Subject: [FFML] [FFML][Ranma 1/2] Two of a Kind -- A Ranam 1/2 Spinoff
From: "Van Patton" <vpatton@tyler.net>
Date: 2/4/2000, 1:49 AM
To:


This is my first one so be gentle.
Most of these character belong to Rumiko Takahashi, I'm just borrowing them. I make no profit off of this I just love to write.
These stories and more can be found at http://vpatton.tyler.net/tok
C&C are welcome.


Two of a Kind
By
Van Patton
Conscience

San Francisco in the summer was pretty much like crawling into a small oven, turning it on high, and closing the door behind 
you. Nighttime in San Francisco was not any better, especially if you were forty stories up and hanging upside-down. Sliding 
small rails into the corners of the window, a black clad figure starts to remove bolts with an electric wrench. Tilting the 
window back, the figure slides into the building, lightly landing on the floor. "Eight minutes and twenty-three seconds, I get 
better every day." 





The figure walks along the shadows, making very sure not to expose himself to the light. He comes to a hallway decorated 
with paintings and statues; he noticed no cameras, no bars, nothing. He stands very still taking in every detail of the hallway, 
the tile on the floor, the ceiling, and the walls. Taking a can out of his backpack he spays a mist that floats through the 
hallway like morning fog. About an inch off the floor thin red beams flash off and on in random patterns from one side of the 
hallway to the other. "This is going to be fun after all, I may not make that date with the waitress from Hooters ...what am I 
thinking of coarse I'm gonna make it." 




He pulls out a shiny object and with a flick of his wrist it extends into a seven-foot silver staff. Taking several steps back he 
watches for an opening, a place where the beams leave open, just thin enough for a staff. Taking two more steps back he 
runs for the hallway and leaps high and far down the hall, but just before he lands, he plants his staff in that open area and 
vaults the rest of the way, still holding onto his staff. Just several feet in front of him sits his target, a five-foot golden cross 
with a blue sapphire in the middle. 


Just before he can make an attempt to make a grab for the prize he hears footsteps, the figure darts into some shadows in a 
nearby corner. The footsteps draw closer as the figure slides behind a column and waits for whoever it is to leave. "I really 
need to stop making bets against a priest, it's becoming a health hazard." The figure sits back and remembers yesterday 
morning, playing a quiet game of cards. 




"So they just came in the middle of the night and stole the cross?" The figure in the shadows tosses out two cards. 
"Can you believe it? That cross has been in that church for decades and now someone gets a wild idea and decides to steal 
it!" His name was Father Ryan; he enjoyed these quiet games with his young friend, but was feeling extremely guilty for what 
he was about to do. "You know someone like yourself might be able to find the cross for us." Father Ryan eyed his young 
friend with pleading eyes, "Come on Father, someone like myself doesn't do these things for free." 


The shadowed figure arranged his cards and looked back up at Father Ryan. "Come now child, you've seen the people after 
the cross was stolen, their hope and faith is shattered, even the children has stopped attending mass. I'll tell you what if I win 
this hand you recover the cross, if you win we drop the subject, no hard feelings. What do you say."

"O.K. sounds good to me, show me your cards if you're ready." Father Ryan placed seven cards face up on the table; it was a 
small flush. The Fathers eyes looked up at his friend with almost a silent prayer in them. "Well whata ya know, you got me 
Father." The figure stood up and headed for the door, "Give me two days, and you'll have the cross back." 



That was almost twenty-four hours ago, now kneeling and hoping that he goes unnoticed, he heard the footsteps walk away 
then stop right at the entrance of the hallway. "You can come out now, I would have kept on walking if hadn't noticed the 
crack in the floor. "Damn" he thought to himself, "forgot to put the cushion tip on the staff before the vault." He walked out and 
observed his captor, a tall Japanese man with long white hair pulled back in a tail. He was well built, fairly young, well 
dressed, and holding a katana. 


"You know of coarse you're going to have to tell me how you got in here and who hired you." The Japanese man walked 
toward the black clad figure, and out from the other end of the hallway two more men were heading for him. The dark figure 
twirled his staff in a circular motion and slammed it on the ground. If you were outside the business building walking that 
night, you would have seen two things. First, a naked old man with a sign on his chest yelling about the coming millennium. 
Second, the fortieth floor of the buildings' windows shattering to millions of pieces. 


Father Ryan was cleaning the church like he usually does on Tuesdays, yes there are people that clean the church, but he 
likes to do it himself from time to time. Just as he was going to pick up a water bucket he felt a tap on his shoulder. "YEAAHH, 
in the name of the father will you not do that!" Father Ryan spun and notice his young friend, in the shadows as always, and 
holding a cross.


"Sorry father, well here ya go, don't say I never gave you anything." Father Ryan held the cross in his hands and noticed the 
young man walking off with a slight limp. "Are you alright boy!" The shadowy figure stopped and said "Just a nick I'll be fine, 
really."


Father Ryan eyed his young friend and with a look of concern "You know I looked at your cards yesterday, you had a full 
house." The shadowy figure stopped again and just slightly looked over his shoulder. "Same time next week?" Father Ryan 
just smiled "Yes my boy, same time next week."
(JAPAN The Apartment of Nabiki Tendo)



Nabiki Tendo was in trouble, not only were the stocks she managed a success, it was a huge success. In terms to 
understand, Nabiki needed a loss, a big loss and that just didn't happen. "Taxes are going to kill me, and after that I have no 
idea how I'm going to be able to afford college! Those taxes were supposed to flop and set me even to where I can take some 
tax cuts, but now, ARRRGGGG!" Nabiki was pacing in the living room back and forth, arms flailing and throwing papers 
everywhere. 


" I need to do something fast, if I don't get the numbers I need in five months I'm doomed! Noooo, I'm late for class!" Nabiki 
grabbed her books and headed out the door, not even bothering to notice she almost ran over Nadie in the process. "Nabiki, 
is something wrong?" Nadie was renting a room from Nabiki and considered her a friend, and today she noticed her friend 
was a mess. "Everything is fine, I'm late!" Nabiki didn't even bother to turn her head; she leaped on her scooter and headed 
for class. 


All during her classes Nabiki could only think about how she was going to loose a lot of money legitimately, OK somewhat 
legitimate. She could look through her portfolio and see what resources she had, surely she had a part of some business that 
she could sink. The class was almost over when she noticed something else she was doing, on her notepad she writing 
Tatawaki Kunou's name down over and over. She was wondering how he was doing, they both went to the same college but 
rarely see each other. 


She made a mental point to correct that...someday. "Come on Nabiki, get back on track, let's see what we have as far holdings 
go." The bell rang and Nabiki headed straight home, she could afford missing a couple of classes, because if she didn't do 
something there were going to be no classes to attend. When she arrived at her apartment she immediately when through her 
files looking for something that would be a sure money pit. "Hmm, I have some holdings in a jewelry shop back in Nerima, no 
it's showing profit for three months in a row, here's one, no,no,no.blast!"


After nearly pulling all of her folders out she finally came across a possible target. "A security agency here in town, hardly any 
profit, and with the right push it could be what I'm looking for." Nabiki placed the folder in her briefcase and headed for town. 
She arrived at the office building of 775 a slightly run down building with few, if any tenants. "This looks promising." She 
climbed three flights of stairs and arrived at office 305 Rally Danton Security and Investigation. 

"Funny, it was supposed to be Nukio Securities and Investigations." She opened the door and was greeted by the secretary, 
a young girl possibly seventeen or eighteen with light brown hair. "Irasshai maseto to Danton Securities, my name is Jan 
Nishiru, do you have an appointment?" Nabiki surveyed the office and then turned her attention to Jan. "No, but I'm here to 
see Nukio on some important business just tell him Nabiki Tendo is here and he'll know me."

Jan's eyes lit up and almost burst into tears, "Oh! Nabiki-San it's so good that you are here! Maybe you can save Nukio 
Securities!" Nabiki didn't quite know what exactly was going on, but she didn't quite like the sound of it. "What do you mean, 
save?" Nabiki crossed her arms and sat down on a chair in front of Jan's desk. 


After wiping a flow of tears Jan began to explain, "Well, two months ago Mr.Nukio left for lunch and never has come back, no 
word, nothing! Ever since then I've had to make it look like the business has changed hands and even change the name to 
keep existing customers."

Nabiki couldn't believe what she was hearing, the previous owner left this place high and dry and this secretary has been 
keeping it afloat for two months! "I'm impressed, but what's happening now? I've noticed that there is still a small income 
coming in." Jan buried her face in her hands, "Now the customers are not only wanting to meet Mr. Danton but there is a 
Antiquities Expo and this place is in charge of security!" 

Nabiki loved every minute of this, her problems are solved. "How did a place like this get a contract like that?" Jan looked up 
from her slouched position, "Mr. Nukio knew the man in charge and he owed Nukio a favor. What am I going to do 
WHAAAAAAA!!!!" 


The only thing Nabiki could do was feel rejoice, if this place bombed security the debt would be what she needed in a short 
time! "How long until this event?" Jan sat up and said "Four days, why?" A sly and mischievous smile came to Nabiki's lips, 
"Well then that's plenty of time, don't you worry about a thing I'll take care of everything." 

