“WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO ME?!” Ryoga was wide awake and angry. He stared at the mirror that hung on the wall of his room.
“Ryoga?” Akane peered drowsily in the room. Ryoga turned to look at her, suddenly remembering where he was.
“A-Akane...” He found that his throat had gone dry.
“Yo, Pig-Boy, you okay?” Ranma appeared behind Akane, rubbing his eyes. “You know there are people trying to sleep in this house.”
“YOU!!” Ryoga glared fiercely at Ranma and prepared to spring. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!”
“Ryoga, no!” Akane stepped between them. “Ranma didn’t do anything to you. Don’t you remember? We found you outside the dojo two days ago. You’ve been staying here ever since.”
“But I-I have w-w-w-” Ryoga could barely bring himself to say it. “Wings. How did I get wings?”
“We were hoping that you could tell us,” Ranma said. “What’d you get into this time?”
“I don’t know.” Ryoga craned his neck, trying to get a look at the black and white feathered appendages growing from his back. “I don’t remember doing anything unusual on the road...”
“Dr. Tofu said he wanted to give you a looking-over,” Akane told him. “Are you up to it?”
“I-I guess,” Ryoga muttered, still in shock.
“How’s he gonna get his shirt on?” Ranma asked in mild amusement.
“We’ll have to help him,” Akane decided. Ryoga blushed fiercely at the thought.
Eventually they decided just to cut the bottom back half of Ryoga’s shirt to accommodate his new appendages. Ryoga had just gotten dressed when Nabiki ran up to the room.
“A-Akane!” she gasped out. “Ranma! Kasumi’s collapsed!”
“What?!” Akane ran into the kitchen with Ranma, Ryoga, and Nabiki on her heels. Kasumi lay on the floor, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow.
“What happened to her?” Akane asked Nabiki worriedly.
“I don’t know,” Nabiki said helplessly. “She was tasting breakfast when she suddenly collapsed.”
Ranma had a guess what had happened, and he didn’t like it. He glanced at the half-cooked eggs still sitting in the pan.
“Did you try these?” he questioned Nabiki.
“No.”
“Then I think Kasumi’s been poisoned,” Ranma stated.
“Poisoned? By who?” Akane wondered.
“By me.” A short figure stepped out of the shadows.
“Cologne!” Ranma cried angrily.
“Hello to you too, son-in-law,” Cologne said.
“Why did you poison Kasumi?” Akane demanded.
“Because I need your help,” Cologne said. “And if you want your sister to live, you will give it to me.”
“If you want my help, this is not the way to go about getting it!” Ranma exploded. “What could you want from me, besides marrying your annoying great-granddaughter?”
“It is because of Shampoo that I need your help,” Cologne said.
“Shampoo has been kidnapped.” Mousse stepped out from behind the old woman. Three angry red scratches marred one cheek, and his entire face was heavily bruised. He was favoring one side of his body.
“Somebody kidnapped Shampoo?” Akane looked surprised.
“Why would anyone want to do that?” Nabiki said in bored tones.
“We don’t know,” Mousse replied, addressing a table to their right. “But last night she was taken from the Nekohanten.” His eyes looked troubled. “I couldn’t help her.”
“You are an exceptional martial artist, son-in-law,” Cologne said. “I may be able to locate Shampoo, but I need you to go save her.”
“Why should I do that?” Ranma said defiantly.
“Because if you don’t, Kasumi will die,” Cologne said simply. “Bring me Shampoo and I will cure the poison.”
“That’s blackmail!” growled Ryoga from behind the group. Cologne leaned forward noticing him for the first time. Mousse’s glasses slid onto his face and he got a clear look at Ryoga.
“Kidnapper!” Suddenly, the near-sighted man flew at Ryoga in a rage. Ryoga took a step back and Ranma moved in front of him. Mousse glared at the pig-tailed martial artist, then glanced back up at Ryoga with burning eyes. “Who was your friend, the one that took my Shampoo?”
“Huh?” Ryoga was confused.
“My great-granddaughter was taken by a man with ebony wings,” Cologne said thoughtfully. “Much like those you have grown, Ryoga. Yet his build was different from that of Saffron or any of his people.”
“You mean the kidnapper was...like Ryoga?” Akane glanced back at him. “Could he have been the one who gave you the wings, Ryoga?”
“Think, boy,” Cologne ordered. “What could have happened to make you grow those?”
