This is a complete REWRITE, not just a revision... It now squares with my Nabiki side-story, "A Winter's Tale", and introduces what will eventually become a major Shampoo sub-plot/side story. Note: Throughout, <> are used to denote thoughts or whispers, "" are used for words which all present can hear, and ** enclose quotes that only certain people can hear (for example, when Ranma-spirit is speaking to Kim in front of anyone but Childra or a Jusenkyo-cursed person.) Since I'm switching to paragraph form from my previous 'script' format, C&C are especially appreciated. To Kunoichi: Shampoo is miserable now. Are you happy? -CW ======================================================================= PROLOGUE ======================================================================= Perdita looked at her monitor, and smiled. She could relax, now. The C-Kos would take care of that pesky clone, one way or another... Whether he died of pain, or pleasure, it made no difference to her, just so long as the duplicate was eliminated. Not so long ago, she would have shuddered at the thought of actually CONTRIBUTING information to the Church of Kodachi, ESPECIALLY for FREE, but this was a special case... Ranma Saotome had ruined her life... AND her death! And there was NO WAY she was going to allow him, or any of his genetic progeny, to interfere again with her existence. A red light came to life on a nearby console. The alarm for Kuno Hall. Good. They'd gotten to him. Closing her eyes, she focused on the neural link that connected her consciousness to the town's computer core and made her command central of Nerima. There it was. In her mind's eye, she saw the circuit as a large green square floating in space, with a single red eye, which opened and closed, opened and closed... She extended her hand in virtual space and plucked the eye out... No need to have the police spoil her fun... ======================================================================= ____ ___ _ ___ / | \ | \ /\ | | /\ /\ | \ / /\ | \ | \ . | \ | |. / \_/ \ | \ \ / \ | __ \ | _ \ | | | | | | | _ \ /\ \/ / | | \ \ | | \ \ .| | | |.| | | | \ \ / \ \ / | | / / | |__\ | | | \| | | |\ /| |.| |__\ |/ /\ \/ | | / / | | | |\ | |.| | | |.| | | |\ / \ | |/ / .| ___ |.| |.| |.| |.| | | | | ___ /\ \/ / | |\ \ | | .| |.| |.| |.| |.| |.| |.| | ./ |\ / | | \ \ .| | | |.| |..\ |.| |.| |.| | | | /| | \ |_|. \__\ |_|. .|_|.|_|...\/..|_|.|_|.|_|.|_|. \|_| \ /\ \ / Written by Christopher 'Ratiko' Willmore. / \ \ / / \/ Based on a story by Rumiko Takahashi and / Developed by C. Michael Schumacher / / [Kensu: cschumac@waun.tdsnet.com], \ / with the aid of Animax Enterprises \/(Logo:Armakuni) [formerly TAAC]. *********************************************************************** EPISODE III: CANONICAL KODACHI! BETA *********************************************************************** Childra Jansen sped her way through the darkened corridors of Kuno Hall. She had little time to waste, and some of it had already been spent on a visit to the graveyard to drag information out of her 'friend'. The C-Ko had gotten Kim. That was in itself was bad. They hadn't gotten Ranma... THAT would have been instantly disastrous... (Thank St. Brigitte for small miracles...) But... The historian shuddered to think what would happen if they spilled some water over Thompson. All those legends of theirs, about 'Ranma Satana'... They believed that Saotome had been under the power of an evil Sorceress, who posessed his body and appeared whenever he was doused with cold water. Obviously, some vestigial memory of Ranma's earlier curse. A memory that could mean Kim's death, if they identified her with the Witch. She had to make it to the Church's headquarters before they had a chance to find out about the morph. If only... "Oomph!" Childra grunted as she tripped over something in the darkness. She looked back. SomeTHING? Make that someONE. It was Ratiko. she thought to herself. She slapped him on the cheek. "Wake up!" "Wha..." Ratiko slowly came to, and half-opened his eyes. "Rat! Wake up! I need your help!" "Who... Wha..." Childra slapped him again. "Hey!" He rubbed his cheek and looked around, obviously confused. "Ranma... Where..." Childra sighed. It seemed THIS Hibiki wasn't only 'lost' direction-wise. "You have to come with me. Now." "What's going on?" "The C-Ko's got Kim. If they find out about her and Ranma, things could get nasty..." "C-Ko? The Church of Kodachi? Geeze... How long 'ave I been out?" "How should _I_ know? Who cares, anyway? Let's go, before Kim gets into REAL trouble." Ratiko eyed her slyly. "I thought it was RANMA you were... 