Nabiki went to the back office and looked over the notes concerning the Expo, but no contract. Nabiki was going to have to 
contact this man-in-charge and let him know about some change in plans and personnel. Nabiki picked up the phone and 
dialed the number; "Hello is a, Mr Tanaka in? He is, good, please tell him Mr. Danton's partner needs to speak with him, thank 
you."


The young man was out for a walk tonight, no special occasion, just out for a stroll. His leg wound is starting to heal and he's 
been dying to get out of that shack he's been living in. "That putz with the oversized ginzu nearly hacked my leg off! Good 
thing I was able to use the confusion I caused to escape, I wonder who they were?" For some strange reason or another he 
ended up on the side of town where the church was. "Well I guess it wouldn't hurt to stop by." He said to himself out loud. 


Just as he was approaching the block the church was on he noticed a light red glow coming from it's general area, then fire 
engines flying by headed in the same direction, "NO!" he yelled out running for the church. When he got there the church 
was an inferno, he ran around looking for Father Ryan when he noticed a man coming out the side door. 

It was Father Ryan, carrying a small boy with other people behind him. "Father Ryan, what happened here?" Father Ryan sat 
down and looked up at the young man. "It seems they really wanted that cross, they returned and started to rip the church 
apart, then a few stayed behind and started this."

"Is everyone all right? Is everyone here?" the young man looked at all the people and noticed a small boy looking around 
with a frightened look. "What, what is it?" The young boy looked up and said "Mommy?" The young man raced inside the 
church "Look for her in the classroom that's where everyone was!" Father Ryan said still holding onto his chest. 

He raced inside and covered his mouth to keep some of the smoke out. Heading as fast as he could for the classroom, 
halfway there he noticed someone slumped on the ground gasping for air, "Here let me get you out of here." Just as he 
helped the woman up a piece of the ceiling fell down near them, blocking their way out. 


"DAMN, now what?" he looked around and came to realize he was surrounded by walls and flame. "Were going to die!" the 
woman cried out clinging onto him. "Not yet, not today, not like this!" He pulled out his collapsible staff and extended it, then 
striking a nearby wall. Outside Father Ryan was worried, it's been too long and now the firefighters can't even get in. 

That's when the walls exploded outward and the earth shook underneath him. "My word! What was that?!" He looked 
through the smoke and flames to see the young man carrying the woman in his arms. "Are you alright?" The young man 
looked up and shook his head yes then handed the woman to a medic. "What are you going to do now Father?" Father Ryan 
looked up and stared into the sky, "We'll manage, he will look after us, what about you? They'll be looking for you now." 


The young man walked into the night, "Good, it will make it easier to find them."

(JAPAN) 

"The Antiquities Expo is going to be one of the most watched events in Tokyo, I still can't figure out how Nukio landed this 
deal." Nabiki said while walking down the isles observing the booths that had rare art and artifacts. "Well it's like I said Ms. 
Tendo, Mr. Tanaka owed Mr. Nukio a huge favor." Jan had her arms full of documents and brochures; she was learning what 
it's going to be like working for Ms. Tendo. "Still something of this large scale, I honestly had no idea he was getting involved 
in this." Nabiki was wondering what legal ramifications were set in place in case anything did happen. 



When they arrived at the office of Mr. Tanaka two Japanese men were leaving the office; one was a short pudgy and the other 
a tall with long flowing white hair. Nabiki couldn't help notice the white haired individual because he had a bandage over his 
right eye. 


The two individuals walked to the elevator, entered, and stared at Nabiki and Jan until the doors closed, this little event sent 
chills down Nabiki's spine. Upon entering Mr. Tanaka's office it was obvious his tastes were a little lavish and by the 7-foot 
neon green colored statue of some individual pointing to the sky, it was very poor. "Now who in the world would consider 
that.. art?" Nabiki couldn't take her eyes of the horrid statue it was just so, loud. "Ah, I see you are taking in the finest piece of 
my collection!"

A man approached Nabiki and Jan he was a medium build with a very lopsided crew cut for a hairstyle. Nabiki looked once at 
the man and then once at the statue and then realized who the model was for this work of.art. "Hai, Tanaka-San it's very, 
unique." Nabiki replied as she returned the bow from Mr. Tanaka. "Unique my butt, this thing about to make me woof my 
cookies!" Jan had an obvious look of pain on her face and just didn't even look at the statue even more. 

"Mr. Tanaka, I'm just here to review the contract our company has with yours, do you have that available?" Nabiki was 
hoping that she could find loopholes in the contract in case of anything were to happen at the Expo. "Yes of coarse, step into 
my office please." Entering Tanakas office was just as garish as the statue, neon colors and weird fixtures lined the walls. 
"Here is a copy of the contract that was signed by Mr. Nuriko, how is he anyway?" 


Nabiki handed the paperwork to Jan and she piled that on top of her already arm full of papers. "He is currently debriefing our 
new boss Mr. Danton he will be personally overseeing the security for the Expo." Jan looked cross-eyed at Nabiki wondering 
what in the world was she thinking. "Good, your secretary has told me many great things about him already!" Tanaka 
propped his feet on top of his desk a leaned back with a wry smile. "It's good to have a MAN like Mr. Danton on the job, 
knowing he'll be the one to watch over the Expo takes care of any concerns I had.

Nabiki couldn't help but notice that statement, crossing her arm she slightly leaned toward Tanaka and said "Mr. Danton 
relies heavily on all of his employees and he has the utmost faith in us. He and I are equal partners, I am just as capable as he 
is." Tanaka leaned forward and propped his head on his hands, "Well that is good Tendo-San, because if any of you fail to 
protect the Expo, all of you will be in a lot of trouble." With that said Nabiki and Jan left the office neither feeling very good 
about the meeting. 

"What are we going to do Ms. Tendo, we don't have a Rally Danton and I'm pretty sure Tanaka will want to meet him, and 
what are we going to do about security, and.." Nabiki stopped in mid-stride and turned to face Jan, " Like I said, it will be 
taken care of, I need you to head back to the office and put an ad out for some personnel. Hire the first ten people that will 
work cheap and have them meet me here tomorrow." Nabiki grabbed the contract from Jan and proceeded to head for the 
train station, she still had some classes to attend.


"Know thy enemy." He thought to himself as he was crawling through the vent shaft of the very same building he broke into 
get the cross. He popped open a vent and slid through landing on the floor, "Thirty-ninth floor thugs, killers, and geeks." 
Wading through the desks and terminals of the office he wasn't able to find much. Suddenly an elevator door opened, he 
looked up from the terminal to see the same two men from the previous night emerging from the doors, "Hi fellas, where's 
that long haired MTV pretty boy at?"

As they charged at him, he leaped onto the desk and back flipped over his attackers. "You ladies just didn't learn the last 
time?" He pulled out his collapsible staff and swung downward at one of the men, striking the foot, causing his attacker to fall 
to the floor moaning in pain. Attacker number two was a different story, he pulled out a gun and almost had the young man in 
his sights. "I.HATE...GUNS!"


The young man's first strike was at the wrist causing the attacker to drop the weapon, the second was a backhanded swing 
to the jaw spinning him around, the third was an upward strike causing the attacker to flip in the air and land on his back. 
"Ruined a perfectly good fight you idiot." 


He turned to the first attacker and gouged his bo staff deep in his throat, "Your friend there just made me a very angry person 
you either tell me what I want to know or you go without a voicebox for the rest of your life." "(In Japanese) "I'll get you for 
this you dog!" The young man looked at the fellow and replied in Japanese "The last person that called me a dog ended up in 
a whole new world of pain." The man looked up in surprise; "You won't get out of here in one piece!" 

The young man just continued the pressure and replied, "One more time in your language, tell me where the cross is. That 
little trick I did to the windows is nothing compared to what it will do to a human." The attacker remembered what happened 
and told the young man where the cross is going. 


Later, Father Ryan was helping him pack, asking a billion questions. "I can't believe that you have to go all the way to Japan, 
why did they take the cross there?" The young man looked up at Father Ryan, "I did some research on that cross, it's a pretty 
valuable item and the place it's going to it would fit right in." Ryan sat down scratching his head, "Yes but, again why?" Ryan 
handed the young man some socks and continued to stare in amazement. 


"No idea why, but when I get there I'll make sure to ask them while I'm taking the payment for the church out of their hide." 
The young man headed for the door, Ryan stood up and opened the door for him, "Be careful and make sure you call to 
check in." The young man place his hand on Father Ryan's shoulder, "Don't worry about me, I'm going to recover the cross, 
get the money they owe to rebuild the church, and do some selective shopping while I'm at the Expo there."

 Part 2

(Three Days Later) 
  The details of the contract were simple, if anything happens to any of the objects of art at the Expo, Danton Securities would 
be liable for it. Such a loss would be ten times more than what Nabiki needed, basically it would ruin her. Now that she 
represented herself as a "partner" of Rally Danton, she was stuck with it. 