“I don’t know! Unless...” Ryoga’s voice trailed off as he remembered. “While I was traveling, I found a-a weird blue jewel. It covered me with light and then disappeared. That’s the only strange thing that I can think of.”
“How many days ago?” Mousse said suddenly.
“I’m not sure,” Ryoga said. “Maybe...three? Why?”
“Because three days ago,” Mousse said carefully, “Shampoo found a necklace with a purple gem in the street. And when I was trying to get into Shampoo’s room to help her I heard....or thought I heard....the creature who captured her speak of the necklace.”
“Interesting.” Cologne’s eyes narrowed and she regarded Ryoga carefully.
“But we don’t have time to worry about him!” snapped Mousse. “We must leave at once to rescue Shampoo!”
“‘We?’” Ranma prompted. “What do you mean by that?”
“I’m coming with you,” Mousse said stubbornly. “I failed once to save Shampoo.” He clenched a fist. “I will not fail again!”
“We are wasting time here,” Cologne agreed. “Come, son-in-law. Pack your bags and we will go to the Nekohanten. I can track the direction Shampoo has been taken in, but you must go retrieve her.” She nodded at Ryoga. “And bring him with you. He’ll be going along.”
Cologne waved a hand at Mousse, who glared at a tree he apparently thought was either Ranma or Ryoga or both and followed the old woman out.
“This is all your fault!” Ryoga immediately growled at Ranma.
“My fault? You’re the one with the wings,” Ranma said. “And I didn’t kidnap Shampoo.”
“If you hadn’t defeated her, we wouldn’t have to go rescue her!” argued Ryoga.
“Well, if you had left that stupid jewel alone, you wouldn’t have wings and you wouldn’t be annoying me right now!” Ranma shot back.
“Prepare to die, Ranma!” Ryoga shouted, and attacked. The two began to fight, as usual. Akane sighed and headed upstairs to fill their backpacks.
Ranma aimed a punch a Ryoga’s head. The Lost Boy ducked and stepped back as Ranma began to shoot lightning quick punches and kicks at him, forcing him towards the koi pond. Soon Ryoga found himself trapped between Ranma and the water.
“Time to see if pigs fly; eh, P-chan?” Ranma said with a smile and jumped forward for the final kick.
Ryoga saw the kick coming and jumped into the air. Unconsciously, he flapped his wings...and soared straight over Ranma’s head.
“What the--?” Ranma exclaimed before landing in the pond. Ryoga landed gracefully on the ground before female Ranma as she climbed out of the water.
“How did you do that?” Ranma demanded angrily.
“I don’t know.” Ryoga sounded surprised. “I didn’t know that I could do that.” He gave a sudden feral smile. “But you’ll be sorry that I can!” He flew forward, staying just out of Ranma’s reach when the girl tried to attack, then diving in swiftly, like a hawk. His foot connected solidly with Ranma’s chin. “Now I will finally destroy you!” Ryoga declared.
“Ryoga!” Akane said sharply from the doorway. “Stop it! If you hurt Ranma, we won’t be able to rescue Shampoo and then Cologne won’t cure Kasumi!”
“Did she say ‘we?’” asked Ranma groggily. That was when she noticed that Akane held three backpacks. Two were in her hands and the other, Ryoga’s, lay in the dirt where Ranma had dragged it upon finding Ryoga several days before.
“That’s right.” Akane shouldered one backpack and tossed the other one at Ranma, while Ryoga picked up his. “I’m coming with you.”
“You can’t!” Ranma and Ryoga said at the same time.
“You’ll get hurt,” Ranma said. “And we can’t be bothered protecting you when we start fighting whoever took Shampoo.”
“I’m still coming,” Akane said defiantly. “You might need my help. Once Shampoo is rescued, we won’t be able to trust Mousse. And Shampoo might try putting something in your food after she’s been saved, to make you fall in love with her. You’ll be safer with both me and Ryoga watching your back.”
“But--” Ryoga stopped, trying to think of an argument.
“I’m going.” Akane’s face took on a hard, stubborn look. Ranma groaned. They’d never change her mind now. “Nabiki called Dr. Tofu, and they’ll keep on eye on Kasumi. You need me more.”
Ranma and Ryoga exchanged glances. A silent agreement passed between them. No matter what, they would not let Akane be harmed.
“Come on.” Akane started to drag them off towards the Nekohanten.
“Can I at least turn back into a guy first?” Ranma grumbled.
One kettle of hot water and a long walk later, they were at the Nekohanten, where Cologne and Mousse waited. A map was spread out on the table.
