THE M.L.O.
The Men's liberation Organization
Disclaimer: The characters found within this story belong to their
respective copyright holders. They are used without permission.
Reconstituted draft version
It just gets weirder from here folks and it's all in good fun.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Part III:
Dead Man Walking
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
'Not again!'
He found himself in a dark void with a countless number of doors that
seemed to reach into infinity.
'I knew I'd go insane one day. It was only a matter of time. Oh,
well...'
Familiar voices just beyond the point of recognition seeped through the
doors. Slowly, he found himself drawn, or more accurately pushed, toward
one door in particular. It was an all white interior door with a golden
knob. It looked as though it belonged in an office or similar
establishment. On the door was the number fourteen and beneath the
number the word "Delivery".
As he got closer to the door, the voices became more pronounced and
discernable.
"Okay, I can see the head. One more good push... and PUSH!"
"Uhhh!"
"Come on, come on. A little more..."
'Somebody havin' a kid?' the dreamer wondered, right next to the closed
door. The view of the door took up his entire field of vision.
"Come on, ya' sexless, uncute tomboy! We don't have all day! I would
have popped him out by now." It was said in jest and had she been able,
the mother to be would have laughed.
'Huh..." the dreamer said startled. 'That... sounded... like... m...'
"Waaaaaaaaaah Wahh Waaaaaaahhh"
'Damn, I wished this door would open.'
As if in answer to his wish, the door creaked open. Having come from
total darkness, it took his eyes a moment to adjust to the bright light
of the room he now found himself in. When his vision cleared, he could
not believe what he saw. He was speechless.
In another place, two women watched the scene with differing
expressions. One woman wore an expression of concern; the second had a
simple smile.
*Kind of risky wasn't is, Sis'? Showing him this, I mean. Babies tend to
freak out most men, especially men his age. *
*True, but not when true love is involved. Besides, something happens to
a man when he sees his daughter for the first time... When he first
holds her... Something special. Her smile broadened.
*I guess.*
*I'm right.* She nodded assuredly.
*Hmm, pulling out all the stops, aren't you? Getting Skuld to show him a
glimpse of a possible future. *
Belldandy's expression became grim as she turned to answer her elder
sister. * They are in my way, Urd. They are in my way. *
<><><><>
"Ranma! Ranma, Wake up! How can you fall asleep at a time like this? And
how did you fall asleep standing up like this?" Akane said shaking the
snoozing Ranma.
Again, Ranma's eyes slowly adjusted themselves from their slumber to the
ambient light in the room and again he was totally unprepared for what
he saw. Again, he was left speechless.
She wore a gossamer white two-piece gown. The main part of the gown came
up to her chest and would have left her arms bare if not for a short
white laced shawl-like top with long sleeves. The top ended just where
the gown's corset began which flowed seamlessly to the bustle and
finally into a log train.
All he could do was stare. He didn't trust himself enough to do anything
else. He did not blink for fear that when he opened his eyes, she would
be gone. As much as he desired to reach out to her, he didn't, for fear
that this too was just a dream, an illusion. He did not speak out of
fear of saying the wrong thing. What does one say to a vision? All he
could do was stare.
Akane had never thought of herself as beautiful. Never understood the
unwanted attention the boys gave her at school. Never knew why men were
willing to fight over her so. Never felt the need to primp up to gain
some *boy's* attention. Not until Ranma anyway. The Jerk.
She had spent most of the morning in front of the mirror. Adjusting
this, fixing that, getting everything just so. She was trying her best
to put the weird events of yesterday and early morning behind her.
Trying to look her best. Wanting to be perfect... for him, that idiot.
She was more than just a little unsure of herself, in need of more than
a little encouragement. After all her hard work, all he did was stand
there unblinking, like a fish in a bowl.
'Probably trying to think up some smart aleck remark, the moron,' Akane
thought dejectedly to herself. It was at times like these that she
missed her mother the most. Wanted her advice on what to say or do. As
it was, she just wanted to scream, to lash out. His silence was killing
her.
'I'd wish he say SOMETHING,' she whispered to herself, her face
reddening as much from shame as from anger. She lowered her gaze to the
floor.
