Subject: [FFML] [Ranma] [Chp 1-3] 'Guo Qu Zhi Suo'
From: "- Yucca" <yyucca@hotmail.com>
Date: 12/11/2000, 7:41 PM
To: ffml@fanfic.com



It has been a year, so for some of you who wish to see you had missed,
here's all the chapters (1-3) on 'Guo Qu Zhi Suo'. ^__^



If you already know what's happening, just ignore all this.



And to make things simple, Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. There!





* Indicates dialogues spoken in Mandarin Chinese.

Note: 'Guo Qu Zhi Suo' is a Chinese phrase.

-----------------------------------------------------------------



                         'Guo Qu Zhi Suo'

                         (Key to the Past)

                        ===================

                  Chapter 1: A birthday to remember?

                  ==================================





   The wind suddenly rose, sending a cold chill towards the old woman
standing by the second-stories window of Nakoten. Narrowing her eyes
sharply, Cologne stared into the street, deep in thoughts.



   Even from where she was standing, she could catch Soun's booming voice,
bellowing out through the loudspeakers he had placed all over his entire
front yard.



   "Could you believe it?!!! Today's Akane and Ranma's birthday!!! My
youngest daughter, Akane, and her fianc�e, Ranma have the same birth date!!!
Ohhh!! This is fate! Sob! I'm -so- very happy!!!" Soun's joyful voice broke
into happy sobs.



   "Hmph!" Cologne turned and walked away from the window. "Birthdays,
what's so great about them?" She could not even remember when she had last
celebrated her birthday. It seemed... so long ago... How did it felt like,
she had forgotten...



   Nekoten was extremely quiet. Shampoo and Mousse had left early to the
Tendo's birthday party. Usually, Cologne like the still silence, but this
time it seemed to be telling her something...



   Something was going to happen. Something bad...



   She could feel it in her old aging bones. Yet, she could not place her
finger on it.



   Subconsciously, she walked towards a huge brown chest by her bed and
pushed open it's heavy lid. It was a chest for all her unwanted or broken
stuffs she had brought from China.



   "Some things can't stay forever," she whispered as she glanced down
into the chest. The amount of useless things had increased in their amount
as the years went by. It was easy to hide an important item away from the
others among these junks -- no one would ever look for it here...



   Then, something in her mind clicked. Cologne's eyes widen in shock as
the thought hit her.



   She -had- hid something there! It had been so long that she had totally
forgot about it!



   "No... The stone!" She began to search the chest frantically, throwing
out all the items inside. Some of them smashed on to the floor and broke
into unfixable pieces. But Cologne continued throwing out all her items like
crazy, until there were none of them left.



   "It's gone!!" She yelled in panic, slamming down the chest's lid. "Oh
no! Shampoo!!"



        *          *          *          *          *





   Most of the guest, except Mousse and Shampoo, had not arrived yet, but
Akane could not wait any longer. Her hands were itching to open her present
specially the mysterious one Shampoo had given her.



   The match size present was not warped up, but its own unique design
around it had done the job. She pushed open its lid gently, and carefully
took out a round, big marble type stone. As light shone on the stone, it was
refracted into brilliant rainbow colors that seemed to be swirling slowly
inside the pale clear white stone. She examined the mysterious beautiful
stone in awe.



   "It's beautiful! Thanks Shampoo! This is really nice of you!" she
exclaimed.



   "Ai ya! Grandmother said not nice only give present to Ranma but no
give present to birthday girl, so call Shampoo take anything in her rubbish
box to give pervert girl. Shampoo simply take, hope that maybe got demon
inside that can swallow up pervert girl."



   "Oh! Is that so?" said Akane half-heartedly, not at all minding
Shampoo's words. The stone was, after all, very beautiful although it came
from a rubbish box. "So where's Ranma's present?"



   "Shampoo going to give Ranma birthday kiss."



   "Gulp! Shampoo, you don't really have to do that! Really!" protested
the pigtail martial artist glancing nervously at Mousse and Akane, who both
had their battle aura flared up instantly at Shampoo's statement.



   "Ranma no need be shy," said Shampoo grabbing the escaping Ranma and
moved her face closer to his...



   "Shampoo!!!!" yelled Mousse in desperation, but alas, he was too blind
even to reach the right person...



   Just as she was about to plant her lips on his, something flew and
stuck between their face, and she kissed whatever that thing was. It was a
small red fiber pouch with something inside.



   "Your present, Ranma," said Akane gritting through her teeth, a small
cross of irritation appeared on her forehead.



   "Thanks!" Ranma jumped to his feet away from Shampoo and pocketed the
pouch. He was not going to open it now, not here, maybe later when he was
alone. Maybe he was afraid of what he was going to say if he open the
present in front of her, or maybe he was afraid of what she gave him, or
maybe... ah! He didn't know.



   There's one thing he knew by looking at Akane's expecting smile. He was
in trouble. Deep trouble.



   He still had not got Akane's present.



   He had been cracking his mind ever since he knew about her birthday,
wondering for the best present to give her, yet, he could not come up with
anything. Of all the years of travelling and training, his father had never
-ever- celebrated his birthday, so this was all new to him. To him, Akane's
birthday gift was the hardest task of all. What could she possibly want that
he could give? And he so wanted to give her the best birthday present she
had ever gotten...



   Akane's smile faded. This was not going as planned. Not only he didn't
open her -fake- birthday gift, Ranma did not made any move to give her -her-
birthday present.



   {Oh well, I bet his father never even tell him that a person would get
presents from her friends on her birthday... It's not his fault. It's not
his fault. It's not his fault...} Akane squeezed her eyes to hide her
disappointment, trying not to lose her temper to the birthday boy.



   {It's his father's fault!} She suddenly gave the lazily lying panda a
deadly glare that petrified him instantly.



   Sighing, Akane took a glance over her shoulders towards the corridor.
Then she smiled secretly. Her present, the real present, was just perfect.
{Ranma's going to be surprise when he got back to his room.}



   "Shampoo!!! I don't mind if you give me a birthday kiss even though
it's not my birthday!" said Mousse half pleadingly. "You didn't even give me
anything on mine!"



   *Ai ya! Mousse! Zou kai! (Go away!)* shouted Shampoo in Chinese and
hammered him on the head. *Wo de yan li zhi you Ranma. (I only have eyes for
Ranma)*



   "But Shampoo!!!!" Mousse made a grab for her hands weakly. "What does
that stupid Ranma have that I didn't have?!"



   "A lot of things! And that's my hand you're holding, you dammit!"
yelled Ranma and he smashed Mousse onto the floor.



   "Ah! Ranma save Shampoo! Shampoo so happy!" The Amazon gave her savior
a loving hug. "Now, Shampoo give loving kiss."



   "What?! Let go of him! Shampoo!" Akane, awakened from her thoughts,
yelled as she spun around quickly to face the -hugging- pair. Suddenly, at
that moment, she felt something within her grip. Something that felt like it
was growing warmer... and warmer...



   She let out a scream of surprised, and glanced down at the object in
her fist immediately. The pale stone, the stone that Shampoo had given her,
was glowing... Emitting bright white lights, getting brighter and brighter
every second!



   "What the-"



   "Akane! Be careful!" As a reflex, Ranma snatched the glowing stone away
from her. It was now glowing so dazzlingly bright that Ranma had to shield
his eyes from it. Though it had yet to react, the stone seemed glow in a
desperate... waiting way. "Shampoo! What's happening?" He rushed towards the
eye-widened girl for her explanation.



   But Shampoo just shook her head in surprised confusion. "Shampoo not
know."



   At that exact moment, Cologne hopped in urgently on her staff through
the window shouting. "Shampoo! That stone you got! It's not rubbish! My
parents gave that precious stone to me when I was twelve! Shampoo, give it
back!"



   Then, seeing the stone's glow, Cologne's eye widened and her mouth
opened just in time to utter an 'uh oh' before the stone decided that it was
time to react.



   Its white glowing light suddenly shot out like beams, blinding everyone
in the dojo. And at that moment, Ranma's fearful yell rang above the others
as he suddenly felt a sucking force pulling him. "Ahhh!!! The stone! It's
sucking me in!!!"



   Indeed it was. By the time they squinted through the white at him, his
entire head was somehow already inside the small round glowing stone. His
hands were not holding the stone anymore -- they were lashing and swinging
desperately for something to save himself. But the stone did not fall to the
ground. Instead, it was hovering in midair, swallowing Ranma's head.



   Shampoo acted fast. She grabbed his waist and started to pull. But it
was no use. Half of Ranma was now inside the stone.



   "Wow, it's really eating Ranma!" Nabiki said as she raised her hands to
shield her eyes calmly.



   "Ranma!!!" Akane screamed.



   Everything happened so fast, -- too fast for anyone to react-- and
seconds later, the stone shot out its entire beam, pulling Ranma together
with Shampoo into the stone.



   Then, the glow disappeared as quickly as it had come. The stone fell
from the midair onto the floor, bouncing slightly, and there it lay, in
quiet peacefulness, acting like any ordinary, innocent, beautiful stone,
ignoring the wide shocked stares it had gotten from everyone in the dojo...



        *          *          *          *          *





   "AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"



   Ranma felt himself spinning... and falling into deep darkness...
falling in an endless hole, where, he might never touch the ground again.
And feeling Shampoo's tight grip still at his waist, he could have sworn he
heard her murmuring something that sounds like...



   "Ah! Lovely two person world!"



        *          *          *          *          *





   At that exact moment, somewhere in the deep parts of China...





   *Boss!*



   A little old man (about the size of Hipposai) hurried into the room
with a round crystal ball, tripped over his long white beard, and fall to
his short feeble knees in front of a blue-haired boy about the age of
fifteen sitting on a throne-like golden chair. *Boss!* he cried again in
Mandarin Chinese.



   And a foot implanted into his face. *Su Kiong! How many times do I have
to tell you not ever to call me 'boss'! Call me 'the Great Master Sing!'*
yelled the boy swinging his hands furiously.



   *Shi. Sorry, boss!*



   At this Sing's face turned really huge and loomed over the Su Kiong's
panicked stricken face in an extremely deep purple colour.



                                 ---



  *So! What is it that you wanted to tell me?* demanded Sing eyeing in
amusement at the bruises and lumps that had 'somehow' swelled all over Su
Kiong's face.



  *It's this crystal ball, ... um, Great Master Sing! Finally, after all
theses years, it glowed just a while ago!!* The old man raised the ball
forward.



   Sing jolted up and took the crystal ball swiftly. *It glowed?! What
colour?*



   *White! Pure white, Master Sing!*



   *White... then it must be the Key Stone! Ah haha... Somehow, someone
must have used it. Such foolishness!* smirked Sing. *Now they have revealed
its location, we are going after it, right, Su Kiong?*



   *Yes, previous master would be very pleased if he were still alive.*
The old man nodded excitedly. *Master Sing, the crystal ball had shown that
the Key Stone was in Nerima, Japan. I suggest we get there as soon as
possible.*



   *Yes! Nerima, Japan, here we come! Ah hahaha... Wait... Hold the fire!*



   *Yes, Master Sing?*



   *There's this -tiny weenie- problem...* said Sing closing his eyes in
thoughtful concentration. "Where the hell is Nerima, Japan?!!!!"



