be cured, I would do anything--even gain back
that damned pig curse. I�ll do anything...it�s all my fault...�
*****
In the back room, Ranma woke up in a dark, unfamiliar room and
rubbed his head. �What fleet of trucks hit me? I feel horrible. Where am
I? Where�s Akane?� Akane moaned and started to stir next to him.
�Akane? Are you okay? Akane?�
Akane shook her head to clear the cobwebs. �Yes, I think so.
Where are we? Did I have a bad dream, or did we actually fall into a
spring?�
Ranma looked sadly in Akane�s direction. �No, it wasn�t a bad
dream. We actually fell into a spring. Both of us. But the question is,
what spring did we fall into?�
�I think I heard the Guide mention something about a gargoyle. Is
that what we are, now? Gargoyles? What are those?�
�Ain�t a gargoyle those statues of demons on churches, Akane?�
�You�re right, Ranma. I didn�t think they were real creatures.�
�Me either. Hey, do you still have your flashlight, Akane? I
wanna see what we look like.�
�I think so, Ranma.� She shuffled around a bit. �Yes, I do. Here,
let me turn it on.�
Akane turned on the light and saw Ranma for the first time. At
least coherently. She looked, really looked at him and gasped. He really
looked like, like, well, a demon! �Ranma, is that really you?� He
nodded. She crawled over to him to get a closer look. She set down the
light so it would shine completely on him. Ranma�s skin wasn�t the
normal tanned color anymore. It had darkened to a shade of charcoal
grey. She reached up to touch his face. The texture of his skin changed,
too. It now felt like a soft, well-worn leather glove. His hair grew
considerably longer, past mid-back, and believe it or not, was the same
color as his old cursed form--bright red. She touched it to make sure it
was real. It was.
Her eyes traveled around his face. He still looked like Ranma; if
you can ignore the horns that were coming out of his head. Two thin
horns arched out of his skull, one at each temple, and circled around his
head. They curled down and inwards slightly at the end. Two smaller,
stubby horns sprouted next to each of the longer horns. Her hands
roamed over his face, his horns and his ears. The ears were longer and
tapered to a point at the tip. His eyes were still blue, maybe a little
brighter, but that could have been the effect of his skin dramatically
offsetting them. He didn�t have any eyebrows to speak of, though. They
now looked like bony ridges that stuck out from his face.
Her eyes traveled down his body. She noticed that his frame was
considerably larger and more muscled than it used to be. �Not that it
wasn�t before,� she silently added. His arms were similarly more
muscled, as well, and at the elbows, a protrusion? She felt the elbow spur
and frowned slightly. �It feels like a bone,� she said aloud. She moved
down to his hands, and gasped. They weren�t really hands anymore, more
like claws, or talons. And where did the fifth finger go? His shirt was in
tatters. Pieces of silk held together by strands were scattered over his
body, barely covering him up.
�Ranma, you look weird with just those rags on. You might as
well take your shirt off. Your pants seem salvageable.�
Ranma looked down at himself. He blushed and started to take
away the scraps of clothing that remained on his body. It didn�t take too
long and Akane gave him another glance. She blushed a little and
continued to explore her fiancee.
His legs had drastically changed and looked more like a crouching
animal�s, with the ankles being tremendously higher than a normal
human�s feet with a toe on the high heel. His feet had the same type of
claws as his hands, but much larger in proportion. A small piece of his
slipper surrounded one toe. As she was looking at his feet she noticed
something behind him. �A tail!�
�What? I have a tail?�
�Yes you do. See?� As Akane grabbed the tail, Ranma jerked it
out of her grasp and brought it across his body. It was long and thin,
tapering at the end to an arrowpoint.
�Oh yeah. Cool! I always wanted a tail.�
Akane rolled her eyes and noticed something else. �Ranma, turn
around. Look!�
Ranma stopped playing with his tail and glanced behind him.
�Wow! Wings!�
And wings they were. Gigantic bat-like wings protruded from his
back. Akane reached back to feel them . �They feel like soft leather,� she
thought. �They�re beautiful.� Black stretched across the frame and the
same shade of charcoal grey colored the wing�s undersides. Two little
claws were attached to the end wing strut.
