Chapter Eleven: On Foreign Soil



	Kodachi frowned. Since the previous day, her brother
had been remarkably distant.

	It wasn't as if that sort of thing was abnormal for
Tatewaki Kuno, the 'blue thunder' of Kuno Enterprises,
but he usually at least greeted her.

	As it was, Kodachi stood over her brothers still
form.

	"Do you plan to watch over me for long, sister?" He
asked, not breaking his concentration.

	Kodachi gasped as she realized that she had
addressed her. She knew her brother had become
remarkably more skilled since taking on Kenpo, but she
had at least assumed she would remain undetected.

	"Something troubles you, brother." She stated. There
was no questioning tone to her voice.

	Tatewaki sighed. "Aye. Though it is none of your
concern, sister."

	"As it never is." She narrowed her eyes. "But this
time it seems ever more serious than others. What is it
now, brother? Another holding company gone backrupt? A
lawsuit?"

	"Neither sister. What troubles me is of personal
nature." He replied, not straying his attention away
from his meditation.

	"Personal enough for you to have the jet fueled, and
hire two pilots to fly to America?" She asked, dropping
the file she held in her hand to the ground.

	Tatewaki winced. He had wished for his sister to
remain ignorant to what he had planned.

	"Moving a small payload of passangers to San
Fransisco, California. The airplane leaves at eight
o'clock, arriving at the San Fransisco airport a mere
four hours later."

	"Sister--"
	
	"Why wasn't I informed of this, brother?"
	
	Tatewaki sighed. He slowly uncrossed his legs and
stood up. He turned to face his sister with a monotone
look to his face.

	"Sister. I had hoped that you would not find out
about this."

	"Why?" She asked, the betrayal showing in her voice.
	
	"Sister. It not be betrayal that leads me to charter
the airplane." He sighed. "Nor does it mean that I wish
to abandon you... like..."

	"Don't speak his name, brother." She cast her gaze
towards the floor.

	"Aye. I will not. He has caused far too much pain in
this household."

	"Why do you wish to travel to America?"
	
	He sighed again. "I find it difficult to explain,
sister. I at times, hardly believe it myself."

	"Does this have to do with your absence from work
the other day?"

	"In part, yes."
	
	"Brother. Don't tell me that you would go to America
because of someone claiming to be Saotome--"

	"I have found the truth, sister." He interupted. "I
have spoken to the man. He is, in truth, Ranma Saotome."

	Kodachi narrowed her eyes. "You cannot be serious,
brother. Did you see his face?"

	"Nay, but I know it to be true."
	
	"How?"
	
	"The other warrior, thought dead. Mousse. He was
there."

	Kodachi's eyes went wide with shock. "How? How could
they both have lived if--" They went wider. "That
chinese wench! How dare she lie to us!"

	"The one called Shampoo did not lie. She had thought
them both dead. As it is, she was half right."

	Kodachi twisted her face into a look of confusion.
"What do you mean, brother?"

	"Saotome truly is dead. He has spoken the truth to
me."

	"Dead men don't talk, brother."
	
	"Nonetheless, Saotome has returned to us. The story
I hear is that he was sent to hell. And he is now a
warrior for the army of hell, and the earth is merely
his training grounds."

	"How can this be?"
	
	"I believe he speaks the truth, sister. Ten years of
his life remain a mystery. As we know him, he is
undeserving of hell, but nonetheless, that was his
destination."

	Kodachi sat down and stared her brother in the eye.
"To continue on this line of discussion would only
further my confusion, brother. What of San Fransisco?"

	"We go to avenge."
	
	"Avenge?"
	
	"The death of Saotome."
	
	Kodachi's eyes widened. She had heard little of the
man who had killed him. Mostly because she found she
didn't care anymore. But from what she had heard, he was
a powerful warrior. Perhaps even a sorcerer of sorts.

	Kodachi tightened her resolve as she looked into her
brothers eyes. "I shall pack my things."

	Tatewaki nodded. "I had suspected you would wish to
accompany, if you had found out."

	"But I do it not for Saotome, but instead to rid the
world of a threat to the safety and wealth of the Kuno
family." She warned. "I care not for Saotome."

	He continued to nod. "Very well, sister. We shall
leave first thing in the morning."

****

	"Kasumi?" Tofu asked. "Are you still awake?"
	
	Kasumi groaned a little, and with a yawn, she
answered. "Yes, Tofu. I'm awake."

