Here's the sequel to Winds of Change. Enjoy! Contact me at: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: I am Kami-sama. I claim everything. Ahem. On with the show. ------------------------------------------------------------- Calling. When the Wind changes someone's life, a response to the change is practically demanded. Sometimes, the Wind arranges things so only a few responses are available.Those that believe in Fate and Destiny, refer to this as a Calling. Something they should do with their life, based on what they believe their destiny is. Even those that don't believe in fate, must ask themselves these questions: Why am I here? What should I do with my life? Life has just begun to change for several individuals within the town of Nerima, Japan, yet even bigger changes are on the way. The time is coming when certain martial artists must determine their fate for themselves. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Wind's Calling Chapter 1 Ariko bolted awake. Though her room was pitch black, she could sense movement around her. "Who's there?" she whispered. "Show yourself." The movement ceased, but she could still sense someone in her room. She forced herself to calm down. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The words came to her and she spoke them softly. Her eyes opened again and she stretched out her hand. Two silhouettes were outlined in a faint red hue. She gathered her concentration again and tried to recall the words to another of the few spells she knew. When the words were chanted in her head, she pointed her hand at one of the intruders. "Take this!" A bolt of electricity leapt from her hand and struck her target dead center. The man crumpled and a feeling of elation washed through Ariko. She tried to start the spell again, but didn't have time. While the next target didn't move, a cloud of something engulfed her and she inhaled. Immediately, she started feeling incredibly dizzy. The spell on her lips vanished and she collapsed back onto her bed. As she lay there, she watched helplessly as the three figures advanced on her. was her last thought before passing out. Ukyo thought to herself. Actually, she was currently scaling a steep hill. A few tears formed in her eyes as memory forced itself on her. In her mind's eye, she could see a flash of red knock the boulder out of the way. Then, both it and Konatsu disappeared into the abyss. She reached to top of the hill and got a good view of the surrounding terrain. Not that there was much to see; it was the same as the terrain she been seeing for the past few hours. Or was it days? No, it had to be hours because she hadn't had anything to eat since she woke up and she wasn't hungry. Of course, she really didn't get tired either. In either case, all she could see was a thick forest canopy. It was split into two parts by the dirt road she continued to walk. As far as she could see, the road continued for quite a long distance and disappeared into the horizon. "What is the meaning of this!?" she yelled in frustration. She promptly collapsed onto a large boulder to gather her thoughts. "Meaning of what?" a familiar voice asked. Ukyo turned around, searching for the speaker, and gasped when she saw him standing there. "Ranchan!" she exclaimed and promptly ran over to him to give him a hug. However, he jumped over her before she could wrap her arms around him. "Ranchan?" "Why are you callin' me, `Ranchan'?" he asked. Ukyo was confused. "That's your name..." "It is?" he shrugged. "Oh, well, I guess that's a good a name as always. I'll take it! By the way, who are you?" "What's going here?" she asked hesitantly. "If this is one of your games, I'm not laughing." `Ranchan' smiled. "OOOOOOH! Games! I like games! Wanna play? How about Monopoly(tm)?" A monopoly(tm) game board suddenly fell out of the sky and landed on ground. "What!?" "You're right, Nabiki's got the market on that one. How about checkers? Space invaders? Mortal Wombat?" As he named each one, they fell out of the sky and set themselves up. Ukyo shook her head. This couldn't be happening. "SHUT UP!" she yelled, and Ranchan quickly silenced. "Just who are you?" "I thought I was Ranchan?" he asked meekly. Ukyo sighed. "Well, you sure aren't acting like him. So who or what are you?" He grinned again. "I'm a figment of your imagination!" She blinked. "Nani?" "You got it! I'm the Ranchan you always wanted but could never have. Well, you can have me now! Let's go!" With that, he grabbed her and leaped into the sky. Ukyo could only hold on as he landed, ran a few short feet, then leapt again. When she opened her eyes and looked down, she suddenly realized he was leaping from rooftop to rooftop over Nerima. "Hey, we're back in Nerima!" she exclaimed. "Hey! Ranchan, you can put me down now!" He stopped, looked at her strangely, and set her down. "But we're almost to your restaurant and I'm hungry!" He pointed and she turned to see her restaurant across the street. "Well, I suppose I can fix you something to eat, come on!" She felt so happy! Her Ranchan had rescued her and brought her back home. She just had to fix him some of her famous okonomiyaki and he would be hers! Somehow, her mind conveniently forgot about where she had been and just decided to accept the current situation. She opened the door to `Ucchans' and flicked on the lights. It was empty inside,of course, but she quickly jumped into the task of cooking while her Ranchan sat down at the counter. As she prepared the batter, she couldn't help but feel that something was missing. "What's on your mind?" Ranchan asked. Ukyo looked up to see her fiance looking at her with concern on his face. "Is something wrong? Are you not happy?" Ukyo forced herself to smile. "Of course, everything's fine!" He smiled at her and she melted. "Good! Then you won't mind if I do this!" He bent forward, bringing their heads close together. Ukyo's heart jumped as she realized what he was about to do. With a quick motion, he brushed his lips against hers, and locked them together in a passionate kiss. It lasted a for a few seconds before he broke away. Ukyo stood there speechless for moment before finding her voice again. "Ranchan, what was that for?" He looked confused. "Isn't that what fiances do?" Ukyo's heart soared. He was finally acknowledging her as his fiancee! And her loved her! "Yes, of course! Oh Ranchan, I knew you'd pick me!" She bent over and returned the kiss. This one was a whole lot deeper and lasted a whole lot longer. She was so into it, she didn't even notice someone else come in until the newcomer spoke. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY FIANCE!?" They broke off the kiss and turned to see who it was. It was Akane. There she was, and he thought she never looked more beautiful in his enitre life. She smiled at him, her face framed by the two pretty blue flowers on either side of her head. He could swear his heart would pound right out of his chest. "You love me, don't you?" she asked, her voice hopeful. he wanted to say. "I didn't say it!" Tears began to flow down her face, and she dropped the bouquet of flowers she was holding. "You really don't like me, do you?" But no words would come out of his mouth. "If that's the way you feel, then fine!" She ran out of her room, and he ran after her. He followed her as she ran into the dojo. "Look out!" he yelled, but it was too late. Steaming meat buns and okonomiyaki were headed straight for her, and they exploded as they made contact. Nevertheless, he ran up to her still form and dropped to his knees, picking her up as he did so. "No! Please be alright! You can't die!" She opened her eyes slightly. "Why? You don't love me. Whay should you care whether I live or die?" Her clothes and the scenery shifted, and now he was holding her on a ledge of stone above a pool of cold water. She was only wearing one of his red shirts and her eyes were closed. "Bu-but I do! Akane! I love you!" But unlike last time, she didn't wake up. She was dead, and tears were rapidly falling down his face, his mind hysterical. She seemed to whisper something, so he leaned closer. "G... Ranma..." "Akane!" "Ge... um, Ranma..." "I can't understand you!" "I said, Get up boy!" He froze, that was not Akane's voice. "Or do I have to use this bucket of water?" Genma taunted. Ranma rolled over his sleep, now sensing he was in his futon and his father was above him. "Go away, Oyaji. I'll be out in a second." "A true martial artist should be ready for anything," he reprimanded his son. "If I were a serious attacker, you'd be dead by now." As if to underscore his point, he dumped the water onto his son, who managed to roll away and stand up just in time to avoid getting wet. "What are ya tryin' to do Pop!?" His father grinned. "Good, you're awake!" And promptly launched himself at his son. Ranma grabbed the front of his father's gi and fell backwards, tossing him out the window (which just happen to open since Genma had planned to throw his son out it). He dressed quickly, adrenaline pumping through his system from the dream. For once, he was really looking forward to the morning's workout so he could release his pent-up energy. Once his clothes were on, he leapt out the window after his father. As he landed on the ground, he searched for any sign of his dad, but Genma was nowhere in sight. "All right Pops, where are ya?" he yelled. "Or are ya too chicken to finish what you started?" "Right here!" Ranma barely had time to jump back as his father jumped from the roof to punch the ground where his son was standing a moment ago. "You're gettin' slow old man!" "I'm more of a martial artist than you'll ever be!" "Oh yeah, then prove it!" Ranma assumed a fighting stance. His father did likewise, then charged and the battle was joined. A flurry of punches and kicks were exchanged and at first Ranma seemed to have the upper hand. Then Genma managed to grab his son's wrist and twist it around his back. "Come on, boy, is that the best you've got?" he taunted. Ranma grunted, then tossed his head back, headbutting his father's chin and forcing him to let go. He then swung his left leg around, landing his foot into his opponent's stomach. Following up, he landed a few well placed punches and one more kick that knocked his father into the one location Cosmic Law demands one of them end up in: The small pond in the big yard. As expected, Genma-panda emerged looking down-trodden and growled at his son. "Like I said, you're gettin' slow old man!" Ranma laughed and then turned away. Genma seized the opportunity to jump out of the pond and warp his big furry arms around his son. "Hey! Lemme go!" he yelled. But it was too late. *Splash!* Genma-panda looked down at his son who was now his daughter. "What'd you that for!?" the red head complained. She leapt up to continue the assault when Kasumi called them to breakfast. Grumbling, the two entered the house and retrieved the hot water kettle. After changing back, they sat down at the table with everyone else. Well, almost everyone else. Kenji had left yesterday morning to go find his family's house and make amends with his old life. Ranma's mother had left to go comfort and look after a friend who was feeling quite ill. The pig-tailed youth sat down and immediately began scarfing down his bowl of rice. He slowed down and stopped when he noticed Akane smile at him. She turned her attention back to her food when he looked up at her. In that instant, the dream came back to him. He started to eat again, albeit slower this time. He didn't know where that dream had come from. All he remembered was the horrible feeling in his gut when he thought she was dead, both in Jusendo and in his dream. he promised. He absently fended off all his father's attempts to steal his food. Breakfast soon ended, and Genma and Soun retreated to their shogi board. Kasumi went into the kitchen to clean up and Nabiki flipped the TV on as she, Akane, and Ranma watched. A local news show was currently being broadcast. "...and in other news, another home was broken into, burglarized and a young female was abducted. The young girl was listed as Henki Ariko." a recently taken photo took it's place on the screen. "That would make it the third such incident in the past week. Police still have no clue as to what ties these events together, but urged everyone to remain calm and to report any suspicious persons. When interviewed, the parents had no idea as to who would want to kidnap their little girl. Most of what was stolen, was in their daughter's bedroom. " Ranma glanced over at Akane to see a look of worry on her face. "Hey Akane, what's wrong?" he asked. "The police'll catch these guys." Ranma grinned. "Unless they try breaking in here, in which case they'll have ta deal with me!" She looked up and scowled at him, then her face relaxed when she saw he was only concerned about her. "I suppose you're right." She sighed. "I guess I'm also just a little worried about Kenji." Ranma shrugged. "Is that all? He can take care of himself, and no one's after him this time." "I know what you mean, Akane," Nabiki spoke up. "I kinda miss the amnesiac kid, too." Akane stared at her older sister, who shrugged. "I wasn't able to make much money off of him before he left." "Some things never change," Ranma muttered under his breath. Then said out loud, "But don't worry, it's not like Kenji's got the same bad direction sense as Ryoga." The lost boy in question was, in fact, living up to his nickname. After the whole mage battle scene, he had once again gotten lost before he could beat the snot out of, er, challenge Kenji to a little match. Now he was just trying to get back to Nerima. he grumbled to himself. He stopped. Images flashed through his head of his impending defeat of Ranma. There he was, about to deliver the finishing blow, when the little punk blasted him with something. He continued walking down the dusty road, laughing a little. His thoughts drifted a bit to the other person he was searching for. A lovely young woman with long brown hair who had said she loved him. His thoughts darkened as he realized he may never find her with his direction problems and his Jusenkyo curse. Which of course, returned his thoughts to... "This is all Ranma's fault!" he grumbled louder, then reduced a nearby boulder to powder. He sighed, then continued on. His hopes soared again when he noticed a lone figure up ahead. The figure was sitting on a stump by the side of the road with his back towards Ryoga. He was also draped in a cloak,similar to Ryoga's, against the sandy winds that were currently blowing. Though the lost boy was also wearing goggles that obscured his face. "Hey you!" he called. "Do you know how to get to Nerima from here?" The figure turned to look at him. A brown cloth mask covered his mouth and, with the same color hood over his head, all Ryoga could see were the grey eyes. The man studied the lost boy for a moment, then pointed back in the direction Ryoga had come. Ryoga sighed. "Thanks, I..." The wind took that moment to lift a bit of the man's hood and expose the black hair, with an inch-tick white streak down the middle. Ryoga recognized the man's hair, if nothing else. "YOU!" Watching from his special chamber on the kami plane, a certain minor kami grinned. His name is Bob. Now I know what you're thinking, `why is a japenese kami named Bob?' Simple, he was last in line. Back at the beginning of time, Kami-sama, the one who rules over all, had to name all of his kami. When Bob finally showed up after a thousand years, Kami-sama had all but run out of names. Tired and wanting a vaction from all the naming, Kami-sama took one look at the last minor kami and said, "You're Bob. Now get lost." And so named, Bob went off to rent his own office on the kami plane from where he could do his thing. And what is his thing? His official title says it all: Kami of mishaps, unusual meetings, and bad timing. He originally wanted the title of `Kami of bloopers and practical jokes,' but was informed a pair of gaijin kami already held that title. One supposedly never aged and danced well, and the other was known to give away great fortunes year after year. But I digress. Bob was currently happy because of how well he had timed this current encounter, proving the second and third descriptors in his title. As for the first descriptor, well, he spied a father and daughter in the same area and decided to have some more fun with the two martial artists. Rubbing his hands together, he gleefully leapt into his task. Back on the mortal plane, the wind took that moment to die down, leaving the area deathly silent after Ryoga's outburst. The figure the lost boy was looking at, widened his eyes in surprise and cocked his head. Ryoga realized the man might not have recognized him with his own cloak and goggles, so he ripped them off and threw them to the ground, unholstering his umbrella in the process. "You're the snot-nosed punk who attacked in the middle of my fight with Ranma!" he growled. "Prepare to die!" Ryoga brought the umbrella down with crushing force, but the figure had already vacated the spot with a high backflip. In mid-leap, he pulled his hood and mask down, revealing a head of black hair with a white stripe down the middle. "You're Hibiki, aren't you?" asked Kenji, growing upset. "You just interupted my training session, and I was doing so well, too." He landed on the ground and assumed an attack stance. His tone lowered and he continued, menacingly, "I don't know what your problem is, but if you want a fight, you've got one." Ryoga charged. "That's Hibiki Ryoga to you! Now shut up and fight, punk!" "The name's Soyokaze Kenji," he yelled back. "Try to remember it after I bash your head in!" Kenji dodged the first three swings of the umbrella then flipped over Ryoga's head, kicking him in the back in the process. The lost boy moved foreword a half-step, then turned and continued the assault, unfazed. "What was that?" Ryoga taunted. "A baby kick?" Kenji gritted his teeth. "Just getting warmed up!" The amnesiac ducked in low, under a power slash by the lost boy. Planting his hands on the ground, Kenji shot his feet upwards, impacting the wrist holding the umbrella. Ryoga's hand flew upwards and the umbrella went sailing away. Kenji rolled away and came up standing. He smirked. "Not so tough without your toy now, eh?" "I don't need it to deal with you!" Ryoga yelled back. He charged in again, arms shooting out in powerful punches. Once again, Kenji's agility easily allowed him to dodge the attacks, though one fist was able to clip him in the side. Pain flared in his lower torso, but Kenji managed to return several strikes to his opponent's body and head, then flip away. Ryoga wasn't through, however, pausing only to remove several bandannas from his head. To the other boy's surprise, the lost boy then flipped them in his direction. The amnesiac's danger sense pinged and he jumped out of the way as the projectiles shredded the landscape where he was just standing. "What the hell was that!?" Kenji exclaimed in disbelief. Ryoga grinned. "Just one of my little gifts." Another flight of bandanna's angled their way in as Kenji stood up. But instead of running, he decided to try something else. he thought to himself. Then he thrust out his right palm. "Hitohuki!" he called. A minor blast of wind sped from his open palm, engulfing the bandanna's and sending them off course. "You'll have to do better than-- oof!" Ryoga had taken advantage of the bandanna distraction to launch an attack, and one of his fists was now implanted in Kenji's stomach. The amnesiac went flying backwards and rolled when he hit the ground. He shakily regained his feet, one arm across his stomach. "Like I said, you'll... have to do better... than that." Ryoga nodded. "How about this? Ha!" He flew towards the now-slower amnesiac in a flurry of punches. Only this time, the punches were a feint. The real attack was when he poked the ground with his finger. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" Kenji still had enough speed to dodge the punches, but the exploding ground caught him totally off-guard. He went airborne once more, landing beyond several bushes, and out of Ryoga's sight. Ryoga laughed in triumph and leapt after him... straight into the stream that Kenji's clothes, and a wet dog, were now occupying. *Splash!* The wet dog looked at the wet piglet and their thoughts were identical. Then the fight instinct kicked back in. "Bwee bwee!" "Woof Woof!" "Bwee." Nevertheless, Ryoga snarled as only a Jusenkyo-cursed pig could, and sprung at the larger animal. Surprised by the speed of the assault, Kenji took the body slam under his jaw. His head flew upwards as the impact forced him back a few steps. Ryoga gave the wolf no time to recover, rebounding off the ground to slam into his opponent's side. Kenji fell and rolled out of the stream, but jerked back to a standing position when Ryoga began to bite and chew on one of his hind legs. Kenji yelped and thrust his leg back, tossing his porcine adversary away. Ryoga sprung again, but this time Kenji was ready. Angry at how easily Ryoga was beating him as a pig, was consuming his thoughts. He reached a paw up and batted the piglet out of the air, sending his porcine advesary into a tree. Ryoga's little piglet body couldn't take the abuse of his human one, so he was left stunned and dazed as he slid to the ground. Kenji advanced on his downed foe, teeth bared and growling menacingly. On some basic, animalistic level, his mind saw the dazed piglet as a meal and was sending signals to Kenji's salvitory glands. The amnesiac was too lost to his anger to intellectually realize what was happening to him. He scooped the piglet up in his mouth and prepared to bite down. Ryoga recovered enough of his senses to realize that one of his worst nightmares was about to happen. He was about to be eaten. "BWEEE!" "Now Papa!" That was all Kenji heard, as an impact upon his skull sent him off to lala land. Ryoga, stressed by the situation and the increased pressure on him by a fearsome mouth full of sharp teeth, fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------ In case you didn't get the joke, the two gaijin kami Bob is referring to are Dick Clark and Ed McMann. They hosted the originial show "Bloopers and Practical Jokes" a while ago. Dick Clark is known as the world's oldest teenager, because he still appears young, even though he's in his 50s or something by now. Ed McMann is also part of an annual sweepstakes (Publishers Clearing House?) that gives away 10 million dollars. So now you get it? Right? Hmmm, I think my writing has actually improved through this. You think? Contact me at: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: I'm didn't create anything! The little elf on my shoulder told me! Honest! Onward. Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 2 "Hi Akane, what brings you by?" Ranma asked. "What do you think you're doing!?" she demanded, her blue battle aura flaring. "Just kissing my fiancee, is that okay?" he asked. Ukyo glanced back and forth between the two and wondered why this situation felt so wrong. She shook her head. Ranchan had chosen HER, as she knew he would. She had known him the longest and he had promised to take care of her. From now on, her life would be perfect! "I've won, Akane, why don't you just accept it?" asked Ukyo condescendingly. "We can at least be friends." Ranchan looked back at Ukyo and gave her a loving glance. Akane looked ready to explode, then her aura promptly faded and tears began to well up in her eyes. "If that's the way you want it, FINE!" She began to cry. "Good-bye!" She turned and sprinted out of the restaurant. Ukyo began to feel really sick to her stomach. She didn't expect Akane to show so much emotion and caring since it didn't seem that she even liked Ranma. She turned back to Ranma who was still smiling at her. What was on his mind? "So, how about that okonomiyaki, darling?" he asked sweetly. Ukyo blinked. "But what about Akane?" "What about her?" Ranchan's answer surprised Ukyo. "Uh, don't you think we should do something?" Ukyo answered. She hopped over the counter and grabbed her Ranchan's arm. "Come on, I guess we should go find her." Ranma let himself be dragged outside. "Akane! Where are you?" she called, but received no answer. She took off towards the Tendo dojo, practically dragging Ranma with her. After running a few blocks, Ukyo began to get a funny feeling. All the streets and houses looked different than she remembered. In fact, she really couldn't pick out any signs or landmarks which would lead her to the dojo, or anywhere for that matter. She stopped and looked around at the place she thought would be the dojo, but it was just another house. "That's strange, I thought the dojo was right here," she said to herself. She looked over to Ranma who just had a funny grin on his face. She frowned. "All right, what's going on?" She shook Ranma. "Tell me!" "Why bother?" came a new voice. Ukyo turned to see Ryoga sitting against a wall. "Ryoga-kun!" she exclaimed. "Where are we? What's going on?" The lost boy got up and walked over to her. "Does it really matter? Do you really care? I don't. One place is as good as another." Ukyo grabbed him and shook him violently. "OF COURSE IT MATTERS! WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!" The sound of laughing could be heard and the two turned to see Ranma cracking up. Ryoga very visibily became enraged at that. "STOP IT!" He pulled his umbrella out and Ukyo watched in horror as he smashed it down on the laughing Ranma, who crumpled into a bloody mess. All the anger promptly drained from the lost boy's face and he put his umbrella back. "RANCHAN!" Ukyo yelled as she dropped to her knees. "You killed him!" She began to cry as she looked up at Ryoga. "Why!?" Ryoga shrugged. "It's symbolic, I think. But you'd have to ask the old ghoul. I don't really care, I'm all alone anyway, as are you." Ukyo could only sob at the remains of her fiance. "That's what I been saying," Ryoga said. Ukyo glanced up. "What? Did you read my thoughts?" Ryoga only shrugged. "Come child, there's no need for tears," a old voice sounded from behind her. She turned around to see Cologne balancing on her staff. "Cologne!" Ukyo exclaimed. "What are you doing here? Ranma's dead and I... I..." Cologne came up to her and brushed her tears away. "Shhh... That's okay. Ranma's not dead, not as long as you want to keep him alive. Do you?" Ukyo nodded slowly, not really understanding, to which Cologne smiled. She took her staff and tapped the remains of Ranma. Slowly, he unfolded and grew. In less than a minute, Ranma was back to normal. Ukyo gasped, then flung foreword and hugged him. "Oh, Cologne, thank you!" Cologne jumped back up onto her staff. "I did nothing, it was you who decided you wanted him back." Ukyo dried her tears. "So, where am I?" Cologne shrugged. "You are here, but that's not important. It's where you want to go that you should be asking." Ukyo thought for a minute. "I need to find Akane and talk to her." Cologne smiled. "Good choice. But she is where you are not ready to go. Still, there may be a way." She began to bounce off. "Come child, follow me and bring those two idiots with you." Ukyo shrugged, long past understanding what was going on. She grabbed Ranma with one hand (who continued to grin wildly and chuckle occasionally), Ryoga with the other (who still had that lonely and dejected look on his face), and headed off after the old woman. Hikaru Gosunkugi knew he was in trouble. Not just any trouble mind you. After all, he'd been picked on by bullies, manipulated by Nabiki and Kuno, and humiliated by Ranma. That kind of trouble he was used to and could deal with. No, this was a different kind of trouble, he could sense it. Sense it? Yes, just in the past few days, he seemed to have garnered a sixth sense. Not much of one, but enough to know he was in trouble before it happened. It had allowed him to avoid the bullies on the way to and from school twice now. This particular day, the trouble came in the form a stalker. Now, by nature he was a paranoid person, but he just knew someone was following him. He'd turn around to try to catch a glimpse of his follower and for a second he thought he saw something. Then the image would disappear into the crowd and leave him wondering if something really was there. He turned back around and continued on down the street. As soon as he turned a corner, he broke into a sprint and raced for home. By the time he reached the door to his abode, he was severely out of breath and panting heavily. But he was sure he lost his stalker. Well, pretty sure anyway. After all, there was no way he could've followed him here, could he? Within the span of a few seconds, Hikaru was in his room and locking the door. He barely paid any attention to his parents as he whizzed by, and they returned the favor. They had learned long ago that their son was a strange kid and needed his privacy. If he had anything to tell him, he would. Hikaru began to look through his magic books (all two of them), for any type of spell that would help him learn the identity of his stalker, or at least give him the means to defend himself. Four hours later, he was fast asleep over his books. The sun had gone down two hours ago and his parents had gone to bed one hour ago. Perhaps if they were still up, they could've done something. Then again, maybe not. The window to Hikaru's bedroom slowly opened and several people climbed in. Nodding to each other, they approached the sleeping boy. By the time he woke up, it was too late. The men grabbed him and taped his mouth shut before stuffing him in a sack. One of the invaders went out the window with him. The other two brought out two more sacks and began to collect everything not nailed down. By the time the police arrived after being called by the parents (they went to wake him up for breakfast), the room was stripped clean and Hikaru Gosunkugi was gone. "Did you hear?" Nabiki said while reading a book. "Hikaru has been abducted." She was laying on the couch while Genma and Soun were playing Shogi (and cheating as usual), Ranma and Akane were playing cards (Ranma was losing as usual), and Kasumi was doing the laundry just outside (and seemingly oblivious to everything as usual). "Oh dear," Kasumi said. "Who would do such a dreadful thing?" Ranma's jaw dropped. "They got Gos? Why would anyone want him?" Akane wacked him on the head with the most convenient item, a rolled up newspaper. "What was that for!?" Akane ignored him. "I guess Ranma has a point. Why would anyone want to kidnap Hikaru-san? He's a little strange I'll admit..." Nabiki raised and eyebrow. "A little? The boy wears candles on his head, carries around voodoo dolls and a wooden spike, and hides in bushes taking pictures of you." Akane sighed. "Okay, he's very strange, but he's basically harmless and his family's not wealthy or anything, so what would the kidnappers want him?" "It seems to be getting to be really unsafe around here," Kasumi commented. "What with all the kidnappings and burglaries." Nabiki smiled. "Yeah, and isn't it the duty of honor-bound martial artists to keep the peace and end these kidnappings?" The next noise to be heard was a splash, which drew everyone's attention to the yard. In it, a panda was playing with a tire. A sign was staked into the ground nearby reading, "I'm just a panda!" Ranma sighed. "That's my pop, ever willing to throw himself into danger for others." Akane looked thoughtful. "Maybe we should look into this. After all the police don't have a clue." Nabiki got up. "Actually they do." Everybody turned toward her waiting for an answer. "Which I'll gladly share for 1000 yen." To which everyone face-faulted. Akane nudged Ranma. "It's your turn to pay." "Why is it my turn!?" "Cause I paid last time!" Akane was about to scowl at him, but got a better idea. Instead, she fixed him with her best, warm smile. Ranma froze, like a deer caught in the headlights, and started to sweat. "Yeah whatever, I got nothin' better to do." He sighed and fished into his pocket, handing the money to Nabiki. "Do tell." Nabiki smiled victoriously. "Well, it seems all of the kidnapped were into some strange stuff. Spirit worship, voodoo, magic books, fortune-telling, that kind of stuff. So the police think it might be the work of some sort of cult. Either they were taken by a cult, or staged their kidnappings to join the cult." There was silence for few seconds, then Ranma spoke up. "So I guess that's why Gosunkugi was taken, but I don't see him joining a cult willingly, so it would have to be kidnapping." "You think that the wizard sects are at the bottom of this?" Akane asked. Ranma shrugged. "Could be, but I don't see why. I hate to say this, but maybe we should ask the old ghoul." He stood up. "Anybody coming with me?" Nabiki backed up. "No thank you. I'm not a martial artist so I don't get involved." She then trudged upstairs. "I'll go with you, Ranma," Akane said standing up. "Shampoo will be over there and someone needs to keep an eye on you two." She winked at him as she left for the front door. "Hey, hey!" Ranma stammered as he ran after her. "It's not like that! Akane!" "There's nothing like young love, eh Saotome?" said a teary-eyed Soun "Growph!" Kenji awoke once again, and did not know where he was. He checked his body and realized he was lupine at the moment. Locked in a cage. Again. He didn't know if wolves could groan, but he did. The thoughts before his blacking out returned to him and his mood went south. he thought, darkly. "Bwee?" Kenji looked to his left, to see Ryoga's pig form locked in a similiar cage, albeit smaller. "Woof?" "Bwee." Kenji looked where Ryoga's little piggy hoof was pointing. It seemed like he was in a large cabin, and a large pot was boiling on the stove. It was tended by an older female dressed in a raggy conservative dress that looked to be more homemade than store-bought. An older, bearded man and a younger girl sat at a table playing cards, the girl dressed similiarly to the woman. The man was dressed in a red, plaid shirt, dirty jeans, and suspenders. Across the room, Kenji spied his backpack and clothes, as well as Ryoga's. "Woof?" "Bwee." "Oh look, Papa!" the girl, who looked to be in her middle teens, exclaimed. "The doggy's awake!" "So he is, darlin'," the girl's father replied. "How's that stew comin', Hon'?" "Almost ready, dear," the man's wife responded. "Now the only question is, which do we eat first?" "Woof!" "Bwee!" "Do we have to eat them?" the little girl complained. "Now darlin, you know we don't git much chance ta eat pig or wolf," the father replied. "But tell ya what. We ain't gonna eat both tonight, so ya can have one as a pet until then." "Thanks Papa!" They turned to the cages. "Now which one do we eat?" the mother asked again. The truce went out the window, as Ryoga and Kenji pointed to each other. "Oh, isn't that cute!" the mother exclaimed. "They almost seem to understand us!" "Well, the pig is kinda small," the father reasoned. "So we should wait until it's bigger. You can have the piglet as a pet and we'll eat the wolf tonight." The pig sighed in relief while the wolf sweatdropped. Ryoga thought. Kenji thought. He brightened. "Well, you better slaughter the wolf now, dear," the mother said to her wife. "The stew needs to cook all day." The man stood up and grabbed a large club that was nearby. "I'll knock him out first, then cut him up." He slid a large knife into a holster on his belt. Kenji thought. He played innocent as the man walked over to the cage and fiddled with the lock on top. As the top of the cage opened, Kenji came alive and sprung straight up. A whack from the club missed his head, but struck his body and sent him sprawling across the floor. "He's got out!" the girl squealed. "I got `im!" the father yelled. Kenji dragged himself to his feet, just in time to notice the man approaching, club raised menacingly. The amnesiac wolf wasted no time, but took off running in a different direction. His mind was wild at the moment, trying to dodge the club and knife attacks, while also trying to reach the boiling pot. He'd encountered a larger version of a boiling pot before and, while he wasn't too keen on repeating the experience, he'd become someone's meal if he didn't change back. He continued to run through the house, knocking over tables, chairs, lamps, and the occaisonal picture on the wall. Managing a full circle to return to the kitchen, he leapt for the pot, the knife and club wielding man right behind him. The woman shrieked and back away. During all this commotion, Ryoga was not idle. He knew he'd become the meal if Kenji got away, so he was working on his own cage. He'd never used the Bakusai Tenketsu as a pig before, but he thought now was a good time to learn. As a result, his hoof was rapidly tapping away at the bars. Just as Kenji reached the pot, Ryoga hit the jackpot and the cage exploded; which the man happened to be near at the time. He went flying back into a wall as Kenji's upper half landed in the pot, tipping it over and dousing both himself and Ryoga with scalding water. The two boys shrieked in pain. The woman shrieked at her husband hitting the wall. The man shrieked at what he knew to be two evil spirits. The girl shrieked at two naked men. Her hands flew to her face and she blushed furiously, but peeked out again to catch another glimpse. Ryoga and Kenji wasted little time in grabbing their clothes and belongings. Then Kenji followed Ryoga through the hole made by the lost boy, and the two almost-dinner victims fled into the forest. Back in the cabin, the girl asked, "Does this mean I don't get my pet?" Several hours later, the two boys were dressed and traveling again in silence. Kenji had checked the amulet and proceeded in the direction it pointed, and Ryoga followed him for some unknown reason. Both boys were in a sour mood. Ryoga was originially headed to Nerima to get his revenge on Kenji and Ranma. He had found Kenji, yet the fight hadn't ended the way he wanted it to. He didn't feel like another round of combat, so he instead settled on following the amnesiac until he could decide on a course of action. Kenji knew Ryoga was following him, but didn't know what to do either. He didn't want to fight the lost boy again, since he was pretty sure he'd lose. Ryoga was just too strong. He settled instead on assuming a fast pace in the hopes that he'd lose his follower, since he remembered Ranma telling him of Ryoga's bad direction sense. However, it was not to be. After several grueling hours, Kenji was exhausted while Ryoga's enormous endurance prevented him from becoming winded at all. The amnesiac reluctantly set up his tent and made camp, even while Ryoga did the same. They started a fire and ate in silence, then spent an hour staring at the fire. The silence eventually got to Kenji. "So," he began. "You're cursed, too?" Ryoga grunted affirmative. "Ranma's fault." He looked up. "You better not tell anyone!" "Agreed, provided you don't tell anyone about mine!" Kenji snapped back. "Agreed." Ryoga's gaze returned to the fire. Kenji looked up. "Saotome was responsible for your curse?" Ryoga nodded. "He knocked me into the spring of drowned black piglet." "He was kind of responsible for mine, too," Kenji admitted, his gaze returning to the fire. "He could've stopped the man who actually cursed me, but he didn't." "So, don't you want to get revenge on Ranma, too?" Ryoga asked darkly. "I would think you'd want to." "Oh I do," he replied. "But he's better than me right now. I have to get a whole lot better to beat him." He laughed bitterly. "I guess we have a little something in common." Ryoga nodded, but didn't speak. Something was nagging at the back of the amnesiac's mind, something about a piglet, but he couldn't remember what so he forced it out of his mind. A few moments passed again, before Ryoga broke the silence. "So what are you doing out here? I thought you'd be getting cozy at the Tendo's?" Kenji shot him a dark look. "It's none of your business, but I'm searching for my home." That stung Ryoga deep inside, but he didn't let it show. He couldn't find his home either, even if he wanted to. He'd only been there a few times since junior high. "I thought you couldn't remember anything?" The amnesiac brooded. "I can't. But I've received some information about where my house is, so that's where I'm going to start my search." He stood up and stretched. "Look, I have a long day of travel tomorrow, so I want to get some sleep. I'd like to know if you're still intent on killing me." He fixed the lost boy with a questioning gaze. "I like to know if I'll be waking up tomorrow." Ryoga stood up and locked gazes with Kenji. "I'm not so cowardly as to attack someone in their sleep. But you still owe me a man-to-man fight. However..." He paused. Ryoga wanted to hate this man in front of him, but the amnesiac's admittance of wanting to find his family hit too close to home for the lost boy, since they were things he had wanted for himself. And Kenji was cursed as well, so maybe Ryoga could give him a break. A little one. "However," he continued. "I'm not letting you out of my sight until you answer my challenge." Kenji nodded, understanding. "Agreed. I want to find my family first, but I promise that you'll get your fight afterward." With that understanding, the two men went into their seperate tents to end their exhaustive and eventful day. The next day brought even more surprises. After almost a full day of travel, the duo crested a hill and got a good view of a mini-valley down below. There were scattered trees, lots of farm-like plains, and a couple of blackened and burned structures. Kenji gasped and ran down the hill to the burnt structures, with Ryoga running right behind. They hit the bottom of the hill, and waded through the armpit high grass. Ryoga managed not to lose the amnesiac, despite Kenji's enthusiasm of possibly finding his old home. They wandered out onto the old road leading to the farm and a few minutes later, they were there. Kenji was so intent on his discovery and Ryoga was so intent on following him, that they failed to notice the two figures stalking through the grass behind them. Walking up to what used to be the house, Kenji set his pack down. Ryoga did the same. Both said nothing as Kenji entered the wreckage and looked around. Not much was left, just some blackened wood, plates, and other mundane items. "Anything look familiar?" Ryoga asked. Kenji shook his head. "I don't recognize any of it." "Maybe you should try the amulet again," Ryoga suggested. "This may not be it." "No, I have a strong... feeling... it is." Ryoga shrugged. "Well, I'll go back to the packs and set up camp. It's gonna be dark soon and you can go through everything at tomorrow." Kenji only nodded as Ryoga walked out back to the packs. He bent over to begin unpacking the tent, never seeing the two strangers gang up on him. He might have noticed their presence had they not been masking their aura's and ki signatures, or had they come close enough. As it was, they contented themselves to simultaneously launching two blow darts that struck the lost boy in his neck. Ryoga immediately jumped to his feet, scanned for his attackers, then snarled, "Who's there!?" Kenji was still picking through the remains when he heard Ryoga grunt and snarl his question. By the time he sprinted back to the packs, Ryoga was on one knee, mumbling something about tranquilizers. Then he fell over and Kenji could see the two darts sticking out of him. He bent down and pulled the darts out, even though it probably wouldn't have done any good. Looking back up, he saw two ninja dressed in green camoflauge emerge from the grassy fields with arrows cocked and pointed at him. One of them gestured for him to stand up, which he did. He might have tried to fight or run, but Ryoga was helpless right now and would pay the price. He held up his hands in surrender. "Who are you?" he asked. "What do you want? We have very little money and very little worth stealing." "We're not thieves!" one of the ninjas said in an obviously indignant, female voice. They came closer and Kenji could clearly see more features. It seemed that both were female, though the only flesh he could see was their eyes and the small area around them. Kenji thought. Glancing back to the other ninja, the amnesiac could see a look of surprise on her face, almost as if she couldn't believe who she was seeing. "Kenji!?" she asked. "That's my name," he offered. Maybe if he was honest, he could get out of this. "Soyokaze Kenji. I believe this used to be my home. Do you know who lived here?" "Kenji!" the same ninja said again while dropping her bow. "It is you!" She pulled off her mask revealing a young face and blond hair tied into a ponytail. She ran up to him, but stopped a few feet away to study him. "What are you doing!?" the other ninja demanded. The first one ignored her. "Oniichan!" she exclaimed and immediately glomped him. Kenji was stunned and could only stand there until his mind registered what she said. "Oniichan!?" he gasped disbelievingly. "Than you're..." She pulled away and looked at him. "Don't you recognize me? I'm Yuri! Your sister!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Oniichan - older brother Hitohuki - a blast of wind ----------------------------------------------------------------- How many people will actually like fic? It was written mainly for my enjoyment, so if you don't like it. FINE! Contact me at: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: I'm running out of funny things to say in the disclaimer. Got any ideas? Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 3 "My sister!?" Kenji repeated, still somewhat stunned. "You're alive!" He gathered her up in his arms. "I have a sister!" Images of his sister flooded back into his mind as well as deep feelings of love and companionship. It seemed that the part of Quan's spell that bound memories of his sister, was becoming undone in the presence of said family member. After several minutes in the warm embrace, they parted. Yuri turned back to her companion. "It's okay, Neko, he's my brother!" "But I thought your family was dead," Neko stated, lowering her bow and removing her mask. This face seemed a little older by several years and her light blue hair dropped down past her shoulders. She walked up to them and studied his face. "I guess so... At any rate, we need to report back to Oka-sensei." Yuri turned back to Kenji. "You'll come with us, won't you?" Kenji gazed into his sister's deep gray eyes. "Hai, of course. I came here trying to find out where I come from, after all." Just then Ryoga, who Kenji had forgotten all about, groaned as he became to overcome the tranqs. "No way!" Neko stared in disbelief. "He should have been out for hours!" Kenji chuckled, in a uncommonly good mood from meeting his sister. "Somehow, it doesn't surprise me. Better stand back, something tells me he's not going to be all that happy." Yuri and Neko looked at each other, but backed up a few steps. Ryoga continued to stir and Kenji bent down and rolled him onto his back. "Hey Hibiki! Snap out of it!" He resisted the urge to throw cold water on the fallen lost boy, knowing full well what it would do. Instead, he just slapped his face a few times until Ryoga's eyes snapped open. "Soyokaze!" he exclaimed. "We're under attack!" He sprang up faster than Kenji thought he was able to do and noticed the two ninja girls looking at him. "They're the ones! PREPARE TO DIE!" He began to rush into battle, but Kenji held him back. Well, more like slowing him down, since Ryoga was too strong for the amnesiac to fully stop. "What're you doin'!? They attacked and drugged me!" "Calm down, Hibiki!" Kenji soothed. "They're friends, not enemies. And I don't want you harming my sister!" With that revelation, Ryoga stopped. "Sister?" Kenji let go and walked over to Yuri, presenting her to Ryoga. "This is Yuri, my baby sister," he said, face full of pride. "Hey!" Yuri's face was indigent. "I'm only a year younger than you!" Kenji chuckled. "And this is Neko, her friend. Girls, this is my... traveling companion for the moment, Hibiki Ryoga." After introductions were made, Neko repeated her command to her charge that they should go back and report to their sensei. "And we should take Soyokaze Kenji-san back as well." "What about me?" Ryoga asked. "I'm not letting him," he indicated Kenji, "out of my sight." Yuri shook her head. "Outsiders aren't allowed on the Garou clan grounds." Her face lit up. "Unless they pass the initiation test!" "But that's only if he wanted to join the clan," Neko countered. "Family members are okay, but..." "Lady, I don't plan on joining any clan, but I'm not letting Soyokaze get away!" Ryoga was adamant. "Don't think you have a choice," Neko said darkly, fingering a dart. "I don't care how good you think you are, you won't last five minutes against the two of us. All we have to do is tranq you for a second, and you'd never find us again." Ryoga practically snarled at both her and Kenji. "Hey, I made a promise to you on my honor and I intend to fulfill it. How about you stay here and I'll come back tomorrow to let you know what's going on." Ryoga eyed the dart. "Looks like I don't have a choice," he grudgingly admitted. "Alright, see ya later." Kenji started walking to catch up with the two ninja girls. "And Hibiki?" "Yeah?" "Try not to wander off." Kenji smirked. Ryoga growled at the amnesiacs retreating form, then set into the task of setting up the tent. Kenji followed the two girls into the deep grass. Instead of wading through on foot, they moved by leaping over the field and Kenji followed suit. Soon, they cleared the field and entered a forest on the other side. They took to the trees and Kenji again tried his best to follow them as they jumped from branch to branch. "Be sure to only land on the branches we do," Neko yelled back at him. "The others are booby trapped." Kenji nodded. "I guess you really don't want outsiders coming in." Yuri dropped back and jumped with him. "Well, we survive because of that and because we're a small clan. Either potential enemies dismiss us as non-threatening, or only commit a small force to hunt us." She grinned. "As far as I know, no ones been able to reach the grounds that the clan didn't want to." Kenji nodded again. "So, what happened to you on the night of the fire. I thought everyone died?" "I could ask you the same thing," his sister shot back. "Actually, I snuck out that night to visit some friends. When I returned, the house was ablaze." Yuri's voice became softer. "I cried for awhile before Neko found me. She was a part of the same clan as mother and they adopted me." She turned to him. "So what happened to you?" The young amnesiac sighed. "My story's a bit more difficult to explain since I don't have any real memories of it. I was rescued by this old wizard guy who said he couldn't find anyone else alive in the house. He sent me halfway across Japan to land in the yard of the Tendo dojo, supposedly to protect me." He was stopped from saying more as Neko had jumped to the ground and motioned for the other two to follow. "Now we go in on foot so our own forces can see us accurately and not mistake us for enemies." A short walk later saw the trio entering the fringes of a hidden forest encampment. Kenji began to make out several huts and cabins camouflaged, hidden, among the trees and thick forest canopy. Several dozen people, male and female, were engaged various forms of combat and exercises with multiple weapon types. Kenji absently whistled in admiration of their abilities. As they continued to follow Neko, Kenji looked over to see his sister playing with a yo-yo. His thoughts were interrupted by a shout and a faint sense of something moving rapidly toward them. "INCOMING!" Kenji instinctively ducked and rolled as the arrow came out of nowhere. Standing up again, he searched for the attacker, but could only see the two girls giggling at him. Neko was holding the arrow. "You caught it?" he asked disbelievingly. "One of my special little skills," she replied with a smile. "And apparently Kaneda is up to his old tricks again." Kenji looked to where she was pointing. A young boy was running up to them holding a bow. He appeared to be in his pre-teens and was dressed in the browns and greens that most everyone else was wearing. The boy came up and hugged Neko. "Now, son, what have I told you about shooting arrows at people?" The bow scowled. "Ah, mom, I knew you'd catch it..." "That's beside the point," she admonished him. "You don't shoot anybody unless it's in practice and the person is expecting it, or in combat. Now as punishment, I want you to got through exercise routine #5." Kaneda sighed and ran off and Kenji was trying to reconcile the fact that the little kid had tried to shoot his own mother. Neko turned back to him. "That's my son, Kaneda," she said with pride. "He's twelve and one of the best in his age group." She frowned. "Though he tends to favor long-distance weapons like the short bow he was using." She began walking again. "Well, enough of that. Time to meet the sensei." Another short walk brought the trio to one of the larger cabins. Knocking three times, Neko gestured for the newly re-united siblings to wait while she went in first. After a few moments, she returned and motioned them in. Not knowing what to expect, Kenji entered the darkened room. There were no windows, and it was lit by only a couple of torches hanging on the wooden pillars. A semi-circle shaped table took up most of the room and a dozen chairs were lined up on the other side of the table. "Sensei, may I present Soyokaze Kenji-san, brother to Yuri and son of Suliya," Neko intoned. Kenji looked but couldn't see who she was talking to. "Thank you, Neko," came an older woman's voice. "You may leave now." Neko executed a short bow. "Hai." She silently left the room. "Have a seat on the floor young Kenji," the elderly female voice came again. The amnesiac could almost detect where it was coming from, but that area of the room was covered in blackness. As he sat down on his shins, his sister mimicked the motion to his right. Only then did the woman come out of the darkness and walk up to them. She appeared to very old as she needed a cane to support her small, slightly hunched over frame. Her face held a few wrinkles, but Kenji could see kindness in the eyes and he relaxed his guard. The hair was various shades of white and gray, and Kenji guessed her age to be somewhere in the 70's. "Actually, I'm 89," she said suddenly. Kenji was taken aback. "Nani?" She smiled. "You were trying to guess how old I was?" Yuri laughed. "You may call me Oka." She paced back and forth studying him. "Well, son, what do we do with you?" "What do you mean?" Kenji asked, confused. "Well, do you want to join the clan or not?" Her smile disappeared. Kenji scratched his head for a minute as he hadn't really thought about it. His thoughts only went as far as to find his home and family. He looked up. "Well, the thought does intrigue me, but there is so much more I'd like to know before I make my decision. Is that okay?" He glanced over at his sister and saw the frown on her face. "You don't want to stay here?" Yuri asked. "Well, maybe I better explain my story to you as it's somewhat, unique, and will help you to understand my situation," he started. "I still have trouble believing it myself." He paused and Oka sat down, motioning for him to continue. He began to tell the tale of waking up in the Tendo yard, not knowing who he was. Meeting the Tendos and Saotomes, starting school, getting attacked, cursed, kidnapped, and finally being freed by his new friends. He brought out the amulet and got it to replay the message he had heard earlier in the hospital and his decision to seek out his family. When he was finished, there was silence. Yuri spoke up after a moment. "You mean, you don't remember me at all?" Kenji shook his head. "That's the strange part. Ever since I met you by the house, I've been slowly getting memories and feelings back of you. I think your presence is weakening part of the memory seal. But I still don't remember our parents or any of my earlier memories." What he didn't mention was that he was experiencing a flood of new emotions as well. Like now for some reason, he felt like giving his new sister a hug, but didn't want a repeat of the mushy episode by the house. He felt close to her, and it was like nothing he had ever felt since he woke up at the Tendos. "Well, why don't we do this," Oka said after a moment. "You may stay here for the next few days and get to know everyone and train with us. Then, at the end of the week, you must return to Nerima." Yuri stared on the old woman, but she held up her hand. "Let me finish. There is a reason he must return, but I cannot tell you now. However, that does not stop family from going with him and I would like you to do so." She took a breath, then continued. "There is another reason. I know Cologne of Joketsuzoku and if anybody can restore your memory, she would be the one. We are warriors who work in the shadows, not mystics or mages and we have very little magic. We silently sell our skills to the outside world in return for money and materials that we can't obtain easily by ourselves. That's how we survive and something tells me you would start to feel uncomfortable if you were to live with us. It was the same with your mother." She turned to Yuri. "I noticed it in you also. While outwardly you do your duty well, inside you are dying. I know you eager to explore the outside world and now's your chance." "But, I'll miss all of you..." she started. "You have been so kind to me, taking me in and continuing the training my mother gave me." "You'll always be a part of the clan, Yuri-san," Oka comforted her. "As will you Kenji-san. But this is for the best. Just know that if the clan has great need of you both, we will send for you." Kenji and Yuri mulled it over for a few moments, then Kenji spoke to his sister. "I guess it won't be so bad. Nerima's not such a bad place, though..." He paused. "Anyway, they actually have some friendly people there." He wasn't really crazy about the idea of going back to Nerima, but it was clear the old woman wasn't going to let him stay and where else did he have to go? Oka stood up and smiled. "Okay you kids, it's getting late. Yuri-san, why don't you show your brother to his room and get some rest. Tomorrow you can help him start on his training. There are several things that he must learn." "Hai, sensei," she said standing up and giving Oka a warm embrace. Yuri gestured for him to do the same and Kenji obliged. "You'll find we don't have much room for proper protocol or honorifics here," Oka said. "In fact, the only reason I'm called sensei is just a compromise so they won't call me matriarch or something." She laughed. "So relax and be yourself and you'll get along fine." With a last bow, Yuri led Kenji out. His sister smiled at him and squeezed his hand. His expectations coming in had been to bury his past, but instead found more than he could ever dream. An out of breath Ukyo finally caught up to the old ghoul as they arrived at the Nekohanten. Ranma and Ryoga were still with them, though she had to backtrack a few times to keep the lost boy from wandering off. The sky was still a sickly gray and purple color, obscured by many clouds. Ukyo wondered to herself. Cologne opened the door and stepped inside the restaurant, and everyone else followed. "Well, why are we here?" Ukyo asked. "Why to get Mousse and Shampoo of course," Cologne answered, then gestured Ukyo further inside. "You better get them." Ukyo looked at the old ghoul, confused. "Why me?" When Cologne didn't answer, Ukyo sighed. "Oh right, this is something I have to do. Why? I have no idea. Oh, well." She cupped her hands around her mouth. "Mousse! Shampoo! You here? Come on out I need you!" Nothing. "This is boring," Ranma complained. Then his face brightened and he turned to Ryoga. "Hey, how about a piggy back ride!" Ryoga's look of depression changed to anger and he squashed Ranma. Then he went back to depression. All in the span of about 2 seconds. "ARGH!" Ukyo yelled. "Can't you two stop doing that for five minutes!?" Ranma reformed and he and Ryoga replied in unison. "Sorry." "How about that game of checkers?" Ranma asked. Ukyo stared him down. "Eeep! Okay, you win!" "Spatula girl need help killing?" Shampoo came out of the kitchen, causing Ukyo to stare in horror. Shampoo looked positively scary. Ukyo had never seen the Amazon look so... deadly. The purple-haired Amazon was wielding a long sword and had as vicious a look on her then Ukyo had ever seen. "Shampoo love to kill!" And with that, she sliced up Ranma and Ryoga, before putting her sword away. Ukyo would've fainted if she hadn't already gotten used to the extra weirdness by now. "Now, now child, there will come a time for killing, but not now," Cologne admonished her. "We must get Mousse and then be off to the Tendo Dojo." Shampoo shrugged and pulled a duck out of somewhere and tossed him on the table. Cologne pulled out a thermos and, with a little hot water, he grew back to normal already wearing his robes. "Aha!" he exclaimed. "Shampoo my love! You do care about me!" He began to pull flowers, boxes of candy, and stuffed animals out of his sleeves and present them to his Amazon love. Shampoo promptly pulled her sword out and killed him. Cologne and Ukyo sighed. "We really need to stop this," Cologne grumbled. Ukyo watched the `dead' revive and suddenly decided she had had enough. "Alright Cologne, you seem to know what's going on, so explain this. Where am I and what's going on?" Cologne shrugged. "I can only suggest a course of action, but maybe he can help you." She pointed with her staff and Ukyo turned to see a man in a brown gi and glasses enter. "Tofu-sensei!" Ukyo exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" "Well, I thought there was some stuff you wanted to know about and that's why I came," he replied nonchanlatly. Ukyo looked confused. "But how did you.." "Know?" Tofu finished for her. "Simple, I'm part of you." Ukyo collapsed into a chair. "Now I know I'm losing it." Tofu sat down next to her. "Not really. Allow me to show you something." He pulled a TV set out of somewhere and placed it on the table. "Look at this," he said while flipping it on. Ukyo gasped. There she was on the screen, laying in a hospital bed, hooked up to a couple of machines. "What is this?" Tofu looked surprise. "Well, I think it's obvious. Haven't you figured it out by now? That's you, right now." Ukyo could only stare at the screen in confusion, then the light bulb finally kicked in. "If that's really me, then I'm not me. Then what am I? The last thing I remember before coming here was the battle with the fire lord. Am I dead?" Tofu shook his head. "No, only in a coma. Whether or not you'll die remains to be seen. Nope, you're only locked inside your head." Understanding flooded Ukyo's mind. "OK! So I'm in my head! Then why are all of you here? And how do I wake up?" "We are all physical representations of parts of your personality," he said sweeping the restaurant's occupants with his hand. "For instance, I represent your knowledge and Cologne represents your wisdom." Ukyo glanced around the room. "So, Ranma must be my sense of fun, Ryoga could be depression and anger, Mousse is my love..." She was interrupted by a pair of arms wrapping around her from behind. "Ukyo, I love you too!" cried Mousse. "Get offa me!" Ukyo planted him into the ground with her spatula, then sighed. "And Shampoo is..." "Your martial arts skills and violent tendicies," finished Tofu. "Until all parts of your personality are joined back together, you'll never wake up." "So that's why we came here to, get Mousse and Shampoo," said Ukyo. "So what does Akane represent?" "You'll have to discover that on your own," Cologne interjected. "For there is a problem." "What's that?" Ukyo asked. "She means me!" Ukyo turned to see the newcomer and her jaw dropped when she realized who it was. It was Ukyo. --------------------------------------------------------------- By the way, if you have a story you think would fit in my timeline as a side story, or know of a side story you'd like to write, let me know. I've left some developments out that could be explored as side stories. It's mainly in case I run out of ideas or get bored with the main story, I can go back and write a few side stories. Let me know at: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: I like to eat eight apples and bananas. Don't ask me where this came from. Onward. Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 4 "What the hell is going on!?" Ukyo demanded. Her twin was standing in the doorway. Well, her almost twin. This version of her was wearing the blue boys school uniform and had burning red eyes, but spoke with the same voice. "Just another facet of you who's come with a proposal," she said. "Call me Ucchan and my proposal is this: Forget about rejoining all these losers and live here with me! Just think, you can be the master of this world, I can teach you. And better yet, you'd have Ranchan all to yourself! I know that's what you've always wanted." Ukyo sank down into her seat. It did sound good. After all, what did she have to look foreword to? Ranma was in love with Akane and would never love her that way. Kontasu was gone, probably dead. Who knows what happened to Kenji... She looked up at Cologne and Tofu. "What should I do?" she asked them. "My child, I can't advise you when you are undecided," Cologne replied. "But just remember this: the longer you stay here, the harder it will be for you to leave. Also, perhaps you should see what aspect of yourself Ucchan represents before deciding." Ukyo turned back to look at Ucchan, who hissed at the old woman. "So, who are you?" Ucchan laughed. "Why, I merely represent your best interests!" "Or more accurately, you represent that which is self-serving and evil," Tofu corrected her. Ucchan yawned. "Whatever. I will leave now." She turned to Ukyo. "Come see me when you've made up your mind." A sudden ear piercing scream could be heard in the distance. "Oh, and I'll be holding Akane as my guest. After all, she does play the damsel in distress quite well. Tootles!" And she was gone, leaving a very confused Ukyo behind. She sighed. "Well, now what do I do?" she thought out loud. "Let's play a game!" "Fall in love with me!" "I don't care." "Shampoo kill something!" "SHUT UP!" Ukyo screamed, unknowingly doing a demon-head that Soun would have been proud of. Her entourage of personality tidbits was effectively silenced. (But you'd be living a lie.) Ukyo looked around to find out who said that, but everyone else was engaged in private conversation. (Don't shut your friends out of your life.) (There are others who care about you, including me.) Ukyo wondered. Images flooded her mind of all those who awaited her back in the real Nerima. There weren't many she could call friends, but Ranma, Akane, and Konatsu all cared about her. (You have to care about others and open yourself up to them. Then you'll find you have more friends than you know what to do with.) she thought. A determined look on her face, Ukyo stood up. "Okay, listen up everybody, I've made my choice. I want to return to the world of the living and I'm going to need your help to get it done." Cologne hopped foreword. "Good choice. Now we head to the center of your being to confront Ucchan." "What's my center?" she asked. "The dojo?" Cologne shook her head. Ukyo thought for minute. "No, my center is my restaurant!" Cologne smiled. "Bingo! Now let's get going!" "Mayhap we be of some assistance?" "Now what?" Ukyo groaned. Two more people had entered the Nekohanten. The Kuno's. "Let me guess, Kuno is my sense of honor and nobility, and Kodachi my insanity?" "OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!" Kuno made sweeping gestures with his bokken. "Let's us venture forth and slay this demon that your soul may find peace." "Me too, me too!" Little miss Hinako jumped in from the kitchen sucking on a lollipop. "So what are you?" Ukyo asked. "My inner child?" Miss Hinako promptly drained Shampoo who was trying to kill her, growing into a full figured beauty. "And the woman you desire to be!" She winked seductively. "Allright already!" Ukyo exclaimed. "Have we got everyone now?" Cologne smiled. "Nope, we still need one more!" "What's left?" She thought for second and then a look of horror appeared on her face. "You don't mean...?" She didn't get a chance to finish as something had suddenly latched itself onto her butt. "SWEETO!" Ukyo groaned and slapped her forehead. She had no idea her brain was this screwed up. Meanwhile, in the real world... "Nihao Airen!" Shampoo bounded up and glomped onto Ranma as he and Akane entered the Nekohantan. "Ranma want date with Shampoo?" Ranma thought glumly. He risked a glance back and suddenly wished he hadn't. Akane was beggining to scowl at him. If he didn't do something quick, he was dead. Besides, he was nevber comfortable with Shampoo grabbing at him all the time anyway. "Shampoo!" he yelled. "Get offa me!" He managed to pry off a very upset Amazon girl, but to him, that was better than a very upset Akane. "We've come to talk to the old ghoul about something." Shampoo frowned. "Shampoo go get great-grandmother, but