Insertion Part 68 Vahn's Revenge Part one. +++++++++++++++++ Usagi Hibiki sat in front of her mother with a grin on her face as she ate breakfast. The woman was frowning at her and looking thoughtful. The morning lesson had gone off without a hitch, Yusaku included. It had been that way for several days now. Though no one spoke of the incident that had occurred two weeks before. "What are you so happy about?" grumbled the woman irritably. "Nothing," said the girl cheerfully. "Right," muttered Yohiko as she turned her head away. Inside the woman's mind, the group was speculating what had occurred. "You know, she's been real happy for the past week or so," commented Dan. "She's probably overjoyed that I'm getting laid," grumbled Xianfu. "Yeah, you don't seem to share the mood," said Carrot. "Maybe if I was enjoying it I might," said the woman in retort. "Yeah, but you keep coming back," said Carrot cheerfully. "You're convenient. Four hours a day isn't enough to find a boyfriend and start a relationship on my own." "Yusaku would be happy to oblige," commented Dan. "You stay out of this!" snapped Xianfu. "Whatever," muttered Ranma angrily. Pissant kept silent, not wanting to anger his fellow 'roommates' unnecessarily. "I think it's just that I'm a better lay," commented Carrot indifferently. "Yeah, that does help," said Xianfu with the same indifference. "Well, at any rate, she's acting like you should be. I wonder who the lucky guy is?" said Dan. "Don't even joke about that!" snapped Xianfu in shock. "It's too easy," said Dan with an amused chuckle. Ranma arched their eyebrows slightly as they turned to look at their daughter again. "You know, that kinda makes sense." "What?" muttered Xianfu in horror. "No! She wouldn't?" "Hey, don't forget who her mother is. We modeled her after the real one," commented Carrot with a frown on their face. "..." "It's time to go to work," said Pissant hoping to end the discussion. +++++++++++++ "Miss Hibiki!" said a familiar voice as Yohiko entered the school grounds. The woman winced as she turned to see a very cheerful Akane Tendo rushing up to them. "Good morning, Akane," she said with a false cheerfulness on her face. "I'm glad to see you're well," said the girl as she bowed to her. "Well, anyone can catch a little flu now and then," said the woman as she returned the formality with a much lighter bow. "Yes, it was terrible while you were gone," said the girl sourly. "That substitute just wasn't the same." "You're bordering on brown nosing, Akane," replied the woman with a playful smirk. The girl blushed and laughed slightly at the jab. "Sorry." "Don't worry about it," replied Yohiko as she strolled towards the building. "Aren't you here a little early today?" "Yes, I'm...not going to class today," replied the girl with a blush on her face. "I'm transferring out of Furinkan. I'll miss this place, and I'll really miss you. I hate to leave, but..." Yohiko blinked dumbly. "Pardon?" "I'm moving in with my fiancee," said the girl a little sadly. "My father doesn't know yet." "Fiancee?" said the woman as her face suddenly became serious. "I thought that..." "No, not him," said the girl with a sudden pain flashing on her face. "You know him, it's Shinnosuke. We're old friends from when I was very young. We've been keeping in contact through letters, and..." The older woman blinked and smiled at her. "So, he asked you to marry him?" "Yes, a month ago. I just recently accepted," said the girl as she turned away from her. Yohiko smirked and laughed gently. "I'm surprised he remembered." "Really?" said the girl as her face fell. "Well, I suppose I shouldn't be, I did tattoo it on the back of his hand after all," she amended. Akane smiled. "Yes, thank you." "Well, when will you be leaving?" "I'm going to pack now," replied the girl. "Well, good luck to you then," said the woman. "Miss Yohiko?" asked Akane as she turned to face the woman. "Yes Akane?" "You never did tell me why you were there. At Ryuugenzawa I mean." The older woman's face fell and she blinked. "Oh that." She scratched the back of her head and laughed nervously. "I'm afraid it's quite simple. I saw you leaving and I was bored, so I followed you." Akane blinked. "Huh?" "There really isn't much to do outside of this town you know," said the woman with a shrug. "You followed me all the way there?" gasped the girl as she stared at her. "That's like..." "Yes, well...I didn't come across anything more interesting while I was after you," she said as she chuckled. "Oh," replied Akane with a small shrug. She grabbed