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Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
Trials
Chapter 9





        "My lady! I beg you not to go. It's too dangerous!"

        "I am sorry, my old friend," the lady in the bright blue kimono
replied. "But she needs me now. I am the only one who can help her."

         The caretaker sighed. "But what if something happens? Is one
life worth the possible millions that could be lost if something happens
to you?"

        "If I can help save a life, and I do not, what does that say
about me?" The lady in blue placed a hand upon her old friend's
shoulder. "Especially if she is my own daughter."

         The old man smiled mirthfully. "Sometimes I wonder which one
you really are."

        "I am all of them, and I am her mother."

         He sighed again. "Very well. I know I cannot stop you, but
please be careful."

        "I will. And you will take care of this place in my absence?"
She gestured around the room that contained a small library and the
viewing well.

        "I will. Good luck to you, m'lady."

         The lady in blue lifted her hand into the air and her blue aura
intensified, then consumed her. With a blue flash, she was gone.





         Ranma knew she was making good time and hoped she could catch
up to Akane soon. She'd been hiking for the past several hours almost
non-stop, but had yet to see her iinazuke anywhere. She could only hope
Akane was moving in the same direction she was, and that that woman was
telling the truth about where Akane was going.

         Her clothes had dried out long ago, but still chafed against
her skin. This was nothing new, as her travels with her pop had her
wearing the same thing for long periods of time. She just ignored it.

         Or tried too. She had learned long ago that her female body was
more sensitve then her male one and this made the discomfort worse. Add
to that fact that she was beginning to tire and the hot sun was making
her sweaty, and this made for one miserable red-head.

         All that evaporated however, when she crested the next rise.
Laid out before her was a small valley, but what caught her eye, was the
dark-blue haired girl in jean shorts in the distance. She was walking
the same path Ranma was following, but just about to enter a ravine with
near vertical rocky walls.

        "Akane!" Ranma's feminine voice called exuberantly, but she
didn't seem to hear, so Ranma tried again. "AKANE!"

         This time Akane stopped and turned around, scanning the
horizon. Her face brightened when she spied the red-headed girl on the
faraway hill, her smile growing huge.

         She raised her hand and waved. "Ranma!"

         That's when the boulder laying right next to her exploded.






         Tatewaki's steps were heavy as he walked down the hall, his
mind deep in thought. It had been several weeks since he had last been
here, and part of him had been afraid to return. Afraid, because he
didn't really want to see his sister like.. that.

         Ever since he had brought Kodachi in for medical treatment, she
had been in a world of her own. Delirious at times, unresponsive at
others, but only minimally aware of what was going on around her.
Despite his continued visits and his efforts to get through to her,
Kodachi's condition never changed.

         Now he stood in front of the door, dreading what he would find
inside. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped inside.

         And became utterly astonished at what he saw. Kodachi was
laying on her bed as usual, but a beautiful woman, who looked to be in
her thirties, sat on the bed by her head, stroking his sister's hair
gently.

         She was clad in a brilliant deep blue kimono, her long black
hair tied in a light blue ribbon and draped over her shoulder. She
appeared unaged when compared with his last memory of her, but Tatewaki
Kuno recognized her instantly.

         The woman turned to gaze lovingly at him. "My son..."

        "Okaasan!?"






         A single pebble landed in the small pond, rippling the once
quiet waters. The effect continued for quite some time before calming
once more. Before it could completely return to normal, however, another
pebble joined it's cousin in the watery depths, restarting the rippling
process.

         Ukyo couldn't help but see the pond as a perfect analogy to her
life. She lived a quiet life for the first few years, before the first
pebble was tossed into her pond, the pebble's name being Ranma. He was
the first real friend she could remember and she enjoyed the time they
spent together as children, running and playing. Her life was carefree
and, for a time, she was happy.

         But then, Ranma left her, even though her father had told her
she would spend the rest of her life with her childhood friend. That was
the second pebble, and things started to get worse from there as her
other schoolyard peers made fun of her.