just because that what husband want." She bounded off to the kitchen and Ranma wiped the sweat off his brow. Disaster averted. "Enjoy yourself?" Akane asked cynically. "Oh come on, Akane," Ranma tried to explain. "You know I can't stop her from doing that!" "But you enjoy it," she retorted. Ranma tried to respond but Akane held up a hand. "I don't want to hear it. What you want to do is your business, but were here to see Cologne." "Geez, you are so..." He stopped. "Nevermind." "To what do I owe this honor, son-in-law?" She asked. He ignored Akane sticking her tongue out at him and turned to the old woman. "It's about the rash of burglaries and kidnappin's lately. Have ya heard about `em?" She hopped to a nearby table and tapped her head. "Yes, of course I have. Have the police any clues as to who's behind them?" Shampoo sat down at the table with Ranma and Akane. "Actually, we were hoping you would know," said Akane. "The police have said that all the victims were young and involved with some sort of magic and mysticism. Do you think it could be the work of the wizard sects?" "It's possible," she replied after a few seconds. "They were hurt pretty badly in that fight. They may be seeking to recoup their losses. They can sense magic as well as I can, so it would be easy for them to find it." "Then they could come here!" Ranma reasoned. "They could sense all your magical stuff." Cologne shook her head. "I negated the magical aura of this building to hide it from people looking for that sort of thing. To them, this is just an ordinary restaurant. However, I could lift the aura barrier and set a trap for them. Then we could interrogate them and find out what they're up to." Ranma stood up. "Great! Why don't we set it up for tonight. We'll stake this place out and jump `em when they break in!" Just then the phone rang and Shampoo sprung up to answer it. After a few seconds she returned. "It for you, Airen." Ranma went over and picked it up with Akane standing right behind him. "Moshi moshi!" Pause. "What is it Nabiki?" Pause. "What about her?" Another pause. "WHAT!?" Pause, again. "Thanks Nabiki, I'll let Akane know. Tell them we're on our way." He hung up. Akane looked at Ranma's paling face and knew instantly something was wrong. "What is it, Ranma?" "That was Nabiki," he explained. "The hospital just called and told them that there's somethin' wrong with Ukyo. I told her I'd go to the hospital right away." Akane inhaled sharply. "I'm coming with you." To which he only nodded. "Trouble son-in-law?" asked Cologne. "There's a problem with Ukyo," he replied. "So we'll have to do this plan tomorrow night." She nodded. "I understand. It'll take awhile to devise the necessary spells anyway. Go, take care of your friend." Ranma nodded and he and Akane rushed outside. Ranma promptly picked her up and begin leaping rooftops towards the hospital. Akane didn't complain since she knew that Ranma was faster and she would get left behind otherwise. Besides, she kinda liked being held in his arms. Ten minutes later, the couple were racing into the hospital and up to the room where Ukyo was being worked on. A nurse came out to talk to them. "What's going on?" Akane asked. "We're not quite sure," the nurse replied. "All we know is that twenty minutes ago, she began having spasms. The doctors are trying to sedate her now." Both glanced through the window where they could see Ukyo's body flip and twist around, while the doctors strapped her down to keep her from hurting herself. So caught up in the scene, Akane barely noticed Ranma's hand creep down and grab ahold of hers. Ukyo thought to herself. Her team of fractured personality pieces had stormed Okonomiyaki Ucchan's and began the attack. Well, at least some of her team was attacking. Happosai was still attached to her rear, despite her attempts to pry him off. Kodachi continued to jump around and twirl her ribbon aimlessly. Ryoga was sitting against the wall staring off into space, and Ranma was jumping around playing with Kodachi (because it was fun!). Ucchan was easily swatting aside all the attacks the rest of her team put up with her GIANT, 10 foot tall spatula. Well, Mousse's attempts couldn't really be classified as attacks since he was just bombarding Ucchan with flowers and candy. And Akane was wrapped in tape and hanging from a wall behind Ucchan. "Wheeee! This is fun!" "OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!" "Forsooth, the blue thunder of Furinken High shall slay thee demon!" "I love you Ucchan! Marry me!" "Shampoo kill evil Ucchan!" "SWEETO!" "I don't care..." "Ucchan's a delinquent who needs to be punished!" *ZAP!* "Oops, sorry Shampoo." "This doesn't seem to be working," said Tofu who was suddenly beside her. "I know!" Ukyo replied, sending another wave of throwing spatula's at Ucchan, who blocked them easily. "Half of the group is being less than helpful, and Ucchan is way too strong." Cologne popped up beside her."Only you can defeat Ucchan. So, have you considered who you are yet?" "What do you mean? I'm Ukyo, aren't I?" Cologne shook her head. "When you figure it out, you will know what to do." She then bounced off to attack. She jumped over to Ryoga, who was looking at the floor, and banged him on the head with her battle spatula. When he looked up she pointed at Ucchan. "She did it!" The results were predictable. Ryoga's face contorted in rage and he leaped to his feet."UCCHAN! PREPARE TO DIE!" he yelled as he charged in, umbrella swinging. "Ranchan! I'd like to play with you! Would you come here?" Ranma bounced over to her. "I've got a new game to play, now here's what you do..." She whispered into his ear for a few seconds as a wide grin appeared on his face. "You understand?" He nodded. "Okay, go for it!" "Hey Akane!!!!" Ranma called. "You're such an kawaiikune tomboy, how could I ever like you? You're like a mule, just as strong and twice as ugly!" The effect was immediate. She suddenly switched from being scared to radiating an angry red battle aura. Ranma continued. "You're built like a brick, your thighs are too thick, you're hair's a cowlick, and your face makes me sick!" The bonds that held Akane began to melt as the red aura intensified. In a flash, they dissolved, leaving a very red and extremely angry Akane standing there, seething. "RANMA... NO... BAKA!" Instantly she had a huge hammer in her hands that was twice as big as her body and raised above her head. She also had her target. "Fire in the hole!" someone yelled, and all hit the ground. Ranma suddenly thought this wasn't fun anymore. "Eeep!" was all he got out before he was rendered a smear. The shockwave from the hammer impact tossed the restaurant's occupants around like rag dolls. When the dust settled, no one was moving. "We're losing her!" "Her heartbeat is fluctuating!" "Where are the paddles!?" "Right here! Clear!" *ZAP* Ukyo jerked awake. She stood up slowly and looked around the room. Bodies were lying everywhere. She sat in a chair and rested her body. "It's not over yet," said Ucchan, who was slowly standing up. "Oh come on!" Ukyo complained. "Just give up already!" Ucchan grinned and hoisted her now normal size battle spatula. "Why don't you take your own advice?" Ukyo picked up her own battle spat' and faced her twin. "You know, I was just wondering why you wanted me to stay here." "Is that so," Ucchan commented, circling. Ukyo continued to turn to face her opponent. "Yeah, and I think I figured it out." "Do tell." Ucchan probed Ukyo's defense with a few well-placed swipes. "You're supposed to be the self-serving part of me," Ukyo continued, parrying the attacks. "Yet staying here wouldn't be the self- serving thing for me to do. And someone has to return to the body, or else we all die." Her eyes narrowed. "You wanted me to stay so you could go." Ucchan lashed out in anger. "So what!? It's what you wanted in the past!" "I never wanted you to be control!" Ukyo yelled back. The two traded various blows, then locked their spatulas together. "Oh yeah? Who was it that hunted a man for ten years for revenge?" "I could never hurt Ranma!" Ukyo yelled. "Who was it that manipulated a friend's guilt to so that she could be his wife?" Ucchan asked, tone rising. She attacked again, forcing Ukyo back. "He made a promise to take care of me for the rest of my life!" Ukyo countered. "Who was it that used a certain cave to break up two people who obviously cared about each other?" Ucchan drove Ukyo back another step. Tears began streaming down Ukyo's face as she began to fall before the relentless assault. "He was my fiance! He was supposed to love me!" "Who was it that destroyed the house of their fiance's mother? Who was it that attacked and destroyed a wedding with explosives?" A final swing knocked the spatula out of Ukyo's hands, as she slid down against the wall. "I never wanted to hurt anybody!" She cired weakly. "I just wanted someone to love me..." Ucchan paused. "No you don't. That's why you let me have free reign before. You don't want anyone to love you. How could they? You dress like a boy and you have a boy's name. Mother died because of you. Father arranged a fiance to get rid of you, and that fiance then left you." Ucchan smirked. "Face it, you're unlovable." Ukyo sobbed into her hands. "N-no... st-stop it... please..." "Your soul is a dirty place, Ukyo. You don't deserve it. I do. Just stay here and you won't have to face anymore pain. I'll take care of everything." Ukyo thought. (Do you want to hurt people?) "No!" Ukyo cried, trying to regain her feet. "Too late," Ucchan said simply. With a quick slice, the blade of Ucchan's spatula bit deep into Ukyo's midsection, leaving a wide bloody gash. So weakened, Ukyo fell back to a sitting position against the wall as she felt her life's blood run out. "Her heartbeat's stopped, she's flatlining!" Akane gave Ranma's hand a reassuring squeeze, but he was too busy staring in the window to notice. "She'll be alright, Ranma. Ukyo's a fighter." "Come on, Ucchan," Ranma commanded his old friend. "Fight it! You can pull through this! Don't die on me!" Akane looked at Ranma's face. she thought. Not knowing what else to do, and before she could change her mind, she slipped her arms around Ranma's waist and hugged him fiercely. Ranma was stunned for a second before he returned the hug. "It's ok, Ranma, let it out..." A few more tears ran down Ranma's cheeks, even as he fought to hold them back. "Akane... Ucchan was my first real friend," he said softly. "All those years training with pop, I never had any friends. It may have made me a better martial artist, but I was so alone. I've always been alone." Akane looked up at Ranma and saw the tears. This was a side of him she rarely saw. All the macho arrogance, the insults; she never suspected that he felt so alone. she thought silently. "Ranma..." she said quietly, getting his attention. "You'll... you'll never alone, because... well... I'll be here for you..." Ranma looked surprised. "Akane? Th-thanks." She nodded and they both looked back through the window. "Try the paddles again!" "Ready? Clear!" *ZAP!* Ukyo jerked again. she realized with sudden clarity. (You're not alone.) (You'll only die if you give up.) "SHUT UP!" Ucchan screamed. Ukyo looked up to see Ucchan covering her ears. "I've won! Go away!" "No." Ukyo gasped. Someone was standing in the doorway. "Kenji..." she coughed out. He walked over to her, but as he passed Ucchan, she swung at him. Kenji caught the spatula and twisted it out of her grip, then flung it away. "You can't kill me, Ucchan. I'll always exist, as long as Ukyo wants me to." He stood over the fallen form of Ukyo. "It's time to get up and understand." He grabbed her arms and guided her up until she was standing. "Wh-who are you?" she asked quietly. He smiled. "I am that which becomes stronger in the most dire circumstances. I am your hope. Now, it's time for you to understand." He then took a step forward, embraced Ukyo, and disappeared within her. Ukyo gasped, and understood. "NO!" Ucchan yelled. "Stop it!" Ukyo continued. "I have been long absent from Ukyo, only showing myself in small ways. Like the time I let Konatsu stay. Ukyo may have made mistakes in the past, but she cannot make amends if I am locked down here." The wound across her belly disappeared. "No one wants you!" Ucchan scream. "You're unlovable!" "That will be true, only if Ukyo believes it. It is time to give her another choice." Now it was Ucchan's turn for tears. "There are no other choices!" But Ukyo could no longer hear her. "It is time to become one again. Come sister." She reached out and grabbed Ucchan's arms. "I don't want to go, don't want to die..." Ucchan said quietly, sobbing. But she didn't resist. "You will still live, but as part of the whole," Ukyo told her. Then, she pulled her into an embrace, and they merged. Looking around, everyone else was standing up and looking at her. Cologne stepped foreword. "Very good child. You have accepted that part of yourself that is most difficult." She stood in front of Ukyo, who kneeled down to look the old woman in the eyes. "We all have evil inside us, but we also have good in us as well. Life can be enjoyable, as long as the good keeps the evil in check." Ulyo embraced the old woman and they merged. Tofu was next. "Cologne is right. The darkness is in all of us, but we don't have to listen to it. All you need to say is, `I recognize my selfish desires, but I won't listen to them today.' That's all it takes." Tofu merged with her in the same manner as Cologne.. Something glomped onto her chest. "SWEETO!" Happosai exclaimed. Then his face became serious. "Hey kiddo, you may not like me much, but don't be afraid of your sexuality. And above all," he grinned and groped her chest, "Don't try to hide these!" He faded into her. One by one, they all merged with her. Ryoga. "Depression and anger are destructive, remember that." Kodachi. "OHOHOHOHOHOHO! Everyone needs to be a little crazy to survive in this world!" Hinako. "Listen to your inner child, and do not forsake your womanhood." Kuno. "Endeavor to cling to the righteous path." Mousse. "There are many different forms of love, do not be blind to them." Shampoo. "Martial arts are for defending the weak and those you care about. You have more power than you think." An image flashed through her mind and Ukyo filed it away for further study. Only two were left, Ranma and Akane. "I guess this is what it always comes down to, ne?" Ukyo said, a slight grin on her face. Ranma walked up to her. "Never, ever lose your sense of humor. Life is fun, so enjoy it!" And then he kissed her, and merged once more. "Akane..." Ukyo said to the last one. "I know who you are now. You're my conscience. That's why I had such trouble trying to hate you in the past. I didn't want to be reminded of all the dirty things I've done. Subconsciously, I knew if you died, then I was lost as well." Akane nodded and walked up to her, embracing her. "If you are ever in doubt, listen to me. I, and the rest of your friends, will be there to guide you." Then Ukyo was alone. She looked up as the restaurant began to fade away. "It's time, Ukyo," she said, smiling. "It's time to wake up!" "Clear!" *ZAP* "We've got a heartbeat!" "We've got her!" "Vital signs are stabilizing." "She's going to be alright." Ranma and Akane continued their hug, two lonely souls finding solace in a time of need. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact me at: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: I tried to claim these characters as my own, but Takahashi had Ranma challenge me. So, we fought in an Anything-Goes-Martial-Arts Toenail clipping contest. I won the first time, but Ranma trained, learned a new technique and beat me on the rematch. Don't ask what the new technique was. Enjoy. Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 5 Ukyo gradually became aware of her surroundings. She was on her back in a soft bed and someone was holding her hand. "She moved!" Ukyo slowly opened her eyes. "Ranchan?" she asked hoarsely. Her hand was squeezed gently. "I'm here, Ucchan," replied Ranma. "And Akane's here, too." She felt someone else take her other hand, and it was Akane's voice that spoke. "How're you feeling?" Ukyo groaned. "Like I've been through a blender." She looked around, fear pangs in her gut. "Where's Kenji-san? Did you save him?" Ranma nodded. "He went on a trip to find his past. We have a week off of school, so hopefully he'll be back next week." Ukyo thought, despairingly. "Nabiki has been keeping Ucchan's up," Akane said, changing the subject. "She hired a few people to keep it running, and all of us have chipped in to help at one time or another." Ukyo blinked. "How long have I been out of action?" Ranma and Akane looked at each other, then Akane said to her, "This may be a shock, but you've been in a coma for the past nine days." Ukyo sighed. "I guess it can't be helped." A few moments of silence passed. "Ucchan, you've been through a lot," Ranma said finally. "You should get some rest. We'll talk more later, okay?" "Sure Ranchan, and thanks. You too, Akane-chan." She closed her eyes as the couple left the room. For the first time in a long while, she could finally have a nice, long, and most important, peaceful rest, and she was looking forward to it. After the hospital, the two visitors slowly walked back home in silence. Ranma was on the fence as usual, while Akane kept to the street. Both were lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Akane looked up at Ranma. "What are you thinking about, Ranma?" Ranma looked startled. "Uh, nothing." "Ranma, you know you don't have a very good poker face." Her expression softened. "Tell me about it? Please?" He sighed, but leapt down to the ground, next to her. "I was just thinkin', in all our adventures, we've never gotten hurt as bad that last time when we went to save Kenji." He stopped, seemingly searching for words. "I mean, Ukyo was in a coma! At Jusendo you..." He cut off. "I almost died, I know," Akane said softly, finishing the thought that he couldn't. She tried to smile at him. "But you saved me." "But I almost didn't," Ranma said glumly. "And Ucchan almost died. It just seems that these things are gettin' more and more dangerous since Mt. Phoenix. And," he continued in a quieter voice, "I... I don't know what to do about it." Akane's eyes widened in realization. She stopped, and he stopped when he realized she was no longer beside him. "Ranma, I realized awhile ago that this is the way your life is," she began slowly. "You help people. You've helped me many times. You helped Kodachi when Asuka the white Lily showed up. You helped Shampoo against Pink and Link. You helped Ukyo out against that octopus ball guy, and when she was too sick to run her restaurant." She took a step closer to him. "And you did it all without a second thought, without asking what was in it for you." She grinned. "You even helped Pantyhose Taro out when Rouge showed up, and then helped her against him." Ranma laughed nervously, putting a hand behind his head. "Yeah, I guess so." HIs mood brightened a little, he gazed back at her. "But you're forgettin' somethin', Akane. You helped too, all those times. I... couldn't have beat Taro that first time without you. In fact, you're the one who told me to go on that date with Kodachi." He shuddered slightly. They resumed walking again. "I guess we have that in common," Akane said after a few minutes of silence. "We like to help people. I mean, look at Kenji-san. He didn't really want our help, but we gave it to him anyway." "Yeah, I guess so," he said at last. There was several more minutes of silence,while Ranma thought over something else on his mind. "Uh, Akane?" She looked up. "Yes?" Ranma nervously scratched the back of his head. "Uh, I just wanna apologize, you know, for what happened back there..." "What do you mean?" she asked, confused. "You know, I kinda held your hand, the hug... You probably didn't like it and I shouldn't have take advantage of you like that..." Akane smiled. "Ranma, that's okay. I mean you concerned about Ukyo and all. So really it's okay." Ranma was surprised. "Really? You're not upset or anything?" Akane sighed. "No baka. Never be upset for wanting to hug me." Her face was down, so Ranma couldn't see it, but he swore her ears couldn't get any redder. "It's just that, what you said about being alone, well, I kinda know how that goes. I felt that way ever since mama died." She continued in a quieter tone. "Besides, I don't mind holding your hand if it makes you feel better." Ranma blinked a couple of times. "Really?" She nodded. He hesitantly moved his hand out partway and Akane, sensing his hand motions, moved hers halfway and they met in the middle. They walked the rest of the way in silence, just holding hands. Each afraid of saying or doing anything for fear of ruining the moment. So intent on what they were doing that they didn't think to let go when they entered the dojo grounds. BIG mistake. "Oh happy day!" Soun cried out, disrupting their thoughts. "My little baby and her fiance are finally acknowledging their feelings!" "It's about time," Nabiki said dryly, but with a smile. "Oh my, isn't it wonderful, Saotome-obasama?" A happy Kasumi said to Nodoka. "Daaaaad, it's nothing, really," Akane tried to protest. Ranma quickly yanked his hand out of Akane's. "Oh come on, knock it off already." The two fathers rushed behind their respective offspring and ushered them into the house until everyone was seated around the table. "Now now boy, I think we've put off the wedding long enough," Genma stated to his son. "Since you and Akane obviously have feelings for each other, it's time to plan the wedding and unite our families!" Nodoka stood back and watched. "How about a week from now, eh Saotome?" Soun put forth between sobs. The intense emotions the couple had been experiencing, erupted in the wrong way. "Would you cut it out!" Ranma yelled. "I already told you, I ain't gettin' married!" Akane felt a stab of pain in her heart, but hid it. Instead, she shot to her feet, fuming. "Well, who wants to marry a sex-changing pervert like you!?" She yelled back while punching him into a wall. "Did I mention violent? You're always hittin' for no reason and you always assume things are my fault!" "Well you're a jerk who doesn't care a thing about me, yet goes after every other girl you come across!" "Enough!" The voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard and turned their attention towards Nodoka. "This engagement between the Saotome and Tendo clans was made as a matter of giri, family honor. However, honor should never come at the price of personal happiness." She turned towards Genma and Soun. "As heads of these two clans, you have the power to annul this engagement. Since it is what our children seem to want, I suggest you think carefully about it." She turned back towards Ranma and Akane. "You will both think about it for a week. At the end of that time, if you both decide against the engagement, I'm sure your fathers' will love you enough to think of your happiness first, and annul the engagement. It will never bother you again and Ranma will live with his