   Shaking his head, Su Kiong fell into a thinking position like Sing's.
*Now, that's a tough one.*



-----------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------



                         'Guo Qu Zhi Suo'

                         (Key to the Past)

                        ==================

                      Chapter 2: The Key Stone

                      ========================





About a hundred years ago in China...



   The tear-stained twelve-year-old girl ran all her might, her silky
black hair flying wildly behind her. Her white Chinese clothes were already
brown-red with mud and blood, torn at various parts by the thick picky
bushes she had ran through. But she didn't stop; she didn't dare to. The men
were getting nearer. She could hear their pounding footsteps and shouts
growing louder...



   Nearer...



   No! They were surely going to find her if this continued! The girl made
a sudden turn around the trees and ducked into the thick bushes. Desperately
trying to smoothed her loud panting, she hurdled herself in the center of
the bushes, ignoring the pain from the numerous scratches on her. {Quiet!
Quiet!} Maybe they won't find her here...



   The voices grew louder.



   *Where is that brat?!* A low rough voice yelled over the hedge, which
she had hidden herself behind. The girl clasped her left hand over her mouth
just in time to stop herself from screaming.



   He was so near!! Just a few feet behind her!! Her heart began to pound
her chest so loudly that she feared that the nearby man could hear it.



   *Sir! We can't find her, sir!* reported one of the men.



   *No!!!! This can't happen to me!! Oh, woes me!!* the man with rough
voice squeaked in frustration, then he stopped after seeing the wide
disgusted stares he had gotten from his men. *Ahem! I mean, WHAT?!!! There's
no way she could escape that fast! Search every single place, leave no stone
unturned, no bush unchecked. Find her!!! And the -Key Stone-!! Kill her if
she cause any trouble. It's the stone the Lord wants.*



   *Yes, sir!!*



   Through the small holes from the bush, the girl counted twenty men
searching high and low for her and their leader, who appeared to be the one
with the rough voice, was still standing near her unmoving. His eyes
narrowed sharply, scrutinizing the area.



   {Twenty-one men,} the girl hurdled herself tightly in fear, praying
that the men would not hear her uncontrollable low gasps. {How am I going to
out run twenty-one men? They'll find me for sure... soon...}



   Her gaze traveled down towards the white clear big marble-like stone
she held in her right hand. Such a beautiful stone, yet, all the troubles it
had brought to her... and her family... a family, which was no more. {Why do
they want this do much? What's so special about this stone that they've to
kill... papa and mama for it...}



   Her parents... They had been so mercilessly slashed, killed... just to
get this stone. The vivid memories were so unbearable.



   The agonizing scream...



   The splashing scarlet red... all the blood... all over... splattered
over her pure white clothes, staining them deep red...



   All happened so fast before her very eyes, the eyes of an innocent,
unknowing child.



                          ~~~~~~~~~~~

   *Run! Run, daughter... Don't ever let them have that stone!*



   *Papa! Mama!!!!*



   *That brat! She's got the stone! After her!*



   *Run!!!*



   *Papa... Mama... I love you...*

                          ~~~~~~~~~~~



   {All because of this stone! This stupid stone! Papa and mama have to
die protecting it! This stupid stone!} The girl trembled uncontrollably. The
evoking memories ware so intolerable that she didn't notice that she was
sobbing loudly.



   *Ah ha! So here you are! You brat!* Part of bush was forced apart by
two huge burly hands, and a square mean face with cold dark eyes looked at
her.



   The girl screamed. She couldn't run away, her legs were too numb to do
so.



   *Hand over the Key Stone,* the leader breathed, mentioning his men to
come forward. *And I promise not to torture you before your death.*



   {The stone!} The girl glanced down at the white marble. Her father's
last words rang in her ears.



   ~*Don't ever let them have that stone!*~



   The girl clasped the stone towards her chest. *No!*



   *Then prepare to die, brat!!!!* The man bellowed, raising his fist that
as if it could break her neck as easy as breaking a twig.



   The girl squeezed her eyes, and screamed. And screamed...



   That moment, the stone began to glow, releasing sharp blinding white
beams that dazzled the eyes of the attacking man.



   "AAAAAARRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"



   A pigtail boy in red Chinese clothes shot out from the stone and
collided with the man head to head. Then behind him, out came a Chinese girl
with purple hair.



                             ---



   "Ouch! That hurt!" uttered the boy, rubbing his sore head with one hand
and shielding his eyes against the bright afternoon sunlight with the other.



   "Huh? Where the hell am I now?! No! That's Ryoga's line. What trouble
am I into now?!!" Ranma shouted as he stared out blankly into the forest he
was in.



   "At least here not spinning or dark," pointed Shampoo.



   "Yeah! You're right!" Ranma said as he placed his hands behind his
head. "Ahhh! Wildlife, jungle, and all the fresh air out here, this is
life!"



   "And Shampoo here with Ranma. Shampoo so happy!"



   "Uh... now, that's a problem," Ranma murmured thoughtfully. A huge
finger tapped him hardly on his shoulder. He turned angrily. "Hey, what do
you think you're doing! It hurt, you know!"



   The leader with a huge lump on his head and twice the size of Ranma in
terms of height and breath loomed over him.



   *Who are you?! How dare you attacked me -- Shinfu, the famous great
warrior of China!* he yelled in Chinese.



   Behind him, his men murmured quietly to themselves at his 'great
warrior of China' statement.



   Ranma could only stared back at him blankly. "Huh?"



   *You dare mock me! Take that!!* Shinfu swung his huge arm at him.



   This, Ranma understood. He leaped backwards, avoiding the blow.



   "What're you doing?!" he yelled, confused.



   "Man name 'Stupid' want to challenge future husband," Shampoo
translated.



   "Wait!" Ranma held both his hands forward in protest. "I don't want to
fight! I don't even know where I am!"



   He was answered by a series of punches.



   Ranma sighed. "Ok! If that's how you want it... Hya!"



   He ducked below and scissored the man's huge leg, tripping him to the
hard muddy ground.



   "This, is how you are supposed to do with multiple fist." Ranma stated
as he landed his version of Chestnut fist on the fallen giant, who, didn't
even have the chance to get up from his fall.



   *Grrr... You're good!* Shinfu muttered angrily, struggling painfully
onto his feet. *But let's see you handle twenty men! Men, attack!!!!*



   *Sir...* a small voice addressed him from behind.



   Shinfu turned, and his lower jaw fell to the ground.



   *What... What happen?!!!* He screamed, eye-widened. His men... all
twenty of them were all bruised, plastered and all badly beaten up!



   *I, Shampoo, have beaten all of them. They are of no challenge at all,*
answered Shampoo in fluent Chinese, cracking her knuckles. *This'll teach
you to mess with Ranma and the Amazons.*



   *You... you'll pay for this!!* threatened Shinfu. Then he made a
hundred eighty degrees turn and scampered fearfully away with his men.



   *Ah! Ha! Ha! Ha! Come back if you dare! Now you know the price of
messing with this brat! Serve you -so- right!* A proud superior voice called
after the running brute.



   Ranma looked down at the twelve-year-old girl who was now standing
boldly in front of them, laughing as if she was the one who had defeated
Shinfu.



   "Who is she?" He pointed to her and looked at Shampoo.

The purple-haired girl just shrugged.



   "The name is Cologne. As for saving me, arigato!"



   "Oh! You speak Japanese. Great! I'm really getting groggy with all the
Chinese language going around- ... ... ... WHAT?!!! COLOGNE!!!!!"



   "Grandmother?!"



        #          #          #          #          #



Back in the Present: At the Tendos



   The group had been staring wordlessly at the silent, unmoving stone,
shocked by the sudden incident for quite a while until Mousse broke the
deadly silent.



   "Shampoo!!!!!!!!" he yelled, rushing towards the stone.



   Cologne knocked him on the head with her staff. "Calm down, Mousse.
That stone might start acting up again, stay away from it!"



   "But Ranma and Shampoo are trapped in there, you saw it!" shouted
Akane.



   "No! Don't get near that stone! It might still be dangerous. Do you
want to get suck in too?"



   "Cologne is right. Let's just wait. Maybe they'll find a way to come
out, soon, I hope..." stated Nabiki.



   "..."



   "While waiting, could you tell us something about that stone?" Akane
asked, turning to Cologne.



   The old woman closed her winkled eyes as if in deep thoughts, then she
spoke up in a soft faraway voice.



   "The first time I saw the stone was when I was twelve years old. One
day, my parent suddenly rushed towards me, placed it in my hands and told me
to run for my life. And the next thing I knew, a sword pierced through my
mother's body, splashing her blood all over me... There were men, lots of
them, surrounding us, demanding for the stone, this Key Stone."



   Cologne paused, and at that moment, grief seemed to linger upon her
winkled face, camouflaging the aging lines, making her seemed almost like a
sad twelve-year-old again. Akane shot a quick glance over at the clear white
stone and back again at Cologne.



   "What happen next?" she asked softly.



   "My father fought them, luring them away from me so that I could run
away with that stone. He too was killed. Then the men realising that the
stone was not with him, began to chase after me..."



        #          #          #          #          #





   "And then the men ran here, and I ran to the right. Then they come to
the left and I ran to the right again. Then they climbed up a tree and I hid
behind a tree, then they..." the girl babbled on about every single detail
of the chase to Shampoo and Ranma. "Hey! Are you guys listening?"



   "Ya! Ya! Ya! Whatever..." grumbled Ranma. {Me and my big mouth! Why do
I have to ask her what happened?}



   "Ok! As I said, I hid behind this bush and then the men..."



        #          #          #          #          #





   "And the men caught me..."



   "What happen next?" asked Akane in breathless anticipation. Never had
she thought Cologne would met such... incident. She had almost never talk
about herself. This was out of expectation.



   "Ah..." murmured Cologne, getting the listeners full attention. "And
what happen next..."



   Her voice trailed off again.



   "Yes? Yes?" Akane urged, moving closer to the old woman. Mousse
adjusted his spectacles tensely.



   "And what happen next, I don't remember."



   Everyone except Kasumi fell head first towards the floor.



   "Oh my!"



        #          #          #          #          #





   "And that, was the whole story," finished the girl as she turned
towards her saviours. "Any questions?"



   A loud snore answered her. Ranma was fast asleep on the grass with some
saliva drooling over his mouth.



   "Ai ya! Ranma wake up! Listen to Grandmother!" Shampoo shook him
violently.



   "Huh? Wha? Oh! You've finish? Good! Uh, sorry about that, I mean, the
way you talk sounds a lot like our teacher, Miss Hinako. I always felt
sleepy during lessons, especially -History- class."



   "What does that have to do with my story?!" young Cologne yelled. "It's
not -that- boring, is it?! Is it?!!"



   "No! Of course not, Grandmother," assured Shampoo, trying to cover her
yawn.



   "And stop calling me 'Grandmother'! I'm Cologne! I'm younger than you
are! How could I even be a grandmother?"



   "Ok. Old ghoul... err... I mean Cologne... err... no... Co-chan, let's
get this straight. You are twelve years old? And this... is China?"



   The girl nodded, eyeing Ranma in confusion.