'concerned' about. Why are you suddenly worrying about KIM?" Childra didn't have time for this. It was one thing to be teased about her promiscuity on a Thursday evening at the pub, but now... "Look, Rat. I have the feeling that Ranma won't exactly be in any danger from the Kodachettes." she thought to herself. "With Kim, however, it's another story. Remember that myth they have? Ranma Satana?" "Uh-oh..." Rat said, and paled to a degree noticeable even in the half-light of the exit signs. "Get it now? We have to go and rescue them!" "And I suppose you're going to tell me you just happen to know where the C-Ko HQ is." Childra nodded. "I do," she said. Ratiko blinked. "And you found this out... How?" He just didn't get it. At this point, every second counted. "There's no TIME to explain! Let's just say a 'friend' told me, and leave it at that." "Interesting friends..." Ratiko said. Childra glared at him. "OK! OK! I'll hurry! Hm..." He fingered his chin-stubble. "If this place is far away, we should take the 'mech..." "Good luck getting it," said Childra. "It's in Kim's outer closet." Ratiko patted his jacket, then rummaged through its pockets, eventually fishing out a keycard. He held it up, and smiled. "Kim gives me copies of all her keys." "Good boy..." Childra helped him up. "Now, hurry!" "Hai!" Ratiko began to run. In the wrong direction. thought Childra, as she caught up with him and pointed him towards the correct path. "It's THAT way, Rat." "Oh, yeah... I forgot..." He blushed, then followed her into the right hallway. * * * * * Ranma examined the mural in front of him. Quite a good likeness, though the situation was a bit far-fetched... Same as all the others. The room he was in was a simple one: four walls, a ceiling, and a floor. The only light came from an incandescent bulb at each corner, and the only opening was a door, currently locked. Apart from that, and the wall it was on, every available inch of space was painted to depict some facet of Ranma's previous life, albeit in a twisted way. The three plain walls had pictures of Ranma's ex-fiances on them. One showed a giant Ukyou, done in dark shades of purple and blue, demolishing a town with her spatula, crimson flames rising up around her. Another depicted Shampoo in her typical battle stance: bonbori upraised, and brow set in a frown, but her eyes were glowing red, and long, sharp fangs protruded past her lips... The one Ranma was currently admiring had Akane rushing towards the viewer, wooden mallet in mid-swing. he thought. It was painful to look at that picture, but, then again, it also hurt to see the others... And, he REFUSED to even THINK about the frescos that adorned the floor, and ceiling... Above him was a rendition of Heaven, with cherubim playing their harps among the clouds, while prominent in the centre was an enraptured Kodachi Kuno being embraced by an equally delirious Ranma-kun. Below wasn't much better... It was a hell to match the top's celestial canopy. Amidst flames and dancing devils was a demonic Ranma-chan in a pink leotard, complete with horns, tail, brown insect wings and antennae... At least Kim's unconscious body covered the worst of it... If only she'd wake up! He had to find out what had happened... said Ranma to himself. No sooner had he formed that thought than Kim opened her eyes. "Ungh..." she groaned, then shook her head and sat up. "Where..." She noticed Ranma. "Ranma, whre ARE we?" "I was hoping YOU could tell me... Some girls kidnapped you, and I kinda just... warped here..." Kim looked around herself as her eyes adjusted to the half-light. She moved her gaze upwards, and pointed at the picture on the ceiling. "Is that YOU?" she asked. "'Fraid so," answered Ranma. "And the girl is..." Ranma sighed. "Kodachi Kuno." Thompson mouthed the words silently, wide-eyed, then shook her head. "Great," she said. "Just great. The C-Ko's gotten us. I KNEW we should have changed