family. Do you understand?" Stunned, Ranma and Akane could only nod. When Genma and Soun failed to respond, Nodoka fingered the katana. They quickly agreed as well. "Now, a lot has happened today already, so I think we should all get some rest," she continued. "Genma and Ranma, since our house has recently been rebuilt, you will join me there. I think you need some time apart from Akane and she needs some time away from you. And we have also been a burden on the Tendos for too long. If this mess isn't resolved in a week's time, Ranma will also attend a different school. Now, pack your belongings and we shall go." Akane, having regained some of her senses, ran upstairs to her room and shut the door while Genma and Ranma packed. She thought to herself as she cried over her bed. She stopped and thought a second. She sobbed into her pillow. In his room, Ranma slowly packed his few belongings things. He could barely hear Akane crying in her room. He finished packing, then joined his parents at the door. Silently, the Saotome family walked off to their new home. Akane watched them go from her window, then returned to crying on her bed. She almost didn't hear her door opening, nor the sounds of feet approaching her. "Go away!" she cried. "Akane-chan," came the voice of Kasumi. "I think we need to talk." She sat down on the bed and pulled her non-resisting sister into her lap. She made soothing noises as she rocked the younger girl slowly. Akane's sobs slowly subsided. "Why? Why does he have to be such a jerk! Just when everything was going well..." "He's scared and stubborn," Kasumi answered. "Just like you." Akane looked up. "I am nothing like..." the words died on her lips, as the truth of her older sister's statement hit home. "I-I guess I was partly at fault, too." Kasumi smiled. "Part of the fault is also our father's. They try too hard to push you two together." "So what do I do?" she asked. "Everytime we seem to make progress, something happens to drive us apart again. I know he loves me, but why won't he say it?" Her sister's answer was simple. "Have you told him you love him?" Akane looked up questionably. "Tell him how you feel and allow him to do the same. Control your temper, even if he accidentally insults you. You should know by now that he is not very good with words. It comes from being raised by Saotome-ojisan." Akane sighed. "I-I guess you're right, as usual. But I can barely admit to myself how I feel. How can I tell him?" "You'll find a way. If you really love him, than you have to take that chance." Akane said nothing, not having the strength or the will to object to that. She soon fell asleep from the exhaustion and Kasumi placed her down onto her bed. Cologne finished her spell modifications and set the trap. The magic aura dampener around the Nekohanten was weakened, so as to let an outside magic seeker know that there was magic stuff inside. Magical warning symbols were drawn in the restuarant's three occupied rooms. If someone did come inside, Cologne, Shampoo, and Mousse would immediately know about it. They went to bed that night expecting to be broken into right away, but that was not to be. Nor the next night after. It wasn't until Thursday night, that the bait was taken. Three cloaked figures pried open a window and let themselves in. As soon as the first one was inside, the magical symbols inside the occupied bedchambers flashed brightly, awakening the three guardians. Meeting in the upstairs hallway, they listened to the sounds of people rummaging through their stuff, downstairs. They could also hear hushed whispers. "Hey, I can't get this door open!" one whispered. "Let me try," another replied. Silence for a few seconds. "It's got some kind of magical protection; let's try to break it." Cologne turned to the two other Amazons and whispered, "Looks like they're trying to get the storeroom open, just like I thought. You two go out the window and come in through the back. I'll block the front." Shampoo and Mousse nodded and left. Cologne stealthily made her way downstairs and into the dining room. Even in the darkness, she could make out the magical auras of three people in the kitchen. She hopped up to the counter between the dining room and kitchen and cleared her throat, getting their attention. "My my, what's the world coming to when a little old lady can't even feel safe and secure in her own home," Cologne said innocently. "It's just an old woman," one of them said, sneering. "I'll take care of her, you two continue to work on the door." Cologne simply smiled and hopped on her staff back into the dining room. The robed wizard came after her, trying to grab her, but the old matriarch slipped out of his grasp. She jumped over him and poked the sleep point on the back of his neck, sending him to slumberland. "That's what you get for underestimating your opponent," she said sweetly. As soon as that was done, Shampoo and Mousse came through the back door and attacked. Mousse wrapped his chains around one of the figures and Shampoo leapt foreword swinging a bonbori in her right hand (her left was still in a cast). An impact on the head knocked out her target. In a matter of a few seconds, the trap had been sprung and executed flawlessly. Soon, all three were tied up and incapacitated. Cologne bounced up to the one she had dealt with. "Now for a little friendly interrogation," she announced gleefully. "You're too slow, `niichan!" Yuri taunted, dodging a sweeping kick from her brother. Today, they were sparring against each other to test the skills that Kenji had picked up over the past few days. It was Friday, and Kenji knew he'd have to head back soon, so his mind wasn't entirely on the task at hand. Maybe that's why he didn't see the return punch coming. Yuri jumped over his outstretched leg and delivered the one-two combo to Kenji's chest, causing him to back up out of range. She followed up her advantage with a cartwheel kick and roundhouse to his face, dropping him onto his back. Before she could finish it, Kenji rolled away and was back on his feet. Kenji grinned. "Not bad imouto-chan, but let me show you how it's done!" He moved in to attack, taking the kick to his side and holding onto her leg. He twisted to the side and Yuri had no choice but to hop along or fall. Kenji took the opportunity to lance his foot up and deliver a 3-kick combo to her face, then drop and sweep her remaining leg out. As she fell, Kenji released the leg and grabbed the arms, twisting to the side as he did and tossing her out of the ring. He walked over to his sister and held out his hand to help her up. "Guess I win again!" He continued to grin at her. She took it and helped herself up. "You may be able to beat me in hand-to-hand, but I still hold the edge in weapons combat." Kenji winced. It was true, much to his chagrin, that his sister had more skill with weapons. She was well-versed in many weapons, particularly the bow, katana, wakizashu, a pair of sai, and even shuriken. Her real strength was with the yo-yo however, and she was quite proud of the fact that she was the only one in the clan who could use the weapon well. The first Kenji went up against it, he considered it merely a kid's toy. But when she began to whip it around, disarming him and tying him up with seconds, he thought better of it. Kenji wasn't totally without weapon skill. He was fairly good with a wakizashu and now wore one with a 14" blade on his back above his waist. He also carried an expandable bo staff on his waist belt. With a quick press on the right part, it went from one foot in length to five He actually preferred the bo since it was generally non-lethal. Though he carried a few shuriken, he wasn't all that good with them. His real strength was his wind ki techniques which he was trying to teach his sister. "Ready to work on your training now?" he asked her as they vacated the ring to the next combatants. She nodded vigorously. "Of course! Except, I don't know if I'll ever be able to do them as well as you." "Just keep trying," he assured her. "After all, I only got them to work under stressful situations until I learned enough to do them normally. Besides, you have other uses for father's wind gift." He was speaking of her speed and jumping ability. Without much thought, she could make impossibly high jumps utilizing a wind boost. She could also lower the wind resistance around her body allowing her to run quite fast when she wanted to. Kenji was only beginning to adapt those techniques, and that was another area she was better at then him. "Know what I miss though?" She asked him. "What's that?" "When dad used to take us flying at night." Kenji's face dropped when she mentioned their father and Yuri noted her brother's look. "Oh, I'm sorry, Kenji. You still don't remember mom and dad." Kenji sighed. "It's okay. But what do you mean flights?" "Well, since he was one of those wind elemental guys, I guess he knew enough wind manipulation to fly. He used to take us out on flights at night, though Mom didn't think it was a good idea. She wanted us to live normal lives as martial artists." They shared a good laugh as they arrived at the area where they practiced their ki techniques. The clan didn't use ki techniques much, except for attaining silence while moving, near-invisibility in shadows, and enhancing punches, kicks, and jumps. They certainly didn't use any projectile attacks, instead relying on weapons. When he asked Oka about it, she told them it was because those kind of techniques were too flashy and/or too loud. Clan Garou's philosophy held silence and undetectability in high esteem, and to that end, weapons were quieter and less visible when need be. Still, Kenji had seen the effects of Ranma's techniques and he had to admit that they came in handy. Since the siblings would be leaving, Oka allowed them to train their wind ki techniques. Kenji stood the block of wood up on the stump and backed away. "Okay Yuri, give it a try. Remember, mental strength over physical. Generate your desire to protect someone or something, and see your target in your mind's eye." Yuri stood silent for a few seconds concentrating, eyes closed. Then, in one smooth motion she snapped her eyes open and thrust out her arm, palm foreword. "Hitohuki!" The blast was almost invisible to the eye, but the results were easily seen. The block of wood flew off the stump and hit the tree behind it. "Oh pooh." "Not bad," he appraised her while setting it back up again. This time he put two blocks up in two different places. "For someone who started it a few days ago. Now watch." Kenji concentrated on the block of wood, gathering his ki. He thrust out his hand. "Hitohuki!" There was a noticeable difference in the strength of this one versus Yuri's previous attempt. The block of wood flew off the stump a whole lot faster and broke into two pieces when it hit the tree behind it. "Okay, like that. Try to gather your ki using the techniques I showed you earlier." Yuri stood still for a second, then, with a sudden smirk on her face whipped out her hand. This time, there was clearly an object being thrown. It was almost invisible since it was all gray and moving fast. The object struck the second block of wood, sliced it in half and returned to her hand. Kenji groaned. "Yuri! You were supposed to use a ki technique, not your bladed yo-yo!" Yuri laughed and Kenji shook his head. They practiced some more to refine their techniques, and Kenji looked on with pride as his sister's blast became stronger with each try. Yuri called it quits after a half-an-hour, when she started to become tired. Kenji followed her as they went to get cleaned up. "You know, I was thinking, `niichan," Yuri started. "About your amulet." Kenji wiped his forehead. "Yeah, what about it?" "How did it know to lead you here?" He cocked his head. "I don't really know, just some kinda homing magic I guess." "But what exactly did it home in on?" "The house?" Yuri shook her head. "I don't think so, but I'd like to try an experiment." "What's that?" he asked. "Activate it and let's follow it to the exact spot it goes to. Maybe we can find exactly what the homing point is." He thought for a moment. "I suppose I can do that, though I don't see why." Yuri smiled. "Oh come on `niichan, humor me!" Kenji nodded. He couldn't really refuse his sister anything. And it didn't have anything to do with his memories, so he thought it was just a genetic `brother' thing. It still unnerved him, but he was getting more used to it now. He retrieved the amulet from his room and the two obtained permission to leave for a short while. They headed back to the house where Ryoga was still camped. They greeted each other, then followed Kenji after Yuri explained her experiment. He activated the amulet again and went on the direction it pointed. Eventually, it guided them to a tree that was halfway between the barn and the house. "So it's the tree?" Ryoga asked. "I don't think so," Kenji replied. Walking around the tree, the amulet's directional arrow disappeared and the ball began to glow bright blue. A shaft of blue light streaked downward until it entered the ground. "I think something's here." "What is it?" Yuri asked excitedly. "I don't know," the amnesiac admitted. "But I guess we have some digging ahead of us if we want to find out." Ryoga laughed. "Why don't you leave this to me, Soyokaze. Back up." The siblings gave the lost boy a strange look, but did as he asked. The two ninja-trainees watched in fascination as Ryoga touched the dirt at his feet with a single finger, and the ground exploded. When the debris cleared, everyone moved foreword again to check the crater. "That was incredible!" Yuri exclaimed. "Can you teach me to do that?" The lost boy grinned. "Sure! I just have to slam a boulder into you several dozen times." Yuri turned a shade of green, horror appearing on her face. "Nevermind." The attention returned to the bottom of the crater, where a half-submerged, four foot by four foot, steel box was visible. Working together, they hauled it up and opened it. Inside were several items, but on top was a letter addressed to both Kenji and Yuri. Nodding to his sister, Kenji took the letter and began to read: Dear Kenji and Yuri, If you're reading this, then then something has happened to us. We may very well be dead. You either found this box by luck, or Quan gave you an amulet that led you here. Inside are various items we planned to give you when you both came of age. They were ours to safeguard and use, so now they are yours. Know that we loved you both very much, and always will. Do not mourn us, but instead look to the future and make a place in this world for yourselves. We will be proud of you no matter you choose to do. One last note. We discovered someone trying to tamper with your lives, but we were able to protect you from it. We never found out who was responsible, so be on your guard. We believe you should be free to do as you choose, not held by fate. Take care, and may the spirits of our ancestors watch over you both. Love, Soyokaze Taynor and Sulyia Kenji finished reading and looked up at his sister, who was on the verge of tears. He wanted to say something to her, but no words presented themselves. This time, he gave into his new feelings and pulled her into a one-armed hug. Ryoga, sensing a private moment, walked away. He didn't know what to think. He inwardly shivered at that thought, and partially realized what the two people behind him were going through. For Kenji, it was finally proof that his parents really were dead. He rubbed his sister's back, absently. His gaze hardened. Looking down at her, he added, Yuri tried to dry up her tears. For two weeks after the fire, she had cried off and on. For all she knew, she had lost her family. If it wasn't for Neko, she doubted that she would've come around and begun to live again at all. Still, it took two weeks to get her out of her depression and involve her in clan life. "Let's call it a night, `neechan," Kenji offered. "We'll go through all of this tomorrow." He indicated the box. Yuri only nodded and they closed the box back up. Standing up, Kenji found Ryoga sitting back by the fire at his campsite. The amnesiac informed him that they were going to head back to the clan grounds, and that the siblings would see him again tomorrow. Ryoga looked up. "Oh, I've got something to tell you. Neko led me to a phone and I called the dojo to see how things were going." Kenji frowned, but nodded. "I've good news and bad news. The good news is: Ukyo-san is awake and feeling fine. She got out of the hospital yesterday." Kenji smiled, a wonderful and relieved feeling washing through him. "That's good to hear." Yuri sensed the change in her brother's mood, and took advantage of it to elbow him. "Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend?" "She's not my girlfriend!" Kenji protested. "Just a friend. She got hurt bad saving me and I was worried about her. Besides what about your boyfriend?" Yuri steamed. "I don't have a boyfriend and I don't want one! Himoshi just can't take a hint!" Kenji chuckled. Himoshi was one of the boys from the nearby village, and had received numerous injuries from his attempts to date Yuri, from the ninja girl herself. He turned back to Ryoga. "So, what's the bad news?" "It appears the elemental wizard sects are back," he said grimly. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've read this far, you're either extremely bored or you find my work mildy interesting. I really hope its the latter. Really. Drop me a line: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: I have to say these characters aren't mine or else Akane will force feed me her cooking. "WRITER NO BAKA!" *WHAM* "Ite..." Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 6 Ukyo opened the door of her restaurant and walked inside. With her release from the hospital, she was anxious to open it back up and start making the best okonomiyaki in Japan once again. She closed the door and flicked on the lights, looking around. The restuarant looked like she felt. Empty. Konatsu was gone and now she really felt alone. She never realized how lonely it felt to come back to an empty home. She was unwilling to finish that line of thought. She walked across the floor to the door to her room. Hesitating a second, she opened the door and stepped inside. Everything was just like she remembered it. But she had no idea on how to do that. Walking over to her dresser, she plopped her duffel bag down and knelt on the floor. Grabbing ahold of the bottom drawer, she mustered her courage and pulled it all the way out. There was something else that was bugging her, ever since she got out of the hospital. There were two times lately, where she had failed in battle and been injured. The first was when Kenji had been kidnapped, and again when facing the fire lord. She knew her skills were falling behind in the increasing dangers that seeemed to spring up around Ranma. If she wanted to continue to be a part of his life and live in this town, she had to find a way to get stronger. And while she was in her coma, she had a flash of insight; and remembered. Seven years ago she had gone to visit her grandpa, hopefully to get some provisions and some idea on where to look for the fiance who abandoned her. Instead, her grandfather insisted that she train with him. Knowing that it would help when she finally caught up to Ranma, she agreed. When it was time for her to go, her grandfather gave her a couple of scrolls and told her to take good care of them. He also told her they contained some of the deepest secrets of their family's martial art, and to never use them recklessly. Ukyo had agreed and stashed them somewhere safe, then forgot about them. Until now. Turning over the drawer, she slid out the false panel and the scrolls fell out. Her hands shaking nervously, she picked up the scrolls. "Grandfather said there was more to our family's martial art than making okonomiyaki," she said softly to herself. "I think it's time I discovered what that was." She unrolled the scroll and began to read. After speaking with Oka, Kenji, Yuri, and Ryoga left for Nerima first thing Saturday morning. They were given access to their mother's account, which contained a little over a million yen, as their inheritance. Withdrawing some to buy 3 train tickets, they endeavered to get back as soon as possible. The trio packed their belongings and said their good-byes. Now, on the train, Kenji sat staring out the window, watching the scenery flow by. He didn't think the elemental sects would return to bug them, since by Ranma's account, they had been trashed and the fire lord was gone. And just the thought of what the Fire Lord did to Ukyo, made him invoke a silent promise to himself that the sects would pay dearly. He also felt guilty over the fact that the mages were there because of him in the first place. So it was his responsibility to neutralize them as a threat. "Gotta admit, I'm not used to seeing you like this," his sister's voice broke him out of his reverie. He turned his head to look at her and frowned. "What do you mean?" "I mean, you've changed since that night," she said. Kenji instinctively knew she was talking about the night of the fire. "You're so quiet and calm now, when you used to be quite lively, active, and..." She paused and smiled. Kenji cocked his head. "And what?" "A practical joker!" "Really?" He laughed. "Well, having memories and experiences help to influence a personality. What was I like before?" She was silent a second, as if pondering whether or not to tell him. "Well, you always used to pull pranks and jokes on all of us." She grinned. "I remember one time you got mad at mom when she beat you in a sparring session. So you rigged up a rope trap on a tree and got mom to chase you. She didn't even see it coming. When me and dad came out to see what the scream was about, we saw you laughing on the ground while mom hung upside down from the tree with a whipped cream pie in her face. It was one of the few times you actually outsmarted and got the better of her." Yuri ended her narrative with laughter and Kenji joined her. "But you were always like that: using joy buzzers, water pails on top of doors, and getting into various other mischief." When they calmed down a bit he said, "I can't believe I did something like that!" Then his gaze turned introspective. "I just wish I could remember them! I hate this stupid memory seal." Kenji gave his sis a squeeze, unwittingly getting more comfortable at showing affection for his sister. "You're lucky in that you can keep them alive in your memories." He tussled her blond hair. "Are you doin' okay?" She let go and nodded. "I may not be totally over it, but I've come to accept their passing. I had a couple of really good cries, and Neko was a big help bringing me through my emotional breakdown." Her expression became serious. "But if you tell anyone about it, I'll remove your spleen!" There was a knock at the door. "Enter." A man in a brown cloak, hood down, entered the office. He approached the desk and the gentleman behind it, then kneeled and bowed his head. "You may rise and report, Kato," the man sitting