" I'm doomed, with something as high profile as the Expo every burglar, crook, and god knows who is going to be there." 
Nabiki paced around her apartment trying to think of something that she could do to save herself. With her act of pride in Mr. 
Tanaka' s office she nailed herself to the wall, "No way out, but maybe something can be done to improve security." Nabiki 
grabbed her briefcase and proceeded to the Tendo Dojo.


(Just outside of Tokyo)


  The young man was just in awe of the sight that was folding before him, it's been years since he's been to Tokyo, and it still 
looks amazing. The lights and the people, both filled with an energy that couldn't be described. His first stop was the Expo of 
course, he wanted to get a mental layout of where everything was. As he walked by the different booths he made notes of 
what was valuable and easy to "pick up". His tour came to an end when he discovered the location of the cross, in the middle 
of everything and guarded. 


One of the guards was none other than the white haired Japanese fellow with the sword, "Crap, this is not going to be easy." 
He turned in the other direction so as not to arouse suspicion. "I still have the stitches from our first meeting." He picked up a 
brochure from a booth he was standing next to and proceeded to walk by the cross exhibit. As he passed by he noticed that 
the guards were armed and alert. 


He also noticed something about the cross, it was attached to what seemed to be a golden pedestal, about six inches high 
and twelve inches wide. "That wasn't there before, what. s going on here?" He continued on by and proceeded to the main 
offices. "This looks like day security, I better find out what the plans are for tonight."


(The Tendo Residence)
  Nabiki strolled in and headed back to the kitchen, she knew that of all people Kasumi would be in the kitchen, it was one of 
those certainties in life. She was almost to the kitchen when she picked up a very "nauseating" smell, "That can only mean 
one thing.."  Nabiki thought to herself. 


  From the kitchen came a voice, "Is someone there?" Her fears were confirmed, she was in the kitchen, and that meant 
disaster. "Uhhhh, you bet Akane." She carefully walked into the kitchen and there was Akane, cooking. "I would say this day 
couldn't get any worse, but why tempt fate." Akane was standing over the stove with something brewing in a large pot, Nabiki 
came to the conclusion that she had to work fast and get out of there before she had to do a taste test. 


  "Akane do you know where Ranma is, I have a job for him." Akane turned and put her finger to her lips "My guess would be 
a Ukyou' s getting a free meal." Nabiki' s face brightened "If I hurry I may also get a free meal out of it and avoid this." Nabiki 
quickly proceeded to leave for Ukyou' s "Nabiki could you do me a favor?" Nabiki' s face whitened with fear "Oh please, no, 
anything but this." Nabiki turned with the best smile she could muster. "Sure Akane, what is it?" Akane scooped some of the 
contents out of the pot, "Could you taste this? I've been working on it all day, and I want it perfect." 


  Nabiki looked at the spoon that was held in front of her. She could almost see the concoction eating away at the spoon. "Ok 
I have two options, I eat it and I get my stomach pumped, or I don' t eat it and I leave in a body bag." Nabiki closed her eyes and 
swallowed the contents. At first she didn' t taste a thing, but that was only because most of her taste buds were probably 
dissolved upon contact. When it oozed down her throat and then her stomach she realized her mistake, she may be going 
out of here in a body bag anyway. Akane stood and watched Nabiki ,as she ran out of the kitchen. Tilting her head to the side, 
Akane came to the conclusion "Oh, I knew I didn' t add enough seasoning!" She then proceeded to grab the horseradish, and 
went back to her cooking.

  Nabiki finally made it to Ukyuo' s, after stopping at a local store and buying out all the stomach medicine it had. When she 
entered, there was Ukyou at her grill cooking Okonomiyaki at lighting speeds, and of course in a corner booth eating at even 
a greater pace was Ranma. "Well looks like you were right Akane , here he is!" 


Ranma displayed the Satatome technique "Deer in the Headlights Look While Diving for Cover" maneuver, Nabiki could not 
help but give a slight giggle. Ranma looked up and noticed it was only Nabiki, "Geez Nabiki !Why don' t you give a guy a heart 
attack! What do you want now!?" Ranma sat back up on the chair and went back to feeding his face. 


  Nabiki sat down across from him and slid him a brochure across the table. Ranma looked at it then looked at Nabiki, "What's 
this for?" Nabiki rested her head on her hands and looked cozily up at Ranma, "Ranma I have a proposition for you. If you do 
a certain favor for me I will knock off say& 10% of the debt you owe me." 


Ranma looked around and then back at Nabiki, "I am not going to pose for you, in either form, so that you can take those 
pictures of me and sell them out to the highest bidder." Nabiki suddenly had the look of sorrow on her face, "Ranma, how 
could you say that, all I need is for you to keep this place safe then I' ll knock off some of your debt." Ranma looked at the 
brochure, "Well, if that's all, ok I'll do it. For how long do you need me?" 


  Nabiki stood up and headed for the door, "For three nights, and nothing happens to anything in that place." Ranma followed 
Nabiki, "When do I start?" Nabiki turned around and said, "Tonight, Oh ..and Ranma, I already have enough pictures of you in 
either form, ask Ukyou." Ranma turned around and looked at Ukyou, there she was, blushing the brightest red you could 
imagine. All Ranma could do was smack his head and proceed to his temporary job. 


(At the Expo)

  The young man went to the mens room, before he entered the office area. He looked in a mirror and pulled some things out 
of his coat; glasses and some identification. He smoothed his hair back with water, pinned it up to make it look like he had 
short hair, and then looked at his identification. The ID read Terry McCain from New York, he put the glasses on, looked him 
self in the mirror and said, "Hello Mr. McCain", in very, very meek voice.


  Mr. Tanaka was eyeing his most prized possession, the life sized statue of himself pointing to the heavens. Then he noticed 
an American walking up to him, he had short silver hair slicked back heavily and wearing thick rimmed glasses, he was tall 
and well built, but there was something, strange about him. Mr. Tanaka bowed "Greetings sir. How can I help you?" The man 
returned the bow and said, "I hope you can, my name is Terry McCain , and I would like to enter in some pieces of art I 
received in Paris.Would you be the one to talk to about that?" 


Tanaka smiled and escorted Mr. McCain to his office, "Yes I am, I'm so happy that you find our little Expo worthy. What pieces 
were you planning on displaying if I might ask?" Terry sat down in a cushion leather chair, and observed the area around him 
"My god, the person that decorated this office should be dragged out into the street and beaten." 


  Bringing his attention back to Tanaka he replied, "Oh, of course, recently two Renoir' s and one Matisse came into my 
possession and I've been displaying them during my travels." Tanaka' s eyes lit up, "Renoir, oh this is going to be such an 
honor!" Terry shifted in his chair, "The pleasure is mine, but I would like to discuss what kind of security you have here. I 
mean ,we are talking about two Renoirs here." Tanaka stood up and escorted Terry to the open exhibit area. "Yes, please, 
this way." 


They walked toward the center of the area and Mr.Tanaka pointed out the different cameras and personnel involved in the 
security. "The main security force is maintained by a man named Rally Danton. His company is very well respected ,and he' s 
extremely devoted to his work. His partner, a Miss.Tendo will be here soon, if you would like to wait." Terry looked around 
and noticed the white haired man again, "Is he part of the security? He' s a very intimidating fellow." Tanaka looked at the 
white haired man and said, "No. No, he came with the exhibit. I have no idea about him." 


  Terry continued to look in the direction of the cross exhibit, "Really" he thought to himself. He noticed a kid with a big lolly-
pop smacking it against what looked to be a copy of a Monet. He grabbed the lolly-pop and tossed it toward the cross exhibit, 
"I needed to borrow that, sorry." he whispered. When the lolly-pop hit the cross, everyone that surrounded it, either had a 
weapon drawn , or was speaking into a microphone. 


"Well fudge! This is going to be a pain, hopefully tonight won' t be as bad." Tanaka simply looked at the boy and said, "Little 
monster! You nearly ruined it!" The boy then proceeded to run screaming for his mommy. "Excuse that fiasco sir, I must 
apologize, but as you can see security is quite tight. Ah, here is Ms. Tendo now. 


  Miss. Tendo, I would like to introduce you to Mr. McCain. He will be displaying some pieces of art that will include two 
Renoir's." The only thing Nabiki could think was "Great, add about a million or two more to that debt if anything goes wrong." 
Nabiki bowed and said, "Konnichiwa, it is a pleasure to meet you Mr. McCain." Terry returned the bow, "The pleasure is mine 
Miss. Tendo. May I ask, where Mr. Danton is?

I wish to find out about how secure my painting would be." Nabiki simply smiled, "I' m sorry, but Mr. Danton is in Germany 
right now, he has certain obligations there." Terry smiled back and said, "Well ,I' m sure you're more than capable, or you 
wouldn' t be his partner. Well, I' m satisfied. When can I have the paintings delivered here?" Tanaka bowed, "Tomorrow at the 
latest, It's going to be perfect, having such fine pieces of art added to our show." Terry turned to Nabiki, "I hope to see you 
again Miss. Tendo, good day." Nabiki returned the farewell, "Thank you, Mr. McCain."