your name first thing... NOW what are we going to do? If they find out about the curse, they'll..." Ranma interrupted her. "I know," he said softly. "Well, DO SOMETHING! You're a GHOST, for crying out loud! Go through that door, or through a wall, or whatever... Find some help! Get Rat or Childra here!" Ranma shook his head. "I thought of that." "Then WHY didn't you DO IT?" "Two reasons: First, I warped here, so this place is obviously more than a kilometre away from Kuno Hall. If I try to go back, I'll just end up being zapped back to where I started." Kim blushed, embarrassed. Physics majors weren't supposed to make that kind of mistake. "Also, I..." Ranma quieted. "Well?" "I... I didn't want to leave you alone." "Ranma... I'm..." There was an awkward silence. In an attempt to break it, Kim gestured at the murals. "I recognize Shampoo," she said, "but who are these other two gals?" Ranma pointed at Ukyou. "THAT'S Ratiko's great-grandmother..." Kim cocked an eyebrow. "SHE was after you, too?" "How do you..." "Ranma," Kim said, "I'm not stupid. We're in the Church of Kodachi. They WORSHIP you as their... Oh, what was it again? As their 'collective bridegroom', or something." Ranma blanched. "The only reason they'd put up a mural THAT unfavourable would be if this girl'd been involved with you... But, geeze... Rat's great-grandma... You're an even BIGGER hentai than I took you for!" "What?!? But I... She..." Kim cut him off. "What about this other one?" A pause. "Akane Tendo," Ranma said quietly. "That's the one you _really_ liked, wasn't it?" said Kim. "H... Hai... And now we..." Ranma collapsed, and began to sob tearlessly. "Ranma... I'm so sorry..." At that moment, the door opened, and three young women entered the room. The two on the sides were dressed in green leotards with black accents, and each carried a blue ribbon on a stick. Between them was a regal figure, decked in splendid silk robes, whose shades of red and blue perfectly complemented her waist-length golden hair. *I can't believe I'm seeing this,* said Ranma. The two 'guards' halted, and saluted, then their leader spoke. "I am SO glad you decided to accept our little... invitation..." She smiled. "I wasn't exactly given much of a choice," Kim grunted. "Whaddya want, anyway? Who ARE you?" "Oh, dear," said the figure. "Quite right; quite right... Where ARE my manners? I really MUST introduce myself before torturing you..." Kim gulped. "Torture?" She began to sweat... "Of course! How ELSE are we supposed to extract information from you about our beloved Ranma-sama?" At the mention of the name, the two guards crouched, touched the floor, then stood again, in a weird obeisance. "And as for your question... I am Lepi Kodachi Demie, High Priestess of the Church of Kodachi." Lepi bowed. "And you, Kimberley Thompson of A-323 Kuno Hall; YOU are our honoured guest, and prisoner." Kim blinked. "Run that by me again?" she asked. "Well," said Lepi, "We'd like to make your life miserable, but seeing how you seem to be a friend of Ranma-sama's..." Again, the twisted obeisance from the Kodachettes. "...we can't really mistreat you, now, can we? Hm?" Kim seemed relieved. "I'm glad to hear that," she said. "You WILL come with us, however," said the High Priestess. "You have a lot of explaining to do. Girls?" The guards walked over to Kim, and took her by the shoulders. "Hey! Not so tight!" squealed Thompson. She was ignored. "Take her into the sanctum," continued Demie. Wordlessly, the leotarded women lifted their quarry and followed their leader back through the door. Ranma went in after them. * * * * * The 'sanctum' looked more like a twisted physics lab than a shrine. The white plastic walls were covered in computer monitors, buttons and complicated displays, while field generators made sure no dust touched the instruments' surfaces. In the middle of the room was a sterile-looking table, with two chairs at opposite ends and a crystal platter with a pitcher of water and matching glasses in the middle of it. One of the chairs had straps. The other had silk cushions. Roughly, the Kodachettes shoved Kim into the former, and tightened the restraints before she could try to escape. Lepi nodded in satisfaction at seeing her 'guest' thus bound, and sat herself on the