A punch to the back of Ranma's head brought back some of his faculties.
"Say she looks beautiful," a voice whispered into his ear.
"She... I mean, you're beautiful, Akane."
Akane blinked in surprise. He couldn't have meant that. "Do you really
think so? I was kind of rushed... with what happened this morning and
all. I didn't have all the time I would have liked."
"Nod your head," prompted the voice.
Ranma nodded his head.
"Ranma, about this morning... I'm sorry I got a little upset and
mistreated you the way I did. It's just... It's just I wanted everything
to be perfect this time." Tears began to form in her eyes. In the
background, someone was silently clapping her performance, genuine
though it was. "I didn't want anything weird to happen today. I wanted
things just right, and now with those jerks out there..."
Ranma, unprompted now, took a step forward, eliminating any distance
between them. Placing both hands on her heaving shoulders, he spoke in
the most reassuring voice he could manage.
"Akane, this morning wasn't your fault or nothin'. We've been all actin'
a little nuts lately. Besides, I'm used to your 'hugs' by now."
Akane smiled at hearing that.
"Good one," the voice whispered into his ear.
"What about Tenchi, and his idiot gang?" Akane asked.
"No one is gonna make me do nothin' I don't wanna do," Ranma said
assuredly, getting some of the confidence back that had left him of
late.
"What is it... you want to do, Ranma?" Akane ventured in a quiet voice,
fearing his reply.
Large watery eyes looked directly into his. He took in a breath and let
I out slowly.
"No help this time. This answer is your own to give. You and you alone,"
the voice said.
"Umm," he tried looking away, but her eyes followed his wherever they
tried to hide. Then his resolved stiffened and his face became
determined. He walked past her, to the other side of the room. She did
not turn to face him. She did her best to conceal her sob.
Someone in the room sighed.
Ranma walked over to a full-length mirror, stood in front of it and just
looked at his reflection as if waiting for it to answer for the both of
them. He noticed Akane's shuddering back in the reflection also and all
doubt seemed to leave him.
"Right now," he spoke with a force that surprised even himself. "I want
you to leave me alone..."
She turned hard to face him, her face damp with tears.
"... so I can get finished getting' ready! 'Sides, ain't it bad luck for
the bride to see the groom in his tuxedo or somethin'."
Akane didn't say a word. She merely nodded enthusiastically and quickly
left the room, not wanting to spoil anything. Things were going her way
again and god help anyone who would try and change that.
As a much more relaxed Ranma began to put the finishing touches to his
to his tuxedo, two people smiled. Ryouga, who had been sitting in a
chair across the room, finally came out of his valium-like state, and
grinned. It was a smile reminisce of their days as rivals. It was a, to
some extent, sinister smile. One that seemed to say, "Hey friend, sit by
me. The trip through Hell is always more fun when you have company."
The second person in the room was harder to spot. She preferred it that
way. In a darkened corner, behind some boxes, mini-Urd clapped her hands
at a job well done. A word here and a prod there, and the marriage was
back on track with two willing participants. But could anything less be
expected from the self-proclaimed Goddess of Love on the job? Now she
could face Belldandy, who's been a little scary lately (not enough
vitamin K1 in her diet) without fear. Preparing to leave the room, she
gave one last glance to Ranma and then to Ryouga. At Ryouga, she shook
her head. She was going to have to speak to this Akari girl. She was
doing something right.
<><><><><><><><><><><>
Downstairs, Kasumi had just finished pouring tea for the family's two
guest, when Akane came down the stairs all a glow. A fact not missed
upon by anyone.
"So, Ms. Akane, by your look, I take it we've spoken to Ranma and all is
as it should be?" Aeka asked with her usual airs, not bothering to look
up from sipping her tea.
Akane nodded her head again, too happy for words. She was finally
getting MARRIED!
"Ahhh! I know that look! Whatcha do? You two get a little wet?"
Aeka spit out her tea. "Ryoko!"
"What?"
"Not everyone is as vulgar as YOU!"
Ryoko smiled, this was an old conversation. "What's vulgar about it?
They're in love." Akane blushed at that. "They're about to get married,
what's wrong with a preview?"
