Magical Interludes:  December's End 
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi

Chapter 8:  The Festival - Part II
 
He plans his actions carefully; he would get only one attempt.  He 
would have to land out of reach of the beast while simultaneously 
judging the right time to attack.  If he misjudged the weapon would 
be lost in its mouth and he would have to kill the animal.  He takes 
out his bolas. 
 
The beast would expect him to make for the door.  He feints toward 
the door and sprung in the opposite direction, twirling the bolas as 
he approaches the floor.  Mr. Turtle, fooled for a second, quickly 
turns its head as it attempts to keep track of the inspector against the 
momentum of its body. 
 
The inspector threw the bolas toward Mr. Turtle's mouth.  It caught 
and constricts around the beast's mouth.  The creature writhes to 
free itself, and the inspector uses its inattention to reach the trays of 
food.  He grabs a handful and attempts to feed it to the alligator; 
who, used to Kodachi's food, refuses to eat.  The inspector jumps 
onto its back, trying to slip it past the pressed lips.  He finally gets it 
in, and the alligator falls asleep.  The inspector retrieves his bolas, 
then stalks through the house until he finds a telephone. 
 
Inspector:  "Hello, Tokyo Zoo?  I've got an illegal reptile for you..." 
 
********************** 
 
Hinako drains a passerby of his energy and runs to catch up with 
Cologne. 
 
Cologne:  "Are you sure that these two will be there?" 
Hinako:  "Yes, yes.  I called the Kuno household and they assured 
	me that they had a meeting with that policeman this 
	afternoon.  We should arrive just after he does." 
Cologne:  "Good.  I'd hate to waste my time like last night." 
 
As the two walk down the street they see a tiny figure in the distance 
hopping from rooftop to rooftop in the direction of the New Year's 
Festival.  They walk up the path to the front door. 
 
********************** 
 
The Cat Cafe, like Uc-chan's, had switched from being a restaurant 
to a sidewalk vender with the arrival of the festival.  The steaming 
bowls of ramen were very popular with the crowd, and Shampoo and 
her father were kept busy. 
 
Shampoo wishes that Mousse was there to help out; then found 
herself wondering if that was the only reason she wished that.  She 
startles suddenly and returns to helping customers. 
 
********************** 
 
Ayuki:  "Hi, uncle Mousse." 
 
Mousse passes a busy Uc-chan's on the way to the Tendo Dojo to see 
Ayuki.  Saotome's three 'daughters' were working there (Midori 
making okonomiyaki, Keiko at the register, and Ayuki moving 
supplies), so he walks up to them as best as he can. 
 
Mousse:  "Ayuki.  Can I talk to you?" 
Ayuki:  "Sure Mousse, what is it?" 
Mousse:  [looking around at crowd]  "Um... privately." 
 
********************** 
 
The servant answers the door. 
 
Hinako:  "Is Tatewaki and Kodachi Kuno at home?" 
Servant:  "I'm sorry, but it appears..." 
Inspector Muramoto:  "Yeah, I'll bet you're sorry." 
 
The inspector appears, dragging the unconscious pet behind him.  
He handcuffs the alligator to the front door. 
 
Inspector Muramoto:  "You might as well start looking for a new job 
	because this house is going to be empty come tomorrow." 
 
The inspector puts on his sunglasses and starts walking toward the 
festival.  Cologne follows him.  After draining the servant and the 
alligator, so does Hinako. 
 
Cologne:  "This might be entertaining." 
 
********************** 
 
Mousse and Ayuki sit at a table in the deserted Uc-chan's. 
 
Mousse:  "Ayuki, Shampoo asked me to leave her alone for awhile.  
	She said that she loves Ranma.  What should I do?" 
 
Ayuki bites her lip. 
 
Ayuki:  "I... I don't know.  I thought everything would work out by 
	itself.  Wait, let me go ask Midori." 
 
Ayuki goes outside and Midori enters.  A sudden flash of light is 
seen through the doorway, and voices are heard from outside. 
 
Keiko:  "Ayuki!  What are you doing?" 
Ayuki:  "But I like it when it flames like that!" 
Keiko:  "Its not supposed to do that!  Here, let me..." 
 
Midori ignores what happens outside and sits down across from 
Mousse.  He explains what happened with Shampoo. 
 
Midori:  "Just leave her alone, Mousse." 
Mousse:  "But..." 
Midori:  "I know its hard, but you aren't going to help by bothering 
	her.  She knows that daddy doesn't love her.  She has to 
	discover for herself whether or not she feels the same way 
	that you do.  Just wait and she'll tell you how she feels once 
	she knows herself." 
Mousse:  "Do you think so?" 
Midori:  "You may not want to think so, Mousse, but women are just 
	as confused as men about these things.  Sometimes." 
 
