Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Trouble with a Capital `A' Chapter 4 Kenji clawed his way out of the pile of dirt. He broke the surface with his hand and slowly pulled his head out, coughing up dirt. His body felt bruised and sore, but he didn't think anything was broken. He was concerned more for the two girls. "Yuri! Selah! Are you there? Can you hear me?" Silence. He pulled himself out of the dirt pile and cleared the dirt from his eyes. He swore when he opened them. Blackness. Attuned his ears, he briefly wondered offhand what all the screaming was. Crawling on all fours, he traversed the earthen mound, calling out the names of his companions. He was growing more frustrated by the lack of response, when by pure chance he stumbled across a hand. He followed it to where the body lay half buried. It seemed small, so he guessed it was Selah. He began to dig her out. Laying her on her back, he felt around her body for injuries. She was still breathing, so she was still alive. Her head felt okay, no blood. Limbs seemed fine, no broken bones. She moaned under his touch and began to cough violently. Kenji quickly turned her over and held her up, patting her on the back and trying to force any dirt out of her mouth. "K-Kenji-chan?" she croaked. "Shhhh, I'm here Selah-san," he soothed. "W-where are we? Why can't I see? Am I blind?" He hugged her close and rubbed her back. "You're okay, It's just dark. Do feel all right? Does it hurt anywhere?" She thought for a minute. "My head hurts a little, and I have bumps, scratches, and bruises all over." "I'm gonna have to set you down for a minute while I look for Yuri, okay?" "I-I understand." Her voice changed a bit. "Hey! I know a spell that will help! It's one of the first mommy taught me!" He heard her mumble a few words, then a small light ball popped into being above her hand. They both turned away at the sudden bright light, and it vanished. Kenji was amazed. "Oh darn! Sorry Kenji-chan. I'll try it again." She mumbled again and the light popped back. This time, they were ready for it. The young ninja trainee set her down and looked around. The dirt was piled in the center of a brick room. There were no openings, and more dirt covered the floor than was in the pile. Selah sent the light up to the top of the room and the two looked around. Kenji spotted his sister laying on the other side of the room. She wasn't moving. He walked over to her and rolled her onto her back. Her eyes were closed, but he was relieved to see that she was still breathing. "Imouto-chan!" he said, gently shaking her. He elevated her head and brushed the dirt off of it. She began to stir. "Onniichan?" she croaked while spitting out dirt. "It's me. How do you feel?" "Like I just went several rounds with Akane," she groaned, then slowly sat up. Selah came over to them. "I couldn't find any way out," she said. "Sorry. But I do sense water nearby, and lots of it. I may be able to call it here and maybe open a passage with it." Kenji and Yuri were impressed. They stood up and gave her the clearance to do so. Selah giggled with delight and sat down, concentrating. After a few minutes, a rumbling could be heard, then the room exploded. "There's no way out!" Soun said, after having tried once again to break down the walls or ceiling. The room was almost filled up. [How much can you drink?] Genma-panda signed. "This is no time for jokes, Saotome." [Who's joking?] Soun sighed. "There's so much for us yet to do. We haven't even seen our kids get married yet. We're gonna dieeeee!" The last word was accompied by Soun's own waterworks. Genma-panda hit him on the head with a sign that read, [Don't add to the problem!] Soun dried up. "Sorry old friend, force of habit. I'm better now." The room was almost flooded now. There was just enough space between the water and the ceiling for their heads. Suddenly, the water in the room begin to move violently. The two drenched martial artists were tossed about as a whirlpool began to form. Then, the room was full. The water continued to churn, however, then released all of it's might against a potion of the floor. With a mighty *crack*, the water poured out through the new opening and Genma and Soun were pulled along with the now-rapidly moving river. It burst through several more walls, before slamming through a last brick one. Kenji and Yuri watched in fright as a huge amount of water burst through one wall, then redirected itself toward the ceiling before touching them. It plowed through the obstacle and shot out of the house before dissipating into rain which drenched everything, including Kenji. Selah broke out of her trance and the two girls helped the wolf through one of the openings. Outside, a man and a panda were caught up in a tree. "Why do I let you talk me into these things?" Soun asked his old-friend-now-panda. Instead of words, Genma drew a picture of a katana on his sign, and Soun sweatdropped. "I suppose you're right..." Meanwhile, in the bedroom... "Pig-tailed girl?" Kodachi asked after she recovered somewhat. She opened his Chinese shirt to make sure and was greeted by breasts. "Where's my Ranma-sama?" Onna-Ranma smirked. "I'm Ranma. Sorry to disappoint ya, but now you know why it would never work out between us." Kodachi thought for a minute, then turned her head as if listening to something. "What? You think