(Later at Nabiki' s apartment)


  Mr.McCain was bringing up too many alarms with Nabiki, "I may want to look into this Mr. McCain, there' s just something 
about him." Nabiki first called up Mr. Tanaka, she received the name of the hotel he was staying at, it just happened to be right 
across the street of the Expo. "Well I better pay Mr. McCain a visit." Nabiki looked around her apartment, "Nadie! Get your 
head out of those books and lets go to town!" 


Nadie opened the door to her room and stuck her head out, "Nab, I don' t have the time, there' s a physics exam tomorrow." 
Nabiki walked over to Nadie grabbed her arm and proceeded to drag her out of the apartment, just as they got outside Nadie 
yelled, "NABIKI, at least let me put on some pants!!" Nabiki turned around ,and there was Nadie in nothing ,but a shirt and 
underwear. "Oh, well ahhh, sure." 
When they arrived at the front of the hotel, Nabiki noticed someone leaving .It was a young man with long silver hair and a 
long brown leather coat. "So that's what he really looks like? Not bad." Nabiki and Nadie followed him across the street 
around the building the Expo was in. They noticed he was taking several notes and looking over every inch of the exterior. 
"Now what in the world is he up to?" After following him around the building ,he went down an alley and disappeared from 
view, "Nadie stay out here. If he comes out, try to get what direction he is going, and wait for me." Nadie shook her head 
yes ,and Nabiki proceeded down the alley. 


  As she walked down the alley way she noticed it was a dead-end, no way out other than the way she came, "This is not 
good." She turned around and there he was standing in front of her with his arms crossed. "Mind explaining what you are 
doing?" Nabiki stepped back, "I could be asking you the same thing, nice change by the way, you look better without the 
coke bottle glasses." The young man just smiled and said, "Thank you, now why are you following me?" Nabiki then crossed 
her arms, "Well let's see, out of the blue a man comes along with two Renoirs and wants to know about the security of a 
building, too convenient, and now your snooping around the building, what are you up to?" 


The young man smiled and pulled a wallet out of his coat, "The name is Jacob Marlow, I work for an insurance agency and 
I'm here to recover a certain piece of property that was stolen." Nabiki looked at the ID, "Well this could be fake also, but I 
might as well play along." She returned the ID and said, "What piece would that be, a Da Vinci maybe, or I know, how about 
another Renoir?" The young man just smiled, "You have good taste, but no. The cross that is in the center of the Expo, it was 
stolen from a church and I'm here to get it back. "What would it be doing here? This is almost a high profile event." Rally 
turned and said, "I have no idea, but right now I don't care. The main question on my mind is are you going to help me or stop 
me?" 



  Nabiki knew she couldn't trust this individual, but then the man guarding the statue was even worse. "I'll definitely want to 
keep an eye on this guy." Nabiki stepped in front of the young man and said, "I' ll help you, for now." The young man said, 
"That' s all I can ask." They walked out of the alleyway where they met up with Nadie, Nabiki explained what was going on 
and told her to head on home. 



"Well Mr. Marlow, looks like your buying me dinner and explaining to me what were going to do." Marlow turned to Nabiki, 
"We' re going to do nothing, I' m going in and getting the cross back, when in gets dark." Nabiki stopped walking, "There is 
no way I' m letting you in there without me, I' m responsible for all of that stuff if anything happens to it, me, I' m responsible." 
Marlow just stared at her, "O.K. fine, but don't get in my way. Especially if we meet up with that white haired personality 
complex" They entered a small caf� and ordered what they wanted. 


"Yes, I ran into him yesterday, gave me the creeps." Marlow rubbed the side of his leg, "He gave me something a little bit 
more." "Yeah, weird one that fellow. I need to get the cross back, but I would like to find out why it was stolen and why is it 
here. It makes no sense." 


  Nabiki looked at Marlow, "You said it was stolen, from where?" Marlow started to pour large amounts of sugar into the 
coffee the waitress just brought to him. Nabiki just stared at the amount of sugar building up in the coffee. Marlow noticed 
what she was looking at, "Oh umm, I like it sweet, sorry. It was stolen from a church in San Francisco, the people I work for 
want it back in the church immediately." "Oooooo I' m gonna burn for that one." Nabiki slowly chewed on a piece of fruit, 
"While we' re in there I need you to prove it was stolen, I believe the answer to that is at the Expo." Marlow looked at Nabiki 
quizzically, "What makes you think the answers, are in there?"


Nabiki picked up another piece of fruit, "It's this whole deal, a lot of things are not right, for instance, my company is a small 
time security agency, that through some favor got this incredible contract, also why the need for so much security around the 
cross only?" Marlow looked at his plate of food, "This is the only thing that bugs me, this country has no idea how to make a 
decent burger. Oh, and don't forget about Mr. Personality, he' s going to be real fun." 


  They waited until nightfall and proceeded to the Expo. Nabiki looked around and noticed no one was around outside the 
building. "If it was not for the fact that I' m not responsible for the security of the cross we could just walk on in." Marlow 
turned to Nabiki, "Here put this on, no need you getting into any trouble." Marlow hands her a black cowl and she puts it on. 
He then pulls out a grappling hook and line from under his coat. "What else do you have under there?" Nabiki started to 
wonder if he knew a certain, almost blind Chinese fellow who can stash everything including a kitchen sink in his robe. 


"Only the important things." He tossed the hook high and straight into the air, it landed on top of the roof with a small clang. It 
hooked on a pipe that was sticking from the roof. Marlow motioned Nabiki to get on his back, when she did, he pulled both of 
them up to the roof in a matter of minutes. "You seem to be rather skilled in this." Nabiki was amazed at the ease he scaled 
the walls with her on his back. "It's a talent that's handy from time to time."

  This part of the building isn't being used so it will be easier to enter, come on." They entered through a door that led to the 
top floor. Then they walked towards the area of the Expo, Marlow, remembering where Tanaka showed him the location of the 
cameras avoided the areas that would be monitored. "O.K. so where do we go looking for proof I doubt that guy has it 
stashed anywhere around here." Nabiki turned to him and said, "I don' t know, but there' s just something not right about all 
of this."


"When they reached the cross Marlow inspected the cross, "Well the only thing wrong with it is this base attached to it." 
Nabiki stood beside him and said, "What' s wrong with it, it looks to be part of it?" Marlow started to pick the cross up, but 
was stopped when Nabiki grabbed him by the arm. Marlow looked Nabiki right in the eyes, "Look my only concern is getting 
the cross back the to the church, you wanna play detective fine, go ahead."

  "You aren't doing anything until I know that thing is stolen, which I' m beginning to doubt." Suddenly from behind then they 
heard a voice, "Oh it is stolen, too bad that neither of you will be able to share that information with anyone else." Marlow 
turned around and there he was, the white haired man with the attitude. "Oh, Great! Tell me something, is it your purpose in 
life to be a royal pain in my ass, or am I just that lucky?" 


Nabiki looked at Marlow, "So you know him?" The man looked at Nabiki and said, "Why of course, I have him to thank for this 
injury to my eye when he tried to steal the cross from me the last time!" Marlow pulled out his staff, "That was only because 
you stole it from the church! Then you burnt it down; come on big man, I owe you something fierce!" 


  Marlow charged the man at top speed swinging with an upward strike, the man side stepped and slashed from right to left. 
Marlow stepped backed and flipped over the man in mid arc he swung down and cracked the man in the head causing him to 
fall toward Nabiki. Nabiki tried to run but the man grabbed her and tossed her toward Marlow, using the distraction the man 
charged and thrusted his blade at Marlow' s shoulder just cutting his overcoat. "Jerk-off this thing is expensive!" 


  Back and forth they went, with every swing there was a counter. The man tried a downward strike and Marlow stepped to 
the side, planted his foot on the blade while it was down, spun on top of it and struck the man with a back spin kick. This 
caused him to fly backwards into the wall. Nabiki was only able to try and stay out of the way, but they were running out of 
fighting room heading backward toward the unused portion of the building. 


  Marlow went for Nabiki and grabbed her around the waist, "Stand still and don't move!" He then started to spin his Bo staff 
above his head. While he was doing this the man charged again, "I won't give you another chance to do that!" It was too late 
for him, Marlow struck the ground in front of him and yelled out, "SHOCKWAVE!!" When he did this, Nabiki noticed a cylinder 
of energy rose around Marlow and herself and then expanded in waves ripping everything in it's path! The man flew through 
the air when he was struck by the waves that rippled through the ground. 


At that moment Nabiki heard a voice from above, "Alright, that's about enough!" Nabiki knew that voice, it was Ranma, and 
she knew what was going to happen next. If he did any of his chi attacks this building would fall around their ears. The 
building has already has taken enough damage. Nabiki was about to warn Ranma but it was too late, Ranma extended his 
hands and yelled, "Mouko Takabisha!!" A chi blast flew from his hands and struck the floor with amazing impact, causing it to 
crumble, that in turn caused the already weakened structure to collapse around them. 