   The pigtail martial artist slapped his head. "Boy, am I ever in
trouble."



   "What? Ranma?" Shampoo asked.



   "Shampoo, haven't you realised? Somehow, that stone brought us back to
the past! We're both trapped here in the past, here in China, about a
hundred years ago where your grandmother was... no.. -is- just twelve years
old! We've got to find a way back!"



   Shampoo stared back at Ranma. Then folding her arms, her eyes flickered
thoughtfully towards the Key Stone laid on the green grass before them. Then
she got up. And walked towards the largest boulder in sight.



   Heaving the huge rock over her head, she staggered towards the Key
Stone.



   "Shampoo! What are you doing?!"



   "Shampoo want to destroy Key Stone. No Key Stone, Ranma no go back to
Akane, then Ranma and Shampoo together."



   "Aghh!!!! Shampoo! Don't you understand the situation we're in now?!"



        #          #          #          #          #





   Meanwhile in the present, the Keystone was also in the danger of near
destruction as Akane stood over the stone with a huge boulder from the pond
preparing to throw at it any moment.



   "Ranma!!!!! What are you and Shampoo doing inside that stone!!!!" she
yelled.



   "Now, Akane, calm down," advised Kasumi.



   "How can I calm down!!! It had been ages! Who knows what they are doing
inside that... That stone!! That baka!" Akane shouted back.



   "And Cologne can't even remember anything about this stone!" She glared
at Cologne, who was trying to look as innocent as possible.



   "Now, how can you blame an old forgetful old woman?" Cologne shot back,
toying guiltily with both her index fingers.



   "Shampoo!!!! I'll rescue you!" shouted Mousse into Soun's face, who
turned the blind boy towards the right direction.



   "Akane, just wait a little longer," smoothed Nabiki.



   "Wait a little longer, and we'll all become old ladies!!!" yelled Akane
impatiently.



   "Ok, go ahead, destroy the stone. Then Shampoo'll be more than happy,
since she'll have Ranma all to herself," commented Nabiki. " And she won't
have to worry about problems like you finding them because you are going to
destroy the only thing that can bring you to them or bring them back. And
sure, they'll live happily ever after in wherever they are.."



   "... ..." Akane paused, then the boulder abruptly flew back outside.
"Aghh! My hands slipped! Well, I guess that baka's lucky this time."



   "Ya, sure."



   "Shampoo!!! I'm coming!!!" cried Mousse as he ran and once again
smacked into a wall. Usually, even without glasses, he could at least see
the wall in front of him. But this time, his desperate, strong concern for
Shampoo or the fact that he had been turned around in circles by the bored
panda sitting beside Soun had made him totally blind.



   "We can't sit here forever waiting for them to come out," said Kasumi.



   "Yeah, I think we better do some research on this particular stone.
Maybe we'll be able to find something," Nabiki suggested. "Cologne, you said
you had the stone when you were twelve. How long ago was that?"



   Cologne crossed her hands, annoyed. "Never question a woman's age.
Don't you know it's a woman's secret?"



   "Cologne! Please! This is an emergency!" pleaded Akane.



   The old woman shook her head stubbornly.



   "This is getting us nowhere." Nabiki began to walk towards the door.
"Come on Akane, don't brother to ask her. We'll just look for information
three thousand years ago, I bet she around that age."



   "Hey! I'm just a hundred over!! I'm not that -old-!!!" Cologne yelled
back angrily at Nabiki. Then a drop of sweat dripped down her head as she
saw Nabiki's lips turned up in cunning victory. {Great! I had just said
aloud my age! Way to go, Cologne!}



   "I know!" Kasumi exclaimed suddenly. "I'll go Dr. Tofu's. Maybe he has
gotten some books about that stone."



   "Great, sis! I'll go with you," said Nabiki.



   "Cologne, can I go over to Nakoten? Maybe there's something there that
may help us," Akane asked politely.



   Cologne nodded and motioned her to follow as she hopped on her staff
and out the dojo.



   "Wait." Akane bend down and picked up the Key Stone before anyone could
protest. Everyone jumped back and stared eyed-widened in shock at her,
expecting something to bad to happen.



   Nothing did.



   "I'm bringing it with me, in case they find a way to come out," she
said looking down at the stone. {Ranma... Please be safe...}



   "Shampoo!!! I'll save you!!!" yelled Mousse somewhere at the
background. Well, let's just ignore him at the moment...



        #          #          #          #          #





   "Dammit! I -said- bring us back to our time!!!! Are you deaf or
something! You stupid stone!" yelled Ranma stamping, jumping and shaking the
Key Stone like mad.



   He was mad. He had been ordering the stone half an hour to send them
back home, yet the stone remained... stoned!



   "Ahh! What's wrong with you!!!" The angry boy threw the stone towards
the ground in frustration.



   "Aw, don't go back into that stone! You've just arrived! Stay and
protect me!" pleaded Co-chan, shaking Ranma back and fro.



   "Shampoo agree with Grandmo... no, Co-chan. Why not stay? Shampoo like
here with Ranma," the Amazon sulked.



   "Are you crazy? We can't stay here!" shouted Ranma.



   "Why not?" the two girls countered back together.



   "Err... because... because..." Ranma knew exactly why he didn't want to
stay -- his heart had told him so -- but there's no way he was going to say
that out. "Because we don't belong here! This isn't our time. And don't you
think the others back home would start getting worried if we don't return?"
{Especially a particular -uncute- girl if he doesn't return soon...}



   "Shampoo never mind. Shampoo grandmother here."



   "Where?" Co-chan looked around in search of an old lady, but she found
none.



   "Shampoo! She doesn't even -know- she has a granddaughter!" Ranma
yelled. "I don't care! I'm going back. You can stay if you want to,
Shampoo."



   "No, Shampoo go where Ranma go."



   "Ok! We must have said something that activated this stone before it
started sucking the hell out of us. So all we have to do is to say the magic
words and snap! We're back again!" Ranma concluded, sitting crossed legs in
front of the Key Stone. "Let's try to remember what we have said before."



   "But so long ago, Shampoo not remember."



   "We must at least try. Here goes! ARGHHHHH!!!!!"



   "Iiiiiiii!!!!!"



   "Shut up, Co-chan. This is not a game."



   "Hey! I just want to help!" sputtered the girl.



   "Ranma said, 'I love Shampoo'!!"



   "Shampoo! I didn't say that!"



   "Umm... 'Shampoo!!! That stone! It's not rubbish...'" shouted Shampoo
as she recalled Cologne's entrance.



   "That's after the stone had glow! Uh...  'Akane! You uncute tomboy!'"



   "Open Sesame!"



   "Shut up! Co-chan!"



        *          *          *          *          *





   Now, let us focus at a new place, still in the past, somewhere in
China, on top of the high steep mountains, where a large palace-like
building stood...



   *WHAT?!!* The building's rooftop blew off its place as a loud voice
boomed out of the sudden. The voice was echoed all over the mountains...



   In the main hall of the huge mansion, a man, about the age of
twenty-five, stood, his features reflecting clearly his anger. And kneeling
down before his feet, behind the huge curtains, was a burly man, whose size
was so much bigger, compared to his. Yet, it was the big man who was shaking
nervously.



   *What do you mean you didn't get that Key Stone?!* The man yelled, his
voice cold as ice. *I heard that a little girl had it after you killed her
parents! All you've to do is to get it from her! Is that task too difficult
for you?!*



   *No, my lord. But she has helpers -- helpers that came out from that
stone! They are very skilled in martial arts, even I and all my men are
defeated easily.* Shinfu stated. *Their names are called Ranma and Shampoo.*



   He squinted though the curtain screen hopefully for forgiveness from
Zheng, the lord, the ruler of their part of China, and who would soon be the
conqueror of the whole world.



   Zheng stepped out from the heavy curtains between them, his purple eyes
staring straight at Shinfu, who shifted uneasily at his lord stony gaze.



   Was his lord going to kill him for failing his orders? He hoped not.
He, after all, had a good reason to fail, right?



   *Your men. Hmph! They can't even defeat a baby even if their lives
depend on it. You are all useless! And I don't care who the enemies are!*
Zheng shouted in anger. *I ordered you to get me the Key Stone and you
failed me. You and your men are of no use now!*



   Zheng drew his long sword.



   *No! Please, my lord, give me another chance!* Shinfu broke into a
desperate plead. *I'll defeat them this time, for sure!*



   The tip of the sword slid slowly towards his head, unaffected by his
pleads. Shinfu squeezed his eyes shut. He hoped it would not hurt much...
Maybe it'll be quick so he won't feel the sharp slicing pain... maybe... He
hope...



   *Wait a moment, my lord.*



   A voice called out. Shinfu opened his eyes in surprised and his hands
flew towards his throat instinctively. Then he let out a heavy breath he
never knew he was holding.



   Still here, his head was still there... Good.



   He turned to face the speaker, whose voice had just saved his beloved
head. He recognized the voice of course, but it was the fact that he had
never expected to hear it that made him curious.



   A middle age man in dark brown Chinese cloths and dark black trousers
entered the room. The man cast a quick glance at Shinfu before he kneeled
down before Zheng to speak up again.



   *What is it, Po?* Zheng asked sliding back his sword back into the
sword sheath. Apparently he had lost his interest in executing Shinfu.



   Po smiled, revealing a set of dirty brown teeth with a gold front
tooth, which gave off a small 'pink' of reflected light. *I beg you, my lord
to spare his life.*



   Save his life? Po was asking the lord to save his life? Po? His life?!
Somehow, Shinfu found the fact hard to absorb. But when he did...



   *Po!* The huge burly man lunged at his savior and hugged him gratefully
with all his might. Happy tears began to pour down his square face
uncontrollable.



   Po was crying too. His body was giving strange popping, crunching
sounds under Shinfu's grab. His face was a reflection of pure, wordless
agony and disgust. That second, he regretted his actions. Maybe he should
just let Zheng killed him after all...



   *Spare his life?* Zheng raised his eyebrow in surprise. *I never
expected those words coming from you, Po. This isn't like you after all! Why
do you want the life of such worthless man?*



   *Because... my... lord, he'll be... perfect..* Po gasped, still
struggling against Shinfu's clutches. *As a specimen... for my newly
invented pills...*



   Instantly, Shinfu's grateful tears stopped. He let go of Po, and left
his hands swinging weakly by his side. So this was what the 'rescue' was
about -- he, as Po's guinea pig.



   *Oh really? You mean it's ready?* Zheng leaned forward in interest.



   *Yes, my lord.*



   *Good. Let Shinfu try it.*



   *NOOO!!!!!!* wailed the petrified brute. His face was filled with tears
once again, this time, fearful ones. He remembered clearly the rumors about
Po's inventions.



   Lot's of people were force to try them and were never seen again. Maybe
they were dead, or maybe as some others say, became something else...
something much more horrible. No! If this was the case, he rather died under
Zheng's sword. At least, he would die as he himself, not in the form of any
ugly creatures...



   *No, please, my lord! I beg for forgiveness!* Shinfu cried desperately
falling to his knees. "Kill me! Kill me! Please I beg you to kill me
instead! Please my lord! Come on place your sword here. Here, I'll even draw
an X on where you could slice me. Here."