other chair, the guards flanking her to the left and right. *Try to get them to spill the water on you,* said Ranma, from somewhere behind Kim. Thompson nodded. "Now, then," said Lepi. "I take it you're comfortable?" "Not exactly," said Kim. "Good. I wouldn't want you to feel _too_ welcome," smiled the Priestess. "Let us begin the interro... The question period. You WILL tell us how you found our Ranma-sama." "I... I don't know what you're talking about..." stammered Kim. "Ranma's just a... a distant cousin of mine... From China... He just happens to have the same name..." Thompson began to sweat. If they didn't buy the story, she'd be in big trouble... "Is that so? Then you will kindly explain to us how your 'cousin''s genetics match OUR Ranma's EXACTLY." Another smile. "What?!?" Lepi reached into her robes and pulled out a manila folder, sliding it across the table-top. "These are the results from the thumbprints, chromosomal maps and retinal scans Ranma had done at the registration booth. They happen to match Ranma-sama's genetic pattern to the last gene." thought Kim, "And HOW, pray tell, do you know the original Ranma's genetic code? They didn't exactly have DNA-testing kits widely available in 1996..." Demie smiled. "Our founder was intelligent," she explained. "She knew it would come in useful, someday, so after Ranma's funeral she took some... ah... some 'samples' of his flesh." At the thought of it, Kim turned slightly green, and Ranma shuddered. "Our Church has kept it all this time, and analysed it quite thoroughly... So, you, see, we KNOW whereof we speak." Another smile. "Will you tell us, then, where we can find OUR Ranma?" Kim sighed. "I suppose..." she said. *WHAT?!?* yelled Ranma. *You're not actually going to...* A glare from Kim was all that was needed to silence him. "Before I tell you..." she said to the Priestess, "My mouth is a bit dry... Could I have a glass of water before I go on?" *Oh...* "I suppose your cooperation has earned you THAT much." She signalled one of the guards, who walked to the pitcher, filled a glass with water, and set it down in front of Kim. "My hands are tied. Could you..." "Anastasia will hold it for you," said Lepi. "I'm afraid you haven't been THAT helpful, yet. Continue being cooperative, and we may eventually release you from your bonds." Kim nodded. Another gesture from Demie, and the guard brought the glass to Kim's lips. She started to sip, then twisted her head, spilling the water onto her lap. Soon, onto HIS lap. When they saw Ranma, the two guards dropped prostate to the floor, and Lepi gasped. "It... It can't be! How..." She pulled out two strange instruments from inside her robes, and pressed one against Ranma's eyes, and the other to his thumb. "Hey!" said Ranma. "Whaddya think you're doin'?!?" The displays on the machines flashed green, and Lepi's eyes widened. "It's YOU! It's really YOU!" "Of COURSE it's ME! Now, will you let me out of this chair?" "Of... Of course, Ranma-sama... Anastasia! Genevieve!" The guards cautiously stood up. "Release our saviour!" With trembling hands, the Kodachettes undid the straps. Ranma stretched his arms, and tested his hands. "Much better..." he said. "Can I go now?" "GO? But... You just came here..." "And I'd like to leave as soon as I can." "Ranma Satana must still have you under her spells..." "Ranma WHAT?" asked Ranma. "The evil sorceress who fled from the presence of our holy water," said Lepi. "Oh. Kim." "Is that her TRUE name?" asked Lepi. "That's... er... the name she TAKES..." Lepi nodded. "We know where she resides. Fear not. We will make certain that she troubles you no longer." Kim-spirit's eyes widened in shock. *RANMA!* she said, *SAY SOMETHING!* "She's not my enemy," said Ranma. "She's a..." Kim-spirit stared at him expectantly. "She's.. er... a FRIEND of mine..." Thompson nodded, and breathed a sigh of relief. "We will take your word for it for now," said Lepi, "since we cannot do but otherwise with words from our saviour. The matter WILL be investigated. But now..." "Now I can go?" "Now I must show you what our foundress planned long ago for this very moment..." "What?" "Guards! The panels!" Anastasia and Genevieve went to opposite sides of the room, and began to punch buttons on some of the computer consoles. When they finished, one of the walls began to slide open, revealing a hidden room. Lights were switched on, to show what looked like a large, cylindrical aquarium filled with a yellowish liquid. Inside, one or two objects were vaguely distinguishable... "Mistress Kodachi wanted you to know that even in Death, she would be faithful to you," said Lepi. *That had better not be formaldehyde in that tank...