Ranma tried to move them and was able to flap them a little. �I
wonder if they work like real wings?
�I guess we�ll have to see,� Akane smiled at Ranma.
Ranma smiled back. He adjusted the light to shine on her. �Yeah,
I guess so. Now, let me take a look at you! My goodness, Akane! You
sure live up to your name.�
Akane looked at herself for the first time. She blushed and
swatted at Ranma. �Yeah, whatever. It�s not like I picked it out.�
Ranma took a moment to take Akane�s new image in. Her skin
color did indeed live up to her name. Her skin tone was a deep red,
almost a wine color. She still looked like Akane, big brown eyes and all.
She had the same bony eyebrows as he had. Her hair was the same
midnight blue, maybe a little darker, but the length had grown drastically.
It now reached to about mid-back. Ranma reached out to brush a lock of
hair away from her face to take a good look at her and hit something hard.
�Hey, Akane--you got something hard on your head.�
Akane reached up to feel the top of her head and gasped. �I have
bones sticking out of my head!� Well, almost. Ranma leaned over and
parted her hair. She had four horns growing out the top of her head.
They were triangular in shape and ran down her scalp in a straight line.
�They look like that dinosaur�s horns. Stagasaurus or Stepasaurus
or something.�
�Stegosaurus, you mean?�
�Sure, whatever. They�re neat. Ooh! Sharp too.�
Ranma�s gaze then traveled down to her ears, which were
elongated to the tips on the end. �Your ears are like mine.� As his gaze
wandered lower, he blushed considerably. �Um, Akane, you might want
to, um, adjust your clothing.�
Akane looked startled and looked down at herself. She blushed
deeply herself, and quickly covered her expanded attributes with the
clothing she had left. Hers was in pretty much the same state as
Ranma�s--tatters and strips of cloth were all that was left of the outfit she
had on when they left Nerima. �Stop looking then, pervert.� Ranma
blushed again and continued to take in his fiancee�s new body.
Ranma noticed that she was a lot taller herself, and her body was
more muscled and well-defined than before. Her arms were straining at
the seams of her sleeves and bone spurs broke through where her elbows
were supposed to be. She also had the four taloned hands, and when he
looked, huge four taloned feet were visible. He looked up her legs and
saw she had some bone spurs on her knees as well. �I don�t have those
on my knees, Akane.�
�Well, do you expect us to be exactly the same?�
�Well, sorta. We fell in the same spring. I thought we�d get the
same stuff.�
Akane thought a bit about that. �Well, maybe the spring adapts to
each person, giving them their own unique characteristics. Just like if
they would have been born that way.�
�I guess,� Ranma shrugged. �It makes sense. Hey, look at your
tail. Heh, I shoulda guessed.�
Akane reached for her tail. It was long and thin, like Ranma�s,
but instead of an arrowhead for a tip, it was in the shape of a hammer.
�Yeah, I guess. It looks sort of weird, though. Hey, I have wings,
too.�
Ranma touched Akane�s wings. They were bat-like wings, like
his. The outside of the wing was black, like his, but what was different
was the underside was midnight blue; the same color as her hair, unlike
his were the same color of his skin. On the last wing strut, three finger
claws were resting. �Her wings are so soft. You know, she is really cute
this way. Not that she wasn�t before, but she really is this way, too. So
beautiful...�
Akane, startled by those words, blushed deeply. �Do you really
mean that, Ranma? Do you think I am cute--beautiful even?�
Ranma, shocked out of his reverlie by Akane�s words, blushed
considerably. �I thought I said that to myself!� �Um, yeah, I do, Akane.�
He shyly smiled at her �You definitely are not uncute.� Akane blushed
almost purple against her scarlet-colored skin. Ranma continued. �So,
um, what do we do now?�
Before Akane could answer, there was a knock at the door. Plum
peeked her head around the door and noticed the pair was awake. �I see
you guys have recovered from your swim. Would you like to join
everyone else so we can talk and answer any questions that you might
have?�
Ranma and Akane nodded and started to get up, but promptly fell
down again. They tried to get up again, and Ranma succeeded, while
Akane promptly fell back down on her tail. �Oof!�
Plum laughed. �Be careful, Akane. It will take a minute or two to
get used to the new legs and feet. Plus, the tail will throw your balance
completely off.�
�Yeah, I figured that one out, Akane. It�s like standing on your
toes and leaning forward.� He smiled encouragingly. �You can handle it,
Akane.� Slowly, with Ranma�s help, Akane got up and they staggered
into the other room where everyone was waiting for them to wake up.