the woman around her waist and hugged her. "I'll really miss you, Miss Yohiko." "It won't be the same without you here dear," replied the woman with a short nod. "It'll be a lot more peaceful," she thought to herself. "Yes," said Akane as she let go and stepped back with a blush on her face as she realized that the woman's breasts almost completely enveloped her head. "Send me an invitation to the wedding all right? I'll try to make it. It would be nice to see the boy again, he was very nice, if a little absent minded." "I promise I will!" said the teary eyed girl as she turned and dashed away suddenly. "That was unusual," commented Yohiko as she noted the abruptness of the girl's exit. Yohiko smirked to herself and stopped walking towards the building. She turned and noticed that the students were starting to file in. "Hmmm..." ++++++++++++ "Why are you standing here?" Tatewaki Kuno turned to look at the woman who had asked him the question and nodded his greeting. "Ah, my beloved..." She punched him in the gut and stopped the speech rather quickly. "Just answer the question." "I await my love, Akane Tendo, so that we might spar this day. I must prove my love..." He was cut off as she leveled a glare at him. "Off school grounds of course." "Of course," she said with a smirk forming on her lips. "Sorry to tell you, Akane Tendo isn't coming to school anymore." "So, she has sought the path of an honorable housewife to prepare for her life with myself! Oh, I knew it must be so. She pines away for me in her bridal training!" "You know, you're not that far off the mark, but no. She isn't at home pining for you. She decided to move in with her fiancee." Kuno froze. "Pardon?" "She went to live with her fiancee," replied Yohiko calmly. "So! The cur, Saotome, has decided to return at last? I shall destroy him..." "Actually, it isn't Ranma. I believe the boy's name is...Shinnosuke. I think that's right." Yohiko pondered for a moment. "He lives in some legendary valley or something, no big deal. She left this morning." "What?!" roared the boy. "I shall not allow it!" "There really isn't anything you can do about it," said the woman cheerfully. She was enjoying this a little too much. "She's already gone, and she seemed quite happy with her decision." "Base lies!" snarled Kuno. The woman put him into a rather painful headlock. "Are you calling me a liar?" Kuno started to sweat nervously. "No, you must have been fooled by the foul sorcerer's illusion!" "Oh, well then," she said as she released him. "I suppose I can accept that." "I must go and save her from..." "Well, you don't know where she is," said Yohiko cheerfully. Kuno stopped moving and looked at her. "What?" "You don't know where she is," repeated the woman. By this point, students who were absorbing the information for spreading within the student population surrounded them. "Tell me! I must save her..." "My! Tatewaki, you aren't planning to skip school today are you? You don't look sick to me. I'm sure your father would be delighted to hear that!" "Indeed, he understands the concept of Honor on some level then..." "I understand he just bought a new set of barber's sheers and is just itching to try them out!" said the woman happily. Kuno froze and went as white as a sheet. "Perhaps, I shall wait until later to rescue my love. It would not do for such a noble person as myself to fall behind in his studies." "Quite," replied Yohiko. The boy staggered towards his first class in a rather pathetic display. "Next," said Yohiko to herself as she noticed Shampoo and Ukyo approaching. "Hello girls," said the woman as she walked up to them. "Miss Yohiko?" said Ukyo dumbly. It was very unusual to see her outside of the room this late in the morning. Especially since Ranma had left them. "It's nice to see you today," said the woman as she grinned at the pair. "What is teacher wanting?" said Shampoo as she looked up at her. She was wearing her usual Chinese clothes, but had a school bag slung over her shoulder. Enrolling in Furinkan was one of Cologne's ploys to keep the girl occupied and away from her 'Airen'. "Well, I thought you might want to know that Akane is leaving," said the woman. "Huh?" muttered Ukyo. "Yes, she's moving in with her new fiancee." "Shampoo not care," said the girl sourly. "I knew that Old Man Tendo was a jerk. He's gotten her engaged again?" snapped Ukyo angrily. "Actually, he doesn't know yet. She stopped by to say goodbye before she left and told me," replied Yohiko cheerfully. "His name is Shinnosuke. He's a very nice boy, I met