         The third was when she finally caught up to Ranma ten years
later and became infatuated with him. Her life went through many ripples
then, but she got through it by telling herself it would be worth it
when Ranma finally married her.

         Then the fourth came along, but it was more of a boulder than a
pebble. Ranma loved Akane. Akane loved Ranma. Ranma didn't love Ukyo.
Eleven years of her life were wasted for nothing. She couldn't beat
Ranma and she couldn't marry him. What was left for her? Regardless, she
went on living, trying to rebuild her life.

         Now her father was dying and he wanted her to run the business
he created. Her face distorted in anger. <He doesn't bother to
communicate with me for eleven years, and when he does, it's only to do
his bidding!>

         Another pebble was violently thrown into the pond.

        "I thought I'd find you here, little one," came a deep baritone
voice.

         Ukyo looked up, even though she recognized the voice. "Uncle
Yoshiro? What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

         He chuckled lightly, even as he took a seat on the log next to
her. "You aren't the only one to come to this place when you have much
on your mind. Your father and I used to frequent this pond as kids."

        "You did?"

         He nodded. "We both had big dreams back then, of how we would
became the most famous chefs in Japan and make lots of money." He
allowed his smile to fade.

         Ukyo frowned. "He wants me to take over his business, uncle!"

        "What's so bad about that?" he asked her.

        "It's his!" she practically yelled, frustrated. "As if he thinks
this will make up for years of neglect. He all but abandoned me!" She
sighed and her voice became quieter. "It also means I would have to move
away from Nerima and I don't want to do that. I want to make my own
place in life."

        "Then nothing more need be said," he told her. "You are right
and he is wrong."

         Ukyo blinked, not exactly expecting that response from him.
Then a thought struck her. "Wait a minute, why didn't dad turn his
holdings over to you?"

         Yoshiro sighed heavily, giving Ukyo the impression that he
seemed much older. "We had a falling out many years ago." He paused.
"No, it actually began much earlier than that. I seemed to have all the
luck in the family. My business boomed and I was able to start several
restaurants right away. While we were both married at practically the
same time, my wife lived while his died." Ukyo could see the sadness in
her uncle's eyes, as well as regret.

        "Your father began to resent me and my accomplishments," he was
saying. "Even now, he dislikes me enough that he won't allow me to take
care of his business, instead turning it over to you." He fixed his
niece with a steady gaze. "But you know what? I still love him, because
he's my brother. He's all that's left of my blood family."

         Ukyo slowly digested all of this in the several minutes of
silence that followed. <Am I being too harsh on him?> she wondered. <He
is my father, regardless of how he treated me. But I don't want to run
his business!>

         Yoshiro stood up and began to move off. "Remember what I said,
Ukyo-chan."

         He took several more steps before Ukyo came to decsion. "Uncle,
wait! I... I have an idea."





         Akane was tossed against the ravine wall with the force of the
explosion. She yelped weakly in pain as she hit, but it didn't hurt as
much as a good kick from Ranma. She recovered and stood ready while the
dust cloud thinned, revealing the shirtless, muscular man with the top-
knot that Ranma was fighting in the truck before.

        "You again!?" she said disbelievingly. "What is it with you
people!?"

        "Give up, little girl, and it will go easier on you," he told
her, cracking his knuckles and flexing his huge biceps. "It is useless
to resist."

         Akane scowled. "You want me, come get me!"

        "Very well, but don't say I didn't warn you." Then he was
moving, charging forward with a fast straight punch that would have
nailed Akane, had she let it.

         The raven-haired martial artist twisted to the side, letting
the right-handed blow brush by her stomach while bringing her own elbow
down on his. There was a *crack* upon contact, then a second one when
she planted her fist into his face with the same arm. That stunned him
enough for her to leap upwards, kicking up his chest as she went. She
finished the maneuver by flipping back wards in midair and planting her
feet against the vertical rock face behind her.