Xanatos, Owen and Ryouga stood up when they entered the room and
Ryouga backed further into his corner. Ranma looked at Ukyou, but she
shied away from his gaze and focused elsewhere.
Plum cleared her throat to try and get everyone attention. She had
a monstrous book in her hands and opened it to a certain page. �Now, to
begin. Ranma and Akane, you fell, as you can guess, into a spring called
Gaagoirnichuan, or spring of drowned gargoyle. About 1200 years ago a
gargoyle wandered through this area and drowned in that pool. This book
only tells of one time when a human fell into that spring and what
happened. As I said earlier, the curse turned out to be permanent. Hot
water did not affect the cursed form at all.� Everyone but Owen and
Xanatos gasped in horror at the news. They just looked at each other with
questions on their faces. �Let me continue, please. Over the years, we
have found that different curses have different temperature triggers. We
have not had a chance to find the temperature which this curse will
activate. It just might be higher than what was attempted last time. Shall
we experiment?�
The Guide handed his daughter a kettle. �Okay, we�ll start with
the warm water and go from there. Ranma, please come over here.�
Ranma went over to Plum and waited for the water treatment. Plum
poured the water over Ranma�s head. Nothing happened. �Okay, we�ll
go hotter.� The next kettle was significantly hotter, but Ranma still did
not change. They kept going, increasing they got to boiling. This did
activate the change, but with strange consequences. Ranma started to
slowly shift to human form, one part changing back at a time, but he
screamed in agony with every change. Akane stumbled over to Ranma to
see what was wrong.
�Are you okay, Ranma? What�s wrong? Why are you
screaming?�
�It hurts! It�s never hurt before! What in the hell is going on?�
Plum went and got a glass of cold water and poured it over the
screeching Ranma. This did reverse the transformation. This time,
Ranma didn�t feel any pain and it was done within moments. �I guess the
switching of physiology between human and gargoyle is just too painful.�
Xanatos and Owen shot each other a knowing look. They started
to talk quietly to themselves.
Akane and Ranma looked at each other. Akane sniffled and
started to cry. �I guess the curse is really permanent. I don�t want to have
to go through the pain of transforming every time I want to revert back to
normal. What are we going to do, Ranma?�
Ranma wrapped his arms and, somewhat clumsily, his wings
around Akane in a hug. She bawled on his shoulder. �Sshh, sshh, Akane.
It�ll be okay, I promise. I don�t know what we�ll do. We really can�t do
much of anything, I guess, except keep on going one day at a time like we
always do.�
Ryouga sat up quickly came out of his corner. He asked Plum,
�What if we just go dunk them back into the boy/girl springs? Won�t that
return them to normal?� �Please say it�ll work...�
Everyone started to talk excitedly. Plum butted in before things
got out of hand. �Actually, Akane could get cured if there was any
Nyannichuan left, but Ranma is permanently a gargoyle. The water only
works three times. Ranma has been dunked three times, so your casks of
Nannichuan will not work. Akane has only been dunked twice, so she still
has a chance, if you gathered Nyannichuan.�
Ukyou nodded. �We have Nyannichuan in one of the casks. We
were going to bring it back for Shampoo, but let�s use it now.�
Ryouga turned ghost-white and felt sick to his stomach. He fell
back into his corner with a thud. �Um...we don�t have any girl spring
water anymore, Ukyou. When I tried to go after Akane, I tripped over the
cask, and I sorta broke it. The water soaked into the ground. I�m really,
really, sorry, Akane. I didn�t mean it. Please forgive me!�
Akane looked like she was about to cry again. Plum also spoke.
