Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Trouble with a Capital `A' Chapter 10 Two vans (courtesy of Kuno) drove down the dusty road and pulled up short of entering the forest. The side doors opened up and disgorged a group of ten people who checked themselves over, did stretches and in general got ready. Sasuke exited one van via the driver's side door and Soun Tendo, the other. Genma finished getting the kinks out of his muscles through the one hour journey to this location and looked around at the assembled group. He forwned. His gaze wandered over each of the members of the war party. Next came the Ucchan group. He sighed. His memory wandered back several hours ago... "Genma, they are just children!" Nodoka pleaded. "You are sending them in against a group of savage Amazons!" He turned to her. "What other choice do we have, Nodoka? Our son and his fiancee are being held by them. We have to get them back and somehow I doubt that's going to happen without a fight. They may be young but this group contains some of the best martial artists I've seen." His wife turned away from him, sighing in resignation. "Genma. I-I know you're doing the right thing, I just... I just wish there was another way." "No-chan..." She turned back to him. "I am proud of you. These past few months I have begun to see the Genma Saotome I fell in love with. The situations seemed dangerous, yet you aquitted yourself well." She approached and kissed him on the cheek. "Bring them home Genma. Promise me that." "I promise I will, No-chan." His gaze now turned toward the forest where Ranma, Akane, and most likely Kenji, waited to be rescued. They had to succeed or lose them. They were as ready as they ever were. Now he just had to hope Nabiki's contact was right when he said he saw women in armor going in and out of this forest. At his call, they assembled. "Okay, this is it. My son, Akane, and probably Kenji are hostages in there. We can't do much unless we know they are safe. To this end, Konatsu-san, Yuri-san, and Sasuke-san, you will scout ahead and determine enemy patrols and the location of the hostages. Find them and report back." The trio of ninjas nodded fervently. Genma turned to address everyone else. "If it comes to a fight, and I'm sure it will, then Tofu-sensei will hang back. If you see somebody go down, try to extract them and signal for the good doctor and he'll try to get them going again. That's all I have to say, other than try to Ryoga pointed in the right direction." Ryoga turned red faced at that while everyone laughed. "Okay, let's move out." The brave war party entered the forest. "Are they going to be alright?" Akari asked as Kasumi served tea. The woman were gathered at the Tendo dojo, waiting for their warriors to return. The group consisted of Nodoka, Kasumi, Nabiki, Akari, and Selah. Nodoka smiled. "Of course dear. They are martial artists, warriors from a proud tradition. We have to trust that they will do what is right." She took a sip of tea. "I realized that when I married a martial artist. I knew that Genma would go away from time to time to help those in need." She looked down. "In the back of my mind there was a nagging doubt that he wouldn't return. But I forced it down with the knowledge that if he died, it was because he did so defending and helping others." Her voice became softer as Akari listened intently. "When he took Ranma away to train, I knew it was to teach him what he needed to know to help those in need. That's one of the reasons I accepted that seppuku pledge. I wanted to make sure he was man enough to use the skills he learned to help people, instead of personal gain." "I guess Saotome-ojisan failed in that regard," Nabiki said. "He did plenty of things for personal gain." Nodoka fixed her with a look. "As you have done plenty of things for personal gain. Or personal financial gain, I should say?" Nabiki opened her mouth, but nothing came out "I've heard about some of the things you do to get that money, like selling semi-nude pictures of my son's female side? Genma may not have been a saint, but he did do it to survive on the road so that training Ranma was possible. And not all of the things he did were wrong. He did hold several jobs as he was traveling around and Ranma did attend school. And when it comes down to it, he will try to help those in need." Nabiki hung her head. "I guess you're right, gomen obasama." Nodoka smiled. "That's alright, dear." Selah ate another cookie in silence. She sighed. "He's WHAT!?" Akane yelled when she recovered. "He's