    Po took the chance to grip him from behind. The brute yelled fearfully
as he did so. He raised his huge fist as a symbol of threat. *Let go of me,
you useless professor!!*



   *According to my calculations, you can't reach me from behind,* Po said
proudly. *Your hand is not long enough-*



   Before he could finish his explanation, Shinfu took him out of cold by
a backwards punch over his shoulders. Then he began to run for the door.



   Zheng narrowed his eyes. His battle aura flared.



   In a flash, so fast that before one blink, Zheng appeared in front of
Shinfu and gave him a blow in the stomach with his sword back. Shinfu's eyes
bugged out in shock and fell onto the ground, unconscious.



   *Let him have the pill,* Zheng command calmly, returning to his seat.



   *Yes, my lord.* Po took out a bottle about the size of a baby's milk
bottle from his shirt's sleeves and forced the whole bottle of pills into
Shinfu's mouth. Then he poured a huge bucket of water down his throat. Done,
he stepped back beside Zheng and watched.



   Moments later, Shinfu's body began to shiver, shook and sweat. Slightly
at first, then more and more vigorously. The man began to toss and turned,
squeezing his eyes in hard concentration.



   *It's beginning to react,* cackled Po to himself as he rubbed his hands
in glee.



   Zheng smiled. *Maybe, for the first time, you'll succeed.*



   *No...* Shinfu whimpered. *No... No mum, I don't want to go to school.
And I don't want your milk either!!!*



   *He's sleep talking,* voiced Po flatly.



   Zheng closed his eyes in irritation. *Wake that dream boy up.*



                                ---



   At the tap on the head by Po's small toy hammer, Shinfu shot up, awake.
He blinked, staring hazily down at his huge hands. He didn't say a word.



   *How do you feel, Shinfu?*



   Shinfu's lips curved.



   *Strong,* he said. Deep within, his eyes glowed in dim red. *Perfect.
This power within me... I feel... so strong...*



   He suddenly punched his fist into the wall. The wall cracked and came
tumbling down, leaving a hollow at the place where he had strike. *Just
perfect.*



-----------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Side story:

===========



   *Hahahahaha!!!!!* Shinfu laughed hysterically, as he looked at the huge
hole he had put on the mansion's thick wall. *I'm strong! So powerful! I'm
SUPERMAN! I'm undefeatable! I can crunch that Ranma guy with this strength!
I can break his neck like a twig!*



   Then he sighed.



   *BUT WHY AM I STILL HERE???!!! Ain't I supposed to be out there killing
that Ranma guy now?!!!!* He cried, as he raised another brick and placed it
in the hole.



   *You crashed down my beautiful mansion's wall and you'll have to repair
it before anything else,* Zheng said coldly.



   *Why? Oh.. woes me...* Tears began to poured down the burly man's face
as he miserably went back to his repairing of the wall.



-----------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------





                         'Guo Qu Zhi Suo'

                         (Key to the Past)

                        ==================

                  Chapter 3: Trapped in the Past!

                    ===========================





   "Isn't this just -GREAT- ?!!" Ranma said emphasizing his words
sarcastically as he stormed to and fro in frustration. "This is about 100
years ago where I'm not even born yet! And we are stuck here!! All because
of that stupid Key Stone of yours, Co-chan! It's this just GREAT!!!?!"



   "Ya! Ya! Ya!" young twelve-year-old Cologne murmured inattentively at
Ranma's ranting. She turned towards the purple-haired Amazon girl who was
lying on the soft green grass, enjoying her every moment, and raised the
clay teapot. "Do you want some more tea, Shampoo?"



   "Yes," Shampoo nodded in delight as she hold out her small tea cup for
another of those tea she had missed ever since she went to Japan. Co-chan
filled it up as she hummed a soft lightly tune, which Shampoo joined later.
"Shampoo think here great too! Very nice! No violent girl, no chef girl,
only Ranma and Shampoo."



   She sure adapted herself to changes fast.



   Ranma smacked his own face helplessly.



   "Oh, Kami! Do I just LOVE you!" he yelled waving his fist angrily at
the sky. "I hope you're -enjoying- this!"



   "Ranma, I don't think you should say that to your own god, though here
is no Japan..." Co-chan shook her head in disapproval. "She still might..."



   KABLAAMMMM!!!!



   A huge thunder bolt appeared out from the cloudless blue sky and struck
Ranma directly.



   "... do that. Gee... Am I right!"



   "Shut up, Co-chan..." sputtered Ranma weakly, fried black as charcoal,
before he fell unconscious on to the ground.



        #          #          #          #          #





Present: Nerima



   Tofu's mind was spinning...



   How could anyone manage to stay sane with such a beauty before him? How
could they stay normal and cool like instead of starting to act stupid
uncontrollably all over with -Kasumi- around? That was a lesson, he, Tofu
has just got to learn.



   "Are you okay, Dr. Tofu?" Kasumi asked softly in concern.



   {Ah! I'm in heaven!} That's the only thing the poor doctor could think
of as he nodded dumbly in reply. {She's just so... beautiful...}



   "Well, I was saying... Ranma and Shampoo were being sucked into a
big-marble-like stone..." Kasumi repeated patiently for tenth time. "Do you
have any idea how to get them out?"



   "Aaa... so beautiful..."



   "Excuse me, Dr. Tofu?"



   "Huh?! Oh! Errr... I agree too! Inside the stone is a very nice place
to go for their honeymoon. I'm sure they'll find a lot of beautiful and
mystical things inside there! Very good choice! If they want to come back,
that's easy too! They can just take a bus, a plane or a boat back here. I
sure hope Ranma and... err.. who? ... Enjoys it." Tofu blabbed mindlessly.



   "No, Dr. Tofu, I mean..." Kasumi began again.



                              ---





   Eyeing at the out-of-mind doctor and Kasumi, Nabiki shook her head
hopelessly. At this pace, they won't get anywhere.



   Time for her to solve the situation!



   "Dr. Tofu, snap out of it! And listen to us!" Nabiki voiced, grabbing
his shoulders and turned him towards her.



   Tofu adjusted his foggy glasses and stared at her for a long time.



   "Nabiki!" He exclaimed finally. "When did you get here?! Your sister,
Kasumi's here too!"



   "I know, I came in here -with- her half an hour ago," Nabiki sighed.
Obviously, he only has eyes for Kasumi.



   "What? You have a cold? Ooo... poor Nabiki-chan. Here, don't cry, I'll
have something for you." Tofu began to search his medical cupboard. Then he
took out an arm full of pills and threw them into the unwanted arms of
Nabiki.



   "There you go! A whole year supply of Panadols and Antibiotics! Have
fun eating them!" He exclaimed proudly.



   "..." Crosses of irritation appear on Nabiki's face. She turned to
Kasumi and forced up a smile. "Sis, can you make us some tea? I think Dr.
Tofu here may be thirsty."



   "Oh my, why yes. Dr. Tofu, you won't mind me using your kitchen,
right?"



   "Absolutely! No problem at all! Sure! Yes! Why not? Of course! You are
always welcome. You..."



   Smiling, Kasumi disappeared through the kitchen door.



   "Finish mumbling, Dr. Tofu?" Nabiki asked flatly.



   The fog on his glasses began to fade away. "Huh? Nabiki? Why are you
here? Did you just arrive? Kasumi is her-..."



   "I know, I know. I -came- here -with- Kasumi."



   "... and Nabiki, why are you carrying so much medicine?" Tofu observed.
"Don't you know they are bad for your health if you eat too much of them?
What kind of doctor could do such of thing?!"



   "..."

                           ---





   It took quite a while, and a whole lot of Nabiki's patience, after the
absence of Kasumi to settle Tofu down.



   And when Tofu finally return to his -wise- self, he began to look
through some of his thick books thoughtfully. "A marble like stone that
swallow people...? Hmmm... I seem to remember reading something like that
long ago..."



   "So, find anything yet?" Nabiki asked after awhile.



   "Umm... no, nothing... wait! Here's it is! 'Legendary Treasures of
China'. If I remember it correctly, there should be some description about
the stone you mentioned... -If- I can find it among these legendary
items..."



   Nabiki watched as Tofu flipped through the thick dusty pages. The pages
of the book were so old and yellow looking that they almost seem to crumple
even under his gentle handling.



   "Here!" Tofu said aloud as he finally found it. "Nabiki, the clear
white marble stone you're talking about is actually call... a 'Key Stone'
under the description in Mandarin Chinese as *Guo Qu Zhi Suo*... meaning Key
to the Past. Legend says it has the power to 'teleport' a person back to the
past if given the exact commands and the right actions. When it reacts, the
stone starts to glow brightly and seems to 'swallow' the people..."



   "So, Ranma and Shampoo are now probably trapped in the past..." Nabiki
concluded.



   "Yes, I suppose so, unless they know the exact words or actions to make
the stone bring them back..."



   "Wait, does the book tell about the commands we have to give to the
stone? Maybe we could call them back from here..."



   "Ummm... let me see... 'To make the stone works...' Hey! What do you
know? The commands are written here! '...a person must first..." Tofu's
voice trailed off suddenly as his sharp eyes caught sight of a movement from
the kitchen.



   Kasumi appeared with a tray of hot tea and smiled warmly at him. "The
tea is made, do you want some?"



   Instantly, Tofu's hands slipped clumsily over the book, tearing a
handful of pages along. His glasses were, of course, all fogged up again.



   And the pages he tore out were, very unfortunately, the ones about the
Key Stone.



   "Ye... yes! Yes, Kasumi! I'm just eating, it'll be nice to have some
tea," he sputtered, crumbling the papers with his hands stupidly.



   "Eating?" Kasumi tilted her head slightly. "I don't see any food..."



   "This... This!" Tofu said, holding up the crumbled pages, which hold
the valuable information for Ranma's return. "I'm eating this! Yummy!"



   Before anyone could protest, Tofu stuffed the pages into his mouth and
started to chew. The valuable information was now... going into his stomach
and by the time they would reappear (through the other end)...



   It would not be a pretty sight...



   Kasumi could only stare with slight amusement, as she was unaware of
what had got into Dr. Tofu. Was he -that- hungry? Oh my, may be she should
bring him something to eat more often. Surely eating books were not good for
health.



   Meanwhile, Nabiki started to make a move for the book in case Tofu
decided to finish eating it whole.



  "Ugh! This is a little tasteless and hard to swallow..." Tofu murmured
still chewing the papers. "... I know! It's not even cook yet! Silly me!"



   He turned and grabbed the book once more before Nabiki did, and took
out a lighter. Then totally oblivious to her protest, he lit a fire on the
thick book.



   And Nabiki watched hopeless as the tiny fire immediately spread across
the dry pages and enveloped the book in flames...



   Soon, the valuable book became nothing more than mere ashes. Thanks to
our lovable Tofu and Kasumi.



        #          #          #          #          #





   Ranma opened his eyes... and found himself upside down.



   "Hey!" He struggled to get up and soon discovered both his hands and
feet were bounded. After observing his situation for a while he found that
he was all tied up to a wooden pole by thick ropes carried by Shampoo and
Co-chan. (Imagine how the meat eaters catch and carry their human prey and
you'll get the idea.) "Hey!!! What are you two doing?!!"