�Also remember, the springs dried up after the water was gathered. We
can�t go back into the Springs and gather more. I�m sorry, Ranma,
Akane. There is no cure.� Akane turned to Ranma�s shoulder again and
restarted her crying.
At this point Xanatos and Owen finished discussing things and
Xanatos cleared his throat. �Excuse me, Akane, Ranma, but I think we
have a solution for you, or at least something you can consider.�
Everyone looked to David Xanatos with a question. �We, Owen and
myself, actually happen to know a little bit about your new species. It
didn�t shock as much as the others when you popped out of the spring as
gargoyles. Being from New York has somewhat dulled us on the
extraordinary.� Owen just nodded.
�Isn�t New York where the gargoyle sightings reported in the
news happened?� Ukyou wondered aloud.
�You are correct. I have had personal experience with the
gargoyles in New York. They are, in fact, residing with me in their
ancestral home. You may have heard of Castle Wyvern? On top of the
Aerie Building?�
Everyone just gaped at the two Americans. They couldn�t believe
what was happening. Millions of questions were flying between the
Nerima Four. �Did he actually know other gargoyles? Why was he
offering up this information? Why was he at Jusenkyo right when they
needed him? Is he for real?�
Xanatos interpreted their unbelieving looks and continued. �Yes,
it is true. I am in association with the Manhattan clan of gargoyles.
Actually, I am the one responsible for them coming to New York. But,
like I said, I may have a solution for you, but will have to discuss it with
others first. Owen, if you don�t mind, can answer any questions about the
gargoyle physiology and what-not, while I contact the others.� Owen
nodded, and Xanatos left to the back room to make a phone call.
�Of course, Mr. Xanatos. I am happy to answer any questions that
you might have.� Owen looked at his watch and saw it was about two
hours until sunrise. �I had better explain some certain details before it�s
too late.�
Akane sniffled and tried to regain her composure. �What would
those be, Mr. Burnett?� Ranma looked concernedly at Akane and listened
closer.
Owen continued. �As you can tell, it is nighttime now. But at
sunrise, the gargoyle physiology goes into a form of statsis.�
Ranma looked confused. �Statsis? You mean asleep.�
�That�s right. But, there is a special condition surrounding this.
Gargoyles, at night, are living and breathing flesh, but during day, they
turn into stone; statues if you will. They remain in the stone state until
sunset that night.� Everyone around them gasped except for the
Jusenkyians. Akane and Ranma looked like they were going to faint
again. Ryouga and Ukyou looked sick.
Plum sighed. �I read about that in the book. It seemed impossible
to believe, but why would the book lie?�
�Yes, it is true. I have witnessed this numerous times over the
years and it is perfectly natural to the gargoyles and to their constitutions.
Actually, they welcome the stone hibernation because it heals the wounds
of the night and makes them feel visibly and mentally refreshed. The
�Stone Cure-All� they call it.�
Akane asked, �Are gargoyles sentient beings? Like humans? I
was wondering, because they are animal in nature, aren�t they, um..we?�
She shook her head in frustration. �I thought maybe the spring gave us
special abilities.�
�Yes, Akane, gargoyles are sentient beings. Most are very
intelligent, and have IQ�s in the same range as normal humans.
Although, there are animal characteristics that are apparent at certain
times.�
Ryouga spoke up. �Like when?�
�When they are angered or in battle. Their eyes will light up;
white for males, red for females, and tend to growl and roar and attack
with their talons. Gargoyles are raised at an early age to be warriors, to
hunt and to protect the clan.� He looked up and turned toward the door.
�But maybe we should continue this conversation later. Mr. Xanatos
hopefully has returned with some good news.�
Everyone turned to the bearded man that walked in the room.
