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 never 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 knowingly. "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 teens 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 each other in a time of need.