so? Ok, I'll give it a try." She went over to the same corner and pulled a tea kettle off the stove. Ranma tried to hide his fear as she came back to him. Kodachi debated with herself for a second, then poured the hot water on Ranma. She changed back into a he and Kodachi became excited. "You know what this means darling!? We can have extra fun! When I'm done with one form, I can switch to the next!" "H-how did you know?" Ranma asked. "I didn't, but the voice inside me did," she answered, and Ranma was sorry he asked. She climbed back on top of him and ran her hands over his chest. "So manly... Make a woman out of me, Ranma-sama..." "Kodachi, I mmmmppphhh..." his words were cut off by a kiss. "So, any ideas on how to get out of this?" Ukyo asked. "I'm afraid I am at a loss for a course of action," Kuno said. Akane growled. She had tried throwing a ki blast to hit the wall mounted flame-throwers, but they dissipated in the flames before reaching their targets. "Well, I think I could get out of here, but I'd have to leave you two behind." "Then you gotta go Akane-chan. Ranchan needs you." Ukyo inwardly winced. "You sure you guys will be alright?" "Fair Akane-kun, when you find Saotome, you will find Kodachi," Kuno answered. "When you find my sister, you will find the means to shut off the flame traps." "All right guys, I won't let you down." She turned toward a wall. "Moko Sumat-Su!" Akane's body burts into flame and she shot comet- like through the flames at high speeds and slammed through the wall like it wasn't even there. As soon as she left, the flame room began the rumble and the ground exploded with water, carrying the two people left behind up the geyser and through the roof of the house with Soun and Genma-panda. The four looked curiously at each other for a moment before the geyser split, sending them in different directions. Akane slammed through several more rooms before coming to a halt to assess her situation. Across the room was a bed and Kodachi was on it. She wasn't wearing much and Ranma was underneath her. And they were liplocked "RANMA!" she yelled, part in shock, disbelief, and anger. Kodachi broke off the kiss long enough for Ranma to yell, "Akane, it isn't what you think! You gotta help me!" Akane felt the old angry and jealous monster in her begin to rise, but it was countered by a new voice that said that Ranma loved her, so he couldn't be participating willingly. It was hard, but she managed to keep her emotions in check. It was Kodachi she should be mad at. "Oh, Tendo, would you mind leaving us alone," Kodachi asked. "We are on our honeymoon." "Get_off_my_fiance_you_BITCH!" Akane's voice started soft and ended with a bang, or more appropiately, a ki-blast. "Moko Takabisha!" The ki-ball slammed into the Black Rose and sent her tumbling off Ranma. "Whew, thanks Akane," Ranma said with much relief. Akane just snarled (at him or Kodachi he didn't know, but he kept quiet) and started after Kodachi, who was just regaining her feet. Since Akane was more angry than confident, the ki blast didn't do much actual damage. "Very well, Tendo." the Black Rose pronounced `Tendo' like it was something vile. "We shall settle this once and for all." She grabbed her ribbon and flicked it at Akane, who merely dodged. She followed it up with a razor hoop that Akane blasted out of the air, then continued her inexorable march forward. Kodachi attacked by tossing a few spiked clubs that the enraged Tendo caught by the handle and sent back at the madwoman, but that left her open to a ribbon strike that wound around her neck. Kodachi grinned. "I have you now!" She pushed a button on the handle and the metallic strips in the ribbon were charged with electricity. Akane screamed in pain, but her system was flooded with adrenaline by now and she merely dropped to her knees instead of succumbing totally. The battery in the handle ran out of juice and the shocks stopped. Akane grabbed the ribbon and yanked, pulling Kodachi foreword. She ripped off the rest of the ribbon and regained her feet. "Nothing you do will save you," Akane stated evenly. "We'll see about that. Attack of the Thousand Clubs!" Kodachi's hands blurred as she thrust multiple club strikes at her nemesis. "Tora Dokiken!" Akane sent her fists into the flurry, knocking away and destroying some clubs, then delivering a hyper punch into Kodachi's midsection, driving the wind out of her and forcing the mad woman to her knees. Akane delivered a powerful crane kick that snapped Kodachi's head up and sent her tumbling away, while the gold flames around Akane disappeared. Akane's confidence soared as the Black Rose shakily regained her feet. "Ranma loves ME!" Akane yelled. "He will never love you! Nibai Moko Takabisha!" Both Ranma's and Kodachi's eyes widened as Akane sent two ki balls at her enemy. Kodachi barely dodged one, but caught the other full force. She screamed and went flying into a wall and into unconciousness, her clothes black and extra crispy. Akane stood still for a few seconds catching her breath, preparing to attack again if need be. "Uh, Akane, think you could get me out of this?" Ranma asked softly. She turned around to look at him, still attached to the bed. "Ranma!" She ran over to him and collapsed on top of his chest, sobbing gently. Ranma wished he had enough strength to wrap his arms around her. "It's okay, Akane, I'm