�You are correct as always, Owen. Ranma and Akane, I just got off the
phone with our other companions on this trip. They happen to be some of
the gargoyles I mentioned earlier. We had left them in Ishimura, Japan to
visit some �relatives� there. I have told them about you and a little bit of
your situation. They would like to meet you, if possible. They can
answer all of your questions a lot clearer than we could, since they are
gargoyles themselves. Would you want to meet them? I can arrange to
have them meet you at home tomorrow night.�
Ranma and Akane looked at each other and nodded to the
unspoken question. She smiled weakly and answered for the both of
them. �We would be honored to meet your friends, Mr. Xanatos. If it is
possible, we would like to explain ourselves to our families before we
meet yours. They might feel a little overwhelmed by us, and others might
add fuel to the fire.� Akane thought silently. �Plus, they might not
accept us in the first place.� Ranma sensed what Akane was thinking and
wrapped a wing around her. She looked back at Ranma gratefully.
�That should be no problem. But, as Owen warned you earlier, it
is almost sunrise and it is time for you to go to sleep and turn to stone. I
would like to offer my services and give the four of you a ride home. I
will have a jet ready and waiting at the airport within an hour, and in
order to get you home in one piece, we should get you in the plane before
you become too heavy to move.� He paused and raised an eyebrow at the
Nerimans. �That is, if you accept my help.�
The Nerima Four looked at each other and shrugged. Ukyou
spoke for the group. �We would be happy to accept your help. One
question I have for you, though, is why do you care about them? It�s not
like you owe them a debt of honor, or anything. You didn�t cause their
curse.� Ryouga whimpered in the corner.
Xanatos just laughed off the question. �I�m sorry if I have not
explained my motives clear enough to you yet. When I first met the
gargoyles in Manhattan, I did some rather unpleasant things to them.
They have since forgiven me and I have allied myself to their cause of
keeping New York safe.� He smiled at Ukyou and the two new
gargoyles. �To tell you the truth, there are not many gargoyles in the
world. I only know of several select clans, and their numbers are very
small. I would do much to help anyone of the species. It would be
inhuman of me not to.�
�I guess that�s okay,� Ranma responded. �We better get going,
then. How much time do we have until sunrise?�
Owen glanced at his watch. �We have about an hour and a half
before sunrise. Including packing up, we should reach the airport in just
under an hour. We should get going if we want to beat the sun.�
Everyone agreed and started to pack up the remaining Nannichuan
casks to take home and the rest of the equipment. Ranma went over to
Ukyou and tried to start a conversation. Ukyou started at Ranma�s
contact with her and backed away.
�Ucchan? What�s wrong? You haven�t said much throughout the
night. Is there anything bothering you?�
�Oh umm..Ranch-Ranma...I�m just trying to take all of this in. A
lot has happened, you know?�
Ranma rubbed the back of his head. �Yeah, I know that pretty
well. It�s sort of hard to believe all of this is happening so fast. But we
have been through worse, haven�t we? I know we�ll get through this one
as well.�
�Yeah, I guess.� Ukyou looked at him out the corner of one eye.
�So, Ranma...umm..You were pretty close there with Akane for awhile. I
thought you didn�t like her in that way?�
Ranma started to blush, and quickly tried to take control of this
emotions. �Well, you know, after the wedding and the other things that
was going on, we have been getting along much better. We have been
more open and honest with our feelings toward each other.� �I think we
proved that back at the spring, � Ranma thought silently. He got a serious
look on his face. �Now, something else really bad happened, and I am
trying to get used to it as well as Akane. I have the advantage on this one.
She�s never had a new body before. I have, but now this time, this is my
real body. At least I don�t have to worry about switching forms all the
time and changing in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is no
cure. I have to get used to that early on so I can help Akane adjust to it as
well.�
Ukyou pondered over Ranma�s explanation. She hesitated and
asked, �Can I ask you a question, Ranma? Please tell me the truth, and I
really mean The Truth.� She hesitated some more, and swallowed.
�Do...do you...oh hell...do you love Akane? Really, truly and deeply?
Don�t dodge the question. The Truth.�
Ranma wasn�t expecting THAT question. He looked startled, but
thought about it and blushed a red as deep as Akane. He bowed his head
and Ukyou almost didn�t hear his answer. �Yes,� he whispered. �Yes I
do, Ukyou. Very much so. I hope you can understand and accept it. I
really do.�
Ukyou looked defeated and hung her head lower than Ranma did.