   "Oh hi, Ranma. Great to see you awake," said Co-chan in a singsong
voice.



   "Ranma no worry! Shampoo here."



   "What is THIS?!!!" the poor boy yelled.



   "Oh, this..." Co-chan pointed to the rope. "... is a rope. And this...
is a wooden pole. And this-"



   "I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT THAT!!! WHAT'S THE MEANING OF TYING ME UP LIKE
THIS?!!!"



   "Co-chan said one. Said take you back to Co-chan house. We stay there,"
Shampoo explained.



   "... Ok, if that's the case. Why tie me up like this? I can walk by
myself."



   "That's because... you are to stay at my house forever and protect me.
We can't have you run away, right?" Co-chan pointed.



   "Ya, Airen and Shampoo live happily ever after! Shampoo so happy!"



   "What?!! You can't do this to me! I'm the great and handsome Ranma! I'm
supposed to be free! Le'me go!!!"



        #          #          #          #          #





   The room was in a total mess. Things were either turned over or throw
out as if the person was in a rush, Akane observed as she open the door and
saw the sight of Cologne's room for the first time.



   "Oh, my god! Cologne! Someone broke into your room!" Akane gasped.



   Who could do such a thing, and only to Cologne's room too? What is the
person searching for?



   "Actually..." Cologne gave a small, embarrassed cough as she hopped
into the room. "I'm the one who did this. I was looking for the Key Stone."



   "Oh, sorry," Akane sheepishly as she watched wearily among the things
on the floor. When she had said to come looking for clues here in Nekoten,
she didn't expect Cologne have so -many- things with her. This would take
forever, not counting if she have to help tidying up the room.



   "Hmmm... I guess before we start looking... let's clean the room up
first. Mousse! You help too!" Cologne ordered.



   "What?! Why? It's my time off already, you said so after I cleaned
those one hundred thousand dishes, and fifty huge buckets of clothes, and...
I haven't SLEEP since THREE days ago to finish all the jobs you gave me!"



   "Wow, Mousse you went through all that?" Akane asked in amazement.



   "Her terms for me to attend to the birthday party with Shampoo," Mousse
grumbled.



   "CLEAN this up, or you WILL NEVER step a foot in Nekoten ever again,"
Cologne threatened, plainly making full use of Mousse's blind affection for
Shampoo. "Akane, you too."



   What could the two of them do but obeyed obediently? Akane sighed.



   "Wait..." She voiced again after a while and turned towards the old
woman watching them, doing nothing. "Cologne, aren't you going to help too?
It's your room, right?"



   "Ugh... no, I can't..." Cologne forced out a fake cough. "I'm too old
for this kind of stuffs... cough, cough... you young people go ahead."



   "Wow! Wow! Wow!" Mousse gave a sudden shout as he held up to show them
something he had found.



   Akane gave it a glance. It was an amazingly beautiful nude photo of a
young woman with long dark hair and big lovely eyes. The word 'Cologne--
Twenty years old' was scribbled on it.



   "Cologne, where should I put this picture of a fat cow?" Mousse asked
innocently.



   He was immediately answered by a powerful strike from Cologne's stick,
sending him plastered on the ceiling.



   Akane face-faulted. {Yeah, right! Too weak and too old to do
anything...}



        #          #          #          #          #





   Now, Co-chan's house is nothing Ranma had imagined. He pictured an
average house, with some average Chinese decoration and so on, but never had
he imagined it to be like this!



   Still upside down, hanging from a wooden pole, Ranma gawked at the
huge, grand mansion before him with his mouth shaped as the letter 'O'.
"You... you live here?! You gotta be kidding! It's even bigger than Kuno's
house!"



   "No, the Emperor lives here, duh. Of course I live here! You should
have seen the Palace! This place is like nothing compare to it! And you can
close your mouth now, Ranma, or a fly might get inside." Co-chan said and
walked through the huge wooden gates with Shampoo, carrying a still gaping
Ranma along.



   "What is your father's job anyway? I mean he must be earning -big- to
have a place like this!"



   "..." Her eyes to the ground, Co-chan did not answer. For a moment, the
expression on her face was unreadable, but then she looked up again, her
eyes fixed towards her house in deep thoughts. Slowly, she lowered the
wooden pole to the ground and disappeared through the front door without a
single word.



   "... What's wrong with her?" Ranma asked curiously.



   "Shampoo not know."



   "Uh... Shampoo, could you please untie me now? It's really
uncomfortable lying all tied up on the ground you know?" Ranma complained.



   After having quick second thoughts, Shampoo took out a small knife and
cut the ropes. "Ranma no run away, ok?"



                            ---



   Rubbing his sore arms, Ranma simply nodded. "You know, there's
something wrong, something about the atmosphere, about this house. I mean
it's..."



   "Too quite," Shampoo observed. "If got house this big, there is always
lots of servant and men to do things. But here, Shampoo no hear any noise."



   "Yeah..." Ranma said as he lowered his head thoughtfully. Then he
froze, his eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and realization.



   "Shampoo," Ranma finally voiced after a moment of silence. "I think I
know why Co-chan ran off that suddenly just now..."



   "Why?"



   "Look," Ranma said flatly. His fingers pointed to a small trail of
blood, almost unnoticeably camouflaged by the red pathway, staining from the
front door towards the gate into the outdoors. "Something's being pull out
form the house, and it's bleeding badly."



   "It not be Co-chan's..." Shampoo whispered softly.



   Right then, Co-chan burst out from the front door. Dread washed all
over her face. "Oh no! Ranma! Shampoo! My parents' body! They're gone!"



   "WHAT?!"



   "Why steal dead bodies?" Shampoo questioned. "Not understand..."



   "Papa, Mama..." Biting her lips slightly, Co-chan lowered her gaze
towards the ground. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of the bloody trail. "Why
wouldn't they leave you in peace?"



   "But who want to do such bad thing?" Shampoo cocked her head. "What
dead body good for?"



   And that moment, Ranma heard approaching footsteps. They stopped just
outside the gates of Co-Chan's house and a loud voice called out in
Mandarin.



   *Well, well, well, look, our DEAR little Cologne is back.* The voice
was meant to taunt.



   Ranma turned towards the gates. A chubby looking middle age man with
small greedy eyes stood out among the other ten men in black uniforms. He
was chucking and rubbing his hands as if he had just found himself a gold
mine. Immediately, Ranma knew he hated that guy.



   *What do you want, Long 'da ren'?* Co-chan demanded in a tune lack of
respect. ('Da ren' is a honorific Chinese term for China officers with their
respect post.) She didn't make any attempt to bow before this officer even
though it's an obvious rule to follow.



   *Hmph, you have the nerves to speak to Long 'da ren' like that!!!* One
of the man spoke up roughly pointing his spear at Co-chan. *Have you done
living?!!!*



   *Try me! I'm not a helpless little brat anymore! I've my own
bodyguards!* Co-chan said dangerously as she pointed to Ranma and Shampoo.
*The both of them just defeated Shinfu and twenty of his men a while ago!*



   Noticing that Co-chan was pointing at him screaming something, Ranma
looked back at her blankly in confusion. Then he crossed his eyes and stuck
his tongue out and began to dance around like silly. {This would sure
embarrass her in front of all these people. That's for tying me upside down
just now!}



   Everyone else face faulted. Co-chan's face was burning even redder than
a tomato.



   *He doesn't seems that 'great',* Long murmured, finally taking his
glance off Ranma, but his tune had a slight twinge of nervousness within.
Anyone who could defeat Shinfu and his men is someone to be feared.



   *He's... he's... just having a slight mental break down... that's
right, yeah,* Co-Chan mumbled numbly.



   Long snorted in ignorance, his eyes were already travelling, gazing
greedily at Co-chan's house. *Fine, a really fine mansion indeed. Just
perfect as my NEW HOUSE...*



   *What?!* The girl snapped. *This is MY house!!!! What makes you think
it's yours now! It had been ours for generations. The emperor himself
presented this to my great-great-great-great-great... whatever grandfather
because he... well, whatever that was, that's history. You couldn't have
it!! NEVER!!!*



   *Ah... but I can,* Long chuckled gleefully. *I can, because... you
father have agreed to GIVE me this mansion, hehehehheee...*



   *You're lying!* Co-chan spat. *My father would never-*



   *But little Cologne, he did,* Long shot back. His small eyes curved
cunningly as he pulled out a piece of paper from his long-sleeved robe and
swung it proudly before Co-chan's face. *It's all written here, inked and
all. There's no way you could denial it.*



   Without another word, Co-chan snatched the paper from Long and trailed
her eyes dreadfully across the calligraphy writings scrawled on it. Then,
her face pale white, she tried to tear the paper into pieces, but was her
attempt was already in Long's expectation. The paper was grabbed back before
she could ruin the evidence.



   Co-chan let out a cry of anguish at her fail attempt. The words written
there were simple. But it had change everything...





   <If I die, my house belongs to Long.>





   *How is it, little Cologne? It have your, oh, passed father's thumb
prints, finger prints, foot prints, face print, even tooth prints on it. Can
you believe how this tiny piece of paper can change everything?* Long
taunted vainly as he hand over the paper to one of his men and send him back
to keep it in the safe. *Can't risk to have it destroyed, right, Cologne?*



   *...* Co-chan stared back at him silently. Her eyes flashed angrily
with hatred.



   *But never mind, actually, I could EASILY create another piece of it,
even if you tore it. Hehehehe... After all... All I need is you father...*



   *!!!* Co-chan's eyes widened sickly in realization.

*YOU!!! So that's where my parents are!!!! You did set this up, didn't
you?!! You're such a despicable person! Slug!!! Big fat pig!!!!*



   Long merely flinched at Co-chan's outrage. He snickered, as his men
thrust forwards pointing their spears at the girl, who was nearly in tears
and was still screaming. He would have let the men just pierce her to death,
that would be so much easier, but his sharps eyes had caught the sight of
the two strange young teenagers, whom Co-chan had said to be her bodyguards,
taking their fighting positions, so he waved away his men instead.



   To stay longer was clearly unwise, he thought. It's time to flee, just
in case. Long took another nervous side-glance at Ranma and Shampoo before
he spoke up again.



   *Well, farewell, little Cologne. I'll come for this house tomorrow.
Enjoy it while it lasted, and oh, did I mention that all the furniture and
stuffs are with the house? Bahwaahaha!!!!*



   "..." Co-chan stared off hatefully at the hastily retreating figure.
She clenched her small fist as tightly as she could until it hurt, wishing
like anything that she could send that man to hell.



   There was a long silence between the three until Ranma suddenly yelled
in frustration. "What the HELL is GOING ON?!!! I wish I understand
Chinese!!!"



   "... Shampoo wish Ranma never go back to Akane."



        #          #          #          #          #





   Now, let's get back to the present in Nekoten where Mousse suddenly
gave a deafening scream as he held up another piece of paper he had found.
He collapsed seconds later with white bubbles forming out of his mouth.



   Curiously, Akane picked up the paper, then with a pale face she excused
herself to go to the toilet.



   Confused, Cologne picked up the paper and took a good look at it for a
long, long time. Then, still confused, she pasted the thing on the wall,
admire it again for a moment, then left the room.