here and I'm all right." She stopped crying and looked up at him, then began to kiss him passionately. "Akane?" he asked in between kisses. "Hmm?" "Not that I'm not enjoying this, `cause I really am. But would you mind freeing me?" Akane jerked her head back with an embarassed look on her face. "Gomen Ranma, I..." He laughed. "It's okay. Just part of the `saving the person in distress' routine you'll have ta learn." She giggled and applied all her strength to each of the steel manacles, snapping them open. When she was done, she looked at him curiously. "They weren't that hard to break. Why couldn't you escape?" "Ah... well... I've been kinda drugged up and don't have much strength at the moment." Akane got an evil glint in her eye. "You mean I'll have to carry you out?" Ranma's eyes widened. "You wouldn't?" Her look said she would. "Akane, you can't! What if people see us!?" She frowned. "What? You afraid to be seen with me now?" "No Akane, that's not it! I mean, a girl shouldn't carry a guy, it's supposed to be the other way around!" She sighed and kissed him. "Saotome Ranma, I love you with all of my heart, but you are gonna have to learn to lose your ego." She scooped him up in her arms and he groaned. Ranma wrapped his arms around his fiance as she walked out of the room. She took him downstairs and outside. Genma-panda, Soun, Ukyo, and Kuno were already out there, apparently preparing a second infiltration attempt. They stopped and stared as Akane happily carried an embarrassed Ranma out to them and set him down on the grass. "Akane, you found him!" Soun cried. "The union of our two houses is secure!" "Indeed, I knew that you would be successful," Kuno stated. "What news of my twisted sister?" "Oh, she's upstairs unconcious," Akane replied. "Take a left at the top of the staircase and head all the way down. It's the last door to your right." Kuno bowed. "My thanks." He left to go retrieve his sister. "Ranchan!" Ukyo exclaimed. "You all right?" "Yeah, Ucchan, I'm uh, just a little weak," he replied. When Ukyo looked confused he clarified. "From the drugs. Kodachi didn't want me goin' nowhere." She nodded. "Well, I just got off the phone with Nabiki. She'll have a couple cabs by to pick us up soon." Akane looked around. "Where are Kenji, Yuri, and Selah?" "Right here Akane-chan!" Yuri called, leading Selah and a small wolf out the front door. Selah looked a little shook up, but was trying her best not to show it. "Is everyone all right?" "Yeah. Ranma's a little weak and I'm a little exhausted from the fight, but nothing major. How about you?" Yuri stretched her arms. "We're all a little sore from having a ton of dirt dropped us, but I think we'll live." Kuno soon emerged from the house as well, carrying his still unconcious sister wrapped in a blanket to preserve her modesty, what was left of it anyway. What was most surprising, was that Sasuke was following him. When asked, he replied that he found the ninja after hearing sounds calling from inside a wall in the room he found Kodachi in. Both Ranma and Akane were apparently so caught up in themselves, they didn't hear him. Kenji-ookami growled menacingly at the bundle Tatewaki carried, and Kuno barely managed to twist his sister out of the way to avoid the attempted bite. "What be the matter with thee?" Kuno asked, surprised. "Uh oh, I don't think he's too happy about having a load of dirt dropped on him," Yuri replied, stepping between her lupine brother and Kuno. "Calm down, `nichan." Ukyo stepped up next to her, her battle spatula in a ready position. "It's over, don't make me use this." Kenji glanced back and forth between the two women, then snorted and turned back around. It was clear that he hadn't totally given up, but the two women were satisfied for now. By this time, the cabs had arrived and the mixed group piled inside, heading for home. Hikaru was miserable. This wasn't an unknown feeling to him; he'd been miserable most of his life. But this time he was miserable in a girl's body. He always wanted to know more about women, but he thought this was taking it a bit too far. Going to the bathroom had been an experience that he would rather forget. He would've taken a bit more pleasure in looking at his new body if it wasn't attached to him. Ariko had been trying to teach him how to act and what to expect. He sighed. She was taking this far better than he was. Ariko was a becoming worried. Hikaru was obviously depressed, albeit more than normal. Of course, he had perked up some when they discussed magic, but went back to being depressed afterward. She considered the whole body swapping thing a learning experience and was discovering what it meant to be male. She sighed. There was something she had wanted to tell Hikaru for awhile now, since she knew he would be experiencing it soon. "Hi-chan?" "Yeah?" "There's something I need to warn you about that happens to a woman once a month..." She went into explaining the condensed version. Gos stared at her for a second, then passed out. Lucky thing Miyo had let them stay at her place until their conditions could be reversed. Ariko's parents were away for a couple of weeks on business, and Hikaru's didn't seem to worry or care much about his activities. He was waking up again and asked what happened. She told him again. He passed out again. She sighed again. This wasn't going to be easy.