	"Sorry," he smiled. "I... couldn't sleep."
	
	"Why not? Ranma?"
	
	"Something like that. Yes."
	
	"What's the problem?"
	
	"Look. Theres... theres something you don't know
about me. Something I never told anyone."

	Kasumi was more awake now than ever. "What's wrong,
Tofu?"

	"It's something I'm not proud of. Something...
something I did while I was a young man that... that
makes--"

	"Tofu?" Kasumi gasped, tears beginning to gleam in
her eyes.

	"Kasumi?" He stared in confusion.
	
	Then the blood started. First, it poured from the
sides of her mouth.

	"Oh my God. Kasumi?!" He yelled, bringing her into
his arms.

	"To--fu--" She managed to gasp out. Then he saw it.
The blade.

	"Leave me, will you, brother?" The voice called out.
"I'll repay you. If it takes me a thousand years, I'll
repay you for leaving me."
	
	"Kenoru?" He called. "Oh my God, Kenoru. No, please.
Not Kasumi!"

	The childlike voice seemed to ring out from the
blackness. But, as the blackness began to swirl, he
heard another voice.

****

	"Tofu! Wake up!" Kasumi shook him frantically.
	
	Thankfully, he did. He opened his eyes and quickly
brought himself up.

	"Kasumi?" He asked.
	
	"Tofu, you were having a nightmare."
	
	Tofu sighed. "A nightmare." He wiped the sweat from
his brow.

	"What was it about? You kept calling my name."
	
	Tofu shook his head. "Nothing to worry about,
Kasumi. I just... I just had a bad dream, thats all."

	Kasumi gazed into her husbands eyes affectionately.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"

	"Yes. I'm... I'm fine."
	
	She smiled. "Alright." She lay back down in the bed
and stared towards the ceiling.

	"Kasumi?"
	
	"Hm?"
	
	"Do you... do you mind me going?"
	
	"To San Fransisco?"
	
	"Yeah."
	
	She laughed. "I know everything will turn out fine."
	
	He smiled. "I hope so."
	
	"Shh." She put her finger to his lips. "Quiet. Don't
hope. Know."

	Tofu smiled and kissed his wifes hand. "I know it
will."

****

	"Kinami?" Mousse asked.
	
	Since Ranma had left, Mousse decided to stay with
Kinami, to make sure she was alright. As it was, he
found that she was as tough as they come.

	"I think she's asleep, duck-boy." Ukyou whispered
from the edge of the room.

	Mousse casually looked towards Ukyou and then back
to Kinami. She was breathing regularily, and she was, in
fact, asleep.

	"She's had a big night." Ukyou said.
	
	He nodded. "Yeah. You've had a big day, too."
	
	She laughed. "That's an understatement. I come back,
then find out Ranma's been dead for five years. Then I
find out he's back from the dead."

	"How'd you find out, anyways?"
	
	"I ran into his parents and his sister on the train
here."

	Mousse nodded. "They didn't find out until today,
either."

	Ukyou looked towards the ceiling. "Was I the last to
find out about this?"

	He shook his head. "No. Shampoo doesn't know."
	
	"How is Shampoo, anyways?"
	
	Mousse scoffed. "Your guess is as good as mine. She
doesn't even know I'm alive."

	"When did she ever?" Ukyou asked, innocently.
	
	He laughed. "Actually, she did warm up to me
before... before Kenoru."

	"So, how tough exactly is this Kenoru guy?"
	
	"Tough." He nodded. "Tougher than anyone we've ever
faced."

	"Well, you came out okay." She said.
	
	Mousse shook his head. "No, I didn't."
	
	"You mean the scar, hardly noticable."
	
	Mousse closed his eyes. "Scars are not always worn
on the outside, Ukyou Kuonji." He got up.

	Ukyou blinked. "Mousse?"
	
	"I'd better get some sleep if I'm going to be up in
time for the plane tomorrow." He looked at her. "I'll
see you in the morning."

	Ukyou blinked in surprise as she noticed the man she
was talking to, had already left. Silently, as though he
wasn't even there.

****

	Genma sat alone in the silence of his hotel room. He
had steadfastly refused to stay under the same roof as
the man who claimed to be his son.

	Nodoka had wished to stay at the Tendo home, but
finally gave in after Genma's refusal. Before she had
left, Akane had expressed interest in talking to her,
and she and Ranko were now at her apartment.