"But... They're not married yet. Surely, waiting a few hours..." Kasumi
put in.
Akari, who had arrived earlier with Ryouga, winked knowingly at Akane
and nodded her head in agreement.
'It always the quiet ones,' Nabiki mused, noting Akari's expression. She
ten turned her attention to her sister. "Way to go, Akane. Whip 'em
early," Nabiki said walking over to where Akane was standing and putting
a hand on her shoulder."
"Well, I agree with Kasumi. Yiu should have waited, Akane. That would
have been the proper thing to do," Nodoka said, but secretly flashed
Akane a thumbs up.
The two fathers continued to play shogi, ignoring the whole lot. Their
work was done. In an hour or two the families would be joined. Time to
relax, kick back, and drink beer.
"Wha? No! It was nothing like that! We... we just talked. We... we
didn't *do* anything," Akane said, flustered and turning cherry red.
"Of course you didn't, Ms. Akane. Don't listen to that person over
there," Aeka said glaring at Ryoko as she did so.
"Come on now!" Ryoko interjected fading away and then reappearing next
to Aeka. Most of the family still looked wide eyed at the display
despite having seen it before. "You mean to tell me, if you had Tenchi
all to yourself this very second, you wouldn't use your... feminine
wiles... such as they are, to persuade him a little?"
"N... n... no, I would not. It would not be proper," Aeka said in a
small voice, also turning a nice shade of red.
"Screw 'proper'!" Ryoko shouted with emotion. "Screw Ranma!" This she
directed at Akane, who just blinked in response. "I know... next time I
see Tenchi, I gonna sc..."
"RYOKO!" Aeka interjected.
"Take him on a magic carpet ride," Ryoko finished with a knowing grin.
'Playtimes over, Tenchi,' she thought with a menacing grin.
"We'll see about that, Ryoko!"
"Planning on beating me there, Aeka?"
"Um, speaking of this Tenchi person," Nodoka said interrupting Aeka's
and Ryoko's staring contest and getting back to more important matters.
"Perhaps, now would be a good time to explain why he is doing all this.
What is this M.L.O.? And why was it formed?"
Both Aeka and Ryoko let out a deep breath.
"Very well, Mrs. Nodoka. You are correct. We must concentrate on the
day's events, if we are to put an end to this nonsense of the M.L.O. and
help Lord Tenchi recover from his ailment. If your husband and his
friend would leave the room, I will tell you all that you need to know
about the M.L.O."
As the two fathers left the room, Aeka began her tale of woe only to be
interrupted by a knock at the front door.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Outside the Kuno Estate, two young men were leaning against the
perimeter wall.
"Any luck?" Asked the first young man.
"No ones at the Cat Caf�. What kind of name is that anyway? I hope it's
got nothing to do with menu. I left a message with their answering
service. No one's at Ucchan's either. I left a message on their
machine."
"We should send someone over to their restaurants to check things out."
"How about Akito? He can make it to both places."
"Sounds good, that just leaves this Kodachi person."
"I can't believe it. This guy almost has as many girls as I do!" the
second young man said, dialing a number on a cellular phone.
"Yeah, right, Ataru. Just make the call."
"Relax Tenchi, art such as this can't not be rushed."
Inside the residence a seriously pissed Kodachi was preparing for a hard
practice session to work off some stress, having missed her travel
arrangements to Osumi-Shoto. Getting caught in traffic, she never even
bothered going all the way to the airport.
Throwing off her clothes and revealing her gymnastic leotard underneath,
Kodachi began mentally preparing herself for her floor routine and that
is when the phone rang. Kodachi gritted her teeth, it was going to be
one of those days. "Someone answer that please!"
"Hello, Kuno Residence. May I ask who is calling?"
"Yeah, may I talk to Kodachi Kuno, please?"
"May I ask who's calling?"
"No, you may not! I do not give my name out to servants. Now, put your
mistress on the phone!"
Tenchi looked over worriedly at Ataru. "You sure you can pull this off?
You only heard him speak once or twice."
Ataru waved Tenchi off.
"I'll get the mistress right away. Please... jut a moment."