him once. I think she'll be happy with him." "Is good," said Shampoo with a shrug. "I guess," muttered Ukyo. She had no real anger for the girl, and even considered her somewhat of a friend. The information had a plus side as well. Akane was out of her way in her revenge on Ranma. "It seems the troupe is drifting apart," said Yohiko with a wistful smile on her face as she watched them leave. ++++++++++++ "You're late, Miss Tendo," said Yohiko as she sat behind her desk and remained looking down at the book in her hands. Nabiki handed her a note from the office and shrugged. "I had some personal business to take care of at home." "Yes, Akane told me she was leaving today. Take your seat," said the woman as she pointed at the desk. "I think everyone in the school knows about it by now." Nabiki's jaw dropped like a rock. "Huh?" "I told them. What are you gonna do about it?" said the woman's confident smirk as she eyed the girl for a moment. "Are you just going to stand there?" Nabiki hung her head and slowly stalked towards her desk. She was out of the loan sharking, gambling, and photo business. Selling information wasn't illegal though, and she had continued that part of her business despite the fall of her blackmailer. ++++++++++++++ "You had no right," seethed Nabiki as she glared at the woman during the lunch break. "Oh? Didn't I?" said Yohiko calmly as she watched the girl coolly. They were standing in the hall, opposing one another. "Akane was my sister," said Nabiki in frustration. "Really? What do you think Kuno would have done when you told him?" "What does it matter?" snapped the girl as she turned her head away. "You'll notice that he's still here, whether or not that lasts all day is still in question, but he is still here." Nabiki blinked. "What?" "He'd have gone charging off after her. You would have worded telling Shampoo and Ukyo differently, making them think that Akane was with Ranma," continued the woman as she turned her head away from her in a mocking gesture. "Sending both of them after her as well." Nabiki looked at the floor. "It's none of your business." "Akane is something of a friend, at least to Miss Yohiko," replied the woman with a shrug. "She hates you," snapped Nabiki. "The real me, yes," agreed the woman. "I find myself liking her a little anyway. Strange girl, hot tempered, even a little violent. Still, she has a good heart, if not a good head on her shoulders." Nabiki growled. "You don't have the right to ruin this for her. She finally has the chance to be happy, and escape from this place. Something I've noticed you're longing to do." Nabiki's frowned deepened. "Akane got out first, and you're jealous. Don't try to pass this off as something for the family, or protecting her. Shinnosuke is honorable, and a good man. He will make her happy I believe." "What do you mean jealous?" snapped Nabiki. "You're as much of a brat as she is at times, Nabiki," said the woman as her features lightened. "You're throwing a tantrum because she left you behind to move on with her life, instead of the other way around." "I like Nerima fine," said the girl angrily. "Really? Then why are all the colleges you're trying for happen to be as far away from here as you can manage?" Nabiki froze and stared at her. "I've been keeping an eye on you, and your academics. It is my job Nabiki. You show a lot of promise, and you'll succeed I think, probably quite easily. However, don't drag down your sister's one chance at happiness now. You'll regret it later." The girl turned away from her, angrily at first as she stormed away. Her hurried walk slowed to a snails pace as she moved away and mulled over the problem silently. Yohiko smirked and strolled towards the teacher's lounge for her lunch. ++++++++++++++ "You goin to da date wit da big..." The door to the lounge exploded as Kochou Kuno flew from the room. Yohiko strolled out and dusted off her hands as she turned towards her next class as the bell rang. "Give it up you loser." The rest of the day was uneventful. +++++++++++ Usagi frowned as she glared daggers into the back of Jadeite's head. He was three feet in front of her, sitting at his desk with a smirk on his face as he ignored the lesson and seemed to daydream. "Nothing, I can't do anything!" she growled mentally. School had become one long frustration. Her work was suffering because of it and she knew it. "If only I could get that bastard, I could go back to normal again!" She frowned at the thought. Perhaps normal wasn't a good word for it, she'd at least be able to study again. The