	Which left Genma alone. Under normal circumstances,
he would take to opportunity to indulge in his
gluttonous nature. But now, things were far too
disturbing.

	He would accompany everyone in the morning, to keep
his word. Though it was true he wasn't known for
honouring agreements to complete strangers, somehow,
with the involvement of nearly everyone he held dear, he
knew it was unavoidable.

	If sleep had ever crossed Genma's thoughts this
night, he soon found that it was erased before it could
register. Sleep was the last thing on his mind.

****

	"Are you sure it's no bother? I'd hate to leave
Genma dear alone at the hotel, but it's dark. And Ranko
doesn't seem to be able to leave." She smiled at her
sleeping daughter.

	Akane smiled. "Of course not, it's the least I can
do for what you're doing for me."

	"Are you sure of your decision, Akane? I can't stop
you, but I will support whatever decision you choose."

	Akane nodded. "I'm sure. I don't think I've ever
been this sure."

	Nodoka smiled. "You'll still have to deal with your
husband and... Ranma in the morning."

	"What do you think will happen?"
	
	"I don't know, Akane. I'm certain we will be
successful, but in regards to Ranma." She smiled. "I
just don't know."

****

	"So", Ryouga smiled. "She's been holding back on me,
then..."

	"I don't think holding back is the word, Ryouga."
Ranma shook his head. "She really didn't know that she
was supposed to follow instinct."

	"I always figured her as a smart girl. But to
actually plot out which moves to use before a battle
even starts?"

	"You two still awake?" A third voice called from
above them. Mousse stood on the stone wall, smirking at
them.

	"In case you haven't noticed, Mousse, I really don't
need sleep." Ranma warned.

	"I know. But Ryouga does." He pointed. "And we'll
need it for whats coming tomorrow."

	Ryouga nodded. "Yeah. I understand that, but We
could always sleep on the plane."

	"True, but it'll only last three to four hours."
	
	"The plane trip?"
	
	"Yeah. How well can you fight with six hours sleep,
compared to three hours?"

	"He's got a point, Ryouga." Ranma smiled.
	
	"What about you?"
	
	"You think I can't handle myself? You do realize who
you're talking to, right?"

	Ryouga smiled. "You know, it feels so weird being
able to talk to you again."

	Ranma shook his head. "Second nature to me."
	
	"Eh?"
	
	"Remember, five years passed for you guys. Only a
few seconds passed for me."

	"A few seconds." Ryouga shook his head.
	
	Mousse jumped down beside the two. "Tag." He lightly
punched Ryouga in the side. "You're out."

	Ryouga looked at him confusedly for a second, and
then realized what he was getting at. With a sigh, he
got up. "Alright. I'll see you two in the morning."

	"You should stay here tonight."
	
	Ryouga thought for a second. "Yeah. I guess that
would be the best idea. I don't wanna get hopelessly
lost while you guys are all fighting for your lives in
San Fransisco."

	"He's got a point, you know."
	
	"Well, if Kenoru proves too much for us, we'll sick
Ryouga on him. Maybe we'll luck out and he'll 'lose'
him." Ranma laughed.

****

	Dawn came. Dawn went. The moment the tip of the sun
touched the horizon meant nothing more than another day
at work for most. But for a select few, it meant more.
Much, much more.

	For two Nerima Detectives, it meant hell.
	
	"What do you mean?" Hiroshi glared.
	
	"I mean, fired. We are f-i-r-e-d FIRED!" Daisuke
yelled.

	"Why? What the hell for?"
	
	"The news last night."
	
	"What, because of the news reporter?"
	
	"He says we told her too much. Some of the facts
were still classified."

	"Classified? That's bullshit. I read those papers
myself yesterday. They were not classified!"

	"I know, 'Roshi. But they are now."
	
	"How the hell did this happen?!"
	
	He shook his head. "I'll give you one guess."
	
	Hiroshi thought for a second. And then it dawned.
"Satoni."

	He nodded. "Damn right. He did this because he
thought we'd link the yakuza to him."

	"Bastard, that bastard!"
	
	Daisuke shook his head. "Well, it's happened...
We've got to deal with it."

	"How?" He asked, looking at him.
	
	Daisuke shook his head. "Who knows?"
	
	"Dai?"
	
	"Yeah?"
	
	"What's going on over there?" He pointed at a large
gathering of people on the side of the road as they
continued on their way.

	"I don't know." He narrowed his eyes. "Isn't that
the Tendo dojo?"

