Ranma hit Shantytown about noon. He weaved his way through the 
kids that were running through the streets. Kids not giving a damn if 
anyone was in their way.
    "Kinda reminds me of Shampoo..." he thought. He felt a pain in 
his chest. Seeing Shampoo die was one event in his life he would like 
to forget, but of course, he couldn't.
    Ranma passed by Ucchan's. Ukyou wasn't there. Ranma thought for a 
minute. Today was Thursday, wasn't it? Then Ukyou could only be one 
place...

    Nabiki banged her gavel against the table. Actually it was just 
an old hammer with the head attached to the handle via duct tape, but 
it had the desired effect. Sitting to her left was Kuno and Cologne, 
Ryoga and Ukyou were to her right.
    "I hereby call this meeting of the Shantytown council to order," 
she said. "Any new business?"
    "We're having some problems with the water supply," said Ukyou. 
"Either the pumps aren't working or the well is running dry. Either 
way, if we don't find some water soon, we can kiss this whole village 
goodbye,"
    "I see," said Nabiki, "Kuno? How goes the search for extra wells?"
    "Better than expected, Nabiki Tendo," said the ex-kendo champion 
of Furinkan High. He stood up. The sun glinted off the three metal 
hooks that now served as his left hand. Two acting as fingers, while 
the third served as his thumb.
    "My reconnaisence team has found a suitable spot to dig. However, 
there is one slight problem,"
    "And that is?"
    "The spot he wants to dig is on MY land," said Ranma, entering 
the shack.
    "Ah, Saotome, how good of you to join us," said Kuno.
    "Whatever, Kuno. Anyway, to save you the trouble, yes, you can dig 
for water, but I get ten percent of it."
    "Five," said Nabiki, her nature kicking in. "We have a village of 
300 to think about,"
    "Nine, remember, I'm doing you a favor by allowing you on my land 
in the first place,"
    "Seven, or you can forget about stocking up on supplies here,"
    Ranma and Nabiki stared at each other.
    "Deal," said Ranma. Nabiki leaned back in her chair, satisfied.
    "Good," she said, "Now, any other new business?" Ryoga raised his 
hand.
    "I suspect the mutants are up to something. They've been quiet 
for the past few nights,"
    "They have been quiet other nights as well," said Cologne, "This 
does not mean that they are planning another attack,"
    "There is a feeling in the air," said Ryoga, "I've felt it for 
the past few nights as well. It is almost like the nights that Mousse 
has attacked,"
    "I've been feeling it as well," Ukyou piped up.
    "As have I," said Kuno. All eyes turned to Ranma. He nodded.
    Nabiki frowned. It was uncanny. Ever since that first fight with 
Mousse, these four had always known when Mousse and his pack were 
going to attack Shantytown. She had remarked this to Cologne one 
night, the old woman was equally baffled. Still, experience was the 
best teacher in circumstances like this.
    "Any suggestions?" she asked Ryoga.
    "Nothing, right now, except that we should be on our guard. 
There's no telling what Mousse may have up his sleeves--"
    In that moment, as if in answer to their unspoken question, the 
door to the shack opened and Satori walked in. Ranma's eyes widened 
and he was on the Dawg in less than a second. Kuno and Ryoga jumped 
to their feet and pulled the enraged martial artist off the man-dog.
    "Ranma! He's on our side!" Ryoga yelled. Ranma stopped struggling 
and looked at him.
    "What?"
    "Satori's a plant in Mousse's pack. We showed him what we were 
really trying to do, and convinced him that Mousse was the liar. He's 
been keeping an eye on him for a while,"
    Ranma blinked.
    "It is true," said Satori, standing up and brushing himself off. 
"And the news I bring is not good,"
    "What is it?" asked Cologne.
    "Mousse has supposedly found a leftover missile silo. He intends 
to use the missile to destroy this village,"
    There was general consternation and uproar.
    "The mutants are going to move tomorrow morning," Satori 
continued, "According to Mousse, we move north for the next three 
days. He refuses to tell me any more than that until the end of the 
third day,"
    "Is it the entire pack, or a small group?" asked Ukyou.
    "The entire pack,"
    "Shit," Ranma muttered.
    "We must do something, the lunatic cannot be allowed to get his 
hands on that missile," said Kuno, standing and hitting the table 
with his claw.
    "You're right," said Ranma, "I'm going after him,"
    "What?"
    "I've helped this village out every time Mousse and his pack have 
struck. I'm tired of waiting for him to make the first move. I'm 
going to track him down and finish this for good,"
    "You would kill him, Saotome?"
    "I might. I won't if I don't have to, but he's gone too far this 
time. I'm going to have it out with him once and for all!"
    Ryoga placed a hand on Ranma's shoulder.
    "*We're* going to have it out with him," he said.
    "As will I," said Kuno. "It is time we finished this. Two years 
is long enough," Ukyou joined them.
    "Let's finish this the way it started," she said, "The four of us 
against him," 
    Ranma looked at his friends. It felt good, it felt right. It felt 
like old times.
    "Let's go," he said.
    
    Mousse halted for a moment in his planning. There had been a 
feeling that sent his senses reeling. It was there for a moment, then 
gone. But in that instant, he *knew*. He knew Ranma and the others 
were coming after him. He had a terrible sense of finality.
    One way or the other, their last battle was at hand...
    
-----

    Is it good yet? I hope so!
    
                                ---Erin 2.5