boy glanced back at her over his shoulder and smirked. It had frightened her the first time he'd done that. She was wondering if he'd discovered her secret. However, as much as she watched him, she'd realized he did that to pretty much all the girls. Most of them pined for him, asked him out, practically threw themselves at him. She wondered if they would if they really knew. "Well, Mitsuki probably would, but not the others," she thought to herself a little nervously as she took a glance towards the quiet looking girl in the front row. Who knows what the school would think if they knew the teacher's pet kept a leather bodice and crotchless vinyl panties in her gym bag. She was thankful that the deodorant the girl had asked her to fetch for her in the locker room one day wasn't any deeper than that. She didn't want to know what was under those. The bell rang and the students stood up to go to lunch. +++++++++++ "Isn't he dreamy?" said one of the girls in the group she ate lunch with. Usagi frowned and glared at Jadeite on the opposite side of the field. "No. I think he's a jerk." The two girls on either side of her looked at her as if she'd grown a second head. "What?" gasped the one on her right. "You can't be serious! He's always so polite, so dashing! He treats all the girls so, so..." "Romantically!" finished the other as the first girl struggled to find the right word. "That's just a front. He's a monster," growled Usagi. "You sound like you know something," said the one on her right with a seriously worried gasp. "It's nothing. I can just tell, he's hiding something, and it isn't good," said the girl as she continued to glare at the boy. "You're just being paranoid," said the other girl. "I only wish I was," she thought to herself. "I don't like him, besides, I've got..." she cut herself off abruptly. Both girls squealed as they jumped in front of her. "Tell us! You've met someone haven't you! Details! Details!" They both said this in a rather disturbing unison. Usagi blushed badly and turned her head away. "His name is Ryoga, he doesn't go here." "What's he like?" cried one of the girls. "Just Ryoga?" said the other one in confusion. Usagi blinked and stared at the second girl. "You know, I don't think I ever asked him what his family name was." "You mean you don't know?" said the pair at the same time again. "No," muttered Usagi in a sort of surprise. "He's always been so mysterious..." "A mysterious and handsome man? Wai!" cried one of the girls. "That sounds so romantic!" agreed the other. "Yeah, I suppose it is," said Usagi. "Where does he live? Can we meet him?" asked the pair. "I don't know. We just sort of keep bumping into one another," said Usagi as she blushed again. "Um, you're dating right?" said the first one as she looked at her friend oddly. "Yeah! Of course we are!" said Usagi crossly. "You don't know where he lives?" said the other one dumbly. "It...never came up," said the pigtailed girl lamely. "Usa-chan! I can't believe you!" said one of the girls in a scandalized tone. "Secret rendezvous!" "Yeah, kinda," commented the girl to herself. She seemed to realize all at once that Ryoga had no idea who she really was. He'd only known her as Sailor Moon, he'd never even seen the real her. Not that there was much difference, only her hair color and outfit changed really. "I should do something about that...but not yet." Doubt started to form in her mind. "What if Ryoga only likes blondes? What if he's some sort of bum? I've never seen his house! What if..." She sighed and hung her head. "Hello," said a familiar voice. Usagi and her friends looked up to see Jadeite standing over them with his confident smirk on his face. "What is it?" said Usagi coldly. Her heart was racing. "Does he know?" screamed her mind. Her clothes shifted slightly against her skin, ready to spring to action in defense of her friends. Jadeite ignored the two girls on either side of her and stared directly at Usagi. "Have...we met somewhere before? I keep thinking we have, and it's been bugging me for a while now. I can't place you." "No," said the girl firmly as she glared up at him, her eyes challenging him to try something. "Are you certain? I'm pretty sure. I can't figure it out though," he said as he continued to look down at her a little harder than before. "I don't think so," she insisted calmly. A war was going on between their eyes. "Hmmm. Maybe I've just seen you walking around town before," he said with a shrug as he turned away and left them. Usagi continued to glare at him as he moved