  Nabiki and Marlow both just turned to each other with a look of dread on their face. Suddenly the floor crumbled around 
them and they started to fall. The young man's first instinct was self preservation , but when he noticed Nabiki falling 
downward he just reacted. Using what solid floor he had left, he leaped downward toward Nabiki. When he was in reach he 
grabbed her and flipped forward shielding her from the falling walls around them. He then bounced off into open sky just 
barely dodging a metal beam, but there was something wrong, he leaped blinded and didn't know his trajectory. 


When the smoke cleared he came to realize his mistake, he was at a bad angle for a landing, if he didn't do something Nabiki 
would be crushed! Using whatever he had left he twisted in mid-air to where he was between Nabiki and the ground. When 
they did hit the ground, it was hit hard. The good news is, is that the pain only lasted for a couple of seconds, the bad news, 
he blacked out because there was so much of it.


Part 3

Unconsciousness can be a blessing at times, if you are lucky it lets you reflect on the past and relive it. For this young 
individual though it's a curse, his past is nothing he wants to relive. Images of alleyways and darkness are all he can 
remember from his childhood. Moving from orphanage to churches, city to city, his life is one big blur. The only thing that 
sticks to the front of his mind is the friendship he has with Father Ryan and his church. The young man would always stop by 
and play a game of cards, just to escape the craziness of his world. Now someone has taken that away, someone has burned 
the church to the ground and ripped apart the only sane and calm part of his world. Here he was in Japan, no friends, hurt, 
and unconscious. 


Nabiki was standing just outside the room he was resting in, after the incident at the Expo she had Ranma carry this person 
to the Tendo home. She needed some time to figure out what to do, and to think of a way out of this mess. This person comes 
out of nowhere and claims that one of the objects at the Expo is stolen, the disturbing part is that he was telling the truth. 

They were almost killed because of this, the white haired man guarding the cross attacked them, thinking they discovered it 
stolen. When the young man released an incredible chi attack the battle was supposedly over, but Nabiki didn't plan on 
Ranma bringing the entire building down around them. If it wasn't for this young man, she would be dead, but the same could 
be said that it was his fault she was there in the first place. Let it be said that Nabiki Tendo will always repay her debts, 
unfortunately this is a big debt. 


Several times for the past couple of hours Nabiki has asked the young man his name, and each and every time he looks at 
her with delusional eyes and gives her a different name. In his coat pocket were several forms of ID, each with a different 
name. "Who are you?" she thought to herself. She walked in and sat down beside him, he was turning back and forth, 
apparently having a nightmare. Akane walked in and sat down beside her sister, "So how many names so far?" Nabiki looked 
at Akane and replied, "Twenty-five and rising, how someone can keep track of so many identities is beyond even me." Akane 
looked at the stranger; "Do you think he'll wake up soon? Kasumi has a meal prepared for him." Nabiki stood up, "Dr. Tofu 
said that his healing rate is almost as impressive as Ranma's, he should be waking up soon." 


I need you to do something for me, go downstairs and watch the news. If anything pops up about the Expo come up here and 
tell me." Akane nodded and walked out the door closing it behind her. The young man started to stir and began to sit up, 
"Slowly, even though your healing pretty well you still have a concussion." Nabiki bent down to help the young man sit up. 
"How long have I been out? What happened?" 


Nabiki handed him a drink and said, "You've been out for ten hours, and a building almost fell on us." The young man rubbed 
the back of his head, "Oh yeah, if it wasn't for that other guy we would have made it out of there, without tearing the place 
down." Nabiki placed a finger on her lips, "Well that was kinds of my doing, his name is Ranma and I asked him to watch the 
place for me. He thought we were burglars attacking one of the security people so he stepped in." 

The young man got up out of bed and grabbed his things, "Why didn't you tell me about him, I might have been able to 
prevent what happened last night." He put his long coat on and walked towards the door. Nabiki got up and followed him; "I 
needed a fallback in case things didn't turn out right. You didn't actually expect me to just believe you?" He turned to face 
her, "Well I guess we know now I was telling the truth, your right though I wouldn't have believed me either."


Suddenly, Akane came blasting up the stairs, "NABIKI, you might wanna see this!" Nabiki and the young man both came 
running down the stairs. In the living room the news was airing a special report, "Last night, vandals raided the Art Expo in 
Tokyo, an estimated 2.5 million of art has been destroyed along with the south wing of the Expo center. Police have identified 
one of the suspects." Suddenly the young man and Nabiki both appeared on the TV walking down a hallway, the young 
mans face clearly visible, but Nabiki's was covered by a mask. "Good thing you gave me the mask, I look terrible in prison 
clothing." The young man looked at her, "Yeah, you have no idea how much better I feel knowing it was just my face televised 
across Japan."

The newscaster spoke again, "This just in, the masked assailant has been identified through fingerprints. She has been 
identified as Nabiki Tendo." The young man looked at a face faulted Nabiki, "Ah, there is a God." the young man said. The 
newscaster started again, "She apparently was in charge of security for the Expo, sources believe that the young man is her 
partner, Rally Danton. Police are now attempting to apprehend the suspects." 

Nabiki and the young man both looked at each other and raced outside. "What are we going to do! We didn't do anything to 
those art pieces! I don't wanna go to jail!" Nabiki was pacing back and forth trying to think of a way out. Then suddenly the 
young man scooped her up and leaped high into the air, "What are you doing, you're going to get us deeper into trouble!" He 
landed on a nearby roof, "I'm buying us time, we need to find out what really happened. I'm not interested in going to jail 
either." 

Bouncing from rooftop to rooftop, they finally made it to the Expo. It was surrounded by construction crews and police trying 
to sift through the rubble. "Man that's some major property damage. Oh well, I don't have to pay for it!" Nabiki glared at him 
with an evil stare. With Nabiki in his arms he leaped down behind a construction truck. Setting her down she started to get 
the wrinkles out of her skirt, "What are we doing back here, during daytime no less." The young man turned and looked at 
her, "This will be the last thing they will expect, come on I see some uniforms we can put on. Nabiki turned the way he was 
looking and noticed two individuals walking their way. They ducked around a corner and waited, when the two construction 
workers turned the corner they were greeted with a Bo staff to the face and back.


"How am I going to do this? In case you haven't noticed I fill out this uniform in different places." He couldn't help but notice 
that, but he leaned back to where he could get a view of her backside, "Yeah that does kinda stick out, my advice would be 
fewer trips to the fridge." Nabiki landed the loudest and most painful slap he has ever received. While he lay there with his 
head stuck in the dirt she replied, "Smart ass." Pulling his head out of the ground he followed behind, "Geez, a simple 
critique and you go nuts. Let's take the back way in, I need to look at the artwork, hopefully the cross wasn't damaged." 


"Avoid eye contact and act like you belong here, if someone asks you a question, grunt and walk off." The young man 
walked in front heading straight to the art exhibits. When they finally reached the art area he couldn't believe his eyes, dozens 
works of art destroyed, they almost looked as if they melted. What was more amazing that in the center of the destruction was 
the cross, still standing without a mark. "I wonder how this survived?" Nabiki eyed the statue with amazement. The young 
man examined the cross, not a mark, but there was still that base it was attached to. It looked to be solid gold 11 inches wide 
and 17 inches long and about 14 inches high. The carvings were very detailed and matched some of the ones on the cross. 


Nabiki went to examine the damaged art; she brushed one of the items with her hand. It started to burn; she immediately 
wiped her hand on the work clothes she was wearing. "Acid?" she thought, walking back to the young man she was about to 
mention the acid when a voice popped up behind her. "This place was supposed to be cleared an hour ago." The young man 
walked up to him patting different pockets on his uniform, "You know I got the work permit to clean this mess up somewhere, 
oh here it is." *KRACK* The man laid flat on the floor totally knocked out. "Oh, now that was real subtle." Nabiki said with 
arms crossed. "We're getting the cross and getting the hell outta here." 


Just when he grabbed it, small panels opened up on the base, popping out small metal tubes. "Now what is this?" The young 
man touched one of the ends with his finger and it burned his skin. "Ouch,ouch,ouch,ouch, crap that hurts!" Nabiki looked at 
her hand and made the connection, "Those tubes sprayed acid on the paintings!" Rally looked at his finger then at the 
paintings, "That would explain why the cross was spared, but why destroy over a million dollars worth of art?" Before any 
more revelations, guards started to pour into the room. 


The young man scooped Nabiki up in his arms and leaped for the upper levels. "We'll figure the rest out later, let's get out of 
here." When they landed on the upper levels the guards started shouting, "Rally Danton and Nabiki Tendo you are under 
arrest! Stop where you are or we will be forced to fire!" The young man looked at the guards, "Great now they think I'm her 
partner." They ran along the upper level walkway heading for a door, just as they were about to reach it, the door flung open 
and there was the white haired guy again holding his sword "I knew you would be back." 

Nabiki still in the young mans arms looked up and said, "The last thing huh, baka." The young man put her down, actually he 
dropped her on her butt. Nabiki landed with a thud and got up rubbing her backside. "I'll get you for that." The young man 
looked back at her and replied, "Take a number and get in line."