getting married to Shampoo," Zhao Len clarified, then tapped her chin thoughtfully. "And maybe a few others as well. Good men are hard to find..." Ranma recovered from his shock. "The only person I'm marryin' is Akane!" The girl in question swelled with pride, while Shampoo scowled. "Airen no marry pervert-girl!" she screamed. "Airen marry strong woman!" "This `pervert-girl' kicked your butt and can do it again!" Akane growled. Shampoo nearly went off the hilt and attacked Akane, but was held back by Zhao Len. "What have you done to Shampoo?" Ranma asked. "She may be allota things, but she has some honor and Akane did beat her in a fair fight. I thought Amazon Law states I'm hands off." Zhao Len grinned evily. "And you also defeated numorous Amazons a short time ago. By Amazon Law, you now have multiple wives." Shampoo scowled at this and turned to the old woman. "" "" she replied. "" Ranma watched the exchange, and though he couldn't understand, it was obvious that Shampoo didn't like what was going on. He said as much. "It does not matter!" the old woman retorted angrily. "You are merely a male and will be wed before the day is out!" She turned, said a few words in Chinese to some Amazons standing nearby, then turned and left with Shampoo. Ranma's cage was picked up by several of the female warriors, and he found himself following the Amazon elder. "Ranma!" Akane called out. "I'll be back, Akane," he said. "I ain't marryin' no Amazon today." Akane nodded, then grinned. "Wo Ai Ni, Airen!" Her admission caused Shampoo to seethe and Ranma to grin. their thoughts ran strangely in unison. Kenji woke up in time to see Ranma carted off. "What's goin' on now?" Akane turned to him. "They got some crazy idea to marry Ranma off to Shampoo, and maybe a few others." Kenji blinked. "I thought Shampoo gave up. Wait a minute, `a few others'? Do they practice polgamy?" She sighed. "Probably not. More like breeding." Kenji's mind reeled at the thought of Ranma getting it on with multiple beautiful Amazon women. He then tried desperately to shoo that thought out of his mind in an attempt to stop the nosebleed he was developing. He wasn't totally successful. "At any rate, we gotta think of a way to escape," he said at last. "There's a very good chance our friends haven't a clue where we are." "I've been thinking along those same lines," Akane replied. "And I think I have an idea. Listen, do you hear something?" Kenji strained his ears. He did hear something. He wondered why he didn't hear it before, but then realized that now since he had some time to rest and recover, his senses were more alert. "Sounds like a stream nearby, but where?" "I think it's somewhere behind us, outside the camp. If you can get to it..." "I can change into a wolf and get out of the chains, maybe the collar too," He finished, then sighed. "Two problems: the Amazons won't let me get that far, and I'd still be stuck in the cage." Akane looked downcast. "You're right of course, we need some type of distraction." "Hey, from every thing you've told me about these Amazons, they respect strength, right?" He asked, to which she nodded. "So why are you still locked up? You beat Shampoo and then fought against multiple Amazons before being captured. That's gotta mean something." "Maybe, but these Amazons," she said, nodding toward the guards, "won't talk or listen to me. That is, even if they understand Japenese." "Well, we gotta think of something, or else your fiance will soon be a married man. And not to you." Yuri bounded effortlessly through the trees, going from branch to branch. It had been almost an hour and not one sign of an Amazon or Kenji. It was becoming so frustrating. What if Nabiki's contact was mistaken? What if he was paid off by the Amazons to lead them here while the real camp was elsewhere? What if they had moved? So many what ifs assualted her mind as her confidence of finding her brother waned. Sasuke was determined to make up for his past failures. Several times now he had failed the Kuno family and nearly gotten someone killed. First, when he was unable to protect master Kuno against the demon that enslaved his masters' minds minds. And again, when Kodachi almost killed Akane, and then when his mistress had captured both him and Ranma. He knew it couldn't be totally his mistress's fault; it had to be some remnant of the demon. He shuddered. All those years that thing had been living in the Kuno ancestral home and he never knew it. He could've done somthing about it, but had only failed. That was why his usual