         With a mighty kiyah, she sprung forward, swinging her foot
around to meet her opponent's face. He began to drift backwards from the
facial impact, but that was countered when her foot passed him and
reversed direction, whacking him in the back of the head and driving his
face in the rock wall.

         Akane finished the mid-air assault and landed triumphantly.
"Ha! Take tha-"

         To her horror, he not only survived that, he came out of it
swinging. His quick backhanded punch nearly caught her off-guard, but
she managed to bring both forearms up to block. Still, the brute
strength behind the blow slammed her several feet away to crash into
another rock wall. Stars exploded in her vision, but she managaed to
shake it off, dropping to the ground and rolling instinctively to avoid
the earth-shattering double-fisted slam.

         Earth-shattering, because the rock face literally exploded.

         Akane rolled to her feet, somewhat dizzily. <I wonder if he
knows the bakusai tenketsu?> In the distance, she could hear Ranma
calling her name. Then there was no more time for thinking as the giant
turned to her with a grin on his face.

        "I am called Kujo," he told her. "I have trained my mind and
body, so that I do not feel pain. You cannot hurt me."

        "We'll see about that!" she returned. <Time to step it up a
notch.> "Tora Dokiken!"

         Akane's golden form blurred foreward, catching her opponent
off-guard while she layed into him with several powerful punches to his
midsection, finishing with an uppercut to his jaw that rocked him
several feet into the air.

         His heavy form shook the ground when it hit, but he kippuped to
his feet immediately afterward. "I told you it is useless to resist. I
do not tire. You do."

        <How do I beat this guy?> she wondered. <How did Ranma deal with
him?> As much as she hated to admit it, she knew she needed Ranma if she
was going to win this.

         Then he was attacking again, moving faster than before, though
Akane was still able to evade his blows. She danced backwards while
planning her next attack. Sensing the moment, she sprung forward, fists
blurring in front of her while she rained hundreds of blows upon the
giant. She then grabbed an arm and swung him around, her confidence
soaring.

        "Moko Takabisha!"

         The sphere of ki caught him full-force, driving him backwards
and cratering the rock wall behind him with his impact, a full two feet
deep. She then blurred back in and attempted to grab his wrist again,
but a hand closed over hers and she was locked in the giant's grip.

         Fear lanced through her, but that was replaced by pain when he
flipped her over and slammed her into the ground. Akane's vision swam,
but wasn't quite hazy enough to avoid seeing the large fist that was
rapidly descending toward her prone body.





        "This cannot be! What manner of dark sorcery is this!?" His hand
went to rest on the katana at his belt.

         The lady in blue sighed. "Tatchi, there magic involved, but it
is not dark. I will explain it all to you in time, but I am here to help
your sister."

         His hand slowly came off the weapon at his side. "Mother, I do
not understand. Where hast thou been?"

         Her eyes were cast downward, almost as she regretted what she
was about to tell him. "I had a duty to perform, one that required my
absence." Her eyes came back up. "Now, will you help me with your
sister?"

         Strangely compelled, he walked around to the other side of the
bed and knelt down beside it as he studied Kodachi's serene face.
"'Dachi..."

        "She is asleep," she told him. "So our best chance to help her
is now."

         Tatewaki looked up in doubt while his mother grabbed ahold of
his hands and placed them on his sister's forehead. Her hands were warm
and tender, just like he remembered. "What-? How do we-?"

         His mother's face was solemn. "We must enter her mind and purge
the demon within."





        "Tora Dokiken!"

         Akane's free hand whipped up and caught the descending fist
perfectly, stopping it in mid-punch. Her opponent's face mingled
surprise and astonishment, while Akane allowed herself a small smile.
She then then shoved the hand away while bringing her feet up to clock
her opponent in the jaw. That caused him to release her other arm, and
Akane prepared for her final move.

        "Tora Sumat-su!"