away. "Sorry to bother you then," he said as he waved at them with his back turned as he walked. "Did...he just hit on Usagi?" muttered one of the girls dumbly. "Waaaahhh! I wish he'd done that to me! He would pick the one girl who doesn't like him!" cried the other. Usagi merely looked down at the half empty bento in her lap and growled. "Damn! Does he know? Is he just toying with me? Is it that he suspects and he's trying to figure it out? Or is it just that he really thinks I'm someone he's just seen before?" She sighed and slowly started eating again, knowing the questions would go unanswered for some time to come. ++++++++++++ Jadeite turned around a corner to a deserted area of the school grounds and smirked at the figure who stood before him. "Hello Jadeite." "You're toying with her," said Xellos calmly. "So what?" he snorted casually as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. "You're treading on dangerous waters," said Xellos with a slight anger in his eyes. "Are you afraid you might get blamed for this?" "I'm not worried about this one, they don't know how much of my power I've retained in this world. They aren't a danger to me here." "It still isn't wise to cross them too much," said Jadeite with a small chuckle. "I'll do my job, don't worry." "Me? Worry about you? You can get yourself destroyed on this world for all I care. We both know not much will come of a death here for any of us." "Hurt her, and L-sama could be angry. That's unwise," said Xellos. "There are certain things we can't do, and you know it." "What? You're worried about that? Ha!" said Jadeite calmly. "I'm just pulling her chain a little. I remember what I'm supposed to do here. She's nothing more than an irritation. It's hard to work around her that way." "Heh. I've been keeping up my end, it's almost time," said Xellos. "Just don't screw up yours." "Right," said Jadeite casually. "You worry too much. I'll make sure the brat is there. We still have a little time before things come to a head." "Don't get careless and let her kill you in that body. They need to be apart from the beginning. Your current activity is secondary to that, don't forget it," replied Xellos. "I'm..." "Seriously limited, unlike me. You need to watch yourself, don't get cocky or careless. That child is quite capable of killing you under the right circumstances. I'm not telling you to stop playing your little game, but don't get stupid. We have other objectives." "Right," grumbled Jadeite as he turned away. "Just don't forget that I'm not your servant Jadeite." "I'll try to remember that," said Xellos as he vanished into the shadows. ++++++++++++++ "Oh, Tamahome! No! You can't..." "Sir!" cried a voice as the door behind Tanaka opened suddenly. He jerked upright and quickly hid what was in his hands under the desk. His back was facing the door and he frowned deeply. "You didn't see anything did you?" he snapped angrily. "No sir! I didn't see you reading your shojo manga again sir!" said the man firmly. "Good. What is it?" snapped Tanaka as he turned and looked at the man behind him. "They're here sir!" said the large man as he stepped aside. "Good!" said the small Japanese man as he stood up and dusted off his jacket lapel. He was wearing a dark blue business suit. His tie was perfectly in place and he stood up from the small cluttered desk. "Is everything ready?" "Yes sir, everything is set," said the man calmly as he motioned with his arm for the man to move by him. "Excellent," replied Tanaka coldly as he stepped out into the large warehouse. Inside were hundreds of machine parts, motors and various other car parts were stacked high into the air within the almost pitch black room. Standing in the center of the room, were several men who were also dressed in suits. They were grouped together defensively, with some of the men carrying briefcases. Tanaka smirked as he noticed the older man standing in the middle of the men. He was dressed in what appeared to be samurai clothing. A sword hung from his side and a scowl was on his aged face. "Tanaka, what is this?" said the old man angrily. "We've got business to discuss, and I don't like waiting." "I apologize," said Tanaka with a small bow. The only other man in the room was his own bodyguard; the man who had fetched him. "Well, we should get this over with," snorted the old man. "Yes, I agree," said Tanaka as he pulled a pair of glasses out of his pocket and put them on his face casually. "Your boss must relinquish control of the southern pier to me by midnight on Friday of next week," stated