The white haired man swung downward with his sword, just missing the young mans nose. "You had better pay attention to 
me, I owe you for all of the trouble you have caused!" The young man put his hands up, "O.K. wait, hold up, I have got to ask 
who in the hell are you?" The young man struck a dramatic samurai pose and said, "I am Lim-Po the deadliest swordsman for 
hire in the world!" Rally looked back at Nabiki with a blank look on his face, "Lim-Po.Lim-po.Limpo.
Heh,hehe,heheheheBWAHAHAHA!!" Lim-po stood there with a disgusted look on his face and swung again, "Now you laugh 
at my name!" 


Rally dodge by leaping sideways toward a wall then rebounding off of it, "Well it hard not to Limpo, what's the matter, little 
solider won't stand at attention?" Rebounding off the wall, the young man threw a sidekick straight to Limpo's head. The kick 
caused Limpo to fall over the railing and landing extremely hard on the bottom floor. "We need to get out of here before 
anything else happens!" Nabiki said. Grabbing the young man by the arm she dragged him quite a distance before he 
regained his footing. "Do you mind I can run under my own power!" Nabiki looked back at him, "Where do we go, they're on 
the way up here!" The young man looked down the stairwell, "Then I guess we go up, come on!"


When they arrived at the roof they looked on all four sides of the building, there was no way down. "We are in so much 
trouble, there is no way I can make a leap down from this height!" Nabiki continued looking, "Wait over here, take a look at 
this!" When the young looked over the side there was a three-foot wide tube; it looked like the construction crew was using it 
to toss down the trash on the roof. The only problem, it was a four-story drop to get in to the chute. "Oh no, I've done some 
crazy things in my life, this is not going to be one of them!" Nabiki replied, "It's either this or jail, you choose, I'm going!"


Suddenly the door on the roof swung open, "Both of you, hold it right there!" The police were aiming their revolvers right at 
them. The young man grabbed Nabiki and leaped down toward the chute, just barely making it in! On down they went until 
they popped out at the bottom. The young man landing in a very precarious spot, face down on top of Nabiki, with his face 
buried in her chest. "You either get off of me now, or I will make you beg for castration." The young man immediately stood 
up, " Sorry, Sorry, Sorry!" he helped her up and they started running again, fortunately she never noticed the stupid grin on 
his face.


They continued to run down alleyways, through different stores and businesses, until they were sure they had eluded the 
police. "*Pant, pant, * Whew I've never ran so much in my life, of course I've never had half of Tokyo looking for me either." 
Nabiki said, she sat down on a wooden crate and noticed the young man was barely winded. "You seem to be used to this 
though." The young man sat down beside her; "Well it's kind of an occupational hazard. You get used to it though, kind of." 

Nabiki brought her knees up to her chest, "We need to clear our names, I can't be on the run like this, I don't even want to 
think what it's doing to my family. By the way, what is your real name?" The young man looked at her quizzically, "I told you 
it's.." Nabiki bolted up, "That's not going to work, while you were unconscious you threw about a dozen different names at 
me. Who are you really?" Suddenly the sounds of sirens came closer, the young man picked Nabiki up in his arms and took 
to the rooftops again, and he said "Sometime I just don't know."


(The Expo Building)


Lim-Po was not happy, that made it three times that American outwitted him. "My employer will not be pleased with me, I may 
need some help with this one. First though, I should look in on the merchandise." Lim-Po unlocked a steel door that was 
located in a remote part of the building. When he entered it, inside stacked along the walls were the pieces of art that were 
supposedly destroyed. "Good, everything is O.K., now to call on some people who might be interested in that thief and Ms. 
Tendo."


(The Tendo Home)


"BWAHAHHAAA *whimper* MWAHAAAAAAAA" Soun was doing what any emotionally deranged father would do, panic and 
cry his eyes out. "Daddy I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding, Nabiki is going to be alright." Akane said making an extra 
effort to avoid getting drenched. "Yeah, one of her schemes probably backfired, she always has someway out of a mess." 

Ranma said while fighting Genma for pork-bun. Out of nowhere a mallet slammed Ranma straight to the floor, "ite!" Akane 
held the mallet in place to make sure the message sunk in, "You idiot, it's mostly your fault that she's in trouble! Why don't 
you do something!" Soun continued to cry, "Ohhhh my daughter has become a criminal and has run off with some complete 
stranger, and he's not even Japanese!"


Ranma picked himself off the floor, "Yeah it's all of that American's fault, I didn't do anything!" Akane looked at Ranma; "No 
you just brought a building down on top of them." Soun grabbed Ranma by the collar, "Since you had something to with it, 
you need to find her and bring her back home!" Ranma slipped out of Soun's grip; "No way, it's her problem!" Right then 
Soun used his Demon Head Attack, scarring Ranma completely white! "Ok, Ok, I'll go, I'll go!" Ranma said running out the 
door. "I better go with him, no telling what might happen." Akane was soon out the door also.


(Somewhere in Tokyo)


"Ok, I've just destroyed millions of dollars worth of art, why and what am I going to do next?", the young man said looking 
over a ledge. "Brag about it maybe, there would have to be some profit out of it." Nabiki said. They were running into dead 
ends and out of time, soon there will be no place they could go to escape the police. "Ok, so what if there was a profit, but not 
for money." 


Nabiki turned to look at him, "Hmm good point, but so much money, there has to be some kind of payoff." Looking down at a 
TV repair shop down the street, the young man recognized Tanaka preparing to make a speech on one of the TV sets. 
"C'mon I want hear this." He scooped Nabiki up and he leaped from roof to roof until he could safely land in front of the store. 
"Could you start giving me some warning before you do that?!" The young man put his finger to his lips, "SHHHH, I'm trying 
to watch this, talk about rude." 


"In lieu of the recent disasters and thievery I am sure that everyone in Tokyo is both shocked and appalled at these crimes. 
To make sure that both Nabiki Tendo and her partner Rally Danton is brought in to justice, I am posting a five hundred 
thousands dollar reward for any information leading to the capture of these two criminals. Also I will be donating my own art 
collection to the Expo to replace the damage that these two criminals have caused. The young man looked at Nabiki, "Gee 
just rub it on in, 500 thousand, wow I'd turn my own mother in. What do you think Nabiki.Nabiki?" 

He looked around for her and noticed she was at a pay phone. "Yea he's standing right in front of the TV shop on the corner 
of." He slammed his hand down on the phone. "What do you think you are doing!" Nabiki just sighed "Well how do you 
think I'm going to pay for all of the damage you did?" He nearly popped a blood vessel "No one can be that freaking ruthless, 
can they?!" 




People were stopping to watch this argument, some of them were whispering. "Hey isn't he that Danton guy, and I bet that's 
her." The young man immediately grabbed Nabiki and ran. "I can't believe you just did that! In case you haven't noticed were 
both wanted!" Nabiki ran up beside him, "Well I had to do something, this is going to ruin me." The young man put his hand 
to his face, "You concern is soooo touching, why don't you stick that knife a little deeper in my back. 

Your going to have to do me a favor, when this is all over with give Danton my apologies, I'm sure he'll be pretty peeved at me 
for ruining his name like this." Nabiki slowed down a bit, "Well that's not a problem because to tell you the truth, he doesn't 
even exist." The young man came to halt, "What did you just say?"


Just then a large shuriken stuck in the ground in front of them, when the young man stopped to look he noticed five people 
standing in dramatic poses on a near by roof. "Great, now what." One of the five leaped down in front of them and said, "We 
are the Avant Garde, and for your crimes against the art world you will be punished!" The young man just shrugged his 
shoulders, "Perfect, just perfect."


Part 4

"Move, move, move, move!!" the young man shouted at the top of his lungs. Nabiki was right behind him running like she 
never ran before. "Why don't you do something!" Nabiki yelled while dodging another blast of fire. "I am, running really, 
really, really, fast! There are five of them you know!. "There was another explosion and that sent Nabiki flying right past the 
young man.

"Damn!" The young man leaped and caught Nabiki before she hit a brick wall, he then bounced off the wall heading straight 
for one of his attackers. "That did it, kiss my foot, prick!" The young man slammed his foot right into the mouth of a thin man 
wearing purple shades and a blue overcoat. 


That sent him flying backwards into a very muscular female causing her to fall backwards. The woman picked up her 
teammate and said, "Jean-Luc, are you all right?! I'm going to break you in half American!" The muscular woman leaped at 
the young man and Nabiki with great speed.


"Whoop! Low bridge." The young man grabbed Nabiki and bent her down to keep her head from being removed. The 
muscular woman crashed into the wall bringing it down on top of her. The young man deflected some of the debris by 
kicking it at the remaining members of the Avant Garde, knocking them backwards. 


The one that seemed to be the leader of the group, leaped up and said, "We must attack at once, he is too quick to go one on 
one!" The young man though he should take that as a compliment, but instead pulled out his collapsible staff and tossed it to 
Nabiki. "If you don't know how to use it just swing it!" 