	"Isn't that Ukyou?" Hiroshi pointed.
	
	Daisuke's eyes widened as he brought the car to a
screeching halt.

	"What'd you do that for?" Hiroshi asked.
	
	"Isn't that Mousse?" He pointed.
	
****

	"No. No way. We told you yesterday, Akane. No."
	
	"Ranma, I'm not as weak as--"
	
	"Damnit, Akane. I'm not saying that. I thought you
had realized by now that I never meant to say that. You
have to stay here, where it's safe."

	"Ranma." He felt a hand on his shoulder. "You know
as well as I do that she won't give up."

	Ranma turned to Ryouga. "She may not give up, but
she'll have to. I'm not going to let her board that
plane."

	Ryouga shook his head. "And then she'll buy some
tickets and board another one." He looked at him.
"Ranma, let her come."

	Akane smiled at her husband. She looked innocently
towards Ranma.

	He raised his hands in the air and shook his head.
"Fine. Whatever. She's your--"
	
	His words were cut off by a screeching not twenty
feet away.

	"Oh great." Nabiki muttered. "Here comes the idiot
patrol."

	"What?" Ukyou asked.
	
	"Hiroshi and Daisuke."
	
	"What are they doing up this early?"
	
	"They're cops. My guess is, they have the early
morning to afternoon shift."

	The doors swung open in unison. Soon after, two men
appeared from within.

	The stared in disbelief at the crowd in front of
them.

	Mousse frowned. "Not now."
	
	"What?"
	
	"Not now. They're cops, and they're here to take me
in."

	Nabiki suddenly dawned on the situation.
	
	"Nabiki?" Hiroshi asked. "That.. uh... that's
Mousse, right?"

	Nabiki shook her head. "No. It's his brother."
	
	"Brother?" Daisuke asked. "Mousse had a brother?"
	
	"Yeah... this is.. uh... Gel."
	
	Mousse blinked in surprise.
	
	"Thank God." Daisuke muttered. "I thought I was
staring at a ghost."

	Ranma stepped towards them for a moment, and then
removed his cowl.
	
	"You sure you're not?" He asked them.
	
	Hiroshi promptly fainted. Daisuke was conscious long
enough to mutter half of a word, and then he joined his
friend.

	Nabiki blinked. "Did you have to do that, Ranma?"
	
	He laughed and nodded. "It's easier than explaining
the whole thing."

	She nodded. "Good point."
	
	"Gel?" Mousse asked. "You couldn't think of anything
better than Gel?"

	She shrugged. "Gel isn't an official Joketsuzoku
name?"

	He shook his head. "I've told you guys time and time
again. Our names are mere coincidence."

	"Sure, Mousse," Ranma patted him on the back.
"Sure."

****

	"We're supposed to meet him here. Gate 43." Soun
noted.

	"I think you're drawing a crowd, Ranma." Nabiki
muttered.

	Tofu chose that moment to speak up. "You mean we
aren't one?"

	"So, the plane supposed to leave at like, eight.
Right?"

	"Indeed. The plane shall leave as soon as we board."
another voice, not from the current group commented from
nearby.

	Ranma turned to face Kuno. Soon after, he wished he
hadn't.

	"Kodachi?" He asked, audibly confused.
	
	"Hello, Saotome. It has been a while, has it not?"
She asked.

	Kuno closed his eyes for a moment. "I must apologize
for not warning you of her presence. I myself was not
aware of it until late last night."

	Ranma shook his head. "It doesn't matter. We could
use your help, Kodachi. Thank you."

	"I apologize for not accepting your thanks
graciously, but I do not respect you in the way I once
did, Saotome. I will fight alongside you, but nothing
else."

	Ranma laughed. "That's all I ask, Kodachi."
	
****

	Ukyou seated herself quickly. "Boy, it feels weird
getting back on one of these in so short of a time."

	Kinami buckled herself in beside her. "You just came
in on one the other night, didn't you?"

	She nodded. "Yeah. Straight from LAX to Tokyo."
	
	"LAX?"
	
	"The airport in Los Angeles."
	
	"Oh yeah, what's it like there, anyways?" She asked.
	
	She shrugged. "Not like here, I assure you. People
are much more... distant over there."

	"How so?"
	
	"Well, you could walk down the street in Nerima, and
run into someone you know. you could talk for a few
minutes, and then be on your way."

	"Yeah?"
	