Ataru put a hand over the receiver and looked over at Tenchi, grinning.
"you just got to know how to talk to servants."
"I'm not worried about the servants, it's Kodachi you have to convince
you're really..."
Ataru put a finger to his lips for Tenchi to be quiet.
"This is Kodachi Kuno. Now, who is so rude that will not tell my servant
who they are?"
Ataru gave a few coughs and massaged his throat a little before
speaking. "Yo, Dachi-chan, how are you?"
"Dachi-chan? Ra... Ranma dear, is that you?"
"W... who else would it be?" Ataru replied nervously. Tenchi put his
head into his hands.
"I... I've... you've never called me Dachi-chan before, Ranma dear."
"Really? I mean... ya know how my life is Kodachi. I can't always say or
do the stuff I wanna."
"Yes, my Ranma. I am well aware of the burdens life has placed upon you.
That yoke of an engagement to that violent, undeserving peasant of a
girl; you constantly be pestered by those sluts and street urchins."
"Well," Ataru said in his most despondent Ranma impersonation. "I won't
be engaged to her too much longer..."
"Really, Ranma, my dear!" Kodachi shouted into the phone, hope bursting
in her voice.
"Yeah, I gotta marry her today."
"...!"
"If only I had a choice, Kodachi. Don't a man deserve a choice?"
"Of course, he does, my Ranma... And... and if you had this choice? Who
would it be?"
"You know the answer to that, don'cha?"
"!!!"
Tenchi silently applauded. Ataru took a moment to bow, then got back on
the phone. "Soo, ah, Dachi-chan. Whatcha wearin'?"
"What're you doing? Give me the phone!" Tenchi whispered fervently,
trying to wrest the phone from Ataru.
"Ah... um... my black leotard. I was practicing my gymnastics when you
called."
"Mmmm, I can picture that, the sweat glistening off your beautiful
frame," Ataru breathed into the phone.
"Oh... you... you can, Ranma dear?"
"MMmm."
"Wha... what are y... you wearing, R... Ranma dear?"
Ataru gave Tenchi a thumbs up. Tenchi just threw both arms in the air in
defeat.
"Let's go," Tenchi ordered, the three emblems of power starting to glow
on his forehead. A Light Hawk wing, the length of a truck, came into
existence in front of him. He touched it with a hand and it expanded and
reformed, glowing brightly. When the glow subsided, a black SUV was
sitting in front of them. The model on the back of the truck gave the
name as a Lexus Emperor and the license plate read MLO in western
letters. Tenchi climbed into the huge truck.
"You know," Ataru began getting into the truck as well. "Kodachi is just
gonna get punted across the Pacific by Ryoko and Aeka."
"I know, but it'll make a great diversion."
"What about that Happosai character? Should we look for him too," Ataru
asked as the two drove away.
"No. I don't want him groping what's mine." Tenchi looked over at Ataru
with a serious expression. "And don't think you do either."
"Hell no! I paid for my girl in blood."
Tenchi nodded and the two headed toward the Tendo dojo.
<><><><><><><><><>
"Why did Father and Mr. Saotome have to leave the room? Kasumi asked,
refilling everyone's cup of tea. When she finished she placed the tea
set down on the highly polished table with a mirror like shine. Everyone
else sat around the table. Ryoko and Aeka sat on one side while Nodoka
and Akane sat on the other. Nabiki had left to answer the door.
Aeka took a sip from her cup before answering, "Because, Ms. Kasumi, men
seem to behave most strangely when they hear about this group. Their
number grows daily. I didn't want to exasperate our problem."
"Surely, my Husband and Soun are too old to get caught up in..."
"Lady, you'd be surprised," Ryoko said leaning back from the table and
laughing a bit.
"I'm sure both your husband and his friend are beyond reproach." Nabiki
let out a "ha" as she reentered the room with a young teenage girl with
near shoulder length blue hair tied off in to two short ponytails and
wearing shorts and a T-shirt with "M&M" on the front and "M.L.O." on the
back. "But I would like to avoid complications," Aeka finished not
noticing the new addition.