   "What's wrong with the two of them anyway?" She frowned. "That's the
best art piece anyone can ever find, yet they... These young people, they
have no taste!"



   Now our curious camera-man began to move slowly towards the thing stuck
on the wall... The master piece as Cologne had said.



   Aaaa... Incredible!



   Extraordinary!!



   Unbelievable!!!



   ... A nude photo of one hundred-year-old Cologne with her lips puckered
to form a kiss. Words that say 'I'm still sooo sexy!!!' was scribbled at the
bottom.



   Ok!! Ok!! Let's pull the camera-man out of there before anyone who's
still alive after this horror decide to commit suicide! Wha? Hey! Anyone who
can still hear me?!!! Answer me! Anyone?!!



        #          #          #          #          #





   After following the silent little girl before him for quite some time,
Ranma finally decided to open his mouth. "Uh... Co-chan can you tell me what
the hell happen-"



   "Ugh... I think I'll go and change away these clothes." Cutting off his
words, Co-chan looking down at her blood and dirt stained clothes as she got
up and moved towards a room. "Feel free to look around."



   "Uh... okay," Ranma murmured. He then turned towards Shampoo. "I think
you better tell me what had happen to make her so upset before I go nuts."



   "Shampoo tell if Ranma stays."



   "That's it I'm outta here! Don't follow me."



   "Where Ranma go?"



   "Taking a walk!"



   The door slammed.



   Shampoo hesitated for a moment whether to follow the boy or otherwise.
A hurt look flickered briefly over her expression. Then she shrugged and
turned to explore the huge mansion.



                              ---



   Darn.



   Darn. Darn. Darn!



   Darn that stupid keystone! Darn everything!



   He had enough of this past business! Why was he always getting into in
kind of trouble?! Ranma pounded his fist on the ground repeatedly in
frustration until he was worn off.



   Lying on the grass along with all the huge craters he had created,
Ranma stared off into the starless night.



   How long was he going to be trapped here?



   He shifted his body uncomfortably. Something was bugging out from his
pockets. He sat up and took it out.



   It was a red fiber pouch with something hard inside. Oh yeah, the
present Akane gave him.



   Ranma poured out its contents onto his hands and looked at them hard.



   {What the hell is this stuff?!} He wondered. The whole pouch was filled
with small, irregularly shaped black substance. He squeezed it and brought
it close to his nose, and note that the strange thing was not only very,
very, hard but also smell strange.



   Shaking his head, Ranma put them back into the pouch and pocket them
once again.



   {Ok, so why of all things did Akane give me some stupid, strange
stones?}



        #          #          #          #          #





   "I'm home! Phew! Cologne had soooo many useless stuffs," Akane called
out as she stepped into the living room. A giant spatula caught her eyes
telling her that Ukyou was here. And from the look of her face, she was not
at all happy.



   But then, so was everybody else. Her father's face was still flowing
with tears, Genma (in panda form) apparently had already packed his
travelling equipment for emergencies, even Nabiki had an irritated look as
she glanced at Kasumi with her arms crossed.



   "I came for the party only to find your father flooding the dojo and
this panda trying to get away," Ukyou explained as she caught Akane's eyes
on her. She stood up to give Akane a paper.



   It read:



        [Dear wife,

            Ranma's disappearance has NOTHING to do

            with me!

                                               Genma]



   "I know what happened to Ranma and Shampoo already. Blast that Shampoo!
She's not going to get away for going along with Ranma! So, Akane, did you
find anything?" Ukyou asked in anticipation. "Nabiki won't say what she had
found out until you come. We had been waiting for you."



   "Uh... well, Cologne sort of kept me busy..." Akane said as she sat
down by the table beside Nabiki. "So, sis, tell us what you had found
first."



   "Well... This marble you're wearing is called a Key Stone and..."
Nabiki began to relate what she had known from Tofu. "... And the only way
to get Ranma and Shampoo back is to do a certain action or say something."



   "THIS IS GREAT! Let's get them back now!" Soun cried.



   "Aaa... but the thing is... I don't know how. The magic words are all
digesting in Tofu's stomach, probably evolving into another form by now,"
Nabiki snorted.



   "What?! HE ATE THEM?!! Why would he do such a thing?!!!" Soun yelled.



   Nabiki shot a look *innocent* Kasumi.



   "Ooooh..." Everyone else uniformly nodded in comprehension.



   "So what about you, Akane?" Nabiki asked.



   "Cologne has lots of stuffs, but they are all useless. None of them
gave us any clue, except... this." Akane slid her hand into her pocket and
took out a dirty red fiber pouch and placed it on the table.



   Ukyou poked lightly at it, then looked back at the girl. "So, what's so
special about it, Akane?"



   "Well, except for the older and dirtier look, otherwise, this pouch is
exactly the same as the one I've gave Ranma just a while before he got suck
into that Key Stone," Akane explained and shook out two irregular shaped
substance from the pouch. "Look, there's still some of the chocolates I've
made left in there."



   "WAIT A MINUTE!!!" Ukyou cried suddenly, looking extremely serious.



   Everyone fell silent and stared at her.



   "You are saying that these are CHOCOLATES?!!! What are YOU TRYING to
do?!! POISON Ranma?!!!" Ukyou screamed at Akane, waving the hard, black
substance before her. "This is unedible!!! It's the most horrible chocolate
I've ever seen! Ranma will surely DIE if he eat this!!! He-"



   "Shut up, Ukyou." Akane growled as she stuffed one of her CHOCOLATES
into the screaming girl's mouth. "It was supposed to be a fake present. I
gave it to him on purpose just to see the look on his face. I know how he
hate my cooking."



   There was bitterness in her last sentence.



   "And I WAS SAYING... " Akane continued ignoring Ukyou's chokes as she
tried to spit out the so called chocolates. "When I asked Cologne about it,
she told me that the substance inside, which are supposed to be my
chocolates, are a very special kind of medicine that was suppose to do some
special thing, whatever it is she can't remember. This thing had a name too!
Cologne said it was called... *a-ka-ni* in Chinese."



   *A-ka-ni?* Kasumi murmured thoughtfully. "Aka-ni, Akani, Akane... Oh
my, Akane."



   "Hey! It sounds like your name, Akane," Nabiki pointed.



   "Yeah! I didn't notice that!" Akane exclaimed. "I wonder why?"



   "Whatever the reason is, the overall conclusion of tonight's discussion
is that Ranma and Shampoo are still... trap?" Ukyou voiced.



   At that, everyone fell silent again.



   "WAAAHHHH!!!! This is not good!!!!" Soun broke the silent by his
bawling. His tears began to pour again. "If Ranma doesn't come back... This
is horrible!!! Genma, our school could never be joined!!! Genma, what should
we do?!!! Genma--, Genma? Hey! Where did he go?!"



   Soun paused in his outburst and stared at his empty side where Genma
had been toying with a huge tire. The panda had disappeared.



   "He's gone," Nabiki stated, showing them a sign she had found stuck by
the door.



   [It's time for training. I leave Ranma under your care.]



        #          #          #          #          #





   *Ahhh...* Shampoo covered her mouth as she gave a ladylike yawn. Ranma
seemed to have gone for ages... although it was only just a few minutes.
Well, it seemed a long time to Shampoo! Now that she finally had Ranma all
to herself... Well, sort of... Ranma had to go out for a walk. Agh! How
annoying!



   {Well, never mind. Ranma must have gone out to get something for her.
Something nice and beautiful...  and especially just for her.}



   Shampoo's boredom was quickly replaced by a dreamy look.



                         ~~~~~~~



   "Shampoo..."Ranma whispered huskily as he suddenly appeared, dressed
gorgeously in suit, with a bunch of flowers in his hands. Romantic music
began to play at the background.



   "Yes, Airen..." Shampoo clasped her hands happily.



   "These are for you, my love." Ranma handed over the wildflowers with
style.



   "Thank you! Airen! They beautiful!"



   "Not as beautiful as you, Shampoo..." he replied.



   "Oh, Ranma..."



   "Shampoo..."



   And then she will place her hands over Ranma's broad shoulders and...
ahhh... the fiery kiss of love will come...



                        ~~~~~~



   Then, Ranma *turned* into a middle age man.



   "HUH?!!! What?!!!! Hiya!!!!" Shampoo reflexively punched at the man's
sudden appearing face. To her horror, her fist made a *hole* through the
man's face! She was about to scream until she realized that what she was
hugging was a huge board picture, not Ranma or any strange man.



   Aiya! A potrait! Shampoo broke off from her daydream in disappointment.



   Except for the hole in where the man's face was supposed to be, the
portrait was so perfect that a very talented artist must have drew it. The
piece was in such detail, and almost like a photo.



   It was a portrait of four. And Shampoo saw Co-chan in it immediately.
The same girl, with some of her hair tied into two braids and a hair band,
smile back radiantly at her. Her eyes could just reflected how happy she was
with her family. She was wearing the same white Chinese dress she was
wearing today, probably her favorite one.



   She can^�t wear it anymore... Shampoo recalled the piece of torn,
blood-covered clothing, which she saw Co-chan was in.



   Shampoo ran her hands over its smooth surface.



   They all looked so happy...



   The painter had drawn out the effect with much skill.



   Obviously, by looking at all the smiley faces (ignore the hole in the
headless man), they all didn't know...



   What was going to happen to them...



   *What are you going to do now, great grandmother?* Shampoo whispered
softly to the young girl in the portrait.



   Co-chan smiled back at her silently.



   Shampoo shook her head. She didn't think this young, great grandmother
of hers knew how to handle this situation.



   "..." For a moment, Shampoo just stood there looking empty eyed at the
picture, her mind elsewhere.



   *Sob*



   "?!!" Shampoo's head jerked up at the soft voice that had passed by her
ears. She was just wondering if it was just a figment of her imagination
when she heard it again.



   She followed the sound. It led her to a room not far away, by the
stairway. Shampoo paused by the doorway for a moment before sliding open the
old-fashioned door.



                              ---



   Meanwhile, Ranma was still in the nearby forest opening, frying his
poor brains off by trying to think of a way to return back to the present...



   "Okay, first thing first," Ranma said as he paced back and fro
thoughtfully. "I'll have get the Key Stone from Co-chan. Then, figure out
the magic words, and then--!! Who's there?!"



   Ranma scanned the surrounding cautiously. His battle instincts detected
a murderous battle aura directed at him, yet, all he could see were trees
and grass. "Show yourself!!"



   As if in reply, a huge boulder appeared and crashed a hole in the place
where Ranma was standing a second ago. Had it not be because of his quick
reflexes, he would already be underneath the boulder.



   Ranma growled. His head jerked towards the tree branches angrily, and
that moment the attacker leapt down from tree using the free fall as an
enchantment to his coming strike.



   *DIE!!* the man yelled in Mandarin Chinese, which Ranma detected danger
even with his inability to understand Chinese.



   "What the hell are you doing?!!!" The annoyed boy shouted angrily as he
rushed towards the falling guy, avoid his punch, and counter back with his
chestnut fist.



   Attacking while falling will increase the attacking power but it will
also leave a lot of loopholes in all other parts of the body, and Ranma had
just applied that knowledge. All his attacks hit home perfectly and
forcefully. By the time he was done, the attacker slumped to the ground.