the old man calmly. "Those are my terms, no negotiations. I hold control of the surrounding area, and will take it by force if need be." "So you say," said Tanaka calmly. "What is this?" snapped the man as his scowl deepened. "My employer does not agree with that assessment," said the small man with a serious expression on his face. "We will hold the property quite easily." "Bah," snorted the old man in disgust. "You overestimate your resources, and underestimate my own. Tell that fool that he is as stupid as he ever was! Where is he! I was supposed to meet him here. I didn't come all this way just to look at your disgusting face!" Tanaka smirked and shook his head. "He's not here. I don't think you'll be taking that property if you never give the order." The old man stepped back in shock. "What is this?" "A trap," said Tanaka as a huge stack of engines fell in front of him, creating a huge burst of noise and hiding him and his bodyguard from view. "What? You said the building was clear!" snapped the old man as he turned to look at his men. "There's no one in here but us!" cried the man next to him as he showed the old man a thermal readout on the small laptop computer at his side. A low humming noise suddenly started in front of them. Something like a pressurized thump hit the ground, and then the noise repeated. It sounded like mechanical footsteps. "You are mistaken," said a new voice from the shadows. It was a heavily accented gaijin voice. "Who is there?" cried the old man angrily as he raised his arm into the air. The briefcases the men around him were carrying were opened within a split second, all of them were now armed with small automatic weapons. "You were supposed to come unarmed," said the voice coldly. "Yes, a trap for my old rival, it seems we think alike," said the old man with a chuckle. "Not really, my employer was smart enough not to come," said Tanaka's voice from a speaker system somewhere in the room. "A fitting deception. It seems we have a standoff. We'll be leaving now," said the old man calmly as he turned to walk away. The sound of automatic gunfire exploded from the shadows and one of his bodyguards' head exploded in a spray of red. "There!" cried the others as they fired in the direction the shot had come from. Bullets filled the air, ricocheting off of metal as they vanished into the shadows. "You missed," said the old man as he started walking away again. "No, I hit exactly what I was aiming for," said the gajin's voice. "What?" said the old man in disbelief. The strange mechanical sound started again, much faster this time as it moved closer, still cloaked in shadows. The men saw something moving towards them, a huge mass of shadows and darkness. They fired on it, but it didn't even stop its momentum as it charged forward. The last thing the old man saw was a huge metal claw reaching for his face. +++++++++++++ "Heh, our trap was better," said Tanaka as he watched the scene play out before him. The muffled sounds of desperate gunfire halted suddenly as a large caliber weapon came to life and decimated the small band of Yakuza. "Yes sir," said his assistant calmly. "Vahn, are you finished yet?" he asked over the intercom. "They are dead," said the calm voice icily. "I can see that," replied Tanaka. "Good, I grow tired of this though," said the voice. "Patience. You'll get your revenge," said Tanaka coldly. "Your life belongs to us though. Don't forget that. We gave you everything, and you were dead when we found you." "I was alive," replied the voice. "Now I am dead." "You might as well have been dead," snorted Tanaka without much interest. "This 'Shadow' will show up sooner or later. When he interferes with our operations again, you can have him. We don't need you tearing around Tokyo looking for him. As strong as you are, it won't take long for the JSDF to destroy you. You can't hide easily as you are." "I understand," said the voice. "See that you don't forget that," said Tanaka. "We can protect you from that, you're quite useful to us." "I can hide, but I will not forget my debt," said Vahn. "I will fulfill my end. I will destroy the Shadow, and finally avenge myself and my brothers." "Yes, do that," said Tanaka in a patronizing tone. "Until then, you remain patient." "I do not like being patient," snapped Vahn. "Well, I could shut you down, and put someone else inside that thing. It would be quite painful, but I'm sure we could find a more willing volunteer..." "No. I will wait...for now." "Good boy." ++++++++++++++++ TBC... Next Time: Jadeite Strikes!