“Shampoo’s kidnappers moved towards the rising sun,” Cologne informed them. She marked out a line with her staff. “This way, leaving Nerima and heading for open countryside. They have about a day’s head start, so I suggest you hurry.”
“How long do we have before Kasumi dies?” Akane wanted to know.
“As long as you need,” Cologne replied. “I will periodically give your sister doses of the antidote to keep her alive until you return with Shampoo or are reported dead. If you return without my great-granddaughter or are gone far too long I will stop giving Kasumi the cure, and she will die. Do you understand?”
“You’ll pay for this, old ghoul,” Ranma vowed. Cologne chuckled.
“Of course, son-in-law,” she laughed. “Now, get moving.”
Mousse swept up the map and placed it in one of his voluminous sleeves. Then the four exited the Nekohanten and headed outside the city, using the back streets to avoid answering unnecessary questions about Ryoga’s wings. As for Ryoga himself, Ranma and Akane had to keep a constant eye on his to make sure he didn’t wander away. They had to grab his arms at least three times to keep him from getting separated from the group. Their task was made even more difficult as Mousse frequently stopped, mistaking a trash can or telephone pole for his companions.
When they were out of the city, Ranma stopped briefly on a hill and stared back at Nerima. He sighed. It might be a while before he saw it again.
“Hurry up, Saotome,” Mousse said irritably. “The more time we waste, the farther away we must travel to find Shampoo.”
Ranma turned and was about to apologize when he realized that Mousse was addressing a tree. He shook his head.
“Come on, blind boy,” he grumbled, dragging Mousse along with him. “Akane, you keep an eye on Glasses here and I’ll watch Ryoga. Then we might actually be able to walk without having to retrieve someone every five minutes.”
Ryoga glared darkly at Ranma but, surprisingly, did not attack. Instead, he turned his head away and walked on in silence.
Ranma ignored the silence and led the way, dragging Ryoga by the arm while Mousse and Akane brought up the rear.
Inside a dark cave, a broad-chested man with black wings stared into a pool of water containing the image of Ranma, Ryoga, Mousse and Akane. His eyes were fixed on Ryoga.
“Most....interesting,” he murmured. “He’s not one of theirs, nor is he one of mine.” He turned to face Shampoo, was shackled to the wall. “You never mentioned you were friends with one of my kind.”
“Shampoo no understand,” Shampoo said, pulling futilely at the chains that held her. “Let Shampoo go! Shampoo marry Ranma, not you.”
“Now, now darling,” Xan Talos chuckled. “Don’t fight. My bride must be in perfect condition for our wedding ceremony.” He glanced back at the pool. “And I don’t think your friends were invited. Mirkahash!”
Shampoo cringed slightly as the demon dashed into the cave. Its eyes darted from Xan Talos to Shampoo, and it licked its lips hungrily.
“Tired of her yet?” it said in a low, husky voice.
“No,” Xan Talos said sternly. “But her friends...” He waved towards the pool. “Take a squad and dispose of them.”
“A whole squad?” Mirkahash laughed cruelly. “For a pathetic group of mortals?”
“I am not worried about the humans,” Xan Talos said quietly. “But there is one there, with black and white wings. He may be trouble. Kill him if he’s too powerful, if not, bring him to me. I have questions for him.”
“Very well.” Mirkahash scowled at Shampoo and its tongue flickered out, licking her arm. “Perhaps soon I will have her as my repayment?”
“She is not your dinner,” the winged man said sternly. “She will be my bride.”
“Never!” Shampoo aimed a kick at him. Xan Talos deftly avoided it and slapped her, hard, on the cheek. Shampoo fell against the cave wall, tears of pain running down her face as she clutched her bleeding face. She glared angrily back at him. “Shampoo never marry bully. Never!”
“Shampoo has no choice,” Xan Talos said, and stood. “To work, Mirkahash! The time of my wedding draws nearer.”
“I am yours to command,” Mirkahash grumbled, and hurried off to rouse his troops. Xan Talos gave Shampoo an evil leer and turned to go, but not before whispering to her in Chinese,
“Do not fear, Xian Pu. Our wedding will be a wondrous event...as will the ending ritual in which our blood will mingle, and you shall pass on into the next life, only to rise as my true bride.” He walked off, laughing.
Shampoo shrunk into the darkness and unsuccessfully tried to stifle her frightened sobs.
“Airen...why you not here?”