         She took off like a golden rocket, straight up into her
advesary. Her double-fisted punch impacted his stomach heavily, but that
only barely slowed her down as she continued her vertical flight, taking
the giant with her. As she rose, her grip went from his stomach to his
arm, and she began to spin him at high speeds. At the apex of her ki-
assisted leap she finally let go, sending the big man soaring over the
horizon.

         She descended then and alighted upon the ground, dropping to
one knee and panting heavily. <That took too much out of me, but with
any luck, Ranma should be here if that big guy comes back. Now if I->

         The thought went unfinished as a painful force impacted her
back side, sending her tumbling along the ground. Coming to stop, she
agonizingly dragged her body to a sitting position, eyes widening at the
thin, wiry man who was behind her. <You have got to be kidding!>

        "So you beat Kujo," he said, while tweaking the whips he held,
and that he had struck her with. "But that's as far as you will get." He
allowed his teeth to show.

        "Now you face Daimonji."






         The next thing Tatewaki knew, his world became distorted,
images and colors flowing together into one big mess. Then all went
black. It stayed that way for quite some time, and he was becoming more
distressed as the moments passed.

        "I be blind!" he exclaimed at last.

         A female chuckle echoed around him. "Try opening your eyes,"
his mother's voice sounded.

         Kuno blinked, and the world returned to him. His mother was
standing a few feet away, clad in the same blue kimono, hands clasped in
front of her. But they were no longer in Kodachi's hospital room. As he
scanned the area around him, the knowledge of their current location
came to him.

        "But this cannot be!" he whispered. "Tis' the mansion, but as it
was, not as it currently be!" The richness of the garden around them
testified to that. Sasuke wasn't much of a gardener and Kodachi only
tended those plants which were useful to her in her various concoctions.

        "That's because this isn't real," his mother told him. "This is
merely a fantasy world that has been created for your sister."

         Tatewaki turned to her. "For? By whom?"

        "I'm hurt," a deep echoing voice resounded. "Don't you recognize
my handiwork? I won first place at the demon art festival four years in
a row!" The familair voice dropped to a mutter. "Of course I had to
repeat fifth grade seven times..."

        "Galfgar!" Kuno exclaimed, astonished. "But I vanquished thee...
with a little help from Saotome."

        "Just a little?" The demon sounded amused. "Give it a rest, boy.
You couldn't wipe your nose without that Saotome kid."

        "I've had enough!" Tatewaki drew his sword. "Show thyself
demon!"

        "Oh, so you want another showdown?" Galfgar sighed. "I'm afraid
I can't do that, you know, too predicatable and all. Besides, proper
demon etiquette requires us to send would-be heros through arduous
hardships first." He chuckled. "You aren't the type to read the last
page first in a murder mystery, are you?"

        "Silence, knave! Release my sister or thou shall feel the bite
of my blade once more!"

         His mother regarded him with concern. "Tatchi..."

        "Geez! Can't you talk normal, boy? I've been around centuries
longer than you, and I can speak just fine." He sighed again. "Well,
times a-wastin'. Tell you what though, if you can find me, you can have
your showdown, my treat! Laters!"

        "Wait, demon!" Kuno yelled to the sky, but there was no
response.

        "Tatchi, you cannot beat him that way," his mother said at last,
gesturing to the sword. "Remember, we're in his world, and he has no
physical body to injure anymore."

        "Well then, how dost we free Kodachi?" he asked her.

         She began to walk toward the house, and Tatewaki fell into step
beside her. "First of all, she must want to be freed."

        "Surely thou canst mean my sister wants this!?" he said,
incredulous, indicating the fantasy world with his hand.

         His mother shook her head. "To her, this is very real. We're in
her mind, remember." She pushed open the doors to the mansion. "We must
find her true self and release it, make her see that this is false, and
convince her to return to the real world. Only then will his hold on my
daughter be undone."

         Tatewaki thought about this for a minute then, with
determination on his face, he stepped inside the mansion of Kodachi's
dream world.






        "Bwee.."