clumsiness was gone, replaced by a fierce sense of determination and purpose. Konatsu felt great. He was back in action and reunited with his friends. He had discovered his manhood and was determined to explore it. He may have been raised a girl, but people can change. Ukyo had promised him a date and she wasn't currently seeing anyone. That surprised him; he would've thought she and Kenji would be an item. But he was happy to have a chance, and maybe rescuing Kenji (yet again) would cause her to look more favorably on him. "This ain't gonna work, Shampoo," Ranma tried to explain to the perky Amazon. He was sitting in a tent now, minus the cage but still wrapped in chains and collared. Shampoo was the only one inside, gettting ready for the wedding. "The only girl I'm marryin' is Akane. Nothing you say or do is gonna change that." "Is okay, Ranma," the Amazon told him, while completing her makeup. "Shampoo know you come to love her in time." Ranma sighed. "You just don't get it, do ya? What makes you think that?" A scary thought popped into Ranma's mind, answering that question almost as soon as he said it. "I hope you ain't thinkin' of usin' some magic or somethin' to mess with my mind." Shampoo didn't say anything, but she did stiffen slightly. "Come on, Shampoo! You mess with my mind and what you get won't be me, just a an imitation! I've never gonna love you the way you want." "YOU LIE!" she screamed. "Why can't airen just accept!? Is all Shampoo wanted; to be loved by strong man. Shampoo be anything for you! Is strong fighter, good cook, have nice body. I make you happy!" Ranma's eyes narrowed. "You can't be Akane." Shampoo looked at him as tears began to form. She couldn't stop the tears however, so she ran from the tent. Outside, she ran into Zhao Len. "What is it, child?" Shampoo fought back her tears. "Pervert-girl have some hold over airen! He say he no love me." "There, there girl. Ranma will come to love you. You have so much to offer. Once he sees this, he realize what a fool he's been. Now come, I have once more task for you before the ceremony, and it concerns our two other captives. We may be able to use them." She hopped up on her staff, the way Cologne used to do, and whispered in the young girls ear. After she was done, Shampoo nodded and dashed off. Zhao Len allowed herself a wicked grin. Sasuske couldn't believe his luck, he had found them! The small ninja was concealed high in a tree and the Amazon camp stretched out before him. He gulped. There were a ton of warriors here, way too many warriors; he easily counted fifty or more. On the other side of the camp, he saw Akane and Kenji being led off into a tent by Shampoo. There was no sign of Ranma, but he did see an old woman who looked a lot like Cologne directing things. Having gathered as much information as he could, he decided it was time to report back. Now, if he could just find the others. As he leapt away, he hit a switch on his belt. This would activate beepers on the two other ninja and Soun. They were set to vibrate, so there would be no noise. Instead, it would let them know their target had been found and to rendezvous. The small homing device the elder Tendo carried would point him the correct direction. Ranma sighed. Try as he like, he couldn't see any way out of this situation. He was now sitting outside in a clearing in the middle of the camp. Various Amazons were gathering around as they waited for the ceremony to begin. As he scanned the crowd, he noted Shampoo and Zhao Len approaching. Behind them, strode Akane and Kenji. He blinked. They stood nearby as Shampoo and Zhao Len stood next to him. "Akane! Kenji! Are you guys okay?" "I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" Kenji said nonchalantly. Akane looked menacingly at him. "Why do you care!? I just want this ceremony over and done with. I can't believe I actually liked you." She shivered. "Akane?" Ranma asked, confused. "Don't waste your time," Zhao Len interjected. "They have seen the light and now reject you." She looked up. "Isn't that right, Akane? Do you love this man?" "Of course not! It was all our parent's idea, I don't care if Shampoo marries the baka!" Ranma was stunned, but a part of him noticed she still wore the engagement ring. "No... That can't be you... What have you done to her!?" Zhao Len merely grinned. "Shall we begin?" "Is this the little girl parade?" Genma called, loud enough for the camp to hear, using the dreaded and fearsome Hell Hound Yell technique. "I've come to see why this pack of mere women are