* said Kim. mumbled Ranma. "She has never left you," said Lepi. "In fact..." She pressed a button on a nearby wall. A spotlight came to life behind the tank, its limelight cutting through the murk and making the contents of the vessel clearly visible. Inside was the naked, grinning corpse of an elderly black-haired woman, tightly hugging Ranma's own cadaver. "In fact..." concluded Lepi Kodachi Demie, "YOU have never left HER." She smiled. * * * * * Shampoo listened, to make sure everyone else had gone to sleep, then locked the door to her new room. Nimbly, she slipped out of her nightgown, draping it carefully over a chair, and stood in front of the full-length mirror. She had aged in a hundred years; that was certain. Her skin had gone from creamy white to a dull half-gray, and though she wouldn't admit it in public, smoothness had given way to wrinkles, and here and there a few white strands clashed with her otherwise sky-blue hair. It wasn't fair! She'd done all she should... Long ago she'd promised to herself (and to Cologne!) that she'd have no airen but Ranma. She had kept that oath, defeating all challengers and devoting her entire life to bringing his spirit back from that half- death in the Jusenkyo pool... And now... She started to cry. It just wasn't right. It wasn't! Her heart hadn't changed, or her soul, and she still was athletic and trim... But it wasn't enough. Ranma's heart, soul and build were equally inviolate, but he had the advantage of his teenaged body, and she the burden of a hundred years of age and memory. Surely, her beloved would be snagged by some pubescent girl with a firmer chest, or a solid voice in place of her own tremulous vocalisations... All her work, her dedication, and her waiting... All for WHAT? Shampoo laughed. She laughed at herself, at the world, at having thought that'd he'd stay with her just because she'd raised him from the dead... At best, he'd think of her as a grandmother. A GRANDMOTHER! Tears streamed down the Amazon's cheeks. It would be easier to bear if he now hated her. At least, she would then think that he disliked her for herself, that there would never have been any chance of their being together. Instead, he found he LIKED her, as a friend - maybe even more... It was only physical considerations that prevented them from... Time's arrow had struck her in the heart. Shampoo shook her head. she thought. She walked over to the telephone. Thank goodness Blow Dryer had shown her how to use the thing earlier that day... She'd never have been able to figure it out on her own. Not a single button or dial was to be seen on the device. She picked up the 'set, and spoke the number which she'd memorized. A short pause, then a beep. 'Welcome to Tokyo Telecomm's automated answering service. The persons you have called: "Kim Thompson and Childra Jansen" Are not available. Please leave your name and number, along with a brief message, after the tone. Thank-you for using Tokyo Telecomm." *beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep* Shampoo smashed the 'set against the ground, and collapsed sobbing onto the floor. * * * * * "You STOLE my corpse?!?" asked Ranma, shocked. "Not _I_, no..." answered Lepi. "It was Mistress Kuno. We couldn't leave it to decompose, after all, now, could we? That would be an outrage against yourself. Be assured; it has been carefully preserved and revered all these years..." "But... That other body... Is that? Is it?" "That _is_ Kodachi Kuno. When she died, she asked her body be placed in the preservation tank along with yours, that you could see her faithfulness proved upon your return." *Geeze,* said Kim, *What IS it with these girls that made them so crazy about you?