I'm back! This is #3. This is the most boring part of the story. #4 will be
better, I promise!

Ranma 1/2: Red Strings
By Shiro Akai Shi

Ranma 1/2 is property of Rumiko Takahashi and Shogakukan Sunday Weekly Comics


Chaos ensues, almost everyone attacks Cologne, but Akane and Shampoo
sit quietly. Eventually, everyone is tired out, and stop. Akane and
Shampoo look over at Cologne sadly.

Akane: Why? Why isn't there another way?

Cologne: There simply isn't, young one. We must wait now.

[lightning]

Cologne gets down off her stick, and puts her hands on Ran-chan's
temples. Fade to red, then to black as thunder rolls. Fade back in on
Ran-chan floating in what is apparently mid-air. There are mountains
and debris floating in the void. She seems to awaken.

Ran-chan: Huh...? Wha...? Where am I? [looks around] Am... Am I dead?

Ran-chan moves a little, and she moves toward one of the largest bits.

Ran-chan: I can fly?

Ran-chan goes to the large bit, and lands. She attempts to take off
again, but nothing happens.

Ran-chan: Well, THAT was fun.

Ran-chan walks around a little, and finds a cave entrance. She goes
inside. As she walks in, a bright light engulfs her. Moments later she
finds herself in the Tendo house. There is no-one around, however.
There are strange shadows all around, some of which move, others do
not. Cut back to the real Tendo house. There is a candle on the table.
It suddenly burns blue for a few seconds.

Cologne: She is there, or more precisely, here. All goes well.

Cut back to Ran-chan. She looks around, and suddenly notices a light
floating in the middle of the room. She leaves the room, and walks
around some more. She goes to the room where she and her father had
slept. Ranma is there, sleeping. Ran-chan walks over, and shakes
Ranma. Ranma awakens and...

Ranma: Huh...? So you didn't get away.

Ran-chan: Ranma... We have to go back to the world.

Ranma: No... I won't. Here I don't have crazy people trying to kill
me... And I don't turn into a girl. Besides, how are we gonna get
there?

Ran-chan: But you also don't have a family, or friends, or...

Ranma: You don't know what I have here. You've only been here 30
seconds, and you think you know. You think that just because this is
death, then it must be horrible!

Ran-chan: I felt our death too, you know. It WAS terrible. All that
pain.

Ranma: You survived it! I still feel the pain in my mind like it just
happened!

Ran-chan: I feel it in different ways! Think about Akane. She loved
you! She didn't tell you, but since you died, I can see it in her
eyes! Tell me that doesn't hurt!

Ranma stands, and walks out of the room. Ran-chan looks after him, and
finally follows. They walk into the family room. Ranma looks at the
light, puzzled.

Ran-chan: See? They're waiting for us to return!

Ranma: Come with me.

Ranma walks over to the wall, and puts his hand on it. The wall
dissolves into white light, and Ranma steps through. Ran-chan quickly
follows. They come out of the light into an ancient chinese village.

Ranma: There's someone you have to meet before you go.