She sighed and turned away from Ranma. �I guess I do understand,
Ranma. I�ve been watching you two for a while now, and have seen your
love for each other grow. I felt desperate. I thought I was going to lose
you to her. I came along on this trip to see if I could drive you two apart,
but I can see that�s not going to happen. You�re already lost to me.
I...this is hard for me, Ranma, so bear with me.� She hesitated again and
continued. �I...I release you from our engagement, Ranma. This is for
the best, and I think you realize that, too.� Ukyou looked up at Ranma,
wiping the tears away from her eyes with her sleeve. She weakly smiled
at Ranma and gave him a wink. �Besides, I don�t think we are really
compatible anymore.�
Ranma blushed once more, and then impulsively grabbed Ukyou
in a big bear hug, wings and all. �Thank you, Ucchan. I hope we can still
remain friends.�
Ukyou grimaced at the hug, and then at the mention of being
friends. �Sure Ranchan. I will always be your friend.� She squirmed in
his grasp. �Can you release me now? I�m not used to the talons and
wings yet. They are sort of intimidating.�
Ranma released Ukyou, and brought his tail up to his hands.
�Yeah, I know what you mean. I still am not used to them, and they�re
mine!� Both laughed a little at this and returned to packing up their
supplies.
Meanwhile, Akane was slowly packing away hers and the others
supplies. She frowned a bit at Ranma and Ukyou, but didn�t say
anything. Ryouga approached her cautiously.
�Umm..Akane? Can...can I talk to you for a minute?�
She looked up at the boy. She noticed he was white as a sheet and
shivering. �I guess so, Ryouga. What do you want? You don�t look so
good. Are you still feeling bad from the plane ride?�
He shook his head. �No, I think I might have caught something
from jumping in the water after Ranma.� He swallowed and continued,
with his head bowed in sorrow. �Um...Akane? I�m really, really, really
sorry that you fell in the gargoyle spring. It�s all my fault. If you weren�t
running away from me...� Ryouga trailed off, sobs taking the place of his
apology. He fell to his knees with his hands covering his face.
Akane looked startled and stared at Ryouga. �He thinks its his
fault? Well, it sort of it, but I don�t blame him. I should have watched
where I was going.� �Ryouga, please, stop. It�s not your fault. Ryouga,
so don�t blame yourself. I should have watched where I was going.� She
winced and continued. �Sure, you shouldn�t have chased me, but I don�t
blame you. Ryouga, please, don�t cry. It�s not your fault.�
Ryouga kept babbling and bawling. �I can�t stop, Akane. It is my
fault. I caused you to fall in the spring. I should have never come. I�m
sorry, Akane. Please try to forgive me. Don�t hate me. I wouldn�t be
able to live with myself if you hated me.�
Akane shook her head and knelt down in front of Ryouga.
�Ryouga, snap out of it. I * Do* Not* Blame* You. If it is anyone�s
fault, blame Jusenkyo itself. It�s magic chose me and Ranma to become
gargoyles.� Akane looked surprised at what she said. She put that
thought aside to think about later. �Ryouga, look at me. Tell me that you
don�t think it is your fault.�
He looked up at her, eyes red from crying. �But it is my fault,
Akane. I can�t forgive myself as easily as you can.�
�But you must. I won�t let you wallow in your own misery. I care
for you, Ryouga.�
�Really? You care about me? Why?�
She gave him a small smile. �You�re my friend. I care for all of
my friends, Ryouga. Now, buck up and let�s finish packing, okay?�
Ryouga sniffled and matched Akane�s smile with one of his own.
�Okay. Thank you, Akane. For being my friend.�
She stood up and helped Ryouga up. She gave him a hug. He
shyly returned it, a blush spreading across his cheeks. �You�re welcome,
Ryouga.�
*****
Soon, the jeep was packed up and ready to go. Everyone piled
into the jeep, waved goodbye to Plum, and were off to the airport.
While in the vehicle, Akane talked to Ranma. �I saw you talking
with Ukyou before. What was that all about?�
�I was worried about her. She hasn�t said much since the dip in
the spring and I wanted to see what was up.�
�And what did she say?�
�She said she was trying to get used to the change and we talked a
little.� He hesitated and played with his tail. �She also released me from
our engagement, Akane.�
Akane looked startled. �Really, Ranma? That�s a big surprise.