behind the desk commanded. "Lord Krynn, we've lost contact with one of our retrieval teams," Kato said nervously. "The restaurant was apparently a trap and very heavily infused with powerful magic." Kato gulped and thoroughly expected to be struck down right then and there. Kyrnn fumed as he built up a fireball. The fireball disappeared. "I'm only letting you live because we're low on manpower, so I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself." Kato nodded, visibly relieved. "We have to assume the ones who are responsible were the ones who drove us out of our mountain lair. In time, the ones who were foolish enough to be taken prisoner will reveal our new location and we will be under attack once more. I cannot allow this just yet. We need something to tip the scales back into our favor." He thought for a second, then looked up. "Have you ascertained the dwellings of any of our enemies?" Kato nodded. "The only two we know about now are the Nekohanten restaurant and a dojo that is the home of the Tendo's. We are informed that the one known as Ranma lives there along with his parents." Krynn steepled his fingers. "That will do. I want you to dispatch a team and attempt to take as many hostages as you can. I want a fast surprise raid. In and out in minimal time. Think you can handle that?" The servant nodded. "Then you are dismissed." Kato left his master's room, grateful for second chances. Inside the office, Krynn pulled a drawer open on his desk to reveal a bluish-white crystal, slightly bigger than his hand. He picked it up and fingered it. He carefully placed the crystal back in the drawer, then stood up and walked to one of his windows. The view of the ocean below had a calming effect on him. "Garon was fool. He reduced the sects power by a quarter, all in the pursuit of power. Then we were beaten down when he went after that Soyokaze kid." He began to clench and unclench his fist. "We are now less than half of what we were, thanks to that madman who called himself the Fire Lord. And now it is up to me to rebuild." He remembered another disturbing report. It said that the remaining members of the sects were driven from their Tibetan home by something. No one could give details, but a few of there number had been killed in the escape exodus that followed. Not all had made it to the Japan compound. "And I must rebuild fast. I must remain strong, and I must protect the sects against anything that threatens them." A couple of hours later, still in the predawn hours, twelve cloaked figures surrounded the dojo and snuck inside. The dojo's occupants were either just getting up, or still asleep. In the kitchen, Kasumi was just preparing breakfast when she detected movement behind her. "Good morning," she said cheerily as she turned around to see who it was. "Oh my!" was all she could get out before she was grabbed and a fine powder sprayed into her face. She promptly passed out and was tied up, very gently. Somehow, her attackers felt that they didn't really want to hurt her. Soun was in the living room when he heard the scuffle in the kitchen. "Kasumi? Are you alright?" Hearing no reply, he grabbed his crutches and attempted to get to his feet. Six figures burst into the room and attacked. He might've been able to handle them if he didn't have the broken leg and was armed. As it was, he was quickly overpowered and had the same powder sprayed into his face. The results were the same and he was tied up next to Kasumi. Upstairs, Nabiki and Akane had come out of their rooms, hearing the strange noises downstairs. "What's going on, sis?" Nabiki said sleepily. Akane yawned. "I don't know but I thought I heard something." Just then, several figures came running up the stairs. "Nabiki, RUN!" She dropped into a fighting stance. She dodged the first one to get to her and delivered a chop to the neck, sending #1 to the floor, unconscious. She grabbed #2's outstretched arm and flipped him onto his back. A punch to the stomach ensured he wouldn't be rejoining the fight anytime soon. That's when she noticed her older sister still standing there, shock on her face. "NABIKI!" Akane yelled. "RUN! GO GET HELP!" That succeeded in jarring her into action. Nabiki ran back into her room, and sprinted to her window. Opening it, she warily glanced at the ground. Taking a deep breath, she leaped out the window and rolled when she hit the ground, to lesson the impact. Only slightly dazed, she was back on her feet and heading for the back entrance when she felt something strike her back. It felt like a pin prick. When she began to get sleepy, she realized it must've been a tranquilizer dart. She barely registered hitting the ground before blacking out. Inside, Akane had managed to incapacitate several more of her attackers, but there was just too many and she had taken a few good hits herself. A blow to the side of her head staggered her, then she felt something in her arm. Looking down, she pulled the dart out and prepared for the next attack. It never came and soon, she was joining her family in sleep. As the bodies were loaded into the waiting van, Kato smiled. This had gone off well, and now his master would be pleased with him. He may just survive the day after all! With everyone in the two vans, he gave the signal and they were off, but not before leaving the note as ordered. Several blocks away, Ranma was walking along the fence towards the dojo. He wasn't quite sure what to say, but he knew he needed to talk to Akane and figure this whole engagement mess out. When he first arrived at the dojo, he thought he didn't want to marry the stupid tomboy. But over the past year, something changed. Now, when he began to imagine life without her, the picture changed. Jusendo had scared more than he could ever imagine. When he thought she was dead, all reason for him to go on living vanished. He knew now, that he could never live without her. He arrived at the dojo and pushed open the gate. Walking up to the door, he was about to knock when he realized the door was already open. "Hello? Kasumi-san? Tendo-san?" He stepped inside and his heart dropped into his stomach as he recognized the signs of a struggle. "Akane!" He raced into the kitchen. Nothing. He raced upstairs and checked the rooms. Nothing. He ran back downstairs and into the living room all the while calling out names. That's when he saw Happosai sitting in the midst of the wreckage that was the dining room. "Old freak!" he exclaimed. "Where are they!? What have you done with them!?" Ranma rushed him to attack but the old man simply held up his hand. In it, was an envelope. Ranma stopped and took it, opening it up to find four pictures and a note. The pictures were of Soun, Kasumi, Nabiki, and... Akane. Ranma's heart dropped into his stomach. All were in unconscious and bound positions. Ranma scanned the note. "You have our friends, we have yours," he read. "Don't think of coming after us or they're dead. We might be able to work out a trade, however if you find out where we are. Otherwise, stay out of our way and do not interfere." "You may think me a freak," Happosai said slowly. "But I do care about my family." And it was the truth, too. If there was one thing he had leanred, it was that all the panties in the world weren't worth a good family to come home to. "I promise you we will get them back and make whoever did this pay dearly." He looked up. "Do you know who did this?" Ranma looked up from the note. "Oh, I forgot, you've been gone for awhile. Yeah, I got a pretty good idea who did this. But we're gonna need help. Last time we were just barely able to beat these guys, and we don't everybody we had then. I'll go grab Ukyo and Doc Tofu. You go grab my pop at our house and we'll meet at the Nekohanten to form a plan." Together they leapt to the wall surrounding the yard. "Tell Cologne it's must be the wizard sects again and she'll tell you all about it. Her trap must've worked if they claim we have some of their men." Happosai nodded. "Very well, boy. I'll meet you there in a half-an-hour." They separated and were gone. As Ranma leapt from rooftop to rooftop, he said a silent prayer. "If I find one hair out of place on my Akane, I'll kill every last one of them!" he promised to himself, then stopped. "Wait a minute... Did I just say, `my Akane'?" A funny grin crossed his face. "I guess I did..." He shook his head and continued on. "Can't think about that now." He soon arrived at Ucchan's as the owner was opening the restaurant. "Hiya Ranchan!" she greeted him cheerfully. She noticed the grave look on his face. "What's wrong?" "The Tendo's have been taken, I'm guessing by the wizard sects," he explained. "We could use your help if you feel up to it." She nodded. "Of course! Just let me grab my gear." She disappeared back inside and emerged a couple of minutes later with her bandolier and battle spatula. "Ok, let's go!" Ranma shook his head. "We're meeting at the Nekohanten. I want you to go there right now. I'll be by as soon as I grab Doc Tofu. He'll want to come with Kasumi being held." Ukyo gave him a quick shoulder squeeze and they parted. A few minutes later, Ranma was at the clinic. After a brief explanation of the situation, which Tofu could barely understand, they were off as soon as he realized that Kasumi was in trouble. "So you see, Happi, it's happening," Cologne concluded. Happosai let out a puff on his pipe. "I don't know, Cologne. In all my years, I wouldn't have suspected that it would happen now. They're not ready." "Neither is Shampoo, and that is precisely why we must leave," the old woman countered. "Without any real information, we are vulnerable. And we aren't going to get it here." "And we can't let them know what we're doing either, I know, I know." Happosai took another long puff on his pipe. "Very well. I guess I'm in agreement for the moment." "Your support means everything to me," Cologne drawled sarcastically. A scuffle could be heard outside the Nekohanten kitchen. "Yo! Old ghoul, we're here!" Cologne chuckled. "I do believe son-in-law has arrived." She pogo'ed out of the kitchen, and Happosai leaped out after her. "Ok, I think Cologne has explained everything to me," the old man began, "and her three captives have sqealed as to the location of their brethren." He pointed to the map on the table, where the mages base was outlined in red. Ranma studied it. "Okay, so the place where these wizards are hangin' out is at this building by the sea," he said thoughtfully, pointing at a spot on a map of Japan. "Then it's pretty obvious to me that we go ahead and make the trade." Ranma's brain began to think tactically. "Since they haven't seen Happosai yet, he'll sneak in first and find the family. Shampoo and mom should go to the train station to meet up with Ryoga and Kenji and appraise them of the situation." "No!" Shampoo yelled. "Shampoo go fight!" "No child," Cologne admonished. "You are still injured and would be a handicap in a fight. Last night was different since we held the advantage. You will protect your mother-in-law." Shampoo's countenance fell, but she muttered compliance. Happosai spoke up. "While it's true they probably don't know of me or Tofu yet, I doubt they'll fall for the same plan twice. We should at least head over and recon the area first. It'll take a couple hours just to get there so we should leave right away." The group nodded their assent and began to break up. Ranma felt a tug on his leg and looked down to see Happosai standing there. "We'll get them back son, I promise." For once, Ranma was in complete agreement with the old master. Two cabs deposited the ten a mile away from the building a couple hours later. Then, Ranma, Genma, Happosai, Cologne, Mousse, Tofu, and Ukyo, along with the three they had captured, began the trek north along shore and through the forest to their target. Pressure points kept their captives slumbering and easily managed. Of course that meant, Ranma, Genma, and Dr. Tofu had to carry them, but it was better than risking them escaping. Within ten minutes, they caught site of the compound, which was situated on top of high cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They worked their way around to the western side where they had a higher view point and could see inside the high walls that enclosed the five buildings. "I'll go scout around since I can move undetected by these amateurs," said Happosai. "The rest of you wait here." Before anyone could say a word, he was gone. "I sure hope the old freak knows what he's doing," Ranma thought out loud. Cologne turned on him. "An old freak he may be, but he is highly skilled. Even you must see that. Now we should all get some rest while we wait for him to finish his task." The old ghoul had a point. Ranma hated to admit it (both that the freak was skilled and they had to wait), but she was right. He sat down on a rock and proceeded to do the one thing that his insides were screaming not to do: wait. Elsewhere, two others were also waiting. Nodoka sat on a bench at the station with Shampoo. It was going to be another several hours before the train Ryoga and Kenji were on would arrive, so she thought she'd use this opportunity to find out a few things. She turned to her companion. "Would you mind of I asked you a question, Shampoo-san?" Nodoka asked. To which Shampoo nodded. "What exactly is your intentions toward my son? Shampoo didn't hesitate, but beamed with pride. "Shampoo love Ranma! Going to marry Airen and go back to Amazon village in China." "And do you know how he feels about you?" Shampoo thought a little harder. "Shampoo know he must love me. But it not matter since law says we must marry." Nodoka raised an eyebrow. "I was not aware. What is this law?" "It Amazon law. If outsider male defeat female Amazon, they must marry." "And what happens if they don't?" Shampoo's expression faded a bit. "Then Amazon woman lose much honor. Shampoo be disgraced before village. Everyone... lose respect for Shampoo." Especially before her peers, she realized.. They had always been jealous of her martial arts abilities, and so would take any excuse to make fun of her. When she was beaten easily by female Ranma in front of the entire village, the only way to save face in front of her people was by using the kiss of death. When it was revealed that Ranma was male, she perserved her honor by delivering the kiss of marriage. Knowing Ranma was better than her, she requested the most dangerous training her great-grandmother could give her, and that resulted in Jusenkyo. "I see." Nodoka thought for a bit. She knew her son was in love with Akane, so he couldn't marry this gaijin. Still, if he didn't, she would face terrible hardship and Nodoka didn't want that to happen to such a nice young girl. "Is there anyway to break off the engagement without any loss of face coming to the Amazon?" Shampoo thought for a few moments. "Shampoo not aware of anything, other than one of couple dying. Probably rare cases come before council, but Shampoo not know of any." She looked up. "But Ranma marry Shampoo, so she no worry." Nodoka patted Shampoo's leg. "My dear, you may have to accept the fact that my son may not love you and may choose to marry someone else. I don't wish any harm to you, so maybe I will have a friendly chat with your great-grandmother and see if something can be worked out." They were silent after that, each lost in thought. Shampoo thought. But somehow, she wasn't entirely convinced. It was an hour later when Happosai returned and he gathered everyone together to hear his report. "I've counted about 30-40 guards and several more in glimpses of the buildings," he said. "They also have an impressive security circuit, but nothing that would stop me! Mostly cameras and infrared beams. The doors are also locked by hi-tech devices." He took a puff on his pipe. "With all this technology, it makes you wonder what kind of wizards these people are." "Any idea where the Tendos are?" Tofu asked. Happosai shook his head. "No, but I felt the strongest power coming from the top of the four-story building." He pointed at the biggest structure. "They're probably in there. The other buildings are most likely barracks, eating, and storage facilities. I suggest we concentrate the search on the main building where I sensed the power." Genma sat back. "So we still need a plan to get in there." Ranma began pacing. "I think I have a few ideas. So, Happosai, you say you can get in there?" He nodded. "Of course m'boy. But even I couldn't search the entire complex before they noticed something wrong and sounded the alarm." Ranma turned to Cologne. "I take it you could get in there too?" She nodded. "Of course." "Okay," he started. "Me, pop, Ucchan, and Mousse will deliver our guests and attempt to make the exchange, while Happosai and Cologne sneak in. We'll try to keep them occupied for as long as we can. As soon as you find them, you'll have to make some noise or something to let us know when to go all out." "What about me, Ranma?" Tofu asked. Ranma grinned at him. "What size are you, Doc?" --------------------------------------------------------------------- Coming up in a future chapter, I'm going to attempt something that has never been done before: A Happosai and Cologne Lemon scene! Am I sick little puppy? Am I joking? Am I just trying to hold your interest? Yes. Can you handle it? Tell me at: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: You know how hard it is thinking up witty disclaimer remarks? Oh yeah, these characters aren't mine. And now for another exciting episode... Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 7 Akane slowly realized someone was calling her name. She tried to shake her head to snap herself awake and that's when she noticed she was sitting in a chair. Opening her eyes, she was greeted by a brick wall. On her left and right were big shelves filled with multiple bottles that contained some sort of clear liquid. The voice spoke again. "Akane?" She blinked her eyes. "Nabiki?" "Finally!" Nabiki cheered. "I swear sis, when you're asleep, you're as dead to the world as Ranma." Akane realized that her ankles were tied together and her arms were tied behind the back of her chair. The postion left her sore and uncomfortable. "Oneechan, where are you?" "I'm behind you, tied in a chair the same as you I imagine." She sighed. "I'm not supposed to get caught up in these things. They're only supposed to come after you or Ranma and one of you goes to rescue the other." Akane was silent a moment. "Where's dad and Kasumi?" Nabiki sighed again. "They were here earlier, but were led off to another room. Where, I can only guess." "I'm sorry you got caught up in this, Nabiki," Akane apologized. Nabiki giggled. "What's so funny?" "Well, at least I'll be saved too when Ranma comes to get you!" Nabiki laughed some more. "Nabiki!" "Kasumi, are you alright?" Soun asked. "Hai, I'm fine I think," she replied slowly. Both were tied up in the same manner as Nabiki and Akane. "Don't worry daughter, I'll get us out of this!" he said. "And if I find they mistreated any one of my babies, I..." "You will do no such thing!" Soun was stopped by Kasumi's forceful command. "You are injured and are in no condition to do anything. Just wait for Ranma and the others to come. They will save us." Soun sighed. "I guess you're right. If only I kept practiced in the Art, I wouldn't have broken my leg and then I could've done something when they attacked the dojo." "Don't blame yourself, father," she comforted him. "There were too many of them for even you to handle." "You right again as usual, though my pride would rather me not face those facts." "We'll be fine father, you'll see." "I hope you're right." It was 4pm when the train carrying Ryoga, Kenji, and Yuri arrived at Nerima station. As they disembarked, they were greeted by the Saotome matriarch and a purple-haired Amazon. The two ladies quickly escorted the trio out of the station and found a quiet area where they explained the situation. "What!?" Ryoga exclaimed. "Akane-san's been kidnapped! How could Ranma let that happen!? I'm going to save her and pound that jerk!" "You will do no such thing!" Ryoga stopped cold as Nodoka addressed him. "If you want someone to blame, blame me!" "Obasama?" he asked, disbelievingly. "I'm the one who dragged my husband and son out of the house," she said sadly. "If I hadn't, then they would've been there to prevent this." "Gomen," Ryoga apologized. Nodoka sighed. "You're forgiven, but we are going to have a little talk after this is over, okay?" Ryoga nodded meekly. Kenji decided it was time to step in. "So, what you're saying is, the Tendos have been kidnapped and the others have gone to rescue them?" She nodded. "Okay, well the two of us will head up there and see if there is anything we can do to help." That's when Nodoka noticed the young girl dressed similarly as Kenji standing there. "Oh, I didn't even notice your friend there." Yuri smiled and executed a short bow. "I'm Soyokaze Yuri, Saotome-obasama. Kenji's sister!" "Such a polite young lady!" Nodoka exclaimed. "But are you sure you'll be all right going with them?" Kenji turned to her. "Mrs. Saotome is right. It would be better if you stayed here. These people are dangerous." "Oh no, you don't!" Yuri replied, hotly. "I'm coming with you! I don't want to risk losing you now." Kenji grimaced. "I know how you feel, I don't want to lose you either. That's why you have to stay here. You don't know what you're up against." "Then you shouldn't go either!" Yuri yelled. "I owe these people a debt of honor!" Kenji countered. "They saved my life!" Yuri smiled. "Fine! Then I owe them a debt of honor, too! They saved my brother and brought him back to me!" She leveled her eyes at him. "I'm going." Ryoga sighed. "Soyokaze, we don't have time for this! Just bring her along. She looks like she could handle herself in a fight, and we could use all the help we can get." Kenji glanced back and forth between the two and sighed. "Alright, I know when I'm beat." He settle his gaze on his sister. "But I'm sticking with you. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you." Yuri hugged him. "Thanks, `niichan. I won't let anyone hurt you either." Nodoka cleared her throat. "Well, if you three are decided, here is a map with directions Elder Cologne left for you." She handed them the map, and they thanked her. "Come Shampoo-chan, we'll head to my house. Good luck." Ryoga spoke up again. "Don't worry Mrs. Saotome, we'll bring them back." With that, the group cornered a couple of cabs. The two women took one back to the Saotome house, and the trio took the other, hoping they would arrive in time. Ranma glanced at his watch: 6pm. "You better be right about this, Saotome," Mousse muttered to his left. "I do not like surrendering." "You got any better ideas?" Ranma countered. The Amazon shook his head. A hand squeezed Ranma's right arm. "We're with you Ranchan," Ukyo said. She winked at him. "Arigato, Ucchan." Genma didn't say anything, but watched his son. Truth be told, he was proud of Ranma. Not only was he an excellent martial artist, but he had an uncanny knack for feeling out a situation, developing a plan, and getting people to work together on that plan. It validated some of Genma's guilt of everything he had put his son through on their training trip. Ranma gave the signal to his comrades and they rose, heading for the front gate of the compound. They were soon were in sight of the guards, who eyed them suspiciously. When they came close enough, they were ordered to halt. Ranma counted at least twenty guards in sight. There were probably more on the other side of the giant, solid iron gate. He stepped in front of the others. "My name is Saotome Ranma. I think your boss is expecting me." "Stay right there while I call him," one of the guards said. He went over and picked up a phone. After a short conversation, he hung up. Five minutes later, the gate swung open. There were indeed more guards on the other side, but there was also a figure standing in the middle who was radiating power; both command and literal. Ranma wondered. The man, who was obviously the leader, stepped forward. He was also the only one with hood removed so you could see his face, and he was wearing black robes as opposed to the brown worn by the rest of his minions. He was bald, but had a black mustache and beard covering his face. "Welcome to my home, Ranma-san. You may call me Kyrnn. Please, won't you come in?" "We came for our friends," Ranma said evenly. "We have yours, so we've come to make the trade." Kyrnn's eyes narrowed. "And a trade we will make. But if you want to see your friends alive, you'll join me." Ranma inhaled, then nodded to the group and they started foreword. Krynn smiled. "Excellent! You'll see there is much we can do for each other!" "I doubt it," Ukyo spat. Krynn laughed. "My, what spirit! Just like another girl I know..." "You better not have hurt any of them," Ranma growled. "What kind of host do you think I am?" Krynn appeared shocked. By now, Ranma's group was inside the gate and it closed behind them. "Now if you will be so kind as to relinquish my loyal followers..." Ranma tossed his bundle to the ground. Mousse and Genma followed with theirs. Krynn gestured to a trio of his minions who picked up the three unconscious men and carried them off. "They're just sleeping and should wake up soon," Ranma explained. "Now, do we get our people?" Krynn smiled in a way that sent shivers down Ranma's spine. "Of course! Just follow me." He turned and walked toward the main building and Ranma gestured for his friends to follow. "Come on Happi, they'll be going in right now!" "I'm coming, Cologne." Happosai leaped down from the tree he was sitting in to join Cologne on the ground. He smiled at her. "Just like the good ol' days, eh?" The old woman groaned. "Don't remind me. Remember what I told you earlier." Happosai sighed. "I know. We have to disappear if there is going to be any choice to fight the coming disaster." "Agreed." Cologne's voice was solemn. "The kids must survive on their own from now on, and we can't tell them what we know. Now, let's go." The two elders timed their leap and flew over the wall when the cameras weren't looking. Once inside, the duo moved rapidly, crossing the distance to the back of the main building. Leaping up to a second story window, Cologne tapped the glass in several spots and it promptly fell inward. The two intruders moved inside and prepared to confront any occupants, but they were in luck, no one was there. The window was put back into place. "We stick to the plan, Happi," Cologne said. "I'll take the lower two floors and you take the upper two." Happosai winked, then slowly opened the door. "Coast is clear. Let's go!" They split up and began to search. "Let's put them in here to recover." "Good idea, I don't wanna lug these guys around, anymore." The three minions who carried the three unconscience forms of their brethren, placed them a small room containing a couple of bunk beds. After depositing them the sleeping forms, they took off, grumbling about menial labor. As soon as he heard the door shut again, Tofu easily undid his bounds and sat up. He then checked the other occupants. His surroundings appeared to be one of the windowless sleeping chambers in one of the barracks. He was hoping they'd take him to the main building. he thought. He walked to the door and listened. No sounds. Putting his hood over his head, he slowly opened the door and walked out. As he began to walk down the hall, another cloaked figure appeared and started to walk towards him. To Tofu's relief, the figure ignored him. As soon as they passed, the doc swung around and tapped a few pressure points. The wizard fell to the ground and Tofu carried him back to the room. Then Dr. Ono Tofu began the search in earnest. High upon a hill, three figures watched Ranma and co. enter the main building, escorted by the mages. "Great, they've been captured," Kenji huffed. "Come on, we better go in after them." Ryoga placed a hand on Kenji's arm. "Hold on! I only see Ranma, his father, Ukyo-san, and Mousse. Where are the others? Mrs. Saotome said the group included more people. Cologne, Happosai and Tofu-sensei." "So where are they?" Kenji asked. Ryoga shrugged. "I don't know. I guess they must be operating on some sort of plan." "So what do we do, Hibiki-san?" Yuri asked. "You know them better then us." "The only thing we can do," Ryoga replied. "Wait, and be ready to strike when the right moment comes." Yuri thought for a moment. "How will we know when to strike?" Ryoga smiled. "Knowing Ranma, I think we'll be able to tell." "Right," Kenji agreed. "I guess what we should discuss, are the actions we'll take once the time is right." The other two nodded and began to plan. Ranma's group was led into a larger room on the fourth floor. It appeared to be a study, with bookshelves lining the room and a large ornate desk at the opposite side from the entry door. Krynn led the way and stopped in front of the desk. Twelve cloaked figures surrounded them. "How do you like my office?" he asked. Ranma shrugged. "I've seen better." "I thought we were going to see the Tendos!" Ukyo exclaimed. Krynn nodded. "Oh, you'll see them soon enough. But only when I decide the moment is right. Now let's talk about what you can do for me." "No true martial artist uses his skills for evil," Genma intoned solemnly. "Nor will any Amazon," Mousse added. Krynn shook his head. "You don't seem to understand. You really don't have a choice here. You work for me, and I release your friends alive. You don't, and I release your friends in a not-so alive condition." Kyrnn studied the faces of his captives. "Well, I'll let you think it over while I see to your friends. When I get back, you better be ready with an answer." He turned to his guards. "If they try anything, you have my permission to kill, maim, and torture them. I'll leave the choice up to you, Kato." The one known as Kato bowed. "As you wish, my master." Krynn made a few wavy gestures with his hands and promptly disappeared. Cologne was on the first floor now, having failed to find any sign of them on the second. Coming across another set of metal double doors, she cautiously opened them and peeked inside. It appeared to be the big building that was attached to the main one; a spacious gym where, apparently, the wizards worked a variety of skills. No one was inside and the lights were dimmed so she slipped inside and began looking for clues. About halfway through, she was startled by a voice. "Now, I don't remember inviting you." Cologne turned around and cursed herself. The one who made the comment was floating several feet in the air and wearing a black cloak with the hood down. "My name is Krynn and I can sense the power in you, old one," he said, eyes narrowing. "In fact, that's how I knew you were here. You really couldn't hide your power well enough." Cologne laughed. "I have no need to hide my power, since my last defeat was 200 years ago. Though you're welcome to try." "I'll do more than try, I'll succeed," he stated solemnly. "And by the way, this gym is sound-proofed and shock-proofed so no one else will hear you scream." The two faced each other down for what seemed like an eternity, but was only a couple of minutes. Then Krynn led off with a few fireballs. Cologne easily dodged as he gathered her ki energy, sending multiple ki-blasts at her target. He didn't even bother dodging. When the dust settled after the repeated impacts, Cologne was frightened to see him undamaged. "Oh, come now," he laughed. "Is that all you've got?" The Amazon matriarch jumped towards the floating figure intending to attack with her staff. Just as Krynn tried to punch her out of the air, she sped up and zipped behind him, aiming for the back of his neck. As her staff came down, she was instantly blown back before she could connect. She impacted the wall, back first, and bounced to the floor, summoning her ki energy to heal herself. The black-cloaked man grinned evilly as he advanced on her. Nodoka and Shampoo were having tea and having a subdued conversation. As Shampoo was about to take a sip from her cup, she lost her grip and the cup fell to the floor, breaking in two. She apologized as they worked to clean it up, but Shampoo couldn't help but think this was some kind of omen. On the third floor, Happosai was making slow progress. He had to do more dodging of patrols and was still unable to locate anyone. Taking a step back inside the hallway, he got a sudden chill. Something was wrong, very wrong. His eyes narrowed and he dashed off, hoping he wasn't too late. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Don't worry, Happy and Cologne's big moment is still coming... uh, bad choice of words. Sorry `bout this. E-mail: oddball22@hotmail.com DISCLAIMER: Everything you read is real; the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Hmm? What's that? The names HAVEN'T been changed!? Oh boy... Onward... Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 8 The battle wasn't going well. Cologne continued to circle her opponent, but none of her attacks were getting through. She decided to try an all-out assault. Summoning her reserves, she launched into a complex pattern of ki- blasts, hitting him from all sides. Krynn was dodging and blocking with that shield of his as Cologne hoped he would. While he was distracted, she moved around behind him, jumped into the air and tossed her staff at his back. Bouncing off the wall, she moved over to his right and shot towards him. As predicted, when the ki-blasts stopped, he deflected the staff the same way he had deflected her attack earlier. Then she saw the opening. With him slightly twisted away from her, Cologne sped in a and hit a few pressure points, before an attack from him knocked her away. "WITCH!" he screamed when his right arm and shoulder went limp. "What did you do!?" Cologne smirked. "You're 100 years to early to beat me sonny. Just give up now." She expected him to get even angrier and attack. Instead, he laughed. "Nice one! But you should know I've only been toying with you. Time to end this." Krynn thrust out his left hand and Cologne began to dodge, expecting some kind of distance attack. Before she could move, however, she was knocked off her feet and slammed into a wall. Cologne tried to scream, but all the air was forced from her lungs with the impact. She felt her body being grabbed again as she was flung into another wall. Then again. And again. With each impact, the old woman found more and more of her defensive ki-energy drained and was unable to heal herself. Eventually, Krynn dropped her onto the ground in a crumpled heap. Cologne knew that more than a few bones had been broken and she'd need to spend a long time recuperating to fully recover. If she survived. Above her, Krynn set about creating a large fireball to finish the job. He smirked at her, then prepared to deliver the blow that would end her life. "HAPPODAIKARIN!" Krynn looked up just in time to see several sphereical objects explode in his face, propelling him backwards to the ground. Happosai leaped into the gym to land by Cologne's side. "Cologne?" he whispered. "Are you ok?" Cologne coughed up blood. "Do I look ok?" she groaned. Happosai's aura began to glow. "Don't worry, I'll kill the bastard who did this!" And he turned his back on her to advance on the recovering form of Krynn. Cologne tried to stop him. "No, Happi! He's too powerful!" But he didn't hear her. "Alright young man, it's time someone taught you to respect your elders!" Krynn stood up, dusted his robe, and grinned. "Did anybody hear that?" Mousse whispered. They were now in the center of the room, sitting down in a circle with their backs to the figures lining the room. They had been talking in quiet tones so the twelve mages in the room wouldn't hear them. "Hear what?" Ukyo asked. "I thought I heard a low rumble," Mousse replied. "With my bad eyesight, my other senses have sharpened." Genma cocked his head. "You think it's the signal?" Ranma shook his head. "No, when Happosai or Cologne give the signal, we'll know." "I hope you're right, boy," his father said. Tofu wound his way through the building he had started in, but was unable to find the Tendos. Now he was on his way outside to check the other buildings. He had relieved another mage of his passcard, so he was hoping he would have access to some of the other buildings. He held his breath, then opened the door and stepped outside. Walking briskly through the courtyard, he approached another building and swiped his card. The lock beeped and the door opened. he thought. As he slipped inside, he thought he felt the ground rumble a bit, but decided it must have been his imagination. Happosai, through the power of his impressive battle aura, had grown to monster size. Krynn was actually quite shocked. "Feel free to give up anytime," the old Musabetsu Kakuto master taunted. Krynn's shock turned to anger. "It'll take more than size to scare me!" As if to prove the point, he unloaded various size fireballs and hydro-blasts. He even tore up equipment laying on the ground and sent it at the giant. The projectiles impacted, exploded, and Happosai's image disappeared. Suddenly, Krynn felt an impact to his stomach which launched him up a wall. He never saw it coming, or the half-dozen that followed it. Krynn roared and charged the old man. As they were about to connect, both forms flickered for a minute, than vanished. If one was standing in the room watching the battle, all they would see is two blurs, bouncing off walls and into each other, only to bounce away and rebound off another surface. Happosai was hard pressed. He admit to admit the kid was fast and powerful; though not as skilled as the old master. Happosai's attacks were more often than not, deflected by some sort of barrier before they could impact. Still, he would lose when he ran out of energy, and there were no lingerie or young-beautiful women present for him to recharge. Eventually, Happosai slipped up. Or maybe he made an error in judgment. In either case, he didn't see the blow coming. Pain lanced in his side, knocking him back. That blow was followed by several more before Happosai's body dropped to the floor. He rolled over on his back to see Krynn floating over him like he had been with Cologne. "You are quite powerful for your age," he complimented them. "I'd like to thank you for the workout, but you know what they say about youth defeating experience." Happosai grinned. "It's actually old age and treachery that beat youth. HAPPODAIKARIN!" He gathered all his strength and tossed several of his special fuse bombs up into his adversary. Krynn leaned to the side as the bombs flew by him. "You missed." "Did I?" Krynn looked up as the bombs blew up the ceiling and sent a mass of steel, iron, and cement careening down. He face twisted in horror as the thick debris rained onto him and buried him on the gym floor. Seeing his attack succeed, Happosai relaxed and tried to regain his strength. "I'm getting too old for this." Akane was working on loosening the ropes which bound her. She had just gotten her hands free when the ground shook. Her first thought was an earthquake. Her second thought was how she better get out of the way as the shelves tipped over, threatening to crush her and Nabiki. Moving quickly, she stood up and gave her sister's chair a vicious shove, even as she dove to safety. She almost made it. While the falling shelves missed them, the bottles that were on them fell out and shattered, spraying water everywhere. One of the bottles flew farther then it's brethren and Akane felt the water completely soak her backside. For the first time, she felt the change. Nabiki recovered from having her chair knocked over just in time to see the guards open the door and rush in. They instantly froze, and Nabiki thought she saw fear on their faces. She sensed something leap over her and caught sight of what the guards were afraid of. A giant yellow and black striped tiger. She watched, fascinated as it tore into one of the guards. The other guard was knocked into the corner, but he rose again and attempted to run out of the room. He never made it. The tiger was on him in a second and he soon joined his unconcious comrade. Nabiki was somewhat relieved to see the two men were still breathing. Then the tiger turned and started walking towards her. Nabiki felt fear. It wasn't often the `Ice Queen' could be scared of anything, but this was one of those times. "Nice kitty," she tried to soothe the beast. The tiger stopped and sat down. Nabiki was sure it almost looked confused. "Akane? Where are you? I could really use you right now..." The tiger looked at her and growled. It then walked over to her until Nabiki could feel it's hot breath on her face. she repeated to herself. Then the tiger licked her. She opened her eyes as the tiger rubbed it's face against hers, then walked around behind her. She soon felt it biting on the ropes that bound her. In a minute, she was free. Standing up slowly, and noticing Akane gone, it suddenly hit her. "Akane?" she said nervously. "Is that you?" The tiger did it's best to nod. Nabiki slapped her forehead. "Figures we had to be stuck in the room with the spare Jusenkyo water." She smirked. "You know, this really puts a damper on your relationship with Ranma since you know how he feel about cats." Akane growled. "Calm down, I'll figure out something." She walked over to the fallen shelves and looked around, careful to not step into any puddles. A few unbroken bottles had rolled off to the side and she picked them up. She went through about twelve bottles, before finding the one he wanted. She turned around and presented it to the waiting tiger. "Spring of drowned girl!" The tiger stood up and walked over to her, rubbing against her legs. "I take it you want this?" Akane nodded again. "5000 yen." The tiger face-faulted. "Just kidding! I wouldn't do that to my baby sister. Now hold still." She proceeded to uncork the bottle and pour the contents over the tiger. In no time, the tiger had reformed into a naked Akane. "Nabiki!" she admonished her sister. "I can't believe you were even tempted to charge me for the cure." Nabiki shrugged. "Gomen. But old habits die hard." As Akane got dressed, a thought hit her. "Hey! I wonder if there is some `spring of drowned man' water around here for Ranma?" The two girls looked for a few minutes, before Nabiki found the bottle. Akane sighed when she saw that the bottle was broken and the contents all gone. "Oh well, I guess we better get out here and find dad and Kasumi," Akane said. Nabiki nodded and the two crept to the door. Taking a quick peek outside, Akane pulled her sister back inside quickly when she spotted a hooded figure approaching. She directed Nabiki to stand in the middle of the room, while Akane flattened herself against the doorside wall. The footsteps grew closer and eventually the figure entered the room. It passed Akane and stopped when it saw the young woman in the center of the room wave at him. "Nabiki!?" was all he said before Akane tackled him. As they hit the ground, something clicked in Nabiki's mind. "Akane, wait!" Nabiki and the figure said at the same time. Akane stopped and removed the hood of her opponent. It was Dr. Tofu. Krynn's office rocked with the explosion and knocked a few of the unsuspecting guards off their feet. Several volumes of large hardbound books were knocked loose from the surrounding shelves to fall on the guards below, distracting them. Ranma nodded to the group and they sprung to the attack. Ranma let loose a ki blast. The energy ball slammed into a guard and made him one with the bookshelf behind him. Ukyo launched a handful of throwing spatula's pinning a guard against a wall, before drawing her main battle spat' . Mousse sent chains, knives, and wooden training potties fly, dropping three more. By this time, a few of the mages had recovered and were on the attack, but it was too little too late. The four highly determined martial artists were upon them and, within a few minutes, it was all over. Ranma motioned them to the door and casually opened it. Nothing. He stepped outside and they followed. Shouts of alarm from down one end of the hallway could be heard and robed mages soon appeared. Fireballs and hydro-blasts filled the small hallway and the group had no choice but to flee. They quickly piled into another door and headed up the stairs and out the door at the top. It was then that Ranma realized they had made a mistake. They were trapped. They were on the roof. Outside, the waiting trio saw the roof of a big building, next to the main structure, explode. The guards outside turned their attention inward, stunned. "Now do we strike?" Yuri whispered excitedly. Kenji shook his head. "Not just yet." "Oh pooh," she replied. Inside the gym, there was a groan. Then a yell. Then the pile of debris exploded as Krynn emerged, glowing and extremely angry. "THAT HURT!" he roared. Turning his attention down, he saw that neither the old man nor the old woman were moving and their energy levels were all but depleted. "Hmph. That takes care of them. Now to see to the others." He heard yelling outside and flew up through the hole in the roof of the gym. "Bring me the Tendos!" he yelled at his minions. He heard a sound behind him and turned to see what it was. He grinned evilly at the four figures who had emerged on the roof of his office building. "Tofu!" Akane immediately hugged him and then they both stood up. "Are you girls all right?" he asked. They both nodded, but he noticed a few bruises on Akane. "I take it you were fighting when you were kidnapped. Now where are Kasumi-san and Tendo-san?" "We don't know," Nabiki answered. Tofu nodded and peeked out into the hall. He also glanced down at the two unconscious guards. "What happened to them?" Nabiki smirked. "Cat fight." The doctor wore a confused expression, while Akane elbowed her sister. "We'll explain later. Shouldn't we be leaving?" Tofu nodded and the trio left. They padded silently down the hall, checking the rooms as they went. Rounding a corner, Tofu had the girls wait while he went ahead. After a few moments, he called to them. He was standing over a pair of bodies that were obviously guarding a door. He opened it with a key he had obtained off one of the guards, and discovered the other two missing Tendos inside. It was a simple matter to free them, but Nabiki thought for sure Tofu would go haywire when he saw Kasumi. Instead, she was surprised by a different reaction. "Kasumi-chan, are you alright?" Tofu asked tenderly. "They didn't hurt you, did they? If they did, I'll tear them apart!" "Goodness, I'm fine Tofu-kun," Kasumi replied. "I'm glad you were worried about me." She smiled lovingly at him and brushed his cheek with her hand. "Thank you for coming to save me, though." Three jaws hit the floor. "What the...!?" Akane stammered. "How long has this been going on!?" The pair looked up at the three stunned faces, then Tofu's glasses fogged up. "Ka-Ka-Kasumi! What a concidence to meet you here of all places!" Nabiki waved him off. "Forget it doc, we're on to you." "But.. I... well..." stammered Tofu. Kasumi stopped him by lightly grabbing ahold of his hands. "It's okay, Tofu-kun. The secret is out now. We should concern ourselves now with our escape." Tofu sighed, then nodded. "You're right, let's go." As they left, Akane pulled Kasumi aside and whispered. "We're going to have a serious sisterly chat after this!" Soun was so stunned, he couldn't even wail. They retrieved the two robes and left the guards inside. Akane donned one and the other went to Nabiki since they were still in their PJ's from that morning. Heading back out into the hall, the sounds of shouting outside and a loud booming voice could be heard. Several faint voices crying for help could also be heard, drifting down the hallway. The group dashed down the hall to yet another room and were surprised at what they found therein. Four people were locked in separate cells. "Akane?" one of them called. Akane looked for the voice. "Miyo? How'd you end up here?" Nabiki cocked her head. "Wait a minute. You're that Tarot Card reading fortune teller that was at our school for awhile, aren't you?" Miyo nodded while Tofu unlocked the cells. "She helped us when Happosai was sick and dying," Akane explained to the others. "She told me how to make that potion that saved him and the rest of you." She glanced over at another boy. "Hikaru-kun! So they did get you, too." Hikaru Gosunkugi looked almost ready to faint. "A-Akane-san. Y- y-you saved me!" "No problem!" Akane smiled at him and he did faint. Then she saw the other boy and girl. "Who are you guys?" The other girl identified herself as Henki Ariko and the other guy said his name was Yamato Toshi. It turned out Ariko was a novice sorceress in-training and Toshi claimed to have a link with a 500 year- old spirit named Yabunaga. "Just as I thought," Nabiki said. "The sects were targeting those with mystical abilities." After everybody was introduced to everybody else, Tofu suggested it was time they made their escape. Nobody argued with that idea. --------------------------------------------------------------- Can't think of anything interest to say. Can you? Tell me: oddball22@hotmail.com My fanfiction is at: www.geocities.com/kaiphantom2000 DISCLAIMER: Okay! I give up! I don't own these characters! I don't own anything! Even my body belongs to... Nevermind. Back to the show... Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Winds Calling Chapter 9 "MOKO TAKABISHA!" Ranma loosed the ki blast as soon as Krynn turned around. It impacted and knocked him back a few feet, but left him otherwise unhurt. he decided. Krynn snarled and retaliated, letting a dozen fireballs loose. The four dodged out of the way, though they were mainly aimed at Ranma who just barely escaped harm. However, the roof now had several large holes in it, decreasing the available maneuvering space. Chains and spatula's flew, but impacted against an invisible barrier and were turned away. Ranma groaned. "There's no room up here to fight!" he told his comrades. "We have to get back down to the ground!" "I hate to break this to you, Ranchan," replied Ukyo, looking down. "But the ground is even worse." Ranma risked a glance down during a jump. It was crawling with elemental mages. Krynn let loose another wave of fireballs. "Puny mortals! You cannot harm me. I am now a god! I killed those two old ones who tried to sneak in with you and they're power was greater than yours!" Ranma gulped. The trio outside the walls watched the figure fly up out of the recently created hole in the building. They heard his command to retrieve the Tendos. They observed the four figures emerge on the top of the main building. And they watched them attack. Kenji and Ryoga realized who they were as soon as Ranma released his signature ki blast. "Now?" Ryoga asked nervously. Kenji could tell he itchin' to fight. The word was given. "Now!" The trio jumped up from their hiding place and rushed downhill for a bit, stopping before they hit the bottom. Ryoga and Kenji began to gather their ki energies. Ryoga gathered up his feelings of depression: the fact that he could never tell Akane how he felt, the fact that he was always getting lost, his pig-curse, that he was always alone, that he couldn't find Akari, and that it was all Ranma's fault. Kenji concentrated on all his friends and the desire to protect them, especially his newly found sister. When they were both charged, Ryoga to led off, Kenji following a second later. "SHISHI HOUKODEN!" Ryoga's beam of yellow and white energy smashed through the outer guards and into the wall. He swept the beam from left to right, demolishing the wall and any who stood in it's path. "KIJIN BOUHUUKEN!" Kenji's blast of 200 mph winds followed a second later and blew past the demolished wall and into the courtyard. Bodies were tossed around, slamming into walls and into each other as the outer wall that protected them was no longer there. When the fantastic energies dissipated, both guys dropped to one knee and tried to catch their breath and recover. "Wow `niichan!" Yuri exclaimed. "That was impressive! You too Hibiki-san! I don't know why Oka won't let any of our clan learn stuff like that." She laid a hand on her brother's shoulder and gasped. She could almost feel how weak his ki had become. She silently wished she could lend him some of her strength and then a funny thing happened. She felt as if something had sucked energy right out of her. She was dizzy for a second, but then recovered. It only lasted a moment, but Kenji was back on his feet and holding her arms. "I felt it," he said. "You transferred some of your ki to me. How?" "I-I don't know," she admitted. "I just kinda felt how weak you were and wished to give some of my strength to you and then it happened. I guess, maybe since we're both half-elementals and siblings we can share our strength?" "Uh, guys?" Ryoga spoke up. "You think we can get back to the task at hand?" Kenji nodded. "Right, Hibiki. Let's go!" The trio continued their run towards the compound, encountering resistance as they neared the wall. Not all of the mages had taken the massive attack and there was still a dangerous number to deal with. Yuri whipped out a pair of her battle yo's and leapt into the fray, swinging them around wildly. Ryoga let loose some bandanna's, then pulled his umbrella out, yelling his berserker cry. Kenji was just about to join the fight, when he risked a glance upward to the battle on the roof. The floating figure in the black cloak had just launched another attack of exploding fireballs. He heard a cry of "UCCHAN!" then watch in horror as a girl with a large spatula was blown off the roof. And not just a little ways off. She was practically launched a good distance out of the compound before beginning her downward descent. Kenji felt bile rise in his throat when he realized what direction she was heading; namely, over the cliff and down the long, sharp drop-off into the ocean below. Without even thinking about it, Kenji sprang foreword into the air and activated the technique that he had only practiced once. And only with the aid of Yuri, for it was only with both of them that they got it to work before. It was during the night before they left for Nerima. Kenji was unable to sleep and decided to take a stroll. Apparently his sister was feeling the same way, because he found her hunched over the box, looking through the contents. In particular, she was studying a singular scroll and she showed it to Kenji when she noticed him there. It deatailed the forming of an aerodynamic wind shell to facilitate flight. She was trying to learn it, but failing. After a few practices, they managed to levitate off the ground for several minutes by combining their ki. The experience left them drained, and they stumbled back to their beds for a good night's sleep. Now, propelled by the force of a tornado, Kenji formed the air shell instinctively and shot over the cliff after the disappearing okonomiyaki chef. He didn't even hear his sister call his name. As he cleared the cliff and started down, he could see Ukyo tumbling out of control. He poured on the speed in an effort to catch up with her. Ukyo had begun her fall somewhat stunned. When enough of her wits had been recovered, they promptly fled again when they took notice of her predicament. she repeated to herself, unknowingly similiar to what Nabiki did earlier. A glance upward revealed someone falling after her. Her panicked mind registered only one thought. "KENJI!?" Ukyo realized he was reaching out to her, so she held up her hand and reached for Kenji's outstretched arm. Thirty feet before the bottom, they locked hands and Kenji strengthened the shell, pulling out of the dive a few feet before impacting the rocky ocean crags below. As he began the flight upward, he pulled Ukyo closer to him, and she automatically clamped her arms around his neck, tears staining his shirt. When she was firmly holding on tight, he stuck out his arms to either side to better manipulate the air shell. "Kenji-kun?" Ukyo gasped through her frightened tears. "You've got me? Who's got you!?" She looked around. We-we're flying! You're flying! How!?" Kenji chuckled. "An old techniques of my father's. Hang on!" Ukyo squealed as Kenji increased the speed and cleared the cliff line, bringing the compound and the battle zone into view. The figures on the roof were now on the ground. As they swept over the compound, more than a few people stopped fighting and gazed wide-eyed at the two figures soaring through the air. Kenji suddenly realized something and gulped. Ukyo caught that gulp and looked up at him. "Kenji, what's wrong?" "I, uh, suddenly realized something." "What's that?" "I don't know how to land!" he blurted out. "WHAT!?" "Hang ON!" Kenji left the compound and came low to the ground, aiming for a patch of soft ground (as if such a thing existed). "Alright, I want you to jump off me!" "What?" "Don't argue! Do it Now!" "Okkkkkkaaaaaaaayyyyyy!!!" Kenji twisted so he was flying on his back and Ukyo jumped straight up. When she came down, Kenji was no longer underneath her and she hit the ground and rolled, coming back to her feet. Looking up, she saw Kenji trying to slow down, but to no avail. He crashed through some bushes and disappeared, followed shortly by a *thud*. "Kenji!" She ran through the bushes after him, but stopped on the other side. She then broke out laughing. Kenji was laying against a tree, upside down. When he saw her, he fell forward and landed on his stomach. Ukyo helped him up. "You okay, sugar?" "I've been better..." "NO! KENJI!" When Kenji took off, Yuri couldn't imagine what he was doing. Then she saw the figure fall off the cliff and Kenji take to the air and dive off the cliff after her. In that instant, her heart was wrenched in her chest once again. Stepping up her attacks, she whipped the twin yo-yos around her body and sent several of her attackers flying. She screamed out her brother's name again and ran after him. Ryoga heard the scream and glanced up to see Kenji disappear off the cliff. Becoming further enraged than he already was (Author's note: There is no limit to Ryoga's rage or depression, it's just not possible), he opened of up a can of whoop *CENSORED* on his attackers. Bodies began to fly as Ryoga, the unstoppable bullet train, plowed through them. As he reached the other end of the courtyard, he froze. He saw Akane. "UCCHAN!" Ranma yelled as he saw his old friend blown off the roof via a particularly large fireball explosion. He sprinted to side of the roof and looked down in horror as she began to descend off the cliff. Before he could jump after her, a gray figure flew off the cliff after her. Then he head Krynn's voice again. "I told you I am a god now!" he bellowed. "You cannot stop me!" Ranma turned to face him, dead calm in his voice. "No problem, I've already killed one god. What's another one to a godslayer?" In anger, he rushed the floating figure, jumping off the building and into the air towards him. All the while dodging the various attacks Krynn threw at him. Krynn saw him coming and expected Ranma to get close and then attack him from behind. After all, that's what the two old ones did. That's why he was surprised when Ranma attacked his front. "KACHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!" Ranma's fists blurred as he reached his target, delivering several hundred punches in the span of only a few seconds. The first hundred hit some kind of invisible barrier, but then broke through and the remaining ones struck the target. As the attack ended, Ranma grabbed ahold of the man and dragged him down as he began to fall. A split second later, they cratered the ground upon impact. Tofu's entourage burst out of the door, into the open, and were presented with a scene of chaos. Explosions were going off, bodies laying around, fights happening, golems wandering around, two figures impacting the ground, and something flying overhead. Not that they had their own problems. The group had to work their own way through several of the elemental wizards in their haste to exit the building and escape. Fortunately, they had help in the way of their new friends. Ariko was firing off lightning bolts from her hand and Toshi's shadow detached itself and attacked on it's own, taking the shape of a large panther. "Let's move everybody!" Tofu urged the startled group along as Ryoga barreled through a group of mages and stopped in front of them. "Akane-san?" Ryoga said. "I've come to save you!" "Ryoga-kun, where's Ranma?" Akane asked, worridly. Ryoga froze as he felt his heart break. Ryoga was saved from further contemplation as a groan emanated from the recently created crater and a figure in a tattered red Chinese shirt climbed out. As he stood up, Akane gasped and ran over to him. "Ranma!" she exclaimed while giving him a quick hug. "Are you okay?" He coughed a few times. "Akane! Yeah, I'm fine. I was gonna ask you the same thing." He smiled at her and Akane's heart skipped a few beats. "Well, I am NOT okay," a voice growled from behind Ranma. Everybody turned to see Krynn float out of the crater. With the exception of a little blood that trickled from his lip, he appeared to be uninjured. "And I am NOT happy. You insignificant worm, you shall pay for touching me!" The fireball storm renewed, directed solely at Ranma. The pig-tailed martial artist grabbed his fiancee and attempted to leap out of the way, but he was a bit too late. Several of the projectiles hit his back in mid-air, causing Ranma to scream in pain. Despite that, he mange to land some distance away and set Akane down before collapsing to one knee. "Akane, get out of here!" he said through clenched teeth. Akane shook her head. "No, I'm a martial artist, too. I'm going to fight." Ranma looked up at her. "You stupid tomboy! GET OUT OF HERE!" Akane fumed. "WHAT did you say!? I..." Ranma stood up and grabbed her by the shoulders. "This isn't a game! This guy took out Cologne and Happosai. Let those of us who take martial arts seriously and not just as hobby, handle this! All you can do is smash bricks and get in the way. Now GO!" Akane stood there in shock for a few seconds, then slapped Ranma across the face. "Ranma no baka," she said softly, then turned and ran away crying. Ranma sighed. The attack on Ranma and Akane affected two other people. Ryoga saw her under attack and immediately became further enraged that anyone would hurt her. He yelled his infamous battle cry (PREPARE TO DIE!), and charged the attacker. He flipped a few bandannas at the target, then struck the ground with his finger when he got close. "BAKUSAI TENKETSU!" The ground exploded and Krynn was pelted with a ton of rock fragments. He was forced back a foot or two, but his now-visible, light blue translucent, full body shield blocked the rock storm. Shortly after delivering the attack, Ryoga leapt into the air came down with the point of his umbrella, striking the shield above Krynn's head. He paused for a few seconds while attempting to push the umbrella through the shield, and at first he seemed to be making progress. Then Krynn pushed energy into his protective barrier and it traveled up the shaft of his attacker's umbrella and into Ryoga, the energy backlash sending him flying away. The second person it affected was Hikaru Gosunkugi. Seeing Akane in danger triggered something deep inside him, something he had thought was there but never could pull to the surface. His magic. All the failed voodoo, spells, rituals, had never given him the power he wanted to defend himself against the bullies who picked on him. Having been taken by the wizard sect and seeing what they could do, Hikaru was almost ready to join them willingly, despite the fact they kidnapped him. Then he saw the one called Krynn attack Akane and only one thing mattered: he knew he had to protect her if Saotome couldn't. That was why he leapt into action when the floating madman launched his second attack. Kyrnn raged and continued the assault of fireballs at Ranma, adding in rock spikes and a hydro blast this time. He wanted that one dead, since he could pose the greatest threat. While Hikaru wouldn't have particularly cared if Saotome died, Akane was also in the way and he couldn't let any harm come to her. He ran foreword and whipped his hand out, concentrating on the lethal barrage of power. An instant before the attack hit, Gos felt the power and willed it to act. The fireballs, rock spikes, and water streams suddenly veered away at ninety degree angles and landed several yards away. When it was over, Hikaru was a bit shocked on what he had just done, but recovered. Turning to face the floating god, he gathered his courage, preparing to show Akane what he could do. He didn't see her run off. Genma and Mousse had arrived down on the ground by this time, and were helping Tofu get the non-combatants to safety. That included Kasumi, Soun, Toshi, and Miyo. Genma and Tofu went with them since their skills weren't up to the task of battling the powerful figure. But Ariko stayed behind with Hikaru. When she saw what Gos did, she was mightily impressed (not to mention he was kinda cute). Also, the way she had been kidnapped, had all of her magic books and items stolen, dragged out of her home, locked up in cell, and mistreated, had imprinted upon her a high desire for revenge. She decided that now was the best time for payback. Her situation was similar to Hikaru. All through school she had been shunned from all the girl groups because she liked to read and do school work as oppose to gossip and go shopping. The same traits also made all the boys avoid her, leaving her to grow up alone. Eventually she stumbled across a magic book in a used books store when she was 13 and was intrigued by the possibilities. Three years later, she had managed to decipher a bulk of the text and perform several spells, a few of which she now knew by heart. She was still alone, but now she walked with confidence that she could handle anything. That confidence was shattered when she was kidnapped several days ago. When she saw what the Gosunkugi boy did, she knew she had found a possible kindred spirit. When Hikaru advanced on the floating figure, she was beside him, recalling all the spells she could remember and preparing to do battle. Ranma recovered and turned around as Mousse joined him. They both saw Hikaru and a strange girl advancing on Krynn and the fallen form of Ryoga. "What does that idiot think he's doing!?" Ranma asked, dumbfounded. "He's going to get himself killed! Mousse, go see if you can revive Ryoga, I'll go get Gosunkugi." Mousse nodded and the pair split up. Yuri had seen her brother fly overhead with someone else, heading into the trees and she rapidly followed them. She observed the figure holding onto her brother jump off as Kenji cleared the outer wall and disappeared into the undergrowth of some bushes just beyond. By the time she got there, her brother and the strange girl had emerged and were returning to the fray. "Oniichan!" Yuri glomped her her brother. "Don't you ever worry me like that again!" "Oniichan?" Ukyo raised an eyebrow. Yuri disengaged and Kenji made the introductions. "Oh, so this is the woman you've had your eye on!" she teased, to which Kenji nervously denied. "Uh, while I'd like to continue this line of conversation, I think we had better go and join the fight," he said changing the subject. "This battle is far from over." Yuri gave her brother a look that told him this would come up later, but she complied and together they began to move back to the compound. They passed Tofu's group on the way and picked up their pace when they saw Ranma and two others engage Krynn. Happosai slowly opened his eyes. He wasn't aware of how long he'd been out, but the little rest had allowed him to recharge some much needed ki energy and to heal a bit. He struggled to his feet and walked over to Cologne's fallen form. As he approached, he was relived to see her still breathing. "Still alive, eh?" he commented. Cologne opened her eyes and coughed. "Of course! I've lived for 300 years and I don't intend on dying today." Happosai shook his head. "You're a pretty good liar Cologne, but I always could see through you. You're only 100. And you're dying." She laughed bitterly. "I'm surprised I'm still alive. Surely you felt the power of that evil man?" Happosai nodded. "I know. He's carrying an Elemchrys which is granting him fantastic powers and magnifying the ones he has." "You've got to stop him Happi, I fear the others won't be up to the task." The old master grinned. "I will, but I can't do it alone. I'll need your help." A confused look appeared on the old woman's face, then widened in shock. Happosai took a small bottle out from somewhere and drank it. Then he began to change. "Happi, what have you done?" "It seems the Nanniichaun water I drank at the wedding has had an effect on me," he explained. "I become young by drinking cold water. Convenient, ne?" Cologne continued to stare in shock as she realized what this meant, but Happosai shook his head as if reading her thoughts. "No, it's not a fountain of youth. I'll still age and die on the same day, but it does have it's benefits." The thoughts of what the future had in store had an effect on him and he knew the carefree days of his past was over.