	"Well, in LA, you could see someone you know on the
street, and they could see you. And you'd walk by with
not even a word spoken between the two."

	"Why's that?"
	
	"I don't know. I've never figured it out. But that
was only during my first year there."

	"What do you do?"
	
	Ukyou laughed. "Promise not to laugh?"
	
	Kinami blinked. "Uh. Okay."
	
	"I'm an actress."
	
	"Actress? In America?"
	
	"Yeah. I've also got a record out, believe it or
not."

	"A SINGER TOO?!"
	
	She laughed. "Yeah. It didn't do too well, but it
made me a fair bit of money. I still get royalties from
it."

	"So, your, like... famous there, then?"
	
	"I wouldn't use that word. Sometimes people
recognize me on the street, sometimes they walk on by."
	
	"What kind of acting do you do?"
	
	"Well, I started out as an extra. Only in the past
year or so, have I managed to get supporting roles in
some movies." She smiled. "People are quick to hire me,
because I do alot of my own stunts."
	
	"Really?"
	
	"Yeah. I've focusing mainly on acrobatics lately.
I've kinda lost my fighting edge. I.. I just didn't have
the will to fight."

	"Why not?"
	
	"I never really figured it out until now. Believe it
or not, it wasn't Ranma. It was... me. All along, it was
me."

	"What?"
	
	"While I was chasing Ranma, I had a reason to fight,
to train. When I found him, he had two other fiancee's
and a crazy woman after him. So then I had a reason to
fight."
	
	Kinami blinked.
	
	"When he... admitted that he loved Akane, and I
left... I had to reason to fight anymore."

	"But now you do?"
	
	She smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I'm with you guys now,
and we'll take this Kenoru bastard down if its the last
thing we do."

	Kinami smiled as the plane taxied down the runway,
and eventually took off into the air.

****

	The ocean passed by beneath them as Ranma sighed.
"So, leaving was fairly uneventful. How are we going to
manage the arrival?"

	Kuno sighed. "I know not." He closed his eyes.
"However, I believe you have a certain amount of stealth
to you, even in your current... form."

	"That I do."
	
	"I believe that when we arrive, you should take our
weapons, and escape the airport."

	"I can take care of any weapons we'll need." Mousse
mentioned, stepping out from the back.

	Ranma looked at him in surprise. "Mousse?"
	
	He smirked. "What do you think?" He showed off the
long white robe he was wearing. "I always keep it with
me, to remind me of what happened. I never thought I'd
wear it again, though."

	"Where do you keep it?"
	
	"I'm a master of hidden weaponry, remember? If I can
hide swords, bonbori and training potties easily, why
can't I hide a simple robe?"

	"The airport will have metal detection devices."
Kuno informed him.
	
	He winked. "Got it covered."

	"Very well. Ranma, you should exit the jet in any
way possible, and meet us on the boundary of the
airport." He looked towards Mousse. "I suspect you know
of Kenoru's wherabouts?"

	He nodded. "That I do." He looked up into the back
of his head for a moment. "I remember the name of the
restaurant, and the street. Do I need to know much
else?"

	"I would suspect not." He nodded. "All the
information we will need is readily accessable by the
telephone directory."

	"How much longer until we arrive?"
	
	"We should arrive there at approximately eleven
thirty." He noted. "It should not take us long to locate
the restaurant."

	Mousse looked up into his head. "So, about five
thirty San Fransisco time?"

	"Indeed."
	
	Mousse nodded. He was about to say something
additional when something from the front of the plane
caught his attention.

****

	"Saotome?" Soun asked. "Saotome, what's the matter."
	
	He looked dazily around for a moment. "Tendo... I...
I've never flown before."

	Soun nodded. "Nor have I, Saotome. Exhilarating, is
it not?"

	"That's not the..." He burped. "Word I'd use for
it."

	"Saoto--" Soun couldn't finish the sentence. A thick
liquid has hit his face with remarkable force.

****

	Ryouga widened his eyes. "Did he just...?"
	
	Tofu smiled. "Throw up? Yes. Mr. Saotome has a
classic case of motion sickness."

	"That's disgusting." He muttered.
	
	Tofu smiled again. "I agree."
	
	Ryouga shook his head, trying to change the subject.
"So, anyways. What do you think will happen when we find
Kenoru?"

	Tofu blinked for a moment. Then cast his gaze
towards the seat in front of him. "I honestly don't
know, Ryouga."