   "Hmph! Seems like you can't even answer my question now, can you?"
Ranma said coldly as he glanced at the fallen man. He then flipped back his
ponytail confidently and turned to walk back to Co-chan's house. "Don't
bother, I won't understand what you're talking about anyway."



   *Ranma... Die...*



   "Huh?" The boy spun around. The attacker, who was on the ground moments
ago, was on his feet and looked ready to strike again.



   Just a moment ago, Ranma had thought that this man was Shinfu, the guy
who had been so foolish to challenge him when he arrived in this stupid
past. This attacker had the same huge, burly figure, and similar face. But
then, that Shinfu, who was a moron, had twenty men with him when he tried to
attack and snatch the Key Stone. He was easily beaten by Ranma's chestnut
fist. This one, however, not only came alone, but also took his attacks as
if they were mosquito bites.



   No way! Ranma thought. He had applied more force on this attack than
the last. He shouldn't have got up that easily!



   To verify what's going on, Ranma rushed forward and gave Shinfu another
of his chestnut fist, keeping in mind to strike hard.



   The attack went exactly as Ranma wanted. None missed as Shinfu didn't
bother to avoid the attacks at all.



   But the result was not what he was expecting. Shinfu just stood there,
unhurt.



   "What the-?" Ranma uttered in confusion. Somehow or rather, this guy
before him was giving off a different impression. Stronger. He could not
help noticed Shinfu's once cold dark eyes, now had a dim glow of red within
along with a strange intensity of hatred mixed with emptiness.



   *Die...* Shinfu murmured again emotionlessly.



   Ranma took a step backwards. {There's something strange about this...}



                              ---





   The door opened slightly and Shampoo perked her head inside curiously.
The unlikely dimness in the room caused her eyes to widen in mild surprise.



   Co-chan, with her blood and dirt a coated white robe remained
unchanged, was barely seen when Shampoo spotted she couching silently in a
dark corner. Maybe it was because she didn't want to be seen...



   "..." Shampoo closed the door behind her quietly, still keeping her
eyes on the silent girl, who didn't even look up at her entrance. She then
walked towards Co-chan and crouched down beside her.



   Co-chan's eyes are filled with a sea of sadness, Shampoo noted. They
were swollen from the girl's quite weeping, for how long, she didn't know.
It was only then the Amazon realized how much this little great grandmother
of hers was suffering, a thought that never crossed her mind since her
arrival.



   She suddenly remembered the fact that she had never seen her great
grandmother shred a tear. Never, not even when she met Co-chan, now, at the
age of twelve. Not even the little girl describe and retold the intended
murder of her parents before her very eyes, not even when she found out that
Long had taken their bodies and misused them.



   Never...



   Until now...



   Shampoo gazed at the girl beside her, realizing that what she and Ranma
had seen might just be a strong act Co-chan had put on, and this depressed
girl beside her may actually be the real her. It must have been hard for
such a young girl to suppress her grief emotions, to stop the tears from
flowing out from her eyes.



   *Co-chan...* Shampoo's voice trailed off after the mention of name, she
did not know what to say next, so she placed a comforting hand on the girl's
shoulder instead. Sometimes it's easier to communicate without words.



   It was only then the girl looked up at Shampoo in a way as if she had
only just realized the other girl's presence. Immediately she wiped away her
tears with her sleeves.



   *I'm... I'm not crying,* Co-chan murmured defensively trying to hide
the swollen red eyes.  *Papa said crying only show weakness. I... I don't
cry.*



   {Weak? Crying shows weakness? Is that the reason -- a word from a past
father -- that made her this way?} Shampoo eyed the girl.



   The lost of love ones hurt, but to hide those feelings... it would only
cause deeper pain...



   *... Co-chan, what your father had said... weakness could not be shown
to an enemy. But I'm not your enemy, Co-chan. I'm... I'm your friend.*
Shampoo's comforting hands transformed into a deep hug filled with
gentleness and assurance. *Co-chan, it's okay to cry. It's okay... You're
not going through this alone... I'm here...*



   *Shampoo...* Co-chan choked as she hugged back, all her barrier
diminished. Tears began to flow freely, unhidden, as the girl cried her
heart out. Maybe it's Shampoo true sincerity, or maybe it's Shampoo's
touching, comforting words, or maybe it's something else...



   Cradling the girl, Shampoo couldn't help smiling inwardly to herself.
Her great grandmother, Cologne, had always bear a strict, wise and strong
impression within her heart, one who don't have any weakness, but now...
Somehow, seeing little Cologne's unexpected outburst, revealing maybe just a
little of her true self, Shampoo felt herself closer to her great
grandmother than she ever was.



                              ---





   *DIEEE!!!! DIE!!!!* Shinfu charged at Ranma, his arms swing wide.



   "What the hell?!! Aggh!" The pig-tailed boy leapt away just in time
before the burly guy crashed into him.



   Shinfu caught hold of the tree trunk Ranma was standing behind. Then to
the boy's amazement, the tree that burly man was hugging broke into half
under his over powerful grasp.



   "You can't be that stupid man I'd defeated this afternoon!" Ranma
yelled, raising the broken tree trunk above his head and banged it on
Shinfu's head. "What the hell's going on?!"



   "Who are you? And why are you imposing that guy?!" Ranma continued
giving a taste of the tree trunk to Shinfu's head at his evey word. Bang!
Bang! Bonk! "That guy wasn't this... this strange... and this strong!! But
then, of course I'm still more powerful and strong, lovable, handsome, and
-- I've the right to know what's going on?!!"



   By the time he was finished, Shinfu was already half nailed underground
due to his hammering. And to Ranma's annoyance and disbelieve, he had show
no sign of expression, mainly (what Ranma really wished to see) pain and
fear... or maybe plain unconsciousness, yeah that would do too. Shinfu's had
just let him hammered on his thick head for more than fifty time, yet, he
show no sign of discomfort, great huh?!



   "Okay!!! At least say something!!!" Ranma shouted in frustration.



   *Ranma, die!*



   "AGRHHHH!!!! *THAT* - is - *NOT* - WHAT I'M ASKING FOR!!!" Ranma flung
the tree trunk towards Shinfu's head again.



   This time, Shinfu, tired of being hit on the head, shot out his hand
and smashed the already halved tree trunk into half, again.



   "Darn you!!!" Ranma leapt backwards immediately as he sensed Shinfu's
huge arms swing for him.



   And as Ranma did his movement to avoid the blow, Shinfu took the chance
to tear himself out of the ground with ease.



   *Di--*



   "I'm tired of hearing that word!!!!" With that, Ranma threw some
multiple kick at his face, hitting Shinfu right at his jaw.



   The man staggered a few step backwards, then faced the boy again with
his expressionless face. He charged....



   ... and broke down some more trees as his attacks missed.



   {Darn it!!!} Ranma cursed as he crouched down swiftly, avoiding
Shinfu's blow, the tree behind him fell... He then swiped a kick at the
opening he saw the Shinfu made. But then onse again, the man dismissed the
kick like it didn't touched him at all. {Darn it!!! He's as strong and
powerful as if a herd of elephants that went amok!!! And his taking my
attacks like nothing at all!!! Darn it!!! How am I going to beat him, if my
attacks are nothing to him?!!}



    *DIEEEEE!!!!!* Shinfu yelled throwing his punches. Ranma, slightly
distracted by his thoughts, saw it a little late... yet, he managed to avoid
it in the nick of time.



   And that was when he realized something...



   Shinfu was lack of speed.



   {Hmph! Hmph hmp hmp!} Ranma began to smile confidently.



                              ---



   *Shampoo, you'd hear what Long said, don't you?* Co-chan voiced after
the longest time. She had done crying, and had been just sitting down beside
Shampoo quietly afterwards.



   Shampoo nodded. *They're taking the house."



   *But this is -my- house.* Co-chan lowered her head. *This house had
been passed on our family for generations. My grandpa, my great grandpa...
everybody used to lived here. Father told me that, this house was a present
by the emperor himself to my great grandfather. Imagine that, the honor of
receiving such a huge house from the emperor! ... Which is probably why Long
wanted this house so much...*



   Co-chan took out the white marble-like stone and stare at it.



   *And this stone, that Keystone... I had just found it last week, in
this huge chest. I was pretending, that it maybe a treasure chest because it
looked so old... but I never knew... I never knew opening it would cause my
parents' life... I never knew... NEVER!!!* Tears began to form at the corner
of Co-chan's eyes, but she wiped them away quickly.



   *Mother was so happy... she kept saying that it's something that came
along with the house, another gift from the emperor to great grandfather.
Father looked through the books and said that it's called the 'Keystone'.
It's a rare item, a treasure! They put in on a special table in the living
room, where as they claimed, everyone could have a look at it... Lots of
people came, some just to peek at this so called treasure, some offered
tones of money to buy it. But both Father and Mother smile and refused. They
said it's something great grandfather owned and something about how that
keystone is their treasure, great grandfather's gift, something that is more
than merely something to sell... no money can buy it. Even if it were to be
just a useless stone, they would still treasure it.*



   *Long was there too. He too, wanted to buy the stone, but he was more
interested in this house. And there was this strange man with the coldest
piercing purple eyes... Shinfu was standing behind him that day, and seemed
to be very afraid of him. He must be the one that order Shinfu to snatch the
stone!! I'll never forgive him!*



   *Everything happens after I'd found the stone!!! Why is it so
important?!! Why is so many people after it?!!!  It's my fault!! If I
haven't found this... this... this stone!!!*



   Angrily, Co-chan threw the Keystone without a thought. Shampoo slid
reflexively along the floor trying to grab it before it reached the ground
and broke into pieces. Unfortunately, her sliding aim was slightly off due
to the darkness within the room and the unexpected reaction of Co-chan, she
slid towards the wooden bed and bang her head on it instead.



   The stone fell to the ground. And to Shampoo's relieve and amazement,
it didn't broke. It just rolled and stopped beside Shampoo's hand,
unscratched... in perfect condition.



   {What?!}



   *If I'd never found the Keystone my parents would still be alive!!!
Shinfu would never have come and kill them for the stone! Then that big fat
slug -- Long would never have get his hands on my parents body, and used
them to sign his stupid paper saying that he'll have the house!!!
Everything!!!! Everything's all MY FAULT!!!* Co-chan continued, yelling out
with all her might. *It's my fault... I... I... cause the death of my own
parents... and now, I'm losing this house... the house where all our
memories are...*



   *...What?!* Shampoo narrowed her eyes. Something Co-chan said had
caught her ears, and it made her burn in rage. She grabbed hold of the
trembling girl. *What did you just said?!*



   *My fault... my...* Tears flowed down Co-chan's small face
uncontrollably. She was too numb, too depressed to answer Shampoo. *Papa...
Mama.. I'm sorry...*



   *NO! Co-chan! I'm not asking you that, and it's not your fault! This
just happens! It's not your fault!!!* Shampoo hugged the girl firmly, trying
to calm her, sooth her... *It's not your fault! Everything is -not- you
fault!! You should not blame yourself!!*



   The girl just sob weakly, hugging back Shampoo. Co-chan just cried and
cried.



   Shampoo was still hugging Co-chan. Her embrace was gentle and soothing,
but if Co-chan were to look into Shampoo's face, she would be looking into a
pair of cold, narrowed eyes with burning fury within.