* Ranma noticed that she was facing AWAY from the tank as she spoke. "I... I see..." he gulped. "Well, now that I have seen how she is... er... faithful... Could you please... Close it up again?" Lepi smiled. "Certainly! I can see how it might be a little - disconcerting, shall we say? - to see your own corpse." She snapped her fingers. "Anastasia! Genevieve! The doors!" The pair nodded and set back to work at the consoles. In a short while, the panels closed together with a thud. Ranma relaxed visibly. "Is there anything else that I have to do, or will you let me go?" "Obviously, I cannot hold you here against your will, any more than a Tibetan monk would retain the Dalai Lama. You are free to go. However, I must say that our acolytes will be _sorely_ disappointed when I tell them you declined to meet them..." "Acolytes?" *Ranma! Let's get OUT OF HERE!* "This headquarters houses about seven hundred Acolytes of Kodachi... The press has taken to calling them 'Kodachettes'... They are all in between the ages of 16 and 19, except for the senior priestesses, like myself." She smiled. "Who are considerably more mature and..." A grin. "...experienced..." Ranma gulped. "They train in martial gymnastics and other athletics for several hours a day, and are quite physically fit... And, of course, all of us worship you... You're SURE you want to leave NOW?" She put on her best puppy-dog eyes. "Well, um..." Ranma rubbed the back of his head. "I suppose I could stay for a LITTLE... Just to MEET them..." *RANMA!* he said. "You said something, Ranma-sama?" "Er... No... Just... Talking to myself." The High Priestess raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Never mind." "I will assemble the acolytes. Guards, ring the bells!" The leotarded pair nodded, and pressed more buttons. Suddenly, the room was filled with the sound of chimes. "They will gather in the meeting hall shortly. Come with me." Lepi offered her arm, and Ranma took it in his. *I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE DOING THIS! WHAT A... WHAT A... Geeze, 'hentai' is too mild a word for you!* Ranma smiled. "Seven hundred of them, you say? Ages sixteen to nineteen?" Lepi nodded, and winked. "Right this way, Ranma-sama..." *...* Kim followed. * * * * * As soon as they heard the 'Wedding Bell Chime', Kodachettes all around the complex dropped whatever they were doing and rushed to the meeting hall. Clubs clattered to the floor and bouquets exploded as the green-leotarded, limber girls piled into the corridors, eager to be among the first to catch a glimpse of their long-awaited bridegroom. The hall itself was a large, gymnasium-like room with a stage at the front. As the girls entered, they lined up in ordered rows and knelt on the polished marble floor. Very soon, the entire space was filled, with the acolytes murmuring to each other expectantly. All went quiet when Lepi appeared onstage. "Girls!" said the High Priestess into a microphone, "The day we have long waited for has arrived at last! May I present... RANMA SAOTOME!" Ranma appeared, with Kim floating not far behind. "Hi," he said, and waved to the crowd. There was a collective gasp, and about a fourth of those present fainted. "I am afraid, though," said Lepi, "that even NOW, in our moment of triumph over the unbelievers, we are not free of the evil Ranma Satana... She has found an avatar, and has caused our beloved to believe that he must FLEE our presence, rather than embrace it... We must..." Her discourse was interrupted by a loud crash as the main door to the meeting hall was knocked down. As the dust cleared, the figures of Ratiko and Childra became visible. "Unhand Kim, you..." The Kodachettes turned from their adoration to look at Ratiko. He stared at the women, then at Ranma. he whispered to Childra. Jansen nodded, but before she could answer, one of the green-clad acolytes jumped up and ran towards Ratiko. * * * * * "Ratiko!" shouted the girl. "B-Batya?!?" asked Ratiko, perplexed. This was bad, thought Childra to herself. Things were NOT turning out as she'd expected... Thankfully, the C-Kos were too involved in worshipping Ranma to let a little trifle like the invasion of their secret hide-out by two university students disturb them, or the pair would have been in REAL trouble... Sure enough. After a brief pause, Lepi continued with her discourse, and the Kodachettes with their listening... All apart from Batya, of course, who was securely latched onto Rat. Onstage, Ranma's eyes were nearly out of their sockets, while Kim was floating over to investigate. "Oh, what a WONDERFUL day!" said Batya. "First, the Second Coming, and now YOU arrive! Darling, how I've MISSED you!" She squeezed Rat even harder. *Please tell me that is NOT Batya Ono...