"So, how do you think they'll try and stop my wedding?" Akane asked with
an extremely serious look on her face. The blood would run thick this
day, if they tried.
"I can't say, but we have taken precautions," Aeka began but was
interrupted.
"Oh Oh, I can! Can I tell the story, Auntie Aeka?"
"MAYUKA!" Ryoko and Aeka shouted in unison.
<><><><><><><><><>
Outside the gates of the dojo, three police officers stood guard
checking guest identification and ushering them to the backyard where
the wedding would be held.
"You know, I think it would make more sense to hold the wedding inside
the dojo. We can secure an inside location more easily than an outside
one."
"*You* know, Miyuki, I want to know, why on a beautiful day like today,
I'm out here guarding some gate to some old dojo!"
"Because, Natsumi, Ken might show up here! Plus, I might get a shot at
that Tenchi bastard!" Miyuki said, stroking something that was not
service issue.
"Miyuki! Where did you get that thing?" Natsumi asked stunned.
"Heh eh heh"
Just then three vans pulled up to the gates of the dojo. One read
"Flowers by Kusanagi", the second read "Oe's Organ", and the third
"Tama - Home Made Cooking."
"Umm, I'm sorry, but um, I have to search you before you can go inside."
"You can search us all you want, blondie. I'm Kusanagi and I'm here with
the flower arrangements for the wedding. This is my assistant, Gary," he
indicated a rather large, tall, blonde, blue eyed man. Natsumi and
Miyuki kept their eyes on Kusanagi. They've never seen someone with
orangish colored skin, and cat eyes before. Mihoshi, the third officer,
took it all in stride and went to search Gary.
"Hi," Gary nodded. He lifted the twenty potted flowers he was carrying
over his head so Mihoshi could better frisk him.
"Umm, what's this?"
"Ah, that's just the hilt to my sword."
"Your sword?"
Kusanagi began to laugh... loudly. "Yeah, Gary, whip out your sword for
her! Haha!"
Gary balanced the potted plants with one hand and with the other began
to reach down in to his pants.
"Hey! Hey! We don't need to see all that! We're police officers you
know!" Miyuki shouted, her face red with embarrassment. Natsumi looked
disappointed. Mihoshi looked confused.
"You can play with my sword, if you want, please!" Kentaro put it.
"Just take it inside!" Miyuki shouted, waving not only Kusanagi and Gary
in, but also Oe, Tamahome, with his assistants Keiichi and Zel in as
well.
"Too easy," Tamahome and Oe said together with a High five.
As the group of men unloaded their vans and began to setup the yard for
the wedding a figure watched them from above. "Who do they think their
fooling, datcha?" the figure said from the roof.
<><><><><><><><><>
Aeka and Ryoko sat stunned as Mayuka bounced into the room and happily
took a seat between the two startled girls. "Hiya, Auntie Ryoko, Auntie
Aeka. How ya been?" Mayuka said smiling at both in turn.
Ryoko and Aeka turned to question Mayuka.
"Mayuka, what are you doing here?" Aeka asked, followed immediately by
Ryoko.
"Is Tenchi here with you?"
"Daddy should be on his way. He said that he would take me to the park
after we picked up someone named Ranma, so I figured I'd come get Ranma
and we could go to the park that much sooner!" Mayuka finished brightly.
"Well, you figured wrong!" Akane shouted, starting to roll up the
sleeves of her wedding dress. Mayuka just blinked uncomprehendingly at
her.
"Why is she mad, Auntie Aeka?" Mayuka turned to the princess confused.
"Well..." Aeka stalled trying to explain to Mayuka. "Akane is Ranma's
fianc� and they have other plans today. They're going to be married in
less than an hour. You can stay for the wedding if you like.' Aeka
finished smiling brightly at the girl who would be her future daughter
so help her.
"What's a wedding?" Mayuka asked. "Anyway, it doesn't matter. Daddy said
that we were picking up Ranma, so that's what's gonna happen," Mayuka
said brightly. "Daddy is always right."
Across from Mayuka, Akane began to shake in quiet rage. 'Who are these
weirdoes and what right had they to interfere in my and Ranma's
happiness?'