        "I know we've looking for a long time, but don't give up,
Katsunishki," Akari told her friend. "Ryoga has to be around here
somewhere, and I know my plan will work." Yet, even her faith was
beginning to waver.

         Talking with her grandfather had helped to raise Akari's
sprirts once he reminded her of a very important point that she had
forgotten, one that could win back her love. Now, armed with that
knowledge, she began searching for her beloved, and her rival.

         But after looking for several days she was unable to find any
trace of him, even after revisiting the Tendo Dojo. So she hit upon the
brilliant idea to become what she was looking for. In essence, she
closed her eyes and began to wander, not caring where she was going. She
hope to simulate Ryoga's directional problem and in doing so, end up
running in to him.

         Still, even that didn't seem to be working and she was
beginning to lose hope.

         She sighed heavily and draped her body over the sumo pig she
rode, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We have to find him, Katsu-
chan, we just have to." She closed her eyes shut to prevent the tears
from leaking out, but was unsuccessful. "I don't know what I'd do if I
never saw him again..."

         Katsunishki suddenly stopped in his tracks. His ears popped up
and he began to aggressively sniff the air.

        "Katsu-chan?" Akari asked hesitantly. "What is it?" She knew
pigs had an incredible sense of smell, even better than a dog, but the
question was, what did he smell?

         His nose dropped to the ground to sniff some more. "Bwee!"

         Akari translated that as, "Hang on!" and did so, wrapping her
arms around the huge collar he wore. No sooner did she get her grip,
then the giant sumo pig took off at a rapid clip, much faster than would
be thought possible for such a large animal. Akari held on for dear life
as Katsunishki took her on a wild ride down the dirt road and through
patches of forest.

         Just when she wondered how long he was going to run, he
stopped. "Bwee!"

        "Katsu-chan?" Akari slowly let go and looked around at the
immediate vicinity, but all she saw was scattered trees and green hills.
When that failed to produce any ideas as to what had got into her sumo
pig, she looked farther off.

         And gasped.

         He looked just like she remembered, minus a shirt, as he stood
in a grassy field near a beat-up shack. Ryoga was balancing huge
boulders on his hands as the warm midday sun beat down up him, his
muscular chest glistening with sweat. The boulders themselves were
bigger than Katsunishki, almost twice his size, yet Ryoga kept them up.
And not only that, but he was steadily, alternatively, raising and
lowering them.

         All this, while balanced on his right foot.

         The scene nearly brought tears to her eyes and immense joy to
her heart. She quickly slid off Katsunishki and started to run towards
him. She opened her mouth and prepared to call out to him.

        "Ryooooogaaa-saaaammmaaaa!"

         Akari stopped. That was most definitely NOT her voice. Her fist
clenched as she recognized it and watched Sakura run at Ryoga from the
other side of the grassy meadow, her intent to glomp him clear.

         The sumo pig trainer's eyes narrowed. "Stop her." Katsunishiki
nodded and took off like a shot.

         Meanwhile, Ryoga had frozen at the sound of Sakura's voice. A
look of dread appeared on his face, as well as a large sweatdrop. He
craned his head to the right, but that only confirmed his fear: A fuku-
clad girl with a brown pony-tail was running toward him, arms
outstreched.

         Ryoga screamed like a girl, tossed the boulders away, cringed,
and froze as he awaited the dreaded glomp of death.

         In dreaded slow motion, he watched, helplessly, as Sakura
became airborne. A second before she was about to make contact, however,
she was suddenly gone, replaced by a very large pig.

         Ryoga started. "K-K-Katsunishiki!?"

         Sakura came to rest on her butt after being bumped away by the
sumo pig. "What-!?"

        "Ryyoogggaa!" came another female cry.

         Ryoga turned. "A-Akari!"

         Sakura's eyes widened, then narrowed. "YOU!"

         Akari came to a stop beside the stunned lost boy, giving Sakura
a vicious gaze. "Keep your paws off Ryoga, you hussy!"