* said Kim to Childra. Childra whispered grimly. *You're telling me that Rat's old girlfriend is a KODACHETTE?!?* "Oh, we have SO MUCH to catch up on!" continued Batya, enthusiastically. She looked at the stage, presumably to gauge whether she could spare the time to speak with her own flame. The answer seemed to be in the affirmative, since she took Ratiko by the hand and began to lead him to a side room. Rat resisted, and looked at Childra. "Go ahead," the historian said. "We'll be all right." She leaned on her bo. As the two left the main hall, Lepi continued with her speech... * * * * * The room that Batya had taken him into was little more than a closet... Probably a storage area of some sort. Just a couple of shelves, some wooden walls, tiled floor... Ratiko faced Batya. "Batya... You're... In Tokyo! I thought you were..." "Lost?" Batya giggled. "I admit; It's not every gal that ends up in Ethiopia when she leaves with her boyfriend for a 'special' evening in the park..." Ratiko blushed. "I'm sorry... But... You know my sense of direction..." Batya ruffled Ratiko's hair. "It's OK, Rat. A Church of Kodachi missionary found me after a couple of days, and brought me back. Thanks to them, I've been fed, housed, and finally learned the True Way..." "Why didn't you try to CONTACT me? I mean, if you've been in the City all this time..." Batya nodded sadly. "I couldn't. We acolytes swear an oath of secrecy and rejection of the world... I haven't finished my training yet... None of us here has, actually, so we aren't allowed out. Besides, so much of my free time is spent worshipping Ranma-sama, that even if I..." "What is it with RANMA?!?" Ratiko growled. "What does HE have that _I_ don't?!?" "Oh, Rat..." said Batya. "You're nice... you're sweet, and quite the looker, but... No matter how hard you try, you'll never be able to come up to even HALF his measure of nobility, and strength, and..." There was a loud crack as Ratiko's heart shattered. He started trembling from rage and indignation, and tried desperately to hold back tears... Ranma... Even his own GIRLFRIEND... "Don't get upset," continued Batya, "I _LIKE_ you, in many ways. I'm attracted to you physically, and... Oh, I don't know. Maybe I even love you, but... You're still HUMAN. Ranma's MORE than that... He's more like my deity than..." She shook her head and gave up trying to explain her fascination. With the last sentence, Ratiko began to glow slightly. Wisps of white ki-energy rose from his skin, and the air around him crackled. Batya's eyes grew large, and she pointed at him. "Ratiko! You're..." She was interrupted by a sudden doubling in volume of the harangue coming from the meeting hall. 'And now, girls,' said Lepi's voice, 'NOW is the time for you to personally greet your saviour, our collective bridegroom!' Batya's face lit up, and she forgot all about the boy in front of her. She pivoted, and began to head back for the hall. This was the last straw for Ratiko. The flames of energy surrounding him intensified to blinding proportions. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" he yelled, as all his built-up energy was released in a single, uncontrolled burst. The explosion had the effect of a small bomb, and caused the walls and ceiling of the room to collapse. Ratiko himself was spared, since al the debris falling near him was vaporised, but Batya was knocked down by a falling chunk of concrete and fell unconscious to the floor, to be pinned down by a wooden support beam. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Rat rushed to the girl, and tried to lift the beam, but to no avail. In the hall, the acolytes were as oblivious as they ever had been, but Childra and Kim noticed the devastation and ran over to assess the damage. Onstage, Ranma freed himself from Lepi's gip and dodged adoring Kodachettes as he leapfrogged his way to the ruins of the storage room. When the three arrived, Ratiko was sobbing, cradling Batya's head in his arms. "YOU!" he said, lifting his head and glaring at Ranma. He began to glow again. Childra whispered to Kim. *He can't...