pretending to be warriors!" Even if they couldn't understand Japenese, they definitely understood the leering tone. "If you're not up to challenging this lowly man, I'll understand." There were several angry retorts from the Amazon camp and various warriors grabbed their weapons and headed for the disturbance. As they neared the source, Ryoga rose from the bushes, courage filling him. "Shishi Hokoridan!" The comet blast of red and white ki lanced out into the pack of onrushing warriors, breaking them up and sending more than a few ducking for cover. To Genma's eye, there were still way too many and he decided to do something he never swore he'd do again. "Kijin Rashuu-Dan!" He jumped into the air and released a barrage of vacuum blades from the Yamesenken school of techniques he developed long ago. Genma closed his eyes for a second to try and force out the screams of women suffering severe lacerations and suffering nasty contusions from the deadly move. His eyes then flicked open again and he prepared for the attack. At the wedding site, Zhao Len was interrupted by the explosions and screaming coming from one side of the camp. There was more shouting and commands being issued as the word was passed that they were under attack. A lone Amazon approached the elder matriarch and whispered in her ear. "Then deal with it!" she shouted. "There can't be more than a few attackers! We are Amazons, we fear no one!" The warrior left quickly. "Looks like the party's over, ghoul," Ranma saud, smirking. "You should run now while you still have your life." "Shut up! I think you'll find our warriors more than a match for your pitiful friends." She took a deep breath. "Now, shall we continue? Shan Pu, do you take this male to be..." Ranma tuned her out and turned his attention to a woman standing a few feet away. "Akane, aren't you going to do anything?" "Why would I want to? I hate you!" Ranma sighed, and tried to ignore the stunning shock that phrase did to his insides. Akane clutched her head. "Stop it!" she screamed. "Get out of my head!" Ranma blinked. "YES!" she yelled even louder. "Stop it!" By this time, the ceremony was stopped again as all attention turned toward the screaming woman. Ranma was confused at the moment, but a thought hit him. A thought returned to him and it was in Akane's voice. Akane continued to clutch her head and wail. Ranma didn't understand how, but if he concentrated, he discovered he could send his thoughts to Akane. And some part of Akane that remembered him, was starting to talk back. Ukyo wished for a better battle partner. ANYBODY besides Kuno. While he may be back among the sane, that hadn't stopped his poetry nor his penchant for archaic talk. "Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!" he cried, swinging his bokken magnificantly. While he may not be the best martial artist of the Nermia group, he had practiced many different sword forms and could wield it like an extension of himself. His wooden sword sliced and shredded armor and weapons alike. Ukyo groaned and let loose another flight of charged spatulas. These Amazons were very good. She had seen several use techniques such as the bakusai tenketsu and amaguriken; even a few ki attacks. Fortunately, they didn't seem widespread. She sensed an incoming ki attack and stood ready to receive it. The scrolls that her grandfather had given her had taught her how to channel her creative ki energies into her spatula. She had already been unconsciouly using her ki when she cooked, that's what made her okonomiyaki turn out so well. But conciously focusing on her battle spatula, had made it nearly unbreakable and extremely light (and adding a nifty light, glowing shade of green as well). When she charged her throwing spatulas, they became unstable enough to shatter upon impact after being thrown. That was all she was able to learn before the assault on Krynn's compound. There was one more technique in the scroll, but there had been a problem learning it. It required an actual attack be directed against her before she knew if it would work. Like now. She charged her battle spatula, pivoted and brought it up to block. There was a flash as the ki-blast impacted, then seemingly disappeared. Ukyo continued to rotate from the force of the attack, bringing her battle spatula back around. However, this time it was glowing a bright white. "Hot Plate Special!" she yelled as she swung her huge weapon forward like a batter hitting a home run. The attack that her ki-charged spatula absorbed, launched back towards it's orignial