Did she give a reason?�
Ranma thought about how he could answer that question. He
decided on the truth. �Yeah, she said that we weren�t compatible
anymore, and she�s seen something growing between us lately. I think
she�s right about that, Akane. Do..do you think so too?�
Akane looked into Ranma�s face. �Yes, I think she�s right. We
have been getting along really well lately. I want that to continue,
Ranma.� She looked down a little. �Plus, I kind of liked that kiss earlier.
I�d really like that to continue, too.�
Ranma gave Akane a lopsided smile. �Yeah, I liked that, too.�
He pulled her closer to him, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
�Ryouga talked to me, too.�
Ranma frowned a bit. �What did he want?�
�He blamed himself for us getting the gargoyle curse.�
�He should. It is his fault.�
Akane swatted at Ranma and scowled at him. �No, it isn�t,
Ranma. It was just bad luck that we fell in the pool. And don�t throw
this in his face, either. He looked like he was going to go kill himself for
a while, there. We talked and hopefully, he is starting to forgive himself.
I told him that I don�t blame him. If he should blame anything, blame
Jusenkyo itself.� She got a thoughtful look to her face. She turned
toward Ranma. �I think it wanted us to get cursed by Gaagoirnichuan,
Ranma. Why else would the Girl and Boy spring dry up right away? It�s
sort of creepy, don�t you think?�
Ranma�s doubting features answered for him. �That�s a far-out
explanation, Akane. Jusenkyo isn�t, what�s that word you used earlier--
oh yeah, sentient. Jusenkyo�s not sentient, Akane. It doesn�t have a
mind. How can it want to or plan on us getting this curse? That�s just
plain weird.�
�Well, maybe. But it is an explanation. Why did Mr. Xanatos
and Mr. Burnett show up the same day and time as we did. Isn�t it lucky
that they know about gargoyles? Or gargoyles themselves? There�s too
many coincidences, Ranma. It�s freaky.�
Ranma sighed and brought Akane closer to him again. �Let�s not
think about that now, Akane. That isn�t the biggest of our problems.
What about being a gargoyle, itself? We�re stuck like this. Even if we
use the boiling water and go through the painful transformation,� Ranma
shuddered in remembrance. Akane hugged him tighter. �Cold water will
find a way to us soon enough. I think it would be easiest if we just stay
gargoyles, permanently, like the Guide said. Just think if we turned into
gargoyles in front of a large crowd. We�d be trampled by the crown
trying to kill us because they thought we were demons.�
Akane sniffled a bit. �You�re right, Ranma. I think I�d be easier if
we stay gargoyles permanently. It would be in our best interests if we
accepted these bodies as fast as we can, too. The sooner, the better.
Maybe we can ask Xanatos� gargoyles about our new forms.� Akane
brushed away a few tears. �Oh my. What are our families going to say?�
Ranma looked down at Akane in concern and hugged her closer,
resting his cheek on one of her horns. �I don�t know, Akane. I don�t
know. But, I�m here, Akane. I will always be here.�
Akane smiled into Ranma�s chest and sighed. She let a few more
tears fall in the remembrance of her humanity.
The jeep pulled up to the hangar, where a black jet was waiting
for them with the Xanatos Enterprises logo. Everyone piled out of the
vehicle and started to unload the equipment. Owen turned around and
addressed the Nerima Four. �The jet is already here and waiting. We can
take off after we gather all the equipment into the cargohold. Akane,
Ranma, you might want to board now and get comfortable. Sunrise is 20
minutes.�
Ukyou looked at the jet. �Xanatos Enterprises...Now I remember
where I have heard that name before. You�re one of the richest men in
the world, aren�t you?�
Xanatos turned to Ukyou and bowed. �You are right, my fair
lady. I do have a rather large bank account.� He winked at her. �I try not
to let that get in my way.�
Ranma and Akane followed Owen into the jet and got ready for
the ride home. Akane hesitated, and then inquired to Owen, �Mr.