Next to Akane, Nabiki placed her hands on her hips. "Who is this girl?
How dumb can she be?" Nabiki said a bit to loud. "Akane is about to
pound her."
Aeka quickly covered Mayuka's ears and Ryoko teleported next to Nabiki.
"Mayuka is Tenchi's daughter and careful what you say in front of her.
She is a lot more dangerous than she looks," Ryoko told to Nabiki.
Nabiki appraised the bubbly teenager. She didn't look dangerous at all.
Besides, if she could deal with the crazies in Nerima, whom couldn't she
deal with? "Well how come she doesn't know what marriage is? Was she
born yesterday?"
"No, I'd say she was born about a year ago."
"What!"
"It's a long story, we don't have time for. In short: Yes, she is
Tenchi's daughter. *Don't* ask about the mother. Yes, she is rather
*unique*. Watch what you say about Tenchi in front of her, or me for
that matter. And as the inheritor of the Tree of Darkness, Mayuka is
probably the most powerful person in this room right now." Ryoko
finished succinctly, explaining to the whole room.
Nodoka, Kasumi, Nabiki, and Akane looked at Ryoko incredulously. They
didn't know anything about a Tree of Darkness, but they well remembered
the display of power performed by Aeka and Ryoko just an hour ago. This
little girl, the daughter of that Tenchi person, born a *year* ago, was
even more powerful? The stared openly at Mayuka who just blinked back at
them. Aeka still covered her ears.
"You're kidding..." Akane began.
"No, Miss Ryoko speaks the truth. In a manner of speaking, evil
incarnate is sitting across from you, the equal of Tsunami in our
dimension. Do not fear her though, she is quite the pleasant girl." Aeka
smiled, and removed her hands from Mayuka's ears.
'Pleasant, and the embodiment of evil? And did she mean Mayuka was equal
in power to a tidal wave? I guess that's pretty strong.' Nodoka thought
perplexed. She shook her head of it. There were more important matters
that needed to be discussed. "Let us get back to the matter of the MLO.
What is their purpose exactly?"
Mayuka began to bounce up in down in her seat. "Oh Oh I know, I know!
I'm in the MLO, see!" She grasped her T-shirt and showed them the back.
"Ok, then... Mayuka is it?" Nodoka said in a friendly non-threatening
voice. "What is the MLO? And why do they want my son?"
Mayuka stood up straight, her arms at her side. "The MLO stands for The
Men's Liberation Organization. Their mission is to save men from being
forced into decisions not of their choosing. It was founded by Daddy's
Daddy's Daddy seven hundred years ago and Daddy is the organizations
current president." Mayuka finished proudly, bowed and then sat back
down.
Everyone was counting the number of "Daddies" on their fingers trying to
follow what the young woman had said. Kasumi commented first.
"Oh, your Grandfather founded the MLO!"
Mayuka nodded.
"Yosho? Where did you hear that, Mayuka? I thought Tenchi thought of it
after his uh... accident." Aeka said confused.
"Nope, nope, nope," Mayuka said shaking her head. "After you and Ryoko
dropped Daddy on his head is when Daddy's Daddy's Daddy told him the
story. Daddy is the one who told me. Do you what me to tell you the
story?"
<><><><><><><>
Ranma gave one last look at himself in his tuxedo before turning from
the mirror. Soon after Akane had left the room, doubt again entered his
being. The vacant look in Ryouga's eyes in strange combination with the
knowing grin on his face wasn't helping matters any. Hearing the bustle
in the yard, he walked over to the window. Outside, all was ready for
his marriage to Akane. Guests were beginning to take their seats and the
organist was tuning up.
The only thing missing was Akane...
...and a dead man. Or so it felt as Ranma turned slowly from the window
and walked towards the door to the room. The dirge the organist played
seemed all too fitting.
Dum... dum... dudum...
<><><><><><><><><>
damien_searight@msn.com
ICQ: 24113246
"Wha's a matter? Think I'm weak cause I'm a girl!"
Tenchi looked at the red head and then gave a glance back at Ryoko and
Aeka. "That's not it. I know some fairly intimidating girls."
Second Best: Match 2
Taking a Dive