sender. The surprised Amazon who launched the attack was so shocked, she didn't even move as her own ki attack slammed into her. Ukyo didn't have any more time to celebrate as several more Amazons closed in and she was forced to throw a flour bomb. Under the cover of the smoke screen, she withdrew and noted with relief that Kuno had the good instincts to follow her. "Nibai Bakusai Tenketsu Ha!" Ryoga drove two fingers into the ground and two waves of exploding ground traveled out from him at 45 degree angles. He noted with satisfaction that numorous Amazons were thrown to the ground and the rest stepped back. That left enough time and space for his two partners to start their attack. Kurumi set it up by twirling her ribbon in a horizontal spiral and charging it with fire ki. Natsume gathered her cold ki into the end of her rugbeater staff and released it into the ribbon tunnel. "Ring of Dragon Fire!" The elder sister called out as the ki energies mixed and formed a fairly large blast of blue flame. It plowed through it's targets and sent Amazons diving for cover. Yet more warriors stepped up to cover for their sisters, however, forcing the trio to retreat. Everyone continued to watch as Akane fought herself in an internal battle. Zhao Len looked at the way Ranma was watching Akane and slowly came to realize what was happening, and the thought disgusted her as well as filling her with a deep sense of dread. The couple was actually aware of each other on the soul level, and because of the mind- controlling effects Zhao Len had placed on Akane, a side effect had opened a weak telepathic link. But before she could do anything about the situation, Ranma yelled, "Come on ya macho chick! I mean, how uncute can ya get!?" Akane screamed and looked up at him. "Ranma..." Her fierce crimson battle aura flamed into existance around her. "no..." A ball of ki formed in her hands. "BAKA!" She thrust her hands foreward and threw the energy at her fiance. Ranma was flung violently backwards as the ki blast ripped in to him. When it was over, Akane dropped to her knees, shock covering her face and trembling slightly. "Ranma? No... What have I done?" She stared at Ranma's smoking form lying several feet away. The looks on everyone's faces ranged from mildly entertained (Kenji) to shock (Zhao Len) to fear (Shampoo). As Akane's tears began to flow, Ranma stirred. "You did... exactly what I... wanted you too." He slowly got to his feet, minus the chains and collar, destroyed in the blast. He glared at the Amazons around him, daring them to approach as he cracked his knuckles. "Now, you gonna let us go, or am I gonna have to get nasty?" He directed the last comment mainly to a stunned Zhao Len. Unfortuantately, nothing could shock her for long and she recovered. "We shall see. Kenji-san, get him!" The mildy bored ninja jumped to attention and launched himself at surprised Ranma. Soun was grateful for the armor. He had taken several blows that would've crippled him had he not been wearing it. He promised himself that if he ever got out of this, he would become Ranma's student and devote himself to improving his abilities. Still, with his old friend Genma at his back, they were managing to hold their own. Now if only they could get some breathing room. Soun inwardly smiled as he thought of at least one trick he could try. "HOW DARE YOU ATTACK ME!?" Soun launched into Full Demon Head Mode. That stunned their attackers long enough for Genma to do some damage and then for the two of them to retreat. "I have to admit, you still got it, Tendo." "Why thank you, Saotome." Konatsu was keeping an eye on Ukyo. With Kuno as a fighting partner, he was justifiably worried about her. Fortunately, Sasuke seemed to be helping his master even though Kuno was almost oblivious to his actions. That left Konatsu to look after Ukyo. He sent a whirlwind of ninja stars into the attacking Amazons, then drew his takemitsu. This time he knew he was holding the bamboo sword, but that didn't bother him. He was Konatsu Kenzen, kunoichi, and he could use this sword just as well as a real one. He flung himself into the fray and drove off a three-Amazon charge to Ukyo's flank. He then jumped back, looked across the line, and despaired. Despite the initial successes of long range attacks and withdraws, there were still way too many and it was telling. All through the forest, they were becoming engulfed by the waves of Amazon warriors. No longer could they easily retreat. As good as the Nerima combat team was, they couldn't last much longer.