Burnett, about this stone thing. Does it hurt when we go under? If we�re
stone, how do we breathe?�
Owen looked to Akane. �Well, I am not sure about the breathing
part, but you are statues. The gargoyles never mention having any pain.
Like I said earlier, they welcome the change. Although, when they wake
up, they do welcome the night with a roar. So, do not worry or feel
embarrassed if you have the urge to let a roar out when you wake up. It is
�The Gargoyle Way,� as one of the older members of the Manhattan clan
is fond of saying.�
Ranma inquired, �How many gargoyles are in the clan in
Manhattan? Are there many?� Akane nodded at Ranma in agreement.
�There are five original members of the clan; they are the ones
that came over from Scotland. Goliath is the leader and has a human,
Elisa Maza, a police officer, for a friend. There is Hudson, who is the
eldest of the Wyvern clan. Then, there are the mated pairs. These
gargoyles are the ones that are in Ishimura, visiting the clan there.� Owen
studied the pair for a moment. �They are about your age. Brooklyn, the
clan�s second-in-command, and Angela, Goliath�s daughter; Lexington, a
computer aficionado, and Aiden, once a human sorceress, she turned
herself into a gargoyle through magic to become Lexington�s mate;
Broadway, the clan�s chef, and Shiun, a transplanted member from
Ishimura�s clan. Last, but certainly not least, is Bronx, a gargoyle beast;
doggoyle if you prefer.�
Ukyou and Ryouga came into the jet. �Hey guys, are you ready?
We are just about to take off.�
Ranma looked at Akane, and set his shoulders. Akane reached
and held his hand in a gesture of comfort. �I guess so. Ready as I�ll ever
be. Mr. Burnett, how long until sunrise?�
Owen looked at his watch. �Three minutes. Please make
yourselves comfortable. Don�t force the change. It will come naturally.�
Ukyou looked strangely at the pair. �The change? Oh, you mean
when you turn into stone. Is that going to be weird or what?�
Akane sighed and glanced at Ryouga and Ukyou. �Yes, it will.
Mr. Burnett assured us that is perfectly natural for gargoyles, so I guess
we have to get used to it.� She turned to Ranma. �Ready?�
�Ready.� He looked to Ukyou and Ryouga. �Make sure nothing
happens to us while we sleep. Being stone, we probably tend to chip
easily. I don�t want to wake up with a finger missing or somethin�.� He
looked pointedly at Ryouga. �No practicin� the Baukai Tenketsu.�
Ryouga blushed and nodded.
Ukyou looked at Ryouga and nodded. �Don�t worry, guys. We�ll
protect you.�
Ranma nodded, stood, and reached for Akane�s hand to help her
stand up. �Okay. See you guys in the morning, or evening...I guess.�
They looked at each other and Akane smiled.
�Ranma, I feel all tingly...is this the change?�
�I feel it too, Akane. I guess so. See you later?�
�Goodnight Ranma.�
��Night, Akane.�
Ukyou and Ryouga watched as the stone started to crawl across
Ranma and Akane. They stared in silent awe as the stone inched its way
up from their feet and climbed all the way to the tips of their horns. Even
while the stone crawled up their bodies, Ranma and Akane kept their eyes
locked on each other, until they were completely encased in stone.
Ukyou sighed, and turned to Ryouga. �I guess that�s it until
sunset, right, sugar? Now, we get to present the Tendos and the
Saotomes with a set of statues.�
Ryouga looked a little green. �I can tell the jet took off. Yeah,
what are we going to tell them? We�re going to get back well before
sunset.�
Owen came into the back and spoke to the pair still left flesh.
�After Mr. Xanatos and I drop the four of you off in Nerima, I will be
staying behind to answer any questions the families have. Mr. Xanatos
will then go pick up the other gargoyles in Ishimura and be back around
sunset. Hopefully, that will give Ranma and Akane enough time to adjust
their families to the situation.�
Ukyou and Ryouga both looked relieved. �Thank you, Mr.
Burnett. You will be a welcome help.�
And so, they settled in for the ride home. On the flight back to
Nerima, Ukyou and Ryouga thought up and outlined a plan detailing the
way they were going to break the news to the unsuspecting families.