	Ryouga put a concerned look on his face for a
moment, at the doctors apparent inability to answer
thoroughly. He decided it best to leave the matter
alone.

****

	"Foolish man." Kodachi laughed. "We shall have to
have that cleaned during our stay."

	Nabiki and Akane could only stare. Neither could
believe how friendly she was being, regardless of the
past, or the situation.

	Nabiki found it prudent to say something in return.
"I don't suppose he knew about the air sickness bags,
then."

	Kodachi blinked. "Airsickness bags? Dear me, no. We
don't have any of those."

	Akane blinked. "Why not?"
	
	"Well, Akane Tendo, we have found no need for them.
None in the Kuno family suffer from airsickness, and our
business associates who use travel aboard this jet are
so used to air travel, it bothers them not."

	Nabiki nodded in understanding. "And it probably
saved some money by having them installed, as well."

	Kodachi laughed. "We could if we chose to. The fuel
alone costs more than it would to simply install some
air sickness compartments."

	Nabiki smiled. "I guess theres no in-flight movie,
then?"

	Kodachi laughed again. She pushed a small button on
the arm of her chair as a section of the seat in front
of her opened to reveal a small television, and head
phones.

	Nabiki's mouth dropped open.
	
	"What do you wish to watch? We have a selection of
over one hundred live action or animated features."

****

	The rest of the flight went fairly well. Nabiki,
Akane and Kodachi sat together and watched a grand total
of two movies before landing.

	Ranma, Tatewaki and Mousse sat in the rear of the
plane, discussing the best course of action upon
locating Kenoru.

	Meanwhile, Soun cleaned up his face and tried to
keep his own lunch from exploding all over Genma. As
Genma leaned his seat back to try and settle his
stomach.

	Ukyou and Kinami were busily chatting about several
subjects. Mostly of life in America, but Ukyou tried to
veer the conversation unsuccessfully towards Mousse
several times.

	Ryouga and Tofu merely slept right until the point
of landing.

	And then they were there. On Foreign soil. Nearly
one half hour before they had expected.
	
	Dispersing from the airplane was easily done. Ranma
stealthily used the darkening skies and made his way out
of the airplane, and eventually outside of the airport.

	Mousse, as he had stated, had no troubles getting
through the metal detector, even though he held under
his robes several metal objects. Each had shown their
passports, with no trouble getting through, with the
exception of Genma, who had to show several pieces of
identification.

	By the time it was over, the group met outside of
the airport, and were now faced with a foreign city.

****

	"What now?" Ranma asked, thanking nobody in
particular for the dark November skies abvoe him.

	"Twin dragons." Mousse said.
	
	"What?"
	
	"That's the name of the restaurant."
	
	Ukyou blinked. "You're joking."
	
	He shook his head. "Nope. I'm not. Why?"
	
	"I've eaten there once. When I was down here for a
film shoot."

	Ranma blinked. "Film shoot?"
	
	"I'll explain later. Look, it's not far from here.
It'll take us... Twenty minutes to get there."

	"On foot?"
	
	She nodded.
	
	Ranma smirked. "Then let's go."
	
****

	"What is it now, Celeste?" Angela asked, angrily.
	
	"We've got a problem with the hellspawn, Angela."
	
	Angela sighed impatiently. "I told you I'd be there
tomorrow."

	"That's just it. He's not here anymore."
	
	"What?"
	
	"The seers all say he's in San Fransisco. But theres
something else. Something they can't penetrate."

	"What do you mean?"
	
	"It's hard to say. They're having trouble staying on
his necroplasma levels."

	"How?"
	
	"I don't know. Look, can you make it to San
Fransisco? Tonight?"

	"I'm in LA right now." She said. "I had a plane
booked for Tokyo in the morning, but I can make it to
San Fransisco by tonight, if you need me to."

	"Angela, do it. But be careful, this ones tough.
We've already gotten word that he's beaten Violator
without loss or injury."

	Angela's eyes widened. "Violator?" She held a
certain amount of respect for the demon's fighting
skills. Even if he was working for the opposite side.

	"Be careful, Angela."
	
	She nodded. "I will."

****
	"How do you feel about it?" Akane asked.
	
	Ranma blinked. "About what?"
	
	"You know. The fact that we're all going to take
down the guy who killed you?"

	He laughed. "I don't know actually. I am a bit
nervous, but other than that.. Well, I just don't feel
the same."

	"I still can't believe how easy this is." Ryouga
said, coming up behind them. "Are we sure he'll be
there?"