* Kim answered, confused. "Rat! You all right?" asked Ranma. "I mean, I..." The Hibiki lifted a glowing fist and rammed it into Ranma's chin. Saotome was sent flying backwards, and tumbled through a few rows of incoming acolytes before finally falling on the floor, unconscious. As soon as the Kodachettes noticed that someone had attacked their saviour, havoc ensued as several scores of girls pulled hidden weapons from their leotards' n-dimensional pockets and converged on the heretic. thought Childra. She turned to Kim. "Take care of them. I'm going for help." *Help? What? Childra, I'm...* Before she could finish, Jansen had left. *Great. NOW what am I supposed to do? Shout 'Boo' and SCARE them to death?* With a sigh, she sat down and watched powerlessly as four dozen cackling acolytes tied up Ratiko with their ribbons. * * * * * An hour later, the scene was somewhat changed. Ratiko was now hanging from the ceiling by a thin nylon rope, unconscious, and below him was a large cauldron of boiling water. Around the pot, the Kodachettes were dancing wildly and laughing in a manner that would make the founder of their order proud. Batya was still unconscious, though the debris that had fallen on her had been removed, and Ranma was on the stage with Lepi and Kim. "You are sure that you are all right?" asked Demie. "I'm fine," said Ranma, "rubbing his chin. "Just a bit sore... He packs quite a punch for such a spindly guy..." *Not usually, he doesn't.* "Huh?" "Ranma-sama?" "Er.. Nothing." *He hasn't done anything like that before. You know. The glow.* Ranma nodded. He'd have to look into that... It reminded him a lot of his own 'Roaring Lion Bullet', and the boy WAS a Hibiki, after all... Could it be some weird variation on the Shi Shi Houkodan? *Ranma... I think they're about to cut the rope... Say something. QUICK.* "Lepi, can't you let him go? I'm sure he didn't mean to do me any harm... Besides, I'm fine now. See?" Ranma twisted his limbs in all directions, looking like a drunken marionette. *Baka...* said Kim, putting her hand to her forehead. "I'm afraid," said Lepi, "that we may not release him. This blasphemy will not be tolerated! Why, the unmitigated gall! To attack Ranma-sama on the day of his reappearance, in the very HEART of the Church of Kodachi!" "I'm FINE!" insisted Ranma, dancing some more. Below him, on the meeting hall floor, the Kodachettes stopped their 'Waltz Macabre' and looked him over appreciatively. "Very nice," said Lepi. "But I still can't..." Once again, Demie was interrupted in mid-sentence, as Childra reappeared and knocked down the propped-up entrance door. She pointed a finger straight at Ranma, and an invisible force knocked its way through the crowd, sending green-clad girls flying in all directions In a few seconds, not one of the acolytes remained standing. Ranma whispered to Kim. Thompson just stared wide-eyed at an apparently empty piece of floor. *She... isn't...* *Ranma?* "Yes?" Lepi looked strangely at Ranma, but her attention was quickly brought back to her decimated congregation. *I would find some hot water, if I were you.* *NOW.* *Just DO it, OKAY? TRUST ME, FOR ONCE!* Ranma turned to Demie. "Uh.. Lepi?" "Yes?" The Priestess turned to face him. "Sorry 'bout this." He shoved her to the ground, then sprinted towards the pot below Ratiko, which he knocked over into himself. Instantly, he found himself in spirit form at the spot where Kim had been standing, looking at the same piece of floor that she had been interested in. Only, this, time, with his spirit eyes, he saw a girl. A familiar girl, with dark close-cropped hair, and wearing a dress in pastel shades of yellow and blue. She held a wooden mallet in her right hand, and her eyes watered as she looked up at him. "Ranma?" asked Akane. ======================================================================= A brief acknowledgement: I'm indebted to Nicola Wright for suggesting that Ratiko let loose an uncontrolled ki-blast. ======================================================================= NEXT: The plot thickens! =======================================================================