                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ~~*If I'd never found the Keystone my parents would

    still be alive!!! Shinfu would�� G          �               C^�

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ll about letting him have the house...



                              ---





   "Yay, yay, you cannot touch me! You can't reach me! You're an idiot!
Baka! Baka! Hahahaha!!!!!" Ranma sang as he leapt around the surrounding,
avoiding Shinfu's blows at the same time. Around him trees began to fall as
Shinfu broke their trunks.



   "Can't catch me!!!!"



   *Arrrrgghhh!!! DIEEE!!!!!!!*



   Ranma grined as he continuously avoided Shinfu's strike with ease. "You
know, you're REALLY slow!! All I need is to tire you out! Same technique I'd
used on Ryoga long ago! You can't even *touch* me!"



   Shinfu replied by smashing down another tree. It seems that either
Ranma stop him soon or the entire forest would be history, and to make
matters worse, Shinfu seemed to have an unlimited amount of energy.



   ... Almost as if he were a puppet, or a robot without feelings, emotion
or will...



   "Yay! Yay! You can't catch me!!! Yay! Y-- Yeowwww!!!" Ranma head
accidentally hit against a large stick-out tree branch as he leapt
backwards. The boy fell to the ground, and landed (which is very, very,
unfortunate) on Shinfu.



   Before Ranma could escape, Shinfu took his chance and grab the boy by
the neck. He held Ranma high, making sure that his grip was iron, and that
the boy's feet didn't touch the ground.



   Ranma struggled by kicking against Shinfu's chest, but all was in vain.
And judging by the way that Shinfu was strangling him any wrong move would
break his precious neck. His neck hurt, and worst of all, he couldn't
breath!!!



   *Die...*



   Maybe for once, what Shinfu said registered truly within Ranma's mind,
and he didn't like it one bit...



        #          #          #          #          #





   Akane couldn't sleep. She had been twisting and turning on her bed for
quite some time, yet she couldn't get the strange uncomfortable anxiety
within her to go away.



   To put it mildly, this had been the most unforgettable birthday in her
life, or to say it hardly, it was the worst.



   {And Ranma forget totally about my present!}



   No, it's not only that, the whole party was ruin. She had to cancel it,
tell her friend sorry but they have to go home just because Ranma got
himself into trouble. Again!



   {And I can't believe he forget about my present!!!}



   No, of course the present was not that important, Akane reassured
herself. It was so... stupid. She had everything planned.



   Akane picked up the old red fiber pouch on her dressing table and empty
out the 'chocolate' inside. There was only one left, the other almost went
down Ukyou's throat and was spit into the dustbin.



   Those chocolates were special. For the first time, she intentionally
made them in the worst possible way. She had throw clay instead of flour,
pepper instead of salt, everything in the wrong order. Just to act as a fake
present to frightened Ranma.



   Then she would go up to the depressed face birthday boy and showed him
his 'real' present. She knew she would love to see that look on his face
when he saw it... Except he's now far behind time to see it now...



   {And that baka didn't give me anything!}



   Present... why would her fake present come back in time and appeared in
Cologne's stuffs? Why did she said it was called *a-ka-ni*? Akane?



   Why is some badly made chocolates turn out to be some kind of special
medicine?



   Why? ...



   {And you don't think I've forget, Ranma! You still owe me a present!!
So don't you dare let anything happen to you before you give it to me!!}





        #          #          #          #          #





   {I'm dying!!!}



   Ranma's body had reached its limits, and went limb. He didn't have any
strength left to struggle.



   Too bad, his hands were not long enough to strangle Shinfu along with
him.



   Too bad, he couldn't do anything...



   He's starting to see stars...



   *Die!!* Shinfu raised Ranma high above his head. *Die!
Hahahahahaha!!!!*



   With the last, final strength Ranma could managed, he brought out
Akane's present -- the red fiber pouch, and let a piece of the substance
inside drop into Shinfu's wide open mouth.



   As the tiny piece went down Shinfu's throat, the man began choked.



   {There, at least, I choked him...} Ranma's lips turned slightly
upwards.



   Shinfu's choke grew, as the piece of substance apparently decided to
get stuck somewhere down the throat. Distracted, Shinfu flung Ranma towards
a tree, and grip his own throat, trying to cough out the substance.



   Once freed from the iron grip, Ranma breathed in the surrounding air
hungrily, ignoring the pain that shot through his body from the crash
against the tree.



   {That was so close!!} He had never thought that air was so precious.
Ranma swore to treat air kindly after this incident.     Then, he's
attention turned towards the still choking burly man.



   "Still suffering huh? Le'mme HELP YOU!!!" Before Shinfu knew what was
happening, Ranma slammed him on the jaw heavily.



   And that blow finally convinced the tiny piece within Shinfu's throat
to continue its journey... down the stomach, though that was definitely not
the way Shinfu wanted it to go as his face turned green immediately.



   *How dare you!!!! What was that you'd given me?!! I'm going to KILL
you!!!!* Shinfu jerked his head up and yelled after he had finally found his
voice. *Die--*



   He was cut off by Ranma's uppercut kick, followed by his chestnut fist.
This time, strangely, he felt the pain. And it hurt. Very, very, VERY much.



   "That's for trying to KILL me!!!"



   *Grrrrr* Shinfu struggled to his feet in anger. *You're going to pay
for that!!!!*



   For effect, he banged his fist against the huge tree trunk to his side.
*YEEEOOOOWWWWW!!!! Oh, woes me!!!*



   Ranma stared at the yelling burly man in confusion. That blow Shinfu
made, it didn't take the tree down like before. The tree stood sturdily at
where it was, and Shinfu was holding his swollen fist yelling painfully.



   And when had he started saying something that sounds other than
*die!!!*?



   Whatever it was, Shinfu seemed to have turned back into his stupid self
and was no longer invincible to attacks. And that was good news.



   Ranma cracked his knuckles and smiled.



   Shinfu, too, had begun to realize his condition, and could only stare
at the approaching boy wearily. He's doom!!!



   *Oh, woes meee!!!! Ulff!!! Ouch!! Yeow! Offf!!! OOOOO!!!
ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!*



                              ---





   Later, Ranma staggered back towards Co-chan's house. His revenge on
Shinfu had drained up most of his strenght, and all he wanted more than
anything else for now was to lie on a soft, soothing, comfortable bed and
sleep the hell off.



   Just as his tired hands were about to reach the door, the door slid
open, and Shampoo shot out, grabbed Ranma by the pigtail and began to drag
him out towards the gate.



   "*Die...* ... Darn! I'm beginning to get influenced by that stupid
guy!!!" Ranma smacked his head tiredly. "Shampoo!!! What?!! What are you
doing?" Why are you dragging me outside again?!! I'd enough of walking
already!!"



   "Ranma, we help Co-chan. We help get back house." Shampoo's voice was
firm with determination. She continued her dragging. "That stupid fat slug
is going to suffer! Shampoo going to kill him slowly! Then cut him into
very, very, very tiny pieces! Feed his meat to pigs!!!"



   "Shampoo!!! Whatever you're talking about... Can't it wait?!! I'm
tired!"



   "No! Must make him suffer now! He make small great grandmother suffer a
lot! Ranma know where Shampoo can find very, very sharp sword?"



   "Okay! Go find that person whoever he is! Leave me outta this! I just
want some sleep! By the way do you know where he is or lives?" Ranma crossed
his hands and yawned.



   "... ..." Shampoo halted at her footsteps. She then turned
a-hundred-and-eighty-degree and headed back to the house, still dragging
Ranma by the ponytail. "Shampoo kill him tomorrow."



   "Good. Now I can have some sleep."



   "No, Ranma no sleep. Shampoo going to explain what happen in the
afternoon. Ranma have to listen. Very long story but Shampoo tell
everything. Even if it takes the whole night!" The Amazon declared.



   "Gulp! The WHOLE night?!!! *Oh woes me!!* Hey! Not again!!! I'd gotta
stop saying those stupid Chinese words!"



   "? Who teach Ranma Chinese?"



To be continue...

-----------------------------------------------------------------



Hahahaha!!! FINALLY!!! Chapter three, DONE!!!

Wow, this took me about a year! (Ya, sorry I'm such a slow writer. But at
least this one is long, right? RIGHT?) When's the next Chapter coming out? I
have no idea at all! (I think it will be like within this three months or
so, just hope that won't go up to another year...) But I'll work on it!



Written by Yucca <YRutee@hotmail.com>

Any C&C?

-----------------------------------------------------------------



Side story:

===========

Shinfu and Po: Part 1

---------------------



   *Po!!!!!* Shinfu threw himself dramatically at the mad scientist,
hugged him with all his might and broke into tears. *Your medicine!!! It
wears off and now I couldn't break a tree easily anymore! You got to help
me!!! Sobs! Oh, woes me!!!*



   *He-help you?!! Who-who's going to he-help me then...?* Po cried with
him. His body was giving strange popping, crunching sounds -again- under
Shinfu's grab. The agony! Maybe he should just give Shinfu a pill to put him
to eternal sleep! All this internal injuries were not worth it!



   *YOU GOT TO HELP ME!!!* Shinfu tightened his grip on Po's shoulder and
began to shake him like a rag doll. *Give me another of those powerful
pills!!!*



   *I can't! I'd pour all of them down your throat already! There's none
left," Po managed to uttered.



   *NOOO!!!! THEN YOU GOT TO MAKE SOME MORE!!! Oh woes me! Why is my life
so miserable...* Shinfu kneeled down on the floor pitifully, and turned his
big shining, teary eyes at Po.



   Po gagged and started to vomit on the floor.



   That's it! Po came to a horrible decision. It's going to be either
Shinfu or him! He's going to make the death pill now. Or he may turn out to
be the one that's dying.



-----------------------------------------------------------------





Outtakes --NGs!!

================

   *My fault... my...* Tears flowed down Co-chan's small face
uncontrollably. She was too numb, too depressed to answer Shampoo. *Papa...
Mama.. I'm sorry...*



   *NO! Co-chan! I'm not asking you that, and it's not your fault! This
just happens! It's not your fault!!!* Shampoo hugged the girl firmly, trying
to calm her, sooth her... *It's not your fault! Everything is -not- you
fault!! You *SHOULD* blame yourself!!*



   *Yeah! You're right, Shampoo, I *SHOULD* blame myself, because I'm
actually a killer! I've killed my own parents!! So who's next?!! You people
would never get me! Bwahahahaha!!! * Co-chan released an evil laugher that
can be heard even from miles, then she realized something. *... HEY!!!!*



Yucca:   "Ooops! Sorry typing error!! Hehehehe... You know, these things
happen, and I'm kinda in a rush... and-- Uuufff!!! ARRGHHHHH !!! I'M
SORRIEEEEEEEeeeeeee!!!!!!!"



   *Sorry, readers, but stupid author decided it time for flying lesson*
Shampoo announced, cracking her knuckles.



   Up in the sky, Yucca's flying form slowly becomes a tiny speck and
disappears into the horizon...



   "I'd just made one tiny weenie mistake and this the way YOU TREAT YOUR
FANFIC AUTHOR?!!!!"





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