	Mousse shook his head. "I'm not. But let's hope he
is. Because if not, he'll definately know we're looking
for him."

	"How much farther, Ukyou?" Ranma asked.
	
	"Just around that corner. About a block away."
	
	"What's that?" Tofu asked, pointing ahead of them.
	
	Each of them noticed the small form, running
frantically around the corner. Mousse and Ukyou were the
only ones close enough to hear his swearing.

****

	"Damn!" Happosai yelled. "Damn it! How could I have
not seen it before?!?"

	Happosai was confused at the moment. He knew that by
running at the moment, he was dishonouring Shampoo and
Kei. The only thing he could do at the moment, was stay
away from the Ryukaze long enough to think.

	Fortunately, he also wasn't looking where he was
going. Fortunately, the large form before him didn't
fall over even from all the force Happosai had
accidentally pushed upon him.

	"Sorry," Happosai apologized, patting the dirt off
of him.

	As he looked up into the face of the man he had
bumped into, he went wide-eyed.

	He had just bumped into a giant.
	
****

	"I don't believe it." Ranma muttered, looking down
at the form before him.

	The old man blinked in confusion for a second. Not
even noticing the others around him, he spoke.

	"Sorry about bumping into you, but I've got a bit of
a crisis here." He blinked again, realizing something.
"Do I know you? Your voice sounds kind of familiar."

	Ranma laughed.
	
	"Master?" Soun asked from behind them.
	
	Happosai blinked, looking past Ranma. "Soun?" He
looked at other faces around him. "Genma? Ukyou? Akane?
Ryouga? Nabiki? Mousse?" He paused.

	Mousse smiled. "Hey there, old man."
	
	Happosai yelped. "YOU'RE ALIVE?!"
	
	He smirked. Ranma did too. "What are you doing here,
old man?"

	Happosai knew the voice. He just couldn't place it
until he saw all those around him.

	"Ranma?" He asked.
	
	He nodded.
	
	Happosai stared in shock.
	
	"What's the matter, Master?" Genma asked.
	
	Happosai tried to push all of his confusion down,
and save his questions for later. "Kei and Shampoo!
They're both in there with Kenoru! The Ryukaze... they
turned against us!"

	Mousse narrowed his eyes. "What?"
	
	"In the restaurant. They're all in there."
	
	Mousse was the first to start running. Soon after,
they all followed.

	Happosai just blinked in the wake of all the martial
artists.

	"Ranma.. is alive?" He muttered.
	
****

	"Mousse, wait up!"
	
	He wouldn't listen. He kept moving.
	
	He reached the restaurant. He entered. He saw what
was happening.

	"STOP!" He yelled.
	
	The figure closest to him didn't even turn. "Ahh.
The old man? I can take care of this one."

	Mousse scoffed. "Not quite," and then he stepped
forward.

	Kenoru's eyes widened. "You." He said, shocked
beyond belief. "It can't be you. I'm certain I killed
you!"

	Mousse smirked in reply. "I guess you were wrong."
	
	
****

	Well, it looks like we're heading towards the
finale... I regret not being able to use Hiroshi and
Daisuke a bit more during the course. I may, at some
future time, do a side story based on the investigation
they had taken part in. Including being fired, and even
further beyond they're 'fainting' spell.. ^_^

	Also, after the finale I do have plans for several
side stories. Now, it may take a while before I manage
to do any of them, so if you'd like to see them, give me
some commentary, and it may give me some inspiration. I
also invite anyone else who wants to do one, as well..
^_^

	And finally, I promise that if it doesn't end in the
next chapter, if will end at thirteen, with a
possibility of an extended Epilogue.

------------------------- 
|     The TydRipper     |  "Abandon all hope, ye who enter
|                       |  here."
| Master of the Tides,  |  - Dante's Inferno; Canto 3:9
| Keeper of the Old Way,|  "What really interests me is
| Writer of the Fanfic, |  whether or not God had any choice
| Baka to the end...    |  In the Creation of the Universe."
-------------------------  - Albert Einstein

Questions? Comments? Flames? Email Me.

~ The TydRipper

http://westwood.fortunecity.com/versace/189/

ICQ UIN: 41450221

[In the year 1999 and seven months, 
the great King of terror will come from the sky. 
It will bring to life the King of the Mongols. 
Before and after, Mars reigns happily.]
Nostradamus - Century 10: Quatrain 72