He then leaped at the group and started swinging and kicking. One attacker tied him up with what seemed to be metal bands 
shooting from his sleeves. "I've got him, take him out Michelle!" The muscle bound woman was winding up to take the young 
man down, when she suddenly felt something smack the back of her head. "I must be out of my mind, I'm no fighter!" Nabiki 
thought. She immediately turned and ran for the nearest police officer. "I'm turning myself in, arrest me already!" Before the 
officer could do anything, a wave of concrete and brick smashed him through a nearby wall. 




Nabiki turned to face her attacker; it was the muscle-bound woman named Michelle. "That wasn't very nice attacking me from 
behind." Michelle started to crack her knuckles. "Now lets see how long it takes me to make your eyes pop out." Michelle 
tried to grab Nabiki but she rolled out of the way. "Why don't you be a nice little steroid princess and take a hike!" Nabiki ran 
back toward the young man hoping he could lend a hand. 


What she saw was not good; he was still tied up taking kicks and slashes from four attackers. Nabiki aimed for the one that 
had him tied up and tossed the staff like a spear. The staff knocked him in the head causing some slack in the binds. The 
young man used the distraction to slip through and fall to the ground. "Sonofa#$%&friggin#$%!." The young man mumbled 
as he grabbed for his staff. 

He stayed low and swung his staff around in a complete circle sweeping his attackers off their feet. He leaped up and flipped 
in mid air landing right on top the leader cracking at least five ribs. Jean-Luc leaped at the young man with his hands blazing, 
"You will burn barbarian!!" From the leaders midsection the young man flipped over Jean-Luc and kicked him on the back, 
sending Jean face first into a street lamp. 


"I will gut you like the pig you are!" A slim woman with long metallic claws on the end of her fingers slashed at the young man 
slicing the back of his coat, barely cutting his back. He rolled forward with the momentum of the blow and kicked her in the 
stomach. He then dropped his staff, picked her up by her waist, and slammed her down to the ground on her back. "We 
Americans call that a powerbomb, witch!" 

The leader slowly stood up and drew another shuriken, "You are going to pay for what you just did!" He threw the shuriken 
right at him with blazing speed. The young man back flipped and slapped his hands together, catching the shuriken. "Your 
becoming a real pain, ya know that."


Nabiki was still having problems with Michelle, suddenly Nabiki just stopped and put her hands up. "Oh let me guess your 
going to beg for mercy now?" Michelle sneered. Nabiki crossed her arm and smiled, "Don't be ridiculous, I just needed you to 
stop right there." From above the young man landed on top of Michelle's head driving it down between her shoulders. He 
then landed right in front Nabiki, "Stay behind me." 




He began to twirl his staff and then sung it in arc toward the Avant Garde. "Shockwave Revised, Shockwave Vortex!!" A 
whirlwind of chi energy spun across the ground and engulfed the Avant Garde spinning them up in the sky!


"Nice trick, hey are you O.K.?" Nabiki leaned down and helped the young man up. "Just barely, my head is still ringing from 
the building collapse and this fight took allot out of me." Nabiki noticed his back, "Your cut, let's go somewhere and take a 
look at those." They stopped at a nearby park and sat down. 


The young man pulled his jacket off and Nabiki took a look at the cuts. "Well they're not deep, but then again they're not 
scratches either. Do you have something I can drench some water on?" The young man pulled a handkerchief out of his 
long-coat. "Here, it's all I got." Nabiki stood up and went to the water fountain. 


He looked over his shoulder at her and said, "So what do we do now, we not only have the police after us, but now we have a 
group of psychos?" Nabiki walked back and started to dab the cloth on his back. "I don't know." She replied. 

(At The Expo)


"I don't care what you plan to do at the Expo, I only want my share of the artwork and I'm leaving!..No, I'm not staying to 
see your greatest triumph." Lim-Po said. "You wacko. I want to be as far away from here as possible when you do your 
presentation. What did you say? He is going to be there? I want in." 


Limp-Po hung up the phone. "Hmmm I guess now is a good time to pick what I'm going to take for when I leave. That is of 
course after I have that thieves head on a pike! HAHAHAHAhahahaahBWAHAHAHAHAHAH*snort*." 


(Back at the park)


Nabiki and the young man were hiding in the brush trying to keep hidden and figure out what to do next. "Lim-Po must be 
behind it all, we need to somehow prove it though." He said. Nabiki leaned toward him, "You don't really think that idiot could 
have come up with all of this, do you?" 


The young man looked back and replied, "Not a chance. Then who could it be?" "Well lets think about it, millions of dollars of 
art made to look like it has been destroyed, that's some pretty good cover." Nabiki said. The young man propped himself up 
on a tree, "Not to mention the security company that was hired has been framed for it." Nabiki was wondering how Jan was 
handling this, she worked so hard to keep the business floating. Nabiki only wanted to use Danton Securities for a minimal 
loss to cover this years taxes. Now anyone involved may end up going to jail.


"Well there's only one person I know that could be in a position to do all of this." Nabiki said. The young man sat up, "And 
who would that be?" Nabiki slammed her fist in the palm of her other hand, "Tanaka!" The young man looked up at the sky, 
"Hmmm, he does get to show off his artwork, and he does know the layout." 


Nabiki slightly poked him in the chest, "And he is the one who posted the bounty, and he is the one who hired the security 
company!" Nabiki and the young man stood up and said, "THAT'S IT!" 


Suddenly they noticed all of the attention they suddenly attracted. "You have no idea what I'm going to do to Tanaka when I 
get a hold of him." The young man said. He then grabbed Nabiki and they started running. Behind then were people chasing 
after them wanting that $500, 000 bounty. 


They made it all the way to the park entranceway, that's when they ran into the police. They both came to a grinding halt, "Oh, 
Spit" the young man said. He started to run the other way and left Nabiki frozen. The young man picked her up and leaped for 
the sky, "We need to increase the distance here." 


After a couple of leaps they landed right on top of a work truck, two men got out to investigate. "Hey, those are the two that 
knocked us out and took our uniforms at the Expo!" The young man once again took to the sky, Nabiki noticed that the two 
workers joined in the chase also, "My, this is turning out to be reunion." She said. "Great, just great, now we got a mob after 
us!" the young man replied.


(A small patio restaurant)


"It is not your fault he got away Marcello, we are all at fault." Jean-Paul said. None of the Avant Guarde is happy, recently an 
American has just humiliated them, now their employer is not going to pay because they failed. "How are we even going to 
get back home, Michelle used all of the money to stuff her face." Croissant said. 


Michelle immediately grabbed Croissant around the through and started squeezing, extremely hard. "Accckk, glick, just 
kidding, my eyes are popping out!" Michelle let go of Croissant and went back to eating. Marcello, the leader stood up in a 
dramatic pause, "No matter what we will regain our honor and destroy that American!" 


"Not to mention, get paid" Jean-Paul said. Right at that moment the young man landed right on top of their table. He looked 
around and noticed who's lunch he just destroyed. "Awww look, it's my new friends Nabiki!" Nabiki looked over the members 
of the Avant. "Sorry but we're in a slight hurry, the food is terrible here anyway." Nabiki said. 


Marcello stood up and posed in a dramatic stance again, "American, now you will feel the full power of the Avant Guarde!!" 
The young man looked at Marcello and slightly patted him on the head and said, "Yeah, O.K., whatever, buh-bye!" And then 
leaped again into the sky. Marcello pointed to the sky, "KILLLLLLLL!!" Now the Avant Guarde is in the mix.


"You know if this keeps going your going to have all of Tokyo after us." Nabiki said, after looking over the young mans' 
shoulder. "Well, I just couldn't leave them out, they looked so pathetic." Landing in the middle of square Nabiki noticed two 
individuals heading right for them, "Hey look it Ranma and AkaNEEE" Ranma dropped kicked the young man causing him to 
toss Nabiki in the air. 


Akane leaped and caught Nabiki, "Are you all right Nabiki?" Nabiki gave a stern look to Akane, "Just what do you two think 
you are doing?!" Akane looked at Nabiki dumbfounded, "Rescuing you of course!" When they landed Nabiki immediately ran 
to the fight between Ranma and the young man. 


"Stop Ranma, you've got it all wrong!" Neither could hear what she was saying, both were focused on taking the other out. 
All Nabiki could see were two blurs clashing back and fourth, on the ground and in the air. 


"I don't have time for this!" the young man thought. He aimed one end of his staff and twisted the other a wide burst of wire 
mesh entangled Ranma. Ranma immediately went limp and crashed to the ground. 


The young man picked Nabiki up and leaped for the sky. "Is he going to be mad when he gets out of that!" Nabiki said. "I'll 
live with it." the young man replied. They finally made it back to the Expo, with the mob of people not too far behind. "Come 
on we've got to find out where Tanaka is hiding the stolen art." Nabiki said. 


"They could be anywhere in this building, where do we start?" They ran in and started to search the hallways floor by floor. 
Minutes later Nabiki came up with an idea, "What if we get Tanaka to lead us to them." The young man turned to Nabiki, "O.k. 
but I doubt he'll do it if we just ask." 