Mousse and Midori smile at each other, then he thanks her and 
leaves the restaurant.  Midori sits in the darkened room awhile, 
thinking about the talks she had with her stepmother about love. 
 
********************** 
 
Akane and Ranma and Ukyou instantly leave the area once Dr. 
Tofu's "condition" re-asserts itself.  They quickly make their way to 
the section of the fair where the games are.  They sit down for a 
small bite to eat when Akane kicks Ranma toward the game booths. 
 
Ranma:  "What was that for?" 
Akane:  "I want to talk by ourselves for a moment.  Go win us 
	something." 
 
Ranma looks hurt but quickly loses himself in the games. 
 
Ukyou:  [uncomfortable]  "What did you want to talk to me about, 
	Akane?" 
Akane:  "Ukyou... do you still love Ranma?" 
Ukyou:  "Akane, I... I do."  [looks down the aisle of booths, to where 
	Ranma is going crazy playing games and steels herself for 
	her answer]  "He's my first love.  I think I'll always feel that 
	way." 
Akane:  "I understand.  I think I feel the same way about Dr. Tofu." 
 
The two sit in silence for a couple of moments.  Akane grasps 
Ukyou's hand from across the table. 
 
Akane:  "Ukyou, you're Ranma's best friend.  I wish that I was, but 
	I'm not.  I think that we're a lot alike; couldn't we be best 
	friends, too?" 
 
Ukyou's answer is postponed when Ranma comes bouncing back, 
pushing some small dolls into the two girls' arms. 
 
Ranma:  "C'mon, they've set up some carnival rides!  Let's go!" 
 
Ranma grabs the two girls' arms and runs for the Ferris wheel.  The 
two girls protest, but are dragged along behind him. 
 
********************** 
 
The two zoo employees didn't exactly believe the call they received 
from the police, but they decided to go out to the Kuno household 
anyway.  They were shocked when they actually found an 
unconscious giant alligator handcuffed to the house's front door, and 
what's more, the alligator seemed to be wearing a sweater.  They 
knock at the door and a servant answers. 
 
Zoo-1:  "We're here to pick up the alligator.  We're from the Tokyo 
	Zoo." 
Servant:  "Yes, I was instructed to give this handcuff key to you." 
 
The servant hands over the key to the zookeeper, who unlocks the 
handcuffs and prepares to drag the creature to the truck. 
 
Zoo-1:  "Why is the alligator wearing a sweater?" 
Servant:  "Mistress Kodachi's orders were to put it on whenever he 
	went outside." 
 
The alligator regains consciousness and starts to thrash around.  The 
zookeeper loses his grip and Mr. Turtle heads off in the direction of 
the festival. 
 
Zoo-2:  "How can that thing move so fast?  Alligators are cold-
	blooded!  They're supposed to slow down in cold weather!" 
Zoo-1:  [looking at servant]  "Don't tell me..." 
Servant:  [a little nervous]  "Umm... it was an electric sweater?" 
Zoo-1:  "The gun?" 
 
The servant faints as the zookeepers look at each other and grimace.  
The zookeepers go to their truck and take out a tranquilizer gun.  
They follow Mr. Turtle on foot. 
 
********************** 
 
Kuno:  "Ranma Saotome, you fiend!" 
 
Kuno runs into the street containing Dr. Tofu's mochi pounding 
equipment, looking to attack Ranma (who had already left).  He is 
promptly hit on the head by Dr. Tofu and falls to the ground, 
unconscious. 
 
Dr. Tofu:  "Is that all the mochi we have to pound?  Hee... Hee... 
	seems like a small batch this year.  Oh look, an injured boy!  
	Don't worry, I'm a doctor."  [examines Kuno]  "Seems like 
	a head injury." 
 
Dr. Tofu grabs hold of Kuno's head and twists it ninety degrees to 
the right, where it sticks.  Nabiki whispers to Kasumi.  Kasumi then 
takes Dr. Tofu by the hand and leads him into the first aid station. 
 
********************** 
 
Ryoga was lost.  Somehow while heading toward the bathroom that 
morning he had suddenly found himself on the street.  He ran to get 
back to the dojo, but had just made it worse.  He thought that he was 
still in Tokyo, but he wasn't sure. 
 
There seemed to be some sort of festival going on; that seemed to be 
good news.  Most places didn't have festivals until after New Year's.  
There seemed to be some sort of commotion brewing behind him. 
 
Various female voices:  "Get him!  That's the guy that felt me up!  
	He stole my panties!" 
 
Ryoga turns around and is promptly knocked backwards when a foot 
lands in his face.

*****************************End Chapter 8, Part II