"Of course not silly, but what if he though they were in danger?" Nabiki was pointing to a fire alarm on the wall. The young 
man crushed the glass and pulled the lever. Lights and sirens blasted through the building, "His office is just down this way!" 
Nabiki said. Just as they arrived Tanaka was running at high speed to the stairwell. They followed him and noticed which way 
he was going, they both looked at each other and said, "The basement." 


The alarm and the lights suddenly stopped, "Did the firefighters get here that quick?" Lim-Po appeared above them in the 
stairwell, "No but will I and some of your friends do?" Dropping from the higher levels, the Avant Guarde were ready for a 
rematch. Below them, the police were quickly making their way up the stairs "We need to go NOW!" Nabiki grabbed the 
young man by the sleeve and ran out the door they came in.


Heading for the open area where Tanakas exhibits are, they got a good look at what he was displaying. "Gag me with a paint 
roller, it looks like the sixties blew up all over this place!" the young man said. In the middle of all the art right beside the life-
size statue of Tanaka was the cross. "Come here to daddy!!" the young man said. He leaped for the cross only to be met by 
Michelle who nailed him with a roundhouse right to the head. 


When he landed, he noticed the Guarde member named Jean-Paul was coming up behind him, and wanted to be ready for 
him. Jean-Pauls hands burned with blue energy as they tried to grab the young man. The young man ducked low and did 
spinning leg-sweep that knocked Jean-Paul on his back. 


Reaching behind his back he pulled out his Bo staff and extended it, Croissant flared open her claws and swiped at the 
young man. He blocked it with his Bo and then twirled her wrist to where he could do a solid wristlock. Using the momentum 
she had, he tossed her at the remaining members of the Guarde. 


Nabiki used the distraction the young man was causing to head down in the basement. In the basement was an open door, 
when she looked through the door there was Tanaka, checking the stolen artwork for damage. Tanaka still didn't know she 
was there. Quietly Nabiki walked up behind him, before he could turn around Nabiki grabbed the keys that were in his hand, 
kicked him in the back and ran out the door. 


Locking the door as she went out Nabiki stuck the key into the lock and snapped it off. "That'll hold you." From inside Nabiki 
could hear Tanaka pounding the door and screaming, "Please let me out, I'm scared of the dark! I don't even have my night-
light! WHAAAAAAA! 


"Oh please, worse things have happened to people who double-cross me." After making sure Tanaka wasn't going to get out 
of there any time soon, Nabiki ran back to check on the young man. "My God", was all she could say. There he was tied up 
and hanging from a beam, severely beaten. The mob was taking pop shots at him while he hung there, helpless and almost 
unconscious. 


Nabiki picked up the nearest object and started swinging, "Stop it, get away from him!" Marcello noticed what was happening 
and drew out a shuriken, with a flick of his wrist it went flying right for Nabiki. Before it could reach her, Ranma landed in front 
of her and blocked it with a chair. 




"Nabiki are you alright?" Akane said. Nabiki looked at Akane, "Fine but we need to get him down! Akane leaped for the young 
man to untie him, but was stopped by Croissant, "Now, who do you think you are ruining our fun Cherie?" Akane barely 
dodged Croissants claws as they went zipping by. From the other side, Ranma leaped up and snapped the bands that were 
holding the young man. 


The young man went crashing to the ground. The mob and started to close in on him, from the middle of the gathering, Lim-
Po leaped up and landed right in front of the young man. "Well, without your staff there's no chance of you doing any of your 
special tricks." 

Ranma, Nabiki, and Akane tried to get to the young man, but the Avant Guarde were making sure no one would disturb Lim-
Po. Lim-Po drew his sword and pointed it at the young mans chest. "My honor will be restored this day!" 


Then something happened, the young man started laughing. "What is so funny you fool?!" The young man sat up and 
planted his hands on the ground, "Now, when did I ever say that I needed my staff Limpy?" The blood just drained from Lim-
Po's face when he noticed where the young mans hands were. The young mans eyes started to glow and a white battle aura 
surrounded his body, "SHOCKWAVE!!"


Ranma could feel the chi energy rip through the ground, "We need to get out of here, NOW!!" Ranma grabbed Akane and 
Nabiki and leaped for the nearest opening. Jean-Paul and Croissant tried to block his way. Still in mid-air, Ranma kicked out 
both of his legs and caught the two Guarde members right in the face. Using them like stepping stones, Ranma flips through 
the window, landing outside on the ground below. 


Back inside, chi energy was ripping through the floor in every direction. The mob that was so intent on staying and getting 
their money were running for their lives. "Figured it out yet Limpy? The only reason I use my staff is to keep the energy 
focused! When I release it like this, there's no telling what happens!" Lim-Po tried to run but he and the Avant Guarde started 
to rise, a cyclone of energy formed, slowing rising up and up. 


The cyclone continued to rise, busting through the upper floors. Finally busting through the roof, carrying it's passengers 
into the sky! 

Outside, Nabiki watched as a spinning cyclone of chi energy rose through the roof, extending to the sky. "Wow, I have got to 
get him to show me how to do that." Ranma said. When the chi energy dissipated Nabiki ran back in, what used to be the 
showroom is now a total disaster area. 


"Hey, he's over here and he looks pretty bad!" Nabiki and Akane ran towards Ranma. "We need to get him out of here, Ranma 
take him back home, Akane you go with him." Akane looked at Nabiki with some concern, "What are you going to do?" 
Nabiki glanced over at Tanaka, "I'm going to take care of some business with Mr. Tanaka."


(Later that evening at the Tendo residence)


Nabiki and Akane were sitting at the dinner table waiting for Dr.Tofu to finish his examination. "Nabiki, did you ever find out 
who he really is?" Nabiki looked up from a book she was reading, "You know during all of the chaos, I couldn't find out."
Akane propped her head on her hands, "You know, I saw the way you tried to run to his rescue." Nabiki folded her arms, 
"Don't even try to read anything into that, after this he's going to be in debt to me for life." Akane sat back up, "What did 
happen with your meeting with Tanaka?" 


"Well, after some explaining to him that if he didn't get the charges and bounty dropped, I would run his reputation and name 
into the ground." Akane giggled, "How did you convince him that you could?" 


Nabiki stood straight up and tilted her head slightly back, "Why I lied of course, and since he couldn't take the chance that I 
could prove it, he folded. We came to the agreement that my agency had nothing to do with the theft, or the damage caused 
to the building. Basically we blamed it all on that Lim-Po character and the Avant Guarde." 


(In some alley way in Tokyo)


Lim-Po was wrapping the rest of his wounds, he was hurt, hungry, and dishonored. "I don't know how yet, but I'm going to 
kill that thief." Looking to his right he slightly patted the golden cross that somehow landed nearby. "You are going to be very 
useful to me. MmmheheeheeheHAHABWWWAHAHAAHAHAAHAH!" 


>From behind he gets cracked in the head with a garbage can, "SHUT UP YOU IDIOT!" Croissant yelled. The Avant Guarde 
were sitting around a small fire they made, pondering what to do next. The first one of course was crushing a certain 
American.


(At the Expo)


Tanaka sat very quietly in front of his statue, it was damaged pretty badly during the battle. "All I wanted was a chance to 
show the world my genius. Well it should happen any moment now, my greatest triumph." Clicks and whirls started 
emanating from the statue. It turned three times, a horn popped out of it's mouth, and then the Japanese flag rose from 
behind it. The horn started playing, and confetti with streamers shot from the hand that was pointing to the sky. A tear formed 
in Tanakas eye, "Beautiful, simply beautiful." 


(Back at the Tendo residence)


Dr.Tofu was very concerned about his patient, he has suffered multiple injuries, and over 98% of his Chi is drained. There 
was some good news though, he seems to be regaining some strength and may wake up at any moment. When the young 
man started to stir, Dr. Tofu went downstairs to tell Nabiki of this recent development. 


"Nabiki, he's waking up, he should be fine after a couple days of rest." Nabiki stood up and headed up the stairs, "Thank you 
Dr.Tofu, I'll take it from here then."


When Nabiki walked in the young man was sitting up and looking around the room, "Umm, hello? Can I help you?" the young 
man said. Nabiki looked at him very puzzled, "Quit fooling around, it's Nabiki remember?" The young man looked to be in 
some pain and then said, "No, I don't, should I?" 


"Oh no, he can't." Nabiki thought. "Do you know what your name is, and where you are?" The young man looked around, 
trying to pinpoint something, "Nope, nothing, I'm in a pretty bad situation aren't I?" Once in a person's life, from out of 
nowhere a person will get an idea, a grand design for the universe, an extremely twisted plan. Nabiki walked up to the young 
man, sat down on the bed, then wrapped her arms around him, "Why, your Rally Danton of course!!"

The End
Now their story begins.
_______________________________________________________________________
Whew, didn't think I'd get done did ya. (Hehehe now the real fun begins. Starting in two weeks I'll be knocking out a story for you so stay tuned!)
Ranma, Nabiki, Akane, Tofu and the rest of the � cast belong to Viz Video and most of